Patent ID: 7942487
Filing Date: 2011-05-17
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A liquid ejection controlling method comprising: (A) a remaining amount detecting step of detecting a remaining amount of a liquid contained for each of a plurality of cartridges containing the liquid to be ejected from nozzles, the remaining amount detecting step being performed by a first controller; (B) an information transmitting step of transmitting information relating to a cartridge with a small remaining amount, when the remaining amount of the liquid in at least one of the cartridges is detected to be equal to or lower than a predetermined amount, the cartridge with the small remaining amount corresponding to the at least one of the cartridges, the information transmitting step being performed by the first controller; (C) a liquid ejection data generating step of generating liquid ejection data for controlling ejection of a liquid contained in a substitute cartridge, by determining at least one cartridge other than the cartridge with the small remaining amount as the substitute cartridge based on the information, relating to the cartridge with the small remaining amount, that has been transmitted, the liquid ejection data generating step being performed by a second controller; (D) an expected consumption amount calculating step of calculating an expected consumption amount of the liquid contained in the substitute cartridge, based on the generated liquid ejection data, the expected consumption amount calculating step being performed by the second controller; (E) a difference calculating step of calculating a difference between a remaining amount of a liquid contained in the cartridge with the small remaining amount and a remaining amount of the liquid contained in the substitute cartridge, based on the calculated expected consumption amount of the liquid and the information relating to the remaining amount of the liquid obtained from the first controller, the difference calculating step being performed by the second controller; and (F) a difference determining step of determining whether or not the calculated difference is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the difference determining step being performed by the second controller.