JP2006181948A - Ink-jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a pit-in ink feeding to be certainly and reliably performed. <P>SOLUTION: An object without any cut slit and hole in a joint rubber is used. Only a first time pit-in is controlled differently from the second one henceforth. As compared with the second time henceforth pit-in, for the first one an over-stroke is established in the distance where a joint rubber and a feeding needle are stuck each other. The body is equipped with a timer for changing a controlling in a fixed time. Beyond the fixed time, the first pit-in operation is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus used for a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to an ink supply system in which ink is supplied at an appropriate timing at a joint of a needle and a joint rubber (hereinafter, for convenience). The present invention relates to a liquid supply apparatus and method for an ink jet recording apparatus employing a pit-in ink supply method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for supplying (filling or replenishing) ink to a liquid storage container for a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus used in a recording apparatus, a recording head having a liquid discharge port, and a liquid storage container provided in the recording head A main tank provided to supply ink to one of them, a needle as an ink supply port in one of them, and a joint rubber as an ink receiving port in the other, and the liquid storage container and the recording There is a system in which a liquid is supplied from a main tank to a liquid storage container by the needle penetrating through the joint rubber when the head is integrally mounted on a movable carriage and the carriage is in a predetermined position. .

Some of the joint rubbers have slits cut into one or ten letters so that the ink can be easily inserted and removed from the first joint, and the ink can be reliably supplied. On the contrary, the slits are not cut at all. In some cases, the needle itself pierces the joint rubber at the time of the first joint and forms a needle passage while being cut (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-53996 A

  However, in such a pit-in ink supply system in which ink is supplied by penetrating the needle through the joint rubber, if the joint rubber has a slit in advance, the needle can be easily inserted and removed, and the needle can be inserted and removed reliably. However, it is costly to cut slits in the joint rubber, and it is not easy to obtain the position accuracy for cutting.

  However, if there is no slit in the joint rubber, the cost can be considerably reduced. On the other hand, when the first joint is made, the needle can tear the rubber joint under an environment where temperature and humidity change are severe. Therefore, the ink supply is not performed at all, or even if the ink supply is performed, the ink supply amount assumed is not satisfied due to the influence of the joint rubber that is not completely cut.

  Furthermore, when referring to the joint rubber, the slit may not be cut from the beginning, but once the penetrating path of the needle is secured and the pit-in ink is supplied by inserting and removing the needle, The residual ink will inevitably adhere. The through passage is closed by the elasticity of the joint rubber, but at the next pit-in, the needle is usually inserted into the through passage formed while spreading the joint rubber.

  However, when the apparatus is left for a long period of time, the rubber sticks due to the elasticity of the joint rubber in addition to the drying of the residual ink. Even if the needle is inserted into the joint rubber that has been strongly adhered, it may happen that the joint rubber cannot be completely spread out. If this happens, again, there will be a problem that ink is not supplied.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art as described above, and while using a joint rubber without slits that can be expected to be low in cost, the joint rubber is strengthened by leaving the apparatus for a long time. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can reliably supply ink even if the needle sticks through the joint rubber.

  The present invention has been proposed to achieve the above-described object, and includes a recording head having a liquid discharge port, a liquid storage container for storing ink supplied to the recording head, the recording head, and the liquid storage container. A main tank joint, and a carriage as a liquid supply path for supplying ink to the liquid storage container, and the carriage includes an elastic material at a predetermined position; In the ink jet recording apparatus in which the needle is pierced and connected to the elastic material at a predetermined timing, the ink jet recording apparatus has means for detecting whether or not the connection with the main tank has been performed once. The stroke amount is different from that after the first time.

  In addition, the joint of the main tank is configured to include an elastic member having no holes or slits.

  Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the needle has an overstroke in addition to a penetrating amount that pierces the elastic member, and is penetrated to the overstroke range only at the first time.

  Further, the means for detecting whether or not the main tank has been connected once is to determine that the main tank has never been connected with the replacement of the main tank.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus, in a pit-in after a lapse of a predetermined time from the previous pit-in, the penetrating amount that the needle pierces the elastic member is to penetrate to the overstroke range.

  In more detail, the present invention can solve the above problems by the following configuration.

