JP2020168823A - Set of liquid storage tank and liquid supply container, and liquid discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress liquid leakage when a liquid is supplied from a liquid supply container to a liquid storage tank.SOLUTION: In a set of a liquid storage tank for storing a liquid and a liquid supply container for storing the liquid to supply to the tank, the tank has a first cylindrical part having a first fitting shape, a liquid injection port for injecting the liquid in the tank and a tubular or bar-like member on an inner side than the first cylindrical part. The liquid supply container has a second cylindrical part having a second fitting shape which can be fitted to the first fitting shape, and a liquid outlet for discharging the liquid from the liquid supply container and a valve mechanism communicating with the liquid outlet on an inner side than the second cylindrical part. With the first and second fitting shapes, the second cylindrical part can rotate and can be inserted in the first cylindrical part. When the liquid is not supplied, the first and second fitting shapes are not fitted, the valve mechanism is closed, and the liquid supply container is tightly closed. When the liquid is supplied, the first and second fitting shapes are fitted, and the tubular or bar-like member abuts on the valve mechanism to open the valve mechanism.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid discharge device such as an inkjet recording device, and relates to a set of a liquid storage tank and a liquid replenishment container used in the liquid discharge device.

Some liquid discharge devices such as an inkjet recording device are of a type in which a liquid storage tank for storing a liquid such as ink is installed and the liquid is supplied from the liquid storage tank to the liquid discharge head. When the liquid capacity of the liquid storage tank decreases, the liquid is replenished from the liquid replenishment container containing the replenishment liquid to the liquid storage tank, so that the liquid can be discharged without interrupting the liquid supply to the liquid discharge head. The device can be used.

Patent Document 1 discloses that an outlet portion of a liquid replenishment container is inserted into an inlet portion of a liquid storage tank to replenish ink. Patent Document 2 discloses a type of container in which a valve mechanism is provided at the outlet portion of the liquid supply container and the valve mechanism is opened by inserting a flow path member protruding from the liquid storage tank into the outlet portion of the liquid supply container. ing.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-87844 JP-A-2018-144281

In Patent Document 1, when the outlet portion of the liquid replenishment container is inserted into the inlet portion of the liquid storage tank, the liquid replenishment container is turned upside down so that the outlet portion is located below the liquid level in the liquid replenishment container. Therefore, there is a risk that ink may scatter from the outlet portion in the open state. In Patent Document 2, by providing a valve mechanism at the outlet of the liquid replenishment container, it is possible to configure the liquid replenishment container so that the liquid does not leak just by turning it upside down. However, in the case of a configuration in which the valve is opened by inserting the liquid supply container outlet into the inlet of the liquid storage tank, ink may leak if the insertion state is incomplete or unstable. .. In addition, in the type of container in which the ink in the container is discharged by squeezing (squeezing) the liquid supply container, if the container is squeezed in an incomplete or unstable state, the ink leaks vigorously and scatters. Sometimes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a set of a liquid storage tank and a liquid replenishment container capable of suppressing liquid leakage when replenishing a liquid from the liquid replenishment container to the liquid storage tank. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid discharge device capable of suppressing liquid leakage when replenishing a liquid from a liquid replenishment container to a liquid storage tank.

According to one aspect of the invention
A set of a liquid storage tank for storing liquid and a liquid replenishment container for storing liquid for replenishing the liquid storage tank.
The liquid storage tank has a first tubular portion having a first fitting shape, and from the first tubular portion in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the first tubular portion. Inside, it has a liquid injection port for injecting liquid into the liquid storage tank, and a tubular or rod-shaped member.
The liquid supply container has a second tubular portion having a second fitting shape that can be fitted with the first fitting shape, and the second tubular portion extends in the extending direction. Inside the second tubular portion in the orthogonal direction, a liquid outlet for discharging the liquid from the liquid replenishment container and a valve mechanism communicating with the liquid outlet are provided.
The first and second fitting shapes are shapes in which the second tubular portion can be rotated and inserted with respect to the first tubular portion.
When the liquid is not replenished, the first and second fitting shapes do not fit, the valve mechanism is closed, and the liquid replenishment container is sealed.
At the time of liquid replenishment, the first and second fitting shapes are fitted, and the tubular or rod-shaped member comes into contact with the valve mechanism to open the valve mechanism.
A set of liquid storage tank and liquid replenishment container is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention
A liquid discharge device including a liquid discharge unit for discharging a liquid, a liquid storage tank for storing the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge unit, and a liquid supply container for storing the liquid to be replenished in the liquid storage tank. ,
As the liquid storage tank and the liquid replenishment container, a liquid discharge device including the set of the liquid storage tank and the liquid replenishment container according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is provided.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set of a liquid storage tank and a liquid replenishment container capable of suppressing leakage of the liquid when replenishing the liquid from the liquid replenishment container to the liquid storage tank. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid discharge device capable of suppressing leakage of liquid when replenishing liquid from a liquid replenishment container to a liquid storage tank.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the liquid supply container. It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the liquid storage tank. It is a partial cross-sectional view which shows the example of the connection state of a liquid supply container and a storage tank. It is sectional drawing which shows the example of the storage state of a liquid supply container. It is a partial perspective view which shows another structural example of a liquid supply container. It is sectional drawing which shows another structural example of a liquid storage tank. It is a partial sectional view which shows another example of the connection state of a liquid supply container and a liquid storage tank. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the mechanism part of the inkjet recording apparatus. It is a vertical sectional side view which shows typically the structure of the main part of the recording apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the state of replenishing ink to an ink tank in the recording apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a liquid replenishment container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a liquid storage tank used together with this liquid replenishment container. The liquid storage tank 16 has a first tubular portion 112 having a first fitting shape 111. The liquid storage tank 16 is a liquid injection for injecting liquid into the liquid storage tank inside the first tubular portion 112 in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction (paper surface vertical direction) of the first tubular portion 112. It has an inlet 113 and a liquid introduction tube 114 as a tubular or rod-shaped member. The liquid introduction pipe 114 is a pipe that communicates with the liquid injection port 113 and introduces the liquid into the liquid storage chamber 100 inside the liquid storage tank, and extends parallel to the extending direction of the first tubular portion 112. .. The liquid to be replenished in the liquid storage tank is stored in the liquid replenishment container 20, which is a separate container.

A second tubular portion 202 is provided on the upper portion (in the upright state) of the liquid supply container 20. The second tubular portion 202 has a second fitting shape 206 that can be fitted with the first fitting shape 111. Further, the liquid replenishment container 20 is for discharging the liquid from the liquid replenishment container 20 inside the second tubular portion 202 in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction (paper surface vertical direction) of the second tubular portion 202. It has a liquid outlet 207 and a valve mechanism 209 communicating with the liquid outlet 207. In this example, the liquid supply container 20 has a separately molded container body 201 and an outlet forming portion 210 (having a second tubular portion 202 at the upper portion), but this is not the case.

The valve mechanism includes a seal member 203, a spring member 204, and a valve member 205. The valve member 205 is movable in the extending direction of the second tubular portion 202. The valve member 205 is supported by the support member 208 fixed to the outlet forming portion 210. As the seal member 203, a ring-shaped member provided around the liquid outlet 207 can be used. As the spring member 204, a spring coil wound around the valve member can be used. The liquid outlet 207 is provided at the upper bottom portion (in the upright state) of the second tubular portion 202. The lower bottom portion (in the upright state) of the second tubular portion 202 is an opening communicating with the inside of the liquid supply container.

When the liquid is not replenished, the first fitting shape 111 and the second fitting shape 206 are not fitted, and the valve member 205 is brought into close contact with the seal member 203 by the spring member 204, so that the valve mechanism is closed. The liquid supply container 20 is sealed. That is, the spring member 204 urges the valve member 205 from the inside to the outside toward the seal member 203, and the space between the valve member 205 and the seal member 203 is sealed. Therefore, the liquid does not leak to the outside even when the liquid supply container is in the upside-down position or when the internal pressure of the liquid supply container is increased by an external force.

When replenishing the liquid to replenish the liquid storage tank 20, the first fitting shape 111 and the second fitting shape 206 are fitted, and the liquid introduction pipe 214 comes into contact with the valve member 205, whereby the valve member 205. The seal between the seal member 203 and the seal member 203 is released, and the valve mechanism is opened. This makes it possible to replenish the ink.

The connection between the liquid supply container 20 and the liquid storage tank 16 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. When replenishing the liquid storage tank 16 with ink, the liquid replenishment container 20 is inserted into the first tubular portion 112 with the second tubular portion 202 facing downward as shown in FIG. 3A. Place it upside down on the liquid storage tank 16.

The first fitting shape 111 and the second fitting shape 206 are shapes in which the second tubular portion 202 can be rotated and inserted into the first tubular portion 112. In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first and second fitting shapes 111 and 206 are screw shapes. By rotating the liquid supply container 20, the liquid supply container 20 is lowered (parallel to the rotation axis direction, that is, the extending direction of the second tubular portion 202), and the second tubular portion 202 is the first tubular portion. It is inserted into the unit 112. As the liquid supply container 20 continues to rotate, a constant fitting depth is satisfied. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3B, the liquid introduction pipe 114 provided in the liquid storage tank 16 is inserted into the inside of the second tubular portion 202 and comes into contact with the valve member 205 to abut the valve member. The 205 is separated from the seal member 203 and the valve mechanism is opened. The valve member 205 and the liquid introduction pipe 114 are not sealed, and the liquid can flow between them.

A support member 115 for supporting the liquid introduction pipe 114 is provided at the lower bottom portion of the first tubular portion 112 (upright position), that is, at the inner bottom portion (see FIG. 2). The support member is, for example, plate-shaped. The lower bottom portion of the first tubular portion 112 (upright position) is closed by the support member 115 except for the liquid injection port 113. Therefore, all the liquid introduced into the liquid storage tank 16 is introduced through the liquid introduction pipe 114. The upper bottom portion of the first tubular portion 112 (upright position) is an opening for inserting the second tubular portion 202.

In order to insert the second tubular portion 202 inside the first tubular portion 112, a first fitting shape 111 is provided on the inner surface of the first tubular portion 112, and the second fitting shape 206 is provided. Can be provided on the outer surface of the second tubular portion 202. At least the inner surface of the first tubular portion 112 and at least the outer surface of the second tubular portion 202 are both rotating bodies, particularly cylindrical. A liquid introduction pipe 114 and a valve mechanism 209 can be provided concentrically with the central axis. Further, the direction of the central axis is parallel to the extending direction of the first or second cylindrical portion.

When the liquid introduction pipe 114 is inserted in this way, the ink moves from the liquid replenishment container 20 to the liquid storage tank 16 by gas-liquid exchange, and the liquid replenishment container is squeezed to push out the ink. There is a type of liquid replenishment container. When the liquid supply container 20 is a gas-liquid exchange type, the state shown in FIG. 3B may be maintained at the time of liquid supply, and when the liquid supply container 20 is a squeeze type, the container may be squeezed in that state. In either case, the liquid supply container 20 is firmly supported by the liquid storage tank 16 due to the fitting shape, and the open state of the valve mechanism can be made good. Therefore, it is possible to replenish the ink while suppressing the leakage of the ink including the scattering due to the squeeze.

Regarding the fitting shape of the screw shape, by setting a combination of multiple screw pitches or a combination of the number of screw threads such as 2-thread screw or 3-thread screw, and making the shape different for each liquid type (ink color), the liquid is liquid. It is possible to prevent the seeds from being accidentally replenished with liquid. In this case, for at least one liquid type, both the first and second fitting shapes have a combination of a plurality of screw shapes that differ in at least one of the pitch and the number of threads.

The fitting shape is not limited to the screw shape. For example, one of the first and second fitting shapes may be a groove shape and the other may be a convex shape. For example, as the second fitting shape, the fitting groove 230 can be provided in the second tubular portion 202 of the liquid supply container as shown in FIG. In this case, as the first fitting shape, a convex shape (not shown, for example, a columnar protrusion) having a size passing through the fitting groove 230 can be provided in the first tubular portion 112 of the liquid storage tank 16. In this case, the liquid replenishment container 20 can be inserted to a predetermined insertion depth only by slightly rotating it. In this case, the amount of rotation can be, for example, 1/2 rotation, 1/3 rotation, 1/4 rotation, etc. in consideration of mounting suitability, and the fitting groove 230 such that these rotation amounts are realized is appropriately provided. It is possible to configure. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the fitting groove 230 extends downward from the upper end of the second tubular portion 202 (upright position) in parallel with the extending direction of the second tubular portion 202. It exists, then extends diagonally, and then extends orthogonally.

Contrary to the above configuration, the first tubular portion 112 may be provided with a fitting groove, and the second tubular portion 202 may be provided with a convex shape. Further, regardless of whether the fitting groove and the convex shape are used or the screw shape is used, at least a part of the second fitting shape 206 is parallel (angle) with respect to the extending direction of the second tubular portion 202. It extends in a direction other than 0 °). That is, at least a part of the second fitting shape 206 extends diagonally (more than 0 ° and less than 90 °) and / or orthogonally (angle 90 °).

According to the above configuration, the liquid supply container 20 can be rotated and inserted into the liquid storage tank 16 and mounted by utilizing the first and second fitting shapes. At that time, when the liquid replenishment container 20 abuts on the liquid storage tank 16, the user can know that the mounting is completed, and the valve mechanism can be opened at that stage. Therefore, the length of the tubular or rod-shaped member can be appropriately adjusted and determined. However, this is not the case, and the opening of the valve mechanism may be completed before the liquid supply container 20 hits the liquid storage tank 16. In that case, for example, by attaching a mark indicating the insertion completion position to the second tubular portion 202 of the liquid supply container 20, the user is made to recognize the insertion state of the liquid supply container 20 into the liquid storage tank 16. Configuration is also possible.

When the liquid replenishment container 20 is removed when the ink replenishment is completed, the valve member 205 is moved by the urging of the spring member 204, the valve mechanism is closed, and the state returns to the state when the liquid is not replenished. Therefore, the liquid does not leak to the outside.

Although not shown, a detection means for detecting that the liquid (ink) is full in the liquid storage tank 16 can be provided. When the fullness is detected by this detection means, the ink replenishment can be completed.

The second fitting shape 206 of the liquid replenishment container 20 can also be used to secure the cap 220 that protects the liquid outlet as shown in FIG. 4 when the liquid replenishment container is stored. That is, a cap having a fitting shape that can be fitted with the second fitting shape 206 can be used. If a combination of fitting shapes such as screw pitch is used as described above, the cap used in the liquid replenishment container of a different liquid type is mistakenly used, and the liquid introduced into the liquid storage tank 16 is used as the cap. It is possible to easily prevent the adhering liquid from being mixed.

[Second Embodiment]
In this embodiment, instead of the liquid introduction pipe 114 shown in FIG. 2, a pin 116 is used as a rod-shaped (solid) member as shown in FIG. The pin 116 is fixed to, for example, a plate-shaped support member 115, and the support member 115 is fixed to the first tubular portion 112. The liquid injection port 113 is provided in the portion of the support member 115 where the pin 116 is not formed. As shown in FIG. 7A, at the time of non-liquid replenishment, the valve mechanism 209 of the liquid replenishment container is closed as in the first embodiment. At the time of replenishing the liquid, as shown in FIG. 3B, the pin 116 abuts on the valve member 205 to open the valve mechanism 209, and the liquid is introduced into the liquid storage tank 16 from the liquid outlet 207 through the liquid inlet 113. The liquid.

Other than these points, the second embodiment may be the same as the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the screw shape described above, the fitting groove 208, and the like can be appropriately used as the fitting shape.

[Liquid discharge device]
8 and 9 show an example of an inkjet recording device 1000 (hereinafter, also referred to as “recording device”) as a liquid discharge device to which a set of a liquid storage tank and a liquid replenishment container according to the present invention can be applied. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a mechanical portion of the recording device 1000, and FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional side view schematically showing a configuration of a main part of the recording device 1000. The mechanism unit is mainly composed of a first feeding unit 1, a second feeding unit 2, a recording unit 3, and a liquid supply unit 4. In the following, the term "ink" is used as a general term for liquids such as recording liquids, fixing treatment liquids, and resists.

The first feeding unit 1 separates the recording media one by one from the bundle of recording media by using the feeding roller 10 and supplies the recording media to the second feeding unit 2. The second feeding unit 2 is provided on the downstream side of the first feeding unit 1 in the transporting direction, and transports the recording medium fed from the feeding roller 10 by using the transport roller 11, the paper ejection roller 12, and the like. Further, the platen 13 for holding the recording medium is provided between the transport roller 11 and the paper discharge roller 12. The recording medium conveyed by the second feeding unit is supported by the platen 13 from vertically below.

The recording unit 3 includes a carriage 14 that reciprocates in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium in FIG. 9, and a recording head (liquid discharge head) 15 as a liquid discharge unit mounted on the carriage 14. The recording head 15 has an ink ejection unit in which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink are arranged. Discharge energy generating elements are provided in each of the plurality of ejection ports constituting the ink ejection unit, and by driving the ejection energy generating elements based on the recorded data, ink is ejected from the ejection ports to the platen 13. The image is recorded on a supported recording medium.

The liquid supply unit 4 includes an ink tank 16 as a liquid storage tank, an ink flow path 101 that guides ink from the ink tank 16 to the recording head 15, and flexible ink that connects the ink flow path 101 and the recording head 15. It is composed of a supply tube 107 and the like. When ink is ejected from the ejection port of the recording head 15 and the recording operation is performed, the negative pressure in the recording head 15 increases.

Due to this increase in negative pressure, the ink contained in the ink storage chamber 100 of the ink tank 16 is supplied to the recording head 15 via the ink flow path 101 and the ink supply tube 107. At this time, the same amount of air as the ink supplied to the recording head 15 flows into the ink tank 16 from the atmospheric communication port 102 provided vertically above the ink tank 16.

The recording device 1000 is a color printer that ejects a plurality of types of inks of different colors and records a color image on a recording medium. For this reason, the recording head 15 is provided with a plurality of ink ejection portions corresponding to each of the plurality of types of inks. In this example, four ink ejection sections for ejecting four colors of ink, yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, are provided, and each ink ejection section has four types of ink tanks for storing each of the four types of ink. 16 is provided. The ink tank containing cyan ink is described as 16C, the ink tank containing magenta ink is described as 16M, the ink tank containing yellow ink is described as 16Ye, and the ink tank containing black ink is described as 16Bk. When the remaining amount of ink in the ink tanks 16C, 16M, 16Ye, and 16Bk is less than a predetermined amount, that fact is displayed on the display unit 1001 of the recording device, and the remaining amount is insufficient for the user. Encourages the ink tank 16 to be replenished with ink.

The ink is replenished to the ink tank 16 by the user using the ink replenishment container 20 as a liquid replenishment container in which the ink is stored. Therefore, the number of ink replenishment containers 20 is prepared according to the number of colors of the ink to be used (4 colors in this example). Then, in the replenishment work, the ink replenishment container 20 is selected at the user's discretion based on the color information displayed on the ink tank 16 and the ink replenishment container 20, and the ink is replenished to the ink tank 16. At that time, as shown in FIG. 10, the tank cover 1002 provided on the front surface of the recording device 1000 is opened forward, the cap 26 provided on the ink tank 16 is removed, and the ink replenishment container 20 is placed in the ink tank. It is inserted and attached to 16 for replenishment.

According to the present invention, when the liquid supply container outlet portion is securely set in the liquid storage tank inlet portion, the liquid can be replenished and the liquid can be suppressed from leaking to the outside. Further, during liquid replenishment, the wall (first tubular portion) of the liquid storage tank inlet portion serves as a support for the liquid replenishment container, which also has the effect of stabilizing the posture of the liquid replenishment container in the inserted state.

15 Liquid discharge part (recording head)
16 Liquid storage tank (ink tank)
20 Liquid replenishment container 111 First fitting shape 112 First tubular portion 113 Liquid inlet 114 Liquid introduction pipe (tubular member)
115 Support member 116 pin (rod-shaped member)
201 Liquid replenishment container body 202 Second tubular part 203 Seal member 204 Spring member 205 Valve member 206 Second fitting shape 207 Liquid outlet 208 Support member 209 Valve mechanism 210 Outlet forming part 220 Cap 230 Fitting groove 1000 Inkjet recording apparatus

Claims (9)

A set of a liquid storage tank for storing liquid and a liquid replenishment container for storing liquid for replenishing the liquid storage tank.
The liquid storage tank has a first tubular portion having a first fitting shape, and from the first tubular portion in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the first tubular portion. Inside, it has a liquid injection port for injecting liquid into the liquid storage tank, and a tubular or rod-shaped member.
The liquid supply container has a second tubular portion having a second fitting shape that can be fitted with the first fitting shape, and the second tubular portion extends in the extending direction. Inside the second tubular portion in the orthogonal direction, a liquid outlet for discharging the liquid from the liquid replenishment container and a valve mechanism communicating with the liquid outlet are provided.
The first and second fitting shapes are shapes in which the second tubular portion can be rotated and inserted with respect to the first tubular portion.
When the liquid is not replenished, the first and second fitting shapes do not fit, the valve mechanism is closed, and the liquid replenishment container is sealed.
At the time of liquid replenishment, the first and second fitting shapes are fitted, and the tubular or rod-shaped member comes into contact with the valve mechanism to open the valve mechanism.
A set of a liquid storage tank and a liquid replenishment container. The valve mechanism includes a valve member, a spring member and a seal member.
When the liquid is not replenished, the valve member is brought into close contact with the seal member by the spring member, so that the valve mechanism is closed.
The set of the liquid storage tank and the liquid replenishment container according to claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism is opened when the tubular or rod-shaped member comes into contact with the valve member at the time of replenishing the liquid. The set of the liquid storage tank and the liquid replenishment container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tubular or rod-shaped member communicates with the liquid inlet and is a liquid introduction pipe for introducing the liquid into the liquid storage tank. 1 or claim 1, wherein the tubular or rod-shaped member is a rod-shaped member fixed to a support member forming an inner bottom portion of the first tubular portion, and the support member is provided with the liquid injection port. A set of the liquid storage tank and the liquid replenishment container according to 2. The set of the liquid storage tank and the liquid replenishment container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second fitting shapes are screw shapes. The set of a liquid storage tank and a liquid supply container according to claim 5, wherein the screw shape includes a combination of a plurality of screw shapes in which at least one of the pitch and the number of threads is different. The set of the liquid storage tank and the liquid supply container according to claim 1 to 4, wherein one of the first and second fitting shapes is a groove shape and the other is a convex shape. The liquid storage according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a cap that protects the liquid outlet when the liquid is not replenished, and the cap has a fitting shape that can be fitted with the second fitting shape. A set of a tank and a liquid supply container. A liquid discharge device including a liquid discharge unit for discharging a liquid, a liquid storage tank for storing the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge unit, and a liquid replenishment container for storing the liquid to be replenished in the liquid storage tank. ,
A liquid discharge device including the liquid storage tank and the set of the liquid supply container according to any one of claims 1 to 8 as the liquid storage tank and the liquid supply container.

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