JP2013071396A - Cartridge and printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new method which permits a user to cope with mounting error of a cartridge.SOLUTION: An ink cartridge 200 has a label part 210 on the surface of one peripheral wall of a housing 202 forming an ink storage part. The label part 210 is a laminated structure in which a plurality of layers different in property are piled up, and has an optical function layer 213 transmitting light with a prescribed wavelength (first wavelength light) and a light transmitting layer 212 containing an expandable material in an unexpanded condition and transmitting the first wavelength light laminated with the optical function layer 213 on the housing surface side. The light transmitting layer 212 irreversibly changes the transmission condition of the first wavelength light through the expansion of the expandable material when it receives heat at a temperature permitting the expandable material to expand from the thermal head 102 of a heating unit 100 facing the label part 210.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge for storing a printing material used for printing and a printing apparatus to which the cartridge can be attached.

  When a cartridge is used in a printing apparatus, a technique for mounting a storage element on the cartridge has been proposed in order to exchange various information between the cartridge and the printing apparatus (for example, Patent Document 1). The storage element stores information about the printing material stored in the cartridge, such as the color type of the printing material and the remaining amount of printing material. Based on these information, supply of different types of printing materials is avoided.

JP 2005-119228 A

  Although the technique proposed in the above-mentioned patent document is in response to a request to store some information about the cartridge, the cartridge needs to be provided with a storage element such as an EEPROM. Electrical wiring for enabling communication with the control circuit of the apparatus main body is also required, and there is a problem that the structure of the cartridge becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a new technique capable of coping with information update regarding a cartridge.

  In order to achieve at least a part of the above object, the present invention can be implemented as the following application examples.

[Application 1: Cartridge]
A cartridge containing a printing material used for printing,
An optical functional layer that transmits light of a predetermined wavelength on the cartridge surface, and a light transmissive layer that includes the foaming material in an unfoamed state and transmits the light of the wavelength, and the optical functional layer is on the cartridge surface. Laminated to be on the side,
The gist of the invention is that the light transmission layer has a property of irreversibly changing the transmission state of the light having the wavelength through foaming of the foamable material.

  The cartridge having the above-described configuration can update information as described below by using an optical function layer and a light transmission layer that are stacked on the surface of the cartridge. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the optical function layer and the light transmission layer provided by being laminated on the surface of the cartridge will be referred to as a laminated portion, and information updating in the cartridge having the above configuration will be described.

  The light transmission layer of the laminated portion in the cartridge having the above-described structure is positioned by being laminated on the optical functional layer on the cartridge surface side, and includes the foaming material in an unfoamed state, and then the light having the predetermined wavelength (hereinafter referred to as the light-transmitting layer). , Referred to as “first wavelength light”). On the other hand, the light transmission layer irreversibly changes the transmission state of the first wavelength light when the foamable material it has foamed. For this reason, the laminated part differs in the transmission state of the first wavelength light in the light transmission layer before and after the foaming material included in the light transmission layer is within the range in which foaming of the foaming material occurs. In this case, when the foamable material is foamed in the light transmissive layer, bubbles are generated by foaming of the foamable material in the light transmissive layer, and bubbles are mixed in the light transmissive layer. , Causing light scattering. Therefore, when the foamable material is foamed in the light transmission layer, the transmission state of the first wavelength light is deteriorated, and the transmittance is lowered. And since the foaming of this foamable material is irreversible, the transmittance | permeability of the 1st wavelength light in a light transmissive layer falls irreversibly. For this reason, when the first wavelength light is irradiated to the laminated portion from the light transmitting layer side, the transmission state of the first wavelength light in the light transmitting layer is different between before and after the foaming material is foamed. Before and after foaming of the functional material, the laminated portion changes, and the change becomes irreversible because the change in the transmission state in the light transmission layer is irreversible.

Such an irreversible change in the stacked portion corresponds to an electrical data update in the storage element, for example, an information update for updating data from a value 0 to a value 1 or vice versa. Therefore, according to the cartridge having the above-described configuration, information regarding the cartridge can be updated in the stacked portion on the cartridge surface. In addition, in order to update information in the stacked portion on the cartridge surface, it is not necessary to use a storage element, but a storage element can be used in combination.
Note) This issue has also been deleted regarding the use of printing materials, but in other projects JP04P566-567, examples of using up printing materials remain. Please indicate if they should be unified.

  In addition, the cartridge described above can be configured as follows. For example, if the foamable material is foamed by heating, the light transmission layer receives heat at a temperature causing foaming of the foamable material, thereby foaming the foamable material and transmitting the first wavelength light. Is changed irreversibly, that is, as described above, the transmittance of the first wavelength light is irreversibly lowered.

  In addition, a light absorption pattern layer in which a pattern that occupies a part of the optical function layer is formed by a material that absorbs light of the wavelength is used, and the light absorption pattern layer is provided on either of the front and back sides of the optical function layer. You can be prepared for that. If it carries out like this, it will become as follows before and after foaming of a foamable material. Before foaming of the foamable material, the first wavelength light applied to the laminated portion from the light transmission layer side passes through the light transmission layer and reaches the light absorption pattern layer, and the light absorption pattern layer has a pattern. It is absorbed and reaches the optical functional layer at a portion other than the pattern. For this reason, the pattern image of the light absorption pattern layer is reflected in the arrival state of the first wavelength light that passes through the light transmission layer and reaches the optical function layer. On the other hand, after foaming of the foamable material, the transmittance of the light transmissive layer decreases as described above. Therefore, the above-mentioned irreversible change of the laminated portion before and after foaming of the foamable material is caused by the pattern image. It can be seen as a change. As a result, according to the above aspect, an irreversible change in the stacked portion can be recognized more remarkably by a pattern image change in the light absorption pattern layer.

  Specifically, if the foamable material is foamed in the entire area of the light transmission layer, the transmittance decreases in the entire area of the light transmission layer. Therefore, when the laminated portion is irradiated with the first wavelength light, the light absorption pattern layer The pattern image is displayed with a lower contrast ratio than before foaming of the foamable material, or the pattern image is not displayed, and the irreversible change of the laminated part is displayed as the pattern image of the light absorption pattern layer. It can be recognized more remarkably by the change of. In other words, after foaming of the foamable material, it is impossible to observe the pattern image of the light absorption pattern layer or it is difficult to observe the change, and this change is detected with the naked eye and / or by machine reading. Thus, it is possible to easily determine the presence or absence of a treatment that causes foaming of the foamable material.

  In addition, if the foamable material foams in a partial region of the light transmission layer, the transmittance decreases only in the partial region. Therefore, when the first wavelength light is irradiated, the transmittance change in the partial region is reduced. The influence is reflected in the pattern image, resulting in a pattern image different from the foam pattern image of the foamable material. Therefore, even in this case, an irreversible change in the stacked portion can be recognized more remarkably by a change in the pattern image of the light absorption pattern layer.

  The wavelength is in the near infrared region, the transmittance of the optical function layer with respect to the wavelength is 30% or more, and the optical function layer has a wavelength range of 700 to 800 nm in the near infrared region, The transmittance difference of any wavelength is 10% or more in the wavelength region of 800 to 1500 nm in the infrared region. That is, the optical functional layer may have a transmission spectrum in the near-infrared region that exhibits high transmittance at the first wavelength and low transmittance at many other wavelengths. By doing so, the transmission spectrum in the near-infrared region of the optical functional layer shows a high transmittance for the first wavelength light, but shows a low transmittance for light of many wavelengths. Therefore, for those who do not know to use the first wavelength light for the irreversible change of the laminated part, the laminated part before foaming of the foamable material and the laminated part after foaming of the foamable material in the light transmission layer It is impossible or difficult to determine the irreversible change. For this reason, according to this aspect, it is difficult for a person who does not know to use the first wavelength light for the irreversible change of the laminated portion to recognize the irreversible change of the laminated portion.

  In this case, the light absorption pattern and the optical functional layer can have the same color, and thus, when the laminated portion of the light transmitting layer before foaming of the foamable material is observed with the naked eye, the presence of the light absorption pattern is confirmed. It can be difficult to realize.

  Further, the laminated portion in which the optical functional layer and the light transmission layer are laminated as described above can be directly formed on the surface of the cartridge or bonded to the surface of the cartridge.

[Application 2: Ink cartridge]
A cartridge containing a printing material used for printing,
An optical functional layer that transmits light of a predetermined wavelength and an irreversible state of transmission of light of the wavelength through the foamed material after transmitting the light of the wavelength after containing the foamable material in an unfoamed state And a light transmission layer having a property to change automatically,
The gist of the invention is that the light transmission layer is located on the light incident side of the wavelength.

  The effects described above can also be achieved by the cartridge having the above-described configuration.

[Application 3: Cartridge label]
A cartridge label attached to a cartridge containing a printing material used for printing,
An optical functional layer that transmits light of a predetermined wavelength, and a light transmission layer that transmits light of the wavelength after containing the foamable material in an unfoamed state, are provided,
The light transmission layer has a property of irreversibly changing the light transmission state of the wavelength through foaming of the foamable material,
The gist of the invention is that a pattern indicating information about the cartridge is formed by the optical functional layer.

  Information on the cartridge can be read by observing a pattern image indicating information on the cartridge formed by the optical functional layer.

[Application 4: Label for cartridge]
A cartridge label attached to a cartridge containing a printing material used for printing,
An optical functional layer that transmits light of a predetermined wavelength, and a light transmission layer that transmits light of the wavelength after containing the foamable material in an unfoamed state, are provided,
The light transmission layer has a property of irreversibly changing the light transmission state of the wavelength through foaming of the foamable material,
A light absorption pattern layer in which a pattern occupying a part of the optical function layer is formed on either surface of the optical function layer by a material that absorbs light of the wavelength,
The gist of the invention is that a pattern indicating information on the cartridge is formed by the light absorption pattern layer.

  Also with this configuration, the information about the cartridge can be read in the same manner as in Application 3.

[Application 5: Printing device]
A printing device,
Any of the cartridges described above can be mounted,
The gist of the invention is to include an irreversible treatment section for performing an irreversible treatment for foaming the foamable material so that the light transmission state of the light of the wavelength of the light transmissive layer changes irreversibly.

  When any of the cartridges described above is mounted, the printing apparatus having the above configuration performs an irreversible treatment on the stacked portion of the mounted cartridges. Since this irreversible treatment is to foam the foamable material of the light transmission layer, the light transmission layer irreversibly changes the transmission state of the first wavelength light as described above (decreasing the transmittance). Therefore, according to the printing apparatus having the above-described configuration, the above-described irreversible change of the laminated portion can be caused through the irreversible treatment. In this case, if the foamable material is foamed by heating, in the above irreversible treatment, the light transmission layer is heated at a temperature causing foaming of the foamable material, and the light transmission layer receives heat at such a temperature. The foaming material is foamed to irreversibly change the transmission state of the first wavelength light.

  In addition, the printing apparatus described above can be configured as follows. For example, the reflection state read by irradiating light of the wavelength is compared with the reflection state read by the reading unit before and after the irreversible treatment. If it carries out like this, the treatment corresponding to the above-mentioned irreversible change of a lamination part will be attained.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of printing system PS. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an ink cartridge 200 and a label unit 210. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a label unit 210 of an ink cartridge 200 and a heating unit 100. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the label part 210 and the heating unit 100, seeing the label part 210 from the optical function layer 213 front. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the mode of the change of the light transmissive layer 212 when the heating unit 100 scans to the label part 210 in one direction. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a function of a reading unit 150 and a label unit 210. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between the label unit 210 and the reading unit 150 while the label unit 210 is viewed from the front of the optical functional layer 213. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the spectral characteristics before and behind the irreversible treatment performed in the heating unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows the label part 210A of a modification in front view. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship with the heating unit 100, seeing the label part 210A by a 10-10 line in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a change state of the light transmission layer 212 when the heating unit 100 performs irreversible treatment by scanning the label unit 210 </ b> A of a modified example in one direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the mode of the change of the light transmissive layer 212 which passed through the irreversible process of this one-way scanning from a front view side. It is explanatory drawing which shows the label part 210B of another modification in the cross sectional view equivalent to FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the label part 210C of another modification in the cross sectional view equivalent to FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the other form of label part formation.

  Hereinafter, examples in which the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a printing system will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printing system PS. As illustrated, the printing system PS includes a printer 20 as a printing device and a computer 90. The printer 20 is connected to the computer 90 via the connector 80.

  The printer 20 includes a sub-scan feed mechanism 21, a main scan feed mechanism 27, a print head unit 60, and a main control unit 40. The sub-scan feed mechanism 21 includes a paper feed motor 22 and a paper feed roller 26, and transports the paper PA in the sub-scanning direction using the paper feed roller 26. The main scanning feed mechanism 27 includes a carriage motor 32, a pulley 38, a drive belt 36 stretched between the carriage motor 32 and the pulley 38, and a slide shaft provided in parallel with the shaft of the paper feed roller 26. 34. The slide shaft 34 slidably holds the carriage 30 fixed to the drive belt 36. The rotation of the carriage motor 32 is transmitted to the carriage 30 via the drive belt 36, and the carriage 30 reciprocates along the sliding shaft 34 in the main scanning direction parallel to the axial direction of the paper feed roller 26.

  The print head unit 60 includes an ink cartridge 200 and a print head (not shown) mounted on the carriage 30. The print head is driven while being driven in the main scanning direction by the carriage 30, and the ink stored in the ink cartridge 200 on the paper PA. To discharge. The main control unit 40 controls the above-described mechanisms to realize print processing. For example, the main control unit 40 receives a user's print job via the computer 90, and executes printing by controlling each mechanism described above based on the content of the received print job. Each of the ink cartridges 200 can be detachably attached to the carriage 30. The print head has a plurality of nozzle rows that eject different inks. The print head unit 60 includes a heating unit 100 and a reading unit 150. The heating unit 100 emits heat to a label unit 210 (described later) included in the ink cartridge 200. The reading unit 150 performs light irradiation on the label unit 210 and reading of the reflected light. The heating and reading for the label unit 210 will be described later.

  In addition, the printer 20 includes an operation unit 70 that allows the user to make various settings of the printer 20 and check the status of the printer 20. The operation unit 70 includes a display unit 72 for performing various notifications to the user.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the ink cartridge 200 and the label unit 210, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the label unit 210 of the ink cartridge 200 and the heating unit 100.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the label unit 210 is formed on the surface of one peripheral wall of the housing 202 that forms the ink storage unit 201 in the ink cartridge 200. The label portion 210 has a laminated structure in which a plurality of layers having different properties are laminated. After the light transmission layer 212 and the optical functional layer 213 are laminated in this order, the optical functional layer 213 is placed on the surface side of the housing 202. And The optical functional layer 213 has a property of transmitting light of a predetermined wavelength (hereinafter, this wavelength is referred to as a first wavelength and the light is referred to as a first wavelength light), and the light transmission layer 212 is a foamable material. Is contained in an unfoamed state and has a property of transmitting the first wavelength light. These properties will be described later.

  The optical functional layer 213 located on the cartridge surface side of the ink cartridge 200 transmits light of the first wavelength. The transmittance of the optical function layer 213 with respect to the light of the first wavelength is, for example, 30% or more, and is typically in the range of 30 to 60%.

  The optical function layer 213 may be colored. The optical functional layer 213 is typically a black layer. Here, “black” means that, when the intensity of specular reflection light is measured, the reflectance is 10% or less for all light components having a wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 700 nm. Yes.

  When the first wavelength is in the near infrared region, the optical function layer 213 has a transmittance of 30% or more at the first wavelength, a 700 to 800 nm wavelength region in the near infrared region, and a near infrared region. You may use that whose transmittance | permeability difference of either wavelength is 10% or more in the wavelength range of 800 to 1500 nm. That is, the optical functional layer 213 may have a transmission spectrum in the near-infrared region showing high transmittance at the first wavelength and low transmittance at many other wavelengths. Here, as an example, the optical functional layer 213 has such spectral characteristics. Here, the second wavelength different from the first wavelength is also in the near infrared region, and the transmittance of the optical function layer 213 at the second wavelength is compared with the transmittance of the optical function layer 213 at the first wavelength. For example, it is lower than 80% of the transmittance of the optical function layer 213 at the first wavelength.

  The optical function layer 213 having the above-described spectral characteristics, that is, spectral characteristics that selectively transmit light in a part of the wavelength region out of light in the near infrared region and absorb the remaining light, For example, a predetermined near infrared absorber and a resin are included. This near-infrared absorber absorbs the light of the said 2nd wavelength, for example. As this near-infrared absorber, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of phthalocyanine compounds, naphthalocyanine compounds, anthraquinone compounds, diimonium compounds, and cyanine compounds can be used. Moreover, as resin, what is generally used in process ink can be used, for example.

  The optical function layer 213 is formed by, for example, a printing method. Examples of the printing method include an offset printing method, a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, and a flexographic printing method. The thickness of the optical function layer 213 is, for example, in the range of 0.5 to 10 μm, and typically in the range of 1 to 5 μm. In order to form the optical functional layer 213, for example, the ink cartridge 200 is set in an offset printing machine, and the ink A having the following composition is printed on the surface of the casing 202. It was set to 1 μm. Thereafter, the optical functional layer 213 can be printed on the surface of the housing 202 by further irradiating the coating film with ultraviolet rays.

[Composition of Ink A]
Organic blue pigment (manufactured by Mikuni Color Co., Ltd.) 5 parts by mass;
Organic red pigment (manufactured by Gokoku Color Co., Ltd.) 7 parts by mass;
Organic yellow pigment (manufactured by Gokoku Color Co., Ltd.) 8 parts by mass;
80 parts by mass of UV curable offset ink medium (FD Carton ACE Medium B: manufactured by Toyo Ink);

  The light transmission layer 212 formed so as to overlap the optical functional layer 213 is positioned on the incident side of the first wavelength light, and transmits the first wavelength light after containing the foamable material in an unfoamed state. That is, the light transmission layer 212 transmits the first wavelength light at least during the period from the formation of the label portion 210 to the ink cartridge 200 until the irreversible treatment described later is performed.

  The light transmission layer 212 includes a foamable material that foams when heated, for example, foamable particles described below. And this light transmission layer 212 is comprised so that the transmittance | permeability of 1st wavelength light may be reduced in the heat receiving range by receiving heat by the irreversible treatment which foams said foamable material. When the transmittance of the first wavelength light of the light transmission layer 212 decreases, the amount of light reaching the optical function layer 213 located behind the light transmission layer 212 decreases, and the optical effect due to the optical function layer 213 is difficult to visually recognize or detect. Become. The presence or absence of irreversible treatment can be determined by visually recognizing or detecting such a difference in optical effect.

  After the label portion 210 is formed on the ink cartridge 200, the transmittance T1 of the light transmission layer 212 with respect to the first wavelength light is in the range of 40 to 80%, for example. Further, after the irreversible treatment, the transmittance T2 of the light transmission layer 212 with respect to the first wavelength light is, for example, in the range of 30 to 60%. The ratio between the transmittance T2 and the transmittance T1 is, for example, in the range of 0.25 to 0.6, and typically in the range of 0.3 to 0.5.

  The light transmission layer 212 typically includes expandable particles and a binder resin that holds them. The expandable particles include, for example, hollow particles including a thermoplastic plastic in an outer shell and a liquid gas included therein. The hollow particles are, for example, substantially spherical, and typically spherical. Examples of the thermoplastic plastic constituting the hollow particles include polystyrene, polyolefin, and polyvinyl chloride. Examples of the liquid gas include low boiling point hydrocarbons.

  When the expandable particles having the above configuration receive heat, the liquid gas contained in the hollow particles is vaporized and foamed. As a result, the internal pressure of the hollow particles is increased, and the thermoplastic plastic constituting the outer shell is softened, resulting in volume expansion of the expandable particles. Typically, the light transmission layer 212 becomes cloudy with the volume expansion. The phenomenon that the foamable particles receive heat and the liquid gas is vaporized occurs irreversibly, and thus the light transmission layer 212 irreversibly decreases the transmittance of the first wavelength light. Thus, when the transmittance of the first wavelength light of the light transmission layer 212 decreases, the first wavelength light irradiated to the light transmission layer 212 is reflected by the light transmission layer 212 itself, and the reflectance increases.

  A general thing can be used as binder resin. Examples of usable binder resins include acrylic resins, epoxy resins, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resins, polyester resins, polyamide resins, polyurethane resins, and polyolefin resins.

  The light transmission layer 212 is formed by, for example, a printing method such as a screen printing method or a coating method. This application can be performed using, for example, an air knife coater, a roll coater, a spray coater, a gravure coater, a micro gravure coater, or a Miyaba coater. The film thickness of the light transmission layer 212 is, for example, in the range of 3 to 30 μm, and typically in the range of 5 to 10 μm. In the present embodiment, when forming the light transmission layer 212, the ink cartridge 200 having the optical function layer 213 formed thereon is set in the screen printing machine as described above so as to overlap the optical function layer 213 formed. Ink C having the following composition was applied, and the dry film thickness was set to 5 μm. By naturally drying the coating film, the light transmission layer 212 is formed so as to overlap the optical function layer 213 already formed on the surface of the housing 202, and is positioned on the incident side of the first wavelength light.

[Composition of ink C]
Acrylic resin: Jonkrill (manufactured by BASF) 100 parts by mass;
Expandable particles: EXPANCEL (manufactured by Nippon Philite Co., Ltd.) 10 parts by mass;

  As shown in FIG. 3, the heating unit 100 faces the label portion 210 on the cartridge surface of the ink cartridge 200. In this case, the heating unit 100 can always be opposed to the label unit 210 of the ink cartridge 200, and the heating unit 100 can be installed on, for example, a two-dimensional table or a three-dimensional table so that the heating unit 100 can be moved forward and backward. You can also. The heating unit 100 includes a thermal head 102 so as to face the label unit 210, and the label unit 210 is heated from the light transmission layer 212 side by the thermal head 102 under the control of the main control unit 40 (FIG. 1). . This heating is performed so as to cause foaming of the expandable particles of the light transmission layer 212 as described above, and the light transmission layer 212 has the expandable particles in the heat receiving range where heat is received from the thermal head 102. Foaming is performed to irreversibly reduce the transmittance of the first wavelength light. Thus, the treatment that causes the light transmission layer 212 to receive heat at the temperature at which the expandable particles are foamed by the heating unit 100 and irreversibly decreases the transmittance of the light transmission layer 212 with respect to the first wavelength light is an irreversible treatment. The temperature at that time is determined by the liquid gas contained in the expandable particles contained in the light transmission layer 212. In the present embodiment, the expandable particles are the above EXPANCEL (manufactured by Nippon Philite Co., Ltd.), so that the irreversible treatment is performed at a temperature exceeding the vaporization temperature (150 ° C .: irreversible change temperature) of the contained liquid gas. Become. When the thermal head 102 receives heat by the light transmission layer 212 as described above, the thermal head 102 may be brought into contact with the surface of the label unit 210.

  4 is an explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the label unit 210 and the heating unit 100 while the label unit 210 is viewed from the front of the optical functional layer 213, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the scanning of the heating unit 100 in one direction with respect to the label unit 210. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the mode of the change of the light transmissive layer 212 at the time of doing. As shown in FIG. 4, in the heating unit 100, the thermal head 102 included in the heating unit 100 may be merely opposed to one part of the label unit 210 (FIG. 4A), and the two-dimensional or three-dimensional table described above. Thus, the label portion 210 can be scanned vertically and / or horizontally (FIG. 4B). In the case shown in FIG. 4A, by the above irreversible treatment by the heating unit 100, in the label portion 210, specifically, in the light transmission layer 212, in one heat receiving range facing the thermal head 102 of the heating unit 100, An irreversible decrease in transmittance occurs. On the other hand, in the case shown in FIG. 4B, the trajectory that follows the scanning trajectory of the heating unit 100 is the heat receiving range. Therefore, in the light transmission layer 212, the continuous heat receiving range that follows the scanning trajectory of the thermal head 102. , An irreversible decrease in transmittance occurs.

