JP7138725B2 - Inkjet printer and ink supply device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an inkjet printer and an ink supply device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an inkjet printer that has an ink head that ejects ink toward a recording medium and prints a desired image on the recording medium by an inkjet method. 2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an inkjet printer prints using ink stored in an ink container. For example, in Patent Document 1, a hollow case; An ink tank comprising a metal spring member biased in a first direction away from the ink tank, and a light transmission section arranged oppositely in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a printer comprising the same is disclosed.

In Patent Document 1, when the amount of ink in the storage chamber decreases, the flexible film is displaced in the first direction away from the inner wall of the case by the biasing force of the spring member. The light transmission section detects the displacement of this flexible film and determines the amount of ink in the storage chamber. The ink tank of Patent Document 1 is a consumable item, and the user purchases or replaces a new ink tank when the amount of ink in the storage chamber drops below a predetermined amount.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-166167

In recent years, there has also been known an ink supply apparatus having an ink tank which, when the ink in the ink tank runs out, does not replace the ink tank itself but replenishes the same ink tank with ink. However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200002 is designed to replace the entire ink tank, and it is not assumed that the same ink tank will be replenished with ink and used for a long period of time. Therefore, there is a demand for a new ink supply device that can be used for a long period of time by adding ink to the ink tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a novel ink supply device that can be used for a long period of time and an inkjet printer equipped with the same.

An inkjet printer according to the present invention includes an ink head that ejects ink toward a recording medium, and an ink supply device that stores ink to be supplied to the ink head. The ink supply device includes a hollow case having a wall surface, an ink outlet formed in the wall surface and communicating with the ink head, and an ink outlet provided in the hollow portion of the case to store the ink and supply air. an ink storage chamber having a gas-liquid interface with which the ink is in contact; a pressure sensing portion forming a part of the ink storage chamber and displaced by the head pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber; a sensor that directly or indirectly detects the position of the pressure sensing portion outside the storage chamber.

An ink supply device according to the present invention includes a hollow case having a wall surface, an ink outlet formed in the wall surface and communicating with an ink head, and an ink outlet provided in the hollow portion of the case for storing ink and supplying air. an ink storage chamber having a gas-liquid interface with which the ink is in contact; a pressure sensing portion forming a part of the ink storage chamber and displaced by the head pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber; a sensor that directly or indirectly detects the position of the pressure sensing portion outside the ink storage chamber.

The ink supply device has a gas-liquid interface where air and ink contact inside the ink storage chamber. With this configuration, when the ink in the ink storage chamber runs low, the user can easily open the case and replenish the ink. Further, the ink supply device can detect the amount of ink in the ink storage chamber using the head pressure of the ink. With such a configuration, the amount of ink in the ink reservoir can be accurately detected over a long period of time. Therefore, a novel ink supply device and inkjet printer that can be used for a long time can be suitably realized.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a novel ink supply device that can be used for a long period of time and an inkjet printer having the same.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of main parts of the inkjet printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ink supply device in an ink-filled state. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the ink supply device in the ink end state. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an ink supply device according to a first modified example. FIG. 6 is a front view of an inkjet printer according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an ink flow path. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an ink supply device. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the ink supply device. FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the ink supply device. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the ink amount detector. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the ink amount detector. FIG. 13 is a side view of the member to be detected. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the ink amount detector in a near-full state. FIG. 15 is a view corresponding to FIG. 14 in a state in which ink can be replenished. FIG. 16 is a view corresponding to FIG. 14 in the near-end state. FIG. 17 is a view corresponding to FIG. 10 according to the second modified example. FIG. 18 is a view corresponding to FIG. 10 according to the third modified example.

<First embodiment>
An ink tank according to an embodiment and an inkjet printer including the same will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described herein are, of course, not intended to limit the invention in particular. Further, members and portions having the same action are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are appropriately omitted or simplified.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as printer) 10 of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of the main parts of the printer 10. FIG. In this specification, the term “inkjet printer” refers to a printing method using conventionally known inkjet technology, for example, a continuous method such as a binary deflection method or a continuous deflection method, a thermal method, a piezoelectric element method, or the like. Refers to printers in general that use the demand method. The term “printer” includes a so-called 2D printer that prints two-dimensional images and a so-called 3D printer (three-dimensional modeling apparatus) that forms three-dimensional objects.

In the following description, left, right, top, and bottom mean left, right, top, and bottom, respectively, as seen from the user (user of the printer 10) in front of the printer 10. The side that approaches is the front, and the side that moves away is the rear. Also, symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings represent front, rear, left, right, up, and down, respectively. However, these orientations are merely for convenience of explanation, and do not limit the manner in which the printer 10 is installed.

Printer 10 is a 2D printer. The printer 10 is for printing on the recording medium 5 . The printer 10 is a so-called Roll-to-Roll type printer. The printer 10 is a large commercial printer that prints on a large-sized recording medium 5 . The recording medium 5 is a roll-shaped medium in this embodiment. The recording medium 5 includes not only papers such as plain paper and inkjet printing paper, but also resin materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyester, fabrics such as woven fabrics and non-woven fabrics, aluminum, It includes media made of various materials such as iron, wood, and glass.

The printer 10 includes a main body 12 , a guide rail 13 , a platen 14 , an ink head 20 , an ink flow path 40 , an ink supply device 70 and a control device 80 . In this embodiment, the ink head 20, the ink channel 40, and the ink supply device 70 are provided for each ink 59 (see FIG. 3) of each color. However, in other embodiments, the numbers of ink heads 20, ink channels 40, and ink supply devices 70 do not necessarily have to be the same. The body portion 12 has a housing extending in the left-right direction. An operation panel 12C is provided on the right front surface of the main body 12 . The operation panel 12C is for performing operations related to printing. The operation panel 12C also serves as an input section through which the user inputs information regarding printing. The operation panel 12C is provided with a display section 12D that displays information about printing.

The guide rail 13 is provided on the body portion 12 and extends in the left-right direction (main scanning direction). A carriage 30 is slidably engaged with the guide rail 13 . The ink head 20 is mounted on the carriage 30 . Incidentally, the carriage 30 may be further equipped with various devices and members such as a light irradiation device (for example, an ultraviolet lamp) in the same manner as in conventionally known inkjet printers. The carriage 30 is reciprocated in the left-right direction along the guide rail 13 by the carriage movement mechanism 16 .

The carriage movement mechanism 16 has a pulley 17b and a pulley 17a arranged on the left end side and the right end side of the guide rail 13, respectively. A carriage motor 16a is connected to the pulley 17a. The carriage motor 16 a is electrically connected to and controlled by the control device 80 . An endless belt 15 is wound around each of the pulleys 17a and 17b. Carriage 30 is fixed to belt 15 . When the carriage motor 16a is driven, the pulley 17a rotates and the belt 15 runs. As a result, the carriage 30 moves laterally along the guide rails 13 .

The platen 14 is provided on the body portion 12 and extends in the left-right direction. The platen 14 is arranged below and forward of the guide rails 13 . A recording medium 5 is placed on the platen 14 . The platen 14 supports the recording medium 5 during printing. Printing on the recording medium 5 is performed on the platen 14 . The platen 14 is provided with a pair of upper and lower grit rollers (not shown) and pinch rollers (not shown). The grit roller is connected to a feed motor (not shown). The grit roller is rotationally driven by a feed motor. When the grit roller rotates while the recording medium 5 is sandwiched between the grit roller and the pinch roller, the recording medium 5 is conveyed in the front-rear direction (sub-scanning direction).

The ink supply device 70 has an ink tank 50 . The ink supply device 70 is housed in the ink tank housing portion 18 . The ink tank accommodating portion 18 is arranged below the main body portion 12 . The ink tank 50 is a case that stores ink 59 used for printing. The ink tank 50 is fixed to the ink tank accommodating portion 18 . The bottom surface of the ink tank 50 is supported by the tank support plate 18S. The ink tank 50 is arranged below the ink head 20 . The ink tank 50 is not mounted on the carriage 30 and does not move laterally. The number of ink tanks 50 is five in this embodiment. The configuration of the ink supply device 70 will be described later.

The ink 59 may be the same as that conventionally used, and is not particularly limited. The ink 59 may be solvent-based pigment ink, water-based pigment ink, water-based dye ink, or the like. The ink 59 may be, for example, a photocurable ink that contains a photopolymerizable monomer and a photopolymerization initiator system and has the property of being cured by light irradiation. The ink 59 may be, for example, solventless UV ink, eco-solvent UV ink, real solvent UV ink, or the like. In this embodiment, the five ink tanks 50 store inks containing different colorants, such as cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, black ink, and white ink. However, the type (color, etc.) of the ink 59 is not limited at all. Also, the number of ink tanks 50 is not limited at all. The ink tank 50 communicates with the ink head 20 via the ink channel 40 for each ink 59 of each color.

The ink head 20 ejects droplets of ink 59 toward the recording medium 5 . The ink head 20 is arranged above the platen 14 . The ink head 20 is mounted on the carriage 30 . The ink head 20 is slidably engaged with the guide rail 13 via the carriage 30 . The number of ink heads 20 is five, which is the same as the number of ink tanks 50 in this embodiment. The five ink heads 20 are arranged in the horizontal direction. A plurality of nozzles (not shown) for ejecting ink 59 are formed on the lower surface of the ink head 20 . An actuator (not shown) made up of a piezoelectric element or the like is provided inside the ink head 20 . By driving this actuator, the ink 59 in the ink tank 50 is ejected from the nozzles of the ink head 20 .

The ink channel 40 forms a channel that guides the ink 59 from the ink tank 50 to the ink head 20 . One end 42 of the ink channel 40 is connected to the ink outlet 52O (see FIG. 3) of the ink tank 50. As shown in FIG. The other end of the ink channel 40 is connected to the ink head 20 . The ink flow path 40 is flexible and elastically deformable. Although not particularly limited, the ink flow path 40 is an easily deformable resin tube in this embodiment. The ink flow path 40 is arranged in a state in which a large portion (at least half of the total length) of the main body 12 extends in the horizontal direction so as not to be damaged even when the carriage 30 moves in the horizontal direction. The number of ink flow paths 40 is five, which is the same as the number of ink tanks 50 in this embodiment. The ink flow path 40 is covered with a cable protection guide device 32 . The cables protection and guide device 32 is, for example, Cableveyor (registered trademark).

Incidentally, in the middle of the ink flow path 40 from the ink tank 50 to the ink head 20, various devices and members may be provided, as in conventionally known inkjet printers. The ink flow path 40 includes, for example, a transport device (e.g., a liquid feed pump) that transports the ink 59 from the ink tank 50 to the ink head 20 , and a device that supplies the ink 59 to the ink head 20 and supplies the ink from the ink head 20 . A damper for stabilizing the ejection operation of 59 , a valve member for opening and closing the ink flow path 40 , a filtering device for filtering the ink 59 , a degassing device for removing air bubbles from the ink 59 , and the like may be appropriately provided.

Next, the configuration of the ink supply device 70 will be described. The ink supply device 70 is a replenishing type ( non-disposable) ink supply. Although not particularly limited, the capacity of the ink 59 that can be stored in the ink tank 50 is typically 1 L or more, for example 1.5 to 2 L. Thus, the ink tank 50 can contain a larger amount of ink 59 than, for example, an ink tank as a consumable item. Therefore, even when a large amount of ink is printed at one time with the large-sized printer 10, the number of times of replenishing the ink 59 during printing can be reduced. In addition, even when printing is continued unattended at night or the like, ink shortage is less likely to occur.

In the following description, a predetermined full state of the ink tank 50 (specifically, the amount of ink stored in the ink tank 50) is referred to as an "ink full state". Specifically, a state in which the amount of ink stored in the ink tank 50 is empty is referred to as an "ink end state." Further, a state that is predetermined between an ink full state and an ink end state is defined in advance, and a state that is close to the ink full state is called a "near full state", and a state that is close to the ink end state is called a "near end state". The full ink state is, for example, when the amount of ink in the ink tank 50 is approximately 70% by volume or more, typically 80% by volume or more, for example 90% by volume or more of the capacity of the ink 59 that can be accommodated in the ink tank 50. state. The ink end state is, for example, when the amount of ink in the ink tank 50 is approximately 40% by volume or less, typically 30% by volume or less, for example 20% by volume or less, or 10% by volume or less of the capacity of the ink 59 that can be stored in the ink tank 50. It may be in a state of volume % or less.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ink supply device 70 in an ink-filled state. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the ink supply device 70 in the ink end state. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ink supply device 70 includes an ink tank 50, a pressure-sensitive film 55, a member to be detected 56, an urging member 57, and a sensor 60. As shown in FIGS. The ink tank 50 has a case 51 . The ink supply device 70 is configured so that the sensor 60 can detect an ink end state in which the amount of ink in the ink tank 50 is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

The outer shape of the case main body 52 is a cylindrical shape with a bottom. The case 51 is arranged along the vertical direction. The case 51 includes a case body 52 having an upper opening 52U that opens upward, and a lid 53 that closes the upper opening 52U. The upper opening 52U of the case main body 52 is an ink inlet for inflowing the ink 59 into the case main body 52. As shown in FIG. The case body 52 has a hollow structure. A hollow portion of the case main body 52 is an ink storage chamber 54 that stores ink 59 . In the ink tank 50 , a gas-liquid interface between air and ink 59 exists within the ink storage chamber 54 .

The material of the case 51 (that is, the case main body 52 and the lid body 53) may be the same as those conventionally used for this type of application, and is not particularly limited. The case 51 preferably has appropriate rigidity, gas barrier properties, and water vapor barrier properties. The surface of the case 51 that comes into contact with the ink 59 is preferably made of a material that has excellent ink corrosion resistance and does not easily degrade the ink 59 . The case 51 is made of resin such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), silicone, and fluorine-based resin. The case 51 may have a coating layer formed of resin or the like on the inner surface or the outer surface. When the ink 59 is photocurable, the case 51 may be black in appearance and have a light blocking effect, for example.

A male screw groove (not shown) is formed in the neck portion 52</b>H of the case body 52 . The lid 53 has a disc shape that fits the shape of the upper opening 52U in a plan view. A female screw groove (not shown) that is screwed into the male screw groove of the case body 52 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lid body 53 . The lid 53 is detachably attached to the case body 52 by being screwed into the upper opening 52U of the case body 52 . When the ink tank 50 reaches the ink end state, the user removes the cover 53 and replenishes the ink 59 from the upper opening 52U. At this time, the ink tank 50 is open to the atmosphere. The user attaches the lid 53 to the upper opening 52U of the case main body 52 after completing the addition of the ink 59 . The case 51 is sealed by attaching the lid 53 to the upper opening 52U.

A small through-hole 53T is formed in the lid body 53 so as to penetrate vertically. The through hole 53T is closed by a semipermeable membrane 53M. In addition, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the through holes 53T and the semipermeable membranes 53M are shown on a larger scale for the sake of explanation. The semipermeable membrane 53M is a porous membrane having minute pores that allow gas to pass through but block ink 59 from passing through. The semipermeable membrane 53M is, for example, a film made of fluororesin such as polytetrafluoroethylene. As a result, even when the ink 59 in the ink tank 50 is consumed, the change in internal pressure is suppressed, and the inside of the case 51 is maintained at atmospheric pressure.

The case body 52 has a wall surface 52W. An ink outlet 52O is formed in a portion of the wall surface 52W of the case main body 52 (lower surface in FIG. 3). The ink outlet 52O is formed on the opposite side of the ink storage chamber 54 from the upper opening 52U. One end 42 of the ink flow path 40 is connected to the ink outlet 52O. The ink 59 stored in the ink storage chamber 54 of the ink tank 50 flows out from the ink outlet 52O into the ink flow path 40 and is supplied to the ink head 20. As shown in FIG. A lower opening 52</b>D that opens downward is formed in the lower surface (bottom surface) of the case main body 52 . The lower opening 52D is circular in plan view.

The pressure sensitive film 55 is attached to the wall surface 52W of the case main body 52. As shown in FIG. The pressure-sensitive film 55 is attached along the edge of the lower opening 52D of the case body 52. As shown in FIG. The pressure sensitive film 55 covers the lower opening 52D. The pressure sensitive membrane 55 is mounted horizontally. The pressure-sensitive film 55 is an example of a pressure-sensitive portion. The material of the pressure-sensitive film 55 may be the same as that conventionally used for this type of application, and is not particularly limited. The pressure-sensitive film 55 is made of a material having low gas permeability and low water vapor permeability. The surface of the pressure-sensitive film 55 that comes into contact with ink is preferably made of a material that is highly resistant to ink corrosion. The pressure-sensitive film 55 is, for example, a resin film having a single layer structure or a multilayer structure. In this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive film 55 is a flexible film. The pressure-sensitive film 55 is attached to the wall surface 52W with such tension that it can be bent and deformed in a direction away from the ink storage chamber 54 and the lower opening 52D.

The pressure-sensitive film 55 forms part of the lower surface (bottom surface) of the ink storage chamber 54 . The pressure-sensitive film 55 is flexurally deformed by the hydraulic head pressure of the ink 59 stored in the ink storage chamber 54 , and is displaced in a direction toward the ink storage chamber 54 and a direction away from the ink storage chamber 54 . When a sufficient amount of ink 59 is stored in the ink storage chamber 54 , the pressure-sensitive film 55 is displaced in a direction away from the ink storage chamber 54 (downward in FIG. 3) due to the head pressure of the ink 59 . On the other hand, the pressure-sensitive film 55 is displaced toward the ink storage chamber 54 (upward in FIG. 3) when the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 is reduced.

The detected member 56 is arranged outside and directly below the ink storage chamber 54 . Therefore, the detected member 56 does not come into contact with the ink 59 stored in the ink storage chamber 54 . The member to be detected 56 includes a pressure receiving portion 56R connected to the pressure sensitive film 55, a shielding portion 56D connected to the biasing member 57, and a long-axis-shaped connection connecting the pressure receiving portion 56R and the shielding portion 56D. and a portion 56C. In this embodiment, the detected member 56 is fixed to the lower surface of the pressure-sensitive film 55 so that the pressure-receiving portion 56R is positioned on the upper side and the shielding portion 56D is positioned on the lower side. The member 56 to be detected slides in a direction toward the ink reservoir chamber 54 and a direction away from the ink reservoir chamber 54 (vertical direction in FIG. 3) in conjunction with displacement based on bending deformation of the pressure sensitive film 55 . The detected member 56 may be formed as one member, or may be formed by combining and joining a plurality of members.

The upper surface of the pressure receiving portion 56R is attached to the pressure sensitive film 55. As shown in FIG. The pressure receiving portion 56R has a flat plate shape in a cross-sectional view. The pressure receiving portion 56R extends in the horizontal direction. The pressure receiving portion 56R has a disc shape in plan view. The center of the pressure receiving portion 56R is positioned coaxially with the center of the lower opening 52D. In plan view, the area of the pressure receiving portion 56R is smaller than the area of the pressure sensitive film 55 . In plan view, the area of the pressure receiving portion 56R is the same as or smaller than that of the lower opening portion 52D. The thickness (vertical length) of the pressure receiving portion 56R is thicker than the thickness of the pressure sensitive film 55 . By providing the pressure receiving portion 56R, the displacement based on the bending deformation of the pressure sensitive film 55 can be detected more stably. Also, the biasing force of the biasing member 57 can be stably transmitted to the pressure sensitive film 55 . The material of the pressure receiving portion 56R may be the same as that conventionally used for this type of application, and is not particularly limited. The pressure-receiving portion 56</b>R is preferably made of a material that is harder than the pressure-sensitive film 55 and is lightweight so as not to hinder the displacement of the pressure-sensitive film 55 . The pressure receiving portion 56R is made of resin such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), for example.

The shielding portion 56D is configured integrally with the pressure receiving portion 56R via the connecting portion 56C. Since the shielding portion 56D and the pressure-receiving portion 56R are integrated, the displacement due to the bending deformation of the pressure-sensitive film 55 is stably transmitted to the shielding portion 56D. In a plan view, the shielding portion 56D has a disk shape. The center of the shielding portion 56D is positioned coaxially with the center of the pressure receiving portion 56R and the center of the lower opening portion 52D. A ring-shaped convex portion (not shown) is formed on the lower surface of the shielding portion 56D. One end (upper end) of the biasing member 57 is fixed to the projection.

The shielding portion 56D is vertically displaced by the sliding movement of the detected member 56 described above. In this embodiment, the shielding portion 56D is displaced to the first position (ink full position) when the ink is full, and is displaced to the second position (ink end position) when the ink is out. The first position is located below the second position. The shielding portion 56D is displaced between a first position and a second position. As the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 decreases, the shielding portion 56D is displaced upward to approach the second position. The first position is the UNHIT position that is not detected by sensor 60 . The second position is the position of HIT detected by sensor 60 .

The biasing member 57 is arranged outside and directly below the ink storage chamber 54 . Therefore, the biasing member 57 does not contact the ink 59 stored in the ink storage chamber 54 . One end of the biasing member 57 is fixed to the lower surface of the shielding portion 56D, and the other end is fixed to the lower surface 18B of the ink tank accommodating portion 18. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the biasing member 57 is connected to the pressure-sensitive membrane 55 via the shielding portion 56D. However, the biasing member 57 may be attached directly to the pressure sensitive film 55 . The biasing member 57 is attached so as to extend and contract in the vertical direction. The biasing member 57 biases the pressure-sensitive film 55 in a direction to approach the ink storage chamber 54 . The biasing member 57 biases the pressure-sensitive film 55 upward in this embodiment. The biasing member 57 is maintained in a compressed state. The biasing member 57 is an example of an elastic body. The biasing member 57 may be the same as that conventionally used for this type of application, and is not particularly limited. The biasing member 57 may be made of metal. The biasing member 57 is a cylindrical coil spring in this embodiment.

The sensor 60 is a member that detects the position of the pressure sensitive film 55 . In this embodiment, the sensor 60 indirectly detects the position of the pressure-sensitive film 55 by detecting the position of the shielding portion 56D of the member 56 to be detected. The printer 10 of this embodiment has one sensor 60 . The sensor 60 is arranged outside the ink storage chamber 54 . The sensor 60 is fixed to a vertical arm portion 18V extending upward from the lower surface 18B of the ink tank accommodating portion 18. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the sensor 60 is a transmissive photosensor (photointerrupter), which is a type of non-contact sensor. Since the photosensor has a fast response time, detection can be performed accurately in real time.

The sensor 60 has a light emitting portion 61 and a light receiving portion 62 . The light-emitting portion 61 and the light-receiving portion 62 are arranged facing each other in the front-rear direction. A space is provided between the light-emitting portion 61 and the light-receiving portion 62 so that the shielding portion 56D of the detected member 56 can be interposed therebetween. In the sensor 60 , light is emitted from the light emitting portion 61 toward the light receiving portion 62 . Sensor 60 is electrically connected to and controlled by control device 80 .

The sensor 60 is arranged at the same height as the position of the shielding portion 56D in the ink end state, that is, the second position (ink end position). The sensor 60 is configured to be able to detect that the shielding portion 56D is at the second position, in other words, detect the ink end state. In this embodiment, the sensor 60 indirectly detects the position of the pressure-sensitive film 55 from the position of the shielding portion 56D. However, the sensor 60 may directly detect the position of the pressure-sensitive film 55 itself. As shown in FIG. 3, when the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 is full and the shielding portion 56D is at the first position, the light emitted from the light emitting portion 61 is not blocked by the shielding portion 56D. It goes to the light receiving part 62 . On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when the amount of ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 decreases and the shielding portion 56D moves to the second position, the shielding portion 56D blocks the light from the light emitting portion 61 toward the light receiving portion 62. . Therefore, the amount of light received by the light receiving portion 62 (the amount of light received) is reduced. The value of the amount of received light is transmitted to the control device 80 . As a result, the ink end state is detected.

The controller 80 is communicatively connected to the feed motor (not shown), the carriage motor 16a of the carriage 30, the piezoelectric elements of the ink head 20, and the sensor 60, and controls their operations. The hardware configuration of the control device 80 is not particularly limited. The control device 80 stores, for example, an interface (I/F) for receiving print data and the like, a central processing unit (CPU) for executing control program instructions, and programs executed by the CPU. and a RAM (random access memory) used as a working area for developing programs.

The control device 80 includes a print control section 81 , a determination section 82 and a notification section 83 . The print control unit 81 is a control unit that executes a print operation based on print data. The print control unit 81 conveys the recording medium 5 in the front-rear direction (sub-scanning direction) by controlling the feed motor. The print control unit 81 controls the movement of the carriage 30 and the ink head 20 in the horizontal direction (main scanning direction) by controlling the carriage motor 16a. The print control unit 81 controls ejection of the ink 59 from the nozzles by controlling the piezoelectric elements of the ink head 20 .

The determination unit 82 is a control unit that controls the sensor 60 . The determination unit 82 receives the amount of light received from the light receiving unit 62 of the sensor 60 . Based on the value of the amount of received light, the determination unit 82 determines whether or not the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 is in an ink end state in which the amount of ink 59 is equal to or less than a predetermined value. For example, when the amount of received light is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value, it is determined that the ink is out. On the other hand, when the amount of received light exceeds the predetermined reference value, it is determined that a sufficient amount of ink 59 is stored in the ink storage chamber 54 and the ink is not in the end state.

The notification unit 83 is a control unit that notifies the user of the determination result of the determination unit 82 . In this embodiment, when it is determined that the amount of ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the user is notified of the ink end state. The notification unit 83 may further issue a warning or the like prompting the user to replenish the ink 59 . In addition, the notification method to a user is not specifically limited. The notification unit 83 may, for example, visually notify the user of the ink end state by displaying text, an illustration, or the like on the display unit 12D of the printer 10 . The notification unit 83 may notify by, for example, sound such as a buzzer or an announcement. This eliminates the need for the user to personally check the remaining amount of the ink 59 .

In the printer 10 , as shown in FIG. 3 , when the ink 59 is replenished by the user, the head pressure of the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 causes the pressure-sensitive membrane 55 to bend against the biasing force of the biasing member 57 . It deforms and displaces away from the ink storage chamber 54 (downward in FIG. 3). In conjunction with the displacement of the pressure-sensitive film 55, the detected member 56 slides downward. As a result, the shielding portion 56D moves to the first position. When the shielding portion 56D is at the first position, the amount of light received by the light receiving portion 62 of the sensor 60 is substantially the same as the amount of light emitted from the light emitting portion 61. FIG. Based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 62 , the determination unit 82 determines that the ink is not in the end state, that is, the ink storage chamber 54 stores a sufficient amount of ink 59 that exceeds a predetermined amount.

In the printer 10 , when the ink 59 is ejected from the ink head 20 by an operation such as printing, the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 is supplied to the ink head 20 . The amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 54 gradually decreases. As a result, the head pressure of the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 is reduced. As a result, the pressure-sensitive film 55 is pushed by the biasing force of the biasing member 57, and the bending deformation of the pressure-sensitive film 55 is alleviated. The pressure-sensitive film 55 is displaced in a direction (upward in FIG. 3) approaching the ink storage chamber 54 . In conjunction with the displacement of the pressure-sensitive film 55, the detected member 56 slides upward. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, when the amount of ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the detected member 56 intervenes between the sensors 60 . That is, the detected member 56 moves to a position detected by the sensor 60 . As a result, the amount of light received by the light receiving section 62 decreases. For example, the amount of light received by the light receiving section 62 is approximately zero. Based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 62, the determining unit 82 determines that the ink is out.

As described above, the ink supply device 70 has a gas-liquid interface where the air and the ink 59 come into contact inside the ink storage chamber 54 . With this configuration, when the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 is running low (for example, when the near-end state or ink-end state is reached), the user can remove the lid 53 and easily drain the ink 59 from the upper opening 52U. can be spliced to Further, the ink supply device 70 can detect the amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 54 using the head pressure of the ink 59 . With such a configuration, the amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 54 can be accurately detected over a long period of time. Therefore, the ink tank 50 can be used for a long period of time without being thrown away.

In addition, if the amount of ink that can be stored is small, for example, as in the ink tank disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200010, it is necessary to replenish the ink many times during the printing of a large amount of large-sized printed matter. Furthermore, when printing is continued unattended at night or the like, there is a possibility that ink will run out and printing will stop. On the other hand, the printer 10 can detect the amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 54 if there is a change in the head pressure. Therefore, the size of the ink storage chamber 54 can be easily changed, and a large volume of ink 59 exceeding, for example, 1 L can be stored. Furthermore, the degree of freedom in the shape of the ink tank 50 is high, and the width of the design can be expanded.

As a method for detecting the amount of ink in an ink tank, for example, there is a method in which the ink tank is placed on a weight sensor and the weight of the ink tank is measured to detect the remaining amount of ink. there is However, methods using weight sensors generally tend to be costly. On the other hand, the printer 10 can perform high-precision detection at low cost by using the change in water head pressure.

In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive film 55 is configured to be displaced away from the ink storage chamber 54 by the head pressure of the ink 59 . This allows the head pressure of the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 to efficiently act on the pressure sensitive film 55 . Therefore, a stable head value can be obtained.

In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive film 55 is arranged on the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber 154 . This allows the head pressure of the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 to efficiently act on the pressure sensitive film 55 . Therefore, the amount of displacement of the pressure-sensitive film 55 becomes relatively large, and the detection accuracy of the sensor 60 can be improved.

In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive film 55 is configured to be displaced away from the air-liquid interface as the head pressure of the ink 59 stored in the ink storage chamber 54 increases. This allows the head pressure of the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 to efficiently act on the pressure sensitive film 55 . Therefore, a stable head value can be obtained.

In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive film 55 is configured to displace toward the gas-liquid interface as the head pressure of the ink 59 stored in the ink storage chamber 54 decreases. This allows the head pressure of the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 to efficiently act on the pressure sensitive film 55 . Therefore, a stable head value can be obtained.

In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the case main body 52 has a lower opening 52D, and the pressure sensitive film 55 is attached to the case main body 52 so as to close the lower opening 52D. By making the pressure-sensitive film 55 a separate member from the case main body 52, the positional relationship with the sensor 60 can be easily fine-tuned according to individual differences of the biasing member 57, for example.

In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive film 55 is made of a flexible film that is flexurally deformed by the head pressure of the ink 59 . As a result, the change in the head pressure in the ink storage chamber 54 is transmitted to the pressure-sensitive film 55 with high sensitivity, and the ink amount detection accuracy can be improved.

In the printer 10 of the present embodiment, the ink supply device 70 is in direct or indirect contact with the pressure-sensitive membrane 55 outside the ink storage chamber 54 and is attached in a direction to bring the pressure-sensitive membrane 55 closer to the ink storage chamber 54 . It further comprises a biasing member 57 for biasing. As a result, the biasing member 57 does not contact the ink 59 . According to studies by the present inventors, if a metal spring member (biasing member) is arranged inside the case as in the case of the ink tank disclosed in Patent Document 1, the spring member is corroded by the ink. It is possible that the urging force will be reduced due to deterioration due to the As a result, long-term use may reduce the ink amount detection accuracy. In addition, there is also a risk that the ink 59 will come into contact with the spring member and deteriorate, or fragments of the corroded spring member will fall off and mix with the ink.

In contrast, in the printer 10 of the present embodiment, the biasing member 57 is arranged outside the ink reservoir 54 and does not come into contact with the ink 59 in the ink reservoir 54 . Therefore, problems associated with corrosion deterioration of the biasing member 57 can be prevented. Therefore, a decrease in the biasing force of the biasing member 57 can be suppressed, and the amount of ink in the ink reservoir chamber 54 can be maintained for a longer period of time than when the biasing member 57 and the ink 59 are in contact with each other in the ink reservoir chamber 54 . can be detected with high accuracy. Further, it is possible to prevent the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 54 from deteriorating and the ink 59 from being mixed with fragments of the biasing member 57 .

In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the ink supply device 70 directly or indirectly contacts the pressure-sensitive film 55 outside the ink storage chamber 54 , and the detection member 56 displaced in conjunction with the pressure-sensitive film 55 . and the sensor 60 is configured to detect the position of the detected member 56 . As a result, the amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 54 can be detected more stably.

In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the detected member 56 is configured to be displaced to the ink end position when the ink 59 stored in the ink storage chamber 54 reaches a predetermined ink end state. 60 is provided at a position for detecting that the detected member 56 has reached the ink end position. In the printer 10, variations in the amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 54 when the ink end is detected can be suppressed over a long period of time. Moreover, since the user does not need to check the remaining amount of the ink 59 by himself/herself, the user's trouble can be reduced. Furthermore, even if the case main body 52 is black and the remaining amount of the ink 59 cannot be visually confirmed, the ink end state can be accurately grasped.

The inkjet printer 10 according to the first embodiment has been described above. However, the inkjet printer according to the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, in the first embodiment described above, the through hole 53T provided in the lid 53 maintains the inside of the case 51 at atmospheric pressure. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the wall surface 52W of the case main body 52, the lid 53, or the like may be formed with a through hole (atmospheric communication hole) communicating with the outside. In addition, a labyrinth structure or the like that causes the air flow to meander may be provided in the middle of the through hole.

For example, in the first embodiment described above, the sensor 60 is configured to detect the ink end state, that is, the shielding portion 56D being at the second position (ink end position). However, it is not limited to this. Instead of detecting the ink end state, or in addition to detecting the ink end state, the sensor 60 detects, for example, the ink full state (that is, the shielding portion 56D is at the first position). may be configured to The notification unit 83 may notify the user that the ink is full when it is determined that the shielding unit 56D is at the first position. As a result, when the user adds ink 59 to the ink tank 50, the ink 59 does not overflow from the ink tank 50 due to overfilling, and the surroundings of the printer 10 can be prevented from being stained with the ink 59. - 特許庁

Further, instead of detecting the ink end state, or in addition to detecting the ink end state, the sensor 60 detects, for example, that the shielding portion 56D is in the third state between the ink end state and the ink full state. may be configured to detect The third state is a state in which the ratio of the remaining amount of ink to the amount of ink in the ink full state exceeds the ink end state (0%) and is smaller than the ink full state (100%). The third state may be a near-end state close to the ink end state. The third state may be, for example, a state in which the percentage of remaining ink is 50%, or a state in which the percentage of remaining ink is 80%. As a result, the user can quickly perceive the decrease of the ink 59 before reaching the ink end state, and can take precautionary measures such as ordering additional ink 59 for replenishment. Therefore, when the ink runs out, the ink 59 can be smoothly added to the printer 10, and printing can be restarted early.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an ink supply device 70A according to a first modified example. The ink supply device 70A shown in FIG. 5 is the same as the ink supply device 70 described above, except that it has three sensors 60A, 60B, and 60C. The three sensors 60A, 60B, 60C are arranged vertically. The sensor 60A detects the ink end state, that is, when the shielding portion 56D is at the second position, as in the above embodiment. The sensor 60B detects that the ink is full, that is, that the shielding portion 56D is at the first position. The sensor 60C detects a third state, that is, when the shielding portion 56D is between the first position and the second position. According to this aspect, it is possible to accurately detect not only the ink end state but also various states such as the ink full state.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the three sensors 60A, 60B, 60C are all transmissive photosensors, like the ink supply device 70. FIG. However, the configuration of the three sensors 60A, 60B, 60C may be the same or different. Also, the number of sensors is not limited at all. The number of sensors may be two or four or more. Also, a single sensor may be capable of detecting from the ink full state to the ink end state.

In the printer 10 of the present embodiment, the detected member 56 is configured to be displaced to the full ink position when the ink 59 stored in the ink storage chamber 54 reaches a predetermined ink full state. , the sensor 60 is provided at a position for detecting that the detected member 56 has reached the full ink position. As a result, when the user adds ink 59 to the ink tank 50, the ink 59 does not overflow from the ink tank 50 due to overfilling, and the surroundings of the printer 10 can be prevented from being stained with the ink 59. - 特許庁Also, the ink 59 can be used without waste.

<Second embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a front view of an inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as printer) 100 of the second embodiment. In addition, the meaning of the code|symbol showing the direction in drawing is the same as that of above-described 1st Embodiment. Also, in the following, points different from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and descriptions of portions common to the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified.

As shown in FIG. 6, the printer 100 is of the so-called Roll-to-Roll type, like the printer 10 of the first embodiment described above. The printer 100 includes a main body 112, a guide rail (not shown), a platen 114, an ink head 120 (see FIG. 7), a damper 122 (see FIG. 7), and an ink flow path 140 (see FIG. 7). , an ink supply device 170 , and a control device 180 . As in the printer 10 of the first embodiment, eight ink heads 120, dampers 122, ink flow paths 140, and ink supply devices 170 are provided for each color of ink 59 (see FIG. 7). ing. However, in other embodiments, the numbers of ink heads 120, dampers 122, ink channels 140, and ink supply devices 170 may not all be the same. Although not shown, a carriage 130 (see FIG. 7) is slidably engaged with the guide rail.

The body portion 112 constitutes a printing space for printing on the recording medium 5 . The body portion 112 has a housing extending in the left-right direction. The main body portion 112 is divided into three parts, a left portion 112L, a central portion 112M, and a right portion 112R, in the left-right direction. A box-shaped tank support member 118L is attached to the lower surface of the left side portion 112L. A box-shaped tank support member 118R is attached to the lower surface of the right side portion 112R. An operation panel 112C is provided on the front surface of the right side portion 112R. The operation panel 112C also serves as an input section. A display unit 112D is provided on the operation panel 112C. A platen 114 is provided in the body portion 112 . Platen 114 extends in the left-right direction.

The plurality of ink supply devices 170 are for supplying inks 59 having different coloring materials, properties, uses, etc. to the ink head 120 . In this embodiment, the plurality of ink supply devices 170 are distributed to the left and right sides of the body portion 112 . Also, the plurality of ink supply devices 170 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction on the left side 112L and the right side 112R. That is, four ink supply devices 170 are provided in the central portion 112M and the left side portion 112L positioned to the left of the platen 114 when viewed from the front. Four ink supply devices 170 are provided in the central portion 112M and the right side portion 112R positioned to the right of the platen 114. As shown in FIG.

The four ink supply devices 170 provided on the left side 112L are each fixed to the tank support member 118L. The four ink supply devices 170 are supported by the main body 112 via tank support members 118L. The four ink supply devices 170 provided on the right side portion 112R are each fixed to the tank support member 118R. The four ink supply devices 170 are supported by the main body 112 via tank support members 118R. The ink supply device 170 is not mounted on the carriage 130 (see FIG. 7) and does not move laterally.

In this embodiment, the number of ink supply devices 170 is eight. However, the number and arrangement of the ink supply devices 170 are not limited at all. Further, for example, when there are few types of ink 59, the ink supply device 170 may be provided only on the left side 112L or the right side 112R. Each of the ink supply devices 170 communicates with the ink head 120 via the ink channel 140 . The configuration of the ink supply device 170 will be described later.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the ink flow path 140. As shown in FIG. The ink flow path 140 is a path for the ink 59 that connects the ink tank 151 and the ink head 120 . The ink head 120 is mounted on the carriage 130 . Ink 59 in the ink tank 151 is supplied to the ink head 120 through the ink channel 140 . Further, the ink flow path 140 of the present embodiment is configured such that the ink 59 including the ink tank 151 can circulate. Therefore, part of the ink 59 that has flowed from the ink tank 151 to the ink flow path 140 returns to the ink tank 151 again.

Although not particularly limited, the ink flow path 140 is configured by, for example, a flexible tube. The ink channel 140 is provided for each ink tank 151 here. In this embodiment, the number of ink heads 120 and ink flow paths 140 is eight, which is the same as the number of ink tanks 151 . However, the number of ink heads 120 and/or ink channels 140 may not be the same as the number of ink tanks 151 .

As shown in FIG. 7, in the middle of the ink flow path 140 from the ink tank 151 to the ink head 120, a liquid feed pump 141, a valve member 144, and a damper 122 are provided. The damper 122 is provided directly above the ink head 120 . The damper 122 relieves pressure fluctuations of the ink 59 during printing to stabilize the ejection operation of the ink 59 from the nozzles 121 of the ink head 120 . The damper 122 is mounted on the carriage 130 together with the ink head 120 . Note that the damper 122 is not essential and can be omitted in other embodiments. A lower surface 120a of the ink head 120 faces the platen 114 (see FIG. 6). Nozzles 121 for ejecting the ink 59 are formed on the lower surface 120 a of the ink head 120 .

The ink channel 140 includes a first channel 140a, a second channel 140b, a third channel 140c, a fourth channel 140d, a fifth channel 140e, and a sixth channel 140f. ing. The upstream end of the first channel 140a is connected to the ink outlet 152O of the ink tank 151 (see also FIG. 10). A downstream end of the first channel 140 a is connected to a liquid transfer pump 141 . The upstream end of the second flow path 140b is connected to the liquid transfer pump 141 . A downstream end of the second flow path 140 b is connected to the branch member 143 . The upstream end of the third flow path 140c is connected to the branch member 143. As shown in FIG. A downstream end of the third flow path 140 c is connected to the damper 122 . The upstream end of the fourth flow path 140d is connected to the damper 122. As shown in FIG. A downstream end of the fourth flow path 140d is connected to the ink head 120 . The upstream end of the fifth channel 140 e is connected to the branch member 143 . A downstream end of the fifth flow path 140 e is connected to the valve member 144 . The upstream end of the sixth flow path 140f is connected to the valve member 144. As shown in FIG. The downstream end of the sixth channel 140f is connected to the ink inlet 153I of the ink tank 151 (see also FIG. 10).

The liquid-sending pump 141 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a tube pump, a diaphragm pump, a syringe pump, or the like. The liquid feed pump 141 is connected to the motor 142 . Motor 142 is electrically connected to and controlled by control device 180 (see FIG. 6). The valve member 144 opens and closes between the fifth flow path 140e and the sixth flow path 140f. The valve member 144 is, but not limited to, an opening/closing valve such as an electromagnetic valve. The valve member 144 is electrically connected to and controlled by a controller 180 (see FIG. 6). The state of communication between the fifth flow path 140e and the sixth flow path 140f is switched by the control device 180. FIG.

The first flow path 140a, the second flow path 140b, the third flow path 140c, and the fourth flow path 140d are used to dispense the ink 59 in the ink tank 151 during printing, cleaning of the ink head 120, or the like. It constitutes an ink supply channel for sending liquid to the head 120 . The fifth flow path 140 e and the sixth flow path 140 f constitute an ink circulation flow path for circulating the ink 59 in the ink tank 151 . The first flow path 140 a , the second flow path 140 b , the fifth flow path 140 e , and the sixth flow path 140 f constitute an ink circulation flow path for circulating the ink 59 in the ink tank 151 .

When ink is circulated when printing is stopped, for example, the valve member 144 is opened to open the space between the fifth flow path 140e and the sixth flow path 140f. By driving the liquid feed pump 141 in this state, the ink 59 in the ink tank 151 flows through the ink circulation flow path and is returned to the ink tank 151 . As a result, the ink 59 in the ink tank 151 can be stirred and, for example, pigments that tend to settle can be dispersed. Therefore, the stored ink 59 can be maintained in a homogeneous state.

When ink is circulated during printing, for example, the valve member 144 is opened, the liquid feed pump 141 is driven, and the amount of liquid fed by the liquid feed pump 141 is greater than the amount required by the ink head 120. do. As a result, the ink 59 can be continuously stirred even during printing. Further, when performing cleaning, for example, the valve member 144 is closed to close the space between the fifth flow path 140e and the sixth flow path 140f. By driving the liquid feed pump 141 in this state, the ink 59 is supplied intensively from the ink tank 151 to the ink head 120 .

Next, the configuration of the ink supply device 170 will be described. In this embodiment, all eight ink supply devices 170 have the same configuration. Therefore, the configuration of the ink supply device will be described below using one ink supply device 170 as an example. However, the plurality of ink supply devices 170 do not necessarily have the same configuration, and some or all of them may differ in configuration from the ink supply device 170 .

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the ink supply device 170. FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the ink supply device 170. FIG. FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the ink supply device 170. As shown in FIG. The ink supply device 170 is configured to be able to replenish the ink 59 contained in an ink replenishment container (supply bottle, not shown). Although not shown, the supply bottle typically includes a container body that contains the ink 59 and has an opening at one end, and a sealing film that airtightly seals the opening of the container body. . The volume of the ink 59 contained in the container body of the supply bottle is typically smaller than the amount of ink that can be stored in the ink tank 151, and can be approximately 250 mL or more, typically 300 to 1000 mL, for example 500 mL. .

As shown in FIG. 8, the ink supply device 170 includes an ink storage section 150, an ink amount detection section 160, and an ink replenishment section 190. As shown in FIG. The ink reservoir 150 has an ink tank 151 . As shown in FIG. 10, the ink amount detector 160 has a pressure-sensitive film 161 . The ink replenishing section 190 has an ink replenishing mechanism 192 .

The ink storage part 150 is a part that stores the ink 59 . The ink tank 151 is a container in which the ink 59 is stored. The ink tank 151 is a container that can be used continuously without being thrown away. As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 8, in this embodiment, one side surface (rear surface in FIG. 6) of the ink tank 151 is non-detachably fixed to the tank support members 118L and 118R. The ink tank 151 is supported by tank support members 118L and 118R. The ink tank 151 is not mounted on the carriage 130 (see FIG. 7) and does not move laterally. As shown in FIG. 7, the ink tank 151 is arranged below the lower surface 120 a of the ink head 120 .

As shown in FIG. 9, the ink tank 151 has a flat box shape in plan view. The ink tank 151 has a pair of long sides 151W and a pair of short sides 151N. 151 W of long sides are extended along the front-back direction. 151 N of short sides are extended along the left-right direction. As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 9, in this embodiment, a plurality of ink supply devices 170 are arranged side by side so that the long sides 151W face each other. Note that the ink tank 151 may have, for example, an elliptical shape, a circular shape, or the like in plan view. Further, the material, color, etc. of the ink tank 151 may be the same as those of the case 51 of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 10, the ink tank 151 includes a tank body 152 having an upward opening 152U, and a lid (sealing plate) 153 that closes the upper opening 152U. The tank main body 152 and the lid 153 can be formed, for example, by injection molding of a resin material. The tank main body 152 and the lid body 153 are each formed as one member in this embodiment. However, the tank main body 152 and/or the lid body 153 may be formed by combining and joining a plurality of members. Further, the ink tank 151 may further include another member between the tank main body 152 and the lid body 153 in the vertical direction, for example, although details will be described later.

The tank body 152 has a flange (edge) 152E on the periphery of the upper opening 152U. The lid body 153 has a flange 153E on the outer peripheral edge. In this embodiment, the flange 152E of the tank main body 152 and the flange 153E of the lid 153 are overlapped and joined by a joining member 159 such as a bolt. As a result, the upper opening 152U of the tank main body 152 is hermetically sealed, and the ink tank 151 is integrated.

As shown in FIG. 10, the tank main body 152 includes a first lower wall B1, a left wall L1 extending upward from the left end (back side in FIG. 10) of the first lower wall B1, and a left wall L1 extending upward from the right end of the first lower wall B1. A right wall R1 (see FIG. 8) extending upward, a first front wall F1 extending upward from the front end of the first lower wall B1, a rear wall Rr1 extending upward from the rear end of the first lower wall B1, a first A second lower wall B2 extending forward from the upper end of the front wall F1 and a second front wall F2 extending obliquely upward from the front end of the second lower wall B2 are provided. The first lower wall B<b>1 and the second lower wall B<b>2 face the lid 153 . The first lower wall B1 and the second lower wall B2 are an example of a "lower surface" facing upward in the vertical direction. Both the first lower wall B1 and the second lower wall B2 are planes, specifically horizontal planes. The left end of the rear wall Rr1 is connected to the rear end of the left wall L1, and the right end of the rear wall Rr1 is connected to the rear end of the right wall R1. The left ends of the first front wall F1, the second front wall F2 and the second bottom wall B2 are connected to the front end of the left wall L1. The right ends of the first front wall F1, the second front wall F2 and the second bottom wall B2 are connected to the front end of the right wall R1. Left wall L1 and right wall R1 extend in parallel.

A lower opening 152D (see FIG. 11) penetrating vertically is formed in the first lower wall B1. The lower opening 152D has a substantially circular shape in plan view. A pressure-sensitive film 161 of an ink amount detection unit 160, which will be described later, is attached to the lower opening 152D. Therefore, the head pressure of the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 acts on the pressure sensitive film 161 .

The second front wall F2 has a slope shape that gradually slopes downward from the front to the rear. The second front wall F2 is inclined toward an ink reservoir portion 155, which will be described later, in plan view. The second front wall F2 is inclined toward the ink outlet 152O in plan view. In this embodiment, the height (vertical length) of the second front wall F2 is 90 mm. The height (vertical length) of the first front wall F1 is 30 mm. The height of the second front wall F2 may be two times or more, for example, three to ten times the height of the first front wall F1.

As shown in FIG. 10, the tank body 152 has a hollow structure. The volume of the tank body 152 is typically larger than the volume of the supply bottle. The tank body 152 includes a first lower wall B1, a left wall L1, a right wall R1, a first front wall F1, a rear wall Rr1, a second lower wall B2, a second front wall F2, and a sensor. An ink storage chamber 154 surrounded by a pressure film 161 is defined. Although not particularly limited, the capacity of the ink 59 that can be stored in the ink storage chamber 154 is typically 1 L or more, for example 1.5 to 2 L. The volume of the ink 59 that can be stored in the ink storage chamber 154 is preferably twice or more, for example, 3 to 5 times the volume of the ink 59 stored in the supply bottle. A gas-liquid interface between the air and the ink 59 exists in the ink storage chamber 154 .

The ink reservoir 154 has an ink reservoir 155 surrounded by a first lower wall B1, a left wall L1, a right wall R1, a first front wall F1, a rear wall Rr1, and a pressure-sensitive film 161. is formed. The ink reservoir 155 is a portion (concave) recessed downward in the ink reservoir 154 . The ink reservoir 155 has a substantially cubic shape in this embodiment. The first lower wall B1 has a smaller cross-sectional shape than the upper opening 152U and the second lower wall B2. The height of the first front wall F1 may be approximately 1/2 or less, such as 1/3 to 1/10, of the height of the second front wall F2.

In this embodiment, the ink storage chamber 154 has a step formed by the first lower wall B1, the first front wall F1, the second lower wall B2, and the second front wall F2. The front surface of the ink storage chamber 154 is formed to descend stepwise toward the ink reservoir portion 155 . The front surface of the ink storage chamber 154 is formed to descend stepwise toward the ink outlet 152O.

When the ink 59 in the ink reservoir 154 is consumed and the amount of ink in the ink reservoir 154 decreases, the remaining ink 59 is collected in the ink reservoir 155 . As a result, even when the ink 59 runs low, the head pressure of the remaining ink 59 favorably acts on the pressure-sensitive film 161 . Therefore, the amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 154 can be stably detected. Also, the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 can be used without waste. Note that the ink reservoir 155 is not essential and can be omitted in other embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 10, the rear wall Rr1 of the tank main body 152 is formed with an ink outflow pipe 152F. The ink outflow pipe 152F is formed so as to communicate with the ink reservoir portion 155. As shown in FIG. The ink outlet pipe 152F extends in a direction orthogonal to the rear wall Rr1 (front-rear direction in FIG. 10). The downstream end of the ink outflow pipe 152F, that is, the end away from the ink storage chamber 154 is the ink outflow port 152O. The ink outlet 152O faces the first front wall F1. One end of the ink channel 140, specifically, the upstream end of the first channel 140a is connected to the ink outlet 152O. The ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 flows out from the ink outlet 152O into the first channel 140a of the ink channel 140 and is supplied to the ink head 120. As shown in FIG.

The lid 153 is a plate-like member that closes the upper opening 152U of the tank body 152 . As shown in FIG. 9, the lid 153 has a rectangular shape in plan view. The lid body 153 extends in the front-rear direction. The lid 153 has an atmosphere communicating portion 153A. The atmosphere communication portion 153A is a member that maintains the inside of the ink storage chamber 154 at atmospheric pressure and suppresses evaporation of the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 . The atmosphere communication portion 153A opens the ink storage chamber 154 to the atmosphere. The atmosphere communicating portion 153A is a labyrinth structure that causes the air flow to meander.

As shown in FIG. 9, the air communication portion 153A includes a through hole 153H that penetrates the lid 153 in the vertical direction and communicates the inside and the outside of the ink storage chamber 154, and the outer surface of the lid 153 (see FIG. 9). upper surface), and includes a serpentine 153S that connects the through hole 153H and the atmosphere, and a resin film 153M that covers the through hole 153H and the serpentine 153S. The meandering path 153S is elongated and meandering in order to lengthen the fluid flow path from the through hole 153H to the atmosphere. The serpentine 153S is an example of an air communication groove.

As shown in FIG. 10, the lid 153 further includes an opening 153O and an ink inlet pipe 153F. The opening 153O penetrates the lid 153 in the vertical direction. An ink replenishing mechanism 192 of an ink replenishing section 190, which will be described later, is attached to the opening 153O. The opening 153O overlaps the second front wall F2 in plan view. Specifically, when the second front wall F2 is vertically divided into three equal parts: an upper end F2U, a middle part F2M, and a lower end F2D, the center of the opening 153O faces the middle part F2M of the second front wall F2. ing.

As described above, the second front wall F2 slopes toward the second bottom wall B2. Therefore, the ink 59 replenished from the ink replenishing section 190 can easily move inside the ink storage chamber 154 along the second front wall F2. As a result, when the ink 59 is replenished, the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 can be caused to flow in one direction, and the ink 59 can be agitated. Also, even if the ink 59 is replenished vigorously, the bubbling of the ink 59 is suppressed. As a result, minute air bubbles are less likely to mix with the ink 59, and a situation in which generated bubbles overflow from the tank main body 152 is less likely to occur.

The ink inflow pipe 153F extends vertically. The lower end of the ink inflow pipe 153F is the ink inflow port 153I. One end of the ink channel 140, specifically, the downstream end of the sixth channel 140f, which is a part of the ink circulation channel, is connected to the ink inlet 153I. The ink 59 that has circulated through the ink circulation channel is returned to the ink storage chamber 154 through the ink inlet 153I. The ink inlet 153I protrudes into the ink storage chamber 154 . The ink inlet 153I is provided above the ink outlet 152O. As a result, the ink in the ink storage chamber 154 can be agitated and, for example, pigments that tend to settle can be dispersed.

The ink inlet 153I overlaps the second front wall F2 in plan view. Specifically, when the second front wall F2 is vertically divided into three equal parts: an upper end F2U, a middle part F2M, and a lower end F2D, the ink inlet 153I faces the upper end F2U of the second front wall F2. there is As described above, the second front wall F2 slopes toward the second bottom wall B2. Therefore, the ink 59 flowing from the ink inlet 153I can easily move inside the ink storage chamber 154 along the second front wall F2. As a result, when the ink 59 is returned to the ink storage chamber 154 through the ink inlet 153I, the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 can be caused to flow in one direction, and the ink 59 can be agitated. In addition, even if the ink is continuously circulated for a long period of time, the ink 59 is prevented from bubbling, and the ink 59 is less likely to contain fine air bubbles. In addition, the ink 59 containing minute air bubbles is less likely to flow out to the ink flow path 140 .

The ink inlet 153I may face the second front wall F2 even when the ink storage chamber 154 is full. This prevents the ink 59 from directly dropping from the ink inlet 153</b>I to the liquid surface of the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 . Therefore, the bubbling of the ink 59 is better suppressed.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the ink amount detection unit 160 as seen obliquely from above on the right. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the ink amount detection section 160. As shown in FIG. It should be noted that the following drawings show the printer 100 in a state in which the front-rear direction is reversed. The ink amount detection unit 160 is a detection mechanism that detects the amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 154 of the ink tank 151 using the head pressure of the ink 59 . By using the head pressure of the ink 59, the amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 154 can be accurately detected over a long period of time. The ink amount detection unit 160 includes a detection target member 162 , a biasing member 163 , a sensor unit 164 and a casing 165 in addition to the pressure sensitive film 161 .

The casing 165 is a housing that accommodates the detected member 162 , the biasing member 163 and the sensor section 164 . The casing 165 is made of, for example, metal such as aluminum, iron, or stainless steel, or resin such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). When the ink 59 is photocurable, the casing 165 may be black in appearance and have a light blocking effect, for example.

The internal space of the casing 165 is partitioned into an upper space 165U and a lower space 165D by a partition wall 165S. The partition wall 165S extends along the first lower wall B1. In plan view, the cross-sectional shape of the partition wall 165S is substantially the same as that of the second lower wall B2. The partition wall 165S is provided with an opening 165O penetrating vertically. The opening 165O is sized to allow the shielding portion 162D to pass through when the member 162 to be detected is tilted. The upper space 165U is aligned with the ink reservoir 155 in the front-rear direction. The upper space 165U protrudes upward from the lower space 165D. The height of the upper space 165U is substantially the same as the height of the ink reservoir 155. As shown in FIG. The upper space 165U is an example of a portion (protruding portion) that fits into the ink reservoir portion 155. As shown in FIG.

The pressure-sensitive film 161 is a member whose degree of bending deformation changes according to the head pressure of the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 . The pressure sensitive membrane 161 is attached to the bottom surface of the tank body 152 . In this specification, the term “lower surface” refers to all surfaces facing upward in the vertical direction, including the lowest surface (bottom surface) in the vertical direction among the walls constituting the ink reservoir chamber 154 . Say. Specifically, the pressure-sensitive film 161 is welded along the edge of the lower opening 152D of the first lower wall B1 (bottom surface), which is located at the lowest position in the vertical direction among the walls constituting the ink storage chamber 154. It is The pressure sensitive film 161 covers the lower opening 152D. The pressure sensitive membrane 161 is mounted horizontally. The pressure-sensitive film 161 is attached with such a tension that it can bend and deform in the direction away from the lower opening 152D, in other words, in the direction away from the gas-liquid interface of the ink storage chamber 154 (lower side in FIG. 11). The pressure-sensitive film 161 constitutes part of the lower surface (here, the bottom surface) of the ink storage chamber 154 and the ink reservoir 155 . The material and the like of the pressure-sensitive film 161 may be the same as those of the pressure-sensitive film 55 of the first embodiment.

The pressure-sensitive film 161 moves away from the ink storage chamber 154 due to the head pressure of the ink 59 when a sufficient amount of ink 59 is stored in the ink storage chamber 154, for example, when the ink storage chamber 154 is full or nearly full. direction (downward in FIG. 11). In other words, the higher the head pressure of the ink 59 stored in the ink storage chamber 154 is, the more the pressure-sensitive film 161 is displaced away from the gas-liquid interface (downward in FIG. 11). On the other hand, the pressure-sensitive film 161 is displaced toward the ink storage chamber 154 (upward in FIG. 11) when the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 is reduced, for example, in the ink end state. In other words, the lower the head pressure of the ink 59 stored in the ink storage chamber 154 is, the more the pressure-sensitive film 161 is displaced toward the gas-liquid interface (downward in FIG. 11).

The detected member 162 is arranged outside and directly below the ink storage chamber 154 . The detected member 162 is arranged inside a casing 165 . Therefore, the detected member 162 does not come into contact with the ink 59 stored in the ink storage chamber 154 . Detected member 162 extends along long side 151W of casing 165 . As a result, the detection sensitivity of the sensor section 164 can be improved, and the ink amount detection section 160 can be made compact and space-saving. The entire length of the detected member 162 is shorter than the long side 151W of the casing 165 . The member to be detected 162 is preferably made of a material that is harder than the pressure-sensitive film 161 and is lightweight so as not to hinder the displacement of the pressure-sensitive film 161 .

As shown in FIG. 12, the detected member 162 is supported by the rear wall 165Rr of the casing 165. As shown in FIG. Specifically, a bracket 165A for mounting the detected member 162 extends from the rear wall 165Rr of the casing 165. As shown in FIG. A hole 165H is formed in the bracket 165A. A rear end portion 162F of the detected member 162 is tiltably inserted into a hole portion 165H of a bracket 165A. Therefore, the detected member 162 is tiltable with the rear end portion 162F as a fulcrum (tilting center). The member 162 to be detected tilts in a direction toward the ink reservoir chamber 154 and in a direction away from the ink reservoir chamber 154 (vertical direction in FIG. 11) in conjunction with the degree of bending deformation of the pressure-sensitive film 161 . As a result, the position of the detected member 162 changes (that is, it is displaced).

13 is a side view of the detected member 162. FIG. The detected member 162 includes a flat plate portion 162C, a pressure receiving portion 162R, and a shielding portion 162D. In this embodiment, the flat plate portion 162C, the pressure receiving portion 162R, and the shielding portion 162D are integrally formed by injection molding a resin material such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). However, the detected member 162 may be configured by combining a plurality of members. The flat plate portion 162C extends along the front-rear direction. The flat plate portion 162C is formed with a uniform thickness. The flat plate portion 162C connects the pressure receiving portion 162R and the shielding portion 162D. As shown in FIG. 12, the flat plate portion 162C is arranged in a lower space 165D below the partition wall 165S.

As shown in FIG. 11, the pressure-receiving portion 162R is a portion whose upper surface directly or indirectly contacts the pressure-sensitive film 161 and to which bending deformation of the pressure-sensitive film 161 is transmitted. The upper surface of the pressure-receiving portion 162R is indirectly in contact with the pressure-sensitive membrane 161 via a cushioning member (for example, sponge) 169 here. The pressure receiving portion 162R is arranged in a lower space 165D below the partition wall 165S. The pressure receiving portion 162R is provided between the fulcrum portion 162F and the shielding portion 162D in the extending direction of the flat plate portion 162C (the front-rear direction in FIG. 11). As shown in FIG. 13, the pressure receiving portion 162R has a chevron shape in a cross-sectional view. As shown in FIG. 12, the pressure receiving portion 162R has a substantially circular shape in plan view. The center of the pressure receiving portion 162R is positioned coaxially with the center of the lower opening 152D. In plan view, the area of the pressure receiving portion 162R is smaller than the area of the pressure sensitive film 161 . An urging member 163, which will be described later, is attached to the lower surface of the pressure receiving portion 162R.

The shielding portion 162D is a portion detected by the sensor portion 164 when the detected member 162 tilts. The shielding portion 162D is an example of a detected portion. As shown in FIG. 13, the shielding portion 162D extends upward from one end (the right end in FIG. 13) of the flat plate portion 162C. The shielding portion 162D is provided at a position farther from the fulcrum portion 162F than the pressure receiving portion 162R in the extending direction of the flat plate portion 162C (the front-rear direction in FIG. 13). The shielding portion 162D is provided at the swinging end of the member 162 to be detected. As described above, the member to be detected 162 tilts, so the displacement amount in the vertical direction increases as the distance from the fulcrum portion 162F increases. Therefore, using the principle of leverage, a small displacement of the pressure receiving portion 162R can be changed into a large displacement of the shielding portion 162D. Therefore, the detection sensitivity of the sensor section 164 can be improved.

Although not particularly limited, as shown in FIG. 13, the length from the center of the fulcrum portion 162F to the center of the pressure receiving portion 162R in the direction in which the flat plate portion 162C extends (the front-rear direction in FIG. 13) is d1, When the length from the center of the pressure receiving portion 162R to the center of the shielding portion 162D is d2, d1 and d2 preferably satisfy d1<d2, or 2×d1<d2. As a result, a small displacement of the pressure receiving portion 162R can be efficiently transmitted to the shielding portion 162D, and the ink amount detection sensitivity can be further improved.

In this embodiment, when the pressure-sensitive membrane 161 is displaced in the direction away from the gas-liquid interface (downward in FIG. 11), the upper end of the shielding portion 162D of the detected member 162 is positioned below the partition wall 165S. It is provided so as to be positioned in the space 165D. The upper end of the shielding portion 162D is provided so as to be located below the first lower wall B1 forming the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber 154 (see also FIG. 14). On the other hand, when the pressure-sensitive film 161 of the detected member 162 is displaced in the direction (upward in FIG. 11) approaching the gas-liquid interface, the upper end of the shielding portion 162D moves into the upper space 165U above the partition wall 165S. provided to be located. The upper end of the shielding portion 162D is provided so as to be positioned above the first lower wall B1 that forms the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber 154 (see also FIGS. 15 and 16).

The detected member 162 is displaced to the full tank position when the ink tank 151 is full of ink. Although not particularly limited, the full tank position may be a position where the angle formed by the flat plate portion 162C and the first lower wall B1 is an acute angle of approximately 60° or less, typically 45° or less, for example 30° or less. good. When the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 is consumed and the amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 154 decreases, the ink tank 151 eventually reaches the near-end state. The detected member 162 is displaced to the near-end position when the ink tank 151 is in the near-end state. At the near-end position, the shielding portion 162D is located above the full tank position. The near-end position may be a position where the flat plate portion 162C is substantially horizontal. In this specification, the term “substantially horizontal” does not necessarily have to be strictly horizontal. For example, the term includes cases where the angle of inclination with respect to the horizontal direction is approximately 15° or less, 10° or less, or 5° or less. is.

In this embodiment, the shielding portion 162D has a uniform thickness (the length in the left-right direction in FIG. 12) and light transmittance. As shown in FIG. 13, the shielding portion 162D includes a first shielding portion P1 extending upward from the front end portion of the flat plate portion 162C, a second shielding portion P2 extending upward from the upper end of the first shielding portion P1, and a second shielding portion P2 extending upwardly from the upper end of the first shielding portion P1. and a third shielding portion P3 extending upward from the upper end of the portion P2. The front ends of the first shielding portion P1 and the second shielding portion P2 are aligned. The positions of the rear ends of the second shielding portion P2 and the third shielding portion P3 are the same. The second shielding portion P2 is longer than the first shielding portion P1 and the third shielding portion P3 in the direction in which the flat plate portion 162C extends (the front-rear direction in FIG. 13).

The third shielding portion P3 has a length in the vertical direction so that it can be detected by the sensor portion 164 when the ink tank 151 is almost full, in other words, when the pressure-sensitive film 161 is at the near-full position. adjusted. The near-full state is an example of a predetermined first state, and the third shielding portion P3 is an example of a first detection portion. The vertical length of the first shielding portion P1 is adjusted so that it can be detected by the sensor portion 164 when the ink tank 151 is in the near-end state, in other words, when the pressure-sensitive film 161 reaches the near-end position. there is The near-end position is located above the near-full position. The near-end state is an example of a predetermined second state, and the first shielding portion P1 is an example of a second detection portion.

The biasing member 163 is arranged outside and directly below the ink storage chamber 154 . The biasing member 163 is arranged inside the casing 165 . Therefore, the biasing member 163 does not contact the ink 59 stored in the ink storage chamber 154 . The biasing member 163 is arranged directly below the pressure receiving portion 162R. The biasing member 163 is arranged substantially along the vertical direction. The biasing member 163 has one end fixed to the lower surface of the pressure receiving portion 162R and the other end fixed to the lower surface 165B of the casing 165 . The biasing member 163 biases the pressure-sensitive film 161 toward the ink storage chamber 154 (upward in FIG. 11) via the pressure-receiving portion 162R. The material and the like of the biasing member 163 may be the same as those of the biasing member 57 of the first embodiment.

The sensor section 164 is a member that detects the position of the pressure sensitive film 161 . In this embodiment, the sensor section 164 is configured to indirectly detect the position of the pressure-sensitive film 161 by detecting the position of the shielding section 162D of the member 162 to be detected. The sensor section 164 is arranged outside the ink storage chamber 154 . The sensor section 164 is arranged inside the casing 165 . The sensor unit 164 is attached to the partition wall 165S of the casing 165. As shown in FIG. The sensor section 164 is arranged at a position overlapping with the upper space (convex portion) 165U in plan view. The sensor unit 164 is electrically connected to the control device 180 (see FIG. 6) and controlled by the control device 180 .

As shown in FIG. 11, in this embodiment, the sensor section 164 includes a first sensor S1 and a second sensor S2. The first sensor S1 is arranged closer to the pressure receiving portion 162R than the second sensor S2 (rear side in FIG. 11). The first sensor S1 and the second sensor S2 are fixed to the partition wall 165S so that their vertical positions are the same. The first sensor S1 and the second sensor S2 are arranged at the same height as the position of the third shielding portion P3 when the ink tank 151 is almost full. The first sensor S1 and the second sensor S2 are arranged at the same height as the position of the first shielding portion P1 when the ink tank 151 is in the near-end state. In FIG. 11, the detection positions of the first sensor S1 and the second sensor S2 are indicated by virtual lines Ls.

In this embodiment, the first sensor S1 and the second sensor S2 are transmissive photosensors (photointerrupters) that are a kind of non-contact sensors. As shown in FIG. 12, the first sensor S1 has a light emitting portion S1a. The light emitting portion S1a is configured to emit light along a first optical axis extending in the left-right direction. The second sensor S2 has a light emitting portion S2a. The light emitting portion S2a is configured to emit light along a second optical axis extending in the left-right direction. The first sensor S1 has a light receiving portion S1b that receives light emitted from the light emitting portion S1a. The second sensor S2 has a light receiving portion S2b that receives light emitted from the light emitting portion S2a. The light-emitting portion S1a and the light-receiving portion S1b are arranged to face each other in the horizontal direction so as to sandwich the second shielding portion P2 and the third shielding portion P3 of the shielding portion 162D. The light-emitting portion S2a and the light-receiving portion S2b are arranged to face each other in the horizontal direction so as to sandwich the first shielding portion P1 and the second shielding portion P2 of the shielding portion 162D.

As described above, the detected member 162 tilts with the fulcrum portion 162F as the tilting center. As the member 162 to be detected tilts, the shielding portion 162D moves up and down (strictly speaking, it swings up and down). In the ink amount detection unit 160 of the present embodiment, by combining one detected member 162 and a plurality of sensors (first sensor S1 and second sensor S2), for example, ink full state, near full state, It is possible to detect two or more states, three or more states, for example, four states among the near-end state, ink end state, and the like. That is, although not shown, when the ink tank 151 is full of ink, the shielding portion 162D is positioned below the detection position Ls of the first sensor S1 and the second sensor S2.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 is consumed and the amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 154 decreases, the ink tank 151 becomes nearly full. Along with this, the head pressure of the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 decreases. Then, the biasing force of the biasing member 163 relaxes the bending deformation of the pressure sensitive film 161 . Eventually, when the shielding portion 162D moves toward the ink storage chamber 154 (upward in FIG. 10), the third shielding portion P3 reaches the detection position Ls. As a result, the first sensor S1 enters the HIT state to detect the third shielding portion P3. That is, when the third shielding portion P3 overlaps the first optical axis of the first sensor S1, the light emitted from the light emitting portion S1a is blocked by the third shielding portion P3, and the first sensor S1 enters the HIT state. On the other hand, the third shielding portion P3 does not cross the second optical axis of the second sensor S2, and the light emitted from the light emitting portion S2a reaches the light receiving portion S2b without being blocked by the third shielding portion P3. . Therefore, the second sensor S2 is in the UNHIT state.

As shown in FIG. 15, when the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 is further consumed, the empty capacity becomes larger than the capacity of the ink 59 contained in the supply bottle. That is, the ink tank 151 becomes ready for adding ink. Accordingly, when the shielding portion 162D moves further upward, the second shielding portion P2 reaches the detection position Ls. As a result, both the first sensor S1 and the second sensor S2 enter the HIT state in which they detect the second shielding portion P2. That is, when the second shielding portion P2 overlaps the first optical axis of the first sensor S1, the light emitted from the light emitting portion S1a is blocked by the second shielding portion P2, and the first sensor S1 enters the HIT state. Further, when the second shielding portion P2 overlaps the second optical axis of the second sensor S2, the light emitted from the light emitting portion S2a is blocked by the second shielding portion P2, and the second sensor S2 enters the HIT state.

As shown in FIG. 16, when the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 is further consumed, the ink tank 151 reaches the near-end state. Accordingly, when the shielding portion 162D moves further upward, the first shielding portion P1 reaches the detection position Ls. As a result, the second sensor S2 enters the HIT state to detect the first shielding portion P1. That is, when the first shielding portion P1 overlaps the second optical axis of the second sensor S2, the light emitted from the light emitting portion S2a is blocked by the first shielding portion P1, and the second sensor S2 enters the HIT state. On the other hand, the first shielding portion P1 does not cross the first optical axis of the first sensor S1, and the light emitted from the light emitting portion S1a reaches the light receiving portion S1b without being blocked by the first shielding portion P1. . Therefore, the first sensor S1 is in the UNHIT state.

The ink replenishing section 190 is configured to be able to replenish the ink 59 from a supply bottle (not shown) for ink replenishment. As shown in FIG. 10, the ink replenishment section 190 includes a replenishment port cover 191 and an ink replenishment mechanism 192 . The replenishment port cover 191 is a member that prevents dust and dirt from entering the ink replenishment mechanism 192 . The replenishment port cover 191 is also a member that prevents light from entering the ink replenishment mechanism 192 when the ink 59 is photocurable. The replenishment port cover 191 is provided directly above the opening 153O and covers the opening 153O. When the ink tank 151 reaches a near-end state or an ink-end state, the user opens the replenishment port cover 191 and replenishes the ink 59 .

The ink replenishment mechanism 192 is configured so that the user can insert a supply bottle. Specifically, the ink replenishing mechanism 192 is configured such that the container body of the supply bottle can be inserted while being sealed with the sealing film. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the ink replenishment mechanism 192 has a tip portion 192E that is pointed upward. When the user inserts the supply bottle into the ink replenishment mechanism 192 from above, the tip portion 192E penetrates the sealing film of the supply bottle. By breaking the sealing film, the ink 59 stored in the supply bottle flows into the ink storage chamber 154 through the opening 153O. As a result, the ink tank 151 is replenished with the ink 59 .

The control device 180 is communicably connected to the motor 142 of the liquid transfer pump 141, the valve member 144, and the sensor section 164, and controls these operations. The hardware configuration of the control device 180 may be the same as that of the control device 80 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6 , the control device 180 includes a print control section 181 , a determination section 182 and a notification section 183 . Each part of the control device 80 may be configured by software or may be configured by hardware. Each part of the control device 80 may be realized by one or more processors, or may be incorporated in a circuit.

The print control unit 181 is a control unit that executes a print operation based on print data. The print control unit 181 controls the opening and closing of the valve member 144, drives and stops the liquid feed pump 141, and controls the amount of liquid fed. Others may be the same as the print control unit 81 of the first embodiment.

The determination unit 182 is a control unit that determines the amount of ink in the ink tank 151 based on the communication result with the sensor unit 164 . The determination unit 182 controls the light emitting unit S1a of the first sensor S1 and the light emitting unit S2a of the second sensor S2 to emit light. The determination unit 182 is communicably connected to the light receiving unit S1b of the first sensor S1 and the light receiving unit S2b of the second sensor S2. The amount of received light is input to the determination unit 182 from the light receiving units S1b and S2b. The determination unit 182 detects that the sensor has switched from the UNHIT state to the HIT state when the amount of light received by each of the first sensor S1 and the second sensor S2 changes to a predetermined reference value or less. The reference value is stored in the determination unit 182 in advance. The determination unit 182 also stores in advance a correspondence table that associates the relationship between the states of the first sensor S1 and the second sensor S2 and the state of the ink tank 151 (specifically, the amount of ink in the ink tank 151). remembered. An example of the correspondence table is shown below.

First sensor S1 Second sensor S2 State of ink tank 151 UNHIT UNHIT Ink full HIT UNHIT Near full HIT HIT Ink can be added UNHIT HIT Near end

In the correspondence table described above, the determination unit 182 is configured to be able to determine four states of the ink tank 151 . That is, the determination unit 182 determines that the ink tank 151 is full of ink based on the fact that both the first sensor S1 and the second sensor S2 are in the UNHIT state. The determination unit 182 determines that the ink tank 151 is near full based on the fact that the first sensor S1 is in the HIT state and the second sensor S2 is in the UNHIT state. Based on the fact that both the first sensor S1 and the second sensor S2 are in the HIT state, the determination unit 182 determines that the ink tank 151 is in the ink replenishable state. The determination unit 182 determines that the ink tank 151 is in the near-end state based on the fact that the first sensor S1 is in the UNHIT state and the second sensor S2 is in the HIT state.

The notification unit 183 is a control unit that notifies the user of the determination result of the determination unit 182 . A method of notifying the user may be the same as that of the notification unit 83 of the first embodiment. The notification unit 183 may notify the user of the determination result of the determination unit 182, for example, the state of the ink tank 151 as it is. The notification unit 183 may notify the user that the ink 59 cannot be replenished when the determination unit 182 determines that the ink tank 151 is full of ink or nearly full of ink. When the determining unit 182 determines that the ink tank 151 is in a replenishable state, the notifying unit 183 notifies the user that the ink 59 can be replenished to the capacity of one supply bottle (for example, 500 mL). You may When the determination unit 182 determines that the ink tank 151 is in the near-end state, the notification unit 183 notifies the user that the ink 59 can be replenished to the capacity of two supply bottles (for example, 1 L). good too.

