JP2004338395A - Information communication member, liquid container and liquid ejector comprising information communication member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information communication member capable of preventing erasure of memory data due to UV-rays surely and capable of preventing electrostatic breakdown of a section for storing information concerning the liquid and an antenna section, and to provide a liquid container and a liquid ejector comprising the information communication member. <P>SOLUTION: The information communication member 400 comprises an information storage section 410 provided in one example of liquid container, i.e. an ink cartridge 200, for supplying ink to a recording head as a liquid ejection head and storing information concerning one example of liquid, i.e. ink, contained in the ink cartridge 200, and an antenna section 430 for communicating the information concerning ink stored in the information storage section 410 with a recorder 100. A substrate 440 for arranging the information storage section 410 and the antenna section 430 has electric insulation properties and UV-ray blocking properties. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information communication member capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from the outside by wireless communication, and more particularly to a liquid container and a liquid ejecting apparatus provided with the information communication member, and a recording material container and a recording device.

  2. Related Art As a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid to a target, an ink jet recording apparatus that performs printing by ejecting ink droplets from a recording head to a recording medium has been known. Then, such an ink jet recording apparatus records minute images such as characters and figures by ejecting minute ink droplets from a nozzle of a recording head onto a recording medium.

  An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head and an ink cartridge. The ink cartridge contains ink for supplying ink to the recording head.

  Information about the ink contained in the ink cartridge needs to be reported to the recording apparatus.

  The recording head supplies a drive signal to a piezoelectric vibrator or the like in accordance with print data, thereby pressurizing ink with energy generated by the piezoelectric vibrator and discharging ink droplets from nozzle openings.

  Conventionally, in order to check whether an ink cartridge is mounted on a holder of a carriage, a circuit board on the ink cartridge side sends a signal by making electrical contact with a contact on the holder side. (For example, Patent Document 1).

  In some cases, information about ink contained in an ink cartridge can be sent to a recording apparatus by wireless communication (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-2001-71469 (pages 3 and 4, FIG. 5) JP-A-2002-234192 (pages 8 to 9, FIG. 3)

  If the method of transmitting a signal by direct contact described in Patent Literature 1 is adopted, an electrical contact failure may occur.

  In the case of adopting a format for transmitting a signal by wireless communication as disclosed in Patent Document 2, an antenna unit and a nonvolatile memory are provided on the ink cartridge side. Various types of information regarding ink are stored in this nonvolatile memory (EEPROM: Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). However, there is a problem that the stored data is erased when irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

  In addition, since the nonvolatile memory and the antenna are attached to the surface of the ink cartridge, the antenna (antenna circuit portion) and the nonvolatile memory (IC chip) are generated by static electricity generated by a human body and static electricity generated by a mechanical part. There is a problem that the sensor terminal portion provided when necessary is electrostatically damaged.

  Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and can reliably prevent erasure of memory data due to ultraviolet rays, and can prevent electrostatic breakdown of an information storage unit and an antenna unit that store information, and an information communication member and an information communication device. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid container and a liquid ejecting apparatus including a communication member, and a recording material container and a recording apparatus.

  The information communication member of the present invention is disposed in a liquid container for supplying a liquid to the liquid ejecting head, and stores an information storage unit that stores information about the liquid contained in the liquid container; An antenna unit that wirelessly communicates information about the liquid stored in the information storage unit with the main body, and an information communication member, and a base material for disposing the information storage unit and the antenna unit, It is characterized by having electrical insulation and ultraviolet blocking properties.

  According to the present invention, the information communication member is disposed in the liquid container. The information storage unit of the information communication member stores information on the liquid contained in the liquid container. The antenna section wirelessly communicates information about the liquid stored in the information storage section with the main body.

  The base member of the information communication member has the information communication member and the antenna section arranged. This base material has electrical insulation properties and ultraviolet blocking properties.

  Thereby, the electrical insulation of the base material can prevent electrostatic breakdown of the information storage unit and the antenna unit. In addition, since the ultraviolet blocking property of the base material blocks ultraviolet rays, erasure (volatilization) of information relating to the liquid stored in the information storage unit can be reliably prevented.

  In the above configuration, the base material has the electrical insulation property and the ultraviolet blocking property, and protects the information storage unit and the antenna unit; and the information storage unit and the antenna with respect to the protection layer. Preferably, the liquid storage device further includes an adhesive layer for attaching the information storage unit and the antenna unit together with the protective layer to the liquid container.

  According to such a configuration, the protective layer of the base material has electrical insulation properties and ultraviolet blocking properties, and is a portion that protects the information storage unit and the antenna unit. The adhesive layer of the base material adheres the information storage unit and the antenna unit to the protective layer, and this adhesive layer is a part that protects the liquid container and affixes the information storage unit and the antenna unit.

  Thus, the information storage unit and the antenna unit can be securely attached and fixed to the liquid container with the base material having a relatively small thickness.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that a jumper connection line for electrically connecting the information storage unit and the antenna unit is disposed in the adhesive layer.

  According to such a configuration, the jumper connection line that electrically connects the information storage unit and the antenna unit can be arranged in the adhesive layer. This can prevent the jumper connection line from electrically touching the antenna unit.

  In the above configuration, the apparatus further includes a release sheet that is detachably attached to cover and protect the information storage section and the antenna section of the base material, and has an electrical insulating property and an ultraviolet blocking property. Is desirable.

  According to such a configuration, the release sheet is detachably attached to protect the information storage unit and the antenna unit of the base material. By peeling the release sheet from the base material side, the base material together with the information storage unit and the antenna unit can be attached to the liquid container. Since the release sheet has electrical insulation and ultraviolet blocking properties, the electrical insulation of the release sheet can prevent electrostatic breakdown of the information storage unit and the antenna unit, and the ultraviolet blocking properties of the release sheet are Erasure of information related to the liquid stored in the information storage unit can be reliably prevented.

  A liquid container having an information communication member according to the present invention is arranged in a liquid container for supplying a liquid to a liquid ejecting head, and stores information relating to the liquid contained in the liquid container. A liquid container including an information communication member having a unit and an antenna unit that wirelessly communicates information regarding the liquid stored in the information storage unit to the main body side, and the information storage unit and the information storage unit of the information communication member. The base material on which the antenna section is arranged has an electric insulating property and an ultraviolet blocking property.

  According to the present invention, the information communication member is disposed in the liquid container. The information storage unit of the information communication member stores information on the liquid contained in the liquid container. The antenna section wirelessly communicates information about the liquid stored in the information storage section with the main body.

  The base member of the information communication member has the information communication member and the antenna section arranged. This base material has electrical insulation properties and ultraviolet blocking properties.

  Thereby, the electrical insulation of the base material can prevent electrostatic breakdown of the information storage unit and the antenna unit. In addition, since the ultraviolet blocking property of the base material blocks ultraviolet rays, erasure (volatilization) of information on the liquid stored in the information storage unit can be reliably prevented.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention is disposed in a liquid container for supplying a liquid to a liquid ejecting head, and stores an information storage unit that stores information about the liquid contained in the liquid container, An antenna unit that wirelessly communicates information about the liquid stored in an information storage unit with a main body, and a liquid ejection device in which a liquid container including an information communication member having the information communication member is disposed. A base material on which the information storage unit and the antenna unit are arranged has an electric insulating property and an ultraviolet blocking property.

  According to the present invention, the information communication member is disposed in the liquid container. The information storage unit of the information communication member stores information on the liquid contained in the liquid container. The antenna section wirelessly communicates information about the liquid stored in the information storage section with the main body.

  The base member of the information communication member has the information communication member and the antenna section arranged. This base material has electrical insulation properties and ultraviolet blocking properties.

  Thereby, the electrical insulation of the base material can prevent electrostatic breakdown of the information storage unit and the antenna unit. In addition, since the ultraviolet blocking property of the base material blocks ultraviolet rays, erasure (volatilization) of information on the liquid stored in the information storage unit can be reliably prevented.

  The information communication member of the present invention is an information communication member having an information storage unit that stores information, and an antenna unit that wirelessly communicates information stored in the information storage unit with an external device. A substrate on which the storage unit and the antenna unit are arranged has an electric insulating property and an ultraviolet blocking property.

  According to the present invention, the electrical insulation of the base material can prevent electrostatic breakdown of the information storage unit and the antenna unit. In addition, since the ultraviolet blocking property of the base material blocks ultraviolet rays, erasure (volatilization) of information stored in the information storage unit can be reliably prevented.

  In the above configuration, the base material has the electrical insulation property and the ultraviolet blocking property, and protects the information storage unit and the antenna unit; and the information storage unit and the antenna with respect to the protection layer. Preferably, the information storage unit and the antenna unit are adhered to an article together with the protective layer.

  According to such a configuration, the protective layer of the base material has electrical insulation properties and ultraviolet blocking properties, and is a portion that protects the information storage unit and the antenna unit. The adhesive layer of the base material adheres the information storage section and the antenna section to the protective layer, and furthermore, this adhesive layer protects the information storage member and the article to which the information communication member is attached, and also connects the information storage section and the antenna section. This is the part to be pasted.

  Thereby, the information storage unit and the antenna unit can be securely attached and fixed to the member by the base material having a relatively small thickness.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that a jumper connection line for electrically connecting the information storage unit and the antenna unit is disposed in the adhesive layer.

  According to such a configuration, the jumper connection line that electrically connects the information storage unit and the antenna unit can be arranged in the adhesive layer. This can prevent the jumper connection line from electrically touching the antenna unit.

  In the above configuration, the apparatus further includes a release sheet that is detachably attached to cover and protect the information storage unit and the antenna unit of the base material, and that has an electrical insulating property and an ultraviolet blocking property. Is desirable.

  According to such a configuration, the release sheet is detachably attached to protect the information storage unit and the antenna unit of the base material. By peeling the release sheet from the base material side, the base material can be attached to the article together with the information storage unit and the antenna unit. Since the release sheet has electrical insulation and ultraviolet blocking properties, the electrical insulation of the release sheet can prevent electrostatic breakdown of the information storage unit and the antenna unit, and the ultraviolet blocking properties of the release sheet are Erasure of information stored in the information storage unit can be reliably prevented.

  A recording material container according to the present invention includes an information communication unit having an information storage unit that stores information about a stored recording material, and an antenna unit that wirelessly communicates the information stored in the information storage unit to a main body. A recording material container provided with a base material for arranging the information storage unit and the antenna unit of the information communication member, wherein the base material has an electrical insulating property and an ultraviolet shielding property, It is characterized by.

According to the present invention, the electrical insulation of the base material can prevent electrostatic breakdown of the information storage unit and the antenna unit. Further, since the ultraviolet blocking property of the base material blocks ultraviolet rays, erasure (volatilization) of information on the recording material stored in the information storage unit can be reliably prevented.

  The recording apparatus of the present invention is arranged in a recording material container that contains a recording material, and stores an information storage unit that stores information about the recording material contained in the recording material container, and stores the information in the information storage unit. An antenna unit that wirelessly communicates the information with a main body, and a liquid container including an information communication member having the information storage unit and the antenna unit of the information communication member. The substrate for disposition is characterized in that it has an electric insulating property and an ultraviolet blocking property.

  According to the present invention, the electrical insulation of the base material can prevent electrostatic breakdown of the information storage unit and the antenna unit. Further, since the ultraviolet blocking property of the base material blocks ultraviolet rays, erasure (volatilization) of information on the recording material stored in the information storage unit can be reliably prevented.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus as an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus equipped with an ink cartridge as a liquid container provided with the information communication member of the present invention.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a main body 101, a cover 109, a carriage 2, a recording head 1, and a plurality of ink cartridges 200 and 201.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 discharges a recording sheet after printing on a recording medium such as a recording sheet. The cover 109 is for opening and closing the carriage 2, the recording head 1, and the like of the main body 101.

  The ink jet recording head 1 is an example of a liquid ejecting head, and is mounted on a carriage 2. The carriage 2 can reciprocate along with the recording head 1 along a direction T which is a width direction of the recording paper. Specifically, the carriage 2 reciprocates along the guide bar 9 by the operation of a motor (not shown), so that the recording head 1 prints on a recording medium.

  One ink cartridge 200 and three other ink cartridges 201 can be detachably mounted on the carriage 2. The ink cartridges 200 and 201 are examples of a liquid container, and ink is an example of a liquid.

  FIG. 2 shows the carriage 2 and the ink cartridges 200 and 201 of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner. The carriage 2 is made of, for example, plastic or metal.

  The ink cartridge 200 and the ink cartridge 201 are each made of, for example, plastic. The ink cartridge 200 is a cartridge that stores, for example, black ink. On the other hand, the three ink cartridges 201 contain yellow, magenta, and cyan inks, respectively.

  The outer shape of the ink cartridge 200 shown in FIG. 2 is substantially the same as that of the ink cartridge 201, but the width W1 of the ink cartridge 200 is larger than the width W2 of the ink cartridge 201. The structure of the ink cartridge 200 is the same as the structure of the ink cartridge 201.

  3 and 4 show the structure of the ink cartridge 201 as a representative. The structure of the ink cartridge 201 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is the same as the structure of the ink cartridge 200 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 201 as viewed from the rear, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 201 as viewed from the front.

  3 and 4, the ink cartridge 201 has a flat container main body 5, levers 20, 21 and an ink supply port 7.

