Patent ID: 7172260
Filing Date: 2007-02-06
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A liquid spraying method for spraying liquid from inside a plurality of liquid containers through a liquid spraying head to a target in accordance with a predetermined spraying procedure, the method comprising: determining, upon receipt of a print request, and before printing begins, whether a remaining amount of liquid inside each of the liquid container is less than or equal to a reference value; executing a monitoring process of liquid only when the remaining amount of liquid inside at least one liquid container before printing begins is less than or equal to the reference value; wherein the monitoring process of liquid comprises: calculating a usage of liquid required for the spraying procedure; and determining whether the calculated usage of liquid is less than or equal to the remaining amount of liquid; wherein, when there is only one liquid container that has a remaining amount of liquid that is less than or equal to the reference value, the monitoring process of liquid is executed on only the liquid container that has a remaining amount of liquid that is less than or equal to the reference value; wherein, when there is more than one liquid container that has a remaining amount of liquid that is less than or equal to the reference value, the monitoring process of liquid is executed on at least a liquid container that has a smallest remaining amount of liquid; and wherein the target is one of a plurality of targets, and wherein the reference value is variable, based on the size of the target and the number of targets.