US 2008/0174623 A1Published application

Liquid Ejection Controlling Method and Liquid Ejection Apparatus

AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation

InventorsNaoki SUDO, Hirokazu NUNOKAWA

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Abstract

A remaining amount detecting step is performed by a first controller, in which a remaining amount of a liquid contained is detected for each of a plurality of cartridges containing the liquid to be ejected from nozzles. An information transmitting step is performed by the first controller, in which when the remaining amount of the liquid in at least one of the cartridges is detected to be equal to or lower than a predetermined amount, information relating to a cartridge with a small remaining amount is transmitted, the cartridge with the small remaining amount corresponding to the at least one of the cartridges. A liquid ejection data generating step is performed by a second controller, in which at least one cartridge other than the cartridge with the small remaining amount is determined as a substitute cartridge based on the information, relating to the cartridge with the small remaining amount, that has been transmitted, and liquid ejection data for controlling ejection of the liquid contained in the substitute cartridge is generated. The expected consumption amount calculating step is performed by the second controller, in which the expected consumption amount of the liquid contained in the substitute cartridge is calculated based on the generated liquid ejection data. The difference calculating step is performed by the second controller, in which a difference between the remaining amount of the liquid contained in the cartridge with the small remaining amount and the remaining amount of the liquid contained in the substitute cartridge is calculated based on the calculated expected consumption amount of the liquid and information relating to the remaining amount of liquid obtained from the first controller. The difference determining step is performed by the second controller, in which whether or not the calculated difference is equal to or lower than a predetermined value is determined.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A liquid ejection controlling method comprising:

(A) a remaining amount detecting step of detecting a remaining amount of a liquid contained for each of a plurality of cartridges containing the liquid to be ejected from nozzles, the remaining amount detecting step being performed by a first controller;
(B) an information transmitting step of transmitting information relating to a cartridge with a small remaining amount, when the remaining amount of the liquid in at least one of the cartridges is detected to be equal to or lower than a predetermined amount, the cartridge with the small remaining amount corresponding to the at least one of the cartridges, the information transmitting step being performed by the first controller;
(C) a liquid ejection data generating step of generating liquid ejection data for controlling ejection of a liquid contained in a substitute cartridge, by determining at least one cartridge other than the cartridge with the small remaining amount as the substitute cartridge based on the information, relating to the cartridge with the small remaining amount, that has been transmitted, the liquid ejection data generating step being performed by a second controller;
(D) an expected consumption amount calculating step of calculating an expected consumption amount of the liquid contained in the substitute cartridge, based on the generated liquid ejection data, the expected consumption amount calculating step being performed by the second controller;
(E) a difference calculating step of calculating a difference between a remaining amount of a liquid contained in the cartridge with the small remaining amount and a remaining amount of the liquid contained in the substitute cartridge, based on the calculated expected consumption amount of the liquid and the information relating to the remaining amount of the liquid obtained from the first controller, the difference calculating step being performed by the second controller;
and
(F) a difference determining step of determining whether or not the calculated difference is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the difference determining step being performed by the second controller.

4 more elements

A liquid ejection apparatus, comprising:

(A) a first controller that performs a remaining amount detecting step and an information transmitting step,
in the remaining amount detecting step detecting a remaining amount of a liquid contained for each of a plurality of cartridges containing the liquid to be ejected from nozzles, and
in the information transmitting step when the remaining amount of the liquid in at least one of the cartridges is detected to be equal to or lower than a predetermined amount, transmitting information relating to a cartridge with a small remaining amount, the cartridge with the small remaining amount corresponding to the at least one of the cartridges;
and
(B) a second controller that can communicate with the first controller, that performs a liquid ejection data generating step, an expected consumption amount calculating step, a difference calculating step, and a difference determining step,
in the liquid ejection data generating step generating liquid ejection data for controlling ejection of the liquid contained in the substitute cartridge, by determining at least one cartridge other than the cartridge with the small remaining amount as a substitute cartridge based on the information, relating to the cartridge with the small remaining amount, that has been transmitted, and
in the expected consumption amount calculating step calculating the expected consumption amount of the liquid contained in the substitute cartridge based on the generated liquid ejection data,
in the difference calculating step calculating a difference between a remaining amount of a liquid contained in the cartridge with the small remaining amount and a remaining amount of the liquid contained in the substitute cartridge based on the calculated expected consumption amount of the liquid and information relating to the remaining amount of liquid obtained from the first controller, and
in the difference determining step determining whether or not the calculated difference is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.