JP6267116B2 - Inkjet head maintenance device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet head maintenance device that performs maintenance (ink filling or purging) of each ink ejection hole of an inkjet head of an inkjet printing apparatus.

  Inkjet printers are widely used in all fields, whether for personal use or for business use. For example, in the electronics manufacturing industry, patterns for wiring of electronic components, patterns of insulators, dielectrics, etc., and wiring of circuit boards are used. It is used to draw patterns such as resistors. In any ink jet printing apparatus, each ink discharge hole is formed by pressurizing ink into the ink jet head at the time of initial filling of ink in the ink jet head or sucking each ink discharge hole (nozzle) of the ink jet head from the lower surface side of the ink jet head. Ink is filled with ink, but some ink ejection holes are clogged with bubbles or precipitates in the ink, or the viscosity of the ink is increased inside the inkjet head, resulting in poor ink flow. Due to the variation, the hole diameter is narrow and the ink flow is poor, or the pressure drops at the ink discharge hole located far from the ink inlet of the inkjet head. Ink filling unevenness may occur.

  In addition, since the ink discharge hole is easy to flow once the ink is filled, the pressure acting on the ink discharge hole that is not filled with ink drops, and there is a problem that it is difficult to fill the ink. . Therefore, it is necessary to pressurize or suck ink until all ink ejection holes are filled with ink, and a large amount of ink is wasted.

  In addition, even in an ink discharge hole once filled with ink, bubbles in the ink enter the ink discharge hole and return to an unfilled state, or the solvent component of the ink in the ink discharge hole that is not in use is the ink discharge hole. In order to improve this problem, a large amount of ink is required to evaporate from the outlet of the ink, and the ink is thickened and solidified in the ink discharge hole to clog the ink discharge hole.

  As a conventional maintenance device for an ink jet head, there is one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-272148. As shown in FIG. 5, the cap member 2 is detachably placed on the lower surface portion of the ink jet head 1, and all of the ink jet head 1 is interposed between the lower surface portion of the ink jet head 1 and the cap member 2. A sealed space 4 communicating with the ink ejection holes 3 is formed, and suction holes 5a to 5c are formed at three locations of the cap member 2, and valves 7a to 6c are respectively connected to the pipes 6a to 6c connected to the suction holes 5a to 5c. 7c is provided, and when ink is initially filled, all the three valves 7a to 7c are opened, and the suction force is applied to the sealed space 4 from the three suction holes 5a to 5c. 3 is filled with ink, and at the time of periodic purge (during regular cleaning), only the valves 7a and 7c at both ends are opened and only the suction holes 5a and 5c at both ends are closed. By sucking the space 4, so as to efficiently remove air bubbles from the ink discharge hole 3 in the vicinity of bubbles tends to collect head end.

JP 2000-272148 A

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, the suction holes on which the suction force is applied are selected by selectively opening the valves 7 a to 7 c of the pipes 6 a to 6 c connected to the suction holes 5 a to 5 c of the cap member 2. However, since the three suction holes 5a to 5c are all in communication with all the ink discharge holes 3 of the ink jet head 1 through the sealed space 4, the suction holes for applying the suction force are selected. However, the suction force always acts on all the ink ejection holes 3 only by the change of the suction force acting on the ink ejection holes 3 from the suction holes. For this reason, when some of the plurality of ink ejection holes 3 of the inkjet head 1 are clogged or the ink flow is poor, the ink flow in the ink ejection holes 3 is reduced. It is difficult to recover in a short time.

  In addition, as described above, the ink discharge hole 3 is easy to flow once it is filled with ink. Therefore, the suction force acting on the ink discharge hole 3 not filled with ink is reduced, and the ink is discharged. There was a problem that it was difficult to fill. Therefore, it is necessary to continue sucking ink until all the ink ejection holes 3 are filled with ink, and a large amount of ink is wasted.

  Moreover, since the valves 7a to 7c are provided in the suction holes 5a to 5c of the cap member 2, respectively, when the number of the suction holes 5a to 5c is increased, the number of the valves 7a to 7c is also increased, and the configuration of the maintenance device is increased. There were also drawbacks that made the system more complex and larger, and the manufacturing cost was higher.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that a necessary suction force can be reliably applied to all the ink ejection holes of the ink jet head, and maintainability (ink filling ability / purgeability) of each ink ejection hole. It is to provide a maintenance device for an ink jet head that can improve the efficiency of the maintenance device, and can also simplify the configuration of the maintenance device, reduce the size, and reduce the cost.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an inkjet head maintenance apparatus for maintaining (ink filling or purging) each ink ejection hole of an inkjet head having a plurality of ink ejection holes formed in a lower surface portion. A cap member that is detachably placed on the lower surface portion of the ink jet head, a plurality of communication holes that are provided in the cap member and connected to a plurality of ink discharge holes of the inkjet head, and are provided rotatably on the cap member, A shutter member that selectively opens only one communication hole by rotation from among the plurality of communication holes of the cap member, and the shutter member is a surface of the cap member that is in contact with the lower surface portion of the inkjet head Provided at different positions so as not to contact the lower surface of the inkjet head, By switching the position of the communicating hole of the cap member for opening by rotating the shutter member sequentially, the ink-jet head which applies a suction force or pressure by opening a plurality of communication holes of the cap member one by one The positions of the ink ejection holes are sequentially switched.

According to this configuration, the position of the communication hole that is opened by the rotation of the shutter member is sequentially switched, so that the plurality of communication holes of the cap member are sequentially opened one by one and the suction force or the pressurizing force is applied. Since the positions of the ink discharge holes are sequentially switched, it is possible to reliably apply the necessary pressure to all the ink discharge holes of the inkjet head in order, and maintainability (ink fillability and (Purgeability) can be improved. In addition, since the positions of the communication holes that are opened by the rotation of the shutter member are sequentially switched, the configuration of the maintenance device can be simplified, compared to a configuration in which a valve is provided for each communication hole, and the size and cost are reduced. Can also be realized.
In this case, the shutter member may be configured to open and close the plurality of communication holes of the cap member at different portions for each communication hole .
Alternatively, the shutter member may be configured to open hole for opening the plurality of communication holes one by one cap member by rotation of said shutter member is formed.
In the present invention, it is preferable to provide a seal member that seals a gap in a connection portion between each ink discharge hole of the inkjet head and each communication hole of the cap member. In this way, it is possible to prevent leakage of pressure that is applied to the ink discharge holes in order by rotation of the shutter member, and maintenance (ink filling or purging) can be performed efficiently.

The present invention further includes suction force generating means for applying a suction force to a communication hole opened by the shutter member among the plurality of communication holes of the cap member, and rotating the shutter member allows the suction force generating means to rotate . You may comprise so that the position of the ink discharge hole which applies a suction force may be switched sequentially.

Alternatively, the position of the ink discharge holes for applying pressure can be sequentially switched by rotating the shutter member while the ink in the ink jet head is pressurized by the ink pressurizing function of the ink jet printing apparatus. good. In this configuration, the ink jet head maintenance (ink filling or purging) can be performed using the ink pressurizing function of the ink jet printing apparatus.

Further, the present invention may be configured to include an actuator serving as a driving source for rotating the shutter member and a control means for controlling the rotation of the shutter member by the actuator. Thereby, maintenance (ink filling and purging) can be automated.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a maintenance device for an inkjet head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the inkjet head maintenance apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 and showing the configuration of the shutter member according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 and showing the configuration of the shutter member according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional inkjet head maintenance device.

  Hereinafter, four Examples 1 to 4 embodying a mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
A plurality of ink discharge holes 12 (nozzles) are formed in the lower surface portion of the ink jet head 11 of the ink jet printing apparatus, and each ink discharge hole 12 communicates with an ink flow path 13 formed inside the ink jet head 11. . Although not shown, the ink jet printing apparatus of the first embodiment includes an ink pressurizing function such as a pump that pressurizes and supplies ink from an ink tank (not shown) to the ink flow path 13 in the ink jet head 11. Yes.

The maintenance device 20 of the inkjet head 11 includes a cap member 21 that is detachably placed on the lower surface of the inkjet head 11. For example, the cap member 21 is fixed at a predetermined position of the ink jet printing apparatus, and the ink jet head 11 is moved onto the cap member 21 at the time of maintenance (at the time of ink filling or purging). Alternatively, the cap member 21 may be moved, and the cap member 21 may be moved below the inkjet head 11 during maintenance so that the lower surface portion of the inkjet head 11 is covered with the cap member 21. May be.

  The cap member 21 is formed with a plurality of communication holes 22 connected to the plurality of ink ejection holes 12 of the inkjet head 11, and O-rings 23 (seal members) are attached to the opening edge portions of the communication holes 22, respectively. The gaps of the connecting portions between the ink discharge holes 12 of the inkjet head 11 and the communication holes 22 of the cap member 21 are sealed by O-rings 23, respectively.

