US 7,681,981 B2 · Inkjet printer with improved cleaning and adjustment capabilities, and image processing apparatus

Abstract

In an inkjet printer including at least a printhead of inkjet type configured to eject ink according to print data and a cleaning unit configured to perform a cleaning of the printhead by ejecting ink to produce suitable conditions for an inkjet recording, the inkjet printer further includes a user information input unit configured to input user information, a cleaning direction unit configured to issue for a user a cleaning direction, and a control unit configured to instruct the cleaning unit to clean the printhead in response to the cleaning direction issued by the cleaning direction unit on condition that the user information inputted by the user information input unit is permissible to perform the cleaning. Also disclosed is an image processing apparatus, incorporating the inkjet printer and further including a document scanner configured to read an image of a document and to generate first image data corresponding to the image, and an image data processing unit configured to convert the first image data into second image data suitable for image recording by the inkjet printer and to output to the inkjet printer.

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Drawings

Claims21

Dependent claims

An inkjet printer comprising:

at least one printhead configured to eject ink according to print data;
a cleaning unit configured to perform cleaning of said printhead by ejecting ink to produce suitable conditions for an inkjet recording;
a user information input unit configured to input user information;
a cleaning direction unit configured to issue, for a user, a first cleaning direction;
a control unit configured to instruct said first cleaning unit to clean said printhead in response to said first cleaning direction issued by said cleaning direction unit on condition that said user information inputted by said user information input unit permits performing said cleaning,
a setting unit configured to set one of a permission for, and a prohibition of, said cleaning corresponding to user identification information,
wherein said user identification information is included in said user information, and said control unit instructs said cleaning unit to clean said printhead in response to said first cleaning direction by said cleaning direction unit on condition that the permission for said cleaning is already set corresponding to said user information inputted by said user information input unit.

4 more elements

An image processing apparatus, comprising:

an inkjet printer;
a document scanner configured to read an image of a document and to generate first image data corresponding to said image;
an image data processing unit configured to convert said first image data into second image data suitable for image recording by said inkjet printer and to output to said inkjet printer,
said inkjet printer comprising
a) user information input means for inputting user information;
b) first cleaning direction means for issuing a cleaning direction for a user;
c) control means for instructing a first cleaning unit to clean said printhead in response to said cleaning direction issued by said cleaning direction means on condition that said user information inputted by said user information input means permits performing said cleaning;
d) setting means for setting one of a permission for, and a prohibition of, said cleaning corresponding to user identification information;
e) first adjustment information input means for inputting printhead position information regarding recording positions by a plurality of printhead elements with respect to a recording sheet such that the recording positions are brought to coincide with each other;
f) second adjustment information input means for inputting recording start position information regarding inkjet recording start positions with respect to a recording sheet;
g) third adjustment information input means for inputting sheet feed rate information specifying inkjet recording start positions with respect to a leading edge of a recording sheet;
h) a reset instruction means for inputting an instruction for resetting at least one inkjet recording adjustment value to an initial value thereof
i) first and second communication means for communicating with a remote terminal;
j) user authentication release setting means for setting a user authentication release,
wherein said user identification information is included in said user information, and said control means instructs said cleaning unit to clean said printhead in response to said cleaning direction by said cleaning direction means on condition that the permission for said cleaning is already set corresponding to said user information inputted by said user information input means.

12 more elements

An inkjet printer comprising:

at least one printhead configured to eject ink according to print data;
a cleaning unit configured to perform a cleaning of said printhead by ejecting ink to produce suitable conditions for an inkjet recording;
user information input means for inputting user information;
first cleaning direction means for issuing a user a cleaning direction;
control means for instructing said first cleaning unit to clean said printhead in response to said cleaning direction issued by said cleaning direction means on condition that said user information inputted by said user information input means permits performing said cleaning,
setting means for setting one of a permission for, and a prohibition of, said cleaning corresponding to user identification information,
wherein said user identification information is included in said user information, and said control means instruct said cleaning unit to clean said printhead in response to said cleaning direction by said cleaning direction means on condition that permission for said cleaning is already set corresponding to said user information inputted by said user information input means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description24,277 words

Summary1,289 words

#This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-230778, filed with the Japanese Patent Office on Aug. 9, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

#This invention relates generally to inkjet printheads configured to form printed images by ejecting droplets of ink, and more particularly to an inkjet printhead with improved cleaning and adjustment capabilities and to a printer and an image processing apparatus incorporating the inkjet printhead.

#The use of inkjet printers has grown dramatically in recent years. The inkjet printers now offer acceptable print quality for many office and household applications. This trend may be attributed to substantial improvements in print resolution and overall print quality coupled with appreciable reduction in cost. Despite of such recent accomplishment, intensive development efforts continue toward further improvement in inkjet print quality.

Brief description of the drawings18 figures

#FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a full color digital multi-functional copying machine MF1 according to a general example in the present disclosure;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating the color scanner 100 and ADF 120 mounted thereto, which serve as a document image reading mechanism of the multi-functional copying machine MF1;

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the full color digital multi-functional copying machine MF1 of FIG. 1, in which ADF 120 hinge-mounted to a substrate of the scanner 100 at the rear side thereof is raised by lifting;

Detailed description22,499 words

#In the detailed description which follows, specific embodiments of inkjet printers and image forming apparatuses incorporating such printers are described.

#It is understood, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. For example, it is appreciated that the inkjet printers and image forming apparatuses described herein may also be adaptable to a variety of imaging systems. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description.

#According to an exemplary embodiment, in an inkjet printer including at least a printhead of inkjet type for ejecting ink according to print data and a cleaning unit for cleaning the printhead by ejecting ink to produce suitable conditions for an inkjet recording, the inkjet printer includes a user information input unit, a cleaning direction unit, and a control unit.

Facts

Application

11/500,873Filed 9 Aug 2006

Priority

JP 2005-2307789 Aug 2005

Published

US 2007/0035573 A115 Feb 2007

Granted

23 Mar 2010

Term ends

5 Jul 2028

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 696 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

B41J 2/16547
Constructions for the positioning of wipers: the wipers and caps or spittoons being on the same movable support
B41J
Typewriters

Timeline

9 Aug 2005Priority claimedJP 2005-230778
9 Aug 2006Application filedUS 11/500,873
22 Sep 2006Assigned to Ricoh Company, Limitedassignment of assignor's interest
15 Feb 2007PublishedUS 2007/0035573 A1
23 Mar 2010GrantedUS 7,681,981 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
5 Jul 2028Term endsEstimated, includes 696 days of adjustment

Inkjet printer with improved cleaning and adjustment capabilities, and image processing apparatus

Life of this patent

Inkjet printer with improved cleaning and adjustment capabilities, and image processing apparatus

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims21

Description24,277 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description24,277 words