EP2103434B1

EP2103434B1 - Ink cartridge and identifying device and identifying method for identifying ink cartridge

Info

Publication number: EP2103434B1
Application number: EP08003693A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Toyonori c/o Brother Kogyo K.K. Intellect Property Dept. Sasaki
Original assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2008-02-28
Filing date: 2008-02-28
Publication date: 2011-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 2028-02-28
Also published as: EP2103434A1; DE602008006016D1; EP2298556A1; EP2298556B1; ATE504452T1

Abstract

An ink chamber (12) is defined in at least frames (101, 102, 103, 104), and the ink chamber has a frame for storing ink therein, and a portion (142A) which is irradiated with light and extends from a first wall (102) forming a part of the outer periphery of the frame in such a first direction (50). The light-irradiated portion is equipped with a first member (73), a second member (62) and a third member (148) provided between the first member and the second member in the first direction, and the first member, the second member and the third member are located on a line extending in the first direction.

Description

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to an ink cartridge used in an ink-jet recording apparatus and an identifying method for identifying the type of an ink cartridge.

[Background Art]

The US 2007/0229615 A1 discloses an ink cartridge including a case which includes a first case member. The first case member includes a first wall, and the first wall includes a translucent portion extending from the first wall in a predetermined direction. The translucent portion has an inner space formed therein. The case also includes a second case member connected with the first case member. The first case member and the second case member define an ink chamber therein, and the second case member includes a second wall which is opposite to the first wall, and a support member connected to an interior surface of the second wall. Moreover, the ink cartridge includes a movable member which includes a signal blocking portion. The signal blocking portion is positioned within the inner space of the translucent portion, and the movable member is connected to the support member.
The EP 1 241 011 A2 discloses an ink-jet printer comprising an ink-jet head, a carriage for moving the ink-jet head in a print width direction, and an ink supply section placed at a fixed position for supplying ink to the ink jet head, and a detector and one or more detect parts than can be detected by the detector, wherein the one or more detected parts are placed at a position along a moved passage of the detector, and the one or more detected parts are operable to indicate at least one of the information concerning the ink supply section and information concerning the move position of the carriage.
The EP 1 772 270 A2 discloses an ink cartridge for supplying ink to an ink-jet recording device. An ink reservoir element comprises an ink supply part for supplying ink to an ink-jet recording device; and an irradiated part structured to be placed between two portions of an optical sensor of the ink-jet recording apparatus and to be irradiated with light. The case is formed by a plurality of case members which are connected to each other and one end surface of the case is equipped with an opening through which at least the portion of said ink supply part and at least a portion of said irradiated part are exposed to the outside of said case such that the irradiated part of the ink reservoir element is detectable, when the ink reservoir element is housed in the case.
The US 7, 188, 939 B1 discloses an ink cartridge including a movable member which includes a sliding member and a float portion. The sliding member includes a signal blocking portion, and the signal blocking portion is configured to move in a first direction, first position within a translucent portion in a second position based on the amount of ink within the ink chamber. The float portion is operationally coupled to the sliding member, and the float portion is disposed within the ink chamber. The float portion is configured to move independent of the first portion in a second direction from a third position to a fourth position based on the amount of ink within the ink chamber.
The EP 1 792 736 A1 discloses an ink cartridge comprising an ink tank, which stores an ink and which has downwardly inclined inner surfaces extending in a direction inclined downwardly with respect to an ink surface, a displacement member, which displaces in the ink tank in accordance with an amount of the ink stored in the ink tank, and a regulating member, which regulates displacement of the displacement member. The displacement member is formed with an abutment section which is selectively positioned at an abutment position at which the abutment section abuts the regulating member and a separate position at which the abutment section is separated from the regulating member, depending on the position of the displacement member. A projection which is opposed to one of the downwardly inclined inner surfaces during movement of the abutment section between the separated position and the abutment position is formed at a portion of the displacement member opposed to the one of the downwardly inclined inner surface.
The EP 1 839 873 A1 discloses an ink cartridge comprising a light-blocking part formed near an edge of a left side of an arm part, which is supported such that it can oscillate by a support base in the fulcrum near the edge of the right side. The arm part has a branched arm part which is branched and extends downwards in the part of the light-blocking part and the fulcrum, and there is a float part at the edge of this. When there is sufficient ink remaining within the ink reservoir chamber, the light-blocking part will block the light emitted from a light-emitting part of an optical sensor. When the ink within the ink reservoir chamber is reduced, the light-blocking part will move downwards, and it will no longer block the light emitted by the light-emitting part, so that a light-receiving part will receive this light.
The US 2007/0070153 A1 discloses an ink cartridge including an ink chamber, and a translucent portion configured to be in fluid communication with the ink chamber. The translucent portion has an inner space formed therein, and the translucent portion includes a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and a third wall connected to each of the first wall and the second wall. The ink cartridge also includes a signal-blocking member disposed within the inner space of the translucent portion between the first wall and the second wall, and a translucent portion rib disposed between the first wall and the second wall, and a translucent portion rib disposed within the inner space of the translucent portion between the first wall and the second wall. The translucent portion rib extends from the third wall, and a first distance between the translucent portion rib and the first wall is less than the second distance between the signal-blocking member and the first wall.
A known ink-jet recording apparatus is configured to dispense ink onto a sheet of paper to record an image on the sheet of paper. The known ink-jet recording apparatus has a recording head. The recording head is configured to selectively eject ink from nozzles to the sheet of paper. A known ink cartridge is configured to be removably mounted to the ink-jet recording apparatus. The ink cartridge has an ink chamber configured to store ink therein, and ink is supplied from the ink chamber to the recording head when the ink cartridge is mounted to the ink-jet recording apparatus.
There has been also known a recording apparatus which is designed so that the type of an ink cartridge, the remaining amount of ink, etc. can be detected, and an ink cartridge used in this recording apparatus. The ink cartridge has a light blocking portion. The light blocking portion is disposed at a different position along a carriage moving direction, and different information can be obtained every mounted ink cartridge.
However, the ink cartridge is mounted on a carriage, and the carriage moves at a constant velocity, so that an optical sensor can stably detect the light blocking portion.
Furthermore, an ink-jet recording apparatus having a cartridge mounting unit separately from the carriage has been also known. In this recording apparatus, when the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit, the type of the ink cartridge is identified. For example, when the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit, the recording apparatus detects the presence or absence of the light blocking portion of the ink cartridge. The recording apparatus determines the type of the ink cartridge on the basis of the presence or absence of the light blocking portion.

