JP2006159857A - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet printer which catches ink by flushing with a simple formation. <P>SOLUTION: The inkjet printer which performs printing while an ink head and an irradiation means move comprises: an opening which opens at a flushing domain separating from the domain where printing is performed to a medium and in which the discharging port of an ink head unit located in the flushing domain is located; and also a main body having a hollow internal space extended in a predetermined direction; a blower means arranged to the end of one side of the main body which generates an air current going from the end of one side of the main body to the end of another side of the main body; a catching means arranged at the end of another side of the main body which catches the ink discharged from the discharging port of the ink head unit located in the opening of the main body; and a guide member arranged in the internal space of the main body which accelerates the flow velocity of the air current generated by the blower means to form a space generating the negative-pressure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet printer, and more specifically, an ink jet suitable for printing on a medium such as recording paper by numerical control, for example, color printing at high speed and high resolution. -Regarding printers.

  In this specification, the term “medium” refers to various recording media such as plain paper and various recording media such as resin materials such as PVC and polyester, and materials such as aluminum, iron, and wood. Material shall be included.

  Further, in this specification, the “ink-jet method” is conventionally known, including various continuous methods such as a binary deflection method or a continuous deflection method, and various on-demand methods such as a thermal method or a piezoelectric element method. This means a printing method based on the ink jet technology based on the various methods described above.

  Conventionally, the entire operation is controlled by a micro computer, and the width direction of the recording paper (in this specification, the width direction of the recording paper is referred to as “main scanning direction” on the recording paper supplied by the paper feeding device. Ink jet printers are known in which predetermined printing is performed by an ink jet method using an ink head that is moved as described above.

  In such an ink jet printer, an ink jet nozzle serving as an ejection port when ink is ejected by an ink jet method is provided in the ink head. In the ink jet printer, in order to maintain the good operation state of the ink jet nozzle and maintain the quality of the printing result, the ink jet nozzle ejects ink when printing is not performed. In other words, so-called flushing is performed.

  Specifically, FIG. 1A is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional ink jet printer.

  The ink-jet printer 200 includes an ink-jet nozzle 204 and is disposed on the recording paper 300 by the ink head 202 and is movably disposed along the main scanning direction. And a flushing mechanism 206 disposed in the flushing area located outside the printing area.

  Here, both the print area and the flushing area are located on a moving path along which the ink head 202 moves in the main scanning direction. In the print area, the recording paper 300 is supplied by the paper feeding device. Printing is performed by ejecting ink from the ink jet nozzle 204 onto the recording paper 300. On the other hand, in the flushing area, when the ink head 202 does not perform printing, the ink head 202 moves along the main scanning direction and comes out of the printing area (see the state shown in FIG. 1B). Ink is ejected from the jet nozzle 204 for printing purposes.

  The flushing mechanism 206 disposed in such a flushing region includes a porous member 208 made of sponge or the like, and the porous member 208 is disposed with the ink jet nozzle 204 of the ink head 202. The ink is disposed so as to have a predetermined interval W (see FIG. 1B) from the ink ejection side 202a.

  When the ink head 202 moves to the flushing area and ejects ink when printing is not performed, the ink meniscus state in the ink jet nozzle 204 is adjusted, and the ink in the ink jet nozzle 204 is clogged. Thus, the ink jet nozzle 204 is maintained in a good operating state. At this time, the ink ejected from the ink jet nozzle 204 falls on the porous member 208 of the flushing mechanism 206 and is adsorbed and collected (see FIG. 1B).

  On the other hand, in addition to the flushing mechanism 206 having the porous member 208 as described above, a flushing mechanism 210 having many protruding plates 212 as shown in FIG. 2 has also been proposed.

  The flushing mechanism 210 includes a housing 214 that extends from the opening 214 a and forms a long path 216 that is folded back at the bent portion 214 b, a number of protruding plates 212 that are disposed on the inner peripheral side of the housing 214, and a path 216. The fan 218 is disposed at the end 216a, and the filter 220 is disposed in front of the fan 218.

  The flushing mechanism 210 is disposed in the flushing area in place of the above-described flushing mechanism 206 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B). The ink ejected from the ink head 202 when printing is not performed in the flushing region rides on the airflow (see the arrow in FIG. 2) generated in the path 216 of the casing 214 by driving the fan 218, and the casing It is carried from the opening 214 a of 214 toward the end 216 a of the path 216. At this time, ink droplets, mist ink, and the like are collected in contact with a number of protruding plates 212 located in the middle of the path 216. Further, even if the ink in the airflow reaches the vicinity of the end 216 a of the path 216, it is collected by the filter 220.

  By the way, in the conventional ink-jet printer 200, even if ink is collected by flushing using the flushing mechanism 206 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B) provided with the porous member 208, the ink- Since the ink simply drops on the porous member 208 disposed at a predetermined interval W from the ink ejection side 202a of the head 202, the dropped ink bounces off and scatters on the porous member 208. There is a risk that the ink may be wound up by wind pressure generated by movement of the ink head 202 or the like.

  Therefore, the conventional ink jet printer 200 has a problem that the ink discharged from the ink head 202 by the flushing cannot be reliably collected by the flushing mechanism 206 including the porous member 208. there were.

  In recent years, UV inks that are cured with ultraviolet rays have been used as inks for printing on recording paper in ink jet printers. When using ink having the property of solidifying or thickening by such irradiated light, ultraviolet light is irradiated to cure the UV ink discharged from the ink jet nozzle 204 onto the recording paper 300. It is.

  For this reason, there is a possibility that the ultraviolet ray irradiated to cure the UV ink may be irradiated to the porous member 208 of the flushing mechanism 206 of the ink jet printer 200.

  When the porous member 208 of the flushing mechanism 206 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the UV ink discharged from the ink jet nozzle 204 by the flushing and dropped and adsorbed to the porous member 208 is absorbed into the porous member 208. In this case, the ink collecting ability of the porous member 208 is lowered and the subsequent ink adsorption is hindered.

  As a result, in the conventional ink-jet printer 200, even when UV ink is used, the flushing mechanism 206 including the porous member 208 ensures that the UV ink discharged from the ink head 202 is flushed. There was a problem that it could not be collected.

  Further, if the ink ejected from the ink head 202 by the flushing mechanism 206 including the porous member 208 is not collected reliably, the ink scattered without being collected is not collected in the ink jet printer 200. It adheres to other configurations or diffuses to the outside of the ink jet printer 200. As a result, in the ink-jet printer 200, the recording paper 300 is soiled by the ink from the flushing, the internal configuration of the ink-jet printer 200 or the installation location outside thereof is contaminated, and printing is performed. The problem of quality degradation is invited.

  On the other hand, in the conventional ink-jet printer 200, even if ink collected by the flushing is collected by the flushing mechanism 210 (see FIG. 2) having the protruding plate 212, the ink that is carried in the air flow in the housing 214. In order to reliably collect the light, the entire length of the path 216 has to be increased, and the entire flushing mechanism is increased in size.

  Further, in order to reliably collect the ink carried in the air flow in the housing 214, a large number of protruding plates 212 must be alternately arranged, and the configuration for flushing is very complicated. There was a problem of becoming.

  In addition, in the conventional ink jet printer 200, ink that reaches the vicinity of the end 216a of the path 216 in the air current is collected by the filter 220. However, the filter 220 is arranged in the subsequent stage. It is an air filter that allows air to pass so as not to prevent the generation of airflow by the installed fan 218. For this reason, there is a possibility that the ink mist formed by the air flow generated by the fan 218 may pass through the filter 220, and the ink adheres to the fan 218 disposed at the subsequent stage of the filter 220 and is easily damaged. There was a problem that it was necessary to exchange.

  The prior art that the applicant of the present application knows at the time of filing a patent is as described above and is not an invention related to a known literature, so there is no prior art information to be described.

  The present invention has been made in view of the various problems of the conventional techniques as described above, and its object is to collect ink by flushing with a simple configuration and to collect ink. Therefore, an ink jet printer in which the deterioration of the ink is not reduced is provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises an ink head including an ink head unit that ejects predetermined ink onto a medium by an ink jet method, and the ink head. The medium by the ink ejected from the ink head unit while the light irradiating means for irradiating the ink ejected from the head unit onto the medium is integrally moved relative to the medium. In the ink jet printer that performs printing on the ink head, the ink is ejected from the ejection port of the ink head unit of the ink head and opens in the flushing area outside the area where printing is performed on the medium. The ink head unit located in the flushing area has an opening where the ejection port is located, and has a predetermined A main body having a hollow internal space extending along a direction, and an end on one side of the main body, and an end on one side of the main body in the internal space of the main body A blowing means for generating an air flow toward the other end of the main body, and the ink head disposed at the end of the main body and located at the opening of the main body A collecting means for collecting the ink discharged from the discharge port of the unit; and a flow velocity of the air flow that is disposed in the internal space of the main body portion and is generated in the internal space of the main body portion by the blowing means. And a guide member that forms a space for generating a negative pressure.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the ink head comprising an ink head unit that ejects predetermined ink onto a medium by an ink jet method moves on the medium while moving the ink head. In an ink jet printer that prints on the medium by ejecting ink from the ejection port of the head unit, the whole is formed in a substantially box-like body, and is ejected from the ejection port of the ink head unit of the ink head. An opening is provided in a flushing region that is out of a region where ink is discharged and printing is performed on a medium, and an opening is provided in which the discharge port of the ink head unit located in the flushing region is located, A main body having a hollow internal space extending along the direction of the main body, and an end on one side of the main body. Blower means for generating an air flow from one end of the main body to the other end of the main body in the internal space, and disposed on the other end of the main body, A collecting means for collecting ink ejected from the ejection opening of the ink head unit located in the opening of the main body, and the whole main body extending in a substantially plate shape; One end is locked in the vicinity of the opening between the air blowing means and the opening in and the other end is disposed between the opening and the collecting means in the internal space of the main body. And a guide member formed.

  Moreover, the invention according to claim 3 of the present invention is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the guide member is formed in a substantially plate shape as a whole, and the air blowing means and the opening of the body portion An end portion on one side is disposed between the engaging portion facing the opening of the main body portion, and an end portion on the other side of the engaging portion is extended to face a part of the main body portion. And an extension part that divides a part of the internal space of the main body part to form a space of a predetermined size, and the main body along the flow of airflow generated in the internal space of the main body part The inner diameter of the part is narrowed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the third aspect, an angle formed by the locking portion of the guide member and the extending portion is substantially a right angle, and the extending portion The part is opposed in parallel to a part of the main body part, and the guide member is extended in a direction perpendicular to the flow of airflow generated in the internal space of the main body part so as to contact the main body part. Is.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the invention according to any one of the second, third, and fourth aspects, wherein the ink head unit is ejected from the ink head unit. The ink to be used is UV ink, and has an ultraviolet lamp for irradiating ultraviolet light to the UV ink ejected from the ink head unit onto the medium.

  The ink jet printer according to the present invention collects ink by flushing with a simple configuration, and has an excellent effect that the ink collecting ability does not decrease.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of an ink jet printer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of an embodiment of an ink jet printer according to the present invention. The ink jet printer 100 is supported by a base member 112 and is subjected to main scanning. A fixed base member 114 extended in the direction, side members 116L and 116R arranged orthogonally to the base member 114 at the left and right ends of the base member 114, and the side member 116R side. A side unit 118 provided, a central wall 120 connecting the two left and right side members 116L and 116R, a guide rail 122 extending on the wall surface of the central wall 120 in the main scanning direction, A wire 124 movably disposed in the main scanning direction parallel to the wall surface of the wall 120, and fixedly disposed on the wire 124 and slidably mounted on the guide rail 122. The holder 126, the ink head 128 and the ultraviolet lamp 130 disposed in the holder 126 so as to face the recording paper 300 on the base member 114, and the flushing mechanism 10 disposed in the side unit 118. And is configured.

  The overall operation of the ink jet printer 100 is controlled by a microcomputer (not shown).

  Also in the ink jet printer 100, the recording paper 300 is used as the medium. In the ink jet printer 100 according to the present invention, the recording paper 300 is supplied onto the base member 114 by a paper feeding device (not shown) (see the recording paper 300 indicated by a broken line in FIGS. 3 and 4). The recording paper 300 has a predetermined length in the main scanning direction which is the width direction, and is conveyed in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, that is, a longitudinal direction of the recording paper. The direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction (that is, the recording paper conveyance direction and the recording paper longitudinal direction) is hereinafter referred to as “sub-scanning direction”.

  Here, the ink head 128 is configured by a plurality of ink head units 132 having the same configuration, and detailed illustration is omitted, but the lower surface 132a of the plurality of ink head units 132 is provided on the lower surface 132a. A plurality of ink jet nozzles 134 (see FIG. 6) are provided as ejection openings for ejecting ink onto the recording paper 300, respectively.

  Each of the plurality of ink head units 132 of the ink head 128 includes a plurality of ink cartridges (not shown) that store liquid inks of different colors disposed in the side unit 118. Are supplied with different colors of ink through ink tubes (not shown).

  Here, the liquid ink contained in each of a plurality of ink cartridges (not shown) is UV ink that is cured by ultraviolet rays, and each of the plurality of ink head units 132 is conveyed by an ink tube (not shown). Further, different colors of UV ink are ejected onto the recording paper 300 by the ink-jet method.

  The ink head 128 constituted by such a plurality of ink head units 132 has a plurality of ink head units 132 arranged in a line along the main scanning direction, and the ink jet units of the ink head units 132 are arranged. The nozzle 134 is fixedly disposed on the holder 126 so as to be able to face the recording paper 300 on the base member 114.

  The ultraviolet lamp 130 is a light irradiation unit that irradiates the UV ink discharged onto the recording paper 300 with ultraviolet rays and cures it. When UV ink is ejected from the ink jet nozzle 134 of the ink head unit 132 toward the recording paper 300 by the ink jet method, the ejected droplets of the UV ink fall onto the recording paper 300. However, the UV lamp 130 irradiates ultraviolet rays to the UV ink droplets falling on the recording paper 300, and the UV ink droplets are cured on the recording paper 300, thus. Printing is performed on the recording paper 300.

  The ultraviolet lamp 130 is fixedly disposed on the holder 126 adjacent to the left side of the ink head 128. That is, it is adjacent to the left side of the ink head unit 132 arranged on the leftmost side in the main scanning direction among the plurality of ink head units 132 arranged in a line along the main scanning direction. The ultraviolet lamps 130 are fixedly arranged on the holder 126 along with the ink head 128 in a line along the main scanning direction.

  Here, the holder 126 fixedly disposed on the wire 124 moves along the movement of the wire 124 when the wire 124 is wound up by a driving device (not shown) such as a motor and moved in the main scanning direction. It moves in the main scanning direction along the wall surface of the central wall 120.

  Therefore, the ink head 128 and the ultraviolet lamp 130 fixedly disposed on the holder 126 also move on the recording paper 300 in the main scanning direction as the holder 126 moves. That is, it moves in the main scanning direction from the side member 116R side to the side member 116L side, and also moves in the return direction in the main scanning direction from the side member 116L side to the side member 116R side.

  As described above, the holder 126 moves in the main scanning direction, but at a predetermined timing, the holder 126 moves in the return direction to move away from the print area E1 and to perform flushing in the side unit 118. Stay in area E2. At this time, the ink head 128 disposed in the holder 126 is controlled so as to be positioned in the flushing area E2 in the side unit 118 (see the state shown in FIG. 4).

  Similar to the print area E1, the flushing area E2 is located on a moving path along which the ink head 128 and the ultraviolet lamp 130 move along the main scanning direction as the holder 126 moves. Yes. More specifically, the flushing area E2 is positioned so as to be adjacent to the right side of the right end E1-R of the print area E1.

  A flushing mechanism 10 for flushing the ink head 128 is disposed in the side unit 118 in which the ink head 128 waits by the holder 126 remaining in the flushing area E2.

  FIG. 5 shows an explanatory diagram centering on the flushing mechanism of the ink-jet printer of FIG. 3 corresponding to the A arrow view shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 shows the flushing shown in FIG. The explanatory view corresponding to the BB line sectional view of a mechanism is shown.

  The flushing mechanism 10 includes a main body 12 that is formed in a substantially box-like body and includes an opening 12 h, a guide member 14 that is disposed near the opening 12 h of the main body 12, and one of the main body 12. A fan 16 serving as a blowing means disposed at an end portion on the side and a filter 18 serving as a collecting means disposed at an end portion on the other side of the main body portion 12 are configured.

  More specifically, the main body portion 12 is formed in a substantially box-like body as a whole, and has a substantially rectangular bottom surface portion 12a, a front surface portion 12b erected from an edge of the bottom surface portion 12a, a back surface portion 12c, There are a left side surface portion 12d and a right side surface portion 12e, and a front surface portion 12b, a back surface portion 12c, a left side surface portion 12d, and an upper surface portion 12f located at the upper end of the right side surface portion 12e and facing the bottom surface portion 12a. A hollow internal space 12g is formed by the six side walls 12a, the front surface portion 12b, the back surface portion 12c, the left side surface portion 12d, the right side surface portion 12e, and the upper surface portion 12f.

  Further, a hole 12bb is formed in the front portion 12b of the main body 12, and the fan 16 can be attached to the hole 12bb. On the other hand, a hole 12 cc is also formed in the back surface portion 12 c of the main body portion 12. The air flow in the internal space 12g is ensured by the hole 12bb and the hole 12cc formed at positions opposed to each other in the main body portion 12.

  The main body 12 faces the flushing area E2 in the side unit 118 so that the left side surface portion 12d faces the side member 116L in parallel and the right side surface portion 12e faces the side member 116R in parallel. (See FIG. 4). Accordingly, the front surface portion 12b of the main body portion 12 is located on the front side in the sub-scanning direction, the back surface portion 12c is located on the rear side in the sub-scanning direction, the upper surface portion 12f is located on the upper side in the height direction, and the bottom surface portion. 12a is positioned on the lower side in the height direction, and the hollow internal space 12g of the main body 12 is extended along the sub-scanning direction.

  The arrangement position along the height direction of the main body 12 is such that the upper surface portion 12f is spaced from the lower surfaces 132a of the plurality of ink head units 132 of the ink head 128 in the flushing area E2 (FIG. 6). Reference) is set. Thus, various dimensions are set so that the ink head 128 and the ultraviolet lamp 130 that move in the main scanning direction on the recording paper 300 in accordance with the movement of the holder 126 do not come into contact with the flushing mechanism 10.

  Further, the position where the opening 12h is opened in the upper surface portion 12f is the ink ejection side of the plurality of ink head units 132 of the ink head 128 located in the flushing area E2, that is, the plurality of ink heads. The dimensions are set so as to be regions immediately below the ink jet nozzles 134 respectively disposed on the lower surface 132a of the unit 132 (see FIG. 6). The size of the opening 12h is set to correspond to the plurality of ink head units 132 arranged in a line along the main scanning direction of the ink head 128.

  The guide member 14 is a substantially plate-like body as a whole, and has an engaging portion 14a having a smooth surface and an extending portion having a smooth surface extending from an end portion 14b on one side of the engaging portion 14a. 14c. An angle α (see FIG. 6) formed by the locking portion 14a and the extending portion 14c is set to 90 ° or more, and can be set to approximately 135 °, for example.

  The guide member 14 is configured so that the locking portion 14a faces the opening 12h of the main body portion 12 and the extending portion 14c faces the bottom surface portion 12a of the main body portion 12 in parallel. The other end 14d is fixedly attached to the upper surface 12f in the vicinity of the opening 12h and disposed on the main body 12. That is, the end portion 14d that is one end of the guide member 14 is an opening between the fan 16 and the opening portion 12h in the main body portion 12 along the sub-scanning direction that coincides with the direction in which the hollow internal space 12g is extended. The end portion 14 e that is locked in the vicinity of the portion 12 h and is the other end of the guide member 14 is disposed between the opening portion 12 h and the filter 18 in the internal space 12 g of the main body portion 12.

  Here, a length L4 (see FIG. 6) between the extending portion 14c of the guide member 14 and the bottom surface portion 12a of the main body portion 12 facing each other is determined by the top surface portion 12f and the bottom surface portion 12a of the main body portion 12. It is shorter than the total length L3 along the height direction of the main body 12 that is the distance between the two, and a narrow space 12k partitioned by the guide member 14 is formed in a part of the hollow internal space 12g of the main body 12. . That is, the hollow internal space 12g extended along the sub-scanning direction by the guide member 14 is directed from the front side to the rear side in the sub-scanning direction, that is, from the front part 12b of the main body part 12 to the back part 12c. The inner diameter of the main body 12 is narrowed toward the head.

  The various dimensions shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are, for example, the total length L1 along the main scanning direction of the main body 12 that is the distance between the left side 12d and the right side 12e of the main body 12 facing each other. The total length L2 along the sub-scanning direction of the main body 12 which is a distance between the front surface 12b and the back surface 12c facing each other is approximately 250 mm, and the top surface 12f and the bottom surface 12a facing each other The total length L3 along the height direction of the main body 12 which is the distance between them can be about 60 mm.

  In this embodiment, the total length of the main body 12 along the main scanning direction, that is, the total length L1 of the flushing mechanism 10 along the main scanning direction is substantially the same as the total length of the ink head 128 along the main scanning direction. In other words, the flushing mechanism 10 does not protrude from the region immediately below the ink head 128 in the main scanning direction.

  The distance W between the upper surface portion 12f of the main body portion 12 and the lower surface 132a of the plurality of ink head units 132 of the ink head 128 located in the flushing area E2 is about 3 mm. The total length L7 along the main scanning direction of the opening 12h can be about 25 mm, and the total length L8 along the sub-scanning direction of the opening 12h can be about 40 mm.

  Further, the total length L5 along the main scanning direction of the guide member 14 can be set to about 40 mm, and the total length L6 along the sub-scanning direction of the guide member 14 can be set to about 70 mm. The portion 14e does not contact the back surface portion 12c of the main body portion 12, the left side end portion 14L does not contact the left side surface portion 12d of the main body portion 12, and the right side end portion 14R does not contact the main body portion 12. The dimensions are set so as not to contact the right side surface portion 12e (see FIG. 5). The length L4, which is the distance between the extended portion 14c of the guide member 14 and the bottom surface portion 12a of the main body portion 12, can be about 20 mm to 30 mm.

For example, the fan 16 having a size of about 60 mm × 25 mm and 3200 rpm and a generated negative pressure of 1 mmH ₂ O can be used, and is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the front portion 12 b of the main body portion 12. The wind pressure of the fan 16 reaches the internal space 12g of the main body portion 12 through a hole 12bb formed in the front portion 12b in which the fan 16 is disposed.

  The filter 18 is formed of, for example, a porous material such as sponge, and is disposed on the back surface portion 12 c of the main body portion 12.

  The fan 16 disposed on the outer peripheral side of the front surface portion 12b and the filter 18 of the main body portion 12 disposed on the back surface portion 12c have a distance between the front surface portion 12b and the back surface portion 12c facing each other. 12 has a total length L2 along the sub-scanning direction, and is therefore located away from the end on one side and the end on the other side of the main body 12.

  The case where printing is performed on the recording paper 300 using the ink jet printer 100 in the above configuration will be described.

  When the wire 124 moves due to the winding of the wire 124, the ink head 128 and the ultraviolet lamp 130 mounted on the holder 126 are moved to the base member 114 by the paper feeding device (not shown) as the wire 124 moves. The recording paper 300 fed up is reciprocally moved integrally in the forward direction and the return direction in the main scanning direction.

  At this time, the ink head 128 ejects the UV ink conveyed by the ink tube toward the recording paper 300 from each of the ink jet nozzles 134 of the plurality of ink head units 132. Then, the droplets of the UV ink ejected from the ink head 128 fall to a predetermined position on the recording paper 300, and the droplets of the UV ink dropped on the recording paper 300 are irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamp 130. It is cured and printed.

  At a predetermined timing, the holder 126 on which the ink head 128 and the ultraviolet lamp 130 are placed moves in the return direction, moves out of the print area E1, and moves into the side unit 118. It comes to be located in the area E2 (refer FIG. 4 and FIG. 6). In the flushing area E2, the flushing mechanism 10 is located on the ink ejection side of the ink head 128.

  Note that the predetermined timing at which the ink head 128 moves to the flushing area E2 and is positioned above the flushing mechanism 10 is controlled by a microcomputer (not shown). It is set to a predetermined cycle of every reciprocation along the main scanning direction. At this time, the flushing area E2 is positioned so as to be adjacent to the right side of the end E1-R of the print area E1 (see FIG. 4), so that the ink head 128 makes one reciprocation during printing. The distance to move to the flushing area E2 each time is short and there is little time loss.

  The main body 12 of the flushing mechanism 10 is directly below the ink jet nozzles 134 respectively disposed on the lower surfaces 132a of the plurality of ink head units 132 of the ink head 128 located in the flushing area E2. With the opening 12 h positioned (see the state shown in FIG. 6), a predetermined amount of ink is ejected from each of the ink jet nozzles 134 for flushing.

  At this time, in the flushing mechanism 10 in which the ink head 128 is positioned on the upper side, the fan 16 is driven by the driving force of a driving device (not shown) such as a motor, and the wind pressure is changed to the hole 12bb of the front portion 12b. It reaches the internal space 12g via The air pressure along the sub-scanning direction from the front surface portion 12b toward the back surface portion 12c is generated in the internal space 12g of the main body portion 12 by the wind pressure of the fan 16. The air flow generated in the internal space 12g has a high flow velocity in the narrow space 12k formed by the guide member 14, and generates negative pressure.

  In FIG. 6, the airflow generated in the internal space 12 g of the main body 12 is indicated by an arrow.

