JP2005199551A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of detecting the residual quantity of ink in an ink storage section with high accuracy without causing any damage on a good surface due to provision of a subtank. <P>SOLUTION: When lowering in residual quantity of ink in a subtank 52 is detected by means of a subtank sensor S, ink in an ink cartridge 23 is supplied under pressurized state to the subtank 52 by opening a solenoid valve 50V. An ink residual quantity acquiring means determines ink supply based on the number of times of opening operation of the solenoid valve 50V, and subtracts the ink supply from the initial storage quantity of the ink cartridge 23 thus determines the residual quantity of ink of the ink cartridge 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes an ink supply system that sends ink in an ink storage section to a sub tank via an ink supply mechanism, and sends ink in the sub tank to an ink jet type print head, and also measures a storage amount of ink in the sub tank. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus including a supply control unit that controls the ink supply mechanism to supply ink in an ink storage unit to a sub-tank when a sensor determines a decrease in the remaining amount of ink.

  As a printing apparatus configured as described above, there are those shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. In Patent Document 1, a recording head (print head of the present invention) with respect to a carriage configured to be movable in the main scanning direction, an ink cartridge type main tank (ink storage section of the present invention) corresponding to each ink color, and The number of sub-tanks corresponding to each color of ink and an ink replenishing valve for replenishing ink from the main tank to each sub-tank are provided. The main tank includes an ink pack formed of a flexible material and an air chamber, and is configured to send ink by controlling the ink supply valve in a state where pressurized air is supplied to the air chamber. The sub tank has a float member that grasps the liquid level position of the ink in the sub tank, and a Hall element that grasps the position of the float from a magnet provided in the float, so that the ink amount is electrically output. When the ink amount decreases, control is performed to open the ink supply valve and supply ink.

  Further, this Patent Document 1 counts the number of ink droplets ejected at the time of printing or flushing by a recording head, and obtains ink consumption by multiplying a coefficient corresponding to the ink amount per droplet, and When the cleaning operation is executed, the ink amount in the sub-tank is obtained by calculating the amount of ink consumption by the recording head by software.

  Patent Document 2 includes a print head that ejects ink of each color on a carriage that reciprocates in the main scanning direction, and a main tank (an ink storage unit of the present invention) that is detachably attached to the main tank storage unit. Sub-tanks corresponding to the respective colors are provided with a pipe connection between the print head and the main tank. The main tank is separated into an ink chamber and an air chamber, and is configured to send ink from the ink chamber to the sub tank by supplying air from the air pump to the air chamber. The sub-tank expands and contracts in accordance with the amount of ink inside, and includes an ink amount detection means (sub-tank sensor of the present invention) that mechanically or optically detects the ink remaining amount from the expansion and contraction. ing. Among the pipes between the main tank and the sub tank, electromagnetic valves are provided on the main tank side and the sub tank side. With such a configuration, when the ink amount in the sub tank is reduced by the ink amount detecting means, the two electromagnetic valves corresponding to the sub tank are opened, and the air from the air pump is supplied to the air chamber, The ink from the ink chamber of the main tank is supplied to the sub tank by the pressure from the air pump, and the electromagnetic valve is closed and the air in the air chamber is released at the timing when the filling of the sub tank is completed.

JP 2001-221974 A (paragraph numbers [0035] to [0087], FIGS. 1 and 2) JP 2003-11385 A (paragraph numbers [0020] to [0034], [0042], FIG. 2)

  In consideration of what stores ink from the ink storage unit in the sub tank and supplies ink from the sub tank to the print head as in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, supplies ink from the ink storage unit directly to the print head. Compared to what to do, even when the ink remaining amount in the ink storage portion is small, not only has a good surface that can continue printing using the ink stored in the sub-tank, but also the sub-tank for each ink color, Since the length of the ink supply path connecting the print head can be shortened, the pressure loss in the path can be reduced (paragraph number [0005] of Patent Document 2).

  In a printing apparatus equipped with an ink jet type print head, considering the management of the remaining amount of ink in an ink storage unit composed of a cartridge or the like, the viewpoint of grasping the replacement time of the cartridge and the printing process for a plurality of sheets are executed. A technique for accurately grasping the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage unit is important from the viewpoint of determining whether printing is possible.

  As described in Patent Document 1, it is also conceivable to obtain the ink consumption amount in the print head and obtain the ink remaining amount in the ink reservoir from this consumption amount. However, when calculating the amount of ink consumed by the print head, it is necessary to count the number of ink droplets at the time of printing and perform calculation based on the ink amount of one ink droplet. If the setting value of the ink amount includes an error, a large error is generated in the ink consumption in the print head. In addition, in order to obtain the ink suction amount during the cleaning operation, the ink amount during the ink suction is determined. When the suction amount is not properly grasped, an error occurs in the ink consumption when the cleaning operation is performed a plurality of times.

  An object of the present invention is to rationally configure a printing apparatus that can accurately detect the remaining amount of ink in an ink storage unit without impairing a favorable surface due to the provision of a sub tank.

  A feature of the present invention is that it includes an ink supply system that sends ink in an ink reservoir to a sub tank via an ink supply mechanism, and sends ink in the sub tank to an ink jet type print head, and measures the amount of ink stored in the sub tank. In the printing apparatus comprising a supply control means for controlling the ink supply mechanism to supply the ink in the ink storage section to the subtank when the subtank sensor determines that the ink remaining amount is low, the ink supply mechanism Ink remaining amount acquisition means is provided for determining the ink supply amount based on the operation amount and performing a process of subtracting the ink supply amount from the initial storage amount in the ink storage unit to determine the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage unit. There is in point.

  With this configuration, when the ink supply mechanism is controlled by the supply control means and the ink in the ink reservoir is supplied to the sub tank, the ink remaining amount acquisition means obtains the ink supply amount from the operation amount of the ink supply mechanism, and this ink The remaining amount of ink in the ink storage unit is obtained by performing a process of reducing the supply amount from the initial storage amount in the ink storage unit. In other words, the ink supply amount sent from the ink storage unit to the sub tank is acquired, and the ink remaining amount in the ink storage unit is obtained based on the ink supply amount, so that the amount of ink consumed by the print head is calculated. Not only can the process be simplified, but errors can be reduced. As a result, a printing apparatus that can accurately detect the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage section without impairing the good surface due to the provision of the sub-tank has been rationally configured.

  The present invention is configured such that a plurality of ink cartridges having different hues can be replaced as the ink storage unit, and the sub tank, the sub tank sensor, and an ink supply mechanism are provided corresponding to each color of ink, and the ink remaining amount acquisition The means may be configured to perform control to display the remaining amount of ink for each ink color on a display.

  With this configuration, the operator can recognize the remaining amount of ink in each color ink cartridge constituting the ink storage unit from the display on the display, and can accurately grasp the replacement timing of the ink cartridge.

  The ink supply mechanism includes a pressurizing unit that applies pressure to the ink stored in the ink storage unit, and an electromagnetic valve provided in a path for sending the ink in the ink storage unit to the sub tank. The ink remaining amount acquisition means may be configured to calculate the ink supply amount from an integrated value of the time when the electromagnetic valve is opened.

  According to this configuration, an amount of ink that is directly proportional to the time when the electromagnetic valve is opened is supplied to the sub tank. Therefore, the opening time of this electromagnetic valve is integrated, and this integrated value and the amount of ink delivered from the electromagnetic valve per unit time. In addition, the ink supply amount to the sub tank can be acquired from the ink storage unit, and the ink remaining amount in the ink supply unit can be appropriately obtained from the ink supply amount.

  In the present invention, the ink supply mechanism is constituted by a constant-capacity type pump that sends ink in the ink reservoir to the sub-tank, and the ink remaining amount acquisition means is configured to calculate the ink from the integrated value of the time when the pump is operated. The supply amount may be calculated.

  According to this configuration, since an amount of ink that is directly proportional to the operation time of the constant capacity pump is supplied to the sub tank, the operation time of this pump is integrated, and this integrated value and the amount of ink delivered by the pump per unit time Is further integrated, the ink supply amount to the sub-tank can be acquired from the ink storage unit, and the ink remaining amount in the ink supply unit can be appropriately obtained from this ink supply amount.

