Patent · US Expired

Testing for normal print discharge

US6056386A · kind A · utility

37Cited by
19References
50Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 1, 1996
Grant dateMay 2, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 1, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J25/34
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Printer performs accurate ink-discharge status detection, dependent upon the type of a printhead attached to the printer, the print mode and the color of ink change, and a facsimile apparatus using the printer. Each time printing based on received facsimile image data for one page of print sheet has been completed, the printhead is moved to a position close to a photosensor, and test ink discharge is performed. At this time, the type of printhead is determined, and whether or not the color printhead is in normally-dischargeable status is judged by comparing a pulsewidth obtained from output from the photosensor with a threshold value selected in accordance with the discrimination result. Otherwise, one of a plurality of threshold values according to print modes and ink colors is read from a ROM, and test ink discharge is performed with respect to corresponding color ink. The result of the discharge is compared with the threshold value. Thus, whether or not the printhead is in normally-dischargeable status is judged with respect to each color ink.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.