WO2020117251A1 - Calibration chambers to calibrate reservoir gauges - Google Patents

Calibration chambers to calibrate reservoir gauges Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020117251A1
WO2020117251A1 PCT/US2018/064318 US2018064318W WO2020117251A1 WO 2020117251 A1 WO2020117251 A1 WO 2020117251A1 US 2018064318 W US2018064318 W US 2018064318W WO 2020117251 A1 WO2020117251 A1 WO 2020117251A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
calibration
print agent
volume
gauge
reservoir
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2018/064318
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Christopher John Arnold
Wesley R Schalk
Russell Sterling SAUER
Kenneth Williams
Original Assignee
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. filed Critical Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority to PCT/US2018/064318 priority Critical patent/WO2020117251A1/en
Publication of WO2020117251A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020117251A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F25/00—Testing or calibration of apparatus for measuring volume, volume flow or liquid level or for metering by volume
    • G01F25/0084—Testing or calibration of apparatus for measuring volume, volume flow or liquid level or for metering by volume for measuring volume
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17566—Ink level or ink residue control
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
    • G06K15/027—Test patterns and calibration
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/40—Details not directly involved in printing, e.g. machine management, management of the arrangement as a whole or of its constitutive parts
    • G06K15/407—Managing marking material, e.g. checking available colours
    • G06K15/4075—Determining remaining quantities of ink or toner
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17566—Ink level or ink residue control
    • B41J2002/17579—Measuring electrical impedance for ink level indication

Definitions

  • Printers include reservoirs to contain print agents.
  • the reservoirs can include reservoir gauges to measure a volume of print agent in the reservoir.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic of an example printer with a calibration chamber to calibrate a print agent reservoir gauge.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic of another example printer with a calibration chamber to calibrate a print agent reservoir gauge.
  • FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the calibration chamber containing a first volume of print agent.
  • FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the calibration chamber containing a second volume of print agent.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic of another example printer with a calibration chamber to calibrate a print agent reservoir gauge.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic of a calibration device to calibrate a print agent reservoir gauge of a printer.
  • a printer may include continuous level gauges to continuously measure the volume of print agent in the reservoir. The volume of print agent remaining in the reservoir may be displayed to a user. Continuous reservoir gauges may be sensitive to temperature, humidity, water loss, printer orientation, or other factors, resulting in inaccurate readings.
  • a printer may include a calibration chamber coupled to the reservoir to receive a calibration volume of print agent (e.g., ink) to calibrate the continuous level gauge.
  • the calibration volume of ink is determined using a secondary gauge coupled to the calibration chamber.
  • the secondary gauge can be a different technology than the reservoir gauge to reduce sensitivity to temperature, humidity, water loss, printer orientation, and other factors.
  • the secondary gauge can be a discrete level gauge including three pins: a drive pin, a lower sensing pin and an upper sensing pin. When the print agent levels reach the lower sensing pin, conductivity is provided between the lower sensing pin and the drive pin; when print agent levels reach the upper sensing pin, conductivity is provided between the upper sensing pin and the drive pin.
  • the difference in print agent levels between the lower sensing pin and the upper sensing pin is the calibration volume.
  • the secondary gauge can also be the same gauge technology as the reservoir gauge.
  • the calibration chamber can be on board the printer on a drain line of the reservoir, or on the print line from the reservoir to the print head.
  • the calibration chamber can also be provided in an external calibration device.
  • the calibration chamber may be used at an opportune time, such as when filling the reservoir from an external source, to calibrate the continuous level gauge of the reservoir.
  • FIG. 1 shows an example printer 100.
  • the printer 100 may be a 2D printer or a 3D printer.
  • the printer 100 includes a housing 102, a main reservoir 110 disposed in the housing 102, a reservoir gauge 114 coupled to the main reservoir 110, and a circulation pump 120 coupled to the main reservoir 110.
  • the main reservoir 110 is to contain print agent 112, such as ink, to be used for printing operations.
  • the main reservoir 110 can contain, in some examples, about 600 to about 1600 cubic centimeters (cc) of print agent.
  • the main reservoir 110 may contain about 1600 cc of black print agent or about 600 cc of colored print agent.
  • the reservoir gauge 114 coupled to the main reservoir 110.
  • the reservoir gauge 114 is to measure a volume of print agent 112 contained in the main reservoir 110.
  • the reservoir gauge 114 can be a continuous gauge, such as a dynamic continuous print agent level gauge, or it may be a discrete level gauge.
  • the circulation pump 120 is also coupled to the main reservoir 110 to circulate print agent from the main reservoir to a print head 122 via a print line 124 for printing operations.
  • the printer 100 may include multiple main reservoirs 110 to contain different print agents within the printer 100.
  • the printer 100 may contain separate main reservoirs 100 for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow colored print agent.
