Image recording apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10889120-B2
Application number	US-201815920836-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2018
Priority date	Mar 31, 2017
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

An image recording apparatus includes a tank, a cap, a cap detector, a notification device, and a controller. The tank is configured to store ink therein. The tank is formed with a filling port for filling ink. The cap is configured to be attached to the filling port so as to close the filling port. The cap detector is configured to detect whether the cap is attached to the filling port. The notification device is configured to output particular information. The controller is configured to control the notification device to output a warning, in response to determining based on a detection signal of the cap detector that a particular period or longer has elapsed in a state where the cap is detached from the filling port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image recording apparatus comprising:
a tank configured to store ink therein, the tank being formed with a filling port for filling ink;
a cap configured to be attached to the filling port so as to close the filling port;
a cap detector configured to detect whether the cap is attached to the filling port;
a notification device configured to output particular information;
an ink remaining amount detection sensor configured to detect whether an ink remaining amount of the tank is smaller than a particular amount; and
a controller configured to control the notification device to output a warning, in response to determining based on a detection signal of the cap detector that a particular period or longer has elapsed in a state where the cap is detached from the filling port,
wherein the controller is configured to control the notification device to output a warning in response to determining based on detection signals of the cap detector and the ink remaining amount detection sensor that the ink remaining amount of the tank is smaller than the particular amount when the cap is detached from the filling port and that the particular period or longer has elapsed since the cap is detached from the filling port, regardless of whether ink has been filled into the tank.

2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a cover configured to move relative to the tank between a closed position for closing the filling port and the cap attached to the filling port, and an open position for exposing the filling port and the cap attached to the filling port; and
a cover detection sensor configured to detect whether the cover is at the open position or at the closed position,
wherein the controller is configured to control the notification device to output a warning, in response to determining based on detection signals of the cap detector and the cover detection sensor that the particular period or longer has elapsed in a state where the cover is at the open position and the cap is detached from the filling port.

3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a recorder controlled by the controller and configured to record an image on a recording sheet,
wherein the controller is configured to disallow a recording operation by the recorder while the notification device outputs the warning.

4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory,
wherein the controller is configured to, in response to determining based on detection signals of the cap detector and the ink remaining amount detection sensor that the ink remaining amount of the tank is larger than or equal to the particular amount and that the cap is detached from the filling port and again attached to the filling port,
estimate an ink filling amount based on a period from when the cap is detached from the filling port until when the cap is again attached to the filling port; and
store the ink filling amount in the memory.

5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tank comprises a plurality of tanks; and
wherein the controller is configured to, in response to determining based on a detection signal of the cap detector that the cap is detached from the filling port of two or more tanks of the plurality of tanks, control the notification device to output a notification prompting to make a state where the cap is detached from the filling port of only one of the plurality of tanks.

6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a cap placement area at which the cap detached from the filling port is placed,
wherein the cap detector comprises:
a filling port detection sensor configured to detect whether the filling port of the tank is open or closed; and
a cap placement area detection sensor configured to detect whether the cap is placed at the cap placement area;

wherein the controller is configured to determine that the cap is attached to the filling port, in response to detecting that the filling port is closed by using the filling port detection sensor and to detecting that the cap is not placed at the cap placement area by using the cap placement area detection sensor; and
wherein the controller is configured to determine that an ink replenishment bottle is inserted in the filling port, in response to detecting that the filling port is closed by using the filling port detection sensor and to detecting that the cap is placed at the cap placement area by using the cap placement area detection sensor.

7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to serve as a cap open timer that measures a cap open period from when the filling port is opened until when the filling port is closed, based on detection signals of the filling port detection sensor; and
in response to determining that the cap open period is shorter than another particular period, the controller determines that the filling port is closed by the cap.

8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to serve as an ink filling amount measurement timer that measures an ink filling period during which the ink replenishment bottle is inserted in the filling port, based on detection signals of the filling port detection sensor and the cap placement area detection sensor; and
wherein the controller is configured to subtract the ink filling period from the cap open period, thereby correcting the cap open period and preventing the warning from being outputted.

9. An image recording apparatus comprising:
a tank configured to store ink therein, the tank being formed with a filling port for filling ink;
a cap configured to be attached to the filling port so as to close the filling port;
a cap detector configured to detect whether the cap is attached to the filling port;
a notification device configured to output particular information;
an ink remaining amount detection sensor configured to detect whether an ink remaining amount of the tank is smaller than a particular amount; and
a controller configured to control the notification device to output a warning, in response to determining based on a detection signal of the cap detector that a particular period or longer has elapsed in a state where the cap is detached from the filling port,
wherein the controller is configured to control the notification device to output a notification that ink is currently being filled, in response to determining that the ink remaining amount is smaller than the particular amount when the cap is detached from the filling port, and thereafter ink is filled into the tank and the ink remaining amount becomes larger than or equal to the particular amount, based on detection signals of the ink remaining amount detection sensor.

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Shimano Ayaka

Classifications

• B41J2/1752

  Mounting within the printer · CPC title

• B41J29/13

  Cases or covers · CPC title

• B41J29/38

  Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism · CPC title

• B67D2007/329

  Function indicator devices · CPC title

• B41J2/1754

  with means attached to the cartridge, e.g. protective cap · CPC title