JP4878812B2 - Recording liquid container and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording liquid container and an image forming apparatus, and in particular, a recording liquid that supplies recording liquid to a recording head that discharges recording liquid droplets from nozzles and replenishes and supplies the recording liquid from the main tank side of the apparatus body. The present invention relates to a storage container and an image forming apparatus including the recording liquid storage container.

  In general, as an image forming apparatus that combines a printer / fax / copier or a combination of these functions, an image forming unit that employs an electrophotographic method is known. For example, liquid discharge that discharges liquid droplets of recording liquid is known. Recording is performed while a recording medium (hereinafter also referred to as “paper” is not limited to a material, and the recording medium, a transfer material, and the like are also used synonymously) using a recording head constituted by a head. Some have an ink-jet image forming unit for forming an image (recording, printing, printing, and printing are also used synonymously) by attaching a liquid (hereinafter also referred to as ink) to a sheet.

In such an ink jet recording type image forming apparatus, a head tank (also referred to as a sub-tank), which is a small-capacity recording liquid container for supplying a recording liquid to a recording head, is mounted on a carriage and has a large capacity. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an apparatus in which a cartridge (main tank) is installed on the apparatus main body side, and recording liquid (ink) is replenished and supplied to the head tank from the main cartridge on the apparatus main body side.
JP 2005-059491 A JP-A-2005-144708

As such a sub tank, as described in Patent Document 3, in order to effectively prevent ink leakage even in the case of a hard case type ink tank, a flexible sub tank is attached in the expansion direction. An ink supply path that forms a sealed flow path between the recording means and the ink tank at the bottom of the ink tank is provided with a spring to be energized, a shell element that surrounds the sub-tank, and a first pump that can increase and decrease the pressure inside the shell element. An air introduction path having an opening located near the bottom of the chamber is connected, a gas-liquid separation member is disposed at each corner of the atmosphere release chamber, and a second pump capable of depressurizing the atmosphere release chamber is connected to the gas-liquid separation member. It is described that it is connected to the atmosphere open side. Patent Document 4 also describes a similar sub tank.
JP 2004-209860 A JP 2004-209896 A

In Patent Document 5, in order to prevent the ink from entering the air flow path due to the liquid level fluctuation caused by the shaking of the sub tank and disabling the air release valve or blocking the air flow path, An air flow path is provided, and the air flow path includes an inlet flow path portion that faces the ink storage portion and an orthogonal flow path portion that follows the inlet flow path portion. The orthogonal flow path portion heads obliquely upward when the ink liquid level is used as a reference plane. It is described to form in the direction.
JP 2005-014342 A

In Patent Document 6, a cylindrical projecting portion having an opening at the tip, a sealing member that can seal the opening and that can be moved from the sealing position, and arranged around the cylindrical projecting portion The sealing member is moved from the sealing position to the non-sealing position while being blocked from the outside by the elastic member when mounted on the carriage. Describes an ink storage container that communicates with a sub tank disposed in the carriage.
JP 2005-161645 A

In Patent Document 7, a ring-shaped packing attached to an opening of a tank for filling a predetermined liquid, a contact / separation member configured to be able to contact and separate from the packing, and the contact / separation member open a hole in the packing. Pressurizing control means for controlling the atmospheric pressure in the tank by pressurizing the contact / separation member so that air enters and exits the tank after being opened or sealed, and a predetermined liquid is provided at the contact portion between the contact / separation member and the packing. A sub-tank having a pressure control mechanism characterized in that a liquid sealant different from the above is adhered is described.
JP-A-2005-169664

  By the way, as a head tank, there are a recording liquid storage portion for storing a recording liquid, an air release passage (air flow path) for opening the recording liquid storage portion to the atmosphere, and an air release mechanism for opening and closing the air release passage. If the recording liquid is shipped in a state where the recording liquid is stored in the head tank, the recording liquid intrudes into the atmosphere opening passage due to shaking during transportation and adheres to the components of the atmospheric release mechanism, For this reason, the air release mechanism may malfunction.

