Claims
- 1. A device for detecting a decrease in ink amount, the device comprising:
- a plurality of displacing members each provided on one of a plurality of corresponding ink chambers to be displaced in accordance with a decrease of ink in each said ink chamber;
- a connecting member for connecting said plurality of displacing members to be displaced, when ink in at least one of said ink chambers decreases, in association with the displacement of said displacing member corresponding to said at least one ink chamber in accordance with the decrease of the ink, said connecting member including an integral conductive member;
- an electrode fixed to a body of said device, said electrode being provided in a moving path of said conductive member; and
- a biasing member for biasing said connecting member and said displacing members in a same direction and for biasing said conductive member to be in contact with said electrode,
- wherein said conductive member remains in contact with said electrode when more than a predetermined amount of ink is contained in each of said ink chambers, and at least one of said displacing members is deformed in a direction against a direction of a biasing force of said biasing member and said connecting member is displaced in accordance with the movement of said at least one displacing member so that said conductive member is brought out of contact with said electrode when an ink amount in said ink chamber which corresponds to said at least one displacing member decreases and a pressure in said ink chamber becomes more negative than a predetermined pressure.
- 2. A method for detecting a decrease in ink amount comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of displacing members on a plurality of corresponding ink chambers to be displaced in accordance with a decrease of ink in each said ink chamber;
- a connecting member for connecting said plurality of displacing members to be displaced, when ink in at least one of said ink chambers decreases, in association with the displacement of said displacing member corresponding to said at least one ink chamber in accordance with the decrease of the ink, said connecting member inlcuding an integral conductive member;
- providing an electrode at a position at which said electrode may contact said conductive member; and
- applying a biasing force to bias said connecting member and said displacing members in a same direction and to bias said conductive member to be in contact with said electrode,
- wherein said conductive member remains in contact with said electrode when more than a predetermined amount of ink is contained in each of said ink chambers, and at least one of said displacing members is deformed in a direction against a direction of the biasing force and said connecting member is displaced in accordance with the movement of said at least one displacing member so that said conductive member is brought out of contact with said electrode when an ink amount in said ink chamber which corresponds to said at least one displacing member decreases and a pressure in said ink chamber becomes more negative than a predetermined pressure.
- 3. A device for detecting a decrease in ink amount, the device comprising:
- a plurality of displacing members each provided on one of a plurality of corresponding ink chambers to be displaced in accordance with a decrease of ink in each said ink chamber;
- a connecting member for connecting said plurality of displacing members to be displaced, when ink in at least one of said ink chambers decreases, in association with the displacement of said displacing member corresponding to said at least one ink chamber in accordance with the decrease of the ink, said connecting member including a conductive member;
- an electrode fixed to a body of said device, said electrode being provided at a position at which said electrode may contact said conductive member; and
- a biasing member for biasing said connecting member and said displacing member in a same direction and for biasing said conductive member to be in contact with said electrode,
- wherein said conductive member remains in contact with said electrode when more than a predetermined amount of ink is contained in each of said ink chambers, and at least one of said displacing members is deformed in a direction against a direction of a biasing force of said biasing member and said connecting member is displaced in accordance with the movement of said at least one displacing member so that said conductive member is brought out of contact with said electrode when an ink amount in said ink chamber which corresponds to said at least one displacing member decreases and a pressure in said ink chamber becomes more negative than a predetermined pressure.
- 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of ink chambers are stacked.
- 5. A device according to claim 3, wherein each of said displacing members comprises a flexible member.
- 6. A device according to claim 3, further comprising regulating means for regulating the displacement of at least one of said displacing members is provided for corresponding ink chambers.
- 7. A device according to claim 3, wherein said detecting means optically detects a displacement quantity.
- 8. A device according to claim 3, wherein the pressure in each of said ink chambers is substantially equal to atmospheric pressure when there is sufficient ink in the ink chamber.
- 9. A device according to claim 3, wherein each of said displacing members forms a part of each corresponding ink chamber and includes a diaphragm member displaceable in accordance with a pressure of the ink.
- 10. A device according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of ink containers are accommodated in one ink containing member and each said ink container includes an ink outlet port communicable with the corresponding one of said plurality of ink chambers.
- 11. A device according to claim 3, wherein each of said displacing members is provided in a corresponding ink chamber for containing an ink of a different color.
- 12. A device according to claim 3, wherein said connecting member is displaced by displacement of at least one of said displacing members when ink in the corresponding ink chamber is less than a predetermined amount, even when the ink in the other ink chambers is more than a predetermined amount.
- 13. A recording apparatus having a recording means for recording with ink and an ink supply system for supplying ink to said recording means, said recording apparatus comprising:
- a device for detecting a decrease in ink amount communicating with said ink supply system, said device having:
- a plurality of displacing members each provided on one of a plurality of corresponding ink chambers to be displaced in accordance with a decrease of ink in each said ink chamber;
- a connecting member for connecting said plurality of displacing members to be displaced, when ink in at least one of said ink chambers decreases, in association with the displacement of said displacing member corresponding to said at least on ink chamber in accordance with the decrease of the ink, said connecting member including an integral conductive member,
- an electrode fixed to a body of said device, said electrode being provided at a position at which said electrode may contact said conductive member; and
- a biasing member for biasing said connecting member and said displacing member in a same direction and for biasing said conductive member to be in contact with said electrode,
- wherein said conductive member remains in contact with said electrode when more than a predetermined amount of ink is contained in each of said ink chambers, and at least one of said displacing members is deformed in a direction against a direction of a biasing force of said biasing member and said connecting member is displaced in accordance with the movement of said at least one displacing member so that said conductive member is brought out of contact with said electrode when an ink amount in said ink chamber which corresponds to said at least one displacing member decreases and a pressure in said ink chamber becomes more negative than a predetermined pressure.
- output means for outputting detection results from said device.
- 14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said recording means comprises an ink jet recording head for discharging ink by using heat energy.
- 15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said recording means includes as electrothermal converting member for generating heat energy.
- 16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each of said displacing members is provided in a corresponding ink chamber for containing an ink of a different color.
- 17. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said connecting member is displaced by displacement of at least one of said displacing members when ink in the corresponding ink chamber is less than a predetermined amount, even when the ink in the other ink chambers is more than a predetermined amount.
- 18. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said ink supply system includes ink containing means, detachably mounted on said recording apparatus, for containing a plurality of types of ink.
- 19. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said ink supply system includes a supply system for a main ink and a supply system for a secondary ink, said main ink supply system including ink quantity detecting means separate from said ink quantity detecting device.
- 20. An apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising second output means for outputting detection results from said ink quantity detecting means for detecting a quantity of the main ink.
- 21. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein detection results from said ink quantity detecting means for detecting a quantity of the main ink is output to said output means.
- 22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the output of the detection results of the main ink quantity is different from an output of a detection results of a quantity of the secondary ink.
- 23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said output means includes a lamp and the detection results are output in a plurality of modes using different lamp on periods.
- 24. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the main ink is black ink, and the secondary ink is at least one of yellow, cyan, and magenta inks.
- 25. A copying apparatus having a recording means for recording with ink and an ink supply system for supplying ink to said recording means, said copying apparatus comprising:
- a device for detecting a decrease in an ink amount communicating with said ink supply system, said device having:
- a plurality of displacing members each provided on one of a plurality of corresponding ink chambers to be displaced in accordance with a decrease of ink in each said ink chamber;
- a connecting member for connecting said plurality of displacing members to be displaced, when ink in at least one of said ink chambers decreases, in association with the displacement of said displacing member corresponding to said at least on ink chamber in accordance with the decrease of the ink, said connecting member including a conductive member,
- an electrode fixed to a body of said device, said electrode being provided at a position at which said electrode may contact said conductive member; and
- a biasing member for biasing said connecting member and said displacing member in a same direction and for biasing said conductive member to be in contact with said electrode,
- wherein said conductive member remains in contact with said electrode when more than a predetermined amount of ink is contained in each of said ink chambers, and at least one of said displacing members is deformed in a direction against a direction of a biasing force of said biasing member and said connecting member is displaced in accordance with the movement of said at least one displacing member so that said conductive member is brought out of contact with said electrode when an ink amount in said ink chamber which corresponds to said at least one displacing member decreases and a pressure in said ink chamber becomes more negative than a predetermined pressure.
- output means for outputting detection results from said device.
- 26. A facsimile apparatus having a recording means for recording with ink and an ink supply system for supplying ink to said recording means, said facsimile apparatus comprising:
- a device for detecting a decrease in ink amount communicating with said ink supply system, said device having:
- a plurality of displacing members each provided on one of a plurality of corresponding ink chambers to be displaced in accordance with a decrease of ink in each said ink chamber;
- a connecting member for connecting said plurality of displacing members to be displaced, when ink in at least one of said ink chambers decreases, in association with the displacement of said displacing member corresponding to said at least on ink chamber in accordance with the decrease of the ink, said connecting member including a conductive member;
- an electrode fixed to a body of said device, said electrode being provided at a position at which said electrode may contact said conductive member, and
- a biasing member for biasing said connecting member and said displacing member in a same direction and for biasing said conductive member to be in contact with said electrode,
- wherein said conductive member remains in contact with said electrode when more than a predetermined amount of ink is contained in each of said ink chambers, and at least one of said displacing members is deformed in a direction against a direction of a biasing force of said biasing member and said connecting member is displaced in accordance with the movement of said at least one displacing member so that said conductive member is brought out of contact with said electrode when an ink amount in said ink chamber which corresponds to said at least one displacing member decreases and a pressure in said ink chamber becomes more negative than a predetermined pressure.
- output means for outputting detection results from said device.
- 27. A video output printer having a recording means for recording with ink and an ink supply system for supplying ink to said recording means, said video output printer comprising:
- a device for detecting a decrease in ink amount communicating with said ink supply system, said device having:
- a plurality of displacing members each provided on one of a plurality of corresponding ink chambers to be displaced in accordance with a decrease of ink in each said ink chamber;
- a connecting member for connecting said plurality of displacing members to be displaced, when ink in at least one of said ink chambers decreases, in association with the displacement of said displacing member corresponding to said at least on ink chamber in accordance with the decrease of the ink, said connecting member including a conductive member,
- an electrode fixed to a body of said device, said electrode being provided at a position at which said electrode may contact said conductive member; and
- a biasing member for biasing said connecting member and said displacing member in a same direction and for biasing said conductive member to be in contact with said electrode,
- wherein said conductive member remains in contact with said electrode when more than a predetermined amount of ink is contained in each of said ink chambers, and at least one of said displacing members is deformed in a direction against a direction of a biasing force of said biasing member and said connecting member is displaced in accordance with the movement of said at least one displacing member so that said conductive member is brought out of contact with said electrode when an ink amount in said ink chamber which corresponds to said at least one displacing member decreases and a pressure in said ink chamber becomes more negative than a predetermined pressure.
- output means for outputting detection results from said device.
- 28. A word processor having a recording means for recording with ink and an ink supply system for supplying ink to said recording means, said word processor comprising:
- a device for detecting a decrease in ink amount communicating with said ink supply system, said device having:
- a plurality of displacing members each provided on one of a plurality of corresponding ink chambers to be displaced in accordance with a decrease of ink in each said ink chamber;
- a connecting member for connecting said plurality of displacing members to be displaced, when ink in at least one of said ink chambers decreases, in association with the displacement of said displacing member corresponding to said at least on ink chamber in accordance with the decrease of the ink, said connecting member including a conductive member,
- an electrode fixed to a body of said device, said electrode being provided at a position at which said electrode may contact said conductive member, and
- a biasing member for biasing said connecting member and said displacing member in a same direction and for biasing said conductive member to be in contact with said electrode,
- wherein said conductive member remains in contact with said electrode when more than a predetermined amount of ink is contained in each of said ink chambers, and at least one of said displacing members is deformed in a direction against a direction of a biasing force of said biasing member and said connecting member is displaced in accordance with the movement of said at least one displacing member so that said conductive member is brought out of contact with said electrode when an ink amount in said ink chamber which corresponds to said at least one displacing member decreases and a pressure in said ink chamber becomes more negative than a predetermined pressure; and
- output means for outputting detection results from said device.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
1-167614 |
Jun 1989 |
JPX |
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1-167615 |
Jun 1989 |
JPX |
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Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/554,793, filed Jun. 28, 1990, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (8)
Number |
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0287098 |
Oct 1988 |
EPX |
3529805 |
Feb 1987 |
DEX |
3708865 |
Oct 1987 |
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59-123670 |
Jul 1984 |
JPX |
59-138461 |
Aug 1984 |
JPX |
60-32667 |
Feb 1985 |
JPX |
63-257643 |
Oct 1988 |
JPX |
WO90 00971 |
Feb 1990 |
WOX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
554793 |
Jun 1990 |
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