JP3347690B2 - Ink jet recording device, ink supply device, and ink supply method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink supply apparatus, and an ink supply method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an ink jet recording apparatus, a so-called serial scan system in which a recording head as recording means and an ink tank as an ink container are interchangeably mounted on a carriage movable in a main scanning direction. There is something. In this recording method, an image is sequentially recorded on a recording medium by repeating main scanning of a carriage on which a recording head and an ink tank are mounted and sub-scanning of the recording medium.

In such a recording method, an image can be recorded on a large-sized recording medium such as an A1 or A0 size by increasing the moving width of the carriage. However, in order to print an image using a large amount of ink on a large screen, the ink storage capacity of the ink tank must be increased, and accordingly, the entire carriage becomes heavier. The inertia force of the vehicle also increases. To move the carriage at high speed against its inertial force,
As a drive motor for the carriage, it is necessary to provide a drive motor having a high drive power and a high output, which causes a problem that the price of the entire printing apparatus is increased. Also, with the increase in the weight of the entire carriage, when the carriage is reversed at the turn-back position of the reciprocating main scanning, the force for setting the acceleration of the carriage to "0" against the inertial force also increases. There is a problem that the whole recording apparatus vibrates greatly due to the reaction force of the above. Therefore, it has been difficult to increase the moving speed of the carriage.

On the other hand, if the amount of ink stored in the ink tank is reduced in order to reduce the weight of the carriage, the ink tank must be replaced more frequently, and the ink tank must be replaced during the printing operation. I will.

As one of the solutions to the problem relating to the replacement of the ink tank, the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-24698 has been proposed. In the related art, a closed-type ink bag type ink container is connected to a recording head, and if necessary, an auxiliary ink container is connected to the ink container. The ink is supplied to the ink container. The bias bag type ink container has a bag for storing ink, and stores the ink in the bag under a negative pressure enough to suppress the leakage of the ink from the ink discharge port of the recording head.
By using the negative pressure, ink is supplied from the auxiliary ink container to the bias bag type ink container.

[0006] The bag in the biased bag type ink container is crushed and its volume is reduced according to the amount of ink discharged from the recording head, that is, according to the amount of ink used. When the volume of the bag decreases to a predetermined amount or less, the plug of the supply port provided in the bias bag type ink container is opened, and the supply port and the auxiliary ink container are connected. As a result, ink is supplied from the auxiliary ink container into the bag by the negative pressure in the bag of the biased bag type ink container. Then, when the ink storage amount in the bag reaches the maximum, the negative pressure in the bag becomes “0”, and the supply of ink is automatically stopped. Therefore, according to this conventional technique, control using a pressure sensor, a capacity detection sensor, or the like is not required,
The replenishment of the ink can be automatically stopped using the negative pressure.

By the way, the upper limit of the negative pressure in the bias bag type ink container is determined by the balance with the ink ejection force when the recording head ejects ink. This is because, if the negative pressure is too large, the ink discharge force of the recording head decreases due to the negative pressure, and ink cannot be discharged. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the negative pressure within the range of the best ink ejection condition in the print head. Further, the head position of the ink in the auxiliary ink container needs to be set lower than the head position of the ink in the bias bag type ink container. If these head differences are too large, it will not be possible to supply ink even if the negative pressure in the mutated bag type ink container is determined according to the ink discharge conditions of the recording head.

Therefore, in this prior art, a special device is provided to set the vertical height position of the auxiliary ink container with respect to the bias bag type ink container. However, the provision of such an apparatus causes a problem that the size of the recording apparatus main body and the cost are increased. Further, when a situation occurs in which air enters the ink flow path from a part of the ink flow path connecting the auxiliary ink container and the bias bag type ink container at the time of refilling the ink, the air is discharged. Move into the bag of the bias bag type ink container,
The ink storage amount of the bias bag type ink container is greatly reduced. Further, when the amount of air infiltration is large, there is a problem that the inside of the bag in the biased bag type ink container is filled with air, and it becomes impossible to supply ink again. In addition, the biased bag type ink container is configured by using movable parts such as an elastic bag member forming a bag and a spring member for expanding the bag member, and thus there is a limit to miniaturization. There are also problems that the structure becomes complicated, the weight increases, and the manufacturing cost increases.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to reliably supply ink to an ink tank with a simple structure. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink supply apparatus, and an ink supply method which can reduce the size and weight of the recording apparatus and improve the reliability of the recording apparatus.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus capable of recording an image on a recording medium using an ink jet recording head capable of discharging ink supplied from an ink tank.
Negative pressure introduction means capable of introducing a negative pressure into the ink tank; ink supply means capable of supplying ink into the ink tank using the negative pressure within the ink tank; Gas-liquid separating means interposed in the negative pressure introducing path between the introducing means and the ink, and allowing gas to pass therethrough, and halfway of the negative pressure introducing path between the ink tank and the gas-liquid separating means. And a dividing means capable of dividing the part.

An ink supply device according to the present invention is a negative pressure introducing means capable of introducing a negative pressure into an ink tank, and an ink supply device capable of supplying ink into the ink tank using the negative pressure in the ink tank. Means, interposed in a negative pressure introduction path between the ink tank and the negative pressure introduction means, gas-liquid separation means for passing a gas without passing the ink, the ink tank and the gas-liquid separation means And a dividing means capable of dividing an intermediate portion of the negative pressure introduction path between the two.

According to the ink supply method of the present invention, a gas-liquid separating means for passing a gas without passing an ink is interposed in a negative pressure introduction path capable of introducing a negative pressure to the ink tank, and the ink tank is connected to the ink tank. At a halfway portion of the negative pressure introduction path between the liquid separation unit and the liquid separation unit, a separation unit capable of dividing the halfway portion is provided, and a negative pressure is introduced into the ink tank through the negative pressure introduction path, and the inside of the ink tank is By using the negative pressure of the above, the ink is supplied into the ink tank, and when the ink comes into contact with the gas-liquid separation means, the gas-liquid separation means stops the introduction of the negative pressure into the ink tank, When the ink is not supplied into the ink tank, the intermediate portion is divided by the dividing means.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 4 are explanatory views of a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 501 denotes a sub-ink tank (hereinafter, referred to as a "sub-tank") capable of storing ink, and reference numeral 502 denotes a recording head capable of discharging the ink in the sub-tank 501 from a nozzle portion 502A. Is moved in the main scanning direction (in the directions of arrows A1 and A2) along the guide shafts 503A and 503B. Sub tank 5
01 and the recording head 502 are connected to the guide shafts 503A, 503.
It can be removably mounted on a carriage (not shown) guided by B. The sub-tank 501 has an ink intake port 501A, a suction port 501B, and an air communication port 501.
C and an ink supply port (not shown) communicating with the recording head 502 are formed.
Inside the ink absorber 5 for absorbing and holding ink
04 is accommodated.

In the case of this example, the sub-tank 501
, Ink storage units 501C and 501 for storing cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks.
M, 501Y and 501B are formed, and an ink intake port 501A and a suction port 50
1B, an air communication port 501C, and an ink supply port are formed. In consideration of the frequency of use of the black ink, the storage portion 501B is formed larger than other storage portions. The nozzle section 502A of the recording head 502 is provided for each ink color. The sub tank 501 and the recording head 502 may be combined to form an ink jet cartridge.
1 and the recording head 502 may have a structure divided corresponding to each ink color.

Reference numeral 521 denotes a hollow projecting member provided on the apparatus main body side, and a seal member 523 urged leftward by a spring 522 is slidably fitted on the outer peripheral portion thereof. The protruding member 521 includes a sealing member 5
A through-hole 521A that is opened and closed by 23 is formed. A distal end of the protruding member 521 is closed, and a proximal end thereof is connected to a main ink tank (hereinafter, referred to as “main tank”) not shown.

Reference numeral 531 denotes an arm member which is rotatably supported vertically by a support member 533 on the apparatus main body side and is urged downward by a spring 534. Arm member 5
The seal member 532 attached to the tip side of
An opening 532A that can communicate with the suction port 501B;
01B and a seal portion 532B capable of closing the atmosphere communication hole 501C are formed. The opening 532A is connected to the suction tube 5
12 is connected to the suction pump 513. In the case of this example, the ink storage units 501C, 501M, 501Y,
The opening 532A for each 501B is connected to the suction tube 51 as shown in FIG.
2 and then connected to a common suction pump 513. Further, a gas permeable member 505 that allows gas to pass therethrough without passing ink is attached to the opening 532A. This gas permeable member 505 is, for example,
It is a thin sheet made of a tetrafluoroethylene resin or a similar resin porous material. On the other hand, a blade 536 capable of wiping the lower surface of the seal member 532 including the gas permeable member 505 is provided on the sub tank 501 side. 535 is the arm member 5
31 is a stopper member that regulates the upward movement position of the base member 31.

Reference numerals 524 and 525 denote first and second cap members movably provided on the apparatus main body side.
The cap member 525 is connected to a waste liquid tank (not shown) through a suction pump 526. Reference numeral 527 denotes a platen for guiding the recording medium to a position where the recording head 502 records an image. The recording medium is transported by a transport mechanism (not shown) in a sub-scanning direction that intersects the main scanning direction (the directions of arrows A1 and A2). By repeating the main scanning of the recording head 502 while discharging ink and the transport operation of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction, images are sequentially formed on the recording medium.

During the recording operation, the recording head 502
Prints an image by ejecting ink while moving in the directions of arrows A1 and A2 at a position to the left of the home position in FIG.

When the recording head 502 moves to the home position, the first and second cap members 524 and 525 rise as shown in FIG.
Thereby, the nozzle portion 502A of the recording head 502 is capped. At this time, the sealing member 523 is
13 is closed, the ink inlet 501A is closed, and the sealing member 532 is
Close 1B. By closing the intake port 501A and the suction port 501B in this manner, the sub tank 501 is closed.
The viscosity of the ink inside is prevented. Gas permeable member 505
Is located on the right side in FIG. 3 away from the suction port 501,
Contact with the ink in the sub tank 501 is prevented. As a result, the performance of the gas permeable member 505 is prevented from deteriorating by avoiding long-term contact between the gas permeable member 505 and the ink. Recording head 50 at home position
For No. 2, the ink ejection state can be kept good by a recovery process for discharging ink that does not contribute to image recording. The recovery process includes the suction pump 52
The negative pressure generated by the second cap member 525
A process of forcibly sucking and discharging the ink from the ink discharge port of the nozzle portion 502A
A process of ejecting ink from the 02A ink ejection port toward the inside of the second cap member 525 is included.

At the time of ink supply operation, as shown in FIG. 4, the recording head 502 is further moved from the home position by the arrow A1.
Move to the ink supply position in the direction. When the recording head 502 moves to the ink supply position, the first and second cap members 524 and 525 rise as shown in FIG.
The nozzle portion 502 of the recording head 502 is capped by the cap member 524. The cap member 524
Closes the ink discharge port of the nozzle section 502A. At this time, the seal member 523 opens the through hole 521A by the relative movement with the protruding member 521 while keeping the ink intake port 501A closed. The through-hole 521A is opened in the sub-tank 501 so that the sub-tank 501 is opened.
And an ink supply system between the ink tank and the main tank. The seal member 532 closes the atmosphere communication port 501C and connects the opening 532A to the suction port 501B to form an air suction system between the suction port 501B and the suction pump 513. The gas permeable member 501B is interposed in the suction system.

When refilling the ink, the suction pump 51
3, the air in the sub tank 501 is sucked through the gas permeable member 505, and the air is discharged into a waste liquid container (not shown). As a result, the inside of the sub tank 501 becomes negative pressure, and the ink in the main tank is sucked into the sub tank 501 by the negative pressure. The ink that has flowed into the sub-tank 501 penetrates into the ink absorber 504, and the ink level rises as the permeation proceeds. Since the rising speed of the ink level depends on the suction force of the suction pump 513, the speed is set to an appropriate speed according to the operation amount.
When the liquid level of the ink reaches the gas permeable member 505, the gas permeable member 505 does not allow a liquid such as ink to pass through, and thus the supply of ink is automatically stopped. In addition, the ink supply to the ink storage units 501C, 501M, 501Y, and 501B is started at the same time, and the ink supply is automatically performed by the gas permeable member 505 in order from the ink full state. Will be stopped.

After the ink supply operation is completed,
By moving the recording head 502 to the home position or the recording operation position, the recording apparatus returns to the state shown in FIG. 3 or FIG.

