Method for maintaining printhead performance
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsTommy Otis Lowe, Randall David Mayo, Michael Kelley Webb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of operating an ink jet apparatus to print a print job on print media with a printhead having a supply of ink and an initial printhead operating frequency is disclosed. The method comprises receiving the print job for printing on the media, determining the volume of the supply of ink, comparing the volume of the supply of ink to a predetermined level, calculating a revised printhead operating frequency in response to the comparison, and operating the printhead at the revised printhead operating frequency to print the print job.
Claims14
A method of operating an ink jet apparatus to form an image on print media, said ink jet apparatus having a printhead with an initial printhead operating frequency and a supply of ink, comprising:
- receiving a print job for forming said image on said print media;
- determining the volume of said supply of ink;
- comparing said volume of said supply of ink to a predetermined level, said predetermined level being independent of a current operating temperature of said printhead;
- calculating a revised printhead operating frequency in response to the comparison;
- operating said printhead at said revised printhead operating frequency to form said image on said print media, wherein said revised printhead operating frequency is lower than said initial printhead operating frequency when said volume of said supply of ink is lower than said predetermined level;
- and
- storing said determination of said volume of said supply of ink in a memory when said volume of said supply of ink is lower than said predetermined level, wherein the storing step includes unalterably storing said determination of said volume of said supply of fink in said memory so that said determination of said volume of said supply of ink cannot be changed.
A method of operating an ink jet apparatus to prevent runaway printhead temperatures, said ink jet apparatus having a printhead operating at an initial printhead operating frequency, a printhead temperature in a predetermined temperature range, and a supply of ink, comprising:
- receiving a print job for printing on print media;
- determining the volume of said supply of ink;
- comparing said volume of said supply of ink to a predetermined level, said predetermined level being independent upon a current operating temperature of said printhead;
- calculating a revised printhead operating frequency in response to the comparison;
- operating said printhead at said revised printhead operating frequency to keep said printhead operating in said predetermined temperature range while printing said print job on said print media, wherein said revised printhead operating frequency is lower than said initial printhead operating frequency when said volume of said supply of ink is lower than said predetermined level;
- and
- storing said determination of said volume of said supply of ink in a memory when said volume of said supply of ink is lower than said predetermined level, wherein the storing step includes permanently storing said determination of said volume of said supply of fink in said memory so that said determination of said volume of said supply of ink cannot be changed.
A method of operating an ink jet apparatus to form an image on print media, said ink jet apparatus having a printhead with an initial printhead operating frequency, a memory, and a supply of ink, comprising:
- receiving a print job for forming said image on said print media;
- determining the volume of said supply of ink;
- storing said volume of said supply of ink in said memory;
- comparing said volume of said supply of ink stored in said memory to a predetermined level, said predetermined level being independent of printhead temperature;
- calculating a revised printhead operating frequency in response to the comparison, said calculating being independent of current printhead temperature;
- and
- operating said printhead at said revised printhead operating frequency to form said image on said print media, wherein the storing step further comprising unalterably storing said determination of said volume of said supply of ink in said memory so that said determination of said volume of said supply of ink cannot be changed when said volume of said supply of ink is lower than said predetermined level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.