METHOD FOR FREE SPRAYING OF THE NOZZLES OF AN INKJET PRINT HEAD

Abstract

In a method for free spraying of the nozzles of an inkjet print head, in particular in a franking and/or addressing machine, in which the print media are directed past a stationary inkjet, at least the nozzles that are not participating in the generation of the current information-conveying print image are freely sprayed onto the current print medium in a mode that is irrelevant for the print image evaluation, while retaining the print position for the inkjet print head. The image-irrelevant mode can be free spraying in a region that is irrelevant for the print image evaluation or in a print pattern that cannot be evaluated. The size and/or number of the dots per pixel is thereby significantly smaller than for an evaluatable pixel. It is thereby ensured that each nozzle is activated at least once during the print image generation. Time is saved and the letter travel is optimized by the retention of the print position.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary indicia imprint with enlarged details for explaining the invention wherein,

• • imprint (a) is a complete indicia imprint with two-dimensional barcode, advertising cliché and other supplementary services such as one-dimensional address barcode,
  • enlargement (b) is a detail from the two-dimensional barcode from imprint (a), and
  • enlargement (c) is a detail from enlargement (b).

FIG. 2 provides an overview of possible image-irrelevant print modes for the free spray dots in accordance with the invention wherein,

• • imprint (a) shows a distribution of the free spray dots over the print medium,
  • imprint (b) shows a distribution of the free spray dots at sub-regions pertaining to unused or infrequently used nozzles,
  • imprint (c) shows a distribution of the free spray dots in bar form for sub-regions according to the two-dimensional barcode by simultaneous free spraying of unused nozzles, and
  • imprint (d) shows a distribution of the free spray dots in bar form for sub-regions before the indicia imprint by simultaneous free spraying of unused nozzles.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for the printer control in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for the block diagram according to FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For simplification and for an easier understanding, the representations below are in somewhat schematic form.

A complete indicia imprint for test purposes according to imprint (a) in FIG. 1 includes FIG. 1, in chronological order beginning at the right, the conventional franking imprint, the franking imprint in the two-dimensional barcode, an advertising cliché and other supplementary services such as a one-dimensional address barcode arranged below said advertising cliché.

A sub-region of the franking imprint in the two-dimensional barcode is shown enlargement (b) of FIG. 1. Here it can already be easily seen how the pixels p are composed of multiple dots d.

The region according to enlargement (b) FIG. 1b is shown so enlarged in enlargement (c) that the dimensions of one pixel can be easily seen in x- and y-coordinates, and it can also be seen that individual dots d of the free spray image that lie within the white pixels of the relevant print image Dr. It is clear that these dots inevitably are not considered by an evaluation system that makes the evaluation at a level comparable to the pixel size.

Imprint (b) In FIG. 2 shows the free spray dots distributed in regions in which the nozzles are barely activated or are not activated at all for generation of the information-conveying print image Dr. This in particular applies to the upper and lower margins of the maximum print region.

Imprint (c) in FIG. 2 shows the free spray dots arranged in sub-regions after (in the sense of printing occurring first at the right edge of the imprint) the two-dimensional barcode such that two perpendicular print lines exist in parallel with one another. The nozzles to be sprayed free are all simultaneously activated. In this case it is assumed that all nozzles provided for the barcode region are activated. This variant has the same effect as that according to imprint (b) of FIG. 2 and consequently is equally advantageous.

Imprint (d) in FIG. 2 shows the free spray dots d arranged in bar form in sub-regions before the indicia imprint. Otherwise the relationship is analogous to that in imprint (c) of FIG. 2. In both cases a repeated free spraying is allowable.

A block diagram of the printer control is shown in FIG. 3. The perimeter control includes a memory 1 for the relevant (in formation-conveying) print image Dr. The relevant print image Dr contains information concerning postage, mailing date, franking machine, advertising cliché as well as supplementary letter services such as express mail or bulk mail. This information is determined by upstream devices such as letter scales and dimension scanning components as well as sender requests.

The memory 1 is connected in a bi-directional manner with a microprocessor 5. Moreover, the franking data input 3 is connected to the microprocessor 5 such that it arrives in a unidirectional manner at the microprocessor 5. The data supplied by the franking data input 3 are further processed in the microprocessor 5 into the current print image job and are buffered in the memory 1. In the microprocessor 5 an additional image-irrelevant (non-information conveying) print image job is derived from the current relevant print image job.

