Ink jet printer service station controlled by data from consumable parts with incorporated memory devices

• US 6,126,265 A
• Filed: 07/16/1997
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Redding, Bloor Jr., Childers, Winthrop D., Bullock, Michael L., Michael, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HSIEH, SHIH WEN
• Application Number:
  US08/895,163
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 347/23, 347/29-33, 347/86, 347/19
• US Class Current: 347/23
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16538 with brushes or wiper blades perpendicular to the nozzle plate
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17506 Refilling of the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1755 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17569 based on the amount printed or to be printed
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17573 using optical means for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17576 using a floater for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 25/34 Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages

Abstract

An inkjet printing system includes a replaceable printhead having plural nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, a service station for capping and wiping the plural nozzles, and a replaceable ink cartridge housing a supply of ink and further including a cartridge memory for recording service station-control data. A processor is coupled to the ink cartridge memory and is responsive to service station-control data read from the cartridge memory to derive a service station control value. The printhead further includes a memory which records printhead-related parameters, and the processor is responsive thereto and service station-control data read from said cartridge memory to control the service station. The control data may be service station parameters, one or more subroutines to control the service station and combinations thereof.

Claims

1. An inkjet printing system comprising:

a printhead having nozzles for ejecting ink droplets;

a service station for capping and wiping said plural nozzles;

replaceable cartridge means for housing a supply of consumable marking media and including cartridge memory means for recording service station-control data; and

processor means, including processor memory, coupled to said cartridge memory means and responsive to said service station-control data read from said cartridge memory means for operating said service station.

2. The inkjet printing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said printhead is replaceable, said inkjet printing system further comprising:

printhead memory means positioned on said printhead, for recording printhead-related parameters;

said processor means further responsive to a printhead-related parameter read from said printhead memory means and service station-control data read from said cartridge memory means to control said service station.

3. The printing system as recited in claim 2, wherein said service station-control data read from said cartridge memory means is given priority over control data from the printhead and control data from the printhead is given priority over control data stored in the printer.

4. The printing system as recited in claim 2, wherein said replaceable cartridge is separately replaceable from said printhead.

5. The printing system as recited in claim 2, wherein said replaceable cartridge is integral with said printhead.

6. The printing system as recited in claim 2, wherein said service station-control data read from said cartridge memory means which includes a date code is given priority over control data having an earlier date code.

7. The inkjet printing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said replaceable cartridge means is an ink reservoir cartridge that is pluggably insertable into said printing system, said cartridge memory means forming an integral part of said cartridge means and making electrical connection to said printing system upon insertion of said cartridge means.

8. The printing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said data read from said cartridge memory means further includes a value from which said processor means derives a number of ink ejections for clearing a blocked nozzle.

9. The printing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said service station-control data read from said cartridge memory means includes a value which is used by said control means to enable processor of a number of wipes applied by said service station to said printhead.

10. The printing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said service station-control data read from said cartridge memory means includes a subroutine for enabling said processor means to operate said service station.

11. The printing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said service station-control data read from said cartridge memory means includes plural parameters used by said processor means to operate said service station.

12. The printing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said service station-control data read from said cartridge memory means includes at least one parameter used by said processor means to access a service station control procedure from said processor memory.

13. A method for controlling operation of an inkjet printing system, wherein the inkjet printing system includes (i) a service station for capping and wiping a nozzle plate present on a printhead, (ii) a replaceable cartridge for housing a supply of consumable marking media, said replaceable cartridge further including a cartridge memory for recording printhead servicing data, and (iii) a printhead for producing marks on a print media, said printhead including a nozzle plate, the method comprising the steps of:

a) reading printhead servicing data stored on at least said cartridge memory;

b) deriving a service station function control value that is dependent upon said printhead servicing data read from said cartridge memory; and

c) controlling said service station in accord with said service station function control value.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein step a) further reads a printhead-related parameter from a printhead memory means, and step b) employs said printhead-related parameter and said printhead servicing data read from said cartridge memory to control said service station.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said printhead servicing data read from said cartridge memory means includes a value from which step b) derives a control signal for causing said printhead to generate a number of ink ejections to clear one or more blocked nozzles.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said printhead servicing data read from said cartridge memory means includes a value from which step b) derives a signal to control a number of wipes applied by said service station to said printhead.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said printhead servicing data read from said cartridge memory means includes a subroutine for enabling said processor to operate said service station.

18. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said printhead servicing data read from said cartridge memory means includes plural parameters used by said processor means to operate said service station.

19. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein step c) wherein said printhead servicing data includes at least one parameter that is used by said printer system to access a service station control procedure from a memory.

20. A replaceable ink cartridge for an inkjet printing system, the printing system including a printhead for producing marks on a print media, the printing system further including a printhead service station for performing capping and wiping functions for said printhead, and a processor with processor memory, the replaceable ink cartridge comprising:

an ink reservoir containing an ink supply;

a cartridge memory element having service station-control data stored thereon, the cartridge memory element electrically coupled with the processor means so that the processor means has access to the service station-control data when the ink cartridge is installed in a receptacle in said printing system; and

wherein, in order to carry out a service station operation, service station-control data stored in the cartridge memory element are read by said processor to enable said processor to derive a service station control value.

21. The replaceable ink cartridge of claim 20, wherein the cartridge-control data includes factory-installed parameters that are recorded at the time the ink cartridge is manufactured.

22. The replaceable ink cartridge of claim 21, wherein the cartridge factory parameters include a value from which said processor derives a number of ink ejections required to clear a blocked nozzle, based upon a period of time the nozzles have gone without firing in a capped or uncapped state.

23. The replaceable ink cartridge of claim 21, wherein the cartridge factory parameters include a value which is used by said processor to control a number of wipes applied by said service station to said printhead.

24. The replaceable ink cartridge of claim 20, wherein the cartridge-control data includes a subroutine for enabling said processor to operate said service station.

25. The replaceable ink cartridge of claim 20, wherein the cartridge-control data includes a software object for enabling said processor to operate said service station.

26. The replaceable ink cartridge of claim 25, wherein the cartridge-control data replaces an existing software object which is located in one of said printhead memory unit and processor memory.

27. The replaceable ink cartridge of claim 20, wherein said said ink reservoir is integral with said printhead, both said printhead and ink cartridge being user-replaceable.