JP2001138547A - Ink jet recorder, ink jet recording method, ink cartridge, and method for managing available period of ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage the effective available time of an ink cartridge without causing complication of the structure. SOLUTION: The ink jet recorder comprises an ink jet recording head 17, an ink cartridge 5 for supplying ink to the ink jet recording head provided with a semiconductor memory means storing data for determining the effective available time of an ink cartridge after it is loaded into the recorder, and means for controlling the recording head 17 depending on the print data comprising a CPU 60, an RAM 61 and an ROM 62 wherein the control means calculates an effective available time based on the time elapsed after the ink cartridge is loaded into the recorder and the effective available time stored in the memory means and then updates the effective available time stored in the memory means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for supplying an ink from an ink cartridge to an ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage to form an ink image on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a recording apparatus in which an ink cartridge is mounted on a recording apparatus and ink is supplied to an ink jet recording head via a pipe, a bag or a sealed container having high air-tightness when the ink cartridge is not used is used. Although sealed, the ink solvent evaporates from the air opening holes that help the ink to flow out, and from the polymer material containers, conduits, and recording heads that make up the cartridge when it is installed in the recording device. As a result, the viscosity of the ink increases with time, which hinders the recording operation.

For this reason, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-33866, a microcomputer having a timer function is attached to the ink cartridge to manage the elapsed time from the time when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus and to effectively use the microcomputer. It has been proposed that the display be performed when the possible time has elapsed.

[0004]

According to this method, it is possible to prevent printing defects due to reduced-quality ink due to evaporation of an ink solvent after being mounted on a recording apparatus. There is a problem in that a device and a power supply for driving the device are required, resulting in a complicated structure and an increase in cost. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of managing an effective usable time of an ink cartridge without causing a complicated structure. To provide. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording method capable of managing the effective usable time of an ink cartridge without complicating the structure. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge suitable for the recording apparatus and the recording method. Still another object of the present invention is to propose a method for managing the expiration date of the ink cartridge.

[0005]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides an ink jet recording head and an effective use for defining a writable and usable effective time after being attached to a recording apparatus. An ink cartridge that is provided with storage means for storing data relating to an available time or an effective usable period and supplies ink to the inkjet recording head; and a control means for controlling the operation of the recording head in accordance with print data. The control means may set a new effective usable time or effective usable period based on an elapsed time since the use of the ink cartridge is started and the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable period. Calculating, and storing the new effective usable time or effective usable period in the storage means. It was.

[0006]

Since only the effective usable time is stored in the storage means of the ink cartridge, a microcomputer for aging and a power supply are not required.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, which is constituted by accommodating a printing mechanism to be described later in a case comprising an openable and closable case cover 1 and a case main body 2. A window 4 is formed in the main body 2 at a position distant from the printing area 3 to divide the cartridge replacement area.

The window 4 is formed in such a size that the upper surface of only one of the two cartridges 5 and 6 mounted on the carriage is entirely exposed. When the case cover 1 is closed, the main body case 2 is exposed. In the area, the operation panel 7
And a power switch 8, a cartridge replacement command switch 9, a cleaning command switch 10,
In addition to the continuation command switch 11, a display 12 is provided.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention with respect to a printing mechanism. A carriage 15 connected to a drive motor 14 via a timing belt 13 has an upper surface. A holder 16 for storing a black ink cartridge 5 containing black ink and a color ink cartridge 6 containing color ink, which will be described later, is formed. On the lower surface, a recording head 17 receiving ink supply from each of the ink cartridges 5 and 6 is formed. Is provided.

The carriage 15 is connected to a control device 19 to be described later via a flexible cable 18,
A print signal is supplied to the recording head 17 and communication with the storage means 53 of the ink cartridges 5 and 6 is enabled.

In the non-printing area, a cleaning blade 20 for cleaning the recording head 17 and the recording head 1 are provided.
A capping means 22 is provided for sealing 7 so as to prevent the ink from drying and for receiving clogged negative pressure from the pump unit 21 to eliminate clogging. Reference numeral 23 in the figure denotes a paper feed roller 24 and the pump unit 2.
1 shows a paper feed motor for driving the motor 1.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the black ink cartridge 5 and the color ink cartridge 6 in which ink is stored in containers 31 and 41 and the upper surface is covered with a lid 3.
2 and 42 are sealed. The ink is stored in the container
42 is filled with a porous body and housed in a state of being impregnated therein. The carriage 1 is provided on the bottom surface of the containers 31 and 41.
When the ink supply needles 25, 2
The ink supply ports 33 and 43 are formed so as to be airtightly engaged with the circuit board 6.

