KR100995376B1 - Ink existence and nonexistence sensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ink presence detecting apparatus that can improve the printing quality while detecting ink presence and continuously supplying ink to a printer, wherein the second portion is separated from the ink presence sensing means so that the contact is turned off. It is characterized in that the ink level is kept constant through the operation of replacing the ink storage means by receiving a warning signal received when the detection of the time.

Ink presence detection device, ink storage means, ink cartridge, float, ink presence detection means, micro switch, warning part.

Description

Ink presence detection device {INK EXISTENCE AND NONEXISTENCE SENSING APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to an ink presence detection device, and more particularly, to detect the presence or absence of ink, and to stably supply ink to a printer while maintaining a constant level of a cartridge, thereby improving print quality. An ink presence detection apparatus is provided.

A printer is a printing apparatus which receives ink from an ink cartridge and uses it to perform printing. Since the ink cartridge used in the printer is made for one time use, the ink cartridge is replaced with a new ink cartridge when it is used.

Such an ink cartridge requires an expensive replacement cost, and in order to solve the problem, an ink cartridge or an ink presence detection device capable of continuously supplying ink to refill (refill) the ink is used.

However, the device that does not control the ink level of the ink supply device has a problem that it is difficult to control the ink charge level, such as when the ink is low-charged or overcharged because the ink is injected manually. In addition, the ink supply device that can adjust the ink level is also inconvenient to know that there is no ink when the printer operator is doing other things.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink presence detection device capable of improving the print quality while allowing the ink to be continuously supplied to the printer stably while maintaining the constant water level by detecting the presence of ink. .

The object is connected to the ink reservoir or ink storage pack in which the ink for supplying the printer is stored in contact with each other, and transfers the buoyancy of the ink to the first portion through a second portion that rises and falls by the filling level of the ink The ink cartridge to temporarily open the ink supplied from the ink reservoir while the ink transfer needle is opened and closed, and is installed at a position adjacent to the second nozzle and the ink amount fluctuation due to the ink consumption in the ink cartridge. It is achieved by an ink presence detecting apparatus including ink presence sensing means for detecting the presence of ink and informing the presence of ink.

The ink presence detecting means may include a micro switch installed adjacent to the second sub hole and turned on and off with the second sub hole, and receiving a contact off signal from the micro switch. The warning buzzer may be configured to display a warning signal.

The ink cartridge is provided at a position adjacent to the first sub-portion, buoyant portion having a plurality of buoyancy space divided by the partition wall inside and down by the buoyancy of the ink, and fixed to one side of the buoyancy portion And a second buckle support formed in a cross-sectional structure bent in a 'b' shape, and supporting the second buckle support while being able to transfer the buoyancy of the buoyancy portion to the first buckle by a lever principle. It may be composed of a second groove having a two-piece support piece and a guide groove formed along the inner circumferential portion to guide the electric wire.

The ink cartridge includes ink information delivery means for transferring ink information stored in the smart chip disposed on the ink cartridge side to the printer side, and the ink information delivery means includes a smart chip in which the ink information on the ink cartridge side is stored. And an adapter for reading ink information stored in the smart chip and provided at the ink cartridge side, and a dummy chip provided at the ink cartridge side and transferring ink information to the printer side.

Therefore, according to the ink presence detecting apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to create an effect of improving the printing quality by allowing the ink to be continuously supplied to the printer stably while maintaining the constant water level by detecting the presence of ink.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail with respect to the present invention.

1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a connection relationship between an ink cartridge having ink presence sensing means and an ink storage means according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge having ink presence sensing means according to the present invention.

The ink presence detection apparatus 100 according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 1 or 2, by temporarily filling the ink storage means 110 and the ink supplied from the ink storage means 110, the ink is stored And an ink cartridge 120 provided with ink presence detecting means 130 for supplying the printer P, and ink information transferring means 140 for transferring ink information to the printer side.

The ink storage means 110 stores the ink supplied to the printer P. Inside the ink storage means 110 is formed a storage space having a predetermined width for storing the ink supplied to the printer (P). Ink storage means 110, as shown in Figure 1 or 2, may be provided in various ways, such as an ink reservoir or ink storage pack. A predetermined amount of ink supplied to the ink cartridge 120 is stored in the ink storage means 110. The ink storage means 110 may be made of various materials such as plastic that can be seen therein. Thereby, the amount of ink filled in the ink storing means 110 can be visually confirmed. The outer surface of the ink storage means 110 may be ticked to more accurately check the amount of ink charged.

The ink cartridge 120 is connected in contact with the ink storage means 110 to temporarily charge the ink supplied from the ink storage means 110 to supply the ink to the printer P.

The ink cartridge 120 forms a closed structure on all sides and may be provided with various materials such as plastic that can be viewed. As shown in FIG. 1 or 2, the ink cartridge 120 has an accommodation space 122 filled with ink supplied from the ink storage terminal 110 so that ink can be continuously supplied to the printer P. As shown in FIG. ) Is prepared.

In one side of the accommodation space 122 of the ink cartridge 120, as shown in FIG. 1, an injection hole 121 provided in contact with the accommodation space 122 is formed.

An ink transfer needle 121a for transferring ink supplied from the ink storage means 110 to the accommodation space 122 of the ink cartridge 120 is provided at a position adjacent to the injection hole 121. The ink transfer needle 121a is opened and closed by the first sub-sphere 124 to supply or stop supplying ink.

One side of the receiving space 122 (for example, the position adjacent to the ink storing means) is provided with a guide tube 127 for the ink transfer needle 121a and in contact with the ink storing means 110. .

As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, inside the guide tube 127, a first sub-hole 124 is provided to open and close the ink transfer needle 121a while moving up and down by buoyancy of ink. The first sub-ball 124 is raised and lowered in the guide tube 127 according to the filling level of the ink. By repeating the process of opening and closing the ink transfer needle 121a by the first mouth 124, the ink filled in the accommodation space 122 may be maintained at a certain level. Thereby, the flow velocity and pressure of the ink supplied to the printer P can be kept constant, and print quality can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, on one side of the first buckle 124, the first buckle supporting piece 124b may receive buoyancy to the second buckle 126 and transmit the buoyancy force to the first buckle 124. A first sub-support (124a) is supported by a) may be further provided.

The first buckle support 124a is provided to be fixed to one side of the first buckle 124. The first sub-support 124a is formed to be bent into a "b" shape. The first sub-support 124a may be formed in various ways such as a bar shape.

The first sub-support piece 124b is fixedly installed at a predetermined position of the accommodation space 122. The first buckle support 124b receives the buoyancy force of the second buckle 126 by the lever principle while supporting the first buckle support 124a and lifts the first buckle 124 in the guide tube 127. Let it descend.

One end of the second sub-ball 126 is freely connected to the first sub-ball 124 to transfer the buoyancy of the ink filled in the accommodation space 122 to the first sub-ball 124.

As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the second buckle 126 includes a buoyancy portion 126a having a plurality of buoyancy spaces 126a-1, a second buckle support 126b, and a second buckle support ( It may be made of a second sub-support piece (126d) for supporting 126b.

The second sub-ball 126 is preferably installed to be located in the receiving space 122 adjacent to the first sub-ball 124. The second sub-ball 126 is raised and lowered by the buoyancy force of the ink filled in the accommodation space 122. A plurality of buoyancy spaces 126a-1 divided by the partition wall 126c are formed inside the second buckle 126. As a result, when one of the buoyancy spaces 126a-1 is broken, the buoyancy force of the ink in the accommodation space 122 may be transmitted to the first buckle 124 side through the other buoyancy space 126a-1. do.

The second buckle support 126b is provided to be fixed to one side of the second buckle 126. The second sub-support 126b is formed to have a cross-sectional structure bent in a 'b' shape. One end of the second sub-support 126b is provided to form a structure connected freely with one end of the first sub-support 124a. The second sub-support 126b may be formed in various ways such as a bar shape.

The second sub-support piece 126d is fixedly installed at a predetermined position of the accommodation space 122. The second buckle support piece 126d supports the second buckle support 126b and transmits the buoyancy force of the second buckle 126 to the first buckle 124 provided in the guide tube 127 by the lever principle. do.

Although not shown, a plurality of protruding protrusions are formed in the accommodation space 122 in which the second fitting 126 is positioned, thereby preventing the second fitting 126 from sticking to the inner wall of the case 120a. You could do it. As a result, the ink charge amount in the ink cartridge 120 can be kept constant.

The ink presence detecting means 130 is in contact with one side of the second sub-spherical portion 126 and serves to maintain the constant level of ink charge while being turned on (off) off (off).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the ink presence detecting unit 130 may include a micro switch 132 that is turned on and off and a warning unit 134 that displays a warning signal.

The micro switch 132 is installed adjacent to the second sub-ball 126 in the accommodation space 122. The micro switch 132 maintains a shape in which the micro switch 132 is in contact with each other that is elevated when the ink is filled in the receiving space 122 of the ink cartridge 120 to maintain a predetermined level. In this case, the micro switch 132 maintains the contact on state. On the other hand, when the ink in the receiving space 122 of the ink cartridge 120 is extinguished, the micro switch 132 and the second accessory 126 are separated from each other to achieve a contact off state. As such, when the contact is turned off, the detection signal is transmitted to the warning unit 134. At this time, the warning unit 134 generates a warning signal (for example, light or sound displayed by a warning light or a warning buzzer). When a warning signal is generated, the user checks this and replaces the ink storage means 110. As a result, the print quality can be improved by keeping the ink level constant.

The ink information transfer means 140 serves to transfer the ink information on the ink storage means 110 side to the printer P side. The ink information delivery means 140 includes a smart chip 142 storing ink information on the ink cartridge 120 side, an adapter 144 for reading ink information, and a dummy for transmitting ink information to the printer P side. It may be made of a chip 146. The adapter 144 is provided on the ink cartridge 120 side to read ink information stored in the smart chip 142. The dummy chip 146 transfers the ink information to the printer P side. The smart chip 142, the adapter 144, and the dummy chip 146 are electrically connected to each other through the wire 147 guided by the guide groove 128 formed at the circumference of the receiving space 122.

  While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above by way of example, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and those skilled in the art are appropriate within the scope described in the claims of the present invention. It will be possible to change.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connection relationship between an ink cartridge and an ink storage means equipped with an ink presence detecting means according to the present invention;

2 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge having ink presence sensing means according to the present invention.

** Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawing **

100: ink presence detection device, 110: ink storage means,

120: ink cartridge, 121: injection hole,

121a: ink transfer needle, 122: accommodation space,

124: the first section, 124a: the first section support,

124b: first section support, 126: second section,

126a: buoyancy part, 126a-1: buoyancy space,

126b: second secondary support, 126c: partition wall,

126d: second part support, 127: guide tube,

130: ink presence detection means, 132: micro switch,

134: warning unit, 140: ink information transmission means,

142: smart chip, 144: adapter,

146: dummy chip, 147: electric wire,

P: Printer.

Claims (4)

The ink transfer needle is connected to the ink storage container or the ink storage pack in which ink for supplying the printer is stored, and transfers the buoyancy of the ink to the first portion through the second portion that rises and falls by the filling level of the ink. An ink cartridge for temporarily charging the ink supplied from the ink reservoir while opening and closing the ink cartridge and supplying the ink to the printer; And And an ink presence detecting means installed at a position adjacent to the second sub-sphere to detect the ink amount fluctuation due to the ink consumption in the ink cartridge and to inform the presence of ink. According to claim 1, wherein the ink presence detection means, A micro switch installed adjacent to the second sub-portion and turned on and off with the second sub-portion, And a warning unit for receiving a contact off signal from the micro switch and displaying a warning signal by a warning lamp or a warning buzzer. The method of claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge, A buoyancy part installed at a position adjacent to the first buoy and lifted and lowered by buoyancy of ink and having a plurality of buoyancy spaces divided by partition walls therein, and fixed to one side of the buoyancy part; And a second buckle support that is formed in a cross-sectional structure bent in a 'shape, and a second buckle support piece supporting the buoyancy of the buoyancy portion by the principle of lever while supporting the second buckle support. Printer ink presence detection device, characterized in that consisting of a guide groove for guiding the electric wire is formed along the second portion and the inner periphery. The method of claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge, And ink information transfer means for transferring the ink information stored in the smart chip disposed on the ink cartridge side to the printer side, The ink information transferring means includes a smart chip storing ink information on the ink cartridge side, an adapter provided on the ink cartridge side and reading ink information stored on the smart chip, and ink information provided on the ink cartridge side. Ink presence detection device, characterized in that consisting of a dummy chip for transmitting to the printer side.

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