JP2007205222A - Tube pump and liquid jetting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tube pump causing neither erroneous suction nor suction failure of liquid by appropriately holding frictional force between a tube part and a roller part. <P>SOLUTION: The tube pump 100 has: a tube part 110 for sucking a liquid, a turning part 140 turning along the tube part, and a roller part 130 arranged to abut on the tube part. The turning part has a suction part 141a for arranging the roller part in a direction to crush the tube part; a release part 141b for arranging the roller part in a separating direction from the tube part; and a connecting part 141c connecting the suction part to the release part. Frictional force reinforcing parts 132 are arranged on the surface of the roller part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tube pump for sucking liquid and the like and a liquid ejecting apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ink jet recording apparatuses have an ink jet recording head for ejecting ink onto recording paper or the like. Since this ink jet recording head discharges ink onto recording paper or the like via a nozzle, the ink thickens in the vicinity of the nozzle or bubbles are mixed in the nozzle, making it impossible to discharge the ink satisfactorily. There was a fear.
For this reason, the ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a head cleaning device in order to avoid these phenomena.

The head cleaning device has a capping unit arranged so as to cover the nozzles and a pump for making negative pressure in the capping unit, and is configured to perform cleaning by sucking ink in the vicinity of the nozzles by the pump. ing.
As the pump, a tube pump having a relatively simple structure and easy to be miniaturized is used (for example, Patent Document 1).
As shown in FIG. 3 of the document, the tube pump 10 of Patent Document 1 uses a flexible tube 51 for sucking ink. The tube pump 10 is provided with a roller 43a. The roller 43a is arranged to crush the tube 51 and is configured to be moved in the arrow A direction. A negative pressure is generated in the flexible tube 51 by the movement of the roller 43a, and the ink is sucked.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 of the document, a pump wheel 42 that is rotated by a motor is formed, and a roller support groove 42 a is formed in the pump wheel 42.
The roller support groove 42a has suction side end portions and release side end portions at both ends thereof. When the roller 43 is disposed at the suction side end portion, the roller 43 is disposed at a position where the tube 51 is crushed.
On the other hand, if the roller 43 is arrange | positioned at the release side edge part, the roller 43 will be arrange | positioned in the direction away from the tube 51, ie, the position which is not crushed.
The change to the position of the roller 43 is specifically performed by changing the rotation direction of the pump wheel 42 in FIG.
That is, when the pump wheel 42 rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3, the roller support groove 42a also moves in the direction of arrow A. At this time, since the roller 43 is in contact with the tube 51 and stops at that position by the frictional force, the roller 43 relatively moves in the roller support groove 42a and reaches the suction side end.
On the other hand, when the roller 43 is arranged at the release side end, the pump wheel 42 is rotated in the reverse direction.
JP 2001-342975 A (FIG. 3 etc.)

  As described above, the frictional force between the tube 51 and the roller 43 is important to move the roller 43 relatively to the ink suction side end or the release side end (non-suction side) of the roller support groove 42a. is there. However, as the tube pump is used, this frictional force gradually decreases, and even when the pump wheel 42 is rotated, the roller 43 may not move in the roller support groove 42a. In this case, there has been a problem of causing erroneous suction or suction failure.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a tube pump and a liquid ejecting apparatus that appropriately maintain the frictional force between the tube portion and the roller portion, and that do not cause erroneous suction of liquid or poor suction.

  According to the present invention, the object includes a tube portion that sucks liquid, a rotating portion that rotates along the tube portion, and a roller portion that is disposed so as to contact the tube portion. The rotation unit includes a suction unit that arranges the roller unit in a direction in which the tube unit is crushed, a release unit that arranges the roller unit in a direction away from the tube unit, and the suction unit and the release unit. And a frictional force reinforcing portion is disposed on the surface of the roller portion. This is achieved by a tube pump.

According to the above configuration, since the frictional force reinforcing portion is disposed on the surface of the roller portion, the frictional force between the surface of the roller portion and the tube portion is reduced by using a tube pump as in the past, and Even if the moving part is rotated, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the roller part is difficult to move between the suction part and the release part via the connecting part.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink from being sucked erroneously and the suction failure.

  Preferably, in the tube pump, the frictional force reinforcing portion is a protruding portion formed to protrude from the surface of the roller portion.

  According to the above configuration, since the frictional force reinforcing portion is a protruding portion formed to protrude from the surface of the roller portion, the frictional force does not decrease, and the roller portion is connected to the suction portion and the release portion via the connecting portion. It can move smoothly between.

  Preferably, in the tube pump, the frictional force reinforcing part is a rough surface and / or a textured process formed on a surface of the roller part.

  According to the present invention, the subject includes a tube portion that sucks a liquid, a rotating portion that rotates along the tube portion, and a roller portion that is arranged to contact the tube portion, The rotating unit includes: a suction unit that arranges the roller unit in a direction to crush the tube unit; a release unit that arranges the roller unit in a direction away from the tube unit; and the suction unit and the release unit. It is achieved by a liquid ejecting apparatus having a tube pump, characterized in that a friction force reinforcing portion is disposed on the surface of the roller portion.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise stated, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “recording apparatus”) 10 according to an embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus having a tube pump of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 10 includes a frame 11, and a platen 12 is disposed on the frame 11. On the platen 12, the paper P is fed by a paper feed mechanism (not shown).
Further, the recording apparatus 10 includes a carriage 13, and the carriage 13 is supported so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the platen 12 via a guide member 14, and is reciprocated by a carriage motor 15 via a timing belt 16. It has become.

An ink jet recording head (hereinafter referred to as “recording head”) 20 is mounted on the lower portion of the carriage 13. The recording head 20 is configured to eject, for example, ink that is a liquid with respect to the paper P.
Specifically, the recording head 20 has a nozzle that ejects ink, and is configured to eject ink droplets from the nozzle by expansion and contraction of a piezoelectric vibrator.
An ink cartridge 17 that contains ink is detachably mounted on the carriage 13, and the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 17 to the recording head 20.
In other words, while the carriage 13 moves along the platen 12, the piezoelectric vibrator is expanded and contracted based on the print data, so that ink is ejected from the recording head 20 onto the paper P and printing is performed. ing.

In the frame 11 of FIG. 1, the paper P is arranged and has a print region T where printing is performed on the paper P. Further, the frame 11 has a home position H which is a non-printing area on one end side thereof.
The carriage 13 is configured to move between the printing region T and the home position H by moving along the platen 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a head cleaning mechanism 30 is disposed at the home position H. The head cleaning mechanism 30 has a cap holder 31 and a tube pump 100. The cap holder 31 is installed on the frame 11 so as to be movable up and down by a known lifting means (not shown).

  The head cleaning mechanism 30 has a cap 32. The cap 32 has a configuration in which the upper end edge of the cap 32 comes into contact with the nozzle plate or the like of the recording head 20 to seal the nozzles of the recording head 20.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 10 includes a blade 19. The blade 19 is in contact with the nozzle plate of the recording head 20 and performs a wiping operation by wiping off ink.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the head cleaning mechanism 30 and the like of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a sheet-like sponge 32 a is disposed at the bottom of the cap 32. The sponge 32a is configured to face the nozzles of the recording head 20 with a predetermined interval in a state where the cap 32 is in contact with the recording head 20, and absorb ink ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 20. .

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the cap 32 is formed with a discharge port 32b so as to penetrate the bottom surface thereof.
The tube pump 100 is provided in the frame 11 with the cap 32 sealing the nozzles of the recording head 20, reducing the pressure in the cap 32 to a negative pressure, and sucking ink from the nozzles of the recording head 20. The ink is discharged to the waste ink tank 33.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the main configuration of the tube pump 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the tube pump 100 includes, for example, a tube 110 that is a tube portion that sucks ink, which is a liquid.
As shown in FIG. 3, the tube 110 is integrally formed of rubber, resin, or the like, and has a single long shape. In addition, a cap side opening 111 for sucking ink and a waste ink tank side opening 112 for discharging ink are formed on both ends of the tube 110, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 3, the tube pump 110 has a case 120 for arranging the tubes 110 in a circular shape.
In addition, for example, a pump wheel 140 that is a rotating portion that rotates along the tube is formed inside the tube 110. The pump wheel 140 is configured to be rotatable in the arrow L direction or the arrow R direction in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the tube pump 100 includes, for example, a roller 130 that is a roller portion disposed so as to contact the tube 110. The roller 130 is disposed so as to be rotatable about a roller shaft 131.
4 is a schematic perspective view showing the roller 130 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the roller of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the roller 130 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a substantially hemispherical protrusion 132 formed so as to protrude is disposed on the surface thereof.
That is, the protrusion 132 is an example of a frictional force reinforcing portion formed on the surface of the roller 130.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 3, the roller 130 is configured to move along the tube 110.
Hereinafter, the moving configuration will be described. The pump wheel 140 of FIG. 3 has a suction part 141a for disposing the roller 130 in the direction in which the tube 110 is crushed, and a release part 141b for disposing the roller 130 in a direction away from the tube 110. Yes.
Further, the pump wheel 140 includes a connecting portion 141c that connects the suction portion 141a and the release portion 141b.
The suction portion 141a, the release portion 141b, and the connecting portion 141c form a roller shaft groove 141 that is a through hole.
That is, the roller 130 in FIG. 3 is configured to be movable in the roller shaft groove 141 via the roller shaft 131.

The movement of the roller 130 will be described below by taking, for example, the case where the roller 130 is disposed in the release unit 141b of FIG.
When the roller 130 is disposed in the release part 141b, the roller 130 does not crush the tube 110. Therefore, even if the roller 130 moves along the tube 110 together with the pump wheel 140 in the direction of the arrow R, it is appropriate. No negative pressure is generated and ink is not sucked.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the roller shaft 131 is disposed at the end portion of the roller shaft groove 141, which is the release portion 141b. This is because the roller shaft 131 is still pressed against the end of the release part 141b even if it moves to.

However, when the pump wheel 140 rotates in the reverse direction and the roller shaft groove 141 moves in the direction of the arrow L, the roller shaft 131 is released from the state of being pressed against the end portion side of the release portion 141b.
The roller 130 is in contact with the tube 110. For this reason, even if the roller shaft groove 141 moves in the direction of the arrow L in FIG. 3, the roller 130 does not move due to the frictional force with the tube 110 and stops there.
Therefore, the roller 130 relatively moves in the connecting portion 141c toward the suction portion 141a side by the movement of the roller shaft groove 141 in the arrow L direction, and reaches the suction portion 141a.
The roller shaft 131 of the roller 130 that has reached the suction portion 141a is pressed against the end portion side of the suction portion 141a and starts moving in the direction of the arrow L together with the roller shaft groove 141.
Since the roller 130 disposed in the suction portion 141a is in a state of crushing the tube 110, the ink is guided from the cap side opening 111 to the waste ink tank side opening 112 while generating an appropriate negative pressure in the tube 110. It will be.
In this way, the ink is guided from the cap 32 to the waste ink tank 33.

  When the ink suction is finished, the pump foil 140 rotates in the reverse direction, that is, in the direction of the arrow R. Then, the roller shaft groove 141 also moves in the arrow R direction. However, the roller 130 is stopped in place by the frictional force with the tube 110 as described above, the roller 130 is disposed in the release portion 141b, and the tube pump 100 is in a non-suction state of ink.

  As described above, the tube pump 100 moves the roller 130 between the suction part 141a and the release part 141b using the frictional force with the tube 110, and switches the ink suction state or the non-suction state.

However, conventionally, when a tube pump is used, the frictional force between the surface of the roller and the tube decreases, and for example, when the roller is moved relatively from the release portion 141b of FIG. 3 to the suction portion 141a. The roller slips on the surface of the tube and moves in the direction of the arrow L together with the roller shaft groove 141, so that there is a problem that it does not reach the suction part 141 a.
In this regard, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, since the protrusion 132 is formed on the surface of the roller 130, the roller 130 slides on the surface of the tube 110 as in the conventional case, and the suction portion It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation where the value does not reach 141a.
Therefore, the roller 130 can always be reliably disposed in the suction part 141a or the release part 141b which is a desired position, so that the tube pump 100 with high reliability that does not cause erroneous ink suction or suction failure is obtained.

In this embodiment, the protrusion 132 is formed on the surface of the roller 130. However, instead of the protrusion 131, the surface of the roller 130 may be roughened or textured.
Further, the surface of the roller 130 may be roughened or textured, and the protrusion 132 may be formed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The present invention is not limited to an ink jet recording apparatus, but a recording head used in an image recording apparatus such as a printer, a color material ejecting head used in manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, and an FED (surface emitting). Electrode material ejection heads used for electrode formation such as displays), liquid ejection devices using liquid ejection heads that eject liquids such as bio-organic matter ejection heads used in biochip manufacturing, sample ejection devices as precision pipettes, etc. Applicable.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus having a tube pump of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the head cleaning mechanism etc. of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the main structures of a tube pump. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the roller of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the roller of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Inkjet recording apparatus, 30 ... Head cleaning mechanism, 100 ... Tube pump, 110 ... Tube, 111 ... Cap side opening, 112 ... Waste ink tank side opening, 120. ..Case, 130 ... roller, 131 ... roller shaft, 132 ... projection, 140 ... pump wheel, 141 ... roller shaft groove, 141a ... suction part, 141b ... Release part, 141c ... connecting part

Claims (4)

A tube section for sucking liquid;
A rotating part that rotates along the tube part;
A roller portion disposed so as to contact the tube portion,
The rotating part is
A suction part for disposing the roller part in the direction of crushing the tube part;
A release portion for disposing the roller portion in a direction away from the tube portion;
A connecting part for connecting the suction part and the release part,
A tube pump, wherein a frictional force reinforcing portion is disposed on a surface of the roller portion.   The tube pump according to claim 1, wherein the frictional force reinforcing portion is a protruding portion formed to protrude from the surface of the roller portion.   3. The tube pump according to claim 1, wherein the frictional force reinforcing part is a rough surface and / or a textured process formed on a surface of the roller part. 4. A tube section for sucking liquid;
A rotating part that rotates along the tube part;
A roller portion disposed so as to contact the tube portion,
The rotating part is
A suction part for disposing the roller part in the direction of crushing the tube part;
A release portion for disposing the roller portion in a direction away from the tube portion;
A connecting part for connecting the suction part and the release part,
A liquid ejecting apparatus having a tube pump, wherein a frictional force reinforcing portion is disposed on a surface of the roller portion.

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