Image printing method and system for improving image quality in dot matrix printer

• US 8,018,634 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agfa Nv (Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Agfa Graphics Nv (Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
• Inventors: Vanhooydonck, Rudi, Janssens, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MADELEINE ANH VINH
• Application Number:
  US11/915,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 358/501, 358/502, 358/504, 358/518, 358/535, 358/3.27, 358/3.32, 358/1.13, 358/1.18, 347/102, 347/9, 347/3, 347/12, 347/20, 347/24
• US Class Current: 358/535
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/00214 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/21 for multi-colour printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2132 Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding methods for local corrections by dot omission, image edge enhancement, or multi-pass mask selection G06K15/102; colour conversion H04N1/40
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/20 Modules
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/107 Mask selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/111 with overlapping swaths

Abstract

Ink coalescence in inkjet printing is reduced by printing mutually interstitial images using an arrangement of multiple curing stations in combination with multiple printing heads.

Claims

1. A method for reconstructing an image on a dot matrix printer having a print head assembly arranged to print a mutually interstitial sub-image during a print pass along a fast scan orientation, the method comprising:

separating the image into a primary series of M (M>

1) mutually interstitial sub-images;

separating each one of the M mutually interstitial sub-images of the primary series into a secondary series of N (N>

1) mutually interstitial sub-images to obtain N*M mutually interstitial sub-images of the secondary series;

printing the N*M mutually interstitial sub-images of the secondary series; and

performing at least a partial curing on the N*M mutually interstitial sub-images;

wherein

the printing and the at least partial curing of at least two of the N*M mutually interstitial sub-images of the secondary series that are derived from a same one of the M mutually interstitial sub-images of the primary series occurs during a same print pass of the print head assembly.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein N=M=2.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first sub-image belonging to the N*M mutually interstitial sub-images of the secondary series is printed along a first direction along the fast scan orientation, and another N*M mutually interstitial sub-image belonging to the secondary series is printed along a second direction opposite to the first direction along the fast scan orientation.

4. The method according to claim 1, further including a final curing step.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code and computer code instructions adapted to carry out the method according to claim 1, when the instructions are executed on a computer.

5. A dot matrix printing system for printing an image comprising:

an image separator arranged to separate the image into a primary series of M (M>

1) mutually interstitial sub-images;

a second image separator arranged to separate each one of the M mutually interstitial sub-images of the primary series into a secondary series of N (N>

1) mutually interstitial sub-images to obtain N*M mutually interstitial sub-images of the secondary series;

a print head assembly arranged to print the N*M mutually interstitial sub-images during a print pass;

a curing stations arranged to perform at least partial curing on the N*M mutually interstitial sub-images of the secondary series; and

a sequencer arranged to control the print pass of the print head assembly and power supplied to the curing station;

wherein

the sequencer powers on the curing station during the print pass of the print head assembly to at least partially cure at least two of the N*M mutually interstitial sub-images of the secondary series that are derived from a same one of the M mutually interstitial sub-images of the primary series.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the dot matrix printing system is an inkjet printer.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the curing stations is a UV curing station.