Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-kaisha

Brother Industries, Ltd.

Xing Inc.

Masatoshi Yoshiyama

Atsushi Murakami

Toyonori Sasaki

Mitsuharu Hattori

Yoshio Nakagawa

Tetsuya Ouchi

Hiroshi Nishikawa

Kazuhiro Hayamizu

Masayoshi Iguchi

Kazuhiko Omura

Yukichi Sawaki

Yuji Asano

Satoru Kuwabara

Masanari Kobayashi

Tsuyoshi Kushida

Hisanori Okamoto

Shin Asai

Kanae Imaeda

An image forming apparatus which makes an appropriately timed query as to whether or not an ink cartridge has been replaced and performs maintenance which preferably reflects the input from a user to the query. When the upper body of the apparatus which is opened and closed for the replacement of an ink cartridge is opened and then closed, the user is asked which colors of ink cartridges have been replaced, and then whether the cartridge has been replaced by a new ink cartridge. Flushing is performed to un-replaced ink cartridges. A single purge is performed to the ink cartridges which have been replaced by previously used ink cartridges. And a replacement purge is performed to the ink cartridges which have been replaced by new ink cartridges.

Image forming apparatus

To accurately position and fix an ink cartridge on an ink cartridge mounting unit, a first engaging depression is formed in the bottom wall of the ink cartridge and a corresponding protrusion is formed in the mounting unit. Also, an ink supply port is formed in the bottom wall. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting unit, the ink supply port is engaged first with an ink supply channel formed in the mounting unit and fluidly connected to the head unit. Then, the first engaging depression is brought into engagement with the corresponding protrusion in the mounting unit. A second engaging depression is further formed in the top. The engaging pawl of a locking arm engages the second engaging depression when the locking arm locks the ink cartridge to the head unit. Further, a pair of ribs is provided on the rear side wall of the ink cartridge. The ribs oppose each other with a prescribed interval. A corresponding protrusion protrudes from the head unit and fits into the space between the interval of the ribs when the ink cartridge is mounted in the head unit.

Ink cartridge for printer or the like and ink cartridge positioning and locking mechanism

The invention relates to an ink cartridge wherein a remaining amount of ink can be detected using an optical sensor. The ink cartridge has a window, for detection of an ink remaining amount, that is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction. Inside of the ink cartridge, a preventive member is vertically provided. When the ink level is up to the window, light irradiated from the optical sensor permeates the window. Then, the light passes through the ink and reaches the preventive member. Preferably, the window is inclined approximately 20 degrees with respect to the preventive member. Accordingly, an incident angle of the light that has reached the preventive member is different from an incident angle of the light to the window. Thus, most of the light that has reached the preventive member is absorbed or is reflected by the preventive member in a direction different from the incident direction, so that the light reflected toward the optical sensor can be restricted. When the ink level is not up to the window, the light irradiated from the optical sensor is reflected at an inner surface of the inclined portion, and travels toward the optical sensor. Consequently, the remaining amount of the ink is detected based on the amount of the reflected light. With this structure, detection accuracy of the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge can be improved.

Ink cartridge, printing apparatus using the ink cartridge, and method for detecting remaining amount of ink using the ink cartridge

To accurately position and fix an ink cartridge on an ink cartridge mounting unit, a first engaging depression is formed in the bottom wall of the ink cartridge and a corresponding protrusion is formed in the mounting unit. Also, an ink supply port is formed in the bottom wall. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting unit, the ink supply port is engaged first with an ink supply channel formed in the mounting unit and fluidly connected to the head unit. Then, the first engaging depression is brought into engagement with the corresponding protrusion in the mounting unit. A second engaging depression is further formed in the top. The engaging pawl of a locking arm engages the second engaging, depression when the locking arm locks the ink cartridge to the head unit. Further, a pair of ribs is provided on the rear side wall of the ink cartridge. The ribs oppose each other with a prescribed interval. A corresponding protrusion protrudes from the head unit and fits into the space between the interval of the ribs when the ink cartridge is mounted in the head unit.

In a calibration data input process, a carriageis moved toward an ink sensorto a prescribed position while the ink sensordetecting levels of reflected light. Then the amount of reflected light is read for over a range wider than the width of the carriageincluding a theoretical detecting position P. An actual detecting position Pis found based on the level of reflected light. The difference between the theoretical detecting position Pand the actual detecting position Pis calculated and is stored as the calibration value &#x3b1; in a first calibration data memory M. Accordingly, the actual detecting position Pis set as PThe calibration value &#x3b1; is used in a calibration process to calibrate the detecting position, so that the level of reflected light can be detected with accuracy.

Image forming device capable of detecting existence of ink and ink cartridge with high accuracy

Ink cartridge

In a calibration data input process, a carriage is moved toward an ink sensor to a prescribed position while the ink sensor detecting levels of reflected light. Then the amount of reflected light is read for over a range wider than the width of the carriage including a theoretical detecting position P An actual detecting position P is found based on the level of reflected light. The difference between the theoretical detecting position P and the actual detecting position P is calculated and is stored as the calibration value &agr; in a first calibration data memory M . Accordingly, the actual detecting position P is set as P &plusmn;&agr;. The calibration value &agr; is used in a calibration process to calibrate the detecting position, so that the level of reflected light can be detected with accuracy.

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Nagoya, Japan

Masatoshi Yoshiyama