JP2015009412A - Ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet printer in which fluctuation of a pressure, which is applied to a recording head from an ink in an annular tube due to an adjustable speed of the recording head in a main scan direction can be suppressed compared to a conventional one.SOLUTION: An ink jet printer 10 comprises: a tank 13; a recording head 16 which is disposed at a low position in a gravity direction by the tank 13; an annular tube 18 which forms a part of a flow channel 10d for an ink from the tank 13 to the recording head 16, and deforms depending on movement of the recording head 16 in a main scan direction indicated by arrows 10a, 10b; and a pressure damper 17 for adjusting a pressure of the ink, which is fed from the annular tube 18 to the recording head 16, to a negative pressure within a certain range. The annular tube 18 is equipped with an ink introduction part 18a into which the ink is introduced from the tank 13 side, and an ink discharge part 18b which discharges the ink to the recording head 16 side.

Description

  The present invention forms a tank for storing ink, a recording head for ejecting ink, and at least a part of an ink flow path from the tank to the recording head, and according to the movement of the recording head in the main scanning direction. The present invention relates to an inkjet printer including a deformable tube.

  As a conventional ink jet printer, an ink cartridge such as an ink bag or an ink bottle as a tank for storing ink, an ink jet head as a recording head for discharging ink, and at least a part of an ink flow path from the ink cartridge to the ink jet head There is known an ink jet recording apparatus including an ink tube that is formed and deforms in accordance with the movement of the ink jet head in the main scanning direction (see Patent Document 1). This ink tube is connected to an ink introduction part for introducing ink from the ink cartridge side, an ink discharge part for discharging ink to the ink jet head side, and an ink introduction part and an ink discharge part. And a tube portion bulging in a direction.

JP 2012-183715 A

  16 and 17 are schematic diagrams of the ink supply method of the conventional ink jet recording apparatus 90. FIG. The ink tube 91 of the ink jet recording apparatus 90 includes an ink introduction part 91a for introducing ink from the ink cartridge 92 side, an ink discharge part 91b for discharging ink to the ink jet head 93 side, an ink introduction part 91a, and an ink discharge part 91b. And a tube portion 91c swelled in the direction indicated by the arrow 93a in the main scanning direction.

  As shown in FIG. 16A, the ink jet recording apparatus 90 decelerates while the ink jet head 93 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 93a toward the end in the vicinity of the end indicated by the arrow 93a in the main scanning direction. The ink in the portion 91d of the ink tube 91 extending in the direction indicated by the arrow 93a from the ink discharge portion 91b is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 93a by the inertial force due to the deceleration of the portion 91d of the ink tube 91. That is, since the ink moves in a direction away from the ink-jet head 93, negative pressure is applied to the ink-jet head 93 by the movement of the ink in the portion 91d of the ink tube 91. Further, as shown in FIG. 16B, the ink jet recording apparatus 90 has an arrow 93b that is opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow 93a in the main scanning direction near the end of the ink jet head 93 in the direction indicated by the arrow 93a. When the ink is accelerated in the direction indicated by the arrow 93b toward the end indicated by the arrow 93b, the ink in the portion 91d of the ink tube 91 is in the direction indicated by the arrow 93a due to the inertial force generated by the acceleration of the portion 91d of the ink tube 91. That is, since the ink moves in a direction away from the ink-jet head 93, negative pressure is applied to the ink-jet head 93 by the movement of the ink in the portion 91d of the ink tube 91.

  When negative pressure is applied to the ink-jet head 93, air enters the ink-jet head 93 from the outside of the ink-jet head 93 through the many nozzles of the ink-jet head 93, and the ink meniscus formed at these nozzles is destroyed. In some cases, a so-called “missing missing” problem may occur.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 17A, the ink jet recording apparatus 90 decelerates while the ink jet head 93 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 93b toward the end in the vicinity of the end indicated by the arrow 93b. In this case, the ink in the portion 91e extending from the ink discharge portion 91b in the direction indicated by the arrow 93a in the ink tube 91 is in the direction indicated by the arrow 93b by the inertia force due to the deceleration of the portion 91e of the ink tube 91, that is, the ink jet. Since the ink moves in a direction approaching the head 93, positive pressure is applied to the inkjet head 93 by the movement of the ink in the portion 91 e of the ink tube 91. As shown in FIG. 17B, the inkjet recording apparatus 90 moves the inkjet head 93 in the direction indicated by the arrow 93a toward the end indicated by the arrow 93a in the vicinity of the end indicated by the arrow 93b. However, when accelerating, the ink in the portion 91e of the ink tube 91 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 93b by the inertial force due to the acceleration of the portion 91e of the ink tube 91, that is, the direction approaching the inkjet head 93. A positive pressure is applied to the inkjet head 93 by the movement of the ink in the portion 91e of the 91.

  When a positive pressure is applied to the inkjet head 93, there is a case where a so-called “bottom drop” occurs in which the ink is pushed out from the inside of the inkjet head 93 to the outside of the inkjet head 93 through a number of nozzles of the inkjet head 93. .

  Note that the portion 91e shown in FIG. 17 is longer than the portion 91d shown in FIG. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 17A or FIG. 17B, the absolute value of the increase in pressure generated by the inertial force in the ink in the portion 91e of the ink tube 91 is as shown in FIG. In the state shown in b), the absolute value of the decrease in pressure generated by the inertial force in the ink in the portion 91d of the ink tube 91 is larger.

  In the inkjet head 93 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the tube portion 91c connecting the ink introduction portion 91a and the ink discharge portion 91b swells in the direction indicated by the arrow 93a in the main scanning direction. The main scanning direction may swell in the direction indicated by the arrow 93b. In the inkjet head 93, when the tube portion 91c swells in the direction indicated by the arrow 93b in the main scanning direction, the relationship between the positive pressure and the negative pressure described above is reversed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer that can suppress fluctuations in pressure applied from ink in a tube to a recording head by acceleration / deceleration of the recording head in the main scanning direction.

  An ink jet printer of the present invention includes a tank for storing ink, a recording head that is disposed at a lower position in the gravitational direction than the tank and that discharges the ink, and a flow path of the ink from the tank to the recording head. An annular tube that forms at least a portion and deforms according to the movement of the recording head in the main scanning direction, and the pressure of the ink supplied from the annular tube to the recording head is set to a negative pressure within a certain range. A pressure regulator for adjusting, and the annular tube includes an ink introduction part for introducing the ink from the tank side, and an ink discharge part for discharging the ink to the recording head side. The annular tube has a length that allows the recording head to scan the entire printing range in the main scanning direction. Characterized in that it is formed.

  With this configuration, the inkjet printer of the present invention has an annular tube that forms at least a part of the ink flow path from the tank to the recording head and deforms in accordance with the movement of the recording head in the main scanning direction. Since the annular tube is provided with an ink introduction part for introducing ink from and an ink discharge part for discharging ink to the recording head side, when the recording head accelerates or decelerates in the main scanning direction, Ink circulates in the annular tube by the inertial force due to acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube. Therefore, the ink jet printer of the present invention can suppress a positive or negative pressure from being applied to the recording head due to the movement of the ink in the annular tube when the recording head accelerates or decelerates in the main scanning direction. That is, the ink jet printer of the present invention can suppress the fluctuation of the pressure applied to the recording head from the ink in the annular tube by the acceleration / deceleration of the recording head in the main scanning direction.

  In the ink jet printer of the present invention, since the recording head is arranged at a position lower in the gravity direction than the tank, a large amount of ink can be supplied to the recording head with a large positive pressure. Furthermore, since the ink jet printer of the present invention has two flow paths formed by the annular tube from the tank to the recording head, the recording is performed in comparison with the configuration in which only one flow path is formed from the tank to the recording head. A large amount of ink can be supplied to the head. Since the ink jet printer of the present invention can supply a large amount of ink to the recording head, it is assumed that only one flow path is formed from the tank to the recording head. The fluctuation of the pressure becomes very large. Here, the ink jet printer of the present invention prevents the ink from continuously leaking from the nozzles of the recording head by adjusting the pressure of the ink supplied to the recording head to a negative pressure within a certain range by the pressure regulator. be able to. Therefore, assuming that the ink jet printer of the present invention has a configuration in which only one flow path is formed from the tank to the recording head, the negative pressure within a certain range can be adjusted with respect to a very large pressure fluctuation. It is necessary to have a pressure regulator that can be used, and as a result, it is necessary to have a large pressure regulator. However, the ink jet printer of the present invention is not a configuration in which only one flow path is formed from the tank to the recording head, but a configuration in which an annular tube is provided between the tank and the recording head. As described above, fluctuations in pressure applied from the ink inside the recording head can be suppressed by the annular tube, and as a result, the pressure regulator can be reduced in size.

  The ink jet printer of the present invention may include an ink agitation unit that agitates the ink by receiving the flow of the ink in the annular tube.

  With this configuration, the ink jet printer of the present invention allows the ink in the annular tube to circulate in the annular tube by the inertial force due to the acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube when the recording head accelerates / decelerates in the main scanning direction. Since the ink agitation unit receives the ink flow caused by the circulation of the ink in the annular tube and agitates the ink, even if the ink in the annular tube is an ink whose components are likely to settle, the recording head is removed from the annular tube. The uniformity of the concentration of the components in the ink supplied to the ink can be improved, and as a result, the quality of the image printed by the recording head can be improved.

  In the ink jet printer according to the aspect of the invention, the annular tube may be connected to the ink introduction part and the ink discharge part and may swell in one direction in the main scanning direction, and the ink introduction part. And the other side tube portion that is connected to the ink discharge portion and swells in the other direction in the main scanning direction.

  With this configuration, the ink jet printer according to the present invention connects the ink introduction unit and the ink discharge unit to the one side tube portion that connects the ink introduction unit and the ink discharge unit and swells in one direction in the main scanning direction. The annular tube has the other tube portion that swells in the other direction in the main scanning direction, so that the two tube portions connecting the ink introduction portion and the ink discharge portion are mutually connected in the main scanning direction. When the recording head is accelerated / decelerated in the main scanning direction as compared with the configuration swelled in the same direction, the ink in the annular tube circulates smoothly in the annular tube by the inertial force generated by the acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube. Therefore, the inkjet printer according to the present invention has a configuration in which the two tube portions connecting the ink introduction portion and the ink discharge portion are expanded in the main scanning direction in comparison with the configuration in which they are swollen in the same direction in the main scanning direction. The fluctuation of the pressure applied to the recording head from the ink in the annular tube by the acceleration / deceleration of the recording head can be more effectively suppressed.

  In the ink jet printer of the present invention, the ink stirring unit may be a concavo-convex part disposed inside at least a part of the annular tube.

  With this configuration, the ink jet printer of the present invention allows the ink in the annular tube to circulate in the annular tube by the inertial force due to acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube when the recording head accelerates / decelerates in the main scanning direction. Since the ink in the annular tube is agitated by the uneven portion in the annular tube, the concentration of the component in the ink supplied from the annular tube to the recording head even if the ink in the annular tube is an ink in which the component tends to settle. Can be improved, and as a result, the quality of the image printed by the recording head can be improved.

  In the ink jet printer of the present invention, the uneven portion may be formed by a spiral protrusion.

  With this configuration, the ink jet printer of the present invention allows the ink in the annular tube to circulate in the annular tube by the inertial force due to the acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube when the recording head accelerates / decelerates in the main scanning direction. Since the ink is agitated while being rotated by the spiral of the protrusions in the annular tube, even if the ink in the annular tube is an ink in which the components tend to settle, the ink in the ink supplied from the annular tube to the recording head As a result, the quality of the image printed by the recording head can be improved.

  Further, in the ink jet printer of the present invention, the ink stirring part may be a part in which a part of the annular tube is spiral.

  With this configuration, the ink jet printer of the present invention allows the ink in the annular tube to circulate in the annular tube by the inertial force due to the acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube when the recording head accelerates / decelerates in the main scanning direction. Since the ink is agitated while being rotated by the spiral portion of the annular tube, the ink in the ink supplied from the annular tube to the recording head can be obtained even when the ink in the annular tube is an ink whose components are likely to settle. As a result, the quality of the image printed by the recording head can be improved.

  In the ink jet printer of the present invention, the ink stirring unit may be a spherical member that is movably disposed in the annular tube.

  With this configuration, the ink jet printer of the present invention allows the ink in the annular tube to circulate in the annular tube by the inertial force due to acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube when the recording head accelerates / decelerates in the main scanning direction. Since the spherical member in the annular tube also moves with the circulation of the ink, even if the ink in the annular tube is an ink in which the components tend to settle, the ink in the annular tube is removed from the spherical member in the annular tube. It can be stirred by movement. Therefore, the inkjet printer of the present invention can improve the uniformity of the concentration of components in the ink supplied from the annular tube to the recording head, and as a result, improve the quality of the image printed by the recording head. Can do.

  The ink jet printer of the present invention includes a tubing pump that includes a part of the annular tube as a component and circulates the ink in the annular tube, and the tubing pump includes the recording in the main scanning direction. The flow path may be opened when the head moves.

  With this configuration, the ink jet printer of the present invention can circulate the ink in the annular tube in the annular tube by the tubing pump, so even if the ink in the annular tube is an ink whose components are likely to settle. The ink in the annular tube can be agitated by circulation in the annular tube. Therefore, the inkjet printer of the present invention can improve the uniformity of the concentration of components in the ink supplied from the annular tube to the recording head, and as a result, improve the quality of the image printed by the recording head. Can do. In the ink jet printer of the present invention, since the tubing pump opens the flow path when the recording head moves in the main scanning direction, the ink is circulated in the annular tube when the recording head accelerates or decelerates in the main scanning direction. It is possible to prevent obstruction. That is, the ink jet printer of the present invention can prevent the tubing pump from hindering the function of suppressing the fluctuation of the pressure applied to the recording head from the ink in the annular tube by the acceleration / deceleration of the recording head in the main scanning direction.

  The ink jet printer of the present invention can suppress the fluctuation of pressure applied to the recording head from the ink in the annular tube by acceleration / deceleration of the recording head in the main scanning direction.

1 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram of the ink supply system of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. (A) is sectional drawing of the acceleration damper shown in FIG. 2 in the state whose acceleration in a main scanning direction is zero. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the acceleration damper shown in FIG. 3A in a state where the sphere receives an inertial force in the main scanning direction. FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the acceleration damper shown in FIG. 3A in a state where the sphere receives an inertial force in a direction opposite to the direction shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the acceleration damper shown in FIG. 2 in the example different from the example shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the control unit shown in FIG. 5 when moving the recording head in the main scanning direction. FIG. 2A shows the ink supply method of the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 2 when the recording head is decelerating while moving in this direction toward the end in the vicinity of the end in one direction in the main scanning direction. It is a schematic diagram. FIG. 2B shows the case where the recording head is accelerated in the vicinity of the end in one direction in the main scanning direction while moving in this direction toward the end in the other direction in the main scanning direction. It is a schematic diagram of the ink supply system of an inkjet printer. FIG. 2A shows the ink supply method of the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 2 when the recording head is decelerating while moving in this direction toward the end in the vicinity of the end in the other direction in the main scanning direction. It is a schematic diagram. FIG. 2B shows the case where the recording head is accelerated while moving in this direction toward the end in one direction in the main scanning direction near the end in the other direction in the main scanning direction. It is a schematic diagram of the ink supply system of an inkjet printer. (A) shows an ink supply method of the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1 in an example different from the example shown in FIG. 2 in the case where the recording head exists in the vicinity of the end in one direction in the main scanning direction. It is a schematic diagram. FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram of the ink supply method of the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 9A when the recording head is present near the end in the other direction in the main scanning direction. FIG. 2A shows an actual measurement value of fluctuations in the pressure of ink applied to the pressure damper shown in FIG. 2 when the recording head is moved when only one flow path is formed from the tank to the recording head. It is a graph which shows. (B) is a graph showing measured values of fluctuations in ink pressure applied to the pressure damper shown in FIG. 2 when the recording head is moved when the annular tube is provided between the tank and the recording head. is there. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an ink supply method of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. 1 in an example different from the examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 9. It is sectional drawing of a part of annular tube shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the annular tube shown in FIG. 2 in an example different from the example shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of the annular tube shown in FIG. 2 in an example different from the examples shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an ink supply method of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. 1 in an example different from the examples shown in FIGS. 2, 9, and 11. (A) is a schematic diagram of an ink supply method of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus when the ink jet head is decelerated while moving in this direction toward the end in the vicinity of one end of the main scanning direction. FIG. FIG. 16B shows the case where the inkjet head accelerates while moving in this direction toward the end in the other direction of the main scanning direction in the vicinity of the end in one direction of the main scanning direction. 2 is a schematic diagram of an ink supply method of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 16A shows the ink of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 16A when the ink jet head is decelerating while moving in this direction near the end in the other direction in the main scanning direction. It is a schematic diagram of the supply system. FIG. 16B shows the case where the inkjet head is accelerated while moving in this direction toward the end in one direction in the main scanning direction near the end in the other direction in the main scanning direction. 2 is a schematic diagram of an ink supply method of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 10 includes a housing 11 and paper in a sub-scanning direction indicated by an arrow 10 c that is disposed at a lower portion of the housing 11 and orthogonal to a main scanning direction indicated by arrows 10 a and 10 b. A transport device 12 for transporting the recording medium 80, a tank 13 that is disposed at the top of the housing 11 and stores ink, and a guide rail 14 that extends in the main scanning direction indicated by arrows 10a and 10b. The carriage 15 is supported by the guide rail 14 so as to be movable in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b, the recording head 16 is mounted on the carriage 15 and ejects ink toward the recording medium 80, and the carriage. 15 is a device that adjusts the pressure of ink supplied from the tank 13 to the recording head 16 to a negative pressure within a certain range. And a damper 17.

  The housing 11 houses a guide rail 14, a carriage 15, a recording head 16, and a pressure damper 17.

  The ink jet printer 10 moves the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction by the carriage 15 with respect to the recording medium 80 that does not move in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10 a and 10 b, and ejects ink from the nozzles of the recording head 16 to the recording medium 80. This is a device that executes printing in the main scanning direction by the recording head 16 by discharging toward the head. Further, the inkjet printer 10 transports the recording medium 80 in the sub-scanning direction by the transport device 12 to the recording head 16 that does not move in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10c, so that the sub-scan of the recording head 16 with respect to the recording medium 80 is performed. This is a device that changes the position in the direction every time printing in the main scanning direction ends.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an ink supply method of the inkjet printer 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ink jet printer 10 includes the tank 13, the recording head 16, and the pressure damper 17, and a part of the ink flow path 10 d from the tank 13 to the recording head 16. An annular tube 18 that is deformed in accordance with the movement of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow 10b; a tubing pump 19 that includes a portion of the annular tube 18 and circulates ink in the annular tube 18; The recording head 16 is provided with an acceleration damper 20 that moves in the main scanning direction indicated by arrows 10a and 10b and blocks the flow path 10d during acceleration / deceleration in the main scanning direction.

  The recording head 16 is configured to move, for example, a distance of 40 cm to 300 cm in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b.

  The recording head 16 is arranged at a position lower than the tank 13 in the direction of gravity. Since the recording head 16 is arranged at a position lower than the tank 13 in the direction of gravity, a large amount of ink can be supplied by a large positive pressure.

  The pressure damper 17 is a pressure regulator that adjusts the pressure of the ink supplied from the annular tube 18 to the recording head 16 to a certain range of negative pressure. The pressure damper 17 can prevent ink from continuously leaking from the nozzles of the recording head 16 by generating a negative pressure in the recording head 16. The pressure damper 17 can generate a negative pressure of, for example, about −4 kPa to 0 kPa with respect to the atmospheric pressure on the recording head 16.

  The annular tube 18 is accommodated in the housing 11 (see FIG. 1). The annular tube 18 includes an ink introduction portion 18a into which ink is introduced from the tank 13 side, an ink discharge portion 18b that discharges ink to the recording head 16 side, and a tube that connects the ink introduction portion 18a and the ink discharge portion 18b. A portion 18c and a tube portion 18d are provided. The annular tube 18 is formed to a length that allows the recording head 16 to scan the entire printing range in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. The tube portion 18c and the tube portion 18d have substantially the same length. One of the tube portion 18c and the tube portion 18d swells in one direction in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b, and constitutes one side tube portion of the present invention. The other of the tube portion 18c and the tube portion 18d swells in the other direction in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b, and constitutes the other-side tube portion of the present invention.

  The tubing pump 19 is housed in the housing 11.

  The acceleration damper 20 is mounted on the carriage 15 and stored in the housing 11. In FIG. 2, the acceleration damper 20 is disposed between the ink discharge portion 18b of the annular tube 18 and the pressure damper 17 in the flow path 10d, but the ink discharge portion 18b of the annular tube 18 and the recording head. As long as it is arranged between the two, it may be arranged at another position. For example, the acceleration damper 20 may be disposed between the pressure damper 17 and the recording head 16 in the flow path 10d.

  The ink jet printer 10 includes a tank 13, a recording head 16, a pressure damper 17, an annular tube 18 and an acceleration damper 20 for at least each ink type. The ink type varies depending on the type of color, such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

  FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the acceleration damper 20 in a state where the acceleration in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b is zero. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the acceleration damper 20 in a state where the sphere 22 receives an inertial force in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a. FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the acceleration damper 20 in a state where the sphere 22 receives an inertial force in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the acceleration damper 20 is disposed between the ink discharge portion 18b (see FIG. 2) and the recording head 16 (see FIG. 2) on the flow path 10d (see FIG. 2). A container 21 and a sphere 22 as a flow path blocking member that moves in the container 21 by the inertia force received during acceleration / deceleration of the acceleration damper 20 in the main scanning direction indicated by arrows 10a and 10b and blocks the flow path 10d. I have.

  The container 21 includes a bulging portion 21a that bulges up and down in the gravity direction at the center. The container 21 is arranged in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a with respect to the bulging portion 21a and communicates with the ink discharge portion 18b, and the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b with respect to the bulging portion 21a. And a downstream hole 21c communicating with the recording head 16 is formed.

  The diameter of the sphere 22 is larger than the diameters of the upstream hole 21b and the downstream hole 21c.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the carriage 15 (see FIG. 1) is stationary or when the carriage 15 is moving at a constant speed, the acceleration damper 20 causes the sphere 22 to move by its own weight. It is an apparatus that does not block the flow path 10d by being positioned at the bulging portion 21a in the center of the container 21.

  The acceleration damper 20 is decelerated while the carriage 15 moves in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a, or when the carriage 15 is accelerated while moving in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b. As shown in FIG. 3B, the spherical body 22 is a device that blocks the flow path 10d by moving to a position where the upstream side hole 21b of the container 21 is closed by the inertial force in the direction indicated by the arrow 10a.

  The acceleration damper 20 is accelerated when the carriage 15 is accelerated while moving in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a, or when the carriage 15 is decelerated while moving in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b. As shown in FIG. 3 (c), the spherical body 22 moves to a position where the downstream side hole 21c of the container 21 is closed by the inertial force in the direction indicated by the arrow 10b, thereby blocking the flow path 10d.

  In addition, the acceleration damper 20 can change the sensitivity which interrupts | blocks the flow path 10d at the time of acceleration / deceleration by changing the shape of the container 21, as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the inkjet printer 10.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the inkjet printer 10 includes an operation unit 31 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations by a user, and a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. , A display unit 32, a communication unit 33 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer), the transport device 12, the recording head 16, the tubing pump 19, and the carriage 15 (FIG. 1). (See FIG. 1) and a carriage drive device 34 for moving in the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow 10b (see FIG. 1), and a controller 35 for controlling the entire inkjet printer 10. ing.

  The control unit 35 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. ing. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM.

  Next, the operation of the inkjet printer 10 will be described.

  When the control unit 35 of the inkjet printer 10 receives print data via the communication unit 33, the conveyance device 12 conveys the recording medium 80 to the recording head 16 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10 c, and the carriage drive device 34 uses the arrow. The movement in the main scanning direction of the recording head 16 relative to the recording medium 80 due to the movement of the carriage 15 in the main scanning direction indicated by 10a and the arrow 10b and the ejection of ink to the recording medium 80 by the recording head 16 are performed via the communication unit 33. By executing based on the received print data, an image based on the print data is printed on the recording medium 80.

  Here, the control unit 35 executes the process shown in FIG. 6 when the carriage driving device 34 moves the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the control unit 35 when the recording head 16 is moved in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 35 determines whether or not the tubing pump 19 is in a state where the flow path 10d is open (S101).

  If the controller 35 determines in S101 that the tubing pump 19 is not in the state of opening the flow channel 10d, the control unit 35 causes the tubing pump 19 to open the flow channel 10d (S102).

  When the controller 35 determines in S101 that the tubing pump 19 is in the state of opening the flow path 10d, or causes the tubing pump 19 to open the flow path 10d in S102, the carriage drive device 34 causes the arrows 10a and 10b to move. 6 is moved in the main scanning direction indicated by arrows 10a and 10b (S103), and the operation shown in FIG. 6 is completed.

  FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram of the ink supply method of the inkjet printer 10 when the recording head 16 is decelerating while moving in this direction toward the end in the vicinity of the end in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a. FIG. FIG. 7B shows the ink jet printer 10 when the recording head 16 is accelerating while moving in this direction toward the end in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b near the end in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a. It is a schematic diagram of the ink supply method.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the ink jet printer 10 decelerates while the recording head 16 moves in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a toward the end in the vicinity of the end in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a. In the annular tube 18, the ink in the portion 18e extending in the main scanning direction on the ink discharge portion 18b side moves in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a by the inertial force due to the deceleration of the portion 18e of the annular tube 18. Therefore, the ink is circulated in the annular tube 18 in the direction indicated by the arrow 10e. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the inkjet printer 10 is indicated by an arrow 10b that is opposite to the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a in the vicinity of the end of the recording head 16 indicated by the arrow 10a in the main scanning direction. When accelerating while moving in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b toward the end in the main scanning direction, the ink in the portion 18e of the annular tube 18 is indicated by the arrow 10a due to the inertial force generated by the acceleration of the portion 18e of the annular tube 18. Since the ink moves in the main scanning direction shown, the ink circulates in the annular tube 18 in the direction shown by the arrow 10e.

  FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of the ink supply method of the inkjet printer 10 when the recording head 16 is decelerating while moving in this direction toward the end in the vicinity of the end in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b. FIG. FIG. 8B shows the ink jet printer 10 when the recording head 16 is accelerating while moving in this direction toward the end in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a in the vicinity of the end in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b. It is a schematic diagram of the ink supply method.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the ink jet printer 10 decelerates while the recording head 16 moves in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b toward the end near the end in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b. The ink in the portion 18e extending in the main scanning direction on the ink discharge portion 18b side of the annular tube 18 moves in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b by the inertial force due to the deceleration of the portion 18e of the annular tube 18. As a result, the ink is circulated in the annular tube 18 in the direction indicated by the arrow 10f. Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the ink jet printer 10 has a main recording head 16 indicated by an arrow 10a toward an end in the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow 10a in the vicinity of the end in the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow 10b. When accelerating while moving in the scanning direction, the ink in the portion 18e of the annular tube 18 moves in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b due to the inertial force generated by the acceleration of the portion 18e of the annular tube 18. The ink circulates in the direction indicated by the arrow 10f.

  As described above, the ink jet printer 10 forms part of the ink flow path 10d from the tank 13 to the recording head 16, and the recording head 16 moves in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. Since the annular tube 18 that deforms in response to the above is an annular tube including the ink introduction part 18a and the ink discharge part 18b, when the recording head 16 accelerates or decelerates in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b, The ink in the annular tube 18 circulates in the annular tube 18 by the inertial force due to acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube 18. Accordingly, when the recording head 16 accelerates or decelerates in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a and the arrow 10b, the ink jet printer 10 suppresses that the positive pressure or the negative pressure is applied to the recording head 16 due to the movement of the ink in the annular tube 18. be able to. That is, the ink jet printer 10 can suppress the fluctuation of the pressure applied to the recording head 16 from the ink in the annular tube 18 by the acceleration / deceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the ink jet printer 10 includes a tube portion 18c that connects the ink introduction portion 18a and the ink discharge portion 18b and swells in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a, the ink introduction portion 18a, and the ink. Since the annular tube 18 has a tube portion 18d connected to the discharge portion 18b and swelled in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b, the ink introduction portion 18a and the ink discharge portion 18b are connected as shown in FIG. Compared with the configuration in which the two tube portions 18c and 18d are swelled in the same direction in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a or 10b, the recording head 16 performs the main scanning indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. In the case of acceleration / deceleration in the direction, the ink in the annular tube 18 is inertial due to acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube 18. Smoothly circulated in the annular tube 18 by. Therefore, in the inkjet printer 10, the pressure applied to the recording head 16 from the ink in the annular tube 18 by the acceleration / deceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b is compared with the configuration shown in FIG. The fluctuation can be further effectively suppressed.

  Note that the inkjet printer 10 may have a configuration in which the two tube portions 18c and 18d of the annular tube 18 swell in the same direction in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a or the arrow 10b as shown in FIG. good.

  The ink jet printer 10 can suppress fluctuations in pressure applied from the ink in the annular tube 18 to the recording head 16 by acceleration / deceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. ”And“ dropping out ”can be suppressed.

  Further, the ink jet printer 10 can suppress fluctuations in pressure applied to the recording head 16 from the ink in the annular tube 18 by acceleration / deceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. The acceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10b can be improved. When the acceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b is improved, the inkjet printer 10 shortens the acceleration / deceleration time of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. As a result, the printing speed can be increased. Further, when the acceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b is improved, the inkjet printer 10 shortens the acceleration / deceleration distance of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. As a result, the entire inkjet printer 10 can be reduced in size.

  Assuming that the inkjet printer 10 has a configuration in which only one flow path is formed from the tank 13 to the recording head 16, when the flow path is thickened, the recording head 16 is indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b in the main scanning direction. During acceleration / deceleration, fluctuations in pressure applied from the ink in the flow path to the recording head 16 become very large. Here, the ink jet printer 10 prevents the ink from continuously leaking from the nozzles of the recording head 16 by adjusting the pressure of the ink supplied to the recording head 16 to a negative pressure within a certain range by the pressure damper 17. can do. Therefore, assuming that the inkjet printer 10 has a configuration in which only one flow path is formed from the tank 13 to the recording head 16, the negative pressure within a certain range is adjusted with respect to a very large pressure fluctuation. It is necessary to provide a pressure damper 17 that can perform the above-described operation. As a result, it is necessary to provide a large pressure damper 17. Therefore, assuming that the inkjet printer 10 has a configuration in which only one flow path is formed from the tank 13 to the recording head 16, the flow path is made thicker when the large pressure damper 17 is not provided. I can't. However, since the inkjet printer 10 is not configured to have only one flow path from the tank 13 to the recording head 16, the inkjet printer 10 includes an annular tube 18 between the tank 13 and the recording head 16. The fluctuation of the pressure applied to the recording head 16 from the ink in the annular tube 18 can be suppressed by the acceleration / deceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. As a result, the large pressure damper 17 is Even if it is not provided, the inner diameter of the annular tube 18, that is, the flow path can be increased. The ink jet printer 10 can supply a large amount of ink to the recording head 16 by increasing the inner diameter of the annular tube 18.

  The ink jet printer 10 can suppress fluctuations in pressure applied from the ink in the annular tube 18 to the recording head 16 by acceleration / deceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. Ink ejection by the ejecting recording head 16 can be stabilized, and as a result, the quality of the image printed by the recording head 16 can be improved.

  Further, since the ink in the annular tube 18 circulates in the annular tube 18 by the inertia force generated by the acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube 18, the inkjet printer 10 adds the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10 a and 10 b. The recording head 16 is positioned near the end in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 10a according to the magnitude of the pressure fluctuation generated by the inertial force in the ink in the annular tube 18 by the deceleration, and the recording head 16 is indicated by the arrow 10b. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of a difference as in the example shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 between the case of being located near the end in the main scanning direction shown.

  Further, since the recording head 16 is arranged at a position lower in the gravity direction than the tank 13 in the inkjet printer 10, a large amount of ink can be supplied to the recording head 16 with a large positive pressure. Furthermore, since the ink jet printer 10 has two flow paths formed from the tank 13 to the recording head 16 by the annular tube 18, compared with a configuration in which only one flow path is formed from the tank 13 to the recording head 16. Thus, a large amount of ink can be supplied to the recording head 16. Since the inkjet printer 10 can supply a large amount of ink to the recording head 16, assuming that the ink jet printer 10 has a configuration in which only one flow path is formed from the tank 13 to the recording head 16, the ink is supplied to the recording head 16. As shown in FIG. 10A, the ink pressure fluctuation becomes very large. Here, the ink jet printer 10 prevents the ink from continuously leaking from the nozzles of the recording head 16 by adjusting the pressure of the ink supplied to the recording head 16 to a negative pressure within a certain range by the pressure damper 17. can do. Therefore, assuming that the inkjet printer 10 has a configuration in which only one flow path is formed from the tank 13 to the recording head 16, the negative pressure within a certain range is adjusted with respect to a very large pressure fluctuation. It is necessary to provide a pressure damper 17 that can perform the above-described operation. As a result, it is necessary to provide a large pressure damper 17. However, since the inkjet printer 10 is not configured to have only one flow path from the tank 13 to the recording head 16, the inkjet printer 10 includes an annular tube 18 between the tank 13 and the recording head 16. The fluctuation of the pressure applied to the recording head 16 from the ink in the annular tube 18 can be suppressed by the annular tube 18 as described above (see FIG. 10B). As a result, the pressure damper 17 can be downsized. Can do.

  FIG. 10A shows a change in the pressure of ink applied to the pressure damper 17 when the recording head 16 is moved when only one flow path is formed from the tank 13 to the recording head 16 as in the prior art. It is a graph which shows a measured value. FIG. 10B shows measured values of fluctuations in ink pressure applied to the pressure damper 17 when the recording head 16 moves when the annular tube 18 is provided between the tank 13 and the recording head 16. It is a graph to show.

  In the graph shown in FIG. 10A and the graph shown in FIG. 10B, the moving distance, moving speed, and acceleration during acceleration / deceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by arrows 10a and 10b are 700 mm, respectively. 5 is a graph showing measured values of fluctuations in ink pressure applied to the pressure damper 17 when the water head value of the recording head 16 with respect to the tank 13 is 300 mm, 500 mm / sec, 1 G. According to the graph shown in FIG. 10A, when only one flow path is formed from the tank 13 to the recording head 16 as in the prior art, the maximum pressure is 10.45 kPa, and the minimum Since the pressure is -0.34 kPa, the fluctuation value of the pressure is as large as 10.79 kPa. On the other hand, according to the graph shown in FIG. 10B, when the annular tube 18 is provided between the tank 13 and the recording head 16, the maximum pressure is 5.90 kPa, and the minimum pressure Is 1.78 kPa, the pressure fluctuation value is suppressed to 4.12 kPa.

  In the inkjet printer 10, the ink in the annular tube 18 circulates in the annular tube 18 due to the inertial force generated by the acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube 18, so that the ink in the annular tube 18 is an ink whose components are likely to settle. In addition, the ink in the annular tube 18 can be agitated by circulation in the annular tube 18. Therefore, the ink jet printer 10 can improve the uniformity of the concentration of the components in the ink supplied from the annular tube 18 to the recording head 16 and, as a result, improve the quality of the image printed by the recording head 16. be able to.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the lengths of the two tube portions 18c and 18d of the annular tube 18 are different from each other, the length of the shorter tube portion 18c of the two tube portions 18c and 18d is used. When the entire print range in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b can be scanned, a portion longer than the length of the shorter tube portion 18c among the longer tube portions 18d is not necessary. However, since the lengths of the two tube portions 18c and 18d of the annular tube 18 are substantially the same as shown in FIG. 2 in the inkjet printer 10, the lengths of the two tube portions 18c and 18d are suppressed. The installation space for the annular tube 18 can be reduced, and as a result, the entire inkjet printer 10 can be reduced in size.

  Note that the inkjet printer 10 may have a configuration in which the lengths of the two tube portions 18c and 18d of the annular tube 18 are different from each other as shown in FIG.

  When the recording head 16 accelerates or decelerates in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b, the inkjet printer 10 includes the annular tube 18 and the acceleration tube 20 that move together with the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. Since the flow path 10d between the recording heads 16 is blocked, the pressure applied to the recording head 16 from the ink in the annular tube 18 by the acceleration / deceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b is further increased. Can be suppressed.

  Since the ink jet printer 10 can circulate the ink in the annular tube 18 in the annular tube 18 by the tubing pump 19, even if the ink in the annular tube 18 is an ink whose components are likely to settle, The ink in the tube 18 can be agitated by circulation in the annular tube 18. Therefore, the ink jet printer 10 can improve the uniformity of the concentration of the components in the ink supplied from the annular tube 18 to the recording head 16 and, as a result, improve the quality of the image printed by the recording head 16. be able to.

  In addition, since the tubing pump 19 opens the flow path 10d when the recording head 16 moves in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b (S103) (YES in S101 or S102), the inkjet printer 10 has the recording head. It is possible to prevent the circulation of ink in the annular tube 18 when 16 is accelerated or decelerated in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. That is, the inkjet printer 10 prevents the tubing pump 19 from suppressing the pressure fluctuation applied to the recording head 16 from the ink in the annular tube 18 by the acceleration / deceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. This can be prevented.

  The ink jet printer 10 is movably disposed in the annular tube 18 as shown in FIG. 12 in order to improve the function of stirring the ink in the annular tube 18 by circulation in the annular tube 18. A spherical member 41 may be provided. With this configuration, when the recording head 16 accelerates or decelerates in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b, the ink in the annular tube 18 is moved into the annular tube 18 by the inertial force generated by the acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube 18. Since the spherical member 41 in the annular tube 18 also moves along with the circulation of the ink in the annular tube 18, even if the ink in the annular tube 18 is an ink whose components tend to settle, The ink in the tube 18 can be agitated by the movement of the spherical member 41 in the annular tube 18. Therefore, the ink jet printer 10 can improve the uniformity of the concentration of the components in the ink supplied from the annular tube 18 to the recording head 16 and, as a result, improve the quality of the image printed by the recording head 16. be able to.

  In the example shown in FIG. 12, the inkjet printer 10 includes a spherical member 41 as the ink stirring unit of the present invention. When the recording head 16 accelerates or decelerates in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b, the ink jet printer 10 causes the ink in the annular tube 18 to circulate in the annular tube 18 by the inertial force due to the acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube 18. In this case, the ink stirrer in the annular tube 18 receives the ink flow due to the circulation of the ink in the annular tube 18 and stirs the ink, so that the ink in the annular tube 18 is an ink whose components are likely to settle. However, the uniformity of the concentration of the components in the ink supplied from the annular tube 18 to the recording head 16 can be improved, and as a result, the quality of the image printed by the recording head 16 can be improved. Note that the inkjet printer 10 may include a configuration other than the spherical member 41 as the ink agitating unit as long as the ink is agitated by receiving the ink flow in the annular tube 18.

  For example, in order to improve the function of stirring the ink in the annular tube 18 by circulation in the annular tube 18, the inkjet printer 10 has an uneven portion on at least a part of the inner wall of the annular tube 18 as shown in FIG. 13. 18f may be provided as the ink stirring unit of the present invention. With this configuration, when the recording head 16 accelerates or decelerates in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b, the ink in the annular tube 18 is moved into the annular tube 18 by the inertial force generated by the acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube 18. When the ink is circulated, the ink in the annular tube 18 is agitated by the uneven portion 18f on the inner wall of the annular tube 18, so that even if the ink in the annular tube 18 is an ink whose components are likely to settle, The uniformity of the concentration of the components in the ink supplied from 18 to the recording head 16 can be improved, and as a result, the quality of the image printed by the recording head 16 can be improved.

  Further, in order to improve the function of stirring the ink in the annular tube 18 by circulation in the annular tube 18, the ink jet printer 10 has a coil 42 in the annular tube 18 as shown in FIG. You may provide as a stirring part. The coil 42 is a spiral protrusion that forms an uneven portion together with the inner wall of the annular tube 18. With this configuration, when the recording head 16 accelerates or decelerates in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b, the ink in the annular tube 18 is moved into the annular tube 18 by the inertial force generated by the acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube 18. When the ink is circulated, the ink in the annular tube 18 is agitated while being rotated by the spiral of the coil 42 in the annular tube 18, so that the ink in the annular tube 18 is an ink whose components are likely to settle. In addition, the uniformity of the concentration of the components in the ink supplied from the annular tube 18 to the recording head 16 can be improved, and as a result, the quality of the image printed by the recording head 16 can be improved. As a material of the coil 42, for example, a synthetic resin, a metal, or the like can be employed.

  Further, in order to improve the function of stirring the ink in the annular tube 18 by circulation in the annular tube 18, the ink jet printer 10 makes a part of the annular tube 18 spiral as shown in FIG. good. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 15, the spiral portion 18g constitutes the ink stirring portion of the present invention. With this configuration, when the recording head 16 accelerates or decelerates in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b, the ink in the annular tube 18 is moved into the annular tube 18 by the inertial force generated by the acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube 18. When the ink is circulated, the ink in the annular tube 18 is stirred while being rotated by the spiral portion 18g of the annular tube 18, so that the ink in the annular tube 18 is an ink whose components are likely to settle. In addition, the uniformity of the concentration of the components in the ink supplied from the annular tube 18 to the recording head 16 can be improved, and as a result, the quality of the image printed by the recording head 16 can be improved.

  Note that the ink jet printer 10 can stir the ink in the annular tube 18 by circulation in the annular tube 18 due to the inertial force caused by the acceleration / deceleration of the annular tube 18 as described above. And the uneven part 18f may not be provided.

  Further, as described above, the inkjet printer 10 can suppress fluctuations in pressure applied to the recording head 16 from the ink in the annular tube 18 by acceleration / deceleration of the recording head 16 in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrows 10a and 10b. Therefore, the acceleration damper 20 may not be provided.

  The ink jet printer 10 has a function of stirring the ink in the annular tube 18 by circulation in the annular tube 18 as described above, even when the ink in the annular tube 18 is an ink in which components are likely to settle. However, the recording head 16 may also have a function of suppressing sedimentation of ink components. That is, the ink jet printer 10 performs flushing that forcibly ejects the entire amount of ink in the recording head 16 periodically, for example, once a week, in order to suppress sedimentation of ink components in the recording head 16. You may come to do. Further, if the ink jet printer 10 forcibly discharges not only the total amount of ink in the recording head 16 but also the total amount of ink in the pressure damper 17 in this flushing, the ink component of the recording head 16 is reduced. Not only sedimentation but also sedimentation of ink components in the pressure damper 17 can be suppressed. Furthermore, the ink jet printer 10 forcibly discharges not only the total amount of ink in the recording head 16 and the total amount of ink in the pressure damper 17 but also the total amount of ink in the acceleration damper 20 in this flushing. In this case, not only the sedimentation of the ink components in the recording head 16 and the pressure damper 17 but also the sedimentation of the ink components in the acceleration damper 20 can be suppressed. That is, in this flushing, if the entire amount of ink from the ink discharge portion 18b to the nozzles of the recording head 16 is forcibly discharged, the ink components settle from the ink discharge portion 18b to the nozzles of the recording head 16. Can be suppressed. The ink jet printer 10 only needs to perform this flushing only on the ink whose components tend to settle.

10 Inkjet printer 10a Arrow (Arrow indicating main scanning direction)
10b Arrow (Arrow indicating main scanning direction)
10d flow path 13 tank 16 recording head 17 pressure damper (pressure regulator)
18 Annular tube 18a Ink introduction part 18b Ink discharge part 18c Tube part (one side tube part, other side tube part)
18d Tube part (one side tube part, the other side tube part)
18f Concavity and convexity (ink stirring part)
18g portion (ink stirrer, part of the annular tube spiraled)
19 Tubing pump 41 Spherical member (ink stirrer)
42 Coil (ink stirrer, spiral protrusion)

Claims (8)

A tank that stores ink; a recording head that is disposed at a lower position in the direction of gravity than the tank and that discharges the ink; and forms at least part of the ink flow path from the tank to the recording head. An annular tube that deforms according to the movement of the recording head in the main scanning direction, and a pressure regulator that adjusts the pressure of the ink supplied from the annular tube to the recording head to a negative pressure within a certain range. And
The annular tube is an annular tube provided with an ink introduction part for introducing the ink from the tank side, and an ink discharge part for discharging the ink to the recording head side,
The annular tube is formed in a length that allows the recording head to scan the entire printing range in the main scanning direction.   The inkjet printer according to claim 1, further comprising an ink agitation unit that agitates the ink by receiving the flow of the ink in the annular tube.   The annular tube connects the ink introduction part and the ink discharge part, and connects the one side tube part that swells in one direction in the main scanning direction, and the ink introduction part and the ink discharge part. The inkjet printer according to claim 2, further comprising an other tube portion that swells in the other direction in the main scanning direction.   4. The ink jet printer according to claim 2, wherein the ink agitation unit is a concavo-convex part disposed in at least a part of the annular tube.   The ink jet printer according to claim 4, wherein the uneven portion is formed by a spiral protrusion.   4. The ink jet printer according to claim 2, wherein the ink stirring unit is a part in which a part of the annular tube is formed in a spiral shape. 5.   4. The ink jet printer according to claim 2, wherein the ink agitating unit is a spherical member that is movably disposed in the annular tube. A tubing pump that includes a portion of the annular tube and circulates the ink in the annular tube;
The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tubing pump opens the flow path when the recording head moves in the main scanning direction.

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