[Disclosure of the Invention]

[Technical Problem]

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge and an ink cartridge identifying method that can implement identification of the type of an ink cartridge with a simple construction, and also enhance reliability of an identification result.

[Means for Resolution]

In an ink cartridge having a frame that defines an ink chamber for storing ink and a box-shaped light-transmissible portion which is irradiated with light and extends from a first wall forming a part of the outer periphery of the frame in the insertion direction corresponding to a direction which is away from the ink chamber, the light-irradiated portion has a light blocking portion which attenuates light, in particular infrared light as a first member, an indicator portion formed of light blocking resin material as a second member and a space as a third member provided between the first member and the second member in the insertion direction, and all the first member, the second member and the third member are located on a line extending in the first direction and the interval between the first member and the second member is varied in accordance with the type of the cartridge. Accordingly, identification of the type of the ink cartridge can be implemented with a simple construction.
A method of identifying the type of a cartridge mounted in a cartridge mounting unit having a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion is an identifying method comprising: a first step of blocking light from the light-emitting portion by the cartridge in a mounting process; a second step of receiving light from the light-emitting portion at a light-receiving portion by the cartridge in the mounting process, and a third step of identifying the type of the cartridge on the basis of the light-reception time at the light-receiving portion in the second step. Accordingly, the reliability of the identification result can be enhanced.

[Brief Description of the Drawings]

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance construction of an ink cartridge 10.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the construction of the ink cartridge 10, (A) is a back diagram showing the ink cartridge 10, and (B) is a longitudinally sectional view of the ink cartridge 10.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the longitudinally-sectional structure of an ink supply device 120.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a process of insertion of a detection unit 140 into the gap between a light-emitting element 113 and a light-receiving element 114.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 shows exemplary timing diagrams of a sensor signal outputted from optical sensors 123, 124.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the construction of an identifying device 200.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of type identification processing executed by a main controller 250.
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an ink cartridge 41 according to a modification 1 of the present invention.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a side view showing an ink cartridge 42 according to a modification 2 of the present invention.
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a side view showing an ink cartridge 43 according to a modification 3 of the present invention.
[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a side view showing an ink cartridge 44 according to a modification 4 of the present invention.
[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is a back diagram showing an ink cartridge 45 according to a modification 5 of the present invention.

[Detailed Description of Embodiments]

An ink cartridge 10 as an example of an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention and an identifying device 200 as an example of an ink cartridge identifying device will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely examples obtained by embodying the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiments can be properly modified without departing from the subject matter of the present invention.

[Ink Cartridge 10]

First, an ink cartridge 10 as an identification target by the identifying device 200 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.
The ink cartridge 10 is used for an image recording apparatus such as a so-called ink-jet printer or copying machine, a facsimile machine or the like, and each color ink is stored in the ink cartridge 10. This ink cartridge 10 is used while mounted in a cartridge case 121 equipped to the ink supply device 120.
*As shown in Fig. 1, the ink cartridge 10 have a substantially flat, hexahedron shape, e.g., a substantially rectangular, parallelepiped shape and may be more narrow in a widtheise direction, as indicated by an arrow 51, than in a height direction, as indicated by an arrow 52, and a depth direction, as indicated by an arrow 53 This ink cartridge 10 is inserted into the cartridge case 121 from the front wall 102 side in an insertion direction 50 (first direction) with the bottom surface 104 thereof set as the lower side and the top surface 103 thereof set as the upper side in Fig. 1 under the state that it is mounted in the recording apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
The ink cartridge 10 is roughly constructed by a main body 20, a detection unit 140, an arm 60, an atmospheric air communication port 81 and an ink supply port 91. These elements are formed of resin materials. For example, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. may be used as the resin materials. The present invention may be applied to an ink cartridge 10 which is equipped with a case covering substantially the whole of the main body 20, a protector covering the atmospheric air communication port 81 or the ink supply port 91 or the like.
The main body is constructed by a frame 110 and a film 70. The frame 110 is a member constituting the housing of the ink cartridge 10, and it forms six faces 101 to 106 of the ink cartridge 10. In the following description, the respective surfaces of the frame 110 are represented by using reference numerals (101 to 106) allocated to the respective surfaces of the ink cartridge 10.
The frame 110 is formed by injection molding of light-transmissible resin material. The frame 110 may be formed of any resin material insofar as light is transmissible through the resin material, and in this embodiment, it is formed of translucent resin.
The frame 110 is formed annually substantially along the front face 101, the upper face 103, the front wall (first wall) 102 and the bottom face 104, and openings are formed in the left face 105 and the right face 106 of the frame 110. A thin film 70 formed of light-transmissible resin is welded to the left face 105 and the right face 106 of the frame 110. The space surrounded by the frame 110 and the film 70 is defined as an ink chamber 12 (see Fig. 2(B)). Ink is stored in the thus-compartmented ink chamber 12. In this embodiment, the ink chamber 12 is formed by the frame 110 and the film 70, however, the frame 110 itself may be designed as a rectangular parallelepiped container such that the ink chamber 12 is formed in the container.
A detection portion 140 (a portion irradiated with light) is disposed on the front wall 102 of the frame 110. The detection portion 140 is designed in a box-shape having an opening communicating with the ink chamber 12 side and an internal space 147 communicating with the opening. The detection portion 140 is sectioned by a rectangular front wall 141 which is parallel to the front wall 102 and extends away from the front wall 102 in such a direction as to get away from the ink chamber, a pair of side walls 142 through which right and left two sides of the front wall 141 are connected to the front wall 102, and an upper wall 143 and a bottom wall 144 through which the upper and lower two sides of the front wall 141 are connected to the front wall 102. The width of the front wall 141 (the dimension in the direction of the arrow 51) is set to be smaller than the width of the ink cartridge 10.
The detection portion 140 is formed of the same material as the frame 110, that is, light-transmissible resin, and it is transparent or translucent resin. In this embodiment, the front wall 141 of the detection portion 140 is formed of translucent resin, and thus a tape 73 which absorbs infrared light is attached to the front wall 141 side of the side wall 142. It is set as a target irradiated with light by a light-emitting element 113 (see Fig. 5) of an optical sensor 123 secured to a cartridge case 121. The light blocking is not limited to infrared-light blocking, and any member may be used insofar as it blocks, changes the optical path between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element. Specifically, light from the light-emitting element may be reflected in the up-and-down direction by reflecting tape attached to the outer wall of the cartridge, or a part of the cartridge may be passed and attenuated. Here, the change of the optical path may be the change of the optical path on the line connecting the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element.
As shown in Fig. 2, an arm 60 is provided in the ink chamber 12. The arm 60 is equipped with a float portion 63 at one end thereof and an indicator portion 62 at the other end. A shaft 66 is provided substantially at the middle position between the indicator portion 62 and the float portion 63. The shaft 66 is supported by a bearing (not shown) provided to the frame 110, whereby the arm 60 is rotatable in the ink chamber 12. The indicator portion 62 of the arm 60 is located in the space 147.
The arm 60 is formed of light blocking resin material. For example, it is formed of nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate, polyolefin, acrylic resin added with carbon black or the like. It is sufficient only that at least indicator portion 62 of the arm 60 has light blocking property, and it is unnecessary that the overall arm 60 has light blocking property.
The float portion 63 having a hollow portion therein is provided at one end portion of the arm 60. The float portion 63 moves vertically in conformity with the ink level in the ink chamber 12. Accordingly, the arm 60 is rotated around the shaft 66 in accordance with the movement amount of the float portion 63. The float portion 63 may merely generate buoyancy such that it floats on the ink level, and thus it is not limited to the hollow structure.
An indicator portion 62 is provided to the other end portion of the arm 60. The indicator portion 62 is located in the space 147 of the detection portion 140. The indicator portion 62 moves in the up-and-down direction in the space 147 in accordance with the rotational operation of the arm 60. In Fig. 2 (B) , a first position at which the indicator portion 62 abuts against the bottom wall 144 is indicated by a solid line, the float portion 63 abuts against the bottom wall of the cartridge, and a second position at which the indicator portion 62 is located out of a light irradiation area is indicated by a broken line.
When the float portion 63 moves in the up-and-down direction in accordance with the amount of ink in the ink chamber 12, the arm 60 is rotated around the shaft 66, and the indicator portion 62 moves in the up-and-down direction in the space 147 in accordance with the rotational operation concerned. Specifically, when the float portion 63 moves upwardly, the arm 60 is rotated around the shaft 66 in the direction of an arrow 67, and the indicator portion 62 moves downwardly in the space 147. When the indicator portion 62 reaches the lower wall 144 of the detection portion 140, the indicator portion 62 is located at the first position while abutting against the lower wall 144 (the posture indicated by a solid line in Fig. 2(B)). At this time, the indicator portion 62 is located in the light irradiation area 142A of the side wall 142 of the detection portion 140 (a portion surrounded by a broken line in Fig. 1). At the first position, light incident to the light irradiation area 142A is transmitted through the light irradiation area 142A and blocked by the indicator portion 62.
