JP2013158979A - Inkjet tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the occurrence of a caught state that prevents the attachment/detachment of an ink tank 1, the breakage of the ink tank 1 and a printer, and the breakage of a garbage-trapping filter 37 of a head unit 30 even if a user mounts the ink tank 1 to a printer body in a manner different from an assumed trajectory in the mounting.SOLUTION: An ink tank 1 including first engaging parts and a second elastically-deformable engaging part has a protrusion on the ink-tank side surface near at least one first engaging part, and has a second protrusion also on the ink-tank side surface near the second elastically-deformable engaging part. The second protrusion is located closer to the ink-tank bottom surface than the protrusion on the ink-tank side surface near the first engaging part.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink tank, and more particularly to an ink tank applied to an ink jet recording apparatus.

  In recent years, when a user installs an ink tank on a printer body, the number of cases in which the user installs the ink tank in a method different from a previously assumed locus has increased. If the ink tank is installed in a different way from the assumed trajectory, the ink tank will fit into the printer body and head unit, and the ink tank can be attached and removed, or the ink tank and printer will be damaged. There is a risk of destroying the unit's dust trap filter.

  As described in Patent Document 1, there is a method in which a convex portion is provided on the side surface of the ink tank and a concave portion is provided on the holder side to smoothly perform the ink tank mounting operation.

  In addition, as described in Patent Document 2, there is a method of providing a guide plate for restricting the insertion direction of the ink tank so that the user is aware that the ink tank is inserted under the guide plate when the ink tank is installed. is there.

JP-A-8-276601 JP 2008-74100 A

  However, if the ink tank is not mounted from the convex portion, or even if the guide plate is provided, pinching between the guide plate occurs, and for example, the first engagement between the guide plate and the ink tank is applied. There is a method of releasing an abnormal engagement state by providing a notch in the contact portion and forcing the user to press the engaged portion. However, in this case, the guide plate may be deformed or damaged, or the head may be misaligned by forcibly pushing it in, which may cause streaking or ruled line deviation during printing.

  The case where the ink tank 1 is mounted on the head unit 30 from the back side will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8A shows a state when the ink tank 1 is about to be attached to the head unit 30 from the back side. The latch lever 16 of the ink tank 1 is in contact with the head unit 30.

  In FIG. 8B, the rail on the left side of the ink tank 1 side of the head unit 30 in the same state is not shown, and the ink receiving tube 33 is visible. In this state, the position of the ink tank 1 in the left-right direction is restricted by the partition wall 34 of the head unit 30 and the side surface of the ink tank 1, but the position in the downward direction is not restricted.

  FIG. 8-2 (c) shows a state where the attachment is further continued, and FIG. 8-2 (d) shows the partition wall 34 on the left side of the ink tank 1 side of the head unit 30 in the same manner as before. The ink receiving tube 33 can be seen. The latch lever 16 of the ink tank 1 is elastically deformed by the mounting operation, and the ink tank 1 is moved downward because the downward position is not restricted. At this time, the lower surface of the ink tank 1 is in contact with the ink receiving tube 33 of the head unit 30. At this time, the filter 37 of the ink receiving tube 33 is scratched or dented on the lower surface of the ink tank 1, and the dust collecting ability of the filter 37 is reduced even when the filter 37 is normally mounted. The ink may be mixed inside the unit 30 or the pressure loss may increase due to a decrease in the contact area between the filter and the supply port, and a necessary supply ink amount may not be obtained, which may cause printing failure.

  In the ink tank 1 having the second engaging portion that is elastically deformed with the first engaging portion, the ink tank has a convex portion on the side surface of the ink tank near the first engaging portion, and the convex portion on the side surface of the first ink tank. A second convex portion is also provided on the side surface of the ink tank near the bottom surface of the ink tank and in the vicinity of the second engaging portion that is elastically deformed.

  When the ink tank 1 is mounted on the printer body, even if the user mounts the ink tank 1 different from the assumed locus, the ink tank 1 cannot be attached or detached, the ink tank 1 or the printer is damaged, the head unit It is possible to prevent the 30 dust trap filter 37 from being destroyed.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. It is a block diagram of the mounting part which mounts the ink tank 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (A) is a schematic diagram from the 1st engaging part side of the ink tank 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 2B is a schematic side view of the ink tank 1 according to the first embodiment with the first engagement portion side facing leftward. (C) is the schematic diagram of the upper surface which looked at the 1st engaging part side of the ink tank 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment in the left direction, and was seen from the cover side. (D) is the schematic diagram of the bottom face which looked at the 1st engaging part side of the ink tank 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment toward the left direction from the supply port 14 side. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a printer body with an ink tank replacement cover opened. FIG. 3A is a first schematic diagram illustrating a state where the ink tank 1 is mounted on the carriage unit and the head unit 30 with an assumed locus. FIG. 4B is a second schematic diagram illustrating a state where the ink tank 1 is mounted on the carriage unit and the head unit 30 with an assumed trajectory. FIG. 6C is a third schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the ink tank 1 is mounted on the carriage unit and the head unit 30 with an assumed trajectory. FIG. 6D is a fourth schematic diagram illustrating a state where the ink tank 1 is mounted on the carriage unit and the head unit 30 with an assumed locus. FIG. 9E is a fifth schematic diagram illustrating a state where the ink tank 1 is mounted on the carriage unit and the head unit 30 with an assumed locus. FIG. 10F is a sixth schematic diagram illustrating a state where the ink tank 1 is completely attached to the carriage unit and the head unit 30. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ink tank 1 having a second side protrusion 13 according to the present invention as viewed from the ink supply port 14 side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ink tank 1 having a plurality of first engagements 22 and second side protrusions 13 as viewed from the ink supply port 14 side according to the present invention. FIG. 4A is a first schematic diagram illustrating a state where the ink tank 1 is mounted on the carriage unit and the head unit 30 with an unexpected trajectory. (B) is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the partition wall 34 of the head unit 30 on the left side of the ink tank 1 in the state (a) is not shown. FIG. 8C is a second schematic diagram illustrating a state where the ink tank 1 is mounted on the carriage unit and the head unit 30 with an unexpected trajectory. (D) is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the partition wall 34 of the head unit 30 on the left side of the ink tank 1 in the state (c) is not shown. FIG. 2A is a first schematic diagram illustrating a state where the ink tank 1 according to the first embodiment is mounted on the carriage unit and the head unit 30 with an unexpected trajectory. (B) is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the partition wall 34 of the head unit 30 on the left side of the ink tank 1 in the state (a) is not shown.

  In FIG. 1, the ink tank 1 mounting unit 100 is positioned and mounted on a carriage 102. The carriage 102 is guided and supported so as to reciprocate in the x direction along a guide shaft 103 that extends in the main scanning direction and is installed in the apparatus main body. The carriage 102 is driven by a main scanning motor 104 via a transmission mechanism such as a motor pulley 105, a driven pulley 106, and a timing belt 107, and its position and movement are controlled.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of the ink tank mounting unit 100. The ink tank 1 mounting portion 100 includes a holder unit 50 and a head unit 30, and FIG. 2 shows a combined state. Although the holder unit 50 and the head unit 30 constituting the ink tank 1 mounting unit 100 will be described as an example constituted separately, they may be constructed integrally.

  The holder unit 50 is attached to the carriage 102, and the head unit 30 is mounted on the holder unit 50, whereby the ink jet head is fixed to the recording apparatus main body and the ink tank 1 mounting portion 100 is completed. The ink tank 1 mounting unit 100 may be configured such that the holder unit 50 is detachably or detachably mounted on the carriage 102 while the head unit 30 is detachably mounted on the holder unit 50.

  In the head unit 30, an ink jet head 31 in which nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged in a direction different from the x direction, for example, the y direction, is integrally provided at a position that becomes the bottom of the head holder 32. A plurality of nozzle rows are provided corresponding to the number of tones of the ink to be used. In this example, it is assumed that nozzle rows for each color ink of black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and photo black are provided.

  The head unit 30 is provided with an ink receiving tube 33 corresponding to each color ink supply port 14 provided in the ink tank 1 described later, and a black ink receiving tube is mounted on the mounting portion of the black ink tank 1. 33, when the color ink tank 1 is mounted, ink receiving tubes 33 for cyan, magenta, yellow, and photo black are provided. Each ink receiving tube 33 communicates with an ink nozzle row for each color tone via an ink supply path (not shown).

  Around each ink receiving tube 33, a seal member 36 made of an elastic material such as rubber is attached. The seal member 36 covers the periphery of the ink supply port 14 in a state where the ink tank 1 is mounted, thereby maintaining the sealed state of the ink supply system and preventing ink leakage and ink evaporation. is there. A filter 37 is attached to the end surface of the ink receiving tube 33 to prevent foreign matters such as dust and bubbles from entering the inside of the ink receiving tube 33.

  When the ink tank 1 is mounted, the ink tank 1 is guided so as not to contact the ink receiving tube 33 by moving the mounting guide portion 15 of the ink tank 1 while sliding on the partition wall 34. That is, the partition wall 34 also functions as a breakage prevention guide for the ink receiving tube 33 during the mounting operation of the ink tank 1.

  A surface of the back side in the y direction (left side in FIG. 2) of the head unit 30 indicated by “L” in FIG. 2 forms a rotation fulcrum when the ink tank 1 is mounted, and each ink tank 1 fixing portion when mounted. The 1st latching | locking part 35 which functions as is provided. In the present embodiment, the first locking portion 35 is a concave portion, and the engaging portion (first engaging portion 22) provided at a corresponding portion of the ink tank 1 is a convex portion. It has become. However, these concavo-convex relationships may be reversed.

  The holder unit 50 indicated by “R” in FIG. 2 is provided with one second locking portion 51 for fixing when each ink tank 1 is mounted on the front side in the y direction (right side in the drawing). . This second locking portion is also a recess, and is coupled to a corresponding engaging portion of the ink tank 1, that is, a convex engaging portion (second engaging portion 23) provided on the other surface facing the one surface. Is possible.

  The holder unit 50 is provided with a contact unit 53 including contact pins 52 that are electrically joined to storage elements of the ink tank 1 described later. The contact unit 53 is connected to the control unit of the recording apparatus main body by a cable (not shown). When the ink tank 1 is mounted, data can be exchanged between the control unit of the recording apparatus main body and the storage element of the ink tank 1 via the contact unit 53.

  Next, the configuration of the ink tank 1 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the ink tank 1.

  FIG. 3A is a schematic view of the ink tank 1 as viewed from the side of the first engagement 22 provided in the case 11 of the ink tank 1.

  FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating a side surface of the ink tank 1 with the first engagement 22 side of the ink tank 1 facing leftward.

  FIG. 3C is a schematic view of the upper surface of the ink tank 1 viewed from the lid 12 side with the first engagement 22 side of the ink tank 1 facing leftward.

  FIG. 3D is a schematic diagram of the bottom surface as viewed from the supply port 14 side with the first engagement portion side of the ink tank 1 facing leftward.

  The front surface of the ink tank 1 is a surface facing toward the head unit 30 when the user is mounted, and the back surface is a surface facing toward the user side.

  The engaging portion will be described with reference to FIG.

  A lever-like member located on the right side of FIG. 3B is a latch lever 16, and the latch lever 16 is provided with a second engagement 23.

  The convex portion located on the lower left side in FIG. 3B is a first engagement 22 that engages with the head unit 30. The first engagement 22 has a shape extending in the width direction of the ink tank 1.

  Above the first engagement 22, there is a substantially I-shaped convex portion 13 extending in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the first engagement 22. As shown in FIG. 3C, the I-shaped convex portion 13 is configured on the inner side in the longitudinal direction of the first engagement surface when projected from the upper surface of the ink tank 1, and is projected in the short direction. The shape is longer than the surface.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3D, a supply port 14 for supplying ink to the head unit 30 is disposed on the bottom surface of the ink tank 1, and a substrate 24 on which an IC is mounted is disposed on the bottom surface of the ink tank 1. A pad 25 for electrical connection with the printer body is composed of five terminals.

  A mounting guide 15 is formed on the side surface of the ink tank 1 shown in FIG. 3B, and the side surface of the ink tank 1 on the first engagement 22 side is disposed on the side surface of the ink tank 1 on the second engagement 23 side. The second cylindrical protrusion 17 has a center in the ink supply direction below the mounting guide 15 provided in the nozzle. These convex portions have the same shape at the same position on the left side surface (not shown).

  4 shows that when the printer is turned on and the ink tank replacement cover 54 of the printer main body is opened, the printer main body detects that the ink tank replacement cover 54 is opened, and the carriage 104 having the head unit 30 mounted thereon is replaced with an ink tank. Move to position. The ink tank replacement position has a large open space so that the ink tank 1 can be easily replaced.

  5A and 5B are cross-sectional views showing the vicinity of the carriage 104, the head unit 30, and the holder unit 50, cut at the position AA in FIG. A process when the ink tank 1 is normally attached to the printer main body will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5A shows a state in which the user opens the ink tank replacement cover 54 of the printer body and starts mounting the ink tank 1 on the carriage 104. In this state, since the ink tank 1 is not regulated, it is in a free state.

  FIG. 5B shows a state in which the mounting guide 15 provided on the side surface of the ink tank 1 is in contact with the horizontal region of the partition wall 34 provided on the head unit 30 side. The position of the side surface convex portion 13 of the ink tank 1 is regulated by the partition wall 34, and the position in the left-right direction is regulated by the side wall of the partition wall 34 and the side surface of the ink tank 1.

