JP4614589B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly, to an ink jet recording apparatus having good usability for easily treating waste ink.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Inkjet recording devices do not require processes such as development and fixing, and can perform recording without contact. Therefore, noise during recording is extremely low, high-speed printing is possible, and the degree of freedom of ink is high. It has many advantages such as being able to use expensive and inexpensive plain paper.
[0003]
Conventionally, in an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink toward a recording medium, a recording unit that discharges ink, a recovery unit that maintains a good discharge of ink from the recording unit, and And an ink jet recording apparatus in which the waste ink storing means is detachably disposed in the recording apparatus. (See Kaihei 9-277562).
[0004]
Further, conventionally, a waste ink absorbing structure in an ink jet printer in which the absorbing material is divided into a plurality of waste ink absorbing structures installed in the ink jet printer and the waste ink absorbing material housed in the ink absorbing structure has been proposed ( JP-A-10-286978).
[0005]
That is, in order to maintain good ink discharge from the recording unit, the conventional inkjet recording apparatus performs a suction operation for sucking ink from the recording unit by the suction unit, an empty discharge operation for discharging ink not related to recording, and the like. The generated waste ink is guided and stored from the recovery unit to the waste ink storage unit provided in the ink jet recording apparatus.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional inkjet recording apparatus, since the generated waste ink is stored in the waste ink storage unit in the inkjet recording apparatus, it is difficult to reduce the size and thickness of the inkjet recording apparatus, There has been a problem that the treatment of waste ink is troublesome.
[0007]
That is, in recent years, there has been a demand for smaller and thinner ink jet recording apparatuses, but it is difficult to secure a space for a waste ink storage section in the ink jet recording apparatus, and in particular, a large amount of recording processing is performed. When this is assumed, there is a problem that the waste ink storage section is enlarged and the inkjet recording apparatus itself is enlarged. In addition, the waste ink storage unit has conventionally been generally disposed in the lower part of the ink jet recording apparatus. When the waste ink storage part can be replaced, a large waste ink disposed in the lower part of the ink jet recording apparatus. There is a problem that it is difficult for the user to replace the storage unit, it is necessary to replace the storage unit, and the usability of the ink jet recording apparatus is poor.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof to be able to easily perform replacement processing and waste ink storage portion of the waste ink in the waste ink reservoir.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes:
In an ink jet recording apparatus that collects and stores waste ink in a waste ink storage section in a main body housing from a recording unit that discharges ink,
A fixed waste ink storage unit fixedly disposed in the main body housing, and having a fixed waste ink case and a fixed waste ink container housed in the fixed waste ink case;
A removable waste ink case that is detachable in the main body housing and has a detachable waste ink case and a detachable waste ink container housed in the detachable waste ink case, and
When the movable waste ink storage unit is mounted in the main body housing, a part of the fixed waste ink case is inserted into the removable waste ink case to come into contact with the removable waste ink container, and the fixed The waste ink container and the detachable waste ink container are in contact with each other ;
The fixed waste ink storage part and the movable waste ink storage part are arranged in a horizontal direction,
A part of the fixed waste ink case is provided in an upper part of the fixed waste ink storage part, and a part of the fixed waste ink case is inserted in an upper part of the removable waste ink case .
[0030]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. As long as there is no description which limits, it is not restricted to these aspects.
[0031]
1 to 3 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an ink jet recording apparatus 1 to which the first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is applied. FIG.
[0032]
In FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 is provided with a waste ink storage unit 3 at a lower corner inside the main body housing 2, and the waste ink storage unit 3 includes a fixed waste ink case 4, a fixed waste ink. A storage body 5, a detachable waste ink case 6, a detachable waste ink storage body 7, a spring 8 and the like are provided. The fixed waste ink case 4 and the fixed waste ink storage body 5 function as a fixed waste ink storage section, and the removable waste ink case 6 and the removable waste ink storage body 7 function as a movable waste ink storage section. .
