Patent ID: 6244682
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A method of determining ink-iet printhead operating energy. comprising the steps of:printing a test pattern having predetermined objects wherein a series of said objects is printed sequentially using different printhead firing energies having a predetermined pulse energy range;optically scanning said series of said objects with a scanning apparatus;using said scanning apparatus, recording a first data set representative of reflectance for each of said objects;from said first data set. determining a first firing energy value indicative of onset of nozzles ceasing to fire ink; anddetermining said ink-iet printhead operating energy as a predetermined percentage of said first firing energy value, said step of determining further including, from said first data set, deriving a statistical average reflectance for each of said objects, creating a second data set of ""N"" data points indicative of the spectrum of reflectance values in said pattern.