JP2014188929A - Liquid jet apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid jet apparatus capable of preventing forgetting to close a valve member with a simple structure without drive force of a drive source.SOLUTION: The liquid jet apparatus comprises: a flexible tube 24 for supplying an ink stored in an ink tank to a liquid jet head; a choke valve 25 for switching a valve opening state which allows circulation of the ink via the tube 24 between the ink tank and the liquid jet head and a valve closing state which regulates circulation of the ink via the tube 24 between the ink tank and the liquid jet head by manual operation; and a press piece part 44 for turning off power of a printer from an on-state by operating a power switch 45 of the printer interlocking to operation of the choke valve 25 from the valve opening state to the valve closing state.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus including a choke valve that switches a flow state of a liquid through a tube between a liquid storage tank and a liquid ejecting head.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a type of liquid ejecting apparatus, an ink jet printer including an ink tank that can store ink ejected from a liquid ejecting head toward a medium such as paper has been widely known. Some of these printers include a choke valve (valve member) that switches a flow state of ink through a tube between an ink tank (liquid storage tank) and a liquid ejecting head (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

  In such a printer, when the power source of the printer is switched from on to off, the driving force of the transport driving roller provided in the printer is transmitted to the choke valve. As a result, the flow of ink through the tube between the ink tank and the liquid ejecting head is regulated by the choke valve. That is, the choke valve closing operation is automatically performed in conjunction with the printer power being switched from on to off. Therefore, for example, when the printer is switched from on to off when transporting the printer, the choke valve is automatically closed without manual operation of the choke valve. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the choke valve from being forgotten to be closed, so that ink leakage from the choke valve to the outside of the printer is suppressed.

JP 2005-288826 A

  By the way, in the above-mentioned printer, in order to transmit the driving force of the transport driving roller to the choke valve as necessary, a connection state in which the transport driving roller and the choke valve are coupled so as to be able to transmit power, and the transport drive. It is necessary to switch between the open state in which the roller and the choke valve are opened so that power cannot be transmitted. As a result, there has been a problem that the connection structure for connecting the transport driving roller and the choke valve becomes complicated.

  Note that this situation is not limited to ink jet printers, and is generally common in liquid ejecting apparatuses that include a choke valve that switches the flow of liquid through a tube between a liquid storage tank and a liquid ejecting head. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that can prevent forgetting to close a valve member with a simple configuration that does not use the driving force of a driving source. It is to provide.

  A liquid ejecting apparatus that solves the above-described problem is a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid from a liquid ejecting head toward a medium, and is a flexible device that supplies the liquid stored in a liquid storage tank toward the liquid ejecting head. An open tube state allowing the liquid to flow through the tube between the liquid storage tank and the liquid jet head, and through the tube between the liquid storage tank and the liquid jet head. A valve member that manually switches a valve closing state that restricts the flow of the liquid, and a power switch of the liquid ejecting apparatus is turned on in conjunction with the operation of the valve member from the valve opening state to the valve closing state. And an actuating member that can be changed from off to off.

  According to the above configuration, the power supply of the liquid ejecting apparatus can be changed from on to off in conjunction with the switching of the valve member from the valve open state to the valve closed state. That is, in order to turn off the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is necessary to switch the valve member from the open state to the closed state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent forgetting to close the valve member in a situation where it is necessary to turn off the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, when the liquid ejecting apparatus is transported. Since the operating member operates in conjunction with the operation of the valve member from the open state to the closed state, it is not necessary to provide a drive source for operating the operating member. Therefore, it is possible to prevent forgetting to close the valve member with a simple configuration that does not use the driving force of the driving source.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the operating member may be configured to change a power source of the liquid ejecting apparatus from off to on by operating the power switch of the liquid ejecting apparatus, and the power source of the liquid ejecting apparatus. A displacement member that is configured to be displaceable between a second position where the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus can be changed from on to off by operating a switch, and mechanically connected to the valve member. The valve member is displaced from the first position to the second position based on a driving force transmitted from the valve member in conjunction with the switching from the valve open state to the valve close state, and the valve member From the second position to the first position based on the driving force transmitted from the valve member in conjunction with switching from the valve-closed state to the valve-open state. Position to.

  According to the above configuration, the displacement member is displaced between the first position and the second position based on the driving force transmitted from the valve member. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration in which the power supply of the liquid ejecting apparatus can be changed from on to off in conjunction with the switching of the valve member from the valve open state to the valve closed state. In the above configuration, the power supply of the liquid ejecting apparatus can be changed from off to on in conjunction with the switching of the valve member from the closed state to the open state. That is, in order to turn on the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is necessary to switch the valve member from the closed state to the open state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the valve member from being forgotten to be opened in a situation where it is necessary to turn on the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, at the start of use of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, when the displacement member is displaced from the first position to the second position, the power switch is operated to change the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from on to off, and the second It is preferable to change the power supply of the liquid ejecting apparatus from off to on by operating the power switch when the position is displaced from the position to the first position.

