JPH0646679Y2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus, and more particularly to an ink system for protecting an inkjet head.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, various ink systems such as capping devices have been devised for the purpose of preventing clogging of nozzles of an inkjet head.

In JP-A-56-60256, an ink absorbing member is provided in the cap to prevent clogging of the nozzle during capping. Further, JP-A-60-162656 discloses that
An ink trap chamber for wetting the nozzle is provided in the connecting pipe connecting the cap member and the pump to prevent the nozzle from drying and clogging.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the conventional ink system disclosed in JP-A-56-60256 has a problem that the shape of the cap member affects the wetting ability of the nozzle.

Further, in the ink system disclosed in JP-A-60-162656, although the nozzle wetting ability can be ensured, the liquid level of ink in the ink trap chamber must be located below the connecting portion of the cappy member and the connecting pipe. In that case, ink could leak out, and the degree of freedom in arranging the cap and the ink trap chamber was limited.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, when the ink from the capping member is sucked by the pump, the pulsation of the pump cannot be sufficiently absorbed, the ink leaks from the capping member, and the air bubbles enter the nozzle and destroy the meniscus. There was a problem.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems all at once.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a print head having nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, and a print head arranged to face the print heads so as to cover the nozzles. An ink jet recording apparatus having a cap member, a connecting pipe connecting the cap member and a pump for sucking ink, and an ink reservoir disposed in the connecting pipe, wherein the connecting pipe is connected to the inside of the cap member. The ink holding member is locked so as to cover the mouth, and the inside of the ink reservoir is filled with a porous member.

[Operation] Since the ink holding member is locked inside the cap member so as to cover the connecting port of the connecting pipe and the inside of the ink reservoir is filled with the porous member, the inside of the cap is sufficiently kept wet. At the same time, the ink holding member inside the cap member and the porous member filled in the ink reservoir can absorb the pulsation of the pump when the pump is operating, and can exert a smooth suction operation on the head. In particular, since the ink reservoir has a substantially sealed porous member, it is possible to sufficiently absorb the sudden suction of the pump and the subsequent return of ink or the return of air bubbles, and keep the meniscus of the nozzle stable. Is something that can be done.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a print head made of a glass material having an ink jet nozzle, 2 is a print head protecting cap, and 3 is locked in the print head protecting cap 2. Ink holding members A, 4 are ink storage members, 5 is a joining tube for connecting the print head protection cap 2 and the ink storage member 4 in communication, and 6 is an ink holding member filled in the ink storage member 4. Members B and 7 are ink suction pumps for sucking ink from the print head 1, and 8 is a connection tube for connecting the ink reservoir member 4 and the ink suction pump 7.

The ink holding member A3 and the ink holding member B6 are porous members made of a resin material having a good ink holding ability and a good ink passing property.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment, when the ink is sucked from the print head 1 when not operating or as a print failure recovery means, the print head 1 is in a state in which the ink ejection nozzle portion is capped by the print head protection cap 2. . In the cap state, the ink sucked from the print head 1 by the ink suction pump 7 passes through the ink holding member A3 in the print head protecting cap 2 and flows into the ink reservoir member 4 via the joining tube 5, It passes through the ink holding member B6 in the ink reservoir member 4 and is sucked by the ink suction pump 7 via the connection tube 8.
By this ink suction operation, a fixed amount of ink is held in the lower part of the ink holding member A3 and the ink reservoir member 4 and the ink holding member B6. The ink suction operation is performed by recovering the printing defect, immediately before non-operation, or by operating the pump at regular intervals.

The ink is supplied to the ink holding member A3 by a suction operation by a pump and also by ejecting a fixed amount of ink droplets from the print head 1.

In addition, for the joining tube 5, the ink reservoir member 4, and the connection tube 8, it is preferable to use a material having extremely low gas permeation, such as a metal material such as a stainless material or a resin material such as vinylidene chloride or nylon 6. Further, the print head protection cap 2 may be made of a material such as a material selected and covered with another member (not shown) for preventing gas permeation.

Next, FIG. 2 shows an embodiment relating to the positions of the inflow and outflow ports with respect to the ink reservoir member 4.

A structure in which the connection tube 8 and the joining tube 5 are located above the ink reservoir member 4 so that a large amount of ink is retained below the ink reservoir member 4 in addition to the ink retaining force of the ink retaining member B. Is.

[Advantages of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the ink holding member is locked inside the cap member so as to cover the connection port of the connecting pipe, and the inside of the ink reservoir is filled with the porous member. In this way, while keeping the inside of the cap sufficiently wet, the ink holding member inside the cap member and the porous member filled in the ink reservoir absorb the pulsation of the pump during pump operation, and smooth suction operation. Can be applied to the head. In particular, since the ink reservoir has a substantially sealed porous member, it is possible to sufficiently absorb the sudden suction of the pump and the subsequent return of ink or the return of air bubbles, and keep the meniscus of the nozzle stable. Is something that can be done. Further, by providing the porous member in the ink reservoir between the cap member and the pump, the sizes of the ink reservoir and the porous member can be freely changed depending on the suction pressure of the pump. Even the pulsation of various pumps can be sufficiently absorbed. Further, even if the ink reservoir member is arranged at a high position with respect to the cap member, the ink does not leak from the ink retaining member of the cap member due to the ink retaining ability of the porous member, so that the cap member and the ink reservoir member are arranged. Can be set freely.

[Brief description of drawings]

 FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... Print head 2 ... Print head protection cap 3 ... Ink holding member A 4 ... Ink reservoir member 6 ... Ink holding member B 7 ... Ink suction pump

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A print head having a nozzle for ejecting ink droplets, a cap member disposed to face the print head so as to cover the nozzle, and a cap member and a pump for sucking ink are connected. In an ink jet recording apparatus having a connecting pipe and an ink reservoir arranged in the connecting pipe, an ink holding member is locked inside the cap member so as to cover a connecting port of the connecting pipe, and an ink reservoir An ink jet recording apparatus having a porous member filled inside.