JP2005125635A - Ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase damper effect while forming a damper compactly in an ink jet printer. <P>SOLUTION: Ink supplied from an ink tank through a flexible tube flows from an ink inlet 47 into the first chamber 27d-1 of a damper chamber through communicating conduits 49 and 50 thence flows into the second chamber 39d from a passage hole 44 made in the bottom wall 29 of the first chamber as a restriction part before being fed to a recording head from an ink outlet 41d. Upper surface of the first chamber 27d-1 is sealed with a flexible film 43 and the communicating conduits 49 and 50 rise from a main partition wall 35 forming the bottom face of the second chamber 39d and open at positions in close vicinity to the flexible film 43. Consequently, pressure variation of ink propagating from the tube side to the first chamber 27d-1 is applied directly to the flexible film 43 and absorbed through deformation. Furthermore, velocity variation of ink is relaxed at the restriction part and ink is fed to the recording head while suppressing pressure variation sufficiently. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet printer, and more particularly to a structure of an inkjet printer that supplies ink from an ink tank to a recording head mounted on a moving carriage via a flexible tube (ink supply tube). is there.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a tube supply type ink jet printer that supplies ink to a recording head mounted on a moving carriage from an ink tank fixed in the ink jet printer main body through a flexible tube is disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like. Known.

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, piezo elements are fixed on both front and back side surfaces of a recording head in which a plurality of nozzle rows and ink flow paths are arranged in a row in the vertical direction, and bending that occurs in the piezo elements when a voltage is applied. Ink is ejected from the nozzle, and a damper member (damper chamber) that supplies ink to the recording head is installed in the carriage by introducing ink from a fixed ink tank through a flexible tube. Let

  In the damper chamber, a filter is sandwiched between the first member having one side opened in the vertical direction and the second member opened on both sides in the vertical direction, and one side of the second member (of the filter) The outer surface facing the holding surface in parallel is sealed with a flexible film. An ink inflow port communicating with a flexible tube having one end connected to an ink tank at a fixed position is provided below the first member, and an ink flow path of the recording head is provided below the second member. Providing a connecting ink outlet is disclosed.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, an ink inflow port is opened on one side surface in the longitudinal direction of the damper chamber, and a flexible film (vibration absorbing film) facing the side surface in parallel is stretched.

In these prior arts, as the carriage reciprocates, an inertial force acts on the ink in the flexible tube with one end connected to the ink tank, and the ink pressure in the direction of the recording head (nozzles) is not improved. The fluctuations in preparation were absorbed by the deformation of the flexible film (film) in the damper chamber so that the ink at the nozzles did not fluctuate and the recording quality was not disturbed.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-121583 (see FIG. 2, FIG. 3, etc.) JP 63-17056 A (see FIG. 5 etc.)

  However, according to the configuration of Patent Document 1, the opening surface of the ink inlet to the damper chamber is in a direction orthogonal to the surface in which the filter and the flexible film (film) extend (that is, the ink exiting from the opening surface). Since the flow is in a direction parallel to the surface of the filter and the flexible film (film), and the opening surface of the ink inlet is arranged at a position away from the surface of the flexible film (film), The ink flow with a high flow velocity coming out of the opening surface does not directly act on the flexible film (film), and after the ink flow momentum is diffused by the ink liquid accumulated in the damper chamber, the filter (throttle portion) portion And then enters the downstream chamber, and the pressure in the downstream chamber increases, so that the flexible membrane (film) is elastically deformed, increasing the volume of the downstream chamber and increasing the ink volume. To reduce the pressure Sea urchin, since the flexible membrane (film) is not hit directly the ink flow, was flexible membrane (film) impossible efficiently absorbed dynamic pressure of the ink flow due to the.

  According to the configuration of Patent Document 2, since the distance in the orthogonal direction between the opening surface of the ink inlet to the damper chamber and the surface of the flexible film is large, even in this configuration, first, the ink liquid collected in the damper chamber Since the momentum of the ink flow is diffused by the ink and collides with the flexible film (film), the speed of the ink flow is remarkably reduced, and the dynamic pressure of the ink flow by the flexible film (film) cannot be absorbed efficiently. There was a problem.

  The present invention has a first technical problem to solve the above-mentioned problem, and a second technical problem to provide an ink jet printer in which a damper device on a carriage is miniaturized.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet printer according to the first aspect of the present invention includes an ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage that moves with respect to a recording medium, and ink from an ink tank mounted on the main body of the printer. In an inkjet printer configured to supply ink to the recording head via a damper device mounted on the carriage via a supply pipe, the recording head has one or a plurality of ink supply channels, and the damper The apparatus includes a damper chamber partitioned within a main body case so as to correspond to each of the ink supply channels, and the damper chamber absorbs a change in ink dynamic pressure, and the flexible film includes: Both surfaces are partitioned by an opposing wall surface at an interval, and ink is supplied from the ink supply pipe And an ink outlet for supplying ink to the ink supply channel, and the ink inlet is located closer to the flexible film than the opposing wall surface. It opens to the damper chamber through an ink introduction passage that opens oppositely and extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the flexible film.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet printer according to the first aspect, the main body case includes a partition wall that partitions the damper chamber into an upstream side close to the flexible film and a downstream side remote from the flexible film. The partition wall has a throttle portion including a plurality of communication holes through which ink in the damper chamber passes.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet printer according to the second aspect, the direction in which the ink flows from the ink inlet toward the flexible film, and the ink from the flexible film to the throttle portion. It is comprised so that the flow direction may oppose.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet printer according to the second or third aspect, the partition wall provided with the diaphragm portion and the flexible film extend substantially in parallel to each other.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet printer according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the partition wall and the flexible film are disposed above the carriage above the recording head having the plurality of ink supply channels. The damper chamber is arranged so as to extend in parallel with the moving direction.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when each ink supply pipe moves in the left-right direction as the carriage reciprocates according to the recording operation, the pressure of the ink in each ink supply pipe is caused by the inertial force at the time of return. Also fluctuate greatly. The pressure fluctuation propagates from the opening surface of the ink introduction passage in the damper chamber to the flexible film in the damper chamber. At that time, an ink introduction passage that opens to face the flexible film at a position closer to the flexible film than the wall face to face the flexible film, and extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the flexible film. Since the opening of the ink introduction passage is at a height position close to the surface of the flexible film, the ink flow can directly collide with the flexible film. It is possible to efficiently absorb and mitigate fluctuations in ink dynamic pressure in the ink supply tube. Moreover, even if the opening surface and the flexible membrane are close as described above, a predetermined volume is ensured between the flexible membrane and the wall surface facing the flexible membrane, so that the damper effect can be further improved. Can do.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the dynamic pressure of the ink is reduced by the flexible film, the ink flows into the damper chamber on the downstream side through the throttle portion. As a result, the fluctuation in the dynamic pressure of the ink is reduced, and the pressure fluctuation at the nozzle is less likely to occur. Further, the damper chamber and the throttle part can be formed simultaneously with the molding of the main body case, and the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the direction in which the ink from the ink inflow port flows into the damper chamber via the ink introduction passage and the direction in which the ink flows from the flexible film side to the throttle portion are relative to each other. Therefore, the pressure fluctuation propagated from the ink inlet is first absorbed by the flexible film and then further relaxed through the throttle portion, so that the pressure fluctuation at the nozzle of the recording head is effectively reduced. It has the effect of being suppressed.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the surface sealed with the partition wall and the flexible film can be increased while reducing the dimension of the damper chamber in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the partition wall extends. It is possible to increase the damper effect while forming a compact.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the damper device can be mounted above the recording head, and the carriage can be made compact.

  Next, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet printer includes a recording mechanism unit 2 that is included in a main body frame 1 and ejects ink onto a sheet P that is a recording medium, and maintenance of the recording head unit 3 in the recording mechanism unit 2. A maintenance unit 4 that performs processing, and ink tanks 5 a to 5 d that store ink to be supplied to the recording head unit 3 that is fixedly disposed in the main body frame 1 are configured.

  A plurality of ink tanks 5 for full-color recording (reference numerals 5a to 5d are assigned to ink tanks for individual colors, that is, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, see FIG. 1). Can be exchanged accordingly.

  In the recording mechanism unit 2, a carriage 9 is slidably mounted on a left and right rear guide shaft 6 and a front guide shaft 7 provided in parallel in the main body frame 1, and the recording head unit is mounted on the carriage 9. 3 is integrally attached.

  The carriage 9 is configured to reciprocate in the left and right directions along the front and rear guide shafts 6 and 7 by a carriage drive motor 10 disposed on the right rear side of the main body frame 1 and a timing belt 11 which is an endless belt. On the other hand, although not shown, the paper P is transported horizontally (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1) in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the carriage 9 on the lower surface side of the recording head unit 3 by a known paper transport mechanism.

  Outside the width of the sheet P to be conveyed, an ink receiving portion 12 is provided on one end side (the left end portion in FIG. 1 in the embodiment), and a maintenance unit 4 is disposed on the other end side. Yes. As a result, the recording head unit 3 periodically discharges ink to prevent nozzle clogging at the flushing position where the ink receiving portion 8 is provided, and receives ink at the ink receiving portion 8 during the recording operation. At the head standby position on the other end side, the maintenance unit 4 is arranged to clean the nozzle surface, and to perform a recovery process for selectively sucking ink for each color and bubbles (air) in the damper device 13 described later. ) Is removed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ink tank 5 for each individual color can be inserted and mounted from the front at a position below the nozzle surface on the lower surface of the recording head unit 3. In FIG. 1, in order from the left, an ink tank 5a for black ink (BK), an ink tank 5b for cyan ink (C), an ink tank 5c for magenta ink (M), and an ink tank for yellow ink (Y). 5d is arranged horizontally and in parallel.

  On the rear side of each ink tank mounting portion, an ink supply hollow needle (not shown) is projected horizontally so as to face the insertion direction (rear side wall surface) of each color ink tank 5. The proximal end portion of the hollow needle corresponding to each color ink is connected to the recording head unit 3 via the corresponding flexible ink supply tubes 14a to 14d. In this case, the middle portions of the black and cyan ink supply tubes 14a and 14b and the middle portions of the magenta and yellow ink supply tubes 14c and 14d are stacked one above the other.

  Next, a first embodiment of the recording head unit 3 mounted on the carriage 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the recording head unit 3 is fixed to the lower surface side of the box-shaped head holder 20 and the bottom plate 20a of the head holder 20 for full color recording as shown in FIGS. An ink jet recording head 21, a damper device 13 and an exhaust valve means 26 fixed to the upper side of the bottom plate 20 a are provided.

  On the lower surface of the recording head 21, a row of black ink (BK) nozzles 22a, a row of cyan ink (C) nozzles 22b, and a yellow ink are shown from the left side in FIG. The row of nozzles 22c for ink (Y) and the row of nozzles 22d for magenta ink (M) are formed long in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction (main scanning direction) of the carriage 9. Each nozzle 22 is exposed downward so as to face the upper surface of the paper P.

  The recording head 21 has an ink supply port for each ink color (for example, four colors) on one side of the upper surface, similar to those known in JP-A-2002-67312, JP-A-2001-219560, and the like. Ink is distributed to a large number of pressure chambers via ink supply channels extending from the supply port, and ink is ejected from the nozzles 22 by driving actuators 23 such as piezoelectric elements corresponding to the pressure chambers. A flexible flat cable 24 for applying a voltage to the actuator 23 is fixed to the upper surface of the actuator 23. Ink is supplied to each ink supply port from each ink tank 5 via a damper device 13.

  Next, based on FIGS. 3-11, the structure of the damper apparatus 13 and the exhaust valve means 26 is explained in full detail. The damper device 13 includes a plurality of independent damper chambers 27 for each ink color, which are partitioned by sub-partition walls 35a and 30 that sandwich the main partition wall 35 and intersect the main partition wall. In the embodiment, a part of a black ink (BK) damper chamber 27a is disposed under the main partition wall 35, and a cyan ink (C) damper chamber 27b and a yellow ink (Y ) Damper chamber 27c and magenta ink (M) damper chamber 27d are partitioned and arranged by sub-partition walls 35a and 30, and are configured in two layers vertically.

  Specifically, the main body case 25 in the damper device 13 has a rectangular tubular side wall as an outer periphery, and is fixed so as to cover a box-shaped lower case 32 having an open top and bottom surface and an upper surface of the lower case 32. An upper case 31 is included. Both the upper case 31 and the lower case 32 are injection-molded with a synthetic resin material and are liquid-tightly coupled by ultrasonic welding or the like.

  The lower case 32 is provided with an opening on the lower surface thereof that opens most of the area of the lower surface, and a main partition wall 35 is formed at a position spaced in parallel from the opening and the upper opening surface. ing. The opening is sealed with a damper flexible film (synthetic resin film that is impermeable to air and liquid) 36. Specifically, the outer peripheral edge of the flexible film 36 is bonded to the lower end surface of the outer peripheral wall 37 that defines the outer periphery of the opening by bonding or ultrasonic welding. Between the flexible film 36 and the main partition wall 35, a first chamber 27a-1 of a damper chamber for black ink (BK) is formed. A gap for deformation of the flexible film 36 is secured between the flexible film 36 and the bottom plate 20 a of the head holder 20, and the damper device 13 is fixed to the head holder 20.

  On the upper surface of the main partition wall 35, a sub-partition wall 35a that rises integrally and intersects with the main partition wall 35 is formed, and a portion above the main partition wall 35 in the lower case 32 is an upper part described later. A plurality of damper chambers are formed in cooperation with the case 31. In the embodiment, two sub-partition walls 35a are spaced apart from each other, and together with the side wall of the lower case 32, 3 for cyan ink (C), yellow ink (Y), and magenta ink (M) are used. Individual damper chambers 27b to 27d (specifically, second chambers 39b to 39d of the damper chamber) are formed. As shown in FIG. 6, each of the sub partition walls 35 a is formed extending over the entire length of the lower case 32, and the damper chambers 27 b to 27 d (specifically, the second chambers 39 b to 39 b) at positions away from the upper surface of the main partition wall 35. 39d) communicates with the ink outlets 41b to 41d for each ink color.

  Further, an additional sub partition wall 35 b is formed extending to a position off the upper surface of the main partition wall 35 in the vicinity of the ink outlets 41 b to 41 d, and between the sub partition wall 35 b and the side wall of the lower case 32, black A second chamber 39a of a damper chamber for ink (BK) is formed. The lower end of the second chamber 39a communicates with the ink outlet 41a (see FIGS. 3 and 6).

  The first chamber 27a-1 of the damper chamber for black ink (BK) passes through the passage 42 as a constricted portion penetrating the second chamber 39a in the vertical direction through the cylindrical portion formed along the sub partition wall 35b. It is communicating (refer FIG.5, FIG.6, FIG.8 (c)). The passage 42 is formed to have a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the first chamber 27a-1, and the flow path resistance is set to be larger than that in the first chamber 27a-1.

  The upper case 31 is formed in a flat shape having a plurality of recesses on the upper surface. The upper case 31 includes cyan ink (C) and yellow ink (which are partitioned by two sub-partition walls 30 at an upper position substantially corresponding to the first chamber 27a-1 of the damper chamber for black ink (BK). The first chambers 27b-1 to 27d-1 of the three damper chambers 27b to 27d for Y) and magenta ink (M) are formed open upward (see FIG. 4). The sub partition wall 30 is located on the extended surface of the sub partition wall 35a of the lower case 32, and a plurality of passage holes 44 as throttle portions are formed in the bottom wall 29 of the first chambers 27b-1 to 27d-1. The first chambers 27 b-1 to 27 d-1 are formed so as to penetrate vertically, and the first chambers 27 b-1 to 27 d-1 individually communicate with the lower chamber (the chamber partitioned by the sub-partition wall 35 a in the lower case 32), that is, the second chambers 39 b-39 d. doing.

  The passage hole 44 is formed to have a smaller cross-sectional area than each of the first chambers 27b-1 to 27d-1, and the flow path resistance is set larger than that of each of the first chambers 27b-1 to 27d-1.

  The upper open surfaces of the first chambers 27 b-1 to 27 d-1 are commonly sealed with a single flexible film 43 for damper (made of synthetic resin and impermeable to air and liquid). Specifically, the flexible film 43 is bonded to the outer peripheral wall defining the outer periphery of each first chamber and the upper end surface of the sub partition wall 30 by adhesion or ultrasonic welding.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ink outlets 41 a to 41 d are arranged side by side on the lower surface of the lower case 32, and are opened downward at positions extending downward from the flexible film 36. On the other hand, the recording head 21 has a plurality of ink supply ports (not shown) communicating with the end portions of the ink supply channels (manifolds) for the respective ink colors on the upper surface at positions facing the respective ink outlets 41a to 41d. ing. Each of the ink outlets 41a to 41d passes through an opening provided in the bottom plate 20a of the head holder 20, and communicates with each ink supply port of the recording head 21 via a sealing material such as rubber packing.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an ink inlet 47 for each ink color (four in the embodiment) is provided in a portion 32a protruding in a flange shape from the side surface of the lower case 32 opposite to the ink outlets 41a to 41d. Ink inlets for black ink (BK), cyan ink (C), yellow ink (Y), and magenta ink (M) are indicated by 47a, 47b, 47c, and 47d, respectively, and are opened upward. ing.

  A joint member 45 having an ink flow path for each ink color is connected to these ink inflow ports via a seal 46 such as a packing in correspondence with the lower end of each ink flow path. The top ends of the ink supply tubes 14 a to 14 d for the respective ink colors are connected to the upper ends of the ink flow paths of the joint member 45.

  The ink inlet 47a for black ink (BK) is connected to the first chamber of the corresponding damper chamber 27a via a concave passage 48 formed horizontally downward in the lower surface of the lower case 32. . The other ink inlets 47b to 47d are formed in a vertical direction (almost with a surface formed by the main partition wall 35) along a side wall of the lower passage 32 and a recessed passage 48 formed horizontally downward in the lower surface of the lower case 32. It is connected to the corresponding first chambers of the damper chambers 27b to 27d via a communication passage 49 formed so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the upper case 31 and a communication passage 50 penetrating vertically through the upper case 31 (FIG. 4). 5, FIG. 7 (a), FIG. 7 (b) and FIG. 8 (b)). In that case, since the opening surface of the communication path 50 is at a height close to the lower surface of the flexible film 43, the ink that has flowed into the damper chambers 27 b to 27 d approaches the opening surface of the communication path 50. Since the ink can directly collide with the flexible film 43, the dynamic pressure fluctuation of the ink in the ink supply tubes 14b to 14d can be efficiently absorbed (damped).

  The open lower surfaces of the ink inlets 47 a to 47 d and the concave passage 48 are sealed with a portion where the flexible film 36 is extended.

  A U-shaped rib 35c in plan view with both ends connected to the side wall on the concave passage 48 side is flexible on the ceiling surface of the first chamber 27a-1 of the damper chamber for black ink (BK), that is, the lower surface of the main partition wall 35. The height of the conductive film 36 is not reached. For this reason, the space surrounded by the U-shaped rib 35c is provided with a space in which ink does not enter, and the pressure variation of the ink described later is absorbed together with the air and the flexible film 36 therein. Yes.

  Further, third chambers 55a to 55d of the respective damper chambers are formed in a recessed manner on the upper surface of the upper case 31 at positions corresponding to the respective second chambers 39a to 39d in the vicinity of the ink outlets 41a to 41d. ing. Each of the third chambers 55a to 55d communicates with the corresponding second chamber 39a to 39d through an air hole 54 formed through the upper case 31. That is, the damper chambers 27a to 27d for each ink color are each composed of three chambers from the first chamber to the third chamber.

  Furthermore, the upper case 31 is formed with an exhaust hole 53 communicating with the upper part of each of the second chambers 39a to 39d between the first chamber and the third chamber. The upper ends of the exhaust holes 53 are respectively connected to a plurality of exhaust passages 51 that are recessed in the upper surface of the upper case 31 independently of each other, and the exhaust passages extend in the longitudinal direction of the main body case (the ink inflow ports 47a to 47d). The other end is connected to an exhaust valve means 26, which will be described later, extending in a direction orthogonal to the direction of connecting the ink outlets 41a to 41d.

  Each exhaust hole 53 is formed in a cylindrical wall that hangs down from the upper case 31 into each of the second chambers 39a to 39d, and opens into each of the second chambers 39a to 39d at a predetermined distance from the upper case 31. ing. That is, as will be described later, even when the air bubbles in the second chambers 39a to 39d are exhausted from the exhaust hole 53, air of only the suspended height of the cylindrical wall is secured above the second chambers 39a to 39d. Yes.

  The third chambers 55a to 55d and the exhaust passage 51 of each damper chamber are covered with an extended upper surface of the flexible membrane 43, and each chamber and passage are defined.

  The damper device 13 is fixed on the carriage 9 so that the main partition wall 35 and the flexible films 36 and 43 extend in parallel with the moving direction of the carriage 9, that is, in parallel with the nozzle opening surface of the recording head 21. .

  Next, the exhaust valve means 26 will be described. The storage portion 34 integrally provided on one side of the lower case 32 (the right end in FIGS. 4 and 8A) has four vertical directions for each ink color. A passage hole 56 that is long and opens vertically is formed. Each passage hole 56 includes an upper half large diameter portion 56a and a lower half small diameter passage 56b. A small-diameter valve rod 58 is integrally formed at the lower end of the large-diameter valve body 57. A packing 59 such as an O-ring for sealing is disposed on the valve rod 57 and fitted on the valve rod 58. The packing 59 and the valve body 57 are inserted into the large diameter portion 56a so as to be movable up and down, and the valve rod 58 is inserted into the small diameter passage 56b. The lower end of the valve rod 58 extends to the vicinity of the lower end opening of the small diameter passage 56b. The valve body 57 is always pressed downward by a spring means 60 such as a coil spring provided in the large diameter portion 56a. In this state, the packing 59 is pressed against the bottom surface of the large diameter portion 56a of the passage hole 56, and the valve is closed (see FIG. 8A).

  The side edge of the upper case 3 extends to a position that covers the upper end of the storage portion 34, and the other end of each exhaust passage 51 communicates with the upper end of each passage hole 56 individually.

  The maintenance unit 4 includes a cap member 71 that covers the opening surface of the nozzle 22 of the recording head 21 so as to be openable and closable, and a plurality of small caps that individually cover the lower end surface of the exhaust valve means 26, that is, the opening surfaces of the small diameter portions 56b. Member 72. Both cap members 71 and 72 are moved upward and downward of the nozzle 22 and the exhaust valve means 26 when the carriage 9 is moved to the standby position (right end position in FIG. 1) by a vertical movement mechanism 73 similar to a known maintenance unit. It rises so as to be in close contact with the lower end surface, and descends so as to be separated from those surfaces at other positions. Further, the cap member 71 is connected to the suction pump 74 in the same manner as a known maintenance unit, and the ink and foreign matters that are thickened from the nozzles 22 are removed by suction by driving the suction pump 74.

  Each small cap member 72 has a protrusion 72a protruding from the cap member. When the small cap member 72 is in close contact with the lower end surface of the exhaust valve means 26, the protrusion 72a causes the bubble rod 58 to be biased by the spring means 60. Pushing up against this, the packing 59 is separated from the inner bottom portion of the large-diameter portion 56a, and the valve is opened. Further, each small cap member 72 is connected to a suction pump 74 through a common flow path, and bubbles accumulated in the second chambers 39a to 39d of each damper chamber are collectively sucked and discharged by driving the suction pump 74. The This is because the ink supplied from the ink tank 5 through the ink supply pipe 14 is temporarily stored in the second chambers 39a to 39d, so that bubbles are separated and floated from the ink and accumulated in the upper portions of the second chambers 39a to 39d. The air bubbles are discharged by the suction pump 74 as described above.

  The cap member 71 and the small cap member 72 are alternatively connected to the suction pump 74 by a switching valve 75. The cap member 71 and the small cap member 72 are simultaneously brought into close contact with the opening surface of the nozzle 22 and the lower end surface of the exhaust valve means 26 by the vertical movement mechanism 73. Preferably, the second chamber is firstly passed through the small cap member 72. The bubbles accumulated in the upper portions of 39a to 39d are discharged, and then the ink is discharged from the nozzle 22 through the cap member 71. If the cap member 71 alone is used to discharge the bubbles in the second chambers 39a to 39d, a large amount of ink must be discharged. However, by doing the above, the bubbles can be discharged and recorded with a small ink discharge amount. Head recovery processing can be performed.

  In addition, only ink suction from the nozzles 22 or only discharge of bubbles in the second chambers 39a to 39d can be performed independently.

  In place of the suction operation of the suction pump 74 as described above, a positive pressure is applied to the ink from the ink tank 5 side to suck and remove thickened ink and foreign matter from the nozzle 22, or the second chambers 39a to 39a. The 39d bubbles can also be discharged. Alternatively, the suction operation and the positive pressure application to the ink can be used in combination.

  9 to 16 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the ink colors are four colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and two recording heads 21 having a row of nozzles 22 for each color similar to the above embodiment are arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction. Arranged and fixed to the head holder 20.

  The damper device 63 according to the second embodiment supplies corresponding color inks to the two recording heads 21. That is, there is one ink inlet 47 for each color, but two ink outlets 41 are formed. Hereinafter, the same parts and configurations as those of the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals.

  The main body case 25 in the damper device 63 of the second embodiment includes an upper case 31 and a lower case 32, and the upper case 31 is liquid-tightly fixed to the upper end of the lower case 32 by ultrasonic welding or the like. .

  In the lower case 32, a first chamber 27a-1 of a black ink (BK) damper chamber is formed under the main partition wall 35 in substantially the same manner as in the above embodiment, and the first chamber 27a-1 Most of the area of the lower surface of the case 32 is opened downward, and the flexible film 36 is bonded to cover the opened surface. A plurality of ink outlets 41a to 41d are disposed on the lower surface of the lower case 32 so as to be adjacent to the open surface of the first chamber 27a-1. In this embodiment, there are two ink outlets in the center, the ink outlet 41a for black ink (BK), the two ink outlets 41c on both sides thereof for yellow ink (Y), and two at one end. These are the ink outlet 41b for cyan ink (C) and the other two are the ink outlet 41d for magenta ink (M).

  The second chamber 39a of the black ink (BK) damper chamber is defined by a partition wall 35b formed so as to surround the two central ink outlets 41a in a plan view, and is formed to penetrate the main partition wall 35. The passage 42 communicates with the first chamber 27a-1. Further, the third chamber 55a formed on the upper surface of the upper case 31 and surrounded by the wall 30b located on the extended surface of the partition wall 35b is formed in the second chamber 39a by the air hole 54 formed through the upper case 31. Communicated with.

  The damper chambers 27b to 27d for the cyan ink (C), the yellow ink (C), and the magenta ink (M) have sub-partition walls 35a formed on the upper surface of the main partition wall 35, as in the above-described embodiment. And it is demarcated by the subpartition wall 30 formed in the upper surface of the upper case 31 on the extension surface. The damper chambers 27b to 27d are formed such that the upper side of the bottom wall 29 of the upper case 31 is a first chamber 27b-1 to 27d-1, and the lower side is a second chamber 39b to 39d. The second chambers 39b to 39d extend over the entire length of the lower case 32 in the longitudinal direction and communicate with the ink outlets 41b to 41d, respectively. In this embodiment, the second chamber 39c for yellow ink (C) is formed in a Y shape in plan view, and the second chamber 39b for cyan ink (C) is sandwiched between the second chamber 39c and magenta ink. A second chamber 39d for (M) is formed.

  The first chambers 27b-1 to 27d-1 on the upper surface of the upper case 31 are located above the corresponding second chambers. In this embodiment, the cyan ink (C) and yellow ink ( There is no third chamber for C) and magenta ink (M). In the bottom wall 29 of each first chamber, a plurality of passage holes 44 are formed on the side close to the communication passage 50 described later, and the passage holes 44 are formed on the sides close to the ink outlets 41b to 41d. The chamber communicates with the second chamber.

  The plurality of exhaust passages 51 are formed in a recess on the upper surface of the upper case 31, one end communicates with each of the second chambers 39 a to 39 d through the exhaust hole 53, and the other end is connected to the exhaust valve means 26 having the same structure as in the above embodiment. ing. The exhaust holes 53 for the cyan ink (C), the yellow ink (C), and the magenta ink (M) are opened below the ceiling surface of the second chambers 39b to 39d, as in the above embodiment, and the second A space for storing air is secured at the top of the chamber.

  The upper open surfaces of the first chambers 27 b-1 to 27 d-1, the third chamber 55 a for black ink, and the exhaust passage 51 are covered with a single flexible film 43.

  In the lower case 32, ink inlets 47 a to 47 d are formed in substantially the same manner as in the above embodiment, and the black ink (BK) ink inlet 47 a is connected to the black ink (BK) damper via the concave passage 48. The ink inlets 47b to 47d for the cyan ink (C), the yellow ink (C), and the magenta ink (M) are connected to the chamber 27a and are connected to the corresponding damper chambers 27b to 27d via the communication paths 49 and 50. Each is connected. The open bottom surfaces of the ink inlets 47 a to 47 d and the concave passage 48 are sealed by extending the flexible film 36.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, when each ink supply tube 14 moves in the left-right direction as the carriage 9 reciprocates in the main scanning direction (left-right direction) in accordance with the recording operation, the return time is returned. The pressure of the ink in each ink supply tube 14 varies greatly due to the inertial force. The pressure fluctuation propagates to each damper chamber 27 via the ink inlet 47. At that time, the flexible films 36 and 43 sealing each damper chamber 27 are bent, so that the fluctuation of the ink pressure in each damper chamber 27 can be reduced.

  The pressure fluctuation propagated to the first chambers 27a-1 to 27d-1 of each damper chamber is first flexed in the first chambers 27a-1 to 27d-1 by the resistance action of the passage holes 44 and the passages 42 as the throttle portions. The flexible films 36 and 43 are greatly bent. Further, the communication paths 49 and 50 to the respective chambers 27b-1 to 27d-1 for cyan ink (C), yellow ink (C), and magenta ink (M) are close to the flexible film 43. Since the opening is made at the position, the pressure fluctuation directly collides with the flexible film 43 and is absorbed and relaxed at an early stage.

  In addition, since an air layer is normally secured in the upper portions of the second chambers 39a to 39d and the third chambers 55a to 55d, the damper action by the air and the flexibility to seal the third chambers 55a to 55d are provided. Due to the deformation of the film 43, the pressure fluctuation generated in the damper chambers 27a to 27d and the pressure fluctuation propagated as described above are absorbed and relaxed, the pressure at the nozzle 22 of the recording head 21 is maintained uniformly, and the recording quality is improved. It is done.

  The ink that has flowed into the first chambers 27a-1 to 27d-1 of each damper chamber is further decelerated by the resistance action of the passage holes 44 and the passages 42 as the throttle portions, and flows into the corresponding second chambers 39a to 39d. To do. In the second chambers 39a to 39d, bubbles contained in the ink are floated, and the ink in which the bubbles are reduced is supplied to the recording head 21 from the ink outlets 41a to 41d.

  In both the above embodiments, the nozzle surface of the recording head unit 3 is substantially horizontal and the ink is ejected downward from the nozzles 22 of the recording head 21. Therefore, the damper device 13 is disposed above the recording head 21 and the main unit thereof. The partition wall 35 and the flexible films 36 and 43 are disposed so as to be substantially horizontal, and between the lower flexible film 36 and the back surface of the recording head 21 (specifically, the flexible flat cable 24). A gap space in which the flexible membrane 36 can be displaced is formed. However, when the nozzle surface is vertically oriented, the damper device 13 extends in a direction in which the main partition wall 35 and the flexible membranes 36 and 43 extend vertically. May be arranged.

  As described above, in both embodiments, at least one damper chamber of the plurality of damper chambers 27 corresponding to a plurality of colors or a plurality of ink supply channels is connected to the other plurality of damper chambers via the main partition wall 35. And arranged in a back-to-back manner so as to have opening surfaces opposite to each other, and sealing each of the opening surfaces with flexible films 36 and 43, respectively, thereby making it possible to collect a plurality of damper chambers, By arranging the damper chambers 27 in a back-to-back manner, the area of the opening surface (open portion) of each damper chamber 27 can be made relatively large. Therefore, while making the entire damper device 13 compact, it is possible to set a large area area in which the flexible films 36 and 43 that seal the opening surfaces of the damper chambers 27 can be bent by the fluctuating pressure of the ink, so that the damper function is sufficient. Can be done. In particular, the damper device 13 can be compactly formed by collecting the plurality of damper chambers 27 in one main body case 25.

  As in the above-described embodiment, the three damper chambers 27 of the four damper chambers 27 are partitioned by the sub partition walls 35a and 30 orthogonal to (intersect with) the main partition wall 35, and are arranged in parallel. Since the plurality of damper chambers 27 having the opening surfaces can be sealed with the single flexible film 43, the sealing operation is extremely easy and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  If the exhaust passage 51 to the exhaust valve is formed in the main body case 25 having the plurality of damper chambers 27 and the exhaust valve means 26 is also integrated into the main body case 25, the bubbles in the recording head unit 3 are maintained during maintenance. A structure for removing the recording head unit 3 can also be mounted on the carriage 9, and the recording head unit 3 can be made compact. In particular, the exhaust passage 51 is partitioned by the sub-partition wall 30 in the main body case 25 and arranged in parallel, and is formed so as to be open in the same direction as the opening surfaces of the damper chambers 27b-1 to 27d-1. If present, the damper chamber 27 and the exhaust passage 51 can be partitioned at the same time by sticking one flexible film 43 to the surface of the main body case 25, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Since the air damper chambers 55a to 55d communicate with the second chambers 39a to 39d having a function as a buffer tank, the recording head unit 3 can be made compact, and the second chamber 39a can be moved along with the reciprocating movement of the carriage 9. It is also possible to suppress (relax) pressure fluctuations due to the oscillation of the ink stored in .about.39d.

  Further, the damper device 13 opens two opposing surfaces of the main body case 25, and forms a plurality of independent damper chambers 27 by a main partition wall 35 spaced from the two surfaces, and the two open surfaces are formed. The flexible films 36 and 43 are used for sealing. The main body case 25 is supplied with ink from an ink supply pipe (tube) 14 to each damper chamber 27 and to each ink supply channel of the recording head 21 from each damper chamber 27. And a plurality of ink inflow ports 47 and predetermined ones of the ink outflow ports 41 are communicating passages 49 and 50 extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface formed by the main partition wall 35. Are connected to the corresponding damper chamber 27.

  Therefore, although the plurality of damper chambers 27 are separated by the main partition wall 35 and the sub partition walls 35a and 30, the ink outlet 41 and the ink inlet 47 can be formed side by side on one surface of the main body case. Therefore, the connection to the ink supply tube (tube) 14 and the connection to the ink supply port (not shown) of the recording head 21 can be facilitated.

  The recording head 21 has a plurality of ink supply ports connected to the ink supply channels arranged side by side on the back side of the recording head 21. The outflow ports 41 are arranged in the downward direction so as to face the ink supply ports, and the plurality of ink outflow ports 41 and the ink inflow ports 47 communicate with each other in a state of facing each other. Accordingly, when the main body case 25 is overlapped with the back surface of the recording head 21, the ink supply ports corresponding to the plurality of ink supply channels in the recording head 21 and the plurality of ink outlets 41 overlap and intersect the back surface of the recording head 21. The operation of connecting the ink supply tube 14 facing from the upper side to the ink inlet 47 can be facilitated.

  FIG. 17 shows a modification of the ink introduction passage 50 to the damper chamber 27. In this embodiment, the ink flow from the ink introduction passage 50 is substantially at the center of the plane of the flexible film 43 on one side of the damper chamber 27 and the flexible film 43 is easily elastically deformed. It arrange | positions so that it may collide substantially orthogonally. Of course, the opening surface of the ink introduction passage 50 is set so as to be positioned close to the surface of the flexible film 43. With this configuration, the speed of the ink flow from the ink introduction passage 50 can be more efficiently reduced by the flexible film 43. In the first and second embodiments and modifications, the ink flow direction from the ink introduction passage 50 is not only in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface of the flexible film 43, but also with respect to the surface of the flexible film 43. It is desirable to set the angle to about 90 to 45 degrees so that the normal component of the flow becomes as large as possible. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to the damper chamber 27a for black ink.

  Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to various types of inkjet printers.

It is a top view of the recording mechanism part of an inkjet printer. It is a bottom view of a head holder. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2. It is a top view of the damper device in the state where the flexible membrane 43 of the first embodiment is removed. It is a bottom view of a damper device in the state where flexible membrane 36 is removed. It is a top view of a lower case. (A) is a plan view of only the upper case, and (b) is a bottom view of only the upper case. (A) is a sectional view taken along line VIIIa-VIIIa in FIG. 4, (b) is a sectional view taken along line VIIIb-VIIIb in FIG. 4, and (c) is a sectional view taken along line VIIIc-VIIIc in FIG. It is an upper perspective view of the damper device of the second embodiment and its flexible membrane. It is a lower perspective view of the damper device of the second embodiment and its flexible membrane. (A) is an upper perspective view of the main body case (a state where the lower case and the upper case are combined) of the second embodiment, and (b) is a lower perspective view. (A) is an upper perspective view of the lower case of 2nd Embodiment, (b) is a lower perspective view. (A) is an upper perspective view of the upper case of 2nd Embodiment, (b) is a lower perspective view. It is a top view of a lower case. (A) is a front view of an upper case, (b) is XVb-XVb arrow directional cross-sectional view of Fig.15 (a). (A) is XVIa-XVIa arrow directional cross-sectional view of Fig.15 (a), (b) is XVIb-XVIb arrow directional cross-sectional view of Fig.15 (a). It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of arrangement | positioning of an ink introduction channel | path.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Carriage 13 Damper apparatus 14a-14d Ink supply tube 20 Head holder 21 Recording head 22 Nozzle 25 Main body case 26 Exhaust valve means 27, 27a-27d Damper chamber 30, 35a, 35b Subpartition wall 31 Upper case 32 Lower case 34 Storage part 35 Main partition wall 36, 43 Flexible membrane 39, 39a-39d Ink flow path 41, 41a-41d Ink outlet 42 Passage 44 Passage hole 47, 47a-47d Ink inlet 49, 50 Communication path 51 Exhaust passage 55a- 55d Air damper chamber 57 Valve body

Claims (5)

An ink jet recording head is mounted on a carriage that moves with respect to a recording medium, and an ink tank that is mounted on the main body of the printer passes through an ink supply pipe and a damper device that is mounted on the carriage. In an inkjet printer configured to supply ink,
The recording head has one or more ink supply channels;
The damper device includes a damper chamber partitioned in a main body case so as to correspond to each ink supply channel,
The damper chamber is partitioned on both sides by a flexible film capable of absorbing the dynamic pressure change of the ink and a wall surface facing the flexible film with a space therebetween, and the ink supplied with ink from the ink supply pipe An inlet and an ink outlet for supplying ink to the ink supply channel;
The ink inlet has an ink introduction passage that opens to face the flexible film at a position closer to the flexible film than the opposing wall surface, and extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the flexible film. An ink jet printer having an opening in the damper chamber. The main body case has a partition wall that divides the damper chamber into an upstream side close to the flexible membrane and a downstream side away from the flexible membrane,
2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall has a throttle portion including a plurality of communication holes through which ink in the damper chamber passes.   The direction in which the ink from the ink inflow port flows toward the flexible film and the direction in which the ink flows from the flexible film to the throttle portion are opposed to each other. Item 3. The ink jet printer according to Item 2.   The inkjet printer according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the partition wall provided with the aperture portion and the flexible film extend substantially parallel to each other.   The damper chamber is disposed above the recording head having the plurality of ink supply channels so that the partition wall and the flexible film extend in parallel with the moving direction of the carriage. The inkjet printer according to any one of 4.

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