JP2014076572A - Liquid jet device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid jet device capable of reducing a liquid temperature difference between storage chambers which are heated by a heat generation part.SOLUTION: A liquid jet device includes: a liquid jet head 24 including a nozzle formation surface 24a on which nozzles NL for jetting a supplied ink to a piece of paper are formed; a storage part 30 including multiple storage chambers for storing the ink to be supplied to the liquid jet head; and a heat generation part 17 which is disposed so as to be spaced away from the storage part in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle formation surface. The multiple storage chambers in the storage part are disposed in a transport direction Y along the nozzle formation surface.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a kind of liquid ejecting apparatus, an ink jet printer that performs printing (recording) by ejecting ink (liquid) from a nozzle formed in a liquid ejecting head onto a target such as paper is known. In such a printer, a configuration has been proposed in which a heat generating portion (heating means) is provided to dry ink attached to a target by ejection from a liquid ejection head (inkjet head) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-212939 A

  In a printer provided with such a heat generating part, in order to stably supply ink to the liquid ejecting head, for example, a storage chamber for storing ink may be provided in the vicinity of the liquid ejecting head. In such a case, when the ink attached to the target is dried by the heat generating portion, a phenomenon may occur in which the storage chamber is heated by the heat generating portion.

  Incidentally, in a printer that ejects a plurality of types of ink, such as printing an image (color image) on a sheet using inks having different hues, a plurality of storage chambers are provided according to the plurality of types of ink. Therefore, if the temperature of the heated ink in the storage chamber is different between the storage chambers heated by the heat generating portion, for example, the viscosity of the ink in each storage chamber is different between the storage chambers. As a result, since the color difference between the inks supplied through the storage chamber and ejected from the nozzles changes, there is a possibility that an image cannot be correctly printed on the target.

  Note that this situation is not limited to an ink jet printer, and a plurality of types of liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting head via the respective storage chambers are provided with a heat generating unit for drying the liquid attached to the target. The liquid ejecting apparatuses ejected through nozzles formed in the ejecting head are generally common.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, The objective is to reduce the temperature difference of the heated liquid between each storage chamber in the several storage chamber heated by a heat-emitting part. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that can

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
A liquid ejecting apparatus that solves the above problem includes a liquid ejecting head that includes a nozzle forming surface on which a nozzle that ejects a supplied liquid to a target is formed, and a plurality of storage chambers that store the liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head. And a heat generating portion disposed at a distance from the storage portion in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle formation surface, and the plurality of storage chambers in the storage portion are arranged along the nozzle formation surface. They are arranged side by side.

  According to this configuration, in the plurality of storage chambers, the probability that the distances between the storage chambers and the heat generating portion are equal to each other increases, so that each storage chamber is heated substantially uniformly by the heat generating portion. As a result, it is possible to reduce the temperature difference of the heated liquid between the heated storage chambers.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the plurality of storage chambers are arranged such that at least a part of the storage chambers overlap each other when viewed in a direction in which the projected area of the storage chamber is the largest.

  According to this configuration, since heat exchange is easily performed between the liquids in the plurality of storage chambers through the overlapping portion in the storage unit, it is possible to reduce the temperature difference of the liquid between the heated storage chambers. It is.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, a plurality of the storage units are provided, and the storage chambers between the plurality of storage units are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in a direction view in which the projection area of the storage chamber is the largest. Is preferred.

  According to this configuration, since heat exchange is easily performed between the storage chambers adjacent to each other between the plurality of storage units, it is possible to reduce the temperature difference of the liquid in the storage chambers between the plurality of heated storage units. Is possible.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid supply channel that allows the liquid to flow between the liquid storage unit that stores the liquid and the storage chamber of the storage unit, and the liquid supply channel includes at least It is preferable that a part of the flow path part is disposed between the storage part and the heat generating part in a direction along the nozzle forming surface.

  According to this configuration, the heat transmitted from the heat generating part to the storage part is blocked by a part of the disposed liquid supply flow path, and the liquid in the liquid supply flow path is evenly heated by the heat generation part. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the temperature difference of the liquid between the heated storage chambers.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, a heat shield member that blocks heat transfer from the heat generating portion to the storage portion is provided between the storage portion and the heat generation portion, and between the heat shield member and the storage portion. It is preferable that an air blowing section that sends air is provided in a space formed therebetween.

  According to this structure, while suppressing the heat | fever transmitted to a storage part from a heat generating part, it can suppress that the heated air retains partially in the space between a storage part and a thermal insulation member. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the liquid in each heated storage chamber and reduce the temperature difference between the storage chambers.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the liquid supply channel is connected to the storage unit on the downstream side in the air blowing direction from the air blowing unit in the space.
According to this configuration, it is possible to make the arrangement lengths of the plurality of liquid supply flow paths to which the wind hits substantially equal in the space between the storage portion and the heat shield member. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the liquid flowing into the storage chamber and reduce the temperature difference of the liquid between the storage chambers.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, each of the plurality of storage chambers includes a diaphragm having the same shape that is displaced in accordance with a change in pressure of the liquid in the storage chamber that is generated when the liquid is ejected from the nozzle. It is preferable that the portion has a valve mechanism that allows the liquid to flow from the liquid storage portion into the storage chamber by displacement of the diaphragm of the storage chamber.

  According to this configuration, the storage unit causes the liquid to flow into each storage chamber by, for example, a valve mechanism using a diaphragm that is displaced according to the amount of liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head. The supplied liquid can be appropriately stored in a state where the temperature difference is reduced. Moreover, since the diaphragm has the same shape, the deformation state due to heating of the diaphragm itself between the storage chambers is the same. Accordingly, since the operation state of the valve mechanism by the diaphragm is also substantially the same between the storage chambers, the amount of liquid stored in each storage chamber is also substantially the same, and the temperature difference of the liquid between each heated storage chamber Increases the probability of reduction.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram relating to a liquid ejecting unit included in the printer. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the shape of a storage portion provided with a storage chamber for storing ink to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head, where FIG. 5A is a front view, FIG. 5B is a right side view, FIG. Is a left side view. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4a-4a in FIG. 3B, and FIG. 4B is a partially enlarged view of the valve mechanism portion in FIG. 4A. The perspective view which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the connection tube which supplies an ink to a storage part. The schematic cross section which shows the positional relationship of each storage chamber between several storage parts.

  Hereinafter, as an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus, an embodiment of an ink jet printer that prints an image including characters and figures by ejecting ink as an example of liquid onto a paper as an example of a target will be described with reference to the drawings. While explaining.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 11 according to the present embodiment includes a transport unit 13 that transports the paper ST supported by the support base 12 along the surface of the support base 12, and ink for the transported paper ST. A liquid ejecting unit 20 for ejecting, and a heat generating unit 17 and a blower unit 18 for drying ink ejected and attached to the paper ST are provided. The support base 12 is provided in the printer 11 so as to extend in the width direction of the paper ST (the front and back direction in FIG. 1).

  The transport unit 13 includes transport roller pairs 14a and 14b, one of which is driven by a drive source (not shown), and rotates while sandwiching the paper ST, thereby transporting the surface of the support base 12 and the transport direction of the support base 12 The paper ST is conveyed along the surfaces of the guide plate 15a and the guide plate 15b provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of Y, respectively. In the present embodiment, the paper ST is conveyed in a continuous paper state by being unwound from the roll paper RS wound in a roll state on the supply reel 16a. Then, after ink is attached to the transported paper ST by the liquid ejecting unit 20 and an image is printed, the paper ST is again taken up in a roll shape by the take-up reel 16b.

  The liquid ejecting unit 20 is in slidable contact with the guide shafts 21 and 22 that extend along the scanning direction X that is the width direction of the paper ST that intersects the transport direction Y of the paper ST that is being transported. Is provided with a carriage 23 that can reciprocate. Then, a liquid ejecting head 24 that ejects ink to the carriage 23, a reservoir 30 that stores ink to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head 24, and ink that is supplied to the reservoir 30 via a flow path adapter 28. A connection tube 27 as an example of a liquid supply channel to be supplied is attached. Further, a storage unit holding body 25 that holds the storage unit 30 is attached to the carriage 23, and the storage unit 30 is attached to the carriage 23 while being held by the storage unit holding body 25.

  The liquid ejecting head 24 is attached to the carriage 23 on the lower side which is the gravity direction side in the vertical direction Z so that the nozzle forming surface 24a on which nozzles for ejecting ink are formed faces the support base 12. . On the other hand, the storage unit 30 is attached to the carriage 23 on the upper side which is the antigravity direction side of the vertical direction Z opposite to the liquid jet head 24. The connection tube 27 is attached to the carriage 23 at a position further above the reservoir 30 attached to the upper side.

  An ink supply tube 26 that can be deformed following the reciprocating carriage 23 is connected to the connection tube 27 in a communicating state via a connection portion 26 a attached to a part of the carriage 23. Therefore, for example, ink is supplied to the connection tube 27 through the ink supply tube 26 from an ink tank (not illustrated) that stores ink, and the ink flows through the connection tube 27. ing.

  In the liquid ejecting unit 20 having such a configuration, when the carriage 23 moves (reciprocates) in the scanning direction X, ink is ejected from the liquid ejecting head (nozzle) onto the paper ST on the support base 12. The heat generating unit 17 for heating and drying the ink that has been ejected and adhered to the paper ST is spaced from the support base 12 by a predetermined length in the antigravity direction (upward) orthogonal to the nozzle forming surface 24a. 11, the liquid ejecting unit 20 can reciprocate along the scanning direction X between the heat generating unit 17 and the support 12. In the present embodiment, the heat generating portion 17 includes a heat generating member 17a such as an infrared heater and a reflecting plate 17b extending along the extending direction of the support base 12, that is, the scanning direction X. In FIG. As indicated by the arrow, the ink adhering to the paper ST is heated.

  Also, the air blowing unit 18 for drying the ink attached to the paper ST by blowing air is also above the support base 12 and between the paper ST being supported and transported by the support base 12. The ejection unit 20 is disposed in the printer 11 with an interval at which the ejection unit 20 can reciprocate.

  In the printer 11 of the present embodiment, in the liquid ejecting unit 20, a metal cover 29 as an example of a heat shield member that blocks heat transfer from the heat generating unit 17 is provided between the storage unit 30 and the heat generating unit 17. . The metal cover 29 is formed of a material having good thermal conductivity such as stainless steel or aluminum, and is attached to the carriage 23 so as to cover at least the side facing the heat generating portion 17 with respect to the storage portion 30.

Next, the configuration of the liquid ejecting unit 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 30 mounted on the upper side of the carriage 23 has a plurality of storage chambers for storing ink, that is, two storage chambers, that is, a first storage chamber 51 and a second storage chamber 52 in this embodiment. A room is provided. In the following description, when the first storage chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52 are not distinguished, they are simply referred to as the storage chamber 50.

  A first inflow port 41 and a second inflow port 42 into which ink flows respectively into the first storage chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52 are arranged in the vertical direction on the front side surface on the downstream side in the transport direction Y of the storage unit 30. It is formed in a vertically aligned state along Z. A flow path adapter 28 having an ink flow path formed therein is attached to the first flow inlet 41 and the second flow inlet 42, and two connection tubes 27, that is, The first connection tube 27a and the second connection tube 27b are connected. Then, the ink supplied from the first connection tube 27a and the second connection tube 27b passes through an ink flow path (not shown) formed in the flow path adapter 28 as shown by a thick broken line arrow in FIG. It flows into the first inlet 41 and the second inlet 42, respectively.

  The first connection tube 27 a and the second connection tube 27 b are connected to the flow channel adapter 28 in a side-by-side state along the scanning direction X. Accordingly, the ink flow path inside the flow path adapter 28 is an ink flow path that causes the ink that flows in in a side-by-side state to flow out in a vertical arrangement along the vertical direction Z.

  On the other hand, the ink stored in the first storage chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52 flows from the storage section 30 to the liquid ejecting head 24 side and the first outlet 61 and the second outlet, as indicated by thick broken line arrows in FIG. The two outlets 62 are formed on the gravity direction side (lower side) of the vertical direction Z in the storage unit 30 (see FIG. 3C). The respective inks flowing out from the first outlet 61 and the second outlet 62 are supplied to the liquid ejecting head 24 side, and then provided on the nozzle forming surface 24a of the liquid ejecting head 24, respectively. It is ejected from the nozzle NL corresponding to the ink.

  In the state where the storage unit 30 is held by the storage unit holding body 25 and attached to the carriage 23, the first storage chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52 are arranged in one direction along the nozzle forming surface 24a, that is, in the transport direction Y. It is arranged with. As a result, the first storage chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52 have their centers located at a position that is substantially the same distance L away from the heat generating unit 17 disposed above the storage unit 30.

  In addition, the storage unit holding body 25 holds the first connection tube 27a and the second connection tube 27b in a side-by-side state in the scanning direction X by the storage units 25a and 25b above the storage unit 30. At this time, at least a part of the first connection tube 27a and the second connection tube 27b is held in a state of overlapping with the storage unit 30 in the vertical direction Z (see FIG. 5).

  Further, the storage unit 30 attached to the carriage 23 blocks heat transfer from the heat generating unit 17 as indicated by a two-dot chain arrow in FIG. At the same time, a space DS through which air (air) blown from the blower 18 flows is formed as indicated by white arrows in FIG. That is, an intake port 29a for taking in the air blown from the blower unit 18 is formed on the upstream side, and an exhaust port 29b for discharging the taken-in air is formed on the downstream side. A space DS is formed.

  Therefore, at least a part of the first connection tube 27a and the second connection tube 27b that are held in a state of overlapping with the storage unit 30 when viewed in the vertical direction Z is at least a part of the storage unit 30 and the metal cover 29 (heat generation unit 17). Is a flow path portion disposed in the conveyance direction Y, that is, in a direction along the nozzle forming surface 24a. And the 1st connection tube 27a and the 2nd connection tube 27b are connected with the storage part 30 via the flow-path adapter 28 in the ventilation direction downstream from the ventilation part 18 in space DS.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3 (a), (b), (c), (d) and FIG. 4 (a), (b), the storage part 30 and the 1st storage provided in the storage part 30 are demonstrated. The configuration of the chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3 </ b> B, 3 </ b> C, and 3 </ b> D, the storage unit 30 is a frame member having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with the transport direction Y as a longitudinal direction in a state of being attached to the carriage 23. 31 and a thin film member 32 attached to the left and right side surfaces of the frame member 31 by welding or bonding as viewed from the conveyance direction Y side. In the present embodiment, the frame member 31 is an integral member made of, for example, a resin material formed by injection molding, and the thin film member 32 is a resin film member. In FIGS. 3B and 3D, the thin film member 32 is omitted.

  A first inflow port 41 and a second inflow port 42 for ink are provided on the front side surface downstream of the storage unit 30 in the transport direction Y, and a first outflow port 61 for ink is provided on the lower side surface (bottom surface) of the vertical direction Z. And a second outlet 62 is provided. And the 1st storage chamber 51 is connected with the 1st inflow port 41 via the valve mechanism mentioned later, while communicating with the 1st outflow port 61, as shown by the broken line arrow in Drawing 3 (b). In addition, the second storage chamber 52 communicates with the second outlet 62 as shown by a broken line arrow in FIG. 3D and also communicates with the second inlet 42 through a valve mechanism described later.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the frame member 31 has a cross-section of a peripheral portion whose opening is a portion corresponding to the lower bottom surface on the right side surface in the scanning direction X when viewed from the transport direction Y front side. A tapered first substantially recessed portion 33a having a tapered shape is provided. Further, the second concave portion 33b having a substantially frustoconical shape in which a peripheral edge portion having a portion corresponding to the lower bottom surface as an opening portion has a tapered cross section is provided on the left side surface in the scanning direction X when viewed from the front side in the transport direction Y. It is done. The first recess 33a is formed as a first storage chamber 51 capable of storing ink sealed by the thin film member 32 by attaching the thin film member 32 to the right side surface by welding or adhesion. The second recess 33b is formed as a second storage chamber 52 capable of storing ink sealed by the thin film member 32 by attaching the thin film member 32 to the left side surface by welding or adhesion.

  In the present embodiment, the first recess 33a and the second recess 33b provided on the left and right sides opposite to each other in the frame member 31 in this way are the region ranges along the transport direction Y in FIG. As indicated by K, they are arranged so that at least some of them overlap each other when viewed in the scanning direction X. In other words, the first storage chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52 are arranged such that at least a part thereof overlaps each other in a direction view in which the projected area of the first storage chamber 51 or the second storage chamber 52 is the largest. Has been placed. In addition, the 1st recessed part 33a and the 2nd recessed part 33b are provided in the circular shape in which those opening parts have the outer diameter of the substantially the same magnitude | size.

  In the present embodiment, the storage unit 30 uses the first storage chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52 formed as described above as pressure chambers, and the inside of the first storage chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52 is used. A valve mechanism that opens and closes the ink flow path in response to a change in the pressure of each ink, that is, a so-called self-sealing valve mechanism is incorporated. That is, in the thin film member 32 that seals the openings of the first recess 33a and the second recess 33b, the first storage chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52 that are generated inside the opening due to the ejection of ink from the nozzles. It functions as a diaphragm DF that is displaced according to the pressure change of the ink inside. Therefore, each diaphragm DF which forms the 1st storage chamber 51 and the 2nd storage chamber 52 is made into the same shape (here circular shape) with the same magnitude | size and shape.

  The displacement of the diaphragm DF (thin film member 32) allows ink to flow from the ink tank to the first storage chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the frame member 31 includes a first valve chamber that is recessed in a substantially cylindrical shape on the left side opposite to the side where the first storage chamber 51 is located in the scanning direction X. 34a and a second valve chamber 34b recessed in a substantially cylindrical shape are formed on the right side opposite to the side where the second storage chamber 52 is located.

  The first valve chamber 34 a is sealed together with the second recess 33 b by a thin film member 32 attached to the left side surface of the frame member 31. Also, by attaching the thin film members 32 to the left and right side surfaces of the frame member 31, an ink flow path is formed as shown by the thick two-dot chain arrows in FIGS. 3B and 3D. The first valve chamber 34 a communicates with the first inflow port 41 through the ink flow path.

  Similarly, the second valve chamber 34 b is sealed together with the first recess 33 a by the thin film member 32 attached to the right side surface of the frame member 31. Further, by attaching the thin film member 32 to the right side surface of the frame member 31, an ink flow path is formed as shown by a thick solid arrow in FIG. 3B. The valve chamber 34 b communicates with the second inlet 42.

  The first valve chamber 34a communicates with the first storage chamber 51 through a first communication hole 35a provided at the center thereof. The second valve chamber 34b communicates with the second storage chamber 52 through a second communication hole 35b provided at the center thereof. A valve mechanism is configured in the first communication hole 35a and the second communication hole 35b.

  Here, with reference to FIG.4 (b), schematic structure of a valve mechanism is demonstrated. In the present embodiment, the valve mechanism has the same configuration in the first communication hole 35a and the second communication hole 35b. Therefore, here, the valve mechanism configured in the second communication hole 35b will be described as a representative.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the valve shaft 36 is passed through the second communication hole 35b with a gap, and the end of the valve shaft 36 located on the second valve chamber 34b side is supported. The plate 36b is coupled. An annular valve body 37 made of an elastic material such as an elastomer is fixed to the support plate 36b. The valve body 37 is provided with a protruding annular ridge portion 37b having a diameter larger than the diameter of the second communication hole 35b. The ridge portion 37b abuts (seits) or leaves the annular valve seat portion 31b formed to protrude from the bottom surface so as to surround the outer periphery of the second communication hole 35b on the bottom surface of the second valve chamber 34b. Thus, an on-off valve that opens and closes the second communication hole 35b is configured.

  On the other hand, a disc-shaped receiving plate 53 is fixed to an end portion of the valve shaft 36 located on the second storage chamber 52 side. A compression spring 54 is inserted between the receiving plate 53 and the bottom surface of the second storage chamber 52, that is, the bottom surface 33d of the second recess 33b corresponding to the upper bottom surface of the substantially truncated cone shape. The spring force of the compression spring 54 acts in the direction in which the valve body 37 (projection strip portion 37b) is seated on the valve seat portion 31b. Accordingly, the diaphragm DF covering the opening of the second recess 33b is displaced in a direction orthogonal to the opening to compress the compression spring 54, thereby opening the on-off valve and opening the second communication hole 35b. The mechanism is configured.

  The valve mechanism configured in this manner allows ink to flow from the ink tank to each storage chamber 50. For example, when the ink supplied from the second storage chamber 52 to the liquid ejecting head 24 via the second outlet 62 is ejected from the liquid ejecting head 24, the ink in the second storage chamber 52 decreases. 2 The pressure of the ink in the storage chamber 52 decreases. For this reason, the pressing force generated by the atmospheric pressure acting on the diaphragm DF in the second storage chamber 52 is displaced so as to push the diaphragm DF in accordance with the pressure drop of the ink in the second storage chamber 52. As a result, the on-off valve is opened, and the ink flowing from the second inlet 42 flows through the communicating second valve chamber 34b and then further opened as indicated by the thick broken arrow in FIG. It passes through the second communication hole 35 b and flows into the second storage chamber 52. In this way, the ink that has flowed from the ink tank into the storage unit 30 via the connection tube 27 and the second inlet 42 is stored in the second storage chamber 52.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, in the present embodiment, a holding plate 55 is disposed on the opening end side of the second valve chamber 34b in the second valve chamber 34b, and the holding plate 55 and the support plate An auxiliary spring 56 that applies a spring force in the same direction to the compression spring 54 and the valve body 37 is disposed between the auxiliary spring 56 and the valve spring 37. The holding plate 55 has a structure in which slits 55b are formed so that ink can flow. Further, a filter 57 for filtering ink is attached between the holding plate 55 and the thin film member 32.

  Now, in the printer 11 of this embodiment, the storage unit 30 provided with the first storage chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52 is provided by attaching the storage unit holding body 25 holding the plurality of storage units 30 to the carriage 23. The printer 11 includes a plurality of printers.

  This configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 5, the carriage 23 and the liquid ejecting head 24 are omitted from the liquid ejecting unit 20, and the metal cover 29 is broken. In FIG. 6, only two storage portions 30 adjacent to each other in the scanning direction X are illustrated in the same cross section as that in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the storage unit holding body 25 is provided with a holding space inside that can hold a plurality (here, a maximum of 4) of storage units 30 side by side so as to be adjacent to each other in the scanning direction X. ing. And in this embodiment, two storage parts 30, ie, the 1st storage part 30A and the 2nd storage part 30B, are hold | maintained adjacent to the storage part holding body 25 on the right side seeing from the conveyance direction Y side, One storage section 30, that is, the third storage section 30C is held on the left side with a gap corresponding to approximately one storage section from the second storage section 30B. In the following description, when the first storage unit 30A to the third storage unit 30C are not distinguished, they are simply referred to as the storage unit 30.

  A flow path adapter 28 to which two connection tubes 27, that is, a first connection tube 27a and a second connection tube 27b are connected, is attached to the first reservoir 30A. Similarly, a flow path adapter 28 to which two connection tubes 27, that is, a third connection tube 27c and a fourth connection tube 27d are connected, is attached to the second reservoir 30B. Further, the flow path adapter 28 in which two connection tubes 27, that is, the fifth connection tube 27e and the sixth connection tube 27f are connected to the third reservoir 30C as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. It is attached. In the following description, when the first connection tube 27a to the sixth connection tube 27f are not distinguished, they are simply referred to as the connection tube 27.

  In the printer 11 of the present embodiment, the six connection tubes 27 are arranged in the space DS formed between the metal cover 29 and the storage units 30 and the air blowing direction (in FIG. 5) It is arrange | positioned on each storage part 30 along the downstream from the upstream of a white arrow). Each connection tube 27 is connected to each reservoir 30 by being connected to the first inlet 41 and the second inlet 42 via the flow channel adapter 28 on the downstream side in the air blowing direction.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, the 1st storage part 30A and the 2nd storage part 30B which are adjacent to the scanning direction X are 1st storage chambers 51 provided in each, and 2nd storage chambers 52 At least one is arranged so as to substantially overlap in the scanning direction X view, as indicated by a region range S1 and a region range S2 along the transport direction Y in FIG. In other words, at least one of the first storage chambers 51 and the second storage chambers 52 between the first storage unit 30A and the second storage unit 30B is viewed from the direction in which the projected area of the storage chamber 50 is the largest. Are arranged adjacent to each other in a substantially overlapping state.

Next, the operation of the printer 11 of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a metal cover 29 attached to a carriage 23 that moves below the heat generating portion 17 along the scanning direction X covers the upper side of each storage portion 30 on the heat generating portion 17 side. Therefore, the heat transmitted from the heat generating part 17 to each storage part 30 is blocked. In addition, when the atmosphere located in the space DS with the storage unit 30 is heated via the metal cover 29 whose upper side is heated by the heat generation unit 17, the air in the space DS is warmed by the blowing from the blowing unit 18. The rise in temperature is suppressed by flowing the air.

  Moreover, in each storage part 30 located in the lower side of the space DS, each storage chamber 50 is arranged side by side in the transport direction Y along the nozzle forming surface 24a with a substantially equal interval from the heat generating part 17. . Therefore, since each storage chamber 50 is heated in substantially the same manner, the ink in each storage chamber 50 is heated to substantially the same temperature.

  Furthermore, the heat transfer from the heat generating part 17 to the storage part 30 is blocked by the connection tube 27 that at least partially overlaps the upper side of each storage part 30 on the heat generating part 17 side. And since the connection tube 27 is connected with the downstream of the ventilation direction with respect to each storage part 30, each arrangement | positioning length of the some connection tube 27 to which the wind until it connects with each storage part 30 is applied. Can be approximately equal.

  In the present embodiment, it is preferable that polypropylene (PP) or an elastomer having a relatively low thermal conductivity is used as the material of the connection tube 27 in order to suppress the temperature rise of the ink in the tube. . Thereby, especially when the reservoir 30 (frame member 31) is formed of polyethylene (PE) having a relatively high thermal conductivity, an effect of the connection tube 27 blocking the heat transfer to the reservoir 30 can be expected.

  Further, when the material of the ink supply tube 26 communicating with the connection tube 27 is polyethylene (PE) or polyamide (PA), the connection tube 27 on the reservoir 30 has a thermal conductivity of polyethylene (PE) or polyamide (PA). It is preferable to use a lower member (for example, polypropylene (PP) or elastomer). By so doing, the temperature rise of the ink due to heat transfer from the heat generating portion 17 can be reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, the projected area of the storage chamber 50 is the largest between the two storage chambers 50 provided in the storage unit 30 according to the temperature difference of the ink in the storage chamber 50. Heat exchange is performed by heat transfer through portions arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in the direction view.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, between the first storage chambers 51 (between the second storage chambers 52) between the adjacent storage units 30, the storage chambers according to the temperature difference of the ink in the storage chamber 50. Heat exchange is performed by heat transfer through the portions arranged so as to be adjacent to each other when viewed in the direction in which the projected area of 50 is the largest.

  In the present embodiment, the material of each storage portion 30 (frame member 31) is a resin material such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) in consideration of the formation of the storage chamber 50 by attaching (welding) the thin film member 32. Among these resin materials, polypropylene (PP) having a relatively low thermal conductivity is preferable.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In a plurality of storage chambers 50 arranged along one direction along the nozzle forming surface 24a, that is, along the transport direction Y, the probability that the distances between the storage chambers 50 and the heat generating portions 17 are equal to each other is increased. Therefore, each storage chamber 50 is heated substantially uniformly by the heat generating portion 17. As a result, it is possible to reduce the temperature difference of the heated ink between the heated storage chambers 50.

  (2) In the storage unit 30 having an overlapping portion of the storage chamber 50 as viewed in the direction in which the projected area of the storage chamber becomes the largest, heat exchange is performed between the inks in the plurality of storage chambers 50 through the overlapping portion. Since it becomes easy, it is possible to reduce the temperature difference of the ink between each storage chamber 50 heated.

  (3) Since heat is easily exchanged between the storage chambers 50 adjacent to each other among the plurality of storage units 30 arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in a direction view in which the projected area of the storage chamber 50 is the largest, It is possible to reduce the temperature difference of the ink in the storage chamber 50 between the plurality of heated storage units 30.

  (4) The connection tube 27 shields heat transmitted from the heat generating part 17 to the storage part 30 by a flow path portion disposed in the direction along the nozzle forming surface 24a between the storage part 30 and the heat generating part 17, and The ink in the connection tube 27 is evenly heated by the heat generating part 17. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the temperature difference of the ink between the heated storage chambers 50.

  (5) The metal cover 29 suppresses heat transmitted from the heat generating part 17 to the storage part 30 and also suppresses partial retention of heated air in the space DS between the storage part 30 and the metal cover 29. can do. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the ink in each heated storage chamber 50 and reduce the temperature difference between the storage chambers 50.

  (6) Since the connection tube 27 is connected to the storage unit 30 on the downstream side in the blowing direction of the blower unit 18, the plurality of connection tubes 27 to which the wind hits in the space DS between the storage unit 30 and the metal cover 29. Each arrangement length can be made substantially equal. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the ink flowing into the storage chamber 50 and reduce the temperature difference of the ink between the storage chambers 50.

  (7) Since the storage unit 30 causes the ink to flow into each storage chamber 50 by the valve mechanism using the diaphragm DF that is displaced according to the amount of ink ejected from the liquid ejection head 24, the liquid ejection head 24 in each storage chamber 50. Ink supplied to the ink can be appropriately stored in a state where the temperature difference is reduced. Moreover, since the diaphragm DF has the same shape, the deformation state due to heating of the diaphragm DF itself between the storage chambers 50 is also the same. Accordingly, since the operation state of the valve mechanism by the diaphragm DF is substantially the same between the storage chambers 50, the amount of ink stored in each of the storage chambers 50 is also substantially the same, and between the heated storage chambers 50. The probability that the temperature difference between the inks in the ink is reduced increases.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment into another embodiment as follows.
-In the said embodiment, the structure arrange | positioned so that at least one part may mutually overlap in the perpendicular direction Z view may be sufficient as the 1st storage chamber 51 and the 2nd storage chamber 52. FIG. In this case, it is desirable that the first storage chamber 51 and the second storage chamber 52 are arranged so that the peripheral portions having a tapered cross section overlap each other in the vertical direction Z view.

  In the above-described embodiment, for example, when the storage chamber 50 is a sub tank that functions as a buffer for stably supplying ink to the liquid ejecting head 24, the storage unit 30 does not necessarily have a valve mechanism. . The storage chamber 50 does not necessarily have the diaphragm DF formed by the thin film member 32.

  In the above embodiment, the connection tube 27 does not necessarily need to be connected to the storage unit 30 on the downstream side of the air supply unit 18 in the storage unit 30 in the air blowing direction. For example, the connection tube 27 may be connected to the storage unit 30 on the upstream side in the air blowing direction of the air blowing unit 18 in the storage unit 30 by being folded back toward the upstream side in the air blowing direction on the downstream side in the air blowing direction. .

  In the above embodiment, the metal cover 29 is not necessarily provided between the storage unit 30 and the heat generating unit 17. For example, the metal cover 29 is unnecessary if the temperature rise of the ink in the storage chamber 50 due to heating from the heat generating portion 17 is within an allowable range for use.

  In the above embodiment, the connection tube 27 does not necessarily have to have a flow path portion disposed in the direction along the nozzle forming surface 24 a between the storage portion 30 and the heat generating portion 17. For example, if the temperature rise of the ink in the storage chamber 50 due to heating from the heat generating portion 17 is within an allowable range in use, the flow path portion disposed in the direction along the nozzle forming surface 24a in the connection tube 27 is unnecessary. It is.

  In the case where the heat conduction between the storage units 30 is good, for example, the frame member 31 is formed of a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity, for example, between the plurality of storage units 30 in the above-described embodiment, the storage chamber 50 is not necessarily used. They do not have to be arranged so as to be adjacent to each other as viewed in the direction in which the projected area of the storage chamber 50 is the largest.

  In the above embodiment, when the plurality of storage chambers 50 have good heat conduction between the storage chambers 50, for example, the frame member 31 of the storage unit 30 is formed of a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity, The storage chamber 50 does not necessarily have to be arranged so that at least a part of the storage chamber 50 overlaps each other as viewed in the direction in which the projected area of the storage chamber 50 is the largest.

  In the above embodiment, one direction along the nozzle forming surface 24a where the storage chamber 50 is disposed may be a direction other than the transport direction Y, for example, the scanning direction X. Even in this case, the probability that the distances between the storage chambers 50 and the heat generating portions 17 are equal to each other increases, so that the ink in each of the storage chambers 50 is heated substantially uniformly by the heat generating portions 17.

  In the above embodiment, a plurality of liquid ejecting heads 24 may be provided in the carriage 23. In this case, it is preferable that the liquid ejecting heads 24 are arranged side by side along the scanning direction X and are shifted from each other in the transport direction Y between the adjacent liquid ejecting heads 24.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid ejecting head 24 (liquid ejecting unit 20) does not necessarily need to move along the scanning direction X. For example, if the heat generating unit 17 is configured to heat the paper ST on the transport direction Y side than the liquid ejecting head 24 (liquid ejecting unit 20), the liquid ejecting head 24 does not move and the width direction of the paper ST (scanning direction X). ) May be a so-called line head.

  In the above embodiment, three or more reservoir chambers 50 may be formed in one reservoir 30, more than two. In this case, the storage chambers 50 are preferably arranged so that the diaphragms DF are alternately positioned on the left and right sides of the frame member 31.

  In the above embodiment, the paper ST that is transported as a target may be transported in the form of a sheet instead of continuous paper. The target is not limited to paper, and a cloth, a resin film, a resin sheet, a metal sheet, or the like may be adopted.

  In the above embodiment, the printer 11 may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or ejects liquid other than ink. Note that the state of the liquid ejected as a minute amount of liquid droplets from the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a granular shape, a tear shape, and a thread-like shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected from the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ). Further, not only a liquid as one state of a substance but also a substance in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or a metal particle are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent is included. Typical examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, or a color filter in a dispersed or dissolved form. There is a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting the liquid. Further, it may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a bio-organic matter used for biochip manufacturing, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid as a sample that is used as a precision pipette, a printing apparatus, a micro dispenser, or the like. In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resin to form liquid injection devices that pinpoint lubricant oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. May be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects the liquid onto the substrate. Further, it may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali in order to etch a substrate or the like.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printer (an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus), 17 ... Heat generating part, 18 ... Blower part, 24 ... Liquid ejecting head, 24a ... Nozzle formation surface, 27 ... Connection tube (an example of liquid supply flow path), 29 ... Metal cover (Example of heat shield member), 30 ... reservoir, 32 ... thin film member, 50 ... reservoir chamber, DF ... diaphragm, DS ... space, NL ... nozzle, ST ... paper (example of target).

Claims (7)

A liquid ejecting head including a nozzle forming surface on which a nozzle for ejecting the supplied liquid to the target is formed;
A storage unit including a plurality of storage chambers for storing the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting head;
A heat generating portion disposed at a distance from the storage portion in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle forming surface;
With
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of storage chambers in the storage section are arranged in one direction along the nozzle formation surface.   2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of storage chambers are arranged such that at least a part of the storage chambers overlap each other when viewed in a direction in which the projected area of the storage chamber is the largest. .   The plurality of storage units are provided, and the storage chambers among the plurality of storage units are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in a direction view in which the projected area of the storage chamber is the largest. Or the liquid ejecting apparatus according to 2. A liquid supply flow path for connecting the liquid in a flowable manner between the liquid storage section for storing the liquid and the storage chamber of the storage section;
4. The liquid supply flow path has at least a flow path portion disposed in a direction along the nozzle forming surface between the storage section and the heat generating section at least partially. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of the above. Between the storage part and the heat generating part, a heat shield member that blocks heat transfer from the heat generating part to the storage part is provided,
5. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a blower that sends air to a space formed between the heat shielding member and the storage unit.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the liquid supply channel is connected to the storage unit on a downstream side in the air blowing direction from the air blowing unit in the space. Each of the plurality of storage chambers has a diaphragm having the same shape that is displaced in accordance with a change in the pressure of the liquid in the storage chamber that occurs as the liquid is ejected from the nozzle.
The said storage part has the valve mechanism which enables the inflow of the said liquid from the said liquid storage part to the said storage chamber by the displacement of the said diaphragm which the said storage chamber has. Of Claim 4 thru | or 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of the above.