Ink Cartridge Heating Element Modification for Printer Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inkjet printing technology faces challenges in reusing ink cartridges due to compatibility issues between older cartridges and new printers, as new printers detect mismatched heating elements, leading to environmental waste and resource inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for reusing ink cartridges involve detecting and burning out mismatched heating elements, ensuring compatibility with new printers by applying driving signals and feedback signals to determine and disable the target heating elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If ink cartridges are designed with multiple heating elements for high-speed printing, then printing speed and performance are improved, but compatibility with new printer versions deteriorates due to detection of mismatched heating elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting speedVSAvoidcompatibility with new printer versions
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the heating elements in the ink cartridge before use in the printer, identifying which heating elements are mismatched with the new printer version, and pre-burning them out to disable. This preliminary modification ensures that when the ink cartridge is subsequently used in the new printer, the printer does not detect mismatched heating elements, thus resolving the compatibility issue while preserving the ink cartridge for reuse

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the heating elements by burning them out, transforming them from a functional state to a non-functional state. This parameter change (from conductive to non-conductive) prevents the printer from detecting the heating elements, thereby resolving the compatibility detection issue while allowing the ink cartridge to be reused with the new printer version

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of substance

If ink cartridges are discarded after use, then resource waste and environmental pollution increase, but reusing incompatible cartridges is prevented by printer error messages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource wasteVSAvoidcartridge compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection and modification of heating elements before the ink cartridge is used in the new printer. By identifying and burning out mismatched heating elements in advance, the system ensures that the printer will not detect incompatibility and display error messages, thereby enabling successful reuse of the ink cartridge and preventing resource waste

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of mismatched heating elements (which cause compatibility errors and prevent reuse) into a beneficial outcome. By deliberately burning out the mismatched heating elements, the system eliminates the source of compatibility errors, transforming what was previously a barrier to reuse into an enabler of successful cartridge recycling and resource conservation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows previously incompatible ink cartridges to be reused with new printers, reducing environmental waste and improving resource conservation by ensuring compatibility through targeted heating element modification.

Implementation Method 1

nozzles of an inkjet head is generally controlled to eject ink by a plurality of heating elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

burning out the target heating element... applying a driving signal to the other end of the target heating element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical discharge burning: Electric Spark

Data Source

PatentEP3647059B1Ink cartridge recycling method and system, and readable storage medium and recycled ink cartridge
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 HANGZHOU CHIPJET TECH CO LTD
  • EP3647059B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3647059B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3647059B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a method for reusing an ink cartridge, a system thereof, a readable storage medium and a reused ink cartridge, which belong to ink cartridge in printing field. The method includes detecting each of a plurality of heating elements in the ink cartridge, wherein the plurality of heating elements are located on both sides of nozzles of the ink cartridge; determining one of the plurality of heating elements which is not matched with a printer as a target heating element according to detecting result; and burning out the target heating element. Therefore, the target heating element will not be detected, the ink cartridge will match with the printer in new version, resulting in the ink cartridge can be reused and applied in the printer in new version.