Cartridge Shutter Mechanism for Accurate Ink Level Detection

The patent applies local quality by configuring the light-blocking panel's movable range differently for small-capacity and large-capacity cartridges. Specifically, the light-blocking panel in the large-capacity cartridge is designed to move over a longer vertical range compared to the small-capacity cartridge, so that the detection region is activated at different ink levels relative to each cartridge's total capacity. This ensures that the near-empty state is detected at approximately the same remaining ink amount for both cartridge types, while maintaining a unified shutter mechanism design.

The patent applies dynamics by making the light-blocking panel's position and movement characteristics adapt to the specific cartridge capacity. The light-blocking panel is positioned and dimensioned such that its movement relative to the detection region depends on the cartridge's total ink capacity. For large-capacity cartridges, the panel moves over a larger range, while for small-capacity cartridges, it moves over a smaller range. This dynamic adaptation ensures reliable near-empty detection across different cartridge types without requiring separate detection mechanisms.