In the printer 100 of the present embodiment, an ink reservoir 155 recessed downward is formed on the lower surface of the ink reservoir 154, and a pressure-sensitive film 161 is arranged on the first lower wall B1 of the ink reservoir 155. there is As a result, even when the amount of ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 is low, the head pressure of the ink 59 can be favorably applied to the pressure-sensitive film 161, and the amount of ink can be stably detected.

The printer 100 of this embodiment further includes a casing 165 having an upper space 165</b>U that is arranged directly below the ink tank 151 and is fitted with the ink reservoir portion 155 . The sensor unit 164 is arranged inside the casing 165 at a position overlapping the upper space 165U in plan view. As a result, space saving and compactness of the sensor unit 164 can be realized.

In the printer 100 of the present embodiment, the detected member 162 is detected by a fulcrum portion 162F that is tiltably supported, a pressure receiving portion 162R that directly or indirectly contacts the pressure sensitive membrane 161, and a sensor portion 164. and a shielding portion 162D. The pressure receiving portion 162R is arranged between the fulcrum portion 162F and the shield portion 162D. As a result, using the principle of leverage, a small displacement of the pressure receiving portion 162R can be changed into a large displacement of the shielding portion 162D. Therefore, the detection sensitivity of the sensor section 164 can be improved.

In the printer 100 of this embodiment, the shielding portion 162D is provided at the swinging end of the detected member 162 and extends vertically. Thereby, a small displacement of the pressure receiving portion 162R can be changed to a larger displacement of the shielding portion 162D. Therefore, the detection sensitivity of the sensor section 164 can be further improved.

In the printer 100 of this embodiment, the detected member 162 is configured so that the upper end of the shielding portion 162D is positioned above the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber 154 when the pressure receiving portion 162R is displaced in the direction approaching the gas-liquid interface. is provided in By largely displacing the upper end of the shielding portion 162</b>D in this manner, highly accurate detection can be achieved in the sensor portion 164 .

In the printer 100 of the present embodiment, the ink tank 151 has a flat shape in plan view, and the detected member 162 is shorter than the long side 151W of the ink tank 151 and extends along the long side 151W. As a result, the detection sensitivity of the sensor section 164 can be improved, and the ink amount detection section 160 can be made compact and space-saving.

In the printer 100 of this embodiment, the detected member 162 is a third shielding portion that is detected by the sensor portion 164 when the amount of ink stored in the ink storage chamber 154 reaches a predetermined near-full state. P3, and a first shielding portion P1 that is detected by the sensor portion 164 when the amount of ink stored in the ink storage chamber 154 reaches the near-end state, which is less than the near-full position. The sensor unit 164 includes a first sensor S1 that detects the third shielding portion P3 of the member 162 to be detected and a second sensor S2 that detects the first shielding portion P1 of the member 162 to be detected. As a result, the states of a plurality of ink storage chambers 154 can be detected with a single member 162 to be detected.

In the printer 100 of this embodiment, the ink supply channels (the first channel 140a, the second channel 140b, the third channel 140c) having one end connected to the ink outlet 152O and the other end connected to the ink head 120 and a fourth flow path 140d), and an ink circulation flow path (a fifth flow path 140e and a sixth flow path 140f) one end of which is connected to the middle portion of the ink supply flow path. The other end of the ink circulation channel is connected to an ink inlet 153I provided above the ink outlet 152O of the ink tank 151 . Since the ink inlet 153I is provided above the ink outlet 152O, when the ink 59 flows in from the ink inlet 153I, the ink 59 in the ink tank 151 can be agitated with a strong flow. For example, pigments and the like which tend to settle can be dispersed. Therefore, the ink 59 stored in the ink tank 151 can be easily maintained in a homogeneous state. In addition, it is possible to suppress the deposition of the pigment or the like on the pressure-sensitive film 161, so that the pressure-sensitive film 161 can be stably displaced.

The printer 100 according to the present embodiment has been described above. However, the inkjet printer according to the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be implemented based on the contents disclosed in this specification and common general technical knowledge in the field. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the above-exemplified embodiments. For example, it is possible to replace part of the above-described embodiment with another modified mode, and it is also possible to add another modified mode to the above-described embodiment. Also, the above-described embodiment and the following modifications can be appropriately combined. Also, if the technical feature is not described as essential, it can be deleted as appropriate.

For example, in the first embodiment described above, the ink tank 50 is arranged below the main body 12 , and in the second embodiment, the ink tank 151 is arranged below the main body 112 . However, it is not limited to this. The ink tanks 50 and 151 may be arranged, for example, on the left or right side of the body section 12 or 112, or may be arranged inside the body section 12 or 112 (for example, below the platens 14 or 114). Alternatively, it may be arranged above the body portions 12 and 112 .

For example, in the embodiment described above, the ink tank 151 is composed of the tank body 152 and the lid 153 , and the entire tank body 152 is positioned above the lid 153 . However, it is not limited to this. The ink tank 151 has, for example, any of the following: (1) a member forming part of the ink tank 151 is provided between the tank main body 152 and the cover 153; (2) above the tank main body 152; (3) A member forming part of the ink tank 151 is provided under the cover 153; (4) A step is formed at the lower end of the tank main body 152; In addition, a step is formed in the upper end of the lid 153, and a part of the lower end of the tank main body 152 is located below a part of the upper end of the lid 153; good too.

For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, no other member is arranged inside the ink storage chambers 54 and 154 . However, it is not limited to this. For example, in the ink supply devices 70 and 170, when the ink 59 is replenished, dust and dirt may enter the ink storage chambers 54 and 154, for example. For this reason, conventionally known filtering devices may be arranged in the ink storage chambers 54 and 154 . Further, a conventionally known stirrer or the like may be arranged in the ink storage chambers 54 and 154 . Also, some or all of the members that constitute the stirring device and the filtering device may be configured to be replaceable.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of an ink supply device 270 according to a second modification. The ink supply device 270 shown in FIG. 17 is similar to the ink supply device 170 described above, except for the following points. That is, the ink supply device 270 has an ink tank 251 . The ink tank 251 has a tank body 252 . The tank body 252 has a rear wall Rr2 instead of the rear wall Rr1. The rear wall Rr2 has a bulging portion RrB at its lower end. The bulging portion RrB bulges toward the ink outlet 152O (to the right in FIG. 17). The bulging portion RrB bulges away from the first front wall F1. The bulging portion RrB constitutes the wall surface of the ink reservoir portion 255 . The ink outflow pipe 152F is formed in the bulging portion RrB of the rear wall Rr2.

The ink supply device 270 has a filter 156 . The filter 156 is a filtering member that removes dust and dirt mixed in the ink storage chamber 154 . Providing the filter 156 makes it difficult for dust and dirt to flow into the ink flow path 140 . Therefore, the intermediate portion of the ink flow path 140, such as the liquid feed pump 141 and the damper 122, is less likely to be clogged. In this embodiment, the filter 156 is arranged in the ink reservoir 255 . Filter 156 is detachably attached to rear wall Rr2 of tank body 252 . The filter 156 extends vertically. A filtering surface of the filter 156 faces the first front wall F1. The filter 156 is arranged along the first front wall F1. As a result, clogging of the filter 156 is less likely to occur, and the number of times the filter 156 is replaced can be reduced, as compared with the case where the filter 156 is horizontally arranged. Therefore, maintenance work can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the filter 156 partitions the ink reservoir 255 in the vertical direction. Filter 156 partitions bulging portion RrB. In the vicinity of the filter 156, the ink 59 flows toward the ink outlet 152O. That is, the ink 59 flows in the axial direction (from the front to the rear in FIG. 17) of the ink outflow pipe 152F. The filtering surface of the filter 156 is arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the ink outflow pipe 152F. In other words, the filtering surface of the filter 156 is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the extending direction of the ink outflow pipe 152F (the front-rear direction in FIG. 17).

The upper end of the filter 156 is arranged below the upper end of the first front wall F1 of the ink reservoir portion 255 . In this embodiment, the ink reservoir 255 is configured to be filled with the ink 59 even when the ink tank 151 is in the near-end state. As a result, the filter 156 is always wetted with the ink 59, making it difficult for the filter 156 to trap air. Therefore, minute air bubbles are less likely to mix with the ink 59 .

For example, in the above-described second embodiment, the ink inlet 153I and the opening 153O overlap the slope-shaped second front wall F2 in plan view. However, it is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the ink inlet 153I and/or the opening 153O may not overlap the second front wall F2.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of an ink supply device 370 according to a third modified example. The ink supply device 370 shown in FIG. 18 is similar to the ink supply device 170 described above, except for the following points. That is, the ink supply device 370 has an ink tank 351 . The ink tank 351 has a tank body 352 . The tank body 352 has a lower wall B3 and a front wall F3 instead of the second lower wall B2 and the second front wall F2. Unlike the second front wall F2, the front wall F3 extends straight upward from the front end of the lower wall B3. Further, the ink supply device 370 includes a projecting portion 157 and an ink guide portion 158 .

The projecting portion 157 is provided on the lower wall B3. In this embodiment, the protruding portion 157 has a mountain shape (dome shape). However, the shape of the projecting portion 157 may be a shape obtained by cutting a mountain shape in the vertical direction, a spherical shape, a hemispherical shape, a conical shape, or the like. The protruding portion 157 may be a plate-like member arranged at an inclination angle of more than 0° and less than 90° or more than 90° and less than 180° with respect to the lower wall B3. The height of the upper end 157T of the protrusion 157 may be 1/2 or less, eg, 1/3 to 1/5, of the height of the front wall F3.

The protruding portion 157 has an inclined surface that inclines toward the lower wall B3. Specifically, it has an inclined surface that gradually inclines downward as it approaches the lower wall B3 from the upper end 157T. The inclined surfaces are provided radially around the upper end 157T. In this embodiment, the projecting portion 157 and the opening portion 153O overlap in plan view. Specifically, in plan view, the position of the upper end 157T of the projecting portion 157 matches the position of the center of the opening 153O indicated by the detection position Ls. The center of the protrusion 157 is positioned coaxially with the center of the opening 153O. Therefore, for example, in the near-end state or the ink-end state, the ink 59 replenished from the ink replenisher 190 through the opening 153O lands on the upper end 157T of the projecting portion 157. FIG. The ink 59 that has landed on the upper end 157T is divided radially and travels along the inclined surface to move inside the ink storage chamber 154 .

As a result, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 18, the ink 59 in the ink storage chamber 154 can be agitated with a strong flow. In addition, bubbling of the ink 59 is suppressed by moving the ink 59 along the inclined surface. As a result, minute air bubbles are less likely to mix with the ink 59, and the generated bubbles are less likely to overflow from the tank main body 152. In addition, the projecting portion 157 can be formed at any position on the tank body 352, for example, at any position on the bottom wall B3. Therefore, the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

The ink guiding portion 158 is a member that guides the ink 59 flowing from the ink inlet 153I to the upper end 157T of the projecting portion 157. As shown in FIG. The ink guide portion 158 extends from the ink inlet 153I toward the projecting portion 157 (specifically, the upper end 157T of the projecting portion 157). In this embodiment, the ink guide portion 158 spans between the ink inlet 153I and the upper end 157T of the projecting portion 157 . The ink guiding portion 158 is, for example, a long member such as a chain, chain, wire, rope, string, or the like. The ink guiding portion 158 may be easily deformable. By providing the ink guiding portion 158, even when the ink inlet 153I and the projecting portion 157 do not overlap in plan view, the ink 59 flowing from the ink inlet 153I is dropped onto the upper end 157T of the projecting portion 157, and the inclined surface is formed. It can be moved through the ink storage chamber 154 . Therefore, the ink inlet 153I can be freely laid out, and the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

In addition, in the above-described third modification, the opening 153O and the projecting portion 157 overlap, and the ink inlet 153I and the projecting portion 157 do not overlap in plan view. However, in other embodiments, both the opening 153O and the ink inlet 153I may overlap the protrusion 157. FIG. Alternatively, the ink inlet 153I and the projecting portion 157 may overlap, and the opening 153O and the projecting portion 157 may not overlap. In this case, the ink guide portion 158 may extend from the opening portion 153O toward the projecting portion 157. FIG.

For example, in the above-described second embodiment, the atmosphere communication portion 153A provided in the lid 153 is a labyrinth structure including the through hole 153H, the serpentine 153S, and the resin film 153M. However, it is not limited to this. The atmospheric communication part 153A is composed of a conventionally known gas-liquid separator such as a mesh-like gas-liquid separation filter, a centrifugal separator, a surface tension separator, a gravity separator, or a coalescer. good too.

