JP2012000856A - Ink supplying apparatus and ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device that suppresses speed of an ink cartridge to be inserted in a cartridge installation part and can perform exact detection of a detected part of an ink cartridge.SOLUTION: The ink cartridge 30 includes: a body 31 which has an ink chamber 36; an ink supply port 71; and a detection area 48 which is arranged in position which is different from the ink supply port 71 with respect to a height direction 52. A cartridge installation part 110 includes: guide grooves 108 and 109 which guide the ink cartridge 30 along with the installation direction 56; an ink needle 112; an optical sensor 114 arranged so that the detection area 48 may pass a detecting position, after the ink needle 112 is inserted in the ink supply port 71; and a control part 90 which performs processing about determination of the ink cartridge 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink supply device in which an ink cartridge is mounted on a cartridge mounting portion and an ink cartridge.

  In a so-called tube supply type image recording apparatus, an ink cartridge is disposed outside a carriage on which a recording head is mounted. The ink cartridge and the recording head are connected via a tube. For example, the ink cartridge is mounted in a horizontal direction through an opening on a cartridge mounting portion having an opening on the front of the apparatus main body (see Patent Document 1). The cartridge mounting unit detachably accommodates the ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, an ink path from the ink cartridge to the recording head is formed. Ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head through the ink passage.

  A detection area for detecting the remaining amount and type of ink is provided in the ink cartridge, and a sensor for detecting the detection area of the ink cartridge may be provided in the cartridge mounting portion (Patent Document 2).

JP 2009-1332098 A JP 2007-15393 A

  In the process of mounting the ink cartridge on the cartridge mounting portion, acceleration in the mounting direction acts on the ink cartridge. This acceleration depends on the user's operation. If the ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion too quickly, the sensor may not be able to accurately detect the detection area of the ink cartridge. In particular, the shorter the dimension of the detection area along the mounting direction, the more difficult it is to accurately detect the detection area depending on the speed at which the ink cartridge is inserted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides means for suppressing the speed at which an ink cartridge is inserted into a cartridge mounting portion and capable of accurately detecting a detected portion of the ink cartridge. Objective.

  The present invention relates to an ink supply device (100) including a cartridge mounting portion (110) into which the ink cartridge (30) can be mounted by inserting the ink cartridge (30) in the mounting direction (56). The ink cartridge (30) is provided on a housing (31) having an ink chamber (36) in which ink is stored, and a front surface (40) on the front side in the mounting direction (56) of the housing (31). In the ink supply port (71) through which the ink stored in the ink chamber (36) can flow and the housing (31), the ink supply port (71) is located behind the mounting direction (56). In the first direction (52) in which the dimension of the edges (39, 41) of a pair of opposing cross sections among the directions along the cross section of the casing (31) orthogonal to the mounting direction (56) is maximum. On the other hand, the ink supply port (71) is disposed at a different position and includes a detection region (48) capable of changing the optical characteristics along the mounting direction (56). The cartridge mounting portion (110) includes a guide portion (108, 109) that guides the casing (31) of the ink cartridge (30) in a mounting posture so as to be slidable along the mounting direction (56), and the guide portion. In the process of inserting the ink cartridge (30) along (108, 109), along the ink introduction pipe (112) inserted into the ink supply port (71) and along the guide portion (108, 109). In the process of inserting the ink cartridge (30), the detection region (48) is arranged to pass the detection position after the ink introduction tube (112) is inserted into the ink supply port (71). Based on the optical sensor (114) and at least the detection information output by the optical sensor (114) detecting and detecting the detection region (48). A ridge (30) control means for performing a process related to the determination of (90) comprises a. The detection region (48) is perpendicular to the mounting direction (56), or in the first direction (52), the side farther from the side closer to the ink supply port (71) is the front side of the mounting direction (56), and the mounting direction. The first wall surface (46, 77, 78) intersecting with (56) and the mounting direction is perpendicular to the mounting direction (56) or farther from the side closer to the ink supply port (71) in the first direction (52). The second wall surface (47) which is the front side of (56) and intersects the mounting direction (56) is partitioned with respect to the mounting direction (56).

  The present invention also provides a box-shaped storage portion (101) having an opening (112) on one side, an ink introduction pipe (112) provided below the final surface of the storage portion (101), and the storage portion ( 101) an ink cartridge (30) that can be mounted on a cartridge mounting portion (110) that includes an optical sensor (114) provided above the ink introduction tube (112) at the end surface of the ink cartridge. (56) A front surface (40) disposed on the front side and a rear surface (42) disposed to face the front surface (40), and ink is disposed between the front surface (40) and the rear surface (42). A housing (31) provided with an ink chamber (36) for storing, an ink supply unit (37) provided below the front surface (40), and the ink supply unit (37) in the housing (31). 37) Provided on the upper side and suitable for wearing 56) and a detection region (48) extending in a direction (52) perpendicular to the detection region (48), and the tip (71) of the ink supply section (37) in the mounting direction (56) is mounted from the detection region (48). The front end (71) of the ink supply part (37) abuts on the ink introduction pipe (122) in the insertion process in the insertion process. The detection region (48) is detected by the optical sensor (114) in a posture in which the casing (31) rotates with the contact position between the tip (71) and the ink introduction tube (122) as a fulcrum. It may be regarded as an ink cartridge (30).

  When the ink cartridge (30) is inserted into the cartridge mounting part (110), before the detection region (48) reaches the detection position of the optical sensor (114), the ink introduction pipe (112) is connected to the ink supply port (71). ) Is inserted. By inserting the ink introduction tube (112) into the ink supply port (71), a resistance force is generated in the direction (55) opposite to the mounting direction (56) of the ink cartridge (30), and the ink cartridge (30) Rotate around the ink supply port (71) within the range of rattling with the guide portions (108, 109). Since the detection region (48) is arranged at a position different from the ink supply port (71) with respect to the first direction (52), the detection region (48) also rotates around the ink supply port (71). . By rotating the ink cartridge (30), the distance along the mounting direction (56) between the first wall surface (46, 77, 78) and the second wall surface (47) that divides the detection region (48) is increased. Become.

  In addition, although the detection area | region (48) based on this invention is an area | region which can change an optical characteristic along mounting direction (56), such an area | region differs in an optical characteristic along mounting direction (56). In addition to the aspect in which the members are arranged, the optical characteristics are the same, but the meaning that the amount of light detected by the optical sensor (114) changes depending on the presence or absence of ink in the internal space or the presence or absence of the light shielding member is also included. Interpreted.

  According to the present invention, in the ink cartridge (30) inserted into the cartridge mounting portion (110), before the detection region (48) reaches the detection position of the optical sensor (114), the ink supply port (71) is provided. When the ink introduction tube (112) is inserted and a resistance force is generated in the direction (55) opposite to the mounting direction (56) of the ink cartridge (30), the detection region (48) is subsequently moved to the optical sensor (114). The speed of entering the detection position is suppressed. Further, the ink cartridge (30) rotates about the ink supply port (71), whereby the first wall surface (46, 77, 78) and the second wall surface (47) that define the detection region (48). The distance along the mounting direction (56) becomes longer. Thereby, accurate detection of the detection region (48) of the ink cartridge is realized.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal structure of a printer 10 including an ink supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cartridge mounting part 110. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 90. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state immediately after the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 and rotated. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a region VIII in FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing the output signal of the optical sensor 114. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a region VIII showing a configuration according to the first modification. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a region VIII showing a configuration according to the second modification. FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a region VIII showing a configuration according to the third modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example in which the present invention is embodied, and it is needless to say that the embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Overview of Printer 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 records an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a recording sheet based on an ink jet recording method. The printer 10 includes an ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 is provided with a cartridge mounting portion 110. The ink cartridge 30 can be mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The cartridge mounting portion 110 is provided with an opening 112 whose one surface is open to the outside. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into or removed from the cartridge mounting part 110 through the opening 112.

  The ink cartridge 30 stores ink that can be used by the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected by the ink tube 20 in a state where the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110. The recording head 21 is provided with a sub tank 28. The sub tank 28 temporarily stores the ink supplied through the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 selectively ejects the ink supplied from the sub tank 28 from the nozzles 29 by the ink jet recording method.

  The recording paper fed from the paper feed tray 15 to the transport path 24 by the paper feed roller 23 is transported onto the platen 26 by the transport roller pair 25. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink onto a recording sheet that passes over the platen 26. Thereby, an image is recorded on the recording paper. The recording sheet that has passed through the platen 26 is discharged by a discharge roller pair 22 to a discharge tray 16 provided on the most downstream side of the transport path 24.

[Ink cartridge 30]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink cartridge 30 is a container for storing ink. A space formed inside the ink cartridge 30 is an ink chamber 36 for storing ink. The ink chamber 36 may be a space formed by the main body 31 forming the appearance of the ink cartridge 30, or may be a space formed by a member different from the main body 31. The main body 31 corresponds to a housing.

  2 and 3, the ink cartridge 30 is indicated by an arrow 50 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 with the lower surface in the drawing as the bottom surface and the upper surface in the drawing as the top surface. Is inserted / removed along the direction (hereinafter referred to as “insertion / removal direction 50”). That is, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting unit 110 along the insertion / extraction direction 50 and is removed from the cartridge mounting unit 110 along the insertion / extraction direction 50. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 while standing. This standing state corresponds to the mounting posture. The direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110 is the mounting direction 56, and the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is extracted is the removal direction 55. Further, the height direction 52 in the standing state corresponds to the gravity direction 54. The height direction 52 corresponds to the first direction.

  The ink cartridge 30 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body 31. The main body 31 is thin in the width direction 51, and has a flat shape in which the height direction 52 and the depth direction 53 are larger than the width direction 51. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the front wall 40 is the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 is the rear wall 42. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 face each other in the insertion / extraction direction 50. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 are a pair of side walls that extend in the insertion / removal direction 50, an upper wall that connects the side walls to the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 and extends from the upper end of the front wall 40 toward the upper end of the rear wall 42. 39, and a lower wall 41 extending from the lower end of the front wall 40 toward the lower end of the rear wall 42, respectively. The insertion / extraction direction 50 is parallel to the depth direction 53. The outer surface of the main body 31 constituted by the front wall 40 corresponds to the front surface. The outer surface of the main body 31 constituted by the rear wall 42 corresponds to the rear surface. Further, the upper wall 39 and the lower wall 41 correspond to a pair of edges facing each other in a cross section orthogonal to the mounting direction 56 of the main body 31.

  A remaining amount detection unit 33 is provided near the center of the front wall 40 of the main body 31 in the height direction 52. The remaining amount detection unit 33 is disposed behind the front end 72 of the ink supply unit 37 and the detected element 49, which will be described later, in the mounting direction 56. The remaining amount detection unit 33 has a box shape with one opening so as to communicate with the ink chamber 36. Further, the remaining amount detection unit 33 has a pair of walls made of a translucent resin that transmits light emitted from the optical sensor 114 (see FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the space between the pair of walls of the remaining amount detection unit 33 is hollow. An indicator 62 of the sensor arm 60 is inserted into the hollow portion of the remaining amount detector 33. The sensor arm 60 is provided with an indicator portion 62 and a float portion 63 on both ends of a rod-shaped arm main body 61, respectively. In the ink chamber 36, the sensor arm 60 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 64 extending along the width direction 51. The sensor arm 60 corresponds to the amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber 36, and the indicator unit 62 is positioned in a lower position in the gravity direction of the remaining amount detection unit 33, and the indicator unit 62 is the gravity of the remaining amount detection unit 33. The posture can be changed to a higher posture located on the upper side in the direction. Note that FIG. 3 shows a state in which the indicator unit 62 is in the lower posture.

  The front surface 46 of the mounting direction 56 of the indicator unit 62 in the lower posture is a surface that extends along the width direction 51 and the height direction 52, and is orthogonal to the depth direction 53. The indicator unit 62 has a light shielding property sufficient to make the output signal of the optical sensor 114 a LOW level signal.

  In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110, the remaining amount detection unit 33 is configured to transmit a predetermined amount or more of infrared light with respect to the optical sensor 114 provided in the cartridge mounting unit 110. The amount detection unit 33 changes to a state in which infrared light is shielded or attenuated below a predetermined amount. If the indicator unit 62 is in the upper position, the remaining amount detection unit 33 transmits infrared light, and if the indicator unit 62 is in the lower position, the remaining amount detection unit 33 blocks or attenuates infrared light. It is determined that the remaining amount of ink in the ink chamber 36 has become less than a predetermined amount according to the light transmission state of the remaining amount detection unit 33.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an ink supply unit 37 is provided below the remaining amount detection unit 33 on the front wall 40 of the main body 31. The ink supply unit 37 has a cylindrical outer shape, and protrudes outward along the insertion / extraction direction 50 from the front wall 40. An ink supply port 71 is formed at the tip 72 of the ink supply unit 37. An ink flow path 38 extending from the ink supply port 71 through the internal space of the ink supply unit 37 in the insertion / removal direction 50 to the ink chamber 36 is formed. The ink supply port 71 is configured to be opened and closed by an ink supply valve 70. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, when the ink needle 122 (see FIG. 3) provided on the cartridge mounting portion 110 is inserted into the ink supply port 71, the coil spring 73 of the ink supply valve 70 is moved. The valve 74 that has been elastically deformed to close the ink supply port 71 is opened. As a result, the ink flows out from the ink chamber 36 through the ink flow path 38 to the ink needle 122 provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  The ink supply port 71 is not necessarily limited to a configuration that can be opened and closed by the ink supply valve 70. For example, the ink supply port 71 is closed with a film or the like, and the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The ink supply port 71 may be opened by the ink needle 122 breaking through the film.

