EP3263343B1 - Dispositif d'évacuation de liquide et corps de retenue intermédiaire - Google Patents

Dispositif d'évacuation de liquide et corps de retenue intermédiaire Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3263343B1
EP3263343B1 EP16755083.9A EP16755083A EP3263343B1 EP 3263343 B1 EP3263343 B1 EP 3263343B1 EP 16755083 A EP16755083 A EP 16755083A EP 3263343 B1 EP3263343 B1 EP 3263343B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
storage chamber
liquid
filter
communication
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Application number
EP16755083.9A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3263343A4 (fr
EP3263343A1 (fr
Inventor
Takashi Koase
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Seiko Epson Corp
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Seiko Epson Corp
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Priority claimed from JP2015036294A external-priority patent/JP6403011B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2015213928A external-priority patent/JP6578888B2/ja
Application filed by Seiko Epson Corp filed Critical Seiko Epson Corp
Publication of EP3263343A1 publication Critical patent/EP3263343A1/fr
Publication of EP3263343A4 publication Critical patent/EP3263343A4/fr
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Publication of EP3263343B1 publication Critical patent/EP3263343B1/fr
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/19—Ink jet characterised by ink handling for removing air bubbles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a liquid ejection device for an inkjet printer or the like and an intermediate reservoir for a liquid ejection device.
  • An inkjet printer that ejects ink (liquid) from a nozzle opening of an ejection head onto a medium to perform printing is widely known as one type of a typical liquid ejection device.
  • a printer may include a liquid intake passage member (for example, refer to patent document 1) that draws ink into a head body (ejection head).
  • the liquid intake passage member includes an ink intake passage that supplies ink to the nozzle opening.
  • the ink intake passage includes a filter chamber, a pressure chamber located at the upstream side of the filter compartment, a first communication passage, and a second communication passage.
  • the first communication passage includes a bubble chamber that extends vertically upward from the pressure chamber. Ink flows from the pressure chamber through a first communication passage inlet of the pressure chamber into the first communication passage and enters the filter chamber. Further, ink flows from the pressure chamber through a second communication passage inlet, which is separate from the first communication passage inlet and located downward from the first communication passage inlet, into the second communication passage and enters the filter chamber.
  • Patent Document 1 JP-A-2010-52210
  • JP 2013-158962 discloses a filter unit for a liquid ejecting head that includes a filter chamber having a first liquid chamber into which liquid flows, a second liquid chamber from which the liquid flows out, and a filter installed between the first and the second liquid chambers.
  • a bubble reservoir chamber is installed above the filter chamber.
  • the unit also has a first communication passage communicating the first liquid chamber with the bubble reservoir chamber and opened to a first opening of the first liquid chamber, and a second communication passage communicating the first liquid chamber with the bubble reservoir chamber and opened to a second opening provided below the first opening of the first liquid chamber.
  • EP 2347905 is also relevant.
  • the second communication passage inlet is located below the first communication passage inlet.
  • the bubbles may enter the second communication passage through the second communication passage inlet and reach the filter chamber together with the ink. As a result, the bubbles may enter the head body.
  • Such a problem is not limited to an inkjet printer that ejects ink from the nozzle opening of the ejection head and also occurs in a liquid ejection device that ejects liquid from a nozzle opening of an ejection head.
  • An intermediate reservoir according to an aspect of the invention is defined in claim 1.
  • a liquid ejection device according to another aspect of the invention is defined in claim 2.
  • a liquid ejection device according to another aspect of the invention is defined in claim 8.
  • an inkjet printer 1 which is one example of a liquid ejection device, has the form of a rectangular box.
  • the upper one is referred to as the upper surface and the lower one is referred to as the bottom surface.
  • the front surface is referred to as the front surface and the surface opposite to the front surface is referred to as the rear surface.
  • the two surfaces contacting the short sides of the upper surface and the bottom surface are referred to as the side surfaces.
  • the front surface of the inkjet printer 1 includes a front cover 2 and operation buttons 4.
  • the front cover 2 includes a lower end that is pivotally supported and an upper end that is pulled and pivoted to horizontally arrange the front cover 2 and open an elongated paper discharge port 3.
  • the rear side of the inkjet printer 1 includes a paper feed tray (not shown).
  • the printing paper 20 is set on the paper feed tray. Operation of the operation buttons 4 moves the printing paper 20 fed from the paper feed tray in predetermined amounts, prints an image or the like on the surface of the printing paper 20 inside the inkjet printer 1, and then discharges the printing paper 20 out of the paper discharge port 3.
  • the upper side of the inkjet printer 1 includes an upper cover 6.
  • the rear side of the upper cover 6 is pivotally supported.
  • the front side of the upper cover 6 is lifted and pivoted to open the upper cover 6 and check the inside of the inkjet printer 1 or repair the inkjet printer 1.
  • the side surface of the inkjet printer 1 includes a seat 5.
  • Each tank 9 holds ink, which serves as liquid.
  • the ink is supplied to the inkjet printer 1 and used for printing.
  • the inkjet printer 1 prints color images using four types of ink, namely, cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink. Each type of ink is held in one of the ink tanks 9.
  • Aside surface of the tank case 7 (surface at side that is far from inkjet printer 1) includes a check window 8 that allows the four ink tanks 9 in the tank case 7 to be visually checked.
  • the ink tanks 9 are formed from transparent or translucent material. This allows the remaining amount of ink in each ink tank 9 to be visually checked from the outside.
  • the inkjet printer 1 includes a carriage 11 that travels back and forth above the printing paper 20, an ejection head 12 attached to the bottom side (side where printing paper 20 is located) of the carriage 11, and intermediate reservoirs 30 mounted on the carriage 11.
  • the intermediate reservoirs 30 are connected by connection tubes 10 to the ink tanks 9 and connected by head connection tubes 52 (refer to Fig. 3 ) to the ejection head 12.
  • the intermediate reservoirs 30 temporarily store the ink supplied from the ink tanks 9 through the connection tubes 10, remove foreign matter from the ink, and then supply the ink through the head connection tubes 52 (refer to Fig. 3 ) to the ejection head 12.
  • the connection tubes 10, the intermediate reservoirs 30, and the head connection tubes 52 are the elements forming liquid supply passages that supply the ejection head 12 with the ink held in the ink tanks 9.
  • Each intermediate reservoir 30 is located at an intermediate position in the corresponding liquid supply passage.
  • the ejection head 12 ejects the ink supplied from the ink tanks 9 as ink droplets from nozzles 12a onto the printing paper 20.
  • the inkjet printer 1 uses four types of ink, namely, cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink.
  • the ejection head 12 mounted on the carriage 11 includes a nozzle 12a for each type (color) of ink.
  • the carriage 11 is driven by a driving mechanism (not shown) and guided by a guide rail 13 to repetitively travel back and forth above the printing paper 20.
  • the inkjet printer 1 also includes a paper feed mechanism (not shown) that transfers the printing paper 20 little by little in accordance with the reciprocating movement of the carriage 11. Ink is ejected from the nozzles 12a of the ejection head 12 in accordance with the reciprocating movement of the carriage 11 and the transferring movement of the printing paper 20 to print an image on the printing paper 20.
  • the four types of ink (cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink) ejected from the nozzles 12a of the ejection head 12 are respectively held in the four ink tanks 9 of the tank case 7.
  • the ink in each ink tank 9 is supplied to the ejection head 12 of the carriage 11 through the corresponding connection tube 10, the corresponding intermediate reservoir 30, and the corresponding head connection tube 52 (refer to Fig. 3 ).
  • Each intermediate reservoir 30 has a pressure damping function and absorbs the pressure fluctuation of the ink that occurs when the carriage 11 moves.
  • a region referred to as a home position is defined in the inkjet printer 1 at the outer side of the printing paper 20 to where the carriage 11 is moved along the guide rail 13.
  • a lifting mechanism (not shown) vertically moves the cap 14.
  • the carriage 11 When the inkjet printer 1 is not printing an image or the like, the carriage 11 is moved to the home position and the cap 14 is lifted to press the cap 14 against the bottom surface (surface in which nozzles 12a open). This forms a closed space and covers the nozzles 12a. Thus, drying of the ink in the nozzles 12a (in ejection head 12) is limited.
  • the cap 14 is connected by a suction tube 15 to the suction pump 16.
  • the suction pump 16 is activated to draw air from the interior of the cap 14 (closed space). This allows for initial filling of the ejection head 12 with ink and normal cleaning (maintenance) of the ejection head 12 that draws out deteriorated ink (dry or thickened ink).
  • the cap 14, the suction tube 15, and the suction pump 16 are elements forming a discharge unit 18 capable of performing a discharge operation (normal cleaning) that draws and discharges ink from the nozzles 12a.
  • a controller 17 is arranged in the inkjet printer 1 to control the operation of the entire inkjet printer 1.
  • the controller 17 controls the operation that moves the carriage 11 back and forth, the operation that transfers the printing paper 20, the operation that ejects ink from the nozzles 12a, and the discharge operation (normal cleaning) that draws and discharges the ink from the nozzles 12a to maintain normal printing.
  • each ink tank 9 is connected to the corresponding intermediate reservoir 30 by the corresponding connection tube 10, and each intermediate reservoir 30 is connected to the ejection head 12 by the corresponding head connection tube 52.
  • the intermediate reservoir 30, which serves as one example of a filter unit, includes an ink storage chamber 32, which serves as one example of an ink storage chamber or a second storage chamber. Ink is held together with a certain amount of air in the ink storage chamber 32. The air acts to absorb and damp pressure fluctuations in the ink.
  • a filter 42 which is one example of a filtering member that removes foreign matter, is arranged in each intermediate reservoir 30.
  • the filter 42 obstructs the passage of foreign matter suspended in the ink supplied from the corresponding ink tank 9. This limits the foreign matter that enters the ejection head 12 and reduces clogging of the ejection head 12 and defective ejection of ink from the ejection head 12.
  • the filter 42 obstructs the passage of fine bubbles 54 (refer to Fig. 6 ).
  • the bubbles 54 accumulate at the upstream side of the filter 42.
  • the accumulated bubbles 54 form a large mass of air that closes the filter 42 and cause defective ejection of ink from the ejection head 12.
  • the bubbles 54 need to be periodically discharged.
  • the ejection head 12 performs ink suction to discharge the bubbles 54.
  • the intermediate reservoir 30 includes a filter chamber 34, which is one example of a first storage chamber that is capable of storing ink, and the ink storage chamber 32, which is cable of storing ink.
  • the filter 42 is arranged in the filter chamber 34.
  • the filter 42 partitions the filter chamber 34 in the vertical direction into an upstream filter chamber 44, which defines an upstream cavity, and a downstream filter chamber 46, which defines a downstream cavity.
  • the downstream filter chamber 46 includes an ink outlet 50.
  • the ink outlet 50 is connected to the ejection head 12 through the head connection tube 52.
  • the upstream filter chamber 44 is connected to the ink storage chamber 32 through a first communication pipe 36 and a second communication pipe 38, which form a lower communication passage, and an airflow pipe 40, which forms an upper communication passage.
  • the ink storage chamber 32 includes an ink inlet 48.
  • the ink inlet 48 is connected to the ink tank 9 through the connection tube 10.
  • the upper surface of the ink storage chamber 32 is located upward in the gravitational direction from the upper surface of the upstream filter chamber 44.
  • the first communication pipe 36 is located downward in the gravitational direction from the second communication pipe 38 and the airflow pipe 40. A constant flow of ink is maintained in the first communication pipe 36.
  • the first communication pipe 36 is formed by a fine pipe and functions as an orifice. Thus, a large pressure loss occurs at the first communication pipe 36 when the ejection head 12 performs ink suction.
  • the pressure loss is designed to produce a hydraulic head difference between the ink storage chamber 32 and the upstream filter chamber 44 that is greater than the length in the gravitational direction of the upstream filter chamber 44.
  • the flow passage resistance of the first communication pipe 36 is designed to be greater than the flow passage resistance of the second communication pipe 38.
  • the second communication pipe 38 is connected to a side surface of the ink storage chamber 32 and bent to project upward in the gravitational direction.
  • the uppermost portion of the second communication pipe 38 is located downward in the gravitational direction from the uppermost portion of the ink storage chamber 32.
  • the second communication pipe 38 functions as a siphon.
  • the airflow pipe 40 and the ink storage chamber 32 are coupled at a position located upward in the vertical position from where the second communication pipe 38 and the ink storage chamber 32 are coupled.
  • the uppermost position of the airflow pipe 40 is located upward in the gravitational direction from the uppermost position of the second communication pipe 38.
  • the filter chamber 34, the first communication pipe 36, and the second communication pipe 38 are fully filled with ink.
  • air remains in the upper portion of the ink storage chamber 32 and the upper portion of the airflow pipe 40. The air produces a damping effect that reduces pressure fluctuation in the ink.
  • the use of the inkjet printer 1 over a long term may form the bubbles 54 in each connection tube 10.
  • the bubbles 54 are suspended in the flowing ink and enter the ink storage chamber 32 from the ink inlet 48.
  • the entering bubbles 54 are accumulated and integrated with the air in the upper portion of the ink storage chamber 32.
  • the liquid level of the upstream filter chamber 44 falls.
  • the filter 42 closes and causes defective ejection.
  • Ink suction is performed to discharge the air.
  • the ejection head 12 performs ink suction and ink flows from the ink storage chamber 32 to the upstream filter chamber 44 only through the first communication pipe 36. Under this situation, a pressure loss occurs in the first communication pipe 36. The pressure loss produces a hydraulic head difference H between the ink in the ink storage chamber 32 and the ink in the upstream filter chamber 44. As a result, the air accumulated in the upper portion of the ink storage chamber 32 flows through the airflow pipe 40 and the second communication pipe 38 into the upstream filter chamber 44.
  • the above operations discharge some of the air that was accumulated in the ink storage chamber 32 and returns the liquid level of the intermediate reservoir 30 to the state prior to bubble accumulation as shown in Fig. 10 .
  • the second communication pipe 38 connects the ink storage chamber 32 and the upstream filter chamber 44 in a state in which pressure loss is small.
  • bubble discharge does not occur when printing is performed. This differs from ink suction.
  • the ink flowrate during printing produces a hydraulic head difference H between the ink in the ink storage chamber 32 and the ink in the upstream filter chamber 44.
  • the ink flowrate is low.
  • the liquid level of the upstream filter chamber 44 does not become low enough for bubble discharge to occur.
  • the pressure loss caused by the first communication pipe 36 needs to be properly adjusted.
  • the pressure loss needs to be adjusted so that the liquid level of the upstream filter chamber 44 does not fall to a level that would cause defective ejection at the printing flowrate and so that a hydraulic head difference produced between the ink in the ink storage chamber 32 and the ink in the upstream filter chamber 44 is greater than or equal to the length of the upstream filter chamber 44 in the gravitational direction at the flowrate during ink suction.
  • the first embodiment has the advantages described below.
  • the intermediate reservoir 30 of the first embodiment is modified as an intermediate reservoir 30a shown in Fig. 12 . Accordingly, same reference numerals are given to those components of the second embodiment that are the same as the corresponding components of the first embodiment. Such components will not be described.
  • the intermediate reservoir 30a has the same structure as the intermediate reservoir 30 of the first embodiment but differs in shape from the intermediate reservoir 30. More specifically, the upper space of an ink storage chamber 32a is expanded in the horizontal direction and extends to immediately above a filter chamber 34a. An airflow pipe 40a is connected to the lower surface of the ink storage chamber 32a in the upper space extending to immediately above the filter chamber 34a. Thus, the upper portion of the ink storage chamber 32a holds more air than the intermediate reservoir 30 of the first embodiment. This improves the damping effect of the intermediate reservoir 30a in comparison with the intermediate reservoir 30 of the first embodiment.
  • the filter chamber 34a is partitioned by a filter 42a in the horizontal direction and separated into an upstream filter chamber 44a and a downstream filter chamber 46a.
  • the area of the filter 42a can be increased while keeping the pressure loss caused by the first communication pipe 36 low. More specifically, the amount of foreign matter of which passage through the intermediate reservoir 30a is restricted can be increased without an increase in pressure loss causing a decrease in the ink ejection capability of the ejection head 12.
  • the downstream filter chamber 46a includes an ink outlet 50a, and the ink outlet 50a is connected through the head connection tube 52 to the ejection head 12.
  • the operation of the intermediate reservoir 30 is basically the same as the intermediate reservoir 30 of the first embodiment. Thus, the description will focus on the second air discharge operation that differs greatly from the intermediate reservoir 30 of the first embodiment.
  • the liquid level of the upstream filter chamber 44a falls when ink suction is performed, and the area of a liquid-contact filter portion 56a becomes extremely small.
  • the flow of ink is concentrated within a limited area. This locally increases the speed of the ink flow and produces a large pressure loss at the filter 42a.
  • the pressure loss becomes greater than or equal to the bubble point pressure of the filter 42a, air passes through the filter 42a.
  • air is discharged as bubbles 54 out of the upstream filter chamber 44a and into the downstream filter chamber 46a.
  • the discharge of the bubbles 54 raises the liquid level of the ink storage chamber 32a.
  • the intermediate reservoir 30a allows bubble discharge to be performed through ink suction in the same manner as the intermediate reservoir 30 of the first embodiment.
  • the second embodiment has the advantages described below.
  • a third embodiment of the inkjet printer 1 will now be described with reference to the drawings focusing on points that differ from the first embodiment. Points that are the same as the first embodiment will not be described.
  • the intermediate reservoir 30 of the first embodiment is modified to an intermediate reservoir 60 in the third embodiment as shown in Figs. 13 to 15 .
  • the intermediate reservoir 60 has the form of a generally rectangular cuboid as a whole with one side surface including recesses or grooves that are in communication with one another.
  • a film sheet 62 is fused onto one surface of the intermediate reservoir 60 to close the recesses or grooves. This forms various flow passages, through which ink or air flows, and chambers, which store ink, inside the intermediate reservoir 60.
  • the intermediate reservoir 60 includes the filter 61 and the film sheet 62
  • Figs. 13 and 14 show the intermediate reservoir 60 without the filter 61 and the film sheet 62.
  • the intermediate reservoir 60 includes a first storage chamber 63 and a second storage chamber 64 that are capable of storing ink.
  • the first storage chamber 63 extends from the central portion toward the lower portion in the intermediate reservoir 60.
  • the second storage chamber 64 is located at the side of the first storage chamber 63 that is closer to the corresponding ink tank 9 (refer to Fig. 3 ), namely, the upstream side. More specifically, the second storage chamber 64 is located inside the upper portion of the intermediate reservoir 60 at the upper side of the first storage chamber 63.
  • the intermediate reservoir 60 includes an upper communication passage 65 and a lower communication passage 66.
  • the first storage chamber 63 and the second storage chamber 64 are in communication with each other through the upper communication passage 65 that is located upward from the first storage chamber 63 and the second storage chamber 64. Further, the first storage chamber 63 and the second storage chamber 64 are in communication with each other through the lower communication passage 66 that is located downward from the upper communication passage 65.
  • the upper communication passage 65 and the lower communication passage 66 are located at opposite sides of the first storage chamber 63 and the second storage chamber 64.
  • the lower communication passage 66 includes a lower second communication port 66a, which is the communication port located at the side of the second storage chamber 64, and a lower first communication port 66b, which is the communication port located at the side of the first storage chamber 63.
  • the upper communication passage 65 includes an upper second communication port 65a, which is the communication port located at the side of the second storage chamber 64, and the upper first communication port 65b, which is the communication port located at the side of the first storage chamber 63.
  • the lower second communication port 66a is designed to be smaller than the upper second communication port 65a.
  • connection pipe 67 is arranged on the outer upper end of the intermediate reservoir 60.
  • One end of the corresponding connection tube 10 (refer to Fig. 3 ) is connected to the connection pipe 67.
  • the other end of the connection tube 10 is connected to the corresponding ink tank 9 (refer to Fig. 3 ).
  • the upper side of the second storage chamber 64 in the intermediate reservoir 60 includes a communication flow passage 68.
  • the connection pipe 67 and the second storage chamber 64 are in communication through the communication flow passage 68.
  • the communication flow passage 68 extends from the connection pipe 67 around the second storage chamber 64 and to the lower end of the second storage chamber 64.
  • the communication port of the communication flow passage 68 located at the side of the second storage chamber 64 defines an inlet 68a through which the ink supplied from the corresponding ink tank 9 (refer to Fig. 3 ) flows and enters the second storage chamber 64. More specifically, ink is supplied from the ink tank 9 (refer to Fig. 3 ) through the connection tube 10 (refer to Fig. 3 ), the connection pipe 67, the communication flow passage 68, and the inlet 68a to the second storage chamber 64.
  • the inlet 68a opens laterally toward the second storage chamber 64. That is, the opening direction of the inlet 68a coincides with the horizontal direction.
  • the lower second communication port 66a is located downward from the inlet 68a next to the inlet 68a.
  • the lower second communication port 66a opens toward the second storage chamber 64, which is located upward from the lower second communication port 66a. Accordingly, the opening direction of the lower second communication port 66a intersects (is orthogonal to) the opening direction of the inlet 68a. That is, the lower second communication port 66a opens in a direction that differs from the opening direction of the inlet 68a.
  • the lower communication passage 66 includes an upstream path 66c, which extends from the lower second communication port 66a to a location lower than the lower second communication port 66a, and a downstream path 66d, which extends upward from the downstream side of the upstream path 66c.
  • the lower end of the lower communication passage 66 defines a downwardly curved, U-shaped curved portion 66e. More specifically, the upstream path 66c extends straight down from the lower second communication port 66a toward the curved portion 66e, and the downstream path 66d extends straight up from the curved portion 66e and is in communication with the first storage chamber 63 from the side.
  • one half of the curved portion 66e forms part of the upstream path 66c, and the remaining half of the curved portion 66e forms part of the downstream path 66d.
  • connection projection 69 is formed integrally with the lower end surface of the intermediate reservoir 60.
  • the connection projection 69 is connected to the ejection head 12 (refer to Fig. 3 ). Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the connection projection 69 is used instead of the head connection tube 52 (refer to Fig. 3 ) to form part of the liquid supply passage.
  • the lower portion of the first storage chamber 63 includes the filter 61 that is generally pentagonal.
  • the filter 61 partitions the first storage chamber 63 into a downstream cavity 70, which is located at the side of the ejection head 12 (refer to Fig. 3 ), and an upstream cavity 71, which is located at the side of the second storage chamber 64.
  • the downstream cavity 70 is defined by a recess 74, which is recessed to be generally pentagonal, and the open area surrounded by the filter 61. Further, the downstream cavity 70 is smaller than the upstream cavity 71.
  • the filter 61 includes a large number of pores 61a (refer to Fig. 20 ) that are meshes allowing for the passage of ink.
  • the upper end of the downstream cavity 70 is in communication with one end of a discharge passage 72 through a through hole 73.
  • the other end of the discharge passage 72 is in communication with the connection projection 69.
  • the lower second communication port 66a is located upward from the filter 61.
  • the filter 61 will now be described.
  • the filter 61 may be, for example, a meshed body such as a wire mesh or a resin mesh, a porous body, or a metal plate including fine through holes.
  • a meshed body include a metal mesh filter and metal fibers.
  • a felt of fine wires of stainless steel (SUS) a metal sinter filter that is compressed and sintered, an electroformed metal filter, an electronic beam-processed metal filter, or a laser beam-processed metal filter may be used.
  • the bubble point pressure be uniform in the filter 61 and that the filter 61 have an extremely fine pore diameter.
  • the bubble point pressure is the pressure that breaks the meniscus formed at each pore 61a (pore opening) of the filter 61.
  • the filtration grain size of the filter 61 be approximately 15 ⁇ m (0.015mm) that is smaller than the diameter (e.g., 20 ⁇ m (0.020mm)) of the opening in the nozzle 12a so that foreign matter in the ink does not reach the nozzle 12a (refer to Fig. 3 ).
  • the filtration grain size of the filter 61 be that of a twill dutch weave (filtration grain size 10 um), which is smaller than the diameter (e.g., 20 ⁇ m) of the opening in the nozzle 12a so that foreign matter in the ink does not reach the nozzle 12a.
  • the bubble point pressure produced by ink e.g., surface tension is approximately 28 mN/M
  • the bubble point pressure produced by ink when employing a twill dutch weave (filtration grain size 5 um) is 10 to 15 kPa.
  • the filter 61 is a metal plate filter obtained by forming fine through holes that extend through a metal plate (e.g., flat metal plate (e.g., thickness of 15 ⁇ m) formed from a metal material such as stainless steel including a large number of fine through holes (e.g., hundreds of thousands of pores having an inner diameter of 15 ⁇ m per 1 cm 2 ) and cut into disks), the filter 61 that is used may have a diameter of, for example, approximately 8 to 9 mm.
  • a metal plate e.g., flat metal plate (e.g., thickness of 15 ⁇ m) formed from a metal material such as stainless steel including a large number of fine through holes (e.g., hundreds of thousands of pores having an inner diameter of 15 ⁇ m per 1 cm 2 ) and cut into disks
  • the filter 61 that is used may have a diameter of, for example, approximately 8 to 9 mm.
  • the inner diameter of the through hole be smaller than the diameter of the opening of the nozzle 12a (e.g., 20 ⁇ m).
  • the through holes of the filter 61 may be a square or hexagonal hole. In this case, the length of the diagonal lines of each through hole need only be set to be smaller than the diameter of the opening of the nozzle 12a.
  • the pores 61a of the filter 61 in the present embodiment are set so that the pitch between the adjacent pores 61a is approximately 4 ⁇ m.
  • the downstream cavity 70 and the lower communication passage 66 are fully filled with ink.
  • the liquid level (liquid surface) of the ink in the intermediate reservoir 60 is located upward from the lower first communication port 66b and the lower second communication port 66a of the lower communication passage 66 and downward from the upper first communication port 65b and the upper second communication port 65a of the upper communication passage 65.
  • This state is referred to as the normal state. In this state, air remains in the upper portion of the first storage chamber 63, the upper portion of the second storage chamber 64, and the upper communication passage 65. The air produces a damping effect and limits pressure fluctuation of the ink.
  • connection tube 10 when the inkjet printer 1 is left without being used over a long term, atmospheric air may enter the connection tube 10 and form bubbles 54.
  • the bubbles 54 are carried with the ink through the connection pipe 67 and the communication flow passage 68 and enter the second storage chamber 64 from the inlet 68a.
  • the bubbles 54 entering the second storage chamber 64 are integrated and accumulated with the air in the upper portion of the first storage chamber 63 and the air in the upper portion of the second storage chamber 64.
  • the amount of the bubbles 54 entering the second storage chamber 64 increases, the liquid level of the ink in the first storage chamber 63 and the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 64 fall.
  • the filter 61 When the liquid level of the ink in the first storage chamber 63 falls to a certain level or less, for example, the filter 61 is closed by air. This causes defective ejection of ink from the ejection head 12. In other words, there is a limit to the amount of the bubbles 54 accumulated in the first storage chamber 63 and the second storage chamber 64. Accordingly, the bubbles 54 (air) need to be discharged before the liquid level of the ink in the first storage chamber 63 falls to the certain level or less. A special discharge operation (long-time cleaning) is performed to discharge the bubbles 54.
  • the discharge unit 18 draws ink from the nozzle 12a and discharges the ink over a longer time than when performing a discharge operation (normal cleaning). That is, the special discharge operation (long-time cleaning) is performed for a longer time than the normal discharge operation (normal cleaning). In the special discharge operation (long-time cleaning), the suction force of the nozzle 12a for drawing ink is the same as the discharge operation (normal cleaning).
  • ink flows from the second storage chamber 64 to the upstream cavity 71 (first storage chamber 63) only through the lower communication passage 66.
  • the pressure loss at the lower communication passage 66 produces a hydraulic head difference H between the ink in the upstream cavity 71 and the ink in the second storage chamber 64.
  • the liquid level of the ink in the upstream cavity 71 falls.
  • the air accumulated in the upper portion of the second storage chamber 64 flows through the upper communication passage 65 to the upstream cavity 71.
  • the discharge unit 18 (refer to Fig. 2 ) then draws ink from the nozzle 12a and gradually lowers the liquid level of the ink in the upstream cavity 71 (the first storage chamber 63) until the liquid level falls to the lower end of the filter 61. Accordingly, the discharge unit 18 performs the special discharge operation to draw and discharge ink from the nozzle 12a so that the liquid level (liquid surface) of the ink in the upstream cavity 71 (first storage chamber 63) contacts the filter 61. Thus, the special discharge operation is performed so that the liquid level (liquid surface) of the ink in the upstream cavity 71 (first storage chamber 63) falls from the height of the normal state to the height that contacts the filter 61.
  • a liquid-contact filter portion 75 which is the portion in the upstream surface of the filter 61 that contacts the ink, becomes extremely small. This concentrates the flow of ink at the limited area. Thus, the flow of ink becomes locally high, and the filter 61 produces a large pressure loss. When the pressure loss becomes greater than or equal to the bubble point pressure of the filter 61, air passes though the filter 61, and air is discharged from the upstream cavity 71 to the downstream cavity 70 as bubbles 54. The discharge of air from the upstream cavity 71 to the downstream cavity 70 raises the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 64.
  • Each pore 61a of the filter 61 (refer to Fig. 20 ) is configured so that the pressure difference between the downstream cavity 70 and the upstream cavity 71 when ink flows through the intermediate reservoir 60 during the special discharge operation performed by the discharge unit 18 breaks the meniscus of the ink formed at the pore 61a of the filter 61. In other words, air does not flow through the filter 61 as long as the meniscus formed on the pore 61a of the filter 61 does not break.
  • P represents the pressure when bubbles form (bubble point pressure)
  • ⁇ represents the surface tension of ink
  • ⁇ represents the ink density
  • ⁇ represents the wetting angle
  • D represents the pore diameter
  • the discharge operation ends before the liquid level of the ink in the upstream cavity 71 (first storage chamber 63) falls to the filter 61. Accordingly, the bubbles 54 in the upstream cavity 71 do not pass through the filter 61 and are not discharged into the downstream cavity 70. This reduces defective ejection of ink from the nozzle 12a of the ejection head 12 that would be caused by the bubbles 54 immediately after the discharge operation.
  • the volume of the first storage chamber 63 needs to be properly adjusted for the discharge unit 18 (refer to Fig. 2 ) to selectively perform the discharge operation and the special discharge operation, which differ in the time ink is drawn from the nozzle 12a, and control the discharge of bubbles 54 from the nozzle 12a.
  • the volume of the first storage chamber 63 is set so that the liquid level of the ink in the upstream cavity 71 does not fall to the filter 61 during the discharge operation (normal cleaning) and so that the liquid level of the ink in the upstream cavity 71 falls to the lower end of the filter 61 during the special discharge operation (long-time cleaning).
  • the bubbles 54 in the upstream cavity 71 do not pass through the filter 61 and are not discharged into the downstream cavity 70. This is because the ink flow rate is lower than the discharge operation even though the ink flow rate during printing produces a hydraulic head difference H between the ink in the second storage chamber 64 and the ink in the upstream cavity 71 (first storage chamber 63). Thus, the liquid level of the ink in the upstream cavity 71 does not fall to the filter 61.
  • the pressure loss caused by the lower communication passage 66 needs to be properly adjusted.
  • the flow passage resistance of the lower communication passage 66 and the flow passage resistance of the upper communication passage 65 are set so that the air-liquid interface (liquid surface) of the ink in the upstream cavity 71 (first storage chamber 63) does not contact the filter 61 when the ejection head 12 ejects ink onto the printing paper 20 in a normal state.
  • a fourth embodiment of the inkjet printer 1 will now be described focusing on points that differ from the third embodiment. Points that are the same as the third embodiment will not be described.
  • a pressure regulation valve 80 which regulates the pressure of ink, is arranged between the intermediate reservoir 60 of the third embodiment and the ejection head 12, and an ink cartridge 81 is employed in lieu of the ink tank 9 as one example of the liquid supplying source, and the ink of the ink cartridge 81 is pressurized and supplied to the ejection head 12.
  • the inkjet printer 1 includes a holder 82, to which the ink cartridge 81 serving as one example of a liquid supplying source is attached in a removable manner, and a supply passage 83, which serves as a liquid supply passage that supplies ink from the ink cartridge 81 to the ejection head 12.
  • a supply pump 84 that moves the ink in a supply direction A, the intermediate reservoir 60 that is capable of storing ink, and the pressure regulation valve 80 that regulates the pressure of ink are arranged in the supply passage 83.
  • the supply passage 83 includes first to fourth supply paths 85 to 88. More specifically, the first supply path 85 connects the ink cartridge 81 and the supply pump 84, the second supply path 86 connects the supply pump 84 and the intermediate reservoir 60, the third supply path 87 connects the intermediate reservoir 60 and the pressure regulation valve 80, and the fourth supply path 88 connects the pressure regulation valve 80 and the ejection head 12.
  • the supply pump 84 includes a diaphragm pump 89 that has a pump chamber with a variable volume, a suction valve 90 located at an upstream side of the diaphragm pump 89, and a discharge valve 91 located at a downstream side of the diaphragm pump 89.
  • the suction valve 90 and the discharge valve 91 each function as a one-way valve that allows ink to flow from the ink cartridge 81 toward the ejection head 12 in a supplying direction A and restricts the flow of ink from the ejection head 12 toward the ink cartridge 81 in the reverse direction.
  • the supply pump 84 draws ink from the ink cartridge 81 through the suction valve 90.
  • the supply pump 84 discharges ink toward the ejection head 12 through the discharge valve 91.
  • the ejection head 12 which is connected to the downstream end of the supply passage 83, includes an in-head filter 92 that captures bubbles and foreign matter from the ink.
  • the pressure regulation valve 80 includes a supply chamber 93 supplied with ink from the third supply path 87, a pressure chamber 95 that is in communication with the supply chamber 93 through a communication hole 94, a valve member 96 arranged between the pressure chamber 95 and the supply chamber 93, and an urging member 97 that urges the valve member 96 in a valve-closing direction.
  • the valve member 96 is inserted through the communication hole 94 and urged by the urging member 97 to close the communication hole 94.
  • the pressure regulation valve 80 forms part of the liquid supply passage.
  • the wall surface of the pressure chamber 95 includes a portion formed by a diaphragm 98 that is deformable in the urging direction of the urging member 97.
  • the outer surface of the diaphragm 98 (left surface as viewed in Fig. 24 ) receives the atmospheric pressure, and the inner surface of the diaphragm 98 (right surface as viewed in Fig. 24 ) receives the pressure of the ink in the pressure chamber 95. Accordingly, the diaphragm 98 deforms and moves in accordance with the difference between the pressure of the pressure chamber 95 and the pressure received by the outer surface of the diaphragm 98.
  • the supply chamber 93 is held in a pressurized state by the pressurized ink sent from the ink cartridge 81.
  • a predetermined value e.g. 1000 Pa
  • the valve member 96 is urged in the valve-opening direction against the urging force of the urging member 97. In this state, the pressure chamber 95 is in communication with the supply chamber 93.
  • the urging member 97 urges the valve member 96 in a valve-opening direction.
  • the pressure regulation valve 80 regulates the pressure of the ejection head 12 that acts as the back pressure of the nozzles 12a. This regulates the pressure of the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 81 to the ejection head 12 through the supply passage 83.
  • the fourth embodiment includes the discharge unit 18.
  • the discharge unit 18 performs a special discharge operation to discharge the residual bubbles 54 in the second storage chamber 64 of the intermediate reservoir 60 from the upstream cavity 71 to the downstream cavity 70.
  • the fourth embodiment includes a valve opening mechanism that forcibly opens the valve member 96 of the pressure regulation valve 80.
  • the forcible opening of the valve member 96 allows the ink pressurized by the supply pump 84 to be discharged from the nozzles 12a of the ejection head 12 and perform pressurized cleaning.
  • the pressurized cleaning may use the pressure difference between the downstream cavity 70 and the upstream cavity 71 when ink flows in the intermediate reservoir 60 to discharge residual bubbles 54 in the second storage chamber 64 of the intermediate reservoir 60 from the upstream cavity 71 to the downstream cavity 70 in the same manner as the special discharge operation performed by the discharge unit 18 in the third embodiment.
  • the ink suction performed by the discharge unit 18 and the pressurized cleaning performed by the supply pump 84 may both be included in a discharge operation to discharge the residual bubbles 54 in the second storage chamber 64 of the intermediate reservoir 60 from the upstream cavity 71 to the downstream cavity 70 in the same manner as the special discharge operation performed by the discharge unit 18.
  • the fourth embodiment has the advantages described below.
  • an ink container 100 may be used in lieu of the ink cartridge 81 as one example of the liquid supply source.
  • the ink container 100 includes an ink inlet 101, and the ink container 100 may be filled with ink through the ink inlet 101. After filling the ink container 100 with ink, the ink inlet 101 is closed by a cap (not shown).
  • an ink supply tube 102 may connect the ink cartridge 81 to a large-capacity tank 103 to supply the ink cartridge 81 with ink from the large-capacity tank 103 through the ink supply tube 102.
  • the ink cartridge 81 functions as a sub-tank that temporarily stores the ink.
  • the large-capacity tank 103 includes an ink inlet 104 and can be filled with ink through the ink inlet 104. After filling the large-capacity tank 103 with ink, the ink inlet 104 is closed by a cap (not shown). In this case, as shown in Figs.
  • the large-capacity tank 103 is arranged so that its lower surface 103a is located at a higher position than a nozzle plane 12b, which is the plane of the ejection head 12 where the nozzles 12a open. In this manner, the hydraulic head difference supplies ink from the large-capacity tank 103 to the ejection head 12.
  • the supply pump 84 may be changed to a tube pump.
  • the suction force that draws ink from the nozzles 12a with the discharge unit 18 when a special discharge operation (long-time cleaning) is performed may be stronger than that when a discharge operation (normal cleaning) is performed. That is, in the special discharge operation, the suction amount of ink per unit time may be greater than that of the discharge operation.
  • the filter 61 may have a shape that is circular, oval, rectangular, or triangular. In this case, it is preferred that the shape of the recess 74 be in correspondence with the shape of the filter 61.
  • the wall surface of the second storage chamber 64 in the intermediate reservoir 60 may be formed by a flexible member such as a film, and the flexible member may be deformed in a direction that decreases the volume of the second storage chamber 64 when the pressure of the second storage chamber 64 becomes negative. This flattens bubbles in the second storage chamber 64 when the pressure of the second storage chamber 64 becomes negative and allows the bubbles to easily move downward.
  • the area of the flexible member can be increased and the depth of the second storage chamber 64 may be decreased so that the flexible member further easily presses and squeezes the bubbles.
  • the discharge unit 18 may be configured by a pressurizing mechanism (e.g., pressurizing pump) that pressurizes the ink in the liquid supply passage and allows the ink to be discharged from the nozzles 12a.
  • a pressurizing mechanism e.g., pressurizing pump
  • the pressurizing mechanism and a suction mechanism cap 14, suction tube 15, and suction pump 16, which allows ink to be drawn from the nozzles 12a and discharged, may both be used to configure the discharge unit 18.
  • the pores 61a of the filter 61 do not necessarily have to be configured to break the meniscuses of ink formed at the pores 61a by the pressure difference produced between the downstream cavity 70 and the upstream cavity 71 when ink flows in the intermediate reservoir 60 during the special discharge operation performed by the discharge unit 18.
  • the flow passage resistance of the lower communication passage 66 and the flow passage resistance of the upper communication passage 65 do not necessarily have to be set so that the air-liquid interface (liquid surface) of ink in the first storage chamber 63 does not contact the filter 61 when the ejection head 12 ejects ink onto the printing paper 20 and performs printing in a normal state.
  • the lower second communication port 66a does not necessarily have to be located below the inlet 68a. Further, the lower second communication port 66a does not necessarily have to open in a direction that differs from the opening direction of the inlet 68a. That is, the lower second communication port 66a may be located, for example, upward from the inlet 68a and open in the same direction as the opening direction of the inlet 68a.
  • the lower second communication port 66a does not necessarily have to be located upward from the filter 61. That is, the lower second communication port 66a may be located, for example, downward from the filter 61.
  • the lower communication passage 66 does not necessarily have to include the upstream path 66c, which extends from the lower second communication port 66a at a lower position than the lower second communication port 66a, and the downstream path 66d, which extends upward from the downstream side of the upstream path 66c. That is, the lower communication passage 66 extends, for example, straight as a whole.
  • the lower second communication port 66a does not necessarily have to open upward. That is, the lower second communication port 66a may, for example, open downward or open sideward.
  • the filter 61 may be omitted.
  • the inkjet printer 1 may be of a line head type that includes an elongated and fixed liquid droplet ejector corresponding to the entire width of the printing paper 20.
  • the liquid droplet ejector may have a printing range that extends over the entire width of the printing paper 20 by arranging units of heads, which include nozzles, in parallel.
  • the liquid droplet ejector may have a printing range that extends over the entire width of the printing paper 20 by arranging multiple nozzles in a single elongated head over the entire width of the printing paper 20.
  • the liquid ejection device may be a liquid ejection device that discharges liquid other than ink.
  • the fine amount of liquid ejected from the liquid ejection device as a liquid droplet may be in a state that is particulate, tear-like, or shaped in a tailed manner.
  • the liquid referred to here may be any material that can be ejected from the liquid ejection device.
  • the liquid may be a substance that is in a liquid phase state.
  • the liquid may be a fluidal body such as a liquid body having low or high viscosity, a sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, an organic solvent, a liquid solution, a liquefied resin, or a liquefied metal (metal melt).
  • the liquid is just not one state of a substance and includes a liquid in which the particles of a functional material formed by a solid such as pigments or metal particles is dissolved, dispersed, or mixed.
  • Representative examples of liquid ink such as that described in the above embodiments, liquid crystal and the like. Ink includes typical water-based ink and oil-based ink and various liquid compositions such as gel ink and hot melt ink.
  • a liquid ejection device includes a liquid ejection device that ejects liquid in which material such as electrode material or coloring material is dispersed or dissolved. Such material is used to manufacture a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescence (EL) display, a planar light emission display, a color filter, and the like. Further, the liquid ejection device may eject a bioorganic substance used to manufacture biochips or a liquid that forms samples used as precision pipettes.
  • the liquid ejection device may be a textile printing device, a micro-dispenser, or the like.
  • the liquid ejection device may eject lubrication oil in a pinpoint manner onto a precision machine such as a clock or a camera or eject a transparent resin liquid such as an ultraviolet curing resin to form a micro-semispherical lens (optical lens) used in an optical communication element or the like. Further, the liquid ejection device may eject an acid or alkali etching liquid to etch a substrate or the like.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Claims (12)

  1. Réservoir intermédiaire (30 ; 30a ; 60) adapté pour stocker du liquide et pour être disposé dans un passage d'alimentation en liquide (10, 30, 52 ; 10, 30a, 52 ; 10, 60, 69 ; 60, 80, 83) qui fournit le liquide contenu dans une source d'alimentation en liquide (9 ; 81) à une tête d'éjection (12) qui éjecte le liquide à partir d'une buse (12a) sur un support (20), le réservoir intermédiaire (30 ; 30a ; 60) comprenant :
    une première chambre de stockage (34 ; 34a ; 63) capable de stocker le liquide ;
    une deuxième chambre de stockage (32 ; 32a ; 64) capable de stocker le liquide et située d'un côté amont de la première chambre de stockage (34 ; 34a ; 63) par rapport à un écoulement du liquide à travers le réservoir intermédiaire lors de l'utilisation ; un passage de communication supérieur (40 ; 40a ; 65) qui relie la première chambre de stockage (34 ; 34a ; 63) et la deuxième chambre de stockage (32 ; 32a ; 64) au niveau de parties supérieures de la première chambre de stockage (34 ; 34a ; 63) et la deuxième chambre de stockage (32 ; 32a ; 64) ; et
    un passage de communication inférieur (36 ; 66) qui relie la première chambre de stockage (34 ; 34a ; 63) et la deuxième chambre de stockage (32 ; 32a ; 64) au niveau d'un emplacement plus bas que le passage de communication supérieur (65) dans un sens de gravité lorsque le réservoir intermédiaire est disposé dans le passage d'alimentation en liquide ;
    dans lequel le passage de communication inférieur (36 ; 66) comprend un orifice de communication inférieur (66a) qui s'ouvre dans la deuxième chambre de stockage (32 ; 32a ; 64), le passage de communication supérieur (40 ; 40a ; 65) comprend un orifice de communication supérieur (65a) en communication avec la deuxième chambre de stockage (32 ; 32a ; 64), et l'orifice de communication inférieur (66a) est plus petit que l'orifice de communication supérieur (65a).
  2. Dispositif d'éjection de liquide (1) comprenant :
    la tête d'éjection (12) ;
    le passage d'alimentation en liquide (10, 30, 52 ; 10, 30a, 52 ; 10, 60, 69 ; 60, 80, 83) ; et
    le réservoir intermédiaire (30 ; 30a ; 60) selon la revendication 1.
  3. Dispositif d'éjection de liquide (1) selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'orifice de communication inférieur (66a) s'ouvre vers le haut.
  4. Dispositif d'éjection de liquide (1) selon la revendication 2 ou 3, dans lequel le passage de communication inférieur (66) comprend un trajet en amont (66c) qui s'étend à partir de l'orifice de communication inférieur (66a) jusqu'à un emplacement plus bas que l'orifice de communication inférieur (66a) et un trajet en aval (66d) qui s'étend vers le haut à partir d'un côté aval du trajet en amont (66c).
  5. Dispositif d'éjection de liquide (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 4, comprenant en outre un filtre (61) disposé dans la première chambre de stockage (63), dans lequel le filtre (61) sépare la première chambre de stockage (63) en une cavité en aval (70) reliée à la tête d'éjection (12) et une cavité en amont (71) reliée à la deuxième chambre de stockage (64), et le filtre (61) comprend des pores (61a) qui permettent le passage du liquide,
    dans lequel l'orifice de communication inférieur (66a) est situé en amont du filtre (61).
  6. Dispositif d'éjection de liquide (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 5, dans lequel le passage d'alimentation en liquide (10, 60, 69 ; 60, 80, 83) comprend une entrée (68a) qui s'ouvre dans la deuxième chambre de stockage (64), et le liquide fourni par la source d'alimentation en liquide (9 ; 81) entre dans la deuxième chambre de stockage (64) via l'entrée (68a) ; et
    l'orifice de communication inférieur (66a) est situé vers le bas par rapport à l'entrée (68a) et s'ouvre dans une direction qui diffère d'une direction d'ouverture de l'entrée (68a).
  7. Dispositif d'éjection de liquide (1) selon la revendication 5, dans lequel :
    l'orifice de communication supérieur (65a) est un deuxième orifice de communication supérieur (65a), et le passage de communication supérieur (65) comprend en outre un premier orifice de communication supérieur (65b) qui s'ouvre dans la première chambre de stockage (63) ; et
    l'orifice de communication inférieur (66a) est un deuxième orifice de communication inférieur (66a), et le passage de communication inférieur (66) comprend en outre un premier orifice de communication inférieur (66b) qui s'ouvre dans la première chambre de stockage (63) .
  8. Dispositif d'éjection de liquide (1) selon la revendication 2, dans lequel
    le réservoir intermédiaire (30 ; 30a) est une unité de filtrage (30 ; 30a) située dans le passage d'alimentation en liquide (10, 30, 52 ; 10, 30a, 52) et comprenant un élément de filtrage (42, 42a) qui enlève de la matière étrangère du liquide,
    la première chambre de stockage (34 ; 34a) est une chambre de filtrage (34 ; 34a) qui héberge l'élément de filtrage (42, 42a), et
    la deuxième chambre de stockage (32 ; 32a) est une chambre de stockage d'encre (32 ; 32a) qui stocke le liquide,
    la chambre de filtrage (34 ; 34a) comprend une chambre de filtrage en amont (44 ; 44a) et une chambre de filtrage en aval (46 ; 46a) qui sont séparées par l'élément de filtrage (42 ; 42a),
    la chambre de stockage d'encre (32 ; 32a) et la chambre de filtrage en amont (44, 44a) sont en communication via un premier tuyau de communication (36) qui est le passage de communication inférieur (36), un deuxième tuyau de communication (38), et un tuyau d'écoulement d'air (40, 40a) qui est le passage de communication supérieur (40, 40a), et
    le premier tuyau de communication (36) est situé vers le bas dans le sens de gravité par rapport au deuxième tuyau de communication (38) et au tuyau d'écoulement d'air (40 ; 40a).
  9. Dispositif d'éjection de liquide (1) selon la revendication 8, dans lequel
    le deuxième tuyau de communication (38) a une forme de manière à faire saillie vers le haut dans le sens de gravité, et
    le deuxième tuyau de communication (38) comprend une partie la plus élevée située vers le bas dans le sens de gravité par rapport à la partie la plus élevée de la chambre de stockage d'encre (32).
  10. Dispositif d'éjection de liquide (1) selon la revendication 8, dans lequel une surface supérieure de la chambre de stockage de liquide (32 ; 32a) est située vers le haut dans le sens de gravité par rapport à une surface supérieure de la chambre de filtrage en amont (44 ; 44a).
  11. Dispositif d'éjection de liquide (1) selon la revendication 8, dans lequel le premier tuyau de communication (36) a une résistance de passage d'écoulement supérieure à celle du deuxième tuyau de communication (38).
  12. Dispositif d'éjection de liquide (1) selon la revendication 8, dans lequel le tuyau d'écoulement d'air (40) est couplé à la chambre de stockage d'encre (32 ; 32a) dans une position située vers le haut dans le sens de gravité par rapport à là où le deuxième tuyau de communication (38) est couplé à la chambre de stockage d'encre (32 ; 32a).
EP16755083.9A 2015-02-26 2016-01-19 Dispositif d'évacuation de liquide et corps de retenue intermédiaire Active EP3263343B1 (fr)

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JP2015036294A JP6403011B2 (ja) 2015-02-26 2015-02-26 液体吐出装置
JP2015213928A JP6578888B2 (ja) 2015-10-30 2015-10-30 液体吐出装置及び中間貯留体
PCT/JP2016/051446 WO2016136333A1 (fr) 2015-02-26 2016-01-19 Dispositif d'évacuation de liquide et corps de retenue intermédiaire

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JP7055997B2 (ja) * 2017-01-27 2022-04-19 セイコーエプソン株式会社 液体吐出装置および液体吐出装置の駆動方法
JP6904066B2 (ja) * 2017-05-31 2021-07-14 セイコーエプソン株式会社 液体タンク
CN108973335B (zh) * 2017-05-31 2021-06-22 精工爱普生株式会社 液体罐
JP6919421B2 (ja) * 2017-08-29 2021-08-18 セイコーエプソン株式会社 液体タンク
JP6844427B2 (ja) * 2017-06-02 2021-03-17 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 供給液タンクユニットおよびそれを備えたインクジェット記録装置
JP2023017622A (ja) * 2021-07-26 2023-02-07 ブラザー工業株式会社 液体吐出装置及び液体貯留器

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JPH03208665A (ja) * 1990-01-11 1991-09-11 Fujitsu Ltd インクジェットプリンタの圧力ダンパ
JP3450643B2 (ja) * 1996-04-25 2003-09-29 キヤノン株式会社 液体収容容器への液体補充方法、該補充方法を用いる液体吐出記録装置、液体補充容器、液体収容容器およびヘッドカートリッジ
KR101212086B1 (ko) * 2006-07-04 2012-12-13 삼성전자주식회사 잉크 순환장치 및 이 잉크 순환장치를 포함하는 잉크젯프린터
JP5188773B2 (ja) * 2007-10-01 2013-04-24 株式会社石井表記 インクジェットプリンタ用液体貯留タンク
JP5428893B2 (ja) * 2010-01-22 2014-02-26 株式会社リコー 液体吐出ヘッドユニット及び画像形成装置
JP5975659B2 (ja) * 2012-02-02 2016-08-23 エスアイアイ・プリンテック株式会社 フィルターユニット、液体噴射ヘッド及び液体噴射装置

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PH12017501086A1 (en) 2017-10-18
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WO2016136333A1 (fr) 2016-09-01
EP3263343A1 (fr) 2018-01-03

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