JP4470318B2 - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet printer having a print head for ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium and an ink cartridge holder into which an ink cartridge for storing ink supplied to the print head is inserted and removed. The present invention relates to the added ink jet printer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an outline of a large-sized ink jet printer capable of printing up to a relatively large size printing paper such as JIS standard A1 size or JIS standard B1 size as a recording medium. The ink jet printer 1 has a configuration in which a paper feed unit 2, a printing unit 3, and a paper discharge unit 4 are arranged in this order from the top. A print head 6 mounted on a carriage 5 that reciprocates in the main scanning direction is disposed inside the printing unit 3.
[0003]
An ink cartridge holder 7 into which an ink cartridge for storing ink supplied to the print head 6 is inserted and removed is disposed on the front side of the printing unit 3. The ink cartridge holder 7 is provided with a cover 7a that can be opened and closed on the front side, and the ink cartridge can be inserted and removed by opening the cover 7a. The cover 7a is normally supported at the lower part by a rotating shaft, and a locking part is attached to the upper part. The cover 7a can be opened around the rotating axis by removing the locking part.
[0004]
In such a configuration, the print head 6 is moved in the main scanning direction while the printing paper set in the paper feeding unit 2 is intermittently sent in the sub-scanning direction by the set amount in the printing unit 3, and the print head is moved. 6 ejects ink droplets onto the printing paper. When predetermined information is printed on the printing paper, the printing paper is discharged from the paper discharge unit 4.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional large-sized ink jet printer 1 described above, a large amount of ink is used, so the ink cartridge is large, and the ink cartridge holder 7 and its cover 7a are necessarily large. For this reason, it is necessary for the user to open the cover 7a slowly while supporting the cover 7a with his / her hand so that the heavy cover 7a does not open vigorously when the locking portion of the cover 7a is removed. However, when the user fails to receive the cover 7a, if there is an object around the cover 7a, the cover 7a and the object may collide and be damaged.
[0006]
Further, when the user replaces the ink cartridge, the control unit needs to read and write predetermined ink information to and from the memory mounted on the ink cartridge. However, if the user pulls out the ink cartridge from the ink cartridge holder 7 almost simultaneously with opening the cover 7a, the ink information cannot be read and written, and the ink jet printer 1 may malfunction.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described various problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer capable of braking the opening operation of the cover of the ink cartridge holder and simultaneously reading and writing ink information. Is to provide.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the ink jet printer of the present invention includes an ink jet printer having a print head for ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium, and an ink cartridge holder for inserting and removing an ink cartridge for storing ink supplied to the print head. In the printer, the ink cartridge holder includes a cover that can be opened and closed, a damper that works when the cover is opened, and a detection unit that detects that the cover is opened, and a detection signal from the detection unit. Predetermined ink information is read from and written to a memory mounted in the ink cartridge.
[0009]
As a result, even if the user fails to receive the heavy cover when the cover locking part is removed, the cover automatically opens slowly, so there is something around the cover as before. However, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the cover and the object collide and are damaged.
[0010]
Further, almost simultaneously with the opening of the cover, the control unit can read and write predetermined ink information to and from the memory mounted on the ink cartridge.
[0011]
Further, the time from the start of the opening operation to the end of the cover being at least the time for reading / writing the ink information from / to the memory is characterized.
[0012]
As a result, the user cannot pull out the ink cartridge from the ink cartridge holder until the control unit completes reading and writing of predetermined ink information to and from the memory mounted on the ink cartridge. It is possible to prevent malfunction of the ink jet printer due to the inability to read and write.
[0013]
The cover is integrated with the printer main body without protruding from the printer main body.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an internal configuration example of a main part of the ink jet printer. An ink jet printer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a large printer capable of printing on a relatively large size printing paper such as JIS standard A1 size or JIS standard B1 size. The section 120, the paper discharge section 130, and the leg section 140 are arranged in this order from the top. The printing unit 120 and the paper discharge unit 130 are integrated as a main body, and are configured to be separable from the paper supply unit 110 and the leg unit 140, respectively.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feeding unit 110 is provided so as to protrude to the upper rear of the main bodies 120 and 130. As shown in FIG. 2, a roll paper holder 111 on which two roll papers (printing paper) can be set is provided obliquely up and down inside the paper feeding unit 110. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a flip-up roll paper cover 112 that can be opened and closed is attached so as to cover the roll paper holder 111.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, the roll paper holder 111 includes a spindle 113 that holds the roll paper, and a pair of spindle receivers 114 that are attached to the inner surfaces of both side walls of the paper feeding unit 110 so that the spindle 113 can be attached and detached. 115. Then, after the roll paper is mounted at the center, both ends of the spindle 113 are mounted on the spindle receivers 114 and 115 so that the spindle 113 is rotatably supported. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the roll paper cover 112 is rotatably supported at the upper part, and is opened and closed by lifting or pushing down the lower part.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, the printing unit 120 includes a carriage 122 on which the print head 121 is mounted, a flexible flat cable (hereinafter referred to as FFC) 123 that connects the print head 121 and a control unit (not shown) for executing printing, An ink tube 124 that connects the print head 121 and an ink cartridge (not shown) containing ink, a paper feed roller (not shown) that conveys the roll paper in the sub-scanning direction, and a paper suction means (not shown) that prevents the roll paper from lifting up are provided. Yes. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an upper lid 125 and a front lid 126 are attached to the upper surface and the front surface of the printing unit 120 so as to cover the print head 121, the carriage 122, and the like.
[0019]
The print head 121 includes a black ink print head for ejecting black ink and a plurality of color ink print heads for ejecting inks of various colors such as yellow, light cyan, cyan, light magenta, and magenta. The print head 121 is provided with a pressure generation chamber and a nozzle opening connected to the pressure generation chamber. The size of the print head 121 is controlled from the nozzle opening toward the roll paper by storing ink in the pressure generation chamber and pressurizing the ink with a predetermined pressure. Ink droplets are discharged.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 122 is suspended from a rail 127 provided in the main scanning direction via a roller and connected to the carriage belt 128. The carriage belt 128 is operated by a carriage driving device (not shown). Then, it is accompanied by the movement of the carriage belt 128 and is guided by the rail 127 so as to reciprocate.
[0021]
The FFC 123 has one end connected to the connector of the control unit and the other end connected to the connector of the print head 121, and sends a print signal from the control unit to the print head 121. The ink tube 124 is provided for ink of each color, and one end of each ink tube is connected to the corresponding ink cartridge via an ink pressure supply unit (not shown), and the other end is connected to the corresponding print head 121 of each color. It is connected.
[0022]
The ink tube 124 sends ink of each color pressurized by the ink pressure supply means from the ink cartridge to the print head 121. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front lid 126 is rotatably supported at the lower part, and is opened and closed by pushing down or pushing up the upper part.
[0023]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper discharge unit 130 includes a paper discharge guide 131 that forms part of a path for transporting roll paper in the sub-scanning direction, and paper discharge (not shown) that transports roll paper in the sub-scanning direction. It has a roller. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ink cartridge holder 150 that stores and holds an ink cartridge is disposed on the right side when viewed from the front side of the paper discharge unit 130.
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the leg portion 140 includes two support columns 142 each having a moving roller 141, and a reinforcing bar 143 spanned between the support columns 142. . The paper feeding unit 110 and the main bodies 120 and 130 are placed on the support pillar 142 and fixed with screws.
[0025]
In such a configuration, when the ink jet printer 100 is used, first, the spindle 113 constituting the roll paper holder 111 is taken out from the paper supply unit 110, and the roll inserted into the spindle 113 as shown in FIG. The paper presser 113 a is pulled out from one end of the spindle 113.
[0026]
4, one end of the spindle 113 is inserted through one end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R, and one end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R is inserted into the spindle 113 as shown in FIG. 5. It is fitted and brought into contact with a roll paper presser 113b inserted and fixed on the other end side. Subsequently, the roll paper presser 113 a is inserted from one end of the spindle 113 and fitted into the other end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R. Thereby, the roll paper R can be rotated together with the spindle 113.
[0027]
Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the both ends of the spindle 113 in which the roll paper R is inserted are inclined with respect to the front-rear direction of the ink jet printer 100, that is, the spindle 113 in which the roll paper R is inserted. The other end side of this is directed to one spindle receiver 114.
[0028]
Here, the spindle receiver 114 is configured to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. Normally, the recesses 114a and 115a of the spindle receivers 114 and 115 receiving the end of the spindle 113 are opposed to each other. When setting the inserted spindle 113, as shown in FIG. 7, one spindle receiver 114 is rotated to make an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the other spindle receiver 115.
[0029]
Thereafter, the other end portion of the spindle 113 in which the roll paper R is inserted is put in the recess 114a of one spindle receiver 114, and the spindle receiver 114 is rotated together with the spindle 113 in which the roll paper R is inserted. Then, the recesses 114 a and 115 a of the spindle receivers 114 and 115 are opposed to each other, and one end of the spindle 113 in which the roll paper R is inserted is hung on the recess 115 a of the other spindle receiver 115. Thereby, the spindle 113 with the roll paper R inserted can be easily set in the paper feeding unit 110.
[0030]
Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the leading edge of the roll paper R is pulled downward, passes through the transport path of the printing unit 120, and further passes through the transport path of the paper discharge unit 130 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the roll paper R is rotated in the winding direction so that the leading end of the roll paper R is positioned at a marker M formed on the paper discharge guide 131, for example. After that, the ink jet printer 100 is started, ink droplets are ejected while the print head 121 is moved in the main scanning direction while feeding the roll paper R in the sub-scanning direction, and predetermined information is printed on the roll paper R. To eject the paper.
[0031]
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge holder 150 and its peripheral part, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the inside of the ink cartridge holder 150. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the ink cartridge holder 150 has a cover 151 that can be opened and closed on the front side, and an attachment 152 that fixes the ink cartridges of the respective colors. .
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 12, the lower portion of the cover 151 is supported by the damper 153 and the rotating shaft 154, and an engaging portion 155 is attached to the upper portion, and the cover 151 is braked by the damper 153 by removing the engaging portion 155. However, it can be opened in the direction indicated by the arrow a with the pivot shaft 154 as the center. Due to the action of the damper 153, even if the user fails to receive the heavy cover 151 when the locking portion 155 of the cover 151 is removed, the cover 151 automatically opens slowly. Even if there is an object around the cover, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the cover and the object collide and are damaged.
[0033]
Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a detection means 156 for detecting that the cover 151 is opened, for example, a contact sensor using a spring or rubber, a non-contact using light, magnetism, etc. A sensor or the like is provided. With this detection means 156, the control unit can read and write predetermined ink information to and from the memory mounted on the ink cartridge when the detection signal is received, that is, almost simultaneously with the opening of the cover 151.
[0034]
The time from the start of the opening operation of the cover 151 after the braking by the damper 153 to the end is set to be at least the time for the control unit to read and write the ink information from and to the memory. Thus, the user cannot pull out the ink cartridge from the ink cartridge holder 150 until the control unit completes reading / writing of the ink information from / to the memory. Malfunctions can be prevented.
[0035]
The operation when the ink cartridge is loaded in the ink cartridge holder 150 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 11, since the cover 151 of the ink cartridge holder 150 is in a closed state, the user pushes the upper part of the cover 151 with his hand to remove the locking portion 155 and releases the hand. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the cover 151 automatically and slowly opens in the direction of the arrow a. When the cover 151 is completely opened, the user pushes the upper part of the predetermined attachment 152 by hand to open the attachment 152 in the direction of the arrow a.
[0036]
Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the user holds the ink cartridge 157 with both hands in order to make the ink in the ink cartridge 157 uniform, swings it to the left and right as shown in the arrow b, and as shown in FIG. Inserts the ink cartridge 157 into the open attachment 152 in the direction indicated by the arrow c. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the user returns the attachment 152 in the direction of the arrow d and closes it. After performing the above processing for each color, the cover 151 is returned to the direction of the arrow d in the figure and closed. Thereby, the loading of the ink cartridge 157 into the ink cartridge holder 150 is completed.
