Parallel software design enabling high-speed reliability testing of inkjet printheads

Abstract

With new functional applications emerging in the digital printing industry, the need for quantitative knowledge of the reliability of drop-on-demand inkjet printheads increases. Continuous ink circulation using TF Technology™and the resulting channel self-recovery is one of the technologies which decrease the down-time of a single nozzle, but in turn increase the difficulty of an accurate reliability test. Current measuring techniques, namely the a-posteriori verification of printouts on paper proved to be inappropriate. This paper proposes a novel software approach, exploiting signal processing techniques, strong control loops and powerful system design methodologies in order to allow for the correct detection of single missing droplets at run-time. This new system is meant to relieve the effects of the indefinite environment and sources of human error. Preliminary results and the proof-ofconcept demonstrates both the system's and the design method's versatility and potential. ©2013; Society for Imaging Science and Technology.