JP2008194916A - Ink cartridge and image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording apparatus capable of judging whether an ink cartridge mounted is an appropriate article or not at low cost regardless of the condition of use of the ink cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: In the image recording apparatus 10, the ink cartridge 20 having an ink film 50 for thermal transfer and a hollow feeding shaft 30 on which the ink film 50 is wound is made freely removable, and ink is transferred onto paper P from the ink film 50. The image recording apparatus 10 is equipped with a first bearing member 13, main body side terminals 133 and 134 and a controlling part 60. The main body side terminals 133 and 134 acquire information of a discriminating part being a specified region within a part coming into contact with the feeding shaft 30 of the ink film 50 through the feeding shaft 30 under the condition that the feeding shaft 30 is inserted into the first bearing member 13, and are exposed on the outer peripheral face of the first bearing member 13. The controlling part 60 judges adaptability of the ink cartridge 20 from the information acquired by the main body side terminals 133 and 134. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink cartridge having an ink film for thermal transfer, and an image recording apparatus that is detachably equipped with an ink cartridge and transfers ink from the ink film conveyed with the recording medium to the recording medium.

  A thermal transfer type image recording apparatus generally includes an ink cartridge that is detachable from a main body so as to be replaceable. The ink cartridge generally has an ink film for thermal transfer, a supply shaft around which the ink film before transfer processing is wound, and a take-up shaft for winding up the ink film after being transferred from the supply shaft. is doing. One end of the ink film is fixed to the supply shaft, and the other end is fixed to the take-up shaft.

  In the ink cartridge before use, almost all of the ink film is wound around the supply shaft, and no ink film is wound around the take-up shaft. By performing the image recording operation, the ink film is unwound from the supply shaft and wound on the winding shaft. When the ink film wound around the supply shaft disappears, the ink cartridge becomes unusable and the ink cartridge needs to be replaced.

  As the replacement ink cartridge, an appropriate product having good compatibility with the image recording apparatus should be used, but a counterfeit product imitating the appropriate product is also available. When a counterfeit product is used as a replacement ink cartridge, the original image recording quality as an image recording apparatus cannot be ensured, and there may be a problem that the life of the main body of the image recording apparatus is shortened. In order to prevent such a problem, a technique for discriminating between a proper product and a counterfeit product has been developed.

  For example, whether or not the installed ink cartridge is a proper product is provided by providing a pattern-like mark for identifying the proper product at the tip of the ink film transport direction and detecting this mark directly with a sensor. Is disclosed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Also, by applying a high-dielectric material to a predetermined location of the ink cartridge and detecting the frequency according to the dielectric constant of the high-dielectric material with a sensor that contacts the high-dielectric material, whether the installed ink cartridge is appropriate A technique for determining whether or not is disclosed is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Furthermore, a film as an electrical detection target is formed on the surface opposite to the printing surface of the ink film, and the mounted ink cartridge is electrically detected by a sensor provided in the vicinity of the printing position. Has been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP 2000-141929 A JP-A-11-42822 JP 2003- 211766 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the discrimination mark is provided at the front end in the ink film transport direction, the mark can be detected only before the start of use. When an ink cartridge that has been used halfway is mounted, the mark cannot be detected, so even if it is a proper product, it is not determined that it is a proper product. Further, in this technique, considering the case where a discrimination mark is provided at an intermediate portion or a rear end portion in the transport direction, in this case, it is impossible to determine whether the product is a proper product before the start of use.

  In the technique of Patent Document 2, a high dielectric material that is not directly related to the manufacture of the ink cartridge must be applied to the ink cartridge, which increases the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge.

  In the technique of Patent Document 3, if a film is formed in all areas from the front end to the rear end in the ink film conveyance direction, it is determined whether or not the ink cartridge is a proper product even when the ink cartridge used halfway is installed. Although it can be discriminated, the area on which the film is to be formed becomes very large and the manufacturing cost increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge and an image recording apparatus that can determine at low cost whether or not an installed ink cartridge is an appropriate product regardless of the state of use of the ink cartridge.

  An ink cartridge according to the present invention includes a hollow shaft around which a thermal transfer ink film is wound on a peripheral surface thereof, and is detachably attached to an image recording apparatus. The ink film has an identification portion having information indicating the type in a portion that abuts on the peripheral surface of the shaft body. The shaft body is capable of acquiring the information of the identification unit from the inside to the image recording apparatus.

  As an example, the shaft body is a supply shaft around which the ink film before the transfer process for transferring the ink from the ink film to the recording medium is wound, and the ink film has an identification portion at the rear end portion in the transport direction.

  As another example, the apparatus further includes a supply shaft around which the ink film before being transferred to transfer the ink from the ink film to the recording medium is wound, and the shaft body is a take-up shaft that winds up the ink film fed from the supply shaft. The ink film has an identification portion at the front end in the transport direction.

  In the image recording apparatus of the present invention, an ink cartridge having a hollow shaft body around which a thermal transfer ink film is wound is detachable by inserting and removing the shaft body into and from a bearing member, and is transported together with the recording medium. The ink is transferred from the ink film to the recording medium. The image recording apparatus includes a bearing member, an acquisition unit, and a determination unit. An acquisition part is provided in a bearing member, and acquires the information of the identification part with which the shaft body was inserted in the bearing member, and was provided in the portion which contacts the peripheral surface of the shaft body in an ink film from the inside of a shaft body. The determination unit determines the suitability of the ink cartridge based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit.

  The identification part is a conductive part, and is exposed to an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface at a position facing the conductive part in the axial direction on the shaft body, and is arranged with a plurality of non-conductive parts interposed therebetween in the circumferential direction. A conductor terminal may be provided. The acquisition unit has two main body sides that are electrically connected to the conductive unit via two conductive terminals that are spaced apart from each other among the plurality of conductive terminals in a state where the shaft is inserted into the bearing member. It may be a terminal. The acquisition unit includes a measurement unit that measures a resistance value between the two main body side terminals, and the determination unit can determine the suitability of the ink cartridge based on the resistance value measured by the measurement unit.

  Each of the main body side terminals may be biased toward the outside in the radial direction.

  According to the ink cartridge and the image recording apparatus of the present invention, if the ink cartridge is an appropriate product, the identification portion comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body in a state where the ink film is wound around the shaft body. Since the identification unit information is acquired via the shaft body, if the shaft body is a supply shaft, the shaft body is a take-up shaft at all times from the start of use of the ink cartridge to the end of use. The acquisition unit can acquire the information of the identification unit at all times from the start of use to the end of use of the ink cartridge in which the ink film is wound on the take-up shaft by a predetermined amount or less.

  Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the mounted ink cartridge is a proper product regardless of the use state of the ink cartridge.

  Moreover, the identification part should just be provided in the 1st end part of the conveyance direction of an ink film only for the length which makes a round of a shaft body at the maximum. Therefore, it can be determined at low cost whether or not the mounted ink cartridge is a proper product.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image recording apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image recording apparatus 10 includes a thermal head 11, a platen roller 12, a first bearing member 13, a second bearing member 14, an ink film sensor 15, a main body having ink film transport rollers 16 and 17, and an ink cartridge 20. Yes. In this embodiment, the first bearing member 13 corresponds to the bearing member of the present invention.

  The ink cartridge 20 includes a supply shaft 30, a take-up shaft 40, and an ink film 50. In this embodiment, the supply shaft 30 corresponds to the shaft body of the present invention. The ink cartridge 20 is detachable from the main body. Each of the supply shaft 30 and the take-up shaft 40 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The supply shaft 30 is removably inserted into the first bearing member 13. The supply shaft 30 is rotatably supported by the first bearing member 13. The winding shaft 40 is removably inserted into the second bearing member 14. The winding shaft 40 is rotatably supported by the second bearing member 14. The ink film 50 includes a film-like base material and image recording ink applied on the base material.

  The ink film 50 is stretched over the ink film transport rollers 16 and 17 with the ink cartridge 20 mounted on the main body, and is disposed between the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 12. A sheet P that is an example of a recording medium is disposed between the ink film 50 and the platen roller 12.

  The ink film sensor 15 detects whether the ink film 50 is on a predetermined transport path.

  The platen roller 12 rotates while pressing the paper P and the ink film 50 against the thermal head 11. The thermal head 11 transfers the ink applied to the ink film 50 onto the paper P based on the image data.

  A drive shaft (not shown) is inserted into the take-up shaft 40 on the opposite side of the second bearing member 14 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the ink film 50. The drive shaft is rotated by a drive source such as a motor. As the drive shaft rotates, the take-up shaft 40 rotates, whereby the ink film 50 is unwound from the supply shaft 30 and passes between the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 12 and taken up by the take-up shaft 40. It is done. The ink film 50 is transported together with the paper P when being transported between the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 12 in a predetermined transport direction.

  In the transport direction of the ink film 50, one end of the ink film 50 is fixed to the supply shaft 30, and the other end is fixed to the take-up shaft 40. The unused portion of the ink film 50 that has not been transferred is wound around the supply shaft 30. The portion of the ink film 50 that has been fed out from the supply shaft 30 and subjected to the transfer process is taken up by the take-up shaft 40. In the ink cartridge 20 before the start of use, almost all of the ink film 50 is wound around the supply shaft 30, and the ink film 50 is not wound around the winding shaft 40. In addition, in the ink cartridge 20 before the start of use, a part of the ink film 50 may be wound around the winding shaft 40 in order to smoothly wind the ink film 50 around the winding shaft 40.

  The thermal head 11 is disposed over the entire image recording area in the main scanning direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. The image recording apparatus 10 records an image by performing a transfer process in which ink is thermally transferred from the ink film 50 to the paper P transported together with the ink film 50 during the image recording operation.

  By repeating the image recording operation, the ink film 50 is drawn out from the supply shaft 30 and taken up on the take-up shaft 40. When the ink film 50 wound around the supply shaft 30 disappears, the ink cartridge 20 becomes unusable and the ink cartridge 20 needs to be replaced.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a partial configuration of the supply shaft 30, the ink film 50, and the first bearing member 13. 3A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of the supply shaft 30 around which the ink film 50 is wound, and FIG. 3B is an end view taken along line X1-X2 of FIG.

  The supply shaft 30 has two conductor terminals 31 and 32 and a non-conductive portion which is a part other than the conductor terminals 31 and 32. The conductor terminals 31 and 32 have conductivity, and the non-conductive portion does not have conductivity. The conductor terminals 31 and 32 are disposed, for example, in the vicinity of one end of the supply shaft 30 in the axial direction. The conductor terminal 31 and the conductor terminal 32 are arranged with a non-conductive portion sandwiched between each other in the circumferential direction, and the conductor terminal 31 and the conductor terminal 32 are not electrically connected by other members. Is not electrically conductive. Each of the conductor terminals 31 and 32 is exposed on the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the supply shaft 30.

  The ink film 50 has a conductive portion 51 having conductivity at a position facing the conductor terminals 31 and 32 in a state where the ink film 50 is wound around the supply shaft 30 on the upstream end in the transport direction. The conductive part 51 is formed, for example, by applying conductive ink to a base material. The conductive portion 51 corresponds to the identification portion of the present invention. In this embodiment, the upstream end portion in the transport direction corresponds to the first end portion of the present invention. The conductive part 51 has, for example, a strip shape that is long in the transport direction. The conductive portion 51 is in contact with both outer peripheral surfaces of the two conductor terminals 31 and 32 in a state where the ink film 50 is wound around the supply shaft 30, and electrically connects the two conductor terminals 31 and 32. To do.

  The first bearing member 13 includes openings 131 and 132, conductive main body side terminals 133 and 134, and springs 135 and 136. The main body side terminals 133 and 134 correspond to the acquisition unit of the present invention.

  The openings 131 and 132 are provided at positions that can simultaneously face the two conductor terminals 31 and 32 in a state where the supply shaft 30 is inserted into the first bearing member 13. Each of the main body side terminals 133 and 134 is disposed so as to face each of the conductor terminals 31 and 32 from the inside of the first bearing member 13 through the openings 131 and 132, and a part of the first bearing member 13. It is exposed on the outer peripheral surface. Each of the main body side terminals 133 and 134 is urged outwardly in the radial direction by springs 135 and 136, respectively.

  Thus, with the supply shaft 30 inserted into the first bearing member 13, the body-side terminals 133 and 134 are partially connected to the conductor terminals 31 and 32 while the supply shaft 30 rotates once. At the same time, they are in contact at the same time and are electrically connected. For this reason, in a state where the main body side terminals 133 and 134 and the conductor terminals 31 and 32 are in contact with each other, the two main body side terminals 133 and 134 are conducted through the conductive portion 51 of the ink film 50. The electrical resistance value between the main body side terminals 133 and 134 becomes small.

  Here, consider a case where a dummy ink cartridge is mounted on the image recording apparatus 10 in place of the proper ink cartridge 20. In the counterfeit ink cartridge, a predetermined region of the portion in contact with the ink film supply shaft corresponds to the identification unit. In the imitation ink cartridge, the conductive portion 51 is not provided on the ink film, and the conductor terminals 31 and 32 are not provided on the supply shaft. Therefore, even if the supply shaft rotates once, the two main body side terminals 133 and 134 are conducted. There is nothing. For this reason, the electrical resistance value between the two main body side terminals 133 and 134 becomes very large. Therefore, by measuring the electrical resistance value between the two main body side terminals 133 and 134 while rotating the supply shaft once, whether the ink cartridge mounted on the image recording apparatus 10 is a proper product or a counterfeit product. Is determined.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image recording apparatus 10.

  The image recording apparatus 10 includes a control unit 60. The control unit 60 includes a storage unit 61, a display unit 62, an operation unit 63, an image recording unit 64, a main body cover detection unit 65, an ink film sensor 15, a drive source 66, and a measurement. Each of the parts 67 is electrically connected. The controller 60 controls these devices in an integrated manner. The control unit 60 corresponds to the determination unit of the present invention.

  The storage unit 61 stores a program for operating the image recording apparatus 10 and information such as image data. The operation unit 63 receives various inputs from the user. The controller 60 records the image based on the image data on the sheet P by the image recording unit 64 by driving the drive source 66 according to the program.

  The ink film sensor 15 detects whether the ink film 50 is on a predetermined transport path and outputs the detection result to the control unit 60. The control unit 60 detects whether the ink cartridge 20 is attached to the main body based on the detection result of the ink film sensor 15.

  The main body cover detection unit 65 detects an open / closed state of a main body cover (not shown) and outputs a detection result to the control unit. When the ink cartridge 20 is replaced, the main body cover is always opened and closed. Therefore, when the main body cover is once opened and then closed, the control unit 60 assumes that the ink cartridge 20 has been replaced, and that the ink cartridge 20 is adapted. The sex determination process is started.

  An interface circuit 68 is electrically connected to the measuring unit 67, and each of the main body side terminals 133 and 134 is electrically connected to the interface circuit 68.

  The control unit 60 measures the electrical resistance value between the two main body side terminals 133 and 134 during the compatibility determination process of the ink cartridge 20. The interface circuit 68 converts a resistance value between the two main body side terminals 133 and 134 into a voltage signal and outputs the voltage signal to the measuring unit 67. The measuring unit 67 measures the electrical resistance value between the two main body side terminals 133 and 134 based on the voltage signal input from the interface circuit 68.

  The control unit 60 temporarily stores the resistance value measured by the measurement unit 67 in the storage unit 61. The storage unit 61 stores in advance a range of resistance values when the ink cartridge 20 is a proper product. The control unit 60 compares the resistance value T1 measured by the measurement unit 67 with the range of the resistance value T2 in the case of the proper product stored in the storage unit 61 in advance, and the resistance value T1 is equal to the resistance value T2. If it is within the range, it is determined that the mounted ink cartridge 20 is a proper product, and if it is out of the range, it is determined that the product is not a proper product but a counterfeit product.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the control unit 60.

  When the control unit 60 detects that the main body cover is changed from the open state to the closed state (S1), the control unit 60 places the ink film 50 in order to remove slack and wrinkles of the ink film 50 that are likely to occur when the main body cover is opened. Quantify and send (S2). Thereby, the ink film 50 is stretched without slack, and the detection accuracy of the ink film sensor 15 is improved.

  Based on the detection result of the ink film sensor 15, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the ink cartridge 20 is attached to the main body (S3). If not, for example, “no ink cartridge” is displayed on the display unit 62. Is displayed (S4).

  When the ink cartridge 20 is mounted, the resistance value between the two main body side terminals 133 and 134 is measured (S5).

  The control unit 60 determines whether or not the measured resistance value T1 is within the range of the resistance value T2 in the case where the measured value is a proper product stored in advance in the storage unit 61 (S6). In this case, it is determined that the installed ink cartridge 20 is a proper product, and for example, “image recordable” is displayed on the display unit 62 (S7).

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the positional relationship between the main body side terminals 133 and 134 and the conductor terminals 31 and 32 is different from the case where they are in contact with each other as shown in FIG. In some cases, they are separated from each other as shown in FIG.

  When the measured resistance value T1 is outside the range of the resistance value T2 when the measured value is a proper product stored in the storage unit 61 in advance, the cause is that the ink cartridge 20 is a counterfeit product. The main body side terminals 133 and 134 and the conductor terminals 31 and 32 may be separated as shown in FIG.

  When the measured resistance value T1 is outside the range of the resistance value T2 in the case where the measured resistance value T1 is a proper product stored in the storage unit 61 in S6, the control unit 60 rotates the supply shaft 30 once. 6A, the main body side terminals 133 and 134 and the conductor terminals 31 and 32 are brought into contact with each other at least at one time. The controller 60 measures the resistance value between the two main body side terminals 133 and 134 while rotating the supply shaft 30 (S8).

  The control unit 60 determines whether or not the measured resistance value T1 is within the range of the resistance value T2 in the case where the measured value is a proper product stored in the storage unit 61 in advance (S9). In this case, it is determined that the installed ink cartridge 20 is a proper product, and for example, “image recordable” is displayed on the display unit 62 (S7).

  When the measured resistance value T1 is outside the range of the resistance value T2 in the case where the measured resistance value T1 is an appropriate product stored in the storage unit 61 in S9, the control unit 60 displays, for example, “Appropriate Use an ink cartridge. ”Is displayed to warn the user to use an appropriate product (S10).

  According to the image recording apparatus 10, by providing the conductive portion 51 at the rear end portion in the transport direction of the ink film 50, two conductor terminals are used at all times from the start of use of the ink cartridge 20 to the end of use. 133 and 134 are electrically connected by the conductive portion 51. Since the conductive portion 51 only needs to be provided for the length of one turn around the supply shaft 30 at the maximum, only a small amount of the conductive portion 51 is required. Accordingly, whether the installed ink cartridge is appropriate or not, regardless of whether the ink cartridge 20 is in use or not, even before the start of use or in a state where it has been used halfway. Can be determined by cost.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the voltage value detected by the measuring unit 67 and time while the ink film 50 is being wound from the supply shaft 30 to the winding shaft 40. The larger the voltage value is, the larger the resistance value between the two main body side terminals 133 and 134 is.

  The voltage value is V1 when the main body side terminals 133 and 134 and the conductor terminals 31 and 32 are not in contact with each other, and V2 is smaller than V1 when they are in contact with each other.

  The period of the rectangular wave of the voltage value is long as shown by the period M1 in FIG. 7 immediately after the start of use of the ink cartridge 20, and at the time when the ink film 50 is almost taken up by the take-up shaft 40, 7 is shortened as indicated by the period M2. This is because the rotation speed of the supply shaft 30 increases because the outer diameter of the ink film 50 wound around the supply shaft 30 decreases.

  The period of the rectangular wave of the voltage value is stored in the storage unit 61 in advance, and the period of the rectangular wave of the detected voltage value is compared with the period of the rectangular wave stored in the storage unit 61, whereby the ink film The usage amount of 50 can be estimated and displayed on the display unit 62. According to this, the user can easily recognize the usage amount of the ink film 50, and if the remaining amount of the ink film 50 is reduced, an ink cartridge for replacement can be prepared in advance. Ink shortage can be suppressed.

  The conductive portion 51 is provided at the front end of the ink film 50 in the transport direction, the conductor terminals 31 and 32 are provided on the take-up shaft 40, and the main body side terminals 133 and 134 are provided on the second bearing member 14. You can also. In this case, the winding shaft 40 corresponds to the shaft body of the present invention.

  By providing the conductive portion 51 at the front end in the transport direction of the ink film 50, all of the ink cartridge 20 in which the ink film 50 is wound around the winding shaft 40 by a predetermined amount of one rotation or less immediately after the start of use until the end of use is obtained. In time, the two conductor terminals 31 and 32 are electrically connected by the conductive portion 51. The conductive portion 51 only needs to be provided at the front end in the transport direction of the ink film 50 by a length that makes one turn of the winding shaft 40 at the maximum. For this reason, a small amount of the conductive portion 51 is sufficient. Therefore, even when the ink cartridge 20 that has been used halfway is mounted on the main body, it is determined at low cost whether or not the mounted ink cartridge is appropriate regardless of the state of use of the ink cartridge 20. be able to.

  Three or more conductor terminals 31 and 32 may be provided as long as the main body side terminals 133 and 134 can be in a conductive state and a non-conductive state.

  The image recording apparatus 10 can include a mark or the like that can be detected by an optical sensor instead of the conductive unit 51 as an identification unit. In this case, an optical sensor is provided as an acquisition unit instead of the main body side terminals 133 and 134. The supply shaft 30 or the winding shaft 40 as a shaft body includes a window portion. A window part permeate | transmits the light for detecting the mark of an ink film with an optical sensor. A window part is formed, for example with transparent resin. This also makes it possible to determine at low cost whether or not the installed ink cartridge is an appropriate product, regardless of the use state of the ink cartridge 20.

  Finally, the description of the above-described embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows a partial structure of a supply shaft, an ink film, and a 1st bearing member. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the supply shaft by which the ink film was wound, (B) is an end elevation in X1-X2 line of (A). It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an image recording device. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of a control part. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship of the main body side terminal at the time of resistance value detection, and the conductor terminal of a supply shaft. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the voltage value detected by the measurement part, and time, while an ink film is wound up from the supply axis | shaft to the winding axis | shaft.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image recording device 13 1st bearing member (bearing member)
14 Second bearing member 20 Ink cartridge 30 Supply shaft (shaft body)
31, 32 Conductor terminal 40 Winding shaft 50 Ink film 51 Conducting part (identification part)
133,134 Body side terminal (acquisition part)
135,136 Spring 60 Control unit (discrimination unit)
61 Storage unit 67 Measurement unit

Claims (6)

An ink cartridge comprising a hollow shaft around which a thermal transfer ink film is wound on a peripheral surface, and detachable from an image recording apparatus,
The ink film has an identification portion having information indicating a type in a portion that contacts the peripheral surface of the shaft body,
The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the shaft body is configured to be able to acquire information of the identification unit from the inside to the image recording apparatus. The shaft body is a supply shaft around which an ink film is wound before transfer processing for transferring ink from the ink film to a recording medium,
The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink film has the identification portion at a rear end portion in a transport direction. A feed shaft around which the ink film before being transferred to transfer the ink from the ink film to the recording medium is wound;
The shaft body is a take-up shaft that winds up the ink film fed from the supply shaft,
The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink film includes the identification unit at a front end in the transport direction. An ink cartridge having a hollow shaft body around which a thermal transfer ink film is wound is detachable by inserting and removing the shaft body into and from a bearing member, and the recording medium is transported together with the recording medium from the ink film. An image recording apparatus for transferring ink to
The information of the identification part provided in the part which contacts the peripheral surface of the said shaft body in the said ink film in the state which was provided in the said bearing member and the said shaft body was inserted in the said bearing member from the inside of the said shaft body An acquisition unit to acquire;
An image recording apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines the suitability of the ink cartridge based on information acquired by the acquisition unit. The identification part is a conductive part,
The shaft body has a plurality of conductor terminals that are exposed on the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface at positions facing the conductive portion and are arranged with a nonconductive portion interposed between each other in the circumferential direction,
The acquisition unit is electrically connected to the conductive unit via two conductor terminals spaced apart from each other among the plurality of conductor terminals in a state where the shaft body is inserted into the bearing member. 2 body side terminals,
A measuring unit for measuring a resistance value between the two main body side terminals;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the determination unit determines compatibility of the ink cartridge based on a resistance value measured by the measurement unit.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of the main body side terminals is biased outward in a radial direction.

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