Patent ID: 8162431
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A system for evaluating image quality in an image generating system comprising: a test pattern generator configured to generate test patterns formed with line segments in a process direction on an image receiving member, each line segment in a test pattern corresponding to one ink jet in a printhead; a plurality of light sensors linearly arranged along a support member that is transverse to the process direction, the plurality of light sensors configured to generate a digital image of each generated test pattern on the image receiving member from light reflected by the test pattern on the image receiving member; an image evaluator configured to generate a response for an ink jet that corresponds to a portion of each digital image of each test pattern on the image receiving member and to generate a measurement of an area under a profile of the response for an ink jet obtained from a digital image of a first test pattern on the image receiving member and from a digital image of a second test pattern on the image receiving member, the image evaluator including a comparator configured to compare the area measurement for the ink jet to a predetermined threshold to identify missing and weak ink jets in response to the area measurement for the ink jet being less than the predetermined threshold; an actuator coupled to the support member, the actuator being configured to move the support member transversely to the process direction; and a controller coupled to the image evaluator and the actuator, the controller configured to generate a random number that corresponds to a distance to be moved by the support member and to couple the actuator to electrical power and move the support member transversely to the process direction by the distance to enable light sensors in the plurality of light sensors to generate a digital image of a boundary area between light sensors during generation of the digital image of the first test pattern on the image receiving member.