JP2002301827A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recorder which can record desired images without back flow of ink to a cartridge where ink remains by a small amount. SOLUTION: The ink jet recorder has ink cartridges 101, a carriage 105, a valve mechanism (cartridge valves 404 and carriage valves 405) for letting an ink cartridge communicating opening and a carriage communicating opening communicate with each other, and a recording head having discharge openings for discharging ink. The ink jet recorder has a means for fetching information stored in the ink cartridges 101, and controls the valve mechanism (cartridge valves 404 and carriage valves 405) to supply ink from one cartridge to the recording head when at least two or more ink cartridges which store ink of the same color are mounted in the carriage 105.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image by discharging ink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet system is one of the systems for recording information such as characters and images handled by a computer or a word processor on a recording medium such as paper. This ink jet system is a system in which ink is ejected from an ink ejection port onto a recording medium to perform recording.

An ink jet recording apparatus includes a moving scanning unit including a recording head having nozzles, a carriage serving as a feed base for moving the recording head to a recording portion of a recording medium, and a moving scanning unit. The control unit includes a control unit that controls the movement, a recording medium transport unit that transports the recording medium, and an overall control unit that controls the entire apparatus. The present invention relates to a moving scanning unit of an ink jet recording apparatus, and a detailed description of other parts will be omitted.

In the above-described ink jet recording apparatus, an ink cartridge, which is generally a cartridge type ink tank containing ink, is mounted on a carriage integrated with a recording head, and ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head. Printing is being performed. When the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge is 0 or extremely low, printing can be continued by replacing the ink cartridge with a new ink cartridge.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional ink jet recording apparatus, the ink colors of the ink cartridges to be mounted in a plurality of pockets provided in the carriage are respectively determined, and an ink cartridge containing ink of a predetermined color is mounted. Otherwise, color mixing of the ink in the ink cartridge and the ink remaining in the ink cartridge connection port and the conduction path of the recording head unit occurs, and a desired image cannot be recorded.

In view of the above, it is necessary to change the cartridge connection port provided in the ink cartridge according to the color of the ink accommodated in the ink cartridge, and to provide the carriage connection ports corresponding to all the colors of the ink in all the pockets of the carriage. Accordingly, a method has been proposed in which ink is sent to a predetermined recording head unit even when a cartridge containing ink of an arbitrary color is mounted in any pocket.

[0007]

However, in the above method, when an ink cartridge containing the same color ink is mounted in a plurality of pockets, the ink is consumed from the ink cartridge having a large amount of remaining ink, and further, the ink is consumed. There is a problem that the ink flows back into the ink cartridge having a small remaining amount of the ink.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to simultaneously consume ink from an ink cartridge having a small remaining amount of ink when ink cartridges containing ink of the same color are simultaneously installed. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of recording a desired image without backflow of ink to a cartridge having a small amount of remaining ink.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ink cartridge provided with an ink cartridge connection port whose installation position differs depending on the color of the ink stored therein, and at least two or more ink cartridges. A carriage having pockets, each having a cartridge connection port at a position of a plurality of ink cartridge connection ports provided in the ink cartridge in each pocket; and an ink cartridge connection port and the carriage provided in the ink cartridge. An ink jet recording apparatus having a valve mechanism for communicating a carriage connection port provided in each of the pockets and a recording head having a discharge port for discharging ink supplied from the ink cartridge, is housed in the ink cartridge. Means for capturing information; And controlling the valve mechanism such that at least two or more ink cartridges containing ink of the same color to supply the ink to the recording head from one ink cartridge when mounted on the ridge.

[0010]

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

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a moving scanning section of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. The ink jet recording apparatus has a carriage 105 and an ink flow path section 106.
And a moving scanning unit including a recording head unit 107. The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment can use four color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), like the conventional ink jet recording apparatus. Device.

Actually, the carriage 105, the ink flow path 106, and the recording head 107 are integrated by an adhesive or a screw, but are shown in a separated state for easy understanding of the structure. I have.

FIG. 1 shows an ink cartridge 101 for C ink and an ink cartridge 102 for M ink in four pockets provided in a carriage 105, respectively.
The ink cartridge 103 for Y ink and the ink cartridge 104 for K ink are mounted.

Ink cartridge 101 for C ink
The ink cartridge 102 for M ink, the ink cartridge 103 for Y ink, and the ink cartridge 104 for K ink respectively have an ink cartridge connecting port 108 for C ink, an ink cartridge connecting port 109 for M ink, An ink cartridge connection port 110 for Y ink and an ink cartridge connection port 111 for K ink are formed on the bottom surface.

FIG. 2 shows the ink cartridges 101 to 104.
Cartridge connection ports 108-1 on the bottom surface of the ink cartridge
11 shows an arrangement. The ink cartridge connection port 108 for C ink is provided at the center of the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 101 for C ink.

On the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 102 for M ink, the ink cartridge connecting port 109 for M ink corresponds to the position of the ink cartridge connecting port 108 for C ink on the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 101 for C ink. are disposed at positions shifted by y ₁ in the positive direction of the Y axis from the position.

On the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 103 for Y ink, the ink cartridge connecting port 110 for Y ink corresponds to the position of the ink cartridge connecting port 109 for M ink on the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 102 for M ink. are disposed at positions shifted by y ₂ in the positive direction of the Y axis from the position.

On the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 104 for K ink, the ink cartridge connecting port 111 for K ink corresponds to the position of the ink cartridge connecting port 110 for Y ink on the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 103 for Y ink. are disposed at positions shifted by y ₃ in the positive direction of the Y axis from the position.

The ink cartridge 101 shown in FIG.
Off distance y ₁ at -104, y _2, but y ₃ are equal, these intervals y _1, y _2, y ₃ may be unequal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the carriage connection ports 112 to 115 of the carriage 105. The carriage connection ports 112 to 115 of each pocket are arranged in the Y-axis direction at the same intervals y ₁ , y ₂ , and y ₃ as the intervals of the ink cartridge connection ports 108 to 111. Ink cartridge connection ports 108-1
11 are connected to the carriage connection ports 112 to 115, respectively.

By configuring the ink cartridges 101 to 104 and the carriage 105 as described above,
The color of the ink of the ink cartridge to be installed is C, M,
Regardless of Y or K, when the ink cartridges 101 to 104 are mounted on the carriage 105, all the ink cartridge connection ports 108 to 111 are connected to any of the carriage connection ports 108 to 111.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ink flow path 106 has an ink flow path 116 for C ink, an ink flow path 117 for M ink, an ink flow path 118 for Y ink,
An ink flow path 119 for ink is provided.

The ink passages 116 to 119 of the ink passage 106 are connected to carriage connection ports 112 to 115 provided in pockets of the carriage 105, respectively. The ink flow path 116 for C ink is provided in the carriage connection port 112 for C ink in each pocket, the ink flow path 117 for M ink is provided in the carriage connection port 113 for M ink, and the ink flow path 118 for Y ink. Are connected to the carriage connection port 114 for Y ink, and the ink flow path section 119 for K ink is connected to the carriage connection port 115 for K ink.

The recording head 107 has an ink chamber 120 for C ink, an ink chamber 121 for M ink, an ink chamber 122 for Y ink, and an ink chamber 12 for K ink.
3 are provided. Then, each ink chamber 120-1
Reference numeral 23 is connected to each of the ink flow paths 116 to 119, and the ink passing through each of the ink flow paths 116 to 119 is supplied to each of the ink chambers 120 to 123.

The recording head unit 107 includes a recording head 124 for C, M, and Y inks and a recording head 1 for K ink.
25. Recording head 1 for C, M, Y ink
An ink chamber 120 for C ink, an ink chamber 121 for M ink, and an ink chamber 122 for Y ink are connected to 24, and recording heads for C, M, and Y inks from the ink chambers 120 to 122. C, M, and Y inks are respectively supplied to 124. Similarly, an ink chamber 123 for K ink is connected to the recording head 125 for K ink, and the K ink is supplied from the ink chamber 123 for K ink to the recording head 125.

The recording head 124 for C, M, and Y inks and the recording head 125 for K ink are provided with a plurality of nozzles (not shown) communicating with ejection ports for ejecting ink. Is provided with discharge energy generating means for generating discharge energy for discharging ink from each discharge port.

In the above-mentioned ejection energy generating means, the timing at which ink is ejected, the amount of ink to be ejected, and the like are controlled by a controller provided in the ink jet recording apparatus. As the discharge energy generating means, an electrothermal conversion element (not shown) for converting an electric signal into heat energy is used.

In such a recording head, when an electric signal is input to the electrothermal transducer, air bubbles are generated in the nozzles, and the expansion movement of the air bubbles causes the ink at the nozzle tip to be compressed, and the ink is discharged to the outside. It is configured to discharge. Therefore, if such a recording head is used, a desired image can be recorded by inputting an electric signal corresponding to a desired image pattern to the electrothermal transducer.

In addition, it is also possible to discharge ink from the nozzles by using a piezoelectric element (not shown) which expands and contracts by inputting an electric signal instead of the electrothermal conversion element as the discharge energy generating means.

In particular, in the configuration of the present invention, an ink cartridge containing the same color ink can be mounted in a plurality of pockets. For example, when a large amount of printing is performed using only the K ink, by mounting a plurality of ink cartridges 104 for the K ink, it is possible to solve the problem of the printing operation due to ink exhaustion. Also, C, M, Y
In the case of performing color printing using ink, when the amount of ink stored in a certain ink cartridge is small, it is possible to cope with running out of ink by installing an ink cartridge of the same color.

FIG. 4 shows an ink cartridge 1 for C ink.
FIG. 1 is a view showing a state where the cartridge is mounted in two pockets of the carriage 105.

Two electrode plates 401a and 401b are arranged on the opposite inner walls of the ink cartridge 101 for C ink. The inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a power supply (not shown) for charging between the electrode plates 401a and 401b, and a circuit (not shown) for measuring the capacitance between the electrode plates 401a and 401b. By measuring the capacitance, the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge can be obtained.

As another means for measuring the remaining amount of ink, L
By using a light emitting element such as an ED and a light receiving element such as an optical sensor in combination, it is possible to measure the intensity of transmitted light or reflected light to measure the remaining amount of ink.

A spring stopper 402, a spring 403, and a carriage valve 405
The carriage valve 405 is pushed up, and the force prevents the ink from flowing out of the cartridge 101 until the spring 403 contracts and the cartridge valve 404 opens.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the cartridge valve 404 of the ink cartridge 101 in the left pocket is open when the cartridge valve 404 of the ink cartridge 101 in the center pocket is closed. When the cartridge 101 is not mounted, the carriage valve 405 is closed as in the right pocket.

In FIG. 4, only the ink contained in the ink cartridge 101 in the left pocket is supplied to the ink chamber 120 and the recording head 124 through the ink channel 106 for C ink.

The carriage 105 is provided with a function for determining the color of the ink contained in the ink cartridges 101 to 104 mounted in each pocket.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the electrode patterns are
5, the electric signal corresponding to each color can be obtained. In FIG. 6, the ink cartridges 101 to 1
04 when mounted on the carriage 105, is "0101 _2" signal ID0~ID3 for identification is supplied to the control unit,
The color can be identified by the pattern.

As another method, the ink cartridge 10
An uneven portion (not shown) of a different shape of the carriage is provided for each color of ink stored in the ink cartridges 1 to 104, and a switch is provided in the uneven portion to determine the color.

A storage element such as a ROM or a RAM is provided in each of the ink cartridges 101 to 104, and various information such as the type of ink, the date of manufacture, and the remaining amount of ink are stored in the storage element. When mounted on the carriage 105, more sophisticated control can be performed by supplying the information to the control unit of the ink jet recording apparatus. In the present embodiment, the electrode system shown in FIG. 6 is employed.

Next, the characteristic operation of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the constant MAX is the number of pockets provided in the carriage 105. FIG. 1 shows four pockets, but the number of pockets is not limited to four.

In step 501, when it is detected that an ink cartridge replacement operation is performed, the process proceeds to step 502. In step 502, n is initialized by substituting 0 for n.
Proceed to step 503. Assuming that the number of pockets of the carriage 105 is MAX, each pocket has 0 to MAX.
Numbers up to -1 are assigned in advance. In step 503, the electrode pattern of the ink cartridge attached to the pocket number n in the carriage 105 is read, and the type of ink contained in the attached ink cartridge is determined.

In step 504, the current n and MAX-
1 are compared, and if they are different, the process proceeds to step 505 and n
In step 503, the pattern of the ink cartridge mounted in the (n + 1) th pocket is read to determine the type of ink contained in the ink cartridge. When all pockets are determined, the value of n and MAX-1 match in step 504, and the flow advances to step 506.

In step 506, 0 is substituted for n again to initialize, and the flow advances to step 507. In step 507, n + 1 is substituted for m, and the flow advances to step 508. In step 508, the type of ink stored in the ink cartridge mounted in the n-th pocket is compared with the type of ink stored in the ink cartridge mounted in the m-th pocket. As a result, if it is determined that the same type of ink is contained, the process proceeds to step 509. Step 21 if not identical
Go to 0.

At step 509, a selection is made as to which of the pockets the ink cartridge mounted in is to be used. As a condition for this selection, the remaining amount of ink contained in the ink cartridge is used. The detection of the remaining amount of ink in each ink cartridge uses the result of detection of the remaining amount of ink based on the capacitance. Based on the detection result of the remaining ink amount, it is determined that an ink cartridge having a small remaining ink amount is used, and the process proceeds to step 510.

In step 510, the value of m is compared with the value of MAX-1. If they are different, the process proceeds to step 511, and if they are the same, the process proceeds to step 512. In Step 511, m
Is substituted for m + 1, and the process proceeds to step 508, where n and m are again
The selection is determined by the ink cartridge attached to the third pocket.

In step 512, the value of n is compared with the value of MAX-2. If they are different, the process proceeds to step 513. If the values are the same, the process proceeds to step 514 on the assumption that the selection has been determined for all combinations of cartridges. Step 51
In step 3, n + 1 is substituted for n, and the flow advances to step 507. Then, a combination of ink cartridges is determined. When the process proceeds to step 514, the selection determination has been completed for all combinations of cartridges.
5 is operated so that ink is supplied only from a desired ink cartridge.

Further, the control unit of the ink jet recording apparatus comprises:
If it is determined that the ink cartridge used during the printing operation has run out of ink or is extremely small, a search is made for an ink cartridge containing the same type of ink as the ink cartridge. As a result of this search,
When an ink cartridge containing the same type of ink is mounted, the carriage valve 405 is operated to supply ink from the ink cartridge. If no ink cartridge containing the same type of ink is mounted, the host that has requested printing is notified that ink has run out.

As a condition for selecting one ink cartridge from ink cartridges of the same color, the date of manufacture of the ink cartridge can be used. In addition, it is also possible to adopt as early as possible a criterion a time when the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage 105. In addition, it is possible to control to use the ink cartridge specified by the user. Furthermore,
By allowing these conditions to be specified in combination, more advanced control can be performed.

[0050]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge provided with an ink cartridge connecting port whose installation position differs depending on the color of the stored ink, and at least two or more ink cartridges. A carriage having pockets, each having a cartridge connection port at a position of a plurality of ink cartridge connection ports provided in the ink cartridge in each pocket; an ink cartridge connection port provided in the ink cartridge; and the carriage. An ink jet recording apparatus having a valve mechanism for communicating a carriage connection port provided in each of the pockets and a recording head having a discharge port for discharging ink supplied from the ink cartridge, is housed in the ink cartridge. Means for capturing information; When the ink cartridge containing at least two or more inks of the same color is installed in the cartridge, the valve mechanism is controlled so that ink is supplied from one ink cartridge to the recording head. When the ink cartridges to be accommodated are simultaneously installed, the ink can be consumed from the ink cartridge having the small remaining amount of ink, and at the same time, the desired image can be recorded without the ink flowing backward to the cartridge having the small remaining amount of ink. can get.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a moving scanning unit of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an arrangement of ink cartridge connection ports on a bottom surface of each ink cartridge of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an arrangement of a carriage connection port of a carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a valve mechanism of an ink cartridge connection port and a carriage connection port of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of electrodes of an ink cartridge connection port and a carriage connection port of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 to 104 Ink cartridge 105 Carriage 106 Ink flow path unit 108 to 111 Cartridge connection port 112 to 115 Carriage connection port 116 to 119 Ink flow path unit 120 to 123 Ink chamber 124, 125 Recording head 401a, 401b Electrode plate 402 Spring stop 403 Spring 404 Cartridge valve 405 Carriage valve

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An ink cartridge provided with an ink cartridge connection port having a different installation position depending on the color of the stored ink, and at least two or more pockets, each of which is provided in the ink cartridge in each of the pockets. A carriage provided with a cartridge connection port at each of the plurality of ink cartridge connection ports, and a valve mechanism for communicating the ink cartridge connection port provided in the ink cartridge with the carriage connection port provided in each pocket of the carriage. And a recording head having a discharge port for discharging ink supplied from the ink cartridge. A means for capturing information contained in the ink cartridge; Collect color ink An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by an ink cartridge to control the valve mechanism to supply the ink to the recording head from one ink cartridge when it is mounted. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a storage element is used as storage means for storing information contained in said ink cartridge. 3. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a switch is used as a storage unit for storing information contained in said ink cartridge. 4. The valve mechanism is configured to measure the remaining amount of ink contained in the ink cartridge and to connect an ink cartridge connection port of the ink cartridge having a large amount of remaining ink with a carriage connection port of the carriage. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus is controlled. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the remaining amount of the ink stored is measured by measuring a dielectric constant between electrodes provided in the ink cartridge. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the remaining amount of the ink contained is measured from transmitted light from a light source provided in the ink cartridge. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a remaining amount of ink contained is measured from reflected light from a light source provided in said ink cartridge. 8. The valve mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a manufacturing time of the ink cartridge is read, and the valve mechanism is controlled so that an ink cartridge connecting port of an earlier manufacturing time communicates with a carriage connecting port of the carriage. ~ 3
The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 9. The valve mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism is controlled so that a designated ink cartridge connection port of the ink cartridge communicates with a carriage connection port of the carriage. Ink jet recording device. 10. When the ink stored in the ink cartridge runs out during the printing operation, the valve is connected so that the ink cartridge connection port of another ink cartridge of the same color communicates with the carriage connection port of the carriage. 10. A mechanism for controlling a mechanism.
The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 11. The recording head according to claim 1, further comprising: a discharge energy generating means for discharging ink, wherein the discharge energy generating means comprises an electrothermal transducer for generating bubbles in the ink. 11. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of items 10. 12. The recording head according to claim 1, further comprising: a discharge energy generating means for discharging ink, wherein the discharge energy generating means comprises a piezoelectric element for contracting the ink. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1.