JPH08150728A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To mount an ink tank of a correct ink color without mistake. CONSTITUTION: The joint projection parts 5a, 6a provided to ink tanks 5, 6, 7, 8 so as to be positionally differentiated at every ink colors are connected to the joint holes 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d provided to a carrier head 1 so as to coincide with the ink colors of the ink tanks.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mounts a plurality of color ink tanks on a recording head, and ejects ink from the recording head according to the movement of a carriage and an image signal to the recording head to record an image or the like on a recording medium. The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device that performs

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In various devices such as computers, word processors, facsimile machines, copying machines and printers,
As a means for recording on a recording medium such as paper, an inkjet recording apparatus is being widely used because it can perform high-speed recording without generating noise and can easily record a color image.

An ink jet recording apparatus has a structure in which ink is ejected from a recording head facing a recording medium by utilizing heat energy or the like, and the ink jet recording apparatus is housed in a separate device case and is constructed as a single unit. , And various electronic devices for creating and outputting recorded information, such as a word processor, a personal computer, etc., or a device such as a facsimile machine for inputting recorded information from the outside.

An ink jet recording apparatus for color recording has a structure in which a plurality of ink tanks of different colors are connected and attached to a recording head.

The structure of the joint portion for supplying ink to each recording head from a plurality of ink tanks of different colors provided in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus for color recording has a common shape for each color, and a transparent portion is provided in the ink tank. It has been configured such that a caution is required to install an ink tank of a predetermined color at a predetermined position by providing a color indicator or attaching a color display.

In the refill ink tank for refilling the ink tank with a predetermined color ink, the shape of the connection portion with the recording head is the same for each color refill ink tank. The display was attached, and caution was required to mount a refill ink tank of color ink that matches the ink color of the ink tank.

[0007]

However, in the structure of the joint portion for supplying ink from the conventional ink tank to each recording head and the structure of the connection portion with the refill ink tank, it is difficult to mount the ink tanks of different colors or ,
There is a problem that it is impossible to completely prevent the refilling of the color ink from the refill ink tank having the wrong color, which causes a problem in recording.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. An ink tank of the correct ink color can be installed without mistake, and a refill ink tank of the correct ink color can be installed without mistake. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording device.

[0009]

Therefore, in an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, a recording head having a plurality of ink tanks mounted thereon is moved by a carriage, and ink is ejected from the recording head to record an image on a recording medium. An ink jet recording apparatus, which has a communication hole for supplying ink from an ink tank to a recording head, has a joint protrusion provided on the ink tank by changing the position on the ink tank surface depending on the ink color, and the position depending on the ink color. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a joint hole provided in a recording head, which is provided in a recording head differently from which a joint projecting portion of the ink tank is inserted to receive ink supply. is there.

Further, a joint projection having a communication hole for supplying ink and having a different shape depending on the ink color and provided on the ink tank, and a joint projection of the ink tank having a different shape depending on the ink color and provided on the recording head. And a joint hole provided in the recording head for receiving the ink supply, or the outer shape of the wall portion of the ink tank attached to the recording head is different depending on the ink color. The ink tank contacting surface of the head has a shape that matches only the ink tank of the ink color to be mounted, and is intended to achieve the above object.

Further, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by moving a recording head equipped with a plurality of ink tanks by a carriage and ejecting ink from the recording head. The ink tank has an ink supply port that has a different shape depending on the ink color, and has a different shape depending on the ink color and has an ink supply port that can be engaged only with the ink reception port of the same color ink tank. It is intended to achieve the above-mentioned object by a configuration characterized by being capable of

Alternatively, a joint projection portion having a communication hole for supplying ink from the ink tank to the recording head and having a different shape depending on the ink color and provided on the ink tank, and a recording head having a different shape depending on the ink color. A joint hole provided in a recording head which receives the ink supply by inserting the joint protrusion of the ink tank, and the joint protrusion of the ink tank has a refill ink tank having an ink supply port having a different shape depending on the ink color. It is an object of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned object by a structure characterized in that the ink can be replenished by engaging with the ink supply port.

[0013]

With the above structure, the recording head which can be mounted on the ink tank is specified by the ink color by the structure of the joint protrusion. Alternatively, the ink tank that matches the ink tank contact surface of the recording head and can be mounted is specified by the ink color, so that the ink tank can be mounted and ink can be supplied for recording without making a mistake in the ink color. .

Further, the shape of the ink of the same color can be changed by the ink supply port of the ink tank of the same color or the refill ink tank which can be engaged only with the joint protrusion of the ink tank of the same color. Replenishment can be carried out.

[0015]

EXAMPLES An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described by way of examples.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a structure corresponding to the above-mentioned conventional ink jet recording apparatus is provided, which has a plurality of ejection nozzles and a plurality of color ink tanks and ejects ink from a recording head onto a recording medium for recording. The embodiment has a connection configuration for supplying ink from the ink tank to the recording head,
Further, it is characterized by the connection configuration between the refill tank for replenishing the ink tank with a predetermined color ink and the recording head, and the configuration, effects, etc. of the characteristic portions will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part showing a carrier head and an ink tank portion which are characteristic of Embodiment 1.

A carrier head 1 is guided by two carrier guides 2 and 3, and reciprocates repeatedly by a timing belt 4. 5 to 8 are ink tanks of respective colors, each of which has a joint hole 1a of the carrier head 1.
It is designed to communicate with 1d. Since the ink tanks 5 to 8 are guided and positioned by the tank guide wall of the carrier head 1, the positions of the joint protrusions 5a and 6a to 8a of the ink tanks 5 to 8 are shifted for each ink tank. The joint holes 1a to 1d are arranged at positions suitable for each ink tank.

Due to the position configuration of the above-mentioned joint hole and joint projection, it can be mounted and communicated only with a dedicated tank. FIG. 2 is a plan view of an essential part seen from the upper surface of the carrier head 1, showing a state in which the joint holes are displaced corresponding to the ink heads of the respective colors.

With the above arrangement, it is possible to supply the color ink without making a mistake.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a plan view of the principal part of the carrier head 1 of Embodiment 2 viewed from the top, and the joint holes 1e to 1h corresponding to the ink tanks of respective colors have different shapes. Therefore, the ink tanks of the respective colors are provided with joint protrusions having shapes corresponding to the joint holes 1e to 1h, respectively, so that they cannot be erroneously inserted.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 4 is a plan view of an essential part of the carrier head of Embodiment 3 viewed from the top. Ink tanks of the respective colors have different shapes, and the tank guide wall of the carrier head 1 is By providing the ink tank in a shape that matches the ink tank of each color, it is configured so that the ink tank cannot be erroneously inserted.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an essential part showing a characteristic ink tank portion of Embodiment 4.

A carrier head 1 is guided by two carrier guides 2 and 3, and reciprocates repeatedly by a timing belt 4. Reference numerals 11 to 14 are ink tank portions of respective colors of the carrier head, and 11a to 14a provided in the ink tank portion are ink receiving ports of respective colors, and the hole shapes are different from each other.

Reference numeral 22 is a refill color ink tank for supplying color ink to the ink tank 12. Reference numeral 22a denotes a color ink supply port, which has a tubular shape that engages with the ink supply port 12a of the ink tank 12, and does not engage with the ink supply ports 11a, 13a, 14a other than the ink supply port 12a. The refill color ink tank that engages with any of the ink tanks 11, 13 and 14 is provided with the respective receiving ports 11a, 13a,
It is provided with a color ink supply port that engages only with any one of 14a. 22b is a piston shaft portion, and shows that the refill color ink tank 22 is a piston type refill color ink tank as an example.

With the above arrangement, the color ink can be supplied to the ink tank without making a mistake.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an essential part showing a color ink tank exchange type carrier head portion of a fifth embodiment.

The color ink tanks 31 to 34 are respectively provided with ink supply ports 31a to 33a having different shapes. At the time of refilling color ink, the ink tank is removed from the carrier head 1 and the ink supply port is used as a receiving port at the time of refilling.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the ink tank and the refill color ink tank.

Reference numeral 31 is a color ink tank removed from the carrier head 1, and 41 is a refill color ink tank of the same color as the color-in 31. Reference numeral 41a denotes an ink supply port provided in the refill color ink tank 41. The ink supply port 31a of the color ink tank 31 is engaged as a receiving port and the piston shaft 41b is pushed to transfer the color ink to the color ink tank 3.
It is configured to be injected into 1.

The ink supply port 41a of the refill color ink tank 41 does not engage with the ink supply ports of the other color ink tanks 32, 33, 34, and there is no wrong injection of color ink.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ink tank can specify the recording head which can be mounted by the structure of the joint projection, or the ink head can be attached to the ink tank contact surface of the recording head. Depending on the configuration in which the ink tank that can be mounted is specified by the ink color, the ink color can be wrong and the ink tank can be mounted and ink can be supplied for recording.

Further, the shape of the ink of the same color can be changed by the ink receiving port of the ink tank of the same color or the ink supply port of the refill ink tank which can be engaged only with the joint protrusion of the ink tank of the same color. Replenishment can be carried out.

With the above effects, recording can be carried out without causing any trouble in recording.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part of the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a main part of the third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an ink tank and a refill color ink tank according to a fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Carrier head 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d Joint hole 5, 6, 7, 8 Ink tank 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a Joint protrusion 22,41 Refill color ink tank

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An inkjet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by moving a recording head equipped with a plurality of ink tanks by a carriage to eject the ink from the recording head, the ink being supplied from the ink tank to the recording head. Insert a joint protrusion of the ink tank that has a communication hole and that is located on the ink tank by changing the position on the ink tank surface depending on the ink color, and a joint protrusion of the ink tank that is different depending on the ink color. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a joint hole provided in a recording head that receives ink supply. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by moving a recording head equipped with a plurality of ink tanks by a carriage to eject ink from the recording head, and supplying ink from the ink tank to the recording head. A joint protrusion having a communication hole that is provided in the ink tank and has a different shape depending on the ink color, and a joint protrusion that is provided on the recording head and has a different shape depending on the ink color are inserted to receive the ink supply. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising a joint hole provided in a recording head. 3. An ink jet recording apparatus for moving a recording head equipped with a plurality of ink tanks by a carriage to eject ink from the recording head to record an image on a recording medium, the wall surface of an ink tank mounted on the recording head. The ink jet recording apparatus is characterized in that the outer shape of the portion differs in shape depending on the ink color, and the ink tank contact surface of the recording head conforms only to the ink tank of the attached ink color. 4. An inkjet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by moving a recording head equipped with a plurality of ink tanks by a carriage to eject ink from the recording head, wherein the ink tanks have different shapes depending on ink colors. An ink jet characterized by having a refilled ink tank that has a different ink supply port and has a different shape depending on the ink color and that can be engaged only with the ink supply port of an ink tank of the same color. Recording device. 5. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by moving a recording head equipped with a plurality of ink tanks by a carriage to eject ink from the recording head, and supplying ink from the ink tank to the recording head. A joint projection having a communication hole that is formed in the ink tank with a different shape depending on the ink color, and a joint projection provided on the recording head with a different shape depending on the ink color are inserted to receive the ink supply. A refill ink tank having a joint hole provided in the recording head, and the joint projection of the ink tank having an ink supply port having a different shape depending on the ink color to refill ink. An inkjet recording device characterized by the above.