JP3041138B2 - Ink tank - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink tank for storing ink supplied to a recording head, and more particularly to an ink tank having a mechanism capable of coping with environmental changes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a replaceable ink tank has been integrally formed of synthetic resin or the like, and an ink supply port has a structure for preventing ink leakage by an elastic packing provided on an ink jet recording head side.

On the other hand, a replaceable ink cartridge conventionally has one ink tank and holds a large, large-capacity ink. For example, FIG. 3 shows a conventional ink cartridge, but the supply to the ink jet recording head 61a is performed only by the large ink tank 61.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following disadvantages.

[0005] Regarding the replaceable ink tank, (1) When the ambient temperature changes, the air volume inside the tank changes, and the tank becomes a positive pressure or a negative pressure to promote ink leakage and insufficient ink supply. . (2) The packing provided on the ink jet recording head side is made of rubber or the like, and after a long time, the weathering phenomenon due to ink or air proceeds, causing problems such as ink leakage due to rubber elasticity deterioration and packing damage at the time of tank replacement. was there. (3) Since the elastic material is used, the rigidity of the outer wall constituting the ink tank is low, so that when the ink tank is replaced, there is a possibility that the ink is ejected due to the external force acting on the tank.

[0006]

[0007]

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor has adopted a surge membrane structure in which the tank capacity changes with the expansion and contraction of the gas inside the tank, and uses an elastic material packing. Provided at the ink supply port on the ink tank side,
The present invention has been completed.

[0009] That is, according to the present invention, for the recording head
Detachably configured, in the ink tank for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head, and the tank housing for storing the <br/> the ink one side is open, the opening of
Cover one side of the tank housing
With elastic packing to maintain tight connection with the
And forming the supply unit, the supply unit is provided at a part of the tank casing
An elastic film-shaped wall, which is disposed on the side surface provided and has a surge film that is displaced inward or outward so as to be able to absorb a volume change of an air layer inside the ink tank. An ink tank is provided.

In the present invention, being integrally formed means being formed as one structure,
This includes those integrally formed of one material and those obtained by combining parts made of different materials.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

The present invention particularly provides an excellent effect in a recording head and a recording apparatus of an ink jet recording system in which a flying liquid droplet is formed by utilizing thermal energy to perform recording, among the ink jet recording systems. is there.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
No. 796, and the present invention is preferably performed using these basic principles. This recording method can be applied to both on-demand type and continuous type.

The recording method will be briefly described. An electrothermal transducer disposed corresponding to a sheet or a liquid path holding a liquid (ink) is provided with a liquid (ink) corresponding to recording information. By applying at least one drive signal for exceeding the nucleate boiling phenomenon and giving a rapid temperature rise that causes the film boiling phenomenon, heat energy is generated, and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head. . As described above, since bubbles corresponding to the drive signal applied to the electrothermal converter from the liquid (ink) can be formed one-to-one, it is particularly effective for an on-demand type recording method. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge port by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. Examples of the drive signal in the form of a pulse include those described in U.S. Pat.
Suitable are those described in US Pat. No. 45,262. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

The structure of the recording head is a combination of a discharge port, a liquid flow path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angle liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. In addition, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, those having a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bent region are also included in the present invention.

In addition, JP-A-59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge port of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, or absorbs a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective in a configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which the opening to be made corresponds to the discharge section.

Further, as a recording head in which the present invention is effectively used, there is a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium on which a recording apparatus can record. The full line head may be a full line configuration by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification, or may be a single full line recording head formed integrally.

In addition, the print head is replaceable with a print head of a chip type which can be electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus or supplied with ink from the main body of the apparatus, or is integrated with the print head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge-type recording head provided in a fixed manner is used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the print head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the recording apparatus of the present invention, since the recording apparatus of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressurizing or suction unit, a preheating unit using an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof, a recording head, It is also effective to add a means for performing a preliminary ejection mode for performing another ejection in order to perform stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the mode for recording only the mainstream color such as black, but may be either a mode in which the recording head is integrally formed or a mode in which a plurality of recording heads are combined. However, the present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of multiple colors of different colors or full color by mixing colors.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the description is made using the liquid ink. However, in the present invention, even if the ink is solid at room temperature, the ink is in a softened state at room temperature. Can also be used. In general, in the above-described ink jet device, the temperature of the ink itself is adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. It is sufficient if the ink is in a liquid state.

In addition, an excessive temperature rise of the head and the ink due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using the energy of the state change from the solid state to the liquid state of the ink, or the evaporation of the ink is prevented. For example, an ink that solidifies in a standing state may be used. In any case, the ink is liquefied for the first time by the application of heat energy, such as one in which the ink is liquefied and ejected as an ink liquid by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal, or one which already starts to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The use of an ink having the following properties is also applicable to the present invention.

Such an ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-568.
No. 47 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 60-71260, in a state where it is held as a liquid or solid substance in a concave portion or a through hole of a porous sheet and faces an electrothermal converter. It is good also as a form.

