JP2009073100A - Liquid storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate incomplete attachment and realize reliable attachment of an ink tank of a latch lever mode. <P>SOLUTION: When an ink tank holder is inserted, an electromagnet 1 is activated and pulls the ink tank in the insertion direction, and the latch lever is pulled by an electromagnet 2 and reliably pulled to an attachment position. When the ink tank reaches the attachment position, the electromagnets 1 and 2 are released, and the latch lever is engaged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an exchangeable liquid storage container and an ink jet recording apparatus using the liquid storage container.

  As one form of a recording apparatus that forms an image, such as a printer, a facsimile machine, or a copying machine, there is a recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a recording head to a recording medium such as recording paper.

  In such a recording apparatus, an ink tank for supplying ink to the recording head is detachably attached, and several types of attachment / detachment configurations have been implemented or proposed. .

  FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional configuration example for detachably mounting the ink tank.

  In FIG. 6, a retaining protrusion 405 that is inserted into the retaining hole 320 of the tank holder 300 is provided on one side surface of the ink tank 400.

  A latch lever 402 is provided on the opposite side surface of the ink tank 400. The latch lever 402 has a latch 403 that engages with the locking hole 403 of the tank holder 300.

  When the ink tank 400 is mounted, the ink tank 400 is inserted into the tank holder 300 from the retaining protrusion 405 side as shown in state A in FIG.

  Then, after the intermediate state B, as shown in the state C, the retaining projection 405 is inserted into the retaining hole 320 of the tank holder 300 and engaged.

  Next, by pushing the rear part of the ink tank 400 in the direction of arrow D in the figure, the latch lever 402 is elastically deformed to exceed the flange part 321 of the tank holder, and finally the latch part 403 is locked in the locking hole 403. Let

  At the same time, the ink supply port 330 provided in the ink tank is in pressure contact with the ink supply pipe 304 provided in the recording head 100 so that ink can be supplied.

  Next, when removing the ink tank, the latch claw 403 is released from the locking hole 403 by pushing the latch lever 402 in the direction of arrow E in the figure. At the same time, since the pressure contact between the ink supply port 330 and the ink supply pipe 304 is released, the ink tank 400 is slightly pushed up by the reaction force.

Thereafter, the ink tank 400 is pulled out by holding the rear portion thereof, whereby the retaining protrusion 405 is pulled out from the retaining hole 320, and the ink tank 400 can be removed (refer to page 8 of FIG. 4 and FIG. 4). ).
Japanese Patent No. 3368269

  However, in the above conventional example, although the ink tank can be easily attached to and detached from the carriage and the tank holder, some users do not fully push the ink tank to the place where the latch is sufficiently engaged, or they think that the ink tank has been pushed. Operation may be interrupted.

  In rare cases, the ink tank is simply placed on the tank holder in the above case.

  When used in such a state, the ink supply port of the ink tank and the ink supply pipe of the recording head are not sufficiently coupled.

  For this reason, a situation occurs in which recording cannot be performed without ink being supplied. In addition, since the ink tank is not sufficiently mounted, it may cause inconveniences such as a rattling noise when scanning the carriage.

  In addition, when the latch is made of a resin material compared to the conventional configuration, elasticity is easily deteriorated due to secular change or heat of the surrounding environment, and the repulsive force is easily lost, and the above insufficient mounting state may occur. Increases nature.

  The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems.

  An object of the first aspect of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of automatically mounting an ink tank correctly when the ink tank is set in an insufficient state, or even when the ink tank is simply placed at a predetermined position. It is to be.

  A second object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus which can automatically remove the ink tank when the ink tank is removed, and can save troubles such as removing a latching means such as a latch. It is to be.

In order to achieve the above object, a liquid storage container of the present invention is a liquid storage container that is attached to a recording apparatus and supplies liquid to the recording apparatus.
Inserted into and removed from the box-shaped holder provided in the recording apparatus,
The box-shaped holder is provided with an elastic member that exerts a repulsive force in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the liquid storage container, and the elastic member is made of a ferromagnetic material.
The liquid storage container is a magnetic field for a container for storing a liquid, a supply port for supplying liquid by connecting to an ink intake means provided in the holder, a bottom surface, an electromagnet that works in the container insertion direction, and an elastic member. An electromagnet that works is provided.

Further, another liquid storage container according to the present invention is a liquid storage container that is attached to a recording apparatus and supplies liquid to the recording apparatus.
Inserted into and removed from the box-shaped holder provided in the recording apparatus,
The liquid storage container is formed with an inclined surface at a ridge line where a container for storing a liquid, a supply port for supplying the liquid connected to an ink intake means provided in the holder, and a bottom surface and one end surface adjacent to the bottom surface intersect with each other. A latch lever provided with a claw-like projection on one end surface and a latch claw provided on the other end surface is elastically instructed, and the latch lever is made of a ferromagnetic material. An electromagnet that works with a magnetic field is provided for the latch lever.

  According to the configuration of the above invention, the electromagnet provided in the ink tank is pushed into the tank holder to the set position.

  Therefore, even when the user stops pushing in and releases the ink tank during installation, the ink tank is sufficiently pushed down into the tank holder, so that the ink tank can be securely installed in the tank holder. .

  Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional general ink jet recording apparatus 300.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 5, a lead screw 304 and a guide shaft 305 that are parallel to each other are provided in a casing.

  The holder 200 is attached to the lead screw 304 and the guide shaft 305 so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the lead screw 304 and the guide shaft 305.

  The holder 200 is translated by rotating the lead screw 304 by a motor (not shown).

  The holder 200 is mounted with an inkjet head cartridge including an inkjet head (not shown). A paper pressing plate 309 is provided in the vicinity of the ejection port movement locus surface of the inkjet head.

  Further, the inkjet recording apparatus 300 includes a paper feed roller 307 that conveys a recording sheet 306 that is a recording medium toward a recording area of the inkjet head, and a discharge that discharges the recording sheet 306 recorded by the inkjet head. And a roller 308.

  The paper feed roller 307 and the paper discharge roller 308 are rotated by a motor (not shown).

  The ink ejected from the ink jet head adheres to the recording paper 306 facing the ejection port surface of the ink jet head, whereby a recorded image is formed on the surface of the recording paper 306.

  In conjunction with recording on the recording paper 306 by the ink jet head 302, the recording paper 306 is discharged out of the ink jet recording apparatus by a paper feed roller 307 and a paper discharge roller 308 rotated by a motor, and a paper pressing plate 309. .

(Explanation of drawings)
1, 2, and 3 are schematic cross-sectional views showing a first embodiment of a holder 200 that is a mounting portion of a liquid storage container 100 to which the present invention is applied and a liquid storage container 100 provided in an ink jet recording apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating a schematic configuration in a state where the liquid storage container 100 is mounted on the holder 200, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating a schematic configuration of the liquid storage container 100 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating a schematic configuration of the holder 200 of FIG.

  When the liquid storage container 100 is an ink tank of an ink jet recording apparatus as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the liquid storage container 100 is detachably mounted on a holder 200 that is a mounting portion of the ink jet recording apparatus.

  The ink is used to supply ink to an ink jet head (recording head) as a recording means of the ink jet recording apparatus.

(Internal tank configuration)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid storage container 100 includes a liquid storage portion (ink storage portion) 1 that stores a liquid (ink) 11, an absorber 7 that holds the ink 11 inside, and the liquid storage portion 1. And a supply port 6 for taking out the liquid inside.

  An air communication port 8 is provided for taking in air having the same volume as the supplied ink 11 when the liquid is supplied from the liquid container 1. The liquid container 100 is a hollow container formed by joining a plurality of parts made of a plastic material by injection molding.

(Structure of tank outside)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid storage container 100 is engaged with the ink jet recording apparatus 300 or a holder 200 that is detachably attached to the ink jet recording apparatus 300 and is provided with a head unit that performs printing. A claw 4 and a locking portion 5 for fixing 100 are provided.

  The lever 2 is provided with a lever operating portion 3 for performing the operation of removing the claw 4 and the liquid container 100 described above. The lever 2 is made of a ferromagnetic material such as iron or Ni.

  An electromagnet 110 is provided on the surface of the liquid storage unit 1 where the fulcrum of the lever 2 is provided so as to face the lever 2.

Further, an electromagnet 2 is provided on the same bottom surface as the supply port 6. (On the part away from the locking part 5)
The controller 10 detects the relative distance between the lever 2 and the electromagnet 1 and the liquid container 100 and the electromagnet 2 by operating the electromagnet 1 and the electromagnet 2 and detecting the current value for driving the electromagnets 1 and 2. Is provided.

  The locking portion 5 is provided with a connection terminal 14 for supplying power from the recording apparatus main body to the controller 10.

(Configuration of holder)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the holder 200 is part of the ink jet recording apparatus 300 and can be attached to and detached from the ink jet recording apparatus 300.

  An ink supply path 24 that guides ink from the supply port 6 of the liquid storage container 100 to the head and a filter 25 that prevents dust from the outside from entering the ink supply path 24 are provided.

  Furthermore, a locking portion stopper 22 and a claw engagement portion 23 for engaging with the claw 4 and the locking portion 5 provided in the liquid storage container 100 and fixing the liquid storage container 100 are provided.

(Effect generation)
The present invention is effective when the printer instructs the user to replace the liquid container 100.

  In this embodiment, the ink 11 in the liquid storage unit 1 is used up, and an example is given in which the user is instructed to replace the liquid storage container 100.

  Furthermore, the effect of the present invention is also applied when the inkjet recording apparatus 300 instructs the user to replace the liquid storage container 100 for other reasons.

  The operation of the ink tank described in FIGS. 1 to 3 and the effect of the invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a point in time when the ink tank 100 starts to be inserted into the tank holder 200.

  At this time, the connection terminal 14 provided in the locking portion 5 of the ink tank 100 and the terminal 21 provided in the locking portion stop 22 of the tank holder 200 are electrically connected to supply power to the controller 9.

  As soon as electric power is supplied, the controller 9 measures the current values of the electromagnet 212 and the electromagnet 110. These two current values change due to a change in the distance between the lever 2 and the electromagnet 212 made of a ferromagnetic material and a change in the distance between the ferromagnetic body 25 provided in the tank holder 200 and the electromagnet 110, respectively.

  Then, the two current values at this time are recorded as initial values in a memory built in the controller 9.

  FIG. 4-2 is a diagram showing a state in which the ink tank 100 is further pushed in by the user as compared with FIG. 4-1.

  The ink tank is pushed in by the user, the lever 2 is elastically deformed, and the distance between the lever 2 and the electromagnet 212 is shortened. At this time, the current value changes compared to the initial value. The magnetic flux density is increased by increasing the current value or the voltage value applied to the electromagnet 212 by the controller 9 that measures the change.

  Then, the lever 2 is attracted by the electromagnet 212 to bring the lever 2 into contact with the liquid storage container 1. Then, electric power is supplied to the electromagnet 110 to attract the ferromagnet 25 provided in the holder 200. Here, the entire ink tank 100 is inserted into the holder 200 by the pressing by the user and the attractive force by the electromagnet 110.

  FIG. 4-3 is a diagram illustrating a state where the ink tank 100 is sufficiently pushed down in the tank holder 200.

  When the ink tank 100 is sufficiently pressed down, the distance between the ferromagnetic body, the ferromagnetic body 25, and the electromagnet 110 is the shortest. Therefore, the current value changes and is detected by the controller 9. Then, by comparing the current value at this time with the initial value recorded in the memory at the time of FIG. 4-1, the controller 9 has the shortest distance between the ferromagnetic material, the ferromagnetic material 25, and the electromagnet 110. Judge that.

  Then, the controller 9 stops power to the electromagnet 212 and opens the lever 2. When the lever 2 is opened, the electric power to the electromagnet 110 is still supplied.

  FIG. 4-4 is a view showing a state in which the opened lever 2 is restored to its original state by the elastic force and the claw 4 is engaged with the claw engaging portion 23.

The lever 2 released in FIG. 4-3 is restored, and the claw 4 of the ink tank 100 engages with the claw engaging portion 23 of the tank holder 200. In this state, the ink tank 100 is fully attached to the tank holder 200. Then, the controller 9 stops power supply to the electromagnet 110. (There is no problem if you do not stop.)
Further, the current value in the electromagnet 2 in a state where the claw 4 of the ink tank 100 is engaged with the claw engaging portion 23 of the tank holder 200 is recorded in the memory.

