JPH07314725A - Ink-jet recorder and tank for spent ink - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a tank for spent ink in which recovery of spent ink is continued regardless of the volume of the tank for spent ink. CONSTITUTION:A tank for spent ink is detachably fitted to an ink-jet recording device and holds spent ink discharged from a restoration system means which restores a function by removing ink filled in a recording head. The inside of the body 1 of the tank for spent ink is divided into a plurality of holding chambers by the partition walls 2a-2e. The holding chambers communicate through the openings 4 between the upper ends of the partition walls 2a-2e and the top wall 1a of the body. An opening for inserting a pouring pipe 5 for introducing spent ink is provided in the front wall 1b. A communication hole 3 with the atmosphere is provided in the rear wall 1c.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waste ink tank for an ink jet recording apparatus which stores waste ink from a recovery system means for recovering the function by removing ink in a print head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a drop-on-demand type ink jet recording apparatus is in widespread use in which ink droplets are ejected from a minute orifice only when necessary and adhered onto a recording medium to perform dot recording.

In this type, since the ink is stored in a predetermined ink tank, the viscosity of the ink increases due to long-term nonuse, or dust adheres to the nozzle or the tip of the nozzle to change the ejection characteristics. In addition, bubbles may be mixed in the ink supply path, the nozzles, and the like to cause ejection failure. To recover from these states, a so-called idle ejection, suction, or pressure recovery mechanism is provided. Ink ejected by idle ejection not intended for such recording and ink spilled by recovery operation are usually collected and stored in the waste ink reservoir, and are regularly or irregularly discarded together with the waste ink reservoir. is there.

The following method is known as an ink path from the ink supply tank to the recording head to the ink reservoir.

(1) The recording head is a permanent type, and the ink is supplied from the supply ink tank for storing the ink to the nozzle through the ink supply pipe, and the discharge ink reservoir also has a two-layer supply ink tank / waste ink tank integrated type A method that uses something that can be exchanged by the user.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, the material used for the ink supply pipe has a slight gas permeability, and the air penetrates into the supply pipe for a long time or at a high temperature to generate bubbles. Further, in order to avoid the outflow of ink from the tip of the nozzle, the supply ink tank is installed at a position where a negative pressure is generated. Therefore, a large amount of initial ink recovery is required, the amount of recovered ink increases, the capacity of the discharged ink tank increases, and the device becomes large. At the time of recovery operation, not only ink but also air is sucked, so that the inside of the tank is not effectively used in the closed type waste ink reservoir. Further, since the internal pressure fluctuates depending on the temperature, there is a possibility of backflow of discharged ink. Further, as the discharged ink increases in the tank, the internal pressure rises, and the pumping resistance increases. The two-layer integrated type of the supply ink tank and the discharge ink tank requires, for example, two ink bags, which complicates the configuration and is costly.

Further, since the recording head is a permanent type, the user cannot replace the recording head by himself.

(2) It is an integrally-molded ejection head type in which the head and the supply ink tank are integrated, and the waste ink reservoir cannot be replaced by the user, such as the waste ink tank in the platen roller or the waste ink recovery pack. A method that uses what is possible.

In such a system, the device can be downsized and the cost can be reduced. The supply ink tank mounted on the carriage does not generate negative pressure depending on the position, so
A negative pressure generating member is used in the entire ink tank so that the ink tank itself generates a negative pressure. A porous body such as polyurethane foam is used as the negative pressure generating member, and ink is retained by the negative pressure generated by the capillary force of the foam, thereby achieving the purpose of preventing ink leakage from the ink container.

However, since it is difficult to replace the ink discharge tank in the platen, there is a limit to the amount of waste ink that can be stored, and the degree of freedom in design is lost, and problems such as the life and size of the main body arise.

(3) A system in which the supply ink tank is mounted on the carriage, and the recording head and the supply ink tank can be replaced separately.

Since there is a difference between the life of the recording head and the usage period of the supply ink tank, it is possible to reduce the running cost by exchanging them separately. However, since the suction recovery operation is required every time the supplied ink tank is replaced, the amount of discharged ink increases, and the volume of the discharged ink reservoir needs to be increased. Further, since polyurethane foam is required in the entire ink supply tank, there is a problem that the filling amount of ink is limited and the amount of ink that remains unused in the polyurethane foam is large, resulting in poor ink use efficiency. . Further, it is difficult to accurately detect the remaining ink amount, and it is also difficult to keep the negative pressure substantially constant during the ink consumption period.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to reduce the running cost, if the supply ink tank is mounted on the carriage and the recording head and the supply ink tank can be replaced separately, the amount of discharged ink must be increased and the volume of the discharged ink reservoir must be increased. Contrary to the purpose of downsizing the device.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is a waste ink for an ink jet recording apparatus capable of continuing the recovery of the waste ink without increasing the volume of the waste ink reservoir. Intended to provide a tank.

[0015]

Therefore, in the waste ink tank for the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, the supply ink tank containing the ink for recording of the ink jet recording apparatus can be directly attached to the recording head, It can be replaced separately from the recording head, has a negative pressure inside, and has an atmosphere communication port. This ink tank for supply is detachably attached to the inkjet recording device after ink consumption, The present invention is intended to achieve the above-mentioned object by a waste ink tank for an ink jet recording apparatus used as a tank for storing the ink.

Further, in the above construction, the inside of the main body of the waste ink tank is divided into a plurality of accommodating chambers by the partition wall, and the accommodating chambers are communicated with each other by the gap between the upper end of the partition wall and the inner wall of the main body, and one end portion is connected. With a structure characterized by having an opening for introducing the waste ink into any of the accommodation chambers and an opening communicating with the atmosphere in any of the accommodation chambers, the opening communicating with the atmosphere has an opening for introducing the waste ink. In a recording chamber of an ink jet recording apparatus, a structure provided in a storage chamber at the other end different from the chamber, a structure in which a porous member for absorbing and holding ink is stored in the storage chamber having an opening communicating with the atmosphere. It is an object of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned object by a configuration in which the ink tanks that are mounted so that they can be exchanged are formed with their vertical directions reversed.

Further, a recording head having the above-mentioned waste ink tank, ink recovery means, and a supply ink tank usable as the above-mentioned waste ink tank, and a recording head having an electrothermal converter in a liquid path of an ink ejection port, It is an object of the present invention to achieve the above object by an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects ink from an ink ejection port to record on a recording medium.

[0018]

With the above construction, the supply ink tank is detachably attached to the ink jet recording apparatus after the ink is consumed to accommodate the waste ink discharged from the discharge function recovery system. When the waste ink is full, the waste ink is replaced. By doing so, it is possible to continue collecting the waste ink regardless of the volume of the waste ink tank.

It is easy to introduce the waste ink into the accommodating chamber through the opening communicating with the atmosphere, and the inside of the main body is divided into a plurality of accommodating chambers by the partition wall, and the gap between the upper end of the partition wall and the inner wall of the main body is formed. Since the storage chambers are in communication with each other, the waste ink can be stored in all of the plurality of storage chambers while preventing leakage of the discharge ink from the opening for introducing the discharge ink and the opening for communicating with the atmosphere.

Further, the ink tank that is replaceably mounted on the recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus is formed with the vertical direction reversed, so that the discarded ink tank can be used as a waste ink tank.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A waste ink tank for an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus configured as a printer or an output device alone, or an ink jet recording apparatus integrated with an electronic device such as a word processor or a facsimile machine. The supply ink tank containing the recording ink can be directly attached to the recording head, can be replaced separately from the recording head, has negative pressure inside, and has an atmosphere communication port. An ink discharge tank for an ink jet recording apparatus, which is detachably attached to the ink jet recording apparatus after the ink is consumed and used as a tank for storing the discharged ink.

In the embodiment, since the ink tank for storing the recording ink is designed to be used when the ink is exhausted, the structure for using the recording ink as the ink tank is set. In addition, the embodiment will be described.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the characteristics of the waste ink tank of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the first embodiment when used as a supply ink tank. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views of the same embodiment.

2 and 3, the container body 1 includes five partition plates 2a to 2e with a thin gap left on the bottom wall 1a thereof.
Is divided into 6 storage chambers. The outer surface of the front wall 1b of the container body 1 is attached to the recording head 6, and an atmosphere communication hole 3 is opened in the rear wall 1c. The atmosphere communication hole 3 is formed in a tubular shape, and when the ink is stored in the first chamber in which the atmosphere communication hole 3 is provided, the atmosphere communication hole 3 can be placed in any posture of the ink container.
If the amount of ink is less than half the volume of the open chamber, it will not leak. The thin gap 4 is formed thin so that the ink is held by its surface tension and does not flow into the first chamber when the first chamber in which the atmosphere communication hole 3 is opened is made to stand on the bottom.

In the initial state, the ink tank is filled with ink in all the storage chambers except the first chamber in which the atmosphere communication hole 3 is opened. As printing is performed, the internal pressure of the ink storage unit decreases as the ink is consumed, and gas-liquid exchange is performed in the gap 4a connected to the first chamber. Therefore,
Ink is always consumed in order from the ink in the storage chamber farthest from the ejection port 6a.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a path from the ink supply tank to the recording head to the waste ink tank.

1 is a supply ink tank, 6 is a recording head, 8 is a cap, 9 is a tube, 10 is a pump, 11
Is a waste ink tank. When performing the recovery operation, the ink is sucked by the pump 10, and the ink ejected from the recording head 6 is collected by the cap 8 and passed through the tube 9 to be stored in the waste ink tank 11.

In this embodiment, after being used as the above-mentioned supply ink tank, it is used as an exhaust ink tank.

When the above-mentioned ink tank is used as a waste ink tank, as shown in FIG. 1, the opening for connecting with the recording head is turned upside down as compared with the case where it is used as a supply ink tank. The waste ink injection pipe 5 is inserted into and the waste ink is injected. However, the recording apparatus main body is mounted only in the direction in which the waste ink tank is mechanically and electrically shown in FIG. 1, that is, in the direction in which the gap 4 is located above when the ink tank is attached to the apparatus as the waste ink tank. It has a structure that cannot be used. Since the injected waste ink is filled in order from the storage chamber near the opening,
Can be used efficiently. In addition, since it is used as an ink tank and then used as a waste ink tank, and the waste ink tank can be replaced, it is possible to collect continuously without preparing a special ink tank or increasing the capacity. further,
Since the ink tank for supply is directly attached to the recording head,
The amount of suction during recovery can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the partition plate divides the storage chamber into six storage chambers, but the number of storage chambers is not limited to six, and may be any number of two or more.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state of the second embodiment of the present invention when used as an ink discharge tank. In this embodiment, FIGS. It can be used as a supply ink tank having a structure as shown.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, 1 is a container body, and 12 is an opening for connecting with a recording head.
The negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 13 that accommodates the negative pressure generating member is adjacent to and communicates with the ink accommodating portion 15 that accommodates the ink via the rib 14 that has the gap 4 at the bottom. Reference numeral 3 is an atmosphere communication hole, and 16 is a stopper.

In FIG. 8, the joint member 17 for supplying ink to the ink jet recording head is inserted into the ink tank shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the above description, and the ink jet recording apparatus can be operated by being pressed against the negative pressure generating member. It is a schematic cross-sectional view when it is in such a state.

When the ink jet recording apparatus operates, ink is ejected from the orifice of the ink jet recording head to generate ink suction force of the ink tank. As a result, the pressure inside the ink containing portion 15 that is closed except for the gap portion 4 is reduced, and a pressure difference is generated between the ink containing portion 15 and the negative pressure generating member containing portion 13. Since 13 is exposed to the atmosphere by the gap between the joint member and the joint release portion, the air is a negative pressure generating member 1.
The ink container 15 is passed through the gap 4 through the gap 3 between the end of the rib 14 and the ink tank bottom 1a. During non-recording, ink leakage from the recording head is suppressed by the capillary force of the negative pressure generating member 13 itself. Further, the atmosphere communication hole 3 prevents the air inside the ink containing portion 15 from expanding due to a change in the external environment (a decrease in atmospheric pressure or a rise in temperature) to cause ink leakage from the joint opening 12.

The path from the supply ink tank to the recording head to the waste ink tank is the same as that in the embodiment shown in FIG.

After all the ink in the supply ink tank is used, it is used as a waste ink tank. When the waste ink is injected from the joint opening 12 when used as the waste ink tank, the waste ink enters the ink tank until the negative pressure generating member 13 absorbs the waste ink, but the negative pressure generating member 13 absorbs the ink. Then, the ink containing portion 15
Is sealed and the waste ink cannot be injected.

Therefore, when injecting the waste ink, as shown in FIG. 5, the hollow hollow waste ink injecting pipe 1 is inserted into the plug 16 upside down as compared with the case of using it as a supply ink tank.
8 is pierced and the waste ink is injected. The main body of the recording apparatus has a structure in which the waste ink tank can be mounted mechanically and electrically only in the direction shown in FIG.

When the ink tank for supply is used as an exhaust ink tank without being turned upside down, the air in the ink storage section does not move to the negative pressure generating member storage section 13, but the ink tank for supply is mounted upside down. By doing so, as the waste ink is injected, the air in the ink containing portion 15 moves to the negative pressure generating member containing portion 13 and is discharged from the opening 12. Although the atmosphere communication hole 3 is located at the bottom, ink does not leak due to the ink trap function of the capillary force of the negative pressure generating member itself.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a waste ink tank of a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the ink tanks of FIGS. 6 and 7 are shown. It is an embodiment that can be used as a waste ink tank after being used as a supply ink tank having an electrode capable of detecting a capacity.

When used as the supply ink tank shown in FIG. 10, the ink volume in the container body 1 can be detected. That is, 19a and 19b are capacitance detection pins,
The capacitance detection pins 19a and 19b are exposed in the ink containing portion 15, respectively connected to a capacitance detection electrode (not shown) and connected to the recording apparatus side by an electric wire, and a detection current is supplied between the capacitance detection electrodes. There is.

When used as a waste ink tank after being used as a supply ink tank, the plug 16 is turned upside down as compared with the case of using as a supply ink tank, as shown in FIG.
The waste ink is injected by piercing the thin hollow waste ink injection tube 18. However, the main body of the device has a mechanical exhaust ink tank,
The structure is such that it can be electrically mounted only in the direction shown in FIG. When the conductive ink discharge amount is small, the electric resistance between the capacitance detection electrodes is large, but when the discharged ink amount increases and reaches the capacitance detection pin 19a, the electric resistance between the capacitance detection electrodes decreases. Therefore, it can be detected from the electric resistance between the electrodes that the waste ink tank is full.

If the ink is not used as the supply ink tank and is used as the discharge ink tank, the air in the ink containing portion 15 cannot move to the negative pressure generating member containing portion 13, but the top and bottom of the supply ink tank is reversed. As a result, as the discharged ink is injected, the air in the ink containing portion 15 moves to the negative pressure generating member 13 and is discharged from the opening 12. Although the atmosphere communicating hole 3 is located at the bottom, the ink does not leak due to the capillary force of the negative pressure generating member itself. Further, since the capacity can be detected, the user can know when to replace the waste ink tank, so that the waste ink tank can be replaced without forgetting. Further, even when the ink tank is used as a supply ink tank, it can be used as a remaining amount detection, and the replacement time of the supply ink tank can be known.

(Other Embodiments) As shown in FIG. 11, when the drain ink injection pipe 5 is pierced to form holes in the partition plates 2b to 2e and the drain ink is injected, a gap 4 is formed.
This is effective when an ink tank having a porous body installed therein is used as a waste ink tank.

The ink tank may be of any type such as a bag type, as long as it has a high ink supply efficiency.

[0045]

As described above, in the waste ink tank of the present invention, the supply ink tank is detachably attached to the ink jet recording apparatus after the ink is consumed to accommodate the waste ink discharged from the discharge function recovery system. By removing and replacing the discharged ink when it is full, it is possible to continue collecting the discharged ink regardless of the volume of the discharged ink tank.

Further, it is easy to introduce the waste ink into the accommodating chamber through the opening communicating with the atmosphere, and the inside of the main body is divided into a plurality of accommodating chambers by the partition wall, and the gap between the upper end of the partition wall and the inner wall of the main body is formed. Since the storage chambers are in communication with each other, the waste ink can be stored in all of the plurality of storage chambers while preventing leakage of the discharge ink from the opening for introducing the discharge ink and the opening for communicating with the atmosphere.

Further, the ink tank to be discarded can be utilized as a waste ink tank by the construction in which the supply ink tank which is replaceably mounted on the recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus is formed upside down. it can.

When used as a supply ink tank, since the ink tank is mounted on the carriage and an ink supply pipe is not required, the suction amount at the time of recovery can be reduced. And since the ink tank has an atmosphere communication hole,
The inside of the waste ink tank can be used efficiently.

As described above, since the waste ink tank can be replaced, the degree of freedom in designing the apparatus does not depend on the amount of waste ink that can be stored. Furthermore, when the capacity is full, the user can easily replace it.

Further, when the company collects the waste ink, it is sufficient to collect the waste ink tank, so that the waste ink can be easily collected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the ink tank used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an ink path from a supply ink tank to a recording head and discharged ink.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view when the second embodiment is used as a supply ink tank.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the second embodiment is used as a supply ink tank.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the second embodiment is used as a supply ink tank.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the third embodiment is used as a supply ink tank.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the waste ink tank.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Container Main Body 1a Bottom Wall 1b Front Wall 1c Rear Wall 2a to 2e Partition Plate 3 Atmosphere Communication Hole 4 Gap 5 Waste Ink Injection Pipe 6 Recording Head 7 Supply Ink Tank 8 Cap 9 Tube 10 Pump 11 Waste Ink Tank 12 Opening 13 Negative Pressure generating member accommodating portion 14 Rib 15 Ink accommodating portion 16 Plug 17 Joint 18 Thin hollow waste ink injection pipe 19 Capacitance detection pin

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A supply ink tank containing a recording ink of an ink jet recording apparatus can be directly attached to the recording head, can be replaced separately from the recording head, has a negative pressure inside, and has an atmosphere. An ink discharge tank for an ink jet recording apparatus, which has a communication port and which is detachably attached to the ink jet recording apparatus after ink consumption and used as a tank for storing waste ink. 2. The inside of the main body of the waste ink tank is divided into a plurality of storage chambers by a partition wall, and the storage chambers are communicated with each other by a gap between the upper end of the partition wall and the inner wall of the main body, and the storage chamber at one end is provided. 2. The waste ink tank for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste ink tank has an opening for introducing the waste ink and an opening communicating with the atmosphere in any of the storage chambers. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening communicating with the atmosphere is provided in a storage chamber at the other end different from the storage chamber having an opening for introducing the waste ink. Waste ink tank. 4. A waste ink tank for an inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a porous member that absorbs and holds ink is housed in a housing chamber having an opening communicating with the atmosphere. . 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an ink tank that is replaceably attached to a recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus is formed with its vertical direction reversed. Waste ink tank for. 6. A supply which can be directly mounted on a recording head, can be exchanged separately from the recording head, has a negative pressure inside, and contains recording ink of an ink jet recording apparatus having an atmosphere communication port. An ink tank for use as a tank for removably attaching the ink tank for ink consumption to the ink jet recording apparatus after ink consumption, an ink recovery means, and a supply ink tank that can be used as the waste ink tank, An ink jet recording apparatus that includes a recording head having an electrothermal converter in a liquid path of an ink ejection port and ejects ink from the ink ejection port to record on a recording medium.