In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing an example of an ink jet recording apparatus (IJRA) in which the recording head obtained according to the present invention is mounted as an ink jet head cartridge (IJC).

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 120 denotes an ink jet head cartridge (IJC) having a nozzle group for discharging ink while facing a recording surface of a recording sheet sent on a platen 124. Reference numeral 116 denotes a carriage HC that holds the IJC 120. The carriage HC is connected to a part of a drive belt 118 that transmits the driving force of the drive motor 117, and is provided with two guide shafts 119A and 119 arranged in parallel with each other.
By making it slidable with B, reciprocal movement over the entire width of the recording paper of the IJC 120 becomes possible.

Reference numeral 126 denotes a head recovery device, and IJC1
It is disposed at one end of the 20 movement paths, for example, at a position facing the home position. The head recovery device 126 is operated by the driving force of the motor 122 via the transmission mechanism 123, and the IJC 120 is capped. IJC1 by the cap 126A of the head recovery device 126
20 in connection with the capping of the head recovery device 1
The ink is sucked by an appropriate suction means provided in the ink jet printer 26 or fed by an appropriate pressurizing means provided in an ink supply path to the IJC 120, and the ink is forcibly discharged from the discharge port to increase the viscosity in the nozzle. An ejection recovery process such as removal of ink is performed. Also, by performing capping at the end of recording or the like, IJC is protected.

Reference numeral 130 denotes a blade disposed on a side surface of the head recovery device 126 and formed of silicon rubber as a wiping member. The blade 130 is held in a cantilever form by a blade holding member 130 </ b> A, and like the head recovery device 126, the motor 122 and the transmission mechanism 123 are provided.
And the engagement with the ejection surface of the IJC 120 becomes possible. Accordingly, the blade 130 is moved to the IJC 12 at an appropriate timing in the recording operation of the IJC 120 or after the ejection recovery processing using the head recovery device 126.
In this case, the projection is made to protrude into the movement path of the IJC 120 to wipe off dew condensation, wetness, dust and the like on the discharge surface of the IJC 120 with the movement of the IJC 120.

[0032]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below based on embodiments.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing one structural example of the ink tank of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an ink jet recording head, 2
Denotes an ink tank, and 3 denotes a tank cap. As a material for forming the ink tank 2, a normal material can be used. The tank cap 3 is a film-like wall formed of an elastic material integrally formed with the ink tank 2, and a normal packing material such as rubber can be used as such an elastic material. The lower portion of the ink tank 2 has spokes 2a connecting the ink tank 2 and the ink cap 3. The ink or air is in direct contact with the surge film portion 3a. When the surge film portion 3a expands outward or contracts inward, the volume change of the air portion can be absorbed. A packing portion 3b, which is a part of the tank cap 3, prevents ink leakage at a connection portion between the ink jet recording head 1 and the ink tank 2.

Reference Example 1 FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a reference example of an ink tank provided with a surge film . In the figure, 1 is an ink jet recording head, and 2 is an ink tank. The ink tank 2 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, for example.
And the packing part 2c is integrally formed. Such integral molding is made possible by increasing the rigidity of the outer wall of the tank by forming a thick wall structure except for the surge film portion 2b and the packing portion 2c which are film-like walls.

[0035]

[0036]

[0037]

[0038]

[0039]

[0040]

As described above, the replaceable ink tank of the present invention in which the film-like wall and the packing are integrally formed,
The following effects are obtained. (1) The tank internal pressure is constant with respect to the ambient temperature change, and ink leakage and the like are eliminated. (2) Since the replacement of the elastic material packing is performed in the same short cycle as the replacement of the ink tank, ink leakage due to deterioration of the elastic material packing does not occur. (2) There is no need to provide an elastic packing on the ink jet recording head side, and the manufacturing process is simplified. (3) When the ink tank is mounted, the outer wall of the tank is rigid, so that it does not collapse and ink does not leak.

[0041]

[0042]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing one configuration example of an ink tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a reference example relating to the structure of an ink tank .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one configuration example of an ink jet recording head equipped with a conventional ink cartridge.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing one configuration example of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 inkjet recording head 2 ink tank 2a spoke 2b surge film portion 2c packing portion 3 tank cap 3a surge film portion 3b packing portion 61 ink tank 61a inkjet recording head 116 carriage 117 drive motor 118 drive belt 119A, 119B guide shaft 120 inkjet head cartridge 122 Cleaning Motor 123 Transmission Mechanism 124 Platen 126 Head Recovery Device 126A Cap 130 Blade 130A Blade Holding Member

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A detachable is configured for the recording head
An ink tank for storing the ink supplied to the recording head, a tank housing for storing the ink having one side opened , and one side of the opened tank housing being covered,
Elastic packing to keep tight connection with recording head
A coupling feed section wherein the test part of the tank casing
An elastic film-shaped wall arranged on the side surface provided with the supply portion , and having a surge film displaced inward or outward so as to be able to absorb a volume change of the air layer inside the ink tank , An ink tank comprising: