Printing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016295065-A1
Application number	US-201615080710-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A printing apparatus, including an image reader unit, a printer unit, and a controller, is provided. The controller executes an image reading process; a printing process; a standby process to hold the printer unit in a second condition, wherein the printer unit is enabled to print through a preparatory action, on standby during a time period between completion of the printing process and elapse of a standby period; a shifting process to shift the printer unit from the second condition to a first condition, wherein the preparatory action is required to enable the printer unit to print; and a changing process, wherein, if a document cover in the image reading unit is open during the time period between the completion of the printing process and elapse of the standby period, the standby period is changed from a first period to a second period that is longer than the first period.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A printing apparatus, comprising:
an image reader unit, comprising a document base, a document cover, and a cover sensor configured to detect an opening-closing motion of the document cover; a printer unit configured to shift between a first condition, which requires a preparatory action in order to enable the printer unit to print an image, and a second condition, in which the printer unit is enabled to print the image through the preparatory action; and a controller configured to execute:
an image reading process, in which the controller manipulates the image reader unit to read an original document placed on the document base and generate image data;
a printing process, in which the controller manipulates the printer unit to print an image according to the generated image data on a printable medium;
a standby process, in which the controller holds the printer unit in the second condition on standby for shifting to the first condition during a time period between completion of the printing process and elapse of a standby period;
a shifting process, in which, after elapse of the standby period, the controller manipulates the printer unit to shift from the second condition to the first condition; and
a changing process, in which, if the controller detects the document cover being open based on output from the cover sensor during the time period between completion of the printing process and elapse of the standby period, the controller changes the standby period from a first period to a second period that is longer than the first period, the first period being the standby period for the printer unit to be held on standby when the controller does not detect the document cover being open during the time period between completion of the printing process and elapse of the standby period.

2 . The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a display unit configured to display information to a user; and an operation unit configured to accept selection from the user, wherein the controller executes a display process, in which the controller manipulates the display unit to display optional information to ask the user whether, after completion of the image reading process, the image reading process is to be continued; and wherein the controller executes the changing process on condition that the user operates the operation unit during the display process to enter the selection for continuing the image reading process.

3 . The printing apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the controller executes the standby process, in which the standby period is the first period, regardless of output from the cover sensor, without executing the changing process if the user operates the operation unit to enter selection not for continuing the image reading process.

4 . The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a feeder tray; and a medium sensor configured to detect the printable medium in the feeder tray, wherein the printer unit is configured to feed the printable medium from the feeder tray and print the image according to the image data on the printable medium being fed, and wherein the controller executes the changing process on condition that the controller detects the printable medium in the feeder tray based on the output from the medium sensor.

5 . The printing apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the controller executes the standby process, in which the standby period is the first period, without executing the changing process if the controller detects no printable medium in the feeder tray.

6 . The printing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the printer unit comprises a printing head configured to eject ink at the printable medium and a cap configured to contact an ink ejecting surface of the printing head to cover the ink ejecting surface; wherein the first condition is a condition, in which the printing head is covered by the cap; wherein the second condition is a condition, in which the printing head is not covered by the cap; and wherein the preparatory action is an action to separate the cap from the printing head.

7 . The printing apparatus according to claim 6 ,
wherein the controller is configured to execute a flushing process, in which the printing head is manipulated to flush the ink from the ink ejecting surface when the printer unit is in the second condition; and wherein the controller is configured to execute the flushing process when a third period, which has a length between the first period and the second period, elapses.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that are executable by a controller coupled with a printing apparatus, the printing apparatus comprising an image reader unit with a document base, a document cover, and a cover sensor configured to detect an opening-closing motion of the document cover; and a printer unit configured to shift between a first condition, which requires a preparatory action in order to enable the printer unit to print an image, and a second condition, in which the printer unit is enabled to print the image through the preparatory action, the computer-readable instructions causing the printing apparatus, when executed by the controller, to perform:
an image reading process, in which the controller manipulates the image reader unit to read an original document placed on the document base and generate image data; a printing process, in which the controller manipulates the printer unit to print an image according to the generated image data on a printable medium; a standby process, in which the controller holds the printer unit in the second condition on standby for shifting to the first condition during a time period between completion of the printing process and elapse of a standby period; a shifting process, in which, after elapse of the standby period, the controller manipulates the printer unit to shift from the second condition to the first condition; and a changing process, in which, if the controller detects the document cover being open based on output from the cover sensor during the time period between completion of the printing process and elapse of the standby period, the controller changes the standby period from a first period to a second period that is longer than the first period, the first period being the standby period for the printer unit to be held on standby when the controller does not detect the document cover being open during the time period between completion of the printing process and elapse of the standby period.

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Horade Kenta

Classifications

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title

• H04N1/00795

  Reading arrangements (details of scanning heads H04N1/024; scanning arrangements therefor H04N1/04) · CPC title

• B41J2/01

  Ink jet · CPC title

• H04N1/00551

  Top covers or the like · CPC title

• H04N1/2346 Primary

  according to a detected condition or state of the reproducing device, e.g. temperature or ink quantity · CPC title