Operating ink jet valves during printing

摘要

A method of operating an ink jet printer comprising the steps of (a) determining the time elapsed since the or each ink jet was previously activated and (b) increasing the time for which the or each ink jet is subsequently activated, the increase in time being determined in accordance with the elapsed time determined in step (a). The invention further provides A method of operating an ink jet printer comprising the steps of determining a valve activation time; determining an elapsed time variable since the ink jet was previously activated and a first and a second threshold value associated with the elapsed time variable; setting the elapsed time variable to zero; decrementing the valve activation time by the first threshold value and if a valve activation command is not received: increasing the elapsed time variable by a first increment if the elapsed time variable is less than the first threshold value; increasing the elapsed time variable by a second increment if the elapsed time variable is less than the second threshold value; or if a valve activation command is received, incrementing the valve activation time with the elapsed time variable and activating the valve accordingly.