JP2016159463A - Inkjet recording device and ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow ink within an expiration date for use in an ink cartridge to be effectively utilized.SOLUTION: When an ink cartridge 34 filled with pure ink overdue a recommended disuse expiration date is mounted on a refilling portion 32, supply of ink from the ink cartridge 34 to an ink circulating portion 31 is permitted based on standard information acquired from a memory 34b of an IC tag 34a if ink in the ink cartridge 34 is within an expiration date for use and an ink mixing availability expiration date and if residual ink in the ink circulating portion 31 is below an allowable ink mixing amount and within the ink mixing availability expiration date. Unless any one of the conditions is satisfied, the supply of ink of the ink cartridge 34 to the ink circulating portion 31 is inhibited.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to an ink jet recording apparatus that replenishes ink from a detachable ink cartridge.

  The ink jet recording apparatus is detachably provided with ink cartridges for different colors that contain ink. The ink replenished from the ink cartridge is supplied to the ink jet head and further discharged from the nozzles of the ink jet head toward the printing paper. Thus, images, characters, etc. are printed on the printing paper.

  In many cases, consumables such as ink cartridges have a recommended use stop start time limit as a reference time limit for guaranteeing print quality in addition to the use limit time limit. If the ink cartridge currently in use has passed the recommended stop period for ink use, a warning message is displayed to prompt the user to replace the ink cartridge. If it exceeds, an error is displayed and the ink cartridge is forcibly replaced (for example, Patent Document 1).

  By replacing the ink cartridge with a relatively new one, printing can be performed using ink that can guarantee the print quality.

Japanese Patent No. 3951996

  By the way, even if the recommended use stop start time limit for which the print quality is guaranteed has passed, depending on the user, for example, as long as the guaranteed print quality is obtained, unless the use limit time limit is reached, the ink cartridge You may want to continue using ink. However, the above-described conventional technology does not consider such a case and prompts the user not to use it at all.

  In particular, if the recommended stoppage start deadline is set to a shorter period than the limit for use, it is desirable to use ink as much as possible after the recommended stoppage deadline until the use limit. The number of users may be increased. For such a user, the expiration date management of the ink cartridge according to the prior art is not convenient.

  On the other hand, if the ink cartridge that has passed the recommended use stop time limit of ink is used continuously, the guaranteed print quality may not be obtained as the use limit time limit approaches. In particular, when ink that has passed the recommended use stop start time limit supplied from the ink cartridge is mixed with ink in the ink jet recording apparatus, there is a possibility that inconvenience such as ink aggregation occurs and print quality is deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of effectively using ink before the expiration date of use of the ink cartridge, and an ink cartridge suitable for use in the ink jet recording apparatus. There is.

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises:
A mixing permission time limit (for example, ink mixing time limit in FIG. 3) that is a time limit before the use limit time limit (for example, the consumption time limit in FIG. 3) indicating the ink can be used and indicates a time limit for mixing inks. Ink supplied from an ink cartridge (for example, the ink cartridge 34 in FIG. 2) having a storage means (for example, the memory 63b in FIG. 2) to be stored through an ink supply path (for example, the ink circulation unit 31 in FIG. 2). An ink jet recording apparatus that discharges from an ink jet head (for example, the head units 21, 22, 23, and 24 in FIG. 1) and prints an image on a printing paper (for example, the paper 9 in FIG. 1) based on the mixing permission time limit. (For example, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 in FIG. 1)
An attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge (for example, the control unit 10 in FIG. 1, step S11 in FIG. 5);
Acquisition means (for example, the control unit 10 in FIG. 1, step S13 in FIG. 5) for acquiring the mixing permission time limit from the storage means of the ink cartridge that has been detected by the attachment / detachment detection means;
When the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge detected by the attachment / detachment detection unit into the ink supply path, the mixing permission period acquired by the acquisition unit from the storage unit of the ink cartridge is set to the ink supply Setting means (for example, the control unit 10 in FIG. 1, FIG. 7) to set as the remaining ink mixing permission time limit (for example, the remaining ink mixing allowable time limit of the ink circulation unit 31 updated in step S47 in FIG. 7) in the path. Step S47),
Control means (for example, the control unit 10 in FIG. 1) for controlling ink supply from the ink cartridge to which the attachment / detachment detection means has newly detected attachment to the ink supply path;
The control means includes
The present time is within the mixing permission time limit acquired by the acquiring means and within the mixing permission time limit set by the setting means, and the remaining ink amount is newly detected by the attachment / detachment detecting means. The ink supply is permitted when the amount is equal to or less than the mixing permission amount (for example, the ink mixing permission amount in FIG. 3) corresponding to the ink amount of the ink cartridge;
When the current time has passed at least one of the mixing permission time limit acquired by the acquiring means and the mixing permission time limit set by the setting means, and the current time is within the mixing permission time limit acquired by the acquiring means And the ink supply is prohibited when the mixing permission time limit set by the setting means and the remaining ink amount exceeds the mixing permission amount,
It is characterized by that.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention.
The control means includes
If the current time is within the mixing permission time limit acquired by the acquisition means and within the mixing permission time limit set by the setting means, and the remaining ink amount exceeds the mixing permission amount, the mixing After the remaining ink is ejected from the inkjet head until the remaining ink amount decreases below the permitted amount, the ink supply is changed from prohibition to permission, and
When the current time is within the mixing permission time limit acquired by the acquisition means and the mixing permission time limit set by the setting means has passed, the ink supply is performed after all the remaining ink is ejected from the inkjet head. Change from prohibited to allowed,
It is characterized by that.

  Furthermore, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention is the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, in which the control means performs the remaining ink discharge at an unprocessed time at the remaining ink discharge time. It is performed by executing a print job or by performing a cleaning operation of the inkjet head.

In order to achieve the above object, an ink cartridge according to the fourth aspect of the present invention includes:
An ink is supplied to an ink supply path (for example, the ink circulation section 31 of FIG. 2) of the ink jet recording apparatus which is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus (for example, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of FIG. 1). An ink cartridge (e.g., ink cartridge 34 in FIG. 2)
A mixing permission time limit (for example, ink mixing time limit in FIG. 3) that is a time limit before a use limit time limit (for example, the consumption time limit in FIG. 3) indicating the ink can be used and indicates a time limit for mixing inks. Storage means (for example, the memory 63b in FIG. 2) for storing
It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively use ink before the expiration date of use of the ink cartridge.

  That is, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, when an ink cartridge is mounted, the ink mixing permission time limit of the ink cartridge is acquired from the storage means of the ink cartridge. This mixing permission time limit is a time limit before the use limit time limit indicating the limit at which ink can be used, and indicates a time limit for mixing inks.

  When ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to the ink supply path, the mixing permission time limit acquired from the storage unit of the ink cartridge is set as the mixing permission time limit for the remaining ink in the ink supply path. When a new ink cartridge is mounted, ink supply from the ink cartridge to the ink supply path is controlled by the control means.

  Specifically, (1) the current time is within the ink mixing permission time limit of the newly installed ink cartridge, and (2) the current time is within the mixing permission time limit of the remaining ink in the ink supply path. And (3) the ink from the ink cartridge is satisfied when all of the three conditions that the remaining amount of ink in the ink supply path is equal to or less than the permitted mixing amount corresponding to the ink amount of the newly installed ink cartridge are satisfied. Ink supply to the supply path is permitted by the control means.

  On the other hand, if any one of these three conditions is not satisfied, the ink supply from the ink cartridge to the ink supply path is prohibited by the control means.

  For this reason, when the ink in the newly installed ink cartridge has passed the mixing permission period, the ink is not supplied to the ink supply path, and mixing with the remaining ink in the ink supply path is avoided. Further, if the remaining ink in the ink supply path has passed the mixing permission period, the ink in the newly installed ink cartridge will not be supplied to the ink supply path even if the mixing permission period has not passed. Mixing with the remaining ink in the path is avoided.

  Furthermore, even if the ink in the newly installed ink cartridge and the remaining ink in the ink supply path both have not passed their respective mixing permission expiration dates, the remaining ink amount in the ink supply path is the same as the newly installed ink. If the mixing permission amount determined for the ink in the cartridge is exceeded, the ink in the newly installed ink cartridge is not supplied to the ink supply path, and mixing with the remaining ink in the ink supply path is avoided.

  As described above, even if the ink in the ink cartridge or the ink supply path has not reached the expiration date, the ink in the ink cartridge may be mixed with the remaining ink in the ink supply path to cause inconvenience such as ink aggregation. In this case, ink supply from the ink cartridge to the ink supply path is prohibited. For this reason, it is possible to effectively use the ink before the expiration date of the ink cartridge while preventing inconvenience by mixing with the remaining ink in the ink supply path.

  By the way, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, only the condition that the remaining ink amount in the ink supply path is equal to or smaller than the permitted mixing amount corresponding to the ink amount of the newly installed ink cartridge is satisfied. In some cases, the ink supply from the ink cartridge to the ink supply path may be prohibited.

  In this case, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the remaining ink is ejected from the ink jet head and the remaining ink amount is reduced below the permitted mixing amount, ink supply from the ink cartridge to the ink supply path is started. The Thereby, it is possible to effectively use the ink before the expiration date of use while preventing the occurrence of problems due to mixing with the remaining ink in the ink supply path.

  Further, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the remaining ink in the ink supply path is ejected from the ink jet head, an unprocessed print job If there is, the remaining ink can be used up efficiently without waste by discharging the remaining ink from the inkjet head in the processing of the print job.

  In addition, when there is no unprocessed print job when ejecting the remaining ink in the ink supply path from the inkjet head, the remaining ink in the ink supply path is reliably ejected from the inkjet head by the cleaning operation of the inkjet head. be able to.

  According to the ink cartridge of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the effects of the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention can be easily obtained in the ink jet recording apparatus. .

(A), (b) is sectional drawing of the outline of the inkjet recording device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a figure which shows the state at the time of image recording, (b) shows the state at the time of cleaning. FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an ink path of the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of ink standard information stored in an IC tag memory of the ink cartridge of FIG. 2. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure relating to a remaining ink calculation update process of an ink circulation unit performed by control of a control unit in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure related to determination of whether or not ink supply from an ink cartridge to an ink circulation unit is performed under the control of the control unit in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure related to determination of whether or not ink supply from an ink cartridge to an ink circulation unit is performed under the control of the control unit of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure related to ink supply from an ink cartridge to an ink circulation unit performed by control of a control unit in FIG. 1.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, in the drawing, the conveyance direction of the recording medium is the X-axis direction or the sub-scanning direction, and the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction is the Y-axis direction, the main scanning direction, or the width direction of the recording medium. Further, a direction orthogonal to the X-axis and Y-axis directions is taken as a Z-axis direction or a vertical direction.

  1A and 1B are schematic sectional views of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a state during image recording in the ink jet recording apparatus, and FIG. 1B shows a state during cleaning in the ink jet recording apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 mainly includes a paper feeding unit 2, a transport unit 3, an image forming unit 4, a cleaning unit 5, a paper discharge unit 6, and a control unit 10.

  The paper feed unit 2 picks up the sheets 9 stacked on the paper feed tray 7 one by one by the pickup roller 8 and feeds them to the transport unit 3.

  The transport unit 3 transports the paper 9 fed by the paper feed unit 2 to the transport belt 16 by the registration rollers 12, and further transports the paper 9 to the paper discharge unit 6 side by the transport belt 16. The conveyor belt 16 is an endless belt that is stretched around the driven roller 13, the tension roller 14, and the driving roller 15, and a platen 17 is disposed inside (downward) the conveyor belt 16.

  The transport belt 16 and the platen 17 are provided with a number of holes (not shown). In the transport unit 3, the suction fan 18 sucks air through the holes, whereby the paper 9 is adsorbed to the transport belt 16. Are transported.

  The transport unit 3 is moved from the recording position shown in FIG. 1A to the retracted position shown in FIG. 1B by a moving mechanism (not shown). When printing an image on the paper 9, the transport unit 3 is disposed at the recording position shown in FIG. Further, when the cleaning unit 5 performs the cleaning operation of the image forming unit 4, the transport unit 3 is disposed at the retracted position illustrated in FIG.

  The image forming unit 4 includes four head units 21, 22, 23, 24 of K color (black), C color (cyan), M color (magenta), and Y color (yellow) held by the head unit holding unit 25. And is disposed to face the conveyance unit 3.

  Each of the head units 21 to 24 is a line head having a width equal to or larger than the recording area width of the paper 9 in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper 9. Each head unit 21 to 24 discharges ink droplets of each color from a nozzle (not shown) over the entire width in the main scanning direction of the paper 9 that the transport unit 3 transports in the sub-scanning direction. Images of each color are printed on the paper 9 by the ink droplets.

  The cleaning unit 5 includes cleaning units 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d corresponding to the head units 21 to 24, respectively. Each of the cleaning units 26 a to 26 d is configured by a known member in the inkjet recording apparatus 1.

  Specifically, the cleaning unit 5 sucks, for example, a blade member that wipes a nozzle surface (not shown) of each head unit 21 to 24 or an ink droplet discharged by a nozzle (not shown) of each head unit 21 to 24. And a cap member for capping the nozzle surface.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the cleaning units 26a to 26d are arranged on the downstream side of the corresponding head units 21 to 24 in the recording medium conveyance direction when printing an image on the paper 9, and the head units 21 to 21 are arranged. The 24 nozzle surfaces (the lower surface in FIG. 1A) are exposed to the conveying belt 16 side.

  Further, at the time of the cleaning operation of the nozzle surfaces of the head units 21 to 24, the cleaning units 26a to 26d are disposed at positions facing the nozzle surfaces of the corresponding head units 21 to 24 (cleaning) as shown in FIG. Position).

  The paper discharge unit 6 sandwiches the paper 9 on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 4 with the discharge roller pair 27 and discharges the paper 9 to the discharge tray 28. The discharge tray 28 can accommodate a plurality of discharged recording media.

  Next, the configuration of the ink path in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the ink path of the ink jet recording apparatus 1. FIG. 2 shows an ink path representatively related to one color ink among the four color inks related to the head units 21 to 24 of K color, C color, M color, and Y color. Therefore, the ink path having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 is provided independently for each of the K, C, M, and Y colors.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ink path 30 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 is roughly classified into an ink circulation part 31, a replenishment part 32 for replenishing ink to the ink circulation part 31, and the ink circulation part 31. A waste liquid portion 33 that stores the ink that has become overflowed or overflowed, and a pressure adjustment portion 57 that adjusts the pressure in the ink circulation portion 31 at least during the cleaning process are provided.

  The ink circulation unit 31 can be roughly divided into a first ink path 44 and a second ink path 45.

  The first ink path 44 passes from the image forming unit 4 via the ink distributor 49 and the line head 50 (head units 21 to 24) from the upper tank 38 disposed above the image forming unit 4 in the gravity direction. Is a path through which ink flows due to gravity (water head difference) to the lower tank 39 disposed below the gravity direction.

  The second ink path 45 is a path through which ink flows from the lower tank 39 to the upper tank 38 via the pump 41, the heat exchanger 42, and the filter 43 by the power of the pump 41.

  The heat exchanger 42 heats and / or cools the ink flowing in the ink circulation unit 31 to adjust the temperature of the ink to a temperature suitable for ejection from the nozzles of the line head 50 (head units 21 to 24). To do. The filter 43 removes foreign matters from the ink flowing through the ink circulation unit 31 and supplies the foreign matter to the line head 50 (head units 21 to 24), thereby preventing nozzle clogging.

  When the joint portion 36 of the replenishing unit 32 is connected to the supply port 35 of the ink cartridge 34 mounted on the replenishing unit 32 by the operation of an actuator (not shown), the ink in the ink cartridge 34 is supplied to the lower tank 39 and the replenishing valve 37. Is supplied through.

  The ink cartridge 34 filled with genuine ink is initially attached to the replenishing unit 32. However, when the ink cartridge 34 filled with general-purpose ink is attached to the replenishing unit 32 at the time of replacement. There is also.

  An IC tag 34a is attached to the surface of the ink cartridge 34 filled with genuine ink. The IC tag 34a has a built-in memory 34b, and standard information indicating the standard of ink filled in the ink cartridge 34 is stored in the memory 34b.

  The standard information stored in the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a of the ink cartridge 34 attached to the replenishing unit 32 can be read by the IC tag reader / writer 32a of the replenishing unit 32. Further, the IC tag reader / writer 32a can store new information (including overwriting storage) in the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of ink standard information of the ink cartridge 34 stored in the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a. As shown in FIG. 3, the ink standard information includes ink type information for identifying whether or not the ink in the ink cartridge 34 is a genuine product.

  For example, the IC tag 34a information of the ink cartridge 34 filled with genuine ink includes ink type information “A” indicating genuine ink. The ink type “A” is used for convenience of explanation and does not indicate the form of the ink type information. The ink type information is previously written in the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a at the stage of shipment of the ink cartridge 34.

  If information other than “A” is included in the standard information as ink type information or the ink type information is blank, the ink cartridge 34 is not at least a cartridge 34 filled with genuine ink. Become.

  In addition to the ink type information described above, the ink standard information includes the date of manufacture, the date of start of use, the expiration date of use, the time limit for ink mixing, the ink mixing permission amount, the ink path remaining amount, the recommended use stop start time limit. Each information is included.

  The date of manufacture information is information indicating the date of manufacture of the ink cartridge 34 (the ink thereof), and the date of start of use information is that the ink cartridge 34 is mounted on the replenishment unit 32 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 ( This is information indicating the date of starting use of ink (starting date of use).

  The manufacture date information is written in advance in the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a at the stage of shipment of the ink cartridge 34. The start date information is used when the ink cartridge 34 is first attached to the inkjet recording apparatus 1. The data is written into the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a by the IC tag reader / writer 32a of the replenishing unit 32.

  The expiry date information is information indicating the expiry date after the start of use of the ink cartridge 34 (the ink of the ink cartridge 34), and the ink mixing possible term information is supplied to the lower tank 39 by supplying the ink of the ink cartridge 34 to the ink circulation unit 31 Is a period of time (for example, X months) from the start of use of the ink cartridge 34 (the ink). The ink mixing permission amount information is information indicating the upper limit amount of ink in the ink circulating unit 31 that may supply the ink in the ink cartridge 34 to the lower tank 39 to be mixed.

  The ink mixing period is a period that can be mixed when genuine ink of the same elapsed period is mixed for each elapsed period from the date of manufacture and used for printing, and when the print quality exceeding the standard is obtained It is a deadline determined by seeking the limit period. This ink mixing period is set to a period shorter than the consumption period (for example, Y months, X> Y).

  Further, the ink mixing permission amount is determined as follows. First, the amount of remaining ink that circulates in the ink circulation unit 31 is smaller than the amount of ink in the ink cartridge 34 that is newly installed in the replenishment unit 32. Further, the remaining ink in the ink circulation unit 31 has an ink mixing period that is older than the ink in the ink cartridge 34. Therefore, both inks are mixed at a ratio of the ink amount of the ink cartridge 34 and the remaining ink amount of the ink circulating unit 31, and this mixed ink is used by mixing with the ink having the same ink mixing period as that of the ink cartridge 34. However, the remaining ink amount of the ink circulating unit 31 is obtained so that the print quality exceeding the reference can be maintained until the ink mixing period of the ink of the ink cartridge 34, and this is set as the ink mixing permission amount.

  Note that the ink mixing permission amount may be determined for each ink capacity as long as the ink capacity of the ink cartridge 34 is different. Further, when the ink amount of the ink cartridge 34 is reduced by replenishment to the lower tank 39, the ink mixing permission amount is re-determined according to the ratio between the reduced ink amount and the remaining ink amount of the ink circulation unit 31. May be.

  The expiry date information, the ink mixing time limit information, and the ink mixing permission amount information are all written in the memory 34 b of the IC tag 34 a in advance at the stage of shipping the ink cartridge 34. Note that the expiration date information is determined according to the type of ink filled in the ink cartridge 34. Also, the ink mixing possible time limit information and the ink mixing permission amount information may be rewritten by the IC tag reader / writer 32a of the replenishing unit 32 according to the type of ink and the configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 after being attached to the replenishing unit 32. .

The ink path remaining amount information is information indicating the amount of ink remaining in the ink circulation unit 31 including the upper tank 38 and the lower tank 39, and the recommended use stop start deadline information is
This is information that defines the starting point of the recommended use stop period for urging the replacement of the ink cartridge 34 by a period that is calculated backward from the expiration date. The recommended use stop start time limit is set at a time earlier than the ink mixing permission time limit.

  The ink path remaining amount information is written over the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a by the IC tag reader / writer 32a of the replenishment unit 32 every time a predetermined update condition such as the end of processing of the print job is satisfied. The value written in the memory 34 b is the remaining ink amount of the ink circulation unit 31 calculated by the control unit 10 of the inkjet recording apparatus 1.

  The remaining ink amount in the ink circulation unit 31 is the remaining amount of ink supplied from the ink cartridge 34 in the ink circulation unit 31. The remaining ink amount is calculated by subtracting the ink amount consumed by the execution of the print job from the integrated amount of ink supplied from the ink cartridge 34 to the lower tank 39 under the control of the control unit 10.

  The recommended use stop start time limit information is previously written in the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a at the stage of shipment of the ink cartridge 34.

  Returning to the description of the ink path in the ink jet recording apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the space above the ink liquid levels 46 and 54 of the upper tank 38 and the lower tank 39 is the upper tank solenoid valve 53 and the lower tank solenoid. Each is connected to an overflow tank 52 via a valve 56. Since the overflow tank 52 is always exposed to the atmosphere, the upper tank 38 and the lower tank 39 are opened to the atmosphere by opening and closing (opening / closing) the upper tank solenoid valve 53 and the lower tank solenoid valve 56, respectively. Can be sealed.

  A bellows 58 of the pressure adjustment unit 57 is connected to the second ink path 45. The bellows 58 extends by the weight of the weight 59 when the bellows lifting mechanism 61 is moved downward. When the lower tank 39 is sealed and the bellows 58 is extended, a negative pressure is applied to the space above the ink surface 55, and a meniscus is formed at the nozzles of the line head 50 (head units 21 to 24). Thereby, it is possible to prevent ink from leaking from the nozzle when ink droplets are not ejected.

  Further, during the cleaning operation of the nozzle surfaces of the head units 21 to 24, the first ink path 44 is blocked between the line head 50 (head units 21 to 24) and the lower tank 39, and the upper tank 38 is sealed. Then, the pump 41 is driven stronger than usual. Thereby, the ink in the line head 50 (head units 21 to 24) is pressurized, and a purge operation is performed in which the ink is ejected from a nozzle (not shown).

  In the cleaning operation in which ink is ejected from the nozzles by the purge operation, the cleaning units 26a to 26d face the nozzle surfaces (not shown) of the corresponding head units 21 to 24 as shown in FIG. Arranged.

  The waste liquid unit 33 shown in FIG. 2 includes a tank tray 62, a waste liquid tank 63, a waste ink amount detection unit 64, a tank attachment detection unit 65, and the overflow tank 52 described above.

  As described above, the overflow tank 52 is connected to the space on the ink liquid levels 46 and 54 of the upper tank 38 and the lower tank 39. Therefore, even if ink overflows from the upper tank 38 or the lower tank 39 due to an abnormality in the apparatus, the leaked ink can be stored in the overflow tank 52.

  The overflow tank 52 is connected to the waste liquid tank 63 through a tube. The waste liquid tank 63 is disposed on the tank tray 62 and is detachable from the tank tray 62.

  The waste liquid tank 63 is also connected to the replenishing unit 32 through a tube. Thereby, the ink leaked to the outside when the ink cartridge 34 is replaced is sent to the waste liquid tank 63 as waste liquid through the tube.

  Furthermore, the waste liquid tank 63 is connected to each of the cleaning units 26 a to 26 d via the recovery pump 66. The recovery pump 66 is driven by the control of the control unit 10 during the cleaning operation of the line head 50 (head units 21 to 24). When the recovery pump 66 is driven, the cleaning units 26a to 26d suck and collect the ink discharged by the purge operation from the nozzles (not shown) of the corresponding head units 21 to 24 to the waste liquid tank 63.

  In addition, when the recovery pump 66 is driven, the backflow of ink from the waste liquid tank 63, the ink cartridge 34 of the replenishing unit 32, or the overflow tank 52 toward the cleaning units 26 a to 26 d is blocked by the check valve 67.

  Further, the waste liquid tank 63 is shared by one of the K, C, M, and Y colors, and each color has a configuration for collecting ink from the line heads 50 (head units 21 to 24) of the respective colors in the waste liquid tank 63. You may provide for every.

  The tank tray 62 has a waste ink amount detection unit 64 that detects the amount of ink stored in the waste liquid tank 63, and a tank that detects whether or not the waste liquid tank 63 is mounted by weight detection or optical detection. An attachment detection unit 65 is provided. When the waste ink amount detection unit 64 detects that a predetermined amount of waste liquid has accumulated in the waste liquid tank 63, the control unit 10 notifies an alarm indicating replacement to the user using an operation panel 68 described later. .

  In the ink jet recording apparatus 1 described above, the line head 50 (head) is controlled under the control of the control unit 10 periodically (before the start of ink circulation or after a predetermined time elapses) or whenever the number of printed sheets on the paper 9 reaches a certain number. The cleaning operation (nozzle purge operation) of the units 21 to 24) is performed. In addition to these timings, the cleaning operation is performed under the control of the control unit 10 as necessary.

