Ink Jet Printer Ink Level Detection Using Valve Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink jet printers face challenges in precisely detecting the remaining ink amount in the main tank without increasing costs, as existing methods are either costly, time-consuming, or result in jet failures due to inaccurate ink level estimation.
Innovation Solution
The ink jet printer incorporates a main tank, a recording head, an ink supply path with a sub tank, an ink supply valve, and a control unit that measures the cumulative time or number of opened states of the ink supply valve to estimate the remaining ink amount in the main tank, allowing for precise detection without unnecessary cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrodes are used to detect remaining ink amount, then detection is possible, but ink may be electrolyzed by the electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement approach by detecting the weight of the ink tank instead of directly measuring ink properties with electrodes. The remaining ink amount is calculated based on weight changes, where the ink tank weight is measured by a load cell and the empty tank weight is stored in memory. This indirect measurement method avoids contact between detection elements and ink, preventing electrolysis while enabling accurate remaining ink detection.
2Measurement precision
If many components are attached to the ink bag to detect shape change, then remaining ink amount can be detected, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from the ink bag itself and relocates it to the printer's main body. Instead of attaching multiple sensors, shape change detectors, or other components to the ink bag, the system uses a load cell in the ink tank support to measure weight. This separation eliminates the need for complex components on the ink bag, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement approach by detecting the weight of the ink tank instead of directly measuring ink properties with electrodes. The remaining ink amount is calculated based on weight changes, where the ink tank weight is measured by a load cell and the empty tank weight is stored in memory. This indirect measurement method avoids contact between detection elements and ink, preventing electrolysis while enabling accurate remaining ink detection.
3Measurement precision
If temperature variation detection is used to judge remaining ink amount, then detection is possible, but it is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal field measurement method with a mechanical field measurement method. Instead of detecting temperature variations that occur slowly as ink is consumed, the system uses a load cell to directly measure the mechanical weight of the ink tank. Weight measurement provides immediate feedback on remaining ink amount, eliminating the time delay inherent in temperature-based detection methods.
4Productivity
If a large capacity ink tank is arranged near the platen for high volume printing, then productivity increases, but the printer body width becomes extremely large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ink storage system into a reusable main ink tank with a detachable replaceable ink bag. The main tank structure, including the load cell for weight measurement and the connection mechanisms, is permanent and integrated into the printer. The ink bag itself is replaceable and can be manufactured in standard sizes. This segmentation allows the printer to maintain a compact design while supporting high-volume printing through frequent replacement of refillable ink bags, eliminating the need for a single large-capacity tank that would increase printer width.
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet printer having: a main tank to store ink; a recording head to form an image on a recording medium by jetting the ink from a nozzle; an ink supply path to supply the ink to the recording head from the main tank; a sub tank to temporarily store the ink supplied from the main tank, the sub tank being provided in the middle of the ink supply path; an ink supply valve to control to supply or stop supplying the ink from the main tank to the sub tank by an opening or closing the ink supply valve, the ink supply valve being provided between the main tank and the sub tank on the ink supply path; and a control unit to measure a cumulative time in which the ink supply valve becomes an opened state, and estimate a remaining ink amount in the main tank.