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US 10,882,323 B2Granted
Liquid discharge apparatus
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorKenta Horade
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A controller causes a notification device to provide a first alert in response to receipt of a first signal from a liquid level sensor. After the controller determines that a cartridge is located at a particular position in an installation case, the controller clears the first alert in response to receipt of a second signal from the liquid level sensor.
Claims15
A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:
- an installation case configured to accommodate a cartridge including a cartridge channel and a cartridge chamber;
- a tank including a chamber, the tank further including:
- a first channel including one end in fluid communication with an outside of the tank and an opposite end in fluid communication with the chamber;
- a second channel including one end positioned below the first channel and in fluid communication with the chamber;
- and
- a third channel including one end in fluid communication with the chamber and the other end communicated with the outside of the tank;
- a head in fluid communication with an opposite end of the second channel from the one end;
- a liquid level sensor;
- a notification device;
- and
- a controller,
- wherein the cartridge chamber is in fluid communication with the chamber of the tank via at least one of the cartridge channel and the first channel while the cartridge is located at a particular position in the installation case, and
- wherein the controller is configured to:
- receive a first signal from the liquid level sensor, the first signal being outputted from the liquid level sensor if a surface level of liquid in the chamber is lower than a predetermined level;
- in response to the receipt of the first signal, cause the notification device to provide a first alert;
- determine whether the cartridge is located at the particular position in the installation case;
- receive a second signal from the liquid level sensor, the second signal being outputted if the surface level of liquid in the chamber is higher than or equal to the predetermined level;
- and
- in response to the receipt of the second signal from the liquid level sensor after determining that the cartridge is located at the particular position in the installation case, clear the first alert.
16 more elements
A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:
- an installation case configured to accommodate a cartridge including a cartridge channel and a cartridge chamber;
- a tank including a chamber, the tank further including:
- a first channel including one end in fluid communication with an outside of the tank and an opposite end in fluid communication with the chamber;
- a second channel including one end positioned below the first channel and in fluid communication with the chamber;
- and
- a third channel including one end in fluid communication with the chamber and the other end communicated with the outside of the tank;
- a head in fluid communication with an opposite end of the second channel from the one end;
- a liquid level sensor;
- and
- a controller,
- wherein the cartridge chamber is in fluid communication with the chamber of the tank via at least one of the cartridge channel and the first channel while the cartridge is located at a particular position in the installation case, and
- wherein the controller is configured to:
- receive a first signal from the liquid level sensor, the first signal being outputted from the liquid level sensor if a surface level of liquid in the chamber is lower than a predetermined level;
- in response to the receipt of the first signal, prohibit liquid discharge through the head;
- determine whether the cartridge is located at the particular position in the installation case;
- receive a second signal from the liquid level sensor, the second signal being outputted if the surface level of liquid in the chamber is higher than or equal to the predetermined level;
- and
- in response to the receipt of the second signal from the liquid level sensor after determining that the cartridge is located at the particular position in the installation case, allow the liquid discharge through the head.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.