Patent ID: 8449072
Filing Date: 2013-05-28
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A method for ejecting an ink by using an ink jet head including a one-dimensional array of N ink jet nozzles, where N is an integer not smaller than 2, to form ink jet droplets on a substrate mounted on an X-Y table, said method comprising: moving the ink jet head and/or the X-Y table to cause a first excursion of the ink jet head with respect to the substrate along a first direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the array, said first excursion being accompanied by ink ejection from the ink jet nozzles to provide a first ejection area of the ink droplets on the substrate; moving, alternately with the first excursion, the ink jet head and/or the X-Y table to cause a second excursion of the ink jet head with respect to the substrate along the first direction, said second excursion being accompanied by ink ejection from the ink jet nozzles to provide a second ejection area of the ink droplets on the substrate; and moving the ink jet head and/or the X-Y table, between the first excursion and the second excursion, to cause a third excursion of the ink jet head with respect to the substrate in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the array, wherein: the first ejection area and the second ejection area have therebetween an overlapping area in which paths made by at least two of the ink jet nozzles are overlapped during the first excursion and the second excursion, at least one of the ink jet nozzles among the ink jet nozzles each having the path from the first excursion and the second excursion that is overlapped in the overlapping area, with an exception of an outermost ink jet nozzle of the array of ink jet nozzles, does not eject the ink, the ink jet nozzles of one of the first excursion and the second excursion, having the paths that are overlapped with the paths of the ink jet nozzles of the other one of the first excursion and the second excursion that do not eject the ink, eject the ink, and at least some of the ink jet nozzles of the other one of the first excursion and the second excursion, having the paths that are overlapped with the paths of the ink jet nozzles of the one of the first excursion and the second excursion that eject the ink, do not eject the ink.