An example of a printing carriage system is disclosed. The example disclosed herein comprises a plurality of printheads, and a positioning mechanism. The plurality of printheads comprises a moveable printhead that is moveable with respect to other printheads from the plurality of printheads. The positioning mechanism is to move the moveable printhead from a first printhead position to a second printhead position.

BACKGROUND

The carriage of a printer is an element within a printing device. The carriage may be the place where the printheads are located. In different printing operations, the printheads in the carriage may be set in different layouts. During a printing operation, the printheads layout in the carriage is fixed and unmovable in the printer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is directed to various examples of the disclosure. The examples disclosed herein should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition, the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any example is meant only to be descriptive of that example, and not intended to indicate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that example. In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the examples disclosed herein. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the examples may be practiced without these details. While a limited number of examples have been disclosed, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the examples. Throughout the present disclosure, the terms “a” and “an” are intended to denote at least one of a particular element. In addition, as used herein, the term “includes” means includes but not limited to, the term “including” means including but not limited to. The term “based on” means based at least in part on.

The carriage of a printer is an element within a printer. The carriage may be the element wherein the printheads are located. In different printing operations, the printheads in the carriage may be set in different layouts.

In an example, a printing system carriage is envisaged, the carriage comprising a plurality of printheads including a moveable printhead that is moveable with respect to the other printheads from the plurality of printheads. The printing system carriage may also comprise a positioning mechanism to move the moveable printhead from a first printhead position to a second printhead position.

In another example, a method is disclosed, the method comprising a plurality of operations to be performed. The method comprises the block of receiving a triggering signal. The method also comprises the block of moving, by a positioning mechanism, a position of a moveable printhead from a plurality of printheads from a first printhead position to a second printhead position, wherein the moveable printhead is moveable with respect to the other printheads from the plurality of printheads.

Another example of the present disclosure provides a non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor. The non-transitory machine readable medium comprises instructions to receive a triggering signal. The non-transitory machine readable medium also comprises instructions to move a position of a moveable printhead from a plurality of printheads from a first printhead position to a second printhead position, wherein the moveable printhead is moveable with respect to the other printheads from the plurality of printheads.

Referring now to the figures,FIG.1is a block diagram of a printing system100carriage comprising moveable printheads according to an implementation. The printing system carriage100includes a plurality of printheads120, and a positioning mechanism160. The plurality of printheads comprises a moveable printhead140that is moveable with respect to the other printheads from the plurality of printheads.

For simplicity, the description ofFIGS.1-5is made based on a single moveable printhead, however there can be more than one moveable printhead in the printing system carriage without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. A plurality of examples of plurality of printheads are shown inFIGS.2A and2B. The positioning mechanism160is to move the moveable printhead from a first printhead position to a second printhead position. The positioning mechanism160may be any mechanism (e.g., mechanical mechanism) enabling the moveable printhead to move from the first printhead position to the second printhead position. A plurality of examples of positioning mechanism are shown inFIG.4andFIG.5. In some implementations, the printing system carriage100may be part of a printer.

In an example, the positioning mechanism160may move the moveable printhead140from the first printhead position to the second printhead position upon receipt a triggering signal. The triggering signal may be any signal received by the printing system carriage100. An example of print mode signal may be a change of print mode selection (e.g., change from four passes printing to six passes printing, change from six passes printing to four passes printing, and the like).

In some implementations, the printheads from the plurality of printheads120of the printing system carriage100may comprise a nozzle array comprising a plurality of nozzles controllable to eject a composition. The term nozzle may be understood as a spout at the end of a pipe, hose, or tube used to control a jet of a composition. In an example, the plurality of nozzles may be controllable by means of a controller. The term “controller” as used herein may include a series of instructions encoded on a machine-readable storage medium and executable by a single processor or a plurality of processors. Additionally, or alternatively, a controller may include one or more hardware devices including electronic circuitry, for example a digital and/or analog application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), for implementing the functionality described herein.

In an example, the composition of a nozzle from the array of nozzles comprises white colorant. In one implementation, the composition that comprises white colorant may be a white printing fluid composition (e.g., white ink). In another example, the composition of a nozzle from the array of nozzles may comprise black colorant. In one implementation, the composition that comprises black colorant may be a black printing fluid composition (e.g., black ink). In yet another example, the composition of a nozzle from the array of nozzles may comprise colored colorant. In one implementation, the composition that comprises color colorant may be a color printing fluid composition.

In an example, the printing fluid comprises any composition used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. In one example, the printing fluid composition may be a liquid-based composition. In another example, the printing fluid composition may be a powder-based composition. As used herein, the term color may be understood broadly as colors may emit any wavelength ranging from about 380 nanometers (nm) to about 750 nm. In another example, the printing fluid may comprise a non-marking fluid, such as a printing overcoat agent.

FIG.2AandFIG.2Billustrate examples of a plurality of printheads comprising moveable printheads in different positions.FIG.2Ais a block diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of printheads220A comprising moveable printheads in a first printhead position. The plurality of printheads220A may be the same or similar as the plurality of printheads120fromFIG.1. The plurality of printheads220A may be attached to a printing system carriage (e.g., printing system carriage100fromFIG.1). The plurality of printheads220A comprises eight printheads. The plurality of printheads220A comprises a set of fixed printheads221,222,223,224,225,226,227, i.e., seven fixed printheads. The fixed printheads221-227may be coupled to the carriage moving with the carriage. The plurality of printheads220A may also comprise a moveable printhead240A. The moveable printhead240A may be moveable with respect to the other printheads from the plurality of printheads. The plurality of printheads220A may move along the X axis with the printing system carriage. The moveable printhead240A may be also moveable along the Y axis through different printhead positions. The media may also move along the Y axis. In this example, the moveable printhead240A is set in a first printhead position. Axis X and axis Y may be perpendicular axis, therefore the moveable printhead may be moved from the first printhead position (e.g.,FIG.2A) to the second printhead position (e.g.,FIG.2B) perpendicularly with respect to the carriage movement. The plurality of printheads220A may be installed in the printing system carriage in different layouts. In this example, a first subset of printheads221-224is installed between marking points A and B; a second subset of printheads225-227is installed between points B and C; and the moveable printhead in the first printhead position is installed between points D1and D2; wherein point D1is defined in about the middle point from points B and C, and point D2is defined in about half of a printhead distance from point C. The distance between points A and B, B and C, and D1-D2is about the length of a printhead. This is an example of a layout for the plurality of printheads220A and many other layouts can be derived therefrom without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For illustrative purposes the plurality of printheads220A comprises eight printheads wherein one printhead is a moveable printhead240A, however the plurality of printheads220A may comprise a different number of printheads and more number of moveable printheads without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG.2Bis a block diagram illustrating the example ofFIG.2Awherein the movable printhead220A of the plurality of printheads220A has moved from a first position (as shown inFIG.2A) to a second position (as shown inFIG.2B). The plurality of printheads220A may be the same or similar as the plurality of printheads120fromFIG.1. The moveable printhead240A may be moveable with respect to the other printheads from the plurality of printheads. The plurality of printheads220A may move along a carriage movement direction (for example, the X axis ofFIG.2B) with the printing system carriage while maintaining the relative position between printheads along the carriage movement direction. The moveable printhead240A may be also moveable along the Y axis through different printhead positions. In this example, the moveable printhead240A is set in a second printhead position. Axis X and axis Y may be perpendicular axis, therefore the moveable printhead may move from the second printhead position (e.g.,FIG.2B) to the first printhead position (e.g.,FIG.2A) along a direction parallel to the media advance direction, i.e., perpendicularly with respect to the carriage movement. The plurality of printheads220A may be installed in the printing system carriage in different layouts. In this example, a first subset of printheads221-224is installed between marking points A and B; a second subset of printheads225-227is installed between points B and C; and the moveable printhead in the first printhead position is installed between points D3and D4. In the example, point D3is defined in about a third of a printhead length distance from C, and about two thirds of a printhead length distance from B; and point D4is defined in about two thirds of a printhead length distance from point C, and a printhead length distance from point D3. The distance between points A and B, B and C, and D3-D4is about the length of a printhead. This is an example of a plurality of printheads layout and many other layouts can be derived therefrom without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For illustrative purposes the plurality of printheads comprises eight printheads wherein one printhead is a moveable printhead, however the plurality of printheads may comprise a different number of printheads and more number of moveable printheads without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In an example, the moveable printhead240A may be located closer to an edge of the printing system carriage, along the Y axis, than the other printheads of the carriage, therefore the positioning mechanism (e.g., positioning mechanism160fromFIG.1) may modify the spread area of the plurality of printheads when changing from a printhead position to another printhead position. In the example, the spread area of the plurality of printheads in the first position is different to the spread area of the plurality of printheads in the second position. In the present disclosure, the spread area may be understood as the distance in the Y axis between the two furthest points comprised by the plurality of printheads221-227and240A. In the examples ofFIGS.2A and2B, the spread area of the plurality of printheads in the first printhead position (e.g., configuration ofFIG.2A) may be defined by points A and D2, being a distance of about 2.5 times the length of a printhead; and the spread area of the plurality of printheads in the second printhead position (e.g., configuration ofFIG.2B) may be defined by points A and D4, being a distance of about 2.66 times the length of a printhead. Therefore, the spread area as defined above may vary depending on the printing system printhead position.

FIG.3AandFIG.3Billustrate examples of a printing system carriage comprising moveable printheads in different positions.FIG.3Ais a block diagram illustrating another example of a printing system carriage300comprising moveable printheads in a first printhead position. The printing system carriage300may be the same or similar as the printing system carriage100fromFIG.1. The printing system carriage300may comprise a plurality of printheads320A, and a positioning mechanism360. The plurality of printheads320A comprises a printhead321, a printhead322, a printhead323, a printhead324, a printhead325, a printhead326, and a printhead327. Printheads321-327may be the same or similar as printheads221-227fromFIG.2A. The plurality of printheads320A may also comprise a moveable printhead340A that is movable with respect to the other printheads from the plurality of printheads320A. The moveable printhead340A may be the same or similar as the moveable printhead240A fromFIG.2A. The plurality of printheads320A are in a first printhead position configuration and may be the same or a similar configuration as the first printhead position configuration of the plurality of printheads220A fromFIG.2A. The positioning mechanism360is to move the moveable printhead340A from a first printhead position (e.g.,FIG.3A) to a second printhead configuration (e.g.,FIG.3B). The positioning mechanism360may be the same or similar as the positioning mechanism160fromFIG.1. The printing system carriage300may also comprise a controller380to generate the triggering signal, wherein the positioning mechanism360moves the movable printhead340A from the first printhead position to the second printhead position upon receipt said triggering signal. The term “controller” as used herein may include a series of instructions encoded on a machine-readable storage medium and executable by a single processor or a plurality of processors. Additionally, or alternatively, a controller may include one or more hardware devices including electronic circuitry, for example a digital and/or analog application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), for implementing the functionality described herein.

In an example, the printheads321-327, and the moveable printhead340A may have the same or similar printhead length. In a first configuration example, printheads321-324may be placed between points A1and A3, being A2its middle point; printheads325-327may be placed between points B1and B3, being B2its middle point. The moveable printhead340A may be placed between C1and C3, being C2its middle point. Points A3and B1may be the same point, points B2and C1may be the same point, and points B3and C2may be the same point. This configuration may be used as a four passes printing configuration; being the first printing pass the area comprised between points A1and A2, the second printing pass the area comprised between points A2and A3; the third printing pass the area comprised between points B1and B2; and the fourth printing pass the area comprised between B2and B3. The area comprised between C2and C3may be used for other purposes; for example, ejecting white colorant, ejecting pre-processing agent, and/or ejecting post-processing agent. In an example, the area comprised between C2and C3may eject an overcoat fluid. In another example, the area comprised between C2and C3may eject an optimizer fluid. This is a configuration example, and other configurations may be designed therefrom without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

At a printing operation comprising ejecting white printing fluid, white color may have the peculiarity that, in order to have the same IQ, additional passes of white printing fluid may be required compared to other printing fluids, such as black and/or colors. Therefore, having an additional area to eject white ink may enable the printing system to print using said additional passes, leading to a better IQ in the white color printed.

The controller380is to derive a number of passes of the carriage from a print mode selection. In an example, the print mode selection is set as a four-pass printing selection, therefore the number of passes being four passes. The plurality of printheads320A of the example ofFIG.3Ahas a four-pass printing selection. As explained above, the first printing pass is the area comprised between points A1and A2, the second printing pass is the area comprised between points A2and A3; the third printing pass is the area comprised between points B1and B2, and the fourth printing pass is the area comprised by B2and B3.

The controller380is to divide each printhead from the plurality of printheads320A into a plurality of segments based on the number of passes. Each number of passes may indicate how many segments each printhead from the plurality of printheads320A should be divided. A four-pass print mode selection may indicate to divide each printhead in a multiple of two segments, for example two segments. A six-pass print mode selection may indicate to divide each printhead in a multiple of three segments, for example three segments. Following with the four passes print mode selection example, each printhead may be divided into two segments. The first segments of printheads321-324may be the segment defined between points A1and A2; the second segments of printheads321-324may be the segment defined between points A2and A3; the first segments of printheads325-327may be the segments defined between points B1and B2; the second segments of printheads325-327and the first segment of the moveable printhead340A may be the segments defined between points B2(C1) and B3(C2); and the second segment of the moveable printhead340A may be the segment defined between points C2and C3.

The controller380may identify that the moveable printhead segments are out of phase in respect to the other segments from the plurality of printheads. A segment may not be defined between two points (e.g., A1and A2, A2and A3, B1and B2, B2and B3, C1and C2, and C2and C3), the printhead that comprises said segment is out of phase. When a printhead is out of phase, it leads to big banding and therefore, a reduction of the image quality (IQ) of the printing operation.

In the event the controller380identifies that the moveable printhead340A segments are out of phase with respect to the other segments from the plurality of printheads320A, the controller380is to issue the triggering signal to cause the positioning mechanism360to move the moveable printhead from the first printhead position to the second printhead position.

FIG.3Bis a block diagram illustrating another example of a printing system carriage300comprising moveable printheads in a second printhead position. The printing system carriage300may be the same or similar as the printing system carriage100fromFIG.1. The printing system carriage300may comprise a plurality of printheads320A, and a positioning mechanism360. The plurality of printheads320A comprises a printhead321, a printhead322, a printhead323, a printhead324, a printhead325, a printhead326, and a printhead327. Printheads321-327may be the same or similar as printheads221-227fromFIG.2B. The plurality of printheads320A may also comprise a moveable printhead340A that is movable with respect to the other printheads from the plurality of printheads320A. The moveable printhead340A may be the same or similar as the moveable printhead240B fromFIG.2B. The plurality of printheads320A are in a second printhead position configuration and may be the same or a similar configuration as the second printhead position configuration of the plurality of printheads220A fromFIG.2B. The positioning mechanism360is to move the moveable printhead340A from a second printhead position (e.g.,FIG.3B) to a first printhead configuration (e.g.,FIG.3A). The positioning mechanism360may be the same or similar as the positioning mechanism160fromFIG.1. The printing system carriage300may also comprise a controller380to generate the triggering signal, wherein the positioning mechanism360moves the movable printhead340A from the second printhead position to the first printhead position upon receipt said triggering signal. The term “controller” as used herein may include a series of instructions encoded on a machine-readable storage medium and executable by a single processor or a plurality of processors. Additionally, or alternatively, a controller may include one or more hardware devices including electronic circuitry, for example a digital and/or analog application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), for implementing the functionality described herein.

In an example, the printheads321-327, and the moveable printhead340A may have the same or similar printhead length. In a configuration example, printheads321-324may be placed between points A1and A4, being A2at one third of printhead length distance from A1and two thirds of printhead length distance to A4, and A3at two thirds of printhead length distance from A1and one third of printhead length distance to A4. Following with the configuration example, printheads325-327may be placed between points B1and B4, being B2at one third of printhead length distance from B1and two thirds of printhead length distance to B4, and B3at two thirds of printhead length distance from B1and one third of printhead distance to B4. The moveable printhead340A may be placed between C1and C4, being C2at one third of printhead length distance from C1and two thirds of printhead length distance to C4, and C3at two thirds of printhead length distance from C1and one third of printhead distance to C4. Points A4and B1may be the same point, points B3and C1may be the same point, and points B4and C2may be the same point. This configuration may be used as a six passes printing configuration; being the first printing pass the area comprised between points A1and A2, the second printing pass the area comprised between points A2and A3; the third printing pass the area comprised between points A3and A4; the fourth printing pass the area comprised between points B1and B2; the fifth printing pass the area comprised between points B2and B3; and the sixth printing pass the area comprised between points B3(C1) and B4(C2). The area comprised between C2and C3, and the area comprised between C3and C4, may be used for other purposes; for example, ejecting white colorant, ejecting pre-processing agent, and/or ejecting post-processing agent. In an example, the area comprised between C2and C3and/or the area comprised between C3and C4may eject an overcoat fluid. In another example, the area comprised between C2and C3and/or the area comprised between C3and C4may eject an optimizer fluid. This is a configuration example, and other configurations may be designed therefrom without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

