JP2006102969A - Ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink cartridge which can surely prevent idling of a printer head due to an ink shortage by making the ink cartridge quickly replaced at a time point when an ink liquid of a specified amount in a cartridge body is used up. <P>SOLUTION: A head protecting liquid 18 which has a smaller specific gravity than that of the ink liquid 5, an incompatibility to the ink liquid 5 and a coloring capability different from that of the ink liquid 5 is injected on the ink liquid 5 stored in an ink storage chamber 6 of the cartridge body 3. When a residual quantity of the ink liquid 5 in the ink storage chamber 6 becomes zero, the head protecting liquid 18 is supplied to the printer head in place of the ink liquid 5, whereby idling at the printer head is prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink cartridge in which an ink liquid supplied to a printer head of an ink jet printer is stored in an ink storage chamber of a cartridge body.

Inkjet printers are printers that apply ink liquid onto recording media by controlling the ejection of ink liquid using heat and vibration, and can easily achieve high-precision color printing. It is also rapidly spreading as a machine.
FIG. 4 shows a conventional example of an ink cartridge that supplies ink to a printer head (printing head) that ejects ink in an inkjet printer.

The ink cartridge 1 includes an ink storage chamber 6 in which an ink liquid 5 is stored in a resin cartridge main body 3, an ink supply port 7 that opens at the inner bottom of the ink storage chamber 6, and the ink storage chamber 6 through the outside air. It is the structure provided with the vent hole 8 connected to.
The ink cartridge 1 is mounted on a carriage on which a printer head of an ink jet printer is mounted. When the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the carriage, the ink supply path mounted on the carriage is connected to the ink supply port 7, and the ink liquid 5 stored in the ink storage chamber 6 passes through the ink supply port 7 and the ink supply path. Via the printer head.

By the way, the printer head of such an ink jet printer breaks down when an idle shot for performing an ink discharge operation occurs in a state where the ink has run out.
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cartridge main body 3 is equipped with an ink remaining amount detection sensor 9 for detecting that the remaining amount of the ink liquid 5 in the ink containing chamber 6 has become equal to or less than a specified amount. Then, even when the replacement time of the ink cartridge 1 can be detected or the consumption amount of the ink liquid 5 reaches a specified amount, as shown in FIG. In order to leave a certain amount of ink liquid, an extra ink liquid is previously injected into the ink storage chamber 6 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-251823 A

  However, in the conventional ink cartridge 1 in which the extra ink liquid 5 is injected into the ink storage chamber 6 to prevent idling, the specified amount of ink liquid 5 is used up and the ink remaining amount detection sensor 9 detects the ink out. In this state, the ink liquid 5 for preventing empty shot can be used to continue printing with the same quality as before, so that the ink cartridge 1 can be used without being replaced. There is a possibility that the excess ink liquid 5 that has been injected for preventing idling may be used up, leading to idling of the printer head, and the idling of the printer head cannot be reliably prevented.

  Further, since the ink remaining amount detection sensor 9 detects the remaining amount of the ink liquid 5 based on the presence / absence of the ink liquid 5, if bubbles are mixed in the part to be detected even temporarily, the ink remaining amount (ink end) is accurately detected. ) May not be detected.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and when the specified amount of ink liquid in the cartridge body is used up, the ink cartridge is quickly replaced to ensure that the occurrence of idle printing due to running out of ink is ensured. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge that can be prevented.

  The object of the present invention is to provide the cartridge main body with an ink storage chamber for storing the ink liquid and an ink supply port that opens to the ink storage chamber, and the ink liquid stored in the ink storage chamber An ink cartridge that is supplied to a printer head of an ink jet printer through the ink supply port, and has a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink liquid, incompatibility with the ink liquid, and color development different from the ink liquid. The head protection liquid is stored in the ink storage chamber.

According to the ink cartridge having the above configuration, the head protection liquid having a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink liquid and having incompatibility with the ink liquid is stored on the ink liquid in the ink storage chamber.
Therefore, when the ink liquid in the ink containing chamber is used up, the head protection liquid is supplied to the printer head instead of the ink liquid.
For this reason, even if the specified amount of ink in the cartridge body is used up, the printer head does not run out, and the printer head can be prevented from being damaged due to the overrun.

In addition, since the head protection liquid covers the interface of the ink liquid in the ink containing chamber, the ink liquid itself is prevented from being mixed with air, and impurities are prevented from being mixed.
Furthermore, since the head protective liquid supplied to the printer head instead of the ink liquid has a color development property different from that of the ink liquid, the color is generated on the recording medium to be printed when the head protective liquid is supplied. A large difference in the above occurs to indicate to the user that ink has run out.
For this reason, the ink cartridge can be quickly replaced without being continuously used in the state of being switched to the head protection liquid, and it is possible to surely prevent the printer head from being emptied due to running out of ink.

In the ink cartridge having the above-described configuration, the ink remaining amount detection sensor that detects the remaining amount of the ink liquid in the ink containing chamber by detecting different liquid properties of the ink liquid and the head protection liquid is the cartridge. It is desirable to equip the body.
In this case, the ink remaining amount detection sensor detects the remaining amount of ink by detecting different liquid properties of the ink liquid and the head protection liquid, so that it can be made less susceptible to the influence of bubbles and the like. The remaining amount of ink can be detected more stably than in the conventional case where the detection is based on the presence or absence.
In addition, the detection signal of the ink remaining amount detection sensor can be used to notify the user that the ink will run out soon, and the user can be informed of the number of sheets to be printed until the ink runs out. Thus, it is possible to improve the handleability of the printer without suddenly detecting the ink out and becoming inconvenient.

  The above-described object of the present invention includes an ink storage chamber in which an ink liquid is stored and an ink supply port that opens in the ink storage chamber, and the ink stored in the ink storage chamber. An ink cartridge in which liquid is supplied to a printer head of an ink jet printer through the ink supply port, and has a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink liquid and is incompatible with the ink liquid and different from the ink liquid. The head protection liquid having the property is stored in the ink storage chamber, and the remaining amount of the ink liquid in the ink storage chamber is determined by detecting different liquid properties of the ink liquid and the head protection liquid. An ink remaining amount detection sensor for detecting is achieved by an ink cartridge which is mounted on the cartridge body.

According to the ink cartridge having the above configuration, the head protection liquid having a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink liquid and having incompatibility with the ink liquid is stored on the ink liquid in the ink storage chamber.
Therefore, when the ink liquid in the ink containing chamber is used up, the head protection liquid is supplied to the printer head instead of the ink liquid.
For this reason, even if the specified amount of ink in the cartridge body is used up, the printer head does not run out, and the printer head can be prevented from being damaged due to the overrun.

In addition, since the head protection liquid covers the interface of the ink liquid in the ink containing chamber, the ink liquid itself is prevented from being mixed with air, and impurities are prevented from being mixed.
Furthermore, since the remaining ink detection sensor detects the remaining ink level by detecting different liquid properties of the ink liquid and the head protection liquid, it can be made less susceptible to the effects of air bubbles and the like. As a result, the remaining amount of ink can be detected more stably than in the prior art, and it is possible to reliably prevent the printer head from being run out due to running out of ink.

  Accordingly, the detection signal of the remaining ink detection sensor can be used to notify the user that the ink will soon run out, and the user can be notified of the number of prints processed before the ink runs out. There is no longer any inconvenience caused by sudden detection of running out of ink on the way, and the handling of the printer can be improved.

  According to the ink cartridge of the present invention, when the ink liquid in the ink containing chamber is used up, the head protection liquid is supplied to the printer head instead of the ink liquid, but the head protection liquid is different from the ink liquid. Since it has color developability, a large difference in color development occurs at the time when the head protection liquid is supplied on the recording medium to be printed, and the occurrence of ink shortage can be revealed to the user.

The remaining ink level detection sensor detects the remaining ink level by detecting different liquid properties of the ink liquid and the head protection liquid. This makes it possible to detect the remaining amount of ink more stably than in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is possible to provide an ink cartridge that can quickly replace the ink cartridge when the specified amount of ink liquid in the cartridge body is used up, and can reliably prevent the occurrence of idle shot due to running out of ink.

Hereinafter, an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 is a perspective view in which a part of an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention is broken, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an ink liquid of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in the state where is consumed.

  The ink cartridge 11 of the present embodiment includes a resin cartridge main body 3, an ink storage chamber 6 in which the ink liquid 5 is stored, an ink supply port 7 that opens in the inner bottom portion 6 a of the ink storage chamber 6, and an ink storage. The configuration includes a vent hole 8 that allows the chamber 6 to communicate with the outside air, and an ink remaining amount detection sensor 13 that detects the remaining amount of the ink liquid 5 in the ink containing chamber 6.

  The ink cartridge 11 is mounted on a carriage on which a printer head of an inkjet printer (not shown) is mounted. When the ink cartridge 11 is mounted on the carriage, the ink supply path mounted on the carriage is connected to the ink supply port 7, and the ink liquid 5 stored in the ink storage chamber 6 passes through the ink supply port 7 and the ink supply path. Via the printer head.

In the ink storage chamber 6 of the ink cartridge 11 of this embodiment, the head protection liquid 18 is injected on the ink liquid 5 stored in the ink storage chamber 6.
In general, the ink liquid 5 is a colorant (dye / pigment dispersion) in an amount capable of producing an appropriate color, a humectant to prevent drying and clogging, and a recording medium to be printed with respect to the discharge amount from the head. The main component is a permeation regulator that forms appropriate dots, water, and the like, and may contain various components such as a viscosity modifier as necessary.

On the other hand, the head protection liquid 18 has a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink liquid 5 and has incompatibility that is immiscible with the ink liquid 5 and color development different from that of the ink liquid 5. In this case, a liquid whose component is adjusted so as to have the same viscosity as that of the ink liquid 5 without containing a colorant is used, and therefore, when applied on a recording medium, the liquid becomes colorless.
Therefore, the head protection liquid 18 is stored in a layer having a predetermined thickness without being mixed with the ink liquid 5 stored in the ink storage chamber 6.

  The head protective liquid 18 may be a hydrocarbon compound having a C—H bond such as kerosene or a product of Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. in consideration of compatibility with the ink liquid 5 and damage to the printer head. It is desirable to include a compound having a C—F bond such as “Asahiclin AK-225”, a siloxane compound such as silicone oil, and the like.

In the inner bottom portion 6 a of the ink storage chamber 6 in the cartridge main body 3 of the present embodiment, the ink supply port 7 is filled with the ink liquid 5 so as to surely flow into the ink supply port 7. An inclined surface that descends is formed.
In addition, the ink remaining amount detection sensor 13 in the present embodiment has a connection terminal portion 13a exposed on the outer surface of the cartridge body 3 as shown in FIG. 1 when the ink cartridge 11 is mounted on the carriage of the ink jet printer. By electrically connecting to a sensor connection terminal provided on the carriage side, detection information can be transmitted to a control circuit mounted on the ink jet printer side.

  This ink remaining amount detection sensor 13 is a sensor using a piezo element, and detects a difference in conductivity between the ink liquid 5 and the head protection liquid 18. That is, when the remaining amount of the ink liquid 5 in the ink storage chamber 6 is equal to or greater than the specified amount, the ink remaining amount detection sensor 13 outputs a signal corresponding to the conductivity of the ink liquid 5. When the remaining amount of the ink liquid 5 decreases and the liquid level falls below the specified value, the ink remaining amount detection sensor 13 outputs a signal corresponding to the conductivity of the head protection liquid 18, so that the ink in the ink storage chamber 6 It can be detected that the remaining amount of the liquid 5 is equal to or less than the specified amount.

  A control circuit mounted on the ink jet printer side outputs a signal output from the ink remaining amount detection sensor 13 when the remaining amount of the ink liquid 5 in the ink containing chamber 6 reaches a specified value (for example, the state shown in FIG. 3). Based on the above, a display indicating that ink is almost out or a display prompting replacement of the ink cartridge is displayed.

In the ink jet printer using the ink cartridge 11 of the present embodiment described above, when the liquid level of the ink liquid 5 in the ink containing chamber 6 is lowered due to ink consumption by printing, as shown in FIG. The head protection liquid 18 is also lowered toward the inner bottom portion 6 a of the ink storage chamber 6.
When the specified amount of the ink liquid 5 in the cartridge body 3 is used up, the head protection liquid 18 accommodated on the ink liquid 5 is supplied to the printer head instead of the ink liquid 5 thereafter.
Therefore, even if the specified amount of the ink liquid 5 in the cartridge main body 3 is used up, the printer head is not emptied, and the printer head can be prevented from being damaged due to the vacant strike.

The head protective liquid 18 supplied to the printer head instead of the ink liquid 5 is different in color from the ink liquid 5 and is colorless, so the head protective liquid 18 is supplied onto the recording medium to be printed. At that time, a large difference in color development occurs, and the occurrence of ink shortage can be revealed to the user.
Therefore, the user does not continue to use the head protection liquid 18 while switching to the head protection liquid 18, and the ink cartridge 11 is quickly replaced. Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent the occurrence of idle printing due to running out of ink.
In addition, since the head protection liquid 18 covers the interface of the ink liquid 5 in the ink storage chamber 6, the ink liquid 5 itself is prevented from being mixed with air and mixed with impurities.

Further, since the remaining ink detection sensor 13 detects the remaining ink amount by detecting different electrical conductivities of the ink liquid 5 and the head protection liquid 18, it can be made less susceptible to the influence of air bubbles and the like. Compared to the conventional ink cartridge 1 (see FIG. 5) that has been detected based on the presence or absence of the liquid 5, it is possible to detect the remaining amount of ink more stably, and it is possible to reliably prevent the printer head from being run out due to running out of ink. .
Further, in order to protect the printer head by preventing idling due to the user continuing to use the head protection liquid 18 while switching to the head protection liquid 18, the ink remaining amount detection sensor 13 indicates that the ink liquid 5 has run out. The ink end may be set at the time of detection, or a dot count which is a conventional method of detecting the remaining ink amount by the printer main body may be used to reliably prevent idle shots due to running out of ink.

  Therefore, in the ink jet printer using the ink cartridge 11 of the above-described embodiment, it is possible to notify the user that the ink will soon run out by using the detection signal of the ink remaining amount detection sensor 13, and the user will be out of ink. Since it is possible to notify the number of prints to be processed until the end of printing, it is possible to prevent the user from being inconvenienced when suddenly ink runs out during printing, and to improve the handleability of the printer.

The ink cartridge of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the ink cartridge 11 of the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that various forms can be adopted based on the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the liquid that becomes colorless on the recording medium is used as the head protective liquid 18, but a liquid that exhibits a specific color different from the ink liquid 5 may be used.

In the ink cartridge of the present invention, the ink remaining amount detection sensor for detecting the remaining amount of the ink liquid in the ink containing chamber is not limited to the one using the piezo element shown in the above embodiment, and the ink liquid and the head protection. If the remaining amount of the ink liquid can be detected by detecting a liquid property different from the liquid, various sensors can be used.
For example, it is possible to use an optical sensor that detects the remaining amount of ink liquid using the difference in the refractive index of light with respect to the ink liquid and the head protective liquid. The ink liquid and the head protective liquid are identified by resolution. It is also possible to use possible sensing sensors.
In addition, as the remaining ink detection sensor, a single sensor that can be detected when the remaining amount of the ink liquid in the ink containing chamber becomes less than a specified amount, a sensor that is disposed in the cartridge body, or an ink A detection sensor in which a plurality of detection units are arranged in the cartridge body along the vertical direction so that the remaining amount of ink liquid in the storage chamber can be sequentially detected can be used. Of course, the ink remaining amount detection sensor can be omitted.

In addition, the ink cartridge 11 of the above-described embodiment is an ink cartridge that is used for single color (for example, black) printing with a single ink storage chamber provided in the cartridge body. However, the ink cartridge to which the technology of the present invention is applied is not limited to one for monochrome printing.
For example, a cartridge for color printing in which a plurality of independent ink storage chambers are provided in the cartridge body and ink liquids having different colors are stored in the respective ink storage chambers may be used. In this case, the head protection liquid according to the present invention is injected into each ink storage chamber.
In the ink cartridge 11 according to the above-described embodiment, the case where the ink liquid 5 and the head protection liquid 18 are stored in the ink storage chamber 6 in a free state has been described. However, the porous elastic material stored and held in the ink storage chamber is described. An ink cartridge that contains the ink liquid and the head protection liquid in a state of being impregnated in the body (foam) can also be provided.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which a part of an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention is broken. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where ink liquid of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 2 is consumed. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows schematic structure of the conventional ink cartridge. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where ink liquid of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 4 is consumed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Cartridge body, 5 ... Ink liquid, 6 ... Ink storage chamber, 7 ... Ink supply port, 8 ... Vent hole, 11 ... Ink cartridge, 13 ... Ink remaining amount detection sensor, 18 ... Head protection liquid

Claims (3)

The cartridge body includes an ink storage chamber that stores ink liquid, and an ink supply port that opens to the ink storage chamber, and the ink liquid stored in the ink storage chamber passes through the ink supply port. An ink cartridge supplied to a printer head of an inkjet printer,
An ink cartridge comprising: a head protection liquid having a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink liquid and having an incompatibility with the ink liquid and a color development property different from the ink liquid;   An ink remaining amount detection sensor for detecting a remaining amount of ink liquid in the ink containing chamber by detecting different liquid properties of the ink liquid and the head protection liquid is provided in the cartridge body. The ink cartridge according to claim 1. The cartridge body includes an ink storage chamber that stores ink liquid, and an ink supply port that opens to the ink storage chamber, and the ink liquid stored in the ink storage chamber passes through the ink supply port. An ink cartridge supplied to a printer head of an inkjet printer,
A head protection liquid having a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink liquid and having incompatibility with the ink liquid and different liquidity with respect to the ink liquid is stored in the ink storage chamber, and the ink liquid An ink cartridge comprising: an ink remaining amount detection sensor for detecting a remaining amount of ink liquid in the ink containing chamber by detecting a liquid property different from that of the head protection liquid.

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