Printer Liquid Supply System with Sensor-Based Threshold Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid supply systems for printers face the risk of abnormalities when the liquid level in the tank decreases significantly over time, potentially leading to inadequate supply or system failures.
Innovation Solution
A liquid supply system with a sensor to detect the remaining liquid level and a processor-controlled mechanism to switch between supply and stop states, ensuring timely replenishment when the level falls below a predetermined threshold, using a network of supply tubes and a server tank positioned upstream of the printer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the liquid supply system operates continuously without monitoring, then the system structure remains simple, but abnormalities may occur when liquid level decreases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor detects the liquid level in advance before it becomes critically low, and the controller activates the supply mechanism beforehand to prevent abnormalities. This preliminary monitoring and action ensures system reliability without requiring complex real-time intervention systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor continuously monitors the liquid level and provides feedback to the controller, which adjusts the supply mechanism accordingly. This simple feedback loop maintains reliability by preventing liquid depletion abnormalities while adding minimal system complexity.
2Reliability
If the liquid supply is stopped early to prevent abnormalities, then system reliability improves, but productivity decreases due to premature interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates the supply mechanism in advance when the liquid level reaches a predetermined threshold, ensuring continuous supply without premature interruption. This preliminary activation prevents abnormalities while maintaining productivity by avoiding unnecessary stoppages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors its own liquid level and self-regulates the supply mechanism without external intervention. This self-service capability ensures reliable operation while maintaining continuous productivity through automated threshold-based control.
3Reliability
If a sensor and control mechanism are added to monitor liquid level, then abnormalities are prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor and controller work together as a self-monitoring system that automatically detects liquid level and regulates supply without external intervention. This self-service approach prevents abnormalities while keeping the added complexity minimal through automated threshold-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
A simple sensor-based feedback loop continuously monitors liquid level and provides input to the controller, which adjusts supply accordingly. This straightforward feedback mechanism ensures abnormality prevention with minimal additional components and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid supply system includes one or a plurality tubes, a supply mechanism, a first sensor and a processor. The one or plurality tubes is connected to a tank. The tank is provided further upstream than a printer. The one or plurality of supply tubes configured to supply the liquid from the tank toward the printer. The supply mechanism is provided in the one or plurality of tubes, and switches between a supply state and a supply stopped state. The processor determines, based on a signal from the first sensor, whether the server remaining amount is equal to or less than a predetermined remaining amount. When the server remaining amount is equal to or less than the predetermined remaining amount, the processor supplies the liquid from the tank toward the printer via the one or plurality of supply tubes.