Abstract: A color ink jet printer including a print carriage movable along a carriage scan axis and a plurality of color producing ink jet printheads supported by the print carriage and offset relative to each other so that their nozzle arrays are non-overlapping along the media scan axis, such that the nozzle arrays of the ink jet printheads traverse non-overlapping regions as the carriage is scanned along the carriage scan axis.

Abstract: Methods of printing a desired color image on a printing medium by construction from individual ink drops deposited in pixel arrays includes passing a multiple-nozzle ink-discharging pen or an odd number of staggered pen cartridges across the medium multiple times, each pass creating a portion of a respective segment of the image, and periodically advancing the medium so that portions of successively different segments are created by the pen(s). During each pass, the “portion-creating” function includes discharging from the pen(s) an odd submultiple of the full density of ink desired in the segment of the desired image that is being created, so that printing full density in each segment requires an odd number of passes. The medium is advanced by an odd submultiple of the height of the segment being created in each pass and is preferably advanced after each pass of the pen(s). The portion-creating includes creation by the pen(s) of a multiplicity of spaced-apart diagonal lines.

Abstract: A method of printing a desired color image on a printing medium by construction from individual ink drops deposited in pixel arrays includes passing a multiple-nozzle ink-discharging pen across the medium multiple times, each pass creating a portion of a respective segment of the image, and periodically advancing the medium so that the pen creates portions of successively different segments. During each pass, the "portion-creating" function includes discharging from the pen an odd submultiple of the full density of ink desired in the segment of the desired image that is being created, so that printing full density in each segment requires an odd number of passes, preferably three. The medium is advanced by an odd submultiple of the height of the segment being created in each pass and is preferably advanced after each pass of the pen. For the preferred three passes, the odd submultiple of the height of the segment is preferably one-third.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating blower system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A preheat drive roller engages the medium and draws it to a print zone. The drive roller is heated and preheats the medium before it reaches the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater heats the underside of the medium via radiant and convective heat transfer through an opening pattern formed in a print zone heater screen. The amount of heat energy is variable, depending on the type of the print medium. A crossflow fan at the exit side of the print zone direct an airflow at the print zone in order to cause turbulence at the medium surface being printed and further accelerate evaporation of the ink carriers from the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing.

Abstract: An inkjet printer whereby high density graphics images can be printed without smearing and without either a reduction of print speed or a degradation of print quality is disclosed. Previous methods of inducing drying on inkjet output in printers with heaters did not use print density to adjust heater output. Heater output was simply adjusted based on the type of media so destruction of the media did not take place. The media was given enough time to dry by either lowering the print speed of the printer or utilizing special multi-pass print modes. As a result, the throughput of the printer was reduced. The disclosed inkjet printer allows for greater heater drying to be applied to output printed with greater densities of ink. The inkjet printer comprises a carriage mounted inkjet printing mechanism for applying liquid ink to a print medium as successive columns of dots contained within horizontal swaths to thereby form a portion of the image of an image to be printed on a sheet of print media.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer having a dual drying system. A print heater is disposed at the print zone for heating a portion of the print medium during printing operations to dry ink ejected onto the medium. The printer has means for drying the print medium at a drying location before the medium reaches the print zone to prevent uneven shrinkage of a cellulose-based print medium due to heating the medium at the print zone. The print heater can be controlled to provide a higher temperature at the print zone than the drying means provides at the drying location. The printer provides the capability of independent control of said drying means and said print heater.

Abstract: A color ink jet printer including a print carriage movable along a carriage scan axis, a plurality of non-black color printing ink jet printheads supported by the print carriage and offset relative to each other so that their nozzle arrays are non-overlapping along the media scan axis, and a black printing ink jet printhead having a nozzle array that overlaps along the media axis with one of the nozzle arrays of the non-black color printing ink jet printheads, whereby as the carriage is scanned along the carriage scan axis the nozzle arrays of the non-black color printing ink jet printheads traverse non-overlapping print regions and the nozzle array of the black printing printhead traverses a print region that overlaps one of the non-overlapping print regions traversed by the nozzle arrays of the non-black color printing ink jet printheads.

