High Quality - Canon PIXMA iP4000R Reviewer's Manual

FINE Technology:
Beautiful Results Fast
PIXMA iP4000R
PIXMA TECHNOLOGY
Canon's exclusive FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) high-
performance print head differs from competitors' offerings in both its design and
manufacture to deliver a superior combination of quality and speed.

High Quality

High quality ink jet photo printing is a function of the size, uniformity and accurate
placement of the ink droplets. The iP4000R uses microscopic droplets of 2 and 5 picoliters
to reduce graininess and provide rich gradation. However reducing the size of ink
droplets alone is not enough, because smaller droplets require even higher precision in
uniformity and placement. Canon addresses this issue by forming relevant sections of
the print head in an integrated process, as opposed to bonding together separate parts
(a method used by competitors). Moreover, the FINE manufacturing process employs
photolithography to produce sub-micron level precision in the profile and dimensions of
First droplet
Second droplet
Third droplet
Accurate Placement
Canon's FINE Technology resolves two additional ejection issues. The first is that ink
droplets are ejected only after they have been fully separated from the nozzle head, so
there's no breakage in the droplet. This helps ensure the consistent ejection of ink
droplets of the specific prescribed volume. The second is that power is concentrated
efficiently in ejection. This powerful ejection helps overcome the effect of air resistance,
so droplets are aimed with greater precision and placed more consistently.
Canon
FINE
1. Bubble Generation 2. Separation 3. Ejection
Prescribed Ink Droplet Volume
PIXMA TECHNOLOGY
nozzles, ink ejection openings and ink supply ports.
Canon's print head manufacturing method helps elimi-
nate even minute minute errors in ink placement that can
make an image appear unnatural to the human eye.
Competitor
Conventional Ink Ejection Process
1. Expel 2. Pull Back 3. Break Away
Inconsistency In Ink-Droplet Volume
Competitor
Piezoelectric System
1. Pull 2. Expel 3. Pull Back 4. Break Away
Inconsistency In Ink-Droplet Volume
6