JP2005349577A - Ink supply unit in ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a stabilized printed matter from the start of printing by ejecting temperature controlled ink from a nozzle head from the start of printing. <P>SOLUTION: In the ink supply unit of an ink jet recorder arranged to supply ink subjected to temperature control in a thermostat 12 to the ink chamber 3 of a nozzle head 2, temperature controlled ink is supplied to the ink chamber 3 of the nozzle head 2 at all times, and the ink chamber is connected with an ink return path 8 through an opening/closing valve 9 so that ink supplied into the ink chamber flows out when the opening/closing valve is opened. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink supply device that supplies ink to a nozzle head of an ink jet recording apparatus.

  The amount of ink droplets ejected from the nozzle head of the inkjet head varies depending on the ink viscosity and temperature conditions. Some conventional ink supply devices have a constant ink temperature in order to keep the ink viscosity constant (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  This conventional ink supply apparatus is as shown in FIG. 1, and the ink in the ink tank a is pumped to the nozzle head e through an ink supply system d having a pump b and filters c and c. The ink tank a is equipped with a stirrer f that stirs ink, and is housed in a thermostatic chamber g so that the ink temperature in the tank is always constant.

  In FIG. 1 showing this prior art, the ink supply pressure detected by the pressure sensor h provided in the ink supply system d is fed back to the pump b through the control unit i, and the pump rotation speed is made constant. It controls to become. Further, excess ink discharged from the pump b is circulated to the ink tank a through the adjustment valve k. A density meter m is attached to the ink tank a, the ink in the tank is sampled at a certain interval, the density is detected, and the signal is input to the control unit n. The control unit n compares the ink density with the reference density set in advance, and the ink medium in the tank o is replenished to the ink tank a through the supply valve p in accordance with the density difference so that the ink density becomes the reference density. Yes. Here, ink droplets ejected from the nozzle head e and not used for printing are collected in the gutter q and returned to the ink tank a again by the pump s via the intermediate tank r. .

JP-A-7-117233

  In the above-described conventional ink supply device, the temperature of the ink in the ink tank a is controlled to a constant temperature by the thermostat g, but the ink supply path includes the pump b from the ink tank a to the ink nozzle e. The temperature of d was not controlled. The temperature-controlled ink in the ink tank is configured to be guided from the ink tank a to the ink supply path d only after the ink is ejected. The presence of untemperature-controlled ink in most of the ink supply path d causes ink that is not temperature-controlled to be supplied to the ink head, which causes non-uniform ink ejection. It was.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an ink jet recording apparatus capable of solving the above-described conventional problems by enabling ejection of temperature-controlled ink from the start of printing when ink ejection from an ink head is started. In the ink supply device in the ink jet recording apparatus, the configuration is such that the temperature-controlled ink is supplied to the ink chamber of the nozzle head. Ink supplied to the ink chamber by constantly supplying the temperature-controlled ink to the ink chamber and connecting an ink return path with an open / close valve to the ink chamber and opening the open / close valve In the ink return path.

  In the ink supply apparatus, the downstream side of the ink return path is connected to the main tank of the ink supply apparatus, and the ink that has flowed out of the ink return path is returned to the main tank side.

  According to the present invention, in a state where ink is not ejected from the nozzle head of the ink jet recording apparatus, that is, in a standby state of the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink return path opening / closing valve is opened to supply the ink to the ink chamber of the nozzle head. Ink can flow out via this ink return path.

  Therefore, by opening the on-off valve even in the standby state of the ink jet recording apparatus, the temperature-controlled ink is circulated into the ink chamber of the nozzle head. By closing the on-off valve, the temperature-controlled ink can be discharged from the nozzle head from the start of printing in this printing state, and the printed matter at this time will be stable from the start of printing, causing streaks and unevenness. A stable print quality can be produced, and the paper loss rate can be reduced.

  In addition, since the apparatus of the present application is simply configured to connect an ink return path having an open / close valve to the ink chamber of the nozzle head as compared with the prior art, the apparatus is simple and the control cost can be reduced. Maintenance is also easy.

  Further, by returning the ink flowing out from the ink return path to the main tank, the temperature of the ink flowing out from the ink return path can be controlled together with the ink in the main tank, and the ink flowing out from the ink return path can be managed. It can be done easily.

  FIG. 2 is a circuit showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a head box of the ink jet recording apparatus. A large number (30) of ink nozzles 2 are provided downward in the head box 1, and each ink nozzle 2 has an ink supply path 4 connected to an ink chamber 3 provided connected to each ink nozzle 2. The ink supplied via the head is ejected by the operation of a driving device such as a piezo element (electromechanical conversion element), and predetermined printing is performed on a sheet (recording material) that runs along the lower surface of the head box 1. It has become.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a purge cap that is sized to cover the ink head 2 of the head box 1, and the purge cap 5 is in a standby state of the ink jet recording apparatus in a state where the head box 1 is moved to the maintenance position and the bottom surface thereof. The ink adhering to the ink head 2 is purged. Reference numeral 6 denotes the purge pump, and reference numeral 7 denotes an intermediate tank for temporarily storing the purged ink.

  In addition to an ink supply path 4 for supplying ink to the ink chamber 3 of the head box 1, an ink return path 8 is connected. The ink return path 8 is connected to the intermediate tank 7 via an opening / closing valve 9. It is connected to the.

  In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a main tank for storing ink replenished from the ink pack 11, and the main tank 10 is provided with a thermostatic device 12 for keeping the ink in the main tank 10 at a predetermined temperature. ing. The thermostatic device 12 includes a thermostatic chamber 12a that surrounds the main tank 10, and a fluid temperature adjusting and circulating device 13 that circulates and supplies a fluid heated or cooled to a predetermined temperature to the thermostatic chamber 12a.

  Further, a deaeration device 14 for removing bubbles in the ink in the main tank 10 is connected to the main tank 10 via reciprocating paths 14a and 14b. A control valve 15 and a pump 16 are interposed in the forward path 14a, and a three-way valve 17 is interposed in the return path 14b.

  The main tank 10 is provided with a liquid level gauge 18, and a control valve 19 is opened according to a detection value of the liquid level gauge 18, and ink from the ink pack 11 passes through the filter 20 and enters a predetermined amount in the main tank 10. It comes to be replenished.

  In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a back pressure tank disposed between the main tank 10 and the head box 1, to which the ink supply path 4 of the head box 1 is connected. The main tank 10 and the back pressure tank 21 are connected via a pump 22, a filter 23, and a solenoid valve 24. The back pressure tank 21 is provided with a liquid level sensor 25. The pump 22 is operated by a detection signal of the liquid level sensor 25 so that the liquid level in the back pressure tank 21 is always kept constant. It has become. The back pressure tank 21 is also provided with a deaeration device 26.

  In the figure, reference numeral 27 denotes a return tank. The intermediate tank 7 is connected to the inflow side of the return tank 27 through a filter 28 and a pump 29. The return tank 27 is connected to the outflow side of a three-way valve 17 interposed in the return path 14b of the deaeration device 14 connected to the main tank 10.

  The return tank 27 is provided with a temperature sensor 30 and a stirring device 31. And it is connected to the diluent tank 33 through the electromagnetic valve 32, and a diluent is supplied as needed.

  In the above configuration, the ink in the main tank 10 is maintained at a predetermined temperature by the thermostatic device 12 provided for the ink. Then, the ink in the main tank 10 is supplied to the back pressure tank 21 by the pump 22, and at the time of printing, the ink from the back pressure tank 21 is ejected from the nozzle head 2 by the action of the piezoelectric element, and printing is performed. The ink in the back pressure tank 21 is detected by the liquid level sensor 25, and is supplied by the pump 22 according to the amount of consumption thereof, and is always kept at a constant liquid level.

  In this way, the ink ejected from the ink nozzles 2 during printing is supplied with ink controlled to a predetermined temperature in the main tank 10 via the back pressure tank 21 and streaks and unevenness on the paper. Printing without any problem.

  The ink supply pressure to the ink chamber 3 of the ink nozzle 2 at this time is obtained by adjusting the height of the back pressure tank 21 and the pressure generated by the water head pressure difference with the nozzle head 2 and the capillary phenomenon. Therefore, the ink supply pressure to the ink chamber 3 of the ink nozzle 2 is the same as that during printing even in a standby state including when printing is suspended. Note that the on-off valve 9 of the ink return path 8 is closed during the printing.

  When cleaning the nozzle head 2 in the printing standby state, the head box 1 is moved to the maintenance position, and the purge cap 5 is attracted to the nozzle head 2 at this position to purge the ink remaining in the nozzle head 2. It is suctioned by the pump 6 and cleaned for a predetermined time. The suction ink at this time is temporarily stored in the intermediate tank 7.

  In addition, since the ink supply pressure from the back pressure tank 21 acts on the ink chamber 3 of the nozzle head 2 as described above even in the print standby state including the rest of printing other than during the cleaning, at this time When the on-off valve 9 of the ink return path 8 is opened, the ink in the ink chamber 3 flows down to the intermediate tank 7 via the ink return path 8 in a so-called dripping manner. Accordingly, the ink whose temperature is controlled by the main tank 1 is always circulated to the ink chamber 3 of the ink head 2 even in a print standby state including when printing is suspended.

  The ink temporarily stored in the intermediate tank 7 is returned to the return tank 27 by the pump 29, where it is diluted with the diluent supplied from the diluent tank 33 and stirred by the stirring device 31. The ink in the return tank 27 is returned to the main tank 10 while being deaerated through the deaerator 14 from the three-way valve 17 in the return path 14b of the deaerator 14 of the main tank 10.

  In order to change from the standby state including when the printing is suspended to the printing state, the on-off valve 9 of the ink return path 8 is closed and ink is ejected from the nozzle head 2 in synchronization with the travel of the paper.

  At this time, since the ink whose temperature was controlled in the main tank 10 was flowing in the ink chamber 3 of the nozzle head 2 until immediately before the start of printing, the ink was immediately discharged from the nozzle head 2 at the start of printing. Therefore, ink whose temperature is controlled is used at the start of printing.

  As described above, the temperature-controlled ink in the main tank 10 can always flow into the ink chamber 3 of the nozzle head 2 that is in a standby state including when printing is suspended. In addition, the temperature-controlled ink is discharged from the start of printing, and stable printing is performed without changing the ink droplet amount from the start of printing.

It is a circuit diagram which shows a prior art example. It is a circuit diagram which shows an example of the apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Head box, 2 ... Nozzle head, 3 ... Ink chamber, 4 ... Ink supply circuit, 5 ... Purge cap, 6 ... Purge pump, 7 ... Intermediate tank, 8 ... Ink return path, 9 ... Open / close valve, 10 ... Main Tank, 11 ... Ink pack, 12 ... Constant temperature device, 12a ... Constant temperature chamber, 13 ... Fluid temperature control circulation device, 14, 26 ... Deaeration device, 14a, 14b ... Reciprocating path, 15, 19 ... Control valve, 16, 22 , 29 ... Pump, 17 ... 3-way valve, 18 ... Liquid level gauge, 20, 23, 28 ... Filter, 21 ... Back pressure tank, 25 ... Liquid level sensor, 27 ... Return tank, 30 ... Temperature sensor, 31 ... Stirring Apparatus, 32 ... Solenoid valve, 33 ... Diluent tank.

Claims (2)

In an ink supply apparatus in an ink jet recording apparatus that supplies ink controlled in temperature by a thermostat to an ink chamber of a nozzle head,
The temperature controlled ink is always supplied to the ink chamber of the nozzle head, and the ink return path is connected to the ink chamber with an on / off valve, and the on / off valve is opened to supply the ink chamber. An ink supply device in an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink discharged is allowed to flow out from an ink return path. 2. The ink supply device in an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a downstream side of the ink return path is connected to a main tank of the ink supply apparatus, and ink that has flowed out of the ink return path is returned to the main tank side. .

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