EP2103434A1 - Tintenpatrone, Identifizierungseinrichtung und Verfahren zur Identifizierung einer Tintenpatrone - Google Patents

Tintenpatrone, Identifizierungseinrichtung und Verfahren zur Identifizierung einer Tintenpatrone Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2103434A1
EP2103434A1 EP08003693A EP08003693A EP2103434A1 EP 2103434 A1 EP2103434 A1 EP 2103434A1 EP 08003693 A EP08003693 A EP 08003693A EP 08003693 A EP08003693 A EP 08003693A EP 2103434 A1 EP2103434 A1 EP 2103434A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
light
ink
cartridge
ink cartridge
altering
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
EP08003693A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2103434B1 (de
Inventor
Toyonori c/o Brother Kogyo K.K. Intellect Property Dept. Sasaki
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.)
Brother Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Brother Industries Ltd
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 Brother Industries Ltd filed Critical Brother Industries Ltd
Priority to EP10015201A priority Critical patent/EP2298556B1/de
Priority to AT08003693T priority patent/ATE504452T1/de
Priority to EP08003693A priority patent/EP2103434B1/de
Priority to DE602008006016T priority patent/DE602008006016D1/de
Publication of EP2103434A1 publication Critical patent/EP2103434A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2103434B1 publication Critical patent/EP2103434B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • B41J2/17566—Ink level or ink residue control
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • B41J2/17553—Outer structure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an ink cartridge used in an ink-jet recording apparatus, and an identifying device and an identifying method for identifying the type of an ink cartridge.
  • a known ink-jet recording apparatus is configured to dispense ink onto a sheet of paper to record an image on the sheet of paper.
  • the known ink-jet recording apparatus has a recording head.
  • the recording head is configured to selectively eject ink from nozzles to the sheet of paper.
  • a known ink cartridge is configured to be removably mounted to the ink-jet recording apparatus.
  • the ink cartridge has an ink chamber configured to store ink therein, and ink is supplied from the ink chamber to the recording head when the ink cartridge is mounted to the ink-jet recording apparatus.
  • the ink cartridge has a light blocking portion.
  • the light blocking portion is disposed at a different position along a carriage moving direction, and different information can be obtained every mounted ink cartridge.
  • the ink cartridge is mounted on a carriage, and the carriage moves at a constant velocity, so that an optical sensor can stably detect the light blocking portion.
  • an ink-jet recording apparatus having a cartridge mounting unit separately from the carriage has been also known.
  • the type of the ink cartridge is identified.
  • the recording apparatus detects the presence or absence of the light blocking portion of the ink cartridge.
  • the recording apparatus determines the type of the ink cartridge on the basis of the presence or absence of the light blocking portion.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge, an ink cartridge identifying device and an ink cartridge identifying method that can implement identification of the type of an ink cartridge with a simple construction, and also enhance reliability of an identification result.
  • an ink cartridge having an ink chamber that is defined at least in a frame thereof and has a frame for storing ink and a portion which is irradiated with light extends from a first wall forming a part of the outer periphery of the frame in a first direction corresponding to a direction which is away from the ink chamber, the light-irradiated portion has a first member, a second member and a third member provided between the first member and the second member in the first direction, and all the first member, the second member and the third member are located on a line extending in the first direction. Accordingly, identification of the type of the ink cartridge can be implemented with a simple construction.
  • a cartridge identifying device for identifying a cartridge when the cartridge is mounted in a cartridge mounting unit is an identifying device having an identifying unit for identifying the type of the cartridge on the basis of a light-reception result when a first member, a second member and a third member of the cartridge passes over an optical path between a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion provided to the cartridge mounting unit. Accordingly, reliability of the identification result can be enhanced.
  • a method of identifying the type of a cartridge mounted in a cartridge mounting unit having a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion is an identifying method comprising: a first step of blocking light from the light-emitting portion by the cartridge in a mounting process; a second step of receiving light from the light-emitting portion at a light-receiving portion by the cartridge in the mounting process, and a third step of identifying the type of the cartridge on the basis of the light-reception result of the second step. Accordingly, the reliability of the identification result can be enhanced.
  • the ink cartridge 10 is used for an image recording apparatus such as a so-called ink-jet printer or copying machine, a facsimile machine or the like, and each color ink is stored in the ink cartridge 10.
  • This ink cartridge 10 is used while mounted in a cartridge case 121 equipped to the ink supply device 120.
  • the ink cartridge 10 have a substantially flat, hexahedron shape, e.g., a substantially rectangular, parallelepiped shape and may be more narrow in a widtheise direction, as indicated by an arrow 51, than in a height direction, as indicated by an arrow 52, and a depth direction, as indicated by an arrow 53
  • This ink cartridge 10 is inserted into the cartridge case 121 from the front wall 102 side in an insertion direction 50 (first direction) with the bottom surface 104 thereof set as the lower side and the top surface 103 thereof set as the upper side in Fig. 1 under the state that it is mounted in the recording apparatus shown in Fig. 1 .
  • the ink cartridge 10 is roughly constructed by a main body 20, a detection unit 140, an arm 60, an atmospheric air communication port 81 and an ink supply port 91. These elements are formed of resin materials. For example, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. may be used as the resin materials.
  • the present invention may be applied to an ink cartridge 10 which is equipped with a case covering substantially the whole of the main body 20, a protector covering the atmospheric air communication port 81 or the ink supply port 91 or the like.
  • the main body is constructed by a frame 110 and a film 70.
  • the frame 110 is a member constituting the housing of the ink cartridge 10, and it forms six faces 101 to 106 of the ink cartridge 10.
  • the respective surfaces of the frame 110 are represented by using reference numerals (101 to 106) allocated to the respective surfaces of the ink cartridge 10.
  • the frame 110 is formed by injection molding of light-transmissible resin material.
  • the frame 110 may be formed of any resin material insofar as light is transmissible through the resin material, and in this embodiment, it is formed of translucent resin.
  • the frame 110 is formed annually substantially along the front face 101, the upper face 103, the front wall (first wall) 102 and the bottom face 104, and openings are formed in the left face 105 and the right face 106 of the frame 110.
  • a thin film 70 formed of light-transmissible resin is welded to the left face 105 and the right face 106 of the frame 110.
  • the space surrounded by the frame 110 and the film 70 is defined as an ink chamber 12 (see Fig. 2(B) ). Ink is stored in the thus-compartmented ink chamber 12.
  • the ink chamber 12 is formed by the frame 110 and the film 70, however, the frame 110 itself may be designed as a rectangular parallelepiped container such that the ink chamber 12 is formed in the container.
  • a detection portion 140 (a portion irradiated with light) is disposed on the front wall 102 of the frame 110.
  • the detection portion 140 is designed in a box-shape having an opening communicating with the ink chamber 12 side and an internal space 147 communicating with the opening.
  • the detection portion 140 is sectioned by a rectangular front wall 141 which is parallel to the front wall 102 and extends away from the front wall 102 in such a direction as to get away from the ink chamber, a pair of side walls 142 through which right and left two sides of the front wall 141 are connected to the front wall 102, and an upper wall 143 and a bottom wall 144 through which the upper and lower two sides of the front wall 141 are connected to the front wall 102.
  • the width of the front wall 141 (the dimension in the direction of the arrow 51) is set to be smaller than the width of the ink cartridge 10.
  • the detection portion 140 is formed of the same material as the frame 110, that is, light-transmissible resin, and it is transparent or translucent resin.
  • the front wall 141 of the detection portion 140 is formed of translucent resin, and thus a tape 73 which absorbs infrared light is attached to the front wall 141 side of the side wall 142. It is set as a target irradiated with light by a light-emitting element 113 (see Fig. 5 ) of an optical sensor 123 secured to a cartridge case 121.
  • the light blocking is not limited to infrared-light blocking, and any member may be used insofar as it blocks, changes the optical path between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element.
  • light from the light-emitting element may be reflected in the up-and-down direction by reflecting tape attached to the outer wall of the cartridge, or a part of the cartridge may be passed and attenuated.
  • the change of the optical path may be the change of the optical path on the line connecting the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element.
  • an arm 60 is provided in the ink chamber 12.
  • the arm 60 is equipped with a float portion 63 at one end thereof and an indicator portion 62 at the other end.
  • a shaft 66 is provided substantially at the middle position between the indicator portion 62 and the float portion 63.
  • the shaft 66 is supported by a bearing (not shown) provided to the frame 110, whereby the arm 60 is rotatable in the ink chamber 12.
  • the indicator portion 62 of the arm 60 is located in the space 147.
  • the arm 60 is formed of light blocking resin material.
  • it is formed of nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate, polyolefin, acrylic resin added with carbon black or the like. It is sufficient only that at least indicator portion 62 of the arm 60 has light blocking property, and it is unnecessary that the overall arm 60 has light blocking property.
  • the float portion 63 having a hollow portion therein is provided at one end portion of the arm 60.
  • the float portion 63 moves vertically in conformity with the ink level in the ink chamber 12. Accordingly, the arm 60 is rotated around the shaft 66 in accordance with the movement amount of the float portion 63.
  • the float portion 63 may merely generate buoyancy such that it floats on the ink level, and thus it is not limited to the hollow structure.
  • An indicator portion 62 is provided to the other end portion of the arm 60.
  • the indicator portion 62 is located in the space 147 of the detection portion 140.
  • the indicator portion 62 moves in the up-and-down direction in the space 147 in accordance with the rotational operation of the arm 60.
  • a first position at which the indicator portion 62 abuts against the bottom wall 144 is indicated by a solid line
  • the float portion 63 abuts against the bottom wall of the cartridge
  • a second position at which the indicator portion 62 is located out of a light irradiation area is indicated by a broken line.
  • the arm 60 When the float portion 63 moves in the up-and-down direction in accordance with the amount of ink in the ink chamber 12, the arm 60 is rotated around the shaft 66, and the indicator portion 62 moves in the up-and-down direction in the space 147 in accordance with the rotational operation concerned. Specifically, when the float portion 63 moves upwardly, the arm 60 is rotated around the shaft 66 in the direction of an arrow 67, and the indicator portion 62 moves downwardly in the space 147. When the indicator portion 62 reaches the lower wall 144 of the detection portion 140, the indicator portion 62 is located at the first position while abutting against the lower wall 144 (the posture indicated by a solid line in Fig. 2(B) ).
  • the indicator portion 62 is located in the light irradiation area 142A of the side wall 142 of the detection portion 140 (a portion surrounded by a broken line in Fig. 1 ). At the first position, light incident to the light irradiation area 142A is transmitted through the light irradiation area 142A and blocked by the indicator portion 62.
  • the float portion 63 moves downwardly in accordance with the ink level. Accordingly, the arm 60 is rotated around the shaft 66 in the direction of an arrow 68, and the indicator portion 62 moves upwardly in the space 147.
  • the indicator portion 62 is located at the second position at which the indicator portion 62 is in proximity to the upper wall 143 (the posture indicated by a broken line in Fig. 2(B) ). At this time, the indicator portion 62 is located out of the light irradiation area 142A (see Fig. 1 ). When the light irradiation area 142A is irradiated with light at this second position, the light is transmitted through the detection portion 140 without being blocked by the indicator portion 62.
  • the light irradiation area 142A of the side wall 142 is irradiated with light from the light-emitting element 113 (see Fig. 5 ) of the optical sensor 123 to the light-receiving element 114 in the state that the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge case 121.
  • the indicator portion 62 is located at the first position, the light is blocked by the indicator portion 62.
  • the indicator portion 62 is located at the second position, the light reaches the light-receiving element 114 (see Fig. 5 ). Accordingly, it can be detected on the basis of the waveform of an output signal of the light-receiving element 114 whether the amount of ink in the ink chamber 12 is less than a predetermined amount.
  • the atmospheric air communication port 81 is adjacent to the upper face of the front wall 102 of the frame 110, and the ink supply port 91 is adjacent to the bottom face.
  • the atmospheric air communication port 81, the ink supply port 91 and the detection portion 140 are provided to the front wall (first wall) 102.
  • the atmospheric air communication port 81 is located above the detection portion 140 of the front wall 102.
  • the atmospheric air communication port 81 is a hole through the inside of the ink chamber 12 intercommunicates with the outside of the ink cartridge 10.
  • the atmospheric air communication port 81 is closed by a seal member (not shown). The seal member is removed to set the inside of the ink chamber 12 to the outside air pressure. Thereafter, when the cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge case 121, a rod 137 (see Fig. 4 ) is inserted into the atmospheric air communication port 81.
  • the ink supply port 91 is located below the detection portion 140 of the front wall 102.
  • the ink supply port 91 has a hole for leading ink from the ink chamber 12 to the outside.
  • the ink supply port 91 is closed by the seal member (not shown).
  • an ink needle 134 breaks the seal member (not shown) at the ink supply port 91, such that the ink supply port 91 intercommunicates with the outside.
  • seal member for closing the atmospheric air communication port 81 and the ink supply port 91 may be used a simple member such as a film or the like which covers the atmospheric air communication port 81 and the ink supply port 91, a valve for closing the atmospheric air communication port 81 and the ink supply port 91 from the ink chamber 12 side by spring force, or the like.
  • the arm 60 is provided such that the tip of the indicator portion 62 is located at the rear side of the front wall 141 of the detection portion 140 in the insertion direction 50 as shown in Fig. 3 .
  • Light of the light-emitting element 113 of the optical sensor 123 is transmitted through the space 148 between the inner wall surface of the front wall 141 and the tip portion of the indicator portion 62, and reaches the light-receiving element 114 which is disposed so as to face the optical sensor 123.
  • the interval between the inner wall surface of the front wall 141 and the indicator portion 62 is varied on a type basis.
  • the type of the ink cartridge 10 may be considered a large-capacity type for business users who consume a large amount of ink and a standard type for general consumers, for example.
  • an initial capacity of ink to be filled in the cartridge is large.
  • another type ink cartridge 10 may be considered the difference in color of ink stored in the ink cartridge 10, the difference between dye ink and pigment ink, the difference between the overseas specification and the domestic specification, etc.
  • the ink cartridge in which the interval from the light blocking portion 73 to the tip of the indicator portion 62 is equal to L1 is referred to as "ink cartridge 10A" (see Fig. 3(A) ), and the interval between the front wall 141B and the tip of the indicator portion 62 is equal to L2 is referred to as “ink cartridge 10B” (see Fig. 3(B) ).
  • the type of the ink cartridge can be identified by the identifying device 200 (see Fig. 7 ).
  • both the ink cartridge 10A and the ink cartridge 10B are generically named as ink cartridge 10 unless particularly specified.
  • the length L1 in the depth direction 53 of the space 148 may be set to a detectable dimension, in other words, such a dimension that a waveform can appear in the output signal of the light-emitting element 114 of the optical sensor 123 (see Fig. 5 ).
  • the light blocking portion 73 changes the length L1 in the depth direction 53 of the space 148, however, it is possible to change the thickness of the front wall 141 and detect the light blocking time.
  • the construction of the ink supply device 120 in which the ink cartridge 10 is mounted will be described with referring Fig. 4 .
  • the ink supply device 120 supplies ink to a printhead (not shown).
  • the ink supply device 120 has the cartridge case 121 in which plural ink cartridges 10 can be mounted.
  • the cartridge case 121 will be described hereunder in detail.
  • the cartridge case 121 has an opening 127.
  • An ink cartridge 10 is inserted in the cartridge case 121 through the opening 127.
  • the optical sensor 123 is disposed at the back side of the cartridge case 121.
  • the optical sensor 123 is connected to a controller 250 (see Fig. 7 ) of the identifying device 200.
  • the optical sensor 123 is provided to the wall surface 129 constituting the back surface of the cartridge case 121.
  • the optical sensor 123 detects the front wall 141 of the detection portion 140, the space 148 (the space surrounded by the inner surface of the front wall 141 and the tip of the indicator portion 62 and the light irradiation area of the side wall) and the indicator portion 62.
  • a transmission type photointerruptor which comprises the light-emitting element 113 and the light-receiving element 114 (see Fig.
  • the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge case 121, the light irradiation area 142A (see Fig. 1 ) of the side wall 142 of the detection portion 140 is disposed on the optical path 115 (see Fig. 5 ) between the light-emitting element 113 and the light-receiving element 114.
  • Infrared light emitted from the light-emitting element 113 is diffusion light and thus has a predetermined spot diameter, and this is schematically represented as the optical path 115.
  • the optical sensor 124 is provided at the back side of the wall surface 130 constituting the upper side of the cartridge case 121.
  • the optical sensor 124 detects mounting or non-mounting of the ink cartridge 10 in the cartridge case 121.
  • the upper end of the ink cartridge 10 is located between the light-emitting element 116 of the optical sensor 124 and the light-receiving element 117.
  • a hole 132 communicating from the back side of the cartridge case 121 to the inside of the cartridge case 121 is formed at the lower position of the wall surface 129.
  • a tubular ink needle 134 is connected to the hole 132 at the inside of the cartridge case 121. This needle 134 is disposed so as to face the ink supply port 91 of the ink cartridge.
  • An ink tube 135 is connected to the back side of the hole 132.
  • a rod 137 is provided at the upper position of the wall surface 129.
  • the rod 137 is disposed so as to face the atmospheric air communication port 81 of the ink cartridge.
  • the rod 137 is inserted into the atmospheric air communication port 81.
  • the rod When the ink cartridge 10 is inserted into the cartridge case 121, the rod is inserted into the atmospheric air communication port 81. Accordingly, the atmospheric air communication port 81 is opened, and the ink chamber 12 intercommunicates with the outside, such that the air pressure in the ink chamber 12 is equal to the outside air pressure.
  • the ink needle 134 is inserted into the ink support port 91. Accordingly, the ink chamber 12 intercommunicates with the ink tube 135 through the ink needle 134 and the hole 132. Under this state, ink in the ink chamber 12 can be supplied through the ink tube 135 into the printhead (not shown).
  • the upper end of the ink cartridge 10 blocks the optical path formed by the light-emitting element 116 and the light-receiving element 117 of the optical sensor 124. At this time, the presence or absence of the ink cartridge 10 in the cartridge case 121 can be detected on the basis of the output waveform of the optical sensor 124.
  • the upper end of the cartridge which intersects the optical path of the optical sensor 124 is not disposed on a line extending along the insertion direction 50 containing the optical path 115 on which the front wall 141, the light irradiation area 142A and the indicator portion 62 are located.
  • the detection portion 140 intersects the optical path 115 of the optical sensor 123.
  • the light blocking portion 73 is irradiated with light emitted from the light-emitting element 113. At this time, the light is greatly attenuated by the light blocking portion 73, and a predetermined light amount does not reach the light-receiving element 114.
  • the ink cartridge 10A is further inserted and reaches the position at which the space 148 intersects the optical path 115 (see Fig. 5(B) ), the light passes through the side wall 142, the space 148 and then the side wall 142 at the opposite side. This passing light is received by the light-receiving element 114. Thereafter, when the detection portion 140 is inserted into the position at which the indicator portion 62 intersects the optical path 115 (see Fig. 5(C) ), the light passing through the side wall 142 is blocked by the indicator portion 62. In this case, a predetermined light amount does not reach the light-receiving element 114.
  • the indicator portion 62 is located on the optical path 115 under the state that the ink cartridge 10A is mounted in the cartridge case 121.
  • the waveform (variation of the signal level) of the output signal of the optical sensor 123 in the mounting process of the ink cartridge 10 will be described hereunder with reference to Fig. 6 .
  • the upper end of the cartridge blocks the optical path of the light-emitting element 116 and the light-receiving element 117 of the optical sensor 124 at a time T0. Accordingly, light emitted from the light-emitting element 113 of the optical sensor 123 is blocked by the cartridge, and thus the signal level is LOW.
  • the front wall 141 of the detection portion 140 is detected at a time T1. That is, a predetermined light amount is not received by the light-receiving element 114 because of the front wall 141 at a time T1, and thus the signal level is changed from HIGH to LOW.
  • the front wall 141A, the light irradiation area 142A and the indicator portion 62 intersect the optical path 115 in this order.
  • the signal level keeps LOW while the optical path 115 is blocked by the front wall 141a.
  • the light irradiation area 142A of the side wall 142 and the space 148 intersect the optical path 115, and light passes through the side wall 142 and reaches the light-receiving element 114, such that the signal level is changed from LOW to HIGH.
  • the ink cartridge 10A is further inserted, and the indicator portion 62 blocks the optical path 115 at a time T4 after ⁇ T11 elapses from the time T3.
  • the signal level is changed from HIGH to LOW.
  • the indicator portion 62 is located at the second position, the light reaches the light-receiving element 114, and thus the signal level keeps HIGH (see a broken line of Fig. 6(A) ).
  • the signal level keeps HIGH for a predetermined time or more from the time when the signal level HIGH based on the light irradiation area 142A of the side wall and the space 148 is detected, it is judged that a nearly empty cartridge is mounted, and thus error processing is executed.
  • the front wall 141B, the light irradiation area 142A and the indicator portion 62 intersect the optical path 115 in this order. That is, the front wall 141B, the light irradiation area 142A and the indicator portion 62 are located on a line extending along the first direction 50 containing the optical path 115.
  • the signal level keeps LOW while the front wall 141B blocks the optical path 115 from the time T1 till the time T2.
  • the space 148 and the optical path 115 intersect each other at the time T2, and the light passes through the space 148 and reaches the light-receiving element 114, such that the signal level is changed from LOW to HIGH.
  • the ink cartridge 10B is further inserted, and then the indicator portion 62 intersects the optical path 115 at a time T4 after ⁇ T12 elapses from the time T3.
  • ⁇ T12 is longer than ⁇ T11, and the time for which the signal level is HIGH is longer in the case of the ink cartridge 10B than that in the case of the ink cartridge 10A.
  • the light is blocked by the indicator portion 62, and thus the signal is changed from HIGH to LOW again.
  • the indicator portion 62 is located at the second position, the light reaches the light-receiving element 114, and thus the signal level keeps HIGH (see a broken line of Fig. 6(B) ).
  • the identifying device 200 is designed to identify the ink cartridge 10A and the ink cartridge 10B.
  • Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the schematic construction of the identifying device 200.
  • the identifying device 200 has a main controller 250 and an optical sensor 123.
  • the main controller 250 will be described hereunder.
  • the main controller 250 controls the overall operation of the identifying device 200.
  • the main controller 250 is constructed by a microcomputer mainly comprising CPU 251, ROM 252, RAM 253, EEPROM 254 and ASIC 255 as shown in Fig. 7 .
  • the respective parts are connected to one another through the bus 257 so as to communicate with one another.
  • Programs for controlling various kinds of operations of a copying machine 10 by CPU 251, etc. are stored in ROM 252.
  • RAM 253 is used as a storage area or working area for temporarily storing various kinds of data used when the above programs are executed by CPU 251.
  • Settings to be held after power is turned off, flags, etc. are stored in EEPROM 254.
  • the optical sensor 123 is connected to ASIC 255.
  • the light-emitting element 113 and the light-receiving element 114 of the optical sensor 123 are connected to ASIC 255.
  • the light-emitting element 113 emits light on the basis of a driving signal received from ASIC 255.
  • the light-emitting element 114 outputs the signal corresponding to the light amount of the received light to ASIC 255.
  • ASIC 255 judges whether the electrical level (voltage value or current value) of the input signal is equal to a predetermined threshold value or more. If it is equal to the predetermined threshold value or more, the signal level concerned is judged as HIGH, and if it is less than the predetermined threshold value, the signal concerned is judged as LOW.
  • the type of the ink cartridge 10 mounted in the cartridge case 121 is identified by the main controller 250 on the basis of the signal output from the light-receiving element 114 of the optical sensor 123.
  • the procedure of the type identification processing for identifying whether the ink cartridge 10 mounted in the ink cartridge case 121 is the ink cartridge 10A or the ink cartridge 10B will be described hereunder with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 8 .
  • Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the type identification processing executed by the main controller 250.
  • step S0 it is judged in step S0 whether the upper end of the cartridge is detected by the optical sensor 124. Specifically, this judgment is made on the basis of the change of the signal level of the optical sensor 124 from HIGH to LOW when the optical path of the optical sensor 124 is blocked by the upper end of the cartridge (see the time T0 of Fig. 6 ).
  • the next detection of the optical sensor 123 is carried out.
  • the judgment processing of the step S0 is executed until the front wall 141 is detected.
  • step S1 it is judged whether the front wall 141 is detected by the optical sensor 123.
  • step S1 when it is detected that the front wall 141 is detected (Yes of S1), in the next step S2, that detection timing (detection time) is stored in RAM 253. The judgment processing of step S1 is carried out until the front wall 141 is detected.
  • next step S3 it is judged whether the space 148 is detected. Specifically, it is judged whether the signal level of the optical sensor 123 is changed from LOW to HIGH (see the times T2, T3 of Fig. 6 ). Here, when it is judged that the space 148 is detected (Yes of S3). In the next step S4, that detection timing (detection time) is stored in RAM 253. The judgment processing of the step S3 is executed until the space 148 is detected.
  • step S5 on the basis of the two detection timings stored in RAM 253, the time difference ⁇ T therebetween is calculated by the main controller 250. Thereafter, in step S6, the calculated time difference ⁇ T is compared with a predetermined reference value, and it is judged whether the time difference ⁇ T concerned is equal to the reference value or more.
