JP2013071401A - Cartridge and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new method capable of coping with erroneous loading of a cartridge.SOLUTION: An ink cartridge 200 includes a label 210 in one circumferential wall surface of a housing 202 forming an ink receiving unit. The label 210 has a stacking structure in which a plurality of layers having different properties are stacked and includes an optical function layer 213 transmitting light having a prescribed wavelength (first wavelength light), a light reflection layer 212 reflecting the first wavelength light, and a scratch layer 218 interposed between the optical function layer 213 and the light reflection layer 212 so that the light reflection layer 212 may be on the surface side of the cartridge. When at least a portion of the scratch layer 218 is scratched by a scratch unit 100, the scratch layer 218 is peeled from the surface side of the cartridge together with at least a portion of the optical function layer 213 and the reflected light of the wavelength light is irreversibly changed.

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, and further the storage element of the cartridge and the recording Electrical wiring for enabling communication with the control circuit unit 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 part of the above object, the present invention adopts the following configuration.

[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 surface of the cartridge, a light reflective layer that faces the optical functional layer and reflects the light of the wavelength, and is interposed between the light reflective layer and the optical functional layer A scratch layer, and the light reflection layer is provided so as to be on the cartridge surface side,
The gist of the invention is that the scratch layer is configured to peel from the cartridge surface side with at least a part of the optical function layer when an external force is applied to at least a part of the scratch layer.

  The cartridge having the above-described configuration can update information as described below with the optical functional layer, the scratch layer, and the light reflecting layer that are stacked on the surface of the cartridge. Hereinafter, the optical function layer, the light reflection layer, and the scratch layer that are stacked on the surface of the cartridge as described above will be referred to as a stacked portion for convenience of description, and information update in the cartridge having the above configuration will be described.

  When an external force is applied to a part of the scratch layer and the part is damaged, the laminated part reflects light of the predetermined wavelength (hereinafter referred to as “first wavelength light”) in the damaged range. The rate changes. For this reason, a laminated part shall differ in the range of damage. Specifically, when the first wavelength light is irradiated on the laminated portion from the optical functional layer side, the state of reflection of the first wavelength light from the light reflecting layer depends on the damage of the scratch layer and the optical functional layer. The spectral characteristics when the first wavelength light is irradiated are different before and after the damage. That is, the laminated portion changes before and after damage, and the change is irreversible because mechanical damage of the scratch 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 provided on the cartridge surface. In this case, for example, if an irreversible change in the stacking part occurs in a cartridge in which the printing material has been used up, even if these cartridges are installed incorrectly, the user is made aware that the cartridge has been installed incorrectly. Is possible. In addition, the irreversible change which damages a part of scratch layer mentioned above is equivalent to changing the reflectance with respect to 1st wavelength light irreversibly. In addition, it is not necessary to use a storage element when updating information in the stacked portion on the cartridge surface, but it is also possible to use a storage element in combination.

  Further, as described above, if an irreversible change in the stacking portion occurs in a cartridge or the like in which the printing material has been used up, the cartridge having the stacking portion that has been irreversibly changed can be visually recognized. The user can easily recognize that the cartridge has been used up for the printing material.

  In addition, the cartridge described above can be configured as follows. For example, the wavelength may be in the infrared region, and the optical function layer may be a black layer. In this case, “black” means that the reflectance is 10% or less for all light components having a wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 700 nm when the intensity of specular reflection light is measured. . For example, when the entire surface of the light reflecting layer is covered with a black optical functional layer, the light reflecting layer below the black optical functional layer can be concealed.

  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% in the infrared region. 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.

  The scratch layer includes a resin and a filler dispersed therein, and can be configured to reflect or scatter light having the wavelength. Thereby, the layer can be preferentially damaged by making the mechanical strength of the scratch layer smaller than other layers.

  It is possible to adopt a configuration in which a light absorption pattern layer in which a pattern occupying a part of the optical function layer is formed on either of the front and back surfaces of the optical function layer with a material that absorbs light of the wavelength. . In this case, if the light absorption pattern and the optical function layer have the same color, it is difficult to observe the pattern formed by the light absorption pattern with the naked eye, or observation is extremely difficult. For example, when the light absorption pattern is provided in the form of a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code, the code cannot be observed.

  In addition, the laminated portion in which the optical functional layer, the light reflecting layer, and the scratch layer are laminated as described above can be directly formed on the surface of the housing or bonded to the surface of the housing.

[Application 2: Label for cartridge]
A cartridge label attached to a cartridge containing a printing material used for printing,
An optical function layer that transmits light of a predetermined wavelength; a light reflection layer that faces the optical function layer and reflects light of the wavelength; and a scratch layer interposed between the light reflection layer and the optical function layer Stacked and prepared
The scratch layer is configured to peel from the cartridge surface side with at least a part of the optical function layer when an external force is applied to at least a part of the scratch layer,
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,
A pattern indicating information about the cartridge is formed by the light absorption pattern layer.
This is the gist.

  The pattern formed by the light absorption pattern layer can be read by irradiating light of a predetermined wavelength and regarding the reflection state, and information on the cartridge can be acquired.

[Application 3: Printing device]
A printing device,
Any of the cartridges described above can be installed,
The gist of the present invention is to include an irreversible treatment unit that applies an external force to at least a part of the scratch layer to perform an irreversible treatment for peeling the scratch layer from the cartridge surface side with at least a part of the optical function layer.

  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 damages a part of the laminated portion, the printing apparatus having the above configuration can cause the irreversible change of the laminated portion through the irreversible treatment.

  In addition, the printing apparatus described above can be configured as follows. For example, the reflection state read by irradiating the optical function layer with the light of the wavelength is compared, and the reflection state read by the reading unit before and after the irreversible treatment is compared. 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 the ink cartridge 200 and the scratch unit 100. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between the label unit 210 and the scratch unit 100 while viewing the label unit 210 from the optical functional layer 213 side. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the mode of the change of the surface of the label part 210 when the scratch unit 100 moves with respect to the label part 210. FIG. 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 label part 210A of a 1st modification in front view. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a read image obtained by reading a label unit 210A before irreversible treatment with a reading unit 150. FIG. FIG. 6 is an equivalent diagram of FIG. 5, and is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a change in the surface of the label unit 210 </ b> A when the scratch unit 100 moves relative to the label unit 210 </ b> A. It is explanatory drawing which shows front view after the irreversible treatment of the label part 210A. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the pattern image based on the reading result by the light-receiving part 154 after an irreversible treatment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the label part 210B of a 2nd modification in front view. It is sectional drawing in alignment with line 15-15 in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other form of a label part typically.

  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 scratch unit 100 and a reading unit 150. The scratch unit 100 scratches a part of a surface of a label unit 210 described later included in the ink cartridge 200 or damages a part of the label unit 210 by peeling. The reading unit 150 performs light irradiation on the label unit 210 and reading of the reflected light. The peeling and reading with respect to 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 scratch unit 100.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the label portion 210 is formed on the surface of one peripheral wall of the housing 202 that forms the ink containing portion 201 in the ink cartridge 200. The label unit 210 has a laminated structure in which a plurality of layers having different properties are laminated, and transmits light having a certain wavelength (hereinafter, this wavelength is referred to as a first wavelength, and the light is referred to as a first wavelength light). The optical function layer 213, the light reflection layer 212 that reflects the first wavelength light, and the scratch layer 218 that is interposed between the optical function layer 213 and the light reflection layer 212 are provided. The surface side.

  The light reflecting layer 212 has a function to be supported on the surface of the housing 202, a function to reflect or scatter the first wavelength light, and an irreversible treatment described later, that is, to facilitate the peeling of the scratch layer 218 by mechanical external force. It is a layer having the mechanism of The light reflecting layer 212 having such properties can be realized, for example, by including a hard resin and a lubricant. The hard resin is, for example, a cured product of an ultraviolet or electron beam curable acrylic resin. For example, silicone can be used as the lubricant. That is, the light reflecting layer 212 is obtained by forming a coating film made of a composition containing ultraviolet or electron beam curable resin and a lubricant and irradiating the coating film with ultraviolet or electron beam. This coating film is formed by, for example, a coating method or 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 light reflection layer 212 is, for example, in the range of 1 to 10 μm, and typically in the range of 2 to 5 μm.

  After the label portion 210 is formed on the ink cartridge 200, the reflectance of the light reflection layer 212 with respect to the first wavelength light is, for example, in the range of 60 to 90%, and typically in the range of 70 to 80%. is there. Here, as an example, the first wavelength is in the near infrared region. Here, the “near infrared region” means a wavelength region of 700 to 1500 nm.

  In order to form the light reflecting layer 212 on the surface of the housing 202, the ink cartridge 200 is set in a printing apparatus of the above-described printing method, and the surface of the housing 202 is rectangular with a predetermined size and shape by screen printing. In this region, as a transparent varnish, the ink A having the following composition was adjusted to have a dry film thickness of 3 μm. By drying this coating film, the light reflecting layer 212 can be printed on the surface of the housing 202.

[Composition of Ink A]
Acrylic polyol (copolymer of methyl temaacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) 25 parts by weight Nitrocellulose 5 parts by weight Xylene diisocyanate 5 parts by weight Toluene 35 parts by weight Methyl ethyl ketone 30 parts by weight

  The scratch layer 218 is a layer for facilitating peeling from the light reflecting layer 212 when receiving an external force such as scratching the front surface of the label part 210, and reflects the first wavelength light by the light reflecting layer 212. Alternatively, in order to scatter, the first wavelength is transparent or semi-transparent to light. The scratch layer 218 having such properties can be formed from, for example, a resin or metal powder. Examples of this resin include rubber-based natural resins such as natural rubber derivatives such as natural rubber and hydrochloric acid rubber, polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, acrylic resin, chloride resin, and the like. Vinyl resin or vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer can be used.

The thickness of the scratch layer 218 is, for example, in the range of 3 to 30 μm, and typically in the range of 5 to 20 μm.
The scratch layer 218 is formed by, for example, a coating method or 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. For example, the scratch layer 218 can be obtained by applying a mixture of silver powder and resin as a silver ink by a screen printing method so that the dry film thickness is 3 μm, and drying the coating film.

  Note that the scratch layer 218 may have an optical characteristic similar to that of the light reflection layer 212, that is, a role as a light reflection layer or a light scattering layer. In this case, the reflectance at the first wavelength of the light reflection layer 212 is, for example, in the range of 60 to 90%, and typically 70 to 80%. The scratch layer 218 may further contain a filler in the scratch layer 218. As the filler, a filler made of a metallic material, a filler made of a nonmetallic material, or a combination thereof can be used. As the filler made of a metal material, for example, metal powder such as aluminum powder and copper powder, alloy powder such as brass powder, or a combination thereof can be used. As a powder made of a non-metallic material, for example, a powder made of calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, alumina, titanium dioxide, silica, barium sulfate, talc, kaolin, clay, carbon black, or resin, or a mixture thereof should be used. Can do. The filler contained in the scratch layer 218 may be a white pigment or a colored pigment. Further, the scratch layer 218 may contain a dye.

  The scratch layer 218 is preferably one that can be easily removed when a certain level of force is applied. However, it is not preferable that the scratch layer 218 is damaged in a normal storage environment or during handling. Therefore, a scratch protection layer (not shown) may be formed on the scratch layer 23. The scratch protection layer is made of resin, for example. Examples of the resin include phenol resin, xylene resin, urea resin, melamine resin, ketone resin, alkyd resin, polyamide resin, acrylic resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, Polyvinyl alcohol resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, polystyrene resin, epoxy resin, or polyurethane resin can be used. The scratch protective layer can be obtained, for example, by applying the resin solution and drying the coating film.

  The optical function layer formed over the scratch layer 218 transmits light of the first wavelength. The transmittance of the optical function layer 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 functional layer 213 is typically colored. When the optical functional layer 213 is colored, particularly when the optical functional layer 213 is colored black, it is scratched only by observing the label part 210 with the naked eye from the front side (that is, the optical functional layer 213 side). Even if there is a pattern of the layer 218 or the light reflecting layer 212, it is impossible or difficult to perceive it. Here, as an example, the optical functional layer 213 is assumed to be black.

  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. In the wavelength range of 800 to 1500 nm, one having a transmittance difference of any wavelength of 10% or more can be used. 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 optical 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 optical characteristics described above, that is, optical characteristics of selectively transmitting light in a part of the wavelength region out of light in the near infrared region and absorbing the remaining light, For example, a predetermined near infrared absorber and a resin are included. As this near-infrared absorber, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of a phthalocyanine compound, a naphthalocyanine compound, an anthraquinone compound, a diimonium compound, and a cyanine compound can be used. Moreover, as resin, what is generally used in process ink can be used, for example.

  Even in the optical function layer 213, similarly to the light reflection layer 212, the optical function layer 213 is formed by a printing method such as an offset printing method, a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, or a flexographic printing method. The thickness of the optical functional 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 in which the light reflecting layer 212 is formed is set in an offset printing machine, and the ink B or the composition of the following composition is overlapped with the formed light reflecting layer 212. Ink C was printed, and the dry film thickness was 1 μm. Thereafter, the optical functional layer 213 was formed on the light reflecting layer 212 by irradiating the coating film with ultraviolet rays. When the label part 210 in which the optical function layer 213 was laminated on the light reflection layer 212 in this way was observed with the naked eye from the surface side of the housing 202, the whole looked black.

[Composition of ink B]
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);

[Composition of ink C]
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;

  As shown in FIG. 3, the scratch unit 100 faces the label portion 210 on the housing surface of the ink cartridge 200. In this case, the scratch unit 100 can be always opposed to the label unit 210 of the ink cartridge 200, and the scratch unit 100 can be installed on, for example, a two-dimensional table or a three-dimensional table so that the label unit 210 can be advanced and retracted. You can also. The scratch unit 100 includes a support body 101 having a recovery unit 101a and a hook-like tool 102 protruding from the support body 101 so as to face the label unit 210, and receives control from the main control unit 40 (FIG. 1). While moving the scratch unit 100 toward the surface of the label part 210, it moves along the surface. In this movement, the tip of the hook-like tool 102 reaches the scratch layer 218 and is scratched in the right direction of the drawing by the tip of the hook-like tool 102. In other words, the scratch unit 100 performs an irreversible treatment to scratch a part of the surface of the optical function layer 213 at the control timing from the main control unit 40. The light reflecting layer 212 receives this irreversible treatment, and displays the difference in the image depending on the first wavelength light according to the presence or absence of the optical function layer 213.

  4 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the label unit 210 and the scratch unit 100 while the label unit 210 is viewed from the front of the optical functional layer 213, and FIG. 5 is a diagram when the scratch unit 100 is moved with respect to the label unit 210. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the change of the light reflection layer 212 roughly. As shown in FIG. 4, the scratch unit 100 may be configured such that the saddle-like tool 102 included in the scratch unit 100 is simply opposed to one portion of the label portion 210 (FIG. 4A). The table can be scanned in the vertical and horizontal directions or in one direction with respect to the label portion 210 by using the L-shaped bowl-shaped tool 102A (FIG. 4B). In the case shown in FIG. 4 (A), the optical characteristics of a part of the label unit 210 are within a range where the surface of the label unit 210 is scratched by the hook 102 by the irreversible treatment by the scratch unit 100. Make a change. On the other hand, in the case shown in FIG. 4B, since the locus following the scanning locus of the scratch unit 100 is the scratched range of the label portion 210, a change in the optical characteristics of a part of the label portion 210 is caused. Arise. FIG. 5 shows a change in the surface of the label unit 210 when the scratch unit 100 moves in one direction. In the movement range of the scratch unit 100, some layers including the optical functional layer 213 are peeled off. While being done, the peeled piece is collected in the collection unit 101a.

  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 housing surface of the ink cartridge 200. In this case, the reading unit 150 can always face the label unit 210 as well as the scratch 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. The irradiation unit 152 includes an infrared LED (light-emitting diode) and irradiates light having a wavelength of 800 nm (first wavelength light) as the first wavelength. The light receiving unit 154 is configured as a CCD (charge-coupled device) camera, and receives the reflected light reflected by the light reflecting layer 212 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. 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 of the 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 as a light receiving unit 154. Receive light at. Therefore, even if the irreversible treatment by the scratch unit 100 in any case described with reference to FIG. 4, the reading unit 150 reads the reflection state of the label unit 210 by this irreversible treatment, that is, peeling of the surface of the label unit 210. Can do.

  The printer 20 executes the irreversible treatment using the scissors 102 by the scratch 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 scratch unit 100. In response to this control signal, the scratch unit 100 moves the hook 102 as described above, and peels off a part of the surface of the label unit 210.

  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 scratch 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.

  The printing system PS of the present embodiment described above has the following advantages. The ink cartridge 200 of the present embodiment includes a label portion 210 on the surface of the housing 202, and the label portion 210 is laminated from the housing surface side by laminating a light reflection layer 212, a scratch layer 218, and an optical functional layer 213. Part. The label unit 210 is disposed via the scratch unit 100 already mounted on the print head unit 60 of the printer 20 at the irreversible change timing in a state where the ink cartridge 200 is mounted on the carriage 30 as shown in FIG. Receive irreversible treatment. A part of the surface of the label unit 210 is scratched by the hook 102 of the scratch unit 100 by receiving this irreversible treatment. The label unit 210 has different patterns with different reflected light with respect to the first wavelength light (light having a wavelength of 800 nm) before and after the irreversible treatment.

  On the other hand, the printer 20 receives the first wavelength light (light having a wavelength of 800 nm) from the optical functional layer 213 side to the label portion 210 of the ink cartridge 200 at the reading timing as the ink cartridge 200 is mounted on the carriage 30. ) Is irradiated from the irradiation unit 152 of the reading unit 150, and the reflection state of the first wavelength light from the optical function layer 213 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 scratch unit 100. Not received. Therefore, the reading result of the newly installed ink cartridge 200 by the light receiving unit 154 does not cause damage to the surface of the label unit 210 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 subjected to irreversible treatment by the scratch unit 100 before that, the reading result by the light receiving unit 154 for the newly mounted ink cartridge 200 Reflects the scratching or peeling of the surface of the label part 210 with respect to the first wavelength light (light having a wavelength of 800 nm). That is, scratching or peeling of the surface of the label unit 210 that has undergone irreversible treatment corresponds to an electrical data update in the storage element, for example, an information update that updates data from a value 0 to a value 1 or vice versa. 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 surface of the label unit 210 is scratched or peeled off at the timing when the ink of the ink cartridge 200 is used up. Even if it is attached to the user, it can be recognized by the user, for example, by displaying on the display unit 72 of the operation unit 70 the fact of the erroneous attachment, and a memory element is not required for such recognition. Note that a storage element can be used in combination with the label portion 210.

  Next, a first modification will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the label portion 210A of the first modification as seen from the front, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the label portion 210A of this modification is formed by laminating a light reflection layer 212, a scratch layer 218, and an optical functional layer 213 on the surface of the casing 202 of the ink cartridge 200, and then, on the optical functional layer 213. A light absorption pattern layer 214 is laminated. The light absorption pattern layer 214 is formed by forming a one-dimensional code pattern as shown in FIG. 8 on the optical function layer 213 with a material described later, and faces the light reflection layer 212 with the optical function layer 213 interposed therebetween. Yes. In the example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pattern of the light absorption pattern layer 214 is a one-dimensional code, but it may be a two-dimensional code 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 is compared with the absorptance at the first wavelength of the light reflecting layer 212, the scratch layer 218, and the optical function layer 213 immediately after the manufacture of the label portion 210A. Greater than. The absorption rate of the light absorption pattern layer 214 with respect to the first wavelength light is, for example, 70% 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.

  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.

  It is desirable that the light absorption pattern layer 214 is distributed over almost the entire region corresponding to the light reflection 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 light reflecting layer 212, the scratch layer 218, and the optical function layer 213 are already formed is subjected to the printing method described above to form the light absorption pattern layer 214 on the surface of the optical function layer 213. The thickness of the light absorption pattern layer 214 is, for example, in the range of 0.5 to 5 μm, and typically in the range of 0.5 to 2 μm.

  The irreversible treatment by the scratch unit 100 and the reading result by the reading unit 150 for the ink cartridge 200 having the label portion 210A described above will be described. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a read image obtained by reading the label unit 210A before the irreversible treatment with the reading unit 150 as shown in FIGS.

  When the label portion 210A is formed with the naked eye from the front surface in a state where the label portion 210A is formed on the ink cartridge 200 containing a predetermined full amount of ink, for example, the whole portion looks black (see FIG. 8). On the other hand, if the reflected light is read by the light receiving unit 154 while irradiating the first wavelength light by the irradiation unit 152 of the reading unit 150 as shown in FIGS. The reading result corresponds to the pattern image P1 in which the area corresponding to the pattern formed by the absorption pattern layer 214 is black and the area corresponding to the other part of the label portion 210A is white. The main controller 40 that receives the reading result recognizes the pattern image P1 as an image. In this case, if light having a second wavelength in the infrared region different from the first wavelength light is emitted from the irradiation unit 152, the reading result of the light receiving unit 154 is, for example, an image that is entirely black or a lower pattern image P1. The read result is displayed with the contrast ratio.

  When the ink cartridge 200 provided with the label unit 210A is used up by the printer 20 and the label unit 210A is subjected to the irreversible treatment by the scratch unit 100 described above, the following occurs. FIG. 11 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 5, and is an explanatory view schematically showing a change state in which a part of the surface of the label unit 210 is peeled off when the scratch unit 100 moves with respect to the label unit 210 </ b> A. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a pattern image based on a reading result by the light receiving unit 154 after irreversible treatment. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), when the irreversible treatment is executed in a state where the scratch unit 100 is opposed to the label portion 210A, a gray pattern image P2 is generated in the range in which the scratch unit 100 moves, This overlaps the pattern image P1 (see FIG. 12). The light receiving unit 154 transmits a reading result corresponding to the pattern image P1 in which the new gray pattern image P2 is overlapped to the main control unit 40, and the main control unit 40 receives the pattern image P1 in which the new pattern image P2 is overlapped. recognize. Such a read result of the pattern image P1 is obtained for the following reason.

  In the label unit 210A that has been subjected to the irreversible treatment by the scratch unit 100, the first wavelength light irradiated from the irradiation unit 152 from the optical functional layer 213 side has different patterns in the damaged range. That is, in the ink cartridge 200 having the label portion 210A, only the pattern image P1 is obtained before the irreversible treatment by the scratch unit 100, whereas after the treatment, the pattern image P1 in which the new gray pattern image P2 is overlapped. It becomes. As a result, according to the ink cartridge 200 having the label portion 210A of the above-described modified example, it can be recognized more remarkably by the shape change to the pattern images P1 and P2 due to irreversible damage.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing the label portion 210B of the second modification as viewed from the front, and FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 in FIG. As shown in the figure, in the label portion 210B of this modification, a light reflection layer 212 and an optical function layer 213 are laminated on the surface of the casing 202 of the ink cartridge 200 from the surface side. When viewed with the naked eye from the optical functional layer 213 side, the label portion 210B displays a black image as a whole due to the properties of the optical functional layer 213 described above. When the label unit 210B of the ink cartridge 200 is read by the light receiving unit 154 while irradiating the first wavelength light from the irradiation unit 152 of the reading unit 150 as shown in FIG. In the read image, the area where the light absorption pattern layer 214 is arranged is black, and the other areas are white. That is, the ink cartridge 200 having the label portion 210B displays an image different from the image displayed by the label portion 210B when observed with the naked eye.

  When the label portion 210B is irreversibly treated at the above-described irreversible change timing, at least a part of the surface of the label portion 210, that is, the region including the optical function layer 213 and the light absorption pattern layer 214 is removed from the scratch unit 100. Different image patterns can be obtained by damaging the tool 102.

  FIG. 16 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. 8 to 9, 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 a light reflecting layer 212, a scratch layer 218, and an optical functional layer 213 are printed on the surface in this order. To do. 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 scratch 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 the ink cartridge that has been used up by ink is erroneously mounted.

  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.

  In the above-described embodiment, the scratch unit 100 that peels a part of the label portion 210 with the scissors-like tool 102 has been described as an irreversible treatment portion that damages the surface of the label portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be a means for peeling off the functional layer 213 or a means for damaging it by unevenness such as a file. If it is a means to peel off with an adhesive tape, the structure for collect | recovering peeling pieces will become unnecessary.

  In addition, the scratch unit may be provided with a tray or a means for collecting by a suction means so that a peeled piece obtained by peeling off a part of the surface of the label unit 210 does not cause a problem in the peripheral device.

  Further, in order to damage only a part of the label portion 210, a mesh-like scratch or the like may be formed in advance on the surface of the label portion 210, and the damage range may be set reliably.

  In addition, 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 range.

  It should be noted that a part of the configuration of the above embodiment can be omitted as appropriate within the scope of the present invention, except for the configuration necessary for solving the problem.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Printer 21 ... Sub-scan feed mechanism 22 ... Motor 23 ... Scratch layer 26 ... Roller 27 ... Main scan feed mechanism 30 ... Carriage 32 ... Carriage motor 34 ... Sliding shaft 36 ... Drive belt 38 ... Pulley 40 ... Main control part 60 ... Print head unit 70 ... Operating section 72 ... Display section 80 ... Connector 90 ... Computer 100 ... Scratch unit 101 ... Supporting body 101a ... Recovery section 102 ... Hook-shaped tool 102A ... Hook-shaped tool 150 ... Reading unit 152 ... Irradiating section 154 ... Light receiving unit 200 ... Ink cartridge 201 ... Ink storage unit 202 ... Housing 210 ... Label unit 210A ... Label unit 210B ... Label unit 212 ... Light reflecting layer 213 ... Optical functional layer 214 ... Light absorption pattern layer 218 ... Scratch layer 230 ... Adhesive Layer PA ... Paper PS ... Printing paper Stem

Claims (9)

A cartridge containing a printing material used for printing,
An optical functional layer that transmits light of a predetermined wavelength on the surface of the cartridge, a light reflective layer that faces the optical functional layer and reflects the light of the wavelength, and is interposed between the light reflective layer and the optical functional layer A scratch layer, and the light reflection layer is provided so as to be on the cartridge surface side,
The cartridge is configured such that when an external force is applied to at least a part of the scratch layer, the scratch layer is peeled off from the cartridge surface side with at least a part of the optical function layer.   The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength is in an infrared region, and the optical functional layer is a black layer.   The wavelength is in the near infrared region, the transmittance of the optical function layer at the wavelength is 30% or more, the wavelength region of 700 to 800 nm in the near infrared region, and 800 to 1500% of the near infrared region. The cartridge according to claim 2, wherein a difference in transmittance of any wavelength in the wavelength region is 10% or more.   The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the scratch layer includes a resin and a filler dispersed therein, and is configured to reflect or scatter light having the wavelength.   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 the front and back of the said optical function layer is provided. 5. The cartridge according to any one of 4.   The cartridge according to claim 5, 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 6, wherein the optical functional layer, the scratch layer, and the light reflecting layer are directly formed on the surface of the housing or bonded to the surface of the housing. 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 applies an external force to at least a part of the scratch layer to perform an irreversible treatment for peeling the scratch layer from the cartridge surface side with at least a part of the optical function layer. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
A reading unit that irradiates the optical functional layer with light of the wavelength and reads the reflection state;
A printing apparatus comprising: a comparison unit that compares the state of reflection read by the reading unit before and after the irreversible treatment.

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