  A preferred embodiment of the information communication member 400 of the present invention is attached to the upper wall surface 5a of the container body 5 in FIGS. The upper wall surface 5a is a surface that is inclined from the lever 20 to the lever 21, for example. The lid 6 is a lid for closing the opening of the container body 5. The space between the container body 5 and the lid 6 is a space for storing ink.

  The levers 20 and 21 are operated when the ink cartridge 201 is removed from the carriage 2 shown in FIG.

  The information communication member 400 shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 2 transmits and receives information about the ink described later with the main body 101 of the ink jet recording apparatus 100 shown in FIG. It is a member for receiving operating power from the side in a non-contact manner.

  Between the information communication member 400 and the main body 101 side, information about ink and supply of power are transmitted and received in a non-contact manner and in a wireless communication manner.

  The recording head 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a nozzle opening corresponding to each ink cartridge. The recording head 1 receives, from the respective ink cartridges 200 and 201, information about the ink such as the type of ink stored in the ink cartridges 200 and 201 shown in FIG. Accordingly, appropriate ink is ejected from the nozzle opening.

  For this purpose, the ink cartridges 200 and 201 shown in FIG. 2 have an information communication member 400 that stores information on ink.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the information communication member 400 is preferably attached to the upper wall surface 5a of the ink cartridges 200 and 201 in a detachable manner.

  The information communication member 400 is also referred to as an RFID (recognition by radio wave method, non-contact recognition) tag (tag) or IC (Integrated Circuit) label.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 show a preferred embodiment of the information communication member 400.

  The information communication member 400 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 shows a state before being attached to the upper wall surface 5a of the ink cartridges 200 and 201, that is, a state before use, as shown in FIG.

  The information communication member 400 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 roughly includes a base material 440, a release sheet 460, an information storage unit 410, an antenna circuit unit (an example of an antenna unit) 430, sensor terminal units 750 and 751, and connection wiring. Parts 771 and 772 are provided.

  The release sheet 460 is detachably attached to the base material 440 to protect the information storage unit 410 and the antenna circuit unit 430 of the base material 440. When the information communication member 400 is attached to the upper wall surface 5a of the ink cartridges 200 and 201 as shown in FIG. 2, the release sheet 460 is a sheet that is separated from the base material 440 and discarded.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a sectional structure taken along line HH in FIG. However, in FIG. 7, the base material 440 and the release sheet 460 are illustrated as being slightly separated for easy understanding.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the base member 440 and the release sheet 460 are band-shaped members or rectangular members. However, the shape of the base material 440 and the release sheet 460 is not limited to a rectangular shape or a band shape depending on the shape and use of the ink cartridge, and it is of course possible to adopt a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a polygonal shape, or other shapes. is there.

  The information storage unit 410 is an electronic component such as an IC package. The information storage unit 410 has a nonvolatile memory (EEPROM: Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) 490 as shown in FIG.

  The nonvolatile memory 490 stores data information such as the type of ink contained in the ink cartridges 200 and 201, the remaining amount of ink, the serial number, the expiration date, and the like.

  Next, the information communication member 400 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the information communication member 400 before use, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the information communication member 400 of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the information communication member 400 is a relatively thin member having a rectangular or band shape.

  The information communication member 400 has a release sheet 460, a base material 440, an information storage unit 410, and an antenna circuit unit 430. The antenna circuit portion 430 is formed by forming a conductor spirally a predetermined number of times, and is also referred to as an antenna pattern portion or an antenna portion.

  Before the substrate 440 is attached and used, the release sheet 460 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is used. The release paper 759 of the release sheet 460 is attached to the base 440 in advance in order to protect the information storage unit 410, the antenna circuit 430, and the sensor terminals 750 and 751 of the base 440. This is a sheet that can be easily peeled off from the adhesive layer 760 along a peeling line 460R shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the information storage section 410 and the antenna circuit section 430 are formed on the adhesive layer 600 side of the base material 440.

  The information storage unit 410 in FIG. 6 is electrically connected to the wiring units 611 and 612 in FIG. 6 in a so-called face-down manner. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the information storage unit 410 has a non-volatile memory 490, and the non-volatile memory 490 uses bumps 491, 491 for the wiring units 611, 612 shown in FIG. And are electrically connected to the wiring portions 611 and 612, respectively.

  The sensor terminal portions 750 and 751, the connection wiring portions 771 and 772, the wiring portions 611 and 612, and the antenna circuit portion 430 in FIG. 6 are formed of a conductive metal, for example, copper (Cu).

  One wiring portion 611 shown in FIG. 6 is electrically connected to one end 430A of antenna circuit portion 430. The other wiring portion 612 is electrically connected to the other end 430B of the antenna circuit portion 430 via a jumper connection line 615.

  The jumper connection line 615 passes through, for example, the adhesive layer 600 as shown in FIG. 7 so as not to be electrically connected to the antenna circuit unit 430. Accordingly, the jumper connection line 615 does not electrically contact the antenna circuit unit 430, and the jumper connection line 615 can be protected electrically and mechanically by the adhesive layer 600.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the antenna circuit section 430 is formed in a spiral shape.

  The nonvolatile memory 490 of the information storage unit 410 illustrated in FIG. 7 is a memory (EEPROM) in which information can be electrically rewritten.

  This non-volatile memory 490 stores information about the ink, such as the type of ink sealed in the ink cartridge 200, the remaining amount of the ink, the serial number, and the expiration date.

  Next, an example of a laminated structure of the base material 440 and a laminated structure of the release sheet 460 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the laminated structure of the base material 440 will be described.

  The base 440 shown in FIG. 7 is a laminate of the protective layer 700 and the adhesive layer 600. The protective layer 700 is, for example, a polypropylene resin layer, and has both electric insulating properties and ultraviolet blocking properties.

  Therefore, the protection layer 700 blocks external ultraviolet light L, and the ultraviolet light L does not affect the nonvolatile memory 490 of the information storage unit 410, and the information about the ink stored in the nonvolatile memory 490 is It is not volatilized (erased) by the influence of the ultraviolet rays L.

  As a material of the protective layer 700, for example, Yupo, which is a trade name of Yupo Corporation (a joint venture between Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and Oji Paper Corporation), can be employed. The material of the protective layer 700 is synthetic paper in which calcium carbonate is added as a filler to a polypropylene resin (main component). Since this synthetic paper is a white transparent film, the blocking rate of ultraviolet rays is high.

  The adhesive layer 600 is, for example, a laminate of a polyester adhesive layer 661, a polyester resin layer 662, and an acrylic adhesive layer 663 in the example of FIG.

  On the other hand, the release sheet 460 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the adhesive layer 760 of the release sheet 460 is actually peeled off from the state before use in which the adhesive layer 760 is overlaid on the adhesive layer 600 of the base material 440, and as shown in FIG. When the information communication member 400 is attached to 5a, the adhesive layer 760 of the release sheet 460 shown in FIG. 7 is peeled off the release paper 759 along the release line 460R.

  As a result, the adhesive layer 760 includes the information storage section 410 on the adhesive layer 600 side, the antenna circuit section 430, the connection wiring sections 771 and 772 shown in FIG. 6, the sensor terminal sections 750 and 751, and the wiring section 611 and 611. 612 is superimposed on the adhesive layer 600 while covering the same. With the two adhesive layers 600 and 760 superimposed on each other, the adhesive layer 760 is attached to the upper wall surface 5a, for example, as shown in a portion G of FIG. 9 and FIG.

  Therefore, the information communication member 400 can be securely adhered to the upper wall surface 5a in close contact with the adhesive layer 760.

The release paper 759 can be made of, for example, the same material as the protective layer 700.
That is, the release paper 759 has electrical insulation properties and ultraviolet blocking properties. The adhesive layer 760 includes an acrylic adhesive layer 771, a polyester resin layer 772, and an acrylic adhesive layer 773.

  Both the protective layer 700 and the release paper 759 have electrical insulation properties and ultraviolet blocking properties.

  As the material of the protective layer 700 and the release paper 759, for example, the following materials can be employed in addition to the above-described materials.

  A material having an ultraviolet blocking property can be mixed with a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) material.

  Further, in order to give the PET an ultraviolet shielding property and an electric insulating property, for example, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, selenium oxide, benzotriazole (organic substance) or the like having an ultraviolet shielding property may be mixed with PET.

  Instead of PET, a material having the above-described ultraviolet blocking property can be kneaded into the adhesive.

  In addition, foamed PET can be adopted as a material having an electric insulating property and an ultraviolet blocking property. This foamed PET is formed by foaming PET, thereby lowering the transmittance of ultraviolet rays and increasing the ultraviolet blocking property, and appears white.

  Preferably, both the adhesive layer 600 and the adhesive layer 760 shown in FIG. 7 can be made of a material having electric insulation and ultraviolet blocking properties, but may have only electric insulation.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the information storage section 410 is electrically connected to the wiring sections 611 and 612 shown in FIG. Therefore, the nonvolatile memory 490 of the information storage unit 410 is arranged in a so-called face-down state with respect to the base material 440. For this reason, the nonvolatile memory 490 is not directly exposed to the outside, but is protected by the protective layer 700 and the adhesive layer 600. Since at least the protective layer 700 has, for example, an ultraviolet blocking property, the nonvolatile memory 490 can prevent the storage information from being erased by the influence of the ultraviolet light L from the outside.

  That is, since the protective layer 700 has a function of blocking external ultraviolet rays L, the function of the protective layer 700 and more preferably the function of the adhesive layer 600 having the property of blocking ultraviolet rays is also added, and the data is stored in the nonvolatile memory 490. Information about the ink being used is reliably protected.

  FIG. 8 shows a simplified shape of the ink cartridge 201, and FIG. 9 shows an example of the ink cartridge 201 and the antenna substrate 500.

  The information communication member 400 is already attached to the upper wall surface 5a of the ink cartridge 201.

  In a state where the information communication member 400 is attached to the upper wall surface 5a of the ink cartridge 201, for example, all of the elements such as the information storage unit 410 and the antenna circuit unit 430 shown in FIG. All elements are protected from the outside by the substrate 440.

  Even in the state where the information communication member 400 is stuck in this way, the protection layer 700 blocks the external ultraviolet light L, so that the information on the ink in the nonvolatile memory 490 can be protected. The shape of the ink cartridge 200 is similar to the shape of the ink cartridge 201.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the sensor terminals 750 and 751 of the information communication member 400 are connected to the sensor 900. The sensor 900 is a sensor that detects the remaining amount of the ink 910, which is an example of the liquid stored in the ink cartridge 200 illustrated in FIG.

  As the sensor 900, for example, a sensor using a piezoelectric vibrator can be used. The sensor 900 sends an AC waveform that changes according to the amount of the ink 910 as a sensor signal to the information storage unit 410 through the sensor terminals 750 and 751.

  FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a system for wirelessly transmitting and receiving information regarding ink and supplying power for operation between the information storage unit 410 illustrated in FIG. 8 and the main body 101 of the printing apparatus in a non-contact manner. ing.

  The information communication member 400 shown in FIG. 11 is mounted on the ink cartridge 200, 201 side.

  The sensor 900 is electrically connected to the ink amount detection unit 920 of the information storage unit 410 through the sensor terminals 750 and 751.

  The information storage unit 410 is also called an electronic element. For example, the control unit 930, the ink amount detection unit 920, the sensor drive voltage generation unit 970, the nonvolatile memory 490, the power generation unit 940, the high frequency transmission / reception unit 950, the program voltage generation unit 990 and the like.

  The high frequency transmitting / receiving unit 950 is connected to the antenna circuit unit 430.

  The recording head 1 and the antenna substrate 500 are connected to the main body 101 of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, for example, when the cover 109 shown in FIG. 1 is closed, the antenna substrate 500 faces the antenna circuit unit 430 of the information communication member 400 at a predetermined interval as shown in FIG. It has become.

  However, the position at which the antenna substrate 500 is arranged is not limited to the inner surface of the cover 109, but may be another portion.

  For example, when the carriage 2 in FIG. 1 moves along the T direction, the control unit 509 of the main body 101 of the recording apparatus in FIG. 11 detects the movement of the carriage 2 in FIG. Is output.

  This carrier wave is received by the antenna circuit unit 430 of the ink cartridge 200 or 201. The received carrier passes through the demultiplexing unit 951 of the high-frequency transmitting / receiving unit 950 shown in FIG. 11 and is input to the power generation unit 940 to be converted into DC power.

  The operating power converted to the DC power is charged to a charging unit (not shown). The operation power is transmitted from the charging unit to the program voltage generation unit 990 of the information storage unit 410, the sensor drive voltage generation unit 70, and the control unit 930, whereby the operation of the information storage unit 410 is performed.

  When the time required to charge the charging unit has elapsed, the transmission of the carrier wave from the antenna substrate 500 on the main body 101 side of the recording apparatus to the antenna circuit unit 430 on the information communication member 400 shown in FIG. 11 is stopped.

  When the control unit 930 and the sensor 900 receive the supply of power from the power storage unit, the ink amount detection unit 920 calculates the remaining ink amount based on the sensor signal from the sensor 900. The ink remaining amount and information about the ink stored in the nonvolatile memory 490 in advance are transmitted from the antenna circuit unit 430 to the antenna substrate 500 on the main body 101 side of the printing apparatus as a high-frequency signal through the high-frequency transmitting / receiving unit 950 according to a command from the control unit 930. Will be sent to the side.

  By repeating such an operation, it is possible to transmit and receive information and power regarding ink between the ink cartridges 200 and 201 and the main body 101 of the printing apparatus by wireless communication.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the information storage unit 410 and the antenna circuit unit 430 are completely covered with the protective layer 700 and the adhesive layer 600 having electrical insulation properties. The static electricity generated in the mechanical part does not affect. Therefore, there is no possibility that the nonvolatile memory 490 of the information storage unit 410 and the antenna circuit unit 430 are destroyed due to electrostatic breakdown.

  Further, the sensor terminal portions 750 and 751 in FIG. 8 can be protected from static electricity by the protective layer 700 and the adhesive layer 600 of the base material 440. Therefore, the sensor terminals 750 and 751 do not cause electrostatic destruction due to external static electricity.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a jumper connection line 615 can be embedded and disposed in the adhesive layer 600, for example. Since the jumper connection line 615 is protected by the protective layer 700 and the adhesive layer 600, it can be protected from electrostatic breakdown. In other words, if static electricity flies over the jumper connection line 615, the information storage unit 410 is destroyed by electrostatic discharge.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the information storage unit 410 is fixed to the adhesive layer 600 in a so-called face-down state. Therefore, the nonvolatile memory 490 can be reliably shielded from static electricity and ultraviolet rays by the adhesive layer 600 and the protective layer 700. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, in a state where the base material 440 is attached to the upper wall surface 5a for use, the non-volatile memory 490 is not exposed on the surface and can be covered and covered by the adhesive layer 600 and the protective layer 700.

  As described above, other types of materials such as PS (polystyrene) can be used as the material of the protective layer 700 and the release paper 759 in addition to PET.

  In the information communication member 400 of the embodiment of FIG. 7, the adhesive layer 600 of the base material 440 is formed by a plurality of layers. Similarly, the adhesive layer 760 of the release sheet 460 is formed of a plurality of layers.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 12, the adhesive layer 600 can be a single layer, and similarly, the adhesive layer 760 can be a single layer.

  In this case, for example, one adhesive layer 600 can use, for example, a polyester adhesive, and single adhesive layer 760 can use, for example, an acrylic adhesive.

  With such a structure, the laminated structure of the information communication member can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

  In the present invention, the electrical insulation of the base material can prevent electrostatic breakdown of the information storage unit and the antenna unit. Further, the ultraviolet shielding property of the base material can surely prevent erasure (volatilization) of information on the ink stored in the information storage unit.

  Thus, the information storage unit and the antenna unit can be securely attached and fixed to the ink cartridge by the base material having a relatively small thickness. It is possible to prevent the jumper connection line from electrically touching the antenna unit.

  Incidentally, the information communication member 400 of the present invention is a band-shaped or long-shaped member in the illustrated example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is of course possible to adopt other types of shapes, for example, circular shapes, elliptical shapes, triangular shapes, and other shapes.

  The number of ink cartridges 200 and 201 shown in FIG. 2 is not limited to this, and the number of ink cartridges can be one, two, or five or more. In that case, the information communication member 400 is attached to each ink cartridge.

  The antenna substrate 500 shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 is arranged on the inner side of the cover 109. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the antenna substrate 500 can be changed according to the shape and type of the ink jet recording apparatus 100 as long as the position is close to the information communication member 400 of each of the ink cartridges 200 and 201.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a recording apparatus for normal color printing.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the case of an ink jet recording apparatus that performs large-scale printing or printing, each ink cartridge has a large capacity, and the carriage has a structure that accommodates such a large-capacity ink cartridge. Of course, the recording apparatus of the present invention may be such an ink jet recording apparatus for mass printing.

  The information communication member of the present invention can be applied not only to the ink jet type recording apparatus but also to an ink cartridge of another type of recording apparatus.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment as an ink jet recording apparatus, and various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

  For example, the liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects another liquid. The liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention is, for example, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid such as an electrode material and a coloring material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL display, and a surface-emitting display, and ejects a biological organic material used for manufacturing a biochip. Liquid ejecting device, or a sample ejecting device as a precision pipette.

  Further, the information communication member of the present invention is not limited to the liquid container used in the above-described liquid ejecting apparatus, but may be a toner cartridge containing toner as a recording material of a laser printer (recording apparatus) or a recording medium of an impact dot printer (recording apparatus). The present invention is also applicable to a recording material container such as a ribbon cartridge containing an ink ribbon as a material.

  Further, the information communication member of the present invention can be applied to other articles having the same problem. For example, the present invention can be applied to an information communication member attached to a product at a store or the like, or to an information communication member attached to a container or the like for performing article management.

  Each configuration of the above embodiment can be partially omitted or arbitrarily combined so as to be different from the above.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus as an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a carriage, an ink cartridge, and an information communication member of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of an ink cartridge and an information communication member as viewed from the rear. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge and the information communication member as viewed from the front. The perspective view of the information communication member in the state before using an information communication member, and showing the state which has a peeling sheet. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the information communication member. The figure which shows the example of a cross-section of the information communication member in the HH line in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge, an information communication member, and a sensor. FIG. 3 is a diagram having a partial cross section showing an ink cartridge, an antenna substrate, and an information communication member. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state where an information communication member is attached to an ink cartridge. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system between an information communication member and a main body. Sectional drawing which shows another embodiment of the information communication member of this invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

100: an ink jet recording apparatus (an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus); 200: an ink cartridge (an example of a liquid container); 400: an information communication member; 410: an information storage section; Circuit section (an example of an antenna section): 440: base material, 460: release sheet, 460R: release line, 490: nonvolatile memory, 600, 760: adhesive layer, 615 ... -Jumper connection line, 700: protective layer, 759: release paper, L: ultraviolet light.

Claims (12)

An information storage unit that is disposed in a liquid container for supplying liquid to the liquid ejection head and stores information about the liquid contained in the liquid container; and an information storage unit that stores information on the liquid. An antenna unit that wirelessly communicates information about the liquid with the main body, and an information communication member,
An information communication member, wherein a base material on which the information storage unit and the antenna unit are arranged has an electrical insulating property and an ultraviolet blocking property. The base material is
A protective layer that has the electrical insulation properties and ultraviolet blocking properties and protects the information storage unit and the antenna unit,
An adhesive layer for adhering the information storage unit and the antenna unit to the protection layer, and for attaching the information storage unit and the antenna unit together with the protection layer to the liquid container,
The information communication member according to claim 1, comprising:   The information communication member according to claim 1, wherein a jumper connection line that electrically connects the information storage unit and the antenna unit is arranged in the adhesive layer.   2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a release sheet that is detachably attached to cover and protect the information storage unit and the antenna unit of the base material, and has an electrical insulating property and an ultraviolet shielding property. Item 4. An information communication member according to any one of Items 3. An information storage unit that is disposed in a liquid container for supplying liquid to the liquid ejection head and stores information about the liquid contained in the liquid container; and an information storage unit that stores information on the liquid. An antenna unit that wirelessly communicates information about the liquid to the main body, and a liquid container including an information communication member having:
A liquid container having an information communication member, wherein a base material for disposing the information storage portion and the antenna portion of the information communication member has an electric insulating property and an ultraviolet shielding property. An information storage unit that is disposed in a liquid container for supplying liquid to the liquid ejection head and stores information about the liquid contained in the liquid container; and an information storage unit that stores information on the liquid. An antenna unit that wirelessly communicates information about the liquid with the main body, and a liquid ejecting apparatus in which a liquid container including an information communication member having the
A liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein a base material for arranging the information storage unit and the antenna unit of the information communication member has an electric insulating property and an ultraviolet blocking property. An information communication member having an information storage unit that stores information, and an antenna unit that wirelessly communicates information stored in the information storage unit with an external device,
An information communication member, wherein a base material on which the information storage unit and the antenna unit are arranged has an electrical insulating property and an ultraviolet blocking property. The base material is
A protective layer that has the electrical insulation properties and ultraviolet blocking properties and protects the information storage unit and the antenna unit,
An adhesive layer for bonding the information storage unit and the antenna unit to the protective layer, and for attaching the information storage unit and the antenna unit to an article together with the protective layer,
The information communication member according to claim 7, comprising:   The information communication member according to claim 7, wherein a jumper connection line that electrically connects the information storage unit and the antenna unit is arranged in the adhesive layer.   9. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a release sheet that is detachably attached to cover and protect the information storage unit and the antenna unit of the base material, and has an electrical insulating property and an ultraviolet blocking property. Item 9. An information communication member according to any one of Items 8. An information storage unit that stores information about the stored recording material, and an antenna unit that wirelessly communicates the information stored in the information storage unit to the main body, a recording material container including an information communication member,
A recording material container having an information communication member, wherein a base material for arranging the information storage portion and the antenna portion of the information communication member has an electric insulating property and an ultraviolet shielding property. An information storage unit that is disposed in a recording material container that contains a recording material and stores information about the recording material that is contained in the recording material container, and stores the information that is stored in the information storage unit in a main body. An antenna unit that wirelessly communicates with a liquid container including an information communication member having the recording device,
A recording apparatus, wherein a base material for arranging the information storage unit and the antenna unit of the information communication member has an electric insulating property and an ultraviolet shielding property.

Images