JP2015205456A - recording unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording unit capable of preventing the leakage of ink from a head part when the recording unit is removed from a recording device.SOLUTION: A recording unit 2 comprises an ink tank 8, a head part 6, and an ink feed passage 9 connecting both. An annular magnet 16 is provided in a connection part of the feed passage and the tank. A spherical valve body 20 is movably provided inside a valve chamber 18 in the tank communicating with the connection part. On an installation part 3, there are a cartridge detection part 26 and an electromagnet 25 provided at a position corresponding to the valve chamber. When the unit is removed from the installation part 3, the valve body moves, is held by the magnet, and closes the feed passage 9, and thereby ink is prevented from leaking. When the unit is attached to the installation part, since the electromagnet is actuated based on a detection signal of the detection part and attracts and holds the valve body, the feed passage is opened, and the ink can be discharged.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording unit which is detachably installed at a predetermined installation position in a recording apparatus such as a data logger or a plotter, and discharges ink from a head unit to perform recording on a recording medium. The present invention relates to a recording unit that prevents ink from leaking from a head portion when removed.

According to the invention of the recording unit disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, the recording head 4 and the four ink containers 1 are attached to the frame 6 with screws. The ink container 1 is a rectangular plastic molded product, and ink is sealed in an internal space. The ink supply pipe 5 connected to the recording head 4 penetrates the left side of the ink container 1 through a sealing member, and the ink in the ink container 1 passes through the ink supply pipe 5 and the recording head 4. The recording head 4 performs recording by discharging the ink onto a medium. According to the present invention, the ink container is fixed to the frame and can withstand vibration and shock, and the empty ink container 1 can be replaced.
The reference numerals in the above description are those used in Patent Document 1 below.

JP-A-5-309842

  According to the invention of the recording unit described in Patent Document 1, when the ink container becomes empty, the ink container is removed from the frame, and a new ink container filled with ink is attached to the frame or attached to the removed ink container. After the ink is filled, it can be attached to the frame again and used.

  However, when the ink supply pipe 5 is to be connected to the ink container 1 in the ink container replacement operation of the recording unit, depending on the orientation of the recording unit, the ink remaining in the ink supply pipe 5 may leak from the pipe end. There was a case. Further, even when the ink container is not replaced, for example, when carrying the ink, if the nozzle of the recording head 4 is not capped, ink may leak from the nozzle. If the recording unit is carried around, the recording head is swung around. If it becomes such a state, it will be in the state where the ink jumps out of the nozzle and is scattered around.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and is removed from the recording apparatus main body in a recording unit that is detachably installed in the recording apparatus and performs recording on a recording medium by discharging ink from a head portion. The purpose is to prevent ink from leaking from the head portion.

The recording unit according to claim 1 is:
A recording unit that is detachably installed at a predetermined installation position and performs recording by discharging ink to a recording medium,
An ink tank for storing ink;
An ink supply path having one end connected to the ink tank;
A head unit that is connected to the other end of the ink supply path and discharges ink supplied from the ink tank via the ink supply path;
A magnet provided at a predetermined position between the head portion and a connection portion where the one end of the ink supply path is connected to the ink tank;
A magnetic valve body that is movably provided in a predetermined range near the magnet and closes the ink supply path when held by the magnet;
An electromagnet that is provided close to the predetermined range and is moved when the recording unit is installed at the installation position to move and hold the valve body that closes the ink supply path;
It is characterized by comprising.

The recording unit according to claim 2 is the recording unit according to claim 1,
The magnet is an annular magnet through which ink flows through a central hole,
The valve body is a spherical valve body provided in the ink,
When the valve body is held by the magnet, the flow of ink passing through the hole of the magnet is blocked.

The recording unit according to claim 3 is the recording unit according to claim 2,
An ink-permeable separating member that divides a part of the inside of the ink tank in which the connection part is opened from the other part as the predetermined range;
The magnet is provided in the connection portion.

The recording unit according to claim 4 is the recording unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A detection unit for detecting that the recording unit is installed at the installation position;
A controller that drives the electromagnet when the detector detects that the recording unit is installed at the installation position;
It is characterized by comprising.

The recording unit described in claim 1 is installed and used at a predetermined installation position. In use, ink is supplied from the ink tank to the head portion via the ink supply path, and is ejected from the head portion to form an image on the medium.
When removing the recording unit installed at the predetermined installation position and trying to carry it to another position for the purpose of replacing with a new recording unit, etc., the valve body can move freely within the predetermined range, The ink supply path is closed by being attracted and held by a magnet provided in the vicinity of a predetermined range. For this reason, the problem that the ink inside the ink tank flows to the head portion through the ink supply path and leaks out as it is is prevented. Similarly, when a new recording unit (or a recording unit filled with ink) is carried to be installed at a predetermined installation position, ink leakage is prevented.

  When a new recording unit (or a recording unit filled with ink) is installed at a predetermined installation position, an electromagnet is activated to generate a magnetic force, which is attracted to the magnet and closes the ink supply path. A magnetic force larger than the magnetic force of the magnet acting on the valve body is applied. As a result, the valve body that has closed the ink supply path moves from the original position by the magnetic force of the electromagnet, is attracted to the electromagnet, moves to a position corresponding to the electromagnet within a predetermined range, and is held at the position. . Accordingly, the ink supply path is opened, and the ink tank and the head portion are in communication with each other so that ink recording is possible.

  When the recording unit described in claim 2 is removed from the predetermined position, the magnetic force of the electromagnet holding the valve element disappears, and the valve element can move freely. Since the valve body is spherical, it tends to roll within a predetermined range. If the removed recording unit is tilted during handling, the spherical valve body easily rolls due to gravity in the ink, and is pulled by the magnet to the position where the ink supply path is closed. Can move easily. The valve body is pulled by the magnet and is held at a position for closing the ink flow path passing through the hole of the magnet, so that the ink supply path can be reliably closed.

  When the recording unit described in claim 3 is removed from the predetermined position and the magnetic force of the electromagnet disappears, the valve body can roll within a predetermined range inside the ink tank defined by the separating member. The separating member is a member that allows the ink to freely pass through, but can arbitrarily limit the range of movement of the valve body according to the form of the separating member. The separating member is connected to the connection portion of the ink supply path in a predetermined range surrounded by the separating member. It can be configured so that the body can be easily guided. For this reason, when the posture is changed by removing the recording unit from the predetermined position, the valve body is immediately moved to the connection portion of the ink supply path and held by the magnet, so that the ink supply path can be reliably closed.

  According to the recording unit described in claim 4, when the recording unit is installed at the installation position, the detection unit detects this. The control unit drives the electromagnet based on the detection result of the detection unit. The valve element that has been attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet to close the ink supply path is moved away from a position that is attracted by the electromagnet to close the ink supply path, moves to a position corresponding to the electromagnet, and is held at that position. Accordingly, the ink supply path is opened, and the ink tank and the head portion are in communication with each other so that ink recording is possible.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a recording unit provided in the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of a recording unit provided in the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. It is a functional block diagram of a recording apparatus provided with a recording unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of removing and carrying the recording unit provided in the recording device which concerns on embodiment of this invention from an installation position.

A recording apparatus according to the first embodiment and a recording unit provided in the recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the structure of the recording apparatus and the recording unit will be mainly described.
The present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 relates to a recording apparatus 1 such as a data logger or plotter. The main body of the recording apparatus 1 is provided with an installation unit 3 for the recording unit 2. The installation section 3 can be reciprocated in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1 by the guide means 4 and a drive section 39 (see FIG. 3) described later. The recording unit 2 is detachably installed in the installation unit 3. A roll-shaped recording medium 5 having an axis 5a parallel to the guiding direction of the guiding means 4 (perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) is provided in front of the recording unit 2 on the installation unit 3. At the time of recording, ink is ejected from the head unit 6 of the recording unit 2 to the recording medium 5 while moving the setting unit 3 as necessary, and the recording medium 5 wound in a roll shape is appropriately pulled out to the recording medium 5. Arbitrary images (including characters) can be recorded and sent out.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the recording unit 2 includes a frame 7. The frame 7 has a main body portion that is substantially box-shaped, and a front upper portion that protrudes forward. An ink tank 8 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is provided inside the frame 7. The ink tank 8 is a container having a relatively thin thickness in the depth direction of the paper as compared to the illustrated vertical and horizontal dimensions. A head portion 6 is provided at the upper front portion of the frame 7 with the nozzle facing forward. One end of an ink supply pipe 9 serving as an ink supply path is connected to and communicated with the lower part of the front surface of the ink tank 8, and an auxiliary tank chamber 10 for stabilizing ink supply is provided in the middle of the ink supply pipe 9. Further, the other end of the ink supply pipe 9 is connected to the head portion 6. The head portion 6 is provided with a piezoelectric actuator portion (hereinafter referred to as PZT portion) 11, and the wiring connected to the PZT portion 11 is connected to a terminal 12 provided on the back side of the frame 7. When the recording unit 2 is attached to the installation section 3, the terminal 12 is connected to a connector (not shown) of the main body of the recording apparatus 1. When a drive signal is input to the PZT unit 11 under the control of the control unit 30 (see FIG. 4) described later, ink is ejected from the nozzles of the head unit 6.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first concave portion 15 having a shape constituted by a part of a spherical surface is provided on the inner surface side of the front wall portion of the ink tank 8 to which the ink supply pipe 9 is connected. The ink supply pipe 9 communicates with the center of the first recess 15. The first concave portion 15 is a portion that functions as a valve seat for fitting a spherical valve body 20 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later, to shut off the ink supply pipe 9. An annular magnet 16 is attached to the outer surface of the front wall portion of the ink tank 8 so as to surround the ink supply pipe 9 communicating with the first recess 15. Accordingly, when the ink in the ink tank 8 enters the ink supply pipe 9 from the first recess 15, it passes through the central hole 16 a of the magnet 16.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the magnet 16 surrounds the ink supply pipe 9 and is attached to the outer surface side of the ink tank 8, and the connecting portion between the ink supply pipe 9 and the ink tank 8 to which the magnet 16 is attached in this way. The neighborhood is called the “connection”. However, the connecting portion between the ink supply pipe 9 and the ink tank 8 to which the magnet 16 can be attached does not mean only the outer surface side of the ink tank 8 surrounding the ink supply pipe 9 as in the present embodiment. . In the present embodiment, the connection portion refers to a portion of the ink supply pipe 9 that is coupled to the ink tank 8, an outer surface near the opening of the front wall portion of the ink tank 8 where the ink supply pipe 9 is open, and It means a position where the magnetic force of the magnet 16 provided in the inner surface side portion and the vicinity thereof and the like effectively reaches a predetermined range in the ink tank 8. Therefore, unlike the present embodiment, the magnet 16 may be provided at the inner surface of the front wall, that is, at a position immersed in the ink in the ink tank 8, but in that case, the ink suction of the hole 16a of the annular magnet 16 is performed. It is preferable that the first recess 15 as described above is provided on the side so that the first recess 15, the hole 16 a, and the ink supply pipe 9 communicate with each other.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the ink tank 8, isolation members 17 are provided at corners of the inner surface of the front wall portion with which the ink supply pipe 9 communicates. The separating member 17 partitions a relatively narrow part of the space in the ink tank 8 from other relatively wide spaces. A small space in the ink tank 8 separated by the separating member 17 is a predetermined range in which a valve body 20 described later is movably provided. In this sense, this is referred to as a valve chamber 18. The separating member 17 is a rough net-like member and does not give resistance to the ink flow. That is, the ink in the ink tank 8 can flow into the ink supply pipe 9 from the first recess 15 without any trouble as long as the ink supply pipe 9 is opened even if the separating member 17 is present.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a spherical valve body 20 is movably provided inside the valve chamber 18 of the ink tank 8. The valve body 20 is made of a magnetic material, and the surface thereof is covered with a resin layer 21. The valve body 20 is movable in the valve chamber 18. When the valve body 20 is close to the first recess 15 or enters the first recess 15, the valve body 20 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 16 and is held in the first recess 15. Then, the ink supply pipe 9 is closed, and the ink in the ink tank 8 is not supplied to the head unit 6.

  The valve body 20 is made of a magnetic material such as metal. If the magnetic material is exposed on the surface, rust may occur if the ink is water-based. If the rust is mixed with the ink, the ink supply pipe 9 or the head unit 6 may be clogged, or the ink itself Problems such as deterioration of properties may occur. However, in the embodiment, since the surface of the valve body 20 is covered and protected by the resin layer 21, such a problem is prevented in advance. Further, since the resin layer 21 is provided on the surface of the valve body 20, the close contact between the valve body 20 attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 16 and the first recess 15 is improved, and the prevention of ink leakage is ensured. Become.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the valve chamber 18 of the ink tank 8, the inner surface (bottom surface) of the bottom wall of the ink tank 8 is provided with a second recess 22 having a shape constituted by a part of a spherical surface. It has been. The second recess 22 is for holding the valve body 20 away from the first recess 15. An electromagnet 25 is provided at a predetermined position of the installation portion 3 so as to correspond to the second recess 22. Further, a cartridge detection unit 26 is provided at a key point of the installation unit 3 as a detection unit that detects that the recording unit 2 is installed in the installation unit 3. The electromagnet 25 and the cartridge detection unit 26 are connected to a control unit 30 (see FIG. 3) described later.

