# US 8,783,846 B2 · Paper used in an inkjet printer, inkjet printer, and preliminary ejection method for an inkjet printer

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- Number: US 8,783,846 B2
- Document ID: US8783846B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/676,331
- Filed: 2012-11-14
- Published: 2013-05-16
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-15
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Kiyoshi Ito; Naoki Kobayashi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783846B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/215: by passing a medium, e.g. consisting of an air or particle stream, through an ink mist
- B41J 2/16526: {by applying pressure only}
- B41J 2/16585: {for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads}
- B41M 5/502: {characterised by structural details, e.g. multilayer materials (supports, backcoats or intermediate layers for thermal dye transfer donor and receiver sheets B41M5/41, B41M5/42)}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P)

## Abstract

An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head having a nozzle to eject ink in a first direction for recording information. A platen that has an ink storage unit for storing the ink ejected from the nozzle. The platen is opposite the inkjet head and configured to guide paper formed with an open part. A paper feed unit is provided in the inkjet printer and is configured to convey the paper in a second direction cross to the first direction, and to move the paper over the platen. A print control unit is further provided in the inkjet printer and is configured to cause the nozzle to eject ink into the ink storage unit when the open part of the paper is conveyed to a position opposite the inkjet head.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inkjet printer comprising:
an inkjet head that has a nozzle configured to eject ink in a first direction for recording information;
a platen that has an ink storage unit configured to store the ink ejected from the nozzle, wherein said platen is opposite the inkjet head and configured to guide paper formed with an open part;
a paper feed unit that is configured to convey the paper in a second direction cross to the first direction, and to move the paper over the platen; and
a print control unit that is configured to cause the nozzle to eject ink into the ink storage unit when the open part of the paper is conveyed to a position opposite the inkjet head.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printer described in claim 1, wherein
the open part of the paper has a first opening, and a second opening formed separated from the first opening in the first direction and the second direction, and
the print control unit is configured to cause the nozzle of the inkjet head to eject ink into the ink storage unit when the first opening is conveyed to a position opposite the inkjet head, and to cause the nozzle of the inkjet head to eject ink into the ink storage unit when the second opening is conveyed to a position opposite the inkjet head.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printer described in claim 1, further comprising:
an open part detection unit that is configured to detect the open part formed in the paper,
wherein the print control unit is configured to determine whether the open part of the paper was conveyed to a position opposite the inkjet head based on an output from the open part detection unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printer described in claim 1, wherein
the paper has a recording area in which information is to be recorded; and
the print control unit is configured to cause the nozzle to eject ink when the recording area of the paper is conveyed to a position opposite the inkjet head such that the information is recorded in the recording area.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printer described in claim 1, wherein the inkjet head is an inkjet line head disposed to a fixed position opposite the platen with the ink storage unit.

### Claim 6

A preliminary ejection method for an inkjet printer, said method comprising:
conveying paper, formed with an open part in a first direction, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and
preliminarily ejecting ink, from a nozzle of an inkjet head into an ink storage unit facing the inkjet head, through the open part when the open part of the paper is conveyed to a position opposite the inkjet head.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The preliminary ejection method described in claim 6, further comprising:
detecting the open part of the paper while conveying the paper in the second direction;
determining whether the open part is conveyed to a position opposite the inkjet head based on detected information about the open part; and
preliminarily ejecting ink into the ink storage unit when the open part of the paper was conveyed to the position opposite the inkjet head.