Search

US-20260124833-A1 - IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD FOR IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

US20260124833A1US 20260124833 A1US20260124833 A1US 20260124833A1US-20260124833-A1

Abstract

The image processing apparatus comprising: a nozzle capable of discharging ink toward a sheet; one or more memory devices that store a set of instructions; and one or more processors that execute the set of instructions to: control a timing of discharging the ink from the nozzle, wherein the one or more processors execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to: execute a first determination of whether or not there is printing using ink for which a predetermined period has elapsed since a past time of use; execute the printing if it is determined that there is printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed; and execute cleaning processing for discharging this ink to the nozzle without executing the printing if it is determined that there is no printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed.

Inventors

  • Kentaro Takahashi

Assignees

  • CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251103
Priority Date
20241105

Claims (11)

  1. 1 . An image processing apparatus comprising: a nozzle capable of discharging ink toward a sheet; one or more memory devices that store a set of instructions; and one or more processors that execute the set of instructions to: control a timing of discharging the ink from the nozzle, wherein the one or more processors execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to: execute a first determination of whether or not there is printing using ink for which a predetermined period has elapsed since a past time of use; execute the printing if it is determined that there is printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed; and execute cleaning processing for discharging this ink to the nozzle without executing the printing if it is determined that there is no printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed.
  2. 2 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to: execute a second determination of whether or not there is ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed since a past time of use, before the first determination, execute the first determination if it is determined that there is ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed since a past time of use; and execute printing for which a current date is set as a deadline if it is determined that there is no ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed since a past time of use.
  3. 3 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to: execute a third determination of whether or not there is monochrome printing, after the first determination; change the printing to color printing and execute the color printing if it is determined that there is the monochrome printing; and execute the cleaning processing if it is determined that there is no monochrome printing.
  4. 4 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors further execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to: discharge cleaning liquid capable of cleaning the nozzle from the nozzle.
  5. 5 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors further execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to: receive setting of the printing to eco-printing in which a timing of executing the printing can be controlled.
  6. 6 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors further execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to: display a screen including information on the eco-printing, a first object indicating changing of an execution time limit of the eco-printing, and a second object for instructing a start of execution of the eco-printing; and accept operation input with respect to the first object and the second object.
  7. 7 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors further execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to: receive a job of the eco-printing from an external apparatus.
  8. 8 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors further execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to: receive a job for the printing from an external apparatus, wherein the one or more processors execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to: execute the received job for the printing if it is determined in the first determination that there is printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed.
  9. 9 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period is determined based on an ink use history, ink color, season, or humidity.
  10. 10 . A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, the method comprising: discharging ink toward a sheet by a nozzle; and controlling a timing of discharging the ink from the nozzle, wherein a first determination of whether or not there is printing using ink for which a predetermined period has elapsed since a past time of use is executed, if it is determined that there is printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed, the printing is executed, and if it is determined that there is no printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed, cleaning processing for discharging this ink to the nozzle without executing the printing is executed.
  11. 11 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute each step in a control method for an image processing apparatus, wherein the control method includes: discharging ink toward a sheet by a nozzle; and controlling a timing of discharging the ink from the nozzle, wherein a first determination of whether or not there is printing using ink for which a predetermined period has elapsed since a past time of use is executed, if it is determined that there is printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed, the printing is executed, and if it is determined that there is no printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed, cleaning processing for discharging this ink to the nozzle without executing the printing is executed.

Description

BACKGROUND Field of the Technology The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus, a control method for an image processing apparatus, and a storage medium. Description of the Related Art Inkjet image processing apparatuses have become widespread due to the advantage that power consumption can be reduced. In an inkjet method, printing is performed by jetting ink from a nozzle. However, there is a possibility that the nozzle will be clogged when ink adhering to the vicinity of the opening of the nozzle head dries. In view of this, in order to prevent drying, the image processing apparatus includes a cleaning function that jets ink not for the purpose of printing. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2021-111039 proposes a mechanism for executing cleaning upon referring to a use history of a user. Since the above-described cleaning method consumes ink, it increases the financial burden. SUMMARY The present disclosure enables realization of a new mechanism by which the cost of cleaning a nozzle can be reduced as much as possible in an image processing apparatus. One aspect of the present disclosure provides an image processing apparatus comprising: a nozzle capable of discharging ink toward a sheet; one or more memory devices that store a set of instructions; and one or more processors that execute the set of instructions to: control a timing of discharging the ink from the nozzle, wherein the one or more processors execute instructions in the one or more memory devices to: execute a first determination of whether or not there is printing using ink for which a predetermined period has elapsed since a past time of use; execute the printing if it is determined that there is printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed; and execute cleaning processing for discharging this ink to the nozzle without executing the printing if it is determined that there is no printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed. Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for controlling an image processing apparatus, the method comprising: discharging ink toward a sheet by a nozzle; and controlling a timing of discharging the ink from the nozzle, wherein a first determination of whether or not there is printing using ink for which a predetermined period has elapsed since a past time of use is executed, if it is determined that there is printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed, the printing is executed, and if it is determined that there is no printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed, cleaning processing for discharging this ink to the nozzle without executing the printing is executed. Still another aspect of the present disclosure provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute each step in a control method for an image processing apparatus, wherein the control method includes: discharging ink toward a sheet by a nozzle; and controlling a timing of discharging the ink from the nozzle, wherein a first determination of whether or not there is printing using ink for which a predetermined period has elapsed since a past time of use is executed, if it is determined that there is printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed, the printing is executed, and if it is determined that there is no printing using ink for which the predetermined period has elapsed, cleaning processing for discharging this ink to the nozzle without executing the printing is executed. Features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. The following description of embodiments are described by way of example. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a software configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 a schematic view of an inkjet nozzle of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment FIG. 4 is a function block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing information managed by an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure