JP2011167887A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording apparatus capable of suppressing the permeation of noise diffusing toward multi-directions to the outside of the apparatus from a source of the noise in the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A printer 11 includes: the source of the noise generating the noise when recording is applied on recording paper P; and a body case 12 storing the source of the noise. A plurality of partial spaces 18 independent separately from a storing space of the source of the noise are formed at a plurality of places being positions surrounding the source of the noise in the body case 12, and ink cartridges 23 functioning as sound insulating materials are arranged in a plurality of the partial spaces 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is known as one of recording apparatuses that perform a recording process by attaching a liquid to a recording medium. In such a recording apparatus, for example, since a recording paper transport mechanism, a recording mechanism, and the like generate noise during operation, various noise suppression measures are taken.

  That is, in the recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the sound absorbing material is disposed in a space outside the case (a space on the back side of the cover) formed between the main body case and the cover that covers the opening of the main body case. A plurality of communication holes for communicating the space and the internal space of the main body case are formed in the main body case. When noise is generated by a noise source such as a transport mechanism housed in the internal space of the main body case, the noise is guided to the space outside the case through the communication hole and is reduced by the sound absorbing material. The noise was able to be reduced.

JP-A-5-254214

  By the way, in the recording apparatus of Patent Document 1, only noise that goes in one direction from the noise source in the main body case to the space outside the case that is the back side space of the cover is reduced. However, noise generated in the main body case diffuses not only in one direction but also in multiple directions. Therefore, there is a possibility that noise may be transmitted to the outside of the recording apparatus from a place other than the portion covered with the cover in the main body case.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of suppressing transmission of noise diffusing in multiple directions from a noise source inside the apparatus to the outside of the apparatus. It is in.

  In order to achieve the above object, a liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes a noise source that generates noise when recording is performed on a recording medium, and a main body case in which the noise source is accommodated. A plurality of partial space portions that are independent of the noise source housing space portion are provided at a plurality of locations that surround the noise source, and a sound insulating material is disposed in the plurality of partial space portions. The

  According to this configuration, the noise diffused in multiple directions from the noise source inside the apparatus is transmitted to the outside of the apparatus in a plurality of partial spaces provided so as to surround the noise source inside the apparatus. It can be suppressed by the provided sound insulation.

  Further, in the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the partial space portion may include the insertion / removal port that allows the sound insulation material to be inserted / removed from the outer surface side of the main body case, and the sound insulation material inserted into the insertion / removal port. And a sealing means for sealing the insertion / removal port, and a partition part for partitioning the partial space part separately from the noise source housing space part in the main body case. In order to configure, a communication hole that communicates the accommodation space and the partial space is formed.

  According to this configuration, noise diffused from the noise source in multiple directions can be effectively reduced by the resonance space formed by the partial space formed so as to surround the noise source. Therefore, noise can be effectively reduced.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the sealing unit may be an opening / closing door provided to be openable / closable with respect to the insertion / removal port or between the insertion / removal port and the sound insulating material inserted into the insertion / removal port. It is a sealing member that is installed around the insertion / removal port so as to seal the gap.

  When the sealing means is an open / close door, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the main body case from the insertion / removal port even when the sound insulating material is not inserted into the insertion / removal port. When the sealing means is a seal member, the insertion / removal port can be easily sealed by inserting a sound insulating material.

The liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention further includes a sound absorbing material made of a porous material that covers the opening of the communication hole.
According to this configuration, noise in the entire frequency region is absorbed when noise generated in the recording apparatus passes through the communication hole by the sound absorbing material made of the porous material. Therefore, noise other than near the specific frequency can be effectively reduced.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the sound insulating material may be a spare liquid container that contains liquid therein or a spare waste liquid collector that can collect liquid discharged as waste liquid.
According to this configuration, since the sound insulating material for insulating the noise can be shared by the existing spare liquid container or the spare waste liquid collecting body, it is not necessary to increase the number of parts. Therefore, noise can be reduced while suppressing an increase in size of the apparatus.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a printer. FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an ink jet printer (hereinafter abbreviated as “printer”) which is a kind of recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In the following description, the terms “front-rear direction”, “left-right direction”, and “up-down direction” refer to directions indicated by arrows in the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 11 of this embodiment includes a main body case 12 made of a resin material that defines the outer shape of the printer 11. A discharge port 13 for discharging a recording sheet P as a recording medium from the inside of the main body case 12 to the outside of the main body case 12 is opened in the front wall portion 12a on the front side of the main body case 12. A paper cassette 14 in which recording paper P is stacked and stored is inserted in the lower half of the paper discharge port 13. A plurality of operation buttons (not shown) are provided on the upper wall portion 12b on the upper surface side of the main body case 12, and a plurality of locations near the left and right side edges and the rear edge of the upper wall portion 12b (this embodiment) The insertion / removal port 15 having a rectangular shape in plan view is provided at four locations in the form.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of (in this embodiment, 4 in the present embodiment) block the internal space of the main body case 12 along the vertical direction at positions corresponding to the insertion / removal ports 15 of the upper wall portion 12 b. A partition wall 16 having a L-shape in plan view or a substantially U-shape in plan view (U-shape in plan view) is provided. And by these partition walls 16, in the main body case 12, a central space portion 17 having a rectangular shape in plan view and a plurality of (four in this embodiment) surrounding the central space portion 17 from both the left and right sides and the rear side. ) Of the partial space 18 is formed. In this respect, the partition wall 16 has a plurality of locations where the central space portion 17 is surrounded by a partial space portion 18 that is independent of the central space portion 17 serving as a noise source accommodating space portion in the main body case 12. It functions as a partition part for partitioning.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the L-shaped partition wall 16 arranged on the left side wall portion 12c side of the main body case 12 includes the inner surface of the partition wall 16 and the inner surface and the left side of the front wall portion 12a of the main body case 12. A partial space portion 18 having a rectangular shape in plan view extending long in the front-rear direction is formed between the inner surface of the side wall portion 12c. Further, the L-shaped partition wall 16 arranged on the right side wall portion 12d side of the main body case 12 includes an inner surface of the partition wall 16, an inner surface of the front wall portion 12a of the main body case 12, and a right side wall portion 12d. A partial space portion 18 having a rectangular shape in a plan view extending in the front-rear direction between the inner surface and the inner surface is formed. The two partition walls 16 having a substantially U-shape in plan view arranged on the rear wall portion 12e side of the main body case 12 are arranged in the left-right direction between the inner surface of each partition wall 16 and the inner surface of the rear wall portion 12e. Each of the partial space portions 18 having a rectangular shape in plan view that extends long is partitioned.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the central space portion 17 of the main body case 12, a platen 19 that supports the recording paper P conveyed from below by a conveyance mechanism (not shown) for recording from the paper cassette 14. Is disposed on the inner bottom surface 12 f of the main body case 12. Above the platen 19, a guide shaft 20 extending in the left-right direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper P is installed between the partition walls 16 arranged on the left and right of the central space portion 17. A carriage 21 is supported on the guide shaft 20 so as to be capable of reciprocating along the axial direction of the guide shaft 20. The carriage 21 is reciprocated along the axial direction of the guide shaft 20 by a driving mechanism (not shown) constituted by, for example, a driving motor and a driving belt. A recording head 22 that ejects ink toward the recording paper P is provided on the lower surface of the carriage 21 to form a recording mechanism. As described above, the central space portion 17 in the main body case 12 is a noise source including a recording mechanism such as the recording head 22 that performs printing (recording) on the recording paper P and a transport mechanism such as the platen 19 that transports and supports the recording paper P. It is a housing space part.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an ink cartridge 23 as a spare liquid container can be inserted into and removed from the insertion / removal port 15 of the upper wall portion 12 b of the main body case 12. Ink cartridges 23 are detachably mounted in the partial space portions 18 of the main body case 12 through the insertion / removal ports 15. That is, the ink cartridge 23 is mounted in the main body case 12 at a plurality of positions positioned so as to surround (enclose) the central space portion 17 where the noise source is disposed. The ink cartridge 23 includes a rectangular box-shaped case 24 made of a resin material, and the case 24 is filled with ink. Therefore, the ink cartridge 23 can exhibit a function as a sound insulating material that blocks noise.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, each insertion / removal port 15 is provided with a sealing member 25 made of a flexible material. When the ink cartridge 23 is inserted into the insertion / removal port 15 and mounted in the partial space 18, the gap between the insertion / removal port 15 and the ink cartridge 23 is sealed by the seal member 25, and the insertion / removal port 15. Is to be sealed. In this respect, the seal member 25 functions as a sealing means for sealing the insertion / removal port 15 when the ink cartridge 23 as a sound insulating material is inserted into the insertion / removal port 15.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, each partition wall 16 has a plurality of circular communication holes 26 (three shown in FIG. 3) that communicate with the central space portion 17 and each partial space portion 18 in the vertical direction. Are regularly formed at predetermined intervals. These communication holes 26 reduce noise near a specific frequency by a resonance phenomenon in which each partial space 18 is a resonance space by guiding noise generated in the central space 17 to each partial space 18 side. It has the function to do.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the carriage 21 that generates a sliding sound when reciprocating along the guide shaft 20 or the sliding contact sound (paper feeding sound) by sliding the recording paper P to be conveyed to the support surface. The platen 19 or the like that generates) is a noise source. The communication hole 26 and each partial space portion 18 form a resonator having each partial space portion 18 as a back air layer, and noise near a specific frequency generated in the central space portion 17 is reduced. It is like that. The opening diameters of the plurality of communication holes 26 formed in each partition wall 16 are all equal, and the shape of the communication holes 26 is calculated by the following formula based on the specific frequency of the noise to be reduced. .

f = (c / 2π) √S / V · L
Here, f is the frequency of the noise to be reduced, c is the speed of sound, S is the opening cross-sectional area of the communication hole 26, V is the air layer behind the communication hole 26 (volume of each partial space 18), and L is each partition. This is the thickness of the wall 16.

  The openings on the side of each partial space 18 of the communication hole 26 in each partition wall 16 are covered with a sound absorbing material 27 made of a fiber material such as glass wool or a porous material such as polyurethane foam and absorbing noise in the entire frequency range. ing. The size of the sound absorbing material 27 corresponds to the size of the region where the communication hole 26 is formed in each partition wall 16, and covers the openings of all the communication holes 26 when placed on the region. It has become.

  Next, the operation of the printer 11 configured as described above, particularly the operation when suppressing noise generated inside the printer 11, will be described with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that four spare ink cartridges 23 are mounted in the partial space portions 18 in the main body case 12 of the printer 11 through the insertion / removal ports 15.

  For example, when printing on the recording paper P is started inside the main body case 12, the recording paper P fed from the paper cassette 14 is placed on the platen 19 in accordance with the rotation of a transport roller (not shown) of the transport mechanism. It is conveyed to the printing position. At this time, in the central space portion 17, noise such as a driving sound of a paper feed motor (not shown) or a sliding contact sound due to the recording sheet P slidingly contacting the support surface of the platen 19 is generated. Next, printing is performed on the recording paper P conveyed to the printing position on the platen 19 by ejecting ink while the carriage 21 reciprocates along the guide shaft 20. At this time, noises such as a driving sound of the carriage motor, a sliding contact sound between the recording paper P and the platen 19 and a sliding sound accompanying the movement of the carriage 21 are generated. When printing on the recording paper P is completed, the recording paper P is conveyed to the paper discharge port 13 and discharged from the paper discharge port 13 to the outside of the printer 11. At this time, in the central space portion 17, noise such as driving sound of a paper feed motor (not shown) and sliding sound of the recording paper P against the platen 19 is generated.

  As described above, when the printing process is performed in the printer 11, various noises are generated in the central space portion 17. The noise generated in the central space portion 17 during the printing process propagates and diffuses in the central space portion 17 in multiple directions.

  When the noise diffused in the central space portion 17 reaches the partition wall 16 in the partial space portion 18 formed so as to surround the central space portion 17, the communication hole 26 passes through the opening on the central space portion 17 side of the partition wall 16. Enter inside. In the communication hole 26, sound resonates inside the communication hole 26 and friction is generated, so that air in the communication hole 26 vibrates violently. In the communication hole 26, noise near a specific frequency is converted into heat energy and reduced.

  Next, noise having a frequency other than the specific frequency that has not been reduced by the communication hole 26 passes through the communication hole 26 and is then absorbed by the sound absorbing material 27 that covers the opening on the partial space 18 side of the communication hole 26. Is done.

  Further, the noise that enters the partial space 18 without being reduced or absorbed by the communication hole 26 and the sound absorbing material 27 is reserved ink that is disposed so as to face the partition wall 16 in the axial direction of the communication hole 26. The cartridge 23 is reached. Here, since the difference between the density of the case 24 of the ink cartridge 23 and the density of the ink in the ink cartridge 23 is large, the reflectance of the sound of the ink cartridge 23 containing the ink is increased. Therefore, most of the noise reaching the spare ink cartridge 23 is reflected without being transmitted and returns toward the partition wall 16. Then, the reflected noise is again absorbed by the sound absorbing material 27 of the partition wall 16 and the noise is suppressed from re-entering the central space portion 17.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the printer 11 of the present embodiment, noise diffused in multiple directions from the noise source in the central space portion 17 is transmitted to the outside of the main body case 12. This can be suppressed by the spare ink cartridge 23 provided in the plurality of partial space portions 18 provided so as to be surrounded.

  (2) In the printer 11 of the present embodiment, noise diffused from the noise source in multiple directions is effectively reduced by the resonance space formed by the partial space portions 18 formed so as to surround the noise source. can do. Therefore, noise can be effectively reduced.

  (3) In the printer 11 of the present embodiment, since the sealing means is the seal member 25, the insertion / removal port 15 can be easily sealed by inserting the spare ink cartridge 23 into the insertion / removal port 15.

  (4) In the printer 11 of the present embodiment, the noise in the entire frequency region is absorbed by the sound absorbing material 27 made of a porous material when the noise generated in the central space portion 17 passes through the communication hole 26. Therefore, noise other than near the specific frequency can be effectively reduced.

  (5) In the printer 11 of the present embodiment, since the sound insulation material for insulating the noise can be shared by the existing spare ink cartridge 23, it is not necessary to increase the number of parts. Therefore, noise can be reduced while suppressing an increase in size of the apparatus.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
-You may form and form the communicating hole 26 of various hole diameters together. In this case, the noise can be reduced evenly in the communication hole 26 without being biased toward the sound of the specific frequency.

A spare waste liquid collecting body that collects ink as waste liquid may be mounted in the partial space 18. Further, the spare ink cartridge 23 may not be used as a sound insulating material.
The sound absorbing material 27 may be disposed in the opening on the central space 17 side of the communication hole 26. Further, the sound absorbing material 27 may not be provided at the opening of the communication hole 26.

  A door that can be opened and closed with respect to the insertion / removal port 15 may be provided. In this case, even when the spare ink cartridge 23 is not inserted into the insertion / removal port 15, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the partial space portion 18 from the insertion / removal port 15 by closing the open / close door. it can.

  -It is not necessary to provide a sealing means in the insertion / removal port 15. Further, a resonator may be provided in the main body case 12 without using the partial space portion 18 in which the spare ink cartridge 23 is mounted as a space behind the resonator that reduces noise.

  In the above embodiment, the recording apparatus is embodied in the ink jet printer 11, but a recording apparatus that ejects or discharges liquid other than ink may be employed. The present invention can be used in various recording apparatuses including a liquid ejecting head that discharges a minute amount of liquid droplets. The droplet means a state of the liquid ejected from the recording apparatus, and includes a liquid having a granular shape, a tear shape, or a thread shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected by the recording 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, representative 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 specific examples of the recording apparatus, for example, a liquid containing an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, or a color filter is dispersed or dissolved. It may be a recording device that injects a bio-organic matter used in biochip manufacture, a recording device that is used as a precision pipette and injects a liquid as a sample, a textile printing device, a microdispenser, or the like. In addition, a transparent resin liquid such as ultraviolet curable resin is used to form a recording device that injects lubricating oil pinpointed into precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. You may employ | adopt the recording apparatus which injects etching liquid, such as a recording device sprayed on a board | substrate, and an acid, an alkali, etc. in order to etch a board | substrate. The present invention can be applied to any one of these recording apparatuses.

  P: Recording paper as recording medium, 11: Printer as recording device, 12: Main body case, 15 ... Insertion / removal port, 16 ... Partition wall as partitioning part, 17 ... Central space part as accommodating space part, 18 ... part Space part, 23 ... Spare ink cartridge as sound insulation material, 25 ... Seal member as sealing means, 26 ... Communication hole, 27 ... Sound absorbing material.

Claims (5)

A noise source that generates noise when recording on a recording medium;
A main body case containing the noise source therein,
In the main body case, a plurality of partial spaces that are independent of the noise source housing space are provided at a plurality of locations that surround the noise source, and a sound insulating material is provided in the plurality of partial spaces. A recording apparatus characterized by being arranged. The partial space portion includes an insertion / removal port that allows the sound insulation material to be inserted / removed from an outer surface side of the main body case, and a sealing unit that seals the insertion / removal port when the sound insulation material is inserted into the insertion / removal port. And a partition part for partitioning the partial space part in the main body case separately from the storage space part of the noise source, the storage space part and the storage unit for forming the partial space part as a resonance space. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a communication hole communicating with the partial space is formed. The sealing means is configured to seal the gap between the open / close door provided to be openable / closable with respect to the insertion / removal opening or the insertion / removal opening and the sound insulating material inserted into the insertion / removal opening. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording apparatus is a sealing member that is attached to the outlet. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a sound absorbing material made of a porous material that covers the opening of the communication hole. 5. The sound insulation material according to claim 1, wherein the sound insulating material is a spare liquid container that contains liquid therein or a spare waste liquid collector that can collect liquid discharged as waste liquid. The recording device described in 1.

Images