JPS5857960A - Ink supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable to stably supply ink over a long period of time by a structure wherein an ink tank, which is commonly used by all of a plurality of ink jet heads, is provided and a plurality of ink suppliers are also provided within the ink tank. CONSTITUTION:The ink tank 201 consists of an ink vessel 202, a packing 203 and a cover 204. A filter 205 and a plurality of check valves 206, to each of which ink supply pipes 207 and 208 are provided, are arranged within the vessel 202. An ink replenishing port 211, a vent hole block 212 equipped with a filter block 215 and ink replenishing tank keepers 213 and 214 are arranged on the cover 204. A multi-nozzle ink jet head 216 is communicated to the ink tank 201 by means of ink supply tubes 217 and 218 respectively through the ink supply pipes 207 and 208.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ink droplet generating device, and more particularly, to an ink supply device for a so-called multi-type ink droplet generating device having a large number of ink ejection ports.

The so-called inkjet recording method, which is a sickle method and is capable of high-speed recording, and can print lines on plain paper without requiring any special fixing process, is suitable for various printers, copying machines, and Word 70. This is an extremely useful method for realizing printing devices such as setters. Regarding this inkjet recording method, various methods have been proposed so far, some have been improved and commercialized, and others are still being worked on to put them into practical use. .

The inkjet recording method uses a drop of recording liquid (referred to as ink in the description of the present invention).
t) is caused to fly using various working principles and is attached to a recording material such as paper to perform recording. An ink droplet generating device used in such an inkjet recording method, a claw 9,
An inkjet device generally includes an inkjet head for forming ink droplets and an ink supply system for supplying the ink to the inkjet head.

By the way, as a first form of the above-mentioned inkjet head, it generally has about 1 to 10 ink ejection ports.
There are types called single type or semi-multi type, but the ink supply system for these types of heads is a cartridge type replaceable ink tank (because there are few ink ejection ports and ink consumption is low). It can be constructed relatively easily by using a single ink supply pipe or a single ink supply pipe.

However, the ink supply system for another type of head, generally called a full-line multi-type head, which is used for the purpose of printing one line of paper almost simultaneously, has an extremely large number of ink ejection ports, and The amount of ink consumed is also incomparably greater than when printing on ridges.)
Compared to the former ink supply system, this system is technically more difficult because its structure is complicated and large, and it requires separate ink supply.

Therefore, there is currently no such full-line multi-type product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly practical ink supply device for a multi-type inkjet device by solving the problems in the conventional technique on ridges.

That is, a first object of the present invention is to provide a device for stably supplying ink for a long time to multi-type inkjet devices.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a device for stably and uniformly supplying ink to the entire area of a multi-type inkjet device.

Furthermore, a third object of the present invention is to provide an ink supply device that is easy to maintain and manage.

The ink supply device of the present invention that achieves the above object is a device that supplies ink to a plurality of inkjet heads, and includes an ink reservoir that is shared by all of the heads, and an ink reservoir that is arranged in parallel in this reservoir. The invention is characterized in that it includes a plurality of ink supply devices.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the invention in detail.

In FIG. 1, 101-1, 101-2. −． 101-
n is an inkjet head, each of which has a plurality of ejection ports 103 for ejecting and flying ink, and an ejection port 1.
An ink relay chamber 102 communicating with 03 is provided.

113-1, 113-2. ..., 113-n and 11
4-1, 114-2. −． 114-+a transfers the ink 105 in the ink tank 104 to each of the heads 101-1, 1.
01-2.・=, supply pipe for supplying to 101-n, supply pipe 113-1, 113-2゜"・*113
rs has a check valve 115-1, 115-2゜-*11
5 m and 116-1, 116-2,・s・,1
16-n.

is attached. The ink tank 104 is provided with an ink refill port 112 and a vent hole 106, and the vent hole 106 communicates with the atmosphere via a filter 107. Then, there is a Hiro ink replenishment port 112 in the tank 104.
side and the supply pipe 113-1゜113-2. −． 113
-n and 114-1, 114-2゜...$114-I
A filter 108 is provided to separate the side where I is present. 118 is a cylinder block, inside which are the heads 101-1, 101-2. ..., 101-
Cylinder 119-1, 119-2 corresponding to n. −．
119-4 is provided. These cylinders each have passages 117-1, 117-2, . -, 117-n, the supply path 113 between the check valves 115 and 116
-1,113-2. ....

Connected to 113-H. Also, each cylinder has pistons 120-1, 120-2, +++, 120-
n is divine. Reference numeral 109 is an internal replenishment tank that is detachable from the tank 104, and a liquid level control valve 111 is attached to this tank.

From the ink tank 104 to the inkjet head 101-
1,101-2. . , 101-n is supplied as follows. First, from the ink tank 104, the inkjet heads 101-1, 101-2°..., xol-
Initial filling of ink for nVc 1 When performing initial filling of a predetermined head, the replenishment tank 109 filled with ink is inserted into the ink replenishment port 112 of the ink tank 104 in advance.
Connect to. At this time, the liquid level control valve 111 is opened, and the ink in the replenishment ink 109 naturally falls into the ink tank 104 while being replaced with air. Since the ink in the ink tank 109 is no longer replaced with air, the transfer of ink from the replenishment tank 109 to the ink tank 104 is stopped. Incidentally, when the ink naturally falls from the replenishment tank 109 into the ink tank 104, the filter 108 in the ink tank 104 gets wet with the ink.
Air no longer moves from the B area to the M area of the ink tank 104. If the connection between the ink tank 104 and the refill tank 109 is made via an O-ring 110, or if the connection between the ink tank 104 and the refill tank 109 is sealed with ink, the A of the ink tank 104
Unless the area is replenished with air, ink will not transfer from the M area of the ink tank 104 to the B area, and the ink levels in the A area and B area will not be the same. round, ink tank 1
The vent hole 106 of No. 04 needs to be located at the same location as the ink replenishment port 112, with the filter 108 as a border. The ink level in the ink tank 104 must be set so that the ink pressure in the head becomes negative so that the ink does not spontaneously leak out from the ejection port 103 of the inkjet head. In this way, with the ink tank 104 filled with ink, push the specified piston 12G-1 in the direction of the arrow, remove the air in the cylinder 119-1 through the passage 117-1, and then pull the piston 120-1. In the direction of the arrow, the ink in the ink tank 1G4 flows into the check valve 11@
-1, the iron is inserted into the cylinder 119-1 through the passage 117-1. Next, when the piston 120-1 is pushed in the direction of the arrow, the ink passageway 117 inside the cylinder 119-1 is opened.
-1. It is press-fitted into the inkjet head 101-1 through the check valve 115-1 and the supply pipe 113-1. The operating line ink of the piston 120-1 fills the inkjet head 101-1, and the ink from the operating line of the piston 120-1 fills the inkjet head 101-1.
1 and reaches the ink tank 104 through the supply pipe 113-1.
．． This process is performed until the air (bubbles) in the inkjet rad 114-1 and the inkjet rad 101-1 are completely eliminated. After a predetermined inkjet head 101-1 is filled with ink, when the inkjet head 101-1 is operating and ejecting ink droplets, ink is supplied from the supply pipe 11.
3-1 and 114-1 by capillary force. Therefore, the check valves 115-1 and 116-1 need to be opened with a slight layer pressure, and the ink tank 104
In practical terms, it is preferable that the ink level inside the inkjet head 101-1 is extremely low compared to the position of the inkjet head 101-1.

It is desirable that the difference between the ink levels of the ink tank 101-1 and the ink tank 104 be within the range of approximately 0 to 100-.

Note that if stable ejection cannot be obtained due to air bubbles or dust getting into the inkjet head 101-1, fill the ink tank 104 with the ink using the same operation method as when initially filling the inkjet head 101-1 with ink. It can be easily recovered by circulating it between the inkjet heads 101-1.

For the sake of convenience, the above explanation has been given with respect to head 1oi-i, but other heads j01-2. . . . 101 and ink ejection recovery can be performed.

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an ink supply device as an application example of the example shown in FIG.

In Fig. 2, 201 is an ink tank, and ink container 2
02. Puff King 203. and an upper lid 204. Inside the ink container 202, a filter 205.
A plurality of check pulps 206 are installed, each of which is attached with an ink supply/tube 207, 208, and a pipe guide 209 is provided on the front side of the ink container 202.
However, a cylinder block 210 is also attached to the rear side.

The upper lid 204 has an ink replenishment port 2111 and a ventilation hole.

Lock 212. Ink refill tank holder 213 and 2
14 is attached, and a ventilation hole block 212K and a filter block 215 are attached.

Ink container 202. Backing 203. The upper lid 204 is
They are combined by being crimped together with screws or the like. still,
The ink container 202 and the top lid 204 can also be integrated by joining, and the ink container 202 and the top lid 204
It communicates with the inside of the ink tank 201 via 8.

Reference numeral 219 denotes an ink replenishment tank, and one part thereof includes an ink injection device 220'' IC for replenishing ink at a constant ink level into the ink tank 201 through the ink replenishment port 211 of the ink tank top cover 204. This ink replenishment tank 219 is detachable from the ink tank 201 and can be replaced as needed.

Ink supply from the ink tank 201 to the multi-nozzle inkjet head 216 is performed as follows. First, the multi-nozzle inkjet head 216 is initially filled with ink from the ink tank 201 . When initially filling ink, insert the filling device 220 of the ink replenishment tank 219 into the ink refill port 211 of the ink tank 201.
After connecting the tank 219 to the upper lid 214 and installing the tank 219 on the upper lid 214, the tank 219 is fixed with tank holders 213 and 214. At this time, the ink injection device 220 attached to the ink replenishment tank 219 is activated and the ink tank 2
Ink is injected to a constant ink level of 01. In addition,
Ink refill port 211 and vent block 212 so that the ink level on both sides of filter 205 is equal.
are arranged on the same side with respect to filter 205.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along X and X-rays in FIG. 2 to explain the detailed structure of the check valve 206 and cylinder block 210 shown in FIG. Oh, this check pulp 30
5 has a valve support part 3 in each check elbow 306.
07,308. Valve 309.310, valve receiver part 311,
It has a structure in which two check valves 313 and 314 consisting of 312 are arranged at right angles.

315 is a cylinder block, cylinder 316
There is a spring 317 inside. Spring receiver 318. and piston 31
9, insert its open end into the cylinder It320
It's closed off. The piston 319 has an O-ring 321
and a detachable rod 322. The cylinder 316 is connected to the check valve 3 by a coupling 323.
Ink flow path 3 between check valves 313 and 314 in 05
It communicates with 24.

Incidentally, 328 and 329 are backings for preventing ink leakage.

33G is check pulp 305 and ink supply tube (
(not shown) is fixed to the check pulp 305 and the ink container 302 by support members 331 and 332, respectively. In addition, sleeves 333 and 3 are provided to prevent movement of the ink supply pipe 330 due to attachment and detachment of the ink supply tube.
34 is attached. 335 is a pipe guide that prevents the support member 332 from coming off and that also serves as a pipe guide for the ink supply pipe 33.
By injecting the sealing material into the pipe penetration hole 336, ink leakage from around the ink supply pipe 330 can be completely prevented. 337 is an ink supply pipe for connecting other ink supply tubes.

With the ink tank 301 filled with ink, the rod 32
2, when the piston 319 is pushed toward the left in the drawing, the air inside the cylinder 316 flows through the passages 325° 324 and 326.
After opening the ink valve 310, the ink is removed from the passage 327 through the ink supply pipe 330.

When the compression of the piston 319 is released, the piston 319 is pushed back by the spring 317, and the valve 310 is closed by the suction pressure of the cylinder 316. At the same time, the valve 309 is opened and the ink in the ink container 302 flows into the ink flow kII! 3
23, 324, 325 into the cylinder 316. After sucking the ink into the cylinder 316 in this way, when the piston 319 is pushed toward the left in the drawing again, the valve 309 is closed and the valve 310 is opened, so that the ink sucked into the cylinder 316 is Ink passage 3
25, 324, 326, and 327, the ink is supplied from an ink supply pipe 330 to an inkjet head (not shown in FIG. 3) via an ink supply tube. In this way, the initial filling of ink from the ink container 302 into the inkjet head is performed until the ink is warmed up in the inkjet head, the ink supply tube, and the ink supply pipe, and there are no air bubbles in the ink supply path. At this time, in order to ensure the operation of the valves 309 and 3100 and to prevent leakage due to back pressure, the parts of the valve receivers 311 and 312 that contact the valves 309 and 310 are
10 and 309 and 3 form the same plane.
10, the area is smaller.

By the movement of piston 819, cylinder 316
The passage 325 is provided below the center of the Fi cylinder 316 so that the air remaining therein does not flow into the passage 325.

When an inkjet head (not shown) operates to eject ink droplets, ink is supplied through an ink supply pipe 33.
The ink in the ink tank 301 flows through capillary force through 0 and 337. Therefore, valves 309 and 3
The ink level in the ink tank 301 is set so that the ink pressure in the head becomes negative pressure. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the check pulp 206 has the same structure and operates in the same manner as the check pulp 206 described above (in the example device,
Ink supply path to each inkjet head (pulp 20
6 routes, pipes 207° 208 and tubes 217
.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, inside the cylinder block 210, a cylinder 316 and a piston 319 similar to those shown in FIG. 3 are installed for each check pulp 206.
The same number of units are installed internally.

In this way, by integrating the cases of each cylinder, the mechanical strength of each cylinder is increased, and the connection between each cylinder and its corresponding check pulp is fixed. It is possible to prevent people from leaving the ink tank.

As explained in detail above, in the present invention, since an ink supply system of the same standard as #1 is installed for each of a plurality of inkjet devices, stable ink can be uniformly distributed over the entire area of multi-type inkjet devices. supply can be made.

Further, in the present invention, since the ink supply source for the plurality of inkjet devices is unified, the work of replacing ink containers is simple and necessary, and the frequency of replacement is also reduced.

Furthermore, since the present invention adopts a distribution replenishment method for multiple inkjet devices, it is possible to automatically replenish the appropriate amount of ink according to the amount of ink consumed in the main tank, which greatly reduces the time and effort required for ink replenishment. few.

Various effects can be mentioned.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the ink supply device of the present invention;
The second prisoner is an exploded view explaining an application example of the embodiment in Fig. 1, and the third
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the applied example. In the figure, 101-1, 101-2. =-101-n, 216 is an inkjet head, 102 is an ink relay liquid chamber, 103
is discharge port, 104,201.301 public ink tank, 1
05 is ink, 106 is ventilation hole, 107, 108, 20
5 is a filter, 109 and 219 are ink replenishment tanks,
110゜121-1, 121-2, 121-n, 321
is an O-ring, . . . 114-n is an ink supply pipe, 115
-1, 115-2-115-n, 116-1.11
6-2-116-n, 313°314 is a check valve, 1
17-1, 117-2...-117-n, 323,
324, 325, 326, 327 are ink passages, 118
゜210.315 is cylinder block, 119-1゜119-2-119-n, 316 is cylinder, 1
20-1, 120-2-120-n, 319 are pistons, 202°302 is an ink tank body, 203.
303, 328, 329 are backings, 204,
304 is an ink tank★, 206°305 is a check pulp, 207, 208, 330.337 is an ink supply pipe, 209, 335 is a pipe guide, 212 is a vent block, 213, 214 is an ink replenishment tank holder, 2
15 is a filter block, 217; 218 Hiro ink supply tube, 220 ink injection 31
8 is a spring receiver, 320 is a cylinder lid, 322 is a rod, 323 is a joint, 331 and 332 are support members, 333.
334 Fi misleve 336 is a hole for passing through a pipe.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An ink supply device for supplying ink τ to a plurality of inkjet heads, comprising an ink reservoir shared by all the heads and a plurality of ink supply devices arranged in parallel within the reservoir. Device.