JP2004017637A - Ink jet recording apparatus and liquid storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supply a liquid by a highly reliable pit-in system without the risk of ink leakage or air introduction in a simple configuration in an ink jet recording apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: An ink inlet opening 1014 of an ink chamber 1003 of a sub tank and an air guiding out opening 1019 for sucking the air for the ink supply are provided in the same plane so that an ink supply pipe 1026 and an air suction pipe 1036 can be connected simultaneously at the time of supplying the ink to the sub tank. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and a liquid storage container, and more particularly, to a liquid storage container such as an ink tank for storing ink supplied to a recording head mounted on a carriage together with a recording head for discharging ink. The present invention relates to a liquid storage container in which a liquid is supplied to a container from another liquid container by negative pressure due to suction of air.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of container is known as a sub-tank mounted on a carriage together with a recording head in the field of ink jet recording, and ink is supplied from a main tank every time a predetermined amount of recording is performed. As one method of supplying (filling or replenishing) ink to the sub-tank, a main tank storing ink to be supplied to the sub-tank is provided at a predetermined position in the apparatus, and the sub-tank is mounted on a carriage together with a recording head. It will be mounted. Then, by moving the carriage and connecting the ink supply path from the main tank to the ink supply port of the sub tank and the suction path on the pump side to the air outlet of the sub tank at a predetermined position, the air suction of the pump is performed. A so-called pit-in method is known in which ink is supplied to a sub-tank by negative pressure.
[0003]
In the pit-in system, when supplying ink, it is necessary to supply a predetermined amount of ink to the sub tank without excess or shortage. In particular, when the sub-tank is filled with ink, overflow of the ink due to excessive supply causes a problem in the quality of the apparatus.
[0004]
As a configuration that solves this problem without using a relatively complicated configuration such as control of the suction amount of the pump, a gas can be transmitted to a part of the air suction path of the sub-tank, but it is made of a porous material that does not allow ink to pass through. Some of them provide a fibrous film. According to this, when the ink is supplied by performing the air suction operation by the pump through the film and reaches the position of the film, the ink meniscus holding force and the ink suction force of the film are balanced and the ink supply is stopped. I do. As described above, it is possible to prevent the ink from being excessively supplied at the time of supplying the ink without particularly performing the suction control using the pump or the like.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the pit-in system is not limited to the one using the porous film described above, and has a problem in forming the air suction passage and the ink supply passage when supplying the ink to the sub-tank. That is, ink leakage may occur at the connection between the ink supply pipe on the main tank side and the ink supply port of the sub tank, and air may be introduced at the connection between the suction pipe on the pump side and the air outlet of the sub tank. There is something that can happen. For example, if the air suction path and the ink supply path are not formed at the same time and the air suction path is formed first, the pump side suction pipe is inserted into the sub tank to form the path. Pressure rises and ink may leak from the ink supply port of the sub-tank. The ink suction port is usually made of a rubber or the like having a cut for insertion so that the ink supply pipe (supply needle) can be inserted and the ink in the tank is prevented from leaking outside. Although configured, ink may leak through the cut due to the increase in pressure described above.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and a highly reliable pit-in type liquid supply that does not cause ink leakage with a simple configuration. It is to provide a liquid storage container.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, according to the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by scanning a recording medium that ejects ink on a recording medium and ejecting ink onto the recording medium, the movement including the movement of the recording head for scanning is performed. And a sub-tank for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head by moving with the recording head by the moving unit, and at a predetermined position in the movement, by gas suction through a gas outlet of the sub-tank. A sub-tank for supplying ink into the sub-tank via an ink supply port of the sub-tank, and a gas suction path and an ink supply respectively engaged with the gas outlet and the ink supply port of the sub-tank at the predetermined positions. Means for forming gas passages for sucking gas and replenishing ink, respectively. Wherein the forming a click supply path is substantially performed simultaneously.
[0008]
Preferably, the gas outlet and the ink supply port are provided on substantially the same surface of the sub tank.
[0009]
Further, in a liquid storage container used in an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink onto the recording medium by scanning a recording head that ejects ink, the liquid storage container is used for scanning the recording head. For storing ink to be supplied to the recording head by moving together with the recording head by a moving means for performing a movement including a movement for moving the liquid through a gas outlet of the liquid storage container at a predetermined position in the movement. The liquid is supplied into the liquid storage container through the liquid supply port of the liquid storage container by the sucked gas, and is engaged with the gas outlet port and the ink supply port at the predetermined position, thereby forming a gas. The suction path and the ink supply path are formed substantially simultaneously.
[0010]
According to the above configuration, when supplying ink to the sub-tank, when forming a gas suction path and an ink supply path by a gas outlet for gas suction and an ink supply port for ink supply, respectively, the formation is performed. Since the operations are performed substantially simultaneously, it is possible to prevent ink from leaking through the ink supply port by forming one before the other.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the appearance of a recording head and a liquid storage container (hereinafter, referred to as a “sub-tank”) used in an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows a configuration provided integrally.
[0012]
In FIG. 1, the carriage 1002 can be guided and moved by two guide shafts 1010 by being driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) such as a motor and a wire. In the carriage 1002, magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y) inks (also referred to as liquids in this specification, and there is no difference between inks and other liquids in the application of the present invention). The recording head 1001 is provided integrally, and has so-called side shooter type discharge ports arranged in a staggered pattern (shown as two lines in the figure). The ejection opening array for each ink is linear in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction of the recording head (the direction of arrow A in the figure). The recording head 1001 scans a recording medium such as paper, and during this scanning, ink can be ejected onto the recording medium to perform recording.
[0013]
Sub-tanks (not shown) are provided inside the carriage 1002 corresponding to each recording head. These sub-tanks are provided with ink supply ports (not shown) for supplying ink by a pit-in method. Is provided with a rubber stopper 1004. The carriage 1002 is also provided with an air outlet (not shown) used for the ink supply, and a rubber stopper 1009 is provided in this portion as well.
[0014]
The rubber stopper for each ink inlet and the rubber stopper for the air outlet are provided on the same surface of the carriage. Thus, as will be described later, the ink supply path and the air suction path can be formed at the same time when ink is supplied to the sub tank, and ink leakage and air introduction can be prevented.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross section of the above-described carriage 1002 along a direction orthogonal to the moving direction. FIG. 3 shows that the carriage 1002 indicated by a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state when the user has moved.
[0016]
As shown in these figures, the sub-tank has an ink chamber 1003. That is, an ink chamber 1003 is provided for each color ink. In each ink chamber, an ink supply port 1014 is formed in a part of the wall thereof, and a rubber stopper 1004 that covers the ink supply port 1014 and prevents ink from flowing out is provided. At the bottom of each ink chamber 1003, an ink supply path 1005 for supplying ink to the corresponding print head 1001 is provided. On the other hand, a communication port 1016 and a porous film 1006 which is attached to the tank chamber wall so as to cover the entire communication port are provided above the ink chambers 1003. The porous film 1006 is a gas-liquid separation member that allows gas such as air to pass therethrough and does not allow liquid (ink) to pass therethrough. In the present embodiment, a water repellent is applied to the inside of the ink chamber of the porous film 1006. The surface of the porous membrane 1006 opposite to the side facing the ink chamber faces a communication chamber 1008 formed by the carriage wall and the lid member 1007, and the communication chamber 1008 is connected to the communication chamber 1008 through a communication passage 1018. It communicates with the outlet 1019 which is an open end.
[0017]
The porous membrane 1006 is formed with a plurality of micropores. These micropores are formed by laminating and sintering fibrous resin or metal, and by allowing gas to pass therethrough. It can be performed by determining the fiber diameter and the density after sintering so that the pore diameter is such that the ink cannot pass through.
[0018]
Next, the operation of supplying ink to the sub tank will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a side view of the carriage 1002, and shows a cross section of a sub-tank of the carriage. FIG. 4 is a view of the carriage 1002 as viewed from above, and similarly shows a cross section of the carriage.
[0019]
The position of the carriage at the time of ink supply is a position further moved to the right by a predetermined amount in FIGS. 3 and 4 from the home position where the recording head is located at the time of non-recording. Since it is necessary to cap the recording head both when the recording head is located at the home position and when the recording head is located at the ink supply position, caps 1030A and 1030B are provided corresponding to the respective positions. . At the home position, suction recovery processing of the recording head is performed in a capping state. For this, a pump 1022 is provided. Further, a suction path is provided between the cap 1030B used when refilling the sub tank with ink and the pump 10222 so that ink can be suctioned. This is because even if ink leaks from the ejection openings of the recording head when ink is supplied, the ink is received by the cap 1030B, and is discharged to a predetermined location by suction.
[0020]
In the vicinity of one end of the movement path of the carriage 1002 in the printing apparatus, supply pipes (needle) 1026 are provided corresponding to each of the three sub-tanks in the carriage. Each supply pipe 1026 has a hollow structure, and the hollow portion communicates with a corresponding main ink tank (not shown) of the ink by a supply tube 1024. A hole 1027 is formed in the vicinity of the tip of each supply pipe 1026 so that when the supply pipe 1026 is inserted into the ink chamber 1003 of the sub-tank, the hollow portion of the supply pipe and the ink chamber can communicate with each other. it can. Each supply pipe 1026 is provided with a cap 1028. The cap is slidable with the supply pipe. When the supply pipe 1026 is not connected to the carriage 1002, the cap is provided so as to occupy a predetermined position by the urging force of the spring 1025. Drying of the ink can be prevented. The cap 1028 abuts the rubber stopper 1004 of each sub-tank when the carriage is at the home position at the time of non-recording or the like, thereby preventing evaporation of the ink through the cut of the rubber stopper.
[0021]
The structure related to the joining of the suction tube 1038 for air suction with the carriage 1002 is the same as that of the supply tube 1026 described above. That is, the hollow portion of the suction pipe 1036 inserted into the outlet 1019 and the communication path 1018 following the outlet 1019 is connected to the pump 1021 via the tube 1023, whereby air can be sucked from the sub tank. Similarly, the cap 1038 also closes the hole 1037 except during suction, and seals the rubber stopper 1009.
[0022]
In the above configuration, the supply pipe 1026 and the suction pipe 1036 are combined with the fact that the suction port 1014 (rubber plug 1004) and the outlet port 1019 (rubber plug 1009) of the sub tank are provided on the same plane as described above. With the same length, the ink supply path and the air suction path can be formed at the same time, and the above-described ink leakage and air introduction can be prevented.
[0023]
At the timing when the ink in the ink chamber 1003 of the sub tank is consumed and reduced, the carriage 1002 moves to the ink supply position. With this movement, the supply pipe 1026 and the suction pipe 1036 penetrate the corresponding rubber stoppers 1004 and 1009 and are inserted into the ink suction port 1014 and the outlet port 1019, respectively. Then, when the suction pump 1021 starts driving, the air in each ink chamber 1003 is exhausted, and the pressure decreases. Due to this pressure drop, the ink in each main tank is supplied into the ink chamber 1003 through the supply pipe 1026. When the ink supply proceeds and the liquid level of the ink reaches the position of the porous film 1006, the ink does not pass through the porous film 1006 due to the water repellent action and the micropores applied to the porous film 1006. Only air suction is performed. The suction pump 1021 is stopped when driven for a predetermined time to reach the liquid level as described above.
[0024]
In the above-described embodiment, the caps 1028 and 1038 for sealing the rubber stoppers of the ink inlet port 1014 and the air outlet port 1019 are separate, but they may be integrated. That is, since the rubber stoppers of the air outlet port 1019 and the ink supply port 1014 are provided so as to be on the same plane, it is easy to cap with a single member at the time of capping, and the capping property is excellent. It can be.
[0025]
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration of a carriage including a sub tank according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 5, this embodiment uses hollow tubes as the ink supply port and the air outlet. In other words, the relationship is opposite to that of the above-described embodiment, and the tube for ink supply on the apparatus main body side has a rubber stopper at the connection portion, and the tube for air suction similarly has the rubber stopper, Tubes 1034 and 1039 are inserted into the rubber stopper to form an ink supply path and an air suction path.
[0027]
Also in the present embodiment, since the ink supply port and the air outlet are formed on the same plane, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of ink leakage and the introduction of vacancies.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when ink is supplied to the sub-tank, the gas suction path and the ink supply path are formed by the gas outlet for gas suction and the ink supply port for ink supply, respectively. Since the formation is performed substantially simultaneously, the formation of one before the other can prevent the ink from leaking through the ink supply port.
[0029]
As a result, it is possible to provide a highly reliable liquid storage container in the pit-in supply system.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of a recording head and a sub tank used in an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross section of a carriage in the apparatus along a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the carriage.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a carriage 1002 indicated by a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. 2 has moved to the vicinity of an end of the apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a view of the carriage as viewed from above.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration of a carriage including a sub tank according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1001 Recording head 1002 Carriage 1003 Ink chamber 1006 Porous film 1008 Communication chamber 1014 Ink inlet 1019 Air outlet 1021 Pump 1026 Supply pipe 1028 Cap 1036 Suction pipe 1038 Cap

Claims (6)

In an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by scanning a recording medium with a recording head that discharges ink and discharging ink onto the recording medium,
Moving means for performing movement including movement for scanning of the recording head;
A sub-tank that moves with the recording head by the moving means and stores ink to be supplied to the recording head, and at a predetermined position in the movement, the ink in the sub-tank is suctioned by gas suction through a gas outlet of the sub-tank. A sub-tank for supplying ink into the sub-tank via a supply port,
Means for engaging with the gas outlet and the ink supply port of the sub-tank at the predetermined position to form a gas suction path and an ink supply path, respectively, for performing gas suction and ink supply, respectively;
Wherein the gas suction path and the ink supply path are formed substantially simultaneously. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas outlet and the ink supply port are provided on substantially the same surface of the sub tank. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas suction through the gas outlet is performed through a porous film to the stored ink chamber. In a liquid storage container used in an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging a recording head by scanning a recording medium with a recording head that discharges ink,
The liquid storage container is a container that stores ink to be supplied to the recording head by moving together with the recording head by a moving unit that performs a movement including a movement for scanning the recording head, and at a predetermined position in the movement. By the gas suction through the gas outlet of the liquid storage container, the liquid is supplied into the liquid storage container through the liquid supply port of the liquid storage container,
A liquid storage container, wherein a gas suction path and an ink supply path are formed substantially simultaneously by engaging the gas outlet and the ink supply port at the predetermined position. The liquid storage container according to claim 4, wherein the gas outlet and the ink supply port are provided on substantially the same surface of the liquid storage container. The liquid storage container according to claim 4, wherein the gas suction through the gas outlet is performed through a porous film to the stored ink chamber.

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