WO2023239348A1

WO2023239348A1 - Printhead servicing

Info

Publication number: WO2023239348A1
Application number: PCT/US2022/032385
Authority: WO
Inventors: David MUNOZ NAVARRO; Brian CARVAJAL MEZA; Dorkaitz Alain VAZQUEZ FERNANDEZ
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2022-06-06
Filing date: 2022-06-06
Publication date: 2023-12-14

Abstract

A scanning printhead printer controller (200) comprises a processor (130), a storage (140) coupled to the processor, and an instruction set (151-153). The instruction set cooperates with the processor and the storage to process data corresponding to a print job, determine the presence of an edge holder assembly (170) in a print zone of the printer, and determine a servicing routine of the scanning printhead. The service routine comprises spitting on at least a portion of the edge holder assembly during printing of the print job.

Description

PRINTHEAD SERVICING

BACKGROUND

[0001] This invention generally relates to the servicing of a printhead of a printer. Such a printhead is used to eject a fluid through ejection nozzles of the printhead. Some of the nozzles may get clogged over time. Servicing a printhead permits reducing the risk of clogging, or permits unclogging a clogged printhead. Servicing thereby permits recovering the functionality of a printhead, or maintaining the functionality of a printhead over an operational period of time. Servicing may comprise a sequence of clearing fluid ejection nozzles of the printhead by spitting printing fluid through the nozzles. While permitting maintaining or increasing a printing quality, running such a sequence may have an impact on a printer throughput or printer productivity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] FIG. 1 illustrates an example controller and an example non-transitory machine-readable storage medium.

[0003] FIG. 2 illustrates another example controller and example non-transitory machine-readable storage medium.

[0004] FIG. 3 illustrates another example controller and example non-transitory machine-readable storage medium.

[0005] FIG. 4 illustrates another example controller and example non-transitory machine-readable storage medium.

[0006] FIG. 5 illustrates another example controller and example non-transitory machine-readable storage medium.

[0007] FIG. 6 illustrates another example controller and example non-transitory machine-readable storage medium.

[0008] FIG. 7 illustrates another example controller and example non-transitory machine-readable storage medium.

[0009] FIG. 8 illustrates another example controller and example non-transitory machine-readable storage medium.

[0010] FIG. 9 illustrates an example edge holder assembly.

[0011] FIG. 10 illustrates another example edge holder assembly. [0012] FIG. 11 illustrates another example edge holder assembly.

[0013] FIG. 12 illustrates another example edge holder assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] A scanning printhead may, in a service routine to avoid or reduce a risk of nozzle clogging, be controlled to spit printing fluid at a service zone usually located at an extremity, or at both extremities, of a printhead scanning axis. Such spitting at a service zone however implies that the printhead reaches such service station located at an extremity of the scanning axis. Spitting may also take place directly on a printing medium, either on so-called “spit bars” taking up a bar shaped spitting space on the print medium adjacent to a graphical representation being printed, or intermixed within a graphical representation being printed. Spit bars however reduce usable printing space, and intermixing spitting into a graphical representation being printed may in some cases impact quality of the resulting printed outcome. The present description aims at incorporating spitting in a service routine while limiting printhead travel, limiting or suppressing dedicated spit bars, or limiting or suppressing intermixing spitting into a graphical representation being printed.

[0015] As will be explained in more details below, this disclosure applies to printers equipped with an edge holder assembly in a print zone of the printer. Spitting on at least a portion of such an edge holder assembly during printing aids in reducing clogging risk in a printer. Moreover, leveraging the presence of an edge holder assembly in this manner can indeed lead to limiting printhead travel, limiting or suppressing dedicated spit bars, or limiting or suppressing intermixing spitting into a graphical representation being printed.

[0016] Figure 1 illustrates a scanning printhead printer controller 100. A printhead such as example printhead 110 should be understood in this disclosure as permitting ejecting a printing fluid, e.g., ink on a media 115. Example printheads include inkjet printheads, for example piezo or thermal inkjet printheads. In some examples, the printing fluid is a latex based ink which is particularly suited for printing on different media and may be suitable to being exposed to external weather conditions. In other examples, the printing fluid may be a non-marking fluid such as, e.g., an overcoat, a fixer, pretreatment or post treatment fluids which may be transparent and serve to prepare a media for receiving an ink, or serve to fix an ink onto the media. The media on which printing takes place may take different forms and be made of different materials, adhesion properties, porosity, roughness or compositions. In some examples, the media is in the form of a flexible sheet. In some examples the media is in the form of a rigid board. In some examples, the media comprises cellulose based fiber such as paper or cardboard. In some examples the media comprises wood. In some examples the media comprises textile. In some examples the media comprises metal. In some examples the media comprises glass. In some examples the media comprises leather. In some examples, the media comprises a plastic resin or a transparent plastic resin or polymer such as Poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, or Polyvinyl chloride, PVC, for example. The printhead according to this disclosure should be understood as a device comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a fluid on a media, the printhead comprising circuitry permitting firing of the fluid from the nozzles of the printhead onto the media. Such circuitry may for example be connected to piezo or thermal actuators connected to ejection chambers associated with the nozzles.

[0017] The printhead is a scanning printhead. A scanning printhead should be understood as a reciprocating printhead moving back and forth along a scanning axis such as scanning axis 120, configured to print swaths when scanning a print zone. The area covered by the scanning printhead may indeed be considered a print zone. In some examples, the print zone is comprised on a platen, the scanning printhead travelling across such platen along the scanning axis. A media, or printing media, may be placed in the print zone in order to receive printing fluid from the printhead to form a graphical representation as the printhead scans across the print zone. Printing along the media may take place by relative movement of the media and of the print zone, such relative movement following for example a media advance direction at an angle to the scanning axis, the media advance direction being for example substantially perpendicular to the scanning axis. In some examples, the scanning axis remains static while the media moves along the media advance direction. In some examples, the media remains static while the scanning axis travels along the media advance direction. In some examples, the media has a width along the scanning axis of less than 90%, less than 75%, less than 60% or less than 50% of a full length of the scanning axis. In some examples whereby the media has a width along the scanning axis of less than a full length of the scanning axis, the media is placed adjacent to an extremity of the scanning axis, for example adjacent to a servicing station, and away from the opposite extremity of the scanning axis. In some examples whereby the media has a width along the scanning axis of less than a full length of the scanning axis, the media is placed in a generally central region of the scanning axis, away from both extremities of the scanning axis, for example spaced apart from one or two service stations placed at one or both of such extremities.

[0018] Example controller 100 comprises a processor 130 and a storage 140 coupled to the processor 130. In some examples, the controller may further comprise a network interface to receive print job data. In other examples, print job data may be provided locally, for example through a connector. Example controller 100 further comprises an instruction set 151 -153 to cooperate with the processor 130 and the storage 140 to process data corresponding to a print job as illustrated in block 151 , determine the presence of an edge holder assembly 170 in a print zone of the printer as illustrated in block 152, and determine a servicing routine of the scanning printhead, the service routine comprising spitting on at least a portion of the edge holder assembly during printing of the print job, as illustrated in block 153. Processor 130 may comprise electronic circuits for computation managed by an operating system.

[0019] Figure 1 also illustrates a non-transitory machine-readable or computer readable storage medium, such as, for example, memory or storage unit 140, whereby the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium is encoded with instructions 151 -153 executable by a processor such as processor 130, the machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions to operate processor 130 to perform as per any of the scanning printhead printer controllers hereby described. In particular, non-transitory machine-readable storage medium 140 may be encoded with instructions executable by processor 130, the machine- readable storage medium 140 comprising: instructions to receive print job data as illustrated in block 151 ; instructions to receive information signaling the presence of an edge holder assembly in a print zone of a printer as illustrated in block 152; and instructions to control a scanning printhead of the printer to spit on at least a portion of the edge holder assembly during printing of the print job as illustrated in block 153.

[0020] A computer readable storage according to this disclosure may be any electronic, magnetic, optical or other physical storage device that stores executable instructions. The computer readable storage may be, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), a storage drive, and optical disk, and the like. As described hereby, the computer readable storage may be encoded with executable instructions implementing the printer controllers hereby described. Storage or memory may include any electronic, magnetic, optical or other physical storage device that stores executable instructions as described hereby. [0021] In figures 1 to 8 each instruction block is linked to a diagram surrounded by a generally circular dashed line schematically illustrating the related instruction.

[0022] Block 151 illustrates that data corresponding to a print job 160 is processed by the processor. Print job data should be understood as digital data, for example in the form of a data file, representing a graphical representation to be printed using the scanning printhead. Example print job data formats are PDF, EPS, JPG, TIFF, GIF, PNG or ZIP formats. Such print job data formats may be processed to obtain printhead firing data leading to emitting electrical control signals permitting to fire or eject printing fluid onto the media using the printhead. Such data may be loaded onto the storage 140. The firing data may correspond to digital data at one of different stages of a printing pipeline, upstream or downstream from such printing pipeline. The firing data may be one of digital data corresponding to a resulting graphical representation 161 to be printed, digital data following a rasterising process, digital data following a halftoning process, or digital data directly controlling electronic signals of piezo or resistor based ejecting chambers of nozzles of the printhead.

[0023] Block 152 illustrates that the presence of an edge holder assembly in a print zone of the printer is determined. Such determination may take place in a number of different manners, for example by user input through a user interface connected to the processor, by sensor input, or because the printer is assumed be or known as being equipped with an edge holder assembly. In some examples, an edge holder assembly is, when present, positioned at a specific and known position, for example when the printer is repeatedly used with a specific media size. In such examples whereby, an edge holder assembly is, when present, positioned at a specific and known position, the determination of the presence of an edge holder assembly may be associated by default to such specific and known position of said edge holder assembly intersecting the scanning axis. In other examples, an edge holder may be, when present, positioned at different positions intersecting the scan axis, for example in function of different respective media sizes used. In such other examples whereby an edge holder may be, when present, positioned at different positions intersecting the scan axis, such position of the edge holder may be provided to the processor in a number of different manners, for example by user input through a user interface connected to the processor or by sensor input and may comprise one or more of a position of an edge of the edge holder assembly along the scan axis, of positions of both edges of the edge holder assembly along the scan axis, of a position of a central point of the edge holder assembly along the scan axis, or of a width of the edge holder assembly along the scan axis. In such other examples whereby, an edge holder may be, when present, positioned at different positions intersecting the scan axis, such position of the edge holder may also be calculated at the processor in function of a media size being used.

[0024] In some situations, it may be desirable for the media to be retained to, or held within a certain distance of, an operation surface such as a platen in the print zone, while the media is delivered through the print zone, or while the printhead performs an action on the media. The certain distance may be a sufficient distance to the operation surface for an imaging or printing operation to be performed on or with the media. For example, in some situations, a vacuum or negative pressure may be applied to the underside of the media as it travels over the operation surface or print zone, in order to retain the media to the surface. Such retention of the media may, for example, avoid deformation of the media within the operation zone, and, thus, may avoid errors or poor quality in the imaging operation. In some situations, the method of retaining the media to the operation surface may be less effective on the edges of the media, for example. As such, some portions of the media may be adequately retained to the operation surface, yet other portions, such as the edges of the media, may still be able to deform and elevate above the operation surface during the imaging operation, resulting in, for example, poor quality or errors in the imaging or printing operation. [0025] In some situations, it may thereby be desirable to include a supplementary device to retain portions of the media to the operation surface. For example, it may be desirable to implement a device in the imaging device or printer that retains an edge of the media to the operation surface, thus avoiding deformation of such an edge of the media and poor quality or errors in the imaging operation.

[0026] An edge holder assembly should, in this disclosure, be understood as such a device to retain a portion of media to an operation surface of an imaging device or printer, such portion being sandwiched between at least part of the edge holder assembly such as a strap, and a media support element such as a platen or conveyor. The edge holder assembly may retain the media to the operation surface so as to avoid deformation of the media, and thus, errors or poor quality in the imaging operation performed by the imaging device on or with the media. Further, the edge holder assembly may be removable. When installed in the imaging device, the edge holder assembly may be disposed on the operation surface such that the media may travel along the operation surface in between the surface and the edge holder assembly. Further, the edge holder assembly may be disposed close enough to the operation surface such that the edge holder assembly does not interfere with other components of the imaging device. Additionally, if the edge holder assembly, or a portion thereof, were to impact another component of the imaging device such as the scanning printhead, the edge holder assembly, in some situations, may act as a fuse and strategically break or fail so as to avoid damaging other components of the imaging device.

