JP2011126154A - Liquid injection system, liquid injection device and liquid storage body - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid injection system, a liquid injection device and a liquid storage body performing stirring of liquid while suppressing deterioration in printed quality. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid injection system includes: a carriage that moves along a main scanning direction X; a liquid injection head loaded on the carriage; the liquid storage body 16 arranged on the carriage; and a magnet 25 that is arranged on the position adjoining the end part of one side of the liquid storage body 16 in the subsidiary scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction X. An inner bottom surface of the liquid storage body 16 includes: an outward path inclined surface 28 that is inclined downward and at the same time, is extended from one side toward the other side in the subsidiary scanning direction on a height position lower than the magnet 25 in the vertical direction Z; and a return path inclined surface 29 that is inclined downward and, at the same time, is extended toward one side from the other side in the subsidiary scanning direction, wherein a magnet 26 that is movable along the outward path inclined surface 28 and the return path inclined surface 29 with own weight and rises with a magnetic force of the magnet 25 is housed in the liquid storage body 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting system, a liquid ejecting apparatus, and a liquid container.

  Conventionally, in a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet printer, a liquid ejecting head (recording head) and an ink tank (liquid container) are mounted on a carriage that can reciprocate in the main scanning direction. Some perform bidirectional printing by executing a predetermined amount of paper feeding operation between the forward printing to be executed and the backward printing to be executed at the time of backward movement. (For example, patent document 1).

  In the ink jet printer disclosed in Patent Document 1, pigment ink containing pigment particles is used as the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head. Therefore, in order to prevent the print quality from deteriorating due to the sedimentation of the pigment particles, a spherical magnetic body is accommodated in the ink tank, and a permanent magnet is provided at a position below the ink tank in the movement range (movement area) of the carriage. It was installed. The pigment ink is stirred by moving the magnetic body in the ink tank by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet as the carriage moves.

JP 2006-188793 A

  By the way, in Patent Document 1, since the permanent magnets are arranged over a wide range within the carriage movement range including the print area for printing on the print medium, the magnetic body in the ink tank mounted on the carriage Due to the attraction force of the permanent magnet, there is a problem that the movement of the carriage becomes unstable and the print quality deteriorates.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid ejecting system, a liquid ejecting apparatus, and a liquid container capable of stirring liquid while suppressing deterioration in print quality. There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, a liquid ejecting system of the present invention includes a carriage that moves along a main scanning direction, a liquid ejecting head that is mounted on the carriage, a liquid container that is disposed on the carriage, A magnet disposed at a position adjacent to one end of the liquid container in the sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction, and the inner bottom surface of the liquid container is more than the magnet in the gravitational direction. An outward slope extending downward from the one side to the other side in the sub-scanning direction at a low height position and extending downward from the other side in the sub-scanning direction toward the one side. In addition, the end on the one side has the forward slope and the backward slope aligned along the main scanning direction, and the liquid container contains the forward slope and the backward slope by its own weight. As well as a movable, magnetic material increases with magnetic force when the magnetic force of the magnet extends is housed.

  According to this configuration, the magnetic body rises when the magnetic force of the magnet reaches the position along with the movement of the carriage along the main scanning direction, and drops when the magnetic body is separated from the magnet. Therefore, if the magnetic force of the magnet reaches the magnetic body on the return slope side as the carriage moves in the direction from the forward slope side to the return slope side, the magnetic body moves up the liquid container after being lifted by the magnetic force. Along with this, it falls to the forward slope side. Thereby, the magnetic body can be moved from the lower end side, which is one side of the return path slope side, to the upper end side, which is one side of the forward path slope, with the movement of the carriage. Since the magnetic body can move on the forward slope and the backward slope by its own weight, when it falls to the forward slope side, it moves forward from one side of the forward slope to the other side by its own weight, and further from the other side of the backward slope to one side. Move backward toward the side. That is, the magnetic body stirs the liquid contained in the liquid container by reciprocating movement due to its own weight, but the magnetic force of the magnet does not reach the magnetic body during the reciprocating movement of the magnetic body, thereby suppressing a decrease in print quality. Liquid agitation can be performed.

  In the liquid ejection system of the present invention, the forward slope and the backward slope are arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction so that each extends along the sub-scanning direction, and the inner bottom surface of the liquid container includes the forward slope A connecting slope that connects the other end of the return slope to the other slope of the return slope that slopes further downward than the forward slope.

  According to this configuration, since the forward slope and the backward slope extend along the sub-scanning direction and are arranged side by side along the main scanning direction, the liquid container can be evenly stirred as the magnetic material reciprocates. it can. In addition, the inner bottom surface of the liquid container has a connecting slope that connects the other end, which is the lower end of the forward slope, to the other end, which is the upper end of the return slope, so that the magnetic material is separated from the outgoing slope by the connecting slope. It can be moved smoothly toward the slope of the return path. Further, since the return slope is inclined further downward than the forward slope, the magnetic body can continuously move on the forward slope, the connecting slope, and the return slope by its own weight.

In the liquid ejecting system according to the aspect of the invention, a guide portion for guiding the magnetic body so as to move along the sub-scanning direction is formed on the forward slope.
According to this configuration, the magnetic portion is prevented from falling on the return slope at a midway position on the forward slope by the guide portion formed on the forward slope, and the magnetic body is moved to the lower end side of the forward slope along the sub-scanning direction. Can be moved.

  In the liquid ejecting system according to the aspect of the invention, the inner bottom surface of the liquid container includes a flat surface portion connected to the end portion on the one side of the return slope, and the flat surface portion is accommodated in the liquid container. A liquid supply hole for supplying liquid to the liquid jet head side is provided.

  According to this configuration, since the liquid supply hole is provided in the lower flat portion on the inner bottom surface of the liquid container, the liquid stored in the liquid container can be supplied to the liquid ejecting head side without waste. it can. In addition, since the flat part is connected to one end which is the lower end of the return slope, the magnetic body moves back on the return slope by its own weight and then stops at the flat part. To do. That is, the liquid is agitated on the plane portion as the magnetic material moves upward, so that the precipitation component deposited on the plane portion that is the lower portion can be agitated.

  In the liquid ejecting system according to the aspect of the invention, the carriage may be arranged along the main scanning direction between a printing area where the liquid ejecting head ejects liquid onto a print medium and a non-printing area outside the printing area. The magnet moves back and forth, and the magnet is provided in the non-printing area in the main scanning direction.

  According to this configuration, the magnetic body rises due to the magnetic force of the magnet in the non-printing area, and when the carriage moves from the non-printing area to the printing area, the magnetic body does not receive the magnetic force of the magnet. Can be suppressed.

  In order to achieve the above object, a liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes a carriage that moves along a main scanning direction and a liquid ejecting head mounted on the carriage, and the liquid container in the liquid ejecting system includes: Provided on the carriage.

According to this configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the liquid ejection system.
In order to achieve the above object, a liquid ejecting apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a carriage that moves along a main scanning direction, and a liquid ejecting head that is mounted on the carriage. The liquid container is detachably mounted.

According to this configuration, in the liquid ejecting apparatus in which the liquid container is detachably attached to the carriage, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as the liquid ejecting system.
In order to achieve the above object, a liquid container according to the present invention is the liquid container in the liquid ejecting system, the carriage moving along the main scanning direction, and the liquid ejecting head mounted on the carriage. It can be attached to and detached from the carriage of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  According to this configuration, in the liquid container that can be attached to and detached from the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is possible to obtain the same effects as the liquid ejecting system.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of the printer according to the first embodiment. Sectional drawing of the liquid container of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. (A)-(d) is sectional drawing for demonstrating the effect | action of the magnet in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2. Sectional drawing for demonstrating the liquid supply hole of 2nd Embodiment. Sectional perspective view for demonstrating the liquid supply hole of 3rd Embodiment. Sectional drawing for demonstrating the liquid supply hole of 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer according to a fourth embodiment. Sectional drawing of the liquid container of 4th Embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line CC in FIG. 10. (A)-(d) is sectional drawing for demonstrating the effect | action of the magnet accompanying the outward movement of the carriage in 4th Embodiment. (A)-(d) is sectional drawing for demonstrating the effect | action of the magnet accompanying the return path movement of the carriage in 4th Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an ink jet printer that is a kind of liquid ejecting apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, when referring to “front-rear direction”, “left-right direction”, and “up-down direction”, the direction indicated by an arrow in each figure is used as a reference.

  The printer 11 shown in FIG. 1 constitutes a liquid ejecting system and includes a main body case 12. On the back side of the main body case 12, a setting unit 13 that can set a printing medium P such as printing paper is provided. A guide shaft 14 extending in the left-right direction is installed inside the main body case 12. A carriage 15 is supported on the guide shaft 14.

  A plurality (four in this embodiment) of liquid containers 16 are disposed on the carriage 15, and a liquid ejecting head 18 that performs a printing process on the print medium P is mounted on the lower surface side of the carriage 15. ing. A plurality of nozzle openings (not shown) are provided on the lower surface of the liquid ejecting head 18 so that the pigment ink as the liquid accommodated in the liquid container 16 can be ejected downward.

  The carriage 15 is connected to a CR motor 22 provided on the back side of the pulley 19 via an endless timing belt 21 stretched between a pair of pulleys 19 and 20. The carriage 15 reciprocates along the main scanning direction X which is the left-right direction as the CR motor 22 is driven.

  A maintenance unit 23 is arranged at the bottom near the right side in the main body case 12. The position where the maintenance unit 23 is disposed is on the movement path of the carriage 15 in the main scanning direction X, and is a home position where the printing process for the print medium P is not performed. The carriage 15 is moved to the home position when the power is turned off or during printing standby, and maintenance processing such as cleaning of the liquid ejecting head 18 is performed by the maintenance unit 23.

  On the left side of the maintenance unit 23, a platen 24 that supports the print medium P to be printed is fixed. Then, a transport process for transporting the print medium P by a predetermined distance in the sub-scanning direction Y, and a print process for ejecting pigment ink from the nozzle openings to the print medium P while the liquid ejecting head 18 moves in the main scanning direction X. By alternately performing, the recording process for the print medium P is executed.

  Here, in the main scanning direction X, an area where the printing process for the printing medium P is executed is a printing area. On the other hand, areas on the left and right sides of the print area in the main body case 12 and within the movement range of the carriage 15 are non-print areas. In the printer 11, the printing process is performed while the carriage 15 moves linearly in the print area. Therefore, in order to maintain print quality, the carriage 15 moves at a uniform speed in the print area and decelerates in the non-print area. It is designed to change direction and accelerate.

  Of the moving area of the carriage 15, in a non-printing area outside the printing area, the magnet 25 is located at a position adjacent to one end (front end) of the liquid container 16 in the sub-scanning direction Y (front-rear direction). Is arranged. In the present embodiment, the magnet 25 is disposed in the right non-printing area where the home position is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each liquid container 16 includes a case 17, and a liquid storage chamber 17 a that stores the pigment ink is formed in the internal space of the case 17. A spherical magnetic body 26 is accommodated in the liquid container 16. The inner bottom surface 27 of the liquid container 16 includes an outward slope 28, a return slope 29, a connection slope 30, and a flat portion 31.

  The forward slope 28 extends while tilting downward from one side (front side) to the other side (rear side) along the sub-scanning direction Y at a height position lower than the magnet 25 in the vertical direction Z that is the gravitational direction. . The forward sloping surface 28 is formed with a guide groove 28 a as a guide portion having a V-shaped cross section along the sub-scanning direction Y. The connection slope 30 extends while tilting downward from the right side to the left side in the main scanning direction X, and the other end (lower end) of the forward slope 28 is further sloped downward than the forward slope 28. Connected to the other end (upper end) of the return slope 29.

  The return slope 29 extends while inclining downward from the other side (rear side) in the sub-scanning direction Y toward one side (front side), and the end (front end) on one side has the forward slope 28 and the main scanning direction. Line up along X. The flat surface portion 31 is connected to one end portion (lower end portion) of the return slope 29 and is arranged along the main scanning direction X so as to be aligned with one end portion (upper end portion) of the forward slope 28. It has been.