  • the printer 100 also includes a calibration chamber 130 disposed in the housing 102.
  • the calibration chamber 130 is fluidically coupled to the main reservoir 110 to receive print agent 112 from the main reservoir 110 and to return print agent 112 to the main reservoir 110.
  • the calibration chamber 130 is sized to contain a volume of print agent less than that of the main reservoir 110.
  • the calibration chamber 130 may contain about 50 to about 500 cc of print agent 112.
  • the printer 100 may also include a separate calibration chamber 130 for each main reservoir 110.
  • the calibration chamber 130 includes a secondary gauge 132 to detect a calibration volume of print agent received in the calibration chamber 130.
  • the secondary gauge 132 can be a continuous gauge, such as a dynamic continuous ink level gauge, or it may be a discrete level gauge.
  • the calibration chamber 130 and the secondary gauge 132 are precisely calibrated to receive a calibration volume of print agent to calibrate the reservoir gauge 114.
  • a calibration operation may move print agent from the main reservoir 110 to the calibration chamber 130.
  • the calibration volume of print agent received in the calibration chamber may be compared against the difference in volume detected by the reservoir gauge 114 at the start of the calibration operation and at the end of the calibration operation.
  • the calibration operation may also be used to calibrate the circulation pump 120, for example by counting the number of pump revolutions required to fill the calibration chamber 130, or by comparing the time required to fill the calibration chamber 130 with the designated pump rate.
  • Calibration operations may be performed at an initial fill operation of the main reservoir 110, as well as periodically throughout the life of the printer 100.
  • the main reservoir 110 and the calibration chamber 130 include vents to atmosphere to prevent vacuums when draining and to prevent over pressurizing during a fill operation.
  • vents may be
  • the printer 100 may further include additional pumps, fluid lines, valves, pressure control devices and the like (not shown in FIG. 1) to manage operation of the printer 100.
  • the printer 100 can include a controller interconnected with a computer-readable medium to control calibration operations, store calibration values, and the like.
  • FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an example printer 200.
  • the printer 200 includes a housing 102, a main reservoir 110 disposed in the housing 102, a reservoir gauge 114 coupled to the main reservoir 110, and a circulation pump 120 coupled to the main reservoir 110.
  • the printer 200 further includes a pressure control device 126 on the print line 124 to maintain constant pressure in the print head 122.
  • the printer 200 further includes a supply pump 210 coupled to the main reservoir 110 to receive print agent 112 from an external source 212 via a supply line 214.
  • the supply pump 210 may be actuated to pump print agent 112 from the external source 212 through the supply line 214 to the main reservoir 110.
  • the printer 200 further includes a drain line 220 including a drain valve 222.
  • the drain line 220 connects the circulation pump 120 to the supply line 214 to drain the main reservoir using the circulation pump 120.
  • the circulation pump 120 may be actuated to pump print agent 112 from the main reservoir 110 through the drain line 220 and the supply line 214 to the external source 212.
  • the circulation pump 120 and the supply pump 210 may also be actuated in combination to recirculate print agent out of the main reservoir 110 at the circulation pump 120 and back into the main reservoir 110 at the supply pump 210.
  • the printer 200 further includes a calibration chamber 230 disposed on the drain line 220.
  • the calibration chamber 230 is fluidically coupled to the main reservoir 110 to receive print agent via the circulation pump 120.
  • the circulation pump 120 may be actuated to pump print agent from the main reservoir 110 to the calibration chamber 230.
  • Print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230 can be recirculated to the main reservoir 110 via the supply pump 210.
  • the calibration chamber 230 includes a secondary gauge 232 to detect a change in volume of print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230. Calibration operations may also be used to calibrate the supply pump 210, for example by counting the number of pump revolutions required to drain the calibration chamber 130, or by comparing the time required to drain the calibration chamber 130 with the designated pump rate.
  • the printer 200 may further include additional pumps, fluid lines, valves, pressure control devices and the like (not shown in FIG. 2) to manage operation of the printer 200.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 show a close up view of the calibration chamber 230 and the secondary gauge 232.
  • the secondary gauge 232 is a discrete level gauge including a drive pin 234, a lower sensing pin 236 and an upper sensing pin 238.
  • the drive pin 234, the lower sensing pin 236 and the upper sensing pin 238 can be conductive pins.
  • the pins extend downwardly from a ceiling of the calibration chamber 230.
  • the pins may be arranged to extend upwardly on a bottom of the calibration chamber 230, or otherwise suitably arranged to detect at least two discrete volumes of print agent in the calibration chamber 230.