[0027] Block 153 illustrates that a servicing routine of the scanning printhead is determined, the service routine comprising spitting on at least a portion of the edge holder assembly during printing of the print job. This permits leveraging the presence of the edge holder assembly beyond its intended purpose of retaining the media. Spitting should be understood as operating the printhead so as to have the printhead ejecting fluid for the purpose of servicing, the spitting thereby wetting nozzles of the printhead and participating in clearing nozzles which may be obstructed or may risk obstruction. Spitting for the purpose of servicing should be understood as taking place in addition to the ejection of fluid for the sole purpose of printing. In this example, the edge holder assembly 170 and the media 115 are represented in a static configuration during printing, while the scanning axis 120 and printhead 110 move relative to the media and edge holder assembly, the area on which spitting takes place onto the portion of the edge holder assembly progressively moving as the printhead advances along the media advance direction. One should note that such a configuration may also be applied in the context of other examples hereby described.

[0028] Such spitting on at least a portion of the edge holder assembly during printing of the print job, i.e. , in a direct proximity or adjacency with the media may also mitigate a decap issue. The “decap time” is the time in which a nozzle is uncapped, i.e., the time in which the concentration of the printing fluid does not vary due to the contact with ambient air. In an example, a nozzle is unused for an amount of time greater than the decap time, then the nozzle is most likely going to lead to decap issues, therefore experiencing a reduction of the print job quality (IQ). In another example, a nozzle is unused for an amount of time shorter than the decap time, then the nozzle is more likely not going to lead to decap issues, therefore less likely to lead to experiencing reduction of the IQ of the print job. The decap time may vary depending on many parameters that may affect the change of the printing fluid properties due to decap, for example, the printing fluid composition, temperature, humidity, size of the nozzle bore, and the like. The distance travelled by the printhead, the nozzle and printing fluid associated with the decap time is also known as “decap distance.” The decap distance is based on the decap time of a printing fluid and the speed that the nozzle travels, i.e., the speed of the printhead comprising the nozzle.

[0029] The portion of the edge holder assembly on which the spitting takes place may in some examples be slightly offset along the scanning axis of the printhead from an edge of the edge holder assembly in order to avoid soiling, by spitting, the media or a media support element. In some examples, such offset may be of more than 1 mm, more than 3mm, more than5mm, more than 7mm or more than 10mm. In some examples, the portion of the edge holder assembly on which the spitting takes place may have a length along a media advance direction corresponding to a length of the print job along such media advance direction.

[0030] In some examples, instruction set as any of the example instruction sets hereby described further comprises instructions to change, during printing of the printjob, a travel direction of the printhead as the printhead faces the edge holder assembly. Such further instructions can permit a significant reduction in printhead travel time and a significant reduction of decap issues in cases whereby a full length of the scanning axis exceeds a width of the print job along such scanning axis.

[0031] Figure 2 illustrates another scanning printhead printer controller 200 and another non-transitory machine-readable storage medium 240. Controller 200 comprises a processor as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. Controller 200 and storage medium 240 comprise blocks 151 - 153 as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. Other reference numerals common to Figure 1 are not repeated in order to increase legibility. The instruction set further comprises in this example instructions 254 to determine that a distance 270 between the edge holder assembly and a service station 280 of the printer along a scan axis of the printhead is of more than a predetermined threshold. In some examples, the predetermined threshold is related to a decap distance. In some examples, the distance 270 corresponds to a distance between a reference point at the service station, for example a central point of the service station along the scanning axis, and a reference point at the edge holder assembly, for example a central point of the edge holder assembly along the scanning axis. In some examples, such determination can participate in making a choice between, on one hand, proceeding with block 153 in line with this disclosure and avoiding a back and forth travel (corresponding to twice distance 270) to the service station, or, on another hand, proceeding with travelling to the service station. In some examples, the predetermined threshold is of more than 10cm, of more than 20cm or of more than 30cm. One should note that a service routine may comprise a mix of some printhead passes comprising spitting as per block 153, and of other passes comprising spitting at a spittoon of a service station such as service station 280, in particular whereby the edge holder assembly is located between the service station and the media being printed on. In this example, the edge holder assembly and the media are again represented in a static configuration during printing, while the scanning axis, service station 280 and printhead move relative to the media and edge holder assembly, the area on which spitting takes place onto the portion of the edge holder assembly progressively moving as the printhead advances along the media advance direction.

[0032] Figure 3 illustrates another scanning printhead printer controller 300 and another non-transitory machine-readable storage medium 340. Controller 300 comprises a processor as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. Controller 300 and storage medium 340 comprise blocks 151 - 153 as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. While not illustrated, in another example controller 300 and storage medium 340 could further comprise block 254 as described in the context of Figure 2. Other reference numerals common to Figure 1 are not repeated in order to increase legibility. The instruction set further comprises instructions 355 to receive information from an optical sensor 390 of the printer. Such optical sensor may, as illustrated here, travel together with the printhead. In some other examples, the sensor may be a fixed sensor, for example a fixed sensor spanning a complete length of the scanning axis. In other examples, the sensor may be mobile and travel independently from the printhead. An optical sensor can provide information related for example to a media dimension or to a position or presence of one or more edge holder assemblies. Information from an optical sensor can for example provide information related to the distance 270 illustrated in Figure 2. Such optical sensor can for example provide information leading to determining the presence of an edge holder assembly as per block 151. In this example, the media is represented as moving along the media advance direction while the scanning axis, service station and media edge holder assembly remain in a static configuration during printing, the printhead and sensor scanning along the static scanning axis. In this example, the area on which spitting takes place onto the portion of the edge holder assembly remains the same as the media advances along the media advance direction. One should note that such a configuration may also be applied in the context of other examples hereby described.

[0033] Figure 4 illustrates another scanning printhead printer controller 400 and another non-transitory machine-readable storage medium 440. Controller 400 comprises a processor as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. Controller 400 and storage medium 440 comprise blocks 151 - 153 as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. While not illustrated, in another example controller 400 and storage medium 440 could further comprise block 254 as described in the context of Figure 2, or further comprise block 355 as described in the context of Figure 3, or a combination of both blocks 254 and 355. Other reference numerals common to Figure 1 are not repeated in order to increase legibility. The instruction set further comprises instructions 456 to receive information from a user of the printer. In some examples, such information is provided through a graphical interface. In some examples, such information is provided through one or more push buttons. In some examples, such information is provided by voice through a microphone. In some examples, such information comprises information confirming, and leading to determining, the presence of an edge holder assembly as per block 151. In some examples, such information may confirm that spitting according to 153 should take place. In some examples, such information may indicate a rate of spitting on the edge holder assembly, for example when a service routine may comprise a mix of some printhead passes comprising spitting as per block 153, and of other passes comprising spitting at a spittoon of a service station without spitting as per block 153. Servicing at a service station may comprise operations other than spitting, such as wiping. In some examples, information received from a user may be based on productivity information such as printing time (for example related to printhead traveling time), printing quality (for example reducing or avoiding spitting on a printed representation), or consumable consumption (for example related to decap time). Again, in this example, the media is represented as moving along the media advance direction while the scanning axis, and media edge holder assembly remain in a static configuration during printing, the printhead scanning along the static scanning axis. Again, in this example, the area on which spitting takes place onto the portion of the edge holder assembly remains the same as the media advances along the media advance direction.

[0034] Figure 5 illustrates another scanning printhead printer controller 500 and another non-transitory machine-readable storage medium 540. Controller 500 comprises a processor as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. Controller 500 and storage medium 540 comprise blocks 151 - 153 as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. While not illustrated, in another example controller 500 and storage medium 540 could further comprise block 254 as described in the context of Figure 2, further comprise block 355 as described in the context of Figure 3, further comprise block 456 as described in the context of Figure 4, or further comprise any combination of blocks 254, 355 and 456. Other reference numerals common to Figure 1 are not repeated in order to increase legibility. The instruction set further comprises instructions 557 to display, to a user of the printer, a productivity improvement. In some example, such productivity improvement is a function of a printhead travel distance during the printing of the print job, for example a function of distance 270. In some example, such productivity improvement is a function of decap time. In some example, such productivity improvement comprises a comparison between spitting on the edge holder assembly and not spitting on the edge holder assembly. In some examples, such productivity improvement is taken into account by a user to provide user information as per block 456. In some examples, such productivity improvement is taken into account by a user to calculate a cost of a printing operation. In this example, the edge holder assembly and the media are represented in a static configuration during printing, while the scanning axis and printhead move relative to the media and edge holder assembly, the area on which spitting takes place onto the portion of the edge holder assembly progressively moving as the printhead advances along the media advance direction.

[0035] Figure 6 illustrates another scanning printhead printer controller 600 and another non-transitory machine-readable storage medium 640. Controller 600 comprises a processor as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. Controller 600 and storage medium 640 comprise blocks 151 - 153 as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. While not illustrated, in another example controller 600 and storage medium 640 could further comprise block 254 as described in the context of Figure 2, further comprise block 355 as described in the context of Figure 3, further comprise block 456 as described in the context of Figure 4, further comprise block 557 as described in the context of Figure 5, or further comprise any combination of blocks 254, 355, 456 and 557. Other reference numerals common to Figure 1 are not repeated in order to increase legibility. In this example of Figure 6, the instruction set further comprises instructions 658 to spit in a spittoon of a service station 680 located in proximity to a distal edge of a media on which the print job is printed, whereby the distal end of the media is opposite to a proximal edge of the media held by the media holder assembly. Spitting in the vicinity of both edges of the media, i.e., beyond the proximal edge and beyond the distal edge, may for example reduce decap issues. In some examples, the printer comprises both a service station 680 located in proximity to a distal edge of a media on which the print job is printed, and a service station such as service station 280 located in proximity to the proximal edge of the media on which the print job is printed, the edge holder assembly being located between both servicing stations. In this example, the media is represented as moving along the media advance direction while the scanning axis, service station and media edge holder assembly remain in a static configuration during printing, the printhead scanning along the static scanning axis. In this example, the area on which spitting takes place onto the portion of the edge holder assembly remains the same as the media advances along the media advance direction. [0036] Figure 7 illustrates another scanning printhead printer controller 700 and another non-transitory machine-readable storage medium 740. Controller 700 comprises a processor as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. Controller 700 and storage medium 740 comprise blocks 151 and 152 as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. While not illustrated, in another example controller 700 and storage medium 740 could further comprise block 254 as described in the context of Figure 2, further comprise block 355 as described in the context of Figure 3, further comprise block 456 as described in the context of Figure 4, further comprise block 557 as described in the context of Figure 5, further comprise block 658 as described in the context of Figure 6, or further comprise any combination of blocks 254, 355, 456, 557 and 658. Other reference numerals common to Figure 1 are not repeated in order to increase legibility. In this example of Figure 7, the instruction set comprises instructions 753 to determine a servicing routine of the scanning printhead, the service routine comprising spitting on portions of the edge holder assembly during printing of the print job, whereby the edge holder assembly holds opposite edges of a media. Such a configuration may for example very significantly limit both printhead travel and decap issues, while, at the same time, maintaining the media edges in place on opposite ends of the media. In this example, the edge holder assembly and the media are represented in a static configuration during printing, while the scanning axis and printhead move relative to the media and edge holder assembly, the area on which spitting takes place onto the portion of the edge holder assembly progressively moving as the printhead advances along the media advance direction.

[0037] Figure 8 illustrates another scanning printhead printer controller 800 and another non-transitory machine-readable storage medium 840. Controller 800 comprises a processor as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. Controller 800 and storage medium 840 comprise blocks 151 , 152 and 153 as described in the context of Figure 1 , and numbered in the same manner. While not illustrated, in another example controller 800 and storage medium 840 could further comprise block 254 as described in the context of Figure 2, further comprise block 355 as described in the context of Figure 3, further comprise block 456 as described in the context of Figure 4, further comprise block 557 as described in the context of Figure 5, further comprise block 658 as described in the context of Figure 6, comprise block 753 as described in the context of Figure 7, or comprise any combination of blocks 254, 355, 456, 557, 658 and 753. Other reference numerals common to Figure 1 are not repeated in order to increase legibility. In this example of Figure 8, the print job data comprises data related to a plurality of print jobs 160 and 161 to be printed simultaneously, and whereby the edge holder assembly is located between at least two of the print jobs of the plurality of print jobs. In some examples, such a configuration permits avoiding placing a spit bar taking up media space between the printed representations of the print jobs. While the illustrated example comprises two print jobs printed simultaneously side by side along the scanning axis, more than two print jobs may be printed side by side. In some examples, different edge holder assembly portions are used to spit between different pairs of side by side print jobs. In this example, the edge holder assembly and the media are represented in a static configuration during printing, while the scanning axis and printhead move relative to the media and edge holder assembly, the area on which spitting takes place onto the portion of the edge holder assembly progressively moving as the printhead advances along the media advance direction.

[0038] One should note that in any of the different examples hereby described the instruction set may further comprise instructions to print the print job on textile media held by the edge holder assembly.