  (1) A recording head having a liquid ejection port, a liquid storage container for storing ink supplied to the recording head, a carriage in which the recording head and the liquid storage container are integrally mounted, and the liquid storage A needle as a liquid supply path for supplying ink to the container, and the carriage pierces the elastic material at a predetermined timing and is connected to a joint of a main tank configured with the elastic material at a predetermined position. In the ink jet recording apparatus, there are at least two stroke amounts by which the needle pierces the elastic material.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can reliably supply pit-in ink by reliably passing an ink supply needle through a joint rubber while using a joint rubber without a slit.

  In the same way, even if the penetration path of the needle is blocked due to strong sticking of the joint rubber after leaving the device for a long period of time, the ink supply needle surely penetrates the joint rubber and provides reliable pit-in ink supply. An ink jet recording apparatus that realizes the above can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carriage drive system of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the feeding direction of the recording medium of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

(Printer overview)
As shown in FIG. 1, the carriage 40 is slidably supported by a main shaft 42 and a guide shaft 46 that are arranged in parallel to each other. The carriage 40 is configured by integrating a recording head unit that ejects ink based on a recording signal and a sub tank unit that stores ink to be supplied to the recording head unit. The ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment is capable of recording in full color using yellow ink, magenta ink, and cyan ink, and the recording head portion and the sub tank portion are provided corresponding to the color of each ink. Yes.

  A recording medium (hereinafter also referred to as recording paper, media, or simply paper) is fed in a B direction onto a platen 9 (to be described later) in the recording apparatus by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown). An image is formed by reciprocating while discharging ink along.

  The ink cartridge 12 has yellow ink, magenta ink, and cyan ink inside. When the ink cartridge 12 is inserted from the opening / closing lid 19 (see FIG. 6), the ink cartridge 12 is fixed directly below the platen 9, and will be described later when the pit-in ink is supplied. The pit-in ink is supplied to the sub tank portions 72, 73 and 74 by moving up and down together.

(Carriage moving mechanism)
Next, the carriage moving mechanism will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the carriage moving mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carriage integrally mounting the print head as viewed from above and below. The carriage moving mechanism is a mechanism for moving the carriage 40, such as the carriage 40 and the lead screw 57 shown in FIGS.

  A main shaft 42 is provided in the chassis 802 of the present recording apparatus so as to extend along the direction perpendicular to the direction of transfer of the recording paper to be fed. Similarly, the guide shaft 46 of the carriage 40 and the lead screw are provided. 57 is provided in parallel with the main shaft 42.

  The main shaft 42 slidably penetrates a main shaft bearing member 44 provided on the carriage 40. Similarly, the guide shaft 46 slidably penetrates a guide shaft bearing provided on the carriage 40, and the guide shaft bearing serves as a rotation stopper for the carrier 40. As a result, the actuator reciprocates stably along the main shaft while being driven by the rotation of a carriage motor 112 described later.

  The rotational force generated by the carriage motor 112 is transmitted from the carriage motor gear 114 via the idler gear 150 to the lead screw gear 109 that is press-fitted into the lead screw 57 integrally.

  The lead screw followers 111 having spiral grooves formed on the inner peripheral portion engage with each other so as to engage with the spiral grooves formed on the outer peripheral portion of the lead screw 57, and the rotation of the lead screw 57 is transmitted to the carriage 40. .

  The protrusion 111 a of the lead screw follower 111 is inserted into a follower hole 803 provided in the carriage 40 so as to be sandwiched in the carriage sub-scanning direction (recording paper transport direction), and the rotational motion transmitted from the lead screw 57. Is converted into a linear motion in the axial direction. The lead screw follower projection 111a and the follower hole 803 are sandwiched as described above in the carriage sub-scanning direction, but there is a gap in the main scanning direction (perpendicular to the recording paper transport direction). Although it exists, it is removed by the follower spring 120.

  Thus, the carriage 40 can be moved along the main shaft 42 by converting the rotational motion from the lead screw 57 into a linear motion by the lead screw follower 111.

  Next, the position detection means of the carriage 40 will be described. The encoder sensor 804 is a known reflective optical sensor, and an encoder scale 801 at the opposite position is attached to the encoder sensor 804. A pulse signal is intermittently transmitted from the encoder sensor, and this pulse signal is not shown. The position of the carriage 40 is detected by counting in the control system. An encoder scale facing the encoder sensor 804 is attached to the back surface of the top plate 800.

  A capping surface (ink ejection surface) of the recording head portion of the carriage 40 during non-recording is located at a position within the reciprocal movement range of the carriage 40 and out of the region through which the recording paper passes. A cap 805 is provided. The position of the carriage 40 that can be capped by the cap 805 is called a home position.

(Print head)
A bearing member in which a bearing pipe 44 and a bearing 45 are integrated is fixedly disposed as a fitting portion with the main shaft 42 on the carrier 40 on which the print head is integrally mounted. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the carrier 40 is provided with sub-tank portions 72, 73 and 74 for storing print ink, and inks such as cyan, magenta and yellow are respectively injected at an appropriate timing during printing. Is done. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, sponges for ink impregnation are accommodated in the tank portions 72, 73 and 74, respectively.

(Internal structure of ink cartridge)
As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 10, the ink cartridge 12 stores therein the waste ink absorber 23 and ink bags 86, 87, and 88 connected to the joint case 90. Joint rubbers 91, 92, and 93 are attached to the joint case 90 corresponding to the ink flow paths from the ink bags 88, 87, and 86, respectively.

  For example, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are injected into the ink bags 86, 87, and 88 accommodated in the ink cartridge 12, respectively. The ink bags 86, 87, and 88 are connected to the respective color chambers 90c, 90d, and 90e in a state where the joint case 90 is airtight.

  Further, the chambers 90c, 90d and 90e for each color of the joint case 90 are individually sealed by respective joint rubbers 92, 93 and 91 arranged on the same straight line. The joint case 90 is closely attached. Further, the chamber 90b is not connected to the ink bag and is configured as a single individual space, and forms a space for the positioning pin 98 to enter when the ink cartridge 12 is lifted up.

  Here, the joint rubbers 91, 92 and 93 can be formed of elastomer, chlorinated butyl rubber, hydrogenated neoprene butyl rubber or the like, and have a duckbill shape as shown in FIGS. The joint rubber is not provided with a slit-like notch, and the second time is obtained by tearing and penetrating the joint rubber by the needle itself at the first joint with the ink supply needles 94, 95 and 96 described later. A needle passage for subsequent joints will be formed.

  The holding plate 89 is provided with holes 89c, 89b and 89a for allowing the ink supply needles 94, 95 and 96 to pass therethrough, and a positioning pin 98 is fitted between the holes 89a and 89b. A hole 89d is provided.

(Platen and ink cartridge)
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the ink cartridge 12 is inserted and fixed from the opening / closing lid 19.

  The ink cartridge 12 is inserted into the lower side of the platen 9 through the opening / closing lid 19 and is fixed by a latch (not shown) when inserted to the back.

  The platen 9 is a reference plate for restricting the printing surface to be flat by pressing the paper during printing.

  The pins 7 projecting from the printer main body serve as a rotation shaft when the platen 9 is lifted up by loosely fitting the portion 9a of the platen 9.

  Therefore, when the platen 9 is lifted up with the pin 7 as the rotation axis when ink is supplied as described later, the ink cartridge 12 is also lifted up integrally with the platen 9.

(Joint between head and ink cartridge)
The lift slider 58 is moved horizontally in the directions of arrows C and D by a drive system (not shown). The lift slider 58 has a lift cam 58c which is a cam groove, and a pin 9f protruding from the platen 9 is fitted into the lift cam 58c.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the pin 9f is positioned at the bottom landing 58ca of the lift cam 58c, the platen is kept horizontal and printing is performed (this position is the first lift-up first platen 9). Position).

  As the lift slider 58 is moved in the C direction, the pin 9f is moved along the lift cam 58c, and the platen 9 is lifted up integrally with the ink cartridge 12.

  In the process of lifting the ink cartridge 12, the carriage positioning pin 98 and the ink cartridge positioning hole 89d are loosely fitted before the pin 9f of the platen 9 reaches the landing 58cc located in the middle of the lift cam 58c. The position of the ink cartridge is determined. When the pin 9f further goes up the lift cam 58c, the ink supply needles 94, 95 and 96 are respectively inserted into the joint rubbers 91, 92 and 93, and when the pin 9f reaches the landing 58cc, it is shown in FIG. Thus, the joint is completed at the position where the needle tips of the ink supply needles 94, 95 and 96 have completely passed through the joint rubbers 91, 92 and 93 (this position is the second lift-up position of the platen 9). ).

  Then, when the lift slider 58 is further moved in the direction C, as shown in FIG. 8, the pin 9f of the platen 9 finally reaches the position of 58cd which is the uppermost position of the lift cam 58c (this position is changed to the platen). 9 lift-up third position). When the lift-up third position is reached, the ink supply needles 94, 95, and 96 completely penetrate the joint rubbers 91, 92, and 93, and further have an overstroke. The overstroke at the third position of the lift-up is an indispensable amount by which the ink supply needle can surely tear and penetrate through the joint rubber which is not slit.

  In addition, the cap 805 is pushed up and capped at the second and third positions of the lift-up, and the tube 64 communicating with the atmosphere from the cap 805 is closed by the atmosphere communication valve 65 and connected to the tube 67. By driving the illustrated suction pump to generate a negative pressure in the cap 805, the ink passes from the ink bags 86, 87 and 88 through the ink supply needles 94, 95 and 96, and the sub tanks 72, 73 and 74 in the head. Filled. The pit-in ink supply is completed.

  All operations such as recording operation and pit-in ink supply in the present embodiment are performed by a control device (not shown). The control device includes a counter for detecting the replacement of the ink cartridge and the timing for supplying the pit-in ink, and controls the recording operation in accordance with these measured values.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control operation by the control device. The control operation by the control device will be described below with reference to FIG.

  When the power is turned on (step S600), it is first checked whether the ink cartridge is properly loaded in the main body. This confirmation is performed by a sensor (not shown) that protrudes from the ink cartridge loading path below the platen 9. Whether the ink cartridge is loaded or not is switched ON / OFF of the sensor, and it is determined whether or not the ink cartridge is loaded (step S601).

  Here, if no ink cartridge is loaded, an error display and a sign prompting the user to load (a sign (not shown) such as a lamp or a liquid crystal display) are immediately displayed (step S602). When an ink cartridge has been inserted (step S603), the joint flag Jf for leaving a history that the cartridge has never been subjected to a pit-in operation is set to 0 (step S604). The printer is now ready for printing.

  If the ink cartridge is inserted after the power is turned on, it is confirmed whether or not printing is to be performed next (step S605). If printing is not performed, capping for protecting the recording head is performed and the process ends (step S612). If printing is to be performed, it is confirmed whether a sufficient amount of ink is secured in the subtanks 72, 73 and 74 at the present time (step S606). This check is performed from an ink discharge amount counter (not shown) provided in the recording apparatus, that is, a certain amount of ink is supplied into the sub tank by the previous pit-in ink supply, and from this amount, head refreshing and preliminary printing before printing are performed. The determination is based on the current ink amount in the sub-tank obtained by subtracting the amount of ink discharged from the head, such as ejection and ejection during printing.

  If it is determined in this determination that there is sufficient ink in the sub tank, the printing operation is started immediately without performing pit-in (step S611). However, if it is determined that there is not enough ink in the sub tank, Next, pit-in ink is supplied.

  Before the pit-in ink is supplied, it is confirmed whether or not the pit-in operation has been performed even once for the ink cartridge (step S607). That is, if the joint flag Jf is 0, after the ink cartridge is inserted, the pit-in operation has never been performed, the joint rubbers 91, 92, and 93 remain closed, and the ink supply needle insertion path is completely closed. It can be said that there is no state. Conversely, when the joint flag Jf is 1, the pit-in operation is performed once, and the joint rubbers 91, 92, and 93 are cut and penetrated by the ink supply needles 94, 95, and 96, and the ink supply needle 94 95 and 96 can be said to be easily penetrated.

  When the joint flag Jf is 1, that is, when the pit-in operation has been performed once, the joint rubbers 91, 92 and 93 have already been cut and penetrated by the ink supply needles 94, 95 and 96 as described above. Since the ink supply needle insertion path is formed, a normal pit-in operation described later is performed.

  However, before that, a determination is made as to whether or not a certain time Jt or more has elapsed since the previous pit stop by a joint elapsed time timer (not shown) in the main body (step S613).

  In the previous step (S607), the joint flag is 1, and the needle insertion path is already formed in the joint rubber. However, due to the insertion / extraction of the ink supply needle, the residual ink inevitably adheres to the wall surface of the joint rubber insertion path. If the ink is left for a certain period of time Jt or more, the residual ink will dry depending on the environment, and in addition, the joint Due to the elasticity of rubber, sticking of the joint rubber may occur. The sticking of strong joint rubber will block the penetration path and prevent the needle from penetrating again.

  Therefore, the time is counted by the joint elapsed time timer from the previous pit-in, and if only the time at which sticking does not occur has elapsed, a normal pit-in operation (step S608) described later is performed, and the time at which sticking can occur has elapsed. If it is, the first pit-in operation (step S609) described later is performed. In this embodiment, the fixed time Jt is 240 hours.

  Here, the normal pit-in operation will be described according to the flowchart of FIG.

  The normal position of the platen 9 is in the lowest position as shown in FIG. 7, that is, the pin 9f is in the landing 58ca at the lowest position of the lift cam 58c of the lift slider 58 (first position for lift-up). From this state, the lift slider 58 starts to move in the C direction, and the positioning pins 98 provided in the carrier are first fitted into the positioning holes 89d provided in the ink cartridge 12 to determine the position.

  Then, the ink supply needles 94, 95, and 96 are inserted into the joint rubbers 91, 92, and 93, and when the pin 9f reaches the middle landing 58cc of the lift cam 58 (see FIG. 11), the ink supply needles 94, 95, and 96 are inserted. The tips of the supply needles 94, 95, and 96 have finished passing through the joint rubbers 91, 92, and 93 (lift-up second position). In this state, the tips of the ink supply needles 94, 95, and 96 are in communication with the ink bags 86, 87, and 88, and the ink can be reliably supplied. That is, the normal pit-in operation refers to such a pit-in operation at the lift-up second position.

  Still referring to this lift-up second position, this position is the shortest distance at which the ink supply needles 94, 95 and 96 are inserted into the joint rubbers 91, 92 and 93 to supply pit-in ink, of course. This is the position that takes the shortest time. Any further insertion will only cause a reduction in throughput. That is, the normal pit-in operation can be said to be a pit-in operation in which the pit-in ink supply is surely completed in the shortest time.

  On the other hand, when the joint flag Jf is 0, that is, when the pit-in operation has never been performed, the joint rubbers 91, 92, and 93 are kept closed and the ink supply needle insertion path is not formed at all. In such a case, that is, when a new ink cartridge is inserted, the first pit-in operation described below is performed. On the other hand, if the joint flag Jf is 1, but the passage of a certain time or more is recognized by the joint aging timer, that is, the pit-in operation is performed once, and ink is supplied to the joint rubbers 91, 92 and 93. Although the insertion path of the needle is formed, when the joint rubber sticks due to the residual ink on the wall surface of the insertion path due to the passage of a certain time or more, the initial pit-in operation is similarly performed.

  The first operation is the same as the normal pit-in operation. That is, the platen 9 moves from the lift-up first position to the second position. When lifting up to the second position, the ink supply needles 94, 95 and 96 hit the joint rubbers 91, 92 and 93 and stick further, and continue to tear the joint rubbers 91, 92 and 93 and lift up When it is lifted up to the second position, it reaches a position that penetrates the joint rubbers 91, 92, and 93.

  However, the hardness and viscosity of the joint rubbers 91, 92 and 93 are affected by temperature and humidity due to the physical property of rubber. As a result, in the second lift-up position, the ink supply needles 94, 95, and 96 are in positions that pass through the joint rubbers 91, 92, and 93 in terms of physical position, but the joint rubber is actually sticky. It is not stretched and penetrated, or is not torn.

  Therefore, in the first pit-in operation, the ink supply needles 94, 95, and 96 can be surely penetrated through the joint rubbers 91, 92, and 93 while sacrificing the throughput. That is, the lift slider 58 is further moved in the direction C from the lift-up second position, the pin 9f further moves up the lift cam, and reaches the upper landing 58cd (see FIG. 8).

  As shown in FIG. 8, this position is such that the ink supply needles 94, 95 and 96 are further inserted into the joint rubbers 91, 92 and 93 in comparison with the lift-up second position. This position is defined as a third position for lift-up. That is, the lift-up third position has a further overstroke amount compared to the lift-up second position where the ink supply needle can penetrate the joint rubber. In this way, the ink supply needles 94, 95, and 96 are inserted into the joint rubbers 91, 92, and 93 more than necessary, instead of moving the lift slider 58 excessively and taking an extra distance and time. It is possible to reliably penetrate the affected joint rubber.

  As a result, the ink supply needle cannot penetrate the joint rubber even at the first pit stop using a new ink cartridge in which the insertion path of the ink supply needle has not yet opened in the joint rubber. The ink can be reliably penetrated without falling into a halfway communication state without being broken. Further, the joint rubber is strongly blocked due to the sticking of the joint rubber, and normally cannot be penetrated by the pit-in, but by this first pit-in operation, the penetration can be surely performed and ink can be supplied.

  When the first pit-in operation is completed, the ink cartridge is supplied with pit ink once, and in order to indicate that insertion paths for the ink supply needles 94, 95, and 96 are secured in the joint rubbers 91, 92, and 93, The joint flag Jf is set to 1 (step S610).

  Whether it is the first pit-in or the normal pit-in, the pit-in ink is supplied, the joint time timer is reset to 0 to measure the time until the next pit-in (step S614), and sufficient ink is supplied. Then, the printing operation is started (step S611), and finally the carriage 40 is returned to the home position and is capped (S612).

  Ink jet recording is performed by performing the initial pit-in operation on a new ink cartridge that has never been subjected to the pit-in operation, that is, the ink cartridge in which the insertion path of the ink supply needle is not formed in the joint rubber. The ink supply needle does not penetrate due to the condition of the joint rubber, for example, due to the state of the joint rubber, so that the ink is not supplied, or the ink supply needle does not tear the joint rubber, for example. It is possible to realize a reliable pit-in ink supply capable of reliably and stably supplying an ink without causing a situation where the supply does not reach the expected ink supply amount.

  Ink cartridges with an insertion path for the ink supply needle formed in the joint rubber will cause the first pit-in operation even if the joint rubber sticks after a certain period of time and the insertion path is strongly blocked. Similarly, it is possible to realize a reliable pit-in ink supply capable of reliably supplying a stable ink without causing a situation where the ink supply needle cannot be completely penetrated.

  Further, in addition to the initial pit-in operation, according to this embodiment, it is assumed that an ink cartridge that is not new by the user, that is, an ink cartridge in which a joint rubber has already been formed with a through-passage has been inserted. However, it is detected as a new article by a detection means (not shown), and the initial pit-in operation is performed. However, because the ink cartridge is not a new article, it does not damage the main body or the ink cartridge, but simply decreases the throughput. This is not a problem. Furthermore, this means that an expensive detection means for reliably detecting whether the ink cartridge inserted by the user is really completely new is unnecessary, and the inkjet recording apparatus is configured at low cost. It is possible.

1 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a carriage drive system of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the feeding direction of a recording medium of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of a carriage mounted integrally with a head of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view with respect to the feeding direction of the recording medium of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view with respect to the feeding direction of the recording medium of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view with respect to the feeding direction of the recording medium of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view with respect to the feeding direction of the recording medium of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing control of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the feeding direction of a recording medium of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view with respect to the feeding direction of the recording medium of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

7 Pin 9 Platen 12 Ink cartridge 19 Open / close lid 23 Waste ink absorber 40 Carriage 42 Main shaft 44 Main shaft bearing member 46 Guide shaft 57 Lead screw 58 Lift slider 64 Tube 65 Valve 67 Tube 72 Sub tank 73 Sub tank 74 Sub tank 86 Ink bag 87 Ink Bag 88 Ink bag 89 Holding plate 90 Joint case 91 Joint rubber 92 Joint rubber 93 Joint rubber 94 Ink supply needle 95 Ink supply needle 96 Ink supply needle 98 Positioning pin 109 Lead screw gear 112 Carriage motor 114 Carriage motor gear 150 Idler gear 800 Top plate 803 Follower hole 804 Encoder sensor 805 Cap

Claims (7)

  A recording head having a liquid discharge port; a liquid storage container for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head; a carriage integrally mounted with the recording head and the liquid storage container; and ink in the liquid storage container And a needle as a liquid supply path for supplying the ink, and an ink jet recording in which the needle is inserted into the elastic material at a predetermined timing and connected to a joint of a main tank in which the carriage is provided with the elastic material at a predetermined position. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are at least two stroke amounts for the needle to pierce the elastic material.   2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stroke amount is provided in two ways: a stroke amount in which the needle can pass through the elastic member and a stroke amount having an overstroke.   3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting whether or not the carriage and the main tank have been connected even once. In the first case, the stroke amount is different from the second time. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to 1.   4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the joint of the main tank includes an elastic member having no holes or slits.   5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the connection is performed for the first time, the ink jet recording apparatus penetrates to an overstroke range.   The means for detecting whether or not the main tank has been connected even once is that it is determined that the main tank has never been connected after replacement of the main tank. To 5. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of 5 to 5.   7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a stroke amount by which the needle pierces the elastic member penetrates to an overstroke range in the connection after a predetermined time has elapsed. .

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