  • the lower sensing pin 236 is to detect a first volume 300 of print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230 via conductivity between the drive pin 234 and the lower sensing pin 236. That is, when the calibration chamber 230 contains the first volume 300 of print agent 112, the level of the print agent in the calibration chamber 230 is sufficient to contact the lower sensing pin 236 and the drive pin 234, thereby providing conductivity between the lower sensing pin 236 and the drive pin 234. Accordingly, upon detecting conductivity between the lower sensing pin 236 and the drive pin 234, the secondary gauge 232 determines that the first volume 300 of print agent 112 is contained in the calibration chamber 230.
  • the upper sensing pin 238 is to detect a second volume 400 of print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230 via conductivity between the drive pin 234 and the upper sensing pin 238. That is, when the calibration chamber 230 contains the second volume 400 of print agent 112, the level of the print agent 112 in the calibration chamber is sufficient to contact the upper sensing pin 238 and the drive pin 234, thereby providing conductivity between the upper sensing pin 238 and the drive pin 234. Accordingly, upon detecting conductivity between the upper sensing pin 238 and the drive pin 234, the secondary gauge 232 determines that the second volume 400 of print agent 112 is contained in the calibration chamber 230.
  • the secondary gauge 232 can include further sensing pins to detect intermediate volumes of print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230.
  • the calibration chamber 230 is specifically calibrated such that the difference between the second volume 400 and the first volume 300 is the calibration volume 410.
  • the reservoir gauge 114 of the main reservoir 110 may be calibrated. Specifically, upon detection of the first volume 300 of print agent 112 by the secondary gauge 232, a first detected volume of print agent 112 in the main reservoir 110 may be recorded by the reservoir gauge 114. Upon detection of the second volume of print agent 112 by the secondary gauge 232, a second detected volume of print agent 112 in the main reservoir 110 may be recorded by the reservoir gauge 114. The reservoir gauge 114 can then be calibrated to ensure the difference between the first detected volume and the second detected volume is the calibration volume 410.
  • the secondary gauge 232 can perform calibration upon reception of the calibration volume 410 in the calibration chamber 230, or upon drainage of the calibration volume 410 from the calibration chamber 230.
  • the secondary gauge 232 can detect reception of the calibration volume 410 of print agent 112 by the calibration chamber 230 to perform a first calibration of the reservoir gauge 114 and can detect drainage of the calibration volume 410 of the print agent 112 from the calibration chamber 230 to perform a second calibration of the reservoir gauge 114.
  • the calibration chamber 230 is to store print agent 112 in addition to print agent 112 stored by the main reservoir 110.
  • print agent 112 may be circulated to the calibration chamber 230 via the circulation pump 120 for storage in the calibration chamber 230.
  • the secondary gauge 232 can detect reception of the calibration volume 410 of print agent 112 by the calibration chamber 230 to perform a first calibration of the reservoir gauge 114. That is, the first calibration is performed as the volume of print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230 increases from the first volume 300 (e.g. as depicted in FIG. 3) to the second volume 400 (e.g. as depicted in FIG. 4). Print agent 112 may then be stored in the calibration chamber 230.
  • print agent 112 stored in the calibration chamber 230 may be recirculated back to the main reservoir 110.
  • print agent 112 may be recirculated to the main reservoir 110 via the supply pump 210.
  • the secondary gauge 232 can detect drainage of the calibration volume 410 of print agent 112 from the calibration chamber 230 to perform a second calibration of the reservoir gauge. That is, the second calibration is performed as the volume of the print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230 decreases from the second volume 400 (e.g. as depicted in FIG. 4) to the first volume 300 (e.g. as depicted in FIG. 3).
  • the first volume 300 of print agent 112 may be the maximum volume of print agent 112 to be stored in the calibration chamber 230.
  • the calibration chamber 230 can still receive the calibration volume 410 of print agent 112 to allow the reservoir gauge 114 to be calibrated while storing print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230.
  • FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of an example printer 500.
  • the printer 500 includes a housing 502, a main reservoir 510 disposed in the housing 502, a reservoir gauge 514 coupled to the main reservoir 510, and a circulation pump 520 coupled to the main reservoir 510.
  • the circulation pump 520 is to circulate print agent 512 from the main reservoir 510 to a print head 522 via a print line 524.
  • the printer 500 further includes a pressure control device 526 on the print line 524 to maintain constant pressure in the print head 522.
  • the printer 500 further includes a calibration chamber 530 disposed on the print line 524.
  • the calibration chamber 530 is fluidically coupled to the main reservoir 510 to receive print agent 512 from the main reservoir 510.
  • the calibration chamber 530 includes a secondary gauge 532 to detect a calibration volume of print agent received to calibrate the reservoir gauge 514.
  • the circulation pump 520 may be actuated to circulate print agent 512 first to the calibration chamber 530, and then to the print head 522.
  • the secondary gauge 532 can calibrate the reservoir gauge 514 during a printing operation when the calibration chamber 530 receives print agent 512 for circulation to the print head 522.
