WO2023103133A1

WO2023103133A1 - Ink depletion detection method for ink cartridge, and ink cartridge

Info

Publication number: WO2023103133A1
Application number: PCT/CN2022/070190
Authority: WO
Inventors: 官浩峰; 张文禄; 张永祥
Original assignee: 中山市特弗兰电子有限公司
Priority date: 2021-12-09
Filing date: 2022-01-05
Publication date: 2023-06-15
Also published as: CN114193936A

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention are an ink depletion detection method for an ink cartridge, and an ink cartridge. The method comprises: disabling the detection of the amount of ink in an ink cartridge that is performed by a printer, such that the printer considers the ink cartridge to be in an ink non-depletion state; arranging a liquid level detection mechanism in the ink cartridge, such that the liquid level detection mechanism converts the amount of ink into an electrical signal and then feeds the electrical signal back to a control panel of the ink cartridge; and once the ink is depleted, the control panel feeding a fault signal back to the printer or stopping the signal from being fed back to the printer, such that the printer determines that the ink cartridge is faulty. Therefore, ink depletion detection is realized without changing the original printer. The method has low requirements for basic materials, is accurate in terms of detection, and is highly reliable.

Description

Ink cartridge exhaust detection method and ink cartridge

technical field

The invention relates to an ink box, in particular to an ink box exhaustion detection method and the ink box.

Background technique

With reference to Fig. 5, in the prior art, the detection that the amount of ink is exhausted is that the printer is provided with an infrared light-emitting source and a receiver, and a transparent photosensitive area is provided on the ink cartridge. After the ink cartridge is installed, the transparent photosensitive area of the ink cartridge is located at Between the light-emitting source and the receiver, there is a light barrier hinged inside the ink cartridge. The light barrier rotates by buoyancy. When there is ink, the light-shielding part at the upper end of the light-shield moves to the photosensitive area to block infrared light. If there is no ink, the light-shielding part Remove the part, the light from the light source will shoot to the receiver, and the receiver will send a signal to the printer after receiving the infrared light, and the printer will give a message of no ink and specify to stop. The existing technology uses the photosensitive principle to detect the ink volume of the ink cartridge. This kind of testing organization has high requirements on product color, material light transmittance, etc. If the material does not meet the standard or deteriorates or deforms, and there are problems in product storage, etc., the product will eventually fail and the reliability is not high.

Contents of the invention

In order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a method for detecting the depletion of ink in the ink box and the ink box.

The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problems is:

A method for detecting the depletion of ink in an ink cartridge. The method is to make the detection of the ink in the ink cartridge invalid by the printer. The printer considers that the ink cartridge is in a state where the ink is not exhausted, and a liquid level detection mechanism is set in the ink cartridge. The amount of ink is converted into an electrical signal and fed back to the control board of the ink cartridge. After the amount of ink is exhausted, the control board feeds back a fault signal or stops the feedback signal to the printer, so that the printer can make a judgment on the ink cartridge fault, and realize correcting the ink cartridge without changing the original printer. Ink Empty Detection.

The method is to set a switch circuit between the control board and the liquid level detection mechanism, and the switch circuit is disconnected or closed after the ink is exhausted, so that the control board feeds back a fault signal or stops the feedback signal to the printer.

An ink cartridge with a self-contained ink depletion detection mechanism, including a box body and a control board installed on the box body, an ink cavity is arranged in the box body, and a baffle for blocking the detection light of the printer is arranged on the box body In the optical part, a liquid level detection mechanism electrically connected to the control board is arranged in the box or the ink cavity.

The liquid level detection mechanism includes a liquid level chamber arranged in the ink chamber, the upper end of the liquid level chamber is provided with a water inlet, and the lower end is provided with a water outlet, and the water inlet communicates with the ink chamber. Two conductive rods are installed vertically in the liquid level chamber, the upper ends of the conductive rods are electrically connected to the control board, and the conductive rods are electrically connected through conductors.

