JPH11198408A - Ink jet recording apparatus and ink cartridge suitable for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To easily and automatically change a recording head driving method and maintenance conditions for eliminating clogging in response to a change in ink specifications. SOLUTION: The operating condition of the recording head 7 by ink is stored, and data suitability of the ink of the ink cartridge 8 is determined based on data of the data storing means 15 attached to the ink cartridge 8 and data of the data storing means 15. A control unit 30 is provided for executing a recording operation based on the operating conditions when the conditions are satisfied, and for transferring data of a usage pattern to the data storage unit 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for printing on a recording medium by receiving ink from a replaceable ink cartridge and discharging ink droplets from nozzle openings.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an ink jet recording apparatus is
A recording in which a drive signal is supplied to a piezoelectric vibrator or a heating means in accordance with print data, and the ink in the pressure generating chamber is pressurized by energy generated by the piezoelectric vibrator or the heating means to eject ink droplets from a nozzle opening. The head includes an ink cartridge and an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the head.

[0003] The print quality is determined by the resolution of the recording head and greatly depends on the viscosity of the ink, the degree of bleeding on the recording medium, and the like. Further, the drive signal supplied to the recording head has been improved, and furthermore, the idle discharge cycle for preventing clogging of the nozzle opening and maintenance conditions such as forced discharge in a capping state have been improved. .

[0004]

As described above, not only the characteristics of the ink but also the characteristics of the ink and the method of driving the recording head are integrated, and the printing quality of the recording apparatus is improved. Even if the results of such technical development can be incorporated into newly manufactured ink jet recording apparatuses, application to recording apparatuses that are separated from the manufacturer requires that the recording apparatus be brought to the manufacturer and storage of control data recorded. This requires replacement of the means, which is almost impossible due to cost and labor. In addition, there is a growing need for manufacturers to collect ink cartridges and ink cartridges that have been discarded as consumables as much as possible and work for environmental preservation, and it is necessary to reuse the collected ink cartridges and ink cartridges. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and a purpose thereof is to simplify a recording head driving method and maintenance conditions for eliminating clogging in response to a change in ink specifications, and An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can be automatically changed. A second object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge suitable for the recording apparatus.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage which reciprocates in the width direction of a recording medium, and an ink jet recording head comprising: An ink cartridge that supplies the ink, the operating condition of the recording head by the ink, and a data storage unit attached to the ink cartridge; and determining whether the ink in the ink cartridge is appropriate based on the data in the data storage unit. Then, if it is suitable, a recording operation is executed based on the operating condition, and a control unit for transferring data of a usage pattern to the data storage unit is provided.

[0006]

When the ink cartridge is replaced, the suitability of the ink for the print head is determined, and if the ink is unsuitable, filling of the print head is prevented to prevent damage to the print head. Further, the operating conditions of the recording apparatus are updated with the data provided by the ink cartridge, so that printing and maintenance can be performed in an optimal state using the ink.

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. A carriage 1 is connected to a motor 3 by a timing belt 2 and a guide member 4 is provided.
The recording head 7 is mounted on a surface of the carriage 1 facing the recording paper 6, and an ink cartridge 8 for supplying ink to the recording head 7 is provided on the upper surface of the carriage 1. It is mounted detachably.

In the non-printing area, a cap member 9 for sealing the recording head 7 and a cleaning wiper 10 are arranged. The cap member 9 is connected to a tube pump 12 that receives power from a paper feed motor 11 in the embodiment,
During the idle period, the nozzle opening surface of the recording head 7 is sealed to prevent drying of the ink in the nozzle opening, and when the nozzle opening is clogged, the nozzle opening surface of the recording head 7 is sealed. The ink is forcibly discharged from the recording head 7 by applying a negative pressure from the tube pump 12.

The recording head 7 is a flexible cable 1
And a communication unit 16 for communicating with a data storage unit 15 attached to the ink cartridge near the movement path of the ink cartridge.
Is arranged.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a carriage and an ink cartridge. The carriage 1 is configured as a holder for accommodating an ink cartridge 8, and a recording head is provided on a surface facing the recording paper 6. 7 is fixed, and an ink supply needle 19 is planted on the bottom face 17 at a position facing the ink supply port 18 of the ink cartridge 8. The ink supply needle 19 is connected to the recording head 7 by an ink supply path 20 formed in the carriage 1 so that ink can be supplied to the recording head 7.

A switch 21 is provided on the surface of the carriage which is in contact with the ink cartridge, in this embodiment, on the bottom surface 17 of the carriage.

On the other hand, the ink cartridge 8 is formed by forming an ink chamber 22 for storing ink and an ink supply port 18 communicating with the ink chamber 22 and engaging with an ink supply needle 19 in a liquid-tight manner. The data storage means 15 is attached to a position that does not hinder the mounting of the cartridge, in this embodiment, the upper surface.

The data storage means includes an operating power supply means 23, a wireless communication means 24, and a storage means 25, as shown in FIG. 3, and receives electromagnetic energy and light energy radiated from the recording device by the coil 26. The operation power supply unit 23 converts the DC power into DC power and supplies the converted DC power to the wireless communication unit 24 and the storage unit 25, and reads data from the storage unit 25 and writes data to the storage unit 25.

The storage unit 25 stores control data of the printing apparatus, for example, data for driving the mounted print head 7 in accordance with print data, a cycle of idle discharge during a printing period, and a recovery of discharge capacity. For this purpose, data such as the amount of ink to be forcibly ejected and data on the amount of usable ink are recorded before shipment from the factory.

A battery having a low self-discharge rate can be used as the operating power supply means, and a wired communication means via a connector can be used as the communication means.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention. When the mounting detecting means 31 detects that the ink cartridge 8 has been mounted on the carriage 1, the control means 30 controls the communication means. The communication with the data storage means 15 of the ink cartridge 8 is executed by 16 and the required data is stored in the data storage means 33.

The control means 30 controls the data storage means 1
Based on the data stored in No. 6, a determination operation and a control operation as shown in a flowchart described later are executed.

The control means 30 includes a data storage means 16
The printhead 7 is appropriately controlled by controlling the head drive circuit 33 based on this data, the ink filling operation for the printhead 7 and the ink suction operation for maintenance are controlled by the pump drive circuit 34, and the like. Further, the continuation or stop of the printing operation is determined based on the data from the ink remaining amount management unit 35, and the drive signal to the recording head 7 is adjusted by the signal from the temperature detection unit 36.

The number of times the ink cartridge 8 is attached and detached detected by the mounting detecting means 31 at an appropriate time and the data of the ink remaining amount managing means 35 and the temperature detecting means 36 are transmitted to the data storing means of the ink cartridge 8 by the communicating means 16. 15.

Next, the operation of the above-configured apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the power of the newly purchased recording device is turned on (step
B) Based on the signal from the switch 21, the mounting detecting means 31 determines the presence or absence of the ink cartridge 8 (step b). When the ink cartridge 8 is mounted in this state (step c), the control means 30
The data stored in the data storage means 15 of the ink cartridge 8 is read out (step d), and it is determined whether or not the ink specifications are suitable for the recording apparatus (step e). To prompt the user to replace the ink cartridge (step f),
It prevents damage to the recording head and the like due to use of inappropriate ink.

If it is determined that the mounted ink cartridge 8 is compatible with the recording apparatus, the current mounting is the initial mounting (step), and the data storage means 15
The initial filling operation is executed based on the ink filling sequence read from the printer (step).

That is, the carriage 1 is moved to the capping position, the recording head 7 is sealed with the cap member 9, and the suction pump 12 is operated. The recording head 7
The ink in the ink cartridge 8 is sucked by receiving the negative pressure from the cap member 9, and the ink is filled while discharging the bubbles and the quality maintaining liquid existing in the ink supply channel to the cap member 12.

When the initial filling of the ink is completed (step), the control means 30 waits for the input of the print data, and at the stage when the print data is input (step), the control means 30 specifies the data based on the data stored in the data storage means 15. The driving signal is output to the recording head 7 to form dots.

By the way, the size of the dot formed on the recording paper by the ink droplet ejected from the recording head 7 is as follows.
Because it depends on the viscosity of the ink and the degree of penetration into the recording paper,
By defining the driving energy with the data of the data storage means 15 so as to be suitable for the specification of the ink of the ink cartridge 8 currently mounted, the ink amount of the ink droplet can be adjusted to an optimum value.

The ink remaining amount management means 35 counts the number of ink droplets ejected by printing and integrates the amount of ink consumption (step W). This ink consumption is obtained by calculating the product sum of the number of ink droplets and the amount of one ink droplet.
By storing the coefficient per droplet in 5, the consumption amount can be calculated accurately, so that the ink end of the ink cartridge 8 can be accurately calculated even if the driving conditions are changed in accordance with the change in the specification of the ink. Can be determined.

On the other hand, the printing operation is continued for a predetermined time, and the data storing means
After the time specified by the data (step f) elapses, the control means 30 moves the carriage 1 to the non-printing area so that the recording head 7 faces the cap member 9 and is controlled by the data in the data storage means 15. A predetermined amount of ink droplets from the recording head 7 by driving the motor 11 based on the suction time or the sequence defined by the data in the data storage means Forcibly eject ink to eliminate clogging.

The ink discharge amount is obtained by calculating the suction time of the pump 12 and the product sum of the number of ink droplets during flushing and the amount of one ink droplet. By storing the coefficient per drop according to time, flushing conditions, and the like, it is possible to accurately calculate the consumption amount even if the maintenance conditions are changed (step Y).

By the forced ejection, the thickened ink in the vicinity of the nozzle opening is discharged to the cap member 9 and ink suitable for printing is supplied to the nozzle opening instead, so that printing can be continued while maintaining a certain quality. It becomes possible.

When the maintenance is completed (step)
If print data exists, the above-described steps (W) to (T) are repeated. When printing of all the print data is completed and there is no print data (step
D) The control means 30 transfers the required data, that is, the number of times the ink cartridge 8 is attached and detached, the number of maintenance times, the temperature of the environment, the remaining amount of ink, and the like, to the storage means 15 of the ink cartridge 8 by the communication means 16. Update the data of.

The ink cartridge 8 can be printed for a long time.
When all of the ink has been consumed, the control means 30
Moves the carriage 1 to the ink cartridge replacement position. With the power turned on, the ink cartridge 8 is removed from the carriage 1 and a new ink cartridge is mounted instead.

The attachment / detachment operation of the ink cartridge 8 is as follows.
Since it is detected by the mounting detection means 31, the control means 3
0 reads the data in the storage means 15 of the newly mounted ink cartridge 8 by the communication means 16 (step d) and determines whether or not the ink specifications are suitable for the recording apparatus (step e). If the ink is incompatible, an alarm is issued to urge the user to replace the ink (step F), thereby preventing damage to the recording head 7 due to the use of the incompatible ink and deterioration in print quality.

If it is determined that the installed ink cartridge 8 is compatible with the recording apparatus, the current installation is
Since the mounting is the first time or later (step T), the filling operation is executed based on the ink filling sequence read from the data storage means 15 (step nu).

When ink filling is completed (step
G), the control means 30 waits for the input of the print data, and when the print data is input (step e), forms a dot corresponding to the print data by a drive signal specified by the data of the data storage means 15.

As described above, since the drive signal is generated based on the data stored in the data storage means 15 of the ink cartridge 8, even if the manufacturer changes the specifications of the ink without notice, there is no hindrance to printing. Does not occur, and when the ink is improved, the user can obtain a printed matter of high print quality without any troublesome operation.

Therefore, the manufacturer can commercialize the improved ink at any time, and the consumer can enjoy the results of the technical improvement without having to replace the recording device.

On the other hand, the cartridge 8 consumed by the ink and consumed and collected by the store or the like is brought to the ink maker, the data in the data storage means 15 of the cartridge 8 is read out, and the usage form of the ink cartridge, that is, The ambient temperature where the ink cartridge was placed,
The number of times of cleaning and the like are determined.

When the usage pattern is determined in this way, it is possible to feed back the performance and the like of the ink to the production of the ink to help quality improvement, and to deteriorate by improper use or use in a harsh environment. It is possible to prevent the used cartridge from being refilled with ink before shipping, and to maintain the quality.

After the used cartridge is refilled with ink, by storing data of a drive signal optimal for the ink and data such as a maintenance sequence, the ink cartridge can be saved without any trouble for the user. The recording apparatus can be automatically optimized so as to be compatible with the ink of improved quality by the simple operation of installing the ink.

In the above-described embodiment, the data of the ink cartridge is updated when the printing operation is completed. However, the data may be updated at the time of turning on the power or at intervals of a period specified by a timer or the like. Obviously, it has a similar effect.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording apparatus of the type in which the ink cartridge 8 is mounted on the carriage 1 has been described as an example. However, the ink cartridge is installed in a box, and the recording head is connected via an ink supply tube. It is apparent that the same effect can be obtained even when the present invention is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus of a type that supplies ink to a recording medium.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operating condition of the recording head by ink is stored, the data storage means attached to the ink cartridge, and the ink of the ink cartridge based on the data of the data storage means. Control means for determining the suitability of the ink, and executing the printing operation based on the operating condition if the ink is suitable. To prevent damage to the print head, update the operating conditions of the printing apparatus with the data provided by the ink cartridge, and perform printing in the optimal state with ink and perform maintenance in the best state. Operation can be guaranteed. Furthermore, since the data of the use form is transferred to the data storage means, it is possible to recycle the used ink cartridge without impairing the reliability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an ink cartridge and a carriage.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a data storage unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a control device for controlling the operation of the above device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the above device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 7 Ink-jet recording head 8 Ink cartridge 15 Data storage means 16 Communication means

Claims (8)

[Claims] An ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage reciprocating in a width direction of a recording medium, an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the ink jet recording head, and an operation condition of the recording head by the ink are stored. A data storage unit attached to the ink cartridge; and determining whether or not the ink in the ink cartridge is appropriate based on the data in the data storage unit. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a control unit for causing the data of the usage pattern to be transferred to the data storage unit. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data storage means has a rewritable storage means. 3. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data storage means stores data on drive condition of said recording head suitable for ink of said ink cartridge. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data storage means has a communication means. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data storage means stores data on maintenance conditions of said recording head corresponding to ink characteristics. 6. A container having an ink chamber for accommodating ink, an ink supply port for discharging ink from the ink chamber to a recording head, and data for controlling a recording apparatus using the ink. An ink cartridge comprising: a readable / writable storage unit; and a communication unit that enables data transfer between the storage unit and an external device. 7. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the storage unit is updated with data transferred from a recording device. 8. The data transferred from the recording device,
7. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the ink cartridge includes at least an amount of ink used, the number of times of attaching and detaching the ink cartridge, a maintenance mode of the recording head, and an environmental temperature.