CN1868750A - Printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a printing apparatus capable of efficiently managing information related to ink cartridges, and ink cartridges. The printing apparatus includes a cartridge mounting section in which a first ink cartridge having a first memory and a second ink cartridge having a second memory are detachable; The first discharge amount determines the second discharge amount of the ink discharged from the second ink cartridge, wherein the control unit selects the first ink cartridge and the second ink cartridge based on at least one of the first discharge amount and the second discharge amount. For any of the second ink cartridges, when the control unit selects the first ink cartridge, the control unit writes information in the first memory and does not write information in the second memory.

Description

Printing equipment and ink cartridges

The present invention is a divisional application of the Chinese invention patent application No. 200410080888.0 filed on December 4, 2001 with the title of "printing equipment and ink cartridge".

technical field

The present invention relates to a printing device and an ink cartridge. In particular, the present invention relates to a printing device to which a plurality of ink cartridges can be attached and detached, and an ink cartridge used in such a printing device.

Background technique

As one form of printing devices such as inkjet printing devices, there is a printing device capable of attaching and detaching a plurality of ink cartridges. Ink is stored in each ink cartridge, and the printing device receives ink supply from the mounted ink cartridge and performs a printing operation.

In such a printing apparatus, it is necessary to avoid a situation where the ink stored in the ink cartridge runs out during printing and the printing process is interrupted. From this point of view, the control unit provided on the main body of the printing apparatus manages the amount of ink used or remaining. In addition, a nonvolatile memory that stores information indicating the used amount or remaining amount of ink is provided in the ink cartridge. The nonvolatile memory cannot contain much information in terms of forming a smaller size and reducing costs. Thus, after storing information indicating the amount of ink used or remaining in the memory of the main body of the printing apparatus, the information is appropriately written only in the nonvolatile memory provided on the ink cartridge.

Contents of the invention

However, when the power is suddenly forcibly cut off for some reason such as unplugging the socket accidentally, the information indicating the amount of ink used or remaining in the memory of the main body of the printing apparatus disappears. If such a situation occurs, the printing apparatus cannot properly manage the amount of ink used or remaining, causing disadvantageous situations such as interruption of ink during printing.

The present invention is made to solve the above-mentioned problems given by way of example, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of efficiently managing information related to each ink cartridge, and an ink cartridge.

Objects and features of the present invention other than those described above can be understood from the description of this specification with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems relates to a printing apparatus including a cartridge mounting section in which a plurality of ink cartridges having elements writable in information can be attached and detached; For each ink cartridge installed on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting part, the ejection amount of the ink ejected toward the printed body is cumulatively calculated; the writing part is used to write information in the above-mentioned element, characterized in that The writing means writes information in an element provided in an ink cartridge selected based on an accumulation calculation result by the accumulation calculation means among the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.

In addition, another invention relates to an ink cartridge, which is detachably installed on the main body of a printing device, and which can accommodate ink, and is characterized in that the ink cartridge includes an element capable of writing information, and the element writes Information indicating the amount of ink used or remaining in the ink cartridge, and information for specifying a writing time of the information indicating the amount of ink used or remaining in the ink cartridge are included.

At least the following matters can be understood from the description of this specification and the drawings.

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus comprising a cartridge mounting section in which a plurality of ink cartridges having elements writable in information can be attached and detached; For each ink cartridge on the mounting part, the ejection amount of ejected ink is cumulatively calculated; the writing part is used to write information in the above-mentioned element, and it is characterized in that the above-mentioned writing part is written in the following element Information, the component refers to the component provided in the ink cartridge selected based on the accumulation calculation result of the accumulation calculation means among the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the cartridge installation part.

According to this printing apparatus, since the above-mentioned writing means writes information in the element provided in the ink cartridge selected based on the above-mentioned accumulation calculation result among the plurality of ink cartridges mounted in the above-mentioned cartridge mounting part, Therefore, the information is written in a short time according to the cumulative calculation result.

Also, in the printing apparatus described above, one of the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the cartridge mounting portion is selected based on the accumulation calculation result of the accumulation calculation means.

According to this printing apparatus, since one of the plurality of ink cartridges mounted in the cartridge mounting portion is selected based on the cumulative calculation result of the cumulative calculation means, information can be written in a shorter time based on the cumulative calculation result.

In addition, in the printing apparatus described above, the writing means may write information indicating the amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge or the remaining amount of the ink in the element provided in the selected ink cartridge.

According to this printing apparatus, since the above-mentioned writing means writes information indicating the amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge or the remaining amount in the element provided in the above-mentioned selected ink cartridge, according to the cumulative calculation result, the shorter time, write the information indicating the amount used or the remaining amount.

Also, in the printing apparatus described above, when the writing means writes the information in the element provided in the ink cartridge, the accumulation value as the result of the accumulation calculation for the ink cartridge may be reset.

According to this printing apparatus, since when the above-mentioned writing means writes the above-mentioned information in the element provided in the ink cartridge, the accumulation value as the above-mentioned cumulative calculation result for the ink cartridge is reset, so it is possible to After that, the result of cumulative calculation is written to the message.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned printing device, the following method may also be adopted: the above-mentioned cartridge mounting part is movable, and when the above-mentioned cartridge mounting part is in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the above-mentioned writing part, the writing part is moved relative to the above-mentioned element. , Write action in a non-contact state.

In such a printing device, it is difficult for the above-mentioned writing member to perform the above-mentioned writing operation at ordinary times. When the above-mentioned cartridge mounting part is in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the writing member, the above-mentioned writing member must perform writing efficiently relative to the above-mentioned element. action. Here, as described above, according to this printing apparatus, there is a scheme in which the above-mentioned writing member is selected in accordance with the accumulation calculation result of the above-mentioned accumulation calculation mechanism among the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion. Information is written in the components set in the ink cartridge. Therefore, when the cartridge mounting portion is in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the writing unit, the writing unit can write information in a short time based on the accumulation calculation result.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing device, the following method can also be adopted, that is, a limit value is set for each ink cartridge, and when the cumulative value of the above-mentioned accumulation result of a certain ink cartridge reaches the above-mentioned limit value set for the ink cartridge, the In an ink cartridge, the above-mentioned writing means writes the above-mentioned information in an element provided in the ink cartridge already written.

According to this printing apparatus, as long as the accumulated value of a certain ink cartridge does not reach the limit value, information indicating the usage amount etc. is not written with respect to the element provided in the ink cartridge, and when the accumulated value of a certain ink cartridge reaches the limit value, relatively The elements installed in the ink cartridges are written with information indicating the amount used, so writing of information to the elements can be minimized as necessary.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned printing apparatus, the above-mentioned limit value for each ink cartridge may also be set corresponding to the capacity of ink that can be accommodated in the ink cartridge.

It is necessary to accurately manage the amount of ink used and the like in an ink cartridge having a small capacity for storing ink. According to this printing apparatus, since the limit value is set corresponding to the capacity of the ink that can be stored in the ink cartridge, the usage amount can be managed corresponding to the capacity of the ink that can be stored.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing apparatus, the following method can also be adopted, that is, the ejection head that ejects ink can be used to perform bidirectional printing, and the ink can be ejected while the above-mentioned ejection head is moving in a direction away from the above-mentioned writing member. When printing, when the accumulation value of the above accumulation result of a certain ink cartridge reaches the above limit value set for the ink cartridge, printing is performed by ejecting ink while the printing head is to move in a direction approaching the writing member, In the case of printing data, at least the writing unit writes the information in the element after printing is performed by ejecting ink while the ejection head moves in a direction close to the writing unit.

According to this printing device, when bidirectional printing is performed, waste of time accompanying the writing operation is suppressed.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing apparatus, it may also include an ejection head that ejects ink while moving together with the above-mentioned cartridge mounting part, and performs a flushing operation of periodically ejecting ink from the above-mentioned ejection head. The part writes the above-mentioned information in the element provided in the above-mentioned selected ink cartridge corresponding to the above-mentioned flushing operation.

According to this printing apparatus, since the above-mentioned information is written in the element provided in the above-mentioned selected ink cartridge in response to the regularly performed flushing operation, efficient information writing can be performed.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing device, the above-mentioned writing part may also write the above-mentioned information in the element provided in the above-mentioned selected ink cartridge corresponding to the following action, which action refers to the cumulative value of the above-mentioned cumulative result of a certain ink cartridge The initial flushing action after reaching the limit set for this cartridge.

According to this printing apparatus, since the above-mentioned writing means can write the above-mentioned information in the element provided in the above-mentioned selected ink cartridge corresponding to the action that the cumulative value of a certain ink cartridge reaches the value set for the ink cartridge The flushing operation is performed initially after the limit value, so the above-mentioned writing means can effectively write information at an earlier period after the accumulation value reaches the limit value.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing apparatus, it may also include an ejection head that ejects ink while moving together with the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion, and perform a flushing operation of periodically ejecting ink from the above-mentioned ejection head, and the following mode may also be adopted, That is, along the moving direction of the above-mentioned printing head, the writing position of the above-mentioned writing member and the performing position of the above-mentioned flushing operation are set in order from the printing area side, in order to achieve the accumulation value of the above-mentioned accumulation result of a certain ink cartridge to reach the corresponding ink cartridge. In the initial flushing operation after the set limit value, when the above-mentioned ejection head moves towards the position where the flushing operation is performed, when the above-mentioned element moving together with the above-mentioned ejection head passes through the above-mentioned writing position, the writing part writes Enter the above information.

According to this printing apparatus, writing of information corresponding to a flushing action can be efficiently realized.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing device, the following method can also be adopted, that is, a plurality of information can be written in the above-mentioned element, and the above-mentioned writing component only writes the information indicating the above-mentioned usage amount or remaining amount in the plurality of information .

According to this printing apparatus, because the above-mentioned writing part only writes the information representing the above-mentioned amount of use or the remaining amount among the plurality of information, it can be done in a shorter time compared with the case where the writing part also writes information other than the amount of use. Write information.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing device, the following method can also be adopted, that is, multiple printing modes with different printing speeds can be performed, and in at least one of the multiple printing modes, even if the above-mentioned When the cumulative value of the cumulative result reaches the limit value set for the ink cartridge, the writing means does not perform the writing operation corresponding to the first flushing operation performed thereafter.

According to this printing apparatus, for example, when the printing speed is intended to be the preferred printing speed, the printing speed can be increased because the writing operation is not performed.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing apparatus, one of the above-mentioned writing means may be provided for a plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion.

According to this printing apparatus, the above-mentioned writing means writes information simultaneously in only one element. Since the above-mentioned writing means writes information in an element provided in one of the plurality of ink cartridges installed in the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion based on the cumulative calculation result of the cumulative calculation means, the component is set, The write operation can be performed on the element with the highest need for writing.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing apparatus, it is also possible to include an ejection head that ejects ink while moving together with the above-mentioned cartridge mounting part, and perform a flushing operation of periodically ejecting ink from the above-mentioned ejection head. In the state where the flushing operation is performed, the above-mentioned writing member faces an element provided in any one of the ink cartridges mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion.

According to this printing apparatus, since the flushing position is close to the information writing position, it is possible to more efficiently make the writing of information to the element correspond to the flushing operation.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing device, the following method can also be adopted, that is, for each of the plurality of ink cartridges installed on the above-mentioned cartridge installation part, one of the above-mentioned writing parts is provided, which is included in the above-mentioned cartridge. The ejection head that ejects ink while the mounting part moves together; performs a flushing operation that regularly ejects ink from the ejection head; in the state where the ejection head is located at the position where the flushing operation is performed, the writing member is respectively connected to the following elements Conversely, the component refers to a component provided in the ink cartridge mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion.

According to this printing apparatus, when one writing member is provided for each of the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, the writing of information to the element can be more efficiently matched to the flushing operation.

Furthermore, in the printing device, the following method can also be adopted, that is, for each ink cartridge in the plurality of ink cartridges installed on the above-mentioned cartridge installation part, one of the above-mentioned writing components is set to write the above-mentioned information. The writing part is the writing part arranged closest to the printing area.

According to this printing apparatus, since the writing means for writing the above-mentioned information is the writing means provided closest to the printing area, it is possible to write effective information even during printing.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing device, it is also possible to adopt a mode in which the above-mentioned writing means can read information from the above-mentioned element, and when the ink cartridge is mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting part, the above-mentioned writing means reads the The ID (identification) information stored in the element in the ink mechanism, after reading the ID information, the above-mentioned writing part does not perform the reading operation again, and identifies each element while identifying each element through the read ID information. The above-mentioned information is written in each of the above-mentioned components provided in the ink cartridge mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion.

According to this printing device, since the writing part does not perform the read-in operation again, the ID information read in is used to identify each element, and the above-mentioned element is written in each element in the ink cartridge installed on the cartridge mounting portion. Information can be prevented from being written into another element by mistake, and information can be written quickly at the same time.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing device, time information for determining the writing time of the information indicating the above-mentioned used amount or remaining amount in the ink cartridge may also be stored in the element provided in the above-mentioned ink cartridge, and the time information is set according to the time information. above limits.

According to the printing apparatus described above, the limit value can be set corresponding to the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.

Furthermore, in the printing apparatus described above, the time information may be capacity information indicating the capacity of ink that can be accommodated in the ink cartridge, and the limit value may be set based on the capacity information.

According to the printing apparatus described above, the limit value can be set corresponding to the capacity of the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing apparatus, it is also possible to adopt a mode in which the above-mentioned time information is limit value information indicating a limit value corresponding to a limit value of the capacity of ink that can be accommodated in the ink cartridge, according to This limit value information sets the above-mentioned limit value.

According to the printing apparatus described above, the printing apparatus can set the limit value corresponding to the limit value information of the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing apparatus, it may also include an ejection head that ejects ink while moving together with the above-mentioned cartridge mounting section, and perform a flushing operation of periodically ejecting ink from the above-mentioned ejection head, and the above-mentioned writing means corresponds to the above-mentioned In the flushing operation, the above-mentioned information is written in the element provided in the above-mentioned selected ink cartridge.

According to this printing apparatus, since the above-mentioned information is written in the element provided in the above-mentioned selected ink cartridge in response to the regularly performed flushing operation, efficient information writing can be performed.

In addition, in the above-mentioned printing apparatus, it is also possible to adopt the following method, that is, when the above-mentioned flushing operation is performed, the above-mentioned writing part selects a plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting part according to the accumulation calculation result of the above-mentioned accumulation calculation means. one of the ink cartridges in the

According to this printing apparatus, since one of the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the cartridge mounting portion is selected based on the cumulative calculation result of flushing operation timing, the writing operation can be performed with respect to the element of the most necessary ink cartridge.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to an ink cartridge, which is detachably installed on the main body of the printing device, and which can accommodate ink, and is characterized in that the ink cartridge includes an element that can write information, and in the element, write Information indicating the amount of ink used or remaining in the ink cartridge, and information for specifying a writing time of the information indicating the amount of ink used or remaining in the ink cartridge.

In addition, in the above-mentioned ink cartridge, the above-mentioned element can also write information in a non-contact state.

In addition, in the above-mentioned ink cartridge, the information for specifying the above-mentioned writing time may be capacity information indicating a capacity of ink that can be accommodated in the above-mentioned ink cartridge.

In addition, in the above-mentioned ink cartridge, the following method may also be adopted, that is, in the following occasions, the capacity information is read into the printing device main body, and the limit value based on the capacity information is set. In this case, the printing device main body The above-mentioned cartridge mounting part installs the above-mentioned ink cartridge, and the main body of the printing apparatus includes a cartridge mounting part capable of loading and unloading a plurality of ink cartridges; The ejection amount is accumulated and calculated; the writing part is used to write information in the above-mentioned element. In the element, information indicating the amount of ink used or remaining is written.

In addition, in the above-mentioned ink cartridge, the information for specifying the writing time may be limit value information corresponding to a limit value of the capacity of ink that can be stored in the above-mentioned ink cartridge.

In addition, in the above-mentioned ink cartridge, it is also possible to adopt a method in which limit value information is read into the printing apparatus main body and a limit value based on the limit value information is set in the following occasions. In this case, the printing apparatus main body The above-mentioned cartridge installation part of the above-mentioned cartridge installation part is installed with the above-mentioned ink cartridge, and the main body of the printing apparatus includes a cartridge installation part capable of loading and unloading a plurality of ink cartridges; The ejection amount is accumulated and calculated; the writing part is used to write information in the above-mentioned element, and when the cumulative value of the above-mentioned accumulation result of the above-mentioned ink cartridge reaches a limit value, through the above-mentioned writing part, relative to the above-mentioned element, Information indicating the amount of ink used or remaining is written.

In addition, in the ink cartridge described above, ID information of the element itself may be stored in the element.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned ink cartridge, information may be written in the element after the element is identified by the ID information.

In addition, in the above-mentioned ink cartridge, ID information stored in a component provided in the ink mechanism may be read in the case where the above-mentioned ink cartridge is mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion in the main body of the printing apparatus. The main body of the printing apparatus includes a cartridge mounting portion capable of attaching and detaching a plurality of ink cartridges; an accumulative calculation mechanism for cumulatively calculating the ejection amount of ejected ink for each ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion; a writing unit, The writing unit is used to write information into the element. After reading the ID information, the element installed in the ink cartridge is identified by the ID information, and then the writing unit writes information to the element.

Description of drawings

1 is a schematic perspective view of an inkjet printing apparatus of Embodiment 1;

2 is a schematic perspective view of the inkjet printing apparatus of Embodiment 1;

3 is a block diagram showing the circuit composition of the inkjet printing apparatus of Embodiment 1;

4A and 4B are perspective views showing schematic structures of ink cartridges and a cartridge mounting portion of the printing apparatus main body 11;

5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the ink cartridge, the internal structure of the cartridge mounting portion on the nip roller 40, and the state in which the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion;

6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining the composition of the storage mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the action sequence of the nip roller 12 (and the ink cartridges 31-34) when the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 reads the ID information stored in the elements 41-44;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the action sequence of the nip roller 12 (and the ink cartridges 31-34) when reading information other than the ID information recorded in the elements 41-44;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of Embodiment 1 for illustrating changes in information inside the RAM;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of Embodiment 2 for illustrating changes in information inside the RAM;

11 is a schematic perspective view of an inkjet printing apparatus of Embodiment 3;

12 is a schematic front view of the inkjet printing apparatus of Embodiment 3;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the circuit composition of the ink jet printing apparatus of Embodiment 3. FIG.

Detailed ways

Example 1

Overview of Printing Devices

First, an inkjet printing apparatus as a printing apparatus is taken as an example, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 , to outline it. Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an inkjet printing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the inkjet printing apparatus. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit composition of the ink jet printing apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1 , an inkjet printing apparatus as a printing apparatus includes a printing apparatus main body 11 as a printing apparatus main body, and a nip roller 12 capable of reciprocating movement along its width direction (left and right directions in the figure). The printing apparatus main body 11 includes a paper transport mechanism for transporting the printing paper P, and a paper nip roller mechanism for actuating the paper nip roller 12 . The above-mentioned paper conveying mechanism includes a paper conveying motor 15, a paper conveying roller 16 and another roller not shown in the figure. Driven by the paper conveying motor 15 , the paper conveying roller 16 or another roller not shown in the figure rotates, and the printing paper P is conveyed.

The above-mentioned nip roller mechanism includes a guide member 20 erected parallel to the axis of the paper conveying roller 16; a nip roller motor 21; Between 22. With this pinch roller mechanism, the pinch roller 12 fitted with the timing belt 23 can move toward the width direction of the printing paper P along the guide member 20 .

On the nip roller 12, a print head 30 as an ejection head for ejecting ink droplets to the printing paper P is provided, and ink cartridges (described below) for inks of corresponding colors among black, cyan, magenta, and yellow are accommodated, for example. Also referred to as "cassettes") 31, 32, 33, 34 are mounted in a detachable manner. The nip roller 12 includes a cassette mounting portion 80 capable of attaching and detaching a plurality of cassettes (see FIG. 4B ). The print head 30 receives ink supply from the cartridges 31 to 34 attached to the cartridge mount 80 .

Also, on the respective front sides of the respective cassettes 31 to 34, storage means including antennas 36, 37, 38, 39 and elements 41, 42, 43, 44 in which various information can be written are provided. The elements 41, 42, 43, 44 can write various information, and can store the written information. Furthermore, these elements 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 include non-volatile memories (EEPROM) connected to the antennas 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 respectively. These elements 31-34 can be attached to and detached from the cartridge mounting part 80. When the ink is exhausted, when the expiry date is exceeded, or when changing to a cartridge of another color, etc., the elements 31-34 can be replaced appropriately by the user. . In addition, the specific contents of the above-mentioned cassettes 31 to 34 and the storage mechanism will be described later.

The print head 30 is connected to a control unit 50 to be described later via a flat cable 13 to control the amount of ejected ink droplets and the like.

Between the paper conveying motor 15 and the paper conveying roller 16, a platen 17 is provided. At one end portion (here, a non-printing area) of the platen 17, a through hole 17a is opened. Below the through hole 17 a, an ink absorbing member 18 is provided, and the ink absorbing member 18 is accommodated inside a waste ink box 19 which is arranged parallel to the platen 17 . In addition, on the side of the other end of the platen 17, a known wiping member 24 and a known capping mechanism 25 are provided. The capping mechanism 25 is connected to the ink absorber 18 via a suction pump 26 .

As shown in FIG. 2, above the through hole 17a of the platen 17, a signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 is provided, and in the middle of the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45, an antenna 60 as a writing means is provided. The antenna 60 is formed in such a manner that when the ink ejection port (not shown) of the print head 30 is positioned above the through hole 17a of the platen 17 (hereinafter referred to as "flushing position") , the antenna 60 faces the antenna 37 of the case 32, and transmits and receives signals without contacting the antenna 37. In addition, the antenna 60 in the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 is connected to the control unit 50 via the signal transmitting and receiving circuit 501 of the printing apparatus main body 11 through a cable not shown in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the printing apparatus main body 11 includes a central processing unit (CPU) as a control unit 50 that controls the operation of the entire printing apparatus. A read only memory (ROM) 51 storing programs and a random access memory (RAM) 52 temporarily storing work data and the like are connected to the control unit 50 .

A nip roller mechanism including a printing mechanism, a paper transport mechanism, and the like are connected to the control unit 50 so that an operation signal can be output to each mechanism. In addition, the control unit 50 performs cumulative calculation of the ejection amount of ink to be ejected from the print head 30 for each cartridge, and stores the cumulative calculation result in the RAM 52 .

In addition, the antenna 60 is connected to the control unit 50 through the signal transmission and reception circuit 501 , and input and output of ink property data and the like are performed to the respective elements (nonvolatile memories) 41 to 44 through the antenna 60 and the antennas 36 to 39 .

Furthermore, an external computer 55 is connected to the control unit 50 inside the printing apparatus main body 11 through an interface 54, and print data etc. are transferred between the computer 55 and the computer 55. In addition, a display unit 56 such as a monitor, a keyboard 57 for inputting various data, and the like are connected to the computer 55 .

Composition of Ink Cartridge and Cartridge Carrier

In the ink jet printing apparatus formed in the above manner, the basic structure of the ink cartridges 31 to 34 is common. Then, referring to FIGS. 4A , 4B and 5 , taking the ink cartridge 31 for black as an example, the structure of the ink cartridge and the structure for mounting the cartridge on the main body 11 of the printing apparatus will be described.

4A and 4B are perspective views showing a schematic structure of an ink cartridge and a cartridge mounting portion of the printing apparatus main body 11 . 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the ink cartridge, the internal structure of the cartridge mounting portion on the nip roller 40, and the state of mounting the cartridge on the cartridge mounting portion.

In FIGS. 4A and 4B , the ink cartridge 31 includes a synthetic resin cartridge main body 312 that forms an ink storage portion 311 that stores ink inside; Section 313 on. When the ink cartridge 31 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 80 of the printing apparatus main body 11 , various data are transferred between the storage mechanism and the printing apparatus main body 11 .

In contrast to the above, on the cartridge mounting portion 80 , a needle 81 is mounted facing upward at the bottom 87 of the space where the ink cartridge 31 is mounted. Around the needle 81 is formed a concave portion 83 that receives the ink supply portion 314 formed on the ink cartridge 31 . Cartridge guides 82 are formed at three locations on the inner wall of the concave portion 83 .

The procedure for mounting the ink cartridge 31 on the cartridge mounting portion 80 will be described below. First, the ink cartridge 31 is set on the cartridge mounting portion 80 . On the rear wall portion 88 of the cartridge mounting portion 80, a fixing rod 92 is installed through a support shaft 91. If the fixing rod 92 is tilted so as to fall on the ink cartridge 31, the ink cartridge 31 is pressed down, and the ink supply unit 314 Fitting with the recessed part 83, the needle 81 can pierce the ink supply part 314 to realize the supply of ink.

Also, when the fixing lever 92 is tilted, the stopper portion 93 formed at the front end of the fixing lever 92 fits into the engaging member 89 formed on the ink mounting portion 80 to fix the ink cartridge 31 .

Since the structure of the ink cartridge 31 is basically the same as other ink cartridges, description thereof is omitted.

The composition of the storage mechanism

Referring to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B , the composition of the storage mechanism and the scheme of sending and receiving data signals will be described below. Fig. 6A is a plan perspective view showing the structure of the storage mechanism. FIG. 6B is a block diagram for describing the storage mechanism and the internal configuration of the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 .

The storage mechanism and the antenna 60 of the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 can have a predetermined positional relationship, for example, if the mutual distance is less than 10 mm, they can transmit and receive information in a non-contact state. The storage mechanism is miniature and thin as a whole, and one of its surfaces can be made adhesive to form a seal so that it can be pasted on an object. It is of a type called a "memory tag", of various commercially available types. In addition, since the storage mechanisms of the ink cartridges other than the ink cartridge 31 also have the same structure, description thereof will be omitted.

In the memory mechanism, a non-contact IC chip as an element 41, a resonant capacitor 71 formed by etching a metal surface film, and a planar coil as an antenna 36 are mounted on a plastic film through a transparent cover layer. cover.

The signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 includes a coil as an antenna 60 and a signal transmitting and receiving circuit 501 connected to the control unit (CPU) 50 of the printing device main body 11 and receiving power from the power supply mechanism of the printing device main body 11 .

The elements 41 in the storage mechanism include a rectifier 411 , a signal decomposition unit RF (Radio Frequency) 413 , a control unit 415 , and a storage unit 417 . The storage unit 417 is a nonvolatile memory that can be read and written electronically in a NAND flash ROM or the like, and can store written information and can read stored information from the outside.

The antenna 36 in the storage mechanism communicates with the antenna 60 in the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 to read ID information stored in the storage unit 417 or write to the storage unit 417 . In addition, a high-frequency signal generated by the signal transmission and reception circuit 501 of the signal transmission and reception unit 45 passes through the antenna 60 to generate a high-frequency magnetic field. The high-frequency magnetic field is absorbed by the antenna 36 of the storage mechanism and rectified by the rectifier 411 to form a DC power supply for driving each circuit inside the IC chip 41 .

In the storage unit 417 of the element 41, the serial number of the element, etc., and unique information of each storage element, that is, ID information are stored. This ID information data can be written in when the memory element is manufactured in a factory. The corresponding components 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 can be identified by reading the ID information by the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 on the main body side of the printing apparatus 10 .

In addition, in the storage unit 417, information indicating the used amount or remaining amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge can be written. The above-mentioned information is read on the printing apparatus main body 11 side, and processing such as issuing a warning to the user when the remaining amount is only a little bit may also be performed.

In addition, the following information may be written in the storage unit 417, and this information is used to determine the writing time of the information indicating the amount of ink used or the remaining amount of the ink cartridge. As the information for specifying the writing time of the information indicating the used amount or remaining amount of the ink cartridge, in this embodiment, the capacity information of the ink that can be accommodated in the ink cartridge 31 mounted with the element 41 is used. Therefore, the main body 11 of the printing apparatus can be formed in such a manner that the capacity information is read from the element 41, for example, 1% of the capacity information is set as a limit value, and when the ejection amount of the ink of the ink cartridge 31 is When the accumulated value reaches the limit value, information indicating the amount used or the remaining amount is written into the element 41 .

In addition, as the information for determining the writing time of the information indicating the amount of use or remaining amount of the ink cartridge, the following limit value information indicating the capacity of the ink that can be accommodated in the ink cartridge 31 in which the element 41 is installed can also be used. corresponding limit value. The limit value information may also be, for example, equal to 1% of the ink capacity or the like. In this case, the main body 11 of the printing apparatus may be formed in such a manner that the limit value information is read from the element 41, and when the cumulative value of the ejection amount of the ink of the ink cartridge 31 reaches the limit value, the usage amount is indicated. Or a residual amount of information is written into the element 41 .

In addition, in the storage unit 417 in the element 41, in addition to the above-mentioned information, color data for identifying the cartridge, manufacturing information of the ink cartridge to which the element 41 is added, information related to the expiration date, and the like may be included. It is also possible to read these information on the side of the printing apparatus main body 11 and perform a comparison process with the current date and time to issue a warning to the user when the expiration date of the ink cartridge is approaching the end.

Operation of inkjet printing equipment

The operation of the above-mentioned printing device will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 .

When the ink cartridges 31 to 34 are set on the nip roller 12, first, the nip roller 12 is moved toward the flushing position. In addition, from the components 41 to 44 provided in the cassettes 31 to 34 , the ID information stored in each component is read into the printing apparatus main body 11 through the antennas 36 to 39 and the antenna 60 of the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 . First, with reference to FIG. 7 , the reading process of the ID information will be described.

ID information read processing

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation sequence of the nip roller 12 (and the ink cartridges 31 to 34 ) when the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 reads the ID information stored in the elements 41 to 44 .

The antenna 60 provided on the signal transmitting and receiving part 45 of the present embodiment is of a size opposite to the two corresponding component installation surfaces of the ink cartridges 31 to 34 (and the components 41 to 44 respectively), and the antenna 60 is positioned according to the position. When the pinch roller 12 is stopped in the middle of a certain component and its adjacent component, data can be transmitted and received between the component and the two components. The signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 sequentially reads or writes ID information toward the drawing surface, that is, from the element 41 toward the element 44 at the right end.

First, in the non-approach state (S100) in which the signal transmitting and receiving section 45 is not close to any of the elements 41 to 44, the nip roller 12 is located on the right side away from the left non-printing area where the signal transmitting and receiving section 45 is provided, and it cannot Access to components in any of the cartridges.

Next, in the state of approaching the ink cartridge 31 (S101), the nip roller 12 moves to the left non-printing area, and only the left ink cartridge 31 and the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 stop at a position where data can be transmitted and received. That is, the vicinity of the right end of the antenna 60 of the signal transmitting and receiving section 45 is located at a position facing the vicinity of the middle of the element 41. At this position, the signal transmitting and receiving section 45 is too far from the element 42 of the ink cartridge 32, and is located at a place where data cannot be transmitted and received. Location. At this stop position, first, the ID information recorded on the element 41 is read.

Then, the pinch roller 12 is stopped at a position that is moved to the left by the size of one ink cartridge, and the ID information of the element 42 of the ink cartridge 32 is read (S102). In this stop position, since the component 41 can still be approached, in order to prevent data signal interference, the ID information of the component 41 that has been read is accompanied by the ID information read command sent from the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 to the component 42. . Using the ID information of the component 41, identification is performed on the sides of the components 41 and 42, whereby the ID information of the component 42 can be read correctly.

In the same manner thereafter, the reading operations of the elements 43, 44 of the ink cartridges 33, 34 are sequentially performed (S103, S104). After the ID information of the component 44 is read (S104), the pinch roller 12 is returned to a position such as the right non-printing area, and this ID information reading process ends.

As described above, all the ID information of the components 41 to 44 are obtained, whereby the arrangement can be grasped on the side of the printing apparatus main body 11 . That is, on the leftmost side, the ink cartridge 31 corresponding to the ID information that has been read from the element 41 is provided, and at a position adjacent to the right side thereof, the ink cartridge 32 corresponding to the ID information that has been read from the element 42 is provided. According to this In this way, the order of arrangement of all the ink cartridges 31 - 34 inside the nip roller 12 is stored.

Reading processing of information other than ID information

The following describes the operation of reading information other than the ID information recorded on the components 41 to 44 in a manner that is the same as that of the ID information grasped through the above steps and the arrangement order of the ink cartridges 31 to 34. information about the relationship between them. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the operation sequence of the nip roller 12 (and the ink cartridges 31 to 34 ) when reading information other than the ID information recorded on the elements 41 to 44 .

First, in the non-approach state (S200) in which the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 is not close to any of the components 41-44, the nip roller 12 is located far away from the right side of the left non-printing area where the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 is provided, and cannot be approached. Components 41-44 of any one of ink cartridges 31-34.

Next, in the state of approaching the ink cartridges 31 and 32 (S201), the nip roller 12 moves to the left non-printing area, and the ink cartridge 31 at the left end and the ink cartridge 32 adjacent to it stop at the position where the signal transmitting and receiving section 45 can transmit and receive data. Location. That is, the vicinity of the middle of the antenna 60 of the signal transmitting and receiving section 45 is located at a position facing the vicinity of the middle area of the element 41 and the element 42, and at this position, the signal transmitting and receiving section 45 and the elements 41 of both the ink cartridges 31 and 32 , Between 42, data can be sent and received.

In this stop position, data read commands are sent to elements 41 and 42, respectively. At this time, the component 41 is accompanied by the read ID information of the component 41 . After confirming that the accompanying ID information of the component 41 that has received the command is the ID information of the component 41 itself, information other than the requested ID information is returned to the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 . The reading process for the element 42 is also performed in the same manner.

Next, the nip roller 12 is stopped at a position moved to the left by the distance corresponding to the size of the two ink cartridges, and data reading processing is performed on the elements 43 and 44 of the ink cartridges 33 and 34 (S202). At this stop position, the same as the reading process for the above-mentioned components 41, 42, while surely using the ID information of the components 43, 43 to identify the corresponding components 43, 44, while reading information other than the corresponding ID information according to In this way, the nip roller 12 is stopped at a position where it can contact the two components at the same time, and the information other than the ID information is read, whereby the movement and positioning operation of the nip roller 12 is performed twice. It is also possible to read the information stored in the components one by one while moving and positioning the components one by one, but because the present embodiment is carried out by moving and positioning operations less than the above-mentioned occasions, the time for the reading process can be shortened as a whole. Adopt this embodiment.

Through the above processing, the usage amount (hereinafter also referred to as "initial usage amount"), ink color information, expiry date information, etc. of each ink cartridge at the time when it is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 80 is read into the printing apparatus main body 11, and the It is stored in RAM 52 or the like.

When the above processing is completed, the nip roller 12 moves to a position where the capping mechanism 25 is installed, and waits in a capped state.

Printing and write processing of usage and residual quantity

Thereafter, in order to print images and characters on the printing paper P, data of the images and characters are sent from the computer 55 to the printer main body 11 through the interface 54 . Then, first, the control unit 50 of the printing apparatus main body 11 supplies a signal to the paper conveying mechanism to start conveying the printing paper P. Next, the control unit 50 supplies a signal to the nip roller mechanism to eject ink droplets corresponding to the images and characters from the print head 30 while moving the nip roller 12 . At this time, the control unit 50 simultaneously stores the ink droplet volume and the number of ejections of each cartridge in the RAM 52 . Thereby, for each ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 80 of the nip roller 12 , the cumulative calculation of the ejection amount of ink ejected toward the printing paper P as the object to be printed is performed.

After the pinch roller 12 moves back and forth along the guide member 20 for a predetermined number of times, the control unit 50 moves the pinch roller 12 to the flushing position located in the left printing area. Then, a signal is given to the nip roller mechanism, and a predetermined amount of ink is ejected from the print head 30, that is, a flushing operation is performed. The purpose of this flushing operation is to prevent clogging of the ink nozzles included in the print head 30 .

At the same time, the control unit 50 selects the cartridge with the largest amount of ink from the data in the RAM 52 . Up to now, the amount of ink contained in each of the ink cartridges 31 to 34, that is, the cumulative value of the cumulative calculation result of the ink ejection amount, is, for example, 54, 81, 32, 13 (picoliters) as shown in FIG. 9 , respectively. ) case, select the box 32 with a large amount.

Next, when the antenna 37 and the antenna 60 are not in a positional relationship where signals can be transmitted and received, the control unit 50 moves the nip roller 12 along the guide member 20, and passes through the antenna 60, the antenna 37, and the components (non-volatile components) in the cassette 32. In the permanent memory) 42, the value obtained by adding the initial usage amount and the current ink usage amount is written as information indicating the usage amount. In addition, the initial usage amount stored in the RAM 52 is updated to a value obtained by adding the initial usage amount to the current ink usage amount. At this time, the control unit 50 resets the data of the usage amount of the cartridge 32 stored in the RAM 52 as shown in FIG. 9 as "after the first rinse". That is, the accumulation value of the box 32 is reset.

When such operations are completed, the control unit 50 supplies a signal to the pinch roller mechanism again to perform continuous printing. Next, the amount of ink used during this printing is stored in the RAM 52 .

In addition, the amount of ink used in the previous flushing operation is also included in the amount of ink used above. Then, after the pinch roller 12 has reciprocated a predetermined number of times, the pinch roller 12 is moved to the flushing position again. Perform a flushing action. For example, as described as "before the second flushing" in FIG. 9, when the corresponding ink consumption so far is 112, 78, 59, 41, the control unit 50 selects the cartridge 31 with the largest consumption.

In addition, when the antenna 36 and the antenna 60 are not in a positional relationship where signals can be transmitted and received, the control unit 50 moves the nip roller 12 along the guide member 20, and passes through the antennas 60 and 36 to transmit and receive signals in the element (nonvolatile memory) 41. In , the value obtained by adding the initial usage amount and the current ink usage amount is written as information indicating the usage amount. In addition, the initial usage amount stored in the RAM 52 is updated to a value obtained by adding the initial usage amount to the current ink usage amount. In addition, the usage amount of the cartridge 31 stored in the RAM 52 is reset. In addition, the ink volumes of the respective cartridges 31 to 34 used between the first flushing operation and before the second flushing operation are 58, 78, 27, and 28 (picoliters).

In the manner described above, the inkjet printing apparatus includes the print head 30 that ejects ink while moving together with the cartridge mounting portion 80, and performs a flushing operation that regularly ejects ink from the print head 30, and the antenna 60 as a writing component corresponds to In the flushing operation, information indicating the usage amount is written in the components set in the selected cartridge. Specifically, during printing, the control unit 50 cumulatively calculates the amount of ink used in each of the cartridges 31 to 34 and stores it in the RAM 52 . In addition, the control unit 50 performs a flushing operation in accordance with the predetermined number of reciprocating movements of the nip roller during printing, and writes a value indicating that the amount of ink consumption is the largest in the elements 41 to 44 of the cartridges 31 to 34 that are determined to consume the most ink. dosage information.

In addition, the usage amount of ink stored in the RAM 52 in the cartridges 31 to 34 provided with the corresponding elements 41 to 44 that have undergone the writing process is reset.

When printing multiple sheets, every time the printing of each page is finished, move the pinch roller 12 to the flushing position, write information in the elements 41 to 44 in the order of the ink consumption of each ink cartridge, and reset The usage amount of ink stored in RAM52.

In addition, when writing processing is performed on each of the elements 41 to 44, a data writing command is sent to the element without performing an ID reading operation again. At this time, each of the components 41 to 44 is accompanied by the read ID information of each component. After confirming that the accompanying ID information is the ID information of the component itself among the components that have received the command, information other than the requested ID information is returned to the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 .

Since the antenna 60 as a writing part recognizes each element through the ID information that has been read, the information is written into each element in the ink cartridge installed on the cartridge mounting portion 80, so it is possible to prevent misuse of information. In the case of writing to other elements, the writing operation can be performed quickly at the same time.

In addition, the writing process to the element may be performed while the nip roller 12 is stopped, or may be performed while the nip roller 12 is moving.

In addition, from the viewpoint of writing information in a short time, when writing the information indicating the usage amount into the element, it is preferable to write only the information indicating the usage amount or the remaining amount among the plurality of pieces of information.

Example 2

Embodiment 2 is described below. The difference between Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 1 lies in the amount or residual amount writing process. Since the other configurations are the same as those of Embodiment 1, the description will focus on the differences.

In Embodiment 1, after the nip roller 12 moves back and forth along the guide member 20 for a predetermined number of times, the nip roller 12 is moved to the flushing position, that is, a so-called flushing operation is performed. When performing this flushing operation, the control unit 50 selects the cartridge with the largest amount of ink used based on the data in the RAM 52 .

In the second embodiment, the control unit 50 selects a cartridge when the data in the RAM 52 reaches the limit value after the start of printing. A detailed description is given below.

Also in this embodiment, the "information reading process other than ID information" described in Embodiment 1 is performed, and at this time, the following information is read into the printing apparatus main body 11, which refers to the information stored in each Among elements 41 to 44, information other than ID information is used as information for specifying the writing time of information indicating the amount of ink used or remaining in the ink cartridge, and the capacity of ink that can be stored in the ink cartridge to which each element is mounted. information. The control unit 50 stores 1% of the capacity information as a limit value in the RAM 52 for each ink cartridge. In this embodiment, the capacity information of the ink cartridges 32, 33 and 34 are equal, and the capacity information of the ink cartridge 31 containing black ink is greater than the capacity information of the ink cartridges 32, 33 and 34. As shown in FIG. 10, for the ink cartridges 32, 33 and 34. Set the limit value to 50 (picoliters), and for the ink cartridge 31, set the limit value to 70 (picoliters).

The printing process of this embodiment and the writing process of the usage amount and residual amount

In order to print images and characters on the printing paper P, data of the images and characters are sent from the computer 55 to the printer main body 11 through the interface 54 . Then, first, the control unit 50 of the printing apparatus main body 11 supplies a signal to the paper conveying mechanism to start conveying the printing paper P. Next, the control unit 50 supplies a signal to the nip roller mechanism to eject ink droplets corresponding to the images and characters from the print head 30 while moving the nip roller 12 . At this time, the control unit 50 simultaneously stores the ink droplet volume and the number of ejections of each cartridge in the RAM 52 . Therefore, for each ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 80 of the nip roller 12 , the ejection amount of the ink ejected toward the printing paper P as the object to be printed is cumulatively calculated.

For each ink cartridge, a judgment is made as to whether or not the accumulated value as a result of the accumulated calculation has reached the limit value. If the control unit 50 determines that the cumulative value of a certain ink cartridge has reached the limit value, the ink cartridge is selected.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the cumulative value of the ink cartridge 31 reaches 70 (picoliters), which is the limit value of the ink cartridge 31, the ink cartridge 31 is selected. In addition, the amount of ink stored in each of the cartridges 31 to 34 when the ink cartridge 31 is selected, that is, the cumulative value as the cumulative calculation result of the ink ejection amount, is 70, 38, 21, and 15, respectively, as shown in FIG. (pic liters).

In addition, the control part 50 moves the paper nip roller 12 towards the antenna 60 in the signal transmitting and receiving part. In the nonvolatile memory) 41 , a value obtained by adding the initial usage amount to the current ink usage amount is written as information indicating the usage amount. In addition, the initial usage amount stored in the RAM 52 is updated to a value obtained by adding the initial usage amount to the current ink usage amount. In addition, the control unit 50 resets the data of the usage amount of the cartridge 31 stored in the RAM 52 as shown as "after the first writing" in FIG. 10 . That is, the accumulation value of the box 31 is reset.

When such operations are completed, the control unit 50 sends a signal to the pinch roller mechanism again to perform continuous printing. In addition, for each ink cartridge, the cumulative calculation is performed on the ejection amount of ink ejected toward the printing paper P as a printed body in this printing process.

For each ink cartridge, a judgment is made as to whether or not the cumulative value as a result of this cumulative calculation has reached the limit value. If the control unit 50 determines that the cumulative value of a certain ink cartridge has reached the limit value, the ink cartridge is selected.

For example, as shown in "When the second limit value is reached" in FIG. 32.

In addition, the control unit 50 moves the nip roller 12 toward the antenna 60 of the signal transmitting and receiving unit, and after the antenna 37 and the antenna 60 are in a positional relationship where signals can be transmitted and received, through the antennas 60 and 37, the elements (nonvolatile memory ) 42, a value obtained by adding the initial usage amount to the current ink usage amount is written as information indicating the usage amount. In addition, the initial usage amount stored in the RAM 52 is updated to a value obtained by adding the initial usage amount to the current ink usage amount. Reset the usage quantity of box 32 in RAM52 again, in addition, the amount of ink of each box 31～34 that has been used is 56,12,23 during reaching the second time limit value from reaching the limit value for the first time, 13 (picoliters).

As described above, during printing, the control unit 50 cumulatively calculates the amount of ink used in each of the ink cartridges 31 to 34 and stores it in the RAM 52 . Also, when the cumulative value of a certain cartridge reaches the limit value set for the cartridge, the control unit 50 selects the ink cartridge and writes information indicating the amount of ink used in the element of the cartridge. In addition, the used amount of ink stored in the RAM 52 is reset for the cartridge provided with the corresponding element that has undergone the writing process.

In addition, as in the first embodiment, when performing a write operation on each of the elements 41 to 44, a data write command is sent to the element. At this time, each of the components 41 to 44 is accompanied by the read ID information of each component. After confirming that the ID information accompanying the received command component is indeed the ID information of the component itself, the information other than the requested ID information is returned to the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 . In addition, writing to the element may be performed while the nip roller 12 is stopped, or may be performed while the nip roller 12 is moving.

In addition, it is also possible to store, in each element, information for determining the writing time of the information indicating the amount of ink used or the remaining amount of the ink cartridge, indicating a limit value corresponding to the capacity of the ink stored in the ink cartridge to which each element is mounted. limit value information. In this case, the limit value information stored in each of the elements 41 to 44 is read into the printing apparatus main body 11 at the time of "reading processing of information other than ID information". The control unit 50 may store, for each ink cartridge, the read limit value information itself or a value corresponding to the limit value information as a limit value in the RAM 52 .

In addition, the printing head 30 can be used to carry out bidirectional printing. When the printing head 30 moves toward the direction away from the writing part (towards the direction of the area to be printed on the right side), when printing is performed by ejecting ink, at a certain When the cumulative value of the ink cartridge reaches the limit value set for the ink cartridge, and when there is print data that should be printed by ejecting ink while the print head 30 is moving toward the left printing area, At least after printing is performed by ejecting ink while the printing head 30 is moving toward the direction of the left printing area, the writing part can also write information indicating the usage amount in the element. In this manner, when bidirectional printing is performed, waste of time accompanying the writing operation is suppressed.

Correspondence with flushing action

In the above description related to Embodiment 2, if the control unit 50 judges that the cumulative value of a certain ink cartridge reaches the limit value, the ink cartridge is selected, and the nip roller 12 is immediately moved towards the antenna 60 of the signal transmitting and receiving unit, and the antenna 60 passes through the antenna. , write the information indicating the amount in the component.

Preferably, the operation of writing the information indicating the usage amount in the element is performed in a manner corresponding to the flushing operation performed periodically (every certain time, or every predetermined number of times of flushing). In addition, in FIG. 2 , flushing positions are set at the right non-printing area and the left non-printing area. When performing the flushing action, the nip roller 12 must move to the area to be printed. However, by writing the information indicating the amount in the element in a manner corresponding to the flushing action, it is not necessary to perform the writing action only. Move the pinch roller 12 to the non-printing area.

For example, the writing part can write the information indicating the usage amount in the element provided in the selected ink cartridge in the following manner: when the accumulated value of a certain ink cartridge reaches the value set for the ink cartridge After the limit value, the flushing action is initially carried out correspondingly.

In the solution shown in FIG. 2 , when the accumulation value of the judging box 32 reaches the limit value, and the box 32 is selected, the nip roller 12 is moved towards the left non-printing area direction during the initial flushing operation thereafter, Rinsing is performed at the rinsing position, and information indicating the dosage can be written in the element 42 provided in the cartridge 32 .

In addition, when it is determined that the cumulative value of the cartridge 31 reaches the limit value and the cartridge 31 is selected, the nip roller 12 is moved toward the left non-printing area during the initial flushing operation thereafter, and the nip roller 12 moves to the flushing operation. In the middle of the position, information indicating the dosage is written in the element 41 provided in the cartridge 31, and then, flushing can be performed at the flushing position.

In addition, when the accumulation value of the judgment box 33 (or 34) reaches the limit value, and the box 33 (or 34) is selected, the nip roller 12 is moved towards the left non-printing area direction during the initial flushing operation thereafter. , perform flushing at the flushing position, and then make the pinch roller 12 move further towards the left non-printing area, in the element 43 (or 44) that is arranged in the box 33 (or 34), the information representing the amount can be written.

Furthermore, in FIG. 2 , it can also be formed in the following manner, which is: wherein the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 including the antenna 60 is arranged closer to the print area side, and relatively all of them are arranged in the order from the start of the print area. The writing positions of the elements 41-44 of the cassettes 31-34, and the positions where the flushing operation is performed.

In the case of forming in this way, in order to perform the initial flushing operation after the cumulative value of a certain ink cartridge reaches the limit value set for the ink cartridge, the print head 30 and the nip roller 12 move toward the position where the flushing operation is performed. During the movement, when the components moving with the nip roller 12 pass through the antenna 60, the antenna 60 can write information indicating the usage amount.

In addition, a plurality of printing modes with different printing speeds can be performed, and in at least one of the printing modes, even when the cumulative value of a certain ink cartridge reaches the limit value set for the ink cartridge, writing The input unit may not perform the writing operation corresponding to the flushing operation performed initially thereafter. According to this printing device, for example, in the case of a printing mode in which printing speed is intended to be optimized, the printing speed can be increased because the writing operation is not performed.

Example 3

Embodiment 3 is described below. The description will focus on differences from Example 1 and Example 2. For the same components and processes as those in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the same symbols are attached, and descriptions thereof are omitted or simplified.

Overview of Printing Devices

First, referring to FIGS. 11 to 13 , an overview of the printing apparatus will be described. Fig. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the inkjet printing apparatus of this embodiment. Fig. 12 is a schematic front view of the inkjet printing apparatus of the present embodiment. Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing the circuit composition of the ink jet printing apparatus of this embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, above the through hole 17a of the above-mentioned platen 17, a signal transmitting and receiving part 45 is provided, and in the middle of the signal transmitting and receiving part 45, an antenna 46 as a writing component is provided, 47, 48, 49. The above-mentioned antennas 46 to 49 are configured in such a manner that when the ink ejection ports (not shown) of the print head 30 are located above the through hole 17a of the above-mentioned platen 17 (flushing position), they are respectively With respect to the antennas 36 to 39 of the boxes 31 to 34 , signal transmission and reception processing is performed in a state where they are not in contact with the antennas 36 to 39 . In addition, the antennas 46 to 49 of the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 are connected to the control unit 50 via the signal transmitting and receiving circuit 502 of the printing apparatus main body 11 through cables or the like not shown in the figure.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 13, on the control unit 50, the antennas 46-49 are connected to the serial part through the signal transmission and reception circuit 502, and the antennas 46-49 and the antennas 36-39 are relatively non-volatile. The elements 41 to 44 of the memory, the input and output of ink attribute data, etc. are serially performed.

Operation of inkjet printing equipment

Also in this embodiment, first, ID information stored in each element is read into the printing apparatus main body.

This ID information is processed using, for example, the antenna 49 closest to the printing area among the antennas 46 to 49 provided on the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 . The ID information stored in each element is read into the printing apparatus main body 11 by performing the replacement of the antenna 60 of the embodiment 1 with the antenna 49 in the process described for the embodiment 1. deal with.

Reading processing of information other than ID information

In the present embodiment, the antennas 46, 47, 48, 49 arranged on the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 are respectively connected to the elements 41, 42, 43, 44 arranged on the boxes 31, 32, 33, 34. For the state (state of FIG. 12 ), read processing of information other than ID information is performed.

In this state, a data read command is sent from the antenna 46 to the element 41 . At this time, the component 41 is accompanied by the read ID information of the component 41 . After confirming that the accompanying ID information in the component 41 that received the command is indeed the ID information of the component 41 itself, the antenna 46 returns information other than the requested ID information to the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 .

Next, in such a state (the state of FIG. 12 ), a data read command is transmitted from the antenna 47 to the element 42 . At this time, the component 42 is accompanied by the read ID information of the component 42 . After confirming that the accompanying ID information in the component 42 that received the command is indeed the ID information of the component 42 itself, the information other than the requested ID information is returned to the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 through the antenna 47 . For the other elements 43, 44, the same processing is performed.

Through the above processing, ink color information, expiration date information, and the like are read into the printing apparatus main body 11 and stored in the RAM 52 and the like. When the above processing is completed, the nip roller 12 moves to the position where the capping mechanism 25 is installed, and waits in a capped state.

Printing and write processing of usage and residual quantity

Thereafter, in order to print images or characters on the printing paper P, the data of the images and characters are sent from the computer 55 to the printer main body 11 through the interface 54 . Then, first, the control unit 50 of the printing apparatus main body 11 supplies a signal to the paper conveying mechanism to start conveying the printing paper P. Next, the control unit 50 supplies a signal to the nip roller mechanism to eject ink droplets corresponding to the images and characters from the print head 30 while moving the nip roller 12 . At this time, the control unit 50 simultaneously stores the amount of ink droplets in each cartridge and the number of ejected times in the RAM 52 . That is, for each ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 80 of the nip roller 12 , the cumulative calculation of the ejection amount of the ink ejected toward the printing paper P as the object to be printed is performed.

After the nip roller 12 moves back and forth along the guide member 20 for a predetermined number of times, the control unit 50 moves the nip roller 12 to the flushing position located in the left non-printing area, and then provides a signal to the nip roller mechanism, from the print head 30. Eject a predetermined amount of ink to perform a so-called flushing action.

At the same time, the control unit 50 selects the cartridge with the largest amount of ink from the data in the RAM 52 .

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, at the position where the flushing operation is performed, information can be written with respect to the elements 41-44 provided in the respective cassettes 31-34 through the antennas 46-49.

Then, the control unit 50 writes information indicating the amount of ink used to the element of the selected cartridge without moving the pinch roller 12 along the guide member 20 . In addition, the initial usage amount stored in the RAM 52 is updated to a value obtained by adding the initial usage amount to the current ink usage amount. In addition, the control unit 50 resets the data of the usage amount of the selected cartridge stored in the RAM 52 again. That is, the accumulation value of the selected box is reset.

When such operations are completed, the control unit 50 supplies a signal to the pinch roller mechanism again to perform continuous printing. Next, the amount of ink used during the printing is stored in the RAM 52 .

In addition, the amount of ink used also includes the amount of ink used in the previous flushing operation. Next, after the nip roller 12 is reciprocated a predetermined number of times, the nip roller 12 is moved to the flushing position again to perform a flushing operation. At the same time, the control unit 50 selects the cartridge that has been used the most so far.

Also in this case, at the position where the flushing operation is performed, information can be written with respect to the elements 41-44 provided on the cassettes 31-34 through the antennas 46-49, respectively.

Then, the control unit 50 writes information indicating the amount of ink used for the selected element of the nip roller without moving the nip roller 12 along the guide member 20 . In addition, the initial usage amount stored in the RAM 52 is updated to a value obtained by adding the initial usage amount to the current ink usage amount. In addition, the control unit 50 resets the data of the usage amount of the selected cartridge stored in the RAM 52 again. That is, the accumulation value of the selected box is reset.

As described above, during printing, the control unit 50 cumulatively calculates the amount of ink used in each of the ink cartridges 31 to 34 and stores it in the RAM 52 . In addition, the control unit 50 performs a flushing operation in such a manner that the nip rollers reciprocate a predetermined number of times during printing, and writes a value representing the ink in the elements 41 to 44 on the cartridges 31 to 34 that have determined that the amount of ink consumption is large. dosage information. In addition, the used amount of the ink stored in the RAM 52 is reset for the cartridges 31 to 34 provided with the corresponding elements 41 to 44 that have undergone the writing process.

In addition, when performing a write process on each of the elements 41 to 44, a data write command is sent to the element. At this time, each of the components 41 to 44 is accompanied by the read ID information of each component. After confirming that among the components that have received the command, the accompanying ID information is indeed the ID information of the component itself, information other than the requested ID information is returned to the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 .

In addition, from the viewpoint of writing information in a short time, when writing information indicating a usage amount in a device, it is preferable to write information indicating a usage amount or a remaining amount among a plurality of pieces of information.

Example 4

Embodiment 4 is described below. The difference between Embodiment 4 and Embodiment 3 lies in the writing process of the used amount or the residual amount. Since the other configurations are the same as those in Embodiment 3, the description will focus on the differences.

In Embodiment 3, after the nip roller 12 is moved back and forth along the guide member 20 a predetermined number of times, the nip roller 12 is moved to the flushing position to perform a so-called flushing operation. When performing this flushing operation, the control unit 50 selects the cartridge with the largest amount of ink consumption based on the data in the RAM 52 .

In Embodiment 4, the control unit 50 selects a cartridge when the data in the RAM 52 reaches the limit value after printing is started. A detailed description is given below.

Also in this embodiment, the "information reading process other than ID information" described with respect to Embodiment 3 is performed, and at this time, the following information is read into the printing apparatus main body 11, the information indicating that each element has been stored In 41 to 44, as the information other than the ID information, the information for specifying the writing time of the information indicating the used amount or the remaining amount of the ink cartridge is the capacity information of the ink that can be stored in the ink cartridge mounted with each element. The control unit 50 stores a value of 1% of the capacity information in the RAM 25 as a limit value for each ink cartridge.

The printing process of this embodiment and the writing process of the usage amount and residual amount

In order to print images and characters on the printing paper P, data of the images and characters are sent from the computer 55 to the printer main body 11 through the interface 54 . Then, first, the control unit 50 of the printing apparatus main body 11 supplies a signal to the paper conveying mechanism to start conveying the printing paper P. Next, the control unit 50 supplies a signal to the nip roller mechanism to eject ink droplets corresponding to the images and characters from the print head 30 while moving the nip roller 12 . At this time, the control unit 50 simultaneously stores the amount of ink droplets in each cartridge and the number of ejected times in the RAM 52 . That is, for each ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 80 of the nip roller 12 , the cumulative calculation of the ejection amount of the ink ejected toward the printing paper P as the object to be printed is performed.

For each ink cartridge, it is determined whether or not the cumulative value as a result of the cumulative calculation reaches the limit value. If the control unit 50 determines that the cumulative value of a certain ink cartridge has reached the limit value, the ink cartridge is selected.

Next, the control unit 50 moves the nip roller 12 toward the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45, and after the antennas 36 to 39 and the antennas 46 to 49 are in a positional relationship where signals can be transmitted and received respectively, among the elements of the selected cassette, Information indicating the amount of ink used at this time is written. In addition, the initial usage amount stored in the RAM 52 is updated to a value obtained by adding the initial usage amount to the current ink usage amount. Moreover, the control part 50 resets the data of the usage-amount of the selected cartridge stored in RAM52 again, ie, resets the cumulative value of a cartridge.

When such operations are completed, the control unit 50 supplies a signal to the pinch roller mechanism again to perform continuous printing. In addition, for each ink cartridge, the cumulative calculation is performed on the ejection amount of ink ejected toward the printing paper P which is the object to be printed in this printing process.

For each ink cartridge, it is judged whether or not the cumulative value as a result of the cumulative calculation reaches the limit value. If the control unit 50 determines that the cumulative value of a certain ink cartridge has reached the limit value, the ink cartridge is selected.

Then, the control unit 50 moves the nip roller 12 toward the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45, and after the antennas 36 to 39 and the antennas 46 to 49 are in a positional relationship where signals can be transmitted and received respectively, among the elements of the selected cassette, Information indicating the amount of ink used at this time is written. In addition, the initial usage amount stored in the RAM 52 is updated to a value obtained by adding the initial usage amount to the current ink usage amount. Moreover, the control part 50 resets the data of the usage-amount of the selected cartridge stored in RAM52 again, ie, resets the cumulative value of a cartridge.

As described above, during printing, the control unit 50 cumulatively calculates the amount of ink used in each of the cartridges 31 to 34 and stores it in the RAM 52 . Also, when the cumulative value of a certain cartridge reaches the limit value set for the cartridge, the control unit 50 selects the ink cartridge, and writes information indicating the amount of ink used in the element of the ink cartridge. Next, the usage amount of the ink stored in the RAM 52 is reset in the cartridge provided with the corresponding element that has undergone the writing process.

In addition, as in the third embodiment, when the writing process is performed on each of the elements 41 to 44, a data writing command is sent to the element. At this time, each of the components 41 to 44 is accompanied by the read ID information of each component. After confirming that among the components that have received the command, the accompanying ID information is indeed the ID information of the component itself, information other than the requested ID information is returned to the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 . In addition, writing to the element may be performed while the nip roller 12 is stopped, or may be performed while the nip roller 12 is moving.

In addition, it is also possible to store the following information in each element. This information indicates that it corresponds to the capacity of the ink that can be accommodated in the ink cartridge in which each element is installed. Limit value information for limit values. In this case, limit value information stored in each of the elements 41 to 44 at the time of "reading processing of information other than ID information" is read into the printing apparatus main body 11 . The control unit 50 may store, for each ink cartridge, the read limit value information itself or a value corresponding to the limit value information in the RAM 52 as a limit value.

In addition, when writing the information indicating the usage amount toward the element of the selected box, the control part 50 can also move the nip roller 12 toward the signal transmitting and receiving part 45, and when the antenna of the selected element is in contact with the antennas 46-49 Among them, after the relative positional relationship of the antenna 49 which is the antenna installed at the position closest to the printing area, the information indicating the usage amount is written using the antenna 49 .

Correspondence to flushing operation

In the above description related to Embodiment 4, if the control unit 50 judges that the limit value of a certain ink cartridge reaches the limit value, the cartridge is selected, and the nip roller 12 is moved toward the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 at once, through the antenna, in the element Write information indicating usage.

Preferably, the writing operation of the information indicating the usage amount to the element is performed in a manner corresponding to the flushing operation performed periodically (every certain time, or every predetermined number of times of flushing). In addition, in FIG. 12 , flushing positions are set at the right non-printing area and the left non-printing area. When performing the flushing action, the nip roller 12 must move to the area to be printed. However, by writing the information indicating the amount in the element in a manner corresponding to the flushing action, it is not necessary to perform the writing action only. Move the pinch roller 12 to the non-printing area.

For example, the writing means may write information indicating the amount used in the element provided in the selected ink cartridge in such a manner that the accumulated value with a certain ink cartridge reaches the limit set for the ink cartridge value, corresponding to the initial flushing action performed.

In the scheme shown in Fig. 12, since information can be written in each element at the position where the flushing operation is performed, when it is judged that the cumulative value of a certain cartridge reaches the limit value, when the cartridge is selected, it is thereafter that the initial process is carried out. During the flushing action, the grip roller 12 is moved toward the left non-printing area, flushing is performed at the flushing position, and information indicating the amount can be written in the components set in the cartridge.

In addition, in FIG. 12 , it can also be formed in the following manner. This method is: the signal transmitting and receiving unit 45 including the antennas 46 to 49 is arranged closer to the printing area side, and the relative all antennas are arranged in the order from the beginning of the printing area. The writing positions of the components 41-44 of the cartridges 31-34 and the positions where the flushing operation is performed.

In the case of forming in this way, in order to perform the initial flushing operation after the cumulative value of a certain ink cartridge reaches the limit value set for the ink cartridge, the print head 30 and the nip roller 12 move toward the position where the flushing operation is performed. During the movement, when the components moving with the nip roller 12 pass through the antennas 46 to 49, the antenna 60 can write information indicating the amount used.

other embodiments

In the above, the printing apparatus and the like of the present invention have been described based on several embodiments, but the above-described embodiments of the present invention are for easy understanding of the present invention, but they do not limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the core content, and obviously the present invention includes its equivalents.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a non-contact IC chip is used as an element, but it is not limited to such a composition as long as it is a type that can store information, and it may be a type integrated with an antenna or the like, for example.

The ink cartridge has a structure capable of storing ink, and may be of a type that can be attached to and detached from a printing device. For example, it may be of a type that has an ink ejection head or the like in addition to an ink storage portion.

The position where the component is mounted on the ink cartridge is not limited to the front of the ink cartridge, and it may be any position, and the mounting method may be various methods such as adhesion and press-fitting.

The accumulative calculation mechanism for cumulatively calculating the ejection amount of ink for each ink cartridge is not limited to the CPU and the program read therein, and it may also be realized by an electronic circuit dedicated to cumulative calculation.

Writing of information to the element is preferably performed in a non-contact state, but may be performed in a contact state.

The position of the antenna on the main body side of the printing apparatus as the writing part is not limited to the position given in each embodiment (the left non-printing area), and it may be, for example, the right non-printing area.

The selection of the cumulative computing mechanism based on the cumulative computing mechanism is not limited to the CPU and the program read into it, and it can also be realized by a dedicated electronic circuit for making the above selection.

The selection of the accumulation calculation mechanism based on the accumulation calculation mechanism is not limited to the selection of one ink cartridge, and it may also be the selection of a plurality of ink cartridges. For example, the ink cartridge with the largest accumulated value and the ink cartridge with the next accumulated value may also be selected.

In the element, information indicating the remaining amount is also written instead of information indicating the amount used. In addition, the scheme of writing the information of the usage or residual quantity can be adopted. The written information does not have to be the dosage or the residual quantity itself, for example, it can be the information of what percentage is used, etc., which can be grasped directly or indirectly Information on dosage or residues.

The limit value can be a value referred to in the comparison, and its unit is not limited to liters, picoliters, etc.

When setting the limit value corresponding to the capacity of the ink cartridge, it is not limited to setting it as 1% of the capacity, etc., for example, the capacity can also be divided into a plurality of levels with a specified range (large capacity, medium capacity, small capacity etc.), for each level, set the limit value.

When writing the amount or remaining amount in the component, it is better to reset the value in the RAM, relative to the selected cumulative value, instead of resetting, the specified value can be subtracted from the cumulative value, or the specified value can be divided by Cumulative value.

It is also possible to implement a computer system comprising the inkjet printing apparatus of the foregoing embodiments, a computer main body, and an input device such as a display with a CRT, a mouse, a keyboard, etc., a flexible drive, a CD-ROM drive, etc., as required, The computer system realized in this way is superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

In addition, the inkjet printing apparatuses of the foregoing embodiments may also include functions or a part of functions respectively possessed by the computer main body, display, input device, flexible optical disc drive, and CD-ROM drive. For example, a printing device may have a configuration including an image processing unit that performs image processing, a display unit that performs various displays, and a recording medium loading and unloading unit for loading and unloading a recording medium that records image data captured by a digital camera or the like. .

In addition, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the inkjet printing apparatus is used as the printing device, but the present invention can also be applied to, for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printing and dyeing machine, etc. that use the inkjet method.

Various constituent elements of the present invention are disclosed through this specification and the drawings, however, for a printing device, the ink cartridge having elements can be attached and detached, and information can be written in the elements, these cases are essential constituent elements, and for the ink cartridge, Having elements is a required constituent element. Obviously, various inventions can be formed by arbitrarily combining other constituent elements among these essential constituent elements, or adding other constituent elements alone.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a printing device and an ink cartridge that efficiently manage information related to each ink cartridge.

Claims (30)

1. A printing apparatus comprising a cartridge mounting portion in which a plurality of ink cartridges having elements writable in information can be mounted and detached; For each ink cartridge on the part, the ejection amount of ejected ink is cumulatively calculated; the writing part is used to write information in the above-mentioned elements, and it is characterized in that: The writing means writes information in an element provided in an ink cartridge selected based on an accumulation calculation result by the accumulation calculation means among the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. 2. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: One of the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the cartridge mounting portion is selected based on the cumulative calculation result of the cumulative calculation means. 3. The printing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The writing means writes information indicating a used amount or a remaining amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge in an element provided in the selected ink cartridge. 4. The printing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the above-mentioned writing means writes the above-mentioned information in the element provided in the ink cartridge, the accumulation value as the above-mentioned accumulation calculation result for the ink cartridge is reset. 5. The printing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The above-mentioned box installation part is movable; When the cartridge mounting portion is in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the writing member, the writing member performs a writing operation in a non-contact state with respect to the element. 6. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: For each ink cartridge, set the limit value; Selecting an ink cartridge when the above-mentioned cumulative value of a certain ink cartridge reaches the above-mentioned limit value set for the ink cartridge; The writing means writes the above-mentioned information in an element provided in the selected ink cartridge. 7. The printing device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The aforementioned limit value for each ink cartridge is set corresponding to the capacity of ink that can be accommodated in the ink cartridge. 8. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two-way printing can be carried out by using the inkjet jet head; When the ejection head moves in a direction away from the writing member while ejecting ink to perform printing, when the accumulation value of the accumulation result of a certain ink cartridge reaches the above limit value set for the ink cartridge, In the case where the above-mentioned ejection head is to be moved in a direction approaching the above-mentioned writing member, ink is ejected to perform printing, and there is printing data, At least after printing is performed by ejecting ink while the ejection head moves in a direction approaching the writing member, the writing member writes the information in the element. 9. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It includes an ejection head that ejects ink while moving together with the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion; Perform a flushing operation of periodically ejecting ink from the above-mentioned ejection head; The writing means writes the information in the element provided in the selected ink cartridge in response to the flushing operation. 10. The printing device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The above-mentioned writing part corresponds to an action of writing the above-mentioned information in the element provided in the above-mentioned selected ink cartridge, the action means that the accumulation value of the above-mentioned accumulation result of a certain ink cartridge reaches the limit value set for the ink cartridge After the initial rinse action. 11. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It includes an ejection head that ejects ink while moving together with the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion; Perform a flushing operation of periodically ejecting ink from the above-mentioned ejection head; Along the moving direction of the above-mentioned printing head, the writing position of the above-mentioned writing member and the performing position of the above-mentioned flushing action are set in order from the side of the printing area; In order to perform the initial flushing operation after the accumulation value of the accumulation result of a certain ink cartridge reaches the limit value set for the ink cartridge, during the movement of the ejection head toward the position where the flushing operation is performed, The writing means writes the information when the element moving together with the ejection head passes the writing position. 12. The printing device according to claim 11, characterized in that: Multiple information can be written in the above elements; The above-mentioned writing means writes only the information indicating the above-mentioned used amount or remaining amount among the plurality of information. 13. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Multiple printing modes with different printing speeds are possible; In at least one of the plurality of printing modes, Even when the accumulation value of the accumulation result of a certain ink cartridge reaches the limit value set for the ink cartridge, the writing means does not perform the writing operation corresponding to the first flushing operation performed thereafter. 14. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: One of the above-mentioned writing members is provided for a plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion. 15. The printing device according to claim 14, characterized in that: It includes an ejection head that ejects ink while moving together with the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion; Perform a flushing operation of periodically ejecting ink from the above-mentioned ejection head; In the state where the ejection head is located at the position where the flushing operation is performed, the writing member faces an element provided in any one of the ink cartridges mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. 16. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: One of the above-mentioned writing members is provided for each of the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion; It includes an ejection head that ejects ink while moving together with the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion; Perform a flushing operation of periodically ejecting ink from the above-mentioned ejection head; In the state where the ejection head is located at the position where the flushing operation is performed, the writing members respectively face components provided in the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. 17. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: One of the above-mentioned writing members is provided for each of the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion; The writing means for writing the above-mentioned information is the writing means provided closest to the printing area. 18. The printing device of claim 1, wherein: The above-mentioned writing component can read in information from the above-mentioned element; When the ink cartridge is installed on the above-mentioned cartridge installation part, the above-mentioned writing part reads the ID information stored in the element provided in the ink mechanism; After reading the ID information, the above-mentioned writing part does not perform the reading operation again, and writes the above-mentioned information in the following components while identifying each component through the read ID information. In the cartridge on the cartridge mount above. 19. The printing device according to claim 6, characterized in that: In the element provided in the above-mentioned ink cartridge, store time information for determining the writing time of the information representing the above-mentioned used amount or remaining amount in the ink cartridge; The aforementioned limit value is set based on this time information. 20. The printing device of claim 19, wherein: The above-mentioned time information is capacity information indicating the capacity of ink that can be accommodated in the ink cartridge; The aforementioned limit value is set based on the capacity information. 21. The printing device of claim 19, wherein: The above time information is limit value information indicating a limit value corresponding to a limit value of the capacity of ink that can be accommodated in the ink cartridge; The aforementioned limit value is set based on the limit value information. 22. The printing device according to claim 5, characterized in that: It includes an ejection head that ejects ink while moving together with the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion; Perform a flushing operation of periodically ejecting ink from the above-mentioned ejection head; The writing means writes the information in the element provided in the selected ink cartridge in response to the flushing operation. 23. The printing device of claim 22, wherein: When performing the flushing operation, the writing means selects one of the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the cartridge mounting portion based on the accumulation calculation result of the accumulation calculation means. 24. An ink cartridge, the ink cartridge is detachably installed on the main body of the printing device, the ink cartridge can accommodate ink, and it is characterized in that: The ink cartridge includes an element in which information can be written; In this element, information indicating the amount of ink used or remaining in the ink cartridge and information for specifying a writing time of the information indicating the amount of ink used or remaining in the ink cartridge are written. 25. The ink cartridge according to claim 24, characterized in that: The above elements can write information in a non-contact state. 26. The ink cartridge according to claim 24, characterized in that: The information for specifying the write timing is capacity information indicating the capacity of ink that can be accommodated in the ink cartridge. 27. The ink cartridge according to claim 26, wherein: In the case where the capacity information is read into the main body of the printing apparatus, and the limit value based on the capacity information is set, the above-mentioned ink cartridge is mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge mounting portion of the main body of the printing apparatus, and the main body of the printing apparatus includes a detachable A cartridge installation portion of a plurality of ink cartridges; an accumulation calculation mechanism for cumulatively calculating the ejection amount of ejected ink for each ink cartridge mounted on the above-mentioned cartridge installation portion; a writing member for Write information in the above elements; When the accumulation value of the accumulation result of the accumulation method of the ink cartridge reaches a limit value, the writing means writes information indicating the amount of the ink used or the remaining amount to the element. 28. The ink cartridge according to claim 24, characterized in that: The information for specifying the writing timing is limit value information indicating a limit value corresponding to the capacity of ink that can be accommodated in the ink cartridge. 29. The ink cartridge according to claim 25, characterized in that: In the above-mentioned element, ID information that the element itself has is stored. 30. The ink cartridge according to claim 29, wherein: After the element is identified by the ID information, information is written in the element.

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