JP2009248373A - Recording device and mounting position display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device and a mounting position display method enabling an operator to immediately confirm whether a mounting position is correct when mounting an ink tank. <P>SOLUTION: When a cartridge is mounted in the mounting position, information stored in the cartridge is compared with predetermined information corresponding to the mounting position of the cartridge, and information corresponding to the correct and the incorrect of the mounting position of the cartridge is displayed based on the compared result. A display is made by changing the light emitting state of a light emitting part provided near an ink tank mounting part. The operator can thereby confirm whether the mounting position is correct immediately when mounting the ink tank. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a mounting position display method, and more particularly to a recording apparatus and a mounting position display method by which an operator can confirm the mounting position.

  In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for higher image quality in inkjet recording apparatuses. Light inks such as light magenta and light cyan, which are light in density, have been used for conventional four colors (black, yellow, magenta, cyan), and so-called special color inks such as red ink and blue ink can also be used. Has been proposed. In such a case, 7 to 8 ink tanks are individually mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus. At that time, it is necessary to mount the ink tank according to the mounting position corresponding to each color, but the ink tank itself has the same structure as each color, and the mounting position that is not the original mounting position (the mounting where the color does not correspond) Ink tanks can also be mounted at (position). Thus, if the mounting position is wrong, recording in a desired color cannot be performed. Therefore, a mechanism for preventing the ink tank from being mounted at a mounting position of an incompatible color is required. In Patent Document 1, light emission control of LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) or the like is performed using a common signal line for a plurality of ink tank mounting positions, and the mounting position of a liquid storage container such as an ink tank can be specified. A position detection method is disclosed.

JP 2007-001031 A

  However, in the position detection method with the above-described configuration, the light emission control of the LED provided in the ink tank is performed while moving the carriage on which the ink tank is mounted, and the operator installs the ink tank in order to measure the light emission amount. It took a certain time to obtain the position detection result. For a skilled operator who frequently changes the ink tank, it is considered that the workability of the replacement work is improved by providing a means for confirming whether the mounting position is correct immediately after the work is completed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus and a mounting position display method that allow an operator to immediately check whether the mounting position is correct when mounting an ink tank.

  Therefore, the mounting position display method of the present invention includes a step of storing information in a cartridge and a step of mounting the cartridge at the mounting position. When the cartridge is mounted at the mounting position, Comparing the information stored in the cartridge with predetermined information corresponding to the mounting position of the cartridge, and displaying information corresponding to the correctness of the mounting position of the cartridge based on the comparison result Features.

  Further, the recording apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the display means by the mounting position display method can be used.

  According to the present invention, when a cartridge is mounted at the mounting position, information stored in the cartridge is compared with predetermined information corresponding to the mounting position of the cartridge, and the cartridge mounting is performed based on the comparison result. Information corresponding to the correctness of the position is displayed. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus and a mounting position display method that allow an operator to confirm whether or not the mounting position is correct immediately when the ink tank is mounted.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a main body cover 192 of an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as a recording apparatus) 191 to which the present invention can be applied is opened. Note that the recording apparatus described in the present embodiment is a color recording apparatus equipped with an ink tank 101 into which black, yellow, magenta, and cyan inks are injected.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 191 of the present embodiment includes a mechanism for moving a carriage 196 mounted with a recording head and an ink tank for scanning. Further, the recording apparatus 191 includes a recording apparatus main body in which the carriage 196 and the like are covered with the main body cover 192 and other case portions, a paper discharge tray 194 provided in front and rear of the recording apparatus main body, an automatic paper feeder (ASF) 193, and the like. It has. Further, the recording device 191 is provided with an operation unit 195 having a display, a power switch, and a reset switch for displaying the state of the recording device 191 both in a closed state and an open state. Yes.

  With the main body cover 192 opened, the operator can see the range of movement of the carriage 196 and its surroundings. The carriage 196 is mounted with a recording head unit 162 and a black tank 101K, a yellow tank 101Y, a magenta tank 101M, and a cyan tank 101C (hereinafter, these ink tanks may be indicated by the same reference numeral “101”). Actually, when the main body cover 192 is opened, a sequence in which the carriage 196 automatically moves to approximately the center position (hereinafter also referred to as an ink tank replacement position) of the recording apparatus 191 shown in FIG. An operator can perform an operation of replacing each ink tank at the ink tank replacement position.

  In the recording apparatus 191 of this embodiment, a recording head (not shown) in the form of a chip corresponding to each color ink is provided in the recording head unit 162. These color recording heads perform reciprocal scanning with respect to a recording medium such as paper as the carriage 196 moves, and perform recording by ejecting ink onto the recording medium. That is, the carriage 196 is slidably engaged with the shaft 198 extending in the moving direction, and can be moved as described above by the carriage motor and its driving force transmission mechanism. In each of the recording heads corresponding to black K, yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C ink, ink is ejected based on ejection data sent from the control circuit via the flexible cable 197. The recording device 191 is provided with a paper feed mechanism such as a paper feed roller or a paper discharge roller, and can transport a recording medium (not shown) fed from the automatic paper feed device 193 to the paper discharge tray 194. it can. Further, a recording head unit 162 integral with a tank holder is detachably attached to the carriage 196, and each ink tank 101 is detachably attached to the recording head unit 162.

  In the recording operation, the recording heads scan, and ink is ejected from the respective recording heads to the recording medium during the scanning, and recording is performed in an area having a width corresponding to the ejection port. At the same time, recording is sequentially performed on the recording medium by performing a predetermined amount of paper feeding according to the width of the recording performed by the paper feeding mechanism between the scans. Further, at the end of the movement range of the recording head by the movement of the carriage 196, an ejection recovery unit such as a cap covering the surface on which the ejection port is provided is provided for each recording head. The recording head moves to a position where the recovery unit is provided at a predetermined time interval and performs recovery processing such as preliminary discharge, so that the discharge state of the nozzle whose ink discharge state has deteriorated can be recovered.

  2A, 2B, and 2C are a side view, a front view, and a bottom view of the ink tank 101 according to the present embodiment, respectively. The ink tank 101 of the present embodiment has a support portion 102 supported at the lower part on the front side. The support portion 102 is formed of a resin integrally with the exterior of the ink tank 101, and is configured to be displaceable around the support portion when performing an attachment operation to the tank holder or the like. On the back side and the front side of the ink tank 101, a first engaging portion 103 and a second engaging portion 104 (in this example, integrated with the supporting portion 102) that can engage with the engaging portion of the tank holder, respectively. ) Is provided. These engagements enable the ink tank 101 to be mounted on the tank holder.

  On the bottom surface of the ink tank 101, an ink supply port 105 is provided for supplying ink in combination with the ink introduction port of the recording head when mounted on the tank holder. In addition, a base 141 is provided at a portion where the bottom surface and the front surface of the ink tank 101 intersect. The shape of the substrate 141 may be a chip shape or a plate shape. In addition, between the support portion 102 and the exterior of the ink tank 101, a light guide portion 121 is formed of resin integrally with the exterior of the ink tank 101, similar to the support portion 102.

  FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which the ink tank 101 of this embodiment is set in the tank holder 163, and FIG. 3B is a diagram in which a substrate 141 of the ink tank 101 is provided. It is the enlarged view which expanded and showed the part.

  4A is a side view of the substrate 141 attached to the ink tank 101, and FIG. 4B is a front view of the substrate 141.

  The tank holder 163 is integrally formed with a recording head unit 162 including a recording head 161 that discharges ink supplied from the ink tank 101. The first engagement portion 165 and the second engagement portion 166 of the ink tank 101 are engaged with the first engagement portion 165 and the second engagement portion 166 of the holder 163, so that the ink tank 101 is held in the holder. It is attached to 163 and fixed. At this time, a contact (hereinafter referred to as a connector) 164 provided on the holder 163 and an electrode pad 143 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) of the substrate 141 provided on the ink tank 101 come into contact with each other. The ink tank 101 and the tank holder 163 can be electrically connected.

  An ink storage chamber 106 that stores ink 107 is provided inside the ink tank 101, and a negative pressure generation member storage chamber (not shown) that stores a negative pressure generation member (not shown) that communicates with the ink supply port 105. (Not shown) is provided. While the ink is stored in the ink storage chamber 106 as it is, the ink is stored in the negative pressure generating member storage chamber by an ink absorber (hereinafter also referred to as a porous member) such as a sponge or a fiber assembly that is a negative pressure generating member. Impregnation is retained. This porous member is sufficient to balance the holding force of the meniscus formed on the ink ejection nozzles of the recording head 161 and prevent ink leakage from the ink ejection section, and the ink ejection operation of the recording head 161 can be performed. This is to generate an appropriate negative pressure within the possible range.

  The internal configuration of the ink tank 101 is not limited to the form divided into such a porous member storage chamber and an ink storage chamber that stores ink as it is. For example, the porous member may be filled in substantially the entire interior space of the ink tank. Also, instead of using a porous member as the negative pressure generating means, ink is directly filled into a bag-shaped member formed of an elastic material such as rubber that generates tension in the direction of expanding the volume, and this bag-shaped member A negative pressure may be applied to the ink inside by the generated tension. Furthermore, at least a part of the ink storage space is formed of a flexible member, and only ink is stored in the space, and a negative pressure is generated by applying a spring force to the flexible member. It may be a thing.

  A light emitting element 142 that generates visible light, such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode), a memory element that can store information, and a control element that controls the light emitting element are provided on the surface of the substrate 141 attached to the inside of the ink tank 101. And are provided. In particular, in the present embodiment, the memory element and the control element are provided on the substrate as an integrated IC package 144, and the control element in the IC package 144 is determined by an electrical signal supplied from the connector 164 via the pad 143. The light emission of the light emitting unit 142 is controlled. In addition, the substrate 141 is disposed so that the light emitting element 142 is in the vicinity of the incident surface 123 in order to suppress the attenuation of the light amount when the light emitted from the light emitting element 142 is projected onto the light guide unit 121.

  Light emitted from the light emitting element 142 is incident from an incident surface 123 that is an end surface of the light guide unit 121 and passes through the light guide unit 121 to reach the display unit 122 that displays light to the operator. Visible light is used as light of the light emitting element 142, and since it is diffused light, it has a plurality of light beams as indicated by arrows A1 to A3.

Here, polypropylene is used for the exterior of the ink tank 101, and the light guide unit 121 is integral with the exterior of the ink tank 101. Therefore, the exterior of the ink tank 101 and the light guide unit 121 are the same material. . Since the refractive index n1 of polypropylene is 1.49 and the refractive index n2 of air is 1.00, it is Snell's law.
n1sin θ1 = n2sin θ2
If the transmission angle θ2 in air is 90 °, the critical refraction angle θ1 from polypropylene to air is 42.16 °. Therefore, the light beam having the incident angle θ1 at 43 ° to 90 ° at the point α in FIG. 3B is totally reflected at the interface between the polypropylene (light guide unit 121) and the air, as indicated by arrows A1 and A3. In addition, total reflection is repeated in the light guide unit 121 and reaches the display unit 122.

  In this manner, by providing the light guide unit 121 in the ink tank 101, the ink tank 101 does not require a power line or a conductor for communicating signals, and the light emitting element 142 and the display unit 122 are individually positioned at an optimum position at low cost. It becomes possible to arrange to. Accordingly, it is possible to ensure the degree of freedom of arrangement of the display unit 122 at a position that can be easily recognized by the operator, and the operator can recognize predetermined information related to the ink tank 101 by viewing the light emission state. Is possible. Further, by integrating the light guide unit 121 with the exterior of the ink tank 101, the display unit 122 can be arranged without increasing the cost.

  The predetermined information of the ink tank 101 includes whether or not the ink tank 101 is mounted, whether or not the mounting position is appropriate, and the presence or absence of remaining ink. Here, the quality of the mounted state of the ink tank 101 means that the mounting is complete. The suitability of the mounting position means whether or not the corresponding color ink tank 101 is mounted at a predetermined mounting position on the holder corresponding to the ink color. The presence / absence of the remaining ink amount indicates whether or not a sufficient amount of ink remains in the ink tank 101. In the ink tank 101 of the present embodiment, it is possible to present such information depending on whether or not the display unit emits light and the state of light emission (blinking).

  The ink tank 101 checks the light emission of the light emitting element 142 at the time of manufacture, and checks the amount of light emitted. In the check of the amount of emitted light, the intensity of the light emitted from the light emitting element 142 and reaching the display unit 122 through the light guide unit 121 is recognized by a sensor in the process. This is classified into four levels of rank information according to the light intensity, and the rank information is written in the storage elements in the IC package 144 provided in each ink tank 101. At the same time, other information such as the color (color ID) injected into the ink tank 101, the individual code that differs for each ink tank, the injection date, and the injection amount are written in the storage element.

  When the connector 164 corresponding to each color comes into contact with the pad 143 of the substrate 141 of each ink tank 101, the LED (light emission) 142 of each ink tank can be controlled to be lit or blinking according to the sequence.

  Specifically, when the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 101 decreases at the ink tank replacement position, the LED 142 of the corresponding ink tank 101 is turned on or blinked. The light passes through the light guide unit, and the display unit 122 is turned on or blinks. Further, as another example of control such as lighting of the LED, control is performed to turn on the LED 142 of the ink tank when the ink tank 101 is correctly installed at the ink tank replacement position. In these controls, control data (control signals) are sent from the control circuit on the main body side to the respective ink tanks via the flexible cable 197 (see FIG. 1), similarly to the control of ink ejection of the recording head. Executed by.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of signal wiring for signal connection with the ink tank 101 in the flexible cable 197 in relation to the substrate 141 of each ink tank. The signal wiring for the ink tank 101 includes four signal lines, and common signal wiring is connected to the four ink tanks 1 (so-called bus connection). The signal wiring for each ink tank 101 is composed of four signal lines of “VDD” and “GND” and “DATA” and “CLK”. The signal line “VDD” is a power signal line for power supply such as operation of a functional element in the IC package 144 that performs light emission and driving of the light emitting element 142 in the ink tank. The signal line “GND” is a ground signal line. As will be described later, the signal line “DATA” is a signal line for sending a control signal (control data) related to processing such as lighting and blinking of the light emitting element 142 from the control circuit 300. The signal line “CLK” is a clock signal line. In the present embodiment, the description will be made with four signal lines. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the signal line “GND” can be omitted by achieving a ground signal in another configuration. It is. Further, the signal lines “CLK” and “DATA” can be shared to form a single line. In this configuration, it is not necessary to provide the signal line “DATA” for each ink tank, and the signal wiring in the flexible cable 197 can be reduced.

  The recording apparatus of the present embodiment is a recording apparatus equipped with four color ink tanks. However, if the number of ink tanks increases, the wiring of the flexible cable 197 becomes complicated, which causes an increase in cost. For example, when a signal line “DATA” is provided for each ink tank in a printing apparatus equipped with eight color ink tanks, the power supply signal line “VDD”, the ground signal line “GND”, the clock signal line “CLK”, and the signal line A total of 11 wires of “DATA” are required. For this reason, the above-described bus connection is a cost-effective configuration in a printing apparatus equipped with a plurality of color ink tanks.

  On the other hand, the substrate 141 of each ink tank 101 is provided with an IC package 144 that operates in response to signals from these four signal lines, and a light emitting element 142 that operates thereby.

  FIG. 6 shows a packet sent from the control circuit 300 (see FIG. 5) of the recording apparatus 191 to the signal line “DATA” and the light emission timing of the light emitting elements (hereinafter also referred to as LEDs) provided in each ink tank 101. It is a timing chart. This timing chart is a timing chart for ink tanks of three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan for easy understanding.

  A packet sent from the control unit of the printing apparatus includes a set of a color ID for identifying a plurality of mounted ink tanks and a signal for controlling on / off of the light emitting element. Specifically, for example, in the signal line “DATA” in FIG. 6, “C-on”, “M-on”, and “Y-on” light the light emitting elements of the cyan tank, magenta tank, and yellow tank, respectively. It is an instruction to make. “C-off” and “M-off” are commands for turning off the light emitting elements of the cyan tank and the magenta tank, and “null” indicates that there is no signal.

  Each command is received by a control element in the IC package 144 provided in the ink tank 101. The control element compares the color ID written in the storage element with the color ID of the packet, and if it does not match, it does not respond to subsequent commands, but if it matches, the next light emitting element is turned on / off. Follow the instructions. In this way, lighting / extinguishing of the light emitting elements can be individually controlled for each ink tank even in the bus connection.

  Due to variations in manufacture of LEDs, which are light emitting elements, variations in the amount of light emitted between a plurality of LEDs occur even when the same current is passed through the same circuit. For this reason, the LEDs provided in the ink tank 101 may vary. In addition, the light guide unit 121 may also have variations in light guide characteristics due to manufacturing variations, and the amount of light guided may decrease. For this reason, the light guided to the display unit 122 may have a large variation as a result. Therefore, based on the rank information written in the storage element in the IC package 144, the bright ink tank shortens the light emission drive pulse, and conversely, the dark ink tank lengthens the light emission drive pulse, Reduces variations in brightness.

  The IC package provided in the ink tank 101 has a function of returning light amount rank information together with its own color ID to the control circuit 300 of the recording apparatus 191. The control circuit 300 that has received the color ID and the light quantity rank information emits a light emission duty (25 in FIG. 6) by increasing the above-described interval between turning on and off in order to cause the light ink tank having a high light quantity rank, that is, a bright ink tank to emit light darkly. % Duty, 50% duty, etc.). By lowering the light emission duty, it can appear to be lit darkly in human vision. On the contrary, the ink tank having a low light quantity rank, that is, a dark ink tank, is lit at 100% duty, that is, always lit to emit light as brightly as possible. Generally, when the brightness is halved, the brightness appears to be halved by setting the light emission duty to 50%. Therefore, the brightness variation of the ink tank can be reduced by appropriately matching the light quantity rank information and the light emission duty. Note that the light emission duty is determined by blinking of the light emitting element 142. Generally, blinking at 50 Hz or less is recognized as flickering rather than blinking by human vision.

  FIG. 7A is a timing chart showing a light emission pattern when the LED is blinking, and FIG. 7B is a timing chart showing a light emission pattern when the LED is lit. FIG. 7A shows an example in which the operator can recognize that the light emitting element 142 is visually blinking (three blinks in the figure), and FIG. 7B shows that the light emitting element 142 is continuously lit. This is an example in which the operator can recognize that the

  By appropriately combining these light emission patterns, it is possible to make the display unit 122 appear to blink or light up for the operator, and to reduce variations in brightness between the ink tanks. Information can be presented correctly.

  In the present embodiment, the light guide unit 121 is provided in the ink tank and the display unit 122 displays light to the user. However, if the light emitting element can be arranged, the light emitting element may be directly viewed by the operator. In this case, since the variation of the light guide portion is not included, the light amount rank information is based on the variation of the light emission amount of the light emitting element.

  FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a light emission state of each light emitting element in a recording apparatus equipped with four color ink tanks to which the present invention can be applied. Here, the case where each light emitting element performs display with 100% duty is shown. The recording device 191 periodically monitors the mounting state of the ink tank. In FIG. 8, the black tank 101K, the yellow tank 101Y, and the cyan tank 101C are attached in the initial state, and the light emitting elements 142 corresponding to these ink tanks are lit. Since the magenta tank 101M is not attached, the corresponding light emitting element is in the off state. When the magenta tank 101M is mounted there, the recording apparatus determines that all the ink tanks 101 are mounted on the carriage, and temporarily turns off all the light emitting elements.

  FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a state of light emission of each light emitting element when an ink tank is installed with a mistake. Here, if the operator mistakenly installs the yellow tank 101Y instead of the magenta tank 101M, since all four color ink tanks are not installed, the light emitting elements that have been lit up as shown in FIG. 9 are turned off. And still remain lit. In addition, the light emitting element of the part that is incorrectly installed is also lit. This allows the operator to notice that the color of the installed ink tank is incorrect.

  Returning to FIG. 8, the recording apparatus confirms that the ink tanks for all colors are mounted, and after the light emitting elements are turned off, the corresponding light emitting elements are turned on for a certain period in the order of the mounting positions of the tanks on the carriage. Repeat turning off. The operator confirms that each light emitting element blinks sequentially from left to right (or from right to left) when viewed from the operator, so that all the necessary ink tanks are mounted on the carriage and they are in the correct position. It can be confirmed that it is installed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram when the ink tanks of all four colors are mounted, but are mounted in the wrong mounting positions. That is, it is a conceptual diagram showing a state of light emission of each light emitting element when the cyan tank 101C is attached to the place where the cyan tank 101C is attached and the magenta tank 101M is attached to the place where the magenta tank 101M is attached.

  With the black tank 101K, the yellow tank 101Y, and the cyan tank 101C installed (the cyan tank 101C is installed at the place where the magenta tank 101M is installed), the magenta tank 101M is installed (the cyan tank 101C is installed at several places). Then, the recording apparatus confirms that all color ink tanks have been installed and temporarily turns off all the light emitting elements.

  Then, the light emitting elements are turned on for a certain period from the left to the right (or from right to left) in the order of the correct color mounting positions, and then turned off. Here, the operator confirms that the light was emitted in a different order (light was emitted in the order of No. 1, No. 3, No. 2, No. 4 from the left) instead of a series of turning on and off from left to right. Although all the ink tanks are mounted, it can be recognized that the mounting position of the ink tank is not correct.

  As described above, the light emitting unit is provided in the vicinity of the ink tank mounting unit, and the light emitting state of the light emitting unit is changed depending on the mounting state of the ink tank. As a result, the operator can immediately confirm whether or not the mounting position is correct when the ink tank is mounted, and the workability of the replacement work is improved.

  In the present embodiment, a display pattern in which each light emitting element is turned off, turned on, and turned off has been described as an example. However, it goes without saying that the display pattern is not limited to this. For example, the same effect can be obtained by appropriately changing the display pattern, such as sequentially turning off and turning on each emitting element from the state where all the light emitting elements are turned on, or repeating the display pattern on each light emitting element a plurality of times. Further, in a recording apparatus in which ink tanks having different widths are mixedly installed, the blinking interval between the light emitting elements may be changed according to the width of the ink tank.

  The display pattern may be stored as fixed data inside the recording apparatus, but may be configured to generate a display pattern from ink tank mounting position information. In this case, there is an advantage that the control program can be easily shared with other printing apparatuses having different ink tank mounting orders.

  In the above description, it has been described that the operator visually confirms the display pattern. However, the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is mounted with an ink tank even when the operator cannot confirm the display pattern for some reason. A position error can be detected.

  This is realized by providing a light receiving unit 210 (see FIG. 1) for measuring the light quantity in the recording apparatus main body. The light receiving unit 210 is a sensor composed of a phototransistor, and the photocurrent changes according to the amount of received light.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the relationship between the LED of the ink tank and the phototransistor of the printing apparatus. In the present embodiment, a change in photocurrent is detected as a change in voltage by the circuit shown in FIG. According to such a configuration, it is possible to display the ink tank mounting position on the carriage by moving the position of the carriage while causing the display device on the ink tank to emit light and storing the amount of light received by the light receiving unit at that time. . By providing the light receiving unit 210 at a position facing the display unit 122, this position display operation can be realized without changing the configuration of the ink tank.

  In the present embodiment, the recording apparatus has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an apparatus capable of mounting a plurality of cartridges may be used.

1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a main body cover of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applicable is opened. (A) is a side view of the ink tank concerning this embodiment, (b) is a front view, (c) is a bottom view. (A) is sectional drawing which showed typically the state by which the ink tank of this embodiment was set to the tank holder, (b) expanded and showed the part in which the board | substrate of the ink tank was provided. It is an enlarged view. (A) is a side view of the board | substrate attached to an ink tank, (b) is a front view of a board | substrate. It is the figure which showed the structure of the signal wiring for the signal connection with an ink tank in a flexible cable in relation to the board | substrate of each ink tank. 4 is a timing chart showing a packet sent from a control circuit of a recording apparatus to a signal line “DATA” and light emission timings of light emitting elements provided in each ink tank. (A) is a timing chart which shows a light emission pattern in case LED blinks, (b) is a timing chart which shows a light emission pattern in case LED is lighting. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a state of light emission of each light emitting element in a recording apparatus equipped with four color ink tanks. It is the conceptual diagram showing the mode of light emission of each light emitting element at the time of mounting an ink tank by mistake. It is the conceptual diagram showing the mode of light emission of each light emitting element at the time of mounting | wearing with a mounting position in error. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a relationship between an LED of an ink tank and a phototransistor of a recording apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Ink tank 121 Light guide part 122 Display part 141 Board | substrate 142 Light emitting element 144 IC package 191 Recording device 197 Flexible cable 210 Light receiving part 300 Control circuit

Claims (10)

In a mounting position display method comprising: storing information in a cartridge; and mounting the cartridge at a mounting position.
When the cartridge is mounted at the mounting position, the information stored in the cartridge is compared with predetermined information corresponding to the mounting position of the cartridge, and the cartridge mounting position is determined based on the comparison result. The mounting position display method characterized by displaying the information corresponding to right and wrong of this.   The mounting position display method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the cartridges are provided.   3. The mounting position display method according to claim 2, wherein it is possible to detect that all the predetermined cartridges are mounted and display information corresponding to the detection result.   4. The mounting position display method according to claim 1, wherein the display is a display based on a light emission pattern of a light emitting element.   The mounting position display method according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element is provided in the cartridge.   The mounting position display method according to claim 1, wherein the display is displayed on a display portion of a part of the cartridge.   7. The mounting position display method according to claim 4, wherein when the cartridge is correctly mounted, the light emission pattern is sequentially blinked in the order of the mounting position.   8. The mounting position display method according to claim 2, wherein the display is the same display regardless of the size of the cartridge.   A recording apparatus using the display means according to any one of the mounting position display methods according to claim 1.   The recording apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising detection means for detecting display by the display means.

Images