Ink identification and detection system with ink for use therewith
View Patent ↗An ink identification and detection system includes an imaging apparatus. An ink tank is mounted to the imaging apparatus. The ink tank has a transparent portion. An ink is contained in the ink tank. The ink includes a fluorescing material. An ink detection device is communicatively coupled to a controller. The ink detection device is configured to emit light in a non-visible spectrum of light through the transparent portion to the ink, and is configured to detect light in a visible or near-infrared spectrum of light emitted through the transparent portion by the fluorescing material in the ink. The ink detection device supplies a signal representing the detected light to the controller for identifying the ink.
1. An ink identification and detection system comprising: an imaging apparatus; an ink tank mounted to said imaging apparatus, said ink tank having a transparent portion; an ink contained in said ink tank, said ink including a fluorescing material; a controller and an ink detection device communicatively coupled to said controller said ink detection device being configured to emit light in a non-visible spectrum of light through said transparent portion to said ink, and configured to detect light in a visible or near-infrared spectrum of light emitted through said transparent portion by said fluorescing material in said ink, said ink detection device supplying a signal representing the detected light to said controller for identifying said ink.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said ink detection device includes at least one detection unit, each said detection unit including: a light source for emitting said light in the non-visible spectrum of light; a light filter for filtering said light in the visible or near-IR spectrum of light prior to detection; and a sensor for detecting said light in the visible or near-IR spectrum of light after filtering by said light filter.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein a color of said light filter is selected based on a color of said light emitted by said fluorescing material.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said color filter is one of a green filter, a red filter, a yellow filter, and a blue filter.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said light in the non-visible spectrum of light has a wavelength below about 400 nanometers and said light in the visible or near-infrared spectrum of light has a wavelength in a range of about 400 nanometers to 1000 nanometers.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said ink is one of a monochrome ink and a color ink.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said fluorescing material is an organic fluorescent dye or pigment selected from a group consisting of derivatives of benzoxazine and benzoxazinone.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said fluorescing material is an organic fluorescent dye or pigment selected from a group consisting of complexes of rare earth elements with ligands containing beta, Diketones.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said fluorescing material is an invisible ultraviolet fluorescent colorant.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said invisible ultraviolet fluorescent colorant is selected from a group consisting of fluorescent derivatives of dansyl chloride, coumarin, carbocyanine, naphthalamide, stilbene, squarine, perylene, xanthene, thioxanthene, thioindigoid, acridine, and anthrapyridone dyes and pigments.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein said imaging apparatus mounts a plurality of ink tanks, and said ink detection device including a plurality of detection units respectively associated with said plurality of ink tanks for use in identifying inks contained in said plurality of ink tanks.
12. An imaging apparatus comprising: a print engine configured to mount at least one ink tank; a controller communicatively coupled to said print engine; and an ink detection device communicatively coupled to said controller, said ink detection device being configured to detect light in a visible or near-infrared spectrum of light emitted by a fluorescing material in ink said ink detection device supplying a signal representing the detected light to said controller for identifying said ink.
13. The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said ink detection device includes at least one detection unit, each said detection unit including: a light source for emitting light in a non-visible spectrum of light; a color filter for filtering said light in the visible or near-IR spectrum of light prior to detection; and a sensor for detecting said light in the visible or near-IR spectrum of light after filtering by said color filter.
14. The imaging apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said light in the non-visible spectrum of light has a wavelength below about 400 nanometers and said light in the visible or near-infrared spectrum of light has a wavelength in a range of about 400 nanometers to 1000 nanometers.