System and method for adjusting printhead operations in a direct-to-object printer having a fixed printhead array
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A printing system comprising:
- a plurality of printheads, each printhead in the plurality of printheads being configured to eject marking material;
a member having a first end and a second end, the plurality of printheads being positioned opposite the member and between the first end and the second end of the member;
a holder configured to hold an object and to move along the member between the first end and the second end of the member;
an actuator operatively connected to the holder to enable the actuator to move the holder along the member to enable the object to move past the printheads to receive marking material from the printheads in the plurality of printheads;
a plurality of imaging device, the plurality of imaging devices being positioned between the first end of the member and the plurality of printheads, each imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices being configured to generate image data of a portion of the object opposite the imaging device as the object passes the plurality of imaging devices; and
a controller operatively connected to the plurality of printheads, the actuator, and the plurality of imaging devices, the controller being configured to operate the actuator to move the holder and the object along the member, to operate the imaging devices to generate image data of the object in response to the object being opposite the plurality of imaging devices, to generate an object profile with reference to the generated image data received from the imaging devices, and to operate ejectors within the printheads of the plurality of printheads with reference to the generated object profile.
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Abstract
A direct-to-object printer includes a plurality of imaging devices that generates image data of an object secured in a holder before the holder and the object pass a plurality of printheads for printing an ink image on the object. A controller receives the image data and converts it to an object profile. The controller operates ejectors in the printheads with reference to the object profile to attenuate inconsistent ink image density and ink image distortion.
21 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A printing system comprising:
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a plurality of printheads, each printhead in the plurality of printheads being configured to eject marking material; a member having a first end and a second end, the plurality of printheads being positioned opposite the member and between the first end and the second end of the member; a holder configured to hold an object and to move along the member between the first end and the second end of the member; an actuator operatively connected to the holder to enable the actuator to move the holder along the member to enable the object to move past the printheads to receive marking material from the printheads in the plurality of printheads; a plurality of imaging device, the plurality of imaging devices being positioned between the first end of the member and the plurality of printheads, each imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices being configured to generate image data of a portion of the object opposite the imaging device as the object passes the plurality of imaging devices; and a controller operatively connected to the plurality of printheads, the actuator, and the plurality of imaging devices, the controller being configured to operate the actuator to move the holder and the object along the member, to operate the imaging devices to generate image data of the object in response to the object being opposite the plurality of imaging devices, to generate an object profile with reference to the generated image data received from the imaging devices, and to operate ejectors within the printheads of the plurality of printheads with reference to the generated object profile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for operating a printer comprising:
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operating with a controller an actuator operatively connected to a holder to move the holder and an object secured in the holder along a member to which the holder is mounted; operating with the controller a plurality of imaging devices to generate image data of the object in response to the object being opposite the plurality of imaging devices; generating with the controller an object profile with reference to the generated image data received from the plurality of imaging devices; and operating with the controller ejectors within a plurality of printheads with reference to the generated object profile, the printheads in the plurality of printheads being fixed printheads. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification