Hewlett-packard Company

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Christopher Taylor

Antoni S Murcia

Xavier Bruch

Xavier Girones

Ramon Vega

Eric Joseph Johnson

B Michael Eckard

Antoni Murcia

Richard H Lewis

Norman E Pawlowski

Kenneth R Williams

Tod S Heiles

Ted Tang Lee

Lidia Calvo

Thomas G Cocklin

Jose Jurjo

A technique for servicing an inkjet printhead on an inkjet printer including a first service module. The technique includes identifying a printhead-related service condition not adequately addressed by servicing the printer with the first service module, providing a second service module different from the first service module and adapted to address the printhead-related service condition. A set of instructions can be provided for using the second service module with the inkjet printer. The technique can further include removing the first service module from the printer, installing the second service module in the printer, and using the set of instructions, conducting a special printer servicing operation. After completion of the special printer servicing operation, the second service module can be removed from the printer, and the first service module reinstalled in the printer in place of the second service module.

Special service station module for extra servicing

A method of servicing a pen comprising a printhead, having a plurality of nozzles, mounted in an inkjet printing device, comprising a servicing area and a drop detector comprising the following steps performing a drop detection on the printhead to check if any of the nozzles of the printhead are malfunctioning; storing the result of the more recent drop detection operation, together with the results of the previous drop detections to keep a history of the health status of each nozzle; deciding whether or not to execute a recovery service in the servicing area to attempt to recover the current malfunctioning nozzles, based on the more recent status of the nozzles and on the history of the health status of the nozzles.

Method of servicing a pen when mounted in a printing device

An inkjet printing device for printing plots comprises a printhead, which has a plurality of nozzles each nozzle having at least a working status and a failing status, a servicing unit capable of applying recovery functions to said plurality of nozzles, detection means for checking if a nozzles is in a working status or in a failing status, memory means and a plurality of functions executable by said device to improve image quality. Said memory means, responsive to said detection means, contains data on how the status of a nozzle is varying over time. Said device further comprises means to select and execute at least one of said plurality of functions, responsive to the data stored in said memory means. A method of improving image quality on plots produced by said device said method comprising the steps of: checking the status of one or more nozzles; storing in a memory support the status of a checked nozzle as detected during said checking step; and based on a plurality of said statuses stored over time in said memory support, performing an appropriate function form said variety for improving the image quality.

Method for improving image quality on plots

To accurately position printheads (C,M,Y,K) of an inkjet printer in the capping area of their service station ( ), the position of service station insert members (e.g. K) is determined by an optical sensor ( ) detecting a through hole ( K) in the cartridge lid ( ), and the separation (j) of the optical sensor and the printheads (e.g. K) is precisely determined. The separation (j) is determined by using the printhead nozzles to print lines ( ) in the directions of the scan and media axes, scanning the lines with the optical sensor ( ), and calculating from the results the separation (j). The results of locating the four reference holes ( C, M, Y, K) of the service station insert members may be averaged.

Apparatus and method for accurately positioning inkjet printheads

There is provided a method for determining the end of life of a pen having a printhead with a plurality of nozzles. The method includes performing a drop detection on the printhead to check if any nozzle of the printhead is malfunctioning and storing the result of the drop detection together with the results of previous drop detections to keep a history of the health status of each nozzle. The method also includes evaluating the history of the health status of each nozzle of the printhead, and deciding whether or not to mark the pen as an end of life pen.

Method of detecting the end of life of a pen

A removable service module in a printer service station periodically interacts with a print cartridge, and is sized for proper installation in a matching service carriage slot. Upper and lower boundary guides on the service carriage prevent an unmatched or wrongly positioned service module from fitting through a slot entrance and becoming seated into a completed mounting position.

Error-proof service station installation

A method for servicing an inkjet printhead without removing the printhead from a carriage of the printer, wherein a controlled pressure differential is generated across the nozzle plate of the printhead to cause the formation of a controlled puddle of ink on the outside of the nozzle plate. Ink is then fired into the puddle through the nozzles of the printhead. The puddle may then be drawn back into the printhead through the nozzles. Alternatively the puddle is generated, is maintained for a predetermined period of time and then is withdrawn into the printhead without ink being fired from the nozzles.

Method for servicing an inkjet printhead

A replaceable inkjet printhead cleaner service station system has separate replaceable cleaning units for each printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism, which has a pallet that moves the cleaning units translationally to service the printheads. Each cleaning unit has a printhead wiper, a printhead snout wiper, a capping system, a spittoon, and optionally, an ink solvent application system. The snout wiper cleans ink residue from a non-ink-ejecting snout portion of an inkjet printhead cartridge installed in the printing mechanism. The snout wiper has a base which moves between a rest position and a wiping position. A wiper is supported by the base to wipe ink residue from the non-ink-ejecting snout portion of the cartridge through motion of the cartridge while the base remains stationary at the wiping position. A method is provided for cleaning an inkjet printhead, along with an inkjet printing mechanism employing such a snout wiping system.

Replaceable snout wiper for inkjet cartridges

A method and printer for priming an inkjet printhead without removing the printhead from a carriage of the printer, by the controlled delivery of a predetermined volume of gas to an air chamber within the printhead so that the air chamber expands within the printhead body causing an increase in the ink pressure within the printhead and thus a controlled flow of ink into the nozzles of the printhead. An ink puddle may be formed on the nozzle plate of the printhead during priming and subsequently drawn back into the printhead.

Printer and method for priming an inkjet printhead

A unitary latching device moves between an open position allowing individual inkjet print cartridges to be installed or replaced and a closed position securely positioning a plurality of print cartridges in a carriage during printing, replenishing and servicing modes.

Unitary latching device for secure positioning of print cartridge during printing, priming and replenishment

A method of correcting for malfunctioning ink ejection elements in a printing system comprising the step of (a) obtaining a standard printmask; (b) assigning to at least two ink ejection elements a probability that each of such at least two ink ejection element will work properly; (d) attempting to modify the standard printmask by replacing ink ejection elements having a certain probability to work properly with different ink ejection elements having a bigger probability to work properly, to create a modified printmask.

Method of printing to automatically compensate for malfunctioning inkjet nozzles

A replaceable inkjet printhead cleaner service station system has separate replaceable cleaning units for each printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism, which has a pallet that moves the cleaning units translationally to service the printheads. Each cleaning unit has a printhead wiper, a printhead snout wiper, a capping system, a spittoon, and an ink solvent application system, all supported by a base. The snout wiper cleans ink residue from a non-ink-ejecting snout portion of an inkjet printhead cartridge installed in the printing mechanism. The snout wiper is supported by the base for movement between a rest position and a wiping position to wipe ink residue from the cartridge snout portion through motion of the cartridge while the base remains stationary at the wiping position. A method is provided for cleaning an inkjet printhead, along with an inkjet printing mechanism employing such a snout wiping system.

Growing community of inventors

Cely-en-Biere, France

Christopher Taylor