At a printing operation comprising ejecting white printing fluid, white color may have the peculiarity that, in order to have the same IQ, additional passes of white printing fluid may be required compared to other printing fluids, such as black and/or colors. Therefore, having an additional area to eject white ink may enable the printing system to print using said additional passes, leading to a better IQ in the white color printed.

The controller380is to derive a number of passes of the carriage from a print mode selection. In an example, the print mode selection is set as a six-pass printing selection, therefore the number of passes being six passes. The plurality of printheads320A of the example ofFIG.3Bhas a six-pass printing selection. As explained above, the first printing pass is the area comprised between points A1and A2, the second printing pass is the area comprised between points A2and A3; the third printing pass is the area comprised between points A3and A4; the fourth printing pass is the area comprised between points B1and B2; the fifth printing pass is the area comprised between points B2and B3; and the sixth printing pass is the area comprised between points B3(C1) and B4(C2).

The controller380is to divide each printhead from the plurality of printheads320A into a plurality of segments based on the number of passes. Each number of passes may indicate how many segments each printhead from the plurality of printheads320A should be divided. A four-pass print mode selection may indicate to divide each printhead in a multiple of two segments, for example two segments. A six-pass print mode selection may indicate to divide each printhead in a multiple of three segments, for example three segments. Following with the six passes print mode selection example, each printhead may be divided into three segments. The first segments of printheads321-324may be the segments defined between points A1and A2; the second segments of printheads321-324may be the segments defined between points A2and A3; the third segments of printheads321-324may be the segments defined between point A3and A4; the first segments of printheads325-327may be the segments defined between points B1and B2; the second segments of printheads325-327may be the segments defined between points B2and B3; the third segments of printheads325-327and the first segment of the moveable printhead340A may be the segments defined between points B3(C1) and B4(C2); the second segment of the moveable printhead340A may be the segment defined between points C2and C3; and the third segment of the moveable printhead340A may be the segment defined between points C3and C4.

The controller380may identify that the moveable printhead segments are out of phase in respect to the other segments from the plurality of printheads. A segment may not be defined between two points (e.g., A1and A2, A2and A3, A3and A4, B1and B2, B2and B3, B3and B4, C1and C2, C2and C3, and C3and C4), the printhead that comprises said segment is out of phase. When a printhead is out of phase, it leads to big banding and therefore, a reduction of the image quality (IQ) of the printing.

In the event the controller380identifies that the moveable printhead340A segments are out of phase with respect to the other segments from the plurality of printheads320A, the controller380is to issue the triggering signal to cause the positioning mechanism360to move the moveable printhead from the second printhead position to the first printhead position.

FIG.4is a block diagram illustrating another example of a printing system carriage400comprising moveable printheads. The printing system carriage400may be similar to the printing system carriage100fromFIG.1. The printing system carriage400includes a plurality of printheads420, and a positioning mechanism460. The plurality of printheads420may be the same or similar as the plurality of printheads420fromFIG.1. The plurality of printheads comprises a moveable printhead440that is moveable with respect to the other printheads from the plurality of printheads. For simplicity a single moveable printhead is shown, however there may be more than one moveable printhead in the printing system carriage without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. A plurality of examples of plurality of printheads are shown inFIGS.2A and2B. The positioning mechanism460is to move the moveable printhead from a first printhead position to a second printhead position. The positioning mechanism460may be any mechanism (e.g., mechanical mechanism) enabling the moveable printhead to move from the first printhead position to the second printhead position. In some implementations, the printing system carriage400may be part of a printer.

In an example, the positioning mechanism460may comprise a pen pocket465moveable from the first position (e.g., configuration ofFIG.2A) to the second position (e.g., configuration ofFIG.2B). The moveable printhead may be installed on the pen pocket, therefore the positioning mechanism460allowing the pen pocket465and the moveable printhead to move together from the first printhead position to the second printhead position. In an example, the positioning mechanism460may also comprise an actuator that may move the pen pocket from the first printhead position to the second printhead position.

