JP2007106019A - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recording device which can successfully print without any trouble such as print omission during printing later, even in case an ink cartridge is removed. <P>SOLUTION: This inkjet recording device 1 comprises a cartridge loading part 15 which enables attaching/detaching of the ink cartridge 17, an ink supply needle which is inserted into an ink discharging part of the ink cartridge 17 by fitting the ink cartridge 17 to the ink cartridge loading part 15, and a flow passage which guides an internal ink of the ink cartridge 17 from the ink supply needle to a recording head. In addition, the device 1 is equipped with a sensor 85 of a cover displacement detecting part 81 for detecting the opening/closing state of a cover 7 for opening/closing the loading part 15, a choke valve 61 which opens/closes the flow passage, and a control part which enables blocking of the flow passage by the choke valve 61 prior to the opening of an internal flow passage of the ink supply needle 46, when it is judged that the ink cartridge 17 is to be removed from the cartridge loading part 15, according to a detection signal from the sensor 85. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus in which an ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion.

Some ink jet recording apparatuses have an ink supply mechanism in which an ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion.
In this ink supply mechanism, when the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion, the ink supply needle provided on the cartridge mounting portion side is inserted into the ink discharge port provided on the ink cartridge side, and the ink supply needle Ink stored in the ink cartridge is supplied to the recording head via a flow path (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-70672

By the way, in the ink jet recording apparatus in which the ink cartridge is attached and detached as described above, when the ink cartridge is carelessly removed during the printing operation or the head cleaning operation by the recording head and the ink supply needle is pulled out from the ink outlet, Stop sucking ink from the ink cartridge.
However, even if the ink suction is stopped, the flow path leading to the recording head that has sucked the ink has a negative pressure, so air is sucked from the ink needle, and bubbles remain in the flow path. The remaining bubbles in the flow path may cause problems such as missing prints at the time of printing after mounting the ink cartridge.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing good printing without problems such as missing prints at the time of subsequent printing even when an ink cartridge is removed. It is in.

  An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention capable of achieving the above object includes a cartridge mounting portion to which an ink cartridge is attached and detached, and an ink discharge portion of the ink cartridge that is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion by mounting the ink cartridge. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink supply needle; and a flow path for guiding ink in the ink cartridge from the ink supply needle to the recording head, wherein the sensor detects an attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridge in the cartridge mounting portion; The internal flow path of the ink supply needle is opened when it is determined that the ink cartridge is removed from the cartridge mounting portion based on the open / close valve that opens and closes the flow path and the detection signal from the sensor. Before closing the flow path by the on-off valve Characterized by comprising a control unit.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus having the above configuration, when the ink cartridge is inadvertently removed during the printing operation or the head cleaning operation, it is determined that the ink cartridge is to be removed based on the detection signal from the sensor, and the recording head is determined by the opening / closing valve. Since the flow path leading to is closed, the suction of air from the ink supply needle into the flow path can be reliably prevented.
As a result, bubbles remain in the flow path, and it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of problems such as print omission at the time of printing after the ink cartridge is mounted, and printing can be performed satisfactorily.

In the ink jet recording apparatus having the above configuration, it is preferable that the sensor detects a displacement in an opening direction of a mounting portion opening / closing cover provided at a mounting port through which the ink cartridge is attached to and detached from the cartridge mounting portion.
According to this configuration, when the mounting portion opening / closing cover is opened to remove the ink cartridge, the control portion drives the opening / closing valve based on the detection signal from the sensor to reliably close the passage. It is possible to reliably prevent bubbles from remaining in the inside, and to reliably prevent the occurrence of problems such as missing prints during printing after the ink cartridge is mounted.

In the ink jet recording apparatus having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the sensor detects a displacement of the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion in a removing direction.
According to this configuration, when the ink cartridge is displaced so as to be removed, the control unit drives the on-off valve based on the detection signal from the sensor to reliably close the flow path, so that bubbles remain in the flow path. It is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of problems such as printing omission at the time of printing after the ink cartridge is mounted.

