JP5979286B2 - Liquid ejector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose an ink jet printer as a liquid ejecting apparatus.
In the printer of Patent Document 1, in order to discharge bubbles in the pressure chamber of the self-sealing valve that adjusts the ink supply pressure to the liquid ejecting head, the pressure receiving portion of the self-sealing valve is displaced by applying an external force by a cam. It has a mechanism to make it.

  In the printer of Patent Document 2, ink is supplied to the ink chamber via the second ink tank, the first ink tank, and the reservoir, and the propeller is rotated by driving a motor to the second ink tank. The first ink tank and the second ink tank communicate with each other via a means for adjusting the ink supply pressure.

JP 2007-15409 A JP-A-5-261934

  By the way, in the printer as described above, it is important to always keep the ink ejection state and conditions constant in order to ensure high print quality. Therefore, a configuration is adopted in which a pressure adjusting unit (a pressure adjusting valve, a damper, or the like) that accumulates ink and adjusts the pressure is provided in an ink flow path connecting the ink cartridge and the inkjet head. However, since the pressure adjusting unit delays the circulation of the ink due to its function, there is a problem that when the ink in which the pigment is dispersed or the like is used, the component in the solvent tends to settle.

According to the mechanism that displaces the pressure receiving portion of the self-sealing valve of Patent Document 1 by applying an external force with a cam, stirring of the sediment component can be expected along with the discharge of bubbles, but a complicated mechanism is required.
Similarly, the mechanism of stirring the ink by rotating the propeller by driving the motor of Patent Document 2 also requires a complicated mechanism. Moreover, in order to install the said stirring mechanism, the stirring space which can accommodate a propeller at least is needed, and there exists a problem which leads to the enlargement of a structure.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of stirring a liquid sediment component in a pressure adjusting unit without using a complicated mechanism.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes a pressure adjusting unit that is provided in a liquid flow path that connects a liquid storage unit and a liquid ejecting head and that adjusts the pressure by accumulating liquid. The pressure adjusting unit is a liquid storage unit having a liquid outflow hole communicating with the liquid ejecting head side and a communication hole communicating with the liquid storage unit side, and forms a part of the liquid storage unit. A liquid storage portion having a displacement wall portion that is displaced in accordance with the pressure in the liquid storage portion , and the displacement wall portion has a pressure in the liquid storage portion lower than a pressure outside the liquid storage portion and the liquid storage portion. When the differential pressure with the outside pressure is smaller than the second threshold value, it does not come into contact with the opposing part of the liquid storage part, and when the differential pressure is equal to or higher than the second threshold value , The liquid storage part is in contact with the liquid storage part of the communication hole A construction is adopted with an enclosure portion for partitioning the outer region comprising an outer interior region communicating with the lower side of the inner region and the inner region the communication hole comprising opening.
By adopting such a configuration, the present invention is the enclosure of the displacement wall portion of the pressure adjustment unit by the pressure of the liquid storage portion, it is possible to change the mode of the liquid containing portion.
In the present invention, the pressure adjusting unit may be configured such that the pressure inside the liquid storage unit is lower than the pressure outside the liquid storage unit and the differential pressure from the pressure outside the liquid storage unit is smaller than the second threshold value. When the threshold value is exceeded, there is an on-off valve that changes from a closed state that blocks communication between the liquid inflow portion and the liquid storage portion by the communication hole to an open state that allows the communication, and the enclosure portion In the pressure in the liquid container including the case where the differential pressure when the liquid is ejected onto the medium by the liquid ejecting head is smaller than the second threshold and not more than the first threshold, A configuration that does not contact can be adopted.
Further, in the present invention, the displacement wall portion is provided on a side surface of the liquid storage portion, and is displaced in a direction intersecting with the direction of gravity, and the liquid storage portion has the above-mentioned when the differential pressure is equal to or more than the second threshold value. It is possible to employ a configuration in which the inner region is circular and the outer region is annular when viewed from the side.

