JP2000326501A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To solve the inconvenience of a recording device that controls printing by using data in a storage unit using an ink cartridge provided with the storage unit. SOLUTION: Default data storage means 12 storing default data for controlling a recording head 3, and storage means 7 of the ink cartridge 4 when the ink cartridge is mounted.
The data from the storage unit of the ink cartridge 4 is controlled based on the data from the storage unit of the ink cartridge 4 if the data is suitable, and based on the data from the default data storage unit 12 if the data is not suitable. A print control unit 10 for executing a printing operation is provided. If data cannot be read from the semiconductor storage unit 7 of the ink cartridge despite that the ink cartridge is an appropriate ink cartridge, printing is performed with default data. .

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing on a printing medium while 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 supplies a driving signal corresponding to print data to a piezoelectric vibrator or a heating means, and pressurizes ink by energy generated by the piezoelectric vibrator or the heating means to form a nozzle. A recording head for discharging ink droplets from the opening and an ink cartridge containing ink for supplying ink to the recording head are provided. 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. Even with ink, the method of driving the recording head suitable for the ink characteristics has been improved.Furthermore, maintenance conditions such as idle ejection cycles to prevent clogging of nozzle openings and forced ejection in the capping state have been improved. Improvements are being made.

[0003] The results of such improvements are described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
As can be seen in JP-A-193127, by storing each data in a semiconductor storage means attached to the ink cartridge, the data can be reflected on a recording device on the user side.

[0004]

According to this, it is possible to operate the recording apparatus in an optimum state, but the data in the storage means attached to the ink cartridge is lost or the reading is not possible. When it becomes possible, there is a disadvantage that printing becomes impossible. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when data from a storage unit attached to an ink cartridge is readable, it is possible to perform high-quality printing based on the data. It is another object of the present invention to provide a recording device that enables printing even when reading is impossible.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording head which receives supply of ink from an ink cartridge provided with storage means for storing control data for the recording head. In an ink jet recording apparatus comprising a control unit for driving the recording head based on the control data of the storage unit, a default data storage unit storing default data for controlling the recording head, and a time when the ink cartridge is mounted. The data is read from the storage means of the ink cartridge to judge the suitability, and if it is suitable, the ink jet recording head is controlled based on the data of the storage means of the ink cartridge. Executing a printing operation based on data in a default data storage unit And to include the printing control means.

[0006]

When the data cannot be read from the semiconductor storage means of the ink cartridge despite the proper ink cartridge, printing with a certain quality with the predetermined data can be performed.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention,
The carriage 2 reciprocally driven by the drive motor 1 includes:
A recording head 3 is provided on the side facing the recording paper, and an ink cartridge 4 for supplying ink to the recording head 3 is detachably mounted on the upper surface.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink cartridge 4 is provided with semiconductor storage means 7 connected to an electrode 6 which can make contact with the external contact 5, and includes ID data for identifying the ink cartridge. Manufacture date Expiration date Data that specifies a suitable recording device In addition to the ink capacity, control data for driving the recording device under optimal conditions are stored.

Returning to FIG. 1, the print control means 10
Update data storage means 11 for storing data read from the semiconductor storage means 7 of the ink cartridge 4; and predetermined data capable of executing a recording operation to the extent that printing is possible regardless of the presence or absence of data in the semiconductor storage means 7 of the ink cartridge. And is configured to control the head driving means 13 based on any of these data. Reference numeral 14 in the figure indicates a switch that can be operated externally.

Next, the operation of the device configured as described above will be described.
Description will be made based on the flowchart shown in FIG. When the ink cartridge 4 is mounted (Step A), the print control means 10 reads control data from the semiconductor storage means 7 of the ink cartridge 4 via the data read means 15 and is data suitable for the recording apparatus. Is determined (step b). If the data matches, the print control means 10 reads this data, updates the data in the update data storage means 11 (step C), and becomes printable (step d).

On the other hand, if the recording device is not compatible with the recording device,
If reading is impossible, the print control means 10
Displays a message urging the user to replace the ink cartridge (Step E). When the ink cartridge is replaced based on this display (Step F), the process returns to Step (B) and repeats the above steps.

On the other hand, if there is no new cartridge at hand and printing with the previous update data is instructed by the external switch 14, the print control means 10 determines if the data exists in the update data storage means 11. The data stored here can be read and printed (step
J). If there is no data in the update data storage unit 11, the print control unit 10 reads out the data from the default data storage unit 12 and becomes capable of printing (step).

Thus, even if the data cannot be read from the semiconductor storage means despite the proper ink cartridge, it is possible to print the data with the predetermined data with a certain quality. If the update data of the cartridge is stored, the printing can be performed normally if the ink in the cartridge is compatible with the recording apparatus.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording apparatus in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage has been described as an example. However, the ink cartridge is housed in a box, and the ink supply tube is attached to the recording head of the carriage. Obviously, the same effect is achieved even when applied to a recording apparatus that supplies ink.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, the default data storage means for storing the default data for controlling the recording head and the data read from the storage means of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted are read out. Print control for controlling the ink jet recording head based on the data of the storage means of the ink cartridge if it is suitable, and executing the printing operation based on the data of the default data storage means if not suitable Means, even if the data cannot be read from the semiconductor storage means of the ink cartridge despite the fact that the ink cartridge is an appropriate ink cartridge, it is possible to print with a certain quality with the predetermined data, User dissatisfaction can be resolved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the above device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 carriage 3 recording head 4 ink cartridge 7 semiconductor storage means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording head for receiving ink from an ink cartridge provided with storage means for storing control data for a recording head, and a control means for driving the recording head based on the control data of the storage means. In the ink jet recording apparatus provided, a default data storage unit storing predetermined data for controlling the recording head, and read the data from the storage unit of the ink cartridge at the time when the ink cartridge is mounted, and determine whether or not it is appropriate, A print control unit that controls the ink jet recording head based on the data in the storage unit of the ink cartridge if the print data matches, and executes a print operation based on the data in the default data storage unit when the print head does not match Equipped inkjet recording device. 2. An update data storage means which is rewritable, reads out data from the storage means of the ink cartridge at the time when the ink cartridge is mounted, judges whether or not the ink cartridge is appropriate, and when the ink cartridge is compatible, updates the ink cartridge. Updating the data in the update data storage means based on the data in the storage means, controlling the ink jet recording head based on the data in the storage means of the ink cartridge, and updating the data in the case of incompatibility. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a printing control unit that executes a printing operation based on data in the predetermined data storage unit.