US 11,932,012 B2
System and method for operating an inkjet printer to attenuate ink drying in the inkjets during printing operations
Anthony S. Condello, Webster, NY (US); Stuart A. Schweid, Pittsford, NY (US); Seemit Praharaj, Webster, NY (US); and John T. Newell, Rochester, NY (US)
Assigned to Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed by Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed on Mar. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/654,459.
Prior Publication US 2023/0286261 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. B41J 2/045 (2006.01); B41J 2/165 (2006.01); B41J 2/21 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/04508 (2013.01) [B41J 2/04586 (2013.01); B41J 2/16526 (2013.01); B41J 2/21 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating inkjets to eject sneeze drops comprising:
generating a uniform sneeze pattern;
applying a first threshold to pixels in a portion of the uniform sneeze pattern to modify the portion of the uniform sneeze pattern and form a tapered area within the uniform sneeze pattern by:
generating a first random number for each pixel in the portion of the uniform sneeze pattern used to form the tapered area;
comparing the generated first random number for each pixel to the first threshold;
removing each pixel from the portion of the uniform sneeze pattern used to form the tapered area in response to the generated first random number of the pixel being greater than the first threshold; and
operating inkjets using the uniform sneeze pattern and the tapered area within the uniform sneeze to print a sneeze pattern within an image area of a media sheet.
 
9. An inkjet printer comprising:
a media transport configured to carry media sheets through the inkjet printer;
at least one printhead configured to eject ink drops onto the media sheets as the media sheets pass the at least one printhead;
a controller operatively connected to the at least one printhead, the controller being configured to:
generate a uniform sneeze pattern;
apply a first threshold to pixels in modify a portion of the generated uniform sneeze pattern to generate a tapered area within the uniform sneeze pattern by:
generating a random number for each pixel in the portion of the uniform sneeze pattern used to form the tapered area;
comparing the generated random number for each pixel to the first threshold;
removing each pixel from the portion of the uniform sneeze pattern used to form the tapered area in response to the generated random number of the pixel being greater than the first threshold; and
operate inkjets in the at least one printhead using the uniform sneeze pattern and the tapered area within the uniform sneeze pattern to print a sneeze pattern within an image area of a media sheet as the media sheet passes the at least one printhead.