JP5034842B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus in which an object to be cooled is mounted on a moving carriage.

2. Description of the Related Art A recording apparatus is known in which a recording head or the like is mounted on a moving carriage and ink is ejected to form an image. Some components mounted on the carriage generate heat.
For example, when a recording apparatus is used to eject ink onto a recording medium with poor ink absorbability or a recording medium into which the ink penetrates deeply, photocurable ink is used to fix the ink to the recording medium.
When the photocurable ink is used, the photocurable ink diffuses and the image quality changes until the photocurable ink is cured and fixed to the recording medium. Therefore, it is preferable that the time from when the photocurable ink reaches the recording medium to when the photocurable ink is fixed is short. Accordingly, the light irradiation means for curing the photocurable ink is disposed near the recording head that ejects the photocurable ink. Here, the light conversion efficiency of the light irradiating means is 10% to 20%, and most of the light is emitted as heat, which affects the ink, the recording head, and the like.
Further, the recording head itself of the piezoelectric method, the thermal jet method or the like also generates heat.
In order to radiate these heats by the heat radiating plate, a large surface area is required, and the movement of the recording head is restricted.
As a cooling device for the light irradiation device, one using an air cooling fan is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-125752 (page 8, FIG. 3)

  When an air cooling fan is used, the ink flight process is disturbed by the generated wind, and the image quality is degraded. Furthermore, in the case of water cooling, a flow rate is required, and a large pump, a thick pipe line for securing the flow rate, and electric power are required.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1]
A carriage that moves, a heating element mounted on the carriage, and a cooling unit that cools the heating element by circulation of the refrigerant, and the refrigerant is vaporized by heat generated from the heating element, A recording apparatus having a boiling point characteristic that is liquefied by heat radiation in the circulation process.

  According to this application example, since the heating element mounted on the moving carriage is cooled by the circulation of the refrigerant, the cooling means can be separated into a portion mounted on the carriage and other portions, and a small recording apparatus Is obtained.

[Application Example 2]
The recording apparatus, wherein the refrigerant has a boiling point of 30 ° C to 60 ° C.
In this application example, since the boiling point of the refrigerant is low, latent heat cooling performed by vaporization and liquefaction of the refrigerant can be performed efficiently.

[Application Example 3]
The recording apparatus, wherein the refrigerant includes one or more of dichloromethane, diethyl ether, acetone, and cyclopentane.
In this application example, the boiling point of dichloromethane is 40 ° C, the boiling point of cyclopentane is 49.3 ° C, the boiling point of diethyl ether is 34.6 ° C, and the boiling point of acetone is 56.1 ° C. Cooling is possible.
In addition, dichloromethane itself has little environmental impact such as ozone layer destruction and warming at the time of leakage.
Cyclopentane has a high self-ignition point of 361 ° C. and a low risk of ignition. Furthermore, since the resin solubility is low, there is little influence on the injection line and the reflux line made of synthetic resin.

[Application Example 4]
In the recording apparatus, the carriage includes a recording head that ejects photocurable ink, and a light irradiation unit that is provided in the recording head and includes a light source that emits light to the ejected photocurable ink. And a recording apparatus.
In this application example, since the recording head and the light irradiation means are cooled, it is possible to stably eject the photocurable ink due to the temperature rise, and to obtain a small recording apparatus capable of forming an image with good image quality.

[Application Example 5]
In the recording apparatus, the cooling unit cools the light irradiation unit and detects a temperature of the light irradiation unit, and whether the detected temperature is within a range in which the ejection can be controlled. Temperature determining means for determining whether or not, and when the temperature is within the range, the ejection of the photocurable ink is started.
In this application example, when the temperature of the recording head exceeds a certain range and it becomes difficult to control the ejection of the photocurable ink, the ejection of the photocurable ink is stopped and cooled. When the temperature of the recording head falls within a certain range, an image is formed in a state in which the ejection can be controlled. Therefore, a recording apparatus that can form an image with good image quality can be obtained.

[Application Example 6]
In the recording apparatus, the cooling unit includes a heat transfer unit attached to a holding unit that holds the light source, a refrigerant channel provided in the heat transfer unit, and the refrigerant is injected into the channel. An injection pipe for recirculation, a reflux pipe for refluxing the refrigerant from the flow path, and a heat radiating portion and a circulation means for the refrigerant between the injection pipe and the reflux pipe. A recording device.
In this application example, since the light source is forcibly cooled using the refrigerant, the stop time of the ejection of the photocurable ink is shortened.

[Application Example 7]
The recording apparatus, wherein the injection conduit and the reflux conduit are flexible.
In this application example, even if the light irradiation means and the heat transfer unit move together with the recording head, it can follow flexibly.

[Application Example 8]
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the injection line and the reflux line are made of a synthetic resin.
In this application example, since the injection line and the reflux line are made of synthetic resin, molding is easy and the cost can be reduced.

[Application Example 9]
The recording apparatus, wherein the photocurable ink is an ultraviolet curable ink, and the light irradiation means is an ultraviolet irradiation means.
In this application example, since the ultraviolet curable ink is cured when irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the effect of curing by light in other wavelength ranges is small, the ink life is extended, and ink clogging can be reduced.

[Application Example 10]
The recording apparatus, wherein the light source is an LED.
In this application example, since a LED (Light Emitting Diode) is used, a small recording apparatus can be obtained.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an overall perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus 1 as a recording apparatus.
The inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment forms an image by ejecting ultraviolet curable ink, which is a photocurable ink of four colors yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Device. As the inkjet method, for example, a piezoelectric method, a thermal jet method, or the like can be used.

  In FIG. 1, an ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a recording apparatus main body 2 and a support base 3 that supports the recording apparatus main body 2 from below. A platen 4 that supports the recording medium P from the non-recording surface is disposed at the center of the recording apparatus main body 2 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the recording apparatus main body 2, and the recording medium P is not shown in the drawing. Thus, the platen 4 is conveyed along the conveyance direction X.

A bar-shaped guide rail 5 extending in the longitudinal direction of the recording apparatus main body 2 is provided above the platen 4 and upstream of the conveyance direction X of the recording medium P. A carriage 6 is supported on the guide rail 5. The carriage 6 is reciprocally driven in the main scanning direction Y that is the longitudinal direction of the recording apparatus main body 2 along the guide rail 5 by a driving mechanism (not shown).
The recording apparatus main body 2 is covered with a cover (not shown) so as to block the entire movable range of the platen 4 and the carriage 6 from the outside, so that ultraviolet rays do not leak outside.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the carriage 6 and the cooling means 10.
The cooling means 10 is housed in the recording apparatus main body 2 shown in FIG. A part of the cooling means 10 may be arranged outside the recording apparatus main body 2.

In FIG. 2, the carriage 6 has an ink ejection head 7 as a recording head in which each color yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) used in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is set. Is arranged. In the present embodiment, each color ink ejection head 7 includes an ink tank.
Further, on the side surfaces on both sides of the carriage 6 in the main scanning direction Y, an ultraviolet irradiation unit 8 as light irradiation means is provided.

The ultraviolet irradiation unit 8 includes an LED 80 as a light source. The LED 80 is held on the surface of the holding portion 81 that faces the platen 4. Therefore, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 8 irradiates the platen 4 with light.
The ink ejecting head 7 and the LED 80 are heating elements that generate heat from themselves and a circuit provided therewith.
On the side surface of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 8 in the main scanning direction Y, temperature detection means 9 is provided. As the temperature detection means 9, a thermistor, a thermocouple, or the like can be used.

The cooling means 10 includes a heat radiating part 11, a refrigerant injection pump 12 as a circulation means, an injection pipe 13, a reflux pipe 14, a heat transfer part 15, and a cooling pipe 16.
An injection pipe 13 is drawn out from the heat radiating section 11, and the injection pipe 13 is provided with a refrigerant injection pump 12 for sending out the refrigerant. The injection line 13 is divided into two parts for supplying the refrigerant to the cooling pipes 16 provided in the two heat transfer sections 15, and each of the two divided injection lines 13 is for preventing the reverse flow of the refrigerant. A refrigerant injection check valve 17 is provided.

The delivered refrigerant is in a liquid state and is vaporized in the cooling pipe 16 of the heat transfer unit 15 to take heat of the heat transfer unit 15.
A reflux pipe 14 is drawn out from the two heat transfer sections 15, and is combined into one reflux pipe 14 on the way and connected to the heat radiating section 11.
The vaporized refrigerant is cooled by the heat radiating section 11 and returned to the liquid again.

  The injection conduit 13 and the reflux conduit 14 can be made of a flexible synthetic resin. Solvent-resistant elastomers are preferred, and for example, fluorine-based elastomer tubes, silicone rubber, fluororesins, and the like can be used.

The heat radiating portion 11 includes fins as heat radiating plates. The heat radiating unit 11 may be provided outside the recording apparatus main body 2. The fins are provided to increase the heat dissipation efficiency, but are not necessarily required.
As another method for improving the heat radiation efficiency, the heat radiation section 11 can be cooled using a compressor, the Peltier effect, or the like.

The heat transfer unit 15 is provided in close contact with the surface of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 8 opposite to the platen 4 along the ultraviolet irradiation unit 8. A cooling pipe 16 serving as a refrigerant flow path is embedded in the heat transfer section 15 by being folded back and forth a plurality of times.
For the heat transfer unit 15, the cooling pipe 16, and the holding unit 81, a metal such as aluminum having good thermal conductivity can be used.
The color and number of the ultraviolet curable ink used in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 are not limited to those used in the present embodiment, and for example, light yellow (LY), light magenta (LM), and light cyan (LC). It is also possible to use colors such as. In this case, a recording head corresponding to each color is mounted on the carriage.
Further, the position where the heat transfer unit 15 is provided can be provided in close contact with the ultraviolet irradiation unit 8 or according to a heating element that generates heat, such as the ink ejection head 7.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus 1.
The inkjet recording apparatus 1 that has received print data from the computer 100, which is an external apparatus, controls the LED 80, the refrigerant injection pump 12, and the ink ejection head 7 by the controller 20, and forms an image on the recording medium P shown in FIG. .
Further, the detector group including the temperature detecting means 9 monitors the situation in the ink jet recording apparatus 1, and based on the detection result, the controller 20 controls the LED 80, the refrigerant injection pump 12, the ink ejection head 7, and the like. An A / D converter and DMA (not shown) are provided between the temperature detecting means 9 and the CPU 50.

The controller 20 is a control unit for controlling the ink jet recording apparatus 1. The controller 20 includes an interface unit 40, a CPU 50, a memory 60, and a unit control circuit 70.
The interface unit 40 is for transmitting and receiving data between the computer 100 and the inkjet recording apparatus 1.
The CPU 50 is an arithmetic processing device for controlling the entire inkjet recording apparatus 1. The CPU 50 controls the LED 80, the refrigerant injection pump 12, the ink ejection head 7, and the like by a unit control circuit 70 according to a program stored in the memory 60. Further, the CPU 50 includes a temperature determination unit 51 and a position determination unit 52.

A memory 60 as a storage means is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 50, a work area, and the like. The memory 60 also stores an injection area and an injection amount. These pieces of information can also be obtained from the computer 100.
The unit control circuit 70 includes an LED control circuit 71, a refrigerant injection pump control circuit 72, and an ink ejection head control circuit 73. The unit control circuit 70 includes a control circuit for the transport mechanism of the recording medium P and the like.

In the ejection area stored in the memory 60, ultraviolet curable ink is ejected by the ink ejection head 7 by the ink ejection head control circuit 73 based on information from the computer 100.
Further, when the position determination unit 52 determines that the LED 80 has reached the injection region stored in the memory 60, the LED control circuit 71 controls lighting and extinguishing of the LED 80 in accordance with the injection amount stored in the memory 60. As a result, the ultraviolet curable ink can be cured without extra light irradiation. Control of the LED 80 can include not only lighting and extinguishing of the LED 80 but also control of the light amount of the LED 80.
Specifically, if the ink ejection amount is large, the LED 80 is turned on for a long time or the amount of light is increased. If the ink ejection amount is small, the LED 80 is turned on for a short time or the amount of light is reduced.

  Whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 9 is within a certain range is judged by the temperature judging means 51. When the temperature is not within the certain range of 0 ° C. to 50 ° C., the ultraviolet curable ink is ejected. Do not start.

  The refrigerant injection pump 12 is driven by the refrigerant injection pump control circuit 72 based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means 9. For example, the temperature of the ink ejecting head 7 may be always controlled so as to be close to room temperature. If the temperature exceeds 50 ° C., the refrigerant injection pump 12 may be driven to cool the ink ejecting head 7. Good.

The kind of refrigerant is preferably dichloromethane, diethyl ether, acetone, or cyclopentane. Further, it may be a mixed liquid containing dichloromethane, diethyl ether, acetone, cyclopentane dichloromethane, or cyclopentane.
The boiling point of diethyl ether is 34.6 ° C, and the boiling point of acetone is 56.1 ° C.

  The ultraviolet curable ink used in the present embodiment has a property of curing when irradiated with ultraviolet rays as light. As a main component, at least a polymerizable compound (including a known polymerizable compound), a photopolymerization initiator, and a coloring material are included. The ultraviolet curable ink is roughly classified into a radical polymerization ink containing a radical polymerizable compound as a polymerizable compound and a cationic polymerization ink containing a cationic polymerizable compound.

  Next, in the recording medium P used in the present embodiment, various paper such as plain paper, recycled paper, and glossy paper, various fabrics, various non-woven fabrics, resin, metal, glass, and the like applied to a normal inkjet recording apparatus. A recording medium made of a material is applicable. Further, as the form of the recording medium P, a roll shape, a cut sheet shape, a plate shape, or the like is applicable.

According to this embodiment, there are the following effects.
(1) Since the ink ejection head 7 and the LED 80 mounted on the moving carriage 6 are cooled by the circulation of the refrigerant, the heat transfer section 15 and the cooling pipe 16 on which the cooling means 10 is mounted on the carriage 6 and other heat dissipation sections 11 and a small inkjet recording apparatus 1 can be obtained.

  (2) Since the ink ejecting head 7 and the LED 80 are cooled, it is possible to obtain a small-sized ink jet recording apparatus 1 that can stably eject ultraviolet-rotation curable ink due to a temperature rise and can form an image with good image quality. it can.

  (3) When the temperature of the ink ejection head 7 exceeds 50 ° C. and it becomes difficult to control the ejection of the ultraviolet curable ink, the ejection of the ultraviolet curable ink is stopped and cooled. When the temperature of the ink ejection head 7 falls within the range of 0 ° C. to 50 ° C., an image is formed in a state where ejection control is possible. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the ink jet recording apparatus 1 that can form an image with good image quality.

  (4) Since the temperature range for ejecting the ultraviolet curable ink is substantially the same as the use temperature range of the ink ejecting head 7 and the ink jet recording apparatus 1, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 capable of forming an image with good image quality can be obtained.

  (5) Since the LED 80 is forcibly cooled using the refrigerant, the stop time of the ultraviolet curable ink ejection can be shortened.

  (6) Even if the ultraviolet irradiation unit 8 and the heat transfer unit 15 move together with the ink ejecting head 7, it can follow flexibly.

  (7) Since the injection line 13 and the reflux line 14 are made of synthetic resin, molding is easy and cost can be reduced.

  (8) Since the boiling point of diethyl ether is 34.6 ° C. and the boiling point of acetone is 56.1 ° C., latent heat cooling can be performed with a small amount of liquid.

  (9) Since the boiling point of dichloromethane is 40 ° C., latent heat cooling can be performed with a small amount of liquid. Dichloromethane itself can reduce environmental effects such as ozone layer destruction and global warming at the time of leakage.

  (10) Since the boiling point of cyclopentane is 49.3 ° C., latent heat cooling can be performed with a small amount of liquid. In addition, the self-ignition point is as high as 361 ° C. and the risk of ignition is low. Furthermore, since the resin solubility is low, the influence on the injection pipe 13 and the reflux pipe 14 made of synthetic resin can be reduced.

  (11) Since the ultraviolet curable ink is cured when irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the effect of curing by light in other wavelength ranges is small, the ink life is extended, and ink clogging can be reduced.

  (12) Since the LED 80 is used, a small inkjet recording apparatus 1 can be obtained.

  (13) The curing of the ultraviolet curable ink is performed by controlling the lighting and extinguishing of the LED 80 by the LED control circuit 71 in accordance with the position and the ejection amount of the ultraviolet curable ink. It is possible to obtain the inkjet recording apparatus 1 that can reduce the lighting of the LED 80 and suppress power consumption.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the carriage 6 and the cooling means 10 in the present embodiment.
The first embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the number of ink ejecting heads 91 and the method of supplying the ultraviolet curable ink to the ink ejecting head 91.
In FIG. 4, two rows of the ink jet heads 91 are provided on the carriage 6 so as to form a staggered pattern in the transport direction X.
One ink ejection head 91 is provided with an unillustrated ink ejection nozzle array corresponding to each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) in the transport direction X. Yes. Since the ink ejecting heads 91 are arranged in a staggered pattern, the nozzles of the respective colors provided in the eight ink ejecting heads 91 are continuously arranged in a continuous manner when viewed from the main scanning direction Y.

  Each ink ejection head 91 is provided with an intermediate tank 92 corresponding to each color for supplying ink. Ink of each color is supplied to the intermediate tank 92 through an ink supply pipe 93. The ink supply pipe 93 communicates with an ink tank (not shown) provided at one end of the moving range of the carriage 6 and outside the platen 4, and ink is ejected from the ink tank through the intermediate tank 92 as needed. To be supplied.

According to this embodiment, there are the following effects.
(14) Since the nozzles of each color are arranged long in the transport direction X, an image can be formed in a wide range while the carriage 6 moves in the main scanning direction Y. Therefore, an image can be formed at high speed.

(Modification)
FIG. 5 is a schematic partial perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus 200 according to a modification.
In FIG. 5, an ink jet recording apparatus 200 according to a modification is an apparatus called a so-called line printer. The ink jet recording apparatus 200 is an apparatus that forms an image by ejecting ink while transporting the recording medium P by the transport belt 220 provided in the transport apparatus 210 (the transport direction is indicated by a white arrow in the drawing).
The ink jet recording apparatus 200 includes a carriage 61 having substantially the same configuration as that of the second embodiment, but the carriage 61 itself is fixed to the ink jet recording apparatus 200 or the transport apparatus 210 and does not move.

In FIG. 5, the carriage 61 is disposed at a position facing the recording surface of the recording medium P conveyed by the conveying device 210. Further, the carriage 61 is arranged such that the ink ejection heads 91 form a line in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium P.
The heat transfer unit 15 and the temperature detection means 9 are provided only on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium P.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the gist thereof.
The light irradiation means is not necessarily required. For example, in the embodiment and the modification, the configuration in which the light irradiation unit is cooled by the cooling unit has been described as an example. However, the ink ejection head may be cooled by the cooling unit, or the circuit that generates heat may be cooled.

For example, the light source is not limited to the LED, and any one of a low-pressure mercury lamp, a black light, and a cold cathode tube may be used.
The photocurable ink may be a visible light curable ink.

  Each of the above embodiments is applied to color image formation, but the application target is not limited to this, and can also be applied to monochrome image formation for forming a so-called single-color image.

1 is an overall perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. The schematic perspective view of a carriage and a cooling means. 1 is an overall configuration block diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus. The schematic perspective view of the carriage and cooling means in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic partial perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a modification.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet recording device 7, 91 ... Ink jet head as recording head, 8 ... Ultraviolet irradiation part as light irradiation means, 9 ... Temperature detection means, 10 ... Cooling means, 11 ... Heat radiation part, 12 ... As circulation means Refrigerant injection pump, 13 ... injection pipe, 14 ... reflux pipe, 15 ... heat transfer section, 16 ... cooling pipe as a flow path, 51 ... temperature judgment means, 52 ... position judgment means, 60 ... as storage means Memory, 80... LED as a light source, 81.

Claims (8)

A moving carriage;
A recording head for ejecting photocurable ink mounted on the carriage;
A light irradiating means provided with a light source for irradiating light to the photocurable ink ejected along with the recording head;
A cooling means provided in the light irradiation means for cooling by circulation of the refrigerant;
A holding portion for holding the light source of the light irradiation means attached in contact with the carriage;
A heat transfer part provided in close contact with the surface opposite to the platen that irradiates the light along the holding part;
A flow path of the refrigerant provided in the heat transfer section;
An injection pipe for injecting the refrigerant into the flow path;
A reflux line for refluxing the refrigerant from the flow path;
Between the injection line and the reflux line, the refrigerant radiating portion and a circulation means,
The refrigerant is vaporized by heat generated from the heating element and has a boiling point characteristic that is liquefied by heat dissipation in the circulation process.
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 1,
The recording apparatus, wherein the refrigerant has a boiling point of 30 ° C. to 60 ° C. The recording apparatus according to claim 2,
The recording apparatus, wherein the refrigerant includes one or more of dichloromethane, diethyl ether, acetone, and cyclopentane. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A temperature detecting means installed on the side surface in the longitudinal direction of the holding portion for detecting the temperature of the light irradiation means;
Temperature detecting means for determining whether or not the detected temperature is within a range in which injection can be controlled, and
When the temperature is within the range, the ejection of the photocurable ink is started. The recording apparatus according to claim 4,
The recording apparatus, wherein the injection line and the reflux line are flexible. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
The recording apparatus, wherein the injection line and the reflux line are made of synthetic resin. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The photocurable ink is an ultraviolet curable type,
The recording apparatus, wherein the light irradiation means is an ultraviolet irradiation means. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The recording apparatus, wherein the light source is an LED.

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