KR100366645B1 - Measuring apparatus for iquid level stored in the bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting a low level of ink stored in a container for a printer is disclosed. The low water level detection device has a floating body installed to float with respect to the ink stored in the container, and a predetermined interval along the vertical displacement of the container to output a floating detection signal when the floating body reaches a range within its detection distance at a fixed position. And a floating position signal generating unit for converting and outputting a floating position detection sensor and a floating position detection signal output from each of the floating position detection sensors into a position signal corresponding to the vertical displacement of the corresponding floating body. And a storage level calculating section for measuring the storage level of the ink stored in the container from the signal. According to such a low water level detecting device, a low water level measurement error due to ink that can be fixed in a container is reduced, and even when the low water level measurement interval is made compact, an increase in the input signal line to the low water level calculating section is not required, and thus the low water level In parallel with the supply of the ink from the information and the control of the other device, there is an advantage of not weighting the control wall of the printing press.

Description

Measuring apparatus for iquid level stored in the bottle

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting a storage level of ink stored in a container, and relates to an apparatus for detecting a storage level of ink stored in a container which can reduce a storage level measurement error due to coagulation of ink stored in a container.

An apparatus for measuring the low level of ink contained in a container is employed in a wet developing printer such as a laser printer or a copier using ink as a developer to provide information on the low amount of ink filled in the container. The wet press may replenish the ink at an appropriate time to prevent ink depletion by using the remaining amount information of the ink provided from the low water level detecting device employed, or may notify the user through a display device of a message requesting the replenishment of the ink. . By requiring the supply of an appropriate ink by employing the low water level detection device as described above, it is possible to avoid an immature print job processing or job interruption due to the exhaustion of ink during the print job.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first example of a conventional low water level detection device.

Referring to the drawings, the low water level detecting device includes a plurality of light sources 12 for projecting light in the vicinity of the water level level to be measured with respect to the container 11, and a plurality of light sources 12 installed to detect the light reflected from the container 11; The photodetector 13 is provided.

The container 11 employs a transparent container 32 in order to increase the rate of change of the reflected light amount from the container 11 due to the presence or absence of the ink 15 at the inspection position.

The storage level detector 14 measures the storage level of the ink stored in the container 11 by an electrical signal output from each photodetector 13 in response to a change in incident light quantity through mutually different input signal lines.

However, such a low water level measuring device is a part of the ink 15 remains solidified on the inner wall of the container 11 of the portion where the water level of the ink 15 is lowered due to the affinity between the container 11 and the ink 15. There are many disadvantages that can cause low level measurement error. In addition, in order to narrow the installation interval of the photodetector 13 in the vertical direction to increase the storage level measurement accuracy, the input signal to be connected to the storage level detector 14 corresponding to the increase in the number of installations of the photodetector 13 is increased. Player increases

Typically, in a printing press, a microcomputer controlling the driving of an engine (not shown) serves as the low level detector 14. In this regard, an increase in the input signal line increases the control processing burden of the microcomputer. have.

2 shows another conventional low level measuring apparatus.

The illustrated low water level measuring device is installed with a float 22 having a permanent magnet 26 therein, and has a predetermined interval in the vertical direction to interfere with the float 22 according to the vertical movement of the float 22. A plurality of hall effect sensors 23 are provided.

However, such a low water level measuring device also has a Hall sensor 23 to output a floating body detection signal to the low water level detecting unit 24 through an independent input signal line, so that the hall sensor in the vertical direction to increase the low water level detection accuracy. Increasing the input signal line due to the addition of the hall sensor 23 in the case of narrowing the installation interval of the 23 increases the control processing burden of the microcomputer for controlling the printer engine, which serves as a substantial low level detection unit 24 as described above. Let's do it.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, two electrode plates 32 are provided in the container 31, and a capacitance correction unit is detected by the electrode plates 32 in response to the low water level change of the stored ink 35. There is also a method of measuring the low water level from the change in capacitance measured at 34, but also the ink 35 may be fixed to the electrode plate 32 of the exit portion of the ink 35 so that the measured capacitance and actual There exists a possibility that a difference with the storage level of the ink 35 may arise. In addition, the method for measuring the low water level from the change in capacitance has a limitation that the capacitance cannot be changed according to the change in the type of the component of the ink used, and thus it cannot be used universally for various kinds of inks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention was devised to solve the above problems, and it is possible to reduce the low level measurement error due to the sticking of the inner wall of the ink, and to reduce the level of the low level measurement interval. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for detecting a low level of ink stored in a container in which the number is not increased.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first example of a conventional low water level detection device,

2 is a cross-sectional view showing a second example of a conventional low water level detection device;

3 is a cross-sectional view showing a third example of a conventional low water level detection device;

4 is a view showing a low water level detection device of a first embodiment according to the present invention,

5 is a plan view showing a preferred structure of the container and the floating body of the low water level detection device of FIG.

6 is a view showing a low water level detection device of a second embodiment according to the present invention,

7 is a view showing a low water level detection apparatus of a third embodiment according to the present invention,

8 is a plan view showing a preferred structure of the container and the floating body of the low water level detection device of FIG.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

11, 21, 31, 41: container 12, 64, 74: light source

13, 63: photodetector 14, 24: low level detector

15, 25, 35, 45: Ink 22, 42, 62, 72: Float

23, 43: Hall sensor 26, 46: Permanent magnet

32: electrode plate 47: partition wall

50: floating object position signal generation unit 51: voltage source

52: switch element 53: diode

54: resistor 55: analog-to-digital converter

60: low level calculator 75: battery

In order to achieve the above object, a device for detecting a low level of ink stored in a container according to the present invention comprises: a container; A floating body which is provided to provide information on the storage level of the ink contained in the container through its vertical displacement so as to float by the buoyancy in the container; A plurality of floating position detection sensors provided at predetermined intervals along a vertical displacement of the container to output a floating detection signal when the floating body reaches a range within its detection distance at a fixed position; A floating body position signal generating unit converting the floating body detecting signal output from each of the floating position detecting sensors into a position signal corresponding to a vertical displacement of a corresponding floating body; And a storage level calculator for measuring the storage level of the ink stored in the container from the position signal.

Preferably, the permanent magnet is built in the floating body, the floating position detection sensor is applied to the magnetic force sensor is sensitive to the magnetic force.

Alternatively, the floating position detection sensor may include a plurality of photodetectors provided at predetermined intervals along the vertical displacement of the container; And a plurality of light sources installed in pairs with the photodetector to irradiate light in a predetermined direction inside the vessel from the outside of the vessel so that light reflected from the floating body can be received by the corresponding photodetector.

Alternatively, in the floating body, a light source is provided to irradiate light in a horizontal direction, and the floating position detection sensor has a photodetector provided to receive light irradiated from the light source.

The floating position signal generator may include a voltage source; A plurality of resistance elements connected in series from one end of the voltage source by the number of stray position detection sensors; Switch elements connected to each of the connection portions between the plurality of resistance elements, the switch elements being configured to switch on / off a current conduction path from the voltage source by receiving the detection signal; and connected to one end of the voltage source. Preferably, the voltage signal generated at the other end of the resistance element is output as the position signal to the low level calculator.

Hereinafter, an apparatus for detecting a low level of ink stored in a container according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4 is a view showing the low water level detection device of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the low water level detecting apparatus includes a container 41, a floating body 42, a plurality of hall sensors 43, a floating body position signal generating unit 50, and a low water level calculating unit 60.

In the container 41, a partition wall 47 for guiding the vertical movement of the floating body 42 is provided to allow the inflow and outflow of the ink 45. The partition wall 47 shape of the container 41 has a surface of the partition wall 47 corresponding to the floating body 42 so as to limit rotation in the horizontal direction when the floating body 42 moves vertically. It is preferably formed to have a corresponding shape. That is, the partition wall 47 is formed to have a cross-sectional area corresponding to the cross section of the floating body 42 so that the vertical movement of the floating body 42 can be made linearly according to the storage level of the ink 45.

Referring to FIG. 5 in which an example of the structure of the partition wall 47 is shown, the surface of the partition wall 47 facing part of the floating body 42 having a recessed groove shape is an uneven shape corresponding to the recessed groove. The horizontal rotation of is limited. As described above, when the partition wall 47 has a predetermined flow interval with the floating body 42 and the engagement structure is configured such that rotation in the horizontal direction is limited, the rotation of the floating body 42 in the horizontal direction is restricted. The magnetic sensitivity of the Hall sensor 43 corresponding to the vertical displacement of 42 may be kept constant. The structure of the partition wall 47 restricts the movement of the floating body 42 in the horizontal direction, thereby making it possible to improve the measurement accuracy.

The permanent magnet 46 is provided in the floating body 42.

As an example of the magnetic force sensor, the hall sensors 43 output a float detection signal, that is, an electrical signal corresponding to the magnetic force detected along the vertical displacement of the permanent magnet 46 interlocked with the float 42. As the magnetic force sensor, in addition to the hall sensor 43, a magneto-resistive (MR) sensor or the like may be applied.

The arrangement position along the height of the Hall sensors 43 of the Hall sensors 43 installed at a predetermined interval vertically opposite the vessel 41 is determined in relation to the reservoir level of the ink 45 to be checked. That's it.

If you want to know the state of depletion of the low-water quantity information for the ink 45 stored in the container 41, the replenishment required state, and the low water level level information, the Hall sensors 43 may be disposed at each corresponding height. In order to obtain more detailed storage level information, the hall sensor 43 may be further vertically spaced apart.

The floating body position signal generation unit 50 converts the floating body detection signal output from each of the hall sensors 43 into a position signal corresponding to the vertical displacement of the corresponding floating body 42 and outputs it. As shown as an example for this purpose, the floating position signal generator 50 includes a voltage source 51, a plurality of switch elements 52 that are switched on / off from each hall sensor 43, and the hall sensor ( A plurality of resistors 54 are connected in series with the voltage source 51 as many as 43, with interconnect portions connected to one end of each switch element 52 through a diode 53. The diode 53 provided between the connecting portion between each switch element 52 and the resistance element 54 is for preventing reverse current.

According to this circuit configuration, when the floating body 42 reaches the closest distance, the output signal from any one of the corresponding hall sensors 43 triggers the corresponding switch element 52 to generate a current from the voltage source 51. Flows, the divided signal corresponding to the switch element 52 to be switched on is output to the analog-digital converter (A / D converter) 55.

The analog-digital converter 55 converts the voltage signal generated at the other end of the resistor element 54 (R1) connected to one end of the voltage source 51 into a digital signal as a position signal to the low level calculator 60. Output

The storage level calculator 60 calculates the storage level of the ink 45 stored in the container 51 from the digital signal output from the analog-digital converter 55. The storage level calculator 60 outputs the storage level or storage information of the measured ink 45 to a display device (not shown) when necessary. The low water level calculating unit 60 corresponds to an engine controller for controlling a printing engine (not shown) which prints an image corresponding to image data on a recording medium, and supplies the engine and ink from the low water level information acquired. Control the system properly. For example, if the low water level information corresponds to the depletion information, the engine is stopped and the message requesting ink refill is displayed on the display device.

The low water level detecting apparatus of the second embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIG. Elements having the same function as in the above-described drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Referring to the drawings, the low water level detecting apparatus includes a container 41, a floating body 62, a plurality of photodetectors 63, a floating body position signal generating unit 50, and a low water level calculating unit 60.

In the container 41, a partition wall 47 for guiding the vertical movement of the floating body 62 is provided to allow the ink 45 to flow in and out.

Preferably, the float 62 is formed of a material having a high reflectance.

The photodetectors 63 are floating position detection sensors, and are floating bodies corresponding to light reception of the light reflected from the floating body 62 when the floating body 62 reaches the light projection direction position emitted from the corresponding light source 64. Outputs a detection signal, that is, an electrical signal.

The light sources 64 illuminate the light detector 63 to irradiate light in a set direction inside the container 41 outside the container 41 so that light reflected from the float 62 can be received by the corresponding photo detector 63. ) Are installed in pairs.

The photodetectors 63 which are installed at a predetermined interval vertically opposite the container 41 may be determined in relation to the storage level of the ink 45 to be checked depending on the height from the bottom of the container 41. .

In order to know only the depleted amount information of the ink 45 stored in the container 41, the replenishment required state, and the low limit water level information, the photodetector 63 and the light source 64 may be disposed at each corresponding height. do.

As described above with the floating body position signal generating unit 50, the switch element 52 corresponding to the floating body 62 when the floating body 62 reaches the light projection direction of the light source 64 to which the arbitrary photodetector 63 corresponds. When a current flows from the voltage source 51 by triggering, the divided voltage signal corresponding to the switch element 52 to be switched on is output to the low water level calculating section 60 via the analog-to-digital conversion section 55.