When the ink in the liquid level chamber soaks through the lower ends of the conductive rods, the conductive rods are electrically connected.

A conductive plate floating on the liquid surface of the ink is placed in the liquid level chamber, and when the ink in the liquid level chamber soaks through the lower end of the conductive rod, the lower end of the conductive rod is electrically connected to the conductive plate.

The liquid level detection mechanism includes a liquid level chamber arranged in the ink chamber, the upper end of the liquid level chamber is provided with a water inlet, and the lower end is provided with a water outlet, and the water inlet communicates with the ink chamber. A magnet is placed in the liquid level cavity, a floating body is installed on the top of the magnet, and a Hall sensor is installed in the box corresponding to the lower side of the liquid level cavity, and the Hall sensor is electrically connected to the control board.

An installation cavity is provided in the box body, and the Hall sensor is installed in the installation cavity.

The beneficial effects of the present invention are: the present invention abandons the photosensitive principle of the prior art to detect the ink volume of the ink cartridge, but first disables the detection of the ink volume of the ink cartridge by the printer. The liquid level detection mechanism, the liquid level detection mechanism converts the amount of ink into an electrical signal and feeds it back to the control board of the ink cartridge. After the ink is exhausted, the control board feeds back a fault signal or stops the feedback signal to the printer, so that the printer makes a judgment of the ink cartridge failure. Realize the detection of ink exhaustion without changing the original printer. This method has low requirements on basic materials, accurate detection and strong reliability.

Description of drawings

The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

Fig. 1 is the internal structure schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the ink cartridge;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the liquid level detection mechanism in the above embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the liquid level detection mechanism in the above embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the second embodiment of the ink cartridge;

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an ink cartridge in the prior art.

Detailed ways

In order to make the object, technical solution and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below in combination with specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in the case of no conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

It is understood that these descriptions are exemplary only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 to Fig. 4, a kind of ink cartridge depletion detection method, this method is, make the ink cartridge detection invalidation of printer, the specific embodiment can be that the transparent photosensitive area in the prior art ink cartridge is replaced by Opaque light-shielding part, the existing transparent photosensitive area can be set on the top of the ink cartridge, or at the position corresponding to the ink chamber; it can also be used to block the light emitted by the light source by means of stickers or coating; on the ink cartridge When the printer is turned on, after the light-emitting end of the printer emits light, the receiving end does not receive the light source at all, so that the printer always thinks that the ink cartridge is not exhausted and can be used normally. mechanism, the liquid level detection mechanism converts the amount of ink into an electrical signal and feeds it back to the control board of the ink cartridge. In this embodiment, a chip is installed on the control board. After the ink is exhausted, the control board feeds back a fault signal or stops the feedback Signal to the printer, the specific implementation is that after the ink is exhausted, the control board will feed back the fault signal to the printer through the signal port, so that the printer will make an ink cartridge failure judgment and stop; or after the ink is exhausted, the control board will stop by itself Work, stop feedback information, make the printer also judge the failure of the ink cartridge and shut down; realize the detection of the exhaustion of the ink volume without changing the original printer.

Specifically, the method is to set a switch circuit between the control board and the liquid level detection mechanism. After the ink is exhausted, the switch circuit is opened or closed, so that the control board feeds back the fault signal or stops the feedback signal to the printer.

An ink cartridge with a self-contained ink depletion detection mechanism, comprising a box body 1, a control board 2 installed outside the box body 1, an ink chamber 3 is arranged inside the box body 1, and an external device of the box body 1 There is an ink outlet pipe 4, a light shielding portion 5 is provided outside the box body 1, and a liquid level detection mechanism electrically connected to the control board 2 is arranged in the box body 1 or in the ink chamber 3. In this embodiment Among them, the structure of the liquid level detection mechanism is as follows: the ink chamber 3 is provided with a liquid level chamber 6, the upper end of the liquid level chamber 6 is provided with a water inlet 7, and the lower end is provided with a water outlet 8, and the water inlet 7 It communicates with the ink chamber 3, the water outlet 8 communicates with the ink outlet pipe 4, and two conductive rods 9 are vertically installed in the liquid level chamber 6, and the upper end of the conductive rod 9 is connected with the control The boards 2 are electrically connected, and the conductive rods 9 are electrically connected through conductors.

