EP0426692A1 - Dispositif de controle des reservoirs d'encre pour systemes d'impression a encre. - Google Patents

Dispositif de controle des reservoirs d'encre pour systemes d'impression a encre.

Info

Publication number
EP0426692A1
EP0426692A1 EP89907097A EP89907097A EP0426692A1 EP 0426692 A1 EP0426692 A1 EP 0426692A1 EP 89907097 A EP89907097 A EP 89907097A EP 89907097 A EP89907097 A EP 89907097A EP 0426692 A1 EP0426692 A1 EP 0426692A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
supply container
ink supply
electrical
minimum
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP89907097A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0426692B1 (fr
Inventor
Klaus Bork
Wilfried Kindler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Siemens AG
Original Assignee
Siemens AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens AG filed Critical Siemens AG
Publication of EP0426692A1 publication Critical patent/EP0426692A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0426692B1 publication Critical patent/EP0426692B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/1752—Mounting within the printer
    • B41J2/17523—Ink connection
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17513—Inner structure

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an ink reservoir for ink printing devices.
  • a writing head which moves along a recording medium is generally supplied with writing liquid from a storage bottle by an ink supply system.
  • the writing head can consist of a mosaic writing head in which several writing nozzles are arranged. Due to the contraction processes taking place in these writing nozzles during writing operation, such a writing head independently supplies itself with writing fluid from an ink reservoir.
  • Such ink reservoirs are generally designed to be exchangeable (DE-PS 26 10 518).
  • Ink reservoirs for ink printing devices are usually designed as disposable containers which are filled with ink at the factory and which must not be reused after the ink supply has been used up. Refilling the ink reservoir is not provided because this refilling harbors the risk of air entering the ink reservoir. Air bubbles contained in the ink lead to malfunctions in the writing operation, especially when the ink printing device works according to the vacuum principle, a principle in which the ink supply system has a low vacuum compared to the actual writing nozzle.
  • Ink printing devices be they bubble jet printing devices or printing devices operating according to the piezoelectric principle, require in their composition matching ink. If ink reservoirs used by third party manufacturers are now refilled with ink of unknown composition, this can lead to malfunctions in the ink printing device. Such uncontrolled refilling of used ink reservoirs must therefore be prevented.
  • the object of the invention is to design an ink supply container of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that unauthorized refilling of used ink supply containers is prevented or that unauthorized refilled ink supply containers can be recognized.
  • this fuse element can consist of an electrical fuse which is destroyed when the ink supply falls below a minimum. By destroying the securing element, only original filled ink reservoirs are accepted. Refilled ink reservoirs are treated by the ink monitoring device like empty ink reservoirs and blocked in writing mode.
  • the invention can be implemented in a particularly advantageous manner in the case of an ink reservoir which has a plurality of ink bubbles with an electrically conductive surface which touch each other in the filled state and form an electrical contact, and which break this electrical contact after falling below a minimum supply.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional illustration through an ink supply container with a plurality of storage bubbles arranged therein
  • FIG. 2, FIG. 3 are free representations of ink supply containers with the associated closure devices
  • FIG. 4 shows a horizontal section through an ink reservoir according to FIG. 3 along the section line I-I and
  • FIG. 5 shows a basic circuit diagram of an ink monitoring device.
  • the figures show an ink reservoir of the type with an ink writing device, not shown here, of an ink writing device, e.g. is structurally connected via a latchable receiving device 8.
  • the ink writing device can e.g. According to DE-OS 36 11 966 be designed as a single-color ink printing device or as a multi-color ink printing device.
  • the ink reservoir according to the sectional view in FIG. 1 consists of a plastic support housing 10 with several storage bladders 11 arranged one above the other for receiving the writing fluid 12.
  • the storage bladders are bag-shaped in accordance with the illustration in FIG. 4 and consist of rigid polyethylene foils 13 which are welded at the edges.
  • the wall of the food Bubble-forming film is constructed as a composite film with, for example, 9 ⁇ m thick aluminum layer on the outer surface and, for example, 50 ⁇ m thick polyethylene carrier layer.
  • the storage bubbles therefore have an electrically conductive metal surface on their outside.
  • the weld seam can be provided with a contact clip 9.
  • the contact can also be made by flanging (rolling) the weld seam or by laser welding or the like.
  • the storage bubbles are arranged one above the other within the support housing 10 and in such a way that they touch one another in the filled state.
  • the support housing 10 there are spacer elements 14 which overlap the edge region of the storage bubbles and which are plate-shaped with a central opening 15.
  • the spacer elements 14 are freely movable within the support housing 10 and have spacer elements 16 on their edge.
  • Spring elements 17 with low spring force which are arranged above and below the storage bladders 11 press the storage bladders 11 against one another under slight pressure.
  • the spring elements 17 are supported on the cover plates of the support housing 10.
  • Closure devices 18 are welded into the front of the storage bladders 11. These closure devices contain a connector 19, for example made of polyethylene, so that it can be welded to the film 13 and which can be locked in corresponding openings 20 in the support housing 10.
  • the connector 19 is closed by a seal 21, for example made of soft rubber.
  • the connection of the individual storage bubbles and thus the connection of the ink supply container to the ink supply system of the ink printing device takes place in that the seal 21 is pierced by a hollow needle of the ink supply system. If such an ink reservoir according to FIGS. 2 and 3 is used in an ink printing device which works with several colors, the storage bubbles are filled with differently colored ink liquids.
  • two ink reservoirs with storage bubbles arranged therein can also be arranged one above the other.