  According to the above configuration, the power switch is operated by the displacement member in the process in which the displacement member is displaced between the first position and the second position in conjunction with the switching of the valve member from the open state to the closed state. As a result, the power on / off of the liquid ejecting apparatus is changed. Therefore, the opening / closing operation of the valve member and the on / off switching operation of the power supply of the liquid ejecting apparatus are synchronized. Therefore, forgetting to close the valve member under circumstances where it is necessary to turn off the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus, or forgetting to open the valve under circumstances where it is necessary to turn on the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus. It is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents it from occurring.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the power switch includes an on switch having a function of changing the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from off to on, and an off switch having a function of changing the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from on to off. Preferably, the displacement member operates the on switch when positioned at the first position, and operates the off switch when positioned at the second position.

  According to the above configuration, when the displacement member is positioned at the second position in conjunction with the switching of the valve member from the valve open state to the valve closed state, the power source of the liquid ejecting apparatus is operated by operating the off switch. Changed from on to off. Therefore, the valve closing operation of the valve member and the operation of switching the power supply of the liquid ejecting apparatus from on to off are synchronized. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the valve member from being forgotten to be closed in a situation where it is necessary to turn off the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  Further, when the displacement member is positioned at the first position in conjunction with the switching of the valve member from the valve closed state to the valve open state, the power source of the liquid ejecting apparatus is switched from OFF to ON by operating the ON switch. Be changed. Therefore, the valve opening operation of the valve member and the operation of switching the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from OFF to ON are synchronized. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the valve member from being forgotten to be opened in a situation where it is necessary to turn on the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the power switch has a first function of changing the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from off to on and a second function of changing the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from on to off. An on / off switch, wherein the displacement member activates the second function of the power switch when displaced from the first position to the second position, and is displaced from the second position to the first position. Sometimes it is preferable to activate the first function of the power switch.

  According to the above configuration, when the displacement member is displaced from the first position to the second position in conjunction with the switching of the valve member from the valve open state to the valve close state, the displacement member activates the second function of the power switch. As a result, the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus is changed from on to off. Therefore, the valve closing operation of the valve member and the operation of switching the power supply of the liquid ejecting apparatus from on to off are synchronized. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the valve member from being forgotten to be closed in a situation where it is necessary to turn off the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  Further, when the displacement member is displaced from the second position to the first position in conjunction with the switching of the valve member from the valve closed state to the valve open state, the displacement member operates the first function of the power switch to operate the liquid. The power supply of the injection device is changed from off to on. Therefore, the valve opening operation of the valve member and the operation of switching the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from OFF to ON are synchronized. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the valve member from being forgotten to be opened in a situation where it is necessary to turn on the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the power switch includes an on switch having a function of changing the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from off to on, and an off switch having a function of changing the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from on to off. The displacement member inhibits the operation of the off switch while allowing the operation of the on switch when positioned at the first position, and inhibits the operation of the off switch when positioned at the second position. It is preferable to inhibit the operation of the on switch while allowing the operation.

  According to the above configuration, when the valve member is in the open state and the displacement member is positioned at the first position, the operation of the off switch is inhibited by the displacement member. Then, when the displacement member is positioned at the second position in conjunction with the switching of the valve member from the valve open state to the valve close state, the operation of the off switch is permitted by the displacement member. That is, in order to turn off the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is necessary to switch the valve member from the open state to the closed state. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the valve member from being forgotten to be closed in a situation where it is necessary to turn off the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  Further, when the valve member is in the closed state and the displacement member is located at the second position, the operation of the on switch is hindered by the displacement member. When the displacement member is positioned at the first position in conjunction with the switching of the valve member from the closed state to the open state, the operation of the on switch is permitted by the displacement member. That is, in order to turn on the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is necessary to switch the valve member from the closed state to the open state. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the valve member from being forgotten to be opened in a situation where it is necessary to turn on the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus.

