Patent US5255019A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5255019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink near-end detecting device
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
•
Filing: 1991-08-07
•
Granted: 1993-10-19
•
Expires: 2011-08-07
Abstract
Abstract In an ink near-end detecting device, a pair of electrodes are arranged in the porous material in the ink tank and in the ink pool provided below the ink tank, respectively, so that the time instant the ink in the porous material has been nearly used up is detected from the variation of the electrical resistance between the electrodes with the consumption of the ink in the porous material.
Inventors
- 👤 Seiji Mochizuki
- 👤 Takahiro Naka
- 👤 Kazuhiko Hara
- 👤 Akira Takagi
- 👤 Yukihiro Hanaoka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:57
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17566; B41J2002/17579
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An ink near-end detecting device comprising: a fixed member including a printing head with an ink supply member; a detachable member detachable from said fixed member, said detachable member including an ink tank which accommodates a porous material containing an aqueous ink; a pair of electrodes arranged in a part of said porous material and in a part of said fixed member, respectively; means for supplying at least one signal representing a predetermined resistance reference value; and resistance change detecting means for detecting a condition that said ink in said ink tank has been nearly used up from a change of the resistance between said electrodes of more than a predetermined reference resistance value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An ink near-end detecting device comprising: a fixed member including a printing head with an ink supply member; a detachable member detachable from said fixed member, said detachable member including an ink tank which accommodates a porous material containing an aqueous ink; a pair of electrodes arranged in a part of said porous material and in a part of said fixed member, respectively; means for supplying at least one signal representing a predetermined resistance reference value; and resistance change detecting means for detecting a condition that said ink in said ink tank has been nearly used up from a change of the resistance between said electrodes of more than a predetermined reference resistance value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink near-end detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said electrode arranged in a part of said fixed member constitutes said ink supply member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
113 words
An ink near-end detecting device comprising: means for forming an ink pool communicating with a printing head, said ink pool being formed in a lower position of an ink tank which accommodates a porous material containing an aqueous ink, said ink pool forming means having a protrusion which presses said porous material accommodated in said ink tank; a pair of electrodes arranged in a part of said porous material and in a part of said ink pool, respectively; resistance change detecting means for detecting the fact that said ink in said ink tank has been nearly used up from a change of the resistance between said electrodes of more than a predetermined value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
An ink near-end detecting device comprising: means for forming an ink pool communicating with a printing head, said ink pool being formed in a lower position of an ink tank which accommodates a porous material containing an aqueous ink, said ink pool forming means having a protrusion which presses said porous material accommodated in said ink tank; a pair of electrodes arranged in a part of said porous material and in a part of said ink pool, respectively; resistance change detecting means for detecting the fact that said ink in said ink tank has been nearly used up from a change of the resistance between said electrodes of more than a predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of said electrodes is arranged in said ink pool and comprises a member for supplying said ink to said printing head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
An ink near-end detecting device comprising: an ink tank accommodating a porous material containing an aqueous ink; ink flowpath means for communicating said porous material and a printing head; a pair of electrodes arranged in a part of said porous material and in a part of said ink flowpath means, respectively; means for supplying at least one signal representing a predetermined resistance reference value; and resistance change detecting means for detecting a condition that said ink in said ink tank has been nearly used up from a change of the resistance between said electrodes of more than a predetermined reference resistance value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
102 words
An ink near-end detecting device comprising: an ink tank accommodating a porous material containing an aqueous ink; ink flowpath means for communicating said porous material and a printing head; a pair of electrodes arranged in a part of said porous material and in a part of said ink flowpath means, respectively; means for supplying at least one signal representing a predetermined resistance reference value; and resistance change detecting means for detecting a condition that said ink in said ink tank has been nearly used up from a change of the resistance between said electrodes of more than a predetermined reference resistance value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink near-end detecting device according to claim 5, wherein said electrode arranged in a part of said ink flowpath means constitutes an ink supply member for supplying ink to said printing head.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4202267A
Cited
DE3113066A1
Cited
US4511906A
Cited
US4626874A
Cited
EP0244559A1
Cited
US4788861A
Cited
EP0236937A1
Cited
US4782754A
Cited
US4977413A
Cited
US5051759A
Cited
US5070346A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-10-18 | 1997-04-19 | 1997-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-18 | 2001-04-19 | 2001-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-18 | 2005-04-19 | 2005-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |