Detection Of Missing Nozzle For An Inkjet Printhead

摘要

A technique for detecting a defective printhead nozzle employing acoustical energy. During printhead maintenance, the nozzles of the printhead are sequentially fired to eject ink therefrom. The acoustical energy emitted by a nozzle during ejection of an ink droplet can be detected by a sound receiver. Acoustical energy can also be transmitted in the field of travel of the ink droplet so that when the ink droplet passes therethrough the acoustical energy is perturbated, and such perturbation can be detected. The perturbation can be an attenuation of the received acoustical energy when the ink droplet passes between the acoustical transmitter and a sound receiver. The perturbation can also be a change in the acoustical energy when the ink droplet reflects acoustical energy from the acoustical transmitter to the sound receiver.