JP2004050573A - Ink jet recording device and ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

When a plurality of ink cartridges are mounted on a carriage, a user is notified that the ink cartridges are correctly mounted on the carriage.
An ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a plurality of ink cartridges provided with a storage unit for holding ink and at least storing identification information, the plurality of ink cartridges being provided. When each of the ink cartridges is mounted on the ink jet type recording apparatus 10, the notifying means 200 which detects that the storage means of the mounted ink cartridge is electromagnetically connected and notifies that the ink cartridge is correctly mounted is provided. Is provided.
[Selection diagram] FIG.

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink cartridge. In particular, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus in which a plurality of ink cartridges are mounted and an ink cartridge mounted in the ink jet recording apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The ink jet recording apparatus performs recording by supplying ink to a recording head and discharging the supplied ink from the recording head. In this ink jet recording apparatus, an ink cartridge holding the ink is mounted on an ink cartridge holder or a carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus in order to supply ink to the recording head. In particular, in an ink jet recording apparatus that performs multi-color recording, a plurality of ink cartridges holding inks of different colors are mounted at predetermined positions on a carriage or the like.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, it is difficult to visually recognize whether the ink cartridges are mounted at the correct positions and in the correct postures on the carriage. In particular, when a plurality of ink cartridges are mounted on the carriage, it is difficult for the user to distinguish which ink cartridge has been correctly mounted.
[0004]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink cartridge that can solve the above-mentioned problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous embodiments of the present invention.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus in which a plurality of ink cartridges which hold ink and are provided with a storage unit which is electromagnetically connectable are mounted, When it is electromagnetically connected to any one of the plurality of ink cartridges, there is provided a notifying unit for notifying that the ink cartridge having the storing unit is correctly mounted.
[0006]
In the inkjet recording apparatus, the storage unit stores identification information for identifying an ink cartridge, and the notifying unit is attached when each of the plurality of ink cartridges is attached to the inkjet recording device. The identification information of the storage unit of the ink cartridge may be read, and different notification may be performed based on the read identification information.
[0007]
In the ink jet recording apparatus, the notifying means has identification information for identifying an ink cartridge and electronic melody data associated with the identification information, and the identification read from a storage means of the ink cartridge correctly mounted. Different electronic melodies may be notified to the plurality of ink cartridges based on the information.
[0008]
In the ink jet recording apparatus, the notifying unit has identification information for identifying an ink cartridge and audio data associated with the identification information, and the identification information read from a storage unit of the ink cartridge correctly mounted. Based on the above, different sounds may be notified to the plurality of ink cartridges correctly mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus.
[0009]
In the ink jet recording apparatus, the storage unit stores identification information for identifying an ink cartridge and electronic melody data associated with the identification information, and the notifying unit is configured so that each of the plurality of ink cartridges is an ink jet cartridge. When the ink cartridge is mounted on a type recording apparatus, the identification information and the electronic melody data of the storage unit of the mounted ink cartridge are read, and the ink cartridge is correctly mounted based on the read electronic melody data. That may be notified.
[0010]
In the ink jet recording apparatus, a user may arbitrarily set the electronic melody data or the audio data.
[0011]
The inkjet recording apparatus may further include a writing unit that writes the electronic melody data to the storage unit of the ink cartridge.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge which holds ink and is mounted on an ink jet recording apparatus. The storage means is connected to the ink jet type recording apparatus electromagnetically and stores identification information to be read and electronic melody data associated with the identification information.
[0013]
Note that the above summary of the present invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention, and a sub-combination of these features may also be an invention.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the claimed invention, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are solutions of the invention. It is not always necessary for the means.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an internal configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet recording apparatus 10 includes a placement unit 12 that holds a plurality of recording materials 11 and a feeding unit that removes one recording material 11 from the placement unit 12 and feeds the recording material 11 for recording. The feeding unit 20, the conveying unit 30 that transmits power in the feeding direction to the recording material 11 fed by the feeding unit 20, the recording unit 40 that performs recording on the recording material 11, and the recorded recording material 11. A discharging unit 50 for transmitting power in the discharging direction is provided in this order in the feeding direction.
[0017]
The feeding unit 20 includes a feeding roller 22 that rotates with a drive shaft by a motor (not shown), and a separation pad 24, for example. The paper feed roller 22 is substantially fan-shaped, and the drive shaft is provided at the center of an arc forming the fan. As the paper feed roller 22 rotates, the paper feed roller 22 repeats the contact state and the separation state with respect to the separation pad 24. In the contact state, the feed roller 22 and the separation pad 24 move the uppermost recording material 11 of the bundle of the recording materials 11 fed from the placement unit 12 to the feeding unit 20 to each other. The recording material 11 is separated one by one and fed to the transport unit 30 by being sandwiched therebetween. At some point during the feeding, the paper feed roller 22 and the hopper that is a part of the placement unit 12 are separated from each other, and the recording material 11 that has not been fed is returned to the placement unit 12 and aligned. Be able to do it.
[0018]
The transport unit 30 includes a transport roller 32 that is rotated by a motor 60, and a transport driven roller 34 that follows the transport roller 32. By sandwiching the recording object 11 at a contact point between the transport roller 32 and the transport driven roller 34, The recording material 11 fed by the feeding unit 20 is fed to a lower part of the printing unit 40.
[0019]
The printing unit 40 includes a carriage 140 on which the ink cartridge is mounted, a recording head 44 that is provided on a surface of the carriage 140 that faces the recording medium 11, and that discharges ink. And a guide shaft 48 that slidably supports the carriage 140 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the feeding direction, and a print control unit 49 that controls printing. The recording head 44 has a plurality of ink ejection ports arranged along the direction in which the recording material 11 is fed.
[0020]
The discharge unit 50 includes a discharge roller 52 that is rotated by a motor 60, and a discharge driven roller 54 that rotates with the discharge roller 52. By sandwiching the recording material 11 at a contact point between the discharge roller 52 and the discharge driven roller 54. Then, the recording medium 11 after recording is discharged.
[0021]
The transport driven roller 34 is provided above the transport roller 32 and closer to the recording head 44 than the transport roller 32. The discharge driven roller 54 is provided above the discharge roller 52 and closer to the recording head 44 than the discharge roller 52. As a result, the recording object 11 bends downward at a position facing the recording unit 40.
[0022]
In the configuration described above, the ink jet recording apparatus 10 ejects ink while reciprocating the recording head 44 along the guide shaft 48. The inkjet recording apparatus 10 performs recording on the entire recording object 11 by feeding the recording object 11 every time the recording head 44 performs one scan. Note that the recording head 44 may perform recording on both the outward path and the return path, or may perform recording on only one of them.
[0023]
Power is transmitted from the motor 60 to the transport unit 30 and the discharge unit 50 via a single belt 62. The belt 62 is tensioned by a tensioner 64. The motor 60, the tensioner 64, the transport unit 30, and the discharge unit 50 are arranged in this order along the flow direction of the belt 62.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus 10. The printing unit 40 further includes a timing belt 402 that partially engages with the carriage 140, and a carriage motor 404 that is connected to the timing belt 402 and drives the timing belt 402 to rotate. A recording head 44 including a black ink discharge port and a color ink discharge port is mounted on the side of the carriage 140 facing the recording object.
[0025]
On the upper portion of the carriage 140, an ink cartridge 102 holding black ink for supplying ink to the recording head 44, an ink cartridge 104 holding cyan ink, an ink cartridge 106 holding magenta ink, and holding yellow ink Is mounted detachably.
[0026]
Here, a plurality of ink cartridges 102, 104, 106, and 108 are mounted on the carriage 104, but it is difficult to visually recognize whether or not each of the ink cartridges is mounted in the carriage 104 in a correct posture. Therefore, the carriage 104 may be provided with a micro switch. In this case, when the ink cartridge mounted on the carriage 140 presses the micro switch, it is detected that the ink cartridge has been mounted. However, in this case, even if the ink cartridge is not mounted in a correct posture, the micro switch is pressed to any part of the ink cartridge, and there is a possibility that the ink cartridge is mistakenly mounted.
[0027]
Further, when a microswitch is used, it is not possible to detect that an ink cartridge, for example, a yellow ink cartridge 108 is erroneously mounted in a place where a different ink cartridge, for example, a cyan ink cartridge 104 should be mounted. Therefore, it is not possible to accurately inform the user whether or not the ink cartridge 108 is correctly mounted on the carriage 140.
[0028]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the ink jet recording apparatus 10 further includes a notifying unit 200. The notifying unit 200 notifies that each of the plurality of ink cartridges 102, 104, 106, and 108 has been correctly mounted on the carriage 140. The notifying unit 200 electromagnetically connects to the storage unit (described later) of the mounted ink cartridge that each of the plurality of ink cartridges 102, 104, 106, and 108 has been mounted in the correct position on the carriage 140 in the correct posture. Detected by being done. When it is detected that each of the ink cartridges 102, 104, 106, and 108 has been correctly mounted, the notification unit 200 notifies that the ink cartridges have been correctly mounted.
[0029]
With the above configuration, when the ink cartridges 102, 104, 106, and 108 are correctly mounted on the carriage 140, the notification unit 200 uses the fact that the respective ink cartridges 102, 104, 106, and 108 are correctly mounted. Notify others. The ink cartridges 102, 104, 106, and 108 that are properly mounted on the carriage 140 supply the held ink to the recording head 44, respectively. The ink jet recording apparatus 10 drives the carriage motor 404 based on a print signal from the print control unit 49. When the carriage motor 404 drives the timing belt 402, the carriage 140 is guided by the guide shaft 48 and reciprocates substantially at right angles to the feeding direction of the recording material 11.
[0030]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the notification unit 200 of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 and the storage unit 120 of the ink cartridge 104 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the storage unit 120 provided in the ink cartridge 104 holding cyan ink will be described as an example.
[0031]
The storage means 120 provided in the ink cartridge 104 has contact terminals 122 and 124 exposed to the outside. Further, the storage unit 120 stores at least identification information for identifying the ink cartridge 102. One example of identification information for identifying the ink cartridge 104 is information on the color of the ink held by the ink cartridge 104. For example, this identification information indicates that the ink cartridge 104 holds cyan ink.
[0032]
The notification means 200 provided in the ink jet recording apparatus 10 has contact terminals 242 and 244 exposed to the outside. The contact terminals 242 and 244 are arranged on the carriage 140 at positions where the cyan ink cartridge 104 can be in contact with the contact terminals 122 and 124 of the ink cartridge 104 when the cyan ink cartridge 104 is correctly mounted. The notification unit 200 has identification information of an ink cartridge to be mounted on the carriage 140 and electronic melody data that differs for each identification information in association with the identification information. An example of this identification information is information on the color that the ink cartridge mounted on the carriage 140 should hold. For example, this identification information indicates that the ink cartridge mounted on the carriage 140 should hold cyan ink.
[0033]
When the ink cartridge 104 is mounted on the carriage 140 of the ink jet recording apparatus 10, the contact terminals 242 and 244 of the notifying unit 200 are in contact with the contact terminals 122 and 124 of the storage unit 120 provided on the ink cartridge 102, respectively. I do. In this state, the notification unit 200 reads the identification information of the ink cartridge 104. The notification unit 200 can detect that the storage unit 120 has been electrically connected when the identification information of the ink cartridge 104 can be read. Further, the notifying unit 200 notifies that the correct ink cartridge 104 has been mounted based on the read identification information. For example, the notification unit 200 compares the identification information of the storage unit 120 read from the ink cartridge 104 with the identification information of the ink cartridge to be mounted on the carriage 140. When these pieces of identification information match, the notification unit 200 detects that the correct ink cartridge 104 has been mounted on the carriage 140. When detecting that the ink cartridge 104 has been correctly mounted on the carriage 140, the notification unit 200 notifies the user that the ink cartridge 104 has been correctly mounted on the carriage 140. The notifying unit 200 notifies the user by playing back a melody based on the electronic melody data associated with the identification information that matches the read identification information.
[0034]
Since the notifying unit 200 has different electronic melody data for each piece of identification information, the notifying unit 200 can notify the user which ink cartridge has been correctly mounted. Since the notifying unit 200 notifies by using a sound, the user can easily recognize that the ink cartridge has been correctly mounted even during the operation of mounting the ink cartridge. In addition, when the carriage 140 is electrically connected to the ink cartridge 104, the notifying unit 200 detects that the ink cartridge 104 is correctly mounted on the carriage 140, so that the mounting is more accurately detected and notified. be able to. In addition, since the notification unit 200 uses the storage unit 120 of the ink cartridge 104, no special configuration is required on the ink cartridge 104 side.
