JP2003159813A - Inkjet recorder and ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely print by using a pigment ink which tends to precipitate. <P>SOLUTION: This inkjet recorder comprises an inkjet recording head 8 for ejecting ink drops from a nozzle opening, a carriage 1 for relatively moving the recording head 8 with respect to a material to be printed, and an ink cartridge 9 for supplying ink to the recording head 8. A moving body 15 to be guided in the vicinity of an ink supplying hole is accommodated in the ink cartridge 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting a colored liquid as droplets onto a recording medium in accordance with print data, and an ink cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a printed circuit board,
Shapes, characters, etc. are printed for the purpose of clearly indicating the arrangement position of components and the type of components. For such printing, a method in which a screen having a pattern formed as a window in advance is used and an ink having an insulating property is screen-printed is used. However, in a circuit board on which high-density mounting is performed, there are problems that positioning is difficult and a screen needs to be newly manufactured every time a design change or the like is performed.

In order to solve such a problem, the piezoelectric element is capable of relatively freely adjusting the ejection pressure by an electric signal without heating the liquid unnecessarily unlike a bubble jet (registered trademark) recording head. It has been considered that a colored liquid, for example, ink is jetted by an ink jet recording head using a vibrator to draw a pattern or characters on the surface of an object to be coated such as a printed circuit board. According to such a printing method, a pattern can be drawn only by extracting character data or pattern data from the printed circuit design data and ejecting the colored liquid based on the extracted data, which eliminates the need for screen production. Not only that, there is an advantage that the design change can be dealt with flexibly.

[0004]

However, on the other hand, the ink used for such a purpose is an ink which is electrically insulative, does not corrode the printed wiring pattern, and is more clearly visible, such as titanium oxide. As it is used by suspending in a solvent as compared with the ink printed on paper, the pigment precipitates within an extremely short time, making it difficult to apply at the desired concentration,
There is also a problem that the ink jet recording head is clogged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a novel ink jet recording apparatus capable of reliably printing using a pigment-based ink which easily precipitates. Is to provide. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge suitable for a pigment-based ink that easily precipitates.

[0006]

In order to solve such a problem, in the invention of claim 1, the ink cartridge contains an ink container for containing ink, and an ink supply for supplying the ink to a recording head. The port, a guide member formed at least in the vicinity of the ink supply port, and a moving body whose movement path is regulated by the guide member. Further, in the invention of claim 10, an ink container, a sealing member that forms an ink supply port at an opening of the ink container, and a guide member formed at least in the vicinity of the ink supply port, It is composed of a moving body whose movement path is regulated by the guide member. This allows the ink to be stirred near the ink supply port,
The pigment, which easily precipitates near the ink supply port, can be supplied to the recording head after being stirred.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention,
1 shows an example of a printed circuit board printing apparatus, in which reference numeral 1 is a carriage, which is a drive motor 3 provided at one end of a frame 2 and an idle roller 4 provided at the other end.
It is configured to be reciprocated by being guided by the guide member 6 by the timing belt 5 which is stretched between the two.

An ink jet recording head 8 using a piezoelectric vibrator is provided on the surface of the carriage 1 facing the object mounting base 7, and an ink cartridge 9 is removably mounted on the upper surface. . This recording head 8 is
As is well known, by supplying a print signal to a piezoelectric vibrator, the pressure generating chamber is expanded and contracted, and ink droplets are ejected from a nozzle opening communicating with the pressure generating chamber.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the ink cartridge 9 described above. In the figure, reference numeral 10 is a container body that constitutes the ink cartridge, and is a surface which becomes a lower side when mounted on the carriage 1. An ink supply port 11 for supplying ink to the recording head 1 is formed, and an opening 12 on the upper surface is sealed by a lid 14 having an atmosphere communication hole 13.

Below the container body 10, it is easy to move due to inertia and is resistant to ink containing an organic solvent,
In addition, an ink chamber 16 is provided to secure a region in which the movable body 15 made of a material having high abrasion resistance, such as a spherical body of ceramics or non-rust steel, can be moved.

In the upper part of the ink chamber 16, a pigmented ink such as ink can be held by a capillary force so that the lower surface is supported by the ink absorber receiving portion 17, and the porous material is also corrosion resistant to the ink solvent. An ink absorber 18 made of a material is contained. Incidentally, reference numeral 19 in the figure denotes the recording head 8.
A rupturable seal film when attached to
Seals the recording head 8 while printing is stopped, and
A capping member that receives ink ejected from the recording head 8 for an ink ejection capacity recovery operation at the beginning of printing or during printing is shown.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a control device for controlling the recording device.
Is a print control unit that determines whether or not printing is possible based on the time measured by a timer 33, which will be described later. If printing is possible, the carriage control circuit 31 and the head drive circuit 32 match the print data. Ink is ejected from the recording head 8 while reciprocating the carriage 1.

