JPH03227629A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a recording head to be replaced properly by providing a control device which allows a display device to indicate the timing of replacement of recording head only when the number of registered ink cartridges has reached a specified value and each inkless cartridge is detected. CONSTITUTION:If an ink cartridge 2 is attached, a connected power-ON pattern obtained between the electrode member of an ink cartridge 2 and a connector member is transmitted to a control part 32 through an interpretation device 33. Then the pattern is registered in RAM, and the interpretation device 33 interprets whether the ink still remains in the cartridge 2 based on a detection signal from a residual ink detection device 34. When all the ink cartridges 2 have been registered as inkless cartridges, a head replacement indicator device 35 indicates the advent of time for head replacement, prompting the replacement of the head by an operator. Thus the timing of the replacement is no longer advanced as far as no inkless cartridge is detected, even if the cartridge 2 is attached or detached halfway through its use. Subsequently, the proper replacement of the recording head is ensured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device that can be used in copying machines, fax machines, word processors, computer output devices, etc. death,
The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device that includes an ink cartridge that is detachably attached to a fixed mounting portion of the device main body or a moving carriage.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, various recording devices have been developed. For example, in the impact method, an ink ribbon is sandwiched between the head and the recording material, and the head applies an impact to the ink ribbon to record, but this method produces noise due to the impact and increases the density of the recording head. There are some difficult points. Further, in the thermal type, although it is easy to downsize the thermal head section and increase the density, it requires the use of thermal paper, and it is not possible to record on plain paper at all. Furthermore, the thermal transfer method
An ink ribbon is sandwiched between the head and the recording material,
Recording is performed by applying heat to the ink ribbon using a head, but it is not possible to record clearly on paper with a rough surface, and there are problems with running costs and recording speed.

In contrast to the above methods, the inkjet recording method is
This inkjet recording method is a method in which recording is performed by supplying ink from an ink cartridge containing ink to a recording head, and ejecting the ink onto a recording material from an ink discharge port provided in the head. Since recording is performed without the recording head touching the recording material, it is possible to record clearly without being affected by, for example, the surface roughness of the paper or the like. In particular, among the inkjet recording methods, the bubble jet method, which is equipped with an electrothermal converter and uses thermal energy to eject ink, is capable of high-definition recording because it is easy to downsize and increase the density of the recording head. It is a compact device that is capable of not only monochrome recording but also color recording.

Incidentally, an inkjet recording device using such a method has conventionally had an ink cartridge containing replaceable ink, and has been configured to supply ink from the ink cartridge to the head through a supply pipe. However, with such a configuration, the arrangement of the supply pipes is complicated, which increases the assembly cost of the device, and it is difficult to downsize the entire device.Furthermore, if a flexible supply pipe is used,
When left unattended or during transportation, there is a risk that air may get mixed into the supply pipe, and if air is supplied to the print head, it may cause ink to fail to be ejected. Therefore, install a sub-tank near the print head to trap air. It is necessary to provide

Furthermore, if it becomes necessary to replace the ink filled in the print head and its supply tube with an ink that is different from the ink filled in the print head and its supply tube, for example, the color 9 coloring material concentration, solvent, etc., clean the print head and its supply tube. , drying was required, making it impossible for users to use different inks.

Therefore, a device in which the recording head and the ink storage portion are integrated has been developed. In this configuration, the recording head and the ink accommodating section are integrated, so it is possible to use different colors. However, in order to miniaturize the device, if the ink accommodating section is made smaller, it is often necessary to accommodate the ink in the recording head. Since the parts must be replaced together, running costs become high. Furthermore, in serial printers,
Since the ink storage section is mounted on the carriage, increasing the size of the ink storage section increases the load on the carriage motor, making it impossible to perform high-speed recording.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a structure in which a recording head and an ink storage section are integrated, an ink injection section is provided in the ink storage section, and when the ink in the ink storage section is used up for printing, the ink injection section There is a configuration that injects ink, and this reduces running costs and reduces the load on the carriage motor for serial printers. Spill or
Do not let the ink overflow and stain your hands,
In addition to staining documents, spilled ink can enter the device and destroy electrical circuits.

Therefore, US Pat. No. 4,633,274 discloses a head and ink cartridge integrated type as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Here, 101 is a head element, 102 is an electrode thereof, 103 is an ink supply pipe to the head element 101, and 104 is an electrode 102.
connector for, 105 is an ink cartridge, 1
06 is the head element 101 and ink cartridge 1
This is a head/ink cartridge support member that supports 05. With this configuration, since the ink cartridge 105 is easily replaceable, it is possible to downsize the ink cartridge 105 (by making the ink cartridge 105 smaller), and the load on the carriage motor in a serial printer can also be made smaller (by making the ink cartridge 105 smaller). In addition, even if you run out of ink, you only need to replace the ink cartridge 105, which helps keep running costs low. No need to spill ink when replacing.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, if you continue printing with various printing devices equipped with the ink cartridges mentioned above and replace the ink cartridges several times, the print head that ejects the ink will deteriorate, so in this case the head must be replaced. Conventionally, the user has had to judge the deterioration of the head from the recorded matter recorded with this apparatus and replace the head.

In addition, we examine the deterioration of the recording head from each record,
Since it takes time and effort to make a judgment, the number of times the ink cartridge is replaced is counted to make the user aware that enough ink has been consumed to cause deterioration.
In addition to displaying the information, it may be possible to provide a means to detect whether there is any remaining ink or not, and to prevent the ink cartridge from being removed from the installed position until the remaining amount of ink runs out. The ink cartridge cannot be removed until the ink is used up, which is inconvenient when it becomes necessary to remove the ink cartridge during use.

An object of the present invention is to focus on the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to solve the problems, it is an object of the present invention to detect the replacement of a number of ink cartridges corresponding to the lifespan of the recording head used in the device each time a new ink cartridge is installed. This is possible, and even if an ink cartridge is inserted or removed during use, it is not counted in the number of replacements, but the number of replacements is counted only when ink has been consumed for all ink cartridges, and it is notified that the print head needs to be replaced. The object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording device that can perform the following functions.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus in which the ink is supplied from a replaceable ink cartridge to a replaceable recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink. Ink remaining amount detection means for detecting the presence or absence of ink in the cartridge; cartridge discrimination means capable of electrically identifying the installed ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is installed; and individually registering the identified ink cartridge. , a registration counting means for counting the number of registered ink cartridges, a display means for displaying the replacement time of the recording head, and a registered number of ink cartridges counted by the registration counting means reaches a predetermined value, and control means for displaying the time to replace the recording head on the display means only when the remaining ink level detecting means detects that there is no ink for each of the ink cartridges; and the registration counting means when the recording head is replaced. The invention is characterized by comprising means for resetting the .

[For production]

According to the present invention, each time an ink cartridge is installed in the recording apparatus, the remaining ink amount detection means detects whether there is any remaining ink in the cartridge, and the cartridge determination means detects whether or not the installed ink cartridge is present. Each ink cartridge is individually identified and it is determined whether it is an already registered ink cartridge, and each ink cartridge is thus individually identified each time it is installed, and the number of registered ink cartridges is determined to be an appropriate predetermined number for selecting when to replace the recording head. When the value is reached, the display means can display a message requesting the replacement of the print head, and when the print head is replaced, the registration counting means is reset and the ink cartridge replacement for that print head is performed again. Empty ink (counted every time.

〔Example〕

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

FIGS. 1 and 2 show two forms of inkjet recording apparatuses to which the present invention can be applied. That is, FIG. 1 shows an example in which the ink cartridge 2 is removably installed in a predetermined mounting part l^ of the recording apparatus main body 1, and FIG. 2 shows an example in which the recording apparatus main body 1 has a movable carriage 3. This is an example in which the ink cartridge 2 is removably attached to the carriage 3 together with the inkjet recording head 4. In these figures, 5 is a recording material, 6 is a switch for recording mode switching, sheet feeding, etc., and 7 is various switches. This is a display unit that can display the status.

In these devices, the recording head 4 has an ejection port and a liquid path communicating with the ejection port, and has an electrothermal conversion function for generating thermal energy used to eject V ink in the liquid path. Has a body. Then, ink is ejected onto a recording medium placed facing the recording head 4, and a desired recorded image is formed by scanning the recording head and moving relative to the recording medium. .

FIG. 3 shows, as an embodiment of the present invention, an example of an ink cartridge 2 which is detachably attached to the mounting portion IA of the recording apparatus main body 1 as shown in FIG.

In this example, only the cartridge 2 and related members connected thereto at the mounting portion IA are shown in their mounted state. Here, 21 and 22 are a connection port for an ink supply needle 23 and an insertion port for a waste ink recovery tube 24 provided on the front surface of the ink cartridge 2 in the mounting direction, and 25 is an electrode provided on the top surface of the ink cartridge 2. It is a member. on the other hand,
On the mounting portion IA side, in addition to the above-mentioned ink supply needle 23 and waste ink recovery tube 24, there are a plurality of connection terminal plates 26 (four in this example, 26A).

26B, 26C, 26D)
is provided.

Note that this example shows a case where the recording head (not shown) is replaced when the ink in seven ink cartridges is used up, so the seven ink cartridges are shown in FIGS. Electrode members 2 attached to individual ink cartridges 2
5 is shown. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, for the terminal plates 26A to 26D of the connector member 27 in which contacts are formed at the positions of the four long and short tools in the mounting portion IA, any of the electrode members of any form shown in FIG. 25, the hatched portions in FIG. 4 come into contact with a plurality of terminal plates 26, and the contact states are all different.

For example, the electrode member 25 in the case of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4 (A).
The ink cartridge is of the form shown in , and in this case, the energization pattern is recognized as an ink cartridge 001 by a circuit described later. Below, in the same manner, Figure 4 (B), (C), (D
), (E), (F), (G) in the order of 010. O
The ink cartridges 2 having respective electrode members 25 are individually recognized as ll, 100°101, 110.111.

Therefore, according to this example, no matter how many times each of the seven prepared ink cartridges is attached and detached during the process, the history is registered only once for one ink cartridge, and the history of each of the seven ink cartridges is registered only once. On the other hand, it is possible to notify the user that it is time to replace the recording head only when the lack of ink is detected and all seven ink cartridges are registered.

FIG. 5 shows the circuit configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus in which an ink cartridge according to the present invention can be freely installed. Here, 31 is a drive unit of the recording device, and 32 is a storage device R.
OM, RAM, a control unit that has the functions of a CPU as well as a counter; 33 is the electrode member 2 of the ink cartridge 2;
5 and the connector member 27 of the mounting portion IA; 34 is the mounting portion IA;
This is a remaining ink amount detecting means that can electrically detect the presence or absence of a remaining amount of ink from the ink cartridge 2 installed in the ink cartridge A, and can send a detection signal to the control section 32. Further, in this example, when all the ink cartridges are registered with no remaining ink according to the procedure described later, the display means 35 for displaying head replacement to request replacement of the recording head, and requesting ink cartridge replacement. and means 37 for displaying the number of ink cartridges replaced.

Furthermore, 38 is a sensor that detects attachment and detachment of the replaceable recording head 4.

The procedure of control operation by the control circuit configured in this way will be explained with reference to FIG.

Note that the routine shown from step S1 to step Sll can be executed not only during recording operation but also at any time when the apparatus is in the "on" state, such as during recording standby. First, when the ink cartridge 2 is installed in the installation part LA of the apparatus in step S1, a connection energization pattern (hereinafter simply referred to as pattern) is obtained between the electrode member 25 of the ink cartridge 2 and the connector member 27 at the time of installation. ) is transmitted to the control unit 32 via the determination means 33, and step S
In step 2, it is determined whether the pattern is the same as the one previously registered in the RAM.

If it is determined that they are the same, the process proceeds to step S3, where it is determined whether or not there is any remaining ink in the ink cartridge 2 based on the detection signal from the ink remaining amount detection means 34, and if there is no ink, the process proceeds to step S3. The replacement is displayed on the display means 36, and if there is still ink, the process moves to step S4 to perform a recording routine, and then returns to step S3. In addition, if it is determined in step S2 that the installed ink cartridges 2 are not of the same pattern, the process branches to step S5, where the pattern is newly registered in the RAM, and the pattern is newly registered in the RAM. Return to S3.

Furthermore, if it is determined in step S3 that there is no ink, the process proceeds to step S6, where it is determined whether all patterns, that is, all seven patterns in this embodiment, have been registered, and if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S6. If it is determined that the time for head replacement has arrived, the head replacement display means 35 is displayed in step S9.
This message is displayed and the user is asked to replace the head in step SIO, and step SIO is performed based on the head replacement signal.
ll resets the pattern registered in the RAM.

If the determination in step S6 is negative, that is, if there is an unregistered ink cartridge among the seven ink cartridges, the process proceeds to step S7, where the display means 36 displays a request for ink cartridge replacement, and step S8 If the user replaces the ink cartridge in Step S
Return to step 2 and repeat the following steps.

Although the embodiment described above is an application example in which the ink cartridge 2 is detachably attached to the mounting part IA of the recording apparatus 1, the application of the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a recording apparatus in which the ink cartridge 2 is detachably attached to the carriage 3 along with the recording head 4. In addition, in the preferred example described above, the ink cartridge is removably attached to the mounting part, but once the ink cartridge is installed in the mounting part, it cannot be removed unless the ink cartridge is empty (unless the ink cartridge is empty). Needless to say, it is also applicable to a case where the ink cartridge is configured as follows; in this case, the ink remaining amount detection means shown in FIG. 5 can be used to detect the removable state.

It should be noted that the present invention provides excellent effects particularly in bubble jet recording heads and recording apparatuses among ink jet recording systems.

This is because such a system can achieve higher recording density and higher definition, and it is expected that the fixing speed will be even slower depending on the recording pattern.

Regarding its typical configuration and principle, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740,796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand Y type and the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, the ink port (ink) is applied to the sheet holding the ink and the liquid path. The electrothermal converter is placed at
By applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to the recording information (ζ) and that causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, causing film boiling on the thermally active surface of the recording head. This is effective because bubbles can be formed in the ink in response to the drive signal in pairs.The growth and contraction of these bubbles causes the liquid to flow through the ejection opening. Ink) is ejected to form at least one droplet.If this drive signal is in the form of a pulse, the bubbles grow and contract immediately and appropriately, achieving ejection of liquid (ink) with particularly excellent responsiveness. This pulse-shaped driving signal is as follows.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359, U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,26
Those described in Specification No. 2 are suitable.

Furthermore, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 concerning the invention regarding the temperature increase rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, even more excellent recording can be performed.

The configuration of the recording head is as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333.
The present invention also includes a configuration using the specification of the US Pat. No. 4,459,600. In addition, JP-A-59-12367 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge part for a plurality of electrothermal converters.
No. 0 and JP-A-59-138461 which discloses a structure compatible with an open discharge part that absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy.
The effects of the present invention are also effective even with a configuration based on the publication. That is, regardless of the form of the recording head, fixing can be performed reliably and efficiently.

Furthermore, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium that can be recorded by a recording apparatus.

Such a recording head may be configured to satisfy the length by combining multiple recording heads, or configured as a single recording head formed integrally.In addition, a serial type as shown above may be used. A replaceable chip-type recording head or a recording head that can be attached to the apparatus body to enable electrical connection with the apparatus body and supply of ink from the apparatus body as described in this embodiment. The present invention is particularly effective when using a cartridge type recording head that is integrally provided with the recording head.

In addition, regarding the type and number of recording heads installed, for example, in addition to one type that corresponds to single-color ink, there is also a plurality of recording heads that correspond to multiple inks with different recording colors and densities. It may be something that can be done.

In addition, in addition to being used as an image output terminal for information processing equipment such as a computer, the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention may also take the form of a copying machine combined with a league, etc., or a facsimile machine having a transmission/reception function. It can be anything.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to notify the user of the time to replace the recording head every time the number of used ink cartridges reaches a predetermined number corresponding to the replacement. Moreover, even if you attach or remove an ink cartridge during use, the replacement time will not be accelerated unless it is detected that the ink cartridge is out of ink. We can provide an inkjet recording device that can.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are perspective views of two types of inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of an installed state of an ink cartridge according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of multiple types of electrode members on the ink cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the procedure of control operation according to the present invention. Flow chart, FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views respectively showing configuration examples of a conventional head unit and ink cartridge integrated type. 1... Inkjet recording device, IA... Installation part, 2... Ink cartridge, 3... Carriage, 4... Recording head, 25... Electrode member, 26, 26A, 26B, 26G, 26D...Terminal board, 27...Connector member, 32...Control unit, 33...Installed ink cartridge determination means, 34...
- Remaining ink level detection means, 35...Head replacement display means, 36...Ink cartridge replacement display means, 38...
- (Head) attachment/detachment detection sensor. Figure section Figure 106 Cartry 11. Ji flame (ki j L co j 105 in 2 cartridges)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An inkjet recording apparatus in which the ink is supplied from a replaceable ink cartridge to a replaceable recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink, the ink in the ink cartridge a remaining ink level detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of the ink cartridge; a cartridge discriminating means electrically capable of identifying the installed ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is installed; a registration counting means for counting the number of ink cartridges; a display means for displaying the replacement time of the recording head; and the number of registered ink cartridges counted by the registration counting means reaches a predetermined value, and each of the registered ink cartridges control means for causing the display means to display the time to replace the recording head only when the remaining ink amount detection means detects that there is no ink; and means for resetting the registration counting means upon replacement of the recording head. An inkjet recording device characterized by comprising: 2) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head includes an electrothermal converter as a means for generating thermal energy used for ejecting ink.