  According to the present invention, the sub-tank is formed by forming a flexible material into a bag shape, the sub-tank sensor is configured by an electric switch that obtains the remaining amount of ink from the expansion amount of the sub-tank, and the supply control unit includes: When it is determined based on a signal from the electrical switch that the remaining amount of ink in the sub tank has reached less than the set amount, the ink supply mechanism is controlled to control to supply a predetermined amount of ink to the sub tank. It may be configured.

  With this configuration, since the remaining amount of ink in the subtank is obtained from the expansion amount of the subtank with an electric switch, not only does it need to use highly accurate sensors that measure the liquid level in the subtank, but the supply control means is an electric switch The ink supply mechanism can be controlled on the basis of the signal from. That is, while using an electric switch, ink supply to the sub tank is realized, and the structure of the detection system is simplified and the cost is reduced.

  According to the present invention, when ink is supplied to the sub tank under the control of the supply control means, the ink in the ink storage unit is exhausted if the sub tank sensor does not detect an increase in the remaining amount of ink in the sub tank. You may provide the alerting | reporting means to alert | report that.

  With this configuration, when the ink in the ink reservoir is exhausted, when the ink is supplied to the sub tank, the sub tank sensor does not detect an increase in the remaining amount of ink in the sub tank. By notifying the fact that the ink in the area has been consumed by the notification means, the operator can recognize that the ink has been consumed, and at the same time urge the ink supply to the ink reservoir and the replacement of the ink cartridge. It becomes possible.

  A feature of the present invention is that it includes an ink supply system that sends ink in an ink reservoir to a sub tank via an ink supply mechanism, and sends ink in the sub tank to an ink jet type print head, and measures the amount of ink stored in the sub tank. In the printing apparatus provided with the supply control means for controlling the ink supply mechanism and supplying the ink in the ink reservoir to the sub tank when the sub tank sensor determines that the ink remaining amount is low, the supply control means When the ink is supplied to the sub tank by the control, if the increase in the remaining amount of ink in the sub tank is not detected by the sub tank sensor, an informing means for informing that the ink in the ink storage unit has been consumed is provided. There is in point.

  With this configuration, when the sub tank sensor determines that the ink remaining amount has decreased, the supply control unit controls the supply control mechanism to supply ink in the ink storage unit to the sub tank. Thus, if the sub tank sensor does not detect an increase in the remaining amount of ink even if ink is supplied to the sub tank, it can be determined that the ink in the ink reservoir has been consumed. It becomes a notification that the ink has been consumed, and it is possible to prompt the user to replenish ink to the ink reservoir and replace the ink cartridge.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Entire Configuration] As shown in FIG. 1, image data and order information are acquired and a reception block A for performing necessary correction processing is transmitted via the communication cable 1 from the reception block A. An ink jet printing system is configured including a print block B (an example of a printing apparatus) that prints image data on print paper P based on order information.

  [Reception Block] The reception block A includes a reception device 6 on a wagon-type frame 5 and a liquid crystal display 8 having a touch panel 7 formed on its display surface. A flatbed scanner FS is provided. On the front surface of the accepting device 6, a semiconductor drive 9 that reads out image data stored in a storage medium Ms formed of a flash memory, and image data stored in a disk-type storage medium Md such as a CD-R or DVD are read out. A disk drive 10 is provided.

  The flat bed scanner FS includes a main body 11 and a platen cover 12 supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body 11. The main body 11 has a scanning table 13 made of transparent glass, and is disposed below the scanning table 13. The scanning head 14 is provided. The scanning head 14 includes a number of photoelectric conversion elements such as CCDs in the main scanning direction and a light source, and operates in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, thereby scanning objects placed on the scanning table 13. An image of an object is captured as image data obtained by color separation of the three primary colors R (red), G (green), and B (blue).

  [Print Block] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the print block B has two magazine housing portions Ba and Ba arranged at the lower part of the casing 15, and image data is transferred to the print paper P at the upper part of the casing 15. Is printed, and an ink reservoir Bc is arranged on the side of the housing 15. The upper surface of the housing 15 includes a sorting unit 17 through which a relatively small size print paper P is sent out via a lateral feed belt 16 and a rack plate 18 that receives the large size print paper P.

  The two magazine accommodating portions Ba, Ba are provided with a drawer 20 that can be opened and closed by a slide operation integral with the front wall body 15A, and a roll-shaped print paper P held by a paper magazine 21 with respect to the drawer 20 is provided. It is configured to accommodate. The print section Bb includes a print head H that forms an image by spraying ink onto the print paper P inside an openable / closable wall 15B having a window section 22 formed of a transparent resin plate. Yes. The ink reservoir Bc is configured to be exchangeable in a form in which a plurality of ink cartridges 23 having different hues are inserted into and removed from the inside of a wall body 15C that can swing open and close around a vertically oriented axis. The plurality of ink cartridges 23 enclose black (K), light black (LK), cyan (C), magenta (M), light cyan (LC), light magenta (LM), and yellow (Y) ink. (The structure of the ink cartridge 23 will be described later).

  [Paper Conveying Structure] As shown in FIG. 4, when printing image data on the printed paper P, the roll-shaped printed paper P accommodated in one of the two magazine accommodating portions Ba and Ba is supplied. The image data is printed in a form in which ink is sprayed by the print head H while being supplied to the printing unit Bb at U1 and being conveyed in the printing unit U2 of the printing unit Bb, and the printed paper P printed in this way is formed in a loop The unit U3 is sent to the cutter unit U4 and cut into a print size. Then, the front and back sides are reversed by the reversing unit U5, and the reversing unit U5 is fed to the lateral feed belt 16 or the rack plate 18 on the upper surface of the casing by the discharge unit U6. It is configured as follows.

  More specifically, a roll-shaped print paper P is set in the paper magazine 21 together with the two magazine storage portions Ba and Ba in a replaceable manner, and the supply unit U1 is a roll stored in the magazine 21. A support roller 25 that applies a rotational force to the printed paper P, and a pressure supply roller 26 that conveys the print paper P from the magazine 21.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the support roller 25 and the supply roller 26 are driven by an electric motor for supply and conveyance, and the print paper P conveyed by the supply roller 26 is guided by a guide member. Be transported. Further, the paper magazine 21 is provided with a code plate (not shown) for identifying the type of the magazine 21, and the magazine housing portion Ba is provided with a code sensor such as an optical type or a wireless type so as to acquire code plate identification information. I have.

  The print unit U2 includes a guide rail 28 that guides the print head H in the main scanning direction, and includes a drive belt 30 wound around a pulley 29 so as to reciprocate the print head H along the guide rail 28. A paper holding unit D that sucks and holds the print paper is provided at a position where printing by the print head H is possible, and a pressure-bonding type print transport roller 31 disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the paper holding unit D is provided. The paper holding portion D is arranged inside the housing 33 so as to apply a negative pressure to the print paper P through a guide plate 32 disposed on the back side of the print paper P and a plurality of holes formed in the guide plate 32. A fan 34 is provided.

  The loop forming unit U3 includes a guide plate 36 disposed on the downstream side of the downstream print transport roller 31, and a pressure-bonding intermediate roller 37 that transports the print paper P sent through the guide plate 36. It consists of The guide plate 36 is configured to be switchable between a horizontal posture and an open posture. When printing a long print paper P, the guide plate 36 is transferred to the intermediate roller 37 after the leading end side of the print paper P is transferred. 4 is stopped, and the guide plate 36 is swung in an open posture with its end directed downward as shown in FIG. 4, so that a loop can be formed in a form in which the printed paper P hangs down.

  The cutter unit U4 includes a fixed blade 39 and a movable blade 40, a cut position sensor 41 having a reflective optical sensor, and a pressure-feeding type feed roller 42 that feeds the print paper P. As shown in FIG. 3, when printing is performed on the print paper P by the print unit U2 (print unit Bb), an image is printed in a region G that is spaced from the print paper P by a distance d. The cutting mark m is formed in the area d, and when cutting with this cutter unit U4, it is slightly wider than the interval d on the basis of the cutting mark m based on the detection result of the cutting position sensor 41. By being able to remove the space area, the cutting operation is performed so that no margin is left around the image even in the border print.

  The reversing unit U5 includes a pair of pressure-reversal reversing rollers 43 for pressure-bonding the print paper P, a conveyance drive mechanism (not shown) that drives the reversing rollers 43 in both forward and reverse directions, and the pair of reversing rollers 43. And a reversing mechanism that rotates 90 degrees around the axis of the roller. In the reversing unit U5, after the print paper P fed from the front end side via the cutter unit U4 is further conveyed by the reversing roller 43 to the rear end side position, as shown by an arrow in FIG. Is rotated 90 degrees around the horizontal axis, and then the reverse roller 43 is reversed to operate to feed the print paper P from the rear end side to the discharge unit U6.

  The front discharge unit U6 includes a plurality of crimp-type discharge rollers 44 that convey the print paper P, and sends the print paper P conveyed by the discharge roller 44 to either the lateral feed belt 16 or the rack plate 18. A path switching mechanism (not shown) is provided.

  [Ink Supply System] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the ink from the ink cartridge 23 set in the ink reservoir Bc is supplied to the sub tank 52 via the electromagnetic valve 50 </ b> V as an ink supply mechanism and the supply pipe 51. And the ink in the sub tank 52 is sent out to the print head H via the flexible pipe 53. Further, in this ink supply system, since the ink from the ink cartridge 23 is stored in the sub tank 52, the ink cartridge 23 can be replaced without interrupting the printing process. Although these drawings show one ink supply system, seven ink supply systems are formed corresponding to each of a plurality of types of inks having different hues.

  More specifically, the ink cartridge 23 includes an ink tank 23T formed in a bag shape with a flexible material with respect to the inside of a resin case, and a bag-like air bag 23B that is inflated by air supply. An air pressurizing unit 56 serving as a pressurizing unit configured to be housed and supplying pressurized air to the air bag 23B via the air supply path 55, and a pressure adjusting valve for adjusting the air pressure supplied to the air bag 23B 57. The sub tank 52 is formed in a bag shape using a flexible material such as a resin sheet, and an electric switch type sub tank sensor S is provided in a position close to the sub tank 52 so as to obtain the remaining amount of ink from the expansion amount of the sub tank 52. In addition, the ink reservoir Bc is provided with a detachable sensor 58 for determining whether or not the ink cartridge 23 is present with respect to the ink reservoir Bc.

  With such a configuration, by supplying pressurized air to the airbag 23B and inflating the airbag 23B, pressure is applied to the ink tank 23T, and the solenoid valve 50V is opened with the pressure applied in this manner. By operating, the ink sealed in the ink tank 23T can be supplied to the sub tank 52 through the supply pipe 51, and the sub tank 52 is in an expanded state by the supply of this ink, and the sub tank 52 is preset in the sub tank sensor S. When the expansion state is exceeded, the ON state is entered, and the OFF state is entered when the remaining amount reaches less than the preset inflation state (the ink remaining amount is less than the set value <slightly>).

[Control System] The print block control system can be shown as shown in FIG. That is, the receiving device 6 of the receiving block A includes a microprocessor (CPU), and the touch panel 7, display 8, semiconductor drive 9, disk for accessing information to the microprocessor (CPU) via a data bus. A drive 10, a semiconductor memory RAM / ROM, a hard disk HD, a communication interface 61, and an operation system 62, an image processing system 63, and a printer driver 64 made of software so as to realize processing by a microprocessor (CPU), An input / output system for accessing information from the flatbed scanner FS is formed, and a signal system for accessing information to the print block B via the communication interface 61 is formed.

  The print block B includes a microprocessor (CPU), and a conveyance control unit 66, a head control unit 67, a semiconductor memory RAM / ROM, and a sub tank that access information to the microprocessor (CPU) via a data bus. A sensor S, a cut position sensor 41, an attachment / detachment sensor 58, and a communication interface 68 are provided, and a print control means 69, a remaining ink amount acquisition means 70, and a supply control that are made of software so as to realize processing by a microprocessor (CPU). Means 71 and notification means 72 are provided.

  The transport control unit 66 performs control to transport the print paper P in each of the supply unit U1, the print unit U2, the loop forming unit U3, the cutter unit U4, the reversing unit U5, and the discharge unit U6, and the head control unit 67 performs the print control. The head H is controlled. The print control means 69 performs control for realizing printing of image data on the print paper P based on the image data sent from the receiving block A, and the ink remaining amount acquisition means 70 operates the electromagnetic valve 50V. The supply control means 71 supplies the ink in the ink cartridge 23 to the sub tank S based on the detection signal from the sub tank sensor S provided in the sub tank 52. Control is performed, and the notification means 72 performs notification in a form in which the ink remaining amount of the ink cartridge 23 is displayed on the display 8 of the receiving block A.

  An outline of the control by the ink remaining amount acquisition means 70, the supply control means 71, and the notification means 72 can be shown as a flowchart in FIG. That is, when the amount of ink stored in any of the plurality of sub-tanks 52 is reduced by printing and any of the sub-tank sensors S reaches an OFF state, the air pressurization is performed on the airbag 23B. Control is performed to supply pressurized ink from the ink tank 23T of the ink cartridge 23 to the sub tank 52 by opening the electromagnetic valve 50V after supplying pressurized air from the unit 56 and maintaining the pressurized state. This is executed (# 01 to # 03 steps).

  As described above, when supplying ink to the sub tank 52, if the sub tank sensor S reaches the ON state within a preset management time, the open operation state of the solenoid valve 50V is continued for the set time and then the close operation is performed. The count value is incremented (+1) (steps # 04 to # 06).

  The set time is determined by supplying ink from the ink cartridge 23 to the sub-tank sensor S, and after the sub-tank sensor S reaches an ON state by this supply, until the sub-tank 52 reaches an appropriate amount (appropriate amount). This is preset as the time required to supply ink (until the expansion amount is reached). That is, since the pressure applied from the air bag 23B to the ink tank 23T is maintained at a value determined by the pressure regulating valve 57, the opening time of the electromagnetic valve 50 and the ink supply amount are in direct proportion, and are described above. Thus, after the supply is started and the sub tank sensor S reaches the ON state, an appropriate amount of ink is supplied to the sub tank 52 by performing an opening operation for a preset time.

  The count value is a numerical value that is set to “0” when it is determined from the detection signal of the attachment / detachment sensor 58 that a new ink cartridge 23 has been installed in the ink reservoir Bc. When the ink supply is properly supplied from the ink cartridge 23 to the sub tank 52, the count value is incremented (+1), thereby adding up the amount of ink supplied from the ink cartridge 23 to the sub tank 52. Are used as parameters to be obtained.

  That is, the amount of ink supplied from the ink cartridge 23 to the sub tank 52 passes through the integrated value of the opening time of the solenoid valve V50 and the solenoid valve 50V within a unit time when the solenoid valve 50V is opened. This is obtained as a product of the amount of ink to be used, and the amount of ink supplied is substantially determined at the time of one ink supply. For this reason, the total amount of ink supplied from the ink cartridge 23 to the sub tank 52 is obtained by multiplying the amount of ink supplied once and the count value. By performing a calculation subtracting from the initial storage amount, the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 23 is obtained and controlled to be displayed on the display 8 of the receiving block A (steps # 07 and # 08). Thus, the process for calculating the ink supply amount from the number of actuations of the solenoid valve 50V and calculating the ink remaining amount of the ink cartridge 23 from the ink supply amount is executed by the ink remaining amount acquiring means 70.

  The ink remaining amount acquisition means 70 realizes a process of transmitting ink remaining amount data from the print block B to the receiving block A. Based on this ink remaining amount data, the ink remaining amount of each color is displayed on the display 8. When displaying, an “Ink and Paper Management” window is opened in the screen as shown in FIG. 11, and black (K), light black (LK), cyan (C), magenta (M), and light cyan are displayed in the window. (LC), light magenta (LM), and yellow (Y) ink remaining amounts in the respective ink cartridges 23 are displayed in the form of a bar graph, and the two magazine accommodating portions Ba and Ba are arranged in parallel with the ink remaining amount. The display form is set so as to display a numerical value indicating the type (width) of the print paper P set in, and the remaining amount (length).

  After the ink remaining amount is acquired and displayed on the display 8 as described above, if it is determined that the ink remaining in the ink cartridge 23 is low or if it is determined that the ink is exhausted, the display 8, a message prompting the user to replace the ink cartridge 23 is displayed, and if the ink cartridge 23 has been replaced based on the detection signal from the attachment / detachment sensor 58, the count value of the ink supply system is cleared. The numerical value is set to “0” (steps # 09 and # 10).

  As described above, when the ink of the ink cartridge 23 is supplied to the sub tank 52, if the sub tank sensor S does not reach the ON state within the preset management time, it can be determined that the ink has not been supplied properly. Then, after the solenoid valve 50V is closed, the optimization process is executed (steps # 11 and # 100). As described above, the supply control means 71 executes the control for supplying the ink of the ink cartridge 23 to the sub tank 52 at a necessary timing based on the detection signal from the sub tank sensor S.

  The optimization process (step # 100) is set in the form of a subroutine as an optimization routine as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10. In this optimization routine, first, after setting the number of retries, the air bag 23B of the ink cartridge 23 is set. On the other hand, after supplying pressurized air from the air pressurizing unit 56, the solenoid valve 50V is opened for a set time, thereby supplying pressurized ink from the ink tank 23T of the ink cartridge 23 to the sub tank 52. Control is performed again, and each time the control for supply is performed, the retry number is decremented (−1), and the control shifts to the original control in which the sub tank sensor S has reached the ON state before the retry number reaches “0”. (Steps # 101 to # 105), when the number of retries reaches “0”, refer to the count value, If the count value is greater than or equal to the set number, it is determined that the ink has been consumed, and a message prompting the user to replace the ink cartridge 23 is displayed on the display 8. If the count value is less than the set number, ink supply Since there is a possibility that an abnormality has occurred in the system, control is performed to display a message on the display 8 urging inspection of the ink supply system (steps # 106 to # 108).

  That is, even if the control for supplying ink to the sub tank 52 is executed by the supply control means 71, it is possible to assume various causes for the phenomenon that the increase in the ink storage amount in the sub tank 52 is not detected. When the sub tank sensor S reaches the ON state by executing the control for supplying ink from the ink cartridge 23 to the sub tank 52, it is considered that the temporary abnormality has been solved, so the messages are not displayed. Transition to normal control. If the sub tank sensor S is not turned on even if the control for supplying ink from the ink cartridge 23 to the sub tank 52 is executed for the number of retries, the count value of the ink supply system is further referred to by referring to the count value of the ink supply system. However, when the value has reached a value sufficient to use up the ink in the ink cartridge 23, it is determined that the ink in the ink cartridge 23 has been used up, and a message prompting the user to replace the ink cartridge 23 is displayed on the display 8. If the count value does not reach a value sufficient to exhaust the ink in the ink cartridge 23, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the ink supply system, and a message prompting the ink supply system to be checked Is displayed on the display 8. Control for displaying a message prompting replacement of the ink cartridge 23 on the display 8 is executed by the notification means 72.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the electromagnetic valve 50V is opened while pressurized air is supplied to the air bag 23B of the ink cartridge 23, the ink in the ink tank 23T to which the pressure of the air bag 23B is applied. Is supplied to the sub tank 52 by an amount that is directly proportional to the opening time of the solenoid valve 50V, the ink supply amount from the ink cartridge 23 to the sub tank 52 is obtained, and the integrated value of the ink supply amount is obtained. Thus, it is possible to obtain the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 23 with high accuracy only by executing a relatively simple process of performing a calculation for subtracting from the initial storage amount of the ink cartridge 23. In particular, when ink is supplied by the supply control means 71, it is determined that the amount of ink stored in the sub-tank 52 does not increase and that the ink cartridge 23 supplies the sub-tank 52 with more ink than the set amount. Since it can be determined that the ink in the ink cartridge 23 has been consumed, the ink cartridge 23 is replaced even if the ink remains from the remaining amount of ink displayed on the display 8 as described above. It also makes it possible.

[Another embodiment]
In addition to the above-described embodiment, the present invention may be configured as follows (in this another embodiment, the same number and code as those of the embodiment are given to those having the same functions as those of the above embodiment). Attached).

(A) As shown in FIG. 12, the ink from the ink cartridge 23 set in the ink reservoir Bc is supplied to the sub tank 52 via the constant capacity pump 50P as the ink supply mechanism and the supply conduit 51. The ink in the sub tank 52 is configured to be sent to the print head H through the flexible pipe 53. Then, when the sub tank sensor S reaches the OFF state, the supply control means 71 operates the constant capacity pump 50P corresponding to the sub tank sensor S with the set drive signal, thereby the ink tank of the ink cartridge 23. The control mode is set so as to execute the control for supplying the pressurized ink from 23T to the sub-tank 52, and the ink remaining amount acquiring means 70 is based on the integrated value of the output time of the drive signal for driving the constant capacity pump 50P. A process of obtaining the ink remaining amount of the ink cartridge 23 is performed by obtaining the ink supply amount and performing a process of reducing the ink supply amount from the initial storage amount of the ink cartridge 23.

  In this other embodiment, it is possible to set the processing mode so as to execute the same processing as that described based on the flowchart in the embodiment. By executing such processing, the ink cartridge 23 The remaining amount of ink can be accurately grasped.

(B) The present invention does not necessarily need to be formed in a bag shape as the sub-tank 52, and may have a bellows shape or a structure in which the volume does not change.

(C) If the sub tank 52 has a structure in which the capacity changes such as a bag shape or a bellows shape, a potentiometer configured to measure the capacity change can be used as the sub tank sensor S, and the sub tank 52 has a capacity. With a structure that does not change, it is possible to use a sensor combined with a float that measures the ink level, or an optical distance sensor that directly measures the ink level.

Perspective view showing the entire printing system Perspective view of print block Diagram showing images and cut marks printed on printed paper Diagram showing print paper transport system of print block Schematic diagram showing the ink supply system Block diagram showing an ink supply system from an ink cartridge Block diagram showing ink supply / discharge system for sub tank Block diagram showing the control system of the printing system Flow chart of ink supply routine Flow chart of optimization routine Figure showing the ink and paper management window Schematic diagram showing the ink supply system of another embodiment (A)

Explanation of symbols

8 Display 23 Ink cartridge 50V / 50P Ink supply mechanism 52 Sub tank 56 Pressure means 70 Ink remaining amount acquisition means 71 Supply control means 72 Notification means H Print head Bc Ink storage section S Sub tank sensor

Claims (7)

An ink supply system is provided for sending ink in the ink storage section to the sub tank via the ink supply mechanism, and for supplying ink in the sub tank to the ink jet print head. A printing apparatus comprising supply control means for controlling the ink supply mechanism to supply the ink in the ink storage section to the sub tank when a decrease in the amount is determined;
Ink remaining amount for determining the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage unit by obtaining the ink supply amount based on the operation amount of the ink supply mechanism and performing a process of reducing the ink supply amount from the initial storage amount in the ink storage unit A printing apparatus including an acquisition unit. The ink storage unit is configured to be able to replace a plurality of ink cartridges having different hues, the sub tank, the sub tank sensor, and an ink supply mechanism are provided corresponding to each color of ink, and the ink remaining amount acquisition unit includes an ink The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is configured to perform control to display a remaining amount of ink in each color on a display.   The ink supply mechanism includes a pressurizing unit that applies pressure to the ink stored in the ink storage unit, and an electromagnetic valve provided in a path for sending the ink in the ink storage unit to the sub tank. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount acquisition unit is configured to calculate the ink supply amount from an integrated value of a time when the electromagnetic valve is opened.   The ink supply mechanism is composed of a constant-capacity pump that sends ink from the ink reservoir to the sub-tank, and the ink remaining amount acquisition means calculates the ink supply amount from an integrated value of the time when the pump is operated. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is configured to perform the above operation.   The sub-tank is formed by forming a flexible material into a bag shape, the sub-tank sensor is configured by an electric switch for obtaining the ink remaining amount from the expansion amount of the sub-tank, and the supply control means is provided by an electric switch. When it is determined that the remaining amount of ink in the sub-tank has reached less than a set amount based on the signal, the ink supply mechanism is controlled to control to supply a preset amount of ink to the sub-tank. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.   When ink is supplied to the sub-tank under the control of the supply control means, if the increase in the remaining amount of ink in the sub-tank is not detected by the sub-tank sensor, it is notified that the ink in the ink reservoir has been consumed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that performs the notification. An ink supply system is provided for sending ink in the ink storage section to the sub tank via the ink supply mechanism, and for supplying ink in the sub tank to the ink jet print head. A printing apparatus comprising supply control means for controlling the ink supply mechanism to supply the ink in the ink storage section to the sub tank when a decrease in the amount is determined;
When ink is supplied to the sub tank under the control of the supply control means, if the increase in the remaining amount of ink in the sub tank is not detected by the sub tank sensor, it is notified that the ink in the ink reservoir has been consumed. A printing apparatus comprising notification means for performing

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