In the present invention, provided with a suction device for sucking liquid from the previous SL liquid ejecting head, when the differential pressure by suction of the suction device has reached the second threshold value, wherein the enclosure is a liquid A configuration is adopted in which the opposing portions of the housing portion are brought into contact with each other. Further, in the present invention, by adopting such a configuration in the liquid channel in the cleaning by suction of the suction device, provided on the liquid storage unit side from the pressure adjusting unit of the liquid channel , In the present invention, the enclosure of the displacement wall portion of the pressure adjusting portion is brought into contact with the opposite portion of the liquid storage portion during cleaning in which liquid is forcibly sucked from the liquid ejecting head , so that the liquid inflow portion enters the liquid storage portion. The flow of the liquid flowing in through the communication hole can be changed. As a result, at the normal time when the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head, the enclosure portion is not brought into contact with the opposing portion of the liquid storage portion, and the influence on the pressure adjustment function due to the contact can be avoided.
Further, in the present invention, the displacement wall portion is provided on a side surface of the liquid storage portion and is displaced in a direction intersecting the direction of gravity, and the opposing surface of the displacement wall portion facing the communication hole has the differential pressure as described above. When the second threshold value or more, the distance away from the surface on which the communication hole is formed is inclined in a direction in which the lower side is larger than the upper side across the communication hole, and the displacement wall portion is Adopting a configuration that has a protruding portion as the ring-shaped surrounding portion that is partly cut out so as to surround the region other than the region that communicates with the outer region of the inner region that protrudes toward the opposite part of the liquid storage unit it can.
Moreover, in this invention, the structure that the said liquid outflow hole is provided in the position which is above the bottom of the said liquid accommodating part and in the said outside area | region is employable.

In the present invention, the displacement portion is provided so as to be movable integrally with the displacement of the displacement wall portion, protrudes in the displacement direction of the displacement wall portion, and the differential pressure reaches the second threshold value. A configuration is adopted in which a projecting portion that comes into contact with the opposing portion of the liquid storage portion is employed.
By adopting such a configuration, the present invention can be displaced portion causes tilted by Ri pairs facing surfaces of the displacement of the displacement wall.

In the present invention, the liquid includes a sedimentation component, and the facing surface is spaced apart from the surface on which the communication hole is formed when the facing surface is in the second posture. A configuration is adopted in which the lower side is inclined in a direction larger than the upper side.
By adopting such a configuration, in the present invention, when the opposing surface is in the second posture, the flow of the liquid flowing in through the communication hole is lower than the surface on which the communication hole is formed. The sediment component accumulated on the lower side can be stirred.

In the present invention, the displacement portion is provided so as to be movable integrally with the displacement of the displacement wall portion, protrudes in the displacement direction of the displacement wall portion, and the differential pressure reaches the second threshold value. The distance between the projecting portion that contacts the opposite portion of the liquid storage portion and the surface on which the communication hole is formed in the second posture is lower than the upper side across the communication hole. A configuration is adopted in which a direction in which the direction becomes larger is cut out and an annular portion that annularly surrounds the direction other than the cut out direction is employed.
By adopting such a configuration, in the present invention, when the opposing surface is in the second posture, the flow of the liquid flowing in through the communication hole is lower than the surface on which the communication hole is formed. The sediment component accumulated on the lower side can be stirred.

Moreover, in this invention, the said displacement part employ | adopts the structure that it is provided in the said moving member.
By adopting such a configuration, in the present invention, even if the displacement portion has a shape in which bubbles are easily collected (easy to collect), the displacement portion is provided on the moving member that moves according to the displacement of the diaphragm portion. Thus, the bubbles can be suitably discharged by displacing the posture along with the inclination of the facing surface.

In the present invention, a configuration is adopted in which the liquid outflow hole is provided above the bottom of the liquid container.
By adopting such a configuration, in the present invention, in a normal time when the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head, the sediment component accumulated at the bottom of the liquid storage portion is not supplied from the liquid outflow hole to the liquid ejecting head. Can be.

Further, in the present invention, a configuration is adopted in which the liquid outflow hole is provided outside a region facing the moving member in the displacement direction of the diaphragm portion.
By adopting such a configuration, in the present invention, since the diaphragm portion is displaced outside the region facing the moving member in the displacement direction of the diaphragm portion, the change in volume becomes large. By providing the holes, it is possible to suitably discharge the bubbles through the liquid outflow holes.

1 is a plan view showing a printer in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the ink flow path of the ink supply mechanism in embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the self-sealing valve in embodiment of this invention. It is an AA cross-sectional arrow view in FIG. It is a figure which shows the attitude | position of the opposing surface at the time of cleaning in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the pressure receiving plate in another embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the pressure receiving plate in another embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing used for the following description, the scale of each member is appropriately changed to make each member a recognizable size. In this embodiment, an ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) is exemplified as the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a printer PRT according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The printer PRT shown in FIG. 1 is a device that performs a printing process while conveying a sheet-like recording medium M such as paper or a plastic sheet. The printer PRT includes a housing PB, an inkjet mechanism IJ that ejects ink onto the recording medium M, an ink supply mechanism IS that supplies ink to the inkjet mechanism IJ, a transport mechanism CV that transports the recording medium M, and an inkjet mechanism. A maintenance mechanism MN that performs IJ maintenance operations and a control device CONT that controls these mechanisms are provided.

  Hereinafter, an XYZ rectangular coordinate system is set, and the positional relationship of each component will be described with reference to the XYZ rectangular coordinate system as appropriate. In this embodiment, the conveyance direction of the recording medium M is the X-axis direction, the direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction on the conveyance surface of the recording medium M is the Y-axis direction, and the direction perpendicular to the plane including the X-axis and the Y-axis Is expressed as the Z-axis direction.

  The housing PB is formed so that the Y-axis direction is the longitudinal direction. Each part of the inkjet mechanism IJ, the ink supply mechanism IS, the transport mechanism CV, the maintenance mechanism MN, and the control device CONT is attached to the housing PB. A platen 13 is provided in the housing PB. The platen 13 is a support member that supports the recording medium M. The platen 13 is disposed in the central portion of the housing PB in the X-axis direction. The platen 13 has a flat surface 13a directed to the + Z side. The flat surface 13a is used as a support surface that supports the recording medium M.

  The transport mechanism CV includes a transport roller, a motor that drives the transport roller, and the like (both not shown). The transport mechanism CV transports the recording medium M from the −X side of the housing PB into the housing PB and discharges the recording medium M from the + X side of the housing PB to the outside of the housing PB. The transport mechanism CV transports the recording medium M so that the recording medium M passes over the platen 13 inside the housing PB. In the transport mechanism CV, the transport timing, transport amount, and the like are controlled by the control device CONT.

  The ink jet mechanism IJ includes an ink jet head (liquid jet head) H that ejects ink, and a head moving mechanism AC that holds and moves the ink jet head H. The ink jet head H ejects ink toward the recording medium M sent out on the platen 13. The inkjet head H has an ejection surface Ha that ejects ink. The ejection surface Ha is directed in the Z-axis direction and is disposed so as to face the support surface of the platen 13.

  The head moving mechanism AC has a carriage CA. The inkjet head H is fixed to the carriage CA. The carriage CA is configured to be movable along a guide shaft 8 installed in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the housing PB. The inkjet head H and the carriage CA are disposed on the + Z side with respect to the platen 13.

  The head moving mechanism AC includes a carriage CA, a pulse motor 9, a drive pulley 10 that is rotationally driven by the pulse motor 9, and a side (+ Y side) on which the drive pulley 10 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the housing PB. A driven pulley 11 provided on the opposite side (−Y side) and a timing belt 12 spanned between the driving pulley 10 and the driven pulley 11 are provided.

  The carriage CA is connected to the timing belt 12. The carriage CA is provided to be movable in the Y-axis direction as the timing belt 12 rotates. When moving in the Y-axis direction, the carriage CA is guided by the guide shaft 8.

  The maintenance mechanism MN is disposed at the home position of the inkjet head H. This home position is set in an area outside the area where printing is performed on the recording medium M. In the present embodiment, the home position is set on the + Y side of the platen 13. The home position is a place where the inkjet head H stands by when the printer PRT is turned off or when recording is not performed for a long time.

  The maintenance mechanism MN includes a capping mechanism CP that covers the ejection surface Ha of the inkjet head H, a wiping mechanism WP that wipes the ejection surface Ha, and the like. A suction device SC such as a suction pump is connected to the capping mechanism CP. With the suction device SC, the capping mechanism CP can suck ink from the inkjet head H while covering the ejection surface Ha.

  The ink supply mechanism IS supplies ink to the inkjet head H. The ink supply mechanism IS has a plurality of ink cartridges (liquid reservoirs) CTR. The printer PRT of the present embodiment employs a configuration (off-carriage type) in which the ink cartridge CTR is not mounted on the carriage CA, unlike the inkjet head H.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the ink flow path 20 of the ink supply mechanism IS in the embodiment of the present invention.
The ink supply mechanism IS has an ink flow path (liquid flow path) 20 connecting the ink cartridge CTR and the inkjet head H. An ink supply needle 21 is provided at one end of the ink flow path 20. The ink supply needle 21 is inserted into the ink cartridge CTR and makes the ink cartridge CTR communicate with the ink flow path 20.

  The ink introduced into the ink flow path 20 via the ink supply needle 21 reaches the decompression chamber 23 via the check valve 22. The decompression chamber 23 includes a diaphragm part 24 that is displaced according to the magnitude of the internal pressure and changes the capacity, and a compression spring 25 that biases the diaphragm part 24. Further, the decompression chamber 23 is connected to a decompression pump 26 that makes the inside of the decompression state and an atmosphere release valve 27 that releases the decompression state inside the decompression chamber 23.

  When the air release valve 27 is closed and the decompression pump 26 is driven, the diaphragm portion 24 swells against the urging force of the compression spring 25 and ink can flow into the decompression chamber 23 from the ink cartridge CTR side. Further, when the drive of the decompression pump 26 is stopped and the air release valve 27 is opened, the diaphragm portion 24 is contracted by the urging of the compression spring 25 and the ink flows out from the decompression chamber 23 at a predetermined pressure via the check valve 28. Can be made.

  The ink that has flowed out of the decompression chamber 23 is supplied to the inkjet head H through the choke valve 29 and the self-sealing valve (pressure adjusting unit) 40. The choke valve 29 has a diaphragm portion 30 that closes the ink flow path 20 when the ink jet head H side is depressurized from a predetermined pressure by the suction device SC of the capping mechanism CP. The suction device SC can perform so-called choke cleaning by the choke valve 29.

  In the choke cleaning, the ink flow path 20 on the ink jet head H side is depressurized by driving the suction device SC, and the blocked flow path on the upstream side of the choke valve 29 is depressurized even after the choke valve 29 is closed. In this depressurized state, the pressurized ink is poured into the choke valve 29 from the decompression chamber 23, thereby opening the blocked channel and energizing the ink into the ink channel 20 on the ink jet head H side that has been depressurized. This is a cleaning process that forcibly discharges bubbles, thickened ink and the like mixed in the self-sealing valve 40 and the inkjet head H. The ink that is forcibly sucked and discharged from the inkjet head H is absorbed by the waste liquid absorbent 31 as a waste liquid.

  FIG. 3 is a side view showing the self-sealing valve 40 in the embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 corresponds to the vertical direction (gravity direction), and symbol S schematically indicates sedimentation components such as pigments contained in the ink.

  The self-sealing valve 40 is provided in the ink flow path 20 connecting the ink cartridge CTR and the ink jet head H, and stores pressure and opens and closes the ink flow path 20 according to the pressure on the ink jet head H side. Function as. The self-sealing valve 40 is mounted on the carriage CA together with the inkjet head H (see FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the self-sealing valve 40 includes a first ink storage chamber (liquid inflow portion) 41 provided on the ink cartridge CTR side, and a second ink storage chamber (liquid liquid) provided on the inkjet head H side. And an open / close valve 44 for opening and closing a communication hole 43 that communicates with the housing portion 42. The on-off valve 44 can be displaced to a position where the communication hole 43 is closed and a position where the communication hole 43 is opened against the bias of the opening / closing pressure adjusting spring 45 according to the pressure in the second ink storage chamber 42. It has become a structure.

  The on-off valve 44 of this embodiment is configured to open the communication hole 43 by the on-off pressure adjusting spring 45 when the pressure in the second ink storage chamber 42 reaches −100 Pa (pascal) from atmospheric pressure. For example, when the total displacement stroke of the on-off valve 44 is 1 mm to 2 mm, the displacement stroke of the on-off valve 44 at this time is set to be 0.03 mm to 0.05 mm. During cleaning, when the suction device SC sucks ink from atmospheric pressure at −80 kPa (kilopascal), the on-off valve 44 is, for example, fully displaced (e.g., fully displaced (0.03 mm to 0.05 mm)). 1 mm to 2 mm displacement).

  The first ink storage chamber 41 is formed by a base member 46. The first ink storage chamber 41 includes an ink inflow hole (liquid inflow hole) 47 formed in the base member 46 and communicating with the ink cartridge CTR side. The ink inflow hole 47 is connected to the choke valve 29 (see FIG. 2) via the ink flow path 20. The first ink storage chamber 41 has a predetermined volume for storing the ink flowing from the ink inflow hole 47. The first ink storage chamber 41 stores one end of an on-off valve 44 that can close the communication hole 43 and an on-off pressure adjusting spring 45.

  The second ink storage chamber 42 is formed by a base member 46 and a diaphragm portion 48. The second ink storage chamber 42 includes an ink outflow hole (liquid outflow hole) 49 formed in the base member 46 and communicating with the inkjet head H side. The ink outflow hole 49 is connected to the inkjet head H through the ink flow path 20. The second ink storage chamber 42 has a variable volume for storing the ink flowing from the communication hole 43. The second ink storage chamber 42 stores the other end of the on-off valve 44 and a pressure receiving plate (moving member) 50.

  The diaphragm portion 48 is formed of a multilayer flexible resin film. The diaphragm portion 48 is fixed in a state where a predetermined slack is provided on one side surface of the base member 46. The diaphragm portion 48 is configured to be displaced according to the pressure of the second ink storage chamber 42 to change the volume of the second ink storage chamber 42.

  The pressure receiving plate 50 is thermally welded to a resin layer (for example, a polypropylene layer) facing the second ink storage chamber 42 of the diaphragm portion 48, and is configured to move integrally with the displacement of the diaphragm portion 48. The pressure receiving plate 50 has a facing surface 50 a that faces the communication hole 43. The other end of the on-off valve 44 inserted through the communication hole 43 is in contact with the facing surface 50a. The other end of the on-off valve 44 is chamfered and rounded.

  The pressure receiving plate 50 has a disc shape (see FIG. 3), and the other end of the on-off valve 44 is in contact with the center position (center of gravity position) of the circular facing surface 50a. On the pressure receiving plate 50, an urging force by the opening / closing pressure adjusting spring 45 acts in a direction in which the diaphragm portion 48 is expanded. When ink is consumed on the ink jet head H side, the pressure in the second ink storage chamber 42 decreases, and the diaphragm portion 48 contracts, the pressure receiving plate 50 causes the on-off valve 44 to resist the bias of the on-off pressure adjusting spring 45. Pushing back, the communication hole 43 is opened.

  The pressure receiving plate 50 is provided with a displacement member 51 that displaces the posture of the facing surface 50a according to the pressure in the second ink storage chamber 42. The displacement member 51 protrudes in the displacement direction of the diaphragm portion 48 (left and right direction in FIG. 4), and is provided in a pair at a position different from the gravity center position of the pressure receiving plate 50 (see FIG. 3). The displacement member 51 of this embodiment is erected from the opposing surface 50a below the center of gravity position toward the communication hole forming surface 46a of the base member 46 in which the communication hole 43 is formed. The distal end portion of the displacement member 51 is chamfered and rounded.

  The tip of the displacement member 51 communicates at times other than during cleaning in which ink is forcibly sucked from the inkjet head H, that is, during normal time when ink is ejected from the inkjet head H toward the recording medium M and printing is performed. The distance K is arranged with respect to the hole forming surface 46a. Specifically, the distance K is set to be larger than 0.03 mm to 0.05 mm of the displacement stroke of the on-off valve 44 when the pressure in the second ink containing chamber 42 reaches −100 Pa (Pascal) or less from the atmospheric pressure. Is set.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the facing surface 50 a is in a first position facing the communication hole 43 in a normal state other than during cleaning (in other words, a posture in which the facing surface 50 a is orthogonal to a straight line extending from the communication hole 43). It is the composition which keeps. According to this configuration, during normal times when ink is ejected from the ink-jet head H, the opposing surface 50a is kept constant in the first posture, thereby avoiding an influence on the pressure adjustment function (such as variations in open / close pressure). Can be made.

  The opposing surface 50a in the first posture is configured so that the flow of ink flowing from the first ink storage chamber 41 into the second ink storage chamber 42 via the communication hole 43 is a radial flow along the opposing surface 50a. Let The ink outflow hole 49 is provided above the bottom of the second ink storage chamber 42. According to this configuration, during normal time when ink is ejected from the inkjet head H, the sediment component S accumulated at the bottom of the second ink storage chamber 42 is not supplied from the ink outflow hole 49 to the inkjet head H side. be able to.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the posture of the facing surface 50a during cleaning in the embodiment of the present invention.
When the displacement member 51 reaches a predetermined pressure by suction of the suction device SC at the time of cleaning, as shown in FIG. 5, the opposing surface 50 a is different from the first posture in the second inclination different from the communication hole 43. It is configured to be displaced to the posture. Note that the predetermined pressure is set within a range from atmospheric pressure to less than −100 Pa and from atmospheric pressure to −80 kPa or more.

  The displacement member 51 protrudes in the displacement direction of the diaphragm portion 48 and is provided at a position different from the gravity center position of the pressure receiving plate 50. For this reason, when the front-end | tip part contacts the communicating hole formation surface 46a by the displacement of the diaphragm part 48, the moment load centering on the gravity center position is given with respect to the pressure receiving plate 50, and the opposing surface 50a can be inclined. . That is, the displacement member 51 causes the opposed surface 50a of the pressure receiving plate 50 to respond to the contraction due to the contraction of the diaphragm portion 48 due to the pressure at the time of cleaning, and the flow of the ink flowing from the communication hole 43 is changed to the opposing surface 50a. By regulating the inclination of the ink and changing the ink flow direction, a stirring flow can be formed, and the sediment component S accumulated on the lower side can be stirred.

  When the cleaning is performed, the opposing surface 50a is inclined such that the distance away from the communication hole forming surface 46a in which the communication hole 43 is formed is inclined so that the lower side is larger than the upper side across the communication hole 43. The posture (in other words, the posture in which the facing surface 50a intersects the straight line extending from the communication hole 43) is maintained. The facing surface 50a in the second posture causes the ink flow flowing from the first ink containing chamber 41 into the second ink containing chamber 42 through the communication hole 43 to collide with the facing surface 50a and face downward. Then, the sediment component S accumulated on the lower side is stirred. That is, when the facing surface 50a is in the second posture, the upper side where the distance to the communication hole forming surface 46a is small has a larger flow path resistance than the lower side where the distance to the communication hole forming surface 46a is large. Most of the components can be guided downward, and the sediment component S accumulated on the lower side can be effectively stirred.

  Further, when the distance between the facing surface 50a and the communication hole forming surface 46a in which the communication hole 43 is formed is inclined in a direction in which the lower side is larger than the upper side across the communication hole 43, the diaphragm portion The upper side of 48 becomes easier to contract than the lower side. Then, when air bubbles are present at the top of the second ink storage chamber 42, the air bubbles are pushed out by contraction on the upper side of the diaphragm portion 48, get on the ink flow, and are easily discharged to the outside from the ink outflow hole 49. . Further, by providing the ink outflow hole 49 outside the region facing the pressure receiving plate 50 in the displacement direction of the diaphragm portion 48 (see FIG. 3), the diaphragm portion 48 contracts outside the region facing the pressure receiving plate 50. Therefore, it is easy for the bubbles to be discharged from the ink outflow hole 49 to the outside.

  The agitated sediment component S flows out through the ink outflow hole 49 and is absorbed by the waste liquid absorbent 31 through the inkjet head H and the suction device SC. In this way, by stirring the sediment component S, the sediment component S can be effectively removed without draining all the ink in the second ink storage chamber 42 as in conventional cleaning. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of ink waste during cleaning as compared with the conventional case.

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, the ink flow path 20 that connects the ink cartridge CTR and the inkjet head H is provided, and the ink flow path 20 is opened and closed according to the pressure on the inkjet head H side while accumulating ink. The self-sealing valve 40 includes a first ink storage chamber 41 in which an ink inflow hole 47 communicating with the ink cartridge CTR side is formed, and an inkjet An ink outflow hole 49 communicating with the head H side is formed, and the second ink storage chamber 42 having a diaphragm portion 48 that is displaced according to the pressure and changes the volume, and the first ink storage chamber 41 and the second ink. A communication hole 43 for communicating with the storage chamber 42, and a facing surface 50a facing the communication hole 43 on the second ink storage chamber 42 side. A pressure receiving plate 50 that can move integrally with the displacement of the diaphragm portion 48, and a posture of the facing surface 50a according to the pressure on the second ink storage chamber 42 side, and a first posture facing the communication hole 43. The self-sealing valve 40 is configured to have a displacement member 51 that is displaced to a second posture in which the inclination with respect to the communication hole 43 is different from the first posture, and by the pressure on the inkjet head H side. The opposing surface 50a of the pressure receiving plate 50 that moves according to the displacement of the diaphragm portion 48 is displaced between the first posture and the second posture, so that the first ink storage chamber 41 enters the second ink storage chamber 42. The flow of ink flowing in through the communication hole 43 is changed by the inclination of the facing surface 50a, and the ink sediment component S can be agitated by the change in the ink flow.
Therefore, in this embodiment, a printer PRT that can stir the ink sediment component S in the self-sealing valve 40 without using a complicated mechanism is obtained.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring drawings, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described embodiments are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the displacement member 51 may have an annular portion 52. The annular portion 52 protrudes from the facing surface 50a and is configured to enclose a direction other than the direction inclined when in the second posture. That is, the annular portion 52 has a shape in which the downward direction of the annular shape surrounding the communication hole 43 is cut out in the second posture shown in FIG. According to this configuration, the flow of ink after flowing in through the communication hole 43 and colliding with the opposing surface 50a is regulated in a direction other than the inclination direction of the opposing surface 50a, and the opposing surface 50a is inclined in the inclination direction. By guiding as a stronger flow, the ink sediment component S can be efficiently stirred.

  Moreover, although the case where the displacement member 51 was provided in the pressure receiving plate 50 side was demonstrated and demonstrated in the said embodiment, you may provide in the base member 46 side. However, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the displacement member 51 has an annular portion 52 that is easy to collect (easily collect) bubbles, the pressure receiving force that moves the displacement member 51 according to the displacement of the diaphragm portion 48. By providing the plate 50 and displacing its posture along with the inclination of the facing surface 50a, it is possible to suitably discharge the bubbles.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the ink flow direction is guided downward by the inclination of the facing surface 50a has been described. However, even in other directions, if the ink flow can be formed in a direction different from the normal time during cleaning. In addition, since the stirring action of the sediment component S is obtained, for example, it is possible to easily discharge the bubbles by guiding the ink flow direction upward.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the ink outflow hole 49 is arranged vertically below the communication hole 43 (in the direction of 6 o'clock in FIG. 3) has been described as an example, but if it is not the bottom of the second ink storage chamber 42, For example, in FIG.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the liquid ejecting apparatus is the printer PRT has been described as an example. However, the liquid ejecting apparatus is not limited to the printer, and may be an apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile.

  Further, the liquid ejecting apparatus may employ a configuration in which liquid other than ink is ejected or discharged. The present invention can be applied to various liquid ejecting apparatuses including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a minute amount of liquid droplets, for example. In addition, a droplet means the state of the liquid discharged from the said liquid ejecting apparatus, and shall also include what pulls a tail in granular shape, tear shape, and thread shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ) And a liquid as one state of a substance, as well as a material in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent. A typical example of the liquid is ink as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks.

  H ... Inkjet head (liquid ejecting head), 20 ... Ink channel (liquid channel), 40 ... Self-sealing valve (pressure adjusting part), 41 ... First ink storage chamber (liquid inflow part), 42 ... Second Ink storage chamber (liquid storage part), 43 ... communication hole, 46a ... communication hole forming surface, 47 ... ink inflow hole (liquid inflow hole), 48 ... diaphragm part, 49 ... ink outflow hole (liquid outflow hole), 50 ... Pressure receiving plate (moving member), 50a ... opposing surface, 51 ... displacement member, 52 ... annular portion, SC ... suction device, CTR ... ink cartridge (liquid reservoir), PRT ... printer (liquid ejecting device).

Claims (7)

A liquid ejecting apparatus that is provided in a liquid flow path that connects between a liquid reservoir and a liquid ejecting head and has a pressure adjusting unit that accumulates liquid and adjusts pressure,
The pressure adjusting unit is
A liquid storage portion having a liquid outflow hole communicating with the liquid ejecting head side and a communication hole communicating with the liquid storage portion side, wherein a part of the liquid storage portion is formed, and the pressure in the liquid storage portion is having a liquid storage portion having a displacement wall displaced according,
Site the displacement wall unit, when the differential pressure between the pressure of the pressure is low and the liquid accommodating portion outer than the pressure of the liquid accommodating portion outside in the liquid storage portion is less than the second threshold value is opposite of the liquid containing portion an inner region including without contact, when the differential pressure is equal to or greater than the second threshold value is in contact with a portion facing the liquid reservoir, the liquid containing portion to the liquid accommodating portion side opening of the communication hole and A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: an enclosure section that is divided into an outer area that is outside the inner area and communicates with the inner area on a lower side of the communication hole .   When the pressure inside the liquid container is lower than the pressure outside the liquid container and the pressure difference from the pressure outside the liquid container is equal to or higher than a first threshold value smaller than the second threshold value, the pressure adjusting unit An open / close valve that is in a valve-open state allowing the communication from a valve-closed state that blocks communication between the liquid inflow portion and the liquid storage portion by a hole;
  The enclosure includes the liquid container at a pressure in the liquid container including a case where the differential pressure when the liquid is ejected onto the medium by the liquid ejecting head is smaller than the second threshold and equal to or less than the first threshold. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is not in contact with an opposite portion of the portion.   The displacement wall portion is provided on a side surface of the liquid storage portion, and is displaced in a direction crossing the direction of gravity. The liquid storage portion is circular when viewed from the side surface direction when the differential pressure is equal to or greater than the second threshold value. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is partitioned into the inner region and the annular outer region. A suction device for sucking liquid from the liquid jet head;
When the differential pressure by suction of the suction device has reached the second threshold value, according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the enclosure is in contact with the portion facing the liquid storage portion Liquid ejector.   The valve provided in the said liquid storage part side from the said pressure adjustment part of the said liquid flow path, The valve which interrupts | blocks the flow of the said liquid in the said liquid flow path in the cleaning by the suction of the said suction device is provided. 5. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to 4. The displacement wall is displaced in a direction intersecting the gravity direction is provided on a side surface of the liquid storage portion, the opposing surface facing the communicating hole of the displacement wall if the previous SL differential pressure is equal to or greater than the second threshold value to, the communication hole is inclined in the direction of increasing the the bottom side of the upper at a distance away is across the front Kirendoriana against formed surface, the displacement wall, opposite the liquid containing portion A projecting portion as the encircling portion having a ring shape that is partly cut out so as to surround a region other than a region that projects toward a portion that communicates with the outer region of the inner region . The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5 . The liquid outlet hole, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that provided on a top and said the outer region position than the bottom of the liquid storage portion Liquid ejector.

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