CN108058487B

CN108058487B - Liquid ejecting apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN108058487B
Application number: CN201710906623.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 松田隆纪; 小阿瀬崇
Original assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Current assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date: 2016-11-07
Filing date: 2017-09-29
Publication date: 2020-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2037-09-29
Also published as: JP2018075724A; CN108058487A

Abstract

The invention provides a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of reducing the influence of a reaction force generated along with sealing. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid storage body (21) capable of storing a liquid; a liquid ejecting section (30) that has an introduction section (32) and is configured to eject the liquid introduced from the introduction section (32) toward the medium (S), the introduction section (32) having an opening (32a) through which the liquid supplied from the liquid storage body (21) is introduced; a filter (33) attached to the inlet (32 a); and a sealing member (60) which is disposed at a position separated from the filter (33) and surrounds the introduction section (32). The filter (33) is disposed at a position separated from the liquid storage body (21).

Description

Liquid ejecting apparatus

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as a printer.

Background

As an example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, there is an ink jet type printer which includes a supply pipe for liquid, a filter provided at a distal end of the supply pipe, and an annular seal member surrounding a proximal end of the supply pipe, and which is capable of supplying ink from an ink tank to the supply pipe when a portion protruding from the ink tank is pressed against the filter and the seal member (for example, patent document 1).

However, when a portion protruding from the ink tank is pressed against the filter, a mechanism for ejecting ink through the supply tube may be pressed and deformed, thereby degrading the ejection accuracy. Such a problem is not present in a printer that performs printing by ejecting only ink, but is a problem that is substantially common to a liquid ejecting apparatus including a filter and a sealing member in a liquid introducing portion.

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2007-15272

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of reducing the influence of a reaction force generated by sealing.

The liquid ejecting apparatus for solving the above problem includes: a liquid storage body capable of storing a liquid; a liquid ejecting section having an introduction section with an opening through which the liquid supplied from the liquid storage body is introduced, and configured to eject the liquid introduced from the introduction section toward a medium; a filter mounted at the inlet; and a sealing member that is disposed at a position separated from the filter, and surrounds the introduction portion, wherein the filter is disposed at a position separated from the liquid storage body.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid storage body and a liquid ejecting section provided in the liquid ejecting apparatus of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the liquid storage body and the liquid ejecting section shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing member disposed between the liquid storage body and the liquid ejecting section in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a liquid storage body, a liquid ejecting section, and a sealing member according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a seal member according to a third embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing member shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a seal member according to a fourth embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing member shown in fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the seal member according to the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing member shown in fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a notch portion provided in the seal member of the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing another modification of the seal member according to the fourth embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the liquid ejecting apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid ejecting apparatus is, for example, an ink jet printer that performs printing (recording) by ejecting ink, which is one example of a liquid, onto a medium such as paper.

(first embodiment)

As shown in fig. 1, the liquid ejecting apparatus 11 includes a housing 15, a guide shaft 16 mounted in the housing 15, a carriage 17 reciprocating along the guide shaft 16, a liquid ejecting head 13 held by the carriage 17, and a maintenance mechanism 50 for performing maintenance of the liquid ejecting head 13. The liquid ejecting head 13 is capable of ejecting a plurality of types (six types in the present embodiment) of different liquids (for example, inks of different colors), and a plurality of nozzles 12 for ejecting the liquids are provided in the liquid ejecting head 13 in accordance with the types of the liquids.

The liquid ejecting apparatus 11 includes: a support 18 for holding a liquid storage container 20, a supply flow path 19 extending from the support 18 toward the carriage 17 and capable of bending and displacing, and a support table 14 for forming a conveyance path of the medium S in the housing 15. The liquid stored in the storage container 20 is supplied to the liquid ejecting head 13 through the supply flow path 19. When the carriage 17 reciprocates while traversing the conveyance path of the medium S, the liquid ejecting head 13 ejects liquid onto the medium S supported by the support table 14, thereby performing printing (recording).

The maintenance mechanism 50 is disposed at a home position which is an end of a movement path of the carriage 17. The maintenance mechanism 50 includes a cover 51, a suction flow path 52 having an upstream end connected to the cover 51, and a suction pump 53 provided in the middle of the suction flow path 52. When the carriage 17 moves to the home position, the cap 51 moves relative to the liquid ejecting head 13 to form a closed space in which the nozzles 12 are opened. When the suction pump 53 is driven with the cap 51 forming a closed space, the fluid in the liquid ejection head 13 is discharged through the nozzle 12 by the negative pressure generated in the closed space. This is called suction cleaning. Foreign substances such as air bubbles mixed in the liquid ejecting head 13 by suction cleaning are discharged through the nozzle 12.

As shown in fig. 2, a mounting portion 31 is mounted on the carriage 17. The liquid storage body 21 capable of storing liquid is attached to the attachment portion 31. The liquid storage body 21 is provided for each type of liquid, and a plurality of (six in the present embodiment) liquid storage bodies 21 are attached to the attachment portion 31. The liquid ejecting head 13 and the mounting portion 31 constitute a liquid ejecting portion 30. That is, the liquid ejecting unit 30 and the liquid storage body 21 are mounted on the carriage 17.

The liquid storage body 21 has a box shape, and has a first side surface 24, a second side surface 25 which is a surface opposite to the first side surface 24, a front surface 26 and a rear surface 27 which are a pair of side surfaces intersecting the first side surface 24 and the second side surface 25, and a film 28 covering the first side surface 24.

In a state where the liquid storage body 21 is mounted on the carriage 17, a direction in which the first side surface 24, the second side surface 25, the front surface 26, and the rear surface 27 extend is defined as a direction Z. The direction in which the plurality of liquid storage bodies 21 are arranged is referred to as a direction X, and the direction that forms three axes with the direction X and the direction Z is referred to as a direction Y. In the present embodiment, the direction Z is a gravitational direction, and the direction Z may be referred to as a lower direction and a direction opposite to the direction Z may be referred to as an upper direction. The direction Y is referred to as the front, and the opposite direction is referred to as the rear. The direction X is referred to as a width direction, and the length in the direction X is referred to as a width.

A connection protrusion 22 protrudes from the upper portion of the liquid storage body 21, and a lead-out portion 23 protrudes from the lower portion of the liquid storage body 21 toward the liquid ejecting portion 30. The connection protrusion 22 is connected to the supply flow path 19. A lead-out port 23a is opened at the front end of the lead-out portion 23. The lead-out portion 23 of the present embodiment has a substantially elliptical cylindrical shape, but may have another shape such as a cylindrical shape.

A plurality of (six in the present embodiment) introduction portions 32 corresponding to the liquid storage bodies 21 protrude from the bottom of the mounting portion 31 toward the liquid storage bodies 21. The introduction portion 32 of the present embodiment has a substantially elliptical cylindrical shape as in the case of the lead-out portion 23, but when the lead-out portion 23 has a cylindrical shape, it may have a cylindrical shape as in the case of the lead-out portion 23. The mounting portion 31 has a partition wall 39 that protrudes so as to partition between adjacent introduction portions 32. The front end portion of the introduction portion 32 is formed in a shape with a narrowed front end. An inlet 32a for introducing the liquid supplied from the liquid storage body 21 is opened at the distal end of the inlet 32.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, a filter 33 is attached to the inlet 32 a. The filter 33 is disposed at a position separated from the liquid storage body 21. The leading end portion of the introduction portion 32 and the outer diameter of the filter 33 are smaller than the base end portion of the introduction portion 32. Further, a seal member 60 surrounding the lead-out portion 23 and the lead-in portion 32 is disposed at a position separated from the lead-in port 32a and the filter 33 having small outer diameters. The seal member 60 is made of, for example, an elastic body having a substantially elliptic cylindrical shape. The sealing member 60 may be cylindrical in shape corresponding to the outer shapes of the lead-out portion 23 and the lead-in portion 32.

When the sealing member 60 has a cylindrical shape (including an elliptic cylindrical shape), the protective member 48 may be provided so as to support the sealing member 60 without tilting. When the liquid storage body 21 is attached, the sealing member 60 may be first arranged on the introduction portion 32, and then the protective member 48 may be covered on the sealing member 60. In this way, when the lead-out portion 23 is inserted into the inside of the seal member 60, the protection member 48 suppresses deformation of the seal member 60, and thus the liquid storage body 21 can be smoothly attached.

As shown in fig. 2, the liquid storage body 21 may be fixed to the carriage 17 via a fixing member 41 that engages with the liquid storage body 21. The fixing member 41 is formed by bending a metal plate, for example. The fixing member 41 fixes the liquid storage body 21 to the carriage 17 in a state where the lead-out portion 23 is pressed against the mounting portion 31. At this time, the inner peripheral side of the elliptic cylindrical sealing member 60 is in contact with the outer peripheral sides of the introduction portion 32 and the discharge portion 23 and is uniformly elastically deformed, so that the sealing member 60 seals between the liquid ejecting portion 30 and the liquid storage body 21.

The fixing member 41 of the present embodiment includes an extending portion 45 extending in the direction Y along the second side surface 25, engaging

portions

46 and 47 extending from an end portion of the extending portion 45 along the front surface 26 and the rear surface 27, respectively, and fixing portions 46a and 47a extending forward and rearward from upper ends of the engaging

portions

46 and 47, respectively, and the fixing portions 46a and 47a are fixed to the carriage 17 by screws or the like. When the fixing member 41 is engaged with the liquid storage body 21, the fixing portions 46a and 47a may be disposed at positions sandwiching the lead-out portion 23 from the front and the rear.

Further, the positions of the fixing portions 46a and 47a in the direction Z may be shifted, one (for example, the fixing portion 46a) may be fixed by a fixing member such as a screw, and the other (for example, the fixing portion 47a) may be locked to the carriage 17. In this case, if one of the fixing members to be fixed is arranged above the other of the fixing members to be locked, the fixing operation by the fixing members can be easily performed.

When the positions of the fixing portions 46a, 47a in the direction X (for example, the positions of the screw holes 46c provided in the fixing portions 46a) are made to coincide with the connecting projection 22 of the liquid storage body 21, even when a reaction force of the supply channel 19, which is subjected to flexural displacement in accordance with the movement of the carriage 17, acts on the liquid storage body 21, positional displacement or inclination of the liquid storage body 21 is suppressed. As shown by the one-dot chain line in fig. 2, when the connection projection 22 is disposed inside the ring of the lead-out portion 23 having an annular outer edge in a plan view, positional displacement or inclination due to the reaction force of the supply flow path 19 is suppressed.

The front surface 26 of the liquid storage body 21 may be provided with a lower engaging portion 26a and an upper engaging portion 26b which are positioned below and above the fixing portion 46a when engaged with the fixing member 41. The rear surface 27 of the liquid storage body 21 may be provided with a lower engaging portion 27a and an upper engaging portion 27b which are positioned below and above the fixing portion 47a when engaged with the fixing member 41. The fixing member 41 may be provided with a lateral engaging portion 46b that laterally engages with at least one of the upper engaging

portions

26b and 27b (the upper engaging portion 26b in the present embodiment). With this configuration, as shown in fig. 2, the liquid storage body 21 can be attached to the attachment portion 31 in a state where the fixing member 41 is engaged with the liquid storage body 21.

In order not to damage the film 28, the fixing member 41 is preferably engaged with the liquid storage body 21 so as to avoid a position along the first side surface 24. When the fixing member 41 is configured to engage with the liquid storage bodies 21 so as to avoid one (the first side surface 24 in the present embodiment) of the four surfaces (the first side surface 24, the second side surface 25, the front surface 26, and the rear surface 27) of the liquid storage bodies 21, the common fixing member 41 can be used for the liquid storage bodies 21 having different sizes (for example, widths). Further, when the fixing member 41 opens one of the four surfaces of the liquid storage body 21 in advance, it is only necessary to provide no portion along the surface on the fixing member 41, and therefore, an increase in the space occupied in the mounting portion 31 can be suppressed.

As shown in fig. 3, a groove 24a is formed in the first side surface 24 of the liquid storage body 21. The liquid storage body 21 has a flow channel 29 formed by covering the groove 24a with a film 28. The connection projection 22 constitutes an upstream end portion of the flow passage 29. The liquid entering the liquid storage body 21 from the connection protrusion 22 is stored in the flow channel 29. In fig. 3, the fixing member 41 shown in fig. 2 is not shown.

When the liquid storage body 21 is attached to the attachment portion 31, the lead-out portion 23 and the lead-in portion 32 are arranged such that the lead-out port 23a and the lead-in port 32a face each other. The liquid storage body 21 is configured to flow out the liquid from the lead-out portion 23 toward the introduction port 32a when attached to the attachment portion 31. The liquid flowing out of the outlet portion 23 through the connecting protrusion 22 and the flow channel 29 is introduced into the liquid ejecting portion 30 through the inlet portion 32. The liquid ejecting section 30 ejects the liquid introduced from the introduction section 32 toward the medium S. Since the liquid storage body 21 functions as a damper for temporarily storing the liquid, the liquid is stably supplied to the liquid ejecting section 30.

In the mounting portion 31, a supply passage 34 for liquid is formed in the introduction portion 32. The liquid ejecting head 13 includes: a common liquid chamber 35 temporarily storing liquid supplied through the supply passage 34; a plurality of chambers 36 provided to correspond to the plurality of nozzles 12, respectively; and a plurality of actuators 37 provided to correspond to the respective chambers 36. Then, the actuator 37 is driven to eject liquid droplets from the nozzle 12. Further, when the pressure adjustment mechanism 38 for adjusting the supply pressure of the liquid is provided on the upstream side of the common liquid chamber 35, the ejection operation of the liquid from the liquid ejecting head 13 is more stable. In this manner, the liquid ejecting head 13 is a mechanism for ejecting liquid as droplets.

The position of the seal member 60 may be fixed by providing an engaging projection 61 at the upper end of the seal member 60 and sandwiching the engaging projection 61 between the protective member 48 and the partition wall 39. In the present embodiment, the outlet portion 23 is disposed at a position separated from the inlet portion 32 and the filter 33 by sandwiching the protective member 48 and the engagement projection 61 between the liquid storage body 21 and the partition wall 39. Thus, a space communicating with the flow path 29 and the supply passage 34 is formed on the primary side (the upper surface side which is the upstream side) of the filter 33 so as to be surrounded by the lead-out portion 23, the lead-in portion 32, and the seal member 60.

When the air bubbles are captured by the filter 33, the captured air bubbles are trapped in a space formed between the lead-out portion 23 and the lead-in portion 32, or flow from the space to the flow passage 29 extending upward. Therefore, the air bubbles are less likely to be retained in the filter 33. Further, the flow of the liquid is not obstructed by the air bubbles accumulated on the primary side of the filter 33.

At least one of the introduction portion 32 and the lead-out portion 23 (the lead-out portion 23 in the present embodiment) has a convex portion 23b that contacts the seal member 60 on the outer peripheral side. In this case, the seal member 60 has an engaging recess 62 that engages with the convex portion 23 b. Further, the

projections

64 and 65 contacting the mounting portion 31 may be provided on the outer peripheral side of the seal member 60. The convex portion 23b, the engaging concave portion 62, and the protruding

portions

64 and 65 may not be annular, and a plurality of them may be arranged at positions separated from each other along the outer periphery.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the sealing member 60 has a protruding portion 63 that contacts at least one of the introduction portion 32 and the discharge portion 23 (the introduction portion 32 in the present embodiment). The protruding portion 63 is shown by a two-dot chain line in fig. 3 because it is elastically deformed by coming into contact with the introduction portion 32. When the tip of the protrusion 63 is narrowed so that the cross-sectional shape is an acute angle, the local seal surface pressure increases.

Next, the operation of the liquid ejecting apparatus 11 configured as described above will be described.

When the liquid storage body 21 is attached to the attachment portion 31, the elastic deformation of the seal member 60 becomes large. When the seal member 60 is elastically deformed in this manner, a reaction force generated along with the elastic deformation acts on the liquid ejecting section 30, and a deformation occurs in a mechanism (mainly in the liquid ejecting head 13) that ejects the liquid. Such deformation may cause the ejection operation to become unstable. Further, depending on the shape of the elastic body that seals between the liquid ejecting portion 30 and the liquid storage body 21, when the elastic deformation increases, a sealing failure may occur, and liquid may leak from the connection portion between the liquid storage body 21 and the liquid ejecting portion 30.

In this regard, since the seal member 60 of the present embodiment is disposed so as to surround the outer peripheral sides of the lead-out section 23 and the lead-in section 32, the reaction force when the elastic deformation occurs mainly acts in the horizontal direction, and the reaction force is less likely to act on the liquid ejecting head 13 located below. Further, on the inner peripheral side of the seal member 60, the protruding portion 63 elastically deforms and comes into close contact with the introduction portion 32, and the convex portion 23b and the engaging concave portion 62 engage with each other in a concave-convex manner, whereby sealing can be reliably performed. Further, the

projections

64 and 65 are elastically deformed on the outer peripheral side of the seal member 60, and the reaction force acting on the mounting portion 31 is smaller than that in the case where the entire outer peripheral surface is elastically deformed.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The deformation of the liquid ejecting portion 30 can be reduced by reducing the reaction force when the seal member 60 is elastically deformed.

(2) Since the reaction force when the seal member 60 is elastically deformed is small, the work when attaching the liquid storage body 21 to the attachment portion 31 is easy to perform.

(3) Since the reaction force generated when the seal member 60 is elastically deformed is less likely to act on the liquid ejecting head 13, the influence of the reaction force generated by the sealing can be reduced.

(4) Since the sealing member 60 is in contact with the outer peripheral sides of the introduction section 32 and the discharge section 23, the pressure at the time of sealing is less likely to act on the liquid ejecting head 13 which is the main body of the liquid ejecting section 30.

(5) Even if the seal member 60 is not elastically deformed, the lead-out portion 23 and the seal member 60 are closely attached by the volume of the convex portion 23b, and therefore the reaction force generated by the elastic deformation of the seal member 60 is reduced.

(6) By the elastic deformation of the protruding portion 63 of the seal member 60, the reaction force generated by the elastic deformation of the seal member 60 becomes smaller than that in the case where the entire seal member 60 is elastically deformed.

(7) Since the liquid storage body 21 is fixed to the carriage 17 by the fixing member 41, displacement of the liquid storage body 21 accompanying movement of the carriage 17 can be suppressed. This maintains the seal between the liquid storage body 21 and the liquid ejecting section 30 properly.

(second embodiment)

Next, another embodiment of the liquid ejecting apparatus 11 will be described.

In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are used to designate the same components as those in the first embodiment, and therefore, the description thereof will be omitted, and the description thereof will be mainly focused on differences from the first embodiment.

As shown in fig. 5, in the liquid ejecting apparatus 11 of the present embodiment, the diameter of the outlet port 23a is larger than the outer diameter of the introduction portion 32. In the lead-out portion 23, the diameter of the lead-out port 23a expands from the flow path 29 toward the tip, and the tip portion of the lead-in portion 32, which is shaped to narrow the tip, enters the portion where the diameter of the lead-out port 23 expands.

A filter 33 is attached to an inlet 32a opening at the front end of the inlet 32. A seal member 70 surrounding the proximal end side of the introduction portion 32 is disposed at a position separated from the introduction port 32a and the filter 33. The seal member 70 of the present embodiment is an O-ring having a circular cross section.

The mounting portion 31 constituting the liquid ejecting portion 30 has an annular pressure receiving surface 31c as a flat surface contacting the sealing member 70 between the partition wall 39 and the introduction portion 32. The liquid storage body 21 has a contact surface 23c as a flat surface that contacts the sealing member 70 at the tip of the leading portion 23. When the sealing member 70 is elastically deformed while being sandwiched between the pressure receiving surface 31c and the contact surface 23c, the sealing member seals between the liquid ejecting section 30 and the liquid storage body 21. In fig. 5, the shape of the seal member 70 before elastic deformation is shown by a solid line and a two-dot chain line.

When the seal member 70 is sandwiched between the pressure receiving surface 31c and the contact surface 23c, the contact area (seal area) with respect to the pressure receiving surface 31c and the contact surface 23c is suppressed to be small because the seal member is elastically deformed gradually from the outer edge having a circular cross section. Further, the elastic deformation amount of the sealing member 70 is suppressed to be small, and the liquid ejecting portion 30 and the liquid storage body 21 are appropriately sealed.

According to the above embodiment, in addition to the above (3), the following effects can be obtained.

(8) Since the sealing area of the sealing member 70 in contact with the liquid ejecting portion 30 is small, the area to be managed for sealing can be reduced.

(9) Since the amount of elastic deformation of the seal member 70 is small, the reaction force generated along with the elastic deformation can be reduced.

(third embodiment)

Next, another embodiment of the seal member described in the second embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the second embodiment are assigned to the same components as those in the second embodiment, and therefore, the description thereof will be omitted, and the description thereof will be mainly focused on differences from the second embodiment.

As shown in fig. 6 and 7, the seal member 71 of the present embodiment includes a main body 71a having a rectangular cross section, a first protrusion 72 protruding from the main body 71a and contacting the pressure receiving surface 31c, and a second protrusion 73 protruding from the main body 71a in a direction opposite to the first protrusion 72 and contacting the contact surface 23 c. The sealing member 71 seals between the liquid ejecting section 30 and the liquid storage body 21 when being elastically deformed while being sandwiched between the pressure receiving surface 31c and the contact surface 23 c.

The first protrusion 72 and the second protrusion 73 may be configured such that the cross-sectional area on the distal end side is smaller than that on the proximal end side. For example, as shown in fig. 7, the first protrusion 72 and the second protrusion 73 may be formed such that the cross-sectional area thereof decreases toward the front end.

Next, the operation of the sealing member 71 configured as described above will be described.

When the seal member 71 is sandwiched between the pressure receiving surface 31c and the contact surface 23c, the first protrusion 72 and the second protrusion 73, which have narrowed distal ends, are elastically deformed, and therefore the elastic deformation of the body portion 71a is suppressed. Therefore, the contact area (seal area) with respect to the pressure receiving surface 31c and the contact surface 23c is small. Further, the elastic deformation amount of the sealing member 71 is suppressed to be small, and the liquid ejecting portion 30 and the liquid storage body 21 are appropriately sealed.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the above (3), (8), and (9).

(10) Since the elastic deformation of the seal member 71 when sandwiched between the pressure receiving surface 31c and the contact surface 23c remains on the first protrusion 72 and the second protrusion 73, the influence of the reaction force applied to the liquid ejecting portion 30 is reduced.

(11) Since the first projection 72 and the second projection 73 are elastically deformed from the tip end side having a small cross-sectional area, the liquid ejecting portion 30 and the liquid storage body 21 can be sealed while reducing the reaction force generated by the elastic deformation.

(fourth embodiment)

Next, another embodiment of the seal member described in the third embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the same components as those of the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and therefore, the description thereof will be omitted, and the description thereof will be mainly focused on differences from the third embodiment.

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, the seal member 75 of the present embodiment includes a main body 71a having a rectangular cross section, a plurality of (e.g., two) first protrusions 72 protruding from the main body 71a, and a second protrusion 73 protruding from the main body 71a in a direction opposite to the first protrusion 72. The second protrusion 73 and the plurality of first protrusions 72 may be arranged in a ring shape with different distances from a common center C (for example, the central axes of the cylindrical or elliptic cylindrical lead-out portion 23 and lead-in portion 32). In particular, the second protrusion 73 may be disposed between two adjacent first protrusions 72 in a plan view. Also, the two first protrusions 72 form a recess 76.

As a modified example of the seal member 75 according to the fourth embodiment, as shown in fig. 10 and 11, a concave portion 76 formed by two first protrusions 72 may be provided in a recessed manner in the main body portion 71 a.

As shown in fig. 12, a notch 72a may be provided in at least one of the adjacent two first protrusions 72.

Next, the operation of the sealing member 75 configured as described above will be described.

The seal member 75 is configured to support a reaction force generated by elastic deformation of the second protrusion 73 by the two first protrusions 72 located inside and outside the ring of the second protrusion 73. Therefore, the force applied to the liquid ejecting section 30 via the first protrusion 72 is dispersed concentrically. This makes it difficult for deformation to occur due to local force applied to the liquid ejecting section 30.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the above (3), (8), (9) to (11).

(12) Since the plurality of first protrusions 72 are in contact with the pressure receiving surface 31c, a sealing failure due to the first protrusions 72 falling down is less likely to occur. For example, even if the liquid storage body 21 is inclined by the influence of the flexural displacement of the supply channel 19 and one first protrusion 72 is thereby tilted, the sealing can be maintained by the other first protrusions 72.

(13) Since the second projection 73 and the plurality of first projections 72 are arranged in a ring shape so as not to overlap each other in a plan view, each projection is easily and independently elastically deformed. Therefore, the reaction force generated by the elastic deformation is dispersed, and the influence on the liquid ejecting portion 30 is reduced.

(14) Since the space formed between the adjacent two first protrusions 72 and the pressure receiving surface 31c communicates with the outside of the space through the cutout portion 72a, when the volume of the space is reduced by the elastic deformation of the first protrusion 72, the fluid (liquid or gas) in the space flows out to the outside through the cutout portion. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the first protrusion 72 being irregularly deformed by the fluid confined in the closed space or the fluid confined in the closed space suddenly flowing out. Further, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the first protrusion 72 becomes like a suction cup when the fluid flows out from the closed space, and the sealing member 75 is sucked to the liquid ejecting portion 30.

The above embodiment may be modified as in the modification examples described below. Further, the configurations included in the above embodiment and the configurations included in the following modifications may be arbitrarily combined, or the configurations included in the following modifications may be arbitrarily combined. In the following description, components having the same functions as those of the already-described components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

As in a seal member 77 of a modified example shown in fig. 13, the distal ends of the two first protrusions 72 may be projected toward the inside and the outside of the center C so as to be separated from the second protrusion 73. In this case, when the two second protrusions 73 come into contact with the pressure receiving surface 31c, they are elastically deformed not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction, and therefore, sealing can be reliably performed.

The liquid ejecting apparatus 11 may be provided without the holder 18, and the liquid storage body 21 may be attached to and detached from the mounting portion 31 and replaced, thereby replenishing the liquid. In this case, the liquid storage body 21 may be an ink cartridge (liquid storage body) having a liquid storage chamber for storing liquid.

The holder 18 for holding the storage container 20 may be formed separately from the housing 15, and the holder 18 may be disposed outside the housing 15. In this case, the size of the storage container 20 can be increased without being restricted by the size of the case 15.

The liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head 13 is not limited to ink, and may be, for example, a liquid material in which particles of a functional material are dispersed or mixed in a liquid. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a liquid material containing materials such as electrode materials and color materials (pixel materials) used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface-emitting display, and the like in a dispersed or dissolved form is ejected and recording is performed.

The medium S is not limited to paper, and may be a plastic film, a thin plate material, or the like, or may be a fabric used in a printing apparatus or the like. The medium S may be clothes of any shape such as T-shirts, or may be a three-dimensional object of any shape such as tableware or stationery.

The technical ideas and effects thereof grasped by the above-described embodiments and modified examples are described below.

Idea 1

A liquid ejecting apparatus is provided with:

a liquid storage body capable of storing a liquid;

a liquid ejecting section having an introduction section with an opening through which the liquid supplied from the liquid storage body is introduced, and configured to eject the liquid introduced from the introduction section toward a medium;

a filter mounted at the inlet; and

a sealing member disposed at a position separated from the filter and surrounding the introduction portion,

the filter is disposed at a position separated from the liquid reservoir.

According to the above idea 1, since the reaction force generated when the seal member is elastically deformed hardly acts on the liquid ejecting portion, the influence of the reaction force generated by the seal can be reduced.

Idea 2

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to idea 1, wherein,

the liquid ejecting section has a pressure receiving surface as a plane contacting the sealing member,

the liquid storage body has a contact surface as a flat surface which is in contact with the sealing member,

the sealing member has a first projection that contacts the pressure receiving surface and a second projection that contacts the contact surface, and seals between the liquid ejecting section and the liquid storage body when the sealing member is sandwiched between the pressure receiving surface and the contact surface and elastically deformed.

According to the above idea 2, the elastic deformation of the seal member when sandwiched between the pressure receiving surface and the contact surface remains on the first protrusion and the second protrusion, and therefore the influence of the reaction force applied to the liquid ejecting section can be reduced.

Idea 3

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to idea 2, wherein,

the cross-sectional area of the first projection and the second projection on the tip side is smaller than that on the base end side.

According to the above-described concept 3, since the first protrusion and the second protrusion are elastically deformed from the tip side having a small cross-sectional area, the liquid ejecting portion and the liquid storage body can be sealed while reducing the reaction force generated by the elastic deformation.

Idea 4

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to idea 2 or idea 3, wherein,

the seal member has a plurality of the first protrusions.

According to the above idea 4, since the plurality of first protrusions are in contact with the pressure receiving surface, a sealing failure due to the first protrusions falling down is less likely to occur.

Idea 5

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to idea 4, wherein,

the second protrusion and the plurality of first protrusions are annular and arranged at different distances from a common center of the ring.

According to the idea 5, since the second protrusion and the plurality of first protrusions are arranged in a ring shape so as not to overlap each other in a plan view, both of them are easily and independently elastically deformed. Therefore, the reaction force generated by the elastic deformation is dispersed, and the influence on the liquid ejecting portion can be reduced.

Idea 6

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to idea 4 or idea 5, wherein,

at least one of the adjacent two first protruding portions is provided with a notch.

According to the above idea 6, since the space formed between the adjacent two first protrusions and the pressure receiving surface communicates with the outside of the space through the notch, when the volume of the space is reduced by the elastic deformation of the first protrusion, the fluid in the space flows out to the outside through the notch. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the first protrusion being irregularly deformed by the fluid enclosed in the closed space or the fluid enclosed in the closed space suddenly flowing out. Further, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the first protrusion becomes like a suction cup when the fluid flows out from the closed space, and the sealing member is sucked to the liquid ejecting portion.

Idea 7

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to idea 1, wherein,

the introduction part is cylindrical and protrudes toward the liquid storage body,

the liquid storage body has a cylindrical lead-out portion projecting toward the liquid ejecting portion, and is configured to flow the liquid from the lead-out portion toward the introduction port,

the sealing member is cylindrical, and an inner peripheral side thereof is elastically deformed while being in contact with outer peripheral sides of the introduction portion and the discharge portion, thereby sealing a space between the liquid ejecting portion and the liquid storage body.

According to the above idea 7, the pressure at the time of sealing is made difficult to act on the main body portion of the liquid ejecting section.

Idea 8

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to idea 7, wherein,

at least one of the introduction portion and the discharge portion has a convex portion on an outer peripheral side, the convex portion being in contact with the seal member.

According to the above idea 8, even if the seal member is not elastically deformed, the seal member and the portion having the convex portion are brought into close contact with each other by the volume of the convex portion, and therefore the reaction force generated by the elastic deformation of the seal member is reduced.

Idea 9

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to idea 7 or idea 8, wherein,

the sealing member has a protruding portion that contacts at least one of the introduction portion and the discharge portion.

According to the above idea 9, the projection of the seal member is elastically deformed, so that the reaction force generated by the elastic deformation of the seal member is smaller than that in the case where the entire seal member is elastically deformed.

Idea 10

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of idea 1 to idea 9, further comprising:

a supply flow path that supplies the liquid to the liquid reservoir;

a carriage that carries the liquid ejecting unit and the liquid storage body and reciprocates while traversing a transport path of the medium; and

and a fixing member for fixing the liquid storage body to the carriage.

According to the above idea 10, since the liquid storage body is fixed to the carriage by the fixing member, displacement of the liquid storage body accompanying movement of the carriage can be suppressed. This makes it possible to maintain the seal between the liquid storage body and the liquid ejecting section appropriately.

Description of the symbols

11 … liquid ejection means; 12 … nozzle; 13 … liquid jet head; 14 … a support table; 15 … a housing; 16 … guide shaft; 17 … a carriage; 18 … support; 19 … supply flow path; 20 … container; 21 … liquid reservoir; 22 … connection tab; 23 … a lead-out part; 23a … outlet port; 23b … convex portions; 23c … contact surface; 24 … a first side; 24a … slot; 25 … second side; 26 … front surface; 26a … lower engaging part; 26b … upper engaging part; 27 … rear surface; 27a … lower engaging part; 27b … upper engaging part; 28 … film; 29 … flow path; 30 … liquid ejection portion; 31 … mounting part; 31c … pressure receiving surface; 32 … introduction part; 32a … inlet; a 33 … filter; 34 … supply channel; 35 … common liquid chamber; 36 … chamber; 37 … actuator; 38 … pressure adjustment mechanism; 39 … dividing the wall; 41 … fixing part; 45 … extension setting part; 46 … snap-fit portion; 46a … fastening part; 46b … side engaging parts; 46c … screw hole; 47 … snap-fit portion; 47a … fixed part; 48 … protective members; 50 … maintenance mechanism; 51 … cover part; 52 … suction flow path; 53 … suction pump; 60. 70, 71, 75, 77 … sealing members; 61 … snap tab; 62 … snap-fit recesses; a 63 … projection; 64. a 65 … tab; 71a … body portion; 72 … first projection; 72a … cut-out; 73 … second projection; 76 … recess; c … center; s … medium.

Claims

1. A liquid ejecting apparatus is provided with:

a liquid storage body capable of storing a liquid;

a filter mounted at the inlet; and

a sealing member that is disposed at a position surrounding the introduction portion and seals a space between the liquid ejecting portion and the liquid storage body,

the filter is disposed at a position separated from the liquid reservoir.

2. Liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1,

the sealing member has a first protrusion that contacts the pressure receiving surface and a second protrusion that contacts the contact surface, and seals between the liquid ejecting section and the liquid storage body by being sandwiched between the pressure receiving surface and the contact surface.

3. Liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 2,

4. Liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 2,

the seal member has a plurality of the first protrusions.

5. Liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 4,

6. Liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 4,

7. Liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1,

the sealing member is cylindrical, and an inner periphery thereof is in contact with an outer periphery of the introduction portion and an outer periphery of the discharge portion, thereby sealing a space between the liquid ejecting portion and the liquid storage body.

8. Liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 7,

9. Liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 7,

10. The liquid ejecting apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising:

a supply flow path that supplies the liquid to the liquid reservoir;

and a fixing member for fixing the liquid storage body to the carriage.