The conductor can be ink, and when the ink in the liquid level chamber 6 soaks through the lower end of the conductive rods 9, the conductive rods 9 are electrically connected, so that the circuit between the control board 2 and the conductive rods 9 is conducted. The conductor can also be a conductive plate 10, and the conductive plate 10 floating on the liquid surface of the ink is placed in the liquid level chamber 6. When the ink in the liquid level chamber 6 soaks through the lower end of the conductive rod 9 , the lower end of the conductive rod 9 is electrically connected to the conductive plate 10, so that the circuit between the control board 2, the conductive rod 9 and the conductive plate 10 is conducted.

The bottom of the ink chamber 3 is provided with a water inlet channel 11 communicating therewith, and the water inlet channel 11 communicates with the water inlet 7 to ensure that the ink in the ink chamber 3 can be completely exhausted.

In the above embodiment, the liquid level detection mechanism is a circuit breaking device arranged on the control board. When there is ink remaining in the ink cartridge, the ink flows through the water inlet channel 11 under the action of the printer to inflate and pressurize the ink cartridge. In the liquid level chamber 6, as the liquid level of the ink in the liquid level chamber 6 continues to rise, when the ink soaks through the lower end of the conductive rod 9, the conduction between the conductive rods 9 makes the power contact of the control board Normal operation; when the ink volume is exhausted, the liquid level in the liquid level chamber 6 drops, the circuit between the conductive rods 9 is broken, the control panel stops working, and the feedback signal is stopped to the printer, so that the printer makes ink cartridge failure judgment and shuts down.

An ink cartridge with a self-contained ink depletion detection mechanism, comprising a box body 1, a control board 2 installed outside the box body 1, an ink chamber 3 is arranged inside the box body 1, and an external device of the box body 1 There is an ink outlet pipe 4, an opaque light-shielding portion 5 is arranged outside the box body 1, and a liquid level detection mechanism electrically connected to the control board 2 is arranged inside the box body 1 or the ink chamber 2, In this embodiment, the structure of the liquid level detection mechanism is as follows: the ink chamber 2 is provided with a liquid level chamber 6, the upper end of the liquid level chamber 6 is provided with a water inlet 7, and the lower end is provided with a water outlet 8, so The water inlet 7 communicates with the ink chamber 3, the water outlet 8 communicates with the ink outlet pipe 4, a magnet 11 is placed in the liquid level chamber 6, and a floating body 12 is installed on the top of the magnet 11. A Hall sensor 13 is installed on the lower side of the box body 1 corresponding to the liquid level chamber 6 , and the Hall sensor 13 is electrically connected to the control board 2 .

One side of the liquid level chamber 6 is provided with a water inlet channel 11 communicated with the water inlet 7, and the water inlet end of the water inlet channel 11 is located at the bottom of the ink chamber 2 to ensure that the ink in the ink chamber 3 can be completely exhausted.

The box body 1 is provided with an installation cavity 14 , and the Hall sensor 13 is installed in the installation cavity 14 .

In the above embodiments, the liquid level detection mechanism is a magnetic induction device installed in the liquid level chamber 6. When the ink in the ink cartridge is not exhausted, the ink flows through the water inlet channel under the action of the printer to inflate and pressurize the ink cartridge. 11 flows into the liquid level chamber 6, and as the liquid level of the ink in the liquid level chamber 6 continues to rise, the magnet 11 is moved up by the buoyancy of the floating body 12, away from the Hall sensor 13 below, and the Hall sensor 13 has no feedback signal. It is considered that the ink in the ink cartridge is not exhausted; when the ink is exhausted, the liquid level in the liquid level chamber 6 drops, the magnet 11 moves down, triggers the Hall sensor 13 and sends a feedback signal to the control board, and the control board feeds back a fault signal to the printer , the printer is judged to be down due to failure.

In the present invention, the term "plurality" refers to two or more than two, unless otherwise clearly defined. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Terms such as "installation", "connection", "connection" and "fixation" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, "connection" can be fixed connection, detachable connection, or integral connection; "connection" can be directly or indirectly through an intermediary. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific situations.

It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being “assembled on”, “installed on”, “fixed on” or “disposed on” another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. As used herein, the terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and similar expressions are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to represent the only embodiments.

In the description of this specification, descriptions of the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "specific embodiments" and the like mean that specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in the present invention. In at least one embodiment or example of . In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art can understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and modifications can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principle and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

A method for detecting the depletion of ink in an ink cartridge, characterized in that the method is to disable the detection of ink in the ink cartridge by the printer, and the printer considers that the ink cartridge is in a state where the ink is not exhausted, and a liquid level detection mechanism is set in the ink cartridge to detect the liquid level. The mechanism converts the amount of ink into an electrical signal and feeds it back to the control board of the ink cartridge. After the ink is exhausted, the control board feeds back a fault signal or stops the feedback signal to the printer, so that the printer can make a judgment on the fault of the ink cartridge. Check for ink depletion in case.
The ink cartridge depletion detection method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method is to set a switch circuit between the control board and the liquid level detection mechanism, and the switch circuit is disconnected after the ink is depleted or Closed to make the control board feedback the fault signal or stop the feedback signal to the printer.
An ink cartridge with a self-contained ink depletion detection mechanism, comprising a box body (1) and a control board (2) installed on the box body (1), the box body (1) is provided with an ink cavity ( 3), it is characterized in that the box body (1) is provided with a light blocking part (5) for blocking the detection light of the printer, and the box body (1) or the ink chamber (2) is provided with the control board (2) Liquid level detection mechanism for electrical connection.
The ink cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that the liquid level detection mechanism includes a liquid level chamber (6) arranged in the ink chamber (2), the upper end of the liquid level chamber (6) is provided with an inlet Water outlet (7), the lower end is provided with water outlet (8), and described water inlet (7) communicates with described ink chamber (3), and two conducting rods (9) are vertically installed in described liquid level chamber (6) ), the upper end of the conductive rod (9) is electrically connected to the control board (2), and the conductive rods (9) are electrically connected through a conductor.
The ink cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that when the ink in the liquid level chamber (6) soaks through the lower ends of the conductive rods (9), the conductive rods (9) are electrically connected.
The ink cartridge according to claim 4, characterized in that a conductive plate (10) floating on the liquid surface of the ink is placed in the liquid level chamber (6), and when the ink in the liquid level chamber (6) is immersed in the When the lower end of the conductive rod (9) is used, the lower end of the conductive rod (9) is electrically connected to the conductive plate (10).
The ink cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that the liquid level detection mechanism includes a liquid level chamber (6) arranged in the ink chamber (2), the upper end of the liquid level chamber (6) is provided with an inlet The water outlet (7) is provided with a water outlet (8) at the lower end, the water inlet (7) communicates with the ink chamber (3), a magnet (11) is placed in the liquid level chamber (6), and the magnet A floating body (12) is installed on the top of (11), and a Hall sensor (13) is installed on the lower side corresponding to the liquid level chamber (6) in the box body (1), and the Hall sensor (13) is connected with The control board (2) is electrically connected.
The ink cartridge according to claim 7, characterized in that an installation cavity (14) is provided in the box body (1), and the Hall sensor (13) is installed in the installation cavity (14).