Ink jet printing with multiple drops at pixel locations for gray scale
First Claim
1. A process for producing gray scale image pixels from a one-dimensional array of electrical pulse-activated ink jet nozzles generally aligned in a first direction;
- said process comprising;
applying regular clocked electrical pulses to selected nozzles of the array so that each selected nozzle will deposit ink droplets on a recording medium at a constant drop deposit rate;
inducing intermittent relative movement between the nozzle array and the medium in a second direction generally normal to the first direction; and
controlling the relative movement between the nozzle array and the medium to repeatedly pause the relative movement while a plurality of droplets are selectively deposited by each nozzle of the array, whereby a pixel is formed having a gray scale level equal to the number of nozzles in the array multiplied by the number of pauses multiplied by the number of droplets that are selectively deposited by each nozzle during each pause, including zero droplets.
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Abstract
An ink jet printing apparatus is disclosed for producing gray scale image pixels on a received recording medium includes a plurality of electrical pulse activated ink-ejecting nozzles forming a one-dimensional array in a first direction. A plurality of nozzle control circuits apply electrical pulses to selected nozzles of the array so that each selected nozzle will deposit ink droplets on a received recording medium. A transport mechanism provides relative movement between the nozzle array and the medium in a second direction generally normal to the first direction. A transport mechanism control system provides intermittent relative movement between the nozzle array and the medium, and repeatedly pauses the relative movement while a plurality of droplets are selectively deposited by each nozzle of the array, whereby a pixel is formed having a gray scale level equal to the number of nozzles in the array multiplied by the number of pauses multiplied by the number of droplets that are selectively deposited by each nozzle during each pause, including zero droplets.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A process for producing gray scale image pixels from a one-dimensional array of electrical pulse-activated ink jet nozzles generally aligned in a first direction;
- said process comprising;
applying regular clocked electrical pulses to selected nozzles of the array so that each selected nozzle will deposit ink droplets on a recording medium at a constant drop deposit rate; inducing intermittent relative movement between the nozzle array and the medium in a second direction generally normal to the first direction; and controlling the relative movement between the nozzle array and the medium to repeatedly pause the relative movement while a plurality of droplets are selectively deposited by each nozzle of the array, whereby a pixel is formed having a gray scale level equal to the number of nozzles in the array multiplied by the number of pauses multiplied by the number of droplets that are selectively deposited by each nozzle during each pause, including zero droplets. - View Dependent Claims (2)
- said process comprising;
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3. Ink jet printing apparatus for producing gray scale image pixels on a received recording medium;
- said apparatus comprising;
a plurality of electrical pulse activated ink-ejecting nozzles forming a one-dimensional array in a first direction; a plurality of nozzle control circuits adapted to apply regular clocked electrical pulses to selected nozzles of the array so that each selected nozzle will deposit ink droplets on a received recording medium at a constant drop deposit rate; a transport mechanism adapted to provide relative movement between the nozzle array and the medium in a second direction generally normal to the first direction; and a transport mechanism control system adapted to provide intermittent relative movement between the nozzle array and the medium, and to repeatedly pause the relative movement while a plurality of droplets are selectively deposited by each nozzle of the array, whereby a pixel is formed having a gray scale level equal to the number of nozzles in the array multiplied by the number of pauses multiplied by the number of droplets that are selectively deposited by each nozzle during each pause, including zero droplets. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
- said apparatus comprising;
Specification