WO2013014806A1 - Cartouche de liquide pour dispositif d'éjection de liquide - Google Patents

Cartouche de liquide pour dispositif d'éjection de liquide Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2013014806A1
WO2013014806A1 PCT/JP2011/067821 JP2011067821W WO2013014806A1 WO 2013014806 A1 WO2013014806 A1 WO 2013014806A1 JP 2011067821 W JP2011067821 W JP 2011067821W WO 2013014806 A1 WO2013014806 A1 WO 2013014806A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sensor
output terminal
signal output
external
liquid
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2011/067821
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Mutsumi Otobe
Original Assignee
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha filed Critical Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority to PCT/JP2011/067821 priority Critical patent/WO2013014806A1/fr
Publication of WO2013014806A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013014806A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17526—Electrical contacts to the cartridge
    • B41J2/1753—Details of contacts on the cartridge, e.g. protection of contacts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/1752—Mounting within the printer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17543—Cartridge presence detection or type identification
    • B41J2/17546—Cartridge presence detection or type identification electronically

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a liquid cartridge that accommodates a liquid such as ink, a liquid-ejecting device that includes the liquid cartridge and a device body in which the liquid cartridge is mounted, and a circuit board that can be mounted on the liquid cartridge.
  • a liquid cartridge provided with an ink bag and a coating liquid bag is known in the art (for example, Japanese Patent application Publication No. HEI 7- 52400).
  • Each of the ink bag and the coating liquid bag has an opening that is sealed with a rubber stopper.
  • a hollow ink supply needle and a hollow coating liquid supply needle provided in the printer are inserted respectively through the rubber stoppers in the ink bag and the coating liquid bag.
  • both the ink and the coating liquid can be supplied to the printer through their respective supply needles.
  • the inventors of the present invention concentrated on providing the cartridge with an ink sensor for detecting when the ink supply needle was inserted into the rubber stopper of the ink bag, as well as an ink sensor terminal for externally outputting the signal generated by the ink sensor.
  • the inventors also focused on providing the cartridge with a similar coating liquid sensor and coating liquid sensor terminal. Additionally, the inventors decided to dispose both the ink sensor terminal and the coating liquid sensor terminal in the same location together with an electronic input terminal for supplying power to the sensors.
  • the invention provides a liquid cartridge including: a first accommodating unit that accommodates a recording liquid, a communication between the first accommodating unit and an external being allowed when a first channel formed between the first accommodating unit and the external is opened; a second accommodating unit that accommodates an image-quality improving liquid for improving a quality of an image formed by the recording liquid, a communication between the second accommodating unit and an external being allowed when a second channel formed between the second accommodating unit and the external is opened; a first sensor that generates a first signal that changes based on an opening/closing state of the first channel; a second sensor that generates a second signal that changes based on an opening/closing state of the second channel; and a circuit board including: a first sensor signal output terminal electrically connected to the first sensor to output the first signal to an external; a second sensor signal output terminal electrically connected to the second sensor to output the second signal to an external; a power input terminal through which a driving power is supplied to both the first sensor and the second sensor
  • the first sensor signal output terminal, a second sensor signal output terminal and the power input terminal are arranged in a line.
  • the liquid cartridge further includes a storage unit that stores data.
  • the circuit board further includes: a data output terminal connected to the storage unit to output the data stored in the storage unit to an external; and a data input terminal thorough which data is inputted to the storage unit from an external, the data output terminal and the data input terminal being disposed on the board body.
  • a distance between the data inputting terminal and the power input terminal is greater than a distance between the data outputting terminal and the power input terminal.
  • the liquid cartridge further includes: a third accommodating unit that accommodates a color ink, a communication between the third accommodating unit and an external being allowed when a third channel formed between the third accommodating unit and the external is opened; and a third sensor that generates a third signal that changes based on an opening/closing state of the third channel.
  • the circuit board further includes a third sensor signal output terminal electrically connected to the third sensor to output the third signal to an external, the third signal output terminal being disposed on the board body.
  • the recording liquid is a black ink.
  • a distance between the third sensor signal output terminal and the power input terminal is greater than the distance between the second sensor signal output terminal and the power input terminal, and is smaller than the distance between the first sensor signal output terminal and the power input terminal.
  • the first sensor signal output terminal, the second sensor signal output terminal, the third sensor signal output terminal and the power input terminal are arranged in a line.
  • the first sensor generates the first signal based on a position of a movable object disposed in the first channel
  • the second sensor generates the second signal based on a position of a movable object disposed in the second channel.
  • a liquid cartridge including: a first accommodating unit that accommodates a recording liquid, a communication between the first accommodating unit and an external being allowed when a first channel formed between the first accommodating unit and the external is opened; a second accommodating unit that accommodates an image-quality improving liquid for improving a quality of an image formed by the recording liquid, a communication between the second accommodating unit and an external being allowed when a second channel formed between the second accommodating unit and the external is opened; a first sensor that generates a first signal that changes based on an opening/closing state of the first channel; a second sensor that generates a second signal that changes based on an opening/closing state of the second channel; and a circuit board including: a first sensor signal output terminal electrically connected to the first sensor to output the first signal to an external; a second sensor signal output terminal electrically connected to the second sensor to output the second signal to an external; a power input terminal through which a driving power is supplied to both the first sensor and the second sensor from an external; and
  • the plurality of regions includes a first region on which the first sensor signal output terminal is disposed, a second regions on which the second sensor signal output terminal is disposed, and a third region on which the power input terminal is disposed.
  • the first region and the third region are adjacent to one another, and at least one of the third region and another region is disposed between the first region and the second region.
  • a liquid cartridge including: a first accommodating unit that accommodates a recording liquid, a communication between the first accommodating unit and an external being allowed when a first channel formed between the first accommodating unit and the external is opened; a second accommodating unit that accommodates an image-quality improving liquid for improving a quality of an image formed by the recording liquid, a communication between the second accommodating unit and an external being allowed when a second channel formed between the second accommodating unit and the external is opened; a first sensor that generates a first signal that changes based on an opening/closing state of the first channel; a second sensor that generates a second signal that changes based on an opening/closing state of the second channel; and a circuit board including: a first sensor signal output terminal electrically connected to the first sensor to output the first signal to an external; a second sensor signal output terminal electrically connected to the second sensor to output the second signal to an external; a power input terminal through which a driving power is supplied to both the first sensor and the second sensor from an external; and
  • the plurality of regions includes a first region on which the first sensor signal output terminal is disposed, a second regions on which the second sensor signal output terminal is disposed, and a third region on which the power input terminal is disposed.
  • the first region and the third region are adjacent to one another, and at least one of the third region and another region is disposed between the first region and the second region so as to form the single row together with the first region, the second region, and the third region.
  • a liquid-ejecting device including: a device body; and a liquid cartridge mountable on the liquid cartridge.
  • the device body includes: a first hollow member; a second hollow member; a first inject head that ejects a recording liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge through the first hollow member; a second inject head that ejects an image- quality improving liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge through the second hollow member for improving a quality of an image formed by the recording liquid; a first sensor signal output terminal; a second sensor signal output terminal; a controller electrically connected to the first sensor signal output terminal and the second sensor signal output terminal; a power supply that supplies a driving power; and a power output terminal electrically connected to the power supply.
  • the liquid cartridge includes: a first accommodating unit that accommodates the recording liquid, a communication between the first accommodating unit and an external being allowed when a first channel formed between the first accommodating unit and the external is opened; a second accommodating unit that accommodates the image-quality improving liquid, a communication between the second accommodating unit and an external being allowed when a second channel formed between the second accommodating unit and the external is opened; a first sensor that generates a first signal that changes based on an opening/closing state of the first channel; a second sensor that generates a second signal that changes based on an opening/closing state of the second channel; and a circuit board including: a first sensor signal output terminal electrically connected to the first sensor and contacting the first sensor signal output terminal to output the first signal to the communicating unit; a second sensor signal output terminal electrically connected to the second sensor and contacting the first sensor signal output terminal to output the second signal to the communicating unit; a power input terminal electrically connected to both the first sensor and the second sensor and contacting the power output terminal to supply the driving power to both the first
  • a distance between the first sensor signal output terminal and the power input terminal is greater than a distance between the second sensor signal output terminal and the power input terminal.
  • the controller prevents both the first inject head and the second inject head from ejecting the recording liquid and the image-quality improving liquid, respectively, when determining that a position of the first hollow member in the first channel is abnormal based on the first signal.
  • the controller controls both the first inject head and the second inject head from ejecting the recording liquid and the image-quality improving liquid, respectively, when determining that both the position of the first hollow member in the first channel and a position of the second hollow member are normal based on both the first signal and the second signal.
  • the controller controls the first inject head from ejecting the recording liquid and prevents the second inject head from rejecting the image-quality improving liquid, when determining that the position of the first hollow member in the first channel is normal based on the first signal and the position of the second hollow member is abnormal based on the second signal.
  • the circuit board includes: a first sensor signal output terminal electrically connected to the first sensor to output the first signal to an external; a second sensor signal output terminal electrically connected to the second sensor to output the second signal to an external; a power input terminal through which a driving power is supplied to both the first sensor and the second sensor from an external; and a board body on which the first sensor signal output terminal, the second sensor signal output terminal, and the power input terminal are arranged in a matrix. A distance between the first sensor signal output terminal and the power input terminal is greater than a distance between the second sensor signal output terminal and the power input terminal.
  • the present invention can reduce the occurrence of a short circuit between the first sensor signal output terminal and the power input terminal that could damage the first sensor that detects the first accommodating unit accommodating the main liquid.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a side view illustrating the general internal structure of the printer
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a cartridge according to the preferred embodiment
  • Fig. 4(a) is a schematic diagram showing the general internal structure of the cartridge
  • Fig. 4(b) is an explanation diagram showing the arrangement of a circuit
  • Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in Fig. 4(a);
  • Fig. 6(a) is a partial cross-sectional view of the cartridge taken along the line VI(a)(b)-VI(a)(b) in Fig. 5 when the valve is in a closed state;
  • Fig. 6(b) is a partial cross-sectional view of the cartridge taken along the line VI(a)(b)-VI(a)(b) in Fig. 5 when the valve is in an open state;
  • Fig. 6(c) is a partial cross-sectional view of the cartridge taken along the line VI(c)(d)-VI(c)(d) in Fig. 5 when the valve is in a closed state;
  • Fig. 6(d) is a partial cross-sectional view of the cartridge taken along the line VI(c)(d)-VI(c)(d) in Fig. 5 when the valve is in an open state;
  • Fig. 7(a) is an explanatory diagram showing terminals provided on the cartridge side
  • Fig. 7(b) is an explanatory diagram showing terminals provided on the printer side
  • Fig. 7(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII(c)-VII(c) in
  • Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating the process of mounting the cartridge in the printer
  • Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing the electrical structure of the cartridge and the printer;
  • Fig. 10 is a functional block diagram showing the various unit configured by a controller of the printer;
  • Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating steps in a control process executed by the controller of the printer when the cartridge is mounted in the printer;
  • Fig. 12 is a graph showing the relationship between movement of the valve and the value output from a Hall element in the cartridge
  • Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram for describing the main parts of the present invention.
  • Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing terminals on the cartridge according to a first variation of the preferred embodiment
  • Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing terminals on the cartridge according to a second variation of the preferred embodiment
  • Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing terminals on the cartridge according to a third variation of the preferred embodiment.
  • Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing terminals on the cartridge according to a fourth variation of the preferred embodiment.
  • Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a cartridge according to a fifth variation of the preferred embodiment.
  • Fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing terminals on the cartridge according to the fifth variation of the preferred embodiment.
  • Fig. 20 is a plan view illustrating an adapter-type circuit board according to a sixth variation of the preferred embodiment.
  • Fig. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the terminals on a cartridge connected to the adapter-type circuit.
  • inkjet printer 1 First, the general structure of an inkjet printer 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1.
  • the following inkjet printer 1 is the preferred embodiment of the liquid-ejecting device according to the present invention.
  • the inkjet printer 1 has a casing la formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.
  • a paper discharge unit 31 is provided on a top plate constituting the casing la.
  • Three openings lOd, 10b, and 10c are formed in order from top to bottom in the front surface of the casing la (a surface on the near left side in Fig. 1).
  • the opening 10b is provided for inserting a sheet-feeding unit lb into the casing la, while the opening 10c is formed for inserting a cartridge unit lc into the casing la.
  • a door Id is fitted into the opening lOd and is capable of pivoting about a horizontal axis passing through its lower edge.
  • the door Id is provided in the casing la at a position confronting a conveying unit 21 described later (see Fig. 2) in a main scanning direction of the inkjet printer 1 (a direction orthogonal to the front surface of the casing la).
  • the interior of the casing la is partitioned into three spaces A, B, and C in order from top to bottom.
  • an inkjet head 2 A and a coating head 2B (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "heads 2") for respectively ejecting black ink and a pretreatment liquid (hereinafter collectively referred to as "liquids"); a conveying unit 21 that conveys sheets of a paper P; and a controller 100 that controls operations of various components in the inkjet printer 1.
  • the sheet-feeding unit lb is disposed in the space B, and the cartridge unit lc is disposed in the space C.
  • a paper- conveying path is also formed in the inkjet printer 1 for guiding sheets of paper P conveyed from the sheet-feeding unit lb to the paper discharge unit 31.
  • the controller 100 includes a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM; including nonvolatile RAM), and an interface.
  • ROM stores programs executed by the CPU, various fixed data, and the like.
  • RAM temporarily stores data (image data and the like) required by the CPU when executing programs.
  • the controller 100 exchanges data with a memory unit 141 and a Hall element 71 of a cartridge 40 described later and exchanges data with external devices, such as a PC connected to the inkjet printer 1.
  • the sheet-feeding unit lb includes a paper tray 23, and a feeding roller 25.
  • the paper tray 23 can be mounted in and removed from the casing la in the main scanning direction.
  • the paper tray 23 is box-shaped with an open top and can accommodate sheets of paper P in a variety of sizes.
  • the feeding roller 25 is driven to rotate by a feeding motor 125 (see Fig. 9) under control of the controller 100 in order to feed the topmost sheet of paper P in the paper tray 23.
  • a sheet fed by the feeding roller 25 is guided along guides 27a and 27b, and a pair of conveying rollers 26 grip and convey the sheet to the conveying unit 21.
  • the conveying unit 21 includes two belt rollers 6 and 7 and an endless conveying belt 8 looped around the belt rollers 6 and 7 and stretched therebetween.
  • the belt roller 7 is the drive roller.
  • a conveying motor 127 (see Fig. 9) coupled with a shaft of the belt roller 7 drives the belt roller 7 to rotate clockwise in Fig. 2 under control of the controller 100.
  • the belt roller 6 is a follow roller that rotates clockwise in Fig. 2 when the conveying belt 8 is circulated by the belt roller 7.
  • a platen 19 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape is disposed within the loop of the conveying belt 8 at a position opposite the two heads 2 and supports the upper loop portion of the conveying belt 8 so that an outer surface 8a on the upper loop portion is maintained parallel to bottom surfaces 2a of the heads 2, with a gap of a prescribed distance formed between the bottom surfaces 2a and the outer surface 8a.
  • the bottom surfaces 2a of the heads 2 are ejection surfaces on which are formed a plurality of ejection holes for ejecting liquid.
  • the outer surface 8a of the conveying belt 8 is coated with mildly adhesive silicone.
  • a nip roller 4 disposed above the belt roller 6 holds the sheet against the outer surface 8a of the conveying belt 8.
  • the conveying belt 8 conveys the sheet in a sub scanning direction indicated by the bold arrows, while the sheet is held on the outer surface 8a by its adhesive coating.
  • the sub scanning direction is parallel to the direction that the conveying unit 21 conveys the paper P.
  • the main scanning direction follows a horizontal plane orthogonal to the sub scanning direction.
  • the controller 100 sequentially controls the heads 2 to eject liquid droplets (black ink droplets and, depending on the situation, pretreatment liquid droplets) through the bottom surfaces 2a of the heads 2 onto the top surface of the paper P, thereby recording a desired image on the paper P.
  • a separating plate 5 disposed above the belt roller 7 separates the sheet from the outer surface 8a of the conveying belt 8 after the sheet has passed beneath the heads 2.
  • Guides 29a and 29b disposed downstream of the separating plate 5 guide the sheet upward toward an opening 30 formed in the top of the casing la, while two pairs of conveying rollers 28 grip and convey the sheet toward and through the opening 30 and discharge the sheet into the paper discharge unit 31.
  • a feeding motor 128 (see Fig. 9) controlled by the controller 100 drives one of the conveying rollers 28 in each pair to rotate.
  • Each of the heads 2 is a line-type print head elongated in the main scanning direction. Externally, the inkjet head 2 is shaped substantially like a rectangular parallelepiped. The two heads 2 are juxtaposed at a prescribed pitch in the sub scanning direction and are supported in the casing la on a frame 3. Although not shown in the drawings, a joint is provided on the top surface of each head 2 for attaching a flexible tube. A plurality of ejection holes is formed in the bottom surface 2a of each head 2. An ink channel is formed in each head 2 for conveying a liquid supplied from a corresponding reservoir 42 of a cartridge 40 described later to the ejection holes through the flexible tubes and joints.
  • the coating head 2B for ejecting pretreatment liquid is disposed farther upstream in the paper-conveying direction than the inkjet head 2 A for ejecting black ink.
  • the pretreatment liquid functions to enhance ink densities (improve the density of ink ejected onto the paper P), to prevent ink bleeding and bleed-through (a phenomenon in which ink impacting the surface of the paper P penetrates the thickness of the paper P and bleeds through to the back surface), to improve ink color reproducibility and speed up drying, and to suppress wrinkling and curling of the paper P after ink impact, for example.
  • a pretreatment liquid are liquids containing cationic polymers or multivalent metal salts such as magnesium salts.
  • the cartridge unit lc includes a cartridge tray 35, and a single cartridge 40 disposed inside the cartridge tray 35. With the cartridge 40 disposed inside the cartridge tray 35, the cartridge tray 35 can be mounted in and removed from the casing la in the main scanning direction. Accordingly, the user of the inkjet printer 1 can replace the cartridge 40 after removing the cartridge tray 35 from the casing la.
  • the cartridge 40 has two reservoirs 42 (see Fig. 4(a)) respectively accommodating the black ink and the pretreatment liquid. The liquids accommodated in the reservoirs 42 are supplied to the corresponding heads 2 via the corresponding flexible tubes and joints.
  • the cartridge 40 includes a case 41, a black ink unit 40B for black ink, a pretreatment liquid unit 40P for the pretreatment liquid, a memory unit 141 (see Fig. 9), and a circuit board 142 (see Fig. 7(a)).
  • the units 40B and 40P have the same structure. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 4(a) and 5(a)-5(d), each of the units 40B and 40P includes a reservoir 42, an ink delivery tube 43, a stopper 50, a valve 60, and a sensor unit 70.
  • the case 41 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.
  • the interior of the case 41 is partitioned into two chambers 41a and 41b.
  • the reservoirs 42 for both of the units 40B and 40P are disposed in the right chamber 41a, while the ink delivery tubes 43 of the units 40B and 40P are disposed in the left chamber 41b.
  • a recessed part 41c is formed in the outer surface of a side wall defining the left chamber 41b at the downstream end of the case 41 with respect to the direction that the cartridge 40 is mounted into the space C (see Fig. 2; hereinafter referred to as the "mounting direction").
  • the mounting direction is parallel to the main scanning direction.
  • the reservoir 42 is a baglike member for accommodating a liquid.
  • the reservoir 42 of the black ink unit 40B accommodates black ink
  • the reservoir 42 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P accommodates pretreatment liquid.
  • Each reservoir 42 has an opening 42a formed in the left end in Fig. 4.
  • the ink delivery tube 43 has a base end 43 c that is connected to the opening in the corresponding reservoir 42. As shown in Figs.
  • the ink delivery tube 43 also has a distal end 43d that protrudes out of the case 41.
  • an opening 43b is formed in the distal end 43d of the ink delivery tube 43.
  • the stopper 50 is formed of a rubber or other elastic member and is fitted into the opening 43b of the distal end 43d in a compressed state.
  • a cap 46 is fitted over the outside of this distal end 43d of the ink delivery tube 43 and the stopper 50.
  • a hole 46a is formed in the center of the cap 46, exposing a portion of the stopper 50.
  • a supply channel 43a is formed inside the ink delivery tube 43 for supplying liquid accommodated in the reservoir 42 to the corresponding head 2.
  • Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the region X in Fig. 4(a) taken along the line V-V.
  • Fig. 6(a) is a partial cross- sectional view of the cartridge taken along the line VI(a)(b)-VI(a)(b) in Fig. 5 when the valve is in a closed state.
  • Fig. 6(b) is a partial cross-sectional view of the cartridge taken along the line VI(a)(b)-VI(a)(b) in Fig. 5 when the valve is in an open state.
  • Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the region X in Fig. 4(a) taken along the line V-V.
  • Fig. 6(a) is a partial cross- sectional view of the cartridge taken along the line VI(a)(b)-VI(a)(b) in Fig. 5 when the valve is in a closed state.
  • Fig. 6(b) is a partial cross-sectional view of the cartridge taken
  • FIG. 6(c) is a partial cross-sectional view of the cartridge taken along the line VI(c)(d)- VI(c)(d) in Fig. 5 when the valve is in a closed state.
  • Fig. 6(d) is a partial cross- sectional view of the cartridge taken along the line VI(c)(d)-VI(c)(d) in Fig. 5 when the valve is in an open state.
  • the valve 60 is disposed in the supply channel 43 a.
  • the valve 60 includes an O-ring 61 , and a valve body 62.
  • the valve body 62 is a columnar- shaped magnetic body with its axis extending in the sub scanning direction.
  • the portion of the ink delivery tube 43 forming the supply channel 43a is cylindrical in shape, with flattened top and bottom walls.
  • a cross section of the ink delivery tube 43 taken orthogonal to the sub scanning direction is elongated in the main scanning direction.
  • One protrusion 43p is formed on each inner side wall of the ink delivery tube 43 with respect to the main scanning direction and protrudes inward in the main scanning direction.
  • the valve body 62 is positioned in the center of the supply channel 43a in a cross-sectional view, held between the protrusions 43p and the top and bottom walls of the ink delivery tube 43.
  • the valve body 62 can move in the sub scanning direction.
  • the protrusions 43p extend in the sub scanning direction over the range in which the valve body 62 moves.
  • Figs. 6(a) and 6(c) show the state of the valve 60 when the channel 43e is not in external communication
  • Figs. 6(b) and 6(d) show the state of the valve 60 when the channel 43e is in external communication.
  • the O-ring 61 is formed of a rubber or other elastic material and is fixed to the front surface (the surface opposing the stopper 50) of the valve body 62.
  • a coil spring 63 is provided for urging the valve 60 toward an opening 43 y formed in the end of the ink delivery tube 43 nearest the stopper 50.
  • One end of the coil spring 63 is fixed to a fixing part 43f that protrudes inward from the base end 43 c of the ink delivery tube 43, while the other end contacts the rear surface of the valve body 62 (i.e., the surface opposing the base end 43c of the ink delivery tube 43).
  • the outlet tube 43 has a diameter-restricting part 43x near the distal end of the outlet tube 43 forming an inward step in the wall that serves as a valve seat 43z.
  • the valve seat 43z is the portion of the diameter-restricting part 43 x that protrudes radially inward.
  • the opening 43 y in the narrowest portion of the diameter-restricting part 43x has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the outlet path 43a on the base end side of the diameter-restricting part 43x.
  • the coil spring 63 urges the valve body 62 toward the stopper 50 so that the O-ring 61 contacts the valve seat 43 z of the diameter-restricting part 43x and seals the opening 43y. Consequently, the O-ring 61 interrupts external communication with the channel 43e, as shown in Fig. 6(c). Further, the O-ring 61 is elastically deformed by the urging force of the coil spring 63. However, when the valve 60 is in the open position shown in Fig. 6(b) and 6(d), the O- ring 61 no longer contacts the valve seat 43 z, allowing external communication with the channel 43e, as shown in Fig. 6(d).
  • the sensor unit 70 includes a Hall element 71 and a magnet 72.
  • the Hall element 71 is a magnetic sensor that detects a magnetic field and converts this magnetic field to an electric signal. As shown in Fig. 6(a), the Hall element 71 is disposed at a position for detecting the magnetic field produced by the magnet 72 and valve body 62.
  • the Hall element 71 and magnet 72 are respectively fixed in the upper and lower walls of the ink delivery tube 43 and oppose each other vertically.
  • the Hall element 71 and magnet 72 need not be disposed in the upper and lower walls of the ink delivery tube 43, provided that the Hall element 71 can detect a magnetic field produced by the magnet 72 and valve body 62.
  • the Hall element 71 and magnet 72 may be fixed to the outer surfaces of the upper and lower walls.
  • valve 60 when the valve 60 is shifted from its closed position shown in Fig. 6(a) to its open position shown in Fig. 6(b), i.e., when the valve body 62 is in a position not vertically confronting the Hall element 71 and magnet 72 (a position not between the Hall element 71 and magnet 72), the magnetic field detected by the Hall element 71 increases, reducing the voltage indicated by the signal produced by the Hall element 71.
  • the controller 100 determines whether the valve 60 is in the open position or the closed position based on the specified voltage.
  • the circuit board 142 is disposed on a bottom surface 41cl of the recessed part 41c.
  • the memory unit 141 is disposed on the underside of the circuit board 142.
  • the memory unit 141 is configured of EEPROM or the like and functions to store data related to the cartridge 40. More specifically, the memory unit 141 is preloaded with data specifying liquid capacities (the liquid capacity of each reservoir 42 in a new cartridge 40), sensor output values (values Vmax and Vmin outputted from each Hall element 71; see Fig. 12), the manufactured date (date on which the cartridge 40 was manufactured), and the like. Further, when the cartridge 40 is mounted in the inkjet printer 1, the controller 100 can write data to the memory unit 141 and read data stored in the memory unit 141.
  • Examples of data that the controller 100 might write to the memory unit 141 include liquid usage (the quantity of liquid used from each reservoir 42; i.e., the amount of liquid ejected from each head 2), needle insertion numbers (the number of times hollow needles 153 described later were inserted through the corresponding stoppers 50), number of recorded pages (number of sheets of paper P recorded using liquid in the cartridge 40), and cumulative usage time (total time that the cartridge 40 has been mounted in the inkjet printer 1 ; i.e., the time during which the hollow needles 153 have been inserted into the corresponding supply channels 43a.
  • liquid usage the quantity of liquid used from each reservoir 42; i.e., the amount of liquid ejected from each head 2
  • needle insertion numbers the number of times hollow needles 153 described later were inserted through the corresponding stoppers 50
  • number of recorded pages number of sheets of paper P recorded using liquid in the cartridge 40
  • cumulative usage time total time that the cartridge 40 has been mounted in the inkjet printer 1 ; i.e.
  • the circuit board 142 includes a board body 142a having eight regions 161-168, and eight terminals 170c-177c provided in eight regions 161-168, respectively.
  • the terminals 170c- 177c all have the same size and shape and are exposed on the outer surface of the cartridge 40.
  • the terminals 170c- 177c are rectangular in shape with their two parallel short sides aligned in the sub scanning direction and their two parallel long sides aligned with the vertical.
  • the circuit board 142 is disposed on the bottom surface 41cl of the recessed part 41c to position the eight terminals 170c- 177c inside the outer surface of the cartridge 40 in the casing 41.
  • the terminals 170c- 177c are arranged in a matrix having two rows.
  • the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c is electrically connected to the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B, while the second sensor signal output terminal (SP) 171c is electrically connected to the Hall element 71 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P.
  • the data output terminal (DO) 172c and the data input terminal (DI) 173c are electrically connected to the memory unit 141.
  • the power input terminal (V) 174c is electrically connected to both Hall elements 71 and the memory unit 141.
  • the three ground terminals (G) 175c, 176c, and 177c are respectively connected to the memory unit 141, the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B, and the Hall element 71 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P.
  • a circuit board 182 is provided on one of the wall surfaces of the casing la defining the space C, and specifically a wall surface orthogonal to the mounting direction (main scanning direction).
  • the circuit board 182 is approximately the same size as the circuit board 142 and is disposed in a position on the casing la that opposes the circuit board 142 when the cartridge 40 is mounted in a prescribed position within the space C (see Fig. 8(b)).
  • a base material 201 is provided on the surface of the circuit board 182.
  • Eight terminals 170p-l 77p corresponding to the eight terminals 170c- 177c are provided on the base material 201.
  • the terminals 170p-177p are each configured of a leaf spring that is substantially C-shaped in cross section.
  • Each of the terminals 170p-177p has a fixed end 205 that is fixed to the circuit board 182, and a free end 203 that is urged upward in Fig. 7(c) (i.e., toward the terminals 170c- 177c of the cartridge 40 mounted in a prescribed position within the space C).
  • the free end 203 can bend about a support part 204.
  • the terminals 170p-177p are arranged in a pattern that mirrors the pattern of the terminals 170c- 177c shown in Fig. 7(a).
  • crown parts 202 constituting the topmost parts of the terminals 170p-177p in Fig. 7(c) contact the sensors of the corresponding terminals 170c- 177c.
  • the first sensor signal receiving terminal (SB) 170p, the second sensor signal receiving terminal (SP) 171p, the data receiving terminal (DO) 172p, and the data transmitting terminal (DI) 173p are electrically connected to the controller 100.
  • the power output terminal (V) 174p is electrically connected to a power supply 158 disposed in the casing la.
