(19)
(11) EP 0 855 270 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
30.06.1999 Bulletin 1999/26

(43) Date of publication A2:
29.07.1998 Bulletin 1998/31

(21) Application number: 97310188.4

(22) Date of filing: 16.12.1997
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: B41J 2/04
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 24.01.1997 US 790356

(71) Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Company
Palo Alto, California 94304 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Paulsen Ronald R.
    Vancouver, WA 98683 (US)
  • Lowe, David J.
    Vancouver, WA 98664 (US)
  • Megaw, Joe
    Camas, WA 98684 (US)

(74) Representative: Colgan, Stephen James et al
CARPMAELS & RANSFORD 43 Bloomsbury Square
London WC1A 2RA
London WC1A 2RA (GB)

   


(54) System and method for printing with a portion of an ink-jet print head


(57) A system and method for printing with a portion of an ink-jet print head 26 allows for defect-free printing even with a print head 26 containing defective ink-jets 28. Where some ink-jets 28 on a print head 26 are defective, the print head is controlled to print, albeit at a reduced speed, using only properly functioning ink-jets. For example, if the top half of a print head 26 contains one or more defective ink-jets 28, the top half of the print head could be disabled. Then using the defect-free bottom half of the print head, the printer can continue to print with high print quality. In this example, the printer would make two swaths with the bottom half of the print head to print what would normally be printed in a single swath of a fully functional print head. A system for detecting and locating defective ink-jets is provided.






Search report