Ink cartridge for ink-jet printing apparatus

Abstract: An ink cartridge (20) is composed of the body of a container (23) provided with an ink supply port (21) for discharging ink into a print head for housing ink and a cap for sealing the body of the container so that the container can communicate with the air, a semiconductor memory device (30) storing information related to ink is mounted on the surface of the body of the container or the cap and is coated with a film organizer (27) which can be peeled. The semiconductor memory device is prevented by the film organizer as much as possible from being exposed so as to prevent the information of ink from being lost due to the rough handling of a user.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to an ink cartridge suitable for an ink-jet printing apparatus in which an ink-jet print head is provided to a reciprocating carriage and an ink cartridge is detachably mounted on the carriage, and more particularly relates to an ink cartridge provided with a memory device such as a semiconductor chip storing thereon information related to the ink cartridge or ink contained in the ink cartridge. Related Art : An ink-jet printing apparatus with a print head generates a driving signal in accordance with print data and applied same to a pressure generating section such as a piezoelectric vibrator and a heating section, so that the ink within a pressure generating chamber is pressurized and ink droplets eject from nozzle apertures formed in the print head. The ink-jet printing apparatus of this type is also provided with an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the print head. As the printing quality is determined by the resolution of a print head and, in addition, greatly depends upon the viscosity of ink, a condition of bleeding on a recording medium and others, the characteristics of ink and a driving signal applied to the print head are improved to enhance the quality of printing. Further, the cycle of ink-missing ejection has been improved for preventing the nozzle apertures from being clogged, and also the maintenance conditions such as forced ejection of ink droplets into a cap of a cleaning mechanism has been improved. Therefore, there has often been proposed a semiconductor memory device storing data related to ink or ink cartridge which is provided to an ink cartridge, so that the data is read from the memory device by a printing apparatus, printing is executed under an optimum condition, or data related to a state in which the ink cartridge is used is stored in the semiconductor memory device. For example, as disclosed in Japanese published unexamined patent application No. Hei. 3-67657, there has been proposed an ink cartridge wherein a semiconductor memory chip is mounted on an upper surface of a container composing the ink cartridge so that data can be read out by a printing apparatus via a substrate and an ink cartridge wherein a recessed portion is formed in the ink cartridge and a semiconductor memory chip is fitted in the recessed portion so that data can be read out. European Patent Publication No. 0440261 discloses an inkjet recording apparatus comprising an ink cartridge. The ink cartridge comprises an ink cassette and an adapter in which the ink cassette is mounted. The ink cassette includes an ink bag containing ink. The ink bag is connected to a capping member which is pierced with a hollow needle of a cartridge receptor when the ink cartridge is inserted into the inkjet recording apparatus. An information medium is attached on the side of the adapter. The information medium contains information regarding the material and amount of the ink in the ink bag. When the ink cartridge is inserted into the ink cartridge receptor, an electrical connection is established between the contacts of the information medium and corresponding connecting pins of the ink cartridge receptor. Information stored on the information medium can then be accessed by the inkjet recording apparatus. However, as the above semiconductor memory chip is mounted in a state in which it is always left exposed, there is a problem that users may readily come to touch the semiconductor memory chip with their fingers, and the memory chip may be broken or lost due to static electricity or others. If such happens, the printing apparatus would not read out information stored on the semiconductor memory chip for proper printing. According to the conventional ink cartridge with a semiconductor memory device, it is required to provide an extra mechanism for fixing the semiconductor memory device to an ink cartridge which causes another problem of rising up the manufacturing cost and also the manufacturing process becomes complicated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge for an ink-jet printing apparatus capable of preventing information related to the ink cartridge or ink in the cartridge from being broken or lost due to the rough handling of a user. A second object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge for an ink-jet printing apparatus which enables a memory device such as a semiconductor chip to be readily mounted without requiring special mechanism and structure of the cartridge. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printing apparatus mounting thereon an ink cartridge with a memory device capable of achieving any one of the foregoing objects. The above and other objects can be achieved by a provision of an ink cartridge, according to claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a printing mechanism of an ink-jet printing apparatus for executing printing using an ink cartridge according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the ink cartridge according to the present invention; Figs. 3a to 3c respectively show the embodiment of the ink cartridge in a state before a film is installed, in a state in which a film is installed and in a state in which a part of a film is peeled for use; Fig. 4 is a top view showing an embodiment of a memory device mounted on the ink cartridge; Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a controller; Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a state in which the ink cartridge is installed in the printing apparatus; Figs. 7a to 7c respectively show an embodiment of the ink cartridge in a state before a film is installed, in a state in which a film is installed and in a state in which a part of a film is peeled for use, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the structure of a holder suitable for the above ink cartridge in a state in which the ink cartridge is installed; Figs. 9a to 9c and Figs. 10a to 10c respectively show the other embodiment of the ink cartridge in a state before a film is installed, in a state in which a film is installed and in a state in which a part of a film is peeled for use; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a sealing film for an ink cartridge according to another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge and sealing films according to another arrangement of the invention; and Fig. 13 is a top view showing the other embodiment of the memory device mounted on the ink cartridge. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a printing mechanism of an ink-jet printing apparatus for executing printing using an ink cartridge according to the present invention, a cartridge holder 6 provided with a pivotable lever 5 is formed on a carriage 4 connecting to a drive motor 2 via a timing belt 1 and guided by a guide bar 3 and a print head 8 to which ink is supplied from the ink cartridge via an ink supply needle 7 is also provided on the lower surface of the carriage. The carriage 4 connects to a control section 10 described later via a flexible cable 9. The printing apparatus is also provided with a paper feed motor 11 for driving a paper feed mechanism 12 and a pump unit 13 and a cleaning mechanism 14 for cleaning the clogging of nozzle apertures of the print head 8. Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of an ink cartridge 20. The ink cartridge is composed as a container 23 having an ink supply port 21 at the bottom thereof into which an ink supply needle 7 of the printing apparatus is inserted and an opening at the top thereof which is sealed with a lid 22. A porous member 24 impregnated with ink is accommodated in the container 24. An ink inlet 25 and an air communicating port 26 are formed in a surface of the lid 22. The air communicating port 26 connects to an end of a fine groove 28 sealed by a sealing film 27 as shown in Fig. 3. The sealing film 27 is provided with a first seal part 27a and a second seal part 27b. The fine groove 28 formed on an outer surface of the lid 22 performs to generate the capillary action. The other end of the fine groove 28 extends to an area which covers the removable second seal part 27b of the sealing film 27. A recessed portion 29 is formed in a position of the second, removable part 27b of the film 27 is stuck and a memory device 30 fits in the recessed portion. According to the present embodiment, the sealing film 27 sticks onto the lid 22 and covers the memory device 30 fitted in the recessed portion 29 in such a manner that a gap is defined between the memory device 30 and the sealing film 27. Further, no sticking layer or material is applied to the part of the sealing film 27 which faces the recessed portion 29. It is desirable that the sealing film 27 in an area sealing the recessed portion 29 is formed at least partly from a material having an air impermeable characteristics and/or electrical conductivity. In a case where the sealing film 27 is conductive, because the conductive material holds and discharge the static electricity the adverse affect due to the static electricity is hardly applied to the memory storing part of the memory device 30. Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the memory device 30, which serves as a memory module for storing therein information. A semiconductor memory chip 32 serving as an information storing part, is mounted on a circuit board 31, and conductive patterns 33 respectively connected to the semiconductor memory chip 32 and electrodes 34 respectively connecting to a group of contacts of the printing apparatus are formed. As shown in Fig. 3a, after the memory device 30 is mounted so that it fits into the recessed portion 29 formed in the lid 22 of the ink cartridge 20 and decompression processing is applied if necessary, the sealing film 27, which has sufficient air impermeable characteristics is stuck onto the outer surface of the lid 22 so that the film covers the ink inlet 25, the air communicating port 26, the fine groove 28 and the recessed portion 29 with the semiconductor memory chip 30. Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the controller, a main control unit 40 receives print data from a host computer via an interface circuit 42 according to a command from an operator panel 41 and controls a printing control unit 44 based upon the print data according to a control program stored in an internal memory 43. The printing control unit 44 controls printing operation to drive the carriage motor 2 and the paper feed motor 11, the print head 8 vertically and horizontally scans and ink droplets are ejected from nozzles of the print head 8. The controller also operates the cleaning mechanism 14 to cope with the clogging of the print head 8 when a command is issued via the operator panel 41 or when a power source is turned on. In addition to the above regular control operation in the ink-jet printing apparatus, the main control unit 40 controls printing operation by communicating with the memory device 30 provided to the ink cartridge 20 and reading the information of the ink cartridge such as the ink composition, production date code, model number or the like. Communication between the memory device 30 of the ink cartridge 20 and the printing apparatus is executed in this embodiment when a detecting section 46 detects new connection between each electrode 34 of the memory device 30 and the respective one of the group of contacts 45 provided to the lever 5 or when the main control unit 40 reads data stored in the semiconductor chip 32 in power on. In this embodiment, when the ink cartridge 20 is distributed and a user unpacks the ink cartridge, the memory device 30 is still covered with the sealing film 27 and is still out of contact with a user. When a removable part of the film 27 is peeled as shown in Fig. 3c before the use of the ink cartridge, an air communication hole 28a and a part of the fine, circuitous groove 28 becomes open to atmospheric air and also the memory device 30 is first exposed. In this state, when the ink cartridge 20 is installed in the holder 6 with the ink cartridge properly directed and the lever 5 is turned up to an end, the ink supply needle 7 inserts into the ink supply port 21 as shown in Fig. 6, the ink supply from the ink cartridge 20 to the print head 8 is enabled and as each of the group of contacts 45 of the lever 5 and each electrode 34 of the memory device 30 come into contact, the information of the ink cartridge 20 is read out from the memory device 30 and then a proper or optimum printing is enabled. In this embodiment, as the memory device 30 is housed in the recessed portion 29 integrated with the ink cartridge 20, the electrodes 34 are precisely positioned and secure communicating between the electrodes and the printing apparatus can be secured. Figs. 7a to 7c respectively show another embodiment of the ink cartridge according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a recessed portion 29' is formed on one of the side wall 23a of a container 23 serving as the ink cartridge, on which side the ink supply port is located closer. The above memory device 30 is fitted in the recessed portion 29' in the side wall 23a. A part including an ink inlet port 25, an air communicating port 26 and a fine, circuitous groove 28 performing a capillary action and in the vicinity of a port open to the air are sealed by a first sealing film 50. In addition, an air communication hole 28a is formed on the ink cartridge in the vicinity of the recessed portion 29'. The air communication hole 28a is sealed by a second sealing film 51 which can be peeled so that the second film overlaps with a part of the first film 50. An adhesive is applied only to the stuck area 51a of the second film 51 and one end 51b is kept in a lifted state so that it functions as a handhold when the second film is peeled off. When the ink cartridge is installed in a normal position as shown in Fig. 8, a group of contacts 45'are arranged in a position opposite to the recessed portion 29'of the ink cartridge 20 in which the memory device 30 is provided. In this embodiment, when the second sealing film 51 is peeled as shown in Fig. 7c, the fine groove 28 becomes open to the air and the memory device 30 on the side wall 23a is exposed. In this state, when the ink cartridge 10 is installed in a holder 6 and the lever 5 is pivoted to an end, each of the group of contacts 45' comes into contact with the respective electrode 34 of the memory device 30 in a state where an ink supply needle 7 is inserted into an ink supply port 21 as shown in Fig. 8, the information of the ink cartridge 20 stored on the memory device 30 is read out and the proper or optimum printing is realized. In the above embodiments, the recessed portions are formed respectively in the lid 22 of the ink cartridge or in the container 23 and the memory device 30 is housed in the recessed portion. According to another embodiment, a memory device 30 is secured to a label or sticker stuck on each surface of respective areas 52a and 53a left on an ink cartridge after unsealing of sealing films 52 and 53 stuck on the ink cartridge 20 as shown in Figs. 9a to 9c and Figs. 10a to 10c. Therefore, the accurate positional relationship of the memory device 30 can be achieved. As shown in Figs. 9(a) to 9(c), a memory device 30 is attached or adhered onto a first sealing part 52a of the sealing film 52, and a second sealing part 52c is removed out when the ink cartridge is in use so that the air communication hole 28a comes to open to atmosphere. In an arrangement in Figs. 10(a) to 10(c), an edge of the first sealing part 53a of the sealing film 53 extends to reach the side wall of the ink cartridge when the sealing film is attached to the cartridge, and the memory device 30 is attached or adhered to a part of the first sealing part 53a which is disposed on the side wall of the ink cartridge. According to the arrangement, the width of the part of the first sealing part 53a, which is disposed on the side wall of the ink cartridge, is smaller than that of the other part of the first sealing part 53a as shown in Figs. 10(a) to 10(c). In these embodiments, after the film 52 or 53 is stuck on the lid 22 of the cartridge 20, the memory device 30 is fixed in a defined position by an adhesive and others or after the memory device 30 is fixed in a defined position on the film beforehand, the film 52 or 53 is stuck on the lid 22 so that the memory device 30 is located in a defined position of the cartridge. According to the foregoing embodiments, the above recessed portions 29 and 29' for housing the memory device in the lid 22 and the container 23 respectively composing the ink cartridge are not required, and not only the manufacturing process can be simplified but the memory device can be readily provided to the ink cartridge without changing a metal mold for injection molding used for manufacturing a conventional type ink cartridge. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a sealing film 52 for an ink cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the position of the memory device 30 shown in Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 11, a memory device 30 is attached onto a sticking side of a sealing film 52 so that the memory device 30 may be fitted in a recessed portion 60 formed in the lid 22 of the ink cartridge. It is necessary to form the recessed portion 60 in this embodiment, however, it is readily assemble the memory device to the ink cartridge in the sealing film attaching process during manufacturing. In addition, there arises no possibility of being damaged by external affect such as in advertent touch by person's fingers. This type of ink cartridge can be realized in a printing apparatus having a non-contact type communication system as described below. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge and sealing films according to another arrangement of the present invention. The sealing film of this arrangement includes a first film 61 onto which the memory device 30 is stuck and a second film 62 for sealing the air communication hole 28a and a part of the fine groove 28. Since the second film 62 has a size enough to cover the memory device 30 stuck on the first film 61, the similar advantage to the above can be accomplished. In addition, this type of the arrangement can also be employed also in a printing apparatus having a contact type communication system. In the above embodiments of the invention, communication between the semiconductor chip of the memory device and the printing apparatus is realized by contact between the electrodes and the group of contacts. However, as shown in Fig. 13, non-contact type communication may be employed such as radio-communication means 35. The non-contact type communication may include, for example an electromagnetic wave transmitting/receiving module, an optical communication module and an ultrasonic communication module and a semiconductor memory chip 32 can communicate in a non-contact state by mounting them on a circuit board and connecting the radio-communication means and the semiconductor memory chip 32 via a conductive pattern 36, and a problem caused by the failure of contact between an electrode and a contact can be avoided. Further, according to the present invention, if desired, another type of information storing part may also be employed such as a magnetic recording medium other than the semiconductor memory chip. According to the invention, the memory device 30 may be entirely constituted by a semiconductor chip if desired. Also, in the above embodiments, the cartridge for housing one type of ink is described, however, it is clear that even if the present invention is applied to a color ink cartridge wherein a container is divided into plural chambers for housing different inks by a partition or partitions and ink supply ports communicating with each chamber are formed, the similar action is produced.

Claims: An ink cartridge (20) for an ink jet printer, comprising: a housing (23) having an opening and containing ink therein; a lid (22) covering said opening of said housing (23); an ink supply port (21) formed on a wall of said housing (23), said ink supply port (21) constructed to discharge ink out of said housing; (23) a memory device (30) storing information about said ink cartridge (20); and characterised by : a seal member (27) stuck to a part of said housing (23) or said lid (22), said seal member (27) constructed and positioned to cover said memory device (30) before said ink cartridge (20) is initially mounted on a printer. The ink cartridge (20) of claim 1, wherein said memory device (30) is mounted on said lid (22). The ink cartridge (20) of claim 1, wherein said memory device (30) is mounted on a side wall (23a) of said housing (23). The ink cartridge (20) of claim 1, further comprising a recess (29) formed in said lid (22) and said memory device (30) is mounted in said recess (29). The ink cartridge (20) of claim 1, further comprising a recess (29a) formed in a side wall (23a) of said housing (23) and said memory device (30) is mounted in said recess (29a). The ink cartridge (20) of claims 4 or 5, wherein said memory device (30) engages with said seal member (27) through a gap defined therebetween. The ink cartridge (20) of claim 1, further comprising an air communication hole (28a) and a fine groove (28) formed in said lid (22). The ink cartridge (20) of claim 1, wherein said seal member comprises a first seal part (27a) and a second seal part (27b), said second seal part (27b) being torn off when the ink cartridge (20) is in use. The ink cartridge (20) of claim 8, wherein said memory device (30) is covered with said second seal part (27b) and exposed when said second seal part (27b) is torn off. The ink cartridge (20) of claim 8, wherein said memory device (30) is secured on an outer surface of said first seal part (27a). The ink cartridge (20) of claim 8, wherein said first seal part (27a) is separated from said second seal part (27b). The ink cartridge (20) of claim 8, wherein said first seal part (27a) partly connects to said second seal part (27b). The ink cartridge (20) of claim 1, wherein said seal member (27) is formed from air impermeable material. The ink cartridge (20) of claim 1, wherein said seal member (27) is formed from conductive material. The ink cartridge (20) of claim 1, wherein said memory device (30) comprises a semiconductor chip. The ink cartridge (20) of claim 7, wherein said seal member (27) covers said fine groove (28) formed in said lid (22). The ink cartridge (20) of claim 7, wherein said seal member (27) comprises a first seal part (27a) and a second seal part (27b), and said air communication hole (28a) and said memory device (30) are left open when said second seal part (27b) is torn off. The ink cartridge (20) of claim 8 or 17, wherein said memory device (30) is disposed between said first seal part (27a) and said lid (22). The ink cartridge (20) of claim 7, wherein said seal member (22) comprises a first film on which said memory device (30) is attached and a second film covering said memory device (30) and said air communication hole (28a). The ink cartridge (20) of claim 7, wherein said memory device (30) is disposed in the vicinity of said air communication hole (28a). An ink jet printer comprising: a print head (8) including a plurality of nozzles through which ink is ejected; an ink supply needle (7) connected to said print head (8); the ink cartridge (20) of any one of claims 1 to 20 being mounted on the printer and engaging with said ink supply needle (7); a detecting device (46) for detecting information stored in said memory device (30); and a control section (40) connected to said detecting device (46) and receiving information from said detecting device (46). The ink jet printer of claim 21, wherein said detecting device (46) comprises a non-contact type communication system. The ink jet printer of claim 22, wherein said non-contact type communication system comprises an electromagnetic wave communication device. The ink jet printer of claim 22, wherein said non-contact type communication system comprises an optical communication device. The ink jet printer of claim 22, wherein said non-contact type communication system comprises an ultrasonic wave communication device. The ink jet printer of claim 21, wherein said memory device (30) comprises at least one electrode, and said detecting device (46) comprises at least one terminal which is engageable with said electrode of said memory device (30).

Inventors: MATSUZAKI MAKOTO, SHINADA SATOSHI, MATSUZAKI, MAKOTO, SHINADA, SATOSHI
Applicants: SEIKO EPSON CORP, SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B41J2
IPC codes: B41J2