JP3603623B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an ink jet recording head and a tank unit for supplying ink to the recording head are mounted on a carriage moving in the width direction of the recording paper, and ink droplets are ejected onto the recording paper in accordance with print data. The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that records an image.
[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 is generally provided with an ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage and moving in the width direction of the recording paper, and a paper feeding unit for moving the recording paper relatively to the recording head, Recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets onto the recording paper while moving the recording head in the width direction of the recording paper on the carriage.
[0003]
On a common carriage, for example, a black recording head that ejects black ink, and a color recording head that can eject yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are mounted. By changing the ink ejection ratio, full-color printing is possible. Further, in recent years, in order to improve print quality in color printing, an ink jet recording apparatus using six color inks of dark magenta, light magenta, dark cyan, light cyan, yellow, and black has also been provided. .
[0004]
On the other hand, in this type of recording apparatus provided for office use or business use, it is necessary to provide a large-capacity ink cartridge in order to cope with a large amount of printing. For this reason, a main tank unit as an ink cartridge is required. Are provided on both sides of the apparatus, for example. Then, a sub-tank unit is arranged on a carriage on which the recording head is mounted, ink is sequentially supplied from the main tank unit to each sub-tank unit via an ink supply tube, and each sub-tank unit supplies a recording head. It is configured to supply ink.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Incidentally, in the above-described sub-tank unit of the recording apparatus, in order to stably supply each ink to the recording head, for example, an ink amount adjusting unit for storing a fixed amount of ink in the sub-tank unit may be arranged. It is considered.
[0006]
FIG. 12 shows an example thereof. The case member 50a having the side surface and the bottom surface constituting the sub tank unit 50 is formed of a resin such as polypropylene. A connection port 50c for connecting an ink supply tube to the main tank unit and a tube connection port 50d for supplying ink to the recording head are formed in the lid 50b that closes the case member 50a from above. At the same time, a float 50e as an ink amount adjusting means for storing a fixed amount of ink in the sub-tank unit is rotatably mounted on a back surface of the lid 50b via a support shaft 50f.
[0007]
The lid 50b thus configured is formed of, for example, a resin such as polypropylene, and a projection 50g having a triangular cross section is provided on the lower surface of the lid 50b corresponding to the upper opening edge of the case member 50a. Have been. Then, in order to attach the lid 50b to the opening edge of the case member 50a in a sealed state, generally, a joining means by vibration welding or ultrasonic welding is used, and a projection 50g having a triangular cross section formed on the lower surface of the lid 50b. Is melted to attach to the case member 50a.
[0008]
By the way, in the case of using the joining means by, for example, vibration welding as described above, a large vibration is applied to the lid 50b, whereby the float 50e and the like formed on the back surface of the lid 50b are also vibrated. Is transmitted. As a result, there arises a problem that a malfunction occurs in the function of the ink amount adjusting means constituted by the float 50e. Moreover, after the lid 50b is welded to the case member 50a by vibration welding or ultrasonic welding, it is difficult to check the internal state of the lid 50b, and the lid 50b is mounted on a product while having a defect. There is a fear. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that does not cause the above-described problems during, for example, assembling and manufacturing a sub-tank unit. Is what you do.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem, and a recording head mounted on a carriage and reciprocally driven in the width direction of recording paper, and a tank unit mounted on the carriage and supplying ink to the recording head An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a tank unit, a case member having an opening at a lower portion and forming an upper surface portion and a side surface portion, and one end supported by the upper surface portion and the other end positioned at a liquid surface of the ink. An ink amount adjusting means for correspondingly rotating and storing a predetermined amount of ink in the ink storage space; and heat welding to a lower edge of the case member so as to seal the case member and form an ink storage space therein. It is desirable that the sealing resin member is formed.
In this case, the tank unit may be a sub-tank unit that receives ink supply from the main tank unit via an ink supply tube and supplies ink to the recording head. And a supply port for supplying ink to the recording head.
Here, the sealing resin member is desirably provided with a gas barrier layer.
Note that a flat reinforcing member may be integrally joined to the lower surface of the sealing resin member in advance, and the flat reinforcing member is joined in advance so as to avoid the heat-welded portion of the sealing resin member. You may.
In addition, a step is formed on the inner peripheral surface at the lower edge of the case member, and a flat reinforcing member is arranged along the step, and the sealing resin member is thermally welded at the lower edge of the case member. The plate-shaped reinforcing member may be integrally joined to the sealing resin member in advance.
[0015]
Further, the locked portion of the flat reinforcing member is formed on the outer peripheral surface at the lower edge of the case member, and the sealing resin member is joined at the lower edge of the case member by heat welding. A configuration may also be adopted in which the flat reinforcing member is engaged with the locked portion so that the lower resin member is covered from below. It is preferable that the sealing resin member is made of a transparent material. Further, when a flat reinforcing member is used in combination, it is preferable that the flat reinforcing member is also made of a transparent material.
[0016]
According to the ink jet recording apparatus configured as described above, for example, a case member that forms an upper surface portion and a side surface portion as a sub-tank unit, and a sealing member that seals the case member by heat welding means at a lower edge of the case member. Since it is composed of the resin member, it is possible to avoid a problem that, for example, an obstacle to the ink amount adjusting means disposed in the sub-tank unit at the time of assembling and manufacturing the sub-tank unit.
[0017]
Preferably, the flat reinforcing member is used in combination with the sealing resin member so that the flat reinforcing member is joined to or attached to the sealing resin member, thereby reinforcing the brittle sealing resin member. Therefore, the mechanical reliability of the sub tank unit can be improved.
[0018]
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 top view showing an example of a recording apparatus 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 so as to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction of the paper feed member 5. On the surface of the carriage 1 facing the recording paper, a first recording head 7 and a second recording head 8 are mounted side by side in the moving direction of the carriage 1.
[0019]
On the upper surface of the carriage 1, sub-tank units 10 and 11 for supplying ink to the first and second recording heads 7 and 8 are mounted. With respect to the sub-tank units 10 and 11, dark magenta, black magenta, and the like are respectively provided from six main ink supply tubes 9, 9, 9,... It is configured to supply light magenta, dark cyan, light cyan, yellow, and black inks.
[0020]
Further, a capping device 12 for sealing the nozzle plates of the recording heads 7, 8 is disposed in a non-printing area on the moving path of the recording heads 7, 8. When the carriage 1 moves to the non-printing area, that is, the right end in the drawing, the capping device 12 moves upward following the movement of the carriage 1 to seal the nozzle forming surfaces of the recording heads 7 and 8. A pair of cap units 16 and 17 for stopping are provided.
[0021]
Although not shown in the drawing, one ends of the tubes 21 and 22 of the suction pump (tube pump) 20 are connected to the internal spaces of the cap units 16 and 17, respectively. The other ends of 21 and 22 are connected to waste ink tanks 23 and 24 containing waste liquid absorbing materials 25 and 26, respectively.
[0022]
Further, on the printing area side adjacent to the capping device 12, a cleaning unit provided with a wiping blade 28 that elastically contacts the nozzle forming surfaces of the recording heads 7 and 8 that move as the carriage 1 is driven and wipes the nozzle forming surfaces. 29 are arranged. The wiping blade 28 of the cleaning unit 29 is arranged so as to be able to advance and retreat in the horizontal direction on the moving path of the recording heads 7 and 8 by the power of a driving source for driving the suction pump 20.
[0023]
In the above configuration, the cleaning sequence of the recording head is executed when the power is turned on after the recording apparatus has been stopped for a predetermined time or longer, or when the user operates a cleaning operation switch (not shown). The outline of this cleaning sequence is as follows. First, the carriage 1 moves to the capping device 12 side arranged in the non-printing area, and the cap units 16 and 17 are raised by the movement of the carriage 1 to form the nozzles of the recording heads 7 and 8. The surface is sealed by the cap units 16 and 17.