[0037]
By the way, as described above, the ink in the ink cartridges 157 of the respective colors stored in the ink cartridge holder 150 is pressurized by the ink pressure supply means and sent to the print head 121. For this reason, in the case of the ink supply means using the water head difference as in the conventional ink jet printer 1, the ink cartridge holder 7 needs to be disposed above the carriage 5, but the ink cartridge holder 150 is Since ink can be supplied no matter where it is placed, the place of placement can be set freely.
[0038]
In the ink jet printer 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the ink cartridge holder 150 is on the right side when viewed from the front side of the paper discharge unit 130, and the carriage 122 disposed in the printing unit 120 is provided. It is disposed immediately below the home position, that is, when it is located on the right side when viewed from the front side of the front lid 126.
[0039]
Thereby, in the conventional ink jet printer 1, the ink cartridge holder 7 is disposed so as to protrude to the front side of the printing unit 3, but in the ink jet printer 100 of the present embodiment, the ink cartridge holder 150 is the printer main body 110. , 120, 130 are arranged integrally without protruding. Therefore, the ink jet printer 100 can be made compact, space saving of the installation place can be achieved, and transportability can be improved.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the ink jet printer according to the present invention, even when the user fails to receive a heavy cover when the cover of the ink cartridge holder is removed, the cover automatically and slowly Therefore, even if there is an object around the cover as in the prior art, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the cover and the object collide and are damaged.
[0041]
Further, almost simultaneously with the opening of the cover, the control unit can read / write predetermined ink information from / to the memory mounted on the ink cartridge, and the user can remove the ink cartridge from the ink cartridge holder until the reading / writing is completed. Since it cannot be pulled out, it is possible to prevent malfunction of the ink jet printer due to the inability to read and write ink information as in the prior art.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an internal configuration of a main part of the printer of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a first diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a second diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a third diagram showing a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1;
6 is a fourth diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1; FIG.
7 is a fifth diagram showing a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 8 is a sixth diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a seventh diagram illustrating the procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1;
10 is an eighth diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge holder and its peripheral part, which is a characteristic part of the present invention.
12 is a perspective view showing the inside of the ink cartridge holder of FIG. 11. FIG.
13 is a first diagram for explaining an operation when an ink cartridge is loaded in the ink cartridge holder of FIG. 11. FIG.
14 is a second diagram for explaining an operation when an ink cartridge is loaded in the ink cartridge holder of FIG. 11. FIG.
15 is a third diagram for explaining an operation when an ink cartridge is loaded in the ink cartridge holder of FIG. 11. FIG.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a conventional ink jet printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Printer 110 Paper feed part 111 Roll paper holder 112 Roll paper cover 113 Spindle 114 Spindle receiver 115 Spindle receiver 120 Print part 121 Print head 122 Carriage 123 FFC
124 Ink tube 125 Upper lid 126 Front lid 127 Rail 128 Carriage belt 130 Paper ejection part 131 Paper ejection guide 132 Side cover 140 Leg part 141 Roller 142 Support pillar 143 Reinforcing bar 150 Ink cartridge holder 151 Cover 152 Attachment 153 Damper 154 Rotating shaft 155 Locking portion 156 detection means 157 ink cartridge

Claims (1)

A print head for ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium;
An ink cartridge holder from which the ink cartridge is inserted and removed;
Is attached to the ink cartridge holder, is held in a closed state locking portion performs automatic opening operation by removing the locking unit, manual before Symbol ink cartridge holder until Symbol opening operation is completed A cover for preventing the ink cartridge from being pulled out with
Detection means provided on the cover for detecting that the cover has begun to open;
A controller that starts writing predetermined ink information to the memory mounted on the ink cartridge by the detection means;
An ink jet printer having a damper that slowly performs the opening operation so that the opening operation is completed after the writing is completed.

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