JP2502636Y2 - Ink head recovery device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention is used for a printer that ejects ink to perform printing, such as an inkjet printer or a bubble jet printer, and removes clogging and bubbles in the ink head. The present invention relates to an ink head recovery device.

[Conventional technology]

In the above-described inkjet printer, an ink flow path having a tip portion formed in a nozzle is disposed in an ink head,
An outer peripheral wall of at least a part of the ink flow path is formed of a flexible material, and a piezoelectric element adjacent to the ink flow path is provided. Reduce the cross-sectional area,
Ink in the ink flow path is ejected from a nozzle to land on paper, and printing is performed.

In addition, the above-described bubble jet printer has an ink flow path having a nozzle formed at a tip end in an ink head, and a thermal head adjacent to the ink flow path, and a thermal print head is provided at a predetermined printing timing. When the head is energized, bubbles are generated in the ink flow path, and a volume of ink corresponding to the bubbles is ejected from a nozzle to land on paper, thereby performing printing.

By the way, in a printer that performs printing by ejecting ink, such as the above-described ink jet printer and bubble jet printer, when the ink dries and clogs in the ink flow path of the ink head, the nozzle is clogged, and the nozzle is clogged. Ink may not be able to be ejected satisfactorily, and if air bubbles are generated in the ink flow path, a predetermined internal pressure may not be obtained at the time of ejecting the ink. is there.

Therefore, when such a situation occurs, from the past,
Pressurized air is jetted into the ink tank of the ink head to press the ink at high pressure into the ink flow path to eliminate clogging in the ink flow path and remove bubbles.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a conventional one of such an ink head recovery device, in which an unillustrated ink head is provided with a coupling member 1 made of an elastic material such as rubber,
The connecting member 1 is formed with a communication hole 2 which communicates with a pressurized air introduction passage (not shown) of the ink head. The pressurized air introducing passage can communicate with the ink tank in the ink head.

On the other hand, this type of printer is provided with a cap 3 for covering the ink head when the ink head is not used to prevent the ink from drying in an ink flow path (not shown). Numeral 4 is movably arranged so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the coupling member 1 mounted on the ink head and the nozzle at the tip of the ink flow path. The cap body 4 is formed with a pressurized air injection passage 5 having a diameter smaller than that of the communication hole 2. On the end surface 6 of the cap body 4 facing the coupling member 1, a conical trapezoidal projection 7 is provided so as to be concentric with the pressurized air injection passage 5, and the projection 7 of the coupling member 1 is provided. Communication hole 2
Is formed so that it can be fitted into.

Then, when the ink head is not used, the cap body 4 of the cap 3 is moved so as to be close to the coupling member 1 and the nozzle (not shown), and the projection 7 is fitted into the communication hole 2 of the coupling member 1 and covers the nozzle. Then, the contact of the nozzle with the outside air is cut off to prevent the ink in the ink flow path from being dried, and further, by injecting pressurized air from the pressurized air ejection passage 5 to the communication hole 2 as necessary. Air is jetted into the ink tank through a pressurized air introduction passage in the ink head, and the ink is press-fitted to remove clogging and bubbles of the ink in the ink flow path.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional ink head recovery device, the coupling member 1 made of an elastic material is elastically deformed to absorb the positional deviation between the communication hole 2 and the pressurized air jet passage 5. When the cap body 4 is pressed against the elastically deformed connecting member 1, an excessive load acts on the connecting member 1, and when the elastic deformation of the connecting member 1 is repeated for a long period of time, the connecting member 1 is plastically deformed. Therefore, the pressurized air supplied through the pressurized air injection passage 5 may leak.

In order to overcome such a problem, the axes of the communication hole 2 of the coupling member 1 and the pressurized air injection passage 5 of the cap body 4 must be exactly aligned with each other, but this is complicated. There is a problem in that the manufacturing process must be adopted and the cost becomes high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink head recovery device that overcomes the problems of the conventional ones, can be manufactured at low cost, and can prevent performance deterioration for a long period of time.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an ink head recovery device according to the present invention is a cap that is removably connected to an ink head in which a nozzle for ejecting ink onto a sheet and a pressurized air introduction passage communicating with the nozzle are formed. In an ink head recovery device having a cap and a pressurized air jet passage communicating with the pressurized air introduction passage, a tip opening is provided in a tip portion of the cap, and a tip side inner peripheral surface is provided. Is formed into a concave spherical surface, and a flexible material that is in communication with the pressurized air injection passage and is urged toward the tip opening direction of the internal cavity by elastic means is formed in the internal cavity. And a tip portion of the ejection member is formed into a shape that can be inserted into a pressurized air introduction passage of the ink head, and a front end portion of the ejection member has a front portion. It is characterized by forming a flange having a convex spherical surface which can be joined to the concave spherical surface of the inner space.

[Action]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, in the state where the ink head is covered with the cap, the ejection member made of the flexible material is guided by the spherical surface of the ejection member and the concave spherical surface inside the cap, The air is maintained by bending so that the axis of the ejecting member and the end of the ejection member are inserted into the pressurized air passage of the ink head.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an essential part of an inkjet printer to which the ink head recovery device according to the present invention is applied.
A plurality of ink heads 11, 11, ... Are arranged on the front surface 10 of a block-shaped head assembly 9 mounted on a carriage (not shown) at equal intervals in the lateral direction. In addition, on the lower front surface 10 of these ink heads 11, a plurality of projections which are in communication with an air vent tube in a buffer tank (not shown) at equal intervals in the lateral direction are also provided.
12,12 ... are arranged. Further, on the front surface 10 above each of the ink heads 11, a rubber coupling member 1 having a communication hole 2 communicating with a pressurized air introduction passage (not shown) in the head assembly 9 is arranged. ing.

On the other hand, a plurality of vertically elongated rubber cap members capable of covering the ink heads 11 are provided on the front surface 13 of the cap body 4 of the cap 3 to which the head assembly 9 is attached when not in use.
Are arranged at equal intervals in the lateral direction so as to face each ink head 11. Further, on the lower front surface 13 of the cap members 14, a plurality of cylindrical cap members 15, 15 ... Which can be fitted to the respective protrusions 7 when the cap 3 covers the head assembly 9. Each protrusion 1
2 are arranged at equal intervals in the lateral direction so as to face 2, and the valves in the protrusions 12 are provided on the backs of the cap members 15 when the cap 3 covers the head assembly 9. A solenoid 16 is provided for opening (not shown). Further, an inner space 17 is formed in the upper front surface 13 of each cap member 14 at a position facing the communication hole 2 of the coupling member 1 when the cap 3 covers the head assembly 9. Has been done.

As shown in detail in FIG. 1, the internal space 17 is generally cylindrical so that its axis coincides with the axis of the communication hole 2 of the coupling member 1. An annular edge portion 18 that projects inward is formed on the side of the connecting member 1 that faces the communication hole 2. In the annular edge portion 18, a tip opening 19 is formed concentrically with the inner space 17 so as to face the communication hole 2 of the coupling member 1, and the inner diameter of the tip opening 19 is equal to that of the communication hole 2. The diameter is larger than the inner diameter. Also,
The inner peripheral surface of the inner space 17 at the tip side, that is, the annular edge portion
A part of the inner peripheral surface of 18 is formed into a concave spherical surface 20.

An annular step portion 21 is formed on the proximal end side of the internal space 17, and a small diameter portion 22 is formed deeper than the step portion 21.
Inside the inner space 17, the inner space is formed along the small diameter portion 22.
The tip of a rigid pipe 23 extending concentrically with 17 is exposed, and a pressurized air injection passage 5 communicating with a compressor (not shown) is formed in the pipe 23. An injection member 24 is arranged on the outer periphery of the pipe 23 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the pipe 23.

The injection member 24 is formed of a plastic or other flexible material, and the injection member 24 is integrated with the sleeve 25 that is capable of stable movement along the pipe 23 and the tip side of the sleeve 25. It is constituted by the formed tip portion 26. A pressurized air injection passage 27 communicating with the pressurized air injection passage 5 is formed in the injection member 24 along the longitudinal direction thereof.

The tip end portion 26 of the injection member 24 is further formed with a shaft portion 28, and the outer diameter of the shaft portion 28 is formed to be slightly larger than the communication hole 2 of the coupling member 1. Also, this shaft 28
The tip of the shaft is formed into a spherical surface 29 so that the shaft 28 can be stably inserted into the communication hole 2. Furthermore, a flange 30 having an outer diameter capable of engaging with the concave spherical surface 20 of the internal space 17 is formed at the base of the shaft portion 28.
The flange 30 is formed with a convex spherical surface 31 that can be closely joined to the spherical surface 20. Furthermore, the internal void
Between the step portion 21 of 17 and the spherical surface 29 of the injection member 24, the injection member
A coil spring 32 that biases 24 toward the tip opening 19 is interposed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

In the injection member 24 which is biased by the spherical surface 31, the flange 30 of the spherical surface 29 is always joined to the spherical surface 20 of the internal space 17. When the cap 3 is attached to the head assembly 9 in such a state, even if the axes of the communication member 2 and the communication hole 2 of the coupling member 1 are not completely aligned, the injection member
Since the tip end side of the tip end portion 26 of 24 is formed on the shaft portion 28,
The tip end portion 26 of the ejection member 24 is surely inserted into the communication hole 2 of the coupling member 1 by slightly bending the ejection member 24.

Therefore, even if the cap 3 is repeatedly used, the injection member 24 is three-dimensionally bent and absorbs the inconsistency of the axis line between the injection member 24 and the communication hole 2, so that the coupling member 1 is not deformed. As a result, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the performance of the coupling member 1 for a long period of time. In addition, the communication hole 2 and the injection member
Since it is not required to completely match the axis line with 24, it becomes possible to manufacture at low cost.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made as necessary. For example, the present invention is applicable not only to inkjet printers, but also to valve jet printers and other printers that eject ink.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is a practical effect that it can be manufactured at a low cost and that performance deterioration can be prevented for a long period of time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing an embodiment of an ink head recovery device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view to which the ink head recovery device of FIG. 1 is applied, and FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a main part showing a head recovery device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Coupling member, 2 ... Communication hole, 3 ... Cap, 4 ... Cap main body, 5,27 ... Pressurized air injection passage, 9 ... Head assembly,
11 ... Ink head, 17 ... Internal void, 19 ... Tip opening, 20, 2
9, 31 ... spherical surface, 23 ... pipe, 24 ... injection member, 26 ... tip portion,
28 ... Shaft, 30 ... Flange, 32 ... Coil spring.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A nozzle for ejecting ink onto a sheet, and a cap connected to an ink head in which a pressurized air introducing passage communicating with the nozzle is formed so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the ink head, and the cap has the pressurized air. In an ink head recovery device having a pressurized air jetting passage communicating with an introduction passage, an inner cavity having a tip end opening and a tip-side inner peripheral surface formed into a concave spherical surface is formed in the tip end portion of the cap. An injection member made of a flexible material, which is in communication with the pressurized air injection passage and is urged by the elastic means toward the tip opening of the internal space, is disposed in the internal space. The tip of the ejection member is formed into a shape that can be inserted into the pressurized air introduction passage of the ink head, and the base of the tip of the ejection member has a convex shape that can be joined to the concave spherical surface of the internal space. Equipped with a spherical surface The ink head recovery device characterized by the formation of the flange.