JP2003159808A - Printer, ink unit, device capable of storing information, and computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer, ink units, an information storable device, and a computer system, capable of making communication with the device provided on the ink unit without trouble. <P>SOLUTION: This printer comprises the plurality of ink units each having the device capable of storing information, an ink unit support member having the plurality of ink units arranged thereon, and a reading member for reading the information stored in the devices in a non-contact manner. The reading member reads ID information stored in the device provided to the ink unit by each ink unit and a relationship between the arrangement order of the ink units in the ink unit support member and the ID information stored in the device is determined. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device, an ink unit, an element capable of storing information, and a computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink unit (ink cartridge) for an ink jet printer, the quality of the ink deteriorates depending on the environment in which it is used, for example, after a period of about 6 months has passed. As a result, high print quality may not be realized or the print head of the printer may be adversely affected. As a countermeasure technique for this, for example, a memory such as an EEPROM may be provided in the ink unit, and this memory may hold information for specifying the expiration date of the ink. From the transmission / reception section provided on the printer body side, communicate with this memory via the contact terminal,
Reads information about the expiration date of ink.
Further, in addition to the information regarding the expiration date, information regarding the ink remaining amount of each ink unit may be held.

It is also conceivable that a non-contact type storage element is provided in place of the contact type memory such as the above-mentioned EEPROM and wireless communication is performed by a read / write sensor provided on the printer body side. Non-contact type storage elements include types such as a close contact type and a proximity type, depending on the accessible distance, but wireless communication is possible within a predetermined distance. When such a non-contact type storage element is used, it is necessary to position the ink unit stop position because communication is possible even if the ink unit stop position for reading / writing varies a little. It does not have to be done strictly.

[0004]

However, when wireless communication is performed using such a non-contact type storage element, the information of an element different from the desired element may be mistaken due to the wide communication range. It may be read. For example, in the case of a color inkjet printer, since a plurality of ink units different for each color are arranged in a carriage (ink unit supporting member) at a short pitch, they are not the elements of a desired ink unit but are adjacent to each other by mistake. It may communicate with the elements of the ink unit.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and an ink which can communicate with an element capable of storing information provided in an ink unit without any inconvenience. It is to realize a unit, an element capable of storing information, and a computer system.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the main invention is to provide a plurality of ink units having an element capable of storing information, and an ink unit support member in which the plurality of ink units are arranged. And a reading member for reading the information stored in the element in a non-contact manner, in each of the ink units, the reading member reads the ID information stored in the element included in the ink unit. A printing device characterized by specifying the relationship between the arrangement order of the ink units on the ink unit support member and the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit. .

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description of this specification.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION === Summary of Disclosure === At least the following will be made clear by the following disclosure.

A plurality of ink units each having an element capable of storing information, an ink unit supporting member in which the plurality of ink units are arranged, and a reading member for reading the information stored in the elements in a non-contact manner. In the printing apparatus, the reading member reads the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit for each of the ink units, and the arrangement order of the ink units in the ink unit supporting member and the ink unit A printing apparatus characterized by specifying a relationship with ID information stored in the element provided.

A plurality of ink units each having an element capable of storing information, an ink unit supporting member in which the plurality of ink units are arranged, and a reading member for reading the information stored in the elements in a non-contact manner. In the printing device, the reading member reads the information in a non-contact manner, and therefore, information of an element different from a desired element may be erroneously read.

Therefore, according to the present invention, for each of the ink units, the reading member reads the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit to arrange the ink units in the ink unit supporting member. And the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit.

According to such a printing apparatus, the arrangement order of the ink units on the ink unit supporting member and the ID stored in the element provided in the ink unit.
Since the relationship with the information is specified and stored in the memory of the main body of the printing apparatus, when reading the information stored in the element provided in the ink unit in the specific arrangement order, the ID information stored in the element is read. By matching using
It is possible to prevent erroneous reading of information of other elements.

Further, the ID information may be information unique to the device stored in the device before the device is attached to the ink unit.

According to such a printing apparatus, since the ID information is unique information stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit and different for each element, the ink unit supporting member. It is possible to reliably identify the elements provided in the individual ink units arranged in the above.

The ink unit may be detachable from the ink unit supporting member.

In such a printing apparatus in which the ink unit is detachable from the ink unit support member, the arrangement of the ink units mounted on the ink unit support member may be changed by the user. It is possible. Even in such a case, first, the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit is read, and the arrangement order of the ink unit in the ink unit supporting member and the above-mentioned order provided in the ink unit are read. By identifying the relationship with the ID information stored in the element, when reading the information stored in the element provided in the ink unit of a specific arrangement order, the information of other elements may be erroneously read. Can be prevented.

