JPS63303749A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow ink supply to be automatically performed with a supply means and reduce supply time by providing a detection means which stops the supply means when the amount of ink in an ink tank reaches a predetermined level within the range of a maximum continuous operation time or a maximum number of repetitive operations of the supply means for supplying ink from an ink storage part to an ink tank. CONSTITUTION:Ink is supplied by a pressurized feed device 12 from an ink storage chamber 13 to an ink tank chamber 1. Simultaneously, the first alarm means alerts an operator about ongoing ink supply. Further, when ink quantity in the storage part 13 reduces, and subsequently the supply is insufficient, the supply action is stopped because a liquid level does not reach a detection level. Actually a time counter is provided inside a drive to count time spent since the turning ON of the pressurized feed device 12. When the count value becomes equal to a set value, the drive turns the supply means 12 OFF. When a pump having a piston part is used as a pressurized feed device, a microswitch to count the number of motions of the piston part is installed. At that time, the second alarm means is turned ON by the drive.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device, and particularly to an inkjet recording device for operating an ink supply means based on the result of detecting the amount of ink in an ink tank communicating with a droplet ejecting section of a recording head. This invention relates to an inkjet era DHFI that improves the control means of the inkjet era.

[Conventional technology]

Figure 4 shows a conventional configuration in which a remaining ink amount detection means is provided in the ink tank to enable reliable ink supply to the ink tank that communicates with the droplet ejecting section provided in the recording head. Show and explain.

In Figure tJ4, a nozzle 5 at an ink droplet ejection port and a pressurizing means 6 for ejecting ink droplets are placed on a carriage 7 that reciprocates along a guide pongee 8 by a drive means (not shown).
An ink tank chamber 1 communicating with the nozzle is fixed integrally with the vibrating section 10 in which the ink tank chamber 1 is formed.

Conventionally, an electrode 2 is provided in the ink tank chamber 1, the resistance value between the electrodes is detected using a comparator, etc., the result is judged by a logic circuit, etc., and a buzzer or the like is activated to prompt the operator to replenish the ink. The operator of the removed 0 is the stopper 4.
In response to this alarm, ink is replenished from a container in which another ink (not shown) is stored, and when the liquid level 9 reaches the bottom surface of the vent hole 3, the supply is stopped, the column 4 is removed, and the recording device is operated again. The method used was to do so.

[14 points to be solved by the invention] However, since the operator replenishes ink each time, the actual recording is interrupted for a long time, and ink often overflows from the vent holes due to excessive ink replenishment. did. Furthermore, the detection electrode was installed in the lower part of the tank to reduce the frequency of replenishment.

For this reason, bubbles are generated as the carriage moves and enter the flow path of the head, causing printing defects.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium that eliminates the need for replenishment of ink by an operator, always stably supplies ink into a tank, and prevents the ink from bubbling within the tank. With the goal.

[Means for solving problems]

Therefore, in the present invention, means for detecting ink and means for supplying ink from an ink storage section into a tank are provided.
The conventional EI problem is solved by the interlocking operation of two means.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below based on the drawings.

Figure m1 shows a schematic diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus employing the present invention. In Figure 1, a head 14 mounted on a carriage 7 communicates with a nozzle 5 that ejects droplets and stores ink to be supplied. It consists of a tank chamber 1 in which the tank is kept. The pressure feeding device 12 is a means for forcefully feeding the ink from the ink storage section 13 into the ink tank chamber 1, and is, for example, a 6-length pump that uses a diaphragm and has a sealed pressure feeding section. At the top of the tank chamber 9, ink is supplied from the ink storage section 13 to the tank chamber through the ventilation hole 3 and the supply means 12! A supply port 15 is provided for supplying the inside.

Furthermore, fl! is attached to the side wall inside the ink tank chamber 1. The pole pin 2 is electrically connected to the liquid level detection means 11.

The electrode above the electrode 2 is set at the maximum permissible liquid level, taking into account the liquid level in the ink tank chamber 1 after ink is supplied. The lower electrode is installed at such a depth that the conduction resistance through the ink changes when the liquid level 9 falls below the lower end of the upper electrode pin. Note that this electrode may be installed horizontally or at an angle.

Further, the at surface is not limited to the side wall of the ink tank, but may be the top or bottom surface of the ink tank. Furthermore, many well-known methods can be used for the detection method, detection means, and arrangement thereof.

The actual operation will be explained based on the timing chart of FIG.

The ink amount detection means is configured to operate at each reference time or each reference operation. Detection at each reference time means, for example, that a fixed time is determined and detection is performed each time that time comes.Detection at each reference operation means, for example, detection is performed each time a carriage carrying a head U stops. That is to say.

At time tm, the operation command signal of the liquid level detection means 11 is activated to drive HH.
Input from 1B. This causes the liquid level detection means 11 to operate, and determines the liquid level according to the conduction resistance between the electrodes. As a result, a liquid level signal indicating [state 1] indicating that the liquid level is at a level requiring ink supply is output. The drive device 16 also includes means for determining this result and generating a signal for driving the pumping g I 12. In response to this signal, the supply means 12 starts the operation of supplying ink from the ink storage chamber 13 into the ink tank chamber 1 at time t.
, start from. Then, at time t, the liquid level reaches the detection level, and the liquid level signal indicates that the ink in the ink tank chamber 1 has reached the desired amount from (state!!11).
O]. Immediately after this, the supply means 12 is turned off and ink supply stops. The liquid level detection operation is performed when the liquid level signal is [! It is turned off immediately after changing from 1) to [state 0].

While the supply means 12 is ON, the tJl alarm means 17 is turned ON by the driving HFil 16 when opened, and the operator is notified that ink is being supplied. Possible warning means include a buzzer, a lamp, or a message displayed on an LCD.

Here, the liquid level detection operation may be performed intermittently as shown in FIG.

Next, unlike the series of operations described above, the ink storage section 1
A case will be described in which the ink in the ink itself decreases and the ink supply by the supply means 12 becomes insufficient. In reality, even the ink storage section 13 can only store a finite amount of ink, so if the remaining amount is close to zero, a situation will occur where the liquid level will not reach the detection level no matter how long the supply means 12 is driven. By the way, if there is enough ink in the ink storage section 13, the amount of ink consumed between one ink amount detection and the next ink amount detection will not be constant. Let T be the time required to supply ink into the ink tank chamber 1 when there is sufficient ink in the ink storage section 13. Then, the maximum duration of operation of the supply means is T, and the ink storage If the time T is set in consideration of the supply amount when the ink in the section 13 is low, the liquid level signal will indicate that the liquid level does not reach the detection level even after ink is supplied for T1 time. If you output (a!10) indicating
It can be known that the amount of I/IA in the ink storage section 13 is in a small state.

For example, in the case of a pump in which the supply means supplies ink by reciprocating a piston, the maximum number of repetitions may be determined in place of the maximum duration.

This will be explained according to the timing chart of FIG.

At time t4, the operation command signal of the liquid level detection means 11 is transmitted to the drive bag f.
Input from i116. As a result, at time t, the liquid level detection operation becomes ON, and the liquid level signal becomes [state 1].
] is output. Accordingly, the supply means 12 operates from t,I. and from t,′ to time T, after t, l
Although the ink is supplied until the ink level reaches the detection level, the supply operation is terminated at time t, I. Actually, a time counter is provided in the drive 8M to count the time since the supply means 12 is turned on, and this value is the set value T.
It is sufficient to turn off the supply means 12 when the value becomes equal to . Alternatively, when a pump with a reciprocating piston part is used as a pressure feeding device, a microswitch may be installed near the piston movement part so that the number of movements of this piston part can be counted. In this case, the second alarm means is activated by the drive device 16. It becomes an ONQ-shaped tooth. The second alarm means 18 may be the same device as the first alarm means 17 or may be a similar separate device, so that the operator is informed that the amount of ink remaining in the ink reservoir 13 is low. The reservoir can be refilled with ink or the reservoir can be replaced.

The first alarm means 17 and the second alarm means 18 are activated when ink is dropped into the ink storage section 13 and the ink supply operation is performed again. ! 0] may be in the ON state until the liquid level signal is output or the operator performs some kind of reset operation.

Note that when a tube is used between the supply means 12 and the ink tank chamber 1, the tube may come off or be damaged, and ink may not be supplied into the ink tank chamber 1. In this case as well, it is conceivable that the liquid level does not reach the detection boundary within the set time, but in this case as well, the second alarm means 18 is turned ON. Therefore, when the second alarm means 18 is ON, it means that the amount of ink remaining in the ink storage section 13 is low, or that a problem such as ink leakage due to tube breakage or the like is occurring. .

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the ink supply operation is automatically performed by the supply means, which saves the operator's time and effort, and also shortens the supply time, thereby improving the actual recording speed. Also, the operator does not touch the ink (it is safe and sanitary).

Furthermore, since the liquid level can always be kept high, bubbling inside the tank is suppressed, allowing the head to perform stable recording. Further, by providing the first alarm means, the operator can confirm that ink is being supplied, thereby preventing erroneous operations. Further, by providing the second alarm means, it is possible to grasp the amount of ink in the ink storage section without using a special sensor, and to inform the operator of the timing for replacement or replenishment. Furthermore, if the ink tank or the ink supply tube connection part of the ink storage section comes off or is damaged, ink will not be supplied to the ink tank and the ink will leak into the ink tank. Since the supply operation is terminated after a certain set number of times, damage can be kept to a minimum.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a timing chart diagram explaining the operation of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a timing chart diagram in another embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the head of a conventional device. 1... Ink tank chamber 2... Electrode 8... Vent hole 4... Plug 5... Nozzle 6... Pressurizing means 7... Carriage 8... Guide shaft 9... Liquid level 10... Vibrating section 11... Liquid level detection means 12... Supply means 13... Ink storage section 14... Head 15... Supply port 16... Drive device 17... First alarm means 18...Second alarm means and above Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation,'

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An ink tank that communicates with a droplet ejecting section provided in a recording head and an ink storage section that stores ink supplied to the ink tank, and an ink tank that controls the amount of ink in the ink tank. In an inkjet recording apparatus comprising a detection means for detecting at each reference time or each reference operation and a supply means for supplying ink from the ink storage section into the ink tank, the maximum duration of operation of the supply means or A drive device that sets a maximum number of repeated operations and stops the supplying means immediately after the detection means detects that when the amount of ink in the ink tank reaches a certain desired amount within this time range. An inkjet recording device comprising: (2) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drive device that operates the first alarm means while the ink supply means is in operation. (3) A drive device that stops the supply means and operates a second alarm means when the amount of ink in the ink tank does not reach a certain desired amount within the maximum duration of operation of the supply means. An inkjet recording apparatus according to claims 1 and 2, which has the following.