Liquid container and liquid supplying system

• US 8,454,141 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Haruyuki, Watanabe, Kenjiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Meier, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): AL HASHIMI, SARAH
• Application Number:
  US11/016,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20050219303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,087 Days
• Field of Search: 347 84- 86
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17526 Electrical contacts to the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17543 Cartridge presence detection or type identification
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically

Abstract

A liquid container detachably mountable to a recording apparatus to which a plurality of liquid containers are detachably mountable, wherein the recording apparatus includes apparatus electrical contacts corresponding to the liquid containers, respectively, photoreceptor means for receiving light, and an electric circuit connected with a line which is commonly connected with the apparatus electrical contacts, the liquid container includes a container electrical contact electrically connectable with one of the apparatus contacts; an information storing portion capable of storing at least individual information of the liquid container; a light emitting portion; a controller for controlling emission of light of the light emitting portion in response to a correspondence between a signal indicative of individual information supplied through the container electrical contact and the information stored in the information storing means.

Claims

1. A liquid container for an inkjet recording apparatus, said liquid container comprising:

an electrical contact;

an information storing portion storing at least container discrimination information;

a light emitter;

a controller (A) configured to receive a control code and color information through said electrical contact and (B) configured to (B1) cause said light emitter to emit light if (i) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii) the received control code is a light-emitting command code for causing said light emitter to emit light, and (B2) prevent said light emitter from emitting light if (i) the received color information does not correspond to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii) the received control code is the light-emitting command code.

2. A liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to determine that the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion if the received color information is the same as the container discrimination information, and is configured to determine that the received color information does not correspond to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion if received color information is different from the container discrimination information.

3. A liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to extinguish said light emitter if (i) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii) the received control code is an extinction command code for extinguishing said light emitter.

4. A liquid container according to claim 3, wherein said controller is configured to determine that the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion if the received color information is the same as the container discrimination information.

5. A liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the light emitted from said light emitter includes visible light.

6. A liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said information storing portion is included in said controller.

7. A liquid container detachably mountable to an inkjet recording apparatus including an electrical contact portion and a light receptor, said liquid container comprising:

a casing forming a chamber containing liquid;

a supply port capable of supplying the liquid in said chamber to an outside of said liquid container;

an electrical contact electrically connectable with the electrical contact portion;

an information storing portion storing at least container discrimination information that indicates a color of the liquid contained in said chamber;

a light emitter configured to emit light toward the light receptor;

a controller (a) configured to receive a control code and color information from the electrical contact portion through said electrical contact, and (b) configured (b1) to cause said light emitter to emit the light if (i) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii) the received control code is a light-emitting command code for causing said light emitter to emit light, and (b2) to extinguish said light emitter if (i) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii) the received control code is an extinction command code for extinguishing said light emitter.

8. A liquid container according to claim 7, further comprising a substrate provided with said electrical contact, said information storing portion, said light emitter and said controller, wherein said substrate is provided on an outer surface of said casing.

9. A liquid container according to claim 7, wherein the light emitted from said light emitter includes visible light.

10. A liquid container according to claim 7, wherein said information storing portion is included in said controller.

11. A liquid container detachably mountable to an inkjet recording apparatus that includes an electrical contact portion and a light receptor and is capable of discriminating whether said liquid container is mounted at a correct position in the inkjet recording apparatus based on light reception information of the light receptor provided by light emitted from said liquid container, said liquid container comprising:

an electrical contact electrically connectable with the electrical contact portion;

an information storing portion for storing at least container discrimination information that indicates a color of liquid contained in said liquid container;

a light emitter configured to emit light toward the light receptor; and

a controller (A) configured to receive a control code and color information from the electrical contact portion through said electrical contact and (B) configured to (B1) cause said light emitter to emit light if (i) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii) the received control code is a light-emitting command code for causing said light emitter to emit light, and (B2) extinguish said light emitter if (i) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii) the received control code is an extinction command code for extinguishing said light emitter.

12. A liquid container according to claim 11, wherein said controller is configured to prevent said light emitter from emitting light if (i) the received color information does not correspond to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii) the received control code is the light-emitting command code.

13. A liquid container according to claim 12, wherein said controller is configured to determine that the received color information does not correspond to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion if the received color information is different from the container discrimination information.

14. A liquid container according to claim 11, wherein said controller is configured to determine that the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion if the received color information is the same as the container discrimination information.

15. A liquid container according to claim 11, wherein said controller is configured to determine that the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion if the received color information and the container discrimination information both indicate the same color.

16. A liquid container according to claim 11, wherein the recording apparatus further includes an ink jet head and wherein said liquid container further comprises:

a casing forming a chamber containing the liquid; and

a supply port provided in said casing and capable of supplying the liquid in the chamber to the inkjet head,

wherein said electrical contact, said information storing portion, said light emitter and said controller are located outside the chamber.

17. A liquid container according to claim 16, further comprising a substrate provided with said electrical contact, said information storing portion, said light emitter and said controller,

wherein said substrate is provided on an outer surface of said casing.

18. A liquid container according to claim 17, wherein said substrate has a first surface that faces toward said chamber and a second surface that is opposite said first surface and that faces away from the said first surface, and

wherein said light emitter is provided on said first surface, and said electrical contact is provided on said second surface.

19. A liquid container according to claim 11, further comprising:

a first substrate provided with said electrical contact;

a second substrate provided with said light emitter; and

a wiring portion electrically connecting said electrical contact with said light emitter.

20. A liquid container according to claim 16, wherein the light emitted from said light emitter includes visible light.

21. A liquid container according to claim 11, wherein said information storing portion is included in said controller.

22. A liquid container detachably mountable to an inkjet recording apparatus that includes an electrical contact portion and a light receptor and is capable of discriminating whether said liquid container is mounted at a correct position in the inkjet recording apparatus based on light reception information of the light receptor provided by light emitted from said liquid container when the correct position faces the light receptor, said liquid container comprising:

a casing forming a chamber containing liquid;

a supply port capable of supplying the liquid in said chamber to an outside of said liquid container;

an electrical contact provided outside said chamber and electrically connectable with the electrical contact portion;

an information storing portion provided outside said chamber and storing at least container discrimination information that indicates a color of the liquid contained in said chamber;

a light emitter provided outside said chamber and configured to emit the light toward the light receptor; and

a controller (A) provided outside said chamber, (B) configured to receive a control code for controlling said light emitter and color information from the electrical contact portion through said electrical contact and (C) configured to (c1) turn on said light emitter if (i) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii) the received control code is a turn-on code for turning on said light emitter and (c2) turn off said light emitter if (i) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii) the received control code is a turn-off code for turning off said light emitter.

23. A liquid container according to claim 22, wherein the light emitted from said light emitter includes visible light.

24. A liquid container according to claim 22, wherein said information storing portion is included in said controller.

25. A liquid container according to claim 22, wherein the controller is capable of continuously maintaining an on-state of said light emitter from the time when said controller turns on said light emitter based on the turn-on code until said controller turns off said light emitter based on the turn-off code.

26. A liquid container according to claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion if the received color information is the same as the container discrimination information.

27. A liquid container according to claim 26, wherein the controller is capable of continuously maintaining an on-state of said light emitter from the time when said controller turns on said light emitter based on the turn-on code until said controller turns off said light emitter based on the turn-off code.

28. A liquid container according to claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion if the received color information and the container discrimination information both indicate the same color.

29. A liquid container detachably mountable to an inkjet recording apparatus including an electrical contact portion and a light receptor used for discriminating whether said liquid container is mounted at the correct position in the inkjet recording apparatus, said liquid container comprising:

a casing forming a chamber containing liquid;

a supply port for supplying the liquid in said chamber to an outside of said ink container;

an electrical contact provided outside said chamber and electrically connectable with the electrical contact portion;

an information storing portion provided outside said chamber and storing at least container discrimination information that indicates a color of the liquid contained in said chamber;

a light emitter provided outside said chamber and configured to emit light toward the light receptor; and

a controller (A) provided outside said chamber and (B) configured to receive data from the electrical contact portion through the electrical contact, and (C) configured to (c1) cause said light emitter to emit light when the received data includes a light-emitting command code and includes information corresponding to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion, and (c2) extinguish said light emitter when the received data includes an extinction command code and includes the information corresponding to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion.

30. A liquid container according to claim 29, wherein the light emitted from said light emitter includes visible light.

31. A liquid container according to claim 29, wherein said information storing portion is included in said controller.

32. A liquid container detachably mountable to an inkjet recording apparatus that includes an electrical contact portion and a light receptor and is capable of discriminating whether said liquid container is mounted at a correct position in the inkjet recording apparatus based on light reception information of the light receptor provided by light emitted from said liquid container, said liquid container comprising:

a casing forming a chamber containing liquid;

a supply port capable of supplying the liquid in said chamber to an outside of said liquid container;

an electrical contact electrically connectable with the electrical contact portion;

an information storing portion storing at least container discrimination information that indicates a color of the liquid contained in said chamber;

a light emitter configured to emit the light toward the light receptor; and

a controller (i) configured to receive a control code and color information from the electrical contact portion through said electrical contact and (ii) configured (ii-a) to cause said light emitter to emit light if (a) the received control code is a light-emitting command code for causing said light emitter to emit light and (b) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii-b) to prevent said light emitter from emitting light if (a) the received control code is the light-emitting command code and (b) the received color information does not correspond to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion.

33. A liquid container according to claim 32, wherein the light emitted from said light emitter includes visible light.

34. A liquid container according to claim 32, wherein said information storing portion is included in said controller.

35. A liquid container detachably mountable to an inkjet recording apparatus that includes a light receptor and is capable of discriminating whether said liquid container is mounted at a correct position in the inkjet recording apparatus using a detection result of the light receptor when the liquid container emits light and the correct position faces the light receptor, said liquid container comprising:

a casing having a chamber containing liquid;

a supply port capable of supplying the liquid in said chamber to an outside of said liquid container;

an electrical contact positioned outside said chamber;

an information storing portion positioned outside said chamber and storing at least container discrimination information that indicates a color of the liquid in said chamber;

a light emitter positioned outside said chamber and configured to emit the light toward the light receptor; and

a controller (i) positioned outside said chamber, (ii) configured to receive a control code for controlling said light emitter and color information through said electrical contact and (iii) configured (iii-a) to turn on said light emitter if (a) the received control code is a turn-on code for turning on said light emitter and (b) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (iii-b) to turn off said light emitter if (a) the received control code is a turn-off code for turning off said light emitter and (b) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion.

36. A liquid container according to claim 35, wherein the controller is capable of continuously maintaining an on-state of said light emitter from the time when said controller turns on said light emitter based on the turn-on code until said controller turns off said light emitter based on the turn-off code.

37. A liquid container according to claim 35, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion if the received color information is the same as the container discrimination information.

38. A liquid container according to claim 37, wherein the controller is capable of continuously maintaining an on-state of said light emitter from the time when said controller turns on said light emitter based on the turn-on code until said controller turns off said light emitter based on the turn-off code.

39. A liquid container according to claim 35, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion if the received color information and the container discrimination information both indicate the same color.

40. A liquid container according to claim 35, wherein the light emitted from said light emitter includes visible light.

41. A liquid container for an inkjet recording apparatus that includes a light receptor and a mounting unit including a plurality of mounting positions to which said liquid container is detachably mountable and is capable of (i) sending color information and a control code to said liquid container and (ii) discriminating whether said liquid container is mounted at a correct one of the plurality of mounting positions based on detection of light from said liquid container using the light receptor, said liquid container comprising:

a casing having a chamber containing liquid;

a supply port capable of supplying the liquid in said chamber to an outside of said liquid container;

an electrical contact positioned outside said chamber;

an information storing portion positioned outside said chamber and storing at least container discrimination information that indicates a color of the liquid in said chamber;

a light emitter positioned outside said chamber and configured to emit the light toward the light receptor; and

a controller (A) positioned outside said chamber and (B) configured to receive the color information and the control code through said electrical contact and (C) configured to (c1) turn on said light emitter if (i) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii) the received control code is a turn-on code for turning on said light emitter and (c2) turn off said light emitter if (i) the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion and (ii) the received control code is a turn-off code for turning off said light emitter.

42. A liquid container according to claim 41, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion if the received color information is the same as the container discrimination information.

43. A liquid container according to claim 41, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the received color information corresponds to the container discrimination information stored in said information storing portion if the received color information and the container discrimination information both indicate the same color.

44. A liquid container according to claim 41, wherein the controller is capable of continuously maintaining an on-state of said light emitter from the time when said controller turns on said light emitter based on the turn-on code until said controller turns off said light emitter based on the turn-off code.

45. A liquid container according to claim 41, wherein the light emitted from said light emitter includes visible light.