Ink Jet Printer Notification and Replenishment Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ink jet printing apparatuses require users to manually query and respond to notifications about ink replenishment, increasing the number of operations and being cumbersome for users.

Innovation Solution

An ink jet printing apparatus with a notification unit that alerts the user when the ink level is low, a cancellation unit that allows users to cancel notifications, and an estimation unit that automatically estimates whether ink replenishment has occurred based on the cancellation of notifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the apparatus queries the user about ink replenishment, then the apparatus can accurately determine whether ink is replenished, but the number of user operations increases and usability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink replenishment detection accuracyVSAvoiduser operation count

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus automatically detects ink replenishment by monitoring the ink level through the ink remaining amount sensor without requiring user input or confirmation. The system serves itself by autonomously determining when ink has been replenished based on sensor data, eliminating the need for user queries and responses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual query-response mechanism with an automated sensor-based detection system. The ink remaining amount sensor continuously monitors ink levels, and the control unit processes this information to automatically determine ink replenishment, substituting mechanical user interaction with an automated sensing and processing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If the apparatus continuously monitors ink level, then the apparatus can accurately estimate ink replenishment, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink level monitoring accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ink remaining amount sensor serves multiple functions: it monitors ink levels for notification purposes, detects ink replenishment events, and provides data for estimating remaining ink amounts. By making the sensor multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate monitoring components while achieving accurate ink level monitoring throughout the operation cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250065654A1Ink jet printing apparatus, method of managing remaining amount of ink, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.02.27 CANON KK

AI summary

An ink jet printing apparatus includes an ink tank that stores ink and can be replenished with ink, a head that discharges ink supplied from the ink tank, a notification unit configured to perform notification to a user in a case where the remaining amount of ink is smaller than a first threshold value, a cancellation unit configured to cancel a notification state by a user operation, the notification state being a state in which the notification is performed by the notification unit, and an estimation unit configured to estimate whether ink is replenished in a case where the notification state is canceled by the cancellation unit.