JP2021088194A - Liquid jet device - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent occurrence of defect that opening of a supply flow passage is forgotten so that printing is resumed with the flow passage closed.SOLUTION: A liquid jet device comprises: a liquid jet part 50 having a nozzle 51 that jets ink towards a medium; a liquid storage part 13 that stores ink; a supply flow passage 40 through which the liquid storage part 13 is communicated with the liquid jet part 50; opening/closing mechanisms 60A that have an opening/closing part 63 that brings the supply flow passage 40 into an open state or a close state and an operation part 61 that operates the opening/closing part 63; a carriage 30, mounted with the liquid jet part 50 and the opening/closing mechanisms 60A, which can be reciprocatingly moved in a main scanning direction; a contact part 100 that contacts the opening/closing mechanisms 60A when the carriage 30 is moved with the supply flow passage 40 closed; and a detecting part 84 that detects contacting of the contact part 100 with the opening/closing mechanisms 60A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid injection device and a method for detecting the liquid injection device.

Conventionally, there is known a liquid injection device that prints on a printing medium by ejecting a liquid from a printing head onto a printing medium such as printing paper (for example, Patent Document 1).
The liquid injection device described in Patent Document 1 can manually open and close the supply tube (flow path) and the liquid supply device that supplies the ink stored in the tank (liquid storage unit) to the print head via the supply tube. It has a flow path opening / closing device. By manually closing the flow path using this flow path opening / closing device, the liquid injection device can be transported in a state where the ink does not leak even when the liquid injection device is filled with ink. Can be done.

JP-A-2015-134485

However, in order to manually open and close the flow path, the flow path is closed to transport the liquid injection device, and after transporting the liquid injection device, the flow path is forgotten to be opened, and printing is performed with the flow path closed. There was a risk that a problem would occur in which the was restarted.

The liquid injection device of the present application includes a liquid injection unit having a nozzle for injecting a liquid onto a medium, a liquid storage unit for storing the liquid, and a supply flow path communicating the liquid storage unit and the liquid injection unit. An opening / closing mechanism having an opening / closing unit for opening or closing the supply flow path, an operating unit for operating the opening / closing unit, the liquid injection unit, and the opening / closing mechanism are mounted and reciprocated in the main scanning direction. A movable carriage, a contact portion that contacts the opening / closing mechanism when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed, and a detection unit that detects contact between the opening / closing mechanism and the contact portion. It is characterized by having.

In the above liquid injection device, it is preferable that the contact portion is provided in the housing for accommodating the liquid injection portion and the carriage.

In the above liquid injection device, it is preferable that the contact portion comes into contact with the operation portion when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed.

In the above liquid injection device, the operation unit includes a lever that can rotate between an open position that opens the supply flow path and a closed position that closes the supply flow path, and the opening / closing unit. Has a pressing member that closes the supply flow path when the lever is in the closed position and opens the supply flow path when the lever is in the open position. When the carriage is moved in the closed state, it is preferable that the lever comes into contact with the contact portion.

In the liquid injection device, the operation unit can move between an open position in which the supply flow path is in the open state and a closed position in which the supply flow path is in the closed state, and the contact portion is the contact portion. The operation unit located in the open position is arranged outside the movement area that moves with the movement of the carriage, and the operation unit located in the closed position moves with the movement of the carriage. It is preferably placed inside.

In the above liquid injection device, the opening / closing mechanism has a displacement member that is displaced in conjunction with the operation portion, and the contact portion is the contact portion when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed. It is preferable to make contact with the displacement member.

The liquid injection device of the present application includes a liquid injection unit having a nozzle for injecting liquid onto a medium, a liquid storage unit for storing the liquid, and a supply flow path communicating the liquid storage unit and the liquid injection unit. An opening / closing mechanism having an opening / closing part for opening or closing the supply flow path, an operating part for operating the opening / closing part, and the liquid injection part are mounted and can be reciprocated in the main scanning direction. It is characterized by including a carriage having a contact portion capable of contacting the opening / closing mechanism when the supply flow path is closed, and a detecting portion capable of detecting contact between the opening / closing mechanism and the contact portion. To do.

In the above liquid injection device, it is preferable that the operation unit comes into contact with the contact portion when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed.

In the above liquid injection device, the opening / closing mechanism has a displacement member that is displaced in conjunction with the operation unit, and the displacement member is said to be said when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed. It is preferable to contact the contact portion.

In the above liquid injection device, the operation unit is a lever that can rotate about a shaft portion between an open position that opens the supply flow path and a closed position that closes the supply flow path. The opening / closing portion includes a pressing member that closes the supply flow path when the lever is in the closed position and opens the supply flow path when the lever is in the open position. It is preferable that the displacement member has a shaft portion and is displaced in conjunction with the movement of the lever via the shaft portion.

In the above liquid injection device, when the supply flow path is in the closed state, the displacement member is preferably located in the moving region of the carriage.

The liquid injection device further includes a control unit that controls the movement of the carriage, and the control unit moves the carriage in the first direction in the main scanning direction and detects a closed state of the supply flow path. In this case, it is preferable to move the carriage in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

It is preferable that the liquid injection device further includes a notification unit for notifying that the supply flow path is in the closed state.

The detection method of the liquid injection device of the present application is a supply in which a liquid injection unit having a nozzle for injecting a liquid onto a medium, a liquid storage unit for storing the liquid, and the liquid storage unit and the liquid injection unit are communicated with each other. A method for detecting a liquid injection device including a flow path, an opening / closing mechanism for opening or closing the supply flow path, and a carriage equipped with the liquid injection unit and capable of reciprocating in the main scanning direction. Therefore, it is characterized in that it is detected that the supply flow path is in the closed state by the movement of the carriage.

In the above-mentioned method for detecting the liquid injection device, it is preferable to detect that the supply flow path is in a closed state when the movement of the carriage is hindered when the carriage is moved.

In the above-mentioned method for detecting a liquid injection device, it is preferable that the liquid injection device further includes a carriage motor for moving the carriage, and detects that the supply flow path is closed by the drive load of the carriage motor. ..

In the above-mentioned method for detecting the liquid injection device, it is preferable that the carriage is moved when the power is turned on and the state of the supply flow path is detected by the movement of the carriage.

The perspective view of the liquid injection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. The perspective view of the liquid injection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a liquid injection device when the scanner according to the first embodiment is removed. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the liquid injection device according to the first embodiment when viewed from the Z (+) direction side. The block diagram which shows the electrical structure of the liquid injection apparatus which concerns on embodiment. The perspective view of the opening and closing mechanism which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. An exploded perspective view of the opening / closing mechanism according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 6 of an opening / closing mechanism in a state where the supply flow path according to the first embodiment is open. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 6 of an opening / closing mechanism in a state where the supply flow path according to the first embodiment is blocked. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the liquid injection device according to the second embodiment when viewed from the Z (+) direction side. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the liquid injection device according to the second embodiment when viewed from the X (−) direction side. An exploded perspective view of the opening / closing mechanism according to the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Such an embodiment shows one aspect of the present invention, does not limit the present invention, and can be arbitrarily changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1)
1 and 2 are perspective views of the liquid injection device 1A according to the first embodiment. Note that FIG. 1 shows a state in which the scanner 5 is closed with respect to the device main body 2, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the scanner 5 is opened with respect to the device main body 2.
First, a schematic configuration of the liquid injection device 1A according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the following description, the width direction of the liquid injection device 1A is the X direction, the depth direction of the liquid injection device 1A is the Y direction, and the height direction of the liquid injection device 1A is the Z direction. The X and Y directions are along the horizontal plane, and the Z direction is orthogonal to the horizontal plane. Further, the tip end side of the arrow indicating the direction is the (+) direction, and the base end side of the arrow indicating the direction is the (−) direction.
The X direction is an example of the "main scanning direction".

<<< About the liquid injection device >>>
The liquid injection device 1A according to the present embodiment is an inkjet printer that ejects and prints ink, which is an example of "liquid", on a medium such as paper. In each of the following figures, the scale of each layer and each member is different from the actual scale in order to make each layer and each member recognizable in size.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid injection device 1A includes a device main body 2 and a scanner 5 which is arranged above the device main body 2 and is rotatable with respect to the device main body 2. The apparatus main body 2 includes a liquid injection unit 50 (see FIG. 5), a carriage 30 (see FIG. 3), a transport mechanism 25 (see FIG. 5), a liquid storage unit 10, and a supply flow path 40 (see FIG. 3). The opening / closing mechanism 60A (see FIG. 6), the operation panel 6, and the control unit 80 (see FIG. 5) are provided.
The operation panel 6 is an example of the "notification unit".

The device main body 2 includes a housing 3 which is an exterior frame of the device main body 2. A liquid injection unit 50, a carriage 30, a supply flow path 40, and a control unit 80 are arranged in the housing 3.

The operation panel 6 is arranged on the front side (Y (+) direction side) of the device main body 2 in the device depth direction. The operation panel 6 is provided with a display unit 7 such as a liquid crystal panel, and an operation button 8 including a plurality of input buttons, a power switch, and the like. The operation panel 6 is rotatably attached to the device main body 2 on the front side (Y (+) direction side) in the depth direction of the device.

When the operation panel 6 is rotated toward the front side (Y (+) direction side) in the depth direction of the device with respect to the device body 2, the medium discharge tray (not shown) stored in the device body 2 is exposed. The medium discharge tray is configured to be able to move forward and backward between a position stored in the device main body 2 and a position drawn out from the device main body 2 toward the front side in the depth direction of the device.

A medium accommodating portion 22 capable of accommodating a medium is provided on the lower side (Z (−) direction side) of the apparatus main body 2 in the device height direction. The medium accommodating portion 22 can be inserted and removed from the device main body 2 from the front side (Y (+) direction side) in the depth direction of the device.

The scanner 5 is configured to be rotatable with respect to the device main body 2 with the back side (Y (−) direction side) in the depth direction of the device as a rotation fulcrum, and is in a closed posture with respect to the device main body 2 (see FIG. 1). ) And the open posture (see FIG. 2). The scanner 5 is located on the upper side (Z (+) direction side) of the carriage 30 described later in the device height direction. Then, by switching the scanner 5 to the closed posture or the open posture, the upper surface inside the apparatus main body 2 can be exposed or covered.
The liquid injection device 1A may be configured not to include the scanner 5. Instead of the scanner 5, an upper surface cover that covers the inside of the apparatus main body 2 from the upper surface may be provided.

The liquid storage unit 10 is provided on the right side (X (−) direction side) of the device main body 2 in the device width direction and on the front side (Y (+) direction side) in the device depth direction. The liquid storage unit 10 includes a plurality of liquid storage units 13 for storing ink, a housing 12 that covers the plurality of liquid storage units 13, and a cover 11 that is rotatably attached to the housing 12. ing.

The liquid storage unit 10 is arranged so as to be located below the scanner 5 in a closed posture at least in the device width direction (X direction). In this embodiment, five liquid storage units 13 are provided. Then, in each liquid storage unit 13, any one of black ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, cyan ink, and photo black ink is stored in this order from the X (+) direction side. Further, the liquid storage unit 13 in which the black ink is stored is set to have a larger ink storage capacity than the other liquid storage units 13. Further, on the front side (Y (+) direction side) of the liquid storage unit 13 in the depth direction of the device, a display unit 14 capable of confirming the remaining amount of ink in each liquid storage unit 13 is provided.

