Ink-Jet Recording Apparatus

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20070200880
  • Publication Number
    20070200880
  • Date Filed
    February 23, 2007
    17 years ago
  • Date Published
    August 30, 2007
    17 years ago
Abstract
An embodiment of the description relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus which includes an ink cartridge in which ink is stored in an ink chamber, and a mechanism that optically detects the amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber. The receding contact angle of the ink with respect to an inner wall surface of the ink chamber is about 200 or more.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the following drawings, in which like features are indicated by like numbers in which:



FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic views illustrating a method of measuring a receding contact angle θa and an advancing contact angle θb;



FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an ink-jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 3A is a plan view of an ink cartridge shown in FIG. 2;



FIG. 3B is another plan view of an ink cartridge shown in FIG. 2;



FIG. 3C is a bottom view of an ink cartridge shown in FIG. 2;



FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge shown in FIG. 2, when viewed from a lower side;



FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3B; and



FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 5.


Claims
  • 1. An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink cartridge in which ink is stored in an ink chamber; anda mechanism that optically detects an amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber,wherein a receding contact angle of the ink with respect to an inner wall surface of the ink chamber is about 20° or more.
  • 2. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an advancing contact angle of the ink with respect to the inner wall surface of the ink chamber is about 50° or more.
  • 3. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a ten point height of roughness profile of at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the ink chamber is about 1.6 μm or less.
  • 4. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the ink chamber is detected by the mechanism that optically detects the amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber.
  • 5. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge further comprises a float assembly comprising at least one non-light transmissive component.
  • 6. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the float assembly comprises a float and a light shielding plate.
  • 7. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the mechanism that optically detects the amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber optically detects a component of the float assembly.
  • 8. An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising: a cartridge in which an ink-jet liquid is stored in a liquid chamber; anda mechanism that optically detects an amount of ink-jet liquid remaining in the liquid chamber,wherein a receding contact angle of the ink-jet liquid with respect to an inner wall surface of the liquid chamber is about 20° or more.
  • 9. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an advancing contact angle of the ink-jet liquid with respect to the inner wall surface of the liquid chamber is about 50° or more.
  • 10. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a ten point height of roughness profile of at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the liquid chamber is about 1.6 μm or less.
  • 11. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the liquid chamber is detected by the mechanism that optically detects the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid chamber.
  • 12. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the cartridge further comprises a float assembly comprising at least one non-light transmissive component.
  • 13. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the float assembly comprises a float and a light shielding plate.
  • 14. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the mechanism that optically detects the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid chamber optically detects a component of the float assembly.
  • 15. An cartridge comprising: a liquid stored in a liquid chamber, wherein a receding contact angle of the liquid with respect to an inner wall surface of the liquid chamber is about 20° or more; anda float assembly comprising at least one non-light transmissive component.
  • 16. The cartridge according to claim 15, wherein an advancing contact angle of the liquid with respect to the inner wall surface of the liquid chamber is about 50° or more.
  • 17. The cartridge according to claim 15, wherein a ten point height of roughness profile of at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the liquid chamber is about 1.6 μm or less.
  • 18. The cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the float assembly comprises a float and a light shielding plate.
  • 19. The cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the liquid stored in the liquid chamber comprises ink stored in an ink chamber.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2006052441 Feb 2006 JP national