JP2000079698A - Ink injector of print head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inject an accurate quantity of ink easily and quickly by using two or more tubes of different length. SOLUTION: The ink injector comprises an ink injection tube 4 extending from an ink storage container 2b and piercing an ink absorber 16 arranged in an ink tank 15 in order to inject ink 3, and an ink recovery tube 5 piercing the ink absorber 16 up to the surface layer thereof in order to recover a part of injected the ink 3. A constant quantity of ink 3 can be injected easily while confirming the injected quantity by pushing a piston 2a until the ink 3 appears at an ink confirming section 8 through the short ink recovery tube 5. Consequently, a print head can be used to the end of the lifetime.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by discharging ink from a recording head, and more particularly to an ink jet recording apparatus provided integrally with or separately from a recording head. The present invention relates to a device for injecting ink into a tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium such as paper by ejecting ink from an ink ejection hole of a print head having an ink tank mounted thereon is known as a dot impact type or thermal type image. Unlike a recording apparatus, an image can be recorded on a recording medium in a non-contact manner, so that an image can be recorded on a recording medium without selecting a type of recording medium. In addition, the ink jet recording apparatus has an advantage that it can be manufactured at a relatively small size and at a low cost because the apparatus configuration is simple.

The above-mentioned ink tank is mounted integrally or separately on a recording head portion of a print head. However, in an ink jet recording apparatus in which the recording head portion and the ink tank are integrally formed, the ink jet recording device has been manufactured since the time of manufacture. The ink tank is filled with ink. Then, from the start of use of the print head, the ink in the ink tank is gradually consumed,
Finally, the ink runs out. This renders the printhead unusable and the entire printhead must be replaced with a new one.

However, even if the ink in the ink tank runs out, the recording head of the print head and the ink tank are
The print head is still ready for use if the ink tank is refilled with ink.

[0005]

Therefore, if an apparatus for automatically supplying ink to an ink jet recording apparatus is provided, the print head can be used up to the end of its service life. However, the size of the device itself increases.

[0006] Further, there has conventionally been an apparatus in which a print head is taken out of an ink jet recording apparatus and ink is directly injected into an empty ink tank. However, in the conventional apparatus, one ink is injected into an ink bottle. It's just a needle attached. That is, in this conventional apparatus, when ink is injected, ink may be excessively filled in the ink tank, causing ink leakage. Conversely, if the ink is supplied in a small amount, the number of times of ink injection increases, which is troublesome. In any case, since the ink must be injected while paying attention to such leakage and the amount of the ink, it takes a long time to inject the ink, and the ink is re-injected into a large number of print heads. This is actually difficult, and it is difficult to recycle print heads.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an ink for a print head which uses two or more tubes of different lengths so that an accurate amount of ink can be easily recognized and quickly injected. It is intended to provide an injection device.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the present invention is used for a print head which is exchangeably provided in an ink jet recording apparatus. In an ink injection device of a print head for replenishing ink in an ink tank mounted on a recording head unit that records ink by discharging ink, an ink storage container storing ink to be replenished,
A long tube for ink injection which extends outward in a state of communicating with the inside of the ink storage container and is stabbed into a deep portion of an ink absorber provided in the ink tank; and a long tube for ink injection. A short tube for ink recovery, which is pierced into the surface layer portion of the ink absorber by providing a short extension amount and recovers a part of the ink in the surface layer portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ink injection device of the first aspect, there is provided a pressurizing means for pressurizing the inside of the ink storage container.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink injection device for a print head according to the first aspect, the ink tank sealing means of the print head for sealing the ink tank and the short pipe for ink recovery are provided. Ink tank decompression means for decompressing the ink tank through the ink tank.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ink injection device for a print head according to the second or third aspect, the short ink recovery pipe is provided with the ink flowing into the short ink recovery pipe. An ink confirmation window for visually confirming the amount of ink injected into the ink tank is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ink injection device for a print head according to the fourth aspect, the inside of the ink tank is returned so that the ink in the short pipe for ink recovery is returned to the inside of the ink tank. A hole is provided to open the air to the atmosphere.

According to the first aspect of the present invention having the above-described structure, the full amount in the ink tank can be known by confirming the height of the ink collected by the ink collecting short tube. The correct amount of ink is easily injected.

Such an effect is achieved by providing the pressurizing means as in the second aspect of the present invention, and further, by adding the ink to the short pipe for ink recovery as in the fourth aspect of the present invention. By allowing the amount of ink to be injected into the ink tank to be confirmed by the inflow, the ink can be injected more quickly.

Further, such an operation can be achieved by providing an ink tank depressurizing means as in the third aspect of the present invention, and further, by adding the ink tank to the short pipe for ink recovery as in the fourth aspect of the present invention. By allowing the amount of ink to be injected into the ink tank to be confirmed by the inflow of the ink, the ink can be injected more quickly.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the ink in the short tube for ink recovery is returned to the ink tank, the ink tank can be filled up.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of an ink injection device according to the present invention. The ink injection device 1 shown in FIG.
, A long tube 4 for ink injection having a long length, a short tube 5 for ink recovery having a short length, an ink tank fixing cap 6, an ink checking unit 8, and the like. The ink reservoir and pressurizing device 2 includes a hollow cylindrical ink reservoir 2b that stores a predetermined amount of unused ink, and a piston 2a that is inserted to pressurize the inside of the ink reservoir 2b. ing.

The long tube 4 for ink injection and the short tube 5 for ink recovery are both fixed so as to penetrate the cap 6 for fixing the ink tank. A communication hole 6a is provided. The long tube 4 for ink injection has an injection needle shape, and extends outward (downward in the figure) from the bottom surface of the ink storage container 2b while communicating with the inside of the ink storage container 2b. . The extension of the long tube 4 for ink injection from the ink tank fixing cap 6 is set to a length that reaches a deep portion on the bottom side in the ink tank 15 described later.

The short pipe 5 for ink recovery has one end (upper end in the figure) connected to an ink checking section 8 provided on the side surface of the ink storage container 2b, and the other end (lower end in the figure) connected to the ink storage container 2b. It extends from the bottom surface of 2b substantially in parallel with the long tube 4 for ink injection. The extension amount is considerably shorter than the long tube 4 for ink injection, and is set to a length that reaches a surface layer portion in the ink tank 15 described later.

The ink checking section 8 extends outward from one end (upper end in the drawing) of the short pipe 5 for ink recovery along the bottom surface of the ink reservoir 2b, and then bends at a substantially right angle to form an ink. It extends upward in the figure along the outer peripheral wall surface of the storage container 2b. The portion along the outer peripheral wall surface of the ink storage container 2b is increased in width in the circumferential direction,
It is formed in the shape of a thin container whose thickness is compressed in the radial direction, and the hollow interior is made thin so that changes in the minute liquid level can be visually observed through the confirmation window 8a. An air communication hole 7 is provided in an upper edge portion of the confirmation window 8a.

The ink injection device 1 having such a configuration is used by fixing the ink tank fixing cap 6 at a position where the cap 17 of the ink tank 15 integrated with the recording head 18 is removed. . A sponge-like ink absorber 16 is provided inside the ink tank 15.
The long tube 4 for ink injection and the short tube 5 for ink recovery are attached so as to be stabbed in the ink absorber 16 in the ink tank 15. At this time, the long tube 4 for ink injection is inserted into the deep portion of the ink absorber 16, but the short tube 5 for ink recovery is shorter than the long tube 4 for ink injection. Ink 3 can be collected from the surface layer portion.

Next, a method of refilling ink in the ink injection device shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a state where the ink injection device 1 is set in the ink tank 15. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the ink reservoir / pressurizing device 2 of the ink injection device 1 set in the ink tank 15 is pressurized. 3B is a view as seen from the arrow B in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the ink checking unit 8. FIG. 4 shows that after the ink storage container / pressurizing device 2 is pressurized and the ink 3 is filled in the ink tank 15, the ink tank fixing cap 6 is loosened and the inside of the ink tank 15 is enlarged through the air communication hole 6a. It is a state where the pressure becomes the same as the atmospheric pressure. Note that FIG. 4B is a diagram corresponding to B in FIG.
4C is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. 4A.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink injection device 1 is set in the ink tank 15, and as shown in FIG.
When the inside of the ink storage container 2b is pressurized by the piston 2a, the ink 3 in the ink storage container 2b is filled into the ink tank 15 through the long tube 4 for ink injection, and the ink absorber 16 is filled with the ink 3. . Ink tank 15
When the liquid level of the ink 3 inside reaches the tip of the short pipe 5 for ink recovery, the ink 3 on the surface layer of the ink absorber 16 rises through the short pipe 5 for ink recovery as shown in FIG. And appears in the ink confirmation unit 8. In this state, the ink 3 in the ink tank 15 is almost full, and the ink level is visually and confirmed by the ink confirming unit 8, so that the ink injection while avoiding inconvenience such as overflow of the ink can be avoided. Is performed well.

After the ink injection, as shown in FIG.
If the ink tank fixing cap 6 is loosened and the inside of the ink tank 15 communicates with the atmosphere through the air communication hole 6a, the inside of the ink tank 15 becomes the same pressure as the atmospheric pressure,
The remaining ink 3 in the ink checking unit 8 is absorbed by the ink absorber 16 by the capillary force of the ink absorber 16, and the ink 3 is further refilled into the ink tank 15. Excess gas in the ink tank 15 is discharged to the outside through the air communication hole 6a.

As described above, when the injection of the ink 3 into the ink tank 15 is completed, the ink injection device 1 is removed from the ink tank 15, and the air communication cap 17 is attached to the ink tank 15, so that all the inks are removed. The injection operation ends. Then, the print head integrally provided with the ink tank 15 is set in the printer, and the ink jet recording apparatus can be used.

As described above, according to the ink injection device shown in FIG. 1, the ink 3 is sucked from the ink bottle (not shown) into the ink storage container / pressurizing device 2 in the manner of a syringe. The ink 3 can be injected into the ink tank 15 from the ink reservoir / pressurizing device 2 in the manner of a syringe, and a fixed amount of ink can be injected quickly and easily. Since the print head can be used repeatedly as many times as possible, the above-described ink bottle and ink storage device storage box are provided.

At this time, the amount of the ink 3 injected into the ink tank 15 by the ink injection device 1 depends on the length of the ink injection long tube 4.
And the length of the ink recovery short pipe 5, and the greater the difference between the lengths of the two pipes, the greater the amount of ink injected. In other words, the more the tip of the ink recovery short tube 5 is located above the ink tank, the more ink 3 is stored in the ink tank 1
5, the short pipe 5 for ink recovery is
Otherwise, the ink 3 overflows from the ink absorber 16, and the overflowed ink 3 leaks from the ink ejection holes of the recording head 18.

Further, in order to efficiently inject ink from the ink injecting device 1, the diameter of the long tube 4 for ink injection and the short tube 5 for ink recovery may be increased, or the number of tubes may be increased.
As shown in FIG. 5, a hole 4 is formed in the side of the long tube 4 for ink injection.
Opening a is also effective.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the ink injection device according to the present invention. The ink injection device 21 shown in FIG. 6 includes an ink storage container 22, a long tube 24 for ink injection, a short tube 25 for ink recovery, an ink tank fixing cap 26, and the like.

The long tube 24 for ink injection, the short tube 25 for ink recovery and the air communication tube 27 are fixed so as to penetrate the cap 26 for fixing the ink tank.
Further, the ink tank fixing cap 26 is fixed to a movable head fixing jig 31. Further, the head fixing jig 31 is provided with a nozzle cap 31a, which will be described later, at a contact portion on which the recording head 38 is placed.

The long tube 24 for ink injection is provided with the ink 23
Extending from the extendable tube 24a inserted into the ink storage container 22 containing the ink, passes through the ink tank fixing cap 26 attached to the opening of the ink tank 35, and is inserted into the deep portion of the ink tank 35. Have been.

The short pipe 25 for collecting ink is connected to an ink checking section 28 above the cap 26 for fixing the ink tank. An air communication pipe 27 is inserted into the ink tank fixing cap 26, and the air communication pipe 27 opens in a space above the ink tank 35. Further, the ink confirmation unit 28 is joined so as to communicate with the air communication pipe 27 above the ink confirmation unit 28, and a switching valve 29 is provided at the junction. The switching valve 29 is configured to be switched so that the junction of the air communication pipe 27 and the ink checking unit 28 can be selectively connected to either the suction device 30 or the atmosphere. I have.

Next, an ink injection method using the ink injection device shown in FIG. 6 will be described. The print head from which the air communication cap (not shown) has been removed is placed on a head fixing jig 31, and the head fixing cap 26 fixed to the movable portion of the head fixing jig 31 moves to the position of the air communication cap. Set to fit.

At this time, the long tube 24 for ink injection and the short tube 25 for ink recovery are both set so as to pierce the ink absorber 36 in the ink tank 35. The short tube 25 for ink recovery is moved away from the recording head 38. In addition, the air communication pipe 27
Keeps the ink absorber 36 out of contact. The nozzle cap 31a caps the print nozzle of the print head, thereby preventing air from entering the ink tank 35.

After the print head is set in the ink injection device 21 as described above, the switching valve 29 is operated, and the suction device 30 and the air communication pipe 27 (the ink confirmation unit 2) are operated.
8), the suction device 30 is operated, and the air communication pipe 2 is connected.
The pressure inside the ink tank 35 is reduced through the ink confirmation unit 28 (ink confirmation unit 28). Thereby, the ink 23 is transferred to the tube 24a.
And the ink storage tank 2 through the long tube 24 for ink injection.
2 to the ink tank 35.

After the ink absorber 36 has been filled with the ink 23, excess ink is collected by the ink checking unit 28 from the tip of the short tube 25 for ink collection. However, since the short tube 25 for ink recovery is stuck in the ink absorber 36, a portion not filled with the ink 23 (portion A in FIG. 7) remains above the ink absorber 36.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the switching valve 29 is operated to connect the atmosphere with the air communication pipe 27 (ink confirmation unit 28), thereby opening the inside of the ink tank 35 to the atmosphere. State. Thereby, the ink confirmation unit 2
The ink collected in 8 is absorbed into the ink absorber 36 by the capillary force of the ink absorber 36, and the inside of the ink tank 35 approaches a full state. Excess air in the ink tank 35 is discharged to the atmosphere through the air communication pipe 27.

As described above, a fixed amount of ink can be easily injected by using the ink injection device shown in FIG. Further, by automating the operation of the switching valve 29 and the like, it is possible to easily reproduce a large amount of used print heads.

Although the embodiments of the present invention made by the inventor have been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. Needless to say.

[0040]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention relates to a long tube for ink injection which extends from an ink storage container and is inserted into a deep portion of an ink absorber provided in an ink tank. , Stabbed into the surface layer of the ink absorber,
A short pipe for ink recovery for collecting a part of the ink injected through the long pipe for ink injection, and the amount of ink injected can be confirmed by visually checking the amount of ink pulled up by the short pipe for ink recovery. As a result, a fixed amount of ink can be easily and repeatedly injected, so that the print head can be used for its life.

Such an effect can be obtained by providing a pressurizing means as in the second aspect of the present invention, and additionally, by flowing the ink into the short tube as in the fourth aspect of the present invention. By making it possible to check the amount of ink injected into the tank, it is possible to further speed up the operation.

Further, such an effect can be obtained by providing an ink tank depressurizing means as in the third aspect of the present invention, and further, by adding ink to the short pipe as in the fourth aspect of the present invention. By being able to confirm the amount of ink injected into the ink tank by the inflow,
Can be quick.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 provides the following:
Since the ink in the short tube was returned to the ink tank,
The ink tank can be filled up.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an ink injection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state where the ink injection device 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the ink injection device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is set in an ink tank 15 and an ink reservoir / pressurizing device 2 is pressurized.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the ink tank 1 is filled with the ink 3 by the ink injection device 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where the inside of the chamber 5 has the same pressure as the atmospheric pressure.

FIG. 5 is a view showing another embodiment of the long tube for ink injection 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the ink injection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining an ink injection method using the ink injection device shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink injection device 2 Ink storage container and pressurizing device 3 Ink 4,24 Long tube for ink injection 5,25 Short tube for ink recovery 6,26 Ink tank fixing cap 8,28 Ink checking unit 15,35 Ink tank 16, 36 ink absorber 29 switching valve 30 suction device

Claims (5)

[Claims] An ink jet recording apparatus is used for a print head which is exchangeably provided in an ink jet recording apparatus. The ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink tank mounted on a recording head section for ejecting ink while moving to record an image. In an ink injection device of a print head for replenishing ink, an ink reservoir in which ink to be replenished is stored, and extending outward in a state of communicating with the inside of the ink reservoir, and provided in the ink tank. A long tube for ink injection to be stabbed into a deep portion of the ink absorber, and an extension amount shorter than the long tube for ink injection to be stabbed into the surface portion of the ink absorber, and the surface portion thereof And a short pipe for collecting ink that collects a part of the ink in (1). 2. The ink injection device for a print head according to claim 1, further comprising a pressurizing unit that pressurizes the inside of the ink storage container. 3. The ink injection device for a print head according to claim 1, wherein the ink tank sealing means of the print head for sealing the ink tank, and an ink tank for reducing the pressure of the ink tank through the short pipe for ink recovery. An ink injection device for a print head, comprising: a pressure reducing unit. 4. The ink injection device for a print head according to claim 2, wherein the ink collecting short pipe is visually checked for the ink flowing into the ink collecting short pipe, and is inserted into the ink tank. An ink confirmation window for confirming the amount of ink to be injected. 5. The ink injection device for a print head according to claim 4, wherein a hole for opening the inside of the ink tank to the atmosphere is provided so as to return the ink in the short pipe for ink recovery to the inside of the ink tank. An ink injection device for a print head.