JP2009189902A - Ink filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a filling of a predetermined amount of ink to a needle tube. <P>SOLUTION: The device is provided with a cartridge holder 1 holding detachably an ink cartridge 8 formed by assembling the needle tube 6 to a cartridge member 7, a connector part 2 arranged in the cartridge holder 1 and having a hole 10 opened at the side to/from which the cartridge member 7 is attached/detached, a back-end opening of the needle tube 6 being inserted and held in the hole 10, an ink tank 3 connected to the hole 10 of the connector part 2 by a supply tube 12 and storing ink filling the needle tube 6, and a fill adjusting part 4 introducing compressed air into the ink tank 3 and delivering the ink in the ink tank 3 by the air pressure to the hole 10 of the connector part 2 through the supply tube 12 by a predetermined amount, and is characterized in that a filling-amount reduction preventing means 5 is provided to prevent the reduction of the filling amount due to the ink descending under the ink's own weight after the needle tube 6 is filled with the ink. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for filling ink into a needle tube having a tapered tip, and more particularly to an ink filling apparatus that can fill a needle tube with a predetermined amount of ink.

A conventional ink filling apparatus of this type is a cartridge that detachably holds an ink cartridge formed by assembling a needle tube to a cartridge member that supports a needle tube having both ends opened and tapered at a tip. A holding portion, a connector portion disposed in the cartridge holding portion, having a hole opening on a side where the cartridge member is attached and detached, and inserting and holding the rear end opening of the needle tube in the hole, and a connector; The ink tank is connected to the hole of the ink supply pipe and stores the ink to be filled in the needle pipe of the ink cartridge, and the compressed air is introduced into the ink tank, and the ink in the ink tank is supplied to the ink tank by the air pressure. And a filling amount adjusting unit that feeds a predetermined amount to the hole portion of the connector portion. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2007-307471 A

  However, in such a conventional ink filling device, since the needle tube is directly connected to the ink tank, when the air pressure is removed after the filling is completed, the ink filled in the needle tube with the passage of time. However, due to its own weight, the ink filling amount decreases, and a predetermined amount of ink cannot be filled. This decrease in the ink filling amount depends on the viscosity, physical properties, etc. of the ink, and differs depending on the type of ink. Therefore, when multiple types of ink are simultaneously filled in multiple needle tubes, the final ink filling amount May have been different for each type.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink filling device that can cope with such problems and can fill a needle tube with a predetermined amount of ink.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ink filling apparatus according to the present invention is an ink cartridge formed by assembling the needle tube to a cartridge member that supports a needle tube that is open at both ends and tapered at the tip. A cartridge holding portion that holds the cartridge member in a detachable manner, and a hole portion that is disposed in the cartridge holding portion and that is open to the side where the cartridge member is attached and detached. A connector portion to be inserted and held; an ink tank connected to a hole portion of the connector portion by a supply pipe; and storing ink to be filled in a needle pipe of the ink cartridge; and introducing compressed air into the ink tank; A filling amount adjusting unit that sends out a predetermined amount of ink in the ink tank to the hole portion of the connector portion through the supply pipe by the air pressure. And a filling amount reduction preventing means for preventing the filling amount from decreasing by its own weight after the ink filled in the needle tube is filled. It is provided.

  With such a configuration, the cartridge member of the ink cartridge formed by assembling the needle tube to the cartridge member that supports the needle tube having both ends opened at the cartridge holding portion and the tip end tapered. A connector part that is detachably held and is provided in the cartridge holding part and has a hole part opened to the side where the cartridge member is attached and detached, and the rear end opening part side of the needle tube is inserted and held in the hole part. Then, compressed air is introduced into the ink tank that stores ink in the filling amount adjusting unit, and the air pressure causes the ink in the ink tank to be supplied to the connector side by a predetermined amount through the supply pipe to the hole of the connector unit. The ink is filled into the needle tube of the ink cartridge from the rear end opening, and the needle tube is filled with the filling amount reduction preventing means. There prevented from decreasing the amount of filler lowered after filling, its own weight.

  The filling amount reduction preventing means is a flow path blocking means that is provided in the middle of the supply pipe and blocks the flow path. As a result, after the ink is filled, the flow path blocking means provided in the middle of the supply pipe is blocked to prevent the ink filling amount in the needle pipe from decreasing.

  Further, the filling amount reduction preventing means is a cartridge holding portion height adjusting means that enables adjustment of the height of the cartridge holding portion with respect to the ink tank. As a result, the height of the cartridge holding portion relative to the ink tank is adjusted by the cartridge holding portion height adjusting means, and after the ink is filled, the ink in the needle tube is prevented from descending to reduce the filling amount.

  The filling amount reduction preventing unit includes a flow path blocking unit that is provided in the middle of the supply pipe and blocks the flow path, and a cartridge holding unit height that enables adjustment of the height of the cartridge holding unit with respect to the ink tank. This is configured in combination with the height adjusting means. Thereby, the height of the cartridge holding part relative to the ink tank is adjusted by the cartridge holding part height adjusting means, and immediately after the ink is filled, the flow path is cut off by the flow path blocking means provided in the middle of the supply pipe, It prevents the ink in the needle tube from falling and the filling amount from decreasing.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, after the ink filled in the needle tube by the filling amount reduction preventing means is filled, it is possible to prevent the filling amount from decreasing due to its own weight. Therefore, a predetermined amount of ink can always be filled into the needle tube even for a plurality of types of ink having different properties such as viscosity and physical properties.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the flow path blocking means is only provided in the middle of the supply pipe, the filling amount reduction preventing means can be realized with a simple configuration. Therefore, the device can be manufactured at low cost.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, by adjusting the height of the cartridge holding portion with respect to the ink tank, it is possible to prevent the ink in the needle tube from descending and the filling amount from decreasing. Therefore, if the appropriate height position data of the cartridge holding portion at which the ink descent substantially stops is acquired in advance for each of the plurality of types of ink having different characteristics, the above-described acquired height is then obtained for each ink. The ink filling amount can be made constant simply by setting the height of the cartridge holding portion at the vertical position. This facilitates the ink filling operation into the needle tube.

  And according to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, even if it fills with multiple types of ink from which a characteristic differs in a plurality of needle tubes simultaneously by using together a channel interception means and a cartridge holding part height adjustment means, The filling amount of ink into any needle tube can be made substantially constant.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an ink filling apparatus according to the present invention. This ink filling device is for filling ink into a needle tube having a tapered tip, and includes a cartridge holding portion 1, a connector portion 2, an ink tank 3, a filling amount adjusting portion 4, And a filling amount reduction preventing means 5.

  The cartridge holding portion 1 is a cartridge member 7 of an ink cartridge 8 formed by assembling the needle tube 6 to a cartridge member 7 that supports a needle tube 6 that is open at both ends and tapered at the tip. For example, when the needle tube 6 is filled with ink, an engaging projection 7a provided on the cartridge member 7 is engaged so that the ink cartridge 8 does not fall off due to the ink filling pressure. For example, a locking recess 1a is provided to hold and hold. The ink cartridge 8 is for correcting, for example, a defective portion of a color filter of a display device, and is used for filling red, green, blue, and black correction inks (hereinafter simply referred to as “ink”). Four needle tubes 6 are assembled by being inserted into holes 9 formed in a horizontal row on a cartridge member 7 that supports them.

  In the cartridge holding part 1, four connector parts 2 are arranged corresponding to the four needle tubes 6. The connector portion 2 has a hole portion 10 opened on the side where the cartridge member 7 is attached and detached, and the rear end opening portion 6a (see FIG. 3) of the needle tube 6 is inserted and held in the hole portion 10. For example, an O-ring 11 as a seal member is attached to the opening side of the hole 10, and the outer peripheral surface 6 b of the needle tube 6 inserted into the hole 10 and the peripheral surface of the hole 10. 10a is sealed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an ink tank 3 is connected to the four connector portions 2 by a supply pipe 12 having flexibility. The ink tank 3 stores ink that fills the needle tube 6 and is a sealed container having tanks 3a to 3d that store the four colors of ink.

  A filling amount adjusting unit 4 is connected to the ink tank 3 through an air pipe 19. The filling amount adjusting unit 4 introduces compressed air from a compressor (not shown) to the tanks 3a to 3d of the ink tank 3 through the air pipe 19, and the ink in the tanks 3a to 3d is supplied by the air pressure. A predetermined amount is sent to the hole 10 of each connector portion 2 through the supply pipe 12, and as shown in FIG. 2, an air filter 13, a regulator 14, One input-side solenoid valve 15 and four output-side solenoid valves 16a to 16d are provided, and the other is provided with a solenoid valve control unit 17.

  The air filter 13 is for removing foreign matters contained in compressed air supplied from the compressor and preventing foreign matters from being mixed into the ink 18. The regulator 14 adjusts the air pressure of the compressed air supplied from the compressor. Further, the input side solenoid valve 15 opens and closes the air pipe 19 by electrical control, and performs on / off control of compressed air supplied to the tanks 3a to 3d of the ink tank 3 collectively. Yes. Furthermore, the output side solenoid valves 16a to 16d are provided on four branch pipes 19a to 19d branched from the air pipe 19 and connected to the tanks 3a to 3d, and each branch pipe 19a to 19d is electrically controlled. 19d is opened and closed individually. The electromagnetic valve control unit 17 is connected to the one input side electromagnetic valve 15 and the four output side electromagnetic valves 16a to 16d by a signal line 20, and opens and closes the electromagnetic valves 15, 16a to 16d. Each of them is electrically controlled individually, and is energized for a predetermined time to open each electromagnetic valve and supply compressed air to the tanks 3a to 3d for the predetermined time.

  The cartridge holding unit 1 and the supply pipe 12 are provided with a filling amount reduction preventing means 5. The filling amount decrease preventing means 5 is for preventing the ink filled in the needle tube 6 from being lowered by its own weight after filling and reducing the filling amount. It is comprised by the part height adjustment means 22.

  The flow path blocking means 21 is provided in the middle of each supply pipe 12. This flow path blocking means 21 is for blocking the flow path and preventing the ink from flowing backward from the cartridge holding part 1 side to the ink tank 3 side. For example, the flexible supply pipe 12 is tightened. A cock or the like for closing the flow path. Alternatively, another on-off valve may be used as the flow path blocking unit 21.

  The cartridge holder 1 is provided with a cartridge holder height adjusting means 22. The cartridge holding part height adjusting means 22 is capable of adjusting the height of the cartridge holding part 1 with respect to the ink tank 3 and holds the cartridge holding part 1 and moves in the vertical direction indicated by arrows A and B. Possible, for example, a Z-axis stage. As a result, the height of the cartridge holding part 1 is adjusted so that the ink liquid level in the connector part 2 and the ink liquid level in the ink tank 3 are substantially coincided with each other, so that backflow of ink can be prevented. It has become.

Next, the operation of the ink filling apparatus configured as described above and the ink filling procedure by the operation will be described.
First, a test for setting an appropriate value for the height of the cartridge holder 1 is performed. Specifically, first, with the cartridge holding unit 1 set to a predetermined height, the ink filling switch provided in the electromagnetic valve control means 17 is depressed for a predetermined time to open the input side electromagnetic valve 15 and the output side electromagnetic valve 16a. Air of a predetermined pressure is introduced into the ink tank 3a. Thus, the ink 18 in the ink tank 3a is pushed out to the connector portion 2 side by this air pressure, and the needle tube 6 is filled with the ink 18 by a predetermined amount. Then, the descending amount of the ink 18 after the air pressure is removed is measured. Next, the test is performed by changing the height of the cartridge holding portion 1 in the direction of the arrow A or B shown in FIG. 1, and the height position of the cartridge holding portion 1 where the lowering of the ink 18 substantially stops is found. Store (or record) as an appropriate value.

  Subsequently, the output side solenoid valves are sequentially switched to the output side solenoid valves 16b to 16d by the solenoid valve changeover switch provided in the solenoid valve control means 17, and the same test as described above is performed, and the descent of the ink 18 is substantially stopped for each color. An appropriate value for the height of the cartridge holder 1 is found and stored (or recorded).

  When ink is actually filled, first, the highest position data is selected from the height position data of the cartridge holder 1 of each color ink stored (or recorded) as the appropriate value, and the cartridge holder height adjustment means 22 is selected. Thus, the height of the cartridge holding unit 1 is set to the selected height position.

  Next, the cartridge member 7 of the ink cartridge 8 to be filled is attached to the cartridge holding unit 1. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3A, the hole portion 10 of the connector portion 2 is previously filled with the ink 18. In this state, when the needle tube 6 is inserted into the hole 10 of the connector 2 from the rear end opening 6a side in the direction of arrow C as shown in FIG. An O-ring 11 provided on the opening side of the needle tube 6 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface 6b of the needle tube 6, and as shown in FIG. Will be sealed. Therefore, a part of the ink 18 filled in the hole portion 10 of the connector portion 2 enters the needle tube 6 as shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, for example, the output side solenoid valve 16a is selected by the solenoid valve changeover switch provided in the solenoid valve control unit 17, and then the ink filling switch of the solenoid valve control unit 17 is depressed for a predetermined time to input the input side solenoid valve 15 and the output side solenoid valve 15a. Open the solenoid valve 16a. As a result, compressed air having a predetermined pressure is supplied from the filling amount adjusting unit 4 to the tank 3a of the ink tank 3 for a predetermined time, and the ink 18 stored in the tank 3a is supplied to the tank 3a via the supply pipe 12 as shown in FIG. ) As shown by an arrow D in the hole 10 of the connector 2. Then, the ink 18 in the hole 10 is pushed by the compressed air introduced into the ink tank 3 by the filling amount adjusting unit 4, and enters the needle tube 6 from the rear end opening 6 a of the needle tube 6 in the direction of arrow E. It will penetrate | invade to a predetermined position.

  In this way, when the needle pipe 6 is filled with a predetermined amount of ink 18 in the tank 3a and the pressing of the ink filling switch is released, the flow path blocking means 21 of the supply pipe 12 connected to the tank 3a is closed. .

  As described above, since the inside of the hole 10 of the connector portion 2 is filled with the ink 18 in advance, the responsiveness of filling the ink 18 with respect to the opening / closing operation of the electromagnetic valve by the electromagnetic valve control unit 17 is improved. The That is, the ink 18 is filled into the needle tube 6 at the same time as the electromagnetic valve is opened, and the filling of the ink 18 is stopped at the same time as the electromagnetic valve is closed. Therefore, the filling control of the ink 18 can be easily performed.

  Next, after switching the solenoid valve switching switch to select the output side solenoid valve 16b, the ink filling switch is pressed for a predetermined time to open the input side solenoid valve 15 and the output side solenoid valve 16b. As a result, compressed air of a predetermined pressure is supplied from the filling amount adjusting unit 4 to the tank 3b of the ink tank 3 for a predetermined time, and the ink 18 stored in the tank 3b is inserted into the hole of the connector unit 2 via the supply pipe 12. It is pushed into the part 10 and filled into the needle tube 6. In this way, when the needle pipe 6 is filled with a predetermined amount of ink 18 in the tank 3b and the pressing of the ink filling switch is released, the flow path blocking means 21 of the supply pipe 12 connected to the tank 3b is closed. .

  Thereafter, similarly, the ink 18 in the tanks 3c and 3d is filled in the other needle tubes 6, respectively. Thus, after the ink 18 is filled, it can be prevented that the ink 18 descends due to its own weight and the filling amount decreases, and a plurality of types of inks 18 having different characteristics are filled into the needle tube 6 by a certain amount. Can do.

  The filling amount of the ink 18 may not be determined by the pressing time of the ink filling switch, but may be determined by the air pressure and the opening time of the input side electromagnetic valve 15. The filling amount may be determined from the degree of penetration of the ink 18 into the needle tube 6.

  In the above description, the case where the input side solenoid valves 16a to 16d are switched and the ink 18 is filled for each color has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the input side solenoid valve 15 and the output side solenoid valve. The inks of the respective colors may be filled at the same time by adjusting the opening time or the opening amount of 16a to 16d. In this case, when the filling of the ink 18 is finished and the introduction of the compressed air to the ink tank 3 is stopped, the flow path blocking means 21 is closed in order from the ink 18 having a large descending amount manually or automatically at the same time. It is good to go. In this case, since the height of the cartridge holding unit 1 is set so that the liquid level in the ink tank 3 and the liquid level of the ink 18 in the connector unit 2 substantially coincide with each other, the needle tube 6 is filled. The lowering speed of the ink 18 is slower than that of the conventional ink filling device in which the cartridge holding unit 1 is disposed immediately above the ink tank 3, and there is a time margin for the closing operation of the flow path blocking means 21. Therefore, even if the operation for closing the flow path blocking means 21 is manual, the ink filling operation is facilitated.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the filling amount reduction preventing unit 5 is configured by the flow path blocking unit 21 and the cartridge holding unit height adjusting unit 22 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of types are included. When the ink has substantially the same characteristics, any one of the flow path blocking unit 21 and the cartridge holding unit height adjusting unit 22 may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the connector unit 2 and the four tanks 3a to 3d of the ink tank 3 are provided so that the ink cartridge 8 including the four needle tubes 6 can be filled with the ink 18. Although the case has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of the tanks of the connector unit 2 and the ink tank 3 may be set according to the number of the needle tubes 6 of the ink cartridge 8.

  The ink 18 is not limited to the correction ink, and may be any material such as a silver paste as long as it is a liquid used for dropping a small amount of liquid droplets on minute points.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows embodiment of the ink filling apparatus by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the piping system of the said ink filling apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the ink filling operation | movement by the said ink filling apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cartridge holding | maintenance part 2 ... Connector part 3, 3a-3d ... Ink tank 4 ... Filling quantity adjustment part 5 ... Filling quantity reduction | decrease prevention means 6 ... Needle pipe 6a ... Rear end opening part of needle pipe 7 ... Cartridge member 8 ... Ink Cartridge 10 ... hole 12 ... supply pipe 18 ... ink 21 ... flow path blocking means 22 ... cartridge holding part height adjusting means

Claims (4)

A cartridge holding member that detachably holds an ink cartridge formed by assembling the needle tube to a cartridge member that supports a needle tube having both ends opened and a tapered tip, and a cartridge holding unit A connector portion that is provided and has a hole portion that is open on a side where the cartridge member is attached and detached, and a rear end opening portion of the needle tube is inserted and held in the hole portion; and a hole portion of the connector portion An ink tank connected by a supply pipe and storing ink to be filled in the needle pipe of the ink cartridge, and compressed air is introduced into the ink tank, and the ink in the ink tank is supplied to the ink tank through the supply pipe. A filling amount adjusting unit for feeding a predetermined amount into the hole of the connector unit, and filling the needle tube with ink.
After the ink filled in the needle tube is filled, a filling amount reduction preventing means for preventing the filling amount from decreasing due to its own weight and reducing the filling amount is provided.
An ink filling device.   2. The ink filling device according to claim 1, wherein the filling amount reduction preventing means is a flow path blocking means provided in the middle of the supply pipe to block the flow path.   2. The ink filling device according to claim 1, wherein the filling amount reduction preventing means is a cartridge holding portion height adjusting means that enables adjustment of the height of the cartridge holding portion with respect to the ink tank.   The filling amount reduction preventing means includes a flow path blocking means that is provided in the middle of the supply pipe and blocks the flow path, and a cartridge holding portion height adjustment that enables adjustment of the height of the cartridge holding portion with respect to the ink tank. 2. The ink filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink filling apparatus is configured in combination with means.

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