JP2007185973A - Ink container and printing device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink container capable of certainly rewriting data such as an ink residual amount even in the case an inexpensive memory element to be mounted on the ink container is used, and a printing device using the ink container. <P>SOLUTION: In an ink-jet printer 1, a low cost is achieved by using an inexpensive EEPROM for executing only the sequential access as a memory element 80 mounted on ink cartridges 107K and 107F. In addition, in a memory cell 81 of the memory element 80, a first memory region for rewriting the ink residual amount in the ink cartridges 107K and 107F is provided so as to be accessed prior to a second memory region for storing the data only to be read out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus (inkjet printing apparatus) used as an inkjet printer or an inkjet plotter, and an ink container attached to and detached from a main body of the inkjet printing apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a processing technique for storing ink amount information in an ink container.

  2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet printing apparatus used as an ink jet printer, an ink jet plotter, or the like is roughly configured by an ink container (ink cartridge) that stores ink and a printing apparatus main body that includes a print head that performs printing on a medium. The print head realizes printing on a medium by attaching ink supplied from an ink container to a medium such as printing paper. The ink container is detachable from the printing apparatus main body. A predetermined amount of ink is initially stored in the ink container, and when the stored ink becomes empty, the ink container is replaced with a new one. This type of ink jet printing apparatus calculates the remaining amount of ink in the ink container on the side of the printing apparatus main body based on the amount of ink discharged from the print head in order to avoid interruption of printing during the printing process. When the amount decreases, it is configured to notify that effect.

  There has also been proposed an ink container including a storage element for storing ink information such as ink type and ink amount in the ink container (for example, WO9605061). When the ink container holds the ink information, the printing apparatus on which the ink container is mounted can read the stored ink information and execute a printing process suitable for the ink being used.

  However, when the ink container can only hold read-only information, there is a problem in that it is not possible to realize more appropriate printing processing in consideration of information on the use state of the ink container, that is, ink-related information. In addition, even when ink-related information can be written into the ink container, there may be a situation in which writing ends incompletely due to interruption of the writing process, but no countermeasure is taken into account for such a case.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ink container, a printing apparatus using the ink container, and an ink container capable of quickly and reliably storing information on the ink container such as the remaining amount of ink while reducing the cost of the ink container. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for writing information relating to a storage device and an ink container to the ink container.

  In order to solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides an ink container to be attached to a printing apparatus. The ink container includes an ink storage unit that stores printing ink, and a storage unit that can read and write in a nonvolatile manner predetermined information including at least a plurality of information related to the amount of ink in the ink storage unit. The storage unit is an area that is first written by the printing apparatus and includes an ink amount information storage area that stores information related to the ink amount.

  As described above, the first aspect of the present invention includes an area that is first written by the printing apparatus as an ink amount information storage area that stores information related to the ink amount, and thus reduces the cost of the ink container, while reducing the cost of the ink container. Information about the ink container such as the remaining amount can be quickly and reliably stored. Note that the area to be written first means, for example, the head area of the storage unit, or the area of the storage unit that is first written by the printing apparatus.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the ink storage section has a number of storage chambers corresponding to the type of ink of the printing ink, and the ink amount information storage area is a storage corresponding to the type of printing ink. It may have a capacity. The ink amount information storage area may have a capacity of at least 3 bytes. Further, the ink amount information storage area may be an area that is written when the ink container is replaced or when the printing apparatus is powered off.

  With such a configuration, the ink amount information storage area can sufficiently store predetermined information including ink amount information. In addition, since the ink amount information storage area is written when the ink container is replaced or when the ink container is likely to be replaced, the ink amount information is reliably stored in the ink container.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the ink storage section has at least three storage chambers for storing at least three different colors of ink, and the ink amount information storage area relates to the ink amount in each of the storage chambers. A plurality of information storage areas for storing information independently may be provided, and a capacity of 1 byte or more may be allocated to each of the plurality of information storage areas. Further, the ink amount information storage area has a capacity of at least 5 bytes, the ink storage portion has at least five storage chambers for storing at least five different colors of ink, and the ink amount information storage area includes the ink amount information storage area. A plurality of information storage areas each independently storing information related to the ink amount in each storage chamber may be provided, and a capacity of 1 byte may be allocated to each of the plurality of information storage areas.

  By providing such a configuration, the ink amount information can be optimally stored according to the ink type.

  The five colors of ink have three dark colors and two light colors corresponding to two of the three dark colors, and the ink amount information storage area is first written by the printing device. The information storage area for storing the ink information corresponding to the three dark colors and the information storage area for storing the ink information corresponding to the two light colors can be included. Further, the three dark inks may be cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively, and the two light colors may be light cyan and light magenta, respectively.

  By providing such a configuration, the same storage unit can be used both when the ink container includes only three dark colors and when the ink container includes three dark colors and two light colors.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the information storage area may be an area written when the ink container is replaced or when the printing apparatus is powered off. The storage unit may be a storage unit that is sequentially accessed in synchronization with a clock signal. The storage unit may have a plurality of storage areas, and the ink amount information storage area may be a storage area arranged at a head position among the plurality of storage areas of the storage unit, or the storage The unit may have a plurality of storage areas, and the ink amount information storage area may be a storage area arranged at the end position among the plurality of storage areas of the storage unit.

  With such a configuration, the ink amount information storage area is written when the ink container is replaced or when the ink container is likely to be replaced. Therefore, the ink amount information is surely stored in the ink container. Is remembered. In addition, when the storage unit has a structure that is accessed sequentially, the storage unit is sequentially accessed from the beginning position or the end position of the storage unit, so that such an arrangement structure reduces the cost of the ink container. In addition, information regarding the ink container such as the remaining amount of ink can be quickly and reliably stored.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the information related to the ink amount may be a remaining ink amount, or may be a cumulative ink consumption amount related to the ink container.

  A second aspect of the present invention provides an ink container to be attached to a printing apparatus. The ink container includes an ink storage unit that stores printing ink, and a storage unit that stores at least predetermined information including information related to the amount of ink in the ink storage unit in a readable and writable manner in a nonvolatile manner. The unit is sequentially accessed in synchronization with the clock signal, and a first storage area for storing read-only information and a first storage area for storing the rewrite information are arranged before the first storage area. And two storage areas.

  As described above, the second aspect of the present invention includes the second storage area arranged before the first storage area as the ink amount information storage area for storing the information related to the ink amount. Information about the ink container such as the remaining amount of ink can be quickly and reliably stored while reducing the cost of the ink container.

  Further, in the second aspect of the present invention, the information stored in the second storage area includes the remaining ink amount information in the ink storage unit calculated by the printing device based on the ink consumption amount associated with printing. May be included. Further, the ink storage section includes a plurality of ink storage sections that respectively store a plurality of colors of ink, and the information stored in the second storage area includes the ink storage calculated by the printing apparatus side. The ink remaining amount information for each copy may be included.

  Furthermore, in the second aspect of the present invention, the information stored in the second storage area includes ink consumption information in the ink storage unit calculated based on the ink consumption accompanying printing. May be. The ink consumption information may have a value in the range of 0 to 90% as an initial value.

  As described above, since an inexpensive storage unit that can perform only sequential access is used as the storage element mounted on the ink container, the ink container can be provided at a cost that matches the property of being a consumable item. In addition, the second storage area to be rewritten in the storage unit is configured to be accessed or arranged ahead of the first storage area in which read-only data is stored. Rewriting can be completed within a short time. Therefore, even when data is rewritten in the second storage area after the power switch is turned off, data rewriting can be completed before the plug is removed from the outlet. Therefore, even if the cost of the ink container is reduced by using an inexpensive storage means that can perform only sequential access, there is an advantage that an abnormal data rewrite hardly occurs.

  Further, since the initial value of the ink consumption information has a value of 0 to 90%, it is sure whether or not the ink is used, and whether or not the retained ink amount is indicated on the assumption of correction at the time of use. Can be detected.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, the second storage area can include two or more storage areas in which information rewriting of the latest ink remaining amount is sequentially performed. The information stored in the second storage area includes the elapsed time since opening the ink container measured on the printing apparatus main body side, and the ink container measured on the printing apparatus main body side. At least one type of information regarding the number of times of attachment / detachment with respect to the printing apparatus main body may be included. Further, the information stored in the first storage area includes at least one kind of information among the date of manufacture of the ink container, the type of ink stored in the ink container, and the ink storage capacity of the ink container. Can be included.

  By having such a configuration, even if data rewriting is not performed normally due to a problem such as the plug being unplugged from the outlet while rewriting the latest ink remaining data, Always stores data that has been rewritten last time. Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in the current data rewrite, the ink remaining amount can be monitored based on the previously rewritten data.

  In the first or second aspect of the present invention, the storage unit may be an EEPROM. In addition, the storage unit may have format information relating to an item of information stored in the storage unit, and the format information may be arranged in a head region of the storage unit.

  With such a configuration, necessary information can be accessed based on the format information, and a predetermined area can be accessed in a short time regardless of the storage capacity. Further, it is possible to construct an optimum region for each type of ink cartridge based on the format information.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of writing predetermined information in an ink container that is mounted on a printing apparatus and has a storage element. The method generates a plurality of the predetermined information including information related to an ink amount in an ink container to be written in the storage element in the printing device, and sets the ink amount among the generated predetermined information. Relevant information is written to the storage element first.

  As described above, the third aspect of the present invention relates to the ink container such as the remaining amount of ink while reducing the cost of the ink container because the information related to the ink amount is first written to the storage element. Information can be stored quickly and reliably.

  In the third aspect of the present invention, writing of information related to the ink amount can be executed when the ink container is replaced and when the power is turned off. Further, the plurality of predetermined information is arranged so that the capacity corresponding to the type of printing ink from the top indicates the ink amount information, and the predetermined information is written in the storage element according to the arrangement order. Can be written against.

  By providing such a configuration, the ink amount information can be written at a time when the ink container is likely to be replaced, so that the ink amount information is reliably stored in the ink container (storage element). In addition, predetermined information is arranged so as to indicate the ink amount information for the capacity corresponding to the type of printing ink from the top, and writing to the storage elements is executed in the arrangement order, so that the ink amount information is quickly obtained. Thus, it is possible to reliably write to the memory element.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the plurality of predetermined information is arranged so as to indicate ink amount information for at least three different colors of ink at least 3 bytes from the head, and the writing of the predetermined information is arranged. The predetermined information can be written to the storage element in accordance with a predetermined order. Furthermore, the plurality of predetermined information is arranged so that at least 5 bytes from the head indicate ink amount information for at least five different inks, and the predetermined information is written according to the arrangement order. You can write to the storage element.

  The five inks have three dark colors and two light colors corresponding to two of the three dark colors, and the arrangement of the predetermined information corresponds to the three dark colors. The ink amount information can be arranged first, and then the ink amount information corresponding to the two light colors can be arranged. Further, the dark three color inks may be cyan, magenta and yellow, respectively, and the two light colors may be light cyan and light magenta, respectively.

  In the third aspect of the present invention, the predetermined information can be written in a sequential access format. Further, the information related to the ink amount may be an accumulated ink consumption amount of the ink container, or the information related to the ink amount may be an ink remaining amount of the ink container.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus in which any one of the ink containers according to the first aspect is mounted and used. The printing apparatus stores a plurality of predetermined information including information related to the ink amount in the ink container, and the information related to the ink amount among the predetermined information is stored in the ink amount on the ink container side. And a writing device for writing in the information storage area.

  As described above, the fourth aspect of the present invention has a configuration in which information related to the ink amount is written in the ink amount information storage area on the ink container side, so that the ink remaining amount and the like can be reduced while reducing the cost of the ink container. Information on the ink container can be stored quickly and reliably.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink container that contains ink and is attached to and detached from the printing apparatus main body, and prints on the medium by ejecting the ink contained in the ink container from the print head toward the medium. An ink jet printing apparatus having a printing apparatus main body for performing the above is provided. In this ink jet printing apparatus, the ink container is of a sequential access type including a storage unit and an address counter that counts up or down based on a clock signal when reading and writing between the storage unit and the printing apparatus main body. Storage means, the storage means as the storage unit, a first storage area for storing read-only data that is only read from the printing apparatus main body, and from the first storage area at the time of access A second storage area for storing rewrite data to be read / written to / from the printing apparatus main body in the area accessed first, and the inkjet printing apparatus reads / writes data to be read / written in response to a clock signal A means for inputting and outputting is provided.

  In the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the inexpensive storage means that can perform only sequential access is used as the storage element mounted on the ink container, the ink container can be provided at a cost that matches the property of being a consumable item. . In addition, the second storage area to be rewritten in the storage means is configured to be accessed before the first storage area in which the read-only data is stored. Can be completed. Therefore, even when data is rewritten in the second storage area after the power switch is turned off, data rewriting can be completed before the plug is removed from the outlet. Therefore, even if the cost of the ink container is reduced by using an inexpensive storage means that can perform only sequential access, there is an advantage that an abnormal data rewrite hardly occurs.

  In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the data stored in the second storage area includes the ink remaining in the ink container calculated on the printing apparatus main body side based on the ink consumption amount in the print head. Quantity data may be included. In addition, the ink container includes a plurality of ink storage portions that respectively store a plurality of colors of ink, and the data stored in the second storage area includes the ink storage calculated on the printing apparatus main body side. Ink remaining amount data for each copy may be included.

  In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the second storage area may include two or more storage areas in which data rewriting of the latest ink remaining amount is sequentially performed. The ink remaining amount data can be rewritten after the power switch of the printing apparatus main body is turned off. Further, the data stored in the second storage area includes an elapsed time after opening the ink container measured on the printing apparatus main body side, and the ink container measured on the printing apparatus main body side. At least one kind of data of the number of times of attachment / detachment to / from the printing apparatus main body may be included. Furthermore, the data stored in the first storage area includes at least one of the date of manufacture of the ink container, the type of ink stored in the ink container, and the ink storage capacity of the ink container. One type of data may be included. Further, the storage means may be an EEPROM.

  In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the ink remaining amount data is rewritten after a series of printing is completed. Therefore, it is preferable to rewrite when the power switch is turned off. If the data is destroyed due to being disconnected from the outlet, the remaining amount of ink can no longer be monitored. However, in the present invention, since the arrangement of the storage areas in the printing unit is optimized, the data rewriting can be completed before the plug is removed from the outlet, and the data rewriting abnormality is unlikely to occur.

  In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the ink container includes a plurality of ink storage portions that respectively store a plurality of colors of ink, and the data stored in the second storage area includes the printing apparatus main body. It is preferable that ink remaining amount data for each ink storage unit calculated on the side is included. Monitoring the remaining amount of ink for each color in this way has the advantage that it is possible to immediately determine when a specific color has run out of ink.

  In the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second storage area includes two or more storage areas in which data rewriting of the latest ink remaining amount is sequentially performed. If configured in this way, even if there is a problem such as the plug being unplugged from the outlet during the rewriting of the latest ink remaining amount data, the data rewriting will not be performed normally. Always stores the data that was rewritten last time. Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in the current data rewrite, the ink remaining amount can be monitored based on the previously rewritten data.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage device provided in an ink container attached to a printing apparatus. The storage device includes an address counter that outputs a count value based on a clock signal output from the printing device, a sequential access based on the output count value, and a plurality of predetermined information that can be read and written and is nonvolatile. And a storage element having a plurality of storage areas for storing data.

  As described above, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since an inexpensive storage element that can perform only sequential access is used, an ink container can be provided at a cost that matches the property of being a consumable item.

  In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the storage area is a first storage area for storing read-only predetermined information, and the amount of ink in the ink container is disposed before the first storage area. And a second storage area for storing information related to. Further, an ink amount information storage area for storing information related to the ink amount in the ink container may be provided at a position where writing is first performed by the printing apparatus. By providing such a configuration, it is possible to quickly and reliably store information relating to the ink container such as the remaining amount of ink.

  In addition, the storage unit may have format information regarding items of information stored in the storage unit. Further, the format information may be arranged in a head area of the storage unit. Still further, the storage device may be an EEPROM. With such a configuration, necessary information can be accessed based on the format information, and a predetermined area can be accessed in a short time regardless of the storage capacity. Further, it is possible to construct an optimum area for the square ink cartridge based on the format information.

  A seventh aspect according to the present invention relates to an ink container. This ink container is provided with an ink containing portion for containing printing ink, and is accessed sequentially based on the output counter and an address counter that outputs a count value based on the input clock signal. And a storage element that stores a plurality of predetermined information in a readable and writable manner in a non-volatile manner, and uses the default value of the count value in the storage element for information that is updated in relation to the ink in the ink storage unit. The gist is that the data is stored in the first read area.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the information updated in relation to the ink in the ink containing portion is stored in the area accessed first using the default value of the count value of the address count. Can be performed at high speed. A value in the range of 0 to a predetermined value can be stored as the initial value of the ink consumption. If the value to be stored is 0, it is a so-called full state, and when the maximum value is reached, the ink storage portion is empty. As the capacity of the ink container in the ink container, for example, when designing a half of a normal ink container (half bottle), a value about half of the maximum value may be stored as an initial value. The capacity of the container can be designed freely. Note that the value 0 or the maximum value in this case may correspond to binary 00-FF or may correspond to decimal 0-100 using one pitot of the prepared storage element. . Two or more bytes may be used to increase the accuracy. Of course, any value can be used as long as the value corresponds to 0 or the maximum value. Further, the predetermined value can be a value corresponding to such a value 0 to the maximum value and corresponding to a value larger than 0 and up to about 90%. The value up to about 90 percent is that a predetermined amount of ink is sometimes used due to a so-called cleaning operation or the like. If a value equal to or greater than 90 percent is written as an initial value, the ink container is replaced. This is because an instruction may be issued. Of course, if there is no such limitation, a value equivalent to 90% or more may be written.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on some preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The description will be given in the following order.
[First embodiment]
(Overall configuration of inkjet printing apparatus)
(Configuration of ink cartridge and cartridge mounting section)
(Configuration of storage element 80)
(Operation of Inkjet Printer 1)
(Effects of the first embodiment)
[Second Embodiment]
(Data structure of storage elements 1080 and 1082)
(Description of control IC 200)
(Writing process to memory elements 1080 and 1082)
(Effect of the second embodiment)
[Other Examples]

[First embodiment]
(Overall configuration of inkjet printing apparatus)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an ink jet printer (printing apparatus) to which the present invention is applied, which is used in the following embodiments. In FIG. 1, the printer 1 of this embodiment is used in a state where it is connected to a computer PC together with a scanner SC and the like. By loading and executing an operating system and a predetermined program on the computer PC, these apparatuses as a whole function as a printing apparatus. In the computer PC, an application program runs on a predetermined operating system, and displays an image on the CRT display MT while performing predetermined processing on the image read from the scanner SC. When the user performs processing such as retouching an image on the display MT and then instructs printing, a printer driver incorporated in the operating system is activated and image data is transferred to the printer 1.

