CN113226775A

CN113226775A - Liquid discharge device, dyeing device, embroidery machine, and maintenance apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN113226775A
Application number: CN201980085652.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 山下宏之
Original assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-28
Filing date: 2019-12-03
Publication date: 2021-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-03
Also published as: EP3902681A1; JP2020108951A; CN113226775B; EP3902681B1

Abstract

The liquid discharge apparatus includes: a plurality of heads configured to discharge liquid; a plurality of covers respectively configured to be able to contact and separate from the plurality of heads; a plurality of separate discharge passages respectively communicating with the plurality of caps; at least one common discharge passage in communication with at least two of the plurality of individual discharge passages; a plurality of suction devices provided in the plurality of individual discharge passages, respectively; and a controller. Each of the plurality of individual discharge passages is configured to allow and cut off communication between the cap and the at least one common discharge passage. The controller causes each of the plurality of individual discharge passages to allow communication between the cap and the at least one common discharge passage when capping and uncapping of the head is performed. The controller covers the suction object with the cover after closing each individual discharge passage communicating with the cover corresponding to the head of the non-suction object.

Description

Liquid discharge device, dyeing device, embroidery machine, and maintenance apparatus

Technical Field

The invention relates to a liquid discharge device, a dyeing device, an embroidery machine and a maintenance apparatus.

Background

In an apparatus provided with a head for discharging liquid (liquid discharge head), a maintenance device (maintenance and recovery unit) is provided to perform maintenance and recover the state of the head (maintenance action). For example, the maintenance apparatus includes a cap covering a nozzle face of the head and a suction device connected to the cap.

Conventionally known maintenance equipment includes a plurality of caps respectively provided on a plurality of spray heads, a plurality of discharge passages respectively connected to the plurality of caps, a plurality of suction pumps provided on the discharge passages, and a plurality of exhaust valves disposed between the caps and the suction pumps. Each discharge passage is connected to a separate waste ink tank (for example, patent document 1).

CITATION LIST

Patent document

[ patent document 1 ] Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2004-098612

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

In the structure in which the cap and the suction device are provided with respect to each of the plurality of heads, when the plurality of discharge channels are respectively coupled to the waste liquid container, the size of the maintenance apparatus increases.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present disclosure to make the maintenance unit compact.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, a liquid discharge device as described in the appended claims is provided. Advantageous embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.

Advantageously, the liquid discharge device comprises: a plurality of heads configured to discharge liquid; a plurality of covers respectively configured to be able to contact and separate from the plurality of heads; a plurality of separate discharge passages respectively communicating with the plurality of caps; at least one common discharge passage in communication with at least two of the plurality of individual discharge passages; a plurality of suction devices provided in the plurality of individual discharge passages, respectively; and a controller. Each of the plurality of individual discharge passages is configured to allow and cut off communication between the cap and the at least one common discharge passage. The controller causes each of the plurality of individual discharge passages to allow communication between the cap and the at least one common discharge passage when capping and uncapping of the head is performed. The controller covers the suction object with the cover after closing each individual discharge passage communicating with the cover corresponding to the head of the non-suction object.

Advantageously, the dyeing device comprises: a plurality of heads configured to discharge liquid onto a medium; a conveyor configured to convey a medium; a dryer configured to dry the medium to which the liquid has been imparted; a post-treatment device configured to post-treat the medium to which the liquid has been imparted; a winder configured to wind the media; a plurality of covers respectively configured to be able to contact and separate from the plurality of heads; a plurality of separate discharge passages respectively communicating with the plurality of caps; at least one common discharge passage in communication with at least two of the plurality of individual discharge passages; a plurality of suction devices respectively provided at the plurality of individual discharge passages. The dyeing apparatus includes a controller configured to cause each of the plurality of individual discharge passages to allow communication between the cap and the at least one common discharge passage when capping and uncapping of the head is performed.

Advantageously, the embroidery machine comprises: the apparatus includes a plurality of heads, a conveyor, a dryer, a post-processing device, an embroidering device configured to embroider with the medium processed by the post-processing device, a plurality of covers, a plurality of individual discharge passages, a common discharge passage, and a plurality of suction devices. The embroidery machine includes a controller configured to cause each of the plurality of individual discharge channels to allow communication between the cap and the at least one common discharge channel when capping and uncapping of the head is performed.

Advantageously, the maintenance device comprises: a plurality of covers, a plurality of individual discharge passages, a common discharge passage, and a plurality of suction devices. The maintenance apparatus includes a controller configured to cause each of the plurality of individual discharge passages to allow communication between the cover and the at least one common discharge passage when capping and uncapping of the head is performed, and to cap the attraction object with the cover after closing each individual discharge passage communicating with the cover corresponding to a non-attraction object head.

Effects of the invention

Therefore, miniaturization can be achieved.

Drawings

The drawings are intended to depict example embodiments of the invention, and should not be construed as limiting the scope thereof. The drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly indicated. Also, like or similar reference characters designate like or similar components throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a side schematic view of a liquid discharge apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a liquid applying unit (liquid applying apparatus) of the liquid discharge apparatus shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the head row of the liquid applying unit shown in fig. 2 as viewed from below.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing a maintenance unit according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a single maintenance unit of the maintenance unit shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 6A is a view showing an example of the tube pump used as the suction device according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 6B is another view of the pipe pump according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the liquid applying unit according to the first embodiment, which is related to the movement of one head.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a control system of the maintenance unit.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of control by the maintenance controller according to the embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a view of a maintenance unit according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 11 is a view showing an example of a piping pump used as the suction pump of the second embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a view of a drive of a maintenance unit according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 13 is a view showing a drive of a maintenance unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 14 is a view showing a maintenance unit according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 15 is a schematic view of a dyeing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In describing the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of the present specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner and achieve a similar result, having similar functions.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent the same or corresponding parts throughout the several views, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below.

First, a liquid discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to fig. 1 to 3. Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a liquid discharge apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is a view of the liquid applying unit 103 of the liquid discharge apparatus 100. Fig. 3 is a view of the head row of the liquid applying unit 103 as viewed from below.

The liquid discharge apparatus 100 is an in-line embroidery machine. The liquid discharge apparatus 100 includes: a supply reel 102 on which the wire 101 is wound; a liquid applying unit 103; a fixing unit 104; a post-processing unit 105 (post-processing apparatus); and an embroidery head 106 (embroidery device). The line 101 serves as a liquid application target.

The thread 101 drawn from the supply reel 102 is guided by rollers 108 and 109 (conveyor) and continuously drawn to the embroidery head 106.

The liquid applying unit 103 (liquid discharging device) includes a plurality of heads 1(1a to 1d) and a maintenance unit 2. The liquid applying unit 103 discharges a liquid of a desired color onto the wire 101 drawn from the supply reel 102. The maintenance unit 2 includes a plurality of individual maintenance units 20(20a to 20d) to perform maintenance of the heads 1, respectively. The heads 1a to 1d discharge color liquids of, for example, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K).

As shown in fig. 3, each head 1(1a to 1d) includes a nozzle plate on which a plurality of nozzles 11 for discharging liquid are formed. Specifically, the plurality of nozzles 11 are arranged in a nozzle row on a surface of the nozzle plate (hereinafter referred to as "nozzle surface 12"). Each head 1 is configured such that the nozzle columns are oriented in the conveying direction of the line 101 (the arrangement of the nozzles 11 is matched).

A fixing unit (fixing unit)104 (for example, a dryer) performs a fixing process (drying process) of the line 101 to which the liquid is applied from the liquid applying unit 103. The fixing unit 104 includes, for example, a heater such as infrared rays, an irradiation device, and a hot air sprayer, and heats the wire 101 to dry it.

The post-processing unit 105 includes, for example, a cleaning device that cleans the wire 101, a tension adjusting device that adjusts the tension of the wire 101, a feed amount detector that detects the amount of movement of the wire 101, and a lubricant applying device that applies lubricant to the surface of the wire 101.

The embroidery head 106 embroiders a pattern on, for example, cloth by the thread 101.

Although the liquid discharge apparatus in the present embodiment is an embroidery machine, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Aspects of the present disclosure are applicable to apparatuses using a thread-like member such as a thread, for example, a loom and a sewing machine. In addition, aspects of the present disclosure are applicable to an apparatus that prints an image on a plain sheet. Further, aspects of the present disclosure may be applied not only to an apparatus (e.g., an embroidery machine) having a post-processing device but also to an apparatus that performs dyeing and winding dyeing as described later, and the like.

Furthermore, the term "thread" includes liquid-applicable fiberglass threads, wool threads, cotton threads, synthetic threads, metal threads, wool, cotton, polymers, mixed metal threads, yarns, filaments, and thread-like components (continuous substrates). Thus, "wire" also includes braids and flat wires (flat braids).

Next, a first embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a view showing a maintenance unit according to the first embodiment.

Each of the maintenance units 20(20a to 20d) of the maintenance unit 2 includes a plurality of covers 21(21a to 21d), respectively. Each cap 21 is configured to be able to contact (cap on) and separate (cap off) from a corresponding one of the heads 1a to 1 d. Each of the discharge passages 22(22a to 22d) is connected to the plurality of caps 21, respectively.

Each of the plurality of individual discharge channels 22 is provided with a suction pump 23(23a, 23b, 23c, or 23d) as a suction means, and each cap 21 is coupled to the suction pump 23 via the individual discharge channel 22.

The

individual discharge channels

22c and 22d are connected to a common discharge branch 24 a. The common discharge branch 24a and the individual discharge passages 22b are connected to the common discharge branch 24 b. The common discharge branch 24b and the individual discharge passages 22a are connected to the common discharge passage 25.

The common discharge channel 25 is connected to a waste liquid container 26 as a waste liquid housing portion. The waste container 26 is a substantially sealed container.

The suction pump 23 is a tube pump, and the individual discharge passage 22 is a tube of the suction pump 23. The suction pump 23 performs a suction operation in which the pressing roller presses the tube when the rotor rotates in the first direction, and the suction pump 23 sucks the inside of the cap 21. When the rotor of the suction pump 23 rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the pushing roller is separated from the tube. Then, in the individual discharge passage 22, the upstream side and the downstream side of the suction pump 23 are in a state of communication.

The individual maintenance unit 20 further includes a wiper to wipe the nozzle face 12 corresponding to each head 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, an example of an individual maintenance unit is described. Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of an example of an individual maintenance unit.

The individual maintenance unit 20 shown in fig. 5 includes a cap 21, a wiper 202, and a liquid receiver 203 provided in a housing 200. The cap 21 covers the nozzle face 12 of the head 1. The wiper 202 wipes the nozzle face 12. The liquid receiver 203 receives the liquid when the empty discharge is performed.

Further, liquid receiver 204 is detachably mounted on the outer surface of housing 200 of individual maintenance unit 20. For example, the liquid receiver 204 includes engaging portions 209 to be fitted with bosses 208 (protruding portions) of the housing 200, respectively. Thus, the liquid receiver 204 can be attached to and detached from the housing 200.

Because liquid receiver 204 is removably mounted to individual service unit 20, liquid receiver 204 can be easily replaced when liquid receiver 204 is full, rather than replacing the entire individual service unit 20.

Next, an example of the suction pump 23 as the suction device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 6A and 6B. Fig. 6A and 6B are views showing a tube pump as an example of the suction pump 23.

The tube pump 230 shown in fig. 6A and 6B includes a rotor 233 arranged on the inner peripheral side (inner flow passage or inner tube) of a tube 232 and a plurality of pressing rollers 235. The rotor 233 is provided with guide grooves 234, and the urging rollers 235 are movable along the respective guide grooves 234.

When the rotor 233 rotates in the first direction, as shown in fig. 6A, the plurality of pressing rollers 235 move to the outer circumferential side of the rotor 233 to press the tube 232, and thus, suction is performed. Any position where the push roller 235 collapses the tube 232 is defined as an open-closed position 236.

When rotor 233 rotates in the second direction, as shown in fig. 6B, a plurality of pressing rollers 235 move to the inner circumferential side of rotor 233, are separated from tube 232, and are in an idling state. Therefore, the internal flow path of the tube pump 230 (tube pump) formed by the tube 232 is in an open state.

Therefore, in the case where the tube pump 230 shown in fig. 6A and 6B is used as the suction pump 23, when the pushing roller 235 is separated from the tube 232, the tube 232 serving as the individual discharge passage 22 is in an open state. Thus, the cover 21 communicates with the common discharge passage 25.

Next, an example of a structure related to the movement of the head 1 is described with reference to fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the liquid applying unit 103 according to the first embodiment, which is related to the movement of one head 1.

The head 1 is mounted on a carriage 501 that is reciprocally movable in the direction indicated by the arrow X, and moves between a home position where it is capped by a cap 21 of the individual maintenance unit 20 and a discharge position (dyeing position) where it discharges liquid to the line 101.

In this embodiment, the carriage 501 is held reciprocatingly movable by a main guide shaft 502 and a sub guide member 503.

A driver 510 for reciprocating the carriage 501 is provided. The driver 510 includes a motor 511 and a crank 512 as a driving force transmission member, which is driven to move by the motor 511. These components together serve as a head driver.

The rear end (right end in fig. 7) of the crank 512 is rotatably mounted via a shaft 514 on an arm 513 connected to the motor shaft 511 a. The front end (left end in fig. 7) of the crank 512 is rotatably connected to the carriage 501 via a support shaft 515.

A tension coil spring 520 as an elastic member is disposed between the carriage 501 and the fixed portion. The tension coil spring 520 pulls the carriage 501 in the direction indicated by the arrow a. Arrow Z indicates the direction of height.

With this structure, when the motor 511 of the driver 510 is driven, the carriage 501 reciprocates along the main guide shaft 502 and the sub guide member 503 via the crank 512.

In order to maintain and recover the head 1, the carriage 501 is repeatedly moved between a home position where the head 1 faces the cap 21 and caps and a discharge position where liquid is discharged to the thread (medium) 101 as a liquid applying target and dyeing (printing) is performed, and stopped at the home position and the discharge position.

Next, an example of a control system of the maintenance unit will be described with reference to fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a block diagram of a control system.

The maintenance unit 2 is provided with a driver 30(30a to 30d) including a motor 31(31a to 31d) as a driving source for driving the suction pump 23(23a to 23d) by normal rotation and reverse rotation of the motor 31, and a cap moving mechanism 41(41a to 41d) for moving the cap 21(21a to 21d) forward and backward (upward and downward) with respect to the head 1.

The maintenance controller 400 controls the respective motors 31(31a to 31d) of the driver 30 via motor drivers 401(401a to 401d), thereby controlling the advance and retreat of the cap moving mechanism 41 (capping and separation of the cap 21 with respect to the head 1). The maintenance controller 400 has a configuration similar to a general-purpose computer.

When the cap 21 is advanced and retracted (capping and uncapping with respect to the head 1), the maintenance controller 400 separates the pressure-pushing roller 235 of the suction pump 23 (tube pump) from the tube 232, thereby opening the internal flow path and allowing communication between the cap 21 and the common discharge passage 25.

Before the suction operation by the tube pump serving as the suction pump 23 (suction device), the maintenance controller 400 closes the individual discharge passages 22 in a state where the tube 232 is pressed by the pressing roller 235 of the tube pump 230 of the suction pump 23 constituting the individual discharge passages 22 communicating with each other through the common discharge passage 25, and blocks the gap between the cap 21 and the common discharge passage 25.

Next, an example of control of the maintenance controller will be described with reference to a flowchart in fig. 9.

In a state where the liquid discharge apparatus 100 is closed or in a standby state, the cap 21 is put on the head 1, that is, the head 1 is capped. From this state, when power is turned on or an operation and a head maintenance operation are performed at the time of printing, the cap 21 is separated (decapped) from the head 1.

Upon separation of the cap 21, the maintenance controller 400 controls the suction pump 23 to open the passage therein to communicate the individual discharge passage 22 with the waste liquid container 26. This action can suppress pressure fluctuation when the cap 21 is separated relative to the head 1, thereby reducing the influence on the nozzle meniscus of the head 1.

Thereafter, when the individual discharge passages 22 are closed due to an initial action at the time of energization, a maintenance action, or other factors, the individual discharge passages 22 are opened again before the cap 21 contacts the header 1 (capping) again. This action can suppress pressure fluctuation when the cap 21 is capped on the head 1, thereby reducing the influence on the nozzle meniscus of the head 1.

When one or more heads 1 among the plurality of heads 1 are selected to perform the maintenance operation (suction operation), the individual discharge passage 22 communicating with the cap 21 corresponding to the head 1 that is not the maintenance object (suction object) is closed before the maintenance operation (suction operation) is performed.

This action can prevent the waste liquid sucked and discharged from the head 1 as a maintenance object from flowing into the cap 21 of the head 1 not as a maintenance object through the common discharge branch passage 24(24a and 24b) and the individual discharge passage 22.

In addition, when the cover 21 is held by the head 1 that is not the target of the maintenance operation, the section from the passage opening/closing position 236 to the head 1 is in a state of being closed at one end, and therefore, the passage is in a completely closed section by the opening/closing operation. Further, the opening or closing action of the passage is accompanied by a volume fluctuation to some extent, and therefore, a pressure fluctuation occurs in the closed section from the opening/closing position 236 of the passage to the head 1. Therefore, the meniscus of the head 1 may be broken, which may cause a discharge failure. Therefore, control is performed to separate the cover 21 from the head 1 before closing the passage to the cover 21 corresponding to the head 1 that is not the maintenance target.

Referring to fig. 9, when cleaning (maintenance action) is started, the maintenance controller 400 performs a home position sequence of the motors 31 (maintenance motors) of all the individual maintenance units (step S1, hereinafter referred to as "S1"). The home position is a position where the cover 21 is separated from the head 1.

Thereafter, the individual discharge channels 22 of all the lids 21 are closed, thereby closing the communication between the lids 21 and the waste liquid container 26 through the common discharge channel 25 (S2).

Next, the cap 21 is brought into contact with the head (target head) 1 to be attracted and covered with the cap 21 (S3). Then, the suction pump 23 is driven to suction and discharge the liquid from the nozzle 11 of the head 1 into the cap 21 (S4). The amount of liquid drawn is predetermined for cleaning.

At this time, the individual discharge passage 22 of the cover 21 of the head 1 that is not the suction target is closed. Therefore, the waste liquid sucked from the head 1 (as a suction target) and discharged in the individual discharge path 22 does not flow into the cap 21 of the other head 1 which is not a suction target.

Thereafter, the head 1 as the attraction target is wiped (S5). When the attraction action of the attraction object head 1 is completed, the maintenance controller 400 executes the home position sequence of the motors 31 (maintenance motors) of all the individual maintenance units 20 (S6). Thus, all the individual discharge passages 22 are opened.

Then, all the heads 1 are covered with the respective covers 21 (S7), and the cleaning is ended.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the cap is brought into abutment/separation with respect to the plurality of heads, the meniscus can be protected from the influence of the pressure fluctuation, and a reliable recovery action can be performed on the maintenance target regardless of the number of heads selected. Meanwhile, the head that is not the maintenance target is protected from the suction action performed on the maintenance target head.

Therefore, in the structure in which the cap and the suction device are provided for each of the plurality of heads, when the individual discharge channels leading to the suction devices are connected to the common discharge channel to be connected to one waste liquid container, the structure can be simplified.

In addition, although the plurality of individual discharge channels communicate with each other via the common discharge channel, the above-described structure can prevent the waste liquid caused by the suction action to a specific cap (head) from flowing into other caps, thereby performing a reliable maintenance action.

Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a view showing a maintenance unit according to a second embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the suction pump 23 is a pump configured to block the internal flow path when the suction operation is not performed, and is, for example, a pump such as a diaphragm pump or a single-function tube pump (tube pump).

Therefore, the maintenance unit 2 includes a bypass passage (bypass passage) 27(27a to 27d), and an opening and closing member 28(28a to 28d) such as a shutter or a valve that opens and closes the bypass passage 27. The bypass passages 27(27a to 27d) bypass the upstream and downstream sides of the suction pump 23 and communicate with the individual discharge passage 22. For example, the opening and closing of the opening and closing member 28 is controlled by the maintenance controller 400 described in the above-described first embodiment.

Next, another example of a tube pump serving as the suction pump of the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing another example of the tube pump.

The tube pump 240 shown in fig. 11 includes an eccentric pressing roller 243 that rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in fig. 11. When the pushing rollers 243 collapse the tube 242, the fluid in the tube 242 can be transported.

In the tube pump 240, when the pressing roller 243 rotates in either direction, the tube 242 is crushed by the pressing roller 243. Therefore, when the tube pump 240 is in a stopped state (non-suction state), the internal flow path is also blocked.

Therefore, when the tube pump 240 is used as the suction pump 23, the stop of the tube pump 240 does not cause the individual discharge passages 22 formed by the tubes 242 to open, and the cap 21 does not communicate with the common discharge passage 25.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, when the cap 21 is capped on the head 1 or detached from the head 1, the opening and closing member 28 is set to the open state to open the bypass passage 27 so that the upstream side and the downstream side of the individual discharge passage 22 of the suction pump 23 communicate so that the passage from the cap 21 to the common discharge passage 25 communicates.

This operation can suppress pressure fluctuation when the cap 21 is brought into contact with or separated from the head 1, and suppress influence on the nozzle meniscus of the head 1.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the tube pump 240 is not operating (stopped state), the internal flow path of the tube pump 240 is closed. Thus, the opening-and-closing member 28 is closed, the bypass passage 27 is closed, and the space from the cover 21 to the common discharge passage 25 is closed. In other words, the opening and closing member 28 and the maintenance controller 400 control the closing to close the individual discharge passages before the suction operation by the tube pump 240.

Thus, even if the plurality of individual discharge channels are communicated with each other by the common discharge channel, the waste liquid caused by the suction action to a specific cap (head) can be prevented from flowing into the other cap, and a reliable maintenance action can be performed.

Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a view showing a drive of a maintenance unit according to a third embodiment.

The driver 30 shown in fig. 12 transmits rotation of a motor 31 (drive motor) as a drive source to a drive shaft of the suction pump 23 via a gear 32. Further, the driver 30 transmits the rotation of the motor 31 to the gear 34 via the one-way clutch 38. The rotation of the gear 34 is transmitted to the eccentric cam 37 through the

gears

35 and 36. The eccentric cam 37 serves as a cover moving mechanism 41 to move the cover 21 forward and backward (up and down).

The individual discharge passage 22 is provided with a bypass passage 27 that bypasses the suction pump 23, and with an opening-closing member 28 that opens and closes the bypass passage 27. The bypass passage 27 is opened and closed as necessary.

When the suction pump 23 is rotated in the first direction by the motor 31 to function as a pump, the opening/closing member 28 is closed and suction by the suction pump 23 is enabled.

At this time, the rotation transmission from the motor 31 to the eccentric cam 37 is blocked by the one-way clutch 38, and therefore the lid 21 does not move up and down (forward or backward).

When the suction pump 23 rotates in the second direction, the rotation of the motor 31 is transmitted to the eccentric cam 37 through the one-way clutch 38, and the cover 21 moves up and down.

At this time, the suction pump 23 is reversed, and an operation other than the required operation is performed in some cases. For example, when the suction pump 23 is a diaphragm pump, the supply direction of the liquid is the same regardless of the rotation direction of the suction pump 23. In contrast, when the suction pump 23 is a single-function tube pump, the liquid feeding direction thereof is reversed.

Therefore, opening the opening and closing member 28 to open the bypass passage 27 can prevent the pressure fluctuation from occurring in the individual discharge passage 22, and only the up-and-down movement of the cap 21 occurs.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, one driving source has a plurality of functions. That is, the drive source of the suction pump can perform forward drive and reverse drive. The suction action may be performed by rotating in a first direction, and the contact and separation between the cap and the head may be performed by rotating in a second direction. This configuration can reduce the weight and size of the device.

A fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a view showing a drive of a maintenance unit according to a fourth embodiment.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the suction pump 23 is a tube pump. Suction occurs when rotating in the first direction and the tube 232 is open when rotating in the second direction.

The driver 30 transmits the rotation of the motor 31 to the drive shaft of the suction pump 23 via the gear 32, and transmits the rotation of the suction pump 23 to the gear 35 via the one-way clutch 38. Further, the driver 30 transmits the rotation from the gear 35 to the eccentric cam 37 constituting the lid moving mechanism 41 shown in fig. 8 via the gear 36.

With this structure, when the motor 31 is rotated in the normal direction so that the suction pump 23 is rotated in the first direction, the connection of the one-way clutch 38 is released, and the pressing roller 235 presses the tube 232 (see fig. 6A) to function as a pump. Therefore, only the suction action can be performed.

On the other hand, when the motor 31 is reversed to rotate the suction pump 23 in the second direction, the one-way clutch 38 is engaged. Before the cap 21 starts moving upward or downward, the pressing roller 235 releases the pressing of the tube 232, and the tube 232 is in a state of flowing inside. Therefore, the individual discharge passage 22 is opened, and the contact or separation action of the cap 21 is started in a state where the cap 21 and the common discharge passage 25 (waste liquid container 26) communicate with each other.

Thus, as in the third embodiment, the bypass passage 27 and the opening/closing member 28 for bypassing the suction pump 23 are not required. Further, the communication and non-communication (opening/closing) of the individual discharge passage 22 are automatically performed before and after the forward and backward movement of the cover 21, and the opening and closing operation of the individual discharge passage 22 and the forward and backward movement of the cover 21 can be reliably interlocked with each other.

In this way, the suction pump performs suction when rotating in the first direction, and the internal flow path is opened when rotating in the second direction, and the channel from the cap to the waste liquid container is connected. Thus, the connection from the cap to the waste liquid container is maintained, and the communication and the blocking can be performed without contacting the liquid.

When the suction pump is rotated in the first direction, the tube can be automatically closed to perform a suction operation when the suction pump functions as a pump. By rotating in the second direction, the pushing of the tube is automatically released, and the tube is communicated. Therefore, the mechanism for performing the blocking/communicating operation is integrated with the suction pump, and the blocking/communicating of the individual discharge passage can be reliably performed at a desired timing.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to fig. 14. Fig. 14 is a view showing a maintenance unit according to a fifth embodiment.

In the present embodiment, each suction pump 23 includes a motor 31 (one of the motors 31a to 31d) as a drive source.

By providing one drive source for each suction pump 23, the configuration of the driver 30 of each suction pump 23 is simplified, reducing the number of parts. Therefore, the reliability of the operation is improved. Further, since the operation and maintenance of the plurality of heads 1 can be performed simultaneously regardless of the number of heads 1 selected, the selection of the heads 1 is not necessary, and the operation time required for the maintenance can be shortened. Further, since the operation load of each motor is only the suction pump 23 and the driver 30 of one head 1, the torque required for one driving source can be reduced, and the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

A description of a dyeing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described below with reference to fig. 15. Fig. 15 is a schematic view of a dyeing apparatus.

In the dyeing apparatus 1000, the embroidery head 106 in the liquid discharge apparatus 100 is replaced with a take-up reel 107 (winder) that takes up the dyed thread 101.

The dyeing apparatus 1000 supplies the thread 101 from the supply reel 102, discharges the liquid for imparting a desired color from the liquid imparting unit 103, dyes the thread 101 into a desired color, and winds the dyed thread 101 on the winding reel 107.

In the present disclosure, the "liquid" discharged from the liquid discharge head is not particularly limited as long as the liquid has viscosity and surface tension to the extent that it can be discharged from the liquid discharge head. Examples of liquids include solutions, suspensions, or emulsions comprising solvents such as water or organic solvents, colorants such as dyes or pigments, functional materials such as polymeric compounds, resins, surfactants, biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids, proteins, or calcium, and edible materials such as natural pigments. Such a solution, suspension, or emulsion can be used, for example, as an ink for ink jet, a surface treatment liquid, a liquid for forming a constituent element of an electronic element or a light-emitting element or a resist pattern of an electronic circuit, and a material liquid for three-dimensional modeling.

As energy generation sources for discharging liquid, there are a piezoelectric actuator (a laminated piezoelectric element or a thin-film piezoelectric element), a thermal actuator using an electrothermal conversion element such as a heating resistor, and an electrostatic actuator composed of a vibrating plate and an opposing electrode.

Examples of the liquid discharge means include not only means capable of discharging a liquid against a material to which the liquid can be adhered, but also means for discharging a liquid into a gas or a liquid.

The liquid discharge means may include at least one of means related to supply, conveyance, and discharge of the liquid-attachable material. The liquid discharge apparatus may further include at least one of a pre-treatment apparatus and a post-treatment apparatus.

Examples of the liquid discharge device include an image forming device that discharges ink onto paper to form an image, and a stereolithography device (three-dimensional modeling device) that molds a stereolithography object (three-dimensional object) and discharges a modeling liquid onto a powder layer in which powder is formed in a layered manner.

The "liquid discharge means" is not limited to forming and visualizing a meaningful image such as a letter or a figure with the discharged liquid. For example, the liquid discharge apparatus may be an apparatus that forms a meaningless image, such as a meaningless pattern, or that makes a three-dimensional image.

The term "liquid adherable material" as used above means a material to which a liquid can at least temporarily adhere, or to which a consolidated material adheres, or to which a permeated material adheres. Examples of the "material to which the liquid can be attached" include recording media such as paper, recording paper, films, cloths, and the like, electronic components such as electronic substrates, piezoelectric elements, and the like, media such as powder layers, organ models, cells for examination, and the like. Unless specifically limited, "a material to which a liquid can adhere" includes any material to which a liquid adheres.

The material of the above-mentioned "material to which the liquid can adhere" includes, for example, paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramic, etc., and may be a material to which the liquid temporarily adheres.

The "liquid discharge device" may be a device in which the liquid discharge head and a material to which the liquid can be attached are relatively moved. However, the liquid discharge apparatus is not limited to such an apparatus. For example, the liquid discharge device may be a device that moves the liquid discharge head, or may be a device that does not move the liquid discharge head.

Examples of the "liquid discharge means" further include: a treatment liquid application device for discharging a treatment liquid to a paper surface for the purpose of changing the paper surface or the like; and a spray granulation device for dispersing the raw material in the solution to form a composition liquid, and spraying the composition liquid from a nozzle to granulate fine particles of the raw material.

The terms "image forming", "recording", "printing", "image printing", "modeling", and the like, as used herein, may be used synonymously with each other.

The above examples are illustrative and not limiting of the invention. Accordingly, many additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the invention. Any of the above-described actions may be performed in various other ways, e.g., in a different order than described above.

Each function of the described embodiments may be implemented by one or more processing circuits or circuits. The processing circuitry comprises a programmed processor in that the processor comprises circuitry. The processing circuitry also includes devices such as Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), DSPs (digital signal processors), FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) and conventional circuit components for performing the described functions.

The present patent application is based on and claims from 35U.S.C. § 119(a) priority from Japanese patent application No. 2018-.

List of reference numerals

1(1 a-1 d) head

2 maintenance unit

20(20a to 20d) individual maintenance unit

21(21 a-21 d) cover

22(22a to 22d) individual discharge passages

23(23a to 23d) suction pump

24a, 24b common discharge branch

25 common discharge passage

26 waste liquid container

30(30 a-30 d) driver

31(31a to 31d) drive motor

100 liquid discharge device

101 line

103 liquid supply unit

400 maintenance controller

1000 dyeing apparatus

Claims

1. A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:

a plurality of heads configured to discharge liquid;

a plurality of covers respectively configured to be able to contact and separate from the plurality of heads;

a plurality of separate discharge passages respectively communicating with the plurality of caps;

at least one common discharge passage in communication with at least two of the plurality of individual discharge passages;

a plurality of suction devices provided in the plurality of individual discharge passages, respectively; and

a controller for controlling the operation of the power supply,

wherein each of the plurality of individual discharge channels is configured to allow and cut off communication between the cap and the at least one common discharge channel, and

wherein the controller is configured to:

causing each of the plurality of individual discharge passages to allow communication between the cap and the at least one common discharge passage when capping and uncapping of the head is performed; and

covering the attraction target with the cover after closing each individual discharge passage communicating with the cover corresponding to the non-attraction target head.

2. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein each of the plurality of individual discharge channels is closed after the cap is separated from the head.

3. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein each of the plurality of suction devices includes a pump configured to open the internal flow passage when suction is not performed.

4. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein each of the plurality of suction devices comprises a tube pump configured to:

when rotating in a first direction, pushing an inner tube as the single discharge passage to perform suction; and

releasing the pressure of the individual discharge passage when rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction, opening the individual discharge passage.

5. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein each of the plurality of suction devices includes a pump configured to close the internal flow passage when suction is not performed,

wherein each of the plurality of individual discharge channels comprises:

a bypass passage configured to bypass the suction device; and

an opening and closing member configured to open and close the bypass passage.

6. The liquid discharge apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a driver including a drive source configured to be driven in a forward direction and a reverse direction;

the driver is configured to:

driving each of the plurality of suction devices by forward driving of the driving source; and

the head is covered or uncovered by the reverse drive of the drive source.

7. The liquid discharge apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

wherein each of the plurality of suction devices includes one driving source.

8. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a head driver configured to move each of the plurality of heads between a position at which the liquid is discharged to a liquid-applying object and a position at which the head opposes a corresponding one of the plurality of caps.

9. A dyeing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of heads configured to discharge liquid onto a medium;

a conveyor configured to convey a medium;

a dryer configured to dry the medium to which the liquid has been imparted;

a post-treatment device configured to post-treat the medium to which the liquid has been imparted;

a winder configured to wind the media;

a controller for controlling the operation of the power supply,

wherein the controller is configured to cause each of the plurality of individual discharge passages to allow communication between the cap and the at least one common discharge passage when capping and uncapping of the head is performed.

10. An embroidery machine comprising:

a plurality of heads configured to discharge liquid onto a medium;

a conveyor configured to convey a medium;

a dryer configured to dry the medium to which the liquid has been imparted;

an embroidering device configured to embroider with the medium processed by the post-processing device;

a controller for controlling the operation of the power supply,

11. A maintenance device, comprising:

a controller for controlling the operation of the power supply,

wherein the controller is configured to:

causing each of the plurality of individual discharge passages to allow communication between the cap and the at least one common discharge passage when performing capping and uncapping of the head; and