Printing Material Receptacle, Label, and Printing Apparatus

Abstract

A printing material receptacle fitted on a printing apparatus includes a first recording unit for recording updatable first information relating to the printing material receptacle to be updatable and visible using a non-electronic method and a second recording unit for recording updatable second information relating to the printing material receptacle to be updatable, invisible, and mechanically readable using a non-electronic method.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A printing material receptacle fitted on a printing apparatus, comprising:
 a first recording unit for recording updatable first information relating to the printing material receptacle to be updatable and visible using a non-electronic method; and   a second recording unit for recording updatable second information relating to the printing material receptacle to be updatable, invisible, and mechanically readable using a non-electronic method.   
     
     
         2 . The printing material receptacle according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first information is information relating to a remaining amount of a printing material accommodated in the printing material receptacle.   
     
     
         3 . The printing material receptacle according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second information includes at least one of maintenance information relating to a history of maintenance executed in the printing apparatus using the printing material accommodated in the printing material receptacle, error information relating to a history of errors detected in the printing apparatus relating to the printing material receptacle, and detachment information relating to a detachment history of the printing material receptacle.   
     
     
         4 . The printing material receptacle according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second recording unit includes:   a first layer on which the second information is recorded by a region of a portion of a heat-sensitive material being heated and colors being changed, and on which the second information is updated by a portion of a region where there is no change in colors being heated; and   a second layer placed further to an outside than the first layer, absorbing light beams of a wavelength region of at least a portion of visible light, with a property of transmitting near-infrared rays.   
     
     
         5 . The printing material receptacle according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first recording unit has the first information recorded by a region of a portion of a heat-sensitive material being heated and colors being changed, and the first information is updated by a portion of a region where there is no change in colors being heated.   
     
     
         6 . The printing material receptacle according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second recording unit includes:   a first layer on which the second information is recorded by a region of a portion of a heat-sensitive material being heated and colors being changed, and on which the second information is updated by a portion of a region where there is no change in colors being heated; and   a second layer placed further to an outside than the first layer, absorbing light beams of a wavelength region of at least a portion of visible light, with a property of transmitting near-infrared rays,   wherein the first recording unit has the first information recorded by a region of a portion of a heat-sensitive material being heated and colors being changed, and the first information is updated by a portion of a region where there is no change in colors being heated.   
     
     
         7 . The printing material receptacle according to  claim 1  which can be fitted on a printing apparatus including a writing unit that can write the first information into the first recording unit and the second information into the second recording unit, the writing unit performing writing of the first information into the first recording unit and writing of the second information into the second recording unit by the writing unit and the printing material receptacle fitted on the printing apparatus being relatively displaced in one direction,
 wherein the first recording unit and the second recording unit are arranged along the one direction of the relative displacement.  
 
     
     
         8 . A label which adheres to a printing material receptacle fitted on a printing apparatus, comprising:
 a first recording unit for recording updatable first information relating to the printing material receptacle to be updatable and visible using a non-electronic method; and   a second recording unit for recording updatable second information relating to the printing material receptacle to be updatable, invisible, and mechanically readable using a non-electronic method.   
     
     
         9 . The label according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first information is information relating to a remaining amount of a printing material accommodated in the printing material receptacle.   
     
     
         10 . The label according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the second information includes at least one of maintenance information relating to a history of maintenance executed in the printing apparatus using the printing material accommodated in the printing material receptacle, error information relating to a history of errors detected in the printing apparatus relating to the printing material receptacle, and detachment information relating to a detachment history of the printing material receptacle.   
     
     
         11 . The label according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the second recording unit includes:   a first layer on which the second information is recorded by a region of a portion of a heat-sensitive material being heated and colors being changed, and on which the second information is updated by a portion of a region where there is no change in colors being heated; and   a second layer placed further to an outside than the first layer, absorbing light beams of a wavelength region of at least a portion of visible light, with a property of transmitting near-infrared rays.   
     
     
         12 . The label according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first recording unit has the first information recorded by a region of a portion of a heat-sensitive material being heated and colors being changed, and the first information is updated by a portion of a region where there is no change in colors being heated.   
     
     
         13 . The label according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the second recording unit includes:   a first layer on which the second information is recorded by a region of a portion of a heat-sensitive material being heated and colors being changed, and on which the second information is updated by a portion of a region where there is no change in colors being heated; and   a second layer placed further to an outside than the first layer, absorbing light beams of a wavelength region of at least a portion of visible light, with a property of transmitting near-infrared rays,   wherein the first recording unit has the first information recorded by a region of a portion of a heat-sensitive material being heated and colors being changed, and the first information is updated by a portion of a region where there is no change in colors being heated.   
     
     
         14 . The label according to  claim 8  which adheres to a printing material receptacle which can be fitted on a printing apparatus including a writing unit that can write the first information into the first recording unit and the second information into the second recording unit, the writing unit performing writing of the first information into the first recording unit and writing of the second information into the second recording unit by the writing unit and the printing material receptacle fitted on the printing apparatus and on which the label is adhered being relatively displaced in one direction,
 wherein the first recording unit and the second recording unit are for being adhered on the printing material receptacle with a positional relationship of being arranged along the one direction of the relative displacement. 
 
     
     
         15 . A printing apparatus on which a printing material receptacle can be fitted where the first recording unit and the second recording unit are arranged in the printing material receptacle with a positional relationship of being lined up along one direction, the printing apparatus comprising:
 a first recording unit for recording updatable first information relating to the printing material receptacle to be updatable and visible using a non-electronic method;   a second recording unit for recording updatable second information relating to the printing material receptacle to be updatable, invisible, and mechanically readable using a non-electronic method;   a fitting unit fitting a printing material receptacle; and   a writing unit performing writing of the first information into the first recording unit and writing of the second information into the second recording unit in a state in which the printing material receptacle is fitted on the fitting unit,   wherein the writing unit performs writing of the first information into the first recording unit and writing of the second information into the second recording unit by the writing unit and the printing material receptacle fitted on the printing apparatus being relatively displaced in one direction.