  Thus, in the internal space 12g of the main body 12, negative pressure is generated by the venturi effect in the space 12k that is a part of the internal space 12g together with the airflow from the front surface 12b to the back surface 12c, so that the ink facing the opening 12h The ink ejected from the jet nozzle 134 is easily drawn into the internal space 12g from the opening 12h, and from the locking portion 14a of the guide member 14 positioned opposite to the opening 12h and the locking portion 14a. It is guided by the extended portion 14c that is extended, and is carried on an airflow from the front side to the rear side in the sub-scanning direction.

  At this time, depending on the amount of ink ejected by flushing, etc., even if a small amount of ink falls to the locking portion 14a of the guide member 14 due to its own weight, the end portion of the extended portion 14c is caught by the guide member 14 It is carried on the air current from 14e.

  Then, when the ink carried in the airflow in the internal space 12g of the main body 12 reaches the back surface 12c side located on the most rear side in the sub-scanning direction of the main body 12, the ink is disposed on the back surface 12c. Collected by the filter 18.

  In this way, when the ink head 128 does not perform printing, such as after the ink head 128 makes one reciprocation along the main scanning direction during printing, the ink head 128 moves along the main scanning direction and prints. The ink jet nozzle 134 ejects ink instead of the printing purpose by coming out of the area E1 and positioned in the flushing area E2. By this flushing operation, the ink meniscus state in the ink jet nozzle 134 is adjusted, recovery is achieved by preventing clogging of the ink in the ink jet nozzle 134, and the ink jet nozzle 134. A good operation state can be maintained, and the ink jet printer 100 can obtain a high-quality printing result, for example, by preventing color mixing of various colors.

  As described above, in the ink jet printer 100 according to the present invention, the flushing mechanism 10 having the main body portion 12 in which the guide member 14 is provided is provided. A negative pressure is generated in the space 12k of the space 12g, and the ink ejected from the ink jet nozzle 134 by the flushing can be collected.

  More specifically, in the ink jet printer 100 according to the present invention, the ink ejected from the ink jet nozzle 134 by the flushing operation is generated from the front surface 12b generated by the wind pressure of the fan 16 of the flushing mechanism 10 from the back surface. The airflow toward the portion 12 c and the negative pressure in the space 12 k are easily drawn into the internal space 12 g from the opening 12 h, guided by the guide member 14, carried on the airflow, and collected by the filter 18.

  That is, the ink jet printer 100 according to the present invention uses the air current in the flushing mechanism 10 to collect the ink by the flushing, and the conventional ink jet printer described in the above “Background Art” section. Like the 200 flushing mechanism 206 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B), the ink is not simply dropped onto the porous member 208.

  For this reason, according to the present invention, the ink that simply falls according to gravity rebounds on the porous member 208 and scatters, or the ink is wound up by wind pressure or the like generated by the movement of the ink head 202. Absent. Therefore, the ink jet printer 100 according to the present invention can reliably collect the ink by the flushing to the filter 18 by the air flow of the flushing mechanism 10 and the guidance by the guide member 14.

  Further, in the ink jet printer 100 according to the present invention, the flushing mechanism 10 is dimensioned so as not to protrude from the region immediately below the ink head 128 in the main scanning direction. The filter 18 that collects the ink is disposed inside the main body 12 and is disposed on the back surface 12c, so that the ink head 128 and the ultraviolet lamp 130 are moved along with the movement of the holder 126. It is located on the rear side in the sub-scanning direction deviated from the movement path that moves integrally.

  Therefore, in the ink jet printer 100 according to the present invention, the UV ink is used as described above, but the ink head 128 that moves along the main scanning direction stops in the flushing area E2. Even if the ultraviolet lamp 130 disposed in the holder 126 together with the ink head 128 is lit, the ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp 130 is irradiated to the flushing mechanism 10, particularly the filter 18 that collects ink. There is nothing. Therefore, according to the present invention, the UV ink absorbed and collected by the filter 18 formed of a porous material such as sponge is not cured in the filter 18, and the ink collecting ability of the filter 18 is Even when UV ink is used, ink by flushing can be reliably collected.

  The ink-jet printer 100 according to the present invention can reliably collect various inks by flushing by the flushing mechanism 10 regardless of whether or not UV ink is used. Can be prevented from adhering to other components in the ink jet printer 100 or being discharged to the outside of the ink jet printer 100, and contamination of the recording paper 300 and the ink jet printer 100 can be prevented. The print quality can be maintained by avoiding contamination of the internal configuration of the printer or the installation location outside the printer.

  In addition, the ink jet printer 100 according to the present invention is provided with the fan 16 and the filter 18 apart at both ends of the flushing mechanism 10, and the air flow from the front part 12 b to the back part 12 c generated by the wind pressure of the fan 16. Ink and the negative pressure in the space 12k can reliably collect ink by flushing. For this reason, the present invention provides a long path 216 and a large number of multiple channels for reliably collecting the ink of the flushing mechanism 210 (see FIG. 2) of the conventional ink jet printer 200 described in the above “Background Art” section. Ink can be collected efficiently without the need for the protruding plate 212, and the flushing mechanism 10 has a very simple configuration and is compact.

  Further, since the ink jet printer 100 according to the present invention is provided with the fan 16 and the filter 18 apart from both ends of the flushing mechanism 10, the ink jet printer 100 is carried on the airflow from the front surface portion 12b to the back surface portion 12c. Ink does not adhere to the fan 16 disposed on the front surface portion 12b, and the fan 16 is not damaged. In addition, since the fan 16 and the filter 18 are separately provided at both ends of the flushing mechanism 10, the configuration is excellent in workability such as maintenance and replacement.

  The embodiment described above may be modified as described in the following (1) to (9).

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, the main body 12 of the flushing mechanism 10 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped body, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the whole is substantially omitted. The body may be a cylindrical body having a hollow internal space, and the shape may be appropriately changed according to the arrangement position of the flushing mechanism 10 or the overall size.

  The total length of the main body 12 along the main scanning direction, that is, the total length L1 of the flushing mechanism 10 along the main scanning direction substantially matches the total length of the ink head 128 along the main scanning direction, or The ink head 128 can be dimensioned so as to be shorter or longer than the entire length in the main scanning direction, and may be appropriately changed according to various ink heads.

  Further, in order to adjust the state of airflow and negative pressure generated in the internal space 12g of the main body 12, a hole communicating with the outside other than the opening 12h and the holes 12bb and 12cc is formed, or The shape of the holes 12bb and 12cc may be changed, or the hole 12cc may be eliminated.

  Further, if the main body 12 of the flushing mechanism 10 is formed as a single box-like body as in the above-described embodiment, it is easy to assemble the flushing mechanism 10 into the ink jet printer 100. There is. However, when the arrangement space of the flushing mechanism 10 is small, a hollow internal space extended in a predetermined direction by the fixing system of the ink jet printer 100 is used instead of the main body 12 of the flushing mechanism 10. Even if the guide member 14, the fan 16, and the filter 18 are disposed at appropriate positions, the ink can be collected in the same manner as described above.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, depending on the type of ink to be used, the total amount of ink ejected during flushing, and the like, a discharge hole for discharging the ink collected by the flushing mechanism 10 to the outside, You may make it arrange | position a discharge pipe in the main-body part 12. FIG.

  In addition, an interposed member is attached to the outer peripheral side of the opening 12h facing the ink jet nozzle 134, or the shape of the upper surface portion 12f in the vicinity of the opening 12h is deformed to be discharged from the ink jet nozzle 134. The ink may be more reliably drawn into the internal space 12g from the opening 12h.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the angle α formed by the locking portion 14a and the extending portion 14c of the guide member 14 is about 135 °. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the angle α formed by the locking portion 14a and the extending portion 14c of the guide member 14 may be a right angle, or may be an arbitrary angle between about 90 ° and 135 °. The angle can be arbitrarily changed.

  Therefore, when the angle α formed by the locking portion 14a and the extending portion 14c is 180 °, that is, the guide member 14 is configured only by the locking portion 14a and faces the bottom surface portion 12a of the main body portion 12 in parallel. There may be no part. In short, the entire guide member is formed to extend substantially in a plate shape, and one end is locked in the vicinity of the opening 12h between the fan 16 and the opening 12h in the main body 12, and the other end is A space that is arranged between the opening 12h in the internal space 12g of the main body 12 and the filter 18 to increase the flow rate of the air flow generated in the internal space 12g of the main body 12 by the guide member and generate negative pressure. May be formed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the left end 14L of the guide member 14 does not contact the left side surface 12d of the main body 12, and the right end 14R is the right side 12e of the main body 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one of the end portion 14L and the end portion 14R of the guide member 14 is the left side surface portion 12d of the main body portion 12. Or you may make it contact | abut on the right side surface part 12e, or you may make it the edge part 14L and the edge part 14R of the guide member 14 contact | abut on the left side surface part 12d or the right side surface part 12e of the main-body part 12, respectively.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, an angle α (see FIG. 7B) formed by the locking portion 14a and the extending portion 14c of the guide member 14 is set to a right angle, and the end of the guide member 14 is The portion 14L is brought into contact with the left side surface portion 12d, the end portion 14R is brought into contact with the right side surface portion 12e, and the negative pressure generated in the narrow space 12k formed by the guide member 14 and the main body portion 12 is about 1 mmH ₂ O. In short, the shape and size of the guide member 14 can be changed within a range in which the flow rate of the air flow generated by the fan 16 can be increased and a space for producing the venturi effect can be formed.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, the opening portion 12h of the upper surface portion 12f of the main body portion 12 is opposed to the locking portion 14a of the guide member 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, the positional relationship between the opening 12h and the guide member 14 can be changed in accordance with changes in the shape and dimensions of the guide member 14 or in accordance with the type of ink ejected by flushing.

  (5) In the above-described embodiment, the filter 18 of the flushing mechanism 10 is formed of a porous material such as sponge, but it is not limited to this, and the ink is collected. A filter formed of various possible materials may be provided. Further, instead of the filter 18, a recovery device having a configuration capable of recovering ink carried on the airflow may be disposed on the back surface portion 12 c of the main body portion 12.

  (6) In the above-described embodiment, the flushing mechanism 10 is disposed in the side unit 118 on the side member 116R side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The flushing mechanism 10 may be disposed so that the area E2 is adjacent to the left side of the left end E1-L (see FIG. 4) of the print area E1. Further, the two flushing mechanisms 10 may be arranged so that the flushing area E2 is adjacent to the end E1-R and the end E1-L of the print area E1.

  Further, the flushing mechanism 10 is disposed so that the right side surface portion 12e of the main body portion 12 is located on the front side in the sub-scanning direction, and the hollow internal space 12g of the main body portion 12 is extended along the main scanning direction. Alternatively, the flushing mechanism 10 may be disposed in a state where the whole is inclined obliquely at a predetermined angle.

  (7) In the above embodiment, the flushing mechanism 10 is disposed in the ink jet printer 100 having the ink head 128, the ultraviolet lamp 130, etc., but the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, the specific configuration of each of the configuration having a printing function such as an ink head in an ink jet printer, the light irradiation means, the configuration having a cutting function, and the configuration for performing maintenance of the ink head The total number and the like can be changed as appropriate, and the arrangement position of the flushing mechanism 10 may be changed according to such a configuration.

  (8) In the above-described embodiment, the ultraviolet lamp 130 for irradiating the recording sheet 300 with ultraviolet rays and the UV ink are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Various inks having the property of being solidified or thickened by the light irradiated on the recording paper may be used by using light irradiation means for irradiating visible light of different radiation, electron beam or other light.

  (9) The above-described embodiment and the modifications shown in (1) to (8) above may be combined as appropriate.

  The present invention can be used for an ink jet printer using various inks having a property of solidifying or thickening by light irradiated on recording paper such as UV ink.

FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a conventional ink jet printer, and FIG. 1B schematically shows a conventional flushing mechanism of the ink jet printer shown in FIG. FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing another example of the conventional flushing mechanism of the ink-jet printer shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of an ink jet printer according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of the ink-jet printer shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram centering on the flushing mechanism of the ink-jet printer of FIG. 3 corresponding to the view of arrow A shown in FIG. 6 is an explanatory view corresponding to the cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of the flushing mechanism shown in FIG. FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory views showing another example of the embodiment of the ink jet printer according to the present invention. FIG. 7A is an explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 7 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC shown in FIG. 7 (a) and is an explanatory view corresponding to FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10, 206, 210 Flushing mechanism 12 Main body 14 Guide member 16 Fan 18 Filter 100, 200 Ink jet printer 112 Base member 114 Base member 116L, 116R Side member 118 Side unit 120 Central wall 122 Guide rail 124 Wire 126 Holder 128, 202 Ink head 130 UV lamp 132 Ink head unit 134, 204 Ink jet nozzle 300 Recording paper

Claims (5)

An ink head having an ink head unit that ejects predetermined ink onto a medium by an ink jet method, and light irradiation that irradiates light onto the ink ejected from the ink head unit onto the medium In an ink jet printer that performs printing on the medium with the ink ejected from the ink head unit, while the unit and the relative movement integrally move on the medium,
The ink head unit has an opening in a flushing region that is out of a region where printing is performed on a medium by ejecting ink from an ejection port of an ink head unit of the ink head, and the ink head unit of the ink head unit located in the flushing region. A main body having an opening in which the discharge port is located and having a hollow inner space extended along a predetermined direction;
The air flow is disposed at one end of the main body and generates an air flow from the end on one side of the main body toward the other end of the main body in the internal space of the main body. Air blowing means;
A collecting means for collecting ink ejected from the ejection port of the ink head unit located at an end of the other side of the main body and located in the opening of the main body;
A guide member that is disposed in the internal space of the main body and has a guide member that forms a negative pressure by increasing the flow rate of the air flow generated in the internal space of the main body by the blowing means. Printer. An ink head having an ink head unit that discharges predetermined ink onto a medium by an ink jet method discharges ink from the discharge port of the ink head unit while moving on the medium to the medium. In an ink jet printer that prints on
The whole is formed in a substantially box-shaped body, and ink is ejected from the ejection port of the ink head unit of the ink head and opens in the flushing area outside the area where printing is performed on the medium. A main body having an opening in which the discharge port of the ink head unit is positioned, and having a hollow internal space extending along a predetermined direction;
The air flow is disposed at one end of the main body and generates an air flow from the end on one side of the main body toward the other end of the main body in the internal space of the main body. Air blowing means;
A collecting means for collecting ink ejected from the ejection port of the ink head unit located at an end of the other side of the main body and located in the opening of the main body;
The whole is formed so as to extend in a substantially plate shape, one end is locked in the vicinity of the opening between the air blowing means and the opening in the main body, and in the internal space of the main body An ink jet printer comprising: a guide member having the other end disposed between the opening and the collecting means. The ink jet printer according to claim 2.
The guide member is formed in a substantially plate shape as a whole, and an end portion on one side is disposed between the air blowing means and the opening of the main body, and is opposed to the opening of the main body. And an extension that extends from the other end of the locking portion and faces a part of the main body part to divide a part of the internal space of the main body part to form a space of a predetermined width. And an ink jet printer that narrows the inner diameter of the main body along the flow of airflow generated in the internal space of the main body. The ink jet printer according to claim 3.
An angle formed by the engaging portion of the guide member and the extending portion is substantially a right angle, the extending portion is opposed in parallel to a part of the main body portion, and the guide member is the portion of the main body portion. An ink-jet printer that extends in a direction orthogonal to the airflow generated in the internal space and abuts against the main body. The ink-jet printer according to any one of claims 2, 3 and 4,
The ink ejected from the ink head unit of the ink head is UV ink, and has an ultraviolet lamp that irradiates ultraviolet light to the UV ink ejected from the ink head unit onto the medium. Is an ink jet printer.

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