On the other hand, when ink is consumed and the amount of ink is less than a predetermined amount, the float portion 63 moves downwardly in accordance with the ink level. Accordingly, the arm 60 is rotated around the shaft 66 in the direction of an arrow 68, and the indicator portion 62 moves upwardly in the space 147. When the float portion 63 reaches the bottom wall of the main body, the indicator portion 62 is located at the second position at which the indicator portion 62 is in proximity to the upper wall 143 (the posture indicated by a broken line in Fig. 2(B)). At this time, the indicator portion 62 is located out of the light irradiation area 142A (see Fig. 1). When the light irradiation area 142A is irradiated with light at this second position, the light is transmitted through the detection portion 140 without being blocked by the indicator portion 62.
In this embodiment, the light irradiation area 142A of the side wall 142 is irradiated with light from the light-emitting element 113 (see Fig. 5) of the optical sensor 123 to the light-receiving element 114 in the state that the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge case 121. When the indicator portion 62 is located at the first position, the light is blocked by the indicator portion 62. When the indicator portion 62 is located at the second position, the light reaches the light-receiving element 114 (see Fig. 5). Accordingly, it can be detected on the basis of the waveform of an output signal of the light-receiving element 114 whether the amount of ink in the ink chamber 12 is less than a predetermined amount.
The atmospheric air communication port 81 is adjacent to the upper face of the front wall 102 of the frame 110, and the ink supply port 91 is adjacent to the bottom face. The atmospheric air communication port 81, the ink supply port 91 and the detection portion 140 are provided to the front wall (first wall) 102.
The atmospheric air communication port 81 is located above the detection portion 140 of the front wall 102. The atmospheric air communication port 81 is a hole through the inside of the ink chamber 12 intercommunicates with the outside of the ink cartridge 10. When the ink cartridge 10 is in the non-mount state, the atmospheric air communication port 81 is closed by a seal member (not shown) . The seal member is removed to set the inside of the ink chamber 12 to the outside air pressure. Thereafter, when the cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge case 121, a rod 137 (see Fig. 4) is inserted into the atmospheric air communication port 81.
The ink supply port 91 is located below the detection portion 140 of the front wall 102. The ink supply port 91 has a hole for leading ink from the ink chamber 12 to the outside. When the ink cartridge 10 is in the non-mount state, the ink supply port 91 is closed by the seal member (not shown) . When the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge case 121, an ink needle 134 (see Fig. 4) breaks the seal member (not shown) at the ink supply port 91, such that the ink supply port 91 intercommunicates with the outside.
As the seal member for closing the atmospheric air communication port 81 and the ink supply port 91 may be used a simple member such as a film or the like which covers the atmospheric air communication port 81 and the ink supply port 91, a valve for closing the atmospheric air communication port 81 and the ink supply port 91 from the ink chamber 12 side by spring force, or the like.
In this embodiment, the arm 60 is provided such that the tip of the indicator portion 62 is located at the rear side of the front wall 141 of the detection portion 140 in the insertion direction 50 as shown in Fig. 3. Light of the light-emitting element 113 of the optical sensor 123 is transmitted through the space 148 between the inner wall surface of the front wall 141 and the tip portion of the indicator portion 62, and reaches the light-receiving element 114 which is disposed so as to face the optical sensor 123.
Furthermore, with respect to the ink cartridge 10 according to this embodiment, the interval between the inner wall surface of the front wall 141 and the indicator portion 62 is varied on a type basis. Here, as the type of the ink cartridge 10 may be considered a large-capacity type for business users who consume a large amount of ink and a standard type for general consumers, for example. In the case of the large-capacity type, an initial capacity of ink to be filled in the cartridge is large. As an example of another type ink cartridge 10 may be considered the difference in color of ink stored in the ink cartridge 10, the difference between dye ink and pigment ink, the difference between the overseas specification and the domestic specification, etc. In this embodiment, the ink cartridge in which the interval from the light blocking portion 73 to the tip of the indicator portion 62 is equal to L1 is referred to as "ink cartridge 10A" (see Fig. 3(A)), and the interval between the front wall 141B and the tip of the indicator portion 62 is equal to L2 is referred to as "ink cartridge 10B" (see Fig. 3 (B)). As described above, by changing the length L in the depth direction 53 of the space 148 in accordance with the type, the type of the ink cartridge can be identified by the identifying device 200 (see Fig. 7). In the following description, both the ink cartridge 10A and the ink cartridge 10B are generically named as ink cartridge 10 unless particularly specified. The length L1 in the depth direction 53 of the space 148 may be set to a detectable dimension, in other words, such a dimension that a waveform can appear in the output signal of the light-emitting element 114 of the optical sensor 123 (see Fig. 5). The light blocking portion 73 changes the length L1 in the depth direction 53 of the space 148, however, it is possible to change the thickness of the front wall 141 and detect the light blocking time.
The construction of the ink supply device 120 in which the ink cartridge 10 is mounted will be described with referring Fig. 4. The ink supply device 120 supplies ink to a printhead (not shown) . The ink supply device 120 has the cartridge case 121 in which plural ink cartridges 10 can be mounted. The cartridge case 121 will be described hereunder in detail.
As shown in Fig. 4, the cartridge case 121 has an opening 127. An ink cartridge 10 is inserted in the cartridge case 121 through the opening 127.
The optical sensor 123 is disposed at the back side of the cartridge case 121. The optical sensor 123 is connected to a controller 250 (see Fig. 7) of the identifying device 200. The optical sensor 123 is provided to the wall surface 129 constituting the back surface of the cartridge case 121. The optical sensor 123 detects the front wall 141 of the detection portion 140, the space 148 (the space surrounded by the inner surface of the front wall 141 and the tip of the indicator portion 62 and the light irradiation area of the side wall) and the indicator portion 62. In this embodiment, a transmission type photointerruptor which comprises the light-emitting element 113 and the light-receiving element 114 (see Fig. 5) and is designed in an U-shape is used as the optical sensor 123. The ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge case 121, the light irradiation area 142A (see Fig. 1) of the side wall 142 of the detection portion 140 is disposed on the optical path 115 (see Fig. 5) between the light-emitting element 113 and the light-receiving element 114. Infrared light emitted from the light-emitting element 113 is diffusion light and thus has a predetermined spot diameter, and this is schematically represented as the optical path 115.
The optical sensor 124 is provided at the back side of the wall surface 130 constituting the upper side of the cartridge case 121. The optical sensor 124 detects mounting or non-mounting of the ink cartridge 10 in the cartridge case 121. When the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge case 121, the upper end of the ink cartridge 10 is located between the light-emitting element 116 of the optical sensor 124 and the light-receiving element 117.
A hole 132 communicating from the back side of the cartridge case 121 to the inside of the cartridge case 121 is formed at the lower position of the wall surface 129. A tubular ink needle 134 is connected to the hole 132 at the inside of the cartridge case 121. This needle 134 is disposed so as to face the ink supply port 91 of the ink cartridge. An ink tube 135 is connected to the back side of the hole 132.
A rod 137 is provided at the upper position of the wall surface 129. The rod 137 is disposed so as to face the atmospheric air communication port 81 of the ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge case 121, the rod 137 is inserted into the atmospheric air communication port 81.

[Mounting Operation of Ink Cartridge 10]

The mounting operation of the ink cartridge 10 into the cartridge case 121 will be described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5.
As shown in Fig. 4(A), when the ink cartridge 10 is not mounted in the cartridge case 121 (under the non-mount state), the optical path of the optical sensor 123 is not blocked. Also the atmospheric air communication port 81 and the ink supply port 91 are closed by the seal member (not shown).
When the ink cartridge 10 is inserted into the cartridge case 121, the rod is inserted into the atmospheric air communication port 81. Accordingly, the atmospheric air communication port 81 is opened, and the ink chamber 12 intercommunicates with the outside, such that the air pressure in the ink chamber 12 is equal to the outside air pressure. When the ink cartridge 10 is further inserted into the cartridge case 121 under the above state, the ink needle 134 is inserted into the ink support port 91. Accordingly, the ink chamber 12 intercommunicates with the ink tube 135 through the ink needle 134 and the hole 132. Under this state, ink in the ink chamber 12 can be supplied through the ink tube 135 into the printhead (not shown).
In the process that the ink cartridge 10 is inserted into the cartridge case 121, the upper end of the ink cartridge 10 blocks the optical path formed by the light-emitting element 116 and the light-receiving element 117 of the optical sensor 124. At this time, the presence or absence of the ink cartridge 10 in the cartridge case 121 can be detected on the basis of the output waveform of the optical sensor 124. In this embodiment, the upper end of the cartridge which intersects the optical path of the optical sensor 124 is not disposed on a line extending along the insertion direction 50 containing the optical path 115 on which the front wall 141, the light irradiation area 142A and the indicator portion 62 are located.
After the upper end of the ink cartridge 10A is detected by the optical sensor 124, the detection portion 140 intersects the optical path 115 of the optical sensor 123. In the insertion process of the detection portion 140, when the detection portion 140 is inserted to the position at which the light blocking portion 73 of the side wall 142 and the optical path 115 of the optical sensor 123 intersect each other(see Fig. 5(A)), the light blocking portion 73 is irradiated with light emitted from the light-emitting element 113. At this time, the light is greatly attenuated by the light blocking portion 73, and a predetermined light amount does not reach the light-receiving element 114. Subsequently, when the ink cartridge 10A is further inserted and reaches the position at which the space 148 intersects the optical path 115 (see Fig. 5(B)), the light passes through the side wall 142, the space 148 and then the side wall 142 at the opposite side. This passing light is received by the light-receiving element 114. Thereafter, when the detection portion 140 is inserted into the position at which the indicator portion 62 intersects the optical path 115 (see Fig. 5(C)), the light passing through the side wall 142 is blocked by the indicator portion 62. In this case, a predetermined light amount does not reach the light-receiving element 114. The indicator portion 62 is located on the optical path 115 under the state that the ink cartridge 10A is mounted in the cartridge case 121.
The waveform (variation of the signal level) of the output signal of the optical sensor 123 in the mounting process of the ink cartridge 10 will be described hereunder with reference to Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 6(A), the upper end of the cartridge blocks the optical path of the light-emitting element 116 and the light-receiving element 117 of the optical sensor 124 at a time T0. Accordingly, light emitted from the light-emitting element 113 of the optical sensor 123 is blocked by the cartridge, and thus the signal level is LOW.
As shown in Figs. 6 (B) and (C), even when any of the ink cartridges 10A, 10B is mounted in the cartridge case 121, the front wall 141 of the detection portion 140 is detected at a time T1. That is, a predetermined light amount is not received by the light-receiving element 114 because of the front wall 141 at a time T1, and thus the signal level is changed from HIGH to LOW.
When the ink cartridge 10A is mounted in the cartridge case 121, the front wall 141A, the light irradiation area 142A and the indicator portion 62 intersect the optical path 115 in this order. The signal level keeps LOW while the optical path 115 is blocked by the front wall 141a. At a time T3 at which the front wall 141A passes over, the light irradiation area 142A of the side wall 142 and the space 148 intersect the optical path 115, and light passes through the side wall 142 and reaches the light-receiving element 114, such that the signal level is changed from LOW to HIGH. The ink cartridge 10A is further inserted, and the indicator portion 62 blocks the optical path 115 at a time T4 after ΔT11 elapses from the time T3. At this time, the signal level is changed from HIGH to LOW. When the indicator portion 62 is located at the second position, the light reaches the light-receiving element 114, and thus the signal level keeps HIGH (see a broken line of Fig. 6(A)). When the signal level keeps HIGH for a predetermined time or more from the time when the signal level HIGH based on the light irradiation area 142A of the side wall and the space 148 is detected, it is judged that a nearly empty cartridge is mounted, and thus error processing is executed.
When the ink cartridge 10B is mounted in the cartridge case 121, the front wall 141B, the light irradiation area 142A and the indicator potion 62 intersect the optical path 115 in this order. That is, the front wall 141B, the light irradiation area 142A and the indicator portion 62 are located on a line extending along the first direction 50 containing the optical path 115. The signal level keeps LOW while the front wall 141B blocks the optical path 115 from the time T1 till the time T2. When the ink cartridge 10B is mounted, the space 148 and the optical path 115 intersect each other at the time T2, and the light passes through the space 148 and reaches the light-receiving element 114, such that the signal level is changed from LOW to HIGH. Subsequently, the ink cartridge 10B is further inserted, and then the indicator portion 62 intersect the optical path 115 at a time T4 after ΔT12 elapses from the time T3. ΔT12 is longer than ΔT11, and the time for which the signal level is HIGH is longer in the case of the ink cartridge 10B than that in the case of the ink cartridge 10A. At this time, the light is blocked by the indicator portion 62, and thus the signal is changed from HIGH to LOW again. When the indicator portion 62 is located at the second position, the light reaches the light-receiving element 114, and thus the signal level keeps HIGH (see a broken line of Fig. 6(B)).

[Identifying Device 200]

Next, the identifying device 200 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The identifying device 200 is designed to identify the ink cartridge 10A and the ink cartridge 10B. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the schematic construction of the identifying device 200.
As shown in Fig. 7, the identifying device 200 has a main controller 250 and an optical sensor 123. The main controller 250 will be described hereunder.
The main controller 250 controls the overall operation of the identifying device 200. The main controller 250 is constructed by a microcomputer mainly comprising CPU 251, ROM 252, RAM 253, EEPROM 254 and ASIC 255 as shown in Fig. 7. In the main controller 250, the respective parts are connected to one another through the bus 257 so as to communicate with one another.
Programs for controlling various kinds of operations of a copying machine 10 by CPU 251, etc. are stored in ROM 252. RAM 253 is used as a storage area or working area for temporarily storing various kinds of data used when the above programs are executed by CPU 251. Settings to be held after power is turned off, flags, etc. are stored in EEPROM 254.
The optical sensor 123 is connected to ASIC 255. In details, the light-emitting element 113 and the light-receiving element 114 of the optical sensor 123 are connected to ASIC 255. The light-emitting element 113 emits light on the basis of a driving signal received from ASIC 255. The light-emitting element 114 outputs the signal corresponding to the light amount of the received light to ASIC 255. ASIC 255 judges whether the electrical level (voltage value or current value) of the input signal is equal to a predetermined threshold value or more. If it is equal to the predetermined threshold value or more, the signal level concerned is judged as HIGH, and if it is less than the predetermined threshold value, the signal concerned is judged as LOW.
In this embodiment, the type of the ink cartridge 10 mounted in the cartridge case 121 is identified by the main controller 250 on the basis of the signal output from the light-receiving element 114 of the optical sensor 123. The procedure of the type identification processing for identifying whether the ink cartridge 10 mounted in the ink cartridge case 121 is the ink cartridge 10A or the ink cartridge 10B will be described hereunder with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 8. Here, Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the type identification processing executed by the main controller 250.
First, it is judged in step S0 whether the upper end of the cartridge is detected by the optical sensor 124. Specifically, this judgment is made on the basis of the change of the signal level of the optical sensor 124 from HIGH to LOW when the optical path of the optical sensor 124 is blocked by the upper end of the cartridge (see the time T0 of Fig. 6).
Here, when it is judged that the front wall 141 is detected (Yes of S0), the next detection of the optical sensor 123 is carried out. The judgment processing of the step S0 is executed until the front wall 141 is detected. In step S1, it is judged whether the front wall 141 is detected by the optical sensor 123. Specifically, when the front wall 141 blocks the optical path of the optical sensor 123, it is judged whether the signal level of the optical sensor 123 is changed from HIGH to LOW (see the time T1 of Fig. 6). Here, when it is detected that the front wall 141 is detected (Yes of S1), in the next step S2, that detection timing (detection time) is stored in RAM 253. The judgment processing of step S1 is carried out until the front wall 141 is detected.
In the next step S3, it is judged whether the space 148 is detected. Specifically, it is judged whether the signal level of the optical sensor 123 is changed from LOW to HIGH (see the times T2, T3 of Fig. 6). Here, when it is judged that the space 148 is detected (Yes of S3). In the next step S4, that detection timing (detection time) is stored in RAM 253. The judgment processing of the step S3 is executed until the space 148 is detected.
In the step S5, on the basis of the two detection timings stored in RAM 253, the time difference ΔT therebetween is calculated by the main controller 250. Thereafter, in step S6, the calculated time difference ΔT is compared with a predetermined reference value, and it is judged whether the time difference ΔT concerned is equal to the reference value or more. The reference value may be obtained by beforehand calculating the average in the time difference ΔT11 (see Fig. 6(A)) in past five insertion operations of the ink cartridge 10A into the cartridge case 121 or the average in the time difference ΔT12 (see Fig. 6(B)) in past five insertion operations of the ink cartridge 10B into the cartridge case 121, and then determining on the basis of these data a threshold value for identifying whether the ink cartridge is the ink cartridge 10A or the ink cartridge 10B. The thus-obtained reference value is stored in RAM 253 in advance. The judgment of the step S6 is not limited to the method of comparing the time difference ΔT with the reference value, and a method of making the above judgment on the basis of a judgment as to whether the time difference ΔT is within a predetermined reference range may be adopted. A method of storing the received light amount at the light-receiving element for the signal level of HIGH in RAM 253 and comparing it in place of the time difference ΔT may be used.
In this embodiment, when it is judged in step S6 that the time difference ΔT is less than the reference value (No of S6), a bit flag representing the ink cartridge 10B is set in the register of CPU 251, RAM 253 or the like (S8). If it is judged in step S6 that the time difference ΔT is equal to the reference value or more (Yes of S6), a bit flag representing the ink cartridge 10A is set in the register of CPU 251, RAM 253 or the like (S7).
The flag set in the register of CPU 251, RAM 253 or the like may be output by CPU 251 as information representing the state of the ink cartridge 10 to a display unit or the like which is connected to the identifying device 200.
As described above, according to the identifying device 200 of this embodiment, in the mounting process of the ink cartridge 10, the type of the ink cartridge 10 can be adequately and accurately identified on the basis of the signal level of the optical sensor 123. Furthermore, the type of the ink cartridge 10 can be identified by an extremely simple construction that the distance between the inner wall surface of the front wall 141 of the ink cartridge 10 and the indicator portion 62 is varied every type of the ink cartridge 10. In this embodiment, the identification is made by judging whether the light reception time in the space 148 between the inner wall surface of the front wall 141 and the indicator portion 62 is within a reference range, however, the judgment may be made by judging whether the block time of the front wall 141 is within a reference range. In this case, it is judged whether the time difference ΔT between the time T1 and the time T2 is within a reference range.
In this embodiment, the processing of identifying two types of the ink cartridge 10A and the ink cartridge 10B is shown. However, a specific type ink cartridge may be identified from three or more kinds of ink cartridges 10. Furthermore, in a recording apparatus having both of a black ink cartridge formed of pigment and a black ink cartridge formed of dye, in order to prevent different component black ink types from being mixed with each other or erroneously loaded, the identification processing may be applied to identify each of the former ink cartridge and the latter ink cartridge.
Modifications of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 9 to 13. In Figs. 9 to 13, the common constituent elements to the ink cartridge 10 described above are represented by the same reference numerals as the constituent elements of the ink cartridge 10.

[Modification 1]

As shown in Fig. 9, in the ink cartridge 41 of a modification 1, the detection portion 140 extending in the opposite direction to the insertion direction 50 is not provided to the front wall 102. Accordingly, the arm 60 containing the indicator portion 62 is wholly accommodated in the ink chamber 12. The ink chamber 12 is provided with a rib 72 for regulating the downward movement of the indicator portion 62. Therefore, when the arm 60 is rotated in the direction of an arrow 67, the indicator portion 62 abuts against the rib 72, and this state is kept. Under the state that the indicator portion 62 abuts against the rib 72, the space 148 is formed between the inner walls surface of the front wall 102 and the indicator portion 62. In the ink cartridge 41 as described above, the interval between the inner wall surface of the front wall 102 and the indicator portion 62 is varied every type of the ink cartridge 41, whereby the type can be identified as in the case of the ink cartridges 10A and 10B. By inserting an ink cartridge 41 having a different interval, the type of the ink cartridge 41 can be identified on the basis of the light reception time at the light-receiving element 114 of the optical sensor 123 by identifying device 200.

[Modification 2]

As shown in Fig. 10, in the ink cartridge 42 of a modification 2, the light blocking portion 173 for blocking light is provided to the side wall 142 of the detection portion 140. The light blocking portion 173 is secured from the side wall 142 as a different member from the main body 20 in such a direction as to be away from the side wall 142. For example, the light blocking portion 173 may be formed of resin material for attenuating or absorbing infrared light or resin material for reflecting infrared light. The light blocking portion 173 is secured to the front wall 141 side of the side wall 142 which faces at least the light-emitting element 113. In the ink cartridge 42 as described above, the length in the depth direction 53 of the light blocking portion 173 is varied every type of the ink cartridge 42, whereby the type can be identified as in the case of the ink cartridges 10A and 10B. That is, in the above embodiment, the identification is made by using the light reception time when the light transmitting member 142 passes over. However, according to the modification 2, in place of the light reception time, the identification is made in the identifying device 200 by using the light blocking time when the light blocking portion 173 passes over. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, the time difference between the time T1 and the time T3 is measured in the case of the ink cartridge 10A while the time difference between the time T1 and the time T2 is measured in the case of the ink cartridge 10B, and then it is judged whether the measured time difference is within a reference range.

[Modification 3]

As shown in Fig. 11, in the ink cartridge 43 of a modification 3, a light blocking portion 74 for blocking light is provided to the side surface 105, 106 of the ink cartridge 43. The light blocking portion 74 is located below the detection portion 140. The length in the depth direction 53 of the light blocking portion 74 is varied every type of the ink cartridge 43. An optical sensor 75 having substantially the same construction as the optical sensor 123 is provided below the optical sensor 123 at the back side of the cartridge case 121. When the ink cartridge 43 is inserted into the cartridge case 121, light from the light-emitting element 113 of the optical sensor 75 is blocked by the light blocking portion 74. The identifying device 200 can identify the type of the ink cartridge 43 on the basis of the time for which the light blocking portion 74 blocks the light.

[Modification 4]

As shown in Fig. 12, the ink cartridge 44 according to a modification 4 is provided with a plate 75 which can approach to and separate from the front wall 102 through two spring coils 76. In the ink cartridge 44, the coil springs 76 are secured to the upper and lower sides of the detection portion 140 on the front wall 102. The plate 75 is supported by the coil springs 76 so as to be spaced from the front wall 141 of the detection portion 140. That is, a space 78 is formed between the plate 75 and the tip of the indicator portion 62.
When the ink cartridge 44 is inserted into the cartridge case 121 (see Fig. 4), the plate 75 blocks the optical path 115 of the optical sensor 123. When the ink cartridge 44 is further inserted, light from the light-emitting element 113 passes through the space 78, and is received by the light-receiving element 114. The distance between the plate 75 and the tip of the indicator portion 62 is varied every type of the ink cartridge 44. Therefore, when an ink cartridge 44 in which the interval of the space is different is inserted into the ink cartridge 44, the identifying device 200 identifies the type of the ink cartridge 42 on the basis of the light reception time at the light-emitting element 114 when the space 78 passes over.
When the ink cartridge 44 is further pressed in the insertion direction 50 after the plate 77 of the ink cartridge 44 blocks the optical path 115 of the optical sensor 123, the main body 20 is pressed against the urging force of the coil springs 76 in the insertion direction 50. At this time, the detection portion 140 blocks the optical path 115 of the optical sensor 123. even the ink cartridge 44 as described above can detect the presence or absence of the ink cartridge 44 on the basis of the output signal of the optical sensor 123.

[Modification 5]

As shown in Fig. 13, an ink cartridge 54 according to a modification 5 is provided with a first altering member 242, a second altering member 243, a third altering member 244 and a fourth altering member 245 in place of the indicator portion 62 of the embodiment. The first altering member 242 and the fourth altering member 245 are reflection tapes which are attached to slope surfaces of 45° corresponding to the outer wall surface of the ink cartridge. In the modification 5, the optical path is changed by the reflection tapes. The second altering member 243 and the third altering member 244 are the faces of a prism 80.
The light-emitting element 113 (see Fig. 5) is disposed at the right side of the center of Fig. 13 of the first altering member 242. Light emitted from the light-emitting element 113 in the horizontal direction (to the left side of the center of Fig. 13) is downwardly reflected (guided) by the first altering member 242 of the ink cartridge 45. Light from the first altering member enters into the prism 80. When the amount of ink is less than a predetermined amount, the light entered into the prism is reflected in the horizontal direction (to the left side of the center of Fig. 13) by the second altering member 243, and upwardly reflected by the third altering member 244). The light guided by the third altering member 244 is reflected in the horizontal direction (to the left side of the center of Fig. 13) by the fourth altering member 245, and received by the light-receiving element 114 located at the left side of the first altering member 245. When the amount of ink is equal to a predetermined amount or more, the prism and the ink are substantially equal to each other in refractivity, such that the light entered into the second altering member 243 straightly goes in the ink. The optical path 215 represents an optical path along which the light emitted from the light-emitting element is passed through the first altering member 242, the second altering member 243, the third altering member 244 and the fourth altering member 245 and then received by the light-receiving element. In the modification 5, the reflection tapes are attached to the outer wall surface of the cartridge as the first deflection member 243 and the fourth altering member 245. In place of the reflection tapes, a prism may be formed on the outer wall surface of the cartridge, or a space is formed inside the slope surfaces by blow molding or the like, and interfaces are formed by the space to be set as reflection faces.
The prism 80 forms one wall surface of a small chamber 13 communicating with the inside of the ink chamber 12. This prism 80 constitutes the second altering member 243 and the third altering member 244. When the prism 80 as the second altering member 243 and the third altering member 244 comes into contact with ink in the small chamber 13, the light from the first altering member 242 enters into the prism 80 passes through the second altering member 243 and straightly goes through ink in the small chamber 13 because the ink and the prism have substantially the same refractivity. When the ink is consumed and thus the amount of the ink is less than a predetermined amount, the ink in the small chamber 13 does not come into contact with the prism 80, and air interposes between the prism 80 and the ink level. An interface is formed because the air and the prism are different from other in refractivity. The light from the first altering member 243 enters into the prism 80 is reflected in the horizontal direction by the second altering member 243. The reflected light passes through the prism, and is guided in the vertical direction by the third altering member 244 at which the interface is formed because air interpose between the prism 80 and the ink. The light from the third altering member is reflected in the horizontal direction corresponding to the same optical axis as the light emitted from the light-emitting element 113 by the fourth altering member 245, and received by the light-receiving element 114 at the left side of the center of Fig. 13. As a result, it is determined by the identifying device that the amount of the ink is less than the predetermined amount.
In the modification 5, the first altering member 242, the second altering member 243, the third altering member 244 and the fourth altering member 245 are used in place of the indicator portion 62. However, the first altering member 242, the second altering member 243, the third altering member 244 and the fourth altering member 245 may be used in place of the light blocking portion 73 and the space 148. In this case, not the prism constituting one wall surface of the small chamber communicating with the ink chamber, but the reflection tapes may be used as in the case of the first altering member 242 and the fourth altering member 245.

Claims

An ink cartridge (10, 10A, 10B) comprising:
a frame (101, 102, 103, 104) that defines an ink chamber (12) at leasttherein, wherein the ink chamber (12) stores ink therein; and

wherein the ink cartridge (10, 10A, 10B) is insertable into a cartridge case (121) from a front wall (102) side in an insertion direction (50);

a box-shaped light-transmissible portion (140) that is irradiated with light and extends from the front wall (102) constituting a part of an outer periphery of the frame in the insertion direction (50) away from the ink chamber (12), wherein the portion irradiated with light (140) comprises;

a light blocking portion which attenuates light, in particular infrared light, as a first member (73);

an indicator portion formed of light blocking resin material as a second member (62);

a space as a third member (148) provided between the first member (73) and the second member (62) in the insertion direction (50), the first member (73), the second member (62) and the third member (148) being located on a line extending in the insertion direction (50);

wherein the space between the first member (73) and the second member (62) is varied in accordance with the type of the cartridge (10, 10A, 10B).
The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the third member (148) is located between the first member (73) and the second member (62).
The ink cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the space between the first member (73) and the second member (62) is varied in accordance with an initial capacity of the ink cartridge.
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the third member (148) has a first altering member (242) for guiding irradiated light from a horizontal light emitted direction in a direction perpendicular to the line in the insertion direction (50), a second altering member (243) for guiding the light guided by the first altering member (242) in the horizontal light emitted direction, a third altering member (244) for guiding the light guided by the second altering member (243) in a direction perpendicular to the line in the insertion direction (50), and a fourth altering member (245) for guiding the light guided by the third altering member (244) onto the same axis as the light with which the first altering member (242) is irradiated.
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims I to 4, wherein the second member (62) has a first altering member (242) for guiding irradiated light from a horizontal light emitted direction in a direction perpendicular to the line in the insertion direction (50), a second altering (243) member for guiding the light guided by the first altering member (242) in the horizontal light emitted direction, a third altering member (244) for guiding the light guided by the second altering member (243) in a direction perpendicular to the line in the insertion direction (50), and a fourth altering member (245) for guiding the light guided by the third altering (244) member onto the same axis as the light with which the first altering member (242) is irradiated, and the second altering member (243) and the third altering member (244) constituting a prism (80) that partitions a chamber continuous with the ink chamber (12).
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the third member (148) is light-transmissible.
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first member (73) is movable in the insertion direction (50) with respect to the front wall (102).
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims I to 7, wherein an elastic member is disposed between the first member (73) and the front wall (102).
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, 6 to 8, wherein the second member (62) moves from a first position located on the line extending in the insertion direction (50) to a second position which gets away from the line concerned as the amount of the ink is reduced.
The ink cartridge according to claim 9, further comprising an arm member (60) that is supported so as to be movable in accordance with the amount of ink, wherein the arm member (60) is provided with the second member (62) at one end thereof and a float (63) at the other end side thereof so that the float (63) moves in accordance with the ink level.
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims I to 10, wherein the portion irradiated with the light (140) is equipped with an internal space communicating with the ink chamber (12) so that fluid flows between the internal space and the ink chamber (12), and the second member (62) is disposed in the internal space.
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims I to 11, wherein an ink supply portion (120) through which the ink chamber (12) and the outside communicates with each other is disposed below the portion of the front wall (102) irradiated with the light.
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein an atmospheric air communicating portion (81) through which the ink chamber (12) and the outside communicate with each other is disposed above the portion of the front wall (102) irradiated with the light.
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a fourth member disposed so as to be farther away from the front wall (102) than the first member (73) and spaced from the line in an up-and-down direction.
A method of identifying the type of a cartridge (10, 10A, 10B) to be mounted in a cartridge mounting unit having a light-receiving portion (114) and a light-emitting portion (113), comprising:
a first step of blocking light from the light-emitting portion (113) by the cartridge (10, 10A, 10B) in a mounting process;

a second step of receiving the light from the light-emitting portion (113) at the light-receiving portion (114) by the cartridge (10, 10A, 10B) in the mounting process; and

a third step of identifying the type of the cartridge (10, 10A, 10B) on the basis of a light-reception time at the light-receiving portion (114) in the second step.
The cartridge type identifying method according to claim 15, further comprising a fourth step of blocking the light from the light-emitting portion (113) by the cartridge (10, 10A, 108) in the mounting process after the second step.
The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the light blocking portion which attenuates light, in particular infrared light, as a first member (73) is an infrared light absorbing tape.