JP2011046161A - Inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To overcome the problem that, when a waste ink generated during image formation is made to flow downward utilizing a waste ink route having a slope to accommodate the waste ink in a waste ink storage such as a maintenance cartridge, reliability as a waste ink route can not be maintained due to an increase in viscosity and fixing in the middle of the slope, allowing an ink to leak from a body. <P>SOLUTION: In the ink jet recorder, a waste ink discharged by a suction recovery means for recovering a discharge state of a recording head is temporarily made to flow into a waste ink storage for storing the waste ink, and a deposit accumulated in the waste ink route is washed out by making the waste ink flow all at once into the waste ink route having the slope when the waste ink is accumulated to a prescribed amount, and is certainly accommodated in a waste ink storage part on the downstream side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a recording head, and in particular, an ink jet recording apparatus that includes a waste ink storage section that stores waste ink and a waste ink path having an inclination for flowing the waste ink. It is about.

  Conventionally, inkjet recording apparatuses have low running costs and can be miniaturized. Furthermore, since it is easy to support color image recording using a plurality of colors of ink, it is widely used in computer-related output devices. Used and commercialized.

  On the other hand, as an energy generating element that generates energy for ejecting ink from an ejection port (hereinafter referred to as a nozzle) of a recording head, an element using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, or heat generated by irradiating an electromagnetic wave such as a laser In addition, there are those that discharge ink droplets by the action of heat generation, and those that heat a liquid by an electrothermal conversion element having a heating resistor.

  Among them, an ink jet recording type head that uses thermal energy to eject ink droplets can arrange nozzles with high density, so that high-resolution recording is possible. Recording heads that use electrothermal transducers as energy generating elements are easy to miniaturize, and are sufficient for the advantages of IC technology and micromachining technology that have made significant progress in technology and improved reliability in the recent semiconductor field. This is advantageous because it can be used in high density, easy to mount with high density, and inexpensive to manufacture.

  Thus, in an ink jet recording apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium by discharging dye-based or pigment-based ink droplets from the recording head, a recording head in which nozzles for discharging ink droplets are formed, and this recording head A carriage that is mounted and reciprocates in a predetermined direction, and a recording medium conveyance device that conveys the recording medium in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction (recording medium conveyance direction) are provided.

  When forming an image on the recording medium, the recording medium being conveyed by the recording medium conveying device is temporarily stopped, and the nozzle is based on the image signal carried above the image while reciprocating the carriage in the predetermined direction. Ink is discharged from the recording medium to form an image for one band in a portion of the recording medium located in the image forming area facing the nozzle. Thereafter, the recording medium is transported by a width corresponding to one band and stopped, and again, the ink droplets are ejected from the ejection port based on the image signal while reciprocating the carriage in the predetermined direction. An image is formed in a portion newly located in the image forming area. By repeating such an operation, an image is formed on the recording medium.

  The ink jet recording apparatus is an extremely excellent printing method having a simple configuration, but has a problem to be solved.

  Inkjet recording devices are used when the device is not used for a long period of time, or when a specific nozzle out of a large number of nozzles discharges rarely compared to other nozzles. Due to the evaporation of water in the ink chamber communicating with the ink, the viscosity of the ink may increase and ejection failure may occur.

  However, conventionally, in order to prevent such a situation, a recovery device that forcibly sucks ink from the nozzles to restore the ink discharge state to the initial state has been used.

  In this recovery device, the nozzle of the recording head is covered (capped) with a cap made of rubber or the like, and the inside of the nozzle is cleaned by generating negative pressure from the outside and sucking out ink from the nozzle. As a result, ink is sucked from the nozzles, and the ink discharge state is restored to the initial normal discharge state. The ink sucked by the recovery device at the time of cleaning is stored as waste ink in a waste ink tank such as a maintenance cartridge.

  In addition, during image formation, there is a case where ejection is performed to an ejection receptacle provided outside the recording medium in order to perform borderless printing or ejection recovery for stabilizing the ejection state. The waste ink generated at this time passes through an inclined waste ink path provided at the lower portion of the discharge receptacle and is stored in a waste ink tank.

  As described above, wasteful ink is generated by edgeless printing in the image forming area and recovery of discharge for stabilizing the discharge state during image formation in addition to the recovery of suction. When this waste ink flows through a slanted waste ink path, the amount of waste ink generated at a time is small, so if the slant angle is small, the waste ink flows down the slanted waste ink path and the waste ink tank There is a risk that it will become a deposit by staying on the way and drying.

  In order to solve such a problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for efficiently storing waste ink in a waste ink storage portion using a main body structure.

  In this method, waste ink generated by borderless printing in the center of the main unit is provided with waste ink storage units at both ends of the main unit below the waste ink collecting unit, and two channels from the center are inclined flow paths with an inclination angle. The generated waste ink is efficiently accommodated by adding a large amount of water.

JP 2006-224556 A

  However, in the above-described ink jet printer, the inclination angle of the waste ink path is increased, so that the main body size is increased. In recent years, there is a need to reduce the size of the main body and reduce the amount of waste ink. In recent years, if the inclination angle of the waste ink path is small, a small amount of waste ink generated from the image forming area is caused to flow to the inclined waste ink path. However, the viscosity increases and accumulates on the way, and the reliability as a waste ink path cannot be maintained, and there is a risk of developing ink leakage from the main body.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention can maintain reliability as a waste ink path even if a small amount of waste ink is accumulated and thickened in the middle of the waste ink path even in a waste ink path having a small inclination angle. The object is to perform waste ink processing.

A recording head that discharges ink from a nozzle to record on a recording medium, and a suction recovery for discarding the suction by covering the nozzle with a cap in order to recover or maintain the ink ejection state of the recording head Means, a first waste ink storage unit connected immediately below the suction recovery unit and storing the waste ink discharged by the suction recovery unit, and an upper surface located below the first waste ink storage unit Waste ink discharged between the opened second waste ink reservoir, the first waste ink reservoir and the second waste ink reservoir, and from the recording head to other than the recording medium In an inkjet recording apparatus comprising a discharge receiving port for receiving and a waste ink path having an inclination located below the discharge receiving port,
The first waste ink storage unit includes an air communication port having a control valve at the top, a waste ink discharge port having a control valve at the bottom, and a waste ink amount detection means for detecting the amount of waste ink inside. It is characterized by that.

  Further, the waste ink discharged by the suction recovery means is opened with the valve of the air communication port of the first waste ink storage unit connected directly below the cap suction means open and the valve of the waste ink discharge port closed. The waste ink amount is temporarily stored until it is detected by the waste ink amount detection means provided in one waste ink storage section. Once stored, close the air communication valve of the first waste ink reservoir, open the waste ink discharge valve, and use the pressure of the pump generated by the suction recovery means to tilt the waste ink path And a control means for storing the waste ink into the second waste ink storage unit.

  According to the present invention, the waste ink accumulated and thickened in the waste ink path having a small inclination angle is washed away by continuously flowing the waste ink in the first waste ink storage unit in this way, and the second By storing it in the waste ink reservoir, even if a small amount of waste ink accumulates and thickens in the middle of the waste ink path, it can be dissolved and removed, and it is a reliable inkjet without reducing the reliability of the waste ink path A recording apparatus can be realized.

1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a state in which waste ink is stored by a suction recovery unit of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a state in which waste ink is discharged by the suction recovery means of the present invention.

(Example)
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet recording apparatus 10 includes a platen 6 on which a recording medium 9 conveyed in the direction of arrow A is placed. The platen 6 has a platen suction fan (not shown) for sucking the recording medium, and a position corresponding to the rated size of the recording medium 9 so as to perform discharge recovery for borderless printing and stable discharge state of the recording head. A plurality of discharge receptacles 7 are provided. Two scanning rails (guide rails) 2 are spanned above the platen 6 in parallel to the platen 6. A carriage 4 that reciprocates in the directions of arrows B and C (directions orthogonal to the direction of arrow A) by a motor (not shown) and a belt 3 is attached to the scanning rail 2 via a slide bearing (not shown). .

  A recording head 1 having a nozzle 27 for ejecting ink is mounted on the carriage 4. The recording head 1 and an ink tank (not shown) installed in the main body are connected by an ink supply tube (not shown). The carriage 4 reciprocates in the image forming area at the time of image formation, but the ink supply tube uses a flexible tube (for example, a silicon tube, a polyethylene tube, etc.) so that the movement of the carriage 4 is not hindered. The ink tank (not shown) is provided with an air communication hole (not shown), and the inside of the ink tank communicates with the atmosphere. Therefore, when ink is ejected from the recording head 1, the ink is replenished to the recording head 1 from the ink tank through the ink supply tube.

  In such an ink jet recording apparatus 10, in order to satisfactorily stabilize the ejection state during printing of the recording head 1, suction recovery is performed periodically or by the recovery device 5 installed in the apparatus main body by the user.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a state in which waste ink is stored by the suction recovery means of the present invention. The storage of waste ink in the first waste ink storage unit 30 will be described.

  The suction recovery for stabilizing the ejection state of the recording head 1 covers the face surface 28 with the nozzle 27 of the recording head 1 with the cap 8 built in the recovery device in the recording apparatus main body, and on the downstream side of the cap 8. This is done by operating the suction pump 22 in communication. A first waste ink storage unit 30 that stores the waste ink discharged by the suction recovery means is connected directly below the suction pump 22. The first waste ink storage unit 30 has an air communication port 31 provided with a control valve for releasing the inside at the upper part, and a waste ink discharge port provided with a control valve for discharging the waste ink at the lower part. 32 and waste ink amount detection means 33 for detecting that the waste ink 34 is full in the first waste ink storage unit 30.

  First, the waste ink 34 discharged by the suction recovery means is stored in the first waste ink storage unit 30. For storage, before the suction pump 22 of the suction recovery means is operated, the valve of the waste ink discharge port 32 provided with the control valve is closed and the valve of the atmosphere communication port 31 provided with the control valve is opened. .

  In this state, the suction pump 22 is operated, and the first waste ink storage unit 30 stores the waste ink remaining amount detection means 33 until the waste ink 34 is detected to be full. When the suction recovery means does not become full by a single operation of the suction recovery means, the valve of the atmosphere communication port 31 provided with the control valve is closed, and the waste ink 34 is stored without being exposed to the atmosphere in order to prevent waste ink from evaporating due to drying. Keep it.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a state where waste ink is discharged by the suction recovery means of the present invention. The discharge of waste ink will be described.

  The waste ink 34 stored in the first waste ink storage unit 30 is discharged to a waste ink path 24 having an inclination. The valve of the atmosphere communication port 31 provided with the control valve is closed, and the valve of the waste ink discharge port 32 provided with the control valve is opened. Then, the waste ink 34 continuously flows out from the waste ink discharge port 32 provided with the control valve with the pressure generated by operating the suction pump 22 of the suction recovery means. The waste ink 34 that has flowed out continuously flows through the inclined waste ink path 24, and finally flows to the second waste ink storage section 25 having an upper opening and is stored.

  At this time, the accumulated ink 40 deposited on the slanted waste ink path 24 is washed away by the waste ink 34 continuously flowing out.

  The timing of discharging the waste ink 34 from the first waste ink storage unit 30 is that the suction pump 22 is operated and discharged after the suction recovery operation of the recording head 1 is completed.

  Alternatively, when the amount of the waste ink 34 generated by the suction recovery means method is different (for example, when there is a difference in the driving time of the suction pump), how much the waste ink 34 is accumulated from the method and the number of times of the suction recovery means. Depending on the experience value, the discharge time may be set and discharged.

  Furthermore, the amount of waste ink discharged from the recording head 1 to the discharge receiving port due to the borderless printing or discharge recovery is converted from the dot count of the ink droplets discharged from the recording head 1 to the discharge receiving port. Thus, when the amount of waste ink is small, the waste ink 34 may be discharged from the first waste ink storage unit 30 in a state where a certain amount of waste ink 34 has accumulated without detecting fullness.

  By processing waste ink with such a configuration, it is possible to improve the reliability of waste ink processing by flowing the waste ink path 24 regardless of the inclination angle of the waste ink path having an inclination, When waste ink does not flow well and leaks outside the machine, or when the main body is tilted by transporting the main body, etc., the accumulated ink prevents the flow of the waste ink path and creates residual waste ink that leaks outside the machine. Can be prevented. Further, it is not necessary to increase the inclination angle of the waste ink path, and the apparatus main body size can be reduced.

  Furthermore, the suction pump 22 closes the valve of the atmosphere communication port 31 provided with the control valve of the first waste ink storage unit 30 and closes the valve of the waste ink discharge port 32 provided with the control valve. After the inside of the waste ink storage unit 30 is in a pressurized state, the valve of the waste ink discharge port 32 provided with a control valve can be opened and discharged so as to be ejected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1 Recording head 2 Scan rail 3 Belt 4 Carriage 5 Recovery device 6 Platen 7 Discharge receiving port 8 Cap 9 Recording medium 10 Inkjet recording device main body 22 Suction pump 24 Inclined waste ink path 25 Second waste ink storage unit 27 Nozzle 28 Face surface 30 First waste ink storage unit 31 Atmosphere port provided with control valve 32 Waste ink discharge port provided with control valve 33 Waste ink amount detection means 34 Waste ink 40 Accumulated ink

Claims (5)

A recording head that discharges ink from a nozzle to record on a recording medium, and a suction recovery for discarding the suction by covering the nozzle with a cap in order to recover or maintain the ink ejection state of the recording head Means, a first waste ink storage unit connected immediately below the suction recovery unit and storing the waste ink discharged by the suction recovery unit, and an upper surface located below the first waste ink storage unit Waste ink discharged between the opened second waste ink reservoir, the first waste ink reservoir and the second waste ink reservoir, and from the recording head to other than the recording medium In an inkjet recording apparatus comprising a discharge receiving port for receiving and a waste ink path having an inclination located below the discharge receiving port,
The first waste ink storage unit includes an air communication port having a control valve at the top, a waste ink discharge port having a control valve at the bottom, and a waste ink amount detection means for detecting the amount of waste ink inside. An inkjet recording apparatus characterized by the above. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1,
A storage control unit configured to store waste ink in the first waste ink storage unit; and a discharge control unit configured to discharge waste ink stored in the first waste ink storage unit from the waste ink discharge port. An ink jet recording apparatus. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The storage means for storing waste ink in the first waste ink storage part opens a valve of the atmosphere communication port provided with the control valve of the first waste ink storage part, and discharges waste ink provided with the control valve. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein an outlet valve is closed, and waste ink discharged from the suction recovery means is stored until a waste ink amount detection means for detecting the amount of waste ink in the interior detects fullness. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
Waste ink discharge means for discharging the waste ink stored in the first waste ink storage section from a waste ink discharge port provided with the control valve is the first ink in a state where the waste ink amount detection means is fully detected. The first waste ink reservoir is closed by the pressure generated by the suction recovery means by closing the air communication port provided with the control valve of the waste ink reservoir and opening the valve of the waste ink outlet provided with the control valve. An ink jet recording apparatus for discharging waste ink stored in a waste ink path to the waste ink path having the inclination. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
Waste ink discharge means for discharging the waste ink stored in the first waste ink storage section from a waste ink discharge port provided with the control valve, in a state where the waste ink amount detection means is fully detected, According to the amount of waste ink ejected from the recording head to the ejection receptacle, the valve of the atmosphere communication port comprising the control valve of the first waste ink reservoir is closed, and the waste ink discharge port comprising the control valve The ink jet recording apparatus is characterized in that the waste ink stored in the first waste ink storage section is discharged by the pressure generated by the suction recovery means.

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