JP2003251819A - Ink cartridge detecting mechanism and ink-jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the shape of an ink cartridge by eliminating the need of forming a reflecting part for detecting detachment in the ink cartridge while achieving detection of the detachment state of the ink cartridge by a reflection type optical sensor. <P>SOLUTION: In the printer, a reflection type optical sensor 30 for directing a light beam to a cartridge holder for detecting the detachment state of an ink cartridge 32 based on the reflected light beam, and a reflection member 35 provided in the cartridge holder, with the light beam reflecting state with respect to the optical sensor 30 changeable according to the ink cartridge 32 detachment state, are provided. <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 an ink cartridge detecting mechanism for detecting the attachment / detachment state of an ink cartridge in a cartridge holder, and more particularly to an ink jet printer provided with the ink cartridge detecting mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet printers, which form characters and images on a print medium by ejecting ink supplied from an ink tank from a print head onto the print medium, have become widespread. In this type of inkjet printer, a cartridge-type ink tank (hereinafter referred to as an ink cartridge) is provided to facilitate ink supply.
Is widely adopted.

In the above-mentioned ink jet printer, in order to prevent a shortage of ink in the ink cartridge or a printing failure due to the ink cartridge not being mounted, or to give an alarm, the ink remaining amount of the ink cartridge and the state of attachment / detachment are set. Is required, and for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-230616 proposes a mechanism capable of detecting the remaining amount of ink and the attachment / detachment of an ink cartridge by the same reflective optical sensor. .

The above-mentioned detection mechanism irradiates two reflecting portions (prisms) formed on the bottom of the ink cartridge with light from the respective optical sensors, and based on the amount of received reflected light, the remaining amount of ink and the state of attachment / detachment. To detect. In other words, the reflecting portion for detecting the remaining ink amount has optical transparency so that the reflectance changes according to the remaining ink amount, while the reflecting portion for detecting the attachment / detachment state has the remaining ink amount. Regardless of, the mirror surface treatment is performed so as to reflect the light.

[0005]

However, although the above-mentioned conventional one can detect the ink remaining amount and the attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge by the same reflection type optical sensor, it is necessary to form two reflection portions in the ink cartridge. As a result, the shape of the ink cartridge cannot be complicated, and the cost of the ink cartridge increases.

The object of the present invention is to detect the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridge by the reflection type optical sensor, but it is not necessary to form a reflection portion for attachment / detachment detection in the ink cartridge, and as a result, the ink cartridge is removed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge detection mechanism and an ink jet printer that can reduce the cost of the ink cartridge without allowing simplification of the shape.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink cartridge detection mechanism of the present invention is an ink cartridge detection mechanism for detecting the attachment / detachment state of an ink cartridge in a cartridge holder, and the light is directed toward the cartridge holder. And a reflection type optical sensor that detects the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridge based on the reflected light, and the reflection state of light with respect to the optical sensor is the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridge. And a reflecting member that changes accordingly.

Further, it is preferable that the reflecting member is of a movable type whose position is switched according to attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge, and the reflecting optical path of the optical sensor is formed at either one of the positions. In this case, since the reflection state of light with respect to the optical sensor can be clearly changed according to the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridge, the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridge can be accurately detected.

Further, it is preferable that the reflecting member is provided so as to be slidable or rotatable with respect to the cartridge holder. In this case, since the movable reflecting member can be simply configured, the cost increase of the cartridge holder can be avoided.

Further, it is preferable that the reflecting member is biased to one position by a biasing means and is moved to the other position by contact with the ink cartridge. In this case, since the position of the reflecting member is surely switched according to the attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge, the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridge can be accurately detected.

It is preferable that the cartridge holder and the optical sensor are movable relative to each other. In this case, the same optical sensor can detect the attachment / detachment states of the plurality of ink cartridges and the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridges.

Further, it is preferable that the cartridge holder is provided with a plurality of the reflecting members along the relative movement direction of the optical sensor. In this case, the same optical sensor can detect the attachment / detachment states of the plurality of ink cartridges.