Furthermore, a memory 4 in which the resulting print image job for the relevant and image-irrelevant print images Dr, Db is buffered is connected in a bidirectional manner with the microprocessor 5.

The microprocessor 5 is connected in a unidirectional manner with a printing device 6 that receives the activation data As for the current resulting print image D from said microprocessor 5 and prints out the print image D.

The associated flow diagram regarding the block diagram according to FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4. With the intake of a print medium B into the franking machine, the leading edge of the print medium B passes a sensor and therewith initiates the start S for the print job Da. The franking print calculation Drb and subsequently the franking print preparation Drv ensue by means of the postage-relevant information and the information regarding the desired advertising cliché from the franking data input 3. The data acquired for the relevant print image Dr acquired with this are buffered. The information of which nozzles are activated to which extent simultaneously accumulates in the franking print preparation Drv. This information is compared with criteria K1 input in the microprocessor for unused nozzles and criteria K2 for rarely-used nozzles and an image-irrelevant print image Dbv is initially prepared from these. For this purpose an image-irrelevant print image Dbb is subsequently calculated and stored as a current image-irrelevant print image Db. The data for the relevant print image Dr and the image-irrelevant print image Db are merged into a print image Direct voltage. The data so unified are buffered as a resulting print image D in a memory 4. At a given time these data are transmitted to the print device 6 as activation data As. The printing process is ended with the execution of all print commands per print medium B.

Naturally a free spraying can be omitted when all nozzles are used sufficiently often per print medium. Then only the data for the relevant print image Dr serve as activation data for the print device.

Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution to the art.

Claims

1. A method for free spraying of nozzles of a stationary inkjet printhead, with print media being directed past the stationary printhead, said method comprising the steps of: with regard to a current information-conveying print image to be printed on at least one of said print media using nozzles of said inkjet printhead, identifying at least nozzles that are not participating in the printing of said current information-conveying print image; andfree spraying at least some of said nozzles that are not participating in the printing of said current information-conveying print image onto one of said print media on which said current information-conveying print image is being printed, in a mode that is irrelevant for evaluation of said information-conveying print image, with said one of said print media, while said one of said print media is in a print position relative to said stationary inkjet printhead for printing said information-conveying print image.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising free spraying said at least some of said nozzles in a region on said one of said print media that is irrelevant for evaluation of said information-conveying print image.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said information-conveying print image is comprised of pixels and is evaluated at a scale of said pixels, and wherein said method comprises: generating a print pattern of dots resulting from said free spraying that cannot be evaluated at said pixel scale;compiling an image-irrelevant print image from said print pattern; andcombining said image-irrelevant print image with said information-conveying print image, to form a resulting image, and printing said resulting image on said one of said print media with said inkjet printhead.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said information-conveying image contains white pixels and black pixels, and generating said print pattern to allow superimposition of said image-irrelevant print image on both said white pixels and said black pixels of said information-conveying print image.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein each pixel of said information-conveying print image is comprised of print dots having a characteristic selected from the group consisting of dot size and number of dots per pixel, and comprising generating said print pattern for said image-irrelevant print image to consist of dots having a characteristic that corresponds to and is significantly smaller than said characteristic of said dots of said pixels of said information-conveying print image.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of free spraying said some of said nozzles in said image-irrelevant print image comprises free spraying said some of said nozzles at least once before or after printing said information-conveying print image.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising, prior to printing said information-conveying print image, producing a resulting print image compilation that is a combination of nozzles to be activated for printing said information-conveying print image and said some of said nozzles to be free-sprayed.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 comprising free spraying said some of said nozzles in a region on said one of said print media that is irrelevant for evaluating said information-conveying print image, and wherein said some of said nozzles include unused nozzles, that are not used for printing said information-conveying print image, and infrequently used nozzles, that are infrequently used to print said information-conveying print image, and comprising free spraying said unused nozzles at least as often as said infrequently used nozzles.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 comprising free spraying said some of said nozzles on a region of said one of said print media that is irrelevant for evaluating said information-conveying print image, and wherein said information-conveying print image comprises most frequently used nozzles that are most frequently used for printing said information-conveying print image, and comprising free spraying said some of said nozzles at least as often as said most frequently used nozzles.