JP5985902B2 - inkjet printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet printer that ejects ink from a head.

  Ink jet printers may affect ejection performance from the head depending on properties such as ink viscosity and pigment or resin particle size. For example, if the viscosity is not suitable for the head, ink may leak from the head or ink ejection may become impossible. Further, if an appropriate solvent is not used for the head, the head may be damaged. Since it is necessary to use ink suitable for the ink jet printer as described above, a dedicated ink cartridge is prepared for the ink jet printer. The dedicated cartridge is configured to be detachable from the printer body. Even if the ink is consumed, the ink can be supplied by replacing the cartridge.

  In addition, there is a demand to continuously use an ink jet printer for a long time, and in order to meet the demand, there is an increasing need for an ink cartridge for storing ink. However, in the case of using a dedicated ink cartridge, there is a problem that it is difficult to increase the size because the portability and handling of the ink cartridge, the mounting space in the printer body, and the like must be taken into consideration. Furthermore, the ink cartridge is made so as to protect the ink pack stored therein, or has a mechanism for detecting the ink capacity, so that the structure becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost increases. There is also a problem that it ends up.

  In addition, since the use frequency of the ink is different for each ink color, the timing at which the ink runs out differs for each ink color. Therefore, when an ink cartridge having a small capacity is used, there is a problem that the ink cartridge must be frequently replaced.

  When the capacity of the ink cartridge is increased, there is a limit to increasing the size of the ink cartridge in the configuration in which the ink cartridge is attached to and detached from the printer body. Therefore, it is conceivable to provide an ink tank for storing ink outside the printer body. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-238787, a printer having an ink tank with a large capacity outside is considered.

JP 2008-238787 A

  When a large-capacity ink tank is used, the ink replenishment frequency is reduced. For example, by filling the ink tank once a day, ink replenishment can be made unnecessary until the next day, or ink can be replenished simultaneously for each color. However, it is necessary to replenish the ink when the remaining amount of ink decreases so that the ink in the ink tank does not become empty. When ink is replenished to the ink tank, it is necessary to prevent dust and the like from being mixed and to prevent ink from spilling. Moreover, it is necessary to replenish ink suitable for the ink jet printer. And it is desirable that the work at the time of replenishment is easy. It is necessary to solve such a problem.

An ink jet printer according to the present invention includes: a head that ejects ink; an ink replenishing port that replenishes the ink from outside; an ink tank that includes an ink supply port that supplies ink to the head; and the head and the ink tank. A sub-tank disposed in the ink supply path, a transport unit that transports the recording medium, a carriage that is mounted with the head and reciprocates in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium, and the sub-tank from the ink tank. a pump for supplying ink to have a detection means for detecting a y ink amount in the subtank, maintaining the amount of ink in the sub tank to the amount of a predetermined range, said from the sub-tank to the head Card reader / writer that can read and write to an IC card in an inkjet printer that supplies ink Detection means for detecting the amount of ink used, estimation means for estimating the amount of ink in the ink tank based on the amount of use detected by the detection means, input means for input, and notification An informing means for performing, wherein the head, the sub tank, and the ink tank are provided for each color of the ink, and the card read writer is a total amount of the ink that can be used in the ink jet printer stored in the IC card The ink jet printer reads the information when the total amount of ink of each color in the ink tank falls below a predetermined amount based on the total amount information and the amount of ink estimated by the estimating unit. The amount of ink input from the input means and the amount of ink of each color estimated by the estimation means. Zui amount of ink in the ink tank of each color is characterized by performing the notification by the notification means to be below the amount that can be continuous printing the first predetermined time.

  According to the present invention, the ink capacity in the ink tank can be easily maintained appropriately, and a large-capacity ink tank can be provided, thereby enabling continuous printing for a long time.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ink jet printer. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a memory for managing ink capacity. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation when ink is replenished to the ink tank. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of managing the ink amount in the ink tank. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an ink jet printer.

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an ink jet printer. The ink jet printer 37 includes a carriage 27. The carriage 27 is reciprocated linearly along the Y rail 29 by the drive belt 28. An ink jet head is mounted in the carriage 27. A plurality of inkjet heads are provided corresponding to color inks such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. The tube group 35 is connected to an inkjet head and supplies ink of each color to the corresponding inkjet head. The ink jet printer 37 includes a sub tank. Ink is supplied from the ink tank 33 through the supply tube 34 to the sub tank by the pump. Ink is supplied from the sub tank to the inkjet head using the tube group 35. Ink is supplied to the ink tank 33 by a detachable supply tank 36. The ink tank 33 and the replenishing tank 36 are fixed by a dedicated joint. The dedicated joint connected to the ink tank 33 can limit the supply tank 36 that can be connected. That is, only the replenishment tank 36 adapted to be connectable to the joint can be easily connected. Further, by leaving the replenishment tank 36 connected to the joint, it is possible to prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering from the outside. The replenishment tank 36 is connected upside down to the ink tank 33 through a joint, and the ink moves from the replenishment tank 36 to the ink tank 33 by its own weight. One ink tank 33 is arranged for each of the four colors. The card read writer 22 can read from and write to an IC card that stores information such as the amount of ink that can be used with respect to the supply tank 36.

A recording medium such as paper or a resin sheet is conveyed by a conveying unit 30 including a conveying roller and a pinch roller. The recording medium is sandwiched between the conveying roller and the pinch roller, and the recording medium is conveyed according to the rotation of the conveying roller. The platen 31 is formed in a flat plate shape and is provided with a suction mechanism to hold the recording medium on a flat surface. The recording medium conveyed up to the platen 31 receives ink ejected from an inkjet head mounted on a carriage 27 that reciprocates, and an image is recorded. The recording medium after recording is conveyed on a paper guide 32 provided with a heater to fix the ink.
The ink tank 33 is set so that, when the ink is fully filled, even if continuous printing is performed for a predetermined time, for example, continuously for one day, it does not become empty.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the ink jet printer 37. The control unit 1 is a control unit that controls the entire inkjet printer 37. A control program for the control means 1 is stored in the ROM 24, and the control means 1 operates based on this program. The transport unit 30 operates based on the control of the control unit 1. In addition to the control program, the ROM 24 stores setting data such as initial setting values and operating conditions. The RAM 25 is used as a work area for temporary data storage and calculation of the control means 1. Here, the RAM 25 temporarily stores data, but a readable / writable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory may be used.

  The card read writer 22 is connected to the control means 1 and controlled. Data can be read from and written to the IC card, and data stored in the IC card is output to the control circuit 1. Conversely, data can be stored in the IC card from the control circuit 1. The maintenance means 23 is controlled by the control means 1. The maintenance means 23 includes a wiper that cleans the nozzle surface of each color head, and a suction device that sucks out ink from the nozzles of each color head. The amount of ink consumed for one maintenance operation of the maintenance means 23 is known in advance. By counting the number of times of maintenance, the amount of ink used can be calculated. Since the number of times of maintenance is stored in the RAM 25, the control means 1 can calculate the ink usage based on the number of maintenance from this number and the pre-stored ink usage.

  The operation panel 26 is connected to the control means 1 and controlled. The operation panel 26 includes an input unit and a display unit, and inputs various data from the input unit and outputs them to the control means 1. The display unit is provided with an LCD panel and a speaker, and can be used as notifying means for controlling the display and reporting sound by the control means 1 to notify the user.

  The Y ink tank 2 is an ink tank that stores yellow ink. The M ink tank 7 is an ink tank that stores magenta ink. The C ink tank 12 is an ink tank that stores cyan ink. The K ink tank 17 is an ink tank that stores black ink. Each color ink tank supplies ink to each color sub-tank by a pump. Ink is supplied from each color sub-tank to each color head. Each color head discharges the supplied ink onto a recording medium to record a color image.

  The pump 3 is controlled by the control means 1 and supplies ink from the Y ink tank 2 to the Y sub tank 4. The Y ink tank 2 can be inserted into and removed from the ink jet printer 37. The detection means 6 is controlled by the control means 1. The detection means 6 detects the insertion / extraction state of the Y sub-tank 4, detects the capacity, and detects ink tank information indicating that the Y sub-tank 4 corresponds to the Y ink tank 2.

  The detection result of the insertion / extraction state is acquired by the control means 1. It can be confirmed whether the Y sub tank 4 is normally inserted into the ink jet printer 37, and control is performed so as to operate when the Y sub tank 4 is inserted.

  The detection of the capacity detects whether the ink amount is full or empty, and the detection result is acquired by the control means 1. The control means 1 operates the pump 3 based on this detection result. When the ink in the Y sub tank 4 becomes empty, the pump 3 is operated, and ink is supplied from the Y ink tank 2 until the ink becomes full. That is, control is performed to maintain the ink in the Y sub tank 4 within a predetermined range.

  The detection of the ink tank information indicating that the object corresponds to the Y ink tank 2 confirms that the Y sub tank 4 is used in correspondence with the use of the Y ink tank 2. For example, ink tank information is detected while the Y sub tank 4 is inserted in the ink jet printer 37. If the ink tank information at this time is “1”, the Y ink tank 2 can be used, and if it is “0”, it is determined that the Y ink tank 2 cannot be used. In other words, when using the Y ink tank 2, if the dedicated Y sub tank 4 is not used, control that does not work properly is performed. This is necessary to maintain the print quality. This is because it is necessary to properly manage the quality of the ink and the ink supply path in order to keep the inkjet printer 37 operating properly. In other words, it is possible to confirm that parts with a specified quality are being used.

  The Y head 5 is an ink jet head and is controlled by the control means 1. The Y head 5 receives ink supplied from the Y sub-tank 4 and discharges ink. The control unit 1 estimates the amount of ink ejected from the Y head 5. Information on the ink amount of one discharge corresponding to conditions such as ink type, dot size, temperature, and drive signal type is stored in advance, and the amount of ink consumed is calculated by counting the number of discharges.

  The yellow ink has been described with respect to the Y ink tank 2, the pump 3, the Y sub-tank 4, the Y head 5, and the detecting means 6, but the operation control is similarly performed for the other colors. That is, for magenta color, the M ink tank 7, the pump 8, the M sub tank 9, the M head 10, and the detection means 11 correspond to the Y ink tank 2, the pump 3, the Y sub tank 4, the Y head 5, and the detection means 6, respectively. It is controlled by the control means 1 in the same manner. For cyan, the C ink tank 12, the pump 13, the M sub tank 14, the M head 15, and the detection means 16 correspond to the Y ink tank 2, the pump 3, the Y sub tank 4, the Y head 5, and the detection means 6, respectively. Similarly, it is controlled by the control means 1. For the black color, the K ink tank 17, the pump 18, the M sub tank 19, the M head 20, and the detection means 21 correspond to the Y ink tank 2, the pump 3, the Y sub tank 4, the Y head 5, and the detection means 6, respectively. Similarly, it is controlled by the control means 1.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a memory for managing ink capacity. The amount of ink used during printing and head maintenance is calculated and stored. At that time, it is stored for each ink color. For example, for Y ink, that is, yellow ink, the amount of ink discharged from the Y head 5 is stored as Y ink discharge consumption, and the amount of ink used during maintenance is stored as Y ink maintenance consumption. Further, the used ink amount is subtracted from the Y ink capacity. The ink amounts are similarly stored for M ink, that is, magenta color ink, C ink, that is, cyan color ink, and K ink, that is, black color ink. In addition, the total ink amount of each color ejected from the head and the total ink amount of each color used in maintenance are stored. Further, the usable ink amount of the ink that can be used by the ink jet printer 37 is also stored. The sum of the ink amounts used for each color is subtracted from the usable ink amount. These pieces of information are stored in the RAM 25 or the ROM 24.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation when ink is replenished to the ink tank. An operation when ink is filled in any of the Y ink tank 2, the M ink tank 7, the C ink tank 12, or the K ink tank 17 will be described. These ink tanks are, for example, ink tanks 33 as shown in FIG. The ink in the replenishing tank 36 is supplied to the ink tank 33 by connecting the replenishing tank 36 upside down to a dedicated joint. The ink filling at this time is step S1. Next, in step S 2, when an IC card is set in the IC card read writer 22, information on the usable ink amount stored in the IC card is read out under the control of the control unit 1. Next, in step S3, the read usable ink amount information is added to the usable ink amount information of the ink that can be used by the ink jet printer 37 stored in the memory such as the RAM 25 or the ROM 24, for example. Invalidate the information in the IC card. Next, in step S4, the filled amount for the ink color filled from the operation panel 26 is set. That is, how many liters of ink are filled in the ink tank is input. The input information is added to the ink capacity of the input color stored in a memory such as the RAM 25 or the ROM 24, for example.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of managing the ink amount in the ink tank. When the ink is consumed, the ink amount is managed accordingly. The amount of ink in the ink tank is always maintained above the amount that allows continuous printing for a long time, for example, 24 hours, without replenishing from the outside, so that the ink in the ink tank does not become less than a certain amount. operate.

  Management is performed using both the total amount of each color ink and the individual amount of each color ink. The usable ink amount input from the IC card is used to manage the total amount of each color ink. This is used to manage the amount of ink that can be printed by the inkjet printer 37. That is, the ink jet printer 37 controls not to use more ink than the usable ink amount input from the IC card. The ink tanks 33 for each color are managed so as to always maintain a predetermined range of ink amount. When the ink in the ink tank is reduced, a notification requesting ink replenishment is performed, and when the amount is further reduced, control is performed so that printing cannot be performed. The amount of ink in the ink tank is not provided with the remaining amount detection mechanism in the ink tank 33. Therefore, the amount of ink used is estimated from the amount used during maintenance and the amount used for printing, and the ink tank is based on that amount. The ink amount in 33 is controlled.

  As for the total amount of the ink amounts of the respective colors, the amount of ink that can be used increases according to the amount of ink input from the IC card, and the amount of ink that can be used decreases according to the amount of ink used. As for the ink amount of each color, the ink amount that can be used increases according to the input ink amount, and the ink amount that can be used decreases according to the used ink amount.

In step S10, it is determined whether ink consumption is due to maintenance. If it is due to maintenance, the process proceeds to step S11. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S12.
In step S11, for each ink color, the ink maintenance consumption during maintenance and the ink capacity in the ink tank 33 are calculated and stored in the memory. Next, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S12, the ink discharge consumption amount discharged and consumed for each ink color and the ink capacity in the ink tank 33 are calculated and stored in the memory. Next, the process proceeds to step S13.
In step S13, the amount of ink used or the volume of ink in the ink tank 33 is confirmed for each ink color. It is confirmed whether the ink usage amount of any ink color exceeds the first predetermined amount. When it exceeds, it transfers to step S14. If not, the process proceeds to step S15. The first predetermined amount is an ink amount that can be continuously printed for a predetermined time.

  In step S14, since the ink amount in the ink tank 33 is smaller than the ink amount that can be continuously printed for a predetermined time with respect to any color ink, the printing process is stopped. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S17.

  In step S15, it is checked whether the ink amount in the ink tank 33 for any color ink exceeds the second predetermined amount in a state where the ink amount is larger than the ink amount that can be continuously printed for a predetermined time. When it exceeds, it transfers to step S16, and when it does not exceed, it transfers to step S17. The second predetermined amount is larger than the amount of ink that can be continuously printed for a predetermined time, but it is better to replenish the ink by approaching that value. For example, the value is a first predetermined amount after 12 hours of continuous printing.

In step S16, the notifying means requests ink replenishment. Characters or images are displayed on the LCD of the operation panel 26 or notified by a speaker. Next, the process proceeds to step S17.
In step S17, it is determined whether the total amount of ink used for each color exceeds a third predetermined amount. When it exceeds, it transfers to step S18, and when it does not exceed, it transfers to step S19.

In step S18, printing stop processing is performed. Since this exceeds the usable ink amount input from the IC card, a process for not printing is performed.
In step S19, it is determined whether the total amount of ink used for each color exceeds a fourth predetermined amount. If exceeded, the process proceeds to step S20. If not exceeded, the process ends.
In step S20, not only colors but also ink replenishment and input of usable ink amount from the IC card are requested. Characters or images are displayed on the LCD of the operation panel 26 or notified by a speaker.

  By checking each notification and replenishing ink accordingly, the user can always maintain an ink amount that can be printed for a long time. Even if the input of the ink amount is input by the IC card and the user, it is possible to manage by using both the individual ink colors and the combined ink amounts by managing both in combination. Certainty that the amount of ink that can be printed for a long time can be maintained is improved.

  The present invention can be used in a recording apparatus including an ink tank such as an ink jet printer.

1 Control means 2 Y ink tank 3 Pump 4 Y sub tank 4
5 Y head 6 detection means 7 M ink tank 12 C ink tank 17 K ink tank 22 card read writer 23 maintenance means 24 ROM
25 RAM
26 Operation panel 27 Carriage 28 Drive belt 29 Y rail 30 Conveying means 33 Ink tank 36 Supply tank 37 Inkjet printer

Claims (3)

Arranged in an ink supply path between the head and the ink tank, a head for ejecting ink, an ink replenishing port for replenishing the ink from the outside, an ink tank having an ink supply port for supplying ink to the head A sub-tank, a transport unit for transporting the recording medium, a carriage mounted with the head and reciprocating in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium, and a pump for supplying ink from the ink tank to the sub-tank has a detection means for detecting a y ink amount in the subtank, the ink amount in the subtank to maintain the amount of the predetermined range, in an ink jet printer for supplying the ink to said head from said subtank ,
A card reader / writer capable of reading and writing to an IC card; a detecting means for detecting the amount of ink used; and an estimating means for estimating the amount of ink in the ink tank based on the amount of use detected by the detecting means. And input means for performing input, and notification means for performing notification,
The head, the sub tank, and the ink tank are provided for each color of the ink,
The card read writer reads information on the total amount of the ink that can be used in the ink jet printer stored in the IC card,
The ink jet printer notifies the informing means when the total amount of ink of each color in the ink tank falls below a predetermined amount based on the information on the total amount and the amount of ink estimated by the estimating means. When the amount of ink in the ink tank of each color falls below the amount that can be continuously printed for the first predetermined time based on the amount of ink input from the input unit and the amount of ink of each color estimated by the estimation unit An ink jet printer that performs notification by the notification means. Said estimating means is an ink jet printer according to claim 1, characterized that you calculation on the basis of the amount of ink used on the basis of the recording operation of the ink amount and the head to be used according to the maintenance operation of the head . After the notification by the notification means, the total ink amount of each color in the ink tank falls below a second predetermined amount that is less than the predetermined amount, or the ink in the ink tank of each color 3. The ink ejection from the head is stopped when the amount of ink falls below an amount that can be continuously printed for a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time. 4. The inkjet printer as described.

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