JP2012061615A - Liquid droplet discharging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid droplet discharging device that prevents sedimentation of dispersed particles of pigments or the like in a flow path from an ink cartridge to an ink discharge head.SOLUTION: The liquid droplet discharging device includes: a storage part to store a liquid; a discharge head to discharge the liquid; and a flow-path part in which liquid is moved from the storage part to the discharge head. The flow-path part includes: one or more first and second containers respectively into which liquid flows and from which liquid flows out; and a flow-path body which connects the storage part, the first and second containers, and the discharge head to each other and communicates them with each other. The flow-path part has: an oscillating means for oscillating the first container; each stirrer that is respectively stored in the first and second containers so as to stir the liquid; and a coupling member for coupling the first and second containers with each other. The second container is oscillated in conjunction with the oscillation of the first container by only providing the means for oscillating the same. The whole flow-path part can be simply and easily oscillated so as to stir liquid. By this, it is possible to easily provide a means that suppresses sedimentation of dispersed particles in a long flow path so as to uniformly maintain dispersion within a fixed range.

Description

  The present invention relates to a droplet discharge device.

  In general, ink used in an ink jet printing apparatus is often used in which dispersed particles such as pigments are uniformly dispersed in a solvent and mixed. When such an ink is left standing for a long period of time, dispersed particles having a higher specific gravity than the solvent tend to settle. The sedimentation of the dispersed particles caused a decrease in printing quality such as color unevenness, ink clogging, and ejection failure. On the other hand, a technique has been proposed in which an ink stirring mechanism is provided in order to maintain the dispersion of ink uniformly within a certain range. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that a stirring ball is provided in a storage portion provided in an ink flow path. Patent Document 2 proposes a technique of stirring by putting a stirring ball in an ink cartridge.

JP 2006-272648 A JP 2009-45944 A

  However, with the above-described conventional technology, ink is not sufficiently dispersed by agitation as the ink jet printing apparatus is increasing in definition, speed, and size, and the dispersed state is sufficiently maintained. There were problems such as being unable to do so. For example, in the case of the serial head type, conventionally, the ink in the ink cartridge placed on the carriage is agitated by the operation of the carriage (ejection head portion), but the carriage is small for high definition and high speed. -With the weight reduction, it was necessary to separate the ink cartridge and the carriage. Further, along with the adoption of a line head for the purpose of enlargement and the expansion of the movable range of the serial head, it is necessary to make the flow path from the ink cartridge to the ink ejection head longer. As a result, how to prevent the settling of dispersed particles in a long flow path has become a problem. In particular, titanium dioxide, which is generally used as a pigment for white ink, has a problem of maintaining a dispersed state because of a high degree of sedimentation.

  As means for solving this problem, it was considered to have stirring means over the entire long flow path. For example, the entire flow path is configured by a single storage section, and a stirrer is stored therein, and the storage section is swung to perform stirring, or a plurality of storage sections are continuously formed over the entire flow path. It was conceivable to provide a means for stirring each of the storage units. However, in either case, an increase in the size and cost of the stirring means was inevitable. That is, the conventional technique has a problem that there is no simple means for suppressing the sedimentation of the dispersed particles in the long flow path and maintaining the dispersion uniformly within a certain range.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  Application Example 1 A droplet discharge device according to this application example includes a storage unit that stores a liquid, a discharge head that discharges the liquid, and a flow path unit that moves the liquid from the storage unit to the discharge head. In the droplet discharge device, the flow path portion connects and communicates the first container and the second container through which the liquid flows in and out, the storage section, the first container, the second container, and the discharge head, respectively. A stirrer that is contained in the first container and the second container and stirs the liquid, a connecting member that connects the first container and the second container, and the first container A first swinging means for swinging the first container and moving the stirrer in the first container and the second container to stir the liquid in the first container and the second container; It is characterized by providing.

According to this application example, the liquid is stirred by the internal stirrer by swinging the first container included in the flow path unit in which the liquid moves from the storage unit to the ejection head. Furthermore, since the flow path part is provided with the 2nd container which accommodates a stirrer, and the 2nd container is connected with the 1st container by the connection member, by swinging the 1st container, The second container also rocks in conjunction with the liquid in the first container and the second container.
In other words, all the connected containers are rocked in conjunction with each other by simply providing a means for rocking a part of a plurality of containers provided in the flow path, so that the entire flow path section is swung in a simple and simple manner. Can be made. Therefore, a means for suppressing the sedimentation of the dispersed particles in the long channel and maintaining the dispersion uniformly within a certain range is simply provided.

  Application Example 2 In the droplet discharge device according to the application example described above, the flow path section includes a third container in which liquid flows in and out and is not connected to the first container by the connecting member, and the third container. The stored stirring bar and the second swinging means provided in the third container for swinging the third container to move the stirring bar in the third container and stirring the liquid in the third container. And.

  According to this application example, since the third container provided with the means for rocking is further provided, the arrangement of the first container and the third container causes the rocking portion, strength, Combinations such as timing can be set flexibly. Thereby, stirring according to the degree of sedimentation can be performed more effectively.

  Application Example 3 In the droplet discharge device according to the application example described above, the second swinging unit stirs the liquid in the third container in a different motion or in a different direction from the first swinging unit. Features.

  According to this application example, the combination of the rocking part, movement, direction, strength, timing, etc. can be flexibly set in the long flow path by the arrangement and the rocking method of the first container and the third container. . Thereby, stirring according to the degree of sedimentation can be performed more effectively.

  Application Example 4 In the droplet discharge device according to the application example, the liquid flows into the connecting member, and the inflowing liquid flows out from the connecting member.

  According to this application example, the connecting member can be effectively used as a flow path through which the liquid moves.

  Application Example 5 In the droplet discharge device according to the application example described above, the inner bottom surface of the connecting member does not have a horizontal surface.

  According to this application example, since the bottom surface inside the connecting member does not have a horizontal surface, the dispersed particles are less likely to settle and accumulate inside.

  Application Example 6 In the droplet discharge device according to the application example described above, a stirrer that stirs the liquid in the connection member is provided in the connection member.

  According to this application example, since stirring is promoted by the stirrer housed inside the connecting member, the dispersed particles are prevented from settling and collecting inside. As a result, it is possible to further increase the volume of the liquid that is stirred in the flow path.

  Application Example 7 In the liquid droplet ejection apparatus according to the application example, the ejection head is a line head.

  According to this application example, even in a line head that does not have a carriage, stirring can be performed in the flow path portion in which the liquid moves from the storage portion to the line head. Further, even when the flow path portion is long, the entire flow path portion can be swung in a simple and simple manner.

(A); Side sectional view which shows typically the droplet discharge apparatus concerning Embodiment 1. FIG. (B); The perspective view which shows the structure of the container concerning Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view schematically showing the swinging means. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view schematically showing a droplet discharge device according to a second embodiment. (A): The perspective view which shows typically the droplet discharge apparatus concerning Embodiment 3. FIG. (B): A plan view schematically showing a droplet discharge device according to a third embodiment. (A); Side sectional view which shows typically the droplet discharge apparatus concerning Embodiment 4. FIG. (B), (c); The perspective view which shows the structure of the connection part concerning Embodiment 4. FIG. (A); Side sectional view which shows typically the droplet discharge apparatus concerning the modification 1. FIG. (B); Side sectional view which shows typically the connection member concerning the modification 1. FIG. (A); Side sectional view which shows typically the droplet discharge apparatus concerning the modification 2. FIG. (B); A perspective view showing a configuration of a connecting member according to Modification 2.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings to be used are scaled up or down as appropriate so that the portions to be described are recognizable in size.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1A is a side sectional view schematically showing a droplet discharge device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a configuration of a container according to the first embodiment.
A liquid droplet ejection apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is an ink jet printing apparatus, and includes a storage unit 10, a channel unit 20, a ejection head 30, and the like.

The storage unit 10 is a container that stores and supplies the liquid 11 therein.
The liquid 11 is printing ink containing a predetermined concentration of dispersed particles such as pigment, and is guided from the storage unit 10 to the ejection head 30 via the flow path unit 20.
The flow path unit 20 includes a container 21a as a first container, a container 21b and a container 21c as a second container, a tube 22 as a flow path body, and the like. The stirrer 23, the connecting member 40, The oscillating means 200 is provided.
The tube 22 is a tubular body that is disposed between the accommodating portion 10, the containers 21 a, 21 b, 21 c, and the ejection head 30 and communicates with each other.
The ejection head 30 is a printing ejection head that ejects droplets of the liquid 11 onto a print medium (not shown) according to a print signal.

Next, the flow path part 20 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the flow path unit 20 includes a tube 22 through which the liquid 11 moves from the storage unit 10 toward the ejection head 30, and containers 21a, 21b, and 21c. The container 21a includes a swinging means 200. When the container 21b and the container 21c are adjacent to each other, the container 21a is connected by the connecting member 40, and the container 21b is connected by the container 21a and the connecting member 40.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c are tubular containers having substantially the same configuration and shape, each having an axis in the flow direction of the liquid 11, the tubular surface 1, the liquid 11 includes an inflow side surface 2 and an outflow side surface 3. At the approximate center of the side surface 2, an inlet 2 e for the liquid 11 is provided, and at the approximate center of the side surface 3, an outlet 3 e for the liquid 11 is provided. A tube 22 is connected to the inflow port 2e and the outflow port 3e.

  For the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c, a polyethylene resin is used as a suitable example. The material is not limited to this, for example, vulcanized rubber such as natural rubber and synthetic rubber, polypropylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polybutylene, polyacrylate, polyester, polyacetal, and polyphenylene. It can also be appropriately selected from polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyolefin, and fluorine resins. Further, the shape of the containers 21a, 21b, 21c is not limited to the above, but a rectangular parallelepiped shape, an elliptical cylinder shape, a pyramid shape, a conical shape, or a combination of these, or a cross-sectional shape that is elliptical or polygonal, Or the shape which compounded them may be sufficient. Further, the sizes and shapes of the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c to be connected may be different.

The stirrer 23 is a substantially spherical stirrer that is housed in the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c and that stirs the liquid 11 inside the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c. The diameter d1 of the stirrer 23 is about 0.4 times the inner diameter D of the tubular surface 1. The stirrer 23 is not limited to a sphere, and any stirrer may be used as long as the liquid 11 in the interior is efficiently stirred by the shaking of the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c. A ball shape), a cylindrical shape, a rectangular parallelepiped, a cube, or a combination thereof, or a shape in which irregularities are provided on the surface thereof. Moreover, it is preferable that the width | variety of the largest part of the stirring element 23 is the range of d1 which satisfy | fills the following relational expression (1).
D × 0.4 ≦ d1 ≦ D × 0.9 (1)

  Moreover, it is preferable to use a material heavier than the specific gravity of the liquid 11 for the stirrer 23, and as a suitable example, glass mainly composed of silicate is used. The material is not limited to this, and may be appropriately selected from ceramics such as aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide, iron, aluminum, titanium, chromium, nickel alone, or an alloy containing any of these. it can.

The tube 22 is a substantially cylindrical tubular body, and its inner diameter d2 is about 0.5 times the diameter d1 of the stirring bar 23. The inner diameter d2 is not limited to this, but is preferably in a range satisfying the following relational expression (2).
d1 × 0.1 ≦ d2 ≦ d1 × 0.9 (2)

  The tube 22 is made of silicon resin as a suitable example. Note that the material is not limited to this, and may be any material that is flexible and can be reliably communicated without leakage before and after connection. For example, it can be appropriately selected from vulcanized rubber such as natural rubber and synthetic rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyolefin, and fluorine resin. The shape of the tube 22 is not limited to the above, and the cross-sectional shape may be an ellipse, a polygon, or a shape in which they are combined. Further, the lengths do not need to be equal to each other, and can be appropriately set to a necessary and sufficient length depending on a connected portion.

  The connecting member 40 is a rectangular plate-like member that connects the adjacent containers 21a and 21b, the adjacent containers 21b and 21c, and the adjacent containers 21c and 21c (not shown). The surface has substantially the same curvature as the tubular surface 1. One end portion (stopping f) of the connecting member 40 in the longitudinal direction is aligned with the upper surface end portion of the tubular surface 1 of the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c and fixed with an adhesive or the like. The other end of is similarly fixed to the tubular surface 1 of another adjacent container 21a, 21b, 21c.

  The connecting member 40 needs to have a size (width w, thickness t, stop f) that can secure the strength necessary for transmission of the swing. In addition, the connection member 40 is not limited to this shape, What is necessary is just a shape in which the rocking | swiveling required for stirring is transmitted with respect to the containers 21b and 21c. For example, it may be one continuous long plate-like member that is not separated for each connected portion and is fixed to all the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c.

  The connecting member 40 is made of a polyethylene resin as a suitable example. The material is not limited to this, and any material may be used as long as it has a certain rigidity for effectively transmitting the swing to the containers 21b and 21c. The material is appropriately selected from, for example, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polybutylene, polyacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyacetal, polyphenylene, and fluorine resins. Can do.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view schematically showing the swinging means.
The swinging means 200 shown in FIG. 2 is a belt-driven swinging means composed of a pulley 51, a belt 52, and the like, and is provided in the container 21a that is the first container, and swings the container 21a.
The pulley 51 is disposed before and after the swinging direction, and one pulley 51 is rotated by a driving device (not shown) to drive an annular belt 52 hung on the pulley 51. The container 21a is fixed to the belt 52 with an adhesive 53 or the like. The belt 52 reciprocates in the direction of the arrow as the pulley 51 rotates forward and reverse, and the container 21a is swung.

  The swinging means 200 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a crank mechanism, a rack and pinion mechanism, a Scotch / yoke mechanism, or a combination thereof. Further, the swinging is not limited to the horizontal reciprocation as described above, and may be any movement that is transmitted by the connecting member 40 and effectively promotes stirring, including the action of the stirring bar 23. good. For example, it may be a rotational movement on the horizontal plane, a vertical movement, a movement inclined in a seesaw shape, or a movement in which these are combined.

  According to the above configuration, the container 21 a is swung by the swinging means 200, and the internal liquid 11 is stirred together with the action of the internal stirrer 23. As the container 21a swings, the container 21b connected by the connecting member 40 swings substantially simultaneously. Further, when the container 21b swings, the container 21c connected by the connecting member 40 also swings substantially simultaneously. That is, when the container 21a is swung by the rocking means 200, the containers 21b and 21c are also swung almost simultaneously via the connecting member 40, and the stirrer 23 incorporated in the swung containers 21a, 21b and 21c. The liquid 11 inside is stirred by the action.

As described above, according to the droplet discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The substantially entire channel portion 20 is configured by a plurality of containers 21a, 21b, and 21c that contain the stirrer 23, and these are connected by the connecting member 40, whereby the entire channel portion 20 can be formed in a simple and simple manner. It can be swung. That is, even when the pigment is likely to settle in the long flow path from the ink cartridge to the ink ejection head, the liquid 11 can be easily and efficiently stirred over the entire flow path, and the dispersion can be performed within a certain range. Can be maintained uniformly. Therefore, according to the droplet discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a simple means for suppressing the sedimentation of the dispersed particles in the long flow path and maintaining the dispersion uniformly within a certain range.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view schematically showing a droplet discharge device according to the second embodiment.
The droplet discharge device 110 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to this drawing. In addition, about the component same as Embodiment 1, the same number is used and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

The droplet discharge device 110 is an ink jet printing apparatus having a configuration in which two flow path portions corresponding to the flow path portion 20 (FIG. 1A) shown in the first embodiment are connected in series. , The flow path portion 20w, the discharge head 30, and the like.
The flow path portion 20w has a configuration in which the flow path portion 20a and the flow path portion 20b are connected in series by a tube 22.

  The flow path parts 20a and 20b have the same configuration as the flow path part 20, respectively, and include rocking means 200a and 200b having the same structure as the rocking means 200 (FIG. 2) in the first embodiment. Yes. That is, the flow path portion 20a includes a container 21a as a first container, a container 21b and a container 21c as second containers, and the flow path portion 20b includes a container 21a as a third container. include. Further, the flow path portions 20 a and 20 b are not connected by the connecting member 40. In addition, the number of the flow path parts which comprise the flow path part 20w is not limited to two of the flow path parts 20a and 20b, It can increase suitably according to the length and arrangement | positioning of the whole flow path part. Further, the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c constituting the flow path portions 20a and 20b do not need to have the same shape and number, and can be appropriately set according to the length and arrangement of the flow path portions.

  According to the droplet discharge device 110 according to the present embodiment, since the flow path portion 20a and the flow path portion 20b are not connected by the connecting member 40, the swinging of the swinging means 200a and 200b is performed without being synchronized. Can do. Furthermore, it can be swung in different directions. Therefore, in a long flow path, the combination of the rocking part, direction, strength, timing, etc. can be set more flexibly. Thereby, as illustrated below, the flow path portion 20w can be more effectively stirred.

  For example, it is effective when the flow path part 20w cannot be installed linearly from the storage part 10 to the ejection head 30 and must be routed with a bent part. Specifically, by dividing the flow channel portion 20w into the flow channel portion 20a and the flow channel portion 20b before and after the bent portion, the swing direction can be changed before and after the bent portion. Therefore, more effective stirring can be performed for each flow path. In consideration of the arrangement of the containers, it is preferable to change the direction of swinging before and after the bent portion, but it is not necessarily limited to this, and the swinging may be performed in the same direction. Also, different movements, that is, one may be swung by reciprocating motion, and the other may be swung by alternately tilting like a seesaw.

  Moreover, it is effective when the degree of sedimentation differs depending on the location in the flow path portion 20w. Specifically, the flow path part 20w is divided into the flow path part 20a, the flow path part 20b, and, if necessary, more flow path parts for each region where the degree of sedimentation is different, If necessary, it can be swung for the required length of time. As a result, useless rocking can be eliminated and effective stirring can be performed. For example, in the case where the difference in the degree of sedimentation depending on the part is known in advance depending on the time for which it is allowed to stand, use such as performing necessary swinging at a necessary part at the timing when the droplet discharge device 110 is moved. Is possible.

  Further, for example, when the degree of sedimentation in the flow path portion 20w can be sensed by a sensor or the like for each part, it is possible to use such as swinging of the part where a preset sedimentation state is sensed.

  In addition, for example, when the sizes and shapes of the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c differ depending on the location in the flow path portion 20w, it is possible to use settings such as setting the optimal oscillation cycle and oscillation amplitude according to them. It is.

  As described above, according to the droplet discharge device 110 according to the present embodiment, by providing a plurality of flow paths having the configuration of the flow path section 20, the swinging portion, direction, strength, timing, etc. can be further optimized. Since it can be set, the sedimentation of dispersed particles in a long channel can be suppressed and the dispersion can be maintained uniformly within a certain range.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4A is a perspective view schematically showing a droplet discharge device according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a plan view.
The droplet discharge device 120 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to this drawing. In addition, about the component same as Embodiment 1, the same number is used and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

4 (a) and 4 (b) is a line head ink jet type that uses four liquid droplet ejection units corresponding to the liquid droplet ejection apparatus 110 described above for four types of ink. It is a printing device.
In the case of the line head method, a discharge head having a length substantially the same as the width of a print medium such as printing paper is provided, a number of discharge nozzles are arranged in a line on the discharge head, and the discharge head is fixed while moving the print medium. Droplets are ejected onto the print medium. Therefore, in the case of the line head method, there is no carriage for moving the ejection head. In this embodiment, the line head type droplet discharge device 120 will be described.

The droplet discharge device 120 includes four droplet discharge units 121c, 121m, 121y, and 121b for four types of liquids 11c, 11m, 11y, and 11b, a paper supply / discharge mechanism 300, a control unit 310, and the like.
The liquids 11c, 11m, 11y, and 11b are printing inks containing a predetermined concentration of dispersed particles such as pigments.
The droplet discharge units 121c, 121m, 121y, and 121b have the same configuration, and are disposed substantially in parallel inside the droplet discharge device 120.
The paper supply / discharge mechanism 300 is a mechanism for moving the print medium by a desired amount.
The control unit 310 is a control unit that controls the operations of the droplet discharge units 121 c, 121 m, 121 y, 121 b and the paper supply / discharge mechanism 300.

Hereinafter, the configuration will be described using the droplet discharge unit 121c that discharges the liquid 11c as an example.
The droplet discharge unit 121c is composed of a storage section 10v, a flow path section 20v, a discharge head 30v, swinging means 200a and 200b, connecting members 40a and 40b, and the like. The liquid 11c is guided from the storage unit 10v to the ejection head 30v through the flow path unit 20v.
The container 10v is a container in which the liquid 11c is placed.
The flow path portion 20v includes a flow path through which the liquid 11c moves from the storage portion 10v to the ejection head 30v, and includes a flow path portion 20va and a flow path portion 20vb.
The discharge head 30v includes a rectangular plate-shaped head body, a line including a distribution passage 24 formed at approximately equal intervals and discharge nozzles (not shown) arranged in a row connected to the tip of the distribution passage 24. Head. The liquid 11c is guided to the discharge nozzle from the flow path portion 20v through the distribution passage 24.

The flow path part 20va consists of a flow path through which the liquid 11c moves from the storage part 10v to the flow path part 20vb.
The flow path portion 20vb is connected in series to the flow path portion 20va, and includes a flow path portion in which the liquid 11c moves from the flow path portion 20va to the ejection head 30v. The flow path part 20vb is arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to the flow path part 20va and along the discharge head 30v above the discharge head 30v.
Each of the flow path portion 20va and the flow path portion 20vb is composed of containers 21a, 21b, 21c, a tube 22, and the like. The swinging means 200a for swinging the container 21a of the flow path portion 20va and the flow path portion 20vb A swinging means 200b for swinging the container 21a is provided. A stirrer 23 is provided inside each of the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c.
In the distribution passage 24, the liquid 11c is guided by a tube (not shown) branched from the tube 22 nearest to the flow path portion 20vb.

The connecting member 40a connects the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c constituting the flow path portion 20va, similarly to the connecting member 40 (FIG. 1B) in the first embodiment. The connecting member 40b is not separated for each connecting portion, and connects the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c constituting the flow path portion 20vb with one continuous long plate-like member.
The swinging means 200a and 200b have the same configuration as the swinging means 200 (FIG. 2) in the first embodiment.

  The droplet discharge units 121m, 121y, and 121b have the same configuration as the droplet discharge unit 121c described above, and are arranged substantially in parallel with the droplet discharge unit 121c. The swinging means 200a and 200b are shared by the flow path portions 20va and the flow path portions 20vb of the droplet discharge units 121c, 121m, 121y, and 121b, respectively.

  According to the droplet discharge device 120 according to the present embodiment, the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c constituting the flow path portions 20va and 20vb are swung by the swinging means 200a and 200b, the connecting member 40a, and the connecting member 40b. The stored liquids 11c, 11m, 11y, and 11b are agitated. As a result, substantially the entire liquid 11c, 11m, 11y, 11b stored in the flow path portion 20v is agitated. Therefore, even if the ejection head 30v is a line head that does not have a movable part such as a carriage, the settling of dispersed particles in the long flow path from the ink cartridge to the ejection head 30v is suppressed, and the dispersion is made uniform within a certain range. A simple means of maintaining can be provided.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 5A is a side sectional view schematically showing a droplet discharge device according to the fourth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. (B), (c) is a perspective view which shows the structure of the connection part of the container concerning Embodiment 4, and respond | corresponds to FIG.1 (b). The droplet discharge device 130 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to this drawing. In addition, about the component same as Embodiment 1, the same number is used and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted. Here, an example will be described in which the above-described flow path body (tube) and the connecting member are formed of a single member and serve as two functions.

In the droplet discharge device 130 according to the present embodiment, the connecting member 43 is disposed at substantially the same position as the tube 22 in the first embodiment, and the adjacent container 21a and the container 21b are connected, and the adjacent container 21b and the container 21c are connected. Moreover, the adjacent container 21c and the container 21c (not shown) are connected.
The connecting member 43 is formed of a tubular body. One open end 43e communicates with the outlet 3e of the containers 21a, 21b, 21c, and the other open end 43e communicates with the inlet 2e of another adjacent container 21a, 21b, 21c. To be connected. The connecting member 43 not only transmits the swing, but also has a function as a flow path through which the liquid 11 moves. That is, the connecting member 43 corresponds to both the “connecting member” and the “flow channel body”. The connecting member 43 may be provided separately from the tube 22 so as to cover the tube 22, that is, to insert the tube 22.

  Further, the connecting member 43 may be one in which a descending slope is provided in the flow direction of the liquid 11 on the inner wall (inner tube) as in the connecting member 43v shown in FIG. The connecting member 43v lowers the position of the inflow port 2e connected to the connecting member 43v in a substantially vertical direction, raises the outflow port 3e in a direction opposite to the substantially vertical direction, and has a gradient of about -0.1 in the pipe (in the tube). An inclination is provided. On the other hand, the outer peripheral cylinder of the connecting member 43v is not provided with a gradient in order to effectively transmit the swing of the liquid 11 in the flow direction. That is, the connecting member 43v is made of a thick tubular body, and the inner tube has a structure that is opened obliquely with respect to the outer peripheral side surface. The gradient of the inner tube is preferably a downward gradient with respect to the flow direction of the liquid 11, but is not limited to this, and may be an upward gradient as long as the movement of the liquid 11 is not hindered.

  According to the present embodiment, when the connecting member 43 is a “flow channel body”, the tube 22 for communicating the containers 21a, 21b, and 21c can be omitted. As a result, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the droplet discharge device can be configured more simply. In addition, by forming a pipe having a unidirectional gradient inside the connecting member 43, it is possible to make it difficult for clogging due to settling of dispersed particles to occur.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. A modification will be described below. In addition, about the component same as Embodiment 1, the same number is used and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

(Modification 1)
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view schematically showing a droplet discharge device according to the first modification, and corresponds to FIG. 1A in the first embodiment. (B) is a sectional side view schematically showing a connecting member.
In the droplet discharge device 100 according to the first embodiment, the connecting member 40 (FIG. 1B) has been described as a rectangular plate, but the droplet discharge device 140 illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The connecting member 41 may be a tubular body.

The connecting member 41 includes a tubular body that is long in a substantially horizontal direction and a stirrer 23v that is accommodated therein. Side surfaces of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body are closed, and a tube 41v communicating with a portion connected to the containers 21a, 21b, 21c is provided.
The liquid 11 guided into the pipe of the connecting member 41 tends to settle the dispersed particles in the pipe when left standing, but is swung and stirred by the stirrer 23v. In addition, the diameter of the stirring bar 23v needs to be larger than the inner diameter of the tube 41v.

  According to this modification, the connecting member 41 constituting the flow path unit 20 can be effectively used as a flow path through which the liquid 11 moves. Moreover, since stirring is promoted by the stirring bar 23v accommodated in the inside thereof, it is possible to suppress the dispersion particles from being settled and collected inside the tube. As a result, in the effect of the first embodiment, it is possible to further increase the volume of the liquid 11 that is stirred in the flow path unit 20.

(Modification 2)
FIG. 7A is a side sectional view schematically showing a droplet discharge device according to the second modification, and corresponds to FIG. (B) is a perspective view which shows a connection member typically, and respond | corresponds to FIG.1 (b).
In the droplet discharge device 140 according to the first modification, the connecting member 41 has been described as a tubular body that is long in the substantially horizontal direction, but the connection member 42 of the droplet discharge device 150 shown in FIGS. A curved tubular body may be used.

  The connecting member 42 is formed of a curved tubular body, and its two open ends 42e are oriented in a substantially vertical direction. One open end 42e of the connecting member 42 is fixed to the upper surface end of the tubular surface 1 of the containers 21a, 21b, 21c, and the other open end 42e is a tubular surface of another adjacent container 21a, 21b, 21c. 1 is fixed to the upper surface end of 1. The tubular surface 1 to which the opening end 42e of the connecting member 42 is fixed is open so as to communicate with the opening of the opening end 42e of the connecting member 42.

  According to this modification, as in Modification 1, the connecting member 42 can be effectively used as a flow path through which the liquid 11 moves. Further, since the shape is curved in a substantially vertical direction and does not have a horizontal surface, the dispersed particles are less likely to settle and accumulate inside the tube. As a result, the stirrer 23v used in Modification 1 is not necessary and can be configured more simply. Also in this modification, a stirrer may be accommodated in the connecting member as in Modification 1.

(Modification 3)
In the droplet discharge device 100 according to the first embodiment, it has been described that the tube 22 (FIG. 1B) is connected to the inlet 2e and the outlet 3e on the side surfaces of the adjacent containers. Here, when the height of the inflow port 2e and the outflow port 3e is substantially equal, the tube 22 is connected substantially horizontally, so that the dispersed particles easily settle inside. In order to avoid this, the tube 22 may be connected with a gradient. Specifically, the height of the outlet 3e and the inlet 2e is changed to give the tube 22 a gradient. In accordance with the moving direction of the liquid 11, it is preferable to form the outlet 3e higher and the inlet 2e lower, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  According to this modification, sedimentation of dispersed particles or the like inside the tube 22 constituting a part of the flow path unit 20 is suppressed, and the effect of the first embodiment can be further enhanced.

  In addition, although the modifications 1-3 were demonstrated as a modification with respect to Embodiment 1, it can apply similarly in Embodiment 2,3.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tubular surface, 2, 3 ... Side surface, 2e ... Inlet, 3e ... Outlet, 10 ... Accommodating part, 11 ... Liquid, 20, 20a, 20b, 20v, 20w ... Channel part, 21a, 21b, 21c ... Container, 22 ... Tube, 23, 23v ... Stirrer, 30, 30v ... Discharge head, 40, 41, 42, 43 ... Connecting member, 51 ... Pulley, 52 ... Belt, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150 ... Droplet discharge device, 200... Swinging means, 300... Paper supply / discharge mechanism, 310.

Claims (7)

A storage section for storing liquid;
An ejection head for ejecting the liquid;
The liquid is a liquid droplet ejection device including a flow path section that moves from the housing section to the ejection head,
The channel section is
A first container and a second container through which the liquid flows in and out;
A flow path body that connects and communicates each of the accommodating portion, the first container, the second container, and the discharge head;
A stirrer that is housed in the first container and the second container and stirs the liquid;
A connecting member for connecting the first container and the second container;
Provided in the first container, swinging the first container, moving the stirrer in the first container and the second container, and moving the first container and the second container; And a first swinging means for stirring the liquid in the container. The channel section is
A third container in which the liquid flows in and out and is not connected to the first container by a connecting member;
The stirrer housed in the third container;
The second container is provided in the third container, swings the third container, moves the stirrer in the third container, and stirs the liquid in the third container. The droplet discharge device according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit.   3. The liquid droplet ejection according to claim 2, wherein the second rocking unit stirs the liquid in the third container in a different movement or in a different direction from the first rocking unit. apparatus.   4. The droplet discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid also flows into the connecting member, and the inflowing liquid flows out of the connecting member. 5.   The droplet discharge device according to claim 4, wherein an inner bottom surface of the connecting member does not have a horizontal surface.   The droplet discharge device according to claim 4, wherein a stirrer that stirs the liquid in the connection member is provided in the connection member.   The liquid droplet ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ejection head is a line head.

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