As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the circuit board 50 has a cartridge holder 12 of the recording apparatus on the side which becomes the surface when the ink cartridges 5 and 6 are mounted.
The electrodes 51 and 52 for forming a contact with the contact 27 (FIG. 5) are formed, and a semiconductor storage means 53 is mounted on the back surface so as to be accessible.

The storage means 53 is constituted by an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory or the like, and includes a serial number for specifying the cartridge, the amount of ink contained in the cartridge, the types of the cartridges 5, 6, and the product. In addition to the trademark that clarifies the source of the above, it specifies the effective usable time from the time of attachment to the recording device, that is, the time after unpacking or the usable time after being attached to the recording head. Is written before shipment from the factory. In this data, the maximum effective usable time usable in the recording apparatus main body is written, and when the effective usable time becomes zero, the effective usable time has elapsed. For example, when data of 6 months is stored as the effective usable time (period) at the time of shipment from the factory, the data is subtracted according to the elapsed time after mounting,
For example, when one month has elapsed, five months is stored in the storage unit 53 as a new effective usable time. However,
The effective usable time is not limited to the above-described configuration.
It is also possible to determine whether or not the effective usable time has elapsed by storing the elapsed time after mounting in the storage device 3 and comparing it with the maximum effective usable time stored in the recording apparatus main body. Further, as another aspect, information on the date and time when the ink cartridge was first mounted is stored in the storage means 53 of the ink cartridge.
May be used to determine whether the effective usable time has elapsed in the recording apparatus main body using the information on the date and time. In this case, the information of the date and time when the ink cartridge was attached to the recording apparatus may be stored in the ink cartridge. The calculated effective period may be stored in the storage unit 53 of the ink cartridge, and the valid usable period may be compared with the current date and time information to determine whether the valid usable period has elapsed.

As shown in Table 1, the data for calculating the valid usable time or the valid usable period is changed according to the environment in which the recording apparatus is installed, for example, the average environmental temperature in a predetermined time. be able to. For example, Table 1
Indicates a table for changing the effective usable time or the effective usable period. The column of the environmental temperature indicates a predetermined temperature range, and the column of the expiration date indicates the average environmental temperature within a predetermined time. Indicates a coefficient for changing the effective usable time, that is, extending or shortening the effective usable time. Specifically, when the average use environment temperature for one month within the predetermined period is within the range of T1-T2, the coefficient “0.5” set as L1 is multiplied by one month for the predetermined period to effectively use the system. Calculate 0.5 months, which is the elapsed time from the possible time. Further, this time is set to the immediately preceding effective usable time, for example, 6
In the case of months, 0.5 months is subtracted from 6 months to calculate 5.5 months, which is the effective usable time after updating. In the above description, the example of calculating the effective usable time is taken as an example, but it is apparent that the present invention can be similarly applied to the case where the effective usable time is managed.

[Table 1]

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the above-mentioned control device 19, in which a CPU 60, a RAM 61, a ROM 6
2 constitutes a microcomputer, which is connected to the host 70 via the interface 63. The RAM 61 functions as a work memory of the CPU 60, and reads out the ink cartridge 5 read from the semiconductor storage unit 53 of the ink cartridge by the read / write unit 64.
Area for temporarily storing the data of
2 stores a control program.

The ink cartridge detecting means 65 is a conductive state of two contacts which are conducted through the relatively large electrodes 52 of the circuit board 50 of each of the ink cartridges 5 and 6, that is, a conducting path when the ink cartridge is mounted. Is formed, and if not mounted, the presence / absence of mounting is detected based on the fact that it is open. The carriage is provided with an environment detecting means, in this embodiment, a temperature detecting means 68, so that the temperature of the ink cartridge can be detected.

The device configured in this way is the host 70
A drive signal is output to the recording head 17 by the head driving means 66 based on the print data from the printer to cause the recording head 17 to eject ink droplets. The drive unit 67 operates the pump unit 21 to forcibly discharge ink from the recording head 17. The amount of ink used for printing and cleaning is counted by a microcomputer and stored in the ROM 62.

Reference numeral 69 in the figure denotes a power supply shut-off means for supplying power from the time when the power switch 8 of the operation panel 7 is operated until the end processing of the apparatus is completed, and thereafter cutting off the power of the commercial power supply. .

Next, the operation of the apparatus thus constructed will be described with reference to FIG.
A description will be given based on the flowchart shown in FIG. The recording device is connected to the host 70 by a cable as is well known, and is controlled by driver software for driving the recording device installed in the host 70 in advance. In this state, in order to replace the ink cartridge, the driver software is started to display an ink cartridge replacement menu to instruct ink cartridge replacement, or the cartridge replacement command switch 9 is operated.

As a result, an exchange command signal is input from the host 70 or the cartridge exchange command switch 9 to the control unit of the recording apparatus, and the microcomputer of the recording apparatus performs predetermined processing, that is, moves the carriage 15 to the ink cartridge exchange position. When the ink cartridge has been replaced (step b), data defining the effective usable time is read from the storage means 53 of the ink cartridge via the read / write means 64 (step b), and the RAM 61 of the recording device is read. Alternatively, it is stored in the ROM 62. In the present embodiment, the maximum effective usable time is initially stored as the effective usable time, and this is subtracted from the elapsed time after mounting.

When an ink cartridge whose effective usable time is not stored in the storage means 53 is used, the effective usable time is stored in the ROM 62 of the recording apparatus, and the ink cartridge is mounted when the ink cartridge is mounted. ROM
The effective usable time may be read from 62.

If the effective usable time of the mounted ink cartridge has already passed, that is, if the effective usable time is zero (step c), the host 7
A signal is output to 0 to display on the display 71 of the host 70 that the effective usable period is over or the ink is out (step o), and that the effective usable period is not zero, ie, the effective usable period is not zero. In this case, information to be normally stored when the ink cartridge is mounted in the storage means 53 of the ink cartridge, for example,
Write data such as the number of attachments and the date and time of attachment (step
D) After the carriage 15 is moved to seal the recording head 17 with the capping unit 22, the pump unit 21 is operated to fill the recording head 17 with ink (step E).

In this way, printing is possible (step F), and when a print command is input from the host (step F), the microphone computer turns on the head driving means 66.
To drive the recording head 17 to eject ink droplets to execute a printing operation (step).

The microcomputer detects the environment in which the ink cartridge is placed, for example, by integrating the temperature data from the temperature detecting means 68 every time a predetermined time elapses in accordance with such a printing operation (step 1). To calculate the effective usable time (step nu). For example, when used at a temperature lower than the average environmental temperature, the ink solvent evaporates less, so that the effective usable time is extended. Since the evaporation rate is high and the viscosity is easily increased, processing such as shortening the effective usable time from a prescribed value is performed. This processing is performed in the same manner as described in [0015].

When the amount of ink consumed since the ink cartridge is mounted decreases to the near end, that is, the amount of ink immediately before the ink in the ink cartridge becomes empty (step e), a signal is output to the host 70. The ink end is displayed on the display 71 of the host 70 (step w) to urge the user to replace the ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge is replaced with a new one (Step F), the above-mentioned Step (A) is performed.
If the cartridge is not replaced, the process waits until the power is turned off by the power switch 8 in that state (step y).

On the other hand, if the effective usable time elapses before the ink is consumed up to the near end (step
), A signal is output to the host 70 to indicate on the display 71 of the host 70 that the effective usable time has expired (step w), and replacement of the ink cartridge is recommended. As a result, it is possible to prevent the print quality from being deteriorated due to long-time mounting, and to shorten the service life of the recording head 17 by performing useless cleaning in order to recover essential printing defects due to ink deterioration by cleaning. Can be prevented. When the ink cartridge is replaced with a new one, the process returns to the above step (a). When the cartridge is not replaced, the process waits until the power switch is turned off in that state (step
Yo).

When the power is turned off by the power switch 8 after the printing is completed (step y), the data relating to the ink cartridge in the RAM 61 is saved in the ROM 62, and the power is cut off when the completion processing is completed. (Stepper).

