JPH11342625A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an ink tank storing ink of a min. necessary kind replaceable, to hermetically close and protect an unused ink flow channel to always keep the same usable to increase the filling amt. of the desired ink in the ink tank to reduce the replacing frequency of the ink tank and to eliminate the necessity for replacing even an ink jet head to enhance economical efficiency. SOLUTION: An ink jet head having a plurality of emitting orifice rows and an ink tank 4B are individually detachable and an ink supply port 45, an atmosphere communicating port and a flow channel are respectively provided to the ink tank 4B at least one by one and, when the ink jet head 100 and the ink tank are mounted, an unused ink flow channel 108 is hermetically closed by the flow channel cap 50.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging ink from an ink jet head to a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having a function such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, or a recording device used as an output device such as a composite electronic device including a computer or a word processor, or a workstation, records on the basis of recording information. The image (including characters and symbols) is recorded on a recording medium such as a sheet of paper or a plastic thin plate. The recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type and the like according to a recording method.

In a serial type recording apparatus that performs recording while performing main scanning in a direction intersecting with the transport direction (sub-scanning direction) of the recording medium, an image is recorded (recording head) that moves along the recording medium. The main scanning) is performed, and after the recording of one line is completed, a predetermined amount of paper feeding (pitch conveyance as sub-scanning) is performed, and then the image of the next line is recorded on the recording medium stopped again (main scanning). The recording operation is performed in a desired range of the recording medium by repeating the operation of (1). On the other hand, in a line-type printing apparatus that performs printing only by sub-scanning in the transport direction of the printing medium, the printing medium is set at a predetermined printing position, and a predetermined amount of printing is performed while printing one row continuously. Paper feeding (pitch feeding) is performed, and an image is recorded in a desired range of the recording medium.

Among them, an ink jet type recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording means (ink jet head, recording head) to a recording medium, and it is easy to make the recording means compact. High-definition images can be recorded at high speed, recording can be performed on plain paper without special processing, running costs are low, and noise is reduced due to the non-impact method. It has an advantage that it is easy to record a color image using various kinds of inks (for example, color inks). Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus, a heating element (an electrothermal converter) is provided in the vicinity of a discharge port of a recording head in order to eject ink, and an ink is locally heated by applying an electric signal to the heating element. A method of causing a pressure change to cause ink to be ejected from an ejection port, a method of using an electromechanical transducer such as a pressure element, and the like are employed.

[0005] In particular, an ink-jet type recording means (ink-jet head, recording head) which discharges ink by using thermal energy is formed by an electric film formed on a substrate through a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, and sputtering. By forming the heat converter, electrode, liquid path wall, top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a device having a high-density liquid path arrangement (discharge port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. it can. Further, by utilizing the advantages of the IC technology and the micromachining technology, it is easy to make the recording means longer and more planar (two-dimensional), and it is also easier to make the recording means full-multi and high-density mounting. . In addition, there are various demands for the material of the recording medium, and in recent years, developments in response to these demands have progressed, and papers (including thin paper and processed paper) and resin thin plates (such as OHP) which are ordinary recording media have been developed. other,
Recording devices using cloth, leather, nonwoven fabric, metal, or the like as a recording medium have also been used.

[0006] Since the above-mentioned ink jet recording apparatus can easily perform inexpensive full-color recording, its demand has been increasing in recent years, and in particular, it has been widely used as an output device of a personal computer. 2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet recording apparatus, color image recording is performed by ejecting a plurality of color inks, for example, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks onto a recording medium using a plurality of recording heads in accordance with colorization.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus, a plurality of inks having the same color but different color material densities (contents), for example, a light color ink and a dark color ink are used, so that a light portion to a halftone portion of an image can be obtained. A recording method has also been proposed in which recording is performed with light ink, and recording is performed using dark ink from a halftone portion to a dark portion, thereby improving gradation. Further, in recent years, before performing recording on a recording medium with ink, a coating liquid for improving special recording properties is applied onto the recording medium using a head unit, and then the recording ink is ejected. It has also been proposed to make a record. In addition, inks of special colors such as a fluorescent color, a gold color, and a silver color have been proposed, and it has become possible to use different ink colors depending on the application.

Furthermore, in recent ink jet recording apparatuses, the number of recording heads and the number of ink tanks mounted on the recording apparatus increase with the increase in the types of ink and the use of special liquids. As described above, when the types of inks increase and the number of recording heads increases, the carriage on which they are mounted becomes large, and there is a problem that the size of the apparatus itself increases.

