JP2000203059A - Waste ink absorber, waste ink absorbing unit and ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect fully absorbing state of a waste ink absorber surely by providing the absorber with a plurality of slits and forming a plurality of split absorbing parts with respective slits thereby enhancing absorbing efficiency of the waste ink absorber. SOLUTION: A waste ink absorber 44 is contained and held in a storage tank 43 defined by a surrounding rib 42 provided on the bottom cover of a recorder and covered with a cover member 45 on the upper side. A drain tube 28 for introducing waste ink is disposed oppositely to one end part side of the waste ink absorber 44 and a sensor 46 for detecting the quantity of ink absorbed by the absorber 44 is disposed at the other end part of the waste ink absorber 44. The absorber 44 is formed by arranging a plurality of split absorbing members 44a1-44an side by side and formed of a fibrous absorber. Waste ink introduced to one end of the absorber 44 passes through the absorber 44 toward the sensor 46 and does not come out from the storage tank 43. Consequently, fully absorbing state can be detected by means of the sensor 46.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a waste ink absorber, a waste ink absorbing device, and an ink jet recording device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an ink jet recording apparatus used as an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying apparatus, etc., a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink droplets,
A flow path forming member that forms an ink liquid chamber (referred to as a pressurized chamber, a discharge chamber, a pressurized liquid chamber, a pressure chamber, and the like) with which each nozzle communicates, and pressurizes ink in each ink liquid chamber. An energy generating means (actuator element) including an electromechanical conversion element such as a piezoelectric element for generating energy for discharging ink droplets from the nozzle, an electrothermal conversion element such as a heater, or an electrostatic force generating means such as an electrode; Is mounted, and an actuator element of the head is driven in accordance with image information, thereby discharging ink droplets from required nozzles to record an image.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, since recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles of the head, if the nozzles are clogged or the discharge surface of the head becomes dirty, problems such as deterioration of image quality occur. For this reason, a reliability maintenance / recovery mechanism is provided for sucking ink from the nozzles and performing cleaning for the purpose of preventing nozzle clogging or recovering the ink droplet ejection function.

In such a reliability maintenance / recovery mechanism, in order to store waste ink generated by the reliability maintenance / recovery operation, a waste ink absorbing device provided with an ink absorber such as a felt material or a pulp compression material is used. Have. When the waste ink absorbing device is provided, by repeatedly performing the reliability maintaining and recovering operation, the waste ink is accumulated, cannot be completely absorbed by the waste ink absorber, and may overflow from the waste ink absorbing device.

Therefore, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-11322, a window for confirming the storage amount of waste ink is provided, and a full state is detected by a change in color of the waste ink absorber due to absorption of waste ink. It has been proposed to allow the operator to confirm.

[0006]

However, the waste ink absorber absorbs the waste ink by the capillary force, and the capillary force decreases as the amount of ink absorbed increases, so that the absorbed waste ink has a higher capillary force. It penetrates in the higher direction, that is, the direction where the amount of waste ink absorbed is small, and the absorption efficiency of waste ink is not sufficient. Therefore, up to the window for confirming the ink storage amount while maintaining the ink absorption holding capacity. As a result, it is consequently recognized that the ink absorption storage amount has become full at an early stage while retaining the ink absorption holding capacity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to improve the absorption efficiency of a waste ink absorber, and to ensure that the waste ink absorber is full of waste ink. It is an object of the present invention to be able to detect in

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste ink absorber for absorbing and holding waste ink of an ink jet recording apparatus. Has a configuration in which a plurality of slits are provided alternately, and a plurality of absorbing portions substantially divided by each slit are formed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the waste ink absorber of the first aspect, the waste ink absorber is a fibrous absorber.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste ink absorbing apparatus comprising: a waste ink absorber for absorbing and holding waste ink of an ink jet recording apparatus; and a waste ink amount detecting means provided on the waste ink absorber for detecting a waste ink amount. In the waste ink absorbing device provided, the waste ink absorber has a plurality of absorbing portions substantially divided and formed by a plurality of slits provided alternately, and the waste ink is introduced near one end of the waste ink absorber. The waste ink amount detecting means is provided near the other end.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste ink absorbing device comprising: a waste ink absorber for absorbing and holding waste ink of an ink jet recording apparatus; and a waste ink amount detecting means provided on the waste ink absorber for detecting a waste ink amount. In the waste ink absorbing device provided, the waste ink absorber is formed by connecting a plurality of divided absorbing members, the waste ink is introduced near one end of the waste ink absorber, and near the other end. The waste ink amount detecting means is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the waste ink absorbing device of the fourth aspect, the plurality of absorbing members are arranged such that at least a part of each end thereof is in contact with each other.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the waste ink absorbing device according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, a storage tank for holding the waste ink absorber is provided from a side where the waste ink is introduced. It is configured to be inclined so as to become lower toward the side where the waste ink amount detecting means is provided.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the waste ink absorbing device according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, the waste ink absorber is a fibrous absorber.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the waste ink absorbing device according to any one of the third to seventh aspects, the waste ink amount detecting means is an optical sensor or a conductivity detecting sensor.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus comprising a waste ink absorbing device for absorbing introduced waste ink, wherein the waste ink absorbing device is any one of the above-described waste ink absorbing devices. The structure was an absorption device.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The mechanism of the ink jet recording apparatus is configured such that a main support guide rod 3 and a sub support guide rod 4 are laid between the side plates 1 and 2 on both sides in a substantially horizontal positional relationship. The carriage 5 is slidably supported by the rod 4 in the main scanning direction.

The carriage 5 has four heads 6y, 6m, 6c and 6k for discharging yellow (Y) ink, magenta (M) ink, cyan (C) ink and black (Bk) ink, respectively. The ejection surface (nozzle surface) 6a is mounted downward, and the head 5 (reference numeral "6" is "6y, 6m, 6c, 6") is mounted on the carriage 5.
k "or a generic term. ), Four ink cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7 which are ink supply bodies of respective colors for supplying ink to the four heads 6, respectively.
k is exchangeably mounted.

The carriage 5 is connected to a timing belt 11 stretched between a driving pulley (drive timing pulley) 9 rotated by a main scanning motor 8 and a driven pulley (idler pulley) 10 so that the main scanning motor 8 to control the carriage 5, that is, the four heads 6
Are moved in the main scanning direction.

Further, sub-frames 13 and 14 are erected on a bottom plate 12 connecting the side plates 1 and 2 to each other.
A transport roller 15 for feeding a sheet 16 in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction is rotatably held between the rollers 3 and 14. The sub-scanning motor 17 is located on the side of the sub-frame 14.
And the rotation of the sub-scanning motor 17 is
5, a gear 18 fixed to the rotation shaft of the sub-scanning motor 17 and a gear 19 fixed to the shaft of the transport roller 15.
And

Further, a reliability maintenance / recovery mechanism (hereinafter, referred to as a “subsystem”) 21 for the head 6 is disposed between the side plate 1 and the subframe 12. The subsystem 21 holds four cap means 22 for capping the ejection surface of each head 6 with a holder 23.
3 is held by a link member 24 so as to be swingable, and the engaging portion 25 provided on the holder 23 by the movement of the carriage 5 in the main scanning direction.
When the carriage 5 abuts, the holder 23 is lifted up in accordance with the movement of the carriage 5 and the cap means 2 is lifted.
By capping the ejection surface 6a of the head 6 with 2, and moving the carriage 5 to the printing area side, the holder 23 is lifted down according to the movement of the carriage 5, and the cap means 22 is separated from the ejection surface 6a of the head 6. I have to.

The cap means 22 is connected to a suction pump 27 via a suction tube 26, forms an air opening port, and communicates with the atmosphere via an air opening tube and an air opening valve. Further, the suction pump 27 discharges the sucked waste liquid (waste ink) to a waste liquid storage tank 29 which is a waste ink absorbing device according to the present invention, via a drain tube 28 or the like.

Further, beside the holder 23, the head 6
A wiper blade 30, which is a wiping means made of a fibrous member, a foam member, or an elastic member such as rubber, for wiping the discharge surface 6a, is attached to a blade arm 31. The cam is rotated by the rotation of the cam rotated by the means.

In the recording apparatus thus configured, the paper 16 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction while the head 6 (carriage 5) is moved and scanned in the main scanning direction, and ink of a desired color is conveyed from the nozzle of each head. By discharging droplets, a required color image (including a monochrome image) is recorded on the paper 16.

Next, the waste ink absorbing device (waste liquid storage tank 29) according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This waste ink storage tank 29 is provided on the bottom cover 4 of the recording apparatus.
A waste ink absorber 44 is stored and held in a storage tank 43 defined by a rib 42 provided in
It is covered with. Then, the drain tube 28 for introducing waste ink faces the one end of the waste ink absorber 44,
The waste ink absorber 4 is provided on the other end side of the waste ink absorber 44.
A waste ink amount sensor 46 for detecting the amount of waste ink absorbed in 4 is provided.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the waste ink absorber 44 is formed by arranging a plurality of divided absorption members (absorber segments) 44a1 to 44an. The waste ink absorber 44 is formed of a fibrous member. By using the fibrous absorber, the waste ink introduced into one end of the waste ink absorber 44 passes through the waste ink absorber 44 and the waste ink amount sensor 46. , And does not flow out of the storage tank 43, and the full state can be reliably detected by the waste ink amount sensor 46.

As the waste ink sensor 46, an optical sensor or a conductivity detection sensor can be used. The optical sensor detects whether the waste ink absorber 44 has been colored by the ink, and the conductivity detection sensor detects whether the conductivity of the waste ink absorber 44 has increased due to the absorption of the aqueous ink. Thus, the amount of waste ink can be detected, a general-purpose small sensor can be used, and it can be reliably detected whether the amount of waste ink is full.

In the waste liquid storage tank 29 configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 4, the waste ink discharged from the drain tube 28 receives the absorber segment 44a1 at one end.
When the waste ink corresponding to the ink absorption capacity of the absorber segment 44a1 is absorbed, the excess overflowed waste ink is absorbed by the adjacent absorber segment 44a2 through the bottom of the storage tank 42, and is similarly absorbed. When the absorption capacity of the body segment 44a2 is exceeded, the process proceeds to the next absorber segment,
This operation is repeated to finally reach the absorber segment 44an at the other end.

When the waste ink segment 44an is full of the waste ink absorbed, the waste ink amount sensor 46 detects the state, and performs a display or the like based on the detection result. The exchange can be prompted.

As described above, the absorbing member obtained by dividing the waste ink absorber into a plurality of parts is arranged, the waste ink is introduced near one end of the waste ink absorber, and the waste ink amount detecting means is provided near the other end. By doing so, it is possible to absorb the waste ink to approximately the limit of the waste ink absorption capacity of each absorbing member,
The efficiency of waste ink absorption by the waste ink absorber is improved, and when the waste ink is absorbed to almost the limit of the waste ink absorber, the full state of the waste ink can be automatically detected and notified to an operator or the like. it can.

Next, a waste ink absorbing device (a waste liquid storage tank 2)
9) Another example will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the waste ink absorber 54 has a plurality of absorbers (absorber segments) 54a1 to 54an substantially divided by a plurality of slits 55 formed alternately.
4a1 to 54an are formed so as to be sequentially connected via the bridge portion 54b. The waste ink absorber 54 uses a fibrous absorber, and the arrangement positions of the drain tube 28 and the waste ink amount sensor 46 are the same as in the above-described example.

The cross-linked portion 54b of the waste ink absorber 54 may have a width (thickness) that substantially serves to absorb ink, and is preferably about 1 to 25 mm, more preferably 2 to 25 mm.
It is in the range of ２０20 mm. If the cross-linking portion 54b is narrower (thinner) than 2 mm, the ink that has overflowed in the absorber segment may overflow without passing through the cross-linking portion 54b due to reduced ink transfer capability. Before the absorption limit is reached, it is transferred to the next absorber segment, making it impossible to sufficiently improve the absorption efficiency.

By appropriately setting the width of the bridging portion 54b of the waste ink absorber 54, the waste ink is
4, the waste ink can be absorbed to the full absorption capacity of the waste ink absorber 54.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, waste ink discharged from the drain tube 28 is introduced into the absorber segment 54a1 on one end side, and waste ink corresponding to the ink absorbing capacity of the absorber segment 54a1 is discharged. When the ink is absorbed, the overflowing waste ink is absorbed by the adjacent absorber segment 54a2 through the connected portion 54b, and similarly, when the absorption capacity exceeds the absorption capacity of the absorber segment 45a2, the waste ink is shifted to the next absorber segment. By repeating this operation, the absorber segment 54an on the other end is finally obtained.
Leads to.

Then, when the absorber segment 54an is full of the waste ink absorbed, the waste ink amount sensor 46 detects the state, and performs a display or the like based on the detection result, so that the waste ink absorber 54 The exchange can be prompted.

As described above, the waste ink absorber is substantially divided by the plurality of slits to provide a plurality of absorbers, the waste ink is introduced near one end of the waste ink absorber, and the amount of waste ink is introduced near the other end. By providing the detection means, it is possible to absorb waste ink to a substantially limit of the waste ink absorption capacity of each absorbing section, and to improve the efficiency of waste ink absorption by the waste ink absorber, and to substantially limit the waste ink absorber. When the waste ink is absorbed up to this point, it is possible to automatically detect the full state of the waste ink and notify the operator or the like.

Since the waste ink can be absorbed up to the limit of the waste ink absorber having a long path, the frequency of detection of the full state of the waste ink is reduced, and the waste ink overflowing from the waste ink absorber is collected from the waste liquid storage tank. It is possible to obtain a waste ink absorbing device that hardly leaks outside.

Next, a waste ink absorbing device (a waste liquid storage tank 2)
Still another example 9) will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the waste ink absorber 64 is appropriately combined with a plurality of divided absorber segments 64a, 64b, 64c, and 64d such that the end portions are overlapped with the end portions of another absorber segment, and different. The absorber segments 64a, 64b, 64c, 64d are sequentially and continuously arranged while being connected on a plane. The waste ink absorber 64
Indicates that a fibrous absorber is used, and the drain tube 2
8 and the arrangement position of the waste ink amount sensor 46 are the same as those in the above-described example.

Also in this case, the absorber segments for absorbing waste ink shift from one end to the other end of the waste ink absorber 64, and the waste ink absorber segments 64a, 64b, 64c, 64d are formed. Let me be sure
Resistance can be given to the spread of the waste ink, and the absorption efficiency of the waste ink increases.

As described above, the waste ink absorber is divided into a plurality of absorbing members, and the plurality of absorbing members are arranged so that at least a part of each end thereof is in contact with each other. By overlapping and contacting only on the absorbing member surface,
While reliably transmitting the waste ink between the divided absorption members, the transmission of the waste ink is given a resistance, so that it is possible to prevent the waste ink from spreading too much in the entire waste ink absorber. According to the experiment, in the case of 2 divisions, 2
It has been confirmed that the spread can be reduced more than twice.

Next, another example of the structure of the storage layer 43 of the waste liquid storage layer 29 will be described with reference to FIG. The storage tank 43 is located on the side where the waste ink is introduced (the drain tube 2).
8 is formed so as to become lower from the side where the waste ink amount sensor 46 is provided to the side where the waste ink amount sensor 46 is provided.

Therefore, when the recording apparatus is installed horizontally, the waste ink holding surface 43a of the storage layer 43 is inclined as shown in FIG.
The waste ink introduced from 8 is moved to the waste ink amount sensor 46 side while being absorbed by the waste ink absorber 44, and even if the recording apparatus is installed obliquely, the excess ink overflowing from the first absorber segment 44a1 Is reliably guided to the waste ink amount sensor 46 side without flowing out in the reverse direction, so that the ink overflowing from the waste ink absorber 44 does not accumulate and flow out of the storage tank 43.

As described above, the storage tank for holding the waste ink absorber is inclined so as to be lower from the side where the waste ink is introduced to the side where the waste ink amount detecting means is provided. Further, it is possible to prevent the waste ink overflowing from the waste ink absorber from flowing out of the storage tank.

[0044]

As described above, according to the waste ink absorber of the first aspect, a plurality of slits are alternately provided in the waste ink absorber, and a plurality of absorbing portions substantially divided by each slit are formed. With this configuration, waste ink can be efficiently absorbed.

According to the waste ink absorber of the second aspect, in the waste ink absorber of the first aspect, the waste ink absorber is configured as a fibrous absorber, so that the waste ink can be efficiently removed. It becomes possible to absorb.

According to the waste ink absorbing device of the third aspect, the waste ink absorber has a plurality of absorbing portions which are substantially divided and formed by a plurality of slits provided alternately. The waste ink is introduced into the nozzle and the waste ink amount detecting means is provided near the other end, so that the waste ink can be efficiently absorbed and the ink overflowing from the waste ink absorber flows out. Will not be done.

According to the waste ink absorbing device of the fourth aspect, the waste ink absorber is formed by connecting a plurality of divided absorption members, and waste ink is introduced near one end of the waste ink absorber. Since the waste ink amount detecting means is provided near the other end, the waste ink can be efficiently absorbed and the ink overflowing from the waste ink absorber does not flow out. .

According to the waste ink absorbing device of the fifth aspect, in the waste ink absorbing device of the fourth aspect, the plurality of absorbing members are arranged so that at least a part of each end is in contact with each other. Therefore, it is possible to provide a transmission resistance between the waste ink absorbing members and prevent the waste ink from being excessively spread in the waste ink absorber.

According to the waste ink absorbing device of claim 6, in the waste ink absorbing device of any one of claims 3 to 5, the storage tank holding the waste ink absorber is arranged from the side where the waste ink is introduced. Since the inclination is set so as to become lower toward the side where the waste ink amount detecting means is provided, the waste ink can be efficiently absorbed even when the recording apparatus is installed at an angle, and the waste ink can be absorbed. The waste ink overflowing from the absorber does not flow out.

According to the waste ink absorbing device of the seventh aspect, in the waste ink absorbing device of any one of the third to sixth aspects, the waste ink absorber is constituted by a fibrous absorber. Absorption efficiency is improved.

According to the waste ink absorbing device of claim 8, in the waste ink absorbing device of any one of claims 3 to 7, the waste ink amount detecting means is constituted by an optical sensor or a conductivity detecting sensor. It is possible to detect the full state of waste ink at low cost.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the ninth aspect, since the waste ink absorbing apparatus is the waste ink absorbing apparatus of any one of the third to eighth aspects, the efficiency of absorbing the waste ink is high, and the running cost is high. And a recording apparatus in which waste ink does not flow out can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a mechanism section of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion related to a waste ink absorbing device in the recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a waste ink absorber of the waste ink absorbing device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the waste ink absorber.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing another example of the waste ink absorber of the waste ink absorbing device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the waste ink absorber.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing still another example of the waste ink absorber of the waste ink absorbing device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing another example of the storage tank of the waste ink absorbing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

21: reliability maintenance / recovery mechanism, 28: drain tube,
29: waste liquid storage tank, 43: storage tank, 44, 54: waste ink absorber.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A waste ink absorber for absorbing and holding waste ink of an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the waste ink absorber is provided with a plurality of slits alternately and forms a plurality of absorbing portions substantially divided by each slit. What is claimed is: A waste ink absorber. 2. The waste ink absorber according to claim 1, wherein the waste ink absorber is a fibrous absorber. 3. A waste ink absorbing device comprising: a waste ink absorber for absorbing and holding waste ink of an ink jet recording apparatus; and a waste ink amount detecting means provided on the waste ink absorber for detecting a waste ink amount. The waste ink absorber has a plurality of absorbing portions substantially dividedly formed by a plurality of slits provided alternately, the waste ink is introduced near one end of the waste ink absorber, and the waste ink is introduced near the other end. A waste ink absorbing device provided with waste ink amount detecting means. 4. A waste ink absorbing apparatus comprising: a waste ink absorber for absorbing and holding waste ink of an ink jet recording apparatus; and a waste ink amount detecting means provided on the waste ink absorber for detecting a waste ink amount. The waste ink absorber is formed by connecting a plurality of divided absorption members, the waste ink is introduced near one end of the waste ink absorber, and the waste ink amount detecting means is provided near the other end. A waste ink absorbing device, comprising: 5. The waste ink absorbing device according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of absorbing members are arranged so that at least a part of each end thereof is in contact with each other. 6. The waste ink absorbing device according to claim 3, wherein the storage tank that holds the waste ink absorber is configured such that the waste ink amount detection unit is configured to detect the waste ink amount from a side where the waste ink is introduced. A waste ink absorbing device, which is inclined so as to become lower toward a side where the waste ink is provided. 7. The waste ink absorbing device according to claim 3, wherein the waste ink absorber is a fibrous absorber. 8. The waste ink absorbing device according to claim 3, wherein said waste ink amount detecting means is an optical sensor or a conductivity detecting sensor. 9. An ink jet recording apparatus provided with a waste ink absorbing device for absorbing introduced waste ink, wherein the waste ink absorbing device is the waste ink absorbing device according to any one of claims 3 to 8. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.