JP3740929B2 - ink cartridge - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink cartridge (including an ink ribbon cartridge) that is mounted on a main body of a printer and used for printing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, the type of ink used in a serial printer such as an ink jet printer or impact printer is determined. Therefore, an ink cartridge having an ink that has different characteristics (unusable) from ink that can be used in the serial printer. If the printer is installed in the printer by mistake and printing is performed, the print defect or the print head will be damaged. For example, in the case of an ink jet printer, a print defect or a print head nozzle clogging occurs due to a difference in ink viscosity, and in an impact printer, the print head pin wears due to a difference in the ink content of the ink ribbon. This increases the life of the print head significantly.
[0003]
As a solution to this problem, there has been conventionally disclosed in JP-A-8-310007. This is provided in the ink cartridge, and stores a first storage unit (storage element) for storing identification data indicating the type of the ink cartridge, and a comparison data provided in the main body and compared with the identification data. A second storage unit and a control unit that compares the identification data and the comparison data and determines whether or not the two data match each other are provided. While the ink cartridge is mounted on the main body, the control unit reads identification data from the first storage unit and reads comparison data from the second storage unit to compare the two data. At this time, if it is determined that the two data match, a printing operation is performed.
[0004]
In short, in the case of the prior art, identification data indicating the type of ink is stored in the storage element mounted on the ink cartridge, and if this does not match the comparison data provided in the main body, the ink cartridge must be replaced. Prompt.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the prior art, identification data indicating the type of ink is stored in the storage element mounted on the ink cartridge, and if this does not match the comparison data provided in the main body, it is urged to replace the ink cartridge. In other words, since the configuration is such that “no printing” is performed, there are the following problems.
[0006]
First, with respect to a storage element mounted on an ink cartridge, data in the storage element is destroyed due to static electricity or the like, for example, all data is changed to “00”, “FF”, or other forms. There is. In addition, an oxide film may exist between the printer main body and the storage element of the ink cartridge, which may cause an electrical contact failure. In such a case, although the ink cartridge itself is not broken, it cannot be used.
[0007]
In the case of an ink cartridge not equipped with a storage element, it cannot be used at all.
[0008]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge that can easily determine whether or not the stored information of the mounted storage element is destroyed.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an ink cartridge which is mounted on a printer body and used for printing, and includes a storage element storing ink information, and the ink of the storage element In an ink cartridge in which information is read from the printer body side and used as part of printing conditions, a plurality of types of ink information related to ink are stored in a predetermined format in the storage element, and the ink information Is used for determining whether to print on the printer main body under the optimum driving condition for the appropriate ink cartridge, or to print on the general-purpose driving condition that can safely perform printing on ink cartridges other than the appropriate ink cartridge. It is characterized by being composed of possible information.
[0010]
Here, the optimum drive condition for the appropriate ink cartridge is selected in advance for the color correction table, the applied voltage for ejection, the transport time for paper feed, etc., in order to exhibit the best print quality with the appropriate ink cartridge. It refers to the conditions (setting values) that have been established.
[0011]
According to the present invention, since the data format of the ink information stored in the storage element is fixed and the arrangement order of the plurality of types of information regarding the ink is determined in advance, the destruction of the storage element can be easily estimated. . In other words, by fixing the data format, the number of bits of the storage element for storing the ink information can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the index is added for each ink information, and the destruction of the storage element is estimated on the main body side. The configuration is also simple.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge which is mounted on a printer main body and used for printing, and includes a storage element storing ink information, and the ink information of the storage element is received from the main body side. In an ink cartridge that is read and used for a part of printing conditions, a plurality of types of ink information related to ink are stored in a predetermined format in the storage element, and the ink information is stored on the main body side. Essential technical information necessary for determining whether printing is performed under an optimum driving condition for an appropriate ink cartridge or whether printing is performed under a general-purpose driving condition capable of safely performing printing on an ink cartridge other than the appropriate ink cartridge; It consists of additional information that is not necessarily required for the determination process, and consists of this essential technical information and additional information on the main body side. It is characterized in that it has available to switching of the driving conditions of the printer performs the determination process incorporating as the target to one or more or determine all of the interest information elements of the link information.
[0013]
According to the present invention, when determining whether or not the ink information is within the normal setting range and determining whether or not to switch between the optimum driving condition and the general-purpose driving condition, the essential technical information. In addition to this, it is determined whether or not the additional information is within the normal setting range, and the result is added to improve the accuracy of determining whether or not the ink information is truly destroyed. Can do. For example, if the essential technical information is replaced by data for some reason within the normal setting range, the data is not apparently destroyed. It is replaced with data that does not match the ink information. This is substantially data destruction, and printing under optimum driving conditions based on the data results in printing under driving conditions that do not match true ink, and is likely to cause printing troubles. Therefore, in such a case, it is desirable to execute printing under general-purpose driving conditions.
[0014]
According to the present invention, since the probability that data destruction can be found is increased by adding the additional information and the determination target information, for example, the essential technical information is replaced with data within the normal setting range as described above. If this occurs, the data portion (item) does not appear to be corrupted, but if there is a cause for such data exchange, the additional information will also be destroyed. As the probability increases, if data destruction is found in the additional information part, it is assumed that there was actually data destruction in the essential technical information part on the basis of this destruction, and the safety-side general-purpose driving conditions are satisfied. Switching can be executed for printing. Thereby, the occurrence of printing trouble can be reduced with high accuracy.
[0015]
The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the ink cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ink information includes information on ink type and pigment as essential technical information. It is what. As a result, the printer main body side can perform the determination process by paying attention to this essential technical information and switch the driving conditions.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to any one of the first to third aspects, the storage element is a readable / writable element. According to the present invention, since the record information can be written, even if the ink cartridge is removed from the printer body in the middle and reattached for use, for example, the state at the time of removal (for example, the ink remaining) Amount, etc.) can be recorded. Including other uses, the degree of freedom of use increases.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a serial printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The serial printer has a printer main body 1 and an ink cartridge 2 attached to the printer main body 1. In the present embodiment, the ink cartridge 2 is equipped with a storage element 3 that can be read and written, and the storage element 3 stores a plurality of types of ink information related to ink in a form in which the data format is fixed. Has been. Since the storage element 3 can write record information in this way, even when the ink cartridge is removed from the printer body and reattached for use, for example, the state at the time of removal (for example, ink It is possible to record the remaining amount, etc., and the degree of freedom of its use is increased. Note that the memory element may be a read-only element.
[0021]
The printer main body 1 has a CPU 4 as a control unit that regulates the overall operation of the serial printer. The CPU 4 is provided with a memory 5 for storing a control program and data, and a print drive for controlling a print operation. An interface circuit unit 7 that receives print data from a control unit 6 and a host device (not shown) is connected. The print drive control unit 6 is connected to a print head, a spacing motor for a carriage spacing operation, and a line feed motor for a sheet transport operation (not shown).
[0022]
In the CPU 4, the optimum drive condition storage means 8 that stores the optimum drive condition for the proper ink cartridge promised to be used in the printer main body and the safe printing for ink cartridges other than the proper ink cartridge are also provided. A general-purpose driving condition storage means 9 that stores general-purpose driving conditions that can be performed is connected.
[0023]
In the present embodiment, the former optimum drive condition storage unit 8 is configured to change the color correction table storage unit 81, the head drive condition storage unit 82 that defines the set value of the applied voltage for ejection, and the drying time. And a paper feed time storage unit 83 that defines the paper transport time. Normally, based on the information from the optimum drive condition storage means 8, the print drive control unit 6 is selected as the optimum quality mode via the mode selection unit 10, and print data is printed in the optimum quality mode. It is like that. The optimum drive condition for this optimum quality mode is preset for each printer.
[0024]
The latter general-purpose driving condition storage means 9 is a general-purpose driving condition that can safely perform printing on ink cartridges other than the proper ink cartridge. In this embodiment, the general-purpose driving condition storage means 9 performs powerful ejection even when the ink viscosity is high. The head drive condition storage unit 92 with an increased applied voltage for ejection, that is, an increased ejection pressure, and a long paper conveyance time so that sufficient drying time can be obtained even for ink that is difficult to dry. And a paper feed time storage unit 93.
[0025]
In the present embodiment, the mode selection unit 10 inputs the print drive control unit 6 into the optimum quality mode based on the optimum drive condition from the optimum drive condition storage unit 8 and the general-purpose drive condition storage unit 9. It is configured to be able to switch between general-purpose quality modes depending on driving conditions. When the general-purpose quality mode is selected, the print drive control unit 6 is selected as the general-purpose quality mode based on the information from the general-purpose drive condition storage unit 9, and print data is printed in the general-purpose quality mode.
[0026]
Further, the CPU 4 stores setting range storage means 12 for storing normal setting range data for comparison, which is a range of values that should be entered when the ink information of the storage element 3 is normal, and is stored in the storage element 3. The data reading unit 13 that serially reads the ink information and one or more or all of the focused information of the read ink information are compared with the normal setting range data, and the focused information is within the normal setting range. In some cases, printing is performed using the optimum driving condition from the optimum driving condition storage unit 8, and when the target information is outside the normal setting range, the general driving condition from the general purpose driving condition storage unit 9 is set. And a determination unit 14 that causes printing to be performed.
[0027]
In the case of this embodiment, the data format of a plurality of types of ink information relating to the ink stored in the storage element 3 of the ink cartridge 2 is fixed, and a series of information is not obtained when the information in the storage element 3 is read out. The contents are checked from the beginning, and if an impossible value is detected at that time, it is determined that the stored contents of the storage element 3 are destroyed, and the printer main body is driven in a preset general quality mode. To do. In other words, the data arrangement order and the number of allocated bytes are fixed, and the data value of the ink information is detected by checking the value of the data of the ink information when reading on the apparatus side. In other words, the determination unit 14 compares all the ink information read from the storage element 3 with the normal setting range data. If the ink information is within the normal setting range, the determination unit 14 performs printing using the optimum driving condition, and is normal. If there is even one piece of ink information outside the setting range, printing is performed using the general-purpose driving condition.
[0028]
FIG. 3 shows a table of normal setting range data stored in the setting range storage means 12. The items in this data table are the same as a plurality of types of information (ink information) related to the ink stored in the storage element 3. The first to eighth items in the first half are essential technical information that is considered to be necessary information for determining switching between the optimum driving condition and the general-purpose driving condition, and the fourth item from the ninth to the twelfth item. Is additional information that is not necessarily required for the determination process. The numbers in parentheses indicate the number of bits used to represent the contents of each information.
[0029]
The essential technical information here is the year of manufacture (4 bits), the month of manufacture (4 bits), the date of manufacture (8 bits); the year of installation (4 bits), the month of installation (4 bits), the date of installation (8 bits), Ink type (4 bits), pigment (color information) (8 bits). "Ink type" refers to types such as fast-drying ink, low-bleed ink, high light-resistant ink, and pigment ink. The physical properties such as viscosity and specific gravity are different, so the same amount of droplets are ejected. For this purpose, head drive control suitable for the type is required. Also, since there is a difference in the drying time after printing depending on the ink, the printing surface is rubbed and smudged unless an appropriate paper feed speed is used.
[0030]
“Dye” refers to the composition of colors such as black, three colors of YMC (yellow, magenta, cyan), monochrome multi-gradation, six colors of light YMC, and six colors of orange-green. The optimum color correction table is selected according to the above. If an incorrect color correction table is used at this time, good image quality cannot be obtained. For the reasons described above, “ink type” and “pigment” are particularly important elements in essential technical information.
[0031]
The reason for considering the date of manufacture and date of installation as essential technical information is that the viscosity of the ink deteriorates with time (decreased deaeration, thermal foreign matter precipitation, and other alterations) depending on the date of manufacture. This is because it is necessary to carry out correction and drive it appropriately by assuming that.
[0032]
In this embodiment, assuming that there are more than ten types of ink, 4 bits are assumed, the color is 8 bits considering the degree of freedom of setting, the year is 4 bits as the last digit, and the month and day are 4 bits each. Although bits and 8 bits are assigned, there is no problem even if other values are used for the number of bits.
[0033]
As additional information, in this embodiment, data indicating the type of cartridge such as the destination of the cartridge and the capacity (8 bits), information indicating the optimal ink sequence mode (8 bits), and the remaining amount of ink (142 bits) There is information (4 bits) indicating the production line. The reason why the number of bits allocated to the ink remaining amount is large is that it is necessary to finely express from 0 to full volume as the setting range.
[0034]
In FIG. 2, the determination unit 14 sequentially compares the ink information (M types) read serially from the storage element 3 by the data reading unit 13 with the normal setting range data using the filter of the above format (S1 to S1 in FIG. 2). S3). That is, N = 1 is checked from the first ink information, and if the ink information is within the normal setting range stored in the setting range storage means 12, the process goes through steps S4 and S6 and is promoted to N = N + 1. Then, the process returns to step S3, and the next second ink information is similarly checked. When this procedure is repeated and all the compared ink information (M types) are within the normal setting range stored in the setting range storage means 12, the normal state in which the contents of the storage element 3 are not destroyed. When N = M is matched in step S6, the fact is output to the mode selection unit 10 and printing is performed using the optimum drive condition from the optimum drive condition storage means 8 (S7 in FIG. 2). ).
[0035]
However, in the check in step S4 in FIG. 2, if one of all the ink information (M types) is found out of the normal setting range, the storage content of the storage element 3 is caused by static electricity or the like. It is determined that the printer has been destroyed, and printing is performed using the general-purpose driving conditions (S5 in FIG. 2). However, printing can be performed using the above-described general-purpose driving conditions only when the data about specific attention information, for example, the item of ink type and color information is outside the normal setting range.
[0036]
This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. The upper side of FIG. 4 shows a case where the ink information of the format is “normal”. It is assumed that the printer was manufactured on April 1, 1997, installed on July 15, 1998, and the ink type data No. 10, color type data No. 3B. At this time, the content of the format of the ink information is a machine language expressed as 1 and 0 as shown in the figure.
[0037]
The lower side of FIG. 4 shows an “abnormal” state in which this symbol has been changed to another figure due to static electricity. That is, the content of the first 4 bits (1997 expression part) of the part representing the production on April 1, 1997 has been changed from the original “7” to “F”. Furthermore, the contents of the manufacturing date represented by the third and fourth 4 bits have also changed from “01” to “00”. Ink type data No. 10 and color type data No. The data of the place where 3B should have changed from the original “10” and “3B” to “11” and “3F”. The normal setting ranges for these are “0-9” for the manufacturing year and “01-31” for the manufacturing date. As for the ink type, “11” in addition to “10” in “0 to F” is also within the setting range, and for color information, “3F” in addition to “3B” in “00 to FF”. "Also falls within the setting range.
[0038]
First, the CPU reads the ink information of the cartridge and checks whether or not the ink information is within the normal setting range for the first item (year of manufacture). The manufacturing year has changed from the original “7” to “F”, and this “F” has exceeded the “0-9” range from the lower limit to the upper limit of the normal setting range. The judgment of the part 14 is “out of range”. Therefore, it is determined that the storage content of the storage element 3 is destroyed by static electricity or the like, and printing is performed using the general-purpose driving conditions.
[0039]
There is no problem when the above determination control is performed. For example, in FIG. 4, when the manufacturing year and manufacturing date data are within the set range, the ink type and color information data are shown in FIG. Even if there is such a change, it is impossible to detect the change of the data (also data destruction). Even in such a case, if there is additional information (Nos. 9 to 12) shown in the table of FIG. 4, these additional information parts are affected by the cause of the ink type and color information being broken (replaced). It is possible that the data is outside the set range. Rather, it is natural that it is broken that way. From a different perspective, it can be said that there is a very small probability that only the ink type and color information are exchanged and destroyed while there is a cause of the data destruction, and other information is not destroyed at all. For this reason, it is possible to estimate that there has been the data destruction that cannot be detected in the ink type and color information on the basis of the destruction of the additional information. Can be executed.
[0040]
Alternatively, although not shown, the driving in the general-purpose mode is performed only after all the ink information has been checked. Therefore, the check is performed one after another, and the following control can be performed. . That is, the month of manufacture is checked following the year of manufacture. Although the manufacturing month is normal, the manufacturing date “00” is outside the range of “01 to 31”, so the determination by the determination unit 14 is “out of range”. The ink type data “11” is apparently within the normal setting range, and the color information data “3F” is also apparently within the normal setting range. Judgment is “normal (apparent)”. In this way, the determination unit 14 sequentially compares the ink information read serially from the storage element 3 with the normal setting range data, and obtains a comparison result for each.
[0041]
If there is at least one ink information whose value does not fall within the normal setting range among all the determined ink information (M types), it is possible to print safely on ink cartridges other than the appropriate ink cartridge. Printing is performed using general-purpose driving conditions capable of performing the above. Although printing is performed with a large discharge pressure and a long drying time, a situation in which conventional printing cannot be performed can be avoided.
[0042]
It should be noted that the ratio of the ink information whose value did not fall within the normal setting range among all the determined ink information (M types) is obtained, and other than the proper ink cartridge is determined according to the degree of the ratio. It is also possible to perform printing in multiple stages for general-purpose driving conditions that can safely perform printing on these ink cartridges.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the ink cartridge of the present invention, the data format of the ink information stored in the storage element is fixed, and the arrangement order of the plurality of types of information related to ink is determined in advance. Can be estimated. In other words, by fixing the data format, the number of bits of the storage element for storing the ink information can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the index is added for each ink information, and the destruction of the storage element is estimated on the main body side. The configuration is also simple.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a serial printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a determination processing flow of a determination unit of the serial printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data table of a normal setting range stored in a setting range storage unit of a serial printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a format having normal ink information and a format including abnormal ink information of a serial printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer main body 2 Ink cartridge 3 Memory | storage element 4 CPU as a control part
6 Print Drive Control Unit 8 Optimal Drive Condition Storage Unit 9 General-Purpose Drive Condition Storage Unit 10 Mode Selection Unit 12 Setting Range Storage Unit 13 Reading Unit 14 Determination Unit 81 Color Correction Table Storage Unit 82 Head Drive Condition Storage Unit 83 Paper Feed Time Storage Unit 92 Head drive condition storage unit 93 Paper feed time storage unit

Claims (4)

An ink cartridge that is mounted on a printer body and is used for printing, and includes a storage element that stores ink information. The ink information of the storage element is read from the printer body side, and a part of printing conditions In the ink cartridge used for the
A plurality of types of ink information related to ink are stored in a predetermined format in the storage element,
Whether the ink information is printed on the printer main body under the optimum driving condition for the appropriate ink cartridge or whether the ink information is printed under a general-purpose driving condition capable of safely performing printing on an ink cartridge other than the appropriate ink cartridge An ink cartridge comprising information that can be used for processing. An ink cartridge that is mounted on a printer body and is used for printing, and includes a storage element that stores ink information. The ink information of the storage element is read from the printer body side, and a part of printing conditions In the ink cartridge used for the
A plurality of types of ink information related to ink are stored in a predetermined format in the storage element,
Whether the ink information is printed on the printer main body under the optimum driving condition for the appropriate ink cartridge or whether the ink information is printed under a general-purpose driving condition capable of safely performing printing on an ink cartridge other than the appropriate ink cartridge Consists of essential technical information necessary for processing and additional information not necessarily required for the determination processing,
On the printer body side, one or more or all of the attention information of the ink information consisting of the essential technical information and the additional information is taken as a determination element and the determination process is performed to switch the driving condition of the printer. An ink cartridge characterized by being made available.   3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink information includes information on an ink type and a pigment as essential technical information.   4. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the storage element is an element that can be read and written.

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