Patent ID: 7338144
Filing Date: 2008-03-04
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A method of printing images by an ink jet printer having a print head: with an array of nozzles capable of compensating for a failed nozzle, comprising: providing a print head having an array of nozzles that includes a partial nozzle redundancy; ejecting ink droplets from all of said nozzles in said print head at an ejection throughput that is on average 0.5 to 0.8 of a maximum available throughput of said print head while printing an image without a failed nozzle; determining if a nozzle in said array of nozzles has failed; identifying missing pixels intended to be printed by a failed nozzle; selecting non-failed nozzles that print pixels neighboring said missing pixels; increasing the ejection throughput of said selected non-failed nozzles; and printing nearest available blank pixels that neighbor said missing pixels identified as intended to be printed by said failed nozzle using said selected non-failed nozzles in order to mitigate visible effects produced by said failed nozzle and prevent lost of productivity.