KR20070044715A - Multifunction peripherals having the solid ink heating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A multifunction printer having the disclosed solid ink jet printer includes: a scanning unit for reading an image of a document; And a print head for forming a predetermined image on the surface of the photoconductor based on the image information read through the scan unit, an ink supply device for melting and supplying an ink stick to supply ink to the print head; It includes, the ink supply device is installed on either side of the solid ink jet printer portion, an opening in which the ink stick is inserted is provided on either side of the solid ink jet printer portion, a cover member for covering the opening is provided. Alternatively, an ink supply device is provided in the scanning unit, an opening for inserting the ink stick in the upper side of the scanning unit is provided, and a cover member for opening and closing the opening is further included in the upper side of the scanning unit.

Description

MULTIFUNCTION PERIPHERALS HAVING THE SOLID INK HEATING APPARATUS}

1 is a view showing a configuration of a solid ink supply unit of a conventional solid ink jet printer, showing a configuration disclosed in USP 5,784,089,

FIG. 2 is a partially separated perspective view showing the configuration of the ink stick storage unit of FIG. 1 separately; FIG.

3 is a view showing an ink stick supply unit and a print head according to the prior art;

4 is a view showing the configuration of a multifunction apparatus further comprising a scanning unit for reading an image of a document on top of the solid inkjet printer of FIG. 3;

5 is a view showing the configuration of a solid ink jet multifunction printer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a view showing the configuration of a multifunction apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and

 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of a multifunction apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of Main Parts of Drawings>

100: multifunction device 110: scan unit

111: scan body 111a: scan body upper surface

130: solid inkjet printer 131: the printer body

131a: printer side 131b: printer bottom

131d: rear of printer 134: printhead

133,233,333: Ink supply device 132a, 232a, 332a: opening

133a-133d, 233a, 333a: Ink loader 132b: Transparent window

141,241,341: cover member 143,243,343: ink supply hose

139,239,339: Ink Stick

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a multifunction printer having a solid inkjet printer, and more particularly, to a multifunction printer having a solid inkjet printer having improved arrangement of a solid ink heating device.

Solid ink printing technology was first commercialized in 1991 on Tektronix 'Phaser® III printers. The technology uses a special ink jet printer head that moves back and forth and sprays ink directly onto the paper, as is used in most ink jet printers. The ink is solid at room temperature and melts in the printhead to operate at about 140 degrees Celsius. Compared with liquid inks, color sticks, solid inks, are durable and print fast and show vivid colors on all types of paper, including expensive office bond paper and recycled paper.

Unlike conventional printers that need to stop running when printing materials run out, this method allows the addition of solid color sticks during printing. In addition, mass production is easy, as no ink cartridge is required. Solid crayons, which are the raw materials for ink, are also very inexpensive, so compared to other laser printers, the body purchase cost is 12-20% and maintenance costs are less than half.

1 is a view showing a configuration of a solid ink heating apparatus of a conventional solid ink jet printer, showing a configuration disclosed in USP 5,784,089, and FIG. 2 is a partial view showing a separated configuration of the ink stick storage unit of FIG. Isolated perspective view.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ink supply device 1 largely includes an ink stick storage unit 16, a yoke 17, a top cover 20, and an ink stick storage unit cover 30.

The ink stick storage unit 16 is for storing the ink stick 12 for each color, for example, and transporting the ink stick 12 toward the heating plates 29a to 29d, and the transfer paths 25a to 25d and the transfer paths 25a to 25d. Key plate 18 covering the. The key plates 18 are provided with openings 24a to 24d into which the ink sticks 12 are inserted.

The top cover 20 is installed to be opened and closed to cover the upper portion of the key plate 18. The transfer cover 30 is rotatably installed near the printer side wall 21 by the pivot arm 22. The yoke 17 is slidably installed along the upper side of the key plate 18 to assist the movement of each ink stick 12. Here, the ink stick 12 advances toward the heating plates 29a to 29d on the transfer paths 25a to 25d.

The ink stick 12 is melted by the heating plates 29a to 29d and is opened 24a of the key plate 18 corresponding to each of the conveying paths 25a to 25d so as to be transferred to each ink storage portion of the print head (not shown). ~ 24d).

The heating plates 29a to 29d are coupled to one end of the ink stick reservoir 16 by the heating plate adapter 27.

 3 is an operation state diagram for explaining the operation of the solid ink printer to which the solid ink heating apparatus of FIGS.

The solid ink jet printer 50 is supplied with the solid ink stick 12 to the ink stick storage unit 16 and melted in a liquid state by a heating plate 27 mounted on the ink stick storage unit 16.

The molten ink moves to an ink storage unit (not shown) of the print head 51, in which the ink storage unit maintains a constant temperature in order to keep the transferred ink in a liquid state.

The liquid ink stored in the ink reservoir is supplied to the nozzle portion (not shown) of the print head 51, and then sprayed onto the rotating drum 53 to form an image.

The image formed on the drum 53 is compressed onto the recording medium 57 supplied from the recording medium supply cassette 59 by the transfer unit 55, and the recording medium 57 on which the image is formed is external to the printer main body 61. To be discharged.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a multifunction apparatus in which a scanning unit for reading an image of an original is additionally formed on the solid inkjet printer of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 4, the multifunction peripheral 2 includes a scan unit 70 for reading an image and a solid ink printer unit 50 for forming a predetermined image on a recording medium based on the image information read through the scan unit 70. ). The ink supply apparatus 1 described above is installed in the solid ink printer unit 50.

However, the multifunction apparatus 2 as described above has an ink stick as the ink supply device 1 is installed above the solid ink printer 50 so as to lift the top cover 20 (see Fig. 1) upward. When supplying the 12, the scan unit 70 is configured to be lifted up, or the gap H between the scan unit 70 and the solid ink printer unit 50 has to be largely designed.

When taking the structure to raise the scan unit 70 there is an unstable problem of high risk of falling the system.

In addition, when the distance H between the solid ink printer unit 50 and the scan unit 70 is increased, the size of the product increases.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the arrangement of the ink supply device to facilitate ink stick supply, and to make the product more stable to use. The present invention provides a multifunction printer having a solid ink jet printer capable of compact size.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention proposed to achieve the above object, a scanning unit for reading an image of a document; And a print head for forming a predetermined image on the surface of the photoconductor based on the image information read through the scan unit, an ink supply device for dissolving an ink stick to supply ink to the print head, and a solid ink jet printer. The ink supply apparatus is installed on one side of the solid ink jet printer unit, and an opening on which one side of the solid ink jet printer unit is inserted is provided, and covers the opening. A multifunction apparatus with a solid ink jet printer characterized in that a member is provided.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a scanning unit for reading an image of a document; A solid ink jet printer unit including a print head which forms a predetermined image on the surface of the photosensitive member based on the image information read through the scan unit; And an ink supply device installed in the scan unit to melt and supply an ink stick to supply ink to the print head. The ink supply apparatus includes an opening in which the ink stick is inserted above the scan unit, and above the scan unit. A multifunction apparatus with a solid ink jet printer is provided, further comprising a cover member for opening and closing the opening.

Preferably, the ink supply apparatus and the print head of the first and second embodiments are connected through an ink supply hose.

Preferably, the first and second embodiments include a transparent window for checking the amount of the ink stick accommodated in the ink supply device.

In the second embodiment, the ink supply device is preferably installed at the side of the scanning unit.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a solid ink jet multifunction printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the multifunction peripheral 100 includes a scan unit 110 and a solid inkjet printer 130.

The scan unit 110 includes a scan body 111 and an image reading apparatus (not shown) for reading an image of an original in the scan body 111.

The solid ink jet printer unit 130 includes a printer main body 131, an ink supply device 133, a print head 134, a photosensitive medium 135, a transfer device 136, a recording medium supply cassette 137, and an ejection device. A tray 138.

The ink supply device 133 includes ink loaders 133a to 133d in which ink sticks 139 for each color are stored. In the drawing, the ink supply device 133 is provided on the side of the printer body 131 as the lower side of the discharge tray 138. An opening 132a for introducing the ink stick 139 into the ink loader 133a is formed at the side surface 131a of the printer body 131. On the other hand, the side 131a of the printer body 131 further includes a cover member 141 for opening and closing the opening 132a. One side of the ink loaders 133a to 133d may further include a heating plate (not shown) that contacts the supplied ink stick 139 to heat and melt the ink stick 139. The ink loaders 133a-133d are arranged so that the ink sticks 139 inserted through the openings 132a are stacked in the downward direction (arrow I direction) from the upper side.

The print head 134 is connected to the ink supply device 133 through the ink supply hose 143 and is provided with an ink storage unit 134a for storing molten ink through the ink supply device 133. 135, a nozzle 134b for ejecting ink onto the ink. Here, four ink storage units 134a are provided to correspond to the respective ink loaders 133a to 133d.

As described above, the side surface 131a of the printer main body 131 on which the ink loaders 133a-133d are disposed is provided with a transparent window 132b to determine the amount of the ink stick 139 contained in the ink loaders 133a-133d. It is desirable to be able to check from the outside.

The photosensitive medium 135 is formed of a photosensitive drum and rotates in a predetermined direction, and a predetermined image is formed on the surface of the ink jetted from the printhead 134.

The transfer device 136 transfers an image formed on the photosensitive medium 135 to the recording medium 143 supplied from the recording medium supply cassette 137.

The discharge tray 138 loads the recording medium 143 which is discharged to the outside of the printer main body 131 after the image is transferred through the transfer device 136.

When the ink stick 139 is additionally supplied through the above-described configuration, the cover member 141 is opened in the lateral direction of the main body 131 so as not to interfere with the scan unit 110. Therefore, it is not necessary to lift the scan unit 110 or increase the distance D between the scan body 111 and the print body 131 unnecessarily as in the prior art.

6 is a view showing the configuration of a multifunction apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, the same parts as in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 6, the ink loader 233a constituting the ink supply device 233 is disposed in a horizontal state with the bottom surface 131b of the printer body 131, and the opening 232a into which the ink stick 239 is inserted. Is formed on the rear surface 131d side of the main body 131. Here, the ink stick 239 supplied through the opening 232a is supplied from the right side to the left side (arrow II direction) in FIG. Of course, at this time, the ink loader 233a and the print head 134 constituting the ink supply device 233 are connected through an ink supply hose 243. Here, although one ink loader 233a is illustrated, a plurality of ink loaders for each color are disposed in a direction perpendicular to the ground in the drawing.

As described above, when the opening 232a is provided at the rear surface 131d of the printer body 131, the opening / closing member 241 is disposed at the rear surface of the printer body 131 when the ink stick 239 is additionally supplied. In 131d). Therefore, the ink stick 239 can be supplied without interfering with the scan unit 110 so that the scan unit 110 can be flowed, or the space D between the scan body 111 and the printer body 131 is unnecessary. There is no need to increase.

7 is a diagram showing the configuration of a multifunction apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 also denotes the same reference numerals as those of FIG. 5, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 7, the ink supply device 333 is formed on the scan body 111 instead of the printer body 131.

Similar to FIG. 5, the ink supply apparatus 333 is provided with a plurality of ink loaders 333a in which ink sticks 339 for each color are stored. The upper surface 111a of the scan body 111 is provided with an opening 332a into which the ink stick 339 is inserted, and a cover member 341 for opening and closing the opening 332a is provided. The ink loader 333a is vertically elongated so that the ink stick 339 inserted through the opening 332a is supplied in the vertical (arrow III) direction. In this case, a plurality of ink loaders 333a are provided for each color along a direction perpendicular to the ground in the drawing.

Here, the ink loader 333a and the print head 134 are connected through an ink supply hose 343.

In the configuration of FIG. 7, when the ink stick 339 is supplied, the cover 341 provided on the upper side of the scan body 111 is opened, thereby preventing the problem of interfering with the lower side of the scan body 111.

According to the multifunction apparatus provided with the solid inkjet printer according to the present invention configured as described above, the scan unit is not rotated when the ink stick is supplied, so that the ink stick supply operation can be easily performed, and stability in product use can be achieved.

In addition, there is an advantage that the size of the product can be reduced by increasing the distance between the preter body and the scan body.

As described above, in the detailed description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined not only by the claims below but also by the equivalents of the claims.

Claims (5)

A scanning unit for reading the image of the document; And A solid ink jet printer unit including a print head for forming a predetermined image on the surface of the photoconductor based on the image information read through the scan unit, an ink supply device for melting and supplying an ink stick to supply ink to the print head; ;; The ink supply device is installed on any one side of the solid ink jet printer, an opening in which the ink stick is inserted is provided on one side of the solid ink jet printer, and a cover member covering the opening is provided. A multifunction printer with a solid ink jet printer. A scanning unit for reading the image of the document; A solid ink jet printer unit including a print head which forms a predetermined image on the surface of the photosensitive member based on the image information read through the scan unit; And And an ink supply device installed in the scan unit to melt and supply an ink stick to supply ink to the print head. And an opening through which the ink stick is inserted, and a cover member configured to open and close the opening, on the upper side of the scan unit. The multifunction printer with a solid ink jet printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ink supply device and the print head are connected through an ink supply hose. The multifunction printer with a solid inkjet printer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a transparent window for checking the amount of the ink stick contained in the ink supply device. The multifunction printer with a solid inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein the ink supply device is installed on the side of the scanning unit.

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