Inkjet printer, and control method of an inkjet printer

• US 10,442,186 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Takami, Toru, Endo, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Legesse, Henok D
• Application Number:
  US15/636,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20180001622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/0451 for detecting failure, e.g. clogging, malfunctioning actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04586 controlling heads of a type not covered by groups B41J2/04575 - B41J2/04585, or of an undefined type
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16517 Cleaning of print head nozzles B41J2/16505, B41J2/1707 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/16573 Cleaning process logic, e.g. for determining type or order of cleaning processes
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1217 achieving reduced idle time at the output device or increased asset utilization
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/402 Sharing data concerning the arrangement's configuration or current state for managing optional units G06K15/4025
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/4045 Managing the interface to the data source, e.g. choosing an interface for data reception
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/408 Handling exceptions, e.g. faults computer driven error handling and recovery for a printer G06F3/1234
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/101 involving the use of ink jets

Abstract

An inkjet printer for printing labels includes: a first interface configured to receive, from a host computer, print data for images to be printed on the labels; a second interface configured to receive, from a sequencer, a first signal indicating a timing to execute a printing operation that includes printing the images, and a second signal indicating a timing to execute a predetermined operation that cannot be executed in parallel with printing the images; and a controller configured to: render the print data received via the first interface, and execute the printing operation based on the rendered print data at a timing based on the first signal received via the second interface, and execute the predetermined operation at a timing based on the second signal received via the second interface.

Claims

1. An inkjet printer for printing labels, the inkjet printer comprising:

a first interface configured to receive, from a host computer, print data for images to be printed on the labels;

a second interface configured to receive, from a sequencer, a first signal indicating a timing to execute a printing operation that includes printing the images, and a second signal indicating a timing to execute a predetermined operation that cannot be executed in parallel with printing the images; and

a controller configured to;

render the print data received via the first interface, and execute the printing operation based on the rendered print data at a timing based on the first signal received via the second interface, and

execute the predetermined operation at a timing based on the second signal received via the second interface.

2. The inkjet printer described in claim 1, wherein:

the predetermined operation is a maintenance operation that includes ejecting ink from an inkjet head.

3. The inkjet printer described in claim 2, wherein:

the maintenance operation includes a cleaning operation of the inkjet head; and

the controller is configured such that, during the cleaning operation, the controller causes the inkjet head to be capped and causes suction to be applied to the inkjet head.

4. The inkjet printer described in claim 2, wherein:

the maintenance operation includes a nozzle check operation of the inkjet head; and

the controller is configured such that, during the nozzle check operation, the controller causes ink to be ejected from nozzles of the inkjet head and determines whether an ejection problem exists.

5. The inkjet printer described in claim 2, wherein:

the second interface is configured such that, when a maintenance operation based on the second signal is executed, the second interface sends to the sequencer a signal indicating that the maintenance operation is being executed.

6. The inkjet printer described in claim 1, wherein:

the second interface is configured such that, when a printing operation based on the first signal is executed, the second interface sends to the sequencer a signal indicating that the printing operation is being executed.

7. A method of controlling an inkjet printer for printing labels, the method comprising:

receiving, from a host computer, print data for images to be printed on the labels;

receiving, from a sequencer, a first signal indicating a timing to execute a printing operation that includes printing the images, and a second signal indicating a timing to execute a predetermined operation that cannot be executed in parallel with printing the images;

rendering the print data and executing the printing operation based on the rendered print data at a timing based on the first signal; and

executing the predetermined operation at a timing based on the second signal.

8. The method described in claim 7, wherein:

the predetermined operation is a maintenance operation that includes ejecting ink from an inkjet head.

9. The method described in claim 8, wherein:

the maintenance operation includes a cleaning operation of the inkjet head; and

during the cleaning operation, the controller causes the inkjet head to be capped and causes suction to be applied to the inkjet head.

10. The method described in claim 8, wherein:

the maintenance operation includes a nozzle check operation of the inkjet head; and

during the nozzle check operation, the controller causes ink to be ejected from nozzles of the inkjet head and determines whether an ejection problem exists.

11. The method described in claim 8, wherein:

when a maintenance operation based on the second signal is executed, the second interface sends to the sequencer a signal indicating that the maintenance operation is being executed.

12. The method described in claim 7, wherein:

when a printing operation based on the first signal is executed, the second interface sends to the sequencer a signal indicating that the printing operation is being executed.

13. A printing system comprising:

an inkjet printer configured to print labels;

a host computer configured to generate print data for images to be printed on the labels;

a sequencer configured to send a first signal indicating a timing to execute a printing operation that includes printing the images, and a second signal indicating a timing to execute a predetermined operation that cannot be executed in parallel with printing the images;

wherein

wherein the inkjet printer comprises;

a first interface configured to receive, from the host computer, the print data for the images to be printed on the labels,

a second interface configured to receive, from the sequencer, the first signal and the second signal, and

a controller configured to;

render the print data received via the first interface, and execute a printing operation based on the rendered print data at a timing based on the first signal received via the second interface, and

execute the predetermined operation at a timing based on the second signal received via the second interface.

14. The printing system described in claim 13, wherein:

the predetermined operation is a maintenance operation that includes ejecting ink from an inkjet head.

15. The printing system described in claim 14, wherein:

the maintenance operation includes a cleaning operation of the inkjet head; and

the controller is configured such that, during the cleaning operation, the controller causes the inkjet head to be capped and causes suction to be applied to the inkjet head.

16. The printing system described in claim 14, wherein:

the maintenance operation includes a nozzle check operation of the inkjet head; and

the controller is configured such that, during the nozzle check operation, the controller causes ink to be ejected from nozzles of the inkjet head and determines whether an ejection problem exists.

17. The printing system described in claim 14, wherein:

the second interface is configured such that, when a maintenance operation based on the second signal is executed, the second interface sends to the sequencer a signal indicating that the maintenance operation is being executed.

18. The printing system described in claim 13, wherein:

the second interface is configured such that, when a printing operation based on the first signal is executed, the second interface sends to the sequencer a signal indicating that the printing operation is being executed.