JP2000289232A - Liquid jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance assembling performance of a liquid jet recorder where liquids discharged from a recovery system unit and a liquid supply unit are led to a waste liquid tank fixed to the other end of the recorder. SOLUTION: A supporting structure 51 comprises a tubular rigid structural member 1 extending in one direction, side plates 2a, 2b fixed to the opposite ends of the structural member 1, and reinforcing members 30a, 30b. A unit 17 for supplying ink to a recording head and a recovery system unit 8 for eliminating defective ejection of the recording head are fixed to one end of the supporting structure 51 having the other end fixed with a waste liquid tank 24. A waste liquid channel for leading waste ink from the recovery system unit 8 and the ink supply unit 17 to the waste liquid tank 24 is constituted using the structural member 1 thus eliminating the need for a long tube traversing the recorder in the longitudinal direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid ejection recording apparatus for recording on a large-sized recording sheet, which requires a light weight and high rigidity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a front view of an ink jet recording apparatus which is a conventional liquid discharge recording apparatus. FIG. 6 shows an arrangement of main structural members and main units of the ink jet recording apparatus.

In a conventional ink jet recording apparatus, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a side plate 102a is attached to one end of a structural member 101, which is a longitudinal member extending in the longitudinal direction of the ink jet recording apparatus, at a predetermined distance from one end surface of the structural member 101. A side plate 102b is attached to the other end of the structural member 101 at a predetermined distance from the other end surface of the structural member 101. Each of the side plates 102a and 102b has a structural member 101.
Are formed corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the structural member 101, and the structural members 101 are arranged such that the side plates 102 a and 102 b are perpendicular to the structural member 101, respectively.
It is fixed to. The structural member 101 supports each unit and tank provided in the ink jet recording apparatus.

A reinforcing member 130a for reinforcing the side plate 102a is attached to a surface of the side plate 102a opposite to the side plate 102b side.
A portion penetrating from the side plate 102a is connected to the reinforcing member 130a. Also, the side plate 102a of the side plate 102b
A reinforcing member 130b for reinforcing the side plate 102b is attached to a surface opposite to the side, and the structural member 101
The portion protruding from the side plate 102b is the reinforcing member 130b
It is connected to the.

[0005] A waste liquid tank 124 is attached to the portion of the structural member 101 to which the reinforcing member 130b is connected and to the reinforcing member 130b, and the waste liquid tank 124 is supported by the structural member 101 and the reinforcing member 130b.
Further, an ink supply unit 117 is attached to a portion of the structural member 101 to which the reinforcing member 130b is connected and to the reinforcing member 130b, and the ink supply unit 117 is supported by the structural member 101 and the reinforcing member 130b. The ink supply unit 117 is a liquid supply unit that supplies a liquid such as ink to a recording head described below with reference to FIG. Further, the side plate 1 of the side plate 102a
The recovery system unit 108 is attached to the surface on the 02b side and the portion near the side plate 102a of the structural member 101, and the recovery system unit 108 is supported by the side plate 102a and the structural member 101.

Accordingly, the structural member 101, the side plates 102a,
102b and the reinforcing members 130a, 130b, etc.
A support structure 151 extending in one direction is formed, and the recovery system unit 108, the ink supply unit 117, and the waste liquid tank 124 are supported by the support structure 151. One end of the structural member 101 is arranged near the recovery system unit 108 and the ink supply unit 117, and the other end of the structural member 101 is arranged near the waste liquid tank 124. That is, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink supply unit 117 and the recovery system unit 108 are disposed on one side of the apparatus, and the waste liquid tank 124 is disposed on the other side of the apparatus.
Is arranged. As described above, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, the waste liquid tank 124, the recovery system unit 108, and the ink supply unit 117 are separately arranged at both ends from the viewpoint of weight balance and space efficiency due to the structure of the apparatus. .

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the flow path of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. In the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 7, a carriage unit 105 that reciprocates in the longitudinal direction of the ink jet recording apparatus has a carriage slidably supported and a recording unit mounted on the carriage. Head 106,
Ink supply tube 107 and air buffer 128
It is composed of The carriage constituting the carriage unit 105 scans on a carriage rail and a stay extending in the longitudinal direction of the ink jet recording apparatus. The recording head 106 performs recording on the recording medium by discharging a liquid such as ink toward the recording medium such as paper. The air buffer 128 temporarily holds the ink supplied to the recording head 106. The bottom of the air buffer 128 is connected to the recording head 106 via an ink supply tube 107, and the ink in the air buffer 128 is supplied to the recording head 106 through the ink supply tube 107.
The carriage unit 105 discharges ink from the recording head 106 toward the recording medium while scanning the recording head 106 together with the carriage in the longitudinal direction of the ink jet recording apparatus. Is formed.

[0008] The recovery unit 108 shown in FIG.
This is for eliminating the discharge failure of No. 06. The recovery system unit 108 includes a preliminary discharge box 109, a wiper blade 110 as a wiping unit, a wiper tray 111 as a receiver, a cap 113 as a cap unit,
It is composed of a suction tube 114, a suction pump 112 and the like. The preliminary ejection box 109 includes a recording head 106.
This is to receive ink preliminarily ejected from the recording head 106 in order to eliminate clogging in the inside. When performing preliminary ejection of the recording head 106, the carriage unit 1
05 and the recording head 1 just above the preliminary ejection box 109.
06 is arranged, and the recording head 10
Ink is ejected from the recording head 106 in a state where the ink is ejected from the preliminary ejection box 1.
06.

The wiper blade 110 is used for the recording head 1.
This is for wiping the discharge port surface (face surface) 06 to clean the discharge port surface. The wiper tray 111 receives the liquid that has naturally fallen from the wiper blade 110 after adhering to the wiping means when the wiper blade 110 wipes the ejection opening surface of the recording head 106.

[0010] Pre-discharge box 109 and wiper tray 1
The bottom of each of the eleventh portions is connected to an end of a waste liquid tube 115 that is forked. Waste liquid tube 115
Is connected to one end of a waste liquid tube 123 together with a waste liquid tube 120 described later. The waste ink from the preliminary discharge box 106 and the waste ink from the wiper tray 111 are respectively discharged by the waste liquid tube 1 by their own weight.
15 and each waste ink is passed through a waste liquid tube 115.
Wastewater tubes 123 or 120
Flows into the interior. In a portion of the waste liquid tube 115 between a portion where the waste ink from the preliminary discharge box 109 and the waste ink from the wiper tray 111 join and a connection portion with the waste liquid tube 123, the ink in the waste liquid tube 115 is provided. One-way valve 1 for regulating the flow direction in the direction of arrow U in FIG.
16 are provided. With this one-way valve 116,
The ink in the waste liquid tube 115 is prevented from flowing from the waste liquid tube 123 toward the preliminary discharge box 109 and the wiper tray 111.

The cap 113 caps the ejection port surface of the recording head 106. Cap 113
Is connected to one end of a suction tube 114, and a suction pump 112 is provided in the middle of the suction tube 114.
As the suction pump 112, a tube pump having a rotor that rotates while crushing a part of the suction tube 114 is used. After the ejection port surface of the recording head 106 is capped by the cap 113, the rotor of the suction tube 114 rotates in the direction of the arrow S in FIG. , And the ink in the recording head 106 is sucked through the suction tube 114 and the cap 113. By sucking the ink in the print head 106 to the outside of the print head 106 through the cap 113 in this manner, the print head 1
06 can be eliminated.

Suction pump 1 in suction tube 114
A one-way valve 121 that regulates the flow direction of ink and air in the suction tube 114 in the direction of the arrow T in FIG. This one-way valve 1
21 prevents the ink in the suction tube 114 from flowing from the waste tube 120 side to the cap 113 side. The other end of the suction tube 114 is connected to one end of a waste liquid tube 120 together with one end of a pump tube 119 extending from an ink supply unit 117 described later. The other end of the waste liquid tube 120 is connected to the waste liquid tubes 115 and 123 as described above. As a result, the ink sucked from the recording head 106 by the driving of the suction pump 112 passes through the cap 113, the suction tubes 114 and 120, and the waste liquid tube 1.
23.

The ink supply unit 117 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the holding tank 126, the sub tank 125, the main tank 127, and the supply pump 118
And tubes connecting these tanks. The holding tank 126 has an air buffer 12
The ink to be supplied to the holding tank 126 or the air buffer 128 is temporarily held in the sub tank 125. The main tank 127 holds ink to be supplied to the sub tank 125.

As described above, the other end of the pump tube 119 having one end connected to the suction tube 114 and the waste liquid tube 120 is inserted into the sub tank 125 from above the sub tank 125. Pump tube 119
A supply pump 118 is provided in the middle of the suction tube 114 and the waste liquid tube 1 of the pump tube 119.
A one-way valve 122 that regulates the flow direction of liquid and air in the pump tube 119 only to the arrow X in FIG. The one-way valve 122 allows the pump tube 1
19 is prevented from flowing from the waste liquid tube 120 side to the sub tank 125 side. As the supply pump 118, a tube pump having a rotor that rotates in the direction of arrow W in FIG. 7 while crushing a part of the pump tube 119 is used.

In the ink supply unit 117, when supplying the ink in the main tank 127 to the sub-tank 125 through the tube, first, a passage for supplying the ink in the sub-tank 125 to the holding tank 126, The tube for supplying the ink to the air buffer 128 and the passage formed in the upper part of the sub-tank 125 for communicating the inside of the sub-tank 125 with the atmosphere are closed, so that the inside of the sub-tank 125 is made a substantially closed space. Next, the supply pump 118 is driven by the sequence of the ink jet recording apparatus to rotate the rotor of the supply pump 118 in the direction of the arrow W, thereby sucking the air in the sub tank 125 through the pump tube 119 and creating a negative pressure in the sub tank 125. To Thus, the ink in the main tank 127 is supplied into the sub tank 125 through the tube.

When the supply pump 118 is driven when the liquid level of the ink in the sub-tank 125 rises and the liquid level comes into contact with the pump tube 119, the ink in the sub-tank 125 causes the pump tube 119 and the waste liquid tube 12 to move.
0 and is fed into the waste liquid tube 123.

The waste liquid tube 123 is crawled in the longitudinal direction of the ink jet recording apparatus so as to cross the apparatus. The other end of the waste liquid tube 123 is inserted into the waste liquid tank 124 from above the waste liquid tank 124. ing. Therefore, the recording head 106 is
Discharged from the ink supply unit and the ink supply unit 11
The waste liquid flow path for leading the ink discharged from 7 to the waste liquid tank 124 includes a preliminary discharge box 109, a wiper tray 111, a waste liquid tube 115, a cap 113, a suction tube 114, a pump tube 119, and a waste liquid tube 1.
20 and a waste liquid tube 123.

[0018]

However, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the waste ink discharged from the recovery system unit 108 and the ink supply unit 117 is used as a waste liquid tank. In order to lead it to 124, it is necessary to crawl the waste liquid tube 123 traversing the longitudinal direction of the device. Accordingly, since the waste liquid tube 123 is a long product, there is a problem that the waste liquid tube 123 is very difficult to handle and the assemblability of the ink jet recording apparatus is poor. Further, when a long tube is used, there is a problem that it is difficult to secure bending for crawling as compared with a short tube.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the assemblability of a liquid discharge recording apparatus due to the use of a long tube as a waste liquid flow path for leading liquid discharged from a recovery system unit or a liquid supply unit to a waste liquid tank. Resolved,
An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid discharge recording apparatus capable of sufficiently securing bending of a tube for crawling the tube.

[0020]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recovery system unit for eliminating a discharge failure of a recording head for discharging a liquid, and a recovery system unit for supplying a liquid to the recording head. A liquid supply unit, a waste liquid tank for storing liquid discharged from the recording head when the recovery system unit performs an operation for eliminating a discharge failure of the recording head, A support structure in which a unit and the liquid supply unit are attached to one end and the waste liquid tank is attached to the other end; and a waste liquid for leading the liquid discharged from the recording head to the waste liquid tank. A liquid ejection recording apparatus having a flow path, comprising a tubular rigid body extending in one direction, one end of which is disposed near the recovery system unit, and the other end of There the longitudinal member disposed in the vicinity of the waste liquid tank, at least a portion of said waste stream path is configured.

In the above invention, the liquid ejection recording apparatus in which the recovery system unit and the liquid supply unit are attached to one end of the support structure extending in one direction, and the waste liquid tank is attached to the other end of the support structure. In the apparatus, at least a part of a waste liquid flow path for leading a liquid discharged from the print head to a waste liquid tank when an operation for eliminating a discharge failure of the print head is performed by a recovery system unit,
The liquid discharged from the recording head is led to the waste liquid tank through the longitudinal member by being formed of the longitudinal member made of a tubular rigid body extending in one direction. Here, since one end of the elongated member is arranged near the recovery system unit and the other end of the elongated member is arranged near the waste liquid tank, the liquid discharged from the recording head can be discharged to the apparatus. Is drawn out to the waste liquid tank through the longitudinal member so as to cross in the longitudinal direction. As a result, it is necessary to crawl a long tube so as to traverse in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus in order to guide the liquid discharged from the recording head by the recovery system unit to the waste liquid tank, as in a conventional liquid discharge recording apparatus. As a result, the assemblability when manufacturing the liquid discharge recording apparatus is improved. In addition, when the flow path other than the longitudinal member is formed by a tube, the tube can be shortened, so that the assemblability when handling a long tube is eliminated, and the tube is bent to crawl the tube. Can be sufficiently secured.

Further, the longitudinal member may store a part of the liquid discharged from the recording head. As described above, since the longitudinal member forming the waste liquid flow path is configured to store a part of the liquid discharged from the recording head, the capacity for storing the waste liquid increases in the entire liquid ejection recording apparatus. However, the frequency of collecting the waste liquid in the liquid ejection recording apparatus by maintenance can be reduced.

Further, an outlet pipe having one end connected to the waste liquid tank side portion of the elongated member and the other end connected to the waste liquid tank so that the liquid inside the elongated member flows into the waste liquid tank. May be further provided.

Specifically, the recovery system unit, the liquid supply unit, and the liquid supply unit are provided at one end so as to support the recovery system unit, the liquid supply unit, and the waste liquid tank. The support structure has a structural member to which a unit is attached and the waste liquid tank is attached to the other end, and the structural member is used as the longitudinal member.

Alternatively, the carriage further includes a carriage rail formed of a tubular rigid body extending in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the support structure so as to slidably support the recording head, and the carriage rail is used as the longitudinal member. Used.

Further, the recovery system unit includes wiping means for wiping the ejection port surface of the recording head, and a receiver for receiving the liquid attached to the wiping means by wiping the ejection port surface by the wiping means. And a discharge pipe for discharging the liquid in the receiver into the inside of the elongated member.

Further, the recovery system unit includes a preliminary discharge box for receiving a liquid preliminarily discharged from the recording head in order to eliminate clogging in the recording head. It further has a lead-out pipe for leading out to the inside of the member.

Further, the recovery system unit is provided with a capping means for capping the discharge port surface of the recording head and sucking the liquid in the recording head so as to eliminate clogging in the recording head. There is further provided a discharge pipe for discharging the liquid sucked from the inside of the recording head to the outside of the recording head through the capping means into the inside of the elongated member. In this case, it is preferable to further include a suction pump provided in the outlet tube for sucking the liquid in the recording head through the capping unit. In this case, ink is used as the liquid to be ejected from the recording head, and the ink in the longitudinal member is sent into the waste liquid tank using the pressure generated by the suction pump when the suction pump is driven. In order to prevent leakage of air in the longitudinal member, and leakage of ink from the waste liquid flow path,
It is preferable that both ends of the longitudinal member are sealed by an elastic member having ink resistance.

Further, wiping means for wiping the discharge port surface of the recording head, a receiver for receiving the liquid adhered to the wiping means by wiping the discharge port surface by the wiping means, and A pre-discharge box for receiving liquid pre-discharged from the recording head in order to eliminate clogging of the recording head, and capping an ejection port surface of the recording head, and performing the recording so as to eliminate clogging in the recording head. The recovery system unit includes a capping unit for sucking the liquid in the head, and an end portion for leading the liquid in the receiver and the liquid in the preliminary ejection box to the inside of the elongated member. A first lead-out tube attached to the longitudinal member, and a capping unit that connects the inside of the recording head to the outside of the recording head. A second outlet pipe attached to the elongated member for leading the sucked liquid into the elongated member; and a second outlet for sucking the liquid in the recording head through the capping means. And a suction pump provided in the pipe, wherein when the waste liquid tank side in the waste liquid flow path is a downstream side, the mounting portion of the second outlet pipe in the long member is the mounting part in the long member. It is preferable that the first outlet pipe be located upstream of the mounting portion.

As described above, even when the recovery system unit includes the wiping means, the receptacle of the wiping means, the preliminary discharge box, and the capping means,
Ink is used as a liquid to be ejected from the recording head, and in order to send ink in the elongated member into the waste liquid tank using pressure generated by the suction pump when the suction pump is driven, Preferably, both ends of the longitudinal member are sealed by an ink-resistant elastic member so as to prevent leakage of air in the member and leakage of ink from the waste liquid flow path.

[0031]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an ink jet recording apparatus which is a liquid discharge recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of main structural members and main units of the ink jet recording apparatus.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, one end of the structural member 1 which is a longitudinal member extending in the longitudinal direction of the ink jet recording apparatus is provided at a predetermined position from one end face of the structural member 1. Side plate 2a is attached at a distance of. A side plate 2b is attached to the other end of the structural member 1 at a predetermined distance from the other end surface of the structural member 1. In each of the side plates 2a and 2b, a hole through which the structural member 1 penetrates is formed corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the structural member 1, so that the side plates 2a and 2b are perpendicular to the structural member 1, respectively. It is fixed to the structural member 1. The structural member 1 is formed of a tubular rigid body extending in one direction. Therefore, although the structural member 1 is hollow, even if it is hollow, it can support each unit provided in the ink jet recording apparatus and give the apparatus main body sufficient rigidity.

A reinforcing member 30a for reinforcing the side plate 2a is attached to a surface of the side plate 2a opposite to the side plate 2b, and a portion of the structural member 1 penetrating from the side plate 2a is reinforced. It is connected to the member 30a. Further, a reinforcing member 30b for reinforcing the side plate 2b is attached to a surface of the side plate 2b opposite to the side plate 2a side, and a portion of the structural member 1 protruding from the side plate 2b is a reinforcing member 30.
b.

A waste liquid tank 24 is attached to a portion of the structural member 1 to which the reinforcing member 30b is connected and to the reinforcing member 30b, and the waste liquid tank 24 is supported by the structural member 1 and the reinforcing member 30b. Also, structural member 1
The ink supply unit 17 is attached to the portion to which the reinforcing member 30b is connected and the reinforcing member 30b, and the ink supply unit 17 is supported by the structural member 1 and the reinforcing member 30b. Ink supply unit 17
Is a liquid supply unit for supplying a liquid such as ink to a recording head described later with reference to FIG. Further, a recovery system unit 8 is attached to a surface of the side plate 2a on the side of the side plate 2b and a portion of the structural member 1 near the side plate 2a.
The recovery system unit 8 is supported by a and the structural member 1.

Accordingly, a support structure 51 extending in one direction is constituted by the structural member 1, the side plates 2a and 2b, the reinforcing members 30a and 30b, and the like, and the recovery system unit 8 and the ink supply unit are formed by the support structure 51. 17 and a waste liquid tank 24 are supported. Recovery unit 8
One end of the structural member 1 is arranged near the ink supply unit 17, and the other end of the structural member 1 is arranged near the waste liquid tank 24. That is, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the ink jet recording apparatus, an ink supply unit 17 and a recovery system unit 8 are disposed on one side of the apparatus, and the waste liquid tank 2 is disposed on the other side of the apparatus.
4 are arranged.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the flow path of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. In the inkjet recording apparatus of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a carriage unit 5 that reciprocates in the longitudinal direction of the inkjet recording apparatus has a slidably supported carriage and a recording head mounted on each of the carriages. 6, the ink supply tube 7, the air buffer 28, and the like. The carriage constituting the carriage unit 5 scans on a carriage rail and a stay extending in the longitudinal direction of the ink jet recording apparatus. Recording head 6
Is to perform recording on a recording medium by ejecting a liquid such as ink toward the recording medium such as paper. The air buffer 28 temporarily holds the ink supplied to the recording head 6. The bottom of the air buffer 28 is connected to the recording head 6 via the ink supply tube 7, and the ink in the air buffer 28 is supplied to the recording head 6 through the ink supply tube 7. The carriage unit 5 discharges ink from the recording head 6 toward the recording medium while scanning the recording head 6 together with the carriage in the longitudinal direction of the ink jet recording apparatus, so that images such as characters and graphics are recorded on the recording medium. Is formed.

The recovery system unit 8 shown in FIG. 1 is for eliminating clogging and the like of the recording head 6 to eliminate a discharge failure of the recording head 6. This recovery unit 8
Comprises a preliminary discharge box 9, a wiper blade 10 as wiping means, a wiper tray 11 as a receiver, a cap 13 as cap means, a suction tube 14, a suction pump 12, and the like. The preliminary discharge box 9
This is for receiving ink preliminarily ejected from the recording head 6 in order to eliminate clogging in the recording head 6. When performing the preliminary ejection of the recording head 6, the carriage unit 5 is scanned so that the recording head 6 is disposed directly above the preliminary ejection box 9, and recording is performed in a state where the recording head 6 is disposed at that position. By discharging the ink from the head 6, the discharged ink is received in the preliminary discharge box 6.

The wiper blade 10 is for wiping the discharge port surface (face surface) of the recording head 6 to clean the discharge port surface. The wiper tray 11 receives the liquid that has naturally dropped from the wiper blade 10 after adhering to the wiping means when the ejection opening surface of the recording head 6 is wiped by the wiper blade 10.

The bottom of each of the pre-discharge box 9 and the wiper tray 11 is connected to an end of a waste liquid tube 15, which is a first branch pipe divided into two branches. The remaining end of the waste liquid tube 15 is connected to the upper part of the end on the recovery system unit 8 side of the structural member 1 so that the inside of the waste liquid tube 15 and the inside of the structural member 1 communicate with each other. The waste ink from the preliminary discharge box 6 and the waste ink from the wiper tray 11 pass through the waste liquid tube 15 by their own weights, and each waste ink drops into the structural member 1 after merging in the middle of the waste liquid tube 15. . Waste liquid tube 15
Waste ink from the preliminary discharge box 9 and the wiper tray 11
A one-way valve 16 that regulates the flow direction of the ink in the waste liquid tube 15 in the direction of the arrow U in FIG. 2 is provided between a portion where the waste ink from the nozzle merges and a connection portion with the structural member 1.
Is provided. The one-way valve 16 allows the ink in the waste liquid tube 15 to flow from the structural member 1 side to the preliminary discharge box 9.
And it is prevented from flowing toward the wiper tray 11 side.