The blade 536 is connected to the sub tank 50
1 by contact with the lower surface of the seal member 532 in accordance with the movement of the arm member 531 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
Is rotated up and down, and the lower surface of the seal member 532 including the gas permeable member 505 is wiped. By such wiping, the gas permeable member 505 and the opening 532 are formed.
A, foreign substances such as thickened ink adhered to the seal portion 532B are removed, and they are kept in a good state.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 5 to 7 are explanatory diagrams of a second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

Reference numeral 1521 denotes a hollow projecting member provided on the apparatus main body side, and a seal member 1523 urged leftward by a spring 1522 is slidably fitted on the outer peripheral portion thereof. The protruding member 1521 has a through hole 1521A that is opened and closed by a seal member 1523. The distal end of the protruding member 1521 is closed, and the proximal end thereof is connected to a main tank (not shown). Further, a gas permeable member 505 is provided at an opening of the seal member 1523.

Reference numeral 1531 denotes a seal member capable of closing the atmosphere communication hole 501C of the sub tank 501, which is attached to the tip of the arm member 1532. Arm member 1
The base end of 532 is rotatably supported in the vertical direction by a support member 1533 on the apparatus main body side, and is urged downward by a spring 1534. 1535 is an arm member 153
2 is a stopper member that regulates the downward movement position. 153
Reference numeral 6 denotes a protrusion provided on the sub tank 501, and the arm member 1532 is provided in accordance with the moving position of the sub tank 501.
Move up and down. The arm member 1532 has a protrusion 15
A recess 1532A into which 36 enters is formed.

In this embodiment, at the home position as shown in FIG.
Close 01B. Then, in the ink supply operation position as shown in FIG.
An air suction system is formed through 1A, and the air communication port 501C is closed by the seal member 1531.
Further, the length of the protruding member 1521 is set so as not to enter the sub tank 501.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure for explaining an embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the protruding member 1521 in the above-described second embodiment is set to be long, and the tip thereof is set to the sub tank 50 during the ink supply operation.
Get inside 1. Further, a gas permeable member 505 is provided in the opening of the through hole 1521A of the protruding member 1521. Therefore, an air suction system is formed through the gas permeable member 505 in the sub tank 501.

(Fourth Embodiment) Sub ink tank 50
The gas permeable member 505 provided in 1 may have different characteristics and shapes depending on the characteristics of the ink and the amount of ink stored.

For example, depending on the amount of ink stored in the sub ink tank 501 in which the gas permeable member 505 is provided and the type of ink stored therein, the gas permeable member 505 is made to vary the degree of negative pressure generated in the sub ink tank 501. A porous body having different characteristics and shapes can be provided. Specifically, the gas permeable member 505 is made of a porous material having different pore diameters and thicknesses, or the occupied area of the gas permeable member 505 in the air passage 49 is changed, and the gas permeable member 505 is occupied by the occupied area. The sizes can be different. The occupied area of the latter gas permeable member 505 is, for example,
By providing a cover that covers the surface so that the displacement can be adjusted, the cover can be made variable.

As described above, by changing the negative pressure value in the sub ink tank 501, the ink supply speed to each sub ink tank 501 can be adjusted. In the case of the sub-ink tank 501 for storing ink having a large flow resistance and the sub-ink tank 501 for storing a large amount of ink, the gas permeable member 505 is selected in order to set a large negative pressure value in the sub-ink tank 501. By doing so, ink can be efficiently supplied to the plurality of sub-ink tanks 501.

As described above, the characteristics of the gas permeable member 505 can be set optimally using the pore diameter and thickness of the gas permeable member 505 and the opening area of the ventilation path 49 as parameters. Further, the physical properties (such as air permeability) of the gas permeable member 505 itself may be different.

(Other Embodiments) The gas permeable member only needs to have a gas-liquid separation function, and various materials can be used according to the type and use form of the ink.
For example, in addition to a gas permeable film made of a tetrafluoroethylene resin or a similar resin porous material, a porcelain, unglazed ceramic, ceramic, or a similar porous material can also be used. Also, a valve having a mechanical configuration that opens when gas passes and closes when liquid tries to pass can be used as the gas permeable member.

Further, the ink tank of the present invention is not limited to the one which is moved together with the recording head in the serial scanning type recording apparatus, but may be provided at a fixed position. Further, it may be always connected to a replenishment ink tank (sub ink tank) through a tube.

The present invention can also be applied to a form in which a main tank for replenishing ink to the ink tank is always connected by a tube. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a mode in which the ink tank moves together with the recording head, but also to a mode in which the ink tank is provided at a fixed position.

(Others) It should be noted that the present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection, particularly in an ink jet recording system. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which the state of ink is changed by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis.
This is effective because air bubbles inside can be formed. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. 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. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. 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.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 44,558 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an aperture for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to 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. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, a recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or an electric connection with the apparatus main body and ink from the apparatus main body can be provided by being mounted on the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

It is preferable to add a recording head ejection recovery unit, a preliminary auxiliary unit, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, the recording head is heated using capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, another heating element or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing the discharging other than the recording can be used.

The type and number of recording heads to be mounted are not limited to those provided only for one color ink, for example, and for a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full color by color mixture.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself 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. Sometimes, the ink may be in a liquid state. In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent evaporation of the ink, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1260, a form may be adopted in which the liquid sheet or the solid substance is held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet and faces the electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, the supply of ink to the ink tank is automatically stopped by utilizing the function of the gas-liquid separation means to automatically stop the suction supply of ink into the ink tank. Can be reliably implemented with a simple configuration, and when the ink is not supplied, the gas-liquid separating means is not connected to the ink tank. Performance degradation can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part for describing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a capping state of a recording head in FIG. 1;

4 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which ink is supplied to a sub tank in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part for describing a second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an explanatory diagram of a capping state of the recording head in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a state where ink is supplied to a sub tank in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part for describing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 501 Sub-tank 501A Ink inlet 501B Suction hole 501C Atmospheric communication hole 502 Recording head 505 Gas permeable member 512 Suction tube 513 Suction pump

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hirofumi Hirano 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tetsuji Kurata 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inside (72) Inventor Masaya Uezuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hideo Fukasawa 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yuji Nezu 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Noriyasu Asagi 3-30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroki Hayashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-8-187874 (JP, A) JP-A-10-128999 (JP, A) JP-A-59-207256 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/175

Claims (11)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus capable of recording an image on a recording medium using an ink jet recording head capable of discharging ink supplied from an ink tank, wherein a negative pressure capable of introducing a negative pressure into the ink tank. Introducing means, Ink supplying means capable of supplying ink into the ink tank using negative pressure in the ink tank, Interposed in a negative pressure introducing path between the ink tank and the negative pressure introducing means Gas-liquid separating means for passing a gas without passing ink; and separating means for separating an intermediate portion of the negative pressure introduction path between the ink tank and the gas-liquid separating means. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disconnecting unit includes a connecting portion that disconnectably connects an intermediate portion of the negative pressure introduction path. 3. A moving means for moving the ink tank, wherein the dividing means connects an intermediate portion of the negative pressure introduction path when the ink tank moves to a predetermined ink supply position, and 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus divides an intermediate portion of the negative pressure introduction path when the ink jet recording apparatus is separated from the ink supply position. 4. 4. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said moving means moves said ink jet recording head together with said ink tank. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas-liquid separating unit is movable between a position communicating with the inside of the ink tank and a position not communicating with the inside of the ink tank. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of 4. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit for wiping the gas-liquid separation unit. 7. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas-liquid separating means is a gas permeable film made of a tetrafluoroethylene resin or a resin porous material similar thereto. . 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus has an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy as ink ejection energy. 9. A negative pressure introducing means capable of introducing a negative pressure into the ink tank; an ink supplying means capable of supplying ink into the ink tank using the negative pressure in the ink tank; A gas-liquid separating means interposed in a negative pressure introducing path between the ink tank and the negative pressure introducing means, and a gas passing therethrough without passing ink, and the negative pressure between the ink tank and the gas liquid separating means. An ink supply device, comprising: a dividing unit capable of dividing an intermediate part of the introduction path. 10. The ink supply device according to claim 9, wherein the disconnecting unit includes a connecting portion that disconnectably connects an intermediate portion of the negative pressure introduction path. 11. A negative-pressure introduction path capable of introducing a negative pressure into an ink tank includes a gas-liquid separation unit that allows a gas to pass therethrough without passing an ink, and a path between the ink tank and the gas-liquid separation unit. In the middle part of the negative pressure introduction path, a dividing unit capable of dividing the halfway part is provided, and a negative pressure is introduced into the ink tank through the negative pressure introduction path, and the negative pressure in the ink tank is used. Supplying ink into the ink tank, when the ink comes into contact with the gas-liquid separation means, the gas-liquid separation means stops introducing a negative pressure into the ink tank, and supplies the ink into the ink tank. Other than when supplying
An ink supply method, wherein the halfway part is divided by the dividing means.