The liquid storage unit 13 has an air communication unit (not shown) and a supply port (not shown) communicating with each other in the liquid storage unit 13. The air communication section is an inlet for the atmosphere to the liquid storage section 13. When the ink in the liquid storage unit 13 is consumed and the amount of ink in the liquid storage unit 13 decreases, the pressure in the liquid storage unit 13 becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure. At this time, the atmosphere can flow into the liquid storage unit 13 from the air communication unit, and the pressure in the liquid storage unit 13 is maintained at atmospheric pressure. The supply port is a discharge port capable of discharging the ink in the liquid storage unit 13 to the outside of the liquid storage unit 13. The liquid storage unit 13 and the liquid injection unit 50 are communicated with each other by a supply flow path 40. The ink in the liquid storage unit 13 is supplied toward the liquid injection unit 50 via the supply port connected to the supply flow path 40.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the scanner 5 takes an open posture with respect to the apparatus main body 2, the cover 11 covering the upper part of the liquid storage unit 13 in the liquid storage unit 10 is completely exposed. The cover 11 is rotatably attached to the housing 12. Then, the upper portion of the liquid storage portion 13 can be exposed by keeping the cover 11 completely exposed and rotating the cover 11 with respect to the housing 12.

An injection port (not shown) and a lid 16 that seals the injection port and is rotatable with respect to the liquid storage unit 13 are provided above the liquid storage unit 13. When the cover 11 takes a posture in which the upper part of the liquid storage portion 13 is exposed and the lid 16 opens the injection port, the replenishment container (not shown) containing ink and the injection port are connected. Then, the ink in the replenishment container is replenished to the liquid storage unit 13 via the injection port.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid injection device 1A when the scanner 5 is removed. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the liquid injection device 1A when viewed from the Z (+) direction side.
1 and 2 are perspective views of the liquid injection device 1A as viewed from the Y (+) direction side (front side). On the other hand, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid injection device 1A as viewed from the Y (−) direction side (rear side).
Further, in FIG. 3, a state in which the carriage 30 is located at the home position HP is shown. In FIG. 4, the carriage 30, the lever 62A (operation unit 61), the housing 3, and the liquid storage unit 10 are schematically shown, and the other components are not shown. Further, in FIG. 4, the Y (+) direction side of the apparatus main body 2 is shown, and the Y (−) direction side of the apparatus main body 2 is not shown.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the carriage 30 is arranged on the Y (−) direction side of the liquid storage unit 10. The carriage 30 can reciprocate in the X direction (main scanning direction) by a driving force applied from the carriage motor 31 (see FIG. 5). The carriage 30 is equipped with a liquid injection unit 50 and an opening / closing mechanism 60A.

A drive pulley (not shown) is provided on the guide shaft (not shown) of the carriage motor 31. Further, a driven pulley (not shown) is provided in the device main body 2 at intervals in the device width direction (X direction) with respect to the drive pulley. An endless belt (not shown) is hung on the drive pulley and the driven pulley. At least a part of the endless belt grips the carriage 30 at a grip portion (not shown) provided at the rear end of the carriage 30. Then, when the carriage motor 31 is rotationally driven, the endless belt rotates in the same direction as the rotation direction of the carriage motor 31, and the carriage 30 is reciprocated in the device width direction (X direction).

Further, a linear encoder 75 (see FIG. 5) for detecting the position and speed of the reciprocating carriage 30 in the X direction (main scanning direction) is provided in the housing 3. The linear encoder 75 is composed of a linear code plate (not shown) parallel to the X direction (main scanning direction) provided in the housing 3 and a photosensor 76 (see FIG. 5) provided in the carriage 30. Then, a predetermined electric signal corresponding to the moving state of the carriage 30 is output from the photo sensor 76.

In FIG. 4, the frame 4 forming a part of the housing 3 is hatched.
The frame 4 is a component of the housing 3 and is arranged on the Z (+) direction side with respect to the carriage 30. Therefore, the frame 4 and the carriage 30 do not overlap each other when viewed from the Y direction side, and the carriage 30 and the frame 4 do not interfere with each other when the carriage 30 is moved in the X direction.
On the other hand, the frame 4 and the lever 62A overlap each other when viewed from the side in the Y direction.

Further, the frame 4 is provided with an opening OA. By providing the opening OA in the frame 4, the user can access the carriage 30 arranged inside the apparatus main body 2, the lever 62A of the opening / closing mechanism 60A, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the carriage 30 is reciprocated along a guide axis extending in the X direction, the area where the carriage 30 moves is the printing area PA on which the liquid injection unit 50 prints and the liquid injection. The unit 50 includes a non-printing area RA in which printing is not performed.
The non-printing area RA includes a non-printing area RA1 located on the X (−) direction side with respect to the printing area PA and a non-printing area RA2 located on the X (+) direction side with respect to the printing area PA. The print area PA is arranged between the two non-print areas RA1 and RA2.

In the non-printing area RA1, a home position HP, which is a position where the carriage 30 stands by during non-printing, is arranged.
A side wall is provided on the X (−) direction side of the housing 3, and the carriage 30 moving in the X (−) direction can come into contact with the side wall during non-printing. Then, the position of the carriage 30 when it comes into contact with the side wall becomes the reference position when the carriage 30 reciprocates in the X direction.

A plurality of relay adapters (not shown) are mounted on the carriage 30. The relay adapter is a container that can temporarily store ink. The relay adapter is connected to the liquid storage unit 13 via the supply flow path 40, and temporarily stores ink. The ink stored in the liquid storage unit 13 is supplied to the liquid injection unit 50 via the supply flow path 40 and the relay adapter.
The carriage 30 is a hollow container having a carriage cover 32 on the Z (+) direction side. The carriage 30 is equipped with a relay adapter in addition to the liquid injection unit 50 and the opening / closing mechanism 60A. The relay adapter is covered by the carriage cover 32 and is arranged inside the carriage 30.

Further, the opening / closing mechanism 60A mounted on the carriage 30 has a lever 62A on the Z (+) direction side. The lever 62A of the opening / closing mechanism 60A protrudes upward from the carriage cover 32. That is, the lever 62A of the opening / closing mechanism 60A is arranged outside the carriage 30, and the other portion of the opening / closing mechanism 60A is arranged inside the carriage 30.

A liquid injection unit 50 is provided below the carriage 30. The liquid injection unit 50 includes a pressure generating chamber (not shown), a piezoelectric element (not shown), and a nozzle 51 (see FIG. 3). The nozzle 51 is located on the Z (−) direction side of the liquid injection unit 50 and is arranged to face the medium. The nozzle 51 communicates with the relay adapter via a flow path (not shown) provided in the liquid injection unit 50. The piezoelectric element vibrates a diaphragm (not shown) forming a part of the pressure generating chamber to cause a pressure fluctuation in the pressure generating chamber, and by utilizing this pressure fluctuation, ink is discharged from the nozzle 51 to the medium. Be jetted. The lower surface of the liquid injection unit 50 is configured as a nozzle surface provided with a plurality of nozzles 51. Although not shown, a plurality of nozzles 51 are arranged along the device depth direction (Y direction) to form a nozzle array as an example.
As described above, the liquid injection unit 50 has a nozzle 51 that ejects ink onto the medium.

Further, in the present embodiment, a maintenance unit 55 (see FIG. 5) for performing maintenance of the liquid injection unit 50 including cleaning of the nozzle 51 is arranged directly under the carriage 30 moved to the home position HP. The maintenance unit 55 is provided with a cap (not shown) that can come into contact with the liquid injection unit 50 so as to surround the nozzle 51, and depressurizes the space formed by the cap contact to reduce unnecessary ink or ink in the nozzle 51. The nozzle 51 is cleaned by discharging air bubbles.

Further, in the present embodiment, a liquid receiving portion (not shown) is provided directly below the carriage 30 in which the carriage 30 has moved to the non-printing area RA2. The liquid receiving unit receives the ink discharged from the nozzle 51 by empty ejection, which is a kind of maintenance. The empty ejection is to eject ink not used for printing from the nozzle 51 by driving the piezoelectric element and eliminate the thickening of the ink in the nozzle 51.

<<< About the control unit >>>
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the liquid injection device 1A according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 80 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 81 and a memory 82 provided on the control board, an interface unit (I / F) 83, a detection unit 84, and the like.

The I / F 83 transmits / receives data between the external personal computer (PC) 110 and the liquid injection device 1A. The PC 110 and the liquid injection device 1A may be directly connected by a cable or the like, or may be indirectly connected via a network or the like. Further, data may be transmitted and received between the PC 110 and the liquid injection device 1A via wireless communication.

The CPU 81 is an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the entire liquid injection device 1A.
The memory 82 is a storage medium for securing an area for storing a program in which the CPU 81 operates, an operating area for operating the CPU 81, and the like, and is formed by storage elements such as RAM and EPROM.

The control unit 80 creates print data based on the image data output from the PC 110, and controls the liquid injection unit 50, the transfer mechanism 25, the carriage motor 31, and the like based on the print data.
The PC 110 may create print data, and the control unit 80 may control the liquid injection unit 50, the transfer mechanism 25, the carriage motor 31, and the like based on the print data received from the PC 110. Further, the control unit 80 creates print data based on the operation command input from the user by the operation button 8 on the operation panel 6, and based on the print data, the liquid injection unit 50, the transfer mechanism 25, and the carriage motor 31. It may be a configuration that controls such as.

Further, the control unit 80 drives a piezoelectric element provided in the liquid injection unit 50 to inject ink from a plurality of nozzles 51 toward the medium. Further, the control unit 80 supplies a drive signal to drive the carriage motor 31. Further, the control unit 80 controls the carriage motor 31, the transport mechanism 25, the liquid injection unit 50, and the like, and records an image on the medium.

Here, the printing operation of the medium of the liquid injection device 1A will be described.
The medium accommodated in the medium accommodating portion 22 is conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction intersecting the main scanning direction by the conveying mechanism 25. Then, the transport mechanism 25 transports the medium to a platen (not shown) provided in a region facing the liquid injection unit 50 on the lower side of the liquid injection unit 50. Then, ink is ejected from the nozzle 51 of the liquid injection unit 50 onto the surface of the medium supported by the platen facing the liquid injection unit 50. As a result, printing is performed on the surface of the medium facing the liquid injection portion 50. Then, the printed medium is discharged toward the medium discharge tray.

The control unit 80 receives an electric signal output from a linear encoder 75 (photosensor 76) for detecting the position and speed of the carriage 30 that moves with the drive of the carriage motor 31.

The control unit 80 drives the transport mechanism 25 to move the medium in the transport direction intersecting the X direction (main scanning direction).
The control unit 80 controls the maintenance unit 55 to perform a maintenance operation on the liquid injection unit 50.

The control unit 80 receives commands from the operation buttons 8 operated by the user and performs various controls.
The control unit 80 receives the open / closed state of the scanner 5 by the open / close detection unit 85 including an optical sensor (not shown).

The control unit 80 calculates the position and moving speed of the carriage 30 in the X direction (main scanning direction) using the electric signal output from the linear encoder 75 (photo sensor 76). That is, the control unit 80 controls the movement of the carriage 30.
The detection unit 84 in the control unit 80 detects the drive load of the carriage motor 31 by detecting the rotational torque of the carriage motor 31. Although the details will be described later, the detection unit 84 detects the contact between the opening / closing mechanism 60A (lever 62A) and the contact unit 100 by the drive load of the carriage motor 31.

