JPH034031B2 - - Google Patents
Info
- Publication number
- JPH034031B2 JPH034031B2 JP58248269A JP24826983A JPH034031B2 JP H034031 B2 JPH034031 B2 JP H034031B2 JP 58248269 A JP58248269 A JP 58248269A JP 24826983 A JP24826983 A JP 24826983A JP H034031 B2 JPH034031 B2 JP H034031B2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- ink
- pulse voltage
- voltage
- cartridge
- waveform
- 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.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 10
- 238000005868 electrolysis reaction Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17566—Ink level or ink residue control
Landscapes
- Ink Jet (AREA)
- Measurement Of Levels Of Liquids Or Fluent Solid Materials (AREA)
Description
【発明の詳細な説明】
(a) 発明の技術分野
本発明はインクジエツト記録装置等におけるイ
ンクカートリツジ内のインク残量検出装置に関す
る。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for detecting the amount of ink remaining in an ink cartridge in an inkjet recording device or the like.
(b) 従来技術の問題点
第１図ａ〜ｃは特公昭58−41450号公報に記載
の従来のインク残量検出装置の概略構成と該装置
に印加するパルス波形を示す図である。図におい
て１はインクジエツト記録ヘツド、２はインクカ
ートリツジで、内部にインクが満たされている。
このインクカートリツジ２とヘツド１間にはイン
ク供給パイプ３が設けられており、カートリツジ
２内のインクをヘツド１へ供給している。カート
リツジ２にはその底面付近に２つの電極４と５が
設けられている。この電極４と５はカートリツジ
２の壁面を貫いて設けられているのでカートリツ
ジ２内に十分インクがある時は両電極４と５間に
はインクが介在し、インクの量が残り少なくなり
一定量以下になると、電極４と５間のインクの介
在はなくなる。インクはその組成の大半は水であ
り、数ＫΩ以下の比較的小さな電気抵抗値を示す
ので、電極４と５でインクの抵抗値を監視してお
ればインクの量が残り少ないかどうか判断でき
る。(b) Problems with the Prior Art FIGS. 1a to 1c are diagrams showing a schematic configuration of a conventional ink remaining amount detection device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-41450 and a pulse waveform applied to the device. In the figure, 1 is an inkjet recording head, and 2 is an ink cartridge, the inside of which is filled with ink.
An ink supply pipe 3 is provided between the ink cartridge 2 and the head 1, and supplies the ink in the cartridge 2 to the head 1. The cartridge 2 is provided with two electrodes 4 and 5 near its bottom surface. These electrodes 4 and 5 are provided through the wall surface of the cartridge 2, so when there is enough ink in the cartridge 2, ink is interposed between both electrodes 4 and 5, and the amount of ink remaining becomes less than a certain amount. At this point, there is no ink between the electrodes 4 and 5. Most of the composition of ink is water, and it exhibits a relatively small electrical resistance value of several kilohms or less, so if the resistance value of the ink is monitored by the electrodes 4 and 5, it can be determined whether the amount of ink is low.
しかしながら、前記電極４と５間に印加する電
圧が直流電圧の場合、インクが電気分解を起こし
てカートリツジ２内にガスが発生し、このガスが
インク供給パイプ３を通じてヘツド１に入ると、
インク滴の噴出が停止するという欠点がある。 However, when the voltage applied between the electrodes 4 and 5 is a DC voltage, the ink undergoes electrolysis and gas is generated in the cartridge 2. When this gas enters the head 1 through the ink supply pipe 3,
The disadvantage is that the ejection of ink droplets stops.
従来は第１図ｂに示すようなパルス電圧を電極
４と５間に印加していたが、常時インク検出を行
つているために、無駄な電力を消費するという欠
点があつた。そこで、第１図ｃに示すようにパル
ス電圧を１行印字する毎に印加するようにした
が、このような場合においても、インクには短時
間とは言え直流電圧が印加されるためインクの電
気分解が起こり、上述したような欠点を生ずる。 Conventionally, a pulse voltage as shown in FIG. 1B was applied between the electrodes 4 and 5, but this had the disadvantage of wasting power because ink detection was constantly being performed. Therefore, as shown in Figure 1c, a pulse voltage is applied every time one line is printed, but even in such a case, the ink is affected by the DC voltage being applied, albeit for a short time. Electrolysis occurs, resulting in the drawbacks mentioned above.
(c) 発明の目的
本発明の目的は上記従来の欠点に鑑み、インク
の電気分解がほぼ皆無となるようなインク残量検
出装置を提供するにある。(c) Object of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink remaining amount detection device that substantially eliminates ink electrolysis.
(d) 発明の構成
そしてこの目的は本発明によれば、インクを収
容したインクカートリツジと、前記インクにコン
デンサを介して矩形パルス電圧を印加するための
パルス電圧発生装置からなり、前記インクに矩形
パルス電圧に対応する微分パルス電圧を印加し、
該微分パルス波形の変化に応じてインクの残量を
検出するようにしたことを特徴とするインク残量
検出装置を提供することによつて達成される。(d) Structure of the Invention According to the present invention, the present invention comprises an ink cartridge containing ink and a pulse voltage generator for applying a rectangular pulse voltage to the ink via a capacitor. Apply a differential pulse voltage corresponding to the rectangular pulse voltage,
This is achieved by providing an ink remaining amount detection device characterized in that the remaining amount of ink is detected according to changes in the differential pulse waveform.
(e) 発明の実施例 以下、本発明の実施例を図面により詳述する。(e) Examples of the invention Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
第２図は本発明のインク残量検出装置の要部構
成図および印加パルス波形とその検出波形の図で
ある。 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the main part of the ink remaining amount detecting device of the present invention, as well as an applied pulse waveform and its detection waveform.
本実施例のインク残量検出装置は第２図ａに示
すように、金属製または側壁と底部を導電材料で
形成したカートリツジ７が装置本体に接地される
とともに、このカートリツジ７の底部付近に絶縁
物８を介して電極９が設置されている。この電極
９にコンデンサ１０が接続され、このコンデンサ
１０の開放端子１１に図示しない矩形パルス発生
装置が接続される。そして電極９とコンデンサ１
０の接続点１２から出力電圧Eoを検出する。 As shown in FIG. 2a, the remaining ink amount detection device of this embodiment has a cartridge 7 made of metal or whose side walls and bottom are made of a conductive material, which is grounded to the main body of the device, and is insulated near the bottom of the cartridge 7. An electrode 9 is installed via an object 8. A capacitor 10 is connected to this electrode 9, and a rectangular pulse generator (not shown) is connected to an open terminal 11 of this capacitor 10. and electrode 9 and capacitor 1
The output voltage Eo is detected from the connection point 12 of 0.
このように構成したインク残量検出装置の端子
１１に第２図ｂに示した矩形パルス電圧Eiを印加
すると、インクカートリツジ７にインクが十分あ
る時は、その出力波形は同図のEoで示すように
正極および負極の微分波形となる。これはインク
の抵抗と電極９に接続したコンデンサ１０により
微分回路が形成されているからである。従つて、
インクにはこのような瞬時的な電圧しか印加され
ないので、従来のような直流電圧を印加した場合
に生じるインクの電気分解はほぼ皆無となる。 When the rectangular pulse voltage Ei shown in FIG. 2b is applied to the terminal 11 of the remaining ink level detection device configured in this way, when there is sufficient ink in the ink cartridge 7, the output waveform is Eo in the same figure. As shown, the differential waveforms of positive and negative electrodes are obtained. This is because a differential circuit is formed by the ink resistance and the capacitor 10 connected to the electrode 9. Therefore,
Since only such an instantaneous voltage is applied to the ink, there is almost no electrolysis of the ink that occurs when a conventional DC voltage is applied.
ところで、インクの抵抗値はインクカートリツ
ジ７内のインク量の大小によつて変化するので、
出力端子１２で検出される波形の時定数も変化す
る。第２図ｃはこのような時定数の異なる波形を
示した図であり、インクの残量が多い時は図中Ａ
のように時定数は短いが、残量が少なくなるに従
いＢ，Ｃに示すような時定数の長い波形となる。
従つて、この微分波形の所定レベルにおけるパル
ス幅を検出手段１３で検出すれば、時定数の変化
に応じたインクの残量を常時監視することができ
る。また予めスライスレベルを設定しておき、こ
のスライスレベルより長い時定数となつた時点で
カートリツジの交換を指示するようにすれば良
い。 By the way, since the resistance value of ink changes depending on the amount of ink in the ink cartridge 7,
The time constant of the waveform detected at the output terminal 12 also changes. Figure 2c is a diagram showing such waveforms with different time constants, and when there is a large amount of ink remaining, A in the diagram
The time constant is short as shown in the figure, but as the remaining amount decreases, the time constant becomes longer as shown in B and C.
Therefore, by detecting the pulse width of this differential waveform at a predetermined level with the detection means 13, it is possible to constantly monitor the remaining amount of ink in accordance with changes in the time constant. Furthermore, a slice level may be set in advance, and an instruction to replace the cartridge may be issued when the time constant becomes longer than this slice level.
第３図は本発明の他の実施例を示す図であり、
第２図と同等部分には同一符号を付した。第３図
ａが第２図ａと異なる点は検出端子にダイオード
１３が接続されていることである。このことによ
り前述と同様の矩形パルス電圧Eiを印加しても、
その検出波形は第３図ｂのEoで示したように正
極の微分波形だけとなり、後の信号処理が容易と
なる。ここで、インクに加わる電圧は第２図ｂの
Eoのように正極と負極の両極性を持つ微分パル
ス電圧であるので、前実施例と同様にインクの電
気分解はほぼ皆無となる。 FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention,
Parts equivalent to those in Fig. 2 are given the same reference numerals. The difference between FIG. 3a and FIG. 2a is that a diode 13 is connected to the detection terminal. As a result, even if the same rectangular pulse voltage Ei as described above is applied,
The detected waveform is only a positive polarity differential waveform, as shown by Eo in FIG. 3b, which facilitates subsequent signal processing. Here, the voltage applied to the ink is as shown in Figure 2b.
Since the voltage is a differential pulse voltage having both positive and negative polarities like Eo, there is almost no electrolysis of the ink, as in the previous embodiment.
なお、本実施例ではインクジエツト記録装置へ
の適用について述べたが、本発明はその他インク
カートリツジ、インクタンク等を用いる装置であ
れば適用可能である。 In this embodiment, application to an inkjet recording device has been described, but the present invention can be applied to any other device that uses an ink cartridge, an ink tank, or the like.
(f) 発明の効果
以上、詳細に説明したように、本発明のインク
残量検出装置はインクに加わる電圧が瞬時的な微
分パルス電圧であるのでインクの電気分解はほぼ
皆無となるとともに、インクの残量を常時監視で
きるという効果がある。(f) Effects of the Invention As explained above in detail, in the ink remaining amount detection device of the present invention, since the voltage applied to the ink is an instantaneous differential pulse voltage, there is almost no electrolysis of the ink, and the ink This has the effect of being able to constantly monitor the amount remaining.
第１図ａ〜ｃは従来のインク残量検出装置の概
略構成図および印加パルス電圧波形を示す図、第
２図ａ〜ｃは本発明のインク残量検出装置の要部
構成図および印加パルス電圧波形とその検出波形
を示す図、第３図ａおよびｂは本発明の他の実施
例を示す構成図および波形図である。
図において、１はインクジエツト記録ヘツド、
２，７はインクカートリツジ、３はインク供給パ
イプ、４，５，９は電極、１０はコンデンサ、１
３は検出手段、１４はダイオード、Eiは印加電
圧、Eoは検出電圧をそれぞれ示す。
1A to 1C are schematic diagrams showing a conventional ink level detection device and applied pulse voltage waveforms, and FIGS. 2A to 2C are main part configuration diagrams and applied pulse voltage waveforms of a conventional ink level detection device. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing voltage waveforms and their detected waveforms, and FIGS. 3A and 3B are a configuration diagram and a waveform diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an inkjet recording head;
2 and 7 are ink cartridges, 3 is an ink supply pipe, 4, 5, and 9 are electrodes, 10 is a capacitor, 1
3 is a detection means, 14 is a diode, Ei is an applied voltage, and Eo is a detection voltage.
Claims (1)
記インクにコンデンサを介して矩形パルス電圧を
印加するためのパルス電圧発生装置からなり、前
記インクに矩形パルス電圧に対応する微分パルス
電圧を印加し、該微分パルス波形の変化に応じて
インクの残量を検出するようにしたことを特徴と
するインク残量検出装置。1 Consists of an ink cartridge containing ink and a pulse voltage generator for applying a rectangular pulse voltage to the ink via a capacitor, applying a differential pulse voltage corresponding to the rectangular pulse voltage to the ink, 1. A remaining ink amount detection device, characterized in that the remaining amount of ink is detected according to changes in a pulse waveform.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP58248269A JPS60141566A (en) | 1983-12-28 | 1983-12-28 | Detector for residual amount of ink |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP58248269A JPS60141566A (en) | 1983-12-28 | 1983-12-28 | Detector for residual amount of ink |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPS60141566A JPS60141566A (en) | 1985-07-26 |
| JPH034031B2 true JPH034031B2 (en) | 1991-01-22 |
Family
ID=17175613
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP58248269A Granted JPS60141566A (en) | 1983-12-28 | 1983-12-28 | Detector for residual amount of ink |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS60141566A (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH02165963A (en) * | 1988-12-20 | 1990-06-26 | Canon Inc | Liquid jet recorder |
-
1983
- 1983-12-28 JP JP58248269A patent/JPS60141566A/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS60141566A (en) | 1985-07-26 |
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