CN106985521B - Liquid ejecting apparatus and pressure reducing method - Google Patents
Liquid ejecting apparatus and pressure reducing method Download PDFInfo
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- CN106985521B CN106985521B CN201610883959.3A CN201610883959A CN106985521B CN 106985521 B CN106985521 B CN 106985521B CN 201610883959 A CN201610883959 A CN 201610883959A CN 106985521 B CN106985521 B CN 106985521B
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
- B41J2/02—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating a continuous ink jet
- B41J2/03—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating a continuous ink jet by pressure
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17596—Ink pumps, ink valves
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus and a pressure reducing method. The pressure of the liquid flow path which rises as the liquid is supplied to the liquid holding portion is reduced. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a discharge section capable of discharging a liquid; a liquid flow path connected from the liquid containing section to the ejection section; a liquid holding portion capable of holding a liquid and supplying the liquid to the ejection portion; a liquid flowing section that flows the liquid in the liquid flow path; a liquid flow path opening/closing section capable of opening and closing the liquid flow path; a circulation flow path for the liquid; a circulation flow path opening/closing unit capable of opening and closing the circulation flow path; and a control unit that controls the driving of the liquid flow unit and the opening and closing of the liquid flow path by the liquid flow path opening/closing unit, and that, when the pressure of the liquid flow path between the liquid flow unit and the liquid holding unit increases in accordance with the control, discharges the increased pressure to the liquid storage unit via the circulation flow path by controlling the opening and closing of the circulation flow path by the circulation flow path opening/closing unit.
Description
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus and a pressure reducing method.
Background
Conventionally, liquid ejecting apparatuses such as recording apparatuses that eject liquid such as ink onto a medium to perform recording have been used. In such a liquid discharge device, the liquid flow path from the liquid storage section to the liquid discharge section includes a liquid holding section capable of receiving and holding the supply of the liquid from the liquid storage section and supplying the liquid to the discharge section.
For example, patent documents 1 and 2 disclose a liquid discharge device including a sub tank as a liquid holding portion.
Prior art documents
Patent document
Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2012-162024
Patent document 2: japanese patent application laid-open No. 11-138850.
Disclosure of Invention
Problems to be solved by the invention
In a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid holding portion in a liquid flow path, the pressure of the liquid flow path increases as liquid is supplied from a liquid containing portion to the liquid holding portion. In the conventional liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid holding portion in the liquid flow path, such a pressure rise is maintained even after the supply of the liquid to the liquid holding portion is completed. Therefore, a load is applied to the components of the liquid flow path, and there is a possibility that the components of the liquid flow path may be detached from each other or loose in connection with each other, thereby causing liquid leakage in the liquid flow path.
Here, the liquid discharge devices disclosed in patent documents 1 and 2 are not described about the increase in pressure of the liquid flow path, and have no structure capable of reducing the pressure of the increased liquid flow path.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the pressure of the liquid flow path that rises as liquid is supplied to the liquid holding portion.
Means for solving the problems
A liquid ejecting apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems includes: a discharge section capable of discharging a liquid; a liquid flow path connected from a liquid containing portion to the ejection portion; a liquid holding portion which is formed between the liquid containing portion and the ejection portion, can receive supply of the liquid from the liquid containing portion and hold the liquid, and can supply the liquid to the ejection portion; a liquid flowing portion formed between the liquid containing portion and the liquid holding portion, and flowing the liquid in the liquid flow path; a liquid flow path opening/closing portion which is formed between the liquid flowing portion and the liquid holding portion and can open and close the liquid flow path; a circulation flow path having one end connected between the liquid flow section and the liquid flow path opening/closing section in the liquid flow path and the other end connected to the liquid storage section; a circulation flow path opening/closing unit that is connected to the liquid storage unit via the circulation flow path and is capable of opening and closing the circulation flow path; and a control unit that controls driving of the liquid flow unit and opening and closing of the liquid flow path by the liquid flow path opening/closing unit, and when a pressure of the liquid flow path between the liquid flow unit and the liquid holding unit increases in accordance with the control, controls opening and closing of the circulation flow path by the circulation flow path opening/closing unit, thereby enabling the increased pressure to be discharged to the liquid accommodating unit via the circulation flow path.
According to this aspect, when the pressure of the liquid flow path between the liquid flowing unit and the liquid holding unit increases with the driving of the liquid flowing unit and the opening and closing of the liquid flow path, the increased pressure can be discharged to the liquid storage unit through the circulation flow path by controlling the opening and closing of the circulation flow path by the circulation flow path opening and closing unit. Therefore, the pressure of the liquid flow path, which rises as the liquid is supplied to the liquid holding portion, can be reduced.
The "circulation flow path" is a flow path that constitutes a part of the liquid flow path and is capable of circulating the liquid in the liquid flow path.
A liquid ejecting apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the circulation flow path opening/closing unit is connected to the liquid flow unit via a first flow path among the liquid flow paths, is connected to the liquid flow path opening/closing unit via a second flow path among the liquid flow paths, and is connected to the liquid storage unit via the circulation flow path, and is capable of opening and closing the first flow path, the second flow path, and the circulation flow path.
According to this aspect, the circulation flow path opening/closing unit is connected to the liquid flow unit via the first flow path, connected to the liquid flow path opening/closing unit via the second flow path, and connected to the liquid storage unit via the circulation flow path, and is capable of opening and closing the first flow path, the second flow path, and the circulation flow path. Therefore, for example, by using the three-way valve configured as described above for the circulation flow path opening/closing portion, it is possible to reduce the pressure of the liquid flow path that rises as the liquid is supplied to the liquid holding portion, and to efficiently circulate the liquid in the first flow path and the circulation flow path (for example, to stir the liquid when the liquid contains a sediment component).
A liquid ejecting apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect, when the pressure of the liquid flow path between the liquid flowing unit and the liquid holding unit increases, the control unit controls the circulation flow path opening/closing unit to repeat a control of closing the second flow path and opening the first flow path and the circulation flow path and a control of closing the circulation flow path and opening the first flow path and the second flow path, thereby making it possible to discharge the increased pressure to the liquid accommodating unit through the circulation flow path.
In the case of the configuration in which the circulation flow path opening/closing portion is connected to the liquid flow portion via the first flow path, is connected to the liquid flow path opening/closing portion via the second flow path, and is connected to the liquid storage portion via the circulation flow path, there is a possibility that the effect of reducing the pressure in the liquid flow path may be insufficient if only the control of closing the second flow path and opening the first flow path and the circulation flow path and the control of closing the circulation flow path and opening the first flow path and the second flow path are executed once. However, according to this aspect, when the pressure of the liquid flow path between the liquid flowing portion and the liquid holding portion increases, the control of closing the second flow path and opening the first flow path and the circulation flow path and the control of closing the circulation flow path and opening the first flow path and the second flow path are repeated. Therefore, the pressure of the liquid flow path can be effectively reduced.
A liquid ejecting apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized by including a degassing portion that is formed between the liquid containing portion and the ejecting portion and is capable of degassing the liquid supplied to the ejecting portion, in addition to any one of the first to third aspects.
When the liquid is discharged from the discharge portion, if degassing of the liquid is not performed (insufficient), a discharge failure may occur. However, according to this aspect, the liquid supply device includes a degassing portion that is formed between the liquid storage portion and the discharge portion and that is capable of degassing the liquid supplied to the discharge portion. Therefore, the liquid can be degassed before being supplied to the ejection unit, and ejection failure due to failure of degassing of the liquid can be suppressed.
A liquid ejecting apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a filter is provided between the liquid containing section and the ejecting section in any one of the first to fourth aspects.
According to this aspect, the filter is provided between the liquid storage unit and the discharge unit. Therefore, foreign matter and the like in the liquid can be captured.
A pressure reduction method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a pressure reduction method that can be executed in a liquid discharge apparatus including: a discharge section capable of discharging a liquid; a liquid flow path connected from a liquid containing portion to the ejection portion; a liquid holding portion which is formed between the liquid containing portion and the ejection portion, can receive supply of the liquid from the liquid containing portion and hold the liquid, and can supply the liquid to the ejection portion; a liquid flowing portion formed between the liquid containing portion and the liquid holding portion, and flowing the liquid in the liquid flow path; a liquid flow path opening/closing portion which is formed between the liquid flowing portion and the liquid holding portion and can open and close the liquid flow path; a circulation flow path having one end connected between the liquid flow section and the liquid flow path opening/closing section in the liquid flow path and the other end connected to the liquid storage section; and a circulation flow path opening/closing unit that is connected to the liquid storage unit via the circulation flow path and is capable of opening and closing the circulation flow path, the pressure reduction method including: an opening step of opening the liquid flow path by the liquid flow path opening/closing unit; a driving step of driving the liquid flowing portion; a closing step of closing the liquid flow path by the liquid flow path opening/closing unit; and a pressure reduction step of opening the circulation flow path by the circulation flow path opening/closing unit, thereby discharging the pressure of the liquid flow path, which rises between the liquid flowing unit and the liquid holding unit in association with the opening step, the driving step, and the closing step, to the liquid storage unit through the circulation flow path.
According to this aspect, the pressure of the liquid flow path, which rises between the liquid flowing portion and the liquid holding portion in accordance with the opening step, the driving step, and the closing step (i.e., the step of supplying the liquid from the liquid holding portion to the liquid holding portion) is discharged to the liquid holding portion through the circulation flow path by opening the circulation flow path by the circulation flow path opening/closing portion.
Therefore, the pressure of the liquid flow path, which rises as the liquid is supplied to the liquid holding portion through the opening step, the driving step, and the closing step, can be reduced.
Drawings
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a recording apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a recording apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a recording apparatus according to embodiment 2 of the present invention;
FIGS. 4A to 4D are schematic diagrams for explaining a pressure reduction method according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a pressure reduction method according to an embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description
Hereinafter, a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[ example 1] (FIGS. 1 and 2)
First, an outline of the recording apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment.
As shown in fig. 1, the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes: an ink tank 2 as a liquid containing section for containing ink, which is an example of liquid; and a recording head 9 as an ejection portion that ejects ink. The ink tank 2 and the recording head 9 are connected by an ink flow path 10 as a liquid flow path. The ink tank 2 may be configured to be able to be filled with ink through an injection hole, not shown, in a state of being attached to the recording apparatus 1, or the box-shaped ink tank 2 may be configured to be detachably attached to the recording apparatus 1.
In addition, in fig. 1, the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is represented as being capable of supplying ink from one ink tank 2 to two recording heads 9 (recording heads 9a and 9 b). However, the ink supply device may be configured to be able to supply ink from one ink tank 2 to one recording head 9, or may be configured to be able to supply ink from one ink tank 2 to three or more recording heads 9.
In the ink flow path 10, the pump 3, the filter 4, the degassing unit 5, the three-way valve 6, the opening/closing valve 7 (opening/ closing valves 7a and 7b), and the sub-tank 8 ( sub-tanks 8a and 8b) are formed from the ink tank 2 side toward the recording head 9 side. The ink flow path 10 between the three-way valve 6 and the on-off valve 7 is divided into an ink flow path 10 connected to the on-off valve 7a, the sub-tank 8a, and the recording head 9a, and an ink flow path 10 connected to the on-off valve 7b, the sub-tank 8b, and the recording head 9b.
The ink flow path 10 in the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a first flow path 10a connected from the ink tank 2 to the three-way valve 6 via the pump 3, the filter 4, and the degassing unit 5, and a second flow path 10b connected from the three-way valve 6 to the sub-tank 8 via the on-off valve 7. The ink flow path 10 includes a third flow path 10c as a circulation flow path which is connected to the ink tank 2 from the three-way valve 6 and which is capable of circulating the ink in the ink tank 2 by returning the ink from the ink tank 2, which has flowed from the first flow path 10a, to the ink tank 2. Further, the ink flow path 10 includes a fourth flow path 10d connected from the sub tank 8 to the recording head 9. The "circulation flow path" is a flow path that constitutes a part of the ink flow path 10 and can circulate the ink in the ink flow path 10.
The pump 3 functions as a liquid flow portion, and is configured to be able to flow the ink in the ink flow path 10 from the ink tank 2 side to the recording head 9 side by driving the pump 3. Further, the pump 3 is configured to circulate the ink in the ink tank 2 from the first flow path 10a to the third flow path 10c.
The filter 4 provided in the ink flow path 10 (between the ink tank 2 and the recording head 9) is used to capture foreign matter and the like in the ink. Further, since the filter 4 is configured to be replaceable, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the flow of the ink in the ink flow path 10 due to a large amount of foreign matter or the like captured by the filter 4.
The deaeration portion 5 provided in the ink flow path 10 is a component for deaerating the ink supplied to the recording head 9. When ink is discharged from the recording head 9, if degassing of the ink is not performed (insufficient), a discharge failure may occur. However, since the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes the degassing unit 5 formed between the ink tank 2 and the recording head 9 and capable of degassing the ink supplied to the recording head 9, the degassing of the ink can be performed before the ink is supplied to the recording head 9. Therefore, ejection failure due to failure to degas the ink is suppressed.
Further, as a specific configuration of the degassing section 5, for example, there may be provided: a cylindrical hollow fiber membrane 17 forming a part of the ink flow path 10, and a decompression mechanism, not shown, for decompressing the liquid in the ink flow path 10 for deaeration. In this case, the decompression mechanism includes a decompression chamber 18 that accommodates the hollow fiber membranes 17, and a pump, not shown, that can decompress the decompression chamber 18. When the pump depressurizes the depressurization chamber 18, the space outside the hollow fiber membranes 17 is depressurized, and the gas in the ink dissolved inside the hollow fiber membranes 17 is sucked to the outside of the hollow fiber membranes 17, whereby the ink inside the hollow fiber membranes 17 is degassed. However, the configuration of the degassing section 5 is not particularly limited.
The three-way valve 6 is connected to the degassing unit 5, the opening/closing valve 7, and the ink tank 2 via the ink passage 10. Specifically, the ink tank includes an on-off valve 19, an on-off valve 20, and an on-off valve 21, the on-off valve 19 being connected to the degassing unit 5 via the first flow path 10a, the on-off valve 20 being connected to the on-off valve 7 via the second flow path 10b, and the on-off valve 21 being connected to the ink tank 2 via the third flow path 10c. The pump 3 is driven by opening the on-off valve 19 and the on-off valve 20 and closing the on-off valve 21, so that ink can flow from the on-off valve 19 side (the first channel 10a side) to the on-off valve 20 side (the second channel 10b side). The pump 3 is driven by opening the on-off valve 19 and the on-off valve 21 and closing the on-off valve 20, so that ink can flow (circulate) from the side of the on-off valve 19 (the side of the first channel 10a) to the side of the on-off valve 21 (the side of the third channel 10 c).
The three-way valve 6 of the present embodiment is configured so that the ink is supplied to the sub-tank 8 (so that the ink does not flow from the third flow path 10c side to the second flow path 10b side) without catching foreign matter and the like in the ink by the filter 4 and degassing the degassing section 5, without opening both the on-off valve 20 and the on-off valve 21 in a state where the on-off valve 19 is closed.
The opening/closing valve 7 (opening/ closing valves 7a and 7b) opens and closes the second flow path 10b.
For example, the pump 3 is driven by opening the on-off valve 19 and the on-off valve 20 and closing the on-off valve 21 with the on-off valve 7a open, whereby ink can be supplied from the ink tank 2 to the sub-tank 8 a. By closing the opening/closing valve 7a, the supply of ink from the ink tank 2 to the sub tank 8a can be stopped.
The pump 3 is driven by opening the on-off valve 19 and the on-off valve 20 and closing the on-off valve 21 with the on-off valve 7b open, whereby ink can be supplied from the ink tank 2 to the sub-tank 8b. Further, by closing the opening/closing valve 7b, the supply of ink from the ink tank 2 to the sub tank 8b can be stopped.
The sub-tank 8 (sub-tanks 8a and 8b) has a holding bag 22 in a holding chamber 23, and functions as a liquid holding portion capable of receiving supply of ink from the ink tank 2, holding the ink, and supplying the ink to the recording head 9. In addition, the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is provided with the sub tank 8 on the downstream side of the three-way valve 6 and the opening and closing valve 7 in the direction in the ink flow path 10 from the ink tank 2 side toward the recording head 9 side. With such a configuration, by closing the on-off valve 20 or the on-off valve 7 of the three-way valve 6, when ink is supplied from the sub-tank 8 to the recording head 9 (that is, ink is discharged from the recording head 9), operations such as replenishing ink in the ink tank 2 or replacing the ink tank 2 can be performed.
The recording head 9 of the present embodiment includes a common liquid chamber, not shown, and a plurality of nozzles connected to the common liquid chamber, and the ink supplied to the common liquid chamber is ejected from the nozzles.
Next, an electrical configuration of the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment.
As shown in fig. 2, the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a control unit 12 that controls components constituting the recording apparatus 1, such as the pump 3, the three-way valve 6, the recording head 9, and the opening/closing valve 7. The control section 12 controls the driving of the pump 3 when controlling the driving of the recording head 9 and supplying ink to the sub tank 8 and returning ink to the ink tank 2 in correspondence to the ink ejecting operation (recording operation), and controls the opening and closing of predetermined valves (the opening and closing valves 19, 20, and 21 of the three-way valve 6, the opening and closing valve 7).
Further, the control unit 12 may be provided with a plurality of control units that individually control the components, or may be provided with a control unit that comprehensively controls a plurality of components.
As described above, the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes: a recording head 9 capable of ejecting ink, an ink flow path 10 connected from the ink tank 2 to the recording head 9, and a sub tank 8 formed between the ink tank 2 and the recording head 9, capable of receiving and holding the supply of ink from the ink tank 2, and capable of supplying ink to the recording head 9. Further, the apparatus comprises: a pump 3 which is formed between the ink tank 2 and the sub tank 8 and flows the ink in the ink flow path 10, and an on-off valve 7 which is a liquid flow path opening/closing portion which is formed between the pump 3 and the sub tank 8 and can open/close the ink flow path 10. Further, the method comprises: a third flow path 10c having one end connected between the pump 3 and the on-off valve 7 in the ink flow path 10 and the other end connected to the ink tank 2; and a three-way valve 6 as a circulation flow path opening/closing portion connected to the ink tank 2 via a third flow path 10c and capable of opening/closing the third flow path 10c by an opening/closing valve 21.
Further, in the case where the control unit 12 of the present embodiment controls the driving of the pump 3 and the opening and closing of the ink flow path 10 by the opening and closing valve 7, and the pressure of the ink flow path 10 increases between the pump 3 and the sub-tank 8 in accordance with the control, the increased pressure can be discharged to the ink tank 2 through the third flow path 10c by controlling the opening and closing of the third flow path 10c by the three-way valve 6 (in the present embodiment, the opening and closing of the first flow path 10a and the second flow path 10 b).
Therefore, the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is configured to be able to reduce the pressure of the ink flow path 10 that rises as ink is supplied to the sub tank 8.
As shown in fig. 1, the three-way valve 6 of the present embodiment is configured such that the on-off valve 19 is connected to the pump 3 via the first channel 10a in the ink channel 10, the on-off valve 20 is connected to the on-off valve 7 via the second channel 10b in the ink channel 10, and the on-off valve 21 is connected to the ink tank 2 via the third channel 10c, and the first channel 10a, the second channel 10b, and the third channel 10c can be opened and closed by the on-off valves 19, 20, and 21.
Therefore, by using the three-way valve 6 configured as described above for the circulation flow path opening/closing portion, the pressure of the ink flow path 10, which rises as ink is supplied to the sub tank 8, can be reduced as described above, and ink can be efficiently circulated through the first flow path 10a and the third flow path 10c (for example, ink can be stirred when a sedimentation component is contained in the ink).
In addition, when the pressure of the ink flow path 10 between the pump 3 and the sub-tank 8 increases, the control unit 12 of the present embodiment controls the three-way valve 6 to repeat the control of closing the second flow path 10b and opening the first flow path 10a and the third flow path 10c and the control of closing the third flow path 10c and opening the first flow path 10a and the second flow path 10b, thereby being able to discharge the increased pressure to the ink tank 2 through the third flow path 10c.
Here, there are cases where: even if the open/close valve 19 is closed, both the open/close valve 20 and the open/close valve 21 are not opened, and the pump 3 can make the ink flow only in the direction from the ink tank 2 to the sub-tank 8 (forward direction) in the first flow path 10 a; alternatively, even in a configuration in which the pump 3 can flow ink in a direction opposite to the normal direction (reverse direction), it is desirable to discharge the increased pressure without driving the pump 3. In such a case, if the control of closing the second channel 10b and opening the first channel 10a and the third channel 10c and the control of closing the third channel 10c and opening the first channel 10a and the second channel 10b are performed only once, the effect of reducing the pressure in the ink channel 10 may be insufficient. In the control of closing the second flow path 10b and opening the first flow path 10a and the third flow path 10c, the pressure of the first flow path 10a can be effectively reduced by causing ink to flow to the ink tank 2 via the third flow path 10c (causing ink to flow to the ink tank 2 having a large space). On the other hand, in the control of closing the third flow path 10c and opening the first flow path 10a and the second flow path 10b, the pressure of the second flow path 10b cannot be reduced effectively because the ink in the second flow path 10b is merely caused to flow to the first flow path 10a (the ink is caused to flow to a narrow space from the pump 3 to the three-way valve 6).
However, in the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the pressure of the ink flow path 10 increases between the pump 3 and the sub-tank 8, the control of closing the second flow path 10b and opening the first flow path 10a and the third flow path 10c, and the control of closing the third flow path 10c and opening the first flow path 10a and the second flow path 10b can be repeated. Therefore, the pressure in the ink flow path 10 can be gradually reduced, and the pressure in the ink flow path 10 can be effectively reduced.
[ example 2] (FIG. 3)
Next, a recording apparatus according to embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, and corresponds to fig. 1 showing the recording apparatus 1 of embodiment 1.
The constituent members common to those of embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
The recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is different from the recording apparatus 1 of the embodiment 1 in the configuration from the ink tank 2 to the opening and closing valve 7.
As described above, the recording apparatus 1 of embodiment 1 includes the three-way valve 6 as the circulation flow path opening/closing portion.
On the other hand, as shown in fig. 3, the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes an on-off valve 11 as a circulation flow path opening/closing portion in the third flow path 10c instead of the three-way valve 6.
With such a configuration, the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment makes the configuration of the recording apparatus 1 simple.
Further, when the pressure of the ink flow path 10 is reduced using the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the on-off valve 11 is opened only once by closing the on-off valve 7, so that the control of the control section 12 becomes simple. Further, since the ink in the first flow path 10a and the second flow path 10b, which increase the pressure of the ink flow path 10, flows into the ink tank 2 having a large space, the pressure of the ink flow path 10 can be effectively reduced by opening the on-off valve 11 only once.
In the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the ink is circulated, the on-off valve 7 is closed, the on-off valve 11 is opened, and the pump 3 is driven. At this time, since the ink circulates in the state where the ink in the second flow path 10b is mixed, the recording apparatus 1 of embodiment 1 is higher in the circulation accuracy.
In the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the filter 4 and the degassing unit 5 are not provided in order to simplify the configuration of the recording apparatus 1. Therefore, the recording apparatus 1 of example 1 is higher in the effect of suppressing the deterioration of the flow of the ink in the ink flow path 10 and the effect of improving the ejection stability of the ink.
[ pressure reduction method ] (FIGS. 4A to 4D and FIG. 5)
Next, an example of a method of reducing the pressure in the ink flow path 10 by using the recording apparatus 1 of embodiment 1 will be described.
Fig. 4A to 4D are schematic diagrams for explaining the pressure reduction method according to the present embodiment. Fig. 5 is a flowchart of the pressure reduction method according to the present embodiment.
First, in step S110 in fig. 5, the open/close valve 7, the open/close valve 19, and the open/close valve 20 are opened under the control of the control unit 12, thereby opening the ink flow path 10 (the first flow path 10a and the second flow path 10 b). Here, the opening-closing valve 21 is closed.
In addition, in the case of using the recording apparatus 1 of embodiment 2, only the opening and closing valve 7 is opened.
Next, in step S120, the pump 3 is driven under the control of the control unit 12. Fig. 4A shows this state, in which ink moves in the direction of the arrow in the ink flow path 10 and is supplied from the ink tank 2 to the sub tank 8.
In addition, the pump 3 is also driven in the same manner in the case of using the recording apparatus 1 of embodiment 2.
When sufficient ink is supplied from the ink tank 2 to the sub-tank 8, the on-off valve 7 and the on-off valve 20 are closed under the control of the control unit 12, and the drive of the pump 3 is stopped in step S130. Fig. 4B shows this state, and the pressure in the ink flow path 10 (the first flow path 10a and the second flow path 10B) from the pump 3 to the on-off valve 7 is high. Here, if such a state is maintained for a long period of time, for example, ink may leak from the valve such as the on-off valve 7 or the on-off valve 7 may fall off from the ink flow path 10.
In addition, when the recording apparatus 1 according to embodiment 2 is used, the drive of the pump 3 is stopped by closing the on-off valve 7.
Next, in step S140, the opening/closing valve 21 of the three-way valve 6 is opened to open the circulation flow path (third flow path 10 c). According to this step, a part of the ink from the pump 3 to the ink flow path 10 (first flow path 10a) of the three-way valve 6 is fed to the ink tank 2 via the third flow path 10c, whereby the pressure of the first flow path 10a is reduced (the pressure of the second flow path 10b is kept high). This state is shown in fig. 4C.
In addition, in the case of using the recording apparatus 1 of embodiment 2, the opening and closing valve 11 is opened. Then, a part of the ink in the first flow path 10a and a part of the ink in the second flow path 10b are fed to the ink tank 2 through the third flow path 10c. Thereby, the pressure of the first flow path 10a and the pressure of the second flow path 10b are both greatly reduced, and the pressure reduction method is completed.
Next, in step S150, the on-off valve 21 of the three-way valve 6 is closed, the circulation flow path (third flow path 10c) is closed, and the on-off valve 20 is opened. According to this step, a part of the ink in the ink flow path 10 (second flow path 10b) from the three-way valve 6 to the on-off valve 7 is sent to the first flow path 10a, whereby the pressure in the second flow path 10b decreases (the pressure in the first flow path 10a slightly increases, and the pressures in the first flow path 10a and the second flow path 10b become the same). This state is shown in fig. 4D.
Then, in step S160, steps S140 and S150 are repeated a predetermined number of times (the state of fig. 4C and the state of fig. 4D are repeated), and the pressures of the first flow path 10a and the second flow path 10b are gradually reduced until both the pressure of the first flow path 10a and the pressure of the second flow path 10b are greatly reduced, thereby ending the pressure reduction method of the present embodiment.
As described above, the pressure reduction method of the present embodiment is a pressure reduction method that can be executed in the recording apparatus 1, the recording apparatus 1 including: a recording head 9 capable of ejecting ink; an ink flow path 10 connected from the ink tank 2 to the recording head 9; a sub tank 8 formed between the ink tank 2 and the recording head 9, capable of receiving and holding a supply of ink from the ink tank 2, and capable of supplying ink to the recording head 9; a pump 3 formed between the ink tank 2 and the sub tank 8 and configured to flow the ink in the ink flow path 10; an on-off valve 7 formed between the pump 3 and the sub-tank 8 and capable of opening and closing the ink flow path 10; a third flow path 10c having one end connected between the pump 3 and the on-off valve 7 in the ink flow path 10 and the other end connected to the ink tank 2; the three-way valve 6 (or the opening/closing valve 11) is connected to the ink tank 2 via the third flow path 10c and can open and close the third flow path 10c.
Further, there is a step of supplying ink from the ink tank 2 to the sub-tank 8, the step including: an opening step of opening the ink flow path 10 by the opening/closing valve 7 (step S110); a drive step (step S120) of driving the pump 3; and a closing step of closing the ink flow path 10 by the opening/closing valve 7 (step S130).
Further, there is provided a pressure reducing step (step S140 to step S160) of opening the third flow path 10c by the three-way valve 6 (or the opening/closing valve 11) to discharge the pressure of the ink flow path 10, which rises between the pump 3 and the sub-tank 8 in accordance with the ink supplying step (the opening step, the driving step, and the closing step), to the ink tank 2 via the third flow path 10c.
That is, in the pressure reduction method of the present embodiment, the three-way valve 6 (or the opening/closing valve 11) opens the third flow path 10c, and the pressure of the ink flow path 10, which increases between the pump 3 and the sub-tank 8 in the opening step, the driving step, and the closing step (the step of supplying ink from the ink tank 2 to the sub-tank 8), is discharged to the ink tank 2 through the third flow path 10c. Therefore, the pressure of the ink flow path 10, which rises as ink is supplied to the sub tank 8 through the opening step, the driving step, and the closing step, can be reduced.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention.
Description of the symbols
1.. a recording device (liquid ejecting apparatus), 2.. an ink tank (liquid containing section), 3.. a pump (liquid flowing section), 4. a filter, 5.. a degassing section, 6.. a three-way valve (circulation flow path opening/closing section), 7a, 7b.. an on-off valve (liquid flow path opening/closing section), 8a, 8b.. a sub-tank (liquid holding section), 9a, 9b.. a recording head (ejecting section), 10.. an ink flow path (liquid flow path), 10a.. a first flow path, 10b.. a second flow path, 10c.. a third flow path (circulation flow path), 10d.. a fourth flow path, 11.. an on-off valve (circulation flow path opening/closing section), 12.. a control section, 17.. a hollow fiber membrane, 18.. a decompression chamber, 19.. an on-off valve, 20.. an on-off valve, 21.. an on-off valve, Holding bag, 23.
Claims (6)
1. A liquid ejecting apparatus includes:
a discharge section capable of discharging a liquid;
a liquid flow path connected from a liquid containing portion to the ejection portion;
a liquid holding portion which is formed between the liquid containing portion and the ejection portion, can receive supply of the liquid from the liquid containing portion and hold the liquid, and can supply the liquid to the ejection portion;
a liquid flowing portion formed between the liquid containing portion and the liquid holding portion, and flowing the liquid in the liquid flow path;
a liquid flow path opening/closing portion which is formed between the liquid flowing portion and the liquid holding portion and can open and close the liquid flow path;
a circulation flow path having one end connected between the liquid flow section and the liquid flow path opening/closing section in the liquid flow path and the other end connected to the liquid storage section;
a circulation flow path opening/closing unit that is connected to the liquid storage unit via the circulation flow path and is capable of opening and closing the circulation flow path; and
and a control unit that controls driving of the liquid flow unit and opening and closing of the liquid flow path by the liquid flow path opening/closing unit, and when a pressure of the liquid flow path between the liquid flow unit and the liquid holding unit increases in accordance with the control, controls opening and closing of the circulation flow path by the circulation flow path opening/closing unit, thereby enabling the increased pressure to be discharged to the liquid accommodating unit via the circulation flow path.
2. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1,
the circulation flow path opening/closing unit is connected to the liquid flow unit via a first flow path among the liquid flow paths, connected to the liquid flow path opening/closing unit via a second flow path among the liquid flow paths, and connected to the liquid storage unit via the circulation flow path, and is capable of opening and closing the first flow path, the second flow path, and the circulation flow path.
3. The liquid ejection device according to claim 2,
when the pressure of the liquid flow path between the liquid flowing unit and the liquid holding unit increases, the control unit controls the circulation flow path opening/closing unit to repeat the control of closing the second flow path and opening the first flow path and the circulation flow path and the control of closing the circulation flow path and opening the first flow path and the second flow path, thereby allowing the increased pressure to be discharged to the liquid storage unit through the circulation flow path.
4. The liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
the liquid supply device is provided with a degassing section which is formed between the liquid storage section and the discharge section and which is capable of degassing the liquid supplied to the discharge section.
5. The liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
a filter is provided between the liquid storage section and the discharge section.
6. A pressure reduction method that can be executed in a liquid discharge apparatus, the liquid discharge apparatus comprising:
a discharge section capable of discharging a liquid;
a liquid flow path connected from a liquid containing portion to the ejection portion;
a liquid holding portion which is formed between the liquid containing portion and the ejection portion, can receive supply of the liquid from the liquid containing portion and hold the liquid, and can supply the liquid to the ejection portion;
a liquid flowing portion formed between the liquid containing portion and the liquid holding portion, and flowing the liquid in the liquid flow path;
a liquid flow path opening/closing portion which is formed between the liquid flowing portion and the liquid holding portion and can open and close the liquid flow path;
a circulation flow path having one end connected between the liquid flow section and the liquid flow path opening/closing section in the liquid flow path and the other end connected to the liquid storage section; and
a circulation flow path opening/closing portion that is connected to the liquid storage portion via the circulation flow path and is capable of opening and closing the circulation flow path,
the pressure reduction method comprises the following steps:
an opening step of opening the liquid flow path by the liquid flow path opening/closing unit;
a driving step of driving the liquid flowing portion;
a closing step of closing the liquid flow path by the liquid flow path opening/closing unit; and
and a pressure reduction step of opening the circulation flow path by the circulation flow path opening/closing unit, thereby discharging the pressure of the liquid flow path, which rises between the liquid flowing unit and the liquid holding unit in association with the opening step, the driving step, and the closing step, to the liquid storage unit through the circulation flow path.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2015213932A JP6597185B2 (en) | 2015-10-30 | 2015-10-30 | Liquid ejection device and pressure reduction method |
| JP2015-213932 | 2015-10-30 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN106985521A CN106985521A (en) | 2017-07-28 |
| CN106985521B true CN106985521B (en) | 2020-05-15 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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| CN201610883959.3A Active CN106985521B (en) | 2015-10-30 | 2016-10-10 | Liquid ejecting apparatus and pressure reducing method |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP3181362B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP6597185B2 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN106985521B (en) |
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| GB2566740B (en) * | 2017-09-26 | 2021-07-14 | Linx Printing Tech | Pigment dispersal in an ink jet printer |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2905142A2 (en) * | 2014-02-07 | 2015-08-12 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid ejecting apparatus |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP3382523B2 (en) | 1997-11-06 | 2003-03-04 | キヤノン株式会社 | Printing equipment, information processing system and textile processing system |
| US7594717B2 (en) * | 2005-01-11 | 2009-09-29 | Jemtex Ink Jet Printing Ltd. | Inkjet printer and method of controlling same |
| JP2007216442A (en) * | 2006-02-15 | 2007-08-30 | Canon Finetech Inc | Ink feeding method, ink feeding apparatus and inkjet type image forming apparatus |
| US7850290B2 (en) * | 2006-12-28 | 2010-12-14 | Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha | Ink jet recording apparatus, ink supplying mechanism and ink supplying method |
| US8038267B2 (en) * | 2007-03-28 | 2011-10-18 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Droplet jetting applicator and method for manufacturing coated body |
| JP5274276B2 (en) * | 2009-01-26 | 2013-08-28 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | Droplet discharge device |
| JP5766456B2 (en) * | 2011-02-08 | 2015-08-19 | セーレン株式会社 | Inkjet recording apparatus and inkjet recording method |
-
2015
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2016
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Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2905142A2 (en) * | 2014-02-07 | 2015-08-12 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid ejecting apparatus |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP3181362A3 (en) | 2017-08-23 |
| JP2017081068A (en) | 2017-05-18 |
| EP3181362A2 (en) | 2017-06-21 |
| JP6597185B2 (en) | 2019-10-30 |
| CN106985521A (en) | 2017-07-28 |
| EP3181362B1 (en) | 2020-08-19 |
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