JP2003226024A - Inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recorder capable of always performing high quality printing irrespective of its vertical or horizontal attitude. <P>SOLUTION: This inkjet recorder can be placed on a horizontal loading plane in at least two attitudes. A center line of a nozzle of a print head 2 is inclined at an angle of approximately 45.degree. relative to a plane perpendicular to a moving direction of the print head 2 on the loading plane and the print head 2 is symmetric about the axis of the center line on the plane. An ink supply hole 22 to be connected to an ink discharge hole 31 of an ink tank 3 for supplying ink toward the center position on a nozzle face of the print head 2 is provided to the print head 2. <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 capable of mounting the apparatus main body on a horizontal mounting surface in at least two postures.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an inkjet printer has been known as an inkjet type image forming apparatus.
This printer is convenient for the user to print regardless of the print orientation. However, when the printing posture changes, the direction of the nozzles that eject ink onto the recording material and the position of the ink tank relative to the nozzles also change. For example, a nozzle that was oriented in the horizontal direction may change vertically downward.

However, in the conventional ink jet printer, the state of meniscus is determined by the relative positional relationship between the ink tank and the nozzle. Therefore, there is a large difference in the retreat amount of each meniscus between when the nozzle is in the horizontal direction and when the nozzle is in the vertical downward direction, so a complicated mechanism is required to set an appropriate meniscus amount at both positions. Was there.

Therefore, in order to always realize high-quality printing without being affected by the difference in printing attitude, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-235754, the printing attitude of an ink jet printer is detected by a mercury switch, and A technique is disclosed in which the recording speed and drive conditions are changed according to the detected print orientation.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-369555 discloses a technique in which a slit that opens and closes with a predetermined pressure difference is used to appropriately set the negative pressure of the ink tank according to the printing posture. .

Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-328707, regardless of whether the printing posture is vertical or horizontal, the communicating portion of the ink tank divided into a plurality is always located at the bottom of the ink tank. Then, there is disclosed a technique in which an ink absorber is provided in the communication portion and the internal pressure of the ink tank chamber is made constant by the ink absorber.

[0007]

However, in the conventional example described in each of the above publications, due to a change in the posture of the apparatus main body,
Since the backwater pressure of the ink changes and the printing operation tends to become unstable, it is not possible to always expect high-quality and stable printing regardless of the printing posture.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of always performing high-quality printing regardless of whether it is placed vertically or horizontally.

[0009]

The present invention has means for solving the above-mentioned problems as follows.

(1) In an ink jet recording apparatus capable of mounting the apparatus main body on a horizontal mounting surface in at least two postures, the center line of the nozzle of the print head with respect to the mounting surface is the print head. Has a tilt of about 45 degrees on a plane orthogonal to the moving direction of the print head, and the print head is axially symmetrical on the plane with respect to the center line.

In this configuration, the inclination of the nozzle of the print head is constant regardless of whether the printer is placed vertically (the position where the sheet feeding unit is located above) or horizontally (the position where the sheet feeding unit contacts the mounting surface). (Same). Therefore, a stable printing operation can be performed at all times regardless of the vertical or horizontal placement (regardless of the printing posture).

(2) An ink supply port for supplying ink to the center of the nozzle surface of the print head is provided.

With this configuration, the ink can be evenly sent to the nozzles of the print head regardless of whether it is placed vertically or horizontally. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the fluctuation of the backwater pressure due to the change of the mounting posture of the apparatus body, and the printing operation is stabilized.

(3) The paper feeding unit is movable according to the change in the posture of the apparatus body.

In this configuration, even in the case of horizontal placement,
Along with the main body of the apparatus, the paper feed section can be brought into contact with the placement surface at the same time, and stable placement is possible. Therefore, stable feeding of the recording material can be realized without increasing the size of the apparatus.

(4) The paper feeding unit is movable by its own weight.

In this structure, when the posture of the apparatus main body changes without providing any special moving means (or driving means), the position of the paper feeding section changes due to its own weight. Therefore, the structure is simplified.

(5) In an ink jet recording apparatus in which the main body of the apparatus can be mounted on a horizontal mounting surface in at least two postures, the center line of the ink tank is relative to the moving direction of the print head with respect to the mounting surface. It is characterized in that it has an inclination of about 45 degrees on a plane orthogonal to each other, and the cross section of the ink tank is axisymmetrical on the plane with respect to the center line.

In this configuration, the ink tank is tilted at a constant angle (the same position) regardless of whether it is placed vertically (the position where the paper feed unit is located above) or horizontally (the position where the paper feed unit contacts the mounting surface). ). Therefore, stable printing operation is always possible.

(6) The ink tank is constructed so that the height from the lowermost end of the ink tank to the liquid surface of the ink does not change even when the posture of the apparatus main body is changed. .

In this configuration, the liquid level from the bottom surface of the ink tank is constant regardless of whether it is placed vertically or horizontally. Therefore, stable printing can be performed without being affected by fluctuations in the ink level (liquid level height).

(7) The cross section of the ink tank on a plane orthogonal to the direction of movement of the print head is symmetrical with respect to the center line of the ink tank.

In this structure, the cross section parallel to the bottom surface of the ink tank is square or symmetrical with respect to the center line. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the backwater pressure of the ink from fluctuating regardless of whether the ink is vertically or horizontally placed.

(8) In an ink jet recording apparatus in which the main body of the apparatus can be mounted on a horizontal mounting surface in at least two postures, the main body of the apparatus communicates with the ink discharge port of the ink tank cross section on a plane orthogonal to the moving direction of the print head. The surface to be formed has an inclination of approximately 45 degrees or more with respect to the center line of the cross section.

In this configuration, even when the apparatus main body is placed vertically or horizontally, the wall surface that is the lowermost surface of the ink tank can be in a horizontal state or in a state of being inclined toward the ink discharge port. Therefore, the backwater pressure of the ink supply port on the print head side can be made constant at all times, and printing can be performed without the influence of vertical or horizontal placement.

(9) The ink tank comprises an ink storage chamber and an ink pressure adjusting chamber having an ink absorber,
The ink pressure adjusting chamber is on the print head side, and a wall surface separating the ink storage chamber and the ink pressure adjusting chamber has an inclination of 45 degrees or more with respect to the direction of the ink discharge port. .

In this structure, the wall surface that is the lowermost surface of the ink storage chamber can be in a horizontal state or a state in which it is inclined toward the ink communicating portion. Therefore, the ink can be used up to the end.

(10) The ink tank is characterized in that the liquid level of the ink from the ink discharge port does not change even if the posture of the apparatus body is changed.

In this configuration, the liquid level from the bottom surface of the ink tank is constant regardless of whether it is placed vertically or horizontally. Therefore, it is possible to print without being affected by fluctuations in the ink level (liquid level height).

(11) A detecting means for detecting the ink level of the ink tank is provided, and the detecting means is at a constant distance from the liquid surface of the ink in the ink tank storage chamber regardless of the posture of the apparatus main body. It is characterized in that it is arranged in the ink storage chamber.

In this structure, the detecting means is located at a constant distance from the liquid surface of the ink in the ink tank storage chamber regardless of whether the apparatus main body is vertically or horizontally placed. Therefore, the same ink level can always be detected regardless of the posture of the apparatus body.

(12) In the ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink tank comprises a main ink tank and a sub ink tank, and includes a pressure reducing device for reducing the pressure on the front surface of the nozzle, the ink outlet of the main ink tank is
It is characterized in that it is at the bottom regardless of the posture of the apparatus body.

In this structure, the ink outlet of the main ink tank is located at the bottom regardless of the posture of the ink jet recording apparatus. Therefore, it becomes possible to consume all the ink in the main ink tank.

(13) A waste ink tank for storing waste ink is further provided, and the ink inlet of the waste ink tank is located at the uppermost portion regardless of the posture of the apparatus main body.

In this structure, the ink inlet of the waste ink tank is located at the uppermost portion regardless of the posture of the apparatus body. Therefore, backflow of ink does not occur regardless of the vertical position or the horizontal position. Further, it is possible to store the ink of the volume of the waste ink tank.

(14) In an ink jet recording apparatus in which the apparatus main body can be mounted on a horizontal mounting surface in at least two postures, the nozzle of the print head is tilted at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the mounting surface. And a surface communicating with the ink discharge port of the ink tank is 4 with respect to the direction of the ink discharge port.
It is characterized by having an inclination of 5 degrees or more.

In this structure, the nozzles of the print head can be arranged even when the apparatus main body is placed vertically (the position where the paper feed unit is located above) or horizontally (the position where the paper feed unit contacts the placement surface). Has a constant slope.

Further, the lowermost wall surface of the ink tank can be horizontal or can be inclined toward the ink discharge port. Therefore, the backwater pressure of the ink supply port on the print head side can be made constant at all times, and stable printing can always be performed without the influence of vertical or horizontal placement.

(15) In an ink jet recording apparatus capable of mounting the apparatus main body on a horizontal mounting surface in at least two postures, the nozzle of the print head is tilted at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the mounting surface. The ink tank includes an ink storage chamber and an ink pressure adjustment chamber having an ink absorber, the ink pressure adjustment chamber is on the print head side, and the ink storage chamber and the ink pressure adjustment are provided. The wall surface that separates from the chamber has an inclination of 45 degrees or more with respect to the direction of the ink discharge port, and the surface communicating with the ink discharge port of the ink pressure adjustment chamber is 45 degrees or more with respect to the direction of the ink discharge port. It is characterized by having a slope of.

In this configuration, the nozzles of the print head can be arranged even when the apparatus main body is placed vertically (the position where the paper feed unit is located above) or horizontally (the position where the paper feed unit contacts the placement surface). Has a constant slope.

Further, the lowermost wall surface of the ink storage chamber and the partition surface in the ink tank can be in a horizontal state or in a state of being inclined toward the ink discharge port.
Therefore, the backwater pressure of the ink supply port on the print head side can be made constant at all times, and stable printing can be performed without the influence of vertical or horizontal placement. Also, the ink can be consumed up to the end.

[0042]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An inkjet recording apparatus (inkjet printer) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment has a print head 2
It has a carriage 4 on which the ink tank 3 and an ink tank 3 are mounted, a shaft 5 and the like. The carriage 4 is supported by the shaft 5 and moves in the main scanning direction (arrow direction). The print head 2, the ink tank 3 and the carriage 4 are inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane.

More specifically, the ink jet printer l
2A, in the state shown in FIG. 2A, the print head 2, the ink tank 3, the paper feed tray (paper feed unit) 6, the pickup roller 7, the paper feed rollers 8 and 9, the paper discharge rollers 10 and 11, and the cap. 12, a display unit 13, a flag (pendulum) 16, a photo interrupter 17, and the like, and the apparatus body 1a is mounted on a horizontal mounting surface A. This state is defined as vertical placement.

The paper feed tray 6 is rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body 1a about a rotary shaft 14 within a certain range, and is provided with a stopper 15 provided on the apparatus main body side by its own weight in a slightly tilted posture.
It has a simple structure that can be stably held at. The recording material 18 is conveyed one by one by the pickup roller 7, passes through the paper feed rollers 8 and 9, is printed by the print head 2, and is then discharged to the outside by the paper discharge rollers 10 and 11. . Further, the flag 16 is rotatable, and its position is detected by the photo interrupter 17.

Next, the apparatus main body 1a is moved to the arrow F of FIG.
When it is turned in the direction, the paper feed tray 6 comes into contact with the horizontal placement surface A as shown in FIG. 2B. This state is defined as horizontal placement. In this horizontal state, the flag 1
6 is stationary at a position rotated by 90 degrees, the position is detected by the photo interrupter 17, and the paper feed tray 6 rotates about the rotation shaft 14 and the contact with the stopper 15 is released.

As described above, by arranging the paper feed tray 6 so as to be rotatable according to the printing posture, the ink jet printer 1 can be installed horizontally without enlarging the overall structure. In the case of this horizontal placement, the recording material 18 is conveyed from below to above and is discharged to the outside by the paper discharge rollers 10 and 11.

Here, the ink jet printer 1
However, in the vertically placed state as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2A, the print head 2 is inclined about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal placement surface A. Therefore, even in the case of horizontal placement in FIG. 2B, the print head 2 is inclined by about 45 degrees with respect to the placement surface A.

In this regard, in the conventional device, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (e) and (f), the nozzle plate 21 and the ink supply port 22 are arranged in the vertical posture and the horizontal posture.
Since the corresponding attitude of the ink Ik with respect to the (ink discharge port 31) changes greatly, the hydrostatic pressure of the ink Ik with respect to each nozzle opened in the nozzle plate 21 also changes greatly.
When the ink tank 3 is attached to the print head 2,
The ink discharge port 31 of the ink tank 3 is fitted into the ink supply port 22 of the print head 2 (see FIG. 4).

On the other hand, in the present invention, FIG.
As shown in (b), even if the posture is changed from the vertical posture to the horizontal posture, the corresponding posture of the ink Ik with respect to the nozzle plate 21 and the ink supply port 22 does not change. Therefore, the ink with respect to each nozzle is not changed. The hydrostatic pressure of Ik does not change.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to print with the print head 2 having the same inclination regardless of the posture of the apparatus main body 1a (vertical or horizontal), and the influence of the change in posture does not occur. Therefore, stable printing operation is possible.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the ink discharge port 31 of the ink tank 3 is set at a position corresponding to the center position of the nozzle row of the print head 2 so that the ink tank 3 is The fluctuation of the ink empty level and the increase in the amount of residual ink at the time of emptying can be reduced, and good printing can be performed regardless of whether the printer is placed vertically or horizontally (for example, in FIGS. 3C and 3D). As shown, when the position of the ink supply port 22 is provided at a position deviated from the center position of the nozzle row of the print head 2, the fluctuation of the ink empty level and the increase of the residual ink amount at the time of emptying become large. ).

Further, in the present invention, the ink tank 3 is arranged at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the placement surface A. That is, the ink discharge port 31 integrated with the ink supply port 22 is inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees. As a result, the inclination of the ink tank 3 is the same regardless of the vertical placement and the horizontal placement, and the supply attitude of the ink Ik to the ink supply port 22 is the same, so that there is no effect due to the change in the attitude of the apparatus main body 1a.

Then, the ink tank 3 can become the lower surface when switching between vertical placement and horizontal placement (apparatus body 1a).
By setting the lengths of the two sides to be equal, it is possible to form a shape in which the level of the ink from the lowermost portion of the ink tank 3 (liquid level height) is the same. As a result, it is possible to prevent the ink level from changing due to the change in the printing posture.

Furthermore, in the ink tank 3, as shown in FIG. 4, the wall surface 32 communicating with the ink discharge port 31 is inclined by 45 degrees or more. As a result, the wall surface 32, which is the lowermost surface of the ink pressure adjusting chamber 33, that is, the chamber having the ink absorber (sponge) 34 in the mounted state, is set to be in a state of being horizontal (or inclined) toward the ink discharge port 31. You can Therefore, the backwater pressure of the ink discharge port 31 can be kept constant, and the ink Ik of the ink absorber 34 can be effectively used.

A wall surface 35 that partitions the inside of the ink tank 3
By setting the angle of the ink to 45 degrees or more, the ink storage chamber 3
The wall surface 35, which is the lowermost surface of 6, can be in a horizontal state or in a state of being inclined toward the ink communicating portion 37. As a result, the ink Ik in the ink storage chamber 36 can be completely consumed.

Further, by making the cross section of the ink tank 3 axisymmetric with respect to the center line, it is possible to prevent the fluctuation of the backwater pressure due to the change of the printing posture. Further, an ink level detecting means (not shown) is provided in the ink storage chamber 36, and
By arranging on the extension line connecting the ink outlet 31 of the ink pressure adjusting chamber 36 and the ink communicating portion 37 which is the ink outlet of the ink storage chamber 36, the same detection result can be obtained regardless of the printing posture. it can. Incidentally, reference numeral 38 in FIG.
Is an atmosphere communication passage.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2A or 2B, the display device (display device) 13 is configured to display the printing posture of the ink jet printer 1 detected by the photo interrupter 17. . As a result, the user can clearly determine whether the device is placed vertically or horizontally, and the operability is improved.

Further, by reversing the top and bottom of the display contents of the display device 13 according to the printing posture, the displayed information becomes easier to read and the convenience for the user is further improved. Furthermore, by notifying the user of the information on the printing posture via the network, the operability is further improved.

Further, the ink jet printer 1 is set to perform print control according to the print posture. That is, in the case of vertical placement, printing is performed from the image rear end to the image front end, and in the case of horizontal placement, printing is performed from the image front end to the image rear end. As a result, the recording material 18 is always ejected in a direction having a regular top-bottom image,
Silent confirmation of the image contents becomes easier and operability is improved.

Further, when printing is performed using the recording material 18 such as thick paper or envelope, if the printing is performed vertically, the recording material 18
Due to the relationship between the ejection direction of the sheet and the placement surface A, a defect such as the recording material 18 breaking may occur. In this case, since the recording material 18 does not come into contact with the placement surface A by performing the printing in the horizontal direction, it is possible to perform good printing without causing any stress on the sheet passing path.

As described above, the ink jet printer 1 of the present invention can always perform high-quality and stable printing regardless of whether it is placed vertically or horizontally.

(Embodiment 2) In the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the ink tank 3 is printed with the main ink tank 3A provided in the apparatus main body 1a. It is composed of a sub ink tank 3B provided in the head 2, and the main ink tank 3A and the sub ink tank 3B are connected by a tube t,
Ink is supplied from the main ink tank 3A to the sub ink tank 3B.

In such a configuration, there is a possibility that an appropriate amount of ink cannot be ejected due to the inclusion of air bubbles in the ink flow path such as the print head 2 or the tube t, or the accumulation of air. Before printing, the cap 41 connected to the waste ink tank 40 via the tube t is attached to the print head 2, and air is sucked by using the pump p. At this time, the sucked ink is put in the waste ink tank 40. I try to store it. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and will be omitted here.

Since this ink jet printer 1 is also used vertically (see FIG. 5A) or horizontally (see FIG. 5B), the waste ink tank 4 provided on the apparatus main body side.
0 also turns around accordingly. Therefore, the waste ink tank 4
In order to fully utilize the capacity of 0 and prevent the backflow of the ink from the waste ink tank 40, the inlet should be positioned at the top in both vertical and horizontal positions. Good.

Further, like the waste ink tank 40, the main ink tank 3A also turns around. Here, in order to use all of the ink in the main ink tank 3A both vertically and horizontally, the outlets may be provided at both the vertical position and the horizontal position, both of which are located at the lower portion. . Even with the above configuration, high-quality and stable printing can be performed regardless of whether it is placed vertically or horizontally.

[0067]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects. (1) The center line of the nozzle of the print head with respect to the mounting surface has an inclination of about 45 degrees on a plane orthogonal to the moving direction of the print head, and the print head is relative to the center line. Is axially symmetric on the plane, the inclination of the nozzle of the print head is constant in both vertical and horizontal placements, and stable printing operation is always performed without the influence of vertical or horizontal placement. It will be possible.

(2) Since the ink supply port for supplying ink toward the center position of the nozzle surface of the print head is provided, the ink can be evenly sent to the nozzles of the print head in both vertical and horizontal installations. Therefore, the fluctuation of the backwater pressure due to the change of the mounting posture of the apparatus body can be reduced, and the printing operation is stabilized.

(3) Since the paper feeding unit is movable according to the change of the posture of the apparatus main body, it is possible to bring the paper feeding unit and the ink jet recording apparatus main body unit into contact with the placement surface at the same time even in the case of horizontal placement. As a result, stable placement is possible, and stable feeding of the recording material can be realized without increasing the size of the apparatus.

(4) Since the paper feeding unit is movable by its own weight, the position of the paper feeding unit is changed by its own weight with the posture change of the apparatus main body without providing any special moving means.
The configuration can be simplified.

(5) With respect to the mounting surface, the center line of the ink tank is approximately 4 on a plane orthogonal to the moving direction of the print head.
Since the ink tank has an inclination of 5 degrees and the cross section of the ink tank is axially symmetric with respect to the center line on the plane, the inclination of the ink tank is constant in both vertical and horizontal installations, and always, Stable printing operation is possible.

(6) Since the height of the ink tank from the lowermost end of the ink tank to the liquid surface of the ink does not change even if the posture of the apparatus main body is changed, the ink tank is placed vertically or horizontally. In either case, the height of the liquid surface from the bottom of the ink tank is constant, and stable printing is always possible without being affected by the fluctuation of the ink level.

(7) Since the cross section of the ink tank on the plane orthogonal to the print head moving direction is symmetrical with respect to the center line of the ink tank, the cross section parallel to the bottom surface of the ink tank is a square or a center line. With respect to the symmetrical shape, the backwater pressure of the ink can be prevented from fluctuating regardless of whether the ink is placed vertically or horizontally.

(8) Since the surface of the ink tank cross section which communicates with the ink discharge port on the plane orthogonal to the direction of movement of the print head has an inclination of approximately 45 degrees or more with respect to the center line of the cross section, the apparatus main body is vertically oriented. Even when placed or placed horizontally, the wall surface that is the bottom surface of the ink tank can be horizontal or inclined toward the discharge port, so the backwater pressure of the ink supply port on the print head side is always constant. Therefore, printing can be performed without any influence of vertical or horizontal placement.

(9) The ink pressure adjusting chamber is located on the print head side, and the wall surface separating the ink storage chamber and the ink pressure adjusting chamber has an inclination of 45 degrees or more with respect to the direction of the ink discharge port. The wall surface that is the lowermost surface of the storage chamber can be in a horizontal state or in a state of being inclined toward the ink communicating portion, and the ink can be used up to the end.

(10) In the ink tank, since the liquid level of the ink from the discharge port does not change even if the posture of the apparatus main body is changed, the ink tank can be placed vertically or horizontally.
Printing is possible without being affected by fluctuations in the ink level.

(11) Attitude of ink jet recording apparatus,
That is, regardless of whether the apparatus is placed vertically or horizontally, the detection unit has a constant distance from the liquid surface of the ink in the ink tank storage chamber, so that the same ink level can be detected regardless of the posture of the apparatus body.

(12) Since the ink outlet of the main ink tank is at the bottom regardless of the posture of the ink jet recording apparatus, it is possible to consume all the ink in the main ink tank.

(13) Since the ink inflow port of the waste ink tank is at the uppermost position regardless of the posture of the apparatus body, backflow of ink does not occur regardless of the vertical position or the horizontal position. Further, it is possible to store the ink of the volume of the waste ink tank.

(14) The nozzle of the print head has an inclination of about 45 degrees with respect to the mounting surface, and the surface communicating with the ink discharge port of the ink tank is 45 degrees with respect to the direction of the ink discharge port. Since it has the above inclination, place the device body vertically,
Alternatively, even when placed horizontally, the nozzle inclination of the print head is constant, and the wall surface that is the lowermost surface of the ink tank can be horizontal or inclined toward the discharge port. The backwater pressure of the ink supply port on the print head side can be made constant at all times, and stable printing is always possible without the influence of vertical or horizontal placement.

(15) The ink pressure adjusting chamber is on the print head side, and the wall surface separating the ink storage chamber and the ink pressure adjusting chamber is 45 with respect to the direction of the ink discharge port.
The surface having an inclination of not less than 40 degrees and communicating with the ink discharge port of the ink pressure adjusting chamber is 45 degrees with respect to the direction of the ink discharge port.
Since it has an inclination of 10 degrees or more, the inclination of the nozzle of the print head is constant even when the main body of the device is placed vertically or horizontally, and the wall surface that is the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber and the partition inside the ink tank Since the surface can be horizontal or inclined toward the discharge port, the backwater pressure of the ink supply port on the print head side can always be constant,
Stable printing is possible without the effect of vertical or horizontal placement. Also, the ink can be consumed up to the end.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vertically placed state and the horizontally placed state.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram comparing an inclined state of the ink tank with a conventional one.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the ink tank.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an inkjet printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a-device body 2-print head 3-ink tank 3A-Main ink tank 3B-sub ink tank 6-Paper feeder 22-ink supply port 31-ink outlet 33-ink pressure adjusting chamber 34-ink absorber 35-wall surface 36-ink storage room 40-waste ink tank A-Mounting surface

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hirokazu Nakamura             22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Inside the company F term (reference) 2C056 EA26 EB50 KB37 KC11 KC27

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus capable of mounting the apparatus main body on a horizontal mounting surface in at least two postures, wherein a center line of a nozzle of a print head with respect to the mounting surface is:
On the plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the print head, approximately 45
An inkjet recording apparatus having an inclination of a degree and the printing head being axially symmetric on the plane with respect to the center line. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an ink supply port that supplies ink toward a central position of a nozzle surface of the print head. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding unit is movable according to a change in the posture of the apparatus main body. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the paper feeding unit is movable by its own weight. 5. An inkjet recording apparatus capable of mounting the apparatus main body on a horizontal mounting surface in at least two postures, wherein the center line of the ink tank is orthogonal to the moving direction of the print head with respect to the mounting surface. The inkjet recording apparatus is characterized in that the cross section of the ink tank has an inclination of about 45 degrees on the plane, and the cross section of the ink tank is axisymmetrical on the plane. 6. The ink tank is configured such that a height from a lowermost end of the ink tank to a liquid surface of the ink does not change even when the posture of the apparatus main body is changed. Item 6. The inkjet recording device according to item 5. 7. The inkjet according to claim 6, wherein a cross section of the ink tank on a plane orthogonal to a moving direction of the print head has a shape symmetrical with respect to a center line of the ink tank. Recording device. 8. An ink jet recording apparatus in which an apparatus main body can be placed on a horizontal placement surface in at least two postures, and communicates with an ink discharge port of an ink tank cross section on a plane orthogonal to a moving direction of a print head. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the surface has an inclination of approximately 45 degrees or more with respect to the center line of the cross section. 9. The ink tank includes an ink storage chamber,
An ink pressure adjusting chamber having an ink absorber, wherein the ink pressure adjusting chamber is on the print head side, and a wall surface separating the ink storage chamber and the ink pressure adjusting chamber is in the direction of the ink discharge port. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus has an inclination of 45 degrees or more. 10. The ink tank is configured so that the liquid level of ink from the ink outlet does not change even when the posture of the apparatus main body is changed. The inkjet recording device described. 11. A detection unit for detecting the ink level of the ink tank, wherein the detection unit is a constant distance from the liquid surface of the ink in the ink tank storage chamber regardless of the posture of the apparatus main body. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is arranged in an ink storage chamber. 12. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink tank comprises a main ink tank and a sub ink tank, and includes a pressure reducing device for reducing the pressure on the front surface of the nozzle, wherein an ink outlet of the main ink tank is of the main body of the apparatus. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is located at the bottom regardless of the posture. 13. A waste ink tank for storing ink for disposal, further comprising: an ink inlet port of the waste ink tank,
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus is at the uppermost position regardless of the posture of the apparatus main body. 14. An inkjet recording apparatus capable of mounting the apparatus main body on a horizontal mounting surface in at least two postures, wherein a nozzle of a print head is tilted at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the mounting surface. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a surface of the ink tank that communicates with an ink discharge port has an inclination of 45 degrees or more with respect to the direction of the ink discharge port. 15. An inkjet recording apparatus capable of mounting the apparatus main body on a horizontal mounting surface in at least two postures, wherein the nozzle of the print head is inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the mounting surface. The ink tank includes an ink storage chamber and an ink pressure adjustment chamber having an ink absorber, the ink pressure adjustment chamber is on the print head side, and the ink storage chamber and the ink pressure adjustment chamber. The wall surface that separates from the ink discharge port has an inclination of 45 degrees or more with respect to the direction of the ink discharge port, and the surface communicating with the ink discharge port of the ink pressure adjustment chamber has a direction of 45 degrees or more with respect to the direction of the ink discharge port. An ink jet recording apparatus having an inclination.