FIG. 21 is a partial perspective view showing an example of an ink jet head cartridge as recording means for discharging a plurality of types of inks and special liquids by an ink jet method. In FIG. 21, it is configured that recording is performed by a recording unit of a type in which a plurality of (four) ejection port arrays are arranged in parallel, and the type of ink ejected from each ejection port row is, for example, black ink. In addition, color inks such as cyan, magenta, and yellow are used, and these inks are supplied to each ejection port array to perform printing.
FIG. 22 shows an ink jet head cartridge of a type in which a plurality of ejection port arrays are divided on the same straight line (the same ejection port row) and different types (different colors, different densities) of ink are supplied to each ejection port row. . An ink jet head cartridge (recording means) as shown in FIG. 22 is also used. Note that the double arrow y in FIGS. 21 and 22
Indicates the moving direction (main scanning direction) of the recording means.

In an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink tank for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head (ink jet head) is mounted on a predetermined fixed portion of the apparatus main body, or when mounted on a carriage together with the recording head. There is. In the former case, an ink supply path such as an ink tube is provided between the recording head and the ink tank, and the portion of the ink supply path follows the movement of the carriage. In the latter case, the ink supply path between the recording head and the ink tank can be made relatively short. Therefore, the latter configuration in which the ink tank is mounted on the carriage is suitable for miniaturization and simplification of the configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus.

In a configuration in which such a recording head (inkjet head) and an ink tank are both mounted on a carriage, a recording head section and an ink tank section are integrally formed like an ink jet cartridge. If the ink in the ink tank decreases and ink cannot be supplied to the print head, the print head and ink tank can be replaced with new ones, and the print head and ink tank can be separated. Then, there is a separation type in which only the ink tank can be replaced when the ink runs out, and only the recording head can be replaced when the life of the recording head expires. The disposable type is becoming popular because it is easy to handle.However, from the viewpoint of increasing the running cost by replacing an expensive recording head every time the ink runs out, the recording head and the ink tank are Those that can be separated are also becoming popular.

[0012] Some of the ink jet recording apparatuses include:
It has been proposed to use a monochrome head cartridge and a color head cartridge by replacing them as necessary, or to replace and use a plurality of inkjet cartridges of so-called dark and light inks having different coloring material contents.

[0013]

However, a recording head (ink-jet head) having a plurality of ejection opening arrays
Since the number of ink tanks is increased in an ink jet recording apparatus using, the size of the recording apparatus itself is increased, or each ink or special liquid (recording) to be filled in the ink tank is required unless the size of the recording apparatus is increased. The initial filling amount of the property improving liquid) is reduced. The fact that the ink filling amount in the ink tank is small means that the number of recordable sheets per tank is small,
Ink tanks must be replaced frequently. Also,
Replacing the ink jet cartridge according to the purpose of use increases the possibility of damaging the print head itself.Replacing not only the ink tank but also the print head requires multiple ink jet cartridges for the user. It must be prepared and is not economical.

The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink-jet recording apparatus using an ink-jet head having a plurality of ejection port arrays, in which the ink is used up. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which does not need to replace the ink jet head according to the purpose of use or the type of ink, and is excellent in handleability and economical efficiency.

[0015]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention (claim 1) provides:
In order to achieve the above object, in an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from an ink jet head to a recording medium, an ink jet head having a plurality of discharge port arrays and an ink tank are detachable, and the ink tank is an ink tank. It is characterized by having at least one of each of a supply port, an atmosphere communication hole, and a flow path cap. According to such a configuration, ink is supplied only to a specific discharge port row, and the ink flow path section communicating with the discharge port row to which ink is not supplied is sealed by covering with the flow path cap.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, when the ink jet head and the ink tank are connected to each other, the flow path cap communicates with a certain ejection port array of the ink jet head. A configuration covering the ink flow path, a configuration in which the ink tank is filled with a smaller number of types of ink than the number of the ejection port arrays of the inkjet head, or an arrangement in which the ink tank includes the ejection port array of the inkjet head By providing a configuration in which a smaller number of ink supply ports than the number of
The above object is achieved more efficiently.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing one embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, an inkjet head 100 having a plurality of ejection port arrays (for example, two ejection port arrays as described later) on a carriage 2 and ejecting liquid droplets (see FIGS. 3 and 11)
Are removably positioned and mounted by the head fixing lever 3. The carriage 2 includes the inkjet head 1
00 is positioned and mounted, and has a connector for transmitting a signal for driving the inkjet head 100 and the like, and is electrically connected to the inkjet. The carriage 2 is configured to position and mount the ink tank 4 so that the ink jet head 100 communicates with the ink tank 4 to supply ink to the head.

The carriage 2 is slidably guided and supported by a scanning rail 5 extending in the main scanning direction. The carriage 2 is driven by a carriage driving motor 6, a motor pulley 7, a driven pulley 8, and a timing belt 9 so as to reciprocate along the scanning rail 5 in the directions of arrows a and b. Before and after the recording position by the recording head (inkjet head) 100 (upstream and downstream in the recording medium transport direction), a recording medium 2 such as recording paper is provided.
Transport roller pairs 10, 11 and 12, 13 for pinching and transporting 00 are disposed. The recording medium 200 has a platen (not shown) so that the recording surface is flat at the recording position.
Is pressed against. The recording head 100 mounted on the carriage 2 projects below the carriage 2 between the transport rollers 11 and 13, and the ejection port surface of the recording head 100
Recording material 20 pressed against a guide surface of a platen (not shown)
It faces in a state parallel to 0. Image data is
The data is transmitted from the electric circuit of the recording apparatus main body to the recording head 100 by a flexible cable (not shown).

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment, a recovery system unit 30 is disposed on the home position side on the left side in FIG. In the recovery system unit 30, caps 31 and 32 are provided corresponding to a plurality of ejection port arrays of the recording head 100, respectively, and can be moved up and down. In the present embodiment, two caps 31 and 32 are provided on the assumption that the number of the ejection port arrays is two. For example, when the number of the ejection port arrays is four, four caps 31 and 32 are provided. The number of caps is selected according to the number of ejection port arrays of the recording head 100. When the carriage 2 is at the home position, it is joined to the ejection port face of the recording head 100 and capped, thereby preventing the ink from thickening and sticking due to evaporation of the ink in the ejection port of the recording head 100 to prevent ejection failure. doing.

The insides of the caps 31 and 32 are connected to a pump unit (not shown) by a tube or the like. In the event that the recording head 100 fails to discharge, the pump unit is used to connect the cap and the cap. At the time of a suction recovery process or the like performed by joining with a recording head, a negative pressure is generated in the cap so that the ink can be sucked from the ejection port. A wiper blade 33 made of an elastic member such as rubber is provided in or near the recovery unit 30 so as to wipe off droplets adhering to the discharge port surface.

In this ink jet recording apparatus, a recording property improving liquid for improving recording properties is discharged onto a recording medium 200 from one head portion (discharge port array) of the recording head 100 before image recording with recording ink. Then, the recording ink is ejected from another head portion (ejection port array) to record an image on the recording medium 200. Improving the recording properties means improving the image quality such as density, saturation, sharpness of the edge portion, dot shape, etc., improving the fixability of the ink, and improving the image storability such as water resistance and weather resistance. Includes the meaning of improving.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the ejection port array of the recording head (inkjet head) 100 as viewed from the recording medium 200 side. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection section of the recording head 100. It is. Recording head 100
Has a structure in which a head unit 101 having an ejection port array for ejecting a printability improving liquid and a head unit 102 having an ejection port array for ejecting recording ink are arranged in parallel. The row includes a plurality of opened discharge ports 103,
A liquid passage portion 104 communicating with each discharge port 103 and an electrothermal converter (discharge energy generating element) 105 arranged in each liquid passage portion 104 are provided. Each electrothermal converter 105
Is for generating energy required for discharging ink.

As shown in FIG. 3, the recording head 100 (or each of the head portions 101 and 102) includes an electrothermal transducer 1 for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink.
The ink jet recording means is provided with an ink jet recording means 05. The ink jet recording means further discharges the ink from the discharge port 103 using film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer 105.

Also, as shown in FIG.
The ink flow path 1 communicates with the ink tank 4 to supply the printability improving liquid from the ink tank 4 to the discharge unit.
Reference numeral 06 is provided, and a filter 107 for preventing inflow of dust and air bubbles is provided at the tip of the ink flow path 106. In addition, the head section 102 is provided with an ink flow path 108 that communicates with the ink tank 4 to supply the recording ink from the ink tank 4 to the ejection section.
A filter 109 for preventing inflow of dust and air bubbles is also provided at the tip of the ink flow path 108.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a first type of ink tank 4A of the ink tank 4 used in this embodiment. In FIG. 4, the inside of the ink tank 4A has a partition wall 4 therein.
The storage chambers are divided into two storage chambers 42 and 43 by 1, and each of the storage chambers 42 and 43 is filled with an ink absorber 44 for absorbing and holding ink. Examples of the ink absorber 44 include a sponge such as a polyurethane foam, but various other members may be used as long as they have an ability to hold ink. And
One of the storage chambers 42 is filled with a recording property improving liquid, and the other storage chamber 43 is filled and held with recording ink.
In each of the storage chambers 42 and 43, the pressure in the ink tank 4 and the ink supply ports 46 and 45 for supplying the printability improving liquid and the recording ink to the corresponding discharge port array of the inkjet head 100 are adjusted. Air communication hole 4 for
7, 47 are provided.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing another type of ink tank 4B of the ink tank 4 used in this embodiment. In FIG. 5, the ink tank 4B is an ink tank in which the partition wall 41 of the ink tank 4A in FIG. 4 is deleted and only one storage chamber filled with recording ink is provided. The ink tank 4B is provided with an ink supply port 45 for supplying ink through an ink flow path 108 (FIG. 2) to an ejection port array for ejecting recording ink of the inkjet head 100, and an air communication hole 47. I have. Further, in the ink tank 4B, a portion corresponding to the ink supply port 46 (FIG. 4) of the recording property improving liquid of the ink tank 4A is provided.
A flow path cap 50 is provided for protecting a flow path for supplying the recording performance improving liquid of the inkjet head 100 to the discharge port array. The shape and material of the flow path cap 50 are not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use an elastic member such as rubber in order to secure airtightness, and it is more preferable to use a material having low gas permeability.

FIGS. 6 to 8 are perspective views showing a state in which a recording head (inkjet head) 100 and an ink tank 4 are mounted on the carriage 2. FIG. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a state before the recording head 100 is mounted, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the recording head 100 is mounted on the carriage 2 and the head fixing lever 3 is released, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a head 100 is mounted and positioned and mounted by a head fixing lever 3 and an ink tank 4 is also positioned and mounted.

6 to 8, the head fixing lever 3 is rotatably supported with respect to the carriage 2 by rotatably fitting the hole 3a of the head fixing lever 3 with the boss 2b of the carriage 2. ing. The ink jet head 100 is positioned and mounted on the carriage 2 by the head fixing lever 3. A connector 110 for receiving a drive signal for each of the ejection units (head units) 101 and 102 is provided above the print head 100. When the print head 100 is positioned by the head fixing lever 3,
The connector 110 is electrically connected to the connector 35 provided on the head fixing lever 3. Also,
The carriage 2 is provided with a transmission window 22 for transmitting light from a photo interrupter 34 (FIG. 1) as an ink tank detection unit.

The recording head 100 is provided with ink flow paths 106 and 108 communicating with the corresponding discharge port arrays. Each of the ink flow paths 106 and 108 is used to prevent dust and air bubbles from flowing into the discharge section. Filters 107 and 109 are provided. Further, the ink tank 4 is configured to be attachable / detachable (replaceable) without removing the recording head (inkjet head) 100 from the carriage 2. Therefore, when it is desired to obtain a high-quality image or a recorded image with high image storability by using the recording property improving liquid, the ink tank A of FIG. 4 is mounted, and ordinary recording can be performed without using the recording property improving liquid. In this case, the ink tank B can be replaced with the ink tank B shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view showing the structure of an ink supply section from the ink tank 4A to the recording head 100 when the ink tank 4A of FIG. In FIG. 9, an ink tank 4A is divided by a partition wall 41 into a storage chamber 43 for storing recording ink on the left side of the drawing.
Is formed, and a storage chamber 42 for storing the recording property improving liquid is formed on the right side in the figure. An ink absorber 4 for absorbing and holding the recording ink is provided inside the recording ink storage chamber 43.
4 and the ink absorber 44
The recording head 1 is supplied through the ink supply port 45 of the recording ink.
The ink flow path 108 is in contact with the ink flow path 108 via a filter 109 disposed at the tip end. An ink absorber 44 for absorbing and holding the recording property improving liquid is filled in the inside of the storage chamber 42 for the recording property improving liquid.
4, the ink flow path 106 of the recording head 100 is in contact with the ink flow path 106 through the ink supply port 46 of the recording property improving liquid via the filter 107 disposed at the tip end thereof.

As described above, the recording ink supply section (ink supply port 45) provided in the ink tank A is in contact with the filter 109 of the ink flow path 108 communicating with the recording ink discharge port array of the recording head 100. A supply unit for the recording property improving liquid provided in the ink tank A (ink supply port 46)
Abuts on the filter 107 of the ink flow path 106 communicating with the ejection port array of the recording property improving liquid of the recording head 100, whereby each of the recording ink and the recording property improving liquid communicates with the corresponding ejection port row, The recording ink and the recording property improving liquid can be discharged from each discharge port array.

FIG. 10 shows a state after removing the ink tank 4A of FIG. 4 (instead of the ink tank 4A).
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of an ink supply unit from the ink tank 4B to the recording head 100 when the ink tank B is mounted on the carriage 2. In FIG. 10, the partition wall 41 in FIG. 9 is deleted, and only one storage chamber for storing one type of recording ink is formed in the ink tank 4B, and the recording ink is absorbed and held inside the storage chamber. An ink absorber 44 for performing the cleaning.

Then, for the ink absorber 44,
The recording head 1 is supplied through the ink supply port 45 of the recording ink.
The ink flow path 108 is in contact with the ink flow path 108 via a filter 109 disposed at the tip end. A concave portion 49 is formed at a position corresponding to the ink supply port 46 (FIG. 9) of the ink tank 4B, and a flow path cap 50 made of an elastic member such as rubber is pressed into the concave portion 49 by press fitting or the like. It is fixed. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the ink flow path 106 (including the filter 107 at the tip) of the printability improving liquid of the print head 100 is
And sealed.

