JP2009051073A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recorder equipped with a multiple spring pinch valve by which a required power of driving source is reduced when controlling two or more ink channels by the pinch valve operated with a driving source. <P>SOLUTION: When controlling the flow of ink in the tubular ink channel of the ink jet recorder by the pinch valve, the multiple spring pinch valve is divided into two or more groups, and one-way clutch is installed on the drive shaft for every multiple spring pinch valve divided into groups, and the torque received from the driving source is made to be transmitted only to the arbitrary rotational directions, and then only the pinch valve installed on the drive shaft to which the rotation has been transmitted is operated. Thereby, the load of the driving source for driving the pinch valve is reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that controls an ink flow rate of an ink flow path by a pinch valve.

  As a conventional multiple pinch valve, a plurality of cams are driven by a single shaft, and the tube is directly pressed by the cam, or the tube is pressed via a pressing plate between the cam and the tube, and the liquid in the tube is What stops the flow is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus capable of color printing, inks of a plurality of colors such as black, yellow, cyan, magenta, light cyan, and light magenta are used. In addition, there are inkjet recording apparatuses that use a large number of colors. An ink jet recording apparatus stores ink in an ink tank and ejects the ink from an ink jet head to form an image on a print medium. Ink is supplied from an ink tank to an inkjet head through an ink flow path such as a tube. In the ink flow path from the ink tank to the inkjet head, the ink flow is controlled by pressurizing or depressurizing with a pump or the like. In addition to the pump, the above-described pinch valve is used to control the ink flow. When adjusting the flow rate of the ink flow path using a plurality of pinch valves that operate with a single drive source, the plurality of pinch valves operate in synchronization.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pinch valve when a plurality of pinch valves are operated with the same rotation shaft connected to the ink flow path of the conventional ink jet recording apparatus. For example, there is an ink jet recording apparatus in which when supplying ink from an ink tank to an ink jet head, two sub tanks are inserted in parallel in the middle of the ink flow path so that the ink supply is not interrupted. If six colors of ink are used, twelve subtanks are required. Tubes are attached to the entrances and exits of each sub tank, and 24 tubes are controlled to open and close with pinch valves.

  A stepping motor 500 is used as a driving source. The pinch valve is operated by transmitting the rotational force of the stepping motor to the gear 502 attached to the drive shaft 501 of the pinch valve. A single drive source can control a plurality of pinch valves.

  The K1 valve 503 and the K2 valve 506 are black ink pinch valves. An inlet tube 504 through which ink flows in from the ink tank direction and an outlet tube 505 through which ink flows out in the direction of the ink jet head are connected to the first sub tank for black ink to form an ink flow path. An inlet tube 507 through which ink flows in from the ink tank direction and an outlet tube 508 through which ink flows out in the ink jet head direction are connected to the second sub tank for black ink to form an ink flow path. The K1 valve 503 has two pinch valves in the housing, and can control the ink flow rate of two tubes.

  Similarly, as the pinch valve for yellow ink, the Y1 valve 509 and the Y2 valve 510 control the amount of ink flowing through the respective tubes connected to the inlets and outlets of the two sub-tanks for yellow ink. As a pinch valve for cyan ink, a C1 valve 511 and a C2 valve 512 control the amount of ink flowing to the respective tubes connected to the inlet and outlet of the two sub-tanks for cyan ink. As a pinch valve for magenta ink, an M1 valve 513 and an M2 valve 514 control the amount of ink flowing to each tube connected to the inlet and outlet of the two sub tanks for magenta ink. As the pinch valve for light cyan ink, the LC1 valve 515 and the LC2 valve 516 control the amount of ink flowing to the respective tubes connected to the inlet and outlet of the two sub-tanks for light cyan ink. As a pinch valve for light magenta, the LM1 valve 517 and the LM2 valve 518 control the amount of ink flowing through the respective tubes connected to the inlet and outlet of the two sub-tanks for light magenta ink.

Since the flow rate of four tubes is controlled by a pinch valve for one color ink, it is necessary to operate 24 pinch valves for 6 color inks. A large rotational force is required, and the size becomes large.
JP 09-303582 A

  When a plurality of pinch valves are operated with a single shaft, the force applied to the drive shaft needs to be proportional to the number of pinch valves. As the number of pinch valves increases, the drive source must be enlarged in order to drive them. As described above, there is a problem that the inkjet recording apparatus is also enlarged due to the increase in the size of the drive source. In addition, when one drive source is used as a drive source for other elements other than the pinch valve, such as a print media transport roller, the other elements are driven together with all the pinch valves. Therefore, there is a problem that the drive source cannot be used for an element whose operation is not synchronized, and the drive source becomes large when it can be used.

  In the present invention, when the flow rate is adjusted by using a plurality of pinch valves with a single drive source in the ink flow path of the ink jet recording apparatus, each pinch valve is driven only by a rotational force in an arbitrary direction. Provided is an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reducing the required rotational force of a source and reducing the size.

  A first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is an ink jet recording apparatus that controls the flow rate of an ink flow path for supplying ink from an ink tank to an ink jet head by a pinch valve, by means of the rotational force of a drive source. A plurality of the pinch valves having a common rotating shaft for opening and closing are provided on the ink flow path, and the pinch valves operate only with a rotational force in one direction of the drive source.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, a one-way clutch is disposed between the drive source and the rotation shaft, so that the rotation shaft rotates in one direction of rotation of the drive source. The ink jet recording apparatus described in the first aspect.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, when two subtanks are arranged on the ink flow path, the pinch valve that operates with a rotational force in one direction of the driving source and a rotational force in the other direction of the driving source. The inkjet recording apparatus according to the first aspect or the second aspect, characterized in that the pinch valve operates.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the pinch valve operates when the driving source rotates in one direction, and when the driving source rotates in the other direction, the driving source is driven by a driving force other than the pinch valve. The ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is used.

  When a plurality of ink flow paths are controlled by a pinch valve that operates with a single drive source, the required power of the drive source can be reduced, so that the drive source can be reduced in size and the inkjet recording apparatus can be reduced in size.

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

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple pinch valve for controlling the ink flow path of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. An ink jet recording apparatus that uses six colors of ink and has two sub tanks arranged in the ink flow path from each ink tank to the ink jet head will be described as an example. The sub tanks for each color are arranged in parallel with the ink flow path. The first pinch valve that opens and closes the two tubes serving as the ink flow paths of the first sub-tank of each color, and the second pinch valve that opens and closes the two tubes serving as the ink flow paths of the second sub-tank. The road is controlled. Six first pinch valves for each color are arranged on the same drive shaft, six second pinch valves for each color are arranged on the same drive shaft, and a one-way clutch is attached to each drive shaft. The configuration will be described.

  The six pinch valves disposed on the first drive shaft 106 and the six pinch valves disposed on the second drive shaft 107 are fixed by fixed shafts 124 and 125, respectively. The rotational force of the stepping motor 100 that is a drive source is transmitted through the gear 101 to the first gear 102 attached to the first drive shaft 106 and the second gear 103 attached to the second drive shaft 107. Is transmitted to. A first one-way clutch 104 that transmits only the forward rotational force of the stepping motor 100 is attached between the first drive shaft 106 and the first gear 102, and the second drive shaft 107 and the second gear 103 are attached. A second one-way clutch 105 that transmits only the rotational force of the reverse rotation of the stepping motor 100 is attached.

  A K1 valve 108 for the first sub tank for black ink is attached to the first drive shaft 106. The K1 valve 108 is connected to an inlet tube 109 through which ink flows in from the ink tank direction of the first sub tank and an outlet tube 110 through which ink flows out toward the ink jet head to form an ink flow path. A K2 valve 111 for a second sub tank for black ink is attached to the second drive shaft 107. The K2 valve 111 is connected to an inlet tube 12 through which ink flows in from the ink tank direction of the second sub tank and an outlet tube 113 through which ink flows out in the direction of the ink jet head, thereby forming an ink flow path.

  Similarly, the first drive shaft 106 further includes a Y1 valve 114 as a pinch valve for yellow ink, a C1 valve 116 as a pinch valve for cyan ink, an M1 valve 118 as a pinch valve for magenta ink, and a light cyan ink pinch valve. An LC1 valve 120 is attached as a pinch valve, and an LM1 valve 122 is attached as a pinch valve for light magenta.

  The second drive shaft 107 further includes a Y1 valve 115 as a pinch valve for yellow ink, a C1 valve 117 as a pinch valve for cyan ink, an M1 valve 119 as a pinch valve for magenta ink, and a pinch valve for light cyan ink. The LC1 valve 121 and the LM1 valve 123 are mounted as a pinch valve for light magenta. In each pinch valve, an inlet tube into which ink flows in from the ink tank direction of the sub tank and an outlet tube from which ink flows out in the direction of the ink jet head are connected to form an ink flow path for each color ink.

  When the stepping motor 100 rotates in the forward direction, only the six pinch valves arranged on the first drive shaft 106 operate to control the opening and closing of the twelve tubes. During reverse rotation, only the six pinch valves arranged on the second drive shaft 107 operate to control the opening and closing of the twelve tubes. By using the one-way clutch, the load on the stepping motor 100 is halved, and the stepping motor 100 can be downsized.

  In addition, since the first pinch valve and the second pinch valve do not operate simultaneously, each pinch valve can be easily operated at an arbitrary timing, and the ink flow path control using the pinch valve can be easily performed. Become.

  As another mode, the one-way clutch attached to each drive shaft transmits only the forward rotational force of the stepping motor, and the reverse rotational force of the stepping motor is attached to the power distributor. As a result, it is possible to use the driving force of a unit other than the pinch bulb, such as the vertical movement of the carriage and the shutter operation of the UV lamp. In this case, since the rotational force of the stepping motor can be used in addition to driving the pinch valve, it is possible to drive other units with one motor, which leads to downsizing of the instrument.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the pinch valve portion of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. 2 and other figures using the same reference numerals have the same configuration. The operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The CPU 200 is a CPU that controls the ink jet recording apparatus, and controls the ink jet recording apparatus based on the program and setting values stored in the memory 201. The motor drive circuit 202 rotates the stepping motor 100 based on a control signal from the CPU 200. The power distributor 203 corresponds to the gear 101, the first gear 102, and the second gear 103, and transmits the rotation of the stepping motor 100 to the first drive shaft 106 and the second drive shaft 107, and further to the first drive shaft 107. A first one-way clutch 104 is connected to one drive shaft 106, and a second one-way clutch 105 is connected to a second drive shaft 107. A plurality of pinch valves attached to the first drive shaft 106 is a first pinch valve group 204. A plurality of pinch valves attached to the second drive shaft 107 is a second pinch valve group 205.

  The power transmitted through the first one-way clutch 104 is transmitted to the first pinch valve group 204. The power transmitted through the second one-way clutch 105 is transmitted to the second pinch valve group 205. Depending on the rotation direction of the stepping motor 100, the first pinch valve group 204 or the second pinch valve group 205 is driven.

  When opening and closing a plurality of tubes, there are many tube opening and closing patterns that can be combined. A program of the operation of the pinch valve that can satisfy these opening / closing patterns is stored in the memory 201 in advance, and a command is sent from the memory 201 to the CPU 200. The CPU 200 sends instructions for necessary operations performed by the stepping motor 100 to the motor drive circuit 202. The stepping motor 100 is operated by the motor driving circuit 202 and transmits the rotational force to the one-way clutches 104 and 105 via the power distributor 203. The one-way clutches 104 and 105 transmit only the rotational force that can be transmitted to the first pinch valve group 204 or the second pinch valve group 205.

  For example, in the conventional technique, when the memory instructs the stepping motor to rotate 45 degrees in the normal direction, the plurality of pinch valves rotate in synchronization. However, in the present invention, the one-way clutch 104 attached to the first drive shaft 106 transmits only the forward rotational force of the stepping motor 100, and the one-way clutch 105 attached to the second drive shaft 107 is Only the reverse rotational force of the motor 100 is transmitted. In this case, when the memory 201 instructs the stepping motor 100 to rotate 45 degrees forward, only the first drive shaft 106 rotates and the second drive shaft 107 also wants to move to the 45 degrees forward rotation position. The stepping motor 100 is reversely rotated 315 degrees. By controlling in this way, the rotational force of the stepping motor 100 can be halved, and a smaller stepping motor can be used.

  Here, as another mode, instead of connecting the second pinch valve group 205 to the second one-way clutch 105, it is connected to a later-described transport roller 402, and the drive of the transport roller or a carriage support unit (not shown) is connected. It is also possible to move up and down and to drive the lifting and lowering operation of the carriage 405. In this case, a control program is stored in the memory 201 in advance and is controlled by the CPU 200.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a sub tank unit of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. Since any other color ink has the same configuration, the configuration of one color of black ink will be described here.

  The ink tank 300 is an ink tank that stores ink. The inkjet head 305 is an ink ejection unit that ejects ink and forms an image on a print medium. The pump 301 is a pump for supplying ink from the ink tank 300 to the inkjet head 305. The first sub tank 303 and the second sub tank 304 are ink tanks that are provided between the ink tank 300 and the inkjet head 305 and temporarily store ink. The first pinch valve 108 is a valve provided at the inlet and outlet of the first sub tank 303. The second pinch valve 111 is a valve provided at the inlet and outlet of the second sub tank 304. The sub tank unit 302 includes sub tanks 303 and 304 and pinch valves 108 and 111.

  Ink tank 300 and pump 301, pump 301 and first pinch valve 108, pump 301 and second pinch valve 111, first pinch valve 108 and first sub tank 303, second pinch valve 111 and second pinch valve The sub tank 304, the first pinch valve 108 and the ink jet head 305, and the second pinch valve 111 and the ink jet head 305 are connected by a tube to form an ink flow path.

  The connection from the pump 301 to the first pinch valve 108 and the connection from the pump 301 to the second pinch valve 111 are such that one end of the tube 306 is connected to the pump 301 and the other end is divided into two, one of which is the first An inlet tube 109 connected to the pinch valve 108 and the other is an inlet tube 112 connected to the second pinch valve 111.

  The connection from the first pinch valve 108 to the inkjet head 305 and the connection from the second pinch valve 111 to the inkjet head 305 are connected to the outlet tube 110 connected to the first pinch valve 108 and the second pinch valve 111. The exit tubes 113 thus joined merge into a tube 307 and are connected to the inkjet head 305.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. The configuration uses six colors of ink. Since any other color ink has the same configuration, the configuration of one color of black ink will be described here. Ink is stored in the ink tank 300, and the ink is supplied to the sub tank unit 302 by the pump 301. Ink in the sub tank unit 302 is further discharged from the inkjet head 305. The conveyance roller 402 is driven by a roller drive motor 404, and sandwiches and conveys the print medium 400 together with the pinch roller 403 that rotates with it. The print medium 400 is transported onto the platen 401, and an image is formed by ejecting ink from an inkjet head 305 mounted on a carriage 405 that operates in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction, that is, in the main scanning direction. The carriage 405 is driven along a rail (not shown) by a belt connected to a motor (not shown). Ink jet recording apparatuses use motors in various places, and they are required to be combined and miniaturized.

  The carriage 405 is driven to reciprocate in the main scanning direction at high speed in order to form an image on the print medium 400. Therefore, it is desired to make the carriage 405 small and light and to reduce the load on the motor that drives the carriage 405. Since the sub tank unit 302 is mounted on the carriage 405, the stepping motor 100 is reduced in size and weight, so that the motor for driving the carriage 405 is further reduced, or the carriage 405 is moved at a higher speed. Can do. The device can be downsized and printing speed can be increased.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a multiple pinch valve that controls the ink flow path of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. It is a block diagram explaining operation | movement of the pinch valve part of the inkjet recording device of this invention. It is a block diagram of a sub tank unit of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a pinch valve when operating a plurality of pinch valves with the same rotating shaft connected to an ink flow path of a conventional inkjet recording apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

100 Stepping motor 104 First one-way clutch 105 Second one-way clutch 106 First drive shaft 107 Second drive shaft 108 First pinch valve 111 Second pinch valve 300 Ink tank 301 Pump 303 First sub tank 304 Second sub tank 305 Inkjet head 400 Print media

Claims (4)

  In an ink jet recording apparatus that controls a flow rate of an ink flow path for supplying ink from an ink tank to an ink jet head by a pinch valve, a plurality of the pinch valves having a common rotating shaft that opens and closes by a rotational force of a driving source is provided. An ink jet recording apparatus provided on an ink flow path, wherein the pinch valve operates only with a rotational force in one direction of the drive source.   2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a one-way clutch is disposed between the drive source and the rotation shaft so that the rotation shaft rotates when the drive source rotates in one direction. .   When two subtanks are arranged on the ink flow path, the pinch valve that operates with a rotational force in one direction of the drive source and the pinch valve that operates with a rotational force in the other direction of the drive source are provided. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is characterized.   2. The pinch valve operates when the driving source rotates in one direction, and the driving source is used as a driving force other than the pinch valve when the driving source rotates in the other direction. Alternatively, the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2.

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