  The printer driver converts the processed original color image data input from the scanner SC into data of each color used by the printer 1 and outputs the data to the printer 1. More specifically, the original color image data is composed of three color components of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and this is color-converted and output to the printer 1 as black data (color data). K), cyan (C), light cyan (LC), magenta (M), light magenta (LM), yellow (Y) conversion processing, and so-called binarization that replaces this with the presence or absence of ink dots. Perform processing. Since these image processes are well-known, detailed description is omitted. Such processing can also be performed on the printer 1 side as will be described later.

  The carriage 101 is connected to a carriage motor 103 of the carriage mechanism 12 via a timing belt 102 and is guided by a guide member 104 to reciprocate in the paper width direction of the printing paper 105 (medium). The ink jet printer 1 also has a paper feed mechanism 11 using a paper feed roller 106. An ink jet print head 10 is attached to the carriage 101 on the surface facing the printing paper 105, and in the example shown in the drawing, the lower surface. The print head 10 receives ink from ink cartridges 107K and 107F (ink containers) held on the carriage 101, and forms dots by ejecting ink droplets onto the printing paper 105 as the carriage 101 moves. Then, images and characters are printed on the printing paper 105.

  The ink storage chamber 117K of the ink cartridge 107K is filled with black (K) ink. In addition, a plurality of ink storage chambers 107C, 107LC, 107M, 107LM, and 107Y are independently formed in the ink cartridge 107F. These ink storage chambers 107C, 107LC, 107M, 107LM, and 107Y are filled with cyan (C), light cyan (LC), magenta (M), light magenta (LM), and yellow (Y) inks, respectively. . Therefore, the ink of each color is supplied to the print head 10 from the ink storage chambers 107C, 107LC, 107M, 107LM, and 107Y. Each of these inks is ejected as ink droplets of each color from the print head 10 to realize color printing.

  A capping device 108 is disposed in a non-printing area (non-storage area) of the ink jet printer 1 and seals the nozzle openings of the print head 10 during the pause of the printing process. The capping device 108 can suppress the increase in ink viscosity or the formation of the ink film due to the volatilization of the solvent component of the ink during the suspension of the printing process. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent clogging of the nozzles during the suspension of the printing process. The capping device 108 receives ink droplets from the print head 10 by a flushing operation performed during execution of the printing process. A wiping device 109 is disposed in the vicinity of the capping device 108. The wiping device 109 wipes the ink fountain and paper dust adhering to the surface of the print head 10 by wiping the surface of the print head 10 with a blade or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, the ink jet printer 1 includes a printer main body 100 (printing apparatus main body) including a print controller 40 and a print engine 5. The print controller 40 performs an interface 43 for receiving print data including multi-value gradation information from a computer, a RAM 44 for storing various data such as print data including multi-value gradation information, and various data processing. ROM 45 that stores routines for the purpose, a control unit 46 including a CPU, an oscillation circuit 47, a drive signal generation circuit 48 that generates a drive signal COM to the print head 10, and printing developed into dot pattern data A parallel input / output interface 49 that performs functions such as transmitting data and drive signals to the print engine 5 is provided.

  Further, a panel switch 92 and a control line for a power source 91 are also connected to the print controller 40 via a parallel input / output interface 49. When power OFF is input by the panel switch 92, the print controller 40 outputs a power down command (NMI) to the power source 91, and the power source 91 enters a standby state. In this standby state, the power source 91 supplies standby power to the print controller 40 via a power supply line (not shown). That is, the power supply to the print controller 40 is not completely cut off by a normal power-off operation executed via the panel switch 92.

  Furthermore, the print controller 40 monitors whether or not predetermined power is supplied from the power source 91, and issues a power down command (NMI) even when the power plug is removed from the outlet. The power supply 91 is provided with a compensation power supply device (for example, a capacitor) in order to realize power supply for a predetermined time (for example, 0.3 seconds) even after the plug is removed from the outlet.

  The print controller 40 is also equipped with an EEPROM 90 for storing information relating to the black ink cartridge 107K and the color ink cartridge 107F mounted on the carriage 101 (see FIG. 1), which will be described in detail later. The EEPROM 90 stores predetermined information such as information (remaining ink amount or ink consumption amount) related to the ink amount in the black ink cartridge 107K and the color ink cartridge 107F. Furthermore, the print controller 40 includes an address decoder 95 that converts the address of a memory cell 81 (described later) of a storage element 80 (described later) that the control unit 46 desires to access (read / write) into the number of clocks. It has been.

  In the ink jet printer 1, the ink discharge amount can be calculated by multiplying the weight of the ink droplets discharged from the nozzle openings 23 and the number of ink droplet discharges. The ink remaining amount is determined by a pump mechanism that communicates with the capping device 108 by sealing the nozzle opening by bringing the capping device 108 into pressure contact with the print head 10 when an abnormality occurs due to mixing of bubbles in the print head 10. (Not shown) can be calculated by subtracting the ink consumption amount based on the ink suction amount consumed when returning by sucking ink from the ink remaining amount before the start of the printing operation. The calculation of the ink remaining amount is performed by the control unit 46 based on a program stored in advance in the ROM 45 or the like while using data stored in the EEPROM 90 or the like.

  As described above, the printer 1 of the embodiment receives the binarized data, but this data arrangement does not match the actual nozzle arrangement of the print head 10. Therefore, the control unit 46 divides the RAM 44 into a reception buffer 44A, an intermediate buffer 44B, and an output buffer 44C, and performs a rearrangement process of the dot data array. It is also possible to perform control such that the color conversion and binarization processing is performed on the printer 1 side. In such a case, the printer 1 holds the print data including multi-value gradation information sent from the computer PC or the like in the reception buffer 44A inside the printing apparatus via the interface 43, and performs the following processing. The print data held in the reception buffer 44A is sent to the intermediate buffer 44B after command analysis is performed. In the intermediate buffer 44B, the print data in the intermediate format converted into the intermediate code by the control unit 46 is held, and the process for adding the print position, modification type, size, font address, etc. of each character is controlled. This is executed by the unit 46. Next, the control unit 46 analyzes the print data in the intermediate buffer 44B, and develops and stores the binarized dot pattern data after decoding the gradation data in the output buffer 44C.

  In any case, when dot pattern data corresponding to one scan of the print head 10 is obtained, this dot pattern data is serially transferred to the print head 10 via the parallel input / output interface 49. When dot pattern data corresponding to one scan is output from the output buffer 44C, the contents of the intermediate buffer 44B are erased and the next conversion process is performed.

  The print engine 5 includes a print head 10, the paper feeding mechanism 11, and the carriage mechanism 12. The paper feed mechanism 11 sequentially feeds print media such as printing paper and performs sub-scanning, and the carriage mechanism 12 causes the print head 10 to perform main scanning.

  In order to form the generated dot pattern data on the print medium, the print head 10 ejects ink droplets from the nozzle openings toward the print medium at a predetermined timing. The drive signal COM generated by the drive signal generation circuit 48 is output to the element drive circuit 50 of the print head 10 via the parallel input / output interface 49. Here, in the print head 10, pressure generation chambers 32 and piezoelectric vibrators 17 (pressure generation elements) communicating with the nozzle openings 23 are formed by the number of the nozzle openings 23. When the drive signal COM is given to the piezoelectric vibrator 17, the pressure generation chamber 32 contracts and an ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle opening 23.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the layout of the nozzle openings formed in the print head. As shown in FIG. 3, the print head 10 has nozzle openings 23 corresponding to black (K), cyan (C), light cyan (LC), magenta (M), light magenta (LM), and yellow (Y). Are arranged in rows for each color.

(Configuration of ink cartridge and cartridge mounting section)
In the inkjet printer 1 configured as described above, the basic structures of the ink cartridges 107K and 107F are common. Therefore, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the structure of the ink cartridge and the structure for mounting the cartridge on the printer main body 100 will be described by taking the black ink cartridge 107K as an example.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic structure of an ink cartridge and a cartridge mounting portion of the printer main body 100. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the ink cartridge, the internal structure of the cartridge mounting portion on the carriage 101, and how the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion.

  In FIG. 4, an ink cartridge 107K includes a cartridge body 171 made of a synthetic resin that constitutes an ink storage portion 117K that stores ink therein, and a storage element 80 (storage means) built in the side frame portion 172 of the cartridge body 171. ). The storage element 80 exchanges various data with the printer main body 100 when the ink cartridge 107K is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 18 of the printer main body 100. Since the storage element 80 is mounted in the recess 173 whose lower side is open with respect to the side frame portion 172 of the ink cartridge 107K, only the plurality of connection terminals 174 are exposed.

  On the other hand, in the cartridge mounting portion 18, a needle 181 is disposed upward on the bottom portion 187 of the space in which the ink cartridge 107K is mounted. Around the needle 181 is a recess 183 that receives the ink supply unit 175 formed in the ink cartridge 107K. On the inner wall of the recess 183, cartridge guides 182 are formed at three locations. A connector 186 is disposed on the inner wall 184 of the cartridge mounting portion 18, and a plurality of connection terminals 174 of the storage element 80 are electrically connected to the connector 186 when the ink cartridge 107 </ b> K is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 18. A plurality of electrodes 185 are formed.

  Next, a procedure for mounting the ink cartridge 107K on the cartridge mounting unit 18 will be described. First, the ink cartridge 107 </ b> K is disposed in the cartridge mounting portion 18. A fixing lever 192 is attached to the rear wall portion 188 of the cartridge mounting portion 18 via a support shaft 191. When the fixing lever 192 is tilted so as to cover the ink cartridge 107K, the ink cartridge 107K is pushed downward. As a result, the ink supply unit 175 fits into the recess 183, and the needle 181 pierces the ink supply unit 175 so that ink can be supplied. Further, when the fixing lever 192 is tilted, the engaging portion 193 formed at the tip of the fixing lever 192 engages with the engaging tool 189 formed on the cartridge mounting portion 18, and the ink cartridge 107K is fixed. In this state, the plurality of connection terminals 174 of the storage element 80 of the ink cartridge 107 </ b> K and the plurality of electrodes 185 of the cartridge mounting portion 18 are electrically connected to each other, and data is exchanged between the printer main body 100 and the storage element 80. Is possible.

  Since the structure of the ink cartridge 107K is basically the same as that of the color ink cartridge 107F, the description thereof is omitted. However, in the color ink cartridge 107 </ b> F, it is necessary that the ink storage chambers are filled with ink for five colors, and these inks are supplied to the print head 10 through different paths. Therefore, in the color ink cartridge 107F, the ink supply portions 175 are formed by the number of ink colors. Note that the ink cartridge 107F contains ink for five colors, but only one storage element 80 is built in the ink cartridge 107F, and the information of the ink cartridge 107F and each color are stored in this one storage element 80. The ink information is stored together.

(Configuration of storage element 80)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the storage element 80 built in the ink cartridges 107K and 107F used in the ink jet printer of this embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a data array of storage elements built in the black ink cartridge 107K used in the ink jet printer of this embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a data array of storage elements built in the color ink cartridge 107F. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the data arrangement of the EEPROM built in the printer main body 100.

  In each of the ink cartridges 107K and 107F, an ink storage portion for storing ink is formed, and a storage element 80 is built in. As the storage element 80, in this embodiment, a block is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, a memory cell 81, a read / write control unit 82 that controls reading and writing of data in the memory cell 81, and the printer main body 100 via the read / write control unit 82 based on a clock signal CLK. An EEPROM including an address counter 83 that counts up when reading / writing data from / to a memory cell 81 is used.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the memory cell 81 of the storage element 80 provided in the black ink cartridge 107K has a first storage area 750 for storing read-only data and a second storage area for storing rewritable data. Storage area 760. The printer main body 100 can only read data stored in the first storage area 750, and can read and write data stored in the second storage area 760. Can be executed. The second storage area 760 is arranged at an address that is accessed earlier than the first storage area 750 when accessed. That is, the second storage area 760 is arranged at an address lower than that of the first storage area 750. In this embodiment, “low address” means “head address”.

  Here, the rewritable data stored in the second storage area 760 is the first black ink remaining amount data assigned to the storage areas 701 and 702 and the first black ink remaining data in the order of access. This is second black ink remaining amount data. The reason why the black ink remaining amount data is allocated to the two storage areas 701 and 702 is to perform data rewriting alternately for these areas. Therefore, if the black ink remaining amount data rewritten last is data stored in the storage area 701, the black ink remaining amount data stored in the storage area 702 is the previous data, and the next time. Is rewritten in the storage area 702.

  On the other hand, the read-only data stored in the first storage area 750 is the opening timing data (K) of the ink cartridge 107K assigned to each of the storage areas 711 to 720 in the order of first access. Year), ink cartridge 107K opening time data (month), ink cartridge 107K version data, pigment type or dye type ink type data, ink cartridge 107K manufacturing year data, ink cartridge 107K manufacturing month data, ink The manufacturing date data of the cartridge 107K, the manufacturing line data of the ink cartridge 107K, the serial number data of the ink cartridge 107K, and the recycling presence / absence data indicating whether the ink cartridge 107K is new or recycled.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the memory cell 81 of the storage element 80 provided in the color ink cartridge 107F also has a first storage area 650 for storing read-only data and a second storage area for storing rewritable data. Storage area 660. The printer main body 100 can only read data stored in the first storage area 650 and can read and write data stored in the second storage area 660. Can be executed. The second storage area 660 is arranged at an address that is accessed earlier than the first storage area 650 when accessed. That is, the second storage area 660 is arranged at an address lower than that of the first storage area 650.

  Here, the rewritable data stored in the second storage area 660 is the first cyan ink remaining amount data assigned to each of the storage areas 601 to 610 in the order of first access, Second cyan ink remaining amount data, first magenta ink remaining amount data, second magenta ink remaining amount data, first yellow ink remaining amount data, second yellow ink remaining amount data, first light cyan ink The remaining amount data, the second light cyan ink remaining amount data, the first light magenta ink remaining amount data, and the second light magenta ink remaining amount data. The reason why the ink remaining amount data of each color is allocated to the two storage areas is that data is rewritten alternately in these areas as in the case of the black ink cartridge 107K.

  On the other hand, the read-only data stored in the first storage area 650 is assigned to each of the storage areas 611 to 620 in the order of the first access, similar to the black ink cartridge 107K. Ink cartridge 107F opening time data (year), ink cartridge 107F opening time data (month), ink cartridge 107F version data, ink type data, manufacturing year data, manufacturing month data, manufacturing date data, manufacturing line data Serial number data and recycling presence / absence data. Since these data are common regardless of the color, only one type is stored as common data between the colors.

  Both of these data are read by the printer main body 100 when the power of the printer main body 100 is turned on after the ink cartridges 107K and 107F are installed in the printer main body 100, and are stored in the printer main body 100. It is stored in the EEPROM 90. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, in the storage areas 801 to 835 of the EEPROM 90, all the data stored in each storage element 80, such as the remaining amount of ink in the black ink cartridge 107K and the color ink cartridge 107F. Can be memorized.

(Operation of Inkjet Printer 1)
Next, basic operations executed by the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment from power-on to power-off will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing executed when the power is turned on. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing executed to calculate the remaining ink amount. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing executed before the power is turned off in the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment. FIGS. 13A and 13B are flowcharts showing processing when the remaining amount of ink is written from the printer main body 100 to the storage element 80 built in the ink cartridges 107K and 107F, respectively, in the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment. It is a timing chart at the time of processing.

  A processing routine executed by the control unit 46 after the power is turned on will be described with reference to FIG. When the ink jet printer 1 is turned on, the controller 46 determines whether or not the ink cartridges 107K and 107F have been replaced (step S30). For example, when the EEPROM 90 has an ink cartridge replacement flag, this determination is made by referring to the flag, or based on the manufacturing time data and manufacturing serial data of the ink cartridges 107K and 107F. This can be done by determining whether 107F has been replaced. If the ink cartridges 107K and 107F are not replaced and the power is simply turned on (step S30: No), the data stored in the storage elements 80 of the ink cartridges 107K and 107F is read (step S31).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the ink cartridges 107K and 107F have been replaced (step S30: Yes), the control unit 46 increments the number of times of attachment by one and stores the ink cartridges 107K and 107F in each storage element 80. Write (step S32). Then, the control unit 46 reads data stored from the storage elements 80 of the ink cartridges 107K and 107F (step S31). Subsequently, the control unit 46 writes each read data at a predetermined address in the EEPROM 90 or the RAM 44 (step S33). Based on the data stored in the EEPROM 90, the control unit 46 determines whether or not the installed ink cartridges 107K and 107F are compatible with the ink jet printer 1 (step S34). If it matches (step S34: Yes), the printing process is permitted (step S35), and the printing preparation is completed (end of this processing routine). On the other hand, if it does not match (step S34: No), the printing process is not permitted and a message indicating that the printing process cannot be performed is displayed on the panel switch 92 or on the display (step S36).

  Then, the inkjet printer 1 performs a predetermined printing operation. At this time, the control unit 46 executes processing for calculating the remaining ink amount. Such processing will be described with reference to FIG. When the printing process is started, an ink remaining amount calculation process routine is started. The control unit 46 determines whether the printing process is being executed (step S40). If the print process is being executed, the process waits until the print process is completed (step S40: Yes). On the other hand, when the printing process is not being executed (step S40: No), the ink consumption consumed in relation to the printing process is calculated (step S41). For example, the ink consumption amount is calculated by calculating the ink discharge amount for each color by multiplying the ink droplet weight and the number of ink droplet discharges, and is consumed by the calculated ink discharge amount and the suction operation. This is executed by adding the ink suction amount. Subsequently, the control unit 46 reads the remaining ink amount data stored in the EEPROM 90 (step S42). Then, the control unit 46 calculates the latest ink remaining amount by subtracting the calculated ink consumption from the read ink remaining amount (step S43). The control unit 46 writes the calculated latest ink remaining amount into the EEPROM 90 as ink remaining amount data (step S44), and this processing routine ends.

  Here, the newly calculated ink remaining amount is written in the storage elements 80 of the ink cartridges 107K and 107F after the power switch OFF operation is performed on the panel switch 92 of the inkjet printer 1.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 12, when the power switch is turned off in the panel switch 92 of the ink jet printer 1, it is first determined in step ST11 whether or not the ink jet printer 1 is on standby (step ST11). If not waiting (step ST11: NO), the ongoing sequence is terminated (step ST12), and the process returns to step ST11. On the other hand, when the inkjet printer 1 is on standby (step ST11: YES), after capping the print head 10 (step ST13), the drive conditions of the print head 10, for example, the voltage value of the drive waveform Then, the information content for storing the color ID and the like for performing color correction between the respective colors is stored (step ST14). Subsequently, the timer value is stored (step ST15), and the contents of the control panel, for example, the adjustment value during bidirectional printing is stored (step ST16). Next, the remaining amount of ink stored in the EEPROM 90 is stored in the second storage areas 660 and 760 of the storage elements 80 of the ink cartridges 107K and 107F (step ST17). When the ink remaining amount is stored (written) in each of the second storage areas 660 and 760, the ink remaining amount is alternately stored in the two storage areas assigned to each ink. Which storage area of the two storage areas has been executed can be identified by, for example, placing a flag at the head position of the two storage areas and setting the flag of the storage area in which writing has been performed. . Finally, the power supply is turned off (step ST18).

  Among the processes for turning off the power, a process for writing the remaining ink amount to the storage element 80 of the ink cartridges 107K and 107F will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 13A and 13B. To do. FIG. 13A is a flowchart showing processing when the remaining amount of ink is written from the printer main body 100 to a storage element built in the ink cartridge. FIG. 13B is a timing chart when this processing is performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 13A and 13B, first, the memory element 80 is selected by sending an enable signal CS for enabling the memory element 80 (step ST21). Next, in order to assign the data to be written to a preset address, the address counter 83 in the storage element 80 is counted up by the clock signal CLK (step ST22). After counting up to a predetermined write address in this way, the terminal of the read / write control unit 83 is switched to enter the write state. When the read / write signal W / R bar (which means active low) is output in synchronization with the clock signal CLK, the printer main body 100 outputs the ink remaining amount data DATA to the data terminal, and the ink Writing to the storage element 80 of the cartridges 107K and 107F is performed (step ST23). In FIG. 13B, writing is executed in synchronization with the fifth clock signal CLK. This is for explaining general writing. In this embodiment, the first clock signal is written. Ink remaining amount writing is executed in synchronization with CLK.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
As described above, in this embodiment, when data such as the remaining amount of ink is stored using the storage element 80 of the ink cartridges 107K and 107F, the storage element is used in both the black and color ink cartridges 107K and 107F. 80, since an inexpensive EEPROM that allows only sequential access is used, the ink cartridges 107K and 107F can be provided at a cost that matches the property of being a consumable item.

  In addition, the second storage areas 660 and 760 to be rewritten in the storage element 80 are addresses accessed earlier than the first storage areas 650 and 750 in which read-only data is stored. Therefore, even if the panel switch 92 is configured to rewrite data to the second storage areas 660 and 760 after the power switch is turned off, the data rewriting can be completed before the power plug is removed from the outlet. it can. As a result, there is an advantage that even if the cost of the ink cartridges 107K and 107F is reduced by using an inexpensive storage element 80 that can perform only sequential access, data rewriting abnormality is unlikely to occur.

  That is, if the power plug is removed from the outlet during the rewriting of the ink remaining amount data and the data is destroyed, the ink remaining amount cannot be monitored thereafter. However, in this embodiment, the storage area 650, 660, 750, 760 in the storage element 80 is arranged so that the ink remaining amount data is arranged in the head area of the storage area, so that the power plug is removed from the outlet. Data rewriting can be completed within a short period of time. As a result, there is an advantage that data rewriting abnormality is unlikely to occur.

  Further, in this embodiment, since the remaining ink amount data for each ink type of the ink cartridges 107K and 107F is stored and monitored, when the color is different from the color designated when printing in color, the cause is designated. There is an advantage that it is possible to immediately determine whether it is an error or because the ink of a specific color has run out.

  Furthermore, in the second storage areas 660 and 760, data rewriting of the latest ink remaining amount is performed alternately in the two storage areas. Therefore, even if there is a problem such as the plug being unplugged from the outlet during the data rewriting of the latest ink level, the data in the other area will be rewritten the last time. The data that is performed is always stored. Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in the current data rewrite, the ink remaining amount can be monitored based on the previously rewritten data.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. The ink jet printer 1 used in the first embodiment can also be applied in the second embodiment. Therefore, the description of the configuration of the inkjet printer 1 is omitted by giving the same number. However, in the second embodiment, the control IC 200 is provided in the print head 10, and writing to each of the storage elements 1080 and 1082 is controlled by the control IC 200. For convenience of description, the storage elements 1080 and 1082 are described first, and then the control IC 200 is described.

(Data structure of storage elements 1080 and 1082)
Hereinafter, the storage elements 1080 and 1082 of the ink cartridges 1107K and 1107F according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The ink cartridges 1107K and 1107F of the second embodiment have the same configuration as the ink cartridges 107K and 107F of the first embodiment except for the internal data structure of the memory cells 1081 and 1083 of the storage elements 1080 and 1082. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to those configurations, and description thereof is omitted. In this embodiment, since each information is stored in a capacity in bit units, the addresses of the storage elements 1080 and 1082 mean the head addresses where each information is to be stored. Each information is continuously stored in bit units.

  First, the data structure of the memory cell 1081 of the storage element 1080 of the ink cartridge 1107K will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal data structure (memory map) of the memory cell 1081 for each information item on the right side and the address of the control IC 200 viewed from the printer body 100 on the left side. The memory cell 1081 has a readable / writable address 00-18 and a read-only address 28-66. Information on the remaining amount of black ink is stored at an address 00 of the memory cell 1081 with a capacity of 8 bits. Further, the print head cleaning frequency information is stored at address 08, and the mounting frequency information of the ink cartridge 1107K is stored at address 10, each with a capacity of 8 bits. Further, the address 18 stores the attachment time information with a capacity of 16 bits. As described above, since the data relating to the remaining amount of black ink is assigned to the head address of the readable / writable address, the data relating to the remaining amount of black ink can be written first.

  The initial value of the data related to the remaining amount of ink is, for example, 100 when expressed as a percentage, and decreases to 0 as the printing process is executed. Alternatively, the ink consumption may be used instead of the ink remaining amount. In this case, for example, the initial value is 0 when expressed as a percentage, and increases to 100 as the printing process is executed. In calculating the percentage, the printer main body 100 has the maximum ink capacity data of the ink cartridges 1107K and 1107F, and the percentage is calculated based on the maximum ink capacity data and the actual ink consumption. Alternatively, the maximum capacity may be stored in the storage elements 1080 and 1082 of the ink cartridges 1107K and 1107F.

  When the ink consumption is used, a value of 0 to 90% can be written as the initial value of the ink consumption data. Normally, when no data is written, the memory data is “undefined”, but it is possible to reliably detect whether ink has been used by writing a value of 0 to 90%. . Further, it can be reliably detected that the retained ink amount is indicated on the assumption that the proper correction is performed during use. Furthermore, by setting the maximum value of the ink consumption data to 90%, it is possible to prevent the ink from running out during the printing process.

  In the case of a half size cartridge whose ink capacity is half that of a standard size cartridge, the initial value of the remaining ink amount or the ink consumption amount may be 50, or the initial value of the remaining ink amount is 100 or the initial ink consumption amount. The value may be set to 0 and the decrease or increase may be doubled. In such a case, when the standard size cartridge and the half size cartridge can be used together, the remaining amount of ink can be managed with the same scale.

  The information related to the manufacture of the ink container is, for example, the address 28 has a manufacturing bit information of 7 bits, the address 2F has a manufacturing month information of 4 bits, and the address 33 has a manufacturing date information of 5 bits. Each of which is stored. Furthermore, the address 38 stores manufacturing information with a 5-bit capacity, the address 3D stores manufacturing information with a 6-bit capacity, and the address 43 stores manufacturing serial number information with an 8-bit capacity. Address 4B stores the recycle count information with a capacity of 3 bits, address 60 stores the ink validity period information with a capacity of 6 bits, and address 66 stores the validity period information after opening with a capacity of 5 bits. ing.

  Next, the data structure of the memory cell 1083 of the storage element 1082 of the ink cartridge 1107F will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal data structure (memory map) of the memory cell 1083 for each information item on the right side and the address of the control IC 200 viewed from the printer body 100 on the left side. The memory cell 1083 has a read / write address 00 to 38 and a read-only address 48 to 86. The address 00 of the memory cell 1083 has the remaining amount information of cyan ink, the address 08 has the remaining amount information of magenta ink, the address 10 has the remaining amount information of yellow ink, and the address 18 has the capacity information of light cyan ink. Address 20 stores light magenta ink remaining amount information with a capacity of 8 bits.

  The address 28 stores the print head cleaning frequency information, and the address 30 stores the ink cartridge 1107F mounting frequency information with a capacity of 8 bits. Further, the address 38 stores the attachment time information with a capacity of 16 bits. As described above, since the data relating to the remaining amount of each color ink is assigned to the head address of the readable / writable address, the data relating to the remaining amount of each color ink can be written first. Ink remaining information on cyan, magenta and yellow colors is assigned to the first 3 bytes (24 bits), and ink remaining information on each color of light cyan and light magenta is assigned to the subsequent 2 bytes (16 bits). The present invention can also be applied to a three-color ink cartridge composed of three colors of cyan, magenta and yellow.