[0039] As a result of spitting on edge holder assemblies as described hereby, such edge holder assemblies may be wiped clean from spitted printing fluid, for example with a cloth, for example once a printing operation is completed. In some examples, such edge holder assemblies are made of metal or plastic and may be wiped clean in such a manner.

[0040] In some examples, an edge holder assembly 900 may be provided as illustrated in Figure 9, whereby such edge holder assembly comprises a strap 901 a first end cap 911 attached to a first end of the strap; a second end cap 912 attached to a second end of the strap, opposite from the first end, the second end cap to tension the strap between the first end cap and the second end cap; and a printing fluid receiving component 920. Such printing fluid receiving component may be configured to correspond to the portion of the edge holder assembly which is spitted on during printing of the print job, thereby limiting or preventing soiling the strap or avoiding having to wipe the edge holder assembly clean. In this example the printing fluid receiving component may cover less than about 30% or less than about 20% of a total surface of strap 901 and is adapted to a configuration as illustrated for example in Figures 3, 4 or 6 whereby the scanning axis and the media edge holder assembly remain static relatively to each other as the printhead scans along the scanning axis.

[0041] The strap 901 may be a film, strip, belt, or layer extending between the first and second end caps 911 and 912. Further, the strap may be tensioned between the first and second end caps such that it lays flat against a surface, such as a platen of the print zone, to which the edge holder assembly is attached or engaged. In some implementations, the strap may be formed of a polymer material, such as polycarbonate or another thermoplastic, for example. In other implementations, the strap may be formed of another material, such as a metal or rubber material. In further implementations, the strap may be partially or wholly formed of a material that may break, tear, or otherwise destruct across the width of the strap, when impacted by another component such as the printhead. In some implementations, the strap may break when impacted by a printhead carriage of the imaging device or printer so as to avoid damage to the printhead carriage.

[0042] The first and second end caps may be rigid or semi-rigid components and may be removably attached to or disposed on opposite ends of the strap. In some implementations, each of the first and second end caps may engage with an edge, end, or lip of a surface upon which the edge holder assembly is installed, and the strap may extend between the end caps to span the surface. In some implementations, each of the first and second end caps may engage with a first and second end or edge of an operation surface of an imaging device, such as a platen of the printer, such that the strap extends across the operation surface or print zone, and is tensioned between the first and second end caps across the operation surface. In other words, the first end cap may retain the first end of the strap to the operation surface, and the second end cap may retain the second end of the strap to the operation surface, the strap being longitudinally aligned between the end caps along a media advance direction.

[0043] In some examples, in order to maintain a limited distance between the media and the printhead to obtain a desired printing quality, the thickness of the strap in a direction normal (i.e., perpendicular) to the print zone is of less than 5mm, less than 3mm, or less than 1 mm.

[0044] In some examples, the printing fluid receiving component such as printing fluid receiving component 920 comprises a removable label placed on at least a printhead facing portion of the strap. Such removable label may comprise paper. Such removable label may have a thickness of no more than 0.5mm, no more than 0.3mm, or no more than 0.15mm.

[0045] Another edge holder assembly 1000 is illustrated in Figure 10, whereby such edge holder assembly comprises a strap 1001 a first end cap 1011 attached to a first end of the strap; a second end cap 1012 attached to a second end of the strap, opposite from the first end, the second end cap to tension the strap between the first end cap and the second end cap; and a printing fluid receiving component 1020. In this example, printing fluid receiving component 1020 comprises an absorbent material adjacent to the strap. Such configuration permits in some examples using a printing receiving component having a thickness comparable to a thickness of the strap without raising the level or thickness of the strap, thereby providing an increased printing fluid absorption capacity with low or no impact on a printhead to media distance. In some examples, the absorbent material comprises a sponge or a foam-like material. In this example the printing fluid receiving component may cover more than about 70% or more than about 80% of a total surface of strap 1001 and is adapted to a configuration as illustrated for example in Figures 1 , 2, 5, 7 or 8 whereby the media edge holder assembly and the media remain static relatively to each other as the scanning axis is mobile relative to the media edge holder assembly and media.

