公开(公告)号：US06196651B1

公开(公告)日：2001-03-06

申请号：US08996013

申请日：1997-12-22

申请人： Marilyn Louise Zuber ,  Donald L. Michael ,  Susan A. Chavez ,  Nancy Leigh Herald ,  Brian L. Helterline

发明人： Marilyn Louise Zuber ,  Donald L. Michael ,  Susan A. Chavez ,  Nancy Leigh Herald ,  Brian L. Helterline

IPC分类号： B41J2195

CPC分类号： B41J2/195 ,  B41J2/17509 ,  B41J2/17546 ,  B41J2/17566

摘要： A method and apparatus for detecting the end of life of a print cartridge for a thermal ink jet printer determines the status of the print cartridge and warns the user if the print cartridge is at or near the end of its useful life. In a first mode of operation, an initial temperature of a printhead contained in the print cartridge is checked after a threshold amount of ink is expelled from the printhead, such as for a high density print swath or during a service routine. This initial temperature is then compared with a maximum initial temperature. If the initial temperature exceeds the maximum initial temperature, a warning about the status of the print cartridge is sent to a user. If the initial temperature does not exceed the maximum initial temperature, the user is informed of the remaining life portion of the print cartridge. In a second mode of operation, a final temperature is checked after a period of time elapses since the threshold amount of ink is expelled from the printhead. This final temperature is then compared to a maximum final temperature. If the final temperature exceeds the maximum final temperature, a warning about the status of the print cartridge is sent to a user. If the final temperature is less than the maximum final temperature, the user is informed of the remaining life portion of the print cartridge. In a third mode of operation, the heat transfer efficiency of the print cartridge is calculated. If the heat transfer efficiency of the print cartridge is below a minimum heat transfer efficiency, a warning about the status of the print cartridge is sent to a user. If the heat transfer efficiency exceeds a minimum heat transfer efficiency, the user is informed of the remaining life portion of the print cartridge.

摘要翻译： 用于检测用于热喷墨打印机的打印墨盒的寿命终止的方法和装置确定打印墨盒的状态，并且如果打印墨盒处于或接近其使用寿命的结束，则警告用户。 在第一操作模式中，在从打印头排出阈值量的墨水之后，例如用于高密度打印条纹或在服务程序期间，检查包含在打印墨盒中的打印头的初始温度。 然后将该初始温度与最大初始温度进行比较。 如果初始温度超过最大初始温度，则向用户发送关于打印碳粉盒状态的警告。 如果初始温度不超过最初初始温度，则向用户通知打印碳粉盒的剩余寿命部分。 在第二种操作模式中，由于墨水的阈值量从打印头排出，经过一段时间后，检查最终温度。 然后将该最终温度与最大最终温度进行比较。 如果最终温度超过最终最终温度，则向用户发送关于打印碳粉盒状态的警告。 如果最终温度低于最终最终温度，则向用户通知打印碳粉盒的剩余寿命部分。 在第三种操作模式中，计算打印墨盒的传热效率。 如果打印墨盒的传热效率低于最小传热效率，则向用户发送关于墨盒状态的警告。 如果传热效率超过最小传热效率，则向用户通知打印碳粉盒的剩余寿命部分。