JPH06155762A - Ink amount detector of ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents
Ink amount detector of ink jet recording apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- JPH06155762A JPH06155762A JP30841192A JP30841192A JPH06155762A JP H06155762 A JPH06155762 A JP H06155762A JP 30841192 A JP30841192 A JP 30841192A JP 30841192 A JP30841192 A JP 30841192A JP H06155762 A JPH06155762 A JP H06155762A
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- ink
- cartridge
- jet recording
- recording apparatus
- electrode
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims 1
Landscapes
- Ink Jet (AREA)
- Measurement Of Levels Of Liquids Or Fluent Solid Materials (AREA)
Abstract
Description
【０００１】[0001]
【産業上の利用分野】本発明はインクジェット記録装置
インク量検出装置に関する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink amount detecting device for an ink jet recording device.
【０００２】[0002]
【従来の技術】従来のインクジェット記録装置における
インクカ−トリッジは印字中にインクが無くなると、交
換のため印字作業を中断しなければならないし、用紙の
無駄が生じるなどの欠点を有している。2. Description of the Related Art Ink cartridges used in conventional ink jet recording apparatuses have the drawbacks that if ink runs out during printing, the printing operation must be interrupted for replacement and paper is wasted.
【０００３】従来、この種のインクジェット記録装置イ
ンク量検出装置の第１の例は透明のカ−トリッジを使用
してインク残量を目視する方法である。また、第２の例
は特開平２−２７９３４４公報に記載されているもので
あって、カ−トリッジに磁性媒体片、半導体メモリ−お
よびレ−ザ−による書き込み読み取りの可能な光学媒体
等により構成された記録媒体を取り付ける。その記録媒
体にはあらかじめカ−トリッジに関するデ−タ（インク
量、動作周波数など）が記憶されている。印字作業時の
インク滴数と作業時のインク消費量とが直接関係してい
ることを利用してインク室のインク残量を算出し、この
インク残量のデ−タをカ−トリッジの記録媒体に記憶さ
せることにより個々のカ−トリッジについての現時点で
のインク残量がわかるようになる。Conventionally, the first example of the ink amount detecting device of this kind of ink jet recording device is a method of visually observing the remaining amount of ink by using a transparent cartridge. The second example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-279344, which is composed of a magnetic medium piece on a cartridge, a semiconductor memory, and an optical medium capable of writing and reading by a laser. Attach the recorded recording medium. Data (ink amount, operating frequency, etc.) relating to the cartridge is stored in advance on the recording medium. The amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber is calculated by using the fact that the number of ink drops during printing is directly related to the amount of ink consumed during work, and the data of this amount of ink remaining is recorded in the cartridge. By storing it on the medium, it becomes possible to know the current amount of ink remaining for each cartridge.
【０００４】[0004]
【発明が解決しようとする課題】この従来のインクジェ
ット記録装置インク量検出装置の第１の例は材料原価が
高くなる。また、第２の例は、記録媒体にデータを書き
込む手段を必要とするため装置が大きくなり製造原価が
高くなる。The first example of this conventional ink jet recording apparatus ink amount detection apparatus has a high material cost. In addition, in the second example, since a means for writing data to the recording medium is required, the device becomes large and the manufacturing cost becomes high.
【０００５】[0005]
【課題を解決するための手段】本発明のインクジェット
記録装置インク量検出装置は、インク室を有するカ−ト
リッジと、前記インク室からインクを噴出させる手段
と、前記カ−トリッジ内にあって絶縁された電極とこれ
を囲む金属性円筒との静電容量の変化からインク液面計
測をする計測手段とを備える。An ink amount detecting apparatus for an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cartridge having an ink chamber, a means for ejecting ink from the ink chamber, and an insulating member provided in the cartridge. And a measuring means for measuring the ink liquid level based on a change in capacitance between the charged electrode and a metal cylinder surrounding the electrode.
【０００６】また、本発明のインクジェット記録装置イ
ンク量検出装置は、前記計測手段が前記インク室内のイ
ンク供給部に位置することを特徴とする。Further, the ink amount detecting device of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the measuring means is located at an ink supply portion in the ink chamber.
【０００７】[0007]
【実施例】次に、本発明について図面を参照して説明す
る。図１は本発明の第１の実施例を示す縦断面図であ
り、図２はこの実施例の横断面図である。図１および図
２を参照すると、この実施例のインクジェット記録装置
インク量検出装置において、カ−トリッジ１はインク室
２を有する。ヘッド７はインク室２からインク５を噴出
させる。絶縁された電極３はカ−トリッジ１内にあって
これを囲む金属性円筒４との静電容量の変化からインク
液面計測をする。DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a lateral sectional view of this embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the ink amount detecting device for an ink jet recording apparatus according to this embodiment, a cartridge 1 has an ink chamber 2. The head 7 ejects the ink 5 from the ink chamber 2. The insulated electrode 3 is in the cartridge 1 and the ink level is measured from the change in the capacitance with the metallic cylinder 4 surrounding the cartridge 1.
【０００８】図３はこの実施例の絶縁された電極３を囲
む金属性円筒４の詳細図である。図３を参照すると、金
属性円筒４内のインク液面高さＬと、電極３と金属性円
筒４との間の静電容量変化ΔＣとの関係式は、上部気体
の比誘電率をε１、インク５の比誘電率をε２、金属性
円筒５の内径をＤ、電極３の外径をｄとすると式（１）
で表わされ（計量管理協会編，センサの原理と使い方
（２），第３２９頁，コロナ社（昭和５９年））、式
（１）からインク液面高さＬが算出できる。FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the metallic cylinder 4 surrounding the insulated electrode 3 of this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, the relational expression between the ink liquid level height L in the metallic cylinder 4 and the capacitance change ΔC between the electrode 3 and the metallic cylinder 4 is expressed as follows: , (2) where the relative permittivity of the ink 5 is ε2, the inner diameter of the metallic cylinder 5 is D, and the outer diameter of the electrode 3 is d.
(Principle and usage of sensor (2), edited by Measurement Management Association, page 329, Corona Publishing Co., Ltd. (1984)), and the ink level L can be calculated from the equation (1).
【０００９】 ΔＣ＝２４．１（ε２−ε１）Ｌ／ｌｏｇ（Ｄ／ｄ） ……（１） 図４は、本発明の第２の実施例を示す縦断面図であり、
図５はこの実施例の横断面図である。図４および図５を
参照すると、この実施例のインクジェット記録装置イン
ク量検出装置において、電極３および金属性円筒４はイ
ンク供給部６に位置していて、その他の構成は第１の実
施例と同じである。この実施例は、第１の実施例と同様
に液面の高さを検出するものであるが、電極３および金
属性円筒４はインク供給部６に設置されているのでイン
ク室内にあるインクが殆ど無くなる頃に液面を検出する
ことが出来るのでインクを無駄なく使用することができ
る。ΔC = 24.1 (ε2-ε1) L / log (D / d) (1) FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of this embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in the ink amount detecting apparatus for ink jet recording apparatus according to this embodiment, the electrode 3 and the metallic cylinder 4 are located in the ink supply section 6, and other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. Is the same. In this embodiment, the height of the liquid surface is detected as in the first embodiment. However, since the electrode 3 and the metallic cylinder 4 are installed in the ink supply unit 6, the ink in the ink chamber is not detected. Since the liquid surface can be detected when the ink is almost exhausted, the ink can be used without waste.
【００１０】[0010]
【発明の効果】以上説明したように、本発明によれば、
カ−トリッジ内にあって絶縁された電極とこれを囲む金
属性円筒との静電容量の変化からインク液面計測をする
ことにより、ユ−ザにインク切れ間近であることを警報
できるので、印字デ−タ印字完了前にインクが切れてし
まうということを避けることができ、また従来のインク
量検出装置より製造原価を安くでき、組立構造も簡略化
できる。As described above, according to the present invention,
By measuring the ink level from the change in the capacitance between the insulated electrode in the cartridge and the metal cylinder surrounding it, the user can be warned that the ink is about to run out. It is possible to avoid running out of ink before the completion of printing of printing data, the manufacturing cost can be made lower than that of the conventional ink amount detecting device, and the assembly structure can be simplified.
【図１】本発明の第１の実施例の構成を示す縦断面図で
ある。FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.
【図２】図１の横断面図である。2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.
【図３】この実施例の絶縁された電極を囲む金属性円筒
の詳細図である。FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the metallic cylinder surrounding the insulated electrode of this example.
【図４】本発明の第２の実施例の構成を示す縦断面図で
ある。FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
【図５】図４の横断面図である。5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.
１ カ−トリッジ ２ インク室 ３ 電極 ４ 金属性円筒 ５ インク ６ インク供給部 ７ ヘッド 1 Cartridge 2 Ink Chamber 3 Electrode 4 Metallic Cylinder 5 Ink 6 Ink Supply Section 7 Head
Claims (2)
インク室からインクを噴出させる手段と、前記カ−トリ
ッジ内にあって絶縁された電極とこれを囲む金属性円筒
との静電容量の変化からインク液面計測をする計測手段
とを備えることを特徴とするインクジェット記録装置イ
ンク量検出装置。1. The capacitance of a cartridge having an ink chamber, a means for ejecting ink from the ink chamber, an insulated electrode in the cartridge and a metal cylinder surrounding the electrode. An ink amount detection apparatus for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a measuring unit that measures an ink liquid level from a change.
供給部に位置することを特徴とする請求項１記載のイン
クジェット記録装置インク量検出装置。2. The ink amount detecting device for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring means is located in an ink supply section in the ink chamber.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP30841192A JPH06155762A (en) | 1992-11-18 | 1992-11-18 | Ink amount detector of ink jet recording apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP30841192A JPH06155762A (en) | 1992-11-18 | 1992-11-18 | Ink amount detector of ink jet recording apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPH06155762A true JPH06155762A (en) | 1994-06-03 |
Family
ID=17980741
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP30841192A Pending JPH06155762A (en) | 1992-11-18 | 1992-11-18 | Ink amount detector of ink jet recording apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH06155762A (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7008034B2 (en) | 2000-07-07 | 2006-03-07 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid container, ink-jet recording apparatus, device and method for controlling the apparatus, liquid consumption sensing device and method |
| US7086281B2 (en) | 2000-07-28 | 2006-08-08 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Detector of liquid consumption condition |
| US7137679B2 (en) | 2000-05-18 | 2006-11-21 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink consumption detecting method, and ink jet recording apparatus |
| US7156506B2 (en) | 2000-06-15 | 2007-01-02 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid charging method, liquid container, and method for manufacturing the same |
| US7175244B2 (en) | 1999-05-20 | 2007-02-13 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid container having liquid consumption detecting device |
| US7225670B2 (en) | 2000-05-18 | 2007-06-05 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Mounting structure, module, and liquid container |
-
1992
- 1992-11-18 JP JP30841192A patent/JPH06155762A/en active Pending
Cited By (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7325450B2 (en) | 1999-05-20 | 2008-02-05 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid consumption status detecting method, liquid container, and ink cartridge |
| US7434462B2 (en) | 1999-05-20 | 2008-10-14 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid consumption status detecting method, liquid container, and ink cartridge |
| US7383727B2 (en) | 1999-05-20 | 2008-06-10 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid cotainer having a liquid consumption detecting device therein |
| US7175244B2 (en) | 1999-05-20 | 2007-02-13 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid container having liquid consumption detecting device |
| US7188520B2 (en) | 1999-05-20 | 2007-03-13 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid consumption status detecting method, liquid container, and ink cartridge |
| US7267000B1 (en) | 1999-05-20 | 2007-09-11 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid consumption status detecting method, liquid container, and ink cartridge |
| US7281776B2 (en) | 1999-05-20 | 2007-10-16 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid container having liquid consumption detecing device |
| US7137679B2 (en) | 2000-05-18 | 2006-11-21 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink consumption detecting method, and ink jet recording apparatus |
| US7225670B2 (en) | 2000-05-18 | 2007-06-05 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Mounting structure, module, and liquid container |
| US7156506B2 (en) | 2000-06-15 | 2007-01-02 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid charging method, liquid container, and method for manufacturing the same |
| US7306308B2 (en) | 2000-07-07 | 2007-12-11 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid container, ink jet recording apparatus, apparatus and method for controlling the same, apparatus and method for detecting liquid consumption state |
| US7008034B2 (en) | 2000-07-07 | 2006-03-07 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid container, ink-jet recording apparatus, device and method for controlling the apparatus, liquid consumption sensing device and method |
| US7086281B2 (en) | 2000-07-28 | 2006-08-08 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Detector of liquid consumption condition |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A02 | Decision of refusal |
Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A02 Effective date: 19981117 |