PRINTER VAPOR CONTROL

• US 20140176635A1
• Filed: 12/24/2012
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Buch, Carlos Lahoz, Portela Mata, Laura, Gondawijaya, Adrian Liga
• Granted Patent: US 10,583,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/19
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/00214 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0022 using convection means, e.g. by using a fan for blowing or sucking air
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/377 Cooling or ventilating arrangements

Abstract

Examples systems and methods of this disclosure include a threshold corresponding to a vapor density, and a circuit or method step to compare an incoming signal that corresponds to a detected vapor density with the threshold.

Claims

2. A printer comprising

an ink transfer device,

a vapor sensor to detect a density of vapor that is released from transferred ink,

a memory storing a threshold, and

a control circuit to trigger a vapor control instruction if a detected vapor density exceeds the threshold.

1. A computer readable medium, storing

a threshold corresponding to a vapor density, and

instructions to

compare an incoming signal that corresponds to a detected vapor density with the threshold, and

intervene in a printer operation if the detected signal exceeds the threshold.

3. The printer of claim 2, wherein the sensor is placed near at least one of

a printer'"'"'s outer contour, and

outside of the printer, so as to detect visible vapor that exits the printer.

4. The printer of claim 2, comprising at least one of an air control device and a radiation device, wherein the control circuit is to intervene in at least one of these devices if the vapor density threshold is exceeded.

5. The printer of claim 2, wherein the control circuit is to continue printing at a different print speed if the vapor density threshold is exceeded.

6. The printer of claim 2, having a maximum print speed of at least 50 square meters per hour.

7. The printer of claim 2, wherein the control circuit is to intervene while executing a print job.

8. The printer of claim 2, comprising an exchangeable condensation part for receiving condensed droplets.

6-1. The printer of claim 2, wherein the sensor includes an optical sensor to correlate a change in detected light intensity with a change in vapor emission.

9. Method of printer vapor control, comprising

transferring ink whereby vapor is released,

detecting a density of the vapor,

outputting a signal corresponding to the vapor density,

comparing the signal with a threshold stored on a memory circuit, the threshold corresponding to a vapor density, and

intervening in a printer operation if the detected vapor density exceeds the threshold.

10. Method of claim 9, wherein the intervening includes adjusting a print speed.

11. Method of claim 9, wherein the intervening includes adjusting an air control device output.

12. Method of claim 9, wherein the intervening includes adjusting a radiation device output.

13. Method of claim 9, comprising transferring ink for execution of a print job, wherein the intervening occurs without interrupting the execution of the print job.

14. Method of claim 9, wherein said detecting includes

emitting light,

detecting the light with a sensor, and

correlating a change in detected light intensity with a change in vapor density.

15. Method of claim 9, emitting the light in a wavelength range between 400 and 1000 nanometers.