According to the above-described embodiment, when the printability improving liquid is not used, the ink tank 4A is removed and replaced with the ink tank 4B, so that the print head 100 is moved from the ink tank 4B through the ink flow path 108.
It is possible to supply the recording ink to the ejection port array of the recording ink, and at the same time, by sealing the ink channel 106 communicating with the ejection port array for ejecting the recording property improving liquid with the channel cap 50, Drying of the recording property improving liquid in the ink flow path 106 can be prevented, thereby eliminating the inconvenience such that the dried recording property improving liquid adheres to the filter 107 or the ink flow path 106 to cause clogging. Can be.

Further, since the ink tank 4B is not filled with the recording property improving liquid, the recording ink can be filled up to that amount, and the filling amount of the recording ink can be increased as compared with the case of the ink tank 4A. Therefore, a user who does not need to use the recording property improving liquid can increase the number of recordable sheets per ink tank by using the ink tank 4B.
Replacement frequency can be reduced.

Here, the shape of the flow path cap 50 is as follows.
The ink flow path 10 which can be freely selected and communicates with the ejection port array of the recording head 100 to be used.
6 is appropriately determined according to the shape of the end portion 6 and the shape of the ink tank 4B serving as the installation portion. Also, the material of the flow path cap 50 can be appropriately selected as long as airtightness can be ensured. By mounting such a flow path cap 50, even when the recording ink reacts with the recording property improving liquid, the recording ink does not come into contact with the ink flow path 106 of the recording property improving liquid. In addition, it is possible to prevent a discharge failure caused by contact between the recording ink and the recording property improving liquid in the flow path.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the ink stored in the first ink tank 4A is the recording ink and the printability improving liquid has been described. However, the type of the stored liquid is not limited to this. Instead, for example, the first ink tank 4A stores dark ink and light ink having different dye or pigment concentrations, and the second ink tank 4B is filled only with dark ink. is there. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the two types of ink tanks 4A and 4B are replaceable (detachable) has been described. For example, two or more types of ink channels sealed by the channel cap 50 are different. For example, three or more types of ink tanks may be made detachable, such as by preparing the ink tanks 4 and making them replaceable.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a plurality of ejection opening arrays of a recording head (inkjet head) 100 used in a second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from the recording medium 200 side. This embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in the number of ejection port arrays of the recording head 100 and the structure of the ink tank 4, and has substantially the same configuration in other points.

Referring to FIG. 11, four ejection port arrays (head sections) 102K, 102C, 102
M and 102Y are provided. In this embodiment, these ejection port arrays 102 are set to eject black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) inks from the left side. Also, the recording head 100
Are provided with ink flow paths 108K, 108C, 108M, 10
8Y are provided. Each ink flow path 108K, 108
Filters 109K, 109C, 109M, and 109Y for preventing inflow of dust and bubbles from the outside are provided at connection portions of the ink tanks 4 of C, 108M, and 108Y.

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing a detachable ink tank 4C normally used in an ink jet recording apparatus using the recording head 100 of FIG. That is, in an ink jet recording apparatus using the recording head 100 of FIG. 11, an ink tank 4C as shown in FIG. 12 is usually mounted. This ink tank 4C
Is divided into four storage chambers by three partition walls 41, each storage chamber is filled with an ink absorber 44 (FIG. 4), and each of these ink absorbers 44 is provided with a recording head shown in FIG. The recording ink of each color to be supplied to the recording medium 100 is absorbed and held. Each storage chamber has a recording head 1 shown in FIG.
00 ink flow paths 108K, 108C, 108M, 1
The ink supply ports 45K, 45C, 45M, and 45Y are provided to supply the corresponding color inks connected to the ink supply port 08Y. An air communication port 47 is provided in each of the storage chambers.

When the recording head 100 and the ink tank 4C are positioned and mounted on the carriage 2, the black, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks in the respective storage chambers are supplied to the respective ink supply ports 45K, 45C, 45M, 45Y and the respective ink flows. The ink is supplied to the print head 100 through the paths 108K, 108C, 108M, and 108Y, and color printing is performed.
In the illustrated embodiment, the case where the inside of one ink tank 4C is divided into four storage chambers and four colors of ink are stored in one ink tank is shown. The ink may be stored in a tank, and may be independently exchangeable for each color ink tank.

FIG. 13 shows the first embodiment of FIG.
FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing another (second) ink tank 4D used in place of the ink tank 4C of FIG. In FIG. 13, this ink tank 4D is
Remove all the partition walls 41 of the ink tank 4C of
One storage chamber is filled with an ink absorber 44 and filled with black ink. That is, the ink tank 4D stores the ink absorber 44 in one ink chamber.
, And filled with only black ink to form a large-capacity tank exclusively for black. The ink tank 4D has an ejection port array (head section) 102K for ejecting black ink of the inkjet head 100 shown in FIG.
An ink supply port 45K for supplying black ink through the ink flow path 108K and an atmosphere communication hole 47 are provided.

In the ink tank 4D, the ink flow paths (cyan, magenta, and yellow ink flow paths) 108C, 108M,
5 and FIG.
Similarly to the case of the flow path cap 50, the flow path caps 50C and 50C for sealingly protecting these ink flow paths.
M, 50Y are mounted.

When the recording head 100 and the ink tank 4D are positioned and mounted on the carriage 2, the recording head 100
The ink supply port 45K of the ink tank 4D comes into contact with the black ink flow path 108K, and the black ink in the storage chamber is supplied into the recording head 100. At this time, the other cyan, magenta, and yellow ink flow paths 108C, 108M, and 108Y of the print head 100.
Are the flow path caps 50 attached to the ink tank 4D.
C, 50M, and 50Y hermetically cover and prevent adhesion in these ink channels due to drying. Thus,
Until the next replacement with the color ink tank 4C as shown in FIG.
C, 108M, and 108Y can be kept in a usable state.

The manner in which the recording head 100 shown in FIG. 11 and the ink tank 4C shown in FIG. 12 or the ink tank 4D shown in FIG.
This is substantially the same as the case of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. The ink tanks 4C and 4D can be attached and detached without removing the recording head 100 from the carriage 2. When it is desired to obtain a color recorded image using plural colors of recording ink, the ink tank 4C is mounted. In particular, in the case where monochrome recording is sufficient without the need for color printing, the ink tank 4D can be replaced.

FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view showing the structure of an ink supply section from the ink tank 4C to the recording head 100 when the ink tank 4C of FIG. In FIG. 14, the ink tank 4C is divided into black, cyan,
It is divided into storage chambers (ink chambers) filled with magenta and yellow inks, and an ink absorber 44 for absorbing and holding recording ink is loaded inside the storage chamber.

The ink tank 4C and the recording head unit 100 are connected to the black ink supply port 45.
K, the black ink channel 108K abuts via the filter 109K at the tip, and the cyan ink supply port 45K.
C, the cyan ink flow path 108C abuts via the filter 109C at the tip, the magenta ink flow path 108M abuts via the filter 109M at the tip through the ink supply port 45M for magenta ink, and the yellow ink supply port 45Y through the supply port 45Y for yellow ink. The ink flow path 108 </ b> Y is in contact with the filter 109 </ b> Y at the front end, whereby ink of a corresponding color is supplied to each ejection port array (each head section) of the recording head 100, and color recording is possible. State.

FIG. 15 shows that after removing the ink tank 4C of FIG. 12 (instead of the ink tank 4C), the ink tank 4D dedicated to black ink of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of an ink supply unit from the ink tank 4D to the recording head 100 when the ink supply unit is mounted on the recording head 100. In FIG. 15, each partition wall 41 in FIG. 14 is deleted, and only one storage chamber for storing one type of recording ink (black ink) is formed in the ink tank 4D, and inside the storage chamber is formed. An ink absorber 44 for absorbing and holding the recording ink is provided.

Then, the ink flow path 108K of the recording head 100 comes into contact with the ink absorber 44 absorbing and holding the black ink through the ink supply port 45K via the filter 109K disposed at the tip end thereof. I have. Each of the ink supply ports 45C, 4C of the ink tank 4D,
A recess 49 is provided at a position corresponding to 5M, 45Y (FIG. 14).
C, 49M, and 49Y are formed, and in these recesses,
Channels 50C, 50M, 5 made of an elastic member such as rubber
0Y50 is fixed by press fitting or the like. And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the cyan ink flow path 108C of the recording head 100 (including the filter 109C at the tip thereof) is covered and sealed with a flow path cap 50C.
The magenta ink flow path 108M is formed by the flow path cap 50M, and the yellow ink flow path 108Y is formed by the flow path cap 50Y.
Are covered and hermetically sealed.

In this way, the black ink supply section provided in the ink tank 4D is brought into contact with the black ink supply path 108K of the recording head 100, whereby the black ink is supplied into the recording head 100. At the same time, the ink flow paths 108C, 108M, and 108Y that are in communication with the discharge port arrays (head sections) that are not used are sealed by the corresponding flow path caps 50C, 50M, and 50Y, and thereby, the unused ink flow paths 108C and 108Y.
It is possible to prevent the problem that the ink is fixed in the filter 109 and the ink flow path 108 to cause clogging due to drying of the M and 108Y.

According to the ink tank 4D (FIG. 15), the color ink is not filled, and only the necessary black ink is filled.
The filling amount of black ink can be greatly increased as compared with C (FIG. 14). Therefore, for a user who mainly performs black-and-white recording, the number of recordable sheets can be increased and the frequency of replacement can be reduced by using the ink tank 4D as compared with the color ink tank 4C.

In this embodiment, the number of the flow path caps 50 is three as in the ink tank 4D, but the number of the flow path caps can be arbitrarily determined. Also,
The position where the flow path cap 50 is provided is not particularly limited to the position of the ink supply port 45, and can be appropriately selected to a desired position. Also in the second embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15, the shape of the flow path cap 50 is
The ink flow path 10 which can be freely selected and communicates with the ejection port array of the recording head 100 to be used.
8 is appropriately determined in accordance with the shape of the end portion 8 and the shape of the ink tank 4D serving as the installation portion. Also, the material of the flow path cap 50 can be appropriately selected as long as airtightness can be ensured.

By mounting such a flow path cap 50, even when the recording ink reacts with the recording property improving liquid, the recording ink is supplied into the ink flow path 106 of the recording property improving liquid. Without contact, it is possible to prevent ejection failure due to contact between the recording ink and the recording property improving liquid in the flow path. Further, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of types of inks are used, such as in the case of using a plurality of color inks or recording using a plurality of light and shade color inks having different concentrations of coloring materials such as dyes or pigments. Also in the ink jet recording apparatus to be used, different inks do not come into contact with each other, so that it is possible to prevent drying and intrusion of foreign matter in the flow path, and to reliably prevent color mixing of ink in the flow path.

The shape, structure, and material of the flow path cap 50 can be freely selected as long as they can seal and protect the ink flow paths 106 and 108 when combined with the recording head 100. As an example of ensuring the sealing property, an elastic member such as rubber may be used. Further, the sealing member does not react with the ink and the special liquid (such as the recording property improving liquid) and sufficiently prevents the evaporation thereof. It is more preferable that the gas or moisture permeability is as low as possible.

FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view showing the channel cap 50 alone in the first embodiment (FIG. 10) and the second embodiment (FIG. 15). The flow path cap 50 of FIG.
One end face 53 is open so that it can be attached to the ink flow paths 106 and 108 communicating with the ejection opening row of the recording head 100, and the other end face 54 is closed. Then, the closed end face 54 allows the ends (filters 107, 10) of the ink flow paths 106, 108 communicating with the ejection port array (head section) of the print head 100 to be formed.
9 (incl. 9). In this case, the outer shapes of the ends of the ink flow paths 106 and 108 are also cylindrical.

FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration in which a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) flow path caps 50 are integrated. The flow path cap 50 is usually formed of one single component as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, but when a plurality of flow path caps 50 are required, as shown in FIG. The flow path cap unit 55 in which a plurality of caps 50 are integrated may be used. FIG. 18 shows the recording head 10 when the integrated flow path cap unit 55 of FIG. 17 is mounted on the ink tank 4D according to the second embodiment of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a connection portion between the ink tank 0 and an ink tank 4D.

FIG. 19 is a schematic partial sectional view showing another configuration example of the flow path cap. In FIG. 19, a flow path cap is formed by providing a concave portion 59 in the ink tank 4 and fitting and mounting an O-ring 60 made of an elastic member such as rubber in an annular groove formed in a peripheral region thereof.
As shown in FIG. 19, in a state where the recording head (inkjet head) 100 and the ink tank 4 are positioned and connected, the ink flow path 108 of the recording head 100 is covered by the concave portion 59 of the ink tank 4 and the ink tank 4 The leading end (including the filter 109) of the ink flow path 108 is hermetically closed by the O-ring 60 attached to the annular groove of No. 4 being in close contact with (pressing against) the opposing surface of the recording head 100.

FIG. 20 is a schematic partial sectional view showing still another example of the structure of the flow path cap. In the configuration example of FIG.
Although the ring 60 is mounted on the ink tank 4 side, the O-ring 60 is mounted on the recording head 100 side in the configuration example of FIG. 20, an annular groove is formed in a region surrounding the ink flow path 108 of the ink tank 4, and a ring 60 is attached to the annular groove. Further, only the concave portion 59 as a flow path cap is formed on the ink tank 4 side.

According to the configuration of the flow path cap shown in FIG. 20, when the ink tank 4 and the recording head 100 are positioned and connected to each other, the area around the concave portion 59 on the ink tank 4 side is The tip (including the filter 109) of the ink flow path 108 is hermetically sealed by being in close contact (pressing contact) with the O-ring 60. In addition, mounting the O-ring 60 on the recording head 100 side simplifies the configuration of the ink tank 4 which is usually more frequently replaced than the recording head, reduces the number of components, and can manufacture the ink tank 4 at low cost. There is an advantage in that.

In the above embodiment, a serial recording type ink jet recording apparatus for recording while moving the recording head 100 as recording means relative to the recording medium 200 has been described as an example. The same effect can be applied to a line recording type ink jet recording apparatus in which recording is performed only by sub-scanning using a line type recording unit having a length covering the entire width or a part of the recording medium. Can be achieved.

The present invention also relates to one recording head 100
In addition to a printing apparatus that performs printing, any printing means that has a plurality of ejection opening arrays that eject a plurality of types of liquids including a printability improving liquid can be similarly applied regardless of the number of print heads 100. The same effect can be achieved.

In the case of an ink jet recording apparatus, the present invention can be applied to, for example, an apparatus using a recording means using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element. The present invention brings about an excellent effect in an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording means of a discharge type. According to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

[0063]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention (claim 1), an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by discharging ink from an ink jet head to a recording medium has a plurality of discharge port arrays. The ink jet head and the ink tank are detachable, and the ink tank has at least one ink supply port, at least one air communication hole, and one flow path cap. When discharging ink (including liquids such as enhancement liquid), it is possible to replace the ink tank with the minimum required amount of ink according to the purpose of use. The flow path can be sealed by the flow path cap, preventing dust from adhering to the unused ink flow path and clogging due to drying. It can be kept ready.

Further, according to the present invention, the filling amount of a specific ink in the ink tank can be increased as necessary, and the frequency of replacing the ink tank when the ink is used can be reduced. . Furthermore, since the inkjet head can be used in common, there is no need to replace the inkjet head, and the economic efficiency can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the flow path cap communicates with a discharge port array of the ink jet head when the ink jet head and the ink tank are connected. Or a configuration in which the ink tank is filled with a smaller number of inks than the number of the ejection port arrays of the inkjet head, or the ink tank has an ejection port of the inkjet head. Since the number of ink supply ports smaller than the number of rows is provided, the above effect can be achieved more efficiently, and it is possible to prevent other types of ink from entering each discharge port row,
It is possible to eliminate wasteful consumption of ink during suction recovery required for ink replacement work.For example, even in the case of a combination in which inks react with each other, the ink reacts in the ejection port or flow path of the inkjet head to improve ejection performance. There is no lowering.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a partially cutaway embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of an ejection port array of an inkjet head used in a first embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from a recording medium side.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view schematically illustrating a structure of an ink discharge unit of the recording head of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view schematically showing a first ink tank used in the first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a partially broken perspective view schematically showing a second ink tank used in the first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a state before mounting an ink jet head and an ink tank on a carriage in the first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which an ink jet head is mounted on a carriage and a head fixing lever is released in the first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which an ink jet head and an ink tank are positioned and mounted on a carriage in the first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of an ink supply unit when a first ink tank is mounted on a carriage in the first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view showing a structure of an ink supply unit when a second ink tank is mounted on a carriage in the first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of a plurality of ejection port arrays of an ink jet head used in a second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from a recording medium side.

12 is a schematic perspective view showing an ink tank normally used in an ink jet recording apparatus using the recording head of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view showing a second ink tank used in place of the first ink tank of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of an ink supply unit when a first ink tank is mounted on a carriage in a second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of an ink supply unit when a second ink tank is mounted on a carriage in a second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view showing a flow path cap used in the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration in which a plurality of flow path caps are integrated.

FIG. 18 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between an ink jet head and an ink tank using the integrated flow path cap unit of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a schematic partial sectional view showing another configuration example of the flow path cap.

FIG. 20 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing still another configuration example of the flow path cap.

FIG. 21 is a partial perspective view schematically illustrating an example of an inkjet head having a plurality of ejection port arrays arranged in parallel.

FIG. 22 is a partial perspective view schematically showing an example of an inkjet head having a plurality of ejection port arrays arranged on the same straight line.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Carriage 3 Head fixing lever 4 Ink tank 5 Scan rail 6 Carriage drive motor 30 Recovery unit 33 Wiper blade 35 Connector 41 Partition wall 42 Storage chamber 43 Storage chamber 44 Ink absorber 45 Ink supply port 46 Ink supply port 47 Air communication Hole 49 Depressed part 50 Flow path cap 53 Open end face of flow path cap 54 Closed end face of flow path cap 55 Flow path cap unit 59 Depressed part 60 O-ring 100 Inkjet head (recording head) 101 Head part (discharge port row) 102 Head Section (ejection port array) 103 ejection port 105 electrothermal converter 106 ink flow path 107 filter 108 ink flow path 109 filter 110 connector 200 recording medium

Claims (6)

[Claims] In an ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording by discharging ink from an ink jet head to a recording medium, an ink jet head having a plurality of discharge port arrays and an ink tank are detachable, and the ink tank is provided with an ink supply port. An ink jet recording apparatus having at least one air communication hole and at least one flow path cap. 2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the flow channel cap covers an ink flow channel that communicates with a certain discharge port array of the ink jet head when the ink jet head and the ink tank are connected. Recording device. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ink tank is filled with a smaller number of kinds of inks than the number of ejection port arrays of the ink jet head. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ink tank is provided with a smaller number of ink supply ports than the number of discharge port arrays of the ink jet head. 5. The ink-jet head according to claim 1, wherein said ink-jet head is provided with an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink. Inkjet recording device. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ink jet head discharges the ink from a discharge port using film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer. .