JP2004209662A - Liquid tank - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent dust and the like from adhering to the inside of a liquid tank. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid tank 11 for supplying a liquid 4 to a liquid discharging head 2 which discharges the liquid comprises a liquid storing part 12 where the liquid 4 is stored, and a liquid supplying part 13 for supplying the liquid 4 stored in the liquid storing part 12 to the liquid discharging head 2. The liquid storing part 12 is a joined united body of a container body 22 having one face as an opening 22a, and a lid body 23 for shutting the opening 22a of the container body 22. The container body 22 and the lid body 23 are formed by injection molding so that an inner face for forming the liquid storing part 12 has a smaller surface roughness than that of an outer face. The container body 22 and the lid body 23 are joined and united by injection filling of a resin 5 into groove parts 11a and 11b formed along mutual joining parts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【００５６】
なお、表１は、インクタンク内の洗浄前において、５μｍ以上のゴミの数が６００００個以上である場合に、１回目の洗浄後に残ったゴミの数と、５回目の洗浄後に残ったゴミの数とを示している。また、本発明のインクタンクの内面の表面粗さは、射出成形により６．３μｍ程度とされており、従来のインクタンクの内面の表面粗さは、ブロー成形により２５μｍ程度とされている。
【００５７】
表１の測定結果から、従来のインクタンクでは、１回目の洗浄後に残ったゴミの数が２００００〜６００００個であり、５回目の洗浄後に残ったゴミの数が７０００個であった。これに対して、本発明のインクタンクでは、１回目の洗浄後に残ったゴミの数が４５００〜４８００個となり、従来よりも一度に多くのゴミが洗浄により除去されたことがわかる。さらに、５回目の洗浄後に残ったゴミの数は、５００個となり、従来よりもゴミの数が大幅に削減されたことがわかる。
【００５８】
以上のように、このインクタンク１１では、インクと接する内面が外面より表面粗度が小さくなるように形成されていることから、塵埃等が内面に付着しにくく、作製後や回収後の洗浄によって内面に付着した塵埃や残留インクを適切且つ容易に除去することが可能である。
【００５９】
以上のようなインクタンク１１が装着されるカートリッジ本体３１は、図２及び図３に示すように、インクタンク１１が装着される装着部３２と、インクタンク１１を固定する係合片３３及びラッチレバー３４と、インクタンク１１を付勢する付勢部材３５と、インクタンク１１内におけるインク残量を検出するインク残量検出部３６と、インク供給部１３と接続されてインク４が供給される接続供給部３７と、接続供給部３７内におけるインク４の有無を検出するインク検出部３８，３９と、カートリッジ本体３１をプリンタ本体３から取り外すための取手部４０と、インクを吐出するヘッドチップ４１と、ヘッドチップ４１を保護するヘッドキャップ４２とを有している。
【００６０】
インクタンク１１が装着される装着部３２は、インクタンク１１が装着されるように略凹形状となっており、ここでは４本のインクタンク１１が並列に収納される。装着部３２は、インクタンク１１が収納されることから、インクタンク１１と同様に印刷幅の方向に長く設けられている。
【００６１】
装着部３２は、図９に示すように、インクタンク１１が装着される部分であり、イエロー用のインクタンク１１ｙが装着される装着部３２ｙ、マゼンタ用のインクタンク１１ｍが装着される装着部３２ｍ、シアン用のインクタンク１１ｃが装着される装着部３２ｃ、ブラック用のインクタンク１１ｋが装着される装着部３２ｋからなり、装着部３２ｙ，３２ｍ，３２ｃ，３２ｋが隔壁３２ａによりそれぞれ隣接するように区画されている。
【００６２】
なお、上述したようにブラックのインクタンク１１ｋは、インク４の内容量が大きいため、長手方向に対して垂直方向の幅が他のインクタンク１１ｙ，１１ｍ，１１ｃよりも広く設けられており、これに合わせて装着部３２ｋの幅も他の装着部３２ｙ，３２ｍ，３２ｃよりも広く設けられている。
【００６３】
装着部３２の開口端に設けられる係合片３３は、図１０に示すように、装着部３２の長手方向の一端縁に設けられており、インクタンク１１の係合段部１９と係合する。具体的に、係合片３３は、図１１に示すように、インクタンク１１の係合段部１９と係合する。インクタンク１１は、インクタンク１１の係合段部１９側を挿入端として斜めに装着部３２内に挿入し、係合段部１９と係合片３３との係合位置を回動支点として、図１１に示すように、インクタンク１１の係合段部１９が設けられていない側を装着部３２側に回動させるようにして、図３に示すように、装着部３２に装着することができる。これによって、インクタンク１１は、装着部３２に容易に装着することができる。
【００６４】
ラッチレバー３４は、図１０及び図１２に示すように、装着部３２の係合片３３に対して反対側の側面、すなわち長手方向の他端の側面に設けられており、略長方形状の係合孔３４ａを有している。ラッチレバー３４は、基端部が装着部３２を構成する長手方向の他端の側面の底面側に一体的に設けられ、先端側がこの側面に対して近接離間する方向に弾性変位するように形成され、先端側に係合孔３３ａが形成されている。ラッチレバー３４は、インクタンク１１が装着部３２に装着されると同時に、図１０中に示す矢印Ａ方向に弾性変位し、係合孔３４ａがインクタンク１１の係止突部１８と係合するように矢印Ａ方向とは逆方向に付勢力が働き、装着部３２に装着されたインクタンク１１が装着部３２より脱落しないようにする。
【００６５】
また、ラッチレバー３４は、インクタンク１１を取り外すとき、矢印Ａ方向に弾性変位されることで、係合孔３４ａと係止突部１８との係合状態が解除されて、インクタンク１１が取り外し可能となる。
【００６６】
付勢部材３５は、インクタンク１１の係合段部１９に対応する側面側の底面上にインクタンク１１を取り外す方向に付勢する付勢部材である。付勢部材３５は、インクタンク１１を取り外す方向に弾性変位可能とされた、例えば板バネが用いられている。付勢部材３５は、その板バネを折曲し、折曲することにより形成された頂部でインクタンク１１の底面を押圧し、装着部３２に装着されているインクタンク１１を装着部３２より取り外す方向に付勢するようにしている。これにより付勢部材３５は、ラッチレバー３４を弾性変位させて装着部３２からインクタンク１１を取り外すとき、インクタンク１１を取り外す方向にインクタンク１１の底面を押圧するため、インクタンク１１の取り外しを容易とすることができる。
【００６７】
インク残量検出部３６は、図１３に示すように、インクタンク１１内のインク４の残量を段階的に検出するための３つの導電性を有する部材３６ａ，３６ｂ，３６ｃがそれぞれ一対に設けられ、図示しない制御回路と接続された導体板３６ｄに接続された検出部であり、各色のインクタンク１１ｙ，１１ｍ，１１ｃ，１１ｋの装着部３２ｙ，３２ｍ，３２ｃ，３２ｋに設けられている。
【００６８】
インク残量検出部３６は、インクタンク１１がヘッドカートリッジ２に装着されたとき、インクタンク１１内の側面の高さ方向に並設された端子部２０に接触し電気的に接続される。インク残量検出部３６は、インクタンク１１を装着するとき、インクタンク１１側へ付勢する図示しない弾性体により押圧されており、これによりインクタンク１１を押圧されインクタンク１１の端子部２０に密着され確実に端子部２０と電気的に接続されるようにしている。
【００６９】
このようなインク残量検出部３６は、一対の部材３６ａ，３６ｂ，３６ｃ間の電気抵抗値を検出することで後述する制御回路がインクタンク１１内におけるインク４の残量を検出する。具体的にインク残量検出部３６では、インクタンク１１内におけるインク４が導電性を有しているため、インクタンク１１内におけるインク４の残量により一対の部材３６ａ，３６ｂ，３６ｃ間の電気抵抗値が異なるようになっている。つまり、インク残量検出部３６では、インクタンク１１内にインク４があれば検出される電気抵抗値が下がり、インク４が無ければ空気が絶縁物質であるので検出される電気抵抗値が大きくなることを検出するようにしている。
【００７０】
接続供給部３７は、インク供給部１３が接続されて、ヘッドチップ４１にインク４を供給する供給路を形成する。接続供給部３７は、インクタンク１１が装着される際に、インクタンク１１のインク供給部１３と係合することで、インクタンク１１の位置決めを行う。接続供給部３７は、インク供給部１３と嵌合し易くするため、先端部に向かって縮径するように形成されている。
【００７１】
以上の例では、インク供給部１３を先端部に向かって拡径するように形成し、接続供給部３７を先端部に縮径するように形成する例を説明したが、インク供給部１３の拡径部と接続供給部３７の縮径部は何れか一方に設けるようにしてもよい。また、イン供給部１３を縮径部とし接続供給部３７を拡径部としても同様な効果を得ることができる。
【００７２】
ここで、接続供給部３７の構成について具体的に説明すると、接続供給部３７は、図１４に示すように、インクタンク１１から供給されるインク４を溜めるインク溜め部５１と、接続供給部３７に連結されるインク供給部１３をシールするシール部材５２と、インク４内の不純物を除去するフィルタ５３と、ヘッドチップ４１側への供給路を開閉する弁機構５４とを有している。
【００７３】
インク溜め部５１は、インク供給部１３と接続されインクタンク１１から供給されるインク４を溜める空間である。
【００７４】
シール部材５２は、インク溜め部５１の上端に設けられたシール部材であり、インクタンク１１のインク供給部１３が接続供給部３７のインク溜め部５１に接続されるとき、インク４が外部に漏れないようインク溜め部５１とインク供給部１３との間を密閉するシール部材である。
【００７５】
フィルタ５３は、インクタンク１１の着脱時等にインク４に混入してしまった塵や埃等のごみを取り除くフィルタである。フィルタ５３は、インク検出部３８，３９よりも下部に設けられている。
【００７６】
弁機構５４は、図１５及び図１６に示すように、インク溜め部５１からインクが供給される流入路６１と、流入路６１からインク４が流入するインク室６２と、インク室６２からインク４を流出する流出路６３と、インク室６２を流入路６１側と流出路６３側とを分割するように設けられた開口部６４と、開口部６４を開閉する弁６５と、弁６５を付勢するバネ６６と、バネ６６の強さを調節する負圧調整ネジ６７と、弁６５と接続される弁シャフト６８と、弁シャフト６８と接続されるダイアフラム６９とを有している。
【００７７】
インク流入路６１は、インク溜め部５１を介してインクタンク１１のインク収容部１２内のインク４をヘッドチップ４１に供給可能にインク収容部１２と連結する供給路である。インク流入路６１は、インク溜め部５１の底面側からインク室６２まで延在されている。
【００７８】
インク室６２は、流入路６１、インク流出路６３及び開口部６４と一体となって形成された略直方体をなすインク収容室であり、流入路６１からインク４が流入し、開口部６４を介して流出路６３からインク４が流出するようにしている。
【００７９】
インク流出路６３は、インク室６２から開口部６４を介してインク４が供給されて、さらにヘッドチップ４１と連結された供給路である。インク流出路６３は、インク室６２の底面側からヘッドチップ４１まで延在されている。
【００８０】
弁６５は、インク流入路６１側とインク流出路６３側とで分割する開口部６４を開閉する弁である。弁６５は、バネ６６の付勢力と、弁シャフト６８を介して接続されたダイアフラム６９の復元力と、流出路６３側のインク４の負圧によって上下に移動するようになっている。弁６５は、下端に位置するとき、インク室６２をインク流入路６１側とインク流出路６３側とを分割するように開口部６４を閉じ、インク４の供給を停止する。弁６５は、上端に位置するとき、インク室６２をインク流入路６１側とインク流出路６３側とを分割せずに、ヘッドチップ４１へインク４の供給を可能とする。
【００８１】
なお、弁６５を構成する材質は、その種類を問わないが、例えばゴム弾性体、いわゆるエラストマーから形成されれば、高い閉塞性を有するので好ましい。
【００８２】
バネ６６は、付勢力により弁６５を下方向に付勢する圧縮コイルバネであり、弁６５の上面とインク室６２の上面との間を連結するように取り付けられている。
【００８３】
負圧調整ネジ６７は、バネ６６の付勢力を調整するネジであり、負圧調整ネジ６７を調整することでバネ６６の付勢力を調整することができるようにしている。これにより、負圧調整ネジ６７は、開口部６４を開閉する弁６５を動作させるインク４の負圧を調整することができる。
【００８４】
弁シャフト６８は、一端に接続された弁６５と、他端に接続されたダイアフラム６９とを連結して運動するように設けられたシャフトである。
【００８５】
ダイアフラム６９は、弁シャフト６８の他端に接続された付勢力を有する薄い弾性板である。このダイアフラム６９は、インク室６２の流出路６３側の一主面と、外気と接する他主面とからなり、大気圧とインク４の負圧により外気側と流出路６３側に弾性変位する。
【００８６】
以上のような弁機構５４では、弁６５がバネ６６の付勢力とダイアフラム６９の付勢力とによってインク室６２の開口部６４を閉塞するように押圧されている。そして、ヘッドチップ４１からインク４が吐出された際に、開口部６４分割された流出路６３側のインク室６２のインク４の負圧が高まる。そして、インク４の負圧によりダイアフラム６９が大気圧により押し上げられて、弁シャフト６８とともに弁６５を押し上げる。このとき、インク室６２の流入路６１側と流出路６３側と間の開口部６４が開放され、インク４が流入路６１側から流出路６３側に供給される。そして、インク４の負圧が低下してダイアフラム６９が復元力により元の形状にもどり、バネ６６の付勢力により弁シャフト６８とともに弁６５をインク室６２が閉塞するように引き下げる。以上のようにして弁機構５４では、インク４を吐出する度にインク４の負圧が高まると、上述の動作を繰り返す。
【００８７】
また、この接続供給部３７では、インク収容部１２内のインク４がインク室６２に供給されると、インク収容部１２内のインク４が減少するが、このとき、空気導入管１５から外気がインクタンク１１内に入り込む。インクタンク１１内に入り込んだ空気は、インクタンク１１の上方に送られる。これにより、インク４が後述するヘッドチップ４１のノズル１０４ａから吐出される前の状態に戻り、平衡状態となる。このとき、空気導入管１５内にインク４がほとんどない状態で平衡状態となる。
【００８８】
なお、接続供給部３７は、図示しない先端部が、上述したインク供給部１３の開閉ピン１３ｅを兼ねるようにしてもよく、この場合にインクタンク１１がカートリッジ本体３１に装着されると、この先端部が上述したインク供給部１３の弁１３ｃを押し上げてインク４の供給を可能とする。
【００８９】
このように接続供給部３７は、インクタンク１１からヘッドチップ４１へ適切な量のインク４を供給することができる。
【００９０】
インク検出部３８，３９は、接続供給部３７内におけるインク４の有無を検出する一対の導電性を有する線状部材であり、先端部が接続供給部３７内に臨ませるように配設されている。インク検出部３８，３９は、接続供給部３７のインク溜め部５１の側面に接続供給部３７の内部から外部に貫通するように設けられ、それぞれヘッドチップ４１に接続されている。
【００９１】
インク検出部３８，３９は、接続供給部３７内におけるフィルタ５３よりも上部に設けられている。これは、インク４がフィルタ５３以下となる場合に、ヘッドチップ４１側におけるインク４の負圧が高まり、装置の故障の原因となることを防止するためである。インク検出部３８，３９は、インク４をフィルタ５３よりもインクタンク１１側で検出することで、インク４がフィルタ５３からヘッドチップ４１側においてなくなってしまうことを防止することができる。
【００９２】
さらに、インク検出部３８，３９は、インク残量検出部３６と組み合わせて用いることでより詳細にインクタンク１１内のインク４の残量を検出することが可能となる。具体的にインク検出部３８，３９では、インク４が導電性を有しているため、接続供給部３７内におけるインク４の有無により両者間の電気抵抗値が異なるようになっている。つまり、インク検出部３８，３９では、接続供給部３７内にインク４があれば検出される電気抵抗値が下がり、インク４が無ければ空気が絶縁物質であるので検出される電気抵抗値が大きくなる。
【００９３】
このようにインク検出部３８，３９は、インクタンク１１内におけるインク４の残量が無い状態であっても、接続供給部３７内におけるインク４の有無を検出することができるため、装置全体としてより正確にインク４の残量を検出することができる。
【００９４】
取手部４０は、カートリッジ本体３１が消耗する等して交換の必要がある場合や、インクジェットプリンタ装置１を修理する際等に、カートリッジ本体３１の取り外しを容易にする。
【００９５】
ヘッドチップ４１は、接続供給部３７から供給されるインク４を吐出するインク吐出孔であるノズル１０４ａを多数有している。
【００９６】
ヘッドキャップ４２は、ヘッドチップ４１を保護するために設けられたカバーであり、インク４を吐出する際には、後述するプリンタ本体３のヘッドキャップ開閉機構８３により開閉される。ヘッドキャップ４２は、図２に示すように、開閉方向に設けられた溝部７１と、長手方向に設けられヘッドチップ４１の吐出面４１ａに付着した余分なインクを吸い取る清掃ローラ７２とを有している。
【００９７】
ヘッドキャップ４２は、開閉動作時にこの溝部７１に沿って開閉するようにされており、このとき清掃ローラ７２がヘッドチップ４１の吐出面４１ａに当接しながら回転することで、余分なインク４を吸い取り、ヘッドチップ４１の吐出面４１ａを清掃する。この清掃ローラ７２は、例えば吸水性の高い部材が用いられる。また、ヘッドキャップ４２は、ヘッドチップ４１内のインク４が乾燥しないようにする。
【００９８】
上述したヘッドチップ４１は、各色のインク４に対応して、図１７に示すように、ベースとなる回路基板１０１と、インク４を加熱する発熱抵抗体１０２と、インク４の漏れを防ぐフィルム１０３と、インク４が吐出されるノズル１０４ａが多数設けられたノズルシート１０４と、これらに囲まれてインク４が供給される空間であるインク加圧室１０５と、インク加圧室１０５にインクを供給するインク流路部１０６とを備えている。
【００９９】
回路基板１０１は、シリコン等の半導体基板からなるものであり、その一主面１０１ａに、発熱抵抗体１０２が形成されており、この発熱抵抗体１０２と回路基板１０１上の図示しない制御回路とが接続されている。この制御回路は、ロジックＩＣ（Integrated Circuit）やドライバートランジスタ等からなる。
【０１００】
発熱抵抗体１０２は、制御回路から供給される電力により発熱し、インク加圧室１０５内のインク４を加熱して内圧を高める。これにより加熱されたインクは、後述するノズルシート１０４に設けられたノズル１０４ａから吐出する。
【０１０１】
フィルム１０３は、回路基板１０１の一主面１０１ａに積層されている。フィルム１０３は、例えば露光硬化型のドライフィルムレジストからなるものであり、回路基板１０１の一主面１０１ａの略全体に積層された後、フォトリソプロセスによって不要部分が除去されて所定形状に形成される。これにより、フィルム１０３は各発熱抵抗体１０２の周囲部を略凹状に囲むように形成される。フィルム１０３により発熱抵抗体１０２を囲む部分がインク加圧室１０５の一部を形成している。
【０１０２】
ノズルシート１０４は、インク４を吐出させるためのノズル１０４ａが形成されたシート状部材であり、フィルム１０３の回路基板１０１と反対側に積層されている。ノズル１０４ａは、ノズルシート１０４に円形状に開口された孔であり、各発熱抵抗体１０２の下側に位置するように配置されている。なお、ノズルシート１０４はインク加圧室１０５の一部を形成している。
【０１０３】
インク加圧室１０５は、回路基板１０１、発熱抵抗体１０２、フィルム１０３及びノズルシート１０４に囲まれた空間であり、インク流路部１０６から供給されるインク４を発熱抵抗体１０２により加熱させて内圧を上昇させる。
【０１０４】
インク流路部１０６は、上述した接続供給部３７の流出路６３と連通されており、接続供給部３７により供給されるインク４を各インク加圧室１０５に送り込む流路を形成している。
【０１０５】
以上のように構成されるヘッドチップ４１は、図１４に示すように、例えばイエロー、マゼンダ、シアン、ブラックの各インクタンク１１に対応するインク流路部１０６がそれぞれ記録紙の幅方向に渡って設けられ、図１８に示すように、各色のインク４が供給されるインク流路部１０６に対応して、それぞれ印刷幅方向にノズル１０４ａが略直線状に並設されている。
【０１０６】
具体的には、イエロー、マゼンダ、シアン、ブラックのインクタンク１１ｙ，１１ｍ，１１ｃ，１１ｋの直下に各色に対応する接続供給部３７が設けられており、この接続供給部３７の下部にインク流路部１０６が記録紙の印刷幅にわたって設けられているため、ヘッドチップ４１は、吐出面４１ａにおいて、各色のノズル１０４ａが、このインク流路部１０６に沿って設けられている。
【０１０７】
ヘッドチップ４１は、各色のノズル１０４ａが略直線上に並設されているが、所定の数のノズル１０４ａを組として、このノズル１０４ａの組が印刷方向に前後するように設けられている。
【０１０８】
このようなヘッドチップ４１は、発熱抵抗体１０２によりインク加圧室１０５が加圧されて、インク液滴ｉが記録紙に対して吐出される。
【０１０９】
このような構成とされたカートリッジ本体３１において、ヘッドチップ４１がインク液滴ｉを吐出する原理を説明する。
【０１１０】
まず、図示しない制御回路からの指令によって選択された発熱抵抗体１０２に短時間、例えば１〜３マイクロ秒程度、電流パルスが流されることにより、発熱抵抗体１０２が急速に加熱される。この結果、図１９に示すように、発熱抵抗体１０２に接する部分にインク気泡Ｂが発生し、図２０に示すように、そのインク気泡Ｂの膨張によってインク気泡Ｂの膨張分の体積と等しい体積のインク４が押しのけられる。これによって、ノズル１０４ａに接する部分の押しのけられたインク４と同等の体積のインク液滴ｉがノズル１０４ａから吐出され、記録紙の対象物に着弾される。
【０１１１】
インク液滴ｉが吐出されると、インク液滴ｉを吐出したインク加圧室１０５内に吐出された量と同量のインク４がインク流路部１０６から直ちに補充され、図１７に示すように、もとの状態に戻る。このインク４は、接続供給部３７を通じてインクタンク１１から供給される。
【０１１２】
インク４がノズル１０４ａから吐出される前、すなわちインク加圧室１０５内にインク気泡が発生する前は、インクタンク１１の空気導入管１５内と空気導入管１５外でインク液面が同一の高さになった際にインク４が平衡状態にある。
【０１１３】
ここで、カートリッジ本体３１にインクタンク１１を装着する動作について説明する。カートリッジ本体３１にインクタンク１１を装着する際には、インクタンク１１の係合段部１９を係合片３３に係合させ、この係合片３３が回動支点となるようにインクタンク１１を回動させて係止突部１８とラッチレバー３４の係合孔３４ａとを係合させる。このときに、付勢部材３５がインクタンク１１を取り外し方向に付勢することで、インクタンク１１がカートリッジ本体３１に固定される。
【０１１４】
カートリッジ本体３１は、インクタンク１１が装着された際に、インクタンク１１のインク供給部１３に対応する部分に、インク供給部１３と接続される接続供給部３７が設けられている。接続供給部３７は、カートリッジ本体３１の装着部３２内の底面部に設けられたヘッドチップ４１上から底面部の一部に設けられた係合孔１３ｆから突出するように形成され、凸状のインク供給口１３ｂに係合する凸状のインク供給調整部であり、インクジェットプリントヘッドのヘッドチップ４１へのインク供給路を構成している。
【０１１５】
以上のように、インクジェットプリンタ装置１では、インクタンク１１をヘッドカートリッジ２の装着部３２に容易に脱着することができると共に、適切に位置決め固定することができる。
【０１１６】
また、インクジェットプリンタ装置１では、短いサイクルで消耗されるインクタンク１１にラッチレバーを設けずに済むことから、インクタンク１１の取り扱いが容易となり、インクタンク１１の製造コストを低減することができる。
【０１１７】
また、ヘッドカートリッジ２では、各色に対応するヘッドチップ４１が、ライン状のノズル１０４ａを有するため、各色に対応するインク流路部１０６が記録紙の幅方向に延在されている。このようなヘッドチップ４１にインク４を効率よく供給するために、幅方向の略中央にインク４を供給するための接続供給部３７があることが好ましく、これにともないインクタンク１１の供給部１３も幅方向の略中央とされている。
【０１１８】
このようなヘッドカートリッジ２では、ヘッドチップ４１を小型化するために、各色に対応するノズル１０４ａのライン及びノズル１０４ａ上のインク流路部１０６の間隔を狭め、これにともない各色に対応する接続供給部３７同士の間隔も狭めている。
【０１１９】
したがってインクタンク１１の形状は、上述したように記録紙の幅方向に延在した形状とすることがインク４の容量の上で最も好ましい。インクタンク１１をこのような形状とすることで、インクタンク１１の高さ及び厚みを抑えてインク４の容量を確保することができる。
【０１２０】
ここで、ヘッドカートリッジ２では、上述した記録紙の幅方向に延在されたインクタンク１１を用いることから、取り付けられるプリンタ本体３が傾いている場合に、インクタンク１１の長手方向の一端に設けられた端子部２０と当接するインク残量検出部３６だけでインク４の残量を検出すると検出誤差が大きくなってしまう場合がある。しかし、ヘッドカートリッジ２では、インク残量検出部３６だけでなく、接続供給部３７内においてインク検出部３８，３９により、インク４の有無を検出しているため、より正確にインク４の残量を検出することができる。
【０１２１】
次に、以上のように構成されたヘッドカートリッジ２が装着されるインクジェットプリンタ装置１を構成するプリンタ本体３について図面を参照して説明する。
【０１２２】
プリンタ本体３は、図１に示すように、ヘッドカートリッジ２が装着されるヘッドカートリッジ装着部８１と、ヘッドカートリッジ２を着脱するためのヘッドカートリッジ着脱機構８２と、ヘッドキャップを開閉するヘッドキャップ開閉機構８３と、記録紙を給排紙する給排紙機構８４と、給排紙機構８４に記録紙を供給する給紙口８５と、給排紙機構８４から記録紙が出力される排紙口８６とを有する。
【０１２３】
ヘッドカートリッジ装着部８１は、ヘッドカートリッジ２が装着される凹部であり、ヘッドカートリッジ２がヘッドカートリッジ着脱機構８２により着脱できるようになっている。
【０１２４】
ヘッドカートリッジ着脱機構８２は、ヘッドカートリッジ装着部８１にヘッドカートリッジ２を着脱するための機構であり、例えばレバー等によりヘッドカートリッジ２を固定、開放するようになっている。
【０１２５】
ヘッドキャップ開閉機構８３は、ヘッドカートリッジ２のヘッドキャップ４２を開閉する駆動部を有しており、印刷を行うときにヘッドキャップ４２を開放してチップヘッド４１が記録紙に対して露出するようにし、印刷が終了したときにヘッドキャップ４２を閉塞してチップヘッド４１を保護する。
【０１２６】
給排紙機構８４は、記録紙を搬送する駆動部を有しており、供給口８５から供給される記録紙をヘッドカートリッジ２のチップヘッド４１まで搬送し、インク４が吐出された記録紙を排紙部８５に搬送して装置外部へ出力するようになっている。給紙口８５は、給排紙機構８４に記録紙を供給する開口部であり、トレー８５ａ等に複数枚の記録紙を積層してストックすることができる。排紙口８６は、インク４が吐出された記録紙が給排紙機構８４により搬送されて排出される。
【０１２７】
次に、以上のように構成されたインクジョットプリンタ装置１の制御回路について図面を参照して説明する。なお、インクジェットプリンタ装置１において各部を制御する制御回路は、ヘッドカートリッジ２、プリンタ本体３のどちらに設けられていてもよいが、以下ではヘッドカートリッジ２に設けられているものとして説明する。
【０１２８】
制御回路は、図２１に示すように、プリンタ本体３の各駆動部を駆動するプリンタ駆動部１１１と、各色のインク４に対応するヘッドチップ４１の発熱抵抗体１０２を駆動するヘッド駆動部１１２と、各色のインク４の残量を警告する警告部１１３と、外部装置と信号の入出力を行う入出力端子１１４と、制御プログラム等が記録されたＲＯＭ（Read Only Memory）１１５と、読み出された制御プログラム等が読み出されるＲＡＭ（Random Access Memory）１１６と、各部の制御を行う制御部１１７とを有している。
【０１２９】
プリンタ駆動部１１１は、制御部１１７からの制御信号に基づき、ヘッドキャップ開閉機構８３を駆動させてヘッドキャップ４２を開閉する。また、プリンタ駆動部１１１は、制御部１１７からの制御信号に基づき、給排紙機構８４を駆動させてプリンタ本体３の給紙口８５から記録紙を給紙し、記録後に排紙口８６から排紙する。
【０１３０】
ヘッド駆動部１１２は、各色に対応するチップヘッド４１の発熱抵抗体１０２を駆動して、所望のノズル１０４ａから各色のインク４を吐出する。
【０１３１】
警告部１１３は、例えばＬＣＤ（Liquid Crystal Display）等の表示手段であり、プリント条件、プリント状態、インク残量等の情報を表示する。また、警告部１１３は、例えばスピーカ等の音声出力手段であってもよく、この場合は、プリント条件、プリント状態、インク残量等の情報を音声で出力する。なお、警告部１１３は、表示手段及び音声出力手段をともに有するように構成してもよい。
【０１３２】
入出力端子１１４は、上述したプリント条件、プリント状態、インク残量等の情報をインターフェースを介して外部の情報処理装置１１８等に送信することができるようにする。また、入出力端子１１４は、外部の情報処理装置１１８等から、上述したプリント条件、プリント状態、インク残量等の情報を出力する制御信号や、画像データ等が入力される。ここで、上述した情報処理装置１１８は、例えば、パーソナルコンピュータやＰＤＡ（Personal Digital Assistant）等の電子機器である。
【０１３３】
情報処理装置１１８等と接続される入出力端子１１４は、インターフェースとして、例えばシリアルインターフェイスやパラレルインターフェイス等を用いることができ、具体的にＵＳＢ（Universal Serial Bus）、ＲＳ２３２Ｃ、ＩＥＥＥ（Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers）１３９４等の規格に準拠したものである。また入出力端子１１４は、インターフェースから有線通信及び無線通信のどちらでデータの通信を行うようにしてもよい。この無線通信規格としては、ＩＥＥＥ８０２．１１ａ，８０２．１１ｂ，８０２．１１ｇ等がある。
【０１３４】
ＲＯＭ１１５は、例えばＥＰ−ＲＯＭ（Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory）等のメモリであり、制御部１１７が行う各処理のプログラムが格納されている。この格納されているプログラムは、制御部１１７によりＲＡＭ１１６にロードされる。
【０１３５】
ＲＡＭ１１６は、制御部１１７によりＲＯＭ１１５から読み出されたプログラムや、インクジェットプリンタ装置１の各種状態を記憶する。
【０１３６】
入出力端子１１４と情報処理装置１１８との間に、例えばインターネット等のネットワークが介在していてもよく、この場合に入出力端子１１４は、例えばＬＡＮ（Local Area Network）、ＩＳＤＮ（Integrated Services Digital Network）、ｘＤＳＬ（Digital Subscriber Line）、ＦＴＴＨ（Fiber To The Home）、ＣＡＴＶ（Community Antenna TeleVision）、ＢＳ（Broadcasting Satellite）等のネットワーク網に接続され、ＴＣＰ／ＩＰ（Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol）等の各種プロトコルによりデータの送受信を行うことができる。
【０１３７】
制御部１１７は、入出力端子１１４から入力された画像データ及び制御信号や、インク検出部３８，３９による電気抵抗値の変化や、インク残量検出手部３６による電気抵抗値の変化等に基づき、各部を制御する。制御部１１７、このような処理プログラムとしてＲＯＭ１１５から読み出してＲＡＭ１１６に記憶し、このプログラムに基づき各処理を行う。
【０１３８】
具体的に、制御部１１７は、１対の導電線であるインク検出部３８，３９間の電気抵抗値の変化を、ヘッドチップ４１を介して検出する検出手段を構成し、この電気抵抗値の変化を検出することで、インク検出部３８，３９がインク４に浸っている状態か否かを検出し、これにより接続供給部３７内のインク４の有無を判断する。すなわち、制御部１１７は、インク検出部３８，３９の抵抗値が閾値以上となった否かを判断する。
【０１３９】
制御部１１７は、電気抵抗値が閾値以上となり、接続供給部３７内にインク４がないと判断した場合に、インクタンク１１内のインク４もないと判断する。
【０１４０】
この場合、制御部１１７は、警告部１１３にインク４が無い状態である旨を表示、すなわち警告表示するようにするとともに、プリント動作を禁止するようにプリンタ駆動部１１１及びヘッド駆動部１１２を制御する。
【０１４１】
また、制御部１１７は、インク残量検出部３６の電気抵抗値の変化を検出し、電気抵抗値が変化したことが検出された場合にこの電気抵抗値が変化した端子部２０のインクタンク１１の高さ方向に位置に応じて警告部１１３に異なるレベルのインク残量表示を行う。すなわち、制御部１１７は、インクタンク１１の高さ方向に複数段設けられた一対端子間の電気抵抗値が変化し、閾値以上に成ったか否かを判断する。
【０１４２】
また、制御部１１７は、情報処理装置がインターフェースを介して入出力端子１１４に接続されている場合、インク無しの情報及びインク残量の情報等を入出力端子１１４からインターフェースを介して外部の情報処理装置に出力するように制御する。
【０１４３】
なお、以上のように構成された制御回路においてＲＯＭ１１５にプログラムを格納するようにしたが、プログラムを格納する媒体としては、ＲＯＭに限定されるものでなく、例えばプログラムが記録された光ディスクや、磁気ディスク、光磁気ディスク、ＩＣカード等の各種記録媒体を用いることができる。この場合に制御回路は、各種記録媒体を駆動するドライブと接続されてこれら記録媒体からプログラムを読み出すように構成する。
【０１４４】
以下で、制御回路の各動作を図２２に示すフローチャートを用いて説明する。なお、本動作はＲＯＭ１１５等の記憶手段に格納されたプログラムに基づいて制御部１１７内の図示しないＣＰＵ（Central Processing Unit）の処理に基づいて実行されるものである。
【０１４５】
まず、ステップＳ１０１において、制御部１１７は、インク残量検出部３６の電気抵抗値の変化を検出し、電気抵抗値が変化したことが検出された場合に、この電気抵抗値が変化したインク残量検出部３６の導体板にインクタンク１１の高さ方向の位置に応じて警告部１１３に異なるレベルのインク残量表示を行う。すなわち、ここでは、インク残量検出部３６がインクタンク１１の高さ方向に３段設けられていことから、警告部１１３に３段階で残量表示を行うことができる。制御部１１７は、インクダンク１１のインクが満杯のとき、全ての段のインク残量検出部３６の電気抵抗値が閾値より小さくなっており、これに基づいて、警告部１１３に行くが満杯である旨を表示する。そして、インクが使用され、最上段のインク残量検出部３６の電気抵抗値が変化し、閾値以下になると、警告部１１３に、インクが１レベル減ったことを表示する。更にインクが使用され、中段のインク残量検出部３６の電気抵抗値が変化し、閾値以下になると、警告部１１３に、インクが更に１レベル減ったことを表示する。更にインクが使用され、最下段のインク残量検出部３６の電気抵抗値が変化し、閾値以下になると、警告部１１３に、インク残量が残り僅かであることを表示する。
【０１４６】
次に、ステップＳ１０２において、制御部１１７は、接続供給部３７内のインク４が所定量以下、すなわちインク無し状態であるか否かを判断し、インク無し状態であると判断された場合には、ステップＳ１０３において、警告部１１３にその旨を表示、すなわち警告表示を行い、ステップＳ１０４において、プリント動作を禁止する。
【０１４７】
上述した処理により、本発明を適用したインクジェットプリンタ装置１は、インクタンク１１からヘッドカートリッジ２へのインク供給路である接続供給部３７の側面にインク供給調整部３７の内部からインク供給調整部３７の外部に貫通する少なくとも１対の導電線であるインク検出部３８，３９を設け、インク検出部３８，３９間の電気抵抗値の変化を検出し多彩にインクタンク１１内のインク無し状態を判断し、警告表示を行うようにしたので、インク吐出量が使用温度等の使用環境に応じて変化しても、インクタンク１１の交換時期を正確に知らせることができる。
【０１４８】
以上のように、本発明を適用したインクタンク１１では、内面に細かな塵埃等が付着しにくく、インクタンク１１内に塵埃等が付着したり、残留インクが残っていたとしても、洗浄により容易に除去することが可能である。したがって、このインクタンク１１では、洗浄回数を少なくし、コストを削減することが可能であると共に、このインクタンク１１を再利用することが可能である。
【０１４９】
また、このインクジェットプリンタ装置１では、本発明を適用したインクタンク１１をヘッドカートリッジ１に装着して使用すれば、ヘッドチップ４１のノズル１０４ａからインク４を吐出した際に、インク４内に混入した塵埃によって、インク４の吐出が不安定となり印字品位が低下したり、ノズル１０４ａの目詰まり等を引き起こすといった問題を回避することが可能である。
【０１５０】
なお、上述したインクジェットプリンタ装置１では、ヘッドカートリッジ２をプリンタ本体３に対して着脱可能としたが、本発明はこれに限定されるものではなく、ヘッドチップ４１等が本体部３に固定されている場合にも適用できる。
【０１５１】
また、上述したインクジェットプリンタ装置１では、ヘッドチップ４１が発熱抵抗体１０２によりインク４を加熱する電気熱変換方式について説明したが、圧電素子により機械的にインク４を押し出す圧電素子等電気機械変換素子を用いたヘッドチップとしてもよい。
【０１５２】
さらに、上述したインクジェットプリンタ装置１では、ヘッドチップ４１等が設けられたヘッドカートリッジ２がプリンタ本体３に対して着脱自在としたが、本発明はこれに限定されるものではなく、ヘッドチップ４１等がプリンタ本体３に設けられている場合にも適用できる。
【０１５３】
さらにまた、本発明は、インクジェットプリンタ装置に適用されるインクタンクに限定されるものではなく、微少量の液体を吐出する他の装置に広く適用することができる。具体的に、本発明は、例えば液体中のＤＮＡ等を微少量だけ吐出したり、プリント配線基板の配線パターンを形成するための導電性粒子を含む液体を吐出したりする液体吐出装置に装着される液体タンクに適用してもよい。
【０１５４】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明に係る液体タンクによれば、内面に塵埃等が付着しにくく、内面に付着した塵埃や残留液等を洗浄によって適切且つ容易に除去することが可能なことから、再利用が可能であり、この液体タンクが使用される液体吐出ヘッドにおいて、液体内に塵埃等が混入することによる吐出孔からの不安定な液体の吐出や吐出孔の目詰まり等を回避することが可能である。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係るインクジェットプリンタ装置の構成を示す斜視図である。
【図２】インクジェットプリンタ装置が備えるインクジェットプリントヘッドカートリッジの構成を示す斜視図である。
【図３】インクジェットプリンタ装置が備えるインクジェットプリントヘッドカートリッジの構成を示す断面図である。
【図４】ヘッドカートリッジに装着されるインクタンクの構成を示す断面図である。
【図５】ヘッドカートリッジに装着されるインクタンクの供給部における供給口が閉塞された状態を説明するための模式図である。
【図６】ヘッドカートリッジに装着されるインクタンクの供給部における供給口が開放された状態を説明するための模式図である。
【図７】ヘッドカートリッジに装着されるインクタンクの係合突部を説明するための模式図である。
【図８】ヘッドカートリッジに装着されるインクタンクの端子部を説明するための模式図である。
【図９】ヘッドカートリッジの構成を説明するための平面図である。
【図１０】インクジェットプリンタ装置が備えるインクジェットプリントヘッドカートリッジの構成を示す断面図である。
【図１１】インクジェットプリンタ装置が備えるインクジェットプリントヘッドカートリッジの構成を示す断面図であり、インクタンクを装着するときの動作を説明する図である。
【図１２】インクジェットプリンタ装置が備えるインクジェットプリントヘッドカートリッジのラッチレバーを説明するための図である。
【図１３】ヘッドカートリッジにおけるインク残量検出部の構成を説明するための平面図である。
【図１４】インクタンク及びヘッドカートリッジの構成を説明するための断面図である。
【図１５】ヘッドカートリッジの接続供給部における弁機構を説明するための断面図である。
【図１６】ヘッドカートリッジの接続供給部における弁機構を説明するための断面図である。
【図１７】ヘッドカートリッジのヘッドチップを説明するための断面図である。
【図１８】ヘッドカートリッジのヘッドチップを説明するための平面図である。
【図１９】ヘッドカートリッジのヘッドチップにおいて、気泡が発生した状態を説明するための断面図である。
【図２０】ヘッドカートリッジのヘッドチップにおいて、発生した気泡によりインク液滴が吐出される状態を説明するための断面図である。
【図２１】インクジェットプリンタ装置の制御回路を説明するためのブロック図である。
【図２２】インクジェットプリンタ装置の制御方法を説明するためのフローチャートである。
【図２３】インクタンクを構成する容器本体及び蓋体が接合一体化された状態を示す斜視図である。
【図２４】容器本体を内面側から見た斜視図である。
【図２５】蓋体を内面側から見た斜視図である。
【図２６】蓋体を外面側から見た斜視図である。
【図２７】容器本体の開口部を蓋体が閉塞した状態を示す斜視図である。
【図２８】図２７中線分Ｘ_１−Ｘ_１’による断面である。
【図２９】図２７中線分Ｙ_１−Ｙ_１’による断面である。
【図３０】図２３中線分Ｘ_２−Ｘ_２’による断面である。
【図３１】図２３中線分Ｙ_２−Ｙ_２’による断面である。
【符号の説明】
１ インクジェットプリンタ装置、２ ヘッドカートリッジ、３ プリンタ本体、４ インク、５ 樹脂、１１ インクタンク、１１ａ，１１ｂ 溝部、１２インク収容部、１３ インク供給部、１３ａ 底面、１３ｂ 供給口、１３ｃ弁、１３ｄ コイルバネ、１３ｅ 開閉ピン、１４ 外部連通孔、１５ 空気導入管、１６ インク貯留部、１７ シール、１８ 係止突部、１９ 係合段部、１９ａ 斜面部、１９ｂ 平面、２０ 端子部、２１ 識別突部、２２ 容器本体、２３ 蓋体、２４ 立上り周壁、２５ 係合突部、２６ 位置決め突部、２８ 係合孔、３０ 位置決め穴、３１ カートリッジ本体、３２ 装着部、３３ 係合片、３４ ラッチレバー、３４ａ 係合孔、３５ 付勢部材、３６ インク残量検出部、３７ 接続供給部、３８，３９ インク検出部、４０ 取手部、４１ ヘッドチップ、４２ ヘッドキャップ、４３ 識別凹部、５１ インク溜め部、５２ シール部材、５３ フィルタ、５４ 弁機構、６１ 流入路、６２ インク室、６３ 流出路、６４ 開口部、６５ 弁、６６ バネ、６７ 負圧調整ネジ、６８ 弁シャフト、６９ ダイアフラム、７１ 溝部、７２ 清掃ローラ、８１ ヘッドカートリッジ装着部、８２ ヘッドカートリッジ着脱機構、８３ ヘッドキャップ開閉機構、８４ 給排紙機構、８５ 給紙口、８６ 排紙口、１０１ 回路基板、１０１ａ 一主面、１０２ 発熱抵抗体、１０３ フィルム、１０４ ノズルシート、１０４ａ ノズル、１０５ インク加圧室、１０６ インク流路部、１１１ プリンタ駆動部、１１２ ヘッド駆動部、１１３警告部、１１４ 入出力端子、１１５ ＲＯＭ、１１６ ＲＡＭ、１１７ 制御部、１１８ 情報処理装置[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid tank for supplying liquid to a liquid discharge head that discharges liquid.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a device for discharging a liquid, for example, there is a device using an ink jet method as a printer device for recording an image or a character by discharging ink from a head chip to an object of recording paper. A printer device using this ink jet system has advantages of low running cost, downsizing of the device, and easy colorization of a printed image.
[0003]
In a printer device using an ink jet method, an ink tank filled with inks of a plurality of colors such as yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is used as an ink head cartridge in which an ink supply path to a head chip is formed. And supplies ink from the ink tanks corresponding to the respective colors to the head chip via the respective supply paths. In this printer, ink supplied from an ink tank via a supply path is ejected from minute ink ejection holes provided in a head chip to print an image or a character on a recording paper target. .
[0004]
Further, in a printer device using an ink jet system, an ink tank is provided so as to be detachable, and when there is no ink in the ink tank, the ink tank is removed and replaced with a new ink tank (for example, , Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2801149 (FIG. 5-6)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the above-mentioned ink tank is usually formed by molding a plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene having good workability, and its surface roughness is about 12 to 25 μm by so-called standard molding. It has been.
[0007]
Here, after the ink tank is molded or after collecting used from the viewpoint of environmental consideration, the inside is washed, fine dust accumulated inside is removed, and residual ink is also removed. Therefore, the ink is sealed and used or reused.
[0008]
However, in the conventional ink tank, since the inner surface has a standard surface roughness of about 12 to 25 μm, fine dust or the like having a size of about several μm accumulated inside adheres to the inner surface. There was a problem that it was not removed.
[0009]
If such fine dust adheres to the inner surface and the ink is sealed in the ink tank and is used, when the ink is ejected from the ink ejection hole of the head chip, the dust mixed in the ink causes Ejection becomes unstable, and the print quality is degraded, and the ink ejection holes may be clogged.
[0010]
Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of such conventional circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid tank in which dust and the like hardly adhere to the inside and which can be easily cleaned.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, a liquid tank according to the present invention is for supplying a liquid to a liquid discharge head that discharges a liquid, and includes a liquid storage portion that stores the liquid, and a liquid storage portion that is stored in the liquid storage portion. A liquid supply unit for supplying the liquid to the liquid discharge head. The liquid container is formed by integrally joining a container body having an opening on one surface and a lid closing the opening of the container body. The container body and the lid are formed by injection molding such that the inner surface forming the liquid storage portion has a smaller surface roughness than the outer surface, and the resin is formed in a groove formed along a joint portion between the two. It is characterized by being integrated by being injected and filled.
[0012]
As described above, in the liquid tank according to the present invention, since the inner surfaces of the container body and the lid forming the liquid storage portion are formed by injection molding so that the surface roughness is smaller than the outer surface, Dust and the like hardly adhere, and dust and residual ink adhered to the inner surface can be appropriately removed by washing. Further, in this liquid tank, a groove is formed along a joint portion between the container body and the lid, which are joined to each other, and the resin is injected and filled into the groove, so that the container body and the lid are firmly joined together. Has been
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an inkjet printer to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet printer 1 to which the present invention is applied prints an image or a character by discharging ink onto a recording paper as an object. The ink jet printer 1 is a so-called line type printer in which ink ejection holes are provided in accordance with the printing width of recording paper.
[0015]
The inkjet printer device 1 includes an inkjet print head cartridge (hereinafter, referred to as a head cartridge) 2 for discharging ink, and a printer main body 3 to which the head cartridge 2 is mounted. In the inkjet printer device 1, the head cartridge 2 is detachable from the printer main body 3, and an ink tank 11 serving as an ink supply source is detachable from the head cartridge 2. That is, in the printer 1, the head cartridge 2 and the ink tank 11 are handled as consumables and can be replaced.
[0016]
First, a head cartridge 2 that can be attached to and detached from a printer main body 2 that constitutes the above-described inkjet printer device 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
The head cartridge 2 discharges ink, which is a conductive liquid, into fine particles by, for example, an electrothermal conversion method or an electromechanical conversion method, and sprays ink droplets onto a recording medium of recording paper. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the head cartridge 2 has a cartridge body 31 in which the ink tank 11 which is a container filled with the ink 4 is mounted.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 4, the ink tank 11 is formed by, for example, injection molding a resin material or the like, and has a substantially rectangular shape having substantially the same size as the width of the recording paper used in the longitudinal direction. And is detachable from the cartridge body 31.
[0019]
Specifically, the ink tank 11 includes an ink storage unit 12 that stores the ink 4, an ink supply unit 13 that supplies the ink 4 from the ink storage unit 12 to the cartridge body 31, and air from the outside into the ink storage unit 12. An external communication hole 14 for taking in air, an air introduction pipe 15 for introducing air taken in from the external communication hole 14 into the ink container 12, and the ink 4 is temporarily supplied between the external communication hole 14 and the air introduction pipe 15. An ink storage section 16 for storing the ink, a seal 17 for preventing ink from leaking from the external communication hole 14 to the outside, a locking projection 18 and an engagement step 19 for fixing the ink tank 11 to the cartridge main body 31, A terminal unit 20 for detecting the remaining amount of the ink 4 in the tank 11 and an identification protrusion 21 for identifying the ink tank 11 are provided.
[0020]
The ink storage section 12 forms a space for storing the ink 4 using a highly airtight material. The ink storage section 12 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and is formed such that the dimension in the longitudinal direction is substantially the same as the dimension in the width direction of the recording paper to be used, ie, the dimension in the direction orthogonal to the recording paper feed direction. I have. The ink container 12 is formed such that the inner surface in contact with the ink has a smaller surface roughness than the outer surface, so that minute foreign substances such as dust do not remain when cleaning the inside.
[0021]
The ink supply unit 13 is provided at a substantially central portion below the ink storage unit 12. The ink supply unit 13 is a substantially convex nozzle that communicates with the ink storage unit 12, and the tip of the nozzle is fitted into a connection supply unit 37 of the cartridge body 31, which will be described later. Connected to main body 31. Note that the bottom surface of the ink storage unit 12 is formed so that the center where the ink supply unit 13 is provided is the deepest, and the stored ink concentrates on the ink supply unit 13.
[0022]
When the ink tank 11 is mounted on the mounting part 32, the connection supply part 37 provided on the mounting part 32 of the ink head cartridge 2 is smoothly connected to the ink supply port 13b provided at the end of the ink supply part 13. It is formed so as to increase in diameter while being linear or curved toward the distal end portion so as to fit into.
[0023]
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ink supply unit 13 includes a bottom surface 13a of the ink tank 11, a supply port 13b for supplying the ink 4, a valve 13c for opening and closing the supply port 13b, and a valve 13c. It has an energizing coil spring 13d and an opening / closing pin 13e for opening and closing the valve 13c. Before the ink tank 11 is mounted on the cartridge main body 31, the ink supply section 13 is biased in a direction in which the valve 13c closes the supply port 13d by the biasing force of the coil spring 13d, as shown in FIG. The mouth 13d is closed. When the ink tank 11 is mounted on the cartridge main body 31, the ink supply section 13 pushes up and down the open / close pin 13e by an upper portion of a connection supply section 37 of the cartridge main body 31 described later, as shown in FIG. The valve 13c is pushed up against the urging force of 13d to open the supply port 13b. As a result, the ink supply unit 13 of the ink tank 11 is mounted on the connection supply unit 37, and the ink storage unit 12 communicates with an ink storage unit 51 of the cartridge main body 31, which will be described later, so that the ink 4 can be supplied.
[0024]
In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the ink tank 11 is pulled out from the connection supply unit 37, the ink supply unit 13 closes the supply port 13b by the operation opposite to the above-described operation. . This prevents the ink 4 in the ink container 12 from leaking even when the tip of the ink supply unit 13 faces downward immediately before the ink tank 11 is mounted on the cartridge main body 31. . Further, when the ink tank 11 is pulled out from the cartridge body 31, the valve 13c immediately closes the supply port 13b, so that the ink 4 can be prevented from leaking from the tip of the ink supply unit 13.
[0025]
The external communication hole 14 is a vent that takes in air from outside the ink tank 11 into the ink container 12. The external communication hole 14 corresponds to the amount of the ink 4 in the ink storage unit 12 reduced when the ink 4 flows down from the ink storage unit 12 to the cartridge main body 31 when the ink tank 11 is mounted on the cartridge main body 31. It is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the ink tank 11 or the like in order to take the minute air into the ink tank 11 from outside.
[0026]
The air introduction pipe 15 is provided so as to extend from the external communication hole 14 to the inside of the ink container 12, communicates the ink container 12 with the external communication hole 14, and takes in air taken in from the external communication hole 14. Is introduced into the ink container 12. Thus, in the ink tank 11, even when the ink 4 is supplied to the cartridge main body 31 when the ink container 11 is attached to the cartridge main body 31 and the inside of the ink containing section 12 is depressurized due to the decrease of the ink 4, air is introduced. Since the air is introduced into the ink storage section 12 by the tube 15, the internal pressure is maintained in an equilibrium state, so that the ink 4 can be appropriately supplied to the cartridge main body 31.
[0027]
The ink reservoir 16 is provided in the middle of the air introduction pipe 15, and when the ink 4 leaks from the air introduction pipe 15 communicating with the ink storage section 12, the ink 4 is prevented from flowing out to the outside. Is temporarily stored.
[0028]
Specifically, the ink tank 11 is in a state where there is no ink 4 in the ink storage unit 16 at normal temperature and normal pressure. However, in the ink tank 11, when a decrease in the external pressure or a rise in the external temperature occurs, the air in the ink storage section 12 expands, and the expanded air transfers the ink 4 from the ink storage section 12 through the air introduction pipe 15. And is pushed out to the ink storage unit 16. At this time, in the ink tank 11, the ink 4 pushed out from the ink storage unit 12 is stored in the ink storage unit 16, so that it is possible to prevent the ink 4 from leaking out of the external communication hole 14.
[0029]
The ink storage section 16 is provided in the middle of the air introduction pipe 15, and forms a substantially rhombus-shaped internal space having a longer diagonal line as a longitudinal direction of the ink storage section 12. The top of the ink reservoir 16 is communicated with the outside via the external communication hole 14, and the bottom of the ink reservoir 16 is communicated with the ink storage via the air introduction pipe 15. I have. This makes it possible to temporarily store the ink that has flowed back from the ink storage unit 12 through the air introduction pipe 15 and return the ink to the ink storage unit 12 side again without leaking from the external communication hole 14. Further, the air introduction pipe 15 is provided so as to be located above the ink supply unit 13 so that the ink in the ink storage unit 16 can be efficiently supplied to the ink supply unit even when the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage unit 12 becomes small. 13 can be supplied.
[0030]
The seal 17 is a member that prevents the ink 4 from leaking to the outside of the ink tank 11 even when the ink 4 flows backward to the external communication hole 14 at the time of shipping or the like. In use, the seal 17 is peeled from the ink container 12 so as to open the external communication hole 14. Of course, since the external communication hole 14 is provided on the upper surface of the ink containing section 12, the ink does not leak outside from the external communication hole 14 during use.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 7, the locking projection 18 is a projection provided on one side surface of the ink tank 11 in the longitudinal direction, and is provided with an engagement hole 34 a formed in a latch lever 34 of the cartridge body 31 described later. Engage with. The locking projection 18 is formed as a plane whose upper surface is substantially perpendicular to the side surface of the ink container 12, and whose lower surface is formed to be inclined from the side surface toward the upper surface.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 8, the engaging step 19 is provided on the upper surface of the ink tank 11 on the side opposite to the side on which the locking projection 18 is provided, and has an inclined surface that makes one end contact with the upper surface of the ink tank 11. 19a, and a flat surface 19b in contact with the other end of the inclined surface 19a and parallel to the upper surface. The ink tank 11 is provided with the engagement step 19 so that the height of the side surface provided with the flat surface 19 b is lower than the height of the side surface provided with the locking projection 18. The engaging step 19 is engaged with an engaging piece 33 of the cartridge body 31 described later. The engagement step portion 19 is provided on the side surface on the insertion end side when inserted into the mounting portion 32 of the head cartridge 2, and engages with the engaging piece 33 on the mounting portion 32 side to mount the ink tank 11. It serves as a rotation fulcrum when mounted on the part 32.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal portion 20 is an electrode terminal arranged in the height direction on the side surface of the ink tank 11 on which the engaging step portion 19 is provided. From the ink tank 11. The terminal section 20 is connected to an ink remaining amount detection section 36 of the cartridge body 31 described later. That is, here, a pair of terminals facing the inside of the ink container 12 are provided in three stages in the height direction. The resistance of the pair of terminals facing the inside of the ink container 12 is small when the terminal is immersed in the ink inside the ink container 12 because the ink has conductivity. On the other hand, when the amount of ink in the ink storage unit 12 decreases and the pair of terminals facing the inside of the ink storage unit 12 are exposed to air, the resistance value increases.
[0034]
In such a terminal section 20, when the ink in the ink containing section 12 is full, the resistance between the terminals in all stages becomes small. Then, as the ink is used, the resistance value between the terminals sequentially changes from the top to the bottom. Here, the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage unit 12 can be detected by the ink remaining amount detecting unit 36 detecting that the resistance value of each stage increases. The number of terminals 20 provided in the height direction of the ink storage unit 20 is not limited to three, but may be two. If more accurate remaining amount detection is to be performed, the number of terminals may be reduced. What is necessary is just to increase it further.
[0035]
Since the terminal portion 20 is drawn out from the inside of the ink tank 11, it is fixed with an adhesive so that the ink 4 inside does not leak. At this time, the terminal section 20 has an internal pressure of, for example, 150 mmH. ₂ It is designed so that the ink 4 does not leak if it is O or less.
[0036]
The identification projection 21 is a projection for identifying the type of the ink tank 11, and is inserted into an identification recess 43 of the cartridge body 31 described later.
[0037]
Here, specific types of the ink tank 11 include, for example, ink tanks 11y, 11m, 11c, and 11k corresponding to four colors of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, as shown in FIG. By mounting all of these ink tanks 11y, 11m, 11c, and 11k on the cartridge main body 31, the head cartridge 2 is adapted for color printing. Here, since the ink tank 11 usually consumes the largest amount of black ink during printing, it is assumed that the ink tank 11k has a larger capacity of the ink storage unit 12 than the other ink tanks 11y, 11m, and 11c. Have been. Since all of the ink tanks 11y, 11m, 11c, and 11k are mounted on the cartridge main body 31, there is a possibility that the mounting positions may be mistaken when mounting the ink tanks 11 on the cartridge main body 31.
[0038]
Therefore, the identification protrusion 21 is positioned at each of the ink tanks 11y, 11m, 11c, and 11k in accordance with the identification recess 43 so that each of the ink tanks 11 is surely mounted at a predetermined position as described above. Are different.
[0039]
When manufacturing the ink tanks 11y, 11m, 11c, and 11k, the identification protrusions 21 are formed so as to have a plurality of protrusions at the same position, and then each of the ink tanks 11y, 11m, 11c, and 11k. It is preferable to cut off the protrusions at different positions. By forming the identification protrusions 21 in this manner, the same process can be performed up to the process of cutting out the protrusions described above without manufacturing the ink tanks 11y, 11m, 11c, and 11k all in separate processes. Manufacturing efficiency can be improved.
[0040]
The ink tank 11 configured as described above includes the ink tanks 11y, 11m, 11c, and 11k corresponding to the respective colors as described above. Each of the ink tanks 11 is mounted on the cartridge main body 31 constituting the head cartridge 2, and the ink 4 is stored in the cartridge main body 2. 31 side.
[0041]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 23, the above-described ink tank 11 has a container body 22 having an opening on one surface and a lid 23 for closing the opening of the container body 22. The ink storage portion 12 that stores the above-described ink 4 is formed by joining and integrating the lid 22 and the lid 23.
[0042]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 24, the container body 22 is formed by injection-molding a plastic-based material having ink resistance, such as polypropylene. The container body 22 has a substantially rectangular box shape with one surface as an opening 22a, and is formed in a long shape corresponding to the width direction of the recording paper. The container body 22 is formed such that the inner surface in contact with the ink has a smaller surface roughness than the outer surface.
[0043]
On the inner surface of the container body 22, a rising peripheral wall 24 that forms the above-described ink storage section 16 is provided upright so as to surround a substantially central portion of the bottom surface in a substantially rhombic shape. Further, an engagement projection 25 is formed at the tip of the rising peripheral wall 24 so as to be engaged with an engagement hole 28 on the lid 23 described later. Further, inside the container body 22, the above-described external communication hole 14 is formed so as to communicate with the inside of the rising peripheral wall 24, and the above-described air introduction pipe 15 is formed between the outside communication hole 14 and the inside of the rising peripheral wall 24. It is formed so as to communicate with the outside.
[0044]
A pair of positioning projections 26 are formed on the inner surface of the container main body 22 so as to be positioned outside the rising peripheral wall 24 and engage with positioning holes 30 on the lid 23 described later. The container main body 22 is provided with a plurality of holes 27 located near the external communication hole 14 and on both sides of the external communication hole 14 for cleaning the inside described later.
[0045]
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the lid 23 is formed by injection molding the same material as the container body 22, that is, a plastic material such as polypropylene having ink resistance. The lid 23 has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape and a shape corresponding to the opening 22 a of the container body 22. Further, the lid 23 is formed such that the inner surface in contact with the ink has a smaller surface roughness than the outer surface.
[0046]
The lid 23 is formed with an engagement hole 28 into which the above-described engagement protrusion 25 on the container body 22 is engaged in a substantially rhombic shape along the shape of the rising peripheral wall 24. The lid 23 is provided with a plurality of connecting portions 29 that connect the inside and the outside separated by the engaging holes 28 at predetermined intervals. In addition, a pair of positioning holes 30 are provided on the inner surface of the lid 23 to be engaged with the pair of positioning protrusions 26 on the container body 22 described above.
[0047]
Then, as shown in FIG. 27, when the lid 23 closes the opening 22a of the container main body 22, the engagement protrusion 25 on the container main body 22 side and the pair of positioning protrusions 26 are formed. , And are engaged with the engagement hole 28 and the pair of positioning holes 30 on the lid 23 side, respectively.
[0048]
Here, as shown in FIG. 28, the container body 22 and the lid 23 are formed with stepped portions 22b and 23a along their joint portions, and a groove 11a is formed between the stepped portions 22b and 23a. Is formed. Also, as shown in FIG. 29, the container body 22 and the lid 23 are formed with step portions 22c and 23b along the engagement portion between the engagement protrusion 25 and the engagement hole 28, and these step portions are formed. A groove 11b is formed between the portions 22c and 23b.
[0049]
As shown in FIGS. 23 and 30, the container body 22 and the lid 23 are formed of the same material as the container body 22 and the lid 23 described above in the groove 11a formed along the joint therebetween. The resin 5 is joined and integrated by injection filling. As shown in FIGS. 23 and 31, the container body 22 and the lid 23 are formed by injection-filling the resin 5 into a groove 11b formed along the engagement portion between the engagement protrusion 25 and the engagement hole 28. Thus, the above-described ink storage section 16 is formed. When filling the grooves 11a and 11b with the resin 5, the opening 22a of the container body 22 is positioned and fixed by one of the molds with the lid 23 closed, and the resin 5 is poured into the lid 23 side. The other mold in which the flow path is formed is arranged, and the resin 5 is injected and filled into the grooves 11a and 11b between the mold and the lid 23.
[0050]
As described above, in the ink tank 11, the groove 11 a formed along the joint portion between the container body 22 and the lid 23 and the engagement portion between the engagement protrusion 25 and the engagement hole 28 are formed. By injecting and filling the groove 11b with the resin 5 made of the same material as the above-described container body 22 and lid 23, the container body 22 and lid 23 can be firmly joined and integrated.
[0051]
Further, the ink tank 11 can be collected and reused after the ink in the ink container 12 has been exhausted. Therefore, in the ink tank 11, after cleaning after manufacturing or use, the ink is filled. Specifically, the ink tank 11 is filled with a surfactant or the like as a cleaning agent from the plurality of holes 27 described above, and is cleaned by ultrasonic cleaning or the like. By repeating such washing a plurality of times, dust, residual ink and the like in the ink tank 11 are removed. After the washing, the ink tank 11 is dried, and then the plurality of holes 27 of the ink tank 11 are sealed with a cap or a seal.
[0052]
Incidentally, the container body 22 and the lid 23 described above are formed by injection molding such that the inner surface forming the ink tank 11 has a smaller surface roughness than the outer surface, and the inner surface has a surface roughness R. _max Is set to 6.3 μm or less so as to make it difficult for dust and the like to adhere, and the outer surface has a surface roughness R _max Is set to a standard value of about 12 to 25 μm.
[0053]
As described above, in order to make the inner surfaces of the above-described container body 22 and lid 23 smaller in surface roughness than the outer surface, for example, the container body 22 and the lid 23 are injected using a pair of molding dies. At the time of molding, the inner surface of one of the molds for molding the inner surfaces of the container body 22 and the lid 23 is mirror-finished to reduce the surface roughness of the inner surfaces of the container body 22 and the lid 23 to be molded. It is possible to make it smaller than the side. In the blow molding, the surface roughness R of the inner surface of the ink tank 11 _max Is difficult to be 6.3 μm or less.
[0054]
Here, the ink tank in which the inner surfaces of the container body and the lid are smaller in surface roughness than the outer surface as in the present invention, and the inner surfaces of the container body and the lid have the same surface roughness as the outer surface as in the related art. An ink tank was prepared. Then, for each of the ink tank of the present invention and the conventional ink tank, the number of dusts remaining after cleaning the inside of the ink tank was measured. Hereinafter, the measurement results are shown in Table 1.
[0055]
[Table 1]

[0056]
Table 1 shows that the number of dust particles remaining after the first cleaning and the number of dust particles remaining after the fifth cleaning are shown when the number of dust particles having a size of 5 μm or more before the cleaning in the ink tank is 60,000 or more. Shows the number. The surface roughness of the inner surface of the ink tank of the present invention is about 6.3 μm by injection molding, and the surface roughness of the inner surface of the conventional ink tank is about 25 μm by blow molding.
[0057]
From the measurement results in Table 1, in the conventional ink tank, the number of dusts remaining after the first cleaning was 20,000 to 60,000, and the number of dusts remaining after the fifth cleaning was 7,000. On the other hand, in the ink tank of the present invention, the number of dusts remaining after the first cleaning is 4500 to 4800, and it can be seen that more dusts are removed at once than in the conventional case. Further, the number of dusts remaining after the fifth cleaning was 500, which indicates that the number of dusts was significantly reduced as compared with the conventional case.
[0058]
As described above, in the ink tank 11, since the inner surface in contact with the ink is formed so as to have a smaller surface roughness than the outer surface, dust and the like hardly adhere to the inner surface. It is possible to appropriately and easily remove dust and residual ink attached to the inner surface.
[0059]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cartridge main body 31 to which the ink tank 11 is mounted has a mounting portion 32 to which the ink tank 11 is mounted, an engagement piece 33 for fixing the ink tank 11, and a latch. The lever 34, an urging member 35 for urging the ink tank 11, an ink remaining amount detecting unit 36 for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 11, and the ink 4 are supplied by being connected to the ink supply unit 13. A connection supply section 37; ink detection sections 38 and 39 for detecting the presence or absence of the ink 4 in the connection supply section 37; a handle section 40 for removing the cartridge main body 31 from the printer main body 3; And a head cap 42 for protecting the head chip 41.
[0060]
The mounting portion 32 to which the ink tank 11 is mounted has a substantially concave shape so that the ink tank 11 is mounted. Here, four ink tanks 11 are housed in parallel. Since the ink tank 11 is accommodated in the mounting portion 32, the mounting portion 32 is provided to be long in the print width direction, similarly to the ink tank 11.
[0061]
As shown in FIG. 9, the mounting portion 32 is a portion where the ink tank 11 is mounted. The mounting portion 32y where the yellow ink tank 11y is mounted, and the mounting portion 32m where the magenta ink tank 11m is mounted. , A mounting portion 32c to which the cyan ink tank 11c is mounted, and a mounting portion 32k to which the black ink tank 11k is mounted. Have been.
[0062]
As described above, the black ink tank 11k has a large inner volume of the ink 4, so that the width in the vertical direction with respect to the longitudinal direction is provided wider than the other ink tanks 11y, 11m, and 11c. The width of the mounting portion 32k is also wider than the other mounting portions 32y, 32m, and 32c.
[0063]
As shown in FIG. 10, the engaging piece 33 provided at the opening end of the mounting portion 32 is provided at one longitudinal edge of the mounting portion 32 and engages with the engaging step 19 of the ink tank 11. . Specifically, the engagement piece 33 is engaged with the engagement step 19 of the ink tank 11, as shown in FIG. The ink tank 11 is inserted obliquely into the mounting portion 32 with the engagement step 19 side of the ink tank 11 as an insertion end, and the engagement position between the engagement step 19 and the engagement piece 33 is used as a rotation fulcrum. As shown in FIG. 11, the side of the ink tank 11 where the engagement step 19 is not provided can be rotated toward the mounting portion 32, and can be mounted on the mounting portion 32 as shown in FIG. it can. Thereby, the ink tank 11 can be easily mounted on the mounting section 32.
[0064]
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the latch lever 34 is provided on a side surface opposite to the engagement piece 33 of the mounting portion 32, that is, on the other side surface in the longitudinal direction, and has a substantially rectangular engagement. It has a hole 34a. The latch lever 34 is formed such that its base end is integrally provided on the bottom side of the side surface of the other end in the longitudinal direction that constitutes the mounting portion 32, and its distal end side is elastically displaced in a direction approaching or separating from this side surface. An engagement hole 33a is formed on the distal end side. The latch lever 34 is elastically displaced in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 10 at the same time when the ink tank 11 is mounted on the mounting portion 32, and the engagement hole 34 a engages with the locking projection 18 of the ink tank 11. As described above, the urging force acts in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow A, so that the ink tank 11 mounted on the mounting portion 32 does not drop off from the mounting portion 32.
[0065]
When the ink tank 11 is removed, the latch lever 34 is elastically displaced in the direction of arrow A, so that the engagement state between the engagement hole 34a and the locking projection 18 is released, and the ink tank 11 is removed. It becomes possible.
[0066]
The biasing member 35 is a biasing member that biases the ink tank 11 on the bottom surface on the side surface corresponding to the engaging step 19 of the ink tank 11 in a direction in which the ink tank 11 is removed. The urging member 35 is, for example, a leaf spring that is elastically displaceable in a direction in which the ink tank 11 is removed. The biasing member 35 bends the leaf spring, presses the bottom surface of the ink tank 11 at the top formed by bending, and removes the ink tank 11 mounted on the mounting portion 32 from the mounting portion 32. It is urged in the direction. Accordingly, the urging member 35 presses the bottom surface of the ink tank 11 in a direction in which the ink tank 11 is detached when the ink tank 11 is detached from the mounting portion 32 by elastically displacing the latch lever 34. Can be easy.
[0067]
As shown in FIG. 13, the ink remaining amount detection unit 36 includes a pair of three conductive members 36a, 36b, and 36c for detecting the remaining amount of the ink 4 in the ink tank 11 stepwise. The detection section is connected to a conductor plate 36d connected to a control circuit (not shown), and is provided in the mounting sections 32y, 32m, 32c, and 32k of the ink tanks 11y, 11m, 11c, and 11k for the respective colors.
[0068]
When the ink tank 11 is mounted on the head cartridge 2, the ink remaining amount detection unit 36 contacts and is electrically connected to the terminal units 20 arranged side by side in the height direction of the side surface inside the ink tank 11. When the ink tank 11 is installed, the ink remaining amount detection unit 36 is pressed by an elastic body (not shown) that urges the ink tank 11 side. The terminal portion 20 is securely brought into contact with the terminal portion 20 so as to be electrically connected thereto.
[0069]
Such an ink remaining amount detecting unit 36 detects the electric resistance value between the pair of members 36a, 36b, 36c so that a control circuit described later detects the remaining amount of the ink 4 in the ink tank 11. More specifically, in the ink remaining amount detecting unit 36, since the ink 4 in the ink tank 11 has conductivity, the electric power between the pair of members 36a, 36b, 36c depends on the remaining amount of the ink 4 in the ink tank 11. The resistance values are different. That is, in the ink remaining amount detecting unit 36, the detected electric resistance value decreases if the ink 4 is present in the ink tank 11, and the detected electric resistance value increases if the ink 4 is absent because the air is an insulating substance. I try to detect that.
[0070]
The connection supply section 37 is connected to the ink supply section 13 and forms a supply path for supplying the ink 4 to the head chip 41. The connection supply section 37 positions the ink tank 11 by engaging with the ink supply section 13 of the ink tank 11 when the ink tank 11 is mounted. The connection supply section 37 is formed so as to be reduced in diameter toward the front end in order to easily fit the ink supply section 13.
[0071]
In the above example, the example in which the ink supply unit 13 is formed so as to increase in diameter toward the distal end and the connection supply unit 37 is formed so as to reduce in diameter toward the distal end is described. The diameter portion and the reduced diameter portion of the connection supply portion 37 may be provided in any one of them. The same effect can be obtained even if the in-supply portion 13 is a reduced diameter portion and the connection supply portion 37 is an enlarged diameter portion.
[0072]
Here, the configuration of the connection supply unit 37 will be specifically described. As shown in FIG. 14, the connection supply unit 37 includes an ink reservoir 51 that stores the ink 4 supplied from the ink tank 11, and a connection supply unit 37. And a filter 53 for removing impurities in the ink 4 and a valve mechanism 54 for opening and closing a supply path to the head chip 41 side.
[0073]
The ink reservoir 51 is a space that is connected to the ink supply unit 13 and stores the ink 4 supplied from the ink tank 11.
[0074]
The seal member 52 is a seal member provided at the upper end of the ink reservoir 51. When the ink supply unit 13 of the ink tank 11 is connected to the ink reservoir 51 of the connection supply unit 37, the ink 4 leaks to the outside. This is a sealing member that seals the space between the ink reservoir 51 and the ink supply unit 13 so as not to cause the problem.
[0075]
The filter 53 is a filter for removing dirt such as dust and dirt mixed into the ink 4 when the ink tank 11 is attached or detached. The filter 53 is provided below the ink detectors 38 and 39.
[0076]
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the valve mechanism 54 includes an inflow passage 61 to which ink is supplied from the ink reservoir 51, an ink chamber 62 into which the ink 4 flows from the inflow passage 61, and an ink chamber 62 from which the ink 4 flows. , An opening 64 provided to divide the ink chamber 62 into the inflow path 61 and the outflow path 63, a valve 65 for opening and closing the opening 64, and biasing the valve 65. And a negative pressure adjusting screw 67 for adjusting the strength of the spring 66, a valve shaft 68 connected to the valve 65, and a diaphragm 69 connected to the valve shaft 68.
[0077]
The ink inflow path 61 is a supply path that connects the ink 4 in the ink storage section 12 of the ink tank 11 to the ink storage section 12 via the ink storage section 51 so that the ink 4 can be supplied to the head chip 41. The ink inflow path 61 extends from the bottom surface of the ink reservoir 51 to the ink chamber 62.
[0078]
The ink chamber 62 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped ink storage chamber formed integrally with the inflow path 61, the ink outflow path 63, and the opening 64. The ink 4 flows from the inflow path 61 through the opening 64. As a result, the ink 4 flows out from the outflow channel 63.
[0079]
The ink outflow path 63 is a supply path through which the ink 4 is supplied from the ink chamber 62 through the opening 64 and further connected to the head chip 41. The ink outflow passage 63 extends from the bottom surface side of the ink chamber 62 to the head chip 41.
[0080]
The valve 65 is a valve that opens and closes an opening 64 that is divided between the ink inflow path 61 and the ink outflow path 63. The valve 65 moves up and down by the urging force of the spring 66, the restoring force of the diaphragm 69 connected via the valve shaft 68, and the negative pressure of the ink 4 on the outflow passage 63 side. When located at the lower end, the valve 65 closes the opening 64 so as to divide the ink chamber 62 into the ink inflow path 61 and the ink outflow path 63, and stops the supply of the ink 4. When located at the upper end, the valve 65 enables the supply of the ink 4 to the head chip 41 without dividing the ink chamber 62 into the ink inflow path 61 and the ink outflow path 63.
[0081]
The material constituting the valve 65 is not limited, but is preferably formed of, for example, a rubber elastic body, a so-called elastomer, since it has a high blocking property.
[0082]
The spring 66 is a compression coil spring that urges the valve 65 downward by the urging force, and is attached so as to connect between the upper surface of the valve 65 and the upper surface of the ink chamber 62.
[0083]
The negative pressure adjusting screw 67 is a screw for adjusting the urging force of the spring 66, and the urging force of the spring 66 can be adjusted by adjusting the negative pressure adjusting screw 67. Thus, the negative pressure adjusting screw 67 can adjust the negative pressure of the ink 4 that operates the valve 65 that opens and closes the opening 64.
[0084]
The valve shaft 68 is a shaft provided so as to move by connecting a valve 65 connected to one end and a diaphragm 69 connected to the other end.
[0085]
The diaphragm 69 is a thin elastic plate having an urging force and connected to the other end of the valve shaft 68. The diaphragm 69 has one main surface on the outflow path 63 side of the ink chamber 62 and another main surface in contact with the outside air, and is elastically displaced toward the outside air and the outflow path 63 by the atmospheric pressure and the negative pressure of the ink 4.
[0086]
In the valve mechanism 54 described above, the valve 65 is pressed so as to close the opening 64 of the ink chamber 62 by the urging force of the spring 66 and the urging force of the diaphragm 69. Then, when the ink 4 is ejected from the head chip 41, the negative pressure of the ink 4 in the ink chamber 62 on the side of the outflow path 63 divided into the openings 64 increases. Then, the diaphragm 69 is pushed up by the atmospheric pressure due to the negative pressure of the ink 4, and pushes up the valve 65 together with the valve shaft 68. At this time, the opening 64 between the inflow path 61 side and the outflow path 63 side of the ink chamber 62 is opened, and the ink 4 is supplied from the inflow path 61 side to the outflow path 63 side. Then, the negative pressure of the ink 4 decreases, the diaphragm 69 returns to the original shape by the restoring force, and the valve 65 is pulled down together with the valve shaft 68 by the urging force of the spring 66 so that the ink chamber 62 is closed. As described above, in the valve mechanism 54, when the negative pressure of the ink 4 increases each time the ink 4 is discharged, the above-described operation is repeated.
[0087]
In the connection supply unit 37, when the ink 4 in the ink storage unit 12 is supplied to the ink chamber 62, the ink 4 in the ink storage unit 12 decreases. The ink enters the ink tank 11. The air that has entered the ink tank 11 is sent above the ink tank 11. As a result, the state returns to a state before the ink 4 is ejected from the nozzles 104a of the head chip 41, which will be described later, and the state becomes an equilibrium state. At this time, an equilibrium state is established in a state where the ink 4 hardly exists in the air introduction pipe 15.
[0088]
The connection supply unit 37 may be configured such that a tip (not shown) also serves as the opening / closing pin 13 e of the ink supply unit 13. In this case, when the ink tank 11 is mounted on the cartridge body 31, The unit pushes up the valve 13c of the ink supply unit 13 described above to enable the supply of the ink 4.
[0089]
As described above, the connection supply unit 37 can supply an appropriate amount of the ink 4 from the ink tank 11 to the head chip 41.
[0090]
The ink detection units 38 and 39 are a pair of conductive linear members that detect the presence or absence of the ink 4 in the connection supply unit 37. The ink detection units 38 and 39 are disposed such that the tips face the connection supply unit 37. I have. The ink detectors 38 and 39 are provided on the side surface of the ink reservoir 51 of the connection supply unit 37 so as to penetrate from the inside of the connection supply unit 37 to the outside, and are connected to the head chip 41, respectively.
[0091]
The ink detection units 38 and 39 are provided above the filter 53 in the connection supply unit 37. This is to prevent the negative pressure of the ink 4 on the head chip 41 side from increasing when the amount of the ink 4 becomes equal to or less than the filter 53, thereby preventing the device from malfunctioning. The ink detectors 38 and 39 detect the ink 4 on the ink tank 11 side with respect to the filter 53, thereby preventing the ink 4 from disappearing from the filter 53 on the head chip 41 side.
[0092]
Further, the ink detecting units 38 and 39 can detect the remaining amount of the ink 4 in the ink tank 11 in more detail by using the ink detecting unit 38 and the ink remaining amount detecting unit 36 in combination. Specifically, in the ink detectors 38 and 39, since the ink 4 has conductivity, the electric resistance between the two differs depending on the presence or absence of the ink 4 in the connection supply unit 37. That is, in the ink detection units 38 and 39, the detected electric resistance value decreases if the ink 4 is present in the connection supply unit 37, and if the ink 4 is absent, the detected electric resistance value is large because air is an insulating substance. Become.
[0093]
As described above, the ink detectors 38 and 39 can detect the presence or absence of the ink 4 in the connection supply unit 37 even when there is no remaining amount of the ink 4 in the ink tank 11. The remaining amount of the ink 4 can be detected more accurately.
[0094]
The handle portion 40 facilitates removal of the cartridge body 31 when the cartridge body 31 needs to be replaced due to wear or the like, or when the ink jet printer device 1 is repaired.
[0095]
The head chip 41 has a number of nozzles 104a, which are ink ejection holes for ejecting the ink 4 supplied from the connection supply unit 37.
[0096]
The head cap 42 is a cover provided to protect the head chip 41, and is opened and closed by a head cap opening and closing mechanism 83 of the printer main body 3 described below when the ink 4 is ejected. As shown in FIG. 2, the head cap 42 has a groove 71 provided in the opening and closing direction, and a cleaning roller 72 provided in the longitudinal direction and absorbing excess ink attached to the ejection surface 41 a of the head chip 41. I have.
[0097]
The head cap 42 is opened and closed along the groove 71 during the opening and closing operation. At this time, the cleaning roller 72 rotates while abutting on the ejection surface 41 a of the head chip 41, thereby absorbing excess ink 4. Then, the ejection surface 41a of the head chip 41 is cleaned. As the cleaning roller 72, for example, a member having high water absorption is used. Further, the head cap 42 prevents the ink 4 in the head chip 41 from drying.
[0098]
The above-described head chip 41 includes a circuit board 101 serving as a base, a heating resistor 102 for heating the ink 4, and a film 103 for preventing the ink 4 from leaking, as shown in FIG. And a nozzle sheet 104 provided with a large number of nozzles 104a for discharging the ink 4, an ink pressurizing chamber 105 surrounded by the nozzle sheet 104 and supplying the ink 4, and supplying the ink to the ink pressurizing chamber 105. And an ink flow path section 106.
[0099]
The circuit board 101 is made of a semiconductor substrate such as silicon. A heating resistor 102 is formed on one main surface 101a of the circuit board 101. The heating resistor 102 and a control circuit (not shown) on the circuit board 101 are connected to each other. It is connected. The control circuit includes a logic IC (Integrated Circuit), a driver transistor, and the like.
[0100]
The heating resistor 102 generates heat by electric power supplied from the control circuit, and heats the ink 4 in the ink pressurizing chamber 105 to increase the internal pressure. The heated ink is discharged from a nozzle 104a provided on a nozzle sheet 104 described later.
[0101]
The film 103 is laminated on one main surface 101a of the circuit board 101. The film 103 is made of, for example, an exposure-curable dry film resist. After being laminated on substantially the entire main surface 101a of the circuit board 101, an unnecessary portion is removed by a photolithography process to form a predetermined shape. . Thus, the film 103 is formed so as to surround the periphery of each heating resistor 102 in a substantially concave shape. A portion surrounding the heating resistor 102 by the film 103 forms a part of the ink pressurizing chamber 105.
[0102]
The nozzle sheet 104 is a sheet-like member on which nozzles 104 a for discharging the ink 4 are formed, and is stacked on the film 103 on the side opposite to the circuit board 101. The nozzle 104 a is a hole opened in a circular shape in the nozzle sheet 104, and is arranged so as to be located below each heating resistor 102. The nozzle sheet 104 forms a part of the ink pressurizing chamber 105.
[0103]
The ink pressurizing chamber 105 is a space surrounded by the circuit board 101, the heating resistor 102, the film 103, and the nozzle sheet 104. The ink 4 supplied from the ink flow path 106 is heated by the heating resistor 102. Increase internal pressure.
[0104]
The ink flow path 106 is communicated with the outflow path 63 of the connection supply section 37 described above, and forms a flow path for sending the ink 4 supplied from the connection supply section 37 to each of the ink pressurizing chambers 105.
[0105]
In the head chip 41 configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 14, for example, the ink flow path portions 106 corresponding to the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black ink tanks 11 respectively extend in the width direction of the recording paper. As shown in FIG. 18, the nozzles 104a are arranged substantially linearly in the printing width direction in correspondence with the ink flow passages 106 to which the inks 4 of the respective colors are supplied.
[0106]
Specifically, connection supply units 37 corresponding to the respective colors are provided immediately below the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black ink tanks 11y, 11m, 11c, and 11k. Since the portion 106 is provided over the printing width of the recording paper, the head chip 41 has the nozzles 104a of each color on the ejection surface 41a along the ink flow path portion 106.
[0107]
In the head chip 41, the nozzles 104a of the respective colors are arranged substantially on a straight line. However, a predetermined number of nozzles 104a are provided as a set, and the set of the nozzles 104a is provided so as to be arranged back and forth in the printing direction.
[0108]
In such a head chip 41, the ink pressurizing chamber 105 is pressurized by the heating resistor 102, and the ink droplet i is ejected to the recording paper.
[0109]
The principle in which the head chip 41 discharges the ink droplet i in the cartridge body 31 having such a configuration will be described.
[0110]
First, a current pulse is applied to the heating resistor 102 selected by a command from a control circuit (not shown) for a short time, for example, about 1 to 3 microseconds, so that the heating resistor 102 is rapidly heated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 19, an ink bubble B is generated at a portion in contact with the heating resistor 102, and as shown in FIG. Ink 4 is displaced. As a result, an ink droplet i having the same volume as the displaced ink 4 at the portion in contact with the nozzle 104a is ejected from the nozzle 104a and landed on a recording paper target.
[0111]
When the ink droplet i is ejected, the same amount of ink 4 as the amount ejected into the ink pressurizing chamber 105 that ejected the ink droplet i is immediately replenished from the ink flow path portion 106, as shown in FIG. Then, it returns to the original state. The ink 4 is supplied from the ink tank 11 through the connection supply unit 37.
[0112]
Before the ink 4 is ejected from the nozzle 104a, that is, before ink bubbles are generated in the ink pressurizing chamber 105, the ink liquid level inside the air introduction pipe 15 of the ink tank 11 and outside the air introduction pipe 15 are the same. When this happens, the ink 4 is in an equilibrium state.
[0113]
Here, the operation of mounting the ink tank 11 on the cartridge body 31 will be described. When the ink tank 11 is mounted on the cartridge body 31, the engagement step 19 of the ink tank 11 is engaged with the engagement piece 33, and the ink tank 11 is rotated so that the engagement piece 33 becomes a pivot point. By rotating, the locking projection 18 is engaged with the engagement hole 34 a of the latch lever 34. At this time, when the urging member 35 urges the ink tank 11 in the removing direction, the ink tank 11 is fixed to the cartridge main body 31.
[0114]
The cartridge main body 31 is provided with a connection supply section 37 connected to the ink supply section 13 at a portion corresponding to the ink supply section 13 of the ink tank 11 when the ink tank 11 is mounted. The connection supply unit 37 is formed so as to protrude from an engagement hole 13f provided in a part of the bottom surface portion from above the head chip 41 provided on the bottom surface portion in the mounting portion 32 of the cartridge body 31, and has a convex shape. It is a convex ink supply adjusting unit that engages with the ink supply port 13b, and forms an ink supply path to the head chip 41 of the inkjet print head.
[0115]
As described above, in the ink jet printer 1, the ink tank 11 can be easily attached to and detached from the mounting portion 32 of the head cartridge 2, and can be appropriately positioned and fixed.
[0116]
In addition, in the ink jet printer device 1, since the latch lever is not required for the ink tank 11 that is consumed in a short cycle, the handling of the ink tank 11 becomes easy, and the manufacturing cost of the ink tank 11 can be reduced.
[0117]
In the head cartridge 2, since the head chips 41 corresponding to the respective colors have the linear nozzles 104a, the ink flow path portions 106 corresponding to the respective colors extend in the width direction of the recording paper. In order to efficiently supply the ink 4 to such a head chip 41, it is preferable that a connection supply unit 37 for supplying the ink 4 is provided substantially at the center in the width direction, and the supply unit 13 of the ink tank 11 is accordingly provided. Is also substantially at the center in the width direction.
[0118]
In such a head cartridge 2, in order to reduce the size of the head chip 41, the line of the nozzle 104 a corresponding to each color and the interval between the ink flow path portions 106 on the nozzle 104 a are narrowed, and the connection and supply corresponding to each color The interval between the parts 37 is also reduced.
[0119]
Therefore, the shape of the ink tank 11 is most preferably extended in the width direction of the recording paper, as described above, from the viewpoint of the capacity of the ink 4. By forming the ink tank 11 in such a shape, the height and thickness of the ink tank 11 can be suppressed and the capacity of the ink 4 can be secured.
[0120]
Since the head cartridge 2 uses the above-described ink tank 11 extending in the width direction of the recording paper, the head cartridge 2 is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the ink tank 11 when the attached printer main body 3 is inclined. If the remaining amount of the ink 4 is detected only by the remaining ink amount detecting unit 36 in contact with the terminal unit 20, the detection error may increase. However, in the head cartridge 2, the presence or absence of the ink 4 is detected more accurately by the ink detectors 38 and 39 in the connection supply unit 37 as well as the ink remaining amount detector 36, so that the remaining amount of the ink 4 is more accurately detected. Can be detected.
[0121]
Next, the printer main body 3 constituting the ink jet printer 1 to which the head cartridge 2 configured as described above is mounted will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0122]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer main body 3 includes a head cartridge mounting portion 81 in which the head cartridge 2 is mounted, a head cartridge attaching / detaching mechanism 82 for attaching / detaching the head cartridge 2, and a head cap opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the head cap. 83, a paper feeding / discharging mechanism 84 for feeding / discharging the recording paper, a paper feed port 85 for supplying the recording paper to the paper feeding / discharging mechanism 84, and a paper discharging port 86 from which the recording paper is output from the paper feeding / discharging mechanism 84. And
[0123]
The head cartridge mounting portion 81 is a concave portion in which the head cartridge 2 is mounted, and the head cartridge 2 can be attached and detached by the head cartridge attaching / detaching mechanism 82.
[0124]
The head cartridge attachment / detachment mechanism 82 is a mechanism for attaching / detaching the head cartridge 2 to / from the head cartridge attachment unit 81, and is configured to fix and open the head cartridge 2 by, for example, a lever or the like.
[0125]
The head cap opening / closing mechanism 83 has a drive unit that opens and closes the head cap 42 of the head cartridge 2, and opens the head cap 42 when printing is performed so that the chip head 41 is exposed to recording paper. When the printing is completed, the head cap 42 is closed to protect the chip head 41.
[0126]
The paper supply / discharge mechanism 84 has a drive unit for transporting the recording paper, transports the recording paper supplied from the supply port 85 to the chip head 41 of the head cartridge 2, and removes the recording paper from which the ink 4 has been discharged. The paper is conveyed to the paper discharge unit 85 and output to the outside of the apparatus. The paper supply port 85 is an opening for supplying recording paper to the paper supply / discharge mechanism 84, and can stack a plurality of recording papers on a tray 85a or the like and stock them. The recording paper from which the ink 4 has been discharged is conveyed by the paper supply / discharge mechanism 84 and discharged from the paper discharge port 86.
[0127]
Next, a control circuit of the ink jet printer 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings. A control circuit for controlling each unit in the ink jet printer 1 may be provided in either the head cartridge 2 or the printer main body 3, but the following description will be made assuming that the control circuit is provided in the head cartridge 2.
[0128]
As shown in FIG. 21, the control circuit includes a printer driving unit 111 that drives each driving unit of the printer main body 3, a head driving unit 112 that drives the heating resistor 102 of the head chip 41 corresponding to each color ink 4, and A warning unit 113 for warning the remaining amount of the ink 4 of each color; an input / output terminal 114 for inputting / outputting a signal to / from an external device; a ROM (Read Only Memory) 115 storing a control program and the like; A RAM (Random Access Memory) 116 from which a control program or the like is read out, and a control unit 117 that controls each unit.
[0129]
The printer driving unit 111 drives the head cap opening and closing mechanism 83 based on the control signal from the control unit 117 to open and close the head cap 42. Further, based on a control signal from the control unit 117, the printer driving unit 111 drives the paper supply / discharge mechanism 84 to feed recording paper from the paper supply port 85 of the printer main body 3, and after recording, from the paper discharge port 86. Discharge paper.
[0130]
The head driving unit 112 drives the heating resistor 102 of the chip head 41 corresponding to each color, and discharges the ink 4 of each color from a desired nozzle 104a.
[0131]
The warning unit 113 is a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays information such as a printing condition, a printing state, and a remaining amount of ink. In addition, the warning unit 113 may be a voice output unit such as a speaker, for example, and in this case, outputs information such as a print condition, a print state, and a remaining amount of ink by voice. Note that the warning unit 113 may be configured to have both a display unit and a sound output unit.
[0132]
The input / output terminal 114 enables information such as the above-described printing conditions, printing status, remaining ink amount, and the like to be transmitted to an external information processing device 118 or the like via an interface. The input / output terminal 114 receives a control signal for outputting information such as the above-described printing conditions, printing status, remaining ink amount, and image data from an external information processing device 118 or the like. Here, the above-described information processing device 118 is an electronic device such as a personal computer and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).
[0133]
As the input / output terminal 114 connected to the information processing device 118 or the like, for example, a serial interface or a parallel interface can be used as an interface, and specifically, a USB (Universal Serial Bus), RS232C, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic) Engineers) 1394 or the like. In addition, the input / output terminal 114 may perform data communication from the interface by either wired communication or wireless communication. The wireless communication standards include IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and the like.
[0134]
The ROM 115 is a memory such as an Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EP-ROM), and stores a program for each process performed by the control unit 117. The stored program is loaded into the RAM 116 by the control unit 117.
[0135]
The RAM 116 stores programs read from the ROM 115 by the control unit 117 and various states of the ink jet printer 1.
[0136]
For example, a network such as the Internet may be interposed between the input / output terminal 114 and the information processing device 118. In this case, the input / output terminal 114 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) or an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). ), XDSL (Digital Subscriber Line), FTTH (Fiber To The Home), CATV (Community Antenna TeleVision), BS (Broadcasting Satellite), etc. Data can be transmitted and received by various protocols.
[0137]
The control unit 117 is based on image data and control signals input from the input / output terminal 114, changes in the electric resistance value by the ink detection units 38 and 39, changes in the electric resistance value by the ink remaining amount detection unit 36, and the like. , To control each part. The control unit 117 reads out such a processing program from the ROM 115 and stores it in the RAM 116, and performs each processing based on the program.
[0138]
Specifically, the control unit 117 constitutes a detection unit that detects a change in the electric resistance value between the ink detection units 38 and 39, which is a pair of conductive lines, via the head chip 41. By detecting the change, it is detected whether or not the ink detection units 38 and 39 are immersed in the ink 4, thereby determining the presence or absence of the ink 4 in the connection supply unit 37. That is, the control unit 117 determines whether or not the resistance values of the ink detection units 38 and 39 are equal to or greater than the threshold.
[0139]
The controller 117 determines that there is no ink 4 in the ink tank 11 when the electrical resistance value is equal to or more than the threshold value and it is determined that there is no ink 4 in the connection supply unit 37.
[0140]
In this case, the control unit 117 controls the printer driving unit 111 and the head driving unit 112 to display a message indicating that there is no ink 4 in the warning unit 113, that is, to display a warning, and to prohibit the printing operation. I do.
[0141]
Further, the control unit 117 detects a change in the electric resistance value of the ink remaining amount detecting unit 36, and when it is detected that the electric resistance value has changed, the ink tank 11 of the terminal unit 20 in which the electric resistance value has changed. Different levels of the remaining ink level are displayed on the warning unit 113 in accordance with the position in the height direction. That is, the control unit 117 determines whether or not the electric resistance value between the pair of terminals provided in a plurality of stages in the height direction of the ink tank 11 has changed and has exceeded a threshold value.
[0142]
Further, when the information processing apparatus is connected to the input / output terminal 114 via the interface, the control unit 117 outputs information on the absence of ink and information on the remaining amount of ink from the input / output terminal 114 to external information via the interface. Control to output to the processing device.
[0143]
In the control circuit configured as described above, the program is stored in the ROM 115. However, the medium for storing the program is not limited to the ROM. For example, an optical disk on which the program is recorded, a magnetic disk, Various recording media such as disks, magneto-optical disks, and IC cards can be used. In this case, the control circuit is configured to be connected to drives for driving various recording media and to read programs from these recording media.
[0144]
Hereinafter, each operation of the control circuit will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This operation is executed based on the processing of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) in the control unit 117 based on a program stored in a storage unit such as the ROM 115.
[0145]
First, in step S101, the control unit 117 detects a change in the electric resistance value of the ink remaining amount detecting unit 36, and when it is detected that the electric resistance value has changed, the control unit 117 detects the change in the electric resistance value of the ink remaining amount. Different levels of remaining ink are displayed on the warning unit 113 in accordance with the position of the ink tank 11 in the height direction on the conductor plate of the amount detector 36. That is, in this case, since the remaining ink level detecting unit 36 is provided in three levels in the height direction of the ink tank 11, the warning level can be displayed on the warning unit 113 in three levels. When the ink in the ink dunk 11 is full, the control unit 117 determines that the electric resistance values of the ink remaining amount detection units 36 in all the stages are smaller than the threshold value. Display that there is. Then, when the ink is used and the electric resistance value of the ink remaining amount detecting unit 36 at the uppermost stage changes and becomes equal to or less than the threshold value, the warning unit 113 indicates that the ink level has decreased by one level. When the ink is further used and the electric resistance value of the middle ink remaining amount detecting unit 36 changes and becomes equal to or less than the threshold value, the warning unit 113 displays that the ink level is further reduced by one level. Further, when the ink is used and the electric resistance value of the ink remaining amount detecting unit 36 at the lowermost level changes and becomes equal to or less than the threshold value, the warning unit 113 displays that the remaining ink amount is small.
[0146]
Next, in step S102, the control unit 117 determines whether or not the amount of the ink 4 in the connection supply unit 37 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, that is, whether or not the ink is in an out-of-ink state. In step S103, the warning is displayed on the warning unit 113, that is, a warning is displayed. In step S104, the printing operation is prohibited.
[0147]
With the above-described processing, the ink-jet printer 1 to which the present invention is applied is provided with the ink supply adjustment unit 37 from the inside of the ink supply adjustment unit 37 on the side of the connection supply unit 37 which is the ink supply path from the ink tank 11 to the head cartridge 2. Ink detectors 38 and 39, which are at least one pair of conductive wires penetrating outside of the ink tank 11, detect a change in the electric resistance value between the ink detectors 38 and 39 and variously determine the absence of ink in the ink tank 11. In addition, since the warning display is performed, it is possible to accurately notify the replacement timing of the ink tank 11 even if the ink discharge amount changes according to the use environment such as the use temperature.
[0148]
As described above, in the ink tank 11 to which the present invention is applied, fine dust and the like hardly adhere to the inner surface, and even if the dust and the like adhere to the ink tank 11 or the residual ink remains, the ink tank 11 can be easily cleaned. Can be removed. Therefore, in the ink tank 11, it is possible to reduce the number of times of cleaning and reduce the cost, and it is possible to reuse the ink tank 11.
[0149]
In addition, in the ink jet printer 1, if the ink tank 11 to which the present invention is applied is mounted on the head cartridge 1 and used, when the ink 4 is ejected from the nozzle 104 a of the head chip 41, Dust can make it possible to avoid the problem that the ejection of the ink 4 becomes unstable and the print quality is reduced, and the nozzle 104a is clogged.
[0150]
In the above-described inkjet printer device 1, the head cartridge 2 is detachable from the printer main body 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the head chip 41 and the like are fixed to the main body portion 3. It can also be applied when
[0151]
Also, in the above-described ink jet printer device 1, the electrothermal conversion method in which the head chip 41 heats the ink 4 by the heating resistor 102 has been described, but an electromechanical conversion element such as a piezoelectric element that mechanically pushes the ink 4 by a piezoelectric element. May be used as a head chip.
[0152]
Further, in the above-described ink jet printer device 1, the head cartridge 2 provided with the head chip 41 and the like is detachable from the printer main body 3, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the head chip 41 and the like are not limited thereto. Can be applied to the case where is provided in the printer main body 3.
[0153]
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the ink tank applied to the ink jet printer device, but can be widely applied to other devices that discharge a small amount of liquid. Specifically, for example, the present invention is mounted on a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a very small amount of DNA or the like in a liquid or ejects a liquid containing conductive particles for forming a wiring pattern of a printed wiring board. It may be applied to a liquid tank.
[0154]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the liquid tank of the present invention, dust and the like hardly adhere to the inner surface, and dust and residual liquid and the like adhered to the inner surface can be appropriately and easily removed by washing. It is possible to reuse the liquid tank, and in a liquid discharge head using the liquid tank, avoid unstable discharge of liquid from the discharge holes or clogging of the discharge holes due to dust or the like entering the liquid. Is possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an ink jet printer device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an ink jet print head cartridge included in the ink jet printer device.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an ink jet print head cartridge included in the ink jet printer device.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an ink tank mounted on a head cartridge.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a supply port of a supply unit of an ink tank mounted on the head cartridge is closed.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a state in which a supply port of a supply unit of an ink tank mounted on a head cartridge is opened.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining an engagement protrusion of an ink tank mounted on a head cartridge.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a terminal portion of an ink tank mounted on a head cartridge.
FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of a head cartridge.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an inkjet print head cartridge included in the inkjet printer device.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an ink jet print head cartridge included in the ink jet printer device, illustrating an operation when an ink tank is mounted.
FIG. 12 is a view for explaining a latch lever of the ink jet print head cartridge provided in the ink jet printer device.
FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of an ink remaining amount detection unit in the head cartridge.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an ink tank and a head cartridge.
FIG. 15 is a sectional view for explaining a valve mechanism in a connection supply section of the head cartridge.
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a valve mechanism in a connection supply section of the head cartridge.
FIG. 17 is a sectional view for explaining a head chip of the head cartridge.
FIG. 18 is a plan view illustrating a head chip of a head cartridge.
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which bubbles are generated in the head chip of the head cartridge.
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which ink droplets are ejected by generated bubbles in a head chip of the head cartridge.
FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit of the inkjet printer.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the inkjet printer.
FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a state in which a container body and a lid constituting an ink tank are joined and integrated.
FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the container body as viewed from the inner surface side.
FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the lid viewed from the inner surface side.
FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the lid viewed from the outer surface side.
FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing a state in which an opening of the container main body is closed by a lid.
FIG. 28 is a line segment X in FIG. ₁ -X ₁ Cross section by '.
FIG. 29 is a line segment Y in FIG. ₁ -Y ₁ Cross section by '.
30 is a line segment X in FIG. ₂ -X ₂ Cross section by '.
FIG. 31 is a line segment Y in FIG. ₂ -Y ₂ Cross section by '.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 inkjet printer device, 2 head cartridge, 3 printer body, 4 ink, 5 resin, 11 ink tank, 11 a, 11 b groove, 12 ink storage unit, 13 ink supply unit, 13 a bottom surface, 13 b supply port, 13 c valve, 13 d coil spring , 13e opening / closing pin, 14 external communication hole, 15 air introduction pipe, 16 ink storage section, 17 seal, 18 locking projection, 19 engagement step, 19a slope, 19b plane, 20 terminal, 21 identification projection , 22 container body, 23 lid, 24 rising peripheral wall, 25 engaging projection, 26 positioning projection, 28 engaging hole, 30 positioning hole, 31 cartridge body, 32 mounting section, 33 engaging piece, 34 latch lever, 34a engagement hole, 35 urging member, 36 ink remaining amount detecting section, 37 connection supply section, 38, 39 ink detecting section, 40 handle section, 4 Head chip, 42 head cap, 43 identification recess, 51 ink reservoir, 52 seal member, 53 filter, 54 valve mechanism, 61 inflow path, 62 ink chamber, 63 outflow path, 64 opening, 65 valve, 66 spring, 67 Negative pressure adjusting screw, 68 valve shaft, 69 diaphragm, 71 groove, 72 cleaning roller, 81 head cartridge mounting section, 82 head cartridge attaching / detaching mechanism, 83 head cap opening / closing mechanism, 84 paper feeding / discharging mechanism, 85 paper feeding port, 86 discharging Paper mouth, 101 circuit board, 101a one main surface, 102 heating resistor, 103 film, 104 nozzle sheet, 104a nozzle, 105 ink pressurizing chamber, 106 ink flow path section, 111 printer drive section, 112 head drive section, 113 Warning unit, 114 input / output terminal, 115 ROM, 116 RAM, 117 control unit , 118 Information processing device

Claims (3)

In a liquid tank for supplying liquid to a liquid discharge head that discharges liquid,
A liquid storage section in which the liquid is stored,
A liquid supply unit that supplies the liquid stored in the liquid storage unit to the liquid ejection head,
The liquid container is formed by joining and integrating a container body having an opening on one surface and a lid closing the opening of the container body,
The container body and the lid are formed by injection molding such that an inner surface forming the liquid storage portion has a smaller surface roughness than an outer surface, and a resin formed in a groove formed along a joint portion between the container body and the lid. Characterized by being integrated by being injected and filled. An external communication hole for communicating the liquid container with the outside,
An air introduction pipe that is provided extending from the external communication hole to the inside of the liquid storage unit, and guides external air taken in from the external communication hole to the liquid storage unit,
A liquid storage unit that is provided in the middle of the air introduction pipe and temporarily stores the liquid that has flowed back from the liquid storage unit through the air introduction pipe,
The container main body has a rising peripheral wall provided on an inner surface thereof so as to surround a predetermined area, and an engaging projection formed at a tip end of the rising peripheral wall toward the lid. And
The lid has an engagement hole with which the engagement protrusion is engaged,
The container body and the lid are formed in a groove formed along an engagement portion between the engagement projection and the engagement hole in a state where the engagement projection is engaged with the engagement hole. The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage portion is formed by injection-filling. The container body and the lid, the liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the surface roughness R _max of the inner surface defining the liquid storage portion is less than 6.3 [mu] m.

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