The floating position signal generation unit 50 outputs the light received signal from the photodetector 63 to the switch element 52 even for a lightly received signal even when the ink 45 remains thinly fixed on the inner wall of the container 41. If the signal is designed to turn on the switch element, it is possible to reduce the low level measurement error.

The low water level detection device of the second embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIG. Elements having the same function as in the above-described drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals.

6, the light source 74 is provided in the floating body 72 so that light can be irradiated out of the container in the horizontal direction. Reference numeral 75 denotes a battery for driving the light source 74.

The photodetectors 63 output a float detection signal, that is, an electrical signal, corresponding to the received light signal detected according to the vertical displacement of the light source 74 which is interlocked with the float 72 in a vertical direction with the float 72. do.

In order to keep the light projection direction of the light source 74 installed in the floating body 72 constant, as shown in FIG. 8, the partition wall 47 shape of the container 41 is formed by the floating wall body 47 by the partition wall 47. When the 72 is moved from the vertical to the straight line, it is preferable to be formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the floating body 72 so that rotation in the horizontal direction is limited.

According to the low water level detection device of the ink stored in the container according to the present invention as described so far, the low water level measurement error due to the ink that can be fixed in the container is reduced, and even when the low water level measurement interval is made compact, Since the increase in the input signal line to the level calculating section is not required, there is an advantage in that the control part of the printer is not added in parallel with the supply of ink from the low level information and the control of other devices.

Claims (13)

A container; A floating body which is provided to provide information on the storage level of the ink contained in the container through its vertical displacement so as to float by the buoyancy in the container; A plurality of floating position detection sensors provided at predetermined intervals along a vertical displacement of the container to output a floating detection signal when the floating body reaches a range within its detection distance at a fixed position; A floating body position signal generating unit converting the floating body detecting signal output from each of the floating position detecting sensors into a position signal corresponding to a vertical displacement of a corresponding floating body; And a storage level calculator for measuring the storage level of the ink stored in the container from the position signal. The method of claim 1, The permanent magnet is embedded in the floating body, And the stray position detecting sensor is a magnetic force sensor sensitive to magnetic force. The method of claim 2, An apparatus for detecting low water levels of ink stored in a container, wherein a partition wall for guiding the vertical movement of the floating body is provided in the container to enable the storage of the stored ink. The method of claim 3, The reservoir level corresponding to the floating body is formed to have a shape corresponding to the floating body so that the floating body vertically moved in the partition is limited in the horizontal direction. Detection device. The method of claim 1, The floating position detection sensor includes a plurality of photodetectors provided at predetermined intervals along the vertical displacement of the container; And a plurality of light sources installed in pairs with the photodetector to irradiate light in a predetermined direction inside the vessel from outside the vessel so that light reflected from the floating body can be received by the corresponding photodetector. A low water level detection device for ink stored in a container. The method of claim 5, And the surface of the floating body is formed of a material having high reflectance. The method of claim 5, An apparatus for detecting low water levels of ink stored in a container, wherein a partition wall for guiding the vertical movement of the floating body is provided in the container to enable the storage of the stored ink. The method of claim 1, A light source is installed in the floating body to irradiate light in the horizontal direction, And the floating position detecting sensor includes a photodetector installed to receive light irradiated from the light source. The method of claim 8, An apparatus for detecting low water levels of ink stored in a container, wherein a partition wall for guiding the vertical movement of the floating body is provided in the container to enable the storage of the stored ink. The method of claim 9, The reservoir level corresponding to the floating body is formed to have a shape corresponding to the floating body so that the floating body vertically moved in the partition is limited in the horizontal direction. Detection device. The method of claim 1, The float position signal generator A voltage source; A plurality of resistance elements connected in series from one end of the voltage source by the number of stray position detection sensors; Switch elements connected to each of the connection portions between the plurality of resistor elements, the switch elements being configured to switch on / off a current conduction path from the voltage source by receiving the detection signal; And a voltage level signal generated at the other end of the resistance element connected to one end of the voltage source as the position signal to the storage level calculator. The method of claim 11, And the float position signal generator further comprises an analog-to-digital converter for converting the voltage signal into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal to the low level calculator. The method of claim 1, The floating position detection sensor is installed so as to generate the floating detection signal at a position respectively set for ink replenishment, depletion of ink, and reaching the low water limit of ink. Level detection device.