# US 11,305,543 B2 · Print head maintenance

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- Number: US 11,305,543 B2
- Document ID: US11305543B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/499,894
- Filed: 2018-04-25
- Published: 2021-10-21
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-25
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Inventors: Aleix Fort Filgueira; Mauricio Seras Franzoso; Sheila Cabello Cabrera
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305543B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/16517: {Cleaning of print head nozzles (B41J2/16505, B41J2/1707 take precedence)}
- B41J 2/16535: {using wiping constructions (B41J2/16552 takes precedence)}
- B41J 2/165: Prevention {or detection} of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
- B41J 2/16544: {Constructions for the positioning of wipers}
- B41J 2002/16573: {Cleaning process logic, e.g. for determining type or order of cleaning processes}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

Example apparatus is disclosed, including apparatus for print head maintenance, the apparatus comprising a print mead maintenance device to perform a print head maintenance operation on a print head during a printing process, and a controller to cause the print head maintenance device to perform the print head maintenance operation with a parameter based on an amount of print agent applied by the print head.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for print head maintenance, comprising:
a print head maintenance device to perform a print head maintenance operation on a print head during a printing process; and
a controller to:
determine an amount of print agent applied by the print head based on a value of pixels in a representation of an image to be printed during the printing process; and
cause the print head maintenance device to perform the print head maintenance operation with a parameter based on the determined amount of print agent applied by the print head, the parameter comprising a force applied to the print head during the print head maintenance operation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a print head wiper, and the print head maintenance operation comprises a wipe of the print head by the print head wiper.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is to determine the amount of print agent applied by the print head based on an average intensity of the pixels in the representation of the image.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the value of the pixels in the representation of the image is indicative of the amount of print agent applied by the print head.

### Claim 5

A method of print head cleaning, comprising:
controlling a print head to apply an image to print media during a printing process;
determining an amount of print agent applied by the print head based on a value of pixels in a representation of the image to be printed during the printing process;
performing a print head maintenance operation with a parameter based on the determined amount of print agent applied by the print head, the parameter comprising a force applied to the print head during the print head maintenance operation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein determining the amount of print agent applied by the print head based on the value of pixels in the representation of the image comprises determining the amount of print agent applied by the print head based on an average intensity of the pixels in the representation of the image.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein performing the print head maintenance operation comprises wiping the print head according to the parameter.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the value of the pixels in the representation of the image is indicative of the amount of print agent applied by the print head.

### Claim 9

A print head cleaning device comprising:
print head cleaning apparatus to perform a print head maintenance operation on a print head during a printing process,
wherein the print head cleaning device is to:
determine an amount of print agent applied by the print head based on a value of pixels in a representation of an image to be printed during the printing process; and
cause the print head cleaning apparatus to perform the print head maintenance operation with a parameter based on the determined amount of print agent applied by the print head, the parameter comprising a force applied to the print head during the print head maintenance operation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the print head cleaning device is to determine the amount of print agent applied by the print head based on an average intensity of the pixels in the representation of the image.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the print head cleaning apparatus comprises a print head wiping apparatus to wipe the print head according to the parameter.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the value of the pixels in the representation of the image is indicative of the amount of print agent applied by the print head.