JP4477155B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting a plurality of types of ink, for example, yellow, cyan, magenta, black, and the like, from a recording head.
[0002]
[Background Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
Conventional ink jet recording apparatuses using a plurality of types of ink include those in which each ink is stored in an individual ink cartridge, and those in which a plurality of types of ink are integrally stored in one ink cartridge with a partition wall therebetween. is there.
[0003]
In the case of individual ink cartridges, users who frequently use ink of a specific color can individually replace the ink, so there is an advantage that the running cost can be kept low. The cost is high, and the user who uses a plurality of types of inks on the average has a drawback that the running cost becomes high.
[0004]
Ink cartridges that contain multiple types of ink in a single unit can be manufactured at a lower cost than manufacturing multiple types of individual ink cartridges, and the running cost is kept low for users who use multiple types of ink on average. However, when one type of ink is used up, other types of ink must be replaced at the same time, and there is a disadvantage that the running cost is high for users who often use specific color inks.
[0005]
These two types of ink cartridge systems are determined by the specifications of the ink jet recording apparatus, and the user cannot select an ink cartridge in one ink jet recording apparatus.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and allows the user to select individual ink cartridges for a plurality of types of ink and ink cartridges that integrally accommodate them. In addition, the present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing a purge operation and a display of scarce amount of ink according to the ink cartridges.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention]
In order to achieve this object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 is an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging a plurality of types of ink from corresponding recording heads. an ink cartridge, one of said plurality of types of ink the ink cartridge holding at a partition wall, and a selectively attachable to the same position in one housing portion of the recording apparatus main body.
[0008]
As a result, the user selects individual ink cartridges for a plurality of types of ink and ink cartridges that integrally store them, and attaches them to a single storage portion of the recording apparatus main body. Can be kept low.
Further, the recording apparatus main body is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of types of ink, and displays at least a display unit for displaying a remaining amount of ink, and the one ink container and the integrated ink in the one storage portion. A discriminating means for discriminating which of the cartridges is mounted; and a remaining amount of each of the plurality of types of ink is detected, and when a plurality of ink cartridges are used based on the discrimination result of the discriminating means, When the display means corresponding to the ink cartridge that has become scarce is operated individually or when the integral ink cartridge is used, the display means is defined when any one of the remaining amount of ink becomes scarce. And control means for operating in different modes. As a result, when the discrimination means discriminates that an independent ink cartridge is used for each ink type, the display means corresponding to the ink cartridge in which the remaining amount of ink becomes scarce is individually operated, and the specific type Prompt to replace only the ink. When it is determined that the determination unit uses an ink cartridge that integrally stores a plurality of types of ink, when the remaining amount of any one type of ink becomes scarce, the display unit operates in a manner different from that described above. Prompting the user to replace the ink cartridge.
[0009]
In the above configuration, a configuration in which the recording head is integrally provided in the ink cartridge may be used. However, preferably, as described in claim 2, the recording apparatus main body includes recording heads respectively corresponding to the plurality of types of ink. It is possible to further reduce the cost of the ink cartridge by including a supported head holder and having the housing portion in the head holder, and detachably attaching the ink cartridge to the housing portion and connecting it to the recording head. it can.
[0010]
Preferably, as described in claim 3, the recording apparatus main body determines a purge means for forcibly discharging the ink in the recording head, and a determination for attaching / detaching the plurality of ink cartridges and the integrated ink cartridge. And the purge means for driving the recording head corresponding to the exchanged one of the plurality of ink cartridges or the plurality of recording heads corresponding to the integrated ink cartridge based on the determination result of the determination means. Control means. Thus, when using an independent ink cartridge for each type of ink, the determining means determines attachment / detachment of each cartridge, drives the purge means for the recording head corresponding to the replaced ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge New ink can be led to the recording head. When using an ink cartridge that contains a plurality of types of ink in an integrated manner, if the determining means determines that the cartridge has been replaced, the purge means is driven for the recording head corresponding to the cartridge, and a new ink cartridge is installed. Ink can be guided to each recording head.
[0011]
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus performs recording by ejecting a plurality of types of inks, for example, yellow, cyan, magenta, black, and the like, onto a recording medium P, and includes a plurality of recording heads 11. , 12, 13, and 14 and an ink cartridge for supplying ink to each recording head.
[0013]
The head holder 10 and the ink cartridge are mounted on a carriage 15 that travels along the recording medium P. The carriage 15 is slidably supported on a shaft 16 and a guide plate 17 parallel to the recording medium, is connected to a belt 20 that is hung between pulleys 18 and 19, and the pulley 18 is rotationally driven by a motor 21. A plurality of recording heads 11, 12, 13, 14 reciprocate in parallel with the recording medium P.
[0014]
The recording medium P is inserted at a position facing the moving path of the recording heads 11, 12, 13, and 14, and is conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the moving path of the recording head by the roller 39 of the conveying means.
[0015]
A purge means 22 for sucking and discharging ink from the recording head opposite to one end position of the moving path of the recording heads 11, 12, 13, 14 on the side of the conveyance path of the recording medium P, and ink of the recording head A wiper member 23 for wiping the ejection surface and a protective cap 24 for covering the ink ejection surface of the recording head and preventing drying of the ink when the recording operation is not performed are provided. In addition, an ink storage member 25 is provided opposite to the other end position of the movement path of the recording heads 11, 12, 13, and 14 to store ink that is periodically ejected from the recording head.
[0016]
The purge means 22 has a suction cap 26 and a suction pump 27, and rotates the cam 28 by a drive source (not shown) to move the suction cap 26 forward and backward with respect to the recording head. In this state, the suction pump 27 is driven to forcibly discharge the ink in the recording head. In other words, old ink and bubbles whose viscosity in the print head is increasing are discharged and new ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to restore the discharge function of the print head. Also, when the ink cartridge is replaced, new ink is supplied to the recording head in the same manner.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, the head holder 10 has a box-shaped accommodation portion 30 that opens upward, and supports a plurality of recording heads 11, 12, 13, and 14 aligned on the lower surface thereof. A connection port 36 for supplying ink from the ink cartridge to each of the recording heads 11, 12, 13, and 14 is opened on the inner bottom surface of the storage unit 30.
[0018]
The ink cartridges are of a type in which the types of ink corresponding to the recording heads 11, 12, 13, 14 are accommodated in independent ink cartridges 31, 32, 33, 34, and a partition wall in one ink cartridge 35. Any of the types housed in a plurality of rooms separated by 35a can be used. The box-shaped storage unit 30 is formed in a size that can accommodate the former independent cartridges 31, 32, 33, and 34, and any one of them can be attached and detached independently. Further, the latter integrated ink cartridge 35 is formed in substantially the same size as the aligned independent cartridges 31, 32, 33, and 34, and is detachably mounted in the box-shaped storage unit 30. The independent cartridges 31, 32, 33, and 34 have an ink supply port 37 that can be connected to the connection port 36 in the housing portion 30 on the lower surface of each of the independent cartridges 31, 32, 33, and 34. ing.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 3, the head holder 10 includes detectors 41, 42, 43, and 44 at positions corresponding to the independent cartridges 31, 32, 33, and 34. A detector 45 is provided at a position corresponding to the independent cartridge but not corresponding to the stand-alone cartridge. These detectors are connected to a control device 46 including a known CPU, ROM, and RAM. The control device 46 cooperates with the detector to attach and detach the ink cartridge and to determine whether the ink cartridge is a stand-alone type or an integrated type. A program constituting control means for controlling the display means 51, 52, 53, 54 as described later, and a program constituting control means for controlling the purge means 22 as described later are incorporated.
[0020]
The control device 46 incorporates a known ink remaining amount detecting means (not shown). As the ink remaining amount detecting means, various methods such as an optical method, an energization method, or a method of counting the ink discharge amount from the recording head and subtracting the counted value from the ink amount in the ink cartridge can be used. is there. The ink remaining amount detecting means is provided for each ink cartridge for the stand-alone type and for each room for the integral type.
[0021]
When the independent cartridges 31, 32, 33, 34 are mounted, the detectors 41, 42, 43, 44 output detection signals, and the detector 45 does not output detection signals. It is determined that a stand-alone cartridge is installed. When the remaining amount of ink in one ink cartridge (for example, 31) becomes scarce in this state, the control device 46 drives, for example, blinks and displays the display means 51 corresponding to the ink cartridge. When one ink cartridge (for example, 31) is replaced, the corresponding detector 41 outputs a signal accompanying attachment / detachment, and the control device 46 moves the carriage 15 to purge the recording head 11 corresponding to the ink cartridge 31. The purge means 22 is driven in opposition to the means 22. Thereby, the ink of a new ink cartridge is introduced into the recording head. The above operation is not performed for ink cartridges that are not replaced.
[0022]
When the integrated ink cartridge 35 is mounted, the detector 45 outputs a detection signal, and the control device 46 determines that the integrated cartridge is mounted. In this state, when the remaining amount of ink in one room becomes scarce, the control device 46 drives all of the display means 51, 52, 53, and 54, for example, blinks and displays them. When the ink cartridge 35 is replaced, the corresponding detector 45 outputs a signal accompanying attachment / detachment, and the control device 46 moves the carriage 15 so that one of the plurality of recording heads 11 faces the purge means 22, and purges it. The means 22 is driven. When the purge process for one print head is completed, the adjacent print head 12 is opposed to the purge means 22 and the purge process is similarly performed. In this way, the purge process is sequentially performed on the plurality of recording heads corresponding to the ink cartridge 35. This is performed in order to discharge the air because the air is sandwiched between all the connection ports 36 and the supply ports 37 when the ink cartridge is replaced.
[0023]
As described above, both an independent ink cartridge for each type of ink and an ink cartridge that integrally stores a plurality of types of ink can be used. You can choose. When a stand-alone ink cartridge is used, it is displayed that the remaining amount is scarce for each ink, and it is possible to inform which ink cartridge should be replaced. Only the head is purged.
[0024]
In addition, when an integrated ink cartridge is used, when any one type of ink becomes scarce, it is displayed in a state different from the above display operation and all the ink should be replaced. I can inform you. Then, the purge process is sequentially executed for all the corresponding print heads.
[0025]
In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge 35 is formed in a shape in which four independent ink cartridges are integrated, but only two or three portions may be integrated. For example, black ink cartridges that are frequently used by all users are independent cartridges in either format, and yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are selected as independent cartridges and integrated cartridges. You may make it usable.
[0026]
Further, the purge means can be not only a type for sucking ink but also a type for pushing out ink by applying pressure from the ink cartridge side. As the display means, various types such as a light emitting diode and a liquid crystal can be used, and the remaining amount may be sequentially displayed in addition to the scarce display of the remaining amount. Further, when the integral type ink cartridge is used, the remaining amount is displayed in a rare manner by not only driving all of the plurality of display means simultaneously but also sequentially driving the display means.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which different types of ink cartridges are mounted on the head holder.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical schematic configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Head holder 11-14 Recording head 22 Purge means 31-35 Ink cartridge 41-45 Detector 46 Control apparatus 51-55 Display means

Claims (3)

In an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging a plurality of types of ink from corresponding recording heads,
A plurality of ink cartridges the plural types of inks containing respectively, one of said plurality of types of ink the ink cartridge holding at a partition wall, the same in one housing portion of the recording apparatus main body It can be selectively attached to the position ,
The recording apparatus main body is
Display means provided corresponding to each of the plurality of types of ink, and displaying at least the remaining amount of ink,
Discriminating means for discriminating whether one is mounted in the plurality of ink cartridges integral ink cartridge to said one housing portion,
When the remaining amount of each of the plurality of types of ink is detected and a plurality of ink cartridges are used based on the determination result of the determination unit, the display unit corresponding to the ink cartridge whose ink remaining amount is scarce is individually provided. Control means for operating the display means in a mode different from the above when the remaining amount of any one kind of ink becomes scarce when the ink cartridge is operated or when the integrated ink cartridge is used. Inkjet recording apparatus.  The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus main body includes a head holder that supports recording heads respectively corresponding to the plurality of types of ink, and the head holder includes the accommodating portion. The recording apparatus main body is
Purge means for forcibly discharging the ink in the recording head;
Discrimination means for discriminating attachment / detachment of the plurality of ink cartridges and the integrated ink cartridge,
Control means for driving the purge means for a print head corresponding to one of the plurality of ink cartridges exchanged or a plurality of print heads corresponding to the integrated ink cartridge based on the determination result of the determination means. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

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