In the cap member 21, a shutter member 25 that selectively opens only one communication hole 22 from among the plurality of communication holes 22 of the cap member 21 slides in a horizontal direction (a direction parallel to the lower surface of the inkjet head 11). It is provided to be movable. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the shutter member 25 is provided at a position different from the surface where the cap member 21 contacts the lower surface portion of the inkjet head 11 so as not to contact the lower surface portion of the inkjet head 11. It has been. As shown in FIG. 2, the shutter member 25 is formed with one slit 26 penetrating in the vertical direction. The length of the slit 26 is set so that all the communication holes 22 of the cap member 21 are included in the sliding range of the slit 26 by the sliding of the shutter member 25, and the groove width of the slit 26 is the cap member 21. The diameter of the communication hole 22 is substantially the same as or slightly larger than that. The direction in which the slit 26 extends is not a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the shutter member 25, but is inclined at a predetermined angle. The sliding hole 22 is opened one by one by the slit 26 by sliding the shutter member 25. Yes. Accordingly, the shutter member 25 is configured to open and close the plurality of communication holes 22 of the cap member 21 at different portions for each communication hole 22.

The slit 26, but it may also be a plurality of forms.

  A waste liquid passage 27 is formed in the cap member 21 along the lower surface of the shutter member 25, and at least a part of the slit 26 of the shutter member 25 communicates with the waste liquid passage 27. The waste liquid passage 27 is connected to a waste liquid tank 29 via a pipe 28. Further, an exhaust pump 30 (suction force generating means) for exhausting the inside of the waste liquid tank 29 is provided above the waste liquid tank 29, and the cap member 21 is exhausted by the exhaust pump 30 during maintenance. The waste liquid passage 27 is set to a negative pressure, and a suction force is applied to the ink discharge holes 12 of the inkjet head 11 through the slits 26 of the shutter member 25.

  Further, although not shown, in the first embodiment, an actuator such as a motor serving as a drive source for sliding the shutter member 25 is provided, and the operation of the actuator is controlled by a control device (control means) of the ink jet printing apparatus during maintenance. As a result, the shutter member 25 is slid, the position of the communication hole 22 of the cap member 21 opened by the slit 26 of the shutter member 25 is sequentially switched, and the ink ejection of the inkjet head 11 that applies the suction force or the applied pressure is performed. The positions of the holes 12 are sequentially switched.

  When maintenance (ink filling or purging) of the inkjet head 11 is performed using the maintenance device 20 configured as described above, the ink in the ink flow path 13 of the inkjet head 11 is added by the ink pressurizing function of the inkjet printing device. In a pressurized state, or the exhaust pump 30 is operated to make the waste fluid passage 27 of the cap member 21 negative pressure and the suction force is applied to the slit 26 of the shutter member 25 (or the suction force is applied while pressurizing the ink). When the shutter member 25 is slid by the actuator in the applied state), the position of the communication hole 22 of the cap member 21 opened by the slit 26 of the shutter member 25 is sequentially switched to apply a suction force or a pressing force. The positions of the ink discharge holes 12 of the inkjet head 11 are sequentially switched.

  At this time, each time the slit 26 of the shutter member 25 matches the communication hole 22 of the cap member 21, the sliding of the shutter member 25 is stopped for a predetermined time, and the maintenance (ink filling) of the ink discharge hole 12 connected to the communication hole 22 is stopped. Or the operation of purging) is repeated, and maintenance of all the ink ejection holes 12 of the inkjet head 11 is performed. The ink waste liquid sucked into the waste liquid passage 27 through the slit 26 of the shutter member 25 from each ink discharge hole 12 is collected in the waste liquid tank 29.

  According to the first embodiment described above, by sliding the shutter member 25, the position of the communication hole 22 of the cap member 21 that is opened by the slit 26 of the shutter member 25 is sequentially switched, so that the suction force and the applied pressure are applied. Since the positions of the ink ejection holes 12 of the inkjet head 11 to be switched are sequentially switched, the necessary pressure can be applied to all the ink ejection holes 12 of the inkjet head 11 in order in a reliable manner. 12 maintainability (ink filling property and purge property) can be improved.

  In addition, since the positions of the communication holes 22 of the cap member 21 opened by sliding the shutter member 25 are sequentially switched, the configuration of the maintenance device 20 is simpler than the configuration in which a valve is provided for each communication hole 22. It is possible to reduce the size and cost.

  Further, in the first embodiment, since the O-ring 23 (seal member) that seals the gap of the connection portion between each ink discharge hole 12 of the inkjet head 11 and each communication hole 22 of the cap member 21 is provided, the shutter The leakage of pressure that is applied to the ink discharge holes 12 in order by sliding of the member 25 can be prevented, and maintenance (ink filling and purging) can be performed efficiently.

  In the first embodiment, the shutter member 25 is arranged on the lower surface side of the cap member 21 so that the shutter member 25 does not come into contact with the inkjet head 11. Therefore, the shutter member 25 is slid during maintenance. However, the lower surface of the inkjet head 11 is not rubbed by the shutter member 25, and the lower surface of the inkjet head 11 can be prevented from being damaged, and the inkjet head 11 can be made to last longer.

  In the first embodiment, O-rings 23 are attached to the respective communication holes 22 of the cap member 21 so that the gaps at the connection portions between the respective ink discharge holes 12 of the inkjet head 11 and the respective communication holes 22 of the cap member 21 are formed. In the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, a single packing 33 in which an opening hole 32 that matches each communication hole 22 is formed in the upper surface portion of the cap member 21. Is installed as a sealing means, and the packing 33 is sandwiched between the cap member 21 and the inkjet head 11, thereby connecting the ink discharge holes 12 of the inkjet head 11 and the communication holes 22 of the cap member 21. The gap is sealed with the packing 33. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  Also in the second embodiment described above, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

In the first and second embodiments, the slit 26 is formed in the shutter member 25, but in the third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, the shutter member 25 has a plurality of slits corresponding to the plurality of communication holes 22 of the cap member 21. Are formed, and the shutter member 25 is slid, whereby the positions of the communication holes 22 of the cap member 21 opened by the opening holes 35 of the shutter member 25 are sequentially switched, and the plurality of communication holes 22 of the cap member 21 are switched. Are opened one by one in order. Other configurations are the same as those in the first or second embodiment.

  Also in the third embodiment described above, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

In the first to third embodiments, the position of the communication hole 22 of the cap member 21 opened by the shutter member 25 is sequentially switched by sliding the shutter member 25. However, the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, the cap member 21 is provided with the shutter member 40 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 41, and the shutter member 40 is formed with a plurality of opening holes 42 corresponding to the plurality of communication holes 22 of the cap member 21, By rotating the shutter member 40 with an actuator such as a motor, the positions of the communication holes 22 of the cap member 21 opened by the opening holes 42 of the shutter member 40 are sequentially switched, and the plurality of communication holes 22 of the cap member 21 are set to one. It is opened in order one by one. Other configurations are the same as those in the first or second embodiment.

In the fourth embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.
In addition, this invention is not limited to said each Examples 1-4, For example, the arrangement | sequence of the ink discharge hole 12 of the inkjet head 11, the arrangement | sequence of the communicating hole 22 of the cap member 21, or the shape of the communicating hole 22 is changed. The shape of the shutter members 25 and 40 may be changed, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Inkjet head, 12 ... Ink ejection hole, 13 ... Ink flow path, 20 ... Maintenance device, 21 ... Cap member, 22 ... Communication hole, 23 ... O-ring (seal member), 25 ... Shutter member, 26 ... Slit, 27 ... Waste liquid passage, 28 ... Piping, 29 ... Waste liquid tank, 30 ... Exhaust pump (suction force generating means), 32 ... Opening hole, 33 ... Packing (sealing means), 35 ... Opening hole, 40 ... Shutter member, 41 ... Shaft, 42 ... opening hole

Claims (7)

In an inkjet head maintenance device for maintaining each ink ejection hole of an inkjet head having a plurality of ink ejection holes formed on the lower surface portion,
A cap member that is detachably placed on the lower surface of the inkjet head;
A plurality of communication holes provided in the cap member and connected to a plurality of ink ejection holes of the inkjet head;
A shutter member provided rotatably on the cap member, and selectively opening only one communication hole by rotation from among the plurality of communication holes of the cap member;
The shutter member is provided at a position different from a surface where the cap member is in contact with the lower surface portion of the inkjet head so as not to contact the lower surface portion of the inkjet head,
By sequentially switching the positions of the communication holes of the cap member that are opened by rotating the shutter member, the plurality of communication holes of the cap member are sequentially opened one by one to apply suction force or pressure force. An inkjet head maintenance device configured to sequentially switch positions of holes.   2. The inkjet head maintenance device according to claim 1, wherein the shutter member is configured to open and close the plurality of communication holes of the cap member at different portions for each communication hole. The front Symbol shutter member, an ink jet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that openings for opening the plurality of communication holes of the cap member by rotation of said shutter member one by one are formed Head maintenance device. According to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing member to seal the gap of the connection between the respective communication holes of the respective ink discharge holes and the cap member of said ink jet head is provided Inkjet head maintenance device. Of the plurality of communication holes of the cap member, a suction force generating means for applying a suction force to the communication holes opened by the shutter member is provided, and the suction force of the suction force generating means is increased by rotating the shutter member. The ink jet head maintenance apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the positions of the ink discharge holes to be actuated are sequentially switched. It is configured to sequentially switch the positions of the ink ejection holes on which pressure is applied by rotating the shutter member in a state where the ink in the ink jet head is pressurized by the ink pressurizing function of the ink jet printing apparatus. An ink jet head maintenance apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . An actuator serving as a drive source for rotating the shutter member;
Maintenance device of the ink jet head according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a control means for controlling the rotation of the shutter member by the actuator.

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