JPH06115089A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to detect a residual ink quantity in an ink container by a simple structure. CONSTITUTION:Four recording heads 1 are mounted on a carriage 3 which shuttles back and forth in an arrow direction, and at the same time, an ink container 2 for supplying ink to each recording head 1 is provided in a freely detachable manner. In addition, a permeable-type photosensor 4 consisting of a light-emitting element 4a and a light-receiving element 4b is arranged at a position where each ink container 2 passes by movement of the carriage 3. Each ink container 2 is made of a member which allows a light originating from each light-emitting element 4a to permeate through and stores a different color ink. Further, a slit (not illustrated) for allowing the light originating from the light-emitting element 4a to reach the light-receiving element 4b is formed on the bottom wall of the carriage. The intensity of the light 4c which permeates the ink container 2 after its emission from the light-emitting element 4a when the ink container 2 is positioned between the permeable-type photosensors 4 varies according to the residual ink quantity in the ink container 2. Therefore, it is possible to detect the residual ink quantity in the ink container using the variation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head for ejecting ink from ejection ports and an ink container for accommodating ink to be supplied to the recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of ink jet recording apparatus, there is known one having a function of detecting the remaining amount of ink used in order to prevent the ink from being exhausted during recording. . FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional inkjet recording apparatus capable of detecting the remaining amount of ink. As shown in FIG. 9, the ejection port 101 for ejecting ink
The recording head 101 having a and the ink container 102 containing the ink to be supplied to the recording head 101 are connected to each other via an ink flow path 103. A pressure sensor 104 is provided in the middle of the ink flow path 103. The inside of the pressure sensor 104 is hollow, and the rubber film 1
By 05, it is divided into two spaces, a space where the ink pressure acts and a space where the atmospheric pressure acts. Rubber film 1
On the space side of 05 where the atmospheric pressure acts, an electrical contact 106
Is fixed to the electrical contact 106, and the detection circuit 107 is connected to the electrical contact 106 via two sections 107a fixed to the outer wall of the pressure sensor 104.

Based on the configuration described above, the ink container 102
When there is sufficient ink inside, the ink pressure in the pressure sensor 104 is sufficiently high, and this ink pressure urges the rubber film 105 upward in the drawing. Therefore, each section 107a is in contact with the electrical contact 106, and the detection circuit 10
Current is flowing through 7. However, the ink container 102
When the remaining amount of ink in the inside of the pressure sensor 104 decreases, the ink pressure in the pressure sensor 104 decreases, which pushes the rubber film 105 downward in the drawing. When the rubber film 105 is pushed downward, the electrical contact 106 also moves downward accordingly and separates from the respective pieces 107a. As a result, no current flows in the detection circuit 107, and it can be detected that the ink remaining amount in the ink container 102 is small.

On the other hand, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, in order to easily replenish the ink when the ink is exhausted, an ink container is detachably attached to the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus, and the ink in the ink container is exhausted. It is also known that ink is replenished by replacing it with a new ink container. In such an ink jet recording apparatus, a micro switch that is turned on or off when the ink container is attached is provided at a portion of the ink jet recording apparatus main body where the ink container is attached, and the current of the micro switch when the ink container is attached is installed. Whether or not the ink container is attached to the ink jet recording apparatus is detected depending on the presence or absence of.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional ink jet recording apparatus has the following problems.

In the structure shown in FIG. 9 in which the remaining amount of ink is detected by the pressure sensor, the structure of the pressure sensor is complicated. Furthermore, since the pressure sensor must be provided in the ink flow path, the structure of the ink flow path becomes complicated, and as a result, the structure of the inkjet recording apparatus becomes complicated. On the other hand, also in the case of detecting the presence or absence of the ink container by the micro switch, the number of parts is increased by providing the micro switch, and the configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus becomes complicated.

