JP2002210998A - Ink residual amount detection unit and printer comprising the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a smooth cartridge replacing workability. SOLUTION: This ink residual amount detection unit 30 comprises a cartridge holder 33 capable of integrally storing first and second cartridges 33a, 33b detachable with each other, first and second residual amount detecting mechanisms 41, 42 each capable of detecting a first ink state with the ink in the first and second cartridges 33a, 33b reaching at a predetermined amount, an ink end assuming means for assuming a second ink state with the ink in the first and second cartridges 33a, 33b exhausted by calculating a predetermined ink consumption amount from the first ink state, and a control part 50 having an ink end regarding means for regarding a cartridge, which have been assumed to be in the first state is in the second ink state in the case the ink end assuming means is assumed that it is in the second ink state.

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 having a plurality of ink cartridges, and more particularly, to a technique for detecting a remaining amount of ink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, in an ink jet printer, printing is performed by ejecting ink supplied from an ink pack in an ink cartridge (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a cartridge) from nozzles formed in a print head. Will be Further, in addition to such printing processing, ink is consumed also in cleaning processing of the print head.

In order to avoid a situation in which the ink in the ink pack becomes empty (hereinafter, referred to as an ink end state) and printing cannot be performed suddenly, a state in which the ink is left in a small amount (hereinafter, a near end state) will be described. The mechanism is provided to detect the near-end state, and counts the amount of ink consumed after detecting the near-end state. When a predetermined amount of ink is consumed, the cartridge is regarded as being in the ink end state and the cartridge is replaced. Indication of what should be done.

[0004]

In recent years, printers capable of multicolor printing have been developed. However, these cartridges are loaded with ink packs filled with inks of different colors into a plurality of cartridges. Printers have been proposed which can be mounted integrally or separately on a cartridge holder provided in the printer.

However, in such a printer, when one of the plurality of cartridges is in the ink end state and the other is in the near end state, the cartridge in the ink end state is replaced. Shortly after the replacement, the cartridge in the near-end state becomes the ink-end state, and it is necessary to replace the cartridge again, which causes a problem that such replacement work is troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer which can reduce the frequency of replacement of cartridges and which is easy to use. is there.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cartridge holder capable of accommodating a plurality of cartridges each having several kinds of inks separately, and a method for reducing the amount of ink in each cartridge to a predetermined amount. A detection mechanism capable of separately detecting the first ink state to be reached, and a second ink for depleting the ink in the cartridge by calculating a predetermined amount of ink consumption based on information detected by the detection mechanism An ink end estimating means for estimating a state;
A control unit having an ink-end deeming unit that regards a cartridge detected as being in the first ink state as being in the second ink state when the ink-end estimating unit assumes the second ink state. An ink remaining amount detecting device comprising:

According to the present invention, when at least one of the plurality of cartridges is in the second ink state and at least one of the remaining cartridges is in the first ink state,
For example, by considering a cartridge with a low ink level as an empty state, both such cartridges can be replaced, and as a result, the empty cartridge can be replaced with another soon after the replacement. This prevents the cartridge from being emptied and needs to be replaced, thereby facilitating the replacement of the cartridge.

On the other hand, the present invention provides a cartridge holder configured to integrally contain a first cartridge and a second cartridge which have predetermined ink separately and are separable from each other, and a second cartridge in the cartridge holder. A first detection mechanism and a second detection mechanism capable of detecting a first ink state in which the ink in the first cartridge and the second cartridge reaches a predetermined amount, respectively, and a first detection mechanism or a second detection mechanism An ink end estimating means for assuming a second ink state in which the ink in the first cartridge or the second cartridge is assumed to be empty by calculating a predetermined amount of ink consumption based on the information detected by In a case where the end estimating means assumes the second ink state, the cartridge detected to be in the first ink state is set in the second ink state.
And a control unit having an ink-end deeming unit that is considered to be in the ink state.

According to the present invention, the workability of replacing a cartridge can be made smooth even for a cartridge holder that integrally houses a separate type cartridge.

Further, the present invention is provided with a display configured to separately perform a predetermined display on the ink state of the cartridge, and the control unit includes information of the ink end estimating means and the ink end deeming means. It is also effective to have an ink end display means for displaying a display based on the information.

According to the present invention, not only an empty cartridge but also a cartridge with a small amount of ink remaining can be urged by the operator to replace the cartridge.

Further, in the present invention, it is effective that the ink end display means has a function of displaying a display based on information from a detection mechanism.

According to the present invention, the operator can be warned about the cartridge replacement time for a cartridge having a small amount of ink.

On the other hand, the present invention provides an ink remaining amount detecting device according to any one of the above-mentioned inventions, and a print head configured to eject ink supplied from each cartridge via a predetermined ink path. The printer is characterized in that the ink end estimating means of the control unit is configured to calculate the ink consumed by the print head.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a printer capable of facilitating cartridge replacement work by displaying an indication that both an empty cartridge and a cartridge having a small amount of ink are to be replaced. Can be.

Further, the present invention is provided with a suction pump configured to be able to suck the ink of the print head, and the ink end estimating means of the control unit is configured to calculate the ink consumed by the suction pump. That is also effective.

According to the present invention, the amount of ink consumed when sucking ink is also included in the calculation of the amount of ink consumption. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the cartridge in the first ink state becomes empty and printing cannot be performed as it is without assuming that the cartridge is in the second ink state.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a printer having a plurality of ink cartridges, a first detection unit for detecting that the remaining amount of ink has reached a first predetermined amount for each of the cartridges; A counter that counts the amount of ink consumed after the remaining amount reaches the first predetermined amount, and a second that detects that the remaining amount of ink in the cartridge has reached the second predetermined amount based on the count value of the counter. And the first detection unit detects that the remaining amount of ink in at least one cartridge has reached the first predetermined amount, and the second detection unit detects that the remaining amount of ink in at least one other cartridge has reached A control unit that, when detecting that the second predetermined amount has been reached, regards the cartridge that has reached the first predetermined amount as having reached the second predetermined amount. A printer to.

On the other hand, the present invention detects a first ink state in which the ink in each ink pack reaches a predetermined amount, for a plurality of ink packs having several kinds of inks separately, When a predetermined amount of ink has been consumed for the ink pack in the ink state, the ink in the ink pack is assumed to be empty and the second ink state is assumed. The remaining ink state is regarded as being in the second ink state. In this case, it is desirable to indicate that the ink pack is in the first or second ink state.

According to the present invention, when performing multi-color printing, smoothing the printing process can be achieved by replenishing the empty ink pack with the ink when refilling the empty ink pack. It can be carried out.

According to the present invention, in a method for detecting the remaining amount of ink in a printer having a plurality of ink cartridges, a first detecting step for detecting that the remaining amount of ink has reached a first predetermined amount for each of the cartridges; A counting step of counting the amount of ink consumed after the remaining amount of ink has reached the first predetermined amount for each of the cartridges; and the remaining amount of ink in the cartridge has reached the second predetermined amount based on the count value of the counter. The second to detect that
Detecting that the remaining amount of ink in at least one of the cartridges has reached the first predetermined amount in the detecting step and detecting the remaining amount of ink in at least one of the other cartridges in the second detecting step. Detecting the cartridge that has reached the first predetermined amount as having reached the second predetermined amount when detecting that the second predetermined amount has been reached. It is.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer-readable information recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the ink remaining amount detecting method.

In this case, the information recording medium is a compact disk, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital video disk,
It may include a magnetic tape, a semiconductor memory, and a memory device.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a printer having an ink remaining amount detecting device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer according to the present embodiment and a path for supplying and discarding ink. Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 1 is an inkjet printer, and includes a print head mechanism 10 and a cleaning mechanism 2.
0 and an ink remaining amount detection device 30.

The print head mechanism 10 has a print head 11 mounted on a carriage. The carriage is supported by a carriage shaft 12 extending in the width direction of a predetermined paper path, and is configured to be movable by transmitting the power of a drive motor (not shown) via gears or the like. Also, print head 1
A nozzle surface 13 on which a plurality of nozzles capable of ejecting ink droplets are arranged is formed on one surface.

The cleaning mechanism 20 includes a cleaner 21
, A head cap 22, and a suction pump 23,
It is arranged at a predetermined position outside the range of the paper path. The cleaner 21 has a nozzle surface 1
3 is configured to be movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the nozzle surface 13.
It is constituted so that contact or separation is possible. The head cap 22 is formed to have a size capable of covering the nozzle surface 13 of the print head 11, and is connected to a suction pump 23 via a waste ink suction pipe 24 so as to be able to communicate with the suction pump 23.

The ink remaining amount detecting device 30 includes a cartridge device 31, first and second remaining amount detecting mechanisms 41 and 42,
It comprises first and second remaining amount indicating lamps 43 and 44, a cartridge detecting mechanism 45, and a control unit 50. Further, the cartridge device 31 includes a cartridge holder 32.
, A cartridge body 33 and an ink pump 34.

Next, the ink supply path and the ink disposal path in the printer 1 will be described. The ink supply path is connected so that the cartridge holder 32 can communicate with the ink pump 34 via the first and second ink suction pipes 71 and 72, and the ink pump 34 is connected to the first and second ink supply pipes. It is connected so as to be able to communicate with the print head 11 via 73 and 74. In the ink disposal path, the above-described suction pump 23 is connected to be able to communicate with the cartridge holder 32 via the waste ink discharge pipe 25. And
The ink supply path and the ink disposal path are connected to each other in a state where the cartridge holder 32 and the cartridge body 33 communicate with each other, so that closed paths are formed.

Next, the structure of the remaining ink amount detecting device 30 will be described. The cartridge body 33 includes a first cartridge 33a and a second cartridge 3 which can be separated from each other.
3b, and these are combined to form an integral box shape. That is, the first cartridge 33a and the second cartridge 33b
Each is a hollow box-shaped thing of almost the same size,
They are configured to be detachable from each other.

Here, the first cartridge 33a is loaded with a first ink pack 33c filled with a first color (eg, black) ink. In the second cartridge 33b, a second ink pack 33d filled with a second color (for example, red) ink and a waste ink pack 33e for collecting waste ink are loaded.

The first ink pack 33c and the second ink pack 33d are made flexible by using a material such as a polyethylene film.

On the other hand, the cartridge holder 32 has a cartridge case 32a which is opened in a size capable of accommodating the cartridge body 33, and has a first and a second ink supply needles 32b and 32c, a waste ink The needle 32d is provided in a state where the needle 32d communicates with the first and second ink suction pipes 71 and 72 and the waste ink discharge pipe 25, respectively. Such a first ink supply needle 32b is arranged at a position where it can be stabbed into the first ink pack 33c in the first cartridge 33a.
The waste ink needle 32d is disposed at a position where it can pierce the second ink pack 33d and the waste ink pack 33e in the second cartridge 33b, respectively.

The first and second remaining amount detecting mechanisms 41 and 42 are:
This is for detecting a state (near end) in which the ink in the first and second ink packs 33c and 33d has reached a predetermined remaining amount, and is provided at a predetermined portion of the cartridge holder 32, respectively. The first remaining amount detection mechanism 41
The first near-end sensor 41a detects a predetermined amount of displacement of an actuator (not shown) that moves with the deformation of the ink pack 33c. Similarly, the second remaining amount detection mechanism 42 is configured to detect a predetermined amount of displacement of the actuator that moves with the deformation of the second ink pack 33d by the second near-end sensor 42a.

Also, the first and second remaining amount indicating lamps 43,
Reference numeral 44 indicates the remaining amount of ink in the first and second ink packs 33c and 33d, and is provided on the exterior part of the cartridge holder 32, respectively. Then, in order to identify whether the ink pack is in the near end state or in the ink end state, for example, the display is performed by blinking a lamp at a different blinking cycle. These first and second remaining amount indicating lamps 43, 4
4 includes, for example, a light emitting diode.

