Recording apparatus having a device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorYOSHIO UCHIKATA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, which is installed on an ink-jet recording apparatus, is configured to determine the presence or absence of ink in the ink flow path by detecting the reflection of light from a light transmission portion by irradiating light thereon. The light transmission portion is formed on at least a part of the ink path wall that forms the ink flow path for supplying ink to the recording head. As a result, it becomes possible for responding to consumer demands of designing a smaller version of the ink tank, a cost effective production thereof, and the like in addition to provide images with excellent image qualities.
Claims20
A device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, installed on an ink-jet recording apparatus on which a recording head and an ink tank for supplying ink to said recording head are fixed or removably mounted, comprising:
- a light-emitting unit for emitting light to a light transmitting portion having at least a part where a ridge portion or groove portion in the shape of V in cross section are formed on said ink tank;
- a detecting unit for detecting light which is reflected off said light transmitting portion;
- and
- a means for transmitting the results obtained by said detecting unit to a control unit of said ink-jet recording apparatus.
An ink tank for supplying an ink to a recording means, which is fixed on or removably mounted on a recording apparatus for recording an input image information on a recording medium by using said recording means that ejects ink, comprising:
- an ink-storing portion for storing ink, provided as an ink-flow path for supplying ink to said recording means;
- a front end portion on which an ink-supplying opening for supplying said ink to said recording means;
- a rear end portion formed on the other side of said ink tank with respect to said front end portion;
- a side surface portion on which a window portion made of a light-transmitting material;
- and
- other side source portions for surrounding said ink-storing portion in conjunction with said side surface portion.
A recording apparatus for recording an input image information on a recording medium by using a recording means for ejecting ink, comprising:
- a carriage on which an ink tank having a window portion of a light-transmitting material on at least one side surface thereof is fixed or removably mounted;
- a device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, which are arranged in a position facing to said window portion of said ink tank mounted on said carriage;
- and
- a control unit for determining the presence or absence of ink in accordance with the results obtained by said device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid.
A recording system, comprising:
- an information processing unit for processing input information;
- an output unit for recording an output of said information processing unit on a recording medium;
- and
- a control unit for controlling an operating condition of said output unit, wherein
- said output unit having:
- a carriage on which an ink tank having a window portion of a light-transmitting material on at least one side surface thereof is fixed or removably mounted;
- a device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, which are arranged in a position facing to said window portion of said ink tank mounted on said carriage;
- and
- a control unit for determining the presence or absence of ink in accordance with the results obtained by said device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid.
A kit comprising an ink tank, a recording means to be connected with said ink tank, an ink refill means for refilling ink into said ink tank, wherein
- said ink tank is for supplying an ink to a recording means, which is fixed on or removably mounted on a recording apparatus for recording an input image information on a recording medium by using said recording means that ejects ink, and comprises:
- an ink-storing portion for storing ink, provided as an ink-flow path for supplying ink to said recording means;
- a front end portion on which an ink-supplying opening for supplying said ink to said recording means;
- a rear end portion formed on the other side of said ink tank with respect to said front end portion;
- a side surface portion on which a window portion made of a light-transmitting material;
- and
- other side source portions for surrounding said ink-storing portion in conjunction with said side surface portion.
A recording unit comprising an ink tank and a recording means to be connected with said ink tank, wherein
- said ink tank is for supplying an ink to a recording means, which is fixed on or removably mounted on a recording apparatus for recording an input image information on a recording medium by using said recording means that ejects ink, and comprises:
- an ink-storing portion for storing ink, provided as an ink-flow path for supplying ink to said recording means;
- a front end portion on which an ink-supplying opening for supplying said ink to said recording means;
- a rear end portion formed on the other side of said ink tank with respect to said front end portion;
- a side surface portion on which a window portion made of a light-transmitting material;
- and
- other side source portions for surrounding said ink-storing portion in conjunction with said side surface portion.
A device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, installed on an ink-jet recording apparatus on which a recording head and an ink tank for supplying ink to said recording head are fixed or removably mounted, comprising:
- a window portion formed on at least a part of a wall of said ink tank;
- a light-emitting unit for emitting light to said window portion;
- and
- a light-receptor unit for receiving light which is reflected off an inner wall surface of said window portion after emitting from said light-emitting unit, wherein
- a shape of said inner wall surface of said window portion is different from a shape of an inner wall surface of said ink tank around said window portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.