JP2020019196A - Damper device and inkjet printer including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a damper device in which ink is less likely to be cured in an ink chamber and the inside of the ink chamber can be readily inspected when a failure occurs.SOLUTION: A damper device 50 includes: an ink chamber 52 having an opening formed in the part thereof and storing ink therein; a transparent or translucent damper membrane 53 covering the opening of the ink chamber 52 and capable of deforming on the basis of an amount of ink stored in the ink chamber 52; and a cover body 61 provided so as to cover the damper membrane 53 from an opposite side to the ink chamber 52 and be capable of being attached and detached, and having light shielding property.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a damper device and an inkjet printer including the damper device.

  For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a pressure buffer provided in a tube as an example of an ink flow path connecting an ink tank and an ink head in an ink jet printer. This pressure buffer is an example of a damper device, and serves to stabilize the ink ejection operation by relaxing the pressure fluctuation of the ink.

  This pressure buffer has an opening formed in a part thereof, and includes a chamber in which ink is stored, and a flexible film covering the opening of the chamber. The chamber is also called an ink chamber, and the flexible film is also called a damper film. For example, the flexible film bends to the chamber side or the side opposite to the chamber in response to a change in the pressure of the ink in the chamber. Thus, the amount of ink flowing through the ink head is adjusted, so that the ink ejection operation of the ink head can be stabilized.

JP 2005-22229 A

  By the way, when a damper film such as a flexible film does not have a light-shielding property, ink in an ink chamber such as a chamber may be easily cured by being irradiated with light or ultraviolet light from the outside. Therefore, for example, by using an opaque material to form a damper film having a light-shielding property, the ink in the ink chamber can be hardly cured. However, in the case of a damper film formed of an opaque material, if an abnormality occurs in the damper device, the ink chamber cannot be inspected through the damper film.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the invention is to provide a damper device that hardly cures ink in an ink chamber and that can easily inspect the ink chamber when an abnormality occurs. To provide an ink jet printer provided with the above.

  A damper device according to the present invention includes an ink chamber, a damper film, and a cover. The ink chamber has an opening formed in a part, and stores ink. The damper film covers the opening of the ink chamber, is deformable based on an amount of ink in the ink chamber, and is transparent or translucent. The cover body is detachably provided so as to cover the damper film from the opposite side of the ink chamber, and has a light shielding property.

  According to the above damper device, when using the damper device, the cover body is provided so as to cover the damper film from the opposite side of the ink chamber. Accordingly, external light and ultraviolet rays are blocked by the cover having light-shielding properties, so that the ink in the ink chamber can be hardly cured by external light and ultraviolet rays. Further, according to the damper device, when an abnormality occurs in the damper device, the ink chamber can be inspected through the damper film by removing the cover body. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the damper device, the inside of the ink chamber can be easily inspected.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it is hard to harden the ink in an ink chamber, and when an abnormality arises, the ink chamber can be easily checked.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an ink supply system. FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the carriage. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a bottom surface of one ink head. It is a perspective view of a damper device. It is a front sectional view of a damper device. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the damper device, in which a first cover body, a second cover body, and an arm member are omitted. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the damper device, in which a first cover body and a second cover body are omitted. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the damper device, in which an arm member is omitted. It is a top view of a damper device, and is a figure showing the state where a convex part of an arm member is not inserted in a hole. It is a top view of a damper device, and is a figure showing the state where a convex part of an arm member is inserted in a hole.

  Hereinafter, an ink jet printer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a printer) including a damper device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described here are not intended to limit the present invention in particular. Further, members / parts having the same action are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 10 according to the present embodiment. In the following description, front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower refer to front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower when the printer 10 is viewed from the front, respectively. In addition, symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings mean front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower, respectively. However, the above directions are merely directions for convenience of description, and do not limit the installation mode of the printer 10 at all, nor do they limit the present invention.

  The printer 10 is an inkjet printer, and prints on the recording medium 5 (see FIG. 1). The recording medium 5 is, for example, a roll of recording paper. However, the recording medium 5 is not limited to recording paper. The recording medium 5 may be a sheet-shaped recording medium, for example, a resin sheet.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a printer main body 11, a platen 13, a guide rail 15, and a carriage 17. The platen 13 is fixed to the printer body 11. The recording medium 5 is placed on the platen 13. Here, the platen 13 is provided with a cylindrical grit roller 21. The grit roller 21 is buried in the platen 13 with its upper surface exposed. A feed motor (not shown) is connected to the grit roller 21, and the grit roller 21 rotates by driving the feed motor.

  The guide rail 15 is arranged above the platen 13. The guide rail 15 is arranged in parallel with the platen 13 and extends in the left-right direction. Below the guide rail 15, a plurality of pinch rollers 22 are arranged at substantially equal intervals. The pinch roller 22 faces the grit roller 21. The pinch roller 22 is configured to be able to set a vertical position according to the thickness of the recording medium 5, and sandwiches the recording medium 5 with the grit roller 21. The grit roller 21 and the pinch roller 22 are configured to be able to convey the recording medium 5 in the front-rear direction while nipping the recording medium 5.

  The carriage 17 is engaged with the guide rail 15. The carriage 17 is configured to be slidable in the left-right direction along the guide rail 15. Although not shown, rollers are provided on the left end side and the right end side of the guide rail 15, respectively. A carriage motor (not shown) is connected to one of these rollers. An endless belt 19 is wound around rollers provided on both left and right ends of the guide rail 15. The carriage 17 is fixed to a belt 19. The belt 19 runs as the carriage motor drives and the rollers rotate. As a result, the carriage 17 moves in the left-right direction.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the ink supply system 30. The printer 10 includes a plurality of ink supply systems 30 (see FIG. 2). The ink supply system 30 is a system that supplies ink from an ink tank 33 described later toward an ink head 31 described later. In the present embodiment, the ink supply system 30 is provided for each nozzle row 32a (see FIG. 2) of the ink head 31 which will be described later. In other words, the ink supply system 30 is provided for each ink tank 33. FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the carriage 17, showing a positional relationship between the damper device 50 and the ink head 31. As shown in FIG. 3, here, the number of the nozzle rows 32a is “8”, and thus the number of the ink supply systems 30 is “8”. However, the number of the ink supply systems 30 is not particularly limited. The plurality of ink supply systems 30 have the same configuration. Therefore, the configuration of one ink supply system 30 will be described in detail below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ink supply system 30 includes an ink head 31, an ink tank 33, an ink flow path 35, a pressure control valve 38, a supply pump 39, and a damper device 50.

  The ink head 31 discharges ink onto the recording medium 5 placed on the platen 13 (see FIG. 1). FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the bottom surface of one ink head 31. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of nozzles 32 that eject ink are formed on the bottom surface of the ink head 31. Ink is ejected from the nozzle 32. These nozzles 32 are arranged in the front-back direction. Here, a row of the nozzles 32 arranged in the front-rear direction is referred to as a nozzle row 32a. In the present embodiment, two nozzle rows 32a are formed for one ink head 31. The two nozzle rows 32a are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Here, since the number of the ink heads 31 is four as shown in FIG. 3, the number of the nozzle rows 32a is eight. However, the numbers of the ink heads 31 and the nozzle rows 32a are not particularly limited. The ink head 31 is mounted on the carriage 17. The ink head 31 is arranged in the carriage 17 so as to be surrounded by the side wall 17a of the carriage 17. The ink head 31 is movable in the left-right direction along the guide rail 15 (see FIG. 1) together with the carriage 17.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ink tank 33 stores ink. The ink tank 33 is, for example, an ink cartridge. In the present embodiment, the number of the ink tanks 33 is the same as the number of the nozzle rows 32a, and is “8” here. The nozzles 32 forming one nozzle row 32a are connected to one ink tank 33. In the present embodiment, the ink tank 33 is detachably provided on the printer main body 11. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, an accommodation portion 33 a is provided at an upper right portion of the printer main body 11. The plurality of ink tanks 33 are housed in the housing 33a. However, the arrangement position of the ink tank 33 is not particularly limited. For example, the ink tank 33 may be detachably provided on the carriage 17.

  The ink stored in one ink tank 33 includes, for example, process color inks such as cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, light cyan ink, light magenta ink, and black ink, and white ink, metallic ink, and orange ink. , And any one of special color inks such as clear ink. Further, the ink stored in the ink tank 33, in other words, the ink discharged from the nozzle 32 of the ink head 31, is a so-called ultraviolet curable ink. Ultraviolet curable ink is an ink whose curing is accelerated when irradiated with ultraviolet light. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, an ultraviolet irradiation device 18 may be provided on the left and right sides of the carriage 17. The ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is a device for irradiating the ink ejected onto the recording medium 5 with ultraviolet light. Although not shown, an irradiation port for irradiating ultraviolet light is formed on the bottom surface of the ultraviolet irradiation device 18. Have been. The ink discharged from the nozzle 32 is not limited to the ultraviolet curable ink.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ink flow path 35 is a flow path for supplying the ink stored in the ink tank 33 to the nozzles 32 forming the nozzle row 32a. The ink flow path 35 may be a so-called circulation-type flow path as in the present embodiment, or may not be a circulation-type flow path. The ink flow path 35 includes an introduction flow path 41, a normal flow path 42, and a circulation flow path 43.

  The introduction flow channel 41 supplies the ink stored in the ink tank 33 to the normal flow channel 42. One end of the introduction channel 41 is detachably connected to the ink tank 33, and the other end of the introduction channel 41 is connected to the normal channel 42. In the present embodiment, the introduction flow channel 41 has a first introduction part 41a and a second introduction part 41b. The first introduction part 41a is detachably connected to the ink tank 33. The second introduction part 41b is disposed closer to the ink head 31 than the first introduction part 41a, and is connected to the normal flow path 42.

  The normal flow path 42 is a flow path that supplies the ink supplied to the introduction flow path 41 to the nozzle row 32 a of the ink head 31. One end of the normal flow path 42 is connected to the other end of the introduction flow path 41, and the other end of the normal flow path 42 is connected to the nozzle 32 forming the nozzle row 32 a via a damper device 50. In the present embodiment, the normal flow channel 42 has a first normal portion 42a, a second normal portion 42b, and a third normal portion 42c. The first normal section 42a is connected to the second introduction section 41b. The second normal section 42b is disposed closer to the ink head 31 than the first normal section 42a, and is located between the first normal section 42a and the third normal section 42c. The third normal section 42c is disposed closer to the ink head 31 than the second normal section 42b, and is connected to the ink head 31 via the damper device 50.

  The circulation channel 43 is a channel for flowing the ink in the damper device 50 to the normal channel 42, and is a channel for circulating the ink in the ink channel 35. One end of the circulation channel 43 is connected to the nozzle 32 forming the nozzle row 32 a via a damper device 50, and the other end of the circulation channel 43 is connected to the other end of the introduction channel 41 and one end of the normal channel 42. It is connected. In the present embodiment, the circulation channel 43 has a first circulation section 43a and a second circulation section 43b. The first circulation unit 43a is connected to the ink head 31. The second circulation part 43b is disposed closer to the ink tank 33 than the first circulation part 43a, and is connected to the second introduction part 41b and the first normal part 42a.

  The introduction valve 36 opens and closes the introduction flow path 41. The introduction valve 36 is provided in the introduction channel 41. Specifically, the introduction valve 36 is provided between the first introduction part 41a and the second introduction part 41b. The circulation valve 37 opens and closes the circulation channel 43. The circulation valve 37 is provided in the circulation channel 43. Specifically, the circulation valve 37 is provided between the first circulation part 43a and the second circulation part 43b. The types of the introduction valve 36 and the circulation valve 37 are not particularly limited. For example, the introduction valve 36 and the circulation valve 37 are valves that are electrically controlled, respectively.

  The pressure control valve 38 functions so as to reduce pressure fluctuations of the ink during printing. The pressure control valve 38 keeps the inside of the ink head 31 at a negative pressure (specifically, a pressure lower than the external pressure (for example, atmospheric pressure)) when the ink is not ejected. As a result, it is possible to suppress the ink in the ink head 31 from dripping from the nozzle 32 to the outside. In the present embodiment, the pressure control valve 38 is provided in the normal flow path 42. Specifically, the pressure control valve 38 is provided between the first normal part 42a and the second normal part 42b. The configuration of the pressure control valve 38 is not particularly limited, and various types of valve bodies can be adopted. For example, the pressure control valve 38 may be an electromagnetic valve that is electromagnetically controlled.

  The supply pump 39 is a pump for supplying the ink stored in the ink tank 33 to the ink head 31 and promoting discharge of the ink from the ink head 31. Further, when the ink in the ink flow path 35 is circulating, it is a pump for promoting the circulation of the ink. The type of the supply pump 39 is not particularly limited. For example, the supply pump 39 is a tube pump. For example, a tube pump includes an inner tube, a roller, and a drive motor connected to the roller inside. The drive motor drives the planetary rotation of the roller while crushing the inner tube with the roller, thereby sending ink in the traveling direction of the roller. As a result, ink is supplied from the ink tank 33 to the ink head 31. In the present embodiment, the supply pump 39 is provided in the normal flow path 42, and is disposed closer to the ink head 31 than the pressure control valve 38. Specifically, the supply pump 39 is provided between the second normal section 42b and the third normal section 42c.

  In the present embodiment, the introduction valve 36, the circulation valve 37, the pressure control valve 38, and the supply pump 39 are communicably connected to the control device 80 (see FIG. 1). The control device 80 is a computer, and may include a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU), a ROM storing programs executed by the CPU, a RAM, and the like.

  Next, the damper device 50 will be described. The damper device 50 alleviates the fluctuation of the ink pressure and stabilizes the ink ejection operation from the nozzle 32. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, one damper device 50 realizes two dampers 50a and 50b for the two ink supply systems 30. Hereinafter, of the damper devices 50, a damper provided in any one of the ink supply systems 30 is referred to as a first damper 50a. A damper provided in the ink supply system 30 in any other one of the damper devices 50 is referred to as a second damper 50b. In the present embodiment, the first damper 50a and the second damper 50b are collectively referred to as a damper device 50.

  The first damper 50a detects a flow rate of the ink flowing into the first damper 50a. The drive of the supply pump 39 of the ink supply system 30 provided with the first damper 50a is controlled based on the detection result of the ink flow rate of the first damper 50a. The second damper 50b detects the flow rate of the ink flowing into the second damper 50b. The drive of the supply pump 39 of the ink supply system 30 provided with the second damper 50b is controlled based on the detection result of the ink flow rate of the second damper 50a.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the damper device 50 (specifically, the first damper 50 a and the second damper 50 b) includes a third normal portion 42 c of the normal flow channel 42 and a first circulation of the circulation flow channel 43. It is connected to the section 43a.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the damper device 50. FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of the damper device 50. In FIG. 6, the arm member 58 is omitted. 7, 8, and 9 are perspective views of the damper device 50, respectively. 7, the first cover body 61, the second cover body 62, and the arm member 58 are omitted. In FIG. 8, the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 are omitted. The arm member 58 is omitted. 10 and 11 are plan views of the damper device 50. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the protrusion 59 of the arm member 58 is not inserted into the hole 65, and FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the protrusion 59 of the arm member 58 is inserted into the hole 65. is there. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the damper device 50 includes a damper body 51, a first damper 50a, a first cover body 61, a second damper 50b, and a second cover body 62. I have.

  The damper body 51 has a rectangular shape and is hollow. The damper body 51 has a light shielding property and is formed of an opaque material. The damper body 51 is made of, for example, resin. However, the shape and material of the damper body 51 are not particularly limited.

  Here, when the damper body 51 is divided into two equal parts in the left-right direction, the parts and members forming the first damper 50a are arranged on the right part, and the parts forming the second damper 50b on the left part. A member is arranged. The first damper 50a and the second damper 50b have the same configuration except that they are arranged symmetrically. Therefore, hereinafter, the first damper 50a will be described in detail, and the description of the second damper 50b will be appropriately omitted. Here, the reference numerals assigned to the parts and members constituting the second damper 50b correspond to the reference numerals assigned to the parts and members constituting the first damper 50a.

  The first damper 50a includes an ink chamber 52, a damper film 53, and a detection mechanism 54 (see FIG. 8). The ink chamber 52 is formed in the damper main body 51 and has an opening formed in a part. As shown in FIG. 6, the ink chamber 52 of the first damper 50a has an opening that opens to the right, and the ink chamber 52 of the second damper 50b has an opening that opens to the left. Have. The ink is temporarily stored in the ink chamber 52. Here, the ink chamber 52 communicates with the normal flow path 42, the circulation flow path 43, and one nozzle row 32a of the ink head 31. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, an inlet 55a and a circulation outlet 55b are formed in the upper part of the damper body 51. A head outlet 55c is formed in a lower portion of the damper body 51. However, the formation positions of the inlet 55a, the circulation outlet 55b, and the head outlet 55c are not particularly limited. The head outlet 55c according to the present embodiment corresponds to the "outlet" of the present invention. The inflow port 55a, the circulation outflow port 55b, and the head outflow port 55c communicate with the ink chamber 52. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the third normal portion 42c of the normal flow channel 42 is connected to the inflow port 55a. The first circulation portion 43a of the circulation channel 43 is connected to the circulation outlet 55b. The nozzles 32 forming one nozzle row 32a of the ink head 31 are connected to the head outlet 55c. For example, the first damper 50a is configured such that, during printing, the ink flowing into the ink chamber 52 from the inflow port 55a flows to the nozzle 32 of the ink head 31 through the head outflow port 55c. On the other hand, when the ink circulates, the first damper 50a is configured so that the ink flowing into the ink chamber 52 from the inlet 55a flows to the circulating outlet 55b.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the damper film 53 is provided on the damper body 51 so as to cover the opening of the ink chamber 52. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, a space surrounded by the damper film 53 and the damper main body 51 is an ink chamber 52. The damper film 53 is made of, for example, a flexible resin film. The damper film 53 is, for example, opaque. However, the damper film 53 may be translucent. The material for forming the damper film 53 is not particularly limited. The damper film 53 can be deformed inside and outside the ink chamber 52 based on the amount of ink stored in the ink chamber 52 and the pressure inside the ink chamber 52. The damper film 53 is attached to the damper main body 51 with a tension enough to bend inside and outside the ink chamber 52, respectively.

  In the present embodiment, a spring 55 is provided in the ink chamber 52. The spring 55 is disposed inside the ink chamber 52 in a compressed state, and applies an elastic force toward the damper film 53. Here, the spring 55 is provided on the surface of the damper film 53 on the ink chamber 52 side. Note that the type of the spring 55 is not particularly limited. For example, the spring 55 is a coil spring. In the present embodiment, a plate-shaped pressing body 57 is provided between the spring 55 and the damper film 53.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the detection mechanism 54 is a mechanism that detects the pressure in the ink chamber 52. The configuration of the detection mechanism 54 is not particularly limited. In the present embodiment, the detection mechanism 54 includes an arm member 58. The arm member 58 is a member extending in the front-rear direction, and has a rear end connected to the damper body 51. The arm member 58 is configured to be swingable in the left-right direction around the rear end. Here, in the first damper 50a, the pressing body 57 overlaps the arm member 58 in a right side view. In a right side view, the pressing body 57 is covered with the arm member 58. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a projecting portion 59 is provided at a portion of the arm member 58 that can contact the damper film 53. The projection 59 comes into contact with the damper film 53. Here, the term “contact with the damper film 53” includes not only the direct contact with the damper film 53 but also the case of indirect contact with the damper film 53 via another member. The protrusion 59 is provided at a portion of the arm member 58 on the ink chamber 52 side.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the first cover body 61 is a member that covers the damper film 53 of the first damper 50a. The first cover body 61 is an example of the cover body of the present invention. Here, the first cover body 61 is attached to the damper main body 51 so as to cover the damper film 53 from the side opposite to the ink chamber 52. The structure for attaching the first cover body 61 to the damper body 51 is not particularly limited. For example, the first cover body 61 may be provided with a hook, and the damper body 51 may be formed with a hook hole for hooking the hook. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the first cover body 61 includes an opposing surface 63 a disposed at a position opposing the damper film 53 of the first damper 50 a, and extends leftward from an upper end of the opposing surface 63. Upper surface 63b, a front surface 63c extending leftward from the front end of the opposing surface 63, a rear surface 63d extending leftward from the rear end of the opposing surface 63, and a lower surface 63e extending leftward from the lower end of the opposing surface 63 ( FIG. 6).

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, a part of the first cover body 61 is disposed between the damper film 53 and the arm member 58. Here, the facing surface 63 a is arranged between the damper film 53 and the arm member 58. At least a part of the first cover body 61 is in contact with the damper body 51. For example, the upper surface 63b, the front surface 63c, the rear surface 63d, the lower surface 63e, and the like of the first cover body 61 are in contact with the damper body 51. As shown in FIG. 6, a part of the first cover body 61 (here, an area 61 a which is the facing surface 63 a and faces the opening of the ink chamber 52) has the damper film 53 on the side opposite to the ink chamber 52. Even if it bends, it is configured not to come into contact with the portion of the damper film 53 that has bent to the opposite side to the ink chamber 52.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a hole 65 is formed in the facing surface 63a. As shown in FIG. 11, the convex portion 59 of the arm member 58 is inserted into the hole 65. Therefore, the hole 65 has a shape larger than the protrusion 59. For example, the circumference of the hole 65 is longer than the circumference of the projection 59. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the hole 65 overlaps the arm member 58 in a right side view. That is, the hole 65 is hidden by the arm member 58 in a right side view.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, an inflow cutout 66a that exposes the inlet 55a in plan view is formed on the upper surface 63b. Since the inflow port 55a is exposed through the inflow notch 66a, the inflow port 55a can be connected to the normal flow path 42. In addition, a circulation notch 66b is formed on the upper surface 63b so that the circulation outlet 55b is exposed in plan view. When the circulation outlet 55b is exposed through the circulation notch 66b, the circulation outlet 55b can be connected to the circulation channel 43. Although not shown, a cutout for outflow is formed on the lower surface of the first cover body 61 so that the head outlet 55c is exposed when viewed from the bottom.

  The second cover body 62 is a member that covers the damper film 53 of the second damper 50b. The second cover body 62 is configured symmetrically with the first cover body 61. Therefore, description of the second cover body 62 is omitted. In the description of the first cover body 61, the first damper 50a is replaced with the second damper 50b, and the left is replaced with the right, so that the description is about the second cover body 62.

  In the present embodiment, the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 are formed of an opaque material having a light shielding property. The first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 are made of, for example, resin. The first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 are formed of, for example, POM (polyacetal), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), or ABS resin (acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene copolymer synthetic resin). The first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 are formed integrally with each other. However, a part of each of the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 may be formed separately.

  The printer 10 according to the embodiment has been described above. In the present embodiment, when the damper device 50 is installed in the carriage 17 (see FIG. 3), a first cover body 61 and a second cover body 62 are attached to the damper body 51. At this time, the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 are also installed in the carriage 17. In FIG. 3, the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 are omitted. As shown in FIG. 5, the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 are attached to one damper main body 51. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, in one damper device 50, when viewed from the opening direction of the ink chamber 52 of the first damper 50 a (here, in a right side view), the hole 65 of the first cover body 61. Overlaps with the arm member 58 of the first damper 50a, and is disposed at a position hidden by the arm member 58 of the first damper 50a. Similarly, when viewed from the opening direction of the ink chamber 52 of the second damper 50a (here, in a left side view), the hole 65 of the second cover body 62 overlaps the arm member 58 of the second damper 50b. , Are disposed at positions hidden by the arm member 58 of the second damper 50a.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 are detachably provided so as to cover the damper film 53 from the opposite side of the ink chamber 52. Thus, when the damper device 50 is used, the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 may be provided so as to cover the damper film 53. In this case, since external light and ultraviolet light are blocked by the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 having a light shielding property, the ink in the ink chamber 52 can be hardly cured by the external light and ultraviolet light. . Further, in this embodiment, when an abnormality occurs in the damper device 50, the inside of the ink chamber 52 can be inspected through the damper film 53 by removing the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 from the damper body 51. it can. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the damper device 50, the inside of the ink chamber 52 can be easily inspected.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, when viewed from the direction in which the opening of the ink chamber 52 is opened (here, when viewed from the right side), the damper film 53 of the first damper 50 a has the first damper film 53. It overlaps with the cover body 61. Thus, the damper film 53 of the first damper 50a can be covered with the first cover body 61. Therefore, the damper film 53 can be hardly exposed to external light or ultraviolet light.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 are detachably attached to the damper body 51 so as to cover the damper film 53. Here, at least a part of each of the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 is in contact with the damper main body 51. As a result, the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 and the damper main body 51 can be brought close to each other, so that the clearance between the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 and the damper main body 51 can be increased. From outside light or ultraviolet light.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the spring 55 is disposed in the ink chamber 52 and applies an elastic force toward the damper film 53. A region 61a of the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 facing the opening is configured so as not to contact the damper film 53 when the damper film 53 is bent toward the outside of the ink chamber 52. I have. Thus, it is possible to prevent the pressure of the ink in the ink chamber 52 from being measured incorrectly due to the damper film 53 coming into contact with the first cover body 61 or the second cover body 62.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the arm member 58 is provided on the damper main body 51 so as to be disposed on the opposite side of the damper film 53 from the ink chamber 52. As shown in FIG. 10, the arm member 58 is provided with a protrusion 59 that can directly or indirectly contact the surface of the damper film 53 opposite to the ink chamber 52. For example, the first cover body 61 (specifically, the facing surface 63a) is disposed between the damper film 53 of the first damper 50a and the arm member 58. As shown in FIG. 9, the first cover body 61 has a hole 65 into which the protrusion 59 can be inserted. Thus, the protrusion 59 can be brought into contact with the damper film 53 through the hole 65. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for the protrusion 59 to contact the first cover body 61.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, when viewed from the direction in which the opening of the ink chamber 52 of the first damper 50 a is opened, the hole 65 overlaps the arm member 58. This makes it easier for external light or ultraviolet light entering the hole 65 to be blocked by the arm member 58. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult to irradiate the ink in the ink chamber 52 with external light or ultraviolet light through the holes 65.

  In the present embodiment, the arm member 58 is formed of a material having a light shielding property. This makes it easier for the arm member 58 to block external light or ultraviolet light that is going to enter the hole 65.

  In the present embodiment, the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 are formed of an opaque material. Thus, when the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 are attached to the damper main body 51, it is possible to make it difficult for external light or ultraviolet light to enter the ink chamber 52.

  In the present embodiment, the ink stored in the ink chamber 52, that is, the ink stored in the ink tank 33 is an ultraviolet curable ink. Therefore, when the ink stored in the ink chamber 52 is irradiated with external light or ultraviolet light, the curing of the ink is promoted. In the present embodiment, the ink chamber 52 and the damper film 53 are covered by the first cover body 61 or the second cover body 62. This makes it difficult to cure the ink even if the ink in the ink chamber 52 is an ultraviolet curable ink.

  The printer 10 according to one embodiment has been described above. In the above embodiment, the damper device 50 includes the first damper 50a and the second damper 50b. However, one of the first damper 50a and the second damper 50b may be omitted. That is, the damper device 50 may include one ink chamber 52, one damper film 53, and one detection mechanism 54. In this case, one of the first cover body 61 and the second cover body 62 may be omitted.

  In the above embodiment, another member (for example, the pressing body 57) may be provided between the damper film 53 and the convex portion 59 of the arm member 58. In this case, the protrusion 59 can indirectly contact the damper film 53 via another member.

10 Printer (inkjet printer)
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 31 ink head 32 nozzle 35 ink flow path 50 damper device 51 damper body 52 ink chamber 53 damper film 55 spring 58 arm member 59 convex part 61 first cover body (cover body)
62 second cover body 65 holes

Claims (11)

An ink chamber having an opening formed in a part thereof and storing ink;
A transparent or translucent damper film that covers the opening of the ink chamber, is deformable based on an amount of ink in the ink chamber,
A cover body which is detachably provided so as to cover the damper film from the opposite side of the ink chamber and has a light shielding property,
, A damper device.   The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the damper film overlaps the cover when viewed from a direction in which the opening of the ink chamber is opened. A damper body in which the ink chamber is formed,
The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the cover body is detachably attached to the damper body so as to cover the damper film.   The damper device according to claim 3, wherein at least a part of the cover body is in contact with the damper body. A spring is provided in the ink chamber and provides an elastic force toward the damper film,
The region of the cover body facing the opening is configured so as not to contact the damper film when the damper film flexes toward the opposite side to the ink chamber. The damper device described. An arm member provided on the damper body so as to be disposed on the opposite side of the ink chamber from the damper film,
The arm member is provided with a protrusion that can directly or indirectly contact the surface of the damper film,
At least a part of the cover body is disposed between the damper film and the arm member,
The damper device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the cover body has a hole into which the protrusion can be inserted.   The damper device according to claim 6, wherein the hole overlaps the arm member when viewed from a direction in which the opening of the ink chamber is opened.   The damper device according to claim 6, wherein the arm member is formed of a material having a light shielding property.   The damper device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cover body is formed of an opaque material.   The damper device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the ink stored in the ink chamber is an ultraviolet curable ink. A damper device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
In the damper body, an inflow port communicating with the ink chamber, and an outflow port communicating with the ink chamber are formed,
An ink flow path having an upstream end connected to the ink tank in which the ink is stored, and a downstream end connected to the inflow port;
An ink head communicating with the outlet and having a nozzle from which ink is ejected,
An inkjet printer equipped with:

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