JP2008188895A - Liquid channeled material and liquid ejection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid channeled material which can suppress evaporation of moisture even without covering an ink tube with a liquid or sheet for prevention of moisture evaporation so as to prevent the evaporation of moisture in the ink tube, and to provide a liquid ejection apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid channeled material 1 has a channel 4 for the liquid. The liquid channeled material 1 is formed of a material with a flexibility. A layer 3 including a substance with a hydrophobicity is formed in the periphery outside of the channel 4 for the liquid. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid flow path forming body and a liquid ejecting apparatus.

  A so-called ink jet printer that forms an image on a printing paper by supplying ink from an ink cartridge storing ink to the printing head via an ink tube and ejecting the ink from the printing head onto the printing paper. Hereinafter, it is simply referred to as a printer). Such printers include a so-called on-carriage type in which an ink cartridge is mounted on a carriage together with a print head, and a so-called off-carriage type in which an ink cartridge is not mounted on a carriage and is fixed to the printer. There are two types.

  In an off-carriage type printer, the print head reciprocates together with the carriage, and therefore moves relative to the ink cartridge. Therefore, an ink tube is required to supply ink from the ink cartridge to the print head. The ink tube is required to be flexible so that the movement of the print head relative to the ink cartridge is allowed. Therefore, the ink tube is formed from a resin material having low hardness and elasticity so as to have flexibility.

  However, in general, a resin material having low hardness and elasticity has a large number of minute holes at the molecular level. For this reason, the water, which is the solvent of the ink, becomes water vapor from this hole, and is gradually discharged to the outside through this minute hole. Therefore, if the printer is not used for a long time, the ink density increases. As a result, there is a problem that the viscosity of the ink increases, ink cannot be normally ejected from the print head, and printing failure occurs.

  In particular, in an off-carriage type printer, it is necessary to dispose the ink cartridge outside the moving range of the carriage so that the ink cartridge does not interfere with the moving carriage. Therefore, the distance between the print head and the ink cartridge is long, and the length of the ink tube is also long. When the length of the ink tube is increased, the amount of water evaporation in the ink is increased correspondingly, and the problem of defective printing due to an increase in the viscosity of the ink is likely to occur.

  As means for solving this problem, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose the following configurations. In Patent Document 1, the ink tube has a double structure, the ink is allowed to flow in the inner tube, and a liquid that hardly evaporates such as glycerin is interposed outside the inner tube, that is, between the outer tube and the inner tube. The structure to be made is disclosed. According to this configuration, since the inner tube is covered with a liquid that is difficult to evaporate, such as glycerin, it is possible to suppress the evaporation of ink moisture from the inner tube. Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which an ink tube through which volatile ink flows is covered with a sheet through which volatile ink does not pass.

JP 2002-248780 A (see abstract, paragraph 0035, etc.) Japanese Patent No. 3588163 (see paragraph 0012, etc.)

  However, in the case of the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to seal the drawer portion so that the liquid in the outer tube does not leak out from the portion where the inner tube is drawn from the outer tube. Therefore, there is a problem in that the sealing portion deteriorates with time and the liquid covering the inner tube leaks. Further, in the case of the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, there is a problem that the sheet is torn when the deformation such as the ink tube is bent is repeated.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a liquid flow path forming body capable of suppressing the evaporation of moisture without covering the ink tube with a liquid or sheet for preventing moisture evaporation in order to prevent evaporation of moisture in the ink tube, and An object is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the liquid flow path forming body having a liquid flow path, the liquid flow path forming body is formed of a flexible material, and has a hydrophobic property around the outside of the liquid flow path. It is assumed that a layer containing a substance having s is formed. When the liquid flow path forming body is configured in this way, it is possible to suppress the evaporation of moisture of the liquid in the flow path while giving the liquid flow path forming body flexibility.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, the hydrophobic substance is a non-volatile oil. When the liquid flow path forming body is configured in this way, it is possible to more effectively suppress the evaporation of the moisture of the liquid in the flow path.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, the layer containing a hydrophobic substance is formed on the inner side of the outer peripheral surface of the liquid flow path forming body. When the liquid flow path forming body is configured in this way, it is possible to suppress the loss of the substance from the layer containing the hydrophobic substance.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, a plurality of flow paths are provided inside a layer containing a hydrophobic substance. When the liquid flow path forming body is configured in this way, a plurality of flow paths can be secured by a single liquid flow path forming body.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, a layer containing a hydrophobic substance is formed to be porous. When the liquid flow path forming body is configured in this way, the amount of the substance contained in the layer containing the hydrophobic substance can be increased, and the evaporation of moisture in the flow path can be more effectively suppressed. be able to.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-mentioned invention, the material having low hardness is an elastomer resin, rubber or polyvinyl chloride resin. When the liquid flow path forming body is configured in this way, flexibility can be stably obtained.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, the layer thickness of the layer containing the hydrophobic substance is thicker than the layer thickness of the layer not containing the hydrophobic substance inside the layer. When the liquid flow path forming body is configured in this way, evaporation of moisture in the flow path can be more effectively suppressed.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid storing unit that stores a liquid, a liquid ejecting head that ejects the liquid, and a carriage that reciprocates and is mounted with the liquid ejecting head, the liquid storing unit and the liquid The ejection head is connected to the above-described liquid flow path forming body. When the liquid ejecting apparatus is configured in this manner, it is possible to suppress evaporation of moisture of the liquid flowing from the liquid storing unit to the liquid ejecting head.

  In addition to the above-described invention, in another invention, the liquid storage portion and the liquid ejecting head include the above-described liquid flow path forming body and a hard liquid flow path formed of a material having higher hardness than the liquid flow path forming body. It is assumed that they are connected via a formed body. When the liquid ejecting apparatus is configured as described above, it is possible to more effectively suppress the evaporation of the water content of the liquid flowing from the liquid storage unit to the liquid ejecting head.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view in which a part of the liquid flow path forming body 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is cut out, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid flow path forming body 1 is composed of two layers, an inner layer 2 and an outer layer 3, and has a tubular shape as a whole.

  The inner layer 2 is formed from a resin material (for example, polyester elastomer resin) having low hardness and elasticity so as to have flexibility. The inside of the inner layer 2 is formed hollow, and this hollow portion is configured as a flow path 4 through which liquid flows. That is, the inner layer 2 is configured as a flow path forming layer that forms the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 4.

  The outer layer 3 is also formed of a resin material (for example, polyester elastomer resin) having low hardness and elasticity so as to have flexibility. However, the outer layer 3 is a hydrophobic substance against water. Therefore, it contains a non-volatile oil which is a low compatibility, that is, a hydrophobic liquid. In the liquid flow path forming body 1 of the present embodiment, the layer thickness A of the inner layer 2 and the layer thickness B of the outer layer 3 are configured such that B> A.

  The liquid flow path forming body 1 configured as described above is integrally formed by extruding the resin material forming the inner layer 2 and the resin material forming the outer layer 3. At this time, by extruding oil (the above-described non-volatile oil having hydrophobicity) to the resin material forming the outer layer 3 in advance, the extruded liquid flow path forming body 1 has the outer layer 3. Will contain oil.

  As described above, the liquid flow path forming body 1 is formed of a resin material having both low hardness and elasticity, so that the liquid flow path forming body 1 is also flexible as a whole. Have. Therefore, the linear shape of the liquid flow path forming body 1 in the length direction can be freely changed within a range where bending is allowed. Therefore, when the liquid flow path forming body 1 is laid in various apparatuses and places, the degree of freedom of the linear shape of the liquid flow path forming body 1 can be increased.

  In addition, since the liquid flow path forming body 1 is configured so that the outer layer 3 contains oil, the water evaporates from the liquid flow path forming body 1 when a liquid containing water flows through the flow path 4. Can be effectively suppressed. For example, when an ink containing water as a solvent flows as a liquid in the flow path 4, even if the water in the solvent tries to evaporate through the inner layer 2, the passage of water vapor is prevented in the outer layer 3 containing oil. For this reason, it can suppress effectively that a water | moisture content evaporates from an ink.

  By the way, when ink comes into contact with oil, it reacts sensitively and tends to cause coagulation and alteration. However, in the liquid flow path forming body 1, the inner layer 2 in contact with the ink is formed of a resin material that does not contain oil. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink from touching the oil or the oil contained in the outer layer 3 from being dissolved into the liquid flowing through the flow path 4.

  As described above, in the inner layer 2, the liquid in the flow path 4 may come into contact with the oil contained in the outer layer 3, or the oil contained in the outer layer 3 may be dissolved into the liquid in the flow path 4. It plays the role of making it disappear. Therefore, the layer thickness A of the inner layer 2 needs to be a thickness that can secure a strength that does not easily cause a crack even when the liquid flow path forming body 1 is repeatedly deformed. This is because when a crack has occurred, the liquid in the flow path 4 may ooze out from the crack to the outer layer 3 side and react with the oil contained in the outer layer 3.

  On the other hand, the outer layer 3 has a higher effect of suppressing moisture evaporation as the layer thickness B increases. Therefore, when there is a limit to the layer thickness C (= A + B), the layer thickness A is set to the minimum thickness that can ensure the above-described strength, and the layer thickness B is made as thick as possible within the range of the layer thickness C. As a result, evaporation of water in the liquid in the flow path 4 can be effectively suppressed. Further, by setting the layer thickness A to be the minimum thickness that can ensure the above-mentioned strength and the layer thickness B to be the minimum thickness that can suppress the evaporation amount of water to a predetermined amount, the layer thickness C (= A + B) is set. The outer diameter of the liquid flow path forming body 1 can be reduced.

  Moreover, since the inner layer 2 has flexibility, it has high strength against deformation such as bending. On the other hand, even if the outer layer 3 contains oil, it has a low hardness and therefore tends to pass water vapor more easily than a material having a high hardness. Therefore, by setting B> A, it is possible to effectively prevent evaporation of moisture and contact between the oil contained in the outer layer 3 and the liquid flowing through the flow path 4 while keeping the layer thickness C thin. it can. Note that the size of oil molecules is larger than the size of water molecules. That is, oil is less likely to penetrate into the inner layer 2 than water vapor penetrates into the inner layer 2. Therefore, even if the layer thickness A is reduced, it is possible to prevent the oil of the outer layer 3 from passing through the inner layer 2 and penetrating to the inner peripheral surface of the inner layer 2.

  Note that the layer thickness A of the inner layer 2 and the layer thickness B of the outer layer 3 do not necessarily have to be B> A, as described above, and the strength against the bending of the liquid flow path forming body 1 and the evaporation of moisture If it can be suppressed, A> B or A = B may be satisfied.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the liquid flow path forming body 5 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which a part of the liquid flow path forming body 5 is cut out similarly to the liquid flow path forming body 1 according to the first embodiment described above, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view thereof. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the liquid flow path forming body 5 is composed of three layers, an inner layer 6, a middle side layer 7, and an outer layer 8. As a tube.

  Like the inner layer 2 of the liquid flow path forming body 1 according to the first embodiment, the inner layer 6 is formed of a resin material having low hardness and elasticity so as to have flexibility. Moreover, the inside of the inner layer 6 is formed in a hollow shape, and this hollow portion is configured as a flow path 9 through which a liquid flows. The middle layer 7 is formed of a resin material having low hardness and elasticity so as to be flexible, like the outer layer 3 of the liquid flow path forming body 1 according to the first embodiment. At the same time, non-volatile oil is included as a hydrophobic substance. The outer layer 8 is formed from the same resin material as the inner layer 2.

  The liquid flow path forming body 5 configured as described above is integrally formed by extruding the resin material forming the inner layer 6, the resin material forming the inner layer 7, and the resin material forming the outer layer 8. Molded. By extruding oil (the above-mentioned non-volatile oil having hydrophobicity) in advance with the resin material forming the inner layer 7, the extruded liquid flow path forming body 5 is formed on the inner layer 7. Oil will be included.

  In the liquid flow path forming body 5 in the second embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the inner layer 7 is covered with the outer layer 8 in addition to the effects in the first embodiment described above. Loss of oil contained in the side layer 7 can be suppressed.

  Further, since the inner layer 7 is covered with the outer layer 8 that does not contain oil, even if the finger touches the liquid flow path forming body 5, the oil adheres to the finger or the liquid flow path forming body 5. Even if another object touches, it can prevent that oil adheres to another object. It is also possible to prevent the oil from being exposed to the outside air and being oxidized and denatured. Since oil molecules are larger than water molecules, oil loss and the like can be effectively suppressed even when the outer layer 8 is thin. That is, the outer layer 8 needs only to have a thickness necessary for preventing loss of oil in the inner layer 7 and the like. Further, by thinning the outer layer 8 in this way, it is possible to prevent the flexibility of the liquid flow path forming body 5 from being impaired more than necessary.

  The layer thickness A of the inner layer 6 and the layer thickness B of the middle layer 7 are the layer thickness A of the inner layer 2 and the layer thickness B of the outer layer 3 of the liquid flow path forming body 1 according to the first embodiment. It is preferable to make the relationship.