  A plurality of combinations of the ink tank 8 and the head unit 6 having the above-described configuration are provided in the frame 7 of the recording unit 2 shown in FIG. When full-color printing is performed, at least four inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are generally required. Therefore, the ink tank 8 and the head unit 6 having different ink colors in the frame 7 are used. For example, four sets of such combinations are arranged side by side. Of course, in the case of the monochrome recording apparatus 1, the ink tank 8 in the recording unit 2 may be single.

  In this embodiment, the electromagnet 25 is provided on the installation portion 3 side. However, the electromagnet 25 is provided as a part of the recording unit 2 on the lower surface of the bottom wall portion corresponding to the second recess 22 of the ink tank 8. It may be provided. That is, if the recording unit 2 is installed at a regular position of the installation unit 3, the contact point of the electromagnet 25 provided in the recording unit 2 is electrically connected to the contact unit provided on the installation unit 3 side. May be driven.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the magnet 16 is disposed on the connection portion between the ink supply pipe 9 and the ink tank 8, particularly on the outer surface side of the ink tank 8, and the valve body 20 is placed in the valve chamber 18 in the ink tank 8 where the connection portion opens. However, the arrangement of the magnet 16 and the valve body 20 is not limited to this. In the present invention, the magnet 16 that holds the valve body 20 in order to close the ink supply pipe 9 can be provided at an arbitrary position between the connection portion of the ink supply pipe 9 and the ink tank 8 and the head portion 6. . For example, a similar structure with an annular magnet 16 and a spherical valve body 20 is provided in the auxiliary tank chamber 10 provided in the middle of the ink supply pipe 9, and the same function and effect of opening and closing the ink supply pipe 9 are achieved. You can also play. In such a case, the position of the electromagnet 25 needs to be in the vicinity thereof.

Next, the control system of the recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 3 includes a control unit 30 configured by a CPU. The control unit 30 is connected to each unit of the device described below and the power source unit 31 through a bus 32, and can control the entire device as described below.

  The image memory unit 33 is connected to an external PC or the like via an I / F input processing unit 34, and image data input from the outside by the PC or the like is connected to the image memory unit 33 via the I / F input processing unit 34. Is remembered.

  The output image processing unit 35 performs necessary processing on the image information in the image memory unit 33 and supplies it to the head unit 6 so that the head unit 6 including the PZT unit 11 is appropriately driven. The NET control unit 36 is connected to an external network 37, and can store image information acquired from the external network 37 in the image memory unit 33 for image formation. The mechanism control unit 38 controls the drive unit 39 that moves the installation unit 3 in which the recording unit 2 is installed along the guide unit 4 and also controls other drive units of the apparatus. The recording apparatus 1 can be controlled by an input operation from the operation panel 40 or the like, but can also be performed by an input operation from the PC.

  As described above, the recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the cartridge detection unit 26 in the installation unit 3 as a means for confirming that the recording unit 2 is installed at a regular position on the installation unit 3. Yes. For example, when the recording unit 2 is installed at the normal position, the cartridge detection unit 26 is pushed by the recording unit 2 to close the contact, and outputs an ON signal as a recording unit presence signal. When the recording unit 2 is removed from the recording unit 2, the recording unit 2 is separated and the contact is opened, and a switch that outputs an OFF signal as a recording unit absence signal can be configured.

  As described above, the recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment moves the valve body 20 that closes the ink supply pipe 9 of the recording unit 2 that is normally attached to the installation unit 3 to open the ink supply pipe 9. As a means for enabling ink supply, an electromagnet 25 is provided. The electromagnet 25 is provided at a predetermined position on the installation unit 3 so as to correspond to the valve chamber 18 of the recording unit 2 installed at a regular position on the installation unit 3. The electromagnet 25 is driven by an electromagnet controller 50 that is controlled by the controller 30.

Next, the opening / closing of the ink supply pipe 9 when the recording unit 2 is attached / detached, and the operation associated therewith will be described in the recording apparatus 1 of the embodiment.
The controller 30 controls the ON / OFF of the electromagnet 25 by the electromagnet controller 50 based on the ON signal and OFF signal of the cartridge detector 26 and detects the current flowing through the electromagnet 25, and based on this, the electromagnet 25 The magnitude of the flowing current can also be appropriately controlled.

  Specifically, when the recording unit 2 is installed at the normal position of the installation unit 3 in a state where the system of this apparatus is ON, the cartridge detection unit 26 outputs a detection signal (ON signal with recording unit). Upon receiving this ON signal, the control unit 30 sends a command signal to the electromagnet control unit 50 to drive the electromagnet 25. At this time, the electromagnet controller 50 outputs a relatively strong pulse signal to the electromagnet 25 and instantaneously generates a magnetic force larger than that of the magnet 16 holding the valve body 20 to act on the valve chamber 18. . Therefore, even if the valve body 20 is held by the magnet 16 and the ink supply pipe 9 is closed, the valve body 20 is attracted by the magnetic force of the electromagnet 25 and is separated from the first recess 15 and enters the second recess 22. Magnetized and retained. As a result, the first recess 15 is opened, and the ink in the ink tank 8 can be supplied from the ink supply pipe 9 to the head unit 6.

  Here, when the valve body 20 is attracted to the electromagnet 25 and held in the second recess 22, the inductance of the electromagnet 25 changes and the drive current becomes small. When the control unit 30 captures this change, the control unit 30 sends a command signal to the electromagnet control unit 50 to reduce the drive current of the electromagnet 25, so that the valve body 20 can be stably held in the second recess 22. Switch to a weaker holding current. Therefore, as long as the electromagnet 25 is driven by the holding current, the valve body 20 is moved again and is attracted to the magnet 16, and the first recess 15 is not closed to make it impossible to supply ink. In addition, since the current for holding the valve body 20 in the second recess 22 is minimal, the cost is not a problem.

  When the recording unit 2 is removed from the normal position of the installation unit 3, the cartridge detection unit 26 outputs a non-detection signal (OFF signal indicating no recording unit). Upon receiving this OFF signal, the control unit 30 sends a command signal to the electromagnet control unit 50 and stops driving the electromagnet 25. When the recording unit 2 removed and held in the hand of the person is tilted forward by an angle θ as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the valve body 20 is moved by gravity due to gravity. It rolls toward the 1st recessed part 15 in the chamber 18, is attracted | sucked by the magnet 16, is hold | maintained inside the 1st recessed part 15, and the ink supply pipe 9 is closed. If the size of the valve chamber 18, the size of the valve body 20, the magnitude of the magnetic force of the magnet 16, etc. are set appropriately, the removed recording unit 2 is particularly inclined as described above. Alternatively, the spherical valve body 20 that has become free in the valve chamber 18 may be attracted by the magnetic force and rolled to be held in the first recess 15.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording device 2 ... Recording unit 5 ... Recording medium 6 ... Head part 8 ... Ink tank 9 ... Ink supply pipe as an ink supply path 16 ... Magnet 16a ... Magnet hole 17 ... Isolation member 18 ... Isolated by isolation member The valve chamber 20 which is a part of the inside of the ink tank 20 ... the valve body 25 ... the electromagnet 26 ... the cartridge detection unit 30 as the detection unit 30 ... the control unit 50 ... the electromagnet control unit

Claims (4)

A recording unit that is detachably installed at a predetermined installation position and performs recording by discharging ink to a recording medium,
An ink tank for storing ink;
An ink supply path having one end connected to the ink tank;
A head unit that is connected to the other end of the ink supply path and discharges ink supplied from the ink tank via the ink supply path;
A magnet provided at a predetermined position between the head portion and a connection portion where the one end of the ink supply path is connected to the ink tank;
A magnetic valve body that is movably provided in a predetermined range near the magnet and closes the ink supply path when held by the magnet;
An electromagnet that is provided close to the predetermined range and is moved when the recording unit is installed at the installation position to move and hold the valve body that closes the ink supply path;
A recording unit comprising: The magnet is an annular magnet through which ink flows through a central hole,
The valve body is a spherical valve body provided in the ink,
2. The recording unit according to claim 1, wherein when the valve body is held by the magnet, the flow of ink passing through the hole of the magnet is blocked. An ink-permeable separating member that divides a part of the inside of the ink tank in which the connection part is opened from the other part as the predetermined range;
The recording unit according to claim 2, wherein the magnet is provided in the connection portion. A detection unit for detecting that the recording unit is installed at the installation position;
A controller that drives the electromagnet when the detector detects that the recording unit is installed at the installation position;
The recording unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

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