  By the way, when the ink in the ink cartridge 34 attached to the replenishing unit 32 runs out, it is replaced with a new ink cartridge 34 and attached to the replenishing unit 32. The ink in this new ink cartridge 34 has a newer ink mixing period than the remaining ink in the ink circulation unit 31 supplied from the ink cartridge 34 before replacement. For this reason, when ink is supplied from the new ink cartridge 34 to the ink circulation unit 31 via the lower tank 39, the ink circulation unit 31 mixes the old ink and the new ink whose ink mixing period is old.

  In this way, when old ink is mixed with ink that has a new ink mixing period, even if the new ink mixing period has not passed, print quality exceeding the standard cannot be obtained when printing using that ink. there is a possibility. In addition, when ink with an old ink mixing period is mixed, there is a possibility that a situation in which the ink jet recording apparatus 1 is broken, such as ink clogging, may occur due to a change in the viscosity of the ink.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 10 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 performs the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a of the ink cartridge 34 attached to the replenishment unit 32 each time a predetermined trigger condition is satisfied, for example, at regular intervals. The ink standard information is read out from the ink and the content is confirmed. If necessary, the supply of ink from the ink cartridge 34 to the ink circulation unit 31 is prohibited.

  Next, a procedure of processing performed in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment based on the control of the control unit 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. Note that the control unit 10 individually performs the process of the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 described below, the process of the procedure shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6, and the process of the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. Run repeatedly.

  First, a processing procedure when the control unit 10 performs control to calculate the remaining ink amount of the ink circulation unit 31 and update and store it in the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a of the ink cartridge 34 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the control unit 10 checks whether or not a condition for updating the remaining ink amount of the ink circulation unit 31 stored as the ink path remaining amount information in the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a of the ink cartridge 34 is satisfied (see FIG. Step S1). As an event that satisfies the condition for updating the remaining ink amount, for example, the printing operation of one print job in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 may be completed.

  If the remaining ink amount update condition is not satisfied (NO in step S1), the series of processing ends, and if satisfied (YES in step S1), the control unit 10 is attached to the replenishing unit 32. The remaining ink amount of the ink circulating unit 31 is calculated by subtracting the ink amount consumed by the execution of the print job from the integrated amount of ink supplied from the ink cartridge 34 to the lower tank 39 (step S3).

  Then, the control unit 10 overwrites the calculated remaining ink amount in the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a of the ink cartridge 34 attached to the replenishing unit 32 as the ink path remaining amount information by the IC tag reader / writer 32a of the replenishing unit 32. After the storage (step S5), the series of processing is terminated.

  Next, referring to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6, the procedure of processing performed by the control of the control unit 10 regarding the determination of whether ink can be supplied from the ink cartridge 34 attached to the replenishment unit 32 to the ink circulation unit 31 is described. explain.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 10 checks whether or not a trigger condition for acquiring ink standard information is satisfied from the memory 34 b of the IC tag 34 a of the ink cartridge 34 attached to the replenishing unit 32. (Step S11). Examples of events that satisfy the trigger condition include that the power of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 is turned on, that the ink jet recording apparatus 1 has returned from the power saving mode to the normal mode, and that the ink cartridge 34 is attached to the replenishment unit 32. May be detected by the control unit 10 through a change in the detection state of the ink cartridge 34 by a cartridge sensor (not shown), or a predetermined period may be reached.

  If the trigger condition is not satisfied (NO in step S11), the series of processing ends, and if satisfied (YES in step S11), the control unit 10 determines whether the ink cartridge 34 attached to the replenishing unit 32 is loaded. Ink standard information is acquired from the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a (step S13).

  And the control part 10 confirms whether the ink of the ink cartridge 34 with which the replenishment part 32 was mounted | worn is genuine from the ink type information of the acquired ink standard information (step S15). If it is not a genuine product (NO in step S15), the process proceeds to step S31 described later, and if it is a genuine product (YES in step S15), the control unit 10 uses the expiration date information of the acquired ink standard information. From this, it is confirmed whether or not the current date is before the expiration date (step S17).

  If it is not before the expiration date (NO in step S17), the control unit 10 displays an alarm indicating that the replacement is impossible due to the expiration of the expiration date on the operation panel 68 (step S19), and ends the series of processes. On the other hand, if it is before the expiry date (YES in step S17), the control unit 10 uses the start date of use from the use start date information and recommended use stop start date information of the acquired ink standard information. It is confirmed whether or not the elapsed time until the current date is before the recommended use stop start deadline (step S21).

  If it is before the recommended use stop start deadline (YES in step S21), the control unit 10 connects the joint portion 36 of the replenishing unit 32 to the supply port 35 of the ink cartridge 34 attached to the replenishing unit 32, and After permitting ink supply from the ink cartridge 34 attached to the replenishing section 32 to the lower tank 39 (step S23), a series of processing is terminated. On the other hand, if it is not before the recommended use stop start time limit (NO in step S21), the control unit 10 uses the start date of use from the use start date information and the ink mixing possible time limit information of the acquired ink standard information. It is confirmed whether or not the elapsed period from the current date to the current date is before the ink mixing period (step S25).

  If it is not before the ink mixing time limit (NO in step S25), the process proceeds to step S31. If it is before the ink mixing time limit (YES in step S25), the control unit 10 determines the acquired ink. From the ink mixing permission amount information and the ink path remaining amount information in the standard information, it is confirmed whether or not the remaining ink in the ink circulation unit 31 is less than or equal to the ink mixing permission amount (step S27).

  If it is equal to or less than the ink mixing permission amount (YES in step S27), the control unit 10 determines whether or not the remaining ink in the ink circulating unit 31 is before the ink mixing possible time limit set for the remaining ink. Is confirmed (step S29). If it is before the ink mixing period (YES in Step S29), the control unit 10 proceeds to Step S23 and permits the supply of ink from the ink cartridge 34 of the replenishing unit 32 to the lower tank 39, and then a series of operations. Terminate the process. On the other hand, if it is not before the ink mixing period (NO in step S29), the process proceeds to step S31.

  In step S31, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 10 prohibits the supply of ink from the ink cartridge 34 attached to the replenishing unit 32 to the lower tank 39, and then whether there is an unprocessed print job. It is confirmed whether or not (step S33). If there is no unprocessed print job (NO in step S33), the control unit 10 performs a cleaning operation on the nozzle surfaces of the head units 21 to 24 (step S35), and then proceeds to step S41 described later.

  In the cleaning operation in step S35, the controller 10 performs a cleaning operation for the line head 50 (head units 21 to 24), that is, a nozzle purge operation. By this purging operation, all the remaining ink in the ink circulation unit 31 is discharged from the nozzles (not shown) of the head units 21 to 24 by driving the recovery pump 66 and sucked into the waste liquid tank 63 via the cleaning units 26a to 26d. To be recovered.

  If there is an unprocessed print job in step S33 (YES), the control unit 10 can complete the processing using the remaining ink of the ink circulation unit 31 from the ink path remaining amount information of the acquired ink standard information. A correct print job is determined (step S37). Then, after the determined print job is executed using the remaining ink of the ink circulation unit 31 (step S39), the process proceeds to step S41.

  In step S41, the supply of ink from the ink cartridge 34 installed in the replenishing unit 32 to the lower tank 39, which is prohibited in step S31, is permitted. Then, a series of processing ends.

  As a result, if the remaining ink in the ink circulation unit 31 is discharged from the nozzles (not shown) of the head units 21 to 24 and consumed, and the remaining ink still cannot be used, the line head 50 (head units 21 to 24) is cleaned. The operation is also performed. Then, all the remaining ink in the ink circulation unit 31 is discharged from the nozzles (not shown) of the head units 21 to 24 and used up.

  Next, the procedure of processing performed by the control of the control unit 10 regarding the supply of ink from the ink cartridge 34 mounted on the replenishing unit 32 to the ink circulation unit 31 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the control unit 10 checks whether or not it is necessary to replenish ink from the ink cartridge 34 of the replenishing unit 32 to the lower tank 39 (step S51), and if not necessary (in step S51). NO), a series of processing ends.

  On the other hand, if it is in a necessary state (YES in step S51), the control unit 10 determines whether or not ink supply from the ink cartridge 34 to the lower tank 39 described in step S23 of the flowchart of FIG. (Step S53).

  If it is not permitted (prohibited) (NO in step S53), the series of processes is terminated. If it is permitted (YES in step S53), the control unit 10 causes the ink cartridge of the replenishing unit 32 to be used. A required amount of ink is supplied from 34 to the lower tank 39 (step S55).

  Thereafter, the control unit 10 sets the ink mixing possible time limit for the remaining ink in the ink circulation unit 31 to the ink mixing possible time limit indicated in the latest ink mixing possible time limit information acquired in step S13 of the flowchart of FIG. After (step S57), a series of processing is terminated. Therefore, the control unit 10 uses the ink mixing possible time limit set in step S57 for the confirmation performed in step S29 in the flowchart of FIG.

  As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the ink cartridge 34 filled with genuine ink whose recommended use stop date has passed is mounted on the replenishing unit 32, the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a. Whether or not to supply the ink of the ink cartridge 34 to the ink circulation unit 31 is determined based on the standard information acquired from the above.

  Specifically, if the ink in the ink cartridge 34 is within the expiration date and the ink mixing time limit, and the remaining ink in the ink circulating unit 31 is less than the ink mixing permission amount and within the ink mixing time limit, the ink cartridge 34 Ink supply to the ink circulation unit 31 is permitted.

  In addition, when the ink cartridge 34 filled with general-purpose ink is installed in the replenishing unit 32, or when the ink mixing period of the ink cartridge 34 mounted on the replenishing unit 32 has passed, or the ink mixing period If ink exceeding the permitted amount of ink mixing remains in the ink circulation part 31, but after all the ink in the ink circulation part 31 has been used up, the non-standard general-purpose product from the ink cartridge 34 to the ink circulation part 31 Or expired ink.

  For this reason, if the ink in the ink cartridge 34 newly attached to the replenishing unit 32 due to the replacement has passed the ink mixing possible period stored in the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a, the ink passes through the lower tank 39. The ink circulating unit 31 is not replenished. Therefore, mixing with the remaining ink in the ink circulation unit 31 is avoided.

  If the remaining ink in the ink circulation unit 31 has passed the ink mixing period, the ink in the ink cartridge 34 newly attached to the replenishing unit 32 upon replacement is stored in the memory 34b of the IC tag 34a. Even if the mixing period has not passed, the ink circulation unit 31 is not supplied through the lower tank 39. Therefore, also in this case, mixing with the remaining ink in the ink circulation unit 31 is avoided.

  Further, both the ink of the ink cartridge 34 newly installed in the replenishing unit 32 and the remaining ink of the ink circulation unit 31 in accordance with the replacement can be stored in the ink circulation unit 31 even when the respective ink mixing period has not passed. If the remaining ink amount exceeds the ink mixing permission amount determined for the ink in the ink cartridge 34, the ink in the ink cartridge 34 is not replenished to the ink circulation unit 31 via the lower tank 39. Therefore, also in this case, mixing with the remaining ink in the ink circulation unit 31 is avoided.

  For this reason, before the general-purpose product or the ink that has passed the ink mixing period is supplied to the ink circulation unit 31, the genuine product already supplied to the ink circulation unit 31, that is, the ink within the standard is used up. When outside ink is supplied to the ink circulation unit 31, it can be prevented from being mixed with ink within the standard.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink of the ink cartridge 34 and the ink of the ink circulation unit 31 from mixing and causing an unexpected property change, and causing troubles in the operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 such as clogging. In addition, it is possible to supply and use the ink of the genuine ink cartridge 34 that has passed the recommended use stop period to the ink circulation unit 31 while maintaining the print quality.

  In the above-described embodiment, the line type inkjet recording apparatus 1 using the line head has been described as an example. However, the present invention is a serial type that prints an image while scanning the inkjet head with respect to the printing paper. The present invention is also applicable to the inkjet recording apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 2 Paper feed part 3 Conveyance part 4 Image formation part 5 Cleaning part 6 Paper discharge part 7 Paper feed tray 8 Pickup roller 9 Paper 10 Control part 12 Registration roller 13 Driven roller 14 Tension roller 15 Drive roller 16 Conveyance belt 17 Platen 18 Suction fan 21 K color head unit 22 C color head unit 23 M color head unit 24 Y color head unit 25 Head unit holder 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d Cleaning unit 27 Discharge roller pair 28 Discharge tray 30 Ink path 31 Ink Circulation unit 32 Replenishment unit 32a Tag reader 33 Waste liquid unit 34 Ink cartridge 34a, 63a IC tag 34b, 63b Memory 35 Supply port 36 Joint unit 37 Supply valve 38 Upper tank 39 Lower tank 41 Pump 42 Heat exchanger 43 Filter 44 First ink path 45 Second ink path 46, 54, 55 Ink liquid level 48 Liquid level detection unit 50 Line head 52 Overflow tank 53 Upper tank solenoid valve 56 Lower tank solenoid valve 57 Pressure adjustment unit 58 Bellows 59 Weight 61 Bellows lifting mechanism 62 Tank tray 62a Tag reader / writer 63 Waste liquid tank 64 Waste ink amount detection unit 65 Tank installation detection unit 66 Recovery pump 67 Check valve 68 Operation panel

Claims (4)

Ink supplied via an ink supply path from an ink cartridge provided with a storage means for storing a mixing permission time limit indicating a time limit for mixing inks, which is a time limit before the use limit time limit indicating the ink usable limit. In an inkjet recording apparatus that prints an image on printing paper by discharging from an inkjet head based on the mixing permission period,
An attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge;
An acquisition unit that acquires the mixing permission time limit from the storage unit of the ink cartridge that has been detected by the attachment / detachment detection unit;
When the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge detected by the attachment / detachment detection unit into the ink supply path, the mixing permission period acquired by the acquisition unit from the storage unit of the ink cartridge is set to the ink supply Setting means for setting as a mixing permission deadline for the remaining ink in the path;
Control means for controlling ink supply from the ink cartridge to which the attachment / detachment detection means has newly detected attachment to the ink supply path,
The control means includes
The present time is within the mixing permission time limit acquired by the acquiring means and within the mixing permission time limit set by the setting means, and the remaining ink amount is newly detected by the attachment / detachment detecting means. Permitting the ink supply when the amount is less than or equal to the permitted mixing amount corresponding to the ink amount of the ink cartridge;
When the current time has passed at least one of the mixing permission time limit acquired by the acquiring means and the mixing permission time limit set by the setting means, and the current time is within the mixing permission time limit acquired by the acquiring means And the ink supply is prohibited when the mixing permission time limit set by the setting means and the remaining ink amount exceeds the mixing permission amount,
An ink jet recording apparatus. The control means includes
If the current time is within the mixing permission time limit acquired by the acquisition means and within the mixing permission time limit set by the setting means, and the remaining ink amount exceeds the mixing permission amount, the mixing After the remaining ink is ejected from the inkjet head until the remaining ink amount decreases below the permitted amount, the ink supply is changed from prohibition to permission, and
When the current time is within the mixing permission time limit acquired by the acquisition means and the mixing permission time limit set by the setting means has passed, the ink supply is performed after all the remaining ink is ejected from the inkjet head. Change from prohibited to allowed,
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1.   The control unit causes the remaining ink to be ejected by executing an unprocessed print job at the time of ejecting the remaining ink or by performing a cleaning operation of the inkjet head. Item 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to Item 2. An ink cartridge that is attached to the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, and supplies ink to an ink supply path of the ink jet recording apparatus.
Storage means for storing a mixing permission time limit that indicates a time limit before the use limit time limit that indicates a limit that the ink can be used and indicates a time limit that ink can be mixed;
An ink cartridge characterized by that.

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