Further, it is preferable that the ink cartridge is integrally formed with a reflecting portion that enables the remaining amount of ink to be detected by the optical sensor. In this case, the same optical sensor can detect the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridge and the remaining ink amount.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the ink jet printer of the present invention comprises an ink cartridge detecting mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing the internal structure of the printer, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the internal structure of the printer. As shown in these figures, the printer 1
An insertion port 11 for manually inserting the paper P is formed on the front surface of 0, and an ejection port 12 for ejecting the printed paper P is formed on the upper surface of the printer 10.
Inside the printer 10, a paper path 13 having a V-shape in side view from the insertion opening 11 to the ejection opening 12 is formed, and on the paper path 13, the paper feed roller pair 14 and the print head 1 are formed.
5 are arranged. The paper feed roller pair 14 includes a paper feed roller 16 and a paper pressing roller 1 that are opposed to each other with the paper path 13 interposed therebetween.
7, the sheet P is nipped and conveyed according to the drive rotation of the sheet feed roller 16. The print head 15 is mounted on the carriage 18 that reciprocates in the width direction of the paper path 13, and performs dot matrix printing on the paper P whose position is defined by the platen 19. The printing system of the print head 15 is an inkjet system that forms characters and images on the paper P by ejecting ink, and the ink used for printing is supplied from an ink supply unit 20 provided at the rear of the printer 10.

The carriage 18 includes a pair of front and rear guide shafts 2.
It is supported by left and right by 1 and 22, and is forcibly moved according to the drive of the carriage moving mechanism 23. The carriage moving mechanism 23 includes a cam shaft 24 arranged below the front guide shaft 21 and a carriage motor 26 that rotationally drives the cam shaft 24 via a reduction gear train 25. A spiral cam groove (not shown) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cam shaft 24, and a cam follower 27 extending from the carriage 18 is engaged with the spiral cam groove. Carriage motor 26
When the cam shaft 24 rotates in response to the driving of the cam follower, the cam follower 27 is fed in the axial direction by the spiral feeding action of the cam groove. As a result, the carriage 18 can be moved in the left-right direction according to the forward and reverse driving of the carriage motor 26.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carriage having a print head mounted thereon. As shown in this figure, the print head 15 is mounted on the upper portion of the carriage 18. A flexible flat cable 28 and an ink tube 29 are drawn out from one side of the print head 15.
Ink is supplied to the print head 15 through the ink tube 29. The carriage 18 has a sensor mounting portion 18a extending downward from a rear portion thereof, and a light emitting element 30 for irradiating light rearward is provided on a rear surface of the sensor mounting portion 18a.
A reflection type optical sensor 30 including a and a light receiving element 30b that receives the reflected light is attached.

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of the ink supply section, FIG.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an ink cartridge. As shown in these figures, the ink supply unit 20 is
Cartridge holder 31 formed on the inner rear end side of 0
And two ink cartridges 32, 33 that are detachably attached to the cartridge holder 31 from above.
And is configured. The left and right inner side surface portions 31a and the rear surface portion 31b of the cartridge holder 31 are formed by utilizing the rear portion of the printer frame 10a, and the front surface portion 31c is
It is formed by a partition plate 34 fixed between the left and right side plates of the printer frame 10a.

The ink cartridge 32 is a color ink cartridge that stores color ink, and the inside thereof has an ink storage chamber 32a in which the color ink is stored.
And an ink discharge chamber 32d that absorbs and holds the color ink flowing from the ink storage chamber 32a by an absorber 32b and discharges it appropriately from an ink discharge port 32c at the bottom.
A waste ink recovery chamber 32g that absorbs and holds the waste ink flowing from the ink recovery port 32e at the bottom by the absorber 32f is defined. When the ink cartridge 32 is mounted at a predetermined position of the cartridge holder 31, the ink discharge port 32c and the ink recovery port 32e are communicated with a connection port (not shown) formed at the bottom of the cartridge holder 31, and supply of color ink and Waste ink can be collected.

The ink cartridge 33 is a black ink cartridge that stores black ink. Inside the ink cartridge 33, an ink storage chamber 33a in which the black ink is stored, and the black ink that flows in from the ink storage chamber 33a are absorbers 33b. And an ink discharge chamber 33d that absorbs and holds the ink and appropriately discharges it from the ink discharge port 33c at the bottom. When the ink cartridge 33 is mounted at a predetermined position of the cartridge holder 31, the ink discharge port 33c communicates with a connection port (not shown) formed at the bottom of the cartridge holder 31, and black ink can be supplied.

Each ink cartridge 32, 33 is shown in FIG.
, The carriage 18 (optical sensor 3
0) are arranged so as to be lined up along the moving direction. On the front surface of each of the ink cartridges 32 and 33, prism-shaped reflecting portions 32h and 33e having a light transmitting property are integrally formed at a portion facing the movement path of the optical sensor 30. The reflecting portions 32h and 33e have a right-angled triangular prism shape, and have two prism reflecting surfaces S1 and S that form a right angle with each other.
2 is projected inside the ink storage chambers 32a and 33a. As shown in FIG. 6, the optical sensor 30 is connected to the reflecting portion 3.
When it is moved to the opposite position of 2h, 33e and irradiated with light, the irradiated light is sequentially reflected by the prism reflecting surfaces S1, S2 while passing through the inside of the reflecting portions 32h, 33e, and the optical sensor 30 It is incident on the light receiving element 30b. As shown in FIG. 6A, the prism reflection surfaces S1 and S
In the state where 2 is in contact with the ink, the irradiation light of the optical sensor 30 is absorbed by the ink and the reflectance is lowered, and as shown in FIG. 6B, the prism reflection surfaces S1 and S2 are in contact with the air. In this state, the absorption of light by the ink disappears and the reflectance increases. Thereby, the optical sensor 30
It is possible to detect the ink remaining amount (presence / absence of ink at a predetermined level) of the ink cartridges 32 and 33 based on the detection value of the light receiving element 30b.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge and the reflection member as seen from below, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the reflection member according to the attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge. As shown in these figures, openings 34a and 34b are formed in the partition plate 34 at the portions facing the ink cartridges 32 and 33, respectively. 36 is provided. The reflecting members 35 and 36 have a right-angled triangular prism shape, and the two prism reflecting surfaces S3 and S4 forming a right angle with each other are protruded inside the cartridge holder 31. The reflecting members 35 and 36 of the present embodiment are slidably supported vertically along guide grooves 34c formed on both left and right sides of the openings 34a and 34b, and are biased upward by a compression spring (biasing means) 37. It As shown in FIG. 8A, when the ink cartridges 32 and 33 are not mounted, the reflecting members 35 and 3 are not attached.
6 is retracted upward from the position facing the optical sensor 30, while the ink cartridges 32 and 33 are mounted on the cartridge holder 31 as shown in FIG. 8B,
The reflecting members 35 and 36 are used for the ink cartridges 32 and 33, respectively.
Is depressed to the position facing the optical sensor 30 and is depressed by the recesses 32i, 3 formed in the ink cartridges 32, 33.
Located within 3f. As shown in FIG. 6, when the ink cartridges 32 and 33 are mounted, the optical sensor 30 is moved to a position facing the reflecting members 35 and 36, and light is irradiated onto the optical sensor 30. While passing through the inside of the reflecting members 35, 36, the prism reflecting surface S3,
The light receiving element 30b of the optical sensor 30 is sequentially reflected by S4.
Is incident on. On the other hand, when the ink cartridges 32 and 33 are not mounted, the reflecting members 35 and 36 are retracted upward, and even when the light is emitted from the optical sensor 30 as described above, the light receiving element 30b of the optical sensor 30 is irradiated. No reflected light is incident. As a result, the optical sensor 30 can be formed without forming a reflection part for detecting attachment / detachment in the ink cartridges 32 and 33.
This makes it possible to detect the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridges 32, 33.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another example of the reflecting member, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the reflecting member according to the attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge. As shown in these figures, the reflecting member 38 also has a right-angled triangular prism shape, and two prism reflecting surfaces S3 and S4 forming a right angle with each other are projected to the inside of the cartridge holder 31. The reflecting member 38 of this embodiment is rotatably supported by one side portion of the opening 34a (34b) so as to be vertically rotatable, and is biased upward by a biasing means (not shown). As shown in FIG. 10A, in a state where the ink cartridge 32 (33) is not mounted, the reflection member 38 retracts upward from the position facing the optical sensor 30, while FIG. 10B shows it. As described above, when the ink cartridge 32 (33) is attached to the cartridge holder 31, the reflecting member 38 causes the ink cartridge 32 (3
It is pushed by 3) and descends to the position facing the optical sensor 30. Therefore, similar to the above-described embodiment, the ink cartridges 32 and 33 need not be provided with a reflection portion for detecting attachment / detachment,
Ink cartridges 32, 33 by the optical sensor 30
It becomes possible to detect the attachment / detachment state of.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the printer 10 irradiates the cartridge holder 31 with light,
A reflection type optical sensor 30 for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridges 32, 33 based on the reflected light, and the optical sensor 30 provided on the cartridge holder 31.
The reflection state of light with respect to the ink cartridge 3
Reflecting members 35, 3 that change according to the detached state of 2, 33
6 is provided by the reflective optical sensor 30,
While detecting the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridges 32 and 33, it is not necessary to form a reflection portion for attachment / detachment detection on the ink cartridges 32 and 33, and as a result,
The shape of the ink cartridges 32 and 33 cannot be simplified, and the cost of the ink cartridges 32 and 33 can be reduced.

