JP2018043423A - Liquid filling method and liquid injection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid filling method capable of efficiently discharging air when filling a liquid supply channel between a liquid storage body and a liquid injection section with liquid, and a liquid injection device.SOLUTION: A liquid injection device 12 comprises: a liquid injection section 36 injecting liquid; and a liquid supply channel 46 connecting a liquid storage body 30 and the liquid injection section 36 so as to be able to supply the liquid stored by the liquid storage body 30 to the liquid injection section 36. The liquid supply channel 46 has an intermediate storage body connection section 62 capable of connecting an intermediate storage body 45 having an intermediate storage section 61 capable of storing the liquid at a position between the liquid storage body 30 and the liquid injection section 36. A liquid filling method for filling the liquid supply channel 46 in the liquid injection device 12 with the liquid causes the liquid to flow into an upstream side liquid supply channel 66 located closer to an upstream side than the intermediate storage body connection section 62 out of the liquid supply channel 46 from the intermediate storage body connection section 62, and fills the upstream side liquid supply channel 66 with the liquid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid filling method and a liquid ejecting apparatus for filling a liquid supply channel from a liquid container to a liquid ejecting unit with a liquid such as ink.

  As an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus, a liquid supplied from a liquid container containing a liquid such as ink used for printing through a liquid supply channel is ejected from a liquid ejecting unit (for example, an ejection head) toward a medium such as paper. Thus, an ink jet printer that prints an image or the like on a medium is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  By the way, when the user uses the liquid ejecting apparatus for the first time, the liquid supply flow path is in a state in which nothing is filled (gas is filled). Therefore, the liquid ejecting apparatus performs a liquid filling operation (initial filling operation) for filling the liquid supply channel that is not filled with any liquid. For example, in the liquid ejecting apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the space around the nozzle sealed with a cap in the liquid ejecting unit is depressurized, and the liquid from the liquid container is discharged from the nozzle together with the air in the liquid supply channel. By performing suction, a filling operation for filling the liquid supply channel with the liquid is performed.

JP 2006-137181 A

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the pressure adjusting mechanism and the air in the liquid supply flow path (particularly, the supply pipe) are mixed with the liquid from the connection end connected to the liquid container in the filling operation. There is a problem that air tends to remain in the liquid supply flow path after the filling operation because it must be discharged to the outside via the liquid ejecting section.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid filling method and a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of efficiently discharging air when a liquid supply channel connecting a liquid container and a liquid ejecting unit is filled with liquid.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
A liquid filling method that solves the above problem includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid, and a liquid that connects the liquid container and the liquid ejecting unit so that the liquid contained in the liquid container can be supplied to the liquid ejecting unit. A liquid having an intermediate reservoir connecting portion capable of connecting an intermediate reservoir having an intermediate reservoir capable of storing the liquid at a position between the liquid container and the liquid ejecting portion in the supply flow path A liquid filling method of filling the liquid into a liquid ejecting apparatus comprising a supply flow path, wherein the liquid supply flow path includes an upstream liquid supply flow path that is upstream from the intermediate reservoir connecting portion. The liquid is caused to flow from the intermediate reservoir connecting portion, and the upstream liquid supply flow path is filled with the liquid.

  According to the above method, when the upstream liquid supply flow path is filled with liquid, the air initially present in the upstream liquid supply flow path can be discharged to the upstream side. Thus, the amount of air discharged to the outside can be reduced, and an efficient filling operation can be performed.

  In the liquid filling method, the intermediate reservoir in which the liquid is prefilled in the intermediate reservoir is connected to the intermediate reservoir connection, and the upstream liquid supply flow path is filled with the liquid in the intermediate reservoir. It is preferable to do.

According to the above method, it is possible to easily fill the upstream liquid supply channel with the liquid by flowing the liquid from the intermediate reservoir connecting portion side into the upstream liquid supply channel.
In the liquid filling method, it is preferable that the intermediate reservoir is pre-filled with the liquid so that the pressure in the intermediate reservoir is higher than the outer space of the intermediate reservoir.

  According to the above method, the flow rate (the amount of liquid flowing per unit time) when the liquid flows in the upstream liquid supply channel by using the intermediate storage body in which the liquid in the intermediate storage portion is pressurized. Therefore, an efficient filling operation can be performed.

  In the liquid filling method, the downstream liquid is caused to flow from the intermediate reservoir connecting portion into the downstream liquid supply channel that is downstream from the intermediate reservoir connecting portion in the liquid supply channel. It is preferable to fill the supply channel with the liquid.

According to the above method, the liquid supply channel can be filled with the liquid by filling the downstream side liquid supply channel with the liquid.
In a liquid ejecting apparatus that solves the above-described problem, a liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid, a liquid housing unit that can store the liquid, an inlet that can inject the liquid from the outside into the liquid housing unit, and the liquid housing unit A liquid container having an atmosphere communication hole that communicates with the atmosphere, and a liquid supply channel that connects the liquid container and the liquid ejecting section so that the liquid accommodated in the liquid container can be supplied to the liquid ejecting section. A liquid supply flow path having an intermediate reservoir connecting portion capable of connecting an intermediate reservoir having an intermediate reservoir capable of storing the liquid at a position between the liquid container and the liquid ejecting portion. And the liquid stored in the intermediate reservoir of the intermediate reservoir connected to the intermediate reservoir connecting portion is an upstream liquid supply that is upstream of the intermediate reservoir connecting portion in the liquid supply channel. Liquid flow mechanism to flow in the flow path , And a.

  According to the above configuration, when the upstream liquid supply flow path is filled with liquid, the air initially present in the upstream liquid supply flow path can be discharged to the upstream side. Thus, the amount of air discharged to the outside can be reduced, and an efficient filling operation can be performed.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the liquid storage mechanism includes the intermediate reservoir connecting portion at a position above the upstream liquid supply channel in the direction of gravity.
According to the above configuration, the liquid in the intermediate reservoir can be caused to flow into the upstream liquid supply channel by utilizing the height difference (water head difference) between the liquid in the intermediate reservoir and the upstream liquid supply channel. .

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the liquid flow mechanism includes a pressurizing mechanism that pressurizes the liquid in the intermediate reservoir of the intermediate reservoir connected to the intermediate reservoir connection unit.

  According to the above configuration, the liquid in the intermediate reservoir can be pressurized to increase the flow rate (the amount of liquid flowing per unit time) when the liquid flows in the upstream liquid supply flow path. Can be done.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that a pressure reducing mechanism for reducing the pressure in the upstream liquid supply flow path is provided as the liquid flow mechanism.
According to the above configuration, since the pressure in the upstream liquid supply channel is reduced, the flow rate (the amount of liquid flowing per unit time) when the liquid flows in the upstream liquid supply channel can be increased. Filling operation can be performed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a multifunction machine including the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the first embodiment. The schematic plane sectional view cut | disconnected by the 2-2 line in FIG. 1 of a liquid ejecting apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a liquid supply system of the liquid ejecting apparatus. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a procedure of a liquid filling method in the liquid ejecting apparatus. The schematic cross section which shows the procedure of the liquid filling method. The schematic cross section which shows the procedure of the liquid filling method. The schematic cross section which shows the procedure of the liquid filling method. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a liquid supply system in a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a second embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a multifunction peripheral including a liquid ejecting apparatus (for example, a printing apparatus) will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the liquid ejecting apparatus of the present embodiment is configured by an ink jet printer that performs printing by ejecting, for example, a liquid made of ink or the like onto a medium made of paper or the like. The liquid ejecting apparatus is a so-called serial printer that performs printing by moving the liquid ejecting unit in a scanning direction X in which the printing method intersects the medium transport direction Y.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 11 includes a liquid ejecting apparatus 12 that ejects liquid and an image reading apparatus 13 having a reading function. The liquid ejecting apparatus 12 includes a rectangular parallelepiped casing 14, and the image reading device 13 is disposed on the casing 14.

  The housing 14 is provided with an operation panel unit 15. The operation panel unit 15 includes, for example, an operation unit 16 including a power button 16a and an operation button 16b, and a display unit 17 including a touch panel type liquid crystal display screen.

  In addition, a discharge port 19 for discharging the printed medium M is opened on the front surface of the housing 14. The casing 14 is provided with a rectangular plate-like discharge tray 20 that supports the medium M discharged from the discharge port 19 so as to be slidable in a direction parallel to the medium M discharge direction. A feeding cassette 22 capable of accommodating a plurality of media M used for printing in a stacked state is detachably mounted on a cassette mounting portion 21 that is recessed below the discharge tray 20 in the housing 14.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a liquid supply unit 29 is accommodated at a position facing the transparent window 23 provided at an end portion (right end portion in FIG. 1) of the casing 14 of the liquid ejecting apparatus 12. . The liquid supply unit 29 is a structure that can integrally handle a plurality (four in this embodiment) of liquid containers 30 (30a to 30d). As will be described later, each liquid container 30 includes a liquid. (In this example, ink) can be injected.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a closed position (see FIG. 1) closes the opening 25 in the inclined portion 24 of the front descending slope formed at a position above the transparent window 23 in the housing 14. ) And an open position for opening the opening 25 (see FIG. 2), a cover member 26 that can be opened and closed is provided to be rotatable about a support shaft 27 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 2, the cover member 26 includes a concave finger-hanging portion 26 a for hooking a fingertip when the user opens, and a plurality of surfaces extending along a direction parallel to the turning radius of the cover member 26 on the back surface. (In this example, four) concave grooves 28a to 28d are formed. Incidentally, the concave grooves 28a to 28d are provided at positions corresponding to the liquid containers 30 (30a to 30d) arranged in parallel in the width direction on the back side of the transparent window 23, and receive liquid from a liquid bottle (not shown). When the liquid is injected into the injection port 54 of the body 30, it functions as a positioning recess that positions the liquid bottle at a position corresponding to the liquid container 30.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the visual recognition part 56 is provided in the part facing the transparent window 23 of the liquid containers 30a-30d. The visual recognition part 56 is formed of a transparent material capable of visually recognizing the liquid level of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chambers 57 (see FIG. 3) of the liquid containers 30a to 30d, and the upper limit part 58 indicating the upper limit of ink injection and the ink. It has a lower limit part 59 indicating the lower limit level of the remaining amount.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a moving mechanism 35 that moves the carriage 34 in the scanning direction X is provided in the housing 14. The moving mechanism 35 moves a carriage 34 fixed to a part of a timing belt 32 wound around a pair of pulleys 31 and 31 by a connecting portion 33 by driving the carriage motor 34M, which is a power source, in the scanning direction X. Adopting a belt drive system that reciprocates. A liquid ejecting unit 36 (for example, a liquid ejecting head) that performs printing by ejecting a plurality of types of liquids (for example, four colors of ink) toward the medium M is mounted on the lower surface side of the carriage 34. The moving mechanism 35 includes a pair of rails 37 that support the carriage 34 so as to be movable in the scanning direction X. The carriage 34 stands by at a home position HP set at a position corresponding to one end portion of the movement path in the scanning direction X when the liquid ejection unit 36 does not eject liquid for printing.

  A support base 38 extending in the width direction of the medium M (same as the scanning direction X) is disposed in the housing 14. The support base 38 is a base that supports the lower surface of the medium M that is transported in the transport direction Y during printing, and the liquid absorbent material 38a is exposed at a part of the upper surface.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 includes a transport unit 39 that transports the medium M. As an example, the transport unit 39 employs a roller transport system including transport roller pairs 39A and 39B disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the support base 38 in the transport direction Y, respectively. When the transport unit 39 is driven by the power of a motor (not shown) serving as a power source, the medium M is transported in the transport direction Y through a path supported by the support base 38. The transport unit 39 may be a belt transport system that transports the medium M on a belt.

  A control unit 50 including a circuit board 41 having a CPU and the like is mounted on the support frame unit 40 disposed at a position downstream of the transport unit 39 in the housing 14. The image reading device 13 shown in FIG. 1 is covered with a document cover 13a whose upper surface can be freely opened and closed, and an image of a document placed on a glass plate (not shown) that forms the upper surface is displayed below the glass plate. 2 and the read image (read signal) is transmitted to the circuit board 41 shown in FIG.

  The flexible liquid supply tube 42 having one end connected to the liquid supply unit 29 is folded after a portion on the other end side of the fixing member 43 that supports the midway portion extends in the scanning direction X and is connected. The unit 44 is connected to the carriage 34. The other end of the liquid supply tube 42 is connected to each intermediate reservoir 45 mounted on the carriage 34.

  The intermediate reservoir 45 temporarily stores each liquid supplied by the liquid supply tube 42 before supplying the liquid to the liquid ejecting unit 36. In FIG. 2 and the like, the liquid supply tube 42 is drawn by a plurality (four in the present embodiment) equal to the number of the liquid containers 30a to 30d (four in the present embodiment). For simplification of the drawing, three of the four are omitted and only one is drawn. The plurality of liquid supply tubes 42 are preferably constituted by multiple tubes formed integrally with each other. The liquid supply tube 42 includes a part of the liquid supply flow path 46 that connects the liquid container 30 and the liquid ejecting unit 36 so that the liquid accommodated in the liquid container 30 (30a to 30d) can be supplied to the liquid ejecting unit 36. It is composed.

  Further, the other end of the signal line 47 led out from the connection portion 44 of the carriage 34 and connected at one end side to the liquid ejecting portion 36 and the like, and the other end of the signal line 48 connected at one end side to the liquid supply unit 29 are separated. Are connected to the control unit 50 through the connector 49.

  Next, the liquid supply unit 29 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid supply unit 29 includes a plurality of liquid containers 30 a to 30 d, a flow path forming member 51 in which a flow path connected to the liquid containers 30 a to 30 d is formed, and a plurality of liquids The container 30a-30d is comprised including the set member 52 (refer FIG. 2) set with the flow-path formation member 51 in the state arranged side by side. The liquid supply unit 29 is held in a state of being positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the holder 53 (holding member) in the housing 14.

  The plurality of liquid containers 30a to 30d are substantially rectangular parallelepiped ink tanks. In the plurality of liquid containers 30a to 30d, a plurality of types (a plurality of colors) of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow are stored. In the example of FIG. 2, the liquid container 30a that accommodates a large-capacity type black liquid that is disposed on the outermost side among the plurality of liquid containers 30a to 30d is the other three liquid containers 30b. Although it is a large size thicker than ˜30d, all the liquid containers 30a-30d may be the same size (thickness).

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the cover member 26 is rotated from the closed position to the open position, the inlet 54 of the liquid container 30 is exposed to the outside. When the cover member 26 is in the open position, the cover member 26 is held in an inclined posture inclined from the horizontal plane by a predetermined angle substantially parallel to the axis of the inlet 54 of the liquid container 30. The inlet 54 is normally closed with a plug 55 made of rubber or the like. For example, the user places the liquid bottle 100 (liquid injection member) (see FIG. 6) on the back surface of the cover member 26, inserts the spout portion of the liquid bottle 100 into the injection port 54, and transfers the liquid bottle 100 to the liquid container 30. Inject liquid.

Next, the liquid supply mechanism 60 provided for each type of liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting unit 36 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid supply mechanism 60 includes a liquid supply channel 46 that connects the liquid container 30 and the liquid ejecting unit 36 so that the liquid stored in the liquid container 30 can be supplied to the liquid ejecting unit 36. ing. The liquid supply channel 46 has an intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 that can connect an intermediate reservoir 45 having an intermediate reservoir 61 capable of storing liquid at a position between the liquid container 30 and the liquid ejecting portion 36. Have.

  The intermediate reservoir 45 functions as a sub tank that is detachably attached to the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 provided on the upper side of the carriage 34. The intermediate reservoir 45 of the present embodiment incorporates a pressure adjustment mechanism 63 that can supply liquid to the liquid ejecting unit 36 while adjusting the pressure (fluid pressure) of the liquid in the liquid ejecting unit 36 to a set pressure within a predetermined range. . The intermediate reservoir connection portion 62 includes an introduction needle portion 64 and a supply needle portion 65 that project from the upper side of the carriage 34. The introduction needle portion 64 and the supply needle portion 65 are formed of a tubular member having a needle-shaped tip portion and capable of being inserted into an elastic member such as rubber and having a flow path through which liquid can flow. The detailed configuration of the intermediate reservoir 45 will be described later.

  The liquid supply flow path 46 that connects the liquid container 30 and the liquid ejecting section 36 includes an upstream liquid supply flow path 66 that is upstream from the intermediate reservoir connection section 62 (specifically, the introduction needle section 64), and an intermediate storage. And a downstream liquid supply channel 67 that is downstream of the body connecting part 62 (specifically, the supply needle part 65). In the present embodiment, a liquid filling method is used in which the liquid supply flow path 46 is filled with a liquid using the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 of the intermediate reservoir 45 connected to the intermediate reservoir connection part 62. In this liquid filling method, the first liquid is filled in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 with the liquid flowing from the intermediate reservoir 45 connected to the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 toward the upstream liquid container 30. The filling step and the second filling step of filling the downstream liquid supply channel 67 with the liquid flowing from the intermediate reservoir 45 toward the downstream liquid ejecting section 36 are included.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid container 30 has a liquid storage chamber 57 that can store a liquid. The liquid container 30 includes the aforementioned inlet 54 that allows ink to be injected into the liquid storage chamber 57 from the outside, and a supply port portion 68 that supplies the liquid in the liquid storage chamber 57 to the upstream liquid supply channel 66 side. And an atmosphere communication hole 69 for communicating a region in the liquid storage chamber 57 where the liquid is not stored (that is, a region where the gas is stored) with the atmosphere. The inlet 54 is normally closed by a plug 55. In a state where the liquid container 30 is mounted on the holder 53 (see FIG. 2), the supply port portion 68 shown in FIG. 3 passes through the flow path (not shown) in the flow path forming member 51 and the upstream end of the liquid supply tube 42. Connected. The downstream end portion of the liquid supply tube 42 is connected to the proximal end portion of the introduction needle portion 64 described above. Therefore, the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 includes the flow channel formed inside the flow channel forming member 51, the liquid supply tube 42, and the flow channel of the introduction needle portion 64. In the liquid storage chamber 57, a guide plate 70 is provided in the vicinity of the supply port portion 68 to partition a liquid storage area that locally raises the liquid level. For this reason, as long as the liquid level of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber 57 does not exceed the lower end of the guide plate 70, the liquid level in the liquid storage area defined by the guide plate 70 is more than the supply port 68. The liquid can be supplied from the supply port 68 until the liquid in the liquid container 30 reaches the end.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the proximal end portion of the supply needle portion 65 communicates with a liquid chamber 72 that communicates with the nozzle 71 of the liquid ejecting portion 36 disposed on the lower side of the carriage 34. Therefore, the downstream liquid supply channel 67 includes a channel of the supply needle unit 65, a liquid chamber 72 of the liquid ejecting unit 36, and a part of the nozzle 71. The liquid supply channel 46 that is a target to be filled with the liquid is configured by a channel from the supply port 68 of the liquid container 30 to the nozzle 71 of the liquid ejecting unit 36.

  The upstream liquid supply channel 66 is provided with an on-off valve 73 and a supply pump 74 in order from the upstream side. When driven, the supply pump 74 pumps the liquid in the supply direction from the liquid container 30 side to the liquid ejecting unit 36 via the intermediate reservoir 45. The supply pump 74 can be switched to a release state in which the upstream liquid supply passage 66 is communicated with both sides of the supply pump 74 in a drive stopped state. The supply pump 74 can be a rotary pump such as a tube pump or a reciprocating pump such as a diaphragm pump.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a maintenance device 75 that performs maintenance of the liquid ejecting unit 36 is disposed at a position corresponding to the home position HP (see FIG. 2) in the housing 14 of the liquid ejecting device 12. The maintenance device 75 includes a cap 76 that is relatively movable in a direction in which the liquid ejecting unit 36 can approach and separate, a channel 77 connected to a lower portion of the cap 76, and the cap 76 through the channel 77. And a suction pump 78 driven to suck air. The suction pump 78 can be switched to a release state in which the flow path 77 communicates with the atmosphere when the drive is stopped. In addition, a direction switching valve 79 is provided between the suction pump 78 and the cap 76 in the flow path 77. The direction switching valve 79 switches the direction connected to the suction pump 78 between the cap 76 and the gas flow path 80. The other end of the gas flow path 80 having one end connected to the direction switching valve 79 is connected to the atmosphere communication hole 69 of the liquid container 30 via the flow path of the flow path forming member 51. An air release valve 81 is provided in the middle of the gas flow path 80.

  The direction switching valve 79 is switched between a maintenance position for selecting the cap 76 as a connection direction and a gas flow path selection position for selecting the gas flow path 80. The atmosphere release valve 81 is switched between an atmosphere release position where the gas flow path 80 is opened to the atmosphere and a non-open position where the gas flow path 80 is not opened to the atmosphere. The on-off valve 73, the direction switching valve 79, the air release valve 81, the supply pump 74, and the suction pump 78 are controlled by the control unit 50 shown in FIG. Note that a power source of a relative movement mechanism (not shown) that relatively moves the cap 76 and the liquid ejecting section 36 in a direction in which the cap 76 and the liquid ejecting section 36 can approach and separate is also driven and controlled by the control section 50. The relative movement mechanism is configured by, for example, an elevating mechanism for the cap 76 or an elevating mechanism for the carriage 34.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the intermediate reservoir 45 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate reservoir 45 includes a supply chamber 82 and a pressure chamber 83 as the intermediate reservoir 61. A pressure adjusting mechanism 63 is disposed between the supply chamber 82 and the pressure chamber 83. The pressure adjustment mechanism 63 has a function of adjusting the hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber 83 that determines the back pressure of the liquid ejecting unit 36 to a set pressure within a predetermined range.

  The intermediate reservoir 45 has a first diaphragm 84 on one surface outside the supply chamber 82, and the first diaphragm 84 is displaced according to a differential pressure between an external pressure (atmospheric pressure) and an internal pressure (hydraulic pressure). The intermediate reservoir 45 has a second diaphragm 85 on the outer surface of the pressure chamber 83 opposite to the first diaphragm 84, and the second diaphragm 85 has an external pressure (atmospheric pressure) and an internal pressure (hydraulic pressure). ).

  The intermediate reservoir 45 has an introduction port portion 86 to which an introduction needle portion 64 is connected to an end portion of the supply chamber 82. The supply chamber 82 communicates with the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 in a state where the introduction needle portion 64 is connected to the introduction port portion 86. Further, the intermediate reservoir 45 has an outlet port 87 to which the supply needle portion 65 is connected to the end of the pressure chamber 83. The pressure chamber 83 communicates with the downstream liquid supply channel 67 including the liquid chamber 72 in the liquid ejecting section 36 in a state where the supply needle section 65 is connected to the outlet port section 87.

  Next, the configuration of the pressure adjustment mechanism 63 will be described with reference to FIG. As an example, the pressure adjustment mechanism 63 includes a differential pressure type pressure adjustment valve (for example, a pressure reducing valve) provided between the supply chamber 82 and the pressure chamber 83. The pressure adjustment mechanism 63 includes a valve body 89 in which a shaft portion 90 is inserted into a communication hole 88 formed in a partition wall 45 a between the supply chamber 82 and the pressure chamber 83, and the valve body 89 from the supply chamber 82 toward the pressure chamber 83. And a spring 91 biasing in the direction. A tip of the shaft 90 of the valve body 89 that protrudes into the pressure chamber 83 is in contact with a contact member 92 fixed to the inner surface side of the second diaphragm 85. Further, a filter 93 is provided between the supply chamber 82 and the pressure chamber 83, and when the pressure adjusting mechanism 63 is opened, the liquid passes through the filter 93 so that foreign matters such as bubbles are removed from the liquid.

  The valve body 89 moves according to the urging force of the spring 91 and the differential pressure between the hydraulic pressure applied to both surfaces of the second diaphragm 85 and the atmospheric pressure. When the liquid is consumed by the liquid ejecting unit 36 and the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber 83 falls below the set pressure, the pressure adjusting mechanism 63 causes the valve element 89 to resist the biasing force of the spring 91 (the left side in FIG. 3). ) To open the valve. When the valve is opened, the liquid is supplied from the supply chamber 82 to the pressure chamber 83 through the communication hole 88. When the hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber 83 reaches the set pressure, the valve body 89 moves to the valve closing side (right side in FIG. 3). Close the valve.

  In addition, the intermediate reservoir 45 before being connected to the intermediate reservoir connection portion 62 is in a state in which the intermediate reservoir 61 is previously filled with liquid so that the pressure is higher than the outer space of the intermediate reservoir 61. The supply chamber 82 is in a state where the first diaphragm 84 bulges outward by the filled liquid. The liquid in the supply chamber 82 is in a state of being pressurized to a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure in the outer space of the intermediate reservoir 61 by the elastic restoring force of the first diaphragm 84 bulging outward. In addition, the hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber 83 is higher than the set pressure because a larger amount of liquid is filled than the set pressure or the set pressure within a predetermined range. And while the liquid container 30 is an open type tank that is open to the atmosphere, the intermediate reservoir 45 is hermetically sealed with only the liquid filled in the intermediate reservoir 61 without being opened to the atmosphere. It is a sub tank of the system.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a pressing member 95 capable of pressing the outer surface corresponding to the contact member 94 fixed inside the first diaphragm 84 is disposed at a position outside the first diaphragm 84. Is preferred. The pressing member 95 can pressurize the liquid in the supply chamber 82 by pressing the supply chamber 82 from the outside. In particular, in this example, even if the elastic restoring force of the first diaphragm 84 in the direction of pressurizing the liquid in the supply chamber 82 disappears, the pressing member 95 pushes the first diaphragm 84 from the outside, thereby the liquid in the supply chamber 82. Can be pressurized.

  In addition, the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 has a liquid flow mechanism for causing the liquid stored in the intermediate reservoir 61 of the intermediate reservoir 45 connected to the intermediate reservoir connection section 62 to flow into the upstream liquid supply channel 66. Prepare. There are mainly three liquid flow mechanisms. First, the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 is disposed at a position above the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 in the direction of gravity, and the liquid is supplied to the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 using a height difference (water head difference). This is a liquid flow mechanism (hydraulic head flow mechanism) that flows inside.

  Second, as a liquid flow mechanism, a pressurizing mechanism 96 that pressurizes the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 of the intermediate reservoir 45 connected to the intermediate reservoir connection section 62 is provided. The pressurizing mechanism 96 includes a first pressurizing mechanism that stores the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 in a state of being pressurized at a pressure higher than that of the external space, and the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 outside the intermediate reservoir 45. And a second pressurizing mechanism that pressurizes (for example, presses) with an external force. In FIG. 3, a first diaphragm 84 provided as an example of a flexible film that pressurizes the liquid in the supply chamber 82 corresponds to an example of a first pressurizing mechanism, and the liquid in the supply chamber 82 is externally supplied. The pressing member 95 that can be pressed by an external force corresponds to an example of a second pressing mechanism.

  The third is a configuration including a pressure reducing mechanism 97 for reducing the pressure in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 as a liquid flow mechanism. In this example, a pressure reducing mechanism 97 that reduces the pressure in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 by reducing the pressure in the liquid storage chamber 57 of the liquid container 30 and causes the liquid to flow into the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is employed. To do. As an example, the liquid storage chamber 57 of the liquid container 30 is depressurized with a pump. In particular, in this example, the liquid storage chamber 57 is decompressed using the suction pump 78 of the maintenance device 75. Specifically, the direction switching valve 79 is switched to the gas flow path selection position where the suction pump 78 is connected to the gas flow path 80 and the atmospheric release valve 81 is switched to the non-atmospheric release position, and then the suction pump 78 is driven. Then, the liquid storage chamber 57 is decompressed by sucking the air in the liquid storage chamber 57 through the gas flow path 80.

  Next, the operation of the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 will be described. First, a liquid filling operation (initial filling operation) performed when the user uses the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 for the first time will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the liquid is filled into the plurality of liquid supply channels 46 through which different types (for example, color types) of liquids connected to the plurality of liquid containers 30 flow, but the liquid is filled into the plurality of liquid supply channels 46. Since the operation is basically the same, in the following description, the liquid filling operation to one of the liquid supply channels 46 will be described. 4-7, the area | region with which the liquid is filled etc. is shown by the shaded area.

  When the user uses the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 for the first time, the liquid supply channel 46 is not yet filled with the liquid, and is initially filled with air. The user performs an initial filling operation for filling the liquid supply channel 46 with the liquid. First, the user opens the image reading device 13, which also serves as a lid of the casing 14 of the liquid ejecting device 12, to a predetermined opening with the hinge 18 as a fulcrum. Then, the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 projecting on the upper surface of the carriage 34 in the housing 14 is exposed.

  When performing the initial filling, the user instructs the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 to perform the liquid filling by operating the operation unit 16. When receiving an instruction to perform liquid filling based on the operation signal from the operation unit 16, the control unit 50 performs a liquid filling preparation operation. The control unit 50 switches the direction switching valve 79 to the atmosphere release selection position and switches the atmosphere release valve 81 to the non-atmosphere release position. As a result, the suction pump 78 communicates with the liquid storage chamber 57 through the gas flow path 80. Moreover, the control part 50 makes the on-off valve 73 open, and makes the supply pump 74 a release state. As a result, the introduction needle portion 64 of the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 and the liquid storage chamber 57 communicate with each other through the upstream liquid supply channel 66. Further, the control unit 50 drives the power source of the relative movement mechanism to relatively move the cap 76 and the liquid ejecting unit 36 in a direction in which the cap 76 and the liquid ejecting unit 36 approach each other, and is a closed space surrounded by the cap 76 and the liquid ejecting unit 36. Form. At this time, the cap 76 is in a capping position where the liquid leaking from the nozzle 71 of the liquid ejecting section 36 can be received. The inside of the cap 76 is not open to the atmosphere.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate reservoir 45 before being connected to the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 contains a volume of liquid that allows the first diaphragm 84 to bulge outward, and the liquid in the supply chamber 82 The first diaphragm 84 functioning as the pressurizing mechanism 96 is pressurized to a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure by the elastic restoring force. Further, when the liquid stored in the pressure chamber 83 is a set pressure or a pressure exceeding the set pressure, the pressure adjusting mechanism 63 is closed. Further, the inlet port portion 86 and the outlet port portion 87 of the intermediate reservoir 45 are both closed by an unillustrated elastic body or valve mechanism before being connected to the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62.

  The user connects the intermediate reservoir 45 to the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62. As a result of this connection, the introduction needle portion 64 and the supply needle portion 65 are respectively inserted into the introduction port portion 86 and the outlet port portion 87 of the intermediate reservoir 45, and the supply chamber 82 passes through the introduction needle portion 64 and the upstream liquid supply flow. The pressure chamber 83 communicates with the downstream liquid supply channel 67 through the outlet port 87.

  In this connected state, the intermediate reservoir 45 is disposed at a position above the upstream liquid supply channel 66 in the direction of gravity. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the liquid stored in the supply chamber 82 of the intermediate reservoir 45 connected to the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 is caused by a liquid flow mechanism (hydraulic difference flow mechanism) that utilizes a water head difference. The fluid flows in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 toward the liquid container 30.

  Further, since the liquid stored in the supply chamber 82 is pressurized to a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure by the liquid flow mechanism (first pressurizing mechanism) using the elastic restoring force of the first diaphragm 84, The liquid stored in the supply chamber 82 by the applied pressure flows in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 through the introduction needle portion 64 toward the liquid container 30.

  Then, when the flow of the liquid into the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 proceeds and the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 decreases, the inside of the intermediate reservoir 61 becomes negative pressure and the flow of the liquid stops. At this time, even if the hydraulic pressure in the supply chamber 82 becomes negative, the pressure adjustment mechanism 63 does not open because the pressure receiving area of the valve body 89 on the supply chamber 82 side is relatively small. If the pressure adjusting mechanism 63 is opened, the liquid pressure in the pressure chamber 83 may be higher than the set pressure (negative pressure) and the liquid may leak from the nozzle 71 of the liquid ejecting unit 36. Since the liquid is leaked from the nozzle 71, the cap 76 receives the liquid that has leaked from the capping position close to the liquid ejecting unit 36.

  Further, the control unit 50 detects the liquid pressure in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 or detects the completion of the connection of the intermediate reservoir 45 to the intermediate reservoir connection unit 62 based on a sensor or a timer (not shown). It is detected that the filling of the liquid in the channel 66 is started and the filling of the liquid is not finished. Then, the control unit 50 drives an actuator (not shown) to displace the pressing member 95 in a direction in which the first diaphragm 84 can be pressed from the outside. The pressing member 95 pressurizes the liquid stored in the supply chamber 82 by pressing the first diaphragm 84 from the outside. The liquid pressurized by the pressurizing mechanism 96 using the pressing member 95 flows from the supply chamber 82 through the introduction needle portion 64 toward the liquid container 30 in the upstream liquid supply channel 66.

  Further, the pressure in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is reduced by the decompression mechanism 97, whereby the liquid flows from the supply chamber 82 through the introduction needle portion 64 into the upstream liquid supply channel 66 toward the liquid container 30. Let The decompression mechanism 97 of the present embodiment decompresses the inside of the upstream liquid supply channel 66 by decompressing the liquid storage chamber 57 of the liquid container 30. Specifically, when the control unit 50 receives an instruction from the operation unit 16 that the user performs a liquid filling operation or detects the connection of the intermediate storage body 45 to the intermediate storage body connection unit 62 by a sensor or the like, the maintenance device 75 suction pumps 78 are driven. As a result, the suction force from the suction pump 78 reaches the liquid storage chamber 57 through the gas flow path 80, and the gas (air) in the liquid storage chamber 57 is sucked, whereby the liquid storage chamber 57 is decompressed. As a result of the depressurization of the liquid storage chamber 57, the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 communicating with the liquid storage chamber 57 is also depressurized, and the liquid stored in the supply chamber 82 passes through the introduction needle portion 64 and the upstream liquid supply flow channel. The fluid flows in the liquid chamber 66 toward the liquid storage chamber 57.

  Thus, by the liquid flow mechanism, the air initially present in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is discharged to the liquid container 30 side, and the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is filled with the liquid. At this time, filling of the water head difference is performed by a water head difference flow mechanism in which the intermediate storage body 45 connected to the intermediate storage body connecting portion 62 is disposed at a position above the upstream liquid supply channel 66 in the direction of gravity. In addition to this, the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 is effectively pressurized by the pressurizing mechanism 96. As a result, the flow rate (the amount of liquid flowing per unit time) when the liquid flows in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is effectively increased. Further, the pressure reducing mechanism 97 can depressurize the upstream liquid supply channel 66, and the flow rate when the liquid flows in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is effectively increased.

  As a result of the first filling operation of filling the upstream liquid supply channel 66 with the liquid, the liquid that has flowed from the supply chamber 82 toward the liquid container 30 in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 as shown in FIG. Part of the liquid flows into the liquid storage chamber 57 from the supply port 68. For example, the area partitioned by the guide plate 70 is filled with the liquid, and the liquid flows to a position above the lower end position of the guide plate 70 in the gravity direction. Thus, the first filling operation is finished.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the user performs an injection operation for injecting the liquid into the liquid container 30. The user rotates the cover member 26 from the closed position to the open position, removes the plug 55 from the exposed inlet 54, inserts the spout 100 a of the liquid bottle 100 into the inlet 54, and then removes the liquid bottle 100 from the liquid bottle 100. A liquid is injected into the liquid storage chamber 57. At this time, the user places the liquid bottle 100 on the back surface of the cover member 26 held in an open posture parallel to the axial direction of the inlet 54 in a state of being engaged with the concave groove 28a. Since the liquid bottle 100 is held in an oblique posture with the spout portion 100a inserted into the injection port 54, the user can remove the liquid bottle 100 from the liquid bottle 100 without holding the liquid bottle 100 by hand. Liquid is injected into 30.

  At the time of this injection operation, the user confirms the change of the liquid level in the liquid container 30 with the visual recognition part 56, and when the liquid level reaches the upper limit part 58, the injection is stopped and the injection port 54 is closed with the plug 55. Then, the cover member 26 is closed. This completes the liquid injection operation. Note that the amount of liquid injected into the liquid container 30 may be the amount that reaches the liquid amount necessary for the second filling operation performed thereafter. The user who has finished the liquid injection operation operates the operation unit 16 to notify the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 that the liquid injection operation is completed. Note that if the amount of liquid necessary for the second filling operation is secured in the liquid storage chamber 57 at the end of the first filling operation, the liquid injection operation can be omitted.

  When receiving the notification that the liquid injection operation is completed, the control unit 50 switches the direction switching valve 79 to the maintenance position and switches the atmosphere release valve 81 to the atmosphere release position. As a result, the cap 76 and the suction pump 78 that are not opened to the atmosphere communicate with each other and the liquid storage chamber 57 is opened to the atmosphere. Note that the cap 76 may be disposed at a retracted position away from the liquid ejecting unit 36 when there is no concern that the liquid leaks from the nozzle 71 of the liquid ejecting unit 36 during the first filling operation. In this case, after the end of the first filling operation or the liquid injection operation, the control unit 50 drives the power source of the relative movement mechanism, moves the cap 76 to the capping position, and moves the cap 76 and the liquid ejecting unit 36 to each other. Form an enclosed closed space.

  Then, the control unit 50 drives the suction pump 78 to set the closed space communicating with the nozzle 71 to a negative pressure, and the liquid stored in the pressure chamber 83 is caused to flow downstream by the suction force generated by the negative pressure. The inside flows toward the nozzle 71. At this time, as the liquid stored in the pressure chamber 83 decreases and its fluid pressure decreases, the second diaphragm 85 increases the volume of the pressure chamber 83 by the differential pressure between the outside atmospheric pressure and the inside fluid pressure. When it is displaced in the decreasing direction and its hydraulic pressure falls below the set pressure, the pressure adjusting mechanism 63 is opened, and the liquid flows from the supply chamber 82 to the pressure chamber 83. Thus, the liquid stored in the pressure chamber 83 is caused to flow downstream in the downstream liquid supply channel 67 by the suction force from the nozzle 71, and the gas and liquid are sucked and discharged from the nozzle 71 into the cap 76. Then, when the driving of the suction pump 78 is stopped and the hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber 83 becomes the set pressure, the pressure adjusting mechanism 63 is closed. Thus, the liquid is filled in the downstream liquid supply channel 67 by the second filling operation.

  When the second filling operation (second filling step) is thus completed, the initial filling is completed. Next, the control unit 50 drives the relative movement mechanism, and arranges the cap 76 at a flushing position slightly separated from the liquid ejecting unit 36. Then, the control unit 50 drives the maintenance device 75 to wipe the nozzle opening surface of the liquid ejecting unit 36 with a wiper (not shown), and then continues from 1 to all the nozzles 71 of the liquid ejecting unit 36 toward the cap 76. Flushing is performed by ejecting a few drops of liquid. As a result, a meniscus having an appropriate shape is formed in the liquid in the nozzle 71, and then the liquid can be ejected from the nozzle 71 toward the medium M in a normal state.

  In the present embodiment, the liquid filling of the upstream liquid supply channel 66 and the liquid filling of the downstream liquid supply channel 67 are performed separately. Therefore, when the liquid is supplied from the intermediate reservoir 45, the liquid is supplied to the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 as compared with the case where the liquid is supplied simultaneously to both sides of the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 and the downstream liquid supply flow channel 67. Can be filled stably in a short time.

  Here, as in the conventional liquid ejecting apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when a liquid filling operation is performed in which the liquid is only sucked and discharged from the nozzle, the air existing on the liquid container 30 side also reaches the nozzle. Since the liquid supply flow path 46 is moved over a relatively long distance, bubbles tend to remain relatively in the liquid supply flow path 46. In addition, since the liquid container 30 is an open system in which a liquid region and an air region exist, air is easily involved when injecting liquid from the liquid bottle 100 into the liquid container 30 and bubbles are easily generated in the liquid. . In this case, since the liquid supply channel is filled with a liquid in which bubbles from the liquid container are likely to be present when the liquid is filled, the bubbles are likely to remain in the liquid filling the liquid supply channel. In this case, it becomes easy to cause a liquid ejection failure due to bubbles.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the air in the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 located on the upstream side of the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 in the liquid supply flow channel 46 is supplied to the liquid container 30 during the liquid filling. The air in the downstream liquid supply channel 67 is discharged from the nozzle 71 of the liquid ejecting section 36. For this reason, since the moving distance of the air discharged through the liquid supply channel 46 is relatively short, air (bubbles) hardly remains in the liquid supply channel 46 after the liquid is filled. In addition, since the liquid supply source used for filling the liquid is a sealed intermediate storage body 45 in which only the liquid is stored, the liquid supply channel 46 is filled with a liquid with very few bubbles from the intermediate storage body 45.

  Thereafter, the supply pump 74 is driven in a state where the on-off valve 73 is opened, whereby the liquid is supplied from the liquid container 30 to the supply chamber 82 of the intermediate reservoir 45 through the upstream liquid supply channel 66, and is supplied to the supply chamber 82. A predetermined amount of liquid is stored. When the liquid ejecting operation is started, the liquid is consumed by ejecting the liquid from the nozzle 71 of the liquid ejecting unit 36 toward the medium M. When the liquid pressure in the pressure chamber 83 falls below the set pressure due to the consumption of liquid, the pressure adjusting mechanism 63 is opened, and the liquid is supplied from the supply chamber 82 to the pressure chamber 83 through the communication hole 88. When the hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber 83 reaches the set pressure, the pressure adjustment mechanism 63 is closed. Thus, the hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber 83 that determines the back pressure of the liquid ejecting unit 36 is maintained at the set pressure. As a result, a meniscus having an appropriate shape is formed in the liquid in the nozzle 71, so that a normal liquid can be ejected from the nozzle 71 toward the medium M. As a result, it is possible to maintain a high quality of the liquid landing formed product such as printing formed by landing the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting unit 36 on the medium M. In addition, since the liquid in the liquid supply channel 46 immediately after the completion of the initial filling has relatively few bubbles, the frequency of occurrence of defective liquid ejection due to the bubbles is reduced. From this point as well, a high quality liquid landing product can be formed.

As described above in detail, according to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A liquid ejecting unit 36 that ejects liquid, and a liquid supply channel 46 that connects the liquid container 30 and the liquid ejecting unit 36 so that the liquid stored in the liquid container 30 can be supplied to the liquid ejecting unit 36 are provided. . A liquid supply flow path 46 having an intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 capable of connecting an intermediate reservoir 45 having an intermediate reservoir 61 capable of storing liquid at a position between the liquid container 30 and the liquid ejecting portion 36. Prepare. In the liquid filling method for filling the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 with the liquid, the liquid is supplied from the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 into the upstream liquid supply passage 66 that is upstream of the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 in the liquid supply passage 46. The upstream liquid supply channel 66 is filled with liquid by flowing. Therefore, when the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 is filled with liquid, the air initially present in the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 can be discharged to the upstream side. Thus, the amount of air discharged to the outside can be reduced, and an efficient filling operation can be performed. In this case, even if the liquid container 30 is a pour-open type open tank, the liquid supply channel 46 can be efficiently filled with liquid while suppressing the intake of bubbles.

  (2) The intermediate reservoir 45 in which the intermediate reservoir 61 is preliminarily filled with the liquid is connected to the intermediate reservoir connection section 62, and the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is filled with the liquid of the intermediate reservoir 61. Therefore, it is possible to easily fill the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 with the liquid by flowing the liquid from the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 side into the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66.

  (3) The intermediate reservoir 45 is pre-filled with liquid so that the pressure in the intermediate reservoir 61 is higher than the outer space of the intermediate reservoir 61. Therefore, the flow rate (the amount of liquid flowing per unit time) when the liquid flows in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 by using the intermediate storage body 45 in a state where the liquid in the intermediate storage portion 61 is pressurized. Therefore, an efficient filling operation can be performed.

  (4) In the liquid supply channel 46, the liquid is caused to flow from the intermediate reservoir connection unit 62 into the downstream liquid supply channel 67 on the downstream side of the intermediate reservoir connection unit 62. Fill with liquid. Therefore, the liquid supply channel 46 can be filled with the liquid by filling the downstream side liquid supply channel 67 with the liquid.

  (5) The liquid ejecting apparatus 12 includes the liquid container 30 and the liquid ejecting unit 36 that ejects the liquid. The liquid container 30 includes a liquid storage chamber 57 that can store a liquid, an inlet 54 that can inject liquid into the liquid storage chamber 57 from the outside, and an atmosphere communication hole 69 that allows the liquid storage chamber 57 to communicate with the atmosphere. . In addition, the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 includes a liquid supply channel 46 that connects the liquid container 30 and the liquid ejecting unit 36 so that the liquid accommodated in the liquid container 30 can be supplied to the liquid ejecting unit 36. An intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 capable of connecting an intermediate reservoir 45 having an intermediate reservoir 61 capable of storing liquid is provided at a position between the liquid ejecting portion 36. Further, the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 causes the liquid stored in the intermediate reservoir 61 of the intermediate reservoir 45 connected to the intermediate reservoir connection section 62 to be upstream of the intermediate reservoir connection section 62 in the liquid supply channel 46. A liquid flow mechanism for flowing into the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is provided. Therefore, when the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 is filled with liquid, the air initially present in the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 can be discharged to the upstream side. Thus, the amount of air discharged to the outside can be reduced, and an efficient filling operation can be performed.

  (6) As the liquid flow mechanism, the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 is provided at a position above the upstream liquid supply channel 66 in the direction of gravity. Therefore, the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 is caused to flow into the upstream liquid supply channel 66 by utilizing the height difference (water head difference) between the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 and the upstream liquid supply channel 66. Can do.

  (7) As a liquid flow mechanism, a pressurizing mechanism 96 that pressurizes the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 of the intermediate reservoir 45 connected to the intermediate reservoir connection 62 is provided. Therefore, pressurizing the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 can increase the flow rate (the amount of liquid flowing per unit time) when the liquid flows in the upstream liquid supply channel 66, so that an efficient filling operation can be performed. Yes. Further, as the pressurizing mechanism, the pressurizing mechanism 96 includes a first pressurizing mechanism that stores the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 in a state where the liquid is pressurized to a pressure higher than that of the external space, and the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61. And a second pressurizing mechanism that pressurizes (for example, presses) from the outside of the intermediate reservoir 45 with an external force. Therefore, the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 can be effectively pressurized, and the flow rate when the liquid flows in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 (the amount of liquid flowing per unit time) can be effectively increased. More efficient filling operation can be performed.

  (8) As a liquid flow mechanism, a pressure reducing mechanism 97 for reducing the pressure in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is provided. Therefore, by reducing the pressure in the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66, the flow rate (the amount of liquid flowing per unit time) when the liquid flows in the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 can be increased. Can be done.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Although the intermediate reservoir 45 in the first embodiment includes the pressure adjustment mechanism 63, the intermediate reservoir 45 of the present embodiment does not include the pressure adjustment mechanism 63 and has only a liquid storage function for storing liquid. The intermediate storage body 45 shown in FIG. 8 includes a liquid storage chamber 111 having a diaphragm 110 on one outer surface. The intermediate reservoir 45 is provided with an inlet port 86 at the end of the liquid storage chamber 111, and an outlet port 87 at the end of the channel 113 provided on the opposite side across the liquid storage chamber 111 and the filter 112. Is provided. In the example of FIG. 8, the liquid storage chamber 111 and the flow path 113 in the intermediate storage body 45 constitute an intermediate storage portion 61 in which liquid is stored. The intermediate reservoir 45 is in a state in which the intermediate reservoir 61 is previously filled with liquid so that the pressure is higher than the outer space of the intermediate reservoir 61.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus 12 includes a liquid flow mechanism for causing the liquid stored in the intermediate storage unit 61 of the intermediate storage body 45 connected to the intermediate storage body connection unit 62 to flow into the upstream liquid supply channel 66. As in the first embodiment, the liquid flow mechanism includes a liquid flow mechanism (water head differential flow mechanism), a pressurization mechanism 96 (a first pressurization mechanism and a second pressurization mechanism), and a decompression mechanism 97. And.

  Next, the operation of the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 will be described. When performing the initial filling, the user instructs the liquid ejecting apparatus 12 to perform the liquid filling by operating the operation unit 16. When receiving an instruction to perform liquid filling, the controller 50 performs a liquid filling preparation operation. The control unit 50 switches the direction switching valve 79 to the atmosphere release selection position and the atmosphere release valve 81 to the atmosphere release position, and sets the open / close valve 73 to the open state and the supply pump 74 to the release state. Moreover, the control part 50 makes the suction pump 78 a release state, drives the power source of a relative movement mechanism, and arrange | positions the cap 76 in a capping position.

  Then, the user connects the intermediate reservoir 45 to the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 (the introduction needle portion 64 and the outlet needle portion 65) on the carriage 34 at the time of initial filling, so that the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 is discharged by the liquid flow mechanism. The fluid flows from the introduction needle part 64 to the upstream liquid supply channel 66. Therefore, the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is filled with the liquid while the air initially existing in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is discharged into the upstream liquid container 30. At the same time, the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 flows from the supply needle 65 to the downstream liquid supply channel 67, and the air in the downstream liquid supply channel 67 becomes the nozzle 71 of the liquid ejecting unit 36. By being discharged from the liquid, the nozzle 71 is filled with the liquid. As a result, the gas (air) in the liquid supply channel 46 can be efficiently discharged during the initial filling. Further, in the present embodiment, since the liquid filling is simultaneously started in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 and the downstream liquid supply channel 67, the total time required for the liquid filling operation can be relatively shortened. . In the second embodiment, the intermediate storage body 45 does not include the pressure adjustment mechanism 63 unlike the first embodiment, and has an intermediate storage portion 61 formed of one chamber. However, the first embodiment The same effects as in the above (1) to (8) can be obtained.

In addition, embodiment can be changed into the form shown below.
In the case where the pressure reducing mechanism 97 is not used as the liquid flow mechanism, it is preferable to open the liquid container 30 to the atmosphere by switching the atmosphere release valve 81 to the atmosphere release position. In this case, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the filling efficiency of the upstream-side liquid supply channel 66 due to an increase in pressure in the liquid container 30 due to the inflow of liquid.

  In each of the above embodiments, when the control unit 50 detects that the liquid filling of the upstream liquid supply channel 66 has been completed using a timer, a sensor provided in the liquid container 30, or the like, the upstream liquid supply channel 66 The flow of the liquid may be stopped by closing the on-off valve 73 provided in the. In this case, the liquid container may not be connected to the upstream end of the upstream liquid supply channel 66.

  In place of the liquid container 30, the upstream liquid supply channel 66 may be filled from the intermediate reservoir connecting part 62 with a filling attachment (filling liquid container) attached. The filling attachment includes a liquid recovery chamber that recovers the liquid that has flowed out from the upstream end of the upstream-side liquid supply flow channel 66 during liquid filling, an open air communication portion that opens the liquid recovery chamber to the atmosphere, and an open air communication from the liquid storage chamber. A gas-liquid separation unit (for example, a gas-liquid separation membrane) that separates the liquid and the gas and passes only the gas when passing through the unit. After the liquid filling of the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is completed, the filling attachment is removed and the liquid container 30 is mounted.

  The pressure reducing mechanism is replaced with the pressure reducing mechanism 97 for reducing the pressure of the liquid storage chamber 57 in each of the above embodiments, and the supply pump 74 is reversely driven to the opposite side to the driving at the time of liquid ejection operation (at the time of liquid supply). A decompression mechanism that decompresses at least a part of the liquid supply channel 66 may be used. Specifically, the supply pump 74 includes a first drive (for example, normal rotation drive) that causes the liquid to flow in the first direction from the liquid container 30 toward the liquid ejecting unit 36, and a first drive from the intermediate storage unit 61 toward the liquid container 30. The second drive (for example, reverse drive) for flowing the liquid in two directions is possible. At the time of liquid filling, the on-off valve 73 is in an open state and the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 is in a communication state, and the air release valve 81 is in an air release position to open the liquid storage chamber 57 to the air. During the liquid filling operation, the supply pump 74 is driven by a second drive different from the first drive during the liquid ejection operation, and the downstream side of the pump 74 in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is decompressed. Then, the liquid in the intermediate reservoir 61 is caused to flow toward the upstream side to fill the upstream side liquid supply channel 66 with the liquid. In this case, a portion of the upstream side liquid supply flow channel 66 on the upstream side of the supply pump 74 is filled by pumping the liquid from the supply pump 74. In addition to the first drive and the second drive, the supply pump 74 is preferably switchable to a release state in which the upstream liquid supply flow channel 66 is communicated on both sides of the supply pump 74.

  The liquid flow mechanism may be provided with at least one of a head differential flow mechanism, a pressurization mechanism, and a pressure reduction mechanism. In addition, when the pressurizing mechanism is provided, only one of the first pressurizing mechanism and the second pressurizing mechanism may be provided. In addition, when the pressure reducing mechanism is provided, at least one of the first pressure reducing mechanism for reducing the pressure of the liquid storage chamber 57 and the second pressure reducing mechanism for reversely driving the supply pump 74 may be provided. When both the first pressure reducing mechanism and the second pressure reducing mechanism are provided, the liquid filling of the upstream liquid supply channel 66 can be performed more efficiently.

  In each of the above embodiments, the liquid filling of the downstream liquid supply channel 67 may be performed first. In this case, the air release valve 81 is shut off or the on-off valve 73 provided in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is closed. According to this configuration, since the time until the entire liquid filling is completed after the liquid filling to the downstream side liquid supply channel 67 is completed is long, there is no bubble that affects the printing after the liquid filling. A standby process for waiting for the start of printing can be performed in parallel with the liquid filling of the upstream liquid supply channel 66. As a result, it is possible to shorten the waiting time from the liquid filling end time to the printing start possible time.

  The liquid filling of the upstream liquid supply channel 66 and the downstream liquid supply channel 67 may be performed simultaneously. In this case, in the liquid filling of the downstream side liquid supply channel 67, it is preferable that the liquid ejecting unit 36 is capped with the cap 76 and the suction pump 78 is not driven to be in the release state. When the intermediate reservoir 61 is the supply chamber 82 of the pressure adjustment mechanism 63, it is preferable to open the valve by pressing the pressure chamber 83 or the like. In this case, the entire liquid can be filled in a short time.

  If the intermediate reservoir 61 is not pre-filled with liquid, the intermediate reservoir 61 is provided with an inlet, and liquid is supplied by pumping the liquid into the liquid supply channel by supplying liquid from the outside. May be performed.

  -When at least one part of the intermediate | middle storage part 61 is provided with the flexible part which has flexibility, the method of pressurizing a flexible part with external force is not limited to the method by which the press member 95 presses a flexible part. For example, a pressurizing chamber is provided outside the flexible portion (for example, the first diaphragm 84) of the intermediate reservoir 45, and gas (for example, air) is supplied to the pressurizing chamber, whereby the gas pressure in the pressurizing chamber is set as an external force. You may pressurize the intermediate | middle storage part 61 by giving to a flexible part. In this case, you may use together the pressurization mechanism which gives external force with pressurized gas, and pressurizes the inside of the intermediate | middle storage part, and a water head difference flow mechanism (water head difference filling).

The supply pump 74 may not be provided.
The intermediate reservoir 45 before being connected to the intermediate reservoir connecting portion 62 is preliminarily filled with the liquid in the supply chamber 82 so that the pressure in the supply chamber 82 is higher than the pressure (atmospheric pressure) in the outer space of the intermediate reservoir 61. The pressure chamber 83 may be filled with a liquid in advance so that the pressure is filled and the pressure in the pressure chamber 83 is equal to or lower than the pressure (atmospheric pressure) in the outer space of the intermediate reservoir 61.

  When the liquid container 30 is detachable, the filling operation may be performed in a state where the liquid container 30 is not connected. In this case, the on-off valve provided in the upstream liquid supply channel 66 may be closed when the upstream liquid supply channel 66 is filled with liquid. Alternatively, in place of the main tank, the upstream side liquid supply channel 66 may be filled with an attachment. As the attachment, a bag body that is not filled with liquid or an air communication part attached to a gas-liquid separation membrane is suitable.

-The intermediate storage part 61 may be eliminated. For example, a tube communicating with the liquid storage bag may be connected to the introduction needle portion 64 to fill the upstream side liquid supply channel 66 with the liquid from the liquid storage bag.
The pressure adjusting mechanism 63 may be provided in the liquid ejecting unit 36 instead of the intermediate reservoir 45.

-The pressing member 95 may be manually pressed by the user to pressurize the intermediate reservoir 45 from the outside. Moreover, the user may press the first diaphragm 84 of the intermediate reservoir 45 by hand.
-The liquid container is not limited to an open tank. For example, a sealed liquid container of a type provided with a bag body filled with a liquid and a pressurizing chamber for pressurizing the bag body with gas may be used.

  The liquid container may be an external type disposed outside the casing of the liquid ejecting apparatus. In this case, the liquid container may be attached to the side surface of the casing, or may be disposed at a position away from the casing through the liquid supply tube.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus is not limited to a serial printer, and may be a lateral printer in which a liquid ejecting unit moves in two directions of a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction to eject liquid onto a medium. The liquid ejecting unit may be a line printer that has a predetermined length capable of ejecting the liquid over the entire width direction of the target (for example, the medium) and ejects the liquid onto the medium being transported at a constant speed. In the case of a line printer, an intermediate reservoir connecting portion that can connect the intermediate reservoir to a surface (for example, an upper surface) different from the liquid ejecting portion side of the holding member that holds the liquid ejecting portion may be provided. The intermediate reservoir connecting portion is provided at a position in the middle of the liquid supply channel that connects the liquid container disposed inside or outside the casing of the liquid ejecting apparatus and the liquid ejecting section in the casing.

The liquid ejecting apparatus is not provided in the multifunction peripheral but may be a dedicated printing machine.
The medium is not limited to paper, and may be a medium such as a resin film or sheet, a resin-metal composite film (laminate film), a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a metal foil, a metal film, or a ceramic sheet.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus is not limited to a liquid ejecting apparatus that prints on a planar medium such as paper, but for example, a liquid for forming a three-dimensional solid object that forms a three-dimensional solid object by ejecting resin droplets by an inkjet method. An injection device may be used. In this case, the medium may be a mount or a sheet-like substrate on which resin droplets are to be discharged.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... MFP, 12 ... Liquid ejecting apparatus, 13 ... Image reading apparatus, 14 ... Housing, 18 ... Hinge, 26 ... Cover, 30, 30a-30d ... Liquid container, 34 ... Carriage, 36 ... Liquid ejecting part, 37 ... Rail, 39 ... Conveying section, 42 ... Liquid supply tube, 45 ... Intermediate reservoir, 46 ... Liquid supply flow path, 50 ... Control section, 51 ... Flow path forming member, 54 ... Inlet, 55 ... Plug, 57 A liquid storage chamber as an example of a liquid storage unit, 60 ... a liquid supply mechanism, 61 ... an intermediate storage part, 62 ... an intermediate storage body connection part, 63 ... a pressure adjustment mechanism, 64 ... an introduction needle part, 65 ... a supply needle part, 66 ... Upstream side liquid supply channel, 67 ... Downstream side liquid supply channel, 68 ... Supply port, 69 ... Air communication hole, 70 ... Guide plate, 71 ... Nozzle, 72 ... Liquid chamber, 73 ... Open / close valve, 74 ... Supply pump, 75 ... Maintenance device, 76 ... Cap 77 ... Flow path, 78 ... Suction pump, 79 ... Direction switching valve, 80 ... Gas flow path, 81 ... Air release valve, 82 ... Supply chamber, 83 ... Pressure chamber, 84 ... First diaphragm, 85 ... Second diaphragm, 86 ... Inlet port portion, 87 ... Outlet port portion, 88 ... Communication hole, 89 ... Valve body, 91 ... Spring, 95 ... Pressing member, 96 ... Pressurizing mechanism as an example of liquid flow mechanism, 97 ... Liquid flow mechanism Depressurization mechanism as an example, 100 ... liquid bottle, 110 ... diaphragm, 111 ... liquid storage chamber, 113 ... flow path, M ... medium, X ... scanning direction, Y ... transport direction.

Claims (8)

A liquid ejecting section for ejecting liquid;
A liquid supply flow path that connects the liquid container and the liquid ejecting section so as to be able to supply the liquid contained in the liquid container to the liquid ejecting section, between the liquid container and the liquid ejecting section. A liquid supply flow path having an intermediate reservoir connecting portion capable of connecting an intermediate reservoir having an intermediate reservoir capable of storing the liquid,
A liquid filling method for filling a liquid ejecting apparatus with the liquid,
The liquid is caused to flow from the intermediate reservoir connecting portion into the upstream liquid supply passage that is upstream from the intermediate reservoir connecting portion of the liquid supply passage, and the liquid is supplied to the upstream liquid supply passage. The liquid filling method to fill.   The intermediate storage body in which the liquid is preliminarily filled in the intermediate storage section is connected to the intermediate storage body connection section, and the liquid in the intermediate storage section is filled in the upstream liquid supply flow path. Liquid filling method.   The liquid filling method according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate reservoir is pre-filled with the liquid so that the pressure in the intermediate reservoir is higher than the outer space of the intermediate reservoir.   The liquid is caused to flow from the intermediate reservoir connecting portion into the downstream liquid supply passage that is downstream from the intermediate reservoir connecting portion of the liquid supply passage, and the liquid is supplied to the downstream liquid supply passage. The liquid filling method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid is filled. A liquid ejecting section for ejecting liquid;
A liquid container having a liquid container capable of containing the liquid, an inlet capable of injecting the liquid from the outside to the liquid container, and an air communication hole for communicating the liquid container with the atmosphere;
A liquid supply channel that connects the liquid container and the liquid ejecting section so that the liquid contained in the liquid container can be supplied to the liquid ejecting section; A liquid supply flow path having an intermediate reservoir connecting portion capable of connecting an intermediate reservoir having an intermediate reservoir capable of storing the liquid at an intermediate position;
An upstream liquid supply channel that is upstream of the intermediate reservoir connecting portion in the liquid supply channel, the liquid stored in the intermediate reservoir of the intermediate reservoir connected to the intermediate reservoir connecting portion. A liquid flow mechanism for flowing in,
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the liquid flow mechanism includes the intermediate reservoir connecting portion at a position above the upstream liquid supply channel in the direction of gravity.   The said liquid flow mechanism is equipped with the pressurization mechanism which pressurizes the said liquid in the said intermediate storage part of the said intermediate storage body connected to the said intermediate storage body connection part, The Claim 5 or Claim 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Liquid ejector.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a pressure reducing mechanism that depressurizes the upstream liquid supply flow path as the liquid flow mechanism.

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