JP2013018144A - Liquid jetting apparatus and liquid feeding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce wasteful consumption of liquid.SOLUTION: The liquid jetting apparatus includes: a first reservoir for reserving the liquid; a second reservoir for reserving the liquid fed from the first reservoir; a head for jetting the liquid fed from the second reservoir; a moving unit mounting the second reservoir and the head, and moving the mounted second reservoir and the head to a predetermined direction; a feeding unit containing the liquid fed from the first reservoir therein and feeding the liquid to the second reservoir, in particular, abutting with a portion of the second reservoir moved by the moving unit and thereby the contained liquid therein is extruded and fed to the second reservoir by pressurizing.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus and a liquid supply method.

Inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) as an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus
Some of them mount a head on a carriage and eject ink from the head while moving the head in a predetermined direction by the carriage.

In addition, there is a printer in which an ink cartridge for storing ink is also mounted on a carriage, and the ink cartridge is moved in a predetermined direction like the head. However, when the entire carriage becomes heavy, problems such as a decrease in carriage speed occur. In view of this, a printer has been proposed in which a sub tank is mounted on the carriage and ink is supplied to the sub tank by always connecting the ink cartridge and the sub tank with an ink supply tube (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-10-129007

However, if the ink cartridge and the sub tank are always connected by the ink supply tube, the ink supply tube becomes longer as the printer becomes larger. In this case, for example, the ink flowing in the tube is easily thickened due to the influence of outside air, the number of cleaning processes is increased, and a large amount of ink is consumed for purposes other than printing. Further, for example, when the head is maintained, the ink in the tube must be discarded, so that a large amount of ink is discarded.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce wasteful consumption of liquid (ink).

The main invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is that the first reservoir that stores liquid, the second reservoir that stores the liquid supplied from the first reservoir, and the second reservoir that is supplied from the second reservoir. The head for ejecting the liquid, the second reservoir and the head are mounted, and the mounted second reservoir and the moving unit for moving the head in a predetermined direction are supplied from the first reservoir. A supply unit that stores the liquid therein and supplies the liquid to the second storage unit, and is stored in the interior by contacting a part of the second storage unit that is moved by the moving unit. And a supply unit that pressurizes and supplies the liquid to the second storage unit and supplies the liquid to the second storage unit.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is an overall configuration block diagram of a printer. It is the schematic of the printer seen from the top. 3A to 3C are explanatory diagrams of the ink supply method according to the first embodiment. 2 is a flow of ink supply processing and printing processing according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an ink supply method in Embodiment 2. 6A to 6D are explanatory views of the ink supply unit in the first modification. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an ink supply unit in Modification 2.

=== Summary of disclosure ===
At least the following will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

That is, a first reservoir that stores liquid, a second reservoir that stores the liquid supplied from the first reservoir, a head that ejects the liquid supplied from the second reservoir, and Second
The storage unit and the head are mounted, the mounted second storage unit and the moving unit that moves the head in a predetermined direction, and the liquid supplied from the first storage unit is accommodated therein, and the liquid is stored in the storage unit and the head. A supply unit for supplying to the second storage unit, the second unit being moved by the moving unit
By abutting with a part of the storage part, the liquid contained in the inside is pressurized and the second
And a supply unit that pushes and supplies the liquid to the storage unit.

According to such a liquid ejecting apparatus, since the liquid can be supplied to the second storage unit without always connecting the first storage unit and the second storage unit with the liquid supply tube, wasteful consumption of the liquid is reduced. be able to. In addition, since the liquid is supplied to the second storage unit by bringing the second storage unit and the supply unit into contact with each other, the liquid supply time can be shortened.

In this liquid ejecting apparatus, the supply unit consumes an amount of the liquid consumed after supplying the liquid to the second storage unit and then supplying the liquid to the second storage unit. In the interior.
According to such a liquid ejecting apparatus, it is possible to prevent the amount of liquid in the second storage unit from increasing more than necessary.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the supply unit includes a storage unit that stores the liquid supplied from the first storage unit, and the storage unit that is inserted in the storage unit in the longitudinal direction. A part that is moved to one side in the predetermined direction by the moving part, and a part of the second storage part that comes into contact with a contact surface of the storage part, A part moves to one side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the pushing part, and the liquid housed in the housing part is pressurized and pushed out by the pushing part.
According to such a liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid can be supplied to the second storage unit without always connecting the first storage unit and the second storage unit with the liquid supply tube, and the second storage unit and the supply unit. Can be supplied to the second reservoir.

In this liquid ejecting apparatus, another contact surface of the housing portion abuts on a fixing member via an elastic member, whereby movement of the housing portion toward the one side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the pushing portion is performed. When the second storage part is restrained and moved to the other side in the predetermined direction by the moving part, the accommodating part moves to the other side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the pushing part by the elastic force of the elastic member. about.
According to such a liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid can be accommodated in the supply unit.

In this liquid ejecting apparatus, a part of the second storage part that moves to one side in the predetermined direction contacts the contact surface of the storage part via a magnet, and the second storage part by the moving part As the container moves to the other side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the push-out part due to the magnetic force of the magnet, the part of the container part becomes a fixing member. The movement to the said other side of the said longitudinal direction of the said accommodating part with respect to the said extrusion part is suppressed.
According to such a liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid can be accommodated in the supply unit.

In this liquid ejecting apparatus, the supply unit contacts the part of the second storage unit that moves to the one side in the predetermined direction by the moving unit, thereby causing the second liquid to be contained therein. The liquid stored in the second supply section is brought into contact with the first supply section supplied to the storage section and a part of the second storage section that moves to the other side in the predetermined direction by the moving section.
A second supply unit that supplies the storage unit.
According to such a liquid ejecting apparatus, the amount of liquid stored in the second storage unit can be further reduced.

In the liquid supply method, the liquid is supplied from the first storage unit to the second storage unit using the supply unit.
According to such a liquid supply method, since the liquid can be supplied to the second storage unit without always connecting the first storage unit and the second storage unit with the liquid supply tube, wasteful consumption of the liquid is reduced. be able to. In addition, since the liquid is supplied to the second storage unit by bringing the second storage unit and the supply unit into contact with each other, the liquid supply time can be shortened.

=== Printing system ===
The embodiment will be described with reference to an example of a printing system in which a “liquid ejecting apparatus” is an inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) and the printer and a computer are connected.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the printer 1, and FIG. 2 shows the printer 1 viewed from above.
FIG.
The computer 70 is communicably connected to the printer 1 and outputs print data for causing the printer 1 to print an image to the printer 1.

A controller 10 in the printer 1 is for performing overall control in the printer 1. The interface unit 11 transmits and receives data to and from the computer 70 that is an external device. The CPU 12 is an arithmetic processing device for performing overall control of the printer 1, and controls each unit via the unit control circuit 14. The memory 13 is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 12, a work area, and the like. Further, the detector group 60 monitors the situation in the printer 1, and the controller 10 controls each unit based on the detection result.

The transport unit 20 feeds a recording medium (hereinafter, medium S) such as paper, cloth, or film to a printable position and transports the medium S in a predetermined transport direction.
The carriage unit 30 has a sub tank 52 that stores ink and a head 41 that ejects ink mounted on a carriage 31 (corresponding to a moving unit), and the carriage 31 moves the sub tank 52 and the head 41 in a moving direction that intersects the transport direction. Is for. The carriage 31 moves along the guide rail 32.

The head unit 40 is for ejecting ink onto the medium S, and includes a head 41,
And a platen 42 that supports the medium S from below. A number of nozzles that eject ink are formed on the lower surface of the head 41. The head 41 is provided on the lower surface of the carriage 31, and the nozzles can face the medium S. In FIG. 2, the position of the head 41 in the carriage 31 is virtually indicated by a dotted line.

The ink supply unit 50 is for supplying ink to the head 41, and includes an ink cartridge 51, a sub tank 52, a first supply pipe 53 (1), and a second supply pipe 53 (2).
), An ink supply unit 54, and a pump P. The printer 1 of the present embodiment is capable of ejecting four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and stores four colors of ink (YMCK) at the right end (hereinafter referred to as home position) of the printer 1 in the moving direction. An ink cartridge 51 (corresponding to a first reservoir) is provided. Each color ink cartridge 51 communicates with the corresponding color ink supply unit 54 via the first supply pipe 53 (1). A pump P is provided in the middle of the first supply pipe 53 (1), and the ink in each ink cartridge 51 is supplied to the corresponding color ink supply unit 54 by the operation of the pump P.

The sub tanks 52 (corresponding to the second storage unit) for storing the four color inks are mounted on the carriage 31 and move in the movement direction together with the head 41. A part of each sub tank 52 moved to the right in the moving direction by the carriage 31 comes into contact with the ink supply unit 54 of the corresponding color, so that the ink in the ink supply unit 54 is pushed out into the sub tank 52 (details will be described later). . That is, the ink in the ink cartridge 51 is supplied to the sub tank 52 via the ink supply unit 54.

The ink in the sub tank 52 is supplied into the head 41 via the second supply pipe 53 (2) for each color. The head 41 has an ink chamber for each nozzle, which is filled with ink from the sub tank 52 and communicates with each nozzle. Then, the drive element corresponding to each nozzle is driven by a signal based on the print data, whereby ink is ejected from the nozzle. The ejection method from the nozzle may be a piezo method in which ink is ejected by applying a voltage to the drive element (piezo element) to expand and contract the ink chamber, or bubbles may be generated in the nozzle by the drive element (heat generating element). May be used, and a thermal method in which ink is ejected by the bubbles may be used.

In the printer 1 having such a configuration, an ejection operation for ejecting ink from the nozzles while the head 41 is moved in the movement direction by the carriage 31, and a conveyance operation for conveying the medium S to the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the head 41. And are repeated. As a result, since dots are formed in the subsequent ejection operation at positions on the medium S that are different from the dot positions formed by the previous ejection operation, a two-dimensional image is printed on the medium S. Hereinafter, one injection operation is also referred to as “pass”.

=== Ink Supply Method: Example 1 ===
3A to 3C are diagrams for explaining an ink supply method from the ink supply unit 54 to the sub tank 52 in the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a flow of the ink supply process and the printing process in the first embodiment. 3A is an external view of the periphery of the ink supply unit 54 viewed from the downstream side in the transport direction, and the lower view of FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the ink supply unit 54 cut in the longitudinal direction. Here, it is assumed that the longitudinal direction of the ink supply unit 54 is equal to the moving direction of the carriage 31. 3B and 3C are cross-sectional views of the sub tank 52 and the ink supply unit 54 cut in the longitudinal direction. FIG.
In FIG. 3C, the carriage 31 and the like are omitted. In addition, the printer 1 uses an ink color (Y
The ink supply unit 54 and the sub tank 52 are provided for each MCK), but since the ink supply method is the same regardless of the color of the ink, the description is common.

<< Ink Supply Unit 54 and Subtank 52 >>
First, the configuration of the ink supply unit 54 and the sub tank 52 will be described.
As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the ink supply unit 54 includes an ink storage unit 55, an ink push-out unit 56, and a coil spring 57.
The ink container 55 includes a cylindrical (hollow) main body 551 extending in the longitudinal direction and a main body 551.
And an ejection port 552 which is an opening at the front end (left end portion in the longitudinal direction) and serves as an ink discharge port, and a rear end (right end portion in the longitudinal direction) of the main body portion 551 above and below the main body portion 551. And an abutting portion 553 protruding to the side.
The ink extruding portion 56 includes a shaft portion 561 extending in the longitudinal direction and a shaft portion 56 at the rear end of the shaft portion 561.
1 and a restraining portion 562 projecting to the upper side and the lower side.

Note that the shaft portion 561 of the ink extruding portion 56 is inserted into the ink containing portion 55, and the ink containing portion 55 and the ink extruding portion 56 are relatively movable in the longitudinal direction. Here, the position of the ink extruding portion 56 is fixed, and the ink containing portion 55 moves in the longitudinal direction with respect to the ink extruding portion 56. Further, the main body portion 551 of the ink containing portion 55 communicates with the first supply pipe 53 (1), and the ink from the ink cartridge 51 is supplied into the main body portion 551.

One coil spring 57 is attached to each abutting portion 553 that protrudes above and below the ink containing portion 55. Specifically, the coil spring 57 is attached to the back surface 553b (the right side surface in the longitudinal direction) of the abutting portion 553 that faces the surface 562f (the left side surface in the longitudinal direction) of the restraining portion 562. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ink extruding unit 56 side (suppressing unit 56
A coil spring 57 may be attached to the second surface 562f).

As shown in FIG. 3B, the subtank 52 stores ink therein, and serves as an air valve 521 serving as an air escape port, and an insertion port 522 for inserting the ink containing portion 55 into the subtank 52.
Have The air valve 521 is provided on the upper surface 52 a of the sub tank 52. An air hole may be provided instead of the air valve 521. Further, a film (for example, rubber film) is inserted in the insertion port 522.
And the film is cut so that the ink containing portion 55 can pass through the insertion port 522. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the insertion opening 22 may always be open.

In the first embodiment, the ink is supplied from the ink supply unit 54 to the sub tank 52 only at the home position (the end portion on the right side in the movement direction in the printer 1). Is provided. Also, the vertical positions of the insertion port 522 and the ink storage unit 55 are aligned so that the ink storage unit 55 can pass through the insertion port 522. However, the abutting portion 553 of the ink containing portion 55 contacts the right side surface 52 b of the sub tank 52 without entering the inside of the sub tank 52. Hereinafter, the portion of the right side surface 52b of the sub tank 52 that comes into contact with the abutting portion 553 (the surface 553f thereof) is referred to as “
This is referred to as an abutting surface 52c ". Of the right side surface 52b of the sub tank 52, the upper and lower portions of the insertion port 522 serve as the abutting surface 52c.

<< Ink supply method >>
Next, the flow of supplying ink from the ink cartridge 51 to the sub tank 52 via the ink supply unit 54 will be described. Here, an example is given of bidirectional printing in which an image is printed both during the forward path in which the carriage 31 moves to the left in the movement direction and during the return path in which the carriage 31 moves to the right in the movement direction.

First, when the printer 1 receives a print job from the computer 70 (S01 in FIG. 4).
), The controller 10 supplies the amount of ink consumed in the first forward path (pass 1) and the return path (pass 2) from the ink cartridge 51 to the ink supply unit 54 (S02). At this time, as shown in FIG. 3A, the ink containing portion 55 is shifted to the left in the moving direction (longitudinal direction) with respect to the ink pushing portion 56, and there is a space inside the ink containing portion 55 (main body portion 551). A exists. Further, the sub tank 52 mounted on the carriage 31 is located farther to the left in the moving direction than the ink supply unit 54.

More specifically, the controller 10 calculates the ink amount of each color (YMCK) consumed in the first forward pass and the return pass based on the print data. Then, the controller 10 controls the operation of the pump P and calculates the space A of the ink storage portion 55 (main body portion 551) of the corresponding color from each ink cartridge 51 via the first supply pipe 53 (1). Supply the specified amount of ink. For example, when yellow ink is not used at all on the first outbound path and the return path,
The consumption amount of yellow ink is zero, and no ink is supplied to the yellow ink container 55. In this way, the amount of ink supplied to the ink storage unit 55 for each color varies depending on the print data for each color (YMCK).

Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, when ink is supplied to the inside of the ink container 55, the controller 10 moves the sub tank 52 to the right in the movement direction by the carriage 31 (not shown). Then, the front end portion of the ink containing portion 55 (the discharge port 552 and the main body portion 551).
However, it passes through the insertion port 522 of the sub tank 52 and enters the sub tank 52.

Further, when the sub tank 52 moves to the right in the moving direction, the abutment surface 52 of the sub tank 52
c and the surface 553f of the abutting portion 553 of the ink containing portion 55 abut (contact).
The ink container 55 is pushed to the right in the moving direction by the sub tank 52. Then, the ink containing portion 55 moves to the right in the moving direction with respect to the ink pushing portion 56, and the ink pushing portion 56.
The shaft portion 561 pressurizes the ink in the ink containing portion 55. As a result, the ink in the ink container 55 is pushed out from the ejection port 552 to the sub tank 52, and the ink is supplied to the sub tank 52 (S03).

Further, when the sub tank 52 moves to the right in the movement direction, the back surface 553b of the abutting portion 553 in the ink containing portion 55 abuts against the surface 562f of the deterring portion 562 in the ink pushing portion 56 via the coil spring 57. Contact), the movement of the ink containing portion 55 relative to the ink push-out portion 56 to the right in the moving direction is suppressed. Further, the sub tank 52 by the carriage 31 is used.
Is stopped by the control of the controller 10. At this time, the coil spring 57 is sandwiched between the abutting portion 553 and the suppressing portion 562 and is in a state of being compressed and deformed. Note that the movement of the ink storage unit 55 is suppressed by a part of the ink push-out unit 56 (suppression unit 562). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ink storage unit 55 is fixed by a fixing member separate from the ink push-out unit 56. The movement may be suppressed.

In this way, the moving sub tank 52 and the ink containing portion 55 (the abutting portion 553) abut against each other, and the ink containing portion 55 moves with respect to the ink pushing portion 56, whereby the ink inside the ink containing portion 55 is transferred. An amount of ink that is pushed out by the ink extruding unit 56 and consumed in the first forward path and the backward path is supplied to the sub tank 52.

Ink is not supplied to the ink storage portion 55 of a color that is not used for printing in the first forward path and the return path, and therefore, when the ink storage portion 55 moves relative to the ink push-out portion 56, Air is pushed out to the sub tank 52. When air enters the sub tank 52, the air valve 521 provided in the sub tank 52 is opened, and a part of the air in the sub tank 52 is discharged from the air valve 521 to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to prevent bubbles from being generated in the ink of the sub tank 52.

Thus, when ink is supplied to the sub tank 52, the controller 10 moves the sub tank 52 to the left in the movement direction by the carriage 31 in order to start the next printing process. Then, as shown in FIG. 3C, the coil spring 57 that has been compressed and deformed by being sandwiched between the abutting portion 553 and the restraining portion 562 is released, and the ink storage portion 55 is caused by the elastic force (restoring force) of the coil spring 57. Moves to the left in the movement direction with respect to the ink push-out portion 56. As a result, the space A can be provided again in the ink storage portion 55 (main body portion 551), and the ink can be stored.

While the head 41 is moving in the moving direction by the carriage 31 and printing an image (S04), the controller 10 confirms the presence or absence of the next pass (S05). When there is a next pass (S05 → Y), the controller 10 calculates the ink amount of each color (YMCK) consumed in the next forward pass (pass 3) and the return pass (pass 4) based on the print data, The calculated amount of ink is supplied from each ink cartridge 51 to the corresponding color ink supply unit 54 (ink storage unit 55) (S06).

Thereafter, the controller 10 returns the sub tank 52 to the home position by the carriage 31 together with the head 41 on which an image is printed while moving to the right in the moving direction in the return path (pass 2). Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the sub tank 52 and the ink containing portion 55 are again formed.
And the amount of ink consumed in the next forward and return passes is supplied to the sub tank 52 (
S07). This process is repeated until there is no next path (S05 → N).

As described above, in the first embodiment, the sub tank 52 is returned to the home position by the carriage 31 every time printing of the forward path and the backward path is completed, and the next tank tank 52 and the ink supply unit 54 (ink storage unit 55) collide with each other. The amount of ink consumed in the forward and return passes is the sub tank 5
2 is supplied. Therefore, the printing process is executed without running out of ink.

In FIG. 4, the ink is supplied to the sub tank 52 by abutting the sub tank 52 and the ink supply unit 54 before starting the printing process, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ink in the sub tank 52 is consumed in the first forward path and the return path, and the ink is supplied to the sub tank 52 by abutting the sub tank 52 and the ink supply unit 54 when the sub tank 52 returns to the home position in the first return path. You may make it do.

<< Summary >>
In the printer 1 according to the first embodiment, a part of the sub tank 52 (the abutting surface 52c of the right side surface 52b) moved by the carriage 31 is brought into contact with the ink supply unit 54 (corresponding to the supply unit). The ink stored inside is pressurized and supplied to the sub tank 52 by being pushed out. That is, in the printer 1 according to the first embodiment, ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 51 to the sub tank 52 without always connecting the ink cartridge 51 and the sub tank 52 with the ink supply tube.

Specifically, the ink supply unit 54 includes an ink storage unit 55 (corresponding to a storage unit) that stores the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 51 therein, and the ink supply unit 54 is inserted in the ink storage unit 55 in the longitudinal direction. A sub-tank 52 that is moved to the right side of the moving direction (one side in a predetermined direction) by the carriage 31. By contacting the contact surface of the storage portion 55 (the surface 553f of the abutting portion 553), the ink storage portion 55 moves to the right side (one side) in the longitudinal direction with respect to the ink push-out portion 56, and the ink storage portion 55. The ink contained in the ink is pressed by the ink extruding unit 56 and pushed out.
If the ink cartridge 51 and the sub tank 52 are always connected by the ink supply tube, the ink supply tube becomes longer as the size of the printer 1 increases. Then, for example, the ink flowing in the ink supply tube is easily affected by the outside air, so that the ink is easily thickened, the number of cleaning processes of the head 41 is increased, and a large amount of ink is consumed for uses other than printing. . Further, when the head 41 is replaced or repaired, the ink in the ink supply tube must be discarded. Therefore, as the ink supply tube becomes longer, a larger amount of ink is discarded.

Accordingly, as in the printer 1 of the first embodiment, the ink cartridge 51 and the sub tank 52 are used.
By making it possible to supply ink from the ink cartridge 51 to the sub tank 52 without always connecting them with an ink supply tube, it is possible to reduce the amount of ink that is wasted in applications other than printing.

Further, in the printer 1 according to the first embodiment, a part of the sub tank 52 that returns to the home position comes into contact with the ink supply unit 54, whereby ink is supplied into the sub tank 52. That is, since the ink is supplied while the sub tank 52 is moving, for example, when the sub tank returns to the home position and stops, an ink supply pipe is stuck in the sub tank, and then the pump supplies the ink into the sub tank by operating the pump. Compared to the sub tank 52
Ink supply time can be shortened. Therefore, in the printer 1 of the first embodiment, the sub-tank 52 can be turned back immediately without staying at the home position for a long time, and the next printing process can be started, so that the entire printing time can be shortened.

Further, by shortening the ink supply time to the sub tank 52 at the home position, even if the number of times of supplying ink by returning the sub tank 52 to the home position is increased, it is possible to prevent the entire printing time from becoming long. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the entire printing time from being prolonged even if the sub tank 52 is returned to the home position and ink is supplied each time printing of the forward path and the backward path is completed.

Further, as in the first embodiment, the amount of ink stored in the sub tank 52 is reduced by supplying ink to the sub tank 52 every time printing of the forward path and the return path is completed, that is, by increasing the number of times of ink supply. be able to. As a result, the weight of the entire carriage 31 can be reduced. For example, the carriage speed can be increased, a motor with a small output can be used to drive the carriage 31, and the load on the motor that drives the carriage 31 can be reduced. Electricity can be reduced.

Further, in the printer 1 according to the first embodiment, the ink supply unit 54 stores therein an amount of ink that is consumed between supplying ink to the sub tank 52 and supplying ink to the sub tank 52 next time. Here, since the ink is supplied to the sub tank 52 every time the printing of the forward path and the backward path is completed, the amount of ink consumed in the next forward path and the backward path is the ink supply unit 54.
The ink is stored in the (ink storage portion 55).

By doing so, since only the consumed amount of ink is supplied to the sub tank, it is possible to prevent the amount of ink in the sub tank 52 from increasing more than necessary. Therefore, the carriage 31
The overall weight can be reduced, and the amount of ink discarded from the sub tank 52 when the head 41 is replaced or repaired can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, an amount of ink calculated for each color is supplied to the ink supply unit 54 for each color based on the print data for each color (YMCK). Therefore, even if there is a variation in the ink consumption of each color, the variation in the ink amount in the sub tank 52 for each color can be reduced. In addition, even when ink of a certain color is not consumed, the sub tank 52 of that color and the ink supply unit 54 come into contact with each other. In this case, however, no ink is supplied to the ink supply unit 54, so Is not supplied with ink. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the amount of ink in the sub tank 52 from increasing.

Further, in the printer 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment, another contact surface (abutting portion 553) of the ink storage portion 55 is used.
The back surface 553b) of the ink storage portion 55 abuts against the depressing portion 562 (corresponding to a fixing member) of the ink push-out portion 56 via a coil spring 57 (corresponding to an elastic member). Then, the sub tank 52 is moved to the carriage 3.
1, the ink containing portion 55 moves to the left side (the other side) in the longitudinal direction with respect to the ink push-out portion 56 due to the elastic force of the coil spring 57.
By doing so, the next time the sub tank 52 and the ink supply unit 54 come into contact with each other, the sub tank 5
The ink supplied to 2 can be stored in the ink supply unit 54.

=== Ink Supply Method: Example 2 ===
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an ink supply method from the ink supply unit 54 to the sub tank 52 in the second embodiment. In the above-described first embodiment, the sub tank 5 is provided only at the home position.
2 is supplying ink. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, not only at the home position, but also at the end portion on the left side in the moving direction in the printer 1 (hereinafter referred to as the folding position)
Ink is supplied to the sub tank 52.

For this purpose, the printer 1 according to the second embodiment abuts a part (right side surface 52b) of the sub tank 52 that is moved to the right in the moving direction by the carriage 31 to supply the ink stored therein to the sub tank 52. 1 ink supply unit 54 (1) (corresponding to the first supply unit) ”and a part of the sub tank 52 (left side surface 52 d) that moves to the left in the moving direction by the carriage 31. “Second ink supply unit 54 (2) (corresponding to the second supply unit)” for supplying ink to the sub tank 52. The structures of the ink supply units 54 (1) and 54 (2) are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Further, two first supply pipes 53 (1) are attached to the ink cartridge 51, and ink is supplied to the first ink supply section 54 (1) through one first supply pipe 53 (1), and the other one is supplied. Ink is supplied to the second ink supply unit 54 (2) through the first supply pipe 53 (1). Also,
A first insertion port 522 (1) through which the first ink supply unit 54 (1) enters the sub tank 52 is provided on the right side surface 52b of the sub tank 52, and the second ink supply is provided on the left side surface 52d of the sub tank 52. The second insertion port 522 (for allowing the portion 54 (2) to enter the sub tank 52 (
2) is provided.

Then, the amount of ink consumed in the next forward path is supplied from the ink cartridge 51 to the inside of the first ink supply section 54 (1), and the sub tank 52 and the first ink supply section 54 return to the home position after printing in the backward path. The ink in the first ink supply unit 54 (1) is supplied to the sub tank 52 by the contact of (1). On the other hand, the amount of ink consumed in the next return path is supplied from the ink cartridge 51 to the inside of the second ink supply section 54 (2), and the sub tank 52 and the second ink supply section 54 return to the folding position after printing in the forward path. By contacting (2), the ink in the second ink supply unit 54 (2) is supplied to the sub tank 52.

As described above, by allowing ink to be supplied to the sub tank 52 at both ends (home position and turn-back position) of the printer 1 in the moving direction, only the amount of ink consumed in one pass (forward path or return path) is obtained. Can be supplied to the sub tank 52.
That is, compared to the first embodiment, the amount of ink supplied to the sub tank 52 can be further reduced, and the amount of ink stored in the sub tank 52 can be further reduced. As a result, the entire carriage 31 can be reduced in weight. For example, the carriage speed can be increased, a motor with a small output can be used to drive the carriage 31, and the load on the motor that drives the carriage 31 can be reduced. Electricity can be reduced.

=== Ink Supply Method: Example 3 ===
In the first embodiment described above, the sub tank 52 is returned to the home position and ink is supplied every time the printing of the forward pass and the return pass is completed. In the second embodiment, the sub tank 52 is changed every time the printing of the forward pass or the return pass is completed. Return ink to the home position or return position.

On the other hand, in the third embodiment, printing is performed by controlling the amount of movement of the carriage 31 (sub tank 52) according to the medium S and the size of the image. That is, the smaller the size of the medium S or image,
Printing is performed with a reduced amount of movement of the carriage 31. Then, every time a predetermined number of passes are completed, the sub tank 52 is returned to the home position to supply ink. Therefore, the ink supply unit 54 has an amount of ink consumed in a predetermined number of passes, that is, the ink supply unit 5.
4 supplies an amount of ink consumed between supplying ink to the sub tank 52 and supplying ink to the sub tank 52 next time.

By doing so, the amount of ink stored in the sub tank 52 increases as compared with the first and second embodiments, but the number of times the sub tank 52 returns to the home position is reduced, so that the overall printing time can be shortened. it can.

Further, in the printer 1, the cleaning process of the head 41 is usually performed periodically in order to eliminate nozzle clogging. Since it is necessary to return the head 41 to the home position during the cleaning process, ink may be supplied to the sub tank 52 at that time. By doing so, the sub-tank 5 can be used effectively by using the time required for the cleaning process.
Since the ink can be supplied to 2, the overall printing time can be further shortened.

=== Modification of Ink Supply Unit 54 ===
<<< Modification 1 >>>
6A to 6D are diagrams illustrating the ink supply unit 54 according to the first modification. Similarly to the ink supply unit 54 described above, the ink supply unit 54 of Modification 1 also includes an ink storage unit 55 and an ink push-out unit 56. However, the ink supply unit 54 of Modification 1 does not have the coil spring 57,
Instead, it has a fixing member 58 (a member obtained by rotating the L-shaped member 90 degrees in FIG. 6) fixed at a position above the sub tank 52. Further, the abutting portion 553 that protrudes upward in the ink storage portion 55 protrudes to a position above the sub tank 52, and the protruding portion is in a state where it can abut against the fixing member 58.

Further, of the right side surface 52 b of the sub tank 52, the abutting member 553 of the ink storage portion 55 is used.
A magnet 59 (for example, a permanent magnet) is attached to the abutting surface 52c that comes into contact with the magnet.
The abutting member 553 of the ink containing portion 55 is a member that can be attracted to the magnet 59.

Hereinafter, the ink supply method by the ink supply part 54 of the modification 1 is demonstrated concretely. First,
As shown in FIG. 6A, the controller 10 moves the next forward path into the ink containing portion 55 that is shifted to the left in the moving direction with respect to the ink push-out portion 56, that is, inside the ink containing portion 55 that can contain ink. The amount of ink consumed in the return path is supplied from the ink cartridge 51.

Next, the controller 10 moves the sub tank 52 to the right in the movement direction by the carriage 31. Then, the leading end portion of the ink containing portion 55 is inserted into the insertion port 52 of the sub tank 52.
2 enters the sub tank 52. Further, when the sub tank 52 moves to the right in the moving direction, the abutting surface 52c (right side surface 52b) of the sub tank 52 and the surface 553f of the abutting portion 553 of the ink containing portion 55 abut via the magnet 59, and the sub tank 52 As the ink is moved, the ink containing portion 55 is pushed to the right in the moving direction. Then, the ink container 5
5 is pressurized by the ink extruding unit 56 and pushed out from the discharge port 552.
Ink is supplied to the sub tank 52.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 6B, the back surface 5 of the abutting portion 553 in the ink containing portion 55.
53b and the surface 562f of the restraining portion 562 in the ink push-out portion 56 abut against each other, and the movement of the ink containing portion 55 is restrained. Further, the movement of the sub tank 52 is stopped under the control of the controller 10.

When the ink is thus supplied to the sub tank 52, the controller 10 moves the sub tank 52 to the left in the moving direction by the carriage 31 for the next printing process. 6C, the abutting member 553 attracted to the magnet 59 of the sub tank 52 is pulled to the left in the moving direction, and the ink containing portion 55 moves to the left in the moving direction with respect to the ink pushing portion 56.

However, when the ink containing portion 55 moves to the left in the moving direction by a predetermined distance, the upper portion of the abutting portion 553 of the ink containing portion 55 contacts the fixing member 58 as shown in FIG. Movement to the left in the movement direction is suppressed. Therefore, the abutting portion 553 of the ink containing portion 55 is cut off from the magnet 59 of the sub tank 52 proceeding further to the left in the moving direction, and the movement of the ink containing portion 55 with respect to the ink pushing portion 56 stops at that point. As a result, the space A can be provided in the ink containing portion 55, and the ink containing portion 55 can again contain ink.

As described above, in the first modification, a part of the sub tank 52 (the abutting surface 52 c) that moves to the right side in the moving direction (one side in the predetermined direction) is brought into contact with the abutting surface (protruding) of the ink containing portion 55 via the magnet 59. Then, the ink container 55 is pushed out by the magnetic force of the magnet 59 as the sub-tank 52 moves to the left in the moving direction (the other side in the predetermined direction) by the carriage 31. By moving the portion 56 to the left in the moving direction (the other side) and bringing a part of the ink containing portion 55 (upper portion of the abutting portion 553) into contact with the fixing member 58, the ink containing portion with respect to the ink pushing portion 56 is obtained. The movement of 55 to the left in the moving direction is suppressed.

By doing so, the sub tank 5 is next brought into contact with the sub tank 52 and the ink supply unit 54.
The ink supplied to 2 can be stored in the ink supply unit 54.
In addition, the sub-tank 52 is not limited to the magnet 59, but the ink storage unit 55 side (the abutting unit 5
A magnet 59 may be provided on the surface 553f of 53).

<<< Modification 2 >>>
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the ink supply unit 80 according to the second modification. The ink supply unit 80 of Modification 2 includes an ink storage unit 81, a discharge port 82 that is a front end opening of the ink storage unit 81, a bellows pump 83, and an air supply pipe 84. In the ink supply unit 54 so far, the ink storage unit 55 moves with respect to the ink extrusion unit 56, whereby the ink extrusion unit 56 pushes out the ink in the ink storage unit 55. On the other hand, the ink supply unit 8 of the modified example 2
At 0, the air in the ink containing portion 81 is pressurized to push out the ink in the ink containing portion 81.

The bellows pump 83 can be expanded and contracted in the moving direction of the sub tank 52, and is attached to the rear end portion 81b (the right end portion in the moving direction) of the ink containing portion 81. One end of the air supply pipe 84 is connected to the bellows pump 83, and the other end is inserted into the ink containing portion 81 from the rear end portion 81 b of the ink containing portion 81.

Hereinafter, an ink supply method by the ink supply unit 80 according to Modification 2 will be described in detail. First,
The controller 10 supplies the ink cartridge 5 with the amount of ink consumed in the next forward path and the backward path.
1 to the inside of the ink container 80. Next, the controller 10 moves the carriage 3
1 moves the sub tank 52 to the right side of the moving direction. Then, the ink containing portion 81
The front end portion enters the sub tank 52 from the insertion port 522 of the sub tank 52.

Further, when the sub tank 52 moves to the right in the moving direction, the abutment surface 52 of the sub tank 52
c (right side surface 52b) and the bellows pump 83 abut (contact). As the sub tank 52 moves, the bellows pump 83 is sandwiched between the sub tank 52 and the rear end portion 81b of the ink containing portion 81 and compressed. Then, air is sent from the bellows pump 83 to the inside of the ink containing portion 81 through the air supply pipe 84, and the air in the ink containing portion 81 is pressurized. as a result,
Ink in the ink containing portion 81 is pushed out from the ejection port 522, and the ink is supplied to the sub tank 52. When the sub tank 52 moves to the left in the moving direction for the next printing process, the compressed bellows pump 83 returns to its original state and air can be supplied into the ink containing portion 81.

As described above, even in the ink supply unit 80 of the second modification, ink can be supplied from the ink cartridge 51 to the sub tank 52 without always connecting the ink cartridge 51 and the sub tank 52 with the ink supply tube. Therefore, wasteful consumption of ink can be reduced.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The above-described embodiment is mainly described with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus, but includes disclosure of a liquid supply method and the like. The above-described embodiments are for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

<Liquid jetting device>
In the above-described embodiment, the ink jet printer is exemplified as the liquid ejecting apparatus, but is not limited thereto. For example, a liquid ejecting apparatus such as a color filter manufacturing apparatus, a display manufacturing apparatus, a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, and a DNA chip manufacturing apparatus may be used.

<About the printer>
In the above embodiment, the head 41 moving in the moving direction ejects ink and the medium S
An example is given of a printer that repeats the operation of conveying the image in the conveying direction, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, a printer that prints a two-dimensional image by repeating an operation in which the head 41 moving in the X direction ejects ink and an operation in which the head 41 moves in the Y direction with respect to the medium S may be used.

1 Printer, 10 Controller, 11 Interface section,
12 CPU, 13 memory, 14 unit control circuit,
20 transport unit, 30 carriage unit, 31 carriage,
32 guide rails, 40 head units, 41 heads, 42 platens,
50 ink supply unit, 51 ink cartridge, 52 sub tank,
521 air valve, 522 insertion port, 53 (1) first supply pipe,
53 (2) Second supply pipe, 54 Ink supply section,
P pump, 55 ink container, 551 main body, 552 discharge port,
553 butting portion, 56 ink pushing portion, 561 shaft portion, 562 deterring portion,
57 coil spring, 58 fixing member, 59 magnet,
60 detector groups, 70 computers,
80 ink supply unit, 81 ink storage unit, 82 discharge port, 83 bellows pump,
84 Air supply pipe

Claims (7)

A first reservoir for storing liquid;
A second reservoir that stores the liquid supplied from the first reservoir;
A head for ejecting the liquid supplied from the second reservoir;
The second storage unit and the head are mounted, and the mounted second storage unit and the head are moved in a predetermined direction.
A supply unit for storing the liquid supplied from the first storage unit and supplying the liquid to the second storage unit, wherein the liquid is supplied to a part of the second storage unit moved by the moving unit. A supply unit that pressurizes and pushes out the liquid stored in the interior and supplies the liquid to the second storage unit by contact;
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1,
The supply unit stores therein the liquid in an amount consumed between supplying the liquid to the second storage unit and then supplying the liquid to the second storage unit.
Liquid ejector. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The supply section includes a storage section that stores the liquid supplied from the first storage section, and an extrusion section that is movable relative to the storage section in the longitudinal direction while being inserted into the storage section. And comprising
A part of the second storage part moved to one side in the predetermined direction by the moving part comes into contact with a contact surface of the storage part, so that the storage part is one side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the push-out part. Moving to the side, the liquid accommodated in the interior of the accommodating portion is pressurized and extruded by the extruding portion,
Liquid ejector. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3,
When the other abutment surface of the accommodating portion abuts on the fixing member via the elastic member, the movement of the accommodating portion relative to the pushing portion to the one side in the longitudinal direction is suppressed,
When the second storage part moves to the other side in the predetermined direction by the moving part, the accommodating part moves to the other side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the pushing part by the elastic force of the elastic member.
Liquid ejector. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3,
A part of the second storage part that moves to one side in the predetermined direction comes into contact with a contact surface of the storage part via a magnet,
With the movement of the second storage part to the other side in the predetermined direction by the moving part, the storage part moves to the other side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the pushing part by the magnetic force of the magnet. A part of the accommodating part comes into contact with the fixing member, and the movement of the accommodating part with respect to the pushing part to the other side in the longitudinal direction is suppressed.
Liquid ejector. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The supply unit
A first supply unit that supplies the liquid stored therein to the second storage unit by contacting a part of the second storage unit that moves to one side in the predetermined direction by the moving unit;
A second supply part that supplies the liquid stored therein to the second storage part by contacting a part of the second storage part that moves to the other side in the predetermined direction by the moving part; Prepare
Liquid ejector. A liquid supply method, wherein the liquid is supplied from the first reservoir to the second reservoir using the supply unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6.