JP2004268351A - Ink discharging device and re-cleaning method for ink discharging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink discharging device which can simply separate a filter member from an inkjet head, and can remove large foreign matter that cannot be removed from nozzles of the inkjet head. <P>SOLUTION: The filter member 32 with a filter fixed for filtering foreign matter in ink supplied from an ink container to the inkjet head 3, and coupling members 32c and 33a for coupling the filter member 32 detachably to the inkjet head 3 are set. The inkjet head 3 and the filter member 32 can be freely set and separated by the coupling members 32c and 33a. Moreover, the filter for filtering the foreign matter in the ink is fixed at the filter member 32, and therefore the trouble that the filter is displaced after the shipment, or the like is prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink ejection device and a method for re-cleaning an ink ejection device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ink ejecting apparatus has an ink supply system including an ink supply head that ejects ink to a recording medium and an ink container that stores ink to be supplied to the ink jet head. (See Patent Document 1).
[0003]
In some of such ink ejection apparatuses, a filter member is provided between an inkjet head and an ink supply system. The filter member has a fine mesh shape, and prevents foreign substances that may possibly clog the nozzles of the inkjet head from entering the interior of the inkjet head via the ink supply system. Here, the foreign substance that may clog the nozzles of the inkjet head refers to solid substances and semi-solid substances not contained in the ink. In addition, aggregates of the ink components generated by long-term storage or the like are foreign matters because they may clog the nozzles of the inkjet head.
[0004]
The ink jet head of such an ink ejection apparatus is subjected to a cleaning process in a manufacturing process to remove foreign matter inside the ink jet head. Then, the filter member is disposed on the inkjet head that has been subjected to such a cleaning process. Here, the filter member is fixedly adhered to the inkjet head with an adhesive. The reason why the filter member is fixedly bonded in this way is that if a problem such as the filter member being displaced after shipment occurs, foreign matter may enter the ink jet head and cause a quality problem. This is because, in order to avoid such a situation, the filter member is fixed to the inkjet head and cannot be removed.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-57-24283
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the above-described ink ejection apparatus is shipped after a print inspection process for inspecting whether or not ink is properly ejected from nozzles of an inkjet head. Then, when a defect such as non-ejection of the ink occurs in the print inspection process, the foreign matter inside the inkjet head is removed by re-cleaning the inkjet head.
[0007]
However, in the above-described ink ejection apparatus, since the filter member is adhered and fixed to the ink jet head, the cleaning of the ink jet head is performed by pouring the cleaning liquid into the ink jet head via the ink supply system. In addition, a complicated method of sucking the cleaning liquid from the nozzle side of the inkjet head with a suction device has to be adopted. According to such a method, there is a problem that the pressure loss in the filter member is large and it takes a long time for cleaning, and a foreign substance larger than the nozzle diameter of the inkjet head cannot be taken out.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink ejecting apparatus which can easily remove a filter member from an ink jet head and can remove large foreign matter which cannot be removed from nozzles of the ink jet head.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is directed to an ink ejection apparatus including an inkjet head that selectively ejects ink supplied from an ink container that stores ink from a plurality of nozzles. A filter member to which a filter for filtering foreign matter is fixed; and a coupling member for detachably coupling the filter member to the inkjet head.
[0010]
Therefore, the inkjet head and the filter member having the filter for filtering foreign matter in the ink supplied to the inkjet head are detachably connected by the connecting member. Further, a filter for filtering foreign matter in the ink is fixed on a filter member.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0012]
[Structure of ink ejection device]
Here, FIG. 1 is an external perspective view schematically showing an ink ejection apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof. As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the ink ejection device 1 includes an inkjet head 3 in which a number of nozzles 2 for ejecting ink droplets are arranged.
[0013]
Here, the structure of the inkjet head 3 will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the inkjet head 3 with a part thereof cut away. As shown in FIG. 3, the inkjet head 3 has a head body 15 in which a laminated substrate 13 composed of a lower substrate 11 and an upper substrate 12, at least one of which is made of a piezoelectric member, and a top plate 14 are integrated by bonding or bonding. The nozzle plate 16 provided with a large number of nozzles 2 is bonded. More specifically, the substrate 13 is formed with a large number of grooves 17 that reach from the upper surface of the upper substrate 12 to the inside of the lower substrate 11 and that are open at the front and closed at the rear. A wiring pattern 19 extending from the rear portion to the rear end of the upper surface of the substrate 13 and connected to the electrode 18 formed in the groove 17 is formed. At this time, each of the grooves 17 formed in the substrate 13 is cut off by a side wall 20 and a top plate 14 formed on both sides of the grooves 17 to form an ink chamber 21 also serving as an ink flow path, Further, a common ink supply path 22 communicating with all of these ink chambers 21 is formed on the lower surface of the top plate 14. The nozzle 2 is opened for each ink chamber 21.
[0014]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, an ink supply port 23 communicating with the common ink supply path 22 is formed on the upper surface of the top plate 14. An ink supply system 30 is provided in the ink supply port 23, and ink is supplied to the ink chamber 21 from the ink container (not shown) that stores the ink via the ink supply system 30.
[0015]
Such an ink jet head 3 is fixed on a base plate 4 with an epoxy adhesive or the like as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. Further, a driver IC 5 mounted with a drive circuit (not shown) for driving the piezoelectric member of the ink jet head 3 is also fixed on the base plate 4. The inkjet head 3 and the driver IC 5 are connected via a wiring pattern 6.
[0016]
The cover 7 is a protection member that covers and protects the driver IC 5 and the wiring pattern 6 on the base plate 4 as described above. The cover 7 is adhered and fixed on the base plate 4 so as to cover the driver IC 5 and the wiring pattern 6.
[0017]
Next, the ink supply system 30 which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described. The ink supply system 30 forms an ink supply path for supplying ink from the ink container to the inkjet head 3, and as shown in FIG. 1 or 2, a supply tube 31 connected to the ink container, A filter holding member 32 made of resin to which the supply tube 31 is connected, a support member 33 which is inserted into the ink supply port 23 of the ink jet head 3 and is fixedly adhered thereto, and which detachably supports the filter holding member 32; It consists of. The filter holding member 32 functions as a filter member, and fixes a filter (not shown) for filtering foreign substances in the ink. Foreign matter in the ink refers to solids and semi-solids not contained in the ink. Agglomerates of ink components generated by long-term storage are also foreign matters. This filter is formed of, for example, a stainless mesh. Since the filter for filtering foreign matter in the ink is fixed to the filter holding member 32 in this manner, there is no problem such as the filter being shifted after shipment.
[0018]
Here, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the filter holding member 32, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the support member 33. As shown in FIG. 4, the filter holding member 32 is mainly composed of a filter storage case 32a for storing a filter, and a supply tube 31 is connected to one side of the filter storage case 32a. A cylindrical tube connection port 32b communicating with the inside of the tube 32a is formed to protrude. A male luer fitting 32c communicating with the inside of the filter storage case 32a is formed on the other side surface of the filter storage case 32a. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the support member 33 is a general-purpose luer fitting, and has a female luer fitting 33a. Therefore, the filter holding member 32 and the support member 33 are detachably connected by a so-called luer fitting type. That is, the luer fitting 32c and the luer fitting 33a form a coupling member. In the present embodiment, by using such a luer fitting, the inkjet head 3 and the filter (the filter holding member 32) can be easily attached and detached.
[0019]
With such a configuration, in the ink ejection device 1, by selectively driving the piezoelectric member of the desired ink chamber 21 by driving the driving circuit, the volume of the ink chamber 21 is changed and pressure is applied, whereby the ink is applied. The ink supplied to the chamber 21 is selectively discharged from the nozzle 2.
[0020]
[Re-cleaning method of ink ejection device]
Next, a description will be given of a method of re-cleaning the ink discharge device 1 when a problem such as ink non-discharge occurs in the print inspection process of the ink discharge device 1. In such a case, foreign matters inside the inkjet head 3 are removed by re-cleaning the inkjet head 3.
[0021]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a re-cleaning process of the ink ejection device 1 in which a problem such as non-ejection of ink has occurred. As shown in FIG. 6, the re-cleaning of the ink ejection device 1 of the present embodiment is performed according to the following procedure.
(1). The filter (the filter holding member 32) is removed from the inkjet head 3. That is, the luer fitting 32c of the filter holding member 32 is removed from the luer fitting 33a of the support member 33 fixed to the inkjet head 3. (FIG. 6 (a))
(2). The surface of the inkjet head 3 on the nozzle 2 side is immersed in the cleaning liquid, and the cleaning liquid is suctioned from a filter (filter holding member 32) side (ink supply) side by a suction device (not shown), and the ink jet head 3 is cleaned again. (FIG. 6 (b))
(3). The filter holding member 32 is connected to the inkjet head 3 after the re-cleaning, and the print inspection is performed again. That is, the luer fitting 32c of the filter holding member 32 is attached to the luer fitting 33a of the support member 33 fixed to the inkjet head 3. (FIGS. 6C and 6D)
(4). If no problem such as non-ejection of the ink in the ink ejection device 1 does not occur in the print inspection, the support member 33 fixed to the inkjet head 3 and the filter holding member 32 are fixedly adhered with an adhesive. . (FIG. 6 (e))
(5). When a problem such as non-ejection of ink in the ink ejection device 1 occurs in the print inspection, the inkjet head 3 is washed again.
[0022]
Therefore, in the re-cleaning process of the ink ejection device 1 according to the present embodiment, the filter (the filter holding member 32) can be easily removed from the ink jet head 3, and the filter (the filter holding member 32) can be easily removed. By suctioning the cleaning liquid from the uncoupled ink supply side, large foreign substances that cannot be removed from the nozzle 2 can be removed.
[0023]
Further, at the time of shipment, the filter (the filter holding member 32) is fixedly adhered to the inkjet head 3 with an adhesive, so that there is no problem such as the filter (the filter holding member 32) being displaced after the shipment. , It is possible to avoid quality problems.
[0024]
In the present embodiment, a so-called luer fitting is used to make the connection between the inkjet head and the filter detachable, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the luer fitting 32c of the filter holding member 32 is changed to a coupling member 32d having an O-ring 32e as shown in FIG. 7, and the luer fitting 33a of the support member 33 fixed to the ink jet head 3 is changed to the action of the O-ring 32e. May be changed to a coupling means 33b as shown in FIG. That is, a coupling member is constituted by the coupling means 32d and the coupling means 33b.
[0025]
Further, in the present embodiment, as the inkjet head, an inkjet head 3 that selectively ejects the ink supplied to the ink chamber 21 from the nozzles 2 by changing the volume of the ink chamber 21 and applying pressure is applied. However, it is not limited to this. For example, an inkjet head that generates bubbles by using heat and discharges ink from nozzles by a propulsive force due to expansion of the bubbles may be applied.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the ink jet head and a filter member to which a filter for filtering foreign matter in the ink supplied to the ink jet head is fixed can be made detachable by a connecting member. In the re-cleaning process of the ejection device, the filter member can be easily removed from the ink jet head, and the cleaning liquid is sucked from the ink supply side to which the filter member is not connected, so that the nozzles of the ink jet head can be removed. Can remove large foreign substances that cannot be removed. Further, since the filter for filtering foreign matter in the ink is fixed to the filter member, there is no problem such as the filter being displaced after shipment.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view schematically showing an ink ejection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the ink jet head with a part cut away.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a filter holding member.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a support member.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a re-cleaning process of the ink ejection device in which a problem such as non-ejection of ink has occurred.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a modification of the filter holding member.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modification of the support member.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink ejection device 2 Nozzle 3 Ink jet head 32 Filter member 32c, 33a Connection member, Luer fitting 32d, 33b Connection member

Claims (4)

In an ink ejection apparatus including an inkjet head that selectively ejects ink supplied from an ink container that stores ink from a plurality of nozzles,
A filter member fixed with a filter for filtering foreign matter in ink supplied to the inkjet head from the ink container,
A coupling member for detachably coupling the filter member to the inkjet head,
An ink ejection device comprising: The ink ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member is a luer fitting. A method for re-cleaning an ink ejection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
Removing the filter member detachably attached to the inkjet head via the coupling member by the action of the coupling member;
A step of immersing the nozzle side surface of the inkjet head in a cleaning liquid, sucking the cleaning liquid with a suction device from the ink supply side, and re-cleaning the inkjet head,
Attaching the filter member by the action of the coupling member to the inkjet head after the re-cleaning is completed,
A method for re-cleaning an ink ejection device, comprising: The method according to claim 3, further comprising a step of fixing the filter member attached to the inkjet head to the inkjet head after the rewashing.

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