  That is, the forward slope 28 and the backward slope 29 are juxtaposed in the main scanning direction X so that each extends along the sub-scanning direction Y. The forward slope 28 and the connection slope 30 are arranged in parallel along the sub-scanning direction Y, and the backward slope 29 and the plane portion 31 are arranged in parallel along the sub-scanning direction Y. In the following description, the portion of the inner bottom surface 27 where the forward slope 28 and the connection slope 30 are disposed is referred to as the forward slope 28 side in the main scanning direction X, and the backward slope 29 and the flat portion 31 of the inner bottom surface 27 are disposed. This part may be referred to as the forward slope 28 side in the main scanning direction X.

  A supply pipe 32 provided with a liquid supply hole 32a for supplying the pigment ink stored in the liquid container 16 to the liquid ejecting head 18 side is provided below the lower end surface of the case 17 from the front side. It is projecting toward. Since the upstream end of the liquid supply hole 32a is open to the flat portion 31, the flat portion 31 is provided with the liquid supply hole 32a.

  The magnetic body 26 can move (roll) on the forward slope 28, the connection slope 30, and the return slope 29 by its own weight, and on the inner wall of the liquid container 16 from the lower end of the return slope 29 to the flat surface portion 31. When the movement is restricted, the movement stops on the flat surface portion 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the magnet 25 is disposed at a position higher than the forward slope 28, and therefore when the magnetic force of the magnet 25 reaches when the magnetic body 26 is stopped on the flat surface 31, the magnetic body 26 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 25, and ascends to a position where the magnet 25 is disposed.

Next, the operation of the liquid ejection system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
When the carriage 15 moves from the right non-printing area (home position side) toward the left as shown in FIG. 4A to execute the recording process, the liquid container 16 moves along the sub-scanning direction Y. It reaches a position adjacent to the magnet 25, and the magnetic force of the magnet 25 reaches the magnetic body 26. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the magnetic body 26 is attracted to the magnet 25 and rises, and the movement in the main scanning direction X is restricted.

  If the carriage 15 continues to move to the left in this state, the case 17 moves to the left leaving the magnetic body 26 as shown in FIG. 4C, so that the magnetic body 26 moves in the main scanning direction X. The liquid container 16 is relatively moved from the return slope 29 side to the forward slope 28 side. When the carriage 15 further moves to the left and reaches the printing area, the magnetic force of the magnet 25 does not reach the magnetic body 26 as the case 17 moves, and the magnetic body 26 is moved as shown in FIG. It falls on one end (upper end) of the forward slope 28. Then, the magnetic body 26 moves from the printing area to the left non-printing area, changes direction at the left end of the non-printing area, and proceeds to the right in the printing area, as shown in FIG. Roll on the forward slope 28, the connecting slope 30, and the backward slope 29, and stop on the flat surface 31.

  Thus, as the carriage 15 reciprocates along the main scanning direction X, the magnetic body 26 is pulled up from the flat surface portion 31 on the lower end side of the inner bottom surface 27 onto the return slope 29 on the upper end side by the magnetic force of the magnet 25. At the same time, the pigment ink in the liquid container 16 is agitated by reciprocating movement due to its own weight.

  Further, when the carriage 15 moves rightward in the printing area and the one end (front end) of the liquid container 16 reaches a position adjacent to the magnet 25 in the right non-printing area, the magnetic body 26 is reached. The magnetic force of the magnet 25 reaches the top. Then, the magnetic body 26 stopped on the plane portion 31 is attracted to the magnet 25 and rises. When the carriage 15 further moves to the right, the magnetic force of the magnet 25 does not reach the magnetic body 26 as the case 17 moves, and the magnetic body 26 falls onto the flat surface portion 31 on the return slope 29 side.

  As the magnetic body 26 moves up and down, the pigment ink in the vicinity of the flat portion 31 is agitated. In other words, the magnetic body 26 moves up and down in the plane portion 31 where the pigment particles included in the pigment ink tend to accumulate, so that stirring is effectively performed. Therefore, the pigment particles deposited in the liquid supply hole 32a provided in the flat portion 31 are suppressed from flowing in.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the magnetic body 26 reaches the position where the magnetic force of the magnet 25 reaches as the carriage 15 moves along the main scanning direction X, the magnetic body 26 is attracted to the magnet 25 and rises. To do. Therefore, when the magnetic force of the magnet 25 reaches the magnetic body 26 in the flat portion 31 on the return path slope 29 side as the carriage 15 moves from the forward slope 28 side toward the return slope 29 side, the magnetic body 26 becomes After rising by the magnetic force, the liquid container 16 falls to the forward slope 28 side as the liquid container 16 moves. As a result, the magnetic body 26 can be moved from the lower end side, which is one side of the return path slope 29 side, to the upper end side, which is one side of the forward path slope 28, with the movement of the carriage 15.

  Since the magnetic body 26 can move on the forward slope 28 and the backward slope 29 by its own weight, when the magnetic body 26 falls to the forward slope 28 side, it moves forward from one side of the forward slope 28 to the other side by its own weight. The return path moves from the other side (rear side) of the return path slope 29 toward one side (front side). That is, the magnetic body 26 stirs the pigment ink accommodated in the liquid container 16 by reciprocating movement due to its own weight, but the magnetic force of the magnet 25 does not reach the magnetic body 26 during reciprocating movement of the magnetic body 26. It is possible to stir the pigment ink while suppressing the decrease of the ink.

  (2) The forward slope 28 and the backward slope 29 extend along the sub-scanning direction Y and are arranged side by side along the main scanning direction X. Can be stirred. In addition, the inner bottom surface 27 of the liquid container 16 has a connecting slope 30 that connects the other end, which is the lower end of the forward slope 28, to the other end, which is the upper end of the return slope 29. The magnetic body 26 can be smoothly moved from the forward slope 28 toward the backward slope 29. Further, since the return slope 29 is inclined further downward than the forward slope 28, the magnetic body 26 can continuously move on the forward slope 28, the connection slope 30 and the return slope 29 by its own weight.

  (3) The guide groove 28a formed on the forward slope 28 suppresses the magnetic body 26 from falling to the backward slope 29 side at a midway position of the forward slope 28, and the magnetic body 26 travels along the sub-scanning direction Y. It can be moved to the lower end side of the slope 28.

  (4) Since the liquid supply hole 32a is provided in the lower flat portion 31 on the inner bottom surface 27 of the liquid container 16, the pigment ink accommodated in the liquid container 16 can be used without waste. Can be supplied to. Further, since the flat portion 31 is connected to one end which is the lower end of the return slope 29, the magnetic body 26 stops moving on the return slope 29 by its own weight and then stops at the flat portion 31, and the magnetic force of the magnet 25 is reduced. When it reaches, it rises by magnetic force. That is, since the pigment ink is agitated on the flat portion 31 as the magnetic body 26 moves upward, the precipitation component deposited on the flat portion 31 that is the lower portion can be agitated.

  (5) The magnetic body 26 rises due to the magnetic force of the magnet 25 in the non-printing area, and when the carriage 15 moves from the non-printing area to the printing area, the magnetic force of the magnet 25 does not reach the magnetic body 26, so that the print quality decreases. Can be further suppressed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is similarly embodied in an ink jet printer will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the printer 11 of the second embodiment is obtained by changing the arrangement of the liquid supply holes 32a of the first embodiment, and therefore, the changed portion will be mainly described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the inner bottom surface 27 of the liquid container 16 according to the present embodiment, the liquid supply hole 32 a avoids the position where the magnetic body 26 stops in the plane portion 31, and the forward slope 28 in the main scanning direction X. Are disposed at a position across the plane portion 31.

According to the said embodiment, in addition to the effect similar to said (1)-(5), the following effects can be acquired.
(6) Since the liquid supply hole 32a is not blocked even when the magnetic body 26 stops at the flat surface portion 31, the supply of the pigment ink to the liquid ejecting head 18 is not hindered.

(7) Since the liquid supply hole 32a can be formed so as to penetrate along the vertical direction Z, the processing is easy.
(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment in which the present invention is similarly embodied in an ink jet printer will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the printer 11 of the third embodiment is obtained by changing the arrangement of the liquid supply holes 32a of the first embodiment, and therefore, the changed part will be mainly described.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the case 17 of the present embodiment, a recessed portion 33 that opens to the left on the flat surface portion 31 side is formed below the portion closer to the front side of the forward slope 28. Yes. Further, the flat portion 31 is connected to the lower end portion of the return slope 29 and extends into the recess 33. The liquid supply hole 32 a is arranged so that about half of the opening at the upstream end is located in the recess 33.

According to the said embodiment, the effect similar to said (1)-(6) can be acquired.
(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment in which the present invention is similarly embodied in an ink jet printer will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the printer 11 according to the fourth embodiment will be described mainly with respect to differences from the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, in addition to the right non-printing area, the magnet 25 is also arranged in the left non-printing area. Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the inner bottom surface 27 of the liquid container 16 has two forward sloping surfaces 28 and two connecting sloping surfaces 30. Specifically, the forward slope 28 and the connection slope 30 are provided on the left and right sides of the return slope 29, respectively.

Next, the operation of the liquid ejecting system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
When the carriage 15 moves from the right non-printing area (home position side) toward the left as shown in FIG. 12A in order to execute the recording process, the liquid container 16 is positioned adjacent to the magnet 25. The magnetic force of the magnet 25 reaches the magnetic body 26. Then, as shown in FIG. 12B, the magnetic body 26 is attracted and raised by the magnet 25, and the movement in the main scanning direction X is restricted.

  When the carriage 15 advances to the left in this state, as shown in FIG. 12C, the case 17 moves to the left leaving the magnetic body 26, so that the magnetic body 26 is a liquid container in the main scanning direction X. 16 is a mode of relative movement from the backward slope 29 side to the right outward slope 28 side. When the carriage 15 further moves to the left and reaches the printing area, the magnetic force of the magnet 25 does not reach the magnetic body 26 as the case 17 moves, and the magnetic body 26 is moved as shown in FIG. It falls on one end (upper end) of the right-side outward slope 28. Then, the magnetic body 26 rolls on the right outgoing slope 28, the right connecting slope 30 and the return slope 29 by its own weight while the carriage 15 moves to the left in the printing area, and stops on the flat surface 31. To do.

  Subsequently, even when the carriage 15 moves to the left in the printing area and reaches the left non-printing area, the liquid container 16 reaches a position adjacent to the left magnet 25, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 12D, the magnetic body 26 is moved from the flat surface portion 31 to the upper end side of the right forward slope 28 by the magnetic force of the left magnet 25. Therefore, the magnetic body 26 rolls on the right outgoing slope 28, the right connecting slope 30 and the return slope 29 by its own weight while the carriage 15 moves leftward in the left non-printing area and changes its direction. , Stop on the plane part 31. Although the non-printing area is shorter in the main scanning direction X than the printing area, the carriage 15 decelerates as the direction changes, so the magnetic body 26 moves on the forward slope 28, the connecting slope 30 and the return slope 29. Time to do is secured.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13A, when the carriage 15 moves to the right in the left non-printing area, the liquid container 16 reaches a position adjacent to the left magnet 25, and the magnetic body 26 is moved to the left side. The magnetic force of the magnet 25 reaches. Then, as shown in FIG. 13B, the magnetic body 26 is attracted and raised by the magnet 25, and the movement in the main scanning direction X is restricted.

  When the carriage 15 advances to the right in this state, the case 17 moves to the right leaving the magnetic body 26 as shown in FIG. 13C, so that the magnetic body 26 is a liquid container in the main scanning direction X. 16 is a mode of relative movement from the return slope 29 side to the left outward slope 28 side. When the carriage 15 further moves to the right and reaches the printing area, the magnetic force of the magnet 25 does not reach the magnetic body 26 as the case 17 moves, and the magnetic body 26 is moved as shown in FIG. It falls on the end (upper end) on one side of the left outward slope 28. Then, while the carriage 15 moves to the right in the printing area, the magnetic body 26 rolls on the left connection slope 30 and the return slope 29 of the left outward slope 28 by its own weight, and the plane portion 31. Stop on.

  Subsequently, even when the carriage 15 moves rightward in the printing area and reaches the right non-printing area, the liquid container 16 reaches a position adjacent to the right magnet 25, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 13 (d), the magnetic body 26 moves from the flat surface portion 31 to the upper end side of the left outward slope 28 by the magnetic force of the right magnet 25. Therefore, the magnetic body 26 rolls on the left forward slope 28, the left connecting slope 30 and the return slope 29 by its own weight while the carriage 15 moves rightward in the right non-printing area and changes its direction. , Stop on the plane part 31.

  Thus, as the carriage 15 reciprocates along the main scanning direction X, the magnetic body 26 is pulled up from the flat surface portion 31 serving as the lower end portion of the inner bottom surface 27 onto the return slope 29 serving as the upper end portion by the magnetic force of the magnet 25. At the same time, the pigment ink in the liquid container 16 is agitated by reciprocating movement due to its own weight.

According to this embodiment, in addition to the same effects as the above (1) to (5), the following effects can be obtained.
(8) Since the forward slope 28 is provided on both sides of the backward slope 29 in the main scanning direction X, in addition to when the carriage 15 travels to the left from the home position side toward the printing area, it returns to the right. Even during movement, the magnetic body 26 can be moved from the flat portion 31 (return slope 29 side) to the forward slope 28 side.

  (9) Since a plurality of (two) magnets 25 are provided along the main scanning direction X, when moving toward one side of the carriage 15 (when moving forward to the left or when returning to the right) The magnetic body 26 can be moved from the flat portion 31 (return slope 29 side) to the forward slope 28 side a plurality of times (twice).

In addition, you may change each said embodiment as follows.
The magnetic body 26 does not necessarily have to move from the flat portion 31 to the upper end side of the forward slope 28 every time the liquid container 16 reaches a position adjacent to the magnet 25. That is, the time for which the magnetic body 26 reciprocates to the plane portion 31 varies depending on the weight of the magnetic body 26 and the inclination angle and length of the forward slope 28 and the backward slope 29. It is not necessary to synchronize with the travel time.

  Two magnets 25 may be arranged along the sub-scanning direction Y so as to be adjacent to both ends of the liquid container 16 in the sub-scanning direction Y. In this case, the magnetic body 26 can be moved from the forward slope 28 side to the backward slope 29 side even if the upper end side of the backward slope 29 is arranged at a position higher than the lower end side of the forward slope 28. In this case, the connecting slope 30 can be omitted, but it is preferable to provide a guide portion extending along the sub-scanning direction Y on the return slope 29 as well.

  The guide portion may be realized as a convex portion extending along the sub-scanning direction Y between the forward slope 28 and the backward slope 29. Further, the forward slope 28 may be inclined downward from one side that is the backward slope 29 side in the main scanning direction X toward the other side.

-At least any one of the connection slope 30 and the plane part 31 does not need to be formed.
The magnet 25 may be disposed on the other side (rear side) of the liquid container 16. In this case, the forward slope 28 is inclined such that the rear side is the upper end and the front side is the lower end, and the backward slope 29 is inclined such that the front side is the upper end and the rear side is the lower end.

  The forward slope 28 and the backward slope 29 may be disposed so as to obliquely intersect the main scanning direction X and the sub-scanning direction Y, or may be disposed so as to extend in a curved shape. Further, the return slope 29 and the forward slope 28 may be alternately arranged in parallel.

The magnet 25 may be an electromagnet, and may be excited when the carriage 15 moves to a non-printing area or when the liquid container 16 approaches.
The liquid container 16 may be realized as an ink cartridge that is detachably attached to the carriage 15 or may be realized as an ink tank (sub tank) mounted on the carriage 15. In the case where the liquid container 16 is realized as an ink cartridge, the case 17 is not limited to being individually attached and detached for each color (for each type), and one case 17 (ink cartridge) includes a plurality of liquid storage chambers. 17a may be provided. When the liquid container 16 is realized as an ink tank (sub-tank), a cartridge holder provided in the main body case 12 is provided, and an ink cartridge detachably attached to the cartridge holder and a case 17 on the carriage 15 are provided. You may make it connect via an ink tube. That is, the present invention is not limited to a so-called on-carriage type printer but can be embodied as a so-called off-carriage type printer.

The liquid container 16 is not limited to the pigment ink, and the same stirring effect can be obtained when a liquid in which a plurality of types of liquids having different specific gravities are mixed, for example.
In the above embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied as an ink jet printer, but a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges liquid other than ink may be employed. The present invention can be used for various liquid ejecting apparatuses including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a minute amount of liquid droplets. In addition, a droplet means the state of the liquid discharged from the said liquid ejecting apparatus, and shall also include what pulls a tail in granular shape, tear shape, and thread shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ) And a liquid as one state of a substance, as well as a material in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent. Further, typical examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, a color filter, or the like in a dispersed or dissolved state. It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a bio-organic material used for biochip manufacturing, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid as a sample used as a precision pipette, a textile printing apparatus, a microdispenser, or the like. In addition, a transparent resin liquid such as UV curable resin is used to form a liquid injection device that injects lubricating oil pinpoint onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto the substrate or a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as an acid or an alkali to etch the substrate may be employed. The present invention can be applied to any one of these liquid ejecting apparatuses.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printer as a liquid ejecting apparatus which comprises a liquid ejecting system, 15 ... Carriage, 16 ... Liquid container, 17a ... Liquid accommodating chamber, 18 ... Liquid ejecting head, 25 ... Magnet, 26 ... Magnetic body, 27 ... Inner bottom surface , 28 ... Outward slope, 28a ... Guide groove as guide part, 29 ... Return slope, 30 ... Connection slope, 31 ... Planar part, 32a ... Liquid supply hole, P ... Print medium, X ... Main scanning direction, Y ... Sub Scanning direction, Z ... gravity direction.

Claims (8)

A carriage that moves along the main scanning direction;
A liquid ejecting head mounted on the carriage;
A liquid container disposed on the carriage;
A magnet disposed at a position adjacent to one end of the liquid container in the sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction;
An inner bottom surface of the liquid container has an outward slope extending in a downward direction from the one side to the other side in the sub-scanning direction at a height position lower than the magnet in the gravity direction, and in the sub-scanning direction. And extending while tilting downward from the other side toward the one side, the end on the one side having the forward slope and the return slope arranged along the main scanning direction,
A liquid ejecting system characterized in that the liquid container contains a magnetic body that can move on the forward slope and the backward slope by its own weight and rises when the magnetic force of the magnet reaches. . The forward slope and the backward slope are arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction so that each extends along the sub-scanning direction,
The inner bottom surface of the liquid container has a connecting slope that connects the other end of the forward slope to the other end of the return slope that slopes further downward than the forward slope. The liquid ejecting system according to claim 1. The liquid ejecting system according to claim 1, wherein a guide portion for guiding the magnetic body to move along the sub-scanning direction is formed on the forward slope. . The inner bottom surface of the liquid container has a flat surface portion connected to the end portion on the one side of the return slope;
The liquid supply hole for supplying the liquid accommodated in the liquid container to the liquid ejecting head side is provided in the flat portion. The liquid ejection system according to one item. The carriage reciprocates along the main scanning direction between a printing area in which the liquid ejecting head ejects liquid onto a printing medium and a non-printing area outside the printing area,
The liquid ejecting system according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is provided in the non-printing region in the main scanning direction. A carriage that moves along a main scanning direction, and a liquid ejecting head that is mounted on the carriage, and the liquid container in the liquid ejecting system according to claim 1, A liquid ejecting apparatus provided on a carriage. A carriage that moves along a main scanning direction and a liquid ejecting head mounted on the carriage are provided, and the carriage includes the liquid ejecting system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein a liquid container is detachably mounted. 6. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid container includes a carriage that moves along a main scanning direction, and a liquid ejecting head that is mounted on the carriage. A liquid container, wherein the liquid container is detachable from the carriage.

Images