Patent US6523934B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6523934B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Variable positioning of a printhead
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 2000-06-17
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Granted: 2003-02-25
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Expires: 2020-06-17
Abstract
Abstract An inkjet printer includes a printhead having a slant angle that can be changed as a function of primitive spacing. Increasing the slant angle allows printing speed to be increased.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Beauchamp
- 👤 Michael J. Klausbruckner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:13
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J25/00; B41J25/001; B41J25/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A printer for using a printhead containing nozzles having primitive separation, the printer having a paper flow axis, a scan axis and a Z-axis that is orthogonal to the scan and paper flow axes, the printer comprising: a printhead stall rotatable about the Z-axis; a mechanism for rotating the printhead stall about the Z-axis; and a controller for controlling the mechanism to change slant angle of the printhead stall as a function of the primitive separation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A printer for using a printhead containing nozzles having primitive separation, the printer having a paper flow axis, a scan axis and a Z-axis that is orthogonal to the scan and paper flow axes, the printer comprising: a printhead stall rotatable about the Z-axis; a mechanism for rotating the printhead stall about the Z-axis; and a controller for controlling the mechanism to change slant angle of the printhead stall as a function of the primitive separation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The printer of claim 1 , wherein the slant angle can be changed between about 0 to 11 degrees.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The printer of claim 1 , wherein the slant angle θ=arctan(Resx −1 P −1 ), where Resx represents scan resolution and P represents the primitive separation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The printer of claim 1 , further comprising means for controlling a printhead including first and second columns of nozzles; wherein the means causes the nozzles of the first column to fire at maximum frequency and the nozzles of the second column to fire at maximum frequency; whereby the nozzles are fired at an effective firing frequency that is twice the maximum firing frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The printer of claim 4 , wherein each primitive is made up of nozzles from a single column; and wherein primitives of the first column and paired with primitives of the second column.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The printer of claim 1 , wherein the printhead stall is secured to a mounting plate, and wherein the mechanism can move the mounting plate to adjust the slant angle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The printer of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism directly moves the printhead stall to adjust the slant angle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The printer of claim 1 , wherein the controller causes the mechanism to change the slant angle prior to starting a print job.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The printer of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism for creating a relative motion between the sheet and the printhead in a scan direction at a speed equal to the ratio of effective firing frequency over desired scan resolution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The printer of claim 1 , further comprising a carriage for the printhead stall, wherein carriage velocity is equal to the ratio of maximum firing frequency to scan resolution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The printer of claim 1 , wherein the slant angle is also a function of scan resolution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
An assembly for at least one printhead of a printer, the printer having a paper axis and a scan axis, the at least one printhead containing nozzles having primitive separation, the assembly comprising: a mounting plate; a printhead stall mounted to the mounting plate; and a mechanism for rotating the printhead stall to a slant angle between about 0 and 11 degrees, wherein the slant angle=arctan(Resx −1 P −1 ), where Resx represents scan resolution and P represents primitive separation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
An assembly for at least one printhead of a printer, the printer having a paper axis and a scan axis, the at least one printhead containing nozzles having primitive separation, the assembly comprising: a mounting plate; a printhead stall mounted to the mounting plate; and a mechanism for rotating the printhead stall to a slant angle between about 0 and 11 degrees, wherein the slant angle=arctan(Resx −1 P −1 ), where Resx represents scan resolution and P represents primitive separation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the mechanism moves the mounting plate to adjust the slant angle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the mechanism directly moves the printhead stall to adjust the slant angle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
An inkjet printer comprising: means for carrying at least one printhead containing nozzles; and means for rotating the carrying means about a Z-axis to a slant angle of arctan (Resx −1 P −1 ), where Resx represents scan resolution and P represents primitive separation of the nozzles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
An inkjet printer comprising: means for carrying at least one printhead containing nozzles; and means for rotating the carrying means about a Z-axis to a slant angle of arctan (Resx −1 P −1 ), where Resx represents scan resolution and P represents primitive separation of the nozzles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The printer of claim 15 , wherein the rotating means can rotate the carrying means according to a desired print speed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The printer of claim 15 , wherein at least one printhead has two columns of nozzles; and wherein the printer further comprises means for firing each of the two columns at a maximum firing frequency.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of using a printhead to print a swath of dots across a sheet, the printhead containing nozzles having a primitive separation, the method comprising: setting a slant angle as a function of scan resolution and the primitive separation; creating a relative motion between the sheet and the printhead in a scan direction at a speed equal to the ratio of effective firing frequency over desired scan resolution; and firing the nozzles at maximum actual frequency while the relative motion is being created.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of using a printhead to print a swath of dots across a sheet, the printhead containing nozzles having a primitive separation, the method comprising: setting a slant angle as a function of scan resolution and the primitive separation; creating a relative motion between the sheet and the printhead in a scan direction at a speed equal to the ratio of effective firing frequency over desired scan resolution; and firing the nozzles at maximum actual frequency while the relative motion is being created.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the printhead includes first and second columns of nozzles; and wherein the nozzles of the first column are fired at the maximum frequency and the nozzles of the second column are fired at the maximum frequency; whereby the nozzles are fired at an effective firing frequency that is twice the maximum firing frequency.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein each primitive is made up of nozzles from a single column; and wherein primitives of the first column and paired with primitives of the second column.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the slant angle is changed prior to starting a print job.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
61 words
A printer having a paper flow axis, the printer comprising: a pen including first and second columns of nozzles; and a mechanism for rotating the pen to a slant angle so that the nozzles of the first and second columns, after rotation, are aligned along the paper flow axis, the slant angle being a function of primitive separation of the nozzles.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
61 words
A printer having a paper flow axis, the printer comprising: a pen including first and second columns of nozzles; and a mechanism for rotating the pen to a slant angle so that the nozzles of the first and second columns, after rotation, are aligned along the paper flow axis, the slant angle being a function of primitive separation of the nozzles.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The printer of claim 22 , further comprising means for firing the first and second columns of nozzles independently such that each primitive consists of nozzles from only one of the columns.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The printer of claim 22 , wherein the slant angle is arctan (Resx −1 P −1 ), where Resx represents scan resolution and P represents the primitive separation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The printer of claim 22 , further comprising a carriage for the printhead, wherein carriage velocity is equal to the ratio of maximum firing frequency to scan resolution.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-24 | 2006-08-26 | 2007-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-24 | 2010-08-26 | 2011-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-24 | 2014-08-26 | 2015-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |