JP6794624B2 - Device that discharges liquid - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for discharging a liquid.

In an apparatus that uses a liquid discharge means such as a liquid discharge head (droplet discharge head), it is necessary to reduce the adhesion of mist generated by liquid discharge to other members such as a medium.

Therefore, conventionally, a mist suction duct is attached to a carriage equipped with a liquid discharge means, the mist suction duct is connected to a suction device on the device main body side with a flexible duct, and the flexible duct is arranged along a liquid supply tube or a flexible cable. It is known (Patent Document 1). In addition, there are those in which an air flow is generated to prevent the mist from diffusing into the main body of the apparatus (Patent Document 2), and those in which the mist is guided by an electric field (Patent Document 3).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-205766 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-24039 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-025709

By the way, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the number of crawling members such as a flexible duct, a flexible cable, and a liquid supply tube increases between the carriage and the apparatus main body, there is a problem that the crawling becomes complicated. ..

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to simplify the crawling member between the apparatus main body and the liquid discharge means side.

In order to solve the above problems, the device for discharging the liquid according to claim 1 of the present invention is
A liquid discharge means that discharges liquid and
The mist intake port that captures mist and
A supply tube that supplies liquid from the device body side to the liquid discharge means side,
A suction tube for connecting the mist intake port to the suction device on the main body side of the device is provided.
The supply tube passes through the inside of the suction tube .
The supply tube has a structure having a higher rigidity than the suction tube .

According to the present invention, it is possible to simplify the crawling member between the apparatus main body and the liquid discharging means side.

It is a schematic plan explanatory view of the apparatus which discharges a liquid which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a schematic front explanatory view. It is also a schematic side view. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the head of this apparatus. It is a top view which looked at the carriage of this apparatus from the direction of arrow A of FIG. It is also a cross-sectional explanatory view which is provided for the explanation of a tube structure. It is a side view on the opposite side to FIG. 3 which is also provided for explaining the arrangement of the connecting portion of the tube. Similarly, it is the left side explanatory view of the carriage part. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing of the connection part which provides the explanation of the connection structure of a branch duct and a tube. It is a cross-sectional explanatory view along the line BB of FIG. 1 which is also provided for the detailed explanation of the tube support duct. Similarly, it is a plan explanatory view of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along the line CC of FIG. 3 for explaining the action and effect of mist suction. It is an enlarged schematic explanatory view of the F part of FIG. 12 for explaining the behavior of a mist. It is sectional drawing which provides the explanation of the tube structure in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which provides the explanation of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which provides the explanation of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which provides the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which provides the explanation of the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which provides the explanation of the different example of the 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a plane explanatory view around the tube support duct which is provided for the description of 8th Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan explanatory view of a device for discharging a liquid according to the same embodiment (hereinafter, simply referred to as “device”), FIG. 2 is a schematic front explanatory view, and FIG. 3 is a schematic side explanatory view. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing an example of the head of the device, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the carriage of the device as viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG.

Left and right side plates 123L and 123R are provided upright on the main body frame 30 in the device main body 100. The carriage 120 is mainly scanned in the main scanning direction (longitudinal direction of the guide rod) by the guide rod 122 which is a guide member bridged over the side plates 123L and 123R and the guide rail 124 attached to the rear frame 128 arranged on the main body frame 30. Holds movable to. Then, the carriage 120 is moved and scanned in the longitudinal direction (main scanning direction) of the guide rod 122 by a scanning mechanism such as a motor and a timing belt.

The carriage 120 has, for example, a liquid discharge head 1 (hereinafter, "head 1") as one or a plurality of liquid discharge means for discharging black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) liquids. ".) Is installed. The head 1 has a plurality of discharge ports (nozzles) arranged in a direction intersecting the main scanning direction, and is mounted with the liquid discharge direction facing downward.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the head 1 is composed of a heating element substrate 2 and a liquid chamber forming member 3, and a common flow path 7 and a liquid chamber (individual) via a supply path formed in the heating element substrate 2. The liquid sequentially supplied to the flow path) 6 is discharged. The head 1 is of a thermal type in which the discharge pressure is obtained by boiling the liquid film by driving the heating element 4, and the flow direction of the liquid to the discharge energy acting portion (heating element portion) in the liquid chamber 6 and the nozzle 5 It is a side shooter type configuration in which the central axis of the opening is perpendicular to the opening.

As the liquid discharge head, there are various methods such as those in which the diaphragm is deformed by using a piezoelectric element and the diaphragm is deformed by electrostatic force to obtain the discharge pressure, and any of the methods is the present invention. It can be applied to the device according to.

Returning to FIG. 1, the paper 8 is housed in a cassette 40 that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100. When the cassette 40 is set in the apparatus main body 100, the uppermost paper 8 is pressed against the supply roller 119 with an appropriate force, and the paper 8 is fed out one by one.

The paper 8 guided by the transport guide 117 is sandwiched between the transport roller 125 and the presser roller 126, is transported in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction (sub-scanning direction), and is fed onto the transport guide member 129.

Next, the scanning of the carriage 120 in the main scanning direction and the liquid ejection from the head 1 are synchronized at an appropriate timing based on the image data to form an image for one band on the paper 8. After the image formation for one band is completed, a predetermined amount of paper 8 is fed in the sub-scanning direction, and the same recording operation as described above is performed. One band corresponds to one nozzle row.

These operations are repeated to form an image for one page.

After the image is formed, the paper 8 is supported by the paper ejection roller 127, guided by the paper ejection guide 118, ejected from the paper ejection port 115 to the outside of the apparatus main body 100, and loaded on the stretchable paper ejection tray 116.

On the other hand, a head tank 101 having a liquid storage chamber for temporarily storing the discharged liquid is integrally connected to the upper part of the head 1. Here, "integrally" includes that the head 1 and the head tank 101 are connected by a tube, a pipe, or the like, and both of them are mounted on the carriage 120 together.

The liquid cartridge 76 is detachably attached to the cartridge holder 77 on the apparatus main body 100. The liquid stored in the liquid cartridge 76 is sent to the head tank 101 via the liquid supply tube 16 by the liquid feed pump.

Further, a maintenance / recovery device 31 that operates during maintenance of the head 1 or during printing standby is arranged outside the range of the image forming region in the main scanning direction.

The maintenance / recovery device 31 includes a cap 32 that sucks liquid from the nozzle of the head 1 and covers the nozzle surface to moisturize and protect the nozzle during standby. A suction pump and a waste liquid tube are connected to the cap 32 so that the liquid can be sucked from the head 1 to recover the clogging of the nozzle. Further, a wiper member for forming a meniscus on the nozzle by wiping the liquid adhering to the nozzle surface after sucking from the nozzle is also provided.

Further, a suction fan 50, which is a suction means, is attached to the upper part of the inside of the apparatus main body 100, here, the upper part of the wall surface facing the mounting direction of the cassette 40. By rotationally driving the suction fan 50, an air flow is generated in the direction of discharging the air inside the apparatus main body 100 to the outside. It should be noted that the exhaust gas may be internally circulated in the apparatus main body 100.

A filter 51, a suction base duct 54, a tube support duct 20, and a mist suction tube 55 are connected in this order to the upstream side of the suction fan 50, and the other end side of the mist suction tube 55 is connected to a branch duct 18 provided on the carriage 120. It is connected.

The internal space of the branch duct 18 communicates with the mist suction duct 56L and the mist suction duct 56R, which serve as the mist intake port. The mist suction ducts 56L and 56R are arranged on both side surfaces of the carriage 120 in the main scanning direction, and are opened at the same height as the nozzle surface of the head 1 and facing the transport guide member 129.

As shown in FIG. 5, the mist suction ducts 56L and 56R have a rectangular opening 56a, and the opening 56a is formed longer than the recording width of the head 1.

Next, the tube structure will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view for explaining the tube structure.

The structure is such that the liquid supply tube 16 passes through the inside of the mist suction tube 55. Here, the liquid supply tube 16 is configured by arranging four liquid supply tubes 16K, 16C, 16M, and 16Y, which serve as supply channels for liquids of each color, side by side.

In this case, the four liquid supply tubes 16K, 16C, 16m, and 16Y are arranged in a row in the vertical direction (vertical direction).

Next, the arrangement of the connecting portion of the tube will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the side surface opposite to FIG. 3, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of the left side surface of the carriage portion.

As shown in FIG. 7, one end of the mist suction tube 55 is fixed to the tube support duct 20 fixed to the apparatus main body 100, and the other end is fixed to the branch duct 18 arranged in the carriage 120.

Here, regarding the positions of the connecting portions at both ends of the mist suction tube 55, the position on the tube support duct 20 side is lower than that on the branch duct 18 side.

By making the height difference in this way, when the sucked mist does not reach the filter 51 but adheres to the mist suction tube 55 and is deposited in a liquid state, it can be collected on the filter 51 side.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, both the mist suction tube 55 and the liquid supply tube 16 are fixed to the branch duct 18. The branch duct 18 is fixed to the liquid distribution plate 17 arranged on the carriage 120. The liquid distribution plate 17 has a liquid flow path formed therein, and supplies liquid from the liquid supply tube 16 to the head tank 101 through the liquid flow path.

Next, the connection structure between the branch duct and the tube will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a connection portion between the branch duct and the tube.

The mist suction tube 55 is connected to the side opening 18S of the branch duct 18. The liquid supply tube 16 is arranged so as to extend inside the branch duct 18 and is connected to the liquid distribution plate 17.

As a result, the liquid supply tube 16 is connected to the liquid flow path inside the liquid distribution plate 17. A sealing member 19 is provided on the contact surface of the branch duct 18 with the liquid distribution plate 17 to prevent air from leaking from the gap between the liquid supply tube 16 and the branch duct 18.

A bottom opening 18B is provided on the bottom surface of the branch duct 18 and is connected to the internal suction flow path 56b of the mist suction duct 56L. Further, an upper surface opening 18T is provided on the upper surface of the branch duct 18, and is connected to a connecting duct 57 leading to the mist suction duct 56R.

The opening dimensions of the top opening 18T and bottom opening 18B of the mist suction ducts 56L and 56R and the connecting duct 57 and the branch duct 18 are such that the suction flow rates of the two mist suction ducts 56L and 56R are approximately the same when the fan 50 is driven. It is set to be equal.

Next, the details of the tube support duct will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. 10 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along line BB of FIG. 1, and FIG. 11 is a plan explanatory view of FIG.

The mist suction tube 55 is connected to the side opening 20S of the tube support duct 20. The liquid supply tube 16 is provided so as to penetrate the tube support duct 20 and extend to the outside of the opposite side surface through the side surface opening 22, and an L-shaped joint 21 is connected to the end portion of the cartridge holder 77. It is fixed to.

A flow path is formed inside the cartridge holder 77 and communicates with the liquid cartridge 76 of each color, and the liquid in the liquid cartridge 76 is supplied to the liquid supply tube 16.

The bottom of the tube support duct 20 is connected to the suction base duct 54, the bottom opening 20B of the tube support duct 20 and the opening 54T of the tube support duct 20 communicate with each other, and the inside of the tube support duct 20 is inside the suction base duct 54. I understand.

Next, the action and effect of mist suction in this device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along the line CC of FIG.

When the carriage 120 ejects liquid while moving in the direction of arrow X to form an image on the paper 8, the main drop d is in addition to the main drop d that lands on the paper 8 from the nozzle and contributes to image formation. The discharge speed is slower, and liquid mist m that does not land on the paper 8 is generated. The liquid mist m rapidly loses its ejection speed due to air resistance, and moves by being swept by the air flow in the space between the head 1 and the paper 8.

The behavior of this mist will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is an enlarged schematic explanatory view of the F portion of FIG.

Since the carriage 120 is moving in the direction of arrow X, an air flow is formed in the direction indicated by arrow D at the lower part of the carriage 120, and as shown in FIG. 13A, the liquid mist m is in the direction of arrow D. It flows.

Here, since the carriage 120 is provided with a mist suction duct 56R adjacent to the head 1, the liquid mist m generated below the carriage 120 is sucked at any time as shown in FIG. 13 (b). It moves directly under the opening 56a of the duct 56R.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13C, the liquid mist m is sucked into the internal suction flow path 56b from the opening 56a of the mist suction duct 56R.

In this way, when the plurality of liquid supply tubes 16 and the mist suction tube 55 are crawled between the apparatus main body 100 and the liquid discharge means side (here, the carriage 120), the inside of the mist suction tube 55 is filled with the liquid supply tube. By passing 16 through, the crawling member can be simplified.

Here, in order to obtain sufficient mist suction performance, it is necessary to obtain a certain flow rate or more in the mist suction duct 56. However, when a fan or blower is used as an inexpensive suction means, if the mist suction tube 55 is thin, the required flow rate cannot be obtained.

Therefore, the mist suction tube 55 needs to be thick (large the opening cross-sectional area).

However, if a thick tube is simply used as the mist suction tube 55, the mist suction tube 55 is less likely to be bent and deformed as the main scanning movement of the carriage 120 is performed during the printing operation.

Therefore, the moving load of the carriage 120 increases, and the carriage 120 vibrates due to the repulsive force that the tube tries to restore the shape, causing a problem that the printed image is distorted.

Therefore, it is necessary that the mist suction tube 55 is made of a low-rigidity material and is thin so that it can be easily bent and deformed.

However, if the bending rigidity of the mist suction tube 55 is small, the mist suction tube 55 tends to hang down when the mist suction tube 55 is maintained in a substantially horizontal posture as shown in FIG. 1, so that the posture of the mist suction tube 55 is maintained. There is a need.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the liquid supply tube 16 is arranged inside the mist suction tube 55.

Since the liquid supply tube 16 has four tubes arranged in a row, it has a high rigidity in the vertical direction (vertical direction). Therefore, since the liquid supply tube 16 passes through the mist suction tube 55, the mist suction tube 55 is supported by the liquid supply tube 16, and the low-rigidity mist suction tube 55 can easily and space-savingly maintain its posture. Can be done.

Further, when the fan 50 is driven for mist suction, the inside of the mist suction tube 55 becomes a negative pressure with respect to the atmospheric pressure, so that the circumference of the liquid supply tube 16 can be made a negative pressure.

As a result, air mixing into the liquid supply tube 16 through the tube wall is suppressed. Therefore, the stability of print quality is improved.

In this way, even if the mist suction tube is made thinner and the inner diameter is increased, by using a tube that is relatively more rigid than the mist suction tube as the liquid supply tube, it can be supported in a space-saving manner, and the mist can be supported. It can be sucked efficiently. Therefore, good image quality can be maintained for a long period of time.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional explanatory view for explaining the tube structure in the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, one liquid supply tube 16 is passed through the inside of the mist suction tube 55.

Even if only one tube is used, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained by making the rigidity of the liquid supply tube 16 higher than the rigidity of the mist suction tube 55.

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 15A and 15B are explanatory views for explaining the embodiment, FIG. 15A is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the entire tube, and FIG. 15B is a front explanatory view of a support member.

In the present embodiment, a support member 58 as a limiting member for restricting the movement of the liquid supply tube 16 is arranged inside the mist suction tube 55. Then, in this example, one liquid supply tube 16 is passed through.

The support member 58 is a disk-shaped member provided with a through hole 58H through which the liquid supply tube 16 passes, and is made of a low-density foam material (porous member) such as urethane.

The outer shape of the support member 58 is substantially the same as the opening cross-sectional shape of the mist suction tube 55.

The outer diameter of the support member 58 is smaller than the inner diameter of the mist suction tube 55.

The support member 58 is arranged at several points inside the mist suction tube 55.

As a result, the position of the liquid supply tube 16 with respect to the mist suction tube 55 can be stabilized, so that the cross-sectional shape of the mist suction flow path can be stabilized, and the mist suction performance can be stably maintained.

Further, since the support member 58 is made of a porous member, air can pass through the support member 58 and suck mist.

The material of the support member 58 may be any material having a porous structure, and is not limited to the above-mentioned low-density foam material. For example, a non-woven fabric or the like can be applied, and if it has a mesh structure, it can be a resin molded product. The support member 58 may be provided over the entire area of the mist suction tube 55 in the longitudinal direction when the rigidity is low and the aperture ratio is high.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 16A and 16B are explanatory views for explaining the embodiment, FIG. 16A is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the entire tube, and FIG. 16B is a front explanatory view of a support member.

In the present embodiment, a support member 59 as a limiting member for restricting the movement of the liquid supply tube 16 is arranged inside the mist suction tube 55. In this example, it is passed through one liquid supply tube 16.

The support member 59 is a disk-shaped resin member in which a through hole 59Hc for limiting the position of the liquid supply tube 16 is formed in the central portion, and through holes 59Hs for passing air during mist suction are provided on both sides of the through hole 59Hc. It is provided.

Other configurations and effects are the same as those in the third embodiment. Further, as compared with the third embodiment, the region that becomes the resistance of the air flow is small, and the mist suction efficiency is improved.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 17A and 17B are explanatory views for explaining the embodiment, FIG. 17A is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the entire tube, and FIG. 17B is a front explanatory view of a support member.

In the present embodiment, as in the third embodiment, a support member 58 as a limiting member for restricting the movement of the liquid supply tube 16 is arranged inside the mist suction tube 55. In this example, four liquid supply tubes 16 are passed through.

Other configurations and effects are the same as those in the third embodiment.

Next, the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 18A and 18B are explanatory views for explaining the embodiment, FIG. 18A is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the entire tube, and FIG. 18B is a front explanatory view of a support member.

In the present embodiment, as in the seventh embodiment, a support member 59 as a limiting member for restricting the movement of the liquid supply tube 16 is arranged inside the mist suction tube 55. In this example, four liquid supply tubes 16 are passed through.

Other configurations and effects are the same as those in the fourth embodiment.

Next, different examples of the seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional explanatory view for explaining a different example of the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a support member 60 as a limiting member for restricting the movement of the liquid supply tube 16 is arranged inside the mist suction tube 55. In this example, four liquid supply tubes 16 are passed through.

The support member 60 is a cross-shaped plate-shaped member, and holes are formed in each of the four tip portions through which the liquid supply tube 16 penetrates. The support member 60 is provided with through holes 60Hs in the central portion for passing air during mist suction.

As a result, the four liquid supply tubes 16K, 16C, 16M, 16Y are arranged apart by the support member 60.

Several support members 60 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the liquid supply tube 16.

Even when the liquid supply tube 16 is separated in this way, the mist suction tube 55 can be supported in a space-saving manner, and the mist suction tube 55 is made thin so that the substantial bending resistance becomes the resistance of the liquid supply tube 16 only. Even if it is configured, it can be prevented from hanging down.

Here, FIG. 19B is an example in which the mist suction tube 55f is used as a film material, and since the internal space can be maintained even with the mist suction tube 55f made of such a film material, the bending resistance due to the mist suction tube 55f can be further reduced. ..

Next, the eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a plan explanatory view around the tube support duct used for the description of the embodiment.

In this embodiment, a bellows-shaped mist suction tube 55j is used.

As a result, the bending resistance can be reduced even if the inner diameter of the mist suction tube 55j is increased.

In the present application, the "device for discharging a liquid" is a device provided with a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit and driving the liquid discharge head to discharge the liquid. The device for discharging the liquid includes not only a device capable of discharging the liquid to a device to which the liquid can adhere, but also a device for discharging the liquid into the air or the liquid.

The "device for discharging the liquid" can also include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging paper to which the liquid can adhere, as well as a pretreatment device, a posttreatment device, and the like.

For example, as a "device for ejecting a liquid", an image forming device which is a device for ejecting a liquid to form an image on paper, and a three-dimensional object (three-dimensional object) are formed in layers in order to form a three-dimensional object. There is a three-dimensional modeling device (three-dimensional modeling device) that discharges the modeling liquid into the powder layer.

Further, the "device for discharging a liquid" is not limited to a device in which a significant image such as characters and figures is visualized by the discharged liquid. For example, those that form patterns that have no meaning in themselves and those that form a three-dimensional image are also included.

The above-mentioned "material to which a liquid can adhere" means a material to which a liquid can adhere at least temporarily, such as one that adheres and adheres, and one that adheres and permeates. Specific examples include media such as paper, recording paper, recording paper, film, cloth and other recording media, electronic substrates, electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powder layers), organ models, and inspection cells. Yes, including anything to which the liquid adheres, unless otherwise specified.

The material of the above-mentioned "material to which liquid can be attached" may be paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics or the like as long as the liquid can be attached even temporarily.

The "liquid" also includes a liquid, a treatment liquid, a DNA sample, a resist, a pattern material, a binder, a modeling liquid, or a solution and a dispersion liquid containing amino acids, proteins, and calcium.

Further, the "device for discharging the liquid" includes, but is not limited to, a device in which the liquid discharge head and the device to which the liquid can adhere move relatively. Specific examples include a serial type device that moves the liquid discharge head, a line type device that does not move the liquid discharge head, and the like.

In addition, as a "device for ejecting liquid", a treatment liquid coating device for ejecting a treatment liquid to the paper in order to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper for the purpose of modifying the surface of the paper, raw materials. There is an injection granulator that granulates fine particles of raw materials by injecting a composition liquid dispersed in a solution through a nozzle.

The "liquid discharge unit" is a liquid discharge head integrated with functional parts and a mechanism, and is an assembly of parts related to liquid discharge. For example, the "liquid discharge unit" includes a combination of at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance / recovery mechanism, and a main scanning movement mechanism with a liquid discharge head.

Here, "integration" means, for example, a liquid discharge head and a functional component, a mechanism fixed to each other by fastening, adhesion, engagement, etc., or one in which one is movably held with respect to the other. Including. Further, the liquid discharge head, the functional parts, and the mechanism may be detachably attached to each other.

For example, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a liquid discharge head and a head tank integrated. In addition, there are cases in which the liquid discharge head and the head tank are integrated by being connected to each other by a tube or the like. Here, a unit including a filter can be added between the head tank of these liquid discharge units and the liquid discharge head.

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a liquid discharge head and a carriage integrated.

Further, there is a liquid discharge unit in which the liquid discharge head and the scanning movement mechanism are integrated by holding the liquid discharge head movably by a guide member forming a part of the scanning movement mechanism. Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a liquid discharge head, a carriage, and a main scanning movement mechanism integrated.

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a carriage to which a liquid discharge head is attached, in which a cap member which is a part of the maintenance / recovery mechanism is fixed, and the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the maintenance / recovery mechanism are integrated. ..

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a liquid discharge unit in which a tube is connected to a head tank or a liquid discharge head to which a flow path component is attached, and the liquid discharge head and a supply mechanism are integrated.

The main scanning movement mechanism shall also include a single guide member. Further, the supply mechanism includes a tube unit and a loading unit unit.

In addition, image formation, recording, printing, printing, printing, modeling, etc. in the terms of the present application are all synonymous.

1 Liquid discharge head 16 Liquid supply tube 18 Branch duct 20 Tube support duct 50 Suction fan 51 Filter member 55 Mist suction tube 56R, 56L Mist suction duct 58, 59, 60 Support member (restriction member)
120 Carriage 129 Carriage guide member

Claims (21)

A liquid discharge means that discharges liquid and
The mist intake port that captures mist and
A supply tube that supplies liquid from the device body side to the liquid discharge means side,
A suction tube for connecting the mist intake port to the suction device on the main body side of the device is provided.
The supply tube passes through the inside of the suction tube.
The supply tube is a device for discharging a liquid, which is characterized by having a higher rigidity than the suction tube. A liquid discharge means that discharges liquid and
The mist intake port that captures mist and
A supply tube that supplies liquid from the device body side to the liquid discharge means side,
A suction tube for connecting the mist intake port to the suction device on the main body side of the device is provided.
There are multiple supply tubes,
The plurality of supply tubes pass through the inside of the suction tube.
A device for discharging a liquid, wherein the plurality of supply tubes are arranged apart from each other. A liquid discharge means that discharges liquid and
The mist intake port that captures mist and
A supply tube that supplies liquid from the device body side to the liquid discharge means side,
A suction tube for connecting the mist intake port to the suction device on the main body side of the device is provided.
The supply tube passes through the inside of the suction tube.
Inside the suction tube, a limiting member that limits the movement of the supply tube is provided.
A device for discharging a liquid, wherein the limiting member is a porous member. A liquid discharge means that discharges liquid and
The mist intake port that captures mist and
A supply tube that supplies liquid from the device body side to the liquid discharge means side,
A suction tube for connecting the mist intake port to the suction device on the main body side of the device is provided.
The supply tube passes through the inside of the suction tube.
The suction tube is a device for discharging a liquid, which is a bellows-shaped member. The device for discharging a liquid according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the liquid discharge means and the mist intake port are mounted on a carriage that can be reciprocated. The device for discharging a liquid according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the supply tube has a higher rigidity than the suction tube. There are multiple supply tubes,
The device for discharging a liquid according to any one of claims 1, 3 and 4, wherein the plurality of supply tubes pass through the inside of the suction tube. The device for discharging a liquid according to claim 2 or 7, wherein the plurality of supply tubes are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. There are multiple supply tubes,
The plurality of supply tubes pass through the inside of the suction tube.
The device for discharging a liquid according to any one of claims 1, 3 and 4, wherein the plurality of supply tubes are arranged apart from each other. The device for discharging the liquid according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4, wherein a limiting member for limiting the movement of the supply tube is provided inside the suction tube. Inside the suction tube, a limiting member that limits the movement of the supply tube is provided.
The device for discharging a liquid according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4, wherein the limiting member is a porous member. The device for discharging a liquid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the suction tube is a bellows-shaped member. A liquid discharge means that discharges liquid and
The mist intake port that captures mist and
A supply tube that supplies liquid from the device body side to the liquid discharge means side,
A suction tube for connecting the mist intake port to the suction device on the main body side of the device is provided.
The supply tube passes through the inside of the suction tube.
The liquid discharge means and the mist intake port are mounted on a carriage that can be reciprocated.
The tube support duct fixed to the device body side and
It has a branch duct arranged on the carriage and has
In the path from the mist intake port to the suction device, the branch duct is arranged on the upstream side of the tube support duct .
The suction tube is connected to the tube support duct and the branch duct.
A device for discharging a liquid, wherein the tube support duct is lower than the branch duct in the height direction. The device for discharging a liquid according to claim 12, wherein the liquid discharge means and the mist intake port are mounted on a carriage that can be reciprocated. The device for discharging a liquid according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the supply tube has a higher rigidity than the suction tube. There are multiple supply tubes,
The device for discharging a liquid according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the plurality of supply tubes pass through the inside of the suction tube. The device for discharging a liquid according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of supply tubes are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. The device for discharging a liquid according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of supply tubes are arranged apart from each other. The device for discharging a liquid according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein a limiting member for limiting the movement of the supply tube is provided inside the suction tube. The device for discharging a liquid according to claim 19, wherein the limiting member is a porous member. The device for discharging a liquid according to any one of claims 13 to 20, wherein the suction tube is a bellows-shaped member.

Images