The control unit 80 brings the carriage 30 into contact with the side wall of the housing 3 by moving it toward the X (−) direction. When the carriage 30 comes into contact with the side wall of the housing 3, the carriage 30 is hindered from moving in the X (−) direction and stops. Since the carriage 30 is hindered from moving in the X (−) direction, the drive load of the carriage motor 31 increases. The control unit 80 uses the position of the carriage 30 when the detection unit 84 detects an increase in the drive load of the carriage motor 31 as a reference position, and the home position HP, the non-print area RA1, the non-print area RA2, and the print area in the X direction. Define the position of each PA. The home position HP may be provided at a position when the carriage 30 is stopped by contacting the side wall of the housing 3, or is provided at a position where the carriage 30 is moved in the X (+) direction from the stopped position. You may.

<<< About the opening and closing mechanism >>
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the opening / closing mechanism 60A. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the opening / closing mechanism 60A. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views taken along the line BB of FIG. 6 of the opening / closing mechanism 60A viewed from the Z (−) direction side.
In FIGS. 8A and 8B, the case 69 is not shown. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the supply flow path 40 is open, and FIG. 8B shows a state in which the supply flow path 40 is closed.
Next, the opening / closing mechanism 60A will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, 8A, and 8B.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the opening / closing mechanism 60A has an opening / closing unit 63 that opens or closes the supply flow path 40, and an operation unit 61 that operates the opening / closing unit 63. The opening / closing portion 63 includes a supply flow path support portion 68, a shaft portion 64, a pressing member 66, a cam member 65, and a case 69. The operation unit 61 has a lever 62A.
The case 69 and the supply flow path support portion 68 are exterior frames of the opening / closing portion 63 (opening / closing mechanism 60A). A shaft portion 64, a cam member 65, and a pressing member 66 are arranged between the case 69 and the supply flow path support portion 68 in this order from the case 69 side. Further, the supply flow path 40 is arranged between the pressing member 66 and the supply flow path support portion 68.

The supply flow path support portion 68 is provided with a plurality of grooves 70 extending in the X direction. The plurality of grooves 70 are arranged along the Z direction. The supply flow path 40 is inserted into the groove 70. As a result, the five supply flow paths 40 are lined up in the supply flow path support portion 68 along the Z direction. The pressing member 66 is arranged so as to be able to press the five supply flow paths 40 with the supply flow path support portion 68.
The shaft portion 64 is provided with a cam member 65 at a portion of the shaft portion 64 facing the pressing member 66, which is a member long in the Z direction. Further, an operating portion 61 (lever 62A) is provided at the end of the shaft portion 64 on the Z (+) direction side.
In the present embodiment, the shaft portion 64, the cam member 65, and the lever 62A are integrally molded using resin. Further, the case 69, the pressing member 66, and the supply flow path support portion 68 are all molded products of resin.

The lever 62A and the cam member 65 can rotate around the rotation axis A of the shaft portion 64 shown by the alternate long and short dash line in the drawing. With the opening / closing mechanism 60A mounted on the carriage 30, the rotation shaft A is arranged along the Z direction.
Since the lever 62A is arranged outside the carriage 30, when the user picks the lever 62A by hand and rotates the lever 62A, the cam member 65 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the lever 62A.

The supply flow path support portion 68 is provided with a recess 71 into which the pressing member 66 can be inserted. The pressing member 66 is inserted into the recess 71 of the supply flow path support portion 68 and can move along the recess 71. For example, the pressing member 66 can move to a position where it abuts on the bottom of the recess 71.
That is, the recess 71 guides the moving direction of the pressing member 66.

The pressing member 66 is arranged so as to sandwich the supply flow path 40 arranged in the groove 70 with the supply flow path support portion 68. The five supply flow paths 40 are arranged between the supply flow path support portion 68 and the pressing member 66, and can be pressed by the supply flow path support portion 68 and the pressing member 66.

The shaft portion 64 extends along the Z direction and has a length extending over the five supply flow paths 40 arranged along the Z direction in the supply flow path support portion 68. The two cam members 65 are provided on the shaft portion 64 and are arranged along the Z direction. Then, the cam member 65 is arranged at a position where it comes into contact with the pressing member 66.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the rotation center of the cam member 65 is different from the rotation center of the shaft portion 64 (rotation shaft A), and the rotation center of the cam member 65 is eccentric with respect to the shaft portion 64. When the cam member 65 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft portion 64, the cam member 65 rotates in an eccentric state. Then, the position of the outer peripheral surface of the cam member 65 that comes into contact with the pressing member 66 changes, and the position of the pressing member 66 changes.
In the state shown in FIG. 8A in which the supply flow path 40 is open, when the lever 62A is rotated in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow in the figure and the shaft portion 64 and the cam member 65 are rotated clockwise, the pressing member is formed. The position of the pressing member 66 changes in the direction in which 66 approaches the supply flow path support portion 68. When the pressing member 66 approaches the supply flow path support portion 68, as shown in FIG. 8B, the supply flow path 40 is pressed by the pressing member 66 and the supply flow path support portion 68, the supply flow path 40 is crushed, and the supply flow path 40 is crushed. The road 40 is closed (closed).

When the lever 62A shown in FIG. 8A is rotated clockwise, the pressing member 66 approaches the supply flow path support portion 68, and as shown in FIG. 8B, the supply flow path 40 is in a crushed state, and the supply flow path 40 is opened. It is closed and the communication of ink between the liquid storage unit 13 and the liquid injection unit 50 is cut off. That is, the supply flow path 40 is closed. At this time, the supply flow path 40 does not have to be completely closed.
When the lever 62A shown in FIG. 8B is rotated counterclockwise, the pressing member 66 moves away from the supply flow path support portion 68, and as shown in FIG. 8A, the collapse of the supply flow path 40 is eliminated and the supply flow path 40 is eliminated. Is opened, and communication of ink between the liquid storage unit 13 and the liquid injection unit 50 is allowed. That is, the supply flow path 40 is opened.
As described above, the opening / closing portion 63 has a pressing member 66 that closes the supply flow path 40 when the lever 62A is in the closed position and opens the supply flow path 40 when the lever 62A is in the open position.

The position of the lever 62A shown in FIG. 8A is an open position that opens the supply flow path 40. The position of the lever 62A shown in FIG. 8B is a closed position that closes the supply flow path 40. The lever 62A rotates around the rotation shaft A of the shaft portion 64 to rotate between an open position for opening the supply flow path 40 and a closed position for closing the supply flow path 40.
As described above, the operation unit 61 has a lever 62A that can rotate between the open position that opens the supply flow path 40 and the closed position that closes the supply flow path 40. Then, the operation unit 61 (lever 62A) can move between the open position in which the supply flow path 40 is in the open state and the closed position in which the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state. In other words, the operation unit 61 provides a lever 62A that can rotate around the shaft unit 64 between the open position that opens the supply flow path 40 and the closed position that closes the supply flow path 40. Including.

Returning to FIGS. 6 and 7, the case 69 is configured to be engageable with the supply flow path support portion 68, and the shaft portion 64, the pressing member 66, and the cam member 65 are on the Y (−) direction side. Covering from. As a result, the shaft portion 64, the pressing member 66, and the cam member 65 are protected by the case 69 and the supply flow path supporting portion 68.

In this way, the opening / closing mechanism 60A opens / closes the five supply flow paths 40.
For example, when moving or transporting the liquid injection device 1A, that is, when transporting the liquid injection device 1A, if the opening / closing mechanism 60A is closed, ink leaks from the nozzle 51 of the liquid injection unit 50. It becomes difficult.
Specifically, when the liquid injection device 1A is transported, vibration or impact acts on the ink in the liquid storage unit 13 and the supply flow path 40. When vibration or impact acts on the ink in the liquid storage unit 13 or the supply flow path 40, pressure acts on the ink in the nozzle 51 of the liquid injection unit 50, and the ink may leak from the nozzle 51 of the liquid injection unit 50. is there.
If the supply flow path 40 is closed by the opening / closing mechanism 60A before the liquid injection device 1A is transported, the pressure fluctuation acting on the ink in the liquid injection unit 50 is suppressed to a low level when the liquid injection device 1A is transported. This makes it possible to suppress the possibility of ink leaking from the nozzle 51 of the liquid injection unit 50.

In the present embodiment, the user manually closes the lever 62A and transports the liquid injection device 1A in a state where the supply flow path 40 is closed. When the transportation of the liquid injection device 1A is completed, the user manually changes the lever 62A from the closed position to the open position to open the supply flow path 40.
However, since the user manually operates the lever 62A to the closed position or the open position, the user forgets to change the lever 62A from the closed position to the open position even after the transportation of the liquid injection device 1A is completed. The printing process is performed with the supply flow path 40 blocked, ink is not ejected from the liquid injection unit 50, and there is a possibility that an image may not be formed on the medium.

In the present embodiment, after the transportation of the liquid injection device 1A is completed, the user forgets to change the lever 62A from the closed position to the open position, and the printing process is performed in a state where the supply flow path 40 is closed. Since it has an excellent configuration that makes it difficult for such a problem to occur, the details will be described below.

<<< About the method of detecting the open / closed state of the supply flow path >>>
In FIG. 4, the lever 62A in the open position is shown by a solid line, and the lever 62A in the closed position is shown by a chain double-dashed line. The lever 62A in the open position is a lever 62A arranged at a position in which the supply flow path 40 is opened. The lever 62A in the closed position is a lever 62A arranged at a position in which the supply flow path 40 is closed. That is, the supply flow path 40 is opened when the lever 62A is located at the position of the solid line in FIG. 4, and the supply flow path 40 is closed when the lever 62A is located at the position of the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.
Further, in FIG. 4, when the opening / closing mechanism 60A (lever 62A) is moved together with the carriage 30 in the X (+) direction from the position of the home position HP, the moving area TA in which the lever 62A in the open position moves is shown by a broken line. In the figure, the moving region TB in which the lever 62A in the closed position moves is shown by the alternate long and short dash line.
Further, in the following description, the moving area TA in which the lever 62A in the open position moves with the movement of the carriage 30 is referred to as a moving area TA in the lever 62A in the open position. The moving area TB in which the lever 62A in the closed position moves with the movement of the carriage 30 is referred to as the moving area TB in the lever 62A in the closed position.
Hereinafter, a method of detecting the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40, that is, a method of detecting the liquid injection device 1A according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the lever 62A in the open position shown by the solid line in the figure is rotated 180 ° counterclockwise, the lever 62A in the closed position shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure is obtained. Further, when the lever 62A in the closed position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in the figure is rotated 180 ° clockwise, the lever 62A in the open position shown by the solid line in the figure is obtained. As described above, the positions of the lever 62A in the open position and the lever 62A in the closed position are different.

The end 4A on the Y (-) direction side of the frame 4 is arranged on the Y (-) direction side of the opening OA, and the end 4B on the Y (+) direction side of the frame 4 is arranged on the Y (+) direction side of the opening OA. Is placed. The opening OA is provided between the end 4A on the Y (−) direction side of the frame 4 and the end 4B on the Y (+) direction side of the frame 4. The end 4B on the Y (+) direction side of the frame 4 is arranged on the side opposite to the home position HP (X (+) direction side) and the portion 91 arranged on the home position HP side (X (−) direction side). It has a portion 92 to be made. At the Y (+) direction end 4B of the frame 4, the portion 92 is located near the Y (−) direction end 4A of the frame 4, and the portion 91 is the Y (−) direction end 4A of the frame 4. Placed far away from. That is, the distance between the portion 92 and the end 4A on the Y (−) direction side of the frame 4 is shorter than the distance between the portion 91 and the end 4A on the Y (−) direction side of the frame 4.
Therefore, at the end 4B of the frame 4 on the Y (+) direction side, the portion 92 projects toward the Y (−) direction side with respect to the portion 91. Further, at the end 4B on the Y (+) direction side of the frame 4, the end on the X (−) direction side of the portion 92 protruding in the Y (−) direction side is the contact portion 100.
In this way, the contact portion 100 is provided on the frame 4. Further, since the frame 4 is a component of the housing 3, the contact portion 100 is provided in the housing 3 that houses the liquid injection portion 50 and the carriage 30.