Further, the ink unit support member is movable, and the reading member is at a position where only the information stored in the element provided in the ink unit arranged at the head in the moving direction can be read. After the ink unit supporting member is moved so that the reading member reads the ID information stored in the element, the information stored in the element that has finished reading the ID information and the ID that is adjacent to the element and is still ID. By sequentially moving the ink unit supporting member to a position where the reading member can read only the information stored in the element which has not finished reading the information, the reading member has finished reading the ID information. The printing apparatus may be characterized by reading the ID information stored in the non-printing element.

According to such a printing apparatus, all the ID information of the elements provided in the ink units arranged on the ink unit supporting member can be surely read in order from the beginning, and the ID information of a certain element can be read. When reading, only that element and the element that has already read the ID information are read at a position where they can be read.
Since the element with unknown D information is not read,
All elements can be read reliably.

Further, for all the ink units arranged on the ink unit supporting member, the relationship between the arrangement order on the ink unit supporting member and the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit is specified. Later, while identifying each element by the ID information,
The reading member may read information other than the ID information stored in each element included in the ink unit arranged on the ink unit supporting member.

According to such a printing apparatus, for all the ink units arranged on the ink unit supporting member, the arrangement order on the ink unit supporting member and the IDs stored in the elements provided in the ink unit.
The ID of the reading member stored in the element provided in each ink unit after the relationship with the information is specified.
Since the information other than the information is read, when the information other than the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit of the specific arrangement order is read while collating using the ID information, the other element Do not accidentally read the information in.

Further, the ink unit support member is movable, and the ink unit support member is moved to a position where the reading member can read information from a plurality of elements, and each element is read by the ID information. The reading member is stored in each element while identifying
Information other than the D information may be read.

According to this printing apparatus, the ink unit supporting member is moved to a position where the reading member can read information from a plurality of elements, and the I
Since the reading member reads information other than the ID information stored in each element while identifying each element by the D information, the number of movements of the ink unit supporting member for reading information other than the ID information is reduced, and the total number is reduced. The reading time of can be shortened.

Further, the ink is placed at a position where the reading member can read information from the elements provided in the odd-numbered ink units and the even-numbered ink units adjacent thereto in the arrangement order of the ink unit support member. The unit support member may be sequentially moved so that each element is identified by the ID information and the reading member reads information other than the ID information stored in each element.

According to this printing apparatus, the position where the reading member can read information from the elements provided in the odd-numbered ink units and the even-numbered ink units adjacent thereto in the arrangement order of the ink unit support members. In addition, since the ink unit supporting member is sequentially moved so that each element is identified by the ID information, the reading member reads information other than the ID information stored in each element, so that information other than the ID information is read. Therefore, the number of movements of the ink unit supporting member is reduced, and the total reading time can be shortened.

Further, an ink unit having an element capable of storing information, arranged in a plurality on the ink unit supporting member, and read by the reading member provided in the main body of the printing apparatus, can read the information stored in the element in a non-contact manner. In, the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit is read by the reading member and stored in the order in which the ink unit is arranged in the ink unit supporting member and the element provided in the ink unit. It is also possible to realize an ink unit characterized in that the relationship with the generated ID information is specified by the printing device.

Further, it is also possible to realize an ink unit characterized in that the ID information is information specific to the element stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit.

Further, an ink unit characterized in that the ink unit is detachable from the ink unit supporting member can be realized.

In addition, after the relationship between the arrangement order in the ink unit supporting member and the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit is specified by the printing device, the ink is provided in the ink unit. It is also possible to realize an ink unit characterized in that information other than the ID information stored in the element is read by the reading member while the element is identified by the ID information.

Information can be stored in the ink unit, a plurality of the ink units are arranged on the ink unit supporting member together with the ink unit, and the stored information is not stored by the reading member provided in the main body of the printing apparatus. In an element that is read by contact, I stored in the element
The D information is read by the reading member, and the relationship between the arrangement order of the ink units on the ink unit supporting member and the ID information stored in the element is specified by the printing device. Is also feasible.

An element characterized in that the ID information is information unique to the element that is stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit can also be realized.

Further, an element characterized in that the ink unit provided with the element is detachable from the ink unit supporting member can be realized.

After the relationship between the arrangement order in the ink unit supporting member and the ID information stored in the element is specified by the printing device, information other than the ID information stored in the element is changed to the ID information. An element characterized by being read by the reading member while the element is being identified by information can also be realized.

A computer main body, a display device connected to the computer main body, and a printing device connected to the computer main body, the plurality of ink units having an element capable of storing information; The ink unit supporting member in which the ink units are arranged, and a reading member for reading the information stored in the element in a non-contact manner. For each of the ink units, the reading member is provided in the ink unit. A printing device that reads the ID information stored in the element and specifies the relationship between the arrangement order of the ink unit on the ink unit supporting member and the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit. It is also possible to realize a computer system characterized by

Further, a plurality of ink units having an element capable of storing information, an ink unit supporting member in which the plurality of ink units are arranged, and a reading member for reading the information stored in the elements in a non-contact manner. In each of the ink units, the reading member reads the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit, the arrangement order of the ink units in the ink unit supporting member, and the ink A printing apparatus for specifying a relationship with ID information stored in the element provided in a unit, wherein the ID information is stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit. It is unique information, the ink unit is detachable from the ink unit support member, The ink unit support member is movable, and the ink member support member is provided at a position where the reading member can read only the information stored in the element provided in the ink unit arranged at the head in the moving direction. After the reading member has read the ID information stored in the element, the information stored in the element that has finished reading the ID information, and the reading of the ID information that is adjacent to the element and is still finished. The information stored in the unread element is sequentially moved to a position where the reading member can read the information, and the reading member stores the information in the element which has not finished reading the ID information. The read ID information is read, and the ink unit for all the ink units arranged on the ink unit support member is read. After specifying the relationship between the arrangement order of the ink support member and the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit, the reading member determines that the odd number of the arrangement order of the ink unit support member. While sequentially moving the ink unit support member to a position where information can be read from the element provided in the even-numbered ink unit adjacent to this, while identifying each element by the ID information,
The printing device may be characterized in that the reading member reads information other than the ID information stored in each element.

According to such a printing apparatus, when the information stored in the element provided in the ink unit in the specific arrangement order is read, the ID information stored in the element is used for verification, so that other information can be obtained. It is possible to prevent the information of the element from being read by mistake. Also, at that time, the ID
Since the information is unique information which is stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit and which is unique to each element, the information is provided for each ink unit arranged on the ink unit supporting member. It is possible to reliably identify the element. Further, at that time, the arrangement of the detachable ink units mounted on the ink unit supporting member may be changed by the user, and even in such a case, the ink units in a specific arrangement order may be changed. When reading the information stored in the provided element, it is possible to prevent the information of other elements from being erroneously read. At that time, the IDs of the elements provided in the ink units arranged on the ink unit supporting member.
You can read all the information in order from the beginning,
In addition, when reading the ID information of a certain element, since the element and the element that has already read the ID information are read at a position where they can be read, there is no possibility of reading an element with unknown ID information other than the desired element. All elements can be read reliably. Further, at that time, in the arrangement order of the ink unit support member, the ink is placed at a position where the reading member can read information from the elements provided in the odd-numbered ink units and the even-numbered ink units adjacent thereto. While sequentially moving the unit support member to identify each element by the ID information,
Since the reading member reads information other than the ID information stored in each element, the number of movements of the ink unit supporting member for reading information other than the ID information is reduced, and the total reading time can be shortened.

Further, a plurality of ink units each having an element capable of storing information, a movable ink unit supporting member in which the plurality of ink units are arranged, and the information stored in the elements are contactlessly contacted. In a printing device having a reading member for reading, the ink unit supporting member moves to a position where the reading member can read information stored in elements provided in a plurality of ink units, and at the position. A printing apparatus, wherein the reading member reads the information.

According to such a printing apparatus, by moving the ink unit support member to a position where the reading member can read information from a plurality of elements, the reading member can store ID information stored in each element and the like. Since information other than ID information is read, the number of movements of the ink unit supporting member for reading information other than ID information is reduced,
The total reading time can be shortened.

=== Outline of Inkjet Printer ==
= Next, an outline of an inkjet printer as a printing apparatus to which the present invention is mainly applied will be described. Figure 1
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic appearance of an inkjet printer.

A color ink jet printer is shown here. The color printer 10 is an inkjet printer capable of outputting a color image, and in addition to standard four color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), light cyan. This is an inkjet printer that forms an image by ejecting a total of 6 colors of (light cyan, LC) and light magenta (light magenta, LM) onto a printing medium such as cut paper to form dots. The standard 4
A configuration using ink sets other than 6 colors such as a color ink set may be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the color printer 10
Has a paper feed structure that discharges a print medium such as cut paper supplied from above on the back side from the front side. An operation panel 11 and a paper discharge unit 12 are provided on the front surface of the printer body 10, and a paper feed unit 13 is provided on the back surface. The operation panel 11 includes various operation buttons 111 and a display lamp 11.
Two are provided. The paper discharge unit 12 includes a paper discharge tray 121 that closes a paper discharge port when not in use. Paper feeder 13
Is a paper feed tray 1 for holding cut sheets (not shown)
31 is provided. The printer 10 may be provided with a paper feeding structure capable of printing not only a cut sheet such as a cut sheet but also a continuous printed sheet such as roll paper.

=== Configuration of Carriage and Surroundings ==
= Next, the configuration of the carriage 20 as an ink unit supporting member and its surroundings provided inside the color printer 10 will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration around the carriage 20. The carriage 20 is connected to a carriage motor 23 by a drive belt 21 via a pulley 22 and guided by a sliding shaft 24 to move to a platen 25.
Is driven to move in parallel with.

The carriage 20 includes an ink unit (ink cartridge) INC containing black ink.
Five ink units INC2 to 6 containing 1 and 5 color inks are attached. A print head IH1 having nozzles for ejecting black ink and print heads IH2 to IH6 having nozzle rows for ejecting color inks of five colors are provided on the surface of the carriage 20 facing the printing paper. When ink is supplied from each of the ink units INC1 to INC6, ink droplets are ejected onto the printing paper to print characters and images.

In the right non-printing area of the carriage 20, a capping device 26 for sealing the nozzle openings of the heads IH1 to IH6 during non-printing and a pump unit 27 having a pump motor (not shown) are provided. There is. When the carriage 20 moves from the printing area to the right non-printing area, the carriage 20 contacts a lever (not shown), the capping device 26 moves upward, and the head IH
1 to IH6 are sealed.

When the nozzle opening rows of the heads IH1 to IH6 are clogged, the ink units INC1 and INH are used.
When ink is forcibly ejected or ejected from the heads IH1 to IH6 when C2 is replaced, the head IH
The pump unit 27 is operated in a state where 1 to IH6 are sealed by the caps 261 and 262, and the negative pressure from the pump unit 27 sucks out the ink from the nozzle opening row. As a result, the dust and paper dust adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle opening row are cleaned, and the heads IH1 to IH6 are further cleaned.
The bubbles inside are discharged to the caps 261 and 262 together with the ink.

On the front side (paper discharge direction side) of each of the ink units INC1 to INC6, there are elements 311 to 311 capable of storing information.
Although not shown in FIG. 2, a transmission / reception unit as a reading member is provided at an appropriate position in the left non-printing area of the carriage 20 so as to face each storage element. To be

3A and 3B, the carriage 20, the ink units INC1 to INC6, the memory elements 311 to 316 provided in the ink units, and the printer 10 main body (printer 10 main body). Transmitter / receiver 3 provided on the side of ink units INC1 to INC6)
It is the schematic diagram which showed the positional relationship of 0 intelligibly. Figure 3
FIG. 3A is a perspective view seen from the front side in FIG.
(B) is a plan view seen from directly above.

The ink units INC1 to INC6 accommodated in the carriage 20 are detachable, and the ink is consumed by the user, when the expiration date has passed, or when the ink is changed to another color. Then, the replacement is made appropriately.

As can be seen from FIG. 3B, the transmission / reception unit 30 of this embodiment is large enough to face two storage element mounting surfaces of the ink unit (and the storage element provided thereon). That's it. The transmission / reception unit 30 includes the storage element 3 on the left side from the front side, that is, from the storage element 311 to the right side.
The ID information reading and writing operations are sequentially performed toward 16. Details of the read / write operation will be described later.

=== Configuration of Storage Element and Transmitting / Receiving Section === Next, the configurations of the storage element 311 and the transmitting / receiving section 30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4A shows a storage element 311.
FIG. 3 is a perspective plan view showing the configuration of FIG. The storage element 311 is a proximity-type non-contact storage element having a data transmission / reception distance of about 10 mm with the transmission / reception unit 30. It is extremely small and thin as a whole, and can be attached to an object as a sticker with adhesiveness on one side. It is called a memory tag or the like and is commercially available in various types. Note that the memory elements other than the memory element 311 have exactly the same configuration, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

The storage element 311 is a non-contact IC chip 31.
11, a resonance capacitor 3112 formed by etching a metal film, and a planar coil 3113 are mounted on a plastic film and covered with a transparent cover sheet. On the other hand, although not shown in a plan view or the like, the transmission / reception unit 30 includes a coil antenna 301 similar to the storage element 311 and a transmission / reception circuit 302, and receives power supply from the power supply unit of the printer body 10.

FIG. 4B is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the storage element 311 and the transmission / reception unit 30. Transmitter / receiver 30
Is composed of an antenna coil 301 and a transmission / reception circuit 302 connected to a peripheral device input / output unit (PIO) 54 of the printer main body control circuit described later. Storage element 31
The IC chip 3111 of No. 1 is a rectifier 3114, a signal analysis unit RF (Radio Frequency) 3115,
The control unit 3116 and the memory cell 3117 are included. The memory cell 3117 is a NAND flash RO.
It is a memory such as M that can be electrically read and written.

The antenna 3113 of the storage element 311 and the antenna 301 of the transmission / reception unit 30 communicate with each other to read the ID information stored in the memory cell 3117 and write to the memory cell 3117. Further, the high frequency signal generated by the transmission / reception circuit 302 of the transmission / reception unit 30 is induced as a high frequency magnetic field via the antenna 301. This high frequency magnetic field is generated by the antenna 31 of the storage element 311.
Is absorbed by the rectifier 3114 and rectified by the rectifier 3114.
It serves as a DC power source that drives each circuit in the C chip 3111.

