JP2008149565A - Recording device and ink tank - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device that allows use of an ink in a large consumption by additionally providing its ink tank instead of an ink tank of the other ink. <P>SOLUTION: With respect to a specific recording head (Bk) in a plurality of recording heads, the recording device includes an additionally-provided introduction port 75, which is provided to a mounting part other than the corresponding mounting part, and an additionally-provided supply path 15 that is connected to the additionally-provided introduction port so as to supply ink to the specific recording head. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and an ink tank, and more particularly to a recording apparatus and an ink tank capable of recording an image using a plurality of recording heads.

  Ink types used in inkjet recording devices are generally Bk (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) in devices that use four types of ink. . Further, in an apparatus using five types of ink, two types of pigment-based ink and dye-based ink may be used for the Bk color ink. These black inks are properly used depending on the type of recording image and recording medium. Furthermore, in an apparatus that uses multiple colors, in addition to Bk, C, M, and Y inks, PM (photo magenta) and PC (photo cyan) inks may be added. Furthermore, recently, inks such as G (green) and R (red) have been added, and there is a recording apparatus capable of expressing a color tone that is not inferior to silver-lead photography.

  Some ink tanks of a recording apparatus using these inks are integral with the recording head and others are separated from the recording head. These recording apparatuses are configured to stably supply ink to a recording head for ejecting ink.

  Ink tanks differ in the type and number of inks mounted depending on the application and purpose of the ink jet recording apparatus. In general, the larger the number of color machines, the larger the recording head on which the ink tank is mounted, and the larger the size of the ink jet recording apparatus itself. Therefore, in an ink jet recording apparatus that desires a reduction in size, the capacity (size) of the ink tank is limited as the multicolor machine is used.

  On the other hand, when the number of recording sheets increases, the amount of ink consumed increases, so that the capacity of the ink tank may be insufficient. For example, since ink can be recorded at a low cost by an ink jet recording apparatus, such as a new year's card for an individual, a distributed material in an office, etc., ink may be consumed in large quantities. Recently, printers that can be directly connected to a network have also been provided and are widely used, such as using a single inkjet recording apparatus by several people. At this time, the Bk (black) ink used for recording characters or the like may be consumed more. In this case, the Bk ink is consumed more than the other color inks, and the ink tank of the Bk ink is emptied faster than the other color inks. That is, only the ink tank of Bk ink is consumed quickly, and the number of times of ink tank replacement may increase. When the ink tank for Bk ink becomes empty, the recording is stopped.

  There is a method of providing a dedicated Bk ink device as a method of avoiding the Bk ink out of ink and the recording stop due to the ink out, but this causes a problem in terms of production cost and demand. That is, an advantage of the ink jet recording apparatus is that high-definition color recording can be performed at a low cost. Therefore, these may not be achieved with a Bk ink dedicated apparatus.

  Therefore, a technique is disclosed in which when the amount of Bk ink decreases, process black is automatically created and recorded using color inks C, M, and Y (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this technique, when the remaining amount of the Bk ink becomes equal to or less than the set value, the color ink is mixed with the Bk ink and the black color is recorded, thereby obtaining time until the ink runs out.

JP 2001-38929 A

  However, as described above, so-called process black, which records black using a color ink other than Bk ink, may be inferior in blackness compared to the case where black color is used with pigment-based ink. In addition, in order to use process black, since color ink is used for mixing, ink other than Bk is also consumed quickly.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a recording apparatus and an ink tank that can be used by replacing a large amount of used ink with another ink.

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus of the present invention includes a mounting portion to which an ink tank provided with an ink supply port is mounted, an introduction port provided in the mounting portion and connected to the supply port, In a recording apparatus capable of recording an image by using a plurality of supply heads connected to an introduction port and a plurality of recording heads to which ink from an ink tank is supplied through the supply path, the plurality of recording heads are identified. The recording head includes an additional introduction port provided in a mounting unit other than the corresponding mounting unit, and an additional supply path connected to the additional installation port for supplying ink to the specific recording head. .

  According to the recording apparatus of the present invention, ink in an ink tank corresponding to a specific recording head mounted on a mounting unit other than the corresponding mounting unit can be supplied to the specific recording head. As a result, even with the same printing apparatus, it is possible to use more ink by replacing it with other ink.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a serial scan type inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applicable. The recording apparatus in the present embodiment can record an image using a plurality of recording heads each supplied with ink from an ink tank via a supply path. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a carriage on which an ink jet recording head capable of ejecting ink can be mounted. Ink tanks 1, 2, 3, and 4 that store ink described later are mounted on the mounting portion of the carriage 100. An ink supply path is formed in the mounting portion of the carriage 100. A flexible cable 52 electrically connects a control board attached to the back surface of the recording apparatus main body and a recording head mounted on the carriage 100. 53A is a motor pulley that transmits the driving force of a carriage motor (CR motor) (not shown), and a driving belt 54 is stretched between the motor pulley 53A and the pulley 53B. The drive belt 54 is connected to the carriage 100, whereby the carriage 100 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow X via the drive belt 54. Reference numeral 55 denotes a paper feed roller. By a driving force from a paper feed motor (LF motor) (not shown), a sheet as a recording medium is scanned in the sub-scanning direction (in this example, the main scanning direction). It is conveyed in the direction of the arrow Y that is orthogonal.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows an ink tank of the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an example in which four color ink tanks 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Bk, Y, M, and C are arranged. That is, an arrangement is shown in the case where recording is performed using four inks of normal black ink, yellow ink, magenta ink, and cyan ink. Reference numerals 71, 72, 73 and 74 are provided in the ink tanks 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and indicate supply ports for taking out ink. Reference numerals 61, 62, 63, and 64 denote ink inlets provided in the carriage 100, and are connected to supply ports 71, 72, 73, and 74, respectively. Ink is supplied from the ink introduction port to the recording head 120 through an ink supply path provided in the carriage 100. Further, the ink tank is provided with an ink remaining amount detecting prism 10 equipped with a remaining amount detecting prism. Ink remaining in the middle of recording is prevented by informing the ink remaining amount in advance by the ink remaining amount detecting prism 10.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams when a Bk ink tank 5 is added in place of the Y ink tank to the mounting portion of the Y ink tank 2 in addition to the Bk ink tank 1 shown in FIG. is there. The supply of ink from the Bk ink tank 5 to the recording head 12 cannot use the Y ink inlet 62 as it is. Therefore, an additional ink introduction port 65 for an additional Bk ink tank different from the introduction port 62 is provided at a position rotated 180 degrees. Through the introduction port 65, the ink in the ink tank 5 is taken out from the supply port 75, and the ink is supplied to the recording head 120 through the additional supply path 15.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement of the ink tank, the ink supply path, and the recording head in FIG. The additional supply path 15 from the expanded ink tank 5 to the recording head merges with the supply path 11 from the ink inlet 61 for the normal Bk ink tank 1 and communicates with the Bk recording head 121 as shown in the figure. is doing. A portion of the Y ink ink inlet 62 communicating with the unused Y ink supply path 12 is capped by the ink inlet cap 9. The cap 9 is a cap capable of closing the ink introduction port. The ink inlet cap 9 may be provided in advance on the bottom surface of the added ink tank 5. That is, when the added ink tank is installed, the unused inlet 62 is closed. In addition, the cap 9 may be attached as necessary when the additional ink tank 5 is used as a separate cap from the ink tank. Furthermore, the cap 9 may be provided in advance in the apparatus. The cap 9 is preferably made of an ink-resistant material because ink may come into contact therewith.

  Further, the remaining ink amount detection prism 10 of the added ink tank 5 is newly provided on the opposite side of the Y ink tank. Recording is stopped only when the remaining ink in both the normal Bk ink tank 1 and the added Bk ink tank 5 runs out by detecting the remaining amount of ink when the added Bk ink tank 5 is installed. That is, recording is not stopped when only one of the inks is exhausted, but recording is stopped only when both ink tanks are empty. In addition, it is preferable that the remaining ink amount is displayed by detecting each of the normal Bk ink tank 1 and the additional Bk ink tank 5. Software for displaying these may be incorporated in the printer driver. In the present embodiment, whether a normal Y ink tank 2 is installed or an additional Bk ink tank 5 is installed is automatically recognized by providing a mechanism such as a sensor in the main body. However, this recognition may be performed visually by an operator.

  The method for adding a Bk ink tank in the four-color ink recording apparatus has been described above, but the recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the four-color ink recording apparatus. That is, a Bk ink tank can be similarly added to a recording apparatus using two or three colors of ink or an apparatus using five or more colors of ink. As described above, the apparatus of the present embodiment is connected to an additional introduction port provided in a mounting unit other than the corresponding mounting unit for a specific recording head among a plurality of recording heads, and is connected to the additional installation port. And an additional supply path for supplying ink to the recording head.

  In addition, if the apparatus supports a case where a large amount of ink other than Bk ink is used, an ink tank of a color other than the Bk ink tank can be similarly applied by providing an additional supply path.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the recording apparatus in which the Y ink tank is added to the Bk ink tank has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to changing the Y ink tank to the Bk ink tank. That is, not only the ink tank for Y ink but also an ink tank for other ink, for example, an ink tank for M or C ink, may be changed to an ink tank for Bk ink. Further, not only one ink tank of Y ink, M ink, and C ink but also two ink tanks such as Y ink and M ink may be changed to ink tanks of Bk ink. Furthermore, all ink tanks of Y, M, and C inks may be changed to ink tanks of Bk ink.

  4 (a) and 4 (b) show a Bk ink tank in place of the Y ink tank 2 and the M ink tank 3 instead of the Bk ink tank 1 shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing at the time of adding 5 and 6.

  Ink supply to the Bk ink tank 5 and the Bk ink tank 6 is performed at a position where the directions of the Y ink introduction port 62 and the M ink introduction port 63 are rotated by 180 degrees, separately from the introduction ports 62 and 63. Additional introduction ports 65 and 66 for the Bk ink tank are provided. Through the inlets 65 and 66, the ink in the ink tanks 5 and 6 is taken out from the supply ports 75 and 76, and the ink is supplied to the recording head 120 through the additional supply paths 15 and 16.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement of the ink tank, the ink supply path, and the recording head in FIG. The expansion supply path 16 from the expanded ink tank 6 to the recording head joins the path 11 from the ink inlet 61 for the normal Bk ink tank 1 in the same way as the expansion supply path 15 from the ink tank 5. ing. Accordingly, the additional supply paths 15 and 16 communicate with the Bk recording head 121 by joining with the supply path 11. Further, since the supply path 13 is not used, the ink introduction port 63 for M ink is capped by the ink introduction port cap 9.

  The recording is stopped only when all the inks in the normal Bk ink tank 1 and the added Bk ink tanks 5 and 6 are used up. Further, it is preferable that the remaining amount of ink is displayed by detecting each of the normal Bk ink tank 1 and the additional Bk ink tanks 5 and 6.

  5 (a) and 5 (b) show Bk ink tanks 5, 6 and 7 on the mounting portion of the Y ink tank 2, the M ink tank 3, and the C ink tank 4 in addition to the Bk ink tank 1 shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing at the time of adding.

  In addition to the form shown in FIG. 4, since the C ink tank 4 is also changed to a Bk ink tank, an additional introduction port for the additional Bk ink tank is further moved to a position where the direction of the C ink introduction port 64 is rotated 180 degrees. 67 is provided. With this introduction port 67, the ink in the ink tank 7 is taken out from the supply port 77, and the ink is supplied to the recording head 120 through the additional supply path 17.

  FIG. 5B is a diagram schematically illustrating the arrangement of the ink tank, the ink supply path, and the recording head in FIG. The additional supply path 17 from the additional ink tank 7 to the recording head is the same as the additional supply paths 15 and 16 from the ink tanks 5 and 6, and the supply path 11 from the ink inlet 61 for the normal Bk ink tank 1. And joins on the way. Accordingly, the additional supply paths 15, 16 and 17 communicate with the Bk recording head 121 by joining with the supply path 11. Further, since the supply paths 12, 13 and 14 are not used, the inlets 62, 63 and 64 are capped by the ink inlet cap 9.

  The recording is stopped only when all the inks in the normal Bk ink tank 1 and the added Bk ink tanks 5, 6 and 7 are used up. In addition, it is preferable that the remaining ink amount is displayed by detecting each of the normal Bk ink tank 1 and the additional Bk ink tanks 5, 6 and 7.

(Third embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments, one Bk ink tank is replaced for each color ink tank, but the recording apparatus of the present invention has a large capacity for two color ink tanks. A Bk ink tank may be installed. In other words, ink tanks having different storage capacities may be attached.

  FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram in the case where a large number of Bk ink tanks 8 are added to the mounting portion between the Y ink tank 2 and the M ink tank 3.

  The ink supply path communicated from the extension introduction port 68 joins the supply path 11 of the Bk ink tank 1 in the middle, and communicates with the Bk recording head 121. Since the supply paths 12 and 13 to which the Y ink tank 2 and the M ink tank 3 are connected are not used, the inlets 62 and 63 of the Y ink tank 2 and the M ink tank 3 are capped by the cap 9.

  FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram in the case where a large number of Bk ink tanks 8 are added to the mounting positions of the Y ink tank 2, the M ink tank 3, and the C ink tank 4.

  The ink supply path communicated from the extension introduction port 69 merges with the supply path 11 of the Bk ink tank 1 and communicates with the Bk recording head 121. The inlets 62, 63 and 64 of the Y ink tank 2, M ink tank 3 and C ink tank are capped by a cap 9.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments, one color ink tank and one Bk ink tank are changed. However, the present invention does not change one ink tank, and the ink having the color and Bk inks is changed. It may be changed to a tank.

  FIGS. 7A and 7B show the case where the ink tank for Y ink, the ink tank for M ink, and the ink tank for C ink are each changed to an ink tank in which two colors of Bk ink are integrated. It is explanatory drawing. In this integrated ink tank, the ink amount of the original color is reduced to ½, and ½, which is the volume of the reduced color ink, is used as Bk ink.

  Reference numeral 5a denotes an ink tank in which the amount of Y ink and the amount of Bk ink are halved. Similarly, 6a is an ink tank in which the ink amount of M ink and Bk ink is ½ each, and 7a is an ink tank in which the ink amount of C ink and Bk ink is ½ each. Show. Reference numerals 62a, 63a, 64a, 65a, 66a, and 67a denote the respective ink inlets.

  FIG. 7B is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement of the ink tank, the ink supply path, and the recording head in FIG. The Bk ink expansion supply path 15a from the expanded ink tank 5a to the recording head merges with the supply path 11 from the ink inlet 61 for the normal Bk ink tank 1 on the way as shown in FIG. 121. Similarly, an additional supply path 16a for Bk ink from the ink tank 6a and an additional supply path 17a for Bk ink from the ink tank 7a also merge with the supply path 11 on the way.

  In this embodiment, the color ink and Bk ink tanks are integrated, but the color ink and Bk ink may be separate ink tanks. In the present embodiment, the color ink and the Bk ink are each halved, but the amount of ink is not limited to ½, and even if the amount of Bk ink is large, the color A lot of ink may be used.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the serial type recording apparatus is used. However, the present invention is a so-called full recording that records an image using a long recording head extending over the entire width direction of the recording area of the recording medium. It may be a line type recording apparatus.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the ink supply path is provided in the mounting portion formed in the carriage, but may be provided in another location. That is, in the case of a full line type recording apparatus, it may be provided in the recording apparatus main body.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows typically arrangement | positioning of the conventional ink tank. (A) (b) is a figure which shows typically the ink tank of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) (b) is a figure which shows typically the ink tank of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (A) (b) is a figure which shows typically the ink tank of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (A) (b) is a figure which shows typically the ink tank of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. (A) (b) is a figure which shows typically the ink tank of the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Bk ink tank 2 Y ink tank 3 M ink tank 4 C ink tank 5 Additional Bk ink tank 9 Ink inlet cap 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Ink supply path 120 Recording head 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 Ink introduction port 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 Ink supply port

Claims (8)

A mounting portion to which an ink tank provided with an ink supply port is mounted; an introduction port provided in the mounting portion to which the supply port is connected; a supply path connected to the introduction port; and the supply path In a recording apparatus capable of recording an image using a plurality of recording heads to which ink from an ink tank is supplied,
With respect to a specific recording head among the plurality of recording heads, an additional introduction port provided in a mounting unit other than the corresponding mounting unit, and an additional supply path connected to the additional introduction port and supplying ink to the specific recording head And a recording apparatus.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink tank corresponding to the specific recording head contains black ink.   The mounting unit other than the corresponding mounting unit can mount an ink tank having a different amount of ink from the ink tank mounted on the corresponding mounting unit. The recording device described.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a mounting unit other than the corresponding mounting unit can mount an ink tank mounted on the corresponding mounting unit in a different direction.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cap capable of closing the introduction port that is not connected to a supply port of an ink tank that is mounted on the mounting unit. An ink tank that can be attached to the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An ink tank mounted on a mounting unit other than the corresponding mounting unit stores ink of a recording head corresponding to the mounting unit and ink corresponding to the specific recording head. An ink tank that can be attached to the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An ink tank mounted on a mounting unit other than the corresponding mounting unit includes a cap that can store ink of a recording head corresponding to the mounting unit and can close the additional introduction port. An ink tank that can be attached to the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An ink tank mounted on a mounting unit other than the corresponding mounting unit includes a cap that stores the ink of the specific recording head and can close the inlet.

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