JP2018094801A - Liquid injection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid injection device capable of reducing a depth size.SOLUTION: A liquid injection device comprises: a liquid injection head 23 having nozzles 22 and being constituted so as to inject liquid from the nozzles 22; a cap 31 capable of forming a closed space where the nozzles 22 are opened; a discharge flow passage 32 connected to the cap 31; a suction mechanism 33 being disposed in the middle of the discharge flow passage 32 and capable of executing suction operation for suctioning an inside of the cap 31; and a discharge section 41 connected with a downstream end of the discharge flow passage 32. A connection section 32c of the discharge flow passage 32 with respect to the discharge section 41 is disposed at a position lower than the suction mechanism 33. A downstream flow passage 32b positioned between the suction mechanism 33 and the connection section 32c out of the discharge flow passage 32 passes through an arrangement area where it does not overlap with the suction mechanism 33 in a vertical direction, and is led out below the suction mechanism 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as a printer.

  As an example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, there is an ink jet printer in which a cap, a pump that sucks the inside of the cap, and a waste liquid tank are arranged in the depth direction (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-296757 A

  As described above, when the cap, the pump, and the waste liquid tank are arranged in the depth direction, the depth size of the apparatus increases. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that can reduce the depth size.

  A liquid ejecting apparatus that solves the above problem includes a liquid ejecting head that includes a nozzle and is configured to eject liquid from the nozzle, a cap that can form a closed space in which the nozzle opens, A discharge flow path to be connected; a suction mechanism that is disposed in the middle of the discharge flow path and capable of performing a suction operation for sucking the inside of the cap; and a discharge portion to which a downstream end of the discharge flow path is connected. A connecting portion of the discharge flow path with respect to the discharge portion is disposed at a position lower than the suction mechanism, and a downstream flow path between the suction mechanism and the connection portion of the discharge flow path is the suction It passes around the arrangement area that does not overlap the mechanism in the vertical direction, and is drawn below the suction mechanism.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. The perspective view of the maintenance apparatus with which the liquid ejecting apparatus of FIG. 1 is provided. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. The whole block diagram of the example of a change of a liquid ejecting apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid ejecting apparatus is an ink jet printer that performs recording (printing) by ejecting ink, which is an example of liquid, on a medium such as paper.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid ejecting apparatus 11 includes a housing 12 having a predetermined length as a height, a depth, and a width in a state where the liquid ejecting apparatus 11 is installed at a use place. The housing 12 includes a bottom wall 13, a front wall 14, a rear wall 15, and side walls 16 and 17 extending along the depth direction and the gravity direction.

  In the present embodiment, the width direction and the depth direction are substantially horizontal, and the direction of gravity is indicated by the Z axis on the assumption that the casing 12 is placed on a horizontal plane. A direction (front) from the heel side (rear side) to the front side (front side) in the depth direction is indicated by the Y axis. The width direction is indicated by the X axis that intersects the Z axis and the Y axis. The X-axis, Z-axis, and Y-axis are coordinate axes that indicate the width, height, and depth length, respectively.

  On one end side in the width direction of the housing 12 (on the side wall 16 side which is the right end side in FIG. 1), the accommodating portion 18 is disposed so as to protrude forward. In the present embodiment, one end side in the width direction is referred to as a home side, and the other end side (side wall 17 side) is referred to as an anti-home side. A plurality of liquid containers 20 that can store a liquid are stored in the storage portion 18 in a manner of being arranged in the width direction. As for the liquid container 20, the front side is higher stepwise than the rear side. The liquid container 20 may be provided with an injection port 20a through which liquid can be injected. If the injection port 20a is provided in a portion of the liquid container 20 that protrudes forward from the front wall 14, the injection operation is facilitated.

  In the housing 12, there are a liquid ejecting head 23, a carriage 24 that holds the liquid ejecting head 23, a guide shaft 25 that guides the movement of the carriage 24, and a supply flow path 26 that connects the carriage 24 and the liquid container 20. The maintenance device 30 and the mounting portion 40 are accommodated. The liquid ejecting head 23 includes a plurality of nozzles 22 and an opening surface 23a in which the nozzles 22 are opened, and is configured to eject liquid from the nozzles 22 to the medium S that is conveyed forward. .

  In the housing 12, a transport path 27 for the medium S is formed near the center in the width direction. In the transport path 27, a support base 28 capable of supporting the medium S is disposed in a region where the liquid ejecting head 23 ejects liquid. A discharge port 14 a for discharging the printed medium S out of the housing 12 is formed in the front wall 14.

  The maintenance device 30 is arranged on the home side from the support base 28. The accommodating portion 18 is disposed in front of the maintenance device 30, and the mounting portion 40 is disposed behind the maintenance device 30. That is, the storage unit 18, the maintenance device 30, and the mounting unit 40 are arranged in order from the front in the depth direction to the back.

  The maintenance device 30 includes a cap 31, a discharge channel 32 whose upstream end is connected to the cap 31, a suction mechanism 33 disposed in the middle of the discharge channel 32, and a wiping member 34 capable of wiping the opening surface 23a. The slider 35 holding the cap 31 and the support member 36 are provided. The suction mechanism 33 is configured to be capable of performing a suction operation for sucking the inside of the cap 31. The slider 35 is provided so as to be relatively movable with respect to the support member 36 disposed below the slider 35. The support member 36 supports the wiping member 34 and the suction mechanism 33, and supports the cap 31 via the slider 35, thereby unitizing the constituent members of the maintenance device 30.

  The slider 35 has an engaging protrusion 35a that protrudes upward at an end on the home side in the width direction. Then, when the carriage 24 moving toward the home side engages with the engaging protrusion 35a, the slider 35 moves obliquely upward as the carriage 24 moves, and the cap 31 comes into contact with the liquid ejecting head 23, A closed space in which the nozzle 22 opens is formed. The operation in which the cap 31 forms a closed space in this way is called capping. The positions of the cap 31 and the slider 35 at the time of capping are indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. When the suction mechanism 33 is driven during capping, the inside of the liquid jet head 23 is sucked through the nozzle 22. The operation of performing suction through the nozzle 22 and discharging the liquid in the liquid ejecting head 23 is referred to as suction cleaning.

  The waste liquid container 50 is detachably attached to the attachment unit 40. The waste liquid container 50 is a container that can store the waste liquid discharged by the suction operation. An insertion port 15 a for inserting the waste liquid container 50 into the housing 12 is opened in the rear wall 15. As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the waste liquid container 50 is inserted into the housing 12 while being moved from the rear to the front, and is mounted on the mounting portion 40.

  The mounting portion 40 includes a discharge portion 41 to which the downstream end of the discharge flow channel 32 is connected, a wall 42 on which the guide portion 42 a is provided, and a device-side terminal 43. The waste liquid container 50 includes an introduction part 51 capable of introducing waste liquid and an IC chip 54 having a terminal part 53. When the waste liquid container 50 is attached to the attachment part 40, the discharge part 41 is inserted into the introduction part 51 and the terminal part 53 is connected to the apparatus-side terminal 43.

  Of the discharge flow channel 32, the portion overlapping the discharge portion 41 is referred to as the connection portion 32 c, and the portion between the suction mechanism 33 and the connection portion 32 c is referred to as the downstream flow channel 32 b, and between the suction mechanism 33 and the cap 31. This portion is called the upstream flow path 32a. Of the discharge flow channel 32, at least the downstream flow channel 32b and the upstream flow channel 32a are formed of tubes that can be deflected and displaced.

  The cap 31 has a suction part 31a to which the upstream end of the upstream flow path 32a is connected. The cap 31 is preferably arranged so that the suction part 31a faces the outside of the housing 12 (home side). In this case, the discharge part 41, the suction mechanism 33, and the cap 31 are arranged so as to be arranged in a depth direction different from the width direction in which the suction part 31a faces. According to this configuration, since the upstream flow path 32a can be attached to and detached from the suction portion 31a from the outside of the housing 12, product assembly work, part replacement work, or maintenance work can be easily performed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge portion 41 and the connection portion 32 c are disposed at a position lower than the suction mechanism 33. It is preferable that at least a part of the connection portion 32 c is disposed below the suction mechanism 33. Moreover, it is preferable that the mounting portion 40 and the suction mechanism 33 are arranged side by side in the depth direction in such a manner that the front side portion of the mounting portion 40 overlaps the back side portion of the suction mechanism 33 in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the downstream flow path 32 b extending rearward from the upper portion of the suction mechanism 33 has an arrangement region (for example, the suction mechanism 33 and the support member 36 that does not overlap the suction mechanism 33 and the support member 36 in the vertical direction). After passing through a deeper region) and turning in the forward direction, the direction is changed and then drawn down below the suction mechanism 33 and the support member 36.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the position of the portion of the downstream flow path 32 b that passes through the arrangement region is fixed by engaging with a guide portion 42 a that is recessed in the wall 42. The guide portion 42a has a curved groove shape, and the portion of the downstream flow path 32b that engages with the guide portion 42a is curved.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the downstream flow path 32b routed below the suction mechanism 33 and the support member 36 changes its direction while curving below the suction mechanism 33 and the support member 36, and turns to the rear. Becomes the connection portion 32c.

