JP4328507B2 - Recording head and seal member - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording head in which an ink tank is detachably used for an ink jet recording apparatus, and in particular, a seal member for sealing the periphery of an ink supply pipe at a joint portion between the ink tank and the recording head, and a small size having the same This relates to the recording head.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many ink jet recording apparatuses used as printers or the like have a system in which an ink tank is in the form of a cartridge and is easily replaced. Thereby, replenishment of ink becomes easy, and advantages such as the ability to relatively reduce the running cost of printing can be obtained.
[0003]
5A and 5B are perspective views illustrating an example of a configuration in which a plurality of ink tanks are mounted on the recording head unit, and FIGS. 6A and 6B are a plurality of inks illustrated in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows a mounting state taking the ink tank 111 of the tanks 111-114 as an example. As shown in FIGS. 5B and 6B, when the ink tank 111 is attached to the recording head unit 301, the ink supply port 211 of the ink tank 111 is connected to the joint portion 204 of the recording head unit 301. Through this, ink is supplied into the recording head 102. In this configuration, there is a flexible member 130 having a first claw 132 on the bottom side on one side of the ink tank 111 and a second claw 131 on the opposite side. The first claw 132 corresponds to the first engagement hole 242 of the recording head unit 301, and the second claw 131 corresponds to the second engagement hole 241 of the recording head unit 301. When the ink tank 111 is attached to the recording head unit 301, the first claw 132 is engaged with the first engagement hole 242, the second claw 131 is engaged with the second engagement hole 241, An ink tank 111 is held in the recording head unit 301. Since the seal rubber 207 is disposed around the joint portion 204, the ink supply port 211 of the ink tank 111 may come into contact with the seal rubber 207 while pressing the seal rubber 207 in a state where the ink tank 111 is attached to the recording head unit 301. it can. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent ink leakage and ink evaporation through the connecting portion in a state where the ink tank is mounted.
[0004]
As described above, in an ink jet recording apparatus, a seal rubber for preventing evaporation of ink is generally used for a joint portion formed with respect to ink supply or the like. The seal rubber for such a use is reasonable in that the ink can be prevented from evaporating by securing airtightness such as a connecting portion between the ink tank and the recording head at a low cost.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since ink is structurally present in the joint part, ink sticks to the seal rubber and the ink tank sticks to the seal rubber. When the ink tank is removed, the seal rubber comes off from the joint part together with the ink tank. There is. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7B, the seal rubber 208 is partially enlarged, fixed there by the crimping portion 291, and the seal rubber 208 is removed by the operation of removing the ink tank 115 shown in FIGS. 7A to 7B. Detachment can be prevented. However, this configuration increases the size of the seal rubber 208 and is not suitable for downsizing the recording head. Moreover, since a caulking process is added, it is disadvantageous in cost.
[0006]
In addition, the joint part is generally cylindrical, and it is possible to prevent the seal rubber from coming off by increasing the length of the cylinder. It is not suitable for downsizing the head.
[0007]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a seal structure that is suitable for reducing the size of the recording head itself by detaching the ink tank in view of the actual situation described above, and that can prevent the seal rubber from coming off at the joint between the ink tank and the recording head. It is to provide a recording head having.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a discharge unit for discharging a liquid, a head holder on which a liquid storage container having a supply port is detachably mounted, and is inserted into the supply port when the liquid storage container is mounted. a supply pipe to be, in a recording head and a seal rubber which deforms the liquid container and in contact with when the liquid container is provided is mounted around the supply tube,
The sealing rubber is first lip and said liquid container and the liquid container is provided so as to abut on the head holder is mounted to abut the said liquid container when the liquid container is mounted A second lip having a longer contact circumference with the head holder than when not mounted, and a third lip contacting the head holder between the supply pipe and the second lip When the liquid storage container is attached, the seal rubber is deformed and the volume of the space formed by the head holder, the second lip, and the third lip is attached to the liquid storage container. It is characterized by being smaller than the volume when not present.
[0013]
The seal member may be ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber or butyl rubber.
[0015]
In the invention configured as described above, the volume of the space sandwiched between the second lip and the third lip of the seal member and the recording head when the liquid storage container is mounted on the recording head. The volume before the liquid container is mounted is reduced. For this reason, when the liquid container is removed from the recording head, the space is restored to its original shape by the reaction force of the seal member made of rubber, and the interior of the space is depressurized from the atmospheric pressure. It becomes a space and generates an attracting force against the recording head like a suction cup. Therefore, even if the sealing member is structurally attached to the liquid storage container, it is possible to prevent the sealing member from being removed during the operation of removing the liquid storage container by setting the suction force strong.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
(Embodiment 1)
1A to 1C are perspective views showing Embodiment 1 of the recording head of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows the entire recording head. The recording head according to the present embodiment includes an ink discharge unit 2 that discharges ink and a head holder 3 on which an ink tank (liquid storage container) is detachably mounted, and ink is supplied from the ink tank mounted on the head holder 3. An ink flow path (not shown) that leads out and leads to the recording head is configured inside.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1C, the head holder 3 can be mounted with a three-color integrated ink tank 11 and a black ink tank 12. The color three-color integrated ink tank 11 stores three colors of ink separately. The black ink tank 12 is attached to the head holder 3 by being substantially rotated while being inserted into the recess of the head holder 3. Although not shown, the mounting of the color three-color integrated ink tank 11 is also based on a substantially rotating operation as in the case of the black ink tank 12.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a top view of the recording head shown in FIG. The head holder 3 is provided with recesses for mounting the black ink tank 12 and the color three-color integrated ink tank 11 respectively. A joint portion with the supply port of the ink tank is provided on the bottom surface of each recess. The joint portion is provided with a supply pipe (reference numeral 29 in FIG. 3) to be inserted into the supply port of the ink tank. One joint portion with the black ink tank 12 and three joint portions with the color three-color integrated ink tank 11 are provided for each color. A black filter 22 is disposed above the supply pipe of the black joint section, and a color filter 21 is disposed above the supply pipe of each color joint section. Each of the ink tanks 11 and 12 is in contact with a pressure contact body (not shown) in a supply port of the ink tank and a color filter 21 and a black filter 22 on each supply pipe of the head holder 3. Ink can be guided to the ink flow path.
[0020]
Each of these ink tanks 11 and 12 is in contact with a pressure contact body (not shown) of the ink tank and a color filter 21 and a black filter 22 disposed on the supply pipe upper portion of the joint portion of the head holder 3. Ink can be guided to the three ink flow paths. Around the color joint portion and black joint portion of the head holder 3, there are a color seal rubber 23 and a black seal rubber 24, respectively. These seal rubbers 23 and 24 are made of ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber (hereinafter abbreviated as “EPDM”).
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, that is, a cross-sectional view showing a joint portion for a black ink tank. In this figure, a black ink tank is illustrated, but the three joint portions of the three color integrated ink tank have the same configuration.
[0022]
3A shows a state where the ink tank is not attached to the head holder shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B shows a state where the ink tank is attached. The black seal rubber 24 abuts on the supply pipe 29 of the joint portion, and a support portion 32 that positions the head holder 3 in the horizontal direction, and a first lip 33 that abuts the black ink tank 12 when the black ink tank 12 is mounted. And a second lip 34 and a third lip 35 which contact the head holder 3.
[0023]
When the black ink tank 12 is attached to the head holder 3, the black seal rubber 24 is pushed down by the black ink tank 12 and deformed. As a result, the periphery of the supply pipe 29 is sealed with the seal rubber 24. It is sufficient that this sealing is in a substantially sealed state. In this case, the first lip 33 and the second lip 34 are formed at the distal end of the arm portion that is inclined with respect to the supply pipe 29 as seen in the cross section of FIG. When pressed down and deformed, the arm portion is surely tilted, that is, in a direction in which the contact circumference of the lip becomes longer.
[0024]
For this reason, a torsion does not generate | occur | produce in a seal part and a reliable seal | sticker can be ensured. Each of the first lip 33, the second lip 34, and the third lip 35 of the joint portion secures the seal of the joint portion by a reaction force due to the deformation of rubber, and suppresses evaporation of ink from the joint portion. be able to.
[0025]
The support portion 32 of the black seal rubber 24 is also in contact with the supply pipe 29 which is a part of the components of the head holder 3, but even if rubber having a clamping force is applied to the tubular structure, Except for the case where the shape is ideally a perfect circle, the entire circumference cannot be contacted, and therefore it is not expected to substantially secure the sealing performance.
[0026]
At this time, there is a space A31 surrounded by the head holder 3 and the second lip 34 and the third lip 35 of the black seal rubber 24. When the black ink tank 12 is mounted, the volume of the space A31 becomes smaller than the volume before the mounting, and the air inside is pushed out. Next, when the black ink tank 12 is removed, the black seal rubber 24 tries to be restored to its original shape by the reaction force of the rubber. If the space A31 is to be restored to its original shape, the interior of the space A31 becomes a space that is depressurized from the atmospheric pressure, and a suction force is generated on the head holder 3 like a suction cup. This attractive force can be set by adjusting the volume change amount of the space A31 when the rubber is deformed by arbitrarily setting the shape of the seal rubber. Therefore, even if the black seal rubber 24 is attached to the black ink tank 12, if the suction force of the black seal rubber 24 to the head holder 3 is set strongly, the black seal rubber 24 is removed during the removal operation of the black ink tank 12. A highly reliable head can be configured without coming off.
[0027]
(Embodiment 2)
The shape of the seal rubber of the first embodiment described above may be as shown in FIG. Here, only differences from the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a joint portion for a black ink tank according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 4A shows a state where the ink tank is not attached to the head holder shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4B shows a state where the ink tank is attached.
[0028]
The black seal rubber 44 of this embodiment has a first lip 53 that contacts the black ink tank 12 when the black ink tank 12 is mounted, and a second lip 54 and a third lip 55 that contact the head holder 3. When the black ink tank 12 is attached to the head holder 3, the black seal rubber 44 is pushed down and deformed by the black ink tank 12. In this case, the first lip 53 and the second lip 54 are formed at the tip of the arm portion bent in an inverted V shape as seen in the cross section of FIG. When it is made to move, the arm portion is surely tilted, that is, in a direction in which the contact circumferential length of the lip becomes longer. For this reason, a torsion does not generate | occur | produce in a seal part and a reliable seal | sticker can be ensured. The first lip 53, the second lip 54, and the third lip 55 of the joint portion can each secure a seal by a reaction force due to the deformation of rubber, and can suppress evaporation of ink from the joint portion. . At this time, there is a space A51 surrounded by the head holder 3 and the second lip 54 and the third lip 55 of the black seal rubber 44. When the black ink tank 12 is mounted, the volume of the space A51 becomes smaller than the volume before mounting, and the air inside is pushed out. Next, when the black ink tank 12 is removed, the black seal rubber 44 tries to be restored to its original shape by the reaction force of the rubber. If the space A51 is to be restored to the original shape, the inside of the space A51 becomes a space that is depressurized from the atmospheric pressure, and an attracting force is generated on the head holder 3 like a suction cup. This attractive force can be set by adjusting the volume change amount of the space A51 when the rubber is deformed by arbitrarily setting the shape of the seal rubber. Therefore, even if the black seal rubber 44 is attached to the black ink tank 12, if the suction force of the black seal rubber 44 against the head # holder 3 is set strongly, the black seal rubber 24 is removed during the removal operation of the black ink tank 12. Therefore, a highly reliable head can be configured.
[0029]
(Embodiment 3)
The sealing rubber material of Embodiments 1 and 2 described above may be butyl rubber. In this case, a better evaporation suppression effect can be obtained from the characteristics of the rubber material. However, at the same time, since the sticking property to the ink tank becomes stronger, the suction cup effect in the present invention can be strengthened by optimizing the rubber shape, and the seal rubber can be prevented from coming off.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention provides a cylindrical shape that introduces the liquid from the liquid storage container in a recording head that is separable and receives the liquid supplied from the liquid storage container and discharges the liquid. A sealing member disposed around the supply pipe and sandwiched between the liquid storage container and the recording head when the liquid storage container is attached to the recording head to seal the periphery of the supply pipe; Forming a first lip that circumferentially contacts the storage container, a second lip and a third lip that circumferentially contact the recording head, and when the liquid storage container is mounted on the recording head, Since the volume of the space sandwiched between the second lip and the third lip of the seal member and the recording head is smaller than the volume before the liquid storage container is mounted, the liquid storage Vessels adsorbing the sealing member to the recording head during removal operations, it is possible to prevent the sealing member deviates stick to the liquid container. Thereby, a recording head having a highly reliable seal configuration can be provided in a small size and at a low cost.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a head holder and an ink tank that is detachable from the head holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a top view of the recording head shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the state of the seal rubber when the ink tank is attached / detached at the joint portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along line AA in FIG.
4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the state of the seal rubber during the ink tank attaching / detaching operation in the joint portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention, taken along line AA in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a recording head and an ink tank in a conventional example of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording head and an ink tank in a conventional example of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording head and an ink tank in a conventional example of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Ink ejection unit 3 Head holder 11 Three color integrated ink tank 12 Black ink tank 21 Color filter 22 Black filter 23 Color seal rubber 24, 44 Black seal rubber 29 Supply pipes 31, 51 Space A
32 Support part 33, 34, 35, 53, 54, 55 Lip

Claims (2)

A discharge section that discharges liquid ; a head holder that detachably mounts a liquid storage container having a supply port; a supply pipe that is inserted into the supply port when the liquid storage container is mounted; and in the recording head and a seal rubber which deforms the liquid container and in contact with when the liquid container is provided around is mounted,
The sealing rubber is first lip and said liquid container and the liquid container is provided so as to abut on the head holder is mounted to abut the said liquid container when the liquid container is mounted A second lip having a longer contact circumference with the head holder than when not mounted, and a third lip contacting the head holder between the supply pipe and the second lip When the liquid storage container is attached, the seal rubber is deformed, and the volume of the space formed by the head holder, the second lip, and the third lip is attached to the liquid storage container. A recording head characterized by being smaller than the volume when not . The sealing rubbers, ethylene - propylene - recording head according to claim 1, characterized in that the diene terpolymer rubber.

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