JP4945295B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a decision as to whether an ink being poured into an ink storage container can be used or not by a printer side by performing the identification of the ink which is fed/replenished into the ink storage container by the printer side in the printer of a type wherein the ink is fed/replenished into the ink storage container which is arranged for each recording head. <P>SOLUTION: The feeding and the replenishing of the ink into the ink storage container are performed by pouring the ink of the outside into the ink storage container. On the machine body of this printer, a medium reading means for reading an information providing medium 118 on which the information regarding the ink on the outside is recorded is installed. The controller of the printer judges whether the ink being fed into the ink storage container can be used or not based on the ink information of the information providing medium 118 which has been read by the medium reading apparatus. Then, a specified process is executed based on the judgement. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention moves a print medium and a recording head relative to each other, supplies a liquid such as ink in a liquid storage container equipped on the machine body to the recording head via a liquid supply mechanism, and discharges the liquid from the recording head. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer which performs printing on a printing medium and supplies and replenishes liquid to the liquid storage container by injecting external liquid into the liquid storage container.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, cartridge type printers that perform printing by using an ink cartridge to supply ink in the ink cartridge to an ejection head via an ink supply mechanism are known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3). Also, a bottle-type printer that prints by placing a main ink bottle on the machine body side of the printer, supplying ink from the main ink bottle to the recording head via an ink supply mechanism is known (for example, Patent Document 4). reference). In a bottle-type printer, ink is poured into the bottle from the outside, and ink is supplied to the bottle or supplemented with ink.
JP 2001-260373 A JP 2001-105625 A JP 2003-211699 A JP 2003-182119 A

In cartridge-type ink supply, an IC chip or the like is provided for each cartridge in order to identify each of the plurality of cartridges, and a reading / writing unit or the like is also provided in a corresponding slot for mounting the cartridge. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a slot and reading / writing means for each cartridge, which complicates the mechanism and increases costs. In addition, in a printer that supplies and replenishes ink to the bottle from the outside, information about the ink that is supplied and replenished is not read into the printer, so that the printer can supply or replenish unusable ink to the bottle. In this case, the printer cannot recognize this. If unusable ink is supplied or replenished to the printer in the printer, it may cause problems such as precipitation of ink or clogging of the nozzles of the recording head, and there is also a problem in terms of print quality.
The present invention aims to solve the above problems.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention moves a print medium and a recording head relative to each other, supplies a printing liquid stored on the machine body to the recording head via a liquid supply mechanism, and supplies the liquid from the recording head. A printing apparatus that discharges and prints on the printing medium, the apparatus body is provided with one medium reading means for reading an information providing medium on which information on a liquid is recorded, and the controller of the printing apparatus includes: The medium reading means reads the liquid information of the information providing medium in which information related to the liquid used for printing is recorded, and determines whether or not the liquid used for printing can be used. The processing is executed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the printing medium and the recording head are moved relative to each other, the printing liquid in the liquid storage container equipped on the machine body is supplied to the recording head via the liquid supply mechanism, and the liquid is supplied from the recording head. A printing apparatus that performs printing on the printing medium by discharging, while supplying and replenishing liquid to the liquid storage container by pouring an external printing liquid into the liquid storage container, The machine body is provided with a medium reading means for reading an information providing medium in which information on the liquid is recorded, and the controller of the printing apparatus is configured to perform the liquid based on the liquid information of the information providing medium read by the medium reading apparatus. It is determined whether or not the liquid supplied to the storage container can be used, and a predetermined process is executed based on this determination.
Further, according to the present invention, the medium reading means includes a medium receiving portion formed in the machine body for bringing a recording surface of the information providing medium into contact with the medium reading device, and a medium reading device provided in the medium receiving portion. It is comprised from these.
According to the present invention, the liquid information includes identification information and volume information, and the controller updates the liquid quantity stock information recorded in the memory of the controller based on the liquid information read by the medium reading unit. It is characterized by that.
In the present invention, the controller calculates the remaining amount of liquid by comparing the liquid amount stock information recorded in the memory before the start of printing with the amount of liquid used, and the remaining amount of liquid is predetermined. When the amount is smaller than the amount, a warning and / or processing for stopping the printing operation is performed.
According to the present invention, the liquid information includes at least one of liquid identification information, expiration date information, liquid type information, liquid color information, and applicable product information, and the controller reads the medium reading means. Based on the liquid information, it is determined whether or not the liquid can be used. When it is determined that the liquid cannot be used, a warning display and / or a process of stopping the printing operation is performed.
Further, according to the present invention, the controller of the printing apparatus includes a data storage unit that stores data for use in determining whether or not the liquid used for printing is usable. The controller reads the medium reading unit. Based on the liquid information, the data related to the liquid information is updated in the data.

  The present invention is capable of identifying the liquid supplied to the liquid storage container on the airframe by the information providing medium related to the liquid, and also in the type of apparatus that supplies liquid from the outside to the container provided in the apparatus. Information on the liquid to be supplied can be recognized on the device side, and use of a liquid that is incompatible with the device can be prevented. Further, the medium reading means for reading the liquid information of the information providing medium need not be provided for each liquid storage container, and only one is required, which is economical.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
An ink jet printing apparatus (printer) receives image data from a host computer via an interface, and prints it from a recording head onto a print medium such as paper. The host computer generates original color image data to be printed out. Examples of the original color image data include graphic data created on the system, image data such as photographs, processed RGB raster data read by a color image scanner, CAD data, and the like.

3 and 4 show a schematic structure of the ink jet printing apparatus. In FIG. 4, (2) is a platen made of a metal plate, and is fixed to the machine body (5) supported by the legs (3) of the ink jet printing apparatus. On the rear side of the lower part of the leg (3), both end shafts (4a) of the roll paper supply scroller (4) on which the roll part of the roll paper (102) is mounted can be rotated to the left and right of the leg, respectively. Are placed on a pair of bearing members (6) and (8).

In addition, on the lower front side of the leg, a pair of bearing members (12) (14) are arranged so that both end shaft portions (10a) of the roll paper take-up scroller (10) are rotatably arranged on the left and right of the leg, respectively. It is supported. The pair of bearing members (12) and (14) are rotatably supported by the legs, respectively, and one bearing member (12) is connected to the output shaft of the roll paper winding motor (16) and the other bearing member. (14) is connected to an input shaft of an encoder (18) for detecting the rotational motion of the bearing member (14).

A paper guide (20) is disposed behind the platen (2), and a guide roller (22) extending in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, that is, the Y-axis direction in FIG. 4, is disposed behind the paper guide (20). The guide roller (22) is rotatably supported by the machine body. (24) is a Y-axis rail, which is horizontally disposed above the platen (2), and both ends thereof are fixed to the airframe via brackets. A Y cursor (26) (carriage) is movably attached to the Y-axis rail (24), and the Y cursor (26) is connected to the Y-axis drive motor via an endless steel belt. It is linked to the Y-axis drive device (28) arranged in

A slit is formed along the Y-axis direction between the platen (2) and the paper guide (20), and a driving roller (30) is disposed in the slit. Both ends of the drive roller (30) are linked to an X-axis drive device (32) disposed on the machine body via a bracket. A pinch roller shaft is attached to the Y-axis rail (24) via an elastic mechanism (not shown) so as to be able to move up and down, and the pinch roller (34) rotatably fitted to the pinch roller shaft is The driving roller (30) is configured to be set to one of a state separated from the surface of the driving roller (30) and a state of elastic contact with the surface.

A head base is fixed on one side of the Y cursor (26), and four ink jet recording heads (36) each having a large number of nozzles prepared for each ink color are attached thereto. . 4 and 6, only one recording head is shown, and the other recording heads are not shown. A sub tank (38) for solvent ink of four colors (black K, cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y), which is the same number as the recording head (26), is attached to the upper portion of the Y cursor (26). 4 and 6, only one sub tank is shown, and the other sub tanks are not shown.

