Mailing machine including ink jet printing having ink availability checking
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorsJean-Hiram Coffy, Jerome E. Jackson, Edilberto I. Salazar, Christopher D. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ink jet printer comprising a replaceable cartridge having a supply of ink and a controller in operative communication with the cartridge. The controller keeps an estimate of an amount of ink remaining in the cartridge and provides a signal indicating that the cartridge is to be weighed in response to a predetermined event. A method of operating an ink jet printer, a postage printing apparatus and a method of operating a postage printing system are also provided.
Claims26
An ink jet printer, comprising:
- a replaceable cartridge having a supply of ink;
- control means in operative communication with the cartridge for:
- keeping an estimate of an amount of ink remaining in the cartridge;
- and
- providing a signal indicating that the cartridge is to be weighed in response to a predetermined event.
A postage printing apparatus, comprising:
- an ink jet printer including a replaceable cartridge having a supply of ink;
- control means in operative communication with the cartridge for:
- keeping an estimate of an amount of ink remaining in the cartridge;
- and
- providing a signal indicating that the cartridge is to be weighed in response to a predetermined event.
A method of operating an ink jet printer, comprising the step(s) of:
- providing for a replaceable cartridge having a supply of ink;
- keeping an estimate of an amount of ink remaining in the cartridge;
- and
- providing a signal indicating that the cartridge is to be weighed in response to a predetermined event.
A method of operating a postage printing system including an ink jet printer, comprising the step(s) of:
- providing the ink jet printer with a replaceable cartridge having a supply of ink;
- keeping an estimate of an amount of ink remaining in the cartridge;
- and
- providing a signal indicating that the cartridge is to be weighed in response to a predetermined event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.