US 6,145,980 A · Multiple-zone inkjet printer

Abstract

An inkjet printer includes a ball roller assembly for driving a paper-supporting platen along the width and length of the paper supported by the platen. A stepper motor activates the ball roller assemblies in response to drive signals from a motor driver. A first printhead includes a first array of inkjet nozzles which are in fluid communication with an ink supply and which fire in response to drive signals from a printhead driver. A microprocessor is provided to coordinate x and y axis movement of the paper with the firing of the first array of inkjet nozzles to print a predetermined pattern. In one embodiment, the ink supply includes a second print-mode ink supply in fluid communication with a second array of inkjet nozzles on the first printhead and a first print-mode ink supply in fluid communication with the first array of nozzles. In another embodiment, the printer further includes a second printhead, which includes a third array of inkjet nozzles in fluid communication with the first print-mode ink supply and a fourth array of inkjet nozzles in fluid communication with the second print-mode ink supply. The microprocessor activates the first and third arrays during a first operational mode and activates the second and fourth arrays during a second operational mode. The microprocessor can simultaneously enable the first and second operational modes according to requirements of a print job.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An inkjet printer comprising:

a first inkjet printhead having a first array of inkjet nozzles and a first supply of ink in fluid communication with said first array of nozzles such that each nozzle projects first ink droplets toward a first fixed region during a first printhead operational mode;
first mechanical means for moving a print medium relative to said first fixed region and along two perpendicular axes of motion, movement of said print medium along each said axis of motion varying alignment of said first fixed region with areas of said print medium;
and
means for coordinating said firing of said first array of inkjet nozzles with operation of said first mechanical means to print a first desired pattern on said print medium.

1 more element

A method of printing utilizing an inkjet printer comprising the steps of:

providing a printing surface;
projecting a first plurality of ink droplets from a first inkjet printhead toward said printing surface such that each of said first ink droplets is projected in a direction that is approximately perpendicular with said printing surface;
moving said printing surface along two perpendicular axes of motion such that at least one of said two axes is perpendicular to said direction of said ink droplets;
and
coordinating said movement of said printing surface with said projecting of said first plurality of ink droplets from said first inkjet printhead to print a first predetermined pattern on said printing surface.

2 more elements

An inkjet printer comprising:

a stationary base;
a platen having a first surface for contacting and securely supporting a print medium and a second surface opposite said first surface;
a first ball roller assembly connected to said stationary base and having a ball roller with a surface for frictional contact with said second surface of said platen to drive said platen and said securely supported print medium along a first axis of motion and a second axis of motion perpendicular to said first axis of motion;
a first inkjet printhead connected to said stationary base and having a first array of nozzles in fluid communication with a first ink supply to project a first plurality of ink droplets in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of said print medium;
motor means for rotating said ball roller about first and said second axes of rotation;
and
controller means for coordinating operation of said motor means in concert with selective activation of particular ones of said first array of nozzles to generate a predetermined pattern on said print medium.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple-zone inkjet printer

Life of this patent

Multiple-zone inkjet printer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20