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EP0381392A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ink jet apparatus and ink jet head

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1990-01-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-01-26
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Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus comprises an ink jet head (1) having an ink path (4) communicating with a discharge opening (2) for discharging ink; electrodes (7a,7b,7c) arranged in said ink path (4); a residual ink quantity detection means for detecting residual ink quantity in said ink path in accordance with a resistance value, current value or voltage value from said electrodes; and a correction means for correcting said resistance value, current value or voltage value in accordance with the difference in a resistance of the ink.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hiroshi Tajika
  • 👤 Hiromitsu Hirabayashi
  • 👤 Atsushi Arai
  • 👤 Noribumi Koitabashi
  • 👤 Yoshiaki Takayamagi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 14:00
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17526; B41J2/17513; B41J2/17566; B41J2002/17579

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim 82 words
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet head having an ink path communicating with a discharge opening for discharging ink; electrodes arranged in said ink path; a residual ink quantity detection means for detecting residual ink quantity in said ink path in accordance with a resistance value, current value or voltage value from said elecrodes; and a correction means for correcting said resistance value, current value or voltage value in accordance with the difference in the resistance of the ink.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 82 words
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet head having an ink path communicating with a discharge opening for discharging ink; electrodes arranged in said ink path; a residual ink quantity detection means for detecting residual ink quantity in said ink path in accordance with a resistance value, current value or voltage value from said elecrodes; and a correction means for correcting said resistance value, current value or voltage value in accordance with the difference in the resistance of the ink.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said difference in the resistance of the ink is caused by the difference in the composition of the ink.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said difference in the composition of the ink is caused by the difference in the color tone of the ink.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said difference in the resistance of the ink is caused by the change in the circumferential condition surrounding the ink.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said circumferential condition surrounding the ink includes a temperature of the ink.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correction means has a circuit including a correction resistance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correction means is provided in said ink jet head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correction means is provided in a body of said ink jet recording apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said residual ink quantity detection means includes a circuit for reversing the polarity whenever said detection is performed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 37 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ink jet head is provided with an electrical/thermal conversion element as an energy generating member for generating thermal energy as energy used for discharging the ink.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 42 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ink jet head is formed integrally with an ink tank, and is shaped as a disposable cartridge which can be removably mounted on the body of said ink jet recording apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 18 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ink path includes an ink absorbent therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 29 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ink jet head performes the recording operation by discharging the ink downwardly with respect to a vertical direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 29 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ink jet head performs the recording operation by discharging the ink transversely with respect to a vertical direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said ink jet head are provided in correspondence with a plurality of color inks.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 40 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ink jet head is a full-line type ink jet head wherein a plurality of said discharge openings are provided in correspondence with a recording width of a recording member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 80 words
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink tank for reserving ink to be supplied to an ink jet head; electrodes arranged in said ink tank; a residual ink quantity detection means for detecting residual ink quantity in said ink tank in accordance with a resistance value, current value or voltage value from said electrodes; and a correction means for correcting said resistance value, current value or voltage value in accordance with the difference in a resistance of the ink.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 80 words
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink tank for reserving ink to be supplied to an ink jet head; electrodes arranged in said ink tank; a residual ink quantity detection means for detecting residual ink quantity in said ink tank in accordance with a resistance value, current value or voltage value from said electrodes; and a correction means for correcting said resistance value, current value or voltage value in accordance with the difference in a resistance of the ink.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 29 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said difference in the resistance of the ink is caused by the difference in the composition of the ink.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 30 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said difference in the composition of the ink is caused by the difference in the color tone of the ink.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 30 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said difference in the resistance of the ink is caused by the change in the circumferential condition surrounding the ink.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 22 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said circumferential condition surrounding the ink includes a temperature of the ink.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 20 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said correction means has a circuit including a correction resistance.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 19 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said correction means is provided in said ink tank.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 24 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said correction means is provided in a body of said ink jet recording apparatus.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 28 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said residual ink quantity detection means includes a circuit for reversing the polarity whenever said detection is performed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 42 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said ink tank is formed integrally with said ink jet head, and is shaped as a disposable cartridge which can be removably mounted on the body of said ink jet recording apparatus.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 18 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said ink tank includes an ink absorbent therein.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 26 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of said ink tank are provided in correspondence with a plurality of color inks.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 65 words
An ink jet head comprising: an ink path communicating with an ink discharge opening for discharging ink; electrodes arranged in said ink path; and a correction means for correcting a resistance value, current value or voltage value sent to a residual ink quantity detection means for detecting residual ink quantity in said ink path, in accordance with the difference in a resistance of the ink.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 65 words
An ink jet head comprising: an ink path communicating with an ink discharge opening for discharging ink; electrodes arranged in said ink path; and a correction means for correcting a resistance value, current value or voltage value sent to a residual ink quantity detection means for detecting residual ink quantity in said ink path, in accordance with the difference in a resistance of the ink.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 28 words
An ink jet head according to claim 29, wherein said difference in the resistance of the ink is caused by the difference in the composition of the ink.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 29 words
An ink jet head according to claim 30, wherein said difference in the composition of the ink is caused by the difference in the color tone of the ink.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 29 words
An ink jet head according to claim 29, wherein said difference in the resistance of the ink is caused by the change in the circumferential condition surrounding the ink.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 21 words
An ink jet head according to claim 32, wherein said circumferential condition surrounding the ink includes a temperature of the ink.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 19 words
An ink jet head according to claim 29, wherein said correction means has a circuit including a correction resistance.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 27 words
An ink jet head according to claim 29, wherein said residual ink quantity detection means includes a circuit for reversing the polarity whenever said detection is performed.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 34 words
An ink jet head according to claim 29, wherein said ink jet head has an electrical/thermal conversion element as an energy generating member for generating thermal energy as energy used for discharging the ink.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 41 words
An ink jet head according to claim 29, wherein said ink jet head is formed integrally with an ink tank, and is shaped as a disposable cartridge which can be removably mounted on a body of an ink jet recording apparatus.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 17 words
An ink jet head according to claim 29, wherein said ink path includes an ink absorbent therein.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 39 words
An ink jet head according to claim 29, wherein said ink jet head is a full-line type ink jet head wherein a plurality of said discharge openings are provided in correspondence with a recording width of a recording member.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 68 words
An ink tank comprising: an ink reversing portion for reversing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head; electrodes arranged in said ink reversing portion; and a correction means for correcting a resistance value, current value or voltage value sent to a residual ink quantity detection means for detecting residual ink quantityin said ink reversing portion, in accordance with the difference in a resistance of the ink.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 68 words
An ink tank comprising: an ink reversing portion for reversing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head; electrodes arranged in said ink reversing portion; and a correction means for correcting a resistance value, current value or voltage value sent to a residual ink quantity detection means for detecting residual ink quantityin said ink reversing portion, in accordance with the difference in a resistance of the ink.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 27 words
An ink tank according to claim 40, wherein said difference in the resistance of the ink is caused by the difference in the composition of the ink.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 28 words
An ink tank according to claim 41, wherein said difference in the composition of the ink is caused by the difference in the color tone of the ink.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 28 words
An ink tank according to claim 40, wherein said difference in the resitance of the ink is caused by the change in the circumferential condition surrounding the ink.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 20 words
An ink tank according to claim 40, wherein said circumferential condition surrounding the ink includes a temperature of the ink.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 18 words
An ink tank according to claim 40, wherein said correction means has a circuit including a correction resistance.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 26 words
An ink tank according to claim 40, wherein said residual ink quantity detection means includes a circuit for reversing the polarity whenever said detection is performed.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim 40 words
An ink tank according to claim 40, wherein said ink tank is formed integrally with said ink jet head, and is shaped as a disposable cartridge which can be removably mounted on a body of an ink jet recording apparatus.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 17 words
An ink tank according to claim 40, wherein said ink reserving portion includes an ink absorbent therein.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim 86 words
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink supply source for reserving ink to be supplied ink jet head; electrodes arranged in said ink supply source; a residual ink quantity detection means for detecting residual ink quantity in said ink supply source in accordance with a resistance value, current value or voltage value from said electrodes; and a determining means for determining a residual ink quantity detection a threshold value for said resitance value, current value or voltage value in correspondence to said ink supply source.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim 86 words
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink supply source for reserving ink to be supplied ink jet head; electrodes arranged in said ink supply source; a residual ink quantity detection means for detecting residual ink quantity in said ink supply source in accordance with a resistance value, current value or voltage value from said electrodes; and a determining means for determining a residual ink quantity detection a threshold value for said resitance value, current value or voltage value in correspondence to said ink supply source.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim 43 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said ink supply source is formed integrally with said ink jet head, and is shaped as a disposable cartridge which can be removably mounted on the body of said ink jet recording apparatus.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim 34 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said ink supply source is shaped as a disposable cartridge which can be removably mounted on the body of said ink jet recording apparatus.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim 19 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said ink supply source includes an ink absorbent therein.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim 37 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said ink jet head is provided with an electrical/thermal conversion element as an energy generating member for generating thermal energy as energy used for discharging the ink.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim 61 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said determining means causes said residual ink quantity detection means to perform said detection in an initial condition of said ink supply source, and determines said threshold value on the basis of a changed amount of said resistance value, current value or voltage value from said electrodes obtained by said detection.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim 26 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 49, further including a memory means for storing said threshold value or information for determining said threshold value.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim 26 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 49, wherein means for presenting information for determining said threshold value is provided in said ink supply source.

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