As shown in FIG. 6, a manual valve (40) is attached to each sub-tank (38) on the substrate that supports the recording head (36). Each sub tank (38) is connected to the corresponding recording head (36) by a tube (42), and the ink discharge port (44) of each sub tank (38) is more than the ink receiving port of the corresponding recording head (36). Due to the difference in height, the recording head (36) is supplied with ink from the corresponding sub tank (38) by natural fall.

(46) is an ink storage container (main tank) consisting of four bottles containing four colors of solvent ink, and is detachably disposed in a storage case (53) provided on the leg side. In FIG. 6, only one ink storage container is shown, and the other ink storage containers are not shown. Each ink storage container (46) is connected to a corresponding sub tank (38) by a tube via a diaphragm pump (48), a filter (50) and a manual valve (40).

(52) is a main tank for cleaning in which a cleaning liquid (jet wash) is placed, and is detachably disposed in a tank storage case provided on the leg (3) side. The main tank for cleaning (52) is connected to each sub tank (38) by a tube via a diaphragm pump (54), a filter (56), a branch tube, and a manual valve (40). Safety valves (58) and (60) are provided in the bypass passages of the diaphragm pumps (48) and (54), respectively.

(62) is a negative pressure air pump, which is disposed in the airframe. The negative pressure air pump (62) is connected to each sub tank (38) by a tube via an air chamber (64), a two-way solenoid valve (66), a manifold (68), a branch tube, and a three-way solenoid valve (69). It is connected. An ink remaining amount sensor (83) that senses that the amount of ink has decreased is provided below the ink storage container (46), and is connected to the controller (82). When the controller detects that the ink is physically low based on the information from the ink remaining amount sensor (83), the controller warns the user through the display unit.

A pressure gauge (70) and a speed controller (72) are attached to the air suction path of the negative pressure air pump (62). The pressure gauge (70) and the speed controller (speed control valve) (72) are provided to control the negative pressure in the sub tank (38) with high accuracy. If the sub-tank (38) is held in a state where the negative pressure is high, the air suction path is closed to the outside air, so that the state where the negative pressure is high may be held as it is. . In order to prevent such a state, a speed controller (72) is provided in the present embodiment. By this speed controller (72), a mechanism in which air slightly flows into the air suction path from the outside is configured in the middle of the path, thereby enabling highly accurate control of the negative pressure.

(74) is a positive pressure air pump, which is disposed in the airframe. The positive pressure air pump (74) is connected to each corresponding sub tank (38) through a regulator (76), a filter (78), a manifold (80), a branch tube, and a three-way solenoid valve (69). ing. The sub tank (38) is provided with a sensor (83) for detecting the remaining amount of ink. A dish-shaped waste liquid receiver (104) is fixedly disposed on the machine body (5) at a position below the home position of the recording head (36) set at a position outside the drawing range.

A bottle holder (112) is fixed to the leg (3), and a waste liquid bottle (98) is positioned below the waste liquid receiver (104) and is detachably attached thereto. The bottom of the waste liquid receiver (104) and the top of the waste liquid bottle (98) are connected by a tube (106) so that the liquid in the waste liquid receiver (104) naturally falls into the waste liquid bottle (98) through the tube (106). It is configured.
A faucet (100), that is, an openable / closable discharge port for discharging the waste liquid inside the faucet (100), is provided at a lower portion of the waste liquid bottle (98).

In FIG. 3, reference numeral (108) denotes a container mounting table, which is positioned below the bottle holder (112) and fixed to the lower portion of the leg (3). The winding motor (16) and the pumps (48) (58) (62) (74) are connected to the controller (82) through drivers, respectively, and the speed controller (72), solenoid valve (66) ( 69), the XY driving device (32) (28), the recording head (36), and other various electronic devices and devices are connected to the controller (82) and controlled by the controller (82) as shown in FIG. It is comprised so that.

In the figure, (86) is a recording head heater, (84) is a sub-tank heater, (88) is a tube heater, (90) is a platen heater, and (92) is each recording head (36). ), And (94) is a temperature sensor provided in the sub tank (38). As shown in FIG. 3, the printer body is provided with a medium receiving portion including a medium insertion slot (112) for a card. The medium receiving portion faces the card set in the medium receiving portion. A contact-type medium information reading device (not shown) for converting card information into an electronic signal is disposed at a position where the card information is to be stored. The medium receiving portion can take various structures other than the card insertion slot depending on the structure of the information providing medium employed. For example, it is possible to adopt a structure such as a contact-type medium receiving portion composed of a placement surface for loading and reading a card, or a slide-type medium receiving portion composed of a slide guide portion for sliding and reading a card.

The medium information reading device is connected to the controller 82 via the information reading unit (114). In order to set the rolled-out portion of the roll paper (102) on the platen (2), the pinch roller (34) is raised, and the roll paper (102) is moved from the roll portion of the roll paper set on the supply scroller (4). Is inserted between the drive roller (30) and the pinch roller (34) through the platen (2), and then the pinch roller (34) is lowered to remove the pinch roller (34) from the roll paper ( 102) is elastically contacted with the driving roller (30) from above. As a result, the drawing medium is gripped by the drive roller (30) and the pinch roller (34), and the setting of the drawing medium is completed.

The controller (82) performs an initial ink initial filling operation. During the initial ink filling, the recording head (36) returns to the home position, and the negative pressure air pump (62) is turned on. Since the ink storage container (46) is lower than the sub tank (38), the ink in the ink storage container (46) is filled to the sub tank (38) through the filter (50) by the pump (48). When the filter (50) is clogged, the safety valve (58) operates when the pressure in the tube on the downstream side of the diaphragm pump (48) reaches a predetermined pressure, and when the pressure reaches a certain pressure, the ink is transferred to the ink storage container (46). It has a structure to return, so that no liquid leakage occurs.

Further, when the ink is supplied to the sub tank (38), the pressure in the sub tank (38) becomes high, so that the negative pressure air pump (62) is normally operated in order to release this pressure. When the ink is filled in the sub tank (38), the controller first switches the three-way solenoid valve (69) from the negative pressure side to the positive pressure side and drives the positive pressure air pump (74).

Thus, the positive pressure from the positive pressure air pump (74) is supplied to the sub tank (38), and the corresponding recording head (36) is filled with ink from the sub tank (38). When the ink is initially filled in the recording head (36), the positive pressure air pump (74) is stopped, the three-way solenoid valve (69) is switched to the negative pressure side, the two-way solenoid valve (66) is opened, The air suction path of the negative pressure air pump (62) is opened, and the inside of each sub tank (38) is held at a negative pressure. Thus, in the normal state, the sub tank (38) is maintained at a negative pressure by the negative pressure air pump (62), and the ink does not drip from the recording head (36), that is, does not leak.

If the negative pressure in the sub tank (38) is too high, the ink is not supplied to the recording head (36), so the negative pressure is supplied from the sub tank (38) to the recording head via the ink supply path (42). It is kept to the extent that ink is naturally supplied. Specifically, the negative pressure state is properly managed by the pressure gauge (70), and control is performed so as to obtain a constant negative pressure. Further, since the value of the negative pressure air pump (62) is slightly fluctuated, an air buffer portion is provided by the air chamber (64), and a buffering action of pressure fluctuation is performed here.

When the printer shifts to the drawing operation, the rolled-out portion of the roll paper (102) is conveyed on the platen (2) in the X-axis direction by intermittent rotation in one direction of the drive roller (30). The recording head (36) is driven on the basis of image information under the control of the controller, ejects ink, and reciprocates along the Y-axis rail (24) of the Y cursor (26) along the Y-axis. By scanning the cut-out portion of the roll paper (102), the image information developed in the memory (RAM) of the controller is visualized on the roll paper (102) surface.

When the piezo element of the recording head (36) ejects ink, the ink is automatically sucked from the sub tank (38) accordingly. As the drawing operation is performed, the ink in the sub-tank (38) decreases. In this case, the pressure in the sub tank (38) becomes low. In such a state, the speed controller (72) works to prevent a slight amount of air from flowing into the ink suction path and the pressure in the subtank (38) from becoming unnecessarily low. Ink is supplied smoothly to (36).

When the remaining amount sensor (82) senses that the sub tank (38) has run out of ink during the drawing operation, the diaphragm pump (48) is driven, and the ink from the ink storage container (46) enters the sub tank (38). Are filled through a filter (50). At this time, the pressure in the sub tanks (38) increases due to the supply of ink, but since the negative pressure of the negative pressure air pump (62) is acting in each sub tank (38), this pressure increase is immediately eliminated. And no problems will occur. Since the ink replenishment operation to the sub tank (38) can be performed during the printing operation, it is not necessary to interrupt the printing operation, and the printing operation can be performed efficiently.

When the printer is not used for a while, the subtank (38) and the recording head (36) are cleaned. In this case, the controller drives the Y cursor (26) along the Y-axis rail (24) in a direction out of the drawing range, and moves the recording head (36) to a predetermined home position. Next, the controller turns off the negative pressure air pump (62), switches the three-way solenoid valve (69) to the positive pressure side, shuts off the air suction path, and then first drives the positive pressure air pump (74). Then, the inside of the sub tank (38) is pressurized with positive pressure air, and all the ink in the sub tank (38) and the recording head (36) is discharged from the nozzles of the recording head (36) by jet jet.

At this time, the manual valve (40) is switched to the washing tank side. Next, the diaphragm pump (54) is driven, the cleaning water in the cleaning main tank (52) is filled into the sub tank (38) through the filter (56), and the sub tank (38) is filled with the positive pressure air pump (74). The cleaning water in 38) is pushed out to the recording head (36), and the cleaning water is discharged from the nozzles of the recording head (36) by a jet jet. After draining the cleaning water from the sub tank (38) and the recording head (36), the positive pressure air pump (74) sends air into the sub tank (38) and the recording head (36), and the sub tank (38) and the recording head. (36) The inside is dried. Waste liquids such as waste ink and washing water discharged from the nozzles of the recording head (36) fall into the waste liquid receiver (104) and accumulate in the waste liquid bottle (98) through the tube (106).

The ink storage container (46) on the printing apparatus side is provided with an ink supply port (47) and has a cap-type lid, so that ink can be supplied from the outside by opening the lid. It can be done. When ink is first supplied from the outside, the ink is supplied from here, and thereafter, the ink supply port (47) is opened only when the ink is reduced or lost, and the ink is replenished from the outside. The easiest way to replenish ink is to add the entire amount purchased. However, if you do not enter all of the ink storage container (46) in relation to the remaining amount in the ink storage container (46) or if you purchase a large amount, add it in small portions. You may do it.

In addition, except when using photo-curing ink or the like, a transparent or translucent container is usually used so that the amount of ink in the ink storage container (46) can be understood from the outside. It can be confirmed by things. As shown in FIG. 7, an ink bottle (116) filled with ink used for supplying and replenishing ink to the ink storage container (46) is a magnetic card or IC chip on which ink information is recorded. An information providing medium (118) composed of a card with a built-in card is attached and placed in a case (120) at a store such as an agent and sold to a user.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing medium (118) relates to an identification number of the ink in the ink bottle (116), an ink type, an ink color, an ink capacity, an ink expiration date, and an ink application product. Ink information (122) is recorded, and unique information is assigned to each product. Yes. On the other hand, the ink amount table storage unit (124) of the computer on the printing apparatus side stores a data table including an ink amount stock table (126) and an ink usage amount storage table (128).

In the ink amount stock table (126), the ink stock amount on the printing device side for each ink color of KCMY is recorded as the identification number and capacity information of the ink bottle (116). In the ink use amount storage table (128), data of the ink discharge amount (use amount) is recorded based on the measurement value of the ink use amount measuring unit (130) for each ink storage container (46) of each color. The ink discharge amount (usage amount) includes the number of discharges from the head by printing, the number of discharges used in flushing (discharge to improve the nozzle state used in the area outside the print), and the discharge (during maintenance) ( It is possible to calculate by taking the product of the discharge amount at one time by counting the cumulative number of discharges at the capping position. The controller (82) determines from the data in the data tables (126) and (128) whether or not there is ink remaining in the ink storage container (46) by the ink supply permission determination unit (132). The storage device on the printing device side is provided with a device information storage unit (134), in which device information (136) such as the product number of the device, the type of ink to be used, and the current date is recorded.

Next, the operation of the controller on the printing apparatus side when the information providing medium (card) (118) is inserted into the medium insertion slot (112) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the user supplies or replenishes ink to the ink storage container (46) of the printing apparatus to be used, the ink is supplied from the store as ink for the printing apparatus before or after pouring the ink into the ink storage container (46). The information providing medium (118) attached to the purchased ink bottle (116) is inserted into the medium insertion slot (112) of the printing apparatus (step 1). The controller of the printing apparatus reads the ink information of the information providing medium (118) by the information reading unit (114) from the output of the information reading apparatus, and determines whether the ink is usable based on the ink information ( Step 2). The determination as to whether or not it can be used is made based on the information on the color, type, expiration date, and applicable product in the ink information. Based on the calculation of the date calculation unit (140), the controller determines whether or not the expiration date of the ink has passed, and in addition, the ink color and type are compatible, or the printer model is compatible. Judge whether or not.

When a negative determination is made at decision step 2, the controller drives the display device (138) to display a warning that is not suitable for use on the display unit of the panel (step 3). Next, the controller determines whether there is another information providing medium (118) attached to each card to be input, that is, each ink bottle (step 4), and returns to step 1 if the determination is affirmative. If a negative determination is made, the ink supply from the ink storage container is stopped when the ink stock amount in the ink stock table (126) runs out, and the ink out is displayed on the display device (step 6). Stop. If affirmative determination is made in the determination step (2), the controller (82) determines information such as the type and color of the read ink, and data in the ink amount stock table (126) corresponding to the data of the color and type. Is updated (step 8). The bottle K of the ink amount stock table (126) in FIG. 1 represents a state in which 500 ml of the identification number 22222 is read after the capacity of 1000 ml of the identification number 12345 and the table is updated to 1500 ml. In order to prevent the same card from being used, the apparatus stores an identification number so that data is not updated when the same card is input. On the other hand, the controller (82) counts the number of ink ejections for each recording head (36) (step 9), and the ink usage measuring unit (130) performs recording using preset parameters based on this count value. The amount of ink used is calculated for each head (36) (step 10).

The controller (82) compares the amount of ink used for each of the ink amount stock table (126) and the recording head (36) based on the data of step 8 and step 10 (step 11). It is determined whether it is larger than the usage amount (step 12). When the ink stock amount is smaller than the ink use amount, the process proceeds to step 3. When the ink stock amount is larger than the ink use amount, the controller (82) moves to the ink supply operation to the recording head (36) (step 13) and starts printing (step 14). During printing, the controller (82) detects the physical ink remaining amount of each ink storage container (46) with an ink remaining amount sensor provided in each ink storage container (46) (step 15). It is determined whether there is ink in the ink storage container (46) (step 16). If an affirmative determination is made in step 16, the process returns to step 13. If a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 3.

In this embodiment, when ink is supplied from the outside to the ink storage container (46), the ink supply or replenishment is simply a type in which ink is poured from the ink bottle (116) purchased by the user into the ink storage container (46). For example, if an electrically controlled opening / closing device is provided at the lid of the printing device (46) on the printing device side, the ink storage container (46) recognized by the card is used. Only the lid can be opened. As a result, it is possible to prevent malfunction such as erroneously putting different color ink into the ink storage container. Further, the information providing medium is not particularly limited to a configuration in which cards on which information is recorded by magnetic or electromagnetic signals are inserted into the medium insertion slot (112) and read by a contact type by an information reading device. It is also possible to have a configuration in which the code is coded in the form of a code, the card-like member attached with this barcode is placed in the movable area of the recording head, and the barcode is read by a paper detection sensor provided in advance on the recording head side. Further, a bar code reading device may be provided on the printing device side without using the paper detection sensor.

  In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus is embodied as an ink jet printing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and liquids other than ink (liquids or gels in which liquid or functional material particles are dispersed or mixed in the liquid) And a device for injecting and discharging the fluid. The medium reading device provided at the medium insertion slot (112) may have an information writing function. Further, there is no problem if the amount of the ink amount stock table (126) and the amount of ink used amount storage table (128) are substantially the same in the actual apparatus, but the ink in the sub tank (38) is discarded. In case of spilling when pouring, the calculation may not match. Therefore, the ink tatami stock table (126) and the ink usage amount storage table (128) may be returned to the initial state. Even in the initial state, if the identification number is kept, the same card cannot be used. Therefore, it is not used illegally and different ink is not used on the same card. In this case, the ink storage container (46) is used. However, as long as it has a sub tank, it may be of a cartridge type. In this case, there is no need to provide a storage medium mounted on the cartridge. Needless to say, no reading device is required in the slot.

It is a block explanatory view of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of this invention. It is an external view explanatory drawing of a printing apparatus. It is structure explanatory drawing of a printing apparatus. It is a functional block explanatory diagram of a printing apparatus. It is a block explanatory view of an ink supply mechanism. It is explanatory drawing of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 Platen 4 Roll paper supply scroller 6 Bearing member 8 Bearing member 10 Roll paper take-up scroller 12 Bearing member 14 Bearing member 16 Take-up motor 18 Encoder 20 Paper guide 22 Guide roller 24 Y-axis rail 26 Y cursor 28 Y-axis drive device 30 Drive Roller 32 X-axis drive device 34 Pinch roller 36 Recording head 38 Sub tank 40 Manual valve 42 Ink supply passage 44 Ink discharge port 46 Ink storage container 47 Ink supply port 48 Diaphragm pump 50 Filter 52 Cleaning main tank 53 Storage case 54 Diaphragm pump 56 Filter 58 Safety valve 60 Safety valve 62 Negative pressure air pump 64 Air chamber 66 Two-way solenoid valve 68 Manifold 70 Pressure gauge 72 Speed controller 74 Positive pressure air pump 76 Regulator 78 Filter 80 Manifold 82 Controller 83 Remaining amount detection sensor 84 Heater 86 Heater 88 Heater 90 Heater 92 Temperature sensor 94 Temperature sensor 98 Waste liquid bottle 102 Roll paper 104 Waste liquid receiver 106 Tube 108 Stand 110 Tank 112 Medium insertion port 114 Information reading section 116 Ink bottle 118 Information providing medium 120 Case 122 Ink information 124 Ink amount table storage unit 126 Ink amount stock table 128 Ink use amount storage table 130 Ink use amount measurement unit 132 Ink permission determination unit 134 Device information storage unit 136 Device information 138 Display device 140 Date Calculation part

Claims (2)

The printing medium and the recording head are moved relative to each other, the printing liquid in the liquid storage container equipped on the machine body is supplied to the recording head via the liquid supply mechanism, and the printing is performed by discharging the liquid from the recording head. A printing apparatus that performs printing on a medium while supplying and replenishing liquid to the liquid storage container by pouring an external printing liquid into the liquid storage container, There is provided one medium reading means for reading an information providing medium on which information is recorded, and the controller of the printing apparatus is used for determining whether or not the liquid used for printing is usable. A device information storage unit for storing device information including a product number, wherein the liquid information includes liquid identification information, expiration date information, liquid type information, liquid color information, and applicable product information; As is the medium based on liquid information read by the reading means it is determined whether or not the liquid is usable, when it is determined Disabled performs a process of stopping the warning display and / or printing operation, the medium The reading means includes a medium receiving portion formed in the machine body for bringing a recording surface of the information providing medium into contact with the medium reading device, and a medium reading device provided in the medium receiving portion, and the liquid information Includes identification information and volume information, and the controller updates the liquid quantity stock information recorded in the memory of the controller based on the liquid information read by the medium reading means, and the identification information already recorded A printing apparatus , wherein liquid quantity stock information is not updated when the same identification information is input . The controller calculates the remaining amount of liquid by comparing the liquid amount stock information recorded in the memory before the start of printing with the corresponding amount of liquid used, and when the remaining amount of liquid is less than a predetermined amount The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a warning and / or a process of stopping a printing operation is performed.

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