Detection system, liquid-jet printing apparatus and liquid container
US6361136B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 19, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2002/17573
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Precision of detecting existence/non-existence of a liquid container and a liquid level in the container is improved even if the detection is performed by a single sensor, or even if the S/N ratio of the detection is low, the detected results can be discriminated from one another. For this, a concave polyhedron is provided in the center of the bottom surface of an optical prism in order to reduce the amount of light reflected on the bottom surface of the optical prism and returned to a photoreceptor. Moreover, a reflection curved surface having a quadratic surface e.g. spherical surface or paraboloid, is provided on the bottom surface of an ink tank, for reflecting light emitted by an optical unit consisting of a light emission device and a photoreceptor. By virtue of this, even in a case where an arrangement angle or position of the optical unit is deviated to some extent, sufficient amount of light for the photoreceptor can be received, making it possible to accurately detect existence/non-existence of ink and/or existence/non-existence of an ink tank.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.