JPH1158792A - Ink jet recorder and ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the print quality from deteriorating by averaging the service life of respective ink cartridges being employed in an ink jet recorder using multiple colors of ink. SOLUTION: An ink cartridge containing two kinds of ink independently comprises a two color ink cartridge C containing normal cyan(NC) and light cyan(LC), and a two color ink cartridge M containing normal magenta(NM) and light magenta(LM). Monochromatic ink cartridges of black(B) and yellow(Y) are additionally provided. For example, the available period can be averaged for respective cartridges by regulating the total quantity of ink of the two color cartridge to be substantially equal to the quantity of ink of the monochromatic ink cartridge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a plurality of ink jet recording heads which move in the width direction of recording paper,
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that prints a color image by discharging ink of a plurality of colors onto recording paper based on print data, and an ink cartridge for supplying ink to a recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of personal computers, graphic processing has become relatively easy to execute. Therefore, a recording apparatus capable of outputting a hard copy of a color image displayed on a display with high quality has been demanded.

[0003] In order to meet such a demand, a recording apparatus equipped with an ink jet recording head has been provided.
This ink jet recording apparatus is used for many printings including color printing because the noise at the time of printing is relatively small and small dots can be formed at a high density. Such a recording apparatus is configured to form dots by ejecting ink pressurized in a pressure generating chamber in an inkjet head as ink droplets from a nozzle facing the recording paper onto the recording paper.

[0004] In recent years, in order to improve print quality in color printing, in particular, color resolution, at least six colors of ink of normal magenta, light magenta, normal cyan, light cyan, yellow, and black are used. An ink jet recording apparatus has been proposed.

In the case of using such multi-color inks, an ink cartridge for at least six colors is required. Therefore, in a recording apparatus in which an ink tank is mounted on a carriage, the total weight and size of the carriage are required. There is a problem that becomes large. In addition, not only a large output is required for the carriage drive motor, but also technical problems such as a large recoil of the carriage upon carriage return occur.

Therefore, in a recording apparatus of this type used for business, for example, a method is used in which an ink cartridge is housed in a holder arranged in the main body of the recording apparatus and ink is supplied to a recording head via an ink supply tube. Has been adopted.

In this case, in order to accommodate the ink cartridges for the six colors while maintaining the size and weight balance of the entire recording apparatus, the ink cartridges are separately arranged on both sides of the recording apparatus.

In the ink cartridge used in the above-described recording apparatus, a box-shaped case constituting the outer shape of the cartridge and a flexible ink bag filled with ink are housed in the case. It has been. In each of the ink bags, substantially the same amount of the above-described six colors of ink is sealed.

FIG. 8 schematically shows this state. In a case formed in the same shape, six inks of normal magenta, light magenta, normal cyan, light cyan, yellow, and black are provided. Is stored. In FIG. 8, each of the ink cartridges thus configured
M, LM, NC, LC, Y, and B are shown.

[0010]

However, in such a recording apparatus using six color ink cartridges, it is necessary to prepare individual holders for accommodating the respective ink cartridges. As the size increases, the cost of the recording apparatus is inevitably increased.

In printing similar colors (normal magenta and light magenta, and normal cyan and light cyan), since the mixing ratio is changed according to the contrast, the ink cartridge is compared with an ink cartridge containing only a single color. Therefore, the consumption of each ink is small. As a result, the residual ink in similar color cartridges deteriorates with time, causing problems such as extremely lowering the print quality and, in some cases, causing damage to the recording head and making printing impossible. obtain.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in an ink jet recording apparatus using multi-color inks as described above, the size and cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced, and It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge capable of performing economical operation that can appropriately manage the remaining amount of ink.

[0013]

An ink jet recording apparatus and an ink cartridge used in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention to achieve the above object are provided with an ink cartridge independently containing at least two or more types of ink. An ink cartridge containing an ink composed of only a single color, wherein the ink capacity of the ink cartridge independently containing the two or more inks is an ink cartridge containing an ink composed of only a single color. It is configured to be different from the ink capacity.

In this case, the respective ink capacities of the ink cartridges independently containing two or more kinds of inks are:
Each of the ink cartridges has a smaller capacity than the ink capacity of the ink cartridge containing the ink composed of only a single color.

Further, it is desirable that inks of similar colors are stored in the ink cartridges independently containing two or more kinds of inks, respectively, for convenience of use.

Preferably, in an ink cartridge containing inks of similar colors, the normal ink and the light ink are independently contained in one cartridge, and reproduce the color resolution configured on software. It is preferable that the capacity of the light ink is larger than the capacity of the normal ink depending on the mixing ratio.

The ink cartridges independently containing two or more types of ink are a cartridge containing cyan ink and a cartridge containing magenta ink, and also contain ink composed of only a single color. The ink cartridges to be used are desirably a cartridge containing black ink and a cartridge containing yellow ink.

Each of the inks contained in the cartridge is contained in a bag made of a flexible material, and an ink outlet is formed in a part of the bag.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus and the ink cartridge used for the ink jet recording apparatus as described above, each ink capacity of the ink cartridge independently containing two or more kinds of inks is made up of ink composed of only a single color. It is made different from the ink capacity of the ink cartridge to be included.

That is, the amount of each ink sealed in each ink bag of a cartridge containing cyan normal ink and light ink, and the amount of each ink sealed in each ink bag of a cartridge containing magenta normal ink and light ink. The amount of each ink is smaller than the amount of ink enclosed in each ink bag of the cartridge containing the black ink and the cartridge containing the yellow ink.

Therefore, in a normal use state of the ink jet type recording apparatus, it is possible to average the use periods of the respective cartridges.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention and an ink cartridge used therein will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus 10 according to the present invention. Carriage 11
Is configured to be guided by a pair of guide members 12 and move in parallel with the platen 13. The carriage 11 has a timing belt 1 stretched between a pair of pulleys 15 and 16 attached to a frame 14.
7 are connected. One of the pulleys 15 is driven to rotate by a motor 18, and the carriage 11 is repeatedly driven in the left-right direction by the reciprocating rotation of the motor 18.

A first recording head 19 and a second recording head 20 are mounted on the surface of the carriage 11 facing the recording paper (not shown), side by side in the moving direction of the carriage 11, and the upper surface is mounted on the upper surface. Sub tank units 21 and 22 having a damper function are mounted.

On both sides of the frame 14, a cartridge holder CH (described later) for accommodating each ink cartridge is provided.
Are arranged, and the ink supply tubes 23a, 23b, and 2 are supplied from the ink cartridges IC accommodated in the respective holders CH.
The ink is supplied to the sub-tank units 21 and 22 via 3c, 23d, 23e, and 23f, respectively.

A capping device 24 for sealing the nozzle plates of the recording heads 19 and 20 is provided in a non-printing area on the movement path of the recording heads 19 and 20.

FIG. 2 shows a part of the structure of the cartridge holder CH and the ink cartridge IC loaded in the cartridge holder CH. In this example of the holder, an ink cartridge containing ink composed of only a single color, which will be described later, is loaded.

A pair of frames 41, 41 each formed in an L shape and arranged in parallel with each other in the vertical direction, are provided with erroneous insertion preventing surfaces 41a, 41a of the cartridge at positions opposite to the entrances thereof. Have been. The upper frame 41 is integrally formed with a lock arm 41b having a U-shaped lock portion via a neck portion.

A tongue piece 42b is formed on the shutter 42, one of which is pivotally supported by a rotation shaft (indicated by a chain line 42a).
Is engaged with a U-shaped lock portion of the lock arm 41b and is held in a closed state. When the ink cartridge IC described later is inserted in the direction of arrow D, the lock arm 41b is pushed up in the direction of arrow E by the functional rib formed on the cartridge IC to be unlocked.
And the shutter 42 is released against the urging force of a torsion spring (not shown) disposed on the rotary shaft 42a.

A leaf spring 43 is disposed so as to face the upper frame 41. When the cartridge IC is mounted, the leaf spring 43 engages with a functional rib disposed on the cartridge IC to form a click function. Have been to be.

An ink end detector 44 is disposed on a side plate (not shown) so as to detect that the amount of ink stored in an ink cartridge IC, which will be described later, has dropped below a predetermined value. .

Further, a positioning shaft 45 is provided on an end plate (not shown).
And a guide shaft 46 is disposed so as to protrude into the holder. At a substantially intermediate point between the positioning shaft 45 and the guide shaft 46, an ink supply needle 47 having a hollow cross section protrudes into the holder. Are located.

The ink cartridge IC is loaded from the direction of arrow D into the cartridge holder CH configured as described above. The ink cartridge IC shown in FIG. 2 includes an ink composed of only a single color. As shown in the exploded view of FIG. The case 52 includes a lid 52 that covers an open portion of the case body 51, and has a box shape as a whole.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of L-shaped projections 52a are formed on the lid 52.
Are engaged with a pair of holes 51a formed in the case body 51, and a pair of claw portions 52b formed on the lid body 52 are engaged with a pair of concave portions 51b formed on the inner surface of the case body 51. Thus, the lid 52 is configured to be detachably attached to the case body 51.

A bag 53 made of a flexible material and filled with ink is housed in the inside of the bag 53. An ink outlet 54 formed in a part of the bag 53 is inserted into the bag 53. Is sealed with a sealing plate made of, for example, an aluminum laminated film for preventing gas permeation.

The ink outlet 54 is formed with an annular groove 55 having a diameter one step smaller than the outer diameter of the ink outlet 54. The annular groove 55 is formed in the case body 51 in an arc shape. By fitting into the mating rib 51c,
It is positioned with respect to the cartridge IC.

The lower surface of the bag 53 in which the ink is sealed, that is, the surface of the bag 53 on the case body 51 side is adhered and fixed to the case body 51 by an adhesive substance (not shown). A flat detection plate 56 is adhered and fixed to the upper surface of the bag body 53 by a double-sided tape (not shown). A detection projection 57 projecting in a direction orthogonal to the plate surface of the detection plate is formed integrally with a part of the detection plate 56, and the tip of the projection 57 has the amount of ink in the bag body 56. It is configured to be able to move in the direction of the detection window 51d formed in the case main body 51 with the decrease.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of functional ribs 51e protrude from the upper and lower ends of the ink cartridge IC having the above-described structure on the side of the ink outlet 54, and when the cartridge is loaded into the holder CH. When the lock arm 41b is released, the functional rib 51e abuts on the leaf spring 43 to perform a click function. Then, in a state where the cartridge IC is to be loaded into the holder CH,
The positioning shaft 45 and the guide shaft 46 on the holder CH side
Are fitted into the positioning holes 51f and the guide holes 51g respectively formed in the cartridge IC.

At the same time, the ink supply needle 47 on the holder CH side penetrates the seal plate adhered to the ink outlet 54, so that the ink can be discharged to the recording apparatus.

When the ink in the ink cartridge IC is consumed in this way, the protrusion 57 of the detection plate 56 mounted in the cartridge IC
Side, and operates the ink end detector 44 when the ink has reached a predetermined remaining amount. In this way, for example, a display lamp provided on the display panel of the recording apparatus is turned on to indicate that the ink is out.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing an example of an ink cartridge IC containing two kinds of inks independently. The basic structure of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 4 is the same as that of the ink cartridge containing only the single color ink shown in FIG. 3, and the corresponding parts have the same reference numerals or the same reference numerals. The code is a code obtained by adding a capital letter to the code, and the following mainly describes differences from FIG.

The ink cartridge IC shown in FIG. 4 is configured such that an inner lid 58 is disposed inside a case body 51. A bag 53A filled with ink is stored in a space between the inner lid 58 and the case main body 51, and a detection plate 56A is adhered and fixed to the upper surface of the bag 53A by a double-sided tape 59A.

Another bag 53B filled with ink is stored in the space between the inner lid 58 and the lid 52,
A detection plate 56B is adhered and fixed to the upper surface of the bag body 53B by a double-sided tape 59B. The length of the protrusion 57B formed on the detection plate 56B is longer than the length of the protrusion 57A formed on the one detection plate 56A, and passes through the window hole 58a formed on the inner lid 58. , And is configured to face in the direction of a detection window 51 d formed in the case body 51.

Incidentally, in a holder in which an ink cartridge IC containing two kinds of inks independently accommodated as shown in FIG. 4 is loaded, ink end detectors 44 as shown in FIG. 2 are arranged independently. Or protrusions 57A, 57 formed on the respective detection plates 56A, 56B.
A wide plate body (not shown) in which B contacts each other is arranged on the ink end detector 44, and one of the ink end detectors 44 is operated when any of the inks has a predetermined remaining amount. You may comprise.

Here, an ink cartridge containing ink composed only of a single color as shown in FIG.
And the ink cartridges independently containing two types of ink as shown in FIG. 1 are loaded into the cartridge holders CH arranged at the left and right ends of the recording apparatus 10 in FIG.

In this case, for example, the recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
The cartridge holder CH at the left end of
For example, a black single-color ink cartridge B and a two-color ink cartridge C containing, for example, normal cyan and light cyan are loaded.

The cartridge holder CH at the right end of the recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is loaded with, for example, a monochromatic yellow ink cartridge Y and a two-color ink cartridge M containing, for example, normal magenta and light magenta.

FIG. 5 schematically shows the state of ink being filled in the bags stored in the respective ink cartridges.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the ink capacities of the ink cartridges independently containing two kinds of inks are different from the ink capacities of the ink cartridges containing the ink composed of only one color. It is configured.

More specifically, the respective ink capacities (normal cyan = NC and light cyan = LC, and normal magenta = NM and light magenta = LM) of the ink cartridges C and M independently containing two types of inks are: ,
Each of the ink cartridges has a smaller capacity than the ink capacity (black = B, yellow = Y) of the ink cartridge containing the ink composed of only a single color.

The ink cartridges C and M which independently contain the two types of ink contain inks of similar colors, for example, a combination of normal cyan and light cyan, or a normal magenta ink. And light magenta.

Generally, in the above-described ink jet recording apparatus using six colors, as described above, the two types of inks, normal and light, are used while changing the mixing ratio according to the contrast with each other. Is smaller on average than the usage of each single color (black or yellow) ink. Therefore, the former cartridge in which normal and light inks are sealed tends not to be used for a long time with respect to other single-color ink cartridges. For this reason, when the recording apparatus is used less frequently, the deterioration of the two types of inks, ie, normal and light, becomes a problem over time, resulting in extremely poor print quality and, in some cases, damage to the recording head. Problems such as making printing impossible occur.

However, by changing the ink encapsulation ratio as described above, it is possible to average the use periods of the respective cartridges. Therefore, in particular, only the cartridges enclosing the normal and light inks are not used for a long time. Can correct trends.

Further, by enclosing the normal and light inks in one cartridge, six colors can be supplied by four cartridges as shown in FIG. 5, and the cartridge holder arranged in the recording apparatus also conforms thereto. And the number of recording devices can be simplified, and the cost of the recording apparatus can be simplified.

Further, by storing inks of similar colors of normal and light in one cartridge, it is possible to easily identify and manage the product even at the time of manufacture and at the time of purchase by an end user.

Next, FIG. 6 schematically shows the ink enclosing state of the cartridge in which the normal and light inks are encased. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the capacity of the light ink is larger than the capacity of the normal ink.

In general, in an ink jet recording apparatus using six colors, the amount of use of two kinds of inks of the same color, normal and light, is larger in the light system than in the normal system in terms of the color reproducibility. Therefore, with the above configuration, it is possible to reduce the difference between the remaining amounts of the two colors of ink at the time of ink end. Therefore, it is not only economical, but also contributes to reducing pollution problems occurring in the process of treating the discarded cartridge.

Next, FIG. 7 shows another embodiment, and schematically shows the state of ink encapsulation similarly to FIGS. 5 and 6.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, black ink B is enclosed in one cartridge as ink composed of only a single color, and each ink of yellow Y, cyan C and magenta M is enclosed in one cartridge. FIG.

The capacities of the yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are substantially the same, and the combination of the capacities of the black inks is larger than the capacities of these inks.

With this configuration, it is possible to make the life of the ink cartridge in the average use state of the single color black cartridge and the life of the ink cartridge of the three color cartridge almost the same.

[0062]

As is apparent from the above description, the ink jet recording apparatus and the ink cartridge used therein according to the present invention are composed of an ink cartridge independently containing at least two or more types of ink, and a single color only ink. The ink capacity of the ink cartridge containing two or more kinds of inks independently is different from the ink capacity of the ink cartridge containing the ink composed only of a single color. , It is possible to equalize the usage period in each cartridge.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the probability that only the cartridge in which the specific ink is sealed is used without replacing the cartridge for a long period of time. It is possible to prevent problems such as damage to the head and the like.

