JP2000289225A - Ink jet recorder, valve unit and ink sucking method therefor, and cleaning method for ink jet recording head employing that valve unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely discharge bubbles remaining in a head filter chamber formed in the downstream region of an ink supply needle and in a head. SOLUTION: A valve unit 23 is arranged in an ink supply passage 22 between an ink cartridge 8 and a recording head 7 while being interlocked with the suction operation of a suction pump in the recording head 7 to open/close a valve unit 23 (valve disc member 23a). When the valve unit 23 (valve disc member 23a) is closed and a negative pressure is applied from the suction pump before opening the valve unit 23 (valve disc member 23a), a strong ink flow can be produced in the downstream region of the valve unit 23 and bubbles remaining at the upper part of the head filter F in the ink supply passage 22 and in the head can be carried on the ink flow and discharged surely.

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 having an ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage which moves in the width direction of a recording sheet and ejecting ink to the recording sheet, and a valve used in the apparatus. The present invention relates to a unit, a method of sucking ink in the apparatus, and a method of cleaning an ink jet recording head using the valve unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet recording apparatuses have been used in many types of printing including color printing in recent years, since noise at the time of printing is relatively small and small dots can be formed at a high density. Such an ink jet recording apparatus is provided with an ink jet recording head that receives supply of ink from an ink cartridge, and a paper feeding unit that moves recording paper relative to the recording head, and moves the recording head on a carriage. Recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets onto the recording paper while moving it in the width direction of the recording paper.

On the carriage, a recording head capable of discharging black ink and each color ink of yellow, cyan, and magenta is mounted, and by changing not only the text printing with black ink but also the discharge ratio of each ink, Enables full-color printing.

In the ink jet type recording head, the ink pressurized in the pressure generating chamber is ejected from a nozzle as ink droplets onto a recording sheet to perform printing, so that the ink viscosity increases due to the evaporation of the solvent from the nozzle opening. Also, there is a problem that the nozzle openings are clogged due to solidification of ink, adhesion of dust, and mixing of air bubbles, resulting in poor printing.

[0005] For this purpose, in order to eliminate air bubbles, the ink jet recording apparatus seals the nozzle plate of the recording head with a capping device, and applies ink from a nozzle opening by applying a negative pressure from a suction pump. A suction operation for suction is performed.

By this suction operation, the bubbles are discharged to the outside together with the suction of the ink, so that a printing failure such as a so-called missing dot during printing is prevented.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, a valve unit is arranged in each of ink supply paths of black ink, yellow ink, cyan ink and magenta ink between an ink cartridge and a nozzle opening.
Air bubbles generated during cleaning or the like are prevented from entering through the nozzle opening.

[0008] In addition, by controlling the valve unit corresponding to the nozzle opening where the dot missing has occurred, the cleaning operation is performed only at the necessary nozzle opening, thereby suppressing unnecessary ink consumption and running. We are reducing costs.

Next, a valve unit used in a conventional ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG.
Is provided between the ink cartridge 8 and the recording head 10 and opens and closes an ink supply path 81 between the ink cartridge 8 and the recording head 7 and the nozzle opening.
It is mounted on a carriage (not shown) together with the ink cartridge 8 and the recording head 7, and is configured to reciprocate along a guide member.

The valve unit 82 includes a rotatable shaft 8 disposed so as to cross the ink supply path 81.
3, a pair of O-rings 82a for blocking the ink supply path 81 from the outside and maintaining a confidential state, and formed at a portion of the shaft 83 crossing the ink supply path 81 in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft 83. And the formed ink guide passage hole 82b.

Therefore, the valve unit can be opened by rotating the shaft 83 so that the ink supply hole 82b and the ink supply path 81 coincide with each other. On the other hand, the conduction hole 82b and the ink supply path 81
Are set in the mismatched state, the valve unit can be brought into the closed state.

[0013]

In some cases, the suction operation performed by closing the valve unit does not completely discharge the air bubbles, and the air bubbles remain, resulting in poor printing such as missing dots. Was caused.

That is, in the conventional valve unit, since the shaft is inserted into the ink supply path and rotated, a gap is formed in a portion other than the ink supply path, and a desired negative pressure cannot be obtained.
Air bubbles could not be completely removed. Further, in recent ink jet recording apparatuses, the nozzle numerical aperture tends to increase, so that the current suction pump becomes insufficient in capacity, cannot obtain a desired negative pressure, and completely removes bubbles. I couldn't do that.

