Inkjet recording system

Abstract

To provide an inkjet recording system that is configured to perform printing without being interrupted, which comprises an ink cartridge in use and an ink cartridge on stand-by and can suppress ink from drying.SOLUTION: An inkjet recording system 1 comprises: an inkjet recording device 2 having a main body part 21, and an ink cartridge 22A in use and an ink cartridge 22B on stand-by which are detachably attached to the main body part 21; and a control part 6. In order to switch the ink cartridge 22A in use to the ink cartridge 22B on stand-by, the control part 6 performs control so that the ink cartridge 22A in use is switched to the ink cartridge 22B on stand-by, on the basis of ink information on ink stored in an ink storage part 222 of the ink cartridge 22A in use or of the ink cartridge 22B on stand-by.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an inkjet recording system including an ink cartridge type inkjet recording apparatus has been known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In an ink cartridge type inkjet recording apparatus, when the ink runs out, it is necessary to replace the ink cartridge. Therefore, when the ink cartridge is replaced when the ink runs out, printing is stopped, for example, the production line is temporarily stopped. In this case, in addition to the ink cartridge for printing, there is a technique of always preparing a spare ink cartridge in a usable state and switching to the spare ink cartridge when the ink in the ink cartridge for printing runs out.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technique of always preparing a spare ink cartridge in a usable state in addition to the ink cartridge for printing, it is necessary to attach a cover to the head portion of the inkjet recording apparatus to prevent the ink from drying, and it is difficult to always keep the ink cartridge for printing and the spare ink cartridge in a usable state. If a cover is not attached to the ink cartridge, the ink may dry out and become unusable. Therefore, in an inkjet recording system that does not stop printing, it is desired to be able to suppress the drying of the ink.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an inkjet recording system that does not interrupt printing, which includes an ink cartridge in use and an ink cartridge in standby mode, and which can suppress ink drying. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording system comprising: an inkjet recording device having a main body, an ink cartridge in use and a standby ink cartridge detachably attached to the main body, and a control unit that controls switching from the ink cartridge in use to the standby ink cartridge, wherein the ink cartridge in use and the standby ink cartridge each have an ink storage section in which ink is stored and a head section, and the control unit controls switching from the ink cartridge in use to the standby ink cartridge based on the ink information of the ink stored in the ink storage section of the ink cartridge in use or the standby ink cartridge.

[0007] Furthermore, it is preferable that the control unit, based on the ink information of the standby ink cartridge, temporarily switches from the ink cartridge in use to the standby ink cartridge, and then, after using the temporarily switched ink cartridge, executes control to switch back to the ink cartridge that was previously used.

[0008] Furthermore, it is preferable to include an ambient environment information acquisition unit that acquires information about the surrounding environment, and for the control unit to refer to the ambient environment information acquired by the ambient environment information acquisition unit and control the system to switch from the ink cartridge currently in use to the ink cartridge in standby.

[0009] Furthermore, it is preferable that the control unit, after the ink in the currently used ink cartridge has run out of ink, switches from the currently used ink cartridge to the standby ink cartridge and controls the system to use the standby ink cartridge. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, an inkjet recording system that does not stop printing can be provided, which includes an ink cartridge in use and an ink cartridge in standby mode, and which can suppress ink drying. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing an inkjet recording system viewed from an oblique angle above. [Figure 2] This is a view of an inkjet recording device from a diagonal downward angle. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart showing the control flow of an inkjet recording system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a view of the inkjet recording system 1 from an oblique angle above. Figure 2 is a view of the inkjet recording device 2 from an oblique angle below.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the inkjet recording system 1 of this embodiment comprises an inkjet recording device 2, a transport unit 3 for transporting a material to be printed T, a thermometer 4 (ambient environment information acquisition unit), a hygrometer 5 (ambient environment information acquisition unit), and a control device 6 (control unit). As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the inkjet recording device 2 is positioned above the material to be printed T, which is transported in the transport direction P by the transport unit 3. The inkjet recording device 2 comprises a main body 21 and two ink cartridges 22A and 22B. The two ink cartridges 22A and 22B are detachably attached to the main body 21. A circuit board (not shown) electrically connected to the two ink cartridges 22A and 22B is arranged on the main body 21, and the circuit board is connected to the control device 6. The main body 21 is provided with a lever 212 that allows the ink cartridges 22A and 22B to be attached and detached.

