US20100078087A1 - Liquid ejection apparatus - Google Patents

Liquid ejection apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100078087A1
US20100078087A1 US12/559,545 US55954509A US2010078087A1 US 20100078087 A1 US20100078087 A1 US 20100078087A1 US 55954509 A US55954509 A US 55954509A US 2010078087 A1 US2010078087 A1 US 2010078087A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
liquid
path
flow
feed
discharge
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/559,545
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English (en)
Inventor
Masahito Katada
Yuko Katada
Natsuki Katada
Daichi Katada
Tetsuzo Kadomatsu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fujifilm Corp
Original Assignee
Fujifilm Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fujifilm Corp filed Critical Fujifilm Corp
Assigned to FUJIFILM CORPORATION reassignment FUJIFILM CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KATADA, DAICHI (AS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF MASAHITO KATADA, DECEASED), KATADA, NATSUKI (AS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF MASAHITO KATADA, DECEASED), KATADA, YUKO (AS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF MASAHITO KATADA, DECEASED), KADOMATSU, TETSUZO
Publication of US20100078087A1 publication Critical patent/US20100078087A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17596—Ink pumps, ink valves
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/8593—Systems
    • Y10T137/85978—With pump
    • Y10T137/85986—Pumped fluid control

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus.
  • the present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus using pumps.
  • a technique is known in ink-jet-type liquid ejection apparatuses in which a biasing unit such as a pump is used to circulate liquid in a flow-path in order to prevent drying out of the nozzle meniscus portion of a printing head.
  • a biasing unit such as a pump
  • JP-A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
  • a first pressure source and a second pressure source are respectively disposed at the inlet side and the outlet side of a head.
  • the air pressure at the top of the ink tank is controlled while maintaining a liquid surface height in the ink tank by using a liquid pump, and pressure is also controlled by changing the placement height of the ink tank.
  • JP-A No. 2006-175651 relating to ink circulation for a long head.
  • a pressure pump for a head is in direct communication with the head, and the rotation speed of the pump is determined so that the head achieves a specific pressure.
  • JP-A No. 2006-175651 does not describe a technique for precisely maintaining a constant pressure.
  • the present exemplary embodiment provides a liquid ejection apparatus capable of precisely controlling the flow rate of liquid within a flow-path.
  • a first aspect of the present invention is a liquid ejection apparatus including: an ejection head including a feed port for feeding liquid in and a discharge port for discharging liquid out, and that ejects fed liquid; a feed flow-path that feeds liquid to the feed port; and a discharge flow-path that discharges liquid from the discharge port; wherein at least one of the feed flow-path or the discharge flow-path includes, a main pump that pumps a liquid at a constant flow rate in the at least one of the feed flow-path or the discharge flow-path, a sub pump provided in parallel to the main pump and that pumps liquid in the at least one of the feed flow-path or the discharge flow-path, and a detector unit that detects pressure of liquid in the at least one of the feed flow-path or the discharge flow-path; and wherein the liquid ejection apparatus further includes, a control unit that controls the flow rate of liquid pumped by the sub pump such that the liquid pressure detected in the at least one of the feed flow-path or the discharge flow-path achieves a pre
  • the feed port for feeding liquid in and the discharge port for discharging liquid out are provided to the ejection head.
  • the ejection head also ejects fed liquid.
  • at least one of the feed flow-path that feeds liquid to the feed port and/or the discharge flow-path that discharges liquid from the discharge port is equipped with the main pump, the sub pump, and the detector unit.
  • the main pump pumps a constant flow rate of liquid in the flow-path.
  • the sub pump is provided in parallel to the main pump and pumps liquid in the flow-path.
  • the detector unit detects pressure of liquid in the flow-path.
  • the control unit controls the flow rate of liquid pumped by the sub pump such that the liquid pressure detected by the detector unit in the flow-path reaches a predetermined pressure.
  • the first aspect of the present invention provides a liquid ejection apparatus that can precisely control the flow rate of liquid in the flow-path.
  • the first aspect of the present invention can further precisely control the liquid flow rate in the flow-path, if both the feed flow-path and the discharge flow-path are equipped with a sub pump and a detector unit, and are configured so as to perform control as described above.
  • each of the feed flow-path and the discharge flow-path may respectively include the main pump; and a common drive source may be used for driving the main pump.
  • each of the feed flow-path and the discharge flow-path respectively includes main pumps that include a common drive source used therefor. Accordingly, the second aspect of the present invention can provide a lower cost liquid ejection apparatus in comparison to cases where separate drive sources are provided for each main pump.
  • the present invention can provide a liquid ejection apparatus capable of precisely controlling the flow rate of liquid in a flow-path.
  • FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a configuration of a liquid ejection apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the electrical configuration of a liquid ejection apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing pressure control process flow
  • FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing pressure control process flow of a feed flow-path.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing pressure control process flow of a discharge flow-path.
  • FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a liquid ejection apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.
  • the liquid ejection apparatus is configured to include pumps, tanks, valves, ejection heads (referred to below as heads), and a degas device.
  • the degas device indirectly reduces air bubbles contained in the ink.
  • a feed port for ink feed and a discharge port for ink discharge are provided to the head.
  • the head ejects ink that has been fed in.
  • the number of flow-paths connecting each head to a feed tank 28 and a recovery tank 30 are increased according to the number of heads.
  • the number of valves provided on the flow-paths connecting the heads to the feed tank 28 and the recovery tank 30 are also increased along with the increase in the number of flow-paths.
  • the flow-path from a buffer tank 20 , and extending through a degas device 24 , a buffer tank 26 , a pump 18 A (main pump), a pump 18 B (sub pump), the feed tank 28 , to the heads 10 A, 10 B, is a feed flow-path.
  • the flow-path from the heads 10 A, 10 B, and extending through the recovery tank 30 , pumps 18 C, 18 D, to a buffer tank 20 is a discharge flow-path.
  • the main tank 22 is an ink cartridge, which is removably mounted in the liquid ejection apparatus.
  • the main tank 22 and the buffer tank 20 are connected together by a flow-path. Note that, ink flows from the main tank 22 to the buffer tank 20 .
  • the buffer tank 20 and the degas device 24 are connected together by a flow-path.
  • the degas device 24 by reducing the pressure of the ink with a vacuum pump or the like, discharges air dissolved in the liquid through a gas permeable membrane (generally a membrane of hollow fiber form).
  • the degas device 24 thereby indirectly reduces air bubbles.
  • the ink that has flowed from the buffer tank 20 is deaerated by the degas device 24 .
  • the degas device 24 and the buffer tank 26 are also connected together by a flow-path.
  • the ink that has been degased by the degas device 24 flows into the buffer tank 26 .
  • the buffer tank 26 and the feed tank 28 are connected together by a flow-path via the pumps 18 A, 18 B.
  • the pump 18 A is provided in the flow-path that connects the feed ports of the heads 10 A, 10 B to the discharge ports of the heads 10 A, 10 B.
  • the pump 18 A pumps a constant flow rate of liquid in the flow-path.
  • the pump 18 B is provided in parallel to the pump 18 A and pumps liquid in the flow-path.
  • the feed tank 28 temporarily accumulates ink that is to be feed to the heads 10 A, 10 B.
  • a pressure sensor 14 is provided to the feed tank 28 , and detects the pressure of ink in the feed tank 28 (namely, the pressure of the ink within the feed flow-path).
  • the feed tank 28 is connected by flow-paths to the head 10 A and to the head 10 B, via a valve 12 A and a valve 12 B, respectively.
  • Valves 12 A, 12 B, 12 C, 12 D are, for example, electromagnetic valves.
  • the valves 12 A, 12 B, 12 C, 12 D stop the feed of ink to each of the heads 10 A, 10 B.
  • the head 10 A and the head 10 B are each formed with a flow-path communicating their respective feed ports with respective discharge ports, and the heads 10 A, 10 B eject ink that has been fed form the flow-paths.
  • the head 10 A and the head 10 B are connected to the recovery tank 30 by flow-paths including the valves 12 C, 12 D, respectively.
  • the recovery tank 30 temporarily accumulates ink recovered from the heads 10 A, 10 B.
  • a pressure sensor 16 is provided to the recovery tank 30 for detecting the pressure of ink in the recovery tank 30 (namely, the pressure of ink in the discharge flow-path).
  • the recovery tank 30 and the buffer tank 20 are connected together by a flow-path via the pump 18 C (main pump) and the pump 18 D (sub pump).
  • the pump 18 C that pumps liquid with a constant drive force in the discharge flow-path
  • the pump 18 D is provided in parallel to the pump 18 C and pumps liquid in the discharge flow-path
  • a pressure sensor 16 is also provided for detecting the pressure of liquid in the discharge flow-path.
  • the ink is fed from the buffer tank 20 to the heads 10 A, 10 B via the degas device and the others.
  • ink discharged from the heads 10 A, 10 B flows back into the buffer tank 20 .
  • unidirectional pumps diaphragm pumps, piston pumps or the like
  • a cheap pump with a long lifespan may be used as the above described pumps 18 A, 18 C.
  • the pumps 18 B, 18 D are pumps which are capable of high precision control of liquid flow rate for relatively small flow rates in comparison to the pumps 18 A, 18 C.
  • the present exemplary embodiment employs one pump that pumps a larger flow rate of liquid with a constant flow rate, and employs a high precision pump for the other pump. Accordingly, the liquid ejection apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment can precisely control the flow rate in the flow-path. In addition, the flexibility for selecting the pump increase in the liquid ejection apparatus of the present exemplary embodiment, by assigning roles to plural pumps, in comparison to a case where a single precision high-volume pump is employed. Accordingly, the present exemplary embodiment can provide a high precision ink ejection device that can be configured at low cost.
  • a damper structure may be employed in the structure of the above described feed tank 28 and recovery tank 30 .
  • Plural pumps may also be used to configure each of the respective pumps 18 A to 18 D.
  • the pumps 18 A, 18 C may be configured with plural pumps that pump a constant liquid flow through the flow-path.
  • the pumps 18 B, 18 D may also be configured with plural pumps with which the liquid flow rate is controllable with a control unit.
  • the electrical configuration of the liquid ejection apparatus includes a control unit 40 , a valve control unit 42 , a valve control unit 44 , a motor drive switch 46 , and a motor 48 .
  • the control unit 40 is configured to include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) and others. A program for executing processes of a later described flow chart is stored in the RAM. Various data is stored in the RAM.
  • the control unit 40 is connected to the valve control unit 44 , the valve control unit 42 , the pressure sensors 14 , 16 and the motor drive switch 46 .
  • the control unit 40 performs overall control of the liquid ejection apparatus.
  • control unit 40 controls the drive force of the pump 18 B to set the pressure of the liquid in the feed flow-path detected by the pressure sensor 14 at a predetermined pressure.
  • control unit 40 also controls the drive force of the pump 18 D to set the pressure of liquid in the discharge flow-path detected by the pressure sensor 16 at a predetermined pressure.
  • control unit 40 controls the pumps 18 B, 18 D to set the pressure of liquid in the flow-paths detected by the pressure sensors 14 , 16 at respective predetermined pressures in each of the flow-paths.
  • the valve control unit 42 opens or closes each of the valves according to instructions from the control unit 40 .
  • the valve control unit 44 controls the drive force of each of the pumps 18 B, 18 D according to instructions from the control unit 40 , by changing the rotation speed of the motors driving the pumps 18 B, 18 D.
  • the motor drive switch 46 drives the motor 48 according to instructions from the control unit 40 .
  • the motor drive switch 46 drives the motor 48 by being switched ON, and stops driving the motor by being switched OFF.
  • the present exemplary embodiment uses the common power source, which is the motor 48 , to drive the pump 18 A and the pump 18 C. The present exemplary embodiment can thereby provide an even lower cost liquid ejection apparatus.
  • the control unit 40 acquires the pressure in the feed flow-path and the discharge flow-path. These pressures are acquired with the pressure sensors 14 , 16 .
  • the control unit 40 determines whether or not the pressure X of the feed flow-path is equivalent to that of a specific pressure Pl.
  • the specific pressure P 1 here, and a later described specific pressure P 2 are pressures predetermined according to the material configuring the flow-paths, the components of the heads 10 A, 10 B, and others.
  • control unit 40 When determination at step 102 is affirmative, the control unit 40 performs the pressure control processing of the feed flow-path of step 104 , described below, and the processing is ended.
  • control unit 40 determines at step 103 whether or not the pressure Y of the discharge flow-path is equivalent to that of the specific pressure P 2 . If determination at step 103 is negative, then processing is ended here, since the pressures of the feed flow-path and the discharge flow-path are the predetermined pressures.
  • step 103 If determination at step 103 is affirmative then the control unit 40 performs the pressure control processing of the discharge flow-path of step 105 , described below, and the processing is ended.
  • Step 102 and 103 determination is made as to whether or not there is a difference from the predetermined pressures.
  • a range may be used for the predetermined pressures. Namely, if the acquired pressure is pressure Z, then determination may be made that Z is the predetermined pressure if p ⁇ Z ⁇ q (where p and q are pressures) is satisfied.
  • step 201 the control unit 40 determines whether or not the pressure X of the feed flow-path is greater than the specific pressure P 1 .
  • step 202 the control unit 40 instructs the valve control unit 44 to reduce the flow rate of liquid pumped by the pump 18 B, and the processing is ended.
  • step 203 the control unit 40 instructs the valve control unit 44 to increase the flow rate of liquid pumped by the pump 18 B, and the processing is ended.
  • step 301 the control unit 40 determines whether or not the pressure Y of the discharge flow-path is greater than the specific pressure P 2 .
  • step 302 the control unit 40 instructs the valve control unit 44 to reduce the flow rate of liquid pumped by the pump 18 D, and the processing is ended.
  • step 303 the control unit 40 instructs the valve control unit 44 to increase the flow rate of liquid pumped by the pump 18 D, and the processing is ended.
  • control unit 40 when controlling the pressure of the flow-paths, the control unit 40 may perform control such that the flow of liquid is in the reverse direction rather than in the normal direction.

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  • Ink Jet (AREA)
US12/559,545 2008-09-29 2009-09-15 Liquid ejection apparatus Abandoned US20100078087A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2008-251032 2008-09-29
JP2008251032A JP5127649B2 (ja) 2008-09-29 2008-09-29 液体吐出装置

Publications (1)

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US20100078087A1 true US20100078087A1 (en) 2010-04-01

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JP (1) JP5127649B2 (ja)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170087864A1 (en) * 2015-09-30 2017-03-30 Fujifilm Corporation Printing device and ink circulation control method
US20190270314A1 (en) * 2016-07-11 2019-09-05 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid supply device and liquid ejecting apparatus

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5754976B2 (ja) 2010-03-31 2015-07-29 キヤノン株式会社 画像処理装置、及び、制御方法
CN103874582B (zh) * 2011-09-21 2015-11-25 柯尼卡美能达株式会社 喷墨记录装置
JP2016221817A (ja) * 2015-05-29 2016-12-28 株式会社東芝 インク供給装置及びインクジェット装置
JP2019031098A (ja) * 2018-10-25 2019-02-28 株式会社東芝 インク供給装置及びインクジェット装置
JP7178924B2 (ja) * 2019-02-18 2022-11-28 株式会社Ｓｃｒｅｅｎホールディングス 印刷装置およびインク供給方法

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3383044A (en) * 1965-08-09 1968-05-14 Britt Tech Corp Hydraulically controlled pressure washer
US6164557A (en) * 1998-04-30 2000-12-26 Sioux Steam Cleaner Corporation Fluid temperature control for a heated fluid cleaner with multiple outlets
US20030122905A1 (en) * 2001-12-28 2003-07-03 Konica Corporation Inkjet printer utilizing white ink
US7597434B2 (en) * 2006-04-27 2009-10-06 Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha Ink-jet apparatus and method of the same

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH10237676A (ja) * 1997-02-24 1998-09-08 Dainippon Screen Mfg Co Ltd レジスト塗布装置
JP2003145790A (ja) * 2001-11-09 2003-05-21 Canon Inc インクジェット記録装置
JP5728148B2 (ja) * 2006-04-27 2015-06-03 東芝テック株式会社 インクジェット装置およびその制御方法

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3383044A (en) * 1965-08-09 1968-05-14 Britt Tech Corp Hydraulically controlled pressure washer
US6164557A (en) * 1998-04-30 2000-12-26 Sioux Steam Cleaner Corporation Fluid temperature control for a heated fluid cleaner with multiple outlets
US20030122905A1 (en) * 2001-12-28 2003-07-03 Konica Corporation Inkjet printer utilizing white ink
US7597434B2 (en) * 2006-04-27 2009-10-06 Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha Ink-jet apparatus and method of the same

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170087864A1 (en) * 2015-09-30 2017-03-30 Fujifilm Corporation Printing device and ink circulation control method
US20190270314A1 (en) * 2016-07-11 2019-09-05 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid supply device and liquid ejecting apparatus
US11084297B2 (en) * 2016-07-11 2021-08-10 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid supply device and liquid ejecting apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2010082811A (ja) 2010-04-15
JP5127649B2 (ja) 2013-01-23

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Owner name: FUJIFILM CORPORATION,JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KATADA, YUKO (AS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF MASAHITO KATADA, DECEASED);KATADA, NATSUKI (AS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF MASAHITO KATADA, DECEASED);KATADA, DAICHI (AS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF MASAHITO KATADA, DECEASED);AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20091026 TO 20091109;REEL/FRAME:023603/0449

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

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