In the memory cell 3117 of the memory element 311, information peculiar to each memory element such as the serial number of the element, that is, ID information is recorded. This ID information data may be written at the time of factory manufacturing of the storage element. This ID information is sent to the printer 1
The individual storage elements 311 to 316 can be identified by reading with the transmission / reception unit 30 on the main body side.

Further, the memory cell 311 of the memory element 311
In addition to the ID information, 7 may include manufacturing information of the ink unit INC1 to which the storage element 311 is attached, information regarding the expiration date, and the like. By reading this information on the printer 10 main body side and performing a comparison process with the current date and time, the ink unit INC1
It is also possible to issue a warning to the user when the expiration date of is approaching.

Further, the ink remaining amount information of the ink unit INC1 may be written in the memory cell 3117. It is also possible to read this remaining amount information on the printer 10 main body side and issue a warning to the user when the remaining amount becomes small. Each storage element 3
Information other than the above information may be appropriately included in 11 to 316.

=== Internal Configuration of Inkjet Printer === Next, the internal configuration of the color inkjet printer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer 10 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the printer 10 drives the print heads IH1 to IH6 mounted on the carriage 20 to eject ink and form dots, and the carriage motor 23 drives the carriage 20 to rotate the shaft of the platen 25. Mechanism for reciprocating in the direction, and the paper feed tray 131
The paper feeding motor 40 conveys a material to be printed such as the cut paper 133 supplied from the machine, and a control circuit 50.

A mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 20 in the axial direction of the platen 25 is installed in parallel with the shaft of the platen 25, and a sliding shaft 24 for slidably holding the carriage 20.
And the endless drive belt 2 between the carriage motor 23 and
1 comprises a pulley 29 that stretches.

The platen 25
A paper feed auxiliary roller (not shown), a paper feed motor 40 that rotates the platen 25, a gear mechanism 41 that transmits the rotation of the paper feed motor 40 to the platen 25, and an encoder that detects the rotation angle of the platen 25. 42 and the like. In addition, the transmitter / receiver 3 is provided at an appropriate position such as the casing of the printer 10 or in the left non-printing area of the carriage 20.
0 is provided.

The control circuit 50 is the operation panel 1 of the printer.
1, while appropriately exchanging signals with the transmission / reception unit 30, the externally connected personal computer, and the like, the paper feed motor 40, the carriage motor 23, and the print heads IH1 to IH6 are appropriately controlled. The cut sheet supplied from the sheet feeding tray 131 is set so as to be sandwiched between the platen 25 and the sheet feeding auxiliary roller, and is conveyed by a predetermined amount according to the rotation angle of the platen 25.

The carriage 20 has an ink unit INC.
1 to INC6 are mounted. Each ink cartridge IN
A storage element 311 for storing the ink remaining amount and the like is provided in C1 to C6.
~ 316 are provided. Ink cartridge INC
1 stores black (K) ink, and ink cartridges INC2 to INC 6 store cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), light cyan (LC), and light magenta (LM), respectively. There is.

=== Internal Structure of Control Circuit === Next, the internal structure of the control circuit 50 of the ink jet printer will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the control circuit 50 of the inkjet printer according to this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, inside the control circuit 50, a CPU 51, a PROM 52, a RAM 53, a peripheral device input / output unit (PIO) 54, a timer 55, and a drive buffer 5 are provided.
6 and the like are provided.

An operation panel 11, a personal computer PC, a carriage motor 23, a paper feed motor 40, an encoder 42, and a transmission / reception unit 30 are connected to the PIO 54. The drive buffer 56 includes the print heads IH1 to IH1.
The IH6 is used as a buffer that supplies an on / off signal for dot formation. These are connected to each other by a bus 57, and data can be exchanged with each other. The control circuit 50 is also provided with an oscillator 58 that outputs a drive waveform at a predetermined frequency, and a distribution output device 59 that distributes the output from the oscillator 58 to the print heads IH1 to IH6 at a predetermined timing.

When the power is turned on, the control circuit 50 moves the carriage 20 to the left non-printing area where the transmitting / receiving section 30 is provided, and sequentially stores from the storage element 311 provided in the ink unit INC1 at the left end to the storage at the right end. Read up to element 316. The control circuit 50 then includes the storage elements 311 to 311.
The ID information is acquired from 316. Once all storage elements 3
After acquiring the ID information from 11 to 316, the information other than the ID information is read or the information is written while identifying the storage element (and the ink unit) by the ID information. Details of the ID information reading process and the printing process executed while performing identification by the ID information will be described later.

=== Operation of Inkjet Printer ==
= Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, an access operation of the inkjet printer 10 to the storage elements 311 to 316 will be described.

In FIG. 7, the transmitter / receiver 30 reads the ID information recorded in the storage elements 311 to 316 when the power is turned on or when the user replaces any ink unit while the power is on. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of the carriage 20 (and the ink units INC1 to INC6) at this time. The command for instructing the execution of the ID information reading operation other than when the power is turned on may be executed by the user using the printer driver software on the screen of the personal computer PC or by the operation panel 11 of the printer 10.

The transmission / reception section 30 of this embodiment includes the ink units INC1 to INC6 (and the storage element 3 provided thereon).
11 to 316), the carriage 20 is stopped so that the transmission / reception unit 30 is located at the exact center between a storage element and a storage element adjacent thereto. In this case, data can be transmitted / received to / from both of these storage elements. Transmitter / receiver 30
Reads the ID information and writes the ID information sequentially from the left end of the drawing, that is, from the storage element 311 to the right end storage element 316.

First, the transmitter / receiver 30 determines which storage element 3
In the non-access state (s100) where neither the 11 to 316 are accessed, the carriage 20 is located farther to the right than the left non-printing area where the transmitting / receiving unit 30 is provided, and any of the ink units INC1 to INC1. The storage elements 311 to 316 of No. 6 cannot be accessed.

Next, in the ink unit INC1 access state (s101), the carriage 20 moves to the left non-printing area and stops at a position where only the left end ink unit INC1 and the transmitting / receiving unit 30 can transmit / receive data. That is, the vicinity of the right end of the antenna coil 301 of the transmitter / receiver 30 is a position facing the vicinity of the center of the storage element 311, and at this position, the transmitter / receiver 30 is too far from the storage element 312 of the ink unit INC2. It is a position where data cannot be sent and received. At this stop position, the ID information recorded in the storage element 311 is first read.

Next, the carriage 20 is attached to the ink unit 1
The ink unit I
ID information reading of the memory element 312 of NC2 is performed (s102). At this stop position, since the storage element 311 can also be accessed, the ID information read command transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 30 to the storage element 312 is accompanied by the already read ID information of the storage element 311 in order to prevent data interference. . By performing identification on the side of the storage elements 311 and 312 using the ID information of the storage element 311, the ID information from the storage element 312 can be read without error.

Thereafter, similarly, the ink units INC3 to INC6 are also provided.
The reading operation of the storage elements 313 to 316 is sequentially performed (s103 to s106). After reading the ID information of the storage element 316 (s106), the carriage 20 is returned to the position such as the right non-printing area, and the present ID information reading routine ends. With the above, the ID of each storage element 311 to 316
Since all the information has been acquired, the printer 10 main body side can grasp the arrangement. That is, the ink unit (INC1) corresponding to the ID information read from the storage element 311 is arranged on the leftmost side,
The ink unit (INC2) corresponding to the ID information read from the storage element 312 is arranged at a position adjacent to the right side of the ink unit INC.
The arrangement order of the carriages 1 to 6 in the carriage 20 is recorded.

Next, by utilizing the information on the relationship between the ID information and the arrangement order of the ink units INC1 to INC6 grasped in the above steps, the memory elements 311 to
An operation of reading information other than the ID information recorded in 316 from the transmitting / receiving unit 30 will be described. In FIG. 8, the transmitter / receiver 30 stores the IDs recorded in the storage elements 311 to 316.
It is a figure which shows the operation sequence of the carriage 20 (and ink units INC1-6) at the time of reading information other than information.

First, the transmitter / receiver 30 determines which storage element 3
In the non-access state (s200) in which neither the 11 to 316 are accessed, the carriage 20 is located farther to the right than the left non-printing area where the transmission / reception unit 30 is provided, and any of the ink units INC1 to INC1. The storage elements 311 to 316 of No. 6 cannot be accessed.

Next, the ink units INC1 and INC
2 is in the access state (s201), the carriage 20
Moves to the left non-printing area, and the ink unit I at the left end
The transmission / reception unit 30 stops at a position where data can be transmitted / received with respect to NC1 and the ink unit INC2 adjacent thereto. That is, a position near the center of the antenna coil 301 of the transmitter / receiver 30 faces a position between the storage element 311 and the storage element 312, and at this position, the transmitter / receiver 30 has both the ink units INC1 and ICN2. It is possible to transmit / receive data to / from the storage elements 311 and 312.

At this stop position, the storage elements 311 and 3 are
A data read command is transmitted to each of the data items 12. At that time, the storage element 311 is accompanied by the already read ID information of the storage element 311. Upon receiving this command, the storage element 311 confirms that the accompanying ID information is indeed the ID information of the storage element 311 itself, and then sends back information other than the requested ID information to the transmission / reception unit 30. The reading process for the memory element 312 is performed in the same manner.

Next, the carriage 20 is attached to the ink unit 2
The ink unit I
For the memory elements 313 and 314 of NC3 and INC4,
Data reading is executed (s202). At this stop position, similar to the reading process for the storage elements 311, 312, the ID information of the storage elements 313, 314 is used to reliably identify the storage elements 313, 314, and information other than the ID information is not provided. To read.

