JP2003208295A - Electronic device and display method of electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To accurately display the remaining amount of recording material when a recording material supply unit is replaced. SOLUTION: A remaining amount display means for displaying the remaining amount of the recording material in the recording material supply means based on the accumulated number of recording dots, and a selection item for displaying a selection item for replacing the recording material supply means with a new recording material supply means. Display means, when a selection item to be replaced with a new recording material supply means displayed by the selection item display means is selected, resetting the cumulative dot number,
Changing means for changing the display of the remaining amount display means based on the reset accumulated dot number.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording device, an electronic device device connectable to the recording device, and a device in which the recording device and the electronic device device are integrally formed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a recording head is mounted on a well-known recording device and reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of a recording medium such as paper or OHP sheet (hereinafter referred to as recording paper). There is a so-called serial type recording apparatus having an operating unit (hereinafter referred to as a carrier) equipped with the recording head, and a line type recording apparatus having a recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the recording sheet. In these recording apparatuses, recording heads of various recording systems are used, and as the systems, wire dot systems, heat-sensitive systems, thermal transfer systems, inkjet systems, electrophotographic systems, etc. are widely known.

Also widely known is an electronic apparatus which is electrically connected to these recording devices by an interface cable or the like, and which has a recording device for instructing editing and creation of information to be recorded by the recording device and recording to the recording device. There is.

In a recording apparatus, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink tank for supplying ink as a recording material and a recording head for ejecting ink supplied from the ink tank onto a recording medium are generally provided. The ink tank is configured to be replaced with a new ink tank when the ink is used up. In recent years, there is a recording apparatus in which an ink tank is integrally provided in a recording head and the recording head is exchanged together. Further, there is a configuration in which the ink tank is replaceably provided in the recording head. Further, in a recording apparatus capable of color printing, a recording apparatus that performs recording while exchanging recording heads of different types (for example, black and color) can realize optimal recording according to information to be recorded with a compact configuration. Therefore, it is becoming popular.

Further, there is also one that informs the user of the amount of consumption of the recording material consumed with recording of ink or the like in the recording apparatus and the amount of ink retained in the ink tank. In addition, there is a method in which, when a recording material supply unit such as a recording head or an ink tank is replaced, an operation for ensuring a good recording state such as recovery of ink discharge is performed prior to recording.

In the recording apparatus in which the recording material supply means such as the recording head and the ink tank are exchanged for use, there are several possible exchange modes. For example, a mode in which the used recording head or recording material supply means is replaced with a new recording head or recording material supply means, or the type of recording head or recording material supply means in use is different for monochrome recording or color recording. In this mode, another recording head or recording material supply means is exchanged. Regarding these recording devices, when the recording material holding amount and the ejection recovery process prior to recording are performed on the recording head and the recording material supply means mounted on the recording device, it is possible to recognize that the recording head and the recording material supply means are of different types. If a recognition unit is provided and the result detected by the detection unit for detecting the recognition unit is the same type of exchange, it is determined that the recording head or recording material supply unit is a new one, and another type of exchange is performed. If it is, it is generally judged that a different type of recording head or recording material supply means has been replaced, and in accordance with the result of the judged replacement, notification of the amount of recording material held and ejection recovery processing are generally performed. Is.

Further, it is general to have an instruction means for controlling the recording apparatus in an exchangeable state at the time of performing the exchange, and the instruction means is used for the exchange. For example, as a replaceable state, the carrier holding the recording head is moved to a replaceable position. Further, the instruction means for instructing exchange may be composed of one or two keys, and various exchange modes may be instructed depending on the combination of keys to be turned on, the number of times of turning on, and the like.

[0008]

In the recording apparatus having these various exchange modes, there is a problem that the actual exchange mode cannot be accurately indicated. For example, when a recording head or recording material supply means in use is replaced with a new recording head or recording material supply means of a different type.
In this case, there has been a problem that the amount of recording material held by the recording head or recording material supply means after replacement or the ejection recovery process prior to recording is inaccurate or unnecessary.

Further, when the instructing means for instructing the exchange gives an instruction for controlling the recording apparatus to the exchangeable state, there is a problem that the exchange mode cannot be instructed and the recording apparatus after the exchange cannot be accurately controlled. .

Further, when the instruction means for instructing exchange is composed of one or two keys, in addition to the problem that the operation is complicated, there is the problem that an incorrect instruction is given due to the complicated operation. There is.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes a remaining amount display means for displaying the remaining amount of the recording material in the recording material supply means based on the cumulative number of recording dots, and recording. If the selection item display means for displaying a selection item for replacing the material supply means with a new recording material supply means and the selection item for replacement with the new recording material supply means displayed by the selection item display means are selected, the cumulative And changing means for resetting the number of dots and changing the display of the remaining amount display means based on the reset cumulative number of dots.

Further, a remaining amount display means for displaying the remaining amount of the recording material in the cartridge based on the cumulative number of recording dots, a selection item display means for displaying a selection item for replacing the cartridge with a new cartridge, and the selection item display. And a changing means for resetting the cumulative dot number and changing the display of the remaining amount display means based on the reset cumulative dot number when a selection item for replacing a new cartridge displayed by the means is selected. Is characterized by.

(Operation) According to the above construction, when the recording head or the recording material supply means is replaced, the replacement means for carrying out one of the various replacement modes is instructed by the instructing means, and in response to the instruction of the instructing means. Then, the recording device is controlled.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the construction of an ink jet recording apparatus showing an embodiment according to the present invention. Here, 1 is a head cartridge having an ink jet recording head, which is exchangeably provided to the recording device so that the monochrome recording head is mounted during monochrome recording and the color recording head is mounted during color recording. The recording head on the other side is stored in a storage box (not shown). Reference numeral 2 is a carrier for mounting this and operating in the S direction. 3 is a head cartridge 1 and a carrier 2
A hook 4 for attaching to the hook 4 and a lever 4 for operating the hook 3. Reference numeral 5 is a support plate for supporting an electrical connection portion for the head cartridge 1. Reference numeral 6 is an FPC (flexible printed circuit) for connecting the electrical connection portion and the main body control portion. Reference numeral 7 is a guide shaft for guiding the carrier 2, and is inserted into a bearing 8 of the carrier. Reference numeral 9 is a timing belt for mounting a carrier and transmitting power for moving the carrier in the S direction, and is stretched around pulleys 10A, 10B arranged on both sides of the device. The driving force is transmitted from the carrier motor 11 to one pulley 10B via a transmission mechanism such as a gear. Reference numeral 12 denotes a conveyance roller that regulates a recording surface of a recording medium such as paper and conveys the recording surface when recording or the like, and is driven by a conveyance motor 13. Reference numeral 14 is a paper pan for guiding the recording medium to the recording position, and 15 is a pinch roller which is arranged in the feeding path of the recording medium and presses the recording medium toward the conveying roller 12 and conveys the same. . Reference numeral 16 denotes a platen that faces the ejection port of the head cartridge 1 and regulates the recording surface of the recording medium. A paper discharge roller 17 is disposed downstream of the recording position in the recording medium conveyance direction and discharges the recording medium toward a paper discharge port (not shown). Reference numeral 18 denotes a spur provided corresponding to the paper discharge roller 17, and presses the paper discharge roller 17 via the recording medium to generate a recording medium conveyance force by the paper discharge roller 17. Reference numeral 19 is a release lever for releasing the bias of the pinch roller 15 and the spur 18 when setting the recording medium. The platen 16 is rotatably supported on both sides by the shafts of the discharge rollers 17,
12A, which is urged toward the front portion 21 of the paper pan 14 from the stop position and is provided at a plurality of portions in the portion 12A where the conveying roller 12 is smaller than the outermost periphery, is in contact with the inside of the paper pan front portion 21. . Reference numeral 22 denotes a cap made of an elastic material such as rubber that faces the ink ejection port forming surface of the recording head at the home position, and is supported so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the recording head. The cap 22 is used for protection of the recording head during non-recording, and for ejection recovery processing of the recording head. The ejection recovery process is performed by causing the cap 22 to face the ejection port forming surface and driving an energy generating element provided in the ink ejection port and used for ejecting ink to eject ink from all ejection ports. A process (preliminary ejection) for removing ejection failure factors such as air bubbles and dust, or ink that has become thicker and is no longer suitable for recording, or the ink is ejected from the ejection port with the ejection port formation surface covered with a cap 22. Is a process for removing the cause of the ejection failure by forcibly discharging. A pump 23 is used to apply suction force to forcibly discharge the ink and to suck the ink received by the cap 22 during the discharge recovery process by the forced discharge and the discharge recovery process by the preliminary discharge. Reference numeral 24 is a waste ink tank for storing the waste ink sucked by the pump 23. The waste ink tank 24 is connected to the pump 23 by 28 tubes. Reference numeral 25 denotes a blade for wiping the ejection port forming surface of the head, which is movably supported at a position where it projects toward the head side and performs wiping in the course of carrier movement and a retracted position where it does not engage with the ejection port forming surface. ing. Reference numeral 26 is a recovery system motor, and 27 is a cam device for receiving power transmitted from the recovery system motor 26 to drive the pump 23 and move the cap 22 and the blade 25, respectively. Next, details of the above-described head cartridge 1 will be shown.

FIG. 2 shows a head cartridge 1 in which an ejection unit 1J which constitutes the main body of an ink jet recording head and an ink tank 1K which is a recording supply means for supplying ink to the recording head while holding the ink which is a recording material are integrated. FIG. In the head cartridge of FIG. 2, the ink tank 1K can be replaced with a head cartridge by a mechanism (not shown). Here, a black ink tank for supplying black ink and a color ink tank for supplying color ink are replaceably provided in the color recording head cartridge, and the color ink tank is provided with yellow, magenta and cyan inks. Ink is held so that it can be supplied. In FIG. 2, the pawl 1L is hooked by the hook 3 provided on the carrier 2 when the head cartridge 1 is mounted. As is apparent from FIG. 2, the pawl 1L is arranged inside the entire head extension. Further, in front of the head cartridge 1 and in the vicinity of the ejection unit 1J, a positioning abutting portion (not shown in the figure) is provided. The head opening 1M is provided upright on the carrier 2 and the support plate 5 for supporting the flexible substrate (electrical connection portion) and the rubber pad is inserted therein.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a recording apparatus showing an embodiment according to the present invention, and arrows in the drawing show a signal transmission direction. Here, 300 indicates a host machine such as a computer or a word processor. An MPU 3001 that controls the host machine 300 as a whole has a timer unit 3002 that manages the time for control execution. The host machine 300 is controlled by a control program and various data stored in the ROM 3003 or an external storage device 3006 such as a floppy (R) disk or a hard disk. 3004 is a work area at the time of executing control, or an input device 3005 such as a keyboard.
It is a RAM used as a buffer area for storing input data from the. A display device 3007, such as a CRT or LCD, displays information regarding recording such as recording information recorded by the recording device. 3008, 3009,
Reference numerals 3010 denote an input device 3005 and an external storage device 3, respectively.
006, each drive for controlling or driving the display device 3007. The recording device 310 also includes the host machine 30.
Like 0, it has an MPU 3101 that controls the printing apparatus, a timer unit 3102, a ROM 3103, and a RAM 3104. The EEPROM 3105 is an electrically erasable ROM, and the recorded data is retained even when the power of the apparatus is turned off. In this embodiment, the used amount or the remaining amount of the recording member is stored. ing. At the time of recording, the recording information 320 transmitted from the MPU 3001 of the host machine 300 is the RAM 3104 of the recording device 310.
Stored in. After that, the MPU 3101 and the timer unit 31
02 controls each unit of the recording apparatus 310 to perform recording. When recording in the recording device 310, the MPU 31
The head cartridge 1, the carrier motor 11, the conveyance motor 13, and the recovery system motor 26 are controlled by 01.
The carrier motor 11, the carry motor 13, and the recovery system motor 26 are driven by respective motor drivers 3107, 3108, and 3109. Further, based on the detections of the carrier home sensor 3110, the paper sensor 3111, and the recovery system home sensor 3112, M
The PU 3101 recognizes the position of the carriage 11, the presence or absence of paper, and the cap position. It should be noted that the RAM 3104 has a cumulative recording dot number MD11 of the current monochrome recording head, a cumulative recording dot number CD11 of the current color recording head, the currently mounted recording head recognition data HD, and the RAM3004 has a current monochrome recording head remaining amount display function corresponding value MDD and a current color recording. Head remaining amount display function corresponding value CDD, M in EEPROM 3105
An area for storing D11 and CD11 is prepared (hereinafter, the area is sequentially stored in RMD11, RCD11, RHD, R
It shall be referred to as MDD, RCDD, EMD11, ECD11). Further, it is assumed that the remaining amount of the current recording head is displayed on the display device 3007 separately for monochrome / color (330, 331). This display shows the number of recordable dots HMAX in the new recording head in advance.
The data is stored in M3103 as data, and the cumulative recording dot numbers MD11 and CD11 for each of the monochrome recording head and the color recording head currently in use are sequentially counted, and the difference (HMAX-MD11), (HMAX-
CD11) is transmitted to the host machine 300 as the status information 321 of the recording apparatus, and MDD and CDD corresponding to the value are transmitted to the R
It is stored in the RMDD and RCDD of the AM 3004 and displayed on the display device 3007. If there is an operation of varying the remaining amount other than the printing operation, such as the above-described ejection recovery processing, the amount varied by the operation is also converted into the cumulative number of printed dots. The values of MD11 and CD11 are the EM of EEPROM 3105 when the power of the device is OFF.
Stored in D11 and ECD11, RMD1 after power on
1. Since it is stored again in the RCD 11, it is always held.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration for detecting whether or not the recording head (head cartridge 1) is mounted. One end of the recording head mounting presence / absence detection signal ID in the figure is connected to the portion HS1 to which the head cartridge 1 is mounted via the FPC 6, and when the head cartridge 1 is mounted, the HS1 is connected to the ground of the main body control unit via the FPC 6. It conducts with the portion HS2 connected to (GND). The other end of the ID is connected to the input terminal IP capable of detecting the H and L levels of the MPU 3101 and one end of the resistor R. The other end of the resistor is the power supply (V
CC). Due to the above-mentioned configuration, if the head cartridge 1 is not attached to the carrier 2, I
P detects H, and if worn, detects L. Since this circuit configuration is independently owned by each of the monochrome recording head and the color recording head, it is possible to detect the monochrome recording head and the color recording head at the same time (monochrome recording head mounting presence / absence detection signal 3113, color). Recording head installation presence / absence detection signal 3114).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic apparatus equipped with the ink jet recording apparatus described in FIG.
Reference numeral 5 is a keyboard which is an input device for inputting information to be recorded by the recording device, and 3007 is a display device which is composed of an LCD and displays the input information and information relating to recording. In the case of the present embodiment, the keyboard 3005 also serves as an instructing means for instructing replacement of a recording head and recording material supplying means, which will be described later. The display device means 3007 is also a display means for displaying the recording information and the recording conditions and the replacement mode of the recording head and the recording material supply means according to the present example described later.

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 shows a case in which information about recording conditions is displayed on the display means 3007.

A display window 4001 at the center of FIG.
It is configured so that various settings can be made inside. The item 4002 in the display window 4001 is for setting the number of print copies, and indicates the number of print copies of a series of print information. As for the setting of the number of print copies, “1 copy” is set by default. Further, in item 4003, “partial print” is set to specify a page to be recorded among recording information of a plurality of pages. Further, in the item 4004, it is displayed that the "paper type" for specifying the type of recording medium used for recording can be set. Here, the set paper type is highlighted. Item 4005 is for setting "print quality", and by this setting, a method for forming the record information on the recording medium is designated. For example, in the case of this example, the standard is a mode in which a print head scans a predetermined print area once to form print information, and the high quality is a mode in which a print head scans a predetermined print area multiple times to form print information. Yes, the economy mode is a mode in which predetermined recording information is thinned out and formed. Also item 400
In 6, the setting of “color printing” is performed to specify whether to print the edited and created print information in monochrome or in color. In item 4007, the print head is moved in the forward direction (right in FIG. 1) when the print information is formed. From left to right) or in the backward direction (from left to right in FIG. 1), or in the alternate direction of the forward and backward directions. Perform "Reciprocal printing" settings.

Items 4008 displayed at the lower left of FIG.
("Currently mounted cartridge") indicates the type of the head cartridge currently mounted in the recording apparatus, and the result detected by the head cartridge detection circuit shown in FIG. Also, the symbols 4009 and 4010 indicate ink bottles, which correspond to the monochrome ink remaining amount display unit 300 and the color ink remaining amount display unit 310 shown in FIG. 3, respectively, and are inks that are recording materials. The remaining amount (remaining amount) is displayed based on the remaining amount display data MDD and CDD.

In the display shown in FIG. 6, a color recording head cartridge is currently mounted, and the mounted head cartridge is 75% or more compared to a new cartridge.
It shows that the black ink of less than 00% and the color ink of 0% or more and less than 25% are retained.

The menus F1, F2, F shown in the upper part of FIG.
Reference numerals 3 and F4 display menus of functions assigned to function keys F1, F2, F3, and F4 (not shown) of the keyboard 3005. Here, the menu F1 is an item for detailed setting, and is an instructing unit for instructing the setting of more detailed conditions regarding the recording conditions shown in FIG. Further, the menu F2 is an item of "cleaning", and is an instruction unit for instructing execution of the above-described ejection recovery process.
The menus F3 and F4 are items of "head replacement" and "ink replacement", and are instruction means for instructing replacement of the recording head and the recording material supply means, that is, the ink tank.

In the "head replacement" of the display menu F3, when the function key F3 provided on the keyboard 3005 is used for instruction selection, more detailed replacement contents are displayed on the display means 3007 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, menu F3
Is selected, and “FACE REPLACEMENT” in the menu F3 is highlighted, and a more detailed menu is displayed as a pull-down menu 4011. By adopting this pull-down menu type menu, the required menu can be displayed only when necessary and the menu can be easily selected. The newly displayed menu has three selection items, "1. Monochrome head replacement", "2. Color head replacement", and "3 New head replacement". Here, "monochrome head replacement" means to replace the currently installed color head with a monochrome head, and replacement of a new head replaces the currently installed color head with a new monochrome head or a new color head. Is shown. Here, since the head currently mounted on the recording apparatus is a color head, the mounted color head will not be replaced with a color head that is not new, so the item "2. Color head replacement" is selected / instructed. I hide the display so that I can not. In FIG. 7, since the menu of “2. Color head replacement” indicates that selection / instruction cannot be performed, the item is displayed in a light color. The display of items that cannot be selected is not limited to this example, and may be, for example, a method of displaying a warning that selection / instruction cannot be performed at the time of selection. Here, when the mounted head is a monochrome head, there is no replacement from the monochrome head to a monochrome head that is not new, and the display is similarly hidden so that the monochrome head replacement cannot be instructed. Menu F
The item “ink replacement” of item 4 is also instructed and selected by the function key F4 provided on the keyboard 3005, as shown in FIG.
The detailed exchange contents shown in are displayed in the pull-down menu 4012. The replacement contents displayed here are those related to the currently mounted head, and are "black ink replacement (color)" (color head black ink tank replacement), "color ink replacement", color head color ink Three types of tank replacement or ink tank replacement for both black and color are displayed, and the black ink tank replacement display for the monochrome head is hidden here. When the monochrome head is attached, the display of the menu F4 only displays the black ink replacement of the monochrome head and the display of other contents is hidden.

Next, referring to FIG. 9, a method for replacing the head cartridge in this embodiment and a control sequence for displaying the remaining ink amount will be described.

"R" shown in FIG. 9 indicates the normal end of operation,
“W” indicates that the operation is completed or not completed. It should be noted that the following description will be made assuming that the monochrome head cartridge is mounted in the recording apparatus and the printer is mistakenly replaced with a new color recording head with the intention of replacing the cartridge with a new monochrome head cartridge. It is possible to control.

When the recording state of the head cartridge 1 deteriorates, that is, when the user is not suitable for recording (for example, a state where ejected ink droplets do not land on a desired position on the recording medium), a display is made. By selecting "cleaning" displayed on the upper part of the means 3007, the cleaning operation which is the ejection recovery process is executed. The menu F3 can be selected and instructed by a function key F3 (not shown) in the keyboard 3005. When the head cartridge is not suitable for recording even by performing this operation, when the user determines that the head cartridge has reached the end of its service life, the head cartridge can be replaced with a new head cartridge.

In the case of this explanation, the key for replacing the new head is key F.
3, the head replacement is instructed, and the item “new head replacement” in the pull-down menu 4011 shown in FIG. 7 is designated. If "new head replacement" is selected from the pull-down menu 4011 in FIG. 7,
If it is instructed to replace the new head in step S102, the process proceeds to the next step S103. In response to this, the head cartridge replacement sequence is started (), and the information HD indicating the presence and type of the currently mounted head cartridge is detected by the circuit shown in FIG. 4 (in this case, it is detected that there is a monochrome head cartridge). , RHD. Then, in step S103, a message for removing the cartridge is displayed, and when the removal of the head cartridge is detected by the above circuit, the corresponding one of RMDD or RCDD is initialized, and the remaining amount display, that is, the notification content is cleared to 0 ( In this case, clear RMDD). Then, in step S104, a message indicating that the cartridge should be replaced is displayed. At the start of the head cartridge replacement sequence, if it is detected that the head cartridge is not already mounted, S103 is omitted, but the information is stored in the RHD when the recording head is removed.

Next, when the type of the mounted head cartridge is detected by the circuit shown in FIG. 4 (for example, when the color head is erroneously mounted and this is detected), the RCDD is set in accordance with the mounting of the color head cartridge. , The remaining amount display, that is, the content of the notification, stores the CDD of a value corresponding to HMAX (in this case, as shown in in FIG. 9, RCDD
The MAX value is stored in. ). However, RMD1
1, the value stored in the RCD 11, that is, the cumulative number of dots (count value) is not initialized but left as it is. After changing the remaining amount display, that is, the notification content to MAX,
In step S106, a message indicating that the replacement of the cartridge has been completed is displayed to ask the user for confirmation.

At this point, the type of the head cartridge mounted in step S106 is displayed, and since the remaining amount display of the color head cartridge indicates the MAX value, the user notices that the color cartridge is mounted by mistake, and the correction is made. When a predetermined input is performed to perform step S10,
Return to step 4.

According to the above procedure, the correct head cartridge is finally mounted and the step S105 or S10 is performed.
When the selection input of YES is made in 6, the value of RMD 11 or the value of RCD 11 is initialized only at this point. (In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, RMD11
The value of is initialized. ).

When the user wants to cancel, by selecting "Cancel", the RMDD and RCDD are respectively assigned to the RMs according to the information HD at the start of the head cartridge replacement sequence.
The values of D11 and RCD11 are stored again. By this procedure, the remaining amount display, that is, the notification content can be restored to the remaining amount display (notification content) before the replacement of the head cartridge.

In the above description, the case where the head cartridge mounted in the recording apparatus is replaced with a new head cartridge of the same type as the head cartridge mounted in the recording apparatus has been described. For example, replacement from a monochrome head cartridge to a color head cartridge) can be similarly performed. In the case of replacement with a different type of head cartridge, it is performed by instructing and selecting the monochrome head replacement or the color head replacement shown in FIG. 7 with the key F3. When the color head cartridge is replaced, the remaining ink display indicates the RAM 3104 or EE when the color head cartridge was previously mounted and used.
Cumulative number of recorded dots CD1 stored in PROM3105
1 and the recordable dot number HMAX of the head cartridge stored in the ROM 3103, the difference (HMAX
-CD11) is transmitted to the host machine as the status information 321 of the recording device, and its value CDD is stored in the RCDD of the RAM 304, and the remaining amount is displayed on the display device 3007 based on this.

When replacing the ink tank that is replaceably mounted on the head cartridge, the replacement can be performed by selecting the item "ink replacement" from the menu of the key F4 and issuing the same instruction.

Further, the initial ink amount may be different when the ink is replaced with a new ink tank and when the head is replaced with a new head cartridge. If it is only the ink tank replacement,
It can be replaced while the ink is sufficiently stored in the tank,
In the case of a new head, for example, the ejection state of the head may be tested at the time of factory manufacture before shipment. Therefore, since the ink remaining amount when a new head is mounted is smaller than the ink remaining amount when a new ink tank is replaced, it is preferable that the initial value of the ink remaining amount after the replacement is different.

As described above, in the case of replacement, the replacement mode is displayed on the display device 3007, and an instruction means corresponding to the displayed replacement mode is provided on the key of the keyboard 3005 to instruct the replacement. Therefore, the replacement operation is not erroneous, and the control regarding the display of the remaining ink amount after replacement can be performed accurately.

(Second Embodiment) In the above-described first embodiment, the remaining ink amount display, that is, the notification content is changed in accordance with the replacement instruction from the instruction means (in the above-described embodiments, replacement of a new head is supported). And changed the remaining amount display to the MAX value.)
However, a case where the ejection recovery process of the head cartridge is performed according to the replacement instruction of the instruction means will be described next.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a process in which the ejection recovery operation is performed according to the replacement mode of the head cartridge or the ink tank. Here, each of the recovery operations 1 to 5 which is the ejection recovery process will be described later, and the flow up to the recovery operation will be described.

First, in the exchange mode performed, it is determined in step S201 whether the head is replaced or the ink tank is replaced.
When it is determined in step S201 that the head is to be replaced, it is further determined in step S202 whether the operation is to replace the head cartridge with a new one. Step S2
When it is determined that the head is a new head replacement in 0, the type of head cartridge is determined in the next step S203. If it is determined in step S203 that the mounted head is a color head cartridge, the process proceeds to step S204 to perform the recovery operation 1, and if it is determined in step S203 that the head has been replaced with a monochrome head, step S205. Move to and recover 2
Is carried out.

Here, in correspondence with each instruction means shown by the above-mentioned display means 3007, steps S201, S2
The determination in 02 is determined based on the instruction result of the menu corresponding to the function key F3, and the determination of the head type in step S203 is performed based on the information HD detected by the detection circuit shown in FIG.

In the case of a head replacement other than the new head replacement in step S202 (in the case of replacement with a different type of head)
In step S206, it is determined whether or not the recovery operation is to be executed, and if it is to be executed, the process proceeds to step S207 and the recovery operation 3 is executed.

Here, the determination in step S206 is made according to the elapsed time from the time when the previous ejection recovery process was executed for the head mounted after replacement, and in the case of the present embodiment, it is determined from the execution of the previous ejection recovery process. The recovery operation is performed when 72 hours or more have passed. The time at which the discharge recovery process is executed is stored in the RAM 3104 and the EEPROM 3105 each time the process is executed, and the elapsed time is calculated from the stored time and the time when the replacement work is completed. In this example, the time is detected by the timer 3002. In this embodiment, the time taken out of the recording apparatus was set to 72 hours as a reference, but when the type of head is exchanged within a short time, thickening of ink or dust on the ejection port surface of the head cartridge is performed. This is because there is little adhesion of the like and the recovery process is not required. Further, if the recovery process is always performed when the head is replaced, the amount of ink consumption increases, and unnecessary recovery process is not performed in order to reduce the running cost. Further, in the present embodiment, the presence or absence of the recovery operation is determined based on 72 hours, but the content of the recovery operation may be subdivided according to the elapsed time.

Next, in the case of replacement other than head replacement in step S201 (ink tank replacement here), the process proceeds to step S208, it is determined whether or not the black ink tank is replaced, and the black ink tank is replaced. In this case, it is determined in step S209 whether the ink tank is a monochrome head cartridge tank, and if it is a monochrome head cartridge, the recovery operation 2 in step S205 is executed. If it is determined in step S209 that the head is not the monochrome head, the process proceeds to step S204 and the recovery operation 1 is executed. If it is determined in step S208 that the black ink tank is not replaced, then in step S210, it is determined whether or not the color tank is replaced. If the color ink tank is replaced, the recovery operation 1 is performed in parallel with step S204. Step S210
If it is determined that the color ink tank is not replaced in step S3, it is determined that the color ink tank and the monochrome ink tank are both replaced in this example, and step S
Then, the process proceeds to 211 and the recovery operation 4 is executed.

In this way, when the replacement target is the head, or the ink tank, whether it is monochrome or color, or replacement with a new head, an appropriate recovery process is executed according to each. It is configured.

Next, each ejection recovery process will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the flow of each discharge recovery processing operation, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the state of rotation of the pump gear of the recovery system unit corresponding to the discharge recovery processing operation. The recovery system unit, as shown in FIG.
A cap 22 provided so as to face an ink ejection port forming surface provided on the head cartridge 1, and a pump 2 for applying a suction force to suck the ink received by the cap.
3, a waste ink tank 24 for storing ink that is sucked by the pump 23 and is not suitable for recording, a wiper 25 for wiping the ejection port surface, and a driving force transmitted,
It is composed of a pump 23, a cap 22 and a cam device 27 for moving the wiper, etc., and its operation is three of a capping operation, a wiping operation and a pumping operation.
There are two types of movement.

The capping operation means a reference position (see FIG. 12).
In the capping sensor OFF position (hereinafter referred to as the home position), the cap 22 automatically caps the head cartridge 1 to prevent the ink in the nozzle from drying and to prevent dust, paper dust, etc. from adhering. . This operation turns off the word processor power
It is automatically performed after a predetermined time has elapsed in the time-lined cap open state (state without capping).

The wiping operation is performed by a wiper 25 which is movably supported between a position where it projects toward the head cartridge 1 side and performs wiping in the process of movement of the carrier 3 and a retracted position where it does not engage with the ejection port forming surface. This is an operation for wiping off dust, paper dust, and the like from the ejection port of the head cartridge 1. This wiping operation is performed by the power source OF of the recording apparatus.
At the time of F, before the cap open state, the cap closed state (capping state), before every page printing, immediately after the capping operation, and when the predetermined number of recording dots or recording time is exceeded during recording, it is executed. In particular, after the recovery operation involving the ejection of ink, the recovery operation involving the ejection of ink is considered in consideration of the case where minute ink droplets adhere to the ejection port surface and the ejection state deteriorates due to this. After that, the recovery operation can be completed surely.

In the pumping operation, the cap is made to face the ejection port forming surface and the energy generating element used for ejecting ink provided at the ejection port is driven to eject ink from the nozzle. As a result, a process (preliminary ejection) of removing ejection failure factors such as air bubbles, dust, or ink that has thickened and becomes unsuitable for recording is performed. Alternatively, the ejection port formation surface is covered with a cap and the pump 23 or the like is removed. This is a recovery operation in which the cause of ejection failure is removed by forcibly ejecting ink from the ejection port using the suction means.

As shown in FIG. 11, the recovery system, which is normally in the capping state at the home position, performs the pumping operation by operating the piston (operation), and is in the stopped state for 3 seconds so that the ink is sufficiently sucked in this state. It is kept (action). Then, with the cap open, a predetermined number of preliminary ejections are performed for all nozzles (operation). Next, empty suction for discharging the ink filled in the pump is performed four times (operation). Subsequently, the head cartridge 1 is moved to the wiper ON position to execute wiping (operation). Finally wiper cleaning (operation),
The head cartridge 1 is returned to the capping position and capping is performed (step). Here, the wiper cleaning keeps the wiper 25 clean by moving the carrier while the wiper is in contact with a cleaner member (not shown) provided on the carriage 3 so as to be able to contact the wiper 25 at a position facing the wiper 25. It is an action.

Next, the recovery operations 1, 2, shown in FIG.
3, 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

The number of times of ink suction corresponding to each recovery operation shown in FIG. 13 is achieved by repeatedly performing the series of ejection recovery processing shown in FIG. 11 a predetermined number of times, and preliminary ejection is performed by the operation of FIG. This is achieved by performing the number of preliminary discharges shown in FIG. In the recovery operation 1 and the recovery operation 4, the number of ink suctions and the number of preliminary ejections are larger than those of the other recovery operations because the target head cartridge is the color head cartridge and the color ink tank. This is because the ink flow path in the color head cartridge is longer than that in the monochrome head cartridge and a large amount of ink suction is required. Further, the large number of preliminary ejections is performed in order to prevent the inks of other colors from being mixed into the nozzles ejecting the color inks. The smallest number of times of ink suction in the recovery operation 2 is set to once because a small amount of ink suction is required in the recovery process over time.

Needless to say, the content of each of these recovery operations is not limited to the description of this embodiment, and may be optimally set according to the configuration of the head cartridge. In particular, with regard to the recovery operation 3 performed in step S207 in FIG. 10, the recovery operation may be different depending on whether a different type of head is replaced with a monochrome head cartridge or a color head cartridge. It is preferable for reducing ink consumption.

(Other Embodiments) Another example of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 will be described.

FIG. 14 is another example of the flowchart shown in FIG. The same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as those in the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the flow chart shown in FIG. 14, when it is determined in step S201 that the ink tank is to be replaced, in the following step S213, the type of the tank to be replaced is not determined, but the mounted head is replaced. Determine the type. Here, in the flowchart of FIG. 10 described above, when it is determined that the ink tank is to be replaced, the type of the ink tank to be replaced is determined, which is different from the flowchart shown in FIG. .

The determination of the type of head in step S213 is performed based on the information HD detected by the detection circuit described with reference to FIG. Therefore, since the mounted head can be identified without the user's instruction, when the mounted head is monochrome, the user's instruction can be simplified to set the recovery operation. As a result, the process up to determining the recovery operation when the ink tank is replaced can be achieved with fewer steps than in the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, and the number of instructions from the user can be reduced.

Further, although the electronic equipment described in the above embodiments is the electronic equipment having the built-in recording device, the display device and the information processing device for editing and creating the recorded information and the recording device are separately configured. The present invention can be preferably applied to an electronic device in which the display device or the information processing device is connected to the recording device through an interface cable or the like.

Further, although the ink jet recording apparatus has been described so far, the invention can be applied to an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser printer in which a toner or the like is used as a recording material and a cartridge for supplying the recording material is replaceable.

As described above, when the recording material supplying means such as the recording head and the ink tank of the recording apparatus is used by being replaced, the replacement can be accurately instructed and the recording apparatus after replacement can be accurately controlled. Further, since the control of the recording apparatus after the replacement is performed accurately, there is an effect that the recording material is prevented from being wasted when the recording material supply means consumes by the operation other than the recording in the processing after the replacement.

The present invention is particularly effective in a recording apparatus using an inkjet recording head for recording by forming flying liquids by utilizing thermal energy among the inkjet recording systems.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) that is generated and eventually responds to this drive signal as a single unit
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 44, which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Furthermore, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main body of the apparatus, or the ink from the main body of the apparatus is electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus by being attached to the main body of the apparatus. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add the ejection recovery means of the recording head, the preliminary auxiliary means and the like because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, two or more recording heads may be provided corresponding to a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet system, it is common to adjust the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, other than the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function can be used. It may be a form or the like.

[0070]

As described above, when the recording material supply means such as the recording head and the ink tank of the recording apparatus are used by exchanging them, the replacement can be instructed accurately and the recording apparatus after the exchange can be controlled accurately. Further, since the control of the recording apparatus after the replacement is performed accurately, there is an effect that the recording material is not wasted when the recording material supply unit consumes by the operation other than the recording in the processing after the replacement.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 is an external perspective view of a head cartridge used in the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

4 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit for detecting whether or not a head cartridge is mounted in the control configuration of the block diagram shown in FIG.

5 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of an electronic apparatus including the recording device shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining display contents on the display device of the electronic device shown in FIG.

7A and 7B are views for explaining display contents when the head cartridge is replaced in the display shown in FIG.

8A and 8B are views for explaining display contents when the ink tank is replaced in the display shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing control of head cartridge replacement according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating control of the recording apparatus after replacement according to this embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a discharge recovery process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is another explanatory diagram illustrating the discharge recovery process.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a recovery operation according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating control of the recording apparatus after replacement according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 head cartridge 2 career 3 hooks 4 levers 300 hosts 310 recording device 320 Recorded information 321 Recording device status information 3105 EEPROM

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A selection for displaying a remaining amount display means for displaying the remaining amount of the recording material in the recording material supply means based on the cumulative number of recording dots and a selection item for replacing the recording material supply means with a new recording material supply means. When the item display unit and the selection item to be replaced with the new recording material supply unit displayed by the selection item display unit are selected, the cumulative dot number is reset, and the remaining amount display is performed based on the reset cumulative dot number. An electronic device comprising: a changing unit that changes the display of the unit. 2. A remaining amount display means for displaying the remaining amount of the recording material in the cartridge based on the cumulative recording dot number, a selection item display means for displaying a selection item for replacing the cartridge with a new cartridge, and the selection item display. And a changing means for resetting the cumulative dot number and changing the display of the remaining amount display means based on the reset cumulative dot number when a selection item for replacing a new cartridge displayed by the means is selected. An electronic device characterized by. 3. A remaining amount display step for displaying the remaining amount of the recording material in the recording material supply means based on the cumulative number of recording dots, and a selection for displaying a selection item for replacing the recording material supply means with a new recording material supply means. When the item display step and the selection item to be replaced with the new recording material supply means displayed in the selection item display step are selected, the cumulative dot number is reset, and the remaining amount display is performed based on the reset cumulative dot number. And a changing step of changing the display of the remaining amount of the recording material displayed by the step. 4. A remaining amount display step for displaying the remaining amount of the recording material in the cartridge based on the cumulative recording dot number, a selection item display step for displaying a selection item for replacing the cartridge with a new cartridge, and the selection item display. When the selection item to replace the new cartridge displayed in step is selected, the cumulative dot number is reset, and the remaining amount of the recording material displayed in the remaining amount display step based on the reset cumulative dot number is displayed. And a changing step for changing the display method.