  • the printer 500 may further include additional pumps, fluid lines, valves, pressure control devices and the like (not shown in FIG. 5) to manage operation of the printer 500.
  • the calibration chamber can be housed external to the printer.
  • FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an example calibration device 600.
  • the calibration device 600 includes a calibration chamber 610 to contain print agent 612.
  • the calibration device 600 is to be coupled to a printer 650, and specifically, the calibration chamber 610 is to be coupled to a main reservoir 660 of the printer 650 to receive print agent 612 from the main reservoir 660 and to recirculate print agent 612 back to the main reservoir 660.
  • the calibration device 600 also includes a calibration gauge 620 coupled to the calibration chamber 610 to detect a change in volume of print agent 612 in the calibration chamber 610 to calibrate a reservoir gauge 662 of the printer 650.
  • the calibration gauge 620 can include a drive pin 622, a lower sensing pin 624 and an upper sensing pin 626 to form a discrete level gauge.
  • the lower sensing pin 624 is to detect a first volume of print agent 612 in the calibration chamber 610 via conductivity between the drive pin 622 and the lower sensing pin 624.
  • the upper sensing pin 626 is to detect a second volume of print agent 612 in the calibration chamber 610 via
  • the difference between the second volume and the first volume is the calibration volume.
  • a first detected volume of print agent 612 in the main reservoir 660 may be recorded by the reservoir gauge 662.
  • a second detected volume of print agent 612 in the main reservoir 660 may be recorded by the reservoir gauge 662.
  • the reservoir gauge 662 can then be calibrated to ensure the difference between the first detected volume and the second detected volume is the calibration volume received in the calibration chamber 610.
  • the calibration gauge 620 is to detect reception of the calibration volume of print agent 612 by the calibration chamber 610 to perform a first calibration of the reservoir gauge 662 and drainage of the calibration volume of print agent 612 from the calibration chamber 610 to perform a second calibration of the reservoir gauge 662.
  • a printer having a main reservoir with a reservoir gauge may include a calibration chamber fluidically coupled to the main reservoir to calibrate the reservoir gauge.
  • the calibration chamber is precisely calibrated to receive a calibration volume of print agent from the reservoir to calibrate the reservoir gauge.
  • the calibration chamber includes a secondary gauge, such as a discrete level gauge including a drive pin and two or more sensing pins, to detect discrete volumes of print agent in the calibration chamber.
  • An onboard calibration chamber may also be used to store a supplemental supply of print agent in addition to the main reservoir.
  • the calibration chamber can also be housed in a calibration device external to the printer. The calibration chamber can therefore be used as both a calibration tool and a diagnostic tool.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Abstract

An example printer includes a housing, a main reservoir disposed in the housing to contain print agent, a reservoir gauge coupled to the main reservoir, the reservoir gauge to measure a volume of print agent in the main reservoir, a circulation pump coupled to the main reservoir to circulate print agent from the main reservoir to a print head via a print line, and a calibration chamber fluidically coupled to the main reservoir to receive print agent from the main reservoir, the calibration chamber including a secondary gauge to detect a calibration volume of print agent received to calibrate the reservoir gauge.

Description

CALIBRATION CHAMBERS TO CALIBRATE RESERVOIR GAUGES BACKGROUND
[0001] Printers include reservoirs to contain print agents. The reservoirs can include reservoir gauges to measure a volume of print agent in the reservoir.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] FIG. 1 is a schematic of an example printer with a calibration chamber to calibrate a print agent reservoir gauge.
[0003] FIG. 2 is a schematic of another example printer with a calibration chamber to calibrate a print agent reservoir gauge.
[0004] FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the calibration chamber containing a first volume of print agent.
[0005] FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the calibration chamber containing a second volume of print agent.
[0006] FIG. 5 is a schematic of another example printer with a calibration chamber to calibrate a print agent reservoir gauge.
[0007] FIG. 6 is a schematic of a calibration device to calibrate a print agent reservoir gauge of a printer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] A printer may include continuous level gauges to continuously measure the volume of print agent in the reservoir. The volume of print agent remaining in the reservoir may be displayed to a user. Continuous reservoir gauges may be sensitive to temperature, humidity, water loss, printer orientation, or other factors, resulting in inaccurate readings.
[0009] A printer may include a calibration chamber coupled to the reservoir to receive a calibration volume of print agent (e.g., ink) to calibrate the continuous level gauge. The calibration volume of ink is determined using a secondary gauge coupled to the calibration chamber. The secondary gauge can be a different technology than the reservoir gauge to reduce sensitivity to temperature, humidity, water loss, printer orientation, and other factors. The secondary gauge can be a discrete level gauge including three pins: a drive pin, a lower sensing pin and an upper sensing pin. When the print agent levels reach the lower sensing pin, conductivity is provided between the lower sensing pin and the drive pin; when print agent levels reach the upper sensing pin, conductivity is provided between the upper sensing pin and the drive pin. The difference in print agent levels between the lower sensing pin and the upper sensing pin is the calibration volume. The secondary gauge can also be the same gauge technology as the reservoir gauge. The calibration chamber can be on board the printer on a drain line of the reservoir, or on the print line from the reservoir to the print head. The calibration chamber can also be provided in an external calibration device.
[0010] The calibration chamber may be used at an opportune time, such as when filling the reservoir from an external source, to calibrate the continuous level gauge of the reservoir.
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an example printer 100. The printer 100 may be a 2D printer or a 3D printer. The printer 100 includes a housing 102, a main reservoir 110 disposed in the housing 102, a reservoir gauge 114 coupled to the main reservoir 110, and a circulation pump 120 coupled to the main reservoir 110.
The main reservoir 110 is to contain print agent 112, such as ink, to be used for printing operations. The main reservoir 110 can contain, in some examples, about 600 to about 1600 cubic centimeters (cc) of print agent. For example, the main reservoir 110 may contain about 1600 cc of black print agent or about 600 cc of colored print agent. The reservoir gauge 114 coupled to the main reservoir 110. The reservoir gauge 114 is to measure a volume of print agent 112 contained in the main reservoir 110. The reservoir gauge 114 can be a continuous gauge, such as a dynamic continuous print agent level gauge, or it may be a discrete level gauge. The circulation pump 120 is also coupled to the main reservoir 110 to circulate print agent from the main reservoir to a print head 122 via a print line 124 for printing operations. The printer 100 may include multiple main reservoirs 110 to contain different print agents within the printer 100. For example, the printer 100 may contain separate main reservoirs 100 for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow colored print agent.
[0012] The printer 100 also includes a calibration chamber 130 disposed in the housing 102. The calibration chamber 130 is fluidically coupled to the main reservoir 110 to receive print agent 112 from the main reservoir 110 and to return print agent 112 to the main reservoir 110. The calibration chamber 130 is sized to contain a volume of print agent less than that of the main reservoir 110. For example, the calibration chamber 130 may contain about 50 to about 500 cc of print agent 112. The printer 100 may also include a separate calibration chamber 130 for each main reservoir 110.
[0013] The calibration chamber 130 includes a secondary gauge 132 to detect a calibration volume of print agent received in the calibration chamber 130. The secondary gauge 132 can be a continuous gauge, such as a dynamic continuous ink level gauge, or it may be a discrete level gauge. The calibration chamber 130 and the secondary gauge 132 are precisely calibrated to receive a calibration volume of print agent to calibrate the reservoir gauge 114.
Specifically, a calibration operation may move print agent from the main reservoir 110 to the calibration chamber 130. The calibration volume of print agent received in the calibration chamber may be compared against the difference in volume detected by the reservoir gauge 114 at the start of the calibration operation and at the end of the calibration operation. The calibration operation may also be used to calibrate the circulation pump 120, for example by counting the number of pump revolutions required to fill the calibration chamber 130, or by comparing the time required to fill the calibration chamber 130 with the designated pump rate. Calibration operations may be performed at an initial fill operation of the main reservoir 110, as well as periodically throughout the life of the printer 100.
[0014] The main reservoir 110 and the calibration chamber 130 include vents to atmosphere to prevent vacuums when draining and to prevent over pressurizing during a fill operation. In some examples, vents may be
electronically actuated. The printer 100 may further include additional pumps, fluid lines, valves, pressure control devices and the like (not shown in FIG. 1) to manage operation of the printer 100. For example, the printer 100 can include a controller interconnected with a computer-readable medium to control calibration operations, store calibration values, and the like.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an example printer 200. The printer 200 includes a housing 102, a main reservoir 110 disposed in the housing 102, a reservoir gauge 114 coupled to the main reservoir 110, and a circulation pump 120 coupled to the main reservoir 110. The printer 200 further includes a pressure control device 126 on the print line 124 to maintain constant pressure in the print head 122.
[0016] The printer 200 further includes a supply pump 210 coupled to the main reservoir 110 to receive print agent 112 from an external source 212 via a supply line 214. Specifically, the supply pump 210 may be actuated to pump print agent 112 from the external source 212 through the supply line 214 to the main reservoir 110. The printer 200 further includes a drain line 220 including a drain valve 222. The drain line 220 connects the circulation pump 120 to the supply line 214 to drain the main reservoir using the circulation pump 120. Specifically, the circulation pump 120 may be actuated to pump print agent 112 from the main reservoir 110 through the drain line 220 and the supply line 214 to the external source 212. The circulation pump 120 and the supply pump 210 may also be actuated in combination to recirculate print agent out of the main reservoir 110 at the circulation pump 120 and back into the main reservoir 110 at the supply pump 210.
[0017] The printer 200 further includes a calibration chamber 230 disposed on the drain line 220. The calibration chamber 230 is fluidically coupled to the main reservoir 110 to receive print agent via the circulation pump 120.
Specifically, when the drain valve 222 is opened to allow flow of print agent 112 to the calibration chamber, a flow resistance of the drain line 220 is lower than flow resistance of the print line 124. Accordingly, the circulation pump 120 may be actuated to pump print agent from the main reservoir 110 to the calibration chamber 230. Print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230 can be recirculated to the main reservoir 110 via the supply pump 210. The calibration chamber 230 includes a secondary gauge 232 to detect a change in volume of print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230. Calibration operations may also be used to calibrate the supply pump 210, for example by counting the number of pump revolutions required to drain the calibration chamber 130, or by comparing the time required to drain the calibration chamber 130 with the designated pump rate.
[0018] The printer 200 may further include additional pumps, fluid lines, valves, pressure control devices and the like (not shown in FIG. 2) to manage operation of the printer 200.
[0019] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a close up view of the calibration chamber 230 and the secondary gauge 232. Specifically, the secondary gauge 232 is a discrete level gauge including a drive pin 234, a lower sensing pin 236 and an upper sensing pin 238. The drive pin 234, the lower sensing pin 236 and the upper sensing pin 238 can be conductive pins. In the calibration chamber 230 depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pins extend downwardly from a ceiling of the calibration chamber 230. In other examples, the pins may be arranged to extend upwardly on a bottom of the calibration chamber 230, or otherwise suitably arranged to detect at least two discrete volumes of print agent in the calibration chamber 230. [0020] The lower sensing pin 236 is to detect a first volume 300 of print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230 via conductivity between the drive pin 234 and the lower sensing pin 236. That is, when the calibration chamber 230 contains the first volume 300 of print agent 112, the level of the print agent in the calibration chamber 230 is sufficient to contact the lower sensing pin 236 and the drive pin 234, thereby providing conductivity between the lower sensing pin 236 and the drive pin 234. Accordingly, upon detecting conductivity between the lower sensing pin 236 and the drive pin 234, the secondary gauge 232 determines that the first volume 300 of print agent 112 is contained in the calibration chamber 230.
[0021] Similarly, the upper sensing pin 238 is to detect a second volume 400 of print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230 via conductivity between the drive pin 234 and the upper sensing pin 238. That is, when the calibration chamber 230 contains the second volume 400 of print agent 112, the level of the print agent 112 in the calibration chamber is sufficient to contact the upper sensing pin 238 and the drive pin 234, thereby providing conductivity between the upper sensing pin 238 and the drive pin 234. Accordingly, upon detecting conductivity between the upper sensing pin 238 and the drive pin 234, the secondary gauge 232 determines that the second volume 400 of print agent 112 is contained in the calibration chamber 230.
[0022] In some examples, the secondary gauge 232 can include further sensing pins to detect intermediate volumes of print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230.
[0023] The calibration chamber 230 is specifically calibrated such that the difference between the second volume 400 and the first volume 300 is the calibration volume 410. Thus, as print agent 112 is moved between the main reservoir 110 and the calibration chamber 230, the reservoir gauge 114 of the main reservoir 110 may be calibrated. Specifically, upon detection of the first volume 300 of print agent 112 by the secondary gauge 232, a first detected volume of print agent 112 in the main reservoir 110 may be recorded by the reservoir gauge 114. Upon detection of the second volume of print agent 112 by the secondary gauge 232, a second detected volume of print agent 112 in the main reservoir 110 may be recorded by the reservoir gauge 114. The reservoir gauge 114 can then be calibrated to ensure the difference between the first detected volume and the second detected volume is the calibration volume 410.
[0024] The secondary gauge 232 can perform calibration upon reception of the calibration volume 410 in the calibration chamber 230, or upon drainage of the calibration volume 410 from the calibration chamber 230. For example, the secondary gauge 232 can detect reception of the calibration volume 410 of print agent 112 by the calibration chamber 230 to perform a first calibration of the reservoir gauge 114 and can detect drainage of the calibration volume 410 of the print agent 112 from the calibration chamber 230 to perform a second calibration of the reservoir gauge 114.
[0025] For example, in some examples, the calibration chamber 230 is to store print agent 112 in addition to print agent 112 stored by the main reservoir 110. Specifically, print agent 112 may be circulated to the calibration chamber 230 via the circulation pump 120 for storage in the calibration chamber 230. Accordingly, the secondary gauge 232 can detect reception of the calibration volume 410 of print agent 112 by the calibration chamber 230 to perform a first calibration of the reservoir gauge 114. That is, the first calibration is performed as the volume of print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230 increases from the first volume 300 (e.g. as depicted in FIG. 3) to the second volume 400 (e.g. as depicted in FIG. 4). Print agent 112 may then be stored in the calibration chamber 230.
[0026] Upon depletion of a threshold volume of print agent 112 in the main reservoir 110, print agent 112 stored in the calibration chamber 230 may be recirculated back to the main reservoir 110. Specifically, print agent 112 may be recirculated to the main reservoir 110 via the supply pump 210. Accordingly, the secondary gauge 232 can detect drainage of the calibration volume 410 of print agent 112 from the calibration chamber 230 to perform a second calibration of the reservoir gauge. That is, the second calibration is performed as the volume of the print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230 decreases from the second volume 400 (e.g. as depicted in FIG. 4) to the first volume 300 (e.g. as depicted in FIG. 3).
[0027] In other examples, the first volume 300 of print agent 112 may be the maximum volume of print agent 112 to be stored in the calibration chamber 230. Hence the calibration chamber 230 can still receive the calibration volume 410 of print agent 112 to allow the reservoir gauge 114 to be calibrated while storing print agent 112 in the calibration chamber 230.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of an example printer 500. The printer 500 includes a housing 502, a main reservoir 510 disposed in the housing 502, a reservoir gauge 514 coupled to the main reservoir 510, and a circulation pump 520 coupled to the main reservoir 510. The circulation pump 520 is to circulate print agent 512 from the main reservoir 510 to a print head 522 via a print line 524. The printer 500 further includes a pressure control device 526 on the print line 524 to maintain constant pressure in the print head 522.
[0029] The printer 500 further includes a calibration chamber 530 disposed on the print line 524. The calibration chamber 530 is fluidically coupled to the main reservoir 510 to receive print agent 512 from the main reservoir 510. The calibration chamber 530 includes a secondary gauge 532 to detect a calibration volume of print agent received to calibrate the reservoir gauge 514. For example, during a printing operation, the circulation pump 520 may be actuated to circulate print agent 512 first to the calibration chamber 530, and then to the print head 522. Thus, for example, the secondary gauge 532 can calibrate the reservoir gauge 514 during a printing operation when the calibration chamber 530 receives print agent 512 for circulation to the print head 522.
[0030] The printer 500 may further include additional pumps, fluid lines, valves, pressure control devices and the like (not shown in FIG. 5) to manage operation of the printer 500. [0031] In some examples, the calibration chamber can be housed external to the printer. For example, FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an example calibration device 600. The calibration device 600 includes a calibration chamber 610 to contain print agent 612. The calibration device 600 is to be coupled to a printer 650, and specifically, the calibration chamber 610 is to be coupled to a main reservoir 660 of the printer 650 to receive print agent 612 from the main reservoir 660 and to recirculate print agent 612 back to the main reservoir 660. The calibration device 600 also includes a calibration gauge 620 coupled to the calibration chamber 610 to detect a change in volume of print agent 612 in the calibration chamber 610 to calibrate a reservoir gauge 662 of the printer 650.
[0032] The calibration gauge 620 can include a drive pin 622, a lower sensing pin 624 and an upper sensing pin 626 to form a discrete level gauge. The lower sensing pin 624 is to detect a first volume of print agent 612 in the calibration chamber 610 via conductivity between the drive pin 622 and the lower sensing pin 624. Similarly, the upper sensing pin 626 is to detect a second volume of print agent 612 in the calibration chamber 610 via
conductivity between the drive pin 622 and the upper sensing pin 626. The difference between the second volume and the first volume is the calibration volume.
[0033] Thus, upon detection of the first volume of print agent 612 by the calibration gauge 620, a first detected volume of print agent 612 in the main reservoir 660 may be recorded by the reservoir gauge 662. Upon detection of the second volume of print agent 612 by the calibration gauge 620, a second detected volume of print agent 612 in the main reservoir 660 may be recorded by the reservoir gauge 662. The reservoir gauge 662 can then be calibrated to ensure the difference between the first detected volume and the second detected volume is the calibration volume received in the calibration chamber 610. In some examples, the calibration gauge 620 is to detect reception of the calibration volume of print agent 612 by the calibration chamber 610 to perform a first calibration of the reservoir gauge 662 and drainage of the calibration volume of print agent 612 from the calibration chamber 610 to perform a second calibration of the reservoir gauge 662.
[0034] It should be apparent from the above that a printer having a main reservoir with a reservoir gauge may include a calibration chamber fluidically coupled to the main reservoir to calibrate the reservoir gauge. The calibration chamber is precisely calibrated to receive a calibration volume of print agent from the reservoir to calibrate the reservoir gauge. The calibration chamber includes a secondary gauge, such as a discrete level gauge including a drive pin and two or more sensing pins, to detect discrete volumes of print agent in the calibration chamber. An onboard calibration chamber may also be used to store a supplemental supply of print agent in addition to the main reservoir. The calibration chamber can also be housed in a calibration device external to the printer. The calibration chamber can therefore be used as both a calibration tool and a diagnostic tool.
[0035] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the above examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

1. A printer comprising: a housing; a main reservoir disposed in the housing to contain print agent; a reservoir gauge coupled to the main reservoir, the reservoir gauge to measure a volume of print agent in the main reservoir; a circulation pump coupled to the main reservoir to circulate print agent from the main reservoir to a print head via a print line; and a calibration chamber fluidically coupled to the main reservoir to receive print agent from the main reservoir, the calibration chamber including a secondary gauge to detect a calibration volume of print agent received to calibrate the reservoir gauge.
2. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir gauge comprises a dynamic continuous print agent level gauge.
3. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the secondary gauge includes: a drive pin; a lower sensing pin to detect a first volume of print agent in the calibration chamber via conductivity between the drive pin and the lower sensing pin; and an upper sensing pin to detect a second volume of print agent in the calibration chamber via conductivity between the drive pin and the upper sensing pin, wherein a difference between the second volume and the first volume is the calibration volume.
4. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the secondary gauge is to detect: reception of the calibration volume of print agent by the calibration chamber to perform a first calibration of the reservoir gauge; and drainage of the calibration volume of print agent from the calibration chamber to perform a second calibration of the reservoir gauge.
5. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the calibration chamber is disposed on the print line.
6. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the calibration chamber is disposed on a drain line of the main reservoir.
7. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the calibration chamber is to store print agent in addition to print agent stored in the main reservoir.
8. A printer comprising: a housing; a main reservoir disposed in the housing to contain print agent; a reservoir gauge coupled to the main reservoir, the reservoir gauge to measure a volume of print agent in the main reservoir; a circulation pump coupled to the main reservoir to circulate print agent from the main reservoir to a print head via a print line; a supply pump coupled to the main reservoir to receive print agent from an external source via a supply line; a drain line including a drain valve, the drain line connecting the circulation pump to the supply line to drain the main reservoir using the circulation pump; and a calibration chamber disposed on the drain line and fluidically coupled to the main reservoir to receive print agent via the circulation pump and recirculate print agent via the supply pump, the calibration chamber including a secondary gauge to detect a change in volume of print agent in the calibration chamber by a calibration volume to calibrate the reservoir gauge.
9. The printer of claim 8, wherein the reservoir gauge comprises a dynamic continuous print agent level gauge.
10. The printer of claim 8, wherein the secondary gauge includes: a drive pin; a lower sensing pin to detect a first volume of print agent in the calibration chamber via conductivity between the drive pin and the lower sensing pin; and an upper sensing pin to detect a second volume of print agent in the calibration chamber via conductivity between the drive pin and the upper sensing pin, wherein a difference between the second volume and the first volume is the calibration volume.
11. The printer of claim 8, wherein the secondary gauge is to detect: reception of the calibration volume of print agent by the calibration chamber to perform a first calibration of the reservoir gauge; and drainage of the calibration volume of print agent from the calibration chamber to perform a second calibration of the reservoir gauge.
12. The printer of claim 8, wherein the calibration chamber is to store print agent in addition to print agent stored in the main reservoir.
13. A calibration device comprising: a calibration chamber to contain print agent, the calibration chamber to be coupled to a main reservoir of a printer to receive print agent from the main reservoir and recirculate print agent to the main reservoir; and a calibration gauge coupled to the calibration chamber to detect a change in volume of print agent in the calibration chamber by a calibration volume to calibrate a reservoir gauge of the printer.
14. The calibration device of claim 13, wherein the calibration gauge includes: a drive pin; a lower sensing pin to detect a first volume of print agent in the calibration chamber via conductivity between the drive pin and the lower sensing pin; and an upper sensing pin to detect a second volume of print agent in the calibration chamber via conductivity between the drive pin and the upper sensing pin, wherein a difference between the second volume and the first volume is the calibration volume.
15. The calibration device of claim 13, wherein the calibration gauge is to detect: reception of the calibration volume of print agent by the calibration chamber to perform a first calibration of the reservoir gauge; and drainage of the calibration volume of print agent from the calibration chamber to perform a second calibration of the reservoir gauge.
PCT/US2018/064318 2018-12-06 2018-12-06 Calibration chambers to calibrate reservoir gauges WO2020117251A1 (en)

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7303096B2 (en) * 2000-03-10 2007-12-04 The Water Corporation Liquid delivery system
WO2018077445A1 (en) * 2016-10-31 2018-05-03 Hp Indigo B.V. Calibration of a sensor

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7303096B2 (en) * 2000-03-10 2007-12-04 The Water Corporation Liquid delivery system
WO2018077445A1 (en) * 2016-10-31 2018-05-03 Hp Indigo B.V. Calibration of a sensor

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