JPH11348303A - Ink cartridge setting mechanism of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fix a cartridge in a proper state by an operation of closing a cover by setting an interlocking mechanism for moving the ink cartridge set and inserted in a state with the cover of a set part being opened to a position where an ink feed needle is inserted to an ink take-out opening when the cover is closed. SOLUTION: When a cover 70 is raised in a direction of an arrow, one side 73 of a first rib 71 butts with a projection 68. When the cover is further raised, the projection 68 moves from the side 73 to the other side 74, and a reception part 50 slides in a direction of an arrow along a rail groove in which a guide rail 56 is fitted. When the cover 70 is raised furthermore, one side 75 of a rib 72 butts with a corner R part 69 of the part 50. In a state while the side 75 is separated to the corner R part 69, an inner wall 76 of the cover 70 butts with the corner R part 69 thereby pushing the part 50. An inner wall 77 butts with and presses an end 67 of an operation lever 65 before the cover 70 is closed. An end face hits a side face of a part 40 when the cover is completely closed. In this state, an ink feed needle 31 penetrates an ink take-in opening, thereby constituting an ink feed system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mechanism for mounting an ink cartridge in a printer having an ink jet head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a printer equipped with an ink-jet head, a type in which ink is supplied to the ink-jet head using an ink cartridge is known. When the ink cartridge runs out of ink, the ink cartridge becomes a new one. It is exchangeable. The ink cartridge mounting mechanism has an ink supply needle disposed at a fixed position, and the ink cartridge is mounted so that the ink supply needle is inserted into the ink outlet of the ink cartridge.

[0003] As an ink cartridge, one having a configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-16378 by the present applicant is known. This ink cartridge is composed of a flexible ink bag filled with ink, an ink outlet formed in the ink bag, and a hard plastic case containing the ink bag. In general, a plastic case has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an ink outlet formed in an ink bag is exposed at a front end face of the case. Therefore, the ink cartridge is mounted so that the ink supply needle of the printer is inserted into the ink outlet.

In order for an ink supply needle of a certain length to be properly inserted and fixed in the ink outlet, it is necessary to slide the ink cartridge in the insertion direction. Generally, an ink cartridge mounting portion is arranged at a front or rear portion of the printer, and the printer is opened, and the ink cartridge is slid horizontally by hand from the front or the rear by hand. Removable is possible.

[0005]

However, in such a mechanism in which the cover of the printer is opened and the ink cartridge is slid and mounted, the ink supply needle is set in an appropriate state for the ink take-out port due to forgetting to mount the ink cartridge. If the insertion is not fixed, ink leakage may occur. In such a state, it is not possible to supply an appropriate ink and to obtain good print quality. Further, the life of the ink in the ink cartridge is shortened. Further, there is a problem that the leaked ink affects the mechanism and the substrate, causing a problem and stopping the printer.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to fix an ink cartridge in an appropriate mounting state by closing a cover.

[0007]

The present invention comprises a mounting portion for detachably mounting an ink cartridge, and an ink supply needle disposed in the mounting portion. The ink supply needle is inserted and connected to an ink outlet of the ink cartridge. An ink cartridge mounting mechanism for a printer that mounts the ink cartridge on the mounting portion so as to include a cover that is openably and closably mounted on the mounting portion, and the ink inserted into the mounting portion with the cover opened. An interlocking mechanism is provided for moving the cartridge to a position where the ink supply needle is inserted into the ink outlet of the ink cartridge by closing the cover.

A receiving portion for receiving the ink cartridge from a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the ink supply needle and for enabling the ink supply needle to be inserted into the ink outlet; And a slide mechanism for reciprocating in the axial direction.

The slide mechanism includes a guide frame slidably supporting the receiving portion, an operation lever rotatably formed on the guide frame side,
A mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the operation lever into a linear movement for sliding the receiving portion is provided.

The slide mechanism includes a guide frame slidably supporting the receiving portion, a rack formed on the receiving portion side, and a pinion formed on the guide frame side and meshing with the rack. ,
An operating lever extending radially from a rotation center of the pinion to rotate the pinion.

