Ink cartridge for inkjet printer
US8333461B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 2010 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2002/17573
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer is provided. The ink cartridge includes a light detection portion, a first triangular prism and a second triangular prism, made of transparent material and disposed on the light detection portion, for receiving, deflecting, or refracting light emitted by a light emitting element on the printer. Two surfaces of the second triangular prism contact ink in the ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge has ink contained therein and is installed into a printer, the light emitted by the light emitting element is totally reflected by the first triangular prism and refracted by the second triangular prism into the ink, and will not be received by a light receiving element on the printer. When the ink in the ink cartridge is exhausted, the light is totally reflected by the second triangular prism onto the first triangular prism, and then is reflected onto the light receiving element, and thus the printer detects that the ink is exhausted.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.