Ink jet recording apparatus and ink cartridge for the apparatus

The present invention relates to an ink cartridge according to the preamble of claim 1 and an ink jet recording apparatus according to the preamble of claim 4.

From JP-A-1 141 750 a general ink cartridge and a general ink jet recording apparatus are known. According to this document, the ink cartridge is insertable along a slot in a receiving portion of the ink jet recording apparatus. The same applies in principle to the document JP-A-62 255 151.

When a recording operation is performed on an ink jet recording apparatus having a replaceable ink cartridge type without inserting an ink cartridge into the apparatus, recording is not performed because ink supply does not take place. Also, when a recovery operation is performed, used ink ejected from the aged ink system side is not filled in the ink cartridge, but may be released in the device, thereby contaminating the environment, or the released waste ink may result in contamination of electrical circuits, resulting in a defect , such as a fire can lead. Consequently, providing detection means for informing a user of the insertion of an ink cartridge into the apparatus is desirable.

An example of such a detection device is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. As shown in Fig. 4, a cartridge detection identifier 131 comprises a rotatable cover plate axis 131 B, which is attached to the upper portion of an insertion opening 121, an attached at one end of the axle identification or Cover plate 131C and a neck portion 131A for rotating the Abdeckplattenachse 131B, and on the other hand, a pivotable by the insertion of a cartridge 104 lever member 132 is provided within the insertion opening 121. Thus, a protruding portion 132A of the lever member 132 is pressurized by the front end of the cartridge when the ink cartridge 104 is inserted into the insertion opening 121 and securely inserted with a hollow needle 120 inserted into a tank (not shown) in the cartridge 104 respectively. is mounted, whereby an end portion 132B of the lever pivotally moves the cover plate 131C through the boss portion 131A and holds it in a light-stopping position for a detection sensor 124 as shown.

In Fig. 5, the details of the detection sensor 124 for detecting both the home position and the cartridge are shown. The detection sensor 124 is of the transmission type and has an optical path 135 between a light-emitting element 133 and a light-receiving element 134, and is configured such that the optical path 135 is detected by a plug-in position detection flag 130, the cover plate 131C of the ink cartridge detection flag 131, etc. shielded from the light. Accordingly, when the ink cartridge 104 is inserted, the detection sensor 124 detects the cover plate 131C when a cartridge 102 has been guided to a detection position, thereby confirming the insertion of the cartridge.

However, in the conventional ink-jet recording apparatus described above, the plug-in position sensor is also used as the cartridge detection sensor, and the number of detectors is accordingly reduced, but the information to be recognized by the user with respect to the ink cartridge 104 includes not only the insertion thereof, but also information regarding the color and property of the ink contained in the ink cartridge 104 as described above and the amount of residual ink, where the number of labels must be increased or the number of detectors as such must be increased to allow all this information be obtained, resulting in a complex structure and thus in turn to increased costs.

An object of the invention is to provide an ink cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus in which a detection means is used to inform the user of the insertion of an ink cartridge into the apparatus, the detection means allowing easy handling of the cartridge.

The above object is achieved by the combination of features given in independent claims 1 and 4. Preferred embodiments of the subject matters of claims 1 and 4 are defined in the dependent claims.

According to an embodiment, an identification member capable of protruding and containing, and provided in the ink cartridge, projects from the cartridge toward the path along which the carriage is moved when the ink cartridge at a receiving portion projects the ink jet recording apparatus is inserted, and thus the insertion of the ink cartridge can be detected by a photosensor, which is carried on a carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus, and by various changes of the shape of the identification member and labeling of each ink cartridge, the information for a plurality of ink cartridges can be individually determined by a combination thereof with the moving position of the carriage.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1A and 1B illustrate the structure of the ink cartridge before and after insertion of the cartridge.

Figures 2A-2C show respective representations of the three forms of the ink cartridge identification element.

Figs. 3A and 3B illustrate the operation of another embodiment of the ink cartridge in a state in which ink is present and in a state in which ink is absent.

Fig. 4 shows the structure of an ink cartridge detection device according to the prior art.

FIG. 5 illustrates a photosensor for the detection device according to FIG. 4.

1A and 1B show an embodiment of the ink cartridge according to the invention. In these figures, reference numeral 401 denotes an ink cartridge having therein an ink tank portion not shown, reference numeral 402 denotes a shutter slidably held along an opening 401A on the upper surface of the cartridge 401, reference numeral 402A denotes a shutter protruding upward from FIG the shutter 402 protrudes and reference numeral 403 denotes a coil spring, which is interposed between the shutter 402 and a spring receiving wall 401B. By the coil spring 403, the shutter 402 is pushed to the left along the opening 401A, and the shutter projection 402A is caused to press against the terminal edge of the opening 401A thereby to keep the opening 401A closed.

Numeral 404 denotes an identification element which is pivotable about a support shaft 405 and is formed, for example, of a material capable of interrupting infrared light. The support shaft 405 is mounted on the wall portion of the cartridge 401. Reference numeral 406 denotes a torsion coil spring provided about the support shaft 405 and having an associated end retained by the identification member 404, the other associated end being fixed to the wall portion of the cartridge 401. The torsion coil spring 406 urges the identifier 404 clockwise about the axis 405 to thereby push it toward the back of the shutter 402. On the other hand, reference numeral 422A denotes a stopper portion projecting from a cartridge guide 422 to a cartridge insertion path 426. When the ink cartridge 401 is inserted from right to left, as shown in Fig. 1A, the closure projection 402A presses against the abutment portion 422A, and in a subsequent further insertion operation, this serves to open the closure 402 against the spring force of the spring 403.

Reference numeral 424 denotes a transmission type light detection sensor equipped, for example, with an infrared light detection function. The sensor 424 is carried on a carriage. When the ink cartridge 401 is inserted from the state of FIG. 1A along the cartridge insertion path 426, the shutter 402 is opened by the stopper 422A as described above, and in the fully inserted state of the ink cartridge 401 shown in FIG. 1B, the shutter 402 is fully opened, and at the same time, the flag 404 is raised by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 406 and presses against the stopper 422A, and is held in a position to interrupt the optical path of the detection sensor 424. The end portion 402B of the shutter 402 protruded along the opening therein is for suppressing the erecting of the identification member 404 when the ink cartridge 401 has its fully inserted position as shown in FIG. 1B is not occupied, but takes an incompletely inserted position, and as long as the identification member 404 is not erected, the end part 402B is not detected by the detection sensor 424, and thus incomplete insertion of the ink cartridge 401 can be prevented. Consequently, in this case, it is preferable to keep a gap between the tag member 404 and the shutter 402 as small as possible, by which means the timing at which the tag member 404 is raised, ie, the timing at which the ink cartridge 401 is fully inserted, can be adjusted more accurately.

Also, when the ink cartridge 401 is to be removed from the recording apparatus, the ink cartridge 401 is moved to the right from the state of FIG. 1B, whereby the tag member 404 is pushed by the stopper member 402A and rotated counterclockwise, as well as the shutter 402 is moved by the spring force of the coil spring 403 in a direction to close the opening 401A, and in the fully withdrawn state the cartridge, the identification element 404 is stored under the closure 402.

With the ink cartridge thus constructed, the cartridge insertion detecting member which is provided in the cartridge itself is stored inside thereof before the cartridge is inserted, and thus the external appearance of the cartridge is not adversely affected, and the cartridge is simple to handle or on the other hand, on the recording device side, it is only necessary to provide a hole for raising and lowering the identification element and a stopper provided in the cartridge guide, and moreover, as described below, by means of a simple structure, various kinds of information the ink cartridge can be provided to the user with high reliability.

Such a structure enables a reliable insertion of the cartridge with respect to the device, and thus, for example, in the case where a cartridge carries an information carrier thereon, the corresponding information is reliably transmitted.

FIGS. 2A to 2C show another embodiment of the ink cartridge according to the invention. In these figures, only one flange member 404 is shown, wherein reference numerals 404A, 404B and 404C indicate associated light intercepting members. By the light interruption parts 404A, 404B, and 404C, which correspond to the direction along the associated support axis 405, ie can be changed along the direction of movement of the carriage, the detection position can be changed by the detection sensor shown in Figs. 1A and 1B, and different information regarding the ink cartridge 401 (in the case of the present embodiment, three types of information) may be due to Difference in the detection position can be obtained. This is an example of another form of the information carrier described above. Thus, the flange member 404, which differs in the position of the light intercepting part from cartridge to cartridge containing ink as described above, is used to show the kind, the characteristic or the like of the ink contained in the cartridge 401, the number of the information types is not limited to three, as described above.

The amount of information that can be processed differs depending on the resolving power during carriage scanning and the detection width of the detection sensor, but in a case where a design is designed such that detection of a width of 20 mm is made by, for example, scanning each 2 mm, an identification element is provided in each cartridge, in which the light intercepting part is changed in position in a unit of 2 mm, whereby 10 types of information can be obtained. If an attempt is made to obtain such information by means of a conventional system, 10 independent identifiers are required and, moreover, such identifiers must be placed at intervals of 2 mm at the recorder side, which inevitably leads to an increased number of parts as well as to an increased number Complexity, increased space requirements and increased costs of the device leads, whereas by a structure of the cartridge, As shown in the present embodiment, it becomes possible to save space by a minimum number of parts and yet provide numerous kinds of information regarding the ink cartridge.

Referring to Figs. 3A and 3B, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention and a structure for transmitting information indicating the presence or absence of ink. The present embodiment is one in which, for an ink bag 430 in the cartridge 401, there is provided an identifier for informing the user that the remaining amount of ink in the ink bag has reached, for example, a predetermined amount or less. Reference numeral 440 denotes this identification element, wherein in the present embodiment at the end part of the side of the identification element 440 in which a support shaft 405 is provided, a contact part 440A is formed, which protrudes substantially in the shape of a semicircle, wherein such a contact part 440A constantly Contact with the surface of the ink bag 430 even in the fully inserted state of the ink cartridge 401, as shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, and in the state before insertion of the ink cartridge, which is not shown, can hold.

Reference numeral 441 denotes longitudinal slots formed in two wall portions of the ink cartridge 401, which are parallel to the plane of the drawing sheet, with the support shaft 405 of the identification member 440 inserted in these slots 441 and held for vertical movement and rotational movement. Also, in the case of the present embodiment, a torsion coil spring 406 mounted around the support shaft 405 has a spring force for urging the identification member 440 clockwise and pushing the support shaft 405 itself downward along the slots 441, the contact part 440A of FIG Identification element 440 is pressed to the ink bag 430.

According to the thus constituted ink cartridge 401, before the cartridge 401 is inserted to a predetermined insertion position along a insertion path 426, the identification member 440 is housed under the shutter 402 in the same manner as described above in connection with Fig. 1A, but when the cartridge is secure is inserted at the predetermined insertion position, the identification element 440 rises in the manner shown in Figs. 3A or 3B. Thus, simultaneously with the raising of the identification member, the contact part 440A of the identification member 440 is pressed against the surface of the ink bag 430 by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 406.

Thus, in the ink cartridge 401 thus provided with the ink bag 430 as the ink container portion, when sufficient ink is stored in the ink bag 430, the entire tag 440 rises to a high position, as shown in FIG. 3A, and thus the associated light interruption part 440B is held at a height for interrupting the optical path 435 of a detection sensor 424, and when the carriage has been guided to the position of the cartridge 440, the presence of ink is detected by the detection sensor 424 is carried in the carriage, detected. Also, when the ink is exhausted, the tag member 440 is held in a low position as shown in FIG. 3B, even though it is raised, whereby the identification element 440 does not interrupt the optical path 435 of the detection sensor 424, and it is determined that the ink is missing.

Also, as described above, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention and the associated ink cartridge, a transmission type photosensor which is shielded from light by an identification element provided in the path of travel of the carriage is provided to the carriage, and an identification element designed protrude into the path of movement of the carriage only in the inserted state of the ink cartridge, is provided with the ink cartridge, wherein the transmission type photosensor is shielded from light by the label provided on the ink cartridge, whereby the cartridge insertion can be detected, and hence not only the cartridge insertion is limited by a small number of parts and a simple one Structure detected, but also the shape of the identification element is formed differently for each ink cartridge, creating many types of information, such as the type, the property, etc. of the ink classified by the user can be recognized, and in addition, the amount of the remaining ink can be detected.

