EP0370765A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink jet head cartridge with a residual-ink detector
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1989-11-21
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A device for detecting a quantity of remaining ink includes first and second electrodes (1, 2) provided in an ink supply passage (6) which connects an ink tank (8) for storing an ink to a recording head (9) for emitting the ink, and a detection means for detecting a resistance between the first and second electrodes (1, 2). The second electrode (2) is provided in the ink supply passage (6) in an area relatively close to the recording head (9), whereas the first electrode (1) is provided in the ink supply passage in an area relatively far from the recording head with the second electrode therebetween. The second electrode is maintained at the same potential as that of a substrate which constitutes the recording head and on which emission energy generating elements driven to emit the ink are disposed, whereas the first electrode is maintained at a potential different from that of the second electrode. IN consequence, the amount of remaining ink can be detected by measuring changes in the resistance between the first and second electrodes (1, 2).
Inventors
- 👤 Ryoichi Koizumi
- 👤 Asao Saito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:48
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17566; B41J2002/17579; B41J2202/00; B41J2202/01; B41J2202/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A device for detecting a quantity of remaining ink, comprising: first and second electrodes provided in an ink supply passage which connects an ink tank for storing an ink to a recording head for emitting the ink; and a detection means for detecting a resistance between said first and second electrodes, wherein said second electrode is provided in said ink supply passage in an area relatively close to said recording head, whereas said first electrode is provided in said ink supply passage in an area relatively far from said recording head with said second electrode therebetween, and wherein said second electrode is maintained at the same potential as that of a substrate which constitutes said recording head and on which emission energy generating elements driven to emit the ink are disposed, whereas said first electrode is maintained at a potential different from that of said second electrode, so as to allow the amount of remaining ink to be detected by the measurement of changes in the resistance between said first and second electrodes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
A device for detecting a quantity of remaining ink, comprising: first and second electrodes provided in an ink supply passage which connects an ink tank for storing an ink to a recording head for emitting the ink; and a detection means for detecting a resistance between said first and second electrodes, wherein said second electrode is provided in said ink supply passage in an area relatively close to said recording head, whereas said first electrode is provided in said ink supply passage in an area relatively far from said recording head with said second electrode therebetween, and wherein said second electrode is maintained at the same potential as that of a substrate which constitutes said recording head and on which emission energy generating elements driven to emit the ink are disposed, whereas said first electrode is maintained at a potential different from that of said second electrode, so as to allow the amount of remaining ink to be detected by the measurement of changes in the resistance between said first and second electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ink jet head cartridge incorporating the device of claim 1 and having a recording head portion composed of a substrate on which ink emission energy generating elements are disposed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An ink jet recording apparatus incorporating the device of claim 1 and the cartridge of claim 2 and having a carriage provided in such a manner as to be movable with said ink jet head cartridge mounted thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, or a cartridge as claimed in claim 2 or a recording apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said substrate is a P type substrate, and wherein both said substrate and said second electrode are grounded, whereas said first electrode is set to a predetermined potential of V H .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device, cartridge or recording apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein a resistance R₁₋₂ between said first and second electrodes and a resistance R₁₋₃ between said first electrode and said substrate have a relation expressed by R₁₋₃/R₁₋₂ > 5.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device, cartridge or recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 respectively, wherein said substrate is an N type substrate, and wherein both said substrate and said second electrode are set to a predetermined potential of V H , whereas said first electrode is grounded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device, cartridge or recording apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein a resistance R₁₋₂ between said first and second electrodes and a resistance R₂₋₃ between said second electrode and said substrate have a relation expressed by R₂₋₃/R₁₋₂ > 5.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device, cartridge or recording apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the potential V H of said first electrode is substantially the same as the driving voltage for said recording head, which ranges from 15 V to 25 V.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device, cartridge or recording apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the potential V H of said substrate and said second electrode is substantially the same as the driving voltage for said recording head, which ranges from 15 V to 25 V.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device, cartridge or recording apparatus as claimed in either claim 1, 2 or 3 respectively, in which portions of said supply passage where said first and second electrodes are disposed form narrowed portions where the cross-section of said ink supply passage is reduced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device, cartridge or recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 respectively, in which there are ink emission energy generating elements incorporated in said recording head, said ink emission energy generating elements being electrothermal energy conversion elements for generating thermal energy whose thermal energy is utilized to emit an ink droplet.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
115 words
A device for detecting the quantity of remaining ink, comprising: first and second electrodes provided in an ink supply passage which connects an ink tank for storing an ink to a recording head for emitting the ink, said first and second electrodes being provided an area where the cross-section of said ink supply passage is decreased; and a detection means for detecting a resistance between said first and second electrodes, wherein said second electrode is provided in said ink supply passage in an area relatively close to said recording head, whereas said first electrode is provided in said ink supply passage in an area relatively far from said recording head with said second electrode therebetween.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
115 words
A device for detecting the quantity of remaining ink, comprising: first and second electrodes provided in an ink supply passage which connects an ink tank for storing an ink to a recording head for emitting the ink, said first and second electrodes being provided an area where the cross-section of said ink supply passage is decreased; and a detection means for detecting a resistance between said first and second electrodes, wherein said second electrode is provided in said ink supply passage in an area relatively close to said recording head, whereas said first electrode is provided in said ink supply passage in an area relatively far from said recording head with said second electrode therebetween.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.