Further, the cartridge detecting mechanism 45 is for detecting whether or not the cartridge body 33 is mounted, and is provided at a predetermined portion of the cartridge holder 32. The cartridge detection mechanism 45 is configured to detect a predetermined portion of the cartridge body 33 by a cartridge sensor 45a.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the printer 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 50 includes an ink end estimating unit 51 and an ink end
And an ink end display unit 53. The control unit 50 is electrically connected to the print head 11, the suction pump 23, and the first and second remaining amount indicating lamps 43 and 44, respectively. , 42 and the cartridge sensor 45a. Thereby, the control unit 50 is configured to be controllable so that the ink-end estimating unit 51, the ink-end deeming unit 52, and the ink-end displaying unit 53 exhibit the functions described below.

That is, the ink end estimating means 51
Based on the detection signals from the first and second near-end sensors 41a and 42b, the first and second ink packs 33c and 33d are empty (ink end) by calculating the ink consumption described later. Has functions to assume.

When one of the first and second cartridges 33c and 33d is assumed to be in the ink end state by the ink end estimating means 51, the other end cartridge is set to the near end. When it is in the state, it has a function of regarding this as an ink end state.

Further, the ink end display means 53 is provided with an ink end estimating means 51 or an ink end deeming means 5.
The first and second remaining amount indicating lamps 4 based on the information from
Ink end display function for blinking 3, 44 at a predetermined cycle, and first and second remaining amount indicating lamps 43, 44 based on signals from the first and second near-end sensors 41, 42.
And a near-end display function of blinking at a different cycle from the above.

Next, a method of detecting the remaining amount of ink in the printer 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The process of detecting the remaining amount of ink executed by the control unit 50 of the remaining ink amount detecting device 30 is performed not only when the power is turned on and when the cartridge is replaced, but also during the printing process and the cleaning process. Hereinafter, a case where the printing process is performed will be described as an example.

First, in step S1, the cartridge detection mechanism 45 detects whether or not the cartridge body 33 is inserted, and a detection signal is transmitted from the cartridge sensor 45a to the control unit 50. Control unit 5
If it is determined that there is no cartridge body 33 based on the detection signal, the process proceeds to step S2, and if it is determined that there is no cartridge body 33, the printer 1 is set to an offline state.

In step S2, when the first cartridge is in the near-end state, it is determined whether or not the first cartridge is considered to be in the ink-end state based on the remaining amount of ink in the second cartridge. A first ink end assumption process is performed. Similarly, step S3
Then, when the second cartridge is in the near-end state, the second cartridge is set based on the remaining amount of ink in the first cartridge.
A second ink-end estimation process is performed for determining whether or not the cartridge of the cartridge No. is considered to be in the ink-end state.

The details of the first and second ink end estimation processes will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, “K-th” and “L-th” represent the first ink end assumption process (step S 3 in FIG. 3).
2) means “first” and “second,” respectively, and is a second ink end assumption process (step S3 in FIG. 3).
, On the contrary, means “second” and “first”, respectively.

Hereinafter, the first ink end estimation process will be described as an example. First, the control unit 50 controls the first ink pack 3
It is determined whether 3c has already been in the near-end state (step S21). This determination processing is performed based on the state of the first near-end flag, and the flag is “1”.
(Step S21; YES), it is determined that the vehicle is already in the near-end state, and the process proceeds to Step S29.
If it is "0" (step S21; NO), it is determined that the vehicle is not in the near-end state, and the process proceeds to step S22.

In step S22, it is determined whether or not the first ink pack 33c is in the near-end state based on a detection signal from the first near-end sensor 41a, not on the basis of the value of the first near-end flag. When a determination is made and it is determined that the vehicle is in the near-end state (step S22; YES), the first near-end flag is set to “1”.
(Step S23). That is, the first near-end flag is updated to the latest state. On the other hand, when it is determined that the first ink pack 33c is not in the near-end state (step S22; NO), the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG.

In step S24, it is detected whether or not the second ink pack 33d is in the ink-end state. That is, a count value of an end counter that counts the amount of ink consumed (specifically, the number of ink shots) since the near-end state and a predetermined number of ink shots expected from the near end to the ink end. The threshold value is compared with the threshold value, and it is determined whether or not the ink is in the end state. Here, the count value of the second end counter is compared with the second threshold value, and when the count value of the second end counter exceeds the second threshold value, the second ink pack 33 d It is determined that the ink is in the ink end state (step S24; No), and when the count value of the second end counter is equal to or smaller than the second threshold value, the second
It is determined that the ink pack 33d is not in the ink end state (step S24; YES).

If the second ink pack 33d is in the ink end state (step S24; N
O) The first remaining amount display lamp 43 displays that the first ink pack 33c is in the ink end state (step S27).

That is, when the first ink pack 33c is in the near end state and the second ink pack 33d is in the ink end state, it is considered that the first ink pack 33c is in the ink end state, and the first ink pack 33c is in the ink end state. The ink end is displayed by the remaining amount display lamp of. In this case, the ink end display of the second ink pack 33d is performed by the second remaining amount display lamp in the second ink end estimation process.

Thereafter, since printing cannot be performed in the ink end state, the printer 1 is set to the off-line state (step S29), and waits until the cartridge is replaced.

On the other hand, when the second ink pack 33d is not in the ink end state (step S24; YE
S) The first remaining amount display lamp 43 indicates that the first ink pack 33c is in the near-end state. Then, the first end counter is reset to “0” and the first end counter is reset.
Prepare for counting the amount of ink consumption from the near end state of the cartridge (step S26).

On the other hand, in step S29 branched from step S21, since the first ink pack 33c has already been in the near end state, it is next determined whether or not the first ink pack 33c is in the ink end state. That is, by comparing the count value of the first end counter with the first threshold value,
It is determined whether or not the first ink pack 33c is in an ink-out state. If the first ink pack 33c is not in the ink-end state (step S29; YE
S), the same determination is made for the second ink pack 33d (step S30).

Then, the first and second ink packs 33
If both c and 33d are not in the ink-out state, the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG.

When the first ink pack 33c is in the ink-out state (step S29; N
O), this is indicated by the first remaining amount display lamp 43 (step S27), and the printer 1 is turned off (step S28), and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG.

Further, the first ink pack 33c is in a near-end state and the second ink pack 33d
Is in the ink-end state (step S3).
0; NO), the first ink pack 33c is regarded as being in the ink-end state, and a display indicating that the first ink pack 33c is in the ink-end state is made by the first remaining amount display lamp 43 in the same manner as described above. Then, after the printer 12 is set to the offline state (step S28), the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. In this case, the ink end display of the second ink pack 33d is performed by the second remaining amount display lamp in the second ink end estimation process.

The second ink end estimation process is the same as the first ink end estimation process, but it is necessary to replace “K” and “L” with “second” and “first” as described above. There is.

That is, when it is detected that the second ink pack 33d has reached the near-end state (step S
22 ・ YES), if the first ink pack 33c is not in the ink end state (step S24; YES), the second
To indicate that the ink pack 33d is in the near-end state (step S25), and resets the second end counter to a state where the counting process of the number of ink shots for detecting the ink end state can be started. (Step S26). If the first ink pack 33c is in the ink-end state (step S24; NO), the second ink pack 33d is regarded as being in the ink-end state and the fact is displayed (step S27).

On the other hand, if the second ink pack 33d is already in the near-end state (step S21; YE
S) If the first ink pack 33c is in the ink-end state (step S30; NO), the second ink pack 33d is regarded as being in the ink-end state and displayed to that effect (step S27).

After performing the first and second ink end estimation processes, as shown in FIG. 3, one pass (for example, one line)
Is printed (step S4). In this case, the control unit 50
However, printing is performed by driving the print head 11 based on print data for one pass including color information on the first color and the second color corresponding to each nozzle of the print head 11.

Next, first and second print shot counting processes are performed in order to count the amount of ink consumed in the printing process of step S4 (step S5,
S6). The print shot counting process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In addition, "Kth"
Is interpreted as described above. In the first print shot count process (step S5), “K” means “first”, and in the second print shot count process (step S6), “Kth” means “second”.

Hereinafter, the first print shot counting process will be described as an example. The control unit 50 prints a value obtained by converting the number of ejection nozzles and the number of ejections based on print information for the first color in the print data for one pass transmitted to the print head 11 into the ink consumption of the first color. The number of shots is substituted for the first number of shots.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the first ink pack 33c is in the near-end state based on the first near-end flag. If the first ink pack 33c is in the near-end state (step S52; YES), the first end counter is determined. By adding the first shot number to the first end counter and updating the same, the amount of ink consumed for the first color by the first end when one-pass printing is performed is reduced. It is added to the counter (step S53).

On the other hand, when the first ink pack 33c is not in the near end state (step S53; NO), the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. 3 without updating the first end counter.

The second print shot counting process is performed in the first
Is the same as the print shot counting process described above, but it is necessary to replace “K” with “second” as described above.

That is, the control unit 50 substitutes the number of print shots relating to the print data of the second color in the print data for one pass into the number of second shots (step S 51).
When the ink pack 33d is in the near-end state (step S52; YES), the second shot number is added to the second end counter (step S53).

Next, in step S7 of FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not there is unprocessed print data. If there is print data (step S7; YES), steps S1 to S6 are performed until print data is exhausted. Is repeated.

Although the remaining ink amount detection process in the printing process has been described above, in the case of the cleaning process, after performing the processes of steps S1 to S3 in the flowchart of FIG. Instead, a predetermined cleaning process is performed in step S
In steps S5 and S6, a process of integrating the ink consumption amount required for the cleaning process as the number of shots may be performed instead of the print shot count process.

Here, the cleaning process includes an ink suction process in which the ink in the print head 11 is suctioned by the suction pump 23, and a predetermined amount of ink droplets are ejected onto the head cap 22 from each nozzle of the print head 11. A flushing process for forming a meniscus for each nozzle. Then, the amount of ink required for ink suction and flushing may be added to the first and second end counters as the number of shots. This makes it possible to determine not only the ink consumption in the printing but also the ink consumption in the cleaning in the judgment of the ink end presuming process (Step 29) and the judgment of the ink end deeming process (Steps 24 and 30). .

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
When one of the first and second ink packs is in the ink end state and the other ink pack is in the near end state, the ink pack in the near end state is regarded as the ink end and both ink packs are regarded as the ink end. Since the replacement of the cartridge for the pack is encouraged, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the cartridge in the near-end state becomes empty soon after the replacement of the cartridge in the ink end state and must be replaced. Can be reduced in frequency.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example of detecting the remaining amount of ink in two ink packs has been described. However, it is also possible to detect the remaining amount of ink in three or more ink packs. In this case, according to the number of ink packs, the same number of near-end sensors for detecting the near-end state of the ink pack and the same number of end counters for detecting the ink-end state are provided, and at least one of the ink packs is in the near-end state. Then, when at least one other ink pack is in the ink end state, the ink pack in the near end state may be regarded as being in the ink end state.

[0072]

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a situation in which another cartridge becomes empty and must be replaced soon after the empty cartridge is replaced, and the frequency of replacing the cartridge can be reduced. Thus, a user-friendly printer can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention and a supply and disposal route of ink.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process of a method for detecting a remaining ink amount of the printer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an ink end estimation process of the printer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a print shot count process of the printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 print head 23 suction pump 32 cartridge holder 33 cartridge body 33a first cartridge 33b second cartridge 33c first ink pack 33d second ink pack 41 first remaining amount detecting mechanism 42 second remaining amount detecting mechanism 43 First Remaining Indicator Lamp 44 Second Remaining Indicator Lamp 50 Control Unit 51 Ink End Estimating Means 52 Ink End Determining Means 53 Ink End Display Means

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge holder capable of accommodating a plurality of cartridges each having several types of ink separately, a detection mechanism capable of separately detecting a first ink state in which the amount of ink in each cartridge reaches a predetermined amount, An ink end estimating means for estimating a second ink state in which the ink in the cartridge is assumed to be empty by calculating a predetermined ink consumption amount based on the information detected by the detection mechanism; and A control unit having an ink-end deeming unit for deeming a cartridge detected as being in the first ink state as being in the second ink state when assuming the second ink state. Remaining ink detecting device. 2. A cartridge holder having a predetermined ink separately and capable of integrally storing a first cartridge and a second cartridge which can be separated from each other, and said first cartridge in said cartridge holder. A first detection mechanism and a second detection mechanism capable of detecting a first ink state in which the ink in the cartridge and the second cartridge reaches a predetermined amount, respectively, and the first detection mechanism or the second detection An ink end estimating means for estimating a second ink state in which the ink in the first cartridge or the second cartridge is assumed to be empty by calculating a predetermined amount of ink consumption based on information detected by the mechanism And when the ink end estimating means assumes the second ink state, the cartridge detected to be in the first ink state is set in the second ink state. Ink level detecting apparatus characterized by comprising a control unit having an ink end regarded means be regarded as being linked state. 3. An indicator configured to separately perform a predetermined display on an ink state of the cartridge, wherein the control unit is configured to perform the display based on information of the ink end estimating unit and the ink end deeming unit. 3. The ink remaining amount detecting device according to claim 1, further comprising an ink end display unit for displaying a display. 4. An ink remaining amount detecting device according to claim 3, wherein said ink end display means has a function of displaying said display based on information from said detecting mechanism. 5. An ink remaining amount detecting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a print head configured to eject ink supplied from each cartridge via a predetermined ink path. A printer configured to calculate the ink consumed by the print head by the ink end estimating means of the control unit. 6. An ink pump according to claim 6, further comprising a suction pump configured to be capable of sucking the ink of the print head, wherein the ink end estimating unit of the control unit is configured to calculate the ink consumed by the suction pump. The printer according to claim 5, wherein: 7. A printer including a plurality of ink cartridges, wherein the remaining ink amount of each of the cartridges is the first.
A first detector that detects that the predetermined amount of ink has been reached; a counter that counts the amount of ink consumed after the remaining amount of ink has reached the first predetermined amount for each of the cartridges; A second detection unit that detects that the remaining amount of ink in the cartridge has reached a second predetermined amount based on the numerical value; and a first detection unit that determines that the remaining amount of ink in at least one of the cartridges is equal to the second amount. The first detecting unit detects that the remaining amount of ink in at least one of the other cartridges has reached the second predetermined amount. A controller that regards the cartridge that has reached the predetermined amount as having reached the second predetermined amount. 8. A first ink state is detected for a plurality of ink packs having several kinds of inks separately, in which the remaining amount of ink in each ink pack reaches a predetermined amount, and the first ink state is detected. It is assumed that the ink in the ink pack becomes empty at the stage when a predetermined amount of ink has been consumed for the ink pack, the second ink state is assumed, and the first ink state is assumed at the stage assuming the second ink state. An ink remaining amount detecting method, wherein a certain ink pack is regarded as being in a second ink state. 9. The ink remaining amount detecting method according to claim 7, wherein an indication that the ink pack is in the first or second ink state is displayed. 10. A method for detecting the remaining amount of ink in a printer having a plurality of ink cartridges, wherein the remaining amount of ink in each of the cartridges is first.
A first detection step of detecting that the predetermined amount of ink has been reached; a counting step of counting the amount of ink consumed since the remaining amount of ink has reached the first predetermined amount for each of the cartridges; A second detection step of detecting that the remaining amount of ink in the cartridge has reached a second predetermined amount based on the count value; and Detecting that the remaining amount of ink in at least one other cartridge has reached the second predetermined amount by the second detecting step, Determining that the cartridge that has reached the first predetermined amount has reached the second predetermined amount. 11. A computer-readable information recording medium on which a program for executing the ink remaining amount detecting method according to claim 8 is recorded. 12. The information recording medium includes a compact disk, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital video disk, a magnetic tape, a semiconductor memory, and a memory device. An information recording medium on which the program according to claim 11 is recorded.