For example, in the first embodiment described above, the case main body 52 and the pressure-sensitive film 55 are separate members, and the pressure-sensitive film 55 is attached so as to close the lower opening 52D of the case main body 52 . Further, in the above-described second embodiment, the tank body 152 and the pressure-sensitive film 161 are separate bodies, and the pressure-sensitive film 161 is attached so as to block the lower opening 152D of the tank body 152 . However, it is not limited to this. The case main body 52 or the tank main body 152 and the pressure-sensitive membranes 55 and 161 may be composed of a single member. For example, case body 52 or tank body 152 may not have a lower opening. The case main body 52 or the tank main body 152 may have a wall surface and a thin portion formed to be thinner than the wall surface and function as a pressure-sensitive film. The thin portion may be formed by cutting out a thin wall surface by grinding or the like, for example.

For example, in the above-described second embodiment, both the first lower wall B1 and the second lower wall B2 as "lower surfaces" facing upward in the vertical direction are planes, specifically, horizontal planes. However, it is not limited to this. The first lower wall B1 and/or the second lower wall B2 does not necessarily have to be flat or horizontal. For example, the surface may be uneven, curved, or inclined. may

For example, in the above-described first embodiment, the pressure-sensitive film 55 is arranged on the bottom surface (specifically, the bottom surface) of the case body 52, and in the above-described second embodiment, the pressure-sensitive film 161 is disposed on the first bottom surface of the tank body 152. It was placed on the wall B1 (bottom). However, it is not limited to this. The pressure-sensitive films 55 and 161 are the second lowest when, for example, among the walls constituting the ink storage chambers 54 and 154, a plurality of surfaces facing vertically upward and having different height positions are provided. Can be placed on the surface. Alternatively, the pressure-sensitive films 55 and 161 may be arranged on lower portions of side walls (horizontal walls) extending along the vertical direction of the case body 52 or the tank body 152 . In this case, for example, a side opening is formed in the side wall of the case body 52 or the tank body 152, and the pressure-sensitive films 55 and 161 are placed in the case body 52 or the tank body 152 so as to block the side opening. may be attached to the Also, the biasing members 57, 163 may be attached to the pressure sensitive membranes 55, 161 so as to be horizontally stretchable.

For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the pressure-sensitive films 55 and 161 are made of flexible films. However, it is not limited to this. The pressure sensitive membranes 55, 161 do not have to be flexible. The pressure sensitive membranes 55 and 161 may be rubber members, for example. The pressure-sensitive membranes 55 and 161 may be, for example, elastic members that can expand and contract in directions approaching the ink reservoirs 54 and 154 and in directions away from the ink reservoirs 54 and 154 . The stretchable member may have, for example, a fold-like cross-sectional shape and may be configured to be stretchable like an accordion.

For example, in the second embodiment described above, the shielding portion 162D has a uniform thickness and light transmittance. However, it is not limited to this. The shielding part 162D may partially differ in thickness and transparency. The shielding portion 162D may have a first portion having a first light transmittance and a second portion having a second light transmittance different from the first light transmittance. The light transmittance is preferably a value measured using light (for example, visible light or infrared light) emitted from the light emitting units S1a and S2a. The shielding portion 162D may be configured, for example, so that the light transmittance changes stepwise or gradually (gradationally) in the vertical direction. The shielding portion 162D may have, for example, a first portion and a second portion in each of the first shielding portion P1, the second shielding portion P2, and the third shielding portion P3. In the shielding portion 162D, for example, the first shielding portion P1, the second shielding portion P2, and the third shielding portion P3 may have different light transmittances.

When the shielding portion 162D has the first portion and the second portion, the determination portion 182 is configured to determine whether or not the ink amount detection portion 160 is faulty in addition to determining the amount of ink in the ink tank 151. may be If there is no problem with the ink amount detection unit 160, the amount of light received by the light receiving units S1b and S2b should change due to the displacement of the shielding unit 162D even in the same HIT state. On the other hand, if the sensor section 164 fails or the biasing member 163 does not move, the amount of light received by the light receiving sections S1b and S2b does not change in the HIT state. Therefore, when the sensor is in the HIT state, the determination unit 182 determines that the ink amount detection unit 160 is “abnormal” based on the change in the amount of received light. When the sensor is in the HIT state, the determination unit 182 determines that the ink amount detection unit 160 is "abnormal" based on the fact that the value of the amount of received light does not change. The notification unit 183 may notify the user when the determination unit 182 determines that there is an abnormality. Thereby, the user can grasp the problem of the ink amount detection unit 160 .

For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the biasing members 57, 163 are coil springs. However, it is not limited to this. The urging members 57 and 163 are arranged, for example, below the members to be detected 56 and 162, and are arranged at positions facing the first magnetic body having a predetermined magnetic pole and the first magnetic body. and a second magnetic body having magnetic poles that repel one magnetic body. It may be configured to force

For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the sensors 60, 164 were transmissive photosensors. However, it is not limited to this. The sensors 60 and 164 may be, for example, reflective photosensors, non-contact position sensors, contact switches, or the like.

For example, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the carriages 30 and 130 are configured to move in the main scanning direction and the recording medium 5 moves in the sub-scanning direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. The movement of the carriages 30, 130 and the recording medium 5 is relative, and either of them may move in the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction. For example, the recording medium 5 may be arranged immovably, and the carriages 30 and 130 may be configured to be movable in both the scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. Moreover, both the carriages 30 and 130 and the recording medium 5 may be configured to be movable in both directions. Also, the configuration of the printers 10 and 100 is not particularly limited. The printers 10, 100 may be flatbed type printers, for example. The printers 10 and 100 may be equipped with an irradiation device that irradiates ultraviolet rays, or may be equipped with a cutting head that cuts the recording medium 5 .

10, 100 printer (inkjet printer)
20, 120 ink heads 40, 140 ink flow paths 50, 151 ink tanks (case)
70, 170 ink supply device 55, 161 pressure-sensitive film (pressure-sensitive portion)
56, 162 members to be detected 56D, 162D shielding portion 60 sensor 164 sensor portion (sensor)

Claims (15)

An inkjet printer comprising an ink head that ejects ink toward a recording medium and an ink supply device that stores ink to be supplied to the ink head,
The ink supply device
a hollow case having walls;
an ink outlet formed in the wall surface and communicating with the ink head;
an ink storage chamber provided in the hollow portion of the case for storing the ink and having a gas-liquid interface where air and the ink are in contact;
a pressure-sensing portion that constitutes a part of the ink storage chamber and is displaced by the head pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber;
a sensor that directly or indirectly detects the position of the pressure sensing portion outside the ink storage chamber;
with
The ink jet printer , wherein the ink outlet is located above the pressure sensing section . An inkjet printer comprising an ink head that ejects ink toward a recording medium and an ink supply device that stores ink to be supplied to the ink head,
The ink supply device
a hollow case having walls;
an ink outlet formed in the wall surface and communicating with the ink head;
an ink storage chamber provided in the hollow portion of the case for storing the ink and having a gas-liquid interface where air and the ink are in contact;
a pressure-sensing portion that constitutes a part of the ink storage chamber and is displaced by the head pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber;
a sensor that directly or indirectly detects the position of the pressure sensing portion outside the ink storage chamber;
with
The pressure sensing section is arranged on the lower surface of the ink storage chamber and configured to be displaced with respect to the ink storage chamber by the head pressure of the ink,
The case has an upper opening that opens upward,
An inkjet printer, wherein the lower surface of the ink storage chamber is smaller than the upper opening. An inkjet printer comprising an ink head that ejects ink toward a recording medium and an ink supply device that stores ink to be supplied to the ink head,
The ink supply device
a hollow case having walls;
an ink outlet formed in the wall surface and communicating with the ink head;
an ink storage chamber provided in the hollow portion of the case for storing the ink and having a gas-liquid interface where air and the ink are in contact;
a pressure-sensing portion that constitutes a part of the ink storage chamber and is displaced by the head pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber;
a sensor that directly or indirectly detects the position of the pressure sensing portion outside the ink storage chamber;
with
A concave portion recessed downward is formed on the lower surface of the ink storage chamber,
An inkjet printer, wherein the pressure-sensitive portion is arranged on the lower surface of the recess. Further comprising a casing that is placed directly below the case and fitted with the recess,
wherein the sensor is located inside the casing;
The inkjet printer according to claim 3 . An inkjet printer comprising an ink head that ejects ink toward a recording medium and an ink supply device that stores ink to be supplied to the ink head,
The ink supply device
a hollow case having walls;
an ink outlet formed in the wall surface and communicating with the ink head;
an ink storage chamber provided in the hollow portion of the case for storing the ink and having a gas-liquid interface where air and the ink are in contact;
a pressure-sensing portion that constitutes a part of the ink storage chamber and is displaced by the head pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber;
a sensor that directly or indirectly detects the position of the pressure sensing portion outside the ink storage chamber;
with
The case has an opening,
The inkjet printer, wherein the pressure sensitive part is attached to the case so as to close the opening. An inkjet printer comprising an ink head that ejects ink toward a recording medium and an ink supply device that stores ink to be supplied to the ink head,
The ink supply device
a hollow case having walls;
an ink outlet formed in the wall surface and communicating with the ink head;
an ink storage chamber provided in the hollow portion of the case for storing the ink and having a gas-liquid interface where air and the ink are in contact;
a pressure-sensing portion that constitutes a part of the ink storage chamber and is displaced by the head pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber;
a sensor that directly or indirectly detects the position of the pressure sensing portion outside the ink storage chamber;
an urging member that directly or indirectly contacts the pressure sensing portion outside the ink storage chamber and urges the pressure sensing portion in a direction to approach the ink storage chamber. . The ink supply device further includes a member to be detected that is in direct or indirect contact with the pressure sensing portion outside the ink storage chamber and that is displaced in conjunction with the pressure sensing portion,
The sensor is configured to detect the position of the member to be detected,
The member to be detected includes a fulcrum portion that is tiltably supported, a pressure receiving portion that directly or indirectly contacts the pressure sensing portion, and a detection portion that is detected by the sensor,
The pressure receiving portion is arranged between the fulcrum portion and the detected portion,
An inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . The detected portion is provided at a swinging end of the detected member and extends in the vertical direction.
The inkjet printer according to claim 7 . The member to be detected is provided such that an upper end of the member to be detected is positioned above the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber when the pressure sensing portion is displaced in a direction approaching the gas-liquid interface. ,
The inkjet printer according to claim 7 . The case has a flat shape in plan view,
The member to be detected has a length shorter than the long side of the case and extends along the long side.
An inkjet printer according to any one of claims 7 to 9 . The member to be detected is
a first detection unit that is detected by the sensor when the amount of ink stored in the ink storage chamber reaches a predetermined first state;
a second detection unit that is detected by the sensor when the amount of ink stored in the ink storage chamber reaches a second state that is smaller than the first state;
with
The sensor includes a first sensor that detects the first detection portion of the member to be detected, and a second sensor that detects the second detection portion of the member to be detected.
An inkjet printer according to any one of claims 7 to 10 . the sensor is a photosensor,
The member to be detected has a first portion having a first light transmittance and a second portion having a second light transmittance,
Inkjet printer according to any one of claims 7 to 11 . An inkjet printer comprising an ink head that ejects ink toward a recording medium and an ink supply device that stores ink to be supplied to the ink head,
The ink supply device
a hollow case having walls;
an ink outlet formed in the wall surface and communicating with the ink head;
an ink storage chamber provided in the hollow portion of the case for storing the ink and having a gas-liquid interface where air and the ink are in contact;
a pressure-sensing portion that constitutes a part of the ink storage chamber and is displaced by the head pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber;
a sensor that directly or indirectly detects the position of the pressure sensing portion outside the ink storage chamber;
an ink supply channel having one end connected to the ink outlet of the ink supply device and the other end connected to the ink head;
an ink circulation channel having one end connected to the middle portion of the ink supply channel;
with
An inkjet printer, wherein the other end of the ink circulation channel is connected to an ink inlet provided above the ink outlet of the case. a hollow case having walls;
an ink outlet formed in the wall surface and communicating with an ink head that ejects ink toward a recording medium;
an ink storage chamber provided in the hollow portion of the case for storing the ink and having a gas-liquid interface where air and the ink are in contact;
a pressure-sensing portion that constitutes a part of the ink storage chamber and is displaced by the head pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber;
a sensor that directly or indirectly detects the position of the pressure sensing portion outside the ink storage chamber;
with
The ink supply device , wherein the ink outlet is located above the pressure sensing section . a hollow case having walls;
an ink outlet formed in the wall surface and communicating with an ink head that ejects ink toward a recording medium;
an ink storage chamber provided in the hollow portion of the case for storing the ink and having a gas-liquid interface where air and the ink are in contact;
a pressure-sensing portion that constitutes a part of the ink storage chamber and is displaced by the head pressure of the ink stored in the ink storage chamber;
a sensor that directly or indirectly detects the position of the pressure sensing portion outside the ink storage chamber;
with
The pressure sensing section is arranged on the lower surface of the ink storage chamber and configured to be displaced with respect to the ink storage chamber by the head pressure of the ink,
The case has an upper opening that opens upward,
An ink supply device, wherein the lower surface of the ink storage chamber is smaller than the upper opening.

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