JP2007296772A - Recorder and method for determining residual recording liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To determine accurately existence or nonexistence of a recording liquid in an ink tank. <P>SOLUTION: A recording liquid container 1 with a recording liquid holding part 11 is mounted in a recorder. The recording liquid container 1 has a communications means 100 for performing a bidirectional radio communications with the recorder. The recorder has the first communications aerial 216 for performing the radio communications with the communications means 100. The first communications aerial 216 and the communications means 100 may be located so as to be countered each other through the recoding liquid container 11 in the vertical direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording liquid remaining amount determination method, and more particularly to a recording liquid remaining amount determination mechanism of an ink jet printing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using a plurality of colors of ink, as an example, an apparatus in which a plurality of recording liquid storage containers each filled with ink of each color is mounted is known. In this ink jet recording apparatus, since it is possible to replace only a specific recording liquid storage container according to the frequency of use of the ink, the ink can be used up for each color without waste, and the economy is excellent. Have

  In such an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink supply path for guiding ink from the recording liquid storage container to the ink head is provided for each color. Then, in the control unit or the like on the ink jet recording apparatus main body, color printing is realized by performing printing control such as ink ejection in the ink head for each color.

  On the other hand, the print quality in the ink jet recording apparatus depends not only on the resolution of the recording head but also greatly depends on the viscosity of the ink, the degree of bleeding on the recording medium, and the like. For this reason, improvements in ink characteristics and drive signals supplied to the recording head have been performed with the aim of improving print quality. Furthermore, improvements have been made to the idle discharge cycle for preventing clogging of the nozzle openings and maintenance conditions such as forced discharge in the capping state.

  For this reason, a configuration has been proposed in which a storage chip storing data related to the recording liquid storage container is provided in the recording liquid storage container and communicates with the recording apparatus. For example, it is used to read out these data from a recording device and perform printing under optimum conditions, or to store data relating to the usage state of the recording liquid storage container in a storage chip.

  Further, as seen in Patent Documents 1 and 2, as a configuration of the semiconductor memory chip, a configuration is disclosed in which information communication between the recording liquid storage container and the recording apparatus main body is performed in a non-contact manner by radio waves. In the case of wireless communication, since communication is possible even in a packaging form, there is an advantage that it can be used for various purposes such as merchandise management at the time of distribution in addition to the above-described uses.

  In general, a wireless communication system called a wireless tag or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is known. These include a medium wave band of 135 kHz or less, a 13.56 MHz short wave band, a 860 to 960 MHz UHF band, a 2.45 GHz microwave band, and the like. The medium and short wave bands use the electromagnetic induction phenomenon caused by the magnetic field generated by the reader / writer, and the UHF band and microwave band use the electric field energy of the carrier wave for power generation. Depending on the frequency band, characteristics such as communication distance and directivity differ, as well as the influence of external factors such as noise, metal, and moisture. Regarding the influence of moisture, it is known that microwaves are best absorbed and communication becomes impossible when moisture is present.

On the other hand, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, as means for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the recording liquid storage container, for example, electrodes are provided at two locations in the recording liquid storage container, and the resistance value between the two electrodes is determined. A method is known in which the remaining amount of ink is detected by detection. Other methods include a method for detecting the remaining amount of ink by means for measuring the weight of ink (such as a gravity sensor), or a means for optically detecting ink in the recording liquid storage container (such as a photo interrupter sensor). And a method of detecting the remaining amount of ink.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-320914 JP 2004-338394 A

  However, the conventional ink jet recording apparatus described above has a problem in that the electrode method requires an electrode member in the recording liquid storage container, and the recording liquid storage container cost increases. In the gravimetric method, the measurement mechanism including the weight sensor is complicated and large, and the cost becomes high. In addition, the optical method requires a transparent or translucent prism-like member, and is restricted by the recording liquid storage container material and shape.

  When the physical ink remaining amount detecting means cannot be provided, means for counting the cumulative number of ink droplets ejected and converting the ink consumption into an ink consumption amount may be used. However, the accuracy of the ink droplet counting method may vary depending on the initial ink injection amount, ink droplet volume variation, and the like. Against this background, there has been a demand for an ink remaining amount detection method that is versatile, simple, and low in cost.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a recording apparatus that can determine the presence or absence of a recording liquid. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for determining the presence or absence of recording liquid in a recording liquid storage container.

