JP2001246760A - Ink-jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink-jet printer whose manufacturing cost is suppressed, by simply adjusting a setting position or the like of a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part. SOLUTION: A reference part 16 of an equal shape to a shape of a recessed part 21 where a tank-detecting part 22 for detecting an ink tank 20, a tank information-detecting part 23 and a residual quantity-detecting part 24 are formed is formed to an ink carriage 15. The setting position or the like of the light-emitting part 31 and the light-receiving part 32 can be adjusted with the utilization of the reference part 16. The labor of adjusting the setting position and a quantity of light to be emitted, etc., of the light-emitting part 31 and the light-receiving part 32 is greatly reduced when the apparatus body is assembled, so that manufacturing costs of the apparatus body can be restricted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet printer for printing characters and images on paper, and more particularly to an ink jet printer having a function of optically detecting the presence or absence of ink in an ink tank set in a main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ink in an ink tank is sprayed on a sheet while reciprocating an ink carriage in which an ink tank is set in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction, and characters and images are printed on the sheet. There was an inkjet printer that did. Further, an ink jet print capable of performing full-color printing using four colors of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan or three colors excluding black has been put to practical use.

[0003] As is well known, an ink jet printer cannot print when there is no ink in an ink tank set in an ink carriage. Therefore, the ink jet printer detects the remaining amount (presence / absence) of ink in the ink tank and detects the absence of ink. There has been proposed a device provided with a function of notifying a user of the fact when the event is detected. As one method of detecting the presence or absence of ink in the ink tank, transmitted light or reflected light of light emitted from the light emitting element to the ink tank is received by the light receiving element, and the amount of light in the ink tank is determined based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element. There is an optical detection method for detecting the presence or absence of ink.

[0004] An integration detection method for detecting the absence of ink by integrating the amount of ink discharged from the nozzle and a weight detection method for detecting the absence of ink by measuring the weight of the ink tank have been proposed.

[0005]

However, in the device for detecting the presence or absence of ink in the ink tank by the above-mentioned optical detection method, it is necessary to adjust the mounting positions of the light emitting element and the light receiving element in the main body during assembly, The dispersion of the performance of the element and the light receiving element had to be adjusted. Specifically, with the ink tank set in the ink carriage, the mounting position of the light emitting element is adjusted so as to irradiate a specific position (detection position) of the ink tank, and the light irradiated to the specific position is adjusted. The position of the light receiving element has been adjusted so as to receive transmitted light or reflected light. Further, while alternately mounting empty ink tanks and non-empty ink tanks on the ink carriage, the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element is adjusted so that the amount of light received by the light receiving element becomes appropriate.

As described above, in the apparatus for detecting the presence or absence of ink in the ink tank by the above-described optical detection method, the setting (mounting) and resetting (removal) of the ink tank with respect to the ink carriage must be repeatedly performed during assembly. There has been a problem that the assembling work is troublesome and increases the manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer which can easily adjust the mounting positions of a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, thereby suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost.

[0008]

An ink jet printer according to the present invention has the following arrangement to solve the above-mentioned problems.

(1) A print control unit is provided for controlling the timing of spraying the ink in the ink tank onto the paper while reciprocating the ink carriage in which the ink tank is set, and printing characters and images on the paper. A light emitting unit that irradiates a specific position of the ink tank set on the ink carriage, a light receiving unit that receives reflected light from a specific position of the ink tank, and a light receiving unit that receives light from the light receiving unit. And a detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of ink in the ink tank from the received light amount, and reflecting the light emitted from the light emitting unit to the ink carriage and guiding the light to the light receiving unit. A marking member was arranged.

(2) A light emitting amount adjusting unit for adjusting the light emitting amount of the light emitting unit is provided.

(3) The light emitting amount adjusting section is a variable resistor for changing a current supplied to the light emitting section.

(4) The detection unit is configured to determine a position of the ink tank in the light receiving unit from a specific position based on a position of the ink carriage when the light receiving unit receives reflected light from the marking member. Obtain the amount of reflected light received.

(5) The print control unit has a function of moving the ink carriage to a home position based on a position of the ink carriage when the light receiving unit receives the reflected light from the marking member. .

In the above configuration, the marking member that reflects the light emitted from the light emitting portion and guides the light to the light receiving portion is arranged on the ink carriage on which the ink tank is set, so that the marking member is used when assembling the apparatus main body. It is possible to adjust the mounting position of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, the amount of emitted light, and the like. Specifically, with the ink carriage stopped at a predetermined position, the mounting position of the light emitting unit is adjusted to a position for irradiating the marking member, and the mounting position of the light receiving unit is adjusted to the position of the light irradiated on the marking member. What is necessary is just to adjust to the position which receives reflected light. The marking member is formed at the same height and on the same surface as a specific position of the ink tank set on the ink carriage. Further, the light emission amount of the light emitting element may be adjusted so that the light reception amount of the reflected light from the marking member in the light receiving element becomes an appropriate size.

Therefore, it is not necessary to repeatedly set (mount) and reset (remove) the ink tank with respect to the ink carriage as in the related art, so that the assembling work can be performed easily and the increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

Further, by using the position where the marking member arranged on the ink carriage is detected as a reference, it is possible to suppress an error in the amount of movement of the ink carriage. The reflected light from the position can be obtained with high accuracy.

Furthermore, if the home position of the ink carriage is detected with reference to the position where the marking member arranged on the ink carriage is detected, the home position sensor is not required, and the cost of the apparatus main body can be reduced. .

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the appearance of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a printing unit of the inkjet printer. The ink jet printer 1 includes a main body 2 containing a printing unit, a paper feed tray 3 for setting paper to be fed to the main body, and a paper discharge tray 4 for discharging printed paper.

As shown in FIG. 2, a paper transport path for guiding the paper fed from the paper feed tray 3 to the paper discharge tray 4 is formed in the printing section. In the sheet conveyance path, a pickup roller 11 for feeding one sheet set in the sheet feeding tray 3, a sheet feeding roller 12 for conveying the sheet fed by the pickup roller to the inside of the main body, and a feeding timing are adjusted. A PS roller 13 and a paper discharge roller 14 are arranged. The ink tank 2 is located above the printing position.
An ink carriage 15 to which 0 is set (attached) is arranged. The ink carriage 15 is reciprocated by a driving unit (not shown) in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2). The ink carriage 15 is held on a shaft (not shown).

Hereinafter, a printing operation in the ink jet printer 1 of this embodiment will be briefly described. When a print request is transmitted from an information processing device such as a personal computer connected via a data transmission line, the inkjet printer 1 causes the pickup roller 11 to feed out one sheet set on the sheet feed tray 3. The paper fed by the pickup roller 11 is sent to a printing position by the paper feed roller 12. PS roller 13
Sends the paper to the print position in synchronization with the print timing of the print image transmitted from the information processing device. While moving the ink carriage 15 in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction, the ink tank 20 is applied to the paper according to the print image.
To print an image of one line on paper. Note that the PS roller 13 stops feeding the paper while printing of one line (scanning of one line) is performed on the paper. When the scanning of one line is completed, the PS roller 13 feeds the paper by an appropriate amount (printing width of one line), and prints (scans) one line on the paper.
Is repeatedly performed, and the print image transmitted from the information processing apparatus is printed on a sheet. The paper on which the print image is printed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 4.

The ink jet printer 1 of this embodiment
Includes a black ink tank 20B (see FIG. 3) and three color ink tanks 2 of yellow, magenta, and cyan.
An ink carriage 15 (see FIG. 5) is provided for setting a full-color ink tank 20F (see FIG. 4) in which 0Y, 20M, and 20C are integrated. Black ink tank 20B and full color ink tank 2
0F has a print head having a nozzle for discharging ink on the bottom surface. The black ink tank 20B has a U-shaped concave portion 21 on the surface thereof.
As shown in (B), a tank detector 22 for causing the apparatus main body to detect whether or not the ink tank 20 is set in the ink carriage 15, and information (ink color, ink density, tank capacity, A tank information detecting unit 23 for causing the apparatus main body to detect an identification number and the like and a remaining amount detecting unit 24 for causing the apparatus main body to detect the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 20 are formed.
In addition, the ink tank 20F for full color is yellow,
Magenta and cyan ink tanks 20Y, 20
M, the tank detector 22 on each surface of 20C,
A tank information detecting section 23 and a remaining amount detecting section 24 are formed and have a recess 21.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ink carriage 15 has attachment portions 15a, 1
5b. In FIG. 5, a black ink tank 20B can be set in the left mounting portion 15a, and a full-color ink tank 20F can be set in the right mounting portion 15b. The outer shape of the black ink tank 20B is different from that of the full-color ink tank 20F, and the mounting portions 15a and 15b have shapes corresponding to the ink tanks 20 to be set. Therefore, a mistake in setting the ink tank 20 with respect to the ink carriage 15 can be prevented.