  In addition, if the recording liquid leaks from the head tank through the air release mechanism, etc., the inside of the image forming apparatus body becomes dirty, which not only reduces the reliability, such as requiring cleaning by the user, but also reduces the reliability of the control circuit board. Abnormality such as a short circuit occurs due to adhesion of the leaked recording liquid, causing inconvenience such as repair at the manufacturing factory or replacement of the image forming apparatus when it deteriorates.

  In this case, in order to ship with the head tank emptied, after the inspection in the factory, the recording liquid filled for use at the time of inspection must be extracted from the head tank, washed, and cleaned. The number of inspection and shipping processes increases and costs increase.

  In addition to the transportation at the time of shipment, there is a similar problem even when the image forming apparatus is moved under the user (in this specification, “transportation” includes all forms involving locational movement) Used in).

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a recording liquid storage container in which a recording liquid does not leak during transportation and an image forming apparatus including the recording liquid storage container. To do.

In order to solve the above problems, a recording liquid storage container according to the present invention includes:
In the recording liquid storage container in which the recording liquid is supplied from a nozzle to a recording head that discharges a recording liquid droplet, and the recording liquid is replenished and supplied from the main tank side of the apparatus body
A recording liquid storage section for storing the recording liquid;
Formed in the upper part of the recording liquid storage part, and an atmosphere opening passage for opening the recording liquid storage part to the atmosphere;
An atmosphere release mechanism that is disposed at the atmosphere side end of the atmosphere release passage and at the side end of the recording liquid storage container and has a valve body that opens and closes the atmosphere release passage with respect to the atmosphere;
A partition wall is formed between the top surface of the recording liquid container and the atmosphere opening passage,
A small hole having a circular cross section is formed through the partition wall to communicate the recording liquid container and the atmosphere opening passage,
All the peripheral wall surfaces of the small holes are formed by the partition walls,
The small holes, when the recording liquid wherein the recording liquid contained in the containing portion have closed the air opening mechanism wherein the meniscus of the recording liquid is formed when entering inside, the air opening mechanism is opened Having a hole diameter at which the meniscus is broken ,
According to the viscosity and the prescription of the recording liquid stored in the recording liquid storage unit, the hole diameter is such that a meniscus is formed by surface tension when the recording liquid storage container is shaken by vibration, and the recording liquid reaches the atmosphere opening passage. The size is determined so as not to intrude .

Here, a cylindrical recording liquid supply port for supplying the recording liquid to the recording liquid container is formed in the main body of the recording liquid container.
The cylindrical recording liquid supply port portion passes through the atmosphere opening passage and the partition portion arranged substantially horizontally in the vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the atmosphere opening passage, and stores the recording liquid. Formed to reach the part,
The small hole is formed at a position closer to the central portion of the recording liquid container and away from the atmosphere opening mechanism than a position where the recording liquid supply port portion of the partition wall portion penetrates.
Can be configured.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the recording liquid container according to the present invention.

According to the recording liquid container according to the present invention, the serial is penetration of the recording liquid is prevented from Rokueki housing portion to the atmosphere open passage, penetration of the recording liquid into the atmosphere open passage due to vibration during transportation, after the intrusion Can prevent leakage.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the recording liquid storage container according to the present invention is provided, it is possible to prevent the recording liquid from entering the atmosphere opening passage due to vibration during transportation, leakage after the intrusion, and the like. .

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention as viewed from the front side.
The ink jet recording apparatus includes an apparatus main body 1, a paper feed tray 2 for loading paper loaded in the apparatus main body 1, and a sheet on which an image is recorded (formed) by being detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 1. A paper discharge tray 3 for stocking is provided. Further, a cartridge loading for loading an ink cartridge that protrudes from the front surface to the front side of the apparatus main body 1 and is lower than the upper surface is provided at one end side of the front surface of the apparatus main body 1 (side of the paper supply / discharge tray section). The cartridge loading unit 4 has an operation / display unit 5 provided with operation buttons and a display.

  The cartridge loading unit 4 contains a plurality of recording liquids (inks) that are different color materials, such as black (K) ink, cyan (C) ink, magenta (M) ink, and yellow (Y) ink. Ink cartridges 10k, 10c, 10m, 10y (referred to as “ink cartridge 10” when colors are not distinguished) from the front side to the rear side of the apparatus main body 1 A front cover (cartridge cover) 6 that is opened when the ink cartridge 10 is attached or detached is provided on the front side of the cartridge loading portion 4 so as to be openable and closable.

Next, the mechanism part of the ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating the outline of the mechanism, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of the main part.
A carriage 33 is slidably held in the main scanning direction by a guide rod 31 and a stay 32, which are guide members horizontally mounted on the left and right side plates 21A and 21B, and is shown in FIG. 3 via a timing belt by a main scanning motor (not shown). Move and scan in the direction indicated by the arrow (carriage main scanning direction).

  The carriage 33 is provided with recording heads 34a and 34b composed of liquid ejection heads for ejecting ink droplets of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). The “recording head 34” is arranged in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and the ink droplet ejection direction is directed downward.

  Each of the recording heads 34 has two nozzle rows. One nozzle row of the recording head 34a has black (K) droplets, the other nozzle row has cyan (C) droplets, and the recording head 34b has one nozzle row. One nozzle row ejects magenta (M) droplets, and the other nozzle row ejects yellow (Y) droplets.

  As an inkjet head constituting the recording head 34, a piezoelectric actuator such as a piezoelectric element, a thermal actuator that uses a phase change caused by film boiling of a liquid using an electrothermal transducer such as a heating resistor, and a metal phase change caused by a temperature change. It is possible to use a shape memory alloy actuator to be used, an electrostatic actuator using an electrostatic force, or the like provided as pressure generating means for generating a pressure for discharging a droplet.

  Further, the carriage 33 is equipped with head tanks 35a and 35b (referred to as “head tank 35” when not distinguished) for supplying ink of each color corresponding to the nozzle rows of the recording head 34. As described above, the sub tank 35 is supplied with ink of each color from the ink cartridge 10 of each color mounted in the cartridge loading unit 4 via the ink supply tube 36 of each color. The cartridge loading 4 is provided with a supply pump unit 24 for feeding ink in the ink cartridge 10.

  On the other hand, as a paper feeding unit for feeding the papers 42 stacked on the paper stacking unit (pressure plate) 41 of the paper feeding tray 2, a half-moon roller (feeding) that separates and feeds the papers 42 one by one from the paper stacking unit 41. A separation pad 44 made of a material having a large friction coefficient is provided facing the paper roller 43) and the paper feed roller 43, and the separation pad 44 is urged toward the paper feed roller 43 side.

  In order to feed the paper 42 fed from the paper feeding unit to the lower side of the recording head 34, a guide member 45 for guiding the paper 42, a counter roller 46, a transport guide member 47, and a tip pressure roller. And a holding belt 48 which is a conveying means for electrostatically attracting the fed paper 42 and conveying it at a position facing the recording head 34.

  The transport belt 51 is an endless belt, and is configured to wrap around the transport roller 52 and the tension roller 53 and circulate in the belt transport direction (sub-scanning direction). Further, a charging roller 56 that is a charging unit for charging the surface of the transport belt 51 is provided. The charging roller 56 is disposed so as to come into contact with the surface layer of the transport belt 51 and to rotate following the rotation of the transport belt 51. The transport belt 51 rotates in the belt transport direction of FIG. 3 when the transport roller 52 is rotationally driven through timing by a sub-scanning motor (not shown).

  Further, as a paper discharge unit for discharging the paper 42 recorded by the recording head 34, a separation claw 61 for separating the paper 42 from the conveying belt 51, a paper discharge roller 62, and a paper discharge roller 63 are provided. The paper discharge tray 3 is provided below the paper discharge roller 62.

  A duplex unit 71 is detachably mounted on the back surface of the apparatus body 1. The duplex unit 71 takes in the paper 42 returned by the reverse rotation of the conveyance belt 51, reverses it, and feeds it again between the counter roller 46 and the conveyance belt 51. The upper surface of the duplex unit 71 is a manual feed tray 72.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 including a recovery means for maintaining and recovering the state of the nozzles of the recording head 34 is arranged in the non-printing area on one side of the carriage 33 in the scanning direction. Yes.

  The maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 includes cap members (hereinafter referred to as “caps”) 82a and 82b (hereinafter referred to as “caps 82” when not distinguished from each other) for capping the nozzle surfaces of the recording head 34, and nozzle surfaces. A wiper blade 83 that is a blade member for wiping the ink, and an empty discharge receiver 84 that receives liquid droplets when performing empty discharge for discharging liquid droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the thickened recording liquid. ing.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the non-printing area on the other side in the scanning direction of the carriage 33, idle discharge is performed to discharge liquid droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the recording liquid thickened during recording or the like. An empty discharge receiver 88 for receiving the droplets at the time is disposed, and the empty discharge receiver 88 is provided with an opening 89 along the nozzle row direction of the recording head 34.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus configured as described above, the sheets 42 are separated and fed one by one from the sheet feeding tray 2, and the sheet 42 fed substantially vertically upward is guided by the guide 45, and the transport belt 51 and the counter roller 46, and the leading end is guided by the conveying guide 37 and pressed against the conveying belt 51 by the tip pressing roller 49, and the conveying direction is changed by approximately 90 °.

  At this time, a positive output and a negative output are alternately repeated with respect to the charging roller 56, that is, an alternating voltage is applied, and a charging voltage pattern in which the conveying belt 51 alternates, that is, in a sub-scanning direction that is a circumferential direction. , Plus and minus are alternately charged in a band shape with a predetermined width. When the paper 42 is fed onto the conveyance belt 51 charged alternately with plus and minus, the paper 42 is attracted to the conveyance belt 51, and the paper 42 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the circular movement of the conveyance belt 51.

  Therefore, by driving the recording head 34 according to the image signal while moving the carriage 33, ink droplets are ejected onto the stopped paper 42 to record one line, and after the paper 42 is conveyed by a predetermined amount, Record the next line. Upon receiving a recording end signal or a signal that the trailing edge of the paper 42 has reached the recording area, the recording operation is finished and the paper 42 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 3.

  Further, during printing (recording) standby, the carriage 33 is moved to the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 side, and the recording head 34 is capped by the cap 82 to keep the nozzles in a wet state, thereby preventing ejection failure due to ink drying. . Further, the recording liquid is sucked from the nozzle by a suction pump (not shown) with the recording head 34 capped by the cap 82 (referred to as “nozzle suction” or “head suction”), and the thickened recording liquid and bubbles are discharged. Perform recovery action. In addition, an idle ejection operation for ejecting ink not related to recording is performed before the start of recording or during recording. As a result, the stable ejection performance of the recording head 34 is maintained.

Next, an example of the recording liquid container according to the first embodiment of the present invention applied to the head tank in this image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view of the recording liquid storage container (head tank).
The recording liquid storage container (head tank) has a container main body (case main body) 102 that forms a recording liquid storage portion 101 for storing the recording liquid (ink) 100. An atmosphere opening passage 103 for opening the part 101 to the atmosphere is formed, and an atmosphere opening mechanism 104 for opening and closing the atmosphere opening passage 103 is provided.

  A partition wall 105 is provided between the top surface of the recording liquid storage unit 101 and the air release passage 103, and the recording liquid storage unit 101 and the air release passage 103 communicate with the partition wall 105, for example, a cross section having a diameter of 1 mm. A small hole (connection hole) 106 that is a circular hole is formed. The small holes 106 form meniscuses due to surface tension even when the head tank is shaken by vibrations such as during transportation, depending on the viscosity and prescription of the recording liquid 100 stored in the recording liquid storage unit 101, and the inside of the atmosphere communication path 103. The size, shape, and length do not allow the recording liquid to enter.

  In addition, a recording liquid supply port 107 is formed in the upper part of the container body 102, and the tube 36 is connected by a connecting member 108. A filter unit 109 is attached to the lower part of the container body 102, and the recording head 34 is attached via the filter unit 109. A driving means 110 such as a solenoid is disposed on the apparatus main body side to open and close the atmosphere release mechanism 104.

  In the recording liquid storage container configured as described above, the small hole 106 can be used even when the recording liquid storage container is shaken by vibrations such as during transportation due to the viscosity or prescription of the recording liquid 100 stored in the recording liquid storage unit 101. Since the meniscus is formed by the surface tension of the stored recording liquid and is formed in such a size and shape that the recording liquid does not enter the atmosphere communication path 103, the recording liquid storage section 101 is subjected to vibration during transportation or the like. When the recording liquid 100 in the inside sways and contacts the small hole 106, a meniscus is formed in the small hole 106 due to surface tension, and the recording liquid 100 does not enter the atmosphere opening passage 103 any more.

  This prevents the recording liquid from leaking outside through the air release mechanism 104 even when transported in a state where the recording liquid is filled in the head tank 35 at the time of shipment. As a result, the recording liquid is filled in the head tank 35. The image forming apparatus can be shipped in a state, the cost can be reduced, and the initial rise time of the image forming apparatus under the user can be shortened.

  Since the recording liquid meniscus in the small hole 106 is destroyed by opening the recording liquid storage container to the atmosphere, the recording liquid meniscus in the small hole 106 is destroyed. The communication is made through the passage 103 and the atmospheric release mechanism 104, and the recording liquid can be filled in the state where the recording liquid storage unit 101 is opened to the atmosphere.

Next, a recording liquid container according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view of the recording liquid storage container (head tank).
As in the first embodiment, the recording liquid storage container (head tank) includes a container main body (case main body) 102 that forms a recording liquid storage portion 101 that stores the recording liquid (ink) 100. An air release passage 103 for opening the recording liquid storage unit 101 to the atmosphere is formed in the upper part of the main body 102, and an air release mechanism 104 for opening and closing the air release passage 103 is provided.

  A communication passage 115 is provided between the top surface of the recording liquid storage unit 101 and the air release passage 103 to connect the recording liquid storage unit 101 and the air release passage 103. The communication path 115 may be the small hole 105 of the first embodiment, or a hole shape larger than the small hole 105 (a hole having a size, shape, and length that does not form a meniscus due to surface tension). It may be.

  A leakage prevention valve 116 is provided as an opening / closing means for opening and closing the communication path 115. The leakage prevention valve 116 is connected to a valve opening / closing solenoid 117 as a driving means, and the leakage prevention valve 116 can be opened / closed by controlling the valve opening / closing solenoid 117 from the apparatus main body side control unit.

  Here, when the valve opening / closing solenoid 117 is not energized, the leakage prevention valve 116 is closed, and the recording liquid is replenished and filled from the main tank when the apparatus is turned on or the recording liquid container is open to the atmosphere. The valve opening / closing solenoid 117 is energized to open the leakage prevention valve 116 so that the atmosphere can be opened through the atmosphere opening passage 103.

  As a result, since the leakage prevention valve 115 is closed when transported in a state where the recording liquid is filled in the head tank 35 at the time of shipment, the recording liquid is prevented from leaking to the outside through the atmosphere release mechanism 104. As a result, the head The tank 35 can be shipped in a state where the recording liquid is filled, so that the cost can be reduced and the initial rise time of the image forming apparatus under the user can be shortened.

Next, a recording liquid container according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view of the recording liquid storage container (head tank).
As in the first embodiment, the recording liquid storage container (head tank) includes a container main body (case main body) 102 that forms a recording liquid storage portion 101 that stores the recording liquid (ink) 100. An air release passage 103 for opening the recording liquid storage unit 101 to the atmosphere is formed in the upper part of the main body 102, and an air release mechanism 104 for opening and closing the air release passage 103 is provided.

  A communication passage 115 is provided between the top surface of the recording liquid storage unit 101 and the air release passage 103 to connect the recording liquid storage unit 101 and the air release passage 103. The communication path 115 may be the small hole 105 of the first embodiment, or a hole shape larger than the small hole 105 (a hole having a size, shape, and length that does not form a meniscus due to surface tension). It may be.

  And the solenoid valve 126 used as the leakage prevention valve which is the opening-closing means which opens and closes the communicating path 115 is provided. The electromagnetic valve 126 is driven to open and close by being driven and controlled from the apparatus main body side control unit.

  Here, the solenoid valve 126 is in a closed state when not energized, and the solenoid valve 126 is energized when the apparatus is turned on or when the recording liquid is replenished and filled from the main tank with the recording liquid container open to the atmosphere. As a result, the electromagnetic valve 126 is opened, and the atmosphere can be opened through the atmosphere opening passage 103.

  This prevents the recording liquid from leaking outside through the atmosphere release mechanism 104 since the electromagnetic valve 126 is closed when transporting the recording liquid filled in the head tank 35 at the time of shipment. As a result, the head tank 35 can be shipped in a state where the recording liquid is filled therein, so that the cost can be reduced and the initial rise time of the image forming apparatus under the user can be shortened.

Next, a recording liquid container according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional explanatory view of the recording liquid storage container (head tank).
As in the first embodiment, the recording liquid storage container (head tank) includes a container main body (case main body) 102 that forms a recording liquid storage portion 101 that stores the recording liquid (ink) 100. An air release passage 103 for opening the recording liquid storage unit 101 to the atmosphere is formed in the upper part of the main body 102, and an air release mechanism 104 for opening and closing the air release passage 103 is provided.

  A communication passage 115 is provided between the top surface of the recording liquid storage unit 101 and the air release passage 103 to connect the recording liquid storage unit 101 and the air release passage 103. The communication path 115 may be the small hole 105 of the first embodiment, or a hole shape larger than the small hole 105 (a hole having a size, shape, and length that does not form a meniscus due to surface tension). It may be.

  A leakage prevention valve 120 that is an opening / closing means for opening and closing the communication path 115 is provided. The leakage prevention valve 120 is driven to open and close by being driven and controlled from the apparatus main body side controller. Further, a recording liquid sensor 121 which is a recording liquid detecting means for detecting the recording liquid is attached to the top surface portion of the recording liquid storage unit 101.

  Here, when the leakage prevention valve 120 is not energized, the leakage prevention valve 120 is in an open state. When the recording liquid in the recording liquid storage unit 101 comes into contact with the recording liquid sensor 121 due to shaking or the like, the leakage prevention valve 120 is energized from the apparatus main body side. To close.

  That is, when the recording liquid in the recording liquid storage unit 101 comes into contact with the recording liquid sensor 121 due to shaking or the like, there is a high possibility that the recording liquid enters the communication path 115. At this time, the leakage prevention valve 120 is closed to connect the recording liquid. By closing the passage 115, the recording liquid is prevented from entering the atmosphere opening passage 103.

  Thus, the useless opening / closing operation is reduced by closing the opening / closing means only when the recording liquid in the recording liquid storage container is about to enter the communication path 115 on the top surface of the recording liquid storage section. Thus, the power consumption can be reduced and the durability of the opening / closing means can be improved.

Next, an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the embodiment.
When the recording liquid container according to the fourth embodiment is used, the leakage prevention valve 120 cannot be opened or closed unless the apparatus main body is turned on. Therefore, the moving range of the image forming apparatus is limited to the range of the power cord. In the case of shipping from a factory, it cannot be handled.

  Therefore, in this image forming apparatus, even when the power plug 131 of the apparatus main body 130 is not connected to a power outlet, the auxiliary power supply for electrically driving the leakage prevention valve 120 and the detection signal of the recording liquid sensor 121 And a control unit 132 that opens and closes the leakage prevention valve 120 based on the control unit 132.

  As a result, even when shipping from the factory, the leakage prevention valve 120 is closed only when the recording liquid in the recording liquid storage container is about to enter the communication path 115 on the top surface of the recording liquid storage section. As a result, useless opening / closing operations can be reduced, power consumption can be reduced, and durability of the opening / closing means (valves) can be improved.

  Next, a specific example of the head tank 35 to which the recording liquid container according to the first embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 is a front explanatory view of the head tank, FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective explanatory view of the container body of the head tank, and FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective explanatory view of the container body viewed from the side opposite to FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory bottom view of the container body.

