Dot clock signal generation for operating ejectors in multiple color stations in a substrate printer

Abstract

A printer includes a plurality of dot clock signal generators, each of which generates dot clock signals for operating ejectors in a printhead in a color station of the printer. The dot clock signal generators are connected in a chain that corresponds to the process direction of the color stations in the printer. Each dot clock signal generator is configured to count dot clock signals of a preceding dot clock signal generator in the chain or a reference clock generator to determine when the dot clock signal generator turns on and to count encoder signals corresponding to movement of a substrate through the printer to determine when to generate dot clock signals for a color station.