Reference numeral 33 denotes the above-mentioned timer, which measures the time during which the printing operation is stopped, resets after execution of a predetermined recovery operation to be described later, and starts the timing operation when the printing operation is stopped. It is a thing.

Next, the operation of the apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. When a recording object 20 such as a printed circuit board is positioned and set on the mounting table 4 and print data is input from a CAD or the like (not shown) (step B in FIG. 4), the pause time T counted by the timer 33 is read out, If the pause time T is shorter than the reference value T0 compared with the reference value T0 defined by the time until the ink settles in the stopped state (Fig. 4 Step B), perform the recovery operation described later. Then, the printing operation is started (Fig. 4, step).

On the other hand, when the pause time T measured by the timer 33 is longer than the reference value T0 (step B in FIG. 4), the carriage 1 reciprocates without outputting a print signal to the recording head 8. Allow (Figure 4 step
C). As a result, the moving body 15 causes the ink chamber 1 to move due to inertia.
The ink in the ink chamber 16 is agitated by reciprocating in 6 to diffuse the precipitated pigment in the solvent and reproduce it in a state suitable for printing.

When the stirring for a predetermined time is completed, the recording head 8 is moved to the capping means 21 in the non-printing area to output an ink ejection signal to all the nozzle openings to perform the flushing operation, or the capping. Means 2
Then, the ink is forcibly ejected by applying a negative pressure from a pump (not shown) by sealing with 1 (step 4 in FIG. 4).

At this time, it is desirable that the amount of ink to be ejected is at least equivalent to the volume of the flow path in which precipitation may occur from the recording head 8 to the area where the moving body 15 exists. When the viscosity of the ink is particularly high, it is desirable to omit the flushing operation and apply a negative pressure to the nozzle openings to forcibly eject the ink.

At the stage when printing becomes possible in this way, the timer 33 is reset (see FIG.
(E) While the recording head 8 is moved along the surface of the printed circuit board 20 by the carriage 1, ink is ejected as droplets corresponding to characters or patterns based on the print data from the CAD to execute printing. (Fig. 4 stepped). As a result, on the surface of the printed circuit board 20,
Ink adheres to draw letters and patterns.

In the course of this printing, when ink is ejected from the recording head 8 and the pressure in the ink chamber 16 drops, the ink that has flowed from the ink absorber 18 into the ink chamber 16 and is consumed is replenished.

On the other hand, in the printing process, the carriage 1
Moves reciprocally in the printing area of the printed circuit board, so that the moving body 15 reciprocates in the ink chamber 16 due to inertia. As a result, the ink existing in the ink chamber 16 is agitated by the moving body 15, and the pigment which is about to be precipitated is diffused in the solvent and is maintained in a state suitable for printing.

In this way, when the printing on one printed circuit board is completed (step 4 in FIG. 4), the timer 33 starts the timing operation (step 4 in FIG. 4), and when a print command is input ( FIG. 4 Step n) The above printing process is repeated, and if no print command is input, the process is stopped.

Further, when the ink is consumed by the printing and the ink level drops near the lower surface 18a of the ink absorber 18, the printing operation is forcibly stopped. This prevents bubbling due to the movement of the moving body 15 and prevents bubbles from entering the recording head 8.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the ink cartridge 9. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, when the ink cartridge 9 is mounted on the carriage 1, it is at least in the moving direction of the carriage 1. Elastic members 40, 40 having solvent resistance are provided at the ends.

According to this embodiment, the moving body 15 is repulsed by the elastic members 40, 40 to increase the moving speed, improve the stirring action, and move the moving body 15 and the container body 10.
It is possible to prevent the collision with the noise and the damage.

Further, FIG. 9B shows a guide member 41 which regulates the moving path of the moving body 15 and also serves as a holding body of the ink absorbing body 18, and which also improves the stirring efficiency and the cartridge. It is intended to protect the.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 47 is a carriage on which the recording head 8 is mounted and which is guided by the guide member 4 to reciprocate. The ink cartridge housing portion 48 is formed at a position lower than the above. Further, a damper member 49 having a sub tank function is provided on substantially the same surface as the recording head 8. The damper member 49 is supplied with ink from the ink cartridge 51 of the accommodating portion 48 via the tube 50, absorbs the pressure fluctuation of the ink, and then supplies the ink to the recording head 8.

7 (a) and 7 (b) each show an embodiment of the damper member 49 described above, in which reference numeral 52 designates a substrate, which has the same depth. A rectangular recess 53 is provided, an upper end is provided with an inflow port 54 connected to the ink cartridge 51, and a lower end is provided with an outflow port 55 connected to the recording head 8. Sealed by a deformable flexible membrane 56,
Further, the elastic piece of the metal plate is elastically contacted as necessary.

FIG. 8 shows the ink cartridge 51 described above.
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which a bag 58 is formed of a flexible film having extremely low air permeability, an ink supply port 59 is provided on the opening side thereof, and welding and adhesion with the bag 58 are possible. It is configured by sealing with a sealing member 60 made of a material. A guide portion 62 for movably supporting the moving body 61 on the side housed in the bag 58 is built in the sealing member 60 as an integral body or a separate body, and ink near the ink supply port will be described later. It is configured such that stirring can be performed by moving the moving body 61 that moves. Incidentally, reference numeral 6 in the drawing
3 shows an outer case.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the above-mentioned sealing member, in which a tubular guide portion 65 having openings 64, 64 at both ends is formed so as to be orthogonal to the ink supply port 59. The movable body 61 is formed so as to be movable therein. The portions 65a and 65b near both ends of the guide portion 65 are the bag 5
The bag 58 is rounded so as not to damage the bag 58 due to contact with the bag 8.

According to this embodiment, when the carriage 1 moves, the movable body 61 is guided by the guide portion 65 by inertia and reciprocates to function as a piston, and the ink flowing into the guide portion 65 is opened by the openings 64, 64. It is possible to extrude the mixture into the bag 58 and stir it.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the guide portion 65
When a long and narrow window 65c is formed along the moving path of the moving body 61, ink is allowed to flow into the moving path of the moving body 61 through the window 65c, and ink is discharged from the moving path. It can be efficiently stirred.

Next, the operation of the embodiment thus configured will be described. When the object to be coated 20 such as a printed circuit board is positioned and set on the mounting table 4 and print data is input from a CAD (not shown) (step B in FIG. 4), the pause time T counted by the timer 33 is read, When the pause time T is shorter than the reference value T0 compared with the reference value T0 determined by the time until the ink settles after the printing is completed (Fig. 4 Step B), printing is performed without performing the recovery operation described later. Move to action (Fig. 4 step)
G).

On the other hand, when the rest time T is longer than the reference value T0 (step B in FIG. 4), the carriage 1 is reciprocated without outputting a print signal to the recording head 8 (step C in FIG. 4). . As a result, the moving body 61
Is guided by the guide portion 62 in the ink bag 58 due to inertia and reciprocates, and the moving body 61 agitates the ink in the vicinity of the ink supply port 59 to diffuse the precipitated pigment into the solvent and is suitable for printing. Play to state.

When the stirring for a predetermined time is completed, an ink discharge signal is output to all nozzle openings to perform a flushing operation, or a capping means is used to seal and a negative pressure from a pump (not shown) is applied. To forcibly eject ink (step 4 in FIG. 4).

As a result, from the recording head 8 to the moving body 61.
The ink that has settled in the flow path leading up to is discharged and printing becomes possible. When the viscosity of the ink is particularly high, it is desirable to omit the flushing operation and apply a negative pressure to the nozzle openings to forcibly eject the ink.

When printing is enabled in this way, the timer 33 is reset (see FIG.
(E) While the recording head 8 is moved along the surface of the printed circuit board 20 by the carriage 1, ink is ejected as droplets corresponding to characters or patterns based on the print data from the CAD to execute printing. (Fig. 4 stepped). As a result, on the surface of the printed circuit board 20,
Characters and patterns are drawn by the ink droplets attached.

In the course of this printing, when ink is ejected from the recording head 8 and the pressure in the ink chamber 16 drops, the ink cartridge 51 flows through the tube 50 into the damper member 49 to replenish the consumed portion.

On the other hand, in the printing process, the carriage 1
Reciprocates in the printing area of the printed circuit board, so that the movable body 61 reciprocates in the bag 58 due to inertia. As a result, the ink near the ink supply port is agitated by the moving body 61, and the pigment that is about to be precipitated is diffused in the solvent and is restored to a state suitable for printing.

In this way, when the printing on one printed circuit board is completed (step 4 in FIG. 4), the timer 33 starts the timing operation (step 4 in FIG. 4), and when the next print command is input. Is (Figure 4 Step Nu)
The above-described printing process is repeated, and if no print command is input, the process is stopped.

11 (a) and 11 (b) show other embodiments of the guide member for guiding the moving body 61, respectively. FIG. 11 (a) extends from the ink supply port 59 to the back. In addition, the same figure (b) is formed as a path that can be orbited according to the shape of the outer case 63, and accommodates a plurality of moving bodies 61, 61 ...

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the damper member 49. In this embodiment, a flow path connecting the ink inlet 54 located at the upper part and the outlet 55 located at the lower part. A horizontal region 67a is formed in a part of 67, and a damper chamber 68 having a constricted portion 68a having an expanded portion below is formed in the substrate 69 so as to communicate with the horizontal region 67a. Similarly to the above, it is sealed with a film 70 that can be deformed by the fluctuation of the ink pressure.

According to this embodiment, the ink pressure is applied to the membrane 7
While being absorbed by the deformation of No. 1, it is possible to prevent bubbles contained in the ink from being trapped in the damper chamber 68 during the flow and intruding into the recording head 8.

Although the ink is ejected in the horizontal direction in the above-mentioned embodiment, as shown in FIG.
By providing the ink cartridge accommodating portion 48 at a position distant from the recording head 8 of the carriage 1, the recording head 8 can be arranged on the lower surface of the carriage 1, and even if the ink has a low drying property, the ink after the printing can be removed. It is possible to prevent dripping.

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which reference numeral 72 is a rocking device installed on the base of the recording apparatus, and the ink cartridge accommodating portion 7 is provided on the upper surface thereof.
3 is provided. The accommodating portion 73 accommodates the ink cartridge 51 accommodating the moving body 61 in the same manner as described above, and is connected to the damper member 49 of the carriage 1 via the damper member 74 and the ink tube 50. A turbulent flow generation module 75 described later is connected in the middle of 50.

FIGS. 15 (a), 15 (b), and 15 (c) show an embodiment of the turbulent flow generation module 75. FIG. 15 (a) is formed to have a diameter larger than that of the ink tube 50. A staggered baffle plate 78 is provided in the room 77,
78, 78 are arranged, and FIG.
The room 77 is divided into the inflow port 77a and the outflow port 77b.
The filter 79 is provided in the above, and further, in FIG.
The turbulent flow generation area 77c is formed by rapidly expanding the inlet 77a on the ink cartridge side.

FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of a print control apparatus suitable for the above-mentioned recording apparatus, and reference numeral 30 in the figure.
Is a print control unit that determines whether or not printing is possible based on the time measured by a timer 33, which will be described later. If printing is possible, the carriage control circuit 31 and the head drive circuit 32 match the print data. Ink is ejected from the recording head 8 while reciprocating the carriage 1.

Reference numeral 33 denotes the above-mentioned timer, which measures the time during which the printing operation is stopped, and when it exceeds the reference value T0, drives the shaking table drive circuit 80 and causes the recording head 8 to perform the flushing operation. It is to reset after being performed.

Next, the operation of the apparatus thus constructed will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. When an object to be coated 20 such as a printed circuit board is positioned and set on the mounting table 4 and print data is input from a CAD (not shown) (step 17 in FIG. 17), the pause time T counted by the timer 33 is read. Compared with the reference value T0,
When the pause time T is shorter than the reference value T0 (see FIG. 17).
Step B), and shift to printing operation (Step in FIG. 17)
F).

On the other hand, when the rest time T is longer than the reference value T0 (step D in FIG. 17), a signal is output to the rocking device drive circuit 80 without outputting a print signal to the recording head 8. The ink cartridge 51 is reciprocated (step C in FIG. 17). As a result, the moving body 61 housed in the cartridge 51 reciprocates in the guide portion 65 due to inertia, agitates the ink in the vicinity of the ink supply port of the bag 58, diffuses the precipitated pigment into the solvent, and prints. Play in a state suitable for.

When the stirring for a predetermined time is completed, the recording head 8 is moved to the capping means 21 to output an ink ejection signal to all the nozzle openings to perform a flushing operation, or the capping means 21 is used. The ink is sealed and a negative pressure from a pump (not shown) is applied to forcibly eject the ink (step D in FIG. 17). The amount of ink to be ejected at this time depends on the recording head 8 and the damper member 4.
By setting the amounts corresponding to the volumes of the tube 9, the tube 50, and the turbulent flow generation module 75, it is possible to reliably discharge the ink that has settled in these flow path constituent members and perform printing.

At the stage where printing is possible in this way, after resetting the timer 33 (step E in FIG. 17), while moving the recording head 8 along the surface of the printed circuit board 20 by the carriage 1, Ink is ejected as droplets corresponding to characters and patterns based on print data from CAD (step F in FIG. 17).

When the ink in the damper member 49 is consumed by this printing, the ink cartridge 51 is removed from the tube 5.
It will flow into the damper member 49 via 0,
Since the turbulent flow generation module 75 is agitated in this process, the ink that is sufficiently agitated is supplied to the recording head 8.

In this printing process, the timer 33 measures the time after the rocking device 72 is stopped, and when the time is up (step in FIG. 17), the rocking device 72 is stopped.
Is output to the ink cartridge 51 for a predetermined time.
Swing again (step 17 in Fig. 17). As a result, the pigment that is about to settle in the cartridge 51 is suspended again in the solvent and is in a state suitable for printing. When the swing is completed, the timer 33 resets and restarts measuring time (step 17 in FIG. 17).

Although the damper member is also connected to the ink cartridge side in the above-described embodiment, when the pressure fluctuation is small, the damper member may be provided only on the carriage 1 side to provide a hydraulic pressure suitable for printing. Ink can be supplied to the cutting head.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The ink can be agitated in the vicinity of the ink supply port, and the pigment that easily precipitates in the vicinity of the ink supply port can be agitated before being supplied to the recording head.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an ink cartridge.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a control device for controlling the same device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above apparatus.

5A and 5B are cross-sectional views showing another embodiment of the ink cartridge, respectively.

6A and 6B are a rear view and a side view, respectively, showing another embodiment of the present invention.

7A and 7B are a front view and a bottom view, respectively, showing an embodiment of a damper member.

8A and 8B are a partially cutaway view and a front view, respectively, showing an embodiment of an ink cartridge.

9A and 9B are a sectional view and a front view, respectively, showing an embodiment of a sealing member that constitutes an ink cartridge.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the sealing member that constitutes the ink cartridge. It is a block diagram which shows one Example of the control apparatus which controls a recording device same as the above.

11 (a) and 11 (b) are front views showing another embodiment of the sealing member constituting the ink cartridge.

12A and 12B are respectively a front view and a bottom view showing another embodiment of the damper member.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

15 (a), (b), and (c) are cross-sectional views showing an embodiment of a turbulent flow generation module.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a control device for controlling the same device.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Carriage 3 Carriage drive motor 4
Timing belt 8 Recording head 9 Ink cartridge 15
Moving body 18 Ink absorber 20 Recorded body
21 Capping means

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] January 7, 2003 (2003.1.7)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Claims]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0016] In step stirring for a predetermined time is completed, the recording head 8 is moved to the capping means 21 of the printing area, or to perform the flushing operation by outputting an ink ejection signal to all the nozzle openings, also Kyapppingu Means 2
Then, the ink is forcibly ejected by applying a negative pressure from a pump (not shown) by sealing with 1 (step 4 in FIG. 4).

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording head for ejecting ink droplets from a nozzle opening, a carriage for moving the recording head relative to a non-printed material, and an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the recording head. In the inkjet recording apparatus, the ink cartridge includes an ink container that contains ink, an ink supply port that supplies the ink to a recording head, a guide member that is formed at least near the ink supply port, and the guide. An inkjet recording apparatus including a moving body whose movement path is regulated by a member. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge is housed in a swinging unit installed on a base. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a means for generating a turbulent flow in the ink is connected in the middle of a flow path connecting the ink cartridge and the recording head. 5. A damper member having a chamber whose one surface is sealed by a film deformable by pressure fluctuation of the ink is connected to at least one of the ink cartridge side of the flow path and the recording head side. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an ink inlet is provided at an upper portion of the chamber and an ink outlet is provided at a lower portion of the chamber. 7. The flow path in a region connected to the damper member is horizontally formed, and the chamber communicates with the flow path through a throttle portion whose lower portion opens. Inkjet recording device. 8. An ink absorber made of a porous material is accommodated below the ink container so as to form an ink chamber, and the ink chamber also serves as a guide member of the moving body. The ink jet recording apparatus described. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an elastic member is housed in at least a region of the ink chamber where the moving body collides. 10. An ink container for containing ink, an ink supply port for supplying the ink to a recording head, a guide member formed at least in the vicinity of the ink supply port, and a movement path restricted by the guide member. Cartridge that is composed of a moving body. 11. An ink absorber made of a porous material is accommodated below the ink container so as to form an ink chamber, and the ink chamber also serves as a guide member of the moving body. Ink cartridge described. 12. An elastic member is housed in at least a region of the ink chamber where the moving body collides.
The ink cartridge described in. 13. The ink cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the ink container includes a bag body and a sealing body that forms an ink supply port and seals the bag body.