The above problem can be solved by using a high-performance suction pump and applying a higher negative pressure to the nozzle opening. However, such a suction pump is expensive, and the ink jet recording apparatus is expensive. Invites new technical challenges.

Further, in the conventional valve unit, an O-ring is used so that a shaft inserted so as to cross the ink supply passage is rotatable, and for maintaining a confidential state. Therefore, a large torque is required when the shaft rotates, and a high-performance driving motor for rotating the shaft has been used in the ink jet recording apparatus. As a result, it has not been possible to meet the demand for manufacturing an ink jet recording apparatus at lower cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned technical problem, and has been made in view of the above-mentioned technical problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a valve unit capable of reliably removing the air bubbles with a simple configuration, an ink suction method in the apparatus, and a method of cleaning an ink jet recording head using the valve unit. It is.

[0018]

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, receives ink from an ink cartridge,
An inkjet recording head that ejects ink droplets from nozzle openings through a head filter, a capping unit that seals the nozzle openings of the recording head, and a pump that is connected to the capping unit and suctions ink droplets from the nozzle openings, In an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a valve unit that closes an ink supply path between the ink cartridge and a head filter, the valve unit includes a valve member made of an elastic body provided with an ink supply path therein. The ink supply path is closed by the ink supply path being crushed by deformation of the valve member due to external pressure.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus described above, the ink supply path can be easily opened and closed by the valve member. For example, the valve member is closed and the negative pressure is supplied by the capping device. By opening the valve member, a strong ink flow can be generated in the ink supply path. Therefore, it is possible to reliably discharge each bubble remaining in the head filter portion and the step portion of the ink supply path on the upstream side of each ink supply path by putting the bubbles on the ink flow.

In addition, a higher negative pressure can be realized without using a high-performance suction pump, and since there is no need to rotate the shaft, there is no need to use a high-performance drive motor. As a result, an ink jet recording apparatus can be manufactured at lower cost.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus, comprising: a step of closing a valve unit. Executing a suction step of sucking ink from the nozzle opening by a negative pressure from the suction pump, and performing a valve opening step of opening the valve unit in a state where the negative pressure is applied; An ink suction method for discharging ink is characterized in that, after the valve closing step, a valve opening step of opening a valve unit after increasing the negative pressure in the suction step.

As described above, in order to perform the valve opening step of opening the valve unit after increasing the negative pressure in the suction step,
A strong ink flow can be generated for the ink supply path. Therefore, as described above, each air bubble remaining in the head filter portion and the step portion of the ink supply path on the upstream side of each ink supply path can be reliably discharged by being put on the ink flow.

Further, a cleaning method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, is a cleaning method for the above ink jet recording apparatus, wherein After sucking the ink from the nozzle, a valve unit closing step of closing the bubble unit is performed to prevent a backflow in which the ink or bubbles discharged to the nozzle opening of the recording head are drawn, and then the recording head The step of cleaning the nozzle opening is performed.

As described above, the valve unit is closed by closing the valve unit, and then the step of cleaning the nozzle opening of the recording head is performed. Ink or air bubbles can be prevented from being drawn back again.

Further, a valve unit used in the ink jet type recording apparatus according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, includes a valve member made of an elastic body provided with an ink supply passage therein, and is provided with an external pressure. The ink supply path is closed by the ink supply path being crushed by the deformation of the valve body member due to, and the shape of the ink supply path of the valve body member constituting the valve unit is reduced when the external pressure is reduced. It is characterized in that it has a channel cross-sectional shape that is asymmetric with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the direction of application.

As described above, the valve body member is an elastic body, in which an ink supply path is formed, and the valve is closed by deforming the elastic body by external pressure. In addition, when the external pressure is removed, Since the valve is opened by the restoring force of the elastic body, the valve member valve can be controlled to open and close with a relatively simple structure. Further, since the ink supply path of the valve member is formed in the above-described shape, the ink supply path can be easily deformed by a small external force, and the ink supply path can be completely closed.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus main body to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a valve unit disposed between a recording head and an ink cartridge (a black ink cartridge is shown in the figure). (B) is a cross-sectional view as viewed from directions orthogonal to each other. FIG. 3 shows a plan view from above (a plan view with the ink cartridge removed). FIG. 4 is a plan view seen from below the valve unit (print head side).
FIG. 5 is a view showing a shape of a valve member used in the valve unit. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus provided with the valve unit.

In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a carriage,
In the carriage 1, ink cartridges 8 and 9 are detachably mounted on the upper surface thereof, and an ink jet recording head 7 for ejecting ink droplets corresponding to a print signal is fixed on a surface for the recording paper 6. I have. The carriage 1 is configured to be reciprocated in the axial direction of a platen 5 by being guided by a guide member 4 by a driving force from a carriage motor 2 via a timing belt 3.

A capping device 10 is disposed in a non-printing area (home position) formed at the right end of the moving path of the carriage 1 in the drawing, and the capping device 10 has the recording head 7 positioned directly above. It is configured so that the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 7 can be sealed when it moves. Below the capping device 10, a suction pump 11 is provided as a suction device for supplying a negative pressure to the internal space of the capping device 10.

The capping device 10 functions as a lid for preventing the nozzle openings of the recording head 7 from drying during the idle period of the recording device, and also applies a drive signal unrelated to printing to the recording head 7. It functions as an ink receiver at the time of a flushing operation for idly discharging ink droplets, and also has a function as ink suction means for sucking ink by applying a negative pressure from the suction pump 11 to the recording head 7.

In the vicinity of the capping device 10, a wiping member 12 made of an elastic material such as rubber is provided. When the carriage 1 reciprocates toward the capping device 10, the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 7 is formed. Is configured to perform a wiping operation for wiping.

As shown in FIG. 2, a valve unit 23 is provided between the ink cartridge 8 and the recording head 7.
Are formed.

The valve unit 23 includes a valve member 23a forming the ink supply path 22 and the valve member 23a.
, A cover 23c accommodating the valve member 23a, a base 23d to which the valve member 23a, the lever 23b, and the cover 23c are attached, and the lever 23b. A pin 23e for rotatably attaching to the base 23d, and a pin lever 2 slidably attached to one end of the lever 23b.
3f, a valve spring 23h having one end in contact with the lever 23b and the other end in contact with the pin lever 23f, and a return spring 23g having one end attached to the lever 23b and the other end attached to the base 23c. .

Next, the valve member 23a constituting the valve unit 23 will be described with reference to FIG.

The outer shape of the valve body member 23a is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and extends along the axis thereof as shown in FIG.
An angular ink supply path is formed. FIG.
(A) is a front view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is an enlarged view of an ink supply path. In FIG. 5C, the rectangular frame surrounding the ink supply path means that it has been enlarged, and does not show the outer shape of the valve member 23a.

The valve member 23a is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and is configured to be deformable in the radial direction by an external pressure P from the side wall. Further, three seal portions 71 having a semicircular cross section in the circumferential direction are provided in the outer peripheral portion in the up-down direction (axial direction). This semicircular seal portion 7
Reference numeral 1 has a function of tightly adhering to the inner wall of the cover 23c when the valve body member 23a is housed inside the cover 23c, thereby providing confidentiality.

As shown in FIG. 5 (a), on the side wall of the valve member 23a, the pressing portion 72 pressed by the lever 23b has a lightened structure, and the outer shape of the valve member 23a is formed at that portion. Outer diameter) is smaller. Therefore, the side wall of the pressurizing portion 72 becomes thin, and the lever 23
When it is pressurized by b, it is easily deformed, and the ink supply path 22 can be closed by the side wall. More specifically, the ink supply path 22 is closed by applying a pressure of about 200 gf to the pressurizing unit.

As described above, the valve body member 23a has a lightened structure, and a seal portion is provided on the outer peripheral portion so that the cover 23
c, the portion 72 of the valve member 23a to which the external pressure is applied (the channel closing portion).
Can be more easily deformed, the restoring force can be improved, and ink can be prevented from entering the portions other than the ink supply path 22.

Opening and closing of the ink supply passage 22 of the valve body member 23a is performed via the pin lever 23f, the valve spring 23h, and the lever 23b as shown in FIGS.
This is performed by applying an external pressure to the valve member 23a or releasing the external pressure to the valve member 23a.

The lever 23b directly acting on the valve member 23a is provided with a fulcrum pivotally attached to the base 23d by a pin 23e, a force point in contact with and pressurizing the valve member 23a, a pin lever 23f and a valve spring 23h. Composed of the action points. That is, the pin lever 2
When 3f is pressed and the valve spring 23h is compressed, the lever 23b rotates around the pin 23e under the force,
As a result, one end of the lever 23b in contact with the valve member 23a presses the side wall of the valve member 23a to close the ink supply path.

As described above, the fulcrum, the power point,
By setting the point of action so that each point is at a predetermined distance, the load required to close the ink supply path in the valve body member 23a on the power point side is reduced, and ink supply is performed by a desired external pressure. Roads can be blocked.

The load acting on the pin lever 23f acts to close the ink supply path of the valve member 23a as described above, but once the ink supply path 22 is closed, this load is applied to the lever 23f. 23b and valve body member 2
3a, and an unnecessary load is applied to the valve unit 23, and the valve unit 23 may be damaged.

To prevent this, a valve spring 23h is provided on the pin lever 23f. That is, the lever 23
The unnecessary load after b closes the ink supply passage 22 of the valve member 23a is absorbed by the valve spring 23h, and the load applied to the lever 23b and the valve member 23a can be adjusted.

As a result, after closing the ink supply passage in the valve body member 23a, the valve body member 23a and the lever 23b are closed.
Can be reduced, and the valve unit 23 can be prevented from being damaged.

The return spring 23g is connected to the lever 23
b is arranged to act on the valve body member 23a side,
The operation point side of the lever 23b can always be kept at the same position with respect to the valve member 23a. The portion of the lever 23b that is in contact with the valve body member 23a on the action point side has a sharpened shape, and has a shape that can increase the pressure on the seal rubber. However, the tip is R
The shape prevents the side wall of the valve member 23a from being damaged.

As shown in FIG. 2, an ink supply needle 24 is provided on the ink cartridge 8 side of the valve unit 23.
Is provided. On the other hand, an ink supply needle 25 provided on the recording head 7 is fitted to the recording head 7 side of the ink supply path of the valve body member 23a.

When the ink cartridge 8 is mounted, the ink supply needle 24 is inserted through the ink supply port formed by the seal rubber 8a of the ink cartridge 8, and the ink supply needle 24 is moved from the ink chamber of the cartridge 8 to the recording head 7.
Is formed, and the ink can be supplied to the recording head 7.

Further, a capping device 10 for accumulating the negative pressure generated by the suction pump and a pressure reservoir 26 arranged for accumulating the negative pressure are provided downstream of the nozzle opening, so that the negative pressure can be reduced more effectively. This can be used to suction ink. Further, a filter chamber F is disposed downstream of the ink supply needle 25, so that foreign matter such as dust can be prevented from entering the recording head 7 side.

The valve unit 23 constructed as described above
Are formed on the carriage 1 as shown in FIG. In addition, the ink jet recording apparatus body
Are formed. When the carriage 1 moves to the non-printing area side and the pin lever 23f hits the contact 41, the pin lever 23f, the valve spring 23h, the lever 2
The side wall of the valve body member 23a is pressurized via 3b. An ink supply path 22 is formed in the valve member 23a. The ink supply path 22 is closed by the pressure P, and the valve unit is closed.

On the other hand, when the carriage 1 moves to the printing area, the contact 41 and the pin lever 23f separate, and the pressure P applied to the valve member 23a via the pin lever 23f, the valve spring 23h, and the lever 23b is released. You. At this time, since the valve body member is formed of an elastic body, the valve is opened by the restoring force of the elastic body.

In the above-described embodiment, the valve unit 23 is formed such that the recording head 7 is formed as a separate body. However, as shown in FIGS. The body member 23a may be integrally formed. In this case, the ink supply needle 25 can be omitted.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), the pentagonal ink supply path is formed in the valve member 23a, but the invention is not limited to this. Instead, an ink supply path having the shape shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 may be used. 8 to 1
0, (a) to (d), and FIG.
5 shows a state in which the ink supply path is gradually closed from (a) to (c). 8 to 11
The rectangular-shaped frames shown in Fig. 3 are enlarged shapes of the ink supply paths in each state.

The ink supply passage 22 of the valve member 23a shown in FIG. 8 is formed in a hexagonal shape that is long in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the external pressure P is applied. Further, the ink supply passage 22 of the valve member 23a shown in FIG. 9 is formed in a so-called rhombus shape having a long diagonal line perpendicular to the direction in which the external pressure P is applied. The vertex in the direction in which the external pressure P is applied is R
(Curved surface) is formed, and a vertex in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the external pressure P is applied is formed in a square shape.

Further, the ink supply passage 22 of the valve member 23a shown in FIG.
Is formed in a so-called pentagonal shape in which one side is located in a direction parallel to a straight line perpendicular to the direction in which is added, and one vertex is located on the center side (inside) so as to face the side. The vertices located on the center side (inside) have an R (curved surface) shape, and the other vertices have an angular shape.

Further, the valve member 23a shown in FIG.
10, one apex is located on the side wall surface (outside), and one side is parallel to a straight line perpendicular to the direction in which the external pressure P is applied on the center side (inside). Are formed in a so-called pentagonal shape. The vertex located on the center side (inside) is R (curved surface)
It is made into a shape, and the other vertices are made into a square shape. In particular, in the case of the flow path cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. Since the opposite side is a trapezoid and the intersection is a square, the amount of crushing before closing can be reduced as compared with the valve body member 23a shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, and as a result, the closing load is reduced. Can be preferred.

Next, a method of sucking ink from the recording head in the ink jet recording apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 12 shows an example of an ink suction method for strong cleaning using a valve unit, for example.

In step S11 shown in FIG.
The carriage motor 2 is driven to move the carriage 1 to the non-printing area, and the recording head 9 is capped.

Subsequently, the flow proceeds to step S12, in which the carriage motor 2 is driven to cause the contact 41 of the recording apparatus main body and the pin lever 23f of the valve unit 23 to interfere with each other.
Until the ink supply path 22 formed in 3a is closed.
The carriage 1 is moved to the non-printing area side, and the valve unit 23 is closed.

Subsequently, the flow shifts to step S13, where the pump driving means is operated to apply a negative pressure to the nozzle openings and the like.

Subsequently, the flow proceeds to step S14, in which the carriage motor 2 is driven to move the carriage 1 to the printing area until the contact 41 of the recording apparatus main body and the pin lever 23f of the valve unit 23 do not interfere with each other. Open the valve.

By the valve opening operation of the valve unit 23, the negative pressure state is instantaneously released to the atmosphere, and the air bubbles which have entered the upper part of the head filter or the recording head are discharged from the nozzle opening together with the discharge of the ink.

As described above, in step S12, the valve unit 23 according to the present invention is closed, and by applying a negative pressure in step S13, a normal pump means is provided between the valve unit 23 and the suction pump 11. It is possible to generate a negative pressure higher than the application of the negative pressure, and it is possible to generate a large negative pressure even with a pump having a low capacity. Therefore, it is possible to reduce noise, reduce the size, and reduce the cost.

When a sufficient negative pressure is applied between the valve unit 23 and the suction pump 11 in step S13, the valve is opened to the atmosphere when the valve unit 23 is opened in step S14. Therefore, a rapid ink flow occurs on the suction pump side from the ink cartridge 8. for that reason,
The bubbles move quickly in the head according to the flow of the ink, and are quickly discharged together with the ink from the nozzle openings.

When the valve is closed, the negative pressure is
When the pressure is 30 kPa or more, the air bubbles above the head filter expand and pass through the head filter before the valve is opened. Thereafter, when the valve is opened, the expanded bubbles return to the original state downstream of the head filter and are discharged from the recording head to the outside along the flow of ink.

By repeatedly executing the above-described steps S12 to S14 a plurality of times, it is possible to discharge bubbles that cannot be discharged only once. In this case, after the valve unit 23 is opened in the step S14 or the negative pressure applied in the step S14 becomes the atmospheric pressure, the process returns to the step S12 and closes the valve unit 23 again. The negative pressure can be continuously applied for a period of time until the negative pressure becomes the atmospheric pressure by applying the pressure, and the discharging property of the bubbles can be improved. As a result, the transition to the ink-free state in the cap and the pump is prompt, and the application time of the negative pressure is increased.

