JP2011178057A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that, when holding a liquid directly in a container body and introducing an atmosphere in the container, an atmosphere introducing member is occupied with the liquid and the feeding of liquid is not stabilized. <P>SOLUTION: A cartridge holder part 4 has an ink feeding port part 102 of an ink cartridge 10, an ink lead-out member 202 corresponding to an atmosphere introducing port part 103, an atmosphere introducing member 203 and an air chamber 210 whose volume decreases and increases according to the attachment and detachment of the ink cartridge 10. The atmosphere introducing member 203 has a first air flow channel 212 leading to an atmosphere opening portion 213, and the first air flow channel 212 is connected with the air chamber 210 through a second air flow channel 215 at an intermediate branch part 214. When the ink cartridge 10 is inserted, the air in the air chamber 210 is sent into the atmosphere introducing member 203. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus provided with a recording head for discharging droplets.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, a plotter, or a complex machine of these, for example, a liquid discharge recording type image forming using a recording head composed of a liquid discharge head (droplet discharge head) that discharges ink droplets. As an apparatus, an ink jet recording apparatus or the like is known. This liquid discharge recording type image forming apparatus means that ink droplets are transported from a recording head (not limited to paper, including OHP, and can be attached to ink droplets and other liquids). Yes, it is also ejected onto a recording medium or a recording medium, recording paper, recording paper, etc.) to form an image (recording, printing, printing, and printing are also used synonymously). And a serial type image forming apparatus that forms an image by ejecting liquid droplets while the recording head moves in the main scanning direction, and a line type head that forms images by ejecting liquid droplets without moving the recording head There are line type image forming apparatuses using

  In the present application, the “image forming apparatus” of the liquid discharge recording method is an apparatus that forms an image by discharging liquid onto a medium such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, or the like. In addition, “image formation” means not only giving an image having a meaning such as a character or a figure to a medium but also giving an image having no meaning such as a pattern to the medium (simply It also means that a droplet is landed on a medium). “Ink” is not limited to ink, but is used as a general term for all liquids capable of image formation, such as recording liquid, fixing processing liquid, and liquid. DNA samples, resists, pattern materials, resins and the like are also included. In addition, the “image” is not limited to a planar one, but includes an image given to a three-dimensionally formed image, and an image formed by three-dimensionally modeling a solid itself.

  In such an image forming apparatus (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “inkjet recording apparatus”), for example, a sub tank (also referred to as a buffer tank or a head tank) that supplies ink to the recording head on a carriage on which the recording head is mounted. ) And a main ink cartridge (also referred to as a main tank) is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter simply referred to as “apparatus main body”) side, and the sub tank is connected to the ink cartridge on the apparatus main body side. An ink replenished and supplied is known.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an ink cartridge, for example, a type in which ink is directly stored in a container body made of a rigid body, a supply port for supplying ink to the outside and an air opening port for opening the inside of the ink cartridge to the atmosphere What is provided with (atmosphere inlet part) is known (patent documents 1 and 2). A cartridge holder of the apparatus main body in which such an ink cartridge is detachably mounted is provided with hollow needles corresponding to the supply port portion and the air introduction port portion of the ink cartridge.

Japanese Patent No. 3697213 Japanese Patent No. 4217454

  As described above, in the ink cartridge having the atmosphere introduction port portion that directly stores the ink in the container body and introduces the atmosphere therein, the ink adheres to the inside of the atmosphere introduction needle that is inserted into the atmosphere introduction port portion, When the viscosity is increased, the air opening flow path is blocked and the air cannot be introduced. As a result, there is a problem in that the container body becomes a sealed space when ink is supplied and it is difficult to suck ink from the ink cartridge, resulting in insufficient ink supply and disturbing the image.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to ensure an air introduction channel with a simple configuration.

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention provides:
A container holder portion, to which a liquid storage container having a container main body for containing a liquid, a supply port portion for supplying the liquid, and an air introduction port portion for introducing air into the inside is detachably mounted, is provided. ,
In the container holder part,
A hollow liquid outlet member that is inserted into a supply port of the liquid container and leads out the liquid;
An air introduction member that is inserted into the atmosphere opening port of the liquid container and opens the liquid container to the atmosphere;
An air chamber whose volume is reduced and restored by mounting and removal of the liquid container;
When the liquid container is mounted and the volume of the air chamber decreases, the air chamber is provided with means for supplying air from the air chamber to the atmosphere introduction member.

here,
A first air flow path from the atmosphere introduction member to the atmosphere opening portion;
A second air flow path leading to the air chamber from a branch portion provided in the middle of the first air flow;
A flow path provided between the first air flow path and the second air flow path when the volume of the air chamber is reduced, provided at a branch portion of the first air flow path and the second air flow path. The flow path resistance variable means for increasing the flow path resistance on the air release site side of the branch portion of the first air flow path than the resistance may be provided.

  In this case, the flow path resistance varying means may be a valve means for opening and closing the flow path on the air release site side of the branch portion of the first air flow path.

  Further, in a state where the valve means is moved to the closed position, the flow path resistance between the flow path on the atmosphere introduction member side from the branch part of the first air flow path and the flow path on the air release site side from the branch part. It can be configured to communicate in a large state.

  In addition, the first air flow path has a configuration in which the flow path resistance of the flow path on the air release site side from the branch part is larger than the flow path resistance of the flow path on the atmosphere introduction member side from the branch part. it can.

  Further, the valve means can be configured to open and close in response to pressure from the air chamber.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the air chamber whose volume is reduced and restored by mounting and taking out the liquid container, and the volume of the air chamber is reduced when the liquid container is mounted. Since the air chamber pressure is provided to the air introduction member, the compressed air in the air chamber flows from the air introduction member when the liquid storage container is mounted, so that the liquid in the air introduction member is discharged. The liquid can be discharged into the liquid container, and the air introduction channel can be secured with a simple configuration.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention as viewed from the front side. It is a schematic block diagram explaining the whole structure of the mechanism part of the apparatus. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing of the mechanism part. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating a state where an ink cartridge is mounted on a cartridge holder portion. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory diagram of the ink cartridge. It is typical sectional explanatory drawing of the cartridge holder part. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory diagram in a state where an ink cartridge is mounted on a cartridge holder portion. It is a principal part expansion explanatory drawing used for description of a flow-path resistance variable means. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of an ink cartridge for explaining inconvenience due to ink adhering to an air introduction member. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory diagram illustrating a state where an ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge holder portion. It is an expansion explanatory view of a branching part for explanation of a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional explanatory drawing of the cartridge holder part of 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional explanatory drawing of an ink cartridge. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a state where an ink cartridge is mounted on a cartridge holder portion.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of the image forming apparatus as viewed from the front side, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the entire configuration of a mechanism portion of the apparatus, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of a main portion of the mechanism portion. is there.

  This image forming apparatus is a serial type ink jet recording apparatus, and also serves as an apparatus main body 1, a paper feed cassette 2 that can be pulled out to a predetermined paper supply position while being attached to the apparatus main body 1, and a lid member of the paper feed cassette 2. A paper discharge tray 3 that is swingably mounted on the apparatus main body 1 and that can open and close above the paper feed cassette 2 is provided. The paper feed cassette 2 stocks paper to be fed into the apparatus main body 1, and the paper discharge tray 3 stocks paper on which images are recorded (formed). Furthermore, a cartridge loading portion (cartridge holder portion) 4 for detachably loading (mounting) an ink cartridge as a liquid container is provided on one end side of the front surface of the apparatus main body 1. The upper surface of 4 is an operation / display unit 5 provided with operation buttons and a display.

  As for the mechanism portion, the carriage 33 is slidably held in the main scanning direction by main and sub guide rods 31 and 32 which are guide members horizontally mounted on the left and right side plates 21A and 21B of the apparatus main body 1, and is not shown. The scanning motor moves and scans in the arrow direction (carriage main scanning direction) via the timing belt.

  The carriage 33 is provided with recording heads 34a and 34b composed of liquid ejection heads for ejecting ink droplets of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). The “recording head 34” is arranged in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and the ink droplet ejection direction is directed downward.

  Each of the recording heads 34 has two nozzle rows. One nozzle row of the recording head 34a has black (K) droplets, the other nozzle row has cyan (C) droplets, and the recording head 34b has one nozzle row. One nozzle row ejects magenta (M) droplets, and the other nozzle row ejects yellow (Y) droplets.

  The carriage 33 is equipped with sub tanks 35a and 35b (referred to as “sub tanks 35” when not distinguished) for supplying ink of each color corresponding to the nozzle rows of the recording head 34. From the ink cartridges 10y, 10m, 10c, and 10k of each color that are detachably attached to the cartridge holder unit 4 to the sub tank 35 (referred to as “ink cartridge 10” when not distinguished), the supply pump unit 24 supplies each color. Each color ink is replenished and supplied through the supply tube 36.

  On the other hand, as the paper feeding unit (paper feeding means) for feeding the papers 42 stacked on the paper stacking unit (bottom plate) 41 of the paper feeding cassette 2, the papers 42 on the bottom plate 41 are separated and fed one by one. A separation pad (friction pad) 44 made of a material having a large friction coefficient is provided opposite to the sheet feeding roller 43 and the sheet feeding roller 43, and the separation pad 44 is urged toward the sheet feeding roller 43 side.

  A guide member 45 for guiding the paper 42, a counter roller 46, a transport guide member 47, and a tip pressurization are provided to feed the paper 42 fed from the paper feed cassette 2 to the lower side of the recording head 34. A pressing member 48 having a roller 49 and a conveying belt 51 serving as a conveying means for electrostatically attracting the fed paper 42 and conveying it at a position facing the recording head 34 are provided.

  The transport belt 51 is an endless belt, and is configured to wrap around the transport roller 52 and the tension roller 53 and circulate in the belt transport direction (sub-scanning direction). Further, a charging roller 56 that is a charging unit for charging the surface of the transport belt 51 is provided. The charging roller 56 is disposed so as to come into contact with the surface layer of the transport belt 51 and to rotate following the rotation of the transport belt 51. The transport belt 51 rotates in the belt transport direction when the transport roller 52 is rotationally driven through timing by a sub-scanning motor (not shown).

  Further, as a paper discharge unit for discharging the paper 42 recorded by the recording head 34, a separation claw 61 for separating the paper 42 from the conveying belt 51, a paper discharge roller 62, and a spur 63 that is a paper discharge roller. And a paper discharge tray 3 below the paper discharge roller 62.

  A duplex unit 71 is detachably mounted on the back surface of the apparatus body 1. The duplex unit 71 takes in the paper 42 returned by the reverse rotation of the conveyance belt 51, reverses it, and feeds it again between the counter roller 46 and the conveyance belt 51. The upper surface of the duplex unit 71 is a manual feed tray 72.

  Further, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 for maintaining and recovering the nozzle state of the recording head 34 is disposed in the non-printing area on one side of the carriage 33 in the scanning direction. The maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 includes cap members (hereinafter referred to as “caps”) 82a and 82b (hereinafter referred to as “caps 82” when not distinguished from each other) for capping the nozzle surfaces of the recording head 34, and nozzle surfaces. A wiper member (wiper blade) 83 for wiping the recording medium, an empty discharge receiver 84 for receiving liquid droplets when performing empty discharge for discharging liquid droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the thickened recording liquid, and a carriage And a carriage lock 87 for locking 33.

  Further, below the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81, a first waste liquid tank that is not replaced for storing waste liquid generated from the idle discharge receiver 84 by idle discharge to the idle discharge receiver 84 and cleaning of the wiper member 83 in the maintenance / recovery operation. 90, a second waste liquid tank 91 that is replaceable from the front side of the apparatus main body is provided below the cartridge loading unit 4 on the side of the maintenance and recovery mechanism 81, respectively. Since the ink cartridge 10 and the first waste liquid tank 91 can be exchanged from the front side of the apparatus main body by opening a common cover on the front side of the apparatus main body 1, the cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the non-printing area on the other side of the carriage 33 in the scanning direction, there is an empty space for receiving liquid droplets when performing empty discharge for discharging liquid droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the recording liquid thickened during recording or the like. A discharge receiver 88 is disposed, and the idle discharge receiver 88 includes an opening 89 along the nozzle row direction of the recording head 34.

  In this image forming apparatus configured as described above, the sheets 42 are separated and fed one by one from the sheet feeding cassette 2, and the sheets 42 fed substantially vertically upward are guided by the guide 45, and are conveyed to the conveyor belt 51 and the counter. It is sandwiched between the rollers 46 and conveyed, and the leading end is guided by the conveying guide 37 and pressed against the conveying belt 51 by the leading end pressing roller 49, and the conveying direction is changed by approximately 90 °.

  At this time, a positive output and a negative output are alternately repeated with respect to the charging roller 56, that is, an alternating voltage is applied, and a charging voltage pattern in which the conveying belt 51 alternates, that is, in a sub-scanning direction that is a circumferential direction. , Plus and minus are alternately charged in a band shape with a predetermined width. When the paper 42 is fed onto the conveyance belt 51 charged alternately with plus and minus, the paper 42 is attracted to the conveyance belt 51, and the paper 42 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the circular movement of the conveyance belt 51.

  Therefore, by driving the recording head 34 according to the image signal while moving the carriage 33, ink droplets are ejected onto the stopped paper 42 to record one line, and after the paper 42 is conveyed by a predetermined amount, Record the next line. Upon receiving a recording end signal or a signal that the trailing edge of the paper 42 has reached the recording area, the recording operation is finished and the paper 42 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 3.

  When performing the maintenance and recovery of the nozzles of the recording head 34, the nozzle 33 performs the suction from the nozzles by moving the carriage 33 to a position facing the maintenance and recovery mechanism 81 which is the home position and performing capping by the cap member 82. By performing a maintenance and recovery operation such as idle ejection for ejecting droplets that do not contribute to image formation, image formation by stable droplet ejection can be performed.

  Next, an ink cartridge as a liquid container and a cartridge holder part as a container holder part in the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating a state in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder portion, FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the ink cartridge, and FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the cartridge holder portion. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view in a state where an ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder portion, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main portion for explaining the flow path resistance varying means.

  The ink cartridge 10 contains ink 100 directly in a rigid container body (case) 101. The container body 101 is provided with an ink supply port 102 at the lower part of the front surface in the mounting direction, and above the ink liquid level. An air inlet 103 is provided. Both the ink supply port portion 102 and the air introduction port portion 103 are sealed with sealing members 104 and 105 such as a press-fitted seal rubber. The sealing members 104 and 105 are pierced with the liquid lead-out member (ink lead-out member 202) and the air introduction member 204 of the cartridge holder portion 4, thereby supplying ink and opening the container body 101 to the atmosphere (atmosphere). Is introduced).

  As shown in FIG. 5, in such an ink cartridge 10, the ink in the container main body 101 decreases as the ink is supplied. At this time, if the atmosphere is not introduced, the rigid container main body 101 is Since it is difficult to deform, the inside of the container main body 101 becomes negative pressure, and it becomes difficult to supply ink. Therefore, an atmosphere introduction port 103 is provided in the upper part of the container body 101 so as to communicate with the atmosphere, so that an atmosphere sufficient to compensate for the ink decrease is introduced from the outside of the container body 101, and the interior of the container body 101 is excessive. The negative pressure is prevented.

  On the other hand, the cartridge holder portion 4 faces the front surface of the ink cartridge 10, protrudes from the facing surface 4 a, and penetrates the sealing member 104 of the ink supply port portion 102 of the ink cartridge 10. An air introduction member 203 that is pierced by the sealing member 105 of the air introduction port portion 103 is provided. Both the ink lead-out member 202 and the air introduction member 203 are formed of hollow needles and have holes 202a and 203a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the cartridge holder portion 4 is provided with an air chamber member 211 that forms an air chamber 210 in which the internal volume decreases and increases by being displaced according to the mounting and removal of the ink cartridge 10. It has been. The air chamber member 211 is formed of a bellows-like member, and expands and contracts when the ink cartridge 10 is mounted and removed (inserted and removed), thereby increasing or decreasing the volume of the air chamber 210.

  The air introduction member 211 is connected to a first air flow path 212 formed of a tube or the like that is open at one end to become the air release member 213, and a branch portion 214 is provided in the middle of the first air flow path 212. A second air flow path 215 made of a tube or the like that is provided and communicates from the branch portion 214 to the air chamber 210 is connected.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a stopper 216 a provided at an intermediate portion of the branch portion 214 and an air release of the branch portion 214 are provided in the branch portion 214 between the first air channel 212 and the second air channel 215. Valve means 218 including a valve body 217 whose swing range is restricted by a stop 216b provided on the part 213 side is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the valve means 218 normally has the valve body 217 located on the stopper 216a side by its own weight, and opens the space between the air introduction member 203 and the air release portion 213. As shown in FIG. 8B, when the air flow from the second air flow path 215 is received, the valve body 217 swings to the stopper 216b side, and the space between the air introduction member 203 and the air release portion 213 is obtained. close.

  That is, when the volume of the air chamber 210 is reduced by the valve means 218, the branch portion of the first air flow path 212 is more than the flow resistance between the first air flow path 212 and the second air flow path 215. The flow path resistance variable means for increasing the flow path resistance on the air release part 213 side of 214 is configured.

  The second air flow path 215 and the valve means 218 constitute means for supplying the air in the air chamber 210 to the atmosphere introduction member 203 when the ink cartridge 10 is mounted and the volume of the air chamber 210 is reduced. .

  With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, when the ink cartridge 10 is inserted into the cartridge holder portion 4, the air chamber forming member 211 is pushed and contracted by the ink cartridge 10, thereby reducing the volume of the air chamber 210. Then, the air in the air chamber 210 is sent to the branch portion 214 through the second air flow path 215, and the valve means 218 is closed by this air flow. As a result, the air pushed out from the air chamber 210 flows into the container body 101 of the ink cartridge 10 from the branch portion 214 through the first air flow path 212 through the air introduction member 203. From the air flow, the ink that has entered the atmosphere introduction member 203 is discharged (returned back) into the container main body 101.

  Then, when the ink cartridge 10 is set in the cartridge holder portion 4 of the ink cartridge 10, the valve body 217 of the valve means 219 loses the airflow from the air chamber 210, so that the intermediate weight shown in FIG. Return to position (open position).

  As a result, an air release flow path from the air introduction member 203 to the air release site 213 through the first air flow path 212 is secured.

Here, the inconvenience caused by the ink adhering to the air introduction member described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, as shown in FIG. 9, when ink 100 and air are present inside the ink cartridge 10, if vibration is applied to the ink cartridge 10, the ink 100 and air may mix and an ink bubble 100 a may be generated. In particular, an ink containing a surfactant tends to foam.

  When the ink cartridge 10 in which the ink bubbles 100a are generated in this way is attached to the cartridge holder portion 4, as shown in FIG. 10A, if the ink bubbles 101a reach the upper part in the container body 101, As shown in FIG. 10 (b), the air introduction member 203 is encased in the ink bubbles 100a. Therefore, a part of the ink bubbles 100 a enters the inside through the holes 203 a opened in the air introduction member 203. If the invading ink bubbles are crushed as they are or are crushed and solidified as ink, the flow path in the air introduction member 203 gradually narrows and eventually becomes clogged so that the interior of the ink cartridge 10 cannot be opened to the atmosphere. turn into.

  If the inside of the ink cartridge 10 cannot be opened to the atmosphere, as described above, the negative pressure becomes excessive and ink supply cannot be made in time, resulting in a decrease in image quality due to insufficient supply.

  Therefore, as in the present embodiment, when the ink cartridge 10 is mounted on the cartridge holder portion 4, the air in the air chamber 210 is supplied (sent into) the atmosphere introduction member 203 to prevent the ink bubbles from entering, The clogging of the air introduction member 203 can be prevented.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is an enlarged explanatory view of a branch portion in the same embodiment.
Here, the valve means 218 does not completely close the atmosphere release part 213 side, that is, the flow path 219 of the first air flow path 212 to the atmosphere release part 213 side is secured even when the valve means 218 is closed. Thus, a gap is provided between the stopper 216b and the wall surface. Note that if the opening cross-sectional area of the flow path 219 is sufficiently smaller than the opening cross-sectional area of the first air flow path 212, the air flow to the atmosphere introduction member 203 side can be generated.

  By providing the gap in this way, when the valve means 218 is closed by the air flow generated by the compression of the air in the air chamber 210, the pressure in the portion that becomes the sealed space increases, and the valve body of the valve means 218 It is possible to prevent the air release flow path from being closed by 217 being continuously pushed by the air release site (stopper 216 side).

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram for explaining the embodiment.
Here, the flow resistance (flow channel cross-sectional area) from the branch portion 214 of the first air flow channel 212 to the atmosphere opening portion 213 is defined as the fluid from the branch portion 214 of the first air flow channel 212 to the atmosphere introduction member 203 side. It is larger than the resistance. Specifically, the flow passage cross-sectional area of the portion 211b from the branch portion 214 of the first air flow passage 212 to the atmosphere opening portion 213 is the portion from the branch portion 214 of the first air flow passage 212 to the atmosphere introduction member 203 side. It is smaller than the channel cross-sectional area of 211a.

  With this configuration, the amount of gas in and out can be suppressed while the inside of the ink cartridge 10 and the atmosphere are communicated with each other, moisture evaporation in the ink cartridge 10 can be reduced, and ink thickening can be suppressed. be able to.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the cartridge holder portion of the embodiment, FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the ink cartridge, and FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge holder portion.
Here, a cylindrical cover 221 that covers the outer periphery of the air introduction member 203 is provided in the cartridge holder portion 4, and a seal rubber 222 that protects the hole 203 of the air introduction member 203 is provided in the cylindrical cover 221. An air chamber forming member 211 on the bellows that forms the air chamber 210 is disposed inside the seal rubber 222. Similarly, a cylindrical cover 221 that covers the outer periphery of the ink outlet member 202 is provided on the ink outlet member 202 side, and a seal rubber 222 that protects the hole 202 of the ink outlet member 202 is provided in the cylindrical cover 221. . An air chamber forming member 211 on the bellows that forms the air chamber 210 is disposed inside the seal rubber 222.

  On the other hand, the container main body 101 of the ink cartridge 10 is formed with a recess 111 for escape so that the inside of the cylindrical covers 221 and 221 of the cartridge holder portion 4 enters around the ink supply port portion 102 and the air introduction port portion 103. Yes.

  With this configuration, when the ink cartridge 10 is inserted (inserted) into the cartridge holder portion 4, the ink supply port portion 102 and the air introduction port portion 103 of the ink cartridge 10 push the seal rubber 222, so that the air chamber 210 is compressed. In the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, the air pushed out from the air chamber 210 flows into the atmosphere introduction member 203, and an atmosphere release channel is secured.

  When the ink cartridge 10 is removed from the cartridge holder portion 4, the air chamber 210 is restored to its original extended state. At this time, since the force is applied to the seal rubber 222 and the cover 221 in the same direction as the direction in which the cartridge 10 is pulled out, the seal rubber 222 covers the hole 202a of the ink lead-out member 202 and the hole 203a of the standby introduction member 203, and the holes 202a and 203b. Trash can be prevented from entering through

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Paper feed tray 3 Paper discharge tray 4 Cartridge holder part (container holder part)
10 Ink cartridge (liquid container)
33 Carriage 34 Recording Head 101 Container Body 102 Ink Supply Port Portion 103 Air Introducing Port Portion 202 Ink Deriving Member 203 Air Introducing Member 210 Air Chamber 212 First Air Channel 213 Atmospheric Release Portion 214 Branch Portion 215 Second Air Channel

Claims (6)

A container holder portion, to which a liquid storage container having a container main body for containing a liquid, a supply port portion for supplying the liquid, and an air introduction port portion for introducing air into the inside is detachably mounted, is provided. ,
In the container holder part,
A hollow liquid outlet member that is inserted into a supply port of the liquid container and leads out the liquid;
An air introduction member that is inserted into the atmosphere opening port of the liquid container and opens the liquid container to the atmosphere;
An air chamber whose volume is reduced and restored by mounting and removal of the liquid container;
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for supplying air in the air chamber to the atmosphere introduction member when the volume of the air chamber is reduced when the liquid container is mounted. A first air flow path from the atmosphere introduction member to the atmosphere opening portion;
A second air flow path leading to the air chamber from a branch portion provided in the middle of the first air flow;
A flow path provided between the first air flow path and the second air flow path when the volume of the air chamber is reduced, provided at a branch portion of the first air flow path and the second air flow path. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a flow path resistance varying unit that increases a flow path resistance of the branching portion of the first air flow path on the side of the air release portion rather than a resistance.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the flow path resistance varying unit is a valve unit that opens and closes the flow path on the air release site side of the branch portion of the first air flow path.   In a state where the valve means is moved to the closed position, the flow path resistance of the flow path on the atmosphere introduction member side from the branch portion of the first air flow path and the flow path on the atmosphere release site side of the branch portion become large. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus communicates in a state where   The first air flow path is characterized in that the flow path resistance of the flow path on the atmosphere release site side from the branch part is larger than the flow path resistance of the flow path on the atmosphere introduction member side from the branch part. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the valve means opens and closes in response to pressure from the air chamber.

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