WO2010106970A1 - Liquid injection head, liquid injection recording device, and usage of liquid injection recording device - Google Patents

Liquid injection head, liquid injection recording device, and usage of liquid injection recording device Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010106970A1
WO2010106970A1 PCT/JP2010/054187 JP2010054187W WO2010106970A1 WO 2010106970 A1 WO2010106970 A1 WO 2010106970A1 JP 2010054187 W JP2010054187 W JP 2010054187W WO 2010106970 A1 WO2010106970 A1 WO 2010106970A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
liquid
ink
suction
slit
nozzle
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2010/054187
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
明史 坂田
和由 冨永
俊顕 渡邉
文子 加山
Original Assignee
エスアイアイ・プリンテック株式会社
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by エスアイアイ・プリンテック株式会社 filed Critical エスアイアイ・プリンテック株式会社
Publication of WO2010106970A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010106970A1/en

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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters 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
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/17Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters 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
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/17Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17596Ink pumps, ink valves
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters 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
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/17Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/18Ink recirculation systems
    • B41J2/185Ink-collectors; Ink-catchers
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters 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
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/135Nozzles
    • B41J2/14Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2002/14362Assembling elements of heads
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2202/00Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
    • B41J2202/01Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
    • B41J2202/10Finger type piezoelectric elements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a liquid jet head, a liquid jet recording apparatus, and a method of using the liquid jet recording apparatus.
  • a liquid jet recording apparatus for example, an ink jet printer that performs various types of printing includes a transport device that transports a recording medium and an ink jet head.
  • a nozzle body having a nozzle row (injection hole row) composed of a plurality of nozzle holes, a plurality of pressure generation chambers communicating with the nozzle holes in pairs with each nozzle hole, and pressure generation
  • An ink supply system for supplying ink to the chamber and a piezoelectric actuator disposed adjacent to the pressure generating chamber are provided, and the piezoelectric actuator is driven to pressurize the pressure generating chamber, and the ink in the pressure generating chamber is supplied to the nozzles of the nozzle holes. What discharges from a discharge outlet is known.
  • One type of such an ink jet printer is one that ejects ink with the opening direction of the discharge port of the ink jet head oriented in the direction of gravity and prints on the upper surface of a recording medium that is conveyed below the ink jet head.
  • a service station for maintenance is provided within the movable range of the inkjet head, the inkjet head is moved to this service station, the nozzle holes are cleaned, and the inkjet head is covered with a cap so that negative pressure is applied. The ink is sucked and the nozzle holes are initially filled with ink (so-called suction filling).
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and by improving the recovery capability of excess liquid, it is possible to perform initial liquid filling without moving to a service station or the like.
  • a liquid jet head, a liquid jet recording apparatus, and a method of using the liquid jet recording apparatus are provided.
  • the liquid ejecting head according to the present invention is a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid in the horizontal direction from the ejection hole row in a state where the ejection hole rows are arranged in the horizontal direction, and is formed so as to cover the ejection hole row.
  • a body guard, and the spray guard includes a peripheral wall that surrounds the periphery of the spray hole row, and a slit that extends from the peripheral edge of the peripheral wall portion along the opening surface of the spray hole row and faces the spray hole row.
  • a suction channel that communicates with the inner space of the ejector guard and is connected to a suction unit that sucks the liquid leaked from the row of ejection holes, and a suction port of the suction channel , It is characterized by being arranged below in the direction of gravity from the row of injection holes.
  • the inner space of the ejector guard when the air in the inner space of the ejector guard is sucked by the suction portion, the external air flows into the inner space from the slit, but after the air reaches the suction port after passing through the inner space.
  • the inner space is depressurized by being sucked. Thereby, the inner space becomes a negative pressure chamber in which the negative pressure is sufficiently lower than the atmospheric pressure.
  • the excess liquid that is supplied from the liquid supply unit during initial filling of the liquid or during normal use and leaks from the injection hole array flows into the negative pressure chamber that communicates with the outside only through the slits, and the gas outside the negative pressure chamber Flows into the negative pressure chamber through the slit.
  • the excess liquid moves in the negative pressure chamber in a state where it is difficult to leak out from the slit, and is sucked into the suction channel from the suction port and discharged to the outside. can do.
  • the liquid can be continuously discharged by the suction channel, the recovery capability of the excess liquid is extremely high, and even when the excess liquid flows out, contamination with the excess liquid can be prevented, and the liquid Liquid injection after filling can be stabilized.
  • the suction port is disposed below the spray hole array in the direction of gravity, it is possible to effectively suck the excess liquid leaked from the spray hole array when the liquid is filled.
  • the excess liquid leaking from the row of injection holes drips along the direction of gravity, but such excess liquid can be collected in the spray guard without leaking from the slit. Therefore, even when the injection hole array is arranged in the horizontal direction so that the liquid can be ejected in the horizontal direction, the surplus liquid can be recovered without providing a service station.
  • the liquid can be initially filled with the apparatus cost reduced.
  • recovery capability of the excess liquid in inner space can be improved by providing multiple suction flow paths. That is, surplus liquid leaking from the ejection hole array is quickly sucked into the nearby suction flow path, so that the surplus liquid recovery capability can be further improved, and leakage of surplus liquid from the slit is ensured. Can be prevented.
  • the suction port is provided at a position not facing the slit. According to this configuration, by arranging the slit and the suction port so as not to face each other, the air flowing into the inner space of the ejector guard from the slit does not reach the suction port directly, and the inner side of the ejector guard. Since the suction port is reached after flowing through the space, the negative pressure state in the inner space of the ejector guard can be maintained in a good state. Thereby, collection
  • the opening width of the slit is set to be larger in the gravity direction than the opening width of the slit above the injection hole array in the gravitational direction. It is characterized by having.
  • the opening width of the slit below the injection hole array in the direction of gravity is formed larger than the opening width of the upper portion, so that excess liquid leaks from the slit when filling the liquid. It can be surely prevented. That is, the liquid rising at the opening edge of the injection hole begins to sag downward in the direction of gravity due to gravity while maintaining a balance due to the surface tension. In this case, surplus liquid leaking from the injection hole array is sucked from the suction port without contacting the peripheral edge of the slit.
  • the opening width of the slit below the injection hole array in the gravitational direction is gradually increased as the distance from the suction port along the arrangement direction of the injection hole array is increased.
  • the opening width of the slit below the injection hole array is gradually increased in the direction of gravity, so that a sufficient negative pressure is secured in the inner space of the injection guard.
  • leakage of excess liquid can be prevented. That is, at a place away from the suction port, it is possible to reliably prevent the excess liquid leaking from the ejection hole array from coming into contact with the peripheral edge of the slit, and to reliably prevent leakage of the excess liquid from the slit.
  • the opening width of the slit is narrow near the suction port, the distance from the suction port to the slit becomes longer. In this case, the air that has entered the slit from the outside is sucked from the suction port via the inner space of the ejector guard, so that it is difficult for the air to enter the slit. Thereby, since the negative pressure state of the inner space of the ejector guard can be maintained in a good state, it is possible to efficiently recover the surplus liquid and efficiently perform the initial filling of the liquid.
  • the suction flow path extends in a state of being in contact with the outermost surface in the gravity direction in the inner space of the ejector guard.
  • the volume of the inner space of the sprayer guard is set to be smaller in the volume of the inner space above the slit in the gravity direction than the volume of the inner space below the slit in the gravity direction. It is characterized by being. According to this configuration, since the volume of the inner space above the slit is reduced in the direction of gravity, the inner space can be easily decompressed when the air in the inner space of the ejector guard is sucked. Therefore, the inner space can be quickly made into a negative pressure chamber, and the negative pressure chamber can be easily maintained in a good negative pressure state. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the excess liquid from leaking from the slit while improving the recovery capability of the excess liquid.
  • an absorber for absorbing the liquid leaking from the ejection hole row is disposed in the inner space of the ejection body guard. According to this configuration, by arranging the absorber in the inner space of the ejector guard, it is possible to absorb the excess liquid that could not be immediately sucked by the suction portion, and prevent the excess liquid from leaking from the slit. be able to. And the surplus liquid absorbed by the absorber flows through the absorber together with the air flowing toward the suction port, and is sucked from the suction port.
  • a guide member that guides the liquid leaked from the jet hole array to the suction port is disposed in the inner space of the jet guard. According to this configuration, it is possible to guide the surplus liquid leaked from the ejection hole array toward the suction port, and therefore it is possible to efficiently suck even the surplus liquid existing at a position away from the suction port. . As a result, the surplus liquid recovery capability can be further improved.
  • the top plate portion is formed with a recess portion that is recessed toward the inner space, and the slit is formed on a bottom surface of the recess portion.
  • the top plate portion is formed with an annular protruding wall that protrudes toward the inner space and surrounds the slit in an annular shape. According to this configuration, when excess liquid remains on the inner surface of the top plate during printing or the like, even if the excess liquid flows toward the slit, the excess liquid is blocked by the depression. , Can stay in the inner space. Then, the surplus liquid that is blocked by the depression is later sucked from the suction port by the suction part. Thereby, it becomes possible to prevent leakage of excess liquid more reliably.
  • the liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention is connected to the liquid jet head of the present invention, a liquid supply unit configured to be able to supply the liquid to the liquid jet head, and the suction flow path.
  • the inner space is a negative pressure chamber, and the suction section sucks the liquid leaked from the ejection hole array through the suction flow path.
  • the liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of the suction channels are collectively connected to the suction part. According to this configuration, by connecting each suction channel to the same suction pump, it is possible to reduce the device cost as compared with the case where the suction unit is provided in each suction channel.
  • liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention a plurality of liquid jet heads are arranged along the direction of gravity, and the liquid is continuously applied to a recording medium conveyed along the direction of arrangement of the liquid jet heads. It is characterized by spraying. According to this configuration, since the liquid ejecting head of the present invention is provided, stable liquid is continuously ejected to the recording medium conveyed along the arrangement direction of the liquid ejecting head. Can do. Therefore, high-precision printing can be performed promptly.
  • the liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention is any one of the liquid droplet jet recording apparatuses adopting the above-described solution means, wherein the liquid overflowing into the negative pressure chamber is collected by suction and is collected in each jet hole.
  • a means of having a reuse liquid supply system for supplying the liquid to a plurality of communicating pressure generating chambers is adopted. According to the present invention, the liquid overflowing into the negative pressure chamber can be reused.
  • the liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention is any one of the droplet jet recording apparatuses adopting the above-described solution means, and adopts a means in which a reuse liquid supply system has a filter unit or a deaeration device. According to the present invention, the liquid in an appropriate state can be reused.
  • the method of using the liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention is the method of using the liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention, wherein the suction space is operated by a first output, so that the inner space is a negative pressure chamber. And a liquid filling mode for sucking the liquid leaked from the ejection hole array through the suction channel.
  • the inner space of the ejector guard becomes a negative pressure chamber in which the negative pressure is sufficiently lower than the atmospheric pressure.
  • the excess liquid that is supplied from the liquid supply unit during initial filling of the liquid or during normal use and leaks from the injection hole array flows into the negative pressure chamber that communicates with the outside only through the slits, and the gas outside the negative pressure chamber Flows into the negative pressure chamber through the slit.
  • the excess liquid moves in the negative pressure chamber in a state where it is difficult to leak out from the slit, and is sucked into the suction channel from the suction port and discharged to the outside. can do.
  • the jet section is formed through the suction flow path by operating the suction section with a first output so that the inner space is a negative pressure chamber.
  • the liquid filling mode for sucking the liquid leaked from the liquid and the suction unit is operated by a second output smaller than the first output, and the liquid is ejected from the ejection hole array to the recording medium. It is characterized by switching control between the normal use mode in which recording is performed.
  • the suction port is disposed below the jet hole row in the direction of gravity, the excess liquid leaked from the jet hole row at the time of liquid filling is effectively removed. Can be aspirated. In other words, the excess liquid leaking from the row of injection holes drips along the direction of gravity, but such excess liquid can be collected in the spray guard without leaking from the slit. Therefore, even when the injection hole array is arranged in the horizontal direction so that the liquid can be ejected in the horizontal direction, the surplus liquid can be recovered without providing a service station. In addition, the liquid can be initially filled with the apparatus cost reduced.
  • the suction portion in the normal operation mode, is operated by the second output smaller than that in the liquid filling mode, thereby leaking from the jet holes during printing.
  • the suction portion is operated by the second output smaller than that in the liquid filling mode, thereby leaking from the jet holes during printing.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram (side view) illustrating an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. It is a front view of the inkjet head in a 1st embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of the inkjet head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is the II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of a head chip. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the operation
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an ink jet recording apparatus (liquid jet recording apparatus) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram (top view) of the ink jet recording apparatus 1.
  • FIG. 2 for ease of explanation, only one ink jet head 10 is shown among the plurality of ink jet heads 10, and the recording paper D is conveyed along the depth direction of the paper surface (in FIG. 2). See arrow).
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is connected to a predetermined personal computer (not shown), and ejects ink (liquid) I based on print data sent from the personal computer ( The recording paper D is printed.
  • the ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a transport mechanism 2 that transports the recording paper D, an ink discharge unit 3 that includes a plurality of ink jet heads (liquid ejecting heads) 10, and an ink I and a cleaning device on the ink jet head 10 as shown in FIG.
  • An ink supply unit (liquid supply unit) 5 that supplies the cleaning liquid W for cleaning and a suction pump (suction unit) 16 connected to the inkjet head 10 are provided.
  • the recording paper D of the present embodiment is wound and held in a roll shape in a supply source (not shown) disposed on the upper side (upstream side) of the inkjet recording apparatus 1, and the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is supplied from the supply source. Is continuously conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 2 to a winding source disposed at the lower part (downstream side) of the sheet.
  • the transport mechanism 2 includes a plurality of transport rollers 4a and 4b arranged along the transport direction (see arrows in FIG. 1), and the recording paper D is held so as to bridge between the transport rollers 4a and 4b. . And it is comprised so that the recording paper D can be continuously conveyed toward a downstream by rotating conveyance roller 4a, 4b. Specifically, after the recording paper D is transported along the horizontal direction, the transport direction is folded back downward in the direction of gravity via the transport roller 4a, and then the transport direction is again set to the horizontal direction via the transport roller 4b. It is folded to be.
  • a plurality (for example, five) of the inkjet heads 10 described above are arranged along the transport direction (gravity direction) between the transport rollers 4a and 4b.
  • Each inkjet head 10 is supported by a support member (not shown) in a state where the ink discharge surface 11a of each case 11 faces the surface of the recording paper D.
  • FIG. 3 is a front view of the ink jet head 10
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the ink jet head 10 viewed from above
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG.
  • the inkjet head 10 includes a case 11, a liquid supply system 12, a head chip 20, and a drive circuit board 14 (see FIG. 5).
  • the case 11 has a thin box shape in which an opening 11b is formed on the ink discharge surface 11a, and a through hole communicating with the internal space is formed along the height direction (gravity direction) of the case 11 on the back surface 11c. Two places are formed. Specifically, an ink injection hole 11d is formed in the upper part of the case 11, and an ink suction hole 11e is formed in the lower part.
  • the case 11 includes a base plate 11f fixed along the horizontal direction in the internal space, and accommodates each component of the inkjet head 10.
  • attachment pieces 11 h that are attached to the support member are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction (horizontal direction) of the case 11. The attachment pieces 11h and the support member are fastened and fixed, so that the case 11 is arranged in a state where the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with the horizontal direction.
  • the liquid supply system 12 communicates with the ink supply unit 5 through the ink injection hole 11d, and is roughly configured by a damper 17 and an ink flow path substrate 18.
  • the damper 17 is for adjusting the pressure fluctuation of the ink I, and includes a storage chamber 17 a for storing the ink I.
  • the damper 17 is fixed to the base plate 11f, and is connected to the ink intake hole 17b connected via the ink injection hole 11d and the pipe member 17d, and via the ink flow path substrate 18 and the pipe member 17e. And an ink outflow hole 17c.
  • the ink flow path substrate 18 is a member in which a flow passage 18 a that communicates with the damper 17 and through which the ink I flows is formed, and is attached to the head chip 20.
  • the drive circuit board 14 includes a control circuit (not shown) and a flexible board 14a.
  • the drive circuit board 14 has a flexible substrate 14a having one end joined to a plate electrode (not shown) described later and the other end joined to a control circuit (not shown) on the drive circuit board 14 so that a ceramic is formed according to the print pattern.
  • a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric plate 21.
  • the drive circuit board 14 is fixed to the base plate 11f.
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the head chip 20.
  • the head chip 20 includes a ceramic piezoelectric plate 21, an ink chamber plate 22, a nozzle body 23, and a nozzle guard (ejecting body guard) 24.
  • the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member made of PZT (lead zirconate titanate), and a plurality of long grooves 26 are juxtaposed on one plate surface 21a of the two plate surfaces 21a and 21b. Each long groove 26 is separated by a side wall 27.
  • PZT lead zirconate titanate
  • the long grooves 26 extend in the short direction of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21, and a plurality of the long grooves 26 are arranged in parallel over the entire length of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 in the longitudinal direction.
  • a plurality of side walls 27 are juxtaposed along the longitudinal direction of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 to divide the long grooves 26.
  • a plate-like electrode (not shown) for applying a driving voltage is extended over the short groove direction of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 on the opening side (plate surface 21a side) of the long groove 26 on both wall surfaces of each side wall 27. .
  • the flexible substrate 14a is joined to the plate electrode.
  • such a ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 has a rear surface side of the plate surface 21b fixed to the edge of the base plate 11f, and the extending direction of the long groove 26 faces the opening 11b.
  • the ink chamber plate 22 is a substantially rectangular plate-like member like the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21, and the longitudinal dimension is substantially the same as the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21, and the lateral dimension is the same. It is short.
  • the ink chamber plate 22 includes an open hole 22 c that penetrates in the thickness direction and is formed along the longitudinal direction of the ink chamber plate 22.
  • the ink chamber plate 22 is joined to the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 from the plate surface 21a side so that the front side 22a constitutes a butting surface 25a that is flush with the front side 21c of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21.
  • the open holes 22c expose the plurality of long grooves 26 of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21, and all the long grooves 26 are opened outward, and the long grooves 26 are in communication with each other. Yes.
  • the ink flow path substrate 18 is attached to the ink chamber plate 22 so as to cover the open hole 22c, and the flow path 18a of the ink flow path substrate 18 and each long groove 26 communicate with each other. .
  • the nozzle body 23 is configured by sticking a nozzle plate 31 to a nozzle cap 32 as shown in FIG.
  • the nozzle plate 31 is a thin plate made of polyimide (for example, about 50 ⁇ m thick) and an elongated member, and a plurality of nozzle holes 31a penetrating in the thickness direction are arranged in a row.
  • the nozzle row 31c is configured. More specifically, the same number of nozzle holes 31 a as the long grooves 26 are formed on the same line at the middle position in the short direction of the nozzle plate 31 and at the same intervals as the long grooves 26.
  • a water repellent film having water repellency for preventing adhesion of ink and the like is applied to the plate surface where the discharge port 31 b for discharging the ink I opens.
  • the other plate surface is a joint surface between the butting surface 25 a and the nozzle cap 32.
  • the nozzle hole 31a is formed using an excimer laser device.
  • the nozzle cap 32 is a thin plate-like member having a shape obtained by scraping the outer peripheral edge of one of the two frame surfaces of the frame plate-like member.
  • the outer frame portion 32a, the inner frame portion 32b formed thicker than the outer frame portion 32a, the inner frame portion 32c formed thinner than the inner frame portion 32b, and the inner frame portion inside the outer frame portion 32a
  • the long hole 32d extends in the longitudinal direction (horizontal direction) while penetrating in the thickness direction at the intermediate portion in the short direction of 32c.
  • the outer frame portion 32a is formed thinner than the middle frame portion 32b and the inner frame portion 32c, and is formed in a bowl shape over the entire outer periphery of the nozzle cap 32.
  • a pair of middle frame portions 32b are formed on both sides in the short direction of the inner frame portion 32c, and extend in parallel with each other along the longitudinal direction of the nozzle cap 32 in a state of projecting along the thickness direction from the inner frame portion 32c. Exist. On both sides in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle cap 32, step portions 32k are formed that are thinner in the thickness direction than the middle frame portion 32b so as to bridge both ends of the middle frame portion 32b.
  • a groove 32f cut in the thickness direction from the inner frame surface 32e is formed between the middle frame portion 32b and the inner frame portion 32c.
  • the groove 32f is formed so as to surround the entire circumference of the inner frame portion 32c.
  • a discharge hole 32h penetrating in the thickness direction is formed in the bottom 32g of the groove 32f along the longitudinal direction of the nozzle cap 32.
  • the discharge hole 32h is arranged below the long hole 32d in the gravity direction at the longitudinal center of the long hole 32d.
  • the nozzle plate 31 is stuck on the inner frame surface 32e so as to close the long hole 32d, and the annular end portion 24d of the nozzle guard 24 is in contact with the outer frame surface 32i of the outer frame portion 32a. Yes.
  • Such a nozzle body 23 is accommodated in the internal space of the case 11 and fixed to the case 11 and the base plate 11f so that the discharge hole 32h of the nozzle cap 32 is located at the center in the longitudinal direction (see FIG. 3). (See FIG. 5).
  • an adhesive flow groove 32j is provided at the opening edge of the long hole 32d of the nozzle cap 32 in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. Since the adhesive flow groove 32j is a matching position where the nozzle cap 32, the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21, the ink chamber plate 22, and the nozzle plate 31 are joined, it is possible to effectively surplus by adopting this configuration. The adhesive can be removed.
  • the adhesive flow groove 32j is not necessarily a groove portion that must be provided, and may be configured not to be provided.
  • the nozzle guard 24 is a substantially box-shaped member made of stainless steel or the like, and is formed by press molding.
  • the nozzle guard 24 includes a top plate portion 24a formed in a rectangular plate shape, and a peripheral wall portion 24b extending from the peripheral portion of the top plate portion 24a in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plate surface direction.
  • the top plate portion 24a includes a slit 24c extending in the longitudinal direction at the middle portion in the short direction.
  • the slit 24c is formed to be slightly longer than the length of the nozzle row 31c.
  • the width Q (width in the direction of gravity) of the slit 24c is set to about 1.5 mm with respect to the nozzle diameter of 40 ⁇ m of the nozzle hole 31a.
  • the nozzle row 31c is arranged at the center in the width direction of the slit 24c, and the width of the slit 24c above the center of the nozzle hole 31a and the width of the lower slit 24c in the gravitational direction are set to be the same. ing.
  • the width Q of the slit 24c is limited to a width that can be set to a negative pressure by the suction pump 16, and the width that prevents the ink I from overflowing from the slit 24c during the initial filling of the ink I. It is desirable to set in the range set as the lower limit.
  • the nozzle guard 24 has a hydrophilic film 24g formed of titanium coating on an inner surface 24e facing inward, and an outer surface 24f facing away from the inner surface 24e and slits 24c.
  • a water repellent film 24h is formed on the inner surface by fluorine resin coating or Teflon (registered trademark) plating.
  • the nozzle guard 24 is arranged such that the top plate portion 24a covers the middle frame portion 32b, the inner frame portion 32c, the groove portion 32f, and the discharge hole 32h of the nozzle cap 32 from the front in the opening direction of the nozzle hole 31a.
  • the inner surface 24e along the longitudinal direction of the peripheral wall portion 24b contacts the outer surface of the middle frame portion 32b, and the inner surface 24e along the width direction contacts the outer surface of the step portion 32k.
  • the nozzle guard 24 is attached to the nozzle cap 32 by bonding the annular end 24d to the outer frame surface 32i with an adhesive.
  • the slit 24c faces the nozzle row 31c and does not face the discharge hole 32h.
  • the inner space of the nozzle guard 24, specifically, the space between the nozzle guard 24 and the nozzle cap 32 constitutes an inner space S in which the nozzle holes 31a and the slits 24c are opened.
  • the nozzle guard 24 sets the distance between the top plate portion 24a and the nozzle plate 31 to the upper limit of the distance at which the suction pump 16 can make a negative pressure. It is desirable to set the distance within a range that does not overflow.
  • the suction channel 15 is inserted into the discharge hole 32h of the nozzle cap 32 described above.
  • These suction flow paths 15 are tube-tube-shaped, are fixed in a state of being inserted into the discharge holes 32h, and the outer peripheral surfaces thereof are in contact with the inner side surfaces of the middle frame portion 32b. That is, the outer peripheral surface of the suction channel 15 is in contact with the lowermost surface in the space S of the nozzle guard 24.
  • the suction channel 15 extends from the nozzle cap 32 toward the top plate portion 24a along the horizontal direction. Specifically, the suction channel 15 has a suction port 15a at the tip thereof protruding from the bottom 32g of the nozzle cap 32.
  • the top plate of the nozzle guard 24 than the nozzle plate 31 in a top view protrudes to the part 24a side. Therefore, the suction flow path 15 is arranged at the center in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c and below the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction, with the opening direction of the suction port 15a facing the horizontal direction.
  • the other end of the suction channel 15 is connected to the ink suction hole 11e on the back surface 11c. That is, the suction flow path 15 and the space S communicate with each other through the suction port 15a.
  • the suction pumps 16 are connected to the ink suction holes 11e through tubes 62, respectively. During operation, these suction pumps 16 suck air and ink I in the space S, and make the spaces S into negative pressure chambers R, respectively.
  • the suction pump 16 stores the sucked ink I in the waste liquid tank E (see FIG. 2).
  • the suction pump 16 may be mounted on the inkjet head 10 or may be separately provided on the apparatus side as an inkjet recording apparatus as in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, since the suction pump 16 is provided on the apparatus side, it is not necessary to attach the suction pump 16 to the inkjet head 10 side, the configuration of the inkjet head 10 can be simplified, and the inkjet head 10 can be simplified. Miniaturization is possible.
  • the ink supply unit 5 includes an ink tank 51 in which the ink I is stored, a cleaning liquid tank 52 in which the cleaning liquid W is stored, a switching valve 53 that can switch between two flow paths, and the ink I or A pressurizing pump 54 that pressurizes and supplies the cleaning liquid W to the inkjet head 10 and an open / close valve 55 that can open and close the flow path are provided.
  • the ink tank 51 communicates with the pressurizing pump 54 via the supply pipe 57a, the switching valve 53 and the supply pipe 57c, and the cleaning liquid tank 52 communicates with the pressure pump 54 via the supply pipe 57b, the switching valve 53 and the supply pipe 57c, respectively. That is, the switching valve 53 is connected to the supply pipes 57a and 57b as inflow pipes and the supply pipe 57c as outflow pipes.
  • the pressurization pump 54 is connected to the inkjet head 10 through the supply pipe 57d and connected to the inkjet head 10 through the supply pipe 57d, and supplies the ink I or the cleaning liquid W flowing from the supply pipe 57c to the inkjet head 10.
  • the pressurizing pump 54 is configured so that fluid does not flow when not in operation, and has a function of an on-off valve.
  • the open / close valve 55 is connected to a supply pipe 57e that communicates with the supply pipe 57c and serves as an inflow pipe, and a supply pipe 57f that communicates with the supply pipe 57d and serves as an outflow pipe. That is, when the opening / closing valve 55 is opened, the supply pipes 57e and 57f function as bypass pipes for the pressure pump 54. Next, the operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration will be described.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the operation timing of the suction pump 16 and the pressure pump 54 and the space S (negative pressure chamber R).
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram of the inkjet head 10 illustrating the operation during initial filling. It is a principal part expanded sectional view.
  • the suction pump 16 of the inkjet head 10 is operated (ON1), and the suction pump 16 sucks the air in the space S from the suction port 15a via the suction flow path 15 (FIG. 7).
  • the output of the operating suction pump 16 is preferably set to such an extent that the space S can be made sufficiently negative, and the output at this time is set as the filling output of the suction pump 16.
  • the suction pump 16 is operated at the filling output (first output)
  • external air flows into the space S from the slit 24c, and this air is sucked after reaching the suction port 15a after passing through the space S.
  • the space S is depressurized (liquid filling mode).
  • the space S becomes the negative pressure chamber R in which the negative pressure is sufficiently lower than the atmospheric pressure.
  • the ink supply unit 5 pressurizes and fills the inkjet head 10 with the ink I (time T2 in FIG. 7).
  • the ink supply unit 5 is set as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the supply pipe 57a and the supply pipe 57c are brought into communication with each other by the switching valve 53, the open / close valve 55 is closed, and the supply pipe 57e and the supply pipe 57f are shut off.
  • the pressurizing pump 54 is operated.
  • the pressure pump 54 injects the ink I from the ink tank 51 into the ink injection hole 11d of the inkjet head 10 through the supply pipes 57a, 57c, and 57d.
  • the ink I injected into the ink injection hole 11 d flows into the storage chamber 17 a through the ink intake hole 17 b of the damper 17, and then flows through the ink outlet hole 17 c. It flows out to the flow passage 18a of the substrate 18. And the ink I which flowed into the flow path 18a flows in into each long groove
  • the ink I flowing into each long groove 26 flows to the nozzle hole 31a side, reaches the nozzle hole 31a, and then flows out from the nozzle hole 31a as excess ink Y as shown in FIG.
  • the surplus ink Y that has flowed out flows downward on the nozzle plate 31 in the direction of gravity.
  • the surplus ink Y that flows downward in the gravitational direction is sucked by the suction pump 16, and flows in the groove 32f of the nozzle cap 32 and on the nozzle plate 31 downward in the gravitational direction to reach the suction port 15a.
  • the surplus ink Y that has reached the suction port 15 a is sucked into the suction channel 15 and discharged to the waste liquid tank E.
  • the pressurization pump 54 is stopped after a predetermined time T3, and the pressurization and filling of the ink I is completed. As the pressurizing pump 54 stops, the surplus ink Y does not flow out from the nozzle hole 31a, and the surplus ink Y remaining in the negative pressure chamber R is discharged to the waste liquid tank E through the suction port 15a.
  • the suction pump 16 is stopped after predetermined time T4 progress.
  • the long groove 26 is filled with the ink I.
  • the operation when printing is performed on the recording paper D will be described.
  • the setting of the ink supply unit 5 will be described. In other words, as shown in FIG. 2, the supply pipe 57a and the supply pipe 57c are brought into communication with each other by the switching valve 53, and the open / close valve 55 is opened to connect the supply pipe 57e and the supply pipe 57f.
  • the pressurization pump 54 is inactivated, and the supply pipe 57c and the supply pipe 57d are not communicated with each other via the pressurization pump 54.
  • the ink I is injected into the ink injection hole 11d of the inkjet head 10 through the supply pipes 57a, 57c, 57e, 57f, and 57d.
  • the transport mechanism 2 is driven with the ink supply unit 5 set as described above (see FIG. 1), and the recording paper D is transported toward the downstream side.
  • the ink ejection unit 3 ejects ink droplets toward the surface of the recording paper D.
  • the drive circuit board 14 selectively applies a voltage to a predetermined plate electrode corresponding to the print data. As a result, the volume of the long groove 26 corresponding to the plate electrode is reduced, and the ink I filled in the long groove 26 is discharged from the discharge port 31b toward the recording paper D along the horizontal direction.
  • the long groove 26 becomes negative pressure, so the ink I is filled into the long groove 26 through the supply pipes 57a, 57c, 57e, 57f, and 57d.
  • the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 of the inkjet head 10 is driven according to the image data, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle holes 31a to land on the recording paper D.
  • an image (character) is printed at a desired position on the recording paper D by continuously ejecting ink droplets from the inkjet head 10 while moving the recording paper D.
  • the ink I leaks from the nozzle hole 31a when it is filled.
  • the excess ink Y cannot be sucked and remains at the boundary portion between the top plate portion 24 a and the peripheral wall portion 24 b of the nozzle guard 24.
  • the excess ink Y leaks from the nozzle holes 31a, for example, at the time of printing.
  • the suction pump 16 is always operated even after the ink I is filled (ON2 in FIG. 7).
  • the output of the suction pump 16 is set so as to be weaker than the output at the time of ink I filling (filling output) and to sufficiently suck the surplus ink Y existing in the space S during printing (normal use mode).
  • the space S becomes a negative pressure space that is weaker than when the ink I is filled.
  • the output of the suction pump 16 at this time is set as a normal output (second output).
  • ON2 in FIG. 9 described as the normal use mode is not necessarily performed together with the operation of ON1 in FIG. 9 described as the liquid filling mode, and is appropriately determined depending on the surrounding operating environment and the type of ink I. Just do it.
  • the suction port 15a of the suction channel 15 is arranged at the center in the arrangement direction of the nozzle holes 31a and below the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction.
  • the excess ink Y moves in the negative pressure chamber R in a state where it is difficult to leak out from the slit 24c, and is sucked into the suction flow path 15 from the suction port 15a and discharged to the waste liquid tank E.
  • the space for collecting the excess ink Y flowing out from the nozzle hole 31a can be made extremely small, the space factor of the ink jet head 10 can be improved, and the degree of freedom in designing the ink jet recording apparatus 1 can be improved.
  • the surplus ink Y can be continuously discharged by the suction flow path 15, the recovery capability of the surplus ink Y is extremely high, and contamination by the surplus ink Y is prevented even when the surplus ink Y flows out. In addition, it is possible to stabilize the ejection of the ink I after the ink I is filled.
  • the suction port 15a is located at the center in the arrangement direction of the nozzle holes 31a and below the nozzle row 31c in the gravitational direction, the excess ink Y leaked from the nozzle holes 31a when ink I is filled is effective Can be aspirated. That is, the surplus ink Y leaking from the nozzle hole 31a drips along the direction of gravity, but such surplus ink Y can be collected in the nozzle guard 24 without leaking from the slit 24c. Therefore, even when the nozzle row 31c is arranged in the horizontal direction and the ink I can be ejected in the horizontal direction, the surplus ink Y can be collected without providing a service station.
  • the ink I can be initially filled while simplifying the apparatus and reducing the apparatus cost.
  • the air flowing into the space S of the nozzle guard 24 from the slit 24c does not directly reach the suction port 15a, and the space of the nozzle guard 24 Since the suction port 15a is reached after flowing through S, the negative pressure state in the space S can be maintained in a good state. Thereby, the excess ink Y can be collected quickly.
  • the peripheral surface of the suction channel 15 extends in contact with the inner side surface of the inner frame portion 32b of the nozzle cap 32, the lowermost portion of the space S where excess ink Y easily remains, the nozzle Excess ink Y present at the boundary portion between the peripheral wall portion 24b of the guard 24 and the top plate portion 24a can be efficiently recovered.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes the inkjet head 10 described above, the stable ink I is applied to the recording paper D that is conveyed along the arrangement direction (gravity direction) of the inkjet head 10. Can be continuously discharged. Therefore, high-precision printing can be performed promptly.
  • FIG. 9 is a front view of the inkjet head 100 in the second embodiment
  • FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing the slit 124c of the inkjet head 100.
  • the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
  • the width Q1 in the gravity direction of the slit 124c of the inkjet head 100 of the second embodiment is set wider than the width Q of the slit 24c of the first embodiment.
  • the width Q1 of the slit 124c is such that the width Q2 below the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction is lower than the nozzle row 31c in the slit 24c of the first embodiment (Q / 2).
  • the slit 124c is formed such that the width Q2 below the gravity direction from the nozzle hole 31a is wider than the width Q3 upward, and the nozzle row 31c is the upper half of the width direction (gravity direction) of the slit 124c in plan view. Will be placed.
  • the width Q1 of the slit 124c has an upper limit as a width that can be made negative by the suction pump 16, and a lower limit as a width that prevents the ink I from overflowing from the slit 24c during the initial filling of the ink I. It is desirable to set within the specified range.
  • the excess ink Y leaked from the nozzle hole 31a is hemispherical due to the surface tension at the discharge port 31b of the nozzle hole 31a. It rises to the slit 124c side in a state. Then, the surface of the ink I raised by the surface tension comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the slit 124c in this state, and the balance of the surface tension is broken. As a result, the ink I that has contacted the periphery of the slit 124c may leak out through the slit 124c.
  • FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the inkjet head 100.
  • the width Q2 below the nozzle hole 31a in the slit 124c in the gravitational direction is set larger than that in the slit 24c in the first embodiment. Leakage of excess ink Y can be reliably prevented. That is, the ink I that has risen at the ejection port 31b starts to drip downward in the direction of gravity due to gravity while maintaining balance by the surface tension. In this case, the ink I is sucked from the suction port 15a without contacting the peripheral edge of the slit 124c. As a result, the surplus ink Y is sucked by the suction port 15a and discharged to the waste liquid tank E.
  • FIG. 12 is a front view of the inkjet head 110 according to the third embodiment.
  • the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
  • the suction port 115a of the suction flow path 115 is disposed on one end side of the nozzle row 31c in the arrangement direction (longitudinal direction of the nozzle guard 24).
  • the width of the slit 111 is formed so as to gradually increase from one end side to the other end side in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c.
  • the width above the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction in the slit 111 is constant along the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c, whereas the width below the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction is equal to the nozzle row 31c.
  • the width of the slit 111 is formed with the width Q1 while the other end is formed with the width Q1.
  • the inkjet head 110 of the present embodiment is formed such that the width of the slit 111 gradually increases as the distance from the suction port 115a increases.
  • the width of the top plate portion 24a below the slit 111 in the direction of gravity is formed so as to gradually increase from the other end side in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c to the one end side.
  • the suction port 115a is disposed at one end side in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c, the suction port 115a is completely covered by the top plate portion 24a in plan view.
  • the slit 111 is formed so as to gradually widen from one end side to the other end side in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c. Leakage of the excess ink Y can be prevented while sufficiently securing the negative pressure in the space S. That is, since the suction port 115a is disposed on one end side, the distance from the suction port 115a to the slit 111 is longer than in the case where the suction port 115a is disposed on the other end side. In this case, since air that has entered the slit 111 from the outside is sucked from the suction port 115 a via the space S, it is difficult for air to enter the slit 111. Thereby, the negative pressure state of the space S of the nozzle guard 24 can be maintained in a good state.
  • the slit 111 is gradually formed wider toward the other end side in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c, the ink I leaking from the nozzle hole 31a contacts the peripheral edge of the slit 111 as in the second embodiment described above. And the leakage of excess ink Y from the slit 111 can be reliably prevented. As a result, it is possible to efficiently collect the surplus ink Y and efficiently perform the initial filling of the ink I.
  • FIG. 13 is a front view of an inkjet head 120 according to a modification of the third embodiment.
  • the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
  • the suction port 15a of the suction channel 15 is arranged in the center of the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c (longitudinal direction of the nozzle guard 24), and the slit 121
  • the width is formed so as to gradually increase as the distance from the suction port 15a increases.
  • the width above the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction in the slit 121 is constant along the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c, whereas the width below the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction is equal to the nozzle row 31c.
  • the rows 31c are formed so as to gradually widen from the center to both ends in the arrangement direction.
  • the periphery of the slit 121 in the lower direction of gravity is formed in a V shape in plan view.
  • the slit 121 has a width Q at the center, whereas the slit 121 has a width Q1 at both ends. Therefore, also in this modification, the same effects as those of the third embodiment described above can be obtained.
  • FIG. 14 is a front view of the inkjet head 130 in the fourth embodiment.
  • the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
  • the inkjet head 130 of this embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that a plurality of (for example, two) suction channels 131 and 132 are provided. Specifically, the suction flow paths 131 and 132 are arranged on both end sides along the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c, and suction ports 131a and 132a are opened below the gravity direction of the nozzle row 31c.
  • the slit 133 is formed so that its width gradually increases as the distance from the suction ports 131a and 132a increases. Specifically, the width above the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction in the slit 133 is constant along the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c, whereas the width below the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction is equal to the nozzle row 31c. Are formed so as to gradually widen from both ends to the center in the arrangement direction. That is, the periphery of the slit 133 below the gravitational direction is formed in a V shape in plan view. In this case, the width of the slit 133 is the width Q at both ends, whereas the central portion is formed at the width Q1.
  • the same effects as those of the third embodiment described above can be obtained, and the recovery capability of the excess ink Y in the space S of the nozzle guard 24 can be improved by providing a plurality of suction flow paths 131 and 132.
  • each may be connected to the same suction pump (for example, the suction pump 16), or each may be a separate suction pump. You may connect to.
  • the suction flow paths 131 and 132 are connected to the same suction pump, the apparatus cost can be reduced compared to the case where the suction flow paths 131 and 132 are provided with the suction pumps, respectively.
  • a valve flow rate adjusting device
  • the flow rate of air sucked from the suction ports 131a and 132a can be adjusted, and the suction flow paths 131 and 132 to be sucked can be arbitrarily selected.
  • surplus ink Y remains on one suction port 131a side
  • the valve and sucking air from only one suction port 131a intensively, the surplus ink Y is removed together with this air. Effective suction is possible. Therefore, since the flow rate sucked by the suction pump can be easily adjusted, workability can be improved.
  • the number of suction channels is not limited to two and may be two or more.
  • FIG. 15 is a front view of the inkjet head 140 according to the fifth embodiment.
  • the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
  • the inkjet head 140 is different from the first embodiment described above in that the guide member 141 that guides the excess ink Y to the suction port 15 a is provided in the space S of the nozzle guard. It is different.
  • the guide member 141 is adhered to the inner surface 24e of the top plate portion 24a of the nozzle guard 24 in a state where the thickness direction thereof coincides with the horizontal direction (opening direction of the nozzle hole 31a).
  • the guide member 141 is disposed below the nozzle row 31c in the gravitational direction, and an inclined surface 141a is formed on the upper surface of the guide member 141.
  • the inclined surface 141a is inclined downward from the both ends in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c to the center.
  • Both ends of the inclined surface 141a are disposed above the suction port 15a in the gravitational direction and reach the vicinity of the slit 24c, while the central portion is disposed directly below the suction port 15a. That is, the guide member 141 is formed in a V shape in plan view.
  • the excess ink Y leaked from the nozzle hole 31a hangs downward in the direction of gravity and contacts the inclined surface 141a of the guide member 141. Excess ink Y that has contacted the inclined surface 141a is guided on the inclined surface 141a toward the suction port 15a while being sucked by the suction pump 16 (see FIG. 2) through the suction flow path 15. The excess ink Y guided to the suction port 15a is discharged from the suction port 15a to the waste liquid tank E (see FIG. 2).
  • FIG. 16 is a front view of an inkjet head 150 according to the sixth embodiment.
  • the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
  • the inkjet head 150 of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in that a filling member 151 is provided above the slit 24 c in the gravity direction in the space S of the nozzle guard 24. is doing.
  • the filling member 151 is a member arranged so as to be filled above the slit 24c in the space S, and the thickness (horizontal direction) is formed to be equal to the thickness of the space S, and the width (gravity direction) is set. It is formed about half the width of the space S.
  • the region above the slit 24c in the gravity direction in the space S is configured with the filling region S1 filled with the filling member 151 without a gap, while the gravity of the slit 24c is greater than that of the slit 24c.
  • An open area S2 is formed in the area below the direction.
  • the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above is obtained, and the filling region S1 in which the filling member 151 is provided in the space S is configured.
  • the volume will be reduced.
  • the space S can be easily depressurized, so that the space S can be quickly made into the negative pressure chamber R and the negative pressure chamber R is brought into a favorable negative pressure state. Easy to maintain. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the surplus ink Y from leaking from the slit 24c while improving the recovery capability of the surplus ink Y.
  • the design of the shape of the filling member 151 described above can be changed as appropriate, and in the space S of the nozzle guard 24, the volume above the gravitational direction with the slit 24c interposed therebetween is smaller than the volume below the gravitational direction. What is necessary is just to form.
  • FIG. 17 is a front view of an inkjet head 160 according to the seventh embodiment, and FIG.
  • the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
  • the inkjet head 160 is provided with an absorber 161 for absorbing excess ink Y leaking from the nozzle hole 31 a in the space S of the nozzle guard 24.
  • the absorber 161 is formed to have a length equal to the length in the longitudinal direction of the top plate portion 24 a of the nozzle guard 24 and has a width (gravity direction) shorter than half the width of the nozzle guard 24.
  • the absorber 161 has one surface (front surface side) along the thickness direction in contact with the inner surface 24e of the top plate portion 24a, and the other surface (back surface side) in contact with the peripheral edge of the suction port 15a. ing. Therefore, the absorber 161 is held in a state of being sandwiched between the top plate portion 24a and the suction port 15a.
  • porous membranes such as PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) (for example, Kanebo Belita A series) and high-density polyethylene powder (for example, Asahi Kasei (Sun fine)), are used suitably. Yes.
  • PVA polyvinyl alcohol
  • high-density polyethylene powder for example, Asahi Kasei (Sun fine)
  • a high-viscosity adhesive made of, for example, epoxy or the like.
  • the surplus ink Y that could not be sucked immediately by the suction pump 16 travels on the inner surface 24e of the nozzle plate 31 or the nozzle guard 24. It hangs down in the direction of gravity. At this time, surplus ink Y that drips in the direction of gravity is absorbed by the absorber 161 disposed below the nozzle row 31c. The surplus ink Y absorbed in the absorber 161 flows through the absorber 161 together with the air flowing toward the suction port 15a in the negative pressure chamber R. Then, the surplus ink Y flowing in the absorber 161 is sucked from the suction port 15a and discharged to the waste liquid tank E.
  • the surplus ink Y sucked into the negative pressure chamber R because the absorber 161 is disposed in the space S.
  • excess ink Y can be prevented from leaking from the slit 24c.
  • the absorber 161 is in contact with the peripheral edge of the suction port 15a, the suction port 15a and the absorber 161 are in contact with each other without a space. As a result, a suction force can be directly applied to the absorber 161 and suction can be performed. Therefore, it is possible to continuously suck the excess ink Y absorbed in the absorber 161. The excess ink Y contained inside can be discharged from the suction port 15a more effectively. As a result, it is possible to quickly dry the absorber 161 and suppress the absorption amount of the absorber 161 from becoming saturated.
  • the arrangement position and shape of the absorber 161 can be changed as appropriate.
  • FIG. 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an inkjet recording apparatus 200 showing another configuration of the present invention.
  • the ink jet recording apparatus 200 includes a transport mechanism 201 for transporting the recording paper D.
  • the transport mechanism 201 is rotatably supported by a large-diameter roller 201a and a lower portion in the gravity direction of the large-diameter roller 201a, which are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the large-diameter roller 201a, respectively.
  • Small diameter rollers 201b and 201c are provided. Accordingly, the recording paper D transported in the horizontal direction from a supply source (not shown) is folded upward in the transport direction (see the arrow in FIG. 19) via the upstream small-diameter roller 201b, and then the large-diameter roller 201a is moved.
  • the sheet is folded back about 180 degrees and conveyed downward. Thereafter, the sheet is folded back about 90 degrees via the small-diameter roller 201c and conveyed again along the horizontal direction.
  • a plurality of (for example, five) inkjet heads 10 are arranged along the direction of gravity between the small diameter roller 201b and the large diameter roller 201a and between the large diameter roller 201a and the small diameter roller 201c. .
  • the inkjet head 10 that can perform initial liquid filling without moving to a service station or the like is provided, high-precision printing can be performed quickly.
  • An ink jet recording apparatus 200 can be provided. Further, the above-described embodiments can be appropriately combined and employed.
  • the method of filling the ink I or the cleaning liquid W is performed using both the pressurization pump 54 and the suction pump 16, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.
  • the ink jet head 10 may be filled with the ink I or the cleaning liquid W only by the operation of the suction pump 16.
  • the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 provided with electrodes is provided as an actuator for discharging the ink I.
  • the present invention is not limited to this configuration.
  • an electrothermal conversion element may be used as a mechanism for generating bubbles in a chamber filled with the ink I and discharging the ink I by the pressure.
  • the open holes 22c are formed across the long grooves 26 and the ink I is filled into the long grooves 26 from the open holes 22c.
  • the present invention is not limited to this configuration.
  • the open holes 22 c may not be communicated with all the long grooves 26, but a slit-shaped groove may be provided in the ink chamber plate 22, and the slits may be formed to be half the pitch of the long grooves 26. That is, the slit may correspond to every other long groove 26, and the ink I may be filled only in the long groove 26 corresponding to the slit.
  • FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing an inkjet head 170 in the eighth embodiment.
  • the nozzle guard 24 of the inkjet head 170 is formed with a recess 24x that is recessed toward the space S in the top plate 24a.
  • the recess 24x is formed by press molding (rolling), and a slit 24c is formed on the bottom surface of the recess 24x.
  • FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing an inkjet head 180 according to a modification of the present invention.
  • the nozzle guard 24 of the inkjet head 180 is formed with an annular protruding wall 24y that protrudes toward the space S and surrounds the slit 24c in an annular shape.
  • FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing an inkjet head 190 according to a modification of the present invention.
  • the nozzle guard 24 of the inkjet head 190 is formed with a recess 24x and an annular protruding wall 24y by press molding.
  • the excess ink Y sucked by the suction pump 16 is discharged to the waste liquid tank E.
  • the present invention is not limited to this form.
  • the configuration connected to the flow path on the outlet side of the suction pump 16 may be the ink tank 51 instead of the waste liquid tank.
  • the surplus ink Y sucked by the suction pump 16 may be supplied to the ink tank 51 and supplied from the ink tank 51 to the inkjet head 10 as the ink I.
  • a reusable liquid supply system that collects the ink I overflowed into the negative pressure chamber by suction and supplies the ink I to a plurality of pressure generation chambers that communicate with the nozzle holes, respectively, is adopted.
  • the surplus ink Y can be reused as the ink I.
  • a filter member may be provided in the flow path from the suction pump 16 to the ink tank 51 when the excess ink Y is reused.
  • a deaeration device may be provided in the flow path from the suction pump 16 to the ink tank 51.
  • a deaeration device may be provided in the flow path from the suction pump 16 to the ink tank 51.
  • Inkjet recording apparatus liquid jet recording apparatus 5 ...
  • Ink supply part liquid supply part
  • 10 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 ...
  • Inkjet head liquid jet
  • 16 Suction pump (suction part) 24 ...
  • Nozzle guard 24a ...
  • Top plate part 24b ...
  • Peripheral wall part 24c 111, 121, 124c, 133 ... Slit 31a ... Nozzle hole 31c ... Nozzle array 60, 131, 132 ... Suction flow Paths 60a, 131a, 132a ... suction port 141 ... induction member 161 ... absorber I ... ink (liquid) R ... negative pressure chamber S ... space

Abstract

Provided are a liquid injection head, a liquid injection recording device, and a usage of liquid injection recording device capable of performing initial filling of liquid without moving to a service station, etc., by improving the ability to recover surplus liquid. A nozzle guard (24) formed to cover a nozzle array is provided. The nozzle guard (24) comprises a peripheral wall portion (24b) surrounding the periphery of the nozzle array, a top panel portion (24a) extending from a peripheral edge of the peripheral wall portion (24b) along a nozzle plate (31) and comprising a slit (24c) which is opposed to the nozzle array, and a suction flow channel (15) which is communicated with an inner space (S) of the nozzle guard (24), and is connected with a suction pump for suctioning surplus liquid (Y) leaking from the nozzle array, wherein a suction port (15a) of the suction flow channel (15) is arranged lower than the nozzle array in the direction of gravitational force.

Description

液体噴射ヘッド、液体噴射記録装置及び液体噴射記録装置の使用方法Liquid jet head, liquid jet recording apparatus, and method of using liquid jet recording apparatus
 本発明は、液体噴射ヘッド、液体噴射記録装置及び液体噴射記録装置の使用方法に関するものである。 The present invention relates to a liquid jet head, a liquid jet recording apparatus, and a method of using the liquid jet recording apparatus.
 一般に、液体噴射記録装置、例えば各種印刷を行うインクジェットプリンタは、被記録媒体を搬送する搬送装置と、インクジェットヘッドとを備えている。ここで用いられるインクジェットヘッドとしては、複数のノズル孔からなるノズル列(噴射孔列)を有するノズル体と、各ノズル孔と対となってノズル孔に連通する複数の圧力発生室と、圧力発生室にインクを供給するインク供給系と、圧力発生室に隣接配置された圧電アクチュエータとを備えており、圧電アクチュエータを駆動して圧力発生室を加圧し、圧力発生室内のインクをノズル孔のノズル吐出口から吐出させるものが知られている。 2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a liquid jet recording apparatus, for example, an ink jet printer that performs various types of printing includes a transport device that transports a recording medium and an ink jet head. As an ink jet head used here, a nozzle body having a nozzle row (injection hole row) composed of a plurality of nozzle holes, a plurality of pressure generation chambers communicating with the nozzle holes in pairs with each nozzle hole, and pressure generation An ink supply system for supplying ink to the chamber and a piezoelectric actuator disposed adjacent to the pressure generating chamber are provided, and the piezoelectric actuator is driven to pressurize the pressure generating chamber, and the ink in the pressure generating chamber is supplied to the nozzles of the nozzle holes. What discharges from a discharge outlet is known.
 このようなインクジェットプリンタの一種として、インクジェットヘッドの吐出口の開口方向を重力方向に向けた状態でインクを吐出し、インクジェットヘッドの下方を搬送される被記録媒体の上面に印刷を行うものがある。この種のインクジェットプリンタでは、インクジェットヘッドの可動範囲内にメンテナンスのためのサービスステーションを設け、このサービスステーションまでインクジェットヘッドを移動させて、ノズル孔をクリーニングしたり、インクジェットヘッドにキャップを被せて負圧吸引しノズル孔にインクを初期充填(いわゆる、吸引充填)したりしている。この吸引充填としては、例えば特許文献1に示されるように、記録ヘッドとキャップとを当接させた状態で、キャップに接続された吸引ポンプによって記録ヘッドのインク吐出口内のインクを吸引する構成が開示されている。 One type of such an ink jet printer is one that ejects ink with the opening direction of the discharge port of the ink jet head oriented in the direction of gravity and prints on the upper surface of a recording medium that is conveyed below the ink jet head. . In this type of inkjet printer, a service station for maintenance is provided within the movable range of the inkjet head, the inkjet head is moved to this service station, the nozzle holes are cleaned, and the inkjet head is covered with a cap so that negative pressure is applied. The ink is sucked and the nozzle holes are initially filled with ink (so-called suction filling). As this suction filling, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a configuration in which ink in an ink discharge port of a recording head is sucked by a suction pump connected to the cap while the recording head and the cap are in contact with each other. It is disclosed.
特開平6-218938号公報JP-A-6-2188938
 ところで、吐出口の開口方向を重力方向に向けた状態で被記録媒体に対して印刷を施す場合、インクジェットヘッドのメンテナンスを行うためには、上述したようにインクジェットヘッドをサービスステーションまで移動させる必要がある。しかしながら、上述した構成ではサービスステーション及びサービスステーションまでインクジェットヘッドを案内する構成を追加する必要があるため、構成が複雑になり、製造コストが増加するという問題がある。 By the way, when performing printing on a recording medium with the opening direction of the discharge port directed in the direction of gravity, in order to perform maintenance of the inkjet head, it is necessary to move the inkjet head to the service station as described above. is there. However, in the above-described configuration, since it is necessary to add a service station and a configuration for guiding the inkjet head to the service station, there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost increases.
 そこで、本発明は、上述の課題に鑑みてなされたものであって、余剰液体の回収能力を向上させることで、サービスステーション等への移動を伴うことなく、液体の初期充填を行うことができる液体噴射ヘッド、液体噴射記録装置及び液体噴射記録装置の使用方法を提供するものである。 Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and by improving the recovery capability of excess liquid, it is possible to perform initial liquid filling without moving to a service station or the like. A liquid jet head, a liquid jet recording apparatus, and a method of using the liquid jet recording apparatus are provided.
 上述した課題を解決するために、本発明は以下の手段を提供する。
本発明に係る液体噴射ヘッドは、噴射孔列を水平方向に配列した状態で、前記噴射孔列から水平方向に液体を噴射する液体噴射ヘッドにおいて、前記噴射孔列を覆うように形成された噴射体ガードを備え、前記噴射体ガードは、前記噴射孔列の周囲を囲む周壁部と、前記周壁部の周縁から前記噴射孔列の開口面に沿って延出し、前記噴射孔列に対向するスリットを有する天板部と、前記噴射体ガードの内側空間に連通し、前記噴射孔列から漏出した前記液体を吸引する吸引部が接続される吸引流路を備え、前記吸引流路の吸引口が、前記噴射孔列よりも重力方向における下方に配置されていることを特徴としている。
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides the following means.
The liquid ejecting head according to the present invention is a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid in the horizontal direction from the ejection hole row in a state where the ejection hole rows are arranged in the horizontal direction, and is formed so as to cover the ejection hole row. A body guard, and the spray guard includes a peripheral wall that surrounds the periphery of the spray hole row, and a slit that extends from the peripheral edge of the peripheral wall portion along the opening surface of the spray hole row and faces the spray hole row. And a suction channel that communicates with the inner space of the ejector guard and is connected to a suction unit that sucks the liquid leaked from the row of ejection holes, and a suction port of the suction channel , It is characterized by being arranged below in the direction of gravity from the row of injection holes.
 この構成によれば、吸引部により噴射体ガードの内側空間の空気を吸引すると、外部の空気がスリットから内側空間に流入するが、この空気が内側空間を経由してから吸引口に達した後に吸引されることで内側空間が減圧される。これにより、内側空間が大気圧よりも十分に負圧となった負圧室となる。 According to this configuration, when the air in the inner space of the ejector guard is sucked by the suction portion, the external air flows into the inner space from the slit, but after the air reaches the suction port after passing through the inner space. The inner space is depressurized by being sucked. Thereby, the inner space becomes a negative pressure chamber in which the negative pressure is sufficiently lower than the atmospheric pressure.
 この場合、液体の初期充填時や通常使用時に液体供給部から供給されて噴射孔列から漏出した余剰液体は、スリットでのみ外部と連通する負圧室に流出するとともに、負圧室外部の気体がスリットを介して負圧室に流入する。これにより、余剰液体がスリットから外部に漏出し難い状態で負圧室を移動し、吸引口から吸引流路内に吸引されて外部へと排出されるので、噴射孔列から流れ出た液体を回収することができる。 In this case, the excess liquid that is supplied from the liquid supply unit during initial filling of the liquid or during normal use and leaks from the injection hole array flows into the negative pressure chamber that communicates with the outside only through the slits, and the gas outside the negative pressure chamber Flows into the negative pressure chamber through the slit. As a result, the excess liquid moves in the negative pressure chamber in a state where it is difficult to leak out from the slit, and is sucked into the suction channel from the suction port and discharged to the outside. can do.
 また、吸引流路により液体を連続して排出することができるので、余剰液体の回収能力が極めて高く、余剰液体が流出した場合であっても余剰液体による汚染を防止することができるとともに、液体充填後の液体噴射を安定させることができる。 In addition, since the liquid can be continuously discharged by the suction channel, the recovery capability of the excess liquid is extremely high, and even when the excess liquid flows out, contamination with the excess liquid can be prevented, and the liquid Liquid injection after filling can be stabilized.
 特に、吸引口が噴射孔列よりも重力方向における下方に配置されているため、液体充填時に噴射孔列から漏出した余剰液体を効果的に吸引することができる。すなわち、噴射孔列から漏出した余剰液体が重力方向に沿って垂れるが、このような余剰液体をスリットから漏出させずに噴射体ガード内で回収することができる。したがって、噴射孔列を水平方向に配置して水平方向に液体を噴射し得るようにした場合であっても、サービスステーションを設けることなく、余剰液体を回収することができるので、装置の簡素化及び装置コストの削減を図った上で、液体の初期充填が可能となる。 In particular, since the suction port is disposed below the spray hole array in the direction of gravity, it is possible to effectively suck the excess liquid leaked from the spray hole array when the liquid is filled. In other words, the excess liquid leaking from the row of injection holes drips along the direction of gravity, but such excess liquid can be collected in the spray guard without leaking from the slit. Therefore, even when the injection hole array is arranged in the horizontal direction so that the liquid can be ejected in the horizontal direction, the surplus liquid can be recovered without providing a service station. In addition, the liquid can be initially filled with the apparatus cost reduced.
 また、前記吸引流路を複数備えていることを特徴としている。
 この構成によれば、吸引流路を複数設けることで、内側空間における余剰液体の回収能力を向上させることができる。すなわち、噴射孔列から漏出した余剰液体は、近傍の吸引流路に速やかに吸引されることになるので、余剰液体の回収能力をより向上させることができ、スリットからの余剰液体の漏出を確実に防ぐことができる。
Further, a plurality of the suction channels are provided.
According to this structure, the collection | recovery capability of the excess liquid in inner space can be improved by providing multiple suction flow paths. That is, surplus liquid leaking from the ejection hole array is quickly sucked into the nearby suction flow path, so that the surplus liquid recovery capability can be further improved, and leakage of surplus liquid from the slit is ensured. Can be prevented.
 また、前記吸引口は、前記スリットに対向しない位置に設けられていることを特徴としている。
 この構成によれば、スリットと吸引口とを対向しないように配置することで、スリットから噴射体ガードの内側空間に流入した空気は、吸引口に直接到達することはなく、噴射体ガードの内側空間を流通した後に吸引口に達するため、噴射体ガードの内側空間内の負圧状態を良好な状態に維持することができる。これにより、余剰液体の回収を速やかに行うことができる。
Further, the suction port is provided at a position not facing the slit.
According to this configuration, by arranging the slit and the suction port so as not to face each other, the air flowing into the inner space of the ejector guard from the slit does not reach the suction port directly, and the inner side of the ejector guard. Since the suction port is reached after flowing through the space, the negative pressure state in the inner space of the ejector guard can be maintained in a good state. Thereby, collection | recovery of an excess liquid can be performed rapidly.
 また、前記スリットの開口幅は、重力方向において前記噴射孔列より上方の前記スリットの開口幅に比べて、重力方向において前記噴射孔列より下方の前記スリットの開口幅の方が、大きく設定されていることを特徴としている。 The opening width of the slit is set to be larger in the gravity direction than the opening width of the slit above the injection hole array in the gravitational direction. It is characterized by having.
 ところで、液体充填時において、噴射孔列からの液体の漏出量が局所的に多い場合、噴射孔列から漏出した余剰液体は、半球状態のままスリット側へ盛り上がる。そして、表面張力により盛り上がった液体の表面が、この状態でスリットの周縁に接触し、表面張力の均衡が破れる。その結果、スリットの周縁に接触した液体がスリットを通って外部へ漏出する虞がある。 By the way, when the amount of leakage of liquid from the injection hole array is locally large at the time of liquid filling, the excess liquid leaking from the injection hole array rises to the slit side in a hemispherical state. Then, the surface of the liquid raised by the surface tension comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the slit in this state, and the balance of the surface tension is broken. As a result, there is a risk that the liquid in contact with the peripheral edge of the slit leaks out through the slit.
 これに対して、本発明の構成によれば、重力方向において噴射孔列より下方のスリットの開口幅を、上方の開口幅よりも大きく形成したので、液体充填時にスリットからの余剰液体の漏出を確実に防ぐことができる。すなわち、噴射孔の開口縁で盛り上がった液体は、表面張力により均衡を保ったまま、重力により重力方向下方に向かって垂れ始める。 この場合、噴射孔列から漏出した余剰液体は、スリットの周縁に接触することなく、吸引口から吸引される。 On the other hand, according to the configuration of the present invention, the opening width of the slit below the injection hole array in the direction of gravity is formed larger than the opening width of the upper portion, so that excess liquid leaks from the slit when filling the liquid. It can be surely prevented. That is, the liquid rising at the opening edge of the injection hole begins to sag downward in the direction of gravity due to gravity while maintaining a balance due to the surface tension. In this case, surplus liquid leaking from the injection hole array is sucked from the suction port without contacting the peripheral edge of the slit.
 よって、噴射孔列からの液体の漏出量が局所的に多くなったとしても、液体がスリットの周縁に接触することがないので、スリットからの余剰液体の漏出を確実に防ぐことができる。 Therefore, even if the amount of liquid leaked from the ejection hole array locally increases, the liquid does not contact the peripheral edge of the slit, so that leakage of excess liquid from the slit can be reliably prevented.
 また、前記噴射孔列の配列方向に沿って前記吸引口から離れるにつれ、重力方向において前記噴射孔列より下方の前記スリットの開口幅が、漸次大きくなるように形成されていることを特徴としている。
 この構成によれば、吸引口から離れるにつれ、重力方向において噴射孔列より下方のスリットの開口幅が漸次大きくなるように形成されているため、噴射体ガードの内側空間の負圧を十分に確保した上で、余剰液体の漏出を防ぐことができる。すなわち、吸引口から離れた場所では、噴射孔列から漏出した余剰液体がスリットの周縁に接触することを確実に防ぎ、スリットからの余剰液体の漏出を確実に防ぐことができる。
Further, the opening width of the slit below the injection hole array in the gravitational direction is gradually increased as the distance from the suction port along the arrangement direction of the injection hole array is increased. .
According to this configuration, as the distance from the suction port increases, the opening width of the slit below the injection hole array is gradually increased in the direction of gravity, so that a sufficient negative pressure is secured in the inner space of the injection guard. In addition, leakage of excess liquid can be prevented. That is, at a place away from the suction port, it is possible to reliably prevent the excess liquid leaking from the ejection hole array from coming into contact with the peripheral edge of the slit, and to reliably prevent leakage of the excess liquid from the slit.
 一方、吸引口に近い場所ではスリットの開口幅が狭いため、吸引口からスリットまでの距離が長くなる。この場合、外部からスリット内に入り込んだ空気は、噴射体ガードの内側空間を経由して吸引口から吸引されるので、スリット内に空気が入り難くなる。これにより、噴射体ガードの内側空間の負圧状態を良好な状態に維持することができるので、余剰液体を効率的に回収して、液体の初期充填を効率的に行うことが可能になる。 On the other hand, since the opening width of the slit is narrow near the suction port, the distance from the suction port to the slit becomes longer. In this case, the air that has entered the slit from the outside is sucked from the suction port via the inner space of the ejector guard, so that it is difficult for the air to enter the slit. Thereby, since the negative pressure state of the inner space of the ejector guard can be maintained in a good state, it is possible to efficiently recover the surplus liquid and efficiently perform the initial filling of the liquid.
 また、前記吸引流路が、前記噴射体ガードの前記内側空間における重力方向の最面に当接した状態で延在していることを特徴としている。
 この構成によれば、吸引流路を内側空間の下面に当接させることで、余剰液体の残存し易い噴射体ガードの周壁部上や、周壁部と天板部との境界部分等に存在する余剰液体を効率的に回収することができる。
In addition, the suction flow path extends in a state of being in contact with the outermost surface in the gravity direction in the inner space of the ejector guard.
According to this configuration, by bringing the suction channel into contact with the lower surface of the inner space, it exists on the peripheral wall portion of the ejector guard where surplus liquid tends to remain, on the boundary portion between the peripheral wall portion and the top plate portion, or the like. Excess liquid can be efficiently recovered.
 また、前記噴射体ガードの前記内側空間の容積は、重力方向において前記スリットより下方の前記内側空間の容積に比べて、重力方向において前記スリットより上方の前記内側空間の容積の方が、小さく設定されていることを特徴としている。
 この構成によれば、重力方向においてスリットより上方の内側空間の容積を縮小しているため、噴射体ガードの内側空間の空気を吸引する際に、内側空間を減圧し易くなる。そのため、内側空間を速やかに負圧室とすることができるとともに、負圧室を良好な負圧状態に維持し易くなる。これにより、余剰液体の回収能力の向上を図った上で、スリットからの余剰液体の漏出を防止することができる。
Further, the volume of the inner space of the sprayer guard is set to be smaller in the volume of the inner space above the slit in the gravity direction than the volume of the inner space below the slit in the gravity direction. It is characterized by being.
According to this configuration, since the volume of the inner space above the slit is reduced in the direction of gravity, the inner space can be easily decompressed when the air in the inner space of the ejector guard is sucked. Therefore, the inner space can be quickly made into a negative pressure chamber, and the negative pressure chamber can be easily maintained in a good negative pressure state. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the excess liquid from leaking from the slit while improving the recovery capability of the excess liquid.
 また、前記噴射体ガードの前記内側空間には、前記噴射孔列から漏出した前記液体を吸収するための吸収体が配置されていることを特徴としている。
 この構成によれば、噴射体ガードの内側空間に吸収体を配置することで、吸引部によって即座に吸引しきれなかった余剰液体を吸収することができ、余剰液体がスリットから漏出することを防ぐことができる。そして、吸収体で吸収された余剰液体は、吸引口に向かって流通する空気とともに吸収体内を流通し、吸引口から吸引されることになる。
Further, an absorber for absorbing the liquid leaking from the ejection hole row is disposed in the inner space of the ejection body guard.
According to this configuration, by arranging the absorber in the inner space of the ejector guard, it is possible to absorb the excess liquid that could not be immediately sucked by the suction portion, and prevent the excess liquid from leaking from the slit. be able to. And the surplus liquid absorbed by the absorber flows through the absorber together with the air flowing toward the suction port, and is sucked from the suction port.
 また、前記噴射体ガードの前記内側空間には、前記噴射孔列から漏出した前記液体を前記吸引口まで誘導する誘導部材が配置されていることを特徴としている。
 この構成によれば、噴射孔列から漏出した余剰液体を吸引口に向けて案内することができるので、吸引口から離れた位置に存在する余剰液体であっても効率的に吸引することができる。そのため、余剰液体の回収能力をより向上させることができる。
In addition, a guide member that guides the liquid leaked from the jet hole array to the suction port is disposed in the inner space of the jet guard.
According to this configuration, it is possible to guide the surplus liquid leaked from the ejection hole array toward the suction port, and therefore it is possible to efficiently suck even the surplus liquid existing at a position away from the suction port. . As a result, the surplus liquid recovery capability can be further improved.
 また、前記天板部には、前記内側空間に向けて窪む窪み部が形成され、前記窪み部の底面に前記スリットが形成されていることを特徴としている。
 この構成によれば、印刷時等において、天板部の内表面に余剰液体が残存していた場合に、余剰液体がスリットに向かって流れたとしても、この余剰液体を窪み部で塞き止め、内側空間内で留まらせることができる。そして、窪み部で塞き止められた余剰液体は、後に吸引部によって吸引口から吸引される。これにより、余剰液体の漏出をより確実に防ぐことが可能になる。
Further, the top plate portion is formed with a recess portion that is recessed toward the inner space, and the slit is formed on a bottom surface of the recess portion.
According to this configuration, when excess liquid remains on the inner surface of the top plate during printing or the like, even if the excess liquid flows toward the slit, the excess liquid is blocked by the depression. , Can stay in the inner space. Then, the surplus liquid that is blocked by the depression is later sucked from the suction port by the suction part. Thereby, it becomes possible to prevent leakage of excess liquid more reliably.
 また、前記天板部には、前記内側空間に向けて突出し、かつ前記スリットを環状に囲繞する環状突出壁が形成されていることを特徴としている。
 この構成によれば、印刷時等において、天板部の内表面に余剰液体が残存していた場合に、余剰液体がスリットに向かって流れたとしても、この余剰液体を窪み部で塞き止め、内側空間内で留まらせることができる。そして、窪み部で塞き止められた余剰液体は、後に吸引部によって吸引口から吸引される。これにより、余剰液体の漏出をより確実に防ぐことが可能になる。
Further, the top plate portion is formed with an annular protruding wall that protrudes toward the inner space and surrounds the slit in an annular shape.
According to this configuration, when excess liquid remains on the inner surface of the top plate during printing or the like, even if the excess liquid flows toward the slit, the excess liquid is blocked by the depression. , Can stay in the inner space. Then, the surplus liquid that is blocked by the depression is later sucked from the suction port by the suction part. Thereby, it becomes possible to prevent leakage of excess liquid more reliably.
 また、本発明の液体噴射記録装置は、上記本発明の液体噴射ヘッドと、前記液体噴射ヘッドに前記液体を供給し得るように構成された液体供給部と、前記吸引流路に接続されて前記内側空間を負圧室とし、前記吸引流路を介して前記噴射孔列から漏出した前記液体を吸引する前記吸引部とを具備することを特徴としている。
 この構成によれば、液体噴射ヘッドと吸引部とが別々に設けられているため、液体噴射ヘッド側に吸引部を取り付ける必要がなく、液体噴射ヘッドの構成の簡素化が可能になるとともに、液体噴射ヘッドの小型化が可能になる。
The liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention is connected to the liquid jet head of the present invention, a liquid supply unit configured to be able to supply the liquid to the liquid jet head, and the suction flow path. The inner space is a negative pressure chamber, and the suction section sucks the liquid leaked from the ejection hole array through the suction flow path.
According to this configuration, since the liquid ejecting head and the suction unit are separately provided, there is no need to attach the suction unit to the liquid ejecting head side, the configuration of the liquid ejecting head can be simplified, and the liquid The ejection head can be downsized.
 また、本発明の液体噴射記録装置は、複数の前記吸引流路が一括して前記吸引部に接続されていることを特徴としている。
 この構成によれば、各吸引流路を同一の吸引ポンプに接続することで、各吸引流路にそれぞれ吸引部を設ける場合に比べて、装置コストを低減することができる。
The liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of the suction channels are collectively connected to the suction part.
According to this configuration, by connecting each suction channel to the same suction pump, it is possible to reduce the device cost as compared with the case where the suction unit is provided in each suction channel.
 また、本発明の液体噴射記録装置は、前記液体噴射ヘッドが重力方向に沿って複数配列され、前記液体噴射ヘッドの配列方向に沿って搬送される被記録媒体に対して連続的に前記液体を噴射することを特徴としている。
 この構成によれば、上記本発明の液体噴射ヘッドを備えているため、液体噴射ヘッドの配列方向に沿って搬送される被記録媒体に対して、安定した液体を連続的に噴射していくことができる。そのため、高精度な印刷を速やかに行うことができる。
In the liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of liquid jet heads are arranged along the direction of gravity, and the liquid is continuously applied to a recording medium conveyed along the direction of arrangement of the liquid jet heads. It is characterized by spraying.
According to this configuration, since the liquid ejecting head of the present invention is provided, stable liquid is continuously ejected to the recording medium conveyed along the arrangement direction of the liquid ejecting head. Can do. Therefore, high-precision printing can be performed promptly.
 また、本発明の液体噴射記録装置は、上記解決手段を採用したいずれかの液滴噴射記録装置であって、負圧室内に溢れ出た液体を吸引することで回収し、噴射孔のそれぞれに連通する複数の圧力発生室に該液体を供給する再利用液体供給系を有する、という手段を採用する。
 この発明によれば、負圧室内に溢れ出た液体を再利用することができる。
Further, the liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention is any one of the liquid droplet jet recording apparatuses adopting the above-described solution means, wherein the liquid overflowing into the negative pressure chamber is collected by suction and is collected in each jet hole. A means of having a reuse liquid supply system for supplying the liquid to a plurality of communicating pressure generating chambers is adopted.
According to the present invention, the liquid overflowing into the negative pressure chamber can be reused.
 また、本発明の液体噴射記録装置は、上記解決手段を採用したいずれかの液滴噴射記録装置であって、再利用液体供給系に、フィルタ部もしくは脱気装置を有するという手段を採用する。
 この発明によれば、適切な状態の液体を再利用することができる。
Further, the liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention is any one of the droplet jet recording apparatuses adopting the above-described solution means, and adopts a means in which a reuse liquid supply system has a filter unit or a deaeration device.
According to the present invention, the liquid in an appropriate state can be reused.
 また、本発明の液体噴射記録装置の使用方法は、上記本発明の液体噴射記録装置の使用方法であって、前記吸引部を第1出力により動作させることで、前記内側空間を負圧室とし、前記吸引流路を介して前記噴射孔列から漏出した前記液体を吸引する液体充填モードを有することを特徴としている。 Further, the method of using the liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention is the method of using the liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention, wherein the suction space is operated by a first output, so that the inner space is a negative pressure chamber. And a liquid filling mode for sucking the liquid leaked from the ejection hole array through the suction channel.
 この構成によれば、吸引部を第1出力により動作することで、噴射体ガードの内側空間が大気圧よりも十分に負圧となった負圧室となる。この場合、液体の初期充填時や通常使用時に液体供給部から供給されて噴射孔列から漏出した余剰液体は、スリットでのみ外部と連通する負圧室に流出するとともに、負圧室外部の気体がスリットを介して負圧室に流入する。これにより、余剰液体がスリットから外部に漏出し難い状態で負圧室を移動し、吸引口から吸引流路内に吸引されて外部へと排出されるので、噴射孔列から流れ出た液体を回収することができる。 According to this configuration, by operating the suction portion with the first output, the inner space of the ejector guard becomes a negative pressure chamber in which the negative pressure is sufficiently lower than the atmospheric pressure. In this case, the excess liquid that is supplied from the liquid supply unit during initial filling of the liquid or during normal use and leaks from the injection hole array flows into the negative pressure chamber that communicates with the outside only through the slits, and the gas outside the negative pressure chamber Flows into the negative pressure chamber through the slit. As a result, the excess liquid moves in the negative pressure chamber in a state where it is difficult to leak out from the slit, and is sucked into the suction channel from the suction port and discharged to the outside. can do.
 そのため、スリットからの余剰液体の漏出を防いだ上で、液体の初期充填が可能となる。 Therefore, it is possible to initially fill the liquid while preventing leakage of excess liquid from the slit.
 また、上記本発明の液体噴射記録装置の使用方法であって、前記吸引部を第1出力により動作させることで、前記内側空間を負圧室とし、前記吸引流路を介して前記噴射孔列から漏出した前記液体を吸引する液体充填モードと、前記吸引部を前記第1出力よりも小さい第2出力によって動作させ、前記噴射孔列から被記録媒体へ前記液体を噴射して前記被記録媒体に記録を行う通常使用モードとを切替制御することを特徴としている。 Further, in the above method of using the liquid jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the jet section is formed through the suction flow path by operating the suction section with a first output so that the inner space is a negative pressure chamber. The liquid filling mode for sucking the liquid leaked from the liquid and the suction unit is operated by a second output smaller than the first output, and the liquid is ejected from the ejection hole array to the recording medium. It is characterized by switching control between the normal use mode in which recording is performed.
 この構成によれば、通常作動モードにおいて、液体充填モードよりも小さい第2出力によって吸引部を作動させておくことで、印刷時等に噴射孔から漏れ出た余剰液体や、液体充填後に噴射体ガードの内側空間に残存した余剰液体が存在した場合であっても、それら余剰液体を吸引することでスリットから余剰液体の漏出を防ぐことができる。したがって、噴射孔列を水平方向に配置して水平方向に液体を噴射し得るようにした場合であっても、サービスステーションを設けることなく、液体の初期充填から印刷までを行うことができる。 According to this configuration, in the normal operation mode, by operating the suction portion with a second output smaller than that in the liquid filling mode, surplus liquid that has leaked from the ejection holes at the time of printing or the ejector after the liquid filling Even when surplus liquid remaining in the inner space of the guard exists, leakage of the surplus liquid from the slit can be prevented by sucking the surplus liquid. Therefore, even when the ejection hole arrays are arranged in the horizontal direction so that the liquid can be ejected in the horizontal direction, it is possible to perform from the initial filling of the liquid to printing without providing a service station.
 本発明に係る液体噴射ヘッド及び液体噴射記録装置によれば、吸引口が噴射孔列よりも重力方向における下方に配置されているため、液体充填時に噴射孔列から漏出した余剰液体を効果的に吸引することができる。すなわち、噴射孔列から漏出した余剰液体が重力方向に沿って垂れるが、このような余剰液体をスリットから漏出させずに噴射体ガード内で回収することができる。したがって、噴射孔列を水平方向に配置して水平方向に液体を噴射し得るようにした場合であっても、サービスステーションを設けることなく、余剰液体を回収することができるので、装置の簡素化及び装置コストの削減を図った上で、液体の初期充填が可能となる。 According to the liquid jet head and the liquid jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, since the suction port is disposed below the jet hole row in the direction of gravity, the excess liquid leaked from the jet hole row at the time of liquid filling is effectively removed. Can be aspirated. In other words, the excess liquid leaking from the row of injection holes drips along the direction of gravity, but such excess liquid can be collected in the spray guard without leaking from the slit. Therefore, even when the injection hole array is arranged in the horizontal direction so that the liquid can be ejected in the horizontal direction, the surplus liquid can be recovered without providing a service station. In addition, the liquid can be initially filled with the apparatus cost reduced.
 また、本発明に係る液体噴射記録装置の使用方法によれば、通常作動モードにおいて、液体充填モードよりも小さい第2出力によって吸引部を作動させておくことで、印刷時等に噴射孔から漏れ出た余剰液体や、液体充填後に噴射体ガードの内側空間に残存した余剰液体が存在した場合であっても、それら余剰液体を吸引することでスリットから余剰液体の漏出を防ぐことができる。したがって、噴射孔列を水平方向に配置して水平方向に液体を噴射し得るようにした場合であっても、サービスステーションを設けることなく、液体の初期充填から印刷までを行うことができる。 Further, according to the method of using the liquid jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, in the normal operation mode, the suction portion is operated by the second output smaller than that in the liquid filling mode, thereby leaking from the jet holes during printing. Even when there is surplus liquid that has exited or surplus liquid remaining in the inner space of the ejector guard after filling the liquid, it is possible to prevent the surplus liquid from leaking out of the slit by sucking the surplus liquid. Therefore, even when the ejection hole arrays are arranged in the horizontal direction so that the liquid can be ejected in the horizontal direction, it is possible to perform from the initial filling of the liquid to printing without providing a service station.
本発明の実施形態におけるインクジェット記録装置を示す概略構成図(側面図)である。1 is a schematic configuration diagram (side view) illustrating an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 図1の要部拡大図である。It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. 本発明の第1実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッドの正面図である。It is a front view of the inkjet head in a 1st embodiment of the present invention. 本発明の第1実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッドの上面図である。FIG. 2 is a top view of the inkjet head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 図4のI-I線断面図である。It is the II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. ヘッドチップの分解斜視図である。It is a disassembled perspective view of a head chip. 吸引ポンプと加圧ポンプとの動作タイミング並びに空間(負圧室)との関係を示した図である。It is the figure which showed the relationship between the operation | movement timing of a suction pump and a pressurization pump, and space (negative pressure chamber). 初期充填時の動作を示したインクジェットヘッドの要部断面図である。It is principal part sectional drawing of the inkjet head which showed the operation | movement at the time of initial stage filling. 第2実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッドの正面図である。It is a front view of the inkjet head in 2nd Embodiment. 第2実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッドのスリットを示す拡大図である。It is an enlarged view which shows the slit of the inkjet head in 2nd Embodiment. 第2実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッドの要部断面図である。It is principal part sectional drawing of the inkjet head in 2nd Embodiment. 第3実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッドの正面図である。It is a front view of the inkjet head in 3rd Embodiment. 第3実施形態の変形例を示すインクジェットヘッドの正面図である。It is a front view of the inkjet head which shows the modification of 3rd Embodiment. 第4実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッドの正面図である。It is a front view of the inkjet head in 4th Embodiment. 第5実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッドの正面図である。It is a front view of the inkjet head in 5th Embodiment. 第6実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッドの正面図である。It is a front view of the inkjet head in 6th Embodiment. 第7実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッドの正面図である。It is a front view of the inkjet head in 7th Embodiment. 第7実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッドの要部断面図である。It is principal part sectional drawing of the inkjet head in 7th Embodiment. 本発明の他の構成を示すインクジェット記録装置の概略構成図(側面図)である。It is a schematic block diagram (side view) of the inkjet recording device which shows the other structure of this invention. 第8実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッドの要部断面図である。It is principal part sectional drawing of the inkjet head in 8th Embodiment. 第8実施形態の変形例を示すインクジェットヘッドの要部断面図である。It is principal part sectional drawing of the inkjet head which shows the modification of 8th Embodiment. 第8実施形態の変形例を示すインクジェットヘッドの要部断面図である。It is principal part sectional drawing of the inkjet head which shows the modification of 8th Embodiment.
 次に、本発明の実施形態を図面に基づいて説明する。
(第1実施形態)
 (インクジェット記録装置)
 図1は、本発明の実施形態に係るインクジェット記録装置(液体噴射記録装置)1を示す概略構成図であり、図2は、インクジェット記録装置1の概略構成図(上面図)である。なお、図2においては説明を分かりやすくするため、複数のインクジェットヘッド10のうち、一のインクジェットヘッド10のみを示し、記録紙Dが紙面奥行き方向に沿って搬送されるものとする(図2中矢印参照)。
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
(Inkjet recording device)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an ink jet recording apparatus (liquid jet recording apparatus) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram (top view) of the ink jet recording apparatus 1. In FIG. 2, for ease of explanation, only one ink jet head 10 is shown among the plurality of ink jet heads 10, and the recording paper D is conveyed along the depth direction of the paper surface (in FIG. 2). See arrow).
 図1,2に示すように、インクジェット記録装置1は、所定のパーソナルコンピュータ(不図示)に接続されており、このパーソナルコンピュータから送られた印刷データに基づいて、インク(液体)Iを吐出(噴射)して記録紙Dに印刷を施すものである。インクジェット記録装置1は、記録紙Dを搬送する搬送機構2と、複数のインクジェットヘッド(液体噴射ヘッド)10を備えるインク吐出部3と、図2に示すように、インクジェットヘッド10にインクI及びクリーニング用洗浄液Wを供給するインク供給部(液体供給部)5と、インクジェットヘッド10に接続された吸引ポンプ(吸引部)16とを備えている。また、本実施形態の記録紙Dは、インクジェット記録装置1の上部(上流側)に配置された図示しない供給源において、ロール状に巻回保持されたものであり、供給源からインクジェット記録装置1の下部(下流側)に配置された巻取り源へ搬送機構2によって連続的に搬送されるようになっている。 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is connected to a predetermined personal computer (not shown), and ejects ink (liquid) I based on print data sent from the personal computer ( The recording paper D is printed. The ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a transport mechanism 2 that transports the recording paper D, an ink discharge unit 3 that includes a plurality of ink jet heads (liquid ejecting heads) 10, and an ink I and a cleaning device on the ink jet head 10 as shown in FIG. An ink supply unit (liquid supply unit) 5 that supplies the cleaning liquid W for cleaning and a suction pump (suction unit) 16 connected to the inkjet head 10 are provided. In addition, the recording paper D of the present embodiment is wound and held in a roll shape in a supply source (not shown) disposed on the upper side (upstream side) of the inkjet recording apparatus 1, and the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is supplied from the supply source. Is continuously conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 2 to a winding source disposed at the lower part (downstream side) of the sheet.
 搬送機構2は、搬送方向(図1中矢印参照)に沿って配列された複数の搬送ローラー4a,4bを備え、これら搬送ローラー4a,4b間を架け渡すように記録紙Dが保持されている。そして、搬送ローラー4a,4bが回転することで、記録紙Dが下流側に向かって連続的に搬送されるように構成されている。具体的には、記録紙Dは、水平方向に沿って搬送された後、搬送ローラー4aを介して搬送方向が重力方向下方へ折り返され、その後搬送ローラー4bを介して再び搬送方向が水平方向になるように折り返されている。 The transport mechanism 2 includes a plurality of transport rollers 4a and 4b arranged along the transport direction (see arrows in FIG. 1), and the recording paper D is held so as to bridge between the transport rollers 4a and 4b. . And it is comprised so that the recording paper D can be continuously conveyed toward a downstream by rotating conveyance roller 4a, 4b. Specifically, after the recording paper D is transported along the horizontal direction, the transport direction is folded back downward in the direction of gravity via the transport roller 4a, and then the transport direction is again set to the horizontal direction via the transport roller 4b. It is folded to be.
 そして、これら搬送ローラー4a,4b間において、搬送方向(重力方向)に沿って上述したインクジェットヘッド10が複数(例えば、5つ)配列されている。各インクジェットヘッド10は、それぞれのケース11のインク吐出面11aを記録紙Dの表面に向けた状態で、図示しない支持部材によって支持されている。 Further, a plurality (for example, five) of the inkjet heads 10 described above are arranged along the transport direction (gravity direction) between the transport rollers 4a and 4b. Each inkjet head 10 is supported by a support member (not shown) in a state where the ink discharge surface 11a of each case 11 faces the surface of the recording paper D.
 (インクジェットヘッド)
 次に、本実施形態のインクジェットヘッド10について説明する。なお、上述した複数のインクジェットヘッド10は、それぞれ同一の構成からなるため、それらインクジェットヘッド10のうち、以下の説明では一のインクジェットヘッド10のみの構成について説明する。
(Inkjet head)
Next, the inkjet head 10 of this embodiment will be described. In addition, since the several inkjet head 10 mentioned above consists of the same structure, respectively, only the inkjet head 10 is demonstrated in the following description among these inkjet heads 10. FIG.
 図3は、インクジェットヘッド10の正面図であり、図4は、上面から見たインクジェットヘッド10の概略構成図であり、図5は、図4のI-I線断面図である。 3 is a front view of the ink jet head 10, FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the ink jet head 10 viewed from above, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG.
 インクジェットヘッド10は、図4に示すように、ケース11と、液体供給系12と、ヘッドチップ20と、駆動回路基板14(図5参照)とを備えている。 As shown in FIG. 4, the inkjet head 10 includes a case 11, a liquid supply system 12, a head chip 20, and a drive circuit board 14 (see FIG. 5).
 ケース11は、インク吐出面11aに開口部11bが形成された薄箱形状のものであり、その背面11cには内部空間に連通する貫通孔がケース11の高さ方向(重力方向)に沿って2箇所形成されている。具体的には、ケース11の上部にインク注入孔11dが、下部にインク吸引孔11eが形成されている。ケース11は、その内部空間において水平方向に沿うように固定されたベースプレート11fを備えるとともに、インクジェットヘッド10の各構成物品を収容している。また、ケース11の長手方向(水平方向)両端部には、支持部材に取り付けられる取付片11hが形成されている。これら取付片11hと支持部材とが締結固定されることで、ケース11の長手方向が水平方向に一致した状態で配置される。 The case 11 has a thin box shape in which an opening 11b is formed on the ink discharge surface 11a, and a through hole communicating with the internal space is formed along the height direction (gravity direction) of the case 11 on the back surface 11c. Two places are formed. Specifically, an ink injection hole 11d is formed in the upper part of the case 11, and an ink suction hole 11e is formed in the lower part. The case 11 includes a base plate 11f fixed along the horizontal direction in the internal space, and accommodates each component of the inkjet head 10. In addition, attachment pieces 11 h that are attached to the support member are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction (horizontal direction) of the case 11. The attachment pieces 11h and the support member are fastened and fixed, so that the case 11 is arranged in a state where the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with the horizontal direction.
 液体供給系12は、インク注入孔11dを介してインク供給部5と連通したものであり、ダンパー17と、インク流路基板18とから概略構成されている。 The liquid supply system 12 communicates with the ink supply unit 5 through the ink injection hole 11d, and is roughly configured by a damper 17 and an ink flow path substrate 18.
 ダンパー17は、図5に示すように、インクIの圧力変動を調整するためのものであり、インクIを貯留する貯留室17aを備えている。このダンパー17は、ベースプレート11fに固定されており、インク注入孔11dと管部材17dとを介して接続されるインク取込孔17bと、インク流路基板18と管部材17eを介して接続されるインク流出孔17cとを備えている。 As shown in FIG. 5, the damper 17 is for adjusting the pressure fluctuation of the ink I, and includes a storage chamber 17 a for storing the ink I. The damper 17 is fixed to the base plate 11f, and is connected to the ink intake hole 17b connected via the ink injection hole 11d and the pipe member 17d, and via the ink flow path substrate 18 and the pipe member 17e. And an ink outflow hole 17c.
 インク流路基板18は、図4,5に示すように、その内部にダンパー17と連通してインクIが流通する流通路18aが形成された部材であり、ヘッドチップ20に取り付けられている。 As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ink flow path substrate 18 is a member in which a flow passage 18 a that communicates with the damper 17 and through which the ink I flows is formed, and is attached to the head chip 20.
 駆動回路基板14は、図5に示すように、図示しない制御回路と、フレキシブル基板14aとを備えている。この駆動回路基板14は、フレキシブル基板14aの一端が後述の板状電極(不図示)に、他端が駆動回路基板14上の図示しない制御回路に接合されることで、印刷パターンに応じてセラミック圧電プレート21に電圧を印加する。この駆動回路基板14は、ベースプレート11fに固定されている。 As shown in FIG. 5, the drive circuit board 14 includes a control circuit (not shown) and a flexible board 14a. The drive circuit board 14 has a flexible substrate 14a having one end joined to a plate electrode (not shown) described later and the other end joined to a control circuit (not shown) on the drive circuit board 14 so that a ceramic is formed according to the print pattern. A voltage is applied to the piezoelectric plate 21. The drive circuit board 14 is fixed to the base plate 11f.
 (ヘッドチップ)
 図6は、ヘッドチップ20の分解斜視図である。
 ヘッドチップ20は、図6に示すように、セラミック圧電プレート21と、インク室プレート22と、ノズル体23と、ノズルガード(噴射体ガード)24とを備えている。
(Head chip)
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the head chip 20.
As shown in FIG. 6, the head chip 20 includes a ceramic piezoelectric plate 21, an ink chamber plate 22, a nozzle body 23, and a nozzle guard (ejecting body guard) 24.
 セラミック圧電プレート21は、PZT(チタン酸ジルコン酸鉛)からなる略矩形板状の部材であり、二つの板面21a、21bのうち一方の板面21aに複数の長溝26が並設されて、各長溝26が側壁27で隔離されている。 The ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member made of PZT (lead zirconate titanate), and a plurality of long grooves 26 are juxtaposed on one plate surface 21a of the two plate surfaces 21a and 21b. Each long groove 26 is separated by a side wall 27.
 長溝26は、セラミック圧電プレート21の短手方向に延設されており、セラミック圧電プレート21の長手方向の全長に亘って複数並設されている。側壁27は、セラミック圧電プレート21の長手方向に亘って複数並設されて、長溝26をそれぞれ区分けしている。これら各側壁27の両壁面における長溝26開口側(板面21a側)には、セラミック圧電プレート21の短手方向に亘って駆動電圧印加用の板状電極(不図示)が延設されている。この板状電極には、上述したようにフレキシブル基板14aが接合されている。 The long grooves 26 extend in the short direction of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21, and a plurality of the long grooves 26 are arranged in parallel over the entire length of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of side walls 27 are juxtaposed along the longitudinal direction of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 to divide the long grooves 26. A plate-like electrode (not shown) for applying a driving voltage is extended over the short groove direction of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 on the opening side (plate surface 21a side) of the long groove 26 on both wall surfaces of each side wall 27. . As described above, the flexible substrate 14a is joined to the plate electrode.
 このようなセラミック圧電プレート21は、図5に示すように、板面21bのうち後側面側がベースプレート11fの縁部に固定されており、長溝26の延在方向を開口部11bに向けている。 As shown in FIG. 5, such a ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 has a rear surface side of the plate surface 21b fixed to the edge of the base plate 11f, and the extending direction of the long groove 26 faces the opening 11b.
 また、インク室プレート22は、セラミック圧電プレート21と同様に略矩形板状の部材であり、セラミック圧電プレート21の寸法と比較して、長手方向の寸法が略同一に、短手方向の寸法が短く形成されている。このインク室プレート22は、厚さ方向に貫通し、かつ、インク室プレート22の長手方向に亘って形成された開放孔22cを備えている。 Further, the ink chamber plate 22 is a substantially rectangular plate-like member like the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21, and the longitudinal dimension is substantially the same as the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21, and the lateral dimension is the same. It is short. The ink chamber plate 22 includes an open hole 22 c that penetrates in the thickness direction and is formed along the longitudinal direction of the ink chamber plate 22.
 インク室プレート22は、前側面22aがセラミック圧電プレート21の前側面21cと同一平面となる突合わせ面25aを構成するように、板面21a側からセラミック圧電プレート21に接合されている。この接合状態においては、開放孔22cがセラミック圧電プレート21の複数の長溝26を全体に亘って露出させて、全ての長溝26を外方に開放し、各長溝26がそれぞれ連通した状態になっている。 The ink chamber plate 22 is joined to the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 from the plate surface 21a side so that the front side 22a constitutes a butting surface 25a that is flush with the front side 21c of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21. In this bonded state, the open holes 22c expose the plurality of long grooves 26 of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21, and all the long grooves 26 are opened outward, and the long grooves 26 are in communication with each other. Yes.
 インク室プレート22には、図5に示すように、開放孔22cを覆うようにしてインク流路基板18が装着され、インク流路基板18の流通路18aと各長溝26とが連通している。 As shown in FIG. 5, the ink flow path substrate 18 is attached to the ink chamber plate 22 so as to cover the open hole 22c, and the flow path 18a of the ink flow path substrate 18 and each long groove 26 communicate with each other. .
 ノズル体23は、図5に示すように、ノズルプレート31がノズルキャップ32に貼着されることにより構成されている。 The nozzle body 23 is configured by sticking a nozzle plate 31 to a nozzle cap 32 as shown in FIG.
 ノズルプレート31は、図6に示すように、ポリイミドからなる薄板状(例えば、厚さ50μm程度)、かつ、細長状の部材であり、厚さ方向に貫通する複数のノズル孔31aが列設してノズル列31cを構成している。より具体的には、長溝26と同数のノズル孔31aが、ノズルプレート31の短手方向中間の位置において同一線上に、かつ、長溝26と同一の間隔で形成されている。なお、ノズルプレート31の二つの板面のうち、インクIを吐出する吐出口31bが開口する板面には、インクの付着等を防止するための撥水性を有する撥水膜が塗布されており、他方の板面は上記突合わせ面25a及びノズルキャップ32との接合面とされている。 As shown in FIG. 6, the nozzle plate 31 is a thin plate made of polyimide (for example, about 50 μm thick) and an elongated member, and a plurality of nozzle holes 31a penetrating in the thickness direction are arranged in a row. The nozzle row 31c is configured. More specifically, the same number of nozzle holes 31 a as the long grooves 26 are formed on the same line at the middle position in the short direction of the nozzle plate 31 and at the same intervals as the long grooves 26. Of the two plate surfaces of the nozzle plate 31, a water repellent film having water repellency for preventing adhesion of ink and the like is applied to the plate surface where the discharge port 31 b for discharging the ink I opens. The other plate surface is a joint surface between the butting surface 25 a and the nozzle cap 32.
 なお、ノズル孔31aは、エキシマレーザ装置を用いて形成されている。
 図5,6に示すように、ノズルキャップ32は、枠板状の部材が有する二つの枠面のうち一方の枠面の外周縁を削り取ったような形状の部材であって、薄板状となった外枠部32aと、外枠部32aの内側において、外枠部32aよりも厚く形成された中枠部32bと、中枠部32bよりも薄く形成された内枠部32cと、内枠部32cの短手方向中間部において厚さ方向に貫通するとともに、長手方向(水平方向)に延在する長孔32dとで構成されている。
The nozzle hole 31a is formed using an excimer laser device.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the nozzle cap 32 is a thin plate-like member having a shape obtained by scraping the outer peripheral edge of one of the two frame surfaces of the frame plate-like member. The outer frame portion 32a, the inner frame portion 32b formed thicker than the outer frame portion 32a, the inner frame portion 32c formed thinner than the inner frame portion 32b, and the inner frame portion inside the outer frame portion 32a The long hole 32d extends in the longitudinal direction (horizontal direction) while penetrating in the thickness direction at the intermediate portion in the short direction of 32c.
 外枠部32aは、中枠部32b及び内枠部32cに比べて薄く形成され、ノズルキャップ32における外周縁の全周に亘って鍔状に形成されている。 The outer frame portion 32a is formed thinner than the middle frame portion 32b and the inner frame portion 32c, and is formed in a bowl shape over the entire outer periphery of the nozzle cap 32.
 中枠部32bは、内枠部32cの短手方向両側に一対形成され、内枠部32cよりも厚さ方向に沿って突出した状態で、ノズルキャップ32の長手方向に沿って互いに平行に延在している。そして、ノズルキャップ32の長手方向両側には、中枠部32bの両端を架け渡すように、中枠部32bよりも厚さ方向に薄く形成された段差部32kが形成されている。 A pair of middle frame portions 32b are formed on both sides in the short direction of the inner frame portion 32c, and extend in parallel with each other along the longitudinal direction of the nozzle cap 32 in a state of projecting along the thickness direction from the inner frame portion 32c. Exist. On both sides in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle cap 32, step portions 32k are formed that are thinner in the thickness direction than the middle frame portion 32b so as to bridge both ends of the middle frame portion 32b.
 また、中枠部32bと内枠部32cとの間には、内枠面32eよりも厚さ方向に切り込まれた溝部32fが形成されている。この溝部32fは、内枠部32cの全周を囲むように形成されている。そして、ノズルキャップ32の長手方向に沿う溝部32fの底部32gには、厚さ方向に貫通する排出孔32hが形成されている。この排出孔32hは、長孔32dの長手方向中央部おいて、長孔32dに対して重力方向下方に配置されている。 Further, a groove 32f cut in the thickness direction from the inner frame surface 32e is formed between the middle frame portion 32b and the inner frame portion 32c. The groove 32f is formed so as to surround the entire circumference of the inner frame portion 32c. A discharge hole 32h penetrating in the thickness direction is formed in the bottom 32g of the groove 32f along the longitudinal direction of the nozzle cap 32. The discharge hole 32h is arranged below the long hole 32d in the gravity direction at the longitudinal center of the long hole 32d.
 そして、内枠面32e上には、長孔32dを塞ぐようにノズルプレート31が貼付されており、外枠部32aの外枠面32iには、ノズルガード24の環状端部24dが当接している。 The nozzle plate 31 is stuck on the inner frame surface 32e so as to close the long hole 32d, and the annular end portion 24d of the nozzle guard 24 is in contact with the outer frame surface 32i of the outer frame portion 32a. Yes.
 このようなノズル体23は、ノズルキャップ32の排出孔32hが長手方向中央部に位置するように(図3参照)、ケース11の内部空間に収容され、ケース11及びベースプレート11fに固定されている(図5参照)。 Such a nozzle body 23 is accommodated in the internal space of the case 11 and fixed to the case 11 and the base plate 11f so that the discharge hole 32h of the nozzle cap 32 is located at the center in the longitudinal direction (see FIG. 3). (See FIG. 5).
 この状態においては、長孔32dにセラミック圧電プレート21及びインク室プレート22の一部が挿入されて、ノズルプレート31に突合わせ面25aが突き合わされている。 In this state, a part of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 and the ink chamber plate 22 is inserted into the long hole 32d, and the butting surface 25a is butted against the nozzle plate 31.
 なお、上述した長孔32dにセラミック圧電プレート21とインク室プレート22の一部を挿入する際、及びその接合体にノズルプレート31を接着する際の工程では、接着剤を用いて固定する。この接着固定工程において、接着剤が微量しか貼付されていない場合は、接着不良を生じる可能性があるため、十分に接着できる接着剤の量をもって接着を実施している。さらにこの場合、例えば余剰な接着剤が長溝26の内部に流れ込むと、長溝26の体積が小さくなるため、吐出することができるインク量が少なくなってしまうことや、吐出不良をおこしてしまう可能性がある。そのような場合を回避する構成として、本実施形態におけるノズルキャップ32の長孔32d開口縁には、図5及び6に示すように、接着剤流動溝32jが設けられている。なお、この接着剤流動溝32jはノズルキャップ32、セラミック圧電プレート21、インク室プレート22及びノズルプレート31がそれぞれ接合される合致位置であるため、この構成を採用することによって、効果的に余剰な接着剤を除去することができる。ただし、接着剤流動溝32jは必ず設けなければならない溝部ではなく、設けない構成としても構わない。 In addition, when inserting a part of the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 and the ink chamber plate 22 into the long hole 32d described above, and when bonding the nozzle plate 31 to the joined body, it is fixed using an adhesive. In this bonding and fixing step, if only a small amount of adhesive is applied, there is a possibility that bonding failure may occur. Therefore, bonding is performed with an amount of adhesive that can be sufficiently bonded. Further, in this case, for example, if excessive adhesive flows into the long groove 26, the volume of the long groove 26 is reduced, so that the amount of ink that can be discharged may be reduced or a discharge failure may occur. There is. As a configuration to avoid such a case, an adhesive flow groove 32j is provided at the opening edge of the long hole 32d of the nozzle cap 32 in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. Since the adhesive flow groove 32j is a matching position where the nozzle cap 32, the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21, the ink chamber plate 22, and the nozzle plate 31 are joined, it is possible to effectively surplus by adopting this configuration. The adhesive can be removed. However, the adhesive flow groove 32j is not necessarily a groove portion that must be provided, and may be configured not to be provided.
 このような構成により、ダンパー17内の貯留室17aから所定量のインクIがインク流路基板18に供給されると、この供給されたインクIが開放孔22cを介して、長溝26内に送り込まれるようになっている。 With such a configuration, when a predetermined amount of ink I is supplied from the storage chamber 17a in the damper 17 to the ink flow path substrate 18, the supplied ink I is sent into the long groove 26 through the opening hole 22c. It is supposed to be.
 (ノズルガード)
 図4~6に示すように、ノズルガード24は、ステンレス鋼等からなる略箱型形状の部材でありプレス成形で形成されたものある。このノズルガード24は、矩形板状に形成された天板部24aと、この天板部24aの周縁部から板面方向と略直交する方向に延出した周壁部24bとを備えている。
(Nozzle guard)
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the nozzle guard 24 is a substantially box-shaped member made of stainless steel or the like, and is formed by press molding. The nozzle guard 24 includes a top plate portion 24a formed in a rectangular plate shape, and a peripheral wall portion 24b extending from the peripheral portion of the top plate portion 24a in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plate surface direction.
 天板部24aは、その短手方向中間部において長手方向に延在したスリット24cを備えている。このスリット24cは、ノズル列31cの長さよりも多少長く形成されている。 The top plate portion 24a includes a slit 24c extending in the longitudinal direction at the middle portion in the short direction. The slit 24c is formed to be slightly longer than the length of the nozzle row 31c.
 スリット24cの幅Q(重力方向における幅)は、ノズル孔31aのノズル径40μmに対して幅寸法が約1.5mmに設定されている。この場合、ノズル列31cはスリット24cの幅方向中央に配置されることになり、重力方向においてノズル孔31aの中心より上方のスリット24cの幅と、下方のスリット24cの幅とが同一に設定されている。なお、スリット24cの幅Qの寸法は、吸引ポンプ16で負圧とすることができる幅寸法を上限とし、インクIの初期充填の際にインクIがスリット24cから溢れ出て垂れない幅寸法を下限とした範囲で設定するのが望ましい。 The width Q (width in the direction of gravity) of the slit 24c is set to about 1.5 mm with respect to the nozzle diameter of 40 μm of the nozzle hole 31a. In this case, the nozzle row 31c is arranged at the center in the width direction of the slit 24c, and the width of the slit 24c above the center of the nozzle hole 31a and the width of the lower slit 24c in the gravitational direction are set to be the same. ing. The width Q of the slit 24c is limited to a width that can be set to a negative pressure by the suction pump 16, and the width that prevents the ink I from overflowing from the slit 24c during the initial filling of the ink I. It is desirable to set in the range set as the lower limit.
 このノズルガード24は、図6に示すように、内方に面する内表面24eにチタンコーティングによる親水膜24gが形成されており、この内表面24eと背向する外表面24fと、スリット24cの内面にフッ素樹脂コーティングやテフロン(登録商標)メッキによる撥水膜24hが形成されている。 As shown in FIG. 6, the nozzle guard 24 has a hydrophilic film 24g formed of titanium coating on an inner surface 24e facing inward, and an outer surface 24f facing away from the inner surface 24e and slits 24c. A water repellent film 24h is formed on the inner surface by fluorine resin coating or Teflon (registered trademark) plating.
 ここで、ノズルガード24は、天板部24aがノズルキャップ32の中枠部32b、内枠部32c、溝部32f及び排出孔32hをノズル孔31aの開口方向前方から覆うように配置されている。また、ノズルガード24は、周壁部24bの長手方向に沿う内表面24eが中枠部32bの外側面に当接するとともに、幅方向に沿う内表面24eが段差部32kの外側面に当接している。そして、環状端部24dが外枠面32iと接着剤で接着されることにより、ノズルガード24はノズルキャップ32に被着されている。 Here, the nozzle guard 24 is arranged such that the top plate portion 24a covers the middle frame portion 32b, the inner frame portion 32c, the groove portion 32f, and the discharge hole 32h of the nozzle cap 32 from the front in the opening direction of the nozzle hole 31a. In the nozzle guard 24, the inner surface 24e along the longitudinal direction of the peripheral wall portion 24b contacts the outer surface of the middle frame portion 32b, and the inner surface 24e along the width direction contacts the outer surface of the step portion 32k. . The nozzle guard 24 is attached to the nozzle cap 32 by bonding the annular end 24d to the outer frame surface 32i with an adhesive.
 この状態においては、スリット24cがノズル列31cと対向するとともに、排出孔32hと対向しないようになっている。そして、ノズルガード24の内側空間、具体的にはノズルガード24とノズルキャップ32との間の空間は、ノズル孔31a及びスリット24cが開口する内側空間Sを構成している。なお、ノズルガード24は、天板部24aとノズルプレート31との距離を、吸引ポンプ16で負圧とすることができる距離を上限とし、インクIの初期充填の際にインクIがスリット24cから溢れ出ない距離を下限とした範囲で設定するのが望ましい。 In this state, the slit 24c faces the nozzle row 31c and does not face the discharge hole 32h. The inner space of the nozzle guard 24, specifically, the space between the nozzle guard 24 and the nozzle cap 32 constitutes an inner space S in which the nozzle holes 31a and the slits 24c are opened. The nozzle guard 24 sets the distance between the top plate portion 24a and the nozzle plate 31 to the upper limit of the distance at which the suction pump 16 can make a negative pressure. It is desirable to set the distance within a range that does not overflow.
 ここで、上述したノズルキャップ32の排出孔32h内には、吸引流路15が嵌挿されている。これら吸引流路15は、チューブ管形状のものであり、排出孔32hに嵌挿された状態で固定され、その外周面が中枠部32bの内側面に当接している。すなわち、吸引流路15の外周面は、ノズルガード24の空間Sにおける最下面に当接している。そして、吸引流路15は、ノズルキャップ32から天板部24aに向かって水平方向に沿って延出している。具体的には、吸引流路15は、その先端の吸引口15aがノズルキャップ32の底部32gから突出しており、さらには上面視(図4参照)でノズルプレート31よりもノズルガード24の天板部24a側に突出している。したがって、吸引流路15は、ノズル列31cの配列方向中央部であって、ノズル列31cよりも重力方向下方に、吸引口15aの開口方向が水平方向を向いた状態で配置されている。一方、吸引流路15の他端は、背面11cのインク吸引孔11eに接続されている。すなわち、吸引口15aを介して吸引流路15と空間Sとが連通している。 Here, the suction channel 15 is inserted into the discharge hole 32h of the nozzle cap 32 described above. These suction flow paths 15 are tube-tube-shaped, are fixed in a state of being inserted into the discharge holes 32h, and the outer peripheral surfaces thereof are in contact with the inner side surfaces of the middle frame portion 32b. That is, the outer peripheral surface of the suction channel 15 is in contact with the lowermost surface in the space S of the nozzle guard 24. The suction channel 15 extends from the nozzle cap 32 toward the top plate portion 24a along the horizontal direction. Specifically, the suction channel 15 has a suction port 15a at the tip thereof protruding from the bottom 32g of the nozzle cap 32. Furthermore, the top plate of the nozzle guard 24 than the nozzle plate 31 in a top view (see FIG. 4). It protrudes to the part 24a side. Therefore, the suction flow path 15 is arranged at the center in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c and below the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction, with the opening direction of the suction port 15a facing the horizontal direction. On the other hand, the other end of the suction channel 15 is connected to the ink suction hole 11e on the back surface 11c. That is, the suction flow path 15 and the space S communicate with each other through the suction port 15a.
 また、吸引ポンプ16は、それぞれインク吸引孔11eにチューブ62を介して接続されている。これら吸引ポンプ16は、作動時に、空間S内の空気及びインクIを吸引して、空間Sをそれぞれ負圧室Rとするものである。なお、吸引ポンプ16は、廃液タンクE(図2参照)に吸引したインクIを貯留する。また吸引ポンプ16は、インクジェットヘッド10に搭載されていても構わないし、本実施形態のように別途インクジェット記録装置として装置側に具備されていても構わない。本実施形態では、装置側に吸引ポンプ16が設けられているため、インクジェットヘッド10側に吸引ポンプ16を取り付ける必要がなく、インクジェットヘッド10の構成の簡素化が可能になるとともに、インクジェットヘッド10の小型化が可能になる。 The suction pumps 16 are connected to the ink suction holes 11e through tubes 62, respectively. During operation, these suction pumps 16 suck air and ink I in the space S, and make the spaces S into negative pressure chambers R, respectively. The suction pump 16 stores the sucked ink I in the waste liquid tank E (see FIG. 2). The suction pump 16 may be mounted on the inkjet head 10 or may be separately provided on the apparatus side as an inkjet recording apparatus as in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, since the suction pump 16 is provided on the apparatus side, it is not necessary to attach the suction pump 16 to the inkjet head 10 side, the configuration of the inkjet head 10 can be simplified, and the inkjet head 10 can be simplified. Miniaturization is possible.
 図2に戻って、インク供給部5は、インクIが貯留されたインクタンク51と、洗浄液Wが貯留された洗浄液タンク52と、二つの流路を切替可能な切替バルブ53と、インクI又は洗浄液Wをインクジェットヘッド10に加圧供給する加圧ポンプ54と、流路を開閉可能な開閉バルブ55とを備えている。 Returning to FIG. 2, the ink supply unit 5 includes an ink tank 51 in which the ink I is stored, a cleaning liquid tank 52 in which the cleaning liquid W is stored, a switching valve 53 that can switch between two flow paths, and the ink I or A pressurizing pump 54 that pressurizes and supplies the cleaning liquid W to the inkjet head 10 and an open / close valve 55 that can open and close the flow path are provided.
 インクタンク51は、供給管57a、切替バルブ53及び供給管57cを介して、洗浄液タンク52は、供給管57b、切替バルブ53及び供給管57cを介してそれぞれ加圧ポンプ54に連通している。すなわち、切替バルブ53は、流入管として供給管57a,57bが、流出管として供給管57cが接続されている。 The ink tank 51 communicates with the pressurizing pump 54 via the supply pipe 57a, the switching valve 53 and the supply pipe 57c, and the cleaning liquid tank 52 communicates with the pressure pump 54 via the supply pipe 57b, the switching valve 53 and the supply pipe 57c, respectively. That is, the switching valve 53 is connected to the supply pipes 57a and 57b as inflow pipes and the supply pipe 57c as outflow pipes.
 加圧ポンプ54は、供給管57cが接続されると共に供給管57dを介してインクジェットヘッド10に連通しており、供給管57cから流入したインクI又は洗浄液Wをインクジェットヘッド10に供給する。この加圧ポンプ54は、非作動時には流体が流れないように構成されたものであり、開閉弁的な機能を有するものである。 The pressurization pump 54 is connected to the inkjet head 10 through the supply pipe 57d and connected to the inkjet head 10 through the supply pipe 57d, and supplies the ink I or the cleaning liquid W flowing from the supply pipe 57c to the inkjet head 10. The pressurizing pump 54 is configured so that fluid does not flow when not in operation, and has a function of an on-off valve.
 開閉バルブ55は、供給管57cに連通し流入管となる供給管57eと、供給管57dに連通し流出管となる供給管57fとが接続されている。すなわち、この開閉バルブ55を開とすると供給管57e,57fが加圧ポンプ54のバイパス管として機能するようになっている。
 次に、上述した構成からなるインクジェット記録装置1の動作について説明する。
The open / close valve 55 is connected to a supply pipe 57e that communicates with the supply pipe 57c and serves as an inflow pipe, and a supply pipe 57f that communicates with the supply pipe 57d and serves as an outflow pipe. That is, when the opening / closing valve 55 is opened, the supply pipes 57e and 57f function as bypass pipes for the pressure pump 54.
Next, the operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration will be described.
 (インク初期充填)
 図7は、吸引ポンプ16と加圧ポンプ54との動作タイミング並びに空間S(負圧室R)との関係を示した図であり、図8は初期充填時の動作を示したインクジェットヘッド10の要部拡大断面図である。
(Ink initial filling)
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the operation timing of the suction pump 16 and the pressure pump 54 and the space S (negative pressure chamber R). FIG. 8 is a diagram of the inkjet head 10 illustrating the operation during initial filling. It is a principal part expanded sectional view.
 まず、図4,7に示すように、インクジェットヘッド10の吸引ポンプ16を作動させ(ON1)、吸引ポンプ16が吸引流路15を介して吸引口15aから空間Sの空気を吸引する(図7における時間T0)。この際、作動する吸引ポンプ16の出力は、空間S内を十分に負圧とすることができる程度に設定することが好ましく、このときの出力を吸引ポンプ16の充填出力とする。吸引ポンプ16を充填出力(第1出力)で作動させると、外部の空気がスリット24cから空間Sに流入するが、この空気が空間Sを経由してから吸引口15aに達した後に吸引されることで空間Sが減圧される(液体充填モード)。そして、所定時間T1経過後に、空間Sが大気圧よりも十分に負圧となった負圧室Rとなる。 First, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the suction pump 16 of the inkjet head 10 is operated (ON1), and the suction pump 16 sucks the air in the space S from the suction port 15a via the suction flow path 15 (FIG. 7). At time T0). At this time, the output of the operating suction pump 16 is preferably set to such an extent that the space S can be made sufficiently negative, and the output at this time is set as the filling output of the suction pump 16. When the suction pump 16 is operated at the filling output (first output), external air flows into the space S from the slit 24c, and this air is sucked after reaching the suction port 15a after passing through the space S. Thus, the space S is depressurized (liquid filling mode). Then, after the predetermined time T1 has elapsed, the space S becomes the negative pressure chamber R in which the negative pressure is sufficiently lower than the atmospheric pressure.
 空間Sが負圧室Rとなった後、インク供給部5がインクIをインクジェットヘッド10に加圧充填する(図7における時間T2)。この際、インク供給部5は、以下のように設定されている。すなわち、図2に示すように、切替バルブ53により供給管57aと供給管57cとを連通させた状態とし、開閉バルブ55を閉塞させて供給管57eと供給管57fとを遮断する。この状態において加圧ポンプ54を作動させる。加圧ポンプ54は、インクタンク51から供給管57a,57c,57dを介してインクジェットヘッド10のインク注入孔11dにインクIを注入する。 After the space S becomes the negative pressure chamber R, the ink supply unit 5 pressurizes and fills the inkjet head 10 with the ink I (time T2 in FIG. 7). At this time, the ink supply unit 5 is set as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the supply pipe 57a and the supply pipe 57c are brought into communication with each other by the switching valve 53, the open / close valve 55 is closed, and the supply pipe 57e and the supply pipe 57f are shut off. In this state, the pressurizing pump 54 is operated. The pressure pump 54 injects the ink I from the ink tank 51 into the ink injection hole 11d of the inkjet head 10 through the supply pipes 57a, 57c, and 57d.
 インク注入孔11dに注入されたインクIは、図4,5に示すように、ダンパー17のインク取込孔17bを介して貯留室17aに流入した後に、インク流出孔17cを介してインク流路基板18の流通路18aに流出する。そして、流通路18aに流入したインクIが開放孔22cを介して各長溝26内に流入する。 As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ink I injected into the ink injection hole 11 d flows into the storage chamber 17 a through the ink intake hole 17 b of the damper 17, and then flows through the ink outlet hole 17 c. It flows out to the flow passage 18a of the substrate 18. And the ink I which flowed into the flow path 18a flows in into each long groove | channel 26 via the open hole 22c.
 各長溝26に流入したインクIは、ノズル孔31a側に流れてノズル孔31aに達した後、図8(a)に示すように、余剰インクYとなってノズル孔31aから流出する。流出した余剰インクYは、ノズルプレート31上を重力方向下方に向かって流れる。そして、重力方向下方に向かって流れる余剰インクYは、吸引ポンプ16により吸引されることで、ノズルキャップ32の溝部32f内やノズルプレート31上を重力方向下方に向かって流れて吸引口15aまで到達する。吸引口15aに到達した余剰インクYは、吸引流路15内に吸引されて廃液タンクEへと排出されていく。 The ink I flowing into each long groove 26 flows to the nozzle hole 31a side, reaches the nozzle hole 31a, and then flows out from the nozzle hole 31a as excess ink Y as shown in FIG. The surplus ink Y that has flowed out flows downward on the nozzle plate 31 in the direction of gravity. The surplus ink Y that flows downward in the gravitational direction is sucked by the suction pump 16, and flows in the groove 32f of the nozzle cap 32 and on the nozzle plate 31 downward in the gravitational direction to reach the suction port 15a. To do. The surplus ink Y that has reached the suction port 15 a is sucked into the suction channel 15 and discharged to the waste liquid tank E.
 また、図8(b)に示すように、負圧室R内の余剰インクYが大量になり、余剰インクYがスリット24c近傍まで達しても、余剰インクYは上述と同様に吸引口15aから吸引流路15に吸引されて、廃液タンクEへと排出されていく。 Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, even if the surplus ink Y in the negative pressure chamber R becomes large and the surplus ink Y reaches the vicinity of the slit 24c, the surplus ink Y passes through the suction port 15a as described above. It is sucked into the suction channel 15 and discharged to the waste liquid tank E.
 なお、余剰インクYが、ノズルプレート31上だけではなく、ノズルガード24の内表面24e上を流れたとしても、スリット24cから負圧室Rに継続して空気が流入しており、余剰インクYがスリット24cから外部に流出し難い。仮に、スリット24c近傍の内表面24eを流れる余剰インクYの量が局部的に多くなり、この余剰インクYの一部がスリット24cから流入する空気に抗して外表面24f近傍まで達しても、外表面24fに形成された撥水膜24hに弾かれる。この弾かれたインクIは、内表面24eに形成された親水膜24gに誘導されて再び負圧室Rに戻される。 Even if the surplus ink Y flows not only on the nozzle plate 31 but also on the inner surface 24e of the nozzle guard 24, air continuously flows from the slit 24c into the negative pressure chamber R, and the surplus ink Y Is difficult to flow out from the slit 24c. Even if the amount of excess ink Y flowing locally on the inner surface 24e in the vicinity of the slit 24c increases locally and a part of this excess ink Y reaches the vicinity of the outer surface 24f against the air flowing in from the slit 24c, It is repelled by the water repellent film 24h formed on the outer surface 24f. The repelled ink I is guided to the hydrophilic film 24g formed on the inner surface 24e and returned to the negative pressure chamber R again.
 このようにして、ノズル孔31aから流出する余剰インクYを連続して廃液タンクEに排出する。 In this way, the surplus ink Y flowing out from the nozzle hole 31a is continuously discharged to the waste liquid tank E.
 図7に示すように、所定時間T3経過後に加圧ポンプ54を停止して、インクIの加圧充填を終了する。加圧ポンプ54の停止に伴いノズル孔31aから余剰インクYが流出しなくなり、負圧室Rに残存している余剰インクYが吸引口15aを介して廃液タンクEに排出される。 As shown in FIG. 7, the pressurization pump 54 is stopped after a predetermined time T3, and the pressurization and filling of the ink I is completed. As the pressurizing pump 54 stops, the surplus ink Y does not flow out from the nozzle hole 31a, and the surplus ink Y remaining in the negative pressure chamber R is discharged to the waste liquid tank E through the suction port 15a.
 そして、所定時間T4経過後に吸引ポンプ16を停止させる。インクIの充填完了後には、図8(c)に示すように、長溝26にインクIが充填された状態となる。
 (印刷時)
 続いて、記録紙Dに印刷を施す場合の動作について説明する。最初にインク供給部5の設定について説明する。すなわち、図2に示すように、切替バルブ53により供給管57aと供給管57cとを連通させた状態とし、開閉バルブ55を開放させて供給管57eと供給管57fとを連通させる。この状態において加圧ポンプ54を非作動として、加圧ポンプ54を介して供給管57cと供給管57dとを連通させないようになっている。この状態においては、インクIが供給管57a,57c,57e,57f,57dを介して、インクジェットヘッド10のインク注入孔11dに注入されるようになっている。
And the suction pump 16 is stopped after predetermined time T4 progress. After the completion of the filling of the ink I, as shown in FIG. 8C, the long groove 26 is filled with the ink I.
(When printing)
Next, the operation when printing is performed on the recording paper D will be described. First, the setting of the ink supply unit 5 will be described. In other words, as shown in FIG. 2, the supply pipe 57a and the supply pipe 57c are brought into communication with each other by the switching valve 53, and the open / close valve 55 is opened to connect the supply pipe 57e and the supply pipe 57f. In this state, the pressurization pump 54 is inactivated, and the supply pipe 57c and the supply pipe 57d are not communicated with each other via the pressurization pump 54. In this state, the ink I is injected into the ink injection hole 11d of the inkjet head 10 through the supply pipes 57a, 57c, 57e, 57f, and 57d.
 インク供給部5を上記のように設定した状態で搬送機構2を駆動して(図1参照)、記録紙Dを下流側に向けて搬送するとともに、搬送される記録紙Dが各インクジェットヘッド10前を通過する際、つまり、ノズルプレート31(ノズル孔31a)の前を通過する際、インク吐出部3が記録紙Dの表面に向けてインク滴を吐出する。 The transport mechanism 2 is driven with the ink supply unit 5 set as described above (see FIG. 1), and the recording paper D is transported toward the downstream side. When passing in front, that is, when passing in front of the nozzle plate 31 (nozzle hole 31 a), the ink ejection unit 3 ejects ink droplets toward the surface of the recording paper D.
 具体的には、外部のパーソナルコンピュータから入力された印刷データに基づいて、駆動回路基板14がこの印刷データに対応した所定の板状電極に選択的に電圧を印加する。これにより、この板状電極に対応した長溝26の容積が縮小し、長溝26内に充填されたインクIが吐出口31bから記録紙Dに向かって水平方向に沿って吐出される。 Specifically, based on print data input from an external personal computer, the drive circuit board 14 selectively applies a voltage to a predetermined plate electrode corresponding to the print data. As a result, the volume of the long groove 26 corresponding to the plate electrode is reduced, and the ink I filled in the long groove 26 is discharged from the discharge port 31b toward the recording paper D along the horizontal direction.
 インクIを吐出すると長溝26が負圧になるため、上述した供給管57a,57c,57e,57f,57dを介して、インクIが長溝26に充填される。 When the ink I is ejected, the long groove 26 becomes negative pressure, so the ink I is filled into the long groove 26 through the supply pipes 57a, 57c, 57e, 57f, and 57d.
 このようにして、インクジェットヘッド10のセラミック圧電プレート21を画像データに応じて駆動させ、ノズル孔31aからインク滴を吐出して記録紙Dに着弾させる。このように、記録紙Dを移動させつつインクジェットヘッド10からインク滴を連続して吐出させることで記録紙Dの所望の位置に画像(文字)が印刷される。 In this way, the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 of the inkjet head 10 is driven according to the image data, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle holes 31a to land on the recording paper D. In this way, an image (character) is printed at a desired position on the recording paper D by continuously ejecting ink droplets from the inkjet head 10 while moving the recording paper D.
 ここで、特に本実施形態のインクジェットヘッド10では、ノズル列31cを水平方向に配置して水平方向に向けてインクIを噴射し得るようにしているため、インクIの充填時にノズル孔31aから漏出した余剰インクYを吸引しきれず、ノズルガード24の天板部24aと周壁部24bとの境界部分等に残存している場合がある。また、インクIの充填後、例えば印刷時になってノズル孔31aから余剰インクYが漏れ出る虞もある。 Here, in particular, in the inkjet head 10 of the present embodiment, since the nozzle row 31c is arranged in the horizontal direction so that the ink I can be ejected in the horizontal direction, the ink I leaks from the nozzle hole 31a when it is filled. In some cases, the excess ink Y cannot be sucked and remains at the boundary portion between the top plate portion 24 a and the peripheral wall portion 24 b of the nozzle guard 24. Further, after the ink I is filled, there is a possibility that the excess ink Y leaks from the nozzle holes 31a, for example, at the time of printing.
 そこで、図7に示すように、本実施形態ではインクIの充填後でも吸引ポンプ16を常時作動させている(図7中ON2)。この際、吸引ポンプ16の出力は、インクI充填時の出力(充填出力)よりも弱く、かつ印刷時において空間S内に存在する余剰インクYを十分に吸引できる程度に設定する(通常使用モード)。これにより、空間SはインクIの充填時よりも弱い負圧空間となる。なお、吸引ポンプ16の出力が強すぎると、印刷時にノズル孔31aから吐出されるインク滴の飛行経路に影響が出て、印刷精度に影響が生じる虞があるため好ましくない。そして、この際の吸引ポンプ16の出力を通常出力(第2出力)とする。 Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the suction pump 16 is always operated even after the ink I is filled (ON2 in FIG. 7). At this time, the output of the suction pump 16 is set so as to be weaker than the output at the time of ink I filling (filling output) and to sufficiently suck the surplus ink Y existing in the space S during printing (normal use mode). ). As a result, the space S becomes a negative pressure space that is weaker than when the ink I is filled. Note that if the output of the suction pump 16 is too strong, the flight path of ink droplets ejected from the nozzle holes 31a during printing is affected, and printing accuracy may be affected. The output of the suction pump 16 at this time is set as a normal output (second output).
 吸引ポンプ16を通常出力で作動させながら印刷を行うと、ノズル孔31aから漏れ出た余剰インクYや、ノズルガード24の内表面24e上に残存した余剰インクYが、各吸引流路15の吸引口15aに向かって流れる。そして吸引口15aまで到達したインクIは、吸引口15aから吸引流路15内に吸引されて廃液タンクEへと排出されていく。 When printing is performed while the suction pump 16 is operated at a normal output, the excess ink Y leaking from the nozzle holes 31 a and the excess ink Y remaining on the inner surface 24 e of the nozzle guard 24 are sucked into the suction channels 15. It flows toward the mouth 15a. The ink I that has reached the suction port 15a is sucked into the suction channel 15 from the suction port 15a and discharged to the waste liquid tank E.
 なお、通常使用モードとして記載した図9におけるON2の動作は、必ずしも前述の液体充填モードとして記載した図9におけるON1の動作とともに実施する必要は無く、周囲の動作環境やインクIの種類によって、適宜実施すればよい。 Note that the operation of ON2 in FIG. 9 described as the normal use mode is not necessarily performed together with the operation of ON1 in FIG. 9 described as the liquid filling mode, and is appropriately determined depending on the surrounding operating environment and the type of ink I. Just do it.
 このように、本実施形態では、吸引流路15の吸引口15aが、ノズル孔31aの配列方向中央部であって、ノズル列31cの重力方向における下方に配置されている構成とした。 As described above, in the present embodiment, the suction port 15a of the suction channel 15 is arranged at the center in the arrangement direction of the nozzle holes 31a and below the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction.
 この構成によれば、余剰インクYがスリット24cから外部に漏出し難い状態で負圧室Rを移動し、吸引口15aから吸引流路15内に吸引されて廃液タンクEへと排出されるので、ノズル孔31aから流れ出た余剰インクYを回収するスペースを極めて小さいものとし、インクジェットヘッド10のスペースファクタを向上させることができるとともに、インクジェット記録装置1の設計の自由度を向上させることができる。 According to this configuration, the excess ink Y moves in the negative pressure chamber R in a state where it is difficult to leak out from the slit 24c, and is sucked into the suction flow path 15 from the suction port 15a and discharged to the waste liquid tank E. The space for collecting the excess ink Y flowing out from the nozzle hole 31a can be made extremely small, the space factor of the ink jet head 10 can be improved, and the degree of freedom in designing the ink jet recording apparatus 1 can be improved.
 また、吸引流路15により余剰インクYを連続して排出することができるので、余剰インクYの回収能力が極めて高く、余剰インクYが流出した場合であっても余剰インクYによる汚染を防止することができるとともに、インクI充填後のインクIの吐出を安定させることができる。 Further, since the surplus ink Y can be continuously discharged by the suction flow path 15, the recovery capability of the surplus ink Y is extremely high, and contamination by the surplus ink Y is prevented even when the surplus ink Y flows out. In addition, it is possible to stabilize the ejection of the ink I after the ink I is filled.
 特に、吸引口15aがノズル孔31aの配列方向中央部であって、ノズル列31cよりも重力方向における下方に配置されているため、インクIの充填時にノズル孔31aから漏出した余剰インクYを効果的に吸引することができる。すなわち、ノズル孔31aから漏出した余剰インクYが重力方向に沿って垂れるが、このような余剰インクYをスリット24cから漏出させずにノズルガード24内で回収することができる。したがって、ノズル列31cを水平方向に配置して水平方向に向けてインクIを噴射し得るようにした場合であっても、サービスステーションを設けることなく、余剰インクYを回収することができるので、装置の簡素化及び装置コストの削減を図った上で、インクIの初期充填が可能となる。 In particular, since the suction port 15a is located at the center in the arrangement direction of the nozzle holes 31a and below the nozzle row 31c in the gravitational direction, the excess ink Y leaked from the nozzle holes 31a when ink I is filled is effective Can be aspirated. That is, the surplus ink Y leaking from the nozzle hole 31a drips along the direction of gravity, but such surplus ink Y can be collected in the nozzle guard 24 without leaking from the slit 24c. Therefore, even when the nozzle row 31c is arranged in the horizontal direction and the ink I can be ejected in the horizontal direction, the surplus ink Y can be collected without providing a service station. The ink I can be initially filled while simplifying the apparatus and reducing the apparatus cost.
 また、スリット24cと吸引口15aとを対向しないように配置することで、スリット24cからノズルガード24の空間Sに流入した空気は、吸引口15aに直接到達することはなく、ノズルガード24の空間Sを流通した後に吸引口15aに達するため、空間S内の負圧状態を良好な状態に維持することができる。これにより、余剰インクYの回収を速やかに行うことができる。 Further, by arranging the slit 24c and the suction port 15a so as not to face each other, the air flowing into the space S of the nozzle guard 24 from the slit 24c does not directly reach the suction port 15a, and the space of the nozzle guard 24 Since the suction port 15a is reached after flowing through S, the negative pressure state in the space S can be maintained in a good state. Thereby, the excess ink Y can be collected quickly.
 さらに、吸引流路15の周面が、ノズルキャップ32の中枠部32bの内側面に当接した状態で延在しているため、余剰インクYの残存し易い空間Sの最下部や、ノズルガード24の周壁部24bと天板部24aとの境界部分等に存在する余剰インクYを効率的に回収することができる。 Furthermore, since the peripheral surface of the suction channel 15 extends in contact with the inner side surface of the inner frame portion 32b of the nozzle cap 32, the lowermost portion of the space S where excess ink Y easily remains, the nozzle Excess ink Y present at the boundary portion between the peripheral wall portion 24b of the guard 24 and the top plate portion 24a can be efficiently recovered.
 そして、本実施形態のインクジェット記録装置1では、上記したインクジェットヘッド10を備えているため、インクジェットヘッド10の配列方向(重力方向)に沿って搬送される記録紙Dに対して、安定したインクIを連続的に吐出することができる。そのため、高精度な印刷を速やかに行うことができる。 In addition, since the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes the inkjet head 10 described above, the stable ink I is applied to the recording paper D that is conveyed along the arrangement direction (gravity direction) of the inkjet head 10. Can be continuously discharged. Therefore, high-precision printing can be performed promptly.
 (第2実施形態)
 次に、本発明の第2実施形態について説明する。図9は第2実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッド100の正面図であり、図10はインクジェットヘッド100のスリット124cを示す拡大図である。なお、以下の説明では上述した第1実施形態と同様の構成については、同様の符号を付して説明を省略する。
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a front view of the inkjet head 100 in the second embodiment, and FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing the slit 124c of the inkjet head 100. FIG. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
 図9,10に示すように、第2実施形態のインクジェットヘッド100のスリット124cの重力方向における幅Q1は、第1実施形態のスリット24cの幅Qに比べて広く設定されている。具体的には、スリット124cの幅Q1は、重力方向においてノズル列31cよりも下方の幅Q2が、第1実施形態のスリット24cにおけるノズル列31cよりも重力方向下方の幅(Q/2)に比べて広く設定されている。すなわち、スリット124cは、ノズル孔31aから重力方向下方の幅Q2が、上方への幅Q3よりも広く形成されており、平面視でノズル列31cがスリット124cの幅方向(重力方向)上半部に配置されることになる。なお、スリット124cの幅Q1は、吸引ポンプ16で負圧とすることができる幅寸法を上限とし、インクIの初期充填の際にインクIがスリット24cから溢れ出て垂れない幅寸法を下限とした範囲で設定するのが望ましい。 As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the width Q1 in the gravity direction of the slit 124c of the inkjet head 100 of the second embodiment is set wider than the width Q of the slit 24c of the first embodiment. Specifically, the width Q1 of the slit 124c is such that the width Q2 below the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction is lower than the nozzle row 31c in the slit 24c of the first embodiment (Q / 2). Widely set. That is, the slit 124c is formed such that the width Q2 below the gravity direction from the nozzle hole 31a is wider than the width Q3 upward, and the nozzle row 31c is the upper half of the width direction (gravity direction) of the slit 124c in plan view. Will be placed. The width Q1 of the slit 124c has an upper limit as a width that can be made negative by the suction pump 16, and a lower limit as a width that prevents the ink I from overflowing from the slit 24c during the initial filling of the ink I. It is desirable to set within the specified range.
 ところで、インクIの充填時において、ノズル孔31aからのインクIの漏出量が局所的に多い場合、ノズル孔31aから漏出した余剰インクYは、ノズル孔31aの吐出口31bにおける表面張力により、半球状態のままスリット124c側へ盛り上がる。そして、表面張力により盛り上がったインクIの表面が、この状態でスリット124cの周縁に接触し、表面張力の均衡が破れる。その結果、スリット124cの周縁に接触したインクIが、スリット124cを通って外部へ漏出する虞がある。 By the way, when the amount of leakage of the ink I from the nozzle hole 31a is locally large when the ink I is filled, the excess ink Y leaked from the nozzle hole 31a is hemispherical due to the surface tension at the discharge port 31b of the nozzle hole 31a. It rises to the slit 124c side in a state. Then, the surface of the ink I raised by the surface tension comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the slit 124c in this state, and the balance of the surface tension is broken. As a result, the ink I that has contacted the periphery of the slit 124c may leak out through the slit 124c.
 図11は、インクジェットヘッド100の要部断面図である。
 これに対して、本実施形態では、スリット124cにおけるノズル孔31aよりも重力方向下方の幅Q2を、第1実施形態のスリット24cに比べて大きく設定したので、インクIの充填時にスリット124cからの余剰インクYの漏出を確実に防ぐことができる。すなわち、吐出口31bで盛り上がったインクIは、表面張力により均衡を保ったまま、重力により重力方向下方に向かって垂れ始める。この場合、インクIは、スリット124cの周縁に接触することなく、吸引口15aから吸引される。その結果、余剰インクYは吸引口15aで吸引されて、廃液タンクEに排出される。
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the inkjet head 100.
In contrast, in the present embodiment, the width Q2 below the nozzle hole 31a in the slit 124c in the gravitational direction is set larger than that in the slit 24c in the first embodiment. Leakage of excess ink Y can be reliably prevented. That is, the ink I that has risen at the ejection port 31b starts to drip downward in the direction of gravity due to gravity while maintaining balance by the surface tension. In this case, the ink I is sucked from the suction port 15a without contacting the peripheral edge of the slit 124c. As a result, the surplus ink Y is sucked by the suction port 15a and discharged to the waste liquid tank E.
 よって、ノズル孔31aからのインクIの漏出量が局所的に多くなったとしても、インクIがスリット124cの周縁に接触することがないので、スリット124cからの余剰インクYの漏出を確実に防ぐことができる。 Therefore, even if the leakage amount of the ink I from the nozzle hole 31a locally increases, the ink I does not come into contact with the peripheral edge of the slit 124c, thereby reliably preventing the leakage of the excess ink Y from the slit 124c. be able to.
 (第3実施形態)
 次に、本発明の第3実施形態について説明する。図12は第3実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッド110の正面図である。なお、以下の説明では上述した第1実施形態と同様の構成については、同様の符号を付して説明を省略する。
(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 is a front view of the inkjet head 110 according to the third embodiment. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
 図12に示すように、本実施形態のインクジェットヘッド110は、吸引流路115の吸引口115aがノズル列31cの配列方向(ノズルガード24の長手方向)一端側に配置されている。そして、スリット111の幅が、ノズル列31cの配列方向一端側から他端側にかけて漸次広くなるように形成されている。具体的には、スリット111におけるノズル列31cから重力方向上方の幅は、ノズル列31cの配列方向に沿って一定であるのに対して、ノズル列31cから重力方向下方の幅が、ノズル列31cの配列方向における一端側から他端側にかけて漸次広くなるように形成されている。この場合、スリット111の幅は、一端側が幅Qであるのに対して、他端側は幅Q1に形成されている。 As shown in FIG. 12, in the inkjet head 110 of the present embodiment, the suction port 115a of the suction flow path 115 is disposed on one end side of the nozzle row 31c in the arrangement direction (longitudinal direction of the nozzle guard 24). The width of the slit 111 is formed so as to gradually increase from one end side to the other end side in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c. Specifically, the width above the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction in the slit 111 is constant along the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c, whereas the width below the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction is equal to the nozzle row 31c. Are formed so as to gradually widen from one end side to the other end side in the arrangement direction. In this case, the width of the slit 111 is formed with the width Q1 while the other end is formed with the width Q1.
 このように、本実施形態のインクジェットヘッド110は、スリット111の幅が、吸引口115aから離れるにつれて漸次広くなるように形成されている。言い換えると、スリット111よりも重力方向下方における天板部24aの幅が、ノズル列31cの配列方向他端側から一端側にかけて漸次広くなるように形成されている。この場合、吸引口115aは、ノズル列31cの配列方向一端側に配置されているので、天板部24aに平面視で完全に覆われた状態となる。 As described above, the inkjet head 110 of the present embodiment is formed such that the width of the slit 111 gradually increases as the distance from the suction port 115a increases. In other words, the width of the top plate portion 24a below the slit 111 in the direction of gravity is formed so as to gradually increase from the other end side in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c to the one end side. In this case, since the suction port 115a is disposed at one end side in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c, the suction port 115a is completely covered by the top plate portion 24a in plan view.
 したがって、本実施形態によれば、第2実施形態と同様の効果を奏することに加え、スリット111がノズル列31cの配列方向一端側から他端側にかけて漸次広くなるように形成されることで、空間Sの負圧を十分に確保した上で、余剰インクYの漏出を防ぐことができる。すなわち、吸引口115aが一端側に配置されているため、吸引口115aが他端側に配置されている場合に比べて吸引口115aからスリット111までの距離が長くなる。この場合、外部からスリット111内に入り込んだ空気は、空間Sを経由して吸引口115aから吸引されるので、スリット111内に空気が入り難くなる。これにより、ノズルガード24の空間Sの負圧状態を良好な状態に維持することができる。 Therefore, according to this embodiment, in addition to having the same effect as the second embodiment, the slit 111 is formed so as to gradually widen from one end side to the other end side in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c. Leakage of the excess ink Y can be prevented while sufficiently securing the negative pressure in the space S. That is, since the suction port 115a is disposed on one end side, the distance from the suction port 115a to the slit 111 is longer than in the case where the suction port 115a is disposed on the other end side. In this case, since air that has entered the slit 111 from the outside is sucked from the suction port 115 a via the space S, it is difficult for air to enter the slit 111. Thereby, the negative pressure state of the space S of the nozzle guard 24 can be maintained in a good state.
 一方、スリット111がノズル列31cの配列方向他端側に向かうにつれ漸次広く形成されているので、上述した第2実施形態と同様に、ノズル孔31aから漏出したインクIがスリット111の周縁に接触することを防ぎ、余剰インクYのスリット111からの漏出を確実に防ぐことができる。
 その結果、余剰インクYを効率的に回収して、インクIの初期充填を効率的に行うことが可能になる。
On the other hand, since the slit 111 is gradually formed wider toward the other end side in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c, the ink I leaking from the nozzle hole 31a contacts the peripheral edge of the slit 111 as in the second embodiment described above. And the leakage of excess ink Y from the slit 111 can be reliably prevented.
As a result, it is possible to efficiently collect the surplus ink Y and efficiently perform the initial filling of the ink I.
 (変形例)
 次に、第3実施形態の変形例について説明する。図13は第3実施形態の変形例におけるインクジェットヘッド120の正面図である。なお、以下の説明では上述した第1実施形態と同様の構成については、同様の符号を付して説明を省略する。
(Modification)
Next, a modification of the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is a front view of an inkjet head 120 according to a modification of the third embodiment. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
 図13に示すように、本変形例のインクジェットヘッド120は、吸引流路15の吸引口15aがノズル列31cの配列方向(ノズルガード24の長手方向)中央部に配置されるとともに、スリット121の幅が吸引口15aから離れるにつれて漸次広くなるように形成されている。具体的には、スリット121におけるノズル列31cよりも重力方向上方の幅は、ノズル列31cの配列方向に沿って一定であるのに対して、ノズル列31cよりも重力方向下方の幅が、ノズル列31cの配列方向における中央部から両端にかけてそれぞれ漸次広くなるように形成されている。すなわち、スリット121の重力方向下方の周縁は、平面視V字形状に形成されている。この場合、スリット121の幅は、中央部が幅Qであるのに対して、両端側は幅Q1に形成されている。
 したがって、本変形例においても、上述した第3実施形態と同様の効果を奏することができる。
As shown in FIG. 13, in the inkjet head 120 of this modification, the suction port 15a of the suction channel 15 is arranged in the center of the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c (longitudinal direction of the nozzle guard 24), and the slit 121 The width is formed so as to gradually increase as the distance from the suction port 15a increases. Specifically, the width above the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction in the slit 121 is constant along the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c, whereas the width below the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction is equal to the nozzle row 31c. The rows 31c are formed so as to gradually widen from the center to both ends in the arrangement direction. That is, the periphery of the slit 121 in the lower direction of gravity is formed in a V shape in plan view. In this case, the slit 121 has a width Q at the center, whereas the slit 121 has a width Q1 at both ends.
Therefore, also in this modification, the same effects as those of the third embodiment described above can be obtained.
 (第4実施形態)
 次に、本発明の第4実施形態について説明する。図14は、第4実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッド130の正面図である。なお、以下の説明では上述した第1実施形態と同様の構成については、同様の符号を付して説明を省略する。
(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 14 is a front view of the inkjet head 130 in the fourth embodiment. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
 図14に示すように、本実施形態のインクジェットヘッド130は、吸引流路131,132が複数(例えば、2本)設けられている点で、上述した実施形態と相違している。具体的には、吸引流路131,132は、ノズル列31cの配列方向に沿う両端側に配置されており、ノズル列31cの重力方向下方において吸引口131a,132aが開口している。 As shown in FIG. 14, the inkjet head 130 of this embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that a plurality of (for example, two) suction channels 131 and 132 are provided. Specifically, the suction flow paths 131 and 132 are arranged on both end sides along the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c, and suction ports 131a and 132a are opened below the gravity direction of the nozzle row 31c.
 また、スリット133は、その幅が吸引口131a,132aから離れるにつれて漸次広くなるように形成されている。具体的には、スリット133におけるノズル列31cから重力方向上方の幅は、ノズル列31cの配列方向に沿って一定であるのに対して、ノズル列31cから重力方向下方の幅が、ノズル列31cの配列方向における両端から中央部にかけて漸次広くなるように形成されている。すなわち、スリット133の重力方向下方の周縁は、平面視V字形状に形成されている。この場合、スリット133の幅は、両端側が幅Qであるのに対して、中央部は幅Q1に形成されている。 Further, the slit 133 is formed so that its width gradually increases as the distance from the suction ports 131a and 132a increases. Specifically, the width above the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction in the slit 133 is constant along the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c, whereas the width below the nozzle row 31c in the gravity direction is equal to the nozzle row 31c. Are formed so as to gradually widen from both ends to the center in the arrangement direction. That is, the periphery of the slit 133 below the gravitational direction is formed in a V shape in plan view. In this case, the width of the slit 133 is the width Q at both ends, whereas the central portion is formed at the width Q1.
 したがって、本実施形態によれば、上述した第3実施形態と同様の効果を奏するとともに、吸引流路131,132を複数設けることで、ノズルガード24の空間Sにおける余剰インクYの回収能力を向上させることができる。すなわち、ノズル孔31a(図6参照)から漏出した余剰インクYは、近傍の吸引流路131,132の吸引口131a,132aから速やかに吸引されることになるので、余剰インクYの回収能力をより向上させることができ、スリット133からの余剰インクYの漏出を確実に防ぐことができる。 Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the third embodiment described above can be obtained, and the recovery capability of the excess ink Y in the space S of the nozzle guard 24 can be improved by providing a plurality of suction flow paths 131 and 132. Can be made. That is, the surplus ink Y leaked from the nozzle hole 31a (see FIG. 6) is quickly sucked from the suction ports 131a and 132a of the suction channels 131 and 132 in the vicinity, so that the surplus ink Y can be collected. This can be further improved, and the leakage of excess ink Y from the slit 133 can be reliably prevented.
 なお、本実施形態のように吸引流路131,132を複数設けた場合、それぞれを同一の吸引ポンプ(例えば、吸引ポンプ16)に一括して接続してもよいし、それぞれを別々の吸引ポンプに接続してもよい。吸引流路131,132を同一の吸引ポンプに接続した場合には、各吸引流路131,132にそれぞれ吸引ポンプを設ける場合に比べて、装置コストを低減することができる。 When a plurality of suction flow paths 131 and 132 are provided as in the present embodiment, each may be connected to the same suction pump (for example, the suction pump 16), or each may be a separate suction pump. You may connect to. When the suction flow paths 131 and 132 are connected to the same suction pump, the apparatus cost can be reduced compared to the case where the suction flow paths 131 and 132 are provided with the suction pumps, respectively.
 また、吸引流路131,132を同一の吸引ポンプに接続する場合、各吸引流路131,132と吸引ポンプとの間にバルブ(流量調整装置)を設ける構成にしてもよい。この場合には、吸引口131a,132aから吸引する空気の流量を調整したり、吸引する吸引流路131,132を任意に選択したりすることができる。例えば、一方の吸引口131a側に余剰インクYが残存している場合等においては、バルブを切り替えて一方の吸引口131aのみから集中的に空気を吸引することで、この空気とともに余剰インクYを効果的に吸引することができる。したがって、吸引ポンプにより吸引する流量を容易に調整することができるので、作業性を向上させることができる。なお、吸引流路の数は2本に限らず、2本以上であってもよい。 Further, when the suction flow paths 131 and 132 are connected to the same suction pump, a valve (flow rate adjusting device) may be provided between each suction flow path 131 and 132 and the suction pump. In this case, the flow rate of air sucked from the suction ports 131a and 132a can be adjusted, and the suction flow paths 131 and 132 to be sucked can be arbitrarily selected. For example, when surplus ink Y remains on one suction port 131a side, by switching the valve and sucking air from only one suction port 131a intensively, the surplus ink Y is removed together with this air. Effective suction is possible. Therefore, since the flow rate sucked by the suction pump can be easily adjusted, workability can be improved. Note that the number of suction channels is not limited to two and may be two or more.
 (第5実施形態)
 次に、本発明の第5実施形態について説明する。図15は第5実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッド140の正面図である。なお、以下の説明では上述した第1実施形態と同様の構成については、同様の符号を付して説明を省略する。
(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 15 is a front view of the inkjet head 140 according to the fifth embodiment. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
 図15に示すように、本実施形態のインクジェットヘッド140は、ノズルガードの空間Sに余剰インクYを吸引口15aまで案内する誘導部材141が設けられている点で、上述した第1実施形態と相違している。 As shown in FIG. 15, the inkjet head 140 according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in that the guide member 141 that guides the excess ink Y to the suction port 15 a is provided in the space S of the nozzle guard. It is different.
 誘導部材141は、その厚さ方向が水平方向(ノズル孔31aの開口方向)に一致した状態で、ノズルガード24の天板部24aの内表面24eに貼着されている。また、誘導部材141は、ノズル列31cよりも重力方向下方に配置されており、その上面にはノズル列31cの配列方向両端部から中央部にかけて重力方向下方に向けて傾斜する傾斜面141aが形成されている。この傾斜面141aは、両端側が吸引口15aよりも重力方向上方に配置され、スリット24c近傍まで達する一方、中央部が吸引口15aの直下に配置されている。すなわち、誘導部材141は、平面視でV字形状に形成されている。 The guide member 141 is adhered to the inner surface 24e of the top plate portion 24a of the nozzle guard 24 in a state where the thickness direction thereof coincides with the horizontal direction (opening direction of the nozzle hole 31a). In addition, the guide member 141 is disposed below the nozzle row 31c in the gravitational direction, and an inclined surface 141a is formed on the upper surface of the guide member 141. The inclined surface 141a is inclined downward from the both ends in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row 31c to the center. Has been. Both ends of the inclined surface 141a are disposed above the suction port 15a in the gravitational direction and reach the vicinity of the slit 24c, while the central portion is disposed directly below the suction port 15a. That is, the guide member 141 is formed in a V shape in plan view.
 この場合、ノズル孔31aから漏出した余剰インクYは、重力方向下方に垂れて誘導部材141の傾斜面141aに接触する。傾斜面141aに接触した余剰インクYは、吸引流路15を介して吸引ポンプ16(図2参照)により吸引されながら、傾斜面141a上を吸引口15aに向かって案内される。吸引口15aまで案内された余剰インクYは、吸引口15aから廃液タンクE(図2参照)へ排出される。 In this case, the excess ink Y leaked from the nozzle hole 31a hangs downward in the direction of gravity and contacts the inclined surface 141a of the guide member 141. Excess ink Y that has contacted the inclined surface 141a is guided on the inclined surface 141a toward the suction port 15a while being sucked by the suction pump 16 (see FIG. 2) through the suction flow path 15. The excess ink Y guided to the suction port 15a is discharged from the suction port 15a to the waste liquid tank E (see FIG. 2).
 このように、本実施形態によれば、上述した第1実施形態と同様の効果を奏することに加え、ノズル孔31aから漏出した余剰インクYを吸引口15aに向けて案内することができるので、吸引口15aから離れた位置に存在する余剰インクYであっても効率的に吸引することができる。そのため、余剰インクYの回収能力をより向上させることができる。 As described above, according to this embodiment, in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above, it is possible to guide the excess ink Y leaked from the nozzle hole 31a toward the suction port 15a. Even the surplus ink Y existing at a position away from the suction port 15a can be sucked efficiently. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the recovery capability of the excess ink Y.
 (第6実施形態)
 次に、本発明の第6実施形態について説明する。図16は第6実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッド150の正面図である。なお、以下の説明では上述した第1実施形態と同様の構成については、同様の符号を付して説明を省略する。
(Sixth embodiment)
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 16 is a front view of an inkjet head 150 according to the sixth embodiment. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
 図16に示すように、本実施形態のインクジェットヘッド150は、ノズルガード24の空間Sにおいて、スリット24cの重力方向上方に充填部材151が設けられている点で、上述した第1実施形態と相違している。この充填部材151は、空間Sにおけるスリット24cよりも上方を埋めるように配置された部材であり、厚さ(水平方向)が空間Sの厚さと同等に形成されるとともに、幅(重力方向)が空間Sの幅の約半分に形成されている。よって、本実施形態のインクジェットヘッド150は、空間Sのうち、スリット24cよりも重力方向上方の領域は、充填部材151により隙間なく埋められた充填領域S1が構成される一方、スリット24cよりも重力方向下方の領域は、開放された開放領域S2が構成されている。なお、本実施形態のようなノズル列31cの配列方向を水平方向に配置した状態で、インクIを水平方向に吐出する構成にあっては、空間Sにおけるスリット24cより上方の領域(充填領域S1)は、余剰インクYが回り込むこともないので、充填部材151により埋めてしまっても、液体充填時及び通常使用時において何ら問題はない。 As shown in FIG. 16, the inkjet head 150 of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in that a filling member 151 is provided above the slit 24 c in the gravity direction in the space S of the nozzle guard 24. is doing. The filling member 151 is a member arranged so as to be filled above the slit 24c in the space S, and the thickness (horizontal direction) is formed to be equal to the thickness of the space S, and the width (gravity direction) is set. It is formed about half the width of the space S. Therefore, in the inkjet head 150 of the present embodiment, the region above the slit 24c in the gravity direction in the space S is configured with the filling region S1 filled with the filling member 151 without a gap, while the gravity of the slit 24c is greater than that of the slit 24c. An open area S2 is formed in the area below the direction. In the configuration in which the ink I is ejected in the horizontal direction with the arrangement direction of the nozzle rows 31c arranged in the horizontal direction as in the present embodiment, the region above the slit 24c in the space S (filling region S1). ) Does not wrap around with the excess ink Y, so even if it is filled with the filling member 151, there is no problem at the time of liquid filling and normal use.
 したがって、本実施形態によれば、上述した第1実施形態と同様の効果を奏するとともに、空間Sに充填部材151が設けられた充填領域S1が構成されているため、空間Sの開放領域S2の容積が縮小されることになる。この状態で、空間Sの空気を吸引することで、空間Sを減圧し易くなるので、空間Sを速やかに負圧室Rとすることができるとともに、負圧室Rを良好な負圧状態に維持し易くなる。そのため、余剰インクYの回収能力の向上を図った上で、スリット24cからの余剰インクYの漏出を防止することができる。 Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above is obtained, and the filling region S1 in which the filling member 151 is provided in the space S is configured. The volume will be reduced. In this state, by sucking the air in the space S, the space S can be easily depressurized, so that the space S can be quickly made into the negative pressure chamber R and the negative pressure chamber R is brought into a favorable negative pressure state. Easy to maintain. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the surplus ink Y from leaking from the slit 24c while improving the recovery capability of the surplus ink Y.
 なお、上述した充填部材151の形状を適宜設計変更が可能であり、ノズルガード24の空間Sにおいてスリット24cを間に挟んで重力方向上方の容積が、重力方向下方の容積に比べて小さくなるように形成すればよい。 The design of the shape of the filling member 151 described above can be changed as appropriate, and in the space S of the nozzle guard 24, the volume above the gravitational direction with the slit 24c interposed therebetween is smaller than the volume below the gravitational direction. What is necessary is just to form.
 (第7実施形態)
 次に、本発明の第7実施形態について説明する。図17は第7実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッド160の正面図であり、図18は要部断面図である。なお、以下の説明では上述した第1実施形態と同様の構成については、同様の符号を付して説明を省略する。
(Seventh embodiment)
Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 17 is a front view of an inkjet head 160 according to the seventh embodiment, and FIG. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
 図17,18に示すように、本実施形態のインクジェットヘッド160は、ノズルガード24の空間Sに、ノズル孔31aから漏出する余剰インクYを吸収するための吸収体161が配置されている点で、上述した第1実施形態と相違している。具体的には、吸収体161は、長さがノズルガード24の天板部24aの長手方向の長さと同等に形成されるとともに、幅(重力方向)がノズルガード24の幅の半分より短く形成されている。また、吸収体161は、その厚さ方向に沿う一方の面(表面側)が天板部24aの内表面24eに当接する一方、他方の面(裏面側)が吸引口15aの周縁に当接している。したがって、吸収体161は天板部24aと吸引口15aとの間に挟持された状態で保持されている。 As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the inkjet head 160 according to the present embodiment is provided with an absorber 161 for absorbing excess ink Y leaking from the nozzle hole 31 a in the space S of the nozzle guard 24. This is different from the first embodiment described above. Specifically, the absorber 161 is formed to have a length equal to the length in the longitudinal direction of the top plate portion 24 a of the nozzle guard 24 and has a width (gravity direction) shorter than half the width of the nozzle guard 24. Has been. The absorber 161 has one surface (front surface side) along the thickness direction in contact with the inner surface 24e of the top plate portion 24a, and the other surface (back surface side) in contact with the peripheral edge of the suction port 15a. ing. Therefore, the absorber 161 is held in a state of being sandwiched between the top plate portion 24a and the suction port 15a.
 なお、吸収体161の材料としては、PVA(ポリビニルアルコール)(例えば、カネボウベルイータAシリーズ)や高密度ポリエチレンパウダー(例えば、旭化成製(サンファイン))等の多孔質膜が好適に用いられている。また、吸収体161は、天板部24aの内表面24eに接着剤を用いて貼付してもよい。この場合、吸収体161の吸収量を低下させないために、例えばエポキシ等からなる高粘度の接着剤を点付けして接着することが好ましい。 In addition, as a material of the absorber 161, porous membranes, such as PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) (for example, Kanebo Belita A series) and high-density polyethylene powder (for example, Asahi Kasei (Sun fine)), are used suitably. Yes. Moreover, you may stick the absorber 161 to the inner surface 24e of the top-plate part 24a using an adhesive agent. In this case, in order not to reduce the absorption amount of the absorbent body 161, it is preferable to attach a high-viscosity adhesive made of, for example, epoxy or the like.
 この場合、ノズル孔31aから漏れ出た余剰インクY(図8参照)のうち、吸引ポンプ16によって即座に吸引しきれなかった余剰インクYは、ノズルプレート31やノズルガード24の内表面24e上を重力方向下方に向かって垂れていく。この時、重力方向に向かって垂れる余剰インクYは、ノズル列31cの下方に配置された吸収体161に吸収される。吸収体161内に吸収された余剰インクYは、負圧室R内で吸引口15aに向かって流通する空気とともに吸収体161内を流通する。そして、吸収体161内を流通する余剰インクYは、吸引口15aから吸引され、廃液タンクEへと排出されていく。 In this case, of the surplus ink Y leaking from the nozzle hole 31a (see FIG. 8), the surplus ink Y that could not be sucked immediately by the suction pump 16 travels on the inner surface 24e of the nozzle plate 31 or the nozzle guard 24. It hangs down in the direction of gravity. At this time, surplus ink Y that drips in the direction of gravity is absorbed by the absorber 161 disposed below the nozzle row 31c. The surplus ink Y absorbed in the absorber 161 flows through the absorber 161 together with the air flowing toward the suction port 15a in the negative pressure chamber R. Then, the surplus ink Y flowing in the absorber 161 is sucked from the suction port 15a and discharged to the waste liquid tank E.
 したがって、本実施形態によれば、上述した第1実施形態と同様の効果を奏することに加え、空間S内に吸収体161が配置されているため、負圧室Rに吸引された余剰インクYを確実に吸収することができ、余剰インクYがスリット24cから漏出することを防ぐことができる。 Therefore, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above, the surplus ink Y sucked into the negative pressure chamber R because the absorber 161 is disposed in the space S. Thus, excess ink Y can be prevented from leaking from the slit 24c.
 さらに、吸収体161が吸引口15aの周縁に当接しているため、吸引口15aと吸収体161が空間を挟まず接することになる。これにより、吸収体161に直接的に吸引力を与えて、吸引することができるため、吸収体161内に吸収された余剰インクYを連続的に吸引することが可能になり、吸収体161の内部に含有される余剰インクYをより効果的に吸引口15aから排出することができる。その結果、吸収体161を速やかに乾燥させて吸収体161の吸収量が飽和になることを抑えることができる。なお、吸収体161の配置位置や形状は、適宜設計変更が可能である。 Furthermore, since the absorber 161 is in contact with the peripheral edge of the suction port 15a, the suction port 15a and the absorber 161 are in contact with each other without a space. As a result, a suction force can be directly applied to the absorber 161 and suction can be performed. Therefore, it is possible to continuously suck the excess ink Y absorbed in the absorber 161. The excess ink Y contained inside can be discharged from the suction port 15a more effectively. As a result, it is possible to quickly dry the absorber 161 and suppress the absorption amount of the absorber 161 from becoming saturated. The arrangement position and shape of the absorber 161 can be changed as appropriate.
 以上、本発明の実施形態について図面を参照して詳述したが、具体的な構成はこれら実施形態に限られるものではなく、本発明の要旨を逸脱しない範囲の設計変更等も含まれる。
 例えば、インクジェットヘッド10の配列パターンは、重力方向に沿って配列する構成であれば適宜設計変更が可能である。
 図19は、本発明の他の構成を示すインクジェット記録装置200の拡大断面図である。
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the concrete structure is not restricted to these embodiment, The design change etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are included.
For example, the design of the arrangement pattern of the inkjet head 10 can be changed as appropriate as long as the arrangement pattern is arranged along the direction of gravity.
FIG. 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an inkjet recording apparatus 200 showing another configuration of the present invention.
 図19に示すように、インクジェット記録装置200は、記録紙Dを搬送するための搬送機構201を備えている。搬送機構201は、回転可能に支持された大径ローラー201aと、大径ローラー201aの重力方向下方であって、大径ローラー201aの上流側及び下流側にそれぞれ配置され、回転可能に支持された小径ローラー201b,201cとを備えている。したがって、図示しない供給源から水平方向に搬送される記録紙Dは、上流側の小径ローラー201bを介して搬送方向(図19中矢印参照)上方に向けて折り返された後、大径ローラー201aを介して約180度折り返されて下方に搬送される。その後、小径ローラー201cを介して約90度折り返されて再び水平方向に沿って搬送される。この場合、小径ローラー201bと大径ローラー201aとの間、及び大径ローラー201aと小径ローラー201cとの間でそれぞれ重力方向に沿って複数(例えば、5つ)のインクジェットヘッド10が配置されている。 As shown in FIG. 19, the ink jet recording apparatus 200 includes a transport mechanism 201 for transporting the recording paper D. The transport mechanism 201 is rotatably supported by a large-diameter roller 201a and a lower portion in the gravity direction of the large-diameter roller 201a, which are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the large-diameter roller 201a, respectively. Small diameter rollers 201b and 201c are provided. Accordingly, the recording paper D transported in the horizontal direction from a supply source (not shown) is folded upward in the transport direction (see the arrow in FIG. 19) via the upstream small-diameter roller 201b, and then the large-diameter roller 201a is moved. Then, it is folded back about 180 degrees and conveyed downward. Thereafter, the sheet is folded back about 90 degrees via the small-diameter roller 201c and conveyed again along the horizontal direction. In this case, a plurality of (for example, five) inkjet heads 10 are arranged along the direction of gravity between the small diameter roller 201b and the large diameter roller 201a and between the large diameter roller 201a and the small diameter roller 201c. .
 この構成によれば、サービスステーション等への移動を伴うことなく、液体の初期充填を行うことができるが可能なインクジェットヘッド10を備えているため、高精度な印刷を速やかに行うことが可能なインクジェット記録装置200を提供することができる。
 さらに、上述した各実施形態を適宜組み合わせて採用することも可能である。
According to this configuration, since the inkjet head 10 that can perform initial liquid filling without moving to a service station or the like is provided, high-precision printing can be performed quickly. An ink jet recording apparatus 200 can be provided.
Further, the above-described embodiments can be appropriately combined and employed.
 また、本実施形態では、インクIまたは洗浄液Wの充填方法において、加圧ポンプ54と吸引ポンプ16の両方を用いて実施したが、この形態に限られるものではない。例えば、吸引ポンプ16の動作のみによって、インクIまたは洗浄液Wをインクジェットヘッド10へ充填するような構成でも構わない。 In this embodiment, the method of filling the ink I or the cleaning liquid W is performed using both the pressurization pump 54 and the suction pump 16, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the ink jet head 10 may be filled with the ink I or the cleaning liquid W only by the operation of the suction pump 16.
 また、本実施形態では、インクIを吐出するアクチュエータとして、電極が設けられたセラミック圧電プレート21を備えるようにしたが、この形態に限られるものではない。例えば、電気熱変換素子を用いて、インクIが充填されている室内に気泡を生じさせ、その圧力によって、インクIを吐出する機構としても構わない。 In this embodiment, the ceramic piezoelectric plate 21 provided with electrodes is provided as an actuator for discharging the ink I. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, an electrothermal conversion element may be used as a mechanism for generating bubbles in a chamber filled with the ink I and discharging the ink I by the pressure.
 また、本実施形態では、開放孔22cが各長溝26の併設方向に亘って形成され、インクIは開放孔22cから各長溝26へ充填されるようにしたが、この形態に限られるものではない。例えば、開放孔22cを全ての長溝26と連通させず、インク室プレート22にスリット形状の溝を設け、そのスリットが長溝26の併設ピッチの半分となるように形成されていてもよい。すなわち、スリットが長溝26の一つ置きに対応し、インクIがスリットに対応する長溝26のみに充填される形式にしても構わない。この形態を採用することで、導電性のインクIを用いたとしても、電極がインクIを介して短絡することがなく、多種多様なインクIを採用し、印刷を実施することができる。 Further, in the present embodiment, the open holes 22c are formed across the long grooves 26 and the ink I is filled into the long grooves 26 from the open holes 22c. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. . For example, the open holes 22 c may not be communicated with all the long grooves 26, but a slit-shaped groove may be provided in the ink chamber plate 22, and the slits may be formed to be half the pitch of the long grooves 26. That is, the slit may correspond to every other long groove 26, and the ink I may be filled only in the long groove 26 corresponding to the slit. By adopting this form, even when the conductive ink I is used, the electrodes are not short-circuited via the ink I, and a wide variety of inks I can be used for printing.
 (第8実施形態)
 次に、本発明の第8実施形態について説明する。なお、上述した第1実施形態と同様の構成については、同一の符号を付して説明を省略する。
(Eighth embodiment)
Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.
 図20は、第8実施形態におけるインクジェットヘッド170を示す断面図である。
 図20に示すように、インクジェットヘッド170のノズルガード24には、天板部24aに空間S側に窪む窪み部24xが形成されている。窪み部24xは、プレス成形(圧延)で形成したものであり、この窪み部24xの底面にはスリット24cが形成されている。
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing an inkjet head 170 in the eighth embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 20, the nozzle guard 24 of the inkjet head 170 is formed with a recess 24x that is recessed toward the space S in the top plate 24a. The recess 24x is formed by press molding (rolling), and a slit 24c is formed on the bottom surface of the recess 24x.
 これにより、ノズルガード24が記録紙Dと接触した場合であっても、スリット24c近傍の撥水膜24hが記録紙Dと接触する確率を低減させて、撥水膜24hが剥離することを防止することができる。 Thereby, even when the nozzle guard 24 is in contact with the recording paper D, the probability that the water repellent film 24h in the vicinity of the slit 24c is in contact with the recording paper D is reduced, and the water repellent film 24h is prevented from peeling off. can do.
 特に、印刷時等において、天板部24aの内表面24eに余剰インクYが残存していた場合に、余剰インクYがスリット24cに向かって流れたとしても、この余剰インクYを窪み部24xで塞き止め、空間S内で留まらせることができる。そして、窪み部24xで塞き止められた余剰インクYは、後に吸引ポンプ16によって吸引される。これにより、余剰インクYの漏出をより確実に防ぐことが可能になる。 In particular, when excess ink Y remains on the inner surface 24e of the top plate portion 24a during printing or the like, even if the excess ink Y flows toward the slit 24c, the excess ink Y is allowed to flow through the depression 24x. It can block and stay in the space S. Then, the excess ink Y blocked by the depression 24x is sucked later by the suction pump 16. Thereby, it is possible to prevent leakage of the excess ink Y more reliably.
 (変形例)
 図21は、本発明の変形例におけるインクジェットヘッド180を示す断面図である。
図21に示すように、インクジェットヘッド180のノズルガード24には、空間S側に突出し、かつ、スリット24cを環状に囲繞する環状突出壁24yが形成されている。
(Modification)
FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing an inkjet head 180 according to a modification of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 21, the nozzle guard 24 of the inkjet head 180 is formed with an annular protruding wall 24y that protrudes toward the space S and surrounds the slit 24c in an annular shape.
 このような構成によっても、上述した第8実施形態と同様の作用効果を奏することができる。
 図22は、本発明の変形例におけるインクジェットヘッド190を示す断面図である。
図22に示すように、インクジェットヘッド190のノズルガード24には、窪み部24xと環状突出壁24yとがプレス成形により形成されている。
Even with such a configuration, the same operational effects as those of the above-described eighth embodiment can be obtained.
FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing an inkjet head 190 according to a modification of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 22, the nozzle guard 24 of the inkjet head 190 is formed with a recess 24x and an annular protruding wall 24y by press molding.
 これにより、上述した第8実施形態と同様の作用効果を奏することができる。
なお、プレス成形であれば、窪み部24xと環状突出壁24yとを同時に形成することができ、生産効率が良好なものとなる。
Thereby, there can exist an effect similar to 8th Embodiment mentioned above.
In addition, if it is press molding, the hollow part 24x and the cyclic | annular protrusion wall 24y can be formed simultaneously, and a productive efficiency will become favorable.
 また、上述した実施の形態においては、図2に示す構成の通り、吸引ポンプ16によって吸引した余剰インクYを廃液タンクEへ排出することとしたが、この形態に限られるものではない。例えば、吸引ポンプ16の出口側の流路に接続される構成を、廃液タンクではなく、インクタンク51とすることもできる。すなわち、吸引ポンプ16によって吸引された余剰インクYをインクタンク51へ供給し、インクタンク51からインクジェットヘッド10へインクIとして供給する形態としてもかまわない。つまり、負圧室内に溢れ出たインクIを吸引することで回収し、ノズル孔のそれぞれに連通する複数の圧力発生室にインクIを供給する再利用液体供給系このような形態を採用することによって、余剰インクYをインクIとして再利用することができる。 Further, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the excess ink Y sucked by the suction pump 16 is discharged to the waste liquid tank E. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. For example, the configuration connected to the flow path on the outlet side of the suction pump 16 may be the ink tank 51 instead of the waste liquid tank. In other words, the surplus ink Y sucked by the suction pump 16 may be supplied to the ink tank 51 and supplied from the ink tank 51 to the inkjet head 10 as the ink I. In other words, a reusable liquid supply system that collects the ink I overflowed into the negative pressure chamber by suction and supplies the ink I to a plurality of pressure generation chambers that communicate with the nozzle holes, respectively, is adopted. Thus, the surplus ink Y can be reused as the ink I.
 またこの構成に加えて、余剰インクYを再利用するにあたり、吸引ポンプ16からインクタンク51へ通じる流路にフィルタ部材を設けてもかまわない。このような構成を採用することによって、余剰インクYに含まれる不純物を除去し、適切な状態のインクをインクタンク51へ供給することができる。 In addition to this configuration, a filter member may be provided in the flow path from the suction pump 16 to the ink tank 51 when the excess ink Y is reused. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to remove impurities contained in the excess ink Y and supply ink in an appropriate state to the ink tank 51.
 さらに、余剰インクYを再利用するにあたり、吸引ポンプ16からインクタンク51へ通じる流路に脱気装置を設けてもかまわない。このような構成を採用することによって、余剰インクYに含まれる気泡を脱気し、適切な脱気状態のインクをインクタンク51へ供給することができる。
 ただし、上述したこれらの構成は、必ず用いられなければならない構成ではなく、液滴噴射記録装置の仕様に応じて適宜使用されればよい
Further, when the excess ink Y is reused, a deaeration device may be provided in the flow path from the suction pump 16 to the ink tank 51. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to deaerate bubbles contained in the surplus ink Y and supply ink in an appropriate deaerated state to the ink tank 51.
However, the above-described configurations are not necessarily used, and may be used as appropriate according to the specifications of the droplet jet recording apparatus.
1,200…インクジェット記録装置(液体噴射記録装置) 5…インク供給部(液体供給部) 10,100,110,120,130,140,150,160,170,180,190…インクジェットヘッド(液体噴射ヘッド) 16…吸引ポンプ(吸引部) 24…ノズルガード 24a…天板部 24b…周壁部 24c,111,121,124c,133…スリット 31a…ノズル孔 31c…ノズル列 60,131,132…吸引流路 60a,131a,132a…吸引口 141…誘導部材 161…吸収体 I…インク(液体) R…負圧室 S…空間 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,200 ... Inkjet recording apparatus (liquid jet recording apparatus) 5 ... Ink supply part (liquid supply part) 10, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 ... Inkjet head (liquid jet) Head) 16 ... Suction pump (suction part) 24 ... Nozzle guard 24a ... Top plate part 24b ... Peripheral wall part 24c, 111, 121, 124c, 133 ... Slit 31a ... Nozzle hole 31c ... Nozzle array 60, 131, 132 ... Suction flow Paths 60a, 131a, 132a ... suction port 141 ... induction member 161 ... absorber I ... ink (liquid) R ... negative pressure chamber S ... space

Claims (18)

  1.  噴射孔列を水平方向に配列した状態で、前記噴射孔列から水平方向に液体を噴射する液体噴射ヘッドにおいて、
     前記噴射孔列を覆うように形成された噴射体ガードを備え、
      前記噴射体ガードは、前記噴射孔列の周囲を囲む周壁部と、前記周壁部の周縁から前記噴射孔列の開口面に沿って延出し、前記噴射孔列に対向するスリットを有する天板部と、
     前記噴射体ガードの内側空間に連通し、前記噴射孔列から漏出した前記液体を吸引する吸引部が接続される吸引流路を備え、
     前記吸引流路の吸引口が、前記噴射孔列よりも重力方向における下方に配置されていることを特徴とする液体噴射ヘッド。
    In a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid in the horizontal direction from the ejection hole row in a state where the ejection hole row is arranged in the horizontal direction,
    An ejector guard formed so as to cover the ejection hole row;
    The spray guard includes a peripheral wall portion surrounding the periphery of the injection hole row, and a top plate portion having a slit extending from the peripheral edge of the peripheral wall portion along the opening surface of the injection hole row and facing the injection hole row. When,
    A suction channel that communicates with the inner space of the spray guard and is connected to a suction section that sucks the liquid leaked from the spray hole row;
    The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the suction port of the suction flow path is disposed below the spray hole array in the gravity direction.
  2.  前記吸引流路を複数備えていることを特徴とする請求項1記載の液体噴射ヘッド。 The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the suction flow paths.
  3.  前記吸引口は、前記スリットに対向しない位置に設けられていることを特徴とする請求項1または請求項2記載の液体噴射ヘッド。 3. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the suction port is provided at a position not facing the slit.
  4.  前記スリットの開口幅は、重力方向において前記噴射孔列より上方の前記スリットの開口幅に比べて、重力方向において前記噴射孔列より下方の前記スリットの開口幅の方が、大きく設定されていることを特徴とする請求項1ないし請求項3の何れか1項に記載の液体噴射ヘッド。 The opening width of the slit is set to be larger in the gravity direction than the opening width of the slit above the injection hole array in the gravitational direction. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting head is a liquid ejecting head.
  5.  前記噴射孔列の配列方向に沿って前記吸引口から離れるにつれ、重力方向において前記噴射孔列より下方の前記スリットの開口幅が、漸次大きくなるように形成されていることを特徴とする請求項4記載の液体噴射ヘッド。 The opening width of the slit below the injection hole array in the gravitational direction is formed so as to gradually increase as the distance from the suction port is increased along the arrangement direction of the injection hole array. 4. The liquid jet head according to 4.
  6.  前記吸引流路が、前記噴射体ガードの前記内側空間における重力方向の下面に当接した状態で延在していることを特徴とする請求項1ないし請求項5の何れか1項に記載の液体噴射ヘッド。 The said suction flow path is extended in the state contact | abutted to the lower surface of the gravity direction in the said inner space of the said ejector guard, The Claim 1 thru | or 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. Liquid jet head.
  7.  前記噴射体ガードの前記内側空間の容積は、重力方向において前記スリットより下方の前記内側空間の容積に比べて、重力方向において前記スリットより上方の前記内側空間の容積の方が、小さく設定されていることを特徴とする請求項1ないし請求項6の何れか1項に記載の液体噴射ヘッド。 The volume of the inner space of the ejector guard is set to be smaller in the volume of the inner space above the slit in the gravitational direction than the volume of the inner space below the slit in the gravity direction. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting head is provided.
  8.  前記噴射体ガードの前記内側空間には、前記噴射孔列から漏出した前記液体を吸収するための吸収体が配置されていることを特徴とする請求項1ないし請求項7の何れか1項に記載の液体噴射ヘッド。 8. The absorber according to claim 1, wherein an absorber for absorbing the liquid leaking from the jet hole array is disposed in the inner space of the jet guard. The liquid jet head described.
  9. 前記噴射体ガードの前記内側空間には、前記噴射孔列から漏出した前記液体を前記吸引口まで誘導する誘導部材が配置されていることを特徴とする請求項1ないし請求項8の何れか1項に記載の液体噴射ヘッド。 9. The guide member according to claim 1, wherein a guide member that guides the liquid leaked from the jet hole array to the suction port is disposed in the inner space of the jet guard. The liquid ejecting head according to the item.
  10.  前記天板部には、前記内側空間に向けて窪む窪み部が形成され、前記窪み部の底面に前記スリットが形成されていることを特徴とする請求項1ないし請求項9の何れか1項に記載の液体噴射ヘッド。 10. The hollow plate according to claim 1, wherein the top plate is formed with a recess that is recessed toward the inner space, and the slit is formed on a bottom surface of the recess. The liquid ejecting head according to the item.
  11. 前記天板部には、前記内側空間に向けて突出し、かつ前記スリットを環状に囲繞する環状突出壁が形成されていることを特徴とする請求項1ないし請求項10の何れか1項に記載の液体噴射ヘッド。 11. The annular projection wall that protrudes toward the inner space and surrounds the slit in an annular shape is formed on the top plate portion. Liquid jet head.
  12.  請求項1ないし請求項11の何れか一項に記載の液体噴射ヘッドと、
     前記液体噴射ヘッドに前記液体を供給し得るように構成された液体供給部と、
     前記吸引流路に接続されて前記内側空間を負圧室とし、前記吸引流路を介して前記噴射孔列から漏出した前記液体を吸引する前記吸引部とを具備することを特徴とする液体噴射記録装置。
    A liquid jet head according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
    A liquid supply unit configured to supply the liquid to the liquid jet head;
    A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: the suction space connected to the suction flow path, the inner space serving as a negative pressure chamber, and sucking the liquid leaked from the ejection hole array through the suction flow path. Recording device.
  13.  複数の前記吸引流路が一括して前記吸引部に接続されていることを特徴とする請求項12記載の液体噴射記録装置。 13. The liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of the suction flow paths are collectively connected to the suction portion.
  14. 前記液体噴射ヘッドが重力方向に沿って複数配列され、前記液体噴射ヘッドの配列方向に沿って搬送される被記録媒体に対して連続的に前記液体を噴射することを特徴とする請求項12または請求項13記載の液体噴射記録装置。 13. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of the liquid ejecting heads are arranged along a gravity direction, and the liquid is continuously ejected onto a recording medium conveyed along the arrangement direction of the liquid ejecting heads. The liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 13.
  15. 請求項12ないし請求項14の何れか1項に記載の液体噴射記録装置であって、
    前記負圧室内に溢れ出た前記液体を吸引することで回収し、噴射孔のそれぞれに連通する複数の圧力発生室に該液体を供給する再利用液体供給系を有することを特徴とする液体噴射記録装置。
    15. The liquid jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14,
    A liquid jet having a reuse liquid supply system for collecting the liquid overflowing into the negative pressure chamber by suction and supplying the liquid to a plurality of pressure generation chambers communicating with each of the jet holes. Recording device.
  16. 請求項15に記載の液体噴射記録装置であって、
    前記再利用液体供給系に、フィルタ部もしくは脱気装置を有することを特徴とする液体噴射記録装置。
    The liquid jet recording apparatus according to claim 15,
    A liquid jet recording apparatus comprising a filter unit or a deaeration device in the reuse liquid supply system.
  17.  請求項12ないし請求項16の何れか1項に記載の液体噴射記録装置の使用方法であって、
    前記吸引部を第1出力により動作させることで、前記内側空間を負圧室とし、前記吸引流路を介して前記噴射孔列から漏出した前記液体を吸引する液体充填モードを有することを特徴とする液体噴射記録装置の使用方法。
    A method for using the liquid jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 16,
    By operating the suction part with a first output, the inner space is set as a negative pressure chamber, and a liquid filling mode for sucking the liquid leaked from the ejection hole array through the suction flow path is provided. To use the liquid jet recording apparatus.
  18.  請求項12ないし請求項16の何れか1項に記載の液体噴射記録装置の使用方法であって、
     前記吸引部を第1出力により動作させることで、前記内側空間を負圧室とし、前記吸引流路を介して前記噴射孔列から漏出した前記液体を吸引する液体充填モードと、
     前記吸引部を前記第1出力よりも小さい第2出力によって動作させ、前記噴射孔列から被記録媒体へ前記液体を噴射して前記被記録媒体に記録を行う通常使用モードとを切替制御することを特徴とする液体噴射記録装置の使用方法。
    A method for using the liquid jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 16,
    By operating the suction part with a first output, the liquid filling mode for sucking the liquid leaked from the ejection hole array through the suction flow path, with the inner space as a negative pressure chamber;
    The suction unit is operated with a second output smaller than the first output, and switching control is performed between a normal use mode in which the liquid is ejected from the ejection hole array to the recording medium and recording is performed on the recording medium. A method of using a liquid jet recording apparatus.
PCT/JP2010/054187 2009-03-16 2010-03-12 Liquid injection head, liquid injection recording device, and usage of liquid injection recording device WO2010106970A1 (en)

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JPS5222925A (en) * 1975-08-13 1977-02-21 Hitachi Ltd Ink jet reording device
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JPS5222925A (en) * 1975-08-13 1977-02-21 Hitachi Ltd Ink jet reording device
JPH11505481A (en) * 1995-05-09 1999-05-21 ムーア ビジネス フォームス インコーポレイテッド Cleaning fluid apparatus and method for continuous printing ink jet nozzle
JP2002079666A (en) * 2000-06-27 2002-03-19 Toshiba Tec Corp Ink jet printer head

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WO2016075889A1 (en) * 2014-11-12 2016-05-19 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Liquid jetting head, line head, and liquid jetting device

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