JPH0717049A - Ink passage connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a safe, inexpensive and small-sized ink passage connection device connecting the ink chamber in an ink tank and a main body ink passage. CONSTITUTION:An ink passage connection device is constituted of an ink tank structure member 1, a sealing and holding member 3 made of rubber and the ink passage member constituted in a recording apparatus main body 5. When an ink tank is moved to the left, a pipe 6 comes into contact with the guide taper 3e of a seal member 3. When the center of the pipe 6 and that of the through-hole 3b of the seal member 3 do not coincide with each other at this time, the seal member 3 is guided by the guide taper 3e to move in a vertical direction against the elasticity of the thin-walled part 3c thereof and the pipe 6 forcibly expands the through hole 3b reasonably to penetrate into the seal member 3 to connect an ink passage. Since a needle having a problem in safety is not used, this ink passage connection device is safe and can be made inexpensive and small-sized because a mechanism preventing the contact with the needle is unnecessary.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink passage connecting device for connecting an ink chamber in an ink tank and an ink flow passage of the main body when the ink tank is attached to the main body in a printer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are the following two methods for replenishing ink in a recording apparatus which prints using liquid ink, particularly in a relatively small recording apparatus which is not intended for printing a large amount. In the first method, a tank that stores ink, an ink flow path that guides the ink to the print head, and a head that discharges the ink onto the recording material are configured as one unit, and when the ink in the tank runs out, each unit It is a method of exchanging. In the second method, the head and the ink flow path are incorporated in the recording apparatus, and only the tank can be attached to and detached from the main body.

In the first method, since the ink is contained in one unit, it has the advantage of being highly reliable against problems such as mixing of dust and ink leaking to the surroundings, but when the ink runs out, the entire head is replaced. As a result, the running cost becomes high. The second method, on the other hand, has the advantage that the running cost is low because only the tank is replaced. However, a mechanism for connecting the ink chamber in the tank and the ink flow path in the main body of the recording apparatus is required. This connection mechanism needs to communicate with the ink chamber in the tank and the ink flow path of the main body when the tank is mounted, and to be sealed from the outside air in order to prevent ink leakage. Further, when the tank is mounted, a mechanical error occurs in the connecting portion, so it is necessary to be able to absorb a certain amount of displacement.

Conventionally, needles have often been used to satisfy such specifications. The tank connection part is plugged with a highly elastic material such as rubber, and a hollow needle with a sharp tip is erected at the connection part of the main body ink flow path, and the needle penetrates the plug. This allows the ink chamber of the tank to communicate with the main body ink flow path. This method has a simple structure, and even if there is a mechanical position error in the connection part, the needle can penetrate any position of the stopper, and when the tank is removed, the stopper closes the hole with its elastic force It has advantages such as leakage.

[0005]

However, the connection method using the needle has a problem in safety because the needle is inevitably exposed when the tank is replaced.
As a countermeasure, remove the tank so that the tank insertion port of the recording device is covered with a movable lid, and the needle is surrounded by a fixed guard member so that a finger etc. does not easily touch the needle. However, there are problems in that the cost becomes high and the device becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is an ink path that connects the ink chamber in the ink tank and the main ink flow path, which is safe, does not cost much, and requires a small device. It is intended to provide a connection device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, an ink path connecting device is provided with the following (1) to (6).
Configure as follows.

(1) When an ink tank for storing ink is attached to the ink flow path means for forming an ink flow path for guiding the ink to the recording head, the ink flow path and the ink in the ink tank An ink path connecting device for connecting a chamber, wherein the ink tank stores ink in the ink tank, a sealing means having a through hole communicating the outside with the ink chamber, and the through hole of the sealing means is normally closed. An ink path having a closing means for holding and a holding means for holding the sealing means, the holding means holding the sealing means so as to be movable at least in a plane orthogonal to the through hole. Connection device.

(2) The ink flow path means has a hollow convex portion that fits into the through hole of the sealing means, and the closing means opens the through hole when the convex portion enters the through hole. In addition, the ink path connection device according to (1) above.

(3) The sealing means and the holding means are an integral member composed of an elastic body composed of a thick portion having a through hole and an umbrella-shaped thin portion provided on the outer periphery thereof, and the closing means is The ink passage connecting device according to (2), wherein the hole is closed by compressing the outer circumference of the thick portion in the radial direction of the through hole.

(4) The sealing means and the holding means are an integral member made of an elastic body having a through hole, and the closing means closes the hole by compressing the outer circumference of the member in the radial direction of the through hole. According to the above (2), there is provided means for pressing the member in the axial direction of the through hole, thereby causing pressure contact between the member and surrounding members to prevent ink leakage. Ink passage connection device.

(5) The holding means is made of gel (2)
Ink passage connecting device.

(6) The ink passage connecting device according to (2), wherein the closing means is a valve member that is opened by being pushed by the hollow convex portion.

[0014]

With the constitutions (1) to (6), when the ink tank is pressed against the ink flow passage means, the hollow convex portion of the ink flow passage means penetrates the through hole of the sealing means. At this time, when the center of the convex portion and the center of the through hole do not coincide with each other, the holding means holds the sealing means so as to be movable in a plane orthogonal to the through hole, and thus the penetrating reasonably. In this way
Ink passage connection can be performed without using a needle, regardless of a mechanical position error of the connection portion.

[0015]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are sectional views of an "ink passage connecting device" which is Embodiment 1, FIG. 1 shows a section before mounting an ink tank, and FIG. Shows. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an ink tank structural member which forms independent ink chambers 1a, 1b and 1c. Ink chamber 1
For example, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are contained in a, 1b, and 1c. Reference numeral 2 is a lid member of the ink tank, which is integrated with the tank structural member 1 by welding or the like. Three
Is a seal member (also a holding member) made of rubber, and is composed of a substantially cylindrical portion 3a, an umbrella-shaped thin portion 3c, and an annular thick portion 3d. The annular thick portion 3d is sandwiched and fixed by the tank structural member 1 and the lid member 2 while being compressed. The substantially cylindrical portion 3a is provided with a guide taper 3e and a through hole 3b, but the through hole 3b is closed because the tightening ring 4 (closing means) tightens the outer circumference. The seal member 3 can freely move by elastic deformation of the thin umbrella-shaped portion 3c, but the partition portion 1d of the ink tank structure member 1 receives the right side of the seal member 3 and the lid member 2 receives the left side of the tightening ring 4. Therefore, it cannot move in the left-right direction in the figure. A similar structure is used for the ink chamber 1b,
It is also configured for 1c. Reference numeral 5 is an ink flow path member formed in the main body of the recording apparatus, and the yellow, cyan, and
Ink flow paths 5a, 5b, 5c to the head corresponding to each magenta color ink are formed, and a pipe 6 is fixed to the end of the ink flow path on the tank side by adhesion or the like.

In the above structure, when the ink tank is moved to the left, the pipe 6 comes into contact with the guide taper 3e of the seal member 3. At this time, the centers of the pipe 6 and the through hole 3b of the seal member 3 do not exactly coincide with each other due to mechanical error or backlash, but are guided by the guide taper 3e so that the seal member 3 is in a plane perpendicular to the entering direction of the pipe 6. It moves, and the pipe 6 can push in the through hole 3b without difficulty and enter.
Ink passages are connected in this manner.

In the state shown in FIG. 2 in which the ink tank has been installed, the seal member 3 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 6, and the annular portion 3d of the seal member 3 and the tank structure member 1 are in close contact with each other. The ink in the room does not leak out.

In the present embodiment, since the same parts are used for the three connecting portions, there is an advantage that the parts management and assembly processes are simple. Further, since there are aligning functions at all three locations, it is possible to absorb a relatively large mechanical error.

In this embodiment, the seal member 3 has a substantially cylindrical portion 3a, but this is not essential. Due to the regulation of the outer shape of the ink tank, for example, even if the cross section is oval, there is no problem if the tightening ring is also oval. Similarly, the thin umbrella portion does not necessarily have to have a conical shape.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state in which an ink tank is attached in Embodiment 2. As shown in FIG. The ink flow path member 5 and the pipe 6 are the same as in the first embodiment. The ink tank structure member 7 has independent ink chambers 7a, 7b, 7c, and a seal member is housed between the ink tank structure member 7 and the lid member 8 fixed by welding, as in the first embodiment. The seal member 9 corresponding to the ink chamber 7b has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the outer periphery thereof is directly fastened to the ink tank structure member 7,
It is smaller than other sealing parts because there is no umbrella-shaped thin part and a separate tightening ring. In addition, the convex portion 8a of the lid member 8
Has an outer periphery fitted to a portion of the tank structure member 7 where the seal member 9 is fastened, and an inner periphery has a convex portion 5d of the ink flow path member 5.
Is fitted to. The seal member 10 and the tightening ring 11 corresponding to the ink chambers 7a and 7c have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, but the storage space is increased by the reduction of the seal member 9. Since the convex portion 5d of the ink flow path member 5 guides the lid member 8 when the ink tank is mounted, there is no problem even if the seal member 9 and the pipe 6 are accurately hit and have no centering function.

In this embodiment, the space for the two seal members having the aligning function can be made larger than that in the first embodiment, and a larger displacement can be absorbed by setting a large movable amount of the seal members. can do.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state when an ink tank is attached in Embodiment 3. The ink flow path member 5 and the pipe 6 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The ink tank structure part 12 has an independent ink chamber 1
2a, 12b and 12c are provided, and a seal member 9 having no centering function corresponding to the ink chamber 12b is housed in the ink tank structural member 12 with its outer periphery clamped. The lid member 15 is the ink tank structural member 1
A hole is provided so that the pipe 6 fixed by welding to the seal member 2 and fitted into the seal member 9 can be fitted without play. A seal member (also a holding member) corresponding to the ink chambers 12a and 12c
Reference numeral 13 is a member made of a substantially cylindrical rubber having a through hole at the center, and is tightened by a tightening ring 14 so that the through hole is closed. Further, annular ribs 13a and 13b (holding means) are provided on the left and right surfaces of the seal member 13 in the drawing.
Is provided and is sized so that the tank structure member 12 and the lid member 15 can be compressed and assembled from the left and right. Therefore, the ink in the ink chamber does not leak out from the contact portion between the rib 13a and the tank structural member 12. Even if the ink leaks, the rib 13b and the lid member 15 are in contact with each other, so that the ink does not leak to the outside of the ink tank. When the pipe 6 comes into contact with the guide taper 13c provided at the mouth of the through hole of the seal member 13 and the center is deviated, a component force at right angles to the intrusion direction of the pipe 6 is generated.
The seal member 13 moves while maintaining hermeticity against ink.

In this embodiment, since the movement of the seal member is not accompanied by elastic deformation as in the other embodiments, there is an advantage that the pipe 6 does not continue to receive a force after mounting. Also, ribs 13a, 1 for preventing ink leakage
Since 3b is duplicated, it has an advantage of high reliability.

(Embodiment 4) FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views showing a state before and after mounting an ink tank in Embodiment 4. Reference numeral 16 denotes an ink tank structural member, one ink chamber 1
6a is configured. Further, a concave portion 16c communicating with the ink chamber at the opening 16b is formed at the end portion. Reference numeral 17 denotes a lid member having an opening corresponding to the recess 16c, which is integrally fixed to the ink tank structure member 16. A support 22 made of a gel-like material is fitted in the recess 16c of the ink tank structural member 16, and the frame body 1 is attached by its adhesive force and elastic force.
8 is supported, and ink leakage is prevented. Frame 1
Reference numeral 8 has a box-like shape that is airtight except that it has an opening 16b of the ink tank structural member 16 and an opening on the surface facing the ink flow path. Reference numeral 19 denotes a seal member made of an elastic body, which is fixed to the ink flow path side opening of the frame body 18, and has a through hole 19a having a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe 24 at the center.
Is provided. 20 is a valve member, and a compression spring 21
5, the opening 19a of the seal member 19 is closed to prevent the ink from leaking to the outside. The inner wall of the frame 18 has a convex portion 18a that partially protrudes inward. 23 is an ink flow path member, and 24 is a pipe. The difference from each of the above-mentioned embodiments is that the pipe and the ink flow path are only one.

When the ink tank is moved to the left from the state shown in FIG. 5, the pipe 24 comes into contact with the seal member 19. At this time, when the centers of both are deviated, the gel-like support 22 is stressed and deformed to be aligned. The pipe 24 enters the through hole 19a of the seal member 19 to ensure airtightness, and then moves the valve member 20 to the right against the pressure spring 21. One end of the valve member 20 abuts on the convex portion 18a of the frame body 18,
It becomes slanted as shown in FIG. At this time, the ink chamber 16a and the ink channel of the ink channel member 23 are in communication with each other.

In this embodiment, a gel material is used as a means for elastically supporting the sealing means while maintaining airtightness. The advantage of using gel is that the hardness can be set lower than that of rubber. Usually, rubber does not have a rubber hardness of 20 degrees or less, and in order to generate a large deformation with a weak force, it is necessary to devise such as providing an umbrella-shaped thin portion as described in other examples. If used, it is unnecessary.

In each of the above embodiments, a pipe is used for the connection portion of the ink flow path member with the ink tank, but this is not an essential configuration. In the present invention, since the tip of the ink flow path connecting portion does not need to be sharp as in the needle type, even if the shape corresponding to the pipe is formed by the ink flow path member itself, there is no influence on the effect of the invention. There is an effect of cost reduction.

(Related Art of the Present Invention) The present invention is particularly effective in an ink jet recording head and a recording apparatus for recording by forming flying droplets by utilizing thermal energy among the ink jet recording methods. To bring.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is applicable to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which is stored, a rapid temperature rise corresponding to the recorded information and exceeding nucleate boiling is applied. , It is effective because it generates heat energy in the electrothermal converter and causes film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head, resulting in the formation of bubbles in the liquid (ink) that correspond one-to-one to this drive signal. Is. Liquid (ink) flows through the ejection openings due to the growth and contraction of these bubbles
To form at least one drop. When this drive signal is pulsed, the growth and contraction of the bubbles are performed immediately and appropriately, so the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness is used.
It is more preferable that the discharge can be achieved.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface are adopted, 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 straight liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. The present invention also includes a configuration using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which the heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.

In addition, JP-A-59-123670 discloses a structure in which a common slit is used as the discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a pressure wave of thermal energy is absorbed. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which an opening corresponds to a discharge portion.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum recording medium width that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length can be increased by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. The present invention can more effectively exert the above-mentioned effects, although it may have a configuration that satisfies the above requirements or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, by being attached to the apparatus main body, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can be supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by a replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge-type recording head provided with an ink tank is used.

Further, it is preferable to add a recovery means for the recording head, a preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. If you list these specifically,
Capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or sucking means for the recording head, preheating means using an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof, and a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection other than recording It is also effective to perform stable recording.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for a device provided with at least one of full colors by color mixing.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens at room temperature, or is a liquid, or the above-mentioned. In the inkjet 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. It may be in a liquid form.

In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink is solidified in the left state for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink. In some cases, such as ink that is liquefied by being applied with heat energy according to a recording signal and ejected as a liquid ink, or one that has already started to solidify when it reaches a recording medium. The use of an ink that has the property of being liquefied only by heat energy is also applicable to the present invention. In such a case, the ink is retained as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260. It may be configured to face the electrothermal converter. 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 a form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to a recording apparatus provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a word processor or a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a lead or the like, May take the form of a facsimile machine having a transmission / reception function.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the needle having a safety problem is not used, it is safe, and the mechanism for preventing the needle from touching the needle is unnecessary and the cost is low. Becomes smaller.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before mounting an ink tank in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when an ink tank is mounted in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when an ink tank is mounted in the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when an ink tank is installed in a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before mounting an ink tank in Embodiment 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state after mounting an ink tank in Example 4.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Ink flow path member 6 Pipe 7 Tank structure material 9 Sealing member / holding member

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. When an ink tank for storing ink is attached to an ink flow path means for forming an ink flow path for guiding ink to a recording head, the ink flow path and an ink chamber of the ink tank An ink path connecting device for connecting the ink tank to the ink tank, the ink chamber for storing ink, a sealing means having a through hole for communicating the outside with the ink chamber, and the through hole of the sealing means are normally closed. A holding means for holding the sealing means, and a holding means for holding the sealing means, wherein the holding means holds the sealing means so as to be movable at least in a plane orthogonal to the through hole. And ink path connection device. 2. The ink flow path means has a hollow convex portion that fits into the through hole of the sealing means, and the closing means opens the through hole when the convex portion enters the through hole. The ink path connection device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The sealing means and the holding means are an integral member composed of an elastic body composed of a thick portion having a through hole and an umbrella-shaped thin portion provided on the outer periphery of the thick portion, and the closing means is the above-mentioned member. The ink passage connecting device according to claim 2, wherein the outer periphery of the thick portion is compressed in the radial direction of the through hole to close the hole. 4. The sealing means and the holding means are an integral member made of an elastic body having a through hole, and the closing means closes the hole by compressing the outer circumference of the member in the radial direction of the through hole. And a means for pressing the member in the axial direction of the through hole, thereby causing pressure contact between the seal member and a surrounding member to prevent ink leakage. 2. The ink path connection device according to 2. 5. The ink path connection device according to claim 2, wherein the holding means is made of gel. 6. The ink passage connecting device according to claim 2, wherein the closing means is a valve member that is opened by being pushed by the hollow convex portion.