EP4194209A2 - Flüssigkeitssammelvorrichtung und flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung - Google Patents

Flüssigkeitssammelvorrichtung und flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4194209A2
EP4194209A2 EP22204081.8A EP22204081A EP4194209A2 EP 4194209 A2 EP4194209 A2 EP 4194209A2 EP 22204081 A EP22204081 A EP 22204081A EP 4194209 A2 EP4194209 A2 EP 4194209A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
sheet
absorber
solvent
liquid discharge
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22204081.8A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP4194209A3 (de
Inventor
Yuichi Tanioku
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ricoh Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ricoh Co Ltd filed Critical Ricoh Co Ltd
Publication of EP4194209A2 publication Critical patent/EP4194209A2/de
Publication of EP4194209A3 publication Critical patent/EP4194209A3/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/16552—Cleaning of print head nozzles using cleaning fluids
    • 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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16505—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
    • B41J2/16508—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out connected with the printer frame
    • 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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16505—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
    • B41J2/16508—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out connected with the printer frame
    • B41J2/16511—Constructions for cap positioning
    • B41J2/16514—Constructions for cap positioning creating a distance between cap and printhead, e.g. for suction or pressurising
    • 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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/1652—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • B41J2/16523—Waste ink transport from caps or spittoons, e.g. by suction
    • 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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/1652—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • B41J2/16526—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head by applying pressure only
    • 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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2002/16564—Heating means therefor, e.g. for hot melt inks
    • 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
    • B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
    • B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
    • B41J2202/21—Line printing

Definitions

  • Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a liquid collection device and a liquid discharge apparatus.
  • An inkjet-type image forming apparatus that discharges ink onto a sheet such as a sheet of paper to form an image as a liquid discharge apparatus that discharges liquid.
  • an operation of periodically discharging ink from a liquid discharge head to maintain and recover performance of the liquid discharge head is performed separately from the time of image formation to prevent a discharge failure of ink from occurring due to thickening or solidification of the ink.
  • the ink discharged from the liquid discharge head is not discharged onto a sheet. Accordingly, the ink is collected by a collection container disposed below the liquid discharge head.
  • Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-214811 discloses a configuration of an ink collection device that includes an absorber disposed in a collection container similar to the above-described collection container, and proposes a technology in which a wetting agent having a high moisture retention property is contained in the absorber to enhance the ink absorption properties of the absorber.
  • An object of the present disclosure is to provide a liquid collection device that includes a collection container to collect liquid discharged from a liquid discharge unit, an absorber to absorb the liquid collected in the collection container, and a solvent supply unit to supply a solvent component of the liquid discharged from the liquid discharge unit to the absorber.
  • a liquid collection device includes a collection container, an absorber, and a solvent supplier.
  • the collection container collects liquid discharged from a liquid discharger.
  • the absorber absorbs the liquid collected in the collection container.
  • the solvent supplier supplies a solvent component of the liquid discharged from the liquid discharger to the absorber.
  • the absorption properties of the absorber can be favorably maintained.
  • FIG. 1 is diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the inkj et-type image forming apparatus 100.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the inkjet-type image forming apparatus 100.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 includes a sheet feeder 1 that supplies a sheet S on which an image to be formed, an image forming device 2 that forms the image on the sheet S, a drier 3 that dries the sheet S, and a sheet collection device 4 that collects the sheet S on which the image has been formed. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a controller 6 (see FIG. 2 ) for controlling the sheet feeder 1, the image forming device 2, the drier 3, and the sheet collection device 4.
  • the sheet feeder 1 includes a supply roller 11 around which an elongated sheet S is wound in a roll shape, and a tension adjustment mechanism 12 that adjusts tension applied to the sheet S.
  • the supply roller 11 is rotatable in a direction indicated by arrow illustrated in FIG. 1 , and the sheet S is fed out by the rotation of the supply roller 11.
  • the tension adjustment mechanism 12 includes multiple rollers around which the sheet S is wound to apply tension to the sheet S. Some of the above-described rollers are moved to adjust the tension applied to the sheet S. Accordingly, the sheet S is fed out from the supply roller 11 with a constant tension.
  • the image forming device 2 includes a head unit 13, which is a liquid discharge unit, and a platen 14, which is a sheet support that supports the conveyed sheet S.
  • the platen 14 is disposed to face the head unit 13 and supports a lower surface of the sheet S supplied from the sheet feeder 1.
  • the head unit 13 has multiple liquid discharge heads as liquid dischargers. Ink is discharged from each of the liquid discharge heads to the sheet S based on image data generated by the controller 6 to form an image on the sheet S.
  • the ink is liquid that contains colorant, a solvent, and crystalline resin particles dispersed in the solvent.
  • the crystalline resin is a resin that undergoes a phase change and melts from a crystalline state to liquid when the crystalline resin is heated to a predetermined melting point or higher.
  • the drier 3 includes a heating drum 15 that heats the sheet S to accelerate drying of the ink on the sheet S.
  • the heating drum 15 has a cylindrical shape and rotates while the sheet S is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 15.
  • a heating source such as a halogen heater is disposed inside the heating drum 15.
  • a heater that heats the sheet S may be a contact-type heater such as the heating drum 15, or may be a non-contact type heater such as a warm air generator that blows warm air to the sheet S.
  • the sheet collection device 4 includes a collection roller 16 that winds and collects the sheet S, and a tension adjustment mechanism 17 that adjusts tension applied to the sheet S.
  • the collection roller 16 is rotatable in a direction indicated by arrow illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • the sheet S is wound in a roll shape and collected by the rotation of the collection roller 16.
  • the tension adjustment mechanism 17 includes multiple rollers. Some of the above-described rollers are moved to adjust tension applied to the sheet S, and the sheet S is wound by the collection roller 16 with a constant tension.
  • the controller 6 includes a data processing device such as a personal computer (PC).
  • the controller 6 generates image data to be formed on the sheet S and controls various operations of the sheet feeder 1, the image forming device 2, the drier 3, and the sheet collection device 4.
  • the controller 6 controls the rotation speed of the supply roller 11, the collection roller 16, the heating drum 15, and multiple conveyance rollers that convey the sheet S in the image forming apparatus 100.
  • the controller 6 controls the temperature of the heating source that heats the heating drum 15.
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of the head unit 13 according to the present embodiment.
  • the head unit 13 includes a base 20 and multiple liquid discharge heads 21 disposed on the base 20.
  • Each of the multiple liquid discharge heads 21 includes nozzle rows 22 each including a large number of nozzles arranged in a sheet width direction, i.e., a lateral direction in FIG. 3 , orthogonal to a conveyance direction A of the sheet S.
  • a collection container 31 that collects the discharged ink is disposed below the liquid discharge heads 21.
  • an absorber 32 made of, for example, urethane foam is accommodated in the collection container 31 to prevent the discharged ink from splashing in the collection container 31 and contaminating the surroundings.
  • a nonwoven fabric may be used as the absorber 32.
  • a wetting agent is contained in the absorber 32 to enhance the absorption properties of the absorber 32 such that the absorber 32 can effectively absorb the ink.
  • a wetting agent is contained in the absorber 32 to enhance the absorption properties of the absorber 32 such that the absorber 32 can effectively absorb the ink.
  • periodically adding such a wetting agent in the absorber 32 to maintain the absorption properties of the absorber 32 is necessary. For this reason, a maintenance operation by an operator such as a user or a service representative is necessary. Thus, a burden on the operator increases.
  • an object of the present disclosure is to provide a liquid collection device that can maintain favorable absorption properties of the absorber 32 even if an operator does not perform maintenance work.
  • a liquid collection device 30 according to embodiments of the present disclosure is described below.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the liquid collection device 30 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the liquid collection device 30 includes the collection container 31, the absorber 32, and a solvent supplier 33 that collects moisture, which is a solvent component contained in ink, and supplies the moisture to the absorber 32.
  • the solvent supplier 33 includes a heater 34 that heats and dries the sheet S, a solvent collector 35 that collects water vapor, i.e., the moisture, generated from ink on the heated sheet S, and a condenser 36 that liquefies the collected water vapor.
  • the heater 34 includes a heating source such as a heater that heats the sheet S.
  • a heating source such as a heater that heats the sheet S.
  • the heater 34 may be a heating drum that winds and heats the sheet S as described above, or may be a warm air generator that blows warm air to the sheet S to heat the sheet S.
  • the solvent collector 35 includes a collection channel 37 such as a duct that collects the water vapor, and a suction fan 38 as a negative pressure generator that generates a negative pressure in the collection channel 37 to suck the water vapor.
  • the suction fan 38 functions as a solvent collector to suck and collect the water vapor, and also functions as a solvent transfer device to send the collected water vapor to the condenser 36. Further, a compressor may be used instead of the suction fan 38.
  • An opening 37a of the collection channel 37 through which liquid is sucked is disposed above the sheet S that has passed through the heater 34 to easily collect the water vapor.
  • the condenser 36 includes a heat exchanger that cools the collected water vapor and returns the water vapor to water.
  • the heat exchanger may be a natural air-cooling type heat exchanger in which heat is naturally dissipated through fins, or may be a forced-cooling type heat exchanger in which air blown from a blower fan is applied to fins to cool the water vapor.
  • the condenser 36 is connected to the collection channel 37, the suction fan 38, and the collection container 31 via a flow path such as pipes.
  • ink is discharged from the liquid discharge heads 21 onto the sheet S to form an image.
  • a portion B of the sheet S to which the ink has adhered which is a portion on which the image is formed, is sent to the heater 34
  • the sheet S is heated in the heater 34. Accordingly, moisture contained in the ink on the sheet S is vaporized into water vapor 200.
  • the water vapor 200 generated from the ink is sucked and collected into the collection channel 37 by the suction fan 38. Then, the collected water vapor 200 is sent to the condenser 36.
  • the water vapor is cooled to be liquefied in the condenser 36 and is returned to water. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 8 , water 300 in the condenser 36 is sent to the collection container 31 and supplied to the absorber 32.
  • the water vapor generated from the ink on the heated sheet S is collected, and the collected water vapor is liquefied and supplied to the absorber 32. Accordingly, moisture can be supplied to the absorber 32 to maintain the absorber 32 in a state in which the absorber 32 is wet even if a maintenance operation of supplying a wetting agent to the absorber 32 is not performed by an operator. Accordingly, ink absorption properties of the absorber 32 can be enhanced while the burden on the operator is reduced.
  • the water vapor generated from the ink is used as the wetting agent to be supplied to the absorber 32 when the sheet S is dried. Thus, installing a dedicated tank, in which the wetting agent to be supplied to the absorber 32 is stored in advance, is not necessary. For this reason, it is not necessary to replenish the wetting agent in such a dedicated tank. Thus, the burden on the operator can be reduced.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the liquid collection device 30 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the solvent supplier 33 that supplies solvent to the absorber 32 includes a heater 39 disposed below the collection container 31.
  • the heater 39 may be a contact-type heater such as a heating drum or a non-contact-type heater such as a warm air generator as long as the heater 39 includes a heating source that heats the sheet S.
  • a large number of ventilation holes 31a are disposed in a bottom portion of the collection container 31.
  • the water vapor generated from the ink on the sheet S is directly supplied to the absorber 32. Accordingly, the moisture can be supplied to the absorber 32 to maintain the absorber 32 in the state in which the absorber 32 is wet even if a maintenance operation of supplying the wetting agent to the absorber 32 is not performed by an operator.
  • the absorber 32 can be brought into the state in which the absorber 32 is wet. Accordingly, the ink absorption properties of the absorber 32 can be enhanced even if the maintenance work of supplying the wetting agent to the absorber 32 is not performed by an operator. Thus, the burden on the operator can be reduced.
  • the condenser 36 that returns the water vapor to water is also not necessary. Thus, the size and cost of the liquid collection device 30 can be reduced.
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the liquid collection device 30 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a solvent supplier 33 that supplies a solvent to the absorber 32 includes a heater 43 that heats ink collected by a collection mechanism 40 different from the collection container 31, a solvent collection device 44 that collects water vapor generated from the ink heated by the heater 43, and a condenser 45 that liquefies the collected water vapor.
  • the collection mechanism 40 different from the collection container 31 is a mechanism that collects ink discharged from the liquid discharge heads 21 at a maintenance position, when the head unit 13 moves to the maintenance position different from a position at which the image forming device 2 forms an image.
  • the collection mechanism 40 includes a cap 41 that covers the liquid discharge heads 21 and reduces drying of the ink, and a waste liquid tank 42 that is connected to the cap 41 via a pipe or a tube.
  • the heater 43 includes a heat generation source such as a heater that heats the ink stored in the waste liquid tank 42.
  • the solvent collection device 44 includes a collection channel 46 that collects water vapor generated in the waste liquid tank 42, and a suction fan 47 as a negative pressure generator that creates a negative pressure in the collection channel 46 to suck the water vapor.
  • the suction fan 47 also functions as a solvent transfer device that sends the collected water vapor to the condenser 45.
  • the liquid discharge heads 21 are covered by the cap 41.
  • ink is discharged from the liquid discharge heads 21.
  • the maintenance and recovery operation of the performance of the liquid discharge heads 21 is performed.
  • the discharged ink 400 is sent to the waste liquid tank 42 and stored in the waste liquid tank 42.
  • the water vapor 200 generated by heating the ink in the waste liquid tank 42 is collected, and the collected water vapor 200 is liquefied and supplied to the absorber 32. Accordingly, moisture can be supplied to the absorber 32 to maintain the absorber 32 in the state in which the absorber 32 is wet even if a maintenance operation of supplying a wetting agent to the absorber 32 is not performed by an operator.
  • the water vapor generated from the ink in the waste liquid tank 42 is used as the wetting agent to be supplied to the absorber 32. Accordingly, it is not necessary to install a dedicated tank in which the wetting agent to be supplied to the absorber 32 is stored in advance. Thus, replenishing the wetting agent to such a dedicated tank is also not necessary.
  • the absorption properties of the absorber 32 can be favorably maintained even if an operator does not perform a maintenance operation of adding the wetting agent to the absorber 32. Accordingly, an image forming apparatus with which the burden on the operator is reduced and which has desirable usability can be provided.
  • the wetting agent may be a solvent component contained in pretreatment liquid applied to a sheet on which an image is not formed yet or a solvent component contained in post-processing liquid applied to a sheet on which an image has been formed, in addition to the moisture contained in the ink.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 includes a pretreatment liquid application device 7 that applies pretreatment liquid to a sheet S supplied from a sheet feeder 1, a pretreatment liquid drier 8 that dries the pretreatment liquid applied to the sheet S, a post-processing liquid application device 9 that applies post-processing liquid to the sheet S that has passed through an image forming device 2, and a post-processing liquid drier 10 that dries the post-processing liquid applied to the sheet S.
  • the liquid collection device 30 may recover the solvent component of the pretreatment liquid vaporized in the pretreatment liquid drier 8 or the solvent component of the post-processing liquid vaporized in the post-processing liquid drier 10, and supply the solvent component to the absorber 32 in the collection container 31.
  • the solvent component i.e., the wetting agent, supplied to the absorber 32 may be a solvent component other than moisture such as water.
  • embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to a so-called line-type liquid discharge apparatus in which the liquid discharge heads 21 discharge ink without moving with respect to the sheet S as illustrated in FIG. 3 .
  • an embodiment of the present disclosure can also be applied to a so-called serial-type liquid discharge apparatus in which a carriage 23 is moved in directions E, which are sheet-width directions, that intersect a sheet conveyance direction A and ink is discharged onto a sheet S from the liquid discharge heads 21 mounted in the carriage 23 as illustrated in FIG. 15 .
  • each of the liquid discharge heads 21 is a functional component that discharges or injects liquid from nozzles.
  • the liquid to be discharged is not limited to any particular liquid as long as the liquid has a viscosity or surface tension that allows the liquid to be discharged from a liquid discharge head. However, preferably, the liquid has a viscosity of 30mPas or smaller under ordinary temperature and ordinary pressure or by heating or cooling.
  • examples of the liquid include a solution, a suspension liquid, an emulsion that contains water or a solvent such as an organic solvent, a colorant such as a dye or a pigment, a functional material such as a polymerizable compound, a resin, or a surfactant, a biocompatible material or a combination of these deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), amino acid, protein, or calcium, or a solution, a suspension liquid, or emulsion including an edible material such as a natural pigment.
  • Such a liquid for example, can be used as ink to be used for an inkjet printer, surface treatment liquid, a constituent element of an electronic element or a light emitting element or liquid to be used for forming an electronic circuit resist pattern, or a three-dimensional modeling material liquid.
  • Examples of the energy generation source for discharging the liquid include a piezoelectric actuator such as 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 including a vibration plate and a counter electrode.
  • a piezoelectric actuator such as a laminated piezoelectric element or a thin-film piezoelectric element
  • a thermal actuator using an electrothermal conversion element such as a heating resistor
  • an electrostatic actuator including a vibration plate and a counter electrode.
  • the liquid discharge unit is a head unit that includes multiple liquid discharge heads.
  • the liquid discharge unit may be a head unit including one liquid discharge head.
  • the liquid discharge unit is a unit in which functional components and mechanisms are integrated with the liquid discharge head, and includes an assembly of components related to discharging of liquid.
  • the liquid discharge unit may include a combination of at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a performance maintenance and recovery mechanism, a main scanning movement mechanism, and a liquid circulation device with the liquid discharge head.
  • the terms “combined” or “integrated” mean attaching the liquid discharge head and the functional parts or the supply mechanism, the performance maintenance and recovery mechanism, the main scanning movement mechanism to each other by fastening, screwing, binding, or engaging and holding one of the liquid discharge head and the functional parts to the other movably relative to the other.
  • a liquid discharge head, functional parts and mechanisms may be detachably attached to each other.
  • liquid discharge unit examples include a unit in which a liquid discharge head and a head tank are integrated with each other, and a unit in which a liquid discharge head and a head tank are connected to each other by, for example, a tube to be integrated.
  • a unit that includes a filter may be added between the head tank and the liquid discharge head of the liquid discharge unit to the liquid discharge unit.
  • the liquid discharge unit may be a unit in which a liquid discharge head and a carriage are integrated with each other.
  • the liquid discharge unit may be a unit in which a liquid discharge head is movably held by a guide which is a part of a main-scanning movement mechanism and the liquid discharge head and the scanning movement mechanism are integrated with each other, or may be a unit in which the liquid discharge head, a carriage, and the main-scanning movement mechanism are integrated with each other.
  • the above-described main-scanning movement mechanism includes a guide only.
  • the liquid discharge unit may be a unit in which a cap, which is a part of a performance maintenance and recovery mechanism, is fixed to a carriage to which a liquid discharge head is attached and the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the performance maintenance and recovery mechanism are integrated.
  • the liquid discharge unit may be a unit in which a tube is connected to a liquid discharge head to which a head tank or a channel component is attached, and the liquid discharge head and a supply mechanism are integrated.
  • a supply mechanism includes a single tube and a single loading unit for loading a liquid discharge head.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus is an apparatus which includes liquid discharge heads or a liquid discharge unit and drives the liquid discharge heads to discharge liquid.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus includes not only an apparatus capable of discharging liquid to an object to which the liquid can adhere but also an apparatus that discharges the liquid into air or liquid.
  • liquid discharge apparatus examples include an image forming apparatus that discharges ink to form an image on a sheet and a stereoscopic fabrication apparatus, i.e., a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus, that discharges fabrication liquid onto a powder layer in which powder is formed in a layer shape to fabricate a three-dimensional object.
  • image forming apparatus that discharges ink to form an image on a sheet
  • stereoscopic fabrication apparatus i.e., a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus, that discharges fabrication liquid onto a powder layer in which powder is formed in a layer shape to fabricate a three-dimensional object.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus is not limited to an apparatus that visualizes a meaningful image such as a character or a figure with discharged liquid, and includes an apparatus that forms a pattern having no meaning in itself, and an apparatus that forms a three-dimensional image.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus may include a pre-processing apparatus, a post-processing apparatus in addition to a unit related to feeding, conveyance, and ejection of an object to which liquid can adhere.
  • the above-described "object to which liquid can adhere” is an object to be conveyed to which the liquid can at least temporarily adhere, an object to which liquid adheres and fixes, or an object to which liquid adheres and infiltrates.
  • Specific examples of the "object to which liquid can adhere” include sheets such as a sheet of paper, a recording paper, a recording sheet of paper, films, cloths, electronic components such as electronic boards, piezoelectric elements, media such as powder layers, organ models, and inspection cells. Unless particularly limited, all materials to which liquid adheres are included.
  • the sheet to which the liquid adheres may be a long sheet such as a roll sheet continuously supplied from a sheet feeder, or may be a sheet cut in advance into a predetermined size such as cut sheet.
  • the material to which the liquid can adhere may be paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, as long as the liquid can adhere even temporarily to the material.
  • liquid discharge apparatus examples include a liquid discharge apparatus in which liquid discharge heads discharge liquid while moving and a liquid discharge apparatus in which liquid discharge heads discharge liquid without moving.
  • liquid discharge apparatus may be any apparatus.
  • liquid discharge apparatus examples include a treatment liquid application apparatus that discharges treatment liquid to a sheet to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the sheet for the purpose of modifying the surface of the sheet, and an injection granulation apparatus that injects composition liquid in which a raw material is dispersed in a solution through a nozzle to granulate fine particles of the raw material.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
EP22204081.8A 2021-12-08 2022-10-27 Flüssigkeitssammelvorrichtung und flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung Pending EP4194209A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2021199211A JP2023084854A (ja) 2021-12-08 2021-12-08 液体回収装置及び液体吐出装置

Publications (2)

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EP4194209A2 true EP4194209A2 (de) 2023-06-14
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