JP2011126288A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the failure of a light receiving part for specifying a mounted position by detecting the light emission of a light emitting means of an ink tank with respect to the mounted positions of a plurality of ink tanks. <P>SOLUTION: This recording device includes: a means for reciprocating the ink tanks within the recording device; a means for storing the amount of light received by a light receiving means; a means for determining a maximum value out of the stored amount of light received; a means for comparing the maximum value with a predetermined value provided beforehand; and a means for giving notice of the compared result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that uses an ink cartridge having a configuration that is performed by light emitting means such as a notification LED relating to the state of a liquid storage container such as the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of digital cameras, applications (non-PC recording) in which a digital camera and a printer as a recording apparatus are directly connected without using a personal computer (PC) are increasing. Further, an increasing number of forms (non-PC recording) in which a card type information storage medium, which is an information storage medium detachably used in a digital camera, is directly attached to a printer for data transfer and printing. In general, there is known a method in which the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank of the printer is confirmed on a monitor via a PC. However, even when performing the non-PC recording, the ink in the ink tank is not via the PC. There was an increasing demand to know the remaining amount. In other words, if the user knows that the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank is small, for example, a situation where the recording is substantially impossible because the ink is replaced with a new ink tank in advance before starting the recording and the ink amount is insufficient during the recording. Can be prevented.

  Conventionally, a configuration using a display element such as an LED is known as a configuration for notifying the user of the state of such an ink tank. Patent Document 1 describes that two LEDs are provided in an ink tank integrated with a recording head, and these LEDs are lit according to the remaining ink level in two stages.

  On the other hand, in light of the demand for higher image quality, lighter colors such as light magenta and light cyan are being used in the conventional four colors (black, yellow, magenta, and cyan), and red and blue. The use of so-called special color inks such as inks has also been proposed. In such a case, 7 to 8 ink tanks are individually mounted on the ink jet printer. At that time, a mechanism for preventing the ink tank from being mounted at the wrong mounting position is required. In Patent Document 2, when the ink tank is mounted on the carriage, the shape of engagement between the carriage mounting portion and the ink tank is made different for each ink tank, so that the ink tank is mounted at an incorrect position. A configuration that prevents this is disclosed.

JP-A-4-275156 JP 2001-253087 A

  As described above, as a configuration for specifying the mounting position of the ink tank, there is a configuration in which the mutual shape in which the mounting portion and the ink tank are engaged differs for each mounting position. However, in this case, in particular, it is necessary to manufacture ink tanks having different shapes for each color or type of ink, which is disadvantageous in terms of manufacturing efficiency and cost.

  As another configuration, a configuration is considered in which the signal line of the circuit formed by connecting the electrical contact of the ink tank and the electrical contact on the main body side at the mounting position of the carriage or the like is individual for each mounting position. . For example, the ink color information of the ink tank is read from the ink tank, and the signal line for controlling the lighting of the LED is made individual for each mounting position, so that the read color information matches the mounting position. If not, it is possible to know that the ink tank is installed by mistake.

  The configuration in which such signal lines are individually provided for each ink tank or mounting position increases the number of signal lines. In particular, as described above, in recent inkjet printers and the like, one tendency is to improve image quality by increasing the types of ink used. In such a printer, an increase in the number of signal lines particularly causes an increase in cost. On the other hand, in order to reduce the number of wires, a so-called common signal line configuration such as bus connection is effective, but in a configuration using only a common signal line such as bus connection, the ink tank or its mounting position is specified. Obviously you can't.

  Therefore, a light receiving element for detecting the light emission of the ink tank is provided on the main body side, and the light emission of the ink tank is detected to specify the mounting position of the liquid storage container such as the ink tank.

  However, if the location of the ink tank cannot be specified correctly due to a failure of the light receiving element, a decrease in light receiving sensitivity due to ink mist, etc., it is not possible to determine whether the ink tank is incorrectly installed or whether the main body is faulty. The problem of exchanging is caused.

  A plurality of liquid storage containers having light emitting means, which can be detachably mounted, and in a recording apparatus provided with a light receiving means capable of receiving light from the light emitting means, the means for causing the light emitting means to emit light; Means for reciprocating the liquid storage container in the recording device; means for storing the amount of light received by the light receiving means; means for determining a maximum value from the stored amounts of received light; and Means for comparing the predetermined values, and means for notifying the comparison result.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to determine that the light receiving element on the recording apparatus main body side is out of order, and promptly request repair of the main body without causing the user to perform unnecessary ink tank replacement. There is an effect that can be done.

(A)-(d) is a figure explaining the error position close examination process of embodiment of this invention. (A) And (b) is a figure explaining the position detection process of embodiment of this invention. (A)-(c) is a figure explaining the position detection process of embodiment of this invention similarly. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure regarding attachment / detachment of the ink tank which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the ink tank attachment / detachment process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of mounting | wearing confirmation control which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the position detection process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the error position close examination process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the error position close examination process which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. (A), (b), and (c) are the side view, front view, and bottom view of the ink tank which concerns on embodiment of this invention, respectively. (A) And (b) is a typical side view for demonstrating the outline of the function of the board | substrate arrange | positioned at the ink tank which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main body cover 201 of an ink jet printer that performs recording with the ink tank of the embodiment mounted. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the said inkjet printer. It is a figure which shows the structure of the signal wiring for the signal connection with an ink tank in the flexible cable of the said inkjet printer in relation to the board | substrate of each ink tank. It is a circuit diagram which shows the detail of the said board | substrate with which the control part etc. were provided. It is a timing chart explaining the operation | movement of turning on and off of LED101, respectively. (A) is a figure which shows the state with which all the ink tanks were correctly mounted | worn in the control regarding attachment / detachment of the said ink tank, and each LED lighted, (b) is a main body cover after the said lighting. It is a figure explaining that a carriage moves to the position for position detection by being closed.

1. Ink Tank FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are a side view, a front view, and a bottom view, respectively, of an ink tank used in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. In the present description, the front surface of the ink tank refers to a surface that enables operations (attachment / detachment operation, etc.) and provision of information to the user (light emission of LEDs described later) by facing the user.

  In FIG. 10, the ink tank 1 of the present embodiment has a support member 3 supported at the lower part on the front side. The support member 3 is formed of a resin integrally with the exterior of the ink tank 1 and is configured to be displaceable around the supported portion when performing a mounting operation to a tank holder, which will be described later. On the back side and the front side of the ink tank 1, a first engaging portion 5 and a second engaging portion 6 (in this example, integrated with the support member 3) that can engage with a locking portion on the tank holder side, respectively. These are engaged, and the mounting state of the ink tank 1 to the tank holder is ensured.

  An ink supply port 7 is provided on the bottom surface of the ink tank 1 to supply ink in combination with an ink introduction port of a recording head, which will be described later, when the ink tank 1 is attached to the tank holder. In the portion where the bottom surface and the front surface cross each other, a base body constituting the main part of the present embodiment is provided on the bottom surface side of the support portion of the support member 3.

  FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic side views for explaining the outline of the function of the substrate disposed in the ink tank.

  The ink tank 1 is mounted on the holder 150 and fixed. Further, at this time, a contact (hereinafter referred to as a connector) 152 provided on the holder 150 and an electrode pad 102 as a contact provided on a surface of the ink tank positioned toward the outer side contact each other. Electrical connection is possible.

  On the surface of the substrate 100 located toward the inside of the ink tank 1, a first light emitting unit 101 that generates visible light, such as an LED, and a control element 103 that controls the light emitting unit are provided. The control element 103 controls light emission of the first light emitting unit 101 by an electric signal supplied via the pad 102.

  Here, as described above, the substrate 100 constituting the main part of the present embodiment is disposed below the support portion of the support member 3 at the portion where the bottom surface and the front surface of the ink tank 1 intersect each other. ing. In this arrangement portion, the ink tank 1 is formed with a slope connecting both surfaces. Accordingly, when the first light emitting unit 101 emits light, a part of the light is projected outward from the front side of the ink tank 1 along the slope.

  By using the substrate 100 having such an arrangement, not only a recording device (and thus a host device such as a computer to which the substrate is connected), but also a user, the first light emitting unit 101 is also used as a predetermined for the ink tank 1. It is possible to present information directly. That is, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), a light receiving portion is disposed at a position at the end of the scanning range of the carriage on which the holder 150 is mounted so as to receive light projected in the upper right direction of the drawing. By controlling the light emission of the first light emitting unit 101 when the carriage is positioned at the position, the recording apparatus side can recognize predetermined information relating to the ink tank 1 from the light receiving content of the light receiving unit. Further, for example, by controlling the light emission of the first light emitting unit 101 by positioning the carriage in the center of the scanning range, as shown in FIG. Such predetermined information can be recognized.

2. Recording Device FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the main body cover 201 of the ink jet printer 200 that performs recording with the ink tank described above is opened.

  In the printer 200 of the present embodiment, the main part of the printer such as a mechanism in which a carriage mounted with a recording head and an ink tank moves for scanning is covered with a main body cover 201 and other case parts. A printer main body, a paper discharge tray 203 provided before and after the printer main body, and an automatic paper feeder (ASF) 202 are provided. An operation unit 213 including a display for displaying the status of the printer in both the closed state and the open state of the main body cover, a power switch, and a reset switch is provided.

  In the state in which the main body cover 201 is opened, as shown in FIG. 12, the user displays the recording head unit 105 and the ink tanks 1K, 1Y, 1M, and 1C (hereinafter, these ink tanks are denoted by the same reference numeral “1”). It is possible to see the range of movement of the carriage 205 on which the carriage 205 is mounted and its surroundings. Actually, when the main body cover 201 is opened, a sequence in which the carriage 205 automatically moves to a substantially central position (hereinafter also referred to as “tank replacement position”) shown in FIG. Each ink tank can be exchanged.

  In the printer of this embodiment, the recording head unit 105 is provided with a recording head (not shown) in the form of a chip corresponding to each color of ink, and the recording head of each color applies to a recording medium such as a sheet by moving the carriage 205. Scanning is performed, and recording is performed by ejecting ink onto the recording medium during this scanning. That is, the carriage 205 is slidably engaged with the guide shaft 207 extending in the moving direction, and can be moved as described above by the carriage motor and its driving force transmission mechanism. In each of the recording heads corresponding to K, Y, M, and C inks, ink is ejected based on ejection data sent from the control circuit on the main body side via the flexible cable 206. Further, a paper feed mechanism such as a paper feed roller and a paper discharge roller is provided, and a recording medium (not shown) fed from the automatic paper feeder 202 can be conveyed to the paper discharge tray 203. The carriage 205 is detachably mounted with a recording head unit 105 integrally provided with an ink tank holder. On the other hand, each ink tank 1 is detachably attached to the recording head unit 105 in the form of a cartridge. Installed. That is, it is possible to mount the recording head unit 105 on the carriage 205 and further mount the ink tank 1 on the recording head unit 105. In this embodiment, the ink tank 1 is attached to and detached from the carriage 205 via the recording head unit 105. Is possible. Further, the ink tank 1 is attached to the recording head unit 105.

  As described above, the recording head unit 105 having the tank holder portion of each ink tank 1 is provided with a connector corresponding to each ink tank, and each connector is provided in the ink tank 1 to which the ink tank 1 is attached. In contact with the pad on the substrate. Thereby, it is possible to control the lighting or blinking of each LED 101 according to a sequence described later.

  Specifically, at the above-described tank replacement position, when the ink remaining amount of each ink tank 1 decreases, the LED 101 of the corresponding ink tank 1 is turned on or blinked. In the carriage movement range, a first light receiving unit 210 having a light receiving element is provided in the vicinity of the end opposite to the position where the recovery unit is provided. Thus, the LED 101 emits light when the LED 101 of each ink tank 1 passes through the light receiving unit 210 as the carriage 205 moves, and each of the carriages 205 in the carriage 205 is based on the position of the carriage 205 when the light is received. The position of the ink tank 1 can be detected. Furthermore, as another example of control such as lighting of the LED, control is performed to turn on the LED 101 of the tank when the ink tank 1 is correctly mounted at the tank replacement position. These controls are executed by sending control data (control signals) from the control circuit on the main body side to the respective ink tanks via the flexible cable 206 in the same manner as the control of ink ejection of the recording head.

3. Overall Configuration of Control System FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control system of the above-described ink jet printer. A control circuit in the form of a PCB (printed wiring board) in the printer body and ink tank LEDs controlled thereby The configuration related to the light emission and the like is mainly shown.

  In FIG. 13, a control circuit 300 executes data processing and operation control relating to the printer. Specifically, the CPU 301 executes processing described later according to a program stored in the ROM 303. The RAM 302 is used as a work area when the CPU 301 executes processing.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 13, the recording head unit 105 mounted on the carriage 205 is for ejecting black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) inks. Each recording head 105K, 105Y, 105M, and 105C having a plurality of ejection openings is provided. The ink tanks 1K, 1Y, 1M, and 1C are detachably mounted on the holder of the recording head unit 105 corresponding to these recording heads.

  As described above, each ink tank 1 is provided with a substrate 100 provided with an LED 101, a display control circuit thereof, a pad serving as a contact terminal, and the like. When the ink tank 1 is correctly attached to the recording head unit 105, the pads on the substrate 100 come into contact with connectors provided respectively corresponding to the ink tanks 1 in the recording head unit 105. Further, a connector (not shown) provided on the carriage 205 and a control circuit 300 on the main body side are signal-connected through a flexible cable 206. Further, when the recording head unit 105 is mounted on the carriage 205, the connector of the carriage 205 and the connector of the recording head unit 105 are signal-connected. With the above connection configuration, signals can be exchanged between the control circuit 300 on the main body side and each ink tank 1. Thereby, the control circuit 300 can perform lighting or blinking control according to a sequence described later.

  Similarly, with respect to the control of the respective ink ejections in the recording heads 105K, 105Y, 105M, and 105C, the drive circuits provided in the respective recording heads via the flexible cable 206, the connector of the carriage 205, and the connector of the recording head unit. Are connected to the control circuit 300 on the main body side, so that the control circuit 300 can control ink ejection and the like in each recording head.

  The first light receiving unit 210 provided in the vicinity of one end of the movement range of the carriage 205 receives light emitted from the LED 101 of the ink tank 1 and outputs a signal corresponding thereto to the control circuit 300. The control circuit 300 can determine the position of each ink tank 1 in the carriage 205 based on this signal, as will be described later. An encoder scale 209 is provided along the movement path of the carriage 205, and an encoder sensor 211 is provided on the carriage 205. The detection signal of this sensor is input to the control circuit 300 via the flexible cable 206, and thereby the movement position of the carriage 205 can be known. This position information is used for each print head ejection control and used in a position detection process for detecting an ink tank position, which will be described later.

4). Configuration of Connection Unit FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of signal wiring for signal connection with the ink tank 1 in the flexible cable 206 in relation to the substrate 100 of each ink tank.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the signal wiring for the ink tank 1 is composed of four signal lines, and is a signal wiring common to the four ink tanks 1 (so-called bus connection). That is, the signal wiring for each ink tank 1 includes a power supply signal line “VDD” and a ground signal line “GND” for power supply such as operation of the functional element group 103 that performs light emission and driving of the LED 101 in the ink tank. As will be described later, four signals of the signal line “DATA” and its clock signal line “CLK” for sending a control signal (control data) relating to processing such as lighting and blinking of the LED 101 from the control circuit 300 Consists of lines. In the present embodiment, description will be made with four signal lines. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the “GND” line can be omitted by achieving a ground signal in another configuration. . It is also possible to configure the signal line of “CLK” and “DATA” by sharing one.

  On the other hand, the substrate 100 of each ink tank 1 is provided with a control unit 103 that operates in response to signals from these four signal lines and an LED 101 that operates thereby.

  FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram showing details of a substrate on which these control units and the like are provided. As shown in the figure, the control unit 103 includes an input / output control circuit (I / O CTRL) 103A, a memory array 103B, and an LED driver 103C. The input / output control circuit 103A controls display driving of the LED 101 and data writing to and reading from the memory array 103B according to control data sent from the control circuit 300 on the main body via the flexible cable 206.

  The LED driver 103C operates to apply a power supply voltage to the LED 101 when the signal output from the input / output control circuit 103A is on, thereby causing the LED 101 to emit light. Therefore, when the signal output from the input / output control circuit 103A is in an on state, the LED 101 is turned on, and when the signal is in an off state, the LED 101 is turned off.

  FIG. 16 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of turning on and off the LED 101.

  When the LED 101 is turned on or off, as shown in FIG. 16, first, a data signal of “start code + color information” is first sent from the main body side to the input / output control circuit 103A via the signal line DATA. come. As described above, the ink tank is specified by the “color information”, and the LED 101 is turned on / off based on the “control code” sent thereafter, only in the specified ink tank. The “control code” relating to lighting and extinguishing includes “ON” and “OFF” codes. The LED 101 is turned on when “ON” and the light is turned off when “OFF”. That is, when the control code is “ON”, the input / output control circuit 103A outputs an ON signal to the LED driver 103C and maintains the output state thereafter. Conversely, when the control code is “OFF”, the input / output control circuit 103A outputs an OFF signal to the LED driver 103C and maintains the output state thereafter. The actual timing of turning on or off the LED 101 is performed after the seventh clock of the clock CLK for each data signal shown in FIG.

5). Control Procedure FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure related to the attachment / detachment of the ink tank based on the configuration of the present embodiment described above. In particular, the control circuit 300 on the main body side controls the turning on / off of the LEDs 101 of each ink tank 1. Is shown.

  The process shown in FIG. 4 is a process that is started when a user opens the main body cover 201 of the printer according to the present embodiment and detects this by a predetermined sensor. When this process is started, first, an ink tank attaching / detaching process is executed in step S101.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of the ink tank attaching / detaching process. As shown in the figure, in the attaching / detaching process, first, in step S201, the carriage 205 is moved, and status information (individual information report of the ink tank) is acquired for each ink tank mounted at that time. The acquired state information includes the remaining amount of ink at that time, and these are read from the memory array 103B together with the unique number of the ink tank. In step S202, it is determined whether the carriage 205 has reached the ink tank replacement position described with reference to FIG.

  If it is determined that the carriage 205 has reached the ink tank replacement position, ink tank mounting confirmation control is performed in step S203.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the attachment confirmation control. First, in step S301, a parameter N indicating the number of ink tanks mounted on the carriage 205 is set, and a flag F (k) for checking LED emission is initialized according to the number of ink tanks. . In the present embodiment, N is set to 4 as the number of K, C, M, and Y ink tanks. In accordance with this, four flags of F (1), k = 1 to 4 are prepared, and these are all initialized and their contents are set to “0”.

  Next, in step S302, the variable A relating to the ink tank mounting determination order of the flag is set to 1, and in step S303, mounting confirmation control is performed for the Ath ink tank. In this control, when the user mounts the ink tank in the correct position on the holder 150 of the recording head unit 105, the contact 152 of the holder 150 and the contact 102 of the ink tank are brought into contact with each other. As described above, the circuit 300 is an operation of sequentially reading out the color information stored in the memory array 103B of the specified tank while specifying the ink tank based on the color information that is individual information of the ink tank. Of course, the color information for specifying is not used for information that has already been read. Further, in this control, it is also determined whether or not the read color information is different from the color information read so far after the start of the processing.

  In step S304, when the color information can be read out and the color information is different from those read out so far, it is determined that the ink tank of the color information is attached as the Ath ink tank. In other cases, it is determined that the A-th ink tank is not attached. Note that the A-th described here simply describes the order in which the ink tanks are determined, not the order in which the ink tanks are mounted. If it is determined that the Ath ink tank is installed, in step S305, the flag F (A), that is, of the four prepared flags F (k), k = 1 to 4, k = The content of the flag (A) corresponding to A is set to “1”, and the LED 101 of the ink tank 1 of the corresponding color information is turned on as described above with reference to FIG. If it is determined that it is not attached, the content of the flag F (A) is set to “0” in step S311.

  Next, in step S306, the variable A is incremented by 1. In step S307, it is determined whether or not the variable A is greater than N (N = 4 in the case of the printer of the present embodiment) set in step S301. Here, when it is determined that the variable A is equal to or less than N, the processes after step S303 are repeated. When it is determined that the variable A is greater than N, it is determined that the attachment confirmation control has been completed for all four ink tanks. In step S308, whether the main body cover 201 is open is determined. Judge based on output. That is, when the main body cover is in a closed state, the user may have closed the cover with some of the ink tanks not attached or incompletely attached. Is returned to the processing routine of FIG.

  If it is determined in step S308 that the main body cover 201 is open, whether or not the contents of all four flags F (k), k = 1 to 4 are “1”, that is, all It is determined whether the LED 101 is turned on for all ink tanks. When it is determined that the LED 101 of any of the ink tanks is not lit, the processing from step S302 is repeated. That is, the user repeats the above-described process until the ink tank whose LED 101 is not lit is mounted or the mounting operation is performed again, and the LED of the ink tank is lit.

  When it is determined that the LEDs of all the ink tanks are lit, a normal end operation is performed in step S310, the process is terminated, and the process returns to the process routine shown in FIG. FIG. 17A is a diagram showing a state where all the ink tanks are correctly mounted and each LED is lit.

  Referring to FIG. 5 again, after the ink tank mounting confirmation control in step S203 is executed as described above, in step S204, whether or not the control is normally completed, that is, whether or not the ink tank is normally mounted. Judging. When it is determined that the mounting is normal, the display (FIG. 12) of the operation unit 213 is lit in, for example, green in step S205, and is normally terminated in step S206, and the processing routine shown in FIG. If it is determined that the mounting is abnormal, the display of the operation unit 213 blinks, for example, in orange in step S207, ends abnormally in step S208, and returns to the processing routine shown in FIG. When a host PC for controlling the recording apparatus is connected, it is possible to display a mounting abnormality through the PC monitor at the same time.

  In FIG. 4, when the ink tank attaching / detaching process in step S101 is completed, it is determined in step S102 whether or not the attaching / detaching process is normally completed. If it is determined that the process has ended abnormally, in step S108, the process waits for the user to open the main body cover 201. When the cover 201 is opened, the process in step S101 is started, and the process described in FIG. 5 is repeated. .

  If it is determined in step S102 that the attaching / detaching process has been completed normally, in step S103, the process waits for the user to close the main body cover 201, and in step S104, it is determined whether the cover 201 is closed. Here, when it is determined that the main body cover is closed, the process proceeds to a position detection process in step S105. At this time, as shown in FIG. 17B, when it is detected that the main body cover 201 is closed, the carriage 205 moves to a position for position detection, and the LED 101 of each lit ink tank is turned on. Turns off.

  In the position detection process, each of the normally installed ink tanks is in the correct position (hereinafter, the yellow ink tank installation position is the Y position, the magenta ink tank installation position is the M position, the cyan ink tank installation position is the C position, black This is a process for determining whether or not the ink tank is installed at the K position. In the present embodiment, for example, the ink tank mounting position is set such that the ink tank and the mounting position cannot be mounted with ink tanks of other inks, and the mounting positions are determined corresponding to the ink tanks of the respective colors. Since such a configuration is not adopted, there is a possibility that the ink tanks of the respective colors are erroneously attached to places that are not the original positions. For this reason, this position detection process is performed, and if it is worn by mistake, the user is informed of that fact. Thereby, in particular, it is possible to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of manufacturing the ink tank without changing the shape of the ink tank for each color.

  1-3 is a figure explaining the position detection process of this invention.

  7 to 8 are flowcharts showing the position detection processing procedure of the present invention.

In the position detection process, the LED of the ink tank whose position is to be detected is turned on, and the position is detected from the amount of light that can be detected by the light receiving unit 210 at the front of the tank and the front of the ink tank at both ends of the ink tank. Determine whether the ink tank to be installed is in the correct position. Judgment from the amount of light
1. Compare the amount of light at the ink tank position where the position is to be detected with the amount of light at the left and right ink tank positions, and the amount of light at the ink tank position where the position is to be detected is large. There is,
2 The ratio of the amount of light at the ink tank position to be detected to the amount of light when moved to the left and right ink tank positions is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (predetermined value B);
3 The condition is that the amount of light at the ink tank position to be position-detected is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (predetermined value C).

  This is because, even when there is a large variation in the amount of light emitted from the LEDs of each ink tank, the relative amount of light at a predetermined position and a position away from that position is compared with the predetermined values A and B. Further, by comparing the light emission amount of the LED of each ink tank with a predetermined value C, it can be determined whether or not the ink tank is mounted at a predetermined position. These predetermined values are determined in advance in consideration of various variations such as LED light amount variation and light receiving portion light amount detection variation when each ink tank is mounted at the correct position. In other words, this value is always satisfied when the ink tank is mounted at the correct position.

  The ink tanks at both ends of the carriage are on one side at both ends of the ink tank, specifically, the ink tank at the left end of the carriage is the left side of the ink tank, the ink tank at the right end of the carriage is the ink on the right side. Since there is no tank, light quantity detection at that position is not performed.

  Specific operations will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 7. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation for detecting the position of the yellow ink tank. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation for detecting the position of the magenta ink tank.

  When detecting the yellow ink tank position, the LED of the yellow ink tank is turned on as shown in FIG. 2A (step S401), and the carriage is moved so that the light receiving unit 210 faces the Y position (step 402). The light quantity at this time is detected by the light receiving unit 210 (step S403). Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, the carriage is moved so that the light receiving unit 210 faces the M position, and the light quantity of the LED of the yellow tank is detected (step S405). The detected light amount level at each position is compared under the above conditions, and position detection determination is performed (step S406). When the yellow tank is mounted at the correct position, the yellow ink tank LED emits light at the Y position, so that the light amount level is higher than the light amount level at the adjacent M position, and the predetermined value A, the predetermined value B, The predetermined value C is satisfied.

  If the yellow tank is mistakenly attached to the M position, the light amount detection level at the M position becomes larger than the predetermined value A and the condition 1 is not satisfied.

  Further, when the yellow tank is mounted at a position far away from the light receiving unit 210, for example, the K position, the light amount level becomes smaller than the predetermined value B and the predetermined value C at both the Y position and the M position. 3 will not be satisfied.

  If the ink tank is not mounted at the correct position (S407), it is determined that the yellow tank is not mounted correctly at the Y position (step S410), and error position review processing described later is performed (step S411).

  Next, in the same manner, it is detected whether the magenta ink tank is correctly installed at the M position. The LED of the magenta ink tank is turned on (step S409), and the light amount of the light receiving unit 210 is detected at the M position, the Y position, and the C position as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C. The light quantity level at the position is determined under the above conditions, and it is determined whether the magenta ink tank is mounted at the correct position.

  Similarly, position detection processing is also performed for the C position and the K position, and the same position detection is performed for all ink tank mounting positions (step S408).

  Next, error location review processing will be described.

  In the error position scrutiny process, an ink tank (hereinafter referred to as a position error tank) that is determined not to be mounted at the correct position in the position detection process described above is picked up (step S501), the carriage is moved, and the first The light receiving unit 210 is brought so as to face the position error tank (step S502). Then, the LEDs of all ink tanks picked up as position error tanks are turned on in order (S503), and the light quantity at that time is detected by the light receiving unit 210 (S504). The detected light amount level value is temporarily stored in the storage unit in the RAM in the control circuit (S505). Similarly, the light receiving unit 210 is opposed to all the position error tanks, and the light amount level when the LED of the position error tank is caused to emit light is detected and stored in the RAM 302 (S506).

  When the light quantity level is detected for all the position error tanks and temporarily stored in the RAM 302 (S507), the light receiving unit 210 receives light by the processing of the CPU 301 in the control circuit corresponding to the ink tank facing the light tank 210. The maximum value is determined from the light level (S508), and the maximum value and predetermined values A, B, and C previously stored in the ROM 303 in the control circuit are compared with each other by the processing of the CPU 301 (S509). . As a result of comparison with each predetermined value, when it is larger than the predetermined value, it can be determined that the ink tank having the LED indicating the maximum value is erroneously mounted at the position where the light receiving unit 210 is opposed (S511).

  As a result of comparing the maximum value with a predetermined value in advance (S509), if the LED of the ink tank facing the light receiving unit 210 is turned on when the value is smaller than the predetermined value, the predetermined light amount cannot be detected. When a problem such as a failure occurs in 210, or it can be determined that the necessary light receiving characteristics are no longer exhibited due to the influence of mist (S513).

  The above control will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

  For example, when the yellow ink tank and the cyan ink tank are determined to be position error tanks, the light receiving unit 210 is held at the Y position, and the light intensity level detected by turning on the LED of the cyan ink tank is set to L (YC). The value is stored in the RAM (FIG. 1 (a)). Next, the LED of the yellow ink tank is turned on, and the detected light amount level L (YY) is stored in the RAM (FIG. 1B). Next, the light receiving unit 210 is brought to the C position, and the light amount level L (CC) detected by turning on the LED of the cyan ink tank is stored in the RAM (FIG. 1C). Next, the light amount level L (CY) detected by turning on the LED of the yellow ink tank is stored in the RAM (FIG. 1D).

  When two ink tanks have a position error, the respective ink tanks are switched. Therefore, when the maximum value is obtained from the stored light quantity levels, L (YC) and L (YY), L (YC) Is the maximum value. Similarly, when the maximum value is obtained from L (CC) and L (CY), L (CY) becomes the maximum value.

  The maximum values L (YC) and L (CY) are compared with each predetermined value. Since this light quantity level is the light quantity of the ink tank LED facing the light receiving section 210, when the light receiving section 210 is normal, a level equal to or higher than each predetermined value can be detected. Accordingly, it can be determined that the cyan ink tank is erroneously attached to the Y position and the yellow ink tank is erroneously attached to the C position.

  When three or more ink tanks have a position error, the same processing is performed. When the LED of the tank of the color with the highest detection level of the light receiving unit 210 is above a predetermined level, the ink tank of that color is the light receiving unit. It can be determined that it is mounted at a position facing the.

  When the light quantity of the maximum value L (YC) or L (CY) is a level smaller than at least one of the three predetermined values A, B, and C, some abnormality has occurred in the light receiving unit 210 or due to mist adhesion It can be determined that the detection characteristics have deteriorated.

  In FIG. 4, after the position detection process in step S105 described above, it is determined in step S106 whether or not this process has been completed normally. If it is determined that the position detection has been completed normally, in step S107, the display of the operation unit 213 is lit in green, for example, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the operation has not been completed normally, the display unit of the operation unit 213 blinks in, for example, orange in step S109, and in step S110, the ink tank that is not mounted in the original correct position specified in step S105. The LED 101 blinks or lights up, for example. Accordingly, when the user opens the main body cover 201 in step S108, it is possible to know the ink tank that is not mounted in the original correct position, and to prompt the user to remount the ink tank in the correct position.

  In addition, when it is determined that the light receiving unit 210 has failed or the detection characteristics have deteriorated due to mist adhesion by the error position scrutiny process, it is an error state that is difficult to recover by a user operation. The user can be notified using the section.

  In the above-described embodiment, the position detection process is performed by comparing with three conditions, that is, three predetermined values. However, two conditions may be satisfied by comparing with two predetermined values.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the error location review process of the present invention.

  The steps up to the determination of the maximum light amount value in step S608 are the same as in the above embodiment. In another embodiment, the ROM in the control circuit has two predetermined values to be compared with the maximum light quantity value, and is first compared with the first predetermined value (S609). As a result, if all of the maximum light quantity values are larger than the predetermined value, it is possible to determine the wrong ink tank position. When the maximum light amount value is smaller than the first predetermined value, the maximum value smaller than the first predetermined value is compared with the second predetermined value (S621).

  The second predetermined value is set to a value smaller than the first predetermined value. As a result of comparison, if the second predetermined value is smaller than the second predetermined value, it is more certain that the light receiving unit 210 is abnormal.

1, 1K, 1C, 1M, 1Y, 501 Ink tank 3 Support member 5 First engaging portion 6 Second engaging portion 7 Ink supply port 100 Substrate 101 Light emitting portion (LED)
102, 152 Pad (Contact terminal)
103 Control element (control unit)
103A Input / output control circuit Input / output control circuit 103B Memory array 103C LED driver 105 Recording head unit 105 ′, 105K, 105C, 105M, 105Y Recording head 107 Ink introduction port 150 Holder 152 Connector 155 First locking portion 156 Second locking Unit 201 body cover 206 flexible cable 209 encoder scale 210, 810 first light receiving unit 211 encoder sensor 213 operation unit 301 CPU
302 RAM
303 ROM

Claims (9)

  A plurality of liquid storage containers having light emitting means, which can be detachably mounted, and in a recording apparatus provided with a light receiving means capable of receiving light from the light emitting means, the means for causing the light emitting means to emit light; Means for reciprocating the liquid storage container in the recording device; means for storing the amount of light received by the light receiving means; means for determining a maximum value from the stored amounts of received light; and A recording apparatus comprising: means for comparing predetermined values; and means for notifying a result of the comparison.   A plurality of liquid storage containers having light emitting means, which can be detachably mounted, and in a recording apparatus provided with a light receiving means capable of receiving light from the light emitting means, the means for causing the light emitting means to emit light; Means for reciprocating the liquid storage container in the recording device; means for storing the amount of light received by the light receiving means; means for determining a maximum value from the stored amounts of received light; and A recording apparatus comprising: means for comparing the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value; and means for notifying a result of the comparison.   The received light amount storage means moves the light receiving means to a position facing one of the plurality of liquid storage containers, and another liquid storage container including the liquid storage container facing the light receiving means. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the light emitting unit emits light, the received light amount corresponding to the light emission of each liquid storage container received by the light receiving unit is stored.   The received light amount storage means moves the light receiving means so as to come to a position facing the plurality of containers among the plurality of liquid storage containers, and another liquid storage container including the liquid storage container facing the light receiving means. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the light emitting unit emits light, the received light amount corresponding to the light emission of each liquid storage container received by the light receiving unit is stored.   The maximum value determining means specifies a liquid storage container in which the light receiving means receives the maximum light amount among liquid storage containers in which a plurality of light emitting means emit light corresponding to the liquid storage container opposed to the light receiving means. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The means for comparing the maximum value with a predetermined value is compared with a predetermined value for each liquid storage container opposed to the light receiving means, and determined for each liquid storage container opposed to the light receiving means. The recording device described.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein as a result of comparing the maximum value of the amount of received light with the predetermined value, when there is one liquid storage container having a small amount of received light, the notification unit notifies the device abnormality. Recording device.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein, as a result of comparing the maximum value of the amount of received light and the predetermined value, when there are a plurality of liquid storage containers having a small amount of received light, the notification unit notifies the device abnormality. Recording device.   The means for comparing the maximum value with a predetermined value compares the maximum value obtained for each liquid storage container opposed to the light receiving means with a first predetermined value, and as a result of the comparison, the maximum smaller than the first predetermined value is obtained. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the value is compared with a second predetermined value, and the result is determined for each liquid storage container opposed to the light receiving means.

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