Hewlett-packard Company

Hewlett-packard Corporation

Braulio Soto

John A Underwood

Dan Arquilevich

Charles S Woodruff

Rick Minoru Tanaka

Brent A Geske

Stephen P Stemple

A method and means for automatic alignment of ink-jet printheads includes fitting measuring constructs to actual print data acquired form a print made using a given, predetermined, test pattern data set. Specific test patterns for use in automated alignment of ink-jet printheads are suited to providing a variety of printhead alignment information in a compact format. The test pattern data set incorporates techniques for avoiding carriage-induced dynamic errors during automated alignment of ink-jet printheads.

Test pattern implementation for ink-jet printhead alignment

A method and apparatus for automatic alignment of ink-jet printheads includes fitting measuring constructs to actual print data acquired form a print made using a given, predetermined, test pattern data set. Specific test patterns for use in automated alignment of ink-jet printheads are suited to providing a variety of printhead alignment information in a compact format. The test pattern data set incorporates techniques for avoiding carriage-induced dynamic errors during automated alignment of ink-jet printheads.

Automated ink-jet printhead alignment system

A detection system for measuring a dry time of a printing composition used by a printing device is disclosed. An embodiment of the detection system includes a source, a sensor, and a controller. The source is configured to transmit a first light signal toward a quantity of printing composition deposited on a print medium. A sensor is configured to detect a second light signal reflected by the printing composition in response to illumination by the first light signal, the second light signal having a magnitude that decreases to a substantially constant value as the printing composition dries over a period of time. The sensor is also configured to convert the second light signal into an electrical signal having a value proportional to the magnitude of the second light signal. The controller is coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the electrical signal from the sensor over the period of time the printing composition dries. The controller is also configured to determine a dry time for the printing composition based upon the electrical signal. A printing device including the detection system is also disclosed. A method of measuring a dry time of a printing composition used by a printing device is additionally disclosed. Further characteristics and features of the detection system, printing device, and method are described herein, as are examples of various alternative embodiments.

Apparatus and method of measuring dry time of printing composition

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La Center, WA, United States of America

Braulio Soto