JPH0920017A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the ease of operation when a recording means is replaced with a new one by moving the recording means to a replacement position, if it is detected that the ink residue of the recording means is below the fixed ink level. SOLUTION: A means 13 for detecting an ink residue which detects the residual amount of ink in an ink jet cartridge 7, is provided on one of the end parts of a region for the movement of a carriage 9. The means 13 is composed of a photointerrupter, and detects 'no ink available', if the ink residue is below the fixed ink level, by reading a change in the output from the photointerrupter when the ink discharged to a space between a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element traverses the optical axis. If 'no ink- available' is detected, the ink jet cartridge 7 is replaced at a replacement position P2. That is, if 'no ink available' is detected, a control means which receives a signal moves the carriage 9, to automatically move the cartridge 7 to the replacement position P2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus, and more particularly to an inkjet recording apparatus in which recording means can be easily replaced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various recording apparatuses for recording on a recording medium such as paper or OHP sheet have been proposed. Among them, an inkjet recording apparatus ejects ink directly from a recording head onto a recording medium. It has come to be widely adopted because of its advantages such as low running cost and quiet recording operation.

In the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge is detected by the remaining amount detecting means, and when it is judged that there is no ink, a message such as "replace cartridge" is displayed. In some cases, a warning lamp is turned on to notify the user that the ink has run out.

The user who receives the warning replaces the inkjet cartridge by pressing the cartridge replacement key to enter the cartridge replacement mode and moving the carriage carrying the inkjet cartridge to the cartridge replacement position.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the ink jet cartridge is exchanged, the user has to press the cartridge exchange key in order to move the carriage to the cartridge exchange position, which is troublesome in the exchange operation. was there.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the operability when exchanging the recording means and to reduce the cost. Is provided.

[0007]

A typical configuration according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a conveying means for conveying a recording medium, and an ink jet type recording means for ejecting ink for recording. It is determined that the carriage that is movable by mounting the carriage, the ink remaining amount detecting unit that detects the ink remaining amount of the recording unit, and the ink remaining amount detecting unit has the ink remaining amount of the recording unit is below a certain level. sometimes,
And a control means for moving the recording means to the exchange position.

In the above arrangement, when the remaining amount of ink in the recording means falls below a certain level, the recording means automatically moves to the cartridge exchange position. Therefore, the cartridge exchange key is pressed to exchange the recording means. Without hassle,
The exchange operability of the recording means is improved.

Further, since the cartridge exchange key is not required, it is possible to reduce the cost.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] Next, an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
Incidentally, FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of the configuration of a main part of the inkjet recording apparatus, FIG. 2 is an overall schematic explanatory view of the inkjet recording apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a control means.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control procedure.

Here, as the order of the description, the overall structure of the apparatus will be described first, and then the control structure in the ink-free state will be described.

{Entire Configuration of Apparatus} This recording apparatus is an ink jet recording type recording apparatus, and as shown in FIG. 2, the recording medium 2 set in the cassette 1 is fed one by one from the uppermost layer by a pickup roller 3. At the same time as it is sent, it is carried by a carrying means A comprising a carrying roller pair 4 and a discharging roller pair 5. During this conveyance, predetermined recording is performed by the recording means B arranged between the conveying roller pair 4 and the discharge roller pair 5, and the recording medium 2 after image recording is discharged onto the discharge tray 6
Is discharged to

The recording means B is an ink jet recording system, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ink jet cartridge 7 in which a recording head 7a and an ink tank 7b are integrated into a disposable type cartridge.
And the platen 8 face each other. The cartridge 7
Is mounted on a carriage 9. The carriage 9 is slidable on a guide rail 10, and is an endless belt-shaped timing belt spanned between pulleys 11a and 11b provided at both ends of the guide rail 10. Connected with 12. For this reason, the pulley 11b is replaced by a carriage motor.
The carriage 9 drives the recording medium 2
It reciprocates in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of. During this movement, the recording head 7a ejects ink in accordance with an image signal, so that the recording medium 2 whose back surface is supported by the platen 8
The predetermined recording is performed.

The principle of ink ejection of the ink jet type recording head 7a used in this embodiment is generally such that a fine liquid ejection port (orifice), a liquid passage and an energy acting portion provided in a part of this liquid passage, An energy generating unit that generates a droplet forming energy that acts on the liquid in the action unit is provided.

As the energy generating means for generating such energy, a recording method using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element is used, electromagnetic waves such as laser are irradiated to generate heat, and droplets are ejected by the action of the heat generation. There are a recording method using an energy generating means, a recording method using an energy generating means for heating a liquid and discharging the liquid by an electrothermal converter such as a heating element having a heating resistor.

Among them, a recording head used in an ink jet recording system for ejecting a liquid by thermal energy has a high density of liquid ejection ports (orifices) for ejecting recording liquid droplets to form ejection liquid droplets. Since they can be arranged, high resolution recording is possible. Among them, a recording head using an electrothermal transducer as an energy generating means can easily be made compact, and has the advantages of IC technology and microfabrication technology, which have recently made remarkable progress in technology in the field of semiconductors and markedly improved reliability. It is advantageous because it can be used for two reasons, high-density mounting is easy, and the manufacturing cost is low.

The recording head 7a of this embodiment has a resolution of 36.
It has 128 nozzles, and the pressure of film boiling generated in the ink by the selective heat generation of the electrothermal conversion element provided in this nozzle ejects the ink from the ejection port at the tip of the nozzle. An ink image is formed on the recording medium 2.

In the recording standby state, the carriage 7 is at the position (home position) indicated by P1 in FIG.
The inkjet cartridge 7 is made to stand by at the home position. At this position, the recording head 7a
Is provided to prevent the nozzles of the recording head 7a located at the home position P1 from drying.

Further, an ink remaining amount detecting means 13 for detecting the ink remaining amount of the ink jet cartridge 7 is provided at one end of the moving area of the carriage 9. The ink remaining amount detecting means 13 is composed of a photo interrupter, and outputs when the ink remaining amount falls below a certain level from the output change when ink is ejected between the light emitting element and the light receiving element to cross the optical axis. Changes, and "no ink" is detected. Then, when it is detected that there is no ink, the inkjet cartridge 7 is replaced.
This exchange is carried out at the exchange position indicated by P2 in FIG. This is to prevent the recording head 7a from being at a high temperature immediately after recording, so that the inkjet head cannot be replaced at the home position P1 when the inkjet cartridge is replaced.

Further, in the present embodiment, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the recording head 7a is provided in the vicinity of the recording head 7a, and whether or not the temperature of the recording head 7a is below a specified value when the cartridge is replaced. It is configured to detect

{Control Configuration in the Ink-Free State} Next, the control configuration in the ink-free state will be described. In the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, when the detection unit 13 detects the absence of ink, the control unit that receives the signal moves the carriage 9 to automatically move the ink jet cartridge 7 to the replacement position P2. . As shown in FIG. 3, the control means 14 includes a CPU 14
a, ROM 14b, RAM 14c.

The CPU 14a is a central processing unit, and R
The program and various data are read from the OM 14b, the input unit 15 and the like, necessary calculations and judgments are performed, and various controls are performed. ROM14b is a read-only memory,
It stores various programs for operating the PU 14a, character codes, and various data necessary for dot pattern recording. The RAM 14c is a read / write memory, and is composed of a working area for temporarily storing the data instructed by the CPU 14a and operation results, a buffer area for storing various input data, and the like.

The control means 14 inputs an image signal from the input section 15 and outputs a signal for driving the conveyance motor 16 for driving the roller, the carriage motor 17 for driving the carriage 9 or the recording head 7a to record an image. Control. Further, the control means 14 inputs signals from the ink remaining amount detection means 13 and the recording head temperature detection means 18, and outputs a drive signal for the carriage motor 17 according to the programs in FIG. It is to move to a position.

The control procedure when the ink is used up is shown in the flow chart of FIG. In FIG. 4, it is determined in step S1 whether or not the recording operation is completed, and when it is completed, the process proceeds to step S2 to detect the remaining amount of ink. If the amount of change in the output of the ink remaining amount detecting means 13 is larger than a constant value in step S3, it is determined that ink is present and the next page of print data is waited for. On the other hand, when the detected value is smaller than the fixed value, it is determined that there is no ink and the process proceeds to step S4, and when there is no ink for displaying a message such as "cartridge replacement", lighting a warning lamp, or sounding an alarm Perform the necessary processing. Next, in step S5, the temperature detecting means 18 detects the temperature of the recording head 7a to determine whether or not the temperature is below a specified value. If the temperature of the recording head 7a is above the specified temperature, step S6 is performed.
Then, the ink jet cartridge (CR) 7 is moved to the home position P1 to wait until the temperature of the recording head 7a falls below a specified value. On the other hand, step S5
If the temperature of the recording head 7a is equal to or lower than the specified value, the process proceeds to step S7, and the ink jet cartridge 7 is moved to the replacement position P2.

By controlling as described above, the ink in the ink jet cartridge 7 is exhausted, it is judged that there is no ink, and when the temperature of the recording head 7a drops when the replacement work of the cartridge 7 becomes necessary, the cartridge 7 is automatically Since it is moving to the exchange position P2,
The user does not need to press the replacement key as in the conventional case, and the cartridge replacement operability is improved.

Second Embodiment Next, the recording apparatus of the first embodiment described above is provided with an openable / closable cover (not shown) for covering the movable portion during the recording operation, and the open / closed state of this cover is detected. A recording device is provided with open / close detection means (not shown) for moving the inkjet cartridge 7 to the replacement position P2 only when the cover is opened when the ink of the device is exhausted. May be. The control procedure in that case is shown in FIG.

In the flowchart of FIG. 5, it is determined in step S41 whether or not the recording operation is completed, and when it is completed, the process proceeds to step S42 to detect the remaining amount of ink. If the output change amount of the ink remaining amount detecting means 13 is larger than a fixed value in step 43, it is determined that ink is present and the next page of print data is waited for. On the other hand, if the output change amount of the detection means 13 is smaller than the fixed value in step S43, it is determined that there is no ink and the process proceeds to step S44, for example, "cartridge replacement".
Perform necessary processing when there is no ink such as message display, warning lamp lighting, alarm sound, etc. Up to this point, the process is the same as in the first embodiment described above.

Next, in step S45, the open / close state of the cover is detected by the open / close detecting means. If the cover is closed, the process proceeds to step S46 to move the ink jet cartridge 7 to the home position P1 and make it stand by. On the other hand, if the cover is open, step S47
Then, the temperature of the recording head 7a is detected by the temperature detecting means 18 to determine whether or not the temperature is below a specified value,
When the temperature of the recording head 7a is equal to or higher than the specified temperature, the process proceeds to step S48 and the ink jet cartridge (CR) 7
Is moved to the home position P1 and kept on standby until the temperature of the recording head 7a falls below a specified value. On the other hand, when the temperature of the recording head 7a is below the specified value in step S47, the process proceeds to step S49, and the ink jet cartridge 7 is moved to the replacement position P2.

By controlling as described above, when the ink in the ink jet cartridge 7 is exhausted, it is judged that there is no ink, and the replacement work of the cartridge 7 becomes necessary, if the cover is closed, the ink jet cartridge 7 is set to the home position. By moving to the position P1 and capping, the nozzles of the recording head 7 are prevented from drying and the nozzles are prevented from clogging. If the cover is opened and the temperature of the recording head 7a is lowered, the cartridge 7 is automatically moved to the replacement position P2.
The user does not need to press the replacement key as in the conventional case, and the cartridge replacement operability is improved.

[Other Embodiments] Next, other embodiments of the above-described embodiment will be described. In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the temperature of the recording head 7a is detected when no ink is detected and the ink jet cartridge 7 is moved to the replacement position P2 when the temperature is equal to or lower than the specified value has been shown. In an apparatus in which the temperature of the recording head 7a does not rise so much, it is possible to avoid the detection procedure of the temperature detecting means.

Next, a preferable structure of the ink jet recording system as the recording means in the above-mentioned embodiment will be described. In the above-described embodiment, the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter is used to perform recording by ejecting the ink from the ejection port due to the growth and contraction of the bubble generated in the ink by utilizing the film boiling generated in the ink. However, as for the typical configuration and principle thereof, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to a sheet or a liquid path holding a liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and the recording head is driven. This is effective because film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface, and consequently bubbles in the liquid can be formed corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis. The liquid is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are immediately and appropriately performed, so that particularly excellent liquid ejection can be achieved, which is more preferable.

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

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection 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. A configuration using US Pat. Nos. 4,558,333 and 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which the heat acting portion is arranged in the bending region, may be used.

Further, JP-A-59-123670, which discloses a structure in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy are disclosed. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration based on the 59-138461 publication.

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. Alternatively, a cartridge-type recording head provided with an ink tank may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add a recovery means for the recording head, a preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a constituent of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. To be more specific, capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means, preheating means using an electrothermal conversion type or another heating element or a combination thereof, and printing Performing a preliminary ejection mode for performing another ejection is also effective for performing stable printing.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads mounted on the carriage, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. And a plurality of them may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be a combination of a plurality of recording heads integrally formed, but a mixed color of different colors or a mixed color It is also applicable to a device with at least one of the full colors according to

In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or below and that is softened or liquefied at room temperature, etc. gives a recording signal for use. Sometimes the ink may be liquid.

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, whether ink is used, the ink is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or it starts to solidify when it reaches the recording sheet. However, it is also applicable when using an ink that has the property of being liquefied for the first time by thermal energy.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in JP-A-54-5.
No. 6847 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-71260, in which the porous sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It is good. The most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, as the form of the above-mentioned ink jet recording device, in addition to a form used as an image output terminal device of information processing equipment such as a computer, a form of a copying device combined with a reader or the like, and a form of a facsimile device having a transmitting / receiving function. It may be one that takes

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the recording means is automatically moved to the replacement position when the recording means runs out of ink. There is no need to press the replacement key and the operability of replacement is improved. Further, since the replacement key is unnecessary, the cost can be reduced.

If the recording means is not in the exchange position but is moved to the home position when the cover is closed, the nozzles of the ink jet recording means can be prevented from drying and clogging can be prevented. It is a thing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural schematic explanatory diagram of a main part of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall schematic explanatory diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of control means.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a replacement control procedure of an inkjet cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a replacement control procedure of an inkjet cartridge according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cassette 2 ... Recording medium 3 ... Pickup roller 4 ... Conveying roller pair 5 ... Ejection roller pair 6 ... Ejection tray 7 ... Inkjet cartridge 7a ... Recording head 7b ... Ink tank 8 ... Platen 9 ... Carriage 10 ... Guide rails 11a, 11b ... Pulley 12 ... Timing belt 13 ... Ink remaining amount detecting means 14 ... Control means 14a ... CPU 14b ... ROM 14c ... RAM 15 ... Input section 16 ... Conveying motor 17 ... Carriage motor 18 ... Temperature detecting means P1 ... Home position P2 ... Exchange position

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Masakatsu Yamada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Atsushi Saito 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (72) Inventor Akio Okubo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shigeyuki Sugiyama 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A transporting means for transporting a recording medium, a movable carriage carrying an ink jet type recording means for ejecting ink to perform recording, and an ink for detecting the ink remaining amount of the recording means. A remaining amount detecting unit; and a control unit for moving the recording unit to a replacement position when the remaining ink amount detecting unit determines that the remaining amount of ink in the recording unit is below a certain level. An inkjet recording device characterized by the above. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus has a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of a recording head of the recording means, the control means judges that the ink remaining amount of the recording means is below a certain level, and 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is moved to a replacement position when the temperature detecting means determines that the temperature of the recording head has fallen below a specified temperature. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus has an openable / closable cover for covering a movable portion during a recording operation, and an open / close detection means for detecting an open / closed state of the cover, and the control means has an ink residual amount of the recording means. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is moved to a replacement position when it is determined that the amount is below a certain level and when the opening / closing detection means determines that the cover is opened. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus has temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of a recording head of the recording means, has an openable / closable cover for covering a movable portion during recording operation, and detects an open / closed state of the cover. The control means determines that the remaining amount of ink in the recording means has fallen below a certain level, and the temperature detecting means determines that the temperature of the print head has dropped below a specified temperature. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is moved to a replacement position when the detection means determines that the cover has been opened. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is provided with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink by the recording means. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. 1. The inkjet recording device according to 1.