JPH06262771A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily discriminate the erroneous mounting of an ink cartridge by a simple method, in an ink jet recording apparatus using a plurality of ink cartridges, by electrically detecting whether the conductor provided to each of the ink cartridges is a predetermined one. CONSTITUTION:An ink cartridge 1 is an arbitrary one among a plurality of the ink cartridges used in an ink jet recording apparatus. A conductor 3 is provided to the ink cartridge 1 at a determined position. The ink jet recording apparatus is equipped with a means electrically detecting whether the conductor 3 is a predetermined one through the signal wire provided corresponding to the conductor 3 and a means executing warning or printing control based on the detected data. As a result, the erroneous mounting of the ink cartridge can be easily discriminated by a simple method.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to attachment / detachment of ink cartridges in an ink jet recording apparatus using a plurality of ink cartridges and print control using them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, there have been 36 ink jet recording apparatuses.
High-density printing such as 0 dpi, 64 nozzles has become possible, and high-quality printing and quiet printing sound are being used by users. Furthermore, the use of color printing is increasing due to its high resolution, rich color expression, miniaturization, and cost.

Under such circumstances, the color ink jet recording apparatus has head cartridges (YMC head cartridges for yellow, magenta, cyan and black cartridges) in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated for the purpose of convenience of use by a user. Bk head cartridge) is mounted on the carriage of the recording device for printing,
Ink tanks (hereinafter referred to as ink cartridges) in which only Y, M, C, and Bk recording heads are arranged on the carriage
Separately, the ink was supplied to the recording head by a tube or the like for printing.

However, in the former case, the head cartridge must be discarded together with the recording head when the ink runs out,
It is uneconomical and has a large impact on the environment when it is disposed of. Further, in the latter case, there are mechanical and ink fluid effects due to the swirling of the tube and the like, and there are many points in which it is difficult to take technical measures to avoid them. Therefore, a configuration in which both the recording head and the ink cartridge are placed on the carriage and these are connected on the carriage so that the recording head and the ink cartridge can be separately replaced when necessary can compensate for the above-mentioned drawbacks. In the configuration in which both the recording head and the ink cartridge are mounted on this carriage, the ink cartridge is conventionally mounted by a physical shape such as a color sticker corresponding to each recording head or a notch for preventing incorrect mounting. Was there.

[0005]

Among the conventional ink jet recording apparatuses described above, those using a seal of a color corresponding to each recording head are difficult to electrically detect the kind of the seal, and the ink cartridge is mounted correctly. It is difficult for the inkjet recording apparatus to automatically determine whether or not the recording is performed. In addition, in the case of using the notch for preventing erroneous mounting, the notch is liable to be broken, and many molds for producing the ink cartridge provided with various notches are required, which is expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus having a detecting means which can electrically detect erroneous mounting of an ink cartridge, is hard to break, and has a low manufacturing cost.

[0007]

A first ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention comprises a plurality of recording heads for ejecting ink and a plurality of removable ink cartridges for supplying ink to the plurality of recording heads. In an inkjet recording apparatus to be used, a conductor provided at each of the predetermined positions of the plurality of ink cartridges, a contact provided corresponding to the conductor, a signal line common to the contact, and the conductor are all provided. A means for electrically detecting whether or not it is predetermined, through the signal line,
Means for executing warning or print control based on the detected information.

A second ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus using a plurality of recording heads for ejecting ink and a plurality of removable ink cartridges for supplying ink to the plurality of recording heads. , A conductor provided at each predetermined position of the plurality of ink cartridges, a contact provided corresponding to the conductor, a signal line provided for each contact, and the conductor are predetermined. It is characterized in that it has means for electrically detecting whether or not it is one for each conductor through the signal line, and means for executing warning or print control based on the detected information. To do.

A third ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus using a plurality of recording heads for ejecting ink and a plurality of removable ink cartridges for supplying ink to the plurality of recording heads. , A resistor provided at each predetermined position of the plurality of ink cartridges, a contact provided corresponding to the resistor, a signal line common to the contact, and the resistor are all predetermined. Whether or not
It is characterized by having means for electrically detecting through the signal line, and means for executing warning or print control based on the detected information.

A fourth ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus using a plurality of recording heads for ejecting ink and a plurality of removable ink cartridges for supplying ink to the plurality of recording heads. , A resistor provided at each of the predetermined positions of the plurality of ink cartridges, a contact provided corresponding to the resistor, a signal line provided for each contact, and the resistor in advance. It has means for electrically detecting whether or not it is a predetermined one for each of the resistors via the signal line, and means for executing warning or print control based on the detected information. It is characterized by

[0011]

When an ink cartridge is attached to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the ink jet recording apparatus is
It is electrically detected whether the conductor or the resistor provided in the ink cartridge is a predetermined one. If the conductor or resistor is predetermined, print control is executed. If it is not predetermined, that is, if the conductor position and the resistance value of the resistor are different, a warning is issued.

According to the present invention, various ink cartridges having characteristics suited to the user's request can be mounted on the carriage, and the printing is controlled by detecting and discriminating the ink cartridge to achieve the printing in accordance with the user's request. In addition, in addition, you can monitor whether the ink cartridge is installed or not,
Independent control of individual ink cartridges is also possible, and a better print result is output.

There are various user requests such as print density, fixability, color tint, bleeding, dot diameter, water resistance, and light resistance. Ink printing control corresponding to these includes print head drive voltage and pulse width. , Driving temperature, etc.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 is an external view showing one of the ink cartridges mounted in the first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the recording operation section of the ink jet recording apparatus of the first embodiment. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording heads 4a to 4d are provided on the side surface of the ink cartridge 1 containing the ink.
A corresponding one of (see FIG. 2) and a connecting portion 2 for connecting the inside of the ink cartridge 1 are provided, and a conductor portion 3 made of a conductor is provided on the bottom surface. The ink cartridge 1 is any one of a plurality of ink cartridges 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d shown in FIG. 2 and described later.

In FIG. 2, the sheet feeding mechanism is composed of the feeding roller 21 and a pinch roller (not shown) which is detachably pressed against the lower peripheral surface thereof. A sheet 22, that is, a recording medium including an OHP sheet or the like is supplied to the sheet feeding mechanism in the direction of arrow A. Then, this ink jet printer is configured such that the paper 22 is passed through a printing unit between the platen 23 and the recording heads 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d.
The recording heads 4a-4
By driving d, a character, an image or the like is recorded. The printed sheet 22 is ejected in the direction of arrow B. The ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment is a serial type ink jet printer, and has recording heads 4a to 4 having ink discharge ports (not shown) (generally, a plurality of ink jet nozzles are arranged vertically).
d is mounted on a carriage 26 that reciprocates in the left-right direction (direction of arrow C) along the guide shaft 25.
Then, the ink cartridges 1a to 1d are connected to the recording heads 4a to 4d, respectively.
d is detachably mounted on the carriage 26 and fixed on the substrate PCB. A home position HP of the carriage 26 is set at a position outside the printable range P having a length substantially the same as that of the platen 23. At this home position HP, one of each of the recording heads 4a to 4d is provided on the front side. A recovery device 27 that moves so as to come into close contact with and separate from each other (in the direction of arrow D) is arranged.

This recovery device 27 is provided with an air valve 29 which can be driven by capping one of the recording heads 4a to 4d by a cap 28 so as to pass the inside of the cap 27 to the atmosphere. As problems peculiar to inkjet recording devices, there are problems such as clogging of the ink discharge passage due to foreign matter (paper dust, dust, etc.), thickening of ink, and non-discharge due to drying of the recording head. As a means, the recording head 4
A recovery unit is provided which caps a to 4d, sucks ink, and recovers the ink. The recovery device 27 has this function. Further, on the carriage 26, a connector CN1 for connecting a flexible cable FPC including signal lines such as a signal line for driving the recording heads 4a to 4d and a signal line 1 for ink cartridge detection (see FIG. 3) is provided. In addition, the connector CN1 is attached and the ink cartridge detection signal line 1 and other power supply line Vc
A board PCB on which lines such as c are wired is mounted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit for controlling the ink jet recording apparatus of the first embodiment. MPU33
Is connected to a host computer or the like via the first I / O port 34 and receives a print command, print data, and the like. The MPU 33 has a data bus 31 and an address bus 32.
ROM 35 in which a control program is stored via the RA
M36, character generator 37, carriage motor M1, paper feed motor M2, etc., second I / O port 4 for transmitting control to various printer mechanical operation units and operation unit 41.
0, a head control circuit 42 for controlling the recording heads 4a to 4d, a timer 43 used for controlling the driving time of the recording heads 4a to 4d, the carriage motor M1, and the paper feed motor M2. In addition, MPU33
Has an input port A / D capable of A / D conversion, and detects the voltage value of the signal line 1 input thereto. The signal line 1 is pulled down by a resistor R, and the other end is used for detecting the ink cartridge shown in FIG.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic views showing the mounting state of the ink cartridge and the ink tank on the carriage 26 shown in FIG. 2 and the ink cartridge detecting mechanism.

The ink cartridges 1a-1d are shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), conductor portions 3a to 3d for cartridge detection are attached at different positions,
The recording heads 4a to 4d have a one-to-one correspondence. Then, with the signal line 1 and the power supply line Vcc (for example, supplying a power supply voltage of 5 V) and the contacts S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5 mounted, the power supply voltage changes to the contacts S1 to S5,
The ink cartridges 1a to 1d are electrically connected to the signal line 1 through the conductors 3a to 3d.

3 and 4A, the ink cartridges 1a to 1d have recording heads 4a to 4d in which the ink cartridges 1a to 1d have a one-to-one correspondence.
When the power supply voltage is properly attached to the contact point S1, the conductor portion 3a, the contact point S2, the conductor portion 3b, the contact point S3, the conductor portion 3
signal line 1 through the contact point c, contact point S4, conductor 3d, and contact point S5.
Connector CN1, flexible cable FPC
Is input to the input port A / D of the MPU 33 and pulled down by the resistor R, the power supply voltage is detected. This means that the ink cartridges 1a to 1d are properly mounted on the recording heads 4a to 4d.

However, for example, when the ink cartridge 1b and the ink cartridge 1c are improperly mounted as shown in FIG. 4B, the conductor portions 3b and 3c have contact points S2 and S2.
It becomes impossible to connect at S4, and the input port A / of MPU33
D cannot be equipped with a power supply, and becomes a GND level via the resistor R, and it becomes possible to detect erroneous installation or non-installation of the ink cartridges 1a to 1d.

Further, in FIG. 4A, the conductor portions 3a,
3b, 3c and 3d are respectively resistors 3a ₁ , 3b₁ , 3c
₁ , 3d₁ If so, the circuit configuration as shown in FIG.
If the respective resistance values are set in advance,
Inkjet printers
Even if it can be used in the same manner as
It can be seen that the types are different, and the control due to this also changes.
Furthermore, proper recording can be performed. Also, each
Determine the resistance value of each ink cartridge 1a-1d,
If it is different from
If an ink cartridge that cannot be driven by the
Can be detected.

FIG. 6 is an external view of an ink cartridge having a detection means of another form, and FIG. 7 is an ink cartridge when the ink cartridge of FIG. 6 is connected in parallel to a power source and a signal line and mounted on a carriage. It is a schematic diagram showing wearing.

In FIG. 6, the resistor 63 in the ink cartridge 101 is mounted in a different direction (for example, a right angle direction) from the mounting method of FIG. 1, and the power supply line Vcc and the signal line 1 are wired as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing what can be mounted in parallel with respect to the serial type mounting as shown in FIG.

A circuit representation of this is shown in FIG. 8. The parallel value of the resistors 63a to 63d and the divided voltage value of the power supply voltage of the resistor R are input to the input port A / D of the MPU 33, whereby It is possible to discriminate various ink cartridges (4 ink cartridge units). In the case of erroneous mounting as shown in FIG. 4B, for example, the resistor 63b
And the resistor 63c are mounted in reverse, the resistor 63b,
Since the lengths of 63c are different, the resistor 63c cannot be connected to the power supply line Vcc and the signal line 1, and the resistors 63a to 63a.
The parallel resistance value of the whole 63d is different, so that erroneous mounting can be determined.

The detection and control of the ink cartridge in the ink jet printer of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the basic flow of FIG.

In the flow, when the power is turned on, various I / O sets and RAM 36 are set in step 901.
After performing the initial setting such as clearing, etc., in step 902, the input port A / D of the MPU 33 is used to determine the mounting and type of the ink cartridges 1a to 1d.
Is read, and the voltage value is discriminated in step 903. That is, at the GND level, it is possible to detect whether the ink cartridge is not mounted or erroneously mounted. Therefore, in step 904, the fact is recognized in the RAM 36 or the like, and in step 905, the error lamp (LED) of the operation unit 41 is turned on or the buzzer is turned on. Etc. to execute error handling. Step 903
When the power supply voltage is detected in step S4, it is recognized that the normal ink cartridges 1a to 1d are properly installed, and the recording head 4 for the normal ink cartridges 1a to 1d is recognized.
The head driving conditions such as the voltage for driving a to 4d, the driving pulse width, and the driving temperature are set in the hardware circuit such as the head control circuit 42 including the RAM 36 and the gate array (step 906). Conditions such as the number of preliminary ejections and time intervals that perform ejections unrelated to printing so that they can be ejected normally even when the recording head is used less frequently or when there is a time interval for printing, the amount of ink suction and suction Set recovery processing such as time (step 9)
07). When the voltage VR obtained by dividing the power supply voltage by a certain resistance value is detected in step 903, the ink cartridge is different from the one that is normally used, such as the image quality in color inkjet, the fixability of black only, and the ink density. In step 908, a head driving condition (head voltage, pulse width, driving temperature) that is partially or completely different from the above is set, and in step 909, the same or different preliminary ejection and recovery processing as described above is also set. .

Then, in step 910, an interface signal to the host computer is output via the I / O port 34, and in step 911, if there is print data,
In step 912, the print data is expanded on the RAM 36, in step 913 the carriage 26 and the paper 22 are operated by the carriage motor M1 and the paper feed motor M2, and in step 912, the print data expanded on the RAM 36 is recorded on the recording heads 4a to 4d. Is executed based on the driving condition.

If printing is not completed in step 914, steps 913 and 914 are repeated again, and if completed, the process returns to step 910 to receive the next print data from the host computer.

In step 911, if the print data does not come from the host computer, the ink in the vicinity of the ejection openings of the recording heads 1a to 1d gradually thickens with the passage of time. Therefore, as described above, the timer 43
Is used to measure the time (step 915), and preliminary ejection is performed from the recording heads 1a to 1d (step 91).
6). Further, even during printing, preliminary ejection is performed by the timer 43 for recording heads that are not used at regular intervals (included in step 913 in the flow). The number of preliminary ejections and the time setting are values based on the type of ink cartridge set in steps 907 and 909. Also, the operation of the recovery device 27 at the time of non-ejection or defective printing is properly executed based on the detection of the type of the ink cartridge.

As described above, it is possible to reliably detect whether the ink cartridge is mounted, not mounted, or is erroneously mounted, and to reliably discriminate the type.
The print quality and characteristics desired by the user can be provided.

In general, the ink jet recording apparatus cannot meet the recent demands of users only by the correspondence between the ink having a certain characteristic and the recording head. For example, for a user who places importance on the image quality of color image images, he or she places importance on color tone, precision, and blurring at the boundary with other colors,
In a document or the like, mainly black characters are used for color printing, and there is a situation where it is necessary to meet various demands of users such as users who place importance on character quality and speed (fixability). According to this embodiment, it is possible to mount an ink cartridge having characteristics suitable for the user's use, and control it to obtain a desired print output.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the first embodiment described above, one power line V
cc and one signal line 1 are used to detect the ink cartridge installation or erroneous installation, or the four color ink cartridges are combined into one and the type is detected, but the resistance value is different even for one color. In some cases, it was insufficient to detect individual characteristics of the ink cartridge.

In this embodiment, erroneous mounting of ink cartridges and the type and characteristics of each ink cartridge are detected.

In FIG. 10, a resistor similar to that in FIG. 6 is used.
Attach the attached ink cartridge to the substrate on the carriage 26
The ink cartridge 1a,
Contact S1 for each of 1b, 1c, 1d₁ , S2₁ , S
Three₁ , S4₁ , S1₂ , S2 ₂ , S3₂ , S4₂ , Is a pair
And attach it to each ink cartridge
The attached resistors 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are in contact with each other
To be done. Contact point S1₁ , S2₁ , S3₁ , S4₁ In
The power supply line Vcc wired to the inverter CN1 is connected,
The contact S1 at the other end₂ Detects the ink cartridge 1a
To the signal line l1 for₂ Is ink cartridge
Similarly, the contact S is connected to the signal line 12 for detecting the latch 1b.
Three₂ , S4₂ Detects the ink cartridges 1c and 1d
Connect to signal lines l3 and l4 for connection to connector CN1
It is wired. Then, the A / D input of MPU33 of FIG.
Connected to a different control board (not shown) only at power
And this is detected.

FIG. 11 shows the above-mentioned state by electrical circuit connection. The signal lines 11 to 14 for detecting the ink cartridges 1a to 1d are A / D of the MPU 33a.
The voltage is input to the conversion terminal, the power supply voltage is divided by the pull-down resistors (R1 to R4) of the resistors (9a to 9d) of the ink cartridge, and the levels thereof are set to the signal lines 11 to 14
By this, it becomes possible to input to the input ports A / D1 to A / D4 of the MPU, to be A / D converted, and to detect this.

As described above, each ink cartridge 1a-
1d is provided with respective resistors 9a to 9d, which are input to the MPU via signal lines 11 to 14 via contacts,
By detecting each type by the / D conversion, control according to each ink characteristic becomes possible.

This will be described below with reference to the flow of FIG. Steps having the same functions as those in FIG. 9 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In step 1201, the voltage values of the input ports A / D1 to A / D4 of the MPU are read in order to determine whether or not the ink cartridge is mounted and the type of the ink cartridge, and in step 1202, each voltage value is determined.

Here, discrimination of each ink cartridge,
Although these driving condition sets are originally performed individually, they are described collectively because they are similar flows. In step 1202, the voltage value of each ink cartridge is discriminated, and if there is a GND level, the steps of 904 and 905 are performed on the ink cartridge in the same manner as described above, and it is detected that only the ink cartridge is attached or the ink cartridge is attached incorrectly. , Error handling is performed. That is, the error lamp on the operation unit corresponding to the detected specific ink cartridge is turned on. Further, if the voltage value of each ink cartridge is detected to be the same as or different from that of VR1 or VR2 in four colors in step 1202, the head driving condition and the like according to the voltage value are set. That is, the ink cartridge 1
In the ink cartridges 1a to 1d, the ink cartridge 1a and the ink cartridge 1b have the voltage value VR1 and the ink cartridge 1c.
If the ink cartridge 1d has the voltage value VR2, the head driving conditions, the preliminary ejection, the recovery process, etc. are set in the same manner as in steps 906, 907, 908, and 909, and the conditions and the processes suitable for the respective ink characteristics are set. (Of course, the resistors 9a to 9d attached to the ink cartridge are attached to the ink cartridge including the variations of the resistors, assuming this voltage value). Thereafter, in the same manner as the flow from step 910 to step 916 of FIG. 9, print data is received from the host computer, developed, and printing is performed using each ink cartridge based on the driving conditions, paper feeding, and the like are performed. The image quality, performance, and characteristics desired by the user based on the input data can be obtained.

Further, similarly to the above, the preliminary ejection and the recovery processing by the recovery device are also executed for each ink cartridge.

Further, step 903 and step 1202
When a voltage value that is completely different from the expected voltage value is detected during the determination of the voltage value in step 1, the inkjet printer of the present embodiment reports an error process or some warning as an uncontrollable ink cartridge, or an operation. The control is executed such as not. This flow is not particularly shown.

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

With regard to its typical structure and principle, 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 this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved.

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 on 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 respective 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, JP-A-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-mentioned specification provides the length. The present invention can exert the above-mentioned effects more effectively, although it may have a configuration that satisfies the above requirement or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, by being mounted on the apparatus main body, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can be supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by a replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge-type recording head provided with an ink tank is 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.

Further, as the recording mode of the recording apparatus, not only the mainstream color such as black is recorded but also the recording head may be integrally formed or a plurality of them may be combined. The present invention is also extremely effective for a device provided with at least one of full colors by color mixing.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens at room temperature, or 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. It may be in a liquid form.

In addition, the temperature rise due to the 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 JP-A-60-71260, a mode in which the porous sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter in the state of being held as a liquid or solid in the recess or through hole of the porous sheet. May be 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 the one provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a word processor or a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, May take the form of a facsimile machine having a transmission / reception function.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus using a plurality of ink cartridges, it is determined whether or not the conductor or the resistor provided in the ink cartridge is predetermined. Detection, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the ink cartridge is not installed or erroneously installed by a simple method.By determining the type of ink cartridge, it is possible to determine the printing, image quality, and characteristics desired by the user. There is an effect that it can be stably provided at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing one of ink cartridges mounted in a first embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a mechanism diagram showing a recording operation unit of the inkjet recording apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit that controls the inkjet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing a mounting state of an ink cartridge and an ink tank and a detection mechanism of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a view showing conductor parts 3a, 3b, 3 in FIG.
c and 3d are resistors 3a ₁ , 3b ₁ , 3c ₁ and 3d _{1, respectively.}
It is a figure which represented the mounting state when it was as.

FIG. 6 is an external view of an ink cartridge having another type of detection means.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the ink cartridge mounting when the ink cartridge of FIG. 6 is connected in parallel to a power source and a signal line and mounted on a carriage.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing the mounting state of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for determining the presence and type of an attached ink cartridge.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an ink cartridge in which the presence and type of each ink cartridge can be determined.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing the mounting state of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for determining the presence and type of individual ink cartridges mounted as shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d Ink cartridge 2 Connection part 3 Conductor part 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d Recording head 21 Feed roller 22 Paper 23 Platen 25 Guide shaft 26 Carriage 27 Recovery device 28 Cap 29 Air valve 31 Data bus 32 Address bus 33 MPU 34, 40 I / O port 35 ROM 36 RAM 37 Character generator 41 Operation part 42 Head control circuit 43 Timer CN1 connector PCB board l, l1, l2, l3, l4 Signal line Vcc power supply

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of recording heads for ejecting ink,
In an inkjet recording apparatus using a plurality of removable ink cartridges that respectively supply ink to the plurality of recording heads, a conductor provided at each predetermined position of the plurality of ink cartridges, and a conductor corresponding to the conductor. A contact provided with the contact, a signal line common to the contact, and means for electrically detecting whether or not all of the conductors are predetermined through the signal line, and the detected An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a unit that executes warning or print control based on information. 2. A plurality of recording heads for ejecting ink,
In an inkjet recording apparatus using a plurality of removable ink cartridges that respectively supply ink to the plurality of recording heads, a conductor provided at each predetermined position of the plurality of ink cartridges, and a conductor corresponding to the conductor. And the signal line provided for each contact, and whether or not the conductor is a predetermined one is electrically detected for each conductor through the signal line. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a unit and a unit that executes a warning or print control based on the detected information. 3. A plurality of recording heads for ejecting ink,
In an inkjet recording apparatus that uses a plurality of removable ink cartridges that respectively supply ink to the plurality of recording heads, a resistor provided at each predetermined position of the plurality of ink cartridges, and a resistor Correspondingly provided contacts, a signal line common to the contacts, means for electrically detecting whether or not the resistors are all predetermined, via the signal lines, and An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a unit that executes a warning or print control based on the detected information. 4. A plurality of recording heads for ejecting ink,
In an ink jet recording apparatus using a plurality of removable ink cartridges that respectively supply ink to the plurality of recording heads, a resistor provided at each predetermined position of the plurality of ink cartridges, and a resistor Corresponding contact points, signal lines provided for each contact point, and whether or not each of the resistors is a predetermined one is electrically determined for each resistor through the signal line. An ink jet recording apparatus, characterized in that it has means for detecting each of them, and means for executing warning or print control based on the detected information. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the recording head is a full line type recording head having a plurality of ejection openings provided over the entire recording area of a recording medium. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink. . 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording head ejects the ink from an ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Recording device.