JPH03193355A - Ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect a residual ink amount with superior accuracy by an inexpensive device by a method wherein a pair of flexible electrode members can displace through an ink bag in accordance with a change in ink amount, and the pair of flexible electrode members in contact with each other are separated from each other by displacing, and vice versa. CONSTITUTION:An electric connection part 6 consists of a pair of contact members 6A and 6B. The end part of each of the contact members 6A and 6B is extended into an ink bag 2. The members 6A and 6B are respectively provided with electrode members 7A and 7B. When a sufficient amount of ink 8 exists in the ink bag 2, the electrode members 7A and 7B are separated from each other. Therefore, when an electric signal is applied to the electric connection part 6 for detecting an residual ink amount, the resistance of the ink 8 prevents an electric conduction. On the other hand, as the residual amount of the ink 8 is reduced, the electrode members 7A and 7B are deflected to come into contact with each other through a contact part 7C. Thus, the contact state is electrically fetched through the electric connection part 6, whereby the exhaustion of the ink 8 is detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an ink cartridge, and more particularly to a replaceable ink cartridge installed in an inkjet recording apparatus.

[Prior Art] Conventional ink cartridges are known to have an independent ink accommodating portion therein, or to have a waste ink accommodating portion together with the ink accommodating portion. There is one that stores ink in an ink bag.

These ink cartridges are configured so that they can be replaced when the ink runs out, and therefore various proposals as described below have been proposed to inform the user of the recording device of the presence or absence of ink remaining in the ink storage section. have been made, including those currently under development.

That is, as part 1), a flexible ink remaining amount detection member is provided in the flow path for ink supply from the ink storage section,
The method detects the displacement of this detection member due to the negative pressure generated when ink is supplied, and 2) an electrode section consisting of a pair of electrodes is provided in the ink accommodating section to introduce air into the ink accommodating section. 3) The presence or absence of residual ink is detected based on whether the air layer has reached the electrode part, and 3) an ink bag made of a flexible member is provided in the cartridge. There is one in which a flexible detection member is provided in contact with the ink bag from the outside, and the flexible detection member is configured to detect displacement as the ink capacity changes.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when configured as in 1) of the above-mentioned conventional examples, in general, the inkjet recording apparatus has a narrow range of suitable pressure for the ink used, so it is difficult to adjust the pressure. A highly accurate detection method is required,
There is a cost issue. Furthermore, although the configuration 2) is inexpensive in terms of cost, it is easy for bubbles to form and adhere to the electrode portion due to electrolysis due to the energization during detection, which may lead to false detection.

Furthermore, in the configuration 3), since the flexible detection member is pressed from outside the ink bag by spring force or its own weight, positive pressure is applied to the ink. However, in an inkjet recording device, due to the ejection characteristics of the recording head, it is necessary to maintain the pressure of the supplied ink at a negative pressure, and the above-mentioned positive pressure must be canceled out. The ink cartridges must be placed at a distance from each other, leading to an increase in the size of the device.

Another problem is that the position of the flexible detection member relative to the ink bag tends to shift due to the way the ink bag is deformed, resulting in a decrease in detection accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge that can detect the remaining amount of ink with excellent accuracy using an inexpensive device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ink cartridge that stores ink in a flexible ink bag and is detachably attached to a recording device. Pressured,
a pair of visible electrode members that are kept in contact with or apart from each other, and the pair of flexible electrode members are displaceable via the ink bag depending on a change in the amount of ink in the ink bag; The remaining amount of ink in the ink bag is detected by changing the contact state of the pair of flexible electrode members to a separated state or from a separated state to a contact state by the displacement. It is something.

[Function] According to the present invention, when the amount of ink remaining in the ink bag decreases, the pair of flexible electrode members are displaced due to the deformation of the ink bag, and the flexible electrode members, which had been kept separated from each other or in contact with each other, are displaced until then. By changing the position to the opposite position, a change in resistance between the electrode members is detected, and it is possible to detect the absence of ink.

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described below in detail and specifically based on the drawings.

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in these figures, the ink cartridge 1 according to this embodiment has an ink bag 2 as an ink storage part as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a waste ink storage part 3.
As shown in FIG. 1, on the front surface of the mounting side, an ink supply path connecting portion 4 to which an ink supply path (not shown) is connected, a waste ink path connecting portion 5 to which a waste ink path (not shown) is connected, and the amount of remaining ink. It has an electrical connection part 6 for taking out an electrical signal known to the recording device.

Further, the electrical connection section 6 is composed of a pair of contact members 6A and 6B, and each contact member 6^ and 6B has its end inserted into the ink bag 2 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is extended, and electrode members 7^ and 7B are formed respectively. Yet again. 7C is a contact portion formed in a chevron shape on one electrode member 7B, and these electrode members 7^,
7B are all made of an elastic and conductive material.

In the ink cartridge configured in this way, when it is installed in a recording device and there is sufficient ink 8 in the ink bag 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the electrode member 7A,
7B are separated from each other, so even if an electrical signal for detecting the remaining amount of ink is applied to the electrical connection part 6, the ink 8
It is not energized due to the resistance it has. Also, when the remaining amount of ink 8 becomes low and the state shown in FIG. 3 occurs,
The electrode members 7A and 7B bend each other, and the contact portion 7
Both parties come into contact via C. Therefore, by electrically detecting the contact state via the electrical connection part 6, it is detected that the ink 8 is running out.

In addition, as a method of transmitting an electrical signal via the electrical connection part 6 in order to detect the remaining amount of ink, it is possible to apply a pulse voltage, for example, or to supply the potential by alternating between positive and negative. Furthermore, various methods can be considered for the timing of detection, and any method may be used. However, the feature of this embodiment is that the remaining amount of ink can be detected in a state where the electrode members are in contact with each other and the resistance between them is almost zero. Even if this happens, there is no risk of false positives.

In addition, the posture in which the 1B body is installed in the ink cartridge is not restricted as described in 2) of the conventional example, and can be installed in any way; Since no external pressure is applied to the ink cartridge 1 and the ink cartridge 1 is originally configured to generate negative pressure, the ink cartridge 1 may be installed at any position below the recording head. Also, inside the ink bag 2, electrode members 7^, 7B are provided.
Since the ink bag is integrated with the ink bag, there is no risk of false detection.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this example, the ink 8 in the ink bag 2 is always kept at a negative pressure, and lOA and IOB are connected to the electrode members 7^ and 7B.
11 is an insulating member 10 provided at the end of each insulating member.
This is a spring member interposed between A and IOB, and the spring force of the spring member 11 presses the insulating members 10A and 1OB against the opposing inner sides of the ink bag 2, thereby generating negative pressure in the ink. At the same time, the electrode members 7^, 7
Keep B apart. In addition, when ink 8 runs out,
As in the first embodiment, when the electrode parts 7A and 7B come into contact with each other, the energized state is detected via the electrical connection part 6.

The ink cartridge 1 configured in this way can be carried at all times, and the degree of freedom in selecting its position is increased. For example, a position where the ink cartridge can be easily attached and detached can be selected.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the invention. In this example, as long as there is sufficient ink, the energization state is detected, and when the ink runs out, resistance is generated between the electrode members due to the separation between them, so this is detected. In FIG. 5, 13^, 13A is a spacer with one end fixed to the electrode member 7A and the other end extending downward, and 13B.
, 13B is a spacer with one end fixed to the electrode member 7B and the other end extending upward, and in this example, when there is enough ink 8 in the ink bag 2, the electrode members 7^ and 7B are Due to their elasticity, both electrode members 7A and 7B are configured to maintain contact with each other via the contact portion 7C.

When the ink 8 in the ink bag 2 runs out as shown in FIG. 6, the spacer 13A is removed as shown in FIG.
When the extended ends of the spacer 13B and the spacer 13B come into contact with the opposing inner surfaces of the ink bag 2, the reaction force causes the electrode members 7^ and 7B to be separated in opposite directions. make it work. Therefore, the electrode member 7^,
According to this embodiment, the electrical resistance is maintained at almost zero in the normal usage state when the ink 8 is in the ink bag 2. Therefore, even when electricity is applied for detection, there is no risk of bubbles being generated between the electrodes due to electrolysis.

Note that in the above description, a member that maintains constant contact with the ink 8 within the ink bag 2, such as an electrode member 7A, is used.
, 7B, insulation member lO^,' IOB, spring member 11
No specific examples were given for materials such as spacers 13 and 13B, but as long as the materials are chemically and physically stable with respect to ink 8, they can be machined for the respective purposes. It goes without saying that these materials may be made of any material as long as they have the desired characteristics.

Further, as long as the contact member 6^ and the electrode member 7^, and the contact member 6B and the electrode member 7B are electrically connected, they may be integrated or formed separately.
It is also possible to cover the electrode members 7^ and 7B with a diaphragm made of resin or the like except for the parts where they contact each other.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a pair of flexible electrode members that extend inside the ink bag and are kept in contact with or separated from each other can be used to control the amount of ink in the ink bag. The amount of ink remaining in the ink bag can be changed by changing the contact state of the pair of flexible electrode members to a separated state, or from a separated state to a contact state. Since detection is possible, the remaining amount of ink can be detected with high accuracy using the most cost-effective means.Also, since the ink inside the ink bag can be easily maintained at negative pressure, the installation position of the ink cartridge can be adjusted. This allows flexibility in selection, and contributes to making the recording device itself more compact and functional.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the ink cartridge of the present invention; FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views showing the structure of the first embodiment of the present invention with and without ink, respectively;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention with ink present, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention with ink and without ink. FIG. 6A, 6B 7A, 7B C 1O^, IOB 1 13A, 13B Ink cartridge, ink bag, electrical connection part, contact member, electrode member, contact part, ink, insulating member, spring member, spacer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An ink cartridge containing ink in a flexible ink bag and detachable from a recording device includes a pair of flexible electrode members that are stretched into the ink bag and are kept in contact with or separated from each other. The pair of flexible electrode members can be displaced via the ink bag due to a change in the amount of ink in the ink bag, and the contact state of the pair of flexible electrode members is changed to a separated state by the displacement. The ink cartridge is characterized in that the remaining amount of ink in the ink bag is detected by changing the ink bag from a separated state to a contact state.