US 12,240,251 B2Granted

Printing apparatus having first head and second head that eject ink in same color

AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsShota Morikawa, Tomoya Kondo

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Abstract

A printing apparatus includes: first and second heads; a carriage; and a control device. The control device is configured to perform: (a) selecting; (b) setting; and (c) executing. The (a) selecting sets one of the first and second heads as an active head. The (b) setting sets an operation mode to one of a plurality of modes including first and second modes. The (c) executing executes a printing operation under the operation mode. The printing operation is performed by ejecting ink from both the first and second heads in a state where the first mode is set as the operation mode. The printing operation is performed by ejecting ink from the active head without ejecting ink from a non-active head in a state where the second mode is set as the operation mode. The non-active head is a head other than the active head among the first and second heads.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A printing apparatus comprising:

a first head having a plurality of first nozzles, each of the plurality of first nozzles being configured to eject ink in one of a plurality of colors, the plurality of colors including a first color and a second color different from the first color;
a second head having a plurality of second nozzles, each of the plurality of second nozzles being configured to eject ink in one of the plurality of colors including the first color and the second color;
a carriage configured to support the first head and the second head, the carriage being reciprocally movable in a first direction;
a storage device;
and
a control device configured to perform:
(a) selecting one of the first head and the second head as an active head;
(b) setting an operation mode to one of a plurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode;
and
(c) executing a printing operation under the operation mode set in the (b) setting,
wherein the printing operation is performed by ejecting ink in the plurality of colors from both the first head and the second head in a state where the first mode is set as the operation mode, and
wherein the printing operation is performed by ejecting ink in the plurality of colors from the active head selected in the (a) selecting without ejecting ink from a non-active head in a state where the second mode is set as the operation mode, the non-active head being a head other than the active head among the first head and the second head.

9 more elements

A printing apparatus comprising:

a first head having at least one first nozzle configured to eject ink in a first color;
a second head having at least one second nozzle configured to eject ink in a second color same as the first color;
a carriage configured to support the first head and the second head, the carriage being reciprocally movable in a first direction,
a storage device;
and
a control device configured to perform,
(a) selecting one of the first head and the second head as an active head;
(b) setting an operation mode to one of a plurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode;
(c) executing a printing operation under the operation mode set in the (b) setting, and
(d) storing a control history for the first head and the second head in the storage device,
wherein the printing operation is performed by ejecting ink from both the first head and the second head in a state where the first mode is set as the operation mode,
wherein the printing operation is performed by ejecting in from the active head selected in the (a) selecting without ejecting ink from a non-active head in a state where the second mode is set as the operation mode, the non-active head being a head other than the active head among the first head and the second head;
and
wherein the (a) selecting comprises:
(a-1) selecting the active head based on the control history.

12 more elements

A printing apparatus comprising:

a first head having at least one first nozzle configured to eject ink in a first color,
a second head having at least one second nozzle configured to eject ink in a second color same as the first color;
a carriage configured to support the first head and the second head, the carriage being reciprocally movable in a first direction,
a storage device;
and
a control device configured to perform:
(a) selecting one of the first head and the second head as an active head,
(b) setting an operation mode to one of a plurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode;
and
(c) executing a printing operation under the operation mode set in the (b) setting,
where the printing operation is performed by ejecting ink from both the first head and the second head in a state where the first mode is set as the operation mode,
wherein the pruning operation is performed by ejecting ink from the active head selected in the (a) selecting without ejecting ink from a non-active head in a state where the second mode is set as the operation mode, the non-active head being a head other than the active head among the first head and the second head,
wherein the storage device is configured to store priority level information indicating a priority level of each of the first head and the second head based on a layout of the first head and the second head in the printing apparatus, and
wherein the (a) selecting comprises:
(a-4) selecting the active head based on the priority level information, the priority level of the active head indicated by the priority level information being higher than the priority level of the non-active head indicated by the priority level information.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/656,242Filed 24 Mar 2022
Priority: JP 2021-05168925 Mar 2021
Published: US 2022/0305805 A129 Sep 2022
Granted: 4 Mar 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B41J 2/2103
For multi-colour printing: features not dealing with the colouring process per se, e.g. construction of printers or heads, driving circuit adaptations
B41J 2/2132
For multi-colour printing: print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding
B41J 19/147
With a reciprocating print head printing in both directions across the paper width: colour shift prevention
B41J 2/16508
Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out: connected with the printer frame