  • the three ground terminals (G) 175p, 176p, and 177p are all grounded.
  • the terminals 170c- 177c are not electrically connected to the terminals 170p-177p before the cartridge 40 is mounted in the inkjet printer 1. Therefore, the controller 100 on the inkjet printer 1 side is incapable of exchanging signals with the Hall elements 71 and the memory unit 141 on the cartridge 40 side at this time.
  • the user of the inkjet printer 1 places the cartridge 40 in the cartridge tray 35 (see Fig. 2) and subsequently inserts the cartridge tray 35 into the space C of the casing la by moving the cartridge tray 35 in the main scanning direction indicated by the white arrow in Fig. 8(a).
  • the cartridge 40 is inserted to a position at which the terminals 170c- 177c contact the corresponding terminals 170p-177p, as shown in Fig. 8(b).
  • the crown parts 202 of the terminals in the top row are positioned slightly lower than the positions shown in Fig. 7(b), while the crown parts 202 of the terminals in the bottom row (the terminals 176p, 173p, 172p, and 177p) are positioned slightly higher than the positions shown in Fig. 7(b).
  • all of the crown parts 202 slide into the positions shown in Fig. 7(b) when the free ends 203 flex during mounting.
  • the regions in which the crown parts 202 of the terminals 170p-177p contact the terminals 170c- 177c include the center points of the terminals 170c- 177c.
  • the power supply 158 is capable of supplying power to the Hall elements 71 and memory unit 141 via the power output terminal (V) 174p and power input terminal (V) 174c.
  • the controller 100 is capable of receiving a signal from the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B via the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and first sensor signal receiving terminal (SB) 170p; capable of receiving a signal from the Hall element 71 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P via the second sensor signal output terminal (SP) 171c and second sensor signal receiving terminal (SP) 171p; capable of acquiring data from the memory unit 141 via the data output terminal (DO) 172c and data receiving terminal (DO) 172p; and capable of writing data to the memory unit 141 via the data input terminal (DI) 173 c and data transmitting terminal (DI) 173p.
  • DI data input terminal
  • a support body 154 is disposed on a wall surface of the casing la defining the space C that opposes the two caps 46 when the cartridge 40 is mounted in a prescribed position within the space C.
  • the support body 154 supports two hollow needles 153 and is capable of moving in the sub scanning direction relative to the casing la.
  • the two hollow needles 153 correspond to the two heads 2 for ejecting black ink and pretreatment liquid, respectively, and are in fluid communication with flexible tubes attached to the joints of the corresponding heads 2.
  • the corresponding valves 60 can be moved to their open positions (see Figs. 5(b) and 5(d)) for supplying liquid to the corresponding heads 2.
  • a mounting detection switch 159 (see Fig. 9) is provided on a wall surface of the casing la defining the space C that is orthogonal to the mounting direction (near the circuit board 182, for example).
  • the mounting detection switch 159 has a protruding shape for detecting when the cartridge 40 has been mounted to the prescribed position in the space C.
  • the mounting detection switch 159 is in a protruded state prior to the cartridge 40 being mounted in the space C.
  • the mounting detection switch 159 is pressed by the case 41 of the cartridge 40 and retracts into the wall surface.
  • the mounting detection switch 159 outputs an OFF signal to the controller 100 when in the protruded state and outputs an ON signal to the controller 100 when retracted into the wall surface.
  • the controller 100 operates as communication unit for communicating with the cartridge 40 mounted in the space C, as well as various other unit corresponding to the steps in Fig. 11.
  • the controller 100 determines that the cartridge 40 has been mounted in the prescribed position within the space C based on the signal received from the mounting detection switch 159. If the controller 100 determines that the cartridge 40 has been mounted in the prescribed position (SI : YES), in S2 the controller 100 stores the current time (mounting time) in its RAM. In S3 the controller 100 reads the data stored in the memory unit 141 of the cartridge 40, the data including such information as the liquid capacities, sensor output values, manufactured date, liquid usages, needle insertion numbers, number of printed pages, and accumulated usage time.
  • the controller 100 determines whether there were any reading abnormalities in S3. If the controller 100 determines that the reading was not performed normally (S4: YES), then in S5 the controller 100 issues an error notification to the user through an output device 160 (see Fig. 9) of the inkjet printer 1, such as a display or a speaker, and in S6 halts operations of the components in the inkjet printer 1. Reading errors that occur at this time may be caused by damage to the memory unit 141 due to a short circuit between the data output terminal (DO) 172c and power input terminal (V) 174c or a problem in the communication function of the controller 100 due to a short circuit between the data input terminal (DI) 173 c and power input terminal (V) 174c.
  • DO data output terminal
  • V power input terminal
  • controller 100 determines that reading was performed normally (S4: NO)
  • the controller 100 controls a moving mechanism 155 (see Fig. 9) to begin moving the support body 154 and the hollow needles 153 supported by the support body 154 in the sub scanning direction indicated by the black arrow in Fig. 8(c).
  • the hollow needles 153 first penetrate the corresponding holes 46a of the caps 46 and the approximate centers of the stoppers 50 in the corresponding units 40B and 40P in the main scanning direction. When the hollow needles 153 are inserted until a hole 153b formed in the distal end of each hollow needle 153 is positioned inside the corresponding supply channel 43a, a channel 153a formed in the hollow needle 153 is in communication with the supply channel 43a via the hole 153b.
  • the elasticity of the stopper 50 allows the region of the stopper 50 surrounding the hole to form a tight seal with the outer surface of the hollow needle 153, thereby preventing ink from leaking out through the hole between the stopper 50 and hollow needle 153.
  • each hollow needle 153 contacts the corresponding valve body 62 and continues inward into the supply channel 43a, pushing the valve body 62 also inward.
  • the O-ring 61 moves together with the valve body 62 and separates from the valve seat 43z (see Figs. 6(b) and 6(d)).
  • the valve 60 shifts from the closed position to the open position, allowing external communication with the reservoir 42 via the channel 43e.
  • the controller 100 receives signals from the Hall elements 71 in the units 40B and 40P. In S9 the controller 100 determines whether the valve 60 of the black ink unit 40B is in the open position (i.e., whether communication has been established between the reservoir 42 of the black ink unit 40B and the corresponding head 2) based on the output values Vmax and Vmin read from the memory unit 141 in S3 and the signal received in S8.
  • the controller 100 determines in S9 that the valve 60 has not shifted to the open position (S9: NO)
  • the controller 100 determines whether a prescribed time has elapsed. While the prescribed time has not elapsed (S10: NO), the controller 100 repeats the process in S8 and S9 described above. However, if the prescribed time elapses before the valve 60 is shifted to the open position (S10: YES), in S5 the controller 100 issues an error notification and in S6 halts operations of the components in the inkjet printer 1.
  • An error occurring in this case may be caused by damage to the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B due to a short circuit between the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and power input terminal (V) 174c or a malfunction of the communication function in the controller 100 due to a short circuit between the data input terminal (DI) 173c and power input terminal (V) 174c.
  • an error may result from a malfunction of the stopper 50 or valve 60 of the black ink unit 40B, the hollow needle 1 3 corresponding to the black ink unit 40B or moving mechanism 155 of the inkjet printer 1, or the like.
  • the controller 100 determines in S9 that the valve 60 of the black ink unit 40B is disposed in the open position (S9: YES)
  • SI 1 the controller 100 determines whether the valve 60 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P is disposed in the open position (i.e., whether communication has been established between the reservoir 42 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P and the corresponding head 2).
  • the graph in Fig. 12 shows the relationship between movement of the valve 60 and the output value from the Hall element 71.
  • the horizontal axis in the graph denotes the distance over which the valve 60 has moved away from the stopper 50 in the sub scanning direction from its closed position shown in Figs. 6(a) and 6(c).
  • Vmax and Vmin are values outputted from the Hall element 71 when the valve 60 is in the closed position and open position, respectively, and when a prescribed drive voltage is applied to the Hall element 71.
  • Vt (Vmax + Vmin)/2)
  • the inkjet printer 1 has two recording modes: a normal mode for recording an image by ejecting black ink and pretreatment liquid from the two corresponding heads 2, and a pretreatment-free mode for recording by ejecting only black ink from the corresponding head 2 while not ejecting pretreatment liquid.
  • terminals in the preferred embodiment are arranged as shown in Fig. 7(a), with greater priority on preventing damage to the inkjet printer 1 of the black ink unit 40B than preventing damage to the Hall element 71 of the pretreatment liquid unit 40P.
  • the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c may be damaged if a short circuit were to occur between the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and power input terminal (V) 174c. Therefore, the terminals in the preferred embodiment are arranged so that the shortest distance yO between the outer edges of the terminals 170c and 174c is greater than the shortest distance yl between the outer edges of the terminals 171c and 174c, as shown in Fig. 7(a), to prevent a short circuit from occurring between the terminals 170c and 174c that could damage the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B.
  • the terminals on the cartridge 40 and the terminals in the casing la are designed always to contact each other in the center regions (i.e., the centers constitute the contact parts). Accordingly, the terminals of the preferred embodiment are arranged such that the distance xO between centers of the terminals 170c and 174c is greater than the distance xl between the centers of the terminals 171c and 174c, as shown in Fig. 7(a). This arrangement prevents a short circuit between the terminals 170c and 174c that can cause damage to the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B.
  • the memory unit 141 could become damaged if a short circuit occurred between the data output terminal (DO) 172c and power input terminal (V) 174c, while the controller 100 could become damaged if a short circuit occurred between the data input terminal (DI) 173 c and power input terminal (V) 174c.
  • the cost of parts replacement is greater in the latter case than the former case. Therefore, the terminals in the preferred embodiment are arranged so that the shortest distance y3 between outer edges of the data input terminal (DI) 173 c and power input terminal (V) 174c is greater than the shortest distance y2 between the outer edges of the data output terminal (DO) 172c and power input terminal (V) 174c, as shown in Fig. 7(a). This arrangement prevents damage to the controller 100 caused by a short circuit between the data input terminal (DI) 173 c and power input terminal (V) 174c.
  • the controller 100 writes data to the memory unit 141 indicating the number of hollow needle insertions in S3 incremented by 1.
  • the controller 100 determines whether a print command was received from an external device.
  • the controller 100 drives the feeding motor 125, conveying motor 127, feeding motor 128, heads 2, and the like to record one page worth of a sheet of paper P in the mode selected in S12 or S14.
  • the controller 100 calculates the quantity of liquid usage for printing one page worth of paper P (i.e., the quantities of black ink and pretreatment liquid that will be ejected onto a sheet of paper P for one page worth).
  • the controller 100 writes data to the memory unit 141 indicating the usage amount for each liquid (the amount of liquid used in each reservoir 42 since the cartridge 40 was new; i.e., a value obtained by adding the liquid usage for one page worth calculated in SI 8 to the liquid usage read in S3) and the number of printed pages (the number of sheets of paper P recorded using the cartridge 40 since the cartridge 40 was new; i.e., a value obtained by incrementing the number of printed sheets read in S3 by 1).
  • the controller 100 determines whether any abnormalities occurred when writing in SI 9. If writing was not performed normally (S20: YES), in S5 the controller 100 issues an error notification and in S6 halts operations of the components in the inkjet printer 1. An error that occurs in this situation is likely caused by damage to the memory unit 141 due to a short circuit between the data output terminal (DO) 172c and power input terminal (V) 174c or a problem with the communication function of the controller 100 due to a short circuit between the data input terminal (DI) 173c and power input terminal (V) 174c.
  • DO data output terminal
  • V power input terminal
  • the inkjet printer 1 also possesses a locking mechanism (not shown) for locking the cartridge 40.
  • the controller 100 determines in SI that a cartridge 40 has been mounted in the prescribed position within the space C (SI : YES)
  • the controller 100 drives the locking mechanism at the same time the process in S2 is performed, for example, in order to lock the cartridge 40 together with the cartridge tray 35 in the prescribed position.
  • the controller 100 controls the moving mechanism 155 (see Fig. 9) to move the support body 154 in the direction opposite the direction indicated by the black arrow in Fig. 8(c), returning the support body 154 from the position shown in Fig. 8(c) to the position shown in Fig. 8(b).
  • the urging force of the corresponding coil springs 63 moves the valves 60 leftward in Fig. 6(b) until the valves 60 contact the valve seats 43z, thereby moving the valves 60 from their open positions to their closed positions.
  • the controller 100 determines that the corresponding valve 60 has switched to the closed position and calculates the cumulative usage time based on the current time (i.e., removal time) and the mounting time stored in S2 (i.e., the duration from the mounting time to the removal time).
  • the controller 100 also writes data to the memory unit 141 indicating a value obtained by adding the cumulative usage time read in S3 to the cumulative usage time calculated above (i.e., the cumulative usage time in which the cartridge 40 has been mounted in the inkjet printer 1 since the cartridge 40 was new).
  • the hollow needles 153 are extracted from the stoppers 50. Further, the portion of each stopper 50 surrounded by the hole formed by the hollow needle 153 springs back to its original state due to the elasticity of the stopper 50, reducing the hole sufficiently to suppress ink leakage.
  • the controller 100 drives the locking mechanism in order to release the lock on the cartridge 40, enabling the user to remove the cartridge tray 35 from the space C.
  • the circuit board 142 separates from the circuit board 182, disconnecting the terminals 170c- 177c from the terminals 170p-177p. Accordingly, the controller 100 can no longer exchange signals with the Hall elements 71 and memory unit 141.
  • the controller 100 displays values on the display of the inkjet printer 1 indicating the residual quantity of each liquid. These values are calculated by subtracting the liquid usage quantities written to the memory unit 141 in S19 from the liquid capacities read in S3.
  • the terminals in the preferred embodiment are arranged as shown in Fig. 7(a) so that the shortest distance yO between the outer edges of the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and power input terminal (V) 174c is greater than the shortest distance yl between the outer edges of the second sensor signal output terminal (SP) 171c and power input terminal (V) 174c.
  • This arrangement prevents short circuiting between the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and power input terminal (V) 174c that can damage the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B.
  • the terminals in the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 7(a) are arranged such that the distance xO between the centers of the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and power input terminal (V) 174c is greater than the distance xl between the centers of the second sensor signal output terminal (SP) 171c and power input terminal (V) 174c.
  • This arrangement prevents short circuiting between the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and the power input terminal (V) 174c that can damage the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B.
  • the terminals in the preferred embodiment are arranged such that the shortest distance y3 between the outer edges of the data input terminal (DI) 173c and power input terminal (V) 174c is greater than the shortest distance y2 between the outer edges of the data output terminal (DO) 172c and power input terminal (V) 174c. This arrangement prevents short circuiting between the data input terminal (DI) 173 c and power input terminal (V) 174c that can damage the controller 100.
  • the terminals in the preferred embodiment are arranged such that the distance x3 between the centers of the data input terminal (DI) 173c and power input terminal (V) 174c is greater than the distance x2 between the data output terminal (DO) 172c and power input terminal (V) 174c. This arrangement prevents short circuiting between the data input terminal (DI) 173 c and power input terminal (V) 174c that could damage the controller 100.
  • the terminals in the preferred embodiment are arranged such that the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c is not adjacent to the power input terminal (V) 174c. This arrangement prevents short circuiting between the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and power input terminal (V) 174c that can cause damage to the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B.
  • the terminals are arranged such that the region 162 that includes the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and the region 164 that includes the power input terminal (V) 174c are not adjacent to each other vertically or in the sub scanning direction (i.e., another region is interposed between these two regions) and the region 163 that includes the second sensor signal output terminal (SP) 171c and the region 164 that includes the power input terminal (V) 174c are adjacent to each other, as shown in Fig. 7(a).
  • This arrangement prevents short circuiting between the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and power input terminal (V) 174c that could cause damage to the Hall element 71 of the black ink unit 40B.
  • the main parts of the present invention denote parts that have potential for contacting corresponding terminals provided on the casing la and in general apply to all terminals in the preferred embodiment.
  • a line-shaped extension part 170cl is added to the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c, as shown in Fig. 13, so as to extend close to the power input terminal (V) 174c, the portion of the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c excluding the extension part 170cl corresponds to a main part of the present invention.
  • the mounting detection unit Ml corresponds to SI
  • the reading unit M2 corresponds to S3
  • the read abnormality determining unit M3 corresponds to S4
  • the notifying unit M4 corresponds to S5
  • the ejection preventing unit M5 corresponds to S6
  • the moving unit M6 corresponds to S7
  • the first and second receiving unit M7 corresponds to S8
  • the first reception abnormality determining unit M8B corresponds to S9 and S10
  • the second reception abnormality determining unit M8P corresponds to Sl l and SI 3
  • the mode selecting unit M8E corresponds to S12 and SI 4
  • the writing unit M9 corresponds to S15 and SI 9
  • the write abnormality determining unit M10 corresponds to S20
  • the print controlling unit Mi l corresponds to S17
  • the communication determining unit M12 corresponds to S9 and Sl l.
  • the ground terminal 176c may be omitted from the terminals 170c- 177c in Fig. 7(a), as shown in Fig. 14, or both the ground terminals 175c and 176c may be omitted from the terminals 170c- 177c in Fig. 7(a), as shown in Fig. 15.
  • the above structures can prevent short-circuiting between the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and power input terminal (V) 174c and between the data input terminal (DI) 173 c and power input terminal (V) 174c as in the preferred embodiment described above.
  • this structure can prevent short-circuiting between the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and power input terminal (V) 174c as in the preferred embodiment described above. Further, combining the data output terminal (DO) and the data input terminal (DI) into the same terminal 574c simplifies the structure of the terminals and their wiring.
  • the terminals 170c- 177c in Fig. 7(a) may also be arranged in a single row rather than two rows, as shown in Fig. 17.
  • This structure can also prevent short- circuiting between the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and power input terminal (V) 174c and between the data input terminal (DI) 173 c and power input terminal (V) 174c, as in the preferred embodiment described above.
  • the structure in Fig. 17 shows only a single ground terminal (G), the structure may include two or more ground terminals (G).
  • the cartridge 40 may be additionally provided with a color ink unit 40C.
  • a third sensor signal output terminal (SC) 178c may be added to the circuit board 142 and electrically connected to the Hall element 71 of the color ink unit 40C, as shown in Fig. 19.
  • the color ink unit 40C has a similar structure to the units 40B and 40P, with a reservoir 42, ink delivery tube 43, stopper 50, valve 60, sensor unit 70, and the like.
  • the reservoir 42 of the color ink unit 40C accommodates color ink (ink of the color magenta, cyan, yellow, or another desired color).
  • the cartridge 40 may be provided with three color ink units 40C corresponding to each of the three colors magenta, cyan, and yellow.
  • the printer in which the cartridge 40 in Fig. 18 is mounted has an additional head 2 for the color ink unit 40C; that is, a head 2 to which color ink is supplied from the reservoir 42 in the color ink unit 40C.
  • the third sensor signal output terminal (SC) 178c is disposed in a region 760 of the circuit board 142 in which the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c is disposed in Fig. 7(a), and the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c is disposed in the region that is provided with the ground terminal 175c in the preferred embodiment.
  • this structure can prevent a short circuit between the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and power input terminal (V) 174c.
  • terminals and the circuit board in the casing la of the variation described above are configured to correspond to the terminals and the circuit board on the cartridge 40.
  • an adapter-type circuit board 242 may be detachably mounted on the cartridge 40, as shown in Fig. 20.
  • the terminals provided on a surface 242a of the adapter-type circuit board 242 that connects to the inkjet printer 1 may be arranged as described in the preferred embodiment (as shown in Fig. 7(a), for example), while the terminals of the circuit board 243 provided on the side of the cartridge 40 that connects to the other surface 242b of the adapter- type circuit board 242 may be arranged and shaped differently from the preferred embodiment described above, as in the example of Fig. 21.
  • the terminals may be separately arranged over a plurality of circuit boards.
  • the terminals may be formed in a shape other than a rectangular shape, such as a circular shape.
  • the surface of the cartridge on which the terminals are arranged is not limited to a surface that is orthogonal to the mounting direction in which the cartridge is mounted into the mounting unit, but may be a surface that runs parallel to the mounting direction, for example.
  • the number of sensors and the number of sensor signal output terminals connected to the sensors may be modified.
  • the number of ground terminals is arbitrary and may be reduced as desired.
  • the positioning of the data output terminal and the data input terminal may be modified as desired.
  • the power input terminal may be electrically connected to the first and second sensors so that power can at least be supplied to the sensors.
  • power for the storage unit may be inputted via the data input terminal, for example.
  • One or more power input terminals may be provided. When there are two or more power input terminals, conditions related to the distances between power input terminals must be met.
  • the size and arrangement of the terminals may be modified as desired, provided that conditions related to distance are met.
  • the positions of the data input terminal (DI) 173c and data output terminal (DO) 172c may be switched; the positions of the first sensor signal output terminal (SB) 170c and second sensor signal output terminal (SP) 171c may be switched; and the power input terminal (V) 174c may be positioned on the lower right, upper left, or lower left rather than the upper right, or may be disposed in a position that does not coincide with the end of a row.
  • the number of rows in which terminals are arranged and the number of terminals included in each row is arbitrary.
  • the terminals may also be arranged so as not to form rows, but rather to describe a circle, for example, or may be arranged randomly.
  • the terminals provided in the device body may be formed at the same size or larger than the terminals on the cartridge.
  • the terminals in the device body may be of a number and arrangement that partially do not correspond to the terminals on the cartridge.
  • the terminals in the device body may be arranged in two rows that include four terminals in each row, as indicated in Fig. 7(a), for the terminals on the cartridge that are arranged in two rows with three terminals in each row,.
  • the terminals on the device body side include terminals that do not contact terminals on the cartridge side.
  • the terminals on the cartridge may be of a number and arrangement that partially do not correspond to the terminals on the device body side, and may include terminals that do not contact the terminals in the device body.
  • the terminals in the device body may have a leaf spring structure (i.e., terminals that are urged by leaf springs toward the terminals on the cartridge side) or a non-leaf spring structure.
  • the terminals in the device body and the terminals on the cartridge may be designed so that their contact portions are at positions offset from the center positions. In this case, conditions related to distance must be met based on the positions of the contact parts.
  • the sensor employed in the liquid cartridge of the present invention need not be a magnetic sensor, such as the Hall element 71, but may be configured of one of various types, such as a reflective photosensor, a transmissive photosensor, or a mechanical sensor for detecting an object through contact.
  • ⁇ Two or more of these sensors may be provided in the cartridge.
  • data that is stored in the storage unit there is no particular limit to the data that is stored in the storage unit. Further, data related to signals generated by the sensors, quantities of liquid contained in the liquid accommodating units, and the like stored in the storage unit is not limited to the values outputted from the sensors or values indicating the quantities of liquids in the liquid accommodating units, but may be data from which these output values and quantities can be derived.
  • the structure of the cartridge according to the present invention may be modified in a variety of ways within the scope of the claims. For example, it is possible to suitably modify the configuration (shape, position, and the like) of the case 41, reservoir 42, ink delivery tube 43, stopper 50, valve 60, sensor unit 70, memory unit 141, circuit board 142, and the like. It is also possible to add new components and to eliminate some of the components described in the preferred embodiment.
  • the controller in the device body may halt operations of components in the device (ejection operations of the heads, etc.) without issuing an error notification.
  • the timing at which the cartridge and the device body are able to exchange signals and the timing at which the device body can supply power to the cartridge may be modified as desired and are not limited to the timings described in the preferred embodiment.
  • the mounting detection unit may be configured of a photosensor or switch or the like capable of outputting an ON signal when the printer and cartridge are electrically connected.
  • Writing of data performed by the writing unit and determinations of abnormality performed by the write abnormality determining unit may be executed prior to receiving a print command from an external device.
  • Timing at which the controller 100 implements a function may be suitably modified within the scope of the claims. These timings include the timing at which the reading unit reads data stored in the storage unit of the cartridge; the timing at which the writing unit writes data to the storage unit of the cartridge; the timing at which the first and second receiving unit receive signals from the corresponding sensors; the timing at which the write abnormality determining unit determines whether a write abnormality occurred; the timing at which the first and second reception abnormality determining unit determines whether an abnormality occurred in the first and second receptions, and the timing at which the moving unit moves the hollow members.
  • the selecting unit need not select the printing mode based on whether a reception abnormality occurred with the first and second receiving unit or based on the type of recording medium, but may be directly set by the user.
  • the user may input a desired mode through an inputting unit, such as buttons or the like, and the controller 100 may select a mode based on the user input.
  • the liquid-ejecting device may also possess unit for prompting the user to confirm the selected mode after the selecting unit has performed a selection, e.g., for displaying a message such as "Do you wish to proceed in the pretreatment-free mode on a display of the liquid-ejecting device when the auxiliary liquid-free mode has been selected.
  • liquid-ejecting device has two printing modes in the preferred embodiment, the liquid-ejecting device may possess three or more modes. Alternatively, the liquid- ejecting device may possess only a single normal mode.
  • the hollow members are also not limited to members having ends sharpened into needle-like points.
  • the recording liquid is not limited to black ink, but may be any liquid used for image recording.
  • the pretreatment liquid may be a post-treatment liquid ejected onto the recording medium after image recording in order to improve image quality, for example.
  • the pretreatment liquid is not limited to a pretreatment liquid or post-treatment liquid designed to improve image quality, but may be a diluting liquid for diluting ink during photo printing, for example.
  • the number of cartridges included in the liquid-ejecting device according to the present invention may be one or more.
  • the number of liquid-ejecting heads included in the liquid-ejecting device according to the present invention is not limited to two or three, but may be one or more.
  • the liquid-ejecting device according to the present invention may be a color inkjet printer that includes heads for ejecting black ink, as well as ink in the three colors magenta, cyan, and yellow.
  • the liquid-ejecting device according to the present invention may be a line-type or a serial-type device. Further, the liquid-ejecting device is not limited to a printer, but may be another liquid-ejecting device, such as a facsimile machine or a copier.
  • the circuit board according to the present invention covers an adapter-type circuit board that can be mounted on the cartridge.
  • the positional relationship of the terminals on the circuit board should conform to the relationship described in the preferred embodiment.
  • the positional relationship of terminals provided on the cartridge on which the circuit board is mounted has no particular limitation.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur une cartouche de liquide (40) qui comprend une première unité de réception (40B) qui reçoit un liquide d'impression ; une seconde unité de réception (40P) qui reçoit un liquide d'amélioration de qualité d'image afin d'améliorer la qualité d'une image formée par le liquide d'impression ; un premier capteur (71) ; un second capteur (71) ; une carte de circuit imprimé (142). Une communication entre la première unité de réception et l'extérieur est permise lorsqu'un premier canal (43e), formé entre la première unité de réception et l'extérieur, est ouvert. Une communication entre la seconde unité de réception et l'extérieur est permise lorsqu'un second canal, (43e) formé entre la seconde unité de réception et l'extérieur, est ouvert. Le premier capteur (71) génère un premier signal qui change sur la base d'un état d'ouverture/fermeture du premier canal. Le second capteur (71) génère un second signal qui change sur la base d'un état d'ouverture/fermeture du second canal. La carte de circuit imprimé comprend une première borne de sortie de signal de capteur (SB, 170c) électriquement connectée au premier capteur de façon à émettre le premier signal vers l'extérieur ; une seconde borne de sortie de signal de capteur (SP, 171c) électriquement connectée au second capteur pour émettre le second signal vers l'extérieur ; une borne d'entrée d'alimentation (V, 174c) par l'intermédiaire de laquelle une alimentation électrique est fournie tout à la fois au premier capteur et au second capteur à partir de l'extérieur ; un corps de carte (142a) sur lequel la première borne de sortie de signal de capteur, la seconde borne de sortie de signal de capteur et la borne d'entrée d'alimentation sont disposées. Une distance entre la première borne de sortie de signal de capteur et la borne d'entrée d'alimentation est supérieure à la distance entre la seconde borne de sortie de signal de capteur et la borne d'entrée d'alimentation.
PCT/JP2011/067821 2011-07-28 2011-07-28 Cartouche de liquide pour dispositif d'éjection de liquide WO2013014806A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2011/067821 WO2013014806A1 (fr) 2011-07-28 2011-07-28 Cartouche de liquide pour dispositif d'éjection de liquide

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2011/067821 WO2013014806A1 (fr) 2011-07-28 2011-07-28 Cartouche de liquide pour dispositif d'éjection de liquide

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2013014806A1 true WO2013014806A1 (fr) 2013-01-31

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018181423A1 (fr) * 2017-03-31 2018-10-04 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Carte de circuit imprimé, cartouche de liquide dotée de la carte de circuit imprimé, et dispositif de stockage doté de la carte de circuit imprimé

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1498272A1 (fr) * 2003-07-18 2005-01-19 Seiko Epson Corporation Conteneur de liquide
US20100091070A1 (en) * 2008-10-09 2010-04-15 Seiko Epson Corporation Circuit Board and Liquid Supplying Unit

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1498272A1 (fr) * 2003-07-18 2005-01-19 Seiko Epson Corporation Conteneur de liquide
US20100091070A1 (en) * 2008-10-09 2010-04-15 Seiko Epson Corporation Circuit Board and Liquid Supplying Unit

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018181423A1 (fr) * 2017-03-31 2018-10-04 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Carte de circuit imprimé, cartouche de liquide dotée de la carte de circuit imprimé, et dispositif de stockage doté de la carte de circuit imprimé
US10470298B2 (en) 2017-03-31 2019-11-05 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Circuit board including dummy electrode formed on substrate

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