1 is a perspective view of a printer according to a first embodiment. The perspective view in the state where the choke valve of the embodiment opened. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. The perspective view of the state which the choke valve of the embodiment closed. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. The perspective view in the state where the choke valve of a 2nd embodiment opened. Sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship of the protrusion of a slider and engagement groove | channel in the choke valve of the state shown in FIG. The schematic diagram which looked at the choke valve of the state shown in FIG. 6 from the side. The perspective view of the state in the middle of the choke valve of the embodiment shifting toward the valve closing state from the valve opening state. Sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship of the protrusion of a slider and the engagement groove | channel in the choke valve of the state shown in FIG. The schematic diagram which looked at the choke valve of the state shown in FIG. 9 from the side. The perspective view of the state which the choke valve of the embodiment closed. Sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship of the protrusion of a slider and engagement groove | channel in the choke valve of the state shown in FIG. The schematic diagram which looked at the choke valve of the state shown in FIG. 12 from the side. The perspective view of the state in the middle of the choke valve of the embodiment shifting from the valve closing state toward the valve opening state. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the protrusion of the slider and the engagement groove in the choke valve in the state shown in FIG. 15. The schematic diagram which looked at the choke valve of the state shown in FIG. 15 from the side. The perspective view in the state where the choke valve of a 3rd embodiment closed. The perspective view in the state where the choke valve of the embodiment opened.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which a liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied as an ink jet printer will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a casing 11 constituting the exterior of the printer 10 of the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an operation panel 12 for performing various operations of the printer 10 is provided on one side surface thereof. Has been placed. In addition, a discharge port 13 is opened below the operation panel 12 on one side surface of the housing 11. Further, a retractable paper discharge tray 14 is accommodated below the discharge port 13 in the housing 11. The operation panel 12 does not include a power button that is operated when the printer 10 is turned on / off.

  In this embodiment, the side surface of the housing 11 where the discharge port 13 is opened is the front surface of the printer 10, the opposite side surface is the rear surface, and the direction from the rear side to the front side is the transport direction X. Illustrated. In addition, the gravity direction intersecting the transport direction X is set as the downward direction, the anti-gravity direction is set as the upward direction, and the direction along the upward direction and the downward direction is indicated as the vertical direction Y. Further, a direction that intersects the transport direction X and the vertical direction Y is illustrated as a main scanning direction Z.

  At the upper rear portion of the housing 11, a rotary paper feed tray 15 and a lid portion 16 that is opened and closed when maintenance is performed inside the housing 11 are attached to be openable and closable. A tank unit 18 is fixed to the outer surface 11a on one side of the housing 11 in the main scanning direction Z.

  The tank unit 18 includes an ink tank (not shown) as an example of a plurality of liquid storage tanks that store ink of each color as an example of a liquid, and a tank case 20 that protects these ink tanks from the outside. . A cylindrical ink injection portion 21 that can inject ink is formed on the upper surface of each ink tank. However, FIG. 1 shows only the ink injection part 21 formed in one ink tank among the plurality of ink tanks accommodated in the tank case 20.

  The tank case 20 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in one direction, and is fixed to the outer surface 11a of the housing 11 in a state in which the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with the front-rear direction. A cover 22 that slides in the front-rear direction with respect to the tank case 20 is attached to the upper surface of the tank case 20. The cover 22 is movable between a position where the ink injection portion 21 is opened to the outside of the tank unit 18 and a position where the ink injection portion 21 is hidden inside the tank unit 18. Further, the tank case 20 includes a choke valve 25 as an example of a valve member that appropriately cuts off the supply of ink from the ink tank through the tube 24 by crushing the flexible tube 24 connected to the ink tank. Is housed. Further, a valve lever 27 that is pivoted about a pivot shaft 26 (see FIG. 2) extending in the front-rear direction when the choke valve 25 is opened and closed is exposed on the front side of the tank case 20. .

  Inside the housing 11, a carriage 30 that is held so as to be reciprocally movable in the main scanning direction Z, which is the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, and a relay adapter that individually corresponds to each color ink mounted on the carriage 30. 31 is provided. A tube 24 corresponding to each color ink is connected between the relay adapter 31 and the ink tank. A liquid ejecting head 32 that ejects ink supplied from the ink tank through the tube 24 is supported on the lower surface side of the carriage 30.

Next, the choke valve 25 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the choke valve 25 includes a main body 41 having a bearing portion 40 that rotatably supports the rotation shaft 26 of the valve lever 27. A mounting portion 42 having a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape with one surface opened is fitted from the outside to a front end portion which is one end side in the axial direction of the rotation shaft 26 of the valve lever 27. Further, the choke valve 25 includes a gripping portion 43 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is gripped when the valve lever 27 is operated. The grip portion 43 is coupled to the rotation shaft 26 so as to be integrally rotatable by being engaged with the attachment portion 42 from the inside.

  Further, a pressing piece portion 44 as an example of a rectangular plate-like actuating member and a displacement member is integrally formed on the outer surface of the attachment portion 42. A power switch 45 of the printer 10 is disposed on the moving path of the pressing piece 44 around the rotation shaft 26 in the tank case 20. The power switch 45 includes an on switch 45A having a function of changing the power supply of the printer 10 from off to on, and an off switch 45B having a function of changing the power supply of the printer 10 from on to off. As shown in FIG. 2, in a state where the longitudinal direction of the gripping portion 43 coincides with the vertical direction Y, the pressing piece portion 44 can press the on switch 45 </ b> A to change the power supply of the printer 10 from off to on. It is arranged at the first position. On the other hand, when the gripping portion 43 is rotated about 90 degrees about the rotation shaft 26 from the state shown in FIG. 2 and the longitudinal direction of the gripping portion 43 coincides with the horizontal direction, the pressing piece portion 44 turns off the switch 45B. The printer 10 is disposed at a second position where the power of the printer 10 can be changed from on to off by pressing.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cam 46 is supported at an intermediate position of the rotation shaft 26 in the axial direction. The cam 46 has an outer shape that is substantially D-shaped in a side view as viewed from the axial direction of the rotation shaft 26. The center position of the cam 46 is arranged at a position deviating from the axis center of the rotation shaft 26. Therefore, the cam 46 is supported in an eccentric state with respect to the rotation shaft 26.

  A convex portion 47 is formed on the surface portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cam 46 that is closest to the rotation shaft 26. A portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cam 46 that is displaced by about 90 degrees from the convex portion 47 around the rotation shaft 26 is a cam surface 46 </ b> A having the longest distance from the rotation shaft 26.

  The main body 41 is formed with a plurality of (three in this embodiment) guide portions 48 at positions spaced apart in the axial direction of the rotation shaft 26 of the valve lever 27. Each guide portion 48 is constituted by a pair of guide units 48A and 48B disposed at a distance in the horizontal direction intersecting the axial direction of the rotation shaft 26 of the valve lever 27. The guide units 48A and 48B have a columnar shape extending long in the vertical direction Y. A tube 24 connected to an ink tank that stores ink of each color is routed at a position adjacent to the pair of guide units 48A and 48B in the front-rear direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a slider 49 is disposed between the pair of guide units 48A and 48B. Both ends of the slider 49 in the front-rear direction protrude forward and backward from between the pair of guide units 48A and 48B. The slider 49 is movable in the vertical direction Y while being positioned between the pair of guide units 48A and 48B. Therefore, both ends in the front-rear direction protruding from between the pair of guide units 48A, 48B in the slider 49 are in the vertical direction Y, which is the moving direction of the slider 49 relative to the tube 24 adjacent to the pair of guide units 48A, 48B. Opposite.

Next, the operation of the printer 10 configured as described above will be described below, particularly focusing on the operation when the power of the printer 10 is changed between ON and OFF.
In the present embodiment, since the power button is not included in the operation panel 12 provided on the front surface of the printer 10, when the power of the printer 10 is changed from on to off, it is provided in the tank case 20. It is necessary to press the off switch 45B.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the gripping portion 43 of the valve lever 27 is rotated about 90 degrees around the rotation shaft 26 from a state where the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with the vertical direction Y. Then, when the pressing piece 44 rotated integrally with the rotating shaft 26 is displaced from the first position to the second position and is positioned at the second position, the power of the printer 10 is turned on by pressing the off switch 45B. Changed from on to off.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the slider 49 comes into contact with the cam surface 46 </ b> A that is the surface portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cam 46 that has the largest distance from the rotation shaft 26. Therefore, the slider 49 is pressed by the cam surface 46A of the cam 46 and moves downward to crush the tube 24 from the outside. As a result, the tube 24 is restricted from flowing ink from the ink tank side toward the liquid ejecting head 32 through the portion crushed by the slider 49. Accordingly, the choke valve 25 is in a closed state that restricts the flow of ink through the tube 24 between the ink tank and the liquid ejecting head 32. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the pressing piece 44 is moved from the first position to the second position based on the driving force transmitted from the choke valve 25 in conjunction with the switching of the choke valve 25 from the open state to the closed state. Displace to position.

  That is, in the present embodiment, in order to change the power supply of the printer 10 from on to off, it is necessary to switch the choke valve 25 from the open state to the closed state. For this reason, forgetting to close the choke valve 25 in a situation where it is necessary to turn off the power of the printer 10, for example, when the printer 10 is being transported is prevented.

  Similarly, since the operation panel 12 provided on the front surface of the printer 10 does not include a power button, an on switch provided in the tank case 20 when the power of the printer 10 is changed from OFF to ON. It is necessary to press 45A.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the grip portion 43 of the valve lever 27 is rotated about 90 degrees around the rotation axis from a state where the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with the horizontal direction. Then, when the pressing piece 44 rotated integrally with the rotating shaft 26 is displaced from the second position to the first position and is positioned at the first position, the power of the printer 10 is turned on by pressing the on switch 45A. Changed from off to on.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the slider 49 contacts the vicinity of the convex portion 47 closest to the rotating shaft 26 on the outer peripheral surface of the cam 46. Therefore, the pressing force acting on the slider 49 from the outer peripheral surface of the cam 46 decreases in the direction in which the tube 24 is crushed. As a result, the tip of the slider 49 that is in contact with the outer surface of the tube 24 is pushed back according to the elastic restoring force of the tube 24. Therefore, the tube 24 is hardly crushed by the slider 49. Therefore, the choke valve 25 is in an open state in which the flow of ink from the ink tank side toward the liquid ejecting head 32 side is allowed. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the pressing piece 44 is moved from the second position to the first position based on the driving force transmitted from the choke valve 25 in conjunction with the switching of the choke valve 25 from the closed state to the open state. Displace to position.

  That is, in the present embodiment, in order to change the power supply of the printer 10 from off to on, it is necessary to switch the choke valve 25 from the closed state to the open state. Therefore, forgetting to open the choke valve 25 during operation of the printer 10 is prevented.

According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The power supply of the printer 10 can be changed from on to off in conjunction with the switching of the choke valve 25 from the open state to the closed state. That is, in order to turn off the printer 10, it is necessary to switch the choke valve 25 from the open state to the closed state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent forgetting to close the choke valve 25 in a situation where the printer 10 needs to be turned off, for example, when the printer 10 is transported. Further, the power supply of the printer 10 can be changed from OFF to ON in conjunction with the switching of the choke valve 25 from the closed state to the open state. That is, in order to turn on the printer 10, it is necessary to switch the choke valve 25 from the closed state to the open state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent forgetting to open the choke valve 25 in a situation where the printer 10 needs to be turned on, for example, at the start of use of the printer 10. The pressing piece 44 that can change the power of the printer 10 between ON and OFF is mechanically connected to the valve lever 27 of the choke valve 25. Therefore, since the pressing piece 44 is displaced based on the driving force transmitted from the valve lever 27 of the choke valve 25, it is not necessary to provide a drive source for displacing the pressing piece 44. Therefore, forgetting to open or close the choke valve 25 can be prevented with a simple configuration that does not use the driving force of the driving source.

  (2) In the process in which the pressing piece 44 is displaced in conjunction with the switching of the choke valve 25 from the valve open state to the valve closing state, the power switch 45 is pressed by the pressing piece 44 so that the power of the printer 10 is ON / OFF is changed. Therefore, the opening / closing operation of the choke valve 25 and the operation of changing the power on / off of the printer 10 are synchronized. Therefore, forgetting to close the choke valve 25 in a situation where the printer 10 needs to be turned off, or forgetting to open the choke valve 25 in a situation where the printer 10 needs to be turned on. It is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the above.

  (3) When the pressing piece 44 is displaced in conjunction with the switching of the choke valve 25 from the open state to the closed state, the pressing piece 44 presses the off switch 45B, so that the power supply of the printer 10 is turned off. Changed to Therefore, the closing operation of the choke valve 25 and the operation of switching the power supply of the printer 10 from on to off are synchronized. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the choke valve 25 from being forgotten to be closed in a situation where it is necessary to turn off the printer 10. Further, when the pressing piece 44 is displaced in conjunction with the switching of the choke valve 25 from the closed state to the opened state, the pressing piece 44 operates the on switch 45A to turn the printer 10 from the off state to the on state. Be changed. Therefore, the opening operation of the choke valve 25 and the operation of switching the power supply of the printer 10 from OFF to ON are synchronized. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the choke valve 25 from being forgotten to be opened in a situation where it is necessary to turn on the printer 10.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the power switch is an on / off switch having a first function for changing the power of the printer 10 from off to on and a second function for changing the power of the printer 10 from on to off. Is different from the first embodiment. Here, the on / off switch means a switch that alternately activates the first function and the second function each time a pressing operation is performed. In the following description, configurations that are different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described, and configurations that are the same as or equivalent to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the main body 41 of the choke valve 25 includes a bearing cylinder 61 that supports a substantially cylindrical plunger 60 that extends long in the front-rear direction while being movably accommodated in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of recesses 62 extending in the longitudinal direction of the bearing tube 61 are formed on the inner surface of the bearing tube 61 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. And the convex strip 63 formed so that it might extend in the longitudinal direction of the plunger 60 with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the plunger 60 may engage with a part of these concave strips 62. Therefore, the plunger 60 is restricted from rotating relative to the bearing cylinder 61 around the axis line along the longitudinal direction.

  On the first end side in the longitudinal direction of the plunger 60 (the front end side in FIG. 6), a pressing piece portion 64 as an example of a displacement member having a substantially rectangular plate shape is formed vertically upward perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the plunger 60. It is extended. The distal end portion of the pressing piece portion 64 is opposed to the on / off switch 45C provided as the power switch 45 at the uppermost portion of the outer peripheral surface of the bearing tube 61 in the longitudinal direction of the plunger 60. Further, on the second end side in the longitudinal direction of the plunger 60 (the rear end side in FIG. 6), a meshing portion 65 in which a plurality of tooth portions are formed at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction is formed.

  A support shaft 67 held by a shaft holding portion 66 provided in the tank case 20 is inserted inside the plunger 60 so as to be along the longitudinal direction of the plunger 60. The support shaft 67 is inserted through a substantially cylindrical slider 68, and the slider 68 is interposed between the shaft holding portion 66 and the plunger 60 in the axial direction of the support shaft 67. Further, a meshed portion 70 that meshes with the meshing portion 65 is formed at a position facing the meshing portion 65 of the plunger 60 in the axial direction of the support shaft 67 in the slider 68. In the meshed portion 70, a plurality of tooth portions having the same shape as the tooth portions constituting the meshing portion 65 are formed at equiangular intervals in the circumferential direction. A coil spring 71 is provided between the slider 68 and the shaft holding portion 66 in the axial direction of the support shaft 67 to urge the slider 68 in a direction away from the shaft holding portion 66. In the present embodiment, all the tubes 24 corresponding to the inks of the respective colors are routed below the slider 68 at a position corresponding to the slider 68 in the axial direction of the support shaft 67.

  As shown in FIG. 7, an engagement groove 80 is formed in a wall portion located on the rear side of the portion that receives the plunger 60 in the bearing tube 61. The engagement groove 80 is disposed at a position corresponding to the slider 68 in the axial direction of the support shaft 67.

  Specifically, the engagement groove 80 is open at one end side and extends linearly toward the first end side (right side in FIG. 7) in the axial direction of the support shaft 67, and the inner back side portion thereof is substantially the same. After being curved in a U-shape, the support shaft 67 has a shape extending linearly toward the second end side (left side in FIG. 7) in the axial direction. In addition, a locking recess 81 that is recessed on the second end side in the axial direction of the support shaft 67 is formed in the inner back portion of the engagement groove 80, and is engaged at a position facing the locking recess 81. A stop wall 82 is extended. Note that the entire width dimension of the engagement groove 80 in the length direction is approximately the same as the diameter of the circular protrusion 83 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the slider 68.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the engagement portion 65 of the plunger 60 is not engaged with the engagement portion 70 of the slider 68 before the plunger 60 is moved in the direction in which the plunger 60 is pressed against the slider 68.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 83 of the slider 68 is located on the second end side in the axial direction of the support shaft 67 with respect to the opening end of the engagement groove 80, and on the inner side of the engagement groove 80. Not entering.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the slider 68 does not ride on the tube 24 and crush the tube 24. Therefore, the choke valve 25 is in an open state in which the flow of ink from the ink tank side toward the liquid ejecting head 32 side is allowed. The position of the pressing piece 64 shown in FIG. 8 is the first position.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9, when the plunger 60 is moved in the direction of pressing against the slider 68 against the urging force of the coil spring 71, the pressing piece 64 of the plunger 60 presses the on / off switch 45 </ b> C. Then, the second function of the on / off switch 45C is activated, and the power supply of the printer 10 is changed from on to off.

  In this case, the meshing portion 65 of the plunger 60 is pressed against the meshed portion 70 of the slider 68. Then, in the process in which the engaging portion 65 of the plunger 60 and the engaged portion 70 of the slider 68 are engaged, the slider 68 rotates in the circumferential direction around the support shaft 67 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. .

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the slider 68 moves to the first end side in the axial direction of the support shaft 67 while rotating in the circumferential direction around the support shaft 67, the protrusion of the slider 68 83 enters the inner depth side from the opening end side of the engagement groove 80 while contacting the wall surface of the engagement groove 80 in the circumferential direction (downward in FIG. 10) centering on the support shaft 67. The protrusion 83 of the slider 68 is locked by a locking wall surface 82 provided on the inner back side of the engagement groove 80.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, the slider 68 rides on the tube 24 and crushes the tube 24. As a result, the tube 24 is restricted from flowing ink from the ink tank side toward the liquid ejecting head 32 through the portion crushed by the slider 68. Accordingly, the choke valve 25 is in a closed state that restricts the flow of ink through the tube 24 between the ink tank and the liquid ejecting head 32.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 12, when the pressing of the plunger 60 against the slider 68 is released, the slider 68 moves to the second end side in the axial direction of the support shaft 67 based on the urging force from the coil spring 71.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the protrusion 83 of the slider 68 is pressed against the locking recess 81 of the engagement groove 80 based on the biasing force from the coil spring 71. As a result, the slider 68 is restricted from further moving to the second end side in the axial direction of the support shaft 67 based on the biasing force from the coil spring 71.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, the slider 68 is still in a state where the tube 24 is ridden and the tube 24 is crushed, so that the choke valve 25 is kept closed. The position of the pressing piece 64 shown in FIG. 14 is the second position. When the pressing piece portion 64 is displaced from the first position to the second position, the second function of the on / off switch 45C is activated by pressing the on / off switch 45C.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 15, when the plunger 60 is pressed against the slider 68 again against the biasing force of the coil spring 71, the pressing piece 64 of the plunger 60 presses the on / off switch 45C. Then, the first function of the on / off switch 45C is activated, and the power supply of the printer 10 is changed from off to on.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 16, the protrusion 83 of the slider 68 is separated from the locking recess 81 of the engagement groove 80.
Also, as shown in FIG. 17, the slider 68 is still in a state where it rides on the tube 24 and crushes the tube 24, so that the choke valve 25 is maintained in the closed state.

  In this state, when the pressing of the plunger 60 against the slider 68 is released, the slider 68 moves to the second end side in the axial direction of the support shaft 67 based on the urging force from the coil spring 71. The projection 83 of the slider 68 passes through the opening end of the engagement groove 80 and is disengaged from the engagement groove 80. The slider 68 moves in the axial direction of the support shaft 67 based on the biasing force from the coil spring 71 to the position shown in FIG. Move to the second end side.

  Therefore, the slider 68 is released from the state where the tube 24 is ridden, and the tube 24 is not crushed. Therefore, the choke valve 25 is in an open state in which the flow of ink from the ink tank side toward the liquid ejecting head 32 side is allowed. That is, when the pressing piece portion 64 is displaced from the second position to the first position, the first function of the on / off switch 45C is activated by pressing the on / off switch 45C.

According to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects (1) and (2) of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(4) When the slider 68 is displaced from the first position to the second position in conjunction with the switching of the choke valve 25 from the open state to the closed state, the slider 68 activates the second function of the on / off switch 45C. As a result, the power supply of the printer 10 is changed from on to off. Therefore, the closing operation of the choke valve 25 and the operation of switching the power supply of the printer 10 from on to off are synchronized. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the choke valve 25 from being forgotten to be closed in a situation where it is necessary to turn off the printer 10. When the slider 68 is displaced from the second position to the first position in conjunction with the switching of the choke valve 25 from the closed state to the opened state, the slider 68 activates the first function of the on / off switch 45C. As a result, the power of the printer 10 is changed from off to on. Therefore, the opening operation of the choke valve 25 and the operation of switching the power supply of the printer 10 from OFF to ON are synchronized. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the choke valve 25 from being forgotten to be opened in a situation where it is necessary to turn on the printer 10.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment is provided with a shielding plate that is displaced between a position where the operation of the power switch is permitted and a position where the operation of the power switch is hindered in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the choke valve 25. Different from the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following description, a configuration that is different from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and a configuration that is the same as or equivalent to that of the first embodiment is denoted by the same reference numeral, and redundant description is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 18, a shielding plate 90 having a rectangular plate shape is integrally formed on the outer surface of the attachment portion 42. In a state where the longitudinal direction of the gripping portion 43 coincides with the horizontal direction, the shielding plate 90 is disposed at a second position that is close to and opposes the on switch 45 </ b> A in the axial direction of the rotation shaft 26. When the shielding plate 90 is positioned at the second position, the shielding of the on switch 45A prevents the operation of the on switch 45A. In this case, the off switch 45B is not shielded by the shielding plate 90, and the operation of the off switch 45B is allowed.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 19, when the gripping portion 43 is rotated about 90 degrees about the rotation shaft 26 from the state shown in FIG. The plate 90 is disposed at a first position that is close to and faces the off switch 45 </ b> B in the axial direction of the rotation shaft 26. When the shielding plate 90 is positioned at the first position, the shielding of the off switch 45B prevents the operation of the off switch 45B. In this case, the on switch 45A is not shielded by the shielding plate 90, and the operation of the on switch 45A is allowed.

According to the said 3rd Embodiment, in addition to the effect (1) of the said 1st Embodiment, the effect shown below can be acquired.
(5) When the choke valve 25 is in the open state and the shielding plate 90 is positioned at the first position, the operation of the off switch 45B is obstructed by the shielding plate 90. When the shielding plate 90 is positioned at the second position in conjunction with the switching of the choke valve 25 from the open state to the closed state, the operation of the off switch 45B is permitted by the shielding plate 90. That is, in order to turn off the printer 10, it is necessary to switch the choke valve 25 from the open state to the closed state. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the choke valve 25 from being forgotten to be closed in a situation where it is necessary to turn off the printer 10.

  Further, when the choke valve 25 is in the closed state and the shielding plate 90 is located at the second position, the operation of the on switch 45A is obstructed by the shielding plate 90. When the shielding plate 90 is positioned at the first position in conjunction with the switching of the choke valve 25 from the closed state to the opened state, the operation of the on switch 45A is permitted by the shielding plate 90. That is, in order to turn on the printer 10, it is necessary to switch the choke valve 25 from the closed state to the open state. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that prevents the choke valve 25 from being forgotten to be opened in a situation where it is necessary to turn on the printer 10.

