JP5670823B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet printer that has an ink jet head mounted on a carriage and records an image on a recording medium while reciprocating the carriage is known. Large ink jet printers use large ink cartridges to enable long-term printing. Since the ink cartridge is heavy, it is not suitable for mounting on the carriage, and the ink cartridge is arranged outside the carriage. The ink jet head is supplied with ink in an ink cartridge via an ink tube. The length of the ink tube is made longer than the farthest position where the carriage moves, and the ink tube is arranged to bend farther than the carriage. By arranging in this way, the bending position of the ink tube moves as the carriage moves. In this way, ink can be supplied at all positions within the carriage movement range. However, if the ink tube moves in an arbitrary direction, it causes a malfunction of the apparatus. Therefore, a mechanism for controlling the moving direction of the ink tube is considered. For example, in the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-82281, an ink tube is used to insert an ink tube therein, and the bending of the ink tube is regulated by the ink tube guide. The ink tube guide is composed of a plurality of link pieces that are hollow so that the rotation direction is a single direction. Further, by arranging the rotation direction so as to be along the movement direction of the carriage, the movement direction of the ink tube is regulated so as to be along the movement direction of the carriage.

JP 2006-82281 A

  As the ink jet printer becomes larger, the length of the ink tube becomes longer. In order to increase the printing speed or increase the image quality, it is conceivable to increase the number of nozzles of the inkjet head, and the amount of ink to be supplied increases accordingly. Ink that passes through the ink tube is preferably less in flow path resistance because an excessive load is not applied to the ink jet head, and therefore, the diameter of the ink tube tends to increase in accordance with the tendency to increase the ink supply amount. However, when the diameter is increased, the ink tube is difficult to bend, and the movement load of the carriage is increased. For this reason, there is a problem that the motor must be enlarged and the strength of the parts must be increased. In this regard, it is desirable that the ink tube be thin. It is desirable that the ink tube be short. In addition, when the ink tube becomes longer, there is a problem that the movement restricting means such as an ink tube guide becomes larger in order to restrict the movement of the ink tube.

  The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus that prevents an increase in carriage movement load even when the ink supply amount increases, reduces ink flow path resistance, and prevents the apparatus from becoming large.

  The ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention includes an ink jet head that ejects ink onto a recording medium, a carriage that carries the ink jet head and reciprocates, and ink that supplies ink to the ink jet head from an ink cartridge disposed outside the carriage. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a tube; a guide for restricting movement of the ink tube; and a fixing means for fixing the ink tube to the guide. The ink tube has an inner diameter larger than that of the first ink tube and the first ink tube. And a second ink tube disposed closer to the inkjet head than the first ink tube, the guide includes a first guide and a second guide, and the first guide and the second guide are each short. Both ends in the direction are bent and the bottom is flat Each of the first guides is disposed in parallel with the reciprocating scanning direction so that the opening of the recess of the first guide and the opening of the recess of the second guide face each other. The first ink tube is housed and disposed in the recess of the first guide, the second ink tube is curved and extends between the first guide and the second guide; Including a portion housed and disposed in the recess of the guide, and a portion housed and disposed in the recess of the second second guide, and the curved portion moves as the carriage moves, The fixing means includes first fixing means for fixing the first ink tube to the first guide, and second fixing means for fixing the second ink tube to the first guide, and the first ink tube and the 2nd ink The connecting portion is disposed between the first fixing means and the second fixing means so that the connecting portion of the probe does not move as the carriage moves, and the second fixing means moves the carriage. In the case where the bending portion is a circular arc and the bending start position on the side close to the connection portion of the bending portion is closest to the connection portion, at least the radius of the arc from the start position It is characterized by being disposed at a position separated by a length equal to or more than.

  In the present invention, even if the ink supply amount increases, an increase in carriage movement load can be prevented, ink flow path resistance can be reduced, and an increase in size of the apparatus can be prevented.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an ink tube. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a guide structure for guiding the ink tube.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a view for explaining an ink tube disposed in an ink path from an ink cartridge to an ink jet head, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 1 is an apparatus that records an image by ejecting ink onto a recording medium 11 indicated by a broken line. Ink is ejected from the inkjet head 2. The inkjet head 2 is mounted on the carriage 3 and reciprocates along the platen 10. Ink is ejected from the inkjet head 2 at a desired position while reciprocating. Further, by moving the recording medium 11 by a predetermined amount, the recording position is changed and a desired image is recorded. Ink is supplied from a replaceable ink cartridge 4. The recording medium 11 is paper, plastic thin film, or the like. Further, the recording medium 11 is intermittently conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and the carriage 3 is scanned during this interval. Four ink-jet heads 2 are mounted on the carriage 3 and discharge different colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink. There are also four ink cartridges 4 corresponding to the inkjet head 2. Here, four colors are taken as an example, but the number of colors may be further increased.

  The ink path from the ink cartridge 4 to the inkjet head 2 includes a first ink tube 5 and a second ink tube 6. The first ink tube 5 and the second ink tube 6 are connected by a connector 7. The first ink tube 5 has a larger diameter than that of the second ink tube 6. Since the inner diameter is large, the ink flow path resistance is reduced. Because of its large diameter, it is thicker and harder than thin tubes, so it is difficult to bend. The movement of the first ink tube 5 and the second ink tube 6 is regulated by the first guide 8 and the second guide 9 that face each other. A maintenance unit 15 is disposed outside the platen 10 and performs maintenance to prevent problems of the inkjet head 2 such as cleaning of the nozzle surface of the inkjet head 2 and suction of ink.

  The first guide 8 and the second guide 9 are formed with recesses. The openings are arranged to face each other. Further, the first guide 8 and the second guide 9 are arranged in parallel to the moving direction of the carriage 3. The first ink tube 5 is housed, disposed and fixed in the recess of the first guide 8. The second ink tube 6 is housed and disposed in the concave portion of the first guide 8 and the concave portion of the second guide 9, and a part of the second ink tube 6 is curved and straddles between the first guide 8 and the second guide 9.

  The first ink tube 5 is fixed to the first guide 8 by a fixing means at a position where it does not move with the movement of the carriage 3. The fixing means may be tied with a string, or may be fixed with a plastic band. The second ink tube 6 includes a portion that is separated from the first guide by the movement of the carriage 3 and a portion that is not separated. The first ink tube 5 and the second ink tube 6 are connected by a connector 7 at a portion that is not separated.

  In FIG. 1, the second ink tube 19 indicated by a dotted line shows a case where the carriage 3 is at a position farthest from the ink cartridge 4 side. A second ink tube 19 is curved between the first guide 8 and the second guide 9 in a direction further away from the ink cartridge 4 than the carriage 3. The position of this curve changes as the carriage 3 moves.

  In FIG. 1, the second ink tube 20 indicated by a broken line shows a case where the carriage 3 is at the position closest to the ink cartridge 4 side, and is a more extreme example, but the second ink tube 20 is irregularly arranged. A curved case is shown.

  In FIG. 1, a second ink tube 6 indicated by a solid line indicates a case where the carriage 3 is in a position closest to the ink cartridge 4 side, and a case where the second ink tube 6 has a normal arcuate curve. ing. When it normally curves, it curves in a semicircular shape. At this time, the starting position of the connector 7 and the bending portion is the closest position, and is the folding position of the carriage 3.

  From both sides of the connector 7, a first band 18 (first fixing means) as a fixing means on the first ink tube 5 side, a portion where the second ink tube 6 does not move as the carriage 3 moves, that is, from the first guide 8. A second band 17 (second fixing means) is arranged as a fixing means in a portion that is not separated, and the second ink tube 6 and the first ink tube 5 are fixed to the first guide 8 respectively. The connector 7 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between them, and the connector 7 is indirectly fixed to the first guide 8. The first ink tube 5 or the second ink tube 6 can be removed from the connector 7 by removing at least one of the first band 18 or the second band 17. When the connector 7 is indirectly fixed by the first band 18 and the second band 17, the first ink tube 5 or the second ink tube 6 cannot be removed from the connector 7.

  The third band 16 is a case where the second ink tube 6 is normally curved into an arc, and is arranged at the starting position when the starting position of the arc approaches the connector 7 again. A fixing means for fixing to one guide 8. That is, it arrange | positions at the end part of the part which does not curve when it curves to a circular arc. Another band for fixing the second ink tube 6 and the first guide 8 may be disposed between the start position and the second band. In addition, since the start position of the curve of the third band 16 slightly changes depending on the behavior of the second ink tube 6, the third band 16 may be elastic to prevent the second ink tube 6 from being damaged.

  It is necessary to fix the connector 7 to the first guide 8 so that the connector 7 does not move with the movement of the carriage 3 and the connector 7 is not disconnected. The reason why the connector 7 is not directly fixed to the first guide 8 is that if it is fixed, it cannot be connected or released, or becomes difficult. Connection can be released by fixing it indirectly.

  In order to reduce the ink flow path resistance, it is better to increase the cross-sectional area of the first ink tube 5, that is, to increase the inner diameter, and to increase the length of the portion. The first ink tube can be arranged the longest from the starting position where the second ink tube 6 is curved in an arc. However, the external force is applied to the connector 7 so that the connector 7 cannot be removed, and the connector 7 does not come off even if the second ink tube 6 moves irregularly other than the normal curve, and the carriage 3 is moved. It is necessary to prevent the accompanying vibration.

  The second ink tube 6 includes a thin plate to be described later. This controls the bending direction to some extent. Since the second ink tube 6 is fixed to the first guide 8 by the third band 16 (third fixing means), it bends at an extremely acute angle like the second ink tube 20 indicated by the broken line in FIG. There is nothing. The third band 16 should not be in a position that prevents normal bending associated with the movement of the carriage 3 of the second ink tube 6. However, some irregular curvature can occur. Also, in the vicinity of the third band 16, the second ink tube 6 may move or vibrate before and after the second ink tube 6 moves, and it is necessary to prevent this influence from being exerted on the connector 7. Therefore, when the second ink tube 6 is deformed into an arc that is a normal curve, from the start position of the curve, at least the radius of the curve, that is, a length that is half the distance 21 between the first guide 8 and the second guide 9. The second band 17 (second fixing means) is disposed at a position farther away, and the second ink tube 6 is fixed. This prevents a large force from being applied to the second band 17 even if the third band 16 is detached and the second ink tube 6 is bent at an angle of about 30 degrees with the second guide 9 side as the base. In addition, it is preferable to provide another band for fixing the second ink tube 6 to the first guide 8 between the third band 16 and the second band 17 because vibration of the connector 7 can be further suppressed. The first ink tube 5 is fixed to the first guide 8 by a first band 18 (first fixing means). The connector 7 is indirectly fixed to the first guide 8 by the second band 17 and the first band 18.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a guide structure for guiding the ink tube. The first guide 8 will be described as an example, but the second guide 9 has the same structure. The ink tube 6 is constituted by a tube group 12 in which tubes corresponding to the four colors of ink are integrally formed. Further, a flat cable 13 is disposed on the back side of the tube group 12 in order to transmit an electric signal to the inkjet head 2. A stainless steel thin plate 14 is disposed between the flat cable 13 and the tube group 12. By having the thin plate 14, it can regulate so that the tube group 12 and the flat cable 13 may not bend in the width direction.

  Both ends in the short direction of the first guide 8 are bent to form a recess. The bottom of the recess is a flat surface. The tube group 12 is accommodated in this recess. The flat portion at the bottom of the recess has a width equal to or greater than the width of the tube group 12. The thin plate 14 is disposed so as to face the flat portion at the bottom of the concave portion, thereby making it difficult to bend in the width direction of the tube group 12 and preventing the tube group 12 from being twisted. In the tube group 12, four tubes are arranged so as to overlap the first guide 8 in the vertical direction. Longitudinal placement is preferable because the curved shape is not deformed by the weight of the tube. In the first guide 8, at least the entire range in which the bent portion of the ink tube 6 moves is a recess. The same applies to the second guide 9.

  The second guide 9 has the same structure, and the first guide 8 and the second guide 9 are disposed so that the openings of the recesses face each other. The thin plate 14 can restrict the movement in the width direction, and the bent portions at both ends of the first guide 8 and the second guide 9 prevent warping. Therefore, even if the tube group 12 moves, the first guide and the first guide 2 It is designed not to deviate from the guide.

  The present invention can be used in an ink jet printer.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 2 Inkjet head 3 Carriage 4 Ink cartridge 5 First ink tube 6 Second ink tube 7 Connector 8 First guide 9 Second guide 10 Platen 11 Recording medium 12 Tube group 13 Flat cable 14 Thin plate 15 Maintenance unit 16 First 3 band 17 2nd band 18 1st band 19 2nd ink tube 20 when carriage is located in the farthest part 2nd ink tube when deformed irregularly

Claims (5)

Ink jet head for ejecting ink onto a recording medium, carriage for reciprocating scanning with the ink jet head mounted thereon, ink tube for supplying ink to the ink jet head from an ink cartridge disposed outside the carriage, and movement of the ink tube In an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a guide that regulates the ink tube;
The ink tube includes a first ink tube and a second ink tube having a smaller inner diameter than the first ink tube and disposed closer to the inkjet head than the first ink tube,
The guide includes a first guide and a second guide, and the first guide and the second guide each include a concave portion in which both ends in a short direction are bent and a bottom is formed in a flat shape. The opening of the recess and the opening of the recess of the second guide are opposed to each other, and the respective longitudinal directions are arranged in parallel along the reciprocating scanning direction,
The first ink tube is housed and disposed in the recess of the first guide;
The second ink tube is curved to bend between the first guide and the second guide, a portion accommodated in the concave portion of the first guide, and the second guide of the second guide A portion housed in the recess and disposed, and the curved portion moves as the carriage moves,
The fixing means includes first fixing means for fixing the first ink tube to the first guide, and second fixing means for fixing the second ink tube to the first guide, and the first ink tube and the The connecting portion is disposed between the first fixing means and the second fixing means so that the connecting portion of the second ink tube does not move as the carriage moves.
The second fixing means is configured such that, when the carriage is at a turn-back position of the movement and the bending portion is an arc, the bending start position closer to the connection portion of the bending portion is closest to the connection portion. Sometimes, the ink jet recording apparatus is disposed at a position separated from the start position by at least a length equal to the radius of the arc.   The second ink tube includes a flat thin plate disposed along the second ink tube, and the flat surface of the thin plate is disposed to face the flat bottom of the concave portion of the first guide. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first guide and the second guide are arranged so that a short direction thereof is a vertical direction.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second ink tube is formed by integrally molding a plurality of tubes.   A third fixing means for fixing the second ink tube to the first guide is provided between the start position of the bending on the side close to the connecting portion of the bending portion and the second fixing means. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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