Method and system for high speed printing using drop-on demand technology that compensates for droplet satellites

An apparatus for printing an image on a medium, the image including a plurality of pixels each of which may be printed by depositing a plurality of ink drops arranged in a plurality of evenly spaced columns, the apparatus comprising:

• a print head having a plurality or arrays of nozzles for ejecting ink drops onto a medium to form the image;
• a controller for controlling the ejection of ink drops by the plurality of arrays of nozzles;
• and
• a memory coupled to the controller and storing software executable by the controller, the software including instructions for:
• determining if a current pixel of the image is to be printed;
• if a current pixel is to be printed, determining if a following pixel adjacent to the current pixel is to be printed;
• and
• if the following pixel adjacent to the current pixel is not to be printed, adjusting printing of the current pixel such that ink drops from the print head will be ejected to form all columns in the current pixel except for a column nearest to the following pixel adjacent to the current pixel and staggering at least a portion of the plurality of ink drops that form a column adjacent to the column nearest to the following pixel adjacent to the current pixel,
• wherein the controller will cause the print head to print the current pixel as adjusted.

A mail processing system for preparing a mail piece comprising:

• a first controller to generate an indicium image to be printed on a mail piece, the indicium image including a 2D barcode formed by a plurality of pixels each of which may be printed by depositing a plurality of ink drops arranged in a plurality of evenly spaced columns;
• a print head having a plurality or arrays of nozzles for ejecting ink drops onto the mail piece;
• a transport device to transport the mail piece past the print head;
• a second controller coupled to the first controller and the print head for controlling the ejection of ink drops by the plurality of arrays of nozzles of the print head;
• and
• a memory coupled to the first and second controllers and storing software executable by the first and second controllers, the software including instructions for:
• determining if a current pixel of the 2D barcode is to be printed;
• if a current pixel is to be printed, determining if a following pixel adjacent to the current pixel is to be printed;
• and
• if the following pixel adjacent to the current pixel is not to be printed, adjusting printing of the current pixel such that ink drops from the print head will be ejected to form all columns in the current pixel except for a column nearest to the following pixel adjacent to the current pixel and staggering at least a portion of the plurality of ink drops that form a column adjacent to the column nearest to the following pixel adjacent to the current pixel,
• wherein the print head will print the current pixel as adjusted.