JP3127641B2 - Ink jet recording apparatus, ink supply container, and ink supply system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by jetting ink droplets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a general ink jet recording apparatus. Various types of ink supply methods for an ink jet recording apparatus have been proposed. FIG. 2 shows one of them, in which ink is supplied from a replaceable ink supply container 21 to a recording head 24 on a carriage 23 via a supply tube 22. The ink in the ink supply container 21 is consumed by recording, and the ink is replaced when the remaining amount reaches a predetermined amount. It is known that air bubbles enter the ink supply tube when the ink supply container is replaced. If air bubbles enter the ink supply system, there is a possibility that ink ejection failure will occur. Various measures have been devised for the shape of the ink supply tube and ink supply container in order to prevent the incorporation of air bubbles, but there has been no sufficient solution. The ink supply container 21 is used to prevent the ejection failure due to the mixed air bubbles.
At the time of replacement, a suction operation is generally performed in which the suction pump 26 sucks ink through the cap 25 to fill the ink supply system with ink. JP-A-1-115
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 637 discloses a technique for specifying various recovery modes at the time of unpacking, replacing ink, replacing a recording head, and the like by using an operation switch. There is also an ink jet recording apparatus which automatically performs a suction operation for filling the ink at the time of ink replacement. Each of them removes the air bubbles mixed therein by suction, and suctions a predetermined amount of ink.

[0003]

However, in an ink jet recording apparatus, it is naturally conceivable to attach or detach an ink supply container during use. The ink supply container can be attached or detached during use due to the movement of the device, or the ink supply container with a small amount of ink can be temporarily removed and a new ink supply container can be used in preparation for a large amount of recording. Done. An ink supply container that has been removed during use usually has a larger amount of air bubbles when reinserted than when a new ink supply container is inserted. This is because the air in the hole opened in the ink outlet is taken into the supply pipe at the time of reinsertion. In addition, the ink near the ink outlet is thickened by being left after being removed during use, which is one of the factors that impairs the reliability of the ink supply system. As one method for preventing such a problem beforehand, a method has been proposed in which the supply container cannot be removed until the ink ends, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-128848. In addition, it is inconvenient because there is no degree of freedom in use as described above, and it cannot be an essential solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to achieve ink jet recording that can secure reliability during reinsertion and obtain stable ink ejection without impairing the degree of freedom in use with a simple configuration. An apparatus is provided.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention detects a change in the form of an ink container and a recording head that receives ink from an ink supply container having a structure that changes its form when first installed. It is characterized by comprising a detachment history detecting means, and a convex member for changing the structure of the ink container by moving a plate-shaped member provided in the ink container when the new ink supply container is mounted. And Further, the ink supply container of the present invention is an ink supply container used in the ink jet recording apparatus, and is a plate-like member movable by a convex member provided in the recording apparatus when first attached to the ink jet recording apparatus. It is characterized by having. Further, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention includes a recording head that receives supply of ink from an ink supply container having a structure in which the mode is changed by first mounting, and a detachment history detecting unit that detects a change in the mode of the ink container. The detachment history detecting means is a convex member, and when the ink supply container is mounted, the convex member is inserted into the container to detect a change in the mode in the container. . Further, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention has a detachable recording head configured to receive supply of ink from an ink supply container having a structure in which the state changes upon initial mounting, and a photo interrupter configured to detect a change in the state of the ink container. History detecting means. In addition, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention has an ink supply container having a structure in which an aspect is changed by first mounting, a recording head receiving ink supply from the ink supply container, and a detachable history for detecting a change in the aspect of the ink container. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of suction modes; and a mounting detecting unit configured to detect mounting of the ink supply container, wherein the mounting detecting unit detects mounting of the ink supply container. If the ink supply container to which the attachment / detachment history detecting means is attached is judged to be new, a suction mode different from the suction mode when an ink supply container which is not new is attached is executed. . Further, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention includes an attachment detection unit that detects attachment of the ink supply container, and an attachment / detachment history detection unit that detects whether the ink supply container is the first attachment or the reinsertion. When the ink supply container to which the attachment / detachment history detecting means is attached is judged to be new, a suction mode different from the suction mode when an ink supply container that is not new is attached is executed. Further, the ink supply system of the present invention includes a detection unit that detects a mounting state of an ink supply container that supplies ink to a recording head, and a detachment history detection unit that detects a change in an aspect of the ink supply container. If the mounting detection means detects that the ink supply container is mounted, and if the attachment / detachment history detection means detects that a new ink supply container is mounted, the non-new ink supply container is removed. A suction mode different from the suction mode at the time of mounting is executed.

[0006]

The present invention detects whether the ink supply container inserted at the time of mounting the ink supply container is new or re-inserted, and changes the suction amount in the suction operation according to the detection result.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus in which an appropriate amount of ink is suctioned even when bubbles are mixed or the ink thickens at the time of reinsertion, and ink ejection failure does not occur.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU which is a control unit of the printer, which is provided with a ROM 2 for storing a control program and the like and a RAM 3 for temporarily storing various data. Print data from the host device 4 is sent to the CPU 1 via an I / F unit (interface unit) 5. The CPU 1 performs a series of recording operations such as carriage motor driving, head driving, and paper feed motor driving via an I / O unit (input / output unit) 6 according to print data.

Reference numeral 12 in FIG. 1 denotes an ink end detecting unit which detects that the amount of ink in the ink supply container has become equal to or less than a set value. Reference numeral 13 denotes a container mounting detector that detects whether or not the ink supply container is mounted. Reference numeral 14 denotes an attachment / detachment detection unit that detects an attachment / detachment state of the ink supply container, and detects a state of a detection target unit provided in the ink supply container described later.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of one embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 31 in FIG.
Is to be stored. Reference numeral 32 denotes an ink supply tube which is inserted into an ink outlet (not shown) of the ink supply container 21 and supplies the ink of an ink pack (not shown) contained therein to the recording head 24. Reference numeral 33 denotes a pin for changing the state of the detected part by attaching and detaching it. Reference numeral 14 denotes a detachment detection unit, which uses a photo interrupter in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 34 denotes a waste ink container, which stores ink sucked by the pump 26 via the cap 25. Reference numeral 13 denotes a container mounting detection unit that detects that the container is mounted, and is configured by a micro switch in this embodiment.

Here, the mechanism of the detected part provided in the ink supply container will be described. FIG. 4 shows an example of the structure. (This drawing shows a state before the ink supply container is inserted.) In FIG. 4, 21 is an ink supply container, 31 is a holder for accommodating the ink supply container, and 32 is an ink supply tube. 43 is a stopper, 44 is a shielding plate, 33
Is a pin, 45 is a spring, and 14 is a detachment detection unit. Reference numeral 41 denotes an ink outlet, and reference numeral 42 denotes an ink pack. Here, the shield plate 44 is urged in the X direction by a spring 45, but is prevented from moving by the stopper 43. Now, when the ink supply container 21 is inserted into the holder, the stopper 43 is rotated by the pin 33 to be in the state shown in FIG. This state is the mounting state when the ink supply container is first inserted. At this time, the stopper 43 that has hindered the movement of the shielding plate 44 has disappeared, but the movement is still hindered by the pin 33. The photointerrupter of the attachment / detachment detection unit 14 detects the state of the shielding plate 44, and the state (shielding state) in FIG. 5 indicates the state of attachment when the ink supply container is first inserted. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the ink supply container 21 is pulled out. Here, the elimination of the pin 33 causes the shielding plate 44 to move in the X direction by the force of the spring 45. Here again, the ink supply container 2
When 1 is mounted on the holder, it becomes as shown in FIG. (Here, a through hole is previously formed in the shielding plate 44 in preparation for the insertion of the pin 33.) In the re-insertion, since the shielding plate 44 is moving, the attachment / detachment detecting unit 14 is different from the first insertion. The shielding state is detected. In this way, it is possible to judge whether the insertion is the first insertion or the re-insertion based on the detection result of the attachment / detachment detection unit when the ink supply container is attached.

The operation of the present invention in the above configuration is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. When the ink jet recording apparatus is turned on, first, the container mounting detector 13 detects whether or not the ink supply container 21 is mounted. When the installation of the container is confirmed, the ink end detection unit 12 detects whether the remaining amount of ink in the ink supply container is equal to or more than a predetermined value. Here, when it is confirmed that the remaining amount of ink is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the mode shifts to a normal recording mode. On the other hand, when the ink supply container is not mounted, or when the remaining ink amount of the mounted ink supply container is equal to or less than the predetermined value and the ink end is detected, the ink supply container having the ink remaining amount equal to or more than the predetermined value is mounted. Will wait until the When the ink supply container having the remaining amount of ink equal to or more than the predetermined value is attached, the detachment detection unit described above determines whether the attached ink supply container is the first inserted (that is, new) ink supply container or reinserted (that is, It is detected whether the ink supply container is in the middle of use. In the case of a new ink supply container, since the ink outlet is not inserted, the amount of air bubbles mixed is small, so that the air bubbles can be discharged with a small amount of ink suction. Therefore, the process shifts to the suction mode 1 in which a small amount of ink suction is set in advance, performs the suction operation, and then shifts to the recording mode. On the other hand, in the case of an ink supply container that is being used, the air in the hole opened in the ink outlet is taken into the supply pipe at the time of reinsertion, and the amount of air bubbles mixed in increases. After shifting to mode 2 and performing the suction operation, the mode shifts to the recording mode. In this embodiment, the setting of the ink suction amount is set by the time for driving the pump 26.

As described above, by detecting whether the attached ink supply container is the first insertion or reinsertion, and performing an optimal suction operation, it is possible to prevent ink ejection failure beforehand.

In this embodiment, a method has been described in which ink is supplied from the ink supply container to the recording head on the carriage by a tube, but the method of providing the ink supply container on the carriage as shown in FIG. Can be implemented.

In the present embodiment, the structure of the detected portion of the detachment detecting portion is such that the movement of the shielding plate is detected. A configuration in which the attachment / detachment is detected by fusing after detection is also conceivable.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect whether the ink supply container is new or reinserted when the ink supply container is mounted, and change the ink suction amount according to the detection result. With a simple configuration, an ink ejection failure can be prevented beforehand, and an ink jet recording apparatus with high reliability can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an attachment / detachment detection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an attachment / detachment detection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an attachment / detachment detection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an attachment / detachment detection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a structural view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 Host device 5 I / F part 6 I / O part 12 Ink end detection part 13 Container installation detection part 14 Removable detection part 21 Ink supply container 22 Supply tube 23 Carriage 24 Recording head 25 Cap 26 Pump 31 Pump 31 Holder 32 Ink supply pipe 33 Pin 34 Waste ink container 41 Ink outlet 42 Ink pack 43 Stopper 44 Shielding plate 45 Spring 91 Ink

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/175-2/185 B41J 29/00

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording head for receiving ink from an ink supply container having a structure in which the state is changed by initial mounting, a detachment history detecting means for detecting a change in the state of the ink container, and a new ink supply container And a convex member that changes a structure of the ink container by moving a plate-shaped member provided in the ink container when the ink container is mounted. 2. A recording head for receiving ink from an ink supply container having a structure in which an aspect is changed by initial mounting, and a detachment history detecting means for detecting a change in the aspect of the ink container, wherein the detachment history detection is performed. The means is a convex member, and when the ink supply container is mounted, the convex member is inserted into the container to detect a change in the mode in the container. 3. A recording head for receiving ink from an ink supply container having a structure in which the mode is changed by initial mounting, and a detachment history detecting means including a photo interrupter for detecting a change in the mode of the ink container. Equipped inkjet recording device. 4. An ink supply container having a structure in which a mode is changed by first mounting, a recording head receiving supply of ink from the ink supply container, and a detachment history detecting means for detecting a change in the mode of the ink container. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a plurality of suction modes; and mounting detection means for detecting mounting of the ink supply container, wherein the mounting detection means detects mounting of the ink supply container, and An ink jet recording apparatus that executes a suction mode different from the suction mode when a non-new ink supply container is mounted, when it is determined that the ink supply container to which the detection unit is mounted is new. 5. An attaching / detaching history detecting means, comprising: attaching detecting means for detecting the attachment of the ink supply container; and attaching / detaching history detecting means for detecting whether the ink supplying container is first attached or reinserted. An ink jet recording apparatus that executes a suction mode different from the suction mode when a non-new ink supply container is mounted, when it is determined that the ink supply container to which is mounted is new. 6. An ink container used in the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plate-like member movable by a convex member provided in the recording apparatus when the ink container is first attached to the ink jet recording apparatus. Ink supply container. 7. A mounting device comprising: detecting means for detecting a mounting state of an ink supply container for supplying ink to a recording head; and attaching / detaching history detecting means for detecting a change in an aspect of the ink supply container. If it is detected that the ink supply container is mounted, and if the attachment / detachment history detecting means detects that the new ink supply container is mounted, the suction when the non-new ink supply container is mounted is performed. An ink supply system that executes a suction mode different from the mode.