Further, after the valve unit 23 is opened in step S14 and before the applied negative pressure returns to the atmospheric pressure, the process returns to step S12 and the valve unit 23 is again closed, so that the pressure is reduced. Can be in a pulsating state, and also in this case, it is possible to improve the bubble discharge performance.

In step S12, before the valve unit 23 is closed, a suction step is executed to suck the ink into the capping device 10 and the suction pump 11, and then the valve closing step (step S12) is performed. The suction step (Step S13) and the valve opening step (Step S14) are executed. Thus, the valve unit 23
By executing the suction step before closing the valve, the inside of the capping device 10 and the inside of the suction pump 11 are filled with ink, so that the negative pressure can be quickly increased in the subsequent suction step.

Further, in step S14, in opening the valve unit 23, the valve opening step is executed while executing the suction step (step S13). In this case, since a negative pressure is always applied to the nozzle opening, it is possible to discharge bubbles that are difficult to discharge.

Furthermore, in step S14, unnecessary ink discharge can be reduced by closing the valve that does not require ink suction. In addition, the amount of discharged ink can be reduced by closing the valve unit 23 and sucking the ink from the suction pump.

Next, cleaning of the ink jet recording head using the above-described valve unit will be described. First, in step 14, after the negative pressure applied to the inside of the cap and the inside of the recording head 9 is released, the valve unit 23 is closed again to close the valve until the wiping operation is completed. At this time, Step 1 is stored in the capping device 10.
The ink and air bubbles discharged at 4 remain and adhere to the nozzle plate of the recording head 7. However, since the valve unit 23 is closed, the discharged ink and air bubbles can be prevented from flowing backward from the nozzle opening,
Further, it is possible to prevent the wiper from pushing air bubbles into the nozzle opening during wiping. Therefore, destruction of the meniscus formed at the nozzle opening can be prevented. Thereafter, by slowly moving the carriage, the valve unit is gradually opened. This prevents bubbles from being taken in from the nozzle hole when the valve unit is opened.

It is effective to operate the valve unit when exchanging the ink cartridge. That is, after the valve unit corresponding to the ink cartridge to be replaced is closed, the ink cartridge is replaced. When replacing the ink cartridge, there is a possibility that the meniscus at the nozzle opening may be destroyed due to the impact or the change in volume when the ink cartridge is mounted.By replacing the ink cartridge after closing the valve unit, the meniscus can be replaced when replacing the ink cartridge. Can be protected. Further, when exchanging the ink cartridge, the exchange cleaning operation after exchanging the ink cartridge can be omitted.

In addition, the valve unit 23 is closed when the ink jet recording apparatus is at rest or during transportation. At this time, the ink supply path is closed upstream of the nozzle opening by the valve unit 23. Thereby, dripping of the ink when the printing apparatus is stopped can be prevented. Further, the meniscus can be protected from an impact during transportation or the like.

[0073]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet recording apparatus, the valve unit, the ink suction method and the cleaning method according to the present invention, a high-performance suction pump is used. Thus, it is possible to reliably remove air bubbles remaining in the upper part of the filter of the ink supply path and air bubbles staying in the recording head with a simple configuration, and maintain good printing. Further, since it does not rotate the shaft, it is not necessary to use a high-performance driving motor for rotating the shaft, and the ink jet recording apparatus can be manufactured at lower cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a recording apparatus main body to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a valve unit disposed between a recording head and an ink cartridge.

FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating a configuration of a valve unit disposed between a recording head and an ink cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view illustrating a configuration of a valve unit disposed between a recording head and an ink cartridge.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing the shape of a seal member used in a valve unit disposed between a recording head and an ink cartridge, wherein FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating an ink supply path.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of a recording apparatus main body on which a valve unit is mounted.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another configuration example of a valve unit disposed between a recording head and an ink cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing another sectional shape of the ink supply path of the seal member.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another cross-sectional shape of the ink supply path of the seal member.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another cross-sectional shape of the ink supply path of the seal member.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another cross-sectional shape of the ink supply path of the seal member.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow performed in the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a combination configuration of a conventional ink cartridge, a recording head, and capping means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 2 Carriage motor 3 Timing belt 4 Guide member 5 Platen 6 Recording paper 7 Recording head 8 Black ink cartridge 9 Color ink cartridge 10 Capping means 11 Suction pump 22 Ink supply path 23 Valve unit 23a Valve body member 23b Lever 23c Cover 23d Base 23e Pin 23f Pin lever 23g Return spring 23h Valve spring 24 Ink supply needle 25 Ink supply needle 26 Pressure reservoir 41 degree contact F Filter member

Claims (17)

[Claims] An ink jet recording head that receives ink supplied from an ink cartridge and ejects ink droplets from nozzle openings through a head filter; capping means for sealing the nozzle openings of the recording head; An ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a pump connected to a means for sucking ink droplets from a nozzle opening and a valve unit for closing an ink supply path between the ink cartridge and the head, wherein the valve unit has an ink supply path. Including a valve body member made of an elastic body provided inside, the ink supply path is closed by being crushed by deformation of the valve body member due to external pressure. Ink jet recording apparatus. 2. The valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the valve unit includes a lever having a fulcrum that is rotatably fixed, a power point to which the external force is applied, and an action point that presses the valve member. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 3. A pin lever slidably provided at a point of force of the lever to enable load adjustment of the valve body member, and the lever is provided in contact with the pin lever and the lever. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, comprising an elastic member. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact of the lever of the valve unit is provided on the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus, and the opening and closing of the valve member is controlled by the movement of the carriage. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the valve unit is provided in each ink supply path provided for each ink. 6. The ink suction method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the step of closing a valve unit is performed, and the nozzle is operated by a negative pressure from a suction pump. An ink-jet type characterized by performing a suction step of sucking ink from an opening, performing a valve opening step of opening the valve unit while applying a negative pressure, and discharging ink from a nozzle opening of a recording head. An ink suction method in a recording apparatus. 7. The ink suction method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein in the suction step, suction is performed so as to expand bubbles between the nozzle opening and the valve unit. 8. The valve closing step, the suction step,
The ink in the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, in the valve opening step, three steps of a valve closing step, a suction step, and a valve opening step are defined as one cycle, and one cycle is executed when sucking the ink. Suction method. 9. The valve closing step, the suction step,
The ink in the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein in the valve opening step, three steps of a valve closing step, a suction step, and a valve opening step are defined as one cycle, and a plurality of cycles are executed when sucking the ink. Suction method. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, in executing the plurality of cycles, the next cycle is executed after the negative pressure generated in the suction step reaches the atmospheric pressure. Ink suction method. 11. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in performing the plurality of cycles, the next cycle is performed before the negative pressure generated in the suction step reaches the atmospheric pressure. Ink suction method. 12. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
After sucking ink from the nozzle opening of the recording head,
Alternatively, after replacing the ink cartridge or during standby, the carriage motor is driven to move the carriage to close the bubble unit by driving the carriage motor in order to prevent the ink or air bubbles discharged to the nozzle openings of the recording head from being drawn back. An ink jet type having a step of performing a valve unit closing step of setting a valve state, performing a step of wiping ink adhered to a nozzle surface of the recording head, and finally slowly opening the valve unit. Cleaning method in recording device. 13. A valve unit for use in an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said valve unit is formed of an elastic body provided with an ink supply passage therein. The ink supply path includes a body member, and the ink supply path is crushed by deformation of the valve body member due to external pressure, so that the ink supply path is closed, and the ink supply of the valve body member forming the valve unit is performed. A valve unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a path shape has a channel cross-sectional shape that is asymmetric with respect to a straight line perpendicular to a direction in which external pressure is applied. 14. A cross section of the ink supply path of the valve unit, wherein a vertex located on a straight line perpendicular to a direction in which an external pressure is applied and passing through a substantially center of the cross section of the ink supply path has a square shape. 14. A valve unit used in the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein: 15. In the cross-sectional shape of the ink supply path of the valve unit, an apex located on a straight line parallel to a direction in which an external pressure is applied and passing through a substantially center of the cross section of the ink supply path is R (curved surface). 15. The valve unit used in the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the valve unit has a shape. 16. In the cross-sectional shape of the ink supply path of the valve unit, one side is located on a side wall surface side (outside) in a straight line parallel to a direction in which external pressure is applied, and on a center side (inside), 16. The valve unit according to claim 13, wherein one of the vertices is located opposite to the side. 17. A valve unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a diameter of a portion of the valve body member to which external pressure is applied is reduced. .