EP 0953450 B1 20020717 - Inkjet ink level detection
Title (en)
Inkjet ink level detection
Title (de)
Tintenstanddetektor für Tintenstrahldrucker
Title (fr)
Détecteur de niveau d'encre pour imprimante à jet d'encre
Publication
Application
Priority
- US 7089898 A 19980430
- US 18195398 A 19981028
Abstract (en)
[origin: EP0953450A1] An inkjet printing system (Fig. 4, Fig. 5) includes a permanent or semi-permanent inkjet pen (28, 30, 32, 34) containing small glass beads (58) for ink containment and to provide backpressure to the ink. The inkjet pen walls (50) are transparent, and the printer has an optical sensor (60) that detects changes in reflectivity in the glass heads (58). The glass beads (58) change in reflectivity depending on whether or not they are saturated with ink. The change in reflectivity therefore functions as an effective out-of-ink detector. When an out of ink indication is made, the printer (Fig. 4, Fig. 5) executes a refill of the pen (28, 30, 32, 34). Two embodiments of refill mechanisms are disclosed: a trailing tube design (Fig. 1, Fig. 4), and a take-a-sip design. <IMAGE>
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
B41J 2/175 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
B41J 2/17509 (2013.01); B41J 2/17566 (2013.01); B41J 2002/17573 (2013.01)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
DE FR GB
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 0953450 A1 19991103; EP 0953450 B1 20020717; CN 1111480 C 20030618; CN 1235090 A 19991117; DE 69902121 D1 20020822; DE 69902121 T2 20030306; JP H11334100 A 19991207; TW 445214 B 20010711
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 99106827 A 19990406; CN 99105153 A 19990421; DE 69902121 T 19990406; JP 12049899 A 19990427; TW 88101779 A 19990205