JP2002283541A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately determine the residue of an ink in a printing device equipped with an ink container. SOLUTION: The stencil process printing device is equipped with the ink container 2 internally storing a printing ink 1 and further, with a bottle guide 3 arranged with light receiving sensors 4 set in a row, a light emitting part 5 arranged in such a way that a light is emitted to the light receiving sensors 4 after transmitting through the side of the ink container 2 only once, an ink residue measuring part 6 and a display part 7 which displays the measurement results on a screen such as a liquid crystal display panel. The ink residue measuring part 6 judges the light receiving state of each of the sensors 4 based on an electric signal which is outputted by each of the sensors 4 and measures the residue of the ink 1 based on the light receiving state of each of the sensors 4 and further, displays the measurement results on the display screen, for example, in the form of a bar graph 70.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly, to a printing apparatus using an ink container containing ink used for printing on a printing medium. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printing apparatus such as a stencil printing apparatus in which an ink container accommodating a printing ink is exchangeably mounted to perform printing, the ink in the ink container is almost completely used. Then, the empty ink container is taken out and discarded, and a new ink container filled with ink is newly mounted, and printing is resumed. Alternatively, refill the ink container once it is empty after using it,
In some cases, it is mounted again on the printing apparatus and used.

[0003] In either of such a disposable (single-use) type or reusable type ink container, if the remaining amount of the ink is not checked, the ink may run out unexpectedly at an unexpected time. In response to this, preparations such as replacement of the ink container or replenishment of the ink cannot be dealt with, and during that time, the operation of the printing apparatus must be stopped. Originally, in a printing apparatus such as stencil printing, one of the most effective advantages is that the time efficiency of the printing operation is high, but such an advantage is hindered by the above-mentioned ink exhaustion. Will be. Therefore, it is required to confirm the state immediately before the ink runs out or before the remaining amount of the ink becomes small.

[0004] For this purpose, the first and simplest conceivable countermeasure is for the user to visually check the remaining ink amount. However, since the ink container is generally mounted at a deep position inside the printing apparatus, in order to check the remaining ink amount, the user temporarily stops the operation of the printing apparatus and looks at the ink container from the printing apparatus. It is necessary to visually check the position of the liquid level of the ink inside by taking out the ink container to a position where it can be seen, and further opening the lid of the ink container. When the ink container is formed of a translucent material or the like, it is possible to visually check the remaining amount of ink inside through the translucent side wall surface. It is extremely troublesome for the user to perform only to check the ink remaining amount. Therefore, a method for confirming that the remaining amount of ink inside the ink container has been reduced while the ink container is mounted in the printing apparatus has been conventionally proposed or used.

[0005] One of the typical methods is to use a printing apparatus that sucks ink from a container using an ink pump and supplies the ink to a plate cylinder or the like. If it does not, a method of determining that the remaining amount of the ink is almost exhausted in that case is described in, for example, JP-A-7-61739.
No. has been proposed.

In the case where a translucent ink container is used, light is emitted from one side of the ink container. If no ink remains inside the ink container, the light is applied to a light-receiving sensor arranged on the opposite side. Has been proposed, and a method of detecting that the remaining amount of ink has been reduced based on the arrival of the image has been proposed. In this method, the remaining amount of ink is detected in a stepwise manner, for example, whether the container is full of ink, remains above a predetermined remaining amount, or is in a state of being lower than the predetermined remaining amount.

[0007]

However, in the former method, the user cannot grasp information on the remaining amount of the ink until the ink runs out substantially. In addition, since it is possible to know that the ink has run out only after the ink has actually run out, there is a problem that it is not possible to take sufficient measures against the running out of ink.

In the latter method, since the light irradiating means and the light receiving sensor are arranged to face each other so that the optical axis crosses the diameter of the cylinder, after the irradiation light has passed through the cylinder wall twice, Because it will reach the light receiving sensor,
The amount of light or the intensity of light that can be detected by the light receiving sensor is significantly deteriorated. For this reason, there is a problem that the detection accuracy of the remaining amount of ink is low.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and realizes more reliable measurement of the remaining amount of ink than before, and grasps the remaining amount of ink with high accuracy before an out-of-ink state occurs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that can perform measurement by a simple method.

[0010]

According to a first printing apparatus of the present invention, a printing means for printing on a printing medium, and a discharge port for discharging ink used for performing the printing are provided at a leading end. An ink container containing the ink in a space surrounded by a given cylinder and a piston slidable along the side of the cylinder, wherein at least the side of the cylinder is formed of a translucent or transparent material. In a printing apparatus having an ink container, a light-receiving sensor that outputs an electric signal corresponding to the received light, and a plurality of or arranged along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face a side surface of the cylinder. A light receiving sensor, light irradiating means arranged to irradiate the light to the light receiving sensor by transmitting the side of the cylinder only once, and output by the light receiving sensor Based on the electric signal, it is characterized in that a remaining ink amount measuring means for measuring the internal ink remaining amount in the ink container.

A second printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing means for printing on a printing medium, and a cylinder having a discharge port for discharging ink used at the time of printing, provided at a tip thereof. An ink container containing the ink in a space surrounded by a piston slidable along the side surface of the cylinder, wherein at least the side surface of the cylinder is formed of a translucent or transparent material, and A printing apparatus having an ink container removably mounted on the printing apparatus body in which the means is disposed, wherein the light receiving sensor outputs an electric signal corresponding to the received light, wherein the ink container is mounted. A plurality of light receiving sensors arranged along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face the side surface of the cylinder, and the light receiving sensor transmitted only once through the side surface of the cylinder. A light irradiating means arranged to irradiate light, and an ink remaining amount for measuring a remaining amount of ink inside the ink container stepwise or continuously based on an electric signal output by the light receiving sensor. And a measuring means.

A third printing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that a printing means for printing on a printing medium, and a cylinder having a discharge port for discharging ink used at the time of printing, provided at a tip thereof. An ink container containing the ink in a space surrounded by a piston slidable along the side surface of the cylinder, wherein at least the side surface of the cylinder is formed of a translucent or transparent material. In a printing apparatus having a light guide material extending along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face the side surface of the cylinder, provided at a position to receive light emitted from an end face of the light guide material, A light-receiving sensor that outputs an electrical signal in response to light guided by the light guide material and emitted from an end face; and a light-receiving sensor disposed so as to irradiate the light guide material only once through a side surface of the cylinder. A light irradiation means is, on the basis of the electric signal output by the light receiving sensor, and characterized in that a remaining ink amount measuring means for measuring the internal ink remaining amount in the ink container.

A fourth printing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that a printing means for printing on a printing medium, and a cylinder provided with a discharge port for discharging ink used at the time of printing, at a tip thereof. An ink container containing the ink in a space surrounded by a piston slidable along the side surface of the cylinder, wherein at least the side surface of the cylinder is formed of a translucent or transparent material, and A printing apparatus having an ink container removably mounted on a printing apparatus main body in which the means is disposed, wherein the ink container is mounted and the piston slides along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face a side surface of the cylinder. Light guide material extended
A light receiving sensor that is provided at a position for receiving light emitted from the end face of the light guide material and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the light guided by the light guide material and emitted from the end face; Light irradiating means arranged to irradiate the light guide member with light only by transmitting light, and based on the electric signal output by the light receiving sensor, the amount of ink remaining inside the ink container is stepwise or And an ink remaining amount measuring means for measuring the amount of ink continuously.

According to a fifth printing apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a printing means for printing on a printing medium, and a cylinder provided with a discharge port for discharging ink used at the time of printing, at a tip thereof. An ink container containing the ink in a space surrounded by a piston slidable along the side surface of the cylinder, wherein at least the side surface of the cylinder is formed of a translucent or transparent material. In the printing apparatus having the light guide material extending along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face the side surface of the cylinder, the light is transmitted to the light guide material only once through the side surface of the cylinder. Light irradiating means arranged to irradiate, and an ink remaining amount display unit connected to an end of the light guide material and displaying light guided through the light guide material. Is what you do.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus comprising: a printing means for printing on a printing medium; and a cylinder having a discharge port for discharging ink used at the time of printing, provided at a tip thereof. An ink container containing the ink in a space surrounded by a piston slidable along the side surface of the cylinder, wherein at least the side surface of the cylinder is formed of a translucent or transparent material, and A printing apparatus having an ink container removably mounted on a printing apparatus main body in which the means is disposed, wherein the ink container is mounted and the piston slides along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face a side surface of the cylinder. Light guide material extended
A light irradiating means arranged to irradiate the light guide member with light by transmitting the side surface of the cylinder only once, and connected to an end of the light guide member and guided through the light guide member; And an ink remaining amount display unit for displaying the remaining light.

In the above-described printing apparatus of the present invention, the ink container is of a type which is fixedly attached to the main body of the printing apparatus, for example, the ink container is fixedly mounted on the main body of the printing apparatus and ink is supplied from outside. The ink container may be set so that it can be set, or may be detachable from the printing apparatus main body. However, a general tendency in recent years is that disposable (so-called disposable) ink containers and ink containers from the printing apparatus main body are used. In many cases, an ink container or the like set to be taken out and refilled with ink is used. The present invention is also applicable to a printing apparatus in which the ink container is detachable from the printing apparatus body.

The "semi-transparent or transparent material" is defined as light transmissive enough that light irradiated from the light irradiating means and transmitted through the side surface of the cylinder can be detected by a light receiving sensor, or received through a light guide material. Light transmittance that can be detected by the sensor,
Alternatively, it refers to a material having a light transmissivity to the extent that it can be visually recognized on the ink remaining amount display unit via the light guide material. Of course, such light transmittance is not uniquely determined, but the intensity of the light irradiated by the light irradiation means, the structure and material of the light guide material, the sensitivity of the light receiving sensor, the structure of the ink remaining amount display section, and the like. Is relatively determined by

[0018] The ink remaining amount measuring means may measure the ink remaining amount stepwise in accordance with the number of light receiving sensors that have detected the transmitted light. In other words, when an electric signal is output in response to the light received by the light receiving sensor, the ink remaining amount measuring means sends light to the light receiving sensor that has output the electric signal, and emits light to the light receiving sensor that has not output the electric signal. The light receiving state is determined in a binary manner, such as determining that the ink has not arrived, and the remaining amount of the ink is determined stepwise (discretely) based on the number of the light receiving sensors determined to have output the electric signal. It may be set to measure.

Alternatively, the ink remaining amount measuring means prepares in advance information indicating a correspondence between the electric signal and the value of the ink remaining amount, and associates the ink with the electric signal based on the information. The remaining amount may be measured continuously. That is, the light receiving sensor is set so as to change and output an electric signal in accordance with the amount or intensity of the received light, and the ink remaining amount measuring means is output from the light receiving sensor. It is also possible to continuously measure the value of the remaining ink amount based on the electric signal.

The light guide may form a part of a bottle guide for accommodating an ink container in a printing apparatus. That is, a part of the bottle guide may be formed of the light guide material itself.

Further, the ink container has an opening at a rear end thereof, and the light irradiating means is provided at the opening of the ink container and irradiates light toward the inner side surface of the cylinder. There may be.

[0022]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the light receiving sensors are arranged along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face the side surface of the cylinder of the ink container, and are emitted from the light irradiation means. Apply light to the side of the cylinder of the ink container.
And irradiates the light-receiving sensor with light, and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the light received by the light-receiving sensor.
Since the ink remaining amount measuring means is configured to measure the ink remaining amount inside the ink container based on the electric signal,
The ink container and the ink therein can be generally used, but the ink remaining amount is measured with high accuracy based on the light receiving state that clearly changes according to the presence or absence of the ink. be able to. As a result, the user can grasp the information on the remaining amount of ink with high accuracy, and can cope with a shortage of ink.

That is, in the printing apparatus according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the light receiving sensor is disposed along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face the cylinder side surface of the ink container. Light transmitted only once through the transparent or transparent cylinder side surface is received. At this time, since the ink is generally opaque, the light does not reach the light receiving sensor in the portion where the ink remains in the cylinder, and the light reaches only the light receiving sensor in the exposed portion as the ink is used and is detected. Therefore, the light receiving state clearly changes between the portion where the ink remains and the portion where the ink is used and exposed to the air. Therefore, the remaining amount of ink can be measured based on the light receiving state that clearly changes in response to the presence or absence of such ink. For example, depending on whether the amount of received light is greater than or less than a predetermined threshold, or whether it is received,
When the presence or absence of the output of the electric signal output from the light receiving sensor is set to change, based on the light receiving state that clearly changes in a binary manner corresponding to the presence or absence of ink at the position where the light receiving sensor is attached. Thus, a stepwise (discrete amount) measurement of the ink remaining amount can be performed.

Further, in the conventional method for detecting the remaining amount of ink, the light irradiating means and the light receiving sensor are disposed so as to face each other such that the optical axis crosses the diameter of the cylinder. As a result of arriving at the light receiving sensor after transmission, the intensity of light reaching the light receiving sensor or the attenuation of the light amount is large. Is transmitted only once to irradiate the light receiving sensor with light. Therefore, the attenuation of the light amount reaching the light receiving sensor is small, and the remaining ink amount can be measured with high accuracy.

Since the remaining ink amount measuring means measures the remaining ink amount stepwise in accordance with the number of light receiving sensors that have detected the transmitted light, the stepwise measurement of the remaining ink amount can be performed more accurately. It can be carried out.

Further, the light-receiving sensor changes an electric signal in accordance with the amount or intensity of the received light and outputs the electric signal, and the ink remaining amount measuring means operates based on the electric signal output from the light-receiving sensor. With such a configuration that the value of the remaining amount of ink is measured in a continuous amount, the measurement result of the remaining amount of ink can be presented as a substantially continuous index.

According to the third and fourth printing apparatuses of the present invention,
In the first and second printing apparatuses, instead of arranging the light receiving sensors along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face the side surface of the cylinder, a light guide material is provided along the sliding direction of the piston facing the side surface of the cylinder. Is extended, and the light receiving sensor is provided at a position for receiving the light emitted from the end face of the light guide member. Therefore, the same effects as those of the above-described first and second printing apparatuses can be obtained. There is no need to arrange the light receiving sensor facing the side of the cylinder, and the degree of freedom in arranging the light receiving sensor is expanded.Therefore, there are many complicated mechanical parts inside the printing drum on which the ink container is mounted. Even when the light receiving sensor cannot be provided so as to face the side surface of, the remaining ink amount can be easily detected.

According to the fifth and sixth printing apparatuses of the present invention,
Since the end of the light guide is connected to the remaining ink display and the light guided through the light guide directly displays the remaining ink, the remaining ink measuring means and the like are used. , The detection of the remaining amount of ink can be performed at lower cost.

When the light guide is used as a part of a bottle guide in a printing apparatus, there is an advantage that a space for separately arranging the light guide is not required.

When the light irradiating means is provided at the opening at the rear end of the ink container, light can be irradiated to the light receiving sensor or the light guide material from the inside of the side of the cylinder only once through the wall of the cylinder. .

The above "disposed along the piston sliding direction" and "extended along the piston sliding direction"
It is not always necessary to arrange or extend linearly, and for example, as shown in the embodiment described below, it may be arranged or extended spirally.

[0032]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a portion of an ink jet printer according to a first embodiment, in which an ink container is mounted, a light receiving sensor for measuring the remaining amount of ink in the ink container, and an ink remaining amount measuring unit. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a bottle guide provided on the printing apparatus side and an ink container mounted on the bottle guide.

This printing apparatus is a stencil printing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, a printing drum or a printing cylinder for performing stencil printing on a printing medium (not shown) such as printing paper or an OHP transparent sheet. A printing mechanism unit 8 having a paper transport mechanism and the like;
A stencil printing apparatus including an ink container 2 containing the printing ink 1 therein, the bottle guide 3 having light receiving sensors 4 arranged in line, a light irradiating unit 5, and an ink remaining amount measuring unit 6. And an ink remaining amount display unit 7 for displaying a measurement result on a screen such as a liquid crystal display panel. In the above configuration, a general printing mechanism 8 may be used, and therefore detailed description and illustration of the schematic configuration and operation thereof will be omitted.

The ink container 2 comprises an ink bottle 2 'and ink 1, and the ink bottle 2' comprises a cylinder 22 and a piston 23. Hereinafter, the ink container 2 means an ink bottle 2 'containing ink 1, and the ink bottle 2' means an ink container itself containing no ink. The ink bottle 2 'is a translucent milky white material made of a material such as polyethylene or polyester, which is not likely to be materially (chemically) affected by the ink 1 or a solvent contained therein. A substantially cylindrical cylinder 22 provided with a discharge port 21 for ink 1 at the tip thereof, and the ink 1 contained therein is sucked and discharged from the discharge port 21 to be pressed to the atmospheric pressure as the remaining amount of ink decreases. Cylinder 22
The main part thereof is constituted by a piston 23 sliding toward the discharge port 21 on the inner surface of the cylinder 22, and an opening 24 is provided on the rear end face of the cylinder 22.

With respect to the shape and structure of the ink bottle 2 'and the material of the ink 1, those generally used can be used as they are.

As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2, the bottle guide 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape into which the entire ink container 2 can be inserted and pulled out. The plurality of light receiving sensors 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) face each other on the side surface of the cylinder 22 so that the plurality of light receiving sensors 4 are arranged in line along the sliding direction of the piston 23.

The light-receiving sensor 4 has a parabolic condensing portion 25 (25a, 25b) having a large frontage so that light can be condensed more reliably from a region each having a width equivalent to the cylinder diameter. , 25c, 25d). Such a condensing unit 25
Can collect light over the large frontage, so that the residue of the ink 1 is left on the side surface of the cylinder 22 without being scraped off by the piston 23 in the form of stripes, and the light is blocked at that portion. However, there is an advantage that light transmitted through portions other than the portion where the streak-like residue remains can be collected. In addition, in order to improve the light reflectivity, the inner surface of the light collector 25 may be further subjected to a mirror finish.

As the light receiving sensor, it is desirable to use a light receiving element such as a photoelectric conversion element which outputs an electric signal when receiving light, such as a photodiode element. It is preferable to use a light receiving element having a sensitivity such that it can receive light emitted from the unit 5 and transmitted through the translucent cylinder side surface and reliably output an electric signal corresponding to the light. be able to. In the present embodiment, the light emitting diode 51 described below is supplied with a pulse driving waveform from the light irradiation unit control circuit 5 'and is controlled to emit light in a pulse at a predetermined cycle and duty. The pattern is not limited to this, and may be set to emit light constantly.

The light irradiating section 5 receives the driving power supplied from the light irradiating section control circuit 5 ', and its light emitting function is controlled.
The ink container 2 includes a light emitting diode 51 that emits light from an opening 24 at a rear end of the cylinder 22 toward a side surface inside the cylinder 22. Since the ink container 2 is set to be attachable to and detachable from the bottle guide 3, the light irradiation unit 5 is provided at the opening 24 at the rear end of the ink container 2 so as not to hinder such attachment and detachment of the ink container 2. The ink container 2 is set so as to be detachably attached to the ink container 2 and also serves as a stopper for fixing the ink container 2 at its rear end. In addition,
It is desirable that the light emitted from the light irradiating unit 5 be directly radiated toward the inside of the side surface of the cylinder 22.
In order to be able to irradiate light in such a direction,
For example, it is desirable to install a lens or the like whose optical axis is directed to the side surface of the cylinder 22 on the front surface of the light emitting diode 51. Alternatively, the emission angle of the irradiation light may be set wide enough to allow the light emitted from the light irradiation unit 5 to reach all the light receiving sensors 4.

By arranging such a light irradiating section 5 in the opening 24 at the rear end of the ink container 2 and irradiating the light receiving sensor 4 with light from the inside of the side surface of the cylinder 22 through the wall surface of the cylinder 22, Since the light emitted from the light irradiating section 5 can reach the light receiving sensor 4 only once through the side surface of the cylinder 22 where the ink 1 does not remain, the intensity of the light reaching the light receiving sensor 4 Alternatively, the attenuation of the light amount can be reduced. In other words, when light irradiation is performed from the side surface of the cylinder 22 as in the conventional case, the irradiated light passes through the milky white translucent cylinder side surface twice before reaching the light receiving sensor. However, as in the present embodiment, the light receiving intensity tends to be low, but the structural characteristics of the existing ink container 2 are effectively used to make the light from the opening 24 at the rear end of the ink container 2 in the open state. Is directly radiated toward the inner surface of the side surface of the cylinder 22 of the ink container 2, so that the light only needs to pass through the side surface of the cylinder 22 once before reaching the light receiving sensor 4. No. 4 can receive the strong irradiation light which arrives in the state of little attenuation, and can receive light more reliably.

The ink remaining amount measuring section 6 includes an analog processing circuit 61, a comparator 62, and a decoder 63. The electric signal output as an analog signal from each light receiving sensor 4 is converted into a digital signal, and the light irradiating section control circuit is provided. By synchronizing with the light emission timing by 5 ', the electric signal output (or not output) corresponding to the light receiving state of each light receiving sensor 4 is compared with a predetermined threshold value. It is to determine whether or not light has reached 4 and to generate display data to be displayed on the display screen of the display unit 7 based on the result. That is, the ink remaining amount measuring unit 6 determines that the light reaches the light receiving sensor 4 that has output the electric signal and determines that the light has not reached the light receiving sensor 4 that has not output the electric signal. The state is determined in a binary manner, and a stepwise (discrete quantity) is determined based on the number of light receiving sensors determined to output an electric signal.
Measure the remaining amount of ink.

More specifically, when the remaining amount of the ink 1 is in a state as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the light receiving sensors 4a, 4a
Since b is covered with the ink 1, the light emitted from the light irradiation unit 5 is blocked by the ink 1, while the light receiving sensors 4c and 4d are not covered with the ink 1 and the side surface of the cylinder 22 Since the inside is exposed to the air, the light irradiated from the light irradiating section 5 directly passes through the side surface of the cylinder 22 and reliably receives the light receiving sensors 4c and 4d in this portion.
Is received. Therefore, the light receiving sensor 4
No electric signal is output from the light receiving sensors 4a and 4b.
Electric signals corresponding to the received light are output from c and 4d.

When the electric signals output from the light receiving sensors 4c and 4d are received as described above, the remaining ink amount measuring unit 6
Is based on the assumption that ink remains at the positions of the light receiving sensors 4a and 4b and no ink remains at the positions of the light receiving sensors 4c and 4d, and the remaining state of the ink 1 in the ink container 2 is measured. For example, display data for displaying the result on the screen of the display unit 7 in a pictographic bar graph 70 is generated. The plurality of segments 70a, 70b, 7 of the bar graph 70 displayed on the screen of the display unit 7
0c and 70d, the segments 70a and 70b corresponding to the installation positions of the light receiving sensors 4a and 4b are ink 1
Are displayed in an illuminated (ON) state so that a display image in which the ink 1 remains is displayed, and the segments 70c and 70d corresponding to the installation positions of the light receiving sensors 4c and 4d are displayed such that the ink 1 does not remain. It is displayed in an unlit (OFF) state so as to form an image.

As described above, the ink remaining amount measuring unit 6 determines the light receiving state of each light receiving sensor 4 in a binary manner based on the electric signal output from the light receiving sensor 4 and determines whether the light has been received. From the number of sensors 4 and their positions, ink 1
By measuring the remaining amount of the bar graph in a stepwise manner and displaying the measurement result on the display screen of the display unit 7 as, for example, a bar graph 70, the user can display the bar graph 70 displayed on the display unit 7.
, The remaining amount of ink can be grasped at a glance.

When printing is further executed and the ink 1 is further sucked out of the ink container 2, the piston 23 slides further along the inner surface of the cylinder 22 toward the discharge port 21. The light-receiving sensors 4a and 4b which have been shielded from light by the ink 1 until then are released from the light shielding due to the covering property of the ink 1 and are optically exposed. In such a state, electric signals are output from all the light receiving sensors 4, so that none of the segments of the bar graph 70 is turned on. Thus, the user can determine that the remaining ink amount is almost approaching zero by looking at the display of the bar graph 70.

(Embodiment 2) In the first embodiment, the remaining ink amount measuring section 6 determines the light receiving state of each light receiving sensor 4 in a binary manner, and determines whether or not an electric signal has been output. An example has been described in which the remaining amount of the ink 1 is set to be measured stepwise (discretely) based on the number and position of the sensors 4. The amount measuring unit 6 prepares in advance information indicating the correspondence between the electric signal output from each light receiving sensor 4 and the value of the remaining ink amount, and associates the ink 1 with the electric signal based on the information. An example of a case where the remaining amount is set to be measured continuously will be described. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a bottle guide 3, an ink remaining amount measuring unit 6, and a display unit 7 according to the second embodiment.

The bottle guide 3 has a light collecting section 25 (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) formed in a parabolic shape with a wide frontage (longitudinal direction) cross section. Moreover, in each of the light collecting portions 25, adjacent light collecting portions 25 are arranged along the sliding direction of the piston with almost no gap.

The light receiving sensor 4 has one
Each one is arranged at the focal position (light condensing position).
Each of the light receiving sensors 4 outputs an electric signal substantially proportional to the light receiving area. For example, the state shown in FIG. 3 is described as an example.
The light-receiving sensors 4a and 4b installed in the light-receiving unit 5b cannot receive light emitted from the light irradiation unit 5 because the frontage of the light-collecting units 25a and 25b is shielded by the ink 1. I have. Therefore, at this time, the electric signals output from the light receiving sensors 4a and 4b are 0. Further, the light receiving sensor 4c installed in the light collecting unit 25c has the frontage of the light collecting unit 25c shielded from light by 40% by the ink 1, and the remaining 60% is exposed. Output an electrical signal that is 60% of the maximum output. Further, the light receiving sensor 4d installed in the light collecting unit 25d is in a state where the frontage of the light collecting unit 25d is not light-shielded at all by the ink 1 and is 100% exposed. Output 100
% Electrical signal is output.

In this manner, each light receiving sensor 4 (4a, 4a
b, 4c, 4d), the remaining ink amount measuring unit 6 adds all the electric signals and subtracts them from the maximum total value, thereby obtaining the continuous ink remaining amount. Obtain a typical measurement. For example, in the case of the state shown in FIG. 3, that is, the sum of the electric signals output from all the light receiving sensors 4 is 0 + 0 + 60 + 100 = 160.
In the case of [%], 400-160 = 240 [%], and if this is converted into a percentage, it is 240/400 [%].
, And a continuous quantitative measurement result that the ink remaining amount is 60 [%] is obtained. In this way, the remaining amount of ink can be measured continuously.

The measurement result of the remaining ink amount obtained in this manner is displayed on a display screen using a liquid crystal display panel or the like of the display unit 7 as, for example, “the remaining amount of ink is 60%”. You. Alternatively, the ratio of the measured remaining amount is converted into an ink remaining amount value based on the maximum capacity of the ink container 2, for example, "the remaining ink amount is 600 cc."
May be displayed as follows. Alternatively, the number of segments (the number of divisions) of the irregular bar graph 70 in the pictogram format as shown in the first embodiment is further finely divided into a large number, and the remaining amount of ink is obtained by graphic display using such a bar graph. May be displayed in a pseudo continuous amount. It should be noted that such a display method uses a general display device such as a liquid crystal display panel to provide the user with a combination of numerical values and character characters, a graphic display, and the like as in the above example. It is needless to say that any method may be used as long as the method is displayed so that can be grasped quantitatively.

As described above, by continuously measuring the value of the remaining ink amount, it is possible to present the measurement result of the remaining ink amount as a substantially continuous index. Information can be grasped more finely and accurately.

In the first and second embodiments, the plurality of light receiving sensors are arranged so as to face the side surface of the cylinder 22 and are arranged at predetermined intervals along the sliding direction of the piston 23. As described above, one or a plurality of high-sensitivity light-receiving sensors are provided only at a position near the ink remaining amount of 0 where the ink is most likely to run out, and light is applied to the opening 24 of the cylinder 22. Part 5
May be installed, and the light receiving state of only one of the positions may be measured, and based on the measured light receiving state, only the fact that the ink has finally approached the end may be reliably detected.

(Embodiment 3) As in the first and second embodiments, an attempt is made to arrange the light receiving sensors along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face the side surface of the cylinder of the ink container. However, there are many complicated mechanical components inside the printing drum on which the bottle guide and the light receiving sensor are installed, and there is a case where a space cannot be made around the portion where the ink container is mounted. In the third embodiment, a mode in which the remaining amount of ink can be detected even in such a case will be described. That is, using a light guide material that can guide light efficiently, such as an acrylic material that is easy to process, a sensor base with a light receiving sensor placed at the tip of the ink bottle is installed, and light is guided to the light receiving sensor. By guiding the light that has passed through the side of the cylinder from the light irradiating part using light material, the degree of freedom in installing the light receiving sensor is expanded, and it is possible to detect the remaining amount of ink even in a small space. is there.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bottle guide, an ink remaining amount measuring unit, and a display unit according to the third embodiment. FIG. 5 is a bottle guide provided on the printing apparatus side according to the third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an ink container mounted on the bottle guide, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bottle guide having different light guide arrangements, an ink remaining amount measuring unit and a display unit, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a printer and an ink container attached thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the light guide 80 is provided at a position where the cylinder 22 faces the ink container 2 in the bottle guide 3 provided on the printing apparatus side.
Are extended along the sliding direction of the piston 23, and the light guide 8
A light receiving sensor 40 for receiving the light guided by the light guide member 80 is disposed to face the 0 end surface (one end surface in the sliding direction of the piston 23). The light receiving sensor 40 is provided on the sensor base 100. The light guide 80 is the bottle guide 3
Form a part of.

Here, the light guide member 80 has a property of guiding light, that is, has a property of guiding light received on the surface to the end face if it is plate-shaped, and has a property of guiding it around if it is cylindrical. It is preferable to use a material that has a property of guiding light to the cut surface and is easily processed such as acrylic. In addition, it is assumed that each light guide member employed in the present embodiment has been subjected to a total reflection process except for the end face on which the light receiving sensor is installed to face.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the ink is ejected and the remaining amount is reduced, the piston 23 slides toward the ejection port 21, and as a result, the piston 23 is shielded from the light by the covering property of the ink 1 in the cylinder 22. The area to be opened increases, and the area (length in the left-right direction in the figure) of the light guide member that receives light emitted from the light irradiation unit 5 and transmitted through the side surface of the cylinder 22 increases. The amount of light received by 40 increases. The correspondence between the position of the piston 23, that is, the remaining amount of ink and the electric signal output from the light receiving sensor 40 is checked and prepared in advance.

When the light receiving sensor 40 receives the light guided by the light guide member 80 through one end surface of the light guide member 80, the electric signal and the value of the remaining ink amount are prepared similarly to the second embodiment. The remaining amount of ink is obtained from the electric signal based on the information indicating the correspondence relationship between the two, and the remaining amount of ink is reflected on the display unit 7 and displayed on the display unit 7 by pictograms, bar graphs, or the like.

It should be noted that the method for obtaining the remaining amount of ink by preparing information indicating the correspondence between the electric signal and the value of the remaining amount of ink in advance is based on the case where almost no ink remains on the inner wall of the cylinder 22. Although it is possible to make an absolute judgment on the remaining amount, ink actually remains on the inner wall of the cylinder 22 in many cases, and the remaining amount often depends on the use environment of the apparatus. It is difficult to fix the correspondence between the electric signal and the value of the remaining amount of ink in the above, and as a result, the remaining amount determination based on the displayed remaining amount of ink becomes relative.

In order to make the remaining amount of ink more absolute, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. ,
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which 81, 82 and 83 are arranged along the sliding direction of the piston 23 so as to be arranged around the ink container 2. Also in this case, the light guides 80, 81,
82 and 83 form part of the bottle guide 3. In this case, the light from the light irradiating section 5 is transmitted to the light guide members 80, 81, 8
Light receiving element 40 at the tip of ink container 2 through 2 and 83
a, 40b, 40c, and 40d. When the printing is executed and the ink 1 is sucked out of the ink container 2, the inside of the cylinder 22 is gradually released from the light shielding due to the covering property of the ink 1 and is optically exposed, so that the light guide member 80,
The number of light guide members that receive light gradually increases in the order of 81, 82, and 83, and the remaining amount of ink can be detected stepwise by the method described in the first or second embodiment. When a plurality of light guides are used in this manner, for example, even when ink remains in a streak shape on the inner wall of the cylinder 22 to which a certain light guide 80 faces, another light guide 81 faces. Since there is a possibility that almost no ink remains on the inner wall of the cylinder 22, refer to the remaining ink amount measured based on the light receiving state of the light receiving sensor provided opposite to one end surface of another light guide member 81. By doing so, it is possible to more accurately detect the remaining amount of ink as compared with the case where only one light guide member is used.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the entire bottle guide 3 is formed of a plurality of light guides 84, 85, 86, 87, and the periphery of the cylinder 22 is surrounded by the light guides 84, 85, 86, 8.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the device is surrounded by a circle 7. That is,
The light guides 84, 85, 86, and 87 divide the peripheral wall of the bottle guide 3 into approximately four parts in the sliding direction of the piston 23, and furthermore, four light receiving sensors 40 a and 40 b provided at the tip of the bottle guide 3. , 40dc, and 40d, and has a curved shape having a continuous extension extending to the position of 40d.
6, 87 are contacted without any gap. In this case, the light guide material 84 forming the wall surface of the bottle guide 3,
Since it is possible to receive the light from all the wall surfaces of the cylinder 22 at 85, 86, and 87, the residual ink is smaller than when one or a plurality of plate-shaped light guides is provided on a part of the bottle guide 3. It is possible to more accurately detect the remaining amount of ink without being affected by the amount or position of the ink. That is, as the piston 23 inside the cylinder 22 slides toward the ink discharge port 21 of the ink container 2 and the cylinder 22 is gradually released from the light shielding due to the covering property of the ink 1 and becomes optically exposed, Each of the members 84, 85, 86, and 87 receives light from all the wall surfaces of the cylinder 22, and the amount of received light gradually increases, so that the remaining amount of ink can be detected more accurately.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the bottle guide 3 composed of the light guides 84, 85, 86 and 87. The light guides 84, 85, 86 and 87 are arranged around the axis L in the figure. The bottle guide 3 is formed by rounding.

Further, if an optical fiber-shaped light guide material in which the diameter of the cylindrical light guide material is reduced is used, the light guide material can be freely installed outside the wall surface of the bottle guide 3, which is convenient. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 7, the fiber guides 88, 89, 90, and 91 can be provided in a bottle shape in a spiral shape, for example, as shown in FIG. 10. A plurality can be installed on the outside of the wall surface.
The spiral installation makes it possible to minimize the influence of the amount of ink remaining on the inner wall of the cylinder 22 and the remaining position on the detection of the remaining ink amount, and also to keep the manufacturing cost of the light guide material low. it can. And in this case,
The bottle guide 3 has a light transmitting property, and the light guides 88, 89,
Numerals 90 and 91 do not hinder the transmission of light, and are fixed to the bottle guide 3 by, for example, a transparent adhesive. In addition,
The fiber-shaped light guide material guides light on the side facing the side surface of the cylinder 22 and does not allow light to enter from the side not facing the side surface of the cylinder 22.

If further cost reduction is desired, a configuration in which the fiber-shaped light guide material spirally provided on the bottle guide 3 is connected to the ink remaining amount display unit can be adopted. That is, taking advantage of the property of guiding the surrounding light to the cut surface of the cylindrical light guide material and the property of being freely installed, as shown in FIG. Light materials 92, 93, 94, 95
Can be used as it is by connecting it to the ink remaining amount display section 7 as it is. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, each light guide material 92,
93, 94, and 95 are extended to the ink remaining amount display portion 7, and the end faces of the light guide members 92, 93, 94, and 95 are respectively connected to the segments 70a, 70b, 70c, 70 of the bar graph of the display portion 7.
d, and the light guided by each light guide member 92, 93, 94, 95 is applied to each segment 70a, 70b, 70.
c, 70d so that each segment is illuminated. Of course, the end faces of the light guide members 92, 93, 94, 95 can be used as the display unit 7 as they are.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the light irradiation section 5 is not used, and external light is taken in from a part of the front door 98 or the like, and light is amplified by the lens 99 or the like. Incorporating it can further reduce costs.

The position where the light irradiating section is arranged is as follows.
It is not limited to only the position of the opening 24 at the rear end of the cylinder as in the above embodiments.

In the above embodiment, the ink container 2
The case where the shape of the cylinder 22 is cylindrical has been described, but the outer shape of the ink container 2 is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the cross-sectional shape of the cylinder 22 is square (a) or The present invention is also applicable to polygonal shapes such as hexagonal shape (b), irregular cylindrical shapes partially formed with flat portions, and the like. However, regardless of the shape of the ink container 2, it is needless to say that the shape of the bottle guide 3 needs to be formed in a shape that can accommodate the ink container 2.

Further, the number and shape of the light receiving sensor and the light collecting portion in the printing apparatus of the present invention, and the shape, arrangement and number of the light guide material are not limited to the above-described embodiments.
Various methods are available as long as the ink remaining amount can be measured effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a schematic configuration centering on a portion where an ink container is mounted, an ink remaining amount measurement unit, and a display unit in a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a bottle guide provided on a printing apparatus side and an ink container attached to the bottle guide.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a bottle guide, an ink remaining amount measuring unit, and a display unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a bottle guide, an ink remaining amount measuring unit, and a display unit according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a bottle guide provided on a printing apparatus side according to a third embodiment and an ink container attached to the bottle guide.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of a bottle guide, an ink remaining amount measuring unit, and a display unit in which arrangements of light guide members are different.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a bottle guide having different arrangements of light guide members and an ink container attached to the bottle guide.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a bottle guide formed of a light guide material and an ink container attached to the bottle guide.

9 is a development view of the bottle guide shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a bottle guide provided with a fiber light guide and an ink container attached to the bottle guide.

FIG. 11 is a view schematically showing a schematic configuration of an ink container mounting portion and a display portion using a fiber light guide material as an ink remaining amount display portion.

FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration in a case where a light irradiation unit has another form in the apparatus shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a case where the present invention is applied to a printing apparatus using an ink container having a square (a) or hexagonal (b) cross section of a cylinder.

[Description of Signs] 1 Ink 2 Ink container 3 Bottle guide 4, 40 Light receiving sensor 5 Light irradiation unit 6 Ink remaining amount measuring unit 7 Display unit 21 Discharge port 22 Cylinder 23 Piston 25 Light collecting unit 80 to 95 Light guide material 100 Sensor Foundation

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A printing means for printing on a printing medium, a cylinder provided with a discharge port for discharging ink used for the printing at a tip thereof, and slidable along a side surface of the cylinder. An ink container containing the ink in a space surrounded by a flexible piston, wherein at least a side surface of the cylinder is formed of a translucent or transparent material. A plurality of or one light-receiving sensor arranged along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face the side surface of the cylinder, and a side surface of the cylinder once. Light irradiating means arranged to irradiate the light to the light receiving sensor by transmitting only the light, and based on the electric signal output by the light receiving sensor, Printing apparatus comprising the ink remaining amount measuring means for measuring a remaining amount of ink parts. 2. A printing means for printing on a printing medium, a cylinder provided with a discharge port for discharging ink used for the printing at a tip thereof, and slidable along a side surface of the cylinder. An ink container containing the ink in a space surrounded by a piston, wherein at least a side surface of the cylinder is formed of a translucent or transparent material, and is attached to and detached from a printing apparatus main body in which the printing unit is disposed. A printing device having an ink container mounted so as to be capable of outputting an electric signal corresponding to the received light, such that the light receiving sensor faces a side surface of the cylinder when the ink container is mounted. A plurality of light receiving sensors arranged along the sliding direction of the piston, and are arranged so as to irradiate the light receiving sensor by transmitting light only once through the side surface of the cylinder. Light irradiating means, and ink remaining amount measuring means for measuring the remaining amount of ink inside the ink container stepwise or continuously based on an electric signal output by the light receiving sensor. Printing device. 3. A printing means for printing on a printing medium, a cylinder provided with a discharge port for discharging ink used for the printing at a tip thereof, and slidable along a side surface of the cylinder. An ink container containing the ink in a space surrounded by a piston, wherein at least a side surface of the cylinder is an ink container formed of a translucent or transparent material. A light guide member extending along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face each other; and a light guide member provided at a position for receiving light emitted from an end face of the light guide member, guided by the light guide material and emitted from the end face. A light receiving sensor that outputs an electric signal corresponding to the light to be transmitted; a light irradiating unit that is arranged to irradiate the light guide member with light by transmitting the side surface of the cylinder only once; Based on the electric signal output by the service, the printing apparatus comprising the ink remaining amount measuring means for measuring the internal ink remaining amount in the ink container. 4. A printing means for printing on a printing medium, a cylinder provided with a discharge port for discharging ink used for the printing at a tip thereof, and slidable along a side surface of the cylinder. An ink container containing the ink in a space surrounded by a piston, wherein at least a side surface of the cylinder is formed of a translucent or transparent material, and is attached to and detached from a printing apparatus main body in which the printing unit is disposed. In a printing apparatus having an ink container mounted so as to be capable of, a light guide material extending along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face the side surface of the cylinder in a state where the ink container is mounted, A light receiving sensor that is provided at a position for receiving light emitted from the end face of the light guide material and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the light guided by the light guide material and emitted from the end face; A light irradiating means arranged to irradiate the light guide member with light by transmitting a side surface of the ink container only once; and an ink residue inside the ink container based on an electric signal output by the light receiving sensor. A printing apparatus comprising: an ink remaining amount measuring unit that measures the amount stepwise or continuously. 5. A printing means for printing on a printing medium, a cylinder provided with a discharge port for discharging ink used for the printing at a tip thereof, and slidable along a side surface of the cylinder. An ink container containing the ink in a space surrounded by a piston, wherein at least a side surface of the cylinder is an ink container formed of a translucent or transparent material. A light guide member extending along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face each other; and a light irradiating means arranged to irradiate the light guide member with light by transmitting the side surface of the cylinder only once. A printing apparatus, comprising: an ink remaining amount display unit connected to an end of the light guide material and displaying light guided through the light guide material. 6. A printing means for printing on a printing medium, a cylinder provided with a discharge port for discharging ink used at the time of printing, and a cylinder slidable along a side surface of the cylinder. An ink container containing the ink in a space surrounded by a piston, wherein at least a side surface of the cylinder is formed of a translucent or transparent material, and is attached to and detached from a printing apparatus main body in which the printing unit is disposed. In a printing apparatus having an ink container mounted so as to be capable of, a light guide material extending along the sliding direction of the piston so as to face the side surface of the cylinder in a state where the ink container is mounted, Light irradiating means arranged to irradiate light to the light guide material by transmitting the side surface of the cylinder only once, and connected to an end of the light guide material and guided through the light guide material Was Printing apparatus characterized by comprising an ink remaining amount display unit for displaying. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remaining ink amount measuring means measures the remaining amount of ink stepwise in accordance with the number of the light receiving sensors that have detected the transmitted light. 4. The printing device according to any one of 4. 8. The ink remaining amount measuring means prepares in advance information indicating a correspondence between the electric signal and the value of the ink remaining amount, and associates the ink with the electric signal based on the information. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remaining amount is continuously measured. 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a part of a bottle guide in the printing apparatus containing the ink container is formed of the light guide. 10. The ink container has an opening at a rear end, and the light irradiating means is provided at the opening of the ink container and irradiates light toward the inside of the side surface of the cylinder. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: