JP5804182B2 - Liquid cartridge and image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge that stores a liquid such as ink, and an image recording apparatus that includes a liquid cartridge and a main body that stores the liquid cartridge.

  An ink cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an ink jet recording apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-196664. The ink cartridge includes a first short circuit detection terminal, a ground terminal, a power supply terminal, a second short circuit detection terminal, a first sensor drive terminal, a reset terminal, a clock terminal, a data terminal, A circuit board including a second sensor driving terminal; The first sensor driving terminal and the second sensor driving terminal are electrically connected to a sensor that detects the remaining amount of ink. The data terminal is electrically connected to a storage device including serially accessed memory cells, and reads and writes data in synchronization with a clock signal. The first sensor terminal and the second sensor terminal are respectively disposed at both ends of the circuit board.

  Due to the miniaturization of electrical equipment, it is necessary to arrange a plurality of terminals in a relatively narrow region of the terminal chip substrate provided in the casing of the liquid cartridge. When a plurality of terminals are arranged at a narrow interval, there is a high possibility that a short circuit will occur between the power terminal provided on the terminal chip and the data terminal. For this reason, for example, it is necessary to prevent or reduce a short circuit between the power terminal and the data terminal connected to the storage unit. The storage means stores, for example, data read / written from the outside of the liquid cartridge (image recording apparatus or the like).

  Causes of a short circuit between a plurality of terminals include a mist such as an ink mist and a liquid droplet such as an ink. For example, the mist is generated by ink ejected from the ink jet head of the image recording apparatus and may adhere to the substrate on which the terminals are arranged.

  In particular, in a high-speed ink jet printer such as a line head type ink jet printer that uses a liquid cartridge that contains a large amount of liquid, a large amount of printed media is output, so a large amount of ink mist is generated from the ink jet head of the image recording apparatus. obtain.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to increase the overall electrical robustness of a liquid cartridge for a line head printer with respect to an electrical short circuit between a plurality of terminals on a substrate.

  Surprisingly, the present inventor has found that the occurrence rate of the short circuit increases with the operation time of the high-speed image recording apparatus from the time of the final insertion of the ink cartridge. The present inventor has found that the humidity in the printer casing increases with an increase in the number of printed pages per unit time, particularly in a high-speed ink jet printer such as a line head type ink jet printer. This is because the humidity according to the rapid drying process of various liquids (ink, water as a wetting agent, ink pretreatment liquid, etc.) applied from the ink cartridge to the recording medium (paper or the like) increases. Therefore, the risk of short circuit in the contact terminal substrate increases as the operating time increases.

  The terminal of the board that transmits and receives data many times during the period when the cartridge is inserted into the liquid ejection device and at the end of the period, compared with the terminal that transmits and receives desired data during or after the cartridge insertion operation. The risk of short circuit is high.

  If the distance from the storage means terminal to the power input terminal is equal to the distance from the sensor terminal to the power input terminal, the storage means may be damaged by a short circuit that occurs between the storage means terminal and the power input terminal. The possibility is higher than the possibility that the sensor is damaged by a short circuit generated between the sensor terminal and the power input terminal.

  Therefore, it is necessary to further protect the terminal that transmits and receives data many times during the use period of the cartridge in the printer.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to a plurality of embodiments of the present invention, a liquid cartridge for a line head type printer and an image recording apparatus according to claims 1 to 15 are provided.

  In order to improve the overall electrical robustness of the liquid cartridge with respect to an electrical short circuit, the present invention is a liquid cartridge for a line head type printer, comprising a casing having an outer surface, and a casing provided in the casing. A liquid storage portion configured to be able to store over 100 milliliters of liquid, and a liquid flow path configured to communicate the liquid storage portion with the outside of the liquid cartridge on the outer surface of the casing; A sensor configured to detect a first position and a second position of the movable member and to output a signal related to the first position and the second position of the movable member, and configured to store data. A liquid cartridge comprising: a storage means; and a substrate provided on the outer surface of the casing and provided with a plurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals include a sensor terminal connected to the sensor, a data terminal connected to the storage means, and a power terminal connected to at least one of the sensor and the storage means. The distance between the power terminal and the data terminal is greater than the distance between the power terminal and the sensor terminal.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, the liquid storage unit supplies liquid from the liquid storage unit to the outside of the liquid cartridge in such an amount that humidity increases at a plurality of specific positions in the line head printer. Is configured to do.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the sensor relates to the first position and the second position of the movable member during or immediately after the mounting of the liquid cartridge to the mounting portion of the line head printer. The data terminal is configured to output data, and the data terminal is configured to transmit data a plurality of times during use of the liquid cartridge in the line head printer.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of terminals including the sensor terminals (170c, 171c) and the power terminal (174c) are arranged in a first row, and a plurality of terminals including the data terminals (172c, 173c) are provided. Are arranged in a second row substantially parallel to the first row, and the plurality of terminals arranged in the first row and the plurality of terminals arranged in the second row. The distance between them is greater than the distance between the plurality of terminals arranged in the first row.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the sensor terminal is disposed adjacent to the power terminal in the first row.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the liquid cartridge further includes a ground terminal arranged in the second row.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the plurality of terminals include the sensor terminal, the data terminal, and the power terminal arranged in a line.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the sensor terminal is disposed adjacent to the power terminal.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the liquid cartridge further includes a ground terminal, and the sensor terminal and the data terminal are disposed between the power terminal and the ground terminal.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the data stored in the storage unit includes information data relating to the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage unit. According to another aspect of the present invention, the data stored in the storage unit of the liquid cartridge includes information data relating to the number of recorded sheets.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus comprising the above-described liquid cartridge and a main body to which the liquid cartridge is attached, wherein the main body includes an attachment portion to which the liquid cartridge is attached; A hollow member configured to be inserted into the liquid cartridge attached to the attachment portion, and communicates with the hollow member and discharges the liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge via the hollow member. A configured liquid ejection head; a communication unit that communicates with the liquid cartridge mounted on the mounting unit; a sensor signal receiving terminal configured to establish an electrical connection with the communication unit; and the communication unit A data receiving terminal configured to establish an electrical connection with the power source, a power source, and a power output terminal configured to establish an electrical connection with the power source. Eteiru. The communication unit reads data stored in the storage unit via the data terminal and the data reception terminal, and receives the signal from the sensor via the sensor terminal and the sensor signal reception terminal. It is configured as follows.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the storage means is configured to store data relating to the signal, and the communication unit further determines whether a reading abnormality has occurred during reading of the data. In addition, the recording operation is not performed when the reading abnormality occurs.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the communication unit receives at least one of data relating to the amount of liquid ejected from the liquid ejection head during the recording operation and data relating to the number of recorded recording media as the liquid. Write to the storage means of the cartridge.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the communication unit receives the signal from the sensor during the mounting operation of the liquid cartridge to the mounting unit of the main body or immediately after mounting, via the data terminal, Data is transmitted a plurality of times during the use period of the liquid cartridge in the image recording apparatus.

  The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the needs met by the present invention, and the objects, features and advantages of the present invention, reference should be made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an ink jet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a schematic side view showing the inside of the printer. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the cartridge which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the cartridge of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a region indicated by an arrow V in FIG. 4. ) Is a view when the hollow tube of the printer is inserted into the stopper and the valve of the cartridge is in the open position. FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along line VI-VI shown in FIG. It is the figure seen from the direction of arrow VII shown in FIG. 4 which shows the terminal of the cartridge which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a process in which a cartridge is mounted on a printer. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure of a cartridge and a printer. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing each part constructed by a printer controller. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control contents executed by a printer controller when a cartridge is mounted on the printer. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the position of the valve | bulb of a cartridge, and the output value from the Hall element of a cartridge. It is a figure which shows the terminal of the cartridge which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the terminal of the cartridge which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the terminal of the cartridge which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the terminal of the cartridge which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the terminal of the cartridge which concerns on 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure seen from the insertion direction shown to Fig.8 (a) which shows the terminal of the printer which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 19 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line XIX-XIX shown in FIG. 18.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, an overall configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The image recording apparatus is, for example, a high-speed inkjet printer 1.

  The printer 1 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 1a. A paper discharge unit 31 is provided on the top of the housing 1a. Three openings 10d, 10b, and 10c are formed in one of a plurality of outer surfaces extending in the vertical direction of the housing 1a. These openings 10d, 10b, and 10c are arranged in the vertical direction in this order from the top. A paper feed unit 1b is inserted into the housing 1a from the opening 10b, and a cartridge unit 1c is inserted into the housing 1a from the opening 10c. The printer 1 is provided with a door 1d that is fitted in the opening 10d and is rotatable about the lower horizontal axis. As the door 1d is opened and closed by rotation, the opening 10d is opened and closed. The door 1d is disposed to face the transport unit 21 (see FIG. 2) with respect to the main direction of the housing 1a (for example, the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of a plurality of surfaces extending in the vertical direction of the housing 1a). Yes.

  Next, the internal configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The inside of the housing 1a is divided into spaces A, B, and C in order from the vertical direction. In the space A, for example, two heads 2 that are line heads for high-speed printing, a transport unit 21, and a controller 100 are arranged. These heads 2 are configured to discharge black ink and pretreatment liquid (hereinafter, black ink and pretreatment liquid may be collectively referred to as “liquid”), respectively.

  For example, in a high-speed inkjet printer such as a line head inkjet printer, the humidity in the printer casing increases as the number of printed pages per unit time increases. This is because the humidity according to the rapid drying process of various liquids (ink, pretreatment liquid, water as a wetting agent, etc.) applied from the ink cartridge to the recording medium (paper or the like) increases. The rapid drying process is essential for a high-speed inkjet printer so that the printed surface is not soiled when the printed recording medium is discharged and laminated. The transport unit 21 is configured to transport the paper P. The controller 100 is configured to control the operation of each unit of the printer 1. The paper feeding unit 1b is disposed in the space B. The cartridge unit 1c is disposed in the space C. As shown by a thick arrow in FIG. 2, a paper conveyance path through which the paper P is conveyed from the paper supply unit 1 b toward the paper discharge unit 31 is formed inside the printer 1.

  The controller 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) (nonvolatile RAM or the like), and an I / F (Interface). The ROM is configured to store programs executed by the CPU, various fixed data, and the like. The RAM is configured to temporarily store data (image data or the like) necessary when the CPU executes the program. The controller 100 performs data transmission / reception to / from the memory 141 (see FIG. 4) and the hall element 71 of the cartridge 40 and data transmission / reception to / from an external device (such as a PC connected to the printer 1) via the I / F. It is configured.

  The paper feed unit 1 b includes a paper feed tray 23 and a paper feed roller 25. The paper feed tray 23 is configured to be detachable from the housing 1a in the main direction. The paper feed tray 23 is a box that opens upward, and is configured to accommodate a plurality of types of paper P. The paper feed roller 25 is configured to send out the uppermost paper P in the paper feed tray 23 by driving a paper feed motor 125 (see FIG. 9) under the control of the controller 100. The paper P sent out by the paper feed roller 25 is guided to the guide unit 27 a and 27 b and is sent to the transport unit 21 while being sandwiched by the feed roller pair 26.

  The transport unit 21 includes two belt rollers 6 and 7 and an endless transport belt 8 wound so as to be bridged between the rollers 6 and 7. The belt roller 7 is a driving roller, and is configured to rotate clockwise in FIG. 2 when the shaft of the belt roller 7 is driven by the transport motor 127 (see FIG. 9) under the control of the controller 100. ing. The belt roller 6 is a driven roller and rotates clockwise in FIG. 2 as the conveyor belt 8 travels as the belt roller 7 rotates.

  A substantially rectangular parallelepiped platen 19 is disposed in the loop of the conveyor belt 8 so as to face the two heads 2. An outer peripheral surface 8a of the conveyor belt 8 in the upper portion of the loop faces the lower surface 2a of the head 2 and extends in parallel with the lower surface 2a while being slightly separated from the lower surface 2a. The platen 19 supports the inner peripheral surface of the conveyor belt 8 in the upper part of the loop. The lower surface 2a of each head 2 is an ejection surface on which many ejection ports for ejecting liquid are formed.

  A weak adhesive silicon layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface 8 a of the conveyor belt 8. The paper P sent from the paper supply unit 1 b to the transport unit 21 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface 8 a of the transport belt 8 by the pressing roller 4. The paper P is conveyed in the sub-direction as indicated by the thick arrows in FIG. 2 while being held on the outer peripheral surface 8a by the adhesive force.

  Here, the sub direction is a direction parallel to the transport direction of the paper P by the transport unit 21. The main direction is a direction orthogonal to the sub direction. Each of the main direction and the sub direction is a horizontal direction.

  When the paper P held on the outer peripheral surface 8a of the transport belt 8 passes immediately below the head 2, under the control of the controller 100, the head 2 moves black ink, from the lower surface 2a toward the upper surface of the paper P. Alternatively, both black ink and pretreatment liquid are ejected according to the situation, and a desired image is recorded on the paper P. The peeling plate 5 is configured to peel the paper P from the outer peripheral surface 8 a of the transport belt 8. The paper P is peeled off from the outer peripheral surface 8a of the transport belt 8 by the peeling plate 5, and then guided upward by the guides 29a and 29b and transported upward while being sandwiched between the two pairs of feed rollers 28. Thereafter, the paper P is discharged from the opening 30 formed in the upper portion of the housing 1 a to the paper discharge unit 31. One roller of each feed roller pair 28 is driven by a feed motor 128 (see FIG. 9) under the control of the controller 100.

  The pretreatment liquid, for example, has an effect of improving the density of the ink ejected onto the paper P, an ink bleeding or back-through effect (a phenomenon in which ink penetrates through the recorded paper P), an ink reproducibility and speed. It has various effects such as an effect of improving dryness and an effect of suppressing wrinkles and curling of the paper P after ink discharge. As the pretreatment liquid, for example, a liquid containing a polyvalent metal salt such as a cationic polymer or a magnesium salt may be used.

  The head 2 that discharges the pretreatment liquid is disposed upstream of the head 2 that discharges the black ink in the transport direction.

  Each head 2 is a line type elongated in the main direction, and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The two heads 2 are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the sub direction, and are supported by the housing 1 a via the frame 3. A joint (not shown) to which a flexible tube is attached is provided on the upper surface of each head 2. A large number of discharge ports (not shown) are formed on the lower surface 2 a of each head 2. Inside each head 2, a flow path is formed from the liquid supplied from the corresponding reservoir 42 of the cartridge 40 to the discharge port via the corresponding tube and joint.

  The cartridge unit 1 c includes a tray 35 and a cartridge 40 configured to be disposed in the tray 35. The cartridge 40 includes a plurality of reservoirs 42 (see FIG. 4) for storing, for example, black ink and pretreatment liquid. The liquid stored in each reservoir 42 of the cartridge 40 is supplied to the corresponding head 2 via the corresponding flexible tube and joint.

  The tray 35 is configured to be detachable in the main direction with respect to the housing 1a in a state where the cartridge 40 is disposed therein. Therefore, the cartridge 40 arranged in the tray 35 can be exchanged with the tray 35 removed from the housing 1a.

  Next, the configuration of the cartridge 40 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cartridge 40 includes a casing 41, a black ink unit 40 </ b> B, a pretreatment liquid unit 40 </ b> P, a memory 141, and a substrate 142.

  Each of the black ink unit 40B and the pretreatment liquid unit 40P includes a reservoir 42, an ink discharge pipe 43, a plug 50, a valve 60, and a sensor unit 70. The black ink unit 40B and the pretreatment liquid unit 40P have the same configuration (see FIG. 5).

  The housing 41 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the inside of the housing 41 is partitioned into two rooms 41a and 41b. In the room 41a, a black ink unit 40B and a pretreatment liquid unit 40P are arranged. In the chamber 41b, the ink discharge pipes 43 of the black ink unit 40B and the pretreatment liquid unit 40P are arranged.

  Each reservoir 42 is a bag for storing liquid, and one end of an ink discharge pipe 43 is connected to the opening of the reservoir 42. The reservoir 42 of the black ink unit 40B is configured to store black ink. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid reservoir is configured to contain more than 100 milliliters of liquid. The reservoir 42 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P is configured to store the pretreatment liquid. According to another embodiment of the present invention, each reservoir 42 is configured to contain more than 100 milliliters of liquid. According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the reservoir 42 of the black ink unit 40B is configured to be able to contain more than 400 milliliters of liquid, and the reservoir 42 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P is configured to be able to contain more than 250 milliliters of liquid. Has been.

  The ink discharge pipe 43 defines an ink discharge path 43a for discharging the liquid stored in the reservoir 42 to the head 2 (see FIG. 5A).

  The other end of the ink discharge pipe 43 protrudes from the housing 41 of the cartridge 40 as shown in FIG. The ink discharge pipe 43 is provided with an opening 43 b on the side opposite to the reservoir 42. A plug 50 made of an elastic material such as rubber is provided in a compressed state at the other end of the ink discharge pipe 43 so as to close the opening 43b of the ink discharge path 43a (see FIG. 5A). A cap 46 is provided outside the plug 50 at the other end of the ink discharge pipe 43. An opening 46 a is formed in the approximate center of the cap 46. Through the opening 46a, the surface of the plug 50 opposite to the surface facing the valve 60 is exposed.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the valve 60 is disposed in the ink discharge path 43 a and includes an O-ring 61 and a valve main body 62.

  The valve body 62 is a columnar magnetic body having an axis extending in the sub direction as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In a state where the cartridge 40 is mounted on the housing 1a, the first direction is a direction along the main direction, the second direction is a direction along the sub direction, and the third direction is a direction along the vertical direction. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the ink discharge pipe 43 is substantially cylindrical.

  The valve body 62 is disposed in a part of the ink discharge pipe 43. This portion of the ink discharge pipe 43 includes flat upper and lower walls and a plurality of curved side walls. This portion of the ink discharge pipe 43 is elongated in the first direction in the cross section extending in the direction orthogonal to the second direction. On the inner surface of each side wall of the ink discharge pipe 43, a protrusion 43p is provided so as to protrude inward of the ink discharge pipe 43 in the first direction. Each protrusion 43p extends in the second direction within a range in which the valve main body 62 is movable. The valve main body 62 is held by the protrusions 43p and the upper and lower walls of the ink discharge pipe 43, and is positioned at the approximate center of the ink discharge path 43a in a sectional view. Between the valve main body 62 and the ink discharge pipe 43, a flow path is defined in a portion where the valve main body 62 and the protrusion 43p of the ink discharge pipe 43 and the upper and lower walls do not contact each other.

  The O-ring 61 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The O-ring 61 is fixed to the surface of the valve body 62 that faces the stopper 50.

  The valve 60 is urged toward the opening 43 y of the reduced diameter portion 43 x of the ink discharge pipe 43 by the coil spring 63. One end of the coil spring 63 is fixed to one end of the ink discharge pipe 43, and the other end is in contact with the back surface of the valve body 62.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the ink discharge pipe 43 has a valve seat 43 z that protrudes from one end of the reduced diameter portion 43 x (the end closer to the opening 43 b) toward the radial center of the ink discharge pipe 43. I have. When the valve 60 is in the closed position for closing the ink discharge path 43a, the O-ring 61 contacts the valve seat 43z, and the opening 43y at one end of the reduced diameter portion 43x is sealed. Thereby, the communication between the reservoir 42 and the outside via the ink discharge path 43a is blocked. At this time, the O-ring 61 is elastically deformed by the urging force of the coil spring 63.

  The sensor unit 70 includes a hall element 71 and a magnet 72. The magnet 72 generates a magnetic field. The hall element 71 is a magnetic sensor that detects a magnetic field generated by the magnet 72, and converts the detected magnetic field into an electric signal to generate an electric signal. In the present embodiment, the Hall element 71 generates a signal indicating a voltage value proportional to the magnitude of the magnetic field that changes as the valve body 62 moves.

  The Hall element 71 is disposed at a position where a magnetic field generated by the magnet 72 and the valve body 62 can be detected (see FIG. 5A).

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the hall element 71 and the magnet 72 are respectively fixed to the upper wall and the lower wall so as to face each other in the third direction.

  When the valve 60 is in the closed position, the hall element 71 and the magnet 72 are opposed to each other with the valve body 62 interposed therebetween. That is, the valve body 62 is located between the hall element 71 and the magnet 72. At this time, the magnetic field generated by the magnet 72 efficiently reaches the Hall element 71 via the valve body 62. Therefore, the magnetic field detected by the Hall element 71 is large, and the Hall element 71 generates a signal indicating a high voltage value.

  When the valve 60 moves from the closed position (see FIG. 5A) to the open position (see FIG. 5B) that opens the ink discharge path 43a, the valve main body 62 is in the vertical direction with respect to the Hall element 71 and the magnet. The magnetic field detected by the Hall element 71 decreases as it moves to a position that does not face the position 72 (that is, a position that is not between the Hall element 71 and the magnet 72). Therefore, the voltage value indicated by the signal generated by the Hall element 71 is lowered.

  The controller 100 receives a signal generated by the Hall element 71 and determines whether the position of the valve 60 is open or closed based on the voltage value indicated by the signal.

  The substrate 142 is provided on the outer surface of the downstream wall of the housing 41 of the cartridge 40 in the insertion direction of the cartridge 40 into the space C (hereinafter simply referred to as “insertion direction”). The insertion direction is a direction parallel to the first direction in the cartridge 40.

  The memory 141 is disposed on the back side of the substrate 142. The memory 141 includes an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM) and the like, and is configured to store data regarding the cartridge 40. Specifically, the memory 141 stores the capacity of the liquid reservoir (amount of liquid stored in each reservoir 42 of the new cartridge 40), sensor output values (output values Vmax and Vmin from each Hall element 71 (see FIG. 12). )), The date of manufacture (date of manufacture of the cartridge 40) is stored in advance. The controller 100 can read these data from the memory 141 when the cartridge 40 is attached to the printer 1. Further, when the cartridge 40 is mounted on the printer 1, the controller 100 determines the amount of liquid used (the amount of liquid used in each reservoir 42, that is, the amount of liquid ejected from each head 2), and the hollow tube is inserted. The number of times (the number of times the hollow tube 153 has been inserted into each plug 50), the number of recordings (the number of sheets P on which recording has been performed by the liquid in the cartridge 40), and the cumulative usage time (when the cartridge 40 is mounted on the printer 1) The total time for which the hollow tubes 153 are inserted into the respective ink discharge paths 43a) can be written in the memory 141. Further, the controller 100 can read these data stored in the memory 141 when the cartridge 40 is attached to the printer 1.

  As shown in FIG. 7, eight terminals 170 c to 177 c are provided on the surface of the substrate 142. All of the terminals 170 c to 177 c have substantially the same size and shape and are exposed on the outer surface of the cartridge 40. The shape of the terminals 170c to 177c is a substantially rectangular shape including two short sides extending in a direction parallel to the second direction and two long sides extending in a direction parallel to the third direction. Terminals 170c to 177c are arranged in two rows.

  The distances between the centers of the terminal 174c and the terminals 170c to 173c are x0, x1, x2, and x3, respectively, and the shortest distances between the outer edges of the terminal 174c and the terminals 170c to 173c are y0, y1, y2, and y3, respectively. The terminals 170c to 174c are arranged on the substrate 142 so that the positional relationship is x1 <x0 <x2 <x3 and y1 <y0 <y2 <y3. Here, xn (n = 0, 1, 2, or 3) means the center-to-center distance between the terminal 174c and the terminal 17nc. yn (n = 0, 1, 2, or 3) means the shortest distance between the outer edges of the terminal 174c and the terminal 17nc.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c is electrically connected to the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B. The sensor signal output terminal (SP) 171c is electrically connected to the hall element 71 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P. The data output terminal (DO) 172c and the data input terminal (DI) 173c are electrically connected to the memory 141. The ground terminals (G) 175c, 176c, and 177c are electrically connected to the memory 141, the hall element 71 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P, and the hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B.

  Of the wall surfaces defining the space C of the casing 1a of the printer 1, a wall surface extending in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction (main direction) is provided with a substrate 182 as shown in FIG. Yes.

  The substrate 182 is substantially the same size as the substrate 142. The substrate 182 is disposed at a position facing the substrate 142 of the cartridge 40 when the cartridge 40 is mounted at a predetermined position in the space C (see FIG. 8B). A substrate 201 is provided on the surface of the substrate 182 as shown in FIGS. On the surface of the base material 201, eight terminals 170p to 177p are provided so as to correspond to the terminals 170c to 177c, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 19, each of the terminals 170 p to 177 p is made of a leaf spring having a substantially C-shaped cross section, and has a first end portion 205, a second end portion 203, and a vertex portion 202. In each of the terminals 170p to 177p, the first end portion 205 is a fixed end fixed to the substrate 182, establishing electrical connection with the substrate 182, and the second end portion 203 includes the portion 204. It is a free end which can be bent using as a fulcrum. The second end 203 is biased in a direction parallel to the main direction and approaching the terminals 170c to 177c of the cartridge 40 mounted at a predetermined position in the space C.

  The terminals 170p to 177p are arranged in mirror symmetry with the terminals 170c to 177c so as to come into contact with each of the terminals 170c to 177c when the cartridge 40 is mounted at a predetermined position in the space C.

  Specifically, each of the terminals 170p to 177p is arranged such that when the cartridge 40 is mounted at a predetermined position in the space C, each vertex 202 contacts the center of the corresponding terminal 170c to 177c.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sensor signal receiving terminal (SB) 170p, the sensor signal receiving terminal (SP) 171p, the data receiving terminal (DO) 172p, and the data transmitting terminal (DI) 173p are electrically connected to the controller 100. Has been. The power output terminal (V) 174p is electrically connected to the power source 158. The ground terminals (G) 175p, 176p, 177p are grounded. The power source 158 is provided in the housing 1a.

  Next, a process of mounting the cartridge 40 on the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8C, the illustration of the tray 35 is omitted. In FIG. 9, the power supply line is indicated by a thick line, and the signal line is indicated by a thin line.

  When the cartridge 40 is not attached to the printer 1, the hollow tube 153 of the printer 1 is not inserted into the plug 50 in each of the black ink unit 40B and the pretreatment liquid unit 40P. Therefore, the valve 60 is maintained in the closed position (see FIG. 5A). At this stage, electrical connection between the terminals 170c to 177c and the terminals 170p to 177p is not realized. Therefore, power is not supplied to the Hall element 71 and the memory 141, and the controller 100 is in a state where it cannot transmit / receive a signal to / from the Hall element 71 or the memory 141.

  When the cartridge 40 is attached to the printer 1, after the cartridge 40 is placed in the tray 35 (see FIG. 2), as shown in FIG. 8B, the terminals 170c to 177c of the cartridge 40 and the terminals 170p to 170a of the housing 1a are arranged. The tray 35 is inserted into the space C of the housing 1a along the main direction (the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 8A) so as to come into contact with 177p.

  8B, the centers of the terminals 170c to 177c are in contact with the apex portions 202 of the terminals 170p to 177p, respectively, and electrical connection between the terminals 170c to 177c and the terminals 170p to 177p is realized. As a result, power is supplied from the power source 158 to the Hall element 71 and the memory 141 via the terminals 174p and 174c. Further, the controller 100 receives signals from the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B via the terminals 170c and 170p, receives signals from the Hall element 71 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P via the terminals 171c and 171p, and terminals. Data can be read from the memory 141 via the terminals 172c and 172p, and data can be written to the memory 141 via the terminals 173c and 173p.

  In the process of mounting the cartridge 40 to the printer 1, immediately before the mounting of the cartridge 40 is completely completed, the centers of the terminals 170c to 177c come into contact with the apex 202 of the terminals 170p to 177p. Thereafter, until the mounting of the cartridge 40 is completely completed, the terminals 170p to 177p are pushed by the terminals 170c to 177c, and the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 19 is shifted to the state shown by the two-dot chain line. That is, the terminals 170p to 177p are bent in the direction in which the second end 203 moves away from the terminals 170c to 177c of the cartridge 40 mounted at a predetermined position in the space C with the portion 204 as a fulcrum. . Each of the terminals 170c to 177c has a contact area (area surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 7) where the apex 202 of the terminals 170p to 177p contacts when the mounting of the cartridge 40 to the printer 1 is completely completed. is there. The contact areas are areas including the centers of the terminals 170c to 177c, respectively. FIG. 7 shows contact areas of the terminals 175c, 170c, 171c, and 174c arranged in the upper row immediately before the cartridge 40 is completely attached to the printer 1 and until the attachment is completely completed. The terminals 176c, 173c, 172c, and 177c arranged in the lower row gradually move upward from the slightly lower position of the contact area shown in FIG. Move down.

  Of the wall surfaces defining the space C of the housing 1a, the support member 154 is disposed on the wall surface that is orthogonal to the sub-direction and faces the caps 46 of the cartridge 40 when the cartridge 40 is mounted at a predetermined position in the space C. Has been placed. The support body 154 is movable in the sub direction with respect to the housing 1 a while supporting the two hollow tubes 153. The two hollow tubes 153 correspond to the head 2 that discharges the black ink and the head 2 that discharges the pretreatment liquid, respectively, and communicate with the flexible tubes attached to the joints of the corresponding head 2.

  8B, the cartridge 40 is separated from the hollow tube 153, and each reservoir 42 does not communicate with the flow path of the corresponding head 2.

  The printer 1 includes a mounting detection switch 159 configured to detect that the cartridge 40 is mounted at a predetermined position in the space C (see FIG. 9).

  The mounting detection switch 159 includes a convex portion on a wall surface extending in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction among the wall surfaces defining the space C of the housing 1a. The convex portion is provided, for example, in the vicinity of the substrate 182. The convex portion protrudes from the wall surface before the cartridge 40 is mounted in the space C. When the cartridge 40 is inserted into the space C and is in the position shown in FIG. 8B, the convex portion is pushed by the housing 41 of the cartridge 40 and retracts into the wall surface. The attachment detection switch 159 is configured to output an OFF signal when the convex portion protrudes from the wall surface, and an ON signal when the convex portion retracts into the wall surface.

  Based on the signal received from the mounting detection switch 159, the controller 100 determines whether or not the cartridge 40 is mounted at a predetermined position in the space C (S1 in FIG. 11; S is an abbreviation for step). When the controller 100 receives the ON signal from the mounting detection switch 159 and detects that the cartridge 40 is mounted at a predetermined position in the space C (S1: YES), the time when the cartridge is mounted at the predetermined position (mounting time) ) Is recorded (S2), and data relating to the liquid capacity, sensor output value, date of manufacture, liquid use amount, number of hollow tube insertions, number of recorded sheets, and cumulative use time are read from the memory 141 of the cartridge 40 (S3). .

  After S3, the controller 100 determines whether there is an abnormality in reading in S3 (S4). If the reading is not normally performed in S3, the controller 100 determines that there is a reading abnormality (S4: YES), and notifies the error notification by the output device 160 (see FIG. 9) such as a display or a speaker of the printer 1. Perform (S5). After S5, the controller 100 stops the operation of each unit of the printer 1 (S6).

  The reading abnormality may occur when the memory 141 is damaged due to a short circuit between the terminal 172c and the terminal 174c, or when a communication function of the controller 100 is defective due to a short circuit between the terminal 173c and the terminal 174c.

  If the reading is normally performed in S3, the controller 100 determines that there is no reading abnormality (S4: NO). Next, the controller 100 controls the moving mechanism 155 (see FIG. 9) to move the support 154 that supports each hollow tube 153 in the sub-direction (the direction indicated by the thick arrow in FIG. 8C) ( S7).

  With the movement of the hollow tube 153 in S7, as shown in FIG. 5B, each hollow tube 153 penetrates the substantial center of the plug 50 in the main direction through the opening 46a.

  Each hollow tube 153 is provided with an opening 153b at one end thereof. Accordingly, in the above case, since the opening 153b is disposed in the ink discharge path 43a, the flow path 153a provided in the hollow tube 153 and the ink discharge path 43a communicate with each other through the opening 153b. At this time, a hole is formed in the stopper 50 by the penetration of the hollow tube 153. The periphery of the hole in the stopper 50 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the hollow tube 153 due to its elasticity. Thereby, the liquid leakage from between the hole of the stopper 50 and the hollow tube 153 is suppressed.

  Thereafter, the distal end of the hollow tube 153 comes into contact with the valve main body 62, and the valve main body 62 moves together with the O-ring 61 by further entering the ink discharge path 43 a of the hollow tube 153. Thereby, the O-ring 61 is separated from the valve seat 43z (see FIG. 5B), and the position of the valve 60 is switched from closed to open.

  When the valve 60 is in the open position, the reservoir 42 is allowed to communicate with the outside through the ink discharge path 43a. That is, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the hollow tube 153 passes through the plug 50 and the valve 60 is in the open position, the reservoir 42 and the head 2 are connected via the ink discharge path 43a, the flow path 153a, and the like. The flow path is in communication.

  After S7, the controller 100 receives signals from the Hall elements 71 of the black ink unit 40B and the pretreatment liquid unit 40P (S8). After S8, the controller 100 arranges the valves 60 of the black ink unit 40B and the pretreatment liquid unit 40P in the open positions based on the signal received in S8 and the output values Vmax and Vmin read from the memory 141 in S3. It is determined whether or not the communication between the reservoir 42 and the head 2 is permitted (ie, the liquid can flow from the reservoir 42 to the head 2 via the hollow tube 153) (S9). The determination in S9 is performed as follows.

  FIG. 12 shows the relationship between the position of the valve 60 and the output value from the Hall element 71. The horizontal axis represents the position of the valve 60 with respect to the main direction, and the vertical axis represents the output value from the Hall element 71. Vmax is an output value from the Hall element 71 when a predetermined voltage is applied to the Hall element 71 when the valve 60 is in the closed position shown in FIG. Vmin is an output value from the Hall element 71 when a predetermined voltage is applied to the Hall element 71 when the valve 60 is in the open position shown in FIG. The threshold value Vt (for example, Vt = (Vmax + Vmin) / 2) is calculated based on the output values Vmax and Vmin read by the controller 100 in S3. The controller 100 determines that the valve 60 is in the open position when the output value from the Hall element 71 received in S8 is less than or equal to the threshold value Vt. When the output value from the Hall element 71 received in S8 exceeds the threshold value Vt, the controller 100 determines that the valve 60 is in the closed position.

  When the predetermined time has passed without the valves 60 of the black ink unit 40B and the pretreatment liquid unit 40P being placed in the open positions (S10: YES), the controller 100 issues an error notification (S5), and each part of the printer 1 The operation is stopped (S6).

  The error is that the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B is damaged due to a short circuit between the terminal 170c and the terminal 174c, and the Hall element 71 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P is damaged due to a short circuit between the terminal 171c and the terminal 174c. A short circuit between the terminal 173c and the terminal 174c causes a malfunction in the communication function of the controller 100, or the plug 50 or the valve 60 of the cartridge 40 or the hollow tube 153 or the moving mechanism 155 of the printer 1 This can happen due to a defect.

  When the controller 100 determines that the valves 60 of the black ink unit 40B and the pretreatment liquid unit 40P are arranged at the open position (S9: YES), 1 is added to the number of insertions of the hollow tube read in S3. Data indicating the value is written in the memory 141 (S11). Thereafter, the controller 100 determines whether or not a recording command is received from an external device (S12).

  When the controller 100 determines that a recording command has been received (S12: YES), the controller 100 controls the paper feed motor 125, the transport motor 127, the feed motor 128, and the head 2 to record one page of the paper P. (S13). After S13, the controller 100 uses the amount of liquid used for one page of the current sheet, that is, the amount of black ink ejected to one page of the recorded sheet P and the pretreatment liquid in the current recording operation. The amount is calculated (S14).

  After S14, the controller 100 uses the liquid usage amount of the black ink and the pretreatment liquid (the usage amount of the liquid in each reservoir 42 when the cartridge 40 is new. That is, the black ink and the pretreatment liquid read in S3. The liquid usage amount calculated in S14 is a value obtained by adding the liquid usage amount of the black ink and the pretreatment liquid of one page of the current paper P, and the number of recordings (the cartridge 40 from when the cartridge 40 is new). Data indicating the number of sheets P on which recording has been performed, that is, a value obtained by adding 1 to the number of recording sheets read in S3) is written in the memory 141 (S15). Therefore, as is apparent from FIG. 11, the controller 100 reads / writes the memory 141 a plurality of times during the entire operation period. However, the signal from the sensor is read during the cartridge insertion operation or immediately after the insertion in step S8. Only done.

  After S15, the controller 100 determines whether there is an abnormality in the writing in S15 (S16). If the writing is not normally performed in S15, the controller 100 determines that there is a writing abnormality (S16: YES). The controller 100 performs error notification (S5), and stops the operation of each unit of the printer 1 (S6).

  An abnormal writing may occur when the memory 141 is damaged due to a short circuit between the terminal 172c and the terminal 174c, and a communication function of the controller 100 is defective due to a short circuit between the terminal 173c and the terminal 174c.

  When the writing is normally performed, the controller 100 determines that there is no writing abnormality (S16: NO), and based on the image data included in the recording command received in S12, It is determined whether data is included (S17).

  When the data of the next page is included in the recording command (S17: YES), the controller 100 returns the process to S13 and executes the series of processes S13 to S16. On the other hand, when the data for the next page is not included in the recording command (S17: NO), the controller 100 returns the process to S12 and waits until it is determined that the controller 100 has received the recording command.

  The printer 1 includes a lock mechanism (not shown) configured to lock the cartridge 40 at a predetermined position. When the controller 100 determines that the cartridge 40 is mounted at a predetermined position in the space C (S1: YES), for example, simultaneously with the processing of S2, the controller 100 drives the lock mechanism to lock the cartridge 40 at the predetermined position together with the tray 35. .

  When the cartridge 40 is removed from the printer 1, the lock release button is pressed. When the controller 100 detects that the lock release button is pressed, the controller 100 first controls the moving mechanism 155 (see FIG. 9) to move the support 154 in the direction opposite to the thick arrow in FIG. 8C. Thereby, the support body 154 moves to the position of FIG.8 (b) from the position of FIG.8 (c). At this time, in each of the black ink unit 40B and the pretreatment liquid unit 40P, as the hollow tube 153 moves leftward in FIG. 5B, the valve 60 is also moved by the biasing force of the coil spring 63 in FIG. ) To the left and contact the valve seat 43z. Thereby, the position of the valve 60 is switched from open to closed. The controller 100 determines that the valve 60 is in the closed position when the output value received from the Hall element 71 exceeds the threshold value Vt in each of the black ink unit 40B and the pretreatment liquid unit 40P, and the removal time ( Based on the time when the controller 100 determines that the valve 60 is in the closed position) and the mounting time stored in S2, the current usage time (the time from the mounting time to the removal time) is calculated. The controller 100 indicates a value obtained by adding the accumulated usage time read in S3 to the calculated current usage time (that is, the total time that the cartridge 40 is mounted on the printer 1 since the cartridge 40 is new). Data is written to the memory 141. Thereafter, the hollow tube 153 is removed from the stopper 50. At this time, the hole formed by the hollow tube 153 formed in the plug 50 becomes smaller due to the elasticity of the peripheral portion of the hole, and the liquid leakage between the hole of the plug 50 and the hollow tube 153 is suppressed.

  Thereafter, the controller 100 drives the lock mechanism to release the lock of the cartridge 40.

  Thereby, the tray 35 can be taken out from the space C. When the tray 35 is removed from the space C, the substrate 142 of the cartridge 40 is separated from the substrate 182 of the printer 1. Thereby, the electrical connection between the terminals 170c to 177c and the terminals 170p to 177p is released, and power is not supplied to the hall element 71 and the memory 141. Therefore, the controller 100 cannot transmit / receive signals to / from the hall element 71 and the memory 141.

  The controller 100 displays a value obtained by subtracting the amount of liquid used written in the memory 141 in S15 from the liquid volume as the remaining amount of liquid in each reservoir 42 on the output device 160 (display or the like) of the printer 1.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the controller 100 is a communication unit that communicates with the cartridge 40 mounted in the space C, and constructs each unit corresponding to the processing of FIG.

  The cartridge mounting detection unit M1 corresponds to the process of S1. The reading unit M2 corresponds to the process of S3. The reading abnormality determination unit M3 corresponds to the process of S4. The notification control unit M4 corresponds to the process of S5. The recording prohibition unit M5 corresponds to the process 6 of S. The movement control unit M6 corresponds to the process of S7. The receiving unit M7 corresponds to the process of S8. The reception abnormality determination unit M8 corresponds to the processes of S9 and S10. The writing unit M9 corresponds to the process of S11. The write abnormality determination unit M10 corresponds to the process of S16. The recording control unit M11 corresponds to the process of S13. The communication determination unit M12 corresponds to the process of S9.

  The second to sixth embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The printers and cartridges of the second to sixth embodiments have substantially the same configuration as the printer 1 and the cartridge 40 of the first embodiment except for the arrangement or configuration of the terminals provided on the cartridge and the printer casing.

  Compared with the cartridge 40 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the cartridge 40 according to the second embodiment includes 170c, 171c, 172c, 173c, 174c, 175c, and 177c, as shown in FIG. The ground terminal 176c is omitted from the cartridge 40.

  Compared with the cartridge 40 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the cartridge 40 according to the third embodiment includes 170c, 171c, 172c, 173c, 174c, and 177c as shown in FIG. 40, the ground terminals 175c and 176c are omitted.

  Compared to the cartridge 40 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the cartridge 40 according to the fourth embodiment includes terminals 170c to 177c as shown in FIG. The data output terminal 172c of the cartridge 40 of the fourth embodiment is provided with an L-shaped extending portion 172c1. The extending portion 172c1 extends from one end of the data output terminal 172c toward the terminal 171c, and further bends and extends so as to approach the power input terminal 174c.

  Compared with the cartridge 40 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the terminals of the cartridge 40 according to the fifth embodiment are, as shown in FIG. 16, terminals 170c, 171c, 174c, 176c, 177c and data input / output terminals. 574c. The data input / output terminal 574c has functions of a data output terminal 172c and a data input terminal 173c. The installation terminal 175c is omitted from the cartridge 40. Terminals 170c, 171c, 174c, 176c, 177c, 574c are arranged in two rows (three terminals in each row). The width | variety of the board | substrate 542 of the cartridge 40 of 5th Embodiment of this invention is smaller than the board | substrate 142 of the cartridge 40 of 1st Embodiment of this invention.

  The center-to-center distances between the terminal 174c and the terminals 170c, 171c, and 574c are x0, x1, and x4, respectively, and the shortest distances between the outer edges of the terminal 174c and the terminals 170c, 171c, and 574c are y0, y1, and y4, respectively. . At this time, the terminals 174c, 170c, 171c, and 574c are arranged on the substrate 542 so that the positional relationship between these terminals is x1 <x0 <x4 and y1 <y0 <y4. Here, xn (n = 0 or 1) means the center-to-center distance between the terminal 174c and the terminal 17nc. yn (n = 0 or 1) means the shortest distance between the outer edges of the terminal 174c and the terminal 17nc. y4 means the shortest distance between the outer edges of the terminal 574c and the terminal 174c. x4 means the center-to-center distance between the terminal 574c and the terminal 174c.

  Compared with the cartridge 40 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the terminals of the cartridge 40 according to the sixth embodiment include terminals 170 c to 177 c arranged in one row as shown in FIG. 17. The ground terminals 176c and 177c are omitted, and the terminal 175c is the only ground terminal in the sixth embodiment. The substrate 642 of the cartridge 40 of the sixth embodiment of the present invention is smaller in height and wider than the substrate 142 of the cartridge 40 of the first embodiment.

  In the second to sixth embodiments of the present invention, terminals and substrates provided in the casing 1 a of the printer 1 are configured to correspond to the terminals and substrates provided in the cartridge 40.

  As described above, according to the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention, the distance between the data output terminal 172c (the data input / output terminal 574c in the fifth embodiment) and the power input terminal 174c is the power input terminal 174c. And the sensor signal output terminals 170c and 171c.

  In the fourth embodiment, the distance between these specific terminals is the presence of the extending portion 172c1 that does not possibly contact the corresponding terminal of the housing 1a even when the position of the cartridge 40 is deviated from the predetermined position. Is defined without taking into account. The extending part 172c1 of the terminal 172c is not a “main part” of the terminal according to the present invention. The “main part” of each terminal means a part that may come into contact with a corresponding terminal of the housing 1a. In the first, second, third, fifth, and sixth embodiments, all the terminals are the whole. In the fourth embodiment, the terminals other than the terminal 172c are the whole, and the terminal 172c is a portion excluding the extending portion 172c1.

  In the first to sixth embodiments, the shortest distance between the outer edges of the main part and the center-to-center distance of the main part of the specific terminals provided on the substrates 142, 542, and 642 are as described above. It is stipulated in.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the main parts of the terminals are arranged in a matrix in the second direction and the third direction on the substrates 142 and 542. The sensor signal output terminals 170c and 171c and the power input terminal 174c are arranged in the second direction in this order so that main parts are adjacent to each other. The main part of the data output terminal 172c (the data input / output terminal 574c in the fifth embodiment) and the power input terminal 174c are arranged so that the main part is not adjacent to either the second direction or the third direction (that is, , In an oblique positional relationship).

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the substrate 142 is provided with a plurality of regions 161 to 168 arranged in a matrix matrix in the second direction and the third direction. In the fifth embodiment, a plurality of regions 561 to 566 arranged in a matrix matrix in the second direction and the third direction are provided on the substrate 542. Each terminal of the cartridge 40 is disposed so as to include the center of the corresponding region 161 to 168. A region 164 in which the power input terminal 174c is arranged at the center, a region 163 in which the sensor signal output terminal 171c is arranged in the center, and a region 162 in which the sensor signal output terminal 170c is arranged in the center are adjacent in this order in the second direction. They are lined up. The region 164 and the region 167 in which the data output terminal 172c is disposed at the center are disposed so as not to be adjacent to each other in the second direction and the third direction (that is, in an oblique positional relationship). Each terminal of the cartridge 40 is disposed so as to include the center of the corresponding region 561 to 566. A region 563 in which the power input terminal 174c is arranged at the center, a region 562 in which the sensor signal output terminal 171c is arranged in the center, and a region 561 in which the sensor signal output terminal 170c is arranged in the center are adjacent in this order in the second direction. They are lined up. The region 563 and the region 565 in which the data input / output terminal 574c is disposed at the center are disposed so as not to be adjacent to each other in the second direction and the third direction (that is, in an oblique positional relationship).

  In the sixth embodiment, the main parts of the terminals are arranged in the second direction on the substrate 642. The sensor signal output terminals 170c and 171c and the power input terminal 174c are arranged in the second direction in this order so that the main parts are adjacent to each other. The data output terminal 172c and the power input terminal 174c are arranged so that their main parts are not adjacent to each other in the second direction (that is, there are other terminals between the data output terminal 172c and the power input terminal 174c. Intervening).

  The substrate 642 is provided with a plurality of regions 661 to 666 arranged in a row in the second direction. Each terminal of the cartridge 40 is disposed so as to include the center of the corresponding region 661-666. A region 666 in which the power input terminal 174c is disposed at the center, a region 665 in which the sensor signal output terminal 171c is disposed in the center, and a region 664 in which the sensor signal output terminal 170c is disposed are adjacent to each other in this order in the second direction. They are lined up. The region 666 and the region 663 in which the data output terminal 172c is disposed at the center are disposed so as not to be adjacent to each other in the second direction (that is, another region is interposed between the region 666 and the region 663). doing).

  In 1st-6th embodiment, the influence by a short circuit can be suppressed by prescribing | regulating the positional relationship of a terminal as mentioned above.

  The memory 141 is configured to store data related to signals generated by the Hall element 71 (output values Vmax and Vmin from the Hall element 71). The data is the position of the valve 60 (whether it is the open position). This is data for determining whether the head 2 and the reservoir 42 are in communication with each other. Therefore, when either the memory 141 or the hall element 71 is damaged due to a short circuit while the cartridge 40 is mounted in the space C (before recording control), the controller 100 communicates with the reservoir 42 corresponding to the head 2. It is not possible to judge whether or not For this reason, the controller 100 cannot shift to recording control. When the memory 141 is damaged, more inconveniences besides the above-described problem can occur as compared with the case where the Hall element 71 is damaged. For example, the trader cannot provide a timely service to the user based on the data stored in the memory 141. The trader can grasp the period during which each reservoir 42 of the cartridge 40 provides the liquid based on the accumulated use time and the number of recorded sheets stored in the memory 141. By grasping the state of the cartridge, the contractor can supply a new cartridge 40 when the liquid in the reservoir runs out. However, when the memory 141 is damaged, such a timely service cannot be provided to the user.

  When the cartridge 40 is reproduced based on the data stored in the memory 141, the reproduction efficiency of the cartridge 40 is lowered. For example, when the data on the number of hollow tube insertions stored in the memory 141 has disappeared, it cannot be determined whether or not the stopper 50 of the cartridge 40 is within the usable period. Therefore, the plug 50 that does not require replacement because it is within the usable period must be replaced with a new one, which is not desirable.

  Further, the contractor cannot charge the user based on the data (for example, the amount of liquid used or the number of recorded sheets) stored in the memory 141.

  Therefore, in the first to sixth embodiments, the memory 141 is preferentially protected over the Hall element 71 by defining the positional relationship of the terminals as described above. Thereby, the influence (the above-mentioned inconvenience) by a short circuit can be suppressed.

  The controller 100 of the printer 1 records the amount of liquid used and the number of recordings in the memory 141 (S15) and determines whether there is an abnormality in the writing to the memory 141 (S16) on one page of the paper ( This is executed in a period between S13) and recording on the next page (S13). Accordingly, the controller 100 causes a short circuit between the data output terminal 172c (data input / output terminal 574c in the fifth embodiment) and the power input terminal 174c during recording on one page of the paper, and the memory 141 is damaged. In such a case, the controller 100 determines that a writing abnormality has occurred (S16: YES), notifies the error so that no further recording operation is performed (S5), and stops the operation of each unit of the printer 1. (S6).

  On the other hand, the controller 100 determines whether or not there is an abnormality related to the reception of the signal from the Hall element 71 during a period between recording on one page of the sheet (S13) and recording on the next page (S13). Does not execute. Therefore, the controller 100 causes a short circuit between the power input terminal 174c and the sensor signal output terminal 170c and / or between the power input terminal 174c and the sensor signal output terminal 171c, and one or both of the Hall elements 71 are detected. Continues recording even if is damaged.

  That is, if the memory 141 is damaged during execution of the recording control, the recording operation cannot be continued, but the recording operation can be continued even if one or both Hall elements 71 are damaged during the execution of the recording control.

  In the first to sixth embodiments, the memory 141 is preferentially protected over the Hall element 71 by defining the positional relationship of the terminals as described above. Thereby, the influence on the recording operation due to the short circuit can be suppressed.

  The terminals of the cartridge 40 and the terminals of the housing 1a are usually designed so that the centers are in contact with each other (the centers of the terminals of the cartridge 40 are the contact portions, respectively). Therefore, by defining the positional relationship with reference to the distance between the centers (contact portions) of the specific terminals, foreign matter attached to the contact portions (for example, sandwiched between the terminals of the cartridge 40 and the terminals of the housing 1a). It is possible to effectively suppress the influence of the short circuit due to the foreign matter.

  As described above, in the first to fourth and sixth embodiments of the present invention, the distance between the data input terminal 173c and the power input terminal 174c is larger than the distance between the data output terminal 172c and the power input terminal 174c ( This applies to both the center-to-center distance and the shortest distance between the outer edges).

  If a short circuit occurs between the data output terminal 172c and the power input terminal 174c, the memory 141 may be damaged. On the other hand, if a short circuit occurs between the data input terminal 173c and the power input terminal 174c, the controller 100 may be damaged. In this case, replacement of the controller 100 is more costly. Therefore, by defining the positional relationship of the terminals as described above, it is possible to suppress damage to the controller 100 and reduce the cost of component replacement due to a short circuit.

  In the fifth embodiment, the data input / output terminal 574c functions as both a data output terminal and a data input terminal. Thereby, the structure of a terminal and wiring can be simplified.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, adaptations, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Will be clear.

  The terminal provided in the liquid cartridge may be modified as follows. The terminals may be arranged on a plurality of substrates. The shape of the terminal is not limited to a rectangular shape, and is arbitrary (for example, a circle or the like may be used). The distance between the terminals may not be uniform. In the above-described embodiment, the terminal is disposed on a surface extending in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the cartridge 40, but may be disposed on another surface such as a surface extending in parallel with the insertion direction. Good. The number of sensor signal output terminals may be changed according to the number of sensors to be provided. The number of ground terminals is arbitrary, and the ground terminals may be omitted. The power input terminal may be electrically connected to at least one of the sensor and the storage means so that power can be input to the sensor and the storage means (for example, the power input to the storage means is performed via the data input terminal). Also good). The number of power input terminals may be one or more. The number of power input terminals may be two or more as long as the condition regarding distance is satisfied for each power input terminal. The terminals may be arranged such that the positional relationship between the terminals satisfies at least one of the distance between the centers and the shortest distance between the outer edges. If the positional relationship satisfies the condition regarding distance, the arrangement and size of the terminals may be arbitrarily changed. For example, in FIG. 7, the positions of the data input terminal 173c and the data output terminal 172c may be interchanged. The positions of the sensor signal output terminal 170c and the sensor signal output terminal 171c may be interchanged. The power input terminal 174c may be disposed at the lower right corner, upper left corner, lower left corner of the substrate 142, or may be disposed at any position other than the corner. Furthermore, the number of columns constituted by terminals, the number of terminals included in each column, and the like are arbitrary. Further, the terminals may be arranged in a circle or randomly.

  The terminals provided in the printer casing may be modified as follows. The terminal on the housing side may have a size substantially the same as or larger than the terminal of the liquid cartridge. The number of terminals on the housing side may not be the same as the number of terminals provided on the liquid cartridge. The arrangement of terminals on the housing side may not partially correspond to the terminals on the cartridge side. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the terminals of the liquid cartridge may be arranged in two rows including three terminals in each row, and the housing-side terminals may be arranged in two rows including four terminals in each row. In this case, among the terminals on the housing side, there is a terminal that does not contact the terminal on the liquid cartridge side. Similarly, the number of terminals on the liquid cartridge side may not be the same as the number of terminals on the casing side, and the arrangement of terminals on the liquid cartridge side may not partially correspond to the arrangement of terminals on the casing side. Good. In this case, among the terminals on the liquid cartridge side, there is a terminal that does not contact the terminal on the housing side. The terminal may be configured by a leaf spring (a terminal biased in a direction approaching the terminal of the liquid cartridge by the biasing force) or may be other than that. The terminals on the housing side and the terminals on the liquid cartridge side may be designed so that portions other than the center contact each other as long as the positional relationship satisfies the condition regarding the distance with respect to the contact portion.

  The configuration of the liquid cartridge may be modified as follows. The sensor is not limited to a magnetic sensor such as the Hall element 71. Various types of sensors (for example, a reflection-type optical sensor, a transmission-type optical sensor, a mechanical sensor configured to detect the presence or absence of an object based on whether or not it touches the object, and the like) may be used. Further, the sensor may be configured to detect directly or indirectly the presence or absence of an object inserted into the flow path. For example, although the Hall element 71 configured to detect the opening / closing of the valve 60 is used as the sensor in the above-described embodiment, an object is inserted into the flow path substantially simultaneously with the mounting of the liquid cartridge to the cartridge mounting portion. If it is present there, a mounting detection sensor configured to detect that the liquid cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion may be used. As the mounting detection sensor, the mounting detection switch 159 or the optical sensor of the above-described embodiment may be used. At least one sensor may be provided on the liquid cartridge. The liquid cartridge individually stores two types of liquids (black ink and pretreatment liquid) in the above-described embodiment, but may store only one type of liquid. The data stored in the storage means is not limited to specific data. The storage means stores data that can be used to derive an output value or amount, instead of the output value or the amount of liquid in the liquid storage unit itself, as data relating to the signal generated by the sensor, the amount of liquid in the liquid storage unit, or the like. You can do it. Other parts of the liquid cartridge (the casing 41, the reservoir 42, the ink discharge pipe 43, the plug 50, the valve 60, the sensor unit 70, the memory 141, the substrate 142, etc.) without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The configuration (shape, position, etc.) may be changed as appropriate, another part may be added to the liquid cartridge, or some parts may be omitted from the liquid cartridge.

  The control performed in the main body of the image recording apparatus may be modified as follows. You may stop operation | movement (head discharge operation etc.) of each part, without performing error alerting | reporting. The timing at which signals can be transmitted and received between the liquid cartridge and the image recording apparatus and the timing at which power can be supplied from the image recording apparatus to the liquid cartridge are not limited to those described above. These timings can be arbitrarily changed. As the mounting detection unit configured to detect that the liquid cartridge has been mounted on the mounting unit, the mechanical sensor type mounting detection switch 159 is used in the above-described embodiment. The type of sensor is not limited to this, and may be an optical sensor or a switch configured to output an ON signal when the image recording apparatus and the liquid cartridge are electrically connected. The writing of data by the writing unit and the determination of the presence / absence of an abnormality by the writing abnormality determining unit may be executed before receiving the recording command from the external device. Timing at which the reading unit reads data stored in the storage unit of the liquid cartridge, timing at which the writing unit writes data to the storage unit of the liquid cartridge, timing at which the receiving unit receives a signal from the sensor, and writing abnormality determination unit The timing at which each unit realizes the function, such as the timing for determining whether there is a writing abnormality, the timing at which the reception abnormality determining unit determines whether there is a reception abnormality, the timing at which the moving unit moves the hollow member, etc. Any change may be made without departing from the scope.

  The hollow member is not limited to a pointed tip like a needle.

  The liquid stored in the liquid cartridge is not limited to ink or pretreatment liquid. For example, it may be a post-processing liquid discharged to a recording medium in order to improve image quality, or a cleaning liquid for cleaning the transport belt.

  It is sufficient that at least one liquid cartridge is provided in the image recording apparatus.

  The number of heads provided is not limited to two. It is sufficient that at least one head is provided. The image recording apparatus may be a color ink jet printer including a head that ejects black, magenta, cyan, and yellow ink.

  The image recording apparatus according to the present invention may be either a line type or a serial type. The image recording apparatus may be applied not only to a printer but also to a facsimile, a copier, and the like.

  The substrate provided in the liquid cartridge may be an adapter-type substrate that can be attached to and detached from the liquid cartridge. In this case, the positional relationship between the terminals on the substrate needs to satisfy the above-described conditions regarding the distance. However, the positional relationship between the terminals provided on the liquid cartridge on which the substrate is mounted is not particularly limited.

Claims (15)

A liquid cartridge (40) for a line head printer (1),
A casing (41) with an outer surface;
A liquid storage part (40B, 40P) provided in the casing (41) and configured to be able to store a liquid exceeding 100 milliliters;
A liquid flow path configured to communicate the liquid container (40B, 40P) and the outside of the liquid cartridge on the outer surface of the casing (41);
A sensor (70) configured to detect a first position and a second position of the movable member (60) and to output a signal relating to the first position and the second position of the movable member (60); ,
Storage means (141) configured to store data;
A substrate (142) provided on the outer surface of the casing (41) and provided with a plurality of terminals (170c to 177c),
The plurality of terminals are:
Sensor terminals (170c, 171c) connected to the sensor (70);
Data terminals (172c, 173c) connected to the storage means (141);
A power terminal (174c) connected to at least one of the sensor (70) and the storage means (141),
A liquid cartridge, wherein a distance between the power terminal (174c) and the data terminal (172c, 173c) is larger than a distance between the power terminal (174c) and the sensor terminal (170c, 171c).   The liquid container (40B, 40P) is an amount such that the humidity rises at a plurality of specific positions in the line head printer (1), and the liquid cartridge (40B) from the liquid container (40B, 40P). 2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the liquid cartridge is configured to supply liquid to the outside.   The sensor (70) includes the first position and the second position of the movable member (60) during or immediately after the mounting of the liquid cartridge (40) to the mounting portion (35) of the line head printer. The data terminal (172c, 173c) transmits data a plurality of times during the use period of the liquid cartridge (40) in the line head printer (1). The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the liquid cartridge is configured to. A plurality of terminals including the sensor terminals (170c, 171c) and the power terminal (174c) are arranged in a first row,
A plurality of terminals including the data terminals (172c, 173c) are arranged in a second row substantially parallel to the first row;
The distance between the plurality of terminals arranged in the first row and the plurality of terminals arranged in the second row is larger than the distance between the plurality of terminals arranged in the first row. The liquid cartridge as described in any one of Claims 1-3.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the sensor terminal (170c, 171c) is arranged adjacent to the power terminal (174c) in the first row.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a ground terminal (175c, 176c, 177c) arranged in the second row.   The plurality of terminals includes the sensor terminals (170c, 171c), the data terminals (172c, 173c), and the power terminals (174c) arranged in a line. The liquid cartridge according to Item.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the sensor terminal (170c, 171c) is disposed adjacent to the power terminal (174c). A ground terminal (175c, 176c, 177c);
The sensor terminal (170c, 171c) and the data terminal (172c, 173c) are disposed between the power terminal (174c) and the ground terminal (175c, 176c, 177c). Liquid cartridge.   The liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the data stored in the storage means (141) includes information data relating to a remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion (40B, 40P). .   The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the data includes information data related to the number of recorded sheets. A liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
A main body to which the liquid cartridge (40) is attached, the main body comprising:
A mounting portion (35) to which the liquid cartridge is mounted;
A hollow member (153) configured to be inserted into the liquid cartridge (40) attached to the attachment part (35);
A liquid discharge head (2) configured to discharge liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge (40) through the hollow member (153) and in communication with the hollow member (153);
A communication unit that communicates with the liquid cartridge mounted on the mounting unit (35);
A sensor signal receiving terminal (170p) configured to establish an electrical connection with the communication unit;
A data receiving terminal (172p) configured to establish an electrical connection with the communication unit;
A power source (158);
A power output terminal (174p) configured to establish an electrical connection with the power source (158),
The communication unit reads data stored in the storage means (141) via the data terminal (172c) and the data reception terminal (172p), and the sensor terminal (170c) and the sensor signal reception terminal An image recording device (1) configured to receive the signal from the sensor (70) via (170p). The storage means (141) is configured to store data relating to the signal,
The communication unit is further configured to determine whether a reading abnormality has occurred during reading of the data, and to prevent a recording operation from being performed when the reading abnormality has occurred. The image recording apparatus according to claim 12.   The communication unit transmits at least one of data relating to the amount of liquid ejected from the liquid ejection head (2) during the recording operation and data relating to the number of recorded recording media to the liquid cartridge (40). The image recording apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the image recording apparatus writes in the storage means (141).   The communication unit receives the signal from the sensor (70) during or immediately after the mounting of the liquid cartridge (40) to the mounting unit (35) of the main body, and receives the data terminals (172c, 173c). The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein data is transmitted a plurality of times during a period of use of the liquid cartridge (40) in the image recording apparatus (1).

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