# US 10,503,452 B2 · Server, control program, and apparatus

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- Number: US 10,503,452 B2
- Document ID: US10503452B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/923,198
- Filed: 2018-03-16
- Published: 2018-09-20
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-16
- Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Tony Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503452B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/1294: {Status or feedback related to information exchange}
- B41J 2/165: Prevention {or detection} of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
- B41J 2/16517: {Cleaning of print head nozzles (B41J2/16505, B41J2/1707 take precedence)}
- B41J 2/17566: {Ink level or ink residue control}
- B41J 29/393: Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine {; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns}
- G06F 3/1203: {Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management}
- G06F 3/1229: {Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels}
- G06F 3/1273: {Print job history, e.g. logging, accounting, tracking}
- G06F 3/1287: {via internet}
- G06K 15/40: {Details not directly involved in printing, e.g. machine management, management of the arrangement as a whole or of its constitutive parts (computer driven print job management G06F3/1237)}
- G06K 15/407: {Managing marking material, e.g. checking available colours}
- B41J 2002/16573: {Cleaning process logic, e.g. for determining type or order of cleaning processes}
- B41J 2002/17589: {using ink level as input for printer mode selection or for prediction of remaining printing capacity}
- G06K 2215/101: involving the use of ink jets
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS

## Abstract

A server includes: a communicator communicable with an apparatus configured to perform a scanning operation and a printing operation using an ink-jet head; and a controller. The controller controls the server to: receive, from the apparatus, scan data representing a printing sheet printed by the ink-jet head; determine whether cleaning of the ink-jet head is required, based on the received scan data; transmit permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning of the ink-jet head is required, the permission information indicating permission of the cleaning of the ink-jet head; and transmit non-permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning of the ink-jet head is not required, the non-permission information indicating non-permission of the cleaning of the ink-jet head.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A server, comprising:
a communicator communicable with an apparatus configured to perform a scanning operation and a printing operation using an ink-jet head; and
a controller configured to control the server to perform:
receiving, from the apparatus, nozzle-check-scan data that is scan data of a nozzle-check printing sheet printed by the ink-jet head in a nozzle-check printing operation instructed by a user of the apparatus;
determining whether cleaning of the ink-jet head is required, based on the nozzle-check-scan data;
transmitting permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning of the ink-jet head is required, the permission information indicating permission of the cleaning of the ink-jet head; and
transmitting non-permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning of the ink-jet head is not required, the non-permission information indicating non-permission of the cleaning of the ink-jet head.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The server according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the server to perform:
receiving scan data representing the nozzle-check printing sheet on which first identification information for identifying the apparatus is printed, from the apparatus as the nozzle-check-scan data;
receiving second identification information for identifying the apparatus, from the apparatus not as the nozzle-check-scan data;
determining whether a first identified apparatus identified by the first identification information included in the nozzle-check-scan data is identical to a second identified apparatus identified by the received second identification information;
transmitting the permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning is required, based on the nozzle-check-scan data and when the server determines that the first identified apparatus is identical to the second identified apparatus; and
transmitting the non-permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning is required, based on the nozzle-check-scan data and when the server determines that the first identified apparatus is not identical to the second identified apparatus.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The server according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to control the server to perform:
receiving scan data representing the nozzle-check printing sheet on which the first identification information and first specification information for specifying date and time are printed, from the apparatus as the nozzle-check-scan data;
receiving second specification information for specifying date and time, from the apparatus not as the nozzle-check-scan data;
determining whether the first identified apparatus identified by the nozzle-check-scan data including the first identification information and the first specification information is identical to the second identified apparatus identified by the second identification information;
determining whether the date and time specified by the first specification information included in the nozzle-check-scan data coincide with the date and time specified by the received second specification information;
transmitting the permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning is required, based on the nozzle-check-scan data, when the server determines that the first identified apparatus is identical to the second identified apparatus, and when the date and time specified by the first specification information included in the nozzle-check-scan data coincide with the date and time specified by the received second specification information; and
transmitting the non-permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning is required, based on the nozzle-check-scan data, and when the server determines that the first identified apparatus is not identical to the second identified apparatus or when the date and time specified by the first specification information included in the nozzle-check-scan data do not coincide with the date and time specified by the received second specification information.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The server according to claim 1,
wherein the ink-jet head comprises a plurality of nozzle groups, each as a nozzle group, respectively corresponding to different ink colors,
wherein the controller is configured to control the server to perform:
for each of the plurality of nozzle groups, determining whether the cleaning of the nozzle group is required, based on the received nozzle-check-scan data; and
for each of the plurality of nozzle groups, transmitting any one of (i) permission information indicating permission of cleaning of the nozzle group and (ii) non-permission information indicating non-permission of cleaning of the nozzle group, to the apparatus.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The server according to claim 4,
wherein the apparatus comprises a cleaner configured to perform cleaning of the nozzle group for each of the plurality of nozzle groups, and
wherein the controller is configured to control the server to perform:
based on the received nozzle-check-scan data, determining a driving force of the cleaner corresponding to the nozzle group for which the server determines that the cleaning is required; and
transmitting (i) the permission information indicating permission of cleaning of the nozzle group for which the server determines that the cleaning is required and (ii) the determined driving force of the cleaner, to the apparatus.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The server according to claim 1,
wherein the apparatus is a subject of a service which offers an ink cartridge in exchange for payment determined based on the number of printed sheets, and
wherein the controller is configured to control the server to perform:
receiving number-of-sheets information from the apparatus, the number-of-sheets information relating to the number of printing sheets printed by the apparatus;
when the server determines that the cleaning of the ink-jet head is required, determining, based on the received number-of-sheets information, the number of the printing sheets printed by the apparatus in a particular period extending before the cleaning of the ink-jet head is performed; and
storing the determined number of the printing sheets.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The server according to claim 6,
wherein the ink-jet head comprises a plurality of nozzle groups, each as a nozzle group, respectively corresponding to different ink colors, and
wherein the controller is configured to control the server to perform:
for each of the plurality of nozzle groups, determining whether the cleaning of the nozzle group is required, based on the received nozzle-check-scan data;
receiving ink information relating to an ink color used for each of the printing sheets printed by the apparatus;
determining, based on the received ink information and the received number-of-sheets information, the number of the printing sheets printed by the apparatus, in the particular period extending before the cleaning of the ink-jet head is performed, with the ink color corresponding to the nozzle group for which the server determines that the cleaning is required; and
storing the determined number of the printing sheets.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The server according to claim 1,
wherein the apparatus comprises a cleaner configured to perform cleaning of the ink-jet head, and
wherein the controller is configured to control the server to perform:
receiving, from the apparatus, first scan data as the nozzle-check-scan data representing the nozzle-check printing sheet printed by the ink-jet head;
receiving, from the apparatus, second scan data representing a printing sheet printed by the ink-jet head for which the cleaning is performed based on the permission information transmitted when the server determines, based on the received first scan data, that the cleaning is required;
determining, based on the received second scan data, whether the cleaning of the ink-jet head is required; and
when the server determines, based on the received second scan data, that the cleaning is required, determining a driving force of the cleaner based on the received first scan data and the received second scan data and transmitting the permission information and the driving force of the cleaner to the apparatus.

