JPS6321420Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an inkjet device, and provides a device that has a relatively simple configuration, a robust structure, and performs stable recording operations over a long period of time.

Various inkjet devices have been proposed as non-contact recording means.

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an example of such a device, in which 10 is a base, 20 is a flexible plate, and 3
0 is a pressure element, and 40 is a conduit. base 10
is formed as a container with an open top. An ink supply port 1 is provided on the side wall of the base 10.
1 and an ink ejection port 12 are provided.
The flexible plate 20 is attached to the base 10 so as to close the upper opening surface. these base 10
The flexible plate 20 constitutes a pressure chamber P filled with ink. Pressure element 30 is attached to the surface of flexible plate 20. This piezoelectric element 30 expands and contracts in response to an applied electrical signal. Such displacement of the piezoelectric element 30 is transmitted to the flexible plate 20, and the volume within the pressure chamber P changes. That is, the flexible plate 20 and the piezoelectric element 30 constitute a displacement mechanism that changes the internal volume of the pressure chamber P. The conduit 40 is connected to the ink supply port 1
1 and an ink tank (not shown). In such a configuration, the pressure chamber P is filled with ink. In this state, the displacement mechanism is driven and the volume inside the pressure chamber P decreases, so that the ink filled inside is ejected from the jet port 12 as ink droplets, and as the volume inside the pressure chamber P increases, Ink is taken inside from the ink tank.

However, according to such a configuration, the flexible plate 20
Since the structure is exposed to the outside, it is easily damaged by external impacts and lacks robustness. For this reason, when using the device, consideration must be given to prevent external impact from being applied to the flexible plate 20, which limits operability.

Therefore, in order to solve this inconvenience,
It has also been proposed that a movable body whose movement is controlled by magnetic means is arranged in the ink chamber, and ink is ejected and taken in by the movement of the movable body.

FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an example of such an apparatus, in which 50 is an ink chamber, 60 is a movable body,
70 and 80 are excitation coils used as a drive mechanism.

The ink chamber 50 is provided with an ink supply port 51 and an ink jet port 52, and is filled with ink. The movable body 60 is composed of a magnetic material itself or a member containing a magnetic material, and
In Figure 2, a leaf spring is used. This movable body 60
One end is fixed to the inner wall surface of the ink chamber 50 in a cantilever shape. The coil 70 is connected to the ink supply port 51
The coil 80 is arranged around the outer periphery of the ink jet port 5.
It is placed on the outer periphery of 2.

In such a configuration, coils 70 and 8
By alternately exciting 0, the movable body 60 will vibrate. By controlling the excitation signal to increase the speed at which the movable body 60 moves toward the spout 52 side and slow down the speed at which it moves toward the supply port 51 side, the movable body 60 is stabilized without air bubbles being mixed in from the spout port 52. In addition, the operation of taking ink into the ink chamber 50 and the operation of ejecting ink droplets from the ink chamber 50 can be performed. Here, the movable body 6
Since the movable body 60 is disposed within the ink chamber 50, the movable body 60 is not damaged by external impact, and operability and longevity can be improved.

FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing another example. In FIG. 3, a movable body 60 containing a magnetic material is inserted between protrusions 53 and 54 provided in the ink chamber 50. Thereby, the movable range of the movable body 60 can be uniquely defined. Note that the movable body 60 is provided with a through hole for allowing ink to flow therethrough.

However, according to the configurations shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the distance between the ink supply port 51 and the movable body 60 is configured to be sufficiently wide compared to the amount of displacement of the movable body 60. Fluctuations in resistance due to displacement of movable body 60 against the flow of ink applied from supply port 51 are reduced.

For this reason, when the movable body 60 is displaced toward the supply port 51 side, the amount of ink flowing back from the supply port 51 increases, and air bubbles are likely to be mixed in from the ejection port 52.

The present invention solves these drawbacks, and is a magnetically controlled inkjet device as described above, in which the open end of the ink supply port and the movable body are arranged so as to face each other with a small gap between them. It is characterized by:

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and the same parts as in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals. That is, the apparatus shown in FIG.
0 is configured to be screwed together with two cylindrical members 50a, 50b, and each member 50a, 50b
A disc-shaped movable body 6 is provided with a stepped part inside the opening end of the disc-shaped movable body 6.
Further, a pipe 55 is fitted into the supply port 51 so that one end 55a protrudes outside the ink chamber 50 and the other end 55b faces the movable body 60 with a predetermined gap maintained. be. With this configuration, assembly can be simplified, and as the movable body 60 moves toward the jet port 52 side, the gap between the end portion 55b of the pipe and the movable body 60 is widened, and the ink flow is improved. As the resistance to the pipe decreases, ink is taken into the ink chamber 50, and as the movable body 60 moves toward the supply port 51, the gap between the end 55b of the pipe and the movable body 60 narrows, and the ink is drawn into the ink chamber 50. This increases the resistance to the flow of ink and reduces the backflow of ink to the supply port 51. Therefore, it is possible to prevent air bubbles from being mixed in from the spout 52.

In the above embodiment, an example in which a plate-shaped movable body is used has been described, but the movable body is not limited to this, and may be a columnar body or a cylindrical body.

Further, by arranging the movable body within the ink chamber via a spring, the number of coils for applying the control magnetic field can be reduced to one.

In addition, when installing the movable body in a cantilever shape inside the ink chamber, two leaf springs with different spring constants (one of the leaf springs may be a movable body) are used.
By overlapping them, the reciprocating time of the movable body can be made different.

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an inkjet device with a relatively simple configuration, a robust structure, excellent operability, and stable recording operation over a long period of time, and which can be used in various recording devices. suitable for

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional device;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are also structural explanatory diagrams showing specific examples of other conventional devices, and FIG. 4 is a structural explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 50... Ink chamber, 51... Ink supply port, 5
2... Ink spout, 60... Movable body, 70,8
0...Exciting coil (drive mechanism).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] An ink chamber filled with ink, an ink supply port formed to protrude and open into the ink chamber, and an ink supply port opened from the ink chamber approximately on an extension of the ink supply port. The ink ejection port and the open end of the ink supply port face each other with a small gap between them, and the ink is disposed so that the small gap between the ink jet port and the open end of the ink supply port changes according to a control magnetic field applied from the outside. 1. An ink jet device comprising: a movable body movably disposed within a room; and according to the movement of the movable body, ink is taken into an ink chamber and ink droplets are ejected from the ink chamber.