JP2012232595A - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printer capable of stably supplying ink even at a higher head supply pressure without enlarging the pressure regulating valve.SOLUTION: In this pressure regulating valve, a negative pressure chamber 135 including a first recess and a flexible member covering the same and connected to a printer head and a pressure chamber 155 including a second recess and a shield member covering the same and connected to an ink storage part are provided. A negative pressure chamber and a pressure chamber are juxtaposed at one side surface side relative to a partition wall 112 at a case member 110. First and second openings 136 and 156 having the same through-direction are provided at bottom part of the respective chambers comprising the partition wall. A communication flow channel chamber 175 communicating the first and second openings so that ink can flow is provided at the other side surface side relative to the partition wall. An actuation rod 180 including a first engagement part engaged with/disengaged from a pressure receiving member 140 fixed to the flexible member and a second engagement part engaged with/disengaged from a valve element 160 for opening and closing the second opening, and an oscillation fulcrum is provided in the chamber.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressure regulating valve for an ink jet printer, which is interposed in an ink supply path that connects an ink storage section in which ink is stored and a printer head that discharges ink, and adjusts the pressure of ink supplied to the printer head.

  Industrial ink jet printers used to produce large posters and banners, etc., consume an extremely large amount of ink per unit time, so a large capacity ink reservoir (such as an ink tank) is provided on the device body side, The ink storage unit and a printer head provided on the carriage are connected by a resin tube or the like to supply ink. At this time, the ink supply pressure to the printer head is set to a predetermined slight negative pressure at which the ink liquid level forms a meniscus in the nozzle in order to prevent ink leakage without hindering the ink ejection action by the printer head. Is required to be set. As a means for this, a water head system in which the ink liquid level in the ink reservoir is somewhat lower than the nozzle height, and an ink supply path that connects the ink reservoir and the printer head are adjusted. There is known a pressure regulating valve system in which a pressure valve is provided so that the pressure on the printer head side from the pressure regulating valve is slightly negative.

  The pressure regulating valve used in the pressure regulating valve system is provided on one side of the case member serving as a base and connected to the printer head, and on the other side of the case member sandwiching the partition wall. A sealing valve connected to the reservoir is configured as a main element. The negative pressure generating part is formed of a first concave part provided on one side of the case member and a flexible member covering the first concave part and connected to the printer head, and a pressure receiving member fixed to the flexible member And a pressure receiving biasing means for biasing the pressure receiving member to the outside of the negative pressure chamber, and the sealing valve includes a second recess and a second recess provided coaxially with the first recess on the other side of the case member. A pressure chamber formed by a shielding member that covers the two recesses and connected to the ink reservoir, a valve body that is provided in the pressure chamber and that is engaged with and disengaged from the pressure receiving member via an opening communicating with the negative pressure chamber; And valve urging means for urging the body in the valve closing direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a pressure regulating valve, the pressure receiving member urged by the pressure receiving urging means acts to expand the volume of the negative pressure chamber by projecting the flexible member outward, thereby connecting the printer head to the negative pressure chamber. The ink is sucked up from the nozzle to generate a slight negative pressure. When ink is ejected from the printer head and ink in the negative pressure chamber is consumed and the negative pressure increases, the flexible member bends inward of the negative pressure chamber due to the pressure difference from the atmospheric pressure and resists the urging force. The pressure receiving member presses the valve body to open the sealing valve. Therefore, the ink in the pressure chamber is supplied to the negative pressure chamber through the opening, and by these actions, an amount of ink corresponding to the consumption of the ink is supplied to the negative pressure chamber, and the outlet pressure of the pressure regulating valve, that is, on the printer head side. The pressure in the ink supply path is maintained at a predetermined slight negative pressure.

JP 2007-76373 A

  Since the pressure regulating valve for an ink jet printer as described above is required to have a function of preventing ink leakage from the nozzles without hindering the ink discharging action of the printer head, the ink pressure of the ink guided from the ink storage section is required. It is required to adjust the pressure to a predetermined negative pressure (hereinafter referred to as “head supply pressure”) in a narrow pressure range of about −0.5 to −4 kPa and supply it to the printer head. The relationship between the head supply pressure and the ink supply is such that the pressure receiving area of the flexible member on which the differential pressure from the atmospheric pressure acts, the biasing force of the pressure receiving biasing means, and the liquid pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage section The pressure receiving area of the acting valve body and the urging force of the valve urging means are defined as main factors.

  However, the urging force generated by the pressure receiving urging means and the valve urging means represented by the spring varies depending on the individual difference of each urging means and the assembled state, and the urging means having reduced urging force is stabilized. It is extremely difficult to construct (manufacture) automatically. In such a case, when the head supply pressure exceeds the above range and becomes a lower pressure (for example, −5 kPa), the meniscus is destroyed at the nozzle and the discharge becomes impossible, or fine air dissolved in the ink is generated in the negative pressure chamber. There is a possibility that the head supply pressure fluctuates and the ink discharge becomes unstable due to bubbles. Therefore, if the tolerance (margin) for variations in the urging force generated by the pressure receiving urging means and the valve urging means and the fluid pressure fluctuation of the ink stored in the ink storing portion is to be increased, the pressure receiving area of the flexible member There was a problem that the pressure regulating valve would be enlarged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a pressure regulating valve for an ink jet printer that can stably supply ink even at a higher head supply pressure without increasing the size of the pressure regulating valve. And

