Liquid Chamber Segmentation for Ink Level Detection Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid supply devices and cartridges, such as inkjet recording apparatuses, face inaccuracies in determining the remaining ink level due to manufacturing errors, leading to premature replacement or continued printing until ink depletion, which can deteriorate print quality or cause printing failures.
Innovation Solution
A liquid supply device with a liquid chamber divided into three portions, where the first portion has a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the second and third portions, and a float that moves within the first portion to accurately detect the ink surface position relative to a reference plane, ensuring precise determination of the ink level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a simple liquid chamber design is used, then manufacturing is easier, but ink level detection precision deteriorates due to variations in optical sensor position
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid chamber is divided into three portions with different horizontal cross-sectional areas. The first portion has a smaller cross-sectional area than the second and third portions. This segmentation creates a specific geometric configuration that compensates for optical sensor position variations, ensuring consistent ink level detection across different sensor positions while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the liquid chamber are assigned different cross-sectional areas to create local geometric variations. The first portion has a smaller cross-sectional area compared to the second and third portions, creating a localized geometric feature that compensates for sensor position variations and improves detection precision without complicating overall manufacturing.
2Ease of manufacture
If the liquid chamber has uniform cross-sectional area, then manufacturing is simpler, but ink level determination becomes inaccurate due to optical sensor position variations
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid chamber is segmented into three portions with varying cross-sectional areas. The first portion has a smaller cross-sectional area than the second and third portions, creating a geometric configuration that compensates for optical sensor position variations and improves ink level determination accuracy while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-sectional area parameter of the liquid chamber is changed across different portions. The first portion has a smaller cross-sectional area compared to the second and third portions, creating a parameter variation that compensates for sensor position variations and improves measurement accuracy without significantly complicating manufacturing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If optical sensor position is allowed to vary within manufacturing tolerances, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but ink level detection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid chamber's cross-sectional area parameter is varied across different portions to compensate for sensor position variations. The first portion has a smaller cross-sectional area than the second and third portions, creating a geometric configuration that maintains detection accuracy despite optical sensor position variations within manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid chamber is divided into three portions with different cross-sectional areas. This segmentation creates a geometric configuration that compensates for sensor position variations, allowing the system to maintain both manufacturing flexibility and detection accuracy.
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
This solution enhances the accuracy of determining the remaining liquid amount, reducing variations in ink level detection and preventing premature replacement or ink depletion, thus maintaining print quality and ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a float positioned in the liquid chamber and configured to move at least in the first portion of the liquid chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid supply device includes a liquid cartridge, which has a liquid chamber that stores liquid, a cartridge mounting portion, and a surface detector. The liquid chamber has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The liquid cartridge removably attaches to the cartridge mounting portion. The surface detector detects a surface of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber. A horizontal cross-sectional area of the first portion of the liquid chamber is less than each of a horizontal cross-sectional area of the second portion and the third portion of the liquid chamber, and the first portion of the liquid chamber is positioned between the second portion and the third portion of the liquid chamber in a direction orthogonal to the horizontal cross-sectional area of the first portion of the liquid chamber.