  The recording apparatus of the present invention is a recording apparatus to which a recording liquid storage container having a recording liquid storage section is attached. The recording liquid storage container has communication means for performing bidirectional wireless communication with the recording apparatus. The recording apparatus has a first communication antenna that performs wireless communication with the communication means. Then, the first communication antenna and the communication means can be positioned so as to face each other with the recording liquid storage portion interposed therebetween in the vertical direction.

  The method for determining the remaining amount of recording liquid according to the present invention provides a wireless signal in a vertical direction from a position sandwiching the recording liquid container toward the communication means provided in the recording liquid container of the recording liquid container attached to the recording apparatus. A sending step. The recording liquid remaining amount determining method further includes a receiving step for determining the presence or absence of a reply from the communication means for the wireless signal, and a determination step for determining the presence or absence of the recording liquid in the recording liquid storage unit according to the determination. Have.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible not only to perform predetermined information communication without delay, but also to easily detect the presence / absence of ink in the recording liquid storage container by switching the communication antenna.

  The present invention can be suitably applied to an inkjet printing apparatus that uses ink as a recording agent applied to a recording medium, a printing system including the inkjet printing apparatus, and a recording liquid storage container that stores ink as a recording agent. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows a state in which the recording head unit 405 and the recording liquid storage container 1 are mounted on the carriage 205 (see FIG. 5). The recording liquid storage container 1 is detachably attached to the ink jet recording apparatus. Although not shown, recording liquid storage containers corresponding to a plurality of ink colors are juxtaposed in the depth direction of the figure. The recording liquid storage container 1 has a first engagement portion 5 and a second engagement portion 6. The first engagement portion 5 is engaged with a first engagement portion 455 provided in the recording head unit 405, and the second engagement portion 6 is associated with a second engagement portion 256 provided in the recording liquid storage container holder 220. Match. Thereby, the recording liquid storage container 1 is mounted and fixed to the head unit 405 and the recording liquid storage container holder 220. The latch lever 3 is formed of a resin integrally with the exterior of the recording liquid storage container 1, and is configured to be displaceable around the supported portion when performing an installation operation or the like to the recording liquid storage container holder. The second engaging portion 6 is integrated with the latch lever 3 in this example.

  The carriage 205 can be stationary at a predetermined wireless communication position. At this time, the recording liquid storage container 1 is sandwiched between a first communication antenna 216 and a second communication antenna 215 provided in the recording apparatus. The first communication antenna 216 is fixed to the recording apparatus main body by a fixing member (not shown). The second communication antenna 215 is fixed to the carriage 205 by a fixing member (not shown). A communication module 100 is provided near the supporting portion of the latch lever 3 on the bottom surface of the recording liquid storage container 1. As will be described later, the communication module 100 performs bidirectional wireless communication with the recording apparatus main body via the first and second communication antennas 216 and 215. The first communication antenna 216 and the communication module 100 can be positioned so as to face each other across the recording liquid storage portion 11 of the recording liquid storage container 1 in the vertical direction. The second communication antenna 215 and the communication module 100 can be positioned in the same direction with respect to the recording liquid container 11, that is, close to each other without sandwiching the recording liquid container 11.

  The first communication antenna 216 is located above the second communication antenna 215 in the vertical direction. The first and second communication antennas 216 and 215 are connected to a wireless communication unit 304 configured on the control circuit 300 (see FIG. 6) of the recording apparatus main body. The wireless communication unit 304 includes an antenna switch 305, and switches to the first communication antenna 216 or the second communication antenna 215 as necessary to communicate with the communication module 100 provided in the recording liquid storage container 1. Can do. As a communication method, a 13.56 MHz band electromagnetic induction method is used.

  The width of the first communication antenna 216 in the direction in which the recording liquid storage container 1 is arranged is the width in the direction in which the recording liquid storage container 1 is arranged on the bottom surface of the recording liquid storage container 1 provided with the communication module 100 (depth in the figure). The width is approximately equal to or smaller than (direction). For this reason, among the magnetic fields generated by the first communication antenna 216, the magnetic field reaching the communication module 100 provided in the recording liquid storage container 1 to be communicated does not pass through the other recording liquid storage containers 1. Therefore, even if a plurality of recording liquid storage containers 1 are arranged, the communication state is not affected by the recording liquid storage containers other than the target recording liquid storage container.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the communication module provided in the recording liquid storage container. The communication module has a configuration in which a circuit chip 130 and an antenna 140 formed of copper foil, aluminum foil or the like are mounted on a base sheet 101, and a cover sheet is further laminated. The base sheet 101 is formed of a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film, a PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) film, or the like.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the circuit chip 130 includes a storage circuit 134 including a power supply circuit 137, a control circuit 135, a flash memory, and the like via an RF circuit 138 connected to the antenna 140.

  The RF circuit 138 is a circuit that detects and inputs an AC signal generated by electromagnetic induction to the antenna 140, and outputs a power component extracted by detection to the power supply circuit 137 and a signal component to the control circuit 135. The RF circuit 138 also has a function of receiving a signal from the control circuit 135, modulating the signal into an AC signal, and transmitting the signal to the recording apparatus main body via the antenna 140. The antenna 140, the RF circuit 138, and the power supply circuit 137 generate power by electromagnetic induction, and the control circuit 135 transmits and receives predetermined information as radio waves by the power supplied from the power supply circuit 137. The control circuit 135 performs internal operation control including read / write operations for the storage circuit 134. The storage circuit 134 includes identification data of the product type of the recording liquid storage container, identification data of the product type of the recording apparatus main body, unique ID data of the recording liquid storage container, date of manufacture and expiration date, remaining ink amount, etc. Information is stored (not shown).

  FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the recording liquid storage container. The inside of the recording liquid storage container 1 is divided into a recording liquid storage portion 11 and a negative pressure generating member storage chamber 12 that communicates with the ink supply port 7, and both are connected via a communication port 13. The first communication antenna 216 can be positioned to be above the recording liquid storage unit 11 in the vertical direction. The second communication antenna 215 can be positioned to be vertically below the recording liquid storage unit 11. While the ink 10 is stored as it is in the recording liquid storage unit 11, the negative pressure generating member storage chamber 12 is provided with an ink absorber 15 such as a sponge or a fiber assembly that is impregnated and held with ink. The ink absorber 15 is sufficient to prevent ink leakage from the ink discharge portion in balance with the holding force of the meniscus formed in the ink discharge nozzle portion of the print head, and enables the ink discharge operation of the print head. Appropriate negative pressure is generated within a certain range. The ink 10 in the recording liquid storage unit 11 is supplied from the ink supply port 7 to the recording head via the negative pressure generating member storage chamber 12.

  The internal configuration of the recording liquid storage container 1 is not limited to the form divided into such a storage chamber for the ink absorber and a storage chamber for storing the ink as it is. For example, the ink absorber may be filled in substantially the entire interior space of the recording liquid storage container. Further, instead of using an ink absorber as the negative pressure generating means, ink is filled as it is into a bag-shaped member formed of an elastic material such as rubber that generates tension in the direction of expanding the volume. A negative pressure may be applied to the ink inside by the generated tension. Furthermore, at least a part of the ink storage space is formed of a flexible member, and only ink is stored in the space, and a negative pressure is generated by applying a spring force to the flexible member. It may be a thing.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, showing a state in which the main body cover is opened. The recording apparatus 200 includes a recording head and four types of recording liquid storage containers 1K, 1C, 1M, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow (hereinafter abbreviated as “K”, “C”, “M”, and “Y”). A carriage 205 carrying 1Y is provided. The main part of the recording apparatus, such as a mechanism for performing recording by moving the carriage 205 for scanning, is covered with a main body cover 201 and other case parts.

  A front surface of the recording apparatus main body is provided with a paper discharge unit (not shown) having a paper discharge roller, and a paper discharge tray 203 following the paper discharge unit. An automatic paper feeder (ASF) 202 is provided on the back of the main body. Further, an operation panel 213 is provided in the recording apparatus. The operation panel 213 includes a display, a power switch, and a reset switch for displaying the state of the recording apparatus in both the closed state and the open state of the main body cover.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the above-described ink jet recording apparatus. This figure mainly shows a control circuit 300 provided in the form of a PCB (printed wiring board) in the recording apparatus main body and components controlled thereby.

  The control circuit 300 executes data processing and operation control related to the recording apparatus. Specifically, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301 executes processing related to printing in accordance with a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 303. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 302 is used as a work area when the CPU 301 executes processing.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 6, the recording head unit 405 mounted on the carriage 205 has a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink of “K”, “C”, “M”, and “Y”. The recording heads (not shown) are formed. The recording liquid storage containers 1K, 1C, 1M, and 1Y are detachably mounted on the recording head unit 405 and the recording liquid storage container holder 220 corresponding to these recording heads.

