Method and apparatus for detecting printer service station capacity
US6536865B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 25, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 25, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/1742
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
During ink-jet printhead servicing, nozzles fire ink droplets into a reservoir of a service station. An electrostatic drop detection circuit uses the difference between the voltage potential of the ink droplets and the voltage potential of the reservoir to create an output signal. The shape and amplitude of the signal are evaluated to determine the functionality of the printhead nozzles. The signal delay, associated with the flight time of the ink droplets, and the amplitude of the output signal are evaluated to determine the volume remaining within the reservoir of the service station. Using the remaining volume as a parameter, the rate at which printhead servicing may be calculated to optimize print quality and resources.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.