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United States Patent |
5,635,961
|
Sato
|
June 3, 1997
|
Means for and method of detecting the state of ink remain in a cartridge
having containing portions differing in ink containing state
Abstract
The present invention has as its object to detect the termination of ink
reliably and highly accurately in an ink jet recording apparatus. An ink
cartridge 2 has an opening 5 for connection to a recording head 1, and is
comprised of a negative pressure generating member containing portion 14
containing a negative pressure generating member 13 and having an
atmosphere communicating port 10, and an ink containing portion 16 which
is adjacent to the negative pressure generating member containing portion
14 and communicates therewith at the bottom 11 of the ink cartridge. Ink
detecting means 3 is provided below the ink containing portion 16. When
the detecting means 3 detects a reduction in the remain in the ink
containing portion 16, ink remains only in the negative pressure
generating member containing portion 14 and the remainder can be
substantially estimated. For the remaining ink, the amount of use is
calculated by the counting of discharge pulses or the like and is
compared, whereby the remain of the ink can be detected accurately and
easily.
Inventors:
|
Sato; Osamu (Kawasaki, JP)
|
Assignee:
|
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)
|
Appl. No.:
|
292014 |
Filed:
|
August 18, 1994 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Intern'l Class: |
B41J 002/19; B41J 002/175 |
Field of Search: |
347/86,87,7
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4313124 | Jan., 1982 | Hara | 346/140.
|
4345262 | Aug., 1982 | Shirato et al. | 346/140.
|
4383263 | May., 1983 | Ozawa et al. | 347/86.
|
4459600 | Jul., 1984 | Sato et al. | 346/140.
|
4463359 | Jul., 1984 | Ayata et al. | 346/1.
|
4558333 | Dec., 1985 | Sugitani et al. | 346/140.
|
4608577 | Aug., 1986 | Hori | 346/140.
|
4631556 | Dec., 1986 | Watanabe et al. | 346/140.
|
4723129 | Feb., 1988 | Endo et al. | 346/1.
|
4740796 | Apr., 1988 | Endo et al. | 346/1.
|
5068806 | Nov., 1991 | Gatten | 395/113.
|
5070346 | Dec., 1991 | Machizuki et al. | 347/7.
|
5414452 | May., 1995 | Accatino | 347/7.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
0443245 | Aug., 1991 | EP | .
|
0593282 | Apr., 1994 | EP | .
|
54-056847 | May., 1979 | JP.
| |
54-133373 | Oct., 1979 | JP.
| |
57-51474 | Mar., 1982 | JP | .
|
59-123670 | Jul., 1984 | JP.
| |
59-138461 | Aug., 1984 | JP.
| |
59-194853 | Nov., 1984 | JP.
| |
60-31021 | Feb., 1985 | JP | .
|
60-071260 | Apr., 1985 | JP.
| |
60-56561 | Apr., 1985 | JP | .
|
62-209317 | Sep., 1987 | JP | .
|
1017465 | Mar., 1989 | JP.
| |
01120352 | May., 1989 | JP | 347/7.
|
92018335 | Oct., 1992 | WO | 347/7.
|
Primary Examiner: Lund; Valerie A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An ink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink containing member
having a plurality of ink containing portions differing in ink containing
state from each other and communicated with each other by a gap portion,
and an ink jet head for discharging ink supplied by being communicated
with one end of said plurality of ink containing portion, said apparatus
comprising:
first detecting means for detecting an ink remain in one of said plurality
of ink containing portions other than the ink containing portion for
supplying the ink to said ink jet head and for detecting any reduction in
the ink remain in said one ink containing portion;
second detecting means for detecting an ink remain in said ink containing
member and for detecting the reduced state of the ink remain in the ink
containing portion communicating with said ink jet head; and
control means for starting the detection by said second detecting means
when said first detecting means detects that the remain of the ink has
become smaller than a predetermined amount.
2. A method of detecting an ink remain of an ink containing member in an
ink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink containing member having
a plurality of ink containing portions differing in ink containing state
from each other and communicated with each other by a gap portion, and an
ink jet head for discharging ink supplied by being communicated with one
end of said plurality of ink containing portions, said method comprising
the steps of:
detecting a first ink remain in one of said plurality of ink containing
portions other than the ink containing portion for supplying the ink to
said ink jet head and detecting any reduction in the ink remain in said
one ink containing portion; and
detecting a second ink remain in the ink containing member and detecting
the reduced remain of the ink in the ink containing portion communicating
with said ink jet head when said step of detecting the first ink remain
detects that the remain of the ink has become smaller than a predetermined
amount.
3. An ink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink jet head for
discharging ink, and an ink cartridge for supplying the ink to said ink
jet head, said ink cartridge having a first ink containing chamber
containing a negative pressure generating member therein and provided with
a communicating portion for supplying the ink to said ink jet head, and a
second ink containing chamber directly containing therein the ink to be
supplied to said first ink containing chamber, said apparatus comprising:
first detecting means for detecting the remain of the ink in said second
ink containing chamber;
used ink amount calculating means for calculating the amount of ink used
from said ink cartridge; and
control means for starting the calculation by said used ink amount
calculating means when said first detecting means detects that the remain
of the ink in said second ink containing chamber has become smaller than a
predetermined amount.
4. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said used
ink amount calculating means calculates the amount of used ink by the
number of ink drops discharged from said ink jet head.
5. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising
recovery means for recovering an ink discharging state of said ink jet
head and wherein said used ink amount calculating means calculates the
amount of used ink by the amount of ink discharged from said ink jet head
and the amount of ink used by said recovery means.
6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said
recovery means causes the ink to be discharged from said ink jet head to
thereby recover the ink discharging state.
7. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said
recovery means further comprises means for sucking and discharging the ink
from said ink jet head to thereby recover the ink discharging state.
8. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said
recovery means further comprises means for pressing and discharging the
ink from said ink jet head to thereby recover the ink discharging state.
9. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising
stopping means for stopping the recording by said ink jet recording
apparatus when the amount of used ink calculated by said used ink amount
calculating means reaches a predetermined amount.
10. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising
stopping means for stopping the recording by said ink jet recording
apparatus and wherein said control means effects the recording of a page
during said recording when the amount of used ink calculated by said used
ink amount calculating means reaches a predetermined amount, whereafter
said control means stops the recording by said stopping means.
11. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising
warning means for warning a user of a reduction in ink remain.
12. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said
control means controls said warning means to warn the user when said first
detecting means detects that the remain of the ink in said second ink
containing chamber has become smaller than a predetermined amount.
13. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said ink
cartridge is removably mounted on said ink jet recording apparatus.
14. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said
first detecting means detects whether the remain of the ink in said second
ink containing chamber is smaller than a predetermined amount to thereby
detect an ink remain status of said ink cartridge.
15. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said ink
cartridge is constructed integrally with said ink jet head and is
removably mounted on said ink jet recording apparatus.
16. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said
first detecting means detects whether the remain of the ink in said second
ink containing chamber is smaller than a predetermined amount to thereby
detect an ink remain status of said ink cartridge.
17. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said ink
jet head is provided with heat energy generating means for giving heat
energy to the ink, and creates a state change by heating the ink by said
heat energy to thereby discharge the ink.
18. An ink remain detecting device for an ink jet recording apparatus
provided with an ink jet head for discharging ink and an ink cartridge for
supplying the ink to the ink jet head, said ink cartridge having a first
ink containing chamber containing a negative pressure generating portion
therein and provided with a communicating portion for supplying the ink to
the ink jet head and a second ink containing chamber directly containing
therein the ink to be supplied to said first ink containing chamber, said
ink remain detecting device comprising:
first detecting means for detecting a remain of the ink in said second ink
containing chamber;
used ink amount calculating means for calculating the amount of ink used
from said ink cartridge; and
control means for starting the calculation by said used ink amount
calculating means when said first detecting means detects that the remain
of the ink in said second ink containing chamber has become smaller than a
predetermined amount.
19. An ink remain detecting method for use in an ink jet recording
apparatus provided with an ink jet head for discharging ink and an ink
cartridge for supplying the ink to the ink jet head, said ink cartridge
having a first ink containing chamber containing a negative pressure
generating member therein and provided with a communicating portion for
supplying the ink to said ink jet head and a second ink containing chamber
directly containing therein the ink to be supplied to said first ink
containing chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
detecting the remain of the ink in said second ink containing chamber; and
calculating the amount of ink used from said ink cartridge when said
detecting step detects that the remain of the ink in said second ink
containing chamber has become smaller than a predetermined amount.
20. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 19, wherein said used
ink amount calculating step calculates the amount of used ink according to
a number of ink drops discharged from said ink jet head.
21. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 19, further
comprising a step of recovering an ink discharging state of said ink jet
head, and wherein said used ink amount calculating step calculates the
amount of used ink by the amount of ink discharged from said ink jet head
and the amount of ink used in said recovering step.
22. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 21, wherein said
recovering step further comprises causing the ink to be discharged from
said ink jet head to thereby recover the ink discharging state.
23. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 21, wherein said
recovering step further comprises sucking and discharging the ink from
said ink jet head to thereby recover the ink discharging state.
24. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 21, wherein said
recovering step further comprises pressing and discharging the ink from
said ink jet head to thereby recover the ink discharging state.
25. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 19, further
comprising a step of stopping recording when the amount of used ink
calculated by said used ink amount calculating step reaches a
predetermined amount.
26. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 19, further
comprising a step of effecting the recording of a page when during said
recording the amount of used ink calculated by said used ink amount
calculating step reaches a predetermined amount, and a step of thereafter
stopping the recording.
27. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 19, further
comprising a step of warning a user when it is detected in said detecting
step that the remain of the ink in said second ink containing chamber has
become smaller than a predetermined amount.
28. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 19, wherein said ink
cartridge is removably mounted on said ink jet recording apparatus.
29. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 28, wherein said
detecting step detects whether the remain of the ink in said second ink
containing chamber is smaller than a predetermined amount, thereby
detecting an ink remain status of said ink cartridge.
30. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 19, wherein said ink
cartridge is constructed integrally with said ink jet head and is
removably mounted on said ink jet recording apparatus.
31. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 30, wherein said
detecting step detects whether the remain of the ink in said second ink
containing chamber is smaller than a predetermined amount, thereby
detecting an ink remain status of said ink cartridge.
32. An ink remain detecting method according to claim 19, wherein said ink
jet head gives heat energy to the ink and creates a state change by
heating the ink by said heat energy to thereby discharge the ink.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an ink termination detecting device for detecting
ink termination in the ink storing container or the like of an ink jet
recording apparatus for discharging ink to thereby effect recording, or a
remain state detecting device for detecting the remain state of ink.
Particularly, this invention relates to an ink remain state detecting
device for and a method of detecting the remain state of ink contained in
an ink storing container comprising a plurality of containing members
capable of containing ink which communicate in different states.
2. Related Background Art
In a so-called ink jet recording apparatus, ink is discharged from a
recording head to thereby effect recording on a recording medium such as
recording paper.
An ink storing device such as an ink tank for storing therein ink to be
supplied to the recording head is mounted on a predetermined fixed region
of the ink jet recording apparatus, or is carried on a carriage with the
recording head. In the former case, an ink supply path such as an ink tube
is provided between the recording head and the storing device, and this is
designed to follow the movement of the carriage.
In the latter case, the ink supply path provided between the recording head
and the storing device can be made relatively short. Therefore, the
construction in which the ink storing device is carried on the carriage
can be said to be a construction suitable for downsizing or simplifying
the ink jet recording apparatus.
Among such constructions in which the recording head and the ink storing
device (ink tank) are both carried on the carriage, there are a
construction in which the recording head and the ink tank are formed
integrally with each other and a construction in which the recording head
and the ink tank are separably carried. In the construction wherein the
recording head and the ink tank are formed integrally with each other, a
cartridge comprising the ink tank and the recording head made integral
with each other is interchanged with a new one at a point of time whereat
the ink in the ink tank has become exhausted and therefore, this
construction is easy to handle and thus has been spreading in recent
years, but the expensive head is interchanged each time the ink becomes
exhausted and this leads to the rise of running cost.
Also, in the construction wherein the recording head and the ink tank are
separably carried, the ink tank alone can be interchanged when the ink
becomes exhausted, and the head itself can also be interchanged at the end
of its life. In ordinary use, generally it is impossible that the head
becomes unusable due to its life before the ink in the ink tank is used
up. Therefore, the ink tank alone is interchanged when the ink becomes
exhausted and thus, running cost can be suppressed. However, it is
necessary to make the connecting portion between the ink tank and the
recording head elaborately so that the ink may not leak.
In any of the various ink jet recording apparatuses as described above, it
is desirable to provide a construction for accurately knowing the amount
of ink remaining in the ink storing means, in order to effect the
interchange of the ink storing means at an appropriate time.
When the ink in the ink storing means becomes exhausted during recording,
the discharge means of the recording head continues to create energy for
discharge in the absence of the ink. Particularly, in an ink jet recording
apparatus of the recently known thermal jet type in which heat energy is
imparted to ink by heat energy generating means and the pressure by a
change in the state of the ink is utilized to discharge the ink, a heater
for discharge as the heat energy generating means is driven in the absence
of the ink and therefore, not only the temperature of the recording head
rises but also the recording head itself is damaged. Accordingly, the
aforedescribed construction for knowing the remain state of ink can be
said to be indispensable.
In recent years, there has come to be known a technique of making the
volume of ink which can be contained in the ink storing means large to
thereby reduce the frequency of interchange of the ink storing means. By
such a technique, not only running cost can be reduced, but also the
frequency of the manipulation cumbersome to the user can be decreased.
A technique of making the volume of ink in ink storing means large is
proposed in U.S. Application Ser. No. 08/094,313. According to this
application, use is made of an ink storing container in which a negative
pressure generating member containing portion and an ink containing
portion for containing ink are separated, whereby substantially all of ink
except ink adhering to the wall surface in the ink containing portion can
be used and the large volume of the ink contained in the ink storing
container is achieved. Also, the leakage of the ink from a recording head
can be prevented by the negative pressure generating member contained in
the ink storing container and a stable ink supplying performance can be
maintained for a long period.
Ink termination detecting devices for detecting the termination of ink in
the ink storing container or the like of an ink jet recording apparatus
include one using an optical element as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open
Patent Application No. 54-133373, one which detects by the conduction of
an electrode member as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No.
1-17465, one which counts discharge pulse number as disclosed in Japanese
Laid-Open Patent Application No. 59-194853, etc.
However, it has been difficult for the above-mentioned ink termination
detecting devices (ink remain state detecting devices) according to the
prior art to accurately detect the remain state of ink in the
aforedescribed ink storing container wherein the negative pressure
generating member containing portion and the ink containing portion are
separated.