When the cover is closed, the cover is engaged with the receiving portion, and the receiving portion slides.

A projection formed on the side of the receiving portion;
A rib is formed on the side of the cover, the rib being engaged with the projection when the cover is rotated to slide the receiving portion.

[0013] The cover may be engaged with the operation lever to slide the receiving portion.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of a printer having an ink cartridge mounting mechanism according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Overall Configuration of Printer) FIGS. 1 and 2
1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from obliquely forward and obliquely backward, respectively. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a paper transport path.

Referring to these drawings, the ink jet printer 1 has a roll paper loading mechanism 2 and a paper feed port 3 for cut paper of A4 size or the like, slip paper, or the like.
The roll paper 4 supplied from the roll paper loading mechanism 2 and the slip paper 5 inserted from the paper feed port 3 are moved to the printing position 11.
The transport path is configured to be transported through (the area surrounded by the dashed line in FIG. 1). Printing position 11
The ink jet head 8 moves the carriage mechanism 9 so as to face the surfaces of the roll paper 4 and the slip paper 5 passing through
Is held by

The carriage mechanism 9 includes a guide shaft 6
A carriage 7 held reciprocally along the guide shaft 6 in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the roll paper 4 and the slip paper 5 are transported, and a carriage driving motor (not shown). .

The carriage 7 is capable of reciprocating in the width direction within a range including the printing position 11 and is capable of moving back and forth in the printing position 1.
1, a capping mechanism 11B, which is a retracted position of the inkjet head 8, is located on one side in the width direction.
Is disposed. In a state in which the ink jet head 8 waits for a printing operation, the nozzle surface is set to a state in which the nozzle surface is closed by the capping surface 11 </ b> C, so that the ink meniscus of each ink nozzle is prevented from retreating, ink drying, and the like.

Ink is supplied to the ink jet head 8 from an ink cartridge mounting mechanism 10 as an ink supply unit mounted at a position adjacent to the roll paper loading mechanism 2 via an ink tube (not shown). Is done.
As can be seen from FIG. 2, the ink cartridge mounting mechanism 10 includes an ink cartridge mounting section 30 in which the ink cartridge 20 is removably mounted.

(Ink Supply System and Ink Cartridge) Here, an outline of an ink supply system for supplying ink to the inkjet head 8 will be described with reference to FIG. An ink supply needle 31 is disposed in the ink cartridge mounting section 30 of the ink cartridge mounting mechanism 10, and the ink cartridge 20 is mounted so that the ink supply needle 31 is completely inserted. Ink supply needle 31 from ink cartridge 20
Is supplied to the inkjet head 8 via the ink tube 32. By driving the inkjet head 8, ink droplets are ejected from each ink nozzle (not shown) onto the recording paper conveyed at the printing position 11. In a state where the ink jet head 8 is closed by the capping surface 11C of the capping mechanism 11B, the ink pump 33 is driven to suck ink from the nozzle surface and to discharge the waste ink tube 3.
4 and can be collected by the waste ink collecting unit 35.

Next, the internal structure of the ink cartridge 20 will be schematically described with reference to FIG. The ink cartridge 20 includes a flexible ink bag 21 filled with ink, an ink outlet 22 formed in the ink bag 21, and a hard case 2 in which the ink bag 21 is built.
3 is provided. The case 23 includes a case main body 23a and a case lid 23b. A needle insertion hole 23d through which the ink supply needle 31 can be inserted into the ink outlet 22 from the outside is provided on a front end face 23c.
The holes 23e for positioning the individual ink cartridges are open. Note that a detection plate 24 for detecting the remaining amount of ink is attached to a side surface of the ink bag 21.

(Ink Cartridge Mounting Mechanism) Next, the configuration of the ink cartridge mounting mechanism 10 incorporated in the printer 1 will be described.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the ink cartridge mounting mechanism 10 before the ink cartridge 20 is mounted.
FIGS. 6A and 6B show a state in which the ink cartridge 20 is moved to the ink supply needle 3 by a slide mechanism.
The state before and after sliding to the side 1 is shown.

Referring to these drawings, the ink cartridge mounting mechanism 10 includes an ink cartridge 20.
Is provided with a mounting section 30 for detachably mounting. The mounting portion 30 includes a hood portion 40 on which an ink supply needle 31 is horizontally mounted on a side surface, and a tip end side of the ink supply needle 31 is in an open state. Three positioning pins 42 project horizontally from the side surface of the hood 40 in the same direction as the ink supply needle 31. Also, the mounting unit 30
Is provided with a box-shaped ink cartridge receiving portion 50 that can slide in the axial direction of the ink supply needle 31, that is, in the horizontal direction with respect to the hood portion 40. further,
A slide mechanism 60 for sliding the receiving section 50 in the horizontal direction is provided.

The box-shaped receiving portion 50 has an opening 51 on the upper side, and the ink cartridge 20 can be mounted inside the receiving portion 50 vertically from above the upper opening 51. That is, the ink cartridge 20 can be received from a direction substantially orthogonal to the ink supply needle 31. Front end face 5 of this receiving part 50
2, a front end surface 2 of the attached ink cartridge 20;
An opening 52d and a positioning hole 52e are opened at positions corresponding to the needle hole 23d and the three positioning holes 23e opened in FIG.

A cover 53 is attached to the upper opening 51 of the receiving portion 50. The lid 53 is provided with the receiving portion 5
It is pivotable downward (in the direction of receiving the ink cartridge) about a pivot shaft 53a on one side of 0, and is normally urged in a closing direction by a spring force. In a state where the lid 53 is closed, the distal end is fitted in the engagement groove 54 formed on the side surface of the receiving portion 50 to be in a locked state. On the bottom side surface of the ink cartridge 20, there is formed a projection 25 capable of moving the engaging groove 54 in the lateral direction. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 20 is pushed in from above, the portion where the engagement groove 54 is formed is elastically moved by the projection 25, and the lid lock is released. Thereafter, the lid 53 pivots downward together with the ink cartridge 20 and is pressed against the side surface of the receiving portion 50. Receiving unit 50 for ink cartridge 20
From the lid 53 due to the spring force.
Turns upward and returns to the locked state shown in FIG. 5B again.

The slide mechanism 60 for sliding the receiving portion 50 has a guide frame 61 which slidably supports the receiving portion 50. The guide frame 61 has a guide frame 61 along the bottom surface of the receiving portion 50. A rail groove 62 in which the formed guide rail 56 is slidably fitted is formed. On the side of the receiving part 50,
The rack 63 is formed downward in the sliding direction. On the other hand, a pinion 64 is rotatably attached to the guide frame 61 so as to be engaged with the rack 63. On the side surface of the pinion 64, an operation lever 65 extends substantially radially from a center 66 of rotation of the pinion 64.

(Mounting Operation of Ink Cartridge) Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the mounting operation of the ink cartridge 20 in the ink cartridge mounting mechanism 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

First, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B,
With the ink cartridge receiving portion 50 pulled out of the hood portion 40, the ink cartridge 20 is pushed into the upper opening 53 thereof from the upper side as indicated by an arrow. As a result, the lid 53 is pushed open, and the ink cartridge 20 is received inside. In this state, the needle holes 23d and three positioning holes 23e formed in the front end face 23 of the ink cartridge 20 are aligned with the openings 52d and positioning holes 52e formed in the front end face of the receiving portion 50, respectively. I do.

Thus, the state shown in FIG. 6A is formed. After that, the operation lever 65 in the state of being sideways is operated in a direction to raise upward. With this operation, the receiving section 50 on which the ink cartridge 20 is mounted slides horizontally toward the ink supply needle 31.

When the operation lever 65 is completely raised, FIG.
As shown in (B), the front end surface 52 of the receiving portion 50 comes into contact with the side surface of the hood portion 40. In the middle of this state, the three positioning pins 42 are inserted into the positioning holes 52e on the front end face of the receiving portion and the holes 23e on the front end face of the ink cartridge. It is guided and positioned. The ink supply needle 31 projecting horizontally also passes through the opening 52d on the front end face of the receiving portion and the needle hole 23d on the front end face of the ink cartridge 20, and is completely inserted into the ink intake port 22 therein. As a result, an ink supply system from the ink cartridge 20 to the ink jet head 8 is formed.

On the other hand, the empty ink cartridge 20
In the case where is replaced with a new one, the operation opposite to the above may be performed. That is, the operation is performed such that the operation lever 65 in the state shown in FIG. 6B is tilted rearward. As a result, the receiving portion 50 slides rearward, and the upper opening 53 is completely pulled out of the hood portion 40. That is, the state shown in FIG. Thereafter, the cutout portions 57a formed on both side surfaces of the receiving portion 50,
What is necessary is just to grasp both sides of the ink cartridge 20 exposed from 57b by hand, and to pull it vertically upward.

(Embodiment of Ink Cartridge Mounting Mechanism by Cover) Next, referring to FIG. 7, an embodiment of an ink cartridge mounting mechanism by a main cover of the present invention will be described.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show states before and after the ink cartridge 20 is slid toward the ink supply needle 31 by the slide mechanism. In the figure,
The same reference numerals as those shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 indicate the same components,
Hereinafter, description of the same parts as those in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be omitted.

A protrusion 68 is provided on a side surface of the ink cartridge receiving portion 50 of the ink cartridge mounting mechanism of the present embodiment. The cover 70 opens and closes using a hinge shaft 79 provided on the case 78 as a fulcrum of rotation. The first rib 71 and the second rib 72 are provided on the inner wall of the cover 70 at different positions on the cover 70.

The slide mechanism 60 for sliding the receiving portion 50 has a guide frame 61 for slidably supporting the receiving portion 50. The guide frame 61 has a guide frame 61 along the bottom surface of the receiving portion 50. The point that the formed guide rail 56 is slidably fitted with the rail groove 62 is the same as in the above-described embodiment.

The ink cartridge 20 in the ink cartridge mounting mechanism of the present embodiment configured as described above
Will be described.

FIG. 7A shows a state in which the ink cartridge receiving section 50 is pulled out of the hood section 40 and the ink cartridge 20 is mounted from above, and thereafter, the ink is closed by closing the cover. The receiving section 50 on which the cartridge 20 is mounted slides horizontally toward the ink supply needle 31.

That is, when the cover 70 is raised in the direction of the arrow,
First, one side 73 of the first rib 71 contacts the projection 68. When the cover 70 is further raised, the projection 68 moves from one side 73 of the first rib 71 to the other side 74 and is pushed. Thereby, the receiving portion 50 is formed with the guide rail 5 formed along the bottom surface thereof.
6 slides in the direction of the arrow along the rail groove 62 in which is fitted.

When the cover 70 is further raised, one side 75 of the second rib 72 comes into contact with the corner R portion 69 of the receiving portion 50 and is pushed. From one side 75 of the second rib 72 to the corner R portion 69
In a state in which the receiving portion 50 is removed, the inner wall 76 of the cover 70 contacts the corner R portion 69 and the receiving portion 50 is pressed. Next, the cover 70
Before the door is closed, the inner wall 77 of the cover 70 is
5 comes into contact with one end 67 and pushes the lever 65.
Then, when the cover 70 is completely closed, as shown in FIG.
It will be in the state of hitting the side of. In this state, the ink supply needle 31 protruding horizontally is provided with the opening 52d on the front end face of the receiving portion and the needle hole 2 on the front end face of the ink cartridge 20.
3d, and is completely inserted into the ink intake port 22 therein. As a result, the ink cartridge 20
An ink supply system to the ink jet head 8 is formed.

It should be noted that the three positioning pins 42 are inserted into the positioning holes 52e on the front end face of the receiving portion and the holes 23e on the front end face of the ink cartridge from the middle of this state. Is the same as

In the contact state between the cover 70 and the receiving portion 50, a force generated when the cover 70 is rotated around the hinge portion 79 as a fulcrum is a component force generated in the contact portion.
Is set to an appropriate state that can be converted into a sliding force.

In this embodiment, an example of the mounting mechanism linked to the slide structure of the cartridge receiving portion for receiving the ink cartridge from above has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be used for various mounting mechanisms. For example, even in a printer in which the direction of insertion of the ink cartridge and the slide mechanism are the same, a mounting mechanism interlocked with the cover or a mounting mechanism that pushes the ink cartridge itself with the cover is also possible.

[0044]

As described above, in the ink cartridge mounting mechanism of the printer of the present invention, the mounting of the ink cartridge is completed in conjunction with the operation of closing the cover. The operation for mounting the ink cartridge is simplified and the usability is improved. This has the effect of eliminating damage to components due to the locked state of the slide mechanism and the cover and improving the durability quality of the printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing an inkjet printer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing the inkjet printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a paper transport path in the inkjet printer of FIG.

4A is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an ink supply system in the inkjet printer of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing a state of an ink cartridge mounting mechanism before mounting an ink cartridge, and FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional view thereof.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory views for explaining an ink cartridge mounting operation in an ink cartridge mounting mechanism.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory views for explaining an ink cartridge mounting operation in an embodiment of an ink cartridge mounting mechanism using a cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink-jet printer 2 Roll paper loading mechanism 3 Paper feed port 4 Roll paper 6 Guide shaft 7 Carriage 8 Ink-jet head 9 Carriage mechanism 10 Ink cartridge mounting mechanism 11 Printing position 20 Ink cartridge 23d Ink supply needle insertion hole 23e Positioning hole 25 Projection 30 Ink cartridge mounting part 31 Ink supply needle 40 Hood part 42 Positioning pin 50 Ink cartridge receiving part 51 Upper opening 52d Ink supply needle opening 52e Positioning hole 53 Cover 54 Engagement groove 56 Guide rail 60 Slide mechanism 61 Guide frame 62 Rail groove 63 Rack 64 Pinion 65 Operation lever 68 Projection 70 Cover 71 First rib 72 Second rib

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An ink cartridge, comprising: a mounting portion for detachably mounting an ink cartridge; and an ink supply needle disposed in the mounting portion, wherein the ink supply needle is inserted and connected to an ink outlet of the ink cartridge. An ink cartridge mounting mechanism for a printer that mounts an ink cartridge on the mounting portion, comprising a cover that is openably and closably mounted on the mounting portion,
An interlocking mechanism is provided for moving the ink cartridge inserted into the mounting portion with the cover open to a position where the ink supply needle is inserted into the ink outlet of the ink cartridge by closing the cover. Characteristic printer ink cartridge mounting mechanism. 2. The receiving part according to claim 1, further comprising: an ink cartridge that receives the ink cartridge from a direction substantially orthogonal to an axial direction of the ink supply needle, and makes the ink supply needle insertable into the ink outlet. And a slide mechanism for reciprocating the receiving portion in the axial direction of the ink supply needle. 3. The slide mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the slide mechanism includes a guide frame slidably supporting the receiving portion, an operation lever rotatably formed on the guide frame side, and the operation lever. An ink cartridge mounting mechanism for a printer, comprising a mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the ink cartridge into a linear movement of sliding the receiving portion. 4. The slide mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the slide mechanism comprises a guide frame slidably supporting the receiving portion, a rack formed on the receiving portion side, and a guide frame formed on the guide frame side. An ink cartridge mounting mechanism for a printer, comprising: a pinion engaged with a rack; and an operation lever extending in a radial direction from a rotation center of the pinion to rotate the pinion. 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a part of the cover is engaged with the receiving portion by closing the cover, and the receiving portion slides. Printer ink cartridge mounting mechanism. 6. The rib according to claim 5, wherein the protrusion is formed on the side of the receiving portion and the rib is formed on the side of the cover and engages with the protrusion when the cover rotates to slide the receiving portion. An ink cartridge mounting mechanism for a printer, comprising: 7. The ink for a printer according to claim 2, wherein when the cover is closed, the cover is engaged with the operation lever, and the receiving portion is slid. Cartridge mounting mechanism.