JPH1191133A - Ink jet recorder and ink cartridge therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an ink jet recorder employing an ink cartridge containing ink of more than one color in which reliability is enhanced in the detection of ink end when the quantity of any one ink decreased below a specified level. SOLUTION: A cartridge holder CH to be loaded with an ink cartridge containing ink is arranged with an ink end detection lever 75. The detection lever 75 has one end supported rotatably by a shaft 75a and a free end provided with a protrusion 75b abutting against an ink end detector 76. When the quantity of ink in any one ink cartridge is decreased, a working point for actuating the detection lever 75 is located at an intermediate point between the fulcrum and the free end of the detection lever 75 and the ink end detector 76 is subjected to on/off control by enlarging the motion stroke.

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 discharging ink pressurized in a pressure generating chamber in an inkjet head from a nozzle facing the recording paper as ink droplets on 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, at least six colors of ink cartridges are required. Therefore, in a recording apparatus in which an ink tank is mounted on a carriage, the total weight of the carriage is large. Problem. 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 kind used for business, for example, a system is employed in which an ink cartridge is housed in a cartridge 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 weight balance of the entire printing apparatus, the ink cartridges are separately arranged on both sides of the printing apparatus.

In the ink cartridge used in the above-described recording apparatus, a box-shaped case forming the outer shape of the cartridge and a flexible ink bag filled with ink are housed in the case. It has been. Further, when the amount of ink in each cartridge becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, it is possible to detect that the ink is out.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a cartridge holder and an ink cartridge having an ink end detecting function.

First, the cartridge holder CH is mainly composed of a pair of frames 41, 41 each formed in an L-shape and arranged in parallel with each other in the vertical direction. Prevention surface is 41
a, 41a are formed. Also the upper frame 41
Is integrally formed with a lock arm 41b having a U-shaped lock portion formed via a neck portion.

A tongue piece 42b is formed on a shutter 42, one of which is pivotally supported on a rotating 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 functional rib 51 formed on the cartridge IC is used.
e, the lock arm 41b is pushed up in the direction of arrow E to unlock, and at the same time, the shutter 42 is pushed in by the cartridge IC, and resists the urging force of a torsion spring (not shown) wound around the rotation shaft 42a. Then, the shutter 42 is released.

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 51e disposed on the cartridge IC to perform a click function. To be configured.

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

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 into the cartridge holder CH configured as described above from the direction of arrow D. As shown in an exploded view in FIG. 8, the ink cartridge IC includes a case body 51 having one surface opened, and a lid 5 covering an open portion of the case body 51.
2 and is entirely box-shaped.

As shown in FIG. 8, 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.

The bag 53 is formed of a flexible material and has ink sealed therein.
A seal plate made of, for example, a thin aluminum sheet (so-called silver paper) is attached and fixed to the ink outlet 54 formed in a part of the bag body 53.

On the bag 53 side of the ink outlet 54, an annular groove 55 having a diameter one step smaller than the outer diameter of the ink outlet 54 is formed. Is positioned with respect to the cartridge IC by fitting into the engagement rib 51c formed in 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 protrude while moving in the direction of the detection window 51d drilled in the case main body 51 with the decrease.

As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of functional ribs 51e are protruded 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
Fit into the positioning holes 51f and the guide holes 51g 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 led out to the recording apparatus.

When the ink in the ink cartridge IC is consumed in this manner, 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. This makes it possible to indicate that the ink is out by, for example, turning on a display lamp provided on the display panel of the recording apparatus.

[0022]

By the way, in a recording apparatus having the above-described cartridge holder and an ink cartridge loaded in the recording apparatus, cartridges in which the above-described six color inks are respectively enclosed are used. Each of the holders is provided with a specially loaded cartridge, and each holder is further provided with an ink end detector.

Therefore, it is necessary to prepare individual holders for accommodating the respective ink cartridges in the recording apparatus, which increases the size of the entire recording apparatus,
Inevitably, the cost of the recording apparatus is inevitably increased.

Of the six inks, normal magenta and light magenta, and normal cyan and light cyan of similar colors are housed in the same cartridge, and the six colors of ink are constituted by four cartridges. In this case, a holder for loading a cartridge containing two kinds of inks is provided with two ink end detectors to detect the remaining amount (ink end) of each ink. Is required, and the configuration of that part becomes complicated, and the problem arises that the accuracy of detecting the remaining amount of ink decreases.

In addition, the ink end detector has an electric contact which is turned on or off by a slight stroke, and therefore, there is a technical problem that the accuracy of detecting the ink end is further reduced due to the variation of the electric contact portion. have.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in an ink jet recording apparatus using the above-described multicolor ink, the size and cost of the entire apparatus are reduced, and the ink end is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of improving the detection accuracy of ink and an ink cartridge used for the same.

[0027]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus which is mounted on a carriage and is driven reciprocally in a width direction of a recording sheet. What is claimed is: 1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a cartridge holder accommodating an ink cartridge for supplying ink to a recording head, wherein an ink amount of one of the ink cartridges independently containing at least two or more types of ink is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. Is provided with an ink end detection lever for detecting that
The ink end detection lever is supported such that a free end side is rotatable via a fulcrum, and when the ink amount becomes a predetermined level or less at an intermediate point between the fulcrum and the free end, the ink is detected. An operation point for operating the end detection lever is arranged, and an ink end detector is arranged on a free end side of the ink end detection lever.

In this case, preferably, the ink cartridge independently contains two types of inks, and activates an ink end detection lever when the amount of each ink falls below a predetermined level. The two action points are located on the ink end detection lever, and at the vertex position of an isosceles triangle with the line connecting the two action points at the base,
The ink end detector is arranged. In a preferred embodiment, the ink end detector includes an electric contact that is turned on or off in accordance with movement of the ink end detection lever.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge mounted on a cartridge holder disposed in an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink cartridge comprises at least one ink cartridge. A state in which two or more types of inks are independently included, and a detection plate that moves in accordance with the amount of each ink, and a detection protrusion integrally formed with the detection plate, wherein each of the ink amounts is equal to or less than a predetermined amount In such a case, the length of each detection projection is determined so that the tip of the detection projection can be positioned on an equal line.

In this case, each of the detection plates is adhered and fixed to one side of each of the flexible bags in which two or more types of inks are independently sealed, and formed integrally with the respective detection plates. It is preferable that the tip of the detection protrusion is arranged so as to face a detection window formed in the cartridge body.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus and the ink cartridge used in the ink jet recording apparatus as described above, when the ink amount in any one of the ink cartridges becomes lower than a predetermined value, the ink is formed on the detection plate which moves according to the ink amount. One of the detection protrusions operates the ink end detection lever. The ink end detection lever is supported so that the free end side is rotatable via a fulcrum, an ink end detector is disposed on the free end side, and the detection protrusion is provided between the fulcrum and the free end. Since it is made to act on the point, the operation stroke of the detection projection is enlarged on the free end side of the lever, and the ink end detector can be reliably operated.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in ink end detection accuracy due to a variation in the ink end detector.

Further, by disposing the ink end detector at the apex of an isosceles triangle having a line connecting the two points of action of the respective detection projections as the base, the influence of slight rattling or inclination of the detection lever can be obtained. As a result, the ink end detector can be reliably operated as the amount of each ink decreases.

On the other hand, in the ink cartridge, the length of each detection projection is determined so that the tip of the detection projection can be positioned on an equal line when the amount of each ink falls below a predetermined level. In addition, it is possible to guarantee an accurate ink end detection operation by the ink end detection lever and the ink end detector arranged on the cartridge holder side.

[0035]

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.

On the surface of the carriage 11 facing the recording paper (not shown), a first recording head 19 and a second recording head 20 are mounted side by side in the moving direction of the carriage 11, and 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.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example of an ink cartridge IC in which two kinds of inks are independently stored by an exploded view and a sectional view in which one side wall is cut away. The basic structure of the ink cartridge shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is the same as that of the ink cartridge containing only single color ink shown in FIG. 8, and corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Or the same reference numerals with the addition of uppercase alphabets. The following describes mainly the differences from the single-color ink cartridge shown in FIG.

The ink cartridge IC shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is configured such that an inner lid 58 is disposed in a case main body 51. Then, a bag 53 in which ink is sealed in a space between the inner lid 58 and the case body 51.
A is stored, and the double-sided tape 59 is attached on the upper surface of the bag body 53A.
A attaches and fixes the detection plate 56A.

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.

In FIG. 3, the bags 53A and 53B are shown in a state in which ink is sufficiently filled in each of the bags 53A and 53B. However, these inks are consumed, and the capacities are reduced to a predetermined level or less. In this case, each of the detection protrusions 57
The lengths of the respective detection protrusions 57A and 57B are determined so that the tips of A and 57B can be positioned on the equal line L as shown by the broken lines. In this state, the tips of the detection projections 57A and 57B face the detection window 51d formed in the cartridge body.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show the structure of a cartridge holder in which the ink cartridge IC is loaded. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the cartridge holder, and FIG. State
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the configuration of the ink end detection lever attached to the cartridge holder.

In FIG. 4, a pair of upper plate 61 and lower plate 62 made of synthetic resin are connected to a metal frame 63 on one side thereof, respectively. On the other side, a metal coupling plate 64 is attached, and an end plate 65
a, 66b attached to the frame 63 to form a box shape as a whole.

The shaft 67a of the shutter 67 is engaged with the bosses 61a, 62a disposed so as to face the upper plate 61 and a part of the lower plate 62, and the shutter 67 is closed in the cartridge holder CH. Alternatively, the shutter 67 is wound around the shaft 67 a of the shutter 67, while the shutter 67 is closed in the holder CH by the torsion spring 68 arranged with the arm contacting the upper plate 61. It is urged in the direction as follows.

The frame 63, the upper plate 61, the connecting plate 6
4 is fitted with a metal shaft 69 through
As shown in (B), both legs 70a and 70b of a lever 70 for attaching and detaching a cartridge are connected to both ends of the shaft 69 so that the lever 70 can be rotated at the cartridge insertion port. It is configured.

The lever 70 for attaching and detaching the cartridge is formed by bending a metal plate into a U-shape, and a handle 71 made of synthetic resin is attached to the center of the metal plate, and both legs 70a and 70b are curved. ing.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the lever 7 is located at the midpoint of one leg 70b of the lever 70.
The end of the link plate 72 is coupled so as to be rotatable with respect to zero. The link plate 72 is connected to the frame 6
The link plate 72 is held down by a link holding plate 73 which is inserted so as to be inserted into a part of the link plate 3, and the link plate 72 is moved to the frame
3 so as to slide along the outer surface.

An L-shaped metal rod 74 is connected to the distal end of the link plate 72. The rod 74 is inserted into the holder CH through an elongated hole formed in the frame 63. And performs an operation of pulling back the cartridge when the cartridge is removed as described later.

A rectangular notch 63a is formed in a part of the frame 63, and the notch 63a
The ink end detection lever 75 is attached so as to be rotatable. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the ink end detection lever 75 is formed in a flat plate shape having a shaft 75a at one end, and the shaft 75a is connected to the lower plate 62.
And a pair of rising portions 62b formed integrally with the frame 6
3 and a pair of upright portions 63b,
It is made rotatable.

An ink end detector 76 is disposed outside the lower plate 62, and a lever 76 a attached to the ink end detector 76 is formed on the free end side of the ink end detection lever 75. It is configured to be operated by the protrusion 75b. The ink end detector 76 is provided with a leaf switch type electrical contact which is turned on or off by the operation of a lever 76a of the ink end detector 76. Is configured to transmit an electrical output thereto.

The upper plate 61 is integrally formed with a lock arm 61b having a U-shaped lock portion formed through a neck portion. Thus, the tongue 67b formed on the shutter 67 is configured to be engaged with the U-shaped lock portion of the lock arm 61b and held in a closed state. There is no structure. Further, a click protrusion 6 urged toward the inner side surface of the holder CH by a bar spring 78 is provided on the upper plate 61.
1c is integrally formed.

Further, a positioning shaft 79 is provided on the end plate 65.
And a guide shaft 80 are disposed so as to protrude into the holder. A pair of ink supply needles 8 having a hollow cross section is provided at a substantially intermediate point between the positioning shaft 79 and the guide shaft 80.
1a and 81b are arranged so as to protrude into the holder.

In the above configuration, to load the ink cartridge IC into the cartridge holder CH,
Lever 7 for attaching / detaching cartridge provided on holder CH
Then, the cartridge IC is inserted with the ink ejection ports 54A and 54B of the ink cartridge IC facing the holder.

As a result, the lock arm 61b is pushed up by the functional rib 51e formed on the cartridge IC to be unlocked, and at the same time, the shutter 67 is pushed in by the cartridge IC, and the torsion spring 68 is wound around the rotary shaft 67a. Shutter 6 against the urging force of
7 is released.

When the cartridge IC is still inserted into the holder, the tip of the cartridge IC is rotatably connected to the tip of the link plate 72, and is loosely fitted into the slot of the frame 63 to slide. It abuts against a moving L-shaped metal rod 74.

In this state, by rotating the cartridge attaching / detaching lever 70 toward the holder, a part of the handle 71 made of synthetic resin attached to the center of the folding of the attaching / detaching lever 70 is moved to the tail of the cartridge IC. It comes into contact with the end and acts to push the cartridge IC into the holder. In this case, since the support shaft side edge of the detachable lever 70, that is, a part of the handle 71, abuts on the tail end of the cartridge IC, the cartridge IC is turned by the rotation of the lever 70 on the holder side by the leverage principle. Can be easily pushed in. At this time, the metal rod 74 formed in the L-shape is advanced by the advance of the link plate 72 and does not prevent the cartridge IC from entering.

When the cartridge IC is loaded, the projection 61c disposed on the upper plate 61 engages with the functional rib 51e formed on the cartridge IC, and the cartridge IC is loaded on the holder CH. .

In the loading process, the positioning shaft 79 and the guide shaft 80 arranged on the holder CH are fitted into the positioning holes 51f and the guide holes 51g formed in the cartridge IC, respectively. At the same time, a pair of ink supply needles 81a, 81a on the holder CH side.
b penetrates through the seal plates attached to the respective ink outlets 54A and 54B, so that the ink can be led out to the recording apparatus side.

As the ink in the ink cartridge IC is gradually consumed, the protrusions 57 of the detection plates 56A and 56B mounted in the cartridge IC are used.
A and 57B are detection windows 51 provided in the cartridge IC.
It gradually projects to the d side.

Here, when the volume of the ink in the cartridge IC becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value and the projections 57A and 57B of any of the detection plates 56A and 56B protrude toward the detection window 51d as shown by the broken lines in FIG. , 57B
As shown in FIG. 6, the operation point A or B at the intermediate portion of the detection lever 75
And the detection lever 75 is rotated.

In this case, the lever 76a of the ink end detector 76 is configured to be in contact with the vertex position C of an isosceles triangle whose base is the line connecting the two action points A and B. That is, the relationship of d = e is established in FIG. Thus, when the protrusion 57A or 57B acts on either the action point A or B, the detection lever 75
Is the distance between the fulcrum position and the line connecting the operating points A and B, and the line connecting the operating points A and B and the lever 7 of the ink end detector 76.
Assuming that the distance from the point C where 6a is in contact is b, (a + b)
An operation stroke with respect to the ink end detector 76 occurs at a magnification of / a.

Therefore, even if there is some variation in the ON and OFF actions of the ink end detector 76, the variation can be absorbed by the action of the extended operation stroke described above. A vertex position C of an isosceles triangle having a line connecting the two action points A and B as a base.
Further, since the lever 76a of the ink end detector 76 is configured to be in contact with the ink end detector 76, the ink end detector 76 can be operated without being affected by slight rattling or inclination of the detection lever 75.

In this manner, the ink end detector 76
By actuating, it is possible to display that the ink is in an end state by turning on a display lamp provided on a display panel, for example, on a display panel.

When the ink cartridge is in the ink end state and the ink cartridge IC is to be replaced, the lever 70 for attaching and detaching the cartridge in the cartridge holder CH is pivoted in a direction of flipping up, so that the cartridge 70 is stopped. The link plate 72 retreats in the forward direction, and the link plate 7
The L-shaped metal rod 74 attached to the tip of the second 2 is pulled back. Therefore, the ink cartridge IC is pushed out of the holder CH by the rod 74.

Then, the lever 70 for attaching and detaching the cartridge
The ink cartridge IC can be easily removed from the holder CH by grasping the end of the ink cartridge IC by hand and pulling the ink cartridge IC toward the user with the ink cartridge IC flipped up.

When the ink cartridge IC is detached from the holder CH in this manner, the shutter 67 disposed on the holder CH closes the holder CH by the action of the torsion spring 68, and the lock arm 61b provided on the upper plate 61 causes the shutter 67 to move. The holder CH is engaged with the tongue 67b formed on the
Is kept closed.

[0069]

As is apparent from the above description, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, the ink amount of any one of the ink cartridges containing at least two or more types of inks is below a predetermined level. A rotatable ink end detection lever for detecting the ink end is provided, and an ink end detector is arranged on the free end side of the detection lever, and an action point for operating the lever is provided at an intermediate point of the lever. The operating stroke for the detector can be extended.

Therefore, even if there is some variation in the ON and OFF actions of the ink end detector, the variation can be absorbed by the action of the enlarged operation stroke, and the reliability of the ink end detection can be improved. Can be improved.

Further, by arranging the ink end detector at a vertex position of an isosceles triangle having a base connecting a line connecting two points of operation when one of the ink amounts becomes a predetermined level or less. In addition, the ink end detector can be reliably operated with a decrease in the amount of each ink without being affected by slight rattling or inclination of the detection lever.

Further, in the ink cartridge according to the present invention, the length of each detection projection is determined so that the tip of the detection projection can be positioned on an equal line when the amount of each ink is below a predetermined level. Has been
An accurate ink end detection operation by the ink end detection lever and the ink end detector arranged on the cartridge holder side can be guaranteed.

[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 an exploded perspective view showing an example of a two-color type ink cartridge used in the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which one side surface of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 2 is broken.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a cartridge holder mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a configuration diagram illustrating a state where an ink cartridge is loaded in the cartridge holder illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a configuration of an ink end detection lever attached to a cartridge holder.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of an ink end detection mechanism in a conventional cartridge holder.

8 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an ink cartridge loaded in the cartridge holder shown in FIG.

[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 51 case body 51d detection window 52 lid 53A bag 53B bag 54A ink outlet 54B Ink outlet 56A Detection plate 56B Detection plate 57A Detection protrusion 57B Detection protrusion 58 Inner lid 61 Upper plate 62 Lower plate 63 Frame 64 Coupling plate 65 End plate 67 Shutter 70 Cartridge attaching / detaching lever 71 Handle 72 Link plate 74 Rod 75 Ink end Detection lever 75b Projector 76 Ink end detector 76a Lever 81a Ink supply needle 81b Ink supply needle A Detection projection action point B Detection projection action point C Ink end detector contact point

Claims (5)

[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 end detection lever that detects that an ink amount of any one of the ink cartridges independently including at least two or more types of inks is equal to or less than a predetermined value, wherein the ink end detection lever has a fulcrum. The free end side is supported so as to be rotatable via an intermediate point between the fulcrum and the free end, and an action point for operating the ink end detection lever when the ink amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. And an ink end detector disposed at a free end side of the ink end detection lever. Recording device. 2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridges independently contain two types of inks, and each of the ink cartridges has two functions for operating an ink end detection lever when the amount of each ink falls below a predetermined level. 2. The ink end detector according to claim 1, wherein a point is located on the ink end detection lever, and the ink end detector is arranged at a vertex position of an isosceles triangle having a base connecting a line connecting the two action points. Inkjet recording device. 3. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink end detector has an electric contact that is turned on or off in response to movement of the ink end detection lever. Expression recording device. 4. An ink cartridge to be mounted on a cartridge holder arranged in an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink cartridge contains at least two or more types of inks independently, and each ink amount is A detection plate that moves in accordance with the detection plate, and a detection protrusion formed on the detection plate, so that the tip of the detection protrusion can be located on an equal line when the amount of each ink is equal to or less than a predetermined state. Wherein the length of the detection protrusion is determined. 5. Each of the detection plates is attached and fixed to one side surface of a flexible bag body in which two or more types of inks are independently enclosed, and is formed integrally with each of the detection plates. The ink cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the tip of the detection protrusion is arranged so as to face a detection window formed in the cartridge body.