In the ink jet recording apparatus having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the on-off valve is an electromagnetic valve that is driven by a drive signal from the control unit.
According to this configuration, the flow path can be closed quickly and reliably by the drive signal from the control unit.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus having the above-described configuration, the on-off valve has a valve body made of a magnetic material provided so as to be able to appear and retract with respect to the flow path, and a pull that urges the valve body in a direction to separate the valve body from the flow path. A valve, a magnet that attracts the valve body in a direction to block the flow path with a magnetic force against the biasing force of the tension spring, and the magnet is moved based on a drive signal from the control unit, It is desirable to comprise a solenoid disposed at either the operating position where the magnetic force is applied to the magnetic field or the non-operating position where the magnetic force does not reach.
According to this configuration, the flow path can be closed quickly and reliably by the valve body by moving the magnet by the solenoid and pulling the valve body into the flow path.

  According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, even if the ink cartridge is inadvertently removed during the printing operation or the head cleaning operation, the air is surely sucked from the ink supply needle into the flow path connected to the recording head. Therefore, good printing can be performed without problems after the ink cartridge is installed.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state in which a roll paper cover and a mounting portion opening / closing cover of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 2 with the case removed, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the front upper panel and case cover removed, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge mounted on a cartridge mounting portion, and FIG. 7 is an ink jet recording apparatus. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the positional relationship between an ink cartridge and an ink supply needle connected to the ink cartridge and a waste ink introduction needle. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the structure in the on-off valve portion for explaining the structure of the on-off valve, and FIG. 9 is an on-off valve portion for explaining the structure of the on-off valve. FIG. 10 is a front view of the structure in the on-off valve portion for explaining the movement of the on-off valve, FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the structure in the on-off valve portion for explaining the movement of the on-off valve, and FIG. FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the cartridge mounting unit, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cartridge mounting unit with the mounting unit opening / closing cover opened, FIG. 15 and FIG. FIG. 16 is a side view of a connecting portion between the waste ink introducing component and the cartridge attaching / detaching lever.

  The ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment is one that performs color printing on roll paper using a plurality of types of color ink liquids as an example, and is suitable for use in, for example, printing discount coupons for products in a supermarket or the like. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a power switch 3 and a roll paper cover 5 are arranged in order from the left side on the front surface of a printer case 2 composed of a front upper panel 2a and a case cover 2b. The mounting portion opening / closing cover 7 is disposed. Each of the roll paper cover 5 and the mounting portion opening / closing cover 7 is provided to be openable and closable forward.

When the roll paper cover 5 is opened, as shown in FIG. 2, the paper storage unit 13 that stores the roll paper 11 that is printing paper is opened, and the roll paper 11 can be replaced.
When the mounting portion opening / closing cover 7 is opened, the cartridge mounting portion 15 is opened as shown in FIG. 2, and the ink cartridge 17 can be attached to and detached from the cartridge mounting portion 15.

  The ink cartridge 17 is a cartridge case 18 that contains a plurality of color ink packs. In the case of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the ink cartridge 17 in the cartridge mounting portion 15 moves from a cartridge replacement position, which will be described later, to a cartridge usage position in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the mounting portion opening / closing cover 7. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a carriage 23 on which a recording head is mounted is provided above the paper container 13 in the printer case 2. The carriage 23 is supported by a guide member 25 extending along the width direction of the roll paper 11 so as to be movable in the paper width direction, and includes an endless belt 26 a and an endless belt 26 a extending in the width direction of the roll paper 11. The carriage motor 26 b that is driven can reciprocate above the platen 28 in the width direction of the roll paper 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper part of the cartridge mounting portion 15 is a standby position (home position) of the carriage 23 that reciprocates, and below this standby position is the recording head exposed on the lower surface of the carriage 23. A cap (not shown) for covering the ink nozzles and an ink suction mechanism 29 attached to the cap are provided.
The ink suction mechanism 29 includes a waste ink supply pump that pumps waste ink discharged to the cap by the head cleaning operation and ink filling operation of the recording head to a waste ink storage space provided in the ink cartridge 17.

  Here, referring to FIG. 4, reference numeral 31 denotes a pipe joint fixed to the casing 32 that defines the cartridge mounting portion 15, and reference numerals 33 and 34 denote waste ink discharged by the waste ink feed pump. This is a waste ink feed tube for feeding to the ink cartridge 17. The waste ink feed tubes 33 and 34 are flexible tubes, and the downstream waste ink feed tube 34 is provided in order to secure a surplus length that allows a moving operation when the ink cartridge 17 is replaced. It is laid with a substantially U-shaped bend.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ink cartridge 17 includes an ink storage space 43 that stores an ink pack 42 in a cartridge case 41 that is a housing that provides an appearance, and waste ink from the waste ink feed pump. A waste ink storage space 44 for storing the waste ink fed through the feed tubes 33 and 34 is partitioned.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ink pack 42 is provided with a substantially cylindrical ink discharge portion 45 for supplying the ink liquid to the outside on one side of a flexible bag body that stores the ink liquid. As shown in FIG. 5, the ink discharge portion 45 has a substantially annular mouth member 45a formed of an elastic material such as rubber. The opening / closing valve 45c is normally pressed against the opening member 45a by the biasing force of the spring 45b, and the flow path is closed while the opening / closing valve 45c is pressed against the opening member 45a. When the ink supply needle 46 provided in the cartridge mounting portion 15 is inserted into the ink discharge portion 45, the opening / closing valve 45c is pushed against the urging force of the spring 45b to open the flow path. Ink liquid stored in the bag flows from the tip of the ink supply needle 46.

  When the ink supply needle 46 is pulled out from the ink discharge portion 45, the open / close valve 45c is pressed against the mouth member 45a by the urging force of the spring 45b, and the flow path is closed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the ink discharge portion 45 of the ink pack 42 is fixed in alignment with an opening 41 b formed in the front wall 41 a of the cartridge case 41. The ink storage space 43 of the ink cartridge 17 of the present embodiment is configured to compartmentally store three ink packs 42. Accordingly, three openings 41 b that face the ink discharge portion 45 are formed in the front wall 41 a of the cartridge case 41.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a waste ink introduction for receiving waste ink from the outside into a waste ink storage space 44 in which an ink absorbing material 53 that permeates and absorbs waste ink is housed in the lower portion of the front wall 41a of the cartridge case 41. A mouth 48 is provided. The waste ink introduction port 48 is formed by pressing a valve body 48b that closes a flow path with a spring 48c against a substantially annular port member 48a formed of an elastic material such as rubber, and is provided in the cartridge mounting unit 15. When the waste ink introduction needle 51 is inserted and the valve body 48b is pushed in, the flow path is opened and the waste ink introduction needle 51 and the waste ink storage space 44 communicate with each other. Waste ink can be introduced into the ink storage space 44.

  The ink cartridge 17 having the above structure is inserted into the mounting opening of the cartridge mounting portion 15 from the front wall 41a side of the cartridge case 41 where the ink discharge portion 45 and the waste ink introduction port portion 48 are exposed, thereby mounting the cartridge mounting portion. The ink supply needle 46 and the waste ink introduction needle 51 provided at 15 are inserted into the ink discharge portion 45 and the waste ink introduction port portion 48, respectively.

The ink supply needle 46 is structured so as to be connected to the ink discharge portion 45 when the ink cartridge 17 is inserted to the cartridge use position in the inner depth of the cartridge mounting portion 15. The object 55 is provided.
As shown in FIG. 7, the upper end of the structure 55 extends to the running height of the carriage 23, and a flow path 71 (see FIG. 8), which will be described later, communicates with the ink supply needle 46 is formed therein. Has been. One end of a flexible ink supply tube 57 is connected to the flow path 71 in the structure 55. The other end of the ink supply tube 57 is connected to a damper unit 58 provided on the carriage 23, and this damper unit 58 is connected to a back pressure adjustment unit 59 connected to the recording head.

  The ink liquid supplied from the ink pack 42 in the ink cartridge 17 to the ink supply needle 46 passes through the flow path 71, the ink supply tube 57, the damper unit 58, and the back pressure adjustment unit 59 in the structure 55. To be supplied.

The structure 55 is provided with a choke valve 61 as an on-off valve. Next, the structure of the choke valve 61 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 8, the structure 55 is formed with a flow path 71 through which ink fed from the ink supply needle 46 flows, and a valve body 72 constituting the choke valve 61 is formed in the flow path 71. The channel 71 is provided so as to be able to appear and disappear. The valve body 72 includes a valve main body 72a formed of a magnetic material that can be adsorbed to a magnet, and a sealing material 72b made of rubber or the like provided on the flow path 71 side of the valve main body 72a. The spring 73 is urged away from the flow path 71. Further, the valve body 72 is provided with a magnet 62 a provided on the operating member 62 at a position opposed to the flow path 71.

As shown in FIG. 9, the operating member 62 is supported so as to be swingable with respect to the structure 55, and a solenoid 63 provided with an operating rod 64 slidably provided on a side portion of the operating member 62. Is arranged. An upper portion of the operating member 62 has an arm portion 62 b extending sideways, and the tip of the arm portion 62 b is connected to an operating rod 64 of the solenoid 63. Further, a connecting piece 62 c is formed at the lower end portion of the operating member 62, and a tension spring 65 extending from the lower end portion of the solenoid 63 is connected to the connecting piece 62 c.
The lower end side of the operating member 62 is always urged toward the solenoid 63 by the tension spring 65.

  Further, the solenoid 63 generates an electromagnetic force by supplying a driving current, and pulls the operating rod 64. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the operating member 62 having the arm portion 62 a connected to the operating rod 64 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (A) in FIG. 9 against the urging force of the tension spring 65. . In this state, as shown in FIG. 8, the magnet 62 a of the actuating member 62 is disposed at a non-actuated position that deviates from the facing position of the valve body 72.

When the drive current is no longer supplied to the solenoid 63 from this state, the pulling of the operating rod 64 by the electromagnetic force is released. As a result, the actuating member 62 is rotated in the arrow (b) direction in FIG. 10 which is the reverse direction by the urging force of the tension spring 65, as shown in FIG.
When the actuating member 62 is rotated in the reverse direction in this way, the magnet 62a of the actuating member 62 is disposed at the actuating position that is the position opposed to the valve body 72, as shown in FIG.

  Then, the valve body 72 is pulled toward the magnet 62a by the valve main body 72a formed of a magnetic body against the urging force of the tension spring 73 by the magnetic force of the magnet 62a. As a result, the sealing material 72b of the valve body 72 is disposed in the flow path 71, the flow path 71 is closed, and the supply of ink from the cartridge 17 to the recording head is stopped.

As shown in FIG. 7, a cover displacement detection unit 81 that detects the displacement of the mounting unit opening / closing cover 7 is provided on the left side surface of the housing 32 that forms the cartridge mounting unit 15.
Here, the cover displacement detector 81 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 12, the housing 32 is provided with a cartridge attaching / detaching lever 82 whose lower end is rotatably connected, and the cartridge attaching / detaching cover 7 is integrally provided with the cartridge attaching / detaching lever 82.

The housing 32 is provided with an arm 84 that is swingably supported around a fulcrum 83. The arm 84 has one end abutting against a presser 82a formed on the cartridge attaching / detaching lever 82, The counterclockwise rotation in FIG. 12 is restricted.
An optical or mechanical sensor 85 that detects the other end of the arm 84 is provided near the other end of the arm 84.

In the cover displacement detection unit 81, when the cartridge attaching / detaching lever 82 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (d) in FIG. 12 by the opening operation of the mounting portion opening / closing cover 7 in the direction of the arrow (c) in FIG. The arm 84 that has been pressed by the pressing portion 82a of the lever 82 rotates about the fulcrum 83 on the housing 32 in the direction of the arrow (e) in FIG. As a result, the other end of the arm 84 is disengaged from the position near the sensor 85, and a detection signal is output from the sensor 85.
In the cover displacement detector 81, the arm 84 is rotated so that the arm 84 does not rotate more than necessary when the mounting portion opening / closing cover 7 is opened and the presser 82a is completely detached from the arm 84. A stopper 86 for restricting the range is provided.

Next, a specific structure of the cartridge mounting portion 15 will be described.
A waste ink introduction needle 51 that is inserted into and removed from the waste ink introduction port portion 48 of the ink cartridge 17 is provided in the waste ink introduction component 61 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, the waste ink introduction component 61 is guided by a guide groove 92 formed at the bottom of the cartridge mounting portion 15 and is slidable along the attachment / detachment direction of the ink cartridge 17.

The waste ink introduction component 61 has a tube connection port 61h for connecting the above-described waste ink feed tube 34. The waste ink introduction component 61 is not shown, but the waste ink introduction needle 51 is not shown. And a tube connection port 61h are formed.
That is, the waste ink storage space 44 of the ink cartridge 17 to which the waste ink introduction needle 51 is connected by the attachment to the cartridge attachment unit 15 is the flow path in the waste ink introduction component 61, the waste ink supply tube 34, the pipe joint. 31 and the waste ink feed tube 33 are connected to the waste ink feed pump of the ink suction mechanism 29, and the waste ink fed by the waste ink feed pump during the head cleaning operation and ink filling operation of the recording head be introduced.

The waste ink introduction component 61 is connected to a cartridge attaching / detaching link 94 that is rotatably connected via a pin 93 to a cartridge attaching / detaching lever 82 that rotates together with the mounting portion opening / closing cover 7.
As a result, when opening the attachment portion opening / closing cover 7, the cartridge attachment / detachment link 94 is pulled forward by the cartridge attachment / detachment lever 82 that rotates integrally with the attachment portion opening / closing cover 7 and integrated with the waste ink introduction component 61. Then, the ink cartridge 17 is pulled out to the front cartridge replacement position.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 15, the lever connecting portion 61j of the waste ink introducing component 61 to which the cartridge attaching / detaching link 94 is connected is long enough to fit the connecting pin 95 provided at the tip of the cartridge attaching / detaching link 94. The connecting pin 95 of the cartridge attaching / detaching link 94 can be moved in the elongated hole along the moving direction of the ink cartridge 17.

  That is, since the lever connecting portion 61j is a long hole, even if the cartridge attaching / detaching link 94 moves in the direction of pulling out the ink cartridge 17, the connecting pin 95 is removed from the long hole at the initial stage of the movement of the cartridge attaching / detaching link 94. The waste ink introduction component 61 does not move by moving as a play in the lever connecting portion 61j.

  When the mounting portion opening / closing cover 7 is opened, the ink cartridge 17 is detached from the cartridge use position by the forward movement of the cartridge attaching / detaching link 94. Then, as the ink cartridge 17 moves, the connection between the ink supply needle 46 and the ink cartridge 17 is released.

  When the ink cartridge 17 is pulled out to the cartridge replacement position, as shown in FIG. 16, the engagement piece 96 provided in the housing 32 is engaged with the engagement groove 61i formed in the waste ink introduction component 61, The waste ink introduction component 61 is fixed so as not to move back and forth. When the ink cartridge 17 is pulled out in this state, the waste ink introduction needle 51 and the ink cartridge 17 are disconnected, and the ink cartridge 17 is completely removed from the cartridge mounting portion 15.

Further, if the new ink cartridge 17 is pressed against the waste ink introduction component 61 in a state where the waste ink introduction component 61 is fixed by the engagement piece 96, the waste ink introduction needle 51 of the waste ink introduction component 61 is moved to the ink cartridge 17. Is fitted into the waste ink introduction port 48.
When the mounting portion opening / closing cover 7 is rotated in the closing direction from this state, the plate cam 97 protruding from the upper edge of the cartridge attaching / detaching link 94 is moved by the movement of the cartridge attaching / detaching link 94 connected to the cartridge attaching / detaching lever 82. Hits the locking cam 98 and pushes the locking cam 98 upward as shown by an arrow (g) in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 16, the locking cam 98 has a cam surface 98 a that receives an upward biasing force by contacting the plate cam 97 at the lower end, and is biased downward by a spring member (not shown). ing.
In addition, the engagement cam 96 is integrated with the back surface of the locking cam 98. That is, the engaging piece 96 and the locking cam 98 move up and down integrally. When the locking cam 98 rises due to the contact of the plate cam 97, the engaging piece 96 also rises together with the locking cam 98. .

Accordingly, by closing the mounting portion opening / closing cover 7 to a predetermined angle, when the plate cam 97 is raised by the locking cam 98, the engagement between the engagement piece 96 and the engagement groove 61i is disengaged, and the waste ink introduction component 61 is released. Becomes movable.
When the mounting portion opening / closing cover 7 is completely closed, as shown in FIG. 13, the waste ink introduction component 61 and the ink cartridge 17 are positioned at the cartridge use position, and ink is supplied to the ink discharge portion 45 of the ink cartridge 17. The needle 46 is connected.

Next, drive control by the control unit when the user carelessly removes the ink cartridge during the printing operation or the head cleaning operation by the recording head in the ink jet recording apparatus having the above structure will be described.
During the printing operation or the head cleaning operation by the recording head, when the mounting portion opening / closing cover 7 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (C) in FIG. It is rotated in the direction of arrow (d) in FIG.

Then, the arm 84 constituting the cover displacement detection unit 81 held by the holding portion 82a of the cartridge attaching / detaching lever 82 rotates about the fulcrum 83 on the housing 32 in the direction of the arrow (e) in FIG.
As a result, the other end of the arm 84 is disengaged from the position near the sensor 85, and a detection signal is output from the sensor 85.

  When a detection signal is output from the sensor 85 of the cover displacement detection unit 81, the control unit stops supplying drive current to the solenoid 63 that constitutes the choke valve 61. Then, the retracting of the operating rod 64 by the electromagnetic force in the solenoid 63 is released, and the operating member 62 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (B) in FIG. 10 by the urging force of the tension spring 65.

  As a result, the magnet 62a of the operating member 62 is disposed at the operating position opposite to the valve body 72 (see FIG. 11), and the valve main body 72a resists the biasing force of the tension spring 73 by the magnetic force of the magnet 62a. The sealing member 72b of the valve body 72 is disposed in the flow path 71, and the flow path 71 is closed.

Therefore, even if the ink cartridge 17 is subsequently removed from the cartridge mounting portion 15 and the ink supply needle 46 is pulled out from the ink discharge portion 45 of the ink cartridge 17, the ink supply needle 45 enters the flow path 71 in the negative pressure state. Inhalation of air is reliably prevented.
As a result, bubbles remain in the flow path 71, and it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of problems such as missing prints at the time of printing after the ink cartridge 17 is mounted, and printing can be performed satisfactorily.

  Further, the control unit stops the operation of the waste ink feed pump of the ink suction mechanism 29 by the output of the detection signal from the sensor 85 of the cover displacement detection unit 81. As a result, the operation of the waste ink feed pump is stopped even when the replacement process of the ink cartridge 17 that has been fed with the waste ink from the waste ink feed pump is started during the operation of the waste ink feed pump. A sufficient amount of elapsed time from when the ink cartridge 17 reaches the cartridge replacement position until it is further removed from the cartridge replacement position remains in the flow path from the waste ink feed pump to the waste ink introduction needle 51. The time for collecting the ink in the waste ink storage space 44 is allocated.

Therefore, the waste ink remaining in the flow path does not leak into the ink jet recording apparatus 1 because it has not been collected, and contamination of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 due to the waste ink can be prevented.
When the mounting unit opening / closing cover 7 is opened during cleaning, the control unit temporarily stops the cleaning operation, and the cartridge 17 is mounted and mounted based on the detection signal from the sensor 85 of the cover displacement detection unit 81. When it is confirmed that the part opening / closing cover 7 is closed, cleaning is performed again.

  Further, the drive current to the solenoid 63 constituting the choke valve 61 is also stopped when the power is turned off, the pulling of the operating rod 64 by the electromagnetic force in the solenoid 63 is released, and the operating member 62 is pulled. The spring 65 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (b) in FIG.

As a result, the magnet 62a of the operating member 62 is disposed at the operating position opposite to the valve body 72 (see FIG. 11), and the valve main body 72a resists the biasing force of the tension spring 73 by the magnetic force of the magnet 62a. The sealing member 72b of the valve body 72 is disposed in the flow path 71, and the flow path 71 is closed.
That is, in the ink jet recording apparatus 1, the flow path 71 is blocked by the choke valve 61 even when the power is turned off, so that even if the ink cartridge 17 is removed when the power is turned off, ink leakage from the ink supply needle 45 is ensured. Is prevented.

In the above embodiment, the choke valve 61 is operated to close the flow path 71 when the mounting portion opening / closing cover 7 is opened. However, the timing of closing the flow path 71 by the choke valve 61 is the cartridge 17. The ink supply needle 46 may be removed from the ink discharge portion 45 before the internal flow path of the ink supply needle 46 is opened.
Therefore, for example, an optical or mechanical sensor for detecting displacement in the removal direction of the cartridge 17 is provided, and the cartridge 17 attached to the cartridge attachment portion 15 is removed in the removal direction based on a detection signal from the sensor. The choke valve 61 may be actuated at the time when it is displaced to close the flow path 71.

1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state in which a roll paper cover and a mounting portion opening / closing cover of the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 are opened. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state where a printer case is removed from the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with a front upper panel, a case cover, and the like removed. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a positional relationship between an ink cartridge, an ink supply needle connected to the ink cartridge, and a waste ink introduction needle. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an ink cartridge mounted on a cartridge mounting unit. It is a perspective view of the principal part of an inkjet recording device. It is sectional drawing of the structure in an on-off valve part. It is a front view of the structure in an on-off valve part. It is a front view of the structure in an on-off valve part. It is sectional drawing of the structure in an on-off valve part. It is a side view explaining the cover displacement detection part of a cartridge mounting part. It is an expansion perspective view of a cartridge mounting part. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a state where a mounting unit opening / closing cover of the cartridge mounting unit is opened. FIG. 6 is a side view of a connecting portion between a waste ink introduction component and a cartridge attachment / detachment lever. FIG. 6 is a side view of a connecting portion between a waste ink introduction component and a cartridge attachment / detachment lever.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet recording apparatus, 7 ... Mounting part opening / closing cover, 15 ... Cartridge mounting part, 17 ... Ink cartridge, 45 ... Ink discharge part, 46 ... Ink supply needle, 61 ... Choke valve (opening / closing valve), 62a ... Magnet, 63 ... Solenoid, 71 ... Flow path, 72 ... Valve, 73 ... Tension spring, 85 ... Sensor.

Claims (5)

A cartridge mounting portion to which an ink cartridge is attached and detached; an ink supply needle that is inserted into an ink discharge portion of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion; and An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a flow path for guiding the ink of
Based on the detection signal from the sensor that detects the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridge in the cartridge mounting portion, the opening / closing valve that opens and closes the flow path, and the determination that the ink cartridge is removed from the cartridge mounting portion. And a controller that closes the flow path with the on-off valve before the internal flow path of the ink supply needle is opened.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor detects a displacement in an opening direction of a mounting portion opening / closing cover provided at a mounting port where the ink cartridge is attached to and detached from the cartridge mounting portion.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor detects a displacement in a removal direction of the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting unit.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the on-off valve is an electromagnetic valve that is driven by a drive signal from the control unit.   The on-off valve includes a valve body made of a magnetic material provided so as to be able to appear and retract with respect to the flow path, a tension spring that biases the valve body in a direction away from the flow path, and a biasing force of the tension spring. A magnet that attracts the valve body in a direction to block the flow path by magnetic force, and an operating position that moves the magnet based on a drive signal from the control unit and applies a magnetic force to the valve body; 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a solenoid disposed at any position where the magnetic force does not reach.

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