Ink Tank Quantity Detection with Sensing Result Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printing apparatuses face errors in ink quantity detection due to changes in atmospheric pressure or temperature causing ink liquid surface level fluctuations, leading to inaccurate count values.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a sensing unit, memory unit, counting unit, verification unit, and control unit that tracks ink consumption, verifies transitions in sensing results, and adjusts count values based on these transitions to accurately detect ink quantity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is used to detect ink presence in the inktank, then ink quantity detection is enabled, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to air expansion/contraction causing false positive/negative results
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of ink presence using a sensor before allowing printing operations to commence. This preliminary action ensures that the inktank is properly filled and the sensor can accurately detect ink presence before any ink consumption occurs, preventing false starts due to environmental factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors ink presence using the sensor and provides feedback to the control unit. When the sensor detects no ink presence, the control unit generates a notification to alert the user. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to environmental changes and maintain reliable operation by adjusting behavior based on real-time detection results.
2Quantity of substance
If the count value is updated based on ink consumption quantity, then ink quantity tracking is achieved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates when air expansion/contraction causes ink level changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensor feedback to verify ink presence before allowing ink consumption counting to begin. This feedback loop ensures that the count value is only updated when actual ink is present in the inktank, preventing inaccurate tracking caused by air expansion/contraction-induced level changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces direct mechanical measurement of ink level with an electrical sensing mechanism. The sensor detects ink presence through electrical properties rather than direct physical measurement, eliminating the inaccuracies caused by air expansion/contraction affecting the mechanical ink level.
3Measurement precision
If sensing is performed to detect ink presence, then ink quantity detection is enabled, but device complexity increases due to additional sensing and verification mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor serves multiple functions: it detects ink presence for printing operation authorization, verifies ink presence before ink consumption counting begins, and provides feedback for user notifications. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own sensor to verify ink presence before allowing ink consumption to be counted. This self-verification mechanism eliminates the need for external calibration or additional complex verification systems, as the sensor itself provides the necessary confirmation to maintain accurate ink quantity tracking.
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
The solution effectively suppresses errors in ink quantity detection by considering environmental changes, ensuring accurate ink level monitoring and preventing discharge failures.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of electrodes configured to detect whether ink is present at a predetermined position in an inktank
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus according to this invention counts an ink quantity in an inktank in accordance with consumption of ink from the inktank, updates and holds a count value obtained by the count in a counter, and detects whether ink injection to the inktank has been done before execution of sensing by a sensing unit configured to sense whether a predetermined quantity of ink is present in the inktank. If sensing by the sensing unit is executed, the apparatus reads out a preceding sensing result from a memory that stores a sensing result of presence/absence of the ink by the sensing unit, verifies a transition between the preceding sensing result and a current sensing result, and controls operations of reset of the count value held by the counter and the count based on the transition and a result of the detection.