  FIG. 5 shows how the light transmission layer 212 changes when the heating unit 100 moves in one direction. In the movement range of the heating unit 100, the light transmission layer 212 does not receive heat and does not receive heat. The heat-receiving part 212b after receiving heat from the part 212a, the light-transmitting layer 212 in this heat-receiving part 212b causes foaming of the expandable particles to expand the volume of the range, and as described above, becomes cloudy and has the first wavelength. Light transmittance is reduced. Since the non-heat receiving unit 212a does not receive heat, the transmittance of the first wavelength light in the range remains unchanged before receiving the irreversible treatment. In the range corresponding to the heat receiving part 212b in the label part 210, the light transmittance of the light transmission layer 212 of the first wavelength light decreases, so that the optical effect based on the optical function layer 213 cannot be visually recognized or detected, or The visual recognition or detection becomes more difficult. That is, the spectral characteristics in the range corresponding to the heat receiving unit 212b are different before and after the irreversible treatment. In this case, in the heat receiving part 212b that has undergone the irreversible treatment, the transmittance of the first wavelength light is lowered, and typically, the transmittance of light in the visible light region is also lowered.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the function of the reading unit 150 and the label unit 210. As shown in the figure, the reading unit 150 faces the label portion 210 on the cartridge surface of the ink cartridge 200. In this case, the reading unit 150 can always face the label unit 210 as well as the heating unit 100, and can be installed on a two-dimensional table or a three-dimensional table so that it can advance and retreat with respect to the label unit 210. . The reading unit 150 includes an irradiation unit 152 and a light receiving unit 154 so as to face the label unit 210. Under the control of the main control unit 40 (FIG. 1), the light irradiation by the irradiation unit 152 and the light receiving unit 154 are performed. Read by. Irradiation unit 152 includes an infrared LED (light-emitting diode), and a wavelength of 800 nm as a first wavelength when light transmission layer 212 receives an irreversible treatment by heating unit 100 and irreversibly decreases the light absorption rate. Of light (first wavelength light). The light receiving unit 154 is configured as a CCD (charge-coupled device) camera, and receives the reflected light reflected by the label unit 210 from the light irradiated from the irradiation unit 152. In this case, the light receiving unit 154 is configured to receive light in the infrared region including the first wavelength with an optical filter (not shown). FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the label unit 210 and the reading unit 150 before the light transmission layer 212 is subjected to the irreversible treatment. However, if the light transmission layer 212 has been subjected to the irreversible treatment, FIG. The illustrated label unit 210 receives light irradiation and reading by the reading unit 150. As described above, when the transmittance of the first wavelength light is reduced in the heat receiving unit 212b, the reflectance of the light irradiated from the irradiation unit 152 at the label unit 210 is reduced, and the reflection at the reduced reflectance is performed. Light is read by the light receiving unit 154.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the label unit 210 and the reading unit 150 while the label unit 210 is viewed from the front of the optical function layer 213. As shown in the figure, the reading unit 150 irradiates light having the above-described wavelength (first wavelength) from the plurality of irradiation units 152 toward the entire surface of the label unit 210, and receives reflected light from the entire surface of the label unit 210. Receive light at. Therefore, in any case of the irreversible treatment by the heating unit 100 described with reference to FIG. 4, the reading unit 150 displays the reflection state exhibited by the light transmission layer 212 in which the irreversible reduction of the transmittance is caused by this irreversible treatment. Can be read.

  The printer 20 executes the irreversible treatment using the thermal head 102 by the heating unit 100 at the timing when the ink stored in the ink cartridge 200 is used up (irreversible change timing). Specifically, the main control unit 40 obtains the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 200 from the accumulation of processed print jobs, and when the remaining amount becomes an expected ink amount that cannot cover the next print job. Then, a control signal is sent to the heating unit 100. Upon receiving this control signal, the heating unit 100 raises the temperature of the thermal head 102 to the irreversible change temperature (150 ° C.) and radiates the heat to the label unit 210. The time for heat radiation is set to a time sufficient for the light-transmitting layer 212 to receive heat to foam the expandable particles contained therein to cause an irreversible decrease in transmittance. In addition, when scanning the heating unit 100 as shown in FIG. 4B, the heat radiation time is secured while adjusting the scanning speed.

  When the ink cartridge 200 is mounted on the carriage 30, the printer 20 transmits a control signal from the main control unit 40 to the reading unit 150 at that timing (reading timing). In response to this, the reading unit 150 performs light irradiation by the irradiation unit 152 and reflected light reading by the light receiving unit 154 and transmits the reading result to the main control unit 40. Since the main control unit 40 stores in advance the reading status before the irreversible treatment by the heating unit 100, the main control unit 40 is newly attached to the carriage 30 by comparing the reading result of the light receiving unit 154 with the stored reading status. It is possible to specify whether the ink cartridge 200 has not undergone irreversible treatment or has undergone such treatment. Alternatively, as described above, before and after the irreversible treatment, the spectral characteristics peculiar to the optical functional layer 213 are different, so that the ink cartridge 200 newly mounted on the carriage 30 performs the irreversible treatment based on the difference in the spectral characteristics. It is possible to identify whether the product has not been received or has been treated.

  The printing system PS of the present embodiment described above has the following advantages. The ink cartridge 200 of this embodiment includes a label portion 210 on the surface of the casing 202, and the label portion 210 is a laminated portion in which the optical functional layer 213 and the light transmission layer 212 are laminated from the cartridge surface side. The label unit 210 is disposed via the heating unit 100 mounted on the print head unit 60 of the printer 20 at the above-described irreversible change timing with the ink cartridge 200 mounted on the carriage 30 as shown in FIG. Receive irreversible treatment. The light transmission layer 212 of the label unit 210 is heated by the thermal head 102 of the heating unit 100 by receiving this irreversible treatment, and with respect to light having the first wavelength (800 nm) in the heat receiving range (see FIG. 4). Cause an irreversible decrease in the transmittance of the. For this reason, the light transmission layer 212 of the label part 210 differs in the transmittance | permeability with respect to 1st wavelength light (light with a wavelength of 800 nm) in said heat receiving range before and after the irreversible treatment accompanied by heat reception.

  Here, the characteristic change by irreversible treatment is demonstrated. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing spectral characteristics before and after the irreversible treatment performed by the heating unit 100. In obtaining the result of FIG. 8, two ink cartridges 200 each having a label portion 210 formed by laminating the optical functional layer 213 and the light transmission layer 212 in the procedure described above are prepared. Sample A was not subjected to irreversible treatment by the heating unit 100. For the other ink cartridge 200, an irreversible treatment (heating at 150 ° C. for 10 seconds) by the heating unit 100 was performed on the entire region of the light transmission layer 212 to obtain Sample B. The labels 210 of both samples were irradiated with light in the visible light region and near-infrared region, and their spectral characteristics (reflectance) were measured and plotted for each sample. As can be seen from FIG. 8, in both the visible light region and the near-infrared region, sample B (irreversible treatment) had a higher reflectance than sample A (no irreversible treatment). In Sample B, the foamable particles of the light transmission layer 212 foam, and the reflectance of the light transmission layer 212 increases due to the white turbidity of the layer as described above and the accompanying decrease in transmittance. Matches.

  The printer 20 supplies the first wavelength light (light having a wavelength of 800 nm) from the light transmission layer 212 side to the label portion 210 of the ink cartridge 200 at the above-described reading timing when the ink cartridge 200 is mounted on the carriage 30. The light is irradiated from the irradiation unit 152 of the reading unit 150, and the reflection state of the first wavelength light from the light transmission layer 212 is read by the light receiving unit 154 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). If the ink cartridge 200 newly mounted on the carriage 30 is a cartridge that has not been previously mounted on the carriage 30 and has a predetermined amount of ink stored therein, the cartridge is irreversibly treated by the heating unit 100. Not received. Therefore, the reading result of the newly installed ink cartridge 200 by the light receiving unit 154 does not cause an irreversible decrease in transmittance with respect to the first wavelength light (light having a wavelength of 800 nm).

  On the other hand, if the ink cartridge 200 newly mounted on the carriage 30 has been previously subjected to irreversible treatment by the heating unit 100, the reading result by the light receiving section 154 for the newly mounted ink cartridge 200 Reflects the irreversible decrease in transmittance with respect to the first wavelength light (light having a wavelength of 800 nm). That is, the irreversible change in the transmittance of the light transmission layer 212 of the label unit 210 that has undergone irreversible treatment is an electrical data update in the storage element, for example, information for updating data from a value 0 to a value 1 or vice versa. It corresponds to an update. Therefore, according to the ink cartridge 200 of the present embodiment, an irreversible change of the label unit 210 is electrically updated in the storage element, for example, information update for updating the data from the value 0 to the value 1 or vice versa. Therefore, a storage element is not required for updating information. Note that a storage element can be used in combination with the label portion 210.

  Further, according to the printer 20 of the present embodiment, the irreversible change in the transmittance of the light transmission layer 212 in the label unit 210 occurs at the timing when the ink in the ink cartridge 200 is used up. Even if it is erroneously mounted on the carriage 30, it can be recognized by the user by displaying the fact of the erroneous mounting on the display unit 72 of the operation unit 70, and a storage element is not required for such recognition. Note that a storage element can be used in combination with the label portion 210.

  Further, in the printer 20 of the present embodiment, the irreversible treatment is performed at the timing when the ink of the ink cartridge 200 is used up, and the transmittance of the light transmission layer 212 in the label unit 210 is irreversibly lowered through the foaming of foamable particles. Thus, the transmittance of the light transmission layer 212 cannot be returned to the state before the irreversible treatment. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the above-described irreversible treatment is performed on the label unit 210 for the ink cartridge 200 whose authenticity is unknown. This means that the authenticity of the ink cartridge 200 whose authenticity is unknown can be determined. Therefore, the act of peeling off the label part 210 and trying to reuse it can be restrained.

  Next, a modified example will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the label unit 210A as viewed from the front, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship with the heating unit 100 while viewing the label unit 210A in cross section along the line 10-10 in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the label portion 210A is provided between the optical function layer 213 and the light transmission layer 212 laminated on the surface of the housing 202, that is, the surface of the optical function layer 213 on the light transmission layer 212 side (hereinafter referred to as this The light absorption pattern layer 214 is laminated on the back surface). The light absorption pattern layer 214 is formed by forming a one-dimensional code-like pattern as shown in FIG. 9 on the optical function layer 213 with a material to be described later and sandwiching the optical function layer 213 between the light transmission layers 212. Facing each other. In the example shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the pattern of the light absorption pattern layer 214 is a one-dimensional code, but it may be a two-dimensional code-like pattern or other patterns such as characters, symbols, patterns, and figures. You can also. If the pattern of the light absorption pattern layer 214 is made different according to information unique to the ink cartridge 200, for example, the ink color, the ink color can be specified from the pattern reading result when the cartridge is mounted.

  The light absorption pattern layer 214 absorbs the first wavelength light described above. Specifically, the absorptance at the first wavelength of the light absorption pattern layer 214 includes the absorptance at the first wavelength of the light transmission layer 212 and the absorptivity at the first wavelength of the optical function layer 213 immediately after the manufacture of the label portion 210A. Bigger compared. The absorption rate of the light absorption pattern layer 214 with respect to the first wavelength light is, for example, 50% or more, and typically 80% or more.

  When the first wavelength is in the near infrared region, the light absorption pattern layer 214 contains, for example, a near infrared absorber and a resin. As this resin, what is generally used in process ink can be used, for example. Here, the “near infrared region” means a wavelength region of 700 nm to 1500 nm.

  The near-infrared absorber used here typically has a different absorption spectrum in the near-infrared region from the near-infrared absorber used in the optical functional layer 213. For example, the near-infrared absorber used here has a higher absorption rate with respect to the first wavelength light than the near-infrared absorber used in the optical function layer 213. As this near-infrared absorbing agent, for example, carbon black used in process black ink can be used. Or you may use the compound illustrated as a near-infrared absorber of the optical function layer 213 as this near-infrared absorber.

  It is preferable that the light absorption pattern layer 214 has the same color as the optical function layer 213 or a light color as long as it exhibits a sufficient absorptance with respect to the first wavelength light. This makes it difficult to understand the presence of the light absorption pattern layer 214 when the label portion 210A is observed with the naked eye.

  The light absorption pattern layer 214 is desirably distributed in a pattern over almost the entire region corresponding to the light transmission layer 212. This can make it difficult to analyze the spectral characteristics of the optical functional layer 213.

  The light absorption pattern layer 214 is formed by, for example, a printing method. Examples of the printing method include an offset printing method, a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, and a flexographic printing method. Alternatively, the light absorption pattern layer 214 may be formed using a thermal transfer ribbon. That is, the ink cartridge 200 in which the optical function layer 213 has been formed is subjected to the above printing method, and the light absorption pattern layer 214 is formed on the surface of the optical function layer 213 using the ink B having the following composition. The thickness of the light absorption pattern layer 214 is, for example, in the range of 0.5 to 10 μm, and typically in the range of 0.5 to 2 μm.

[Composition of ink B]
FD Carton ACE Sumiro (manufactured by Toyo Ink);

  After the light absorption pattern layer 214 is formed in this way, in the label portion 210A of this modification, the light transmission layer 212 is formed by sandwiching the light absorption pattern layer 214 between the optical function layer 213 and the printing method described above. Etc. Thereby, the ink cartridge 200 having the label portion 210A shown in FIGS. 9 to 10 can be obtained. Even in the label portion 210A of this modified example, as shown in FIG. 10, the light transmission layer 212 is set to the incident side of the first wavelength light, and the irreversible treatment described above is performed by the heating unit 100. Become.

  Before the irreversible treatment, when the first wavelength light is irradiated from the light transmission layer 212 side to the label portion 210A of the modified example, the first wavelength light is transmitted through the light transmission layer 212. Therefore, in this case, the modified label portion 210 </ b> A exhibits a pattern image corresponding to the pattern of the light absorption pattern layer 214 and spectral characteristics peculiar to the optical function layer 213. This spectral characteristic is specific to the specific configuration of the modified label portion 210A. Specifically, the spectral characteristic reflects the result of the absorption of the first wavelength light in the pattern image of the light absorption pattern layer 214. Therefore, by measuring this spectral characteristic, Information assigned to the formation pattern, for example, the ink color can be specified. This specification can be performed by irradiating the first wavelength light by the reading unit 150 and reading the reflected light when the ink cartridge 200 is mounted. The pattern image of the light absorption pattern layer 214 can be recognized with the naked eye.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 5, and is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a change in the light transmission layer 212 when the heating unit 100 performs irreversible treatment by scanning the label portion 210 </ b> A of the modified example in one direction. It is. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view schematically showing the state of change of the light transmission layer 212 through the irreversible treatment of this one-way scanning from the front view side. As shown in the figure, the light transmission layer 212 is subjected to irreversible treatment in the range of the heat receiving part 212b corresponding to the heat receiving range following the scanning trajectory of the heating unit 100. In this heat receiving part 212b, foaming of the expandable particles is performed. Is caused to expand the volume of the range and become cloudy as described above, irreversibly reducing the transmittance of the first wavelength light. On the other hand, in the non-heat receiving part 212a that has not received heat, the transmittance remains before the irreversible treatment. The transmittance for the first wavelength light is different between the portion corresponding to the heat receiving portion 212b in the label portion 210A and the non-heat receiving portion 212a that has not undergone irreversible treatment. That is, the portion of the label portion 210A corresponding to the heat receiving portion 212b prevents the irradiated first wavelength light from being transmitted to the light absorption pattern layer 214 and the optical function layer 213 side. Therefore, in this part, the spectral characteristics peculiar to the pattern images of the optical functional layer 213 and the light absorption pattern layer 214 are when the first wavelength light is irradiated and read by the reading unit 150 and when observed with the naked eye. Both of which are not visible or detectable, or are more difficult to visually recognize or detect.

  When the irreversible label portion 210A shown in FIG. 11 is read by the reading unit 150 or visually observed, the light absorption located on the housing 202 side from the light transmission layer 212 in the portion corresponding to the heat receiving portion 212b. Spectral characteristics resulting from the pattern image of the pattern layer 214 and the optical functional layer 213 are difficult to detect or visually recognize, and the pattern of the one-dimensional code of the light absorption pattern layer 214 cannot be read accurately. However, when the label unit 210A before the irreversible treatment shown in FIG. 10 is read by the reading unit 150 or visually observed, the one-dimensional code can be accurately read by both. That is, even in the label portion 210A of the modified example, when the first wavelength light is irradiated, different spectral characteristics are exhibited before and after the irreversible treatment described above, so that the difference in the spectral characteristics is detected. Thus, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

  For the label portion 210 </ b> A shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, an ink D having the following composition may be used instead of the ink A described above for forming the optical functional layer 213. The film thickness and the like are as described above.

[Composition of ink D]
Organic blue pigment (manufactured by Mikuni Color Co., Ltd.) 5 parts by mass;
Organic red pigment (manufactured by Gokoku Color Co., Ltd.) 7 parts by mass;
Organic yellow pigment (manufactured by Gokoku Color Co., Ltd.) 8 parts by mass;
Infrared absorber (YKR-3081: manufactured by Yamamoto Kasei Co., Ltd.) 5 parts by mass;
Medium for UV curable offset ink (FD Carton ACE Medium B: Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) 75 parts by mass;

  Since the optical functional layer 213 formed of the ink D includes an infrared absorber that absorbs light (hereinafter, second wavelength light) having a wavelength (second wavelength) different from the first wavelength, the second wavelength. Absorbs light. A machine reading test was performed by the reading unit 150 on the label portion 210A having the optical functional layer 213 formed of the ink D. As a result, in the label part 210A before the irreversible treatment, when the reflected light was read by irradiating the light transmission layer 212 with the first wavelength light, the pattern image of the light absorption pattern layer 214, that is, the barcode could be read. . However, when the reflected light is read by irradiating the second wavelength light to the label part 210A before the irreversible treatment, light absorption is caused by the presence of the optical functional layer 213 having the property of absorbing the second wavelength light. The contrast between the pattern layer 214 and the optical function layer 213 was lowered, and the barcode could not be read. On the other hand, in the label portion 210A after the irreversible treatment, the barcode as the pattern image of the light absorption pattern layer 214 could not be read for both the first wavelength light and the second wavelength light.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a label portion 210B of another modified example in a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. As shown in the figure, in the label portion 210B of this modification, a light absorption pattern layer 214 is formed on the surface of the housing 202, and an optical function layer 213 and a light transmission layer 212 are laminated on the light absorption pattern layer 214. Except for this, it has the same configuration as the label portion 210A described with reference to FIGS.

  Even in the label part 210B shown in FIG. 13, when irradiated with the first wavelength light, different spectral characteristics are exhibited before and after the irreversible treatment described above. Therefore, by detecting this difference in spectral characteristics, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a label portion 210C of another modified example in a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. As shown in the drawing, the label portion 210C of this modification is the label portion described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11 except that the light absorption pattern layer 214 is formed to overlap the light transmission layer 212. It has the same configuration as 210A.

  Even in the label portion 210C shown in FIG. 14, when irradiated with the first wavelength light, different spectral characteristics are exhibited before and after the irreversible treatment described above. Therefore, by detecting this difference in spectral characteristics, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory view schematically showing another form of label portion formation. In this embodiment, an adhesive layer 230 is formed on the label portion 210 shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, and the label portion 210 is attached to the surface of the housing 202 with the adhesive layer 230. In forming the adhesive layer 230, for example, a printing substrate made of paper, plastic, wood, glass, or resin is prepared, and the optical functional layer 213 and the light transmission layer 212 are printed and formed in this order on one surface. Then, an adhesive layer 230 is formed on the other surface of the printing substrate by applying an adhesive or the like, and the label portion 210 is bonded to the surface of the housing 202 via the adhesive layer 230. Even if it does in this way, there can exist the effect mentioned above. In this case, if the label unit 210 that has been subjected to the irreversible treatment by the heating unit 100 is peeled off from the ink cartridge 200 and reattached to another ink cartridge 200, the reading is performed when the other ink cartridge 200 is mounted on the carriage 30. By reading the unit 150 as described above, the other ink cartridge 200 can display on the display unit 72 of the operation unit 70, for example, that an ink cartridge that has been used up for ink has been accidentally mounted. The modified label portion 210 </ b> A and the like can also be formed in the ink cartridge 200 using the adhesive layer 230.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, this invention is not restricted to above-described embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, it is possible to implement in various aspects. For example, the label portion 210, the label portion 210A, and the like can be covered with a light-transmitting thin film-like or thin-leaf-like protective layer that transmits light of almost the entire wavelength.

  In the above embodiment, the heating unit 100 having the thermal head 102 is used for the irreversible treatment performed on the label part 210, the label part 210A, etc., but the light transmission layer 212 is heated using a metal heater. The light transmission layer 212 can be irradiated with laser light, microwaves, or the like to generate heat, and the heat of the light transmission layer 212 can be irreversibly increased by receiving the heat.

  In the above embodiment, foaming of the expandable particles included in the light transmission layer 212 is caused by heat, and this is based on the properties of the expandable particles included in the light transmission layer 212. Therefore, for example, if the foaming particles that expand when exposed to light such as ultraviolet rays are included in the light transmission layer 212 in an unfoamed state, the irreversible treatment described above irradiates the light transmission layer 212 with light. It becomes treatment to do. In addition, if the expandable particles are foamed when subjected to pressure, and expandable particles that expand when subjected to a magnetic force, the light transmission layer 212 containing these particles can be subjected to irreversible treatment such as pressure application or magnetic force application. Thus, the irreversible light transmittance of the light transmitting layer 212 described above can be lowered.

PS ... Printing system 20 ... Printer 21 ... Sub-scan feed mechanism 22 ... Paper feed motor 26 ... Paper feed roller 27 ... Main scan feed mechanism 30 ... Carriage 32 ... Carriage motor 34 ... Slide shaft 36 ... Drive belt 38 ... Pulley 40 ... Main control unit 60 ... print head unit 70 ... operation unit 72 ... display unit 80 ... connector 90 ... computer 100 ... heating unit 102 ... thermal head 150 ... reading unit 152 ... irradiation unit 154 ... light receiving unit 200 ... ink cartridge 201 ... ink storage Part 202 ... Case 210, 210A to 210C ... Label part 212 ... Light transmitting layer 212a ... Non-heat receiving part 212b ... Heat receiving part 213 ... Optical function layer 214 ... Light absorption pattern layer 230 ... Adhesive layer PA ... Paper

Claims (9)

A cartridge containing a printing material used for printing,
An optical functional layer that transmits light of a predetermined wavelength on the cartridge surface, and a light transmissive layer that includes the foaming material in an unfoamed state and transmits the light of the wavelength, and the optical functional layer is on the cartridge surface. Laminated to be on the side,
The light transmissive layer has a property of irreversibly changing a light transmission state of the wavelength through foaming of the foamable material.   2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein when the light transmission layer receives heat at a temperature at which foaming of the foamable material occurs, the foamable material is foamed by the heat reception.   The light absorption pattern layer which formed the pattern of the shape which occupies a part of said optical function layer with the material which absorbs the light of the said wavelength in the surface of either of the front and back of the said optical function layer is provided. 2. The cartridge according to 2.   The wavelength is in the near infrared region, the transmittance of the optical function layer at the wavelength is 30% or more, and the optical function layer has a wavelength range of 700 to 800 nm in the near infrared region, and a near infrared region. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a difference in transmittance of any wavelength is 10% or more in a wavelength range of 800 to 1500 nm.   The cartridge according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the pattern of the light absorption pattern layer and the optical function layer have the same color.   The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the optical functional layer and the light transmission layer are directly formed on the surface of the cartridge or bonded to the surface of the cartridge. A cartridge containing a printing material used for printing,
An optical functional layer that transmits light of a predetermined wavelength and an irreversible state of transmission of light of the wavelength through the foamed material after transmitting the light of the wavelength after containing the foamable material in an unfoamed state And a light transmission layer having a property to change automatically,
The light transmission layer is a cartridge positioned on a light incident side of the wavelength. A printing device,
The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is mountable,
A printing apparatus comprising an irreversible treatment unit that performs an irreversible treatment of foaming the foamable material so that the light transmission state of the light of the wavelength of the light transmissive layer changes irreversibly. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
A reading unit that irradiates the light transmission layer with light of the wavelength and reads the reflection state;
The printing apparatus which has a contrast part which contrasts the state of the reflection which the said reading part read before and after the said irreversible treatment.

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