JP2002355989A - Liquid supply apparatus for ink-jet recorder, and liquid supply method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink supply apparatus for an ink jet printer which surely and stably supplements a necessary minimum volume of ink to an ink jet head, can make an ink jet head part small and light-weight and can move at high speeds. SOLUTION: The ink jet head 40 is provided with an ink chamber 42 in which a porous member 44a holding the ink 43 by a capillary force is filled, and is set detachably to a carriage 30. The carriage 30 is guided by a shaft 20 and is movable between a recording area A and a home area B. There are arranged near the home area B, a supplemental ink jet head 73 for supplementing the ink to the ink chamber 42 inside the ink jet head 40 when the carriage 30 nears, an ink tank 60 filled with a porous member 44b for holding a supplementary ink 62 to the ink jet head 73 by a capillary force, and an ink supply pipe 61 for connecting the supplemental ink jet head 73 from the ink tank 60.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid supply for an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by ejecting droplets from an ink jet head onto a recording medium while moving the ink jet head in a direction intersecting with a conveyed recording medium. Related to the device. In particular, the present invention relates to an ink supply device that supplies a recording liquid to an inkjet head that moves between a recording standby area and a recording image forming area in a so-called serial type inkjet printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a serial type ink jet printer generally includes a recording standby area (hereinafter, referred to as a home area) and a recording image forming area (hereinafter, referred to as a recording area) via a shaft supported by a main frame. And a nozzle that is mounted on the carriage and moves with the carriage to form ink into a predetermined droplet shape and ejects the ink onto a recording medium such as paper or an OHP sheet. It has an inkjet head formed.

In such an ink jet printer,
When a predetermined recording signal is applied, the carriage and the ink jet head provided on the main frame move in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium, and at a predetermined position, through a nozzle provided in the ink jet head. Ink formed into a predetermined droplet shape is ejected toward the recording medium, and the droplet of the ink adheres to the recording medium conveyed by an appropriate driving unit, thereby performing recording.

FIG. 3 shows an ink supply configuration of a general ink jet printer.

[0005] An ink tank 60 filled with a porous member (capillary force generating member) 44 capable of holding and storing a predetermined amount of ink 43 by capillary force is detachably attached to the ink jet head 40 integrated with a carriage (not shown). The recording is performed by the inkjet head while the carriage is guided along the shaft 20 and moves on a recording medium (not shown) in a direction (for example, left and right in FIG. 3) intersecting with the recording medium transport direction. This is performed by ejecting ink droplets from 40.

The amount of ink to be filled in the ink tank 60 needs a sufficient amount to perform a printing operation of a predetermined amount of printing data. Therefore, the time to replace the ink is extended,
In order to increase the recording amount, the amount of ink to be filled must be increased, that is, the ink tank 60 must be increased.

[0007]

However, if the size of the ink tank 60 is increased, the carriage moving direction necessary for the ink tank 60 to pass when the carriage on which the ink tank 60 is mounted moves on the shaft 20 is so-called. The virtual volume increases, and the printer itself also increases in size. In addition, since the weight of the ink tank 60 filled with the ink 43 is naturally heavy, the motor for driving the carriage, the carriage, and the shaft 20 for supporting the carriage are required.
Since a load is applied to itself, the driving force of the motor must be increased, and the strength of the carriage must be improved. Naturally, the driving power also increases. In addition, since the above-described heavy object is reciprocated on the shaft 20 at high speed, vibration at the time of recording also increases. Thus, the enlargement of the ink tank on the carriage has a great effect on the printer body.

In order to solve such a problem, as shown in FIG. 4, an ink tank 60 is separately provided outside the carriage so that the ink 43 is continuously supplied to the ink jet head 40 through a tube 80. Configurations have also been proposed.

However, in this configuration, it is desirable to always apply an appropriate pressure (negative pressure) to the ink 43 of the inkjet head 40 in order to prevent ink leakage from the inkjet head 40. For this purpose, a configuration such as providing a head difference between the ink tank 60 and the inkjet head 40 is required. Further, since the tube 80 for supplying the ink 43 repeatedly bends, the tube 80 needs to be made of a durable and flexible material.
0 so that the fluctuation of the ink oscillating pressure due to the repetitive operation of the ink jet head 40 does not adversely affect the nozzles of the inkjet head 40.
The structure becomes complicated, such as providing a damper at an appropriate position for buffering fluctuations in the ink oscillating pressure.

In the ink supply system proposed in Japanese Patent No. 2905755 in order to solve the problems of the above two systems, an ink tank is mounted on a carriage and is filled with a required minimum amount of ink. And a main tank mounted on the body outside the carriage,
When the amount of ink in the sub tank is reduced, ink is replenished from the main tank at a specified position in the main body.

However, in this configuration, since the so-called raw ink system is employed for replenishing the ink from the main tank directly with the ink, the ink may leak due to a difference in posture when the printer is used or left, or depending on the environment. Can cause

The above-mentioned problems of the ink supply device of the conventional ink jet printer can be ignored as the printer is required to have a high-speed recording capability and is required to be smaller and lighter. Is gone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional ink supply apparatus for an ink jet printer, and has as its object to ensure that the ink of the minimum capacity necessary for an ink jet head, which is a driven body, can be obtained. In addition, a new and improved ink supply apparatus and ink supply method for an ink jet printer, which is configured to stably replenish ink, can reduce the size and weight of the ink jet head, and can easily perform high-speed driving. To provide.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid supply apparatus for an ink jet type recording apparatus having a carriage which moves between a recording standby area and a recording image forming area. Is provided with a liquid chamber filled with a porous member capable of holding and storing by capillary force, and a recording ink jet head for discharging and recording liquid is mounted on the carriage, and the carriage is in a recording standby area. Liquid replenishing means for replenishing the liquid chamber of the recording ink jet head with liquid when moved is disposed outside the carriage.

In this case, the liquid replenishing means stores the liquid in the liquid container of the recording ink jet head in the liquid container of the recording ink jet head when the carriage moves to the recording standby area. It is preferable to provide a replenishing inkjet head for discharging and replenishing the liquid.

In such a configuration, when the carriage moves to the recording standby area, the liquid in the liquid storage container outside the carriage is replenished to the liquid chamber of the recording ink jet head, thereby holding the apparatus main body. When increasing the amount of recording liquid to be used, it is not necessary to increase the tank weight on the carriage. Therefore, it does not cause problems such as enhancement of the device structure, increase in driving force and power of the carriage moving source, and increase in cost.
A stable high-speed movement of the carriage becomes possible. In addition, the liquid chamber of the recording inkjet head to be replenished is filled with a porous member capable of holding and storing the liquid by capillary force, so that a proper negative pressure is always applied to the nozzle of the recording inkjet head. Thus, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of liquid leakage from the recording ink jet head due to a difference in posture when the recording apparatus is used or left, or an environmental change.
Furthermore, by replenishing the liquid chamber with a replenishing inkjet head, the required minimum volume of the recording liquid is surely obtained.
Moreover, it is possible to stably replenish.

In the above liquid supply apparatus, the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid chamber is grasped from a discharge signal when the recording ink jet head records on a recording medium, and the carriage is moved based on a decrease in the amount of residual liquid. It is preferable to move to the recording standby area and perform liquid replenishment by the replenishing inkjet head. With this configuration, it is not necessary to secure a liquid level to detect the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid chamber, so that the size and weight of the recording inkjet head can be reduced.

Further, it is preferable that the liquid chamber is replenished by sending an ejection signal to the replenishing ink jet head based on recording information when the recording ink jet head mounted on the carriage records on a recording medium. . According to this configuration, it is possible to accurately replenish the liquid amount corresponding to the liquid consumption amount for the recording information when the recording ink jet head records on the recording medium.

The liquid chamber of the recording ink jet head has an opening for receiving the liquid replenished from the refilling ink jet head at least in the recording standby area except when liquid replenishment to the recording ink jet head is performed. It is preferable that a movable lid member for covering the lid is provided. According to this configuration, since the replenishing port of the liquid chamber of the recording ink jet head is closed by the lid member except when the liquid is replenished, careless evaporation of the recording liquid and leakage can be suppressed.

In the liquid supply apparatus as described above, as the recording ink-jet head and the replenishing ink-jet head, those which discharge liquid from nozzles by applying thermal energy or vibration energy to liquid can be applied.

The present invention also relates to a method for supplying a liquid to a liquid chamber of a recording ink jet head that moves between a recording standby area and a recording image forming area, wherein the liquid jet head moves to the recording standby area. The liquid is replenished into the liquid chamber of the recording ink jet head by a discharge operation of the ink jet head for replenishment.

In this case, it is preferable that the liquid chamber of the recording ink jet head is filled with a porous member capable of holding and storing a predetermined amount of liquid by capillary force.

Further, it is preferable that the liquid chamber is replenished by sending an ejection signal to the replenishing ink-jet head based on recording information when the recording ink-jet head records on a recording medium.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the conventional configuration shown in FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing one embodiment of the liquid discharge recording apparatus of the present invention. In the liquid ejection recording apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet head 40 is reciprocated on the conveyed recording medium 50 in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the recording medium 50 (the direction of arrow A in the figure). This is a so-called serial type ink jet printer that performs recording by discharging droplets from nozzles.

The ink-jet head 40 has an ink chamber 42 filled with a porous member 44a in which a predetermined amount of ink 43 is impregnated and held by capillary force, and is detachably mounted on the carriage 30 with the nozzle facing the recording medium 50. I have. The ink jet head 40 has a recording area A
, The ink chamber 42 according to a predetermined recording signal
The ink 43 supplied from the nozzle is formed into a predetermined droplet shape from a nozzle, and is ejected onto the recording medium 50.

The ink jet head 40 has a thermal energy generating element or vibration energy generating means disposed in a plurality of nozzles, and discharges ink in the nozzles by the thermal energy or vibration energy. For example, a so-called bubble jet (registered trademark) system in which ink droplets are ejected from nozzles by using an electrothermal converter such as a heater as a thermal energy generating element and boil the ink to form a film can be considered. As a vibration energy generating means, there is a method in which a piezo element is used to perform ejection by mechanical vibration.

The carriage 30 is slidably guided in the direction of arrow A in the figure by the shaft 20 supported by the printer main body, and has a recording area (recording image forming area) A and a home area (recording standby area) B. It is possible to move (traverse) between them.

The carriage 3 is located near the home area B.
When 0 moves to the home area B, the refilling ink jet head 73 for refilling the ink in the ink chamber 42 in the ink jet head 40 and the refilling ink 62 to the refilling ink jet head 73 are stored by capillary force.
Ink tank 60 filled with porous member 44b to be held
And an ink replenishing means including an ink supply pipe 61 that connects the ink tank 60 to the replenishing inkjet head 73.

The ink chamber 42 and the ink tank 6
0 indicates that a porous member is filled if a negative pressure is not generated and the ink does not leak from the ink jet head 40 due to a difference in posture when the printer is used or left, or an environmental change. It is not necessary. However, since the ink chamber 42 is disposed on the carriage 30, it is necessary that the ink chamber 42 does not increase in volume and weight. On the other hand, if the ink tank 60 installed in the main body outside the carriage has a configuration in which a large amount of ink is stored and an appropriate negative pressure is applied to the nozzles of the replenishment ink jet head 73, the ink that has an elastic restoring force in the tank It can be selected as appropriate, such as one containing a bag, one in which an open-air porous member storage chamber and a closed-type raw ink storage chamber communicate with each other near the bottom.

Although the details will be described later, as shown in FIG. 2A, the opening of the ink chamber 42 for receiving the ink supply from the refilling ink jet head 73 is partially open to the atmosphere communication port 74 in the recording state. It is closed by a lid member 72 having an opening as shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the ink supply device of the ink jet printer configured as described above will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the ink jet head 40 performs a predetermined recording operation in the recording area A. At this time, the printer main body grasps the ejection signal sent to the ink jet head 40 when performing the recording operation, and uses the remaining amount of ink held in the ink chamber 42 and the consumption (consumption) of the ink droplet.
The detected ink amount is detected. When the remaining amount of ink is low, the printer body moves the carriage 30 to the recording area A.
To the home area B to perform the ink supply operation.

When the carriage 30 moves from the recording area A to the home area B, and the lever 71 of the lid member 72 contacts the ink replenishing means having the replenishing inkjet head 73 as shown in FIG. The member 72 moves to the left in the drawing with respect to the ink chamber 42 against the elasticity of the elastic member 75, so that the upper portion of the ink chamber 42 is largely opened and the ink tank 6 is opened.
The replenishment inkjet head 73 connected to 0 is located above the ink chamber 42 to prepare for replenishment of the ink. At this time, it is desirable that the printer be configured so that the ink does not leak from the opening of the ink chamber 42 depending on the posture of the printer.

In this state, the ink in the ink tank 60 is supplied to the ink supply pipe 6 by giving the ink ejection command for the ejection signal (recording information amount) received by the ink jet head 40 at the time of recording to the replenishing ink jet head 73.
1. The ink flows in the order of the replenishing inkjet head 73 and is supplied by the amount of ink consumed in the ink chamber 42 used for recording by the inkjet head 40. That is, the printer main body sends an ejection signal to the replenishment inkjet head 73 based on the recording information when the recording inkjet head 40 mounted on the carriage 30 records on the recording medium 50, and thereby the ink chamber 42 of the inkjet head 40. To replenish the liquid.

After the ink is supplied to the ink chamber 42 of the ink jet head 40, when the carriage 30 is moved to the recording area A for the next recording operation as shown in FIG. Elastic member 75
The cover member 72 moves rightward in FIG. As a result, the opening at the top of the ink chamber 42 is sealed again, so that careless ink evaporation and ink leakage can be suppressed. In the present embodiment, the air communication port 74 is provided in the lid member 72, but may be provided in the housing of the ink chamber 42 and the air communication port of the lid member 72 may be eliminated. Further, the opening / closing of the lid member 72 has been described as a pressing method using the lever 71, but is not limited to this method. Of course, the lid member 72 may not be provided as long as the ink chamber opening is large enough to prevent ink evaporation or ink scattering that does not hinder the product.

If a cleaning mechanism for the nozzles of the ink jet head 40 (for example, a suction mechanism for recovering clogging of the nozzles, a cleaning means for cleaning the nozzle forming surface with a wiper blade, etc.) is provided in the home area B, the ink jet printing is possible. Each time the head 40 moves to the home area B for nozzle cleaning, the ink 6
0 to the ink chamber 42 of the inkjet head 40
May be configured to continuously replenish the ink. Naturally, a cleaning mechanism may also be provided on the ink replenishing inkjet head 73 side, and if the cleaning mechanism also serves as the recording inkjet head 40, there is an effect of reducing the number of components, which is even better.

As described above, according to the ink supply apparatus according to the present embodiment, the ink can be replenished reliably, stably, and easily. The manufacturing cost can be reduced, and at the same time, the inkjet head can be moved at a high speed, and the processing capability of the printer can be improved.

Further, by reducing the volume of the ink jet head, the area occupied by the reciprocating ink jet head can be reduced, and the size of the printer body can be reduced.

While the preferred embodiment of the ink supply device for an ink jet printer according to the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such an example. It is easy for those skilled in the art to come up with various changes or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims of the present application. It belongs to the range.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the carriage is moved to the recording standby area, the liquid in the liquid container outside the carriage is replenished to the liquid chamber of the recording ink jet head, so that the amount of recording liquid held by the apparatus main body is increased. It is not necessary to increase the weight of the upper tank. Therefore, reinforcement of the device structure,
The stable high-speed movement of the carriage is enabled without causing problems such as an increase in the driving force and electric power of the carriage movement source and an increase in cost. In addition, the liquid chamber of the recording inkjet head to be replenished is filled with a porous member capable of holding and storing the liquid by capillary force, so that a proper negative pressure is always applied to the nozzle of the recording inkjet head. Thus, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of liquid leakage from the recording ink jet head due to a difference in posture when the recording apparatus is used or left, or an environmental change. Further, by replenishing the liquid chamber with a replenishing ink jet head, it is possible to reliably and stably replenish the required minimum volume of the recording liquid.

In the above liquid supply apparatus, the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid chamber is grasped from a discharge signal when the recording ink jet head records on a recording medium, and the carriage is moved based on the decrease in the amount of remaining liquid. By moving to the recording standby area and performing liquid replenishment by the replenishing ink jet head, it is not necessary to secure a liquid level to detect the remaining liquid amount in the liquid chamber. Is possible. Further, by reducing the volume of the recording inkjet head, the area occupied by the reciprocating recording inkjet head can be reduced, and the size of the recording apparatus can be reduced.

Further, the liquid chamber is refilled by sending a discharge signal to the refilling ink-jet head based on the recording information when the recording ink-jet head mounted on the carriage records on the recording medium. It is possible to accurately replenish the amount of liquid corresponding to the amount of liquid consumed for the recording information when the inkjet head for recording records on the recording medium.

The liquid chamber of the recording ink jet head has an opening for receiving the liquid replenished from the replenishing ink jet head at least in the recording standby area except when liquid replenishment to the recording ink jet head is performed. By providing a movable lid member that covers the ink jet head, careless evaporation of the recording liquid from the replenishing port of the liquid chamber of the recording ink jet head and liquid leakage can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an ink supply device of an ink jet printer which is one embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation of an ink supply device of the ink jet printer which is one embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a conventional apparatus for supplying ink to an inkjet head.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a conventional apparatus for supplying ink to an inkjet head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 shaft 30 carriage 40 inkjet head 42 ink chamber 44a porous member 44b porous member 50 recording medium 60 ink tank 61 ink supply tube 62 refilling ink 71 lever 72 lid member 73 refilling inkjet head 74 air communication port 75 elastic member 80 Tube A Recording area B Home area

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A liquid supply device in an ink jet recording apparatus having a carriage that moves between a recording standby area and a recording image forming area, wherein a porous member capable of holding and storing a predetermined amount of liquid by capillary force is filled. A recording ink jet head, which is provided with a liquid chamber and performs recording by discharging a liquid, is mounted on the carriage, and replenishes the liquid chamber of the recording ink jet head with the liquid when the carriage moves to a recording standby area. A liquid supply device for an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a liquid replenishing means is disposed outside the carriage. 2. The liquid replenishing means discharges the liquid in the liquid container to the liquid chamber of the recording ink jet head when the carriage moves to a recording standby area. 2. A liquid supply device for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a replenishing ink jet head for replenishing the liquid. 3. The recording head detects the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid chamber from an ejection signal when recording on a recording medium, and moves the carriage to the recording standby area based on a decrease in the amount of liquid remaining. 3. The liquid supply device for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the liquid is replenished by the replenishing ink jet head. 4. The liquid chamber is replenished by sending a discharge signal to the replenishing ink jet head based on recording information when a recording ink jet head mounted on the carriage records on a recording medium. 4. A liquid supply device for an ink jet recording apparatus according to item 3. 5. An opening for receiving a liquid to be replenished from the refilling inkjet head at least in the recording standby area except when a replenishment of the liquid to the recording inkjet head is performed in the liquid chamber of the recording inkjet head. The liquid supply device for an ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a movable lid member that covers the lid. 6. The ink jet head for recording and the ink jet head for replenishment eject a liquid from a nozzle by applying thermal energy or vibration energy to the liquid.
Item 10. A liquid supply device for an ink jet recording apparatus according to item 8. 7. A method for supplying a liquid to a liquid chamber of a recording inkjet head that moves between a recording standby area and a recording image forming area, wherein the recording is performed when the recording inkjet head moves to the recording standby area. A liquid supply method for replenishing the liquid chamber of the inkjet head for use with a discharge operation of the inkjet head for replenishment. 8. The liquid supply method according to claim 7, wherein the liquid chamber of the recording ink jet head is filled with a porous member capable of holding and storing a predetermined amount of liquid by capillary force. 9. The liquid chamber is refilled by sending an ejection signal to the refilling ink-jet head based on recording information when the recording ink-jet head records on a recording medium. The liquid supply method as described above.