JP2003266730A - Inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recorder in which a stirring action for a settling pigment or the like and a printing action to a recording paper are distinguished from each other, and stable discharge of ink drops is obtained without unnecessary vibrations transmitted to a recording head during printing. <P>SOLUTION: Stirring moving bodies 80 in a state in which the bodies are movable are set in ink chambers 11, 16, 17 and 23 of an ink cartridge 1. The stirring moving bodies 80 are constituted to stir and move in the ink chambers when the stirring action is applied to the ink cartridge 1 and to stop at predetermined points in the ink chambers when the ink cartridge 1 carries out the printing action. The stirring action for the settling pigment or the like and the printing action to the recording paper are distinguished from each other, and unnecessary vibrations are prevented from being transmitted to the recording head 73 during printing, so that the stable discharge of ink drops is obtained. <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 having a recording head for ejecting ink supplied from an ink cartridge as ink droplets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an ink used in an ink jet recording apparatus may be one in which dispersed particles such as a pigment are uniformly dispersed and mixed in a solvent.
When such an ink is not printed for a long period of time and is placed in a state where the ink does not circulate in the ink storage unit, the dispersed particles have a property of settling due to a difference in specific gravity between the solvent and the dispersed particles.

For such sedimentation of dispersed particles, it has been considered to provide a stirring device in order to keep the concentration constant. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-169269,
As a method of redispersing the sedimented particles, balls in the ink liquid
It is disclosed that beads are placed and the balls / beads are moved in the liquid for redispersion, that the inside of the ink cartridge is agitated by a magnetic stirrer, and that ultrasonic vibration is used.

[0004]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned ball / bead, since the relationship between the time of redispersion and the time of printing operation is not focused, the ejection stability of ink droplets is improved. There is a problem that Such a phenomenon is that the ball / bead collides with the inner surface of the ink cartridge due to the movement of the ball / bead in the liquid, and the impact causes the recording head to vibrate, thereby lowering the ejection stability. Further, the above-mentioned magnet stirrer and ultrasonic vibration system require a complicated structure and the operation control must be performed with high accuracy.

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 excellent ink ejection without making the structure of an ink cartridge or its carriage complicated and large. And

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention has a recording head for ejecting ink droplets in response to a print signal and an ink supplied to the recording head. An ink cartridge, a carriage on which the ink cartridge is mounted and the recording head is attached, and a stirring moving body that is movably arranged in the ink chamber of the ink cartridge and that stirs the ink. ,
The agitation moving body performs an agitation movement in the ink chamber when an ink agitation operation is applied to the ink cartridge, and a predetermined position in the ink chamber when performing a printing operation by ejecting ink droplets from the recording head. The gist is that it is configured to be stopped.

That is, the ink jet recording apparatus is provided in a movable state in the ink chamber of the ink cartridge and has a stirring moving body for stirring the ink. The stirring moving body is provided in the ink cartridge. On the other hand, when the stirring operation of the ink is applied, the stirring movement is performed in the ink chamber, and when the printing operation is performed by ejecting the ink droplets from the recording head, it is stopped at a predetermined position in the ink chamber. . That is,
When the pigments of the ink settle down and should be stirred, the stirring is performed, and when the printing operation is performed, the stirring operation is not performed.

Therefore, the stirring operation and the printing operation are distinguished from each other, and unnecessary vibration due to the stirring is not transmitted to the recording head during printing, and the ink droplets in which the pigment or the like is uniformly dispersed are formed on the printing medium. It is ejected on the top to obtain good print quality.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the agitating operation is carried out when the recording apparatus is turned on, when the ink cartridge is replaced, or when a fixed time within the printing operation time elapses, the ink pigment, etc. Since the stirring operation is performed at a time when it is expected to settle, the redispersion process is almost certainly performed before the printing operation, and the uniformly dispersed ink droplets are ejected. For example, when only the ink of the black ink cartridge is consumed and the ink of the ink cartridges of other colors is not consumed, the sedimentation phenomenon of the pigment or the like occurs in the latter ink cartridge after the print operation time has elapsed for a certain time. Therefore, in preparation for such a situation, the stirring operation is performed when the above time elapses.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the stirring / moving body is made of a magnetic material, and when the ink cartridge performs a printing operation, it is attracted by a magnet acting on the stirring / moving body from the outside of the ink cartridge. When the stirring / moving body is stopped at a predetermined position in the ink chamber, a magnetic attraction force acts on the stirring / moving body made of a magnetic material from the outside of the ink cartridge, so that the stirring / moving body acts as the magnetic attraction force. It is stopped at a predetermined position in the direction, and the stirring moving body is fixed in the ink chamber during the printing operation. Further, since the suction force acts on the stirring / moving body from the outside of the ink cartridge, it is not necessary to dispose a special structure inside the ink cartridge, which is advantageous for simplifying the structure of the ink cartridge. Further, since the direction in which the magnetic attraction force is applied is selected with a high degree of freedom, it becomes easy to stop the stirring / moving body at a predetermined position in the ink chamber.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the magnet is an electromagnet, the stirring movement and the printing operation can be freely set by permitting and limiting the stirring movement of the stirring moving body by intermittent excitation current. Can be easily and clearly classified.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the electromagnet is attached to a part of the carriage, it is easy to apply a magnetic attraction force to the stirring moving body in the ink chamber from the outside of the ink cartridge. Can be carried out. In particular, since the electromagnets can be freely attached to a large number of places on the carriage, it becomes easy to select a place where the stirring moving body is stopped in the ink chamber.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the agitating operation is the same as the printing operation, it is not necessary to make the two operations particularly different, and the both operations can be easily controlled.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the magnet is a permanent magnet, the permanent magnet is stopped at a position separated from the stirring moving body so that the magnetic attraction force to the stirring moving body is increased. Then, the movement of the stirring moving body in the ink chamber is allowed and the stirring operation is performed. Further, the permanent magnet is brought close to the stirring moving body and stopped, and the magnetic attraction force to the stirring moving body is strengthened, so that the stirring moving body is fixed at a predetermined position and a printing operation can be performed.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the ink agitating operation is applied to the bottom of the ink chamber, the agitating moving body agitates and moves in the ink chamber, and ink droplets are ejected from the recording head. When a holding means is provided for stopping the stirring moving body at a predetermined position in the ink chamber when performing the printing operation by discharging the, the stirring moving body separates from the holding means during the stirring operation to perform stirring movement, During the printing operation, the stirring moving body is restrained by the holding means and the stirring operation is stopped, so that the stirring operation and the printing operation can be easily and clearly distinguished. Further, since the holding means is arranged at the bottom of the ink chamber, it is convenient to stir the pigment or the like settling at the bottom of the ink chamber.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the stirring operation is an operation mode for stirring operation different from the printing operation, the operation mode (stirring behavior) most suitable for the stirring operation can be selected. A state in which the pigment and the like in the ink are sufficiently redispersed can be obtained.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the stirring / moving body has a rolling shape, the position of the stirring / moving body can be freely changed by rolling. The movement of the stirring moving body in the liquid is promoted, and a normal stirring operation is performed.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when a plurality of ink chambers are provided and the agitating moving body is arranged in each ink chamber, sufficient agitation is performed in each ink chamber. The dispersibility of the pigment or the like between the ink chambers does not vary, and the ink properties of the ink droplets ejected from the recording head become good. During the printing operation, ink is sequentially supplied to the recording head through each ink chamber, such as the first ink chamber of the ink cartridge, the second ink chamber, ... Agitation is important in that the ink properties of the entire ink cartridge are made uniform.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the agitating moving body is an agitating member entering the ink chamber from the outside of the ink cartridge,
Good agitation can be obtained by making the agitating member behave like swinging or sawing wood.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the agitating moving body is a spherical body made of a magnetic material, its position can be freely changed by rolling of the spherical body. Is promoted and a normal stirring operation is performed. Further, since it is a sphere made of a magnetic material, when a magnetic attraction force acts on the sphere, the sphere easily rolls in the direction of magnetic attraction, so that the stop position of the sphere can be accurately determined.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, when the above ink is a dispersion type ink in which dispersed particles are dispersed in a solvent, good redispersion can be obtained due to various behaviors of the agitating moving body. To be

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the peripheral structure of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. This apparatus is equipped with an ink cartridge (hereinafter referred to as “cartridge”) 1 and a carriage 75 to which a recording head 73 is attached.

The carriage 75 is connected to a stepping motor 79 via a timing belt 77, and guided by a guide bar 78 to reciprocate in the paper width direction (main scanning direction) of the recording paper 76. The carriage 75 has a box shape that opens upward, and is mounted so that the nozzle surface of the recording head 73 is exposed on the surface (the lower surface in this example) facing the recording paper 76, and the cartridge 1 is mounted. It has become.

Then, ink is supplied from the cartridge 1 to the recording head 73, and while moving the carriage 75, ink droplets are ejected onto the upper surface of the recording paper 76 to discharge the recording paper 7.
Images and characters are printed in 6 by dot matrix.

2 and 3 are exploded perspective views showing the cartridge 1. As shown in FIG. This cartridge 1 is provided with a flat rectangular container body 2 having an opening on one side (right side in FIG. 2) and a lid 3 for sealing the opening. Both the container body 2 and the lid 3 are made of synthetic resin.

FIG. 4 shows the container body 2 viewed from the opening side. An ink supply port 4 is formed on the front end surface (lower surface in this example) of the container body 2 in the insertion direction, and locking members 5 and 6 are integrally formed with the container body 2 on the left and right side surfaces in FIG. Has been formed. A valve element (not shown) that opens by inserting an ink supply needle into the ink supply port 4
Is housed. In addition, in FIG. 2 and FIG.
Reference numeral B is a concave portion for accommodating a storage unit (not shown) provided below the locking member 5 on the ink supply port 4 side.

The inside of the container body 2 is vertically divided into two parts by a wall 10 extending in a substantially horizontal direction so as to be slightly inclined toward the ink supply port 4 side. An area below the wall 10 is formed in a first ink chamber 11 that contains ink.

The region above the wall 10 is partitioned by the frame-shaped portion 14 including the wall 10 with a substantially constant gap from the inner wall surface of the container body 2. A gap formed between the frame-shaped portion 14 and the inner wall surface of the container body 2, and the frame-shaped portion 14
The wall 12 provided on the valve housing chamber 8 side forms the atmosphere communication passages 13 and 13 ′ that allow the first ink chamber 11 to communicate with the atmosphere through the through hole 67. The lid 3 is fused to the wall 12 and the outer peripheral wall of the container body 2 so that the atmosphere communication passage 1
3'is formed.

Inside the frame-shaped portion 14, a wall 1 extending in the vertical direction is formed with a communication port 15A through which ink flows at the bottom.
It is divided left and right by 5. The area located on the right side of the drawing that is divided by the wall 15 is the second ink chamber 1 that sucks up the ink in the first ink chamber 11 and temporarily stores it.
6 is formed. The region located on the left side of the drawing is formed in the third ink chamber 17 in which the differential pressure valve including the membrane valve 52, the spring 50, and the like is housed.

The second ink chamber 16 of the first ink chamber 11
In the area corresponding to (1), a communication channel 18 for connecting the second ink chamber 16 and the vicinity of the bottom surface 2A of the container body 2 to introduce the ink of the first ink chamber 11 into the second ink chamber 16 is formed. Has been done. In the lower part of the communication channel 18, the wall 1
A rectangular area surrounded by 9 is formed, and on the wall 19,
Communication ports 19A and 19B are formed in the lower portion and the upper surface, respectively.

The communication channel 18 has a groove-shaped recess 18A formed on the surface of the container body 2 (hereinafter, the surface opposite to the opening side of the container body 2 is referred to as the "surface of the container body 2"). It is formed by sealing the recess 18A with an air permeable film (not shown).

The upper part of the communication channel 18 communicates with the second ink chamber 16 through the communication port 47, and an opening (not shown) is formed in a rectangular area surrounded by the lower wall 19. Are formed and communicate with the first ink chamber 11. As a result, the first ink chamber 11 and the buffer chamber are communicated with each other through the communication channel 18, and the ink in the first ink chamber 11 can be introduced into the second ink chamber 16.

An ink injection port 20 used for injecting ink into the first ink chamber 11 is formed in the bottom surface portion 2A of the container body 2 at a position facing the communication channel 18. Further, in the vicinity of the ink injection port 20, an air discharge port 21 for discharging air at the time of ink injection is formed.

The third ink chamber 17 is provided with a wall 22 extending laterally at a predetermined distance from the upper surface 14A of the frame-shaped portion 14. In addition, the third ink chamber 17
Is partitioned by a wall 24 which is continuous with the wall 22 and has a substantially arcuate shape, and a portion surrounded by the wall 24 is an area where the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33 and the filter housing chamber 34 are formed.

Further, the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 is formed on the surface side in the thickness direction of the region facing the region surrounded by the substantially arcuate wall 24, and the filter accommodating chamber 34 is formed on the opening side. It is divided into two by the wall 25 in the thickness direction. Inside the filter accommodating chamber 34, the filter 55 is welded to form a cylindrical filter mounting portion 31 for fixing the filter 55. The wall 25 is provided with an ink circulation port 25A that guides the ink that has passed through the filter 55 to the differential pressure valve storage chamber 33.

The wall 10 is provided below the substantially arcuate wall 24.
A partition wall 26 having a communication port 26A is formed between
A downstream side (left side in FIG. 4) of the wall 26 is formed in the fourth ink chamber 23. In addition, the substantially arcuate wall 2
4 and the frame-shaped portion 14 are provided with a communication port 27A in the lower portion and a partition wall 27 extending in the vertical direction.
A is formed.

Further, an arcuate wall 30 is formed which is continuous with the upper end of the wall 27 and is formed so as to be connected to the substantially arcuate wall 24 and the wall 22. A region surrounded by the arcuate wall 30 is formed in the ink circulation space 9.

A through hole 29 having a shape in which a large circle and a small circle are connected to each other is formed over the arcuate wall 30 forming the ink circulation space 9. Then, the great circle side of the through hole 29 communicates with the upper part of the ink flow path 28A,
The small circle side of the through hole 29 communicates with the upper portion of the filter storage chamber 34 via a communication port 24A provided at the tip of the substantially arcuate wall 24. As a result, the ink flow path 28A and the filter storage chamber 34 communicate with each other through the through hole 29.

Then, from the second ink chamber 16 to the communication port 15
The ink that has passed through A, 26A, and 27A and has flowed into the ink flow path 28A passes through the ink circulation space 9 and has a through hole 29.
Flows into the great circle side of. The ink that has flowed into the through hole 29 then flows into the filter storage chamber 34 from the small circle side of the through hole 29 via the communication port 24A.

On the other hand, the lower portion of the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 and the ink supply port 4 are groove-shaped recesses 35 formed on the front surface side.
And an air-permeable film (not shown) that covers the concave portion 35, which are in communication with each other. As a result, the ink that has flowed into the filter storage chamber 34 is filtered by the filter 55 and passes through the ink circulation port 25A, and the differential pressure valve storage chamber 3
The ink is supplied to the ink supply port 4 from the flow path formed by the recess 35 through the ink supply port 3.

On the other hand, on the surface of the container body 2, the narrow groove 36 meandering so that the flow path resistance is as high as possible, and the narrow groove 3 described above.
A wide groove 37 that communicates with 6 and surrounds the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33 and the narrow groove 36 is formed. A rectangular recess 38 is formed on the surface of the container body 2 in a region corresponding to the second ink chamber 16.

Inside the rectangular recess 38, a frame 39 and a rib 40 are formed in a step-down state. Then, by arranging a breathable film (not shown) having an ink-repellent property on these, the rectangular recess 3 is formed.
The inside of 8 is formed as an air vent chamber that communicates with the atmosphere through the narrow groove 36 and the groove 37.

A through hole 41 is formed in the inner surface of the recess 38 and communicates with an elongated area 43 defined by a wall 42 in the second ink chamber 16. Further, a narrow groove 36 communicates with a region of the recess 38 on the surface side of the breathable film. Further, a through hole 44 is formed at the end of the elongated region 43 opposite to the through hole 41. The through hole 44 is a groove 4 for communication formed on the front surface side of the container body 2.
5 and a through hole 46 formed so as to communicate with the groove 45, and communicates with the valve accommodating chamber 8 which is an atmosphere opening valve chamber.

The valve accommodating chamber 8 is open at the cartridge insertion side (lower side in this embodiment), and the identification piece and the valve operating rod provided on the main body of the recording apparatus are formed so as to be able to enter, and at the upper part, An atmosphere release valve is housed that opens when the operating rod 70 enters and maintains a normally open valve state.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional structure in the vicinity of the filter accommodating chamber 34 and the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 described above. The right side of the figure is the surface side of the container body 2 in which the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 is provided. The differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 accommodates a spring 50 and a membrane valve 52 which is made of an elastically deformable material such as an elastomer and has a through hole 51 at the center. Membrane valve 5
2 has a thick wall portion 52A having an annular periphery, and the container body 2 is provided with a frame portion 54 integrally formed with the thick wall portion 52A.
It is fixed to. The spring 50 has one end abutted against the spring receiving portion 52B of the membrane valve 52 and the other end abutted against and supported by the spring receiving portion 53A of the lid 53 that covers the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33. .

In the figure, reference numerals 56 and 57 are gas-shielding films attached to the front surface side and the opening surface side of the container body 2. The air-permeable film 56 is attached to the walls 10, 15, 22,
24, 30, 42, the frame-shaped portion 14, the partition walls 26, 27, and the inclined surface 32 are welded.

With such a configuration, the ink that has passed through the ink circulation port 25A through the filter 55 will not pass through the membrane valve 52.
Distribution is blocked by. In this state, the ink supply port 4
When the pressure decreases, the negative pressure causes the membrane valve 52 to move to the spring 5
The ink separates from the valve seat portion 25B against the biasing force of 0, passes through the through hole 51, and flows into the ink supply port 4 through the flow path formed by the recess 35.

When the ink pressure in the ink supply port 4 rises to a predetermined value, the membrane valve 52 is elastically contacted with the valve seat portion 25B by the urging force of the spring 50, and the ink flow is blocked. By repeating such an operation, the ink can be discharged from the ink supply port 4 while maintaining a constant negative pressure.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional structure of the valve accommodating chamber 8 for communication with the atmosphere. A through hole 60 is formed in a wall defining the valve accommodating chamber 8, and a pressing member 61 formed of an elastic member such as rubber is movably inserted around the pressing member 61 by being supported by the container body 2. There is. An elastic member 62 supports the through hole 60 at the leading end of the pressing member 61 on the entry side.
The valve body 65 is always urged to. In this example, the elastic member 62 is a leaf spring whose lower end is fixed by a protrusion 63 and whose central portion is regulated by a protrusion 64.

On the other hand, an arm 66 is arranged on the opposite side of the pressing member 61. The arm 66 is fixed to the container body 2 on the insertion direction side (the lower end in this example) of the cartridge 1 through a pivot fulcrum 66A located inside an operating rod 70 described later. Also, the arm 6
6, the withdrawal side (upper side in this example) of the operating rod 7
It projects diagonally to the 0 approach road. A convex portion 66B for elastically pressing the pressing member 61 is formed at the tip of the arm 66. With such a configuration, when the valve body 65 is opened,
The through hole 67 provided in the upper part of the first ink chamber 11 is connected to the atmosphere communicating recess 38 through the through hole 60.

With such a construction, the cartridge holder 7 having the operating rod 70 erected on the lower surface thereof as shown in FIG.
When the cartridge 1 is loaded in the cartridge 1, the operating rod 70 contacts the inclined arm 66, and the convex portion (pressing member) 61 is inclined toward the valve body 65 as the cartridge 1 is pushed. As a result, the valve body 65 separates from the through hole 60, and the recess 38 for communicating with the atmosphere is opened to the atmosphere through the through hole 46, the groove 45, the through hole 44, the region 43, and the through hole 41 described above.

When the cartridge 66 is pulled out from the cartridge holder 71, the arm 66 loses the support of the operating rod 70, so that the valve body 65 is pushed by the urging force of the leaf spring 62.
To block the communication between the ink storage area and the atmosphere. In the figure, reference numeral 72 indicates an ink supply needle that supplies ink to the inkjet recording head 73.

With all the members such as the valve incorporated in the container body 2 as described above, an air-permeable film is attached to the surface so as to cover at least the region where the recess is formed. As a result, on the front surface side, a capillary serving as an atmosphere communication path is formed by the recess and the film.

Further, an air permeable film 56 is attached to the opening of the container body 2 by heat welding or the like so as to be airtight to the above-mentioned walls. Then, the lid body 3 is covered on top of this and fixed by welding or the like. As a result, the region partitioned by each wall is sealed so as to communicate only through the communication port or the opening.

Further, the opening side of the valve accommodating chamber 8 is similarly sealed by thermal welding with the gas-shielding film 56 'to complete the cartridge 1. By adopting such a structure in which the ink containing area is sealed by the gas permeable film 56 or the like, not only the container body 2 can be easily molded, but also
It is possible to maintain the ink pressure as constant as possible by absorbing the fluctuation of the ink due to the reciprocating movement of the carriage by the film deformation of the gas-shielding film 56.

Then, while the ink injection pipe is inserted into the ink injection port 20 and the air discharge port 21 is opened, sufficiently deaerated ink is injected. After the injection is completed, the ink injection port 20 and the air exhaust port 21 are sealed with a film or a plug.

The cartridge 1 thus constructed is
Since the communication with the atmosphere is cut off by the valve or the like and the ink is stored, the degassing degree of the ink is sufficiently maintained.

Then, when the cartridge 1 is loaded into the cartridge holder 71, the ink supply port 4 enters the position where it is inserted into the ink supply needle 72, and as described above, the through hole 60 is opened by the operating rod 70 and the ink is supplied. The storage area communicates with the atmosphere, and the valve of the ink supply port 4 is also opened by the ink supply needle 72.

The cartridge 1 is the cartridge holder 71.
When the ink is consumed by the recording head 73 when the ink is normally attached to the recording head 73 and the printing is performed, the pressure of the ink supply port 4 decreases to a specified value or less, so that the membrane valve 52 is opened as described above. Further, when the pressure of the ink supply port 4 rises, the membrane valve 52 closes. In this way, the ink maintained at the predetermined negative pressure flows into the recording head 73.

When the ink consumption in the recording head 73 progresses, the ink in the first ink chamber 11 flows into the second ink chamber 16 through the communication flow path 18. The bubbles that flowed in here rise due to buoyancy, and only ink is in the lower communication port 15A.
Through the third ink chamber 17. The ink in the third ink chamber 17 is applied to the wall 2 that partitions the filter containing chamber 34.
6 through the communication port 26A and the fourth ink chamber 23,
It flows into the ink flow path 28A.

The ink flowing through the ink flow path 28A flows into the ink circulation space 9. The ink that has passed through the ink circulation space 9 flows from the large circle side of the through hole 29 to the small circle side,
It passes through the communication port 24A and flows into the upper part of the filter housing chamber 34.

Next, the ink that has flowed into the filter storage chamber 34 is filtered by the filter 55 and the ink circulation port 25A.
To flow into the differential pressure valve storage chamber 33, and flow into the ink supply port 4 at a predetermined negative pressure by the opening / closing operation of the membrane valve 52 as described above.

Here, since the first ink chamber 11 is communicated with the atmosphere through the atmosphere communication passages 13 and 13 'and the through hole 67 and is maintained at the atmospheric pressure, a negative pressure is generated and ink is generated. Does not hinder the flow of.

The ink cartridge 1, the carriage 75, etc. described above are the prerequisites of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIGS. 8 to 14 show an embodiment for achieving the object of the present invention. Has been done.

In FIGS. 8 to 14, parts having the same structures as those described in FIGS. 1 to 7 and having the same functions are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a stirring moving body 80 for stirring ink is movably arranged in a plurality of ink chambers formed in the ink cartridge 1. The agitation moving body 80 includes the above-described first ink chamber 11, second ink chamber 16, third ink chamber 17, and fourth ink chamber 17.
It is arranged in each of the ink chambers 23. The first
Since the bottom area of the ink chamber 11 is large when viewed in the left-right direction in FIG. 8, two stirring moving bodies 80 are arranged in the first ink chamber 11 here.

The stirring moving body 80 is made of a magnetic material, and has a rolling shape. In this sense, the stirring moving body 80 is a steel ball except for the one shown in FIG.

The steel ball 80, which is a stirring moving body, moves in various directions in each of the ink chambers 11, 16, 17, 23 while the stirring operation is being applied to the ink cartridge 1, and settles down. Re-disperse existing pigments, etc., to evenly disperse them in the ink liquid. It should be noted that during the stirring operation, the recording head 73 is controlled so that ink droplets are not ejected.

The above stirring operation is performed when the recording apparatus is powered on.
This is performed when the ink cartridge is replaced, when a certain period of printing operation time has elapsed, or the like. That is, since the stirring operation is performed at the time when it is expected that the pigments of the ink have settled,
Before the printing operation, the redispersion process is almost surely performed, and the uniformly dispersed ink droplets are ejected.

Next, during the printing operation, the steel ball 80 is stopped at a predetermined position in each of the ink chambers 11, 16, 17, and 23 to secure the ejection stability of the ink droplets as described above. There must be. Although various methods can be considered for stopping the steel ball, here, a method of applying a magnetic attraction force to the steel ball 80 is illustrated. When a permanent magnet is adopted as the magnet used, the steel ball 80 is moved by moving the permanent magnet closer to or farther from the steel ball 80.
Can be restricted or unrestricted.

However, since such a method may be difficult in terms of space, the one shown in FIG. 8 is an electromagnet. In order to apply a magnetic force to the steel ball 80 from the outside of the ink cartridge 1, the electromagnet 81 is provided in the first ink chamber 1
As for the left steel ball 80 in 1, the electromagnet 82
Is for the right steel ball 80 in the first ink chamber 11, and the electromagnet 83 is for the second and third ink chambers 16, 17.
The electromagnet 84 is provided for the steel balls 80, 80 inside the fourth ink chamber 23. Then, each electromagnet 81, 82, 83
The holes 84 and 84 are fixed by punching holes in the carriage 75, or by adhering to the side surface of the carriage 75 with an adhesive.
It is attached to the carriage 75.

In general, since the carriage 75 and the ink cartridge 1 are made of a synthetic resin material which is a non-magnetic material, the lines of magnetic force are concentrated on each steel ball 80 and a strong magnetic attraction force is exerted. It acts on each steel ball 80.

FIG. 9 shows an electromagnet 82 and a steel ball 8 corresponding thereto.
It is sectional drawing which expanded and showed the relationship with 0. As shown in this figure, a recess 85 is provided on the bottom surface 2A of the container body 2,
When the magnetic attraction force of the electromagnet 82 is acting, the steel ball 80 can be seated in the recess 85 to further improve the stationary stability.

Although the steel ball 80 seems to close the communication ports 15A and 27A shown in FIG. 8, these communication ports 15A, 27A,
27A is an opening space extending in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, so that the steel ball 80 can be prevented from obstructing the ink flow by selecting the size of this opening space.

Here, as the simplest method, the stirring operation is performed by the reciprocating movement of the carriage 75.
Can be carried out as the same operation as the printing operation of reciprocating the recording paper 76 in the paper width direction. The carriage 75 is
While sliding on the guide bar 78, it reciprocates in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 8, and printing on the recording paper 76 is executed in accordance with this reciprocating motion. Therefore, the steel balls 80 reciprocate in the respective ink chambers 11, 16, 17, 23 mainly in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 8 to perform stirring. Since the steel ball 80 is stopped during the printing operation as described above, the ejection stability of the recording head 73 is not hindered.

Further, as a stirring operation different from the above stirring operation, a reciprocating stroke significantly shorter than the reciprocating stroke during the printing operation can be executed. This can be performed, for example, by causing the carriage 75 to reciprocate along the guide bar 78 in a region other than the printing region within the movement range of the carriage 75. In this case, it is preferable to reciprocate at high speed in order to enhance the stirring effect.

The second embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is a case of the ink cartridge 1 having a single ink chamber 86. An ink pressure control valve 87 is arranged at the bottom of the ink cartridge 1 and controls the pressure so that the ink in the ink passage of the recording head 73 has a negative pressure. On the other hand, an air pressure control valve 88 is arranged above the ink cartridge 1 to introduce the atmosphere as the ink is consumed and prevent the ink from leaking to the outside when the ink cartridge 1 falls over. is doing. Other than that, it is the same as the above-mentioned embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the same parts.

When the single ink chamber 86 is used as described above, the ink volume is large and the amount of sedimentation of the pigment or the like tends to increase depending on the nonuse time. By appropriately selecting, the stirring operation can be actively performed. Other than that, the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment are obtained.

The third embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is one in which an agitating member 89 composed of a rod, a blade, etc. is inserted into the ink chamber 86. Reference numeral 90 denotes a rubber seal material, 9
1 is an electromagnetic exciter. Other than that, it is the same as each of the above-described embodiments, and the same reference numerals are given to the same portions.

When the vibrator 91 is energized, the stirring member 89 vibrates in the ink liquid.
The rocking and scraping wood movements are applied to and the sedimented pigment and the like are redispersed. Other than that, the same operational effects as the above-described respective embodiments are exhibited.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the energization control for the electromagnet and the vibration exciter is performed in conformity with the stirring operation and the printing operation. Such energization control is easy with a normal control circuit. Can be carried out.

Further, instead of using the vibrator 91, during the stirring operation, the stirring member 89 is made swingable, and the stirring member 89 is swung by the reciprocating movement of the carriage 75 to stir the ink. During the printing operation, the portion of the stirring member 89 protruding from the ink chamber 86 is fixed and the stirring member 89 is fixed.
It is also possible to control the stirring operation and the printing operation without stirring by constraining.

In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the holding means for controlling the movement of the steel ball 80 is provided at the bottom of the ink chamber, and the steel ball 80 reciprocates during the stirring operation. However, this is a form in which it is stopped during the printing operation.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the permanent magnet 92 serving as the holding means is used in the ink cartridge 1.
The steel ball 80 is fixed to the side surface of the container body 2 and is stopped by being attracted by the permanent magnet 92. The attraction force of the permanent magnet 92 cannot adsorb the steel balls 80 in the stirring operation accompanied by the strong reciprocating movement of the carriage 75, and can adsorb the steel balls 80 in the reciprocating movement of the carriage 75 in the normal printing operation. It is set to the extent possible. Other than that, it is the same as each of the above-described embodiments, and the same reference numerals are given to the same portions.

When the ink cartridge 1 is reciprocated at a higher speed than the printing operation to perform the stirring operation, the steel ball 80 freely stirs and moves, and during the printing operation, the steel ball 80 is attracted to the permanent magnet 92 and stopped. Then, the good ejection stability of ink droplets as described above can be obtained. Other than that, the same operational effects as the above-described respective embodiments are exhibited.

In the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the shallow groove 93 which is the holding means is formed on the bottom surface 2A of the container body 2.
Is formed. Other than that, it is the same as each of the above-described embodiments, and the same reference numerals are given to the same portions.

When the ink cartridge 1 is reciprocated at a higher speed than the printing operation and the stirring operation is performed, the steel ball 80 escapes from the shallow groove 93 and freely stirs and moves, and when the printing operation is performed, the steel ball 80 moves into the groove. Sitting in 93 and stopped
As described above, good ink droplet ejection stability can be obtained.
Other than that, the same operational effects as the above-described respective embodiments are exhibited.

In the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the inclined portion 94 serving as the holding means is provided on the bottom surface 2A of the container body 2.
Is formed. Other than that, it is the same as each of the above-described embodiments, and the same reference numerals are given to the same portions.

When the ink cartridge 1 is reciprocated at a higher speed than the printing operation to perform the stirring operation, the steel ball 80 does not remain at the lowest position of the inclined portion 94, and the inclined portion 9
When the printing operation is started, the steel ball 80 is positioned at the lowest position of the inclined portion 94 and is in a stopped state. You can get sex. Other than that, the same operational effects as the above-described respective embodiments are exhibited.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the stirring operation can be performed more positively by providing unevenness or small fins on the surface of the steel ball. Further, a plurality of stirring moving bodies can be arranged in one ink chamber to enhance the stirring effect.

[0092]

As described above, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the agitating moving body agitates and moves in the ink chamber when the ink agitating operation is applied to the ink cartridge, When a printing operation is performed by ejecting ink droplets from the recording head, the recording head is stopped at a predetermined position in the ink chamber. That is, the stirring is performed when the pigment or the like of the ink is settled and should be stirred, and the stirring operation is not performed when the printing operation is performed.

Therefore, the stirring operation and the printing operation are distinguished from each other, and unnecessary vibration due to the stirring is not transmitted to the recording head during printing, and the ink droplets in which the pigment and the like are uniformly dispersed are formed on the printing medium. It is ejected on the top to obtain good print quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an ink cartridge to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the ink cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of an opening of a container body.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a cross-sectional structure of a negative pressure generating means accommodating chamber.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a sectional structure of a valve accommodating chamber for communication with the atmosphere.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a cartridge holder.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a manner of holding a steel ball.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment in which the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention has a single ink chamber.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment in which a stirring member is used in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of holding means by a permanent magnet of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of holding means by shallow grooves of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of holding means by an inclined portion of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ink cartridge 2 container body 2A bottom part 2B recess 3 lid 4 Ink supply port 5, 6 locking member 8 valve housing chamber 9 ink distribution space 10 walls 11 First ink chamber 12 walls 13,13 'Atmosphere communication passage 14 Frame-shaped part 14A upper surface 15 walls 15A communication port 16 Second ink chamber 17 Third ink chamber 18 communication channels 18A recess 19 walls 19A, 19B communication port 20 ink inlet 21 Air outlet 22 walls 23 4th ink chamber 24, 25 walls 24A communication port 25A ink outlet 25B valve seat 26,27 division wall 26A, 27A communication port 28A ink flow path 29 through holes 30 walls 30A recess 31 Filter mounting part 32 inclined surface 33 Differential pressure valve chamber 34 Filter chamber 35 recess 36 narrow groove 37 groove 38 recess 39 frame 40 ribs 41,44 through holes 42 wall 43 areas 45 groove 46 through hole 47 communication port 50 springs 51 through hole 52 Membrane valve 52A thick part 52B, 53A Spring receiving part 53 Lid 54 frame 55 Filter 56,56 ', 57 Air-barrier film 60 through holes 61 Pressing member 62 elastic member 63, 64 protrusions 65 valve body 66 arms 66A rotation fulcrum 66B convex 67 through holes 70 Working rod 71 Cartridge holder 72 Ink supply needle 73 recording head 75 carriage 76 recording paper 77 Timing Belt 78 Guide bar 79 Stepping motor 80 Stirrer, steel ball 81 electromagnet 82 Electromagnet 83 Electromagnet 84 Electromagnet 85 hollow 86 ink chamber 87 Ink pressure control valve 88 air pressure control valve 89 Stirrer 90 sealing material 91 Electromagnetic shaker 92 Permanent magnet 93 shallow groove 94 slope

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A recording head that ejects ink droplets in response to a print signal, an ink cartridge that stores ink supplied to the recording head, the ink cartridge is mounted, and the recording head is mounted. A carriage and a stirring moving body that is movably arranged in the ink chamber of the ink cartridge and stirs the ink, and the stirring moving body imparts an ink stirring operation to the ink cartridge. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that it is sometimes agitated and moved in the ink chamber, and is stopped at a predetermined position in the ink chamber when a printing operation is performed by ejecting ink droplets from the recording head. . 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the agitating operation is performed when the recording apparatus is turned on, when the ink cartridge is replaced, when a certain time has elapsed within the printing operation time, or the like. 3. The agitating moving body is made of a magnetic material, and when the ink cartridge performs a printing operation, the agitating moving body moves inside the ink chamber by an attraction force of a magnet acting on the agitating moving body from the outside of the ink cartridge. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus is stopped at a predetermined location. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the magnet is an electromagnet. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the electromagnet is attached to a part of the carriage. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stirring operation is the same as the printing operation. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet. 8. When a stirring operation of ink is applied to the bottom of the ink chamber to the ink cartridge, the stirring moving body performs stirring movement in the ink chamber, and ejects ink droplets from the recording head to perform a printing operation. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising holding means for stopping the stirring moving body at a predetermined position in the ink chamber when the stirring moving body is performed. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stirring operation is an operation mode for stirring operation different from the printing operation. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stirring / moving body has a rolling shape. 11. A plurality of the ink chambers are provided, and the stirring moving body is arranged in each ink chamber.
The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of 1. 12. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stirring moving body is a stirring member that enters the ink chamber from the outside of the ink cartridge. 13. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stirring moving body is a spherical body made of a magnetic material. 14. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink is a dispersion type ink in which dispersed particles are dispersed in a solvent.