Further, the reflecting members 35 and 36 are of a movable type whose position is switched according to attachment / detachment of the ink cartridges 32 and 33, and for forming the reflected light path of the optical sensor 30 at any one position. , Ink cartridge 3
The reflection state of light with respect to the optical sensor 30 can be clearly changed according to the attachment / detachment states of the ink cartridges 2 and 33, and as a result, the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridges 32 and 33 can be accurately detected.

Further, since the reflecting members 35 and 36 are slidably (or rotatably) provided with respect to the cartridge holder 31, the movable reflecting members 35 and 36 are provided.
It is possible to avoid the cost increase of the cartridge holder 31 by simply configuring the.

Further, the reflecting members 35 and 36 are biased to one position by the compression spring 37 and moved to the other position by contact with the ink cartridges 32 and 33, so that the ink cartridges 32 and 33 are moved. The positions of the reflection members 35 and 36 are surely switched according to the attachment / detachment, and as a result, the attachment / detachment states of the ink cartridges 32 and 33 can be accurately detected.

Further, the cartridge holder 31 and the optical sensor 30 are movable relative to each other, and the cartridge holder 31 is provided with a plurality of the reflecting members 35 and 36 along the relative moving direction of the optical sensor 30. Since the same optical sensor 30 is provided, the attachment / detachment states of the plurality of ink cartridges 32 and 33 can be detected.

The ink cartridges 32 and 33 are also provided.
Since the reflecting portions 32h and 33e that enable the optical sensor 30 to detect the remaining amount of ink are integrally formed, the same optical sensor 30 is used to attach and detach the ink cartridges 32 and 33 and determine the remaining amount of ink. Can be detected.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the matters shown in the above embodiment, and the claims and the detailed description of the invention, and It includes a range in which those skilled in the art can make changes and applications based on well-known techniques.

For example, in the above embodiment, the carriage 1
Although the configuration for detecting the home position HP of No. 8 has not been specifically described, it is desirable to have a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, in the structure shown in this figure, the reflection member 39 for home position detection is arranged so as to face the optical sensor 30 when the carriage 18 is located at the home position HP. This allows
The home position of the carriage 18 can also be detected by the optical sensor 30.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ink cartridge is mounted on the printer body side, but the present invention can also be implemented in a printer in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage. That is, if the cartridge holder mounted on the carriage is provided with the reflection member and the reflection member is detected by the optical sensor arranged on the printer main body side, the same effect as that of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the reflective optical sensor detects the mounting / dismounting state of the ink cartridge, but it is not necessary to form a reflecting portion for mounting / dismounting detection on the ink cartridge. As a result, the shape of the ink cartridge cannot be simplified, and the cost of the ink cartridge can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an internal structure of a printer.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the internal structure of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carriage equipped with a print head.

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of an ink supply unit.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of remaining ink amount detection and attachment / detachment state detection.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge and the reflection member as viewed from below.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the reflecting member according to attachment / detachment of an ink cartridge.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another example of the reflecting member.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the reflecting member according to attachment / detachment of an ink cartridge.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a main part of a printer showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Printer 15 print head 18 carriage 20 Ink supply section 30 Optical sensor 31 Cartridge holder 32 ink cartridges 32h reflector 33 ink cartridges 33e Reflector 34 Partition board 35 Reflective member 36 Reflective member 37 Compression spring 38 Reflective member

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An ink cartridge detection mechanism for detecting the attachment / detachment state of an ink cartridge in a cartridge holder, wherein light is emitted toward the cartridge holder, and the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridge is detected based on the reflected light. An ink cartridge detection mechanism, comprising: a reflection type optical sensor; and a reflection member that is provided in the cartridge holder and in which a reflection state of light with respect to the optical sensor changes according to a mounting state of the ink cartridge. . 2. The reflection member is a movable type whose position is switched according to attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge, and the reflection optical path of the optical sensor is formed at any one position. The ink cartridge detection mechanism described in 1. 3. The ink cartridge detecting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting member is provided so as to be slidable or rotatable with respect to the cartridge holder. 4. The reflecting member is urged to one position by an urging means, and is moved to the other position by contact with the ink cartridge. The ink cartridge detection mechanism described in 1. 5. The cartridge holder and the optical sensor are movable relative to each other.
The ink cartridge detection mechanism according to any one of 4 to 4. 6. The ink cartridge detection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge holder is provided with a plurality of the reflection members along a relative movement direction of the optical sensor. 7. The ink according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ink cartridge is integrally formed with a reflecting portion that enables the optical sensor to detect the remaining amount of ink. Cartridge detection mechanism. 8. An ink jet printer comprising the ink cartridge detecting mechanism according to claim 1.