JPH0760990A - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To reduce the manufacturing cost and improve the accuracy of detecting the presence or absence of ink. The inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes a carriage 3 that is reciprocally scanned along a sliding shaft 5, and the carriage 3
In this case, several ink cartridges 12 are detachably mounted so that at least one end of them can be seen, and several ink jet heads 2 are mounted corresponding to each ink cartridge 12. . The inkjet head 2 is located at the movement start position of the carriage 3.
A cap 16 is provided so as to face the inkjet head 2 to prevent the orifice from drying. A sensor 30 for detecting the presence / absence of ink is installed near the lower surface of the ink cartridge 12 which is closest to the printing position in the home position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus which can detect the presence / absence of ink in an ink cartridge by utilizing light transmitted or reflected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, two electrodes are exposed in ink,
The presence or absence of ink in the cartridge is detected by detecting a change in ink resistance between the electrodes or a change in pressure in the closed ink flow path. There was also a method of making the ink tank transparent and checking the remaining amount of the tank.

[0003]

However, in the conventional example, installing electrodes on the ink cartridge, which is a consumable item, causes a cost increase, and the pressure change in the flow path is very small. Since the change has to be detected, the detection accuracy varies and the reliability is impaired.

Further, in an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a plurality of ink cartridges, it is necessary to install a considerable number of circuits and sensors, which causes a problem of increasing cost and space.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reducing the manufacturing cost and improving the accuracy of detecting the presence or absence of ink.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a carriage on which a plurality of recording heads and corresponding detachable ink cartridges are mounted side by side in the scanning direction, and a home of the carriage. In an inkjet recording apparatus including a cap that caps each recording head at a position, an ink presence / absence detection unit that is provided at a position facing the cap closest to the printing position and that independently detects the presence or absence of ink in each ink cartridge is provided. The ink presence / absence detection means detects presence / absence of ink by light transmitted through the lower surface of the ink cartridge and a surface adjacent to the lower surface of the ink cartridge, or is reflected on the lower surface of the ink cartridge. The presence or absence of ink may be detected by the emitted light. Te, the threshold value of the current in the light-receiving element in an ink presence detection may be characterized in that different depending on the color.

Further, the above-described ink presence / absence detecting means may also serve as a cartridge presence / absence detection, and may also serve as a carriage home position detection.

[0008]

In the present invention configured as described above, when the carriage on which a plurality of ink cartridges are mounted side by side in the scanning direction is moved from the home position to the printing position,
Each ink cartridge sequentially passes through an ink presence / absence detecting unit provided independently at a position facing the cap closest to the printing position, and the presence / absence of ink in each ink cartridge is detected by the ink presence / absence detecting unit.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an ink jet recording apparatus 1
Includes a carriage 3 that is reciprocally scanned along a sliding shaft 5, and the carriage 3 includes a plurality of ink cartridges 1
2 are detachably mounted so that at least one end thereof can be seen, and a plurality of ink jet heads 2 corresponding to each ink cartridge 12 are mounted. Further, a paper feed roller 6 for feeding the recording paper 7 from the A section to the B section is provided, and the recording paper 7 fed
Is printed and recorded by the inkjet head 2 to which the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 12 in the section B.

At the movement start position of the carriage 3 (hereinafter referred to as "home position"), a cap 16 for preventing the orifice of the ink jet head 2 from drying is provided opposite to the ink jet head 2 mounted on the carriage 3. ing. The cap 16 is integrally formed with a suction recovery system that recovers non-ejection of the inkjet head 2 and fills ink.

When there is no print signal, the carriage 3 is positioned at the home position, and the cap 16 closes the ink jet head 2 so that
The orifice of the inkjet head 2 can be prevented from drying.

A sensor 30 for detecting the presence / absence of ink is provided on the main body of the apparatus as an ink presence / absence detecting means on the lower surface side of the externally visible ink cartridge 12, more specifically, near the lower surface of the ink cartridge 12 closest to the printing position in the home position. It is fixed.

Here, the specific positional relationship of the sensor 30 is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the positions of the sensors used in the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for specifically explaining the arrangement relationship shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor 30 has an L-shape, and is opposed to a position where it does not interfere with the corners of the lower surfaces of the ink cartridges 12A to 12D arranged in parallel in the scanning direction of the carriage. It is fixed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer shell of the ink cartridge 12 is made of a translucent resin. The ink cartridge 1 is provided at one end of the L-shaped sensor 30.
Light-emitting element 3 that irradiates the bottom surface of 2 with light at an angle of α <90 °
0A is provided, and the other end is provided with a light receiving unit 30B that receives the light emitted from the light emitting element 30A.

