Ink Detection via Light Transmission in Deformable Liquid Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid supply apparatuses for inkjet printers face inaccuracies in calculating the remaining ink due to variations in ink droplet discharge and suction, influenced by printer state and environment.
Innovation Solution
A liquid supply apparatus with a deformable ink containing member, a liquid supply flow path, a retaining chamber, a draw-in unit, and a control unit that uses pressure changes and mechanical deformation to accurately detect the remaining ink volume by displaying specific notifications based on predetermined volume thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the amount of ink consumption is calculated by multiplying measured ink droplet discharge amounts and suction amounts by the number of droplets discharged and suction/discharge times, then the ink consumption can be estimated, but the calculation accuracy deteriorates due to variations in ink droplet discharge and suction depending on printer state and installation environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the soft count calculation method (which relies on mechanical/electrical measurements of ink droplet discharge and suction) with an optical detection method. A light source illuminates the ink pack, and a light receiving unit detects the transmitted light intensity. The ink remaining amount is determined based on the light absorption characteristics of the ink, which is insensitive to printer state and environmental variations. This substitution of measurement principle resolves the contradiction by achieving high accuracy without sensitivity to operational conditions.
2Productivity
If a bag-shaped ink pack made of flexible material is used, then the container volume can vary to accommodate ink consumption, but the accurate detection of remaining ink volume becomes difficult due to the deformable structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary to detect the ink remaining amount in the flexible ink pack. Instead of trying to measure the physical volume or shape of the deformable container, the system uses light transmission through the ink pack as a mediator. The light receiving unit detects changes in light intensity caused by ink absorption, providing an accurate indirect measurement of ink volume that is independent of the container's flexible structure and deformation.
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 solution enhances the accuracy of ink remaining detection, reducing errors and ensuring timely notifications of low ink levels, thereby optimizing printer operations and minimizing ink wastage.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid draw-in unit configured to draw the liquid into the liquid retaining chamber from the liquid containing member by reducing a pressure of a space outside the liquid retaining chamber to cause the volume of the liquid retaining chamber to be expanded
Implementation Method 2
a pressing unit configured to press the liquid containing member from the outside
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid supply apparatus includes a deformable liquid containing member configured to contain a liquid to be supplied to a liquid discharge head for discharging the liquid to a recording medium, a liquid supply flow path for supplying the liquid to the liquid discharge head from the liquid containing member, a liquid retaining chamber disposed on the liquid supply flow path and configured to let the liquid flow into the liquid discharge head from the liquid containing member, a liquid draw-in unit configured to draw the liquid into the liquid retaining chamber from the liquid containing member, a pressing unit configured to press the liquid containing member from the outside, and a control unit configured to perform a control to display a first display or a second display on a display unit based on a volume of the liquid retaining chamber.