# US 12,109,816 B2 · Printer, control method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions

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- Number: US 12,109,816 B2
- Document ID: US12109816B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/703,011
- Filed: 2022-03-24
- Published: 2022-12-01
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2021-05-31
- Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Noriyuki Kawamata
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109816B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/1652: {by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head}
- B41J 2/16508: {connected with the printer frame}
- B41J 2/16526: {by applying pressure only}
- B41J 2/16547: {the wipers and caps or spittoons being on the same movable support}
- B41J 2/16523: {Waste ink transport from caps or spittoons, e.g. by suction (Collecting or collectors of waste ink B41J2/1721)}
- B41J 2/16538: {with brushes or wiper blades perpendicular to the nozzle plate}
- B41J 2/2117: {Ejecting white liquids}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A printer includes a head, a flushing receiving member, a cap, a processor, and a memory. The head is provided with a nozzle surface intersecting a discharge direction and configured to move in a main scanning direction. The flushing receiving member is positioned in the discharge direction with respect to a movement path of the head in the main scanning direction. The cap is configured to closely adhere to the nozzle surface. The cap and the flushing receiving member are arranged in the main scanning direction. The memory stores computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform a process including flushing processing including a first flushing operation of discharging ink from the head toward the cap, and a second flushing operation of discharging the ink toward the flushing receiving member while moving the head in the main scanning direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A printer comprising:
a head provided with a nozzle surface intersecting a discharge direction, the head being configured to print an image on a print medium by discharging ink onto the print medium and being configured to move in a main scanning direction intersecting the discharge direction;
a flushing receiving member positioned in the discharge direction with respect to a movement path of the head in the main scanning direction, the flushing receiving member being a member different from the print medium;
a cap configured to closely adhere to the nozzle surface, the cap and the flushing receiving member being arranged in the main scanning direction;
a processor; and
a memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform a process comprising:
performing flushing processing including a first flushing operation of discharging the ink from the head toward the cap, and a second flushing operation of discharging the ink toward the flushing receiving member, the second flushing operation being performed while moving the head in the main scanning direction, wherein
the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory further instruct the processor to perform processes comprising:
performing the second flushing operation after the first flushing operation, in the flushing processing; and
performing print processing, after the flushing processing, of discharging the ink from the head onto the print medium while moving the head in the main scanning direction, wherein
the flushing receiving member is positioned between the cap and a platen in the main scanning direction, the platen being on which the print medium is placed, and
the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory further instruct the processor to perform processes comprising:
performing uncapping processing of separating the cap from the nozzle surface in the discharge direction, from a state of the cap being closely adhered to the nozzle surface, and
performing the flushing processing after the uncapping processing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The printer according to claim 1, wherein
the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory further instruct the processor to perform processes comprising:
performing capping processing of causing the cap to closely adhere to the nozzle surface, from a state of the cap being separated from the nozzle surface in the discharge direction; and
performing pump processing of driving a pump, after the first flushing operation by the flushing processing and before the capping processing, the pump being provided at a waste liquid flow passage connected to the cap.

### Claim 3

A printer comprising:
a head provided with a nozzle surface intersecting a discharge direction, the head being configured to print an image on a print medium by discharging ink onto the print medium and being configured to move in a main scanning direction intersecting the discharge direction;
a flushing receiving member positioned in the discharge direction with respect to a movement path of the head in the main scanning direction, the flushing receiving member being a member different from the print medium;
a cap configured to closely adhere to the nozzle surface, the cap and the flushing receiving member being arranged in the main scanning direction;
a processor; and
a memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform a process comprising:
performing flushing processing including a first flushing operation of discharging the ink from the head toward the cap, and a second flushing operation of discharging the ink toward the flushing receiving member, the second flushing operation being performed while moving the head in the main scanning direction, wherein
the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory further instruct the processor to perform a process comprising:
performing the first flushing operation, in the flushing processing, in a state of the cap being separated from the nozzle surface in the discharge direction, wherein
the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory further instruct the processor to perform a process comprising:
in the flushing processing, performing the first flushing operation while moving the cap in the discharge direction, and performing the second flushing operation after the first flushing operation.

### Claim 4

A control method of a printer including a head provided with a nozzle surface intersecting a discharge direction, the head being configured to print an image on a print medium by discharging ink onto the print medium and being configured to move in a main scanning direction intersecting the discharge direction, a flushing receiving member positioned in the discharge direction with respect to a movement path of the head in the main scanning direction, the flushing receiving member being a member different from the print medium, and a cap configured to closely adhere to the nozzle surface, the cap and the flushing receiving member being arranged in the main scanning direction, the control method comprising:
performing flushing processing including a first flushing operation of discharging the ink from the head toward the cap, and a second flushing operation of discharging the ink toward the flushing receiving member, the second flushing operation being performed while moving the head in the main scanning direction, wherein
the control method further comprising:
performing the second flushing operation after the first flushing operation, in the flushing processing; and
performing print processing, after the flushing processing, of discharging the ink from the head onto the print medium while moving the head in the main scanning direction, wherein
the flushing receiving member is positioned between the cap and a platen in the main scanning direction, the platen being on which the print medium is placed, and
the control method further comprising:
performing uncapping processing of separating the cap from the nozzle surface in the discharge direction, from a state of the cap being closely adhered to the nozzle surface, and
performing the flushing processing after the uncapping processing.

### Claim 5

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computer of a printer that includes a head provided with a nozzle surface intersecting a discharge direction, the head being configured to print an image on a print medium by discharging ink onto the print medium and being configured to move in a main scanning direction intersecting the discharge direction, a flushing receiving member positioned in the discharge direction with respect to a movement path of the head in the main scanning direction, the flushing receiving member being a member different from the print medium, and a cap configured to closely adhere to the nozzle surface, the cap and the flushing receiving member being arranged in the main scanning direction, cause the computer to perform a process comprising:
performing flushing processing including a first flushing operation of discharging the ink from the head toward the cap, and a second flushing operation of discharging the ink toward the flushing receiving member, the second flushing operation being performed while moving the head in the main scanning direction, wherein
the computer-readable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium further instruct the processor to perform processes comprising:
performing the second flushing operation after the first flushing operation, in the flushing processing; and
performing print processing, after the flushing processing, of discharging the ink from the head onto the print medium while moving the head in the main scanning direction, wherein
the flushing receiving member is positioned between the cap and a platen in the main scanning direction, the platen being on which the print medium is placed, and
the computer-readable instructions stored in non-transitory computer readable medium further instruct the processor to perform processes comprising:
performing uncapping processing of separating the cap from the nozzle surface in the discharge direction, from a state of the cap being closely adhered to the nozzle surface, and
performing the flushing processing after the uncapping processing.