Patent ID: 9102156
Filing Date: 2015-08-11
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A method of determining pixel dropout of a printhead that has a plurality of print elements arrayed along a first axis, comprising: printing on surfaces of a plurality of substrates using the printhead by moving the substrates and the printhead relative to one another in a printing direction that is generally perpendicular to the first axis; using a mechanical image capture device to capture printed on the surfaces of the substrates using the printhead or to capture images of portions of a print ribbon that was used to print the images on the substrates using the printhead; inputting the captured images into a processing device and using the processing device to generate datasets of integrated intensity values, in a printing direction, of the captured images; using the datasets to determine if pixel dropout has occurred; and generating an alert signal if pixel dropout has occurred on a predetermined number of the substrates or print ribbon portions.