Printer having print mode for non-qualified marking material
First Claim
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1. A method for adjusting the print mode of a printer using a customer replaceable marking material supply cartridge from a normal print mode to a non-normal print mode in response to a detection of a non-qualified ink in the cartridge by an electronic monitoring system, comprising the steps of:
- a) reading an identification number on a customer replaceable marking material supply cartridge after installation thereof in the printer;
b) comparing the identification number which has been read with identification numbers stored in a controller memory of the printer;
c) identifying matches and non-matches between said customer replaceable cartridge identification number and said stored identification numbersd) displaying either a warranty or an out-of-warranty condition on a display panel for the printer, the displayed condition depending upon whether matches or non-matches are respectively identified;
e) causing a non-normal printing mode for the printer when the printer is actuated for printing and an out-of-warranty condition is displayed on the display panel and enabling use of a cartridge having non-matched identification numbers by said printer, the non-normal printing mode having printing parameters adjusted to minimize the effect of non-qualified marking material on the printer; and
f) automatically logging a use of a non-normal printing mode in the controller memory of the printer, thus enabling the optional use of a cartridge containing a non-qualified marking material.
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Abstract
An ink jet printer of the type having at least one customer replaceable ink cartridge with an ink monitoring system detects whether or not the ink in the cartridge contains qualified ink or not and adjusts the normal printing mode to a non-normal printing when non-qualified ink is detected, thereby providing the customer the option to print with non-qualified ink with minimized effect on the printer or print quality.
185 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for adjusting the print mode of a printer using a customer replaceable marking material supply cartridge from a normal print mode to a non-normal print mode in response to a detection of a non-qualified ink in the cartridge by an electronic monitoring system, comprising the steps of:
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a) reading an identification number on a customer replaceable marking material supply cartridge after installation thereof in the printer; b) comparing the identification number which has been read with identification numbers stored in a controller memory of the printer; c) identifying matches and non-matches between said customer replaceable cartridge identification number and said stored identification numbers d) displaying either a warranty or an out-of-warranty condition on a display panel for the printer, the displayed condition depending upon whether matches or non-matches are respectively identified; e) causing a non-normal printing mode for the printer when the printer is actuated for printing and an out-of-warranty condition is displayed on the display panel and enabling use of a cartridge having non-matched identification numbers by said printer, the non-normal printing mode having printing parameters adjusted to minimize the effect of non-qualified marking material on the printer; and f) automatically logging a use of a non-normal printing mode in the controller memory of the printer, thus enabling the optional use of a cartridge containing a non-qualified marking material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A printer utilizing customer replaceable marking material supply cartridges and being adjustable between a normal printing mode and a non-normal printing mode in response to a detection of non-qualified marking material in said cartridges by an electronic monitoring system, comprising:
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an electronic monitoring system for reading an identification number on each customer replaceable marking material supply cartridge after installation thereof in the printer and comparing the cartridge identification number with each of a plurality of identification numbers stored in a controller memory of the printer, the electronic monitoring system identifying matches and non-matches between the cartridge identification numbers and the identification numbers stored in the controller memory; a display panel for displaying a warranty printing condition in response to matches which are identified by the electronic monitoring system and for displaying an out-of-warranty printing condition in response to non-matches which are detected; means for adjusting the printer either for the normal printing mode when a warranty printing condition is displayed or the non-normal printing mode when an out-of-warranty printing condition is displayed; said electronic monitoring system having means to display an indication of the number of sheets of recording medium that may be printed by the customer replaceable cartridge when identification number matches are identified and for decrementing the previously indicated number of remaining sheets that are printable by said cartridge after each printing job which is conducted in the normal printing mode, the electronic monitoring system displaying an empty cartridge signal and concurrently terminating operation of the printer when the number of sheets available for printing by said cartridge is zero; means for enabling the printer to print in the non-normal printing mode when the presence of marking material is confirmed to the printer controller, the non-normal printing mode having printing parameters of the printer adjusted to minimize the effect of using non-qualified marking material on the printer; and means for logging each use of a non-normal printing mode in the printer controller memory. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification