JPH0890788A - Color ink-jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a color ink-jet recording apparatus which prevents the inproper insertion of an ink tank of a different color which leads to mixing of ink colors and deterioration of printing quality when the ink tank is exchanged, without changing a case body of the ink tank for every color. CONSTITUTION: A color display label 11 having a hole 12 at a different position for every color is attached to each of ink tanks 6BK, 6C 6M and 6Y. A projecting part which is formed at a different position for every color in a carriage containing the ink tanks 6BK, 6C, 6M and 6Y is registered with the hole 12, whereby the inproper insertion is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color ink jet recording apparatus in which an ink tank for supplying ink to a recording head for ejecting ink is detachably constructed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet method is adopted as one of printing methods in a recording device such as a printer, a fax machine, a copying machine or a printing machine.

In this ink jet recording apparatus, an ink droplet is ejected from an ink ejection port provided on the front surface of a recording medium by driving a recording head based on image data, and an image composed of an ink dot pattern is formed on a recording medium (paper etc.). Is formed.

The above ink jet recording apparatus is suitable for color printing. In the case of color printing, a plurality of ink colors (for example, cyan, magenta, yellow and black) are used, and a plurality of recording heads corresponding to these ink colors. Is recorded using.

The inks of a plurality of colors used in the color ink jet recording apparatus as described above are contained in separate ink tanks, and when the inks are exhausted, the ink tanks are replaced.

[0006]

However, in the color ink jet recording apparatus using the multicolor ink tank as described above, when the ink tank is replaced, the ink tank of another color is erroneously inserted, As a result, there is a problem in that color mixing of the ink is caused and print quality is deteriorated.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The first means for solving the above problems is to attach a label having holes at different positions for each color to an ink tank to accommodate the holes and the ink tank. The protrusions provided at different positions for each color are positioned on the carriage. The second means is a carriage in which two or more convex portions are provided on the ink tank, the convex portions are removed leaving only at least one convex portion determined for each color, and the convex portion accommodates the ink tank. The concave portions are provided at different positions for each color.

[0008]

According to the present invention, when the ink tank is replaced by mistake, even if an ink tank of another color is mistakenly inserted into the carriage, the first means provides the holes provided in the label and the carriage. The ink tank is inserted into the carriage because the convex portion that remains in the ink tank and the concave portion that is provided in the carriage do not match in the second means. Therefore, incorrect insertion can be reliably prevented.

Further, according to the present invention, since the same ink tank for each color can be used to prevent erroneous insertion, only one mold is required for the ink tank, which is economical.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a color ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1
In, the carriage 1 is guided by the shaft 2 and reciprocates in the longitudinal direction of the platen 3. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the ink tank of the color inkjet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Carriage 1 shown in FIG.
Recording heads 4BK, 4C, 4M, and 4Y are detachably attached to. These recording heads 4BK, 4
Nozzle plates 5BK, 5C, 5 are provided on the front surfaces of C, 4M, 4Y.
M and 5Y are provided, and the nozzle plates 5BK and 5Y are provided.
A plurality of ink ejection openings are formed in C, 5M and 5Y. Inside the recording heads 4BK, 4C, 4M and 4Y, an ink heating means such as a heater or an electrode is provided, and air bubbles are generated in the ink by driving the ink heating means based on image data. Due to the volume expansion of the bubbles, ink droplets are ejected from the ink ejection ports provided on the front surface of the bubbles to form an image having an ink dot pattern on the recording medium.

The carriage 1 has recording heads 4BK, 4
Ink tank 6B corresponding to each color of C, 4M and 4Y
K, 6C, 6M and 6Y are mounted and fixed. The ink tanks 6BK, 6C, 6M, and 6Y store inks of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow colors, for example, and the recording heads 4BK, 4C, 4M, and 4 are used as necessary.
Supplied to Y.

Reference numeral 7 is a casing molded from an olefinic resin such as polypropylene, and is filled with a porous member 8 for storing ink by capillary force. The porous member 8 is made of foamed polyurethane, and is compressed and filled in the housing 7 at a volume ratio of 1/1 to 1/5. A lid 9 made of the same material is fixed to the housing 7 by means such as ultrasonic welding. Four holes 10BK, 10C, 10M and 10Y are provided on the bottom of the housing 7,
A color display label 11 is attached from above. Holes 12 are formed in the color display label 11 at different positions for each color, and each of these color display labels 11 is attached to the housing 7.
Hole 10BK, 10C, 10M, and 10Y corresponding to one of the holes 10BK, 10C, 10M, and 10Y.
0BK, 10C, 10M and 10Y are synonymous with having only one of them. That is, the black ink tank 6BK has holes 10BK, the cyan ink tank 6C has holes 10C, and the magenta ink tank 6M has holes 10.
The holes 10Y are exposed in the M and yellow ink tanks 6Y, and the casings 7 of the ink tanks 6BK, 6Y, 6M, and 6C are the same for each color,
Ink tanks 6BK, 6 having different shapes (hole positions)
It means C, 6M, 6Y.

FIG. 3 shows the ink tanks 6BK, 6 of the color ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the carriage 1 on which Y, 6M, and 6C are mounted and fixed. Black, cyan, and
Magenta and yellow ink tanks 6BK, 6C, 6
In order to separately mount M and 6Y, a partition plate 13 is provided, and a box 20BK in which a black ink tank 6BK is installed, a box 20C in which a cyan ink tank 6C is installed, and a magenta ink tank 6M are installed. Box 20M to be installed, yellow ink tank 6
A box 20Y on which Y is mounted is formed. At the bottom of each box 20BK, 20C, 20M, 20Y, convex portions 14BK, 14C, 14M, are formed at different positions for each color.
14Y is formed, and each of the above-mentioned ink tanks 6B is formed.
Holes 10BK, 10C and 10 for K, 6C, 6M and 6Y respectively
It corresponds to M and 10Y.

For example, when the cyan ink tank 6C is attached to the cyan box 20C, the hole 10C of the ink tank 6C and the convex portion 14C of the box 20C are located at the same position and can be completely attached. However, boxes 20BK and 20 other than the box 20C for cyan
Even if the cyan ink tank 6C is mounted on the C, 20M, and 20Y, the hole 10C of the ink tank 6C and the convex portions 14BK and 14M of the boxes 20BK, 20M, and 20Y,
I can't attach it because the position of 14Y doesn't match,
It is possible to reliably prevent erroneous insertion.

Moreover, as described above, the ink tank 6B
Ink tanks 6BK, 6C, 6M, and 6 are used because the same casing 7 is used for K, 6C, 6M, and 6Y.
The Y housing 7 needs only one mold, and the amount of mold investment is small, which is economical.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of an ink tank of a color ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The bottom of the housing 7 has four convex portions 21BK, 21
C, 21M, and 21Y are provided. For example, in the case of the ink tank 26BK containing black ink, the convex portion 21BK for black is left and the remaining three convex portions 21
C, 21M and 21Y are removed.

Similarly, the convex portion 21C is provided on the cyan ink tank 26C and the convex portion 21 is provided on the magenta ink tank 26M.
By leaving the convex portion 21Y in the M and yellow ink tanks 26Y and removing the other convex portions, the ink tank 26
Although the housings 7 of BK, 26C, 26M, and 26Y are the same for each color, the shape (convex portion 21B
(K, 21C, 21M, 21Y positions) are different ink tanks 26BK, 26C, 26M, 26Y.

FIG. 5 shows the ink tanks 26BK, 2 of the color ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Carriage 1 to which 6C, 26M and 26Y are mounted and fixed
FIG. Ink tanks 26BK, 2 for each color
Box 30BK in which 6C, 26M and 26Y are mounted,
Recesses 27BK, 27C, 27M, and 27Y are formed on the bottoms of 30C, 30M, and 30Y at different positions for each color, and the ink tanks 26BK, 26C, and 26 described above are formed.
Convex portions 21BK, 21C, 21M, 21 of M and 26Y, respectively
Corresponds to Y.

For example, when the cyan ink tank 26C is attached to the cyan box 30C, the ink tank 26C
Since the convex portion 21C of C and the concave portion 27C of the box 30C correspond to each other, they can be completely mounted. However, boxes 30B other than the cyan box 30C
Even if the cyan ink tank 26C is mounted on the K, 30M, and 30Y, the convex portion 21C of the ink tank 26C and the concave portions 27BK and 2 of the boxes 30BK, 30M, and 30Y are used.
Since the positions of 7M and 27Y are not aligned, they cannot be mounted, and erroneous insertion can be reliably prevented.

The ink tank 26 is also used in the second embodiment.
Since the housings 7 of BK, 26C, 26M, and 26Y are the same for each color, the ink tanks 26BK, 26
The C, 26M, and 26Y housings 7 need only one mold, and the amount of mold investment is small, which is economical.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the ink tank casing is the same for each color, the ink tank casing has only one mold. In this method, a label having holes at different positions for each color is attached to the ink tank, and the holes and the protrusions provided at different positions for each color on the carriage that accommodates the ink tank are positioned. According to the second means, the ink tank is provided with two or more convex portions, and the convex portions are removed leaving only at least one convex portion determined for each color. By positioning the recesses provided at different positions for each color on the carriage to be stored, inexpensive and reliable erroneous insertion prevention can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a color inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an ink tank of the color inkjet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a carriage to which an ink tank of the color inkjet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted and fixed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of an ink tank of a color inkjet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a carriage on which an ink tank of a color inkjet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention is mounted and fixed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Carriage 2 Shaft 3 Platen 4 Recording Head 5 Nozzle Plate 6BK, 6C, 6M, 6Y, 26BK, 26C, 26
M, 26Y Ink tank 7 Housing 8 Porous member 9 Lid 10BK, 10C, 10M, 10Y hole 11 Color display label 12 Hole 13 Cut-off plate 14BK, 14C, 14M, 14Y Convex portion 20BK, 20C, 20M, 20Y, 30BK, Thirty
C, 30M, 30Y box 21BK, 21C, 21M, 21Y convex portion 27BK, 27C, 27M, 27Y concave portion

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Ichizo Otsubo 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A color ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of recording heads for ejecting ink; and a carriage in which a plurality of ink tanks for storing ink to be supplied to the plurality of recording heads are detachably configured. A label provided with holes at different positions for each color attached to the ink tank, and a protrusion provided at different positions for each color on the carriage engaging with the holes. Color inkjet recording device. 2. The color ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the label is a display label for displaying a color of the ink stored in the ink tank. 3. A color ink jet recording apparatus comprising a plurality of recording heads for ejecting ink and a carriage in which a plurality of ink tanks for storing ink to be supplied to the plurality of recording heads are detachably configured. Two or more protrusions provided in the ink tank and removed by leaving only at least one protrusion determined for each color, and a different position for each color on the carriage that engages with the protrusion remaining in the ink tank. A color ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a concave portion provided in the.