In the top view seen from the Z (+) direction side, the portions 91 and 92 (contact portion 100) of the frame 4 are arranged outside the moving region TA of the lever 62A in the open position, and the opening / closing mechanism 60A (lever 62A) is arranged. When moved in the X (+) direction from the home position HP position together with the carriage 30, the lever 62A in the open position does not overlap the portions 91 and 92 of the frame 4.
Therefore, when the opening / closing mechanism 60A (lever 62A) is moved together with the carriage 30 in the X (+) direction from the position of the home position HP, the lever 62A in the open position and the frame 4 do not interfere (contact). As a result, the movement of the carriage 30 is not hindered.
In other words, the contact portion 100 is arranged outside the moving region TA in which the operating portion 61 (lever 62A) located at the open position moves with the movement of the carriage 30, so that the contact portion 100 and the operating portion 61 (lever 62A) It does not interfere with the lever 62A) and the movement of the carriage 30 is not hindered.
As described above, the lever 62A (operation unit) does not come into contact with the contact portion 100 when the carriage 30 is moved while the supply flow path 40 is open.

In the top view seen from the Z (+) direction side, the portion 91 of the frame 4 is arranged outside the moving region TB of the lever 62A in the closed position, and the portion 92 (contact portion 100) of the frame 4 is the lever 62A in the closed position. When the opening / closing mechanism 60A (lever 62A) is moved together with the carriage 30 in the X (+) direction from the home position HP position, the lever 62A in the closed position is located inside the moving area TB of the frame 4. It does not overlap the portion 91, but overlaps the portion 92 (contact portion 100) of the frame 4.
In this way, the contact portion 100 is arranged inside the moving region TB in which the operating portion 61 (lever 62A) located at the closed position moves with the movement of the carriage 30.
Further, since the frame 4 and the lever 62A overlap each other when viewed from the Y direction side, when the carriage 30 located at the home position HP is moved in the X (+) direction, the lever 62A at the open position becomes the frame 4. Although not in contact with the portion 91, the lever 62A in the closed position contacts the portion 92 (contact portion 100) of the frame 4. Then, the movement of the carriage 30 is hindered.
That is, when the carriage 30 is moved in the closed state of the supply flow path 40 (when the lever 62A in the closed position is moved together with the carriage 30), the lever 62A (opening / closing mechanism 60A) in the closed position is moved to the contact portion 100. Contact. In other words, the contact portion 100 comes into contact with the operation portion 61 (lever 62A) when the carriage 30 is moved while the supply flow path 40 is closed.
In this way, the lever 62A (operation unit) comes into contact with the contact unit 100 when the carriage 30 is moved while the supply flow path 40 is closed.

Further, since the carriage 30 and the frame 4 do not overlap each other when viewed from the Y direction side, the carriage 30 and the frame 4 interfere with each other when the carriage 30 located at the home position HP is moved in the X (+) direction. The movement of the carriage 30 is not hindered.
When the carriage 30 located at the home position HP is moved in the X (+) direction, the carriage 30 and the portion 92 (contact portion 100) of the frame 4 overlap each other when viewed from the Z (+) direction side. Even if the carriage 30 is moved in the X (+) direction, the carriage 30 and the portion 92 (contact portion 100) of the frame 4 do not interfere with each other, and the movement of the carriage 30 is not hindered.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the opening / closing mechanism 60A is moved in the X (+) direction together with the carriage 30 located at the home position HP, the lever 62A located at the open position is the contact portion 100 of the frame 4. The frame 4 is provided with an opening OA so that the lever 62A located at the closed position comes into contact with the contact portion 100 of the frame 4 without contacting the frame 4. Then, when the opening / closing mechanism 60A is moved in the X (+) direction together with the carriage 30 located at the home position HP, the lever 62A located at the closed position comes into contact with the contact portion 100 of the frame 4, and the carriage 30 Movement is hindered.

In the present embodiment, the user turns off the power of the liquid injection device 1A, changes the lever 62A from the open position to the closed position, and transports the liquid injection device 1A. With such a configuration, even if the user transports the liquid injection device 1A in a state of being filled with ink, the ink does not leak. Further, when the transportation of the liquid injection device 1A is completed, the user changes the lever 62A from the closed position to the open position, turns on the power of the liquid injection device 1A, and resumes printing on a medium such as paper.

In the present embodiment, when the power of the liquid injection device 1A is turned off, the carriage 30 enters the standby state at the home position HP. Further, when the transportation of the liquid injection device 1A is completed and the power of the liquid injection device 1A is turned on, the control unit 80 moves the carriage 30 located at the home position HP in the X (+) direction (first direction). ..

If the user forgets to change the lever 62A from the closed position to the open position and the lever 62A is in the closed position, the carriage 30 located in the home position HP is moved in the X (+) direction to close the carriage 30. Since the lever 62A located at the position comes into contact with the contact portion 100 of the frame 4, the movement of the carriage 30 is hindered, the carriage 30 is stopped, and the drive load of the carriage motor 31 is increased.

The detection unit 84 constantly detects the drive load of the carriage motor 31. Specifically, the detection unit 84 moves the carriage 30 on which the opening / closing mechanism 60A is mounted in the X (+) direction from the home position HP, and the drive load of the carriage motor 31 is stored in a predetermined threshold value (memory 82). When the movement of the carriage 30 is hindered beyond the threshold value), the contact between the contact portion 100 and the lever 62A is detected.
When the detection unit 84 detects the contact between the contact unit 100 and the lever 62A, the control unit 80 determines that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state. Further, the control unit 80 moves the carriage 30 on which the opening / closing mechanism 60A is mounted in the X (+) direction from the home position HP, and when the drive load of the carriage motor 31 does not exceed a predetermined threshold value, the contact unit 100 And the lever 62A are not in contact with each other, and it is determined that the supply flow path 40 is in the open state.
In this way, when the transportation of the liquid injection device 1A is completed and the power of the liquid injection device 1A is turned on, the control unit 80 moves the carriage 30 and the supply flow path 40 is in the open state or is supplied. It is determined whether the flow path 40 is in the closed state. In other words, in the detection method of the liquid injection device 1A according to the present embodiment, the carriage 30 is moved when the power is turned on, and the state of the supply flow path 40 is detected by the movement of the carriage 30.

In addition, the detection method of the liquid injection device 1A according to the present embodiment detects that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state due to the movement of the carriage 30. In other words, the detection method of the liquid injection device 1A according to the present embodiment detects that the supply flow path 40 is in a closed state when the movement of the carriage 30 is hindered when the carriage 30 is moved. In other words, in the detection method of the liquid injection device 1A according to the present embodiment, the liquid injection device 1A includes a carriage motor 31 for moving the carriage 30, and the supply flow path 40 is closed by the drive load of the carriage motor 31. Detect that there is.
The thresholds that serve as a reference for determining that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state are the drive load of the carriage motor 31 when the carriage 30 is moved in the X direction and the carriage motor 31 when the movement of the carriage 30 is hindered. It is set between the drive load and the drive load. That is, the threshold value that serves as a reference for determining that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state is larger than the drive load of the carriage motor 31 when the carriage 30 is moved in the X direction, and the movement of the carriage 30 is hindered. It is smaller than the drive load of the carriage motor 31 of.

The control unit 80 is configured to determine that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state when the drive load of the carriage motor 31 detected by the detection unit 84 exceeds a predetermined threshold value for a certain period of time. You may.
The drive load of the carriage motor 31 may momentarily rise sharply due to a malfunction and exceed the threshold value. In such a case, the control unit 80 erroneously detects that the movement of the carriage 30 is hindered. When the control unit 80 determines that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state when the predetermined threshold value is exceeded for a certain period of time, the drive load of the carriage motor 31 momentarily rises due to a malfunction. However, the risk of erroneous detection by the control unit 80 is reduced, and in the control unit 80, the lever 62A located at the closed position comes into contact with the contact portion 100 of the frame 4, the movement of the carriage 30 is hindered, and the supply flow path 40 becomes It can be properly detected that it is in the closed state.
The above-mentioned fixed time is, for example, 1 second or more.

Further, when the supply flow path 40 is in the open state, that is, when the lever 62A is located in the open position, even if the carriage 30 is moved in the X (+) direction (first direction), the lever 62A in the open position remains. Since it does not come into contact with the contact portion 100 of the frame 4, the drive load of the carriage motor 31 is smaller than the threshold value and does not exceed the threshold value. In such a case, the control unit 80 determines that the supply flow path 40 is open.

When the control unit 80 detects that the supply flow path 40 is blocked (closed state), the control unit 80 moves the carriage 30 toward the X (−) direction. That is, when the control unit 80 moves the carriage 30 in the X (+) direction (first direction) in the X direction (main scanning direction) and detects the closed state of the supply flow path 40, the control unit 80 moves in the X (+) direction ( The carriage 30 is moved in the X (−) direction (second direction) opposite to the first direction), and the carriage 30 is moved to the home position HP position.
In the present embodiment, the X (+) direction corresponds to the "first direction in the main scanning direction", and the X (-) direction corresponds to the "second direction opposite to the first direction".
When the carriage 30 is moved in the X (-) direction (second direction) and moved to the home position HP, the opening / closing mechanism 60A (lever 62A) mounted on the carriage 30 comes into contact with the contact portion 100 of the frame 4. Is eliminated, and no extra force is applied to the carriage 30 and the opening / closing mechanism 60A. Further, when the contact between the lever 62A and the contact portion 100 is eliminated, the work of changing the position of the lever 62A from the closed position to the open position becomes easy to be performed.
When the control unit 80 detects the closed state of the supply flow path 40, that is, when the opening / closing mechanism 60A mounted on the carriage 30 and the contact portion 100 of the frame 4 come into contact with each other, the carriage 30 and the opening / closing mechanism 60A are contacted. It is preferable that the control unit 80 temporarily stops driving the carriage motor 31 so that no extra force is applied.

Further, the control unit 80 inputs a signal for notifying the user that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state to the operation panel 6, and the operation panel 6 receives information based on the signal, that is, the supply flow path. An alarm indicating that 40 is in the closed state is displayed on the display unit 7 of the operation panel 6. That is, the operation panel 6 functions as a "notifying unit" that notifies the user that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state.
In other words, the liquid injection device 1A according to the present embodiment includes an operation panel 6 (notification unit) for notifying that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state.
The "notification unit" that notifies the user that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state is a blinking lamp (Patrol Light (registered trademark)), and an alarm that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state is generated by light. It may be notified. The "notifying unit" that notifies the user that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state may be a buzzer and may notify the user of an alarm that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state by sound.

The user surely grasps that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state based on the information (alarm) displayed on the display unit 7 of the operation panel 6. Then, at the home position HP position, the user rotates the lever 62A 180 ° clockwise when viewed from the Z (+) direction side, changes the lever 62A from the closed position to the open position, and opens the supply flow path 40. Put it in a state.
In the state where the lever 62A and the contact portion 100 are in contact with each other, it is difficult to rotate the lever 62A located in the closed position clockwise. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the lever 62A located in the closed position is rotated clockwise. The carriage 30 is moved to the X (−) direction side (second direction side) in order to make the carriage 30 move.

Further, the lever 62A located at the closed position may rotate in the X (+) direction side (first direction side) and not in the X (−) direction side (second direction side). .. According to such a configuration, even if the lever 62A located in the closed position comes into contact with the contact portion 100, the lever 62A located in the closed position rotates in the X (−) direction side (second direction side). It is possible to prevent the carriage motor 31 from being subjected to a drive load.

Further, the contact portion 100 is provided on the X (−) direction side (second direction side) in the X direction in which the carriage 30 moves. Therefore, when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state, the contact portion 100 is provided on the X (+) direction side (first direction side) in the X direction of the moving region TA of the carriage 30. , The contact between the contact portion 100 and the lever 62A can be detected quickly. Therefore, it is possible to improve the throughput of the operation of detecting the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40.

Further, the opening / closing mechanism 60A is provided on the X (+) direction side (first direction side) of the carriage 30. Therefore, the contact between the contact portion 100 and the lever 62A can be detected earlier than when the opening / closing mechanism 60A is provided on the X (−) direction side (second direction side) of the carriage 30. Therefore, it is possible to improve the throughput of the operation of detecting the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40.

Further, the moving speed of the carriage 30 when detecting the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 is set to be slower than the moving speed of the carriage 30 when printing is performed. By doing so, when the contact portion 100 and the lever 62A come into contact with each other, it is possible to prevent a large force from acting on the lever 62A and the contact portion 100, and for example, to suppress a defect in which the contact portion 100 is deformed. Can be done.

<<< About the timing of detection >>>
Here, the timing at which the control unit 80 detects the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 will be described.
The timing at which the control unit 80 detects the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 may be between the time when the power of the liquid injection device 1A is turned on and the time when the ink is first discharged from the nozzle 51 after the power is turned on. .. Specifically, from the time when the power of the liquid injection device 1A is turned on until the first empty discharge after the power is turned on, the ink is inked by the first cleaning after the power of the liquid injection device 1A is turned on. It may be any of the period from when the power of the liquid injection device 1A is turned on until the ink is injected for the first printing after the power is turned on.
Further, at any of the timings described above, the carriage 30 is moved to the X (+) direction (first direction) side by the drive signal from the control unit 80 to the carriage motor 31 sent when the power of the liquid injection device 1A is turned on. The open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 may be detected by the moving operation.

Another timing for detecting the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 will be described.
When the power is on, the opening / closing operation of the scanner 5 can be detected by the opening / closing detection unit 85. When the scanner 5 is opened, the operation unit 61 may be operated by the user and the supply flow path 40 may be blocked. Then, the user may close the scanner 5 while the supply flow path 40 is blocked. Therefore, in the state where the power is on, it is desirable from the opening / closing operation in which the scanner 5 is closed after opening to the time when the ink is first discharged from the nozzle 51 after the opening / closing operation. Specifically, from the opening / closing operation of the scanner 5 in the power-on state to the first empty discharge after the opening / closing operation, after the opening / closing operation of the scanner 5 in the power-on state and after the opening / closing operation. Until the ink is discharged by the first cleaning of the scanner 5, from the opening / closing operation of the scanner 5 to the injection of the ink for the first printing after the opening / closing operation while the power is on. All you need is. By detecting the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 at the above timing, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to close the supply flow path 40.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the transportation of the liquid injection device 1A is completed and the power of the liquid injection device 1A is turned on, the control unit 80 sets the carriage 30 located at the home position HP in the X (+) direction (the first). It is moved in one direction) to detect the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40.

As described above, in the liquid injection device 1A according to the present embodiment, when the carriage 30 is moved in the main scanning direction (X direction) while the supply flow path 40 is closed, the opening / closing mechanism 60A comes into contact with the contact portion 100. When the carriage 30 is moved in the main scanning direction (X direction) while the supply flow path 40 is open, the opening / closing mechanism 60A does not come into contact with the contact portion 100. By contact, the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 can be detected. Then, in the liquid injection device 1A according to the present embodiment, the possibility that the user forgets to open the supply flow path 40 is suppressed, and further, the problem that the supply flow path 40 is printed in the closed state is suppressed. To.

In addition, in the present embodiment, among the components of the liquid injection device 1A, the opening / closing mechanism 60A, the housing 3 (frame 4), the carriage 30, the control unit 80 (detection unit 84), and the operation panel 6 are used. The open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 is detected. Further, the components (opening / closing mechanism 60A, housing 3, carriage 30, control unit 80, operation panel 6) for detecting the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 are components for the liquid injection device 1A to print on the medium. is there.
That is, in the present embodiment, since the liquid injection device 1A detects the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 by utilizing the component for printing on the medium, it is new to detect the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40. The cost of the liquid injection device 1A can be reduced as compared with the case where a new component is required to detect the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 without the need for a new component.

The effect of the liquid injection device 1A according to the present embodiment will be described below.
(1-1) In order to open and close the supply flow path 40 by manually operating the operation unit 61, the liquid injection device 1A is transported with the liquid injection device 1A filled with ink, and printing is restarted. At that time, it may be forgotten to open the supply flow path 40. In that respect, the detection unit 84 can detect that the opening / closing mechanism 60A comes into contact with the contact unit 100 when the carriage 30 is moved while the supply flow path 40 is closed. This makes it possible to prevent the user from forgetting to open the supply flow path 40.

(1-2) The contact portion 100 is provided in the housing 3 (frame 4) that houses the liquid injection portion 50 and the carriage 30. Since the housing 3 has high rigidity, the contact portion 100 is less likely to be deformed, and the detection portion 84 can stably detect the contact between the opening / closing mechanism 60A and the contact portion 100.

(1-3) The contact portion 100 comes into contact with the operation portion 61 (lever 62A in the closed position) when the carriage 30 is moved while the supply flow path 40 is closed. As a result, when the carriage 30 is moved while the supply flow path 40 is closed, the detection unit 84 can detect that the operation unit 61 and the contact unit 100 are in contact with each other, so that the user can use the supply flow path 40. It is possible to suppress the risk of forgetting to open the carriage.

(1-4) The operation unit 61 includes a lever 62A that can rotate between an open position that opens the supply flow path 40 and a closed position that opens the supply flow path 40, and the opening / closing unit 63 includes an opening / closing unit 63. It has a pressing member 66 that closes the supply flow path 40 when the lever 62A is in the closed position and opens the supply flow path 40 when the lever 62A is in the open position, and the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state. When the carriage 30 is moved by, the lever 62A comes into contact with the contact portion 100. As a result, when the carriage 30 is moved in the closed state of the supply flow path 40, the detection unit 84 can detect that the lever 62A located at the closed position comes into contact with the contact portion 100, so that the user supplies the data. It is possible to suppress the risk of forgetting to open the flow path 40.

(1-5) The operation unit 61 (lever 62A) can move between the open position where the supply flow path 40 is in the open state and the closed position where the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state, and the contact portion 100 is The operating unit 61 located in the open position is arranged outside the moving area TA (moving area TA of the lever 62A in the open position) that moves with the movement of the carriage 30, and the operating unit 61 located in the closed position is located outside. It is arranged inside the moving area TB (moving area TB of the lever 62A in the closed position) that moves with the movement of the carriage 30. Since the contact portion 100 is arranged inside the movement area TB in which the operation portion 61 located at the closed position moves with the movement of the carriage 30, the carriage 30 comes into contact with the operation portion 61 by moving in the X direction. To do. Therefore, since the detection unit 84 can detect the contact between the operation unit 61 and the contact unit 100, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the user forgets to open the supply flow path 40.

(1-6) A control unit 80 for controlling the movement of the carriage 30 is further provided, and the control unit 80 moves the carriage 30 in the X (+) direction (first direction) in the main scanning direction to move the carriage 30 to the supply flow path 40. When the closed state is detected, the carriage 30 is moved in the X (−) direction (second direction) opposite to the X (+) direction (first direction). As a result, the user can operate the operation unit 61. Therefore, the user can suppress printing defects.

(1-7) A notification unit for notifying that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state is further provided. As a result, the user can know that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state, so that it is possible to suppress the possibility that the user forgets to open the supply flow path 40.

(1-8) The detection method of the liquid injection device 1A can detect that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state due to the movement of the carriage 30. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the user forgets to open the supply flow path 40.

(1-9) The detection method of the liquid injection device 1A can detect that the supply flow path 40 is in a closed state when the movement of the carriage 30 is hindered when the carriage 30 is moved. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the user forgets to open the supply flow path 40.

(1-10) The detection method of the liquid injection device 1A can detect that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state due to the drive load of the carriage motor 31. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the user forgets to open the supply flow path 40.

(1-11) In the detection method of the liquid injection device 1A, the carriage 30 is moved when the power is turned on, and the state of the supply flow path 40 is detected by the movement of the carriage 30. When the opening / closing mechanism 60A (supply flow path 40) is closed, the power is not turned on, such as when transporting the device. Therefore, the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 may be detected when the power is turned on. With such a configuration, the number of detections can be reduced, and the throughput can be improved.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4, and is a schematic view of the liquid injection device 1B according to the second embodiment when viewed from the Z (+) direction side. FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the liquid injection device 1B according to the second embodiment when viewed from the X (−) direction side. FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7, and is an exploded perspective view of the opening / closing mechanism 60B according to the second embodiment.
In FIG. 9, the region TC in which the carriage 30 moves (hereinafter, referred to as the moving region TC of the carriage 30) is shown by a broken line. Further, in FIG. 9, the illustration of the frame 4 is omitted. In FIG. 10, the carriage 30, the lever 62B, and the liquid storage unit 10 are schematically shown, and the other components are not shown. Further, in FIGS. 9 and 10, the displacement member 67 when the supply flow path 40 is in the open state is shown by a solid line, and the displacement member 67 when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state is shown by a two-dot chain line. ing.

In the first embodiment described above, the opening / closing mechanism 60A is mounted on the carriage 30 and moves together with the carriage 30. The contact portion 100 that comes into contact with the opening / closing mechanism 60A when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state is provided on the frame 4 and is stationary. Then, when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state, the opening / closing mechanism 60A moves and comes into contact with the contact portion 100.
In the present embodiment, the contact portion 101 is provided on the carriage 30 and moves. The opening / closing mechanism 60B that contacts the contact portion 101 when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state does not move and is stationary. Then, when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state, the contact portion 101 moves and comes into contact with the opening / closing mechanism 60B.
This is the main difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment.
Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11, the outline of the liquid injection device 1B according to the present embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. Further, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the home position HP, which is a position where the carriage 30 stands by during non-printing, is arranged in the non-printing area RA2. On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the home position HP, which is the position where the carriage 30 stands by during non-printing, is arranged in the non-printing area RA1.
The liquid storage unit 10 is arranged in the non-printing area RA1.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the carriage 30 is equipped with a liquid injection unit 50 and is not equipped with an opening / closing mechanism 60B. On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the carriage 30 is equipped with the liquid injection unit 50 and the opening / closing mechanism 60A, and the opening / closing mechanism 60A moves together with the carriage 30.
The opening / closing mechanism 60B is arranged above the liquid storage unit 10 so as to be in contact with the surface of the two liquid storage units 10 on the Z (+) direction side (upper surface) located on the Z (−) direction side. ing. Therefore, the opening / closing mechanism 60B does not move and is stationary.

As shown in FIG. 11, the opening / closing mechanism 60B includes an opening / closing unit 63 that opens or closes the supply flow path 40, an operating unit 61 that operates the opening / closing unit 63, and a displacement member 67. The opening / closing portion 63 includes a supply flow path support portion 68, a shaft portion 64, a pressing member 66, a cam member 65, and a case 69. The operation unit 61 includes a lever 62B that can rotate about the shaft portion 64 between the open position that opens the supply flow path 40 and the closed position that closes the supply flow path 40. The pressing member 66 closes the supply flow path 40 when the lever 62B is in the closed position, and opens the supply flow path 40 when the lever 62B is in the open position.
The opening / closing mechanism 60B is arranged inside the housing 3 of the apparatus main body 2 except for the lever 62B. Therefore, the lever 62B protrudes from the side surface of the housing 3 on the X (−) direction side to the outside of the housing 3.
The lever 62B may be provided in the housing 3. In such a case, for example, it is preferable to provide an opening (not shown) in the frame 4 of the housing 3 so that the lever 62B can be accessed with the scanner 5 open.
The displacement member 67 is mounted on the end of the shaft portion 64 opposite to the side on which the lever 62B is mounted, and is displaced in conjunction with the movement of the lever 62B. On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the opening / closing mechanism 60A has an opening / closing portion 63 and an operation portion 61, and does not have a displacement member 67.
Further, the lever 62B of the present embodiment has a shorter dimension than the lever 62A of the first embodiment, the shaft portion 64 is arranged at the center of the lever 62B in the longitudinal direction, and the user can easily pick up and rotate the lever 62B. It has become.

The lever 62B rotates about a rotation shaft A along the X direction of the shaft portion 64. The lever 62B is attached to the end of the shaft portion 64 in the X (−) direction, and the displacement member 67 is attached to the end portion of the shaft portion 64 in the X (+) direction. As a result, the displacement member 67 can rotate in conjunction with the lever 62B that rotates about the rotation shaft A via the shaft portion 64. As described above, the opening / closing mechanism 60B has a displacement member 67 that is displaced in conjunction with the lever 62B.
In the present embodiment, the angle formed by the longitudinal direction of the lever 62B and the longitudinal direction of the displacement member 67 is set to 45 degrees. The angle formed by the longitudinal direction of the lever 62B and the longitudinal direction of the displacement member 67 can be appropriately changed.

When the user picks the lever 62B and turns the lever 62B in the direction in which the supply flow path 40 is closed, the pressing member 66 crushes the supply flow path 40 and the supply flow path 40 is closed. When the user picks the lever 62B and turns the lever 62B in the direction in which the supply flow path 40 is in the open state, the crushing of the supply flow path 40 by the pressing member 66 is eliminated, and the supply flow path 40 is in the open state.

The displacement member 67 has an open position when the supply flow path 40 is in the open state (the position of the displacement member 67 shown by a solid line in FIG. 10) and a closed position when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state (FIG. 10). Displaces between the displacement member 67 (position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line).
In the following description, the displacement member 67 when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state is referred to as the displacement member 67 in the closed position, and the displacement member 67 when the supply flow path 40 is in the open state is referred to as the displacement in the open position. It is referred to as a member 67.
In FIG. 10, when the displacement member 67 in the open position shown by the solid line in the figure is turned 180 degrees counterclockwise, the displacement member 67 in the closed position shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure is obtained. When the displacement member 67 in the closed position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in the figure is turned 180 degrees clockwise, the displacement member 67 in the open position shown by the solid line in the figure is obtained.
Further, in FIG. 10, when the displacement member 67 is viewed from the X direction side, the displacement member 67 at the open position shown by the solid line in the figure does not overlap with the carriage 30, and the closed position shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure. The displacement member 67 of the above overlaps with the carriage 30.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state, the displacement member 67 at the closed position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in the drawing is arranged inside the moving region TC of the carriage 30 and is home. When the carriage 30 located at the position HP is moved in the X (-) direction, the surface (contact portion 101) on the X (-) direction side of the carriage 30 comes into contact with the displacement member 67 at the closed position, and the carriage 30 Movement is hindered.
That is, when the carriage 30 located at the home position HP is moved in the X (−) direction, the surface on the X (−) side of the carriage 30 that comes into contact with the displacement member 67 at the closed position is the contact portion 101. As described above, in the present embodiment, the contact portion 101 is provided on the carriage 30.
When the carriage 30 is moved while the supply flow path 40 is closed, the displacement member 67 comes into contact with the contact portion 101 provided on the carriage 30. In other words, the carriage 30 is equipped with a liquid injection unit 50, can reciprocate in the X direction, and can come into contact with the displacement member 67 (opening / closing mechanism 60B) when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state. Has 101.
The contact portion 101 may be provided on the carriage 30 as in the present embodiment, or may be fixed to the housing of the carriage 30 and may be a cushioning material capable of cushioning contact with the displacement member 67. It may be provided as a member separate from the carriage 30.

On the other hand, when the supply flow path 40 is in the open state, the displacement member 67 at the open position shown by the solid line in the drawing is arranged outside the moving region TC of the carriage 30, and the carriage 30 located at the home position HP is X ( When moved in the −) direction, the surface (contact portion 101) on the X (−) direction side of the carriage 30 does not come into contact with the displacement member 67 in the open position, and the movement of the carriage 30 is not hindered.

<<< About the method of detecting the open / closed state of the supply flow path >>>
Next, a method of detecting the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 will be described.
As described above, the control unit 80 detects the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 at a specific timing. Further, since the lever 62B of the present embodiment is provided on the outside of the housing 3, it is not necessary to detect the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 after the opening / closing operation of the scanner 5. When the lever 62B is provided inside the housing 3, it is preferable to detect the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 after the opening / closing operation of the scanner 5.

First, the control unit 80 moves the carriage 30 located at the home position HP in the X (−) direction (first direction).
When the supply flow path 40 is in the open state, the displacement member 67 located at the open position is located outside the moving region TC of the carriage 30, so that the carriage 30 is moved in the X (−) direction (first direction). Even so, the contact portion 101 and the displacement member 67 do not come into contact with each other. In this case, the drive load of the carriage motor 31 does not exceed the threshold value, and the detection unit 84 does not detect the contact between the contact unit 101 and the displacement member 67. Then, the control unit 80 determines that the supply flow path 40 is in the open state.

When the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state, the displacement member 67 located at the closed position is located inside the moving region TC of the carriage 30, so that the carriage 30 located at the home position HP is moved in the X (−) direction (first). When it is moved in the direction), the contact portion 101 and the displacement member 67 come into contact with each other, the movement of the carriage 30 is hindered, and the drive load of the carriage motor 31 increases. The detection unit 84 detects the contact between the contact unit 101 and the displacement member 67 when the drive load of the carriage motor 31 exceeds the threshold value. Then, the control unit 80 determines that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state.
As described above, the detection method of the liquid injection device 1B according to the present embodiment detects that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state due to the movement of the carriage 30. In other words, the detection method of the liquid injection device 1B according to the present embodiment detects that the supply flow path 40 is in a closed state when the movement of the carriage 30 is hindered when the carriage 30 is moved. In other words, in the detection method of the liquid injection device 1B according to the present embodiment, the liquid injection device 1B includes a carriage motor 31 for moving the carriage 30, and the supply flow path 40 is closed by the drive load of the carriage motor 31. Detect that there is.
Further, when the control unit 80 moves the carriage 30 in the X (−) direction (first direction) in the X direction (main scanning direction) and detects the closed state of the supply flow path 40, the control unit 80 moves in the X (−) direction (−) direction (1st direction). The carriage 30 is moved in the X (+) direction (second direction) opposite to the first direction), and the carriage 30 is moved to the home position HP position.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the X (−) direction corresponds to the “first direction in the main scanning direction”, and the X (+) direction corresponds to the “second direction opposite to the first direction”. ..

In addition, the present embodiment uses the opening / closing mechanism 60B, the housing 3 (frame 4), the carriage 30, the control unit 80 (detection unit 84), and the operation panel 6 among the components of the liquid injection device 1B. The open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 is detected. The component (opening / closing mechanism 60B, housing 3, carriage 30, control unit 80, operation panel 6) for detecting the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 is a component for the liquid injection device 1B to print on the medium. ..
In the present embodiment, since the liquid injection device 1B detects the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 by utilizing the component for printing on the medium, a new configuration is used to detect the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40. The cost of the liquid injection device 1B can be reduced as compared with the case where no element is required and a new component is required to detect the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40.

The effects of this embodiment will be described below.
(2-1) In order to open and close the supply flow path 40 by manually operating the operation unit 61, the liquid injection device 1B is transported with the liquid injection device 1B filled with ink, and printing is restarted. At that time, it may be forgotten to open the supply flow path 40. In that respect, the detection unit 84 can detect that the opening / closing mechanism 60B comes into contact with the contact portion 101 when the carriage 30 is moved while the supply flow path 40 is closed. This makes it possible to prevent the user from forgetting to open the supply flow path 40.

(2-2) The opening / closing mechanism 60B has a displacement member 67 that displaces in conjunction with the operation unit 61, and the displacement member 67 has a contact portion when the carriage 30 is moved while the supply flow path 40 is closed. Contact 101. As a result, the detection unit 84 can detect that the displacement member 67 comes into contact with the contact portion 101 when the carriage 30 is moved in the closed state of the supply flow path 40, so that the user can detect the contact with the contact portion 101. It is possible to suppress the risk of forgetting to open the carriage.

(2-3) The operation unit 61 is a lever 62B that can rotate about the shaft portion 64 between the open position that opens the supply flow path 40 and the closed position that closes the supply flow path 40. The opening / closing portion 63 includes a pressing member 66 that closes the supply flow path 40 when the lever 62B is in the closed position and opens the supply flow path 40 when the lever 62B is in the open position, and a shaft portion. 64, and the displacement member 67 is displaced via the shaft portion 64 in conjunction with the movement of the lever 62B. As a result, the detection unit 84 can detect that the displacement member 67 comes into contact with the contact portion 101 when the carriage 30 is moved in the closed state of the supply flow path 40, so that the user can detect the contact with the contact portion 101. It is possible to suppress the risk of forgetting to open the carriage.

(2-4) When the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state, the displacement member 67 is located in the moving region TC of the carriage 30. As a result, when the carriage 30 is moved when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state, the displacement member 67 comes into contact with the contact portion 101. Therefore, since the detection unit 84 can detect the contact between the contact portion 101 and the displacement member 67, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the user forgets to open the supply flow path 40.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified within the scope of claims and within a range not contrary to the gist or idea of the invention that can be read from the entire specification. Conceivable. Hereinafter, a modified example will be described.

(Modification example 1)
The liquid injection device 1A of the first embodiment may be configured to mount the opening / closing mechanism 60B of the second embodiment instead of the opening / closing mechanism 60A. That is, the displacement member 67 at the closed position and the contact portion 100 may come into contact with each other.

The contact portion 100 in the first modification is located outside the moving region in which the displacement member 67 in the open position moves as the carriage 30 moves in the X direction. That is, the contact portion 100 in the first modification is located outside the moving region of the displacement member 67 in the open position. Therefore, when the supply flow path 40 is in the open state, even if the carriage 30 moves to the first direction (X (+) direction), the displacement member 67 at the open position and the contact portion 100 do not come into contact with each other.

Further, the contact portion 100 is located inside a moving region in which the displacement member 67 in the closed position moves as the carriage 30 moves in the X direction. That is, the contact portion 100 in the first modification is located inside the moving region of the displacement member 67 in the closed position. Therefore, when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state, when the carriage 30 moves to the first direction (X (+) direction), the displacement member 67 at the closed position and the contact portion 100 come into contact with each other, and the carriage 30 moves. Be hindered.

With such a configuration, when the carriage 30 is moved while the supply flow path 40 is closed, the detection unit 84 can detect that the displacement member 67 comes into contact with the contact portion 100, so that the user can detect it. Can suppress the risk of forgetting to open the supply flow path 40.

(Modification 2)
The liquid injection device 1B of the second embodiment may have a configuration having the opening / closing mechanism 60A of the first embodiment instead of the opening / closing mechanism 60B. That is, the contact portion 101 and the lever 62A may be brought into contact with each other. In the second modification, the lever 62A in the closed position is arranged inside the moving area TC of the carriage 30, and the lever 62A in the open position is arranged outside the moving area TC of the carriage 30.

Therefore, when the supply flow path 40 is in the open state, even if the carriage 30 moves to the first direction (X (−) direction), the lever 62A in the open position and the contact portion 101 do not come into contact with each other. Further, when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state, when the carriage 30 moves to the first direction (X (−) direction), the lever 62A in the closed position and the contact portion 101 come into contact with each other, and the movement of the carriage 30 is hindered. Will be done.

With such a configuration, when the carriage 30 is moved while the supply flow path 40 is closed, the detection unit 84 can detect that the operation unit 61 comes into contact with the contact unit 101, so that the user can detect it. Can suppress the risk of forgetting to open the supply flow path 40.

(Modification example 3)
The cam member 65, the shaft portion 64, and the pressing member 66 may be integrally formed. By doing so, the number of parts can be reduced. Further, the shaft portion 64 and the lever 62A may be integrally formed. Further, the shaft portion 64, the lever 62B, and the displacement member 67 may be integrally formed.

(Modification example 4)
In the first embodiment, the control unit 80 has a stop position, which is a position of the carriage 30 when the lever 62A in the closed position and the contact unit 100 come into contact with each other to stop the movement of the carriage 30 in the main scanning direction. A deceleration position for decelerating the movement of the carriage 30 in the first direction may be set in advance with the home position HP. That is, when the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 is detected, if the carriage 30 moves to the deceleration position, the moving speed of the carriage 30 is reduced. Therefore, the moving speed of the carriage 30 can be increased up to the deceleration position, so that the throughput can be improved.

(Modification 5)
In the second embodiment, the control unit 80 is the position of the carriage 30 when the displacement member 67 located at the closed position and the contact unit 101 come into contact with each other to stop the movement of the carriage 30 in the main scanning direction. A deceleration position for decelerating the movement of the carriage 30 in the first direction may be set in advance between the position and the home position HP. That is, when the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 is detected, if the carriage 30 moves to the deceleration position, the moving speed of the carriage 30 is reduced. Therefore, the moving speed of the carriage 30 can be increased up to the deceleration position, so that the throughput can be improved.

(Modification 6)
In each of the above embodiments, the detection unit 84 detects that the drive load of the carriage motor 31 exceeds the threshold value by hindering the movement of the carriage 30 in the first direction. Then, the control unit 80 determines that the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state based on the detection result of the detection unit 84. The inhibition of the movement of the carriage 30 in the first direction includes not only the case where the movement of the carriage 30 is stopped but also the case where the speed at which the carriage 30 moves in the first direction becomes slow. That is, to prevent the carriage 30 from moving in the first direction due to the contact between the contact portion 100 and the operation portion 61 or the contact between the contact portion 101 and the displacement member 67 means that the movement of the carriage 30 is stopped. In addition, the moving speed of the carriage 30 is slowed down.

Even in such a case, the drive load of the carriage motor 31 becomes large while the movement of the carriage 30 in the first direction is hindered. The change in the drive load of the carriage motor 31 when the moving speed of the carriage 30 is slowed down is smaller than the change in the drive load of the carriage motor 31 when the movement of the carriage 30 is stopped. Therefore, by setting the threshold value of the drive load of the carriage motor 31 when the moving speed of the carriage 30 is slower than the threshold value of the drive load of the carriage motor 31 when the carriage 30 is stopped, the carriage 30 can be moved. If the contact between the contact portion 100 and the operation portion 61 or the contact between the contact portion 101 and the displacement member 67 can be detected even when the moving speed of the carriage 30 becomes slow in addition to the case of stopping. Good.

(Modification 7)
The operation unit 61 may employ a slide-type operation unit 61 instead of the levers 62A and 62B that rotate around the shaft unit 64. Further, the displacement member 67 may be displaced by turning the knob as the operation unit 61.

(Modification 8)
As a configuration for closing the supply flow path 40 other than crushing the supply flow path 40 by the pressing member 66, the flexible diaphragm is pressurized with air by operating the operation unit 61 to close the supply flow path 40. Such a configuration may be adopted.

(Modification 9)
Each of the above embodiments is not limited to the configuration in which the open / closed state of the supply flow path 40 is detected by detecting the drive load of the carriage motor 31. By providing an optical sensor for detecting the operation unit 61 or the displacement member 67 located at the closed position at a position where the movement of the carriage 30 in the first direction is stopped when the supply flow path 40 is in the closed state, the operation unit 61 The contact with the contact portion 100 or the contact between the displacement member 67 and the contact portion 101 may be detected.

(Modification example 10)
In the first embodiment, the contact portion 100 may be configured to constitute a device main body 2 other than the frame 4 of the housing 3. For example, the contact portion 100 may be provided in the housing of the maintenance box (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 2 and collecting the waste liquid discharged for the maintenance of the liquid injection portion 50.

(Modification 11)
The direction in which the plurality of supply flow paths 40 are arranged by the supply flow path support portion 68 may be appropriately changed.

(Modification 12)
In the above-described second embodiment, the opening / closing mechanism 60B is arranged on the liquid storage unit 10, but it may be arranged at an arbitrary position inside the apparatus main body 2.

(Modification 13)
In each of the above embodiments, five types of ink have been adopted, but any number of ink types may be adopted. In that case, the number of the liquid storage unit 13, the supply flow path 40, and the like may correspond to the number of any kind of ink to be adopted.

(Modification 14)
The liquid injection devices 1A and 1B may be liquid injection devices 1A and 1B that eject liquids other than ink. The state of the liquid discharged as a minute amount of droplets from the liquid injection devices 1A and 1B includes those having a granular, tear-like, and thread-like tail. The liquid referred to here may be any material that can be discharged from the liquid injection devices 1A and 1B. For example, the liquid may be in the state when the substance is in the liquid phase, and is a highly viscous or low-viscosity liquid, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals, etc. It shall contain a fluid such as a metal melt. The liquid includes not only a liquid as a state of a substance but also a liquid in which particles of a functional material made of a solid substance such as a pigment or a metal particle are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent. Typical examples of the liquid include ink, liquid crystal, and the like as described in the above-described embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks, oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. Specific examples of the liquid injection devices 1A and 1B include liquids containing materials such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, electroluminescence displays, surface emitting displays, color filters, etc. in the form of dispersion or dissolution. There is a device that discharges. The liquid injection devices 1A and 1B may be devices for discharging bioorganic substances used for producing biochips, devices for discharging sample liquids used as precision pipettes, printing devices, micro dispensers, and the like. The liquid injection devices 1A and 1B are ultraviolet curable resins and the like for forming devices for pinpointly discharging lubricating oil to precision machines such as watches and cameras, microhemispherical lenses used for optical communication elements, optical lenses, and the like. It may be a device that discharges the transparent resin liquid of the above onto a substrate. The liquid injection devices 1A and 1B may be devices that discharge an etching solution such as an acid or an alkali in order to etch a substrate or the like.

The contents derived from the embodiment are described below.

The liquid injection device of the present application includes a liquid injection unit having a nozzle for injecting a liquid onto a medium, a liquid storage unit for storing the liquid, and a supply flow path communicating the liquid storage unit and the liquid injection unit. An opening / closing mechanism having an opening / closing unit for opening or closing the supply flow path, an operating unit for operating the opening / closing unit, the liquid injection unit, and the opening / closing mechanism are mounted and reciprocated in the main scanning direction. A movable carriage, a contact portion that contacts the opening / closing mechanism when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed, and a detection unit that detects contact between the opening / closing mechanism and the contact portion. It is characterized by having.

According to this configuration, when the carriage is moved in the closed state of the supply flow path, a contact portion that comes into contact with the opening / closing mechanism is provided, so that the detection portion depends on the presence / absence of contact between the opening / closing mechanism and the contact portion. , The open / closed state of the supply flow path can be detected. Further, if the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, the problem that printing is restarted with the supply flow path closed is suppressed.

In the above liquid injection device, it is preferable that the contact portion is provided in the housing for accommodating the liquid injection portion and the carriage.

According to this configuration, since the housing has high rigidity, if the contact portion is provided in the housing, the contact portion is less likely to be deformed, and the detection portion can stably detect the contact between the opening / closing mechanism and the contact portion. it can.

In the above liquid injection device, it is preferable that the contact portion comes into contact with the operation portion when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed.

When the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed and the contact portion comes into contact with the operation unit, the detection unit detects the open / closed state of the supply flow path depending on the presence or absence of contact between the operation unit and the contact portion. Can be done. Further, if the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, the problem that printing is restarted with the supply flow path closed is suppressed.

In the above liquid injection device, the operation unit includes a lever that can rotate between an open position that opens the supply flow path and a closed position that closes the supply flow path, and the opening / closing unit. Has a pressing member that closes the supply flow path when the lever is in the closed position and opens the supply flow path when the lever is in the open position. When the carriage is moved in the closed state, it is preferable that the lever comes into contact with the contact portion.

When the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed, the lever located at the closed position comes into contact with the contact portion, so that the detection unit is in the open / closed state of the supply flow path depending on the presence or absence of contact between the lever and the contact portion. Can be detected. Further, if the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, the problem that printing is restarted with the supply flow path closed is suppressed.

In the above liquid injection device, the operation unit can move between an open position in which the supply flow path is in an open state and a closed position in which the supply flow path is in a closed state, and the contact portion is the contact portion. The operation unit located in the open position is arranged outside the movement area that moves with the movement of the carriage, and the operation unit located in the closed position moves with the movement of the carriage. It is preferably placed inside.

The contact portion is located outside the moving area in which the operating portion located in the open position moves with the movement of the carriage, and the operating portion located in the closed position is located inside the moving area moved with the movement of the carriage. When arranged in, the contact portion does not come into contact with the operation portion located at the open position, but comes into contact with the operation portion located at the closed position. Then, the detection unit can detect the open / closed state of the supply flow path depending on the presence or absence of contact between the operation unit and the contact unit. Further, if the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, the problem that printing is restarted with the supply flow path closed is suppressed.

In the above liquid injection device, the opening / closing mechanism has a displacement member that is displaced in conjunction with the operation portion, and the contact portion is the contact portion when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed. It is preferable to make contact with the displacement member.

When the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed, the displacement member comes into contact with the contact portion. Then, the detection unit can detect the open / closed state of the supply flow path depending on the presence or absence of contact between the displacement member and the contact portion. Further, if the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, the problem that printing is restarted with the supply flow path closed is suppressed.

The liquid injection device of the present application includes a liquid injection unit having a nozzle for injecting a liquid onto a medium, a liquid storage unit for storing the liquid, and a supply flow path communicating the liquid storage unit and the liquid injection unit. An opening / closing mechanism having an opening / closing part for opening or closing the supply flow path, an operating part for operating the opening / closing part, and the liquid injection part are mounted, and the liquid injection part can be reciprocated in the main scanning direction. It is characterized by including a carriage having a contact portion capable of contacting the opening / closing mechanism when the supply flow path is closed, and a detecting portion capable of detecting contact between the opening / closing mechanism and the contact portion. To do.

Since the carriage has a contact portion that can contact the opening / closing mechanism when the supply flow path is closed, the detection unit detects the opening / closing state of the supply flow path depending on the presence or absence of contact between the opening / closing mechanism and the contact portion. be able to. Further, if the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, the problem that printing is restarted with the supply flow path closed is suppressed.

In the above liquid injection device, it is preferable that the operation unit comes into contact with the contact portion when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed.

According to this configuration, when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed, the operating portion of the opening / closing mechanism comes into contact with the contact portion, so that the detecting portion makes contact between the operating portion of the opening / closing mechanism and the contact portion. Depending on the presence or absence, the open / closed state of the supply flow path can be detected. Further, if the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, the problem that printing is restarted with the supply flow path closed is suppressed.

In the above liquid injection device, the opening / closing mechanism has a displacement member that is displaced in conjunction with the operation unit, and the displacement member is said to be said when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed. It is preferable to contact the contact portion.

According to this configuration, when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed, the displacement member comes into contact with the contact portion. Therefore, the detection unit determines the supply flow path depending on the presence or absence of contact between the displacement member and the contact portion. It is possible to detect the open / closed state of. Further, if the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, the problem that printing is restarted with the supply flow path closed is suppressed.

In the above liquid injection device, the operation unit is a lever that can rotate about a shaft portion between an open position that opens the supply flow path and a closed position that closes the supply flow path. The opening / closing portion includes a pressing member that closes the supply flow path when the lever is in the closed position and opens the supply flow path when the lever is in the open position. It is preferable that the displacement member has a shaft portion and is displaced in conjunction with the movement of the lever via the shaft portion.

According to this configuration, if a displacement member that displaces in conjunction with the movement of the lever is provided, when the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed, the displacement member and the contact portion are brought into contact with each other, and the supply flow path is changed. When the carriage is moved in the open state, the displacement member and the contact portion can be brought into a non-contact state. Then, the detection unit can detect the open / closed state of the supply flow path depending on the presence or absence of contact between the displacement member and the contact portion. Further, if the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, the problem that printing is restarted with the supply flow path closed is suppressed.

In the above liquid injection device, when the supply flow path is in the closed state, the displacement member is preferably located in the moving region of the carriage.

When the supply flow path is in the closed state, if the displacement member is located in the moving region of the carriage, the displacement member and the contact portion come into contact with each other when the carriage is moved in the closed state of the supply flow path. Then, the detection unit can detect the open / closed state of the supply flow path depending on the presence or absence of contact between the displacement member and the contact portion. Further, if the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, the problem that printing is restarted with the supply flow path closed is suppressed.

The liquid injection device further includes a control unit that controls the movement of the carriage, and the control unit moves the carriage in the first direction in the main scanning direction and detects a closed state of the supply flow path. In this case, it is preferable to move the carriage in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

When the carriage is moved in the first direction in the main scanning direction and the closed state of the supply flow path is detected, when the carriage is moved in the second direction opposite to the first direction, the supply flow path is moved to the second direction side. A work space is created to change the carriage from the closed state to the open state, and the work of changing the supply flow path from the closed state to the open state can be properly performed.

It is preferable that the liquid injection device further includes a notification unit for notifying that the supply flow path is in the closed state.

Having a notification unit that notifies that the supply flow path is in the closed state makes it easier for the user to surely know that the supply flow path is in the closed state.

In the detection method of the liquid injection device of the present application, a liquid injection unit having a nozzle for injecting liquid onto a medium, a liquid storage unit that stores the liquid, and a supply that communicates the liquid storage unit and the liquid injection unit. It is a detection method of a liquid injection device including a flow path, an opening / closing mechanism for opening or closing the supply flow path, and a carriage equipped with the liquid injection unit and capable of reciprocating in the main scanning direction. Therefore, it is characterized in that it is detected that the supply flow path is in the closed state by the movement of the carriage.

According to this configuration, it is possible to detect that the supply flow path is in the closed state by moving the carriage. Therefore, if the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, the supply flow path becomes open. The problem that printing is restarted in the closed state is suppressed.

In the above-mentioned method for detecting the liquid injection device, it is preferable to detect that the supply flow path is in a closed state when the movement of the carriage is hindered when the carriage is moved.

According to this configuration, when the movement of the carriage is hindered, it is detected that the supply flow path is closed, and when the supply flow path is closed, the supply flow path is opened. The problem that printing is restarted in the closed state is suppressed.

In the above-mentioned method for detecting a liquid injection device, it is preferable that the liquid injection device further includes a carriage motor for moving the carriage, and detects that the supply flow path is closed by the drive load of the carriage motor. ..

According to this configuration, the open / closed state of the supply flow path can be detected by detecting the drive load of the carriage motor. Therefore, if the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, the supply flow path is supplied. The problem that printing is restarted when the flow path is closed is suppressed.

In the above-mentioned method for detecting the liquid injection device, it is preferable that the carriage is moved when the power is turned on and the state of the supply flow path is detected by the movement of the carriage.

If the carriage is moved when the power is turned on, the open / closed state of the supply flow path is detected, and the supply flow path is opened when the supply flow path is closed, printing is restarted with the supply flow path closed. The problem of printing is suppressed.

1A, 1B ... Liquid injection device, 2 ... Device body, 3 ... Housing, 4 ... Frame, 5 ... Scanner, 6 ... Operation panel, 7 ... Display, 8 ... Operation button, 10 ... Liquid storage unit, 11 ... Cover , 12 ... housing, 13 ... liquid storage, 14 ... display, 16 ... lid, 22 ... medium storage, 25 ... transport mechanism, 30 ... carriage, 31 ... carriage motor, 32 ... carriage cover, 40 ... supply flow Road, 50 ... Liquid injection part, 51 ... Nozzle, 55 ... Maintenance unit, 60A, 60B ... Opening and closing mechanism, 61 ... Operating part, 62A, 62B ... Lever, 63 ... Opening and closing part, 64 ... Shaft part, 65 ... Cam member, 66 ... Pressing member, 67 ... Displacement member, 68 Supply flow path support member, 69 ... Case, 70 ... Groove, 71 ... Recess, 75 ... Linear encoder, 76 ... Photosensor, 80 ... Control unit, 81 ... CPU, 82 ... Memory, 83 ... interface part (I / F), 84 ... detection part, 85 ... open / close detection part, 91 ... part, 92 ... part, 100 ... contact part, 101 ... contact part, 110 ... PC, HP ... home position, PA ... print area, RA ... non-print area, RA1 ... non-print area, RA2 ... non-print area, TA ... moving area, OA ... opening, A ... rotation axis.

Claims (17)

A liquid injection unit having a nozzle for injecting a liquid onto a medium,
A liquid storage unit that stores the liquid and
A supply flow path that communicates the liquid storage unit and the liquid injection unit,
An opening / closing mechanism having an opening / closing portion for opening or closing the supply flow path and an operating portion for operating the opening / closing portion.
A carriage equipped with the liquid injection unit and the opening / closing mechanism and capable of reciprocating in the main scanning direction,
When the carriage is moved while the supply flow path is closed, the contact portion that comes into contact with the opening / closing mechanism and the contact portion.
A liquid injection device including a detection unit that detects contact between the opening / closing mechanism and the contact portion. The liquid injection device according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion is provided in a housing that houses the liquid injection portion and the carriage. The liquid injection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the contact portion comes into contact with the operation portion when the carriage is moved in a closed state. The operation unit includes a lever that can rotate between an open position that opens the supply flow path and a closed position that closes the supply flow path.
The opening / closing portion has a pressing member that closes the supply flow path when the lever is in the closed position and opens the supply flow path when the lever is in the open position.
The liquid injection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lever comes into contact with the contact portion when the carriage is moved in a closed state. The operation unit can move between an open position in which the supply flow path is in the open state and a closed position in which the supply flow path is in the closed state.
The contact portion is arranged outside the moving region in which the operating portion located in the open position moves with the movement of the carriage, and the operating portion located in the closed position moves with the movement of the carriage. The liquid injection device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the liquid injection device is arranged inside a moving region to be moved. The opening / closing mechanism has a displacement member that displaces in conjunction with the operation unit.
The liquid injection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the contact portion comes into contact with the displacement member when the carriage is moved in a closed state. A liquid injection unit having a nozzle for injecting a liquid onto a medium,
A liquid storage unit that stores the liquid and
A supply flow path that communicates the liquid storage unit and the liquid injection unit,
An opening / closing mechanism having an opening / closing portion for opening or closing the supply flow path and an operating portion for operating the opening / closing portion.
A carriage equipped with the liquid injection portion, capable of reciprocating in the main scanning direction, and having a contact portion capable of contacting the opening / closing mechanism when the supply flow path is closed.
A liquid injection device including a detection unit capable of detecting contact between the opening / closing mechanism and the contact portion. The liquid injection device according to claim 7, wherein the operating unit comes into contact with the contact portion when the carriage is moved in a closed state. The opening / closing mechanism has a displacement member that displaces in conjunction with the operation unit.
The liquid injection device according to claim 7, wherein the displacement member comes into contact with the contact portion when the carriage is moved in a closed state. The operation unit includes a lever that can rotate about a shaft portion between an open position that opens the supply flow path and a closed position that closes the supply flow path.
The opening / closing portion includes a pressing member that closes the supply flow path when the lever is in the closed position and opens the supply flow path when the lever is in the open position, and a shaft portion. Have,
The liquid injection device according to claim 9, wherein the displacement member is displaced via the shaft portion in conjunction with the movement of the lever. The liquid injection device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein when the supply flow path is in the closed state, the displacement member is located in the moving region of the carriage. A control unit for controlling the movement of the carriage is further provided.
The control unit moves the carriage in the first direction in the main scanning direction, and when it detects a closed state of the supply flow path, moves the carriage in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The liquid injection device according to any one of claims 1 to 11. The liquid injection device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a notification unit for notifying that the supply flow path is in a closed state. A liquid injection section having a nozzle for injecting a liquid onto a medium, a liquid storage section for storing the liquid, a supply flow path communicating the liquid storage section and the liquid injection section, and the supply flow path are opened. A method for detecting a liquid injection device, which includes an opening / closing mechanism for setting a state or a closed state, and a carriage equipped with the liquid injection unit and capable of reciprocating in the main scanning direction.
A method for detecting a liquid injection device, which detects that the supply flow path is closed by moving the carriage. The method for detecting a liquid injection device according to claim 14, wherein when the carriage is moved, it is detected that the supply flow path is in a closed state when the movement of the carriage is hindered. The liquid injection device further includes a carriage motor for moving the carriage.
The method for detecting a liquid injection device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the supply flow path is detected by the drive load of the carriage motor in a closed state. The method for detecting a liquid injection device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the carriage is moved when the power is turned on, and the state of the supply flow path is detected by the movement of the carriage.

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