| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090153601 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMUNICATION OF DATE INFORMATION BETWEEN AN INK TANK AND PRINTING DEVICE - Some or all of the needs above can be addressed by embodiments of the invention. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for determining ink evaporation from at least one ink tank can be provided. The method can include determining a removal time associated with removal of at least one ink tank from a printing device. The method can also include determining an insertion time associated with insertion of the at least one ink tank into a printing device. In addition, the method can include estimating an amount of ink evaporation from the at least one ink tank during the time between the removal time and insertion time based at least in part on the difference between the removal time and insertion time. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090160893 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING ENERGY SUPPLIED TO A PRINT HEAD HEATER - Methods and apparatuses for optimizing the energy supplied to a print head heater are disclosed. A resistance associated with the print head heater or actuator is determined. A range of fire pulse values is determined based at least in part on the determined resistance and a velocity optimization procedure is executed based at least in part on the determined range of fire pulse values. An optimal fire pulse for the print head heater is selected based at least in part on the results of the velocity optimization procedure. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20100123747 | METHOD FOR DETECTING PURGING INK FLOW THROUGH PRINTHEAD HEATER CHIP NOZZLES BY THERMAL ANALYSIS - A method for detecting ink flow through a printhead, due to a successful purging of the nozzles of a heater chip of the printhead, includes moving the printhead to a location in preparation for a purging operation such that a purge pump is connected in flow communication with heater chip nozzles, setting the manner in which the purge pump operates to suction ink through nozzles of the heater chip from a source of ink, performing a thermal analysis on the heater chip concurrently as the purge pump operates to determine whether ink is flowing through the heater chip nozzles and whether the purge pump should continue to operate, and adjusting the manner in which the purge pump continues to operate in response to the thermal analysis. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100295882 | METHOD FOR MEASURING INK FLOW RATE IN AN INKJET PRINTHEAD - A method of determining the state of a printhead/cartridge in a thermal inkjet printer. An inkjet printhead undergoes a jetting operation in which a jetting frequency is selected and a corresponding steady state printhead temperature is known. The printhead is heated to the steady state temperature. Then the printhead is jetted with all nozzles for a predetermined period of time. Temperature samples from the printhead are obtained and the change in the printhead temperature for a short period of time is used to determine a slope in the temperature change. From the slope of printhead temperature changes, the ink flow rate through the printhead can be determined. The flow rate of ink through the printhead can be used to determine the various states of the printhead, including out of ink, clogged, deprimed, a taped printhead, etc. | 11-25-2010 |