JP3543315B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with an ink jet recording head that is mounted on a carriage that moves in the width direction of a recording sheet and that ejects ink droplets from nozzle openings. The present invention relates to a technique for sealing a filling liquid to be filled in an ink supply path.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet recording apparatuses have been used in many types of printing including color printing in recent years because noise during printing is relatively small and small dots can be formed with high density. Such an ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head that receives supply of ink from an ink cartridge, and a paper feeding unit that moves recording paper relative to the recording head, and records the recording head on a carriage. Recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets onto the recording paper while moving in the width direction of the paper.
[0003]
The carriage is equipped with a recording head that can eject black ink and each color ink of yellow, cyan, and magenta, and not only text printing with black ink, but also full-color printing by changing the ejection ratio of each ink. It is possible.
[0004]
Since the ink jet recording head discharges the ink pressurized in the pressure generating chamber from the nozzles as ink droplets onto the recording paper to perform printing, the ink viscosity increases due to evaporation of the solvent from the nozzle opening, and There is a problem that printing is poor due to solidification of the toner, adhesion of dust, and mixing of air bubbles.
[0005]
For this purpose, the ink jet recording apparatus is provided with capping means for sealing the nozzle openings of the recording head during non-printing, and a cleaning device for cleaning the nozzle plate if necessary. This capping means not only functions as a lid for preventing drying of the ink in the nozzle openings when printing is stopped, but also when the nozzle openings are clogged, the nozzle plate is sealed with a cap member, It also has a function of sucking ink from the nozzle openings by the negative pressure from the suction pump to eliminate clogging due to solidification of the ink in the nozzle openings and ink ejection failure due to air bubbles entering the ink flow path.
[0006]
The process of forcibly sucking and discharging ink to eliminate clogging of the recording head and the incorporation of air bubbles into the ink flow path is usually called a cleaning operation, and is used when printing is resumed after a long pause of the device. This is executed when the user operates the cleaning switch in order to eliminate the deterioration of the quality of the recorded image. After the ink droplets are ejected by negative pressure, the head is cleaned by a cleaning member made of an elastic plate such as rubber. This is a process involving a wiping operation on the surface.
[0007]
On the other hand, in this type of printing apparatus for consumer use, each of the ink cartridges enclosing the black ink and the color ink is configured to be detachably mountable from above on a carriage on which a printing head is mounted, Each cartridge is configured so that ink is supplied to the recording head via a hollow ink supply needle (hereinafter also referred to as a hollow needle) mounted upward on the carriage.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the recording apparatus as described above, the flow path of the ink in the recording head is configured to be very fine, and therefore, the ink supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head does not contain foreign matter such as dust. It is required to be in a clean state without contamination. That is, in the case where foreign matter such as dust is mixed in, there is a problem that the foreign matter is clogged in the ink supply port and the nozzle opening portion which are particularly narrow in the ink flow path of the recording head, and this causes a problem. Ink ejection cannot be performed, and in many cases, the function of the print head cannot be restored.
[0009]
Therefore, generally, a filter member for removing foreign matter is disposed upstream of the recording head in the ink flow path, for example, between the hollow needle and a head case supporting the hollow needle, and the filter member removes foreign matter toward the recording head. We try to prevent intrusion.
[0010]
On the other hand, in recent years, in order to realize a higher printing speed, the number of nozzles for ejecting ink has been increased, and electric signals applied to an actuator for ejecting ink have been increasingly higher in frequency. For this reason, the consumption amount of ink per unit time is also rapidly increasing.
[0011]
Accordingly, the amount of ink passing through the filter member naturally increases, and it is necessary to increase the area of the filter member in order to suppress the dynamic pressure (pressure loss) of the filter member. For this purpose, the ink flow paths in which the filter members are arranged are each configured to form a vertically tapered space with the filter member interposed therebetween. For this reason, there is a problem that air bubbles always stay in the tapered space on the upper side of the filter member.
[0012]
FIG. 9A shows this situation, and reference numeral 21 denotes a hollow needle for mounting an ink cartridge on the upper part thereof and leading out the ink stored in the ink cartridge. The upper end of the hollow needle 21 is sharpened, and a plurality of ink lead-out holes 21a are opened in a part thereof, so that ink can be drawn out from the ink cartridge through the ink lead-out hole 21a. . The proximal end of the hollow needle 21 has a divergent shape, and a tapered space 21b is formed therein.
[0013]
On the other hand, the head case 71 of the recording head to which the base end of the hollow needle 21 is attached is also formed with a tapered space 71a, and the base end of the hollow needle 21 sandwiching these spaces, The filter member 22 is arranged between the case 71. The filter member 22 is configured to prevent foreign matter such as dust mixed in the ink from passing therethrough.
[0014]
As can be understood from the configuration shown in FIG. 9, in a state where the ink flow path formed in the hollow needle 21 and the filter member 22 are arranged in the direction of gravity, in particular, in the upper part of the filter member 22. A phenomenon occurs in which bubbles A remain in the tapered space 21b formed in the hollow needle 21.
[0015]
Although the structure is optimized in order to reduce the residual bubbles A, an increase in the area of the filter member for suppressing the dynamic pressure of the filter member is incompatible with the problem with the residual bubbles. And it is impossible to remove the residual air bubbles A fundamentally.
[0016]
Therefore, for example, when a suction pump for suctioning the nozzle forming surface of the recording head to a negative pressure is driven at a high speed to increase the flow rate of the ink, as shown in FIG. A phenomenon occurs in which the remaining air bubbles A are pushed to a specific location and ink flows in other portions, and it is difficult to discharge the remaining air bubbles A after all.
[0017]
On the other hand, as described above, printing is performed in a state where the bubble A remains, and when the printing state is full duty (so-called full solid printing in which ink is ejected from all nozzle openings at the same time), the filter member 22 is used. Air bubbles A remaining on the upstream side of the filter member slowly move near the filter member 22 with the flow of the ink as shown in FIG. And a balanced state is achieved.
[0018]
In particular, when full solid printing is continued in the state shown in FIG. 9C, a part of the bubble A slightly passes through the filter member 22 to reach the ink flow path in the recording head, and this bubble A Grows in the ink flow path in the print head and exerts a so-called cushion effect, which causes a problem that the ink cannot be ejected from the print head.
[0019]
Further, there is a problem that the residual air bubbles A on the upstream side of the filter member 22 gradually grow with the lapse of the pause of the recording apparatus, and in such a state, the recovery operation of the ink discharge function of the recording head, When a so-called cleaning operation is performed, the location of the residual bubble A changes, and sometimes a situation occurs in which the residual bubble A enters the ink flow path in the recording head. In such a case, the slight cleaning operation as described above results in damage to the recording head.
[0020]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and includes a step of filling a recording head and an ink flow path leading to the recording head with a filling liquid when shipping the recording apparatus. A control sequence for discharging air bubbles from the ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink supply unit for the recording head is sealed by a sealing member in a state where the air bubbles are discharged, so that the filling state of the filling liquid is maintained. It is intended to provide a device. Thus, at the time of initial filling with the ink cartridge loaded in actual use, it is possible to replace the filling liquid with the printing ink in a state where there is no residual air bubble in the ink flow path or in a state where the amount of the residual air bubble is very small. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus which makes it possible to improve the reliability of printing.
[0021]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes an ink jet recording head that is mounted on a carriage that moves in the width direction of recording paper and that ejects ink droplets from nozzle openings. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the recording head and an ink flow path leading to the recording head are filled with a filling liquid while air bubbles are eliminated, and a sealing member that seals an ink supply unit for the recording head, It is configured to keep the filling state of the filling liquid.
[0022]
In this case, the ink supply unit for the recording head is a hollow ink supply needle joined to an ink cartridge, and the sealing member preferably extends along the outer periphery of the cylindrical body from the distal end of the hollow ink supply needle. A bottomed tubular body formed of a flexible material to be sealed by sealing is used.
[0023]
In the case where the opening position of the ink lead-out hole formed in the hollow ink supply needle is formed in the outer peripheral portion of the cylinder of the ink supply needle, the sealing member has a tubular shape open at both ends. Flexible member can be adopted. Further, as the sealing member, a liquid substance having a high viscosity and a low volatility, which is adhered from the distal end portion of the hollow ink supply needle along the outer periphery of the cylindrical body, may be employed. In this case, it is desirable that the liquid substance forming the sealing member is a composition that can be dissolved in the printing ink used in the recording apparatus.
[0024]
In addition, as the sealing member, a sealed container having an opening that can be joined to a hollow ink supply needle can be used. In this case, a degassed filling liquid is stored in the container. Is desirable. In any of the above cases, the recording head and the filling liquid filled in the ink flow path leading to the recording head preferably have a low volatility composed mainly of an ink composition containing no dye. Delivery liquid is used.
[0025]
According to the ink jet recording apparatus configured as described above, the ink supply unit for the recording head, for example, the sealing member that seals the hollow ink supply needle is filled in a state where air bubbles in the ink flow path are eliminated. Since it functions to hold the filling liquid, at the time of initial filling when the ink cartridge is loaded, the ink for printing is removed from the filling liquid in a state where there are no residual bubbles in the ink flow path or a state where the amount of the residual bubbles is extremely small. Can be replaced, and the printing reliability of the recording device can be improved.
[0026]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a recording apparatus main body to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a carriage, which is guided by a guide member 4 via a timing belt 3 driven by a carriage motor 2 and reciprocates in the axial direction of a platen 5.
[0027]
An ink jet recording head 7 is mounted on the side of the carriage 1 facing the recording paper 6, and a black ink cartridge 8 for supplying ink to the recording head 7 and a color ink cartridge 9 are detachably mounted above the recording head 7. Loaded as possible.
[0028]
In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes capping means disposed in a non-printing area (home position), which is configured to seal the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 7 when the recording head 7 moves directly above. I have. Below the capping unit 10, a suction pump 11 is provided as a negative pressure generating unit for applying a negative pressure to the internal space of the capping unit 10.
[0029]
The capping means 10 functions as a lid for preventing the nozzle opening of the recording head 7 from drying during the suspension period of the recording apparatus, and also applies a drive signal unrelated to printing to the recording head to discharge ink droplets idly. It functions as an ink receiver at the time of a flushing operation to be performed, and also has a function as a means for sucking ink by applying a negative pressure from the suction pump 11 to the recording head 7. A wiping member 12 made of an elastic plate such as rubber is disposed near the capping unit 10, and wipes the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 7 when the carriage 1 reciprocates toward the capping unit 10. The wiping operation is performed.
[0030]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an ink cartridge is mounted above a recording head mounted on a carriage. A nozzle plate 7a as a nozzle forming surface of the recording head 7 is arranged on a lower surface of a head case 71 of the recording head 7, and a plurality of nozzle openings 7b are formed in the nozzle plate 7a. An actuator 7c composed of a piezoelectric vibrator is arranged corresponding to the nozzle opening 7b. An ink communication flow path 7d is formed in the head case 71 from the nozzle opening 7b and the actuator 7c to the upper part.
[0031]
On the upper surface of the head case 71, four hollow needles 21 as ink supply units are arranged in an upright state, and each of the ink communication flow paths 7d formed in the head case 71 is provided with a corresponding one of the hollow needles. The ink passage 21 communicates with the ink passage. Note that the peripheral configuration in which the four hollow needles 21 and the filter member 22 are arranged is the same, and this is as described above with reference to FIG. 9. Detailed description is omitted.
[0032]
The ink supply needle 21 at the left end in FIG. 2 is for supplying black ink, and is configured so that the black ink cartridge 8 can be loaded from above in the direction of arrow B toward the ink supply needle 21. I have.
[0033]
The upper part of the black ink cartridge 8 is formed in an ink storage chamber 8a. The ink storage chamber 8a contains a porous member 8b, and the porous member 8b is impregnated with black ink. Ink is stored. An opening 8c is formed in the lower portion of the ink storage chamber 8a, and a rubber sealing member 8d is fitted in the opening 8c. A film member 8e is attached to the lower end of the opening 8c, and is sealed so that the ink solvent inside does not volatilize during storage of the cartridge.
[0034]
When the cartridge 8 is pushed in the direction of arrow B as shown in FIG. 2, the ink supply needle 21 penetrates the film member 8e, and the rubber seal member 8d mounted on the cartridge 8 moves the ink supply needle The cartridge 8 is connected to the periphery of the cartridge 21 so as to be loaded. Then, ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 8 to the recording head side through an ink lead-out hole 21a formed at the tip of the ink supply needle 21.
[0035]
On the other hand, the color ink cartridge 9 is formed with ink storage chambers for individually storing the yellow, cyan, and magenta color inks as shown in FIG. 2, and these are integrally formed. This is the same as the above-described black ink cartridge 8, and therefore, detailed description of each configuration is omitted.
[0036]
Also in the color ink cartridge 9, when the color ink cartridge 9 is pushed in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 2, the remaining three ink supply needles 21 established on the head case 71 of the recording head are set in the loaded state. Is supplied to the recording head side.
[0037]
Next, FIG. 3 shows a connection jig used when filling the recording head and an ink flow path leading to the recording head with a filling liquid at the time of shipping of the recording apparatus, and capping for sealing the nozzle plate of the recording head. It shows the peripheral configuration including the means. The configuration of the head case 71 of the recording head is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 2, and therefore, the same portions are denoted by the same reference characters, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0038]
The connection jig 31 is fitted to each of the four ink supply needles 21 disposed on the upper part of the head case 71, and fills the recording head 7 and the ink flow path leading to the recording head with a filling liquid, preferably a dye. It is configured to be able to fill the product liquid not containing. That is, openings 31a are formed at positions corresponding to the four ink supply needles 21 on the lower surface of the connection jig 31, and a rubber seal member 31b is fitted into the openings 31a. .
[0039]
This configuration is substantially the same as that of the above-described ink cartridge. By pressing the integrally formed connection jig 31 from above the head case 71, the four inks arranged above the head case 71 are formed. The rubber sealing members 31b are respectively joined to the supply needles 21 so that the jig 31 can be attached to the head case 71.
[0040]
A communication hole 31c communicating with each opening 31a is formed in the connection jig 31, and one end of the filling liquid supply tube 32 is connected to an upper portion of each communication hole 31c. The filling liquid supply tubes 32 are integrated into one by an integration path 33 and connected to a filling liquid supply tank 35 via a supply tube 34. As described later, when the recording apparatus is shipped, the inside of the tank 35 The recording liquid is stored in the recording head through the supply tube 34 and the respective filling liquid supply tubes 32. An openable and closable valve unit 37 that can stop the flow of the filling liquid is disposed at a part of the supply tube 34, that is, at an intermediate portion of the supply tube 34.
[0041]
On the other hand, the capping means 10 includes a rectangular cap case 10a having an open upper surface, and a cap member 10b made of a flexible substance such as a rubber material stored in the cap case 10a. The upper edge is formed so as to slightly protrude from the cap case 10a. An ink absorbing material 10c formed of a porous material is accommodated in the inner bottom of the cap member 10b.
[0042]
In addition, a suction port 10d and an air opening port 10e are formed in the lower bottom portion of the cap case 10a so as to penetrate the cap case 10a and the cap member 10b, respectively. A suction pump 11 is connected to a suction port 10d of the cap case 10a via a tube T1, and a discharge side of the suction pump 11 is connected to a waste ink tank 13. Further, an atmosphere opening valve 14 is connected to the atmosphere opening port 10e of the cap case 10a via a tube T2.
[0043]
FIG. 4 shows an example of a control circuit mounted on the recording apparatus having the above-described configuration. In FIG. 4, the recording head 7, the capping means 10, the suction pump 11, the waste ink tank 13, the atmosphere release valve 14, and the valve unit 37, which have already been described, are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0044]
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 40 denotes a print control unit, which generates bitmap data based on print data from a host computer of the printing apparatus, generates a drive signal by a head drive unit 41 based on the data, and performs printing. The ink is ejected from the head 7. The head drive unit 41 receives a flushing command signal from the flushing control unit 42 and outputs a drive signal for a flushing operation to the recording head 7 in addition to the drive signal based on the print data. Is also configured to be able to perform idle discharge.
[0045]
Reference numeral 43 denotes a cleaning control unit. The pump driving unit 44 operates according to a command from the cleaning control unit 43, and the suction pump 11 as a negative pressure generating unit is driven and controlled.
[0046]
The cleaning control unit 43 is configured to be supplied with a command signal from the print control unit 40, the cleaning command detection unit (CL command detection unit) 45, and the sequence control unit 47. A command switch 46 is connected to the cleaning command detecting means 45. When the user pushes the switch 46, the command detecting means 45 is operated to execute a manual cleaning operation. Have been.
[0047]
On the other hand, the sequence control means 47 is configured to be able to send control signals to the valve opening / closing means 48 and the backflow pump driving means 49 arranged outside the recording apparatus. The valve opening / closing means 48 and the backflow pump driving means 49 are used together with the connection jig 31 shown in FIG. 3, and are driven at the time of product liquid filling at the time of product shipment.
[0048]
The valve opening / closing means 48 receives a command from the sequence control means 47, and sends a valve opening and closing command signal to the valve unit 37. In response to a command from the control means 47, a drive signal for a backflow pump unit to be described later is transmitted.
[0049]
In the above configuration, an operation of filling the recording head with the filling liquid and an operation of discharging the air bubbles performed at the time of shipping the recording apparatus will be described. In performing the filling operation of the filling liquid into the recording head, first, as shown in FIG. 3, an operation of fitting the connecting jig 31 to each hollow needle 21 arranged on the upper surface of the head case 71 is performed. You. Then, a command is input to the sequence control circuit 47 shown in FIG. 4 via the host computer of the recording apparatus. Here, the sequence control circuit 47 sends a command to the valve opening / closing means 48, whereby the valve unit 37 is opened. It is said.
[0050]
Then, the recording head 7 mounted on the carriage is moved to the home position, and a part of the carriage is engaged with a part of the capping means 10 accordingly, whereby the capping means 10 is raised to the recording head 7 side. As shown in FIG. 3, the cap member 10b of the capping means 10 seals the nozzle plate 7a of the recording head 7. At the same time, the atmosphere opening valve 14 connected to the atmosphere opening port 10e of the capping means 10 is also closed.
[0051]
Subsequently, the sequence control circuit 47 sends a command to the cleaning control unit 43, and the cleaning control unit 43 controls the pump driving unit 44 to drive the suction pump 11 accordingly. Accordingly, a negative pressure is applied to the internal space of the cap member 10b by the driving of the suction pump 11, and the filling liquid (delivery liquid) 36 stored in the filling liquid supply tank 35 is supplied to the supply tube 34, the integration path 33 and The recording head is sucked through the filling liquid supply tube 32 into the recording head and an ink flow path leading to the recording head, whereby the filling liquid is filled. Although the filling liquid is filled in this manner, in most cases, as shown in FIG. 9A, air bubbles A remain particularly in the space on the upstream side of the filter member 22.
[0052]
In this state, the sequence control circuit 47 sends a command to the valve opening / closing means 48, whereby the valve opening / closing means 48 closes the valve unit 37. When the valve unit 37 is closed in this way, the internal space of the cap member 10b constituting the capping unit 10 and the suction path of the tube T1 reaching the suction pump 11 are contracted by the driving of the suction pump 11. And negative pressure is accumulated more and more.
[0053]
In this state, the sequence control circuit 47 sends a command to the valve opening / closing means 48, whereby the valve opening / closing means 48 opens the valve unit 37. By opening the valve unit 37, the filling liquid filled in the recording head and the ink flow path leading to the recording head flows into the cap member 10b at a high speed. The flow speed at this time is much higher than the speed at which ink is sucked by the suction pump 11 in a so-called head cleaning operation. Therefore, the flow of the filling liquid at a high speed causes a space especially on the upstream side of the filter member 22. The air bubbles A remaining in 21b are discharged to the cap member 10b side.
[0054]
FIG. 5 schematically shows this state. The bubbles A adhere to the upper surface of the filter member 22 as shown in FIG. 5A due to the high-speed flow of the filling liquid toward the cap member 10b. As shown in FIG. 5B, the ink passes through the filter member 22, enters the ink flow path, passes through the recording head, and is discharged toward the cap member 10b. In this case, the minute bubbles remaining in the ink flow path formed in the recording head are also discharged at the same time. As a result, all or most of the bubbles in the recording head and the ink flow path leading to the recording head are discharged and filled with the filling liquid.
[0055]
On the other hand, FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the connection jig used when filling the recording head and the ink flow path leading to the recording head with a filling liquid at the time of shipping the recording apparatus. The basic configuration of the device shown in FIG. 6 is substantially the same as that of FIG. 3, and therefore, the same portions are denoted by the same reference characters and detailed description thereof will not be repeated.
[0056]
The example shown in FIG. 6 includes a pump unit (hereinafter also referred to as a backflow pump) 61 for generating a backflow to the filling liquid supply tube. The backflow pump 61 is configured to be driven and controlled by the backflow pump driving means 49 shown in FIG.
[0057]
An operation of filling the recording head with the filling liquid and an operation of discharging bubbles performed at the time of shipping the recording apparatus having this configuration will be described. That is, as described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a command is input to the sequence control circuit 47 shown in FIG. 4 via the host computer of the printing apparatus for the filling operation of the printing head with the filling liquid. The sequence control circuit 47 sends a command to the valve opening / closing means 48, whereby the valve opening / closing means 48 is opened.
[0058]
Then, the capping unit 10 moves to the recording head 7 side, and the cap member 10b of the capping unit 10 seals the nozzle plate 7a of the recording head 7. At the same time, the atmosphere opening valve 14 connected to the atmosphere opening port 10e of the capping means 10 is also closed.
[0059]
Subsequently, the sequence control circuit 47 sends a command to the cleaning control unit 43, and the cleaning control unit 43 controls the pump driving unit 44 to drive the suction pump 11 accordingly. Accordingly, a negative pressure is applied to the internal space of the cap member 10b by the driving of the suction pump 11, and the filling liquid 36 stored in the filling liquid supply tank 35 is supplied to the supply tube 34, the integration path 33, and each of the filling liquid supply tubes 32. Is sucked into the recording head and an ink flow path leading to the recording head through the nozzle, whereby the filling liquid is filled.
[0060]
In this state, the atmosphere opening valve 14 is opened, and the sequence control circuit 47 sends a command to the valve opening / closing means 48, whereby the valve opening / closing means 48 closes the valve unit 37. At the same time, the sequence control circuit 47 sends a command to the backflow pump driving means 49, whereby the backflow pump 61 is driven. Therefore, it acts so as to suck up the filling liquid from the recording head side through the filling liquid supply tube 34, the integration path 33, and each filling liquid supply tube 32. At this time, air bubbles existing in the recording head and the ink flow path leading to the recording head move together with the filled liquid and are discharged in the direction of arrow D.
[0061]
FIG. 7 schematically shows this state. In particular, when the ink flow path formed in the hollow needle 21 and the filter member 22 are arranged in the direction of gravity, the filter member The bubbles A remaining on the upstream side of the nozzle 22 move to the upper end in the hollow needle 21 due to the backflow of the filling liquid, and are discharged through the ink outlet hole 21a.
[0062]
FIG. 8 shows a state in which each of the hollow needles 21 as the ink supply unit is sealed after performing the filling liquid filling process and the bubble discharging process using the connecting jig shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. The state which kept the state is shown. That is, the recording device is shipped in each mode shown in FIG.
[0063]
First, FIG. 8 (a) uses a bottomed tubular sealing member 51 that seals the distal end of the hollow needle 21 along the outer periphery of the tubular body. The sealing member 51 is formed of a flexible material, and is fitted to the outer periphery of the hollow needle 21 so that the sealed state can be maintained.
[0064]
FIG. 8B shows an example applied to a case where the opening position of the ink outlet hole 21a formed in the hollow needle 21 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical body of the hollow needle 21. In this case, FIG. , A tubular flexible sealing member 52 having both ends opened is used. The tubular member 52 is fitted along the outer periphery of the cylindrical body of the hollow needle 21 and the ink formed on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical body. The outlet hole 21a is configured to be sealed.
[0065]
FIG. 8C shows an example in which a liquid material having a high viscosity and a low volatility is applied from the distal end of the hollow needle 21 along the outer periphery of the cylindrical body, thereby forming the sealing member 53. . In this case, by using a composition dissolvable in the printing ink used in the recording apparatus, for example, glycerin, as the liquid substance, the sealing member is dissolved in the ink with the mounting of the ink cartridge when the apparatus is used. Acts to automatically stop the function as.
[0066]
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a cartridge (sealed container) having the same form as the ink cartridge is prepared, a deaerated filling liquid (delivery liquid) is sealed in the cartridge, and fitted to each hollow needle 21. The sealing member can also be configured by setting the state. In this case, since the filling liquid in the cartridge has been degassed, it is possible to prevent air bubbles from entering from the outside and to dissolve even small bubbles existing in the hollow needle 21 in the filling liquid. The unique effect that it can be eliminated can be obtained.
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the recording head and the ink flow path leading to the recording head are filled with the filling liquid in a state where bubbles are eliminated, and the ink supply to the recording head is performed. Since the filling state of the filling liquid is maintained by the sealing member that seals the portion, at the time of initial filling when the ink cartridge is loaded, a state in which no residual bubbles exist in the ink flow path, Can be changed from the filling liquid to the printing ink in a state where the amount of the ink is very small. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the problem of poor printing due to bubbles existing in the ink flow path when using the printing apparatus, and to improve the printing reliability of the printing apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main body of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where an ink cartridge is mounted on a recording head mounted on the recording apparatus illustrated in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a connection jig for filling a filling liquid into an ink flow path of a recording head and a peripheral configuration thereof when the recording apparatus is shipped.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a control circuit provided in the recording apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a bubble discharging state performed by the configuration shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a connection jig for filling a filling liquid into an ink flow path of a recording head and a peripheral configuration thereof when the recording apparatus is shipped.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a bubble discharging state performed by the configuration shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a sealed state of a hollow needle portion subjected to a bubble discharging process.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship between a suction state of ink and a residual bubble.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 carriage
6 Recording paper
7 Ink jet recording head
8 Black ink cartridge
9 Ink cartridge for color
10 Capping means
11 Suction pump (negative pressure generating means)
14 Atmospheric release valve
21 Ink supply needle (ink supply section)
22 Filter member
31 Connection jig
31b Seal member 31b
32 Filling liquid supply tube
35 Filling liquid supply tank
36 Filling liquid
37 Valve unit
51 Bottomed cylindrical sealing member
52 tubular sealing member
53 Viscous liquid sealing member
71 Head Case
A residual air bubbles

Claims (2)

An ink jet recording apparatus equipped with an ink jet recording head that is mounted on a carriage that moves in the width direction of a recording sheet and ejects ink droplets from nozzle openings,
The recording head and an ink flow path leading to the recording head are filled with a filling liquid while air bubbles are eliminated, and the filling state of the filling liquid is maintained by a sealing member that seals an ink supply unit for the recording head. So that
An ink supply unit for the recording head is a hollow ink supply needle joined to an ink cartridge,
The sealing member is a liquid substance having a high viscosity and a low volatility, which is adhered along the outer periphery of the cylindrical body from the tip of the hollow ink supply needle,
The liquid material forming the sealing member, the recording apparatus dissolvable composition der Louis ink jet recording apparatus in printing ink used for. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a filling liquid filled in the recording head and an ink flow path leading to the recording head is a dye-free delivery liquid. 3.

Images