For example, among the above-mentioned devices according to the prior art,
it has been difficult due to the structure of the ink storing container
for one using an optical element and one which detects by the conduction
of an electrode member to detect the exhaustion of the ink in the negative
pressure generating member containing portion, and even if the remain
state of the ink only in the ink containing portion is detected, ink may
still remain in the negative pressure generating member containing
portion, and this device could only be applied to the warning of the fact
that the ink has decreased to some extent. Also, it has become difficult
with the larger volume of ink for the device which counts discharge pulse
number to detect the remain of ink accurately. Further, an attempt to
effect the detection accurately has led to very high costs, and the amount
of ink used differs depending on the irregularity of the initial amount of
supply and the environment of use, and this has led to a problem that
accurate detection cannot be accomplished.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above-noted problems and
an object thereof is to accurately detect the remain state of ink in an
ink cartridge having a plurality of ink containing chambers differing in
the ink containing state from each other and communicated with each other
by a gap portion.
Another object of the present invention is to enable the above-described
ink cartridge to be used until immediately before ink becomes exhausted.
To achieve the above objects, the ink jet recording apparatus of the
present invention is provided with an ink jet head for discharging ink,
and an ink cartridge for supplying the ink to said ink jet head, said ink
cartridge having a first ink containing chamber containing a negative
pressure generating member and provided with a communicating portion for
supplying the ink to said ink jet head, and a second ink containing
chamber directly containing the ink to be supplied to said first ink
containing chamber, and is characterized by first detecting means for
detecting the remain state of the ink in said second ink containing
chamber, ink used amount calculating means for calculating the amount of
ink used from said ink cartridge, and control means for starting the
calculation by said ink used amount calculating means when said first
detecting means detects that the remain of the ink in said second ink
containing chamber has become smaller than a predetermined amount.
Also, the present invention is an ink remain state detecting method in an
ink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink jet head for discharging
ink, and an ink cartridge for supplying the ink to said ink jet head, said
ink cartridge having a first ink containing chamber containing a negative
pressure generating member and provided with a communicating portion for
supplying the ink to said ink jet head, and a second ink containing
chamber directly containing the ink to be supplied to said first ink
containing chamber, and is characterized by the detecting step of
detecting the remain state of the ink in said second ink containing
chamber, and the used ink amount calculating step of calculating the
amount of ink used from said ink cartridge when it is detected by said
detecting step that the remain of the ink in said second ink containing
chamber has become smaller than a predetermined amount.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a state in which an ink jet recording head and an
interchangeable type ink cartridge used in the present invention and ink
detecting means are fitted together.
FIG. 2 shows the positional relationship between an interchangeable type
ink cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention and
the ink detecting means.
FIGS. 3 to 5 and FIG. 7 are flow charts showing the detection of the remain
state of ink in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 shows a state in which an ink remain state detecting device
according to the embodiment is assembled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Some embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in
detail with reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ink storing container as an
embodiment of the present invention having a negative pressure generating
member containing portion and an ink containing portion as it is seen from
a side thereof, and the ink storing container is designed such that the
remain state of ink therein can be accurately detected. A sponge-like
porous material is suitably used as the negative pressure generating
member.
FIG. 2 shows the positional relationship between an ink cartridge 2 and ink
detecting means 3 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of an ink remain state
detecting device.
In FIG. 2, the interchangeable type ink cartridge 2 and an ink jet
recording head 1 for discharging ink by the ink jet system to thereby
effect recording are separably constructed.
In FIG. 1, a joint member 7 for supplying the ink to the recording head 1
is inserted in the ink cartridge 2 and is urged against a negative
pressure generating member 13 and the ink jet recording apparatus is in
its operable state.
The interchangeable type ink cartridge 2 has a gap portion 5 for connection
to the ink jet recording head 1, and is comprised of a negative pressure
generating member containing portion 14 containing a negative pressure
generating member 13 (specifically, a porous material such as sponge) and
having an atmosphere communicating port 10, and an ink containing portion
16 containing ink 9 which is adjacent to the negative pressure generating
member containing portion 14 with a partition wall 15 interposed
therebetween and communicates with the negative pressure generating member
containing portion 14 at the bottom 11 of the ink cartridge. A filter may
desirably be installed on the end portion of the joint member 7 to
eliminate dust in the ink cartridge 2.
When the ink jet recording apparatus is operated, the ink is discharged
from the nozzle of the ink jet recording head 1, whereby an ink sucking
force is created to the ink cartridge 2 and the ink in the negative
pressure generating member 13 is consumed.
The operation of the ink jet recording apparatus is controlled by a control
unit 101 which performs various functions such as counting the number of
ink discharge pulses, calculating the amount of used ink, effecting
recovery processing, and detecting whether the remaining amount of ink is
less than a predetermined amount, as described in more detail below.
As regards the ink cartridge 2, an atmosphere introducing groove 31 and a
negative pressure generating member regulating chamber 32 are formed in
portions of the partition wall 15 between the ink containing portion 16
and the negative pressure generating member containing portion 14. The
atmosphere introducing groove 31 is formed in the negative pressure
generating member containing portion 14 side from the intermediate portion
of the partition wall 15 to the end portion of the partition wall 15,
i.e., the gap portion 8 with the bottom 11 of the ink cartridge. The
negative pressure generating member regulating chamber 32 of a scraped-out
shape is formed between the partition wall 15 and the negative pressure
generating member 13 in contact with the vicinity of the atmosphere
introducing groove 31 of the partition wall 15.
