Ink Replenishment Control for Printer Image Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
The quality of printed images drastically changes when an ink main tank is exchanged due to differences in ink characteristics, leading to operational burdens and potential printing interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a main tank, intermediate tank, ink driver, ink amount detector, and control unit that performs normal and extraordinary replenishment operations to maintain optimal ink levels in the intermediate tank, suppressing drastic changes in image quality by adjusting ink supply from the main tank after exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the ink is replenished from the main tank to the intermediate tank after main tank exchange using the normal replenishing operation, then the ink remaining amount increases to the normal amount, but the image quality changes drastically due to mixing ink with different characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing an extraordinary replenishing operation that supplies ink only to a specific level (second reference level) rather than the full normal level. This partial replenishment prevents drastic image quality changes while still maintaining sufficient ink supply. The control unit determines to perform this limited replenishment when the main tank is exchanged, balancing ink availability with image quality consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the replenishment parameter (ink supply level) based on the operational context. When the main tank is exchanged, the system switches from normal replenishment (to first reference level) to extraordinary replenishment (to second reference level). This parameter change adapts the ink supply strategy to prevent image quality deterioration while maintaining adequate ink levels.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the ink remaining amount in the intermediate tank is maintained at a high level, then the printing can continue for longer period, but the user must exchange the main tank more frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by conducting an extraordinary replenishing operation immediately when the main tank is exchanged. This advance ink supply to the second reference level ensures that sufficient ink is available in the intermediate tank, extending the printing duration before the next main tank exchange is needed, thus reducing the frequency of exchanges.
3Quantity of substance
If the ink remaining amount falls to a low level before main tank exchange, then the system can operate with less ink inventory, but the printing may be interrupted due to insufficient ink
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by maintaining the ink remaining amount in the intermediate tank at the second reference level (a cushion level above the minimum first reference level) when the main tank is exchanged. This creates a safety buffer that prevents printing interruption while allowing the system to operate with reasonable ink inventory levels.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus comprises a main tank, an intermediate tank, and a control unit controlling an amount of the ink stored in the intermediate tank by a normal replenishing operation for increasing an ink remaining amount to a normal amount more than a first reference amount by feeding the ink from the main tank to the intermediate tank if the ink remaining amount falls below the first reference amount. The control unit controls the amount of the ink stored in the intermediate tank by an extraordinary replenishing operation for increasing the ink remaining amount to a second reference amount by feeding the ink from the main tank to the intermediate tank if the ink remaining amount falls below the second reference amount less than the first reference amount when the main tank held is exchanged.