JP6021294B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink supply apparatus and an ink jet recording apparatus for supplying ink to a head unit mounted on a reciprocating carriage.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink supply system that includes a large-capacity ink tank arranged outside a frame and an ink tube that connects the large-capacity ink tank and the head unit is known (see Patent Document 1). The head unit is mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the paper feed direction between a pair of frames, and an ink tube passes from a large-capacity ink tank to the inside of the frame through an insertion hole on one side of the frame. After being inserted and drawn along the front surface of the carriage in the moving direction of the carriage and supported by one side facing the other side of the frame of the carriage, it is connected to the head unit.

JP 2006-305942 A

  When using a recording apparatus equipped with such an ink supply system, if a plurality of ink tubes are arranged in a vertical direction and drawn around, the ink tubes project to the front side of the recording apparatus when the carriage reciprocates. Therefore, when the operation mechanism is provided on the front side of the recording apparatus, it is necessary to increase the depth of the recording apparatus, resulting in an increase in size. Also, since the ink tube protrudes to the front side, when the paper jam occurs and the jammed paper is removed from the front side of the recording apparatus, it will be in the way if the ink tube extends to the front side. There was a problem. In view of this, the present applicant has studied a method in which a plurality of ink tubes are folded back from below from the carriage and arranged in a horizontal direction.

  However, when the ink tubes are drawn in the horizontal direction in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, the ink tubes are supported only on one side surface of the frame and one side surface of the carriage. An excess portion of the tube hangs down, interferes with a paper discharge mechanism disposed below the ink tube, and may hinder paper discharge. In addition, there is a problem in that the deformation of the ink tube is not stable with respect to the reciprocating movement of the carriage, causing problems such as a choke phenomenon in which the ink tube is bent and closed.

  The present invention provides an ink supply apparatus and an ink jet recording apparatus that can record on a recording medium while the ink tube does not hinder the medium feeding mechanism against the reciprocating movement of the carriage, and the deformation of the ink tube is stabilized. Is an issue.

  The ink supply device of the present invention is an ink supply device that supplies ink to a head unit that reciprocates via a carriage, and is provided outside the carriage and supplies the ink to the head unit. And an ink tube that connects the ink tank and the head unit, extends in parallel with the reciprocation of the carriage, curves upwardly and deforms along with the reciprocation of the carriage, and the carriage A tube guide that extends in parallel with the reciprocating locus of the tube and receives the ink tube that follows and deforms from below, and the tube guide has a predetermined interval and is a medium feeding mechanism that feeds a recording medium. It is arrange | positioned upwards, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to this configuration, the ink tube is curved and deformed following the reciprocating movement of the carriage, and the tube guide is provided extending from the lower side of the carriage to reciprocate and follow the reciprocating movement of the carriage. Thus, the tube guide receives a portion corresponding to the bottom of the curved ink tube from the lower side and supports it. That is, since the ink tube that deforms following can be guided in a wide range, the deformation of the ink tube can be stabilized against the reciprocation of the carriage. Further, by disposing a tube guide between the ink tube and the medium feeding mechanism, it is possible to prevent the ink tube from coming into contact with the medium feeding mechanism. Further, the tube guide is arranged at a predetermined interval from the medium feeding mechanism, so that the tube guide is formed even if it is deformed when the ink tube is urged against the tube guide as the carriage reciprocates. You can escape to space. This can prevent the operation of the medium feeding mechanism from being hindered.

  In this case, it is preferable that the tube guide has a bottom plate portion that receives the ink tube and a pair of rib portions that rise from the bottom plate portion.

  According to this configuration, by providing the pair of rib portions that rise from the bottom plate portion, the rib portions function as “reinforcing ribs” and “guide ribs”. Therefore, the bending strength of the tube guide can be improved, the ink tube can be regulated in the width direction (guide), and the ink tube can be effectively prevented from falling off the tube guide.

  In this case, it is preferable to further include a flexible protection plate that is attached to the outside of the ink tube that deforms following and deforms along with the ink tube along with the reciprocation of the carriage.

  According to this configuration, by providing the flexible protection plate, it is possible to prevent the ink tube that follows and deforms from coming into contact with the other member and being damaged or damaged.

  In this case, it is preferable that a bundling means for bundling the ink tube to be deformed following the protection plate is further provided.

  According to this configuration, by binding the ink tube to the protection plate, the ink tube and the protection plate are not displaced in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the ink tube, and the ink tube can be reliably protected. it can. In addition, it is preferable to bind the ink tube so that the ink tube can move forward and backward in the extending direction of the ink tube.

  In this case, it is preferable that fixing means for fixing the ink tube to the tube guide on the fixing side is further provided.

  According to this configuration, by fixing the fixing side of the ink tube to the tube guide, the stability against the deformation of the ink tube can be further improved. In the ink tube, it is preferable that a portion that does not deform with respect to the reciprocation of the carriage, that is, a non-deformed portion on the fixed side is fixed to the tube guide.

  In this case, a plurality of the ink tubes are piped in parallel, and are further provided with a flow path joint having a plurality of inflow ports and a plurality of outflow ports, interposed between the plurality of ink tubes on the fixed side. The road joint is preferably attached to the end of the tube guide on the ink tank side.

  According to this configuration, the ink tube from the ink tank can be easily connected by providing the flow path joint at the end of the tube guide on the ink tank side. Also, since the tube from the ink tank to the flow path joint is separate from the tube from the flow path joint to the head unit, it is necessary to replace the entire ink tube when it is necessary to replace the tube. Disappear. This facilitates repair work. Further, since the plurality of ink tubes are connected to the integral flow path joint, the length of the ink tube from the flow path joint to the head unit can be made the same among the plurality of ink tubes. That is, the tube guide and the ink tube can be unitized (assembled), and the assembling property and the mounting property of this part can be improved.

  An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes the above ink supply device, a carriage unit in which the ink jet head unit is mounted on the carriage, and the medium feeding mechanism.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus with high ink supply stability by providing an ink supply apparatus that has high deformation stability in the ink tube and that does not damage or damage the medium feeding mechanism. it can.

  In this case, it is preferable that the recording apparatus main body and a tank unit detachably attached to the recording apparatus main body are included, and the ink tank is mounted on the tank unit.

  According to this configuration, even in an ink jet recording apparatus using a tank unit that is separate from the recording apparatus main body, high stability can be exhibited in ink supply.

It is the perspective view which showed the inkjet recording device which concerns on this embodiment. It is the perspective view which showed the opening part for tubes of an inkjet recording device. It is the perspective view which showed the internal structure of the inkjet recording device. It is sectional drawing which showed the inkjet recording device. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the periphery of an ink supply unit. It is sectional drawing which showed the tank unit. It is the bottom view which showed the tank unit. It is the disassembled perspective view which showed the valve unit periphery. It is explanatory drawing which showed the effect | action when tensile force generate | occur | produces in the ink tube which the friction contact surface contacted. It is the perspective view which showed the intermediate joint. It is the perspective view which showed the guide unit periphery. (A) is the perspective view which showed the tube holding member, (b) And (c) is sectional drawing which showed the tube holding member. It is explanatory drawing which showed the assembly operation | work of the ink tube to a tube holding member.

  Hereinafter, an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This ink jet recording apparatus is an ink jet printer using a tank unit separate from the main body of the recording apparatus. The ink jet recording apparatus main-scans the ink jet head mounted on the carriage in the left and right directions, and prints paper (recording medium) on the left and right. The image data is printed on printing paper by sub-scanning in the front-rear direction intersecting the direction.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus 1. In the drawing, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 in a state where the tank unit 3 is mounted on the recording apparatus main body 2 is illustrated. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a tube opening 15 a for introducing the ink tube 52 from the tank unit 3 into the recording apparatus main body 2 in the ink jet recording apparatus 1. In the drawing, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 in a state where the tank unit 3 is separated from the recording apparatus main body 2 is illustrated. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. In the drawing, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 in which the exterior cover 15 is omitted is illustrated. Here, the back and front directions in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be referred to as the X-axis direction, and the left-right direction in FIGS. 1 to 3 perpendicular to the X-axis direction will be described as the Y-axis direction.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a recording apparatus main body 2 and a tank unit 3 detachably connected to the recording apparatus main body 2, and the recording apparatus main body 2 and the tank unit 3 include Each component of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is mounted. Specifically, the recording apparatus main body 2 is disposed on the upper side of the transported printing paper and the transport unit 11 that transports the printing paper (cut sheet) in the X-axis direction (transporting direction), and prints on the printing paper. A printing unit 12 including an inkjet head 43 that performs processing, and a main body side ink supply unit 13 a that supplies ink of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black to the printing unit 12 are provided. On the other hand, the tank unit 3 includes an ink tank 51 for each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and includes a tank side ink supply unit 13b connected to the main body side ink supply unit 13a. The ink supply unit (ink supply device) 13 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 is configured by the main body side ink supply unit 13 a of the recording apparatus main body 2 and the tank side ink supply unit 13 b of the tank unit 3.

  The yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks stored in the tank unit 3 are sent to the ink jet head 43 of the printing unit 12 through the ink tube 52 described later by natural water head, and ink discharge of the ink jet head 43 is accompanied. A print image is formed on the printing paper by main scanning and sub-scanning (intermittent feed) of the printing paper.

  The recording apparatus main body 2 is surrounded by a box-shaped outer cover 15, and a pair of front and rear engaged portions 15 b for mounting the tank unit 3 is formed on the left side wall thereof. On the other hand, the tank unit 3 is outlined by a box-shaped unit case 17, and a pair of front and rear engaging portions 17a that engage with the engaged portion 15b is formed on the right side wall thereof. In other words, the tank unit 3 is detachably attached to the recording apparatus main body 2 by engaging the engaging portion 17a with the engaged portion 15b from above. Accordingly, the tank unit 3 is detachably connected to the recording apparatus main body 2 while the ink tube 52 is connected. A tube opening 15 a for introducing the ink tube 52 from the tank unit 3 into the exterior cover 15 is formed on the left side wall of the exterior cover 15. The tank unit 3 is mounted in the recording apparatus main body 2 in a vertical orientation when ink is supplied (see FIG. 1), and is detached from the recording apparatus main body 2 and in a horizontal orientation when ink is refilled in the ink tank 51 (see FIG. 1). (See FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the transport unit 11 includes a paper tray 21 that sets printing paper right aligned, a separation roller 22 that separates and feeds the printing paper from the paper tray 21 one by one, and a separation roller 22. , Located downstream of the paper feed roller 23a and the paper feed driven roller 23b, and the paper feed roller 23a and the paper feed driven roller 23b. A platen 24 that faces the inkjet head 43, a guide roller 25 that is located on the downstream side of the platen 24 and guides the printing paper from above, and is located on the downstream side of the guide roller 25 to feed the printing paper to the discharge port 15c (FIG. 1). And the discharge roller 26a and the discharge driven roller 26b, and the guide roller 25 and the discharge driven roller. Discharge frame 27 for supporting the 6b (the discharge frame), and a. The medium feeding mechanism described in the claims includes a guide roller 25, a paper discharge driven roller 26b, and a paper discharge frame 27.

  In this case, the paper feed roller 23a and the paper feed driven roller 23b function as main rollers that control the feeding of the printing paper, and the paper discharge roller 26a and the paper discharge driven roller 26b are arranged on the printing paper fed to the upper side of the platen 24. It functions as a tension roller that imparts tension. Further, the guide roller 25 presses the leading edge of the fed printing paper and prevents jamming. The printing paper introduced from the paper tray 21 by the separation roller 22 is X along the transport path R by the paper feed roller 23a and the paper feed driven roller 23b, the guide roller 25, and the paper discharge roller 26a and the paper discharge driven roller 26b. After being transported in the axial direction and printed, it is discharged from the discharge outlet 15c.

  The printing unit 12 is supported by the apparatus frame 16 and extends a full width in the Y-axis direction, a carriage unit 32 supported by the guide frame 31 so as to be reciprocally movable, and the carriage unit 32 as a guide frame. And a carriage moving mechanism (not shown) that reciprocates along 31. An ink jet head 43 is mounted on the carriage unit 32.

  The guide frame 31 is formed in a “C” cross section, and the engagement slider portion 41 a is cantilevered so as to be hooked on the guide frame 31 and reciprocates in the extending direction (Y-axis direction). It is supported freely, that is, slidable. The carriage moving mechanism includes a timing belt that extends along the guide frame 31, a main pulley and a driven pulley that span the timing belt, a connection fixing portion that connects the timing belt and the carriage unit 32 (carriage 41), A carriage motor for driving the main pulley (both not shown). When the carriage motor rotates forward and backward, the carriage unit 32 reciprocates in the Y-axis direction (left-right direction) via the timing belt. Along with this reciprocation, the ink jet head 43 of the carriage unit 32 is driven to discharge, so-called main scanning is performed.

  The carriage unit 32 includes a box-shaped carriage 41 supported by the guide frame 31 so as to be reciprocally movable through an engagement slider portion 41 a, and a head unit 42 incorporated in the carriage 41. The head unit 42 is directly connected to the inkjet head 43 from above, and has a downstream end of the ink tube 52. The inkjet head 43 includes four nozzle rows that eject ink droplets of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. And yellow, magenta, cyan, and black connection adapters 44 connected to each other. The inkjet head 43 has four nozzle rows (not shown) that are parallel to each other and extend in the X-axis direction, and have a predetermined paper gap with respect to the conveyed printing paper. It is arranged downward. Each connection adapter 44 incorporates an ink buffer, an ink filter, and the like, and has an inflow joint 44 a for connecting the ink tube 52 at an upper portion thereof.

  In the printing process, the printing unit 11 conveys the printing paper to the lower side of the inkjet head 43 and drives the inkjet head 43 while reciprocating the carriage unit 32 by the carriage moving mechanism to produce the printing paper. Print image data.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the ink supply unit 13 includes yellow, magenta, cyan, and black ink tanks 51, and ink tanks 51 and head units 42 (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black). Four ink tubes 52 that connect the inflow joints 44 a) of each connection adapter 44, and a guide mechanism 53 that guides the paths of the four ink tubes 52 are provided. The ink supply unit 13 is built in the lower part of the tank unit 3 and is attached to the lower part of the tank unit 3 and the manual valve unit 54 that opens and closes the flow path at the upstream end of the four ink tubes 52. A tank side retaining member 55 for retaining the outflow joint 51b on the ink tank 51 side, and a body side retaining member for retaining the intermediate joint 57 on the recording apparatus body 2 side, which is built in the lower part of the recording apparatus body 2. A member 56 and an intermediate joint (flow passage joint) 57 provided in the recording apparatus main body 2 and interposed between four ink tubes as connection joints on the recording apparatus main body 2 side are provided.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the tank unit 3, and FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing the tank unit 3. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each ink tank 51 stores the corresponding color ink and is arranged in parallel in the X-axis direction. Each ink tank 51 has a tank body 51a and an outflow joint 51b that is formed in the lower part of the tank body 51a and protrudes in the Y-axis direction. The upstream end of each ink tube 52 is inserted and joined to each outflow joint 51b.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the four ink tubes 52 are made of silicon rubber, and are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction. Further, the four ink tubes 52 are guided from the ink tanks 51 to the head units 42 by being guided by the guide mechanisms 53. Furthermore, the four ink tubes 52 are provided with connecting bodies 60 that connect the four ink tubes 52 in parallel at a plurality of locations in the extending direction, and are piped in a state of being arranged in parallel. .

  Each ink tube 52 includes a tank side tube 52a on the ink tank 51 side belonging to the tank side ink supply unit 13b, and a head side tube 52b on the ink jet head 43 side belonging to the main body side ink supply unit 13a. The tank side tube 52a is supported at both base ends by the tank side retaining member 55 and the body side retaining member 56, and the upstream end portion is connected to each ink tank 51 via an outflow joint 51b. From the tank unit 3, it is greatly curved upward and extends to the recording apparatus main body 2. The head side tube 52b is piped from the intermediate joint 57 so as to traverse the inside of the recording apparatus main body 2. The head side tube 52b is curved and extends upward at the right portion in the recording apparatus main body 2, and further turned to the back side. The downstream end is connected to each connection adapter 44 via an inflow joint 44a. The tank side tube 52a has, as a part thereof, an erection tube portion 61 that extends from the tank unit 3 to the recording apparatus main body 2. Further, the head side tube 52 b traverses the inside of the recording apparatus main body 2, and the tube bending section 62 that is bent so as to be folded upward at the right portion in the recording apparatus main body 2, and on the upstream side of the tube bending section 62, And a tube turn portion 63 that turns to the side.

  The erection tube portion 61 is supported by the tank side retaining member 55 on the upstream side and the body side retaining member 56 on the downstream side, and is erected upwardly from the tank unit 3 to the recording apparatus body 2. . The valve unit 54 is disposed at a position upstream of the installation tube portion 61 of the tank side tube 52a. Further, the tank side tube 52 a is connected to the intermediate joint 57 on the downstream side closest to the main body side retaining member 56 on the downstream side of the installation tube portion 61.

  The tube bending portion 62 is piped in a lateral U-turn shape in the area in front of the reciprocating region of the carriage unit 32, that is, the area directly above the paper discharge frame 27. In this case, the tube bending portion 62 is drawn while being bent so as to be folded upward from below, with the intermediate joint 57 side as a fixed side and the carriage 41 side as a movable side, and is deformed following reciprocation of the carriage 41. It is supposed to be. That is, the tube bending portion 62 is piped in parallel with the reciprocal movement trajectory of the carriage unit 32 and follows the reciprocating motion of the carriage unit 32 while maintaining a U-turn shape.

  The tube turn portion 63 extends from the tube bending portion 62 and is bent and routed vertically in a horizontal plane, and thereafter, the downstream end portion is connected to each connection adapter 44 via the inflow joint 44a. A tube holding member 122 (details will be described later) for fixing the head side tube 52b to the carriage 41 is disposed at a boundary portion between the tube bending portion 62 and the tube turn portion 63.

  A linear mark (not shown) is provided on the circumferential surface of the ink tube 52 (the tank side tube 52a and the head side tube 52b) in the extending direction at one position in the circumferential direction. The mark is used to determine whether the ink tube 52 is twisted or not when the tube portions 61, 62, 63 are assembled. For example, the installation tube portion 61, the tube bending portion 62, and the tube turn portion 63 are used. Are piped so that the respective mark comes inside the curve. Thereby, the ink tube 52 can be extended so as not to be twisted, and the blowout of the ink tube 52 at the time of routing is suppressed.

  FIG. 8 is a divided perspective view showing the periphery of the valve unit 54. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the valve unit 54 is built in the bottom of the tank unit 3 and is disposed at the upstream end of the four ink tubes 52 (tank side tubes 52 a). The valve unit 54 faces a position restricting portion 66 that positions and aligns the four ink tubes 52 side by side, and the four ink tubes 52 that are position restricted, and simultaneously crushes the four ink tubes 52. (Pinch) A valve main body 67 (see FIG. 6) that closes the entire flow path, an operation lever 68 having a cam for operating the valve main body 67 to open and close the flow path (advance and retreat of the valve main body 67), and these are supported. A substantially rectangular valve frame 69. The valve unit 54 forcibly closes the flow path by the user's operation when there is a possibility that a problem such as liquid leakage may occur in the ink supply unit 13, for example, when ink is replenished.

  The tank side retaining member 55 is attached to the side wall of the valve frame 69, and the four ink tubes 52 are routed upward along the side wall of the valve frame 69 at the tank unit 3 side base of the installation tube portion 61. However, it is supported in a curved state in an S shape. Specifically, the lower tube support 71 that supports the S-shaped upstream curved portion 61 a of each ink tube 52 in a curved state and the lower tube support 71 so as to cover the four ink tubes 52 are: The upper tube support 72 that supports the S-shaped downstream curved portion 61b of the ink tube 52 in a curved state from the opposite side, and the upper tube support 72 are formed integrally with the lower tube support 71. Receiving member 73. That is, the support position of the lower tube support 71 (contact position with the ink tube 52) and the support position of the upper tube support 72 (contact position with the ink tube 52) are the extending direction (vertical direction) of the ink tube 52. ). Note that a part of the unit case 17 serves also as a receptacle facing the upper tube support 72.

