IP Library Granted Patent US 11,020,977
Granted Patent B2
US 11,020,977 · App. 16/750,045 · Granted Jun 1, 2021

Printer and method for controlling printer

Inventor: Kenji Matsumoto (Chino, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
B41J2/17546
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,020,977
App. No.
16/750,045
Granted
Jun 1, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A printer includes an ink cartridge holding unit that holds a plurality of ink cartridges each including an ink pack and an IC chip that stores ink information, and an access unit that performs wireless communication with the IC chip of the ink cartridges held by the ink cartridge holding unit, and a printer controller, in which the IC chip stores a chip ID, and the printer controller acquires the chip ID from the IC chip of each of the plurality of ink cartridges, and executes, based on the chip ID that is acquired, processing related to the ink information with the IC chip of each of the plurality of ink cartridges.

Claims (37)

1. A printer comprising:

an ink cartridge holding unit configured to hold a plurality of ink cartridges each including an ink storage section configured to store an ink and an information storage medium configured to store ink information about the ink stored in the ink storage section;

a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication in a non-contact manner with the information storage medium of the ink cartridge held by the ink cartridge holding unit;

a wireless communication blocking unit configured to block wireless communication between the wireless communication unit and the information storage medium, the wireless communication blocking unit being disposed beneath the plurality of ink cartridges in the ink cartridge holding unit and being configured to move so as to be between the between the information storage medium and the wireless communication unit when blocking wireless communication and to not between the information storage medium and the wireless communication unit when not blocking wireless communication, and

a controller configured to control the wireless communication unit, wherein

the information storage medium is configured to store identification information that identifies the information storage medium, and

the controller is configured

to acquire, via the wireless communication unit, the identification information from the information storage medium of each of the plurality of ink cartridges held by the ink cartridge holding unit, and

to execute, based on the identification information that is acquired, processing related to the ink information to the information storage medium of each of the plurality of ink cartridges via the wireless communication unit.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is configured to perform, when acquiring the identification information from the information storage medium of each of the plurality of ink cartridges, wireless communication with the information storage media one by one via the wireless communication unit.

3. The printer according to claim 2 , comprising

the controller is configured to cause, when acquiring the identification information from the information storage medium, the wireless communication blocking unit to block wireless communication between the information storage medium other than an information storage medium from which the identification information is to be acquired and the wireless communication unit.

4. A printer comprising:

an ink cartridge holding unit configured to hold a plurality of ink cartridges each including an ink storage section configured to store an ink and an information storage medium configured to store ink information about the ink stored in the ink storage section;

a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication in a non-contact manner with the information storage medium of the ink cartridge held by the ink cartridge holding unit;

a carriage configured to move in a cross direction crossing a transport direction in which a print medium is transported; and

a controller configured to control the wireless communication unit, wherein

the information storage medium is configured to store identification information that identifies the information storage medium, and

the controller is configured

to acquire, via the wireless communication unit, the identification information from the information storage medium of each of the plurality of ink cartridges held by the ink cartridge holding unit, and

to execute, based on the identification information that is acquired, processing related to the ink information to the information storage medium of each of the plurality of ink cartridges via the wireless communication unit,

wherein

the carriage is provided with the ink cartridge holding unit, the ink cartridge holding unit holds a plurality of ink cartridges aligned in the cross direction, and

the controller is configured

to cause, when acquiring the identification information from the information storage medium, the carriage to move, and

to acquire the identification information from the information storage medium of the ink cartridge that moved, along with movement of the carriage, to a position that allows for wireless communication with the wireless communication unit, the wireless communication unit being disposed on a medium support surface in a print region.

5. A method for controlling a printer,

the printer including:

an ink cartridge holding unit configured to hold a plurality of ink cartridges each including an ink storage section configured to store an ink and an information storage medium configured to store ink information about the ink stored in the ink storage section;

a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication in a non-contact manner with the information storage medium of the ink cartridge held by the ink cartridge holding unit;

a wireless communication blocking unit configured to block wireless communication between the wireless communication unit and the information storage medium, the wireless communication blocking unit being disposed beneath the plurality of ink cartridges in the ink cartridge holding unit and being configured to move so as to be between the between the information storage medium and the wireless communication unit when blocking wireless communication and to not between the information storage medium and the wireless communication unit when not blocking wireless communication, and

a controller configured to control the wireless communication unit, wherein

the information storage medium stores identification information that identifies the information storage medium, and

the controller

acquires, via the wireless communication unit, the identification information from the information storage medium of each of the plurality of ink cartridges held by the ink cartridge holding unit, and

executes, based on the identification information that is acquired, processing related to the ink information to the information storage medium of each of the plurality of ink cartridges via the wireless communication unit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2020
From: MATSUMOTO, KENJI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051592/0393 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-009994 · Jan 24, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200238721A1 · Jul 30, 2020