  The upstream flow path 32 a of the discharge flow path 32 extending from the upper part of the suction mechanism 33 extends forward and is routed downward, and is then routed toward the non-home side between the suction mechanism 33 and the slider 35. After curving in a circular shape and changing the direction to the home side, it is drawn below the slider 35. As shown in FIG. 2, the upstream flow path 32a routed below the slider 35 is connected to the suction part 31a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the support member 36 preferably has a semicircular guide 36 a with which the upstream flow path 32 a of the discharge flow path 32 drawn between the suction mechanism 33 and the slider 35 can be engaged. In this case, the upstream flow path 32a is compactly changed without being bent by being along the guide 36a.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the injection port 20a of the liquid container 20 is arranged at a position higher than the waste liquid container 50, the cap 31, and the suction mechanism 33, the liquid injection operation is facilitated. Further, when the liquid container 20 has a stepped step, the extension direction of the supply channel 26 can be changed using the space formed by the step (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4), The supply channel 26 may be routed. For example, in the space indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the supply flow path 26 may be curved to change the extending direction from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction.

Next, the operation and effect of the liquid ejecting apparatus 11 configured as described above will be described.
(1) By disposing the suction mechanism 33 above the discharge portion 41, the discharge flow path 32 can be routed in a space below the suction mechanism 33.

(2) By overlapping the discharge part 41 and the suction mechanism 33 vertically, the size in the depth direction can be reduced as compared with the case where they are arranged in the depth direction.
(3) Since the support member 36 unitizes the suction mechanism 33 and the cap 31, it is easy to secure a space for routing the discharge flow path 32.

  (4) The discharge flow path 32, which is a flexible tube, can be deflected and displaced to change direction. On the other hand, if the curvature during bending is too small, the discharge flow path 32 is bent. In that respect, bending is suppressed by curving the discharge channel 32 while being routed downward from above.

(5) By causing the curved portion of the downstream flow path 32b to be along the guide portion 42a, the tube can be routed in a compact manner while suppressing bending.
(6) By engaging the downstream flow path 32b with the guide portion 42a, the curved tube can be prevented from spreading toward the home side. Thereby, the wall 42 and the downstream flow path 32b can be arranged in the width direction without a gap.

  (7) By disposing the suction mechanism 33 between the cap 31 and the mounting portion 40 in the depth direction, the upstream flow path 32a and the downstream flow path 32b can be distributed forward and backward, respectively.

  You may change the said embodiment like the example of a change shown below. Further, the configuration included in the above embodiment and the configuration included in the following modification example may be arbitrarily combined, and the configurations included in the following modification example may be arbitrarily combined. In addition, in the following description, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to what has a function similar to the component mentioned above, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  At least one of the liquid container 20 and the waste liquid container 50 may be disposed on the home side with respect to the moving region of the carriage 24. In this case, a portion of the housing 12 that covers at least one of the liquid container 20 and the waste liquid container 50 may be protruded outward (in the direction opposite to the direction X) from the side wall 16. If comprised in this way, the accommodation amount of a liquid or waste liquid can be increased by enlarging a part of housing | casing 12. FIG.

  As in the modified example shown in FIG. 6, the liquid container 20 may be configured to be attached / detached through the attachment / detachment port 14 b provided in the front wall 14. Further, the liquid container 20 may not be provided with the injection port 20a.

As in the modification shown in FIG. 6, the support member 36 may not support the suction mechanism 33.
As in the modified example shown in FIG. 6, the liquid container 20, the waste liquid container 50, the cap 31, and the suction mechanism 33 may be arranged in order from the front in the depth direction toward the heel side in the housing 12. . In this case, the waste liquid container 50 may be attached to and detached from the housing 12 through the insertion port 16 a provided in the side wall 16. Further, in this modified example, the downstream flow path 32b may be routed below the suction mechanism 33 and the cap 31 and connected to the discharge unit 41. Thereby, the downstream flow path 32b can be routed using the space below the suction mechanism 33 and the cap 31. In the modification shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable to dispose the discharge portion 41 at a position lower than the cap 31 and the support member 36 because it leads to suppression of the height in addition to the depth size.

  As in the modification shown in FIG. 6, at least one of the liquid container 20 and the waste liquid container 50 is located outside (home side) in the width direction from the moving area of the carriage 24 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6). One (or a part thereof) may be arranged.

  As in the modification shown in FIG. 6, the portion of the housing 12 that covers at least one of the liquid container 20 and the waste liquid container 50 may protrude outward from the side wall 16. If comprised in this way, the accommodation amount of a liquid or waste liquid can be increased by enlarging a part of housing | casing 12. FIG.

  The liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head 23 is not limited to ink, and may be, for example, a liquid material in which functional material particles are dispersed or mixed in the liquid. For example, recording is performed by ejecting a liquid material in which a material such as an electrode material or a color material (pixel material) used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, and a surface emitting display is dispersed or dissolved. It may be configured.

  The medium S is not limited to paper, but may be a plastic film, a thin plate, or the like, or may be a fabric used in a printing apparatus. Further, the medium S may be an arbitrary-shaped clothing such as a T-shirt, or may be a three-dimensional object having an arbitrary shape such as tableware or stationery.

Below, the technical idea grasped | ascertained from embodiment mentioned above and the example of a change, and its effect are described.
[Thought 1]
A liquid ejecting head having a nozzle and configured to eject liquid from the nozzle;
A cap capable of forming a closed space in which the nozzle opens;
A discharge channel connected to the cap;
A suction mechanism arranged in the middle of the discharge flow path and capable of performing a suction operation for sucking the inside of the cap;
A discharge part to which a downstream end of the discharge channel is connected;
With
The connection portion of the discharge flow path with respect to the discharge portion is disposed at a position lower than the suction mechanism,
The downstream flow path between the suction mechanism and the connecting portion of the discharge flow path is routed below the suction mechanism through an arrangement region that does not overlap the suction mechanism in the vertical direction. A liquid ejecting apparatus.

According to this configuration, the depth size can be reduced by drawing the downstream flow path below the suction mechanism as compared with the case where the downstream flow path and the suction mechanism are arranged in the depth direction.
[Thought 2]
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to [Consideration 1], wherein the downstream flow path drawn below the suction mechanism changes direction while being curved below the suction mechanism.

According to this configuration, the discharge flow path can be routed using the space below the suction mechanism.
[Thought 3]
A mounting portion on which a waste liquid container capable of storing the waste liquid discharged by the suction operation is detachably mounted;
The mounting portion includes the discharge portion and a wall provided with a guide portion capable of engaging with the downstream flow path passing through the arrangement region of the discharge flow path. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to [Idea 2].

According to this configuration, the discharge flow channel and the mounting portion can be arranged without gaps by drawing the discharge flow channel along the guide portion.
[Thought 4]
A support member for supporting the cap and the suction mechanism;
The connecting portion is disposed at a position lower than the support member;
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to [Concept 1], wherein the downstream flow path is routed below the support member through an area that does not overlap the support member in the vertical direction.

According to this configuration, the depth size can be reduced by drawing the downstream channel of the discharge channel below the support member as compared with the case where the downstream channel and the support member are arranged in the depth direction.
[Thought 5]
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to [Claim 4], wherein the downstream flow path drawn below the support member changes its direction while being curved below the support member.

According to this configuration, the discharge channel can be routed using the space below the support member.
[Thought 6]
A mounting portion on which a waste liquid container capable of storing the waste liquid discharged by the suction operation is detachably mounted;
The mounting portion includes the discharge portion and a wall provided with a guide portion that can engage the downstream flow path passing through the region of the discharge flow path. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to [5].

According to this configuration, the discharge flow channel and the mounting portion can be arranged without gaps by drawing the discharge flow channel along the guide portion.
[Thought 7]
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of [Concept 4] to [Concept 6], wherein the support member includes a semicircular guide with which the exhaust flow path to be drawn can be engaged. .

According to this configuration, by engaging the discharge channel with the guide, the direction of the discharge channel can be changed in a compact manner while suppressing bending.
[Thought 8]
At least a part of the connection portion is disposed below the suction mechanism. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of [Consideration 1] to [Concept 7].

According to this configuration, the downstream flow path connected to the connection portion can be routed in the space below the suction mechanism.
[Thought 9]
A mounting portion on which a waste liquid container capable of storing the waste liquid discharged by the suction operation is detachably mounted;
From [Idea 1], wherein the mounting portion and the suction mechanism are arranged side by side in the depth direction in such a manner that the front portion of the mounting portion overlaps the depth side portion of the suction mechanism in the vertical direction. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of thoughts 8].

According to this configuration, the depth size in which both of the mounting portions and the suction mechanism arranged in the depth direction are overlapped in the vertical direction can be reduced.
[Thought 10]
A housing for housing the discharge section, the suction mechanism and the cap;
The cap has a suction part to which an upstream end of the discharge channel is connected, and is arranged so that the suction part faces the outside of the housing.
The discharge unit, the suction mechanism, and the cap are arranged so as to be arranged in a direction different from a direction in which the suction unit faces. Any one of [Thought 1] to [Thought 9] The liquid ejecting apparatus described.

  According to this configuration, the discharge channel can be attached to and detached from the suction portion from the outside of the housing.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Liquid injection apparatus, 12 ... Housing | casing, 13 ... Bottom wall, 14 ... Front wall, 14a ... Discharge port, 14b ... Detachment port, 15 ... Rear wall, 15a ... Insertion port, 16 ... Side wall, 16a ... Insertion port, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 ... Side wall, 18 ... Storage part, 20 ... Liquid container, 20a ... Injection port, 22 ... Nozzle, 23 ... Liquid ejecting head, 23a ... Opening surface, 24 ... Carriage, 25 ... Guide shaft, 26 ... Supply flow path, 27 ... Conveying path, 28 ... Support base, 30 ... Maintenance device, 31 ... Cap, 31a ... Suction part, 32 ... Discharge flow path, 32a ... Upstream flow path, 32b ... Downstream flow path, 32c ... Connection part, 33 ... Suction Mechanism: 34 ... Wiping member, 35 ... Slider, 35a ... Engagement projection, 36 ... Supporting member, 36a ... Guide, 40 ... Mounting part, 41 ... Discharge part, 42 ... Wall, 42a ... Guide part, 43 ... Device side Terminal, 50 ... Waste liquid container, 51 ... Introduction part, 53 Terminal portion, 54 ... IC chip, S ... medium.

Claims (10)

A liquid ejecting head having a nozzle and configured to eject liquid from the nozzle;
A cap capable of forming a closed space in which the nozzle opens;
A discharge channel connected to the cap;
A suction mechanism arranged in the middle of the discharge flow path and capable of performing a suction operation for sucking the inside of the cap;
A discharge part to which a downstream end of the discharge channel is connected;
With
The connection portion of the discharge flow path with respect to the discharge portion is disposed at a position lower than the suction mechanism,
The downstream flow path between the suction mechanism and the connecting portion of the discharge flow path is routed below the suction mechanism through an arrangement region that does not overlap the suction mechanism in the vertical direction. A liquid ejecting apparatus. 2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the downstream flow path routed below the suction mechanism changes direction while being curved below the suction mechanism. 3. A mounting portion on which a waste liquid container capable of storing the waste liquid discharged by the suction operation is detachably mounted;
The said mounting part has the said discharge part, and the wall in which the guide part which can engage the said downstream flow path which passes the said arrangement | positioning area | region among the said discharge flow paths is provided. Item 3. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to Item 2. A support member for supporting the cap and the suction mechanism;
The connecting portion is disposed at a position lower than the support member;
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the downstream flow path is routed below the support member through a region that does not overlap the support member in a vertical direction. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the downstream flow path drawn below the support member changes direction while being curved below the support member. A mounting portion on which a waste liquid container capable of storing the waste liquid discharged by the suction operation is detachably mounted;
The said mounting part has the said discharge part, and the wall in which the guide part which can engage the said downstream flow path which passes the said arrangement | positioning area | region among the said discharge flow paths is provided. Item 6. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to Item 5. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the support member includes a semicircular guide with which the exhaust flow path to be drawn can be engaged. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the connection portion is disposed below the suction mechanism. A mounting portion on which a waste liquid container capable of storing the waste liquid discharged by the suction operation is detachably mounted;
The front side portion of the mounting portion overlaps the back side portion of the suction mechanism in the vertical direction, and the mounting portion and the suction mechanism are arranged side by side in the depth direction. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1. A housing for housing the discharge section, the suction mechanism and the cap;
The cap has a suction part to which an upstream end of the discharge channel is connected, and is arranged so that the suction part faces the outside of the housing.
The discharge unit, the suction mechanism, and the cap are arranged so as to be arranged in a direction different from a direction in which the suction unit faces. Liquid ejector.

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