When the ink in the negative pressure generating member containing portion
14 is consumed, the interface between the atmosphere and liquid
(air-liquid interface) in the negative pressure generating member
containing portion 14 lowers and the atmosphere is introduced into the ink
containing portion 16 and thus, the ink is supplied into the negative
pressure generating member containing portion 14. So-called air-liquid
exchange takes place.
The negative pressure in the negative pressure generating member containing
portion 14 is regulated by the meniscus position on the aforementioned
air-liquid interface and the supply of the ink can be done without the ink
leaking from the recording head.
The negative pressure generating member 13 is brought into contact with the
inner surface of the negative pressure generating member containing
portion 14 and therefore, even if for example, the negative pressure
generating member 13 is non-uniformly inserted, the contact (compression)
force of the negative pressure generating member 13 will be partially
alleviated. Therefore, when the ink begins to be consumed from the
recording head, the ink impregnating the negative pressure generating
member 13 is consumed and reaches the negative pressure generating member
regulating chamber 32. When the ink continues to be consumed still
thereafter, the atmosphere becomes ready to break the ink meniscus from
the portion in which the contact force of the negative pressure generating
member 13 is alleviated by the negative pressure generating member
regulating chamber 32, and the atmosphere is rapidly introduced into the
atmosphere introducing groove 31 and thus, the control of the negative
pressure becomes easy.
The partition wall 15 and negative pressure generating member regulating
chamber 32, including other construction functionally equal to these, are
generically referred to as air-liquid exchange expediting structure. In an
ink cartridge having this air-liquid exchange expediting structure, the
optimum ink liquid level area can be obtained by regulating the height of
the top of the air-liquid exchange expediting structure disposed on the
side wall surface of the negative pressure generating member containing
chamber 14 above the communicating portion between the negative pressure
generating member containing portion 14 and the ink containing portion 16.
As means for controlling the optimum ink liquid level area, there is a
method of changing the direction of compression and the rate of
compression of the negative pressure generating member as previously
described, but the regulation of the top position of the air-liquid
exchange expediting structure can achieve the purpose more reliably and
with better reproducibility. Of course, by combining these methods, the
ink liquid level may be rendered into the above-described optimum area.
Substantially all of the ink except the ink adhering to the wall surface in
the ink containing portion 16 is used by the ink cartridge 2 of the
construction as described above.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the structure for detecting a state in
which the ink remain in the ink containing portion 16 of the ink cartridge
2 has been reduced.
At the bottom of the ink cartridge 2, a light emitting element 21 and a
light receiving element 22 as ink detecting means 3 in the ink containing
portion 16 are disposed in opposed relationship with each other relative
to the transparent ink containing portion 16. When the ink containing
portion 16 is filled with the ink 9, the optical path is intercepted by
the ink 9, more accurately, by the dye or pigment in the ink 9, and the
output of the light receiving element 22 is not put out, but when the ink
9 decreases, the output of the light receiving element 22 is put out,
whereby the decrease in the remain of the ink in the ink containing
portion is detected, and preferably, the termination of the ink is
detected when the ink in the ink containing portion 16 has become
exhausted.
The whole of the ink containing portion 16 need not be transparent, but
only the portion thereof through which light is transmitted by the light
emitting element 21 and light receiving element 22 may be formed by a
transparent member.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the process of detection of the remain state
of the ink in the first embodiment.
In the construction of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 1, as previously
described, the ink is supplied from the ink containing portion 16 by the
air-liquid exchange each time the ink in the negative pressure generating
member containing portion 14 is consumed to a certain degree. Thus, at a
point of time whereat the ink in the ink containing portion 16 has been
almost consumed, a certain degree of ink remains in the negative pressure
generating member containing portion 14. In the present embodiment, the
decrease in the ink is detected until a point of time at which the remain
of the ink in the ink containing portion 16 has become substantially null,
and continuedly the detection of the remain state is effected for the ink
remaining in the negative pressure generating member containing portion
14, and detecting methods suitable for the different ink containing
portions 14 and 16 are applied.
In FIG. 3, the initial setting operation is first performed at a step S12.
Here, it is to be understood that the resetting of a timer T1 which will
be described later is effected. Subsequently, at a step S13, whether it
has been detected that the ink has decreased below a predetermined amount
is judged.
If at the step S13, it is detected from the detection level that the ink
remain has become null, whether the timer T1 has been time up is judged at
the next step S14, and when a reduction in the ink remain is detected at a
point of time whereat the timer T1 has been time up, it is judged that the
ink remain has actually been reduced. This is because when the ink is
consumed and its remain reaches the vicinity of the detection level, the
ink sways in the ink containing portion 16 due to the movement of the
carriage on which the ink cartridge is mounted and the output of the light
receiving element 22 repeats ON and OFF, and thus, the time when the sway
of the ink ceases is set by the timer T1 and accurate detection of the
remain is effected.
When the ink in the ink containing portion 16 has become exhausted, the
amount of ink remaining in the negative pressure generating member
containing portion 14 can be substantially estimated and therefore, at the
next step S15, whether a predetermined amount of ink has been used is
Judged, and recording is effected until immediately before the ink in the
ink cartridge becomes exhausted.
As recorded amount detecting means for detecting a value conforming to a
recorded amount in case of recording, the discharge pulse number is
counted and it is multiplied by the predetermined discharge amount of the
ink jet recording head 1 per pulse, for example, 80 to 90 ng in the case
of monochrome of 360 dpi, to thereby calculate the amount of used ink, and
this amount of used ink is compared with the set value of a record amount
printable with the ink preset in the negative pressure generating member
containing portion 14 (for example, the amount of usable ink such as 20
g), and when the amount of used ink becomes equal to the set value of the
record amount, the printing by the ink jet recording apparatus is finally
stopped. The record amount printable with the ink in the negative pressure
generating member containing portion 14 differs depending on the volume of
the negative pressure generating member containing portion 14, but
generally it is 10 to 20 sheets, and in the case of an interchangeable
type ink cartridge of a predetermined volume, irregularity is very small
and accurate detection of the remain state of the ink is possible, and the
ink cartridge can be used until immediately before the ink becomes
exhausted.
Here, the discharge amount per pulse is fixed as the value of 80 to 90 ng,
but by the discharge amount per pulse being corrected by the cumulative
value of the discharge pulse number during the detection of the
termination of the ink and the foreseen amount of used ink till the
detection of the preset termination of the ink, more accurate detection of
the termination of the ink is possible.
Also, the amount of ink consumed in a recovery process such as sucking and
preliminary discharge carried out at the start of recording and during
recording is added to the aforedescribed amount of used ink obtained by
counting the pulses to detect the remain state, whereby more accurate
detection can be effected.
By the above-described construction, the detection of the remain state of
the ink can be accurately effected in an ink cartridge having a plurality
of containing portions differing in the ink containing state, such as an
ink containing portion and a negative pressure generating member
containing portion, and the ink cartridge can be used until immediately
before the ink becomes exhausted.
Second Embodiment
In the ink jet recording apparatus, when for example, printing has not been
effected for a long period in order to prevent the non-discharge of ink,
recovery processes from clogging are effected. During that process, about
0.1 g of ink is consumed per process. So, in the present embodiment, a
value obtained by multiplying the number of recovery processes from
clogging by a present amount of ink used per recovery process is added to
the calculation in the detection of the remain state of the ink in the
negative pressure generating member containing portion 14 after the
exhaustion of the ink in the ink containing portion 16 by the
aforedescribed first embodiment. Thereby, more accurate detection becomes
possible because the estimated value by the calculation is based on the
real amount of use.
Third Embodiment
In the aforedescribed embodiment, calculating means concerned in the number
of recovery processes is necessary, but the number of recovery processes
after the exhaustion of the ink in the ink containing portion 16 is
detected by the ink detecting means 3 is several times at greatest and
therefore, even if the calculating means is not especially provided, for
example, clogging is affected by the period for which the apparatus has
been left without printing and therefore, whether the period for which the
apparatus has been left without printing is e.g. one week or one month may
be judged by a timer contained in the apparatus, and if said period is one
week or longer, a preset value may only be added.
By this construction, the process in the calculation of the amount of used
ink in the negative pressure generating member containing portion 14 can
be simplified and the error in the calculation of the amount of used ink
is small and therefore, the ink cartridge can be used until immediately
before the ink therein becomes exhausted and thus, the waste of the ink
can be made small.
Fourth Embodiment
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the characteristic construction of a fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
The fourth embodiment is characterized by the provision of a construction
for warning the user of a reduction in ink remain at a step S25 after it
is detected that in ink remain in the ink containing portion 16 shown in
the first embodiment has been reduced (preferably has become exhausted).
When it is detected that the ink remain in the ink containing portion 16
has been reduced, the amount recordable with the remaining ink is limited
and the user is warned of it (step S25), whereby the user can recognize
the reduction in the amount of ink in the cartridge and can be prepared
for providing a fresh ink cartridge.
Also, when a great amount of recording is to be effected, the user can
interchange the ink cartridge in advance so that the supply of ink may not
be interrupted in the course of recording, and the user's attention can be
called to the interchanging process in conformity with the user's
necessity.
Also, the warning in the present embodiment may be an aurally recognizable
sound such as an alarm, or a visually recognizable alarm as by a lamp or
indicating means.
Fifth Embodiment
FIG. 5 is a flow chart for illustrating a fifth embodiment of the present
invention.
In the aforedescribed first embodiment, design is made such that as shown
at the step S16 of FIG. 3, the printer is stopped when the ink remain in
the ink cartridge becomes a predetermined amount or less (preferably when
the termination of the use of the ink cartridge is detected, with the
detection level being defined as the time when the ink has become
substantially exhausted).
However, the calculation for Judging the amount of used ink at the step S15
is a calculation substantially effected during printing and therefore,
when during printing, the ink reaches a predetermined amount of use,
printing is stopped on the spot. It is not preferable that printing is
suddenly stopped during printing.
For this reason, the present embodiment is characterized in that whether
the printing of a page being printed has been completed is judged at a
step S37 shown in FIG. 5, whereby the printer is stopped after the
printing of the page being printed is completed. Design can be made such
that setting is made so that an amount of ink capable of printing at least
one page may remain in the negative pressure generating member containing
portion 14 even after a reduction in the ink remain in the ink containing
portion 16 is detected and thereafter a predetermined amount of ink is
used, whereby the printer is not stopped during the printing of the page,
but is stopped at a point of time whereat the printing of the page being
printed has been completed.
A construction in which warning is effected at a point of time whereat a
predetermined amount of ink has been used, and the remainder of the page
being printed is printed, and a construction in which warning is effected
at a point of time whereat the printer has been stopped are also
preferably applied to the present embodiment.
Sixth Embodiment
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge for
illustrating a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
In the first embodiment, there is adopted a construction in which the light
emitting element 21 and light receiving element 22 are used as the means
for detecting any reduction in the ink remain in the ink containing
portion 16 and the optical interception by the ink is detected.
The present embodiment is characterized in that a pair of electrode members
are provided as the means for detecting any reduction in the ink remain in
the ink containing portion 16.
As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of electrode members 17 are provided near the
bottom of the ink containing portion 16 so as to contact with the ink
until the ink is almost used up. It is detected by the pair of electrode
members 17 that the conduction between these electrode members 17 has
become null, whereby a reduction in the ink remain in the ink containing
portion 16 is detected.
In the present embodiment, it is not necessary to design the ink cartridge
such that as in the first embodiment, the light projected by the light
emitting element is transmitted to effect optical detection.
Also, each of the aforedescribed embodiment can be applied to the control
after a reduction in the ink remain in the ink containing portion 16 is
detected.
Seventh Embodiment
In the aforedescribed embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the timer T1
or the calculation of the amount of used ink is reset each time it is
detected that a predetermined or greater amount of ink remains in the ink
containing portion 16.
However, in the above-described construction, when the ink cartridge 2 is
removed and is again mounted with the ink in the ink containing portion 16
exhausted and with the ink remaining only in the negative pressure
generating member containing portion 14, it is detected that the ink in
the ink containing portion 16 has again become exhausted and thus, the
calculation of the amount of used ink is started again, and there occurs
an error to the calculation of the amount of used ink.
For this reason, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, it is
detected that a predetermined or greater amount of ink remains in the ink
containing portion 16 shown in FIG. 1 (step S41), whereafter at a step
S43, whether a fresh ink cartridge has been mounted or whether an ink
cartridge used to some extent and having ink remaining only in the
negative pressure generating member containing portion 14 has been mounted
is judged. Specifically, by examining whether the set time T2 from after
it is detected that the ink remains in the ink containing portion 16 until
it is detected that the ink has become exhausted is up (step S43), whether
the mounted ink cartridge is a fresh one can be judged. Accordingly, even
when a cartridge with the ink remain in the ink containing portion 16
reduced is mounted again, the timer and the counter for calculating the
amount of used ink are not reset, but the calculation of the amount of
used ink can be continuedly executed and thus, the detection of accurate
ink remain is possible.
The present invention brings about an excellent effect in recording
apparatuses of the ink jet recording type, particularly a recording
apparatus using a recording head of the ink jet type in which heat energy
is utilized to form flying liquid drops to thereby effect recording.
As regards their typical construction and principles, apparatuses are
preferable which effect recording by the use of the principles disclosed,
for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,129 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,796. This
system is applicable to both of the so-called on-demand type and
continuous type, and particularly, in the case of the on-demand type, it
is effective because at least one driving signal corresponding to
recording information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding
nuclear boiling is applied to an electro-thermal conversion element
disposed correspondingly to a sheet or a liquid path in which liquid (ink)
is retained, whereby heat energy is generated in the electro-thermal
conversion element to create film boiling in the heat acting surface of a
recording head, with a result that a bubble in the liquid (ink)
corresponding at one to one to this driving signal can be formed. By the
growth and contraction of this bubble, the liquid (ink) is discharged
through a discharge opening to thereby form at least one drop. When this
driving signal is made into a pulse shape, the growth and contraction of
the bubble take place appropriately on the spot and therefore, the
discharge of the liquid (ink) which is particularly excellent in
responsiveness can be accomplished, and this is more preferable. This
driving signal of a pulse shape may suitably be one as described in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,463,359 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,262. The adoption of the
conditions described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,124 disclosing an invention
relating to the temperature rise rate of said heat acting surface would
enable more excellent recording to be accomplished.
As the construction of the recording head, besides a combined construction
of a discharge port, a liquid path and an electro-thermal conversion
element as disclosed in the above-mentioned patents (a straight liquid
flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path), a construction using U.S.
Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600 which disclose a
construction in which a heat acting portion is disposed in a bent area is
also covered by the present invention. In addition, the present invention
will also be effective if use is made of a construction based on Japanese
Laid-Open Patent Application No. 59-123670 which discloses a construction
in which a slit common to a plurality of electro-thermal conversion
elements is the discharge portion of the electro-thermal conversion
elements or Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 59-138461 which
discloses a construction in which an opening for absorbing the pressure
wave of heat energy is made to correspond to the discharge portion. That
is, according to the present invention, whatever may be the form of the
recording head, recording can be effected reliably and efficiently.
Further, the present invention can also be effectively applied to a
recording head of the full line type having a length corresponding to the
maximum width of recording medium on which a recording apparatus can
record. Such a recording head may be of any of a construction which
satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads
and a construction as a single recording head formed as a unit.
In addition, the present invention is also effective when use is made of
the recording head of the serial type as described above, or a recording
head of the interchangeable chip type which can be electrically connected
to an apparatus body or can be supplied with ink from the apparatus body
by being mounted on the apparatus body, or a recording head of the
cartridge type in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the
recording head itself.
Also, the addition of discharge recovery means 102 for the recording head,
preliminary auxiliary means, etc. as the construction of the recording
apparatus of the present invention could more stabilize the effect of the
present invention, and this is preferable. Specifically, as these means,
mention may be made of capping means for the recording head, cleaning
means, pressing or sucking means, preheating means for effecting heating
by the use of an electro-thermal conversion element or a heating element
discrete therefrom or a combination of these, and preliminary discharge
means for effecting discharge discrete from recording.
Also, the kind or number of recording heads carried may be two or more
correspondingly to a plurality of inks differing in recording color or
density. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording
apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only main color such as
black, but the recording head may be constructed as a unit or may be
provided by a combination of a plurality of heads, and the present is also
very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the
recording mode of different colors and the recording mode of full color by
a mixture of colors.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention,
the ink has been described as liquid, but use may also be made of ink
which solidifies at room temperature or below and softens or liquefies at
room temperature, or since in the ink jet system, it is usual to control
the temperature of ink itself within a range from 30.degree. C. to
70.degree. C. so that the viscosity of the ink may be within a stable
discharge range, use may be made of ink which assumes liquid phase when a
recording signal used is applied. In addition, ink which solidifies when
left as it is and which liquefies by heating may be used to positively
prevent the temperature rise by heat energy or prevent the evaporation of
the ink by using such temperature rise as the energy for the stage change
from the solid state to the liquid state of the ink. In any case, the
present invention is also applicable to a case where use is made of ink
having the nature that it is liquefied for the first time by the imparting
of heat energy, such as ink which is liquefied by the imparting of heat
energy conforming to a recording signal and is discharged as liquid phase
ink, or ink which already begins to solidify at a point of time whereat it
reaches a recording medium. The ink in such a case may assume a form which
will be opposed to an electro-thermal conversion element while being
retained as liquid or solid in a recess or through-hole in a porous sheet,
as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 54-56847 or
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 60-71260. In the present
invention, what is most effective for the above-described inks is what
executes the above-described film boiling.
In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present
invention may be, besides one used as the image output terminal of an
information processing instrument such as a computer, the form of a
copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, or the form of a
facsimile apparatus having the signal transmitting and receiving function.
As described above in detail, in the detection of the remain state in an
ink cartridge having a plurality of ink containing chambers differing in
the ink containing state from each other and communicated with each other
by a gap portion, the remain state is first detected by a remain detecting
method suitable for the ink containing state of the ink containing chamber
in which ink is consumed earlier, and when the ink in said ink containing
chamber is consumed, the remain state in the ink cartridge is detected by
a remain detecting method suitable for the ink containing chamber in which
ink is consumed lastly.
More particularly, in the ink containing chamber in which ink remains
lastly, there is contained a negative pressure generating member for
supplying the ink to the head. Accordingly, the remain state of the ink
can be accurately detected by calculating the amount of ink used from the
ink cartridge.
With such construction, even when a cartridge comprising a plurality of ink
containing chambers is used, the ink cartridge can be used until
immediately before the ink becomes exhausted, and the accurate remain
state of the ink can be detected and therefore, it will never happen that
the recording operation is performed by mistake with the ink exhausted and
the head is damaged.
Also, a warning operation is performed to the user at a point of time
whereat the ink in the first-mentioned ink containing chamber has become
exhausted, whereby the user can be informed in advance of the fact that
the remain of the ink has become small, and the user's attention can be
called to the interchange of the ink cartridge before the ink therein
becomes exhausted.
Also, recording is not stopped during recording, but recording is stopped
at a point of time whereat the recording on a page being printed has been
completed, whereby the waste of the recording paper being printed can be
prevented.
Also, when an ink cartridge used to some extent is once removed and is
again mounted by the user, whether the ink cartridge is one in which the
remain of the ink in the earlier consumed ink containing chamber has
already become null is judged, whereby the count value or the like for
effecting the calculation of the amount of used ink can be controlled by
the resetting operation and thus, a wrong detecting operation can be
prevented.
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