JP6880783B2 - Liquid injection unit and its driving method and liquid injection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid injection unit that injects liquid from a nozzle, a method for driving the liquid injection unit, and a liquid injection device including the liquid injection unit.

The liquid injection unit ejects a liquid such as ink supplied from a liquid storage means such as an ink tank as droplets from a plurality of nozzles by changing the pressure of the pressure generating means. Further, the pressure adjustment that opens the valve when the downstream flow path becomes a negative pressure in the middle of the flow path so that the liquid such as ink supplied from the liquid storage means is supplied to the liquid injection unit at a predetermined pressure. A configuration in which a valve is provided has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Further, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration provided with a pressing mechanism for opening a valve by pressing the valve from the outside regardless of the pressure of the flow path on the downstream side.

Further, a configuration is disclosed in which a pressure adjusting valve is pressed and opened by pressurizing and supplying a fluid such as air (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-11104 JP-A-2015-189201

However, if a large number of connection ports for pressurization and depressurization are provided in addition to the connection ports for supplying the liquid, there is a problem that the number of joints increases and the attachment / detachment of the liquid injection unit becomes complicated.

In view of such circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid injection unit, a driving method thereof, and a liquid injection device that can be easily attached / detached by reducing the number of joints at the time of attachment / detachment.

An aspect of the present invention that solves the above problems is a liquid injection unit that injects a first fluid from a nozzle, and has a first connection port for flowing the first fluid and a second connection port for flowing the second fluid. The connection port, the drive unit for injecting the first fluid in the flow path communicating with the first connection port and the nozzle from the nozzle, the first chamber communicating with the second connection port, and the above. The liquid injection unit is provided with a second chamber communicating with the second connection port.

In such an embodiment, the number of connection ports to which the first fluid used for injection and the second fluid used for pressurization and depressurization are supplied can be reduced, and the liquid injection unit can be easily attached and detached. Further, for example, the inside of the liquid injection unit is added by pressurizing the first chamber through the second connection port and depressurizing the second chamber through the second connection port. A highly functional liquid injection unit can be realized by reducing the pressure and depressurizing.

Here, it is preferable that the first chamber changes the volume of the flow path, and the second chamber stores the gas in the flow path. According to this, it is possible to realize a highly functional flow path by changing the volume by pressurization. In addition, air bubbles can be removed by suction by reducing the pressure.

Further, a movable membrane urged by the first chamber by pressurization of the first chamber is provided between the first chamber and the movable membrane, and the first chamber and the second chamber are provided. It is preferable to provide a buffer chamber that does not communicate with each other. According to this, even if the pressure in the first chamber is reduced due to the pressure reduction in the second chamber, the influence on the movable membrane can be suppressed by providing the buffer chamber.

Further, it is preferable that the buffer chamber is open to the atmosphere. According to this, it is possible to suppress the influence on the movable membrane and reduce the cost by a simple configuration in which the buffer chamber is opened to the atmosphere.

Further, it is preferable that the portion where the first chamber and the movable film are in contact with each other is roughened. According to this, it is possible to prevent the movable membrane and the wall surface of the first chamber from sticking to each other due to dew condensation or the like. Here, it is sufficient that at least one of the first chamber and the movable membrane is roughened.

Further, the gas permeable membrane provided between the second chamber and the flow path, and a serpentine path for imparting diffusion resistance between the second chamber and the second connection port are provided. It is preferable to move the gas in the flow path into the second chamber by reducing the pressure in the second chamber. According to this, even if the water content of the liquid evaporates through the gas permeable membrane, diffusion resistance can be imparted by the serpentine to suppress the water evaporation. In addition, by providing a serpentine path between the second connection port and the second chamber, a pump with a smaller pressure for depressurizing is used as compared with the case where it is provided in all parts of the second connection port and the second chamber. At the same time, the operating time of the pump can be shortened.

Further, it is preferable to provide a gas permeable membrane provided between the second chamber and the flow path and a decompression maintaining means communicating with the second connection port. According to this, defoaming can be performed by the gas permeable membrane, and defoaming can be maintained by the reduced pressure maintaining means. Further, by providing the bidirectional valve on the outside of the second connection port, the liquid injection unit can be miniaturized.

Further, it is preferable to provide a one-way valve between the second chamber and the second connection port to allow the flow from the second chamber to the second connection port. According to this, by providing the one-way valve, when the first chamber is pressurized, the second chamber is suppressed from being pressurized, and the first chamber can be effectively pressurized.

In addition, it is preferable to provide a regulation unit that regulates the expansion and contraction of the volume of the second chamber. According to this, the expansion of the second chamber can be suppressed when the first chamber is pressurized. In addition, it is possible to prevent the second chamber from shrinking when the pressure in the second chamber is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the members constituting the wall surface of the second chamber, for example, the gas permeable membrane and the like.

Further, it is preferable to provide a regulation unit that regulates the reduction of the volume of the first chamber. According to this, it is possible to prevent the members constituting the wall surface of the first chamber from being damaged by reducing the volume of the first chamber.

Further, it is preferable that the first chamber and the second chamber are formed of different members at least in part. According to this, each function of the first room and the second room can be realized.

Further, one of the first chamber and the second chamber is adjacent to the flow path of the first fluid, and the other of the first chamber and the second chamber is the said of the first fluid. It is preferable that it is not adjacent to the flow path. According to this, each function of the first room and the second room can be realized.

Further, in another aspect of the present invention, the liquid injection unit according to the above aspect and the first chamber are pressurized through the second connection port, and the second chamber is pressed through the second connection port. The liquid injection device is provided with a pressure adjusting mechanism for reducing the pressure.

In such an embodiment, the number of connection ports to which the first fluid used for injection and the second fluid used for pressurization and depressurization are supplied can be reduced, and the liquid injection unit can be easily attached and detached. Further, for example, the inside of the liquid injection unit is added by pressurizing the first chamber through the second connection port and depressurizing the second chamber through the second connection port. A highly functional liquid injection unit can be realized by reducing the pressure and depressurizing.

In addition, another aspect of the present invention is in a first connection port for flowing a first fluid, a second connection port for flowing a second fluid, and a flow path communicating with the first connection port. Driving a liquid injection unit including a drive unit for injecting the first fluid from a nozzle, a first chamber communicating with the second connection port, and a second chamber communicating with the second connection port. A method for driving a liquid injection unit, which comprises a step of pressurizing the first chamber from the second connection port and a step of depressurizing the second chamber from the second connection port. In the way.

In such an embodiment, the inside of the liquid injection unit can be pressurized and depressurized to realize a highly functional liquid injection unit.

It is a block diagram of the liquid injection apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view of the liquid injection head. It is a side view of an assembly. It is a top view of the 2nd support. It is an exploded perspective view of the liquid injection module. It is sectional drawing of the liquid injection module (cross-sectional view of line VI-VI of FIG. 5). It is a top view of the injection surface. It is a top view of the 1st support. It is explanatory drawing of the state which a plurality of liquid injection units are fixed to the 1st support. It is explanatory drawing of inverse proportion. It is explanatory drawing of the relationship between the opening of the 2nd support and the liquid injection module. It is explanatory drawing of the manufacturing method of the liquid injection head. It is explanatory drawing of the flow path which supplies ink to a liquid injection part. It is sectional drawing of the liquid injection part. It is explanatory drawing of the internal flow path of a liquid injection unit. It is a block diagram of the on-off valve of a valve mechanism unit. It is explanatory drawing of a defoaming space and a check valve. It is explanatory drawing of the state of the liquid injection head at the time of initial filling. It is explanatory drawing of the state of the liquid injection head at the time of normal use. It is explanatory drawing of the state of the liquid injection head at the time of defoaming operation. It is sectional drawing of the closing valve and the valve opening unit. It is explanatory drawing of the state which opened the block valve by using the valve opening unit. It is explanatory drawing of arrangement of the transmission line in 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the connection unit in 3rd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the on-off valve and the valve opening unit in 4th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the internal flow path of the liquid injection unit in 6th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the internal flow path of the liquid injection unit in 7th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the defoaming path of the liquid injection unit in 8th Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the main part of the flow path unit in 9th Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the main part of the flow path unit in tenth embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a liquid injection device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The liquid injection device 100 of the first embodiment is an inkjet printing device that injects ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium 12. The medium 12 is typically printing paper, but any printing target such as a resin film and a cloth can be used as the medium 12. A liquid container 14 for storing ink is fixed to the liquid injection device 100. For example, a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the liquid injection device 100, a bag-shaped ink pack made of a flexible film, or an ink tank that can be refilled with ink is used as the liquid container 14. A plurality of types of inks having different colors are stored in the liquid container 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the liquid injection device 100 includes a control unit 20, a transfer mechanism 22, and a liquid injection head 24. The control unit 20 includes, for example, a control device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and a recording device such as a semiconductor memory (not shown), and stores a program stored in the storage device. When executed by the control device, each element of the liquid injection device 100 is comprehensively controlled. The transport mechanism 22 transports the medium 12 in the Y direction under the control of the control unit 20.

The liquid injection device 100 of the first embodiment includes a moving mechanism 26. The moving mechanism 26 is a mechanism for reciprocating the liquid injection head 24 in the X direction under the control of the control unit 20. The X direction in which the liquid injection head 24 reciprocates is a direction that intersects (typically orthogonally) the Y direction in which the medium 12 is conveyed. The moving mechanism 26 of the first embodiment includes a transport body 262 and a transport belt 264. The transport body 262 is a substantially box-shaped structure (carriage) that supports the liquid injection head 24, and is fixed to the transport belt 264. The transport belt 264 is an endless belt erected along the X direction. The liquid injection head 24 reciprocates in the X direction together with the transport body 262 by rotating the transport belt 264 under the control of the control unit 20. It is also possible to mount the liquid container 14 on the transport body 262 together with the liquid injection head 24.

The liquid injection head 24 ejects the ink supplied from the liquid container 14 onto the medium 12 under the control of the control unit 20. The liquid injection head 24 ejects ink to the medium 12 within the period in which the transfer mechanism 22 conveys the medium 12 and the moving mechanism 26 conveys the liquid injection head 24, so that the medium 12 has a desired image. It is formed. In the following description, the direction perpendicular to the XY plane is referred to as the Z direction. The ink ejected from the liquid injection head 24 travels to the positive side in the Z direction and lands on the surface of the medium 12.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid injection head 24. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the liquid injection head 24 of the first embodiment includes a first support 242 and a plurality of assemblies 244. The first support 242 is a plate-shaped member (support for a liquid injection head) that supports a plurality of assemblies 244. The plurality of assemblies 244 are fixed to the first support 242 in a state of being arranged in the X direction. As typically illustrated for one assembly 244, each of the plurality of assemblies 244 is a connecting unit 32, a second support 34, a distribution channel 36, and a plurality of (six in the first embodiment) liquids. It includes an injection module 38. The total number of assemblies 244 constituting the liquid injection head 24 and the total number of liquid injection modules 38 constituting the assembly 244 are not limited to the illustrated examples.

FIG. 3 is a front view and a side view of any one assembly 244. As can be understood from FIGS. 2 and 3, roughly, a plurality of liquid injection modules 38 are arranged in two rows on the second support 34 located directly below the connection unit 32, and the plurality of liquid injection modules 38 are arranged. The distribution flow path 36 is arranged on the side. The distribution flow path 36 is a structure in which a flow path for distributing the ink supplied from the liquid container 14 to each of the plurality of liquid injection modules 38 is formed inside, and is in the Y direction so as to extend over the plurality of liquid injection modules 38. It is composed of a long length.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the connection unit 32 includes a housing 322, a relay board 324, and a plurality of drive boards 326. The housing 322 is a substantially box-shaped structure that accommodates the relay board 324 and the plurality of drive boards 326. Each of the plurality of drive boards 326 is a wiring board corresponding to the liquid injection module 38. A signal generation circuit that generates a drive signal having a predetermined waveform is mounted on the drive board 326, and a control signal and a power supply voltage that specify the presence or absence of ink injection for each nozzle are transmitted from the drive board 326 to the liquid injection module 38 together with the drive signal. Be supplied. It is also possible to mount an amplifier circuit that amplifies the drive signal on the drive board 326. The relay board 324 is a wiring board for relaying an electric signal and a power supply voltage between the control unit 20 and the plurality of drive boards 326, and is shared by the plurality of liquid injection modules 38. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a connecting portion 328 (example of the second connecting portion) electrically connected to different drive boards 326 is installed on the bottom surface of the housing 322. The connection portion 328 is a connector (Board to Board connector) for electrical connection.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the second support 34. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second support 34 is a structure (frame) elongated in the Y direction, and a plurality of structures (frames) extending in the Y direction at intervals in the X direction (FIG. 3). It is provided with a support portion 342 (three in the example of 4) and a connecting portion 344 that connects the ends of the support portions 342 to each other. That is, the second support 34 is a flat plate material in which two openings 346 elongated in the Y direction are formed at intervals in the X direction. Each connecting portion 344 of the second support 34 is fixed to the first support 242 at a position spaced apart from the surface of the first support 242.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of any one liquid injection module 38. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the liquid injection module 38 of the first embodiment includes a liquid injection unit 40, a connecting unit 50, and a transmission line 56. The liquid injection unit 40 injects ink supplied from the liquid container 14 through the distribution flow path 36 onto the medium 12. The liquid injection unit 40 of the first embodiment includes a valve mechanism unit 41, a flow path unit 42, and a liquid injection unit 44. The valve mechanism unit 41 includes a valve mechanism that controls the opening and closing of the ink flow path supplied from the distribution flow path 36. The valve mechanism unit 41 is not shown in FIG. 2 for convenience. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the valve mechanism unit 41 of the first embodiment is installed so as to project from the side surface of the liquid injection unit 40 in the X direction. On the other hand, the distribution flow path 36 is installed in the first support 242 so as to face the side surface of the liquid injection unit 40. Therefore, the upper surface of the distribution flow path 36 and the bottom surface of each valve mechanism unit 41 face each other with a gap in the Z direction. In the above configuration, the flow path in the distribution flow path 36 and the flow path in the valve mechanism unit 41 communicate with each other.

The liquid injection unit 44 of the liquid injection unit 40 injects ink from a plurality of nozzles. The flow path unit 42 is a structure in which a flow path for supplying ink via the valve mechanism unit 41 to the liquid injection unit 44 is formed inside. On the upper surface of the liquid injection unit 40 (specifically, the upper surface of the flow path unit 42), a connection portion 384 for electrically connecting the liquid injection unit 40 to the drive board 326 of the connection unit 32 is installed. The connecting unit 50 is a structure for connecting the liquid injection unit 40 to the second support 34. The transmission line 56 in FIG. 5 is a flexible cable such as an FFC (Flexible Flat Cable) or an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits).

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the connecting unit 50 of the first embodiment includes a first relay body 52 and a second relay body 54.

The first relay body 52 is a structure fixed to the liquid injection unit 40, and includes an accommodating body 522 and a wiring board 524 (example of the second wiring board). The housing body 522 is a substantially box-shaped housing. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the liquid injection unit 40 is fixed to the bottom surface side (positive side in the Z direction) of the housing body 522 by, for example, a fastener TA such as a screw. The wiring board 524 is a flat plate-shaped wiring board that constitutes the bottom surface of the housing body 522. A connection portion 526 (example of a third connection portion) is installed on the surface of the wiring board 524 on the liquid injection unit 40 side. The connection portion 526 is a connector (Board to Board connector) for electrical connection. In a state where the first relay body 52 is fixed to the liquid injection unit 40, the connection portion 526 of the wiring board 524 is detachably connected to the connection portion 384 of the liquid injection unit 40.

The second relay body 54 is a structure for fixing the liquid injection module 38 to the second support body 34 and electrically connecting the liquid injection module 38 to the drive board 326. The mounting board 542 and the wiring board 544 (of the first wiring board) (Example) and. The mounting board 542 is a plate-shaped member fixed to the second support 34. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the accommodating body 522 of the first relay body 52 and the mounting board 542 of the second relay body 54 are connected to each other by the connecting tool 53. The connector 53 is a pin whose both ends of a columnar shaft body are formed into a brim shape, and is inserted into through holes formed in each of the first relay body 52 and the second relay body 54. The diameter of the shaft body of the connector 53 is smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole of each of the first relay body 52 and the second relay body 54. Therefore, a gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body of the connector 53 and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole, and the first relay body 52 and the second relay body 54 are connected unconstrained. That is, one of the first relay body 52 and the second relay body 54 can move in the XY plane with respect to the other by the gap between the connector 53 and the through hole.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the dimension W2 of the second relay body 54 (mounting substrate 542) in the X direction exceeds the dimension W1 of the first relay body 52 (accommodating body 522) in the X direction. Therefore, the edges of the mounting board 542 located on both sides in the X direction project from the side surface of the first relay body 52 to the positive side and the negative side in the X direction. The dimension W2 of the second relay body 54 exceeds the dimension WF of the opening 346 of the second support 34 in the X direction (W2> WF). The portion of the mounting board 542 that projects from the housing body 522 is fixed to the upper surface of the support portion 342 of the second support body 34 by the fastener TB (a plurality of screws in the example of FIG. 6). On the other hand, the dimension W1 of the first relay body 52 in the X direction is smaller than the dimension WF of the opening 346 of the second support 34 (W1 <WF). Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a gap is formed between the outer wall surface of the first relay body 52 (accommodating body 522) and the inner wall surface of the opening 346 of the second support body 34. That is, in the state before installation with respect to the second support 34, the first relay body 52 can pass through the opening 346 of the second support 34. As can be understood from the above description, since the second relay body 54 is fixed to the second support body 34 and the first relay body 52 is unconstrainedly connected to the second relay body 54, the second relay body 54 may move slightly in the XY plane with respect to the second support 34.

The wiring board 544 is a plate-shaped member fixed to the surface of the mounting board 542 on the side opposite to the first relay body 52. A connection portion 546 (example of the first connection portion) is installed on the surface of the wiring board 544 on the connection unit 32 side (negative side in the Z direction). That is, the connection portion 546 is fixed to the second support 34 via the wiring board 544 and the mounting board 542. The connection portion 546 is a connector (Board to Board connector) for electrical connection. Specifically, in a state where the second support 34 is fixed to the connection unit 32, the connection portion 546 of the wiring board 544 is detachably connected to the connection portion 328 of the connection unit 32. That is, the connecting portion 328 of the connecting unit 32 can be attached to and detached from the connecting portion 546 from the side opposite to the liquid injection unit 40 (negative side in the Z direction).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the transmission line 56 is erected over the wiring board 544 and the wiring board 524 to electrically connect the connection portion 546 and the connection portion 526. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the transmission line 56 is housed in the housing 522 in a state of being bent along a straight line parallel to the X direction between the connecting part 546 and the connecting part 526. One end of the transmission line 56 is joined to the surface of the wiring board 544 facing the wiring board 524 and electrically connected to the connection portion 546, and the other end of the transmission line 56 is connected to the wiring board 544 of the wiring board 524. It is joined to the facing surface of the above and electrically connected to the connection portion 526.

As understood from the above description, the drive board 326 of the connection unit 32 is the liquid injection unit 40 via the connection part 328, the connection part 546, the wiring board 544, the transmission line 56, the wiring board 524, and the connection part 526. It is electrically connected to the connection portion 384. Therefore, the electric signal (drive signal, control signal) and power supply voltage generated by the drive board 326 are supplied to the liquid injection unit 40 via the connection unit 328, the connection unit 546, the transmission line 56, and the connection unit 526. ..

By the way, for example, when the position of each connection portion 546 is determined by the relative relationship of the plurality of connection portions 546 and the position of each liquid injection unit 40 is determined by the relative relationship of the plurality of liquid injection units 40. , A positional error may occur between the connection portion 546 and the liquid injection unit 40. In the first embodiment, since the transmission line 56 is a flexible member and can be easily deformed, the positional error between the connection portion 546 and the liquid injection unit 40 is absorbed by the deformation of the transmission line 56. .. That is, the transmission line 56 of the first embodiment functions as a connecting body that connects the connecting portion 546 and the liquid injection unit 40 so as to absorb a positional error between the connecting portion 546 and the liquid injection unit 40.

According to the above configuration, in the step of attaching / detaching the connecting portion 328 of the connecting unit 32 to / from the connecting portion 546, the stress acting on the liquid injection unit 40 from the connecting portion 546 is reduced. Therefore, the liquid injection head 24 can be easily assembled or disassembled without considering the action of stress from the connection portion 546 on the liquid injection unit 40 (and thus the displacement of the liquid injection unit 40). In the first embodiment, as described above, since the transmission line 56 is bent between the connection portion 546 and the liquid injection unit 40, an error in the position between the connection portion 546 and the liquid injection unit 40 can be absorbed. The effect is particularly remarkable.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the surface of the liquid injection section 44 facing the medium 12 (that is, a plan view of the liquid injection section 44 as viewed from the positive side in the Z direction). As illustrated in FIG. 7, a plurality of nozzles (injection holes) N are formed on the surface (hereinafter referred to as “injection surface”) J facing the medium 12 in the liquid injection unit 44. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the liquid injection unit 44 of the first embodiment includes four drive units D [1] to D [4] having a plurality of nozzles N formed on the injection surface J. .. The range in the Y direction in which the plurality of nozzles N are distributed partially overlaps between the two drive units D [n] (n = 1 to 4).

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a plurality of nozzles N corresponding to any one driving unit D [n] are divided into a first row G1 and a second row G2. Each of the first row G1 and the second row G2 is a set of a plurality of nozzles N arranged along the Y direction. The first row G1 and the second row G2 are parallel to each other with a space between them in the X direction. Each drive unit D [n] includes a first injection unit DA that injects ink from each nozzle N in the first row G1 and a second injection unit DB that injects ink from each nozzle N in the second row G2. To do. It is also possible to make the positions in the Y direction different between each nozzle N in the first row G1 and each nozzle N in the second row G2 (so-called staggered arrangement or stagger arrangement). Further, the number of drive units D [n] installed in the liquid injection unit 44 is arbitrary and is not limited to four.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, assuming a rectangle λ having the minimum area including the injection surface J, a center line y parallel to the long side (Y direction) of the rectangle λ can be set. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the planar shape of the injection surface J in the first embodiment is such that the first portion P1, the second portion P2, and the third portion P3 are oriented in the Y direction (that is, the direction of the long side of the rectangle λ). It is a connected shape. The second portion P2 is located on the positive side in the Y direction with respect to the first portion P1, and the third portion P3 is located on the opposite side of the first portion P1 from the second portion P2 (negative side in the Y direction). .. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the first portion P1 passes through the center line y of the rectangle λ, but each of the second portion P2 and the third portion P3 does not pass through the center line y. Specifically, the second portion P2 is located on the negative side in the X direction with respect to the center line y, and the third portion P3 is located on the positive side in the X direction with respect to the center line y. That is, the second portion P2 and the third portion P3 are located on opposite sides of the center line y. In the planar shape of the injection surface J, the second portion P2 is continuous with the negative edge in the X direction of the first portion P1, and the third portion P3 is continuous with the positive edge of the first portion P1 in the X direction. It can also be expressed as a shape to be used.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, an overhanging portion 442 and an overhanging portion 444 are formed on the end surface of the liquid injection portion 44. The overhanging portion 442 is a flat plate-shaped portion of the second portion P2 that projects from the end surface of the liquid injection portion 44 at the end portion on the opposite side (positive side in the Y direction) from the first portion P1. On the other hand, the overhanging portion 444 is a flat plate-shaped portion of the third portion P3 that projects from the end surface of the liquid injection portion 44 at the end portion on the opposite side (negative side in the Y direction) from the first portion P1. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a protrusion 446 is formed on the edge of the first portion P1 on the second portion P2 side (the edge where the second portion P2 does not exist). The protrusion 446 is a flat plate-like portion (example of the first overhang) that protrudes from the side surface of the liquid injection portion 44 like the overhang portion 442 and the overhang portion 444. A notch 445 having a shape corresponding to the protrusion 446 is formed in the overhang 444 (example of the second overhang).

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the surface of the first support 242 (the surface on the negative side in the Z direction), and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the liquid injection portion 44 added to FIG. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the range in which the two liquid injection portions 44 (44A, 44B) adjacent to each other in the Y direction are located is shown for convenience. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, an opening 60 corresponding to each liquid injection unit 44 (each liquid injection module 38) is formed in the first support 242. Specifically, as can be understood from FIG. 2, six openings 60 corresponding to each liquid injection portion 44 are formed for each assembly 244, and the Y direction corresponds to the arrangement of the plurality of assemblies 244. Parallel to. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, each opening 60 is a planar through hole corresponding to the outer shape of the injection surface J of the liquid injection unit 44. The liquid injection unit 40 is fixed to the first support 242 in a state where the liquid injection unit 44 is inserted into the opening 60 of the first support 242. That is, the injection surface J of the liquid injection unit 44 is exposed inside the opening 60 to the positive side in the Z direction from the first support 242.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, a beam-shaped portion 62 is formed between two openings 60 adjacent to each other in the Y direction. Any one beam-shaped portion 62 is a beam-shaped portion in which the first support portion 621, the second support portion 622, and the intermediate portion 623 are interconnected. The first support portion 621 is a portion of the beam-shaped portion 62 located on the positive side in the X direction, and the second support portion 622 is a portion of the beam-shaped portion 62 located on the negative side in the X direction. The intermediate portion 623 is a portion that connects the first support portion 621 and the second support portion 622.

As can be understood from FIG. 9, the overhanging portion 442 of each liquid injection portion 44 overlaps the first support portion 621 of the beam-shaped portion 62 in a plan view (that is, when viewed from a direction parallel to the Z direction), and each liquid The overhanging portion 444 of the injection portion 44 overlaps the second support portion 622 of the beam-shaped portion 62 in a plan view. Then, by fixing the overhanging portion 442 to the first support portion 621 with the fastener TC1 and fixing the overhanging portion 444 to the second support portion 622 with the fastener TC2, the liquid injection portion 44 becomes the first support portion 242. It is fixed. Fastener TC1 and fastener TC2 are, for example, screws. As described above, since the liquid injection unit 44 (liquid injection unit 40) is fixed to the first support 242 at both ends of the injection surface J, the inclination of the liquid injection unit 44 with respect to the first support 242 is effectively suppressed. It is possible to do. As illustrated in FIG. 9, focusing on the opening 60 corresponding to the liquid injection portion 44A and the opening 60 corresponding to the liquid injection portion 44B, the liquid is injected into the first support portion 621 of the beam-shaped portion 62 between the two. The overhanging portion 442 of the portion 44A is fixed, and the overhanging portion 444 of the liquid injection portion 44B is fixed to the second support portion 622 of the beam-shaped portion 62.

An engagement hole hA is formed in the protrusion 446 of each liquid injection portion 44, and an engagement hole hB is formed in the overhanging portion 444 together with a through hole into which the fastener TC2 is inserted. The engaging hole hA and the engaging hole hB are through holes (exemplification of the positioning portion) that engage with the protrusions provided on the surface of the first support 242. The position of the liquid injection portion 44 in the XY plane is determined by engaging the protrusions on the surface of the first support 242 with each of the engaging holes hA and the engaging holes hB. That is, the alignment of the liquid injection unit 44 with respect to the first support 242 is realized. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the engagement hole hA of the protrusion 446 and the engagement hole hB of the overhanging portion 444 are located on a straight line parallel to the Y direction (center line y). Therefore, there is an advantage that the liquid injection unit 44 can be positioned with high accuracy with respect to the first support 242 while suppressing the inclination of the liquid injection unit 44 (liquid injection unit 40). By engaging the protrusions formed on the overhanging portion 444 and the protruding portion 446 with the engaging holes (bottomed holes or through holes) on the surface of the first support 242, the liquid is liquid to the first support 242. It is also possible to align the injection unit 44.

As described above, in the first embodiment, since the beam-shaped portion 62 is formed between the two openings 60 adjacent to each other in the Y direction, the size of the first support 242 in the X direction can be reduced. There are advantages. Further, in the first embodiment, since the intermediate portion 623 is formed in the beam-shaped portion 62, the opening 60 for exposing the injection surface J of the liquid injection portion 44 is continuous over the plurality of liquid injection portions 44 (beam-shaped portion). It is possible to maintain the mechanical strength of the first support 242 as compared with the configuration in which 62 is not formed). By the way, under the configuration in which the second portion P2 and the third portion P3 of the injection surface J pass through the center line y (hereinafter referred to as “inverse proportion”), the plurality of liquid injection portions 44 are sufficiently close to each other in the Y direction. As illustrated in FIG. 10, it is necessary to make the positions of the liquid injection portions 44 in the X direction different in order to arrange them in the vertical positions. In the first embodiment, since the second portion P2 and the third portion P3 do not pass through the center line y, a plurality of liquid injection portions 44 are linearly arranged along the Y direction as illustrated in FIG. Is possible. Therefore, there is an advantage that the size of the liquid injection head 24 (one assembly 244) in the width direction can be reduced as compared with the inverse proportion.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the relationship between the liquid injection unit 40, the connecting unit 50, and the second support 34. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the dimension WH of the liquid injection unit 40 in the X direction is smaller than the dimension WF of the opening 346 of the second support 34 in the X direction (WH <WF). As described above with reference to FIG. 6, since the dimension W1 of the first relay body 52 is also smaller than the dimension WF of the opening 346, the liquid injection unit 40 and the first relay body 52 are the opening 346 of the second support 34. Can pass through. As described above, since the liquid injection unit 40 and the second relay body 54 can be attached and detached by passing through the opening 346 of the second support 34, according to the first embodiment, the liquid injection head 24 It is possible to reduce the burden of assembly and disassembly.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the dimension L1 of the first relay body 52 and the dimension L2 of the second relay body 54 in the Y direction are smaller than the dimension LH of the liquid injection unit 40 in the Y direction (L1 <LH, L2 <LH). ). Therefore, the liquid injection module 38 can be easily attached to and detached from the second support 34 while the outer wall surfaces of the first relay body 52 on both sides in the Y direction are gripped by fingers. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the first relay body 52 and the second relay body 54 are weighted in plan view on the fastener TC1 and the fastener TC2 for fixing the liquid injection unit 40 to the first support 242. It doesn't become. Therefore, there is an advantage that the work of fixing the liquid injection unit 40 to the first support 242 by the fastener TC1 and the fastener TC2 is easy.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing the liquid injection head 24. As illustrated in FIG. 12, first, the second support 34 and the distribution flow path 36 are fixed to the first support 242 (ST1). On the other hand, the liquid injection module 38 is assembled by fixing the connecting unit 50 to the liquid injection unit 40 using the fastener TA (ST2). It is also possible to execute the process ST2 before executing the process ST1.

In step ST1 and step ST3 after the execution of step ST2, the liquid injection module 38 is inserted into the opening 346 of the second support 34 from the side opposite to the first support 242 for each of the plurality of liquid injection modules 38. , The liquid injection unit 40 is fixed to the first support 242 by the fastener TC1 and the fastener TC2 (ST3). In the process of inserting the liquid injection module 38 into the opening 346 and bringing it closer to the first support 242, the valve mechanism unit 41 and the distribution flow path 36 communicate with each other. In the step ST4 after the execution of the step ST3, the second relay body 54 of the connecting unit 50 is fixed to the second support 34 by the fastener TB for each of the plurality of liquid injection modules 38. It is also possible to execute the process ST4 before executing the process ST3.

In the step ST3 and the step ST5 after the execution of the step ST3 and the step ST4, the connecting unit 32 is brought closer to each liquid injection module 38 from the side opposite to the liquid injection unit 40 (negative side in the Z direction) with the connecting unit 50 interposed therebetween. Then, the connection portion 546 and the connection portion 328 of the connection unit 32 are detachably connected to the plurality of liquid injection modules 38 at once.

By the above steps (ST1 to ST5), one assembly 244 including the connection unit 32, the second support 34, the distribution flow path 36, and the plurality of liquid injection modules 38 is installed on the first support 242. By repeating the same process and fixing the plurality of assemblies 244 to the first support 242, the liquid injection head 24 of FIG. 2 is manufactured.

As understood from the above description, the step ST3 is a step of fixing the liquid injection unit 40 to the first support 242, and the step ST4 is a step of fixing the connecting unit 50 to the second support 34. Further, the step ST5 is a step of detachably connecting the connecting portion 546 and the connecting portion 328 by bringing the connecting unit 32 close to the plurality of liquid injection modules 38. However, the method for manufacturing the liquid injection head 24 is not limited to the method exemplified above.

The specific configuration of the liquid injection unit 40 illustrated above will be described. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a flow path for supplying ink to the liquid injection unit 40. As described above with reference to FIG. 5, the liquid injection unit 44 of the liquid injection unit 40 includes four drive units D [1] to D [4]. Each drive unit D [n] includes a first injection unit DA that injects ink from each nozzle N in the first row G1 and a second injection unit DB that injects ink from each nozzle N in the second row G2. To do. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the valve mechanism unit 41 includes four on-off valves B [1] to B [4], and the flow path unit 42 of the liquid injection unit 40 has four filters F [1] to B [4]. It is equipped with F [4]. The on-off valve B [n] is a valve mechanism that opens and closes a flow path for supplying ink to the liquid injection unit 44. The filter F [n] collects air bubbles and foreign substances mixed in the ink in the flow path.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the ink that has passed through the on-off valve B [1] and the filter F [1] is supplied to the first injection unit DA of the drive unit D [1] and the drive unit D [2]. The ink that has passed through the on-off valve B [2] and the filter F [2] is supplied to the drive unit D [1] and the second injection unit DB of the drive unit D [2]. Similarly, the ink that has passed through the on-off valve B [3] and the filter F [3] is supplied to the first injection unit DA of the drive unit D [3] and the drive unit D [4], and is supplied to the on-off valve B [4]. ] And the ink that has passed through the filter F [4] are supplied to the drive unit D [3] and the second injection unit DB of the drive unit D [4]. That is, the ink that has passed through the on-off valve B [1] or the on-off valve B [3] is ejected from each nozzle N of the first row G1, and the ink that has passed through the on-off valve B [2] or the on-off valve B [4] is ejected. It is ejected from each nozzle N of the second row G2.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the liquid injection unit 44 (first injection unit DA or second injection unit DB) corresponding to any one nozzle N. As illustrated in FIG. 14, in the liquid injection unit 44 of the first embodiment, the pressure chamber substrate 482, the diaphragm 483, the piezoelectric element 484, the housing portion 485, and the sealing body 486 are on one side of the flow path substrate 481. It is a structure in which a nozzle plate 487 and a buffer plate 488 are arranged on the other side. The flow path substrate 481, the pressure chamber substrate 482, and the nozzle plate 487 are formed of, for example, a silicon flat plate material, and the housing portion 485 is formed, for example, by injection molding of a resin material. The plurality of nozzles N are formed on the nozzle plate 487. The surface of the nozzle plate 487 on the side opposite to the flow path substrate 481 corresponds to the injection surface J.

An opening 481A, a branch flow path (throttle flow path) 481B, and a communication flow path 481C are formed in the flow path substrate 481. The branch flow path 481B and the communication flow path 481C are through holes formed for each nozzle N, and the opening 481A is a continuous opening over a plurality of nozzles N. The buffer plate 488 is a flat plate material (compliance substrate) that is installed on the surface of the flow path substrate 481 opposite to the pressure chamber substrate 482 and closes the opening 481A. The pressure fluctuation in the opening 481A is absorbed by the buffer plate 488.

A common liquid chamber (reservoir) SR communicating with the opening 481A of the flow path substrate 481 is formed in the housing portion 485. The common liquid chamber SR is a space for storing ink supplied to a plurality of nozzles N constituting one of the first row G1 and the second row G2, and is continuous over the plurality of nozzles N. An inflow port Rin into which ink supplied from the upstream side flows in is formed in the common liquid chamber SR.

An opening 482A is formed in the pressure chamber substrate 482 for each nozzle N. The diaphragm 483 is an elastically deformable flat plate material installed on the surface of the pressure chamber substrate 482 opposite to the flow path substrate 481. The space sandwiched between the diaphragm 483 and the flow path substrate 481 inside each opening 482A of the pressure chamber substrate 482 is a pressure chamber filled with ink supplied from the common liquid chamber SR via the branch flow path 481B. (Cavity) Functions as SC. Each pressure chamber SC communicates with the nozzle N via the communication flow path 481C of the flow path substrate 481.

A piezoelectric element 484 is formed for each nozzle N on the surface of the diaphragm 483 opposite to the pressure chamber substrate 482. Each piezoelectric element 484 is a driving element in which a piezoelectric body is interposed between electrodes facing each other. When the diaphragm 483 vibrates due to the deformation of the piezoelectric element 484 due to the supply of the drive signal, the pressure in the pressure chamber SC fluctuates and the ink in the pressure chamber SC is ejected from the nozzle N. The sealant 486 protects the plurality of piezoelectric elements 484.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view of the internal flow path of the liquid injection unit 40. In FIG. 15, the flow path for supplying ink to the drive unit D [1] and the first injection unit DA of the drive unit D [2] via the on-off valve B [1] and the filter F [1] is convenient. Although illustrated in the above, the same configuration is installed for the other flow paths described with reference to FIG. The valve mechanism unit 41, the flow path unit 42, and the housing portion 485 of the liquid injection unit 44 function as a flow path structure constituting an internal flow path for supplying ink to the nozzle N.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view focusing on the inside of the valve mechanism unit 41. As illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, a space R1, a space R2, and a control chamber RC are formed inside the valve mechanism unit 41. The space R1 is connected to the liquid pumping mechanism 16 via the distribution flow path 36 and the first connection port 79a. The liquid pumping mechanism 16 is a mechanism for supplying (that is, pumping) the ink stored in the liquid container 14 to the liquid injection unit 40 in a pressurized state. An on-off valve B [1] is installed between the space R1 and the space R2, and a movable membrane 71 is interposed between the space R2 and the control chamber RC. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the on-off valve B [1] includes a valve seat 721, a valve body 722, a pressure receiving plate 723, and a spring 724. The valve seat 721 is a flat plate-shaped portion that separates the space R1 and the space R2. A communication hole HA that communicates the space R1 and the space R2 is formed in the valve seat 721. The pressure receiving plate 723 is a substantially circular flat plate material installed on the surface of the movable membrane 71 facing the valve seat 721.

The valve body 722 of the first embodiment includes a base 725, a valve shaft 726, and a sealing portion (seal) 727. A valve shaft 726 projects vertically from the surface of the base 725, and an annular sealing portion 727 surrounding the valve shaft 726 in plan view is installed on the surface of the base 725. The valve body 722 is arranged in the space R1 with the valve shaft 726 inserted in the communication hole HA, and is urged toward the valve seat 721 by the spring 724. A gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the valve shaft 726 and the inner peripheral surface of the communication hole HA.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, a bag-shaped body 73 as a first chamber is installed in the control chamber RC. The bag-shaped body 73 is a bag-shaped member made of an elastic material such as rubber, and expands when the internal space is pressurized and contracts when the internal space is depressurized. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the bag-shaped body 73 is connected to the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 via the flow path in the distribution flow path 36 and the second connection port 75b. The pressure adjusting mechanism 18 selects a pressurizing operation for supplying air to the flow path connected to the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 and a depressurizing operation for sucking air from the flow path according to an instruction from the control unit 20. Is feasible. The bag-shaped body 73 expands when air is supplied from the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 to the internal space (that is, pressurization), and the bag-shaped body 73 contracts when air is sucked (that is, reduced pressure) by the pressure adjusting mechanism 18.

In the contracted state of the bag-shaped body 73, when the pressure in the space R2 is maintained within a predetermined range, the spring 724 urges the valve body 722 to cause the sealing portion 727 of the valve seat 721. Adheres to the surface. Therefore, the space R1 and the space R2 are blocked. On the other hand, when the pressure in the space R2 drops to a value below a predetermined threshold due to the injection of ink by the liquid injection unit 44 or the suction from the outside, the movable film 71 is displaced to the valve seat 721 side to cause the pressure receiving plate. The 723 presses the valve shaft 726, and the valve body 722 moves against the urging by the spring 724, so that the sealing portion 727 is separated from the valve seat 721. Therefore, the space R1 and the space R2 communicate with each other through the communication hole HA.

Further, when the bag-shaped body 73 is expanded by the pressurization by the pressure adjusting mechanism 18, the movable membrane 71 is displaced toward the valve seat 721 by the pressing by the bag-shaped body 73. Therefore, the valve body 722 is moved by the pressing by the pressure receiving plate 723, and the on-off valve B [1] is opened. That is, regardless of the level of pressure in the space R2, it is possible to forcibly open the on-off valve B [1] by pressurizing the pressure adjusting mechanism 18.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the flow path unit 42 of the first embodiment includes a defoaming space Q, a filter F [1], a vertical space RV, and a check valve 74. The defoaming space Q corresponds to the second chamber, and is a space in which bubbles extracted from the ink temporarily stay.

The filter F [1] is installed so as to cross an internal flow path for supplying ink to the liquid injection unit 44, and collects air bubbles and foreign substances mixed in the ink. Specifically, the filter F [1] is installed so as to partition the space RF1 and the space RF2. The space RF1 on the upstream side communicates with the space R2 of the valve mechanism unit 41, and the space RF2 on the downstream side communicates with the vertical space RV.

A gas permeable membrane MC (an example of a second gas permeable membrane) is interposed between the space RF1 and the defoaming space Q. Specifically, the ceiling surface of the space RF1 is composed of the gas permeable membrane MC. The gas permeable membrane MC is a gas permeable membrane (gas-liquid separation membrane) that allows gas (air) to permeate but does not allow liquids such as ink to permeate, and is formed of, for example, a known polymer material. The bubbles collected by the filter F [1] reach the ceiling surface of the space RF1 by rising due to buoyancy, and are discharged to the defoaming space Q by passing through the gas permeable membrane MC. That is, the bubbles mixed in the ink are separated.

The vertical space RV is a space for temporarily storing ink. In the vertical space RV of the first embodiment, an inflow port Vin in which the ink that has passed through the filter F [1] flows in from the space RF2 and an outflow port Vout in which the ink flows out to the nozzle N side are formed. That is, the ink in the space RF2 flows into the vertical space RV through the inflow port Vin, and the ink in the vertical space RV flows into the liquid injection unit 44 (common liquid chamber SR) through the outflow port Vout. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the inflow port Vin is located above the inflow direction (negative side in the Z direction) as compared with the outflow port Vout.

A gas permeable membrane MA (an example of a first gas permeable membrane) is interposed between the vertical space RV and the defoaming space Q. Specifically, the ceiling surface of the vertical space RV is composed of the gas permeable membrane MA. The gas permeable membrane MA is a gas permeable membrane body like the gas permeable membrane MC described above. Therefore, the bubbles that have passed through the filter F [1] and entered the vertical space RV rise due to buoyancy, pass through the gas permeable membrane MA on the ceiling surface of the vertical space RV, and are discharged to the defoaming space Q. As described above, since the inlet Vin is located above the outlet Vout in the vertical direction, the buoyancy in the vertical space RV is used to effectively bring the bubbles to the gas permeable membrane MA on the ceiling surface. It is possible.

As described above, the common liquid chamber SR of the liquid injection unit 44 is formed with an inflow port Rin into which the ink supplied from the outflow port Vout of the vertical space RV flows. That is, the ink flowing out from the outlet Vout of the vertical space RV flows into the common liquid chamber SR via the inlet Rin and is supplied to each pressure chamber SC via the opening 481A. Further, a discharge port Rout is formed in the common liquid chamber SR of the first embodiment. The discharge port Rout is a flow path formed on the ceiling surface 49 of the common liquid chamber SR. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the ceiling surface 49 of the common liquid chamber SR is an inclined surface (flat surface or curved surface) that rises from the inflow port Rin side to the discharge port Rout side. Therefore, the air bubbles entering from the inflow port Rin are guided to the discharge port Rout side along the ceiling surface 49 by the action of buoyancy.

A gas permeable membrane MB (example of the first gas permeable membrane) is interposed between the common liquid chamber SR and the defoaming space Q. The gas permeable membrane MB is a gas permeable membrane body like the gas permeable membrane MA and the gas permeable membrane MC. Therefore, the bubbles that have entered the discharge port Rout from the common liquid chamber SR rise due to buoyancy, pass through the gas permeable membrane MB, and are discharged into the defoaming space Q. As described above, since the air bubbles in the common liquid chamber SR are guided to the discharge port Rout along the ceiling surface 49, for example, in the common liquid chamber SR as compared with the configuration in which the ceiling surface 49 of the common liquid chamber SR is a horizontal plane. It is possible to effectively discharge the air bubbles. It is also possible to form the gas permeable membrane MA, the gas permeable membrane MB, and the gas permeable membrane MC with a single membrane.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the gas permeable membrane MA is interposed between the vertical space RV and the defoaming space Q, and the gas permeable membrane MB is interposed between the common liquid chamber SR and the defoaming space Q. A gas permeable membrane MC is interposed between the space RF1 and the defoaming space Q. That is, the bubbles that have permeated each of the gas permeable membrane MA, the gas permeable membrane MB, and the gas permeable membrane MC reach the common defoaming space Q. Therefore, there is an advantage that the structure for discharging the bubbles is simplified as compared with the configuration in which the bubbles extracted in each part of the liquid injection unit 40 are supplied to separate spaces.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the defoaming space Q communicates with the defoaming path 75. The defoaming path 75 is a path for discharging the air staying in the defoaming space Q to the outside of the apparatus. A check valve 74 is interposed between the defoaming space Q and the defoaming path 75. The check valve 74 is a valve mechanism that allows the flow of air from the defoaming space Q to the defoaming path 75, while obstructing the flow of air from the defoaming path 75 toward the defoaming space Q.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view focusing on the vicinity of the check valve 74 in the flow path unit 42. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the check valve 74 of the first embodiment includes a valve seat 741, a valve body 742, and a spring 743. The valve seat 741 is a flat plate-shaped portion that separates the defoaming space Q and the defoaming path 75. A communication hole HB that communicates the defoaming space Q and the defoaming path 75 is formed in the valve seat 741. The valve body 742 faces the valve seat 741 and is urged toward the valve seat 741 by the spring 743. In a state where the pressure in the defoaming path 75 is maintained higher than the pressure in the defoaming space Q (a state in which the defoaming path 75 is open to the atmosphere or pressurized), the valve body 742 is urged by the spring 743. The communication hole HB is closed by being in close contact with the valve seat 741. Therefore, the defoaming space Q and the defoaming path 75 are blocked. On the other hand, in a state where the pressure in the defoaming path 75 is lower than the pressure in the defoaming space Q (a state in which the pressure in the defoaming path 75 is reduced), the valve body 742 opposes the urging by the spring 743 and the valve seat 741. Separate from. Therefore, the defoaming space Q and the defoaming path 75 communicate with each other through the communication hole HB.

The defoaming path 75 of the first embodiment is connected to a path connecting the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 and the control chamber RC of the valve mechanism unit 41. That is, the path connected to the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 is branched into two systems, one is connected to the control chamber RC and the other is connected to the defoaming path 75.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, a discharge path 76 is formed from the liquid injection unit 40 to the inside of the distribution flow path 36 via the valve mechanism unit 41. The discharge path 76 is a path communicating with the internal flow path of the liquid injection unit 40 (specifically, a flow path for supplying ink to the liquid injection unit 44). Specifically, the discharge path 76 communicates with the discharge port Rout of the common liquid chamber SR of each liquid injection unit 44 and the vertical space RV.

The end of the discharge path 76 on the opposite side of the liquid injection unit 40 is connected to the closing valve 78. The position where the block valve 78 is installed is arbitrary, but FIG. 15 illustrates a configuration in which the block valve 78 is installed in the distribution flow path 36. The closing valve 78 is a valve mechanism capable of closing the discharge path 76 (normally closed) in a normal state and temporarily opening the discharge path 76 to the atmosphere.

The operation of the liquid injection unit 40 focusing on the discharge of air bubbles from the internal flow path will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 executes a pressurizing operation at the stage where the liquid injection unit 40 is first filled with ink (hereinafter referred to as “initial filling”). That is, the internal space of the bag-shaped body 73 and the inside of the defoaming path 75 are pressurized by the supply of air. Therefore, the bag-shaped body 73 in the control chamber RC expands to displace the movable membrane 71 and the pressure receiving plate 723, and the valve body 722 moves due to the pressure from the pressure receiving plate 723 to communicate with the space R1 and the space R2. When the defoaming path 75 is pressurized, the check valve 74 blocks the defoaming space Q and the defoaming path 75, so that the air in the defoaming path 75 does not flow into the defoaming space Q. On the other hand, the block valve 78 is opened at the initial filling stage.

In the above state, the liquid pumping mechanism 16 pumps the ink stored in the liquid container 14 to the internal flow path of the liquid injection unit 40. Specifically, the ink pumped from the liquid pumping mechanism 16 is supplied to the vertical space RV via the on-off valve B [1] in the open state, and is supplied from the vertical space RV to the common liquid chamber SR and each pressure chamber SC. Be supplied. Since the block valve 78 is open as described above, the air existing in the internal flow path before the initial filling is filled with the ink in the internal flow path and the discharge path 76, and the discharge path 76 and the block valve 78 are charged. Is discharged to the outside of the device. Therefore, the entire internal flow path including the common liquid chamber SR of the liquid injection unit 40 and each pressure chamber SC is filled with ink, and the operation of the piezoelectric element 484 makes it possible to inject ink from the nozzle N. As illustrated above, in the first embodiment, when the ink is pumped from the liquid pumping mechanism 16 to the liquid injection unit 40, the closing valve 78 is opened, so that the ink is efficiently flowed into the internal flow path of the liquid injection unit 40. It is possible to fill the ink. When the initial filling described above is completed, the pressurizing operation by the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 is stopped and the closing valve 78 is closed.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, when the initial filling is completed and the liquid injection device 100 can be used, air bubbles existing in the internal flow path of the liquid injection unit 40 are constantly discharged into the defoaming space Q. Specifically, the bubbles in the space RF1 are discharged to the defoaming space Q via the gas permeable membrane MC, and the bubbles in the vertical space RV are discharged to the defoaming space Q via the gas permeable membrane MA, and the common liquid. The bubbles in the chamber SR are discharged to the defoaming space Q via the gas permeable membrane MB. On the other hand, the on-off valve B [1] is closed when the pressure in the space R2 is maintained within a predetermined range, and is opened when the pressure in the space R2 falls below a predetermined threshold value. When the on-off valve B [1] is opened, the ink supplied from the liquid pumping mechanism 16 flows from the space R1 into the space R2, and as a result, the pressure in the space R2 rises, so that the on-off valve B [1] is opened. It is blocked.

The air staying in the defoaming space Q in the operating state illustrated in FIG. 19 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the defoaming operation. The defoaming operation can be performed at any time, for example, immediately after the power of the liquid injection device 100 is turned on or during the printing operation. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of the defoaming operation. As illustrated in FIG. 20, when the defoaming operation is started, the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 executes the depressurizing operation. That is, the internal space of the bag-shaped body 73 and the defoaming path 75 are depressurized by suction of air.

When the defoaming path 75 is depressurized, the valve body 742 of the check valve 74 separates from the valve seat 741 against the urging by the spring 743, and the defoaming space Q and the defoaming path 75 form a communication hole HB. Communicate with each other through. Therefore, the air in the defoaming space Q is discharged to the outside of the device through the defoaming path 75. On the other hand, although the bag-shaped body 73 contracts due to the decompression of the internal space, it does not affect the pressure in the control chamber RC (and thus the movable membrane 71), so that the on-off valve B [1] is maintained in a closed state.

As illustrated above, in the first embodiment, since the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 is shared between the opening and closing of the on-off valve B [1] and the opening and closing of the check valve 74, the on-off valve B [1] and the check valve 74 are shared. There is an advantage that the configuration for controlling the on-off valve B [1] and the check valve 74 is simplified as compared with the configuration in which and is controlled by a separate mechanism.

The specific configuration of the block valve 78 in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the block valve 78. As illustrated in FIG. 21, the closing valve 78 of the first embodiment includes a communication pipe 781, a moving body 782, a sealing portion 783, and a spring 784. The communication pipe 781 is a circular pipe body having an opening 785 formed on an end surface, and accommodates a moving body 782, a sealing portion 783, and a spring 784. The internal space of the communication pipe 781 corresponds to the end of the discharge path 76.

The sealing portion 783 is an annular member formed of an elastic material such as rubber, and is installed concentrically with the communicating pipe 781 on one end side of the internal space of the communicating pipe 781. The moving body 782 is a member that can move in the direction of the central axis of the communication pipe 781 inside the communication pipe 781, and as illustrated in FIG. 21, is brought into close contact with the sealing portion 783 by the urging by the spring 784. When the moving body 782 and the sealing portion 783 are in close contact with each other, the discharge path 76 inside the communication pipe 781 is blocked. As described above, since the moving body 782 is urged to block the discharge path 76, the ink in the liquid injection unit 40 is applied to the ink in the liquid injection unit 40 via the discharge path 76 during normal use of the liquid injection device 100 (FIG. 19). It is possible to reduce the possibility of air bubbles being mixed in and the possibility of ink in the liquid injection unit 40 leaking through the discharge path 76. On the other hand, when the moving body 782 is separated from the sealing portion 783 by the action of an external force through the opening 785 of the communicating pipe 781, the discharge path 76 inside the communicating pipe 781 communicates with the outside through the sealing portion 783. .. That is, the discharge path 76 is in an open state (FIG. 18).

The valve opening unit 80 of FIG. 21 is used to move the moving body 782 of the closing valve 78 at the initial filling stage illustrated in FIG. The valve opening unit 80 of the first embodiment includes an insertion portion 82 and a foundation portion 84. The insertion portion 82 is a needle-shaped portion in which the communication flow path 822 is formed inside, and an opening 824 communicating with the communication flow path 822 is formed at the tip portion 820 (the side opposite to the base portion 84). The foundation portion 84 includes a retention space 842 communicating with the communication flow path 822 of the insertion portion 82, a gas permeable gas permeable membrane 844 that closes the communication flow path 822, and a communication flow path 822 that sandwiches the gas permeable membrane 844. Includes a discharge port 846 formed on the opposite side.

At the initial filling stage, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the insertion portion 82 of the valve opening unit 80 is inserted into the communication pipe 781 through the opening 785. The moving body 782 moves in a direction away from the sealing portion 783 by the external force applied from the tip portion 820 of the inserting portion 82. When the insertion portion 82 is further inserted, the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 82 and the inner peripheral surface of the sealing portion 783 are in close contact with each other, and the insertion portion 82 is held by the sealing portion 783. In the above state, the opening 824 of the insertion portion 82 is located on the discharge path 76 side (moving body 782 side) as viewed from the sealing portion 783. That is, the sealing portion 783 seals between the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 82 on the base end side when viewed from the opening 824 and the inner peripheral surface of the communication pipe 781 (inner peripheral surface of the discharge path 76). The position of the moving body 782 in the above state is hereinafter referred to as an "open position". In the state where the moving body 782 is moved to the open position, the discharge path 76 communicates with the retention space 842 through the opening 824 of the tip portion 820 of the valve opening unit 80. As understood from the above description, in the first embodiment, the moving body 782 can be easily moved to the open position by inserting the valve opening unit 80.

As described above with reference to FIG. 18, when ink is pumped from the liquid pumping mechanism 16, the valve opening unit 80 is inserted into the opening 785 of the communication pipe 781 to move the moving body 782 to the open position. Therefore, the air existing in the internal flow path of the liquid injection unit 40 is discharged to the discharge path 76 together with the ink, passes through the opening 824 and the communication flow path 822 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 22, and the valve opening unit 80. Reach up to the retention space 842. The bubbles that have reached the retention space 842 pass through the gas permeable membrane 844 and are discharged to the outside from the discharge port 846. As described above, in the first embodiment, since the gas permeable membrane 844 that blocks the communication flow path 822 of the valve opening unit 80 is installed, the liquid that has flowed into the communication flow path 822 through the discharge path 76 flows from the valve opening unit 80. It is possible to reduce the possibility of leakage.

In the first embodiment, since the space between the outer peripheral surface of the valve opening unit 80 and the inner peripheral surface of the discharge path 76 (inner peripheral surface of the communication pipe 781) is sealed by the sealing portion 783, the valve opening unit 80 is sealed. It is possible to reduce the possibility of ink leaking through the gap between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the discharge path 76. Further, in the first embodiment, the sealing between the outer peripheral surface of the valve opening unit 80 and the inner peripheral surface of the discharge path 76 and the sealing between the moving body 782 and the inner peripheral surface of the discharge path 76 are performed. The sealing portion 783 is shared. Therefore, there is an advantage that the structure of the closing valve 78 is simplified as compared with the configuration in which separate members are used for both sealings.

<Second Embodiment>
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. For the elements whose actions and functions are the same as those in the first embodiment in each of the configurations illustrated below, the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment will be diverted and detailed description of each will be omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the transmission line 56 in the second embodiment. In the first embodiment, as described above with reference to FIG. 6, one end of the transmission line 56 is joined to the surface of the wiring board 544 opposite to the connection portion 546, and the connection portion 526 of the wiring board 524 is used. The configuration in which the other end of the transmission line 56 is joined to the surface on the opposite side is illustrated. In the second embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 23, one end of the transmission line 56 is joined to the surface of the wiring board 544 where the connection portion 546 is installed, and the surface of the wiring board 524 where the connection portion 526 is installed. The other end of the transmission line 56 is joined to. That is, the transmission line 56 is bent so as to reach the surface of the wiring board 544 on the negative side in the Z direction to the surface of the wiring board 524 on the positive side in the Z direction.

In the configuration in which the transmission line 56 is joined to the surface opposite to the connection portion 546 and the connection portion 526 as in the first embodiment, a conduction hole (via hole) for electrically connecting the connection portion 546 and the transmission line 56 is provided. It is necessary to form the wiring board 544 and form a conduction hole in the wiring board 524 that electrically connects the connection portion 526 and the transmission line 56. In the second embodiment, one end of the transmission line 56 is joined to the surface of the wiring board 544 on the connection portion 546 side, and the other end of the transmission line 56 is joined to the surface of the wiring board 524 on the connection portion 526 side. There is an advantage that it is not necessary to form conduction holes on both sides of the wiring board 544 and the wiring board 524.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 24 is a partial configuration diagram of the connecting unit 50 according to the third embodiment. In the first embodiment, the connection portion 546 and the liquid injection unit 40 are electrically connected by a flexible transmission line 56. In the third embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the connection portion 546 of the wiring board 544 and the connection portion 384 of the liquid injection unit 40 are electrically connected by the connection portion 58. The connection portion 58 is a connector (Board to Board connector) having a floating structure, and can absorb tolerances by a configuration that can move with respect to the connection target. Therefore, also in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the liquid injection head 24 can be easily moved without considering the action of stress from the connection portion 546 to the liquid injection unit 40 (and thus the displacement of the liquid injection unit 40). It can be assembled or disassembled.

As can be understood from the above description, the transmission line 56 of the first and second embodiments and the connection portion 58 of the third embodiment have a positional error between the connection portion 546 and the liquid injection unit 40. It is comprehensively expressed as a connecting body that is installed between the connecting portion 546 and the liquid injection unit 40 so as to absorb and connects the connecting portion 546 and the liquid injection unit 40.

<Fourth Embodiment>
FIG. 25 is a block diagram of the closing valve 78 and the valve opening unit 80 according to the fourth embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 25, the liquid level sensor 92 is connected to the valve opening unit 80 of the fourth embodiment. The liquid level sensor 92 is a detector that detects the liquid level in the communication flow path 822 of the insertion portion 82 of the valve opening unit 80. For example, an optical sensor that irradiates the communication flow path 822 with light and receives the reflected light on the liquid surface is suitable as the liquid level sensor 92. In the initial filling process illustrated in FIG. 18, the liquid level in the communication flow path 822 tends to rise as the ink pumping of the liquid pumping mechanism 16 to the liquid jet unit 40 progresses.

In the initial filling process, the control unit 20 of the fourth embodiment controls the pumping by the liquid pumping mechanism 16 according to the detection result by the liquid level sensor 92. Specifically, when the liquid level detected by the liquid level sensor 92 is lower than a predetermined reference position, the liquid pumping mechanism 16 continues pumping ink to the liquid injection unit 40. On the other hand, when the liquid level detected by the liquid level sensor 92 is higher than the reference position, the liquid pumping mechanism 16 stops the pumping of ink to the liquid injection unit 40.

In the fourth embodiment, since the ink pumping by the liquid pumping mechanism 16 is controlled according to the result of the liquid level sensor 92 detecting the liquid level in the communication flow path 822, the excess ink is supplied to the liquid injection unit 40. It is possible to suppress.

<Fifth Embodiment>
In the fifth embodiment, a configuration in which the operation of the liquid pumping mechanism 16 is controlled according to the detection result of the liquid level in the communication flow path 822 is illustrated. In the initial filling process illustrated in FIG. 18, the control unit 20 of the fifth embodiment controls the pumping by the liquid pumping mechanism 16 according to the detection result of the ink discharged from the nozzle N of the liquid injection unit 40. If the liquid pumping mechanism 16 excessively supplies ink to the liquid injection unit 40, the ink may leak from the nozzle N of the liquid injection unit 40 even when the piezoelectric element 484 is not driven. Therefore, when the liquid pumping mechanism 16 of the fifth embodiment does not detect the leakage of ink from the specific nozzle N, the liquid pumping mechanism 16 continues to pump the ink to the liquid injection unit 40, and the ink leaks from the nozzle N. If it is detected, the ink pumping is stopped. The method for detecting ink leakage is arbitrary, but for example, a liquid leakage sensor that detects ink discharged from nozzle N can be preferably used. Further, considering the tendency that the characteristics of the residual vibration in the pressure chamber SC (vibration remaining in the pressure chamber SC after the displacement of the piezoelectric element 484) differs depending on the presence or absence of ink leakage from the nozzle N, the residual vibration It is also possible to detect ink leakage by analyzing.

In the fifth embodiment, since the ink pumping by the liquid pumping mechanism 16 is controlled according to the detection result of the ink discharged from the nozzle of the liquid jetting unit 40, the excessive supply of ink to the liquid jetting unit 40 is suppressed. It is possible.

<Modification example>
Each of the above-exemplified forms can be variously modified. A specific mode of modification is illustrated below. Two or more embodiments arbitrarily selected from the following examples can be appropriately merged to the extent that they do not contradict each other.

(1) In addition to discharging bubbles through the defoaming path 75 and the discharging path 76, it is also possible to discharge bubbles from the nozzle N by sucking ink from the internal flow path of the liquid injection head 24 from the nozzle N side. is there. Specifically, by sealing the injection surface J with a cap and reducing the pressure in the space between the injection surface J and the cap, air bubbles are discharged from the nozzle N together with the ink. The bubbles existing in the internal flow path of the flow path structure including the valve mechanism unit 41, the flow path unit 42, and the housing portion 485 of the liquid injection unit 44 are the defoaming path 75 and the defoaming path 75 exemplified in each of the above-described embodiments. Discharge through the discharge path 76 is effective, and the air bubbles existing in the flow path from the branch flow path 481B to the nozzle N in the liquid injection unit 44 are effectively discharged by suction from the nozzle N side.

(2) In each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration in which the injection surface J includes the first portion P1, the second portion P2, and the third portion P3 is illustrated, but one of the second portion P2 and the third portion P3 is omitted. obtain. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration in which the second portion P2 and the third portion P3 are located on opposite sides of the center line y is illustrated, but the second portion P2 and the third portion P3 are centered on the center line y. It is also possible to position it on the same side with respect to.

(3) The shape of the beam-shaped portion 62 (or the shape of the opening 60) in the first support 242 is not limited to the shape exemplified in each of the above-described forms. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the beam-shaped portion 62 having a shape in which the first support portion 621, the second support portion 622, and the intermediate portion 623 are connected to each other is illustrated, but the shape in which the intermediate portion 623 is omitted (first). It is also possible to form a beam-shaped portion 62 having a shape in which the support portion 621 and the second support portion 622 are separated from each other on the first support portion 242.

(4) In each of the above-described embodiments, the serial type liquid injection device 100 in which the transport body 262 equipped with the liquid injection head 24 moves in the X direction is illustrated, but the plurality of nozzles N of the liquid injection head 24 are the medium 12. The present invention can also be applied to a line-type liquid injection device distributed over the entire width. In the line type liquid injection device, the moving mechanism 26 illustrated in each of the above-described embodiments may be omitted.

(5) The element (driving element) that applies pressure to the inside of the pressure chamber SC is not limited to the piezoelectric element 484 exemplified in each of the above-described embodiments. For example, it is also possible to use a heat generating element that fluctuates the pressure by generating bubbles inside the pressure chamber SC by heating as a driving element. As understood from the above examples, the driving element is comprehensively expressed as an element for injecting a liquid (typically, an element for applying pressure to the inside of the pressure chamber SC), and an operating method (piezoelectric method /). It doesn't matter what the thermal method is or the specific configuration.

(6) In each of the above-described embodiments, the connection portion (328, 384, 526, 546) used for electrical connection is illustrated, but the connection portion for connecting a flow path through which a liquid such as ink flows is used. It is also possible to apply the present invention. That is, the connection body in the present invention includes an element (for example, a transmission line 56) that electrically connects the first connection portion and the liquid injection unit, as well as a flow path of the first connection portion and a flow path of the liquid injection unit. Includes connecting elements (eg tubes made of elastic material).

<Sixth Embodiment>
A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same members as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory view of the internal flow path of the flow path unit according to the sixth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 26, the flow path unit 42 of the sixth embodiment is not provided with the check valve 74 of the first embodiment between the defoaming space Q and the defoaming path 75. That is, the defoaming space Q and the defoaming path 75 communicate with each other through the communication hole HB.

Further, as in the first embodiment, the defoaming path 75 is branched in the middle and communicates in common with the inside of the bag-shaped body 73 installed in the control chamber RC and the defoaming space Q. That is, the defoaming path 75 is provided with a branch point 75a for branching the defoaming path 75. The branch point 75a and the inside of the bag-shaped body 73 installed in the control chamber RC are provided in communication with each other, and the branch point 75a and the defoaming space Q are provided in communication with each other. In the present embodiment, the inside of the bag-shaped body 73 communicating with the branch point 75a corresponds to the first chamber, and the defoaming space Q corresponds to the second chamber.

Further, the branch point 75a of the defoaming path 75 is connected to the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 via the distribution flow path 36 connected to the second connection port 75b. That is, the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 is connected to the second connection port 75b, which is the connection port of one flow path before branching into the two defoaming paths 75, via the distribution flow path 36.

Then, the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 performs a pressurizing operation (pressurizing mode) of supplying a second fluid such as air to the defoaming path 75 connected to the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 as described above, and the defoaming path 75. A depressurization operation (decompression mode) in which a second fluid such as air is sucked and depressurized can be selected according to an instruction from the control unit 20 which is a control unit.

By the pressurizing operation of the pressure adjusting mechanism 18, the internal space of the bag-shaped body 73, which is the first chamber, and the inside of the defoaming path 75 are pressurized. Therefore, the bag-shaped body 73 in the control chamber RC expands, the bag-shaped body 73 presses the movable membrane 71, the valve body 722 moves, and the space R1 and the space R2 communicate with each other. Further, at this time, since the check valve 74 of the first embodiment is not provided between the defoaming space Q and the defoaming path 75, the defoaming space Q is also pressurized at the same time. However, the gas permeable membranes MA and MC are provided between the defoaming space Q and the vertical space RV and the space RF1 which are the flow paths of the ink, and the gas permeable membranes MA and MC are provided in the defoaming space Q. Only the gas that has passed through is retained. Further, the pressurizing operation of the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 is performed in a shorter time than the depressurizing operation. Therefore, when the internal space of the bag-shaped body 73, which is the first chamber, is pressurized, even if the gas in the defoaming space Q, which is the second chamber, is pressurized, the gas in the second chamber remains. It is difficult to pass through the gas permeable membranes MA and MC to the vertical space RV and space RF1 which are the flow paths of the ink.

Further, the defoaming space Q, which is the second chamber, is decompressed by the depressurizing operation of the pressure adjusting mechanism 18. As a result, the gas held in the defoaming space Q is discharged through the defoaming path 75. Further, by the depressurizing operation of the pressure adjusting mechanism 18, the second fluid in the first chamber is also depressurized, and the bag-shaped body 73 contracts, that is, the volume decreases. Even if the bag-shaped body 73 contracts, the pressure inside the control chamber RC is not affected, so that the on-off valve B [1] is maintained in the closed state. Although the control chamber RC is not particularly shown, it is open to the atmosphere, and the pressure inside the control chamber RC does not fluctuate due to the state of the bag-shaped body 73, that is, expansion or contraction. That is, the control chamber RC is a buffer chamber that does not communicate with the internal space of the bag-shaped body 73, which is the first chamber, and the defoaming space Q, which is the second chamber. By the way, when the control chamber RC which is a buffer chamber is not provided, the shrinkage of the bag-shaped body 73 does not affect the movable membrane 71, and the characteristics of the on-off valve B [1] are suppressed from being changed. Can be done. Further, with a simple configuration in which the control chamber RC is opened to the atmosphere, it is possible to suppress changes in the characteristics of the on-off valve B [1] due to the contraction of the bag-shaped body 73, so that a complicated configuration is not required. The cost can be reduced.

On the other hand, the flow path 79 to which the ink as the first fluid is supplied is connected to the liquid pumping mechanism 16 via the distribution flow path 36 connected to the first connection port 79a. That is, the ink pumped from the liquid pumping mechanism 16 via the first connection port 79a is supplied to the vertical space RV via the on-off valve B [1] in the open state, and is supplied from the vertical space RV to the common liquid chamber SR and the common liquid chamber SR. It is supplied to each pressure chamber SC.

In this way, the pressurization of the internal space of the bag-shaped body 73, which is the first chamber, and the depressurization of the defoaming space Q, which is the second chamber, are performed by one pressure adjusting mechanism 18 connected to the second connection port 75b. It is said. Therefore, when the liquid injection unit 40 is attached and detached, the liquid pumping mechanism 16 is connected to the first connection port 79a for circulating the ink as the first fluid, and the pressure is applied to the second connection port 75b for circulating the second fluid. The liquid injection unit 40 can be easily attached to and detached by simply connecting the adjusting mechanism 18. That is, the liquid injection unit 40 can be attached / detached simply by connecting the first connection port 79a and the second connection port 75b, so that the attachment / detachment work can be simplified. By the way, when the connection port to which the pressurizing means for pressurizing the first chamber is connected and the connection port to which the depressurizing means for depressurizing the second chamber is connected are individually provided, the total is combined with the first connection port 79a. It is necessary to connect the three connection ports, and the work of attaching and detaching the connection ports becomes complicated. Further, when the connection ports for pressurization and depressurization are provided separately, a pressurizing means such as a pressurizing pump and a depressurizing means such as a depressurizing pump must be provided for each connection port, resulting in high cost. turn into. In the present embodiment, since pressurization and depressurization can be performed from the common second connection port 75b, it is only necessary to provide one pressure adjusting mechanism 18 that performs both pressurization and depressurization, and the cost can be reduced. it can.

In the present embodiment, air is exemplified as the second fluid, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the second fluid is such that an inert gas, a liquid used for ink, a liquid other than ink, or the like is used. May be good. The same applies to other embodiments.

Further, in the present embodiment, the bag-shaped body 73 is expanded by pressurizing the first chamber to open the on-off valve B [1], but this is particularly used for pressurizing the first chamber. Not limited to. For example, by pressurizing the first chamber, the ink in the flow path may be pressurized to wipe the injection surface while exuding the ink from the nozzle N, so-called pressure wiping may be performed. Further, the volume of the damper chamber for absorbing the pressure fluctuation in the flow path may be changed by pressurizing the first chamber to change the characteristics of the damper chamber. That is, the first chamber can be used for the purpose of changing the volume of the flow path through which the ink passes by being pressurized. Of course, the first chamber can be used for purposes other than changing the volume of the flow path through which the ink passes. As another application, for example, the first chamber is opened so as to face the nozzle N, and the first chamber is pressurized to blow out a second fluid from the opening to remove dust adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle N. It may be blown off by two fluids.

Further, although the air bubbles in the defoaming space Q, which is the second chamber, are removed by depressurizing the second chamber, the application for depressurizing the second chamber is not particularly limited to this. For example, the second chamber communicates with a flow path through which ink passes through a one-way valve, and when the pressure in the second chamber is reduced, the one-way valve is opened to collect the ink in the flow path together with air bubbles. May be good. That is, the second chamber can be used for the purpose of collecting air bubbles contained in the ink. Of course, the second chamber can be used for purposes other than the purpose of collecting air bubbles contained in the ink. As another application, for example, the volume of the damper chamber for absorbing the pressure fluctuation in the flow path may be changed by depressurizing the second chamber to change the characteristics of the damper chamber. Further, the second chamber may be opened so as to face the nozzle N and the second chamber may be depressurized to suck and remove dust adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle N.

Further, the portion where the first chamber and the movable membrane 71 are in contact with each other, that is, the portion where the bag-shaped body 73 having the first chamber inside and the movable membrane 71 are in contact with each other is preferably roughened. By the way, the portion where the bag-shaped body 73 and the movable film 71 are in contact with each other is roughened, that is, the portion where the bag-shaped body 73 is in contact with the movable film 71 and the portion where the bag-shaped body 73 is in contact with the bag-shaped body 73. It means that at least one is roughened. Further, the roughened surface means that the surface roughness of the surface to be contacted is roughened by, for example, dry etching, blasting, wet etching, or the like, or a film having a rough surface roughness is defined. It means forming a film. By roughening the portion where the bag-shaped body 73 and the movable film 71 are in contact with each other in this way, it is possible to prevent the bag-shaped body 73 and the movable film 71 from sticking to each other due to dew condensation or the like.

<7th Embodiment>
A seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same members as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory view of the internal flow path of the flow path unit according to the seventh embodiment. As shown in FIG. 27, a bidirectional valve 18a is connected to the side of the second connection port 75b opposite to the branch point 75a as a decompression maintenance means. That is, a bidirectional valve 18a is provided between the second connection port 75b and the pressure adjusting mechanism 18.

The bidirectional valve 18a is composed of, for example, an electromagnetic valve or the like, and is controlled by the control unit 20 so as to close the flow path at a predetermined timing. Here, the timing at which the bidirectional valve 18a closes the flow path is after the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 performs the depressurizing operation. That is, the bidirectional valve 18a is closed after the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 performs the depressurizing operation, so that the defoaming path 75 and the defoaming space Q are maintained in the depressurized state.

In this way, even if the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 is not continuously driven, the defoaming space Q and the defoaming path 75 can be maintained in a depressurized state by providing the bidirectional valve 18a. Then, by maintaining the decompressed body of the defoaming space Q, the bubbles in the space RF1 are discharged to the defoaming space Q via the gas permeable membrane MC, and the bubbles in the vertical space RV pass through the gas permeable membrane MA. Is discharged to the defoaming space Q. Then, after the depressurized state is maintained, the pressure is reduced by the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 at a predetermined timing and the bidirectional valve 18a is opened, so that the bubbles discharged into the defoaming space Q follow the defoaming path 75. It is discharged to the outside from the second connection port 75b, that is, from the bidirectional valve 18a and the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 connected to the second connection port 75b.

As described above, by providing the depressurization maintaining means having the bidirectional valve 18a and the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 to maintain the depressurized state of the defoaming space Q, the bubbles contained in the ink are defoamed into the defoaming space Q. Can be reliably performed over a long period of time. Further, since it is not necessary to constantly drive the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 to maintain the depressurized state of the defoaming space Q, the power consumption can be reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, the liquid injection unit 40 is miniaturized by connecting the bidirectional valve 18a to the second connection port 75b, that is, by providing the bidirectional valve 18a on the outside of the liquid injection unit 40. be able to. The position where the bidirectional valve 18a is provided is not particularly limited to this, and for example, the bidirectional valve 18a may be provided in the distribution flow path 36, and the bidirectional valve 18a is provided in the valve mechanism unit 41 or the flow path unit. It may be provided at 42 or the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, the bidirectional valve 18a and the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 are provided as the depressurization maintaining means, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. For example, the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 may be driven constantly or intermittently without providing the bidirectional valve 18a to maintain the depressurized state of the defoaming space Q which is the second chamber. Further, as in the first embodiment, a check valve 74, which is a one-way valve that allows only the flow from the defoaming space Q to the defoaming path 75, is provided between the defoaming space Q and the defoaming path 75. The check valve 74 may be provided to maintain the depressurized state of the defoaming space Q, which is the second chamber. Here, as described above, the check valve 74 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 allows the flow of air from the defoaming space Q to the defoaming path 75, while allowing the air to flow from the defoaming path 75 to the defoaming space Q. It is a valve mechanism that obstructs the flow of air to the destination. Therefore, by providing the check valve 74, the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 decompresses the defoaming space Q, and even if the depressurizing operation by the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 is stopped, the check valve 74 depressurizes the defoaming space Q. The state is maintained.

<8th Embodiment>
An eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same members as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of the defoaming path of the flow path unit according to the eighth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 28, of the defoaming paths 75, the defoaming path 75 between the branch point 75a and the defoaming space Q which is the second chamber meanders in the Z direction while reciprocating in the X direction. It is a meandering road 75c. By providing the serpentine path 75c in the defoaming path 75 in this way, it is possible to impart diffusion resistance to the defoaming path 75 and suppress the evaporation of ink from the gas permeable membranes MA and MB. By the way, since the water content of the ink in the flow path permeates the gas permeable membranes MA and MB, if the serpentine path 75c is not provided, the water content of the ink tends to evaporate and the viscosity of the ink increases. It ends up. In the present embodiment, by providing the serpentine path 75c, it is possible to suppress the evaporation of the water content of the ink that permeates the gas permeable membranes MA and MB, so that problems such as an increase in the viscosity of the ink are suppressed. can do.

Further, in the present embodiment, the serpentine path 75c is provided in the defoaming path 75 between the branch point 75a and the defoaming space Q which is the second chamber. Therefore, the pressurizing operation and the depressurizing operation by the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 can be performed with a smaller pressure than when all the defoaming paths 75 are set to the serpentine path 75c. That is, if all of the defoaming paths 75 are made into serpentine paths, the path length of the defoaming path 75 becomes long, and the pressurizing operation and the depressurizing operation by the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 are performed at a high pressure, or the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 is made a low pressure. It is necessary to drive for a long time. The pressure adjusting mechanism 18 that outputs such a high pressure is increased in size and cost. Further, when the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 is driven at a low pressure for a long time, the pressurizing operation and the depressurizing operation take a long time, and a problem such as a long printing standby time occurs. In the present embodiment, only the defoaming path 75 between the branch point 75a and the defoaming space Q which is the second chamber is the serpentine path 75c, so that the pressurizing operation and the depressurizing operation by the pressure adjusting mechanism 18 are performed with a small pressure. Moreover, it can be performed in a short time, it is possible to suppress the increase in size and cost, and it is possible to shorten the time of the pressurizing operation and the depressurizing operation and shorten the printing standby time. Of course, the defoaming path 75 between the branch point 75a and the second connection port 75b may be a serpentine path, or all of the defoaming paths 75 may be a serpentine path.

<9th embodiment>
A ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same members as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a main part of the flow path unit according to the ninth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 29, a plurality of beam-shaped first regulating portions 42a are provided on the defoaming space Q side of the gas permeable membranes MA and MC. Further, a plurality of beam-shaped second regulating portions 42b are provided on the vertical space RV and space RF1 sides of the gas permeable membranes MA and MC. The first regulation unit 42a and the second regulation unit 42b are provided integrally with the wall surface forming each space.

By providing the first regulating portion 42a in this way, when the defoaming space Q, which is the second chamber, is depressurized, the gas permeable membranes MA and MC are restricted from being deformed to the defoaming space Q side, and defoaming is performed. It is possible to suppress the decrease in the volume of the bubble space Q.

Further, by providing the second regulating portion 42b, when the defoaming space Q, which is the second chamber, is pressurized, the gas permeable membranes MA and MC are restricted from being deformed to the opposite side to the defoaming space Q. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the volume of the defoaming space Q.

That is, by providing the plurality of beam-shaped first regulating portions 42a and the second regulating section 42b, the first regulating section 42a and the second regulating section 42b prevent the gas from permeating through the gas permeable membranes MA and MC. Therefore, the deformation of the gas permeable membranes MA and MC can be regulated by the first regulating unit 42a and the second regulating unit 42b, and the damage due to the deformation of the gas permeable membranes MA and MC can be suppressed.

The first regulation unit 42a and the second regulation unit 42b are not limited to those described above as long as they suppress the expansion and contraction of the defoaming space Q, which is the second chamber, and a plurality of beam-shaped objects are gridded. It may be a combination of shapes, that is, those provided in a mesh shape. Further, the first regulating portion 42a and the second regulating section 42b may be convex portions or the like protruding from the wall surface facing the gas permeable membranes MA and MC.

<10th Embodiment>
A tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same members as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a main part of the flow path unit according to the tenth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 30, the bag-shaped body 73 is provided so as to close the opening of the control chamber RC. Further, in the present embodiment, the bag-shaped body 73 elastically deforms to the movable membrane 71 side in a bag shape when the defoaming path 75 is pressurized by the pressurizing operation of the pressure adjusting mechanism 18, and the pressure is applied. When not in operation, it has a plate shape. That is, the bag-shaped body 73, which is a plate-shaped member, is deformed into a bag-like shape in the control chamber RC by applying pressure to the defoaming path 75.

Further, from the surface of the defoaming path 75 facing the bag-shaped body 73, a third regulating portion 42c protruding toward the bag-shaped body 73 is provided. By providing the third regulating portion 42c, it is possible to regulate the bag-shaped body 73 from being deformed to the side opposite to the movable membrane 71 when the defoaming path 75 is depressurized. As described above, when the bag-shaped body 73 is deformed into a bag-like shape, the first chamber is the internal space of the bag-shaped body 73, but normally the bag-shaped body 73 has a plate shape. , The first chamber becomes the defoaming path 75. Then, when the defoaming path 75 is depressurized, the third regulating unit 42c regulates the decrease in the volume of the defoaming path 75, which is the first chamber.

In this way, by providing the third regulating portion 42c on the side of the bag-shaped body 73 opposite to the movable film 71, the third regulating portion 42c does not hinder the deformation of the bag-shaped body 73 during pressurization, and during depressurization. In the third regulation unit, the deformation of the bag-shaped body 73 can be regulated, and damage or the like due to the deformation of the bag-shaped body 73 can be suppressed. The third regulation unit 42c may be provided in a beam shape like the first regulation unit 42a and the second regulation unit 42b.

As described above, the first chamber is used to open the on-off valve B [1] by pressurizing the first chamber, so-called pressurizing wiping, and changing the characteristics of the damper chamber. In some cases, it is preferable that at least a part of the first chamber is formed of a flexible member such as rubber or elastomer. When the flexible member is used as a part of the first chamber, the other part of the first chamber may be formed of a thermosetting resin, a metal or the like. Further, when the first chamber is used in order to blow off the dust adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle N by the pressure applied to the first chamber by the second fluid, the first chamber is formed of a thermosetting resin, metal or the like. Is preferable.

When the second chamber is used to remove air bubbles in the defoaming space Q by depressurizing the second chamber, the second chamber is a sheet-like member having gas permeability (for example, polyacetal, polypropylene, or the like. A thin film such as polyphenylene ether) or a rigid wall having a thickness sufficient for gas permeability (for example, the material of the flow path unit 42 including the permeation partition wall is POM (polyacetal), m-PPE (modified polypropylene ether), or It is desirable that at least a part of the plastic such as PP (polypropylene) or an alloy thereof is formed by (generally, the thickness of the rigid wall is about 0.5 mm). Alternatively, when the room formed by these sheet-like members or rigid walls and the room communicating through the valve correspond to the second room, the second room may be formed of a thermosetting resin, metal, or the like. Good. Further, when the second chamber is used to suck and remove the dust adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle N by depressurizing the second chamber, the second chamber may be formed of a thermosetting resin, a metal, or the like. preferable. That is, it is preferable that the first chamber and the second chamber are formed of different members at least in part.

As described above, the first chamber is used to open the on-off valve B [1] by pressurizing the first chamber, so-called pressurizing wiping, and changing the characteristics of the damper chamber. In some cases, the first chamber is preferably adjacent to the flow path of the first fluid. Further, when the first chamber is used to blow off the dust adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle N by the pressure applied to the first chamber by the second fluid, the first chamber is adjacent to the flow path of the first fluid. It does not have to be. Here, when the pressure in the flow path of the first fluid changes by changing the pressure in the first chamber, the two may be adjacent to each other. When adjacent, the pressure change in the first chamber can be effectively transmitted to the flow path of the first fluid.

When the second chamber is used to remove air bubbles in the defoaming space Q by depressurizing the second chamber, the second chamber is preferably adjacent to the flow path of the first fluid. Further, when the second chamber is used to suck and remove the dust adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle N by depressurizing the second chamber, the second chamber does not have to be adjacent to the flow path of the first fluid. Good. Here, when the pressure in the flow path of the first fluid changes by changing the pressure in the second chamber, the two may be adjacent to each other. When adjacent, the pressure change in the second chamber can be effectively transmitted to the flow path of the first fluid.

100 ... Liquid injection device, 12 ... Medium, 14 ... Liquid container, 16 ... Liquid pumping mechanism, 18 ... Pressure adjustment mechanism, 20 ... Control unit, 22 ... Conveying mechanism, 24 ... Liquid injection head, 26 ... Moving mechanism, 262 ... Conveyor body, 264 ... Conveyance belt, 242 ... First support, 244 ... Assembly, 32 ... Connection unit, 322 ... Housing, 324 ... Relay board, 326 ... Drive board, 328 ... Connection part, 342 ... Support part, 344 ... Connecting part, 346 ... Opening, 34 ... Second support, 36 ... Distribution flow path, 38 ... Liquid injection module, 384 ... Connection part, 40 ... Liquid injection unit, 41 ... Valve mechanism unit, 42 ... Flow path Unit, 42a ... 1st regulation part, 42b ... 2nd regulation part, 42c ... 3rd regulation part, 44 ... liquid injection part, 442 ... overhang part, 444 ... overhang part, 445 ... notch part, 446 ... protrusion part , 50 ... Connecting unit, 52 ... First relay body, 522 ... Accommodating body, 524 ... Wiring board, 526 ... Connecting part, 53 ... Connecting tool, 54 ... Second relay body, 542 ... Mounting board, 544 ... Wiring board, 546 ... Connection part, 56 ... Transmission line, 60 ... Opening, 62 ... Beam-shaped part, 621 ... First support part, 622 ... Second support part, 623 ... Intermediate part, 71 ... Movable film, 73 ... Bag-like body , 74 ... Check valve, 75 ... Defoaming path, 75a ... Branch point, 75b ... Second connection port, 75c ... Serpentine, 76 ... Discharge path, 78 ... Closing valve, 781 ... Communication pipe, 782 ... Moving body, 783 ... Sealing part, 784 ... Spring, 785 ... Opening, 79 ... Flow path, 79a ... First connection port, 80 ... Valve opening unit, 82 ... Insertion part, 820 ... Tip part, 822 ... Communication flow path, 824 ... opening, 84 ... foundation, 842 ... retention space, 844 ... gas permeable membrane, 846 ... outlet, B [n] (B [1] to B [4]) ... on-off valve, F [n] (F) [1] to F [4]) ... Filter, Q ... Defoaming space (2nd chamber), MA, MB, MC ... Gas permeable membrane, TA, TB, TC1, TC2 ... Fastener, J ... Injection surface, P1 ... 1st part, P2 ... 2nd part, P3 ... 3rd part

Claims (16)

A liquid injection unit that injects liquid
A nozzle for injecting the liquid and
The first connection port for distributing the liquid and
A second connection port for circulating fluid,
A flow path communicating the first connection port and the nozzle,
A branch point communicating with the second connection port and
The branch point and communicating, a first chamber Ru pressurized via said second connection port,
The branch point and communicating, and a second chamber that will be depressurized through the second connection port,
A first valve mechanism that allows the flow of the liquid when the first chamber is pressurized and does not allow the flow of the liquid when the first chamber is not pressurized.
A second valve mechanism that allows the flow of the fluid when the second chamber is decompressed and does not allow the flow of the fluid when the second chamber is not decompressed.
A liquid ejecting unit, wherein the obtaining Bei a. The first chamber changes the volume of the flow path.
The liquid injection unit according to claim 1, wherein the second chamber is for accumulating air bubbles in the flow path. A liquid injection unit that injects liquid
A nozzle for injecting the liquid and
The first connection port for distributing the liquid and
A second connection port for circulating fluid,
A flow path communicating the first connection port and the nozzle,
A branch point communicating with the second connection port and
Communicating with the branch point and being pressurized through the second connection port, the first chamber and
Communicating with the branch point, the pressure is reduced through the second connection port, and the second chamber and
A movable membrane urged to the first chamber by pressurizing the first chamber,
A buffer chamber provided between the first chamber and the movable membrane and not communicating with the first chamber and the second chamber,
Liquids injection unit you comprising: a. The liquid injection unit according to claim 3, wherein the buffer chamber is open to the atmosphere. The liquid injection unit according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the portion where the first chamber and the movable membrane are in contact with each other is roughened. A gas permeable membrane provided between the second chamber and the flow path,
A serpentine path that imparts diffusion resistance is provided between the second chamber and the branch point.
The liquid injection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein air bubbles in the flow path are moved into the second chamber by reducing the pressure in the second chamber. A gas permeable membrane provided between the second chamber and the flow path,
The liquid injection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a decompression maintaining means is provided on the side opposite to the branch point with respect to the second connection port. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a one-way valve that allows only the flow from the second chamber to the branch point is provided between the second chamber and the branch point. Liquid injection unit. A liquid injection unit that injects liquid
A nozzle for injecting the liquid and
The first connection port for distributing the liquid and
A second connection port for circulating fluid,
A flow path communicating the first connection port and the nozzle,
A branch point communicating with the second connection port and
Communicating with the branch point and being pressurized through the second connection port, the first chamber and
Communicating with the branch point, the pressure is reduced through the second connection port, and the second chamber and
Liquids injection unit further comprising a regulating portion for regulating the scaling of the second chamber volume. A liquid injection unit that injects liquid
A nozzle for injecting the liquid and
The first connection port for distributing the liquid and
A second connection port for circulating fluid,
A flow path communicating the first connection port and the nozzle,
A branch point communicating with the second connection port and
Communicating with the branch point and being pressurized through the second connection port, the first chamber and
Communicating with the branch point, the pressure is reduced through the second connection port, and the second chamber and
Liquids injection unit further comprising a regulating portion for regulating the reduction of the first chamber volume. The liquid injection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are formed of different members at least in part. One of the first chamber and the second chamber is adjacent to the flow path.
The liquid injection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the other of the first chamber and the second chamber is not adjacent to the flow path. The second chamber is pressurized at the same time when the first chamber is pressurized through the second connection port.
The liquid injection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first chamber is simultaneously depressurized when the second chamber is depressurized through the second connection port. A first pressure adjusting mechanism is connected to the first connection port.
The liquid injection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a second pressure adjusting mechanism different from the first pressure adjusting mechanism is connected to the second connection port. The liquid injection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the fluid is a gas. The liquid injection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 15.
A pressurization mode in which the first chamber is pressurized through the second connection port, and
A liquid injection device comprising a control unit that can control the second chamber in a depressurization mode in which the pressure is reduced through the second connection port.

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