[0014] The two ink cartridges 22A and 22B are detachably attached to either the first mounting section 211a or the second mounting section 211b of the main body 21, respectively. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, for example, the first ink cartridge 22A is mounted in the first mounting section 211a, and the second ink cartridge 22B is mounted in the second mounting section 211b. In this embodiment, for example, the two ink cartridges 22A and 22B are the first ink cartridge 22A in use and the second ink cartridge 22B in standby.

[0015] Both ink cartridges 22A and 22B are printhead-integrated ink cartridges. As shown in Figure 2, ink cartridges 22A and 22B each have a printhead 221 and an ink storage section 222. In this embodiment, both ink cartridges 22A and 22B have the printhead 221 and the ink storage section 222 integrated into a single unit.

[0016] Ink is stored in the ink storage portions 222 of the two ink cartridges 22A and 22B respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the head portion 221 is provided at the lower part of the two ink cartridges 22A and 22B. The head portion 221 discharges the ink stored in the ink storage portion 222 downward.

[0017] The ranges of the regions of the ink discharged from the head portions 221 of the two ink cartridges 22A and 22B onto the printing medium T are all the same. Thereby, printing can be performed at the same position of the printing medium T regardless of which of the two ink cartridges 22A and 22B is used. When one of the two ink cartridges 22A and 22B is replaced, it can be switched to the other ink cartridge.

[0018] The two ink cartridges 22A and 22B are provided below the lever portion 212. When mounting the ink cartridges 22A and 22B onto the main body portion 21, with the head portion 221 facing downward, the ink cartridges 22A and 22B can be detachably attached to the main body portion 21 by the lever portion 212 provided at the upper part of the ink cartridges 22A and 22B.

[0019] The thermometer 4 acquires the temperature information of the ambient environment of the inkjet recording apparatus 2. The hygrometer 5 acquires the humidity information of the ambient environment of the inkjet recording apparatus 2.

[0020] <L The control device 6 controls to use one of the two ink cartridges 22A and 22B and to make the other ink cartridge standby. The control device 6 controls to discharge ink from the ink cartridges 22A and 22B so as to prevent the ink in the ink cartridges 22A and 22B from drying based on the ink information stored in the ink storage portions 222.

[0021] The control device 6 controls the switching from the first ink cartridge 22A in use to the second ink cartridge 22B on standby. When switching from the first ink cartridge 22A in use to the second ink cartridge 22B on standby, the control device 6 controls the switching from the first ink cartridge 22A in use to the second ink cartridge 22B on standby based on the ink information of the ink stored in the ink storage portion 222 of the first ink cartridge 22A in use or the second ink cartridge 22B on standby.

[0022] The ink information is, for example, information on the time until the ink in the ink cartridges 22A and 22B dries according to the type of ink, information on the amount of ink stored in the ink cartridges 22A and 22B, information on the usage status of the ink in the ink cartridges 22A and 22B, and the like. The ink information is stored, for example, in the storage unit of the control device 6.

[0023] In the present embodiment, the control device 6 controls, for example, mainly using the first ink cartridge 22A and waiting for the second ink cartridge 22B, and based on the information on the usage status of the ink, after the use of the ink in the first ink cartridge 22A in use ends, it switches from the first ink cartridge 22A in use to the second ink cartridge 22B on standby and controls to use the second ink cartridge 22B on standby.

[0024] Based on the ink information of the standby second ink cartridge 22B, the control device 6 executes control to prevent the ink in ink cartridges 22A and 22B from drying out. This control involves temporarily switching from the first ink cartridge 22A, which is in use, to the standby second ink cartridge 22B, then using the second ink cartridge 22B, and finally switching back to the first ink cartridge 22A, which was in use before the switch. For example, in order to prevent the ink in ink cartridges 22A and 22B from drying out, in a printing state where the first ink cartridge 22A is used to eject ink and print, the control device 6 temporarily switches from the first ink cartridge 22A, which is in use, to the standby second ink cartridge 22B, uses the second ink cartridge 22B, ejects ink from the second ink cartridge 22B to print several shots, and then switches back to the first ink cartridge 22A, which was in use before the switch.

[0025] Furthermore, the control device 6 refers to information about the surrounding environment acquired by the environmental information acquisition unit, such as the thermometer 4 and the hygrometer 5, and controls the system to switch from the first ink cartridge 22A, which is in use, to the second ink cartridge 22B, which is in standby mode.

