JP2008302505A - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily obtain information on an ink cartridge while lowering a manufacturing cost by reducing the number of parts in an inkjet printer. <P>SOLUTION: An identification label 50 as a matrix type two-dimensional code is stuck to a side surface of the ink cartridge (cartridge) 41 used detachably to the inkjet printer 1 of the so-called all-in-one model. The identification label 50 shows identification information about the cartridge 41. Before the cartridge 41 is attached to the printer 1, the identification label 50 is read as image data by a scanner part of the printer 1. As a result, a control part of the printer 1 calculates the identification information of the cartridge 41 on the basis of the image data, and stores the identification information relating to an operation hysteresis information of the printer 1 as an operation hysteresis database. The need for setting an identification chip etc. to the cartridge 41 is eliminated, so that the manufacturing cost is reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet printer having a scan function for reading a document placed on a document table and a print function for forming an image on recording paper by a so-called ink jet method.

  Conventionally, in an inkjet printer, an identification chip or the like on which information such as an ink type or an identification number is recorded is provided on an ink cartridge, and the cartridge information is read by the printer, thereby identifying the ink type of the ink cartridge, a usage history, or the like. There is something that can be managed properly and can be printed properly. When the identification chip is provided in the ink cartridge as described above, the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge is increased by providing the identification chip. In addition, since a sensor and an electric circuit for reading information recorded on the identification chip must be provided on the printer side, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the printer increases. In addition, if unique information is recorded for each identification chip, the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge is further increased.

  Regarding the above problem, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an ink jet printer in which an optical mark or the like of an ink cartridge is read by a reader provided on a carriage and the ink consumption of the ink cartridge is managed. . However, in this ink jet printer, it is necessary to provide a reader such as an optical sensor or an electrical continuity sensor on the carriage, which increases the manufacturing cost of the printer.

Patent Document 2 discloses an ink jet printer in which a photo sensor is provided on a frame of a printer so as to correspond to a label with a trademark logo on an ink cartridge. In this ink jet printer, a photo sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element is used to determine whether or not a regular trademark logo is attached to the ink cartridge, and printing can be performed only when the regular ink cartridge is mounted. However, also in this ink jet printer, it is necessary to provide a photo sensor only for checking whether the ink cartridge is genuine, and the number of parts increases, so the manufacturing cost of the printer increases.
JP-A-7-309018 JP 2002-292899 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer that can easily obtain information about an ink cartridge with a small number of parts and a low manufacturing cost.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a scanner unit that reads a document placed on a document table disposed on an upper part of a scanner housing as image data, and image data read by the scanner unit or An image forming unit that forms an image on recording paper based on image data input from the outside, and a control unit that controls the scanner unit and the image forming unit, the image forming unit being removable from a printer In an ink jet printer configured to form an image on a recording paper by discharging the ink contained in the ink cartridge onto the recording paper, a predetermined portion of the ink cartridge is disposed on the outer surface of the ink cartridge. An identification display unit corresponding to identification information is provided, and the control unit reads the identification read by the scanner unit. An identification information calculation unit that calculates the identification information based on image data of the display unit is provided, and the identification display unit of the ink cartridge to be used is read by the scanner unit when the ink cartridge is not attached to the printer. Thus, the control unit is configured to be able to acquire the identification information about the ink cartridge by the identification information calculation means and control the printer in accordance with the identification information.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the identification display unit corresponds to unique identification information corresponding to the ink cartridge on a one-to-one basis.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the control unit includes a use history management unit that stores the identification information calculated by the identification information calculation unit and the operation history information of the image forming unit in association with each other. In addition, by reading the identification display unit of the ink cartridge to be used by the scanner unit before mounting the ink cartridge on the printer, the control unit operates the operation of the ink cartridge by the use history management unit. The history information can be managed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the control unit refers to the operation history information stored in the use history management means, and the ink cartridge being used deviates from a predetermined recommended use condition. The apparatus further includes cartridge information notification means for executing a predetermined notification operation.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the control unit calculates the identification information based on the image data of the identification display unit of the ink cartridge, the control unit reads the identification display unit of the ink cartridge to be used by the scanner unit. The printer can be controlled by acquiring the identification information of the ink cartridge. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide an identification chip or the like on the ink cartridge or a sensor or the like for reading the identification chip on the printer in order to obtain the identification information of the ink cartridge, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge or the printer. Can do. The identification information can be easily read by allowing the user to read the identification display unit provided on the outer surface of the ink cartridge by the scanner unit.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the predetermined identification information corresponding to the identification display portion of the ink cartridge is unique to the ink cartridge in a one-to-one relationship. Based on the data, the ink cartridge can be individually identified. Therefore, the control unit can distinguish and control each ink cartridge based on the identification information.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the control unit includes usage history management means for storing the identification information and the operation history information in association with each other, and before the ink cartridge is mounted on the printer, the scanner displays the identification display unit. By reading, the control unit can manage the operation history information about the ink cartridge. Therefore, the operation history information of the ink cartridge can be managed without providing an identification chip or a sensor for reading the identification chip in the ink cartridge or the printer, and the printing can be appropriately performed while reducing the manufacturing cost.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control unit further includes cartridge information notifying means for causing the printer to execute a predetermined notification operation when the ink cartridge being used deviates from a predetermined recommended use condition. Therefore, for example, when it is determined from the usage history that the ink cartridge being used is likely to cause a print defect, the user can be notified by the notification operation, and the user can print appropriately. Exchange to another possible ink cartridge can be prompted.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1, 2 and 3 show an example of an ink jet printer according to the present embodiment. The ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) 1 is a so-called all-in-one type, and includes an image forming unit 2 housed in a resin printer housing 10 and an upper portion of the printer housing 10. On the back side, the scan unit 3 is arranged in a state of being pivotally supported by the hinge 21 in the vicinity of the back portion of the printer housing 10 so as to be horizontally rotatable, and can be operated from the outside disposed on the upper portion of the printer housing 10. A liquid crystal display unit 5 for displaying the operation buttons 4 and the operation state of the printer 1, a connector unit 7 disposed on the front surface of the printer housing 10 and connected to an external device such as a digital still camera or a memory card; A control unit 8 that controls the operation of each unit of the printer 1 is provided. A document table cover 11 is disposed on the scan unit 3. A paper feed tray 15 on which recording paper (not shown) conveyed to the image forming unit 2 is set is provided on the back of the printer housing 10. In front of the image forming unit 2 on the front surface of the printer housing 10, a paper discharge tray 16 for discharging recording paper on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 2 is provided. The printer 1 includes, for example, image data input from an external device connected to the connector unit 7 or the like, an external personal computer connected via a connector provided on the back of the printer housing 10, or the like. As will be described later, the image forming unit 2 has a function of forming an image on recording paper using image data read by the scan unit 3 or the like.

  The image forming unit 2 is configured to form an image on a recording sheet by a so-called inkjet method. The image forming unit 2 includes, for example, a roller that feeds recording paper one by one from the paper feed tray 15 into the printer housing 10 and discharges it onto the paper discharge tray 16 and a motor that drives the rollers. The mechanism 2a and a carriage 40 mounted with a head for ejecting ink onto the recording paper conveyed to the inside of the printer housing 10 and a motor and driving belt that reciprocates the carriage 40 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the recording paper conveyance direction ( (Not shown) and the like. The carriage 40 is mounted with an ink cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a cartridge) 41 that encloses ink to be ejected onto the recording paper. The cartridge 41 is detachably mounted on the carriage 40 and is configured to be removable from the printer 1 as described later. The carriage 40 is provided with a sensor (not shown) for detecting whether or not the cartridge 41 is mounted at a predetermined position. When the cartridge 41 is not mounted, the control unit 8 performs a printing operation. Is configured not to execute. The image forming unit 2 reciprocates the carriage 40 while transporting the recording paper inside the printer housing 10 by the transport mechanism 2a, and discharges the ink sealed in the cartridge 41 from the carriage 40 onto the recording paper. A printing operation for forming an image on the recording paper is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an opening 10 a is formed above the printer housing 10, and the opening 10 a is opened and closed by rotating the scan unit 3 with respect to the printer housing 10. It is configured. That is, during normal use of the printer 1, the opening 10a is closed as shown in FIG. 1 so as to be covered with the scan unit 3, so that the image forming unit 2 is not exposed to the outside. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the cartridge 41 is attached to and detached from the carriage 40 by rotating the scan unit 3 upward with respect to the printer housing 10 to open the opening 10 a to the outside. For example, the maintenance operation of the image forming unit 2 can be performed. The upper end of a substantially bar-shaped support arm 18 is connected to the lower surface of the scan unit 3. The support arm 18 is formed so that its lower end can be engaged with the upper surface of the printer housing 10. When the scan unit 3 is in the open state, the lower end portion of the support arm 18 is engaged with the upper surface of the printer housing 10 so that the support arm 18 is stretched between the scan unit 3 and the printer housing 10. The scan unit 3 can be held in an open state, and the maintenance work can be easily performed.

  The scan unit 3 includes a box-shaped scanner housing 35 that is pivotally supported by the printer housing 10 and has a rectangular opening at a substantially central portion on the upper surface, and a document platen 3a made of, for example, glass disposed in the rectangular opening of the scanner housing 35. It is comprised by the substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape enclosed by. Inside the scanner housing 35, a scanner unit 30 for reading a document as image data is housed in the lower part of the document table 3a. The scanner unit 30 includes, for example, a motor 30a and a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) 30b driven by the motor 30a. The scanner unit 30 moves the CIS 30b inside the scanner housing 35 while contacting the lower surface of the document table 3a, images the document placed on the document table 3a by the CIS 30b, and reads the document as image data. It is configured as follows.

  The document table cover 11 is disposed above the scanner case 35 of the scan unit 3 so as to cover the document table 3 a exposed upward from the scanner case 35. The document table cover 11 is pivotally supported on the upper part of the slide hinge 20 that is slidably mounted in the vertical direction with respect to the scanner housing 35, and is rotatable with respect to the scanner housing 35 and can be displaced in the vertical direction. It is arranged. A sponge pad 12, for example, is attached to the lower surface of the document table cover 11 at a position corresponding to the document table 3 a in order to bring the document into close contact with the document table 3 a. The operation buttons 4 and the liquid crystal display unit 5 are disposed on a portion of the upper surface of the scan unit 3 that is not covered by the document table cover 11. When the document table cover 11 is in a closed state covering the upper surface of the document table 3a, the document placed on the document table 3a is sandwiched between the document table 3a and the document table 3a by its own weight. Adhere to the base 3a. That is, the printer 1 is configured so that the document can be read well by bringing the document into close contact with the document table 3 a by the document table cover 11. In the printer 1, the document table cover 11 can be displaced up and down by a slide hinge 20. For example, when reading a thick document such as a book, the document table cover 11 can be brought into close contact with the document table 3 a. Has been. The placement of the document on the document table 3a and the removal of the document from the document table 3a are performed in a state where the document table cover 11 is rotated with respect to the scan unit 3 to be opened and the document table 3a is exposed.

  The control unit 8 includes, for example, a storage unit 8a configured by a ROM, a RAM, and the like, a CPU (not shown) that executes various calculations, and the like. The storage unit 8a stores, for example, programs for controlling operations of the scanner unit 30 and the image forming unit 2, data and programs for displaying on the liquid crystal display unit 5, and the control unit 8 These programs and data are used to control operations of the printer 1 such as operations of the scanner unit 30 and the image forming unit 2.

  FIG. 4 shows the cartridge 41. In the present embodiment, the cartridge 41 is provided with a nozzle 41a for ejecting ink onto the recording paper and an ink tank 41b in which the ink is stored. An identification label (identification display unit) 50 on which a graphic generated based on a generation rule of a predetermined specification is printed is attached to the side surface of the cartridge 41. The graphic indicated by the identification label 50 is generated so as to indicate predetermined identification information such as a serial number individually assigned to the cartridge 41 or an identification code assigned according to the color or characteristics of the ink. A matrix type two-dimensional code or the like is used. Since the identification information represented on the identification label 50 includes a serial number assigned to each cartridge 41, the identification information is unique to the cartridge 41 to which the identification label 50 is attached. ing. In the present embodiment, as will be described below, by using the scanner unit 30 to read the identification label 50, it is possible to manage the usage history of the cartridge 41 mounted on the printer 1. Has been.

  The management function of the usage history of the cartridge 41 is executed by the control unit 8. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 8 includes an identification information calculation unit 81, a use history management unit 82, and a cartridge information notification unit 83 in order to perform a specification history management function of the cartridge 41. The identification information calculating unit 81, the use history managing unit 82, and the cartridge information notifying unit 83 each function when the control unit 8 executes a predetermined program or the like. Further, the control unit 8 is configured to cause the scanner unit 30 to perform an identification label reading operation of reading a predetermined part on the document table 3a when a predetermined operation of the operation button 4 is performed, for example. That is, the user arranges the cartridge 41 at a predetermined position on the document table 3a so that the identification label 50 can be read, and executes the identification label reading operation, whereby the scanner unit 30 reads the image data of the identification label 50. It is done.

  For example, when an identification label reading operation is performed, the identification information calculation means 81 is read by the scanner unit 30 according to a predetermined specification that is a generation rule of a matrix type two-dimensional code or the like represented by the identification label 50. The image data of the identification label 50 of the cartridge 41 is decoded, and predetermined identification information indicated by the identification label 50 is calculated. The use history management unit 82 associates, for example, the identification information calculated by the identification information calculation unit 81 with the operation history information of the image forming unit 2 during the period until the identification label reading operation is performed after the identification information is calculated. Then, it is stored in the storage unit 8a as an operation history database. That is, the usage history management unit 82 regards the identification information calculated recently by the identification information calculation unit 81 as being for the cartridge 41 that is mounted on the printer 1 and used, and the operation history information is included in the identification information. And update the operation history database. The usage history management unit 82 stores, as the operation history information, for example, information such as an operation time when the printing operation is performed and an accumulated ink consumption amount calculated from the ink amount ejected during the printing operation. The cartridge information notifying unit 83 refers to the operation history information in the operation history database stored in the storage unit 8a, and uses the operation history information as a recommended use condition set for a predetermined ink consumption and a predetermined recommended operation interval period. Against. Then, the cartridge information notifying unit 83 determines, for the cartridge 41 being used, either the accumulated ink consumption or the period from the previous operation time when the last print operation was performed, in the range defined by the recommended use condition. When it is out of the range, the liquid crystal display unit 5 is configured to display a display prompting the replacement of the cartridge 41 and perform a notification operation.

  FIG. 5 shows a flow of an example of the operation of the printer 1 relating to the use history management function of the cartridge 41. When the power of the printer 1 is turned on, the control unit 8 first checks whether the cartridge 41 is mounted on the carriage 40 (S11). If the cartridge 41 is mounted (S11: YES), the printer 41 is in a print standby state (S12, S13, S14) while the cartridge 41 is mounted until a print operation execution instruction is given by the user (S12, S13, S14). If there is an operation execution instruction (S13: NO, S14: YES), the image forming unit 8 is caused to execute a printing operation (S15). When the printing operation is executed, the use history management means 82 is mounted on the carriage 40 with operation history information including information about the ink amount used during the printing operation and the execution time of the printing operation. The operation history database stored in the storage unit 8a is updated in association with the identification information of the cartridge 41 regarded as “S16” (S16).

  On the other hand, when the power is turned on, the cartridge 41 is not mounted (S11: YES), or there is no print instruction in the print standby state (S14: NO), the opening 10a is opened and the cartridge 41 is removed. When it is detected (S13: YES), the control unit 8 displays a display prompting the liquid crystal display unit 5 to read the cartridge identification label 50, and enters a reading standby state (S21). . When in the reading standby state, when the user performs an identification label reading operation for the cartridge 41 to be mounted on the carriage 40 later using the scanner unit 30 (S22), the identification information calculation means 81 is read. Identification information is calculated based on the obtained image data (S23). After executing the identification label reading operation, the user mounts the read cartridge 41 on the carriage 40. The control unit 8 regards the calculated identification information as that of the cartridge 41 mounted on the carriage 40, and when a print operation is performed thereafter, the operation history information is associated with the identification information and the operation history database is stored. Update. In the present embodiment, once in the reading standby state (S21), the cartridge 41 may be mounted on the carriage 40 until the identification label reading operation is performed and the identification information calculation unit 81 calculates the identification information. The printing operation is not performed. Thus, the usage history of the cartridge 41 can be reliably managed.

  When the printing operation is executed to update the operation history database (S16) or the identification label reading operation is performed to calculate the identification information (S23), the cartridge information notifying unit 83 associates the identification information with the identification information in the operation history database. Of the recorded operation history information, information on the accumulated ink consumption and the previous operation time is referred to (S31). Then, the cartridge information notifying unit 83 determines whether or not the referred cumulative ink consumption has become larger than a predetermined threshold (S32), and if not larger (S32: NO), the elapsed time from the previous operation time is predetermined. It is determined whether or not the recommended operation interval period is exceeded (S33). If it is not exceeded (S33: NO), the print standby state is entered again (S12). On the other hand, if the accumulated ink consumption is greater than a predetermined threshold (S32: YES) or the elapsed time from the previous operation time exceeds the recommended operation interval period (S33: NO), the cartridge The information notification unit 83 displays a display for prompting replacement of the cartridge 41 on the liquid crystal display unit 5 and performs a notification operation (S41). Thereby, as a result of the printing operation, the remaining amount of ink in the cartridge 41 seems to have decreased, or the case where the cartridge 41 that has already been executed by the printer 1 and the remaining ink amount is low is mounted. In this case, it is possible to prompt the user to replace the cartridge 41, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of printing failure due to insufficient ink remaining during the printing operation. In addition, even when a cartridge 41 that has not been used for a long time since the previous use time is mounted, the user can be prompted to replace the cartridge 41. For example, there is a possibility that nozzle clogging may occur. Occurrence of print defects due to the use of 41 can be prevented in advance. Note that after performing this notification operation, the control unit 8 enters a print standby state, and waits until the user issues an instruction to remove the cartridge 41 or to execute the print operation (S12).

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the control part 8 can manage the operation history information about each cartridge 41, the cartridge 41 or the printer 1 is not provided with an identification chip, a sensor for reading it, or the like. Thus, it is possible to appropriately print based on accurate information about the cartridge 41 while reducing the manufacturing cost of the cartridge 41 and the printer 1. Further, since the identification label 50 represents one-to-one identification information on the cartridge 41, the control unit 8 can manage the usage history of the cartridge 41 in detail. The identification information of the cartridge 41 can be easily acquired by the control unit 8 by causing the scanner unit 30 to read the identification label 50 provided on the side surface of the cartridge 41 by the user.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the structure of the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible suitably in the range which does not change the meaning of invention. For example, various types of identification display units such as barcodes and character strings can be used as the cartridge identification information. In this case, the identification information calculation means may be configured to be able to calculate the identification information by performing a character recognition function, for example, according to the form of the identification display unit. In addition, the identification information corresponding to the identification display unit such as an identification label does not correspond to the cartridge one-to-one, but may correspond to, for example, the type of ink in the cartridge. In addition, for example, the control unit can be configured to be able to specify the type of ink in the ink cartridge while reducing the manufacturing cost.

  Furthermore, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the type of operation history managed by the use history management unit and the recommended use conditions such as the ink consumption and the recommended operation interval period are not limited to the above. Additional information such as the document name is recorded in the operation history and can be viewed by the user later. For example, a predetermined period after the start of use of the cartridge, the cumulative number of prints, etc. In response, the user may be configured to notify the user of cartridge replacement. Further, the notification operation of the cartridge information notification means is not limited to the operation that prompts the user to replace the cartridge by displaying on the liquid crystal display unit. For example, the content that prompts the user to replace the cartridge by operating the image forming unit is printed on a recording sheet. Or a light emitting unit such as an LED provided to indicate power on / off to the printer is lit in a special lighting form such as blinking to alert the user. May be.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view which shows the state which rotated the scanning unit of the said printer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of each unit of the printer. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge used in the printer. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the printer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer 2 Image formation part 3 Scan unit 3a Document stand 8 Control part 10 Printer housing | casing 30 Scanner part 35 Scanner housing | casing 41 Ink cartridge 50 Identification label (identification display part)
81 Identification information calculation means 82 Usage history management means 83 Cartridge information notification means

Claims (4)

A scanner unit for reading a document placed on a document table disposed at the top of the scanner housing as image data;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet based on image data read by the scanner unit or image data input from the outside;
A control unit for controlling the scanner unit and the image forming unit,
In the ink jet printer configured to form an image on the recording paper by discharging the ink contained in the ink cartridge removable from the printer onto the recording paper.
On the outer surface of the ink cartridge, an identification display portion corresponding to predetermined identification information of the ink cartridge is provided,
The control unit includes identification information calculation means for calculating the identification information based on image data of the identification display unit read by the scanner unit,
By reading the identification display section of the ink cartridge to be used by the scanner section when the ink cartridge is not attached to the printer, the control section causes the identification information calculation means to obtain the identification information about the ink cartridge. An inkjet printer configured to be able to acquire and control the printer according to the identification information.   The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the identification display unit corresponds to unique identification information corresponding to the ink cartridge on a one-to-one basis. The control unit further includes a use history management unit that stores the identification information calculated by the identification information calculation unit and the operation history information of the image forming unit in association with each other.
By reading the identification display section of the ink cartridge to be used by the scanner section before mounting the ink cartridge in the printer, the control section displays the operation history information about the ink cartridge by the use history management means. The inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein the inkjet printer is configured to be manageable. The control unit refers to the operation history information stored by the use history management unit, and when a used ink cartridge deviates from a predetermined recommended use condition, a cartridge information notification unit that executes a predetermined notification operation. The inkjet printer according to claim 3, further comprising:

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