JP2003001852A5

JP2003001852A5 -

Info

Publication number: JP2003001852A5
Application number: JP2001193960A
Authority: JP
Filing date: 2001-06-27
Publication date: 2005-05-26

Description

【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
前記した目的を達成するためになされた本発明にかかるインクジェット式記録装置は、主走査方向に往復移動するキャリッジ上に装填され、ノズル開口からインク滴を吐出するインクジェット式記録ヘッドと、前記記録ヘッドに対してインクを供給するために前記キャリッジ上に着脱可能に装着された複数個のインクカートリッジを備えたインクジェット式記録装置であって、前記キャリッジ上に装着された各インクカートリッジのインク消費状態をそれぞれ検出するインク消費量検出手段と、前記インク消費量検出手段によりいずれかのインクカートリッジにおけるインクの消費量が所定値以上に進行したことが確認された場合において、インクの消費量が所定値以上に進行した前記カートリッジを、前記主走査方向の予め定められた所定の位置に移動させて停止させるキャリッジ移動制御手段とを具備し、前記所定の位置はインクカートリッジ毎に異なる点に特徴を有する。この場合、前記所定の位置は、前記キャリッジの移動経路の一部に形成されたインクカートリッジ交換用開口部以外の位置に設定される。 0009
[Means for solving problems]
The inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above object, is loaded on a carriage that reciprocates in the main scanning direction, and has an inkjet recording head that ejects ink droplets from a nozzle opening and the recording head. It is an inkjet recording device provided with a plurality of ink cartridges detachably mounted on the carriage in order to supply ink to the ink cartridge, and the ink consumption state of each ink cartridge mounted on the carriage is measured. When it is confirmed by the ink consumption detecting means for each detection and the ink consumption detecting means that the ink consumption in any of the ink cartridges has progressed to the predetermined value or more, the ink consumption is equal to or more than the predetermined value. It is provided with a carriage movement control means for moving and stopping the cartridge that has progressed to the predetermined position in the main scanning direction, and the predetermined position is different for each ink cartridge. In this case, the predetermined position is set to a position other than the ink cartridge replacement opening formed in a part of the movement path of the carriage.

一方、前記した目的を達成するためになされた本発明にかかるインクジェット式記録装置は、主走査方向に往復移動するキャリッジ上に装填され、ノズル開口からインク滴を吐出するインクジェット式記録ヘッドと、前記記録ヘッドに対してインクを供給するために前記キャリッジ上に着脱可能に装着された複数個のインクカートリッジを備えたインクジェット式記録装置であって、前記キャリッジ上に装着された各インクカートリッジのインク消費状態をそれぞれ検出するインク消費量検出手段と、前記インク消費量検出手段によりいずれかのインクカートリッジにおけるインクの消費量が所定値以上に進行したことが確認された場合において、インクの消費量が所定値以上に進行した前記カートリッジを、前記主走査方向の予め定められた所定の位置に移動させて停止させるキャリッジ移動制御手段と、どのインクカートリッジが所定の位置に移動したかを示す認識手段とを具備した点に特徴を有する。この場合、前記認識手段は、好ましくは前記インクジェット式記録装置の本体を収納する外郭ケースの一部に形成され、前記所定の位置を示すマークにより構成される。そして、前記マークは外郭ケースの１箇所に形成される。On the other hand, the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above-mentioned object, is loaded on a carriage that reciprocates in the main scanning direction, and has an inkjet recording head that ejects ink droplets from a nozzle opening and the above. An inkjet recording device including a plurality of ink cartridges detachably mounted on the carriage for supplying ink to the recording head, and the ink consumption of each ink cartridge mounted on the carriage. When it is confirmed by the ink consumption detecting means for detecting each state and the ink consumption detecting means that the ink consumption in any of the ink cartridges has progressed to a predetermined value or more, the ink consumption is predetermined. A carriage movement control means for moving the cartridge that has advanced above the value to a predetermined position in the main scanning direction and stopping the cartridge, and a recognition means for indicating which ink cartridge has moved to the predetermined position. It is characterized by the fact that it is provided. In this case, the recognition means is preferably formed on a part of an outer case for accommodating the main body of the inkjet recording device, and is configured by a mark indicating the predetermined position. Then, the mark is formed at one place on the outer case.