In order to detect the remaining amount of ink and the presence / absence of the ink container, both the pressure sensor and the micro switch have to be provided, which makes the configuration more complicated.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to detect the amount of ink remaining in the ink container with a simple structure, and, in addition to the detection of the remaining amount of ink using the same detecting means, the presence or absence of an ink container. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of various things such as detection of.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording head for ejecting ink from an ejection port,
In an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink container that contains ink to be supplied to the recording head, a light emitting body that emits light and a light from the light emitting body are received, and a predetermined electric quantity value is obtained according to the intensity of the light. And a light-receiving body for outputting, the light-emitting body and the light-receiving body have an optical detection means arranged opposite to each other sandwiching a portion of the ink container from a substantially vertical direction, among the ink container, At least the partial position is made of a member that is transparent to the light emitted from the light emitter.

Further, one part of the ink container is a convex part, the convex part is provided on the lower end part of the ink container, and the ink container is used with respect to the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus. It may be detachably provided.

Further, the recording head may be mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in a substantially horizontal direction, and an ink container may be detachably provided on the carriage. In this case, optical detection is possible. The means may be arranged so as to sandwich a part of the ink container when the carriage is located at the home position.

A plurality of recording heads are provided for inks of different colors, and an ink container is provided in a number corresponding to each recording head in order to supply the inks of the respective colors to the respective recording heads. Alternatively, the optical detecting means may be fixed to the carriage for each ink container.

In each of the above means, the recording head is
Equipped with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink, or ejecting ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter It may be allowed to.

[0014]

In the present invention constructed as described above, the optical detecting means composed of the light emitting body and the light receiving body is arranged so as to sandwich one portion of the ink container from the substantially vertical direction, and at least the above-mentioned ink container is used. By configuring one part with a member that is transparent to the light from the light emitter, the light emitted from the light emitter passes through one part of the ink container and the ink in the ink container and reaches the light receiver. To do. The intensity of the light that reaches the photoreceptor changes depending on the distance of the light that has passed through the ink, that is, the amount of ink in the ink container. Therefore, the amount of ink in the ink container is detected by observing the value of the amount of electricity output from the photoreceptor.

Further, by detachably providing the ink container, it is possible to detect whether or not the ink container is attached to the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus. Further, the recording head is mounted on a carriage which reciprocates in a substantially horizontal direction. In addition to the above, in addition to the above, the home position of the carriage can be detected by detachably providing the ink container on the carriage. Since the transmittance of light from the light emitting body differs for each color of ink, it is possible to detect erroneous mounting of the ink container in an inkjet recording apparatus having a plurality of ink containers that store ink of different colors. .

[0016]

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 3, the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment is a so-called serial type recording apparatus, and the carriage 3
Is a timing belt slidably fitted to the guide shaft 8 in the arrow direction (generally horizontal direction) and wound around a pulley 10 fixed to the output shaft of the carriage motor 9 and a pulley 11 rotatably supported. It is bound to 12 sites. As a result, by driving the carriage motor 9, the timing belt 12 rotates normally and reversely, and the carriage 3
Is configured to reciprocate in the direction of the arrow. On the carriage 3, four recording heads 1 are mounted side by side in the moving direction of the carriage 3 (the direction of the arrow in the figure), and four ink 2 containers for supplying ink to each recording head 1 are respectively attached and detached. As shown in FIG. 2, light from a transmissive photosensor 4, which will be described later, is provided at a portion of the bottom wall of the carriage 3 where each ink container 2 is mounted, the light being freely provided. A slit 3a is formed so as not to block. Further, each ink container 2 shown in FIG. 1 is made of a member that is transparent to the light from the transmissive photosensor 4, and inside each ink container 2, yellow, magenta, cyan, and
Contains black ink. Full-color image recording is possible by supplying ink from each ink container 2 to the corresponding recording head 1 and ejecting the ink from each recording head 1 based on the ejection signal.

Now, the recording head 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The recording head 1 has a plurality of discharge ports 1b formed at a predetermined pitch on a discharge port surface 1a facing a recording paper 13 (see FIG. 1) at a predetermined interval, and the common liquid chamber 1c and each discharge port 1b are formed. An electrothermal converter (e.g., a heating resistor) 1e for generating energy for ejecting ink is provided along the wall surface of each liquid passage 1d communicating with the outlet 1b.
The common liquid chamber 1c communicates with the ink container 2 (see FIG. 1), and the ink in the ink container 2 is supplied to the common liquid chamber 1c. From ink container 2 to common liquid chamber 1c
The ink that has been supplied to and temporarily stored therein enters the liquid passage 1d due to a capillary phenomenon, forms a meniscus at the ejection port 1b, and keeps the liquid passage 1d filled. At this time, when the electrothermal converter 1e is energized based on the ejection signal through the electrode (not shown) to generate heat, the ink on the electrothermal converter 1e is rapidly heated and bubbles are generated in the liquid passage 1d. Then, the expansion of the bubbles causes the ink to be ejected from the ejection port 1b.
Here, the electrothermal converter 1e is shown as the energy generating element that generates energy, but the invention is not limited to this.
A piezoelectric element that generates mechanical energy that momentarily applies a discharge pressure may be used.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Is conveyed by a paper feed roller (not shown) which is guided by a paper pan 16 and is pressed against by a pinch roller. This conveyance is performed using the paper feed motor 18 as a drive source. The conveyed recording paper 13 is tensioned by the discharge roller 15 and the spur 14,
A heater 17 is formed by a paper pressing plate 19 formed of an elastic member.
Since it is pressed to the heater 17, it is conveyed while being in close contact with the heater 17. The recording paper 13 to which the ink ejected from each recording head 1 adheres is heated by the heater 17, and the adhered ink has its moisture evaporated and is fixed on the recording paper 13.

On the other hand, due to the reciprocating movement of the carriage 3, a portion where each ink container 2 mounted on the carriage 3 passes is sandwiched in the vertical direction, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage 3, there is an interval between them. A transmissive photosensor 4 including a light-emitting body 4a and a light-receiving body 4b which are arranged to face each other is provided. The transmissive photosensor 4 uses the light 4c emitted from the light emitter 4a as the light receiver 4a.
A predetermined amount of electricity is output when the intensity of the light 4c received by b and received by the light receiving body 4b exceeds a certain level.

When the carriage 3 is moved between the light emitting portion 4a and the light receiving portion 4b of the transmissive photosensor 4 on the basis of the above-mentioned structure, the light 4c emitted from the light emitting body 4a as shown in FIG. Penetrates the ink container 2 and the ink in the ink container 2 and reaches the light receiving body 4b. At this time, since the ink in the ink container 2 absorbs part of the light 4c from the light emitting body 4a, the intensity of the light 4c reaching the light receiving body 4b becomes smaller as the thickness H of the ink in the traveling direction of the light 4c becomes smaller. ,
That is, the smaller the amount of ink in the ink container 2, the stronger it becomes. As a result, the amount of ink in the ink container 2 decreases, and when the intensity of the light 4c received by the light receiver 4b exceeds a certain level, a predetermined amount of electricity is output from the light receiver 4b and the ink in the ink container 2 is output. Can be detected. Then, by observing the output of the amount of electricity from the light receiving body 4b while moving the carriage 3, it is detected that the amount of ink in the four ink containers 2 has decreased.

However, in the case of detecting the ink residual amounts of a plurality of colors as in the present embodiment, since the light transmittance is different for each color, the light receiving member 4 is used even if the ink amount in each ink container 2 is the same.
The intensity of the light 4c reaching b will be different. Therefore, when the ink amount in each ink container 2 is the same, the light receiving member 4
It becomes necessary to make correction so that the intensity levels of the light 4c detected in b are the same. As a means for this correction, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the light transmittance of each color is made equal to the portion of the bottom wall of the carriage 3 where the light 4c from the light emitter 4a passes through and crosses each ink container 2. Correction optical filters 5a and 5 designed to match the level
b, 5c, and 5d are provided so that the intensity level of the light 4c detected by the light receiver 4b can be made the same. In addition to this, it is also possible to make an electrical correction in accordance with the transmittance of the light 4c for each color.

In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the slit 3a (see FIG. 2) is formed in the carriage 3 in order to transmit the light 4c from the light emitting body 4a to the light receiving body 4b.
Not limited to this, as shown in FIG. 5, the length of the portion of the carriage 3 to which each ink container 2 is mounted is shortened so that the rear end portion 2a of each ink container 2 projects from the carriage 3 and the carriage 3 The light 4c from the light-emitting body 4a may be transmitted to a portion protruding from the light-emitting body 4a. Alternatively, the portion of the carriage 3 that transmits the light 4c from the light-emitting body 4a or the entire carriage 3 may be transmitted from the light-emitting body 4a. 4c may be formed of a member having transparency.

In the present embodiment, when the ink container 2 is not mounted on the carriage 3, even if the carriage 3 crosses the light 4c from the light emitting body 4a, the intensity of the light 4c detected by the light receiving body 4b is increased. The level of Sasa hardly changes. Therefore, it is possible to detect whether or not the ink container 2 is mounted on the carriage 3 by utilizing this. That is, when the ink container 2 is mounted on the carriage 3, the intensity of the light 4c reaching the light receiver 4b is weak, so that no light quantity is output from the light receiver 4b. When installed,
The intensity of the light 4c reaching the light receiver 4c exceeds a certain level, and a predetermined amount of electricity is output from the light receiver 4b to detect that the ink container 2 is not mounted on the carriage 3.

Further, as described above, the light 4c of the ink
It is also possible to detect erroneous mounting of the ink container 2 by utilizing the fact that the transmittance of the ink is different for each color. For example, when the yellow ink container 2 is erroneously mounted at the position where the magenta container 2 should be mounted, the intensity of the light 4c detected by the light receiving body 4b is different from that when the magenta ink is transmitted. . Similarly, for other colors, when the ink container 2 containing the ink of a color different from the predetermined color is mounted, the intensity of the light 4c detected by the light receiver 4b is changed, which causes the ink container 2 to be erroneously mounted. Can be detected.

In addition, by arranging the transmissive photosensor 4 at the home position of the carriage 3, the transmissive photosensor 4 serves as a sensor for detecting the absolute position of the carriage 3, a so-called home position sensor. It can also be used in combination.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the vicinity of the carriage of the second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, this embodiment is also a serial type recording apparatus, and a carriage 23 slidably fitted in a guide shaft 28 in the direction of the arrow (generally horizontal direction) 23
Is equipped with four recording heads 21 similar to those of the first embodiment, and four ink containers 22 for respectively supplying yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks to each recording head 21 are attached and detached. It is provided freely. The lower end of each ink container 22 is integrally formed with a protrusion 22a that protrudes from the rear end of the carriage 23 and is made of a member that is transparent to light from a transmissive photosensor 24, which will be described later. The ink is also stored inside each of the protrusions 22a. Further, the transmissive photosensor 24 in which the light-emitting body 24a and the light-receiving body 24b are integrated is arranged so that the light from the light-emitting section 24a crosses each of the protruding sections 22a in a substantially vertical direction. The light is transmitted through each protrusion 22a. The rest of the configuration may be similar to that of the first embodiment, so its explanation is omitted.

In this way, each ink container 22 has a protrusion 2
2a is provided and the ink in each ink container 22 is detected by each of these protrusions 22a, so that the distance between the light emitter 24a and the light receiver 24b is reduced, so that the transmissive photosensor 24 can be downsized. . For example, light emitter 2
It is possible to use a small transmissive photosensor 24 in which 4a and the light receiving body 24b are integrated. In addition, the protrusions 22a of the ink containers 22 are respectively
By providing it at the lower end of the ink container, it is possible to detect the absence of ink just before the ink in each ink container 22 is used up. Also in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment,
In addition to the detection of ink shortage in each ink container 22, detection is performed that the ink container 22 is not mounted on the carriage 23, erroneous mounting of the ink container 22 is detected, and further the home position of the carriage 23 is detected. You can also

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the vicinity of the carriage of the third embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, this embodiment is also a serial type recording apparatus, and is 43 in a carriage slidably fitted in the guide shaft 48 in the direction of the arrow (generally horizontal direction).
Is mounted with four recording heads 41 similar to those in the first embodiment, and light from a light-emitting body described later for supplying yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks to the recording heads 41, respectively. Each of the four ink containers 42 made of a transparent material is detachably provided. Further, columns 43a extending upward are integrally provided at the rear ends of both side walls of the carriage 43. At the upper end of each column 43a, a luminous body group in which four luminous bodies 44a arranged corresponding to each ink container 42 are integrated, and crosses each ink container 42 above each ink container 42. It is fixed. On the other hand, on the bottom wall of the carriage 43, a light-receiving body group in which four light-receiving bodies 44b paired with each light-emitting body 44a are integrated is fixed. The sensor is configured. Then, in order to allow the light from each light-emitting body 44a to reach each corresponding light-receiving body,
The carriage has slits (not shown) as shown in FIG.
Is formed, or the carriage itself is made of a member that is transparent to the light from each light-emitting body.

Based on the above-described structure, the light emitted from each light emitter 44a passes through each ink container 42 and the ink in each ink container 42, and then each light emitter 44a.
Each of the light receivers 44b facing a is reached. As a result, detection of ink shortage in each ink container 42, detection that the ink container 42 is not mounted on the carriage 43, and detection of erroneous mounting of the ink container 42 are performed.

As described above, by fixing each light emitter 44a and each light receiver 44b to the carriage 43, it is possible to perform the various detections described above without moving the carriage 43.

In each of the embodiments described above, an example in which a transmissive sensor in which the light from the light emitter is directly received by the light receiver is used as the optical detecting means is shown, but the invention is not limited to this, and the light from the light emitter is used. It is also possible to use a reflection type sensor in which a light receiving body receives reflected light when the ink hits the ink in the ink container. Further, in each embodiment, four recording heads and four recording heads are provided in order to perform full-color recording with four color inks.
Although an example having one ink container is shown, the color of ink and the number of ink containers are not limited to this, and for example, one recording head and one ink container for performing recording with a single color of black only. And may have. Furthermore, in each of the embodiments, the recording head and the ink container are described separately, but a so-called cartridge type recording head in which the recording head and the ink container are integrated may be used.

The present invention is particularly effective in an ink jet type recording head and recording apparatus for recording by forming flying droplets by utilizing thermal energy among the ink jet recording systems.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. , It is effective because it generates heat energy in the electrothermal converter and causes film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, resulting in the formation of bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis. Is. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make the driving signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be ejected.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.

In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-123670 discloses a structure in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a pressure wave of thermal energy is absorbed. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which an opening corresponds to a discharge portion.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus, a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification is used. Either a structure satisfying the length or a structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., 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. If you list these specifically,
Capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or sucking means for the recording head, preheating means using an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof, and a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection other than recording It is also effective to perform stable recording.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens at room temperature, or is a liquid, or the above-mentioned. In the inkjet method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. Any material that is in liquid form may be used.

In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink is solidified in a standing state for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink. In some cases, such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat energy according to a recording signal and ejected as a liquid ink, or one that has already started to solidify when it reaches a recording medium. The use of an ink having a property of being liquefied only by heat energy is also applicable to the present invention. In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-5684.
No. 7 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-71260, a mode in which it is opposed to the electrothermal converter in the state of being held as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet. Also good. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as a form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to one provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a word processor and a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader, and further It may take the form of a facsimile machine having a transmission / reception function.

[0043]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

An optical detecting means composed of a light-emitting body and a light-receiving body is arranged so as to sandwich a part of the ink container from the substantially vertical direction, and at least a part of the ink container with respect to the light from the light-emitting body. By using a transparent member, the amount of ink in the ink container can be detected without using a pressure sensor. Further, by making one part of the ink container a convex portion, the distance between the light emitter and the light receiver can be shortened, and the optical detection means can be made small. Furthermore, by providing the convex portion at the lower end of the ink container, it is possible to detect the absence of ink in the ink container just before the ink in the ink container is used up. In addition, by detachably providing the ink container, it is possible to detect whether or not the ink container is attached.

Further, in a serial type ink jet recording apparatus in which a recording head is mounted on a reciprocating carriage, an ink container is detachably provided on this carriage and an optical detecting means is arranged at a home position of the carriage. Therefore, the home position of the carriage can also be detected.

In an ink jet recording apparatus having a plurality of ink containers containing ink of different colors, the fact that the transmittance of light from the light emitting body differs for each color of the ink is used to make a mistake in mounting the ink container. In a serial type ink jet recording apparatus in which the plurality of ink containers are removably attached to the carriage, the optical detecting means should be fixed to the carriage for each ink container. Thus, without moving the carriage, it is possible to detect the remaining amount of ink in each ink container, to detect whether each ink container is mounted in the carriage, and Detection can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the vicinity of the carriage, showing a state in which each ink container is removed from the carriage in the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is a perspective view of a main part of the recording head shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the vicinity of the carriage when the carriage is located between the transmissive photosensors in the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a schematic perspective view of the vicinity of the carriage, showing an example of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in which the shape of the carriage is changed.

6 is a schematic perspective view of the vicinity of the carriage, showing an example of the carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 provided with an optical filter according to the light transmittance of ink in each ink container.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the vicinity of the carriage of the second embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the vicinity of the carriage of the third embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional inkjet recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 21, 41 Recording head 1a Discharge port surface 1b Discharge port 1c Common liquid chamber 1d Liquid path 1e Electrothermal converter 2, 22, 42 Ink container 2a Rear end 3, 23, 43 Carriage 3a Slit 4, 24 Transmission type Photosensors 4a, 24a, 44a Light emitters 4b, 24b, 44b Light receivers 4c Lights 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d Optical filters 8, 28, 48 Guide shafts 9 Carriage motors 10, 11 Pulleys 12 Timing belts 13 Recording papers 14 Spurs 15 Paper Ejection Roller 16 Paper Pan 17 Heater 18 Paper Feed Motor 19 Paper Holding Plate 22a Protrusion 43a Strut

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hisashi Morioka 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Makoto Kashimura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Kya Non Inc. (72) Inventor Makoto Takemura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tetsuhiro Nitta 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Unozawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shinji Kanemitsu 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head for ejecting ink from an ejection port and an ink container for accommodating ink to be supplied to the recording head, and And a light-receiving body that outputs a predetermined amount of electricity according to the intensity of the light. The light-emitting body and the light-receiving body are arranged to face each other with one portion of the ink container sandwiched from a substantially vertical direction. Inkjet recording apparatus, characterized in that at least a part of the ink container is made of a member that is transparent to light emitted from the light-emitting body. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one portion of the ink container is a convex portion. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the convex portion is provided on a lower end portion of the ink container. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the ink container is detachably attached to the ink jet recording apparatus main body. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the recording head is mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in a substantially horizontal direction, and an ink container is detachably provided on the carriage. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the optical detecting means is arranged so as to sandwich a part of the ink container when the carriage is located at the home position. 7. A plurality of recording heads are provided for inks of different colors, and an ink container is also provided in a number corresponding to each of the recording heads in order to supply each color of ink to each recording head. Any one of items 1 to 5
Inkjet recording apparatus according to the item. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the optical detecting means is fixedly arranged on the carriage for each ink container. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the recording head ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing the film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter.