Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Controller
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-11
2003-08-05
Hallacher, Craig (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Controller
Reexamination Certificate
active
06601934
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging system, and, more particularly, to the storage of the total ink drops fired in an imaging device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ink jet printing involves the ejection of tiny ink drops through small nozzles in a controlled manner to create a desired image. Ink is supplied from an ink reservoir to a print head, which includes various passageways from the reservoir to the nozzle orifices. Energy is applied to the ink from an ink droplet generator near each orifice, which may include the application of electrostatic attraction, the application of oscillating forces from piezo-electric elements, the application of heat from heating elements or the like.
It is known for ink jet printers to monitor either by actual measurement or by estimation methods the amount of ink used from a printhead. This measurement or estimate of the amount of ink used by a printhead is used by the printer to estimate the remaining amount of ink in the printhead, which is sometimes displayed to indicate the ink supply status or to indicate a low ink supply. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the information gathered relates to the use of a single printhead.
Various methods are used to gather information for sales and marketing relative to the consumption of printheads and use of printers. However, such approaches are based upon sales data and may not be based upon actual usage of printhead cartridges in printers.
What is needed in the art is a way to determine, from an ink jet printer, the ink usage data for the entire life of the printer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for obtaining and storing the total ink drop fired count for an imaging device over the life of the imaging device.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a method for providing a number approximating a total number of ink drops fired by an imaging device, including the steps of incrementing a COUNT variable associated with a color of ink if an ink drop of that color is fired by a printhead in the imaging device, evaluating the value of the COUNT variable and incrementing a TOTAL INK CONSUMED variable associated with the color, dependent upon the evaluating step.
An advantage of the present invention is that the total ink usage through an ink jet printer is compiled and saved in an imaging device.
Another advantage is the implementation of the present invention will provide both marketing and printer usage information not currently available.
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Cunnagin Stephen Kelly
DeBusschere Eric Todd
Mattingly David Nolan
Hallacher Craig
Lexmark International Inc.
Taylor & Aust PC
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