  FIG. 5C is a state where the ink tank 1 is further moved in the back direction (left direction in the figure) of the printer main body.

  FIG. 5-2 (d) shows a state in which the ink tank 1 is further moved. However, since the convex portion 13 on the side surface of the ink tank 1 is in the inclined region of the partition wall 34 of the head unit 30, the front direction of the ink tank 1 is lowered. . At this time, the upper surface of the ink tank 1 becomes a trajectory that sinks under the guide plate 55 of the carriage 104.

  In FIG. 5E, the first engagement 22 on the ink tank 1 side enters a recess 35 (not shown) on the head unit 30 side that contacts the first engagement 22, and the latch on the back of the ink tank 1 is shown. The lever 16 is in contact with the holder unit 50. The ink tank 1 draws a rotation locus with the first engagement 22 as a fulcrum, and the latch lever 16 starts elastic deformation in the direction of the arrow due to the reaction force from the holder unit 50.

  FIG. 5-2 (f) shows a state where the first engagement 22 of the ink tank 1 is fixed to the head unit 30 and the second engagement 23 is fixed to the holder unit 50, and the mounting is completed in this state. At this time, the ink receiving tube 33 having the filter 37 formed in the head unit 30 enters the supply port 14 and pushes the negative pressure generating portion inside the ink tank 1 to increase the capillary force of the contact portion. Yes. Further, immediately before the second engagement 23 is engaged, the contact unit 53 formed on the printer main body contacts the pad 25 of the substrate 24, and the second engagement 23 is engaged with the engagement portion 51 on the printer main body side. When connected, electrical connection is made.

  When the mounting operation by the user is stopped during the mounting, the pad 25 of the substrate 24 is separated from the contact unit 53 on the printer body side by the reaction force of the latch lever 16 and is not electrically connected.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ink tank 1 having the I-shaped protrusion 13 according to the present invention as viewed from the ink supply port 14 side.

  A case where the ink tank 1 having the rear end mounting guide 17 in the present embodiment is abnormally mounted will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9A shows a state when the ink tank 1 is about to be attached to the head unit 30 from the back side, and the latch lever 16 of the ink tank 1 is in contact with the head unit 30. The rear end mounting guide 17 provided on the latch lever 16 side of the ink tank 1 is in contact with the horizontal portion of the partition wall 34 of the head unit 30.

  In FIG. 9B, the partition wall 34 on the left side of the ink tank 1 side of the head unit 30 in the same state is not displayed, and the ink receiving tube 33 is visible. In this state, the position of the ink tank 1 in the left-right direction is restricted by the partition wall 34 of the head unit 30 and the side surface of the ink tank 1, and the position in the downward direction is restricted by the rear end mounting guide 17. Further, since the distance D between the lower surface of the second side convex portion 15 and the bottom surface of the ink tank 1 is shorter than the distance C between the lower surface of the first side convex portion 13 and the bottom surface of the ink tank 1, the bottom surface of the ink tank 1 receives ink. There is no contact with the tube 33, and the bottom surface of the ink tank 1 is in contact with the filter 37 portion of the ink receiving tube 33, so that the filter 37 can be prevented from being damaged.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink tank 11 Case 12 Cover 13 I-shaped convex part 14 Supply port 15 Mounting guide 16 Latch lever 17 Rear end mounting guide 22 First engagement 23 Second engagement 24 Substrate 25 Contact pad 30 Head unit 31 Inkjet head 32 Head Holder 33 Ink receiving tube 34 Partition wall 35 First locking portion 36 Seal member 37 Filter 50 Holder unit 51 Second locking portion 52 Contact pin 53 Contact unit 54 Ink tank replacement cover 55 Guide plate 56 Exterior

Claims (4)

  In the ink tank 1 having a second engaging portion that elastically deforms with the first engaging portion, the vicinity of the second engaging portion that has a convex portion on the side surface of the ink tank near the first engaging portion and elastically deforms An ink tank having a second protrusion on the side of the ink tank.   2. The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein the second convex portion is closer to the bottom surface of the ink tank than the convex portion on the side surface of the ink tank in the vicinity of the first engaging portion.   In the ink tank 1 having a plurality of first engaging portions and a second engaging portion that is elastically deformed, a second convex portion is provided on the side surface of the ink tank in the vicinity of the plurality of first engaging portions to be elastically deformed. An ink tank having a second convex portion on a side surface of the ink tank in the vicinity of the engaging portion. 2. The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein the second convex portion is closer to the bottom surface of the ink tank than the convex portion on the side surface of the ink tank in the vicinity of the first engaging portion.