The cap 13 is for capping the ejection port surface of the recording head 6. One end of a suction tube 14 is connected to the cap 13, and the suction pump 12 is provided in the middle of the suction tube 14. Suction pump 12
A tube pump provided with a rotor that rotates while crushing a part of the suction tube 14 is used. After the ejection port surface of the recording head 6 is capped by the cap 13, the rotor or the suction tube 14 rotates in the direction of the arrow S in FIG. And the suction tube 14 and the cap 1
The ink in the recording head 6 is sucked through the nozzle 3. By sucking the ink in the recording head 6 to the outside of the recording head 6 through the cap 13, the clogging in the recording head 6 can be eliminated.

Suction pump 12 in suction tube 14
A one-way valve 21 that regulates the flow direction of ink and air in the suction tube 14 in the direction of the arrow T in FIG. The one-way valve 21 prevents the ink in the suction tube 14 from flowing from the structural member 1 toward the cap 13. The other end of the suction tube 14 is connected to an ink supply unit 1 described later.
Along with one end of a pump tube 19 extending from 7, it is connected to one end of a waste liquid tube 20. The other end of the waste liquid tube 20 is attached to the structural member 1 via the bush 3a. A hole is formed in the connection portion of the bush 3a with the waste liquid tube 20, as described later with reference to FIG. 3, and the waste liquid tube 20 communicates with the inside of the structural member 1 through the hole. Thereby, the ink sucked from the recording head 6 by the driving of the suction pump 12 flows into the inside of the structural member 1 through the cap 13, the suction tube 14, and the waste liquid tube 20. Therefore, the second ink which is attached to the structural member 1 and communicates with the inside of the structural member 1 for drawing out the ink sucked from the recording head 6 to the outside of the recording head 6 through the cap 13 to the inside of the structural member 1. The outlet tube includes the suction tube 14 and the waste liquid tube 20.

The suction pump 12 discharges, in addition to the ink sucked from the recording head 12 by the suction operation, the ink flowing into the structural member 1 from the preliminary discharge box 9 and the wiper tray 11 to the waste liquid tank 24. This is for applying pressure to the waste ink in the structural member 1 so as to make it possible. Therefore, when the waste liquid tank 24 side of the structural member 1 is the downstream side, the mounting portion of the waste liquid tube 20 in the structural member 1, that is, the end surface of the structural member 1 on the side of the bush 3a is the mounting portion of the structural member 1 to which the waste liquid tube 15 is mounted. More upstream, the suction pump 12 is disposed upstream of ink from the preliminary discharge box 9 and the wiper tray 11.

The ink supply unit 17 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the holding tank 26, the sub tank 25,
It is composed of a main tank 27 and a supply pump 18 and a tube connecting these tanks. The holding tank 26 temporarily holds ink to be supplied to the air buffer 28, and the sub tank 25 temporarily holds ink to be supplied to the holding tank 26 or the air buffer 28. The main tank 27 holds ink to be supplied to the sub tank 25.

As described above, the pump tube 19 having one end connected to the suction tube 14 and the waste liquid tube 20.
The other end of the sub-tank 25
Is inserted inside. A supply pump 18 is provided in the middle of the pump tube 19, and a connection portion of the pump tube 19 with the suction tube 14 and the waste liquid tube 20.
Between the supply pump 18 and the supply pump 18, there is provided a one-way valve 22 for regulating the flow directions of the liquid and air in the pump tube 19 in the direction of the arrow X in FIG. The one-way valve 22 prevents the ink in the pump tube 19 from flowing from the structural member 1 toward the sub-tank 25. As the supply pump 18, a tube pump having a rotor that rotates in the direction of arrow W in FIG. 2 while crushing a part of the pump tube 19 is used.

In the ink supply unit 17, the ink in the main tank 27 is supplied to the sub tank 25 through a tube.
When the ink is supplied to the holding tank 26, first, a passage for supplying the ink in the sub tank 25 to the holding tank 26,
5. Closing a tube for supplying the ink in the ink tank 5 to the air buffer 28 and a passage formed in the upper part of the sub tank 25 for communicating the inside of the sub tank 25 with the atmosphere;
The inside of the sub tank 25 is set as a substantially closed space. Next, the supply pump 18 is driven by the sequence of the ink jet recording apparatus, and the rotor of the supply pump 18 is rotated in the direction of arrow W to suck air in the sub-tank 25 through the pump tube 19, so that the negative pressure in the sub-tank 25 is reduced. To Thereby, the ink in the main tank 27 is supplied into the sub tank 25 through the tube.

When the liquid level of the ink in the sub tank 25 rises and the supply pump 18 is driven when the liquid level comes into contact with the pump tube 19, the ink in the sub tank 25 passes through the pump tube 19 and the waste liquid tube 20. It is sent inside the member 1.

One end of a waste liquid tube 20, which is an outlet pipe, is attached to an end surface of the structural member 1 on the side of the waste liquid tank 24 via a bush 3b. Bush 3b
A hole is formed in a connection portion of the structural member 1 with the waste liquid tube 23 as described later with reference to FIG. 3, and the waste liquid tube 23 communicates with the inside of the structural member 1 through the hole.
The other end of the waste liquid tube 23 is inserted into the waste liquid tank 24 from above the waste liquid tank 24. Thereby, when the ink in the structural member 1 reaches a predetermined amount, the ink in the structural member 1 is passed through the waste liquid tube 23 to the waste liquid tank 2.
4 is poured. Therefore, the recovery unit 10
The pre-discharge box 9, the wiper tray 11, the waste liquid tube 15, the cap 13, and the waste liquid flow path for leading the ink discharged from the recording head 6 and the ink discharged from the ink supply unit 117 to the waste liquid tank 24 at 8. , Suction tube 14, pump tube 19, waste liquid tube 2
0, a bush 3a, a structural member 1, a bush 3b, a waste liquid tube 23, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the structural member 1 and members around the structural member 1. FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along line AA ′ of the structural member 1 in FIG. 2, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the structural member 1 and bushes at both ends of the structural member 1 along the line AA ′ in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the cross-sectional shape of the tubular structural member 1 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is rectangular. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, both ends of the structural member 1 are open, and one opening surface of the structural member 1 on the recovery system unit 8 side is sealed so as to seal the opening surface. The bush 3a is attached. A bush 3b is attached to the other opening surface of the structural member 1 on the waste liquid tank 24 side so as to seal the opening surface. As the material of each of the bushes 3a and 3b, a material having high ink resistance and elasticity, such as butyl chloride rubber, is used. A hole 4c for communicating the waste liquid tube 15 with the inside of the structural member 1 is formed in an upper portion of the portion of the structural member 1 on the side of the bush 3a.

A hole 4a for connecting the waste liquid tube 20 and the structural member 1 is formed in a connection portion of the bush 3a with the waste liquid tube 20, and a waste liquid tube is formed in a connection portion of the bush 3b with the waste liquid tube 23. 23 and structural member 1
And a hole 4b that communicates with the hole. Holes 4a, 4b
Are flow paths for waste ink. The hole 4b is arranged in the structural member 1 near the bottom. The hole 4 a is formed at a position higher than the hole 4 b, thereby preventing the waste ink once flowing into the structural member 1 through the waste liquid tube 20 from flowing back to the waste liquid tube 20. However, if the backflow of the waste ink to the waste liquid tube 20 is not a problem due to the structure of the flow path, the holes 4a and 4d
It is not always necessary to make the positional relationship with b such.

As described above, in the structural member 1 whose both ends are sealed by the bushes 3a and 3b, when the suction pump 12 is driven, it is generated in the structural member 1 via the suction tube 14 and the waste liquid tube 20 by the suction pump 12. Since the ink in the structural member 1 is fed into the waste liquid tank 24 using the pressure, the air and the ink in the structural member 1 are prevented from leaking except for the flow of the ink and the air into the hole 4b of the bush 3b. Have been. That is, by using the bushes 3a and 3b, which are elastic bodies having ink resistance, the waste ink flows from the waste liquid flow path for leading the waste ink from the recovery system unit 8 and the ink supply unit 17 into the waste liquid tank 24. Leakage is prevented.

In addition, inside such a structural member 1,
As shown in FIG. 3, the ink level in the structural member 1
A predetermined amount of ink from the waste liquid tubes 15 and 20 is stored in the structural member 1 until the position reaches a height a from the bottom surface in the structural member 1 defined by the uppermost end in b. When the liquid level of the ink in the structural member 1 becomes higher than the height a, the ink in the structural member 1 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 24 through the hole 4 b and the waste liquid tube 23. Structural member 1
Is a metallic material having surface resistance such as plating or coating and having ink resistance. The structural member 1 is made of, for example, an extruded aluminum material.

Next, a description will be given of the flow of waste ink in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above.

First, the recording head 6 is placed above the preliminary ejection box 9.
The ink preliminarily ejected from the recording head 6 toward the preliminary ejection box 9 in order to eliminate clogging of the recording head 6 naturally falls into the structural member 1 through the waste liquid tube 20 and the hole 4c, and falls. Ink collects at the bottom in the structural member 1. Further, when the ejection opening surface of the recording head 6 is cleaned by the wiper blade 10, the ink attached to the wiper blade 10 falls onto the wiper tray 11, and the ink dropped on the wiper tray 11 passes through the waste liquid tube 15 and the hole 4c. 1 falls naturally into the bottom of the structural member 1.

Regarding the waste ink from the cap 13,
After the discharge port surface of the recording head 6 is capped by the cap 13, the suction tube 14, the waste liquid tube 20, and the hole 4 a are operated by the suction operation of the suction pump 12.
And discharged into the structural member 1. Recovery unit 8
Through these operations, the waste ink gradually accumulates in the structural member 1, and the liquid level of the waste ink in the structural member 1 becomes
When the height becomes higher than the height a shown in FIG. 3, the inside of the structural member 1 is pressurized by the suction pump 12, and the waste liquid in the structural member 1 passes through the hole 4 b and the waste liquid tube 23 into the waste liquid tank 24. Is discharged.

If the ink is not smoothly discharged from the inside of the structural member 1 to the waste liquid tank 24 when the suction pump 12 is not driven, the suction pump 12 is driven and the inside of the structural member 1 is appropriately moved. By applying the pressure, it is possible to promote the discharge of the ink to the waste liquid tank 24.
Also, for example, by forming the holes 4a and 4b at a position higher than the height a shown in FIG.
It is also possible to increase the amount of waste ink stored inside. The ink capacity of the waste liquid tank 24 is about 3 liters in the case of an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording on a large-sized recording medium, due to the structure of the apparatus or the maintenance, and the volume of the hollow portion of the structural member 1 is 5 liters. It is about. In this way, by securing a sufficient capacity for storing the waste ink inside the structural member 1, the frequency of collecting the waste liquid in the ink jet recording apparatus by maintenance can be reduced. It is possible to reduce at least half of the frequency.

As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, since a part of the waste liquid flow path for leading the waste ink to the waste liquid tank 24 is constituted by the structural member 1, the recovery system In order to discharge the waste ink discharged from the unit 8 and the ink supply unit 17 to the waste liquid tank 24, it is not necessary to crawl the tube which crosses in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus. Thereby, the poor assemblability due to the long length of the tube is improved, and it is easy to secure the bending of the tube for crawling the tube.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment, the structural member 1 for supporting the recovery system unit 8, the ink supply unit 17 and the waste liquid tank 24 is used as a longitudinal member constituting a waste liquid flow path in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus. Although used, another hollow member may be used as a longitudinal member instead of the structural member 1. For example, as a longitudinal member,
A hollow member having the same shape as that of the structural member 1 is newly provided in the ink jet recording apparatus, and the hollow member is used for the structural member 1.
A waste liquid flow path may be configured in the same manner as described above. Thus, instead of the structural member 1, the function of storing the waste ink and the function of the outlet pipe for leading the waste ink to the waste liquid tank 24 are provided.
It is simply possible to have a hollow member extending in the longitudinal direction of the device.

Next, a modified example of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining a modification of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG.
A side view of the ink jet recording apparatus viewed from the waste liquid tank 24 is shown.

In the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 4, a carriage rail 31 slidably supports the carriage 32 so as to define the scanning trajectory of the carriage 32.
However, it is used as a longitudinal member constituting a waste liquid flow path for leading waste ink to the waste liquid tank 24. The carriage rail 31 is a hollow member made of a tubular rigid body extending in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus, and both ends of the carriage rail 31 reach outside the side plates 2a and 2b. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 5, bushes are attached to both ends of the carriage rail 31, similarly to the structural member 1 shown in FIGS. Further, the recording head 6 and the ink supply tube 7 shown in FIG.
And an air buffer 28. The carriage 32 and the components mounted on the carriage 32 constitute the carriage unit 5 shown in FIG.

The recording head 6 mounted on the carriage 32
So that the sheet-shaped recording medium 33 passes below the
The recording medium 33 is transported into the ink jet recording apparatus in the direction of arrow a in FIG. When the recording medium 33 passes below the recording head 6, ink is ejected from the recording head 6 toward the recording medium 33, so that images such as characters and graphics are recorded on the recording medium 33. . The recording medium 33 on which recording has been performed is conveyed in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 4 and is discharged from the inside of the inkjet recording apparatus to the outside of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 shows the carriage rail 3 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining No. 1; FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the carriage rail 31 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the carriage rail 31 and bushes at both ends of the carriage rail 31 along the line A ′.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the cross-sectional shape of the carriage rail 31 is circular. As shown in FIG. 5B, both ends of the carriage rail 31 are open, and one opening surface of the carriage rail 31 on the recovery system unit 8 side is sealed so as to seal the opening surface. A bush 43a is attached. Carriage rail 3
A bush 43b is attached to the other opening surface on the side of the waste liquid tank 24 so as to seal the opening surface. As the material of each of the bushes 43a and 43b, a material having high ink resistance and elasticity, such as butyl chloride rubber, is used. A hole 44c for communicating the waste liquid tube 15 with the inside of the carriage rail 31 is provided above the bush 43a side portion of the carriage rail 31.
Are formed.

The connecting portion of the bush 43a with the waste liquid tube 20 includes the waste liquid tube 20 and the carriage rail 3.
1 and a bush 43b.
A hole 44b for connecting the waste liquid tube 23 and the carriage rail 31 is formed at a connection portion with the waste liquid tube 23. The holes 44a and 44b each serve as a flow path for waste ink. The hole 44b is arranged near the bottom in the carriage rail 31. The hole 44a is formed at a position higher than the hole 44b, so that the waste ink once flowing into the carriage rail 31 through the waste tube 20 can be prevented from flowing back to the waste tube 20. However, if the backflow of the waste ink to the waste liquid tube 20 does not cause a problem in the structure of the flow path, the positional relationship between the holes 44a and 44b does not necessarily have to be such.

As described above, both ends of the bush 43a, 43b
The carriage rail 31 is closed by using the pressure generated in the carriage rail 31 via the suction tube 14 and the waste liquid tube 20 by the suction pump 12 when the suction pump 12 is driven.
The air and ink in the carriage rail 31 are prevented from leaking except for the flow of the ink and air into the hole 44b of the bush 43b in order to send the ink in 1 into the waste liquid tank 24. That is, by using the bushes 43a and 43b, which are elastic bodies having ink resistance, the waste ink flows from the waste liquid flow path for leading the waste ink from the recovery system unit 8 and the ink supply unit 17 into the waste liquid tank 24. Leakage is prevented.

Also, inside such a carriage rail 31, the liquid level of the ink in the carriage rail 31 becomes
As shown in FIG. 5, the waste liquid tube 15 and the waste liquid tube 15 are placed in the carriage rail 31 until the position reaches a position a ′ from the bottom surface in the carriage rail 31 and is defined by the uppermost end in the hole 44b.
A predetermined amount of ink from 20 is stored. When the liquid level of the ink in the carriage rail 31 becomes higher than the height a ′, the ink in the carriage rail 31 is discharged to the waste tank 24 through the hole 44 b and the waste tube 23. The carriage rail 31 is made of a metal having an ink resistance and subjected to a surface treatment such as plating or a coating. The carriage rail 31 is formed of, for example, an extruded aluminum material.

Here, the carriage 32 is connected to the side plates 2a and 2b.
In order to avoid the interference with the carriage 32, the connecting portion of the carriage rail 31 with the waste liquid tube 15 needs to be located outside the side plate 2. In addition, since the waste ink from the preliminary discharge box 9 and the wiper tray 11 shown in FIG. Must also be located below.

Also in the ink jet recording apparatus described with reference to FIGS.
4 is constituted by the carriage rail 31 so that the waste ink discharged from the recovery system unit 8 and the ink supply unit 17 is discharged to the waste tank 24. Eliminating the need to crawl the traversing tube in the longitudinal direction. Thereby, the poor assemblability due to the long length of the tube is improved, and it is easy to secure the bending of the tube for crawling the tube.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention, the liquid discharged from the recording head by the recovery system unit attached to one end of the liquid discharge recording apparatus is attached to the other end of the apparatus. Since at least a part of the waste liquid flow path for leading out to the waste liquid tank is constituted by a longitudinal member formed of a tubular rigid body extending in one direction, it is not necessary to crawl a tube traversing the longitudinal direction of the apparatus, The use of a long tube improves the assemblability, and also has an effect that it is possible to sufficiently secure the bending of the tube for crawling the tube in the flow path other than the longitudinal member.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a flow path of the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the structural member shown in FIG. 1 and components around the structural member.

FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining a modified example of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a carriage rail shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a flow path of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Structural member 2a, 2b Side plate 3a, 3b, 43a, 43b Bush 4a, 4b, 4c, 44a, 44b, 44c Hole 5 Carriage unit 6 Head 7 Ink supply tube 8 Recovery system unit 9 Predischarge box 10 Wiper blade 11 Wiper tray 12 suction pump 13 cap 14 suction tube 15 waste liquid tube 16 one-way valve 17 ink supply unit 18 supply pump 19 pump tube 20 waste liquid tube 21, 22 one-way valve 23 waste liquid tube 24 waste liquid tank 25 sub tank 26 holding tank 27 main tank 28 air Buffer 30a, 30b Structural member 31 Carriage rail 32 Carriage 33 Recording medium 51 Support structure

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A recovery system unit for eliminating a discharge failure of a recording head that discharges a liquid, a liquid supply unit for supplying a liquid to the recording head, and a discharge failure of the recording head by the recovery system unit. A waste liquid tank for storing the liquid discharged from the recording head when performing an operation for solving the problem, extending in one direction, the recovery system unit and the liquid supply unit being attached to one end, and A liquid discharge recording device having a support structure having the waste liquid tank attached to an end of the liquid discharge recording device, and a waste liquid flow path for leading liquid discharged from the recording head to the waste liquid tank; One end is disposed near the recovery system unit, and the other end is disposed by a longitudinal member disposed near the waste liquid tank. Te, the liquid discharge recording apparatus characterized by at least a portion of said waste stream path is configured. 2. The liquid discharge recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member stores a part of the liquid discharged from the recording head. 3. An outlet pipe having one end connected to a portion of the elongated member on the waste liquid tank side and the other end connected to the waste liquid tank so that the liquid inside the elongated member flows into the waste liquid tank. The liquid discharge recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 4. The recovery system unit and the liquid supply unit are attached to one end so as to support the recovery system unit, the liquid supply unit, and the waste liquid tank. The supporting member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the supporting structure has a structural member having the waste liquid tank attached to the other end thereof, and the structural member is used as the elongated member. Liquid ejection recording device. 5. A carriage rail comprising a tubular rigid body extending in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the support structure so as to slidably support the recording head, wherein the carriage rail is used as the longitudinal member. The liquid ejection recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is used. 6. A recovery system unit comprising: wiping means for wiping an ejection port surface of the recording head; and a receiver for receiving a liquid attached to the wiping means by wiping the ejection port surface by the wiping means. And a discharge pipe for discharging the liquid in the receiver into the elongated member.
The liquid ejection recording apparatus according to any one of the above. 7. The recovery system unit includes a pre-discharge box for receiving pre-discharged liquid from the recording head in order to eliminate clogging in the recording head. The liquid discharge recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a lead-out pipe for leading out to the inside of the member. 8. The recovery system unit includes capping means for capping an ejection port surface of the recording head and sucking a liquid in the recording head so as to eliminate clogging in the recording head. The liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a discharge pipe for discharging liquid sucked from inside the print head to outside of the print head through capping means into the inside of the elongated member. Recording device. 9. The liquid discharge recording apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a suction pump provided in the outlet tube for sucking the liquid in the recording head through the capping unit. 10. An ink is used as a liquid to be ejected from the recording head, and the ink in the longitudinal member is sent into the waste liquid tank by using a pressure generated by the suction pump when the suction pump is driven. for,
The liquid according to claim 9, wherein both ends of the longitudinal member are sealed by an ink-resistant elastic member so as to prevent air leakage in the longitudinal member and ink leakage from the waste liquid flow path. Discharge recording device. 11. A wiping unit for wiping an ejection port surface of the recording head, a receiver for receiving a liquid attached to the wiping unit by wiping the ejection port surface by the wiping unit, and A pre-discharge box for receiving liquid pre-discharged from the recording head in order to eliminate clogging of the recording head, and capping an ejection port surface of the recording head, and performing the recording so as to eliminate clogging in the recording head. The recovery system unit includes a capping unit for sucking a liquid in the head, and an end portion for leading the liquid in the receiver and the liquid in the preliminary ejection box to the inside of the elongated member. A first outlet pipe attached to the longitudinal member, and suction from the inside of the recording head to the outside of the recording head through the capping means. A second outlet pipe attached to the elongated member for leading the collected liquid into the interior of the elongated member, and a second outlet pipe for sucking the liquid in the recording head through the capping means. A suction pump provided in the waste liquid flow path, wherein the waste liquid tank side in the waste liquid flow path is the downstream side, and the mounting portion of the second outlet pipe in the long member is the second part in the long member. The liquid discharge recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the liquid discharge recording apparatus is located upstream of a mounting portion of the first outlet pipe. 12. An ink is used as a liquid to be ejected from the recording head, and the ink in the longitudinal member is sent into the waste liquid tank by using a pressure generated by the suction pump when the suction pump is driven. for,
The liquid according to claim 11, wherein both ends of the longitudinal member are sealed by an ink-resistant elastic member so as to prevent air leakage in the longitudinal member and ink leakage from the waste liquid flow path. Discharge recording device.