The ink carriage 15 also has a reference portion 16 having the same shape as the concave portion 21 formed in the black ink tank 20B or the full-color ink tank 20F. The reference portion 16 is formed at the same height as the concave portion 21 of the ink tank 20 set on the ink carriage 15. The concave portion 21 of the ink tank 20 set in the reference portion 16 and the ink carriage 15 is located on a plane perpendicular to the moving direction of the ink carriage 15.

Further, the ink jet printer 1 has a light emitting portion 31 for irradiating the concave portion 21 and the reference portion 16.
And a light receiving section 32 for receiving the reflected light from the concave section 21 and the reference section 16 irradiated by the light emitting section 31
Is provided. As shown in FIG.
Irradiates the lower surface (hereinafter, referred to as a detection surface) of the concave portion 21 and the reference portion 16 (hereinafter, referred to as a detection surface), and the light reflected on the detection surface has an upper surface (hereinafter, reflection). ), And the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit 32.

As described above, the concave portion 21 is a structure for forming an optical path for guiding the light emitted from the light emitting section 31 to the light receiving section 32. If the ink tank 20 has a shape for forming the above optical path, FIG. Other shapes such as the shape shown in B) may be used.

The tank detector 2 formed in the recess 21
The detection surface and the reflection surface of No. 2 are configured by a reflection member that reflects light emitted from the light emitting unit 31. The ink jet printer 1 detects whether or not the ink tank 20 is set on the ink carriage 15 based on the presence or absence of the reflected light from the tank detection unit 22 in the light receiving unit 32. The tank information detection unit 23 has a detection surface formed with a barcode having information such as ink color, ink density, tank capacity, and identification number. The ink jet printer 1 reads a bar code based on the presence or absence of reflected light on the light receiving unit 32 when scanning the tank information detecting unit 23, and detects information on the ink tank 20 set on the carriage 15.

Further, the remaining amount detecting section 24 is formed of a member whose detection surface transmits light emitted from the light emitting section 31. If the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 20 is above the ink remaining amount detection line shown in FIG.
The light applied to the detection surface of the remaining amount detection unit 24 is reflected by the ink in the ink tank 20, further reflected by the reflection surface, and received by the light receiving unit 32. On the other hand, the ink tank 20
As the remaining amount of ink becomes lower than the remaining ink amount detection line shown in FIG. 6, the amount of light reflected by the ink in the ink tank 20 decreases, so that the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 32 decreases. The ink jet printer 1 detects the remaining amount (presence or absence) of the ink in the ink tank 20 based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 32 when the remaining amount detecting unit 24 is irradiated. Specifically, when the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 32 becomes equal to or less than a preset threshold,
It is determined that there is no ink in the ink tank 20. In addition,
Since the reflectance of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 31 differs depending on the color of the ink, the above-described threshold is set for each of the black, yellow, magenta, and cyan inks. The reflection surfaces of the tank information detection unit 23 and the remaining amount detection unit 24 are formed of a reflection member that reflects the light emitted from the light emitting unit 31.

The reference portion 16 of the ink carriage 15 is provided with two types of marking members 16a and 16b. The marking member 16a is a light emitting unit 31
The reflectance of the light emitted from the light emitting portion 31 is the same as that of the black ink, and the marking member 16b is a member having the reflectance of the light emitted from the light emitting section 31 of substantially zero. It should be noted that the ink carriage 15 has the same reflectance as that of the black ink, or the reflectance of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 31 is substantially zero.
If the marking member 15
It is not necessary to attach either one of a and b.

FIG. 7 shows a circuit of the light emitting section and the light receiving section. The light emitting unit 31 is a circuit that can adjust the amount of light emission by changing the current supplied to the LED by the variable resistor VR. The light receiving section 32 is a circuit that outputs a voltage divided by the resistor R2 and the light receiving sensor as an output signal. Since the resistance of the light receiving sensor changes according to the amount of received light, a voltage corresponding to the amount of received light of the light receiving sensor can be output as an output signal.

In the ink jet printer 1, the mounting positions of the light emitting unit 31 (LED) and the light receiving unit 32 (light receiving sensor) are adjusted by stopping the ink carriage 15 at a predetermined position. Specifically, the ink carriage 15 is stopped at a predetermined position. Here, the predetermined position is
The LED attached to the proper position is the marking member 1.
6a. With the ink carriage 15 stopped at a predetermined position, the operator adjusts the mounting position so that the LED irradiates the marking member 16a, and mounts the light receiving sensor such that the light receiving sensor receives the reflected light from the marking member 16a. Adjust the position.

When the adjustment of the mounting positions of the LED and the light receiving sensor is completed, the operator performs the operation of adjusting the light emission amount of the LED. This operation is performed by using the marking members 16a and 16b while measuring the output signal of the light receiving section 32 while controlling the variable resistance V.
This is an operation for adjusting the resistance value of R. Specifically, the level of the output signal of the light receiving unit 32 when the reflected light from the marking member 16a is received, and the level of the output signal of the light receiving unit 32 when the reflected light from the marking member 16b is received. Is adjusted so that there is a threshold value for determining that there is no ink. Note that between the two levels, there are threshold values for yellow, magenta, and cyan inks as well as black.

As described above, in the ink jet printer 1 of this embodiment, the reference portion 16 is provided on the ink carriage 15, so that the ink
Adjustment of the mounting positions of the LED and the light receiving sensor, and adjustment of the light emission amount of the LED can be performed without setting the ink tank 20 in the LED. Therefore, the labor required for adjusting the mounting position of the LED and the light receiving sensor and the adjustment of the light emission amount of the LED are reduced, so that an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

In the above embodiment, the light emission amount of the LED is adjusted by the variable resistor VR. However, a configuration may be adopted in which the CPU 41 that controls the operation of the main body adjusts the light emission amount. FIG. 8 shows a circuit of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit in this case. Driver 4
2, a pulse signal is input from the CPU 41. CP
U41 can freely change the duty of the pulse signal. The driver 42 has a function of changing the current supplied to the LED according to the duty of the pulse signal input from the CPU 41. The light receiving unit 3
2 is input to the CPU 41.

The operation of adjusting the light emission amount of the LED by the CPU 41 will be described below. Adjustment of the mounting position of the LED and the light receiving sensor can be performed by the same operation as in the above-described embodiment. The CPU 41 inputs a pulse signal having an appropriate duty (for example, a duty of 50%) to the driver 42. In the driver 42, the current corresponding to the duty of the pulse signal input from the CPU 41 is
D to cause the LED to emit light. Furthermore, CPU4
1 controls the movement of the ink carriage 15, obtains the level of the output signal of the light receiving section 32 when the light receiving sensor receives the reflected light from the marking members 16a and 16b, and receives the reflected light from the marking member 16a. It is determined whether or not there is a threshold value for determining that there is no ink between the level of the output signal when the ink is discharged and the level of the output signal when the reflected light from the marking member 16b is received. The CPU 41 changes the duty of the pulse signal input to the driver 42 if there is no threshold between these two levels, and repeats the above processing. If the threshold exists between the two levels, the pulse signal input to the driver 42 Is determined as the duty at this time.

As described above, if the CPU 41 has a function of adjusting the light emission amount of the LED, the operator does not need to adjust the light emission amount of the LED. Further, if the adjustment of the light emission amount of the LED is performed at an appropriate timing (for example, when a specific switch is operated), it is possible to cope with a temporal change of the LED and the light receiving sensor due to use of the apparatus main body. Thus, the light emission amount of the LED can be adjusted. Therefore,
It is also possible to prevent the accuracy of detecting the remaining amount of ink from lowering due to the temporal change of the LED and the light receiving sensor.

Next, a process for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 20 set in the ink carriage 15 will be described. This processing is performed when the above-described printing processing is executed. FIG. 9 shows the concept of the process for detecting the remaining ink amount and the like. Here, the ink carriage 15
The operation for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the black ink tank 20B set in the printer will be described. CPU4
1 moves the ink carriage 15, detects a position where the LED irradiates the marking member 16a of the reference section 16, and moves the ink carriage 15 by a predetermined amount in the P direction shown in the drawing with this position as a reference position. Here, the predetermined amount is the black ink tank 20 set on the marking member 16a and the ink carriage 15.
B at a distance from the tank detector 22 (X in FIG.
B). Therefore, when the CPU 41 moves the ink carriage 15 by a predetermined amount from the reference position, L
The ED irradiates the tank detector 22 of the black ink tank 20B set on the ink carriage 15. The CPU 41 detects the level of the output signal of the light receiving section 32, detects whether or not the black ink tank 20B is set in the ink carriage 15, and if not, notifies the fact.

