JPS6316524Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to an ink amount detection device for a printing device or the like that employs an inkjet method.

Conventionally, in this type of printing device, an ink cartridge has been used to supply ink. The ink cartridge has a limited capacity as a matter of course, and when the used amount reaches a certain value, it must be replaced with a new one. However, in the past, it was not possible to detect when the ink had run out, and the only way to know that the ink had run out was when it became impossible to print, which resulted in blank printing without ink jetting. It happens often. Therefore, there is a need to notify the state immediately before the ink runs out, and a simple structure for this purpose is desired.

This invention was devised in view of these points, and aims to provide an ink amount detection device that can easily detect the state immediately before the ink amount ends.

This idea provides an operating body that moves according to the amount of ink in the ink cartridge, and replaces the amount of ink to the position of this operating body to operate the liquid pressure feeding unit just before the ink in the ink cartridge runs out. Since this liquid pressure feeding part has a large effective cross-sectional area, and the thin tube part and planar column connected to it have a small effective cross-sectional area, the movement of the moving body is expanded, and this causes the moving body to reach a certain position. When the ink cartridge runs out, it can be detected that the amount of ink in the ink cartridge has run out.This makes it easy to know when to replace the ink cartridge.Also, the ink cartridge itself contains ink. It is constructed so that a simple item consisting of a bag and a saucer is sufficient.

An embodiment of this invention will be explained based on the drawings.

First, a cylindrical platen 1 is rotatably provided on a frame (not shown), a recording paper 2 is wound around the platen 1, and the recording paper 2 is brought into close contact with the platen 1 by a paper presser roller 3. . The paper pressing roller 3 is supported by a support shaft 4, and both ends of the support shaft 4 are fixed to an arm 7 that is biased in one direction by a spring 6 to a fixed shaft 5. Two guide shafts 8 are provided in parallel at the front of the platen 1, and a carriage 9 is mounted on these guide shafts 8.
is provided to be able to reciprocate freely, and a printing head 10 is attached to this carriage 9. Further, a frame 11 is provided on an extension line of the platen 1, and a worm wheel 12 is provided on this frame 11.
A roller 13 to which is fixed is provided, and a worm 15 connected to a motor 14 is meshed with the worm wheel 12. The roller 13 is aligned with the axis of the platen 1, and has a diameter slightly larger than the platen 1.
It is used to test the ink jetting from the print head 10, and to prevent ink evaporation and ink dripping by bringing the print head 10 close to the nozzle surface when the printer is at rest.

A tube 16 is pulled out from the print head 10 and is connected to an ink supply device 17. This ink supply device 17 has a case body 21 in which an outer cylinder 20 is fixed on a pedestal 19 having a notch 18 from which the tube 16 is pulled out. The outer cylinder 20 has an annular flange 22 at its lower part, and two protrusions 23 projecting inward at its upper part. Further, a seesaw arm 25 fixed to a side surface of the outer cylinder 20 by a pin 24 is rotatably attached. The inner end of the seesaw arm 25 serves as a force receiving portion 26, and the outer end serves as a pressing portion 27 projecting downward.

Further, within the outer cylinder 20, an operating body 29 is provided which is always urged upward by a compression spring 28 and is movable up and down. The operating body 29 has a truncated cone shape, and is provided with an engaging portion 30 that expands outward at its lower end, a connector 31 at its upper end, and the other end of the tube 16 connected to the connector 31. It is connected. This tube 16 is also oriented by a guide 32 which allows it to curve so that it does not bend sharply within the case body 21.

Next, an ink cartridge 33 is removably provided within the case body 21. The ink cartridge 33 includes a protrusion 34 having a smaller diameter than the inner end spacing of the protrusions 23 and is positioned below and engaged with the protrusions 23, and a lid body 36 provided with a knob 35; This lid body 3
A cylindrical guide 37 that protrudes downward below 6.
It consists of a tray 40 that moves up and down inside. A connection port 41 into which the connector 31 is inserted is provided at the center of the receiving tray 40. This connection port 41 is connected to the ink 3 by inserting the connector 31.
8 is supplied, and has a valve action that closes by withdrawing it.

A detection body 42 is provided on the side of the ink supply device 17. This detection body 42 includes a liquid pressure feeding section 43 with a large effective cross-sectional area and a thin tube section 44 with a small effective cross-sectional area connected to this liquid pressure feeding section 43.
It becomes more. The hydraulic pressure feeding section 43 has a hydraulic plate 47 in a cylindrical cylinder 45 that is always urged upward by a compression spring 46 to act as a piston.
7 are joined. Further, a planar column 48 having an effective cross-sectional area approximately the same as that of the thin tube section 44 is formed at the upper part of the thin tube section 44, and a light emitting section 49 and a light receiving section 50 are formed on the front and rear surfaces of this plane column 48. is provided.

In such a configuration, in order to install the ink cartridge 33, hold the knob 35 and press the third
As shown in the figure, push the protrusion 23 into the outer cylinder 20 so that the protrusion 23 and the protrusion piece 34 do not touch each other. This results in
The connector 31 is inserted into the connection port 41 and is in a connected state. Then, as the ink cartridge 33 is pushed in, the operating body 29 also descends, and when the protrusion 34 enters the outer cylinder 20, the protrusion 34 is positioned below the protrusion 23 as shown in FIG. 2, and the hand is released. The ink cartridge 33 is held by the pressing force of the compression spring 28.

As a result of being attached in this way, the ink 38
Internal pressure acts on the print head 10.
An appropriate pressure is applied to the print head 10, taking into consideration the relationship between the position and the water head. If you continue to use it in this state, the ink 3 in the ink cartridge 33 will
8 is sequentially consumed, and as the amount of consumption increases, the operating body 29 rises. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when the remaining amount of ink 38 decreases, the operating body 29
The engaging portion 30 contacts the force receiving portion 26 of the seesaw arm 25, rotates the seesaw arm 25, and pushes down the hydraulic plate 47. As a result, the opaque liquid inside rises up the thin tube portion 44 and reduces the translucency of the planar column 48. As a result, the amount of light received by the light receiving section 50 decreases, and a notification circuit (not shown) notifies the state by light or sound.

Therefore, there is no need to perform a printing operation when the ink runs out. Further, since the detection body 42 has a function of enlarging the amount of movement of the operating body 29, its detection position is accurate. Therefore, the timing for installing a new ink cartridge 33 is always constant.

Note that the one shown in FIG. 7 is a modification of the guide body 32 of the tube 16, which forcibly guides the tube 16 in a curved manner from the vertical position to the horizontal position, so that sudden bends may not occur. Therefore, the ink 38 is reliably supplied.

This idea uses an ink cartridge for supplying ink as described above, and provides an operating body that moves according to the amount of ink, and connects this operating body to a liquid pumping section with a large effective cross-sectional area. Since the detecting body consisting of a small thin tube part and a flat pillar is provided to operate, when the ink in the ink cartridge reaches a predetermined level, the detecting body can detect and notify the state. This eliminates blank printing when there is no ink, allows you to accurately know when to replace the ink cartridge, and eliminates waste.The structure of the ink cartridge is also simple. It is effective.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing shows one embodiment of this invention.
The figure is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the ink supply device,
Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the guide body,
FIG. 5 is a sectional view when the ink is finished, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a part of the thin tube portion, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a modification of the guide body. 29... Operating body, 33... Ink cartridge, 38... Ink, 42... Detecting body, 43...
Liquid pressure feeding section, 44... thin tube section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An operating body having an engaging portion that expands outward inside the cylindrical outer cylinder and a connector connected to the print head at the upper end is biased upward and mounted so as to be movable up and down, and a cylindrical guide is attached. An ink cartridge is formed in which a bag containing ink is provided inside the ink cartridge, and a receiving tray is provided which has a connection port connected to the connector and is attached to the guide so as to be movable up and down. is removably attached to the upper part of the outer cylinder, a seesaw arm is attached to the outer cylinder that rotates by engaging with the engaging part of the operating body, and a seesaw arm is provided that is pressed by the seesaw arm, and the internal A liquid pressure feeding part with a large effective cross-sectional area for pushing out the liquid, a thin tube part with a small effective cross-sectional area connected to this liquid pressure feeding part and raising the liquid, and a thin tube part located above the thin tube part and having a large effective cross-sectional area. An ink amount detecting device characterized by having a detecting body consisting of substantially equal planar columns.