JPH0149629B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a device for preventing air from entering an inkjet printer from a nozzle during transportation or long-term storage.

<Prior art> Generally, in an inkjet printer, ink is jetted in the form of particles to draw characters, etc. using a dot matrix on recording paper on a platen.
The diameter of the nozzle, which is the ink ejection opening, is, for example, approximately several tens of microns. Therefore, if air gets mixed into the nozzle, the ink dries, and there is a risk that the nozzle will become clogged or the ink supply system will become clogged.

In conventional inkjet printers, in order to prevent ink from drying in the nozzle, for example, ink is intermittently ejected at regular intervals when the printer is not operating, or a cap is automatically placed over the nozzle when the power is turned off. Various efforts have been made. However, for example, when transporting from a dealer to a user or storing for a long period of time, the above-mentioned problems still occur due to air being mixed in from the nozzle part.

<Object of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is possible to
The object of the present invention is to provide a device that can prevent air from being mixed in from a nozzle with simple operation.

That is, provided opposite to the nozzle at one sliding end of the carriage on which the nozzle is mounted,
A device that covers the nozzle part to prevent air from entering the nozzle part during transportation or long-term storage of the inkjet printer, includes a cam that can freely rotate on a pivot shaft and the amount of rotation of the cam in a predetermined direction. a driven plate that is displaced toward the nozzle in response to the displacement; a rubber body that is supported by the driven plate and forms a sealed chamber that covers the nozzle when the nozzle is displaced; and a rubber body that is provided on the top of the rubber body and is protected by the sealed chamber. It has an injection port for injecting liquid and a plug body that closes the injection port of the sealed chamber when the nozzle is covered with a rubber body supported by a driven plate by rotating the cam. The present invention also provides a nozzle protection device for an inkjet printer, which is equipped with a cam lock plate that restricts the rotational movement of the cam.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A.

A nozzle protection device 5 according to the present invention is provided opposite to the nozzle part 1 at one sliding end (for example, the right end) of the carriage 4 which carries the nozzle part 1 and slides on the slide bar 3 along the platen 2. It is being In addition to the nozzle section 1, the carriage 4 includes an ink tank 7 that supplies ink to the nozzle section 1 through an ink passage 6, a shutoff screw 8 that can block ink from the ink tank 7 at the ink passage 6, and an ink tank. An ink cartridge 9 and the like for replenishing ink to 7 are provided. These are the number of nozzles provided in the nozzle section 1 (4 in this embodiment).
) are established independently.

As is clear from FIG. 2, in the nozzle section 1, the ink from each ink passage 6 is guided to the ink chamber 1b by the nozzle capillary 1a, and the adjacent piezoelectric element 1
c, the ink is ejected from the nozzle hole 1d.

Now, the nozzle protection device 5 is disposed on the holder 10 at one sliding end (right end) of the carriage 4,
Cam 1 rotatably provided on pivot shaft 11
2. A driven plate 15 that is rotatable on the shaft 13, contacts the cam 12 by a spring 14, and is displaced with respect to the nozzle part 1 according to the amount of rotation of the cam 12; It is composed of a rubber body 18 and the like fixed to a holding plate 17 rotatably supported by a shaft 16.

The cross-sectional shape of the contact portion of the cam 12 with the driven plate 15 described above varies depending on the amount of rotation of the cam 12.
It is formed into a polygonal shape so that the amount of displacement changes.

On the other hand, the rubber body 18 independently forms sealed chambers 18a that are closely attached to the nozzle portion 1 and cover the respective nozzle holes 1d by displacement of the driven plate 15 due to rotation of the cam 12 in a predetermined direction. Furthermore, an injection port 18b is provided at the top of the rubber body 18 for injecting a protective liquid into each sealed chamber 18a formed.

Further, on the upper surface of the holder 10, there is a cam lock plate 19 which is attached to the upper surface of the injection port 18b, the driven plate 15, and the cam 12 and also serves as a plug for the injection port 18b.

That is, the cam lock plate 19 is clearly shown in FIG. 3, and has an opening 1 into which the operating lever 12a of the cam 12 is inserted, regulating the operation of the lever 12a.
9a, and an opening 19b into which the upper end of the driven plate 15 is inserted.
and a plug body portion 19c that is tightly fitted (press-fitted) into each injection port 18b to close the injection port 18b.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, this cam lock plate 19 has the operating lever 12a and the driven plate 15 fitted into the openings 19a and 19b, respectively, and the stopper portion 19c.
are press-fitted into each injection port 18b, and attached to their upper surfaces by the engagement action of this press-fitting. The opening 19a restricts the operation lever 12a, that is, the movement of the cam 12, and prevents the cam 12 from moving unless the cam lock plate 19 is removed, in other words, the plug body 19c of the injection port 18b is removed. ing. As will be described later, this is to reliably prevent air from entering the nozzle when the nozzle hole 1d is uncovered by the rubber body 18 in order to restart the printing operation.

Note that the bottom of the holder 10 forms a slope 10a that slopes to the right in FIG.

Next, the function of the embodiment of the present invention will be described together with its usage method.

When transporting or storing an inkjet printer for a long period of time, first move the carriage 4 to the sliding end (right end) where the nozzle protection device 5 is installed, and then move the cam 12 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 (clockwise). turn. Then, the driven plate 15 is rotated around the shaft 13 toward the nozzle part 1, and thereby the holding plate 17
The rubber body 18 fixed to the nozzle portion 1 is tightly attached to each sealed chamber 18 that covers each nozzle hole 1d.
form a.

Next, turn the shutoff screw 8 to shut off the ink passage 6, fill each sealed chamber 18a with the protective liquid from each inlet 18b using a syringe, etc., and then insert the cam lock plate 19 into the openings 19a, 19b. Operation lever 1
2a, the stopper portion 19c is press-fitted into each injection hole 18b while the driven plate 15 is inserted, thereby sealing the hole. This prevents the nozzle holes 1d from clogging due to ink drying during long-term storage. Note that during transportation, it is desirable to remove the ink cartridge 9 and plug it, and also close the air hole 7 provided in the ink tank 7.

When using the ink jet printer after transportation or long-term storage, first remove the cam lock plate 19 to open the sealed chamber 18a to the atmosphere, release the restriction on the cam 12, open the ink passage 6, and release the ink. Cartridge 9 plug and air hole 7
Unlock a. Next, the cam 12 is turned in the direction opposite to the arrow in FIG. 2 (counterclockwise) to separate the rubber body 18 from the nozzle portion 1. At this time, the protective liquid flowing out from the sealed chamber 18a is guided in a predetermined direction along the slope 10a formed at the bottom of the holder 10, and does not contaminate the machine.

Also, as another procedure, first cam lock plate 1
9 to open the sealed chamber 18a to the atmosphere and release the restriction of the cam 12, turn the cam 12 in the opposite direction to the arrow in FIG. 2 to separate the rubber body 18 from the nozzle part 1, and then This is a method of opening the ink passage 6 and unblocking the plug of the ink cartridge 9 insertion part and the air hole 7a.

What is important here is to first open the sealed chamber 18a to the atmosphere and then perform an operation to separate the rubber body 18 from the nozzle portion 1.

If the rubber body is separated from the nozzle part by a cam without opening the sealed chamber 18a to the atmosphere, when the rubber body 18 is separated, the sealed chamber 18a
As a result, the ink on the nozzle section 1 side is rapidly suctioned, causing air to enter the nozzle section 1, nozzle capillary tube 1a, and ink chamber 1b, which adversely affects subsequent recording operations.

Therefore, in the present invention, the cam lock plate 19 having the above-described structure is provided, and the cam 12 locks the rubber body 18.
The cam 12 cannot be rotated unless the cam lock plate 19 is removed when the cam 12 is separated from the nozzle part 1.

In other words, the cam 12 is configured to rotate after the plug body 19c integrally provided on the cam lock plate 19 opens the sealed chamber 18a to the atmosphere, and when the rubber body 18 is separated, the nozzle part 1. This prevents air from entering the nozzle capillary tube 1a and the ink chamber 1b.

If, for some reason, it is found that air has entered the nozzle section 1, nozzle capillary tube 1a, or ink chamber 1b side, turn the cam 12 again to tightly seal the rubber body 18 to the nozzle section 1. let and,
A small amount of the protective liquid is injected into the sealed chamber 18a through the injection port 18b using a syringe, and then the liquid in the sealed chamber 18a is sequentially inhaled again using the syringe. With this suction operation, the nozzle part 1, the nozzle capillary tube 1a, and the ink chamber 1
The ink on the b side is sucked out into the sealed chamber 18a, and the air mixed therein is also taken out from the nozzle side.

<Other Embodiments> FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the cam lock plate 19, in which the other part of the cam lock plate 19 on the plug body 19c side is further extended toward the ink cartridge side, and the ink tank 7 Air hole 7a provided in
The plug body portion 19d of the ink cartridge 9 and the plug body portion 19c of the insertion portion of the ink cartridge 9 are integrally formed.

This configuration is convenient because it is possible to open the sealed chamber 18a, unclose the plug of the cartridge insertion part, and the air hole 7a all at once by removing the cam lock plate 19. The structure other than the cam lock plate 19 is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above.

<Effects> As explained above, according to the present invention, air intrusion from the nozzle during transportation and long-term storage of an inkjet printer can be prevented with a simple structure and easy operation. This prevents nozzle clogging due to ink drying, and when reusing the machine, it can be easily restored to its working condition without contaminating the machine.
Since it can be used immediately, it is possible to improve product reliability, simplify transportation and storage operations, and facilitate maintenance.

In addition, by providing a cam lock plate that is integrated with the stopper of the sealed chamber, the rubber body can be separated from the nozzle part by camming while the sealed chamber is always open to the atmosphere, so the nozzle can be removed during reuse. It has the feature of reliably preventing air from entering the side.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of the device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a cam lock plate included in the device, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another device of the same device. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the configuration of an embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Nozzle part, 1d... Nozzle hole, 2... Platen, 4... Carriage, 5... Nozzle protection device, 7... Ink tank, 9... Ink cartridge, 11... Pivot shaft, 12... ...Cam, 15
... Driven plate, 18 ... Rubber body, 18a ... Sealed chamber, 18b ... Inlet, 19 ... Camlock plate.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. The inkjet printer has a carriage on which the nozzles of the inkjet printer are mounted and moves on a slide bar along the platen, and is provided at one sliding end of the carriage to face the nozzle, A device that covers the nozzle section to prevent air from entering the nozzle section during transportation or long-term storage of the printer, and the device includes a cam that is rotatable on a pivot shaft;
a driven plate that is displaced toward the nozzle according to the amount of rotation of the cam in a predetermined direction; a rubber body that is supported by the driven plate and forms a sealed chamber that covers the nozzle when the cam is displaced; An injection port is provided at the top for injecting the protective liquid into the sealed chamber, and when the cam is rotated and the nozzle is covered with the rubber body supported by the driven plate, the injection port of the sealed chamber is opened. 1. A nozzle protection device for an inkjet printer, comprising a cam lock plate that integrally has a plug that closes the nozzle and restricts rotational movement of a cam.