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adjusts the pressure of ink supplied to the printer head, which is interposed in an ink supply path that connects an ink storage section in which ink is stored and a printer head that discharges ink. A pressure regulating valve for an ink jet printer, wherein a case member serving as a base is formed by a first recess and a flexible member covering the first recess, is connected to the printer head, and applies a negative pressure to the printer head. A pressure chamber and a pressure chamber formed by a second recess and a shielding member covering the second recess and connected to the ink reservoir, and the case member includes a partition wall between one side and the other side And the negative pressure chamber and the pressure chamber are arranged in parallel on the one side surface with respect to the partition wall, and the partition wall is provided for each of the negative pressure chamber and the pressure chamber. A first opening formed in the bottom of the negative pressure chamber through the partition wall and a second opening formed in the bottom of the pressure chamber through the partition wall The case member is provided with the same opening direction, and the case member has a first opening formed in the negative pressure chamber and a pressure chamber on the other side surface with respect to the partition wall. A communication flow channel chamber is provided in which the second opening communicates with the ink so as to be able to circulate, and the communication flow channel chamber is engaged with and disengaged through a pressure receiving member fixed at one end to the flexible member and the first opening. A first engaging portion that engages, a valve body whose other end opens and closes the second opening, a second engaging portion that engages and disengages through the second opening, the first engaging portion, and the second engaging portion And an oscillating fulcrum disposed between the portions, and the pressure receiving member is provided with a decrease in the volume of the negative pressure chamber. When moved, the first engagement portion is pressed against the pressure receiving member, the operating rod is swung, and the second engagement portion is configured to move the valve body in the valve opening direction, In the arm portion, the length of the first arm portion connecting the swing fulcrum and the first engagement portion is longer than the length of the second arm portion connecting the swing fulcrum and the second engagement portion. The pressure regulating valve for the ink jet printer is configured to be large.

  In the present invention, the operating rod is such that the ratio of the length La of the first arm portion and the length Lb of the second arm portion is La: Lb = 1.2: 1 to 3: 1. It is preferable to configure.

  According to the present invention, an allowable range (margin) with respect to variations in biasing means and ink fluid pressure fluctuations can be increased without increasing the size of the pressure regulating valve, and ink can be supplied stably even at higher head supply pressures. Therefore, it is possible to provide a pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printer.

FIG. 6 is a representative cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I in FIG. 5) showing the main structure of the pressure regulating valve according to the present invention. It is a front view of an ink jet printer shown as an application example of the present invention. It is the schematic of an ink supply path. It is the perspective view of the one side which shows an internal structure in the state which removed the film which covers the side surface of a case member. It is a perspective view of the other side surface which shows an internal structure in the state which removed the film which covers the side surface of a case member. It is a perspective view of the one side showing the composition of a case member. It is a perspective view of the other side showing the composition of a case member. It is sectional drawing similar to FIG. 1, and is explanatory drawing which shows the state (a) in which the pressure receiving member was projected outside the negative pressure chamber, and the state (b) pulled inward of the negative pressure chamber. is there. It is a perspective view of the operating rod which comprises a cooperation mechanism.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As an example of an ink jet printer to which the pressure regulating valve according to the present invention is applied, among two orthogonal axes along a print target surface, an ink jet printer having a configuration in which one axis moves a print medium and the other axis moves a printer head (hereinafter, A printer device P) is shown in FIG. 2, and a schematic configuration of the printer device will be described with reference to FIG. In this description, the top, bottom, left, and right are defined based on the arrangement posture shown in FIG. 2, and the front side of the paper is referred to as the front and the back side is referred to as the back.

  The printer device P is configured to include a body portion 1 that has a rectangular box shape as a whole and performs a drawing function, and support legs 2 including left and right leg portions 2 a and 2 b that support the body portion 1. The body 1 includes a lower body 12, a right body 13 provided on the right side of the lower body 12, a left body 14 provided on the left, and a space above and parallel to the lower body 12. An elongated body-like medium insertion portion 11 is formed which includes an upper body portion 15 that extends and connects the left and right body portions 14 and 13, and is surrounded by the body portions 12, 13, 14, and 15 and allows the print medium M to be inserted back and forth. Is done.

  A platen 12a is provided on the upper surface of the lower body portion 12 located below the media insertion portion so as to extend left and right, and a cylindrical media feed roller is provided with an upper peripheral surface exposed to the platen 12a. The print medium M is placed on the platen 12a and is pressed against a pinch roller 15a provided on the lower surface side of the upper body portion 15, and the print medium M is rotated by rotating the media feed roller. Is configured to be conveyed in the front-rear direction.

  Although not shown in detail in the inside of the upper body portion 15, a guide rail that is located above the media insertion portion 11 and extends to the left and right is attached, and the carriage is interposed via a slide block that is fitted to the guide rail. Is provided to be movable left and right. A printer head having a plurality of nozzle rows is attached to the carriage so as to face the platen 12a, and a carriage moving mechanism for moving the carriage to the upper body part 15 and the left and right body parts is provided and supported by the platen 12a. The printer head is configured to reciprocate left and right above the print medium M.

  The right body portion 13 is provided with operation switches and display devices on the front side, and a maintenance station that performs suction operation at the time of ink replacement, cleaning of the printer head, and the like on the lower body portion 12 adjacent to the right body portion. Is provided. A box-shaped cartridge mounting portion 16 having a plurality of receiving slots is provided on the upper portion of the left body portion 14, and a cartridge type ink tank 18 serving as an ink storage portion is provided in each receiving slot of the cartridge mounting portion 16. Is removable from the front side. As shown in the schematic diagram of the ink supply path in FIG. 3, a connection portion 19 that can be fitted to and detached from the ink supply port on the ink tank 18 side is provided at the back of each receiving slot 16a. When the ink tank 18 is mounted, the connecting portion 19 is connected to the ink tank 18 and the ink stored in the tank is received by the printer device. A flexible resin ink tube 21 is connected to the connecting portion 19, extends through the left body portion 14 and the upper body portion 15, and forms an ink supply path 20 connected to the printer head 35 provided on the carriage 30. Is done.

  Here, in the printer device P, the cartridge mounting portion 16 is provided on the upper portion of the left body portion 14, and the ink level stored in the ink tank 18 is higher than the nozzle surface 35 a of the printer head 35 provided on the carriage 30. It is arranged at a high position. That is, a pressing force corresponding to the height difference (water head) from the liquid level of the ink tank 18 acts on the downstream end of the ink tube 21. Even if the ink tank 18 is mounted at a position lower than the printer head 35, the same applies to a printer having a configuration in which the ink tank is pressurized and ink is pumped.

  In the printer device P, in order to make the ink supply pressure to the printer head 35 a slight negative pressure, a pressure regulating valve (pressure damper) that adjusts the ink pressure is provided in the ink supply path 20 that connects the ink tank 18 and the printer head 35. (Also referred to as 100). In this embodiment, the pressure regulating valve 100 is provided on the carriage 30, the ink tank 18 is connected to the input port 101 of the pressure regulating valve 100 via the ink tube 21, and the head supply line 22 is connected to the output port 102 of the pressure regulating valve 100. The printer head 35 is connected to the printer.

  1 and 4 to 7 show a configuration example of the pressure regulating valve 100. FIG. Here, FIG. 1 is a representative sectional view showing the main structure of the pressure regulating valve 100 (a sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 5), and FIGS. 4 and 5 are obtained by removing the film covering the side surface of the case member. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one side and a perspective view of the other side showing the configuration of the case member. FIG. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the directions indicated by the arrows F, R, and U added in the drawings will be described as forward, right, and upward, respectively. In addition, the arrangement | positioning attitude | position of the pressure regulation valve 100 can be suitably set except the up-down direction.

  The pressure regulating valve 100 includes a case member 110 serving as a base of the pressure regulating valve 100, a negative pressure generating unit 130 provided on the case member 110 and connected to the printer head 35, and an ink tank 18 provided on the case member 110. And a linkage mechanism 170 that links the negative pressure generator 130 and the seal valve 150 together.

  The case member 110 has a laterally long rectangular shape whose outer shape in a side view from right and left is surrounded by upper and lower and front and rear outer peripheral walls 111 (upper outer peripheral wall 111U, lower outer peripheral wall 111D, front outer peripheral wall 111F, and rear outer peripheral wall 111R). Thus, it has a rectangular box shape with a small thickness, and has a front and back (left and right) two-layer structure partitioned by a partition wall 112 at an intermediate portion in the thickness direction.

  The pressure regulating valve 100 has a configuration in which two sets of pressure regulating valves each including a negative pressure generating unit 130, a sealing valve 150, and a linkage mechanism 170 are provided using this two-layer configuration. About these two sets of pressure regulating valve units, a reference numeral A is attached to one side and a first pressure regulating unit 100A is attached to the other side, and a reference numeral B is attached to the other side to denote a second pressure regulating unit 100B. For example, the negative pressure generating part of the first pressure regulating unit 100A is denoted by 130A, and the negative pressure generating part of the second pressure regulating unit 100B is denoted by 130B. Is written.

  On the right side (one side) of the case member sandwiching the partition wall 112, a negative pressure generating part 130A of the first pressure regulating unit 100A is provided at the upper front, and a sealing valve 150A of the first pressure regulating unit is provided below the first pressure regulating unit 100A. The linkage mechanism 170B of the second pressure regulating unit 100B is provided at the front and rear intermediate portions adjacent to these, and the filter chamber 192B of the second pressure regulating unit 100B is provided at the rear.

  On the other hand, on the left side (the other side) of the case member that sandwiches the partition wall 112, the negative pressure generating part 130B of the second pressure regulating unit 100B is disposed at the upper rear portion, and the second pressure regulating unit 100B is sealed below the second pressure regulating unit 100B. A valve 150B is provided, and a front-rear intermediate portion adjacent thereto is provided with a linkage mechanism 170A of the first pressure regulating unit 100A, and a filter chamber 192A of the first pressure regulating unit 100A is provided in front.

  The negative pressure generating part 130 (130A, 130B) is formed in the negative pressure chamber 135 and the film 134 which are formed by the first concave portion 131 partitioned by the case member 110 and the film 134 covering the first concave portion 131 and connected to the printer head 35. The pressure receiving member 140 and the pressure receiving biasing spring 145 that biases the pressure receiving member 140 outward from the negative pressure chamber 135 are configured.

  The case member 110 is partitioned by a substantially circular surrounding wall 113 erected on the partition wall 112 at the same height as the outer peripheral wall to form a large-diameter first recess 131 and downward from the lower end of the surrounding wall 113. An ink outlet passage 132 formed by a pair of passage walls 114 extending in parallel and connected to the first recess 131, and an ink outlet port 133 connected to the ink outlet passage 132 through the output port 102 projectingly formed on the lower outer peripheral wall 111D. Is formed (see FIG. 1). When the film 134 is welded to the side surface of the case member 110, a negative pressure chamber 135 is formed by the first recess 131 and the film 134 covering the opening surface, and the negative pressure chamber 135 and the output port 102 are connected. An ink outlet path 132 is formed. The negative pressure chamber 135 is connected to the printer head 35 via the head supply line 22 connected to the output port 102.

  For example, the negative pressure chamber 135 of the negative pressure generation unit 130A in the first pressure regulating unit 100A is formed on the right side surface side of the case member 110 (see FIG. 4), and this negative pressure chamber 135 serves as an ink outlet on the right side surface side. The first nozzle row (not shown) of the printer head 35 through the path 132, the ink outlet 133 passing through the output port 102A of the first pressure adjusting unit 100A, and the head supply line 22 connected to the output port 102A. Connected to. Similarly, a negative pressure chamber 135 of the negative pressure generating unit 130A in the second pressure regulating unit 100B is formed on the left side surface side of the case member 110 (see FIG. 5), and this negative pressure chamber 135 is the ink on the left side surface side. A second nozzle row (not shown) of the printer head 35 is connected via the outlet path 132, the ink outlet port 133 passing through the output port 102B of the second pressure adjustment unit 100B, and the head supply line 22 connected to the output port 102B. ). The negative pressure chamber 135 of the first pressure regulating unit 100A and the negative pressure chamber 135 of the second pressure regulating unit 100B may be connected to different printer heads.

  The pressure receiving member 140 as a whole is formed in a disk shape that is slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the first recess 131. At the center of the pressure receiving member 140 on the back surface side, a rod-shaped pressure receiving transmission portion 141 is projected and formed, and an annular spring support portion 142 for holding the outer peripheral side of the pressure receiving biasing spring 145 is formed on the outer peripheral side thereof. Thus, the displacement of the pressure receiving biasing spring 145 is prevented. The film 134 is configured using a thin transparent film material (for example, a laminated film of polypropylene and polyethylene) having liquid-tightness and air-tightness. The pressure receiving member 140 is integrally joined to the film 134 by fixing means such as welding.

  On the other hand, in the center of the first recess 131 facing the pressure receiving member 140, a first opening 136 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the pressure receiving transmission portion 141 is formed through the partition wall 112, and the first opening is formed. A spring support portion 137 is formed on the first concave portion side so as to surround a plurality of short arc-shaped projections (three short arc-shaped projections formed at an equiangular pitch in the embodiment), and a pressure receiving biasing spring 145 is formed. The displacement of the pressure receiving urging spring 145 is prevented by holding the inner peripheral side of the inner surface. The pressure receiving urging spring 145 exemplifies a configuration using a compression coil spring. The pressure receiving urging spring 145 is stretched between a spring support portion 137 on the partition wall 112 side and a spring support portion 142 on the pressure receiving member 140 side. Is urged to the outside of the negative pressure chamber 135 to press the film 134 so as to protrude from the case member 110 to the side. The pressure receiving urging spring 145 may be configured using other urging means such as a plate spring or a torsion spring.

  The negative pressure generation unit 140 hooks a pressure receiving biasing spring 145 on the spring support portion 137 on the partition wall 112 side, and covers the film 134, to which the pressure receiving member 140 is integrally joined from above, over the first recess 131, and receives the pressure. It is formed by welding a film 134 to the end surfaces of the surrounding wall 113 and the passage wall 114 in a state where the transmitting portion 141 is positioned so as to be positioned at the center of the first recess 131. At this time, the film 134 pressed by the pressure receiving biasing spring 145 bends outward and protrudes outward from the side end surface of the case member 110 by a predetermined dimension (for example, about 1 mm), and the pressure receiving member 140 is moved to the pressure receiving biasing spring. When pressed inward of the negative pressure chamber 135 against the urging force of 145, the film 134 bends inward and is recessed from the side end surface of the case member 110 to a predetermined dimension (for example, about 1 mm). In other words, in the region where the negative pressure chamber 135 is formed, the film 134 is stretched so as to have flexibility in the inner and outer directions of the negative pressure chamber 135 (left and right directions in FIGS. 4 to 7) (see FIG. 8). reference). The film 134 is welded after the sealing valve 150 and the linkage mechanism 170 described later are assembled.

  When the negative pressure generating part 130 is formed, the pressure receiving member 140 is located at the center of the negative pressure chamber 135, the pressure receiving transmission part 141 is located on the same axis as the first opening 136, and is axially (left and right). Displaceable. The pressure receiving member 140 is urged to the outside of the negative pressure chamber 135 by the pressure receiving urging spring 145, and the film 134 is disposed in a state where the film 134 swells to the outside of the case member 110 in an open state where no external force acts. . A sealing valve 150 is provided below the negative pressure generator 130.

  The sealing valve 150 (150A, 150B) includes a pressure chamber 155 and a pressure chamber that are formed by the second recess 151 defined by the surrounding wall 115 in the case member 110 and the film 134 that covers the second recess 151 and is connected to the ink tank 18. 155 includes a valve body 160 that opens and closes the second opening 156, a valve biasing spring 165 that biases the valve body 160 in the valve closing direction, and the like.

The second recess 151 is defined by a substantially circular surrounding wall 115 that is positioned below the first recess 131 and is erected on the partition wall 112, and is formed in a cylindrical shape having a smaller diameter than the first recess 131. A third introduction path 152c having one end connected to the second recess 151 in a dharma hole shape is formed at a side portion of the second recess 151 by a passage wall 116 connected to the surrounding wall 115 and extending horizontally. The third introduction 152c is connected to a filter chamber 192 provided on the other surface side of the case member 110 via a communication port 154b (154b ₁ , 154b ₂ ) formed so as to pass through the partition wall 112, and this filter chamber One surface of the case member through a second introduction path 152b formed on the side of 192, and a connection port 154a (154a ₁ , 154a ₂ ) formed in the upper part of the second introduction path 152b through the partition wall 112. The first introduction path 152a provided on the side and the input port 101 projecting from the upper outer peripheral wall 111U are connected to the ink introduction port 153 that communicates with the first introduction path 152a.

  When the film 134 is welded to both side surfaces of the case member 110, a pressure chamber 155 is formed by the second recess 151 and the film 134 covering the second recess, and the pressure chamber 155 and the ink introduction port 153 of the input port 101 are formed. An ink introduction path 152 including first, second, and third introduction paths 152a, 152b, and 152c that connect the two is formed. The pressure chamber 155 is connected to the ink tank 18 via the ink tube 21 connected to the input port 102.

This configuration will be specifically described with respect to the first pressure regulating unit 100A in which the sealing valve 150A is provided on the right side surface of the case member 110. The third introduction path 152c extending forward from the pressure chamber 155 is the third introduction path. leading to the filter chamber 192A provided on the left side of the case member 110 through the contact hole 154b ₁ provided on the front end side of road 152c, parallel to the upper outer peripheral wall 111U through the side of the filter chamber 192A second introduction passage 152b extending rearward, the first introduction passage 152a provided in the right side upper portion of the case member through the communication opening 154a ₁ formed at the rear portion of the second introduction passage 152b, the upper outer peripheral wall 111U The ink introduction port 153 that passes through the input port 101A of the first pressure regulating unit 100A that is projectingly molded, and the ink tube 21 that is connected to the input port 101A Through the first ink tank 18 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 16.

The same applies to the second pressure regulating unit 100B in which the sealing valve 150B is provided on the left side surface of the case member 110, and the third, second and second pressure chambers 155 are connected by the communication ports 154b ₂ and 154a ₂ . An ink introduction path 152 comprising a first introduction path 152c, 152b, 152a, a filter chamber 192B provided between the third introduction path 152c and the second introduction path 152b, and a second pressure regulation projectingly molded on the upper outer peripheral wall 111U. It is connected to a second ink tank mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 16 via an ink introduction port 153 penetrating the input port 101B of the unit 100B and an ink tube 21 connected to the input port 101B. The second ink tank is generally connected to an ink tank that stores ink of the same color as the first ink tank, but the first pressure adjusting unit 100A and the second pressure adjusting unit 100B are completely connected. Since it is configured independently, it can be used by connecting to an ink tank that stores inks of different colors.

  As described above, the pressure chamber 155 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having a small diameter, and the second opening 156 that penetrates the partition wall 112 is formed at the bottom of the pressure chamber 155 (see FIG. 1). . At the bottom of the pressure chamber 155, a disc-shaped damper sealing member 157 having rubber elasticity and having an opening having substantially the same diameter as the second opening 156 at the center is provided as a valve seat. The pressure chamber 155 is provided with a cylindrical retainer ring 158 for fixing the outer peripheral edge portion of the damper sealing member 157, and prevents the damper sealing member 157 from being lifted. Supporting the outer periphery, the valve body 160 can slide smoothly. The retainer ring 158 has a notch (not shown) penetrating the peripheral surface of the ring at the alignment position (horizontal position) with the third introduction path 152c, and is introduced into the third introduction path 152c. The formed ink is introduced into the pressure chamber 155 through the notch without resistance.

  The valve body 160 is accommodated in the cylinder of the retainer ring 158, and the valve body urging spring 165 that urges the valve body 160 toward the partition wall 112 is set. The end cap 168 that closes the valve is press-fitted and fixed, and the sealing valve 150 is configured. The valve body 160 includes a disc-shaped valve plate 161 whose outer diameter is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the retainer ring 158, and a projection having a smaller diameter than the second opening 156 projecting from the center of the valve plate 161. 162, and a spring support portion 163 is formed on the back side of the valve plate portion 161. The spring support portion 163 includes a plurality of short arc-shaped protrusions that hold the outer periphery of the valve body biasing spring 165. On the inner surface side of the end cap 168, a spring support portion on the concave groove that holds the outer periphery of the valve body biasing spring 165 is also formed.

  The valve body urging spring 165 exemplifies a configuration using a compression coil spring. The valve body urging spring 165 is sandwiched between a spring support portion 163 on the valve body 160 side and a spring support portion on the end cap 168 side. The valve body 160 is always urged toward the bottom of the pressure chamber 155 to closely contact the damper sealing member 157. Therefore, in a state where no external force acts on the valve body 160, the valve plate 161 is pressed against the damper sealing member 157 by the biasing force of the valve body biasing spring 165, and the second opening 156 is sealed, The valve 155 is held in a closed state where communication with the chamber 155 is blocked. On the other hand, when the valve body 160 is moved against the urging force of the valve body urging spring 165, the valve plate portion 161 is separated from the damper sealing member 157, the second opening 156 is opened, and the pressure chamber is opened. 155 communicates. In this case, the ink located in the pressure chamber 155 passes through the second opening 156 and flows out to the other side face across the partition wall 112. A cooperation mechanism 170 is provided on the other side surface with the partition wall 112 interposed therebetween.

  The linkage mechanism 170 (170A, 170B) is formed of a concave groove 171 partitioned by the surrounding wall 117 in the case member 110 and a film 134 covering the concave groove 171, and a first opening 136 and a pressure chamber communicating with the negative pressure chamber 135. A communication channel chamber 175 that connects the second opening 156 that communicates with 155, a first engagement portion 181 that engages and disengages the pressure receiving member 140 at one end of the arm portion, and a second engagement that engages and disengages the valve body 160 at the other end. Consists of a joint portion 182, an operating rod 180 having a swing fulcrum 183 between the first engaging portion 181 and the second engaging portion 182, and swingably disposed in the communication channel chamber 175. Is done.

  As described above, the cooperation mechanism 170 is provided on the side surface on the opposite side across the pressure chamber 155 and the negative pressure chamber 135 and the partition wall 112. That is, in the pressure regulating valve 100 shown in the present embodiment, the linkage mechanism 170A of the first pressure regulating unit 100A is on the left side of the case member 110, and the linkage mechanism 170B of the second pressure regulating unit 100B is on the right side of the case member 110. Provided. The concave groove 171 in which the cooperation mechanism is accommodated is partitioned by a surrounding wall 117 erected from the partition wall 112 at the same height as the outer peripheral wall 111, and is formed in a vertically long groove shape separated from the periphery. The upper end of the concave groove 171 is formed in accordance with the first opening 136 connected to the negative pressure chamber 135, and the lower end of the concave groove 171 is formed in accordance with the second opening 156 connected to the pressure chamber 155, and these openings 136, 156 is contacted. For this reason, the film 134 is welded to the end surface of the surrounding wall 117 so as to cover the concave groove 171, thereby forming the communication channel chamber 175 that connects the first opening 136 and the second opening 156 and allows ink to flow.

  Between the first opening 136 and the second opening 156, front and rear surrounding walls 117 project outward from the communication flow channel chamber 175 to form receiving portions 118, 118 facing in a U-shape. The swinging fulcrum 183 of the operating rod 180 is supported on the receiving portion 118. As shown in a perspective view of the operating rod 180 in FIG. 9, the operating rod 180 has an arm portion 185 that extends vertically and an arm portion 185 that extends to the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the arm portion in the posture shown in FIG. 9. A first engaging portion 181 and a second engaging portion 182 having a short columnar shape which are projected forward and perpendicular to the direction, and a direction in which the arm portion 185 extends between the first and second engaging portions, and It is composed of short columnar swinging fulcrums 183 and 183 that are formed to project left and right perpendicular to the projecting direction of the first and second engaging portions.

  The swing fulcrum 183 is formed closer to the second engagement portion in the arm portion 185, and the length La of the first arm portion 185 a connecting the swing support 183 and the first engagement portion 181 is the same as the swing support 183. It is set to be larger than the length Lb of the second arm portion 185b connecting the second engaging portion 182. Specifically, in this embodiment, the length La of the first arm portion 185a is set to twice the length Lb of the second arm portion 185b, that is, La: Lb = 2: 1. The receiving portion 118 that supports the operating rod 180 in a freely swingable manner is also formed in accordance with the ratio of the lengths of the first arm portion 185a and the second arm portion 185b, and is moved by inserting the operating rod 180 into the concave groove 171. The support rods 183 and 183 are supported by the receiving portions 118 and 118, and the damper link presser 187 is mounted and fixed so as to cover the rocking fulcrums 183 and 183, so that the operating rod 180 is mounted and supported in the concave groove 171 so as to freely swing up and down. The At this time, the first engagement portion 181 of the operating rod is aligned with the first opening 136 so as to be detachable from the pressure receiving transmission portion 141 of the pressure receiving member 140, and the second engagement portion 182 of the operating rod is the second engagement portion 182. 2 is arranged so as to be able to be engaged with and disengaged from the protrusion 162 of the valve body 160 in alignment with the opening 156.

  Then, by attaching the filter 195 to the filter chamber 192 (192A, 192B) and covering the entire outer peripheral wall 111 (111U, 111D, 111F, 111R) including the surrounding wall 117, the film 134 is welded to the end face of each wall surface, A communication flow path chamber 175 that connects the first opening 136 and the second opening 156 is formed to constitute the cooperation mechanism 170 (170A, 170B), and the negative pressure generating unit 130 (130A, 130B), the seal described above, is sealed. The stop valve 150 (150A, 150B) is configured, and the pressure regulating valve 100 including the pressure regulating units 100A, 100B is configured.

  Next, the operation of the pressure regulating valve 100 configured as described above will be described using the pressure regulating unit 100A as an example. The ink tank 18 is connected to the input port 101A of the pressure adjusting unit 100A via the ink tube 21, and the printer head 35 is connected to the output port 102A via the head supply line 22. 8 (a) and 8 (b), in a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1, the state (a) in which the pressure receiving member 140 protrudes outward from the negative pressure chamber 135 and the inside of the negative pressure chamber 135 are drawn. State (b).

The ink supplied from the ink tank 18 to the input port 101A via the ink tube 21 is introduced into the case from the ink introduction port 153 formed in the input port 101A, and the communication port 154a ₁ from the first introduction path 152a. enters the filter chamber 192A through the second introduction path 152 b, is introduced ink filtered by the filter 195 through the communication port 154b ₁ and the third introduction path 153c to the pressure chamber 155 of the sealing valve 150A. At the time of initial ink filling, the negative pressure chamber 135 is set to a negative pressure by the ink suction operation from the nozzle surface, the sealing valve 150A is opened, and the ink in the pressure chamber 155 passes through the second opening 156 and communicates with the communication channel chamber. 175 and flows into the negative pressure chamber 135 through the first opening 136 at the upper end of the communication channel chamber. The ink flowing into the negative pressure chamber 135 flows down the ink outlet path 132 and is supplied to the printer head 35 through the head supply line 22 from the ink outlet port 133 formed in the output port 102A.

  In this way, when the ink supply path 20 from the ink tank 18 to the printer head 35 is filled with ink and the ink suction operation is stopped, the nozzle surface 35a of the printer head 35 becomes atmospheric pressure and the internal pressure of the negative pressure chamber 135 increases. . Then, the pressure receiving member 140 that receives the biasing force of the pressure receiving biasing spring 145 moves to the outside of the negative pressure chamber 135 while bending the film 134, and the pressure receiving transmission part 141 moves in a direction away from the first engagement part 181. To do. Therefore, the operating rod 180 that receives the urging force of the valve urging spring 165 via the second engaging portion 182 and the valve body 160 swings clockwise in FIG. 1, and the valve plate portion 161 moves to the damper sealing member 157. The sealing valve 150A is closed closely (see FIG. 8A).

  When the sealing valve 150A is closed, the ink supply path 20 is blocked at the position where the valve body 160 is disposed, and the ink located in the flow path downstream of the valve body 160 is confined in the flow path by capillary action. It becomes a state. Here, the pressure receiving member 140 is urged to the outside of the negative pressure chamber 135 by a pressure receiving urging spring 145, and the film 134 is pressed in a direction (a projecting direction) in which the volume of the negative pressure chamber 135 is enlarged. Therefore, a negative pressure that is sucked into the negative pressure chamber 135 acts on the ink positioned in the flow path on the downstream side of the valve body 160. Accordingly, no pressure based on the water head difference from the ink tank 18 acts on the printer head 35, and a slight negative pressure corresponding to the urging force of the pressure receiving urging spring 145 acts, and a meniscus is formed on the nozzle surface. The

  On the other hand, when drawing is started in the printer apparatus P and ink is ejected from the nozzles of the printer head 35, the ink stored in the negative pressure chamber 135 is consumed according to the ejection, and accordingly, the negative pressure chamber 135 Pressure gradually decreases. At this time, a pressure corresponding to the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure and the internal pressure of the negative pressure chamber and the pressure receiving area act on the pressure receiving member 140 that receives the atmospheric pressure via the film 134, and this pressure and the pressure receiving biasing spring 145 The pressure receiving member 140 is disposed at a position where the urging force is balanced. Therefore, the pressure receiving member 140 moves inward of the negative pressure chamber 135 as the ink is consumed, and the pressure receiving transmission portion 141 engages with the first engagement portion 181 of the operating rod, thereby moving the operating rod 180 counterclockwise in FIG. The second engaging portion 182 that is swung around and engaged with the protruding portion 162 presses the valve body 160.

  When the pressing force to the valve body 160 increases to exceed the valve body closing force (valve opening threshold) by the valve urging spring 165, the valve body 160 resists the urging force of the valve urging spring 165 and opens the valve. , The valve plate portion 161 is separated from the damper sealing member 157, and the sealing valve 150A is opened (see FIG. 8B).

  Here, in the pressure regulating valve 100, the pressure acting on the pressure receiving member 140 is configured to be transmitted to the valve body 160 via the operating rod 180 of the linkage mechanism 170, and the swinging fulcrum 183 of the operating rod 180 is sandwiched. The length La of the first arm portion 185a on the pressure receiving member 140 side is set to be larger than the length Lb of the second arm portion 185b on the valve body 160 side. Therefore, the force transmitted from the pressure receiving member 140 to the operating rod 180 depends on the ratio La: Lb between the length La of the first arm portion 185a and the length Lb of the second arm portion 185b by the so-called “lever principle”. When La: Lb = 2: 1, the force acting on the operating rod 180 from the pressure receiving member 140 is doubled and transmitted to the valve body 160.

  For this reason, variations in the urging force based on variations in the valve urging spring 165, dimensional accuracy and assembly accuracy of each member constituting the sealing valve 150, deformation and wear of the damper sealing member 157, valve body 160 and damper sealing The pressure receiving area of the negative pressure chamber is reduced with respect to fluctuations in the valve opening threshold due to sticking to the stop member 157, changes in the ink level on the ink tank 18 side, changes in the internal pressure of the pressure chamber 155 based on changes in the applied pressure, and the like. Without enlarging the pressure regulating valve as in the case of expansion, the sealing valve 150 can be opened and closed in a substantially constant negative pressure range, and the allowable range (margin) for the above-described fluctuation can be increased. it can. Further, since the pressure in the negative pressure chamber 135 is increased by the operating rod 180, the pressure in the negative pressure chamber 135 can be set higher (close to atmospheric pressure) than the conventional predetermined negative pressure, A pressure regulating valve capable of stably supplying ink at a high head supply pressure that does not cause destruction can be provided.

  When the sealing valve 150A is opened as described above, the pressure chamber 155 and the communication channel chamber 175 are communicated with each other through the second opening 156, and the ink located in the pressure chamber 155 is transferred to the second opening 156, It flows into the negative pressure chamber 135 through the communication channel chamber 175 and the first opening 136. As a result, the internal pressure of the negative pressure chamber 135 rises and the pressure receiving member 140 moves while projecting the film 134 by the biasing force of the pressure receiving biasing spring 145, and the operating rod 180 is swung by the biasing force of the valve biasing spring 165. However, the valve body 160 moves in the valve closing direction. Then, the valve plate portion 161 of the valve body 160 is brought into close contact with the damper sealing member 157 and the sealing valve 150A is closed, and the flow path downstream of the valve body 160 is slightly negative pressure due to the interruption of the ink supply path 20. Kept in a state.

  Accordingly, the flow path on the printer head side downstream from the valve body 160 is always maintained at a slight negative pressure suitable for ink discharge, and the negative pressure chamber is used according to the consumption of the ink discharged from the printer head 35. Ink is sequentially supplied to 135. This effect is the same for the second pressure regulating unit 100B.

  In the pressure regulating valve 100 configured as described above, the negative pressure generating unit 130 and the sealing valve 150 in each pressure regulating unit are provided on one side of the case member 110, and the cooperation mechanism 170 sandwiches the partition wall 112 and the case member. 110 is provided on the other side surface. According to such a configuration, the pressure regulating valve provided with the cooperation mechanism 170 can be configured by effectively utilizing the front and back of the single case member 110, and the case member can be configured in multiple layers or the mold can be complicated. Therefore, it is possible to provide a pressure regulating valve having a boosting function by the cooperation mechanism 170 with a simple configuration.