[0035]
Note that the notification means 200 may previously store different audio data for each piece of identification information. An example of the audio data is a color of ink as identification information. For example, when the identification information is cyan ink, the notifying unit 200 stores the voice data “Cyan ink cartridge is mounted”. When the read identification information is cyan ink, the notification unit 200 determines that the cyan ink cartridge 104 has been correctly mounted on the carriage 140 and reproduces a sound saying “cyan ink cartridge has been mounted”. . Thus, the notifying unit 200 can notify the user of which ink cartridge is correctly mounted on the carriage 140 in a more easily understandable manner.
[0036]
The notification unit 200 may have an LED corresponding to the ink cartridge to be mounted on the carriage 140, and may turn on an LED corresponding to the ink cartridge for which the correct mounting has been detected.
[0037]
When the identification information read from the ink cartridge 104 by the notifying unit 200 does not match the identification information of the notifying unit 200, the notifying unit 200 determines that the wrong ink cartridge is installed, and notifies the user of an error. You may be notified. For example, when the read identification information indicates yellow ink and the notifying unit 200 has cyan ink identification information, the notifying unit 200 notifies the user of an error.
[0038]
As described above, when each of the plurality of ink cartridges 102, 104, 106, and 108 is mounted on the carriage 140, the notification unit 200 reads and reads the identification information of the storage unit 120 of the mounted ink cartridge. Based on the identification information, it is notified that the correct ink cartridge has been correctly mounted. Thus, the user can confirm that the ink cartridge has been correctly mounted, and can give the user a sense of security that the ink cartridge has been correctly mounted. Also, since the electronic melody data associated with the identification information is provided in the notifying unit 200, there is no need to provide the electronic melody data in the storage unit 120 of the ink cartridge, and the storage capacity of the storage unit 120 is effectively used. be able to.
[0039]
FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the ink cartridge 104 mounted on the carriage 140. FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the ink cartridge 104 of FIG. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the ink cartridge 104 holding cyan ink as an example of a plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the carriage 140. The configurations of the magenta and yellow ink cartridges 106 and 108, which are other examples of the plurality of ink cartridges, are the same as the configuration of the cyan ink cartridge 104, and a description thereof will be omitted. The black ink cartridge 102 has the same configuration as that of the cyan ink cartridge 104 except that the ink chambers are provided in a wide range, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0040]
The ink cartridge 104 includes an ink chamber 112 that stores ink inside. The ink chamber 112 includes an ink chamber main body 115 integrally formed using, for example, polypropylene (PP) and having one opening, and a lid 113 for sealing the opening of the ink chamber main body 115 by vibration welding or the like. The ink chamber 112 is provided with a differential pressure unit that holds the ink and supplies the ink to the inkjet recording apparatus as needed. However, the means for holding the ink is not limited to this, and the ink may be held by sealing a porous material inside the ink chamber 112.
[0041]
The ink cartridge 104 further includes an ink supply hole 114 into which the ink supply needle of the carriage 140 is inserted, and which supplies the ink contained in the ink chamber 112 to the recording head 44 of the inkjet recording apparatus 10.
[0042]
In the vicinity of the ink supply hole 114 and on the center side of the ink chamber 112, a slit portion 116 is provided extending from the ink supply hole 114 of the ink chamber 112 in the insertion direction of the ink supply needle. By the slit portion 116, when the ink supply needle is inserted into the ink cartridge 104, the opening surface of the ink supply hole 114 is orthogonal to the ink supply needle before the ink supply hole 114 reaches the ink supply needle. , And the ink supply needle surely enters the ink supply hole 114.
[0043]
A first locking member 132 and a second locking member 134 that are respectively engaged with the carriage 140 of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 are formed integrally with the ink chamber 112 on the upper portion of the side surface of the ink chamber 112.
[0044]
The ink cartridge 104 further includes a storage unit 120. The storage unit 120 is a side surface 133 of the ink chamber main body 115 where the first locking member 132 is provided, and is disposed below the first locking member 132. The storage unit 120 stores information on the type of the ink cartridge and the color of the ink held by the ink cartridge as the identification information of the ink cartridge 104. Further, the storage unit 120 may store information such as the existing amount of ink. One example of the storage means 120 is a contact type IC chip. The contact type IC chip includes a substrate, a connection electrode portion including a plurality of connection terminals exposed on the front side of the substrate, and a memory (storage element) including a semiconductor storage element such as an EEPROM provided on the back side of the substrate. When the connection terminal and the connection electrode on the recording device side are in contact with each other and are electrically connected, information data in the memory is read or rewritten. In the present embodiment, the storage means 120 is of a contact type and has a connection electrode portion 126 including a plurality of connection terminals 122 and 124 exposed to the outside. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the seven connection terminals are arranged in two rows in a staggered manner. In addition, the connection electrode portion 126 may be provided on the side surface 133 and routed by, for example, a flexible print circuit (FPC), so that the memory portion of the storage unit 120 may be provided on the side surface of another ink chamber main body 115 or the like. . Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the contact type, but may be a non-contact type storage unit 120 using magnetism or the like.
[0045]
The ink cartridge 104 further has a groove 117 below the side surface of the ink chamber main body 115 where the second locking portion 134 is provided. When the ink cartridge 104 is mounted on the carriage 140, the locking piece of the carriage 140 enters the groove 117, and the hammer piece provided in the groove 117 urges the valve body, thereby causing the ink chamber 112 to move. The inside communicates with the atmosphere.
[0046]
FIG. 6 is a front upper perspective view of the carriage 140 of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. FIG. 7 is a rear upper perspective view of the carriage 140 shown in FIG.
[0047]
As shown in FIG. 6, the carriage 140 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape whose upper surface is open as a whole. The carriage 140 has, from the left in FIG. 6, a first mounting portion 142 on which the black ink cartridge 102 is mounted, a second mounting portion 144 on which the cyan ink cartridge 104 is mounted, and a magenta ink cartridge 106. And a fourth mounting portion 148 to which the yellow ink cartridge 108 is mounted.
[0048]
The first mounting section 142 of the carriage 140 has a first ink supply needle 162 at a position corresponding to the ink supply path 114 of the black ink cartridge 102 on the bottom surface. When the black ink cartridge 102 is mounted on the first mounting portion 142, the first ink supply needle 162 enters the ink supply path 114 of the black ink cartridge 102, and the black ink moves to the main body side of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. Supplied. Similarly, the second mounting portion 144, the third mounting portion 146, and the fourth mounting portion 148 are provided at positions corresponding to the supply paths 114 of the cyan, magenta, and yellow ink cartridges 104, 106, and 108, respectively. It has a needle 164, a third ink supply path 166, and a fourth ink supply path 168, respectively.
[0049]
Further, the first mounting portion 142 of the carriage 140 has an engagement groove 152 with which the projection of the first locking member of the black ink cartridge 102 engages. Similarly, the second, third, and fourth mounting portions 144, 146, and 148 have engagement grooves 154, 156, and 158 with which the protrusions of the first locking members of the respective ink cartridges 104, 106, and 108 engage. Having. Further, the first mounting portion 142 of the carriage 140 has a connection electrode portion 182 including the contact terminals 222 and 224 exposed on the first mounting portion 142 side. These contact terminals 222 and 224 are arranged at positions where they can contact the contact terminals of the ink cartridge 102 when the black ink cartridge 102 is correctly mounted. Similarly, the second mounting portion 144 has a connection electrode portion 184 including the contact terminals 242 and 244 exposed on the second mounting portion 144 side. These contact terminals 242 and 244 are arranged at positions where they can contact the contact terminals 122 and 124 of the ink cartridge 104 when the cyan ink cartridge 104 is correctly mounted. Further, the third and fourth mounting portions 146 and 148 also have connection terminal portions including similar contact terminals, but are not shown because they do not appear in the perspective view shown in FIG.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 7, the first mounting portion 142 of the carriage 140 has an engaging piece 172 that is engaged with the groove 117 of the black ink cartridge 102 mounted on the first mounting portion 142 near the rear side. . Similarly, the second mounting portion 144, the third mounting portion 146, and the fourth mounting portion 148 of the carriage 140 are respectively provided in the vicinity of the rear surface side with the groove portions of the corresponding cyan, magenta, and yellow ink cartridges 104, 106, and 108, respectively. 117 has engaging pieces 174, 176, and 178.
[0051]
FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views illustrating an operation of mounting the plurality of ink cartridges 102, 104, 106, and 108 on the carriage 140. FIG. As an example, the operation of mounting the cyan ink cartridge 104 on the carriage 140 will be described. However, the other ink cartridges 102, 106, and 108 are mounted on the carriage 140 similarly.
[0052]
First, the ink cartridge 104 is arranged above the second mounting portion 144 of the carriage 140 such that the side surface 133 provided with the storage means 120 of the cyan ink cartridge 104 faces the connection electrode portion 184 side of the carriage 140. . In this position, the ink cartridge 104 is inserted from above the carriage 140 as shown in FIG. When the ink cartridge 104 is inserted further deeply, the ink supply needle 164 of the second mounting section 144 is inserted into the ink supply hole 114 on the lower surface of the ink cartridge 104.
[0053]
Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the ink cartridge 104 is deeply inserted into the second mounting portion 144. Thus, the first and second locking members 132 and 134 provided on the front and back of the ink cartridge 104 are locked to the carriage 140, respectively. In particular, the first locking member 132 of the ink cartridge 104 engages with the engagement groove 154 of the second mounting portion 144. As a result, the cyan ink cartridge 104 is mounted on the carriage 140. When the ink cartridge 104 is properly mounted on the second mounting portion 144 of the carriage 140, the connection electrode portion 126 of the storage means 120 provided on the ink cartridge 104 is connected to the connection electrode portion provided on the second mounting portion 144 of the carriage 140. It contacts the part 184. More specifically, the contact terminals 122 and 124 of the ink cartridge 104 contact the contact terminals 242 and 244 of the second mounting portion 144, respectively. Thus, the notification unit 200 is electrically connected to the storage unit 120 of the ink cartridge 104. In this state, the notification unit 200 reads the identification information stored in the storage unit 120 from the ink cartridge 104. As described in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the notifying unit 200 notifies that the ink cartridge 104 has been correctly mounted based on the read identification information.
[0054]
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the notification unit 200 of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 and the storage unit 120 of the ink cartridge 104 according to the present embodiment. 3, the storage unit 120 provided in the ink cartridge 104 holding cyan ink will be described as an example.
[0055]
The storage unit 120 provided in the ink cartridge 104 shown in FIG. 9 stores identification information for identifying the ink cartridge 104 and electronic melody data associated with the identification information. On the other hand, the notification means 200 provided in the ink jet recording apparatus 10 has at least identification information of an ink cartridge to be mounted on the carriage 140.
[0056]
When the ink cartridge 104 is mounted on the carriage 140 of the ink jet recording apparatus 10, the contact terminals 242 and 244 of the notifying unit 200 make contact with the storage unit 120 provided in the ink cartridge 102, as in the example shown in FIG. The terminals make contact with the terminals 122 and 124, respectively. In this state, the notification means 200 reads the identification information of the ink cartridge 104 and the electronic melody data associated with the identification information. The notification unit 200 compares the identification information of the storage unit 120 read from the ink cartridge 104 with the identification information of the ink cartridge to be mounted on the carriage 140. When the identification information matches, it is determined that the correct ink cartridge 104 is mounted on the carriage 140, and the notifying unit 200 reproduces the melody using the electronic melody data read from the storage unit 120 of the ink cartridge 104. . By having different electronic melody data for each identification information, the notifying unit 200 can notify the user which ink cartridge has been correctly mounted. Note that the storage unit 120 of the ink cartridge 104 may have audio data associated with the identification information.
[0057]
As described above, according to the notification unit 200 and the storage unit 120 shown in FIG. 9, the storage unit 120 of the ink cartridge 104 stores the electronic melody data associated with the identification information. Therefore, various electronic melodies can be reproduced without changing the ink jet recording apparatus 10 side.
[0058]
Here, the user may arbitrarily set electronic melody data or audio data stored in the storage unit 120 of the ink cartridge 104. For example, the ink jet recording apparatus may include the writing unit 300. The writing unit 300 writes the electronic melody data to the storage unit 120 of the ink cartridge 104 via the notification unit 200. Thus, the notification unit 200 can reproduce various different electronic melodies even when the same ink cartridge is mounted. For example, after a certain ink cartridge 102 is first mounted on the carriage 140, the writing unit 300 rewrites the electronic melody. Thus, when the cartridge 102 is mounted again, the notifying unit 200 can call attention to the fact that this is not the first mounting.
[0059]
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the carriage 140 of the ink jet recording apparatus 10. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the ink cartridges 102 of black (BL), cyan (C), light cyan (LC), magenta (M), light magenta (LM), yellow (Y), and dark yellow (DY) are provided. 104, 105, 106, 107, 108 and 109 are mounted on the carriage 140 in this arrangement. The notifying unit 200 has sound data of the scale of “C” associated with the identification information of the black ink cartridge 102. Similarly, “C” is used for the cyan ink cartridge 104, “M” is used for the light cyan ink cartridge 105, “F” is used for the magenta ink cartridge 106, “G” is used for the light magenta ink cartridge 107, and “Y” is used for the yellow ink cartridge 108. The sound data of the scale of “S” is stored in the notification unit 200 in the ink cartridges 109 of “La” and dark yellow in association with the respective identification information. When any one of these ink cartridges is properly mounted on the carriage 140, the notification means 200 reproduces sound data of a scale corresponding to the identification information read from the mounted ink cartridge. Thus, the notifying unit 200 can notify the user which ink cartridge has been correctly mounted. In addition, since the notification unit 200 associates different musical scales with the ink cartridges holding the inks of different colors, it is necessary to sequentially mount these ink cartridges correctly on the carriage and report these musical scales. Thereby, a comfortable feeling can be given to the user.
[0060]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the ink cartridge is properly mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, the user is notified that the notification means has been correctly mounted, thereby providing the user with a sense of security that the ink cartridge has been correctly mounted. Can be given. In addition, even in an ink jet recording apparatus in which a plurality of ink cartridges are mounted, it is possible to accurately notify the user which ink cartridge has been correctly mounted. In addition, since the ink jet recording device is electrically connected to the ink cartridge, it detects that the ink cartridge has been correctly mounted, so that it is possible to more accurately detect and notify that the ink cartridge has been correctly mounted. it can. Therefore, the user can attach / detach the ink cartridge to / from the ink jet recording apparatus accurately.
[0061]
As described above, the present invention has been described using the embodiment. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the description of the appended claims that embodiments with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the ink cartridge is properly mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, the user is notified of the correct mounting of the notifying means, so that the user can correctly operate the ink cartridge. A sense of security can be given. Further, even in the case of an ink jet recording apparatus in which a plurality of ink cartridges are mounted, the notifying unit can accurately notify the user which ink cartridge has been correctly mounted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an internal configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a notification unit of the ink jet recording apparatus and a storage unit of the ink cartridge.
FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an ink cartridge mounted on a carriage.
5 is a rear perspective view of the ink cartridge shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a front upper perspective view of a carriage of the inkjet recording apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a rear upper perspective view of the carriage shown in FIG. 6;
FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views illustrating an operation of mounting a plurality of ink cartridges on a carriage.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the notification unit of the ink jet recording apparatus and the storage unit of the ink cartridge.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of a plurality of ink cartridges mounted on a carriage of an ink jet recording apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Ink jet recording device
102, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 ink cartridges
120 storage means
122, 124 contact terminals
126 connection electrode
140 carriage
200 Notification means

Claims (8)

An ink jet recording apparatus that holds a plurality of ink cartridges provided with a storage unit that can be connected electromagnetically while holding ink.
An ink jet recording apparatus including, when electromagnetically connected to any one of the plurality of mounted ink cartridges, a notifying unit for notifying that the ink cartridge having the storing unit is correctly mounted; . The storage means stores identification information for identifying the ink cartridge,
The notifying unit, when each of the plurality of ink cartridges is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, reads the identification information of the storage unit of the mounted ink cartridge, based on the read identification information. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein different notifications are issued. The notifying unit has identification information for identifying the ink cartridge and electronic melody data associated with the identification information, and based on the identification information read from the storage unit of the ink cartridge that is correctly mounted, 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein different electronic melodies are notified to the ink cartridges. The notifying unit has identification information for identifying an ink cartridge and audio data associated with the identification information, and the ink jet recording is performed based on the identification information read from the storage unit of the ink cartridge correctly mounted. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a different sound is notified to each of the plurality of ink cartridges correctly mounted on the apparatus. The storage means stores identification information for identifying the ink cartridge and electronic melody data associated with the identification information,
The notifying unit, when each of the plurality of ink cartridges is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, reads the identification information and the electronic melody data of the storage unit of the mounted ink cartridge, and reads the read. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, which notifies that the ink cartridge has been correctly mounted based on the electronic melody data. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a user can arbitrarily set the electronic melody data or the audio data. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a writing unit that writes the electronic melody data to the storage unit of the ink cartridge. An ink cartridge that holds ink and is attached to an ink jet recording apparatus,
When properly mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, the recording apparatus includes a storage unit that is electromagnetically connected to the ink jet recording apparatus,
The ink cartridge, wherein the storage unit is configured to store identification information which is electromagnetically connected to the ink jet recording apparatus and read, and electronic melody data associated with the identification information.

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