[0026] Information about the surrounding environment includes, for example, the temperature and humidity near the inkjet recording device 2. The temperature near the inkjet recording device 2 is measured by a thermometer 4, for example, as shown in Figure 1. The humidity near the inkjet recording device 2 is measured by a hygrometer 5, for example, as shown in Figure 1.

[0027] Next, an example of the control flow in the control device 6 of the inkjet recording system 1 will be described. Figure 3 is a flowchart of the control flow of the inkjet recording system 1. The example of the control flow described below is a control that primarily uses the first ink cartridge 22A of the two ink cartridges 22A and 22B, and after the ink in the first ink cartridge 22A is used up, switches to the second ink cartridge 22B, and then primarily uses the second ink cartridge 22B. While the second ink cartridge 22B is being primarily used, the first ink cartridge 22A can be replaced with a new ink cartridge (not shown).

[0028] When controlled by the control device 6, two ink cartridges 22A and 22B are installed in the main body 21 of the inkjet recording device 2. The print heads 221 of the two ink cartridges 22A and 22B do not have covers or anything similar installed. Therefore, if the ink cartridges 22A and 22B are not used for a long period of time, the ink may dry out and the print heads 221 may not be able to eject ink. In this invention, the control device 6 performs control to suppress the drying of the ink.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, in step S1, the control device 6 selects the first ink cartridge 22A and controls the printer to perform printing operations using the first ink cartridge 22A until the ink in the first ink cartridge 22A is used up and it is time to replace it. In this case, the second ink cartridge 22B is a spare ink cartridge that is switched over from the first ink cartridge 22A when it is time to replace the first ink cartridge 22A. The second ink cartridge 22B is always ready for use and is prepared without a cap attached.

[0030] In step S2, the control device 6 determines whether or not there is ink remaining in the first ink cartridge 22A. If it is determined that there is ink remaining (YES), the process proceeds to step S3. If it is determined that there is no ink remaining (NO), the process proceeds to step S5.

[0031] In step S5, if it is determined in step S2 that there is no ink remaining in the first ink cartridge 22A (NO), the control device 6 controls the system to switch from the first ink cartridge 22A, which is in use, to the second ink cartridge 22B, which is in standby, and to use the second ink cartridge 22B. As a result, the control device 6 controls the system to switch from the first ink cartridge 22A to the second ink cartridge 22B and to primarily use the second ink cartridge 22B to perform the printing operation.

[0032] In step S5, while the printing operation is being performed using the second ink cartridge 22B, the operator can replace the first ink cartridge 22A with a new ink cartridge. After step S5, the process ends. After switching from the first ink cartridge 22A to the second ink cartridge 22B and replacing the first ink cartridge 22A with a new ink cartridge, the control device 6 can primarily use the second ink cartridge 22B and keep the newly replaced ink cartridge on standby as a backup.

[0033] In step S3, if it is determined in step S2 that there is ink remaining in the first ink cartridge 22A (YES), the control device 6, while the first ink cartridge 22A is in use, refers to ambient environmental information (ambient temperature, ambient humidity, etc.) acquired by the environmental information acquisition unit, such as the thermometer 4 and hygrometer 5, based on the ink information of the standby second ink cartridge 22B, and determines whether there is a possibility that the ink in the standby second ink cartridge 22B may have dried out. If it is determined that there is a possibility that the ink in the second ink cartridge 22B may have dried out (YES), the process proceeds to step S6. If it is determined that there is no possibility that the ink in the second ink cartridge 22B may have dried out (NO), the process proceeds to step S4.

[0034] In step S6, if it is determined in step S3 that there is a possibility that the ink in the second ink cartridge 22B may dry out (YES), the control device 6, based on the ink information of the standby second ink cartridge 22B (such as differences in drying time depending on the type of ink), refers to ambient environmental information (ambient temperature, ambient humidity, etc.) acquired by the environmental information acquisition unit such as the thermometer 4 and hygrometer 5, and controls the system to switch from the first ink cartridge 22A, which is in use, to the standby second ink cartridge 22B at the optimal timing to prevent the ink from drying out. The system then uses the second ink cartridge 22B once to eject one shot of ink from the second ink cartridge 22B and performs printing. If the ink in the second ink cartridge 22B dries out, printing will not be possible and it will be difficult to continue the printing operation. Therefore, the control is performed to prevent the ink in the second ink cartridge 22B from drying out by performing the switching operation before the ink in the second ink cartridge 22B dries out. After step S6, the process proceeds to step S4.

[0035] If it is determined in step S3 that there is no possibility of the ink in the second ink cartridge 22B drying out (NO), then in step S4, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to terminate the printing operation. If there is an instruction to terminate the printing operation (YES), the process ends. If there is no instruction to terminate the printing operation (NO), the process returns to step S1, and the printing operation using the first ink cartridge 22A continues.

[0036] According to the inkjet recording system 1 of this embodiment, for example, the following effects are achieved. The inkjet recording system 1 of this embodiment comprises an inkjet recording device 2 having a main body 21, a first ink cartridge 22A in use and a second ink cartridge 22B in standby, which are detachably attached to the main body 21, and a control device 6. The control device 6 controls the switching from the first ink cartridge 22A in use to the second ink cartridge 22B in standby based on the ink information of the ink contained in the ink storage section 222 of the first ink cartridge 22A in use or the second ink cartridge 22B in standby. This makes it possible to suppress the drying of the ink in the second ink cartridge 22B in standby based on the ink information.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control device 6, based on the ink information of the standby second ink cartridge 22B, switches from the first ink cartridge 22A that is in use to the standby second ink cartridge 22B, and then, after using the second ink cartridge 22B that was switched to, it executes control to switch back to the first ink cartridge 22A that was in use before the switch. This makes it possible to construct an inkjet recording system that does not stop printing while suppressing the drying of the ink in the second ink cartridge 22B.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control device 6 refers to ambient environment information acquired by the ambient environment information acquisition unit, such as the thermometer 4 and the hygrometer 5, and controls the system to switch from the first ink cartridge 22A, which is in use, to the second ink cartridge 22B, which is in standby. This allows the drying of the ink to be controlled according to the ambient environment.

[0039] Although preferred embodiments have been described above, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without being limited to the embodiments described above.

[0040] For example, in the control flow of the control device 6 of the inkjet recording system 1 of the above embodiment, the first ink cartridge 22A is mainly used and the second ink cartridge 22B is a spare standby ink cartridge, but this is not limited to this. The second ink cartridge 22B may be mainly used and the first ink cartridge 22A may be a spare standby ink cartridge. In this case, the control device 6 can switch to using the standby first ink cartridge 22A after the ink in the second ink cartridge 22B that is currently in use has run out. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1. Inkjet Recording System 2. Inkjet recording device 4. Thermometer (Ambient Environment Information Acquisition Unit) 5. Hygrometer (Ambient Environment Information Acquisition Unit) 6. Control device (control unit) 21 Main body 22A First Ink Cartridge (Ink Cartridge) 22B Second Ink Cartridge (Ink Cartridge) 221 Head section 222 Ink storage section

Claims

1. An inkjet recording device having a main body, and an ink cartridge in use and an ink cartridge in standby, which are detachably attached to the main body. The system includes a control unit that controls the switching from the ink cartridge currently in use to the ink cartridge in standby mode, The aforementioned ink cartridge in use and the aforementioned standby ink cartridge each have an ink storage section in which ink is stored and a print head section. In an inkjet recording system, the control unit, when switching from the ink cartridge in use to the standby ink cartridge, determines whether there is a possibility that the ink in the standby ink cartridge may have dried out, based on the ink information of the ink stored in the ink storage section of the standby ink cartridge, and if it is determined that there is a possibility that the ink in the standby ink cartridge may have dried out, it switches from the ink cartridge in use to the standby ink cartridge, then uses the switched ink cartridge once to eject one or several shots of ink from the switched ink cartridge, and then executes control to switch back to the ink cartridge that was used before the switch.

2. It is equipped with an ambient environment information acquisition unit that acquires information about the surrounding environment, The inkjet recording system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit refers to the ambient environment information acquired by the ambient environment information acquisition unit to determine whether or not there is a possibility that the ink in the standby ink cartridge may have dried out, and if it is determined that there is a possibility that the ink in the standby ink cartridge may have dried out, it controls the system to switch from the ink cartridge in use to the standby ink cartridge.

3. The inkjet recording system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit controls the system to switch from the ink cartridge in use to the standby ink cartridge and use the standby ink cartridge after the ink in the ink cartridge in use has finished being used.

Images