  In addition, the first pressure adjusting unit 100A and the second pressure adjusting unit 100B are arranged in a reverse relationship between one side and the other side of the case member 110 across the partition wall 112, that is, the partition wall 112 is disposed. It is provided back to back. For this reason, the pressure control valve can be arranged in half on the carriage where the space is limited, and the moving mass of the carriage can be reduced, thereby enabling a printer device capable of high-speed movement with a small drive system. Can be configured. Further, as is apparent from the respective drawings already described, a case in which the partition wall 112 is sandwiched between the negative pressure chamber 135 of the first negative pressure generation unit 130A and the negative pressure chamber 135 of the second negative pressure generation unit 130B. An overlapping region is formed so as to partially overlap the front and back of the member 110. As a result, the formation area of the negative pressure chamber 135 occupying the largest area due to the characteristics of the pressure regulating valve for the ink jet printer can be reduced by the length of the overlapping area, and the pressure regulating valve composed of two independent units can be further downsized. A compact pressure regulating valve can be provided.

  In the embodiment described above, a configuration in which the damper sealing member 157 and the valve body 160 are formed separately as the sealing valve 150 is illustrated. However, the damper sealing member 157 is bonded or welded to the valve body 160. These may be joined together, or these may be integrally formed by means such as a mold. Further, the configuration in which the length La of the first arm portion 185a and the length Lb of the second arm portion 185b in the operating rod 180 is exemplified as La: Lb = 2: 1. The enlargement effect according to the ratio is obtained. On the other hand, if this ratio is increased, the amount of movement of the valve body 160 relative to the amount of movement of the pressure receiving member 140 decreases in proportion to the reciprocal thereof. For this reason, it is preferable to set the ratio of the lengths in a range of about La: Lb = 1.2: 1 to 3: 1.

  Further, in the embodiment, the configuration in which the ink stored in the ink tank 18 is supplied using the difference in height (water head) between the ink tank 18 and the pressure regulating valve 100 is exemplified. However, for example, a flexible ink pack is used. The same effect can be obtained by applying the same to the configuration of the pressurization system in which the pressure is pressurized from the outer peripheral side by air pressure or a spring and supplied to the pressure regulating valve 100. The carriage movement form is not limited to uniaxial movement, but may be other movement forms.

P Inkjet printer 18 Ink tank (ink reservoir)
20 Ink supply path 35 Printer head 100 Pressure regulating valve 100A First pressure regulating unit 100B Second pressure regulating unit 110 Case member 112 Partition wall 130 Negative pressure generating part (130A: negative pressure generating part of first pressure regulating unit, 130B: first (Negative pressure generating part of 2 pressure control unit)
131 1st recessed part 134 Film (flexible member, shielding member)
135 Negative pressure chamber 136 First opening 140 Pressure receiving member 145 Pressure receiving biasing spring (pressure receiving biasing means)
150 sealing valve (150A: sealing valve of the first pressure regulating unit, 150B: sealing valve of the second pressure regulating unit)
151 Second recess 155 Pressure chamber 156 Second opening 160 Valve body 165 Valve biasing spring (valve biasing means)
170 Cooperation Mechanism (170A: Cooperation Mechanism of First Pressure Adjustment Unit, 170B: Cooperation Mechanism of Second Pressure Adjustment Unit)
171 Concave groove 175 Communication channel chamber 180 Actuation rod 181 First engagement portion 182 Second engagement portion 183 Swing fulcrum 185 Arm portion 185a First arm portion (length La)
185b Second arm (length Lb)

Claims (2)

A pressure regulating valve for an ink jet printer, which is interposed in an ink supply path that connects an ink storage section in which ink is stored and a printer head that discharges ink, and adjusts the pressure of ink supplied to the printer head,
The case member serving as a base is formed of a first recess and a flexible member that covers the first recess and is connected to the printer head, and applies a negative pressure to the printer head, and the second recess and the second recess. A pressure chamber formed by a shielding member covering the two recesses and connected to the ink reservoir,
In the case member, a partition wall is provided between the one side surface side and the other side surface side, and the negative pressure chamber and the pressure chamber are provided in parallel on the one side surface side with respect to the partition wall,
The partition wall constitutes a bottom portion of each of the negative pressure chamber and the pressure chamber, and a first opening that is formed in the bottom portion of the negative pressure chamber through the partition wall, and through the partition wall A second opening formed in the bottom of the pressure chamber is provided in the same penetration direction;
Furthermore, the case member communicates with the first opening formed in the negative pressure chamber and the second opening formed in the pressure chamber on the other side surface with respect to the partition wall so that ink can flow. A communication channel chamber is provided,
In the communication channel chamber, a pressure receiving member having one end fixed to the flexible member, a first engagement portion engaging / disengaging through the first opening, and a valve body having the other end opening / closing the second opening And an actuating rod having a second engaging part that engages and disengages through the second opening, and a swing fulcrum disposed between the first engaging part and the second engaging part. And
When the pressure receiving member is moved along with a decrease in the volume of the negative pressure chamber, the first engagement portion is pressed by the pressure receiving member, the operating rod swings, and the second engagement portion is Configured to move the valve body in the valve opening direction,
The length of the first arm portion connecting the swing fulcrum and the first engagement portion in the arm portion is greater than the length of the second arm portion connecting the swing fulcrum and the second engagement portion. Pressure-regulating valve for inkjet printers, which is characterized by a large setting.   The operating rod is characterized in that a ratio of a length La of the first arm portion and a length Lb of the second arm portion is La: Lb = 1.2: 1 to 3: 1. 1. A pressure regulating valve for an ink jet printer according to 1.

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