FIG.5is a block diagram illustrating another example of a printing system carriage500comprising moveable printheads. The printing system carriage500may be similar to the printing system carriage100fromFIG.1. The printing system carriage500includes a plurality of printheads520, and a positioning mechanism560. The plurality of printheads520may be the same or similar as the plurality of printheads120fromFIG.1. The plurality of printheads520comprises a moveable printhead540that is moveable with respect to the other printheads from the plurality of printheads. For simplicity a single moveable printhead is shown, however there can be more than one moveable printhead in the printing system carriage without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. A plurality of examples of plurality of printheads are shown inFIGS.2A and2B. The positioning mechanism560is to move the moveable printhead from a first printhead position to a second printhead position. The positioning mechanism560may be any mechanism (e.g., mechanical mechanism) enabling the moveable printhead to move from the first printhead position to the second printhead position. In some implementations, the printing system carriage500may be part of a printer.

In an example, the positioning mechanism560may comprise a servomotor565to move the position of the moveable printhead440to a position within a moving range. The boundaries of the moving range may be defined by the first printhead position (e.g., configuration ofFIG.2A) and the second printhead position (e.g., configuration ofFIG.2B). In the example, the boundaries may be defined from the lowest point of the first printhead position D1and the highest point of the second printhead position D4. Points D1and D4may be the same or similar to points D1and D4fromFIG.2AandFIG.2Brespectively. This is an example, and many other implementations and moving ranges may be defined without departing to the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG.6is a flowchart of an example method600for moving movable printheads according to an implementation. Method600may be described below as being executed or performed by a printing system carriage, such as printing system carriage100ofFIG.1. Various other suitable printing system carriages may be used as well, such as, for example system300ofFIGS.3A, and3B; system400ofFIG.4; and/or system500ofFIG.5. Method600may be implemented in the form of executable instructions stored on a machine-readable storage medium and executed by a single processor or a plurality of processors of the system100, and/or in the form of any electronic circuitry, for example digital and/or analog ASIC. In some implementations of the present disclosure, method600may include more or less operations than are shown inFIG.6. In some implementations, one or more of the blocks of method600may, at certain times, be ongoing and/or may repeat.

The method600may start at block620, and continue to block640, where a system (e.g., printing system carriage100fromFIG.1) may receive a triggering signal. At block660, the system moves, by a positioning mechanism (e.g., positioning mechanism160fromFIG.1), a position of a movable printhead (e.g., moveable printhead140fromFIG.1) from a plurality of printheads (e.g., plurality of printheads120fromFIG.1) from a first printhead position to a second printhead position, wherein the moveable printhead is moveable with respect to the other printheads from the plurality of printheads. At block680, the method600may end.

FIG.7is a flowchart of another example method700for moving movable printheads. Method700may be a sub-method performed after block640from method600ofFIG.6. Method700may be described below as being executed or performed by a printing system carriage, such as printing system carriage100ofFIG.1. Various other suitable printing system carriages may be used as well, such as, for example system300ofFIGS.3A, and3B; system400ofFIG.4; and/or system500ofFIG.5. Method700may be implemented in the form of executable instructions stored on a machine-readable storage medium and executed by a single processor or a plurality of processors of the system100, and/or in the form of any electronic circuitry, for example digital and/or analog ASIC. In some implementations of the present disclosure, method700may include more or less operations than are shown inFIG.7. In some implementations, one or more of the blocks of method700may, at certain times, be ongoing and/or may repeat.

The method700may start at block741, and continue to block742, where a controller (e.g., controller380fromFIGS.3A, and3B) may derive a number of passes of the plurality of printheads (plurality of printheads120fromFIG.1) from a print mode selection. At block743, the controller may divide each printhead from the plurality of printheads into a plurality of segments based on the number of passes. At block744, the controller may identify that the moveable printhead segments are out of phase with respect of the other segments from the plurality of printheads. At block745, the controller may issue a triggering signal. At block746, the method700may end.

FIG.8is a flowchart of another example method800for moving movable printheads. Method800may be a sub-method from method600ofFIG.6. Method800may be described below as being executed or performed by a printing system carriage, such as printing system carriage100ofFIG.1. Various other suitable printing system carriages may be used as well, such as, for example system300ofFIGS.3A, and3B; system400ofFIG.4; and/or system500ofFIG.5. Method800may be implemented in the form of executable instructions stored on a machine-readable storage medium and executed by a single processor or a plurality of processors of the system100, and/or in the form of any electronic circuitry, for example digital and/or analog ASIC. In some implementations of the present disclosure, method800may include more or less operations than are shown inFIG.8. In some implementations, one or more of the blocks of method800may, at certain times, be ongoing and/or may repeat.

The method800may start at block820, and continue to block840, where a nozzle ejects a composition with white colorant, wherein a printhead from the plurality of printheads (e.g., plurality of printheads120fromFIG.1) comprises the nozzle. At block860, the method800may end.

FIG.9is a block diagram illustrating an example of a processor-based system900to move moveable printheads. In some implementations, the system900may be or may form part of a printing device, such as a printer. In some implementations, the system900is a processor-based system and may include a processor910coupled to a machine-readable medium920. The processor910may include a single-core processor, a multi-core processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or any other hardware device suitable for retrieval and/or execution of instructions from the machine-readable medium920(e.g., instructions922, and924) to perform functions related to various examples. Additionally, or alternatively, the processor910may include electronic circuitry for performing the functionality described herein, including the functionality of instructions922, and/or924. With respect of the executable instructions represented as boxes inFIG.9, it should be understood that part or all of the executable instructions and/or electronic circuits included within one box may, in alternative implementations, be included in a different box shown in the figures or in a different box not shown.

The machine-readable medium920may be any medium suitable for storing executable instructions, such as a random-access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, hard disk drives, optical disks, and the like. In some example implementations, the machine-readable medium920may be a tangible, non-transitory medium, where the term “non-transitory” does not encompass transitory propagating signals. The machine-readable medium920may be disposed within the processor-based system900, as shown inFIG.9, in which case the executable instructions may be deemed “installed” on the system900. Alternatively, the machine-readable medium920may be a portable (e.g., external) storage medium, for example, that allows system900to remotely execute the instructions or download the instructions from the storage medium. In this case, the executable instructions may be part of an “installation package”. As described further herein below, the machine-readable medium may be encoded with a set of executable instructions922-924.

Instructions922, when executed by the processor910, may cause the processor910to receive a triggering signal. Instructions924, when executed by the processor910, may cause the processor910to move a position of a moveable printhead (e.g., moveable printhead140fromFIG.1) from a plurality of printheads (plurality of printheads120fromFIG.1) from a first printhead position to a second printhead position, wherein the moveable printhead is moveable with respect to the other printheads from the plurality of printheads.

The machine-readable medium920may include further instructions. For example, instructions that when executed by the processor910, may cause the processor910to derive a number of passes of the plurality of printheads from a print mode selection; and/or instructions that when executed by the processor910, may cause the processor910to divide each printhead from the plurality of printheads into a plurality of segments based on the number of passes; and/or instructions that when executed by the processor910, may cause the processor910to identify that the moveable printhead segments are out of phase with respect of the other segments from the plurality of segments; and/or instructions that when executed by the processor910, may cause the processor910to issue a triggering signal.

The machine-readable medium920may include further instructions. For example, instructions that when executed by the processor910, may cause the processor910to eject a composition with white colorant by a nozzle, wherein a printhead from the plurality of printheads comprises the nozzle.

The above examples may be implemented by hardware, or software in combination with hardware. For example, the various methods, processes and functional modules described herein may be implemented by a physical processor (the term processor is to be implemented broadly to include CPU, processing module, ASIC, logic module, or programmable gate array, etc.). The processes, methods and functional modules may all be performed by a single processor or split between several processors; reference in this disclosure or the claims to a “processor” should thus be interpreted to mean “at least one processor”. The processes, method and functional modules are implemented as machine-readable instructions executable by at least one processor, hardware logic circuitry of the at least one processors, or a combination thereof.

The drawings in the examples of the present disclosure are some examples. It should be noted that some units and functions of the procedure are not necessarily essential for implementing the present disclosure. The units may be combined into one unit or further divided into multiple sub-units. What has been described and illustrated herein is an example of the disclosure along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration. Many variations are possible within the scope of the disclosure, which is intended to be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.