By setting the angle α to about 45 ° ± 5 °, the sensor 30 becomes the smallest, and the shorter the length β is, the smaller the remaining ink amount at the time of detection becomes. it can. It is suitable for practical use that the length β is restricted to 1 to 2 mm.

The light emitting element 30 is provided around the light receiving element 30B.
A light receiving window (not shown) is provided only in the direction of A, which makes the light receiving element 30B less susceptible to the influence of ambient light.

Since the threshold value of the current in the light receiving element differs depending on the color, the detection accuracy is high for each color.

Next, the ink presence / absence detection operation in this embodiment will be described.

In FIG. 2, when a print signal is input and the carriage starts moving to the print position, the ink cartridge 1
2A, 12B, 12C and 12D are the sensors 30 in this order.
Pass through. At this time, the voltage drop of the light receiving portion due to the transmitted light transmitted through each ink cartridge 12 is observed. When a voltage drop is detected, the detected ink cartridge is determined to be out of ink, no ink is displayed, and the printer returns to the home position in a waiting state for printing operation.

If there is no ink cartridge 12,
Maximum current flows on the light receiving side. As a result, the display indicating that there is no cartridge is displayed, and the home position is waited for.

When the print signal ends, the carriage moves to the home position. At this time, the ink cartridge 1
2D, 12C, 12B and 12A are sensors 30 in this order.
When the sensor 30 detects the fourth ink cartridge 12A after passing through the vicinity of, the home position is detected at this timing and the capping works well.

As described above, the sensor used in the ink presence / absence detecting means can also serve as the home position detection.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, a blade 17 for wiping the head face by sliding contact with the head face is installed near the printing position of the cap 16 having a suction recovery system similar to that of the first embodiment. Are projected at right angles to the head scanning direction in order to eliminate ink droplets attached to the face surface by the cap 16 and run-out due to mist accumulation on the face surface during continuous printing.

The sensor 30 similar to that of the first embodiment is fixed at a position closer to the printing position from the position described in the first embodiment with a gap between the cap 16A and the blade 17. That is, the sensor 30 is fixed at a position facing the blade 17.

When the carriage is moved in the print position direction for wiping the face surface of each head, the ink cartridges 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D pass on the sensor 30 in this order, so that the presence or absence of ink is detected. be able to.

When the print signal ends, the carriage moves to the home position. At this time, the ink cartridge 1
2D, 12C, 12B and 12A are sensors 30 in this order.
A predetermined distance (cap 16A) after the sensor 30 detects the fourth ink cartridge 12A.
After the movement of the blade 17 and the blade 17, the stop position can be confirmed as the home position.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of a third embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the home position, the caps 16A, 1 for preventing the orifice from drying out.
6B, 16C, 16D are provided, and a suction cap 16E for recovering suction of the heads 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D is provided near the printing position of the cap 16. The suction cap 16E protrudes at right angles to the head scanning direction to perform suction recovery of the head. In this embodiment, the suction recovery system and the cap are separate from those of the first and second embodiments.

The sensor 30 similar to that of the first embodiment has a first
The cap 16A and the suction cap 16E are fixed to the print position closer to the print position than the position described in the above embodiment.

Obviously, the time loss can be prevented by observing the ink presence detection immediately after the head recovery operation.

When the carriage is moved to the home position after the print signal is completed, the ink cartridges 12D, 1
2C, 12B, and 12A pass near the sensor 30 in this order, and the sensor 30 is the fourth ink cartridge 1
It is obvious that the stop position can be confirmed as the home position after moving a predetermined distance (offset of 16A and the sensor 30) after detecting 2A.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of a fourth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, the sensor 31 is the same as the position described in the first embodiment, and is arranged at a position facing the lower surface of the ink cartridge 12. The sensor 31 is a light reflection type sensor, and has a light emitting element 31A that emits light toward the lower surface of the ink cartridge 12, and a light receiving element 31B that receives light reflected through the lower surface of the ink cartridge 12. . As a result, the presence or absence of ink in each ink cartridge can be detected, and the home position can be confirmed, as in the first embodiment.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of a fifth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the transmissive sensor 30 described in the second embodiment is replaced with a reflective sensor 31. Therefore, it is obvious that the presence / absence of ink detection and the home position detection can be confirmed.

(Sixth Embodiment) FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of a sixth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, in this embodiment, the transmissive sensor 30 described in the third embodiment is replaced with a reflective sensor 31. Therefore, it is obvious that the presence / absence of ink detection and the home position detection can be confirmed.

(Seventh Embodiment) FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the structure of a seventh embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 9, the ink cartridge 12D
Is for black ink, and is formed wider in the scanning direction of the carriage in order to increase the capacity in consideration of high frequency of use than other color inks. Also in this embodiment, the transmission type sensor 30 or the reflection type sensor 3 (not shown) is provided at the same position as in the first and fourth embodiments.
By disposing 1, the presence / absence of each ink and the detection of the home position can be reliably performed.

(Eighth Embodiment) FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the structure of an eighth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

A printer used as a network base has a high ink usage frequency. Therefore, the capacity of the ink cartridge is increased by extending the container of the ink cartridge upward.

In this embodiment, even if ink cartridges 13 of different sizes are mounted on the upper side as shown in FIG.
The sensor 30 installed based on the lower surface of the cartridge can detect the presence or absence of ink with one sensor for each ink cartridge without lowering the detection accuracy.

(Ninth Embodiment) FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the structure of a ninth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 11, the head and the ink cartridge are single. Also in this embodiment, the first
The sensor 30 arranged at a position corresponding to the position of the cap 16 can detect ink presence / absence, check cartridge presence / absence, and home position detection as in the ninth embodiment. Further, even if different ink jet cartridges are mounted in the head scanning direction or vertically upward, it is possible to similarly check the presence or absence of the cartridge and detect the home position.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, even in a carriage having a plurality of removable ink cartridges, the ink presence / absence detecting means is individually arranged at a position facing the cap closest to the printing position. Thus, the presence or absence of ink in a plurality of ink cartridges can be detected by a single sensor. In addition, since the presence / absence of the ink cartridge can also be detected in the same manner, the device can be downsized in a small space. Further, by also serving as home position detection, the number of sensors can be reduced and the electric capacity can be reduced to reduce the manufacturing cost.

By configuring the ink presence / absence detecting means so as to pass through the lower surface of the ink cartridge and the surface adjacent to the ink cartridge, the sensor can be commonly used for ink cartridges having different shapes such as length and width. It is possible to expect cost reductions due to an increase in product types due to a decrease in the number of managed parts and application to other models.

Further, the ink presence / absence detecting means is used on two adjacent surfaces, so that the size of the apparatus can be reduced, and by integrally manufacturing the parts, the detection accuracy is high even in the large capacity cartridge. Further, by using the lower surface of the ink cartridge, it is possible to suppress the remaining amount of ink at the time of detecting the presence or absence of ink as much as possible, and it is possible to improve reliability.

Since the detection of the presence or absence of the ink also serves as the detection of the home position, the suction recovery performance can be improved by the good capping.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an arrangement position of a sensor used in the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for specifically explaining the arrangement relationship shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a fourth embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a fifth embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a sixth embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a seventh embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an eighth embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a ninth embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Inkjet recording device 2 Head 3 Carriage 5 Sliding shaft 6 Paper feed roller 7 Recording paper 12,13 Ink cartridge 16 Cap 16E Suction cap 17 Blade 30, 31 Sensor 30A, 31A Light emitting element 30B, 31B Light receiving element

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Ink jet recording including a carriage, on which a plurality of recording heads and corresponding detachable ink cartridges are mounted and which is reciprocally scanned, and a cap for capping each recording head at a home position of the carriage. The ink jet recording apparatus is characterized in that the apparatus is provided with an ink presence / absence detection unit provided at a position facing a cap closest to a print position and independently detecting presence / absence of ink in each ink cartridge. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink presence / absence detecting unit detects the presence / absence of ink by light transmitted through a lower surface of the ink cartridge and a surface adjacent to the lower surface. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink presence / absence detection unit detects the presence / absence of ink by the light reflected on the lower surface of the ink cartridge. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the threshold value of the current in the light receiving element when detecting the presence or absence of ink is different depending on the color. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink presence / absence detection unit also serves as a cartridge presence / absence detection. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink presence / absence detection unit also serves as a home position detection for the carriage.