Apparatus and method for sharing ink dot count information between inkjet printers connected to a network
US10108384B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 14, 2017 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 14, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2201/0003
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system tracks the exact amount of ink remaining in printhead cartridges used in printers connected to a network. Each printer stores a history of cartridges that have been used in the printer. Each cartridge stores a status indicator that indicates whether the cartridge has been used before in any printer. When a printer receives a previously-used cartridge, the printer broadcasts a request for information about that cartridge from the other printers. Each printer having the matching printhead identification number in its history reports over the network the last recorded ink dot count associated with the matching printhead identification number. The requesting printer chooses the most up-to-date response based on the highest dot count or the latest time-stamp. The requesting printer then updates its memory using the dot count from the most up-to-date response and begins counting dots from that updated count for subsequent print jobs performed using the installed cartridge.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.