JP2007160871A - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recording device which can keep the ink mist taken from the inside of the recording device liquified for an easy treatment of the resulting waste liquid accumulated this time. <P>SOLUTION: In a suction means to suck mist and air, are in turn arranged on a wind path an air intake, a filter, a liquefaction part, a suction fan, and an exhaust port. A waste liquid tank is provided to hold the waste liquid which is liquified from the ink mist through the filter. The waste liquid tank is designed to be exchangeable when it is full. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus mounted on an output device such as a printer, a copying machine, or a facsimile.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus, when ink is recorded to record an image (referred to as printing), fine mist droplets (ink mist) may be generated along with main droplets related to printing. The ink mist is a fine droplet compared to the main droplet and has a remarkably slow movement speed, and most of the ink mist does not land on the recording medium. For this reason, it is diffused in the air inside the recording apparatus by the airflow caused by the reciprocating movement of the carriage and floats in the air.

For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 can be cited as conventional examples.
JP 2002-144650 A JP 2001-171203 A

  It is easy to suck such ink mist with an intake means such as a fan and simply exhaust it out of the recording apparatus as it is. However, this will unnecessarily stain the surroundings. However, the ink mist is a fine droplet but is different from powder or solid matter. Therefore, it is necessary to liquefy the ink mist in the recording apparatus and to clean the exhaust air.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of liquefying ink mist sucked from the inside of the recording apparatus and easily processing waste liquid accumulated at that time.

  In order to achieve the above object, the configuration of the present invention includes: an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium using a recording head that discharges ink in a recording unit; An exhaust port for discharging to the outside, an air flow path connecting the intake port and the exhaust port, a fan for generating an air flow from the intake port through the air flow channel to the exhaust port, and the air flow channel An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a filter provided to liquefy mist contained in an air flow; and a detachable tank for storing mist liquefied by the filter.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of liquefying ink mist that has been sucked from the inside of the recording apparatus and easily processing the waste liquid accumulated at that time.

  FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example 1 of the intake means.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example 2 of the intake means.

(First embodiment)
Ink mist is generated in the recording apparatus by the scanning operation of the carriage 1 on which the recording head 2 is mounted. Ink mist is sucked by the suction means 20.

  This will be described in the order of air flow.

  Air flows from the intake port 7 through the duct 3 to the outside of the recording apparatus in the order of the intermediate tank 5, the intake fan 8, and the exhaust port 9. The air flow is indicated by an air flow F.

  The air inlet 7 is disposed between the guide rail 31 of the carriage 1 and the roller 32 that conveys the paper, and is in the vicinity of the print portion of the carriage and sucks ink mist. In the figure, there are six locations.

  The duct 3 is covered with a filter 4. The filter 4 is optimally foamed urethane, having a fiber diameter of 0.3 to 1 mm, and a density of 8 holes per inch (a hole diameter of about 3 mm). The length through which air passes is optimally 10 to 200 mm. If the air path is several mm, the ink mist will not collide and will pass to the exhaust port. The ink mist which is a fine droplet penetrates into the mesh of the filter 4 together with air, collides with the filter fiber several times, and liquefies. In order to promote this liquefaction, deflecting plates 21 and 22 are provided for the purpose of deflecting the airflow. The air current is waved near the deflection plate.

  The airflow E after passing through the fan becomes clean air.

  The liquefied ink mist becomes waste ink droplets 103 and accumulates in the intermediate tank 5. A waste liquid tank 6 is provided in the intermediate tank 5 via a connecting pipe 10. The waste liquid tank 6 is detachable from the intermediate tank 5 by a connecting pipe 10. When the waste liquid accumulates to some extent in the intermediate tank 5, it flows from the connecting pipe 10 to the waste liquid tank 6. The waste liquid tank 6 is provided with a full sensor 11. When the tank is full, the waste liquid tank 6 is replaced.

(Second embodiment)
In the above-described configuration, a centrifugal fan having rotating blades is optimal as the intake fan 8 because the static pressure down is small and the air flow rate is large. However, when a small amount of ink mist that cannot be liquefied reaches the rotor blade and accumulates, a liquid pool is formed in the vicinity of the intake fan 8. A drain 12 is connected to the upper part of the waste liquid tank 6. Thus, by collecting the waste liquid before and after the intake fan, the collected waste liquid can be easily replaced while the exhaust gas is clean.

1 is an overall perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus. Configuration example 1 of intake means. Configuration example 2 of intake means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 2 Recording head 3 Duct 4 Filter 5 Intermediate tank 6 Waste liquid tank 7 Intake port 8 Intake fan 9 Exhaust port 10 Connecting pipe 20 Intake means F Airflow

Claims (1)

In an inkjet recording apparatus that records on a recording medium using a recording head that discharges ink in a recording unit,
An air inlet for sucking air from the recording unit;
An exhaust port for exhausting air out of the device;
An air flow path connecting the intake port and the exhaust port;
A fan that generates an air flow from the intake port through the air flow path to the exhaust port;
A filter provided in the air flow path for liquefying mist contained in the air flow;
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a removable tank for storing mist liquefied by the filter.

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