In spite of the recording apparatus using, for example, six colors of ink, the number of cartridges can be reduced, and the configuration of the recording apparatus itself can be simplified.
The manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, for example, the ink capacities of the ink cartridges independently containing two or more kinds of inks are made smaller than the ink capacities of the ink cartridges containing the ink composed of only a single color. Ink cartridges that independently contain two or more types of inks are configured to store inks of similar colors, so that the product can be managed and identified at the time of manufacture of the ink cartridge and purchase of the end user. Can be facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view showing a configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a cartridge holder and an ink cartridge arranged in the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the single color type ink cartridge shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a two-color type ink cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an ink enclosing ratio in a single-color type and a two-color type ink cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an ink encapsulation ratio in the two-color type ink cartridge illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of ink encapsulation rates in a single color type and a three color type ink cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the ink enclosing ratio in a conventional ink cartridge using six colors.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 recording device 11 carriage 13 platen 17 timing belt 18 motor 19 first recording head 20 second recording head 24 capping device CH cartridge holder IC ink cartridge 41 frame 41b lock arm 42 shutter 44 ink end detector 47 ink supply needle 51 case main body 51d Detection window 52 Lid 53 Bag 53A Bag 53B Bag 54 Ink outlet 54A Ink outlet 54B Ink outlet 56 Detection plate 56A Detection plate 56B Detection plate 57 Detection protrusion 57A Detection protrusion 57B Detection protrusion 59 Middle cover

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a recording head mounted on a carriage and driven reciprocally in a width direction of recording paper, and a cartridge holder for accommodating an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the recording head. An ink cartridge in which the ink cartridge independently contains at least two or more types of ink; and an ink cartridge containing ink composed of only a single color are respectively accommodated in the cartridge holder, and the two or more types of ink are contained in the cartridge holder. Wherein the ink capacities of the ink cartridges independently including the ink cartridges are different from the ink capacities of the ink cartridges including the ink composed of only a single color. 2. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein each of said ink cartridges independently contains two or more types of inks. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ink cartridges independently containing two or more kinds of inks contain inks of similar colors. apparatus. 4. In an ink cartridge containing inks of similar colors, normal ink and light ink are independently contained in one cartridge, and the capacity of the light ink is larger than the capacity of the normal ink. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the capacity is set to a capacity. 5. An ink cartridge independently containing two or more kinds of inks is a cartridge containing cyan ink and a cartridge containing magenta ink, and an ink cartridge containing only a single color. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridges include a cartridge containing black ink and a cartridge containing yellow ink. 6. An ink cartridge mounted to a cartridge holder arranged in an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink cartridge independently contains at least two or more types of ink, and a single color ink cartridge. The ink capacity of the ink cartridge containing the ink composed of only a single color is comprised of an ink cartridge containing the ink composed of only the single color. An ink cartridge characterized by being configured differently from the above. 7. The ink capacity of each of the ink cartridges independently containing two or more types of inks is set to be smaller than the ink capacity of the ink cartridge containing ink composed of only a single color. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein: 8. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the ink cartridges independently containing two or more types of ink contain inks of similar colors. 9. In an ink cartridge containing inks of similar colors, the normal ink and the light ink are independently contained in one cartridge, and the capacity of the light ink is larger than the capacity of the normal ink. 9. The ink cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the ink cartridge has a capacity. 10. An ink cartridge independently containing two or more kinds of inks is a cartridge containing cyan ink and a cartridge containing magenta ink, and an ink cartridge containing only a single color. 10. The ink cartridge to be included is a cartridge containing black ink and a cartridge containing yellow ink.
The ink cartridge according to any one of the above. 11. An ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein each ink contained in said cartridge is contained in a bag made of a flexible material, and an ink outlet is formed in a part thereof. The ink cartridge according to claim 9. 12. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a recording head mounted on a carriage and driven reciprocally in a width direction of recording paper; and a cartridge holder for accommodating an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the recording head. An ink cartridge in which the ink cartridges independently contain at least two or more types of inks is housed in the cartridge holders, respectively, and the ink cartridges independently containing the two or more types of inks have different ink capacities. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: