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:
Dec. 10, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 08, 2000
Masayo Miyasaka, Shiojiri, JP;
Mitsuaki Teradaira, Shiojiri, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a printer with a cleaning function in which CPU monitors a detection switch, and performs cleaning and printing operations as required until the detection switch is pressed(step S ). When the detection switch is pressed (step S returns yes), the printer indicates a “near end of ink” notice using the display panel or by flashing an LED, for example. A near end of ink notice is also sent to the host computer (step S ). A remaining ink volume counter is then set to a specific value, which in this exemplary embodiment is 5 mg (step S ). When a print command is next received (step S returns yes), the ink consumed by the print operation is subtracted from the remaining ink volume, and the difference is stored as the new remaining ink volume (step S ). The CPU then waits for a cleaning command (step S ). When a cleaning command is received, the CPU calculates the ink volume required for the cleaning operation, that is, the above-noted cleaning volume (step S ). If the cleaning volume is greater than the remaining ink volume (step S returns no), the cleaning mechanism is not driven, the user is notified that ink tank replacement is required using an LED, display panel and/or notifying the host computer (step S ), and the printing process ends. If the cleaning volume is less than the remaining ink volume (step S returns yes), ink jet head cleaning is possible. The cleaning mechanism is therefore driven (step S ) to suction an ink volume determined by the selected cleaning method, and this cleaning process ends.