Abstract: An inkjet printer applies ink from one or more printheads to media which is supported by a screen platen. The screen platen allows transfer of heat by radiation and convection from a heat generator unit to pre-printing portion of the print zone, an ink-applying portion of the print zone, and a post-printing portion of the print zone.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating and air evacuation system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A medium advancement system advances the print medium from an input tray to the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater whose position is fixed in relation to the printer body heats the medium to cause accelerated drying of the ink deposited on the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing. The duct system includes an elongated inlet opening fixed in position relative to the printer body and disposed along the extent of the printer housing. The air and ink carrier vapors are drawn into the inlet opening and away from the print zone.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer having improved print quality and full color printing capability on plain paper media. A radiant print heater heats the medium at the print area to increase the ink carrier evaporation rate. The heater includes a wire heating element placed in a reflectorized cavity beneath the printing area, and radiant heat energy is directed onto the lower surface of the print medium through a grill. The heating element is energized by a low voltage signal. The print heater heats the portion of the medium disposed at the print area during print operations to cause accelerated drying of ink deposited on the medium.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating blower system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A preheat drive roller engages the medium and draws it to a print zone. The drive roller is heated and preheats the medium before it reaches the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater heats the underside of the medium via radiant and convective heat transfer through an opening pattern formed in a print zone heater screen. The amount of heat energy is variable, depending on the type of the print medium. A crossflow fan at the exit side of the print zone direct an airflow at the print zone in order to cause turbulence at the medium surface being printed and further accelerate evaporation of the ink carriers from the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating and air evacuation system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A medium advancement system advances the print medium from an input tray to the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater whose position is fixed in relation to the printer body heats the medium to cause accelerated drying of the ink deposited on the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing. The duct system includes an elongated inlet opening fixed in position relative to the printer body and disposed along the extent of the printer housing. The air and ink carrier vapors are drawn into the inlet opening and away from the print zone.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating blower system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A preheat drive roller engages the medium and draws it to a print zone. The drive roller is heated and preheats the medium before it reaches the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater heats the underside of the medium via radiant and convective heat transfer through an opening pattern formed in a print zone heater screen. The amount of heat energy is variable, depending on the type of the print medium. A crossflow fan at the exit side of the print zone direct an airflow at the print zone in order to cause turbulence at the medium surface being printed and further accelerate evaporation of the ink carriers from the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing.

Abstract: A pinch wheel is mounted to be spring-loaded against an exit drive roller in close proximity to a print zone, with the pinch wheel formed by a dual starwheel having two spaced-apart sets of teeth for contacting a newly-printed media surface without puncturing or damaging the media.

Abstract: In order to optimize print quality, it is desirable to minimize the distance between a inkjet printhead and the media that is being printed on. Color inkjet printers commonly employ a plurality of print cartridges, usually either two or four, mounted in the printer carriage to produce a full spectrum of colors. In a multiple printhead printer, it is advantageous if the black print cartridge is closer to the print media when printing text than is the color cartridge when printing color graphics. Accordingly, a pen pen carriage with adjustable printhead-to-media spacing is disclosed. A controller tells the printer to decrease the printhead-to-media spacing when text printing is being performed and to increase the printhead-to-media spacing to the appropriate printhead-to-media distance when printing color graphics or large black area fills based on the density of ink being deposited.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer having improved print quality and full color printing capability on plain paper media. A media advancing mechanism advances the print medium through a media path during print operations. Electrically energized heater elements heat a portion of the print medium at the print area. A power supply supplies electrical power to the heater elements and the media advancing mechanism. A single fan airflow system with multiple ducts evacuator air from the printer, including the print area. The airflow system evacuates excess ink spray and carrier vapor from the print area, provides cooling for the power supply and other electronics, and actively ventilates the preheater and print heater to avoid runaway temperatures.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer having improved print quality and full color printing capability on plain paper media. To accommodate placement of both input and output media trays on the same side of the printer housing for operator convenience, a paper path with a direction reversal is employed. A low cost radiant print heater with a reflector cavity heats the medium at the print area to increase the ink carrier evaporation rate. The printer provides improved medium control at the print area through an arrangement of small diameter drive and tension shafts and shortened handoff distance between the rollers. The heater is disposed between the drive and tension rollers. To minimize the handoff distance, portions of the drive rollers extend into the reflector cavity. The resulting media advancement mechanism has low inertia, with improved media positioning accuracy.

Abstract: A color ink jet printer including a print carriage movable along a carriage scan axis and a plurality of color producing ink jet printheads supported by the print carriage and offset relative to each other so that their nozzle arrays are non-overlapping along the media scan axis, such that the nozzle arrays of the ink jet printheads traverse non-overlapping regions as the carriage is scanned along the carriage scan axis.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating blower system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A preheat drive roller engages the medium and draws it to a print zone. The drive roller is heated and preheats the medium before it reaches the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater heats the underside of the medium via radiant and convective heat transfer through an opening pattern formed in a print zone heater screen. The amount of heat energy is variable, depending on the type of the print medium. A crossflow fan at the exit side of the print zone direct an airflow at the print zone in order to cause turbulence at the medium surface being printed and further accelerate evaporation of the ink carriers from the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing.