JPH1158773A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a used ink cartridge from being reused simply after it is refilled with ink by detecting a stop means provided only with a new cartridge at the time of loading the ink cartridge thereby making a decision whether it is a new cartridge or an old cartridge. SOLUTION: An old cartridge OC is loaded into a loading section 130. Since a sealing film CF has been damaged already, an ink supply needle 111 intrudes into an ink supply section IS with substantially no resistance when it is lowered gravitationally. In this regard, the ink supply needle 111 is not not pushed down by the sealing film CF. Since a second switch 124 is not closed, the circuit of a decision means 120 is not actuated. Consequently, an operator can recognize loading of an old cartridge OC.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing a printing process by loading an ink cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer of this type, it is confirmed that an ink cartridge to be loaded when a used ink cartridge is replaced is unused and filled with high-quality genuine ink. This was one of the important check procedures for obtaining a good quality printed image.

Incidentally, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus of a type in which an ink cartridge is inserted / removed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-323576 (known example) filed by the applicant of the present invention, in which the ink cartridge is loaded A detector for detecting the state is provided, and means for determining the ink cartridge replacement history based on a signal from the detector is provided.

[0004]

Although the prior art invention can easily determine the replacement history of the ink cartridge, there is still room for improvement as described below.

That is, in the invention of this known example, it is not possible to detect whether or not a used ink cartridge has been reloaded, and it is possible to easily reload the used ink cartridge and use it for print processing. For example, it has been pointed out that it is not possible to prevent reuse of a refill ink cartridge loaded with poor ink.

A first problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus in which a used and removed ink cartridge is not reused merely by refilling ink.

A second problem to be solved by the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus which is provided only in a new cartridge and which can be prevented from being reused by using a locking means which is damaged by use. To provide.

A third problem to be solved by the present invention is that the discrimination means for detecting a new cartridge by a plurality of switches which are closed at the same time only when the new cartridge is mounted enables accurate reuse. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of preventing the ink jet recording.

[0009]

Means for solving the above problems are as follows.

(1) An ink jet recording apparatus in which an ink cartridge for supplying ink is detachable.
An ink jet recording apparatus having a discriminating means for detecting whether a new cartridge is an old cartridge by detecting a locking means provided only with a new cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted.

(2) The ink jet recording apparatus according to the above (1), wherein the locking means is a breakable sealing film of a new cartridge.

(3) The ink jet recording apparatus according to (1), wherein the locking means is a plastically deformable claw body of a new cartridge.

(4) The first discriminating means is a normally-closed first switch opened when the ink cartridge is mounted at the ink supply position, and the locking of the new cartridge before reaching the ink supply position. A normally open second switch that can be temporarily closed by means, and a detector that can detect that the first switch and the second switch are simultaneously closed. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3).

(5) The device according to (4), wherein the first switch is opened by a bottom of the ink cartridge, and the second switch is closed by a needle which is moved by engaging with the sealing film. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.

(6) The ink jet recording apparatus according to (4), wherein the first switch is opened by the bottom of the ink cartridge, and the second switch is closed by the claw body.

The new and old cartridges can be accurately detected by the corresponding means as described above, and unauthorized refilling of the ink cartridge can be safely prevented.

[0017]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) A feature of this ink jet recording apparatus (printer) 100 is that a seal having a function of a locking means attached to an outer end surface of an ink supply section IS in an ink cartridge IC to be determined. The point is that the damaged state of the film CF is detected and the unused ink cartridge (new cartridge) NC and the used ink cartridge (old cartridge) OC are discriminated.

1. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 100 includes a recording head 110 which receives at least ink from an ink cartridge IC, and a new / old cartridge NC / OC discriminating means 120. The ink supply needle 111 is disposed so as to face the through hole 131 of the loading unit 130 of the ink cartridge IC.
Urges it upwards to be able to move up and down.

Further, the discriminating means 120 is provided with a detector 121 and a display unit 122 linked to the power supply P. The detector 121 determines whether an ink cartridge IC is loaded in the loading unit 130 of the ink cartridge. A first switch 123 for detecting whether or not the sealing film CF of the ink supply unit IS is normally closed.
A switch 124 is connected in series to form a circuit, and a first follower 123A of the first switch 123 is provided.
Is arranged so as to be swung by the ink cartridge IC so as to penetrate into the loading portion 130 of the ink cartridge IC, and the second follower 124A of the second switch 124 is protruded from the ink supply needle 111. It is arranged so that it can be engaged with the actuator 111A.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 140 denotes the printer 100.
The control means 150 indicates a printer driving unit.

2. Determination Procedure Next, referring to FIG.
The procedure for determining is described.

(1) In the case of the new cartridge NC Unloaded step Since the new cartridge NC is not loaded in the loading section 130 of the printer 100 as shown in FIG.
The switch 123 is closed and the second switch 124 is closed.
Is open and the detector 121 is inoperative.

Determination Step As shown in FIG. 2B, the new cartridge NC is loaded into the loading unit 1.
30, the ink supply needle 111 and the sealing film C are inserted in a state where the sealing film CF is not damaged by its own weight.
Abut F.

In this state, the first switch 123 is still closed because it is not in contact with the new cartridge NC. However, the ink supply needle 111 is brought into contact with the sealing film CF and the new cartridge NC is brought into contact with the new cartridge NC. At this time, the operator 111A connected to the ink supply needle 111 is also lowered at the same time, and the second follower 124A engaged with the operator 111A swings to close the second switch 124. I do.

In this state, it can be said that a new cartridge NC in which the sealing film CF is not damaged is loaded without error into the loading section 130 of the printer 100.

In this state, the circuit of the discriminating means 120 is started, the detector 121 is started, and the fact that the new cartridge NC is loaded is communicated to the display unit 122, and the display unit is turned on by a lamp or a buzzer or the like. At 122, this is displayed.

Ink Supply Step Next, as shown in FIG. 2C, the operator urges the new cartridge NC downward, and further pushes down the new cartridge NC so that the new cartridge NC reaches the bottom of the loading unit 130. Then, the sealing film CF becomes the ink supply needle 111
And the ink can be supplied to the recording head 110.

In this state, the first follower 123A of the first switch 123 is pushed down to the bottom of the new cartridge NC and the first switch 123 is opened, so that the second follower 124A of the second switch 124 Ink supply needle 11
Even if the switch is closed by being pressed down by the first actuator 111A, the circuit of the determination means 120 is inoperative and the display of the display unit 122 is stopped.

Next, after the ink in the new cartridge NC has been consumed by the printing process, the loading unit 13 as shown in FIG.
When the switch is removed from 0, the first switch 123 is a normally-closed switch and is closed. However, the second switch 124 is a normally-open switch and is opened. The cartridge NC and OC discrimination processing is not performed, and the apparatus waits for an ink cartridge IC to be loaded subsequently.

(2) In the case of the old cartridge OC Unloaded step The same as in the case of the new cartridge NC, as shown in FIG. 3 (a ').

Determination Step As shown in FIG. 3B ′, when the old cartridge OC is inserted into the loading unit 130, the sealing film CF has already been damaged, so that when the sealing film CF descends due to its own weight, it falls into the ink supply unit IS. Means that the ink supply needle 111 enters without any particular resistance. At this time, the state in which the ink supply needle 111 is pushed down by the sealing film CF does not occur, and the second switch 124 is not closed. 1
Circuit 20 is not activated.

Accordingly, the operator is required to provide a new cartridge N
It will be recognized that the old cartridge OC not recognized as C has been loaded.

Ink Supply Step As shown in FIG. 3C ′, when the old cartridge OC is pushed down by the operator to reach the bottom of the loading section 130, the second follower 1 is actuated by the actuator 111 A.
24A is operated to close the second switch 124. At this time, the first follower 123A
Since the first switch 123 is opened by being actuated by the bottom of C, the circuit of the discriminating means 120 is not actuated after all, and the indication that the new cartridge NC is loaded on the display unit 122 by the detector 121 can be made. Since there is not, the loading of the old cartridge OC will be recognized by the operator.

Further, since the printing process in a state where the old cartridge OC is loaded is not always appropriate, the detector 12
1 is communicated to the control means 140 and the print driver 1
It is also possible to stop 50 and display that fact on the display unit 122.

Sampling Step As in the case of the new cartridge NC, it is as shown in FIG.

As described above, only in the case of a new cartridge NC in which the sealing film CF of the ink cartridge IC loaded in the loading unit 130 is not damaged, the new cartridge NC can be displayed on the display unit 122 and recognized by the operator. .

(Embodiment 2) The feature of this ink jet recording apparatus (printer) 200 is that a deformable claw NL having a function of a locking means projecting to the side of the ink cartridge IC is detected and a new type is obtained. The point is that the old cartridges NC and OC are determined.

1. Means Second follower 224A of second switch 224 provided to project into loading section 230 as shown in FIGS.
Can be engaged with the claw body NL, and the claw body NL can be pushed and bent by the second follower 224A.

Since the other means are common to the printer 100, the reference numerals are displayed only in the 200s.

2. Judgment procedure (1) In case of new cartridge NC Unloaded step Same as the case of the above 2, (1).

Determination Step As shown in FIG. 4, the actuator 224A is connected to the new cartridge NC.
The second switch 224 is closed and the first switch 223 is normally closed as described above, so that the circuit of the discriminating means 220 operates and the detector 221 operates. Then, the display 222 displays that the loaded ink cartridge IC is a new cartridge NC.

Ink supply step Next, when the operator depresses the new cartridge NC strongly, the claw body NL is pushed and bent by the actuator 224A as shown by a virtual line in FIG. 5, and reaches the bottom of the loading section 230. The ink supply needle 211 is connected to the ink supply section IS.
The ink is supplied to the recording head 210 and ink can be supplied to the recording head 210 to perform a printing process. In this case, the display of the display unit 222 is stopped because the first switch 223 is opened.

Sampling Step The same as in the case of the above 2, (1).

(2) In the case of the old cartridge OC Unloaded step The same as in the case of the above 2, (2).

The discrimination step is different from the above-mentioned steps (2) and (1) in that the first switch 223 and the second switch 224 in the old cartridge OC have already been deformed by use.
Are not closed at the same time, the circuit of the determination means 220 is not operated, and the display is not displayed on the display section 222 after all.

Ink supply step When print processing using the ink of the old cartridge OC is permitted, the same operation as in the above item (2) (1) may be performed. In this case, the first and second switches 213 and 214 are also used. Are not closed at the same time, and there is no possibility that the old cartridge OC is erroneously displayed as the new cartridge NC. The other points are the same as in the first embodiment.

Sampling Step This is the same as in the case of the above 2, (1).

The new and old cartridges NC and OC are discriminated based on the presence or absence of the claw NL protruding from the ink cartridge IC loaded in the loading unit 230 as described above, and the display unit 222 is displayed.
Can indicate that.

It is needless to say that the claw body NL may be broken.
L is sufficient if it can be plastically deformed.

[0051]

The effects provided by the present invention described above are as follows.

The used ink cartridge is prevented from being reused only by refilling with ink (claims 1 to 6).

It is possible to prevent reuse of the ink cartridge, which has just been refilled with ink, by the locking means which is broken at the time of loading.

The detector is driven by a plurality of switches which are simultaneously closed by the ink cartridge at the time of loading, so that the mounting of the new cartridge can be accurately determined (claims 1 to 6).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure for determining a new cartridge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure for determining an old cartridge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a main part of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

100, 200 Inkjet recording device (printer) 110, 210 Recording head 111, 211 Ink supply needle 120, 220 Discriminating means 121, 221 Detector 122, 222 Display unit 123, 223 First switch 124, 224 Second switch IC Ink cartridge NC New cartridge OC Old cartridge IS Ink supply unit CF Sealing film NL Nail

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus in which an ink cartridge for supplying ink is detachably mountable, wherein when the ink cartridge is mounted, a locking means provided only with the new cartridge is detected to detect whether the new cartridge is old or not. An ink jet recording apparatus provided with a discriminating means for discriminating whether a cartridge is present. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said locking means is a breakable sealing film of a new cartridge. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said locking means is a plastically deformable claw body of a new cartridge. 4. A normally closed first switch which is opened when an ink cartridge is mounted at an ink supply position, and said locking means of a new cartridge before the ink cartridge reaches the ink supply position. A normally open second switch which can be temporarily closed by the first switch, and a detector which can detect that the first switch and the second switch are simultaneously closed. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The ink jet printer according to claim 4, wherein the first switch is opened by a bottom of the ink cartridge and the second switch is closed by a needle which is moved by engaging with the sealing film. Inkjet recording device. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first switch is opened by a bottom of the ink cartridge, and the second switch is closed by the claw body.