JPH05318760A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep the pressure of an ink filling part such as an ink bag constant by controlling the supply pressure of ink to a recording means by applying pressure to the ink filling part by the application of pressure to a cavity part. CONSTITUTION:When negative pressure is detected by a pressure sensor 19, back pressure is taken out of the exhaust valve 20 of a pump 7 and applied to the pressure applying part (cavity part) 15 of an ink cartridge 13 through a pressure applying pipe 11. By this mechanism, pressurre acts on an ink supply bag 14 to forcibly push out ink and the liquid pressure in an ink supply pipe 10 is raised. Therefore, the pressure sensor 19 comes to detect no ink insufficiency error and the supply of ink is smoothly performed. When no ink remains in the ink supply bag 14, the liquid pressure at the attachment position of the ink residual sesnor (pressure sensor) 19 of the ink supply pipe 10 is held to a negative pressure state even when pressure is applied to the pressure applying part 15 and the insufficiency of ink can be normally detected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means onto a recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having functions such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile, or a recording device used as an output device of a composite type electronic device including a computer, a word processor, etc. An image is recorded on a recording material such as a plastic thin plate. The recording device is
Inkjet type, wire dot type,
It can be divided into a thermal type and a laser beam type.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a serial scan system in which main scanning is performed in a direction intersecting a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position and then the recording material is recorded. An image is recorded (main scanning) by a recording unit mounted on a carriage that moves along the material, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (pitch conveyance) after the recording of one line is completed, and then the recording is stopped again. The entire recording material is recorded by repeating the operation of recording (main scanning) the image of the next line on the recording material. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records only by sub-scanning in the conveying direction of the recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and one line of recording is collectively performed, and then a predetermined amount is recorded. The entire recording material is recorded by repeating the paper feeding (pitch feeding) and the recording of the next row all at once.

Among the above recording apparatuses, an ink jet type recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, and the recording means can be made compact. Easy and
High-definition images can be recorded at high speed, plain paper can be recorded without requiring special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise, and multicolor It has an advantage that it is easy to record a color image using ink. Above all, the line type apparatus using the line type recording means in which a large number of ejection openings are arranged in the paper width direction can further speed up the recording.

In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy,
Through the semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, and sputtering, the electrothermal converter formed on the substrate, the electrode,
By forming the liquid passage wall, the top plate and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a liquid discharge device having a high-density liquid passage arrangement (discharging port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. On the other hand, there are various requirements for the material of the recording material,
In recent years, ordinary recording materials such as paper and resin thin plate (OHP)
Etc.), thin paper and processed paper (paper with punched holes for filing, perforated paper, paper of any shape, etc.) have been required to be used.

In the above ink jet recording apparatus,
An ink cartridge is used as an ink reservoir for supplying ink to the recording head. This ink cartridge may be configured as a separate component connected to the recording head by an ink supply pipe or the like, or may be configured integrally with the recording head. In addition, as a form of ink storage in the ink cartridge, in addition to accumulating the ink in the container as it is, the ink is stored in a flexible ink bag housed in the container, or the ink is stored in an ink absorber housed in the container. There are various forms such as absorption and retention.

Now, a conventional ink supply system using a general ink bag will be described. As the ink in the recording head is discharged, a negative pressure is generated in the recording head, which serves as a suction force for the recording head, and an ink reservoir provided between the ink cartridge and the recording head. The ink is replenished by suction into the recording head. The ink reservoir functions as a damper. In the ink reservoir serving as the damper, a negative pressure is generated in the recording head by the amount of ink suctioned and replenished, and the negative pressure causes ink to be suctioned and replenished from the ink bag in the ink cartridge.

[0008]

Therefore, the ink bag itself has a small capacity corresponding to the ink loss and does not generate an ink pushing force so that a negative pressure is not generated by the ink loss. It has a structure that maintains a state, that is, a non-pressure state. Therefore, changing the height position of the ink cartridge mounting portion with respect to the recording head or changing the length of the ink supply pipe changes the ink supply pressure to the recording head. Therefore, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, the position of the ink cartridge and the length of the ink supply pipe cannot be changed even if the same recording head is used in the development of a new model, etc. Is difficult to achieve.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to fill an ink bag or the like with ink without being affected by the position of the ink cartridge or the length of the ink supply tube. It is possible to keep the pressure of each part constant, and therefore, even when using the same recording head, the position of the ink cartridge and the length of the ink supply pipe can be set freely, reducing the size, cost, and cost of the recording device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording device that can easily achieve down.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, an ink filling portion is provided inside an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the recording means. The above object is achieved by providing a hollow portion and applying a pressure to the hollow portion to pressurize the ink filling portion to adjust the ink supply pressure to the recording means. Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, a pressure is applied to the hollow portion by an exhaust mechanism of a recovery suction pump to efficiently achieve the above object.

[0011]

According to the above-mentioned structure of the present invention, by making the outside pressure of the ink filling portion (ink bag or the like) of the ink cartridge controllable, the hollow portion is used as a pressurizing portion at the position of the ink cartridge. Since it is possible to apply a pressure according to it, it is possible to always maintain the same negative pressure required for ink suction from the ink reservoir as a damper to the print head to the print head. The load of the damper with respect to the force can be made constant, and therefore, regardless of changes in the position of the ink cartridge or the length of the ink supply tube, ink supply to the recording head is always performed under stable and appropriate conditions. You can

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a word processor having an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the word processor of FIG. 1, a serial type recording apparatus is used, and a permanent type ink jet recording means 12 is mounted on a carriage 17 that can reciprocate along a recording material 17. In the present embodiment, the ink cartridge 1 for supplying ink to the recording means 12 is provided for the purpose of improving the operability and downsizing of the recording apparatus.
The mounting position of 3 is lower than the position ORG when the recording device is alone, which is indicated by the broken line, from the side lower part MO of the case of the word processor.
It has been changed to V.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a recording device section, 2 is a word processor section, 3 is a pump drive motor, 5 is a platen roller for regulating the position of a sheet or a plastic thin plate in the recording section, and 6 is a recording material. A feed roller for feeding (conveying) paper, a pump unit 7 also serving as a pump for suction recovery of the recording head 12, and a circuit board (PCB unit) 16 constituting a control unit of the recording apparatus.
Further, the word processor unit 2 is provided with a control circuit board 31 of the word processor, a CRT display 32 as a display, a keyboard 33 as an input means, and the like.

The recording means (recording head) 12 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and is provided with an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy. Also, the recording means 12
Is to perform recording by ejecting ink from an ejection port by utilizing a pressure change caused by growth and contraction of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter.

FIG. 2 shows the recording means (recording head) 12
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection section of FIG. In FIG. 2, a plurality of ejection openings 52 are formed at a predetermined pitch on an ejection opening formation surface 51 that faces a recording material with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm). , Each liquid passage 5 that connects the common liquid chamber 53 and each discharge port 52
Electrothermal converters (heat generating resistors, etc.) 55 for generating energy for ejecting ink are arranged along the wall surface of No. 4. In this example, in the recording head 12, the ejection port 52 is in the moving direction of the carriage 17 (main scanning direction).
They are mounted on the carriage 17 in such a positional relationship that they are arranged in a direction intersecting with. In this way, the corresponding electrothermal converter 55 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid path 54 to film-boil, and the pressure generated at that time causes the ink to be ejected from the ejection port 52. The recording head 12 is configured.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the constitution of the ink supply system of the ink jet recording apparatus (recording apparatus section) 1 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the ink cartridge 13 in FIG. FIG. 5 shows the ink cartridge 13 of FIG.
6 is a vertical sectional view showing the internal structure and mounting mechanism of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a pump unit 7 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the pump unit 7 is a suction pump, and its pump piston 8 is connected to the pump drive motor 3 via a pump drive lever 4. In the ink supply system of FIG. 3, 9 is an ink reservoir,
10 is an ink supply bag 1 in the ink cartridge 13
4 (FIG. 5) and an ink supply pipe connecting the ink reservoir damper 9; and 11, a pressurizing pipe connecting the pump exhaust chamber A of the pump unit 7 and the pressurizing portion 15 (FIG. 5) in the ink cartridge 13. , 14 are ink supply bags (ink filling parts) housed in the ink cartridge 13,
15 is a pressurizing portion (hollow portion) formed around the ink supply bag 14 in the ink cartridge 13.

In the ink supply system of FIG. 3, a pressure sensor including a diaphragm switch for detecting the ink supply state is provided in the middle of the ink supply pipe 10 (near the inlet of the ink reservoir 9 in the illustrated example). 19 are provided. 3 and 6, 18 is a pump suction port, 20 is an exhaust valve provided in the pump exhaust chamber A, 21 is an intake ink discharge valve provided in the pump intake chamber B, 28
Is a small hole (orifice) provided in the pump piston 8 with a check valve. One end of the pressurizing pipe 11 is connected to the pump exhaust chamber A via the exhaust valve 20.

In FIG. 5, 22 is a hollow ink supply needle for drawing out ink from the ink cartridge 13, 23 is a hollow pressurizing needle for introducing pressure to the pressurizing portion in the ink cartridge 13. Is. The ink supply needle 22 and the pressurizing needle 23 are attached to a frame member of the recording apparatus, the ink supply needle 22 is connected to the ink supply pipe 10, and the pressurizing needle 23 is connected to the pressurizing pipe 11. Has been done. 4 and 5, the ink cartridge 13 is provided with a supply bellows 24 for penetrating the ink supply needle 22 to supply the ink in the ink supply bag 14 to the outside and the pressurizing needle 23 for penetrating the ink cartridge 13. A pressurizing bellows 25 for introducing pressure into the pressure portion (hollow portion) 15 is provided. The arrow X in FIG.
Indicates the insertion direction when the ink cartridge is installed.

In FIG. 3, C is an ink supply pipe connecting the recording head 12 and the ink reservoir 9, D is an ink reservoir damper chamber formed in the ink reservoir 9, E is ink in the ink reservoir 9, and F is an ink reservoir. Is an ink discharge pipe connected to the suction ink discharge valve 21.

As described above, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, that is, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 for recording by ejecting the ink from the recording means 12 to the recording material.
In, in the ink cartridge 13 for supplying ink to the recording means 12, the ink filling portion 14 and the hollow portion 15 are provided, and by applying pressure to the hollow portion 15 to pressurize the ink filling portion 14, An ink jet recording apparatus is configured which is characterized by adjusting the ink supply pressure to the recording unit 12. Further, in the illustrated example, the pressure is applied to the hollow portion 15 by the exhaust mechanism of the recovery suction pump 7.

In the above-described structure of the present invention, the ink supply state is detected prior to the recording operation. That is, first, the suction pump 7 for cleaning the ejection port 52 of the recording head 12 is operated to suck the ink from the ink cartridge 13 to the suction pump 7 through the recording head, thereby cleaning the recording head 12 (recovery operation). Is performed. Meanwhile, the ink cartridge 13 and the recording head 1
The remaining amount of ink is measured by a pressure sensor 19 for measuring the remaining amount of ink, which is attached in the vicinity of the ink reservoir 9 between the two. In that case, when there is no ink remaining, the ink reservoir 9 of the ink supply bag 14 of the ink cartridge 13
The liquid pressure in the ink supply pipe 10 connected to the negative pressure state becomes a negative pressure state. Even when the mounting position of the ink cartridge 13 is low, or when suction is not possible due to negative pressure after ejection, the pressure sensor 19 continues to indicate negative pressure, and even after the ink is sucked by the suction pump 7, the pressure sensor 19 keeps the pressure. The sensor 19 remains showing negative pressure.

In the above-described structure of the present invention, when the pressure sensor 19 detects a negative pressure, the exhaust pressure is taken out from the exhaust valve 20 of the pump 7, and the exhaust pressure is passed through the pressurizing pipe 11 to the pressurizing portion of the ink cartridge 13 ( Cavity 15).
As a result, pressure acts on the ink supply bag 14, the ink is forcibly pushed out, and the liquid pressure in the ink supply pipe 10 rises. Therefore, the pressure sensor 19 does not detect the ink shortage error, and the ink is smoothly supplied. On the other hand, when there is no ink remaining in the ink supply bag 14, even if pressure is applied to the pressurizing unit 15, the liquid pressure at the position where the ink remaining amount sensor (pressure sensor) 19 of the ink supply pipe 10 is attached is negative. The ink shortage can be normally detected.

Next, a specific example of the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 will be described. First, following the paper feed command, the recording command is transferred from the word processor unit 2 to the circuit board (PCB) 16 for controlling the recording device of the recording device unit 1 together with the recording data. Based on this command, the recording head 12 is filled with ink from the ink cartridge 13, and the recording operation is started.

That is, when there is a recording command from the word processor unit 2, C on the circuit board 16 for controlling the recording device is used.
The PU first operates a carriage motor (not shown) to move the carriage 17 on which the recording head 12 is mounted to the position of the pump unit 7, and the suction port 18 of the pump unit 7 is connected to the ejection port forming surface of the recording head 12. Abut 51. Then, the pump drive motor 3 is operated to suck the ink. Then, the intake chamber B of the pump unit 7
The negative pressure of the discharge head 52 of the recording head 12 and the pipe C
Through the ink chamber 9 into the damper chamber D. Due to this negative pressure, the ink E in the ink reservoir 9 is sucked and replenished into the recording head 12. Then, the ink pool 9
The pressure of the damper chamber D inside becomes lower by the amount of reduction of the ink E, and becomes lower than the pressure inside the ink supply pipe 10. Therefore, the ink in the ink supply pipe 10 is sucked into the ink reservoir 9. At this time, the pressure sensor 19 measures the ink supply pressure from the ink cartridge 13, that is, the ink pressure in the vicinity of the ink reservoir 9 of the ink supply pipe 10.

As a result of the measurement, when the ink pressure is the specified amount, the ink is normally supplied, and the ink is sucked from the ejection port 52 of the recording head 12 to the pump unit 7, thereby preparing for the recording operation. You can confirm that it is done. On the other hand, when the ink pressure measured by the pressure sensor 19 is lower than the specified value, the ink supply to the ink suction of the pump unit 7 is impossible or insufficient, and the ink remaining amount in the ink supply bag 14 is low. There is no
Alternatively, it indicates that the ink supply pressure to the ink reservoir 9 is insufficient.

Therefore, the pressure in the pump exhaust chamber A is introduced into the pressurizing portion 15 of the ink cartridge 13 through the pressurizing pipe 11 to apply the pressure to the ink supply bag 14. When there is ink in the ink supply bag 14, the ink is sent to the ink supply pipe 10, the pressure inside the ink supply pipe 10 rises, and the ink is supplied into the ink reservoir 9. Therefore, the ink pressure measured by the pressure sensor 19 rises, and a reaction with ink occurs. On the other hand, even if pressure is applied to the pressurizing unit 15 for a certain period of time, the pressure sensor 19
If the measured pressure of 1 does not change, it is recognized that the ink in the ink supply bag 14 is exhausted and the ink is out. The above detection of the remaining amount in the ink cartridge 13 should always be performed under a constant condition regardless of the height of the mounting position of the ink cartridge 13 (water head) and the length of the ink supply pipe 10 (flow resistance). You can

In the above embodiment, since the ink cartridge 13 is installed at a position lower than the recording head 12, a positive pressure is applied to the ink supply bag 14. However, when the ink cartridge is installed above the recording head. However, a negative pressure is applied to the ink supply bag, but the present invention can be similarly applied to such a case, and the same effect can be obtained by controlling the pressure of the ink reservoir 9 to be constant. can get.

In the above embodiment, the recording means (recording head) 12 is mounted on the carriage 17 and the serial type ink jet recording apparatus for performing the main scanning along the recording material is described as an example. The invention can be similarly applied to the case of a line type ink jet recording apparatus using a line type recording means corresponding to the whole or a part of the recording width of the recording material, and the same effect can be achieved. It is a thing. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case of an inkjet recording apparatus that records with one recording head has been described as an example, but the present invention is a color inkjet recording apparatus including a plurality of recording heads that record with different colors. ,
Alternatively, it can be similarly applied regardless of the number of recording heads, such as an inkjet recording device for gradation recording, which uses a plurality of recording heads that record with inks having the same color but different densities, and achieves the same effect. It is possible.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, as the ink cartridge, the one in which the ink supply bag 14 is housed in the container is used, but in the present invention, the ink cartridge has the ink filling portion and the hollow portion. The above ink cartridge can be similarly applied to an ink jet recording apparatus using other types of ink cartridges, and the same effect can be achieved. Further, the recording head 12 and the ink cartridge 13 may have various configurations such as a configuration in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated, in addition to the configuration in which the recording head 12 and the ink cartridge 13 are connected as separate components by the ink supply pipe 10. The present invention can be similarly applied to those cases and can achieve the same effect.

The present invention can be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, but among them, thermal energy is utilized. In this way, an excellent effect can be obtained in an ink jet recording apparatus of the type that ejects ink. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
This is preferably done using the basic principles disclosed in US Pat. No. 7,967. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but particularly in the case of the on-demand type, a liquid (ink) is used.
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the Since the electrothermal converter generates heat energy to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording means (recording head), as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. It is valid.

Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,633,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Incidentally, US Pat. No. 43131 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface
If the conditions described in No. 24 are adopted, even more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4, which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a configuration in which the above is associated with the discharge portion. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Furthermore, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that fills the length by combining a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed. In addition, even with the serial type as in the above example, it is possible to electrically connect to the device body or supply ink from the device body by mounting it on the recording head fixed to the device body or on the device body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip type recording head or a cartridge type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add a recovery means for the recording head, a preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided in the present invention as a configuration of the recording apparatus, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned,
Capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means, electrothermal converter or other heating element or preheating means by a combination thereof, and ejection different from recording are applied to the recording head. Performing the preliminary ejection mode is also effective for stable recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. And a plurality of them may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode only for mainstream colors such as black,
The recording head may be integrally configured or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used. However, the present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus having at least one of a mixed color of different colors or a full color of mixed colors.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or below and that softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet. In the method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. Any liquid may be used. in addition,
Whether the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink that solidifies when left standing for the purpose of preventing ink evaporation is used. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying the thermal energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to the case of using an ink which has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one which has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium.

The ink in such a case is described in JP-A-54-
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a mode in which it is held as a liquid or a solid in a concave portion or a through hole of a porous sheet and faces the electrothermal converter. May be In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, besides the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function. It may be in the form of the above.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an ink cartridge for supplying ink to recording means in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from the recording means onto a recording material. Since the ink filling portion and the hollow portion are provided inside the ink cartridge, and the pressure is applied to the hollow portion to pressurize the ink filling portion, the ink supply pressure to the recording unit is adjusted. It is possible to keep the pressure of the ink filling part such as an ink bag constant without being affected by the length of the ink supply pipe and the ink supply pipe. Therefore, even when the same recording head is used, the position of the ink cartridge and the ink supply pipe The length can be set freely, and it is possible to easily make the recording device lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller, and at the same time reduce costs. Changes the mounting position of the ridge because it can be freely performed, the ink jet recording apparatus is provided which can be easily performed new product development of the recording apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink ejection portion of the recording means in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an ink supply system in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge in FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the ink cartridge and its connecting portion in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the pump unit in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Inkjet recording device section 2 Word processor section 3 Pump drive motor 5 Recording platen roller 6 Feed roller 7 Pump unit 8 Pump piston 9 Ink pool 10 Ink supply tube 11 Pressurizing tube 12 Recording means (recording head) 13 Ink cartridge 14 Ink supply Bag 15 Pressurizing unit 16 Circuit board for controlling recording device 17 Carriage 18 Pump suction port 19 Pressure sensor 20 Exhaust valve 21 Discharge valve 22 Ink supply needle 23 Preload needle 51 Discharge port forming surface 52 Discharge port 55 Electrothermal converter A Pump Exhaust chamber B Pump intake chamber C Pipe D Ink reservoir damper chamber E Ink F Ink discharge pipe

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material,
By providing an ink filling portion and a hollow portion inside the ink cartridge for supplying ink to the recording means, and applying pressure to the hollow portion to pressurize the ink filling portion,
An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein an ink supply pressure to a recording unit is adjusted. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure is applied to the hollow portion by an exhaust mechanism of a recovery suction pump. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink. 4. The ink jet recording according to claim 3, wherein the recording unit ejects the ink from an ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. apparatus.