### Claim 9

A non-transitory storage medium storing a program readable by a computer of a server comprising a communicator communicable with an apparatus configured to perform a scanning operation and a printing operation using an ink-jet head,
the program being configured to cause the server to perform:
receiving, from the apparatus, nozzle-check-scan data that is scan data of a nozzle-check printing sheet printed by the ink-jet head in a nozzle-check printing operation instructed by a user of the apparatus;
determining whether cleaning of the ink-jet head is required, based on the received nozzle-check-scan data;
transmitting permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning of the ink-jet head is required, the permission information indicating permission of the cleaning of the ink-jet head; and
transmitting non-permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning of the ink-jet head is not required, the non-permission information indicating non-permission of the cleaning of the ink-jet head.

### Claim 10

A server, comprising:
a communicator communicable with an apparatus configured to perform a scanning operation and a printing operation using an ink-jet head; and
a controller configured to control the server to perform:
receiving, from the apparatus, scan data representing a printing sheet printed by the ink-jet head;
determining whether cleaning of the ink-jet head is required, based on the received scan data;
transmitting permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning of the ink-jet head is required, the permission information indicating permission of the cleaning of the ink-jet head; and
transmitting non-permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning of the ink-jet head is not required, the non-permission information indicating non-permission of the cleaning of the ink-jet head,
wherein the controller is further configured to control the server to perform:
receiving scan data representing the printing sheet on which first identification information for identifying the apparatus is printed, from the apparatus as the scan data;
receiving second identification information for identifying the apparatus, from the apparatus not as the scan data;
determining whether a first identified apparatus identified by the first identification information included in the scan data is identical to a second identified apparatus identified by the received second identification information;
transmitting the permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning is required, based on the scan data and when the server determines that the first identified apparatus is identical to the second identified apparatus; and
transmitting the non-permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning is required, based on the scan data and when the server determines that the first identified apparatus is not identical to the second identified apparatus.

### Claim 11

A non-transitory storage medium storing a program readable by a computer of a server comprising a communicator communicable with an apparatus configured to perform a scanning operation and a printing operation using an ink-jet head,
the program being configured to cause the server to perform:
receiving, from the apparatus, scan data representing a printing sheet printed by the ink-jet head;
determining whether cleaning of the ink-jet head is required, based on the received scan data;
transmitting permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning of the ink-jet head is required, the permission information indicating permission of the cleaning of the ink-jet head; and
transmitting non-permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning of the ink-jet head is not required, the non-permission information indicating non-permission of the cleaning of the ink-jet head,
wherein the program is further configured to cause the server to perform:
receiving scan data representing the printing sheet on which first identification information for identifying the apparatus is printed, from the apparatus as the scan data;
receiving second identification information for identifying the apparatus, from the apparatus not as the scan data;
determining whether a first identified apparatus identified by the first identification information included in the scan data is identical to a second identified apparatus identified by the received second identification information;
transmitting the permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning is required, based on the scan data and when the server determines that the first identified apparatus is identical to the second identified apparatus; and
transmitting the non-permission information to the apparatus when the server determines that the cleaning is required, based on the scan data and when the server determines that the first identified apparatus is not identical to the second identified apparatus.