  Here, the initial value of the ink remaining amount is, for example, 100 when expressed as a percentage, and decreases to 0 as the printing process is executed. Alternatively, the ink consumption may be used instead of the ink remaining amount. In this case, for example, the initial value is 0 when expressed as a percentage, and increases to 100 as the printing process is executed. The handling of the data related to the remaining amount of color ink is the same as the handling of the data relating to the remaining amount of black ink, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  For example, the information related to the manufacture of the ink container includes, for example, an address 48 having a manufacturing year information of 7 bits, an address 4F having a manufacturing month information of 4 bits, and an address 53 having a manufacturing date information of 5 bits. Each of which is stored. Furthermore, the address 58 stores manufacturing information with a 5-bit capacity, the address 5D stores manufacturing information with a 6-bit capacity, and the address 63 stores manufacturing serial number information with an 8-bit capacity. Address 6B stores the recycle count information with a capacity of 3 bits, address 80 stores the ink validity period information with a capacity of 6 bits, and address 86 stores the validity period information after opening with a capacity of 5 bits. ing.

  Further, the address of the control IC 200 viewed from the printer main body 100 side will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in the figure, among the lower 8-bit addresses of the control IC 200, addresses 00 to 10 are assigned to information relating to the storage element 1080 of the ink cartridge 1107K, and addresses 20 to 34 are assigned to information relating to the storage element 1082 of the ink cartridge 1107F. Assigned. Each address is assigned a data length of 1 byte or 2 bytes.

(Description of control IC 200)
Next, the control IC 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, in this embodiment, the control IC 200 controls writing to the storage elements 1080 and 1082. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the carriage 101 of the ink jet printer to which the second embodiment can be applied. FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram including the control IC 200. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a connection relationship among the printer main body 100, the control IC 200, and the storage element.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the control IC 200 is provided integrally with the print head 10 on the carriage 101. The control IC 200 contacts the storage elements 1080 and 1082 via the contact mechanism 130 disposed on the carriage 101, and executes writing of predetermined information as required. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the control IC 200 has a RAM 210 that temporarily holds write data, is connected to the print controller 40 via a parallel input / output interface 49, and is connected to the storage elements 1080 and 1082. It is connected. That is, the control IC 200 is disposed between the print controller 40 and the storage elements 1080 and 082 on the ink cartridges 1107K and 1107F, and controls the exchange of data between the two. In FIG. 17, for convenience of illustration, the print head 10, the carriage mechanism 12, and the control IC 200 are shown separately.

  The print controller 40 outputs an input signal RxD and a command selection signal SEL, and writes predetermined information to the control IC 200 at predetermined time intervals. The written predetermined information is temporarily held in the RAM 210. Here, the predetermined time interval is, for example, a time interval every time one page printing process is completed, every several raster printing process is completed, or each time manual cleaning is executed. The predetermined information includes, for example, information on the remaining amount of ink, the number of cleanings, the number of attachments, and the attachment time. On the other hand, the control IC 200 receives the input signal RxD and the command selection signal SEL, and the information desired by the print controller 40 among the information read and stored in advance from the storage elements 1080 and 1082 is used as the output signal TxD. Output to the print controller 40.

  The ink remaining amount data is calculated as described in the first embodiment and then stored in the main body EEPROM 90. Further, the cleaning frequency data is stored in the main body EEPROM 90 during the cleaning operation. The data of the number of attachments is read from the storage elements 1080 and 1082 of each ink cartridge by the control IC 200 when the ink cartridge is mounted, and the read value is incremented by one and then stored in the main body EEPROM 90. Further, the attachment time data is output to the control IC 200 during the ink cartridge removal process, and is written in the storage elements 1080 and 1082 of each ink cartridge.

  A brief description will be given of a decoding process performed when the control IC 200 executes a writing process on the storage elements 1080 and 1082 in accordance with a command from the printer main body 100 (print controller 40). First, the control IC 200 converts the start address * Adf and the last address * Ade of the addresses (bit data) of the memory cells 1081 and 1083 that the control unit 46 desires to write into the number of clocks. The control IC 200 also converts data desired to be written, for example, ink remaining amount data (parallel data) into ink remaining amount data (serial data). Subsequently, * Adf-1 clock pulses are output to the storage elements 1080 and 1082, and further, * Ade-Adf clock pulses are output to the storage elements 1080 and 1082, and writing is performed synchronously. Transfer data serially. The write data is temporarily stored in the control IC 200 until writing to each of the storage elements 1080 and 1082 is executed. Alternatively, when the subsequent writing of the print controller 40 to the control IC 200 is earlier than the writing of the control IC 200 to each storage element, it is updated with new data.

  Note that writing to the storage elements 1080 and 1082 by the control IC 200 is performed when the power is turned off or when the cartridge is replaced, and the predetermined information is written. At the time of writing to each of the storage elements 1080 and 1082, the control IC 200 converts the byte data into bit data, and executes writing processing on both the storage elements 1080 and 1082 in parallel. As described above, the clock pulse output from the control IC corresponds to an address in bit units.

(Writing process to memory elements 1080 and 1082)
Subsequently, a writing operation to each of the memory elements 1080 and 1082 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a write processing routine executed on the storage elements 1080 and 1082 by the control IC 200.

  As described above, the controller 46 issues a power down command (NMI) when the power supply to the print controller 40 becomes zero, for example, when the power is turned off and the power plug is removed from the outlet. When the control IC 200 receives this power-down command (NMI), the control IC 200 starts a writing process to the storage elements 1080 and 1082 (step S100). First, the control IC 200 refers to its own control register area, and whether or not all the read / write BUSY flags of the storage elements 1080 and 1082 are in the READY state, that is, the read / write processing for the storage elements 1080 and 1082 is performed. It is determined whether or not the state is not executed (step S110). When all the read / write BUSY flags are in the READY state (step S110: Yes), the control IC 200 determines whether or not the NMI write flag of each of the storage elements 1080 and 1082 is in the permitted state, that is, each of the storage elements 1080, It is checked whether or not the memory element 1082 is a memory element that is allowed to be written at the time of the power down command (step S120).

  If it is in the NMI write permission state (S120: Yes), the ink cartridges that are allowed to be written are confirmed (step S130), and the remaining amount of ink and the number of cleanings for the storage elements of the permitted ink cartridges. Then, the designation information is written to the designated address in the order of the number of attachments and the attachment time (step S140). After the writing is completed, the process waits until all the read / write BUSY flags are in the READY state (step S150), and when all are in the READY state (step S150: Yes), the control signal output (CS1, CS2,. CLK1, CLK2, R / W1, R / W2, I / O1, and I / O2) are set to Hi-Z (step S160). Subsequently, the power supply output to the storage elements 1080 and 1082 is turned off (S170).

  If all the read / write BUSY flags are not in the READY state in step S110 (step S110: No), the process waits until all the read / write BUSY flags are in the READY state (step S180), and all are in the READY state. Now (step S180: Yes), the process proceeds to step S150, and steps S160 to S170 are executed.

  If the NMI write flag of each of the storage elements 1080 and 1082 is not in the permitted state in step 120 (S120: No), the process proceeds to step S150, and steps S160 to S170 are executed.

  The writing process will be further described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a processing routine executed by the control IC 200 during the writing process, and FIGS. 21 and 22 are timing charts when the writing process is executed. FIG. 21 shows a timing chart when the writing process is executed from the head address, and FIG. 22 shows a timing chart when the writing process is executed from a desired address via dummy reading.

  When this processing routine starts, as shown in FIG. 21, the control IC 200 sets the CS signal to a low level and resets the address counter 83 in the storage elements 1080 and 1082 (step S200). Next, the control IC 200 sets the CS signal to a high level to activate the storage elements 1080 and 1082 (step S210). Subsequently, the control IC 200 outputs a number of clock pulses corresponding to an address to which the print controller 40 receives data from the print controller 40 to which data is desired to be written to the storage elements 1080 and 1082 (step S220). Since the address counter 83 in the storage elements 1080 and 1082 increments the address in bit units at the timing when the clock signal falls, the control IC 200 designates a desired address (S230). Subsequently, the control IC 200 sets the W / R signal to a high level, thereby designating a write operation to the storage elements 1080 and 1082 and outputting data to be written to the data bus. As a result, write data is written to a desired address in the memory cells 1081 and 1083 (S240). Thereafter, the writing process is terminated. As described above, in this embodiment, the address is specified in bit units and incremented in bit units.

  When writing to the next address following the designated address is executed, the CS signal and the W / R signal are held high, and the clock pulse corresponding to the next address is sent from the control IC 200 to the storage element 1080. , 1082 (address counter 83). Then, after the next address is designated, writing of the write data output from the control IC 200 is executed. On the other hand, when writing is performed to the next address that is discontinuous with the designated address, the W / R signal from the control IC 200 to the storage elements 1080 and 1082 becomes low level as shown in FIG. The empty read is executed until the next address is reached. Then, after reaching the next address, the W / R signal from the control IC 200 to the storage elements 1080 and 1082 is set to the high level, and the write data is output to the data bus, whereby the write is executed.

  For example, a case where the remaining ink amount is written in the memory cells of the storage elements 1080 and 1082 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the memory cells of the memory elements 1080 and 1082 according to this embodiment, as described above, the address for writing the remaining ink data is the address 00 for the memory element 1080 and the addresses 00, 08, 10, 18, 20 for the memory element 1082. Is assigned. In this embodiment, when the control IC 200 executes writing to the storage elements 1080 and 1082, the address counter in the storage elements 1080 and 1082 is reset to zero. Therefore, when the control IC 200 executes the writing process, the ink remaining amount data is written to the storage elements 1080 and 1082 before other data.

(Effect of the second embodiment)
As a result, after the power is turned off, the ink remaining amount data can be quickly written to the storage elements 1080 and 1082, and the power plug is unplugged immediately after the power is turned off. Insufficient ink remaining data can be written to the storage elements 1080 and 1082.

  The write processing routine from the control IC 200 to the storage elements 1080 and 1082 is also executed when the power plug is removed from the outlet without performing the power-off operation or when a power failure occurs. Under these conditions, the NMI command is issued as described above, and power is supplied to the print controller 40 by the compensation power source of the printer main body 100 for 0.3 seconds. At this time, in this embodiment, since the ink remaining amount data is first written to the storage elements 1080 and 1082, the writing process can be sufficiently completed during a period in which power is supplied.

[Other embodiments]
In the first embodiment, the data stored in the second storage areas 660 and 760 is only the remaining amount of ink, but the number of times the ink cartridges 107K and 107F are attached and detached, the elapsed time since the ink cartridges 107K and 107F were opened. Or the like may be stored in the second storage areas 660 and 760 as rewritten data for reading and writing data with the printer main body 100. In this way, if the number of times the ink cartridges 107K and 107F are attached and detached is stored, the state of bubbles in the ink (inside the ink cartridge) differs, and accordingly the ink cartridges 107K and 107F are transferred to the print head 10 accordingly. The ink filling condition (for example, the number of times of flushing) in the flow path to reach can be adjusted to the optimum condition.

  Further, in the color ink cartridge 107F, in the second storage area 660, two storage areas where data rewriting of the latest ink remaining amount is alternately performed are stored in a continuous area for each color. Thus, the storage areas for the respective colors to be written this time may be continuously arranged, and the storage areas for the respective colors to be written next time (or the previous time) may be subsequently arranged.

  Further, in the first embodiment, in the color ink cartridge 107F, in the second storage area 660, two storage areas are sequentially reserved for each color in which data rewriting of the latest ink remaining amount is sequentially performed. Three or more areas may be secured for each color.

  Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the address counter 83 is used as the type that counts up. However, an address counter that counts down may be used. The data arrangement may be changed so that the second storage areas 660 and 760 are accessed before the first storage areas 650 and 750. That is, the second storage areas 660 and 760 are arranged at a higher address than the first storage areas 650 and 750. In the second embodiment, the information on the remaining amount of ink arranged at the head address may be arranged at the final address.

    Further, the second embodiment has a configuration in which each ink remaining amount data is arranged in a storage area that is first accessed by the printer main body 100 among the addresses in the memory cells. However, as shown in FIG. 23, the format information may be provided at the address accessed first by the printer main body 100. FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a data array structure 900 in a memory cell. The format information 901 is used to specify information to be stored in the memory cell. For example, when writing ink remaining amount data or the like, the writing area is based on the format information 901 and the ink remaining amount in the writable area 902 is written. Necessary writing is executed after specifying the storage area 903. Therefore, the information stored in the read-only area 904 is not inadvertently erased.

  Further, in order to access necessary information based on the format information 901, for example, even when the storage elements used for the black ink cartridge and the color ink cartridge are shared, the format information 901 is appropriately set. By setting, it does not take time for access time such as reading and writing. That is, for example, in the case of ink remaining amount data, the capacity of the ink remaining amount data storage area 903 may be defined by the format information 901 in accordance with the ink capacity of each ink cartridge. In addition, in an ink cartridge having a small amount of information to be stored, by limiting the accessible area by the format information 901, a short access time can be realized even when a general-purpose storage element is used.

  Further, each of the above embodiments is applicable to any of the on-carriage type printing apparatus in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage 101 and the off-carriage type printing apparatus in which the ink cartridge is not mounted on the carriage 101. Even can be applied.

  In each of the above embodiments, the ink remaining amount data is stored at the head position of the memory address. However, the storage position of the remaining ink amount data may be a memory address that is first written by the printer main body 100 (print controller 40). For example, when the initial write address by the print controller 40 is an intermediate address, In response to this, ink remaining amount data is also stored in the intermediate address. That is, the storage position of the ink remaining amount data does not have to be the physical head address of the memory cells 81, 1081, and 1083, but may be a memory address that is written / read out first.

  In each of the above embodiments, the EEPROM is used as the storage elements 80, 1080, and 1082. However, a sequential access type dielectric memory (FEROM) may be used instead. The flash memory falls within the category of the EEPROM.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the remaining ink amount is used as the information related to the ink amount, but the ink consumption amount may be used instead.

  Further, instead of the ink cartridges 107K, 107F, 1107K, and 1107F used in each embodiment, an ink cartridge 500 as shown in FIG. 24 may be used. FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an ink cartridge 500 according to another embodiment.

  The ink cartridge 500 contains a porous body (not shown) impregnated with ink in a container 51 formed as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and the upper surface is sealed with a lid 53. In the container 51, five ink storage portions (for example, 107C, 107LC, 107M, 107LM, and 107Y in the ink cartridges 107F and 1107F) for separately storing five color inks are partitioned and formed. On the bottom surface of the container 51, ink supply ports 54 are formed corresponding to the respective ink colors at positions facing the ink supply needles when mounted on the holder. In addition, an overhanging portion 56 that engages with a protrusion of the lever on the main body side is integrally formed at the upper end of the vertical wall 55 on the ink supply port side. The projecting portion 56 is formed separately on both sides of the wall 55 and has ribs 56a. Further, a triangular rib 57 is formed between the lower surface and the wall 55. The container 51 has a recess 59 for preventing erroneous insertion.

  On the ink supply port forming side of the vertical wall 55, a recess 58 is formed so as to be positioned at the center in the width direction of each cartridge 500, and the circuit board 31 is mounted thereon. The circuit board 31 has a plurality of contacts on the surface facing the contacts of the main body, and a memory element is mounted on the back surface thereof. Further, the vertical wall 55 is formed with protrusions 55a and 55b and overhang portions 55c and 55d for positioning the circuit board 31.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, five colors of magenta, cyan, yellow, light cyan, and light magenta are used as color inks. However, combinations of other colors, or addition of other colors, six colors, seven colors, etc. In this case, the present invention can be applied.

It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the inkjet printer to which this invention is applied. It is a functional block diagram of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the layout of the nozzle opening part formed in the print head shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge and a cartridge mounting unit. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where an ink cartridge is mounted on a cartridge mounting portion. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a storage element built in an ink cartridge used in the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a data array of storage elements built in a black ink cartridge used in the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a data array of storage elements built in a color ink cartridge used in the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data arrangement | sequence of EEPROM built in the printer main body of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed at the time of power activation. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed to calculate a remaining ink amount. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed until power is turned off in the inkjet printer illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing processing and timing when writing the remaining amount of ink from a printer main body to a storage element built in an ink cartridge in an ink jet printer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal data structure (memory map) of the memory cell with respect to each information item about the black ink cartridge according to 2nd Example on the right side, and the address of control IC seen from the printer main body 100 on the left side. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal data structure (memory map) of the memory cell with respect to each information item about the color ink cartridge according to 2nd Example on the right side, and the address of control IC seen from the printer main body 100 on the left side. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the carriage structure of the inkjet printer with which 2nd Example can be applied. 2 is a functional block diagram of an ink jet printer including a control IC 200. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a connection relationship among a printer main body, a control IC, and a storage element. 10 is a flowchart showing a write processing routine executed on the storage elements 1080 and 1082 by the control IC 200. It is a flowchart which shows a writing process in detail. It is a timing chart at the time of performing a writing process. It is a timing chart at the time of performing a writing process. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the data arrangement structure in the memory cell according to another Example. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the ink cartridge 500 which concerns on another Example.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Inkjet printer (inkjet printer)
5. Print engine
10 ... Print head
17 ... Piezoelectric vibrator
23 ... Nozzle opening
40 ... Print controller
46. Control unit
80: Memory element
81 ... Memory cell
82: Read / write control unit
83: Address counter
95 ... Address decoder
100 ... Printer body
107K, 107F ... Ink cartridge (ink container)
107C, 107LC, 107M, 107LM, 107Y ... Ink container
200 ... Control IC
210 ... RAM
650, 750 ... first storage area
660, 760 ... first storage area
901 ... Format information
902 ... Writable area
903: Ink remaining amount storage area
904 ... Read-only area
1080, 1082 ... Memory element
1107K, 1107F ... Ink cartridge
COM: Drive signal

Claims (54)

An ink container attached to a printing device,
An ink containing portion for containing printing ink;
A storage unit that can read and write in a nonvolatile manner predetermined information including a plurality of information related to the amount of ink in the ink storage unit, and
The storage unit is an ink container having an ink amount information storage region that is an area that is first written by the printing apparatus and that stores information related to the ink amount.   2. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the ink storage section has a number of storage chambers corresponding to the type of ink of the printing ink, and the ink amount information storage area corresponds to the type of printing ink. An ink container having a storage capacity.   3. The ink container according to claim 2, wherein the ink amount information storage area has a capacity of at least 3 bytes.   4. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the ink amount information storage area is an area that is written when the ink container is replaced or when the printing apparatus is powered off. 5. . The ink container according to claim 3, wherein the ink storage unit includes at least three storage chambers that store at least three different color inks.
The ink amount information storage area has a plurality of information storage areas for independently storing information related to the ink amount in each storage chamber,
An ink container in which a capacity of 1 byte or more is allocated to each of the plurality of information storage areas. The ink container according to claim 3, wherein the ink amount information storage area has a capacity of at least 5 bytes.
The ink storage portion has at least five storage chambers for storing at least five different colors of ink,
The ink amount information storage area has a plurality of information storage areas for independently storing information related to the ink amount in each storage chamber,
An ink container in which a capacity of 1 byte is allocated to each of the plurality of information storage areas. The ink container according to claim 6, wherein the five colors of ink have three dark colors and two light colors corresponding to two of the three dark colors,
The ink amount information storage area has the information storage area for storing ink information corresponding to the three dark colors in an area that is first written by the printing apparatus, and then ink corresponding to the two light colors. An ink container having the information storage area for storing information.   8. The ink container according to claim 7, wherein the three dark inks are cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively, and the two light colors are light cyan and light magenta, respectively.   9. The ink container according to claim 4, wherein the information storage area is an area written when the ink container is replaced or when the printing apparatus is powered off.   10. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a storage unit that is sequentially accessed in synchronization with a clock signal. 11. The ink container according to claim 10, wherein the storage unit has a plurality of storage areas,
The ink amount information storage area is an ink container which is a storage area arranged at a head position among a plurality of storage areas of the storage unit. The ink container according to claim 10, wherein the storage unit has a plurality of storage areas,
The ink amount information storage area is an ink container which is a storage area arranged at the end position among a plurality of storage areas of the storage unit.   The ink container according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the information related to the ink amount is an ink remaining amount.   The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the ink amount is a cumulative ink consumption amount related to the ink container. An ink container attached to a printing device,
An ink containing portion for containing printing ink;
A storage unit capable of reading and writing in a nonvolatile manner and storing predetermined information including information related to the amount of ink in the ink storage unit;
The storage unit is accessed sequentially in synchronization with the clock signal, and is disposed before the first storage area for storing read-only information and the first storage area, and for storing rewrite information An ink container.   16. The ink container according to claim 15, wherein the information stored in the second storage area includes ink remaining amount information in the ink container calculated by the printing device based on an ink consumption amount associated with printing. Ink container included. The ink container according to claim 15, comprising a plurality of ink storage portions that respectively store a plurality of colors of ink as the ink storage portion.
The information stored in the second storage area includes ink remaining amount information for each of the ink storage units calculated by the printing apparatus side.   16. The ink container according to claim 15, wherein the information stored in the second storage area includes ink consumption information in the ink storage unit calculated based on an ink consumption accompanying printing. Ink container.   19. The ink container according to claim 18, wherein the ink consumption information has an initial value in a range of 0 to a predetermined value.   The ink container according to claim 15 or 17, wherein the second storage area includes two or more storage areas in which information rewriting of the latest ink remaining amount is sequentially performed.   21. The ink container according to claim 15, wherein the information stored in the second storage area is after the ink container measured on the printing apparatus main body side is opened. The ink container includes at least one kind of information of the elapsed time and the number of times the ink container is attached to and detached from the printing apparatus body measured on the printing apparatus body side.   The ink container according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the information stored in the first storage area includes the date of manufacture of the ink container and the ink stored in the ink container. And an ink container containing at least one type of information of the ink storage capacity of the ink container.   The ink container according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the storage unit is an EEPROM.   The ink container according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the storage unit has format information relating to items of information stored therein.   25. The ink container according to claim 24, wherein the format information is arranged in a head region of the storage unit. A method of writing predetermined information in an ink container that is mounted on a printing apparatus and has a storage element,
A plurality of the predetermined information including information related to an ink amount in an ink container to be written to the storage element in the printing device;
A method of writing predetermined information in an ink container that writes information relating to the ink amount among the plurality of generated predetermined information to the storage element first.   27. The method of writing predetermined information in the ink container according to claim 26, wherein the writing of information relating to the ink amount is performed when the ink container is replaced and when the power is turned off. The method for writing predetermined information in the ink container according to claim 27, further comprising:
The capacity corresponding to the type of printing ink from the top arranges the plurality of predetermined information so as to indicate the ink amount information,
The predetermined information is written in the ink container in which the predetermined information is written to the storage element in the order of arrangement. The method for writing predetermined information in the ink container according to claim 28, further comprising:
The plurality of predetermined information is arranged so that at least 3 bytes from the top indicate ink amount information for at least three different colors of ink,
The predetermined information is written in the ink container in which the predetermined information is written to the storage element in the order of arrangement. The method for writing predetermined information in the ink container according to claim 28, further comprising:
The plurality of predetermined information is arranged so that at least 5 bytes from the top indicate ink amount information for at least five different colors of ink,
The predetermined information is written in the ink container in which the predetermined information is written to the storage element in the order of arrangement. The method of writing predetermined information in the ink container according to claim 30, wherein the five colors of ink have three dark colors and two light colors corresponding to two of the three dark colors,
The predetermined information is arranged in such a manner that ink amount information corresponding to the three dark colors is arranged first, and then the predetermined information is written in an ink container in which ink amount information corresponding to the two light colors is arranged.   32. The method of writing predetermined information in the ink container according to claim 31, wherein the three dark inks are cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively, and the two light colors are light cyan and light magenta, respectively. How to write.   33. A method for writing predetermined information into an ink container according to any one of claims 26 to 32, wherein the predetermined information is written in a sequential access format.   34. A method for writing predetermined information into an ink container according to any one of claims 26 to 33, wherein the information related to the ink amount is predetermined in an ink container that is an accumulated ink consumption amount of the ink container. How to write information.   34. The method for writing predetermined information into an ink container according to any one of claims 26 to 33, wherein the information related to the ink amount writes predetermined information into an ink container that is the remaining amount of ink in the ink container Method. A printing apparatus in which any one of the ink containers according to claim 1 is mounted and used.
A storage device for storing a plurality of predetermined information including information related to the amount of ink in the ink container;
A printing apparatus comprising: a writing device that writes information related to the ink amount among the predetermined information in the ink amount information storage area on the ink container side. Inkjet printing having an ink container that contains ink and is detachably attached to the printing apparatus main body, and a printing apparatus main body that performs printing on the medium by discharging the ink contained in the ink container from the print head toward the medium A device,
The ink container includes a storage unit and a sequential access type storage unit including an address counter that counts up or down based on a clock signal when reading and writing between the storage unit and the printing apparatus main body. ,
The storage means includes, as the storage unit, a first storage area that stores read-only data that is read only from the printing apparatus main body, and an area that is accessed before the first storage area when accessed And a second storage area for storing rewrite data to be read / written from / to the printing apparatus main body,
The ink-jet printing apparatus is provided with means for inputting / outputting data to be read / written in response to a clock signal.   38. The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the data stored in the second storage area includes the ink container calculated on the main body side of the printing apparatus based on an ink consumption amount at the print head. An ink jet printing apparatus including ink remaining amount data. 40. The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the ink container includes a plurality of ink storage portions that respectively store a plurality of colors of ink.
An ink jet printing apparatus, wherein the data stored in the second storage area includes ink remaining amount data for each ink storage unit calculated on the printing apparatus main body side.   40. The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the second storage area includes two or more storage areas in which data rewriting of the latest ink remaining amount is sequentially performed. Inkjet printing apparatus.   41. The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the ink remaining amount data is rewritten after a power switch of the printing apparatus body is turned off. Inkjet printing device.   42. The ink jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 37 to 41, wherein the ink container measured on the main body side of the printing apparatus is opened for data stored in the second storage area. An ink jet printing apparatus comprising at least one kind of data of an elapsed time from the time when the ink container is attached and the number of times the ink container is attached to and detached from the printing apparatus body.   43. The ink jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 37 to 42, wherein data stored in the first storage area is stored in the ink container on a date of manufacture of the ink container. An ink jet printing apparatus comprising at least one kind of data of the type of ink being contained and the ink storage capacity of the ink container.   44. The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the storage unit is an EEPROM. A storage device provided in an ink container attached to a printing device,
An address counter that outputs a count value based on a clock signal output from the printing apparatus;
A storage device provided in an ink container comprising: a storage element that has a plurality of storage areas that are sequentially accessed based on the output count value and that store a plurality of predetermined information in a readable and writable manner in a nonvolatile manner. The storage device provided in the ink container according to claim 45,
The storage area is a first storage area for storing predetermined read-only information, and a second storage that is arranged before the first storage area and stores information related to the amount of ink in the ink container. And a storage device provided in an ink container having a region. The storage device provided in the ink container according to claim 45,
The storage device is a storage device provided in an ink container having an ink amount information storage region for storing information related to the ink amount in the ink container at a position where writing is first performed by the printing device.   48. The storage device provided in the ink container according to claim 45 or 47, wherein the storage unit is provided in the ink container having format information relating to an item of information stored therein.   49. The storage device provided in the ink container according to claim 48, wherein the format information is provided in an ink container disposed in a head region of the storage unit.   50. The storage device provided in the ink container according to claim 45, wherein the storage device is an EEPROM that is an EEPROM. An ink container having an ink containing portion for containing printing ink,
An address counter that outputs a count value based on an input clock signal;
A storage element that is sequentially accessed based on the output count value and that reads and writes a plurality of predetermined information in a nonvolatile manner;
An ink container in which information updated in relation to the ink in the ink container is stored in an area of the storage element that is first read using a default value of the count value.   52. The ink container according to claim 51, wherein the updated information is a remaining amount of ink.   52. The ink container according to claim 51, wherein the updated information is ink consumption.   54. The ink container according to claim 53, wherein the ink consumption amount is stored as an initial value in a range of 0 to a predetermined value.

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