[0033]
The main body housing 2 is formed with an opening 9 at an attachment portion of the waste ink storage portion 3, and an opening / closing lid (lid member) 10 that covers the opening 9 so as to be opened and closed is attached. The open / close lid 10 is attached to the main body housing 2 via the fulcrum shaft 11 so as to be openable / closable, and is fixed in a state where the opening 9 is closed by the fixture 12, and the fixation by the fixture 12 is released. Thus, opening and closing operations are possible.
[0034]
The waste ink storage unit 3 has a fixed waste ink case 4 fixed to the main body housing 2 as shown in a plan view in FIG. 2 and a front sectional view in FIG. A fixed waste ink container 5 is formed in 4. In the fixed waste ink container 5, the ink sucked by the suction operation of the suction portion from the recording portion (not shown) of the ink jet recording apparatus 1, the ink not related to the recording discharged by the idle discharge operation, and the like are shown as the waste ink 13. It is stored by entering from the discharge nozzle 14 of the recovery portion that does not.
[0035]
The fixed waste ink case 4 has an insertion portion 15 that protrudes toward the removable waste ink case 6 and has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the fixed waste ink case 4, and the insertion portion 15 has a removable waste ink case at the tip thereof. An engaging portion 16 that engages with 6 is formed.
[0036]
The detachable waste ink case 6 has a detachable waste ink storage body 7 formed therein, and the fixed waste ink case 4 side of the detachable waste ink case 6 has an insertion portion 15 of the fixed waste ink case 4. An opening 17 to be inserted is formed.
[0037]
The detachable waste ink case 6 is separated from the fixed waste ink case 4 by opening the opening / closing lid 10, and can be taken out from the main body housing 2 through the opening 9 and inserted through the opening 9. As a result, the insertion portion 15 of the fixed waste ink case 4 enters the opening 17 and is connected to the fixed waste ink case 4. When the movable waste ink storage unit is mounted in the main body housing 2, the insertion unit 15, which is a part of the fixed waste ink case 4, is inserted into the removable waste ink case 6 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. contacts with a removable waste ink container 7 Te, removable waste ink container 7 is in contact with each other with the fixed waste ink absorber 5.
[0038]
The spring 8 is an insertion portion 15 portion of the fixed waste ink case 4 and is contracted between the fixed waste ink case 4 and the detachable waste ink case 6, and the end on the fixed waste ink case 4 side is fixed. It is fixed to the waste ink case 4.
[0039]
The spring 8 biases the removable waste ink case 6 toward the opening / closing lid 10 when the removable waste ink case 6 is inserted from the opening 9, and the removable waste ink case 6 is inserted from the opening 9. When the open / close lid 10 is closed by being connected to the fixed waste ink case 4, the spring 8 is biased to be held by the open / close lid 10 and the spring 8.
[0040]
The waste ink storage unit 3 includes at least a surface of the removable waste ink case 6 on the side of the opening / closing lid 10 and the opening / closing lid 10 formed of a transparent member, and is formed of a transparent member from the outside of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. The waste ink storage state in the removable waste ink storage body 7 can be visually confirmed through the opening / closing lid 10 and the removable waste ink case 6.
[0041]
Further, in the main body housing 2 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1, a mounting detection unit (mounting detection means) 18 is disposed at an end position of the removable waste ink case 6 on the fixed waste ink case 4 side. The attachment detection unit 18 detects whether or not the detachable waste ink case 6 is inserted at an appropriate position in the main body case 2, and outputs the detection result to a control unit (not shown) of the inkjet recording apparatus 1.
[0042]
Based on the detection result of the mounting detection unit 18, the control unit displays the mounting state of the detachable waste ink case 6 on the state notification means such as a display or a lamp of the operation display unit (not shown) of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. A notification is output based on the state of attachment to the display in characters or drawings, or attachment state information such as lighting of a lamp.
[0043]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a recovery unit (not illustrated) as waste ink 13 that includes ink sucked from a recording unit (not illustrated) by the suction operation of the suction unit, ink not related to recording discharged by the idle discharge operation, and the like. An open / close lid 10 formed of a transparent member and a detachable waste ink case 6 are stored and stored in the fixed waste ink storage body 5 in the fixed waste ink case 4 from the discharge nozzle 14. The waste ink storage state in the detachable waste ink storage body 7 can be visually confirmed.
[0044]
The waste ink in the detachable waste ink container 7 is visually observed through the opening / closing lid 10 and the detachable waste ink case 6, and the waste ink 13 in the detachable waste ink container 6 is full. Then, the fixing device 12 is removed, the opening / closing lid 10 is opened, the removable waste ink case 6 is removed from the inside of the main body housing 2 of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 through the opening 9, and the waste ink 13 in the removable waste ink case 6 is removed. Is disposed of in a waste ink storage container or the like, or is replaced with a new removable waste ink case 6.
[0045]
An empty removable waste ink case 6 or a new removable waste ink case 6 is inserted into the main body housing 2 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 from the opening 9, the open / close lid 10 is closed, and the open / close lid is fixed by the fixture 12. 10 is closed and the removable waste ink case 6 is mounted in the main body housing 2.
[0046]
At this time, in the inkjet recording apparatus 1, the mounting detection unit 18 detects the mounting state of the removable waste ink case 6 and outputs the detection result to the control unit. The control unit operates the detection result of the mounting detection unit 18. A notification is output by displaying characters on the display of the display unit or lighting the lamp.
[0047]
Therefore, the user can easily and reliably confirm the mounting state of the removable waste ink case 6 by this notification output, and can securely mount the removable waste ink case 6 at an appropriate position.
[0048]
As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the waste ink storage unit 3 in the main body housing 2 is fixedly disposed in the main body housing 2 with the fixed waste ink case 4 and the fixed waste ink. The storage unit 5 is divided into a fixed waste ink storage unit, a removable waste ink case 6 detachably connected to the fixed waste ink case 4, and a movable waste ink storage unit of the removable waste ink storage unit 7. The possible waste ink case 6 is detachably stored in the main body housing 2.
[0049]
Accordingly, the full removable removable ink case 6 can be taken out from the main body housing 2 to easily treat the waste ink, or the removable waste ink case 6 can be replaced, and can be easily discarded even for a heavy duty user. The life of the ink reservoir 3 can be extended and extended, and the ink jet recording apparatus 1 can be made small and has good usability.
[0050]
Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, at least a part of the removable waste ink case 6 is formed of a transparent member so that the waste ink stored inside can be viewed from outside the main body housing 2. .
[0051]
Therefore, the waste ink storage state in the waste ink storage unit 3 can be easily confirmed visually, and the waste ink processing in the removable waste ink case 6 and the replacement time of the removable waste ink case 6 can be confirmed. Can be easily recognized, and the ink jet recording apparatus 1 can be made more highly usable.
[0052]
Furthermore, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has an opening 9 for taking out the detachable waste ink case 6 to the outside of the main body housing 2 in the main body housing 2 and an opening / closing lid 10 that covers the opening 9 so that it can be opened and closed. The detachable waste ink case 6 is held in the main body housing 2 by the opening / closing lid 10 and the spring 8.
[0053]
Therefore, the user can easily and easily attach and detach the detachable waste ink case 6 without using a special tool, and the ink jet recording apparatus 1 can be further improved in availability. it can.
[0054]
Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the opening / closing lid 10 is formed of a transparent member.
[0055]
Accordingly, it is possible to easily check the storage state of the waste ink in the waste ink storage unit 3 without opening the lid, and it is possible to process the waste ink in the removable waste ink case 6 and the removable waste ink case 6. Therefore, the usability of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 can be further improved.
[0056]
Furthermore, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a mounting detection unit 18 that detects a mounting state of the removable waste ink case 6 in the main body housing 2, and is mounted and detached based on the detection result of the mounting detection unit 18. The state where the possible waste ink case 6 is mounted in the main body housing 2 is informed and output by a display or lamp of the operation display unit.
[0057]
Therefore, it is possible to easily and surely understand the mounting state of the detachable waste ink case 6, and it is possible to prevent mounting failure of the detachable waste ink case 6 and further improve the usability of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. Can be.
[0058]
4 and 5 are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows an ink jet recording apparatus 20 to which the second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is applied. FIG.
[0059]
The present embodiment is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus similar to the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. In the description of the present embodiment, the description of the first embodiment is omitted. The same components as those of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0060]
In the ink jet recording apparatus 20, a waste ink case state detection sensor (waste ink amount detection means, detection means) 21 is disposed above the removable waste ink case 6. A transparent detection window 22 is formed. For example, an optical sensor such as a photocoupler is used as the waste ink case state detection sensor 21. The waste ink case state detection sensor 21 detects the amount of waste ink in the removable waste ink case 6 through the detection window 22, and the ink jet recording apparatus 20. Is output to a control unit (not shown). Based on the detection result of the waste ink case state detection sensor 21, the control unit outputs a display of waste ink amount information on the display (ink amount notification unit, notification unit) of the operation display unit and information indicating that the waste ink is full. Or a lamp (ink amount notification means, notification means) indicating that the waste ink is full is turned on.
[0061]
In addition, a mounting state detection mark 23 is provided on the upper surface of the removable waste ink case 6 where the detection window 22 is formed on the side of the removable waste ink case 6 in the main body housing 2 in the mounting direction. The attached state detection mark 23 has a surface treatment that is the same as the detection result of the waste ink case 6 in the detachable waste ink case 6 by the waste ink case state detection sensor 21 in terms of color, surface roughness, etc. It has been subjected.
[0062]
Therefore, the ink jet recording apparatus 20 of the present embodiment detects the amount of waste ink in the detachable waste ink container 7 of the detachable waste ink case 6 through the detection window 22 and displays it on the display of the operation display unit. It is possible to easily and reliably recognize the amount of waste ink in the detachable waste ink case 6 by displaying information on the waste ink amount information, lighting the lamp, and the like.
[0063]
Also, when the waste ink is full and the removable waste ink case 6 is taken out from the main body housing 2 and inserted into the main body housing 2 again through the opening 9, the waste ink case state detection sensor 21 is used. However, the mounting state of the removable waste ink case 6 is detected by detecting the mounting state detection mark 23, and the detection state of the waste ink case state detection sensor 21, that is, the mounting state of the removable waste ink case 6 is detected. It can be easily and reliably recognized by displaying the mounting state information on the display of the operation display unit or lighting the lamp.
[0064]
As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the fixed waste ink storage unit in which the waste ink storage unit in the main body casing that collects and stores the waste ink from the recording unit that discharges the ink is fixedly disposed in the main body casing. Part and a movable waste ink storage part that is detachably connected to the fixed waste ink storage part, and the movable waste ink storage part is detachably stored in the main body housing, so that it is full. The movable waste ink storage part can be easily removed from the main body casing and the waste ink can be easily processed, or the movable waste ink storage part can be replaced, so that even heavy duty users can easily extend the life of the waste ink storage part. In addition, the ink jet recording apparatus can be made small and highly usable.
In addition, since at least a part of the movable waste ink storage portion is formed of a transparent member so that the waste ink stored inside can be visually recognized from the outside of the main body casing, the storage state of the waste ink in the waste ink storage portion is visually checked. Can make it easy to check the process of waste ink in the movable waste ink reservoir and the time to replace the movable waste ink reservoir, making the inkjet recording device more useful It can be.
In addition, the main body housing is provided with an opening for taking out the movable waste ink storage portion outside the main body housing, and a lid member that covers the opening so as to be openable and closable. Therefore, the user can easily and easily attach and detach the movable waste ink storage unit without using a special tool, and the inkjet recording apparatus can be made more highly usable. can do.
Further, since the lid member is formed of a transparent member, it is possible to easily check the storage state of the waste ink in the waste ink storage unit without opening the lid, and the waste ink in the movable waste ink storage unit. This makes it possible to easily recognize the process and the replacement time of the movable waste ink storage unit, and thereby further improve the usability of the ink jet recording apparatus.
In addition, in the inkjet recording apparatus, a mounting detection unit that detects a mounting state of the movable waste ink storage unit in the main body housing, and a mounting of the movable waste ink storage unit in the main body housing based on a detection result of the mounting detection unit And a mounting state notifying unit for notifying and outputting the state, so that the mounting state of the movable waste ink storage unit can be easily and reliably known by the notification of the mounting state notification unit. Can be prevented, and the usability of the ink jet recording apparatus can be further improved.
In addition, a waste ink amount detection unit that detects the amount of waste ink in the movable waste ink storage unit, and a notification output of the waste ink amount in the movable waste ink storage unit based on the detection result of the waste ink amount detection unit The amount of waste ink in the waste ink storage unit can be easily and reliably confirmed by the notification of the amount of ink notification means. It is possible to easily recognize the processing and the replacement time of the movable waste ink storage unit, and it is possible to further improve the usability of the ink jet recording apparatus.
Further, the ink jet recording apparatus includes a detection unit that detects a mounting state of the movable waste ink storage unit in the main body housing and a waste ink amount in the movable waste ink storage unit, and a movable waste ink storage unit based on a detection result of the detection unit. And a notification means for reporting the amount of waste ink in the movable waste ink storage unit and the amount of waste ink in the movable waste ink storage unit. The storage state can be easily and reliably known by the notification of the notification means, the mounting failure of the movable waste ink storage section can be prevented, the waste ink processing in the movable waste ink storage section and the movable waste ink can be prevented. By making it possible to easily recognize the replacement time of the storage unit, it is possible to further improve the usability of the ink jet recording apparatus.
The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, the main body housing is fixedly disposed within the body, a fixed waste ink having a fixed waste ink case and fixing the waste ink container which is housed in the fixed waste ink case And a movable waste ink storage unit having a removable waste ink case and a removable waste ink container housed in the removable waste ink case. when mounting the waste ink storage portion in the main body casing, together with a portion contacts the removable waste ink is inserted into the case removable waste ink storage body fixed waste ink case, removable and fixed waste ink container Since the waste ink containers are in contact with each other, it is possible to easily process the waste ink in the waste ink reservoir and replace the waste ink reservoir.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus to which a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a waste ink storage unit in FIG.
3 is a front cross-sectional view of the waste ink storage section of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus to which a second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is applied.
5 is a plan view of a detachable waste ink case of the waste ink storage unit in FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 2 Main body housing | casing 3 Waste ink storage part 4 Fixed waste ink case 5 Fixed waste ink storage body 6 Detachable waste ink case 7 Detachable waste ink storage body 8 Spring 9 Opening part 10 Opening / closing lid 11 Supporting shaft 12 Fixed Tool 13 Waste ink 14 Discharge nozzle 15 Insertion part 16 Engagement part 17 Opening part 18 Attachment detection part 20 Inkjet recording apparatus 21 Waste ink case state detection sensor 22 Detection window 23 Attachment state detection mark

Claims (1)

In an ink jet recording apparatus that collects and stores waste ink in a waste ink storage section in a main body housing from a recording unit that discharges ink,
A fixed waste ink storage unit fixedly disposed in the main body housing and having a fixed waste ink case and a fixed waste ink container housed in the fixed waste ink case;
A removable waste ink case that is detachable in the main body housing and has a removable waste ink case and a removable waste ink container housed in the removable waste ink case.
When the movable waste ink storage unit is mounted in the main body housing, a part of the fixed waste ink case is inserted into the removable waste ink case to come into contact with the removable waste ink container, and the fixed The waste ink container and the detachable waste ink container are in contact with each other ;
The fixed waste ink storage part and the movable waste ink storage part are arranged in a horizontal direction,
A part of the fixed waste ink case is provided at an upper part of the fixed waste ink storage part, and a part of the fixed waste ink case is inserted into an upper part of the removable waste ink case. Inkjet recording apparatus.

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