By the way, in order to further improve the printing quality, the ink cartridge is distributed under strict control by increasing the degree of deaeration of the ink or being packaged in air-tight bags or containers. However, there is a limit in maintaining the air-tightness of the package, and the components constituting the ink are also changed irrespective of the environment and are subject to absolute time restrictions.

For this reason, the life of the ink cartridge from the time of shipment, that is, the so-called “effective usable period after production” is displayed on the package to draw the user's attention, and stored in the storage means of the ink cartridge. But it can be managed. Ink cartridge storage means 53
May be a date calculated from the data of the manufacturing date and the validity period after the manufacturing. When calculating the post-manufacture effective use period based on the production date data, information on the post-manufacture effective use “period (time)” is stored in advance in the storage unit of the recording device, From the “period (hour)” and the production date data, an effective usable period after production can be calculated. When the effective usable period after manufacturing is managed in this manner, it is possible to change the effective usable period after manufacturing according to the mounted environmental temperature.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment suitable for the case where such data relating to the effective usable period after manufacture is stored in an ink cartridge. At the stage when the ink cartridge is replaced (step b), the data defining the effective usable period after manufacture and the effective usable time is read from the storage means 53 of the ink cartridge 5 via the read / write means 64 (step b). B), R of the recording device
It is stored in the AM 61 or the ROM 62.

If the attached ink cartridge has already passed the effective usable period after its manufacture (step C), a signal is output to the host 70 and the display 71 of the host 70 is used after the manufacture. The fact that the available period has expired or that the ink has run out is displayed (step S4), and the user is notified to replace the ink cartridge.

Subsequently, the valid usable time is determined (step d). If the time has elapsed, a signal is output to the host 70 to indicate that the valid usable time has been exceeded on the display 71 of the host 70, or The fact that the ink is out is displayed (step f), and a notification urging replacement of the ink cartridge is performed.

If both the valid usable period and the valid usable time have not elapsed after the manufacture, that is, if the valid usable period is within the valid period, data such as data specifying the date and time to be stored when the ink cartridge is mounted is set. A series of data is written into the storage means 53 of the ink cartridge (Step E), and the recording head 17 is filled with ink (Step F).

In this way, printing is possible (step T), and when a print command is input from the host (step T), the printing operation is executed (step T).

Each time a predetermined time elapses in accordance with such a printing operation (step nu), the microcomputer integrates the temperature data from the temperature detecting means 68 to change the environment in which the ink cartridge is placed. Detect and calculate the effective usable time (step). For example, when used at a temperature lower than the average environmental temperature, the ink solvent evaporates less, so that the effective usable time is extended. Since the evaporation rate is high and the viscosity is easily increased, processing such as shortening the effective usable time from a prescribed value is performed.

When the amount of ink consumed since the ink cartridge is mounted decreases to the near end, that is, to the amount of ink immediately before the ink cartridge becomes empty (step w), a signal is output to the host 70. The ink end is displayed on the display 71 of the host 70 (step S4), and the user is notified to replace the ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge is replaced with a new one (step y), the process returns to step (a). When the cartridge is not replaced, the process waits until the power is turned off by the power switch 8 in that state (step y). Stepta).

On the other hand, if the effective usable time elapses before the ink is consumed up to the near end (step
E) A signal is output to the host 70 to indicate on the display 71 of the host 70 that the effective usable time has expired (step f), and it is recommended to replace the ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge is replaced with a new one (Step Y), the process returns to Step (A) described above,
If the cartridge is not replaced, the process waits until the power is turned off by the power switch 8 in that state (step ta).

Further, if the remaining amount of ink is sufficient and the effective usable period of the ink cartridge remains, but the effective usable period has elapsed after manufacturing (step C), A signal is output to the host 70 to notify the display 71 of the host 70 that the valid usable period has expired after the manufacture (step f), and it is recommended to replace the ink cartridge. As a result, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the printing quality due to the substantial deterioration of the ink due to the lapse of a long time from the manufacturing, and to recover the essential printing failure due to the deterioration of the ink by cleaning. It is possible to prevent the life of the recording head 17 from being shortened by performing unnecessary cleaning. Note that the effective usable period after manufacturing is also affected by the environmental temperature.If the product is used at an environmental temperature lower than the expected ambient temperature during manufacturing, the effective usable period after manufacturing should be extended. Or, if used at high temperatures, to reduce the useful life after manufacture,
It is possible to more accurately manage the effective usable period after manufacturing.

When the power switch 8 is instructed to turn off the power (step), the data relating to the ink cartridge in the RAM 61 is saved in the ROM 62, and the power is turned off when the end processing is completed (step). ).

In the above-described embodiment, the data relating to the effective usable time for each environment is stored in the storage unit of the ink cartridge. However, the storage unit of the printing apparatus or the host connected to the printing apparatus is used. Obviously, the same operation is achieved even when the data is stored in the storage means of the computer. The calculation of the effective usable time can be executed not only by the control device of the printing apparatus but also by a host computer connected to the printing apparatus. Further, the driver software to be installed in the host computer to operate the recording apparatus can be supplied from a storage medium or a network such as the Internet. Therefore, the driver software for calculating the effective usable time of the ink cartridge of the present invention can be provided. Routines can optionally be selectively included in the driver software.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the recording apparatus of the type in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage has been described as an example, but the ink cartridge is installed in a box and the ink is supplied to the recording head by an ink supply tube. The same effect is obtained when applied to an ink jet recording apparatus or an ink cartridge used for the same.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ink jet recording head, the effective usable time or the effective usable time for defining the effective usable time after being writable and attached to the recording apparatus. A storage unit for storing data relating to the ink cartridge, and an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the ink jet recording head, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the recording head in accordance with the print data. A new effective usable time or effective usable period is calculated based on the elapsed time from the start of use and the data of the effective usable time or effective usable period, and the new effective usable time is stored in the storage means. Since the time or the effective use period is stored, the ink cartridge Without requiring a dynamic element and power, etc., it can be managed effectively usable period of the ink cartridge with a simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a printing mechanism of the above device.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing one embodiment of a cartridge for black ink and a cartridge for color ink, respectively, used in the above apparatus.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the front and back structures of a circuit board mounted on the same ink cartridge, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a black ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5, 6 ink cartridge 7 operation panel 17 recording head 50 circuit board 53 semiconductor storage means 68 temperature detection means

Claims (35)