  Although the ink tank 100 is attached to the tank holder 200 and completed by the above operation, the above operation can be completed even if the user performs the conventional example. However, the ink tank 100 is attracted to the tank holder 200 by the attraction effect of the electromagnet 110 in FIGS. 4-2 to 4-3. Further, since the lever 2 is attracted by the lever electromagnet 212, the lever 2 is essentially brought into contact with the claw engaging portion 23 and the repulsive force is eliminated.

  As described above, the ink tank 100 can be securely attached to the tank holder 200 with a weaker force for two reasons.

  Next, a case where the user stops pushing the ink tank 100 while the ink tank 100 is being installed will be described.

  4-5 shows a state where the ink tank 100 is sufficiently pushed down into the tank holder 200 by the effect of the present invention even when the user stops pushing the ink tank 100 and releases the hand at the time of FIG. 4-2. FIG.

  The lever 2 is attracted by the electromagnet 212 to bring the lever 2 into contact with the liquid storage container 1. Then, electric power is supplied to the electromagnet 110 to attract the ferromagnet 25 provided in the holder 200. Here, the entire ink tank 100 is inserted into the holder 200 by the attractive force of the electromagnet 110.

  When the ink tank 100 is sufficiently pressed down, the distance between the ferromagnetic body, the ferromagnetic body 25, and the electromagnet 110 is the shortest. Therefore, the current value changes and is detected by the controller 9. Then, by comparing the current value at this time with the initial value recorded in the memory at the time of FIG. 4-1, the controller 9 has the shortest distance between the ferromagnetic material, the ferromagnetic material 25, and the electromagnet 110. Judge that.

  Then, the controller 9 stops power to the electromagnet 212 and opens the lever 2. When the lever 2 is opened, the electric power to the electromagnet 110 is still supplied.

  Then, the state shifts to the state shown in FIG. The contents of the state of Fig. 4-4 are as described above.

  As described above, even when the user stops pressing and releasing his / her hand during the installation of the ink tank 100, the ink tank 100 is sufficiently pushed down into the tank holder 200 by the effect of the present invention.

  Therefore, the ink tank 100 can be reliably attached to the tank holder 200.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the liquid storage container and holder by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the liquid storage container by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the liquid storage container and holder by this invention. It is the schematic diagram which showed the step which mounts | wears with a liquid storage container in a holder. It is a schematic diagram of the recording apparatus of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid storage part 2 Lever 3 Lever operation part 4 Claw 5 Locking part 6 Supply port 7 Absorber 8 Atmospheric communication port 9 Controller 10 Electromagnet 1
11 Ink 12 Electromagnet 2
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Connection terminal 20 Filter 21 Terminal 22 Locking part stop 23 Claw engaging part 24 Ink supply path 25 Ferromagnetic material 100 Liquid storage container 200 Holder

Claims (2)

A liquid storage container that is attached to the recording apparatus and supplies liquid to the recording apparatus;
Inserted into and removed from the box-shaped holder provided in the recording apparatus,
The box-shaped holder is provided with an elastic member that exerts a repulsive force in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the liquid storage container, and the elastic member is made of a ferromagnetic material.
The liquid storage container is a magnetic field for a container for storing a liquid, a supply port for supplying liquid by connecting to an ink intake means provided in the holder, a bottom surface, an electromagnet that works in the container insertion direction, and an elastic member. A liquid storage container characterized in that an electromagnet is provided. A liquid storage container that is attached to the recording apparatus and supplies liquid to the recording apparatus;
Inserted into and removed from the box-shaped holder provided in the recording apparatus,
The liquid storage container is formed with an inclined surface at a ridge line where a container for storing a liquid, a supply port for supplying the liquid connected to an ink intake means provided in the holder, and a bottom surface and one end surface adjacent to the bottom surface intersect with each other. A latch lever provided with a claw-like projection on one end surface and a latch claw provided on the other end surface is elastically instructed, and the latch lever is made of a ferromagnetic material. An electromagnet that acts on a magnetic field with respect to a latch lever is provided.

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