JP2007022032A - Detector of residual quantity of ink - Google Patents
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- JP2007022032A JP2007022032A JP2005211428A JP2005211428A JP2007022032A JP 2007022032 A JP2007022032 A JP 2007022032A JP 2005211428 A JP2005211428 A JP 2005211428A JP 2005211428 A JP2005211428 A JP 2005211428A JP 2007022032 A JP2007022032 A JP 2007022032A
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Abstract
Description
本発明は、プリンタに用いる記録用インク残量の検出器に関するものである。 The present invention relates to a detector for recording ink remaining amount used in a printer.
従来のインク残量検出器は、投光側の光源として赤外発光ダイオード（ＬＥＤ）が用いられている。 A conventional ink remaining amount detector uses an infrared light emitting diode (LED) as a light source on the light projecting side.
赤外ＬＥＤは高出力なので、プリンタ内部に迷い込んでくる蛍光灯等からの外乱光との光量レベルが大きく異なるので、外乱光の影響を容易に排除できることが知られている。 Since the infrared LED has a high output, it is known that the influence of the disturbance light can be easily eliminated because the light amount level is greatly different from the disturbance light from the fluorescent lamp or the like straying into the printer.
又、別の従来例としては、特許文献１及び特許文献２をあげることが出来る。
しかしながらインク残量の検出器の光源として赤外ＬＥＤを用いた場合には、その光は可視域外にあるので目視で確認することが出来ず、複数のインクタンクの残量検出を一つのインク残量検出器で行う場合、どのインクタンクを検出しているのか目視では確認できず、またインク残量に応じた残量状況表示をすることができないという欠点があった。 However, when an infrared LED is used as the light source of the ink level detector, the light is outside the visible range and cannot be visually confirmed. When using the quantity detector, it is not possible to visually confirm which ink tank is being detected, and there is a drawback that it is not possible to display the remaining amount status according to the remaining amount of ink.
本発明は、このような従来の問題点に鑑みてなされたものであって、外乱光の影響による検出精度の劣化が少なく、しかも簡単な構成で、ユーザーに対してインク残量の検出状況を知らせることが可能な、インク残量検出器を提供することにある。 The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and the detection accuracy is hardly deteriorated due to the influence of ambient light, and the remaining amount of ink is detected to the user with a simple configuration. It is an object to provide an ink remaining amount detector that can be notified.
インク残量を検出する光電式インク残量の検出器で、光源に可視光及び赤外光を同時に発光する素子を用いて、インク残量検出とインク残量検出の状況表示を兼ね備えた。 It is a photoelectric ink level detector that detects the remaining ink level, and it uses an element that emits visible light and infrared light at the same time as the light source.
以上説明したように本発明によれば、
光電式インク残量の検出器の光源に、可視光及び赤外光を同時に発光する素子を用い、インク残量検出とインク残量検出の状況表示を兼ねることにより、
外乱光の影響による検出精度の劣化が少なく、ユーザーに対してインク残量の検出状況を知らせることが可能な、インク残量検出器を、簡単な構成で提供することが可能となった。
As described above, according to the present invention,
By using an element that emits visible light and infrared light at the same time as the light source of the photoelectric ink remaining amount detector, and also serving as a status display for ink remaining amount detection and ink remaining amount detection,
It has become possible to provide an ink remaining amount detector with a simple configuration that is less likely to degrade the detection accuracy due to the influence of ambient light and can notify the user of the detection status of the ink remaining amount.
また、本発明によるインク残量検出器を用いたプリンタでは、交換するインクタンクはどれなのか、ホストコンピュータなどによる画面表示に頼ることなく、プリンタのタンク設置部を目視で確認すればよいので、確実に交換作業を実施できるユーザーの使い勝手のよいプリンタを提供することが可能となった。 Further, in the printer using the ink remaining amount detector according to the present invention, it is only necessary to visually check the tank installation portion of the printer without relying on the screen display by a host computer or the like as to which ink tank to replace. It has become possible to provide a user-friendly printer that can be reliably replaced.
次に、本発明の詳細を実施例の記述に従って説明する。 Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.
図１と図２は本発明実施例のインク残量検出器の要部断面図である。 FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are cross-sectional views of the main part of the remaining ink detector according to the embodiment of the present invention.
図１と図２で、
１は、インク残量センサ。
1 and 2,
１ａは、光源。 1a is a light source.
１ｂは、受光素子。 1b is a light receiving element.
２は、１ａ光源から発した光線の光路。 2 is the optical path of the light emitted from the 1a light source.
３は、インクタンク。 3 is an ink tank.
３１は、インクタンクに設けられた臨界角プリズムの検出部。 31 is a critical angle prism detector provided in the ink tank.
２１は、インクタンクを透過した光線の光路。 21 is an optical path of a light beam transmitted through the ink tank.
２２は、１ｂ受光素子に入射する光線の光路。
４は、インクタンク内のインク。 4 is ink in the ink tank.
図１で、１インク残量センサは、１ａの可視光及び赤外光を同時に発光するＬＥＤと、ＬＥＤからの光を受光して光電変換を行う１ｂの受光素子からなり、１ａＬＥＤ光源から発した光は、２の１ａ光源から発した光線の光路を通り、所定の位置に配置された、光を透過するのに適したポリプロピレン等の透明樹脂からなる、３インクタンクに設けられた、３１臨界角プリズムの検出部に照射される。 In FIG. 1, the 1 ink remaining amount sensor is composed of an LED that simultaneously emits visible light and infrared light of 1a, and a light receiving element of 1b that receives light from the LED and performs photoelectric conversion, and is emitted from a 1a LED light source. The light passes through the optical path of the light beam emitted from the light source 1a of No. 2 and is arranged at a predetermined position, and is made of a transparent resin such as polypropylene suitable for transmitting light. Irradiated to the detection part of the prism.
このとき、３１インクタンクに設けられた臨界角プリズムの検出部に、照射された光は、４インクが３インクタンク内に有る場合には、臨界角プリズムの作用により３インクタンク内の４インクを透過して、３インクタンク外に２１インクタンクを透過した光線の光路を通り出射するので、インク残量検出の状況が容易に目視で認識ができる。 At this time, the light irradiated to the detection unit of the critical angle prism provided in the 31 ink tank is 4 ink in the 3 ink tank by the action of the critical angle prism when the 4 ink is in the 3 ink tank. , And passes through the optical path of the light beam that has passed through the 21 ink tank to the outside of the 3 ink tanks, so that the status of the remaining ink amount can be easily recognized visually.
また、複数のインクタンクの検出を順次行っている場合には、どのインクの残量を検出しているのかというインク残量検出の状況も併せて、目視にて認識ができる。 In addition, when a plurality of ink tanks are sequentially detected, it is possible to visually recognize the ink remaining amount detection state of which ink remaining amount is detected.
図２は、４インクが、３インクタンク内に無い場合の光路の説明図で、１ａＬＥＤ光源から発した光は、３１インクタンクに設けられた臨界角プリズムの検出部に照射されて、臨界角プリズムの作用により、２２の１ｂ受光素子に入射する光線の光路を通り１ｂの受光素子まで到達する。
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the optical path when 4 inks are not in the 3 ink tanks. Light emitted from the 1a LED light source is irradiated to the detection unit of the critical angle prism provided in the 31 ink tank, and the critical angle is By the action of the prism, the light passes through the optical path of the light incident on the 1b
図３は、本インク残量の検出器を用いたプリンタの要部斜視図で、５１、５２、５３、５４複数インクタンクを搭載プリンタで、一つの１インク残量検出器を用いて、４インクの残量を順次検出するときの配置を示す。
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of a printer using the present ink level detector, which is a printer equipped with a plurality of
このように構成されたインク残量の検出器によれば、外乱光の影響による検出精度の劣化が少なく、ユーザーに対してインク残量が有るかどうか、また、どの種類のインクが無くなったのか、という検出状況を簡単に知らせることが可能となる。 According to the ink remaining amount detector configured in this way, there is little deterioration in detection accuracy due to the influence of ambient light, whether there is remaining ink for the user, and what kind of ink is lost It is possible to easily notify the detection status of.
上述した実施の形態は、一例として掲げたものであり、本発明を限定するものではない。すなわち本発明は、前述した好ましい実施例に限られるものではなく、複数のインクタンクの残量を対応する同数のインク残量検出器を配置して用いる構成など、本発明の要旨を逸脱しない範囲で、種々の態様にて実施可能なことは言うまでもない。 The embodiment described above is given as an example, and does not limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the above-described preferred embodiments, and includes a configuration in which the same number of remaining ink detectors corresponding to the remaining amount of a plurality of ink tanks are used. Needless to say, the present invention can be implemented in various modes.
１ インク残量センサ
１ａ 光源
１ｂ 受光素子
２ １ａ光源から発した光線
３ インクタンク
３１ 検出部
２１ インクタンクを透過した光線
２２ １ｂ受光素子に入射する光線
４ インクタンク内のインク
５１、５２、５３、５４ インクタンク
DESCRIPTION OF
Claims (2)
前記インクタンク内のインク残量に応じて、前記光源から発して前記光電変換素子に到達する光の強さが変化することにより、インク残量を検出する光電式インク残量の検出器で、
前記光源は、可視光及び赤外光を同時に発光する素子を用い、インク残量検出とインク残量検出の状況表示を兼ねることを特徴とするインク残量の検出器。 An ink tank is disposed in the light path on the light emitting side, the photoelectric conversion element on the light receiving side, and the light path from which the light emitted from the light source reaches the photoelectric conversion element,
According to the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank, the intensity of light emitted from the light source and reaching the photoelectric conversion element changes, thereby detecting a remaining amount of photoelectric ink,
The light source uses an element that emits visible light and infrared light at the same time, and serves as both a remaining ink amount detection state and an ink remaining amount state display.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2005211428A JP2007022032A (en) | 2005-07-21 | 2005-07-21 | Detector of residual quantity of ink |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2005211428A JP2007022032A (en) | 2005-07-21 | 2005-07-21 | Detector of residual quantity of ink |
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| JP2007022032A true JP2007022032A (en) | 2007-02-01 |
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| JP2005211428A Withdrawn JP2007022032A (en) | 2005-07-21 | 2005-07-21 | Detector of residual quantity of ink |
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Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2008018468A1 (en) | 2006-08-08 | 2008-02-14 | Panasonic Corporation | Multiantenna radio transmitting apparatus and multiantenna radio transmitting method |
| JP2011194608A (en) * | 2010-03-17 | 2011-10-06 | Canon Inc | Ink jet recording apparatus and ink tank |
| JP2013018267A (en) * | 2011-07-14 | 2013-01-31 | Canon Finetech Inc | Ink remaining amount detecting device, method for detecting ink remaining amount, and ink jet recording apparatus |
| JP2020152043A (en) * | 2019-03-22 | 2020-09-24 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Recording device |
| JP7305973B2 (en) | 2019-02-12 | 2023-07-11 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | printer |
| US11801686B2 (en) | 2020-03-17 | 2023-10-31 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Printer |
-
2005
- 2005-07-21 JP JP2005211428A patent/JP2007022032A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2008018468A1 (en) | 2006-08-08 | 2008-02-14 | Panasonic Corporation | Multiantenna radio transmitting apparatus and multiantenna radio transmitting method |
| JP2011194608A (en) * | 2010-03-17 | 2011-10-06 | Canon Inc | Ink jet recording apparatus and ink tank |
| JP2013018267A (en) * | 2011-07-14 | 2013-01-31 | Canon Finetech Inc | Ink remaining amount detecting device, method for detecting ink remaining amount, and ink jet recording apparatus |
| US8770688B2 (en) | 2011-07-14 | 2014-07-08 | Canon Finetech Inc. | Ink remaining amount detecting device, method for detecting ink remaining amount, and ink jet printing apparatus |
| JP7305973B2 (en) | 2019-02-12 | 2023-07-11 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | printer |
| JP2020152043A (en) * | 2019-03-22 | 2020-09-24 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Recording device |
| JP7338187B2 (en) | 2019-03-22 | 2023-09-05 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | recording device |
| US11801686B2 (en) | 2020-03-17 | 2023-10-31 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Printer |
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| A300 | Withdrawal of application because of no request for examination |
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