On the other hand, if it is set, the tank information detecting section 2 is moved while moving the ink carriage 15 in the Q direction.
The barcode formed on the printer 3 is read, and whether or not an appropriate ink tank 20B is set is detected using the read barcode information. If an inappropriate ink tank 20 is set, the CPU 41 notifies the user of the fact.

If the proper ink tank 20 is set in the ink carriage 15, the CPU 41 further moves the ink carriage 15 in the Q direction so that the LED remains in the black ink tank 20B set in the ink carriage 15. The output signal of the light receiving unit 32 when irradiating the amount detection unit 24 is captured, and it is determined whether or not the level of this output signal is equal to or less than a preset threshold value for black ink. A notification that there is no black ink is provided, and if not below the threshold, the above detection is performed for the ink tanks 20Y, 20M, and 20C.

In the detection processing for the ink tanks 20Y, 20M, and 20C, the CPU 41 basically changes the direction and amount of movement of the ink carriage 15 from the reference position. The level of the output signal of the light receiving unit 32 when the reflected light from the tank detecting unit 22, the tank information detecting unit 23, and the remaining amount detecting unit 24 of the 20M and 20C are received is obtained, and the above determination is performed.

As described above, in the above detection processing, the reference position is detected by using the reference portion 16 formed on the ink carriage 15 on which the ink tank 20 is set, and the reference position is detected by using the reference position. The ink carriage 1 is located at a position where the tank detecting unit 22, the tank information detecting unit 23, and the remaining amount detecting unit 24 are
5, the amount of movement of the ink carriage 15 from the reference position is short. Therefore, an error included in the amount of movement of the ink carriage 15 by the CPU 41 is suppressed, and a decrease in detection accuracy can be prevented.

Further, the CPU 41 may be provided with a function of moving the ink carriage 15 to the home position using the reference position. Specifically, the distance from the reference position to the home position is set, and when the ink carriage 15 is moved to the home position, the CPU 41 may move the ink carriage 15 by this distance from the reference position. . This eliminates the need for a home position sensor, and can further reduce the manufacturing cost of the apparatus main body.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the marking member is disposed on the ink carriage on which the ink tank is set, the mounting position of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit when assembling the apparatus main body, the amount of emitted light, and the like. The work of adjusting work is greatly reduced and can be performed easily. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the apparatus main body can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing unit of the inkjet printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a black ink tank.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the appearance of a full-color ink tank.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an ink carriage.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, and a mounting state of the inkjet printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a circuit of a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit of the ink jet printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a circuit of a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit of an ink jet printer according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a concept of an operation of detecting a remaining ink amount and the like.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-Inkjet Printer 15-Ink Carriage 16-Reference Section 16a, 16b-Marking Member 20B-Black Ink Tank 20F-Full Color Ink Tank 20Y-Yellow Ink Tank 20M-Magenta Ink Tank 20C-Cyan Ink Tank 21- Recess 22-Tank detection unit 23-Tank information detection unit 24-Remaining amount detection unit 31-Light emitting unit 32-Light receiving unit 41-CPU 42-Driver

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Naohiro Ando 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term (reference) 2C056 EA22 EA24 EA29 EB20 EB52 EC11 EC64 KC04 KD06

Claims (5)

[Claims] A print control unit that controls timing of spraying ink in the ink tank onto a sheet while reciprocating an ink carriage in which the ink tank is set, and prints characters and images on the sheet. In the inkjet printer, a light emitting unit that irradiates a specific position of the ink tank set in the ink carriage, a light receiving unit that receives light reflected from a specific position of the ink tank, and a light receiving amount of the light receiving unit And a detecting unit for detecting the presence or absence of ink in the ink tank from the received light amount, and marking the ink carriage to reflect the light emitted from the light emitting unit and guide the light to the light receiving unit. An inkjet printer with components arranged. 2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, further comprising a light emission amount adjusting unit for adjusting the light emission amount of said light emitting unit. 3. The ink jet printer according to claim 2, wherein the light emission amount adjustment unit is a variable resistor that changes a current supplied to the light emission unit. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is configured to reflect light from a specific position of the ink tank in the light receiving unit based on a position of the ink carriage when the light receiving unit receives the reflected light from the marking member. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet printer obtains an amount of received light. 5. The print control unit has a function of moving the ink carriage to a home position based on a position of the ink carriage when the light receiving unit receives reflected light from the marking member. Item 1
5. The ink jet printer according to any one of items 1 to 4.