JPH03246058A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a chemical change of ink and improve the reliability of a device by providing a residual amount signal generation means that generates a residual amount signal representing that a residual ink amount is less than a predetermined level when the content of a recording amount memory means increases above a predetermined magnitude. CONSTITUTION:A recorder is provided with an increment means 16 changing the content of a recording amount memory means 15 with increasing recording amount and a residual amount signal generation means 11 that generates a signal representing that a residual ink amount is less than a predetermined level when the content of the recording amount memory means increases above a predetermined magnitude. After the start of recording, whether or not recording for one page is finished is judged. When it is finished, the increment of a page counter 15 for one page is conducted by the increment means 16. In this manner, at every completion of one-page recording, the increment of the page counter 15 is conducted. With the judgement that the number of pages predetermined based on a recording amount corresponding to a predetermined level at which ink is just or almost used up have been recorded, a residual amount is indicated on a display part 18 based on a residual amount signal representing an empty of ink, and a recording action is stopped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording head.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Recording devices such as printers, copying machines, and facsimile machines are configured to record an image consisting of a dot pattern on a recording material such as paper or a thin plastic plate based on image information.

The recording device may be an inkjet type,
It can be divided into wire dot type, thermal type, laser beam type, etc. Among them, inkjet type (inkjet recording apparatus) is configured to perform recording by ejecting ink onto a recording material.

Inkjet recording devices are capable of high-density and high-speed recording, have low noise because they are non-impact, and have the advantages of being easy to record color images using multicolored inks. ing.

Since this type of printing apparatus performs printing while supplying ink in an ink tank to a print head, it is required to detect the amount of ink remaining in the ink tank.

Conventionally, the remaining amount of ink in an inkjet recording apparatus has been detected by, for example, applying electricity to electrodes provided in an ink tank and measuring the electrical resistance between the electrodes.

(Technical problem to be solved by the invention) However,
The conventional ink remaining amount detection means described above has the following technical problems.

) When energized, the ink undergoes a chemical change, which affects the color tone or viscosity, and may deteriorate recording performance.

11) Since electrodes are provided inside the ink tank, the structure of the ink tank becomes complicated, which may reduce the reliability of the device and increase costs.

i) An ink resistance measuring circuit is required, which may reduce the reliability of the device or increase costs.

The present invention was made in view of such conventional technical problems, and it is possible to avoid chemical changes in the ink,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording device having a remaining ink amount detection means that can improve the reliability of the device, reduce its size, and reduce costs.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a recording head, including a recording amount storage means for storing a recording amount, and an incrementing device that changes the contents of the recording amount storage means in accordance with an increase in the recording amount. and a remaining amount signal generating means for generating a remaining amount signal indicating that the remaining amount of ink is below a predetermined level when the content of the recording amount storage means exceeds a predetermined value. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording apparatus having a remaining ink amount detecting means that does not cause chemical changes in the ink and can improve the reliability, downsize, and reduce the cost of the apparatus.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings.

(Example 1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the main part configuration of an example of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

This embodiment shows the case of a serial scan type inkjet printing apparatus having a carriage-mounted printing head.

In FIG. 1, a recording head (inkjet recording head) 10 is mounted on a carriage 1, and the carriage 1 is connected to a timing heald 4 driven by a carriage motor (main scanning motor) 2.

The inkjet recording head 10 is a recording head that discharges ink using thermal energy, and is equipped with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy.

Further, the inkjet recording head 10 performs recording by ejecting ink from an ejection port by the growth of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter.

On the other hand, a recording material 5 such as paper or a thin plastic plate is conveyed through a position where its recording surface faces the ejection port surface (in the illustrated example, the lower surface) of the recording head 10 .

This recording material 5 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow by a conveyance roller 6 driven by a conveyance motor (sub-scanning motor) 3.

The recording head IO is reciprocated in a direction across the recording material 5 by the carriage motor 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the remaining ink amount detection means of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

In Fig. 2, a system [B
11 controls the carriage motor driver 13 and the transport motor driver 14 based on recording information and command information transferred from a host such as a computer via the interface 12, and controls these drivers 13.1.
4 drives the carriage motor 2 and the transport motor 3.

The control section 11 is provided with recording amount storage means and increment means 16, which constitute a part of the remaining ink amount detection means.

The recorded amount storage means 15 is a means for storing the recorded amount, and is composed of, for example, a page counter that counts the number of recorded pages or a line counter that counts the number of recorded lines.

The incrementing means 16 is constituted by an arithmetic circuit that changes (increases) the storage contents (page count number or line count number) of the recording amount storage means 15 in accordance with an increase in the recording amount. .

On the other hand, when an ink tank (ink cartridge, etc.) is replaced, an ink replacement signal 17 is sent to the control unit 11.
is input, and when the ink replacement signal is input, the storage contents of the recording amount storage means 15 are cleared, and the number of recording pages or the number of recording lines is counted from zero. .

Furthermore, when the content of the recording amount storage means 15 exceeds a predetermined size, the control section 11 generates a remaining amount signal (warning signal) indicating that the ink Ml is below a predetermined level, and The recording operation is stopped based on the amount signal, and the remaining amount signal is output to the display section 1 to inform the user that the remaining amount of ink has fallen below a predetermined level.

With the above configuration, the inkjet recording device of the present invention,
That is, in an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a recording head 10, there is a recording amount storage means 15 that stores the recording amount, and an incrementing amount storage means that changes the contents of the recording amount storage means according to an increase in the recording amount. and a remaining amount signal generating means 11 for generating a remaining amount signal indicating that the remaining amount of ink is below a predetermined level when the content of the recording amount storage means exceeds a predetermined value. An inkjet recording device with characteristics is provided.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation sequence of the remaining ink amount detection means explained in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 3, when an ink supply source such as an ink tank is replaced, an ink replacement signal 17 is input from an ink replacement means (not shown) to the control unit 11 in step S1, and a page counter of the RAM connected to the CPU is input in step S2. (Recording amount storage means) 15 is cleared.

In step S3, it is determined whether or not there is a recording start signal, and if there is a recording start signal, the process advances to step S4 to start the recording operation.

When recording is started, it is determined in step S5 whether or not recording for one page has been completed, and when recording for one page has been completed, in step S6, the incrementing means 16 is
As a result, the page counter (recording amount storage means 15) is set to 1.
Increment by one page.

In this way, the page counter 15 is incremented each time recording of one page is completed, and in step S7, a predetermined amount of recording is set in advance based on the amount of recording equivalent to when the ink becomes empty or reaches a predetermined level close to empty. When it is determined that the number of pages has been recorded, in step S8, the remaining amount is displayed on the display unit 18 based on the remaining amount signal indicating that the ink is empty, and the recording operation is stopped.

Note that the RAM constituting the recording amount storage means 15 is as follows:
A non-volatile memory is used and is configured so that data (number of counts) regarding ink consumption (printing amount) can be retained even when the power of the printing apparatus is turned off.

According to the above embodiment, since the remaining amount of ink is detected entirely by software, it is possible to eliminate chemical changes in the ink that occur when using conventional electrodes, and furthermore, it is possible to reduce the size of the recording device. We were also able to reduce costs.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the main part configuration of a line type inkjet recording apparatus having a fixed line recording head IOA that covers the entire width of the recording area of the recording material 5. FIG.

The ink remaining amount detection means explained in FIGS. 1 to 3 is
The present invention can also be applied to the line-type inkjet recording apparatus shown in the figure, and similar effects and effects can be achieved.

Note that this line recording head IOA is also an inkjet recording head that discharges ink using thermal energy, and is equipped with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy.

Further, the inkjet recording head IOA performs recording by ejecting ink from an ejection port by the growth of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter.

(Embodiment 2) In the above embodiment, the case where a page counter is used as the recording amount storage means 15 was explained, but in another embodiment, the recording amount can also be detected by the number of recorded lines, and the recorded amount can be detected by the number of recorded lines. It is also possible to detect that the remaining amount of ink is empty or nearly empty since the number of lines (line count number) has reached a predetermined number.

In this embodiment, a line counter is used instead of the above-mentioned page counter (recorded amount storage means 15), and the contents of the line counter are changed for each recorded line (row) as the above-mentioned increment means 16 (increment). means) are used.

Other configurations and operations of this embodiment are shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.
This is substantially the same as the case shown in the figure.

According to this embodiment, since the remaining amount is detected by counting the recorded lines, the same effect as the above-mentioned embodiment can be obtained, and the remaining ink amount can be detected (estimated) with higher accuracy. It worked.

Note that this embodiment can be similarly applied to both a serial scan type inkjet recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 and a line type inkjet recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 4.

(Example 3) FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the main part configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to this example.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 20 denotes a disposable recording head in which an ink tank 21 is integrated.

In the illustrated example, an ink ejection section (head section) 22 is formed on the wall of an example of an ink tank 21, and the recording head 20 is further provided with an SR battery backed up by a battery.
AM23 is integrated.

A controller 25 is provided on the frame 24 on which the recording head 20 is detachably mounted, and the ink ejection section (head section) 22 and the SRAM 23 are electrically connected to the controller 25.

In this embodiment, zero is written in the counter area of the SRAM 23 built into the recording head 20 when the ink is full.

According to this embodiment, in the case of the serial scan type inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG. The SRAM 23 is controlled by the controller 25.

Further, the controller 25 constantly reads the contents of the counter area of the SRAM 23, and when the remaining amount of ink exceeds a predetermined count number corresponding to a predetermined level or less, a remaining amount signal indicating that the ink is empty is sent. occurs,
As in each of the embodiments described above, the remaining amount signal is displayed and the recording operation is stopped.

The operation of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and detailed explanation of the operation will be omitted.

Further, this embodiment can be similarly applied to both a serial scan type inkjet recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 and a line type inkjet recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 4.

Furthermore, as described above, the contents (memory contents) of the counter area of the SRAM 23 constituting the recording amount storage means can be either the number of recorded pages (page counter) or the number of recorded lines (line counter). can.

Therefore, this example also achieved the same effects as those of the above-mentioned examples.

Note that when a disposable recording head 20 is used as in this embodiment (FIG. 5), the recording head 20 may be replaced before the ink is empty, or the ink tank 21 of the replaced recording head 20 may be full. However, even in such a case, in this embodiment, the recording head 20
Since the recording progress was recorded for each print, there was no problem and the remaining amount of ink could be reliably estimated.

(Example 3) In the above example, a counter for the number of pages or lines is used to calculate the remaining amount of ink, but in this example, the number of pages or lines is used as a factor related to ink consumption. This calculates the total recording time.

In other words, the recording time T1 for a page is counted against the recording time T required for normal full-line recording, or the recording time T1 for each number of lines is counted as the recording time TL required for normal full-line recording of a row. The accuracy of the page counter can be improved by accurately calculating the amount of ink consumed for a small number of page records or for calculating the amount of ink consumed for a small number of lines. The feature is that it further improves the accuracy of the line counter.

On the contrary, according to these methods, ink consumption is large even though it is for one line, such as double printing (overlapping printing) or decorative character printing, which takes more time to record per page or per line. It also becomes possible to perform more accurate discrimination.

Specifically, i) With the page count itself as the recording time T, the page counter is incremented by 1 only when the recording time count reaches T, and control according to the first embodiment is performed.

11) Control according to the second embodiment is performed by incrementing the line count by 1 only when the recording time count reaches Tc with the recording time TL as a reference.

ml) By using the page counter in Example 1 or i) in combination with the row count in Example 2 or (i), when either one reaches a value that generates a no-remaining signal (or because it is accurate) In this case, the control l (interruption of recording, display of recording failure) for ink shortage may be performed for the first time only under the AND condition in which both of these values reach values that generate a no-remaining-amount signal.

In addition, in a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the page counter and the row counter count independently, while the recording time is determined by the page recording reference time TP.
The results of these calculations are determined as the actual page counter or line counter while correcting the memory respectively by counting against the row recording reference time TL or by counting against the row recording reference time TL. It is preferable to do so.

For example, the actual count is calculated by calculating (C++Cz)/2 from the single page or row count value IC and the page or row count value Ct calculated for the reference time T, ,T. By adopting this method, it is possible to achieve even greater accuracy in determining the amount of remaining ink.

This calculation may be performed by (xC++(IX)C) by changing the proportional allocation of C4 and Ct (depending on the device).

This may be determined depending on the specifications of the device since each device has a different recording method.

According to each of the embodiments described above, since no electricity is applied to the ink, no chemical changes occur in the ink (
This eliminates the possibility of deterioration in the quality of recorded images or deterioration in recording performance, and also eliminates the need for complex structures such as electrodes for energizing the ink tank and ink resistance measurement circuits, improving the reliability of the device. The apparatus can be downsized and costs can be reduced, and when a disposable recording head 20 is used, the remaining amount of ink for each recording head 20 can be managed.

Further, the present invention can also be applied to an ink tank containing ink that is separate from the recording head and is detachable from the apparatus.

In each of the above embodiments, the present invention was explained by taking as an example a case where the present invention is applied to an inkjet recording apparatus having one recording head, but the present invention is applicable to an inkjet recording apparatus having a plurality of recording heads such as color recording. The same effect can be achieved depending on the number of recording heads.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention brings about an excellent effect especially in the inkjet recording head of a bubble jet type among inkjet recording methods, and the inkjet recording apparatus using this recording head.

As for typical configurations and principles thereof, it is preferable to use the basic principles 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 type and the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it is necessary to place the liquid (ink) on the sheet or liquid path where it is held. By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal transducer that corresponds to the recorded information and provides a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling,
This method is effective because it generates thermal energy in the electrothermal transducer to cause film boiling on the heat-active surface of the recording head, resulting in the formation of bubbles in the liquid (ink) in one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal.

Due to the growth and contraction of these bubbles, liquid (
ink) to form at least one droplet.

If this drive signal is in the form of a pulse, bubble growth and contraction will occur immediately and appropriately, so liquids with particularly excellent responsiveness (
As a more preferable pulse-shaped drive signal that can achieve ejection of ink, those described in US Pat. No. 4,463,359 and US Pat. No. 4,345,262 are suitable.

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

The configuration of the recording head includes, in addition to the combined configuration of ejection ports, liquid paths, and electrothermal converters (straight liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, a heat acting section. US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600 disclose a configuration in which the
The present invention also includes a configuration using the specification of the above specification.

In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 123670 of 1982 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge part for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a hole that absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy is disclosed. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461 of 1981, which discloses a configuration in which a discharge portion corresponds to a discharge portion.

Furthermore, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length can be increased by combining multiple recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. Either a configuration that satisfies the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally may be used, but the present invention can more effectively exhibit the above-mentioned effects.

In addition, a replaceable chip-type recording head that is attached to the device body enables electrical connection to the device body and ink supply from the device body, or a chip-type recording head that is installed integrally with the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge type recording head is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. for the recording head, which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized.

Specifically, these include capping means, cleaning means, pressure or suction means, preheating means for the recording head using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element, or a combination thereof. It is also effective to perform a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing in order to perform stable printing.

Furthermore, the recording mode of the recording device is not limited to a recording mode in which only the mainstream color such as black is used; the recording head may be configured integrally or in combination with a plurality of recording heads; The present invention is also extremely effective for devices equipped with at least one full color image.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is explained as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, and is softened or liquid at room temperature, or in the above-mentioned inkjet, the ink itself is heated at 30°C or higher. Since the temperature is generally controlled within a range of 70° C. or less so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range, it is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the recording signal is applied.

In addition, it is possible to proactively prevent temperature rise caused by thermal energy by using it as energy to transform the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent ink from evaporating by preventing ink from solidifying when left unused. In any case, the ink may be liquefied by applying thermal energy in accordance with the recording signal and ejected as liquid ink, or it may already begin to solidify when it reaches the recording material. It is also applicable to the present invention to use ink that is liquefied only by thermal energy.

In such a case, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 54-56847, the ink is held as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet and is placed facing the electrothermal transducer. It may be in any form.

In the present invention, the method that is most effective for the above-mentioned ink is the one that implements the above-mentioned film boiling method.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, in an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a recording head, there is provided a recording amount storage means for storing a recording amount, and a recording amount storing means for storing a recording amount, and an incrementing means for changing the content of the recording amount storage means; and a remaining amount signal for generating a remaining amount signal indicating that the remaining amount of ink is below a predetermined level when the content of the recorded amount storage means exceeds a predetermined value. Since the inkjet recording device is configured to include a generating means, chemical changes do not occur in the ink, and the ink jet recording device includes a remaining ink amount detection means, which can improve reliability, downsize, and reduce costs of the device. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of essential parts of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of remaining ink amount detection means in the recording apparatus of FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the remaining ink amount detection means shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of main parts of a line type inkjet recording apparatus embodying the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of main parts of another embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus according to . Below, symbols representing main components in the drawings are listed. 1--Carriage, 2--Carriage motor, 3--Recorded material conveyance motor, 5--
-Recording material, 10--Recording head (serial scan type), 10A--Recording head (line type), 11
・-・-control unit (including remaining amount signal generation means), 15-・
---1 Recording amount storage means (page counter), 16
---Increment means, 17--Ink exchange signal, 1B--Display section, 20--M--Recording head (disposable'), 21---Ink tank, 22---・-・Ink discharge part (head part), 2
3-111~~S RAM, 25.-Controller.

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) In an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a recording head, a recording amount storage means for storing a recording amount, and an incrementing means for changing the contents of the recording amount storage means in accordance with an increase in the recording amount. and a remaining amount signal generating means for generating a remaining amount signal indicating that the remaining amount of ink is below a predetermined level when the content of the recording amount storage means exceeds a predetermined value. Inkjet recording device. (2) The recording amount storage means is a means for storing the number of recorded sheets or the number of recorded lines and the number of recorded sheets or the number of recorded lines with respect to the page recording time or the line recording time. Inkjet recording device. (3) Claim 1, wherein the recording amount storage means is a means for storing the number of recorded sheets and/or the number of recorded lines.
The inkjet recording device described in . (4) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording amount storage means is built into a replaceable recording head. (5) A claim characterized in that the recording head is an inkjet recording head that ejects ink using thermal energy and is equipped with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy. Item 1. The inkjet recording device according to item 1. (6) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ink is ejected from the ejection port by the growth of bubbles due to film boiling caused by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter.