Method of ink jet printing with enhanced shingling and printer apparatuses for the same

A printing method comprising the steps of:

• (a) arranging a column of N dot forming nozzles for projecting ink onto a printing area comprising columns on a recording substrate, wherein N is an integer greater than 2;
• (b) performing a scanning step, the scanning step comprising moving the column of dot forming nozzles horizontally across the printing area and in each column of the printing area depositing one or more dots from a subgroup comprised of S dot forming nozzles from the column of N dot forming nozzles, wherein S is an integer of from 1 to about N−1;
• wherein during the scanning step:
• (i) in each column of the printing area not more than every Gth nozzle deposits a dot and a single nozzle deposits a dot not more than every Gth column, wherein G is an integer from 1 to about S;
• and
• (ii) the subgroup S of dot forming nozzles is shifted vertically among the N dot forming nozzles in at least two adjacent columns according to a predetermined pattern, with the provision that the predetermined pattern is not a periodic function;
• (c) advancing the recording substrate vertically in a first direction by a height of about Q nozzles, wherein Q=(S/G);
• and
• (d) repeating the scanning step.

A printer apparatus comprising:

• a serial printhead comprised of a column of N dot forming nozzles for projecting ink onto a printing area comprising columns on a recording substrate, wherein N is an integer greater than 2;
• a horizontal scan drive;
• a vertical scan drive;
• and
• a control means, wherein the control means is operative to:
• (a) activate the horizontal scan drive to perform a scanning step and move the serial printhead horizontally across the printing area, wherein in each column of the printing area a subgroup comprised of S dot forming nozzles from the column of N dot forming nozzles deposits one or more dots, wherein S is an integer of from 1 to about N−1;
• wherein during the scanning step the control means is operative to:
• (i) activate not more than every Gth nozzle to deposit a dot in each column of the printing area and activate a single nozzle to deposit a dot not more than every Gth column, wherein G is an integer from 2 to about S;
• and
• (ii) vertically shift the subgroup of S dot forming nozzles among the N dot forming nozzles in at least two adjacent columns according to a predetermined pattern;
• (b) activate the vertical scan drive to advance the recording substrate vertically by a height of about Q nozzles, wherein Q=(S/G);
• and
• (c) repeat the scanning step.

A printer apparatus comprising:

• a serial printhead comprised of a column of N dot forming nozzles for projecting ink onto a printing area comprising columns on a recording substrate, wherein N is an integer greater than 2;
• a horizontal scan drive;
• a vertical scan drive;
• and
• a control means, wherein the control means is operative to:
• (a) activate the horizontal scan drive to perform a scanning step and move the serial printhead horizontally across the printing area, wherein in each column of the printing area a subgroup comprised of S dot forming nozzles from the column of N dot forming nozzles deposits one or more dots, wherein S is an integer of from 1 to about N−1;
• wherein during the scanning step, the control means is further operative to:
• (i) activate not more than every Gth nozzle to deposit a dot in each column of the printing area and activate a single nozzle to deposit a dot not more than every Gth column, wherein G is an integer from 1 to about S;
• and
• (ii) vertically shift the subgroup of S dot forming nozzles among the N dot forming nozzles in at least two adjacent columns according to a predetermined pattern, with the provision that the predetermined pattern is not a periodic function;
• (b) activate the vertical scan drive to advance the recording substrate vertically by a height of about Q nozzles, wherein Q=(S/G);
• and
• (c) repeat the scanning step.