JP2010052150A - Liquid ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress unnecessary disposal of a liquid in a tank, in a constitution which includes the tank for discharging a gas in a channel that includes a liquid ejecting head. <P>SOLUTION: When the gas in a subtank 50 is discharged, a float 55 blocks an exhaust port 52 due to the rise of the liquid level of ink in the subtank 50. A conical exhaust port part 52a is formed in the vicinity of the exhaust port 52 in the subtank 50, and the float 55 has a spherical surface which is engageable with the exhaust port part 52a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid discharge apparatus having a sub tank that discharges gas in a flow path including a liquid discharge head.

  In an ink jet printer that is an example of a liquid ejection device, in addition to a main tank that stores ink supplied to a liquid ejection head, a sub tank is provided to discharge bubbles generated in a flow path including the head to the outside. A technique is known (see Patent Document 1). The sub tank stores ink and communicates with the atmosphere at an upper portion thereof. When ink mixed with bubbles is supplied from the head into the sub tank, the bubbles rise in the sub tank and are released to the atmosphere above the sub tank.

  Further, a sensor such as a photo sensor for detecting the amount of ink in the sub tank is provided on the side surface of the sub tank, and various operations are performed in accordance with detection signals of the sensor.

JP 2005-306005 A

  According to the above document, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the air release valve that opens the sub tank to the atmosphere is temporarily closed during a predetermined operation, but at other times, It is opened to eliminate the pressure difference between the sub tank and the head. Therefore, since the ink in the flow path including the head and the sub tank is exposed to the atmosphere for a long time, the viscosity increases, which may cause a problem of unstable ejection.

  Therefore, in order to suppress an increase in the viscosity of the ink, it is conceivable to employ a so-called sealed flow path that closes the flow path from the atmosphere except during a predetermined operation. However, if a closed type is used and the gas is left in the flow path, the meniscus formed at the ejection port of the head is destroyed by the expansion and contraction of the gas according to the temperature change, and the ink leaks. Problems may occur. Therefore, it is necessary to appropriately discharge the gas generated in the flow path, but when performing the discharge, when detecting the amount of ink in the sub tank using the sensor as described above, the ink adhering to the inner wall of the sub tank Misdetection, false detection due to bubbling of the liquid level in the sub tank, etc. may occur. Further, due to the erroneous detection, not only the gas to be discharged but also the unnecessary ink is discarded, which is disadvantageous in terms of economy and environment.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection apparatus capable of suppressing unnecessary disposal of liquid in a tank in a configuration including a tank that discharges gas in a flow path including a liquid ejection head.

  To achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, a tank for separating liquid and gas, in which a head for discharging liquid, a connection port connected to the head and an exhaust port communicating with the atmosphere are formed, A floating body arranged in the tank so as to float on the liquid level of the liquid stored in the tank and capable of closing the exhaust port when the liquid level rises, and the floating body is exhausted by the rise of the liquid level. There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus comprising exhaust means for exhausting the gas in the tank from the exhaust port so as to close the mouth.

  According to the above aspect, when the gas in the tank is discharged by the exhaust means, the floating body blocks the exhaust port of the tank due to the rise in the liquid level, thereby preventing the liquid in the tank from being discharged. Thereby, unnecessary disposal of the liquid in the tank can be suppressed.

  It is preferable that the vicinity of the exhaust port in the tank has a conical exhaust port portion, and the floating body has a spherical surface that can be engaged with the exhaust port portion. In this case, for example, as compared with a case where the vicinity of the exhaust port in the tank has a flat exhaust port portion, the exhaust port is more reliably closed by the floating body.

  The exhaust means includes a tube connecting the exhaust port of the tank and the atmosphere opening port; an exhaust pump for discharging gas in the tank from the exhaust port to the atmosphere opening port; and driving the exhaust pump. And a controller for controlling. In this case, the gas in the tank can be discharged reliably and effectively by driving the exhaust pump.

  It is preferable that the controller controls the exhaust pump to send gas from the atmosphere opening port to the exhaust port in a direction opposite to the discharge direction before discharging the gas in the tank. . In this case, even if the floating body is held at a position where the exhaust port is closed, the floating body can be dropped onto the liquid level in the tank by controlling the exhaust pump as described above.

  The controller may detect blockage of the exhaust port by the floating body according to a current value of a motor of the exhaust pump. In this case, since it is not necessary to provide a dedicated sensor for detecting the blockage of the exhaust port by the floating body, it is economical and the configuration is simplified. Moreover, since the blockage can be detected without considering the driving time of the exhaust pump, the complexity of time control can be avoided. Furthermore, since the detection can be performed without depending on the capacity of the exhaust pump, there is an advantage that the range of options for the exhaust pump is widened.

  It is preferable that an annular elastic body is provided at a contact portion between the floating body and the exhaust port portion when the exhaust port is closed. In this case, the sealing property is improved by the presence of the annular elastic body, and unnecessary disposal of the liquid in the tank can be more reliably suppressed.

  A communication groove that communicates the space in the tank to the atmosphere via the floating body when the exhaust port is closed by the floating body may be formed near the exhaust port in the exhaust port portion. In this case, it can be avoided that the floating body is held at a position where the exhaust port is closed after the gas is discharged from the tank.

  A main tank for storing the liquid supplied to the head; and a supply pump for supplying the liquid in the main tank to the head. The tank is configured so that the liquid in the tank passes through the supply pump. It is preferable to be connected to the supply pump so as to be supplied to the head. In this case, the liquid in the tank can be reused, which is economical.

  The exhaust unit may include one of the supply pump and a pressure applying unit that applies pressure to the liquid in the main tank, and a controller that controls the driving of the one. In this case, since the gas in the tank can be discharged without providing an exhaust pump or the like, the configuration can be simplified.

  According to the liquid discharge apparatus of the present invention, when the gas in the tank is discharged by the exhaust means, the floating body blocks the exhaust port of the tank due to the rise of the liquid level, thereby preventing the liquid in the tank from being discharged. . Thereby, unnecessary disposal of the liquid in the tank can be suppressed.

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

  First, the configuration of an inkjet printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet printer 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped casing 1a. The internal space of the housing 1a is divided into spaces A, B, and C in order from the top, and the four inkjet heads 10 that discharge magenta, cyan, yellow, and black inks and the paper P are conveyed to the space A. A transport unit 122 is arranged. The head 10 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the main scanning direction, and the transport unit 122 transports the paper P in the sub scanning direction. Each of the spaces B and C is a space in which a paper supply unit 1b and an ink tank unit 1c that can be attached to and detached from the housing 1a along the main scanning direction are arranged.

  The ink tank unit 1c includes four main tanks 21 for storing the respective color inks corresponding to the four heads 10, and the main tanks 21 are connected to the corresponding heads 10 via tubes 32 and the like as shown in FIG. Yes. The paper feed unit 1 b includes a paper feed tray 123 that can store a plurality of sheets of paper P, and a paper feed roller 125 attached to the paper feed tray 123. The paper P in the paper feed tray 123 is sent out in order from the uppermost one by the paper feed roller 125, guided by the guides 127 a and 127 b, and sent to the transport unit 122 while being sandwiched by the feed roller pair 126.

  The conveyance unit 122 is in contact with two belt rollers 6 and 7, an endless conveyance belt 8 wound around the two rollers 6 and 7, and an inner peripheral surface of a lower loop of the conveyance belt 8. A tension roller 9 that applies tension to the conveyor belt 8 by being biased downward, and a support frame 11 that rotatably supports the rollers 6, 7, 9 are provided. When the belt roller 7 as a driving roller rotates clockwise in FIG. 1, the conveyor belt 8 travels, and the belt roller 8 also rotates clockwise in FIG.

  The upper loop of the transport belt 8 is arranged so that the belt surface extends in parallel with the lower surface 10a while being separated from the lower surface 10a of the four heads 10 (ejection surface on which many ejection ports for ejecting ink are opened) 10a. 19 is supported. The four heads 10 are juxtaposed in the sub-scanning direction and supported by the housing 1a via the frame 3.

  A fall prevention plate 12 bent in a U-shape is disposed below the transport unit 122, and foreign matter dropped from the transport belt 8 or the like is held by the fall prevention plate 12. .

  The paper P sent to the transport unit 122 is pressed against the surface of the transport belt 8 by the pressing roller 4 and then held on the surface by the adhesive force on the surface of the transport belt 8 while being sub-scanned along the black arrow. It is conveyed in the direction. At this time, when passing through the four heads 10 in order, ink of each color is ejected from the ejection surface 10a of each head 10 toward the upper surface of the paper P, so that a desired color image is formed on the paper P. It is formed. The paper P is peeled off from the surface of the transport belt 8 by the peeling plate 5, guided by the guides 129a and 129b and transported upward while being sandwiched between the two pairs of feed rollers 128, and an opening formed in the upper part of the housing 1a. The paper is discharged from 130 to the paper discharge unit 131.

  Next, an ink supply system in the inkjet printer 1 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The ink supply system is provided for each of the four heads 10. For one head 10, the main tank 21, the supply pump 22 that supplies ink in the main tank 21 to the corresponding head 10, the head 10, And it has the sub tank 50 which isolate | separates ink and gas. Hereinafter, an ink supply system corresponding to one head 10 will be described, but the contents of the description are common to the ink supply systems of any head 10.

  The main tank 21 and the supply pump 22, the supply pump 22 and the head 10, the head 10 and the sub tank 50, and the sub tank 50 and the supply pump 22 are connected through tubes 31, 32, 33, and 34, respectively. 2 shows the printer 1 of FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction along the sub-scanning direction. The sub tank 50, the supply pump 22, the tubes 31, 32, 33, and 34, the controller 100, and the like are provided in the housing 1a (see FIG. 1). ) Are arranged at appropriate positions.

  The main tank 21 includes an ink bag 21a filled with ink, a pressure applying plate 21b disposed above the ink bag 21a so as to be able to press the ink bag 21a, and a biasing member that biases the pressure adding plate 21b downward. These members are arranged in a tank case. Pressure is applied to the ink bag 21 a by the pressure applied by the pressure application plate 21 b, and the ink in the ink bag 21 a is introduced into the supply pump 22.

  The sub tank 50 has a hollow shape including a cylindrical body portion and conical portions arranged above and below the sub tank 50, a connection port 51 connected to the head 10 on the side surface, an exhaust port 52 communicating with the atmosphere on the upper end, and A circulation port 53 connected to the supply pump 22 is formed at the lower end. The connection port 51 is located below the vertical center of the sub tank 50. Then, as will be described later, after the initial introduction, the controller 100 controls the ink level in the sub tank 50 so that it is always above the connection port 51. Therefore, the ink introduced from the head 10 into the sub tank 50 flows into the ink below the ink level without dropping onto the ink level already stored in the sub tank 50. Therefore, unnecessary bubbles are not generated in the sub tank 50, and the ink and gas are smoothly separated in the sub tank 50. Further, the vicinity of the exhaust port 52 in the sub tank 50 has a conical shape as described above, and this portion is referred to as an exhaust port portion 52a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a spherical floating body 55 is disposed in the sub tank 50 so as to float on the liquid surface of the ink. The floating body 55 is made of a material such as polypropylene having a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink in the sub tank 50, and can block the exhaust port 52 when the ink level in the sub tank 50 rises from L1 to L2, as will be described later. And has a spherical surface that can be engaged with the exhaust port 52a. Further, an O-ring 59 is provided at a contact portion between the floating body 55 and the exhaust port portion 52a when the exhaust port 52 is closed.

  The exhaust port 52 of the sub tank 50 has a smaller diameter than the floating body 55 and is connected to one end of the tube 35. At the other end of the tube 35, an atmosphere opening port 35a is formed. By driving an exhaust pump 80 provided in the tube 35, the gas in the sub tank 50 is discharged from the exhaust port 52 to the atmosphere opening port 35a. In addition, if a small amount of ink in the sub tank 50 is discharged when the gas in the sub tank 50 is discharged, a waste ink receiver 90 is provided in the vicinity of the atmosphere opening 35a so that the ink does not scatter in the printer 1. Yes.

  The tubes 32, 33, and 35 are provided with valves 23, 24, and 25 that are opened and closed under the control of the controller 100, respectively. The controller 100 controls the operation of each part of the printer 1.

  Hereinafter, of the control by the controller 100, the control at the time of discharging the gas in the flow path including the head 10, the supply pump 22, the tubes 32, 33, 34 and the like will be described. When the gas discharge processing is initially introduced (refers to introducing ink into the printer 1 for the first time or introducing ink into the printer 1 after replacing the main tank 21), when a predetermined condition is satisfied after the initial introduction. Etc.

  First, at the time of initial introduction, the controller 100 closes the valves 23 and 24 and then opens the valve 25. Subsequently, the ink in the ink bag 21 a of the main tank 21 is introduced into the supply pump 22 and the sub tank 50 by controlling the operation of the pressure application plate 21 b. Further, by controlling the drive of the supply pump 22 while opening all the valves 23, 24, 25, ink is introduced into the head 10 and the tubes 32, 33 along the black arrows in FIG. At this time, the ink level in the sub tank 50 is temporarily lowered as the ink flows into the head 10 and the floating body 55 is also lowered. That is, the ink and gas are separated in the sub tank 50 and the gas accumulates above the tank 50. The controller 100 then stops driving the supply pump 22, closes the valves 23 and 24, and drives the exhaust pump 80 while opening the valve 25, thereby causing the inside of the sub tank 50 to move along the white arrow in FIG. 2. Is discharged from the exhaust port 52. When the gas is discharged from the sub tank 50, the valve 25 is closed and the driving of the exhaust pump 80 is stopped. Thereafter, the valves 23 and 24 are opened, and the process proceeds to a printing operation.

  At this time, the floating body 55 moves upward as the ink level in the sub tank 50 changes from L1 to L2 shown in FIG. 2, for example, and stops at a position where it abuts on the O-ring 59. The exhaust port 52 is closed. At this time, the exhaust pump 80 receives a large load, but the controller 100 controls the exhaust pump 80 to increase the current of the motor of the exhaust pump 80 to perform exhaust. The controller 100 detects the blockage of the exhaust port 52 due to the floating body 55, for example, when the current value increases and exceeds a threshold value according to the current value of the motor of the exhaust pump 80. After the detection, the valve 25 is closed and the driving of the exhaust pump 80 is stopped. Thereby, the inside of the flow path including the sub tank 50 and the head 10 is almost filled with ink without any gas.

  After the initial introduction as described above, the controller 100 controls the valve 25 to maintain the closure. That is, the flow path including the head 10 and the like in the present embodiment is a so-called sealed type that is blocked from the atmosphere except during a predetermined operation.

  Next, the gas discharge process when a predetermined condition is satisfied after the initial introduction will be described. Here, the predetermined condition means that the gas amount in the flow path exceeds the specified amount based on the elapsed time from the initial introduction, the elapsed time from the previous gas discharge process, the temperature change, etc., and the gas discharge process is necessary. The condition that is said to be. In detecting this condition, a timer or temperature sensor provided in the printer 1, a sensor for detecting the liquid level of ink in the sub tank 50 or the position of the floating body 55, or the like may be used.

  In the gas discharge process, the controller 100 first closes the valves 23 and 24 and opens the valve 25, and then opens the exhaust pump 80 from the air opening 35a to the exhaust port in the direction opposite to the gas discharge direction. Control is performed so that the gas is sent into the sub tank 50 through 52. Thus, even after the gas discharge process at the time of initial introduction described above, even if the floating body 55 is in a position where it closes the exhaust port 52, that is, in a state where it is in contact with the O-ring 59, Can be dropped on top. At this time, since the two valves 23 and 24 are closed, the meniscus is prevented from being destroyed due to an increase in the pressure of ink in the head 10 by driving the exhaust pump 80. Thereafter, the exhaust pump 80 is stopped.

  After that, the controller 100 controls the drive of the supply pump 22 while opening the valves 23 and 24 and closing the valve 25, so that the head 10 and the sub tank are supplied from the supply pump 22 along the black arrow in FIG. The ink is circulated so as to return to the supply pump 22 again after 50. As a result, the gas-mixed ink existing in the flow path including the head 10 and the like is introduced into the sub tank 50, the ink and the gas are separated in the tank 50, and the gas is accumulated above the tank 50. The controller 100 then stops driving the supply pump 22, closes the valves 23 and 24, and drives the exhaust pump 80 while opening the valve 25, thereby causing the inside of the sub tank 50 to move along the white arrow in FIG. 2. Is discharged from the exhaust port 52.

  The operation of the floating body 55 at this time, the closing of the exhaust port 52 by the floating body 55, and the like are the same as described above.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the gas in the sub tank 50 is discharged, the floating body 55 closes the exhaust port 52 due to the rise of the ink level in the sub tank 50. Thereby, the discharge of the ink in the sub tank 50 is prevented, and unnecessary disposal of the ink can be suppressed.

  The vicinity of the exhaust port 52 in the sub tank 50 has a conical exhaust port portion 52a, and the floating body 55 has a spherical surface that can be engaged with the exhaust port portion 52a. Therefore, for example, the closure of the exhaust port 52 by the floating body 55 is more reliably realized than in the case where the vicinity of the exhaust port 52 in the sub tank 50 has a planar exhaust port part.

  When exhausting the gas in the sub tank 50 from the exhaust port 52, the tube 35 connecting the exhaust port 52 of the sub tank 50 and the atmosphere opening port 35a and the gas in the sub tank 50 are discharged from the exhaust port 52 to the atmosphere opening port 35a. The exhaust pump 80 and the controller 100 that controls the driving of the exhaust pump 80 are used. By driving the exhaust pump 80, the gas in the sub tank 50 can be discharged reliably and effectively.

  When the predetermined condition is satisfied after the initial introduction, the controller 100 sets the exhaust pump 80 in the direction opposite to the gas discharge direction from the atmosphere opening port 35a through the exhaust port 52 before discharging the gas in the sub tank 50. Then, control is performed so that the gas is sent into the sub tank 50. As a result, even when the floating body 55 is held at the position where the exhaust port 52 is closed, the floating body 55 can be dropped onto the ink level in the sub tank 50.

  The controller 100 detects the blockage of the exhaust port 52 by the floating body 55 according to the current value of the motor of the exhaust pump 80. Thereby, there is no need to provide a dedicated sensor for detecting the blockage of the exhaust port 52 by the floating body 55, which is economical and simplifies the configuration. Further, since the blockage can be detected without considering the driving time of the exhaust pump 80, the complexity of time control can be avoided. Furthermore, since the detection can be performed without depending on the capability of the exhaust pump 80, there is an advantage that the range of options for the exhaust pump 80 is widened. Further, since the exhaust port 52 is closed by the floating body 55 when the discharge of the gas in the sub tank 50 is completed, unnecessary disposal of the ink in the sub tank 50 is prevented and the degree of freedom in setting the drive time of the exhaust pump 80 is increased. Can be realized together.

  An O-ring 59 is provided at a contact portion between the floating body 55 and the exhaust port portion 52a when the exhaust port 52 is closed. Due to the presence of the O-ring 59, the sealing performance is improved, and unnecessary disposal of the ink in the sub tank 50 can be more reliably suppressed.

  The printer 1 has a main tank 21 and a supply pump 22, and a sub tank 50 is connected to the supply pump 22 so that ink in the tank 50 is supplied to the head 10 via the supply pump 22. As a result, the ink in the sub tank 50 can be reused, which is economical. Furthermore, since the ink does not stay in the flow channel for a long time, it is possible to effectively prevent the generation of bubbles and the increase in viscosity in the flow channel.

  In the present embodiment, the controller 100 controls the ink level in the sub tank 50 to be always above the connection port 51 after the initial introduction. Specifically, the controller 100 controls the amount of ink in the sub tank 50 based on a signal transmitted from a sensor that detects the liquid level of the ink in the sub tank 50 or the position of the floating body 55, and moves upward from the connection port 51. When the ink level drops to a position separated upward by a predetermined distance, the ink amount in the sub tank 50 is increased by introducing ink from the head 10 to the sub tank 50. Thereby, compared with the case where the liquid level of the ink in the sub tank 50 is below the connection port 51, the bubbling of the ink when the ink is introduced into the sub tank 50 from the head 10 through the connection port 51 is suppressed. be able to. Further, by suppressing foaming, for example, when a sensor for detecting the liquid level of the ink in the sub tank 50 is provided and gas discharge processing is performed in accordance with the detection signal of the sensor, the detection reliability by the sensor can be improved. The gas discharge process can be performed at an appropriate timing. That is, the accuracy of liquid level detection due to foaming is not reduced.

  Next, a sub-tank according to a modification will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (b) and FIG.

  The sub tanks 150 and 250 shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are only described above in that the communication grooves 151 and 251 are formed without the O-ring 59 of FIG. Unlike the sub tank 50 according to the embodiment, the other configurations are the same as those of the sub tank 50 according to the above-described embodiment.

  In the sub tanks 150 and 250 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, one communication groove 151 and a plurality of communication grooves 251 are formed in the vicinity of the exhaust port 52 in the exhaust port 52a. The communication grooves 151 and 251 formed on the inner wall surfaces of the sub tanks 150 and 250 allow the space in the sub tank 50 to communicate with the atmosphere via the floating body 55 when the exhaust port 52 is closed by the floating body 55. (See FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, a communication groove 251 is shown in a partial cross section of the sub tank 250.) Both the communication grooves 151 and 251 do not penetrate the walls of the sub tanks 150 and 250 in the thickness direction, but are formed as recesses formed on the inner wall surface from the opening end of the exhaust port 52 toward the bottom along the side surface of the cone. The communication groove 251 is formed radially along the periphery of the opening of the exhaust port 52.

  Here, it demonstrates concretely with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the floating body 55 closes the exhaust port 52 in the sub tank 250 of FIG. Hereinafter, the sub tank 250 of FIG. 3B will be described, but the same applies to the sub tank 150 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the communication groove 251 is formed on the inner side surface of the sub-tank 250 with the space inside the sub-tank 250 and the upper space connected to the atmosphere opening 34 across the contact position of the floating body 55 with the inner side surface. It extends to straddle. The communication hole 251 allows the gas in the sub-tank 250 to easily pass in a state where the floating body 55 closes the exhaust port 52, but has a flow resistance so that the load of the exhaust pump 80 is reliably increased when discharging ink. Is set. Thus, by measuring the current value of the motor of the exhaust pump 80, it is possible to detect the blockage of the exhaust port 52 due to the floating body 55. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, when gas is accumulated in the sub tank 250 during normal operation after the floating body 55 closes the exhaust port 52, the contact position of the floating body 55 with the inner surface of the sub tank 250 is sandwiched. Since the spaces on both the upper and lower sides are filled with gas, the floating body 55 easily falls on the ink level in the sub tank 250 due to its own weight, or follows the lowering of the ink level in the sub tank 250. Then descend.

  According to the modified example, the presence of the communication grooves 151 and 251 can prevent the floating body 55 from being held at a position where the exhaust port 52 is closed after the gas in the sub tank 50 is discharged.

  The preferred embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and various design changes are possible as long as they are described in the claims. It is a thing.

  For example, when discharging the gas in the sub tank 50 from the exhaust port 52, the controller 100 may control driving of either the supply pump 21 or the pressure applying plate 21 b of the main tank 21 instead of the exhaust pump 80. . In this case, since the gas in the sub tank 50 can be discharged without providing the exhaust pump 80 and the like, the configuration can be simplified.

  The main tank 21, supply pump 22, exhaust pump 80, O-ring 59, etc. may be omitted as appropriate.

  The floating body 55 is not limited to a spherical shape as long as the exhaust port 52 of the sub tank 50 can be closed. For example, the floating body 55 may have a shape in which only the upper portion has a spherical surface, or a shape that does not have a spherical surface.

  The shape of the sub tank 50 is not limited to the shape formed by coupling the cylindrical body portion and the conical body portion as in the above-described embodiment, and can be variously changed. The same applies to the shape of the sub tank 50 near the exhaust port 52.

  The position of the exhaust port 52 of the sub tank 50 is not limited to the upper part of the sub tank 50, and may be the side portion of the sub tank 50 or the like.

  The exhaust port 52 is not limited to being completely closed by the floating body 55, and there may be a gap in the contact portion between the floating body 55 and the exhaust port portion 52 a in the sub tank 50, for example, by omitting the O-ring 59. In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the liquid level L <b> 2 when the exhaust port 52 is closed by the floating body 55 is at the same height as the O-ring 59. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the liquid level L2 when the exhaust port 52 is closed by the floating body 55 may be lower or higher than the O-ring 59. Even in such a case, the presence of the floating body 55 can prevent the ink from being discharged from the sub tank 50, and the effect of suppressing unnecessary disposal of the ink can be obtained.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the predetermined condition is satisfied after the initial introduction, the controller 100 controls the driving of the exhaust pump 80 in the direction opposite to the gas discharge direction before discharging the gas in the sub tank 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the modification shown in FIG. 3, since the floating body 55 is prevented from being held at the position where the exhaust port 52 is closed, the above control is unnecessary.

  In the above-described embodiment, the controller 100 detects the blockage of the exhaust port 52 by the floating body 55 according to the current value of the motor of the exhaust pump 80, but is not limited to this, for example, the driving time of the exhaust pump 80, the sub tank 50 according to a detection signal by a sensor for detecting the ink level in the ink 50 or the position of the floating body 55, or according to an electrical signal due to contact between the floating body 55 and the exhaust port 52a. The blockage of the exhaust port 52 by the floating body 55 may be detected. Even in such a case, the presence of the floating body 55 can prevent the ink from being discharged from the sub tank 50, and the effect of suppressing unnecessary disposal of the ink can be obtained. Even in the above case, the floating body needs to float on the ink. For example, when the floating body is made of metal as described above, a thin metal layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the floating body floating on the ink may be used.

  When the driving time of the exhaust pump 80 is determined in advance, in the above-described embodiment, even if the driving time is long, the ink is not exhausted from the exhaust port 52 by the intervention of the O-ring 59. On the other hand, in the embodiment in which the O-ring 59 is not provided and the communication grooves 151 and 251 are provided as in the modification of FIG. 3, some ink is discharged from the exhaust port 52 via the communication grooves 151 and 251. The discharge amount of the ink is small due to the flow path resistance of the grooves 151 and 251. In the embodiment in which a sensor for detecting the ink level in the sub tank 50 or the position of the floating body 55 is provided, it is preferable to set the lower limit of the detection position above the connection port 51. Thereby, bubbling due to the ink flowing into the sub tank 50 from the connection port 52 is prevented, and the position detection accuracy can be maintained well.

  The flow path including the head 10 and the like is not limited to a so-called sealed type that is blocked from the atmosphere except during a predetermined operation, as in the above-described embodiment, and the valve 25 is temporarily closed during a predetermined operation. However, it may be a so-called open type that is opened at other times. Even in this case, excessive discard of the ink in the sub tank 50 at the time of gas discharge can be suppressed.

  Although the O-ring 59 of FIG. 2 is omitted in the modification of FIG. 3, an O-ring may be used in the modification. In this case, each time the exhaust port 52 is blocked by the floating body 55, the flow path resistance of the communication grooves 151 and 251 for the ink to be discharged can be maintained constant.

  The liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to both a line type and a serial type, and is not limited to a printer, and can also be applied to a facsimile, a copier, and the like. Furthermore, a device that ejects liquid other than ink may be used.

1 is a side view of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the ink supply system in the inkjet printer of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the sub tank which concerns on a modification. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the sub tank concerning the modification shown in Drawing 3 (b).

Explanation of symbols

1 Inkjet printer (liquid ejection device)
10 head 21 main tank 21b pressure applying plate (pressure applying means)
22 Supply pump 35 Tube (exhaust means)
35a Air opening (exhaust means)
50; 150; 250 Sub tank (tank)
51 Connection Port 52 Exhaust Port 52a Exhaust Port Portion 55 Floating Body 59 O-ring (Annular Elastic Body)
80 Exhaust pump (exhaust means)
100 controller (exhaust means, pressure applying means)
151; 251 Communication groove

Claims (9)

A head for discharging liquid;
A tank for separating liquid and gas, wherein a connection port connected to the head and an exhaust port communicating with the atmosphere are formed;
A floating body arranged in the tank so as to float on the liquid level of the liquid stored in the tank, and capable of closing the exhaust port when the liquid level rises;
An exhaust means for exhausting the gas in the tank from the exhaust port so that the floating body closes the exhaust port due to the rise in the liquid level;
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: The vicinity of the exhaust port in the tank has a conical exhaust port part,
The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the floating body has a spherical surface that can be engaged with the exhaust port portion.   The exhaust means includes a tube connecting the exhaust port of the tank and the atmosphere opening port; an exhaust pump for discharging gas in the tank from the exhaust port to the atmosphere opening port; and driving the exhaust pump. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller that controls the liquid ejecting apparatus.   The controller controls the exhaust pump to send gas from the atmosphere opening port to the exhaust port in a direction opposite to the discharge direction before discharging the gas in the tank. The liquid ejection device according to claim 3.   5. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller detects blockage of the exhaust port by the floating body according to a current value of a motor of the exhaust pump.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an annular elastic body is provided at a contact portion between the floating body and the exhaust port portion when the exhaust port is closed.   A communication groove for communicating the space in the tank with the atmosphere through the floating body when the exhaust port is closed by the floating body is formed near the exhaust port in the exhaust port portion. The liquid ejection apparatus according to any one of? A main tank for storing liquid supplied to the head;
A supply pump for supplying the liquid in the main tank to the head;
Further comprising
The liquid discharge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tank is connected to the supply pump so that the liquid in the tank is supplied to the head via the supply pump. apparatus.   9. The exhaust means includes any one of the supply pump and pressure applying means for applying pressure to the liquid in the main tank, and a controller for controlling the driving of the one. The liquid discharge apparatus according to 1.

Images