# US 10,500,864 B2 · Inkjet printing apparatus and method for controlling the inkjet printing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,864 B2 - Document ID: US10500864B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/199,942 - Filed: 2018-11-26 - Published: 2019-05-16 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-25 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Kenta Horade - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500864B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/16511: {Constructions for cap positioning (B41J2/16547 takes precedence)} - B41J 2/16523: {Waste ink transport from caps or spittoons, e.g. by suction (Collecting or collectors of waste ink B41J2/1721)} - H04N 1/00933: {Timing control or synchronising (H04N1/00928, H04N1/00931, H04N1/00954 and H04N1/0096 take precedence)} - B41J 2/01: Ink jet - B41J 2/16508: {connected with the printer frame} - H04N 1/04: Scanning arrangements {, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa}(H04N1/387 takes precedence) - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract In an inkjet printing apparatus, a controller causes a scanner to read an image formed on an original in response to reception of a copy instruction and generates image data representing the read image. The controller determines a standby period in response to reception of the copy instruction. In response to elapse of the standby period since the reception of the copy instruction, the controller separates a cap and an inkjet head. After the cap and the inkjet head separated each other and completion of reading at least part of the image on the original, the controller causes the recording head to eject ink droplets based on the image data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printer comprising: a scanner; a printing unit; and a controller configured to: receive a copy instruction including an operation mode information; cause the scanner to read an image formed on an original based on the operation mode information in response to reception of the copy instruction; generate image data representing the read image; determine a standby period based on the operation mode information; execute a pre-print process in response to an elapse of the determined standby period from the reception of the copy instruction; and cause the printing unit to print an image based on the image data after completion of the pre-print process. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit includes an inkjet head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The printer according to claim 2, further comprising a cap movable between a cap position and an uncap position, wherein the cap covers the inkjet head when located at the cap position, while the cap uncovers the inkjet head when located at the uncap position, wherein execution of the pre-printing process comprises moving the cap from the cap position to the uncap position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The printer according to claim 3, further comprising an ink receiver that is configured to receive ink ejected by the inkjet head, the ink receiver arranged at a position outside a sheet passage range in the man scanning direction, wherein the controller is configured to cause the inkjet head to eject the ink at a position to face the ink receiver after the cap is moved to the uncap position in the pre-print process, wherein a period of time during which the ink is ejected increases as an elapsed time after the inkjet head previously ejected ink increases. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The printer according to claim 4, wherein a period during which the inkjet head previously ejected the ink increases, the standby period as determined by the controller decreases. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to execute the pre-print process before the printing unit is caused to print the image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein the controller configured to determine the standby period to be: a first period in response to an operation mode of the operation mode information being a first mode; and a second period in response to the operation mode being a second mode, the second period being longer than the first period, a period during which the scanner reads the image being longer in the second mode than in the first mode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The printer according to claim 7, wherein, in determining the standby period, the controller is configured to: assume an execution period T1 during which the image data necessary to start the printing unit to print the image according to the operation mode is generated; assume an execution period T2 during which the pre-print process is executed; and calculate a difference T1−T2 as the standby period. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The printer according to claim 8, wherein the scanner comprises: a supporting table configured to support the original; and a reading sensor configured to read an image formed on the original placed on the supporting table, wherein a reading resolution by the reading sensor is higher in the second mode than in the first mode, and wherein the controller is configured to assume the execution period T1 in the second mode being longer than the execution period T1 in the first mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The printer according to claim 8, further comprising a conveying assembly configured to convey the sheet having a rectangular shape in a conveying direction, wherein the printing unit is configured to move in a main scanning direction which is perpendicular to the conveying direction, wherein the first mode is the operation mode in which a longer side direction of a rectangular original is aligned with the reading direction, while a shorter side direction of the rectangular sheet is aligned along the main scanning direction, or in which a shorter side direction of a rectangular original is aligned with the reading direction, while a longer side direction of the rectangular sheet is aligned along the main scanning direction, wherein the second mode is the operation mode in which the longer side direction of the rectangular original is aligned with the reading direction, while the longer side direction of the rectangular sheet is aligned with the main scanning direction, or in which the shorter side direction of the rectangular original is aligned with the reading direction, while the longer side direction of the rectangular sheet is aligned with the main scanning direction wherein, after completion of the pre-print process, the controller is further configured to repeatedly cause: the conveying assembly to convey the sheet in the conveying direction by a particular amount; and the printing unit to print the image with moving the printing unit in the main scanning direction, wherein the controller assumes the execution period T1 in the second mode to be longer than the execution period T1 in the first mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The printer according to claim 10, wherein the printing unit includes an inkjet head configured to eject ink to print the image, the printer further comprising an ink receiver that is configured to receive ink ejected by the inkjet head, wherein the controller is configured to cause the inkjet head to convey the sheet to the conveying assembly until the sheet reaches a position at which the sheet faces the inkjet head in the pre-print process, in parallel with causing the inkjet head to eject the ink at a position to face the ink receiver. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The printer according to claim 10, further comprising: an ink receiver that is configured to receive ink ejected by the inkjet head; a sheet tray; and a sheet feeder configured to feed the sheet on the sheet tray toward the conveying assembly, wherein the controller is configured to cause the sheet feeder to feed the sheet until the sheet reaches the conveying assembly in parallel with causing the inkjet head to eject the ink at a position to face the ink receiver.