Printer Ink Tank Exchange Control via Float Sensor and QR Code
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing apparatuses fail to prevent ink tank attachment errors and unwanted ink tank exchanges, allowing incorrect ink types to be temporarily set and ink exchanges to occur even when sufficient ink remains.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus employs a control method that uses QR codes and float sensors to ensure correct ink tank compatibility and emptiness detection, preventing erroneous attachments and exchanges by verifying the ink type information and remaining ink levels before allowing exchanges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If attachment detection is performed only after cartridge attachment, then the detection system is simple, but incorrect ink types can be temporarily set causing attachment errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing attachment error detection before the ink tank exchange is completed. The control unit detects whether the ink tank is correctly set in the attachment portion before allowing the exchange operation to finalize, preventing incorrect ink types from being temporarily set. This advance detection ensures attachment accuracy without requiring complex continuous monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to detect the attachment state of the ink tank and providing this information back to the control unit. The control unit then uses this feedback to determine whether to permit the ink tank exchange operation. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that attachment errors are detected and prevented while maintaining a relatively simple system architecture.
2Ease of operation
If ink tank exchange is allowed when ink type matches, then exchange operation is convenient, but exchange may occur even when sufficient ink remains causing waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing remaining ink amount detection before allowing the ink tank exchange operation. The control unit checks whether the ink tank is empty or has insufficient ink before permitting exchange, preventing unwanted exchanges when sufficient ink remains. This advance check prevents ink waste while maintaining operational convenience by automatically controlling the exchange process based on ink levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using float sensors to detect the remaining ink amount and providing this information back to the control unit. The control unit then uses this feedback to determine whether to permit the ink tank exchange operation. This feedback mechanism prevents unnecessary exchanges and ink waste while keeping the operation simple for the user.
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 effectively prevents ink tank attachment errors and unwanted exchanges, ensuring correct ink types are used and minimizing ink waste by confirming compatibility and emptiness before proceeding with ink tank exchanges.
Implementation Method 1
a float sensor that detects a liquid surface level in the buffer tank
Implementation Method 2
a light-receiving portion that senses light and a facility electrical contact used to communicate with an information storage device, and an ink cartridge is provided with a light-emitting portion corresponding to the light-receiving portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A printing apparatus 1 that replenishes ink by exchanging an exchange ink tank 430 is provided. The printing apparatus comprises a code reader 133c for inputting ink information representing an ink type, a float sensor 410 for detecting that the exchange ink tank has changed to an empty state, and a main controller, wherein the main controller determines that the exchange ink tank can be exchanged if the float sensor detects that the exchange ink tank is in the empty state, and if first ink information associated with the exchange ink tank and second ink information associated with an installation location of the exchange ink tank, which are input by the code reader, are compared, and it is determined that the first ink information and the second ink information are compatible.