JPH06297726A - Ink jet recording apparatus and ink residual amount detecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect an ink residual amt. so as to be capable of using ink to the utmost limit without lowering the life of a recording head and suddenly stopping recording in an ink jet recording apparatus. CONSTITUTION:In an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with an energy generating element 19 generating energy utilized in order to emit ink from an ink emitting orifice 15 and a liquid chamber 17 storing the ink supplied to the emitting orifice 15, the sonic wave generating means 20 and a sonic wave detection means 40 are provided and the sonic wave generated by a sonic wave generating means 20 is detected by the sonic wave detection means 40 and the presence of the ink in the liquid chamber is detected on the basis of the detected sonic wave.

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 and an ink having an ink jet recording head for ejecting ink to form flying droplets and adhering the droplets to a recording medium such as paper for recording. The present invention relates to a remaining amount detection method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet recording apparatuses have come to be widely used in recent years because of their good print quality, recording speed, and quietness during operation. Above all,
An electrothermal conversion element is provided in the liquid flow path of the ink in the vicinity of the ink ejection port, and film boiling occurs in the ink due to the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal conversion element, and the growth of bubbles due to the film boiling Inkjet recording devices of the type that ejects ink by means of a thin film process are manufactured for the basic parts of the nozzles such as electrothermal conversion elements and electrodes, so it is easy to increase the density and full multi-nozzle nozzles. It is becoming mainstream.

By the way, in the ink jet recording apparatus, when the remaining amount of ink is very small, a recording character or the like becomes faint or recording becomes impossible. Among them, an electrothermal conversion element is provided in the liquid flow path of the ink in the vicinity of the above-described ink ejection port, and film boiling in the ink is caused by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal conversion element, and the rapid heat generated at that time is generated. In an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects ink by utilizing pressure change, when a drive voltage is applied in a state where an appropriate amount of ink does not exist on the electrothermal conversion element, the electrothermal conversion element outputs an appropriate amount of ink. It becomes extremely hot compared to when it is present and is more likely to be damaged.

The recording head is provided with a storage container for ink to be supplied to the recording head outside the main body of the recording head. When the ink is used up, the recording head is not replaced in principle, and the storage container is refilled with ink. Type or a type in which recording can be restarted by exchanging each storage container (hereinafter referred to as a permanent type) and an ink storage container is provided integrally with the recording head body, and when the ink is used up, the entire head is There is a replacement type (hereinafter referred to as a disposable type), but the above-mentioned phenomenon that occurs when the ink level is low is extremely avoided in permanent type recording heads, as it extremely shortens the life of the recording head. This is a problem that must be addressed, and even with disposable type recording heads, sudden recording during recording It is a very important issue in order to avoid.

Therefore, conventionally, a method of providing a pressure sensor in the ink storage container to detect that the remaining amount of ink has become very small from the amount of pressure drop of the ink, and the electrical conductivity in the ink storage container are known. A method has been proposed for detecting that the remaining amount of ink has become very small from the change of.

[0006]

However, the detection of the remaining amount of ink by these methods has the following problems. That is, firstly, in the case of a recording head used in a recording apparatus of a serial recording system, since the head is moving, the ink surface also sways, which easily causes a malfunction of remaining ink amount detection. The above method is difficult to build in the print head and is limited to the ink storage container at the ink remaining amount detection point, so it is difficult to detect the time immediately before the ink is completely exhausted, and it is up to the limit of the ink. The ink cannot be used and the ink tends to be wasted.

Therefore, there has been a demand for the advent of an ink jet recording head and a recording device having a function of surely detecting the time immediately before the ink is completely exhausted so that the ink can be used up to the maximum use limit.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there are provided an ejection port for ejecting ink, an energy generating element for generating energy used for ejecting the ink, and an ink supplied to the ejection port. In an inkjet recording apparatus provided with a liquid chamber for storing, a sound wave generating unit and a sound wave detecting unit are provided, the sound wave generated by the sound wave generating unit is detected by the sound wave detecting unit, and the liquid is detected based on the sound wave detected at that time. It is characterized in that the presence or absence of ink in the room is detected.

Further, according to the present invention, there are provided an ejection port for ejecting ink, an energy generating element for generating energy used for ejecting the ink, and a liquid chamber for storing the ink supplied to the ejection port. In the inkjet recording device provided, the same device is operated as a sound wave generating means and a sound wave detecting means, the sound wave generated by the device is detected by the device, and the ink in the liquid chamber is detected based on the detected sound wave. It is characterized by detecting the presence or absence.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the sound wave generating means and the sound wave detecting means are provided in an ink containing portion for storing ink to be supplied to the liquid chamber.

[0011]

The acoustic signal when the sound wave generated by the sound wave generating means is detected by the sound wave detecting means through the liquid chamber or the ink storage portion varies greatly depending on the presence or absence of ink in the liquid chamber or the ink storage portion.

That is, when the ink is present in the liquid chamber or the ink containing portion, the sound waves generated from the sound wave generating means are mainly propagated in the liquid (ink), so that the attenuation is small, and the sound wave detecting means is sufficient. While a strong acoustic signal is detected, when the ink is not present in the liquid chamber, the sound waves are mainly propagated in the air, so the attenuation is large, and the detected acoustic signal is greater than when the ink is present. Noticeably smaller Therefore, after the sound wave is generated by the sound wave generator, the presence or absence of ink in the liquid chamber or the ink container is detected by the strength of the sound wave detected by the sound wave detector through the liquid chamber or the ink container.

Further, when an electrothermal converting element is used as the sound wave generating means, heat energy is introduced into the liquid chamber to generate bubbles, and when sound waves are generated by the generation and disappearance of the bubbles at this time, liquid is generated. When the ink is present in the chamber, the sound wave can be detected with sufficient intensity by the sound wave detecting means, whereas when the ink is not present in the liquid chamber, bubbles are generated even when the heat energy is applied to the liquid chamber. The sound wave is not detected because it disappears. Therefore, the presence or absence of ink in the liquid chamber is detected depending on whether or not the sound wave can be detected by the sound wave detecting means after the thermal energy is applied from the electrothermal converter to the liquid chamber.

As described above, according to the present invention, the presence or absence of ink in the liquid chamber and the ink containing portion is ensured by the difference in the acoustic signal when the sound wave generated by the sound wave generating means is detected by the sound wave detecting means. Can be detected. Then, from the presence or absence of the ink in the liquid chamber and the ink containing portion thus detected, the time immediately before the ink is completely exhausted can be surely detected, without damaging the electrothermal conversion element, and during the recording operation. It is possible to use the ink to the maximum limit without waste, without suddenly stopping recording.

[0015]

【Example】

Example 1 This example is an example of application to an inkjet recording apparatus of the type that is a disposable type and uses an electrothermal converter as a discharge energy generating element as described above. It is of a serial recording type in which a recording head is scanned in a predetermined direction.

First, a schematic configuration of the entire recording apparatus used in the present invention will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 13, 1A is a recording head for ejecting yellow color ink, 1B is a recording head for ejecting magenta color ink, 1C is a recording head for ejecting cyan color ink, and 1D is black color ink. Recording heads for ejecting, and these recording heads 1A, 1B, 1C
And 1D are installed on the carriage 2. Also,
These recording heads 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D are of a disposable type in which an ink containing portion which is a supply source of each ink is integrated. The carriage 2 moves left and right along the guide shaft 3, and the movement position is detected by the encoder 4. The recording paper (recording medium) 5 is fed while being guided by a plurality of feed rollers 6 installed above and below, and the recording heads 1A, 1B, 1
At positions facing the C and 1D ink ejection formation surfaces (hereinafter, simply referred to as ejection surfaces), the ejection ejection surfaces are kept parallel to the ejection surfaces.

Next, the structure of the recording heads 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D will be described with reference to FIGS. In these figures, one of the recording heads is designated by reference numeral 1.
Is shown as a representative.

The recording head 1 has a structure in which a head chip 11 and an ink containing portion 12 are integrated. The head chip 11 has a joint structure of a substrate 13 made of Si and a top plate 14 made of glass, and a plurality of ejection ports 15 arranged in the vertical direction are formed on the ejection surface side of these joints. The discharge ports 15 are connected to one common liquid chamber 17 by a plurality of liquid passages 16 that communicate with each other. The wall portion between the plurality of liquid paths 16 is formed of, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin. The common liquid chamber 17 is
The tube 18 communicates with the inside of the ink containing portion 12.

On the upper surface of the substrate 13, electrothermal conversion elements (ejection heaters) 19 as a plurality of ejection energy generating elements, one positioned in each liquid passage 16, and the electrothermal conversion elements 19 are individually provided. Wiring such as aluminum for supplying electric power is formed by a film forming technique.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a heating element, which is a common liquid chamber 1 on the substrate 13.
It is provided at a position within the liquid passage 16 in the inside 7. Heating element 2
0 has a film structure similar to that of the electrothermal converting element 19, and the wiring is also formed of aluminum or the like by a film forming technique as in the case of the electrothermal converting element 19. The electric power (2) applied to the heating element 20 is about the same as that applied to the electrothermal conversion element 19.
~ 3W) is appropriately supplied for a time of 5 to 7 µs, whereby bubbles are generated in the ink in the common liquid chamber 17 and sound waves are generated.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a piezoelectric electroacoustic transducer made of piezoelectric polymer such as PZT, quartz, Rochelle salt, polyvinylidene fluoride, etc., which is attached to the lower surface of the substrate 13 by an adhesive or the like, and is a heating element. Sound waves generated from bubbles generated by 20 are detected via the substrate 13.

Since a sound wave has a very small attenuation when propagating in a solid, if the sound wave is detected through the solid as in the present embodiment, the detected acoustic signal intensity can be made very large. Detection is extremely easy.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of this embodiment.
Is an amplifier, which is connected to the electroacoustic transducer 40 and amplifies the output from the electroacoustic transducer 40.

The frequency band of the sound wave generated by the generation and disappearance of the bubbles is in the range of several hundreds Hz to several MHz, but in terms of energy, the frequency component of several 100 kHz is the center. Therefore, the sensitivity of the electroacoustic transducer 40 and the frequency band of the amplifier 41 can be detected with sufficient intensity as long as they are in the order of several hundred Hz.

Reference numeral 42 is a comparator, which is connected to the amplifier 41, and the output thereof is normally ground potential. However, when the output from the amplifier 41 exceeds a predetermined reference voltage, a constant voltage is output. A controller 43 is connected to the recording head drive circuit 44, and appropriately controls the drive of the recording head in accordance with an image signal, a signal from the comparator 42, and the like.

Now, the electrothermal conversion element 19 in each liquid passage 16
Are individually heated by electric power being selectively supplied according to recording data and the like, and the heat energy causes the liquid passage 1
Film boiling occurs in the ink inside 6, and the ink is discharged from the discharge port 15 as the bubbles grow due to the film boiling. Then, while selectively ejecting ink from the plurality of ejection ports 15 in this way, the carriage 2 is moved to cause ink droplets to adhere to the recording medium 5 and record various information. . In the case of this embodiment, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black ink droplets from the four recording heads 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are sequentially deposited on the recording medium 5 to obtain a multicolor color image. Images can be formed.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

When power is supplied to the heating element 20, heat energy is generated from the heating element, and when ink is present on the heating element 20 at this time, that is, when ink is replenished in the common liquid chamber 17. The bubbles generate in the ink in the common liquid chamber 17 due to the heat energy generated by the heating element, and sound waves are generated as the bubbles are generated and disappear at this time.

The generated sound wave propagates through the substrate 13 and is detected by the electroacoustic transducer 40. Electroacoustic transducer 4
When 0 detects a sound wave, it outputs a voltage that changes according to a change in the strength of the sound wave. The voltage output from the electroacoustic transducer 40 is amplified by the amplifier 41 and then output to the comparator 42.

In the comparator 42, the above-mentioned reference voltage is
It is set lower than the input voltage at this time, and at this time,
A constant voltage, for example voltage V _0, is output from the comparator 42 to the control device 43. When the voltage output from the comparator is V ₀ , the control device 43 determines that the common liquid chamber 17 is replenished with ink, and outputs a signal for continuing recording head drive to the recording head drive circuit 44. The recording operation is continued.

On the other hand, when electric power is supplied to the heating element 20, if there is no ink on the heating element 20, that is, if there is no ink in the common liquid chamber 17, the heating element 20 is heated. Even if energy is generated, bubbles are not generated in the common liquid chamber 17, and therefore sound waves are not generated. Therefore, the acoustic wave is not detected by the electroacoustic transducer 40, and as a result, the output from the electroacoustic transducer 40 does not exceed the reference potential set in the comparator 42 even after passing through the amplifier 41. The output of does not change and remains at the ground potential. The controller 44 determines that there is no ink in the common liquid chamber 17 when the output voltage V ₀ is not obtained from the comparator 42 after a fixed time after supplying power to the heating element 20, and the recording head drive circuit 44 records. The head drive stop signal is output and the recording operation is stopped. At this time, there is no ink remaining in the common liquid chamber 17, but a slight amount of ink remains in the liquid passage 16, so that the electrothermal conversion element 19 is not empty, and the ink is not discharged. The recording operation will be stopped with almost all used.

In this way, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably detect the presence or absence of the remaining amount of ink when the ink in the common liquid chamber 17 has been used up and a little ink remains in the liquid passage 16. Therefore, without damaging the electrothermal conversion element,
It is possible to maximize the use of ink up to the limit.

The electroacoustic transducer 40 may be attached to the lower surface of the top plate 14 with an adhesive or the like as shown in FIG. However, since the sound wave is more attenuated in the liquid than in the solid, in this case, the detected acoustic signal is smaller than that in the configuration of FIG.

Further, the material of the substrate 13 may be metal such as aluminum, glass, ceramics or the like. Especially substrate 1
If the entire substrate 3 is made of piezoelectric ceramics, the entire substrate 13 serves as an electroacoustic transducer, so that the detection sensitivity of sound waves can be extremely increased, and the number of parts can be reduced, which also leads to cost reduction.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the sound wave generating means is not an exothermic body but an electroacoustic transducer. In FIG. 5, 45
Is an electroacoustic transducer as the sound wave generating means,
Is attached to the lower surface of the substrate with an adhesive or the like, and the sound wave detecting means is formed on the substrate 13 with a piezoelectric film 46 provided with electrodes so that voltage output can be obtained. Electroacoustic transducer 4
5, and the piezoelectric film 46 is made of PZT, quartz, Rochelle salt, piezoelectric polymer such as polyvinylidene fluoride, or the like. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 60 is a drive circuit for driving the electroacoustic transducer 45.

Now, according to the command from the controller 43,
When the drive circuit 60 starts driving the electroacoustic transducer 45, a sound wave is generated from the electroacoustic transducer 45, and the sound wave starts propagating in the common liquid chamber 17, but the sound wave is compared to when propagating in the liquid. Since the attenuation is significantly increased when propagating in the air, the intensity of the sound wave reaching the piezoelectric film 46 is higher when the ink is not present in the common liquid chamber 17 than when the ink is present in the common liquid chamber 17. , Significantly smaller. Therefore, the acoustic signal output from the piezoelectric film 46 is large when the ink is present in the common liquid chamber 17, and is small when the ink is not present in the common liquid chamber 17.

Therefore, the reference voltage of the comparator 42 is
The voltage is set to a value between the output voltages from the amplifier 41 in each of the above-mentioned cases, the voltage value V ₀ is output when the output voltage from the piezoelectric film 46 exceeds the reference voltage, and the comparator outputs the voltage value V ₀ when the output voltage does not exceed the reference voltage. If the output from 42 is set so as to remain at the ground potential, in the control device 43, when the output voltage from the comparator 42 is V ₀ , ink exists in the common liquid chamber and this is obtained. When there is no ink, it can be determined that there is no ink in the common liquid chamber 17.

In the present embodiment, in the case of the first embodiment, the sound wave generating means may be damaged when the common liquid chamber 17 runs out of ink, whereas the common liquid chamber 17 may be damaged.
The sound wave generating means is not damaged regardless of the presence or absence of the ink inside, and therefore there is an advantage that the reliability is increased.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the sound wave generating means and the sound wave detecting means are provided in the ink containing portion 12. Four
Reference numeral 7 is an electroacoustic transducer as the sound wave generating means, and 48 is an electroacoustic transducer as the sound wave detecting means. Both of them are made of PZT, quartz, Rochelle salt, piezoelectric polymer such as polyvinylidene fluoride, and the like.
It is attached to the inner surface of the with an adhesive or the like.

Now, according to the command from the controller 43,
When the drive circuit 60 starts driving the electroacoustic transducer 47, a sound wave is generated from the electroacoustic transducer 47, and the sound wave starts propagating in the ink containing portion 12, but the intensity of the sound wave reaching the electroacoustic transducer 48. When there is no ink in the ink containing portion 12, as in the above example, the ink containing portion 12
It is significantly smaller than when ink is present inside.
Therefore, the acoustic signal output from the electroacoustic transducer 48 is large when the ink is present in the ink containing portion 12, and is small when the ink is not present in the ink containing portion 12. As a result, similarly to the above-described example, the presence or absence of ink in the ink containing portion 12 can be detected.

According to this embodiment, when the ink in the ink containing portion 12 is exhausted and the ink remaining amount is only the ink existing in the common liquid chamber 17 and the liquid passage 16, the ink remaining amount becomes small. It is possible to give a notice in advance that the user can select whether to use the same recording head or to newly use the recording head, depending on the image to be recorded.

Further, in addition to the inside of the ink containing portion 12, the sound wave generating means and the sound wave detecting means may be provided in the common liquid chamber 17. Then, when it is detected that the ink is exhausted in the ink containing portion 12, this time, the electroacoustic transducer, which is a sound wave generating means in the common liquid chamber, is driven to generate a sound wave, which is further detected by the sound wave detecting means. The presence / absence of ink in the common liquid chamber 17 can be detected in the same manner as the presence / absence of ink in the ink containing portion 12 is detected by the difference in the intensity of the sound wave detected at that time. it can. This makes it possible to reliably detect the presence or absence of the remaining amount of ink in a state where the ink in the common liquid chamber 17 is further used up and a little ink remains in the liquid passage 16 after giving a notice of the ink shortage. Therefore, it is possible to use the ink to the maximum extent without damaging the electrothermal conversion element.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a control block diagram of this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the sound wave generating means and the sound wave detecting means are integrated, and the electroacoustic transducer alone has both functions. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 49 denotes an electroacoustic transducer having a function as the sound wave generating means and a function as the sound wave detecting means, which is made of PZT, crystal, Rochelle salt, piezoelectric polymer such as polyvinylidene fluoride, etc. It is attached to the lower surface of the top plate 14 with an agent or the like.

First, according to a command from the control device 43,
When the drive circuit 60 starts driving the electroacoustic transducer 49, the electroacoustic transducer 49 generates a sound wave. The generated sound waves travel through the common liquid chamber 17, reach the substrate 13, are reflected there, and propagate again in the direction of the top plate 11. At this time,
The electroacoustic transducer 49 operates as the sound wave detecting means,
Although the propagating sound wave is detected, the strength of the sound wave reaching the electroacoustic transducer 49 depends on the presence or absence of ink in the common liquid chamber as described above, and is strong when ink is present,
It becomes weaker when there is no ink. Therefore, when the ink is present in the common liquid chamber 17, the acoustic signal detected by the electroacoustic transducer 49 is strong, and when there is no ink in the common liquid chamber 17, it is weak, and the common liquid chamber is weak. 1
The presence or absence of ink in 7 can be detected.

The present embodiment has an advantage over the third embodiment in that the cost can be reduced because the number of parts required for the generation and detection of sound waves can be reduced.

Further, as in the above example, the ink containing portion 1
2 is also equipped with an electroacoustic transducer having a function of a sound wave generating means and a function of a sound wave detecting means, and the presence or absence of ink in the ink containing portion 12 is detected by the difference in the reflected intensity of the generated sound wave. The presence or absence of ink in the common liquid chamber 17 may be detected. In this case, it becomes possible to give a notice that the ink remaining amount is small with a small number of parts.

Embodiment 5 FIG. 11 (a) is a sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
12B is an exploded perspective view thereof, and FIG. 12 is a control block diagram of this embodiment.

The recording head used in this embodiment uses a piezoelectric element such as PZT as an energy generating element for ejecting ink.

Reference numeral 56 is a flow path block made of photosensitive glass, which is used for the common liquid chamber 52 and the pressure chamber 5 by etching or the like.
2a, 52b and diaphragms 51a, 51b are built in. Reference numeral 55 denotes a support substrate which is attached to the flow path block 56. Reference numeral 54 is a piezoelectric element support substrate, and the piezoelectric elements 53a, 5a
3b and the support 57 are attached by an adhesive or the like.
The piezoelectric elements 53a and 53b and the support column 57 face the flow path block 5 on the opposite side to the surface bonded to the piezoelectric element support substrate 54.
It is glued to 6.

When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements 53a and 53b by the piezoelectric element drive circuit 61, the piezoelectric element 53
a, 53b are deformed, and accordingly, the vibration plates 51a, 51b to which they are mounted are deformed, and the pressure chambers 52a, 52b
Ink is ejected from the ejection ports 50a and 50b due to a change in pressure inside b.

In this embodiment, in the above recording head, a piezoelectric element which is an energy generating element for ejecting ink is used as the sound wave generating means, and piezoelectric elements mounted in different pressure chambers are used as the sound wave. It is used as a detection means.

Now, according to a command from the controller 43,
The switch sa to which the piezoelectric element 53a is connected is connected to the terminal 61T1 from the piezoelectric element drive circuit 61, and an AC voltage that does not eject ink from the piezoelectric element drive circuit 61 is applied to the piezoelectric element 53a.

Then, a sound wave is generated from the piezoelectric element 53a, and if ink is present in the pressure chamber 52a and the common liquid chamber 52 at this time, the generated sound wave propagates through the ink and reaches the piezoelectric element 53b.

In the piezoelectric element 53b, the control device 43
Switch sb connected to piezoelectric element 53b by
Is connected to the terminal 41T2 of the amplifier 41, and the propagated sound wave is detected.

At this time, in the piezoelectric element 53b, in addition to the sound wave propagating through the piezoelectric element support substrate 54 and the flow path block 56, the sound wave propagating in the ink is detected. If ink does not exist in the pressure chamber 52a or the common liquid chamber 52, the sound wave is greatly attenuated in the air, so that the piezoelectric element 53b almost propagates through the piezoelectric element support substrate 54 and the flow path block 56. Only sound waves are detected, and the detected acoustic signal becomes small. Therefore, similarly to the above-described example, the presence or absence of ink in the pressure chamber or the common liquid chamber can be detected based on the difference in intensity of the detected acoustic signals.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since it can be realized by using the components of the conventional recording head as they are, without newly providing an apparatus that operates as a sound wave generating means or a sound wave detecting means, the cost can be reduced. The presence or absence of ink can be reliably detected.

The switches sa and sb are appropriately switched by a time-series signal or the like. When the piezoelectric element 53b is used as the sound wave generating means and the piezoelectric element 53a is used as the sound wave detecting means, the switch sa is connected to the terminal 41T1.
The switch sb is connected to the terminal 61T2.

The piezoelectric element used as the sound wave generating means may be used as it is as the sound wave detecting means. In this case, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of ink only in the pressure chamber.

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably detect the presence or absence of the remaining amount of ink when the ink in the common liquid chamber is used up and a little ink remains in the liquid passage. It is possible to avoid sudden stop of recording during the recording operation.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ejection port for ejecting the ink, the energy generating element for generating the energy used for ejecting the ink, and the ejection port are supplied. In an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a liquid chamber that stores ink, the sound wave generation means and the sound wave detection means are provided, and the sound wave generated by the sound wave generation means is detected by the sound wave detection means. By detecting the presence or absence of ink in the liquid chamber on the basis, it is possible to reliably detect the presence or absence of the remaining amount of ink in the state where the ink in the common liquid chamber has been used up and a little ink remains in the liquid passage. It is possible to maximize the use of the ink to the limit without damaging the electrothermal converting element and without suddenly stopping the recording during the recording operation.

Further, according to the present invention, a discharge port for discharging ink, an energy generating element for generating energy used for discharging the ink, and a liquid for storing ink supplied to the discharge port. In an ink jet recording apparatus having a chamber, the same device is operated as a sound wave generating means and a sound wave detecting means, a sound wave generated by the device is detected by the device, and the sound wave in the liquid chamber is detected based on the detected sound wave at that time. By detecting the presence / absence of ink, it is possible to reliably detect the presence / absence of ink with a small number of parts, even when the ink in the common liquid chamber is used up and a little ink remains in the liquid passage. To maximize the use of ink to the maximum cost without damaging the electrothermal conversion element and without suddenly stopping recording during recording operation. It can become.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a control block diagram of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view (a) and an exploded perspective view (b) of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a control block diagram of a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic external view of a recording device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Head 2 Carriage 5 Recording Medium 11 Head Chip 12 Ink Storage Section 15 Discharge Port 16 Liquid Path 17 Common Liquid Chamber 19 Electrothermal Conversion Element 20 Heating Element 40, 45, 47, 48, 49 Electroacoustic Transducer 46 Piezoelectric Film 50a, 50b Discharge ports 51a, 51b Vibration plate 52 Common liquid chamber 52a, 52b Pressure chamber 53a, 53b Piezoelectric element 54 Piezoelectric element support substrate 55 Support substrate 56 Flow path block

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An inkjet provided with an ejection port for ejecting ink, an energy generating element for generating energy used for ejecting the ink, and a liquid chamber for storing the ink supplied to the ejection port. The recording apparatus includes a sound wave generating unit and a sound wave detecting unit, detects the sound wave generated by the sound wave generating unit by the sound wave detecting unit, and detects the presence or absence of ink in the liquid chamber based on the sound wave detected at that time. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by the above. 2. The sound wave generating means comprises a heating element, and heat energy is input from the heating element into the liquid chamber to generate a bubble in the ink in the liquid chamber to generate a sound wave. The inkjet recording device according to claim 1. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound wave detecting means is an electroacoustic transducer. 4. An ink jet having an ejection port for ejecting ink, an energy generating element for generating energy used for ejecting the ink, and a liquid chamber for storing the ink supplied to the ejection port. In the recording device, the same device is operated as a sound wave generating means and a sound wave detecting means, the sound wave generated by the device is detected by the same device, and the presence or absence of ink in the liquid chamber based on the detected sound wave. An ink jet recording apparatus, which is characterized by detecting. 5. The sound wave generating means and the sound wave detecting means are provided in the vicinity of the liquid chamber.
The inkjet recording device described. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound wave generating means and the sound wave detecting means are provided in an ink containing portion that stores ink to be supplied to the liquid chamber. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound wave generating means is an electroacoustic transducer, and the sound wave is generated by applying an electric signal to the electroacoustic transducer. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound wave generating means is the energy generating element. 9. The energy generating element is an electrothermal conversion element that generates heat energy, and causes film boiling in the ink by the generated heat energy, and ejects ink as bubbles grow due to the film boiling. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus is a recording medium. 10. The energy generating element is a piezoelectric element, which is deformed when a voltage is applied and ejects ink by a pressure generated by the deformation. 4. The inkjet recording device according to 4. 11. An inkjet provided with a discharge port for discharging ink, an energy generating element for generating energy used for discharging the ink, and a liquid chamber for storing ink supplied to the discharge port. The recording apparatus includes a sound wave generating unit and a sound wave detecting unit, detects the sound wave generated by the sound wave generating unit by the sound wave detecting unit, and detects the presence or absence of ink in the liquid chamber based on the sound wave detected at that time. An ink remaining amount detecting method characterized by the above. 12. The sound wave generator comprises a heating element,
The method for detecting the remaining amount of ink according to claim 11, wherein heat energy is input from the heating element into the liquid chamber to generate bubbles in the ink in the liquid chamber to generate sound waves. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sound wave detecting means is an electroacoustic transducer. 14. An inkjet provided with an ejection port for ejecting ink, an energy generating element for generating energy used for ejecting the ink, and a liquid chamber for storing ink supplied to the ejection port. In the recording device, the same device is operated as a sound wave generating means and a sound wave detecting means, the sound wave generated by the device is detected by the same device, and the presence or absence of ink in the liquid chamber based on the detected sound wave. And a method for detecting the remaining amount of ink. 15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sound wave generating means and the sound wave detecting means are provided in the vicinity of the liquid chamber. 16. The ink remaining amount detecting method according to claim 11, wherein the sound wave generating means and the sound wave detecting means are provided in an ink containing portion that stores ink to be supplied to the liquid chamber. 17. The acoustic wave generating means is an electroacoustic transducer, and the acoustic wave is generated by applying an electric signal to the electroacoustic transducer.
4. The remaining ink amount detection method described in 4. 18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sound wave generating means is the energy generating element. 19. The energy generating element is an electrothermal conversion element that generates heat energy, and the generated heat energy causes film boiling in the ink, and the ink is ejected along with the growth of bubbles due to the film boiling. 15. The remaining ink amount detecting method according to claim 11, wherein the remaining ink amount is detected. 20. The energy generating element is a piezoelectric element, which is deformed when a voltage is applied, and ejects ink by the pressure generated by the deformation. 14. The remaining ink amount detection method described in 14.