  In the second embodiment described above, a sealing member such as a film is attached to the end of the liquid flow path forming body 5 so that the inner layer 7 is not completely exposed to the outside. Also good. Thereby, the loss etc. of the liquid (oil) which has hydrophobicity can be suppressed more.

(Third embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the liquid flow path forming body 10 according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a perspective view in which a part of the liquid flow path forming body 10 is cut out, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view thereof. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the liquid flow path forming body 10 is composed of two layers, an inner layer 11 and an outer layer 12.

  Like the inner layer 2 in the first embodiment, the inner layer 11 is formed of a resin material having low hardness and elasticity so as to have flexibility. Six hollow portions extending in parallel to each other are formed inside the inner layer 11, and these hollow portions are each configured as a flow path 13 through which a liquid flows. Each of the six flow paths 13 is partitioned from each other by a partition wall 14.

  The outer layer 12 is also composed of a resin material having low hardness and elasticity so as to have flexibility, like the outer layer 3 in the first embodiment described above. It has low compatibility with water, that is, contains a non-volatile oil as a hydrophobic substance.

  And the liquid flow path formation body 10 comprised as mentioned above is shape | molded integrally by extrusion-molding the resin material which forms the inner side layer 11, and the resin material which forms the outer side layer 12. FIG. By extruding oil to the resin material forming the outer layer 12 in advance, the extruded liquid flow path forming body 10 has oil (non-volatile oil having hydrophobicity described above) in the outer layer 12. Will be included.

  The liquid flow path forming body 10 according to the third embodiment includes one channel by forming a plurality of flow paths 13 in the liquid flow path forming body 10 in addition to the effects of the first embodiment described above. The plurality of flow paths 13 can be secured by the liquid flow path forming body 10. Further, by forming a plurality of flow paths 13 in the liquid flow path forming body 10, the ratio of the surface area of the outer periphery of the liquid flow path forming body 10 to the total surface area of each flow path 13 is the above-described liquid flow path forming body. As compared with the case where one flow path is formed for one liquid flow path forming body such as 1 and 5, it becomes smaller. For this reason, evaporation of moisture in the flow path 13 can be further suppressed.

  The layer thickness A of the inner layer 11 and the layer thickness B of the outer layer 12 are the layer thickness A of the inner layer 2 and the layer thickness B of the outer layer 3 of the liquid flow path forming body 1 according to the first embodiment. It is preferable to have a relationship. The outer layer 12 may be covered with a layer of resin material that does not contain the same oil as the inner layer 11. With this configuration, even if a finger touches the liquid flow path forming body 10, oil adheres to the finger, or even if another object touches the liquid flow path forming body 10, the oil does not flow. Can be prevented from adhering to the object. It is also possible to prevent the oil from being oxidized by the outside air. Furthermore, loss of oil contained in the outer layer 12 can be suppressed.

(Fourth Embodiment / Configuration of Liquid Ejecting Device)
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of an ink jet printer 15 (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) as a liquid ejecting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the liquid flow path forming body described above as the liquid flow path forming body. An example using 10 is shown. In FIG. 7, the X direction is described as the left-right direction, the Y direction as the front-rear direction, and the Z direction as the up-down direction.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the printer 15 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 16 that is long in the left-right direction. A printing mechanism 17 and an ink supply mechanism 18 are disposed in the housing 16.

  The printing mechanism 17 includes a platen 19, a guide shaft 20, a carriage 21, and the like.

  The platen 19 has a rectangular parallelepiped thin plate shape, and is disposed in the lower portion of the housing 16. The platen 19 is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the housing 16, that is, in the left-right direction along the longitudinal direction of the platen 19 with respect to the housing 16. Is built. The platen 19 is disposed between a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray (not shown). Then, a printing paper serving as a printing medium is fed from a paper feed tray (not shown) through the platen 19 to a paper discharge tray (not shown) by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown). On the platen 19, ink is applied to the printing paper that is the application target of ink, and an image is formed on the paper surface.

  A guide shaft 20 is installed above the platen 19 in parallel with the platen 19. The guide shaft 20 supports a carriage 21 that moves while being guided by the guide shaft 20. A carriage driving motor (not shown) is provided in the housing 16, and the motor and the carriage 21 are connected via a timing belt (not shown). Therefore, the carriage 21 receives a driving force of a motor (not shown) via a timing belt (not shown) and can reciprocate along the guide shaft 20.

  A print head 22, which is a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink supplied from the ink supply mechanism 18, is provided on the lower surface of the carriage 21. A plurality of ejection nozzles (not shown) are provided on the lower surface side of the print head 22. A piezoelectric element (not shown) is provided inside the print head 22 corresponding to each ejection nozzle (not shown). Then, each piezoelectric element is driven and controlled so that ink (liquid) supplied from the ink supply mechanism 18 is ejected downward from an ejection nozzle (not shown).

  A plurality of sub tanks (also referred to as valve units) 23 are mounted on the carriage 21, and the ink is temporarily supplied from the ink supply mechanism 18 into the sub tank 23, and the ink in the sub tank 23 is ejected from the ejection nozzle ( (Not shown).

  The ink supply mechanism 18 includes ink cartridge holders 24 and 24, ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25 and 25, pressure pumps 26 and 26, a liquid flow path forming body 10, and the like.

  A plurality of ink cartridges (not shown) are detachably mounted in the ink cartridge holders 24, 24, and ink is stored in these ink cartridges. The ink cartridge holders 24, 24 are disposed at left and right positions inside the housing 16, which are positions away from the moving area of the carriage 21, and are attached to the ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25, 25. The ink cartridge holders 24, 24 are fixedly provided to the housing 16 by being attached to the ink cartridge holder attachment bodies 25, 25. That is, the ink jet printer 15 according to the present embodiment is configured as a so-called off-carriage type printer in which an ink cartridge (not shown) does not move with the carriage.

  Above the ink cartridge holders 24, 24, pressurizing pumps 26, 26 configured by bellows pumps or the like are provided. The pressure pumps 26 and 26 are deformed so that the ink pack in the ink cartridge (not shown) is crushed, so that the ink stored in the ink cartridge is formed in the ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25 and 25. Sent to the liquid flow path portions 27 and 27.

  The ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25, 25 are base materials 28, 28 formed from a resin material having high hardness (for example, acrylic resin) and front surfaces of the base materials 28, 28 (surfaces facing the carriage 21). It has films 29 and 29 made of thermoplastic resin fixed to certain front surfaces 28f and 28f. The films 29 and 29 are configured such that, for example, a plurality of thermoplastic resin layers such as polypropylene or polyethylene are laminated on a layer on which polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, aluminum, or the like is laminated, and water vapor does not pass therethrough. .

  Grooves 30 and 30 in which openings are formed along the respective front surfaces 28f and 28f are formed on the front surfaces 28f and 28f of the base materials 28 and 28, and the films 29 and 29 have openings in the grooves 30 and 30 formed therein. It is affixed on the base materials 28 and 28 by thermocompression bonding or the like so as to be sealed. The liquid channel portions 27 and 27 are formed by sealing the openings of the groove portions 30 and 30 with the films 29 and 29. That is, the ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25, 25 are configured as a liquid flow path forming body having high hardness as a whole.

  The groove portions 30, 30 are formed with holes (not shown) that pass back and forth in the portions of the ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25, 25 where the ink cartridge holders 24, 24 are attached. The path portions 27 and 27 are liquid-tightly connected to an ink cartridge (not shown). Further, the connection portions 31, 31 for connecting the liquid flow path portions 27, 27 and the liquid flow path formation body 10 in a liquid-tight state to the tip portions of the ink cartridge holders 24, 24 on the liquid flow path formation body 10 side. Is provided. Therefore, the ink sent from the ink cartridge (not shown) to the liquid flow path portions 27 and 27 flows to the liquid flow path forming body 10 through the liquid flow path portions 27 and 27.

  The ink sent from the ink cartridge (not shown) to the liquid flow path portions 27 and 27 passes through the liquid flow path forming body 10 and is temporarily stored in the sub tank 23, and the stored ink is ejected nozzles of the print head 22. (Not shown) is injected downward.

  The ink cartridges (not shown) and the sub tanks 23 are provided for the number of ink colors (for example, six colors of black, yellow, magenta, cyan, light magenta, and light cyan). Note that three ink cartridges (not shown) are provided on the left and right sides, and each stores ink of different colors. Further, the liquid flow path portions 27 and 27 and the liquid flow path forming body 1 are also formed with a flow path for each ink color. Accordingly, each color ink in the ink cartridge (not shown) flows through the liquid flow path portions 27 and 27 and the liquid flow path forming body 1 without being mixed with the other color inks, and enters the corresponding sub tanks 23 respectively. Will be stored.

  In the off-carriage type printer 15, an ink cartridge (not shown) is fixed to the housing 16. Therefore, the member that forms the ink flow path between the sub tank 23 mounted on the carriage 21 and the ink cartridge (not shown) is required to be flexible so that the carriage 21 is allowed to move. Therefore, in the printer 15 of the present embodiment, the flexible liquid flow path forming body 10 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) is interposed between the sub tank 23 and the ink cartridge (not shown). The carriage 21 can be moved relative to an ink cartridge (not shown) fixed to the housing 16.

  In general, when the flow path is formed of a material with high hardness and when it is formed of a material with low hardness, the material with high hardness tends to be harder to pass water vapor than the material with low hardness. Therefore, if the flow path is formed between the ink cartridge (not shown) and the sub tank 23 by a member made of a material having the same hardness as that of the ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25, 25, for example, the ink Evaporation of ink moisture from the flow path from the cartridge (not shown) to the sub tank 23 can be effectively suppressed. However, in an off-carriage type printer, the carriage 21 needs to be configured to be movable with respect to an ink cartridge (not shown). For this reason, it is impossible to form a flow path between the ink cartridge (not shown) and the sub tank 23 by a member having a high hardness.

  On the other hand, when all the flow paths between the ink cartridge (not shown) and the sub tank 23 are formed of a flexible material having low hardness and elasticity, the movement of the carriage 21 is facilitated. The amount of ink water evaporated from the flow path increases. Therefore, if the printer 15 is not used for a long period of time, the water content of the ink staying in the flow path evaporates, the ink concentration increases, and the ink viscosity increases. As a result, the ink nozzle Ink ejection from the ink cannot be performed normally, and printing failure occurs.

  On the other hand, in the printer 15 according to the present embodiment, the liquid flow path portions 27 and 27 formed in the ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25 and 25 and the liquid are disposed between the ink cartridge (not shown) and the carriage 21. The flow path forming body 10 is connected. Therefore, the evaporation of the moisture of the ink can be extremely effectively suppressed in the liquid flow path portions 27, 27 of the ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25, 25.

  On the other hand, the liquid flow path forming body 10 is flexible because it is formed of a resin material having low elasticity, and the carriage 21 is allowed to move in the liquid flow path forming body 10. Furthermore, in the liquid flow path forming body 10, as described above, since the outer layer 12 contains oil, it is possible to effectively suppress the evaporation of the moisture of the ink. As described above, the printer 15 as a whole has a very low evaporation of water due to the ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25 and 25 in which the liquid flow path portions 27 and 27 are formed and the liquid flow path formation body 10. The carriage 21 is allowed to move in the liquid flow path forming body 10.

  Therefore, of the flow path from the ink cartridge (not shown) to the sub tank 23, the minimum length portion necessary for securing a predetermined movement amount necessary for the normal printing operation of the carriage 21 is the liquid flow path. The formed body 10 is formed, and the remaining flow paths are formed by the ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25 and 25. With this configuration, the movement of the carriage 21 is allowed in the liquid flow path forming body 10, and the evaporation of ink moisture is extremely effective in the liquid flow path portions 27 and 27 of the ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25 and 25. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress the evaporation of ink moisture in the flow path (flow path 13, liquid flow path portions 27, 27) from the ink cartridge (not shown) to the sub tank 23.

  Since the printer 15 has six color ink cartridges (not shown), the six flow paths 13 of the liquid flow path forming body 10 are formed corresponding to the number of colors. It is set appropriately according to the number of ink colors. For example, when the ink has four colors and four ink cartridges (not shown), the number of the flow paths 13 is four, or the ink has eight colors and eight ink cartridges (not shown). The number of the flow paths 13 is eight. Further, the sub tank 23 and the ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25, 25 may be connected by the number of liquid flow path forming bodies 1 or the number of liquid flow path forming bodies 5 corresponding to the number of colors of ink.

  In each of the embodiments described above, examples of the resin material having low elasticity that forms the liquid flow path forming body 1, the liquid flow path forming body 5, and the liquid flow path forming body 10 include polypropylene and polyester elastomer resin. , Polyurethane elastomer resin, elastomer resin such as olefinic thermoplastic elastomer, rubber such as silicone rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, or polyvinyl chloride resin, polyethylene etc. can be used, hardness is hardness About 10 to 70, and the degree of elasticity is such that the liquid flow path forming bodies 1, 5, 10 do not bend (bend) due to their own weight and can follow the movement of the carriage 21. Set. The hardness is preferably in the range of 30 to 50, so that the amount of water vapor can be kept low in the inner layers 2, 6, and 11 that are oil-free layers, and the liquid flow path Flexibility can be secured to such an extent that the formed bodies 1, 5, 10 are not bent (bent) by their own weight and can suitably follow the movement of the carriage 21.

  Examples of the hydrophobic substance contained in the outer layer 3 of the liquid flow path forming body 1, the inner layer 7 of the liquid flow path forming body 5, and the outer layer 12 of the liquid flow path forming body 10 include poly-alphaolefin, In addition to non-volatile oils such as liquid paraffin, mineral oil and polychlorinated bifel, liquids such as esters can be used.

  As the resin material for forming the base materials 28 and 28 of the ink cartridge holder mounting bodies 25 and 25, acrylic or ABS can be used, and the hardness is set to 70 or more so that the base materials 28 and 28 are used. Evaporation of moisture from the water can be effectively suppressed. Preferably, by setting the hardness in the range of 85 to 95, evaporation of moisture can be suppressed more effectively, and by having a slight elasticity, when an object or the like collides with the base materials 28 and 28, The impact is absorbed, and the base material 28, 28 can be prevented from being damaged.

(Modification)
The outer layer 3 of the liquid flow path forming body 1, the inner layer 7 of the liquid flow path forming body 5, and the outer layer 12 of the liquid flow path forming body 10 are formed in a porous shape. You may make it contain the liquid which has. Thus, by forming the layer containing the hydrophobic liquid in a porous manner, the amount of the hydrophobic liquid can be increased, and the evaporation of moisture in the flow paths 4, 9, and 13 is more effective. Can be suppressed.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the liquid flow path forming body 1, the liquid flow path forming body 5, and the liquid flow path forming body 10 are integrally formed by extrusion molding. However, the tubular members corresponding to the respective layers are separately formed. Alternatively, the inner tubular member may be inserted into the outer tubular member.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, a liquid such as oil is used as the hydrophobic substance. However, the hydrophobic substance is a grease-like semi-solid or solid state, and the outer layer 3 is in a solid state. Further, it may be contained in the inner layer 7 and the outer layer 12.

It is the perspective view which cut out a part of liquid flow path formation object concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the liquid flow path formation body shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which cut out a part of liquid channel formation object concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the liquid flow path formation body shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which cut out a part of liquid flow path formation object concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the liquid flow path formation body shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part illustrating a schematic configuration of the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,5,10 ... Liquid flow-path formation body, 4, 9, 13 ... Flow path, 3,12 ... Outer layer (layer containing the liquid which has hydrophobicity), 7 ... Middle side layer (liquid which has hydrophobicity) Layer), 22 ... print head (liquid ejecting head), 21 ... carriage, 15 ... ink jet printer (liquid ejecting apparatus)

Claims (9)

In a liquid flow path forming body having a liquid flow path,
The liquid flow path forming body is formed of a flexible material,
A liquid flow path forming body, wherein a layer containing a hydrophobic substance is formed around the outside of the liquid flow path.   The liquid flow path forming body according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic substance is a non-volatile oil.   3. The liquid flow path forming body according to claim 1, wherein the layer containing the hydrophobic substance is formed inside an outer peripheral surface of the liquid flow path forming body.   The liquid flow path forming body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of the flow paths are arranged inside the layer containing the hydrophobic substance.   The liquid flow path forming body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the layer containing the hydrophobic substance is formed to be porous.   The liquid flow path forming body according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the material having flexibility is an elastomer resin, rubber, or polyvinyl chloride resin.   The layer thickness of the layer containing the substance having hydrophobicity is thicker than the layer thickness of the layer not containing the substance having hydrophobicity inside the layer. The liquid flow path forming body as described. In a liquid ejecting apparatus having a liquid storing unit that stores liquid, a liquid ejecting head that ejects the liquid, and a carriage that is mounted with the liquid ejecting head and reciprocates.
8. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage unit and the liquid ejecting head are connected via the liquid flow path forming body according to claim 1.   The liquid storage section and the liquid ejecting head include a liquid flow path forming body according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and a hard liquid flow path formed of a material having a higher hardness than the liquid flow path forming body. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is connected via a forming body.

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