JPS63207652A - Ink level detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To judge the halfway state of the amount of remaining ink at any time, by a method wherein a detection lever to he displaced due to the shrinkage of an ink bag is equipped and an ink cartridge with a scale for judging as necessary the state of the amount of the remaining ink is so constructed that a waste ink recovery part is integrally formed at the upper part thereof. CONSTITUTION:An ink cartridge 20 is inserted into a cartridge holder in use so that ink is supplied from a take-off port 1a, and waste ink is recovered through a waste liquid discharge port 13. As the ink in an ink bag 1 is decreased with printing by an ink jet printer, a detection lever 4 abuts against a lever a tip end 4b, of a detector 30 thereby enabling the detection of the amount of the remaining ink. In addition, a tip end 4c of the detection lever 4 and a scale or mark of a cartridge case 10 enables the halfway state of the remaining quantity to be judged at any time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for detecting the remaining amount of ink in an ink cartridge in an inkjet printer.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, ink in ink cartridges in inkjet printers! 1ilffi detection mechanism, as shown in FIG. 3 (electrical contacts 61 and 62 are provided in the ink bag 60, and when the ink bag 60 collapses due to the decrease in ink, detection is performed through four electrical contacts 01, Alternatively, the detection lever on the outside of the ink bag M can be brought into contact with the ink bag M, and the actuator provided on the detection lever can be connected to an electric contact, a photo ink actuator, a 3-lead switch, or a Hall element. There was a device that detected the remaining amount of ink using a detector-4 such as the above.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, the above-mentioned detection mechanism has the disadvantage that it is not possible to judge the progress of the remaining amount of ink because it can only detect the binary state of ink being present and ink being absent. If the ink runs out at an unexpected time, printing may not be possible until a new ink cartridge is purchased.

(Means for solving the v4W point) The ink 1ilf11 detection device of the present invention includes an ink bag formed of a sheet body such as a laminate film and filled with ink, and a detection lever that is displaced by the contraction of the ink bag. The present invention is characterized in that it constitutes an ink cartridge with an ink recovery section integrated in its upper part, and that a scale is formed on the ink cartridge for determining the state of the remaining amount of ink at any time.

Note that the detection lever may be pivotally supported by the ink cartridge itself.

The present invention solves the drawbacks listed in -h, and makes it possible to determine the progress of the remaining amount of ink using a simple method.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. 1st
The figure shows an embodiment of the present invention, showing an ink cartridge 20 comprising a cartridge case 10, a detection lever 4, an ink bag 1, an absorbent material 6, and the like. The ink bag 1, whose outlet 1a is melted by a seal, is attached to the cartridge case 10 by bone attachment, and a thin detection plate 5 made of metal or plastic is attached to the upper part.

The outlet 1a is also fixed to the cartridge case 10. The detection lever 4 is rotatably supported at two points in the depth direction of the cartridge case 10 at 8, and its tip 4a abuts against the detection plate 5 under its own weight or by a spring. Furthermore, the tip 4b can come into contact with a detector 30 fixed to the cartridge holder by a method not shown, and detects when the ink runs out, and the recording apparatus issues an alarm to replace the ink cartridge. The upper part of the ink cartridge 20 has an air hole 11a] 1 a lid 11 and a middle ff12 for separating the absorbent material 6 and the ink bag 1.
The seal has been melted. Further, a waste liquid port 13 for guiding waste ink to the absorbent material is fixed to the cartridge case 10.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the ink cartridge 20. The cartridge case 10 has an opening 10a, and scales or marks are formed around the opening 10a. A tip 4b and a tip 4c of the detection lever 4 protrude outside from the opening 10a of the cartridge 10.

When the ink cartridge 20 configured as described above is used, it is inserted into a cartridge holder (not shown) and the ink cartridge 20 is inserted into the outlet 1a.
Ink is supplied through the waste ink port 13, and waste ink is collected through the waste liquid port 13. When the ink in the ink bag l decreases due to printing by the inkjet printer, the tip 4b of the detection lever 4 comes into contact with the lever of the detector 30 as shown in FIG. 1, and the remaining amount of ink can be detected. Also, the detection lever 4
The intermediate state of the ata can be determined at any time by the scale or marks on the tip 4c and the cartridge case 10.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the ink remaining amount detecting device according to the present invention is an extremely simple method, and the intermediate state of the ink remaining amount can be determined at any time using a lever that is displaced approximately in proportion to ink consumption. Therefore, it has become possible to make a decision to purchase a new ink cartridge in advance.

Also, if you are printing a large amount of data continuously, please check the amount of ink in advance! 'J Lt is determined, and if it is determined that it is insufficient, using a new cartridge will prevent the output device from running out if there is no operator! -1 go can be resolved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the ink remaining amount detection device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an external view of an ink cartridge in the ink remaining amount detection device of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a conventional ink cartridge. This is the 9th center box showing 55 ink amount detection 11 grooves. 1... Ink bag 4... Detection lever 5... Detection plate 6... Absorbent material 10... Cartridge case Above 5 Yonizaka IO Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An ink cartridge that is equipped with an ink bag formed from a sheet material such as a laminated film and filled with ink, and a detection lever that is displaced by the contraction of the ink bag, and has a waste ink collection section integrated into the upper part. An ink remaining amount detection device characterized in that an ink cartridge is provided with a scale for determining the amount status at any time. (2) Claim 1, wherein the detection lever is pivotally supported by the ink cartridge itself.
The remaining ink amount detection device described in .