JP7355604B2 - printing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing device.

2. Description of the Related Art Printing devices that form printed matter by ejecting ink from an inkjet head have become widespread. Some inks used in printing devices cause pigments to settle, and such inks need to be stirred regularly (for example, once a week) to eliminate the pigments from settling.

In order to stir the ink, it is common practice to remove the ink pack attached to the printing device and shake the ink pack. However, problems may occur, such as ink leaking out from the ink pack when the ink pack is removed from the printing device.

Here, in Patent Document 1, in order to stir the ink in the ink pack while the ink pack is attached to the printer, a cartridge holder housing the ink pack is rotated around a support shaft. A printer is disclosed.

Patent No. 6585294

However, in the printer described in Patent Document 1, the support shaft is provided near the center of the side surface (wall surface) of the cartridge holder. In such a position where the support shaft is installed, even if the cartridge is rotated, the amount of rotation is not large, and there is a possibility that the ink that has settled within the ink pack cannot be sufficiently stirred. In particular, for a relatively large ink pack with a capacity of more than 1 L, for example, the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 may not be able to sufficiently stir the ink.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can sufficiently stir ink within an ink pack without removing the ink pack from the printing device.

The printing device of the present invention includes an ink cartridge containing ink therein, and an ink supply member having an ink flow path for supplying the ink contained in the ink cartridge to an inkjet head. The printing device includes a pedestal portion having a connecting member on which the ink cartridge is placed and connects the ink cartridge and the ink supply member, and the pedestal portion is in a state where the ink cartridge is connected to the connecting member. The ink cartridge has a rotation center around which the ink cartridge is rotated.

According to this configuration, since the ink cartridge rotates together with the pedestal while connected to the ink supply member, the ink in the ink cartridge can be sufficiently stirred without removing the ink cartridge from the printing device.

According to the printing device of the present invention, the ink supply member is a tube in which the ink flow path is formed, and the rotation center is biased to one side with respect to the center of gravity of the ink cartridge. The connecting member may be provided on the rotation center side with respect to the gravity center position. According to this configuration, the length of the tube for supplying ink to the inkjet head can be shortened.

According to the printing device of the present invention, the rotation center may be biased downward in the direction of gravity with respect to the center of gravity position. According to this configuration, the ink in the ink cartridge can be sufficiently stirred with a simple configuration without removing the ink cartridge from the printing device.

According to the printing device of the present invention, the connecting member includes a connector member that connects the ink outlet of the ink cartridge and the ink inlet of the ink supply member, and the connector member has a connection with the ink outlet. If the problem is resolved, the ink outlet may be sealed. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent ink from leaking from the ink outlet of the ink cartridge.

According to the printing device of the present invention, the pedestal section is provided with an ink inlet of the ink supply member, and supports a storage member that stores and rotates the ink cartridge, and a rotation shaft that is the center of rotation. It may also have a supporting member. According to this configuration, since the storage member rotates while the ink cartridge and the ink supply member are connected, the ink in the ink cartridge can be sufficiently stirred with a simple configuration without removing the ink cartridge from the printing device. can.

According to the printing device of the present invention, the storage member has a planar member extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, and the support member has a facing member facing the planar member . However, the planar member and the opposing member may be arranged to face each other over the entire rotation range of the storage member. According to this configuration, the planar member has a function of reinforcing the storage member that rotates while storing the ink cartridge, and since the planar member and the opposing member face each other over the entire range of rotation of the storage member, the opposing member has the function of guiding the rotation of the storage member. Therefore, the ink cartridge can be rotated in a desired direction with a simple configuration.

According to the printing device of the present invention, a grooved cam is formed on one of the planar member and the opposing member, a protrusion that engages with the grooved cam is formed on the other of the planar member and the opposing member, and the groove is formed on the other of the planar member and the opposing member. Rotation of the storage member may be restricted by the protrusion coming into contact with an end of the cam. According to this configuration, since the rotation of the pedestal is restricted by the grooved cam, the amount of rotation of the ink cartridge can be easily adjusted.

According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, the storage member and the support member may be provided for each ink cartridge. According to this configuration, since each ink cartridge can be rotated, even an ink cartridge with a large capacity can be rotated without requiring a large force.

According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, the ink cartridge may be provided with a handle member that rotates together with the pedestal. According to this configuration, the ink cartridge can be easily rotated manually.

The method for assembling a printing device of the present invention has the effect that the ink in the ink pack can be sufficiently stirred without removing the ink pack from the printing device.

1 is a schematic overall diagram of a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of an ink storage section according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view of the ink storage unit in which the ink cartridge of the present embodiment is in a normal position. FIG. 3 is a side view of the ink storage unit in which the ink cartridge of the present embodiment is in its normal position, and is a diagram showing the configuration below the pedestal. FIG. 3 is a side view of the ink storage unit in which the ink cartridge of the present embodiment is in a rotating position. FIG. 3 is a side view of the ink storage unit in which the ink cartridge of the present embodiment is in a rotating position, and is a diagram showing the configuration below the pedestal. It is a figure showing the composition of the lower surface of a pedestal part, and the upper surface of a main body part of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, a printing device assembly method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall view of a printing apparatus 10 of this embodiment. Note that the printing apparatus 10 of this embodiment is a so-called inkjet printer, as described below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 10 includes a leg section 12 installed on the floor, and a main body section 14 disposed above the leg section 12 (in the z direction). The main body 14 includes a guide rail 16, a carriage 18, a platen 20, and the like.

The guide rail 16 extends in the left-right direction (Y direction) of the printing apparatus 10 and guides the movement of the carriage 18 in the scanning direction. The carriage 18 is equipped with a plurality of inkjet heads 24 that eject ink onto a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as "media") 22, and moves along the guide rail 16 in the Y direction, which is the main scanning direction.

The platen 20 is a mounting table on which the media 22 is mounted. The medium 22 placed on the platen 20 is transported by the transport mechanism in the X direction, which is the sub-scanning direction (the front direction of the printing apparatus 10) orthogonal to the scanning direction of the carriage 18. Note that the media 22 may be a sheet-like recording medium such as paper, vinyl chloride film, rubber sheet, or cloth.

The printing apparatus 10 having such a configuration moves the carriage 18 in the main scanning direction Y with respect to the medium 22, and discharges ink toward the medium 22 from the nozzles of the inkjet head 24 mounted on the carriage 18. Printing in the scanning direction Y is executed. Then, the printing device 10 transports the medium 22 in the sub-scanning direction X by the transport mechanism every time printing in the main-scanning direction Y is completed. That is, the printing device 10 prints on the medium 22 by repeatedly ejecting ink in the main scanning direction Y by the inkjet head 24 and transporting the medium 22 in the sub-scanning direction X. Note that the Z direction is a direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction, and parallel to the weight direction.

Furthermore, the printing apparatus 10 of this embodiment includes an ink storage section 30. The ink storage unit 30 stores ink by accommodating a plurality of ink cartridges 32 containing ink therein. The ink storage unit 30 is arranged on the top surface of the printing device 10, for example. The ink storage unit 30 supplies ink from the ink cartridge 32 to the inkjet head 24 based on the water head difference.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the ink storage section 30 of this embodiment. The ink storage section 30 includes a pedestal section 34 and a main body section 36. The ink cartridge 32 is placed on the pedestal portion 34 . The main body part 36 is formed into a box shape by a front member 38, a side member 40, a back member 42, etc., and a plurality of pedestals 34 are arranged on the upper surface thereof. The main body 36 of this embodiment includes, for example, seven pedestals 34, and the ink cartridge 32 is placed on each of the plurality of pedestals 34.

The base portion 34 and the ink cartridge 32 are connected by a connecting member 52 (see FIG. 3). More specifically, by inserting the ink cartridge 32 from above the pedestal 34, the pedestal 34 and the ink cartridge 32 are connected. On the other hand, by operating a lever 44 provided on the front side of the pedestal section 34, the connection between the pedestal section 34 and the ink cartridge 32 is released, that is, the ink cartridge 32 is removed from the pedestal section 34.

Here, some of the ink contained in the ink cartridge 32 contains a component that settles. The ink cartridge 32 containing such ink needs to be stirred regularly (for example, once a week) so that the settled components are uniform. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the ink storage section 30 of this embodiment stirs the ink inside the ink cartridge 32 by vertically rotating the pedestal section 34 on which the ink cartridge 32 is placed. .

The configuration of the ink storage section 30 and the agitation of ink of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

3 and 4 are side views of the ink storage section 30 in which the ink cartridge 32 of this embodiment is in the normal position. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which the support member 62 in FIG. 3 is removed. The normal position is a position where the ink cartridge 32 is in a vertical state, and when the printing device 10 is in operation, the ink cartridge 32 and the pedestal section 34 are in the normal position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. . Note that the broken lines in FIG. 3 indicate the schematic configuration of the ink pack 46, the ink supply member 50, etc., and the structures shown by the broken lines in FIG. 3 are omitted in other figures.

5 and 6 are side views of the ink storage section 30 in which the ink cartridge 32 of this embodiment is in the rotational position. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which the support member 62 in FIG. 5 is removed. The rotation of the ink cartridge 32 and the pedestal section 34 is performed when the printing apparatus 10 is not in operation.

Moreover, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the lower surface of the pedestal section 34 and the upper surface of the main body section 36 of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes an ink supply member 50 in which an ink flow path for supplying ink contained in the ink cartridge 32 to the inkjet head 24, and an ink supply member 50 formed in the ink cartridge 32. The pedestal section 34 has a connecting member 52 for connecting the ink cartridge 32 and the ink supply member 50. The pedestal portion 34 of this embodiment has a rotation center C1 that rotates the ink cartridge 32 while the ink cartridge 32 is connected to the connecting member 52. Note that the rotation center C1 of this embodiment corresponds to an axis (hereinafter referred to as "rotation axis") 54 extending in the Y direction.

With this configuration, the ink cartridge 32 of this embodiment rotates together with the pedestal section 34 while connected to the ink supply member 50, so that the contents inside the ink cartridge 32 can be removed without removing the ink cartridge 32 from the printing device 10. The ink can be stirred sufficiently. Further, as will be described in detail later, since the rotation center C1 is not on the ink cartridge 32 but is located at a position away from the ink cartridge 32, the entire ink cartridge 32 can be rotated significantly, and as a result, The ink inside the ink cartridge 32 can be sufficiently stirred.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ink supply member 50 of this embodiment is a tube in which an ink flow path is formed, and the rotation center C1 is on one side with respect to the center of gravity C2 of the ink cartridge 32. The connecting member 52 is provided on the rotation center C1 side with respect to the gravity center position C2, for example, on the lower side of the ink cartridge 32. As a result, the length of the tube that supplies ink to the inkjet head 24 can be shortened, the ink can be prevented from settling within the tube, and the storage area for the tube can be reduced. Note that the tube routing shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and is not limited to this.

In addition, the rotation center C1 of this embodiment is provided biased downward in the direction of gravity with respect to the center of gravity position C2, as an example. More specifically, the center of rotation C1 is below the ink cartridge 32 and is on the front side of the printing device 10 (left side of the page in FIG. 3, etc.).

That is, in this embodiment, the pedestal part 34 is rotated about a rotation shaft 54 provided in a horizontal direction below the ink cartridge 32 placed on the pedestal part 34 . As a result, the upper part of the ink cartridge 32 moves up and down and the entire ink cartridge 32 rotates, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, so that the ink inside the ink cartridge 32 is more reliably stirred. .

Here, the connecting member 52 of this embodiment has a connector member 56 that connects the ink outlet 32A of the ink cartridge 32 and the ink inlet 50B of the ink supply member 50, and the connector member 56 connects the ink outlet 32A with the ink outlet 32A. When the problem is resolved, the ink outlet 32A of the ink cartridge 32 is sealed.

In this embodiment, as an example, the ink outlet 32A of the ink cartridge 32 and the ink outlet of the ink pack 46 are common, and the ink outlet 32A of the ink pack 46 is provided with a valve that is a sealing member. ing. When connected to the ink outlet 32A, the connector member 56 pushes up the valve of the ink pack 46, allowing ink to be supplied from the ink pack 46 to the ink supply member 50. On the other hand, when the connection between the connector member 56 and the ink outlet 32A is released, the valve of the ink pack 46 that was pushed up by the connector member 56 is lowered, so that the ink outlet 32A is sealed. This can prevent ink from leaking from the ink outlet 32A of the ink cartridge 32 (ink pack 46).

In this manner, in this embodiment, the flow of ink from the ink cartridge 32 (ink pack 46) is controlled by the connector member 56 opening and closing the valve. Note that the structure of the connector member 56 and the ink cartridge 32 (ink pack 46) is not limited to this, as long as the ink outlet 32A of the ink cartridge 32 can be sealed when the connection with the ink outlet 32A is broken.

Further, the ink cartridge 32 is provided with a handle member 58 that allows the ink cartridge 32 to rotate together with the pedestal portion 34 . As a result, an administrator of the printing apparatus 10 or the like can easily rotate the ink cartridge 32 manually by grasping the handle member 58 and moving the ink cartridge 32 placed on the pedestal section 34 in the vertical direction. can be done.

Next, the structure of the pedestal portion 34 will be described in detail.

The pedestal part 34 of this embodiment is provided with an ink inlet 50B of the ink supply member 50, a storage member 60 that stores the ink cartridge 32 and rotates, and a support that supports the rotation shaft 54 that is the rotation center C1. It has a member 62. As a result, the storage member 60 rotates while the ink cartridge 32 and the ink supply member 50 are connected.

The storage member 60 of this embodiment has a planar member 64 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis 54 (XZ plane direction). Note that a hole into which the rotation shaft 54 supported by the support member 62 is inserted is formed in the upper part of the planar member 64 and on the front side of the printing apparatus 10 . Further, the support member 62 of this embodiment includes a facing member 62A that faces the planar member 64. The planar member 64 and the opposing member 62A are arranged to face each other over the entire range in which the storage member 60 rotates.

With such a configuration, the planar member 64 has a function of reinforcing the storage member 60 that rotates while storing the ink cartridge 32, and the planar member 64 and the opposing member 62A cover the entire range in which the storage member 60 rotates. Since they face each other, the facing member 62A has a function of guiding the rotation of the storage member 60.

More specifically, a planar member 64 is provided on both lower side surfaces of the storage member 60, and a facing member 62A is provided on the outside of the planar member 64 (see FIG. 7). The front side of the facing member 62A is joined to the front member 38 forming the main body portion 36, and the bottom plate member 66 is joined to the lower end of the facing member 62A. Note that the opposing member 62A is formed by extending the supporting member 62 in the XZ plane, and the supporting member 62 and the opposing member 62A are formed as substantially the same member.

The support member 62 (facing member 62A) and the bottom plate member 66 are plate-shaped members, and are provided in the main body portion 36. That is, the pedestal portion 34 is connected to the main body portion 36 via the rotation shaft 54 supported by the support member 62 (opposing member 62A). The flat member 64 provided below the storage member 60 enters into the main body 36 when the pedestal 34 is in the normal position (see FIG. 4), and when the pedestal 34 is in the rotating position. is pulled out from the main body 36 in accordance with the rotation of the pedestal 34 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

Since the rotation of the storage member 60 is guided by the opposing member 62A, the ink cartridge 32 can be rotated in the desired direction, ie, the front direction, without the base portion 34 tilting in the Y direction.

Further, a grooved cam 70 is formed on one of the flat member 64 and the opposing member 62A, and a protrusion 72 that engages with the grooved cam 70 is formed on the other side of the flat member 64 and the opposing member 62A. Rotation of the storage member 60 is restricted by the contact of the protrusion 72. In this embodiment, as an example, a grooved cam 70 is formed on the opposing member 62A, and a protrusion 72 is formed on the planar member 64.

The grooved cam 70 of this embodiment is formed in an arc shape centered on the rotation center C1, and is formed so that the pedestal portion 34 is tilted at a maximum of 40 degrees, for example. The rotation angle of the pedestal 34 is such that the ink cartridge 32 does not come off the pedestal 34 and the ink can be sufficiently stirred.

The protrusion 72 of this embodiment is formed as a shaft (hereinafter referred to as "guide shaft") 74 that engages with the grooved cam 70 of the left and right opposing members 62A. The guide shaft 74 is a shaft extending parallel to the rotating shaft 54, that is, in the Y-axis direction, and is provided for each pedestal portion 34. Note that instead of providing the guide shaft 74, a protruding shape that becomes the protrusion 72 may be formed on the left and right planar members 64.

According to such a configuration, since the rotation of the pedestal portion 34 is restricted by the grooved cam 70, the amount of rotation of the ink cartridge 32 can be easily adjusted.

Furthermore, the storage member 60 and support member 62 of this embodiment are provided for each ink cartridge 32. That is, the pedestal portion 34 is rotatably provided for each ink cartridge 32. Accordingly, a flat member 64, a facing member 62A, and a guide shaft 74 are also provided for each pedestal portion 34. As a result, each ink cartridge 32 can be rotated, so even an ink cartridge 32 with a large capacity can be rotated without requiring a large force. Note that the rotation shaft 54 may be provided separately for each pedestal portion 34, but the rotation shaft 54 in this embodiment is provided as a single shaft extending in the Y direction, and is provided as a single shaft extending in the Y direction. 34 is shared.

Further, the upper part of the front member 38 forming the main body part 36 is folded back to form a folded part 76, and a pad 78 is provided at the lower part of the front side of the pedestal part 34. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the pedestal section 34 rotates at the maximum angle, the pad 78 comes into contact with the folded section 76, reducing the impact when the pedestal section 34 rotates at the maximum angle.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, torsion coil springs 80 are provided at both ends of the rotation shaft 54 to facilitate manual rotation of the ink cartridge 32. Further, the tube that is the ink supply member 50 is fixed with a fastener 84 and arranged along the bottom surface 82 of the pedestal 34, the front member 38, and the bottom plate member 66, and is connected to the inkjet head 24. By arranging the tube in this manner, it is possible to prevent the tube from being bent, etc., regardless of whether the pedestal portion 34 is in the normal position or the rotated position.

Further, a magnet may be provided on the back surface of the pedestal section 34 to enable connection and separation from the main body section 36 by magnetic force. Thereby, unnecessary rotation of the pedestal portion 34 for some reason can be suppressed.

Although the present invention has been described above using the above embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the range described in the above embodiments. Various changes or improvements can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the gist of the invention, and forms with such changes or improvements are also included within the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the ink cartridge 32 placed on the pedestal portion 34 is rotated manually, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be rotated electrically. In this form, for example, the rotation shaft 54 is fixed to the pedestal section 34, the rotation shaft 54 is connected to the rotation shaft of the motor, and the motor is driven to rotate, so that the rotation shaft 54 is mounted on the pedestal section 34. The ink cartridge 32 rotates.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ink cartridge 32 houses the ink pack 46 and the ink inside the ink pack 46 is stirred. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the ink cartridge 32 directly stores the ink. It may also be a form that accommodates.

Further, in the above embodiment, the pedestal section 34 rotates for each ink cartridge 32, but the present invention is not limited to this. The ink cartridges 32 may be formed as a member, and a plurality of ink cartridges 32 may be rotated together by rotating the pedestal portion 34.

Further, in the above embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 is a device that prints an image on the flat medium 22, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied to a printing apparatus that uses sedimentary ink, for example. For example, the present invention may be applied to a printing device that shapes three-dimensional objects, such as a 3D printer.

(Effects of embodiment)
(1) The printing device 10 of the present embodiment includes an ink cartridge 32 that stores ink therein, and an ink supply that has an ink flow path for supplying the ink stored in the ink cartridge 32 to the inkjet head 24. The printing device 10 includes a pedestal section 34 having a connecting member 52 on which the ink cartridge 32 is placed and connects the ink cartridge 32 and the ink supply member 50, and the pedestal section 34 is configured to hold the ink cartridge 32. 32 has a rotation center C1 around which the ink cartridge 32 is rotated while connected to the connection member 52.

According to this embodiment, since the ink cartridge 32 rotates together with the pedestal section 34 while connected to the ink supply member 50, the ink in the ink cartridge 32 can be sufficiently drained without removing the ink cartridge 32 from the printing device 10. can be stirred.

(2) In the printing device 10 of this embodiment, the ink supply member 50 is a tube in which an ink flow path is formed, and the rotation center C1 is biased to one side with respect to the gravity center position C2 of the ink cartridge 32. The connecting member 52 is provided on the rotation center C1 side with respect to the center of gravity C2. According to this embodiment, the length of the tube for supplying ink to the inkjet head 24 can be shortened.

(3) In the printing apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the rotation center C1 is biased downward in the direction of gravity with respect to the center of gravity position C2. According to this embodiment, with a simple configuration, the ink in the ink cartridge 32 can be sufficiently stirred without removing the ink cartridge 32 from the printing apparatus 10.

(4) In the printing device 10 of the present embodiment, the connecting member 52 has a connector member 56 that connects the ink outlet 32A of the ink cartridge 32 and the ink inlet 50B of the ink supply member 50, and the connector member 56 has the ink outlet 32A. When the connection with the ink outlet 32A is broken, the ink outlet 32A is sealed. According to this embodiment, ink can be prevented from leaking from the ink outlet 32A of the ink cartridge 32.

(5) In the printing device 10 of the present embodiment, the pedestal section 34 is provided with the ink inlet 50B of the ink supply member 50, the storage member 60 that stores the ink cartridge 32 and rotates, and the rotation center C1 of the rotation center. It has a support member 62 that supports the moving shaft 54. According to the present embodiment, since the storage member 60 rotates with the ink cartridge 32 and the ink supply member 50 connected, the ink cartridge 32 can be replaced with a simple configuration without removing the ink cartridge 32 from the printing device 10. The ink inside can be stirred sufficiently.

(6) In the printing device 10 of the present embodiment, the storage member 60 has a planar member 64 extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis 54, and the support member 62 is a facing member facing the planar member 64. 62A, and the plane member 64 and the opposing member 62A are arranged to face each other over the entire range in which the storage member 60 rotates. According to this embodiment, the planar member 64 has a function of reinforcing the storage member 60 that rotates while housing the ink cartridge 32, and the planar member 64 and the opposing member 62A are connected to each other throughout the rotation of the storage member 60. Since they face each other in the range, the facing member 62A has a function of guiding the rotation of the storage member 60. Therefore, the ink cartridge 32 can be rotated in a desired direction with a simple configuration.

(7) In the printing device 10 of this embodiment, the grooved cam 70 is formed on one of the plane member 64 and the opposing member 62A, and the protrusion 72 that engages with the grooved cam 70 is formed on the other side of the plane member 64 and the opposing member 62A. The rotation of the storage member 60 is restricted by the protrusion 72 coming into contact with the end of the grooved cam 70. According to this embodiment, since the rotation of the pedestal portion 34 is restricted by the grooved cam 70, the amount of rotation of the ink cartridge 32 can be easily adjusted.

(8) In the printing apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the storage member 60 and the support member 62 are provided for each ink cartridge 32. According to this embodiment, each ink cartridge 32 can be rotated, so even an ink cartridge 32 with a large capacity can be rotated without requiring a large force.

(9) The printing device 10 of this embodiment is provided with a handle member 58 that allows the ink cartridge 32 to rotate together with the pedestal portion 34 . According to this embodiment, the ink cartridge 32 can be easily rotated manually.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention is useful as a printing device which can stir the ink in the ink cartridge 32.

10 Printing device 24 Inkjet head 32 Ink cartridge 32A Ink outlet 34 Pedestal portion 50 Ink supply member 50B Ink inlet 52 Connecting member 54 Rotation shaft 56 Connector member 58 Handle member 60 Storage member 62 Support member 62A Opposing member 64 Planar member 70 Groove Cam 72 Projection C1 Center of rotation C2 Center of gravity position

Claims (7)

A printing device comprising: an ink cartridge containing ink; and an ink supply member having an ink flow path for supplying the ink contained in the ink cartridge to an inkjet head.
a pedestal portion on which the ink cartridge is placed and a connecting member that connects the ink cartridge and the ink supply member;
The pedestal part is
a rotation center for rotating the ink cartridge while the ink cartridge is connected to the connecting member ;
a storage member that is provided with an ink inlet of the ink supply member and rotates to store the ink cartridge;
a support member that supports the rotation shaft serving as the rotation center;
has
The storage member has a planar member extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis,
The support member has a facing member facing the planar member,
The planar member and the opposing member are arranged to face each other over the entire rotation range of the storage member, and a rotation angle limiting portion is formed to limit a rotation angle of the ink cartridge;
The ink includes a component that settles,
The ink cartridge is rotatable arbitrarily within the rotation angle, and the ink cartridge is rotated to stir the settling components uniformly. The ink supply member is a tube in which the ink flow path is formed,
The rotation center is biased to one side with respect to the center of gravity of the ink cartridge,
The connecting member is provided on the rotation center side with respect to the center of gravity position,
The printing device according to claim 1. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the center of rotation is biased downward in the direction of gravity with respect to the center of gravity. 1 . The pedestal portion is provided with an ink inlet of the ink supply member, and further includes a storage member that stores the ink cartridge and rotates therein, and a support member that supports a rotation shaft that is a center of rotation. 4. The printing device according to claim 3. A printing device comprising: an ink cartridge containing ink; and an ink supply member having an ink flow path for supplying the ink contained in the ink cartridge to an inkjet head.
comprising a pedestal portion on which the ink cartridge is placed and a connecting member that connects the ink cartridge and the ink supply member;
The pedestal part is
a rotation center for rotating the ink cartridge while the ink cartridge is connected to the connecting member;
a storage member that is provided with an ink inlet of the ink supply member and rotates to store the ink cartridge;
a support member that supports the rotation shaft serving as the rotation center;
has
The storage member has a planar member extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis,
The support member has a facing member facing the planar member,
The planar member and the opposing member are arranged to face each other in the entire rotation range of the storage member,
Printing device. A grooved cam is formed on one of the planar member and the opposing member, and a protrusion that engages with the grooved cam is formed on the other of the planar member and the opposing member,
The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein rotation of the storage member is restricted by the protrusion coming into contact with an end of the grooved cam. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the storage member and the support member are provided for each ink cartridge.

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