一方、好ましい実施の形態においては、前記外郭ケースの一部に、インク消費量が所定以上に進行した場合に視覚的に情報を報知する報知手段を具備し、前記報知手段の数はインクカートリッジの数より少なく構成される。そして、前記報知手段により、インク消費量が多くインクカートリッジ交換要の場合と、インクカートリッジ交換要の場合よりインク消費量が少ないインクローの場合と、前記インクローの場合よりさらにインク消費量が少ない場合を報知するようになされる。On the other hand, in a preferred embodiment, a part of the outer case is provided with a notification means for visually notifying information when the ink consumption progresses more than a predetermined value, and the number of the notification means is the number of ink cartridges. Consists of less than a number. Then, according to the notification means, there are cases where the ink consumption is large and the ink cartridge needs to be replaced, the case where the ink consumption is smaller than the case where the ink cartridge replacement is required, and the case where the ink consumption is even smaller than the case where the ink row is used. It will be notified.

また、インクの消費量が所定値以上に進行したインクカートリッジが複数個存在する場合においては、前記キャリッジ移動制御手段は操作指令に基づいてインクの消費量が所定値以上に進行した各インクカートリッジを、前記主走査方向の予め定められた所定の位置に順次移動させて停止させる操作を繰り返して実行するようになされる。When there are a plurality of ink cartridges whose ink consumption has progressed to a predetermined value or more, the carriage movement control means uses each ink cartridge whose ink consumption has progressed to a predetermined value or more based on an operation command. , The operation of sequentially moving the ink to a predetermined position in the main scanning direction and stopping the ink is repeatedly executed.

さらに、前記キャリッジ移動制御手段は操作指令に基づいて、インク消費量が所定値以上に進行したインクカートリッジを、前記主走査方向の予め定められた所定の位置に移動させて停止させる操作を実行すると共に、さらなる操作指令に基づいて、インクカートリッジをキャリッジの移動経路の一部に形成された交換用開口部に移動させる操作を実行するようになされる。Further, the carriage movement control means executes an operation of moving an ink cartridge whose ink consumption has progressed to a predetermined value or more to a predetermined predetermined position in the main scanning direction and stopping the ink cartridge based on an operation command. At the same time, based on the further operation command, the operation of moving the ink cartridge to the replacement opening formed in a part of the movement path of the carriage is performed.

そして、前記キャリッジ移動制御手段は、操作指令に基づいて前記インク消費量検出手段における各カートリッジのインク消費量の情報を参照し、いずれのカートリッジもインクの消費量が所定値に達していない場合には、キャリッジに装着されたインクカートリッジをキャリッジの移動経路の一部に形成された交換用開口部に移動させる操作を実行するようになされる。Then, the carriage movement control means refers to the information of the ink consumption of each cartridge in the ink consumption detecting means based on the operation command, and when the ink consumption of any of the cartridges does not reach a predetermined value. Is configured to perform an operation of moving the ink cartridge mounted on the carriage to a replacement opening formed in a part of the carriage's movement path.

一方、この発明にかかるカートリッジの交換制御方法は、主走査方向に往復移動するキャリッジ上に装填され、ノズル開口からインク滴を吐出するインクジェット式記録ヘッドと、前記記録ヘッドに対してインクを供給するために前記キャリッジ上に着脱可能に装着された複数個のインクカートリッジを備えたインクジェット式記録装置におけるカートリッジの交換制御方法であって、前記キャリッジ上に装着された各インクカートリッジのインク消費状態をそれぞれ検出するインク消費量検出ステップと、前記インク消費量検出ステップにおいて、インクの消費量が所定値以上に進行したインクカートリッジを検出した場合には、当該カートリッジを前記主走査方向の予め定められて配置された認識手段の位置に移動させて停止させるキャリッジ移動ステップとが順次実行されるようになされる。 On the other hand, the cartridge replacement control method according to the present invention is loaded on a carriage that reciprocates in the main scanning direction, and supplies ink to an inkjet recording head that ejects ink droplets from a nozzle opening and the recording head. Therefore, it is a cartridge replacement control method in an inkjet recording device including a plurality of ink cartridges detachably mounted on the carriage, and the ink consumption state of each ink cartridge mounted on the carriage is determined. When an ink cartridge whose ink consumption has progressed to a predetermined value or more is detected in the ink consumption detection step to be detected and the ink consumption detection step, the cartridge is arranged in advance in the main scanning direction. The carriage movement step of moving to the position of the recognized recognition means and stopping the ink is sequentially executed.

また、前記した外郭ケース２１の上面には、楕円形の窓孔２２に沿った長手方向の一部に、認識手段としてのチェックマーク２４が形成されており、インクカートリッジがインクローまたはインクエンド状態となった場合において、後述するキャリッジの移動操作によって、当該カートリッジが前記チェックマーク２４の配置位置に移動して停止されるようになされる。これにより、ユーザは、いずれのインクカートリッジが、インクローまたはインクエンド状態となっているかを把握することができる。 Further, on the upper surface of the outer case 21 described above, a check mark 24 as a recognition means is formed in a part in the longitudinal direction along the elliptical window hole 22, and the ink cartridge is in an ink row or ink end state. In such a case, the cartridge is moved to the position where the check mark 24 is arranged and stopped by the movement operation of the carriage, which will be described later. This allows the user to know which ink cartridge is in the ink row or ink end state.

Claims

An ink jet recording head which is loaded on a carriage reciprocating in the main scanning direction and which ejects ink droplets from a nozzle opening, and a plurality of detachably mounted on the carriage for supplying ink to the recording head An ink jet recording apparatus provided with individual ink cartridges,
The consumption of ink in any of the ink cartridges has progressed to a predetermined value or more by the ink consumption detection means for detecting the ink consumption state of each ink cartridge mounted on the carriage and the ink consumption detection means A carriage movement control unit for moving the cartridge whose ink consumption has progressed to a predetermined value or more to a predetermined predetermined position in the main scanning direction and stopping the cartridge ; An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the predetermined position is different for each ink cartridge .

The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is a position other than an ink cartridge replacement opening formed in a part of a movement path of the carriage.

An ink jet recording head which is loaded on a carriage reciprocating in the main scanning direction and which ejects ink droplets from a nozzle opening, and a plurality of detachably mounted on the carriage for supplying ink to the recording head An ink jet recording apparatus provided with individual ink cartridges,
The consumption of ink in any of the ink cartridges has progressed to a predetermined value or more by the ink consumption detection means for detecting the ink consumption state of each ink cartridge mounted on the carriage and the ink consumption detection means Carriage movement control means for moving and stopping the cartridge whose ink consumption has progressed to a predetermined value or more to a predetermined predetermined position in the main scanning direction, and which ink cartridge An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: recognition means for indicating whether the lens has moved to a predetermined position.

4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the recognition means is a mark indicating the predetermined position on a part of an outer case accommodating the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus.

The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the mark is one place.

A part of the outer case is provided with a notification means for visually notifying information when the ink consumption amount has progressed to a predetermined level or more,
The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the number of notification means is smaller than the number of ink cartridges.

The notification means provides notification when the ink consumption is large, the ink low when the ink cartridge replacement is necessary, the ink low when the ink cartridge replacement is necessary, and the case where the ink consumption is smaller than the ink low. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6.

When there are a plurality of ink cartridges in which the consumption of ink has progressed to a predetermined value or more, the carriage movement control unit performs the respective ink cartridges in which the consumption of the ink has progressed to a predetermined value or more based on the operation command. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an operation of sequentially moving to a predetermined position in the main scanning direction and stopping the operation is repeatedly performed.

The carriage movement control means based on the operation command, executes the operations b ink consumption of ink cartridges that progressed more than a predetermined value, it is moved to stop at a predetermined place of the main scanning direction with, based on the additional operation command, the i ink cartridge to any of claims 1 to 8 adapted to perform the operation of moving the replacement opening formed in a part of the movement path of the carriage The ink jet recording apparatus described above.

The carriage movement control means refers to the information of the ink consumption of each cartridge in the ink consumption detecting means based on the operation command, and when the ink consumption of any cartridge has not reached the predetermined value, The ink jet recording according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein an operation of moving an ink cartridge mounted on a carriage to a replacement opening formed in a part of a movement path of the carriage is performed. apparatus.

An ink jet recording head which is loaded on a carriage reciprocating in the main scanning direction and which ejects ink droplets from a nozzle opening, and a plurality of detachably mounted on the carriage for supplying ink to the recording head A cartridge replacement control method for an ink jet recording apparatus having individual ink cartridges, comprising:
An ink consumption detection step of detecting an ink consumption state of each ink cartridge mounted on the carriage;
In the ink consumption detecting step, when the ink cartridge whose ink consumption has progressed to a predetermined value or more is detected, the cartridge is moved to the position of the recognition means disposed in advance in the main scanning direction. Moving the carriage to stop the
A method of controlling replacement of an ink cartridge in an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the method is sequentially performed.