Abstract: A shift amount detecting chart is formed on web paper, and the shift amount detecting chart is photographed by an image pickup unit. An image processor calculates shift amounts smaller than a maximum shift amount in absolute values as correction values based on a variation trace of density peak positions from image data corresponding to the shift amount detecting chart photographed by the image pickup unit. A controller corrects printing timing with these correction values. Consequently, even when temporal variations occur to the shift amounts within a predetermined length, since the correction values are calculated based on the shift amounts smaller than the maximum shift amount in absolute values, an excessive correction can be prevented, thereby to improve printing quality.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a discharging unit configured to be capable of discharging a plurality of kinds of liquids onto a medium, and a waste liquid tank including a storage part configured to store a waste liquid of the liquid. The waste liquid tank includes a first inflow port and a second inflow port from which the waste liquid flows into the storage part, and a restriction portion located between the first inflow port and the second inflow port, and configured to restrict movement of the waste liquid in the storage part.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a discharge device, a driving device, processing circuitry, and a reading device. The discharge device discharges liquid to a recording medium to form a test pattern. The driving device causes the discharge device to discharge the liquid according to a driving waveform. The processing circuitry inputs a plurality of driving waveforms and acquires first data indicating a standard pattern that corresponds to the driving waveform and is formed with the driving waveform or indicating a parameter of the standard pattern. The reading device reads the test pattern to generate second data. The processing circuitry compares the second data with the first data and selects a driving waveform generating a smallest difference between the second data and the first data, based on a result of comparison of the second data with the first data.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head having nozzles; a signal output device; a recovery device configured to perform a first recovery operation or a second recovery operation, to discharge liquid from the nozzles; and a controller configured to: in response to receiving a second signal, activate the signal output device, and drive the liquid ejection head in a check mode for ejecting liquid from the nozzles, the second signal instructing to record a check pattern on a recording medium; in response to receiving a first signal indicating that a first nozzle being one of the nozzles is in failure in liquid ejection when the liquid ejection head in driven in the check mode, activate the recovery device to perform the first recovery operation; and subsequent to the first recovery operation, drive the liquid ejection head to record the check pattern on the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a transport belt, an optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a controller. The transport belt transports the recording sheet. The optical sensor emits light to the transport belt, and receives the light reflected by the transport belt. The ultrasonic sensor transmits ultrasonic wave to the transport belt, and receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted through the transport belt. The controller decides whether an output from each of the optical sensor and the ultrasonic sensor represents a normal value or an abnormal value, and executes predetermined control, depending on a combination of decision results about the respective outputs from the optical sensor and the ultrasonic sensor.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a storage chamber which is connectable to a cartridge storing liquid and stores liquid supplied from the cartridge; a movable member provided in the storage chamber and including a float and a detection target portion, the float being lower in specific gravity than the liquid stored in the storage chamber; and a detection unit which detects movement of the movable member by detecting the detection target portion. The detection target portion is movable from a first position to a third position through a second position. The detection unit is arranged to detect the detection target portion in a case where the detection target portion is present at the second position.

Abstract: Misalignment between landing positions is appropriately corrected. A printing device 10 that performs printing by an inkjet method includes an inkjet head 102, a carriage 100, a main scan driving part 18 (carriage drive mechanism), a detection mechanism 106, and a controller 30. The controller 30 detects a position where a concentration is the highest among concentrations of a correction pattern changing depending on positions in a main scanning direction, calculates magnitude of misalignment between a landing position of ink ejected from the inkjet head 102 when the carriage 100 moves to a first direction side and a landing position of the ink ejected from the inkjet head 102 when the carriage 100 moves to a second direction side based on a detection result of the position where the concentration is the highest, and corrects the misalignment between the landing positions based on a calculation result.

Abstract: This document discloses a system to dispense a precise and continuous amount of ink for a large printing press. The dispensing system can be judiciously combined into a more elaborate dispensing system that uses two chambers with ink having a different density to dispense ink with a precise, adjustable and stable ink density. The dispensing system can be used to compensate the drifts in quality observed in presses when the speed, or any environmentable parameters vary.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: an ejection section ejecting a liquid; a state detection section detecting a state of the ejection section; a determination section determining whether or not the ejection section has an abnormality; a recording section recording a determination result of the determination section; a temperature detection section detecting a temperature of the ejection section; and a maintenance section executing maintenance processing on the ejection section, in which when the recording section records abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the ejection section as the determination result by determining that the abnormality occurred in the ejection section by the determination section, and the temperature detection section detects a temperature that is out of an inspection temperature range in which the state detection section detects the state of the ejection section, the abnormality information recorded in the recording section is reset if the maintenance section execute

Abstract: A first printing unit and a second printing unit are supplied with ink from a first sub-tank and a second sub-tank, respectively. The first sub-tank and the second sub-tank are supplied with the ink from a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe, respectively. The first branch pipe is provided with a first valve, and the second branch pipe is provided with a second valve. A central control unit determines which one of the first sub-tank and the second sub-tank is to be preferentially supplied with ink based on at least one of the amount of remaining ink in each of the first sub-tank and the second sub-tank, and an estimated amount of consumption of ink in each of the first printing unit and the second printing unit, and controls the first valve and the second valve based on a result of the determination.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a storage portion that stores a learned model obtained by performing machine learning on a maintenance condition for a print head based on a data set in which nozzle surface image information obtained by photographing a nozzle plate surface of the print head and maintenance information representing necessity of maintenance of the print head or a recommended execution timing of the maintenance are associated with each other, an acquisition portion that acquires the nozzle surface image information, and a processing portion that outputs the maintenance information based on the nozzle surface image information and the learned model at a timing before a discharge defect of the print head occurs.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a display device, the apparatus comprising: a droplet discharger comprising a nozzle configured to discharge a droplet; a first detector on a falling path of the droplet that falls from the droplet discharger and configured to detect a shape of the droplet; a second detector spaced apart from the first detector and configured to detect the shape of the droplet that falls from the droplet discharger; and a controller configured to calculate at least one of a volume of the droplet, a falling speed of the droplet, the falling path of the droplet, or a discharge angle, at which the droplet is discharged from the nozzle, based on results detected by the first detector and the second detector.

Abstract: A driving waveform determining method with which a waveform of a driving pulse applied to a driving element provided in a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid is determined includes: a first step of determining a waveform candidate of the driving pulse; a second step of notifying a user of candidate information of the waveform candidate; a third step of receiving an instruction issued by the user in accordance with the candidate information; and a fourth step of determining the waveform of the driving pulse in accordance with the instruction.

Abstract: A driving waveform determining method with which a waveform of a driving pulse applied to a driving element provided in a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid is determined includes: a first step of measuring, by performing a simulation, ejection characteristics of the liquid from the liquid ejecting head when a waveform candidate is used for the driving pulse; a second step of measuring, by performing an actual measurement, the ejection characteristics of the liquid from the liquid ejecting head when the waveform candidate is used for the driving pulse; and a third step of determining the waveform of the driving pulse in accordance with a measurement result obtained in the first step and a measurement result obtained in the second step.

Abstract: A waveform determination method is disclosed that includes acquiring second timing information regarding a timing at which the flight distance of the droplet reaches the first distance when each of the plurality of waveform candidates indicated by the second waveform information is used, and a determination step of determining a waveform of each of the first drive pulse and the second drive pulse based on the first timing information and the second timing information.

Abstract: A printing apparatus that performs printing on a medium while being manually moved relative to the medium, the printing apparatus including a first discharger including a first nozzle row that discharges a first liquid, a second discharger including a second nozzle row that discharges a second liquid, a mode determination section that evaluates whether the printing apparatus operates in a first mode in which the printing apparatus is movable in an oblique direction with respect to a first direction or a second mode in which the printing apparatus is not movable in an oblique direction with respect to the first direction, and a first control section that restrains printing using both the first and second dischargers when the mode determination section determines that the printing apparatus operates in a first mode in which the printing apparatus operates in the first mode.

Abstract: A color printing system manages ICC profiles by controlling ink use without performing the ICC profile creation operations. To obtain an ink limit for an ICC profile, a table associated with the ICC profile is parsed to determine the ink limit. The ink limit is decreased or increased. For an ink limit decrease, a color over the decreased ink limit is adjusted to meet the new ink limit. The ICC profile is updated accordingly. For an ink limit increase, the combination of primary colors are boosted by a percentage amount. Checks are made with regard to the volume-based ink limit and an quality check operation to accepted the boosted amount. The ICC profile is updated accordingly.

Abstract: A system for analysing drops capable of being ejected by a coating product applicator, includes a light source configured to illuminate a drop ejection zone, designated observation zone; a first image acquisition device configured to acquire an image of the observation zone; and an image analyser configured to determine, from the image of the observation zone, the presence of drops at a given distance from the applicator, the size of the drops and the absence of satellite; the light source and the first image acquisition device being situated on a same side of the observation zone.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a former that performs image formation on a sheet conveyed on a conveyance path; a first hardware processor that detects a type of the sheet on which the image is formed; a second hardware processor that receives specification of a type of a sheet from a user; and a third hardware processor that receives a user setting regarding the image formation, wherein the user setting includes a setting for allowing the former to continuously perform the image formation in a case where the sheet type detected by the first hardware processor is different from the sheet type specified by the user received by the second hardware processor.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus, having a power source, a drivable device, a head, a motor, a carriage, a sensor, and a controller, is provided. In a recording process, the controller sets a limitation current calculated by subtracting a variable first driving current from an allowable current to the power source, controls the power source to supply the first driving current to the drivable device and simultaneously supply a variable second driving current not exceeding the maximum current to the motor, and when the controller determines, based on a signal output from the sensor, that a behavior of the carriage satisfies an error condition, on condition that the drivable device has completed a targeted conveying action, issue an error alert, and on condition that the drivable device has not completed the targeted conveying action, control the motor to cause the carriage to continue moving without issuing the error alert.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrical circuit system for performing a test. The electrical circuit system includes a first circuitry that transmits a test request signal; a second circuitry that receives a response signal including a test authentication key, generates a test authentication-related value by performing a first Exclusive-OR operation on the test authentication key and a security, and sends the generated test authentication-related value to a third circuitry; and the third circuitry that generates the test authentication key in response to the request for test authentication, send the test authentication key, to the second circuitry, receives the test authentication-related value from the second circuitry, create a verification key by performing a second Exclusive-OR operation on the test authentication-related value and the security key, and generates a test result by verifying whether the verification key is identical to the test authentication key.

Abstract: A method of inkjet printer operation indicates a need for printhead purging without requiring analysis of printed images to detect streakiness in the images. The method compares terms of a histogram of a filtered response of an inkjet status vector to a streakiness metric to determine whether the distribution of inoperative inkjets in a printhead enables missing ink techniques to be used to compensate for inoperative inkjets in the printhead.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described herein for measurement of droplets dispensed from a printhead of an inkjet printer onto a substrate. An inkjet printer described herein comprises a printhead assembly comprising a printhead and an imaging system, the imaging system comprising a camera and a strobed LED source; and a deposition unit for positioning a substrate to receive droplets dispensed from the printhead and for imaging the droplets using the imaging system and the strobed LED source. Methods described herein comprise dispensing droplets of a liquid from a printhead of a printhead assembly of an inkjet printer onto a substrate; positioning the substrate with respect to an imaging system coupled to the printhead assembly, the imaging system comprising a camera and an LED light source; and imaging the droplets on the substrate by relatively scanning the substrate and the imaging system and strobing the LED light source.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling an information processing apparatus configured to execute an extension application associated with printing data generation software operatable in the information processing apparatus to extend a function, the method including: obtaining input data including printing setting; displaying a screen related to a specific function on a display unit in a case where it is determined based on the printing setting that the specific function is executed; editing the input data, such that the specific function is executed, to convert the input data into printing data; and transmitting the printing data to a printing apparatus after the screen is displayed on the display unit in the displaying.

Abstract: Examples relate to computer-implemented methods for a printing system comprising a printhead, and to printing systems. A method for a printing system comprises retrieving a stored first offset applied to the printhead to align the printhead, the first offset determined based on a first user input signal; and further aligning the printhead according to a further offset determined based on a further user input signal, the further offset indicating a difference from the first offset.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating for variation of the image placement for each color station in an intermediate transfer drum system. A sensor detects the image placed by the previous station and triggers the imaging on the drum such that it properly registered to the previous image. However, the variation of the drum's radius results in runout which creates an error in the image placement, since the surface drum travel will be larger or smaller than expected. The method to correct for a lead edge offset for radial runout involves dividing the drum into regions and calculating an offset center of each region. As the drum transitions from region to region the offset value is updated to determine when to start imaging for proper placement on the sheet. The offset can be derived from the image runout to find the distance traveled from the transfer point or can be measured directly from color-to-color registration variation.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus has: a liquid discharge section configured to change an inner volume of a first pressure chamber communicating with a nozzle by a first piezoelectric element; a pressure vibration section configured to change an inner volume of a second pressure chamber by a second piezoelectric element; a driving signal generation section configured to generate a discharging driving signal for the first piezoelectric element and a detection driving signal for the second piezoelectric element; and a vibration detection section that detects residual vibration of a liquid filled in the second pressure chamber after the supply of the detection driving signal. The viscous resistance of a flow path between the second pressure chamber and the common flow path is lower than the viscous resistance of a flow path between the first pressure chamber and the common flow path.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of printer consumables, and in particular, to a communication method for a consumable chip, a consumable chip, and a consumable. The communication method for a consumable chip includes: in the process of consumable serial number authentication, performing non-AC authentication with an imaging device based on a first serial number, and performing AC authentication with the imaging device based on a second serial number. The non-AC authentication is performed on the chip by using the first serial number before the device is upgraded, such that the imaging device records the first serial number as a used chip serial number. The second serial number, which is set after the device is upgraded, is only used for AC authentication.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for determining a sequential ordering of predefined transfers for transferring an object from source points of a source array to destination points of a destination array in a laboratory automation system. For each transition to a next transfer, first and second component travel costs between current and next transfer positions are determined. A transition travel cost is determined from the first and second component travel costs. The cost of each sequential ordering of the predefined transfers is based upon an aggregate of the transition travel costs for each ordering of the transfers. The resolved sequential ordering may be based upon the sequential ordering that has the lowest cost.

Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes at least one physical memory device to store compensation logic and one or more processors coupled with the at least one physical memory device to execute the compensation logic to generate transfer functions for each of a plurality of color planes to compensate for overlapping pel forming elements of adjacent printheads, wherein the transfer functions are generated based on ink deposition functions for groups of pel forming elements including non-overlapping pel forming elements and the overlapping pel forming elements, wherein the transfer functions transform input digital counts, and wherein the ink deposition functions represent output ink amount versus input digital count.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a reading device, and circuitry. The image forming device discharges ink droplets through nozzles to form an image on a recording medium conveyed in a first direction. The reading device reads the image formed on the recording medium. The circuitry generates a correction chart that includes patches, located in the first direction and representing different densities from each other, and two marks located at different positions from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The circuitry locates opposed end portions of the patches in the second direction outside the two marks in the second direction. The circuitry derives correction data, based on read data of an area of the patches existing inside the two marks in the second direction included in read data provided by the reading device reading the correction chart formed on the recording medium.

Abstract: An element substrate of a liquid ejection head includes an ejection element for ejecting a liquid, a plurality of electrode pads for receiving power for causing the ejection element to eject the liquid, and a sensor for detecting that the liquid has invaded the vicinity of the plurality of electrode pads. The sensor has first wiring connected with one electrode pad of the plurality of electrode pads and second wiring connected with one electrode pad different from the electrode pad connected with the first wiring.

Abstract: A print head includes a head portion that includes a driving element driven by a drive signal and ejects a liquid in response to the drive of the driving element, a flow path member provided with a liquid flow path for supplying a liquid to the head portion, a circuit board provided with a supply circuit for supplying the drive signal to the driving element and disposed between the head portion and the flow path member, and a light emitting element disposed between the circuit board and the flow path member, in which the flow path member is provided with a light guide tube that guides light emitted by the light emitting element to an outside of the flow path member.

Abstract: A print head includes a head portion that includes a driving element driven by a drive signal and ejects a liquid in response to the drive of the driving element, a flow path member provided with a liquid flow path for supplying a liquid to the head portion, a circuit board provided with a supply circuit for supplying the drive signal to the driving element and disposed between the head portion and the flow path member, and a sound emitting element disposed between the circuit board and the flow path member, in which the flow path member is provided with a sound guide tube that guides sound emitted by the sound emitting element to an outside of the flow path member.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer iteratively performs printhead purges and test pattern analysis until either every printhead has a number of inoperative inkjets that is less than a predetermined threshold or a maximum number of iterations is reached. An error message is generated for each printhead having a number of inoperative inkjets that is greater than the predetermined threshold. The iterative performance of the printhead purges and test pattern analysis is performed automatically prior to the commencement of printing operations with the printer to remove subjective and time-consuming analysis by a printer operator.

Abstract: A method of processing phase signals for continuous inkjet printing, said method comprising: providing at least one phase signal, wherein said at least one phase signal is an analogue signal; converting the at least one phase signal into at least one corresponding digitised phase signal; and processing said at least one digitised phasing signal, wherein the processing comprises extracting at least one predetermined phase parameter from the at least one digitised phasing signal when the at least one digitised phasing signal is a time-domain digitalised phase signal, and wherein the at least one predetermined phase parameter comprises one or more time-domain signal features of the at least one digitised phasing signal.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head having a plurality of nozzles, a determination circuit, a clock, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether the clock is in an on or off state. In response to determining that the clock is in an on state, the controller is configured to perform an inspection process at a first time. In the inspection process, the controller drives the liquid ejection head to eject liquid from a nozzle of the plurality nozzles and receive a determination signal that is output from the determination circuit in response to ejection of liquid from the nozzle of the plurality of nozzles. In response to determining that the clock is in an off state, the controller is configured to perform the inspection process at a predetermined time that is a time after the clock is returned to an on state.

Abstract: A method for controlling an information processing apparatus includes a notifying step of, if an error is occurring in a printing apparatus under non-completion of an initial setting process for the printing apparatus when a predetermined program is operating on the information processing apparatus, executing a notification process for notifying a user of the error occurring in the printing apparatus on the basis of error information, the initial setting process being a process executed in response to the user turning on the printing apparatus for a first time after the printing apparatus is unpacked, and not executing the notification process if an error is occurring in the printing apparatus under completion of the initial setting process for the printing apparatus when the predetermined program is operating on the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A droplet discharge apparatus includes a discharge head including a nozzle, a nozzle surface observation device, and processing circuitry. The discharge head including the nozzle is configured to discharge a droplet onto a discharge receiving medium formed of powder. The nozzle surface observation device is configured to observe a nozzle surface of the nozzle of the discharge head. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate an adhesion amount of attached matter to the nozzle surface based on an observation result of the nozzle surface observation device. The processing circuitry is configured to determine, based on a calculation result of the adhesion amount of the attached matter, an operation on a control target that controls at least one of a mass and a discharge speed of the droplet.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a system for quality inspection in the entire process of inkjet printing manufacturing of display devices, which includes a substrate inspection module, a nozzle inspection module, an ink droplet inspection module, a coating thickness inspection module and a control module. Through design and matching of these modules, it is possible to realize a series of operations such as substrate inspection, nozzle inspection, flying ink droplet inspection, liquid coating inspection and cured coating inspection. The invention also discloses a corresponding quality inspection method for the entire inkjet printing manufacturing process for display devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an image forming control method, a consumable chip, an image forming apparatus, and a consumable. For the image forming control method, based on the environmental data, the encryption and decryption processing and transmission are performed on the preset compensation value of the image forming control parameter using the environmental data respectively detected by the consumable chip and the image forming apparatus. The preset compensation value is prevented from being intercepted and tampered during transmission, which makes data transmission more secure, thereby ensuring the printing and image forming quality.

Abstract: An object is to provide a copy function that guarantees intensity of embedded information. At the time of copying a printed material, embedded information is extracted from a scanned image obtained by scanning the target printed material. Then, in a case where it is confirmed that the copy-target printed material is an authentic document by the extracted embedded information, the embedded information extracted from the scanned image is reconfigured and printed and output.

Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes at least one physical memory device to store compensation logic and one or more processors coupled with the at least one physical memory device to execute the compensation logic to generate first ink deposition function representing a first output ink amount versus input digital count for each of a plurality of color planes, generate second ink deposition function representing a second output ink amount versus input digital count for each of the plurality of color planes and generate transfer functions for each of the plurality of color planes based on the first ink deposition function and the second ink deposition function, wherein the transfer functions transform input digital counts.

Abstract: A printer has a print engine to print images represented by a series of print data on the plurality of printing areas one by one. When an image printed on the printing area is determined to be a low quality image, the controller stops printing and reprint an image corresponding to the low quality image and images corresponding to discard-target images which are being printed or having been printed on the printing areas located upstream in the feeding direction with respect to the printing area on which the NG image has been printed on a new printing area located upstream in the feeding direction with respect to a printing position of the print engine in an order of the print data. The particular image printer is configured to overprint the particular image on the printing area on which the NG image or the discard-target image is printed.

Abstract: Misalignment of printing positions is reduced in a print head that circulates an ink between a printing apparatus and the print head in a case where the misalignment is apt to change dynamically along with heat deformation. To this end, printing element substrates in the print head are adjusted to a target temperature and then a liquid is circulated through the print element substrates. After thermal expansion of the print head reaches a steady state, an amount of misalignment of printing positions in a direction of conveyance of the print head is obtained by using a test pattern printed by using printing elements. Further, a correction value for correcting the misalignment of the printing positions is set based on the obtained amount of misalignment of the printing positions.

Abstract: A discharge head includes an orifice surface in which orifices each configured to discharge a droplet are arrayed in a predetermined direction. A detecting unit includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and optically detects a droplet discharged from the orifice. A suppression unit is arranged between the light emitting element and the orifice surface, and suppresses the light emitted from the light emitting element from reaching the orifice surface by shielding at least some rays of the light which are emitted from the light emitting element and would otherwise propagate to the orifice surface.

Abstract: A method for determining print defects in a printing operation carried out on an inkjet printing machine for processing a print job includes using a camera system to record and digitize printed products generated during the printing operation, feeding the camera image having been thus generated to a detection algorithm on the computer, alerting a machine control unit when print defects are found, and ejecting the printed product through a waste ejector if necessary. The detection algorithm separates color separations of the camera images, detects the print defects in the color separations, links images of the individual color separations to form a candidate image, filters the candidate image, enters the remaining detected print defects into a list, and forwards the list to the machine control unit of the printing machine.

Abstract: A digital printer and a method of controlling the digital printer having a print head with an array of printing elements and a failure detection system arranged to detect malfunctioning printing elements. When, during printing, a malfunctioning printing element is detected, a switch from the current print strategy to another print strategy is arranged during printing which leaves the number of passes per swatch constant, i.e. the print quality is not affected by the switch.

Abstract: In an example, a printing apparatus includes a controller, wherein the controller may be to compare a historic usage of a first printhead nozzle with a historic usage of a second printhead nozzle which is located on a same printhead as the first nozzle. The controller may be to determine that the historic usage of the first nozzle is higher than the historic usage of the second nozzle, and in response identify a currently operational third printhead nozzle, for which the second nozzle is able to compensate; and turn off the third nozzle, and operate the second nozzle at a higher firing frequency to compensate for the third nozzle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to droplet ejecting additive manufacturing systems used in the manufacturing of advanced polishing articles. In particular, embodiments herein provide methods for aligning a plurality of dispense heads of the additive manufacturing system. In one embodiment, a method for aligning a plurality of dispense heads of an additive manufacturing system includes forming an alignment test pattern comprising droplets dispensed from each of the plurality of dispense heads, comparing the placement of one or more of the droplets to determine offset distances therebetween, and generating one or more timing offsets based on the offset distances. In some embodiments, the method further includes using the timing offsets to control the dispensing of droplets from one or more of the plurality of dispense heads in a subsequent additive manufacturing process.