  A connector (not shown) provided on the carriage 205 and the control circuit 300 on the main body side are signal-connected via a flexible cable 206. Further, when the recording head unit 405 is mounted on the carriage 205, the connector of the carriage 205 and the connector of the recording head unit 405 are signal-connected. Similarly, the drive circuits provided in the respective recording heads are signal-connected to the control circuit 300 on the main body side via the connectors of the recording head unit, the connectors of the carriage 205, and the flexible cable 206. As a result, the control circuit 300 can control ink ejection and the like in each recording head.

  An encoder scale 209 is provided along the movement path of the carriage 205, and an encoder sensor 211 is provided on the carriage 205. The detection signal of this sensor is input to the control circuit 300 via the flexible cable 206, whereby the movement position of the carriage 205 can be known. This position information is used for ejection control of each recording head.

  In the recording apparatus of this embodiment, ink of each color is supplied to the recording head unit 405, and the recording head unit 405 scans a recording medium such as a sheet by moving the carriage 205. Recording is performed by ejecting ink. That is, the carriage 205 is slidably engaged with the guide shaft 207 extending in the moving direction, and can be moved as described above by the carriage motor and its driving force transmission mechanism. In each of the recording heads corresponding to the inks “K”, “C”, “M”, and “Y”, ink ejection is performed based on ejection data sent from the control circuit 300 on the main body side via the flexible cable 206. Is done.

  Further, a paper feed mechanism such as a paper feed roller and a paper discharge roller is provided, and a recording medium (not shown) fed from the automatic paper feeder 202 can be conveyed to the paper discharge tray 203. While the recording head scans by the above movement, each recording head ejects ink onto the recording medium and performs recording in an area having a width corresponding to the ejection port in the recording head. Between this scan and the next scan, the paper feed mechanism feeds a predetermined amount of paper according to the width, thereby sequentially recording on the recording medium.

  A first communication antenna 216 and a second communication antenna 215 that perform wireless communication with the communication module 100 provided in the recording liquid storage container are provided at predetermined positions within the carriage movable range. The first communication antenna 216 and the second communication antenna 215 are connected to the antenna switcher 305 in the wireless communication unit 304 configured on the control circuit 300, respectively. The wireless communication unit 304 has a function of adjusting the output power within a predetermined range, and is adjusted in advance to the minimum output capable of communication via the first communication antenna 216 without ink. . If ink is present in the recording liquid container, when the communication radio wave passes through the ink, the radio wave is absorbed and attenuated by the ink, and a communication error may occur. The presence or absence of ink can be determined based on the communication error occurrence probability.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of access data for the communication module. FIG. 5A shows an example of the data structure related to reading the unique ID. The wireless communication unit 304 transmits each data signal of “start code + color code” and “control code” to the communication module 100. Of the “start code + color code”, the “start code” signal means the start of a series of data signals, and the “color code” signal specifies the ink type that is the target of the series of data signals. The “color” of the ink here includes not only ink colors such as Y, M, and C but also inks having different densities.

  The “color code” has codes corresponding to the ink colors “K”, “C”, “M”, and “Y”. The control circuit 135 compares the color information indicated by this code with its own color information stored in the storage circuit 134, performs a process of fetching subsequent data signals only when they match, and does not match Performs a process of ignoring subsequent data signal capture. Thereby, even if a data signal is sent from the main body side to each recording liquid storage container in common, the ink type can be specified by including the above-described color information in the data signal, and the subsequent processing is specified. This can be done only for the ink type. In the unique ID reading operation, the “start code + color code” code is taken in by the communication modules of all the recording liquid storage containers, and the “INVENTORY” code is the control circuit 135 of the recording liquid storage container whose “color code” matches. (Figure 3) only captures. The control circuit 135 that has received the “INVENTORY” code returns the unique ID stored in the storage circuit 134.

  FIG. 7B shows an example of writing to the memory circuit. The wireless communication unit 304 transmits data signals of “start code + color code”, “control code”, “unique ID code”, “address code”, and “data code” to the communication module 100.

  In the writing operation, the command is received by the communication module 100 of all the recording liquid storage containers, and only the control circuit 135 of the recording liquid storage container having the same “color code” accepts the code after “WRITE”. Further, by determining that the “WRITE” code is a command with a unique ID, only the control circuit 135 having the same “unique ID code” continues the subsequent processing. The next “address code” indicates the address of the memory array that is the write destination, and the last “data code” indicates the content to be written.

  Note that the content represented by the “control code” is not limited to the above example, and for example, a control code related to a continuous write command, a verify command, or the like can be added. The write command may not be accompanied by a “unique ID code”, that is, a code that can be written in common to all accessible communication modules (for example, WRITE-ALL, not shown) may be prepared separately. .

  FIG. 7C illustrates an example of a read operation from the memory circuit. The configuration of the data signal is the same as in the case of the above writing, and only the control circuit 135 of the recording liquid storage container having the same “color code” and “unique ID” performs internal processing according to the “READ” code. That is, the data designated by the address code is read, and the read data is returned.

  Next, a process for detecting the presence or absence of ink in the recording liquid storage container by a predetermined operation when the recording apparatus main body of the present embodiment is in an idling state will be specifically described.

  The wireless communication unit 304 switches to the first communication antenna 216, that is, the ink presence / absence detection antenna by the antenna switching unit 305. The carriage 205 is moved to a position where the first recording liquid storage container can communicate among the four types of mounted recording liquid storage containers. The wireless communication unit 304 of the recording apparatus main body is directed vertically from a position sandwiching the recording liquid container toward the communication means (communication module 100) provided in the recording liquid container of the recording liquid container attached to the recording apparatus. Send a wireless signal to The wireless communication unit 304 issues a predetermined number of dummy commands and counts the number of successful responses. If the number of successful responses (ratio of success times) is less than a predetermined success number threshold (threshold number ratio threshold), it is determined that ink is present, and if it is greater, it is determined that there is no ink. . Next, the carriage is moved to the position of the second recording liquid storage container, the same determination is performed, and all colors are processed in the same manner. Since the dummy command is a function only for determining whether or not the command communication is successful, it may be anything as long as it is accompanied by predetermined return data.

  In the process of consuming ink, in order to reliably determine whether ink has run out, the number of times of determination of no ink (with a reply) was further counted, and the determination of no ink (with a reply) was made a predetermined number of times continuously. In some cases, a sequence for determining that the ink has run out for the first time may be employed.

  As a method of determining the presence or absence of ink, if the output level is gradually increased in a predetermined step from the output level (signal strength) incapable of communication even in the absence of ink, and the first successful output level is greater than a predetermined threshold When ink is present and small, it may be determined that ink is absent.

  If there is an individual difference in the detection capability of the wireless communication module provided in the recording liquid storage container, the detection capability may be ranked and the rank information may be stored in the storage chip of the wireless communication module. The recording apparatus main body can read the rank information, adjust the radio wave output based on the rank information, and improve the ink presence / absence detection accuracy.

  As described above, the radio wave absorption characteristics due to moisture differ depending on the frequency band, but the microwave band is most prominent. By adjusting the antenna shape, size, and radio wave output according to the frequency band to be used and the communication distance, suitable ink presence / absence detection becomes possible.

  This ink presence / absence detection method may be used in combination with the ink droplet counting method described above. That is, the remaining ink amount obtained by conversion is stored in the storage circuit 134 provided in the recording liquid storage container via the second communication antenna 215 to manage the remaining ink amount for each recording liquid storage container. At the same time, the user is notified of the progress of ink consumption. At the same time, according to this method, printing is automatically stopped when the absence of ink is finally detected via the first communication antenna 216, a warning is given to the user, and the recording liquid storage container is replaced. It becomes possible to prompt appropriate measures such as.

  In the present embodiment, the recording liquid storage container 1 stores predetermined information in an updatable manner by the storage circuit 134, and the recording apparatus main body 200 reads and stores predetermined information from the storage circuit 134 of the recording liquid storage container 1. Predetermined information is written in the circuit 134. However, the information storage medium of the recording liquid storage container 1 may be a ROM that stores predetermined information fixedly, and the recording apparatus main body 200 and the wireless communication device 215 may only read predetermined information from the recording liquid storage container 1. Is possible.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a flash memory is used as the information storage medium of the recording liquid storage container 1, but other elements can be substituted. Other elements include RAM, ROM, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), FeRAM (Ferroelectric RAM), etc., to which a battery is connected.

  In the present embodiment, the recording liquid storage container 1 has a power generation means including an antenna 140, an RF circuit 138, and a power supply circuit 137, and employs a method of generating power by electromagnetic induction. . However, as described above, a system using microwave electric field energy may be used, and a configuration in which a battery is mounted on the communication module 100 is also possible.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows a state in which the recording liquid storage container storage chamber cover 614 provided at the bottom of the main body is opened and the recording liquid storage container storage chamber 602 is opened. Recording liquid storage containers 701K, 701C, 701M, and 701Y are mounted in the recording liquid storage container storage chamber 602, and a recording head (not illustrated) is connected via an ink supply tube or the like (not illustrated) that communicates with the mounting. Ink). The recording apparatus 600 of the present embodiment has an advantage that the recording liquid storage container is installed in the main body, so that the carriage can be formed small, the main body size can be reduced, and the motor for driving the carriage can be small in driving ability. There is.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the recording liquid storage container. An ink supply port 707 for supplying ink is provided on the side surface of the recording liquid storage container 701, and the ink supply port 707 is sealed with a flexible seal member 705. The communication module 100 is provided on the top surface of the recording liquid storage container 701 which is one of the surfaces parallel to the arrangement direction of the recording liquid storage container 701.

  FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the recording liquid storage container is mounted on the recording apparatus main body and the recording liquid storage container storage chamber cover is closed. The recording liquid storage container 701 includes an ink storage bag 704 formed of a polypropylene film or the like inside a hollow cartridge body, and an ink supply port 707 is fitted into a needle-like ink introduction member 637 formed on the body side. Ink supply becomes possible. The first communication antenna 616 is provided for each recording liquid storage container at a position that is vertically below each recording liquid storage section. That is, the first communication antenna 616 is provided in a main body member constituting the recording liquid storage container storage chamber with the recording liquid storage container 701 sandwiched between the communication module 100. The second communication antenna 615 is provided for each recording liquid storage container at a position that is vertically above each recording liquid storage section. As a result, the second communication antenna 615 provided on the main body side and the communication module 100 are adjacent to each other and communication is possible. As the ink is consumed, the ink storage bag is gradually crushed in the vertical direction. Accordingly, as in the first embodiment, the presence / absence of ink can be detected based on whether or not the first antenna 616 can perform wireless communication. The antenna switching unit of the wireless communication unit can select one of the plurality of first communication antennas 616 and the plurality of second communication antennas 615.

  In the case of this embodiment, the recording liquid storage container is not fixed on the carriage but at a predetermined position of the main body, so that a communication antenna is required for each recording liquid storage container. However, only one radio communication unit on the main body side is required, and individual communication can be performed by switching only the antenna, so that an increase in cost can be minimized.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 11 is a side sectional view for explaining main parts of a recording liquid storage container storage chamber, a carriage, a print medium transport unit, and the like of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The carriage 605 includes a print head, and printing is performed by scanning in the depth direction of FIG. The printing medium is fed by a paper feed roller 631 and discharged through a platen 632, a paper discharge roller unit 633, a spur 634, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, the recording liquid storage container storage portion is disposed near the top surface in front of the recording apparatus main body, and the recording liquid storage containers are arranged side by side so as to be arranged in the carriage movement direction (the depth direction in the drawing). The first communication antenna 716 is provided for each recording liquid storage container at a position that is vertically above each recording liquid storage section. The second communication antenna 715 is supported by the carriage 605. The second communication antenna 715 is transported to the carriage 605 and moves within a communication range near the communication module 100 attached to each recording liquid storage container, that is, a position below each recording liquid storage portion in the vertical direction. Can do. Accordingly, it is sufficient to provide only one second communication antenna 715, and it is not necessary to prepare the same number of ink types. The antenna switching unit of the wireless communication unit can select one of a plurality of first communication antennas 716 and second communication antennas 715.

  In the second and third embodiments, ink is supplied from the recording liquid storage container to the recording head on the carriage through an ink supply tube or the like. In such a configuration, a sub-tank that stores the current ink to be supplied to the recording head and constitutes a negative pressure generating mechanism can be provided on the carriage. In the present specification, the description has been made mainly on the exchangeable recording liquid storage container. However, the present invention is not limited as long as the recording liquid storage container is used. For example, such a sub tank may include a communication module. The second communication antenna 215 can be used to communicate ink information and the like in the sub tank, and the first communication antenna 216 can be used to detect the presence or absence of ink in the sub tank.

  As described above, the recording apparatus of the present invention performs information communication with the first antenna for detecting the presence or absence of ink in the recording liquid storage container on the premise of the basic configuration for performing wireless communication with the recording liquid storage container. Two antennas are provided. Therefore, it is possible not only to perform predetermined information communication without delay, but also to easily detect the presence / absence of ink in the recording liquid storage container by switching the communication antenna. The recording liquid storage container material is not particularly limited as long as it is not a material that blocks radio waves, and a special component for the recording liquid storage container is not required for detecting the presence or absence of ink.

1 is a side sectional view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the communication module with which the recording liquid storage container was equipped. It is a block diagram of a circuit chip. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a recording liquid storage container. It is a perspective view of an inkjet recording device. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of an inkjet recording device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a data structure of the access data with respect to a communication module. It is a perspective view of the inkjet recording device which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a typical perspective view of a recording liquid storage container. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of the recording liquid storage container to the main body. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of an essential part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1,701,701K, 701C, 701M, 701Y Recording liquid storage container 11 Recording liquid storage part 100 Communication module 134 Storage circuit 205,605 Carriage 215,615,715 Second communication antenna 216,616,716 First communication antenna 304 Wireless communication unit 305 Antenna switch 405 Recording head unit

Claims (11)

A recording apparatus to which a recording liquid storage container including a recording liquid storage unit is attached,
The recording liquid storage container has a communication means for performing bidirectional wireless communication with the recording device,
The recording apparatus includes a first communication antenna that performs wireless communication with the communication unit;
The first communication antenna and the communication means can be positioned so as to face each other with the recording liquid storage portion interposed therebetween in the vertical direction.
Recording device.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that adjusts an output of a radio signal transmitted from the first communication antenna toward the communication unit. The recording liquid storage container has an information storage medium for storing information about the recording liquid,
The communication means can perform wireless communication with the recording device so that the recording device reads the information from the information storage medium or the recording device writes the information to the information storage medium,
The recording apparatus includes: a second communication antenna that performs wireless communication with the communication unit so that the recording apparatus reads the information from the information storage medium or the recording apparatus writes the information to the information storage medium. Have
The second communication antenna and the communication means can be positioned close to each other in the same direction with respect to the recording liquid container.
The recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for selecting either the first communication antenna or the second communication antenna. A plurality of the recording liquid storage containers are attached in parallel,
The width of the first communication antenna in the direction in which the recording liquid storage container is arranged is equal to or less than the width in the direction in which the recording liquid storage container is arranged on the bottom surface of the recording liquid storage part.
The recording apparatus according to claim 1. A plurality of the recording liquid storage containers are attached in parallel,
The first communication antenna is positioned vertically below each recording liquid container, and the second communication antenna is positioned vertically above each recording liquid container. Provided in
Means for selecting one of the plurality of first communication antennas and the plurality of second communication antennas;
The recording apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. A plurality of the recording liquid storage containers are attached in parallel,
The first communication antenna is provided for each of the recording liquid storage containers at a position that is vertically above each recording liquid storage section.
The second communication antenna is provided only in one conveying means that can pass through a position that is vertically below each recording liquid storage unit,
A means for selecting one of a plurality of the first communication antenna and the second communication antenna;
The recording apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. A transmission step of transmitting a wireless signal in a vertical direction from a position sandwiching the recording liquid storage unit toward a communication means provided in the recording liquid storage unit of the recording liquid storage container attached to the recording apparatus;
A receiving step for determining whether or not there is a reply from the communication means for the wireless signal;
In accordance with the determination, a determination step of determining the presence or absence of a recording liquid inside the recording liquid container,
A method for determining the remaining amount of recording liquid. The transmitting step includes transmitting a radio signal having the same signal strength a plurality of times,
The receiving step includes determining a ratio of the number of times of reply to the number of transmissions of the wireless signal;
The determining step includes determining that the recording liquid is absent when the ratio reaches a predetermined threshold;
The recording liquid remaining amount determination method according to claim 8. The transmitting step includes transmitting a radio signal having the same signal strength a plurality of times,
The receiving step includes obtaining the number of times the wireless signal has been continuously replied to,
The determination step includes determining that the recording liquid is not present when the number of times exceeds a predetermined threshold.
The recording liquid remaining amount determination method according to claim 8. The transmitting step includes transmitting a wireless signal a plurality of times while gradually increasing the signal strength;
The receiving step includes obtaining the signal strength when a reply is made to the wireless signal for the first time,
The determination step includes determining that there is no recording liquid when the signal intensity falls below a predetermined threshold value.
The recording liquid remaining amount determination method according to claim 8.

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