  The head tank 35 supplies ink storage portions 201A and 201B, which are recording liquid storage portions, on both sides of a container main body (tank main body) 202 in order to supply recording liquids of different colors to the two nozzle rows of one recording head 34, respectively. (When not distinguished, it is referred to as “ink storage portion 201”), and a flexible film-like member (flexible film-like member) 211 (FIG. 10) is formed in the opening of these ink storage portions 201A and 201B. In order to urge the film-like member 211 outward between the tank main body 202 and the film-like member 211 inside the ink containing portions 201A and 201B. A spring (spring) 212 which is an elastic member is provided, and the film-like member 211 and the elastic member 212 constitute a negative pressure generating mechanism. There. Although a negative pressure detecting lever (see, for example, Patent Document 5) that is displaced according to the displacement of the film-like member 211 is provided, the illustration is omitted.

  The film-like member 211 may have a single-layer structure, but a two-layer structure in which different types of first and second layers are laminated, for example, a structure in which polyethylene and nylon film-like members are laminated, or the first layer is silica It can be set as the structure which formed the vapor deposition layer.

  Further, an air release passage 203 for opening the ink containing portion 201 to the atmosphere is formed in the upper part of the tank main body 202, and an air release mechanism 204 for opening and closing the air release passage 203 is provided. The air release mechanism 204 includes a ball valve body 204b that opens and closes the passage 204a, a spring 204d that urges the ball valve body 204b toward the valve seat 204c, and the like.

  A partition wall 205 is provided between the top surface of the ink storage unit 201 and the air release passage 203, and the ink storage unit 201 and the air release passage 203 are communicated with the partition wall 205, as described above. Depending on the viscosity and prescription of the recording liquid stored in the section 201, a meniscus due to surface tension is formed even when the head tank 35 is shaken by vibrations during transportation, etc., and the recording liquid does not enter the atmosphere communication path 203. A small hole 206 is formed.

  In addition, an ink supply port portion 207 for supplying ink to the ink containing portion 201 is formed in the tank main body 202, and the tube 36 is connected by a connecting member 208. Further, a filter unit portion 209 is attached to the lower portion of the container main body 202, and the recording head 34 is attached via the filter unit portion 209. Further, two detection electrodes 216 for detecting ink in the ink storage unit 201 are provided on the upper portion of the tank body 202.

  Here, on the bottom surface of the tank body 202, supply ports 213A and 213B for individually supplying ink from the ink storage portions 201A and 201B to the filter unit portion 209 are formed at the end portions of the ink storage portions 201A and 201B, respectively. Further, in order to arrange the supply ports 213A and 213B in the central portion, the ink containing portions 201A and 201B are formed with bulging portions 214A and 214B swelled in the other containing portion.

  On the other hand, the filter unit section 209 is assembled by fitting a filter holding member 243 and a lid member 244 holding the filters 242A and 242B into the unit case 241 as shown in FIGS.

  The unit case 241 is provided with ink receiving portions 246A and 246B for receiving ink that has passed through the filters 242A and 242B, which are formed with connecting portions 245A and 245B that are connected to the ink supply port portions corresponding to the nozzle rows of the recording head 34, respectively. ing. The lid member 244 is provided with connecting portions 247A and 247B that are connected to the supply port portions 213A and 213B of the ink containing portions 201A and 201B, respectively.

  And here, in order to guide the ink introduced into the filter unit 214 from the connecting portions 247A and 247B at both ends to the connecting portions 245A and 245B on the recording head 34 side disposed in the center via the filters 242A and 242B. The filters 242A and 242B are flat and substantially tear-shaped as shown in the figure.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 15, the ink supply ports 34A and 34B on the recording head 34 side are formed side by side in the center portion in the direction along the nozzle row 34N and in the direction orthogonal to the direction along the nozzle row 34N. In this case, when supplying recording liquids of different colors to the common liquid chambers corresponding to the two nozzle rows 34N1 and 34N2 of one recording head 34, the filter 242A and 242B in the direction along the nozzle row 34N are provided at one end of the filters 242A and 242B. By introducing the ink and guiding the ink from the other end of the filters 242A and 242B to the ink supply ports 34A and 34B of the recording head 34, substantially the entire surface of the filters 242A and 242B can be used, and the removal efficiency is improved. improves.

  Also in the head tank 35 configured in this way, as described in the first embodiment of the recording liquid container, the small hole 206 is accommodated even when the head tank 35 is shaken by vibration such as during transportation. Since the meniscus due to the surface tension of the recording liquid is formed and the recording liquid does not enter the atmosphere communication path 203, the head tank 35 can be shipped with the recording liquid filled therein, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, the initial rise time of the image forming apparatus under the user can be shortened.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a printer having a single function configuration, and may be an image forming apparatus having a composite function such as printer / facsimile / copying. It may be applied to the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view seen from the front side of the ink jet recording apparatus as the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a side schematic block diagram explaining the whole structure of the mechanism part of the apparatus. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing of the mechanism part. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of a recording liquid storage container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view of a recording liquid storage container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a typical explanatory view of a recording liquid container according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory view of a recording liquid storage container according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory view of a recording liquid storage container according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a schematic front explanatory view of a head tank of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a perspective explanatory view of the tank body of the head tank. It is the perspective explanatory view which looked at the same tank main part from the opposite side. It is bottom explanatory drawing of the tank main body. It is a disassembled perspective explanatory drawing of a filter unit part. It is a plane explanatory view of the filter unit part. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating a recording head.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Apparatus main body 2 ... Paper feed tray 3 ... Paper discharge tray 4 ... Cartridge loading part 10k, 10c, 10m, 10y ... Ink cartridge 33 ... Carriage 34 ... Recording head 35 ... Head tank 36 ... Ink supply tube 51 ... Conveying belt 100 ... Recording liquid 101 ... Recording liquid container 102 ... Container body 103 ... Air release passage 104 ... Air release mechanism 105 ... Partition wall 106 ... Small hole

Claims (3)

In the recording liquid storage container in which the recording liquid is supplied from a nozzle to a recording head that discharges a recording liquid droplet, and the recording liquid is replenished and supplied from the main tank side of the apparatus body
A recording liquid storage section for storing the recording liquid;
Formed in the upper part of the recording liquid storage part, and an atmosphere opening passage for opening the recording liquid storage part to the atmosphere;
An atmosphere release mechanism that is disposed at the atmosphere side end of the atmosphere release passage and at the side end of the recording liquid storage container and has a valve body that opens and closes the atmosphere release passage with respect to the atmosphere;
A partition wall is formed between the top surface of the recording liquid container and the atmosphere opening passage,
A small hole having a circular cross section is formed through the partition wall to communicate the recording liquid container and the atmosphere opening passage,
All the peripheral wall surfaces of the small holes are formed by the partition walls,
The small holes, when the recording liquid wherein the recording liquid contained in the containing portion have closed the air opening mechanism wherein the meniscus of the recording liquid is formed when entering inside, the air opening mechanism is opened Having a hole diameter at which the meniscus is broken ,
According to the viscosity and the prescription of the recording liquid stored in the recording liquid storage unit, the hole diameter is such that a meniscus is formed by surface tension when the recording liquid storage container is shaken by vibration, and the recording liquid reaches the atmosphere opening passage. A recording liquid storage container characterized in that it is set to a size that does not penetrate . A cylindrical recording liquid supply port for supplying the recording liquid to the recording liquid container is formed in the main body of the recording liquid container.
The cylindrical recording liquid supply port portion passes through the atmosphere opening passage and the partition portion arranged substantially horizontally in the vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the atmosphere opening passage, and stores the recording liquid. Formed to reach the part,
The small hole is formed at a position closer to the central portion of the recording liquid container and away from the atmosphere opening mechanism than a position where the recording liquid supply port portion of the partition wall portion penetrates. The recording liquid container according to claim 1.   An image forming apparatus comprising the recording liquid container according to claim 1.

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