  • the reference value may be obtained by beforehand calculating the average in the time difference ⁇ T11 (see Fig. 6(A) ) in past five insertion operations of the ink cartridge 10A into the cartridge case 121 or the average in the time difference ⁇ T12 (see Fig.
  • the judgment of the step S6 is not limited to the method of comparing the time difference ⁇ T with the reference value, and a method of making the above judgment on the basis of a judgment as to whether the time difference ⁇ T is within a predetermined reference range may be adopted.
  • a method of storing the received light amount at the light-receiving element for the signal level of HIGH in RAM 253 and comparing it in place of the time difference ⁇ T may be used.
  • step S6 when it is judged in step S6 that the time difference ⁇ T is less than the reference value (No of S6), a bit flag representing the ink cartridge 10B is set in the register of CPU 251, RAM 253 or the like (S8). If it is judged in step S6 that the time difference ⁇ T is equal to the reference value or more (Yes of S6), a bit flag representing the ink cartridge 10A is set in the register of CPU 251, RAM 253 or the like (S7).
  • the flag set in the register of CPU 251, RAM 253 or the like may be output by CPU 251 as information representing the state of the ink cartridge 10 to a display unit or the like which is connected to the identifying device 200.
  • the type of the ink cartridge 10 in the mounting process of the ink cartridge 10, the type of the ink cartridge 10 can be adequately and accurately identified on the basis of the signal level of the optical sensor 123. Furthermore, the type of the ink cartridge 10 can be identified by an extremely simple construction that the distance between the inner wall surface of the front wall 141 of the ink cartridge 10 and the indicator portion 62 is varied every type of the ink cartridge 10. In this embodiment, the identification is made by judging whether the light reception time in the space 148 between the inner wall surface of the front wall 141 and the indicator portion 62 is within a reference range, however, the judgment may be made by judging whether the block time of the front wall 141 is within a reference range. In this case, it is judged whether the time difference ⁇ T between the time T1 and the time T2 is within a reference range.
  • the processing of identifying two types of the ink cartridge 10A and the ink cartridge 10B is shown.
  • a specific type ink cartridge may be identified from three or more kinds of ink cartridges 10.
  • the identification processing may be applied to identify each of the former ink cartridge and the latter ink cartridge.
  • the detection portion 140 extending in the opposite direction to the insertion direction 50 is not provided to the front wall 102. Accordingly, the arm 60 containing the indicator portion 62 is wholly accommodated in the ink chamber 12.
  • the ink chamber 12 is provided with a rib 72 for regulating the downward movement of the indicator portion 62. Therefore, when the arm 60 is rotated in the direction of an arrow 67, the indicator portion 62 abuts against the rib 72, and this state is kept. Under the state that the indicator portion 62 abuts against the rib 72, the space 148 is formed between the inner walls surface of the front wall 102 and the indicator portion 62.
  • the interval between the inner wall surface of the front wall 102 and the indicator portion 62 is varied every type of the ink cartridge 41, whereby the type can be identified as in the case of the ink cartridges 10A and 10B.
  • the type of the ink cartridge 41 can be identified on the basis of the light reception time at the light-receiving element 114 of the optical sensor 123 by identifying device 200.
  • the light blocking portion 173 for blocking light is provided to the side wall 142 of the detection portion 140.
  • the light blocking portion 173 is secured from the side wall 142 as a different member from the main body 20 in such a direction as to be away from the side wall 142.
  • the light blocking portion 173 may be formed of resin material for attenuating or absorbing infrared light or resin material for reflecting infrared light.
  • the light blocking portion 173 is secured to the front wall 141 side of the side wall 142 which faces at least the light-emitting element 113.
  • the length in the depth direction 53 of the light blocking portion 173 is varied every type of the ink cartridge 42, whereby the type can be identified as in the case of the ink cartridges 10A and 10B. That is, in the above embodiment, the identification is made by using the light reception time when the light transmitting member 142 passes over. However, according to the modification 2, in place of the light reception time, the identification is made in the identifying device 200 by using the light blocking time when the light blocking portion 173 passes over. Specifically, as shown in Fig.
  • the time difference between the time T1 and the time T3 is measured in the case of the ink cartridge 10A while the time difference between the time T1 and the time T2 is measured in the case of the ink cartridge 10B, and then it is judged whether the measured time difference is within a reference range.
  • a light blocking portion 74 for blocking light is provided to the side surface 105, 106 of the ink cartridge 43.
  • the light blocking portion 74 is located below the detection portion 140.
  • the length in the depth direction 53 of the light blocking portion 74 is varied every type of the ink cartridge 43.
  • An optical sensor 75 having substantially the same construction as the optical sensor 123 is provided below the optical sensor 123 at the back side of the cartridge case 121.
  • the ink cartridge 44 As shown in Fig. 12 , the ink cartridge 44 according to a modification 4 is provided with a plate 75 which can approach to and separate from the front wall 102 through two spring coils 76.
  • the coil springs 76 are secured to the upper and lower sides of the detection portion 140 on the front wall 102.
  • the plate 75 is supported by the coil springs 76 so as to be spaced from the front wall 141 of the detection portion 140. That is, a space 78 is formed between the plate 75 and the tip of the indicator portion 62.
  • the plate 75 blocks the optical path 115 of the optical sensor 123.
  • light from the light-emitting element 113 passes through the space 78, and is received by the light-receiving element 114.
  • the distance between the plate 75 and the tip of the indicator portion 62 is varied every type of the ink cartridge 44. Therefore, when an ink cartridge 44 in which the interval of the space is different is inserted into the ink cartridge 44, the identifying device 200 identifies the type of the ink cartridge 42 on the basis of the light reception time at the light-emitting element 114 when the space 78 passes over.
  • the main body 20 is pressed against the urging force of the coil springs 76 in the insertion direction 50.
  • the detection portion 140 blocks the optical path 115 of the optical sensor 123. even the ink cartridge 44 as described above can detect the presence or absence of the ink cartridge 44 on the basis of the output signal of the optical sensor 123.
  • an ink cartridge 54 according to a modification 5 is provided with a first altering member 242, a second altering member 243, a third altering member 244 and a fourth altering member 245 in place of the indicator portion 62 of the embodiment.
  • the first altering member 242 and the fourth altering member 245 are reflection tapes which are attached to slope surfaces of 45° corresponding to the outer wall surface of the ink cartridge.
  • the optical path is changed by the reflection tapes.
  • the second altering member 243 and the third altering member 244 are the faces of a prism 80.
  • the light-emitting element 113 (see Fig. 5 ) is disposed at the right side of the center of Fig. 13 of the first altering member 242. Light emitted from the light-emitting element 113 in the horizontal direction (to the left side of the center of Fig. 13 ) is downwardly reflected (guided) by the first altering member 242 of the ink cartridge 45. Light from the first altering member enters into the prism 80. When the amount of ink is less than a predetermined amount, the light entered into the prism is reflected in the horizontal direction (to the left side of the center of Fig. 13 ) by the second altering member 243, and upwardly reflected by the third altering member 244).
  • the light guided by the third altering member 244 is reflected in the horizontal direction (to the left side of the center of Fig. 13 ) by the fourth altering member 245, and received by the light-receiving element 114 located at the left side of the first altering member 245.
  • the prism and the ink are substantially equal to each other in refractivity, such that the light entered into the second altering member 243 straightly goes in the ink.
  • the optical path 215 represents an optical path along which the light emitted from the light-emitting element is passed through the first altering member 242, the second altering member 243, the third altering member 244 and the fourth altering member 245 and then received by the light-receiving element.
  • the reflection tapes are attached to the outer wall surface of the cartridge as the first deflection member 243 and the fourth altering member 245.
  • a prism may be formed on the outer wall surface of the cartridge, or a space is formed inside the slope surfaces by blow molding or the like, and interfaces are formed by the space to be set as reflection faces.
  • the prism 80 forms one wall surface of a small chamber 13 communicating with the inside of the ink chamber 12.
  • This prism 80 constitutes the second altering member 243 and the third altering member 244.
  • the prism 80 as the second altering member 243 and the third altering member 244 comes into contact with ink in the small chamber 13, the light from the first altering member 242 enters into the prism 80 passes through the second altering member 243 and straightly goes through ink in the small chamber 13 because the ink and the prism have substantially the same refractivity.
  • the ink is consumed and thus the amount of the ink is less than a predetermined amount, the ink in the small chamber 13 does not come into contact with the prism 80, and air interposes between the prism 80 and the ink level.
  • An interface is formed because the air and the prism are different from other in refractivity.
  • the light from the first altering member 243 enters into the prism 80 is reflected in the horizontal direction by the second altering member 243.
  • the reflected light passes through the prism, and is guided in the vertical direction by the third altering member 244 at which the interface is formed because air interpose between the prism 80 and the ink.
  • the light from the third altering member is reflected in the horizontal direction corresponding to the same optical axis as the light emitted from the light-emitting element 113 by the fourth altering member 245, and received by the light-receiving element 114 at the left side of the center of Fig. 13 .
  • the identifying device determines that the amount of the ink is less than the predetermined amount.
  • the first altering member 242, the second altering member 243, the third altering member 244 and the fourth altering member 245 are used in place of the indicator portion 62.
  • the first altering member 242, the second altering member 243, the third altering member 244 and the fourth altering member 245 may be used in place of the light blocking portion 73 and the space 148.
  • the prism constituting one wall surface of the small chamber communicating with the ink chamber but the reflection tapes may be used as in the case of the first altering member 242 and the fourth altering member 245.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
EP08003693A 2008-02-28 2008-02-28 Tintenpatrone, Identifizierungseinrichtung und Verfahren zur Identifizierung einer Tintenpatrone Active EP2103434B1 (de)

Priority Applications (4)

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EP10015201A EP2298556B1 (de) 2008-02-28 2008-02-28 Tintenpatrone, Identifizierungseinrichtung und Verfahren zur Identifizierung einer Tintenpatrone
AT08003693T ATE504452T1 (de) 2008-02-28 2008-02-28 Tintenpatrone, identifizierungseinrichtung und verfahren zur identifizierung einer tintenpatrone
EP08003693A EP2103434B1 (de) 2008-02-28 2008-02-28 Tintenpatrone, Identifizierungseinrichtung und Verfahren zur Identifizierung einer Tintenpatrone
DE602008006016T DE602008006016D1 (de) 2008-02-28 2008-02-28 Tintenpatrone, Identifizierungseinrichtung und Verfahren zur Identifizierung einer Tintenpatrone

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EP08003693A EP2103434B1 (de) 2008-02-28 2008-02-28 Tintenpatrone, Identifizierungseinrichtung und Verfahren zur Identifizierung einer Tintenpatrone

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DE102009026107A1 (de) * 2009-07-06 2011-01-13 Pelikan Hardcopy Production Ag Tintenpatrone und Tintenstrahldrucker zur Aufnahme einer solchen Tintenpatrone
US8052261B2 (en) * 2007-01-30 2011-11-08 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Ink cartridge determination systems and ink cartridges
CN102285239A (zh) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-21 兄弟工业株式会社 墨盒和记录设备
CN102285235A (zh) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-21 兄弟工业株式会社 墨盒和记录设备
FR2961431A1 (fr) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-23 Brother Ind Ltd Appareil d'enregistrement et cartouche d'encre
FR2961430A1 (fr) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-23 Brother Ind Ltd Appareil d'enregistrement et cartouche d'encre
FR2961434A1 (fr) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-23 Brother Ind Ltd Cartouche d'encre et appareil d'enregistrement
FR2961432A1 (fr) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-23 Brother Ind Ltd Appareil d'enregistrement et cartouche d'encre
EP2368712A3 (de) * 2010-03-26 2012-10-10 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Flüssigkeitskartusche und Flüssigkeitsversorgungsvorrichtung
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EP2607082A1 (de) * 2011-12-22 2013-06-26 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Druckflüssigkeitspatrone, Druckvorrichtung und Verwendung der Druckflüssigkeitspatrone
EP2607084A1 (de) * 2011-12-22 2013-06-26 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Druckflüssigkeitspatrone und Druckvorrichtung
US8596772B2 (en) 2011-08-30 2013-12-03 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Printing fluid cartridge, printing apparatus, and use of printing fluid cartridge
US8678573B2 (en) 2011-12-22 2014-03-25 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Printing fluid cartridge
GB2498828B (en) * 2010-05-01 2016-08-31 Zhuhai Ninestar Man Co Ltd Ink cartridge, ink cartridge assembly and ink cartridge determination system
JP2017100378A (ja) * 2015-12-02 2017-06-08 キヤノン株式会社 液体容器および液体吐出装置
EP2607088A3 (de) * 2011-12-22 2017-11-22 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Druckflüssigkeitskartusche
WO2018022038A1 (en) * 2016-07-27 2018-02-01 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Horizontal interface for fluid supply cartridge having digital fluid level sensor
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EP1241011A2 (de) * 2001-03-15 2002-09-18 Seiko Epson Corporation Tintenstrahldrucker
EP1792736A1 (de) * 2003-09-30 2007-06-06 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenpatrone und Tintenstrahldrucker
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US8052261B2 (en) * 2007-01-30 2011-11-08 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Ink cartridge determination systems and ink cartridges
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EP2368712A3 (de) * 2010-03-26 2012-10-10 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Flüssigkeitskartusche und Flüssigkeitsversorgungsvorrichtung
EP2610062A1 (de) * 2010-03-26 2013-07-03 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Flüssigkeitskartusche und Flüssigkeitslieferungsvorrichtung
US8702214B2 (en) 2010-03-26 2014-04-22 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid cartridge and liquid supplying device
US8469500B2 (en) 2010-03-26 2013-06-25 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid cartridge and liquid supplying device
GB2498828B (en) * 2010-05-01 2016-08-31 Zhuhai Ninestar Man Co Ltd Ink cartridge, ink cartridge assembly and ink cartridge determination system
EP2397337A1 (de) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-21 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenpatrone, Satz von Tintenpatronen und Tintenpatronenbestimmungssystem
FR2961432A1 (fr) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-23 Brother Ind Ltd Appareil d'enregistrement et cartouche d'encre
FR2961434A1 (fr) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-23 Brother Ind Ltd Cartouche d'encre et appareil d'enregistrement
FR2961430A1 (fr) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-23 Brother Ind Ltd Appareil d'enregistrement et cartouche d'encre
FR2961431A1 (fr) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-23 Brother Ind Ltd Appareil d'enregistrement et cartouche d'encre
CN102285235A (zh) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-21 兄弟工业株式会社 墨盒和记录设备
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JP2019521895A (ja) * 2016-07-27 2019-08-08 ヒューレット−パッカード デベロップメント カンパニー エル．ピー．Ｈｅｗｌｅｔｔ‐Ｐａｃｋａｒｄ Ｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｍｅｎｔ Ｃｏｍｐａｎｙ， Ｌ．Ｐ． デジタル液体レベルセンサを有する流体供給カートリッジ用の水平方向インターフェース
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CN113147180A (zh) * 2016-07-27 2021-07-23 惠普发展公司，有限责任合伙企业 用于具有数字流体液位传感器的流体供应墨盒的水平接口
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EP2103434B1 (de) 2011-04-06
ATE504452T1 (de) 2011-04-15
EP2298556B1 (de) 2012-12-26
DE602008006016D1 (de) 2011-05-19
EP2298556A1 (de) 2011-03-23

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