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EP0589718A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pen alignment method

Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1993-09-24
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2013-09-24
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Abstract

Abstract A user-interactive plural pen alignment solution for ink-jet printers is described. The invented solution involves user interaction with automatic pen alignment firmware to select the best alignment among a number of illustratively printed options to achieve semi-automatic inter-pen alignment. The alignment algorithm is invoked by a keystroke on a keypad of the ink-jet printer's control panel, typically when a new pen is installed in the printer's carriage. The printer prints stored horizontal and vertical alignment test patterns, including superposed patterns of spaced linear segments (K) and progressively offset, spaced linear segments (M), that illustrate a range of alignment options indicated by printed symbolic indicia (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). The printer also prints a stored illustration of the printer's keypad keys that should be struck to make selected alignments. The user examines the printout, selects desired alignments and strikes selected ones of the indicated keys. Horizontal alignments are made in firmware by shifting the timing between ink-jet firings. Vertical alignments are made in firmware by pixel shifting, i.e. by selecting different inkjets for firing. The printer prints a page of alignment patterns illustrating the chosen alignments, which are stored in non-volatile memory for subsequent, pen-aligned printing.

Inventors

  • 👤 David W. Pinkernell
  • 👤 James O. Beehler
  • 👤 Kevin R. Hudson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 16:34
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/21; B41J2/2132; B41J2/2135; B41J25/00; B41J25/34

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 173 words
A user-interactive plural-pen ink-jet printer alignment method comprising: printing plural instances of a first stored alignment pattern utilizing a first pen, said first pattern including a collinear set of spaced line segments (K); printing plural instances of a second stored alignment pattern utilizing a second pen, said second pattern including a collinear set of spaced line segments (M) nominally collinear with said spaced line segments of said first pattern and interposing the same, with a predefined offset of said second pattern between successive instances transverse to the axes defined by the collinear segments of said second pattern, to produce plural superposed patterns; identifying each of said superposed patterns with one or more printed indicia (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) corresponding with one or more user selectable keys on a keypad of the printer; inputting a user's key selection from the keypad; storing information regarding the predefined offset corresponding with said second pattern identified by the user-inputted key; and thereafter utilizing the predefined offset corresponding with the second pen for printing thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises, after said storing and before said utilizing, printing an alignment pattern based upon the stored information as confirmation of the user's selection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said predefined first and second alignment patterns include both horizontal and vertical line segments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said successive predefined offsets define an offset range predetermined to correspond to a range of possible inter-pen alignments within the carriage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying is performed by printing indicia (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) adjacent said plural superimposed patterns that correspond with indicia associated with the keys of the keypad.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 44 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said identifying is performed by printing a pictorial representation of the keypad, with one or more keys of said pictorial keypad representation containing printed indicia corresponding with the printed identifying indicia (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said storing is in non-volatile memory the contents of which are preserved when the printer is turned off.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE3233425A1 Cited
EP0257570A2 Cited
US5109239A Cited
US5049898A Cited

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