Ink Tank Cap Sensor Feedback for Printer Ink Level Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image recording apparatuses, such as printers, face errors due to discrepancies between the managed ink remaining amount information and the actual ink remaining amount in the tank, leading to potential operational failures during printing.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a tank with a filling port, a cap, a filling port sensor, an operating interface, and a controller that updates the ink remaining amount information based on user input after detecting the cap's attachment and detachment, using tables and correction coefficients to accurately estimate and correct the ink level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the ink remaining amount is automatically managed by the apparatus, then the printing operation can proceed without user intervention, but errors occur due to discrepancies between managed information and actual ink levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by detecting cap attachment/detachment events and using this information to trigger updates of ink remaining amount information. When the cap is detected as detached and then reattached, the system receives user input about ink filling and updates the stored ink level data, creating a feedback loop that corrects discrepancies between managed and actual ink levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting cap status changes and prompting users to update ink level information only when necessary. The filling port sensor and controller work together to autonomously monitor cap attachment state and initiate the information update process without requiring continuous user intervention.
2Measurement precision
If the system frequently prompts users to update ink level information, then accuracy of ink remaining amount is improved, but user operation burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of cap attachment/detachment events and only prompts users to update ink level information when the cap state changes. This preliminary monitoring approach ensures that update prompts are triggered only when actually needed (when ink filling is likely to have occurred), avoiding unnecessary user operations while maintaining accuracy.
3Device complexity
If the apparatus uses simple cap detection without additional sensors, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to detect ink filling events accurately is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The filling port sensor serves multiple functions: it detects both cap attachment/detachment events and triggers ink level information updates. This multi-functional approach allows the system to accurately detect ink filling events using a single sensor, avoiding the need for separate sensors while maintaining detection accuracy and reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A tank is formed with a filling port for filling ink. A cap is attached to the filling port so as to close the filling port. A filling port sensor detects whether the cap is attached to or detached from the filling port. A recorder records an image on a recording sheet by using ink supplied from the tank. An operating interface receives an operation input. A memory stores an ink remaining amount in the tank. A controller controls a recording operation. In response to determining based on a detection signal of the filling port sensor that the cap is detached from the filling port and is again attached to the filling port, the controller receives a first input through the operating interface, the first input indicating that ink is filled into the tank; and updates the ink remaining amount stored in the memory, based on the first input.