The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 19, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 16, 1998
Junji Nakahara, Nagoya, JP;
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya, JP;
Abstract
An ink jet printer includes an ink jet head having nozzles, which can be covered with a suction cap. A pump can suck ink out of the head to purge it. A controller can vary the suction pressure or the suction cycle period of the pump in accordance with a purge mode. Automatic purges can be performed at predetermined time intervals for the maintenance of the printer. A manual purge can be performed for recovery from defective ejection of ink from the head. Another purge can be performed just after an ink cartridge is replaced for the printer. The controller controls the pump in such a manner that at least one of the automatic purges, the manual purge and the purge after cartridge replacement differ from each other in at least one of the suction period and pressure. Depending on the using condition of the printer, it is possible to prevent defective ejection of ink due to the clogging of the nozzles and/or the bubbling of ink.