  • This ink reservoir contains two storage bubbles which are filled with black ink sw. 3 contains three storage bubbles filled with ink fluid of the colors magenta mg, cyan cy and yellow ge.
  • two ink reservoirs can also be arranged one above the other, one of which contains only black ink liquid (FIG. 2) and the other, however, (FIG. 3) colored ink.
  • the upper storage bladder and the lower storage bladder are each contacted via electrical connections 23.
  • These electrical connections 23 are connected to an ink monitoring arrangement according to FIG. 4, which on the one hand serves to monitor the ink supply in the ink supply container, and on the other hand, in conjunction with corresponding security elements, prevents unauthorized refilling of the ink supply container.
  • the storage bubbles arranged one above the other touch in the central region of the ink reservoir in the filled state. This results in continuous electrical contact between the upper storage bladder and the lower storage bladder via the storage bladder arranged between them. If ink is now consumed during the writing operation " , advertise the storage bubbles become flatter and the spacer elements 14 move towards each other. After falling below a certain filling level, the spacing elements 16 of the spacing elements touch each other via the weld seams of the storage bladders 11 in between. As a result of the inherent elasticity and the rigidity of the wall of the storage bladders 11, the storage bubbles rise in the storage bladders after falling below a certain minimum stock from each other, whereby the contact path between the upper and lower storage bladder is interrupted. This interruption of the contact path can now be detected with the aid of the ink monitoring circuit in FIG. 5.
  • the ink supply container additionally contains an electrical security element 24 in the form of an electrical fuse, which serves to prevent unauthorized refilling of the ink supply container.
  • This securing element 24, which consists of an easily addressable electrical fuse, is arranged in series with the contact path formed by the contacting storage bubbles 11, as shown in FIG. Parallel to the storage blow 11 there is a comparison resistor 25.
  • the fuse element and the comparison resistor are fixedly arranged within the support housing of the ink supply container and cannot be replaced without destroying the ink supply container.
  • the arrangement of the securing element and the comparative resistor within the ink reservoir can, however, depend on the production method of the ink reservoir and on different applications of the ink reservoir in the corresponding ink printing devices.
  • the filling state of the ink reservoir can be determined via the voltage drop U at the entrances of the reservoir. For example, if the voltage drop is 0 volts, ink is present and the individual storage bubbles are in electrical contact with one another. If the supply level falls below a minimum, the contact path of the storage bubbles is interrupted and the voltage drop U is present at the comparison resistor 25 at the output 23 of the storage container. In this case, a voltage pulse of somewhat higher intensity is generated with the aid of the circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 5, which ensures that the fuse 24 blows.
  • the securing element is irreversibly changed and the entire contact path within the storage container is interrupted.
  • the interruption of the total contact path is interpreted by the circuit arrangement in FIG. 5 as if the ink reservoir were not present or there was no ink reservoir the ink printing device. This prevents unauthorized refilling of the ink reservoir.
  • the fuse would have to be replaced in addition to filling the ink bubbles. However, this is not possible without destroying the ink reservoir.
  • FIG. 2 contains a central evaluation unit SCA which can be assigned to the printer controller and has a microprocessor arranged therein. Connected to it via an interface 26 is an analog-to-digital converter 27 and via a control port 28 a switching device 29.
  • the switching device 29 contains three switching transistors 30/1, 30/2, 30/3, which, if appropriate Control the input of the ink reservoir 23 to voltage sources 31 (5 V) or 32 (30 V).
  • the input of the ink reservoir 23 is at the voltage source 31 (5 V) and when the switching transistor 30/3 is open, the voltage drop U at the comparison resistor is resisted via the analog-digital converter 27 - stood 25 sampled. If ink is present and the contact path via the storage bubbles 11 is closed, the voltage drop is U.0 volts. If the contact distance of the storage bladder 11 is interrupted when the ink falls below a minimum supply liquid, the voltage drop U is present at the comparison resistor 25 at the output of the ink supply container. This voltage drop U across the comparison resistor 25 is detected by the analog / digital converter and fed to the control device of the ink printing device.
  • the control device SCA activates a warning lamp 33 on the ink printing device in order to inform the operator that the ink supply has run out and that the ink storage container must be replaced. To this A flashing light signal can be used to clarify warning signs for the operator.
  • control device SCA If the control device SCA has recognized "ink end" in the ink supply container, it connects the input 23 of the ink supply container to the 30 volt voltage source via the control port 28 and the switching transistors 30/1 and 30/2, with the supply line to the analog-digital converter 27 the switching transistor 30/3 is interrupted. The fuse 24 is destroyed by the high voltage.
  • the voltage of 5 V that can then be measured at the input of the ink reservoir is interpreted as a signal that the ink reservoir as a whole is not present. This can e.g. are displayed as a continuous light signal via the warning device 33 and the further operation of the printing device is blocked. This prevents unauthorized refilling of the ink reservoir with writing fluid.
  • the same 5 V signal is present if there is no ink reservoir in the ink printing device or if the ink reservoir in the receiving device for the container is locked incorrectly.
  • a mechanical contact element can also be arranged in the bottom area of the support body of the ink reservoir, which interacts with an elastic wall of the ink container in such a way that when a minimum volume is reached, this elastic wall of the collapsed ink container Contact element actuated.
  • the mechanical contact element is designed in such a way that after reaching the minimum volume it maintains its contact position irreversibly irrespective of refilling the ink container with ink. This is achieved, for example, by the fact that the contact element locked after locking contact behind locking cams.

