JP2009269269A - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet printer for detecting a fill-up condition of a currently-used ink more accurately by determining whether the ink is genuine goods, to prevent false detection which may take place when using any ink other than the genuine goods. <P>SOLUTION: The inkjet printer includes an ink storage means for storing ink on a carriage side, and an ink detection means consisting of at least two types of detectors. Further the ink detection means includes a fill-up detection means which detects that the ink stored in the ink storage means has become the fill-up condition, and a genuine ink determination means for determining whether the ink in use is genuine goods or other ones from combination of detection results by the detectors. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet printer that supplies ink from a main cartridge to a sub tank, discharges ink from the sub tank via a head, and performs printing.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a full tank detection method in the conventional method. In the conventional system, as shown in the drawing, two electrodes 61a and 61b are provided at the ink full position of the sub tank. In this state, the ink supply is continued, and when the electrode is immersed in the ink, a current flows between the electrodes. By monitoring the current, it is detected that the ink is full, and the ink supply is stopped. When the electrode is not immersed in ink, no current flows, so it is determined that the electrode is not full.

  At this time, it is assumed that genuine ink will be used in advance, and since the design is based on that, current flows between the electrodes when using ink whose resistance is close to air. Therefore, a full tank could not be detected, and there was a problem that ink continued to be supplied and the ink overflowed from a mechanism for removing air from the sub tank.

  In addition, in the case of ink with a resistance value close to that of a genuine product, it can be detected normally and printing operation is possible as it is, but the device is designed with characteristics such as hue, assuming a genuine product, Since printing processing is performed based on this, printing has been performed without achieving the original image quality.

Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration for accurately detecting the remaining amount of ink in an ink cartridge using an optical sensor instead of an electrode.
JP 2000-43287 A

  However, in the invention of Patent Document 1, it is possible to detect the remaining amount of ink more accurately than when the electrode is used, but it is impossible to determine whether the ink used is a genuine product or not. The image quality cannot be adjusted depending on the type.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and by determining whether or not the ink being used is a genuine product, the full tank is detected more accurately, and ink other than the genuine product is removed. The purpose is to prevent malfunctions that may occur when used.

  In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet printer according to the present invention includes ink storage means for storing ink on the carriage side, and ink detection means comprising at least two types of detectors, and the ink detection means includes ink storage means. Pure ink that determines whether the ink being used is genuine or other ink based on the combination of the full tank detection means that detects that the ink stored in the tank is full and the detection result of the detector And determining means.

  The ink detection means includes a resistance detector that detects a resistance value of the ink and an optical sensor.

  The ink detection means has a resistance detector for detecting the resistance value of the ink and a color identification sensor.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a color identification means including a detector for detecting the color of the ink is provided, and a color density rank with respect to a genuine product of the ink in use is detected from a detection level by the color identification means.

  The color identification means determines whether the detected color density level is the same level as a preset genuine product, and reconfirms whether the ink in use is a genuine product or other ink. To do.

  Further, the image processing apparatus includes image processing switching means for switching image processing patterns having different print settings in accordance with the color density rank obtained by the color identification means.

  Furthermore, it is characterized by comprising display means for notifying the user of the determination result by the ink determination means.

  The display means displays the color density rank obtained by the color identification means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not the ink being used is a genuine product by using two or more types of detectors, to accurately detect full ink, and to use non-genuine ink that is not allowed to be used. It is possible to prevent false detection that may occur when

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, it is composed of a main body main board 10, a carriage 11 and a cartridge holder 13. The main body board 10 operates by reading a program from the CODE ROM 4 via the ASIC 2 by the CPU 1. Further, the RAM 6 is used as a work memory or page memory, and image processing is performed on image data sent from the USB controller 3 while using data in the FONT ROM 5 to generate print data.

  The generated image data is stored in the RAM 6, and is printed by discharging ink to the head driving IC 9 in the carriage 11 via the ASIC 2.

  The ink cartridge 15 stored in the cartridge holder 13 can be removed, and can be replaced when the ink runs out. The carriage 11 has a sub tank 16 mounted thereon, and supplies the ink in the ink cartridge to the sub tank to perform printing from the ink in the sub tank.

  In the method of supplying ink from the cartridge to the sub tank, the ASIC 2 of the main body main substrate 10 controls the ink supply control circuit 12 and drives the ink supply motor 14 on the cartridge holder by a signal output from the circuit. When ink is supplied to the sub-tank, the full tank detection means 8 eventually detects a full tank, and a signal therefrom is sent to the main body main board 10. Since the signal output from the full tank detecting means 8 is an analog signal, it is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 7 on the main body main board 10 and sent to the ASIC 2. When the CPU 1 recognizes that the ink is full, the ink supply control circuit 12 is controlled to stop the ink supply.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a full tank detection method, in which a transmissive photosensor is used as the optical sensor 21. That is, it is possible to prevent ink leakage by disposing an optical sensor immediately below the opening / closing place for venting air in the sub tank and detecting that the liquid level has reached.

  The transmissive photosensor includes an LED and a phototransistor. Since the phototransistor receives the light from the LED, the transistor is turned on / off. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the LED and the phototransistor are arranged so that the sub tank is sandwiched, and the supplied ink is A full tank condition is detected by blocking the light. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the ink is not full in the sub tank, and the light emitted from the LED is received by the phototransistor without being blocked. On the other hand, in (b) filled with ink, since the light from the LED is blocked by the ink, it is not received by the phototransistor and can be detected as being full.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram using the color identification sensor 41 for full tank detection. As shown in the drawing, the arrangement position is directly below the opening / closing place for venting the air in the sub tank. As a result, a full tank state can be detected before the ink reaches the air vent opening / closing place, and ink leakage can be prevented.

  The color identification sensor includes a light source and a sensor as shown in FIG. The light source divides and emits three types of RGB light sources and irradiates the detection target. The light reflected by the ink is received by a sensor, the respective RGB levels are detected, the amount of ink is detected, and the characteristics of the ink can be determined based on the RGB levels.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of full tank detection in the embodiment of the present invention. In other words, the optical sensor 21 shown in FIG. 2 and the electrodes 61a and 61b are provided as means for detecting the resistance value of the ink. The detection method based on the ink resistance value at the electrode is the same as the conventional method.

  Since the electrodes are in the air when ink is not touching, the resistance value between the electrodes is infinite, and no current flows. On the other hand, when ink is supplied and the electrode is immersed in the ink, a current flows between the electrodes. Therefore, the ink can be detected by detecting the current. As a specific example of current detection, there is a method of detecting ink full when a preset current threshold is exceeded.

  As described above, in the detection method using electrodes, in the case of ink having a large resistance value close to air, even if the ink touches, current does not flow or the current does not exceed the threshold value. The state may not be detected. Also in the optical sensor, it is conceivable that light from the sensor is blocked due to unexpected dirt or the like, and erroneous detection is performed. However, it is possible to improve reliability by using these together, as will be described later.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a detection method when the color identification sensor 41 is used for the electrodes 61a and 61b and other detectors. The arrangement, configuration, and merit are all the same as in FIG.

  Next, Table 1 shows the state when the full sensor state and the non-detection state of each sensor and ink resistance are detected. Each sensor also takes into account false detection due to contamination.

  When each sensor is in the detection state, it is a false detection due to whether it is genuine ink or other ink. On the other hand, in the non-detection state, it is other ink or air. Further, when the resistance detector is in the detection state, it is pure ink or other ink, and when it is in the non-detection state, it is other ink or air. Considering each combination, it can be seen that genuine ink or other ink is always detected when both are detected, and other ink is always detected when only one is detected.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the result determination process shown in Table 1. First, when detection is made by a sensor or ink resistance (step S801), the ink supply operation is stopped (step S802).

  Thereafter, the CPU 1 reads out the internal register of the ASIC 2 shown in FIG. From the confirmation result, it is determined whether or not the detection is performed by the sensor (step S803). When the sensor detection is not performed, it is determined that the detection trigger is an ink resistance value, and only one is detected. The ink is determined and set (step S804), and the determination flow ends. If the sensor is in the detection state, the ink resistance detection state is confirmed (step S805). If the sensor is in the non-detection state, the detection trigger is determined as a sensor, and only one of the detections is detected as other ink. After setting (step S806), the determination flow is terminated. If the ink resistance detection state is detection, since both are detection states, it is determined and set as genuine ink or other ink (step S807), and the determination flow ends.

  In addition, the color of the ink can be identified by using the color identification sensor, and the density characteristics of the ink used can be detected from the detected level. If used at the same time as the above configuration, it is possible to more accurately determine whether the ink in use is a genuine product. The color identification sensor mounting position is arranged at any of the ink cartridge, the ink flow path, and the sub tank. For example, with the configuration shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to determine the ink being used at the same time as full tank detection without adding a new sensor.

The color identification method will be described in detail. First, RGB data detected by the color identification sensor is subjected to CMY conversion according to the following equation.
Cyan = 256-Red
Magenta = 256-Green
Yellow = 256-Blue

  In image processing, RGB data is converted into CMYK data, and Black data is generally used for image processing. However, in this embodiment, only CMY data is handled.

  The RGB data detected by the color identification sensor divides the full range by 256 and digitizes the color density. Since the relationship between RGB and CMY is a complementary color relationship, the value obtained by subtracting the red color component for cyan is the numerical value as in the above equation, and magenta and yellow can be numerically expressed in the same manner.

  Table 2 shows the ranking of the digitized data by the above conversion.

  The color density ranks are distributed and handled in five ranks. The rank of genuine ink is measured and determined in advance. In this embodiment, rank 0 is assumed to be genuine ink, and when the value read from the sensor is determined to be rank 0, it is determined as genuine ink.

  Also, by providing an image processing pattern in advance according to the rank of color density and changing the image processing pattern in accordance with the detected color density rank, it becomes possible to prevent a difference in printing results due to the ink used. Table 3 is an example in which image processing patterns are associated with each other according to the color density rank.

  If it is determined that the ink is not genuine ink by the method described so far, for example, a window as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the PC to notify the user that the ink being used is not genuine ink. It is possible to inform. Further, the density rank for the genuine product may be displayed. As a result, the user can adjust the image processing pattern manually, or refrain from printing important images, thereby providing a desired result.

  The present invention has been described above by the preferred embodiments of the present invention. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Obviously you can.

1 is a configuration diagram of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the ink full tank detection method which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of a transmission type sensor. It is a figure which shows the ink full detection method which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of a color identification sensor. It is a figure which shows the ink full detection method which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the ink full detection method which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart figure of the full tank detection process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a notification in a display part. It is a figure which shows the conventional full tank detection method.

Explanation of symbols

16 Sub tank 161 Ink supply path 162 Opening / closing place for venting air in the sub tank 21 Optical sensor 41 Color identification sensor 61a, b Electrode

Claims (8)

Ink storage means for storing ink on the carriage side;
An ink detection means comprising at least two types of detectors,
The ink detection means is a genuine product based on a combination of a full tank detection means for detecting that the ink stored in the ink storage means is full and a detection result by the detector. An ink jet printer comprising: genuine ink determination means for determining whether the ink is other ink.   2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink detection means includes a resistance detector for detecting a resistance value of the ink and an optical sensor.   2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink detection unit includes a resistance detector for detecting a resistance value of the ink and a color identification sensor. Furthermore, a color identification means comprising a detector for detecting the color of the ink is provided,
3. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein a color density rank with respect to a genuine product of ink in use is detected from a detection level by the color identification means.   The color identification means determines whether the detected color density level is the same level as a preset genuine product, and reconfirms whether the ink being used is a genuine product or other ink. The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   6. The ink jet printer according to claim 4, further comprising image processing switching means for switching image processing patterns having different print settings in accordance with a color density rank obtained by the color identification means.   The inkjet printer according to claim 1, further comprising display means for notifying a user of a determination result by the ink determination means.   8. The inkjet printer according to claim 7, wherein the display unit displays a color density rank obtained by the color identification unit.

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