JPH02270562A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an ink jet recording device with an ink pressure supply source which provides a constant pressure, can be made compact and also can be free from an external effect by rotating a magnetic material in an ink container using a magnetism generating device arranged outside the container. CONSTITUTION:Ring-shaped fins 103 made of a magnetic material are arranged in a tube-like ink container 102 in a ring form, and a magnet 101 is arranged in the center of a ring of the ink container 102. The ink container 102 is filled with ink. If the magnet 101 is rotated in an arrow direction 104 using a motor, the fin 103 starts rotating in the arrow direction 105 following the rotation of the magnet 101. The ink in the ink container 102 rotates in the arrow direction 105. If the ink rotates, a centrifugal force generates due to the rotation of the ink. A pressure generates on the external wall in the ink container 102 due to the centrifugal force, and this pressure is utilized as a pressure for ink jet recording.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that records by jetting ink onto a recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as an ink pressure supply source to a recording head used in an inkjet recording apparatus, the
Diaram pumps are commonly used, as described in the '829 publication.

The main reason why diaphragm pumps are adopted is that they are inexpensive and compact.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the case of a diaphragm pump, there is a drawback in that a pulsating flow occurs at a frequency corresponding to the number of rotations of the pump. Such pulsating currents affect the state of ink droplet ejection from the ink ejection openings, causing deterioration in the quality of recorded images. Conventionally, as a means for removing pulsating flow caused by a diaphragm pump, a large-capacity bumper tank has been provided in an air flow supply path between the diaphragm pump and the pressure adjustment mechanism.

In addition, a pressure transmission pipe is required to compress external air and transmit pressure. Furthermore, the recording head may become clogged due to dust or the like contained in the external air. Furthermore, there are many problems with inkjet recording, such as long-term pressure fluctuations that occur even when used for a long time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides an inkjet recording device having an ink pressure supply source that can obtain a constant pressure without pulsation, can be miniaturized, and can block the influence of the outside world. The purpose is to provide the following.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention achieves the above object by using a magnetic body disposed inside an ink container containing ink and a magnetism generating means disposed outside the ink container.

Function The present invention rotates a magnetic body placed inside an ink container by a magnetism generating means placed outside the ink container, rotates the ink by the rotational force, and sets the center of rotation of the ink by the centrifugal force generated in the ink. Empower more outward. Therefore,
The pressure generated by the ink is constant depending on the rotational speed of the ink, and a constant pressure without pulsation is supplied, allowing the device to be miniaturized and shielded from the influence of the outside world.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a ring-shaped fin 103 made of a magnetic material is arranged inside a ring-shaped tube-shaped ink container 102, and a magnet 101 is arranged at the center of the ring of the ink container 102. As shown in FIG. The ink container 102 contains ink. Fins 103 inside the ink container 102
Since it is a magnetic material, it receives a force due to magnetism. Therefore, the magnet 101 is moved by the arrow 10 by a motor (not shown) or the like.
When the fin 103 is rotated in the direction 4, the fin 103 starts rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow 10 as the magnet 101 rotates. As the fins 103 rotate, the ink within the ink container 102 also rotates in the direction of the arrow 105. When the ink rotates, centrifugal force is exerted on the ink due to the rotation.

This centrifugal force generates pressure on the inner and outer walls of the ink container 102, and this pressure is used as pressure for inkjet recording.

Although the shape of the ink container 102 is circular in FIG. 1, it may be oval or any other shape.

Further, as a method of changing the magnetic field, a method of rotating a magnet is used in FIG. 1, but a linear motor, a coil, etc. may also be used. Although the shape of the magnetic body is fin-shaped in FIG. 1, basically any magnetic body may be used as long as it rotates the ink in the ink container 102 due to changes in the magnetic field. For example, a spherical magnetic body may be placed in the ink container 102 or rotated within a disc-shaped container. The pressure can be easily controlled by changing the rate of change of the magnetic field, since the rotational speed of the fins 103 changes, the flow rate of the ink changes accordingly, and the pressure changes. Basically, there are no particular restrictions on the shape of the ink container 102, the shape of the magnetic field generator, the shape of the magnetic body, the positional relationship between the ink container 102, the magnetic body, and the magnetic field generator, etc., and if the ink is rotated, pressure will be generated. becomes. Also,
Since the entire device can be downsized and the entire ink container 102 can be sealed, it is not affected by the outside world such as dust.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the device described in FIG. 1 is applied to a pressure supply device for supplying ink from an ink tank to a recording head. Since the principle of pressure generation is shown in FIG. 1, detailed explanation will be omitted. Due to centrifugal force, force acts on the ink outward from the center of rotation (therefore, by making a hole on the outside of the ink container 102, ink can be supplied to the recording head without providing any mechanism to the ink container 102. In Fig. 2, a flow regulating plate 202 is installed to take the ink flow into the recording head in order to increase ink supply efficiency.This flow regulating plate 202
By installing the ink, the ink rotating inside the ink container 102 collides with the flow control plate 202 and is bent toward the recording head. When supplying ink from the - side ink tank, unless some structural improvements are made within the ink container 102, the ink in the ink container 102 will flow back toward the ink tank due to centrifugal force. Therefore, a flow control plate 201 is also attached to the ink tank side. The flow regulating plate 201 is open in the rotation direction of the ink so as not to obstruct the flow of the ink. By attaching this flow regulating plate 201, ink is drawn by the ink viscosity and flows from the ink tank. The current regulating plate 201 and the current regulating plate 202 are made sufficiently small with respect to the ink container 102 to reduce their influence on the flow of ink.

FIG. 3 shows an example of application of the present invention to an inkjet head. The principle and the method of supplying ink from the ink tank are the same as those explained in FIGS. 1 and 2, so their explanation will be omitted.

As described above, pressure is generated on the inner and outer walls of the ink container 102 due to the rotation of the ink, and if a hole is made, the ink will flow out of the ink container 102. If the pressure is low, the ink will just drip, but if you increase the rotational speed of the ink and increase the centrifugal force, the ink will fly. Since it is not possible to control the ink, a mechanical or electromagnetic shutter 301 is installed to control the ink flight. Although not described, a similar mechanism may be installed.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment showing an example of application of the present invention to an ink tank. The ink supply system to the recording head is the same as that described in FIG. 2, and the difference is that there is no ink supply system from an ink tank, and the container 102 itself also serves as an ink tank. This eliminates the need for an ink tank supply system and downsizes the entire device. In addition, it is possible to block influences from the outside world such as dust from the ink tank.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment showing an example of application of the present invention to an ink tank/ink jet head. The operation method is the same as that shown in FIG. 3, and the features include miniaturization, isolation from external influences, etc., as explained in FIG. 4.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention uses magnetism to rotate the magnetic material in the ink container, thereby rotating the ink, and applying ink pressure outward from the center of rotation due to the centrifugal force of the ink. The pressure generated by ink in an inkjet recording device that ejects or supplies ink is constant depending on the rotational speed of the ink.
A constant pressure without pulsation is supplied, and the device can be made smaller.
It can block out the influence of the outside world.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the principle of pressure generation in the ink chef recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the ink supply mechanism from the ink tank to the recording head in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of application of the present invention to a mechanism for flying ink supplied from an ink tank;
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of application of the present invention to an ink supply mechanism for an ink tank/recording head, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of application of the present invention to an ink tank/recording head. 101... Magnet, 102... Ink container, 103...
...Fin, 201, 202...U'4R plate, 30
1...Shutter. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and one other person Figure 1 Figure 21! l:1 113Figure 4

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) An ink container containing ink, a magnetic body placed inside the ink container, a magnetism generating means placed outside the ink container, and the magnetic body being rotated within the ink container by the magnetism generating means. An inkjet recording apparatus characterized by comprising means for causing (2) The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink container is connected between the ink tank and the recording head, and ink is supplied to the recording head by ink pressure generated by rotation of the magnetic body. (3) The inkjet according to claim 1, wherein the ink container is formed with an ink discharge port and an ink supply path, and the ink supplied from the ink supply path is discharged from the ink discharge port by ink pressure generated by rotation of a magnetic body. Recording device. (4) The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink container also serves as an ink tank, and the ink in the ink tank is supplied to the recording head by ink pressure generated by rotation of the magnetic body. (5) Claim 1, wherein the ink container also serves as an ink tank, and an ink discharge port is formed in the ink container, and the ink in the ink tank is discharged from the ink discharge port by ink pressure generated by rotation of a magnetic body. inkjet recording device.