[0046] Another edge holder assembly 1100 is illustrated in Figure 11 , whereby such edge holder assembly comprises a strap, a first end cap 1111 attached to a first end of the strap; a second end cap 1112 attached to a second end of the strap, opposite from the first end, the second end cap to tension the strap between the first end cap and the second end cap; and a printing fluid receiving component 1120. In this example, the strap comprises a plurality of interconnected sections such as sections 1101 and 1102 between the first end and the second end of the strap. Such different interconnected sections can permit offering different length configurations for the edge holder assembly, permitting adapting such edge holder assembly to different media length along a media advance direction. While, in this example, the printing fluid receiving component 1120 is illustrated as placed on a printhead facing portion of section 1101 , another printing fluid receiving component 1122 (represented in dashed lines) may also be provided on section 1102. In other examples not represented here, more than two strap sections may be provided. In this example the printing fluid receiving components may cover, in combination, more than about 70% or more than about 80% of a total surface of the strap sections and is adapted to a configuration as illustrated for example in Figures 1 , 2, 5, 7 or 8 whereby the media edge holder assembly and the media remain static relatively to each other as the scanning axis is mobile relative to the media edge holder assembly and media. In some examples, the printhead is configured not to spit on an area of the strap uncovered by a printing fluid component, for example on an area between printing fluid components.

[0047] Another edge holder assembly 1200 is illustrated in Figure 12, whereby such edge holder assembly comprises a strap, a first end cap 1211 attached to a first end of the strap; a second end cap 1212 attached to a second end of the strap, opposite from the first end, the second end cap to tension the strap between the first end cap and the second end cap; and a printing fluid receiving component 1220. Again in this example, the strap comprises a plurality of interconnected sections such as sections 1201 and 1202 between the first end and the second end of the strap. In this example the printing fluid receiving component may cover less than about 30% or less than about 20% of a total surface of the strap sections and is adapted to a configuration as illustrated for example in Figures 3, 4 or 6 whereby the scanning axis and the media edge holder assembly remain static relatively to each other as the printhead scans along the scanning axis.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1 . A scanning printhead printer controller comprising: a processor; a storage coupled to the processor; and an instruction set to cooperate with the processor and the storage to: process data corresponding to a print job; determine the presence of an edge holder assembly in a print zone of the printer; and determine a servicing routine of the scanning printhead, the service routine comprising spitting on at least a portion of the edge holder assembly during printing of the print job.

2. The controller according to claim 1 , whereby the instruction set further comprises instructions to change, during printing of the printjob, a travel direction of the printhead as the printhead faces the edge holder assembly.

3. The controller according to claim 1 , whereby the instruction set further comprises instructions to determine that a distance between the edge holder assembly and a service station of the printer along a scan axis of the printhead is of more than a predetermined threshold.

4. The controller according to claim 1 , whereby the instruction set further comprises instructions to receive information from an optical sensor of the printer.

5. The controller according to claim 1 , whereby the instruction set further comprises instructions to receive information from a user of the printer.

6. The controller according to claim 1 , whereby the instruction set further comprises instructions to display, to a user of the printer, a productivity improvement.

7. The controller according to claim 1 , whereby instruction set further comprises instructions to spit in a spittoon of a service station located in proximity to a distal edge of a media on which the print job is printed, whereby the distal end of the media is opposite to a proximal edge of the media held by the media holder assembly.

8. The controller according to claim 1 , whereby the instruction set further comprises instructions to spit on portions of the edge holder assembly holding opposite edges of a media.

9. The controller according to claim 1 , whereby the instruction set further comprises instructions to print the print job on textile media held by the edge holder assembly.

10. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor, the machine-readable storage medium comprising: instructions to receive print job data; instructions to receive information signaling the presence of an edge holder assembly in a print zone of a printer; and instructions to control a scanning printhead of the printer to spit on at least a portion of the edge holder assembly during printing of the print job.

11. The storage medium according to claim 10, whereby the print job data comprises data related to a plurality of printjobs to be printed simultaneously, and whereby the edge holder assembly is located between at least two of the print jobs of the plurality of print jobs.

12. An edge holder assembly, comprising: a strap; a first end cap attached to a first end of the strap; a second end cap attached to a second end of the strap, opposite from the first end, the second end cap to tension the strap between the first end cap and the second end cap; and a printing fluid receiving component.

13. The edge holder assembly according to claim 12, whereby the printing fluid receiving component comprises a removable label placed on at least a printhead facing portion of the strap.

14. The edge holder assembly according to claim 12, whereby the printing fluid receiving component comprises an absorbent material adjacent to the strap.

15. The edge holder assembly according to claim 12, whereby the strap comprises a plurality of interconnected sections between the first end and the second end of the strap.