Abstract: In a magnetic ink jet printer a continuous stream of ferrofluid ink drops is projected toward a print medium. A magnetic selector located proximate the stream is operated in synchronism with the flight of the ink drops for deflecting individual unwanted ink drops into a drop catcher. Due to fringing effects produced by the selector when unwanted drops are selected, adjacent print drops are deflected a lesser amount from the initial stream trajectory. Print drops not affected by the fringe magnetic field produced to select unwanted drops are subjected to a compensation deflection depending on their position relative to the unwanted drops so that all print drops follow the same trajectory, after passing the magnetic selector in their travel through a vertical deflector and deposition onto the print medium.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer, drops are generated at a test frequency which is a harmonic of the drop generation rate for printing. If an error in velocity is detected at the test frequency, a coarse correction velocity is made to bring the correct number of drops within the range of one-half the wavelength at the nth drop location relative to a drop detector. Drops are then generated at the printing frequency and a fine correction in the velocity is made if a velocity error is detected.

Abstract: A line printer has a print head with plural nozzles arranged in a single row generally transverse to the direction of relative motion of the print head and a print medium. The nozzles are spaced plural dot positions from each other corresponding to a plural dot segment of a single dot matrix character stroke. When the row of nozzles is slanted relative to the direction of motion, drops from the nozzles are used to print stroke segments in plural character strokes simultaneously.