EP 0799701 A1 19971008 - A method of maintaining a liquid ink printhead
Title (en)
A method of maintaining a liquid ink printhead
Title (de)
Verfahren zur Wartung eines Druckkopfes für flüssige Tinte
Title (fr)
Méthode de maintenance pour tête d'impression à encre liquide
Publication
Application
Priority
US 62630096 A 19960401
Abstract (en)
A liquid ink printer (10) and a method of operation therefore having a maintenance device (30) in communication with a liquid ink printhead (20) to direct the liquid ink printhead to eject purge ink drops from the ink ejecting orifices as a function of image data. The maintenance device (30) includes a maintenance circuit having an image data input for receiving the image data and a maintenance circuit output transmitting a maintenance signal to the liquid ink printhead (20) to cause the ink ejecting orifices thereof to eject purge ink as a function of the received image data. A timer is used to determine the time period between the ejection of ink drops from an individual nozzle to thereby determine if a sufficient number of ink drops are fired to prevent viscous plugs from forming in the nozzles. If the ink nozzles are not ejecting a required number of drops to prevent viscous plugs from forming, a purge operation is performed to project purge ink or purge drops from the respective nozzles to thereby maintain proper operation thereof. <IMAGE>
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
B41J 2/165 (2006.01); B41J 2/18 (2006.01); B41J 2/185 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
B41J 2/1652 (2013.01)
Citation (search report)
- [PX] EP 0714776 A2 19960605 - CANON KK [JP]
- [XY] EP 0443808 A1 19910828 - CANON KK [JP]
- [YA] EP 0589581 A2 19940330 - HEWLETT PACKARD CO [US]
- [PA] EP 0704307 A2 19960403 - HEWLETT PACKARD CO [US]
- [A] PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 014, no. 379 (M - 1012) 16 August 1990 (1990-08-16)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
DE FR GB
DOCDB simple family (publication)
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 97200949 A 19970401; JP 7111597 A 19970325