CN100431842C - Air bubble removal in an ink jet printer - Google Patents
Air bubble removal in an ink jet printer Download PDFInfo
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- CN100431842C CN100431842C CNB2004800034958A CN200480003495A CN100431842C CN 100431842 C CN100431842 C CN 100431842C CN B2004800034958 A CNB2004800034958 A CN B2004800034958A CN 200480003495 A CN200480003495 A CN 200480003495A CN 100431842 C CN100431842 C CN 100431842C
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Abstract
An ink jet printer (5; 200), including a carriage (17; 209) which is movable relative to a sheet of paper (P), a recording head (34; 221) which is mounted on the carriage and records an image on the sheet by ejecting a droplet of ink toward the sheet, one or more ink tanks (7a-7d; 205a-205d) which store the ink or inks to be supplied to the recording head, a buffer tank (36; 213; 313) which is mounted on the carriage, and one or more ink flow passages (27a-27d; 214a-214d) in which the inks are supplied from the ink tanks to the recording head via the buffer tank. The buffer tank has, at a height position higher than a height position where the recording head is provided, one or more air buffer chambers (40a-40d; 227a-227d) which accommodate respective amounts of the inks, and collect air bubbles produced in the ink flow passages. The printer further includes one or more air bubble discharging passages (47a-47d; 251a-251d) which communicate, at one ends (46a-46d; 253a-253d) thereof, with upper portions of the air buffer chambers, and discharge, via the other ends (54a-54d; 252a-252d) thereof, the air bubbles collected by the air buffer chambers.
Description
Technical field
The present invention relates to a kind of ink-jet printer, be particularly related to a kind of like this ink-jet printer, this ink-jet printer not only can be collected the bubble of generation in one or more black flow channels so that keep its high recording quality, and can remove collected bubble effectively.
Background technology
Known traditionally have a kind of pipe for the type ink-jet printer, and this ink-jet printer is by being supplied to the record head that is installed on the movable carriage with China ink in the ink container of flexible pipe from be fixed on housing.The open P2000-103084A of Japan Patent discloses the example of this ink-jet printer.But in this ink-jet printer, if comprise bubble (or air) in the China ink that exists in the record head, then record head can not ink-jet, and perhaps Tou recording quality may reduce.
,, infiltrate in the pipe and be dissolved in the China ink owing to be used to form the inherent characteristic of the material of pipe in type ink-jet printer at this pipe so can not prevent air.So needs of having to: the upstream side at record head provides air buffer chamber (or bubble collecting chamber); Collect the indoor bubble of air cushioning; With the bubble of removing such collection.
In the disclosed ink-jet printer of above-mentioned patent document, record head has manifold (being air buffer chamber or bubble collecting chamber) at an upper portion thereof, and ink container and a circulating pump are secured in place in the housing.Drive or operate this circulating pump so that China ink from ink container be recycled to the first black flow channel, then be manifold, the second black flow channel, again to ink container, make the bubble that produces in the circulation conduit turn back to ink container and be removed.Simultaneously, the maintenance position place in housing, suction and cleaning device are from the inkjet nozzle suction China ink of record head.
But in above-mentioned ink-jet printer, because ink container is communicated with atmosphere, air (or bubble) may mix with the China ink in the circulation.In addition, need employing to return the China ink pipe so that China ink is circulated back to ink container from circulating pump.Like this, this ink-jet printer increases than complexity and size.
In addition, adopt a plurality of ink containers corresponding so that under the situation of record full-colour image, this printer need adopt corresponding with these ink containers respectively a plurality of air buffer chambers (being a plurality of bubble collecting chambers) at ink-jet printer with the plurality of color China ink.Therefore, when carrying out attended operation, need to remove bubble from all air buffer chambers simultaneously.Like this, needs roughly be finished simultaneously from all air buffer chambers and remove the corresponding operating of bubbles and improve the efficient of those operations thus.
Summary of the invention
Therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a kind of ink-jet printer, this ink-jet printer is not subjected to the influence of at least one the problems referred to above.
Another object of the present invention provides a kind of ink-jet printer, makes this ink-jet printer can remove the bubble of collecting effectively be arranged on air buffer chamber on the carriage or bubble collecting chamber with record head in.
Another object of the present invention provides a kind of ink-jet printer, makes this ink-jet printer can manufacture less size.
Can according to of the present invention be that arbitrary pattern in the following modes of form realizes each purpose in these purposes with the ink-jet printer, each pattern is the same with claims to be numbered, and can be subordinated to other one or more patterns in appropriate circumstances with expression with illustrate may making up of technical characterictic.But, be to be understood that the technical features or any combinations thereof which of only describing below the invention is not restricted to for illustrative purposes.It should also be understood that a plurality of features included in the arbitrary pattern in following modes of the present invention not necessarily provide together, and can under the situation of at least one feature in not adopting the described feature relevant, implement the present invention with each pattern.
(1) a kind of ink-jet printer comprises:
Carriage, this carriage can move with respect to recording medium;
Record head, this record head is installed on the carriage, and by document image to recording medium ejection ink droplet and on medium;
At least one ink container, described ink container storage will be supplied to the China ink of record head;
Buffer container, this buffer container is installed on the carriage; With
At least one black flow channel is supplied to record head with China ink from described ink container by buffer container in described black flow channel,
It is characterized in that
Buffer container has at least one air buffer chamber at the height and position place higher than the height and position that record head is set, and described air buffer chamber holds the China ink amount, and collects the bubble that produces in the described black flow channel, and
It is characterized in that also comprising
At least one bubble passing away, described bubble passing away is communicated with the top of described air buffer chamber at one end place, and discharges the collected bubble of described air buffer chamber by its other end.A described end that is communicated with top described air buffer chamber described bubble passing away can comprise the hole that the thickness of the ceiling wall that passes surge chamber or roof forms.
According to this pattern, therein China ink is supplied in the ink-jet printer that is installed in the record head on the carriage from the container of storing China ink, can the bubble of collecting in the air buffer chamber (or bubble collecting chamber or accumulating chamber) (being air) be discharged in the space outerpace (for example atmosphere) by described bubble passing away.Therefore, so that suction China ink but also remove conventional ink jet printers with the black bubble that mixes not only, this ink-jet printer can directly only be discharged the bubble (or air) that accumulates in the air buffer chamber in the shorter time or with higher efficient unlike wherein the nozzle of record head being applied negative pressure (being suction force).Like this, this printer can prevent the waste use of China ink, thereby can use under low operating cost.In addition, owing to record head is not applied any negative pressure, can save the energy that for this reason uses.These are economical advantage of this printer.And because air buffer chamber is arranged on the height and position place than the record head height, the bubble (or air) of accumulation can not enter the record head that is positioned at the air buffer chamber below in the air buffer chamber.Therefore, this printer does not have gas bubble blockage to be arranged on the problem of the one or more black conduits in the record head.
(2) a kind of ink-jet printer comprises:
Record head, this record head has at least one nozzle, and by document image from described nozzle ejection ink droplet and on recording medium;
Carriage, record head are installed on this carriage;
At least one ink container, described ink container storage will be supplied to the China ink of record head; With
At least one black flow channel, described black flow channel is supplied to record head with China ink from described at least one ink container,
It is characterized in that also comprising
At least one bubble collecting chamber, described bubble collecting chamber are collected the bubble that produces in the described black flow channel;
At least one bubble passing away, described bubble passing away is communicated with described bubble collecting chamber;
On-off valve device, this on-off valve device open and close described bubble passing away;
Described bubble collecting chamber, described bubble passing away and described on-off valve device are arranged on the carriage; With
The bubble removal device, this bubble removal device removes the collected bubble of described bubble collecting chamber by opening on-off valve device and open described bubble passing away thus under the state that described black flow channel is applied malleation.
This ink-jet printer can also comprise the positive pressure load device (for example air pump) that black flow channel (for example ink supply pipe) is applied malleation.Ink container can be arranged on than the low height and position place of height and position that record head is installed on carriage, and positive pressure load device can apply malleation to the ink container that is communicated with black flow channel, and thus black flow channel is applied malleation.At least a can being defined as makes in the cross-sectional area of bubble passing away and the length: the bubble passing away is big to the resistance that flows of the air (being bubble) of process to the resistance ratios bubble passing away that flows of the China ink of process.The bubble collecting chamber can have the mobile inlet of China ink, and flowing to enter the mouth by this China ink is supplied to the bubble collecting chamber with China ink from black flow channel, and the cross-sectional area of the bubble passing away that is communicated with the bubble collecting chamber can be not more than the cross-sectional area of the mobile inlet of China ink.
According to this pattern, thereby the bubble collecting chamber is applied under the state of malleation black flow channel being applied malleation, operation bubble removal device is to open on-off valve device, and this on-off valve device can open and close the bubble passing away that is communicated with the bubble collecting chamber.Thereby open the bubble passing away, therefore can apace the bubble that accumulates in the bubble collecting chamber be discharged in the space outerpace.
(3) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (2), wherein the bubble removal device is arranged on the position different with the position that carriage is set, and comprises at least one valve operating parts, and described valve operating parts is opened on-off valve device.
According to this pattern, the bubble removal device is not arranged on the carriage.Therefore, can move back and forth carriage with higher speed.But, can provide bubble removal device and on-off valve device with solenoid control valve and solenoid, this solenoid opens and closes solenoid control valve, and is used as the bubble removal device.In this case, the bubble removal device can be installed on the carriage.
(4) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (2) or (3), also comprise aspirator, the bubble removal device links to each other with this aspirator, and will be drawn into this aspirator with the China ink amount that bubble is discharged from described bubble collecting chamber.
According to this pattern, the bubble removal device links to each other with aspirator.Therefore, if the China ink discharge with bubble with mixing, and even under the situation of ink leakage, aspirator also can aspirate China ink and prevent that this printer from being polluted by China ink.
(5) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (4), also comprise recovery device, this recovery device is from described nozzle suction China ink amount, wherein bubble removal device and this recovery device are connected on the aspirator abreast, and wherein aspirator optionally with bubble removal device and recovery device in a device cooperation to aspirate China ink.
According to this pattern, bubble removal device and recovery device are connected on the aspirator abreast, and aspirator optionally with bubble removal device and recovery device in a device cooperation to aspirate China ink.Therefore, an independent aspirator is just enough, thereby this printer can be enjoyed compact structure.
(6) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (5), wherein aspirator comprises suction pump and suction transfer valve, and wherein this suction pump operation makes the bubble removal device aspirate China ink off and on, and recovery device aspirates China ink continuously.
According to this pattern, need therein to aspirate in the recovery operation than the Da Mo amount, operate suction pump continuously so that suction is black apace; And in the bubble removal operation, operate suction pump off and on so that do not measure than Da Mo along with bubble aspirates from described bubble collecting chamber.Thereby black loss amount is minimized.
(7) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (5) or (6), wherein recovery device is arranged on contiguous bubble removal device place, and comprise at least one cap spare, described cap spare can move with the nozzle support surface of the described nozzle of support of contact history head and with this nozzle support surface isolation.
According to this pattern, recovery device is arranged on contiguous bubble removal device place, and on-off valve device can be adjacent to be arranged on the carriage with record head, makes this valve gear and record head correspond respectively to bubble removal device and recovery device.In addition and since recovery device comprise can move with the nozzle support of contact history head surface and with the cap spare of this nozzle support surface isolation, recovery device can be reliably from the nozzle suction China ink.
(8) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (6) or (7), also comprise an independent movement transforming device, this movement transforming device is carried out the suction transfer valve and is switched, and optionally carry out (a) and (b) in one: (a) recovery device is shifted to record head, and the bubble removal device is moved away valve closer; (b) recovery device is moved apart record head, and the bubble removal device is shifted to on-off valve device.
Therefore according to this pattern, an independent movement transforming device can be carried out various operations, comprises that the service portion of bubble removal device, aspirator and recovery device can enjoy compact structure.
(9) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (3) arbitrary pattern in (8), also comprise positioner, this positioner comprises the first that supported by the bubble removal device and by the second portion of bracket support, wherein when described valve operating parts when on-off valve device moves and engages with on-off valve device, the first of this positioner and second portion be towards moving each other and be engaged with each other, thereby locate bubble removal device and carriage relative to one another.
According to this pattern, because positioner is located bubble removal device and carriage relative to one another, described valve operating parts can be operated reliably and promptly open and close on-off valve device.
(10) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (8) or (9), wherein the bubble removal device comprises at least one valve operating parts, and described valve operating parts can move to open and close on-off valve device; Wherein recovery device comprises at least one cap spare, described cap spare can move with the nozzle support of the described nozzle of support of contact history head surface and with this nozzle support surface isolation; Wherein on-off valve device comprises at least one valve member and at least one valve rod, and closing on-off valve device, straight line moves described valve member to open on-off valve device to described valve rod on the direction opening at the described valve member of closing direction upper offset; Wherein said valve operating parts comprises that at least one discharges push rod, and described release push rod is being opened the described valve rod of promotion on the direction; And wherein movement transforming device optionally carry out (a) and (b) in one: (a) to the described cap spare of the mobile recovery device in the nozzle support of record head surface, and the described release push rod of moving bubble removal device is to close on-off valve device; (b) move described cap spare and leave the nozzle support surface, and move described release push rod to open on-off valve device.
According to this pattern, on-off valve device is included in the valve member of valve closing direction upper offset and opens the valve rod that straight line on the direction moves valve member at valve, and the valve operating parts is included in to open and promotes described valve rod on the direction to open the release push rod of valve member.Therefore, the release push rod of on-off valve device can move by straight line on the identical direction of the direction that moves relative to each other with first and second parts of positioner.In addition, a described independent movement transforming device can optionally carry out (a) and (b) in one: (a) the described cap spare of recovery device is shifted to the nozzle support surface of record head, and the described release push rod of moving bubble removal device is to close on-off valve device; (b) described cap spare is moved apart the nozzle support surface, and move described release push rod to open on-off valve device; So can operate this movement transforming device moves to produce straight line.
(11) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (8) arbitrary pattern in (10), wherein movement transforming device comprises translation cam, this translation cam with recovery device with move back and forth carriage first move back and forth the nozzle support surface of shifting to and move apart the described nozzle of support of record head on first moving direction that direction intersects; And with the bubble removal device move back and forth with first that direction is intersected and second moving direction parallel with first moving direction on shift to and move away valve closer.
According to this pattern, translation cam can intersect with second moving direction with first moving direction and with for example first move back and forth that straight line moves on the parallel direction of direction.
(12) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (3) arbitrary pattern in (11), wherein record head is arranged on the carriage, makes the nozzle support surface of the described nozzle of support of record head face down; Wherein said bubble collecting chamber is arranged on the high height and position place of height and position that record head is set on the carriage than on carriage; Wherein the on-off valve device that links to each other with described bubble collecting chamber allows bubble roughly discharging on the parallel direction of the direction of recording medium ejection ink droplet with described nozzle with China ink; And wherein upwards move described valve operating parts to on-off valve device, so that open this valve gear.
According to this pattern,, can aspirate the China ink of discharging or leaking at an easy rate owing to can on gravity direction, aspirate China ink.
(13) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (11) or (12), wherein on first biased direction to the nozzle support surface biasing recovery device of record head, and on second biased direction to on-off valve device biasing bubble removal device; Wherein with recovery device is shifted to described first moving direction that moves apart the nozzle support surface with the bubble removal device is shifted to vertical with described second moving direction that moves away valve closer second and is moved back and forth and move back and forth translation cam on the direction; And wherein translation cam comprises cam portion, this cam portion has first cam face and second cam face, first cam-follower that extends laterally from recovery device contacts with first cam face on first biased direction, and first cam face control recovery device along with moving of straight merit cam is mobile, second cam-follower that extends laterally from the bubble removal device contacts with second cam face on second biased direction, and second cam face control bubble removal device along with moving of translation cam is mobile.
According to this pattern, by the cooperation of those cam faces and cam-follower, each straight line that can finish bubble removal device and recovery device at an easy rate moves.
(14) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (13), wherein first and second cam faces form feasible: when on one first moving direction in first moving direction during mobile recovery device, and moving bubble removal device on one second moving direction opposite in second moving direction with described one first moving direction; And when mobile recovery device on another first moving direction, moving bubble removal device on another second moving direction opposite with described another first moving direction.
According to this pattern, can select and finish the operation of bubble removal device or the operation of recovery device at an easy rate.
(15) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (6) arbitrary pattern in (14), comprising:
A plurality of described ink containers, these ink containers are stored the plurality of color China ink respectively, and those look China inks will be supplied to record head to make record head record color image on recording medium;
Housing, this housing hold these ink containers in its underpart, make these ink containers be arranged to row; With
The venting pipe, the end place of this venting pipe in two opposite end links to each other with the suction transfer valve, and link to each other with atmosphere at its other end place, and this venting pipe part place is crooked greater than 180 ° therebetween, wherein the described other end of this venting pipe is positioned at the corresponding position of mid portion with described ink container row.
According to this pattern,, the China ink amount that enters housing from the discharge of venting pipe is minimized even the attitude of this printer may be owing to the side direction perk changes.
(16) a kind of ink-jet printer comprises:
Record head, this record head has at least one nozzle, and by document image from described nozzle ejection ink droplet and on recording medium;
Carriage, record head are installed on this carriage;
At least one ink container, described ink container storage will be supplied to the China ink of record head; With
At least one black flow channel, described black flow channel is supplied to record head with China ink from described ink container,
It is characterized in that also comprising
Buffer container, this buffer container have at least one bubble collecting chamber, and described bubble collecting chamber is collected the bubble that produces in the black flow channel in the top of buffer container, and this buffer container is arranged between the above black flow channel of carriage and the record head;
At least one bubble passing away, described bubble passing away is formed in the upper wall of buffer container, and is communicated with described bubble collecting chamber; With
On-off valve device, this on-off valve device is arranged on the carriage, and opens and closes described bubble passing away.
According to this pattern, the bubble passing away that is communicated with the top of bubble collecting chamber is formed in the upper wall (for example ceiling wall or roof) of buffer container.The bubble (or air) of collecting (or accumulation) in the top of therefore, bubble collection (or accumulation) chamber can be discharged in the space outerpace apace by described bubble passing away and on-off valve device.Can discharge bubble effectively at short notice like this.
(17) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (16), also comprise at least one valve operating parts, described valve operating parts is arranged on the position different with the position that carriage is set, when the pre-position of carriage on its mobile route kept static, described valve operating parts was opened on-off valve device and is opened described bubble passing away thus.
According to this pattern, the valve operating parts can be arranged on precalculated position (for example holding fix) on the mobile route of carriage near, make and have only when carriage keeps static in the pre-position valve operating parts can open on-off valve device.Like this, the bubble (or air) that exists in the bubble collecting chamber can be discharged in the space outerpace effectively by described bubble passing away.
(18) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (16) or (17), wherein said bubble passing away is communicated with the bubble collecting chamber at the low height and position place of lower surface than the upper wall of buffer container.
According to this pattern, always staying in the top of bubble collecting chamber can not be by the suitable air capacity of collecting chamber discharge.Therefore, may change even the China ink when moving back and forth carriage in the collecting chamber is pressed, the air capacity that the variation of pressure also can be stayed in the top of bubble collecting chamber absorbs.
(19) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (16) arbitrary pattern in (18), wherein buffer container has at least one groove in the upper surface of wall formed thereon, wherein this printer also comprises the thin-film member that is fixed on the buffer container upper surface, and wherein said bubble passing away is formed by described groove and described thin-film member.Thin-film member can be provided by the film that synthetic resin forms, and can be by on the buffer container upper surface that is adhesively fixed.
According to this pattern, can at an easy rate the air cushioning passing away be formed that to have small cross section long-pending.
(20) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (16) arbitrary pattern in (19), wherein record head comprises a plurality of nozzles, and these arrangement of nozzles become a plurality of row, and described a plurality of row are corresponding with various look China inks respectively; And wherein this printer comprises respectively and corresponding a plurality of described bubble collecting chamber and corresponding with these bubble collecting chambers respectively a plurality of described bubble passing away of these looks China inks; And wherein these bubble passing aways are formed in the upper surface of upper wall of buffer container, make the respective length of these bubble passing aways roughly be equal to each other.
According to this pattern, be used for showing the mobile resistance of roughly the same air to process from described a plurality of bubble passing aways that corresponding with described plurality of color China ink respectively described a plurality of bubble collecting chambers are discharged bubbles (or air).Therefore, can finish the corresponding operating of discharging bubble from described a plurality of bubble collecting chambers in the roughly the same moment.
(21) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (16) arbitrary pattern in (20), wherein record head comprises a plurality of nozzles, and these arrangement of nozzles become a plurality of row, and described a plurality of row are corresponding with various look China inks respectively; And wherein this printer comprises respectively and corresponding a plurality of described bubble collecting chamber and corresponding with these bubble collecting chambers respectively a plurality of described bubble passing away of these looks China inks; And wherein each their end place of leisure of these bubble passing aways is communicated with those bubble collecting chambers, and these bubble passing aways other end separately is arranged to roughly parallel with a side surface of carriage row.
According to this pattern, on-off valve device can be arranged on carriage a described side surface near.Like this, the described other end of each described bubble passing away can link to each other with on-off valve device at an easy rate.
(22) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (16) arbitrary pattern in (21), wherein said bubble passing away is communicated with described bubble collecting chamber at one end place, wherein on-off valve device has at least one valve opening, described valve opening is communicated with the other end of described bubble passing away at an end place of described valve opening, and the other end of wherein said nozzle and described valve opening is opened on all directions parallel to each other.
According to this pattern, be parallel to by described bubble passing away with the direction of removing black tamper from nozzle from the nozzle suction China ink and discharge the direction of bubble, i.e. gravity direction from the valve opening that links to each other with described bubble collecting chamber.Therefore, can advantageously on identical direction, finish bleeding and black suction operation.
(23) according to the ink-jet printer of pattern (22), wherein on-off valve device comprises: at least one valve member, and described valve member can move up and down along a side surface of buffer container; With at least one valve rod, described valve rod links to each other with described valve member, and the opening that the lower end of described valve rod is arranged in described valve opening is the other end.
According to this pattern,, then can open at valve and move described valve member on the direction with respect to valve opening if the lower end of described valve rod just is pushed into the openend of valve opening.Thereby can operate at an easy rate and promptly open and close on-off valve device.
(24) a kind of ink-jet printer comprises:
Carriage, this carriage can move with respect to recording medium;
Ink jet print head, this ink jet print head is installed on the carriage, and by document image to recording medium ejection ink droplet and on medium;
At least one ink container, described ink container storage China ink;
Buffer container, this buffer container is installed on the carriage; With
At least one ink supply pipe, described ink supply pipe is supplied to record head with China ink from described ink container by buffer container,
It is characterized in that
Record head has a plurality of ink supply conduits; Also be
Buffer container has a plurality of air buffer chambers, and these air buffer chambers are corresponding with described ink supply conduit respectively, and each air buffer chamber holds China ink amount and bubble; And
It is characterized in that also comprising
A plurality of bubble passing aways, each described bubble passing away is arranged on the carriage, and is communicated with described air buffer chamber respectively at one end place, and can open at its other end place; With
Discharger, this discharger is discharged to bubble the space outerpace from the described other end of each air buffer chamber by a described bubble passing away of correspondence,
Described bubble passing away has the roughly the same resistance that air flowing is flowed.
According to this pattern, described a plurality of bubble passing aways show the resistance that flows of roughly the same air to process.Therefore, discharger can be discharged bubble or air from described a plurality of air buffer chambers with roughly the same time per unit air mass flow (hereinafter referred is " an identical air mass flow ").Therefore, if begin to remove the corresponding operating of bubble simultaneously, then can finish those operations in the roughly the same moment from all air buffer chambers.Cause the efficient of bleeding to improve like this.
(25) according to the printer of pattern (24), wherein at least a portion of each described air buffer chamber is disposed generally on carriage on its first direction that moves, wherein the described other end of each described bubble passing away is arranged on the second direction vertical with first direction, and wherein each described bubble passing away has roughly the same length between one end and its other end.
According to this pattern, at least a portion of each described air buffer chamber is disposed generally on carriage on its first direction that moves, and the described other end of each described bubble passing away is arranged on the second direction vertical with first direction.Therefore, a described end of each described bubble passing away and each distance between the described other end promptly are connected a described end of each described passing away and the respective length of each the bar straight line between the described other end and differ from one another.Therefore, having short one or more passing aways of distance between its described end and its described other end than other passing away extends and launches, make all passing aways its separately a described end and its described other end separately between have roughly the same length, thereby have roughly the same air flow resistance.Therefore, can discharge bubble from all air buffer chambers with roughly the same air mass flow.Thereby finish the corresponding operating of discharging bubble from those air buffer chambers simultaneously with very high efficient.
(26) according to the printer of pattern (25), wherein at least a portion of each described bubble passing away is bent to form by the wall along buffer container.
According to this pattern, because at least a portion of each described bubble passing away forms along the wall of buffer container, these passing aways can be arranged in the space of reduction.In addition, because at least a portion of each described bubble passing away can easily be regulated the respective length of these passing aways by being bent to form.
(27) according to the printer of pattern (24), wherein at least a portion of each described air buffer chamber is disposed generally on carriage on its first direction that moves, wherein the described other end of each described bubble passing away is arranged on the second direction vertical with first direction, and wherein said bubble passing away forms feasible: cross-sectional area has the length bigger than the respective length of described other bubble passing away than the long-pending big bubble passing away of the respective cross section of other bubble passing away between its described end and its described other end.
According to this pattern, at least a portion of each described air buffer chamber is disposed generally on carriage on its first direction that moves, and the described other end of each described bubble passing away is arranged on the second direction vertical with first direction.Therefore, to described passing away how layout some restrictions are arranged, make those passages they a described end that is communicated with described air buffer chamber and theirs have roughly the same length between the described other end of discharger one side.Therefore, having long one or more passing aways of distance between its described end and its described other end than other passing away forms and has bigger cross-sectional area, in other words, have more short-range one or more passing away than other passing away and form that to have small cross section long-pending, make all passing aways have roughly the same air flow resistance.Therefore, can discharge bubble from all air buffer chambers with roughly the same air mass flow.Thereby finish the corresponding operating of discharging bubble from those air buffer chambers simultaneously with very high efficient.
(28) according to the printer of pattern (27), wherein said bubble passing away forms feasible: bubble passing away has between its described end and its described other end than in a described end of each other bubble passing away and the big distance of respective distance between the described other end, and a described bubble passing away has the length bigger than the respective length of described other bubble passing away between its described end and its described other end.
According to this pattern, described bubble passing away length separately is according to regulating at their a described end and the respective distance between their the described other end.Therefore, having short one or more passing aways of distance between its described end and its described other end than other passing away needn't extend or launch intentionally.Thereby can in the space of reduction, carry out layout with the higher free degree to described bubble passing away.This causes the overall size of this ink-jet printer to reduce.
(29) according to the printer of pattern (27) or (28), wherein the wall along buffer container forms described bubble passing away.
According to this pattern,, can in the space of reduction, carry out layout to described passing away owing to form described bubble passing away along the wall of buffer container.
(30) according to the printer of pattern (26) or (29), wherein buffer container has at least one partition wall that described air buffer chamber is separated each other, and also has a plurality of holes of the thickness formation of the upper wall that passes buffer container in addition; Wherein described each hole by buffer container is communicated with each air buffer chamber each described bubble passing away at its described end place; And wherein at least a portion of each described bubble passing away comprises corresponding groove, and these grooves are formed in the upper wall of buffer container, thereby is communicated with described each hole.
According to this pattern, in each air buffer chamber that is separated each other by partition wall in buffer container, the bubble of collecting therein or accumulating is positioned at the China ink top that wherein holds.In addition, at least a portion of each described bubble passing away is formed in the upper wall of buffer container, thereby directly discharges bubble from the top of each air buffer chamber.Therefore, can make in the China ink amount of when each air buffer chamber is discharged bubble, discharging to minimize, thereby the waste that can prevent China ink is used.
(31) according to the printer of pattern (24) arbitrary pattern in (30), also comprise discharge valve apparatus, this discharge valve apparatus is arranged on the described other end place of each described bubble passing away, and open and close described bubble passing away, wherein this discharge valve apparatus is closed described bubble passing away in record head action during ink-jet, and opens described bubble passing away in the discharger action when air buffer chamber is discharged bubble.
According to this pattern, discharger action and discharge bubble from air buffer chamber by described bubble passing away, and also the discharge valve apparatus of the described other end by can opening and closing described passing away is easy to allow or forbid this operation.
(32) according to the printer of pattern (31), wherein discharger comprises suction pump, and this suction pump links to each other in knock-down mode with the described other end of each described bubble passing away.
According to this pattern, can discharge bubble by described bubble passing away from air buffer chamber at an easy rate as the suction pump of discharger.In addition, because suction pump can link to each other with the described other end of each described bubble passing away and take apart, can begin or stop to discharge the operation of the suction pump of bubble at an easy rate.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 is the perspective view of multifunctional equipment, and this multifunctional equipment adopts the ink-jet printer as first embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 is the plane of the recording section of this ink-jet printer.
Fig. 3 is the plane of the housing of this ink-jet printer.
Fig. 4 is four the ink container holding portions of this ink-jet printer and the schematic plan view of ink guide part.
Fig. 5 is the cutaway view of arrow shown in the 5-5 among Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 A is the plane of carriage, on this carriage buffer container is installed.
Fig. 6 B is the cutaway view of arrow shown in the 6B-6B among Fig. 6 A.
Fig. 7 is the plane of the bubble passing away that forms on the upper surface of this buffer container.
Fig. 8 is this carriage of arrow shown in the 8-8 among Figure 12 and the side elevation view of maintenance unit.
Fig. 9 is the general profile chart of bubble removal device, and this bubble removal device is to remove bubble the air buffer chamber from the bubble collecting chamber.
The side elevational of Figure 10 illustrates the relevant position of this carriage, translation cam, recovery device and this bubble removal device under wait state.
Figure 11 A is on-off valve device its a part of amplification view when being in its closed condition.
Figure 11 B is the amplification view of this on-off valve device its described part when being in its open mode.
Figure 12 is the plane of this maintenance unit.
Figure 13 is the perspective view of this maintenance unit.
Figure 14 is the amplification view of the part that translation cam is provided of this maintenance unit.
Figure 15 is the perspective view of unit platform, back-up block and the lifters of this maintenance unit.
Figure 16 A is that the master of this lifters looks elevation.
Figure 16 B is the plane of this lifters.
Figure 16 C is the left hand side elevation view of this lifters.
Figure 17 A is the cutaway view of this lifters.
Figure 17 B is the cutaway view of this lifters of arrow shown in the 17B-17B among Figure 17 A.
The cam path of this cam and the respective shapes of a plurality of rib shape cams when the view of Figure 18 shows from the observation of turning cam top.
The side elevational of Figure 19 illustrates the relevant position at maintenance state bottom bracket, translation cam, recovery device and bubble removal device.
The side elevational of Figure 20 illustrates the relevant position of removing state bottom bracket, translation cam, recovery device and bubble removal device at the air of degasification from the buffering container.
Figure 21 A is the perspective view of the transfer valve unit of this ink-jet printer.
Figure 21 B is the perspective view of the switch piece of this transfer valve unit.
The schematic illustration of Figure 22 shows the connection through the pipe between transfer valve unit, recovery device and bubble removal device.
The view of Figure 23 is used to explain each rotation phase of the switch piece of this transfer valve unit, and these rotation phase are corresponding with each operation of maintenance unit.
The time diagram of Figure 24 shows the relation between the respective operations of all angles that turning cam rotates and maintenance unit.
The time diagram of Figure 25 is represented the corresponding operating of air pump, suction pump, release push rod and a plurality of cap spares and the relation between the time.
The schematic illustration of Figure 26 is used for explaining the whole flow channels that are used to discharge bubble that adopted at first embodiment.
Figure 27 is the plane as the recording section of another ink-jet printer of second embodiment of the invention.
Figure 28 is the bottom view of the headstock of the ink-jet printer of Figure 27.
Figure 29 is the cutaway view of arrow shown in the 29-29 among Figure 28.
Figure 30 is the plane of buffer container of the ink-jet printer of Figure 27, has wherein removed fexible film 243.
Figure 31 is the bottom view of buffer container of the ink-jet printer of Figure 27, has wherein removed fexible film 236.
Figure 32 is the vertical view of nowel of the ink-jet printer of Figure 27.
Figure 33 A is the plane of top box of the ink-jet printer of Figure 27.
Figure 33 B is the bottom view of top box of the ink-jet printer of Figure 27.
Figure 34 A is the cutaway view of arrow shown in the 34A-34A among Figure 30.
Figure 34 B is the cutaway view of arrow shown in the 34B-34B among Figure 30.
Figure 34 C is the cutaway view of arrow shown in the 34C-34C among Figure 31.
Each size of the bubble passing away that the view of Figure 35 is used to explain in a second embodiment to be adopted.
The whole flow channels that are used to discharge bubble that the schematic illustration of Figure 36 is used to explain in a second embodiment and is adopted.
Figure 37 is the bottom view as the headstock of another ink-jet printer of third embodiment of the invention.
Figure 38 is the buffer container of ink-jet printer of Figure 37 and the perspective plan view of fexible film 243.
Figure 39 is the perspective bottom view of the buffer container of ink-jet printer and another fexible film 236 of Figure 37.
Figure 40 A is the perspective plan view of the case spare (being top box and nowel fixed to one another) of the ink-jet printer of Figure 37.
Figure 40 B is the perspective bottom view of the case spare of Figure 40 A.
Figure 41 A is the perspective plan view of nowel of the ink-jet printer of Figure 37.
Figure 41 B is the perspective bottom view of the nowel of Figure 41 A.
Figure 42 A is the perspective plan view of top box of the ink-jet printer of Figure 37.
Figure 42 B is the perspective bottom view of the top box of Figure 42 A.
Figure 43 is the plane of nowel of the ink-jet printer of Figure 37.
Figure 44 A is the plane of top box of the ink-jet printer of Figure 37.
Figure 44 B is the cutaway view of arrow shown in the 44B-44B among Figure 44 A.
Figure 45 A is the cutaway view of arrow shown in the 45A-45A among Figure 44 A.
Figure 45 B is the cutaway view of arrow shown in the 45B-45B among Figure 44 A.
The schematic illustration of Figure 46 is used for explaining each size of the bubble passing away that is adopted at the 3rd embodiment.
The specific embodiment
Below with reference to accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described.The first embodiment of the present invention relate to have printer function, the multifunctional equipment (MFC) 1 of duplicator function, scanner functions and facsimile function.As shown in Figure 1, MFC1 comprises: housing 2; The paper feeding device 3 that in the rearward end of housing 2, provides; The original paper reading device 4 that is used for duplicator function and facsimile function provides this original paper reading device 4 on the top of housing 2 and the front of paper feeding device 3.(aftermentioned) ink-jet printer 5 that is used for printer function occupies the bottom below original paper reading device 4 of housing 2 fully; Paper catch tray 6, this paper catch tray 6 is arranged on the front of ink-jet printer 5, so that collect for example paper P of the recording medium having carried out record by printer 5 or printed.
Construct this original paper reading device 4, the unshowned trunnion axis spare that makes reading device 4 can winding put in the portion in its back-end pivots up and down.When the user upwards opened cover piece 4a, the user can see a support glass plate, and original paper will be placed on this support glass plate, and was provided for reading the image reading apparatus of original paper below this support glass plate.
When the user upwards pivots whole original paper reading device 4, the user can see panchromatic ink-jet printer 5, this panchromatic ink-jet printer 5 comprises i.e. four print cartridges 7 of four ink containers, and these four print cartridges 7 comprise black print cartridge 7a, cyan print cartridge 7b, carmetta print cartridge 7c and yellow print cartridge 7d (also seeing Fig. 2).The user can replace each print cartridge 7 by enough new print cartridges.
Then will be with reference to figs. 2 to the 5 concise and to the point structures of describing this ink-jet printer 5.This ink-jet printer 5 comprises: recording section is a printing portion 9; Maintenance unit 11; Ink guide part 12; With air feed part 13.Printing portion 9 is incorporated in the frame unit 14, and comprises head unit 10, and this head unit 10 is to recording paper P ink-jet, with document image on recording paper P (for example character, symbol etc.).The maintenance that maintenance unit 11 is carried out the head unit 10 of printing portion 9.Ink guide part 12 is supplied to head unit 10 with the various China inks of print cartridge 7a-7d.Air feed part 13 is supplied to each print cartridge 7a-7d with pressurized air (being positive pressure air).
Shown in Fig. 2,3 and 5, printing portion 9 and maintenance unit 11 are contained in the frame unit 14, and frame unit 14 has box like structure and is open upwards by being roughly oval-shaped hole.Back-guiding rod 15 and preceding guide rod 16 are provided in frame unit 14, back-guiding rod 15 and preceding guide rod 16 are parallel to each other and all extend on the longitudinally of MFC 1, and on these two guide rods 15,16, place carriage 17, make carriage 17 to move freely with respect to these two guide rods 15,16.Head unit 10 integrally is connected on the carriage 17, and therefore is installed on the carriage 17.
Provide carriage drive motor 18 in the back of frame unit 14, this carriage drive motor 18 is cooperated with each other with annular synchronous belt 19 and is moved back and forth carriage 17 (Fig. 2) with the horizontal cross direction at front and back guide rod 16,15 upper edge MFC1.Back at frame unit 14 also provides paper feeding motor 20, this paper feeding motor 20 is cooperated with each other to drive or to rotate the main feed roller 22 that is positioned at deflector roll 15 belows, back with transmission device 21, main feed roller 22 be positioned at before another feed roller (not shown) cooperations of deflector roll 16 belows to present recording paper P, make paper P under the lower surface of head unit 10, pass through with horizontal attitude, and present the paper P that finishes record to paper catch tray 6, and the paper P that will finish record is discharged in the paper catch tray 6, and wherein transmission device 21 comprises belt, gears etc. also are arranged on the side surface of frame unit 14.
Black flush position place in the territory, a lateral areas in the relative territory, lateral areas of the recording paper P width outside in presenting (being the left-hand side zone in Fig. 2 and 3) provides China ink to collect part 8; And the first-class position for the treatment of in another territory, lateral areas provides maintenance unit 11.Like this, in the record operating process of MFC1, head unit 10 is periodically moved to black flush position, at black flush position place, head unit 10 ink-jets to be preventing spray nozzle clogging, and China ink is collected part 8 and collected the China ink of ejection like this.In the first-class position for the treatment of, maintenance unit 11 is carried out the nozzle support surface 29 of clean operation with cleaning head unit 10.In addition, maintenance unit 11 is carried out recovery operations optionally aspirating each China ink in these not homochromy China inks, and carries out and remove operation to remove bubble or air from aftermentioned buffer container 36.
The structure of ink guide part 12 is then described.Shown in Fig. 2,4 and 5, present recording paper P below the paper feeding path of process and the front upper of the following demarcation strip 2a of housing 2 four print cartridge holding portions 23 are provided, make these print cartridge holding portions 23 be positioned to liken to be low height and position place, the nozzle support surface 29 of head unit 10 lower surfaces.Each print cartridge among four print cartridge 7a-7d can both insert a corresponding print cartridge holding portion 23 on the direction of rear side.Like this, as shown in Figure 2, black (BK) print cartridge 7a, cyan (C) print cartridge 7b, carmetta (M) print cartridge 7c and yellow (Y) print cartridge 7d are parallel to each other, all are in horizontal attitude, and are arranged to row with this description order in the direction from the left side of MFC1 to the right side.
In each print cartridge in these four print cartridges 7 (7a-7d), fexible film spare 24a is adhered on the inner wall surface of this print cartridge, thereby the inner space is divided into black chamber 24b and upper chamber 24c down.Thin-film member 24a provides the flexible partition wall of each print cartridge 7.
Each print cartridge in these four print cartridges 7 all has unshowned pore, this pore passes the back wall thickness of this print cartridge and forms, and provide air communication between air chamber 24c and the atmosphere, each print cartridge also has seal 25 in addition, sealing part 25 is formed by for example silicone, and from the rear wall of outside seal China ink chamber 24b.
Four print cartridge holding portions 23 have each the hollow tattooing needle 26 that forwards stretches out to level from its corresponding rear wall edge respectively, and this is forwards to opposite with the direction of inserting print cartridge 7a-7d.The corresponding base end of four tattooing needles 26 links to each other with head unit 10 by each flexible ink supply pipe 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d.The corresponding mid portion of black (BK) ink supply pipe 27a and cyan (C) ink supply pipe 27b overlaps each other and is bundled together; And the corresponding mid portion of carmetta (M) ink supply pipe 27c and yellow (Y) ink supply pipe 27d overlaps each other and is bundled together.
Air feed part 13 comprises: air pump 28, for example diaphragm type air pump; CD-ROM drive motor 30, this CD-ROM drive motor 30 drives or operation air pump 28; Four compression pad 31, these compression pad 31 are parallel to corresponding tattooing needle 26 and stretch out forward; With tracheae 32, this tracheae 32 links to each other air pump 28 with each compression pad in four compression pad 31.Under the state that four print cartridges 7 is inserted and secured in the print cartridge holding portion 23, four compression pad 31 are because each bias force of the bias spring of unshowned correspondence and keep the compression contact with each pore of each rear wall of corresponding print cartridge 7.In this state, when CD-ROM drive motor 30 drives air pump 28, supercharging or positive pressure air are supplied to each air chamber 24c of four print cartridge 7a-7d, so that can apply malleation to the various China inks that exist among each black chamber 24b.
As shown in Figure 5, the nozzle support surface 29 of head unit 10 is positioned at the height and position that exceeds water-head H than four tattooing needles 26, and nozzle 33 is opened at these 29 places, nozzle support surface.Therefore, in the record operating process, the negative pressure corresponding with water-head H (being back pressure) puts on the nozzle 33 of head unit 10 naturally.When the look China ink is introduced the record head 34 of head unit 10 at first, at first as known in the art, aftermentioned suction cap spare 64 closely contacts with nozzle 33 maintenances, drives suction pump 68 then so that nozzle 33 is applied suction, thereby China ink is fed to record head 34 from print cartridge 7a-7d.For this reason, can operate air pump 28 so that each China ink in the various China inks that exist among the print cartridge 7a-7d is applied malleation.
Then will describe head unit 10 and discharge valve apparatus is the relative configurations of on-off valve device 41 with reference to figure 3,6A, 6B, 7,8,9,10,11A and 11B, head unit 10 and discharge valve apparatus all are installed on the carriage 17.Shown in Fig. 6 B and 10, in the present embodiment, panchromatic head unit 10 comprises: record head 34, record head 34 have the four row nozzles 33 corresponding with four kinds of looks China ink (33a, 33b, 33c, 33d, Fig. 3); Actuator 35, for example flat piezoelectric element that combines with the upper surface of record head 34; Buffer container 36, this buffer container 36 have i.e. four the bubble collecting chambers 40 (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d) of four air buffer chambers; With case 37, this case 37 is adjacent with a sidewall of buffer container 36, and this case 37 has merged on-off valve device 41.
As shown in Figure 3, on the direction from the left side to the right side, the lower surface of record head 34 is black with black (BK) respectively with the order support of describing, cyan (C) is black, carmetta (M) is black and yellow (Y) black corresponding four row nozzle 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d, makes that each the row nozzle among the four row nozzle 33a-33d all extends on the direction vertical with the direction that moves back and forth carriage 17.Exposing each nozzle 33 makes it face the upper surface of recording paper P.The same with known record head, this record head 34 has unshowned a plurality of balancing gate pit, these balancing gate pits are communicated with described a plurality of nozzles 33 respectively, and each balancing gate pit holds a kind of look China ink of the correspondence in four kinds of look China inks being supplied by buffer container 36, and when record head 34 sprayed ink droplet from any one nozzle 33, corresponding a part of piezo-activator 35 was actuated a corresponding balancing gate pit.
As shown in figure 10, buffer container 36 has four bubble collecting chambers 40 (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d), and these bubble collecting chambers 40 are corresponding with four kinds of look China inks respectively, and is separated by each partition wall.Buffer container 36 is formed by synthetic resin, and has the shape that is roughly rectangle in its plane.Buffer container 36 has the mobile inlet 39 of China ink on an one side surface, these China inks inlet 39 level from the described side surface that flows is stretched out, and continuous by the adapter piece 38 of unshowned each Guan Yuwei detailed description, the respective end of four ink supply pipe 27a-27d links to each other with this adapter piece 38.Providing 42, four kinds of China inks of four black flow chambers flow to record head 34 through each outlet 43 of orientation downwards the black flow chamber 42 from these four row nozzles 33 under the diapire of buffer container 36.Each bubble collecting chamber 40 in four bubble collecting chambers 40 and the black flow chamber 42 of correspondence that is arranged in four black flow chambers 42 of described each bubble collecting chamber 40 below are all roughly separated each other by a horizontally extending filtration members 44.Each filtration members 44 in these four filtration members 44 is all provided by the netware that stainless steel wire forms.When slowly flowing in the process China and Mexico of record operation, each filtration members 44 all allows China ink to flow to this China ink flow chamber 42 from this bubble collecting chamber 40, prevents that simultaneously the bubble and the dust that exist in the China ink from flowing to record head 34.Each filtration members 44 all has opening 44a in the end of its inlet 39 that flows away from China ink, the flow resistance of this opening 44a fully is lower than this netware or wet end.On the other hand, when flowing fast in the process China and Mexico of aftermentioned recovery or cleaning operation, each filtration members 44 all allows enough China ink amounts to flow to this China ink flow chamber 42 through its opening 44a.
As Fig. 6 A, shown in the 6B and 7, four bubble collecting chambers 40 (40a-40d) have corresponding tubulose pore 46 (46a in its each ceiling wall or roof 45,46b, 46c, 46d), these tubulose pores 46 are as four bubble passing away 47 (47a, 47b, 47c, a corresponding end that stretches out downwards from upper wall 45 47d), be used to discharge air, and bubble passing away 47 is formed in each upper surface of upper wall 45, makes four exit portion 54 (54a as the corresponding other end of passage 47,54b, 54c, 54d) be communicated with four intake sections of aftermentioned of clack box 37.
In traditional ink-jet printer, when carrying out recovery or cleaning operation, be pumped in the bubble of collecting in the bubble collecting chamber by one or more inkjet nozzles.Therefore, in order to aspirate bubble but do not make the one or more narrower black conduit of gas bubble blockage record head, need very big suction force.In addition, before roughly all China inks of storing in the buffer container are fallen in suction, can not be pumped in bubble above the China ink of storing in this buffer container.This means invalidly to abandon amount, cause the operating cost of traditional ink-jet printer to increase than Da Mo.
Contrast therewith in first embodiment, from the top of buffering container 36, is particularly removed the bubble in bubble collecting chamber 40 collections on the top that is arranged in buffer container 36 from the pore 46 of the upper wall 45 of bubble collecting chamber 40.Therefore, bubble does not flow into the record head 34 that is positioned at collecting chamber 40 belows, and prevents that effectively the black conduit of record head 34 from stopping up.In addition, when from buffering container 36 removal bubbles, do not need to discharge so much China ink that is stored in the buffer container 36, cause the operating cost of ink-jet printer 5 to reduce, thereby increase the economic effect of ink-jet printer 5.
In first embodiment, four the bubble passing away 47a-47ds corresponding with four bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d respectively by each groove in each upper surface that is formed at upper wall 45 and adhere on these upper surfaces of upper wall 45 thin-film member 48 for example synthetic resin film limit.In Fig. 7, the protuberance that Reference numeral 45a represents to be formed on the upper surface of upper wall 45 and four bubble passing away 47a-47d are separated each other, and thin-film member 48 adheres on these protuberances.
Shown in Fig. 6 A and 7, four bubble passing away 47a-47d have roughly the same cross-sectional area along the plane vertical with the longitudinally of each passage 47, and the cross-sectional area of each passage 47 smaller or equal to four China inks of buffer container 36 flow each China ink in the inlet 39 flow inlet 39 cross-sectional area or with the flow cross-sectional area of each the ink supply pipe among inlet 39 four ink supply pipe 27a-27d that link to each other of four China inks.Because the respective length of four bubble passing away 47a-47d is equal to each other, when when bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d discharges bubbles through case 37, it is the flow resistance of bubble to air that four bubble passing away 47a-47d show roughly the same.Thereby can finish each process of discharging bubble from four bubble collecting chambers 40 in the roughly the same moment.In the present embodiment, each passage 47a-47d has the total length of cross-sectional area and the 31mm of 0.8mm * 0.8mm.
The prone projection length H2 of following table from upper wall 45 of each tubulose pore 46 is chosen in a suitable value, and this value guarantees always to keep on the top of bubble collecting chamber 40 air that can not pass through pore 46 discharges of proper volume.The air of this volume can be absorbed in forward and the China inks in the chamber 40 of being present in that cause during movable support bracket 17 are backward pressed and changed.In the present embodiment, each pore 46 all stretches out the length H2 of 3.3mm downwards from a upper wall 45 of correspondence.
In first embodiment, as shown in figure 26, be arranged in as four pore 46a-46d of the described end of each bubble passing away 47a-47d and move back and forth the moving back and forth on the direction of carriage 17; And be arranged on the direction vertical with moving back and forth direction as four exit portion 54a-54d of the described other end of each passage 47a-47d.Therefore, four passage 47a-47d separately a described end and the distance between the described other end, the respective length that promptly is connected each the bar straight line between four pore 46a-46d and the corresponding exit portion 54a-54d differs from one another.But each warpage of four passages 47 between the pore 46 of correspondence and corresponding exit portion 54 promptly bends to and makes four passages 47 have roughly the same length.Promptly in first length of the first passage 47a between the first pore 46a and the first exit portion 54a, in second length of the second channel 47b between the second pore 46b and the second exit portion 54b, roughly be equal to each other in the 3rd length of the third channel 47c between the 3rd pore 46c and the 3rd exit portion 54c and the 4th length of the four-way 47d between the 4th pore 46d and the 4th exit portion 54d.Therefore, four passage 47a-47d show the roughly the same resistance that flows to air or bubble.
In addition, when console switch valve gear 41 with when each bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d discharges air, the discharge of air is subjected to the influence of corresponding fluids flow resistance value of each upstream side part of the upstream side that is positioned at each pore 46a-46d of four black flow channels.Shown in the schematic illustration of Figure 26, each upstream side part of the upstream side that is positioned at pore 46a-46d of four black flow channels comprises ink container 7a-7d, ink supply pipe 27a-27d, China ink mobile inlet 39a-39d and bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d in proper order by description, arrives pore 46a-46d then.
Like this, make each fluid flow resistance value of the whole black flow channels between corresponding with four kinds of looks China ink four ink container 7a-7d and on-off valve device 41 be equal to each other.Therefore, when opening on-off valve device 41, from four bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d, discharge air with roughly the same flow rate.If promptly bring into use valve gear 41 each operation, then finish those operations in the roughly the same moment from four bubble collecting chambers, 40 discharge air in the identical moment.Therefore, ink-jet printer 5 does not have following problem, promptly follows the problems of air 40 discharges from a chamber than the Da Mo amount, compares from the more Zao discharge of finishing air in other chamber 40 from this chamber 40.
Because each cross-sectional area and the length of four bubble passing away 47a-47d, four bubble passing away 47a-47d show the big respective flow resistance to China ink of respective flow resistance of comparison air (being bubble).Usually, the respective air amount of collecting in four bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d of buffer container 36 differs from one another.But, when carrying out the aftermentioned bleeding with respect to all bubble collecting chambers 40, even the level of the upper surface of the China ink that exists in bubble collecting chamber 40 arrives pore 46, discharge suitable air capacity from another bubble collecting chamber 40 before also the China ink that exists is sucked and enters pore 46 in a described chamber 40, because each bubble passing away 47 all shows the big flow resistance to China ink of flow resistance of comparison air.Therefore, even the respective air amount that exists in four bubble collecting chambers 40 may differ from one another, also can be 40 discharge suitable air capacity, but can not cause and from four chambers 40, just hold less air capacity promptly than the problem of the excessive China ink amount of a specific chamber 40 suctions of Da Mo amount from four chambers.
Merge or the clack box 37 of supporting switch valve gear 41 is arranged on a sidewall adjacent with buffer container 36, promptly as the right-hand side of Fig. 6 A, 7 and 10 finding buffer containers 36.Shown in Figure 10,11A and 11B, admit the cylinder body 50 that also forms airtightly by the clack box 37 that synthetic resin forms by synthetic resin, the intercommunicating pore 51 that it is vertical elongated that cylinder body 50 has four valve openings, each intercommunicating pore 51 all has upper open end and lower open end, and intercommunicating pore 51 is corresponding with four bubble passing away 47a-47d respectively.Four communicating pipe 52 that is communicated with each upper open end of four intercommunicating pores 51, the upper end from clack box 37 protruded upward, and four cap spares 53 are connected between each Horizontal Exit part 54 of four communicating pipe 52 and four bubble passing away 47a-47d, and each cap spare 53 is all formed by for example soft rubber.The pressing section 60 that stretches out from the top, horizontal of buffering container 36 prevents that cap spare 53 from leaving buffer container 36 and clack box 37.
Each intercommunicating pore 51 in four intercommunicating pores 51 all is made of top major diameter part 51a and bottom small diameter portion 51b.Major diameter valve member 55 is whole with 56 one-tenth of minor diameter valve rods under being positioned at this valve member 55.Liner spare 57 (for example O shape ring) as seal is engaged on the valve rod 56, and is positioned under the valve member 55.Liner spare 57 and valve member 55 are inserted major diameter part 51a, make these two parts 57,55 to move up and down; And valve rod 56 is inserted small diameter portion 51b.The lower end of valve rod 56 extends to a near position the lower open end of small diameter portion 51b.Under normal circumstances, the spring part 58 that provides in the major diameter part 51a for example wind spring at downward direction upper offset valve member 55.Under this state, liner spare 57 is pressed on the diapire of the major diameter part 51a lower end that forms intercommunicating pore 51.This state is the closed condition of the valve member 55 shown in Figure 11 A.Simultaneously, when the aftermentioned that moves up upwards promoted valve rod 56 as the release push rod 62 of the valve operating parts of bubble removal device 61 with the bias force of antagonistic spring spare 58, liner spare 57 moved up and leaves the diapire of major diameter part 51a.This is the open mode of the valve member 55 shown in Figure 11 B, and under this open mode, intercommunicating pore 51 is communicated with atmosphere.
Then the structure of maintenance unit 11 will be described with reference to figure 8-10,11A, 11B, 12-15,16A, 16B, 16C, 17A, 17B, 18-20,21A and 21B.Be arranged in Fig. 2 and 3 right hand end places first-class treat the position near this maintenance unit 11 is provided.Maintenance unit 11 comprises recovery device 63 and bubble removal device 61.Recovery device 63 comprises cap spare 64 (64a, 64b), and when carriage 17 is still in first-classly when treating the position, these cap spares 64 (64a, 64b) cover the nozzle support surface 29 that is installed in the head unit 10 on the carriage 17.Under the state of cap spare 64 covering nozzles stayed surfaces 29, recovery device 63 suction nozzle 33, thus aspirate out the tamper of China ink, micronic dust and the bubble of curing from record head 34.The bubble of collecting is discharged and removed to bubble removal device 61 by utilizing bubble passing away 47 and on-off valve device 41 in bubble collecting chamber 40, and aspirate and remove the China ink of discharging with bubble.Recovery device 63 and bubble removal device 61 are located on the moving direction of carriage 17 adjacent to each other, make bubble removal device 61 be positioned at recovery device 63 outsides.Shown in Figure 12 and 13, the wiper 65 of wiping and cleaning nozzle stayed surface 29 is positioned at the position relative with lifters 66 in its plane, and lifters 66 supports four of bubble removal devices 61 with respect to the cap spare 64 of recovery device 63 and discharges push rods 62
[H6]
Movement transforming device 67 comprises: gear train 72, and each gear train 72 is all supported in rotating mode by unit platform 73; With electro-motor 71, this electro-motor 71 is positioned at an end of unit platform 73, and can rotate on forward and backward directions to give gear train 72 with transmission of power.When being on the counter clockwise direction among Figure 12 during rotary electric motors 71 in backward directions, the driving force of motor 71 passes to suction pump 68 through a plurality of gear 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d, 72e, 72f, 72g, 72h, the 72i in the gear train 72, thereby clockwise rotate suction pump 68 and negative pressure is supplied to transfer valve unit 69 from pump 68, so that suction is black as will be described.In gear 72a-72i, gear 72e and sun gear 72f rotate counterclockwise.Simultaneously, clockwise rotating during revolution counterclockwise around the axle of sun gear 72f, thereby with idler gear 72h engagement and it is rotated, making transmission of power give the gear 72i of cast suction pump 68 with sun gear 72f planet gear meshed 72g.
On the other hand, when forwards to being on the clockwise direction among Figure 12 during rotary electric motors 71, the driving force of motor 71 passes to gear 72e and sun gear 72f through gear 72a-72d, thereby clockwise rotates gear 72e, 72f.Therefore rotate counterclockwise when the axle around sun gear 72f revolves round the sun clockwise with sun gear 72f planet gear meshed 72g, thereby with follower gear 72j engagement and make its rotation, make power partly pass to turning cam spare 74 to rotate counterclockwise turning cam spare 74 through gear 72k, 72l, 72m, 72n, 72o
[H7], and make power partly pass to the rotational angle of gear 72r with the switch piece 110 of change transfer valve unit 69 through gear 72p, 72q.
Then will describe recovery device 63, bubble removal device 61, optionally raise and reduce the lowering or hoisting gear 70 of a device in those devices 63 and 61 and the turning cam spare 74 of driving lowering or hoisting gear 70 with reference to Figure 10,12,13,14,15,16A, 16B, 16C, 17A, 17B, 18,19 and 20.
Recovery device 63 comprises: two cap spare 64a, 64b, these two cap spares can contact the nozzle support surface 29 in the lower surface that is exposed to carriage 17
[H8], each cap spare is used for covering two corresponding row nozzles 33 of four row nozzle 33a-33d; With back-up block 75, this back-up block 75 is formed by for example synthetic resin, has the shape that is roughly rectangle in its plane, and surperficial thereon upper support two cap spare 64a, 64b, makes two cap spare 64a, 64b extend parallel to each other.Adopting the reason of two cap spare 64a, 64b is in order to prevent that two or more not homochromy China inks are mixed with each other.Two cap spare 64a, 64b have unshowned each black SS, and these black SSs are communicated with each pipe 76a, 76b with unshowned each outlet that is formed at back-up block 75 by unshowned each inner passage of back-up block 75.Like this, with the black ink cap spare 64a corresponding with cyan ink by pipe 76a link to each other with the mouth A of transfer valve unit 69 (Figure 21 A, 21B and Figure 22); And link to each other with the mouth B of transfer valve unit 69 by pipe 76b with the black cap spare 64b corresponding with yellow ink of carmetta.
Shown in Figure 10 and 15, back-up block 75 has guiding cylinder body 77 in the core of its lower surface, two contact plugs 78,78 (contact plug 78 only is shown in these figure) stretch out from an outer surface level of guiding cylinder body 77, and each contact plug 78 is all as a cam-follower.In addition, back-up block 75 has four spring bases 79, and these spring bases 79 stretch out from the lower surface of piece 75, makes these four spring bases 79 around guiding cylinder body 77.The unit platform 73 that is formed by for example synthetic resin has guide groove 80 in the surface thereon.Two guiding piece 81,81 approximate centre from guide groove 80 partly protrude upward, and each guiding piece 81 all has arcuate cross-section.The guiding that cooperates with one another of these two guiding pieces 81 has the moving up and down of guiding cylinder body 77 of contact plug 78, and prevents that those elements 77,78 from rotating (seeing Figure 14 and 15) with moving up and down of back-up block 75 in the vertical plane of direction.And, being provided with four projectioies 83 in guide groove 80 outsides, these projectioies 83 define the relevant position of each lower end of four bias springs 82, and these four bias springs 82 are seated at respectively on four spring bases 79, and cooperate with one another to upper offset back-up block 75.
Shown in Figure 14,15,16A, 16B, 16C, 17A and 17B, the lifters 66 of bubble removal device 61 has four plate-like pumping units 90 in the surface thereon, and these four plate-like pumping units 90 can closely contact four intercommunicating pores 51 of cylinder body 50 respectively.Each pumping unit 90 all comprises; SS 91, the corresponding small diameter bore 51b that this SS 91 can open wide with the lower surface at cylinder body 50 is communicated with; Discharge push rod 62, this release push rod 62 protrudes upward, and can be engaged among the corresponding small diameter bore 51b and a corresponding valve rod 56 of promotion.This SS 91 opens wide around the base portion of the release push rod 62 of this correspondence.Shown in Figure 17 A, all SSs 91 all are communicated with an outlet 93, and stretch out from a side surface of lifters 66 inner passage 92 of these outlet 93 process lifters 66.As scheme shown in l5,16A, 16B, 16C, 17A and the 17B, lifters 66 has two the parts 94a, the 94b that are roughly rectangle, and these two rectangular-shaped piece 94a, 94b protrude upward from the upper surface of lifters 66, and each rectangular-shaped piece 94 is all as a keeper.As shown in Figure 8, when lifters 66 makes progress when cylinder body 50 moves, these two rectangular-shaped piece 94a, 94b engage with two locating channel 95a, 95b respectively, on two horizontal directions that make lifters 66 be positioned to be perpendicular to one another,, four each that discharge in the push rod 62 can both be engaged in reposefully in small diameter bore 51b of four correspondences among the small diameter bore 51b thereby discharging push rods 62.
Translation cam spare 96 and turning cam spare 74 cooperate with one another provides a described independent movement transforming device 67, and this movement transforming device 67 is optionally carried out an action in following two actions; Two cap spare 64a, 64b moving up and down recovery device 63 are so that contact and leave the action on nozzle support surface 29; With the release push rod 62 that moves up and down bubble removal device 61 to open and close valve member 55
[H9]Action.
Shown in Figure 10,14,15,19 and 20, translation cam spare 96 comprises the horizontal leader 101 by the bifurcated of the guide groove 80 levels guiding of unit platform 73; Also comprise described two vertical guide parts 97,97 in addition, these two vertical guide parts 97,97 protrude upward from horizontal leader 101.The pin 104 that protrudes upward from this horizontal leader 101 is engaged in the convex annular race 74a (Figure 18) of turning cam spare 74.Along with on certain direction, rotating turning cam spare 74, in Figure 10,15,19 and 20, move back and forth translation cam spare 96 on the direction shown in the X1-X2, these directions are with to move up and down lifters 66 vertical with the direction of the lower surface that leaves cylinder body 50 to contact.
Two vertical guide parts 97 comprise each cam portion, these cam portions have each first cam face 102, and two contact plug (cam-followers) 78 of recovery device 63 are gone up in the biased direction of bias spring 82 offset pins 78 (promptly upward to) and engaged with these first cam faces 102; These cam portions also have each second cam face 103 in addition, and two contact plug (cam-followers) 99 of bubble removal device 61 are gone up in the biased direction of bias spring 100 offset pins 99 (promptly upward to) and engaged with these second cam faces 103.First cam face 102 and second cam face 103 define the recovery device 63 that when moving back and forth translation cam spare 96, causes and bubble removal device 61 each move up and down.
More specifically, form first cam face 102, second cam face 103 so that mobile recovery device 63 and bubble removal device 61 on two opposite directions respectively, their move mode makes; When recovery device 63 moved up, bubble removal device 61 moved down, and vice versa.First cam face 102 comprises: each descends the overhead cam surface 102c of cam face 102a, each intermediate cam surface 102b and each most, and all these cam faces all are levels; Be connected each first inclined surface that descends most between cam face 102a and the intermediate cam surface 102b; And be connected each second inclined surface between intermediate cam surface 102b and the surperficial 102c of overhead cam; And second cam face 103 comprises: each descends the overhead cam surface 103c of cam face 103a, each intermediate cam surface 103b and each most, and all these cam faces all are levels; Be connected each first inclined surface that descends most between cam face 103a and the intermediate cam surface 103b; And be connected each second inclined surface between intermediate cam surface 103b and the surperficial 103c of overhead cam.Shown in Figure 10 and 15, first cam face 102 descend the cam face 102a and second cam face 103 most descend cam face 103a closer to each other most; And the surperficial 103c of overhead cam of the overhead cam surface 102c of first cam face 102 and second cam face 103 away from each other.As shown in figure 10, when record head 34 on recording paper P during executive logging, each upper surface of two contact plugs 78 contacts each intermediate cam surface 102b of first cam face 102, and each upper surface of two contact plugs 99 contacts each intermediate cam surface 103b of second cam face 103.
In a recovery operation shown in Figure 19 and a hold mode, translation cam spare 96 is gone up mobile in direction " X2 " owing to the cam path 74a of turning cam spare 74.As a result, contact plug 78 breaks away from intermediate cam surface 102b, and engages with overhead cam surface 102c, makes back-up block 75 owing to the bias force of bias spring 82 moves up.Like this, the nozzle support of each upper surface of two cap spare 64a, 64b and record head 34 surface 29 keeps press contacts.Simultaneously, each upper surface of contact plug 99 contacts with descending most cam face 103a, make lifters 66 be moved down into its lower end position, the height and position that lifters 66 keeps in this place makes and stay suitable space between the lower surface of the cylinder body 50 of each upper end that discharges push rod 62 and bubble removal device 61.
Simultaneously, the bubble removal (being exhaust) of removing bubble from all bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d shown in Figure 20 was operated, translation cam spare 96 was gone up mobile in direction " X1 " owing to the cam path 74a of turning cam spare 74.As a result, each upper surface of contact plug 78 engages with descending most cam face 102a, makes back-up block 75 remain on its lower end position, at this lower end position place, and two caps
[H10]Each upper surface of part 64a, 64b from the nozzle support surface 29 of record head 34 farthest.Simultaneously, each upper surface of contact plug 99 breaks away from intermediate cam surface 103b, and engages with overhead cam surface 103c, makes lifters 66 owing to the bias force of bias spring 100 moves up.Therefore, the pumping unit 90 of lifters 66 keeps closely contacting with the lower open end of small diameter bore 51b respectively, upwards promotes valve rod 56 respectively and discharge push rod 62.
Therefore, when first cam face 102 is positioned at back-up block 75 when bearing the lower end position place of back-up block 75 of maximum bias power of bias spring 82 with back-up block 75, second cam face 103 is positioned at the upper end position place of lifters 66 that lifters 66 is born the minimum bias force of bias spring 100 with lifters 66, and vice versa.Like this, form first cam face 102, second cam face 103 so that vertical mobile recovery device 63 and bubble removal device 61 on two opposite directions respectively.Therefore, each maximum bias power that first cam face 102, second cam face 103 do not bear spring 82 and spring 100 simultaneously, thus the cam portion 97 of translation cam spare 96 does not need to have too high mechanical strength.Can form translation cam spare 96 with the size of reduction like this.
Then will describe aspirator 68,69, this aspirator 68,69 is connected on bubble removal device 61 and the recovery device 63 abreast, and each the device suction China ink from these two devices 61,63.This aspirator comprises the transfer valve unit 69 of suction pump 68 and conduct suction transfer valve.This aspirator 68,69 is optionally carried out an action in following two actions: from the action of bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d suction with the China ink of bubble discharge; With the action of aspirating China ink from nozzle 33 by recovery device 63.
Shown in Figure 21 A, 21B and 22, transfer valve unit 69 comprises: cylindrical housings 109, this cylindrical housings 109 are formed by synthetic resin; Switch piece 110, this switch piece 110 is engaged in the housing 109, makes this switch piece 110 to rotate with respect to housing 109; Gear 72r, this gear 72r can rotate around the axle part that vertically stretches out from unit platform 73, and rotates switch piece 110 with respect to housing 109.Housing 109 has above-mentioned discharge outlet 108 on the surface thereon, also has four mouth A, B, W, F at each predetermined angle phase place place in addition on its side surface.As previously mentioned, mouthful A links to each other with cap spare 64a by pipe 76a; And mouthful B is by pipe 76b and cap
[H11]Part 64b links to each other.Mouth W links to each other with the outlet 93 of bubble removal device 61 by pipe 76c.Mouthful F links to each other with pipe 76d in being open in atmosphere.More specifically, shown in Figure 12 and 13, pipe 76d looks and is enough to hold therein some China inks, and the mid portion bending of pipe 76d is greater than 180 °.The thicker waste liquid foam 111 that provides in housing 2 is provided the open end of pipe 76d.Like this, thereby do as a wholely by perk or when making it fall in the print cartridge 7 China ink that exists and be subjected to impacting as MFC1, because the pressure that produces in the China ink, some China inks may leak out from the openend of pipe 76d.But in this case, waste liquid foam 111 has been caught those China inks.Shown in Figure 4 and 5, on the diapire 2c of housing 2, provide waste liquid foam 111, make foam 111 on the direction of four print cartridge 7a-7d that arrange ink guide part 12, promptly extend on the horizontal cross direction at housing 2.The openend of pipe 76d thrusts the roughly lengthwise mid portion of waste liquid foam 111, thereby no matter the user is clockwise or counterclockwise perk housing 2, the water-head of the openend of pipe 76d is minimized.The leakage rate of China ink is minimized.
Shown in Figure 10,19 and 20, turning cam spare 74 has convex annular race 74a in its lower surface, and as previously mentioned, the pin 104 of translation cam spare 96 is engaged in the convex annular race 74a.Figure 18 shows the upper surface of turning cam spare 74.Turning cam spare 74 has the unshowned cam that is used to move up and down wiper 65 on its cylindrical side, also have rib shape cam 117a, 117b, 117c, 117d, 117e in addition, each rib shape cam all is used to contact valve 116, so that valve 116 detects the turned position (being phase place) of turning cam spare 74.Safeguard that motor 71, air pump 28, carriage 17, CD-ROM drive motor 18 etc. are controlled by unshowned control device, this control device comprises CPU (CPU), RAM (random access memory) and ROM (read-only storage), and ROM storage aftermentioned is used to control the various control programs of various operations.
Then the operation of maintenance unit 11 will be described with reference to Figure 23,24 and 25.In Figure 12, when promptly rotating counterclockwise backward when safeguarding motor 71, rotate suction pump 68 on the clockwise direction in the drawings, so that the discharge outlet 108 of the center that is arranged on transfer valve unit 69 end faces is applied negative pressure, thereby can aspirate China ink.Under this state, the switch piece 110 of transfer valve unit 69 and turning cam spare 74 rotating, promptly are not static.
When promptly clockwise rotating forward when safeguarding motor 71, do not rotate suction pump 68.But, replace suction pump 68, promptly clockwise rotate the switch piece 110 of transfer valve unit 69 forward, and rotate counterclockwise turning cam spare 74.In the explanation below, explain all operations that to carry out along with rotating turning cam spare 74 with the order corresponding with the rotation of turning cam spare 74.But, need not carry out all that operation continuously, but can only select and carry out required one or more operations according to the needs of maintenance record head unit 10 along with rotating turning cam spare 74.
Figure 23 shows the turned position or the phase place of switch piece 110 for each operation of maintenance unit 11, and wherein switch piece 110 is communicated with or is not communicated with each mouthful A, B, W, F; Time diagram shown in Figure 24 representative in bleeding (i.e. moving up and down as the lifters 66 of valve operating parts or device), add the relation between the moving up and down of cap operation (promptly supporting the moving up and down of back-up block 75 of cap spare 64a, the 64b of recovery device 63) and wiper 65.In Figure 24, " height " position of No. 1 cam of turning cam spare 74 is represented with " ON 1 "; " low " position of following position " ON 1 " of No. 1 cam is represented with " OFF 1 "; And represent that in the same way other cam number is " height " position and " low " position of 2-5 number.
When control device does not receive the relevant print command of any and record head 34 and when control device does not receive the relevant operational order of any and maintenance unit 11, action takes place and carriage 17 is moved to holding fix, right hand end position promptly shown in Figure 2 in control device.Before this, rotate turning cam spare 74, make valve 116 also upwards step on the rib shape cam 117a (No. 1 cam) from rib shape cam 117c (No. 5 cams) stepping, shown in " ON 1 " among Figure 24, thus translation cam spare 96 is moved to position shown in Figure 10, in position shown in Figure 10, each upper surface of contact plug 78 contacts with intermediate cam surface 102b, and each upper surface of contact plug 99 contacts with intermediate cam surface 103b.Under this state, carriage 17 is moved to the holding fix at right hand end shown in Figure 2 place, opposed on this nozzle support surface 29 of waiting for position record head 34 with cap spare 64a, 64b.Thereby between the nozzle support surface 29 of each upper surface of cap spare 64a, 64b and record head 34, keep suitable space.In addition, between the lower surface of the cylinder body 50 of the release push rod 62 of lifters 66 and pumping unit 90 and bubble removal device 61, keep suitable less space.Under this state, the turned position of the switch piece 110 of transfer valve unit 69 or phase place are that the cap that adds shown in Figure 23 enables the position, add cap at this and enable position mouth B and discharge outlet 108 and be communicated with.
Under above-mentioned state, cap spare 64a, 64b closely contact with the nozzle support surface 29 of record head 34, make record head 34 be in a hold mode.For this reason, rotate turning cam spare 74 forward, so that the switch piece 110 of transfer valve unit 69 is further rotated 60 ° from the position " ON 1 " that valve 116 just upwards steps on the rib shape cam 117a (No. 1 cam).Under this state, translation cam spare 96 is moved to the position of translation cam spare 96 shown in Figure 19 on direction X2, in this position, contact plug 78 breaks away from intermediate cam surface 102b, and engage with overhead cam surface 102c, make bias spring 82 back-up block 75 that moves up.Like this, each upper surface of cap spare 64a, 64b closely contacts with the nozzle support surface 29 of record head 34.Simultaneously, each upper surface of contact plug 99 engages with descending most cam face 103a, makes lifters 66 be moved down into the lower end position of lifters 66 shown in Figure 19.
In this hold mode, record head 34 through port A, B are communicated with discharge outlet 108, because the turned position of switch piece 110 is holding fixs (" ON 1 state ") shown in Figure 23.Though with the flexible pipe 105 of the mouth pipe 76d that links to each other of F of transfer valve unit 69 and suction pump 68 in residue folding more or less, cap spare 64a, the 64b of covering nozzles stayed surface 29 prevented nozzle 33 exsiccation.In addition, owing to a mouthful F is communicated with atmosphere, so each inner space of cap spare 64a, 64b is roughly under atmospheric pressure.
By will be for example be with the stepper motor form safeguard motor 71 from the position " ON 1 " rotate predetermined steps and enter the position " ON 1+60 ° " that several (for example 887 steppings) can arrive 60 ° of distance and positions " ON 1 ".
When control device is received the print command relevant with record head 34, control device moves and rotates forward continuously and safeguard motor 71, make turning cam spare 74 turn to position " ON 4 " shown in Fig. 4 (skipping over the description of aftermentioned suction operation), and from holding fix along direction left shown in Figure 2 to print position movable support bracket 17, wherein, leaving the space between cap spare 64a, 64b and the nozzle support surface 29 and between lifters 66 and the cylinder body 50 at the holding fix place.
When control device under the state that is not positioned at the holding fix place at record head 34 is received the recovery order, control device at first moves and rotates forward and safeguard motor 71, just upwards step to position on the position " ON 1 " turning cam spare 74 is turned to switch 116, subsequently record head 34 is moved to holding fix.Under this state, control device rotates forward safeguards motor 71, makes the same tight contact the in cap spare 64a, 64b and record head 34 and the hold mode.In addition, rotate turning cam spare 74, make valve 116 be stepped downward to position " OFF 1 " from rib shape cam 117a.Simultaneously, the switch piece 110 of transfer valve unit 69 is turned to figure, the negative pressure of BC shown in 23 accumulation position, in this BC negative pressure accumulation position, mouthful A, B, W, F are not communicated with atmosphere or space outerpace.Under this state, rotate backward and safeguard that motor 71 is with operation suction pump 68 (seeing Figure 25).Like this, temporary transient accumulation is used for from the negative pressure of cap spare 64a suction black (B) and cyan (C) China ink in pipe 107.Subsequently, rotate forward and safeguard motor 71, make valve 116 upwards step on rib shape cam 117b (No. 2 cams) position " ON 2 " that promptly mouthful A is communicated with groove 112a.Like this, aspirate black and cyan ink by cap spare 64a from nozzle 33a, 33b with the negative pressure of accumulation.This position is a BC suction position shown in Figure 23.Operation in suction pump 68 began in the short time of back, and operation air pump (being positive pressure pump) 28 is so that apply corresponding malleation by the China ink that exists in 7 pairs of buffer containers of print cartridge 36.
Then, when turning cam spare 74 being turned to valve 116 just from position " OFF 2 " that rib shape cam 117b (No. 2 cams) gets off, the switch piece 110 of transfer valve unit 69 is turned to YM negative pressure accumulation shown in Figure 23 position, in this YM negative pressure accumulation position, mouthful A, B, W, F are not communicated with atmosphere or space outerpace.Under this state, rotate backward as mentioned above and safeguard motor 71, thereby accumulation is used to aspirate the negative pressure of carmetta (M) and yellow (Y) China ink with operation suction pump 68.Subsequently, rotate forward and safeguard motor 71, making valve 116 upwards step to rib shape cam 117c (No. 3 cams) is on the position shown in Figure 24 " ON 3 ", and a mouthful B is communicated with groove 112b thus, and aspirates carmetta and yellow ink by cap spare 64b from nozzle 33c, 33d.This position is a YM suction position shown in Figure 23.Under this state, operation air pump 28 is so that apply corresponding malleation by the China ink that exists in 7 pairs of buffer containers of print cartridge 36.
Under situation only to a combination execution recovery operation in second combination of first combination of black and cyan ink and carmetta and yellow ink, safeguard that motor 71 number locating just to rotate forward with the corresponding cam of another combination, and do not rotate backward i.e. inoperation suction pump 68.
After finishing these black suction operation, rotate counterclockwise turning cam spare 74, so that translation cam spare 96 is retracted the position of translation cam spare 96 shown in Figure 10 on direction X1.Thereby move down back-up block 75, make cap spare 64a, 64b move away nozzle support surface 29.
Continue the operation of air pump 28, move away nozzle support surface 29 up to cap spare 64a, 64b.When finishing these black suction operation, the China ink that exists in cap spare 64a, the 64b is in bubbling, and these bubbles may be owing to the back pressure that acts on the China ink enters nozzle 33.For avoiding this problem, continue the operation of air pump 28, so that the China inks in the nozzle 33 are applied malleation, thereby prevent that these bubbles from entering nozzle 33.Do not need to carry out simultaneously the corresponding operating of air pump 28 and suction pump 68 in essence.For example, can be only in shut-down operation suction pump 68 back cap spare 64a, 64b move away duration about the moment on nozzle support surface 29 operation air pump 28.The malleation that China ink applied in 28 pairs of nozzles of air pump 33 is chosen in the malleation value that guarantees that China ink does not leak out from nozzle 33.
When carriage 17 begins to move the wiping operation that is used for next use wiper 65, turning cam spare 74 has turned to position as shown in figure 10, in this position, each corresponding with cap spare 64a, 64b and lifters 66 respectively contact plug 78,99 contacts intermediate cam surface 102b, 103b respectively.
When the position of turning cam spare 74 stepping downwards from valve 116 wherein from rib shape cam 117c (No. 3 cams) is rotated 35 °, when the switch piece 110 of transfer valve unit 69 was turned to wiping position shown in Figure 23 (" OFF 3+35 ° "), mouth A, the B of transfer valve unit 69, W, F were not communicated with atmosphere or space outerpace." OFF 1 " is located wiper 65 and has been moved up in the position, and remains on its upper end position place, and wiper 65 stretches in the motion track on nozzle support surface 29 at this upper end position place.Under this state, when on the direction left in Fig. 2 during movable support bracket 17, make wiper 65 contact nozzle stayed surfaces 29, thereby wipe the China ink that adheres on the surface 29.
Subsequently, with carriage 17 move to wherein record head 34 not with the opposed position of the cap spare 64a left hand end position of record head 34 for example, 34 at this left hand end position place to collect part 8 opposed with China ink, rotate continuously simultaneously and safeguard motor 71, make cam member 74 stop at position " ON 2 " once more to rotate counterclockwise turning cam spare 74 continuously.Under this state, the motor 71 that rotates backward is with operation suction pump 68.This means the so-called non-cap suction operation (seeing the non-cap suction duration that adds shown in Figure 25) that adds.Can remove remaining China ink in the cap spare 64a like this.In addition, " ON 3 " are located to stop turning cam spare 74 once more in the position, thereby also can remove remaining China ink in the cap spare 64b.
Non-add the cap suction operation after, " OFF 4 " locate to stop turning cam spare 74 in the position, and rotate the switch piece 110 of transfer valve unit 69, make groove 113c be communicated with a mouth F.This is that atmosphere shown in Figure 23 is communicated with suction position.Like this, under the pipe 76d that atmosphere is opened wide and state that suction pump 68 is communicated with, rotate backward and safeguard motor 71, thereby aspirate transfer valve unit 69 interior remaining China inks etc. with operation suction pump 68.
Then, the mobile carriage 17 at left hand end position place among Fig. 2 that is in is to carry out printing.
Be not positioned under the state that the right hand end position is the holding fix place at carriage 17, when control device is received when bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d removes the order of bubble (being air), control device rotates at first forward and safeguards motor 71, just upwards step to position on the position " ON 1 " turning cam spare 74 is turned to switch 116 as mentioned above, subsequently carriage 17 is moved to holding fix.Under this state, control device rotates forward continuously and safeguards motor 71, makes turning cam spare 74 turn to position " ON 5 " continuously.In cam member 74 in-positions " ON 5 " before, promptly with cam member 74 when position " ON 4 " turn to position " OFF 4 ", mobile translation cam spare 96 on direction X1.Along with this moves, contact plug 78 moved to from middle cam face 102b descend cam face 102a most, make back-up block 75 be moved down into its lower end position, and contact plug 99 moved to overhead cam surface 103c from middle cam face 103b, make bias spring 100 lifters 66 that moves up.Thereby all of lifters 66 discharge push rod 62 upwards promotes all valve rods 56, valve member 55 and liner spare 57, so that open all valves.In addition, pumping unit 90 closely contacts with each lower open end of smaller diameter passage 51b, thereby shown in Figure 20 and 9, by bubble passing away 47a-47d, exit portion 54, communicating pipe 52 and intercommunicating pore 51, pumping unit 90, inner passage 92, discharge cylinder 93 and pipe 76c, all bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d are communicated with the mouth F of transfer valve unit 69.Locate in lifters 66 its positions that move up " ON4 " of beginning, its operation of air pump 28 beginnings applies malleation to the China ink that exists in the print cartridge 7a-7d, and by the relevant pressure in tattooing needle 26 and the ink supply pipe 27a-27d increase bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d.But, because the mouth F that " OFF 4 " locate to close transfer valve unit 69 in the position, so do not discharge any bubble.
Be positioned under the state of locating position " ON 5 " at turning cam spare 74, the transfer valve 110 of transfer valve unit 69 is positioned at buffering suction position shown in Figure 23, and the mouth W of place is communicated with groove 112c in this buffering suction position.Under this state, the malleation that air pump 28 is applied acts on the China ink in the buffer container 36 by print cartridge 7a-7d, tattooing needle 26 and ink supply pipe 27a-27d, thus the upper surface level of the China ink that exists in each bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d that raises.Therefore, carry the bubble (being air) in the respective upper of bubble collecting chamber 40a-40d, collect, and they are discharged from the lower surface of cylinder body 50 enter atmosphere by intercommunicating pore 51 (more specifically being small diameter portion 51b).For this reason, with than operating pumps 28 carrying out the fast speed rotating drive motor 30 of black suction operation, so that increase the malleation that air pump 28 is produced.But the malleation that air pump 28 is applied is chosen in the malleation value that guarantees that China ink does not leak out from nozzle 33.
When discharging bubble by this way, along with those bubbles are discharged less China ink amount.For aspirating those China inks, rotate off and on backward and safeguard motor 71 predetermined lasting times, thereby repeatedly operate suction pump 68 off and on.This is that the non-cap that adds that relates to the bubble discharge shown in Figure 25 aspirates.Like this can be by plate-like pumping unit 90, discharging suction inlet 91, inner passage 92 around the cardinal extremity of push rod 62, discharging cylinder 93, pipe 76c, mouthful W and suction pump 68 and will discharge with the less China ink amount that bubble aspirates out and enter waste liquid foam 111.The reason that drives suction pump 68 off and on is: therefore the China ink amount of discharging with bubble does not need black continuous sucking than lacking in the above-mentioned non-China ink amount of aspirating in the cap aspiration procedure that adds.In this case, can change the duration t4 (Figure 25) of operation air pump 28 according to environment temperature, and can change the frequency rotate suction pump 68 off and on according to duration t4, perhaps can be with those duration and frequency preset at corresponding steady state value place.
Subsequently, " OFF 1 " turns to position " ON 3 " from the position with turning cam spare 74, thereby carries out wiper is used in another suction with recovery operation, movable support bracket 17 and execution wiping operation.In addition, cam member 74 is turned to position " ON 2 ", also aspirate remaining China inks in the transfer valve unit 69 thus to carry out the non-cap suction operation that adds.But can save the suction recovery operation after the bubble removal operation.
Then will the second embodiment of the present invention be described with reference to figure 27-32,33A, 33B, 34A, 34B, 34C, 35 and 36.Second embodiment relates to ink-jet printer 200.
In above-mentioned first embodiment, the bubble passing away 47 (47a-47d) of discharging air (being bubble) from bubble collecting chamber or air buffer chamber 40 (40a-40d) forms and makes them have roughly the same length and roughly the same cross-sectional area respectively, thereby these passages 47a-47d has the roughly the same resistance that air flowing is flowed.On the other hand, in a second embodiment, for identical purpose, (251a-251d Figure 36) forms and makes them have each different cross-sectional area corresponding with their each different length bubble passing away 251.
As shown in figure 27, ink-jet printer 200 comprises recording section 202, maintenance unit 204, four ink containers 205 (205a-205d) etc.Recording section 202 is incorporated in the frame unit 201, and comprises head unit 203, and this head unit 203 is to the recording paper P ejection ink droplet as recording medium, with document image on recording paper P (for example character, symbol etc.).The maintenance that maintenance unit 204 is carried out the head unit 203 of recording section 202.Four ink containers 205 are fixed on the frame unit 201, and storage will be supplied to the various look China ink of head unit 203.
Four ink container 205a, 205b, 205c, 205d store black ink (BK), cyan ink (C), carmetta China ink (M) and the yellow ink (Y) that is used for record full-colour image on paper P respectively.When the China ink of storage in each ink container 205 used up, the user can replace each ink container 205 by enough new ink containers.
In recording section 202, back-guiding rod 206 and preceding guide rod 207 are provided in frame unit 201, make that these two guide rods 206,207 are parallel to each other, and each guide rod extends on the longitudinally of frame unit 201 all; And on these two guide rods 206,207, place carriage 209, make carriage 209 to move freely with respect to these two guide rods 206,207.Head unit 203 integrally is connected on the carriage 209, and therefore is installed on the carriage 209.
Right back angle at frame unit 201 provides carriage drive motor 210, and this carriage drive motor 210 is cooperated with each other with annular synchronous belt 211 and moved back and forth carriage 209 with the longitudinally at front and back guide rod 207,206 upper edge frame units 201.Unshowned known paper feeder paper feeding P, direction is with horizontal attitude process under the lower surface of head unit 203 shown in the A among Figure 27 to make paper P, and this direction is vertical with the direction that moves back and forth carriage 209.
Black flush position place in the territory, a lateral areas in the relative territory, lateral areas of the paper P width outside in presenting (being the left-hand side zone among Figure 27) provides China ink to collect part 212; And the first-class position for the treatment of in another territory, lateral areas provides maintenance unit 204.Like this, in the record operating process of ink-jet printer 200, head unit 203 is periodically moved to black flush position, at black flush position place, head unit 203 ink-jets are to prevent that (222a-222d Figure 28) stops up nozzle 222, and China ink is collected the part 212 collections China ink of ejection like this.In the first-class position for the treatment of, maintenance unit 204 is carried out the nozzle support surface of clean operation with the support nozzle 222 of cleaning head unit 203.In addition, maintenance unit 204 is carried out recovery operations aspirating these look China inks, and carries out and remove operation to remove bubble (being air) from aftermentioned buffer container 213.
As shown in figure 27, at the low height and position place, nozzle support surface (being lower surface) than head unit 203, each ink container among four ink container 205a-205d can both be at a container holding portion that inserts the correspondence in four container holding portions on the direction of rear side.In Figure 27, black ink (BK) container 205a, cyan ink (C) container 205b, carmetta China ink (M) container 205c and yellow ink (Y) container 205d are set, make those ink containers 205 extend parallel to each other, all take horizontal attitude, and on the direction from the left-hand side to the right-hand side, be arranged to row with this description order.
Each container holding portion in four container holding portions all have unshowned from its rear wall along the hollow ink supply pin that forwards stretches out to level, this forwards to insert four ink container 205a-205d in the direction of a corresponding ink container opposite.The corresponding base end of four hollow needles links to each other with head unit 203 by each flexible ink supply pipe 214 (214a, 214b, 214c, 214d).The corresponding mid portion of black ink supply pipe 214a and cyan ink supply pipe 214b overlaps each other and is bundled together; And the corresponding mid portion of carmetta ink supply pipe 214c and yellow ink supply pipe 214d overlaps each other and is bundled together.
Then will the head unit 203 that be installed on the carriage 209 be described with reference to Figure 28 and 29.In a second embodiment, full-colour image head unit 203 comprises the headstock 220, ink jet print head 221, buffer container 213 and discharge valve apparatus 226.The headstock 220 has box like structure.Record head 221 is fixed on the lower surface of diapire 220a of the headstock 220; And buffer container 213 is fixed on the upper surface of diapire 220a.
Figure 28 is the bottom view of record head 221.As shown in the drawing, on the direction from the left-hand side to the right-hand side, the lower surface of record head 221 supports corresponding with black ink (BK), cyan ink (C), carmetta China ink (M) and yellow ink (Y) respectively four row nozzle 222a, 222b, 222c, 222d with the order of describing, and makes that each the row nozzle among the four row nozzle 222a-222d all extends on the direction vertical with the direction that moves back and forth carriage 209 (promptly writing down direction).Exposing each nozzle 222 makes them face the upper surface of paper P.
The same with open No.2002-67312 of Japan Patent or the disclosed known record head of No.2001-219560, record head 221 has four ink supply inlet on the part on surface thereon, these four ink supply inlets are corresponding with described four kinds of looks China ink respectively, and are communicated with four ink supply conduits respectively.Every kind of look China ink in four kinds of look China inks is supplied to a plurality of balancing gate pits by an ink supply conduit of the correspondence in these four ink supply conduits.Therefore, record head 221 has corresponding with four row nozzle 222a-222d respectively four row balancing gate pits and four is listed as for example piezoelectric element of four corresponding row actuators of balancing gate pit with this respectively.When record head 221 sprayed ink droplet from any one nozzle 222, a corresponding actuator 223 was actuated a corresponding balancing gate pit.Nozzle unit 221a comprises described four row nozzle 222a-222d, and actuating unit 223 comprises described four row actuators.The upper surface that is used for the flexible flat cable 224 that these actuators apply voltage is fixed to this actuating unit 223.Four kinds of look China inks are supplied to described four ink supply inlet of record head 221 by buffer container 213 from four ink container 205a-205d.
Then will describe buffer container 213 and discharge valve apparatus 226 in detail with reference to figure 29-32,33A, 33B, 34A, 34B and 34C.Buffer container 213 has four air buffer chambers 227 (227a-227d), and these air buffer chambers 227 are corresponding with four kinds of look China inks respectively, and independently of one another.Buffer container 213 has main partition wall 235 and two secondary partition walls 230, and these partition walls cooperate with one another four air buffer chamber 227a-227d (more specifically being various piece 227a-1,227b-1,227c-1, the 227d-1 of four air buffer chamber 227a-227d) are separated from each other.In the present embodiment, the part 227a-1 of black ink (BK) air buffer chamber 227a is positioned at main partition wall 235 times; Cyan ink (C), carmetta China ink (M) and yellow ink (Y) air buffer chamber 227b-227d are positioned at main partition wall 235 tops, more specifically are positioned at diapire 229 tops of top box 231 of the case spare 225 of buffer container 213.In other words, the various piece 227a-1 of four air buffer chamber 227a-227d, 227b-1,227c-1,227d-1 are arranged to two-layer, i.e. the upper and lower.
More specifically, the case spare 225 of buffer container 213 has and is roughly box-like outer wall, and comprises that top box 231 and nowel 232, top box 231 and nowel 232 all pass through the synthetic resin injection moulding and form.Nowel 232 opens wide up and down; And top box 231 is fixed on the nowel 232 to seal the upper open end of nowel 232.Top box 231 combines with nowel 232 liquid hermetically by for example ultra-sonic welded.
Shown in figure 32, two secondary partition wall 235a and secondary partition wall 235b extend upward from the upper surface of main partition wall 235.Like this, the top that is positioned at main partition wall 235 tops of nowel 232 and top box 231 each extention (being each second Room 239a, 239b, 239c, 239d) of cooperating with one another and defining four air buffer chamber 227a-227d.In the present embodiment, a sidewall cooperation of two secondary partition wall 235a of this that separates each other and nowel 232 defines each second Room 239b-239d of cyan ink (C), carmetta China ink (M) and yellow ink (Y) air buffer 227b-227d.Shown in figure 32, secondary partition wall 235a horizontal-extending on roughly whole length of nowel 232.Each second Room 239b-239d of three air buffer 227b-227d is communicated with the mobile outlet of each China ink 241b, the 241c, the 241d that correspond respectively to cyan ink (C), carmetta China ink (M) and yellow ink (Y) in each position of departing from main partition wall 235 upper surfaces.
The described sidewall cooperation of secondary partition wall 235b and nowel 232 defines the second Room 239a of black ink (BK) air buffer chamber 227a.Shown in Figure 29 and 32, secondary partition wall 235b extends horizontally to and departs from main partition wall 235 upper surfaces and near the flow position of outlet 241b-241d of China ink, and the second Room 239a and China ink corresponding to black ink (BK) flow and export 241a and be communicated with.
Shown in Figure 31 and 32, the first Room 227a-1 of black ink (BK) air buffer chamber 227a is communicated with the second Room 239a of black ink (BK) air buffer chamber 227a by throttle orifice 242, and this throttle orifice 242 vertically passes along the cylindrical wall of secondary partition wall 235b formation and forms.Throttle orifice 242 is used as current limiter.Throttle orifice 242 has the cross-sectional area littler than the cross-sectional area of the first Room 227a-1, therefore has the resistance that flows of the fluid to process bigger than the first Room 227a-1 (gas or liquid).
Top box 231 has the structure of general flat, forms a plurality of recessed in the upper surface of this case 231.Top box 231 has described two secondary partition walls 230, and these two secondary partition walls 230 are separated from each other various piece (being each first Room) 227b-1,227c-1, the 227d-1 of cyan ink (C), carmetta China ink (M) and yellow ink (Y) air buffer chamber 227b-227d.As shown in figure 30, these three first Room 227b-1,227c-1,227d-1 roughly align with the first Room 227a-1 of black ink (BK) air buffer chamber 227a, and be positioned at above the first Room 227a-1 of black ink (BK) air buffer chamber 227a, and all be open upwards.Two secondary partition walls 230 of this of top box 231 are positioned partially at from each plane that described two secondary partition walls 235 of nowel 232 vertically extend.The diapire 229 of described three first Room 227b-1,227c-1,227d-1 has a plurality of intercommunicating pores 244 of the thickness formation of vertically passing wall 229.Hole 244 is used as current limiter.Thereby each first Room among three first Room 227b-1,227c-1, the 227d-1 is by one the second corresponding Room connection among some corresponding holes 244 and three second Room 239b, 239c, the 239d, one second Room of this correspondence is positioned at described each below, first Room, and is limited by the secondary partition wall 235a in the nowel 232.
Therefore each intercommunicating pore 244 all has the little cross-sectional area of cross-sectional area than each first Room among three first Room 227b-1,227c-1, the 227d-1, has the resistance that flow to the fluid of process bigger than the first Room 227b-1,227c-1,227d-1.
Each upper open end surface of a shared independent fexible film 243 sealings three first Room 227b-1,227c-1,227d-1, this fexible film 243 is provided by the film that synthetic resin forms, and does not allow the infiltration of air or liquid.Fexible film 243 is used as damper as described later.More specifically, the periphery of fexible film 243 combines with the upper end of the outer wall 238 of top box 231 by for example bonding or ultra-sonic welded, and this upper end defines each periphery of the first Room 227b-1,227c-1,227d-1 and each upper end of secondary partition wall 230.
As shown in figure 31, four the mobile outlet of China ink 241a-241d are arranged in the lower surface of nowel 232, and open wide downwards at a height and position that extends downwards from the height and position that fexible film 236 is set.Simultaneously, record head 221 has unshowned four ink supply inlet in the surface thereon, this four ink supply inlet is communicated with respective end corresponding to four ink supply conduits (i.e. four manifolds) of four kinds of look China inks respectively, and mobile to export 241a-241d opposed with four China inks respectively.The diapire 220a of the headstock 220 has four through holes, these through holes allow four China inks flow outlet 241a-241d with between four ink supply of record head 221 enter the mouth by each seal for example the corresponding of rubber packing spare be communicated with.
Four adapter pieces 245 respectively by each seal for example rubber packing spare and four China inks inlet 247 that flows link to each other, these four adapter pieces 245 have formed each downstream side with four kinds of looks black corresponding four black flow channels respectively.Each upstream side of four adapter pieces 245 links to each other with each downstream side corresponding to four ink supply pipe 214a-214d of four kinds of look China inks respectively.These four ink supply pipe 214a-214d have formed four ink-feed channel respectively.
Shown in Figure 30,31,33A, 33B and 34B, by what also open wide downwards in the lower surface that is formed at nowel 232 is an interface channel 248 of form with the level trough, and the mobile 247a that enters the mouth is communicated with the first Room 227a-1 of air buffer chamber 227a corresponding to the China ink of black ink (BK); And by in the lower surface that is formed at nowel 232 and the corresponding interface channel that opens wide downwards or level trough 248, on a sidewall of nowel 232 (along roughly vertical direction) vertically extending each communication passage 249 with main partition wall 235 and on top box 231 vertically extending each communication passage 250, be communicated with the corresponding first Room 227b-1,227c-1, the 227d-1 of other three air buffer chamber 227b-227d corresponding to flow inlet 247b, 247c, 247d of other three China inks of other three kinds of look China inks.Because each upper open end of three communication passage 250 of top box 231 is positioned at each height and position place near fexible film 243 lower surfaces, flow into the China ink of the first Room 227b-1,227c-1,227d-1 can direct collision and described each openend of communication passage 250 near and opposed fexible film 243, dynamic change can by film or damper 243 absorbs effectively and decay is damping thereby China ink is pressed in the ink supply pipe 214a-214d.
Each lower open end of extension sealing China ink mobile enter the mouth a 247a-247d and an interface channel 248 of fexible film 236.
In the upper surface of top box 231 near four China inks flow outlet 241a-241d and with each position of each second Room 239a-239d vertical alignment, it is recessed that top box 231 has each the 3rd Room 255a of defining four air buffer chamber 227a-227d, 255b, 255c, 255d four, makes these four the 3rd Room 255a, 255b, 255c, 255d independently of one another.254, four the 3rd Room 255a-255d of each pore and corresponding second Room 239a-239d connection of forming by the thickness that passes top box 231.In other words, each air buffer chamber among four corresponding with four kinds of looks China ink respectively air buffer chamber 227a-227d all comprises three chambers, i.e. first Room, second Room and the 3rd Room.
In addition, it is form and four bubble passing aways 251 independent of each other (251a, 251b, 251c, 251d) that top box 231 has with the groove in the surface thereon, make these bubble passing aways 251 roughly on the direction vertical, extend with the longitudinally of case 255, its China and Mexico flow inlet 247a-247d and China ink flow outlet 241a-241d on this longitudinally away from each other.And, top box 231 has four pores 253 (253a, 253b, 253c, 253d), these four pores 253 (253a, 253b, 253c, 253d) are arranged between three first Room 227b-1,227c-1,227d-1 and four the 3rd Room 255a-255d, and are communicated with four second Room 239a-239d respectively.These four pore 253a-253d define four bubble passing away 251a-251d end separately.
Stretching out these four pore 253a-253d of formation each tubular wall that enters each second Room 239a-239d downwards from top box 231, and those pores 253a-253d each height and position place away from top box 231 preset distances in the second Room 239a-239d is opened wide.Therefore, even at bubble after air passing hole 253a-253d discharges from the second Room 239a-239d, still stay the respective air amount in each top of the second Room 239a-239d, each air capacity is that these tubular walls are corresponding from the length that top box 231 stretches out with this preset distance.
Each upper open end of each the 3rd Room 255a-255d of four air buffer chamber 227a-227d of an extension sealing of fexible film 243 and each upper open end of four bubble passing away 251a-251d, thus the 3rd Room 255a-255d and bubble passing away 251a-251d limited.
Buffer container 213 is fixed on the carriage 209, and the direction that winner's partition wall 235 and fexible film 236,243 is parallel to move back and forth carriage 209 is extended, and extend on the nozzle support surface that is parallel to the support nozzle 222 of record head 221.
Then will discharge valve apparatus 226 be described with reference to Figure 30,32,33B and 34C.Nowel 232 comprises the holding portion 234 as its integrally formed part, and this holding portion 234 is positioned on the sidepiece (being the right hand sidepiece of nowel 232 shown in Figure 30 and the 34C) of nowel 232.Holding portion 234 has four valve openings 256, and these four valve openings 256 are corresponding with four kinds of look China inks respectively, and these four valve opening 256 vertical elongated and unlimited at their each place, top and bottom.Each valve opening in four valve openings 256 all is made of top major diameter part 256a and bottom small diameter portion 256b.Major diameter valve member 257 and minor diameter valve rod 258 whole formation that are positioned under the valve member 257.Liner spare 259 (for example O shape ring) as seal is engaged on the valve rod 258, and is positioned under the valve member 257.Liner spare 259 and valve member 257 are inserted major diameter part 256a, make these two parts 259,257 to move up and down; And valve rod 258 is inserted small diameter portion 256b.The lower end of valve rod 258 extends to a near position the lower open end of small diameter portion 256b.Under normal circumstances, the spring part 260 that provides in the major diameter part 256a for example wind spring at downward direction upper offset valve member 257.Under this state, liner spare 259 is pressed on the diapire of the major diameter part 256a lower end that forms valve opening 256.This state is the closed condition of the valve member 257 shown in Figure 34 A.
Shown in Figure 34 A, a sidepiece of top box 231 extends to the wherein position of these sidepiece covering holding portion 234 upper ends.Shown in Figure 33 B, each other end of four bubble passing aways 251 (251a, 251b, 251c, 251d) is communicated with each connector 252 (252a, 252b, 252c, 252d) as each upper open end of four valve openings 256.More specifically, discharge valve apparatus 226 is communicated with each second Room 239 (239a, 239b, 239c, 239d) of four air buffer chambers 227 (227a, 227b, 227c, 227d) by four the bubble passing aways 251 (251a-251d) corresponding to four kinds of look China inks respectively.As mentioned above, bubble passing away 251 (251a-251d) is located to be communicated with air buffer chamber 227 (227a-227d) at the pore 253 (253a, 253b, 253c, 253d) of their their ends separately of conduct, and locates to be communicated with discharge valve apparatus 226 at their connector 252 (252a-252d) of their other ends separately of conduct.
In first embodiment shown in Figure 26, pore 46 (46a-46d) is arranged in and moves back and forth the moving back and forth on the direction of carriage 17, and exit portion 54 (54a-54d) is arranged on the direction vertical with moving back and forth direction.Equally, in second embodiment shown in Figure 35, pore 253 (253a-253d) is arranged in and moves back and forth the moving back and forth on the direction of carriage 209, and connector 252 (252a-252d) is arranged on the direction vertical with moving back and forth direction.Thereby, with respect to corresponding with black, cyan, carmetta and yellow ink respectively four bubble passing aways 251 (251a-251d), the respective distance W (Wa, Wb, Wc, Wd) that is connected each the bar straight line between four pores 253 (253a, 253b, 253c, 253d) and four connectors 252 (252a, 252b, 252c, 252d) satisfies following relationship: Wa<Wb<Wc<Wd.
In addition, in first embodiment shown in Figure 26, bubble passing away 47 (47a-47d) each length between each pore 46 (46a-46d) and each exit portion 54 (54a-54d) roughly is equal to each other.Contrast therewith, in a second embodiment, make bubble passing away 251 (251a-251d) each length L (La, Lb, Lc, Ld) between each pore 253 (253a-253d) and each connector 252 (252a-252d) differ from one another, so that compensate the difference of each distance W (Wa, Wb, Wc, Wd) of these bubble passing aways 251, promptly satisfy following relationship: La<Lb<Lc<Ld.
Shown in the schematic illustration of Figure 36, bubble passing away 251 (251a-251d) is the part of each flow channel between ink container 205 (205a-205d) and connector 252 (252a-252d).Each fluid flow resistance value between ink container 205 (205a-205d) and connector 252 (252a-252d) has influence on each bubbles volume that discharge valve apparatus 226 is discharged from air buffer chamber 227 (227a-227d).
According to Hai Gen-Bo Er law (Hagen-Poiseulle ' s law), the fluid flow resistance value R of the flow channel between an ink container 205 and connector 252 can represent with following formula 1:
(formula 1) R=8 μ L/ π r
4+ Ro
In formula 1, μ is the viscosity of fluid (air or China ink); L is the length of bubble passing away 251; R is the equivalent radius (radius of a circle that promptly has the area that equates with the cross-sectional area of this passage 251) of this passage 251; And Ro is the flow resistance of the flow channel between this ink container 205 and pore 253.
In a second embodiment, by the ink supply pipe 214 that for example adopts length to be equal to each other, make each flow resistance value Ro be positioned at corresponding to each flow channel of each upstream side of four pores 253 (253a-253d) of four kinds of look China inks be equal to each other, these flow channels promptly between ink container 205 (205a-205d) and pore 253 (253a-253d) through ink supply pipe 214 (214a-214d), China ink each flow channel of 247 (247a-247d) and air buffer chamber 227 (227a-227d) of entering the mouth that flows.
According to principle of the present invention, require to make each flow resistance value R of whole flow channels of between ink container 205 (205a-205d) and connector 252 (252a-252d), comprising bubble passing away 251 (251a-251d) to be equal to each other.For this reason, must satisfy following formula 2 according to formula 1:
(formula 2) 8 μ La/ π r
a 4+ Ro=8 μ Lb/ π r
b 4+ Ro=8 μ Lc/ π r
c 4+ Ro=
8μLf/πr
d 4+Ro
In formula 2, r
a, r
b, r
c, r
dIt is the corresponding equivalent radius of bubble passing away 251a, 251b, 251c, 251d.
Because each length L a-Ld of bubble passing away 251a-251d differs from one another as mentioned above, so that each equivalent radius r of bubble passing away 251a-251d
a-r
dDiffer from one another, so that make each flow resistance value R of whole flow channels be equal to each other.Each equivalent radius r according to bubble passing away 251a-251d
a-r
dCan determine each cross-sectional area of bubble passing away 251a-251d.
Therefore, in a second embodiment, in order to make each flow resistance value of bubble passing away 251a-251d be equal to each other, a passage 251 with length L longer than other passage 251 forms and makes this passage 251 have the cross-sectional area bigger than other passage 251 along the plane vertical with the longitudinally of passage 251, and a passage 251 that promptly has the length L shorter than other passage 251 forms and makes this passage 251 have the cross-sectional area littler than other passage 251.More specifically, in a second embodiment, shown in Figure 33 B, make the width of each bubble passing away 251a-251d be equal to each other, although do not illustrate, but make the degree of depth of each passage 251a-251d differ from one another, so that make long-pending the differing from one another of respective cross section of passage 251a-251d.
The maintenance unit 204 of carrying out bleeding by operations platoon's air-valve device 226 then will be described.
Four small cap spares 272 have each bossing 272a, and these bossings 272a stretches out from each remainder of four small cap spares 272, and corresponding with the release push rod 62 that adopted among first embodiment.When small cap spare 272 closely contacts the lower surface of discharge valve apparatus 226, each bias force of bossing 272a antagonistic spring spare 260 and upwards promote corresponding valve rod 258, thus liner spare 259 moves apart each basal surface of major diameter part 256a and opens valve member 257.In addition, these small cap spares 272 link to each other with suction pump 274 by a public flow channel.Therefore, when driving suction pump 274, aspirate and discharge the bubble of in each second Room 239 (239a-239d) of air buffer chamber 227, collecting simultaneously.More specifically, when the look China ink of supplying through ink supply pipe 214 from ink container 205 temporarily was stored in second Room 239, bubble separated with China ink and floats from China ink, thereby those bubbles are collected in each top of second Room 239.Those bubbles are aspirated and discharge in suction pump 274.
Can carry out from the operation of nozzle 222 suction China ink independently of one another and discharge the operation of bubble from second Room 239 (239a-239d).
In a kind of improved mode of second embodiment, can apply pump with the malleation of the air pump 28 that in first embodiment, is adopted and replace suction pump 274.In this improved mode, when this malleation apply pump to ink container 205 (205a-205d) in the China ink of storage when applying malleation (being pressurized air), from nozzle 222, remove China ink and foreign matter, and discharge bubble from second Room 239 (239a-239d).In the another kind of improved form of second embodiment, can adopt suction pump 274 simultaneously and in first embodiment malleation apply pump.
Then the third embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to Figure 37,38,39,40A, 40B, 41A, 41B, 42A, 42B, 43,44A, 44B, 45A, 45B and 46.The similar part of the 3rd embodiment and second embodiment is: in order to make the respective flow Resistance Value be used for discharging from each air buffer chamber a plurality of bubble passing aways of bubble roughly be equal to each other, make long-pending the differing from one another of respective cross section of those passages, so that compensate the difference of each length of those passages.
In the 3rd embodiment, with four kinds of look China inks is that black, cyan, carmetta and yellow ink are supplied to two record heads 221, these two record heads 221 have ten row nozzles 222 (222a, 222b, 222c, 222d, 222e, 222f, 222g, 222h, 222i, 222j) altogether, a kind of look China ink of the correspondence in four kinds of look China inks of every row nozzle ejection.These two record heads 221 are arranged on the record direction of moving recording head 221, and this two stature 221 is fixed on the headstock 220.
In the 3rd embodiment, buffer container 313 is supplied to each record head 221 in these two record heads 221 with three kinds of look China inks of correspondence.More specifically, provide the mobile inlet of four China inks 247 (247a, 247b, 247c, 247d) though be respectively four kinds of look China inks, promptly as shown in figure 38, for every kind of look China ink provides an inlet 247, still two outlet 241 (241a, 241b, 241c, 241d) that flow are provided for every kind of look China ink.Because the 3rd embodiment is a kind of improved form of second embodiment, thus use with second embodiment in employed identical Reference numeral represent counter element and the parts of the 3rd embodiment.But counter element or the parts of the second and the 3rd embodiment that represents with identical Reference numeral may differ from one another with regard to its structure and/or function, will describe those differences below.
In the 3rd embodiment, adopting aforesaid four kinds of look China inks is black, cyan, carmetta and yellow ink.Figure 37 is the bottom view of described two record heads 221, and shows: two row cyan ink (C) nozzle 222a, 222b; One row yellow ink (Y) nozzle 222c; Four row black ink (BK) nozzle 222d, 222e, 222f, 222g; One row yellow ink (Y) nozzle 222h and two row carmetta China ink (M) nozzle 222i, 222j arrange these nozzles with the order of this description from the left-hand side to the right-hand side.Every row nozzle 222 extends on the direction vertical with the record direction of movable support bracket 209, and exposes these nozzles 222 they are faced down, promptly and to the upper surface as the paper P of recording medium.
The same with open No.2002-67312 of Japan Patent or the disclosed known record head of No.2001-219560, described two record heads 221 have ten ink supply inlets altogether in the appropriate section of their each upper surface, these ten ink supply inlets are corresponding with described four kinds of looks China ink respectively, and are communicated with ten ink supply conduits 260 (Figure 37) respectively.As shown in figure 37, provide four ink supply inlets and four ink supply conduits 260 for black ink; And provide two ink supply inlet and two ink supply conduits 260 for every kind of China ink in cyan, carmetta and the yellow ink.Every kind of look China ink in four kinds of look China inks by the correspondence in these ten ink supply conduits 260 two or four ink supply conduits 260 are supplied to a plurality of balancing gate pits 261.Therefore, these record heads 221 have corresponding with ten row nozzle 222a-222j respectively ten row balancing gate pits 261 and ten are listed as for example piezoelectric element of the corresponding unshowned ten row actuators in balancing gate pit 261 with this respectively.When record head 221 sprayed ink droplet from any one nozzle 222, a corresponding actuator was actuated a corresponding balancing gate pit 261.The upper surface that is used for the unshowned flexible flat cable that these actuators apply voltage is fixed to actuating unit with these actuators.Four kinds of look China inks are supplied to ten ink supply inlets of described two record heads 221 by buffer container 313 from four ink container 205a-205d.
In the 3rd embodiment, buffer container 313 comprises the case spare 225 that is made of top box 231 and nowel 232.Top box 231 is sealingly secured on the upper end of nowel 232 by for example ultra-sonic welded liquid.
The similar part of the 3rd embodiment and second embodiment is: shown in Figure 45 B, nowel 232 has the first Room 227a-1 of the air buffer chamber 227a corresponding with black ink (BK) under its main partition wall 235.The first Room 227a-1 occupies most of and downward the opening wide of the lower surface of nowel 232, and fexible film 236 combines with the lower surface of nowel 232, thereby covers the lower open end of the first Room 227a-1.In addition, nowel 232 has the mobile outlet of eight China inks 241a-241d near the lower open end of the first Room 227a-1.In the 3rd embodiment, as shown in figure 37, two central authorities' China inks flow outlet 241a corresponding to black ink (BK); Flow outlet 241c corresponding to yellow ink (Y) at flow two China inks of both sides of outlet 241a of central authorities China inks; Two China inks of left hand flow outlet 241b corresponding to cyan ink (C); And two China inks of the right hand flow outlet 241d corresponding to carmetta China ink (M).
Shown in Figure 41 A and 41B, the second Room 239a of the air buffer chamber 227a corresponding with black ink (BK) is limited by secondary partition wall 235b in its plane, this pair partition wall 235b forms and makes this pair partition wall 235b center on two the mobile outlet of central authorities' China ink 241a, and the second Room 239a is communicated with the first Room 227a-1 by the communication passage 242 of passing main partition wall 235 formation.In addition, shown in Figure 40 A and 45B, top box 231 has the 3rd Room 255a of air buffer chamber 227a thereon in the surface, and the 3rd Room 255a is limited by the secondary partition wall 230b that is positioned at from the extended plane of secondary partition wall 235b.The 3rd Room 255a is communicated with the second Room 239a by a pore 254 that passes top box 231 formation.
The 3rd embodiment also is with the similar part of second embodiment: limited by two secondary partition wall 235a and two secondary partition walls 230 of central authorities with cyan, yellow and carmetta black corresponding each air buffer chamber 227b, 227c, 227d respectively, wherein said two secondary partition wall 235a protrude upward from the upper surface of main partition wall 235, and the secondary partition wall 230 of described two central authorities protrudes upward from the upper surface of top box 231, and is positioned at from described two extended each planes of secondary partition wall 235a.Shown in Figure 44 B, air buffer chamber 227b, 227c, 227d constitute by being positioned at first case 231 each first Room 227b-1,227c-1,227d-1 of diapire 229 tops and each second Room 239b, 239c, the 239d that is positioned at diapire 229 belows.Shown in Figure 41 A, the second Room 239b-239d roughly all extends on the length nowel 232, and is communicated with the mobile outlet of China ink 241b-241d respectively.In the 3rd embodiment, the second Room 239c corresponding with yellow ink (Y) has the structure that is roughly Y shape in its plane: and lay respectively at the both sides of this Y shape second Room 239c with the corresponding second Room 239b, the 239d of cyan and carmetta China ink (C, M).
Three first Room 227b-1,227c-1,227d-1 that provide in the upper surface of top box 231 are positioned at above the second corresponding Room 239b, 239c, the 239d.But the 3rd embodiment does not have the 3rd Room corresponding to cyan, yellow and carmetta China ink (C, Y, M).Shown in Figure 45 A, for each first Room among three the first Room 227b-1-227d-1, have described later a plurality of first near the communication passage 250 of the correspondence of diapire 229 in three communication passage 250 and be communicated with through hole 244, in addition two China inks in six China inks flow outlet 241b-241d flow outlet near have one or two and second be communicated with through hole 244, make first and second to be communicated with through holes 244 and between each first Room 227b-1-227d-1 and corresponding one second Room 239b-239d, to be communicated with.
Shown in Figure 44 A, it is four bubble passing aways 251 (251a, 251b, 251c, 251d) of form that top box 231 also has in the upper surface that is formed at case 231 in addition with the groove.These bubble passing aways 251a-251d is locating to be communicated with the second Room 239b-239d respectively as each pore 253 (253a, 253b, 253c, 253d) of their ends separately, and be communicated with discharge valve apparatus 226 at their other end places separately, the structure of the discharge valve apparatus 226 that is adopted among the structure of this discharge valve apparatus 226 and second embodiment is identical.The similar part of the 3rd embodiment and second embodiment is: shown in Figure 42 B, three the pore 253b-253ds corresponding with cyan, yellow and carmetta China ink (C, Y, M) open wide downwards at each height and position place lower than the height and position on each ceiling surface of three second Room 239b-239d, have formed each space that accumulates the respective air amount therein thereby be shown in as Figure 44 B in each top of the second Room 239b-239d.
As shown in figure 38, by an independent fexible film 243 cover three first Room 227b-1,227c-1,227d-1, corresponding to the 3rd Room 255a of black ink and each upper open end of four bubble passing away 251a-251d.
The similar part of the 3rd embodiment and second embodiment is: shown in Figure 44 A, be arranged in as the pore 253 (253a-253d) of four bubble passing aways 251 (251a-251d) end separately and move back and forth the moving back and forth on the direction of carriage 209; And be arranged on the direction vertical with moving back and forth direction as the connector 252 (252a-252d) of these passages 251 other end separately.Thereby, as shown in figure 46, with respect to respectively with black, cyan, yellow and corresponding four bubble passing away 251a, 251b, 251c, the 251d of carmetta China ink, the respective distance W (Wa, Wb, Wc, Wd) that is connected each the bar straight line between four pore 253a, 253b, 253c, 253d and four connector 252a, 252b, 252c, the 252d satisfies following relationship: Wb<Wc<Wa<Wd.
In addition, in the 3rd embodiment, as shown in figure 46, make bubble passing away 251 (251a-251d) each length L (La, Lb, Lc, Ld) between each pore 253 (253a-253d) and each connector 252 (252a-252d) differ from one another, so that compensate the difference of each distance W (Wa, Wb, Wc, Wd) of these bubble passing aways 251, promptly satisfy following relationship: Lb<Lc<La<Ld.
The similar part of bubble passing away 251 (251a-251d) that is adopted in the 3rd embodiment and the bubble passing away 251 (251a-251d) that is adopted in a second embodiment is: make each flow resistance value R of each flow channel between ink container 205 (205a-205d) and connector 252 (252a-252d) be equal to each other.For this reason, determine each equivalent radius r of four bubble passing away 251a, 251b, 251c, 251d according to above-mentioned formula 1 and 2
a, r
b, r
c, r
d, and according to the equivalent radius r that determines like this
a-r
dDetermine each cross-sectional area of bubble passing away 251a-251d.In the 3rd embodiment, shown in Figure 44 A, in order to make the respective flow Resistance Value of passage 251a-251d be equal to each other, make the width of each passage 251a-251d differ from one another, in addition, although do not illustrate, make the degree of depth of each passage 251a-251d differ from one another, so that make the cross-sectional area of each passage 251a-251d differ from one another.
In each embodiment among first, second and the 3rd embodiment, all make the respective flow Resistance Value that is used for from four bubble passing away 47a-47d, 251a-251d of bubble collecting chamber or air buffer chamber 40a-40d, 227a-227d discharge bubble be equal to each other.Therefore, can discharge air from four chamber 40a-40d, 227a-227d with roughly the same speed.Thereby need the roughly the same time to finish the corresponding operating of discharging bubble from four chamber 40a-40d, 227a-227d, promptly can finish those operations in the roughly the same moment.Cause the efficient of those operations to improve like this.If discharge air with different speed from four chamber 40a-40d, 227a-227d, then the operations ratio of 40,227 discharge bubbles is discharged Zao the finishing of other operation of bubbles from other chamber 40,227 from a chamber, and discharges some China inks from a described chamber with bubble and measure.This causes the waste to China ink.Contrast therewith according to the present invention, can make the China ink amount of discharging from each bubble passing away 47a-47d, 251a-251d minimize, thereby can effectively utilize the China ink that exists in air buffer chamber 40a-40d, the 227a-227d.
In first embodiment, make the length of each bubble passing away 47a-47d be equal to each other, so that make the fluid flow resistance value of each passage 47a-47d be equal to each other.On the other hand, among each embodiment in the second and the 3rd embodiment, all make the cross-sectional area of each bubble passing away 251a-251d differ from one another, so that the difference of each length of compensation channels 251a-251d makes the fluid flow resistance value of each passage 251a-251d be equal to each other thus.Therefore, with different among first embodiment, among each embodiment in the second and the 3rd embodiment, all needn't be in order to make the fluid flow resistance value of each passage 251a-251d be equal to each other and to have a mind to increase each length L a, Lb, Lc than jitty 251a, 251b, 251c.Thereby bubble passing away 251a-251d can be set at an easy rate, and can consider the layout of other member and passage 251a-251d freely is set.Therefore, can reduce the size of record head 221 as a whole at an easy rate.
Be to be understood that the present invention can be applicable to various ink-jet printers.
Be to be understood that and implement the present invention with other changes and improvements, to those skilled in the art, can under the situation that does not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined in the claims, draw these changes and improvements.
Claims (31)
1. ink-jet printer comprises: record head, and this record head has at least one nozzle, and by document image from described nozzle ejection ink droplet and on recording medium; Carriage, this record head are installed on this carriage; At least one pan straddle, described pan straddle supports at least one ink container, and described ink container storage will be supplied to the China ink of record head; At least one black flow channel, described black flow channel is supplied to record head with China ink from described ink container; Buffer container, this buffer container has at least one bubble collecting chamber, described bubble collecting chamber is collected the bubble that produces in the black flow channel at an upper portion thereof, wherein this buffer container is arranged on the carriage and is between described black flow channel and the record head, makes described bubble collecting chamber be arranged on the height and position place higher than the height and position that record head is set; And at least one bubble passing away, described bubble passing away is formed in the upper wall of buffer container at least in part, and is communicated with described bubble collecting chamber;
It is characterized in that described ink-jet printer also comprises:
On-off valve device, this on-off valve device is arranged on the carriage, and opens and closes described bubble passing away; With
At least one valve operating parts, described valve operating parts is arranged on the position different with the position that carriage is set, when the pre-position of carriage on its mobile route kept static, described valve operating parts was opened on-off valve device and is opened described bubble passing away thus.
2. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 1, wherein said bubble passing away is communicated with the bubble collecting chamber at the low height and position place of height and position that likens to the lower surface of the roof of the described upper wall of buffer container.
3. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 1, wherein buffer container has at least one groove that is formed at as in the upper surface of the roof of the described upper wall of described buffer container, wherein this ink-jet printer also comprises the thin-film member that is fixed on the buffer container upper surface, and wherein said bubble passing away is formed by described groove and described thin-film member.
4. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 1, wherein said record head comprises a plurality of described nozzles, and these arrangement of nozzles become a plurality of row, and described a plurality of row are corresponding with the plurality of color China ink respectively; Wherein this ink-jet printer comprises respectively and corresponding a plurality of described bubble collecting chamber and corresponding with these bubble collecting chambers respectively a plurality of described bubble passing away of these looks China inks; And wherein these bubble passing aways are formed in the upper surface as the roof of the described upper wall of buffer container, make the respective length of these bubble passing aways roughly be equal to each other.
5. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 1, wherein said record head comprises a plurality of described nozzles, and these arrangement of nozzles become a plurality of row, and described a plurality of row are corresponding with the plurality of color China ink respectively; Wherein this printer comprises respectively and corresponding a plurality of described bubble collecting chamber and corresponding with these bubble collecting chambers respectively a plurality of described bubble passing away of these looks China inks; And an end of wherein said each bubble passing away is communicated with respectively with described a plurality of bubble collecting chambers, and the other end of described each bubble passing away is arranged to row of direction roughly parallel with a side surface of carriage and that move perpendicular to described carriage.
6. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 1, wherein said bubble passing away is communicated with described bubble collecting chamber at one end place, wherein on-off valve device has at least one valve opening, described valve opening is communicated with the other end of described bubble passing away at an end place of described valve opening, and the other end of wherein said nozzle and described valve opening is opened on all directions parallel to each other.
7. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 6, wherein on-off valve device comprises: at least one valve member, and described valve member can move up and down along a side surface of buffer container; With at least one valve rod, described valve rod links to each other with described valve member, and the lower end of described valve rod is arranged in the other end of the opening of described valve opening.
8. according to each ink-jet printer among the claim 1-7, wherein, described record head has a plurality of ink supply conduits; And
Buffer container has a plurality of described bubble collecting chambers, and these bubble collecting chambers are corresponding with described ink supply conduit respectively, and each bubble collecting chamber holds a certain amount of China ink and described bubble; And
Wherein, described ink-jet printer comprises:
A plurality of described bubble passing aways, described bubble passing away is arranged on the carriage, and is communicated with described bubble collecting chamber respectively at its corresponding end place, and can open at its corresponding other end place; With
Discharger, this discharger is discharged to bubble the space outerpace from the described other end of each bubble collecting chamber by a described bubble passing away of correspondence,
And described bubble passing away has roughly the same resistance for air flowing stream.
9. ink-jet printer according to Claim 8, at least a portion of wherein said each bubble collecting chamber is disposed generally on carriage on its first direction that moves, the described other end of wherein said each bubble passing away is arranged on the second direction vertical with first direction, and a described end of wherein said each bubble passing away and the length between the described other end are about equally.
10. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 9, at least a portion of wherein said each bubble passing away is bent to form by the described upper wall along buffer container.
11. ink-jet printer according to Claim 8, wherein at least a portion of each described bubble collecting chamber is disposed generally on carriage on its first direction that moves, the described other end of wherein said each bubble passing away is arranged on the second direction vertical with first direction, and wherein said bubble passing away forms feasible: cross-sectional area is than the length of the big length of a bubble passing away between its described end and its described other end of the cross-sectional area of each other bubble passing away greater than each described other bubble passing away.
12. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 11, wherein said bubble passing away forms feasible: in the distance between its described end and its described other end greater than in the length of a bubble passing away between its described end and its described other end of the described end of each other bubble passing away and each length between the described other end length greater than each described other bubble passing away.
13. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 11, wherein the described upper wall along buffer container forms described bubble passing away.
14. ink-jet printer according to Claim 8, wherein buffer container has at least one partition wall that described bubble collecting chamber is separated each other, and also has in addition to pass a plurality of holes that the thickness as the roof of the described upper wall of buffer container forms; Wherein said each bubble passing away is communicated with each bubble collecting chamber in its described end each described hole by buffer container; And at least a portion of wherein said each bubble passing away comprises groove respectively, and these grooves are formed in the roof of buffer container, thereby are communicated with each described hole.
15. ink-jet printer according to Claim 8, wherein said on-off valve device is arranged on the described other end place of described each bubble passing away, and open and close described bubble passing away, and wherein this on-off valve device is closed described bubble passing away in record head action during ink-jet, and opens described bubble passing away in the discharger action when the bubble collecting chamber is discharged bubble.
16. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 15, wherein discharger comprises suction pump, this suction pump links to each other in knock-down mode with the described other end of described each bubble passing away.
17. according to each ink-jet printer among the claim 1-7, wherein, described ink-jet printer comprises the bubble removal device, and this bubble removal device removes the collected bubble of described bubble collecting chamber by opening on-off valve device and open described bubble passing away thus under the state that described black flow channel is applied malleation.
18. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 17, wherein the bubble removal device is arranged on the described position different with the described position that carriage is set, and comprises described at least one valve operating parts, described valve operating parts is opened on-off valve device.
19. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 17, also comprise aspirator, this aspirator is connected with the bubble removal device, and will be drawn into the China ink that bubble is discharged this aspirator from described bubble collecting chamber.
20. ink-jet printer according to claim 19, also comprise recovery device, this recovery device is from a certain amount of China ink of described nozzle suction, wherein bubble removal device and this recovery device are connected on the aspirator abreast, and wherein aspirator optionally with bubble removal device and recovery device in a device cooperation to aspirate China ink.
21. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 20, wherein aspirator comprises suction pump and suction transfer valve, and wherein this suction pump operation makes the bubble removal device aspirate China ink off and on, and recovery device aspirates China ink continuously.
22. ink-jet printer according to claim 20, wherein recovery device is arranged on contiguous bubble removal device place, and comprise at least one cap spare, described cap spare can move with the nozzle support surface of the described nozzle of support of contact history head and with this nozzle support surface isolation.
23. ink-jet printer according to claim 21, also comprise single movement transforming device, this movement transforming device is carried out the suction transfer valve and is switched, and optionally carry out (a) and (b) in one: (a) recovery device is shifted to record head, and the bubble removal device is moved away valve closer; (b) recovery device is moved apart record head, and the bubble removal device is shifted to on-off valve device.
24. ink-jet printer according to claim 23, also comprise positioner, this positioner comprises the first that supported by the bubble removal device and by the second portion of bracket support, wherein when described valve operating parts when on-off valve device moves and engages with on-off valve device, the first of this positioner and second portion move towards each other and are engaged with each other, thereby locate bubble removal device and carriage relative to one another.
25. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 24, wherein described at least one valve operating parts of bubble removal device can move to open and close on-off valve device; Wherein recovery device comprises at least one cap spare, described cap spare can move with the nozzle support of the described nozzle of support of contact history head surface and with this nozzle support surface isolation; Wherein on-off valve device comprises at least one valve member and at least one valve rod, so that close described on-off valve device, straight line moves described valve member to open on-off valve device to described valve rod to described valve member on the direction opening along the closing direction biasing; Wherein said valve operating parts comprises that at least one discharges push rod, and described release push rod is being opened the described valve rod of promotion on the direction; And wherein movement transforming device optionally carry out (a) and (b) in one: (a) the described cap spare of recovery device is shifted to the nozzle support surface of record head, and the described release push rod of moving bubble removal device is to close on-off valve device; (b) described cap spare is moved apart the nozzle support surface, and move described release push rod to open on-off valve device.
26. ink-jet printer according to claim 24, wherein movement transforming device comprises translation cam, this translation cam with move back and forth carriage first move back and forth on first moving direction that direction intersects and make recovery device shift to and move apart the nozzle support surface of the described nozzle of support of record head; And move back and forth with first that direction is intersected and second moving direction parallel with first moving direction on make the bubble removal device shift to and move away valve closer.
27. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 26, wherein record head is arranged on the carriage, makes the nozzle support surface of the described nozzle of support of record head face down; Wherein said bubble collecting chamber is arranged on the carriage, and its height and position is higher than record head being provided with highly on carriage; Wherein the on-off valve device that links to each other with described bubble collecting chamber allows bubble roughly discharging on the parallel direction of the direction of recording medium ejection ink droplet with described nozzle with China ink; And wherein upwards move described valve operating parts to on-off valve device, so that open this on-off valve device.
28. according to the ink-jet printer of claim 27, wherein on first biased direction to the nozzle support of record head surface biasing recovery device, and on second biased direction to on-off valve device biasing bubble removal device; Wherein with recovery device is shifted to described first moving direction that moves apart the nozzle support surface with the bubble removal device is shifted to vertical with described second moving direction that moves away valve closer second and is moved back and forth and move back and forth translation cam on the direction; And wherein translation cam comprises cam portion, this cam portion has first cam face and second cam face, first cam-follower that extends laterally from recovery device contacts with first cam face on first biased direction, and first cam face control recovery device along with moving of translation cam is mobile, second cam-follower that extends laterally from the bubble removal device contacts with second cam face on second biased direction, and second cam face control bubble removal device along with moving of translation cam is mobile.
29. ink-jet printer according to claim 28, wherein first and second cam faces form feasible: when on one first moving direction in a plurality of first moving directions during mobile recovery device, and moving bubble removal device on one second moving direction opposite in a plurality of second moving directions with described one first moving direction; And when mobile recovery device on another first moving direction, moving bubble removal device on another second moving direction opposite with described another first moving direction.
30. the ink-jet printer according to claim 21 comprises:
A plurality of described pan straddles, described pan straddle support a plurality of described ink containers, and these ink containers store respectively the plurality of color China ink, and those look China inks will be supplied to record head to make record head record color image on recording medium;
Housing, this housing hold these ink containers in its underpart, make these ink containers be arranged to row; With
The venting pipe, the end place of this venting pipe in two opposite end links to each other with the suction transfer valve, and link to each other with atmosphere at its other end place, and this venting pipe part place is crooked greater than 180 ° therebetween, wherein the described other end of this venting pipe is positioned at the corresponding position of mid portion with described ink container row.
31. according to each ink-jet printer among the claim 1-7, wherein, described bubble passing away is formed in the described upper wall of described buffer container at least in part, make described bubble passing away in the length between one end and its other end greater than the distance between one end and its other end.
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JP385796/2003 | 2003-11-14 |
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