Ink detecting device, image recording apparatus, ink detecting method and program recording medium
AssigneeOlympus Corporation
InventorAtsushi Oguri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transmission/reception element transmits an ultrasound wave to an ink liquid contained in an ink tank. At this time, a near sound field of the ultrasound wave is formed within a propagating member when it propagates the ultrasound wave transmitted from the transmission/reception element to the ink liquid. The transmission/reception element receives the ultrasound wave that is transmitted, reflected on the surface of the ink liquid, and comes back. An ink remaining amount calculating unit calculates the remaining amount of the ink liquid based on an elapsed time required from the transmission until the reception.
Claims32
An ink detecting device for detecting ink contained in a tank, comprising:
- a transmission/reception element for transmitting/receiving an ultrasound wave;
- a sound absorbing member for absorbing at least the ultrasound wave from the transmission/reception element;
- a propagating member, which propagates the ultrasound wave transmitted from the transmission/reception element to the ink, and in which a near sound field of the ultrasound wave transmitted from the transmission/reception element is formed;
- and
- an ink remaining amount calculating unit for calculating a remaining amount of the ink based on an elapsed time required from when the transmission/reception element transmits the ultrasound wave until when the transmission/reception element receives the ultrasound wave reflected on a liquid surface of the ink.
An image recording apparatus for detecting ink contained in a tank, comprising:
- a transmission/reception element for transmitting/receiving an ultrasound wave;
- a sound absorbing member for absorbing at least the ultrasound wave from the transmission/reception element;
- a propagating member, which propagates the ultrasound wave transmitted from the transmission/reception element to the ink, and in which a near sound field of the ultrasound wave transmitted from the transmission/reception element is formed;
- an ink remaining amount calculating unit for calculating a remaining amount of the ink based on an elapsed time required from when the transmission/reception element transmits the ultrasound wave until when the transmission/reception element receives the ultrasound wave reflected on a liquid surface of the ink;
- and
- an ink head for recording an image on an image recording medium by spraying the ink.
An ink detecting method for detecting ink contained in a tank, comprising:
- transmitting an ultrasound wave to the ink;
- forming a near sound field of the ultrasound wave within a propagating member for propagating the transmitted ultrasound wave to the ink;
- receiving the ultrasound wave that is transmitted, reflected on a liquid surface of the ink, and comes back;
- measuring an elapsed time from the transmission until the reception;
- and
- calculating a remaining amount of the ink based on the elapsed time.
A program recording medium on which is recorded a program for causing an arithmetic processing unit to detect ink contained in a tank, and from which the program can be read, the program causing the arithmetic processing unit to execute:
- a process for causing a transmission/reception element for transmitting/receiving an ultrasound wave to transmit the ultrasound wave, and for forming a near sound field of the ultrasound wave within a propagating member for propagating the ultrasound wave from the transmission/reception element to the ink;
- a process for causing the transmission/reception element to receive the ultrasound wave that is transmitted, reflected on a liquid surface of the ink, and comes back;
- a process for measuring an elapsed time from the transmission to the reception;
- and
- a process for calculating a remaining amount of the ink based on the elapsed time.
A program recording medium on which is recorded a program for causing an arithmetic processing unit to detect ink contained in a tank, and from which the program can be read, the program causing the arithmetic processing unit to execute:
- a process for causing a transmission/reception element for transmitting/receiving an ultrasound wave to transmit the ultrasound wave, and for forming a near sound field of the ultrasound wave within a propagating member for propagating the ultrasound wave from the transmission/reception element to the ink;
- a process for causing the transmission/reception element to receive the ultrasound wave that is transmitted, reflected on a reflection mechanism supported in a state of being soaked in the ink within the tank, and comes back;
- a process for measuring an elapsed time from the transmission to the reception;
- and
- a process for determining a type of the ink based on the elapsed time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.