[Claims] An ink jet recording head, and storage means for storing data relating to an effective usable time or an effective usable period that defines a valid usable time after being writable and attached to the recording apparatus, An ink cartridge that supplies ink to the ink jet recording head; and a control unit that controls an operation of the recording head in accordance with print data, wherein the control unit determines whether or not the operation of the ink cartridge has been started. The new valid usable time or valid usable period is calculated based on the time and the valid usable time or valid usable period data, and the new valid usable time or valid usable time is stored in the storage means. An inkjet recording device that stores a period. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit updates the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable period at regular intervals. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable time based on an environmental temperature. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit extends or shortens the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable time based on an environmental temperature. 5. An ink jet recording head, an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the ink jet recording head, and control means for controlling the operation of the recording head in accordance with print data, wherein the ink cartridge is provided in the recording apparatus. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the control means calculates data of an effective usable time or an effective usable period for defining an effective usable time after the mounting, based on an environmental temperature. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit stores the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable period in a storage unit attached to the ink cartridge. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit updates the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable period at regular intervals. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit changes the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable time based on the environmental temperature. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit extends or shortens the effective usable time or the effective usable period based on an environmental temperature. 10. An ink jet recording head and data of an effective usable time or an effective usable period for defining an effective usable time or data of the effective usable period after the production for defining an expiration date after manufacturing the ink cartridge. An ink cartridge provided with storage means for supplying ink to the ink jet recording head; and control means for controlling the operation of the recording head in accordance with print data, wherein the control means controls whether the ink cartridge has Elapsed time after being attached to the device or the current time at the time of attachment, and comparing the effective usable time or the effective usable period or the data of the effective usable period after manufacturing, the elapsed time or the current time, The effective use time or effective use period or the effective use period after manufacturing An ink jet recording device that notifies when the time has elapsed. 11. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit updates the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable period at regular intervals. 12. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit changes the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable period based on an environmental temperature. 13. The control means extends the effective usable time or the effective usable period based on an environmental temperature,
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus is shortened. 14. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit changes the effective usable period after manufacture according to an environmental temperature. 15. An inkjet recording head, and storage means for storing data relating to an effective usable time or an effective usable period which is writable and specifies an effective usable time after being attached to the recording apparatus, In a method of performing recording by an inkjet recording apparatus comprising: an ink cartridge that supplies ink to the inkjet recording head; and control means that controls an operation of the recording head in accordance with print data, wherein the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus. Based on the elapsed time after mounting or the current time at the time of mounting, and the valid usable time or valid usable period, a new valid usable time or valid usable period is calculated, and the new storage means is stored in the storage means. Inkjet that stores effective usable time or effective usable period Recording method. 16. The ink jet recording method according to claim 15, wherein the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable period is updated at regular intervals. 17. The ink jet recording method according to claim 15, wherein the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable time is changed based on an environmental temperature. 18. The ink jet recording method according to claim 15, wherein the effective usable time or the effective usable period is extended or shortened based on an environmental temperature. 19. A method for recording by an ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet recording head; an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the ink jet recording head; and control means for controlling the operation of the recording head in accordance with print data. And an ink jet recording method for calculating an effective usable time or an effective usable period after the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus based on the environmental temperature. 20. The ink jet recording method according to claim 19, wherein the effective usable time or the effective usable time is stored in a storage unit attached to the ink cartridge. 21. The ink jet recording method according to claim 19, wherein the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable period is updated at regular intervals. 22. The ink jet recording method according to claim 19, wherein the effective usable time or the effective usable time is extended or shortened based on an environmental temperature. 23. An ink jet recording head and data of the effective usable time or the effective usable period that defines the effective usable period or the data of the effective usable period after the production that defines the expiration date after the manufacture of the ink cartridge. A method for recording by an ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink cartridge attached to the recording means and supplying ink to the ink jet recording head; and control means for controlling the operation of the recording head in accordance with print data. Comparing the elapsed time after the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus or the current time at the time of mounting with the effective usable time, the effective usable period, or the effective usable period after manufacturing; and The elapsed time since it was attached to the recording device Current time, the ink jet recording method comprising a step of notifying at the time of the lapse of the valid usage time or valid usable period or the after production effectively usable period. 24. The ink jet recording method according to claim 23, wherein the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable period is updated at regular intervals. 25. The ink jet recording method according to claim 23, wherein the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable period is changed based on an environmental temperature. 26. The ink jet recording method according to claim 23, wherein the effective usable time or the effective usable time is extended or shortened based on an environmental temperature. 27. The ink jet recording method according to claim 23, wherein the effective usable period after the manufacturing is changed according to an environmental temperature. 28. Data of an effective usable period after manufacture that defines an expiration date after manufacture of an ink cartridge, and data that defines an effective usable time or an effective usable period after being mounted on an ink jet recording apparatus. An ink cartridge provided with storage means for storing. 29. The ink cartridge according to claim 28, wherein the storage means stores the data defining the effective usable time or the effective usable time after being attached to the ink jet recording apparatus in an updatable manner from the outside. . 30. Data of a post-manufacturing effective usable period which defines an expiration date after manufacturing of an ink cartridge, and a valid usable time or an effective usable period after the ink cartridge is mounted on an ink jet recording apparatus. A method for managing the expiration date of an ink cartridge having storage means for storing prescribed data, wherein the data of the effective usable time or the effective usable period or the data of the effective usable period after manufacturing is updated at regular intervals. A method for managing a usable period of an ink cartridge. 31. The usable ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the data of the effective usable time, the effective usable period, or the effective usable period after manufacturing is changed based on an environmental temperature. Period management method. 32. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the data of the effective usable time, the effective usable period, or the effective usable period after manufacturing is extended or shortened based on an environmental temperature. How to manage the usable period of 33. Detecting the elapsed time after the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus or the current time at the time of mounting, and notifying when the time after mounting has passed the effective usable period after manufacture. 31. The method according to claim 30, wherein
3. The method for managing a usable period of an ink cartridge according to claim 1. 34. The new effective usable time based on the elapsed time since the ink cartridge was mounted on the recording apparatus or the current time at the time of mounting, and the effective usable time or effective usable period data. 31. The ink cartridge usable period management method according to claim 30, wherein a time or an effective usable period is calculated, and the calculated new effective usable time or effective usable period is stored in the storage unit. 35. The method according to claim 30, wherein the effective usable period after manufacture is changed in accordance with an environmental temperature.
31. The method for managing the usable period of an ink cartridge according to claim 30.