IP Library Granted Patent US 12,189,998
Granted Patent B2
US 12,189,998 · App. 18/359,333 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Recording device configured to execute initial introduction including supplying coloring agent to an inkjet head to enable recording operation, recording system and control method therefor

Inventor: Taisei Okuzono (Nagoya, JP)
Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G06F3/1205G06F3/121G06F3/1234G06F3/1239G06F3/128G06F3/1288
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,189,998
App. No.
18/359,333
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A recording device performs an initial introduction process of executing initial introduction to enable a recording operation by a recording unit in an initial state where a recording operation by a recording unit is not enabled, a completion determining process of determining whether the initial introduction is normally completed, and a shifting process of shifting a state of the recording device from the initial state to a state where the recording operation by the recording unit is enabled within a permitted recording number of the recording operation by the recording unit in response to determining that the initial introduction is normally completed in the completion determining process.

Claims (76)

1. A recording device, comprising:

a recording unit configured to record on a recording medium; and

a controller,

wherein the controller is configured to perform:

an initial introduction process of executing initial introduction to enable a recording operation by the recording unit in an initial state where the recording operation by the recording unit is not enabled, the initial introduction including a process of supplying a coloring agent to the recording unit;

a transmitting process of transmitting a result of the initial introduction process to a server; and

a completion determining process of determining whether the initial introduction is normally completed based on a response from the server with respect to the transmitting process; and

a shifting process of allowing the recording device to shift from the initial state to a state where the recording operation by the recording unit is enabled within a permitted recording number of the recording operation by the recording unit in response to determining that the initial introduction is normally completed in the completion determining process.

2. The recording device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is configured to perform:

a communication setting determining process of determining whether a communication setting is received; and

the initial introduction process in response to determining that the communication setting is received in the communication setting determining process.

3. The recording device according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory configured to store recording permission information related to the permitted recording number,

wherein the controller is configured to perform:

storing the recording permission information in the memory in the shifting process, and

a recording process of recording, by the recording unit, within the permitted recording number indicated by the recording permission information stored in the memory after performing the shifting process.

4. The recording device according to claim 3 , further comprising a reading unit configured to read information from an external storage medium,

wherein, in the shifting process, the controller is configured to read the recording permission information from the external storage medium attached to the reading unit and store the read recording permission information in the memory.

5. The recording device according to claim 3 , further comprising a communication interface configured to communicate with the server,

wherein, in the shifting process, the controller is configured to store the recording permission information obtained from the server in the memory.

6. A recording system comprising:

a recording device; and

a server configured to communicate with the recording device,

wherein the recording device includes a recording unit configured to record on a recording medium, and

wherein the recording system is configured to allow the recording device to perform:

an initial introduction process of executing initial introduction to enable a recording operation by the recording unit in an initial state where the recording operation by the recording unit is not enabled, the initial introduction including a process of supplying a coloring agent to the recording unit;

a first transmitting process of transmitting a result of the initial introduction process to the server; and

a completion determining process of determining whether the initial introduction is normally completed based on a response from the server with respect to the first transmitting process; and

a shifting process of shifting a state of the recording device from the initial state to a state where the recording operation by the recording unit is enabled within a permitted recording number of the recording operation by the recording unit in response to determining that the initial introduction is normally completed in the completion determining process.

7. The recording system according to claim 6 ,

wherein the server is configured to perform:

a result determining process of determining whether the initial introduction is normally completed based on the result of the initial introduction process transmitted in the first transmitting process; and

a second transmitting process of transmitting a determination result of the result determining process to the recording device, and

wherein, in the completion determining process, the recording device is configured to determine whether the initial introduction is normally completed based on the determination result transmitted in the second transmitting process.

8. The recording system according to claim 7 ,

wherein the recording unit is a printing unit configured to print on a printing medium with using the coloring agent, and

wherein the recording device includes a consumption sensor configured to detect a consumed amount of the coloring agent in a printing operation by the printing unit,

wherein, in the first transmitting process, the recording device is configured to transmit the consumed amount detected by the consumption sensor when the initial introduction is executed, and

wherein the server is configured to determine whether the initial introduction is normally completed based on the consumed amount received from the recording device.

9. The recording system according to claim 7 ,

wherein the recording unit is a printing unit configured to print on a printing medium with using the coloring agent, and

wherein, in the first transmitting process, the recording device is configured to transmit image data of a read image of the printing medium on which printing is performed by the printing unit,

wherein, in the result determining process, the server is configured to perform image analysis on the image data received from the recording device and determine whether the initial introduction is normally completed based on a result of the image analysis.

10. A recording system comprising,

a recording device; and

a server configured to communicate with the recording device,

wherein the recording device includes a recording unit configured to record on a recording medium, and

wherein the recording system is configured to allow the recording device to perform:

an initial introduction process of executing initial introduction to enable a recording operation by the recording unit in an initial state where the recording operation by the recording unit is not enabled;

a completion determining process of determining whether the initial introduction is normally completed; and

a shifting process of shifting a state of the recording device from the initial state to a state where the recording operation by the recording unit is enabled within a permitted recording number of the recording operation by the recording unit in response to determining that the initial introduction is normally completed in the completion determining process,

wherein the server stores identification information data including a plurality of recording device identification information pieces which identify different recording devices, respectively,

wherein the recording device is configured to perform a third transmitting process of transmitting a recording device identification information piece of the recording device to the server,

wherein the server is configured to perform:

a registration determining process of determining whether the recording device identification information piece transmitted by the third transmitting process is included in the identification information data; and

in response to determining that the recording device identification information piece is included in the identification information data in the registration determining process, a fourth transmitting process of transmitting, to the recording device, a determination result of the registration determining process, and

wherein the recording device is configured to start the initial introduction process in response to receiving the determination result, which is transmitted by the fourth transmitting process, indicating that the recording device identification information piece is included in the identification information data.

11. The recording system according to claim 10 , further comprising a communication interface configured to communicate with a server,

wherein the recording device is configured to perform:

a communication setting determining process of determining whether a communication setting of the communication interface is received; and

the third transmitting process in response to determining, in the communication setting determining process, that the communication setting of the communication interface is received.

12. The recording system according to claim 11 , further comprising a reading unit configured to read information from an external storage medium,

wherein the recording device is configured to perform the communication setting determining process in response to the external storage medium being attached to the reading unit after the recording device is powered on.

13. The recording system according to claim 12 ,

wherein the external storage medium is configured to store a medium identification information piece identifying the external storage medium,

wherein the identification information data includes a plurality of the medium identification information pieces,

wherein, in the third transmitting process, the recording device is configured to transmit the medium identification information piece of the external storage medium attached to the recording device,

wherein the server is configured to perform:

in the registration determining process, determining whether the recording device identification information piece and the medium identification information piece transmitted by the third transmitting process are included in the identification information data; and

in response to determining that both the recording device identification information piece and the medium identification information piece are included in the identification information data in the registration determining process, transmitting, in the fourth transmitting process, a determination result of the registration determining process.

14. The recording system according to claim 11 ,

wherein the recording device is configured to perform:

communicating with an information processing device through the communication interface;

an access destination notification process of providing notification of an access destination of the recording device through the communication interface in response to determining that the communication setting is received;

an access determining process of determining whether the access destination notified by the access destination notification process is accessed from the information processing device; and

the third transmitting process in response to determining, in the access determining process, that the access destination is accessed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2023
From: OKUZONO, TAISEI
To: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 064390/0083 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-012164 · Jan 28, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2021033668 · Sep 14, 2021
Related Publication 20230367523A1 · Nov 16, 2023
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