In addition, you may change said each embodiment into another embodiment as follows.
In the second embodiment, when the slider 68 is positioned at the first position, the pressing piece 64 presses the on / off switch 45C to activate the second function, and the slider 68 is positioned at the second position. Sometimes, the pressing piece portion 64 may press the on / off switch 45C to activate the first function.

  In the second embodiment, the slider 68 is temporarily fixed at the second position by locking the locking claw provided in the slider 68 in the locking hole provided in the bearing cylinder 61 and the like. Accordingly, the slider 68 may be displaced from the second position toward the first position by releasing the locking state of the locking claw accordingly.

  In the second embodiment, the power switch 45 does not necessarily have to be a switch that alternately operates the first function and the second function every time the pressing operation is performed. For example, a configuration may be provided in which a sensor that detects which position of the slider 68 is disposed between the first position and the second position by detecting a detection piece provided on the slider 68 may be provided. In this configuration, the first function of the power switch 45 is activated when the power switch 45 is pressed in a state where the slider 68 is detected to be disposed at the first position. On the other hand, when the power switch 45 is pressed in a state where the slider 68 is detected to be disposed at the second position by the sensor, the second function of the power switch 45 is activated.

  In the first embodiment, the pressing piece 44 does not necessarily need to operate the on switch 45A in conjunction with the choke valve 25 switching from the valve closed state to the valve open state. That is, the on switch 45 </ b> A may be provided on the operation panel 12 exposed on the front side of the printer 10, for example, without providing the on switch 45 </ b> A on the moving path of the pressing piece 44 around the rotation shaft 26.

  In the third embodiment, the shielding plate 90 is not necessarily configured to allow the operation of the on switch 45A in conjunction with the switching of the choke valve 25 from the closed state to the open state. That is, the shielding plate 90 may be configured to allow the operation of the on switch 45A regardless of whether the choke valve 25 is in the open state or the closed state.

  In the first and third embodiments, the rotation angle of the valve lever 27 around the rotation shaft 26 when the choke valve 25 is switched between the opened state and the closed state is not necessarily 90 degrees. There is no need, and any other angle, such as 180 degrees, can be employed.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the power switch 45 is not necessarily a push-type switch, and may be a switch of another detection method such as an optical switch.
In each of the above embodiments, the liquid ejecting apparatus 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 10 ... Printer as an example of liquid ejecting apparatus, 24 ... Tube, 25 ... Choke valve as an example of valve member, 32 ... Liquid ejecting head, 44 ... Pressing piece part as an example of displacement member, 45 ... Power switch, 45A ... ON switch, 45B ... OFF switch, 45C ... ON / OFF switch, 64 ... pressure piece as an example of an actuating member and a displacement member, 90 ... shielding plate as an example of a displacement member.

Claims (6)

A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid from a liquid ejecting head toward a medium,
A flexible tube for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank toward the liquid ejecting head;
A valve-open state that allows the liquid to flow through the tube between the liquid storage tank and the liquid jet head, and the flow of the liquid through the tube between the liquid storage tank and the liquid jet head. A valve member that manually switches a closed valve state that regulates
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: an operating member capable of changing a power switch of the liquid ejecting apparatus from on to off in conjunction with an operation of the valve member from the opened state to the closed state. .   The actuating member operates the power switch of the liquid ejecting apparatus by operating the power switch of the liquid ejecting apparatus and a first position where the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus can be changed from off to on by operating the power switch of the liquid ejecting apparatus. The liquid ejecting apparatus is configured to be displaceable between a second position where the power supply of the liquid ejecting apparatus can be changed from on to off, and is a displacement member mechanically coupled to the valve member. The valve member is displaced from the first position to the second position based on a driving force transmitted from the valve member in conjunction with switching from the valve open state to the valve closed state, and the valve member is moved from the valve closed state. Displacement from the second position to the first position based on a driving force transmitted from the valve member in conjunction with switching to the valve open state. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1.   When the displacement member is displaced from the first position to the second position, the power switch is operated to change the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from on to off, and from the second position to the first position. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the power is displaced, the power switch is operated to change the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from OFF to ON. The power switch is
An on switch having a function of changing the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from off to on;
An off switch having a function of changing the power supply of the liquid ejecting apparatus from on to off, and
4. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the displacement member operates the on switch when positioned at the first position, and operates the off switch when positioned at the second position. 5. The power switch has a first function of changing the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from off to on;
An on / off switch having a second function of changing a power supply of the liquid ejecting apparatus from on to off;
The displacement member activates the second function of the power switch when displaced from the first position to the second position, and when displaced from the second position to the first position, the displacement member operates the second function of the power switch. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first function is activated. The power switch is
An on switch having a function of changing the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from off to on;
An off switch having a function of changing the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus from on to off, and
The displacement member inhibits the operation of the off switch while allowing the operation of the on switch when positioned at the first position, and allows the operation of the off switch when positioned at the second position. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an operation of an on switch is inhibited.

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