Patent ID: 6350011
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An arrangement of print heads for printing on a substrate moving relative to the arrangement in a given direction of relative motion, the arrangement comprising:a number N of similar print heads where N is at least equal to four, each of said print heads being configured to selectively print a pattern of dots such that relative motion of said print head and the substrate defines a virtual pattern of printable parallel lines, said virtual pattern having a minimum period of repetition D as measured in a direction perpendicular to the direction of relative motion, wherein said print heads are deployed sequentially along the direction of relative motion with a displacement X0 between adjacent ones of said print heads measured parallel to the direction of relative motion, said print heads being offset relative to a given reference position in a direction perpendicular to the direction of relative motion by nY0, where n is an integer value from 0 to (Nâˆ’1) and Y0=D/N, any two of said print heads which have offsets differing by Y0 or (Nâˆ’1)Y0 being referred to as â€œfunctionally adjacent print headsâ€ , and wherein the sequence of offsets of said print heads is chosen such that a maximum displacement &Dgr;Xmax measured parallel to the direction of relative motion between any two functionally adjacent print heads is no greater than (N/2)X0.