Abstract

Réservoir d'encre pour systèmes d'impression à encre comportant une sécurité (24) contre les nouveaux remplissages non autorisés. Cette sécurité (24) se compose d'un élément de sécurité pouvant être analysé par le système de contrôle de l'encre du système d'impression, élément qui dépend directement du réservoir d'encre et dont les valeurs caractéristiques analysables sont modifiées de manière irréversible lorsque la réserve d'encre devient inférieure à une valeur minimum déterminée. L'élément de sécurité peut être réalisé sous la forme d'un coupe-circuit électrique (24) qui est détruit lorsque la réserve d'encre devient inférieure à une valeur minimum déterminée.
EP89907097A 1988-07-25 1989-07-06 Dispositif de controle des reservoirs d'encre pour systemes d'impression a encre Expired - Lifetime EP0426692B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3825239 1988-07-25
DE3825239 1988-07-25

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0426692A1 true EP0426692A1 (fr) 1991-05-15
EP0426692B1 EP0426692B1 (fr) 1993-04-28

Family

ID=6359507

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89907097A Expired - Lifetime EP0426692B1 (fr) 1988-07-25 1989-07-06 Dispositif de controle des reservoirs d'encre pour systemes d'impression a encre

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0426692B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE58904231D1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1990000971A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5694156A (en) * 1990-11-20 1997-12-02 Spectra Inc. Ink jet head with ink usage sensor

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE69026983T2 (de) * 1989-06-29 1996-11-21 Canon Kk Verbesserte Tintenmengenfühlvorrichtung und Aufzeichnungsgerät mit der Vorrichtung
DE4027193C2 (de) * 1990-08-28 1996-04-04 Eastman Kodak Co Verfahren zur Vermeidung des unberechtigten Wiederbefüllens von Wegwerf-Tintendruckköpfen in Tintendruckeinrichtungen
DE4027657C1 (en) * 1990-08-31 1991-11-21 Siemens Ag, 8000 Muenchen, De Ink composition monitor for printing machine reservoir - has evaluator comparing detected dielectric value with stipulated for warning and/or shut=off
US5363134A (en) * 1992-05-20 1994-11-08 Hewlett-Packard Corporation Integrated circuit printhead for an ink jet printer including an integrated identification circuit
US5471163A (en) * 1993-11-16 1995-11-28 Hewlett-Packard Company Tab circuit fusible links for disconnection or encoding information
DE19613945C2 (de) * 1996-04-06 1999-04-22 Francotyp Postalia Gmbh Wiederverwendbarkeitssperre für einen Behälter für die Tintenversorgung
DE19613943C2 (de) * 1996-04-06 1999-04-22 Francotyp Postalia Gmbh Wiederverwendbarkeitssperre für einen Behälter für die Tintenversorgung
JPH10235890A (ja) * 1996-06-25 1998-09-08 Seiko Epson Corp インクカートリッジ
DE69839102T2 (de) * 1997-03-03 2009-02-05 Seiko Epson Corp. Tintenstrahldrucker
EP1772274B2 (fr) † 2005-09-29 2011-05-25 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartouche d'encre, ensemble de cartouches d'encre et système d'enregistrement à jet d'encre

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4551734A (en) * 1984-12-06 1985-11-05 Tektronix, Inc. Ink cartridge with ink level sensor

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9000971A1 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5694156A (en) * 1990-11-20 1997-12-02 Spectra Inc. Ink jet head with ink usage sensor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1990000971A1 (fr) 1990-02-08
EP0426692B1 (fr) 1993-04-28
DE58904231D1 (de) 1993-06-03

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