The present invention is remarkably effective especially in a recording head and a bubble jet type recording apparatus brought out by Canon, Inc. among the ink jet recording systems.

As for the typical structure and principle of this system, a structure using the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US-A-4,723,129 and US-A-4,740,796 is preferable. This system is applicable to both the so-called request type (on-demand type) and the so-called continuous operation type (continuous type), and the present invention is effective particularly in the case of the request type, since at least one drive signal, recording information and provision of a corresponds to a rapid increase in temperature, which exceeds a core boiling, is supplied to an electro-thermal conversion element, is disposed correspondingly to a sheet or a liquid path in which liquid (ink) is held, thereby causing the electro-thermal conversion element to generate heat energy and cause film boiling at a thermal effect surface of a recording head, causing a Bubble in the liquid (ink) can be formed one to one according to the drive signal. By the growth and contraction of the bubble, the liquid (ink) is ejected through an ejection opening to thereby form at least one droplet. When this driving signal is carried out in a pulse shape, the growth and contraction of the bubble can take place promptly as appropriate, and hence ejection of the liquid (ink) which is very good in responsiveness can be carried out, and it is preferable. The drive signal of such a pulse shape may suitably be one of those described in US-A-4,463,359 and US-A-4,345,262. Adopting the conditions described in US-A-4,313,124, which is an invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the thermal surface, would lead to the possibility of making a better record.

Regarding the structure of the recording head, besides the structure disclosed in the aforementioned patents, which includes a combination of ejection ports, fluid paths, and electro-thermal conversion elements (a straight fluid flow path or a vertical fluid flow path), the present invention includes the US Pat Covered by US-A-4,558,333 and US-A-4,459,600 which disclose constructions, in which the heat active part is arranged in a curved area. In addition, the present invention is effective in a structure based on JP-A-59-123670, which discloses a structure in which a slot common to a plurality of electro-thermal conversion elements is the ejection part of the electro-thermal conversion elements a structure based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a structure in which an opening for absorbing the pressure wave of the heat energy corresponds to the ejection part.

Further, a whole-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the largest recording medium on which the recording apparatus can record is for a structure as disclosed in the above-mentioned publications, this length being a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a recording head as a single, A recording head formed as a unit can serve as a structure, and the present invention can more effectively exhibit the above-described effect.

In addition, the present invention is also effective in a case where use is made of a recording head of the exchangeable chip type which is adapted to be mounted on a device body to thereby make electrical connection to the device body or supply the ink supply from the device body enable or use of a cartridge-type recording head, which is integrally provided on the recording head itself.

Also, the addition of recovery means, preliminary ejection means, etc. for the recording head provided as the structure of the recording apparatus of the present invention can better stabilize the effect of the present invention, and hence is preferable. More specifically, these are a capping means, a cleaning means, and a recording head pressure or suction means, an electro-thermal conversion element, or a heating element or preheating means comprising a combination thereof, which is also effective for achieving stable recording to execute a prefire mode in which a non-record eject is executed.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode using only a main color such as black, but a recording head constructed as a unit or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used. the present invention being very effective for a device provided with a plurality of different colors or at least one full color provided by mixed colors.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention are described as using liquid ink, but the present invention also makes it possible to use an ink which is in a solid state at room temperature or an ink which softens at room temperature. In the above-described ink jet recording apparatus, it is common to regulate the ink temperature itself within a range of 30 ° C to 70 ° C and to carry out temperature control such that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range, and thus, use can be made of an ink containing the ink liquid phase when the recording signal used is transmitted. In addition, the temperature rise by the heat energy becomes positive as the energy for the change of ink from the associated solid phase to the associated liquid phase, thereby preventing the temperature rise, or from ink which solidifies when left alone, which is used for the purpose of preventing the evaporation of the ink, in each case using an ink having a property, that it liquefies only by heat energy, such as an ink liquefied by the supply of heat energy corresponding to the recording signal, and ejected in the form of a liquid or ink already starting to solidify from a time point, where it reaches the record carrier for which the present invention is equally applicable. In such a case, the ink may take a form as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260 wherein the ink is held as a liquid or a solid in pits or through holes in a porous sheet and an electro-thermal conversion element. In the present invention, what is most effective for each of the above-mentioned inks is what performs the above-described film boiling system.