Similarly, the carriage 20 is moved to the left by two ink units and stopped, and the storage elements 315 and 31 are stopped.
After reading information other than the ID information stored in 6, the routine is finished.

As in the present embodiment, while the carriage 20 is stopped at a position where two storage elements can be accessed at a time, by reading information other than ID information, the movement / positioning operation of the carriage 20 can be performed three times. It's done. Although it is possible to read the information stored in the storage elements one by one while moving and positioning the storage elements one by one, this embodiment requires only half the movement / positioning operation, and therefore the entire reading process is performed. It is more preferable because the time can be shortened.

For each memory element 311 to 316,
It is also possible to write information such as the ink remaining amount of each of the ink units INC1 to INC6 at any time via the transmission / reception unit 30. The operation in that case is similar to the reading process of the information other than the ID information, and the already read storage elements 311 to 316.
This can be performed while surely identifying each storage element using the ID information of.

=== Other Embodiments === The printing apparatus and the like according to the present invention have been described above based on some embodiments. However, the above-described embodiments of the present invention should be understood as an understanding of the present invention. It is for the purpose of facilitation and does not limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

Further, the computer main body, the display device connected to the computer main body, the printing device according to the above-described embodiment connected to the computer main body, and the input device such as a mouse and a keyboard provided as necessary. ,
Flexible disk drive device and CD-RO
A computer system having an M drive device can also be realized, and the computer system realized in this way is superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

Further, in the printing apparatus according to the above embodiment,
The computer main body, the display device, the input device, the flexible disk drive device, and the CD-ROM drive device may have some of the functions or mechanisms respectively. For example, the printer is an image processing unit that performs image processing,
It may be configured to include a display unit for performing various displays, and a recording medium attaching / detaching unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium on which image data captured by a digital camera or the like is attached.

In each of the above embodiments, the printing device is
Inkjet printer 10 using cut paper as a printing medium
However, the printing object may be something other than a cut sheet such as a roll paper, and the printing apparatus is not limited to a color inkjet printer as long as it is a printing apparatus capable of performing a printing process on these printing objects, for example, a monochrome printer. It may be applied to a laser printer, a facsimile, or the like.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a memory element including a non-contact IC chip, a resonance capacitor formed by etching a metal film, and a planar antenna coil is used. Is not limited to such a configuration as long as it can store.
For example, the resonance capacitor may be connected to the outside of the storage element, or various modifications such as a configuration in which the IC chip and the antenna coil are not integrally formed but are separately located while being connected are conceivable.

[0086]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to realize a printing apparatus, an ink unit, an element capable of storing information, and a computer system capable of communicating with an element capable of storing information provided in the ink unit without any inconvenience.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an appearance of an inkjet printer.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration around a carriage of an inkjet printer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship between a storage element and a transmission / reception unit provided on the printer body side in an easy-to-understand manner.
(A) is a perspective view seen from the front side, and (b) is a plan view seen from directly above.

FIG. 4A is a perspective plan view showing a structure of a memory element,
(B) is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a storage element and a reading sensor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of an inkjet printer.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a control circuit of the inkjet printer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of the carriage when the transmitting / receiving unit reads the ID information of the storage element.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of the carriage when the transmission / reception unit reads information other than ID information recorded in a storage element.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Printer body 11 ... Operation panel 12 ... Paper output section 20 ... Carriage 21 ... Drive belt 22 ... Pulley 23 ... Carriage motor 24 ... Sliding shaft 25 ... Platen 26 ... Capping device 27 ... Pump unit 30 ... Transceiver 40 ... Paper feed motor 41 ... Gear mechanism 42 ... Encoder 50 ... Control circuit 51 ... CPU 52 ... PROM 53 ... RAM 54 Peripheral device input / output unit (PIO) 55 ・ ・ ・ Timer 56 ... Drive buffer 57 ... bus 58 ... Oscillator 59: Distribution output device 111 ... Operation button 112 ... Indicator lamp 261, 262 ... Cap 301 ... Coil antenna 302 ... Transmit / receive circuit 311 to 316 ... Storage element 3111 ... IC chip 3112 ... Resonant capacitor 3113 ... Antenna coil 3114 ... Rectifier 3115 ... Signal analysis unit 3116 ... Control unit 3117 ... Memory cell PC: Personal computer INC1-INC6 ... Ink cartridge IH1 to IH6 ... Print head

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of ink units having an element capable of storing information, an ink unit supporting member in which the plurality of ink units are arranged, and a reading member for reading the information stored in the element in a non-contact manner. In the printing apparatus having the above-mentioned, for each of the ink units, the reading member reads the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit, and the arrangement order of the ink unit on the ink unit supporting member and the ink A printing apparatus characterized by specifying a relationship with ID information stored in the element provided in the unit. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ID information is information specific to the element stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit. Printing device. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink unit is attachable to and detachable from the ink unit supporting member. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink unit supporting member is movable, and the reading member is provided in an ink unit arranged at the head in the moving direction. The ink unit supporting member is moved to a position where only the information stored in the element can be read, and after the reading member reads the ID information stored in the element, the element that has finished reading the ID information is read. The ink unit support member is sequentially moved to a position where the reading member can read only the stored information and the information stored in the device which is adjacent to the device and has not finished reading the ID information. And the reading member reads the ID information stored in an element which has not finished reading the ID information. Location. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, for all the ink units arranged in the ink unit supporting member, the arrangement order in the ink unit supporting member and the ink unit are arranged in the ink unit supporting member. After identifying the relationship with the ID information stored in the provided element, the reading member is provided in the ink unit arranged on the ink unit supporting member while identifying each element by the ID information. A printing apparatus, which reads information other than ID information stored in each element. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink unit support member is movable, and the reading member is at a position where information can be read from a plurality of elements. A printing apparatus, wherein the reading unit reads information other than the ID information stored in each element while moving the ink unit support member to identify each element by the ID information. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the reading member is the information provided from the elements provided in the odd-numbered ink units and the even-numbered ink units adjacent thereto in the arrangement order of the ink unit support members. By sequentially moving the ink unit supporting member to a position where the reading can be performed and identifying each element by the ID information, the reading member can read information other than the ID information stored in each element. Characteristic printing device. 8. An ink unit comprising an element capable of storing information, arranged in a plurality on an ink unit supporting member, and read by a reading member provided in the printing apparatus main body, the information stored in the element in a non-contact manner. In, the ID stored in the element provided in the ink unit
The information is read by the reading member, and the relationship between the arrangement order of the ink units on the ink unit supporting member and the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit is specified by the printing device. An ink unit characterized in that. 9. The ink unit according to claim 8, wherein the ID information is information specific to the element stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit. Ink unit to do. 10. The ink unit according to claim 8, wherein the ink unit is detachable from the ink unit support member. 11. A reading member, which is capable of storing information, is provided in an ink unit, is arranged in plural with an ink unit supporting member together with the ink unit, and stores the stored information by a reading member provided in a printing apparatus main body. In an element read by contact, the ID information stored in the element is read by the reading member, and the relationship between the arrangement order of the ink units in the ink unit supporting member and the ID information stored in the element Is specified by the printing device. 12. The element according to claim 11, wherein the ID information is information specific to the element that is stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit. . 13. A computer main body, a display device connected to the computer main body, and a printing device connected to the computer main body, the plurality of ink units including an element capable of storing information; The ink unit supporting member in which the ink units are arranged, and a reading member for reading the information stored in the element in a non-contact manner. For each of the ink units, the reading member is provided in the ink unit. A printing device that reads the ID information stored in the element and specifies the relationship between the arrangement order of the ink unit on the ink unit supporting member and the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit. A computer system characterized by: 14. A plurality of ink units having an element capable of storing information, an ink unit supporting member in which the plurality of ink units are arranged, and a reading member for reading the information stored in the elements in a non-contact manner. In the printing apparatus having the above-mentioned, for each of the ink units, the reading member reads the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit, and the arrangement order of the ink unit on the ink unit supporting member and the ink A printing apparatus that specifies a relationship with ID information stored in the element included in the unit, wherein the ID information is stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit. It is unique information, the ink unit is detachable from the ink unit support member, The ink unit support member is movable, and the ink member support member is provided at a position where the reading member can read only the information stored in the element provided in the ink unit arranged at the head in the moving direction. By moving the reading member to the ID stored in the element.
After reading the information, the reading member reads only the information stored in the element that has finished reading the ID information and the information stored in the element that is adjacent to the element and has not finished reading the ID information. In a position where you can
The ink unit supporting member is sequentially moved so that the reading member reads the ID information stored in the element which has not finished reading the ID information, and for all the ink units arranged in the ink unit supporting member, After the relationship between the arrangement order in the ink unit supporting member and the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink unit is specified, the reading member is set to an odd number in the arrangement order in the ink unit supporting member. And the ink member supporting member is sequentially moved to a position where information can be read from the elements provided in the even-numbered ink units adjacent thereto, and the reading member while identifying each element by the ID information. Read information other than the ID information stored in each element. Printing apparatus. 15. A plurality of ink units having an element capable of storing information, a movable ink unit supporting member in which the plurality of ink units are arranged, and the information stored in the elements in a non-contact manner. In a printing device having a reading member for reading, the ink unit supporting member moves to a position where the reading member can read information stored in elements included in a plurality of ink units, and at the position. A printing apparatus, wherein the reading member reads the information.