JPH02162046A - Liquid jet recorder and recording heat for the same recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect an unsuitable recording head, etc., if they are mounted and to issue a warning by providing a circuit part which discriminates whether the mounted recording head is suitable or not and a control means which judges the suitability of the recording head according to an output from the circuit and interrupts the shift to a recording action if it is unsuitable. CONSTITUTION:A power source 51 generates a reference voltage Vr, and an arithmetic amplifier 53 applies the voltage Vr from the power source 51 to a positive terminal and a feedback voltage via a temperature sensor 2 to a negative terminal. An amplifier 55 amplifies an output from the arithmetic amplifier 53 and supplies an output Vo to the control part 50. If these procedures are started just after a power source for the overall device is turned on, or the replacement of a head cartridge 14 is detected, a value of Vo is firstly tested. At this time, if the head cartridge 14 is not mounted or it is not correctly mounted, or if a device without the temperature sensor 2 is employed, the space between terminals 2A and 2B is opened, and accordingly the Vo reaches a value obtained by multiplying the reference voltage Vr by the amplification factor of the amplifiers 53 and 55. Consequently, a warning device 57 is driven to warn that the cartridge is not mounted or unsuitable, and a stop signal is generated to inhibit recording action.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a liquid jet recording device and a recording head for the recording device, and in particular, to a liquid jet recording device and a recording head for the recording device, and particularly to a liquid jet recording device that uses an electrothermal transducer as a means for generating energy for ejecting recording droplets. It is suitable for application to a liquid jet recording device and a recording head for the recording device.

7) The recording head integrally includes a storage means for storing the recording liquid, and the circuit element includes a detection element for detecting the presence or absence of a remaining amount of the recording liquid, and a temperature detection element for detecting the temperature. A recording head for a liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it includes:

(Margin below) [Prior art] This type of liquid jet recording head uses recording liquid (ink).
The liquid ejection openings such as orifices for ejecting liquid droplets can be arranged in high density, making it possible to perform high-resolution recording, and making the overall recording head more compact. In particular, it is possible to fully utilize the advantages of IC technology and micro-processing technology, which have seen remarkable advances in technology and reliability in the semiconductor field in recent years, and can be easily made into long and planar (two-dimensional) products. It is attracting particular attention because it is easy to implement multi-nozzle design and high-density packaging, has good productivity during mass production, and can reduce manufacturing costs.

In response to such price reductions, the print head, or the print head in which the print head and the ink tank serving as the ink supply source are integrated (hereinafter referred to as the head cartridge), is made disposable and can be easily attached to the main body of the device. Various structures have also been proposed in which the device can be attached and detached. According to this, troubles in the recording head can be easily and quickly dealt with, and ink can be easily replenished with the above-mentioned cartridge type. As a result, maintenance or overhaul of the device can be omitted or simplified.

When installing such disposable recording heads or head cartridges into the main body of the device, it is common to connect electrical coupling parts in the form of connectors provided on both sides to establish an electrical connection. . In other words, this electrical connection enables the transmission of drive signals from the control section provided on the apparatus main body side to the electrothermal transducer provided on the recording head, and also enables the transmission of various status signals from the recording head or head cartridge to the control section. transmission becomes possible.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Considering the ease of replacing the recording head or cartridge, it is necessary to improve the structure of the mechanical coupling parts and electrical coupling parts provided on both the recording head or cartridge side and the apparatus main body side. Although it is desirable to simplify the process, there is a risk that a recording head or head cartridge with specifications different from those on the device main body side may be installed because of this.For example, on the device main body side, the electric heat The control system is configured according to the number of converters (dots), and the energy of the drive signal (drive voltage and/or pulse width) is set, but
There is a risk that a recording head or the like that does not conform to these specifications may be installed.

If recording is performed using a recording head, etc. that has specifications different from those of the main unit, the quality of the recorded image may deteriorate, and the operator may not be able to confirm that a non-conforming recording head has been installed until recording has started. You will be able to recognize this. Also,
On the other hand, if such obvious recording quality deterioration does not occur or is overlooked, it may have a negative effect on the control system or the recording head, especially if the ejection energy generating element is not equipped with an electrothermal converter. Since the liquid jet recording device using the above handles a large current, there is a possibility that a dangerous situation may occur.

In view of such problems, the present invention provides a liquid jet recording device and a recording medium for the device, which are capable of detecting and issuing a warning when an incompatible recording head or the like is installed before proceeding to actual recording operation. The purpose is to provide the head.

[Means for Solving the Problems] To this end, in the liquid jet recording device according to the present invention, an ejection port for ejecting the recording liquid and an ejection port provided corresponding to the ejection port and used for ejecting the recording liquid are provided. In a liquid jet recording device having a removable recording head having an energy generating element that generates energy, a circuit unit for forming a circuit for determining suitability of the attached recording head, and a circuit unit for forming a circuit for determining suitability of the attached recording head, and The present invention is characterized by comprising a control means for determining suitability of the recording head based on the output of a circuit that may be formed, and for preventing transition to a recording operation when the recording head is determined to be unsuitable.

Further, an aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the recording head for the liquid jet recording apparatus includes a circuit element that is coupled with a circuit section provided in the liquid jet recording apparatus to form a circuit when mounted. do.

[Function] According to the present invention, a circuit for determining suitability is formed only when a compatible recording head is installed in the apparatus main body, so if an incompatible recording head is installed, the recording operation is stopped. will not be carried out.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Example 1) FIG. 1 is a configuration example of a liquid jet recording apparatus (inkjet recording apparatus) according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration example of its recording head, and FIGS. (B) shows a configuration example of a heater board that can be employed as a component of the recording head shown in the second figure.

First, in FIG. 1, 14 is a head cartridge, which integrates a recording head chip constructed using a heater board, which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and an ink tank serving as an ink supply source. . This head cartridge 14 is held on the carriage 1 by a pressing member 41.
5, and these can be reciprocated along the shaft 21 in the longitudinal direction. Ink ejected from the ejection ports of the print head chip reaches the recording medium 18 whose recording surface is regulated by a platen 19 disposed at a slight interval from the ejection ports, and forms an image on the recording medium 18. .

A cable 16 and a terminal 4 (FIG. 3) connected to the cable 16 are connected to the ejection energy generating element disposed on the recording radar chip.
An ejection signal corresponding to the image data is supplied from an appropriate data supply source via. Depending on the ink color used, one or more head cartridges (two in the figure) can be provided.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 17 indicates a carriage motor for causing the carriage 15 to scan along the shaft 21;
2 is a wire that transmits the driving force of the motor 17 to the carriage 15. Further, 20 is a feed motor coupled to the platen roller 19 for conveying the recording medium 18.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the recording chip according to this example.

Here, 1 is a heater board, which is formed by forming an electrothermal converter (discharge heater) 5 on a silicon substrate and wiring 6 such as an AL for supplying electric power thereto by film-forming technology. A top plate 30 is provided with a partition wall for forming a liquid path (nozzle) 25 for the recording liquid with respect to the heater board 1.
A recording chip is constructed by gluing the .

The recording liquid (ink) is supplied through a supply port 2 provided on the top plate 30.
4 to the common liquid chamber 23, and from here to each nozzle 25.
Guided within. When the t-heater 5 generates heat due to electricity, the ink filled in the nozzle 29 bubbles.
Ink droplets are ejected from the ejection port 26.

Figures 53 (8) and 53 (B) are a plan view and a partially enlarged view of the heater board according to the present example, respectively.

In the same figure (A), 3 is a discharge heater part.

4 is a terminal, which is connected to the outside by wire bonding. 2 is a temperature sensor which is a temperature detection means, and the discharge heater part 3 is formed by the same film forming process as the discharge heater part 3, etc.
It is formed. Figure (B) is an enlarged view of a portion B including the sensor 2 in Figure (^), and 8 is a heat-retaining heater that is a heating means for heating the head.

Like the other parts, the sensor 2 has extremely high precision because it is formed using a film formation process similar to semiconductors, and the sensor 2 is made of aluminum, titanium, tantalum, tantalum pentoxide, It can be made from a material whose conductivity changes depending on temperature, such as niobium. For example, among these, aluminum is a material that can be used for electrodes, titanium is a material that can be placed between the heating resistance layer that makes up the electrothermal conversion element and the electrode to increase the adhesion between the two, and tantalum is a material that can be used as a heating resistor. A material that can be placed on top of a protective layer to increase its cavitation resistance. In addition, the line width is made thicker to reduce process variations, and a meandering shape is used to increase the height and lower resistance in order to reduce the influence of wiring resistance and the like.

Similarly, the heat-retaining heater 8 can be formed using the same material as the heat-generating resistance layer of the discharge heater 5 (for example, HfB2), but it can also be formed using other materials constituting the heater board, such as aluminum, tantalum, titanium, etc. You may do so.

In the recording head shown in the second diagram according to the present example, temperature sensors 2 are provided at both ends of the heater board 10 as shown in FIG. You can understand the status. Furthermore, since the heat-retaining heater 8 is provided near the temperature sensor 2, the response speed for detecting a change in temperature due to heating is high.

By using this, control to keep the temperature distribution on the substrate constant can be performed with high responsiveness and stability.

In this example, the temperature control system that performs such temperature control is also used as a circuit that detects whether or not a compatible head cartridge 14 is attached.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the temperature control system.

Here, reference numeral 50 denotes a control unit, which includes a cpo for executing processing procedures to be described later with reference to FIG. 5, a ROM for storing fixed data such as programs corresponding to the processing procedures, and a working RAM. This control section 50 may also be used as the main control section of the apparatus shown in the first figure.

51 is a power supply that generates the reference voltage Vr; 53 is an operational amplifier to which the voltage V" from the power supply 51 is applied to one terminal; and the feedback voltage via the temperature sensor 2 is applied to one terminal; 55 is the output of the operational amplifier 53; This is an amplifier that amplifies and supplies the output v0 to the control unit 50. 28 and 2B are terminals on the feedback path, and are shown in FIGS.
When the recording head chip or head cartridge 14 equipped with the heater board 1 described in B) is installed, a feedback path including the temperature sensor 2 is configured. 57 is an alarm device, which can be a display device such as an LED, a sound generating device such as a buzzer, or a combination thereof.

Figure 5 shows an example of the processing procedure by the above control system.
4 is detected.

When this procedure is started, the value of vo is first verified in step S1. Here, if the head cartridge 14 is not installed, is not completely installed, or has a configuration that does not have the temperature sensor 2 (that is, it is not compatible with the device according to this example), Since the terminals 2A and 28 are open, vo is the reference voltage V, and the amplifier 5 is connected to the reference voltage V.
It is a value multiplied by an amplification factor of 3.55. Therefore, in this case, the process proceeds to step S3, and the alarm device 57 is activated to notify the operator that the device is not installed or is not compatible.
In step S5, a stop signal is generated to prevent the recording operation from being performed.

On the other hand, if the head cartridge 14 having the RAD chip is correctly attached to the recording head equipped with the temperature sensor 2 as shown in FIG. 3, a feedback loop including the temperature sensor 2 is formed between the terminals 2A and 28. Therefore, v
The temperature insulating heater 8 is appropriately controlled based on o to prepare for the recording operation.

In addition, in this example, the % temperature sensor 2 is in the form of a thermistor, and may also be a diode, a transistor, or the like, and is formed simultaneously with the discharge heater 5 and the like on the heater board l as described above. In addition, it may be formed separately. Or not necessarily heater board 1
It may not be formed on top of the recording head, and may be suitable for the recording head.

Furthermore, even if the configuration includes the temperature sensor 2, if there is a recording head or head cartridge that is not necessarily compatible with the model due to differences in the model of the device main body, etc., the temperature sensor 2 may be modified according to the model. In other words, when a thermistor is used, it is also possible to employ a thermistor that has a characteristic curve that differs depending on the model, and to determine whether the thermistor is suitable for the model to which it is installed. In this case, for example, it is possible to manually set the environmental temperature on the device main body side, and to make the determination by comparing the vo value that should be obtained at that temperature with a compatible recording head and the actual vo. can.

Furthermore, although this example has two temperature sensors 2,
The above-mentioned suitability judgment may be made with respect to only one of them, or may be made with respect to both, and if both meet the suitability conditions, it is determined that the installed recording head or head cartridge 14 is suitable. good.

(Example 2) FIG. 6 shows a second example of the present invention. Here, 111
2 is the recording head chip shown in FIG. 2, and 112 is a wiring member formed by arranging plate-shaped conductors for electrically connecting the recording head chip 111 to the main body of the liquid jet recording apparatus through, for example, wire bonding. (hereinafter referred to as a lead frame), 113A and 113B are incorporated into this lead frame 112, and remaining amount detection electrodes detect the remaining amount of ink as described later; 114 is a recording head chip 1;
11 is an ink supply path for supplying ink from the ink tank 102, and 116 is a partition wall that partitions between the ink tank 102 and the ink supply path 114.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the configuration of the detection electrode section according to this example, in which a lead frame 112 is embedded in a housing 117 made of resin, for example, of a head cartridge in which an ink tank 102 and a recording chip 111 are integrated. ing. Among them, remaining ink amount detection electrodes 113A and 113
Only B is exposed to the ink supply path 114 via the conductive portion 118, and power is supplied between the electrodes via the resistor R.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the ink supply path 114 is connected to the ink supply port 116 in the partition wall 116 from the ink tank 102'.
9, and ribs 120^, 12 alternately from above and below.
0B and 120G are provided.

Therefore, the ink guided from the ink tank 102 to the supply path 114 via the ink supply port 119 is guided to the next section by a capillary (not shown) over the first rib 120^, and from there, it is guided through the path indicated by the arrow. The ink is supplied into the RAD chip 111 for recording, and is ejected from the ejection ports 26 during printing. Then, when the ink in the ink tank 102 runs out and the ink is no longer guided to the ink supply path 114, the liquid level becomes the state shown in FIG. 8, and the remaining ink amount detection section 113A is exposed above the liquid level. te detection unit 113A,
Electrical continuity between 1138 and 1138 is broken.

Therefore, it is possible to detect that the remaining amount of ink has reached the limit value because the current stops flowing during that time.

Note that the current flows as long as the conductive ink film remains between the sensing electrodes, even if it is small, so if the sensing circuit is configured so that a constant current flows, the voltage V and the remaining amount of ink 1
Since the relationship shown in FIG. 9 is obtained between the two, it is also possible to configure the system to detect the amount of remaining ink l.

In this example, the control system for detecting the remaining amount of ink is also used as a circuit for detecting whether or not a compatible head cartridge 14 is attached.

The circuit can have a configuration substantially similar to that in FIG. 4,
The above detection can be performed by employing a processing procedure similar to that shown in FIG.

In other words, the head cartridge 14 is not installed or is not completely installed, or the electrodes 113A, 113B and lead frame 112 related to remaining amount detection are
In the case of a configuration in which no ink is provided, the same voltage as when there is no remaining ink appears, so in that case, it is sufficient to cancel the alarm and generate a stop signal. Further, when it is detected that a compatible head cartridge is installed, a known remaining amount detection may be performed at an appropriate timing.

Note that the sensor for detecting the remaining amount provided on the head cartridge side does not necessarily have to have the above-mentioned configuration, and it goes without saying that its form and location can be determined appropriately. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the same modifications as in (Embodiment 1) can be made in this example as well.

(Other Examples) In the above (Example 1) and (Example 2), the temperature control system and the circuit for detecting that a compatible recording head or head cartridge is installed are respectively installed. Although the remaining amount detection system is also used, it may be specially provided.

In this case, for example, it may be a simple wiring pattern that closes a line connecting the detection power source provided on the apparatus main body side and the control section, or a resistive element or the like may be interposed. In the latter case, various specifications can be accommodated by varying the resistance values.

Furthermore, the above (Example 1) and (Example 2) may be combined. In this case, it is sufficient to allow the transition to the recording operation only when both outputs indicate compatibility, and this makes the determination of suitability even more reliable.

Furthermore, the present invention does not necessarily need to be based on the above-described serial recording method as long as it uses a disposable recording head or head cartridge.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, if an incompatible recording head is attached to the main body, this is detected before the recording operation starts and recording is not performed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent inconveniences that may occur when recording is performed with an incompatible recording head attached.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of its recording head, and FIGS. 3(A) and (B) 2 is a plan view and a partially enlarged view showing a configuration example of a heater board applicable to the recording head shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the control procedure; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of the recording head according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the remaining ink amount detection unit according to the example, taken along the line A-A in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the ink supply path according to this example, It is a characteristic curve diagram showing the relationship between the voltage and the remaining amount of ink when the current flowing between two detection electrodes is kept constant. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Heater board, 2... Temperature sensor, 3... Discharge heater section, 5... Discharge heater, 8... Heat retention heater, 14... Head cartridge, 50... Control section, 53.55...Amplifier, 57...Alarm device, 102...Ink tank, 111...Recording chip, 112...Lead frame, 1138, 113B...Remaining ink amount detection electrode, 114
...Ink supply path. Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) Recording having an ejection port for ejecting a recording liquid and an energy generating element provided corresponding to the ejection port and generating energy used for ejecting the recording liquid. A liquid jet recording device with a removable head includes a circuit unit for forming a circuit for determining suitability of the attached recording head, and an output of the circuit that may be formed as the recording head is attached to the recording head. 1. A liquid jet recording apparatus, comprising: a control means for determining suitability of the recording head, and for preventing transition to recording operation when the recording head is determined to be unsuitable. 2) The circuit unit is a circuit portion for detecting the temperature of the recording head, and/or a circuit for detecting the presence or absence of the recording liquid in the recording liquid storage means provided integrally with the recording head. 2. The liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid jet recording apparatus comprises a part of the liquid jet recording apparatus. 3) A recording head that can be mounted on a liquid jet recording device according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit element that is coupled to the circuit section provided on the liquid jet recording device to form the circuit when the recording head is mounted. A recording head for a liquid jet recording device, characterized in that: 4) The recording head for a liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording head has a heating element as an ejection energy generating element that generates thermal energy used for ejecting the recording liquid. 5) The recording head for a liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the circuit element has a temperature detection element for detecting temperature. 6) The recording head integrally has a storage means for storing the recording liquid, and the circuit element has a detection element for detecting the presence or absence of a remaining amount of the recording liquid. 4. The recording head for a liquid jet recording device according to 4. 7) The recording head integrally includes a storage means for storing the recording liquid, and the circuit element includes a detection element for detecting the presence or absence of a remaining amount of the recording liquid, and a temperature detection element for detecting the temperature. A recording head for a liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it includes: