US 12,344,003 B2
Device, ink printing system, and method for determining an empty ink state of an ink container
Christoph Rummelsberger, Ismaning (DE); Florian Hitzlsperger, Poing (DE); and Ulrich Stöckle, Munich (DE)
Assigned to Canon Production Printing Holding B.V., Venlo (NL)
Filed by Canon Production Printing Holding B.V., Venlo (NL)
Filed on Jun. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/211,832.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2022 115 378.9 (DE), filed on Jun. 21, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0405999 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. B41J 2/175 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/17566 (2013.01) [B41J 2/17513 (2013.01); B41J 2/17596 (2013.01); B41J 2002/17516 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for determining an empty ink state of an ink container for an ink printing system, wherein the ink container has a rigid outer container and an inner, flexible fluid pouch, the device comprising:
a fluid conduit connected to the inner fluid pouch;
a pump connected to the inner fluid pouch via the fluid conduit, the pump configured to convey fluid out of the inner fluid pouch; and
an evaluation unit operatively connected to the pump,
wherein the pump is configured to output an electrical signal whose periodicity is proportional to a rotational speed of the pump, and
wherein the evaluation unit is configured to monitor a frequency of the electrical signal and, upon the frequency falling below a predetermined threshold, to output that the ink container is empty.