Dynamic Carriage Range for Ink Sensor Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing devices with limited printing areas, the ink sensor's central position may not detect the remaining ink amount due to carriage movement limitations, leading to potential ink depletion during printing, which can result in unstable print quality and increased costs from multiple sensors.
Innovation Solution
A printing device with a carriage that moves in an enlarged range to ensure the ink sensor can detect the ink remaining amount, even when the printing area deviates from the sensor's detection range, by requesting detection when predetermined conditions are met and adjusting the carriage's movement to include the sensor's detection range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the ink sensor is provided in the substantially central position of the movable range, then the device complexity is reduced (single sensor), but the reliability of ink remaining amount detection deteriorates when printing area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the carriage movable range dynamic by enlarging it temporarily to perform detection printing, allowing the ink sensor to detect the ink remaining amount regardless of the original printing area limitations. This dynamic adjustment of the movable range resolves the contradiction between using a single sensor and ensuring reliable detection.
2Productivity
If the carriage movable range is limited to the printing area, then the productivity is improved (faster printing), but the ink remaining amount detection becomes impossible when printing area deviates from sensor detection range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection printing in an enlarged movable range to detect the ink remaining amount before actual printing. This preliminary action ensures that the ink status is known without compromising the printing speed during the main printing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial printing action (detection printing) in an excessive range (enlarged movable range beyond the actual printing area) to achieve the detection function without affecting the overall printing efficiency.
3Reliability
If multiple ink sensors are provided in the main scanning direction, then the reliability of ink remaining amount detection is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple static sensors, the patent uses a single sensor with a dynamic approach where the carriage movable range is temporarily enlarged to bring the printing head into the sensor's detection range. This maintains reliability without increasing the number of sensors.
4Reliability
If the carriage movable range is enlarged to include the sensor detection range, then the ink remaining amount detection reliability is improved, but the productivity may deteriorate due to increased movement distance
Solution Approach 1:
The detection printing is performed as a preliminary action before the main printing process, so the enlarged movable range only affects the detection phase, not the main printing throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage moves in an excessive range only for the partial detection printing operation, not for the entire printing process, thus minimizing the impact on overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
In a case where a forcible detection execution flag is set to ON, the end position of the CR movement is changed and the acquiring range of the detection value “Is” is changed such that the movable range of the carriage is enlarged to a range that makes detection of an ink remaining amount by the ink sensor possible. Then, a print process for forcible detection is conducted in which the printing head and the carriage motor are controlled such that the printing head ejects ink while the carriage is moving in the enlarged movable range. Consequently, in a case where the forcible detection is requested, the ink remaining amount in the ink cartridge installed in the carriage can be detected regardless of the printing area based on the print data.