JP2003220713A - Inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a connection part between devices forming an ink circulating system by using a manifold having a comparatively simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The manifold 400 is so constituted that plate-like manifold pieces 410, 450 having passage holes communicating to bonding edge faces and side faces so as to be opened thereto are tightly bonded at the edge faces. The devices are attached to the side faces of the manifold pieces such that the devices are fitted to the openings of the passage holes. <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 inkjet recording device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The ink circulation system of an ink jet recording apparatus basically sucks the ink in an ink container with a supply pump to pressurize the ink and supplies the pressurized ink to a print head through a filter or a pressure adjusting valve. In the print head, ink not used for printing is sucked by a collection pump and collected in the ink container, and the connection between the devices in the ink circulation system is realized by piping tubes.

Further, in order to realize connection between devices without using a piping tube, a groove serving as a flow channel is formed in the base plate and the groove is closed with packing, or a groove serving as a flow channel with the base plate. There has been proposed a method for realizing connection between devices by using a manifold configured by opposing packings having the above.

[0004]

In such a conventional ink circulation system, the method of connecting the devices with the piping tube requires a large amount of piping tube connecting work in the assembling work, resulting in an increase in cost. Furthermore, since the number of piping tubes increases, the piping tube installation space inside the apparatus increases, which makes it difficult to downsize the apparatus.

Further, in the connection method using the manifold in which the base plate and the packing are opposed to each other to form the internal flow path, airtightness is required over the entire length of the flow path, so that high processing accuracy is required for the parts. , Management and inspection are difficult.

Although it is possible to apply a special injection molding called DSI to the manufacture of the manifold base, this injection molding method makes the mold expensive and causes the leakage at the joint and the inside of the flow path. Potential such as resin inflow to

An object of the present invention is to propose an ink jet recording apparatus which can realize a connection between devices constituting an ink circulation system with a manifold having a relatively simple structure. Another object of the present invention is to inexpensively form the manifold.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus in which ink in an ink container is circulated to a print head by an ink circulation system configured by attaching a device including an opening / closing solenoid valve, a supply pump and a pressure reducing valve to a manifold. In the above, the manifold is configured by closely coupling two plate-shaped manifold pieces having a flow path hole communicating with each other so as to open to the joint end face and the side face at the joint end face, and the device is It is characterized in that it is attached to the side surface of the manifold part so as to fit into the opening of the road hole.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An ink jet recording apparatus (IJP) having a manifold according to an embodiment of the present invention and an ink circulation system will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows an IJP ink circulation path according to this embodiment. This IJP is the main body 100
And the print head 200. The ink is supplied under pressure and collected inside the main body 100.
At 0, printing is realized by ejecting ink particles toward the printing object.

The main body 100 holds ink 102 in an ink container 101, and supplies the ink 102 to the pump 10.
3 is sent from the supply pump 103 in a state of being sucked and pressurized through the opening / closing solenoid valve 104, and the filter 10
Foreign matter in the ink is removed by 5, and a pressure reducing valve (pressure regulating valve)
The pressure is reduced (adjusted) to a pressure suitable for printing by 106 and is supplied to the print head 200 via the ink supply pipe 301.

The print head 200 includes a switching solenoid valve 201, a nozzle 202, and a gutter 203, and the ink supply pipe 30.
The solenoid valve 2 for switching the pressurized ink 102 supplied via 1
To the nozzle 202 via 01. Nozzle 202
Prints information by ejecting the ink 102 to generate ink particles 102a, which are electrostatically deflected by being charged according to the print data and adhered to the printing object. The ink particles 102a not used for printing are gutter 203.
Captured and returned to the main body 100 via the ink recovery pipe 302. The excess pressurized ink 102 is returned to the main body 100 via the ink return tube 303 by the nozzle 202.

The main body 100 sucks the ink 102 returned through the ink recovery pipe 302 by the recovery pump 109 through the filter 107 and the opening / closing electromagnetic valve 108 and returns it to the ink container 101. The pressure of the ink 102 returning via the ink return pipe 303 is measured and monitored by the pressure gauge 110, and returned to the ink container 101 via the opening / closing solenoid valve 111 and the stirring pump 112.

The body 100 further includes an ink replenishing container 11
The replenishment ink in 3 is sucked by the supply pump 103 through the opening / closing solenoid valve 114 to be replenished in the ink circulation system,
The solvent 116 in the solvent container 115 is sucked and pressurized by the solvent pump 117 and supplied to the ink container 101 via the opening / closing solenoid valve 118, and the opening / closing solenoid valve 119 and the filter 120 are connected.
Via the solvent supply pipe 304 to the switching solenoid valve 201 of the print head 200. Further, the discharge side of the pressure reducing valve 106 is connected to the suction side of the recovery pump 109 via the opening / closing solenoid valve 121 to form a circulation system for shortening the ink filling time in the system, and the opening / closing solenoid valve 111 and the stirring pump 112.
Between them, it is connected to the bottom of the ink container 101 via an opening / closing solenoid valve 122 and a viscometer 123 to form a circulation system for circulating the ink 102 in the ink container 101 and measuring the viscosity of the ink 102 while stirring.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, many of these respective devices in the main body 100 are attached to a manifold to be integrated with each other so as to be connected to the flow path provided in the manifold. In this configuration, the ink circulation channel is completed.

In this embodiment, the manifold 400 for connecting the devices inside the main body 100 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, two plate-shaped manifold parts 410 and 450 having flow path holes therein are densely coupled at the end faces. As will be described later in detail, the manifold parts 410 and 450 are formed by resin molding or aluminum die casting, and the flow path holes are formed by end faces and side faces to facilitate molding by a mold (core) or drilling. To form a combination of straight lines.

The lower manifold portion 410 has a protrusion 413 having a vertical flow passage hole 412 that is opened or sealed in the joint end surface 411a and the open end surface 411b of the flange 411 that is erected on the peripheral edge, and the vertical flow. A lateral flow path hole 416 that opens to the front side surface (tentative name) 414 or a back side surface (tentative name) 415 that communicates with the path hole 412 and couples the devices, and a through hole 417 that opens to both side surfaces of the lower manifold part 410 are inside. I have set up.

The upper manifold part 450 is provided with a ridge 453 having a vertical flow passage hole 452 opening in the joint end surface 451a of the flange 451 which is erected on the peripheral edge thereof, and is connected to the vertical flow passage hole 452 to connect the device. A lateral flow path hole (not shown) that opens on the back side surface to be joined and a through hole 454 that opens on both side surfaces of the upper manifold 450 are internally provided.

The lower manifold part 410 and the upper manifold part 450 are joined by abutting the joint end surfaces 411a, 451a and screwing the flanges 411, 451 together to connect the vertical flow path holes 412, 452. . By forming a seal ring groove 418 on the peripheral edge of the opening of the vertical flow path hole 412 on the joining end surface 411a of the lower manifold part 410, and fitting and sandwiching an O ring 419 as a seal member therein, Leakage from the connecting portion of both vertical flow passage holes 412 and 452 is prevented. Further, the lower manifold portion 410 and the upper manifold portion 450 are combined and aligned with each other by aligning the alignment protrusion 420 and the flange 451 of the upper manifold portion 450 on the joint end surface 411a of the flange 411 of the lower manifold portion 410. This is achieved by fitting the positioning holes 455 protruding from the joint end surface 451a.

Next, an example of inter-device connection realized by mounting the devices existing in the ink circulation system on the manifold 400 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the manifold 400 has a lateral flow passage hole 416a opened on the front side surface 414 and a lateral flow passage hole 416b opened on the rear side surface 415 of the flow path A from the ink container 101 to the opening / closing solenoid valve 104. Open end surface 411b
It is formed inside by the vertical flow path hole 412a sealed by. The flow path B from the opening / closing solenoid valve 104 to the supply pump 103 includes a horizontal flow path hole 416c opened in the back side surface 415, a vertical passage groove 412b opened in the joint end surface 411a, and the joint end surface 4.
It is formed inside by a vertical flow path hole 452a opening to 51a and a horizontal flow path groove 456a opening to the back surface. Supply pump 1
The flow path C from 03 to the pressure reducing valve 106 is formed by connecting a piping tube interposing the filter 105 to the through hole 454a and the pressure reducing valve 106. The flow path D connecting the pressure reducing valve 106 to the ink supply pipe 301 is a vertical flow path hole 412c in which the lateral passage hole 416d and the end face opening are sealed.
And a lateral flow path hole 416e. The flow path E connecting the opening / closing solenoid valve 108 to the ink recovery pipe 302 is formed by connecting a piping tube with a filter 107 interposed in the middle to the through hole 417a. The flow path F from the opening / closing solenoid valve 108 to the recovery pump 109 includes a horizontal flow path hole 416f opened on the back side surface, a vertical flow path hole 412d opening on the joining end surface 411a, a vertical flow path hole 452b opening on the joining end surface 451a, and the back side. It is formed inside by the lateral flow passage hole 456b opened on the surface. The flow path G connecting the recovery pump 109 to the ink container 101 is formed by connecting a piping tube to the through hole 454b.

In order to complete the ink circulation flow path using such a manifold 400, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the ink outlet is set to the lateral flow path hole 416a of the flow path A.
The ink container 101 is screwed and attached to the front side surface of the lower manifold part 410 so that the ink container 101 can be fitted to. A lateral flow path hole 416 is provided on the back side surface of the lower manifold part piece 410.
The solenoid valve 10 for opening and closing so that the inlet and outlet are fitted to b and 416c.
Attach 4 by screwing. Upper manifold part 4
The supply pump 103 is attached to the back side surface of the screw 50 by screwing so that the inlet / outlet fits into the outlets 456a and 452a. In addition, the front side surface 41 of the lower manifold portion piece 410
4, the pressure reducing valve 106 is screwed and attached so that the discharge port is fitted in the lateral flow path hole 416d. A flow path (piping tube) C with a filter 105 interposed in the middle is connected to an inflow port (not shown) provided on the side surface of the pressure reducing valve 106.
Further, the opening / closing solenoid valve 108 is attached to the back side surface 415 of the lower manifold portion 410 by screwing so that its inlet / outlet fits into the lateral flow passage holes 417a, 416f.
Then, on the back side of the upper manifold part 450, 4
The recovery pump 109 is screwed and attached so that the inlet and outlet are fitted to 56b and 454b.

The supply pump 103 and the recovery pump 109 are
A cam shaft (not shown) of the pump drive motor 124 mounted by screwing on the side end surface of the upper manifold part 450.
Diaphragm pump driven by.

The same ink circulation channel can be formed by mounting other devices in the same manner.

The ink circulation flow path thus constructed is mainly composed of lower and upper manifold parts 410, 45.
0 is joined to form a manifold 400, and the components such as the ink container 101, the opening / closing solenoid valves 104 and 108, the supply pump 103, the pressure reducing valve 106, and the recovery pump 109 are screwed and attached to the manifold 400 to complete the process. Since the number of piping tubes is reduced, the assembling work is simplified and the device can be downsized.

Moreover, the lower manifold part 410 and the upper manifold part 450 are formed by resin molding or aluminum die casting, and each flow path hole is formed by combining straight-shaped holes that are open to the end face and the side face. Therefore, it can be easily formed by molding with a mold (core) or drilling.

The manifold members 410 and 450 are
Actually, the method of manufacturing by injection molding of plastic such as PBT, POM, PPS is advantageous in terms of cost.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, two manifold parts having a vertical flow passage hole opened on the joint end face and a lateral flow passage hole or a through hole opened on the side face are joined at the joint end face and a device is installed in the horizontal flow passage hole. The ink circulation system can be configured with a manifold having a relatively simple structure by configuring the ink flow path between the respective devices by mounting the devices so as to connect to each other. It will be easy.

Further, such a manifold part can be inexpensively formed by resin (plastic) molding or aluminum die casting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an ink circulation path diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a manifold forming the ink circulation path shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the manifold shown in FIG.

4 is a perspective view of the back side of the lower manifold piece in the manifold shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG.

5 is a perspective view showing an ink circulation channel associated with the manifold shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view showing a state where devices are mounted on the front side surface of the manifold shown in FIG.

7 is a rear view showing a state where devices are mounted on the back side surface of the manifold shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Ink container, 103 ... Supply pump, 104, 1
08 ... Open / close solenoid valve, 109 ... Recovery pump, 200 ... Print head, 400 ... Manifold, 410 ... Lower manifold, 411 ... Flange, 411a ... Joining end surface, 412
... vertical flow path hole, 416 ... horizontal flow path hole, 417 ... through hole, 45
0 ... Upper manifold, 451 ... Flange, 451a ...
Joining end face, 452 ... Vertical flow path hole, 454 ... Through hole.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tadao Matsuda             1-1-1 Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture             Inside the ceremony company Hitachi Taga Electronics F-term (reference) 2C056 EA23 EA24 EC17 EC18 EC32                       JC01 KB04 KB08 KB16 KB26

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus in which ink in an ink container is circulated to a print head by an ink circulation system configured by attaching a device including an opening / closing solenoid valve, a supply pump and a pressure reducing valve to a manifold, wherein the manifold has a joint end surface. And two plate-shaped manifold parts in which flow path holes are formed so as to communicate with each other so as to open to the side surface, are densely coupled at a joint end surface, and the device is fitted into the opening of the flow path hole. An ink jet recording apparatus, characterized in that it is attached to the side surface of the manifold section. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a seal member is fitted between the joint end faces of the two manifold parts so as to surround the peripheral edge of the opening of the flow path hole. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two manifold pieces are joined by screwing a flange that is erected so as to form a joint end face. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two manifold pieces are formed by plastic injection molding.