Printer Cartridge Ordering Control Using Tank Ink Residual Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printers face issues where they run out of ink while waiting for a new cartridge to arrive, leading to wasted ink when the old cartridge still contains printing agent, as they estimate the replacement timing based on residual quantity without considering the ink tank's capacity.
Innovation Solution
A control device and program that acquire and store index values representing the residual quantity of the printing agent in both the cartridge and the tank, setting an order condition to ensure a new cartridge is delivered when the old one is expected to be empty while the tank still has ink, thereby preventing printing disruptions and ink wastage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the printer orders a new cartridge based on the residual quantity in the current cartridge, then the ordering timing can be estimated, but the printer may run out of ink while waiting for delivery and the tank ink may be wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by monitoring the tank ink residual quantity and using it to adjust the ordering timing. Instead of waiting for the cartridge to be completely empty, the system proactively orders a new cartridge when the tank ink level drops below a threshold, ensuring continuous printing capability while avoiding ink wastage from premature replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the tank ink residual quantity and using this information to dynamically adjust the ordering decision. The controller compares the current tank ink level with the threshold and reverses the ordering decision if the tank still has sufficient ink, thereby preventing both printing downtime and ink wastage through real-time feedback control.
2Reliability
If the printer replaces the cartridge when the residual quantity is low, then printing can continue without interruption, but the developing agent in the old cartridge may be wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the tank ink residual quantity as a preliminary indicator to make informed ordering decisions. By checking whether the tank still contains sufficient ink before ordering a new cartridge, the system ensures that replacement only occurs when necessary, maintaining printing continuity while preserving developing agent in the old cartridge if still useful.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors tank ink levels and uses this feedback to control the cartridge replacement timing. The controller compares the current situation with the ordering threshold and reverses the replacement decision when the tank still has adequate ink, thereby ensuring reliable printing continuity without wasting developing agent in the old cartridge.
3Device complexity
If the printer uses only the cartridge residual quantity to estimate printing duration, then the estimation is simple, but it does not account for the tank's ink capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the monitoring of two parameters: cartridge residual quantity and tank ink residual quantity. By combining these two measurements, the system achieves more accurate printing duration estimation that reflects the actual available ink resources, improving measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of both cartridge and tank ink levels to build a more comprehensive picture of remaining ink resources. This preliminary data collection enables more accurate estimation of printing duration by considering both the cartridge's remaining capacity and the tank's residual ink, leading to better-informed ordering decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
In a control device, a controller sets an order condition using a plurality of sets of timing information and a plurality of index values stored in a memory. The plurality of index values is acquired from a recording device under a condition where a first cartridge is mounted in the recording device. The order condition requires that one of a latest index value and a current timing have reached corresponding one of a reference index value and a reference timing, and is set so that a second cartridge is delivered to a predetermined destination at a first timing at which the first cartridge is expected to be out of a printing agent while a tank of the recording device is expected to still accommodate the printing agent. The controller transmits an order command instructing to order the second cartridge to a relevant device after the order condition is satisfied.