  An engaging portion 43 is formed near the center of the upper wall 39 of the main body 31 in the depth direction 53. The engaging portion 43 is a protrusion having a flat surface extending in the width direction 51 and the height direction 52 of the ink cartridge 30. A lock lever 145 (described later) is engaged with the engaging portion 43 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  On the front wall 40 of the main body 31, a detected element 49 that attenuates or blocks infrared light traveling in the width direction 51 is provided on the front side of the mounting direction 56 of the remaining amount detection unit 33. The detected element 49 has substantially the same width as the remaining amount detection unit 33 in the width direction 51. This width is a dimension that can enter between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the optical sensor 114. The detected element 49 is arranged behind the front end 72 of the ink supply unit 37 in the mounting direction 56. In addition, the detected element 49 and the remaining amount detection unit 33 are both disposed above the ink supply unit 37. That is, the detected element 49 and the remaining amount detection unit 33 are arranged at positions different from the ink supply port 71 in the height direction 52.

  A space is formed in the insertion / removal direction 50 between the detected element 49 and the remaining amount detection unit 33. This space allows infrared light traveling in the width direction 51 to pass through without being attenuated to less than a predetermined amount. In this space, the surface 47 of the detected element 49 that divides the detected element 49 side is a surface extending in the width direction 51 and the height direction 52, and is orthogonal to the depth direction 53.

  The area between the surface 47 and the surface 46 of the indicator unit 62 of the sensor arm 60 between the detected element 49 and the remaining amount detection unit 33 is sufficient to make the output signal of the optical sensor 114 an HI level signal. It has translucency. A region having translucency defined by the surfaces 46 and 47 is a detection region 48.

  The dimension D <b> 1 along the insertion / extraction direction 50 of the detection region 48 can be changed depending on the dimension along the insertion / extraction direction 50 of the detected element 49. The dimension D1 is changed according to the type of the ink cartridge 30. The type of the ink cartridge 30 includes a difference in ink color and components, a difference in the amount of ink initially stored in the ink chamber 36, and the like. The surfaces 46 and 47 correspond to a first wall surface and a second wall surface, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a guided portion 35 extending in the depth direction 53 is provided on the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. The guided portion 35 is constituted by a protruding piece protruding upward from the upper wall 39. The distance between the pair of side surfaces facing the width direction 51 in the guided portion 35 is shorter than the distance between the pair of side surfaces facing the width direction 51 in the main body 31. That is, the dimension of the guided portion 35 in the width direction 51 is smaller than the dimension of the main body 31 in the width direction 51. In the present embodiment, the guided portion 35 and the engaging portion 43 are integrally formed.

  A guided portion 44 extending in the depth direction 53 is provided on the lower wall 41 of the main body 31. The guided portion 44 is configured by a protruding piece that protrudes downward from the lower wall 41. The distance between the pair of side surfaces facing the width direction 51 in the guided portion 44 is shorter than the distance between the pair of side surfaces facing the width direction 51 in the main body 31. That is, the dimension of the guided portion 44 in the width direction 51 is smaller than the dimension of the main body 31 in the width direction 51. The guided portions 35 and 44 are inserted into a guide groove 109 to be described later and moved when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110.

[Ink supply apparatus 100]
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply device 100 is provided in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 supplies ink to the recording head 21 provided in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 includes a cartridge mounting unit 110 in which the ink cartridge 30 can be mounted. FIG. 1 shows a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110.

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the case 101 forming the housing of the cartridge mounting unit 110 has an opening 112 on the front side of the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the case 101 through the opening 112. In the ink cartridge 30, the guided portion 35 is inserted into a guide groove 108 provided on the top surface that defines the top portion of the internal space of the case 101, and the bottom surface of the case 101 defines the bottom portion of the internal space. The guided portion 44 is inserted into the provided guide groove 109 and guided in the insertion / removal direction 50. The case 101 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. However, only the case corresponding to one ink cartridge 30 is shown in each drawing. The case 101 corresponds to a housing part. The guide grooves 108 and 109 correspond to guide portions.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a connection portion 103 is provided at the lower portion of the end surface of the case 101. The connection portion 103 is disposed at a position corresponding to the ink supply portion 37 of each ink cartridge 30 attached to the case 101 on the final surface.

  The connection unit 103 includes an ink needle 122 and a holding unit 121. The ink needle 122 is made of a tubular resin needle. Although not shown in the drawing, the ink needle 122 is connected to the ink tube 20 on the outer surface side that forms the front and back surfaces of the case 101. Each ink tube 20 connected to each ink needle 122 is extended to the recording head 21 of the printer 10 so that ink can circulate.

  The holding part 121 is formed in a cylindrical shape. An ink needle 122 is disposed at the center of the holding part 121. As shown in FIG. 9, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, the ink supply unit 37 is inserted inside the cylinder of the holding unit 121. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply unit 37 is in close contact with the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the holding unit 121. As a result, the ink supply unit 37 is inserted into the holding unit 121 at a predetermined interval. When the ink supply unit 37 is inserted into the holding unit 121, the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 37. Thereby, the ink supply valve 70 is opened, and the ink stored in the ink chamber 36 can flow out to the outside. The ink that has flowed out of the ink chamber 36 flows into the ink needle 122. The ink needle 122 corresponds to an ink introduction tube.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor unit 104 is provided on the end surface of the case 101 above the connection portion 103 in the direction of gravity. The optical sensor 114 includes a light emitting element such as an LED and a light receiving element such as a phototransistor. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval in the width direction 51, and each is surrounded by a casing. The optical sensor has a horseshoe shape in outer shape formed by the housing. The light emitting element can emit light in one direction from the housing. The light receiving element can receive light emitted from one direction to the housing. Such a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval in a horseshoe-shaped housing. The remaining amount detection unit 33 and the detected element 49 of the ink cartridge 30 can enter the space between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. When the remaining amount detection unit 33 or the detected element 49 enters the optical path of the optical sensor 114, the optical sensor 114 can detect a change in the light transmission state by the remaining amount detection unit 33 or the detected element 49. This optical sensor 114 corresponds to an optical sensor.

  The case 101 is provided with a lock lever 145. The lock lever 145 is for maintaining the ink cartridge 30 mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110 in the mounted state. The lock lever 145 is provided above the opening 112 of the case 101.

  The entire lock lever 145 is formed in an arm shape. A support shaft 147 is provided near the center of the lock lever 145. The support shaft 147 is supported by the case 101. Accordingly, the lock lever 145 is supported on the upper side of the opening 112 of the case 101 so as to be rotatable about the support shaft 147. The lock lever 145 is roughly divided into an operation part 149 and an engaged part 146. The operation unit 149 protrudes outward from the opening 112 of the case 101. The operation unit 149 is a part that receives an operation for rotating the lock lever 145. The engaged portion 146 enters the inside of the case 101. The engaged portion 146 can be engaged with the engaging portion 43 of the ink cartridge 30. When the engaged portion 146 engages with the engaging portion 43, the ink cartridge 30 is maintained in the mounted state with respect to the case 101. The rotation position (see FIG. 9) of the lock lever 145 at which the engaged portion 146 can engage with the engaging portion 43 is referred to as a lock position, and the engaged portion 146 engages with the engaging portion 43. The position (see FIG. 6) that is not performed is referred to as the unlock position.

  Although not shown in each drawing, a coil spring is attached to the lock lever 145, and the lock lever 145 is urged toward the lock position by the coil spring. When the operation unit 149 is pushed downward with respect to the lock lever 145 in the lock position, the lock lever 145 is rotated from the lock position to the unlock position.

[Control unit 90]
Hereinafter, the schematic configuration of the control unit 90 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The control unit 90 controls the overall operation of the printer 10. The control unit 90 is configured as a microcomputer mainly including a CPU 91, a ROM 92, a RAM 93, an EEPROM 94, and an ASIC 95.

  The ROM 92 stores a program for the CPU 91 to control various operations of the printer 10, a program for executing determination processing described later, and the like. The RAM 93 is used as a storage area for temporarily recording data, signals, and the like used when the CPU 91 executes the program, or as a work area for data processing. The EEPROM 94 stores settings, flags, and the like that should be retained even after the power is turned off. For example, data (lookup data) indicating the correspondence between the output signal of the optical sensor 114 and the type of the ink cartridge 30 is stored.

  An optical sensor 114 is connected to the ASIC 95. Although not shown in FIG. 5, a drive circuit for driving each of the rollers such as the paper feed roller 23 and the conveyance roller pair 25, an input unit for inputting an image recording instruction to the printer 10, and the printer 10 A display unit for displaying information on the device is also connected.

  The optical sensor 114 outputs an analog electrical signal (voltage signal or current signal) corresponding to the intensity of light received by the light receiving element. The control unit 90 monitors the electric signal output from the optical sensor 114 at a predetermined timing, and determines that the electric signal level (voltage value or current value) is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value as a HI level signal. When it is less than a predetermined threshold, it is determined as a LOW level signal. In the present embodiment, the output signal when light is blocked or attenuated at the detection position of the optical sensor 114 is determined as a LOW level signal, and the output signal when light is not blocked or attenuated is determined as an HI level signal. .

[Installation operation of ink cartridge 30]
The operation of mounting the ink cartridge 30 on the cartridge mounting unit 110 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the opening 112 of the cartridge mounting unit 110 is closed by an openable / closable cover provided on the housing of the printer 10. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted, this cover is opened. The opening / closing of the cover is detected by a sensor. Based on the detection signal of this sensor, the control unit 90 can detect that the cover has been opened. The control unit 90 performs control so that infrared light is emitted from the optical sensor 114, triggered by the opening of the cover. The calculation based on the output signal of the optical sensor 114 by the control unit 90 is performed based on the operation clock of the CPU 91.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the mounting direction 56 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110. The user holds the rear wall 42 side of the main body 31 when inserting the ink cartridge 30. Which position of the main body 31 the user holds in the height direction 52 is not necessarily constant. However, it is assumed that the printer 10 is installed on a desk or the like, and the user often inserts the ink cartridge 30 while looking at the opening 112 of the cartridge mounting unit 110 from the upper side in the gravity direction. Therefore, it is assumed that the user mounts the ink cartridge 30 on the cartridge mounting unit 110 while holding between the vicinity of the center in the height direction 52 of the main body 31 and the upper end. Further, in the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30, when the position that the user should have is printed or there is a member or shape that prevents slipping, it is assumed that the user holds the position.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, first, the guide surface inclined toward the front of the mounting direction 56 formed at the tip of the mounting direction 56 of the guided portion 35 is the engaged portion 146 of the lock lever 145. Abut. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the engaged portion 146 of the lock lever 145 rides on the guided portion 35. As a result, the lock lever 145 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 6 and moves from the lock position to the unlock position.

  Further, the tip of the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 37, and the ink needle 122 contacts the ink supply valve 70. As a result, the speed at which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 is reduced.

  Further, since the ink supply port 71 is offset downward with respect to the position in the height direction 52 on the rear wall 42 side of the main body 31 that the user will hold, the ink needle 122 is connected to the ink supply valve 70. 6, the ink cartridge 30 is clockwise (arrow 57) in FIG. 6 within the range of rattling in the cartridge mounting portion 110 with the contact position between the tip of the ink needle 122 and the ink supply valve 70 as a fulcrum. To the maximum (see FIG. 7). This backlash is determined by the gap between the guide grooves 108 and 109 of the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the guided portions 35 and 44 of the ink cartridge 30. Since the ink needle 122 always receives a reaction force from the ink supply valve 70 and sliding friction with the ink supply port 71 during the insertion process, the user is required to install the ink cartridge 56 until the ink cartridge 30 is completely attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110. By pushing the ink cartridge 30 into the main body 31, the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30 is always maintained in a constant posture rotated clockwise to the maximum with respect to the range of rattling.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting part 110, the detected element 49 passes through the detection position of the optical sensor 114 as shown in FIG. After the optical sensor 114 detects the detected element 49, the output signal of the optical sensor 114 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal before the indicator unit 62 of the sensor arm 60 in the lower posture reaches the detection position of the optical sensor 114. Then, it becomes the HI level signal again. The control unit 90 monitors the change in the output signal of the optical sensor 114, and detects that the detected element 49 has been detected on the condition that the output signal of the optical sensor 114 has changed from the LOW level signal to the HI level signal. Stores the indicated flag. The ink needle 122 is further inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 37 to open the ink supply valve 70. As a result, the ink stored in the ink chamber 33 can be supplied to the ink tube 20 through the ink needle 122.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting unit 110 and the ink cartridge 30 reaches the mounting position of the cartridge mounting unit 110, the remaining amount detection unit 33 is moved to the detection position of the optical sensor 114. To reach. If a predetermined amount or more of ink is stored in the ink chamber 36, the optical sensor 114 detects the indicator unit 62 of the sensor arm 60. As a result, the output signal of the optical sensor 114 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal.

  When the ink cartridge 30 reaches the mounting position, the engaging portion 43 passes the engaged portion 146 of the lock lever 145 in the mounting direction 56. As a result, the engaged portion 146 of the lock lever 145 is not supported by the guided portion 35, so that the lock lever 145 rotates clockwise in FIG. 9 and the engaged portion 146 engages with the engaging portion 43. To do. The ink cartridge 30 is held at the mounting position by the engagement between the engaged portion 146 and the engaging portion 43. Thereby, the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is completed.

  The controller 90 determines the type of the ink cartridge 30 based on the output signal of the optical sensor 114 that has detected the detected element 49 during the mounting process. For example, the output signal of the optical sensor 114 varies depending on the difference in dimension along the insertion / extraction direction 50 of the detected element 49. Based on the difference in the output signal of the optical sensor 114, the control unit 90 determines the type of the ink cartridge 30. This type of determination is, for example, the color or amount of ink stored in the ink chamber 36.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the output signal of the optical sensor 114 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal when the detected element 49 passes through the detection position of the optical sensor 114, and further, from the LOW level signal to the HI level signal. Changes to level signal. Then, when the indicator unit 62 of the sensor arm 60 reaches the detection position of the optical sensor 114 across the detection region 48, the HI level signal changes to the LOW level signal.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the detected element 49 and the indicator unit 62 sequentially reach the detection position of the optical sensor 114, the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30 rotates clockwise with respect to the range of rattling with the case 101. It is maintained in a fixed posture with maximum rotation. By the rotation of the main body 31, the detected element 49 and the remaining amount detection unit 33 are also rotated. Therefore, the indicator section that divides the detection region 48 and the surfaces 46 and 47 of the detected element 49 are inclined with respect to the gravity direction 54 so that the upper side is the front side of the mounting direction 56 from the lower side. The inclination angle of the surfaces 46 and 47 is θ.

  Assuming that the surface 46, 47 is a dimension D1 that is separated along the insertion / removal direction 50 in a state where the surfaces 46 and 47 are along the gravity direction 54, the position of the optical sensor 114 relative to the detection position of the optical sensor 114 is obtained in the posture in which the main body 31 is rotated clockwise. The dimension D2 along the direction in which the surfaces 46 and 47 pass (insertion / removal direction 50) is larger than the dimension D1 (dimension D2 = dimension D1 / sin θ). That is, after the surface 46 of the detected element 49 passes through the detection position of the optical sensor 114 and the output signal of the optical sensor 114 changes from the LOW level signal to the HI level signal, the detection position of the optical sensor 114 is changed to the indicator unit 62. The time until the output signal of the optical sensor 114 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal becomes longer as the main body 31 rotates clockwise as much as possible (see FIG. 10).

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, in the ink cartridge 30 inserted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink needle 112 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 before the detection region 48 reaches the detection position of the optical sensor 114, and the ink cartridge When the resistance force to the removal direction 55 is generated in 30, the speed at which the detection region 48 enters the detection position of the optical sensor 114 after that is suppressed. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 rotates around the ink supply port 71, the dimension D2 along the mounting direction 56 of the surfaces 46 and 47 that define the detection region 48 is the dimension D1 when the ink cartridge 30 does not rotate. It will be longer. Accordingly, even if the dimension D1 of the detection region 80 of the ink cartridge 30 is made as small as possible in consideration of the rise time and fall time of the signal output from the optical sensor 114 and the operation clock of the control unit 90, the detection region 80 accurate detections are realized.

[Modification 1]
Note that the remaining amount detection unit 33 may not include the sensor arm 60. As described above, in the optical sensor 114, the light emitting element and the light receiving element face each other in the horizontal direction. The light emitted from the light emitting element is received by the light receiving element. In the state where there is ink in the remaining amount detection unit 33, the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element is blocked or attenuated, and in the state where there is no ink in the remaining amount detection unit 33, the red light emitted from the light emitting element. You may be comprised so that external light may permeate | transmit. In the configuration shown in FIG. 11, when the remaining amount detection unit 33 is filled with ink, the inner wall of the remaining amount detection unit 33 spreads in the width direction 51 and the height direction 52 on the front side in the mounting direction 56, and A detection region 48 is defined by an inner surface 77 orthogonal to the depth direction 53 and a surface 47 of the detected element 49. When the surface 47, 77 is along the gravity direction 54 and the dimension D3 is separated along the insertion / extraction direction 50, the detection position of the optical sensor 114 is obtained when the main body 31 is rotated clockwise as much as possible. On the other hand, the dimension D4 along the direction in which the surfaces 46 and 47 pass (insertion / removal direction 50) is larger than the dimension D3 (dimension D4 = dimension D3 / sin θ). Even with such a configuration, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

[Modification 2]
Further, depending on the threshold value by which the control unit 90 determines that the electrical signal output from the optical sensor 114 is the HI level signal or the LOW level signal, the wall 45 on the front side in the mounting direction 56 in the remaining amount detection unit 33 reaches the detection position. Thus, the output signal of the optical sensor 114 may be determined as a LOW level signal. When such a determination is made, as shown in FIG. 12, the surface 78 of the front wall 45 of the remaining amount detection unit 33 that faces the surface 47 of the detected element 49, and the surface 47 of the detected element 49 Thus, the detection area 48 is partitioned. The surface 78 extends in the width direction 51 and the height direction 52 and is orthogonal to the depth direction 53. When the surface 47, 78 is separated from the insertion / removal direction 50 in the state where the surfaces 47 and 78 are along the gravity direction 54, the detection position of the optical sensor 114 is obtained when the main body 31 is rotated to the maximum clockwise. On the other hand, the dimension D6 along the direction in which the surfaces 46 and 47 pass (insertion / removal direction 50) is larger than the dimension D5 (dimension D6 = dimension D5 / sin θ). Even with such a configuration, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

[Modification 3]
Further, the surface that divides the detection region 48 does not necessarily extend in the width direction 51 and the height direction 52 and is not necessarily orthogonal to the depth direction 53. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, of the surfaces 47 and 78 in the modified example 2, the surface 48 of the detected element 49 is attached to the height direction 52 (gravity direction 54) from the upper side or the lower side. It may be inclined so as to be on the front side of 56. Even in such a configuration, the dimension D6 becomes larger than the dimension D5 by the maximum rotation of the main body 31 clockwise. Of course, the same applies even if the surface 78 of the remaining amount detection unit 33 is inclined so as to be in front of the mounting direction 56 from the upper side or the lower side with respect to the height direction 52 (gravity direction 54).

30 ... Ink cartridge 31 ... Main body (housing)
36: Ink chamber 37 ... Ink supply part 39 ... Upper wall (edge of cross section)
40 ... Front wall (front)
41 ... lower wall (edge of cross section)
46, 78 ... surface (first wall surface)
47 ... surface (second wall surface)
48: Detection area 71: Ink supply port 77 ... Inner surface (first wall surface)
90... Control unit (control means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Ink supply apparatus 101 ... Case (accommodating part)
108, 109 ... guide groove (guide part)
110 ... cartridge mounting part 112 ... opening 114 ... optical sensor (optical sensor)
122 ... Ink needle (ink introduction tube)

Claims (3)

An ink supply device (100) including a cartridge mounting portion (110) into which the ink cartridge (30) can be mounted by inserting the ink cartridge (30) into the mounting direction (56),
The ink cartridge (30)
A housing (31) having an ink chamber (36) in which ink is stored;
An ink supply port (71) provided on the front surface (40) on the front side of the mounting direction (56) in the housing (31), through which the ink stored in the ink chamber (36) can flow;
In the casing (31), the rear side of the mounting direction (56) from the ink supply port (71) and the direction along the cross section of the casing (31) orthogonal to the mounting direction (56). The ink supply port (71) is disposed at a position different from the ink supply port (71) with respect to the first direction (52) in which the dimension of the pair of opposing cross-sectional edges (39, 41) is maximum, and in the mounting direction (56). And a detection region (48) capable of changing the optical properties along,
The cartridge mounting part (110) is
A guide portion (108, 109) for guiding the casing (31) of the ink cartridge (30) to be slidable along the mounting direction (56);
In the process of inserting the ink cartridge (30) along the guide portions (108, 109), an ink introduction pipe (112) inserted into the ink supply port (71);
In the process of inserting the ink cartridge (30) along the guide portions (108, 109), after the ink introduction tube (112) is inserted into the ink supply port (71), the detection region (48). An optical sensor (114) arranged to pass through the detection position;
Control means (90) for performing processing relating to determination of the ink cartridge (30) based on detection information output by detecting and outputting the detection region (48) by at least the optical sensor (114),
The detection area (48)
A first direction perpendicular to the mounting direction (56) or farther from the side closer to the ink supply port (71) in the first direction (52) is the front side of the mounting direction (56) and intersects the mounting direction (56). Wall surfaces (46, 77, 78);
A second direction orthogonal to the mounting direction (56) or farther from the side closer to the ink supply port (71) in the first direction (52) is the front side of the mounting direction (56) and intersects the mounting direction (56). An ink supply device (100) partitioned with respect to the mounting direction (56) by a wall surface (47). The housing (31) has an outer shape that is long in the vertical direction (52) in the mounting posture and short in the width direction (51) that is not the mounting direction (56) perpendicular to the vertical direction (52).
The first direction (52) is a vertical direction,
The ink supply device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the ink supply port (71) is disposed below the detection region. A box-shaped storage portion (101) having an opening (112) on one side, an ink introduction pipe (112) provided below the end surface of the storage portion (101), and an end surface of the storage portion (101) An ink cartridge (30) mountable on a cartridge mounting portion (110) comprising an optical sensor (114) provided above the ink introduction tube (112),
There is a front surface (40) disposed on the front side of the mounting direction (56) and a rear surface (42) disposed to face the front surface (40), and between the front surface (40) and the rear surface (42). A housing (31) provided with an ink chamber (36) for storing ink;
An ink supply section (37) provided under the front surface (40);
A detection region (48) provided above the ink supply unit (37) in the housing (31) and extending in a direction (52) perpendicular to the mounting direction (56);
The tip (71) of the ink supply section (37) in the mounting direction (56) is disposed on the front side of the mounting direction (56) from the detection region (48).
In the insertion process, the tip (71) of the ink supply part (37) comes into contact with the ink introduction pipe (122), so that the tip (71) of the ink supply part (72) and the ink introduction pipe (122). An ink cartridge (30) in which the detection region (48) is detected by the optical sensor (114) in a posture in which the casing (31) is rotated with the contact position as a fulcrum.

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