Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Controller
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-04
2001-05-08
Barlow, John (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Controller
C347S019000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227638
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to refurbishing printer ink containers and in particular to refurbishing the electrical information storage device in printer ink containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
One type of prior art ink-jet printer has a printhead mounted to a carriage that is moved back and forth over print media, such as paper. As the printhead passes over appropriate locations on the printing surface, a control system activates ink-jets on the printhead to eject ink drops onto the print media to form desired images and characters. To work properly, such printers must have a reliable supply of ink for the printhead.
One category of ink-jet printer uses a disposable ink pen that is mounted to and moves with the carriage. In some types of ink-jet printers in this category the ink reservoir portion of the ink pen is replaceable separate from the ink pen. In others, the entire printhead and ink reservoir are replaced as a unit once the ink is depleted.
Another category of printer uses reservoirs that are not located on the carriage. In this category of printer the reservoir intermittently replenishes the printhead with ink. The printhead travels to a stationary reservoir periodically for replenishment. Another type makes use of a replaceable ink reservoir connected to the printhead by a fluid conduit. The printhead is replenished with ink through this fluid conduit.
In the parent application to this application Ser. No. 08/785,580, a replaceable cartridge is described which has a memory device mounted to the housing. When inserted into the printer station, an electrical connection between the printer and the memory device is established. This electrical connection allows for the exchange of information between the printer and the memory. The memory device contains ink container parameters that are utilized by the printer to ensure reliable printer operation and print quality. These parameters are updated automatically when the cartridge is mounted to the printer. The exchange of information assures compatibility of the cartridge with the printer.
Another function for the memory device discussed in Ser. No. 08/785,580 is to prevent the use of the cartridge after the supply of ink is depleted. Operating a printer when the reservoir has been depleted of ink can damage or destroy the printhead portion of the cartridge. The memory devices concerned with this application are associated with the ink container and are updated with information relating to the current amount of ink remaining in the reservoir. When a new ink container is installed, the printer will read information from the memory device, which indicates the amount of ink remaining in the reservoir. During usage, the printer counts the drops of ink being used and updates the memory device associated with the ink container to indicate how much ink is remaining in the ink containers. When the ink is substantially depleted, this type of memory device will provide a signal to the printer which indicates that the reservoir is out of ink or low in ink. When substantially depleted of ink, these ink reservoirs are typically discarded and a new ink reservoir along with a new memory device is installed.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
This application describes different methods of refurbishing an ink reservoir that has a memory device that has been altered during usage. For example, after an ink reservoir is used in a printing system and partially depleted of ink the memory device associated with this ink reservoir reflects this partially depleted condition. Refurbishment of this ink reservoir that involves only refilling the ink reservoir is insufficient because the memory device reflects a partially depleted condition. One aspect of the technique of the present invention makes use of a new source of signals that when electrically connected to the printer station terminals, provide a signal indicative of more available ink than the partially depleted condition. The source of signals provides enabling information which allows the reservoir to be refilled and used again. The source of signals may be a second memory device similar to the original. Alternately, this source of signals may be an emulator which is an electronic circuit which functions in a similar manner to the original memory device.
In one refurbishment method, the memory device may be altered by an energy source such as an electric field or exposure to high-energy particles such as x-rays. Once altered the memory is written to again to provide data such as address information and initial volume size. The refilled cartridge having new data stored in the memory is inserted into the printer to exchange information with the memory in a manner similar to a new cartridge.
In one preferred embodiment, the memory device and its associated electrical contacts are formed on a substrate that is bonded to the cartridge housing. A second refurbishment technique of the present invention involves removing the original substrate, including the memory device and the contacts, by prying it from the cartridge housing. A new substrate with new electrical contacts and a new memory device are bonded to the cartridge housing in the same place.
In a third refurbishment technique of the present invention, rather than removing the first substrate, first memory device and first contacts, a new substrate with a new source of signals and new set of electrical contacts are bonded on top of the first substrate. The new substrate covers and insulates the original contacts, blocking them from contacting the mating contacts of the printer.
In a fourth refurbishment method of the present invention, electrical continuity between the memory device and the contacts is severed. The new source of signals is electrically connected to the portion of the original contacts which are electrically isolated from the original memory device. The new source of signals is mounted to the cartridge, or if desired, remotely located from the cartridge.
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Bullock Michael L.
Childers Winthrop D.
Barlow John
Childers Winthrop D.
Hewlett--Packard Company
Stephens Juanita
Sullivan Kevin B.
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