JPH09169118A - Ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately detect the residual amt. of ink by calculating the residual amt. of ink by subtracting the calculated amt. of ink from the total amt. of ink and renewing the residual amt. of ink in the operation timing of a switch means operated when the residual amt. of ink becomes a set value or less. SOLUTION: When printing is executed by main scanning driving, the number of ink jet nozzles, that is, the number of dots of emitted ink is added to an ink count variable I in an emitting ink amt. calculation means 2. Next, the ink count variable I is multiplied by a constant A to calculate the amt. of emitted ink. Further, the percentage of the emitted ink to the total amt. G of ink is calculated as the residual amt. Z of ink in an ink residual amt. calculation means 3. Next, it is checked whether a switch means 4 is already turned ON and, in the case of YES, the value of the constant A is calibrated 7 and the fixed value corresponding to the residual amt. Z of ink is substituted for the ink count variable I and shift is corrected to complete processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet printer having a function of notifying that the remaining amount of ink is low.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the environment in which a printer device is mainly connected locally to a host machine is, for example, a LAN.
With the spread of networks represented by (Local Area Network) and the like, it has been changed to one that assumes use in a network environment.

To give a specific example, conventionally, various statuses in a printer device when a local connection is made are displayed on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or LED on the printer device.
It was general to notify the outside by using (Light Emitting Diode). However, when used in a network environment, the printer device is often installed in a place away from the host, so various statuses of the printer device are transmitted to the host side via an input / output interface such as a parallel port. Is becoming popular.

By the way, an ink jet printer prints by ejecting a dedicated ink in an ink cartridge from an ink jet nozzle to eject dots on a printing paper. In other words, printing cannot be performed when the ink in the ink cartridge is exhausted, so the ink cartridge must be replaced before the ink is exhausted.

Therefore, the ink jet printer has
Usually, an ink end detection unit is provided for detecting a state where the ink remaining amount in the ink cartridge is low (hereinafter, "ink end state"). When the "ink-end state" is detected by the ink-end detection unit, the fact is notified to the outside so that the ink cartridge can be replaced.

There are various methods for detecting the "ink end state" by the ink end detecting section, and the most commonly used method at present is a method of subtracting and counting the ink amount. This is to calculate the ejected ink amount by counting the amount of ink ejected from the inkjet nozzles, and to subtract the ejected ink amount from the total amount of ink filled in the ink cartridge to calculate the ink remaining amount. It is a thing. Then, when the remaining ink amount reaches a preset ink amount, the ink end detection unit transmits status information indicating that it is in the “ink end state” to the outside (for example, the host). .

[0007]

However, in the ink end detection of such a conventional ink jet printer, the ink remaining amount is calculated by subtracting the ejected ink amount from the total ink amount in the ink cartridge. Therefore, there were problems as described below.

That is, conventionally, the amount of ink ejected from the ink jet nozzle is controlled so that a standard ink weight can be obtained based on the rank of the ink jet nozzle and the general operating temperature. However, the actual ink discharge amount greatly changes depending on the usage environment, and the ink remaining amount based on the ink count value does not completely match the actual ink remaining amount.

In the case of an ink cartridge with a small capacity,
The difference between the remaining ink amount based on the ink count value and the actual remaining ink amount until reaching the “ink end state” is mostly within the allowable range, and therefore, conventionally, there is a negative effect due to the deviation. It didn't really matter to me.

However, recently, in consideration of the use from a plurality of hosts by the above-mentioned network utilization, the capacity of the ink cartridge tends to increase in order to enable large-scale printing, and this tendency will be further advanced in the future. Going in is in a situation you can easily imagine.

When the capacity of the ink cartridge increases in this way, the difference between the ink remaining amount based on the ink count value and the actual ink remaining amount, which has not been a problem in the past, is
The allowable range is exceeded, and incorrect status information may be transmitted when the "ink end state" is detected.

This is because the "ink end state" is transmitted to the host despite the fact that there is ink as the capacity of the ink cartridge increases, and conversely, even though there is no ink, " This means that there is an increased risk of not being able to detect the “ink end condition”.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide an ink jet printer which accurately detects the remaining amount of ink.

[0014]

According to the present invention, in an ink jet printer for printing by ejecting ink in an ink cartridge, an ejected ink amount calculating means for calculating the ejected ink amount, and the ejected ink amount calculating means. An ink remaining amount calculation means for calculating the ink remaining amount by subtracting the ink amount calculated in step 1 from the total ink amount in the ink cartridge, and at least one set value for the ink remaining amount in the ink cartridge set in advance. Switch means that operates when the following becomes, and update means that updates the remaining ink amount calculated by the remaining ink amount calculation means with a set value at which the switch means operates at the timing when the switch means operates, It is configured to include.

The ejected ink amount calculation means uses a counting unit for counting the number of times the inkjet nozzle is driven for each nozzle, and a numerical value (constant) A representing the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle under an environment of a predetermined condition. It is desirable to have a multiplication unit that multiplies the values counted by the counting unit.

Further, a comparison means for comparing the ink remaining amount calculated by the ink remaining amount calculation means at the timing when the switch means is operated with a set value at which the switch means operates, and a comparison by the comparison means. It is effective to provide a calibration means for calibrating the value of the numerical value A based on the result.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functions of the essential parts of the ink jet printer of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 1 of the present invention is configured to include an ejected ink amount calculation unit 2, an ink remaining amount calculation unit 3, a switch unit 4, an update unit 5, a comparison unit 6, and a calibration unit 7. There is.

The ejected ink amount calculation means 2 includes a counting section 8
And a multiplication unit 9, and the counting unit 8 counts the number of times of driving the inkjet nozzle based on the data to be printed. The multiplying unit 9 sets the amount of ink ejected from the nozzles in advance as a constant A under conditions such as the rank of the inkjet nozzle and a general usage temperature, and multiplies the constant A by the count value of the counting unit 8. To do. As a result, the ejected ink amount calculation unit 2 calculates the ejected ink amount ejected from the inkjet nozzle.

The ink remaining amount calculating means 3 calculates the ink remaining amount by subtracting the ink amount calculated by the ejected ink amount calculating means 2 from the total ink amount in the ink cartridge. The switch means 4 is a switch that operates when the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge becomes less than or equal to a preset predetermined value, and in this example, a mechanical switch as shown in FIG. 2 is used.

The operation of the switch means will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, the ink cartridge 10
Is provided by arranging a package 12 in which ink is enclosed in a case 11, one side of the package 12 is fixed in the case 11 with a double-sided tape, and similarly, the other side is L-shaped in section with a double-sided tape. It is fixed to the member 13. Then, as shown by an arrow X in FIG. 2, the member 13 is the case 1
1 is slidably provided, and when negative pressure is generated in the package 12 due to consumption of ink during printing,
The member 13 moves to the right side in FIG.

A switch lever 14a is in contact with the end 13a of the member 13, and the switch 14 is turned on when the member 13 moves by a predetermined amount. That is, by configuring the switch 14 to turn on when the ink volume in the package 12 reaches a preset setting value, it is possible to grasp the ink remaining amount when the switch 14 turns on. .

The updating means 5 updates the value of the ink remaining amount calculated up to now by the ink remaining amount calculating means 3 to the ink remaining amount value when the switch 14 is turned on at the timing when the switch 14 is turned on. It is a thing.

The comparing means 6 compares the ink remaining amount calculated by the ink remaining amount calculating means 3 at the timing when the switch 14 operates with the ink remaining amount value when the switch 14 operates. The calibrating unit 7 calibrates the value of the constant A to be multiplied by the multiplying unit 9 based on the deviation resulting from the comparison by the comparing unit 6.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a process for detecting the remaining ink amount after printing is executed. In the following description, S
Indicates a processing step.

First, when printing is performed by main scanning drive (S1), the number of ink jet nozzles driven to eject ink, that is, the number of ink ejected dots is added to the ink count variable I (S2). . The ink count variable I is initialized (= “0”) after the replacement of the ink cartridge described later, and thus the initial value is “0”. Next, the ejected ink amount (I × A) is calculated by multiplying the ink count variable I by the constant A, and the percentage of the ejected ink amount with respect to the total ink amount G in the ink cartridge is calculated as the remaining ink amount Z (S3). . Then, it is checked whether or not the ink remaining amount Z is 0 or less (S4), and only when the ink remaining amount Z is 0 or less, the "ink end state" is notified to the outside (to the host etc.). Is also included) (S5).

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the ink remaining amount detection processing by the switch means. The detection of the remaining amount of ink by the switch means 4 is executed by an interrupt process that occurs at regular time intervals.

First, it is checked whether or not the switch means 4 has already been turned on, that is, whether or not the flag F of the switch means 4 is set (F = "0") (S1).
1). If the flag F is "0", then it is checked whether or not the switch means 4 is turned on (S12). If the switch means 4 is turned on, the flag F is set to " It is set to 1 "(S13).

Then, the ink count variable I at this time
Then, the value of the constant A is calibrated based on the default value of the remaining ink amount when the switch means 4 is turned on (S14). That is, in the process of S14, the value of the constant A set as a standard is calibrated to the value in a state close to the actual installation environment / use condition under various conditions. Then, the ink count variable I
The default value corresponding to the ink remaining amount Z when the switch means 4 is turned on is substituted into (S15), and the deviation between the ink count variable I and the default value of the ink remaining amount Z that has occurred so far is corrected. The process ends.

When the flag F is "1" in the determination process of S11, and when the switch means 4 is off in the determination process of S12,
The process ends.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the processing after the ink cartridge is replaced.

In the process after replacing the ink cartridge,
First, it is checked whether the ink cartridge has been replaced (S21). When the replacement of the ink cartridge is confirmed, it is checked whether or not the switch means 4 is turned on (S22). If the switch means 4 is turned off, the flag F is set to "0" (S2).
3), "0" is substituted for the ink count variable I for initialization (S24).

On the other hand, in the determination process of S22, when the switch means 4 is turned on even though the ink cartridge has been replaced, the replaced ink cartridge is already out of ink. Then, the value corresponding to the total ink amount G is substituted into the ink count variable I (S25). This completes the initialization of the ink count variable I associated with the ink cartridge replacement.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the present invention. In FIG. 6 and this description, the value corresponding to the total ink amount G in the ink cartridge is 1 million dots, and the value corresponding to the remaining ink amount Z when the switch unit 4 is turned on is 300,000 dots. . The remaining ink amount Z when the switch unit 4 is turned on is a preset default value, and the value of the ink count variable I is once corrected when the ejected ink amount reaches 700,000 dots.

As a result, although the ink cartridge itself has an ink capacity of 1 million dots, when the operation point of the switch means 4 is used as a reference, the following operation is performed as if it were 300,000 dots (that is, the original operation). 1 of capacity
The operation is equivalent to that using an ink cartridge having an ink capacity of / 3 or less).

Therefore, in the present invention, the deviation between the ink remaining amount Z based on the ink count variable I and the actual ink remaining amount due to the increase in the capacity of the ink cartridge can be suppressed within the allowable range.

Further, in the multiplication section 9, the ink remaining amount Z is obtained by multiplying the ink count variable I by the constant A, but when the switch means 4 is operated, the value of the constant A is calculated by the calibration means 7. By calibrating, the calculation accuracy of the ink remaining amount Z from the next time can be further improved. By this, the "ink end condition" is detected accurately,
Correct status information can be transmitted.

In the above-described embodiment, the number of corrections of the remaining ink amount Z in the ink cartridge is one, but
The number of corrections (the number of detection positions by the switch means 4) can be set arbitrarily by changing the configuration of the switch means 4.

The configuration of the switch means 4 is not limited to the switch 14 described above, and a non-contact sensor may be used to detect the ink remaining amount.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the amount of ink reaches a predetermined amount, it is possible to correct and calibrate the amount of ink remaining. Can be accurately detected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing functions of main parts of an inkjet printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of switch means.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of detecting the remaining ink amount after printing is performed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an ink remaining amount detection process by a switch unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing after ink cartridge replacement.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Inkjet Printer 2 Ejection Ink Amount Calculation Means 3 Ink Remaining Amount Calculation Means 4 Switch Means 5 Update Means 6 Comparison Means 7 Calibration Means 8 Counting Units 9 Multiplying Units 10 Ink Cartridges 11 Cases 12 Packages 13 Members 14 Switches

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In an inkjet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink in an ink cartridge, an ejected ink amount calculation unit for calculating the ejected ink amount, and the ink amount calculated by the ejected ink amount calculation unit are Ink remaining amount calculation means for calculating the ink remaining amount by subtracting from the total ink amount in the ink cartridge, and switch means operated when the ink remaining amount in the ink cartridge becomes equal to or less than a preset set value. An ink jet printer comprising: an updating unit that updates the ink remaining amount calculated by the ink remaining amount calculating unit with a set value at which the switch unit operates at a timing when the switch unit operates. 2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the set value that triggers the operation of the switch means is a plurality of values. 3. The ejected ink amount calculation means includes: a count unit that counts the number of times an inkjet nozzle is driven with respect to each nozzle; The inkjet printer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a multiplication unit that multiplies the value counted in (3). 4. A comparison means for comparing the remaining ink amount calculated by the remaining ink amount calculation means with a set value at which the switch means operates at the timing when the switch means operates, and a comparison by the comparison means. The inkjet printer according to claim 3, further comprising: a calibrating unit that calibrates the numerical value A based on a result.