Printing apparatus, and a control method for resetting the printing apparatus

• US 6,364,442 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1998
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Teradaira, Mitsuaki, Kawase, Yuji, Mochizuki, Hidetake
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huffman, Julian D.
• Application Number:
  US09/173,704
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 347/23, 347/5, 347/19, 358/1.16
• US Class Current: 347/5
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns

Abstract

An apparatus and method for cleaning a printing apparatus based on printing apparatus status information that is stored to memory in response to an externally generated reset signal. Based on the stored information, a cleaning process appropriate to the printer status is selected and performed, thereby minimizing ink consumption. In particular, when a CPU of the printing apparatus detects an external reset signal, which is based on the reset signal received from a host computer 65, the CPU writes the cleaning time, reset time, and other printing apparatus status information to a non-volatile RAM. The CPU is then forcibly reset by an internal reset signal. After being reset, the CPU reads the status information from the non-volatile RAM, and selects and implements a cleaning process appropriate to the stored status information. Ink consumption by the printing apparatus can thus be minimized, and reliable cleaning and printing can be maintained.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus in communication with a host computer for printing to a printing medium based on data received from the host computer, said printing apparatus comprising:

means for storing printing apparatus status information;

means for controlling printing apparatus operation, including writing and reading the printing apparatus status information to and from said storing means, and effecting an initialization process based on a reset signal generated by the host computer or by printing apparatus power on operation; and

means for receiving the reset signal from the host computer, applying an external reset signal to said controlling means to inform said controlling means that the reset signal was received, and then applying an internal reset signal to said controlling means after a predetermined time delay from applying the external reset signal;

wherein said controlling means writes at least the printing apparatus status information required for the initialization process to said storing means during the predetermined time delay in response to the external reset signal, and effects the initialization process in response to the internal reset signal.

2. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus status information written to said storing means includes information that the external reset signal was received.

29. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller writes the status information to said memory at a given time interval.

30. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein the status information written to said memory includes the time period elapsed since the ink jet head was uncapped.

31. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein the status information includes a print pass counter indicative of the printing volume.

3. A printing apparatus comprising:

an ink jet head cleaning mechanism;

means for storing printing apparatus status information;

means for controlling printing apparatus operation, including writing and reading the printing apparatus status information to and from said storing means, and controlling said cleaning mechanism using at least one of a plurality of process levels, each consuming a different amount of ink; and

means for receiving a reset signal from an external source, applying an external reset signal to said controlling means to inform said controlling means that the reset signal was received, and then applying an internal reset signal to said controlling means after a predetermined time delay from applying the external reset signal, the internal reset signal being the same as the reset signal applied when printing apparatus power is turned on;

wherein said controlling means writes the printing apparatus status information to said storing means during the predetermined time delay in response to the external reset signal, and, in response to the internal reset signal, reads the printing apparatus status information written to said storing means, selects at least one of the plurality of process levels based on the read information, and controls said cleaning mechanism according to the at least one selected process level.

4. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the plurality of process levels include a dummy cleaning process, which consumes no ink and is otherwise substantially the same operation as an initialization level cleaning process in which a specific amount of ink is consumed.

5. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further comprising means for selectively enabling or disabling the dummy cleaning process.

6. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the status information includes time information indicative of when cleaning at a specific process level was last performed, and wherein said controlling means calculates an elapsed time since the last cleaning at that specific process level based on the written time information and the current time, selects the at least one process level according to the elapsed time, and controls the cleaning mechanism according to the at least one selected process level.

7. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the status information includes the time at which the external reset signal was applied, this time being used as the current time for calculating the elapsed time.

8. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the status information includes the time at which the ink jet head is uncapped.

9. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said controlling means selects and implements cleaning at an initialization level in which a specific amount of ink is consumed when the status information is not stored or the stored status information is invalid.

10. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein after the predetermined time delay, said receiving means outputs the internal reset signal.

11. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said controlling means writes the status information to said storing means at a given time interval.

12. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the status information includes the time period elapsed since the ink jet head was uncapped.

13. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the status information includes a print pass counter indicative of the printing volume.

14. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said controlling means, after each cleaning process, writes the time of the cleaning process to said storing means.

16. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein, when an error is detected in the status information read from said storing means, said controlling means selects and implements cleaning at an initialization level in which a specific amount of ink is consumed.

15. A printing apparatus comprising:

an ink jet head cleaning mechanism;

means for storing printing apparatus status information;

means for controlling printing apparatus operation, including writing and reading the printing apparatus status information to and from said storing means, and controlling said cleaning mechanism using at least one of a plurality of process levels, each consuming a different amount of ink; and

means for receiving a reset signal from an external source, applying an external reset signal to said controlling means to inform said controlling means that the reset signal was received, and then applying an internal reset signal to said controlling means after a predetermined time delay from applying the external reset signal, the internal reset signal being the same as the reset signal applied when printing apparatus power is turned on;

wherein said controlling means writes the printing apparatus status information to said storing means during the predetermined time delay, and, after the internal reset signal is applied, reads the printing apparatus status information written to said storing means, selects at least one of the plurality of process levels based on the read information, and controls said cleaning mechanism according to the at least one selected process level; and

wherein the status information is comprised of a plurality of status information units and validation information for each unit, wherein said controlling means selects the at least one process level based on the status information in the unit or units for which the validation information, obtained from a validation check operation performed on the corresponding status information, indicates that the corresponding status information was properly written to and stored in said storing means during the predetermined time delay, and controls the cleaning mechanism according to the at least one selected process level.

17. A control method for resetting a printing apparatus that includes a memory for storing printing apparatus status information, and a controller for controlling printing apparatus operation, including writing and reading information to and from the memory, said control method comprising the steps of:

receiving a reset signal generated by an external source or by printing apparatus power on operation;

applying to the controller an external reset signal to inform the controller that the reset signal was received;

applying an internal reset signal to the controller after a specific delay from applying the external reset signal;

writing to the memory at least the printing apparatus status information during the specific delay in response to the external reset signal;

reading the printing apparatus status information in response to the internal reset signal; and

effecting an initialization process based on the read printing apparatus status information in response to the internal reset signal.

18. The control method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the printing apparatus status information written to the memory includes information that the external reset signal was received.

19. A control method for resetting a printing apparatus that includes a memory for storing printing apparatus status information, and a controller for controlling printing apparatus operation, including writing and reading information to and from the memory, said control method comprising the steps of:

initializing an ink jet head cleaning mechanism, and controlling the cleaning mechanism using one of a plurality of process levels, each consuming a different amount of ink;

receiving a reset signal, and applying to the controller an external reset signal to inform the controller that the reset signal was received;

writing the printing apparatus status information to the memory in response to the external reset signal;

applying an internal reset signal to the controller after a specific delay from applying the external reset signal, the internal reset signal being the same as the reset signal applied when printing apparatus power is turned on;

reading the printing apparatus status information written to the memory in response to the internal reset signal, and selecting at least a specific one of the plurality of process levels based on the read information in response to the internal reset signal; and

controlling the cleaning mechanism according to the at least one selected specific process level.

20. The control method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of:

performing a dummy cleaning process following the cleaning mechanism control step, the dummy cleaning process consuming no ink and otherwise being substantially the same operation as an initialization level cleaning process in which a specific amount of ink is consumed.

21. The control method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said process level selection step comprises determining whether the dummy cleaning process is performed.

22. The control method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the status information includes the time at which the ink jet head is uncapped.

23. The control method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the process level selection step comprises cleaning at an initialization level in which a specific amount of ink is consumed when the status information is not stored or the stored status information is invalid.

24. The control method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the internal reset signal applying step is performed after an amount of time required to write the printing apparatus status information to the memory has lapsed.

25. The control method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the status information includes time information indicative of when cleaning at a specific process level was performed, and wherein said process level selection step comprises calculating an elapsed time since the last cleaning process at that specific process level based on the time information and a current time, and selecting the at least one process level according to the elapsed time.

26. The control method as set forth in claim 25, wherein the status information includes the time at which the external reset signal was applied, this time being used as the current time for calculating the elapsed time.

27. A control method for resetting a printing apparatus that includes a memory for storing printing apparatus status information, and a controller for controlling printing apparatus operation, including writing and reading information to and from the memory, said control method comprising the steps of:

initializing an ink jet head cleaning mechanism, and controlling the cleaning mechanism using one of a plurality of process levels, each consuming a different amount of ink;

receiving the reset signal, and applying to the controller an external reset signal to inform the controller that the reset signal was received;

writing the printing apparatus status information to the memory;

applying an internal reset signal to the controller after a specific delay from applying the external reset signal, the internal reset signal being the same as the reset signal applied when printing apparatus power is turned on;

reading the printing apparatus status information written to the memory, and selecting at least a specific one of the plurality of process levels based on the read information; and

controlling the cleaning mechanism according to the at least one selected specific process level;

wherein the status information is comprised of a plurality of status information units and validation information for each unit; and

wherein the process level selection step comprises selecting the at least one process level based on status information in the unit or units for which the validation information, obtained from a validation check operation performed on the corresponding status information, indicates that the corresponding status information was properly written to and stored in the memory.

28. The control method as set forth in claim 27, wherein the process level selection step comprises selecting cleaning at an initialization level in which a specific amount of ink is consumed when an error is detected in the status information read from the memory.

32. A printing apparatus in communication with a host computer for printing to a printing medium based on data received from the host computer, said printing apparatus comprising:

a memory that stores printing apparatus status information;

a controller in communication with said memory, wherein said controller controls printing apparatus operation, including writing and reading the printing apparatus status information to and from said memory, and effects an initialization process based on a reset signal generated by the host computer or by printing apparatus power on operation; and

a processing unit in communication with said controller, wherein said processing unit receives a reset signal from the host computer, applies an external reset signal to said controller to inform said controller that the reset signal was received, and then applies an internal reset signal to said controller after a predetermined time delay from applying the external reset signal;

wherein said controller writes at least the printing apparatus status information required for the initialization process to said memory during the predetermined time delay in response to the external reset signal, and effects the initialization process in response to the internal reset signal.

33. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein the printing apparatus status information written to said memory includes information that the external reset signal was received.

34. A printing apparatus comprising:

an ink jet head cleaning mechanism;

a memory that stores printing apparatus status information;

a controller in communication with said cleaning mechanism and said memory, wherein said controller controls printing apparatus operation, including writing and reading the printing apparatus status information to and from said memory, and controls said cleaning mechanism using at least one of a plurality of process levels, each consuming a different amount of ink; and

a processing unit in communication with said controller, wherein said processing unit receives a reset signal from an external source, applies an external reset signal to said controller to inform said controller that the reset signal was received, and then applies an internal reset signal to said controller after a predetermined time delay from applying the external reset signal, the internal reset signal being the same as the reset signal applied when printing apparatus power is turned on;

wherein said controller writes the printing apparatus status information to said memory during the predetermined time delay in response to the external reset signal, and, in response to the internal reset signal, reads the printing apparatus status information written to said memory, selects at least one of the plurality of process levels based on the read information, and controls said cleaning mechanism according to the at least one selected process level.

35. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein the status information includes time information indicative of when cleaning at a specific process level was performed, and wherein said controller calculates an elapsed time since the last cleaning at that specific process level based on the written time information and a current time, selects the at least one process level according to the elapsed time, and controls the cleaning mechanism according to the at least one selected process level.

36. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 35, wherein the status information includes the time at which the external reset signal was applied, this time being used as the current time for calculating the elapsed time.

37. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein the status information includes the time at which the ink jet head is uncapped.

38. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein the plurality of process levels include a dummy cleaning process, which consumes no ink and is otherwise substantially the same operation as an initialization level cleaning process in which a specific amount of ink is consumed.

39. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 38, further comprising a selector for selectively enabling or disabling the dummy cleaning process.

40. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein after the predetermined time delay, said processing unit outputs the internal reset signal.

41. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said controller selects and implements cleaning at an initialization cleaning level in which a specific amount of ink is consumed when the status information is not stored or the stored status information is invalid.

42. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said controller, after each cleaning process, writes the time of the cleaning process to said memory.

43. A printing apparatus comprising:

an ink jet head cleaning mechanism;

a memory that stores printing apparatus status information;

a controller in communication with said cleaning mechanism and said memory, wherein said controller controls printing apparatus operation, including writing and reading the printing apparatus status information to and from said memory, and controls said cleaning mechanism using at least one of a plurality of process levels, each consuming a different amount of ink; and

a processing unit in communication with said controller, wherein said processing unit receives a reset signal from an external source, applies an external reset signal to said controller to inform said controller that the reset signal was received, and then applies an internal reset signal to said controller after a predetermined time delay from applying the external reset signal, the internal reset signal being the same as the reset signal applied when printing apparatus power is turned on;

wherein said controller writes the printing apparatus status information to said memory during the predetermined time delay, and, after the internal reset signal is applied, reads the printing apparatus status information written to said memory, selects at least one of the plurality of process levels based on the read information, and controls said cleaning mechanism according to the at least one selected process level; and

wherein the status information is comprised of a plurality of status information units and validation information for each unit, wherein said controller selects the at least one process level based on the status information in the unit or units for which the validation information, obtained from a validation check operation performed on the corresponding status information, indicates that the corresponding status information was properly written to and stored in said memory during the predetermined time delay, and controls said cleaning mechanism according to the at least one selected process level.

44. The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 43, wherein, when an error is detected in the status information read from said memory, said controller selects and implements cleaning at an initialization level in which a specific amount of ink is consumed.

45. A medium readable by a machine, said medium storing a program of instructions capable of directing the machine to perform a control method for resetting a printing apparatus that includes a memory for storing printing apparatus status information, and a controller for controlling printing apparatus operation, including writing and reading information to and from the memory, said control method comprising the steps of:

receiving a reset signal generated by an external source or by printing apparatus power on operation;

applying to the controller an external reset signal to inform the controller that the reset signal was received;

applying an internal reset signal to the controller after a specific delay from applying the external reset signal;

writing to the memory at least the printing apparatus status information during the specific delay in response to the external reset signal;

reading the printing apparatus status information in response to the internal reset signal; and

effecting an initialization process based on the read printing apparatus status information in response to the internal reset signal.

46. The machine readable medium as set forth in claim 45, wherein the printing apparatus status information written to the memory includes information that the external reset signal was received.

47. A medium readable by a machine, said medium storing a program of instructions capable of directing the machine to perform a control method for resetting a printing apparatus that includes a memory for storing printing apparatus status information, and a controller for controlling printing apparatus operation, including writing and reading information to and from the memory, said control method comprising the steps of:

initializing an ink jet head cleaning mechanism, and controlling the cleaning mechanism using one of a plurality of process levels, each consuming a different amount of ink;

receiving a reset signal, and applying to the controller an external reset signal to inform the controller that the reset signal was received;

writing the printing apparatus status information to the memory in response to the external reset signal;

applying an internal reset signal to the controller after a specific delay from applying the external reset signal, the internal reset signal being the same as the reset signal applied when printing apparatus power is turned on;

reading the printing apparatus status information written to the memory, and selecting at least a specific one of the plurality of process levels based on the read information in response to the internal reset signal; and

controlling the cleaning mechanism according to the at least one selected specific process level.

48. The machine readable medium as set forth in claim 47, further comprising the step of:

performing a dummy cleaning process following the cleaning mechanism control step, the dummy cleaning process consuming no ink and otherwise being substantially the same operation as an initialization level cleaning process in which a specific amount of ink is consumed.

49. The machine readable medium as set forth in claim 47, wherein said process level selection step comprises determining whether the dummy cleaning process is performed.

50. The machine-readable medium as set forth in claim 47, wherein the status information includes time information indicative of when cleaning at a specific process level was performed, and wherein said process level selection step comprises calculating an elapsed time since the last cleaning process at that specific process level based on the time information and a current time, and selecting the at least one process level according to the elapsed time.

51. The machine readable medium as set forth in claim 50, wherein the status information includes the time at which the external reset signal was applied, this time being used as the current time for calculating the elapsed time.

52. The machine readable medium as set forth in claim 47, wherein the status information includes the time at which the ink jet head is uncapped.

53. The machine readable medium as set forth in claim 47, wherein the process level selection step comprises cleaning at an initialization level in which a specific amount of ink is consumed when the status information is not stored or the stored status information is invalid.

54. The machine readable medium as set forth in claim 47, wherein the internal reset signal applying step is performed after an amount of time required to write the printing apparatus status information to the memory has lapsed.

55. A medium readable by a machine, said medium storing a program of instructions capable of directing the machine to perform a control method for resetting a printing apparatus that includes a memory for storing printing apparatus status information, and a controller for controlling printing apparatus operation, including writing and reading information to and from the memory, said control method comprising the steps of:

initializing an ink jet head cleaning mechanism, and controlling the cleaning mechanism using one of a plurality of process levels, each consuming a different amount of ink;

receiving the reset signal, and applying to the controller an external reset signal to inform the controller that the reset signal was received;

writing the printing apparatus status information to the memory;

applying an internal reset signal to the controller after a specific delay from applying the external reset signal, the internal reset signal being the same as the reset signal applied when printing apparatus power is turned on;

reading the printing apparatus status information written to the memory, and selecting at least a specific one of the plurality of process levels based on the read information; and

controlling the cleaning mechanism according to the at least one selected specific process level;

wherein the status information is comprised of a plurality of status information units and validation information for each unit; and

wherein the process level selection step comprises selecting the at least one process level based on status information for the unit or units for which the validation information, obtained from a validation check operation performed on the corresponding status information, indicates that the corresponding status information was properly written to and stored in the memory.

56. The machine readable medium as set forth in claim 55, wherein the process level selection step comprises selecting cleaning at an initialization level in which a specific amount of ink is consumed when an error is detected in the printing apparatus status information read from the memory.