[0024]
When the suction pump 20 is operated in this state, a negative pressure is applied to the internal space of the cap units 16 and 17, whereby the thickened ink is sucked from the recording heads 7 and 8. The ink discharged into the cap units 16 and 17 in this manner is discharged from the cap units 16 and 17 to the waste ink tanks 23 and 24 by the operation of the suction pump 20 which is driven again.
[0025]
After the thickened ink is sucked and discharged from the recording head in this way, the recording head passes over the wiping blade 28 with the movement of the carriage, and the nozzle forming surface is wiped by the wiping blade 28, Cleaning sequence ends.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the sub-tank units 10 and 11 to be loaded in the ink jet recording apparatus thus configured. The same number of the sub-tank units are arranged so as to correspond to the types of ink handled in the recording apparatus, but all have substantially the same structure. As shown in FIG. 2, the sub-tank unit 10 forms an ink storage space 10c therein by sealing a case member 10a forming an upper surface portion and a side surface portion and the case member 10a at a lower edge of the case member 10a. And a sealing resin member 10b.
[0027]
The case member 10a is formed of, for example, a resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. A connection port 10d for connecting the ink supply tube 9 to the main tank unit is provided on an upper surface of the case member 10a. And a float 10f serving as an ink amount adjusting means for storing a fixed amount of ink in the sub tank unit is rotatably mounted via a support shaft 10g. Have been.
[0028]
On the other hand, the sealing resin member 10b is made of, for example, a film material such as polypropylene. The lower edge of the case member 10a receives heat from a heat source pressed in the direction of arrow A from below. Then, the welding protrusion 10h formed on the lower edge of the case member 10a is melted to be thermally welded to the case member 10a.
[0029]
As described above, the sealing resin member 10b is thermally welded to the lower edge of the case member 10a, thereby causing a malfunction in a function such as the float 10f attached to the case member 10a via the support shaft 10g. Without forming a sub-tank unit.
[0030]
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the sub-tank unit, which is an enlarged sectional view of a portion corresponding to the lower edge of the case member 10a in FIG. In the second embodiment, a plate-shaped reinforcing member 10i integrally joined in advance to the lower surface of the sealing resin member 10b is used. As the reinforcing member 10i, for example, an aluminum plate, a stainless plate, or a film material of polyethylene terephthalate is used.
[0031]
In this case, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the sealing resin member 10b and the reinforcing member 10i, which have been joined together in advance by receiving heat from the direction of arrow A, are attached to the lower edge of the case member 10a. Heat welded. According to this embodiment, since the sealing resin member 10b can be handled in a state of being joined to the reinforcing member 10i in advance, the handling can be facilitated, and the presence of the reinforcing member 10i allows the mechanism of the sub tank unit to be handled. Reliability can also be improved.
[0032]
FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the sub-tank unit, and is an enlarged sectional view of a portion corresponding to the lower edge of the case member 10a, similarly to FIG. In the third embodiment, a step 10j is previously formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lower edge of the case member 10a, and the edge of the flat reinforcing member 10i is inserted along the step 10j. You. Then, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the sealing resin member 10b is heat-welded to the lower edge of the case member 10a by being heated in the direction of arrow A.
[0033]
FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the sub-tank unit, and is an enlarged sectional view of a portion corresponding to the lower edge of the case member 10a, similarly to FIG. In the fourth embodiment, a member in which a sealing resin member 10b is integrally joined to a reinforcing member 10i in advance is used as compared with the embodiment shown in FIG. Then, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the sealing resin member 10b is thermally welded to the lower edge of the case member 10a by being heated in the direction of arrow A.
[0034]
In this case, for example, a metal material is used as the reinforcing member 10i, and the portion of the reinforcing member 10i corresponding to the step 10j is etched so that the edge of the reinforcing member 10i enters the step 10j formed in the case member 10a. Means such as removal by processing are used.
[0035]
FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment of the sub-tank unit, which is an enlarged sectional view of a portion corresponding to the lower edge of the case member 10a, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. I have. The form shown in FIG. 6 is preferably used when the reinforcing member 10i is relatively thick, and the flat reinforcing member 10i is integrally joined in advance while avoiding the heat-welded portion of the sealing resin member 10b. Things are used.
[0036]
Then, the resin member 10b for sealing is thermally welded to the lower edge of the case member 10a by receiving the heating in the direction of arrow A. Also in this case, for example, a metal material is used as the reinforcing member 10i, and a means such as removing an edge of the reinforcing member 10i by etching so as to avoid a heat-welded portion is used. According to this embodiment, since the reinforcing member 10i is formed so as to avoid the heat-welded portion, the sealing resin member 10b can be connected to the lower edge of the case member 10a without being affected by the relatively thick reinforcing member 10i. Can be thermally welded.
[0037]
FIG. 7 shows a sixth embodiment of the sub-tank unit. In this embodiment, the locked portion 10k of the flat reinforcing member is previously formed on the inner peripheral surface at the lower edge of the case member 10a. Have been. Then, by engaging the locking portion 10m formed on the edge of the reinforcing member 10i with the locked portion 10k, the reinforcing member 10i is first fixed to the lower edge of the case member 10a. . Subsequently, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4, the sealing resin member 10b is thermally welded to the lower edge of the case member 10a by receiving heat from the direction of arrow A.
[0038]
FIG. 8 shows a seventh embodiment of the sub-tank unit, which is an enlarged sectional view of a portion corresponding to the lower edge of the case member 10a in the embodiment shown in FIG. . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, in a state where the flat reinforcing member 10i is engaged with the locked portion 10k, the sealing resin is provided on the lower surface of the reinforcing member 10i and the lower edge of the case member. The members 10b are joined by means of heat welding.
[0039]
That is, a welding protrusion 10n is also formed on the lower side surface of the reinforcing member 10i, similarly to the case member 10a, and the sealing resin member 10b receives heat from the directions of the arrows A1 and A2 so that the sealing resin member 10b is connected to the reinforcing member 10i. It is thermally welded to the lower surface and the lower edge of the case member 10a.
[0040]
FIG. 9 shows an eighth embodiment of the sub-tank unit, which has the same configuration as the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, and shows an example in which heat welding is performed twice. That is, the sealing resin member 10b is first joined to the lower surface of the reinforcing member 10i by the heat welding means as shown by the arrow A1. Subsequently, the reinforcing member 10i to which the sealing resin member 10b is joined is engaged with the lower edge of the case member as shown by an arrow B by using the locked portion 10k so as to be in a dashed line. Let it. Subsequently, the sealing resin member 10b is joined to the lower edge of the case member 10a by heat welding as indicated by an arrow A2.
[0041]
FIG. 10 shows a ninth embodiment of the sub-tank unit, in which the sealing resin member is joined to the lower edge of the case member by means of heat welding, and the sealing resin member is removed. The flat reinforcing member is engaged with the case member so as to cover the lower surface thereof. That is, FIG. 10A is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 already described, and the sealing resin member 10b is joined by the heat welding means as shown by the arrow A at the lower edge of the case member 10a. .
[0042]
On the other hand, a locked portion 10p of the reinforcing member is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower edge of the case member 10a. A locking portion 10r that engages with the locked portion 10p is formed on the flat reinforcing member 10i. Then, as shown by an arrow B in FIG. 10 (b), the locking portion 10p of the reinforcing member 10i is attached to the case member 10b so as to cover from below the sealing resin member 10b thermally welded to the lower edge of the case member 10a. By engaging the locked portion 10p of the member 10a, the reinforcing member 10i is configured to be engaged with the case member 10a.
[0043]
In the embodiment described above, since the sealing resin member 10b and the plate-shaped reinforcing member 10i are made of a transparent material, the inside can be checked even after assembling the sub-tank unit. It is possible to prevent the product from being mounted on a product while having a defect such as adjusting means. Further, in order to prevent moisture evaporation and gas permeation from the sealing resin member 10b, a barrier layer 10s can be applied to the sealing resin member 10b by means such as vapor deposition as shown in FIG.
[0044]
In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the sub tank unit that receives ink supply from the main tank unit via the ink supply tube and supplies ink to the recording head. The invention can be similarly applied to a replacement ink cartridge removably mounted on a carriage.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the case member forming the upper surface portion and the side surface portion, and the sealing member for sealing the case member at the lower edge of the case member by the heat welding means. Since the tank unit is constituted by the stopping resin member, unnecessary shock is not applied at the time of assembling and manufacturing the tank unit, so that an obstacle is given to, for example, the ink amount adjusting means disposed in the tank unit. Problem can be avoided.
[0046]
In addition, it is possible to reinforce the fragile sealing resin member by using the plate-shaped reinforcing member together and arranging the plate-shaped reinforcing member in a state of being joined or attached to the sealing resin member. Thus, the mechanical reliability of the sub tank unit can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a top view showing an example of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a sub tank unit mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the sub-tank unit mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing a third embodiment of a sub-tank unit mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of a sub tank unit mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the sub tank unit mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a sixth embodiment of the sub tank unit mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view showing a seventh embodiment of the sub-tank unit mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an eighth embodiment of the sub-tank unit mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a ninth embodiment of a sub-tank unit mounted on the recording apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a sealing resin member provided with a barrier layer.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a lid is joined to a case member using a conventional joining means by vibration welding.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 carriage 2 carriage motor 7, 8 recording head 9 ink supply tube 10, 11 sub tank unit 10a case member 10b sealing resin member 10c ink storage space 10f float (ink amount adjusting means)
10h, 10n Welding projection 10i Flat reinforcing member 10j Step 10k, 10p Locked part 10m, 10r Locked part 10s Barrier layer 12 Capping device 16, 17 Cap unit 20 Suction pump 21, 22, Tube 23, 24 Waste ink Tank 25, 26 Waste liquid absorbing material

Claims (11)

An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a recording head mounted on a carriage and reciprocally driven in a width direction of recording paper; and a tank unit mounted on the carriage and supplying ink to the recording head.
The tank unit has an opening at a lower portion and forms an upper surface and a side surface. An ink amount adjusting means for storing a predetermined amount of ink, and a sealing resin member which is thermally welded to a lower edge of the case member so as to seal the case member and form an ink storage space therein. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tank unit is a sub-tank unit that receives supply of ink from a main tank unit via an ink supply tube and supplies ink to the recording head. 3. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a connection port for the ink supply tube and a supply port for supplying ink to the recording head, on an upper surface of the case of the sub tank unit. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a gas barrier layer is provided on the sealing resin member. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plate-shaped reinforcing member is integrally joined to a lower surface of the sealing resin member in advance. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plate-like reinforcing member is integrally joined in advance so as to avoid a heat-welded portion of the sealing resin member. A step is formed on the inner peripheral surface at the lower edge of the case member, and a flat reinforcing member is arranged along the step, and the sealing resin member is heat-welded at the lower edge of the case member. 5. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ink jet recording apparatus is joined by means. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the flat reinforcing member is integrally joined to the sealing resin member in advance. The locked portion of the flat reinforcing member is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower edge of the case member, and the sealing resin member is joined to the lower edge of the case member by heat welding. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the flat reinforcing member is engaged with the locked portion so as to cover the stopping resin member from the lower surface thereof. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing resin member is made of a transparent material. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sealing resin member and the flat reinforcing member are made of a transparent material.

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