JP2007261130A - Dot forming raw material container, ink cartridge, and recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a recorder of a constitution whereby maintenance control for maintaining a recording image quality such as head cleaning can be automatically executed by a proper timing by correctly specifying at all times whether or not a fixed time or more while recording to a material to be recorded is not executed has passed, without a battery loaded in a recorded body and without actual time information acquired from the outside, and to reduce the risk of wasteful consumption of ink and the like due to the maintenance control unnecessary. <P>SOLUTION: The ink cartridge 71 has the battery 712 and an RTC 713 incorporated therein. Similarly, the ink cartridge 72, the ink cartridge 73 and the ink cartridge 74 have the battery 722 and an RTC 723, the battery 732 and an RTC 733, and the battery 742 and an RTC 743 incorporated therein, respectively. A recording control part 100 carries out head cleaning control based on a count value of any of the RTCs 713, 723, 733 and 743. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording by forming dots on a recording surface of a recording material, a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from an ink ejection nozzle of a recording head to the recording surface of the recording material, and recording The present invention relates to a dot forming raw material container and an ink cartridge that are detachably connected to the apparatus.

  For example, in a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer that performs recording by ejecting ink from an ink ejection nozzle of a recording head to a recording surface of a recording material, the state in which recording on the recording material is not performed continues for a certain time or more. The ink in the vicinity of the nozzle opening of the ink ejection nozzle disposed on the head surface of the recording head may be dried and solidified, which may cause clogging of the ink ejection nozzle. When recording on the recording material is performed in a state where the ink ejection nozzles are clogged, the ink that should be ejected is not ejected from the clogged ink ejection nozzles, and so-called dot omission occurs. As a result, the recorded image quality deteriorates.

  In order to prevent this drop in recording image quality due to missing dots, head cleaning is performed to remove dried and solidified ink in the vicinity of the nozzle openings of the ink ejection nozzles arranged on the head surface of the recording head. Then, after the clogging of the ink ejection nozzles is eliminated, recording on the recording material may be executed. However, since this head cleaning generally involves a large amount of ink consumption, for example, every time recording is performed on a recording material, if the head cleaning is performed every time before starting recording, the previous recording is performed. Even when the elapsed time from the time is short and the ink ejection nozzles are not clogged, the head cleaning is performed uniformly, and as a result, unnecessary head cleaning may occur frequently.

  In other words, every time recording is performed on the recording material, the head cleaning is performed every time before the recording is started, because the ink is wasted and the ink use efficiency is remarkably reduced. Not right. Therefore, in a general recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer, when the recording on the recording material is started, the time when the previous recording is executed is longer than a certain time when it is highly likely that the ink ejection nozzle is clogged. Only when the time has elapsed, the head cleaning is automatically executed before the start of recording.

  For this reason, a general recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer uses a well-known RTC (real time) in order to specify whether or not the time during which recording on a recording material is not performed exceeds a certain time. Clock) and the like. However, if the timing by the RTC is stopped while the power of the recording apparatus is turned off, the elapsed time from the previous recording execution cannot be accurately specified. For this reason, a recording device such as an inkjet printer equipped with a timekeeping means such as an RTC has a timekeeping means such as an RTC in order to operate the timekeeping means such as an RTC even when the power supply of the recording device is turned off and the outlet is disconnected. Generally, a dedicated small battery (button battery or the like), a large-capacity capacitor, or the like is built in the recording apparatus main body. However, if the battery or the like eventually runs out, there is a problem that the timing means such as the RTC can no longer be operated when the recording apparatus is turned off and the outlet is disconnected. .

  As an example of the prior art that can solve such a problem, for example, it has a configuration in which real-time data is received from an external device such as a personal computer together with commands indicating start and end of recording, and recording is performed last time. There is a known recording apparatus that calculates the elapsed time from the execution time from the actual time received from the external device together with the previous recording end command and the actual time received together with the current recording start command (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ). Since the real-time data is always acquired from the external device at the start and end of recording, there is no need to provide timekeeping means such as RTC in the recording apparatus, so that the problem of running out of batteries in the timekeeping means such as RTC does not occur. . As another example of the conventional technique, for example, a recording apparatus for mobile use having a configuration in which the recording apparatus itself can operate with a lithium ion battery, a fuel cell, or the like is known (for example, see Patent Document 2). . The recording apparatus having such a configuration can execute recording on the recording material with the power of the mounted battery even when the power is turned off and the outlet is disconnected, and at the same time, the RTC in the recording apparatus, etc. It is also possible to operate the time measuring means.

JP 2001-138602 A JP 2005-262592 A

  However, the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above requires an absolute condition that an external device such as a personal computer capable of transmitting real-time data together with commands indicating the start and end of recording is connected. Therefore, recording with a direct print function, such as recording directly on a recording material by connecting a digital camera directly to the recording device, or executing recording on a recording material by directly reading a digital image file from a memory card. In the apparatus, as long as the recording on the recording material is executed using the direct print function, it is possible to accurately specify whether or not the time when the recording on the recording material is not performed has exceeded a predetermined time. It will be impossible.

  If it is not possible to accurately determine whether or not the time during which recording on the recording material is not performed exceeds a certain time, it is impossible to predict whether or not the ink ejection nozzles are clogged. Therefore, there is a possibility that the recording image quality is deteriorated due to missing dots. For this reason, in order to prevent a decrease in recording image quality due to missing dots, it is necessary to always perform head cleaning before the start of recording regardless of the possibility of nozzle clogging of the ink ejection nozzles. As described above, the problem that unnecessary head cleaning frequently occurs and a large amount of ink is wasted is still generated.

  In addition, in a recording device that can operate with the power of a battery pack such as a lithium ion battery, it is possible to measure the time of an RTC or the like unless the battery pack or the like is always attached to the recording device while the recording device is turned off. The time measurement by the means is stopped, and it becomes impossible to accurately specify whether or not the time during which recording on the recording material is not performed exceeds a certain time. Therefore, in this case as well, depending on whether the battery pack is attached or removed, the head cleaning must be executed before the start of recording regardless of the possibility of nozzle clogging of the ink ejection nozzle, which is unnecessary. There is still a possibility that wasteful ink cleaning is performed by performing wasteful head cleaning. Furthermore, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above, a large fuel cell capable of operating the recording apparatus is mounted on the recording apparatus main body, which causes a problem that the recording apparatus becomes large. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and the problem is that a battery is not mounted on the recording apparatus main body and real-time information is not acquired from the outside. A recording apparatus having a configuration capable of automatically executing maintenance control for maintaining recording image quality such as head cleaning at an appropriate timing by always accurately determining whether or not a recording non-execution time has passed for a certain period of time. The object is to reduce the possibility of unnecessary consumption of ink or the like due to unnecessary maintenance control.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a dot is formed on a recording surface of a recording material and is detachably connected to a recording apparatus that executes recording, and is formed on the recording surface of the recording material. A dot forming raw material container for storing a dot forming raw material serving as a raw material of a dot, comprising an RTC and a battery for operating the RTC. is there.

  Here, the dot forming raw material means a raw material constituting dots formed on the recording surface of the recording material. For example, ink in a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer, toner in a recording apparatus such as a laser printer, dot impact It is an ink ribbon or the like of a printer or the like, and is a concept including all objects that can form dots on a recording surface of a recording material via a recording device. The dot forming raw material container is a container that contains the dot forming raw material, and has a configuration that is detachably connected to the recording apparatus, and is used while connected to the recording apparatus to record the dot forming raw material. For example, an ink cartridge of a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer, a toner cartridge of a recording apparatus such as a laser printer, a ribbon cartridge of a dot impact printer, or the like can be provided. An RTC (Real Time Clock) is a known time-dedicated chip.

  As described above, the dot forming raw material container connected to the recording apparatus main body and used for providing the dot forming raw material to the recording apparatus main body incorporates the RTC and the battery for operating the RTC. That is, the RTC conventionally mounted on the recording apparatus main body is mounted together with the battery for driving the RTC in a dot forming raw material container that is detachably connected to the recording apparatus main body. Further, since this dot forming material container is always replaced with a new dot forming material container every time the stored dot forming material is exhausted, there is no fear that the battery will run out.

  Therefore, even when the power of the recording apparatus is turned off and the outlet is disconnected, the RTC built in the dot forming raw material container continues to operate with the power of the battery built in the dot forming raw material container. It is not necessary to mount an RTC or a battery for driving the RTC on the main body side, and the recording apparatus main body is not enlarged by mounting the battery on the recording apparatus main body. Even when the power of the recording apparatus is turned off and the outlet is disconnected, the RTC built in the dot forming raw material container continues to operate without being stopped by the power of the battery built in the dot forming raw material container. Therefore, whether or not the time during which recording on the recording material is not performed has elapsed for a certain time or more based on the RTC time stored in the dot forming raw material container without acquiring real-time information from the outside. Can always be accurately identified.

Thereby, according to the dot formation raw material container described in the first aspect of the present invention, dots are formed on the recording surface of the recording material using the dot formation raw material accommodated in the dot formation raw material container. In a recording apparatus that can perform recording, the recording apparatus main body is not equipped with an RTC and an RTC-dedicated battery, and recording on a recording material is not performed even if real-time information is not acquired from the outside. Can be always accurately determined from the time measured by the RTC built in the dot forming raw material container. Therefore, automatic maintenance control to maintain the recording image quality such as head cleaning at an appropriate timing without mounting the RTC and RTC dedicated battery in the main body of the recording apparatus and without acquiring real-time information from the outside. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility of unnecessary consumption of ink or the like due to the unnecessary maintenance control.
In addition, since it is not necessary to mount a battery in the recording apparatus main body, a step of removing the battery is not required when the recording apparatus is recycled, thereby obtaining an effect that the recyclability of the recording apparatus can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect described above, the battery can operate the RTC at least during the quality assurance period of the dot forming raw material stored in the dot forming raw material container. It is a dot forming raw material container characterized by having an excellent power supply capability.
As described above, the battery built in the dot forming raw material container has a power supply capability capable of continuing to operate the RTC at least during the quality assurance period of the dot forming raw material container accommodated in the dot forming raw material container. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the RTC from being stopped due to a battery exhaustion while using the dot forming raw material container.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect or the second aspect described above, the RTC counts the time when the dot forming raw material container is accommodated in the dot forming raw material container as 0. This is a dot forming raw material container.
As described above, the RTC count is performed by setting the time when the dot forming raw material container is accommodated in the dot forming raw material container to 0, so that the RTC count value of the dot forming raw material container is stored in the dot forming raw material container. When the count value corresponding to the quality assurance period of the stored dot forming raw material is exceeded, it can be easily identified that the ink stored in the dot forming raw material container has passed the quality assurance period. .

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a dot forming raw material container according to any one of the first to third aspects described above, wherein the battery is a DMFC type fuel cell.
In this way, DMFC (Direct Methanol) is a small and lightweight fuel cell.
By incorporating the fuel cell type fuel cell in the dot forming raw material container, it is possible to reduce the possibility of the dot forming raw material container becoming large due to the incorporation of the battery. In addition, since the fuel cell can recover the cell function only by refilling the fuel, reuse (reuse) of the dot forming raw material container can be realized easily and at low cost.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, dots are formed on the recording surface of a recording material with the dot forming raw material supplied from the dot forming raw material container according to any one of the first to fourth aspects described above. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording execution unit having a configuration capable of executing recording on a recording material; and a recording control device that executes recording control on the recording material by the recording execution unit, wherein the recording control The apparatus is a recording apparatus that performs maintenance control of the recording execution unit based on the time of the RTC built in the dot forming raw material container.
According to the recording apparatus as described in the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus having a configuration for executing maintenance control of the recording execution means based on the timekeeping of the RTC, the first aspect to the fourth aspect described above. The operational effects according to any of the inventions can be obtained.

The sixth aspect of the present invention is detachably connected to a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from the ink ejection nozzles of the recording head to the recording surface of the recording material, An ink cartridge that stores ink ejected onto a recording surface, and includes an RTC and a battery for operating the RTC.
According to the ink cartridge of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the recording apparatus capable of performing recording by ejecting the ink contained in the ink cartridge from the ink ejection nozzle of the recording head to the recording surface of the recording material. In the above, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the invention described in the first aspect.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect described above, the battery has a power supply capability capable of operating the RTC at least during the quality assurance period of the ink stored in the ink cartridge. It is an ink cartridge characterized by having.
According to the ink cartridge of the seventh aspect of the present invention, the recording apparatus capable of performing recording by ejecting the ink contained in the ink cartridge from the ink ejection nozzle of the recording head to the recording surface of the recording material. In this case, the same effect as that of the invention described in the second aspect can be obtained.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is an ink cartridge according to the sixth aspect or the seventh aspect described above, wherein the RTC measures time with the time when the ink is stored in the ink cartridge as 0. is there.
According to the ink cartridge of the eighth aspect of the present invention, the recording apparatus capable of performing recording by ejecting the ink contained in the ink cartridge from the ink ejection nozzle of the recording head to the recording surface of the recording material. Thus, the same effect as that of the invention described in the third aspect described above can be obtained.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is an ink cartridge according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects described above, wherein the battery is a DMFC type fuel cell.
According to the ink cartridge of the ninth aspect of the present invention, the recording apparatus capable of performing recording by ejecting the ink contained in the ink cartridge from the ink ejection nozzle of the recording head to the recording surface of the recording material. Thus, the same effect as that of the invention described in the fourth aspect can be obtained.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, ink supplied from the ink cartridge according to any one of the sixth to ninth aspects is ejected from an ink ejection nozzle of a recording head onto a recording surface of a recording material. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording execution unit having a configuration capable of executing recording on a recording material; and a recording control device that executes recording control on the recording material by the recording execution unit, wherein the recording control The apparatus is a recording apparatus that performs maintenance control of the recording head based on the timing of the RTC built in the ink cartridge.
According to the recording apparatus of the tenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus having a configuration for executing the maintenance control of the recording head based on the timekeeping of the RTC, any of the above-described sixth to ninth aspects. The effects of the invention described in the above can be obtained.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect described above, the recording control apparatus holds and holds the recording end time on the recording material while updating the recording end time every time recording on the recording material is performed. The recording end time is stored in the nonvolatile memory when the recording device is turned off, and the recording end time stored in the nonvolatile memory is acquired and held when the recording device is turned on. A recording apparatus characterized in that, when recording is performed, recording on a recording material is started after executing necessary maintenance control of the recording head according to the elapsed time from the recording end time held. .

  In this way, the latest recording end time is always maintained, and when performing recording on the recording material, the necessary recording head maintenance control (head cleaning, etc.) is performed according to the elapsed time from the latest recording end time held. ) Is started and then recording on the recording material is performed after appropriate recording head maintenance control is performed according to the elapsed time when recording on the recording material is not performed. Can do. Also, when the recording device is turned off, the latest recording end time that is held is stored in the nonvolatile memory, and when the recording device is turned on again, the latest recording end time is acquired from the nonvolatile memory. Regardless of whether the apparatus is turned on or off, the latest recording end time can always be maintained. As described above, the RTC built in the ink cartridge continues to operate with the power of the battery built in the ink cartridge even while the recording apparatus is powered off.

  From the above, according to the recording apparatus according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, whether or not the time when recording on the recording material is not performed exceeds a certain time regardless of whether the recording apparatus is turned ON / OFF. Therefore, the maintenance control for maintaining the recording image quality such as the head cleaning can be automatically executed at an appropriate timing, so that the maintenance can be performed from the state where the appropriate recording head maintenance is always performed. Recording on the recording material can be started. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an operational effect that it is possible to reduce the possibility of wasteful consumption of ink due to unnecessary maintenance control while preventing deterioration in recording image quality due to nozzle clogging of ink ejection nozzles.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the eleventh aspect, the recording control device records an elapsed time from a held recording end time to the removal of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is removed. Stored in the non-volatile memory of the apparatus, and when the ink cartridge is attached, a count value obtained by subtracting the elapsed time stored in the non-volatile memory from the RTC count value of the attached ink cartridge is held as a recording end time. The recording apparatus is characterized by this.

  Since the RTC is built in the ink cartridge, when the ink cartridge is replaced, the RTC is inevitably also replaced. Therefore, the RTC count value differs before and after the ink cartridge replacement. It will be. Then, since the recording end time held in the recording apparatus is absolutely time information based on the RTC count value built in the ink cartridge before replacement, it is stored in the ink cartridge after replacement. The time information is meaningless at all in relation to the count value of the RTC. Therefore, when replacing the ink cartridge, the relative time difference between the RTC count value built in the ink cartridge before the replacement at that time and the recording end time held, that is, from the recording end time, The elapsed time up to the time is calculated and held immediately before the exchange. After the replacement, if the elapsed time is subtracted from the RTC count value built into the ink cartridge after the replacement, the time is the latest based on the RTC count value built into the ink cartridge after the replacement. This is the recording end time.

  In this way, according to the recording apparatus of the twelfth aspect of the present invention, even when the ink cartridge is replaced with a new ink cartridge due to running out of ink or the like, the RTC built in the ink cartridge after replacement is replaced. The latest recording end time based on the count value can be calculated and held.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the ink supplied from the ink cartridge according to the eighth aspect described above is ejected from the ink ejection nozzles of the recording head onto the recording surface of the recording material to perform recording on the recording material. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording execution unit having an executable configuration; and a recording control device that executes recording control on a recording material by the recording execution unit, wherein the recording control unit is incorporated in the ink cartridge. Based on the measured time of the RTC, the maintenance control of the recording head is executed, and the ink of the ink cartridge is ejected from the ink ejection nozzles of the recording head when recording on the recording material is performed. A recording apparatus that corrects a drive waveform of an ejection nozzle in accordance with a count value of an RTC built in the ink cartridge. .

  For example, in a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer, the viscosity of ink stored in an ink cartridge changes due to aging, although very little. In addition, the RTC built in the ink cartridge according to the eighth aspect of the present invention measures the time when the ink is stored in the ink cartridge as 0, so that the ink cartridge is manufactured from the RTC count value. You can specify how much time has passed since. That is, it is possible to predict a change in the viscosity of the ink in the ink cartridge due to a secular change from the count value of the RTC built in the ink cartridge. Therefore, by correcting the drive waveform of the ink ejection nozzle that ejects the ink of the ink cartridge according to the count value of the RTC built in the ink cartridge, the optimum according to the viscosity change of the ink with the passage of time It is possible to perform recording on a recording material by performing a proper ink ejection control.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect described above, the recording control device includes a user interface unit, and the recording control device includes a count value of the RTC built in the ink cartridge during a quality assurance period of the ink cartridge. When the corresponding count value is exceeded, the recording apparatus is characterized in that the user is notified through the user interface means that the quality assurance period of the ink cartridge has passed.

  The RTC built in the ink cartridge measures the time when the ink is stored in the ink cartridge as 0, so specify how much time has passed since the ink cartridge was manufactured from the RTC count value. can do. Therefore, when the RTC count value of the ink cartridge exceeds the count value corresponding to the quality assurance period of the ink contained in the ink cartridge, the ink contained in the ink cartridge has passed the quality assurance period. It can be easily specified that the time has passed.

  Then, if the user is notified via the user interface means that the ink in the ink cartridge has passed the quality assurance period, the ink cartridge can be replaced even if the quality assurance period has passed before the ink has run out. The user can recognize that there is a need. As a result, it is possible to prevent deterioration in recording image quality due to execution of recording on a recording material with ink from an ink cartridge after the quality assurance period has elapsed. In addition, it is possible to prevent the timing of the RTC built in the ink cartridge from being stopped due to the battery running out of the ink cartridge.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus as an example of a “recording apparatus” according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an essential part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
In an ink jet recording apparatus 50 as a “recording apparatus” that performs recording by forming dots on the recording surface of the recording sheet P as a “recording material”, “recording execution” is possible. As a means constituting “means”, a carriage 61 supported by a carriage guide shaft 51 so as to be movable in the main scanning direction X with respect to the recording paper P is provided. The carriage 61 detects a recording head 62 having an ink ejection nozzle (not shown) for performing recording by ejecting ink onto the recording surface of the recording paper P and an end of the recording paper P in the main scanning direction X. A PW sensor 34 is mounted. The carriage 61 reciprocates in the main scanning direction X when the rotational driving force of the CR motor 63 (FIG. 3) is transmitted by a belt transmission mechanism (not shown) using an endless belt. By reciprocating the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X, the recording head 62 can be scanned in the main scanning direction X with respect to the recording paper P. At a position facing the head surface of the recording head 62, there is provided a platen 52 that regulates the distance between the recording surface of the recording paper P and the head surface of the recording head 62 to a predetermined distance while slidingly supporting the recording paper P. Yes.

  A known capping device 59 is provided outside the one end side of the reciprocating region of the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X. In a standby state in which recording is not performed, the carriage 61 moves over the capping device 59 and stops, and the head surface of the recording head 62 is sealed by the cap CP provided in the capping device 59. The stop position of the carriage 61 is defined as a home position HP.

  Further, the ink jet recording apparatus 50 includes a conveyance drive that conveys the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y as a “recording material conveying means” that constitutes a “recording execution means” capable of executing recording on the recording paper P. A roller 53 and a conveyance driven roller 54 are provided. The conveyance driving roller 53 is rotated by transmission of a rotational driving force of a PF motor 58 (FIG. 3) as a “recording material conveyance motor”. A plurality of conveyance driven rollers 54 are provided, and are urged against the conveyance drive roller 53 in a state where the conveyance driven rollers 54 are pivotally supported so as to be driven to rotate. The recording paper P pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the transport driving roller 53 on which the high frictional resistance coating is applied by the pressing urging force of the transport driven roller 54 comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transport driving roller 53 by the frictional resistance. By rotating the transport driving roller 53 in the transport direction in this state, the recording paper P is transported in the sub-scanning direction Y while the transport driven roller 54 is driven to rotate, whereby the recording head 62 is moved relative to the recording paper P. Scanning in the sub-scanning direction Y.

  In the vicinity of the paper feed tray 57, as the “automatic feeding means” for automatically feeding the uppermost recording paper P of the recording paper P stacked on the paper feed tray 57 to the “recording material conveying means”. An ASF (Auto Sheet Feeder) is provided. The ASF is a known automatic paper feed mechanism having a paper feed roller 57b provided on the paper feed tray 57 and a separation pad (not shown). The paper feed roller 57 b is disposed on one side of the paper feed tray 57. The recording paper guide 57a is provided on the paper feed tray 57 so as to be slidable in the width direction in accordance with the width of the recording paper P. Then, the recording paper P placed on the paper feed tray 57 is fed by the rotational driving force of the paper feed roller 57b that rotates by transmitting the rotational driving force of the PF motor 58 (FIG. 3). At that time, only the uppermost recording sheet P is accurately separated and automatically fed one by one without the plurality of recording sheets P being fed at a time due to the frictional resistance of the separating pad. ing. A known paper detector 33 for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the conveyed recording paper P is disposed between the paper feed roller 57 b and the transport driving roller 53.

On the other hand, a “recording material transport unit” capable of transporting the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y and a paper discharge driving roller 55 and a paper discharge driven roller 56 are provided as means for discharging the recording paper P after execution of recording. It has been. The paper discharge driving roller 55 rotates when the rotational driving force of the PF motor 58 (FIG. 3) is transmitted to the gears, and the recording paper P after recording is discharged in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the paper discharge driving roller 55. Is done. The paper discharge driven roller 56 has a plurality of teeth around it, and is a toothed roller sharply sharpened so that the tip of each tooth makes point contact with the recording surface of the recording paper P. The plurality of paper discharge driven rollers 56 are individually urged by the paper discharge driving roller 55, and come into contact with the recording paper P when the recording paper P is discharged by the rotation of the paper discharge driving roller 55. The paper rotates as the paper is discharged.
A PF motor 58 (FIG. 3) that rotationally drives the paper feed roller 57b, the conveyance drive roller 53, and the paper discharge drive roller 55 and a CR motor 63 (FIG. 3) that drives the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X are “recording”. Drive control is performed by a recording control unit 100 as a “control device”. Similarly, the recording head 62 is driven and controlled by the recording control unit 100 to eject ink onto the surface of the recording paper P. The recording control unit 100 forms dots by ejecting ink from the recording head 62 to the recording paper P while reciprocating the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X, and the predetermined conveyance of the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y. The recording control on the recording paper P is executed while alternately repeating the operation of transporting by the amount.

The recording control unit 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The recording control unit 100 includes a ROM 101, a RAM 102, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 103, an MPU 104, a nonvolatile memory 105, a PF motor driver 106, a CR motor driver 107, and a head driver 108. The MPU 104 receives an output signal of the power switch 35 for turning on / off the power of the rotary encoder 31, linear encoder 32, paper detector 33, PW sensor 34, and ink jet recording apparatus 50 via the ASIC 103. .

The known rotary encoder 31 is arranged so as to output a pulse signal having a period linked to the rotation period of the PF motor 58 so as to detect the rotation amount of the transport driving roller 53. The rotary encoder 31 includes a rotary scale 311 that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the conveyance drive roller 53, and a rotary scale sensor 312 that detects slits formed at equal intervals along the outer periphery of the rotary scale 311. (Fig. 2). An output signal of the rotary scale sensor 312 that changes with the rotation of the transport driving roller 53 is output to the MPU 104 via the ASIC 103.
The known linear encoder 32 is arranged so as to output a pulse signal having a cycle linked to the rotation cycle of the CR motor 63 in order to detect the movement amount of the carriage 61. The linear encoder 32 includes a linear scale 321 disposed substantially parallel to the main scanning direction X in the vicinity of the carriage 61, and a linear scale sensor mounted on the carriage 61 that detects slits formed in the linear scale 321 at equal intervals. 322 (FIG. 2). An output signal of the linear scale sensor 322 in which the pulse period changes with the moving speed with the number of pulses corresponding to the moving amount of the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X is output to the MPU 104 via the ASIC 103.

A ROM 101, a RAM 102, an ASIC 103, an MPU 104, and a nonvolatile memory 105 are connected to the system bus of the recording control unit 100. The MPU 104 performs arithmetic processing for executing recording control of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 and other necessary arithmetic processing. The ROM 101 stores a recording control program (firmware) necessary for controlling the ink jet recording apparatus 50 by the MPU 104, and various data necessary for processing the recording control program is stored in the nonvolatile memory 105. . The RAM 102 is used as a work area for the MPU 104 and a storage area for recording data.
The ASIC 103 has a control circuit that controls the speed of the PF motor 58 that is a DC motor, a control circuit that controls the speed of the CR motor 63, and a control circuit (not shown) that controls the drive of the recording head 62. Based on the control command sent from the MPU 104, the output signal of the rotary encoder 31 and the output signal of the linear encoder 32, various calculations for controlling the speed of the PF motor 58 and the CR motor 63 are performed, and based on the calculation results. A motor control signal is sent to the PF motor driver 106 and the CR motor driver 107. The ASIC 103 calculates and generates a control signal for the recording head 62 based on the recording data sent from the MPU 104 and sends it to the head driver 108 to drive and control the recording head 62. The ASIC 103 realizes a USB interface with a digital camera 301 or the like connected via a USB connector (not shown) provided in the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus 50, and inputs a digital image file from the digital camera 301 or the like. It has a USBIF 111 that realizes the function to perform.

FIG. 4 shows the power supply system of the ink cartridge and the RTC of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 according to the present invention.
The ink cartridges 71 to 74 as “dot forming raw material containers” according to the present invention are detachably connected to the carriage 61 of the ink jet recording apparatus 50, and are applied to the recording surface of the recording paper P by ink ejection from the recording head 62. Ink as a “dot forming raw material” that is a raw material of the dots to be formed is accommodated. The ink cartridge 71 includes a yellow ink filling unit 711, a battery 712, and an RTC 713 that operates on the battery 712. Similarly, the ink cartridge 72 includes a magenta ink filling unit 721, a battery 722, and an RTC 723 that operates with the battery 722. The ink cartridge 73 includes a cyan ink filling unit 731, a battery 732, and an RTC 733 that operates on the battery 732. The ink cartridge 74 includes a black ink filling unit 741, a battery 742, and an RTC 743 that operates on the battery 742. The yellow ink in the yellow ink filling unit 711, the magenta ink in the magenta ink filling unit 721, the cyan ink in the cyan ink filling unit 731 and the black ink in the black ink filling unit 741 are recorded so as to be supplied to the corresponding ink ejection nozzles. It is connected to the head 62.

  As described above, the ink cartridge 71 used by being connected to the carriage 61 so as to provide ink to the recording head 62 of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 incorporates the RTC 713 and the battery 712 for operating the RTC 713. . The other ink cartridges 72 to 74 have the same configuration. In other words, in the present invention, the RTC conventionally mounted in the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is detachably connected to the carriage 61 of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 together with the RTC driving battery. It is mounted on each of the. Each of the ink cartridges 71 to 74 is always replaced with a new one every time the stored ink runs out, so there is no fear that the batteries 712, 722, 732, or 742 built therein will run out.

  Further, the battery 712 of the ink cartridge 71 has a power supply capability capable of operating the RTC 713 at least during the quality assurance period of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 71. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the battery 712 from running out of battery and stopping the RTC 713 while the ink cartridge 71 is being used. The same applies to the ink cartridges 72 to 74. Further, the RTC 713 of the ink cartridge 71 counts the time when the yellow ink filling unit 711 of the ink cartridge 71 is filled with yellow ink as zero. Thereby, when the count value of the RTC 713 of the ink cartridge 71 exceeds the count value corresponding to the quality assurance period of the yellow ink filled in the ink cartridge 71, the yellow ink contained in the ink cartridge 71 is removed. It can be easily identified that the quality assurance period has passed. The same applies to the ink cartridges 72 to 74.

  The batteries 712, 722, 732, and 742 are DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell) type fuel cells in this embodiment, but are not particularly limited thereto. For example, the present invention can be implemented with a general button battery or the like, and any type of battery can be used as long as it can be built into the ink cartridges 71 to 74. Then, by incorporating DMFC type fuel cells, which are small and light fuel cells, in the ink cartridges 71 to 74 as in this embodiment, the risk of the ink cartridges 71 to 74 becoming large can be reduced. . In addition, a fuel cell such as a DMFC type fuel cell can recover the cell function only by replenishing a methanol aqueous solution or the like as a fuel. Reuse (reuse) of the ink cartridges 71 to 74 can be realized easily and at low cost.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a regenerating operation process of the ink cartridges 71 to 74.
For example, the used ink cartridge 71 first fills the ink filling unit 711 with yellow ink (step S1), and replaces or charges the battery 712 or fills the fuel (step S2). Then, the RTC 713 is reset and time counting from 0 is started (step S3). The same applies to the used ink cartridges 72 to 74.
If the time difference between ink filling and manufacturing of the filled ink is large, the RTC is not simply reset in step S3, but a count value corresponding to the time difference is set in the RTC. Is preferred. Thereby, it is possible to more accurately link the RTC count value and the elapsed time from the production of the ink filled in the ink filling unit.

Next, the head cleaning control by the recording control unit 100 will be described.
Output signals from the RTCs 713, 723, 733, and 743 are input to the MPU 104 of the main circuit board 10, respectively. Accordingly, the recording control unit 100 of the main circuit board 10 selects any one of the count values output from the RTCs 713, 723, 733, and 743 built in the ink cartridges 71 to 74, and the recording head based on the count value. 62 head cleaning control can be executed. In other words, as long as at least one of the ink cartridges 71 to 74 is connected to the carriage 61, the recording control unit 100 performs an accurate operation based on the count value output by any of the RTCs 713, 723, 733, and 743. The head cleaning control of the recording head 62 can be executed. Hereinafter, the count value output from the RTC 713 of the ink cartridge 71 will be described as a default.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure executed when the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is powered off. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure executed when the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is powered on.
When the power of the inkjet recording apparatus 50 is turned off, the recording control unit 100 stores the previous recording end time T0 held in the RAM 102 in the nonvolatile memory 105 (step S11). Further, when the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is powered on, the recording control unit 100 acquires the previous recording end time T0 stored in the nonvolatile memory 105 and holds it in the RAM 102 (step S21). Accordingly, the previous recording end time T0 can always be maintained regardless of whether the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is turned on or off.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure such as head cleaning control when recording on the recording paper P is controlled.
The recording control unit 100 holds the recording end time on the recording paper P in the RAM 102 as the previous recording end time T0 while updating the recording end time on the recording paper P every time the recording on the recording paper P is executed based on the timing of the RTC 713. When recording on the recording paper P is started, the recording control unit 100 first executes a quality assurance period check sequence for individually checking the ink quality assurance period for each of the ink cartridges 71 to 74 (step S31). Subsequently, a maintenance sequence for performing maintenance such as head cleaning of the recording head 62 is executed (step S32). Subsequently, a predetermined recording control sequence is executed and recording on the recording paper P is executed (step S33). Specifically, as described above, the ink is ejected from the recording head 62 to the recording paper P while the carriage 61 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction X, and the recording paper P is moved in the sub-scanning direction Y. The recording on the recording paper P is executed while alternately repeating the operation of transporting the paper by a predetermined transport amount. When the recording on the recording paper P is completed, the count value (time) of the RTC 713 is held in the RAM 102 as the previous recording end time T0 (step S34).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the quality assurance period check sequence. The procedure is a procedure executed individually for each of the ink cartridges 71 to 74. Hereinafter, the ink cartridge 71 will be described as an example.
First, the count value (time) of the RTC 713 of the ink cartridge 71 at that time is set to the post-manufacture elapsed time T2 (step S41). Subsequently, it is determined whether the post-manufacture elapsed time T2 is shorter than the quality assurance period of the ink cartridge 71 (step S42). If the post-manufacture elapsed time T2 is shorter than the quality assurance period of the ink cartridge 71 (Yes in step S42), the yellow ink in the ink cartridge 71 has not yet passed the quality assurance period. The drive waveform correction value of the ink ejection nozzle that ejects the yellow ink is set according to the post-manufacture elapsed time T2 (step S43). As a result, it is possible to perform recording on the recording paper P by performing optimal ink ejection control in accordance with a change in the viscosity of the ink accompanying a secular change.

  On the other hand, when the post-manufacture elapsed time T2 is longer than the quality assurance period of the ink cartridge 71 (No in step S42), the yellow ink of the ink cartridge 71 has already passed the quality assurance period, and is illustrated. The user is notified through the “user interface means” such as a liquid crystal display panel that the ink cartridge 71 has passed the quality assurance period (step S44). Further, the other ink cartridges 72 to 74 are individually checked by the same procedure (steps S41 to S44) as to whether or not the quality assurance period has passed. In this way, before each recording on the recording paper P is started, each of the ink cartridges 71 to 74 is individually checked whether or not the quality assurance period has elapsed, so that the recording paper P can be printed with ink after the quality assurance period has elapsed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording image quality from being deteriorated by executing the recording. Further, with respect to the ink in the ink cartridge before the quality guarantee period has elapsed, it is possible to execute optimal ink ejection control in accordance with the change in the viscosity of the ink accompanying the secular change. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the RTCs 713, 723, 733, and 743 built in the ink cartridges 71 to 74 from stopping due to running out of batteries.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the maintenance sequence.
After executing the quality assurance period check sequence (FIG. 9), the count value (time) of the RTC 713 at this time is set to the recording start time T1 (step S51), and recording starts from the previous recording end time T0. An elapsed time ΔT until time T1 is calculated (step S52). Subsequently, the maintenance operation of the recording head 62 at a level corresponding to the calculated elapsed time ΔT is executed (step S53). Specifically, the head cleaning control and the like of the recording head 62 are executed at a level corresponding to the elapsed time ΔT. Then, a predetermined recording control sequence is executed to execute recording on the recording paper P (step S33 in FIG. 8). When recording on the recording paper P is completed, the count value (time) of the RTC 713 is recorded last time. The end time T0 is held in the RAM 102 (step S34 in FIG. 8).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a control procedure when the ink cartridges 71 to 74 are removed. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure when the ink cartridges 71 to 74 are mounted.
For example, when the recording control unit 100 is performing maintenance control (FIG. 10) of the recording head 62 based on the count value of the RTC 713 built in the ink cartridge 71, the ink cartridge 71 is replaced with a new one. To do. In this case, since the previous recording end time T0 held by the recording control unit 100 is absolutely time information based on the count value of the RTC 713 built in the ink cartridge 71 before the replacement, the ink after the replacement In relation to the count value of the RTC 713 built in the cartridge 71, the time information has no meaning at all.

  For this reason, when replacing the ink cartridge 71 incorporating the RTC 713 employed for the maintenance control of the recording head 62, the recording control unit 100 first removes the ink cartridge 71 before the replacement at that time. The count value of the RTC 713 built in the ink cartridge 71 is set and held at the current time T3 (step S61). Subsequently, a relative time difference between the current time T3 and the previous recording end time T0, that is, an elapsed time ΔT from the previous recording end time T0 to immediately before the replacement of the ink cartridge 71 is calculated (step S62). It memorize | stores in 105 (step S63). In this manner, once the elapsed time ΔT is stored in the nonvolatile memory 105, the elapsed time ΔT can be maintained even when the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is turned off with the ink cartridge 71 removed. it can.

  After the user replaces the ink cartridge 71, the recording control unit 100 acquires the elapsed time ΔT from the nonvolatile memory 105 (step S71), and the count value of the RTC 713 built in the new ink cartridge 71 after replacement. Is set at the current time T3 (step S72). Subsequently, by subtracting the elapsed time ΔT from the current time T3, the previous recording end time T0 based on the count value of the RTC 713 built in the new ink cartridge 71 after replacement is calculated and stored in the RAM 102 (step). S73). Thus, even when the ink cartridge 71 is replaced with a new ink cartridge 71 due to running out of ink or the like, the previous recording end time T0 based on the count value of the RTC 713 built in the replaced ink cartridge 71 is calculated and held. be able to.

  11 and 12, after the elapsed time ΔT is calculated (step S62), the RTC count value of any of the other ink cartridges 72 to 74 is set to the current time T3 ( In step S72, the previous recording end time T0 may be calculated based on the RTC count value of the ink cartridge (for example, ink cartridge 72) (step S73). Since the recording control unit 100 can subsequently execute the subsequent maintenance control (FIG. 10) of the recording head 62 by adopting the count value of the ink cartridge (for example, the ink cartridge 72), for example, Even when a long time has passed with the ink cartridge 71 removed, it is possible to calculate and hold the accurate previous recording end time T0 from the RTC count value of any of the other ink cartridges 72 to 74. become.

  As described above, since the ink cartridges 71 to 74 according to the present invention incorporate the RTC and the battery for driving the RTC, the ink jet recording apparatus 50 including the ink cartridges 71 to 74 according to the present invention includes a main body. Ink cartridges 71-74 indicate whether or not a period of time during which recording on recording paper P is not performed has passed for a certain period of time without mounting a battery and acquiring real-time information from the outside. In addition, it can always be accurately specified over a long period of time based on the timing of the RTC. Accordingly, the recording control unit 100 of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 can automatically execute maintenance control for maintaining recording image quality such as head cleaning at an appropriate timing. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce wasteful consumption of ink due to unnecessary head cleaning and the like.

  In addition, since it is not necessary to mount an RTC or a battery for RTC operation on the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus 50, an increase in size of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is prevented, and a battery for RTC operation inside the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is prevented. Work that cannot be performed by the user's own hands, such as replacement, becomes unnecessary. Furthermore, the ink cartridges 71 to 74 with the built-in RTC and RTC operation battery can be easily recovered by resetting the built-in RTC after collecting it after use and refilling the ink and charging the built-in battery or refilling the fuel liquid. Therefore, it is possible to easily recycle (recycle) and reuse (reuse) ink cartridges.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

1 is a schematic plan view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic side view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. Power supply system for ink cartridge and RTC. 6 is a flowchart showing a process for regenerating an ink cartridge. The flowchart which showed the procedure performed at the time of a power supply OFF. The flowchart which showed the procedure performed when a power supply is turned ON. The flowchart which showed control procedures, such as head cleaning control. The flowchart which showed the procedure of the quality assurance period check sequence. The flowchart which showed the procedure of the maintenance sequence. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure when removing an ink cartridge. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure when an ink cartridge is mounted.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main circuit board, 50 Inkjet recording device, 51 Carriage guide shaft, 52 Platen, 53 Conveyance driving roller, 54 Conveyance driven roller, 55 Discharge driving roller, 56 Discharged driven roller, 61 Carriage, 62 Recording head, 71- 74 Ink cartridge, 100 Recording controller, 101 ROM, 102 RAM, 103 ASIC, 104 MPU, 105 Non-volatile memory, 712, 722, 732, 742 Battery, 713, 723, 733, 743 RTC, P Recording paper, X Main Scanning direction, Y Sub-scanning direction

Claims (14)

A dot forming material that is detachably connected to a recording device that performs recording by forming dots on the recording surface of the recording material, and that accommodates a dot forming material serving as a raw material for the dots formed on the recording surface of the recording material A container,
A dot forming raw material container comprising an RTC and a battery for operating the RTC.   2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery has a power supply capability capable of operating the RTC at least during a quality assurance period of the dot forming raw material accommodated in the dot forming raw material container. Characteristic dot forming material container.   3. The dot forming material container according to claim 1, wherein the RTC counts the time when the dot forming material container is stored in the dot forming material container as 0. 3.   The dot forming raw material container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the battery is a DMFC type fuel cell. A configuration capable of executing recording on a recording material by forming dots on the recording surface of the recording material with the dot-forming material supplied from the dot-forming material container according to claim 1. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording execution unit having a recording control unit that executes recording control on a recording material by the recording execution unit;
The recording control apparatus performs maintenance control of the recording execution unit based on the timing of the RTC built in the dot forming raw material container. The ink ejected from the ink ejection nozzle of the recording head to the recording surface of the recording material is detachably connected to a recording apparatus that performs recording, and contains the ink ejected from the ink ejection nozzle to the recording surface of the recording material. An ink cartridge,
An ink cartridge comprising an RTC and a battery for operating the RTC.   7. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the battery has a power supply capability capable of operating the RTC at least during a quality assurance period of the ink contained in the ink cartridge. .   8. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the RTC measures the time by setting the time when the ink is stored in the ink cartridge to zero.   9. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the battery is a DMFC type fuel cell. A configuration capable of executing recording on a recording material by ejecting ink supplied from the ink cartridge according to any one of claims 6 to 9 from an ink ejection nozzle of a recording head onto a recording surface of the recording material. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording execution unit having a recording control unit that executes recording control on a recording material by the recording execution unit;
The recording control apparatus performs maintenance control of the recording head based on the timing of the RTC built in the ink cartridge. The recording control device according to claim 10, wherein the recording control device holds the recording end time on the recording material while updating the recording end time every time recording on the recording material is performed.
Store the recorded end time in the nonvolatile memory when the recording device is turned off,
Acquire and hold the recording end time stored in the non-volatile memory when the recording device is turned on,
When performing recording on the recording material, the recording head starts recording on the recording material after performing the necessary maintenance control of the recording head according to the elapsed time from the recording end time held. Recording device. The recording control device according to claim 11, when the ink cartridge is removed, stores an elapsed time from a held recording end time to the removal of the ink cartridge in a nonvolatile memory of the recording device,
A recording apparatus, wherein when the ink cartridge is attached, a count value obtained by subtracting the elapsed time stored in the nonvolatile memory from an RTC count value of the attached ink cartridge is held as a recording end time. Recording execution means having a configuration capable of performing recording on a recording material by ejecting ink supplied from the ink cartridge according to claim 8 from an ink ejection nozzle of a recording head to a recording surface of the recording material; A recording apparatus comprising a recording control device for executing recording control on a recording material by a recording execution unit,
The recording control device performs maintenance control of the recording head based on the timing of the RTC built in the ink cartridge, and at the time of recording on the recording material, of the ink ejection nozzles of the recording head A recording apparatus that corrects a drive waveform of an ink ejection nozzle from which ink of the ink cartridge is ejected according to a count value of an RTC built in the ink cartridge.   14. The printing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising user interface means, wherein the RTC count value built in the ink cartridge exceeds a count value corresponding to a quality assurance period of the ink cartridge. A recording apparatus for notifying a user that the quality assurance period of the ink cartridge has passed through the user interface means.

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