  The lower tube support 71 guides the path of the ink tube 52 projecting horizontally from the valve unit 54 upward, and when the tensile force from the extending direction of the ink tube 52 is applied, the lower tube support 71 extends the ink tube 52 in the extending direction. It supports to the state where slippage is stopped. Specifically, the friction contact portion 81 having a friction contact surface 81a that contacts the four ink tubes 52 in a curved state and generates a frictional force against the tensile force between the four ink tubes; Projecting from the friction contact surface 81a and serving as a spacer between the receiving member 73 and a plurality of partition plates 82 for arranging and arranging the four ink tubes 52, and the friction contact portion 81 as a side wall of the valve frame 69 And a fixing portion 83 for fixing to the unit.

  On the other hand, the receiving member 73 is opposed to the lower tube support 71 and is formed on the side wall of the valve frame 69 and a position restricting plate portion 84 that restricts the position of the four ink tubes 52 with the lower tube support 71. And a pair of front and rear engaging portions 85 that engage with the engaged portion 69a. The partition plate portion 82 of the lower tube support 71 restricts the width of the four ink tubes 52 and is applied to the receiving member 73. For this reason, the four ink tubes 52 are not crushed by the receiving member 73 in the attached state.

  Similarly to the lower tube support 71, the upper tube support 72 supports the ink tube 52 in a state in which the ink tube 52 is displaced in the extending direction when a tensile force from the extending direction of the ink tube 52 is applied. Specifically, the upper tube support 72 has a friction contact surface 91a that contacts the four ink tubes 52 in a curved state and generates a frictional force against the tensile force between the four ink tubes. The friction contact portion 91, a pair of front and rear contact pins (not shown) that protrude from the friction contact surface 91a and contact the side wall of the unit case 17 while avoiding the ink tube 52, and the friction contact portion 91 on the unit case 17. A pair of front and rear support fixing screws 93, 93 for fixing are provided. That is, the side wall of the unit case 17 regulates the position of the four ink tubes 52 with the upper tube support 72. Further, the four ink tubes 52 are not crushed by the pair of contact pins of the upper tube support 72.

  The lower tube support 71 and the upper tube support 72 (and the receiving member 73) configured in this way are positioned by a plurality of positioning protrusions that project from the side wall of the valve frame 69. The upper tube support 72 is hooked to the engaged portion 69 a of the valve frame 69 by the engaging portion 85, and further screwed to the unit case 17 by the support fixing screw 93 at the upper portion, thereby the ink tube 52. At the same time, it is fixed to the tank unit 3.

  The friction contact surfaces 81 a and 91 a of the lower tube support 71 and the upper tube support 72 extend in the parallel direction of the four ink tubes 52, and simultaneously contact the four ink tubes 52. The frictional contact surfaces 81a and 91a have a curved shape that generates a frictional force when a tensile force is applied from the extending direction of the ink tube 52. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, when a tensile force is generated from the downstream side when the ink tube 52 is in contact with the frictional contact surfaces 81a and 91a in a curved state, the frictional contact surface is accompanied by the tensile force. A component force serving as a contact force is generated on the 81a side. This contact force generates a strong frictional force and becomes a strong position restriction in the extending direction. Since the ink tube 52 is regulated within a predetermined angle range A on the upstream side and the downstream side from each supporting position, the curve that generates the frictional force with respect to an arbitrary tensile force from the angle range A. It is formed in a shape (see FIGS. 9B and 9C). Specifically, the ink tube 52 is positioned from the support position of the lower tube support 71 on the upstream side by the position restricting portion 66 of the valve unit 54, and the downstream side from the upper tube support 72 and the side wall of the unit case 17. The position is regulated. From the support position of the upper tube support 72, the upstream side is regulated by the lower tube support 71 and the receiving member 73, and the downstream side is drawn in an inverted U shape toward the recording device main body 2 side. The position is regulated upward on the second side. Each of the friction contact surfaces 81a and 91a is formed corresponding to the angular range A in the extending direction due to these position restrictions.

  In this way, the lower tube support 71 and the receiving member 73, and the upper tube support 72 and the side wall of the unit case 17 perform the displacement stop (position regulation) in the extending direction in a series, and as a result, the tank It functions as a retainer for the outflow joint 51b of the side tube 52a.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the main body side retaining member 56 has a tube support 106 disposed between a side wall on the tank unit 3 side of the apparatus frame 16 and a tube guide 111 described later. Yes. When a tensile force from the extending direction is applied, the tube support 106 supports the recording apparatus main body 2 side base portion of the erected tube portion 61 in the extending direction in a state of being prevented from being displaced. Specifically, the four ink tubes 52 come into contact with each other in a curved state from the lower side, and a plate-like shape having a friction contact surface 107 a that generates a frictional force against the tensile force between the four ink tubes 52. A pair of plate-like left and right width controls that face the friction contact portion 107 and the four ink tubes 52 from the left and right sides and restrict the width of the four ink tubes 52 and also serve as the side plates of the friction contact portion 107. Plate portions 108 and 108. The friction contact portion 107 and the pair of width regulating plate portions 108 and 108 are integrally formed.

  The frictional contact surface 107 a of the tube support 106 extends in the direction in which the four ink tubes 52 are arranged in parallel, and contacts the four ink tubes 52 simultaneously. Further, the friction contact surface 107a is a component that becomes a contact force with respect to an arbitrary tensile force from a predetermined angle range A that is the extending direction of the ink tube 52, similarly to the lower tube support 71 and the upper tube support 72. It is formed in a curved shape that generates force. Specifically, since the upstream side of the ink tube 52 is drawn in an inverted U shape from the support position of the tube support 106 to the tank unit 3 side, the position of the ink tube 52 is restricted to the upper side of the tank unit 3 and the downstream side. The side is regulated by the intermediate joint 57 (each inflow side port 101). The friction contact surface 107a is formed corresponding to the angular range A in the extending direction due to these position restrictions.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the intermediate joint 57 is interposed between the tank side tube 52 a and the head side tube 52 b on the fixed side of the tube bending portion 62. The intermediate joint 57 connects the four inflow ports 101 corresponding to the four ink tubes, the four outflow ports 102 corresponding thereto, the four inflow ports 101 and the four inflow ports. A plate-like connecting portion 103, an engaging groove 104 formed in the connecting portion 103 and engaged with a protrusion of a tube guide 111 described later, and locking protrusions 105 provided on both sides of the connecting portion 103. ing.

  The intermediate joint 57 is locked to the tube guide 111 at the portion of the locking projection 105 by snap-in so that it does not fall off from the tube guide 111. Further, the engagement groove 104 prevents the tube guide 111 from being mounted upside down by mistake. The downstream end portion of each tank side tube 52a is inserted and joined to each inflow side port 101, and the upstream end portion of each head side tube 52b (tube bending portion 62) is inserted and joined to each outflow side port 102. Has been. The intermediate joint 57 configured as described above allows the tank side tube 52a and the head side tube 52b to be exchanged separately.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the guide mechanism 53 extends in parallel (Y-axis direction) to the reciprocating locus of the carriage 41 and receives the tube bending portion 62 from below, and on the fixed side. A fixing member 112 for fixing the tube bending portion 62 to the tube guide 111, a flexible protective plate 113 attached to the tube bending portion 62, and a movable end of the tube bending portion 62 are held on the carriage unit 32. , And a guide unit 114 for guiding the curved shape of the tube turn portion 63.

  The tube guide 111 is formed of an integrated sheet metal and extends in the Y-axis direction (reciprocating direction of the carriage unit 32) to receive the four ink tubes 52 from below. Specifically, the tube guide 111 includes a bottom plate portion 116 that extends in the Y-axis direction and receives four ink tubes 52, and a pair of left and right rib plate portions 117 and 117 that rise from both side end portions of the bottom plate portion 116, have. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the bottom plate portion 116 is disposed above the paper discharge frame 27 with a predetermined interval.

  Further, an intermediate joint 57 is attached to the tube guide 111 at the end of the tank unit 3 side. For this reason, a pair of U-shaped guides 120 and 120 for attaching the intermediate joint 57 by snap-in from above are attached to this portion (rib plate portion 117) of the tube guide 111. Further, the bottom plate portion 116 of the tube guide 111 is provided with a protrusion that engages with the engagement groove 104 of the intermediate joint 57.

  The fixing member 112 includes a pressing fixing portion 118 that receives the tube guide 111 and fixes the four ink tubes 52 and a fastening screw 119 that fixes the pressing fixing portion 118 to the tube guide 111 with screws. . The fixing member 112 fixes the four ink tubes 52 to the tube guide 111 on the fixing side of the tube bending portion 62. Specifically, four ink tubes 52 are fixed at the upstream end portion of the non-movable region of the tube bending portion 62. Thereby, the deformation of the ink tube 52 can be stabilized and the tube bending portion 62 in the intermediate joint 57 is prevented from coming off.

  The protection plate 113 has one end fixed to the tube guide 111 and the other end held on the carriage 41, and together with the four ink tubes 52 (tube bending portions 62) as the carriage unit 32 reciprocates. Deforms following. Further, the protective plate 113 is provided along the R portion of the tube bending portion 62 from the outside, and the tube bending portion 62 is another component on the right side or the upper side in FIG. 3 (for example, the side wall or the top wall of the exterior cover 15). To prevent contact. That is, the protective plate 113 has a function of a tube carrier.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the guide unit 114 is provided in the vicinity of the upstream side of the guide member 121 and the guide member 121 that guides the tube turn portion 63 to the head unit 42 by bending the tube turn portion 63 at a right angle within the same plane. A tube holding member 122 for holding 62 movable end portions in the same plane. The guide member 121 and the tube holding member 122 are fixed to the carriage 41.

  The guide member 121 is provided on the carriage 41 and has a guide body 128 having a guide groove 127 composed of two individual guide grooves 126 and 126 for guiding the ink tubes 52 two by two, and two individual guide grooves 126, 126, respectively, which covers the entire open surface of each of the pair of presser pieces 129 and 129 and the two individual guide grooves 126 and 126 that receive the guide main body 128 and press each ink tube 52, and receives the guide main body 128. And a plate-shaped whole-area presser plate 130 that presses each ink tube 52. The guide body 128 may be formed integrally with the carriage 41.

  The guide grooves 127 curve the four ink tubes 52 arranged side by side in the horizontal plane and in the same plane, and one individual guide groove 126 (that is, two individual guide grooves) addressed to the two adjacent ink tubes 52. 126, 126). Each individual guide groove 126 is recessed in a square cross section and extends along a curved shape for guiding, and is formed slightly narrower than the width of the two ink tubes 52 arranged side by side. That is, each individual guide groove 126 supports and guides the two ink tubes 52 in such a manner that the two ink tubes 52 are fitted side by side.

  Each pair of presser pieces 129 and 129 is formed at the downstream end portion (front end portion in the extending direction) of each individual guide groove 126, and is formed to extend inward from the upper ends of both side walls of each individual guide groove 126. . That is, a pair of presser pieces 129 and 129 extending inward from the upper ends of both side walls are in contact with the upper surface of each ink tube 52 to press each ink tube 52 downward. The pair of presser pieces 129 and 129 are disposed so as to be displaced from each other with respect to the extending direction of the individual guide groove 126. In addition, the code | symbol 128a in a figure is a punching hole of the metal mold | die at the time of shape | molding a pair of pressing piece 129,129.

  The entire area pressing plate 130 covers the entire opening of the two individual guide grooves 126, 126, and specifically has a planar shape that covers the entire upper surface of the guide body 128. That is, the entire area presser plate 130 covering the entire open surface is in contact with the upper surface of each ink tube 52 and presses each ink tube 52 downward. The entire-area presser plate 130 is integrally formed with the movable end of the protective plate 113 (in other words, an extension of the protective plate 113), a tube holding member 122, and a locking piece 128b formed on the guide body 128. Thus, the upper surface of the guide main body 128 is locked. Note that the entire area presser plate 130 also functions as a protective cover for protecting the guide main body 128 and the tube turn portion 63.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the tube holding member 122 includes a support base 131 fixed to the carriage 41, and fixed to the support base 131 to hold the four ink tubes 52 side by side and the protection plate 113. A tube holder 132 that holds the movable end portion, and a fixing screw 140 that fixes the tube holder 132 to the support base 131 are provided. That is, the support base 131 supports the four ink tubes 52 and the protection plate 113 via the tube holder 132.

  The tube holder 132 has a tube receiving member 137 having a tube receiving surface 136 for receiving the four ink tubes 52, and is attached to the tube receiving member 137 in a snap-in manner. A tube pressing member 138 that is pressed between the surface 136 and the surface 136. When the tube holder 132 is fixed to the support base 131, the tube holder 132 is fixed upside down. That is, it is fixed to the support base 131 with the tube receiving member 137 on the top and the tube pressing member 138 on the bottom.

  The tube receiving member 137 is positioned at the tube receiving surface 136 that receives the four ink tubes 52 arranged side by side and the protection plate 113, and at both ends of the tube receiving surface 136, and the width of the four ink tubes 52 arranged side by side is regulated. A pair of left and right aligning wall portions 139 and 139 that are aligned with each other, and a pair of left and right engaging portions 152 that are positioned outside the pair of aligning wall portions 139 and engage with the engaged portions 151 and 151 of the tube pressing member 138, 152. Specifically, it is placed on the tube receiving surface 136 with the protective plate 113 on the bottom and the four ink tubes 52 on the top. The pair of alignment walls 139 and 139 are in contact with the side surfaces of the four side-by-side ink tubes 52 (the right side surface of the right end ink tube 52 and the left side surface of the left end ink tube 52). The width of the ink tube 52 is regulated.

  The tube pressing member 138 receives the tube receiving surface 136 and is positioned at both ends of the tube pressing surface 153 and the tube pressing surface 153 for pressing the four ink tubes arranged side by side. It has a pair of left and right engaged portions 151 and 151 engaged with the portions 152 and 152 in a snap-in manner.

  The fixing screw 140 fastens the tube holder 132 to the support base 131 and fastens the tube pressing member 138 attached to the tube receiving member 137 in a stationary manner. That is, the fixing screw 140 is screwed to the support base 131 by fastening the tube pressing member 138 and the tube holder 132 together.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 13, an operation of assembling the ink tube 52 into the tube holding member 122 will be described. As shown in FIG. 13, the protection plate 113 drawn horizontally is first placed on the tube receiving member 137, and the four ink tubes 52 drawn horizontally are placed side by side on the tube receiving member 137 (see FIG. 13). FIG. 13 (a)). When the four ink tubes 52 are placed, the four ink tubes 52 are positioned. Specifically, in each ink tube 52, positioning in the extending direction and positioning in the width direction are performed, and twist of the ink tube 52 is corrected based on the linear mark. Thereafter, the tube pressing member 138 is attached to the tube receiving member 137 by a snap-in method and temporarily fixed (FIG. 13B). When the four ink tubes 52 are temporarily fixed, the protective plate 113 having the movable end held by the tube holder 132 and the four ink tubes 52 are drawn around in a U-turn shape through the tube holder 132 and the tube holder 132 is provided. Is placed upside down on the support base 131. Thereafter, the tube holder 132 is fastened to the support base 131 with the fixing screw 140 (FIG. 13C). As a result, the movable end portion of the ink tube 52 (tube bending portion 62) is held by the carriage 41 via the tube holding member 122.

  According to the above configuration, the ink tube 52 is deformed following the reciprocation of the carriage 41 while maintaining the U-turn shape that is drawn upward from below, and in parallel with the reciprocation locus of the carriage 41. By providing the tube guide 111 that receives the ink tube 52 that extends and deforms following from the lower side, the tube guide 111 receives the portion corresponding to the bottom of the U-turn shape from the lower side and supports it. That is, since the ink tube 52 that deforms following can be guided in a wide range, the deformation of the ink tube 52 can be stabilized against the reciprocation of the carriage 41. In addition, by providing the tube guide 111 between the ink tube 52 and the transport unit 11, it is possible to prevent the ink tube 52 from coming into contact with the transport unit 11. Further, by arranging the tube guide 111 with a predetermined interval from the paper discharge frame, the deformation when the ink tube 52 abuts on the tube guide 111 can escape the space formed at the predetermined interval. it can. Therefore, it can prevent that the conveyance part 11 deform | transforms and is damaged and damaged.

  Moreover, in the tube guide 111, by providing a pair of rib plate portions 117 and 117 rising from both side end portions of the bottom plate portion 116, the rib plate portion 117 functions as a “reinforcing rib” and a “guide rib”. Therefore, the strength of the tube guide 111 can be improved, the ink tube 52 can be regulated in the width direction (guide), and the ink tube 52 can be effectively prevented from falling off the tube guide 111.

  Further, by providing the flexible protective plate 113 attached to the outside of the ink tube that undergoes follow-up deformation, the ink tube 52 that undergoes follow-up deformation can be prevented from coming into contact with other members and being damaged or damaged. .

  Furthermore, by providing the fixing member 112 for fixing the fixing side of the ink tube 52 to the tube guide 111, the stability against deformation of the ink tube 52 can be further improved.

  Further, by providing the intermediate joint 57 at the end of the tube guide 111 on the ink tank 51 side, the ink tube 52 from the ink tank 51 can be easily connected. Further, since the plurality of ink tubes 52 are connected to the integrated intermediate joint 57, the length of the ink tubes 52 from the intermediate joint 57 to the head unit 42 can be made the same among the plurality of ink tubes 52. That is, the tube guide 111 and the ink tube 52 can be unitized (assembled), and the assembling property and the mounting property of this part can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, a configuration may be provided in which bundling means for bundling the ink tube 52 to be deformed following the protection plate 113 is provided. For example, as the guide mechanism 53, the four ink tubes 52 (tube bending portion 62) and the R portion of the protective plate 113 are fixed to the protective plate 113, and the protective plate is held by the four ink tubes 52. A configuration in which a band-like binding band (not shown) for binding to 113 may be further provided. By binding the ink tube 52 to the protective plate 113 in this way, the ink tube 52 and the protective plate 113 are not displaced in the width direction, and the ink tube 52 can be reliably protected. The binding band preferably binds the four ink tubes 52 so as to freely advance and retract.

  In the above embodiment, the ink tank 51 is provided outside the outer case 15, but may be provided in a vacant space inside the outer case 15 as long as it is outside the carriage 41.

  1: ink jet recording apparatus, 2: recording apparatus main body, 3: tank unit, 13: ink supply unit, 25: guide roller, 26b: paper discharge driven roller, 27: paper discharge frame, 32: carriage unit, 41: carriage, 42: head unit, 51: ink tank, 52: ink tube, 57: intermediate joint, 101: inflow side port, 102: outflow side port, 111: tube guide, 112: fixing member, 113: protection plate, 116: bottom plate Part, 117: rib plate part

Claims (5)

An inkjet recording apparatus for recording on a medium by a head unit,
A recording apparatus main body having the head unit and an apparatus case for housing the head unit;
An ink tank unit that houses an ink tank and is arranged separately from the recording apparatus main body;
An ink tube that connects the ink tank and the head unit, extends in parallel with the reciprocation locus of the carriage, and curves upward and deforms following the reciprocation of the carriage;
A tube guide that extends in parallel with the reciprocating locus of the carriage and receives the ink tube that deforms following from the lower side;
A roller having upstream and downstream sides of the inkjet head; and a paper discharge frame that supports the downstream roller,
The tube guide is an ink jet recording apparatus characterized and benzalkonium disposed above the discharge frame. The tube guide is
A bottom plate for receiving the ink tube;
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a pair of rib portions that rise from the bottom plate portion . 2. The flexible protective plate according to claim 1 , further comprising: a flexible protective plate that is attached to the outside of the ink tube that is deformed to follow and deforms along with the ink tube as the carriage reciprocates. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to 2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a binding unit that binds the ink tube that deforms following the deformation to the protective plate . The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink tank unit is detachably attached to the recording apparatus main body .

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