WO2014002671A1

WO2014002671A1 - Ink jet recording device

Info

Publication number: WO2014002671A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/064844
Authority: WO
Inventors: 卯野　哲夫
Original assignee: コニカミノルタ株式会社
Priority date: 2012-06-29
Filing date: 2013-05-29
Publication date: 2014-01-03
Also published as: JPWO2014002671A1

Abstract

The present invention allows safe replacement work, wherein an operator avoids the danger of getting burnt by touching a structure to be replaced such as an ink jet head that has reached a high temperature, to be reliably and efficiently performed. An ink jet recording device (1) is provided with: a head (40) having an ink supply path(43) to a pressurization chamber (42) that applies an ink discharge force from nozzles (41); an ink supply mechanism (50) that supplies ink to the head; heaters (44, 51) that heat the ink; temperature sensors (45, 52) that detect the temperature of the head and ink supply mechanism; an operation input device (30) provided for operations of the operator; a display output device (20); and a controller (10). The controller turns the heaters off (S2) when a replacement work authorization request for the head and ink supply mechanism has been inputted from the operation input device (S1), and outputs instructions to the display output device guiding the operator to commence replacement work in such a manner as to avoid burns resulting from touching the structure pertaining to the replacement work authorization request on the basis of a temperature sensor detection signal (S3 to S6).

Description

Inkjet recording device

The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus that transports a recording medium and forms an image by ejecting ink droplets from a recording head onto the transported recording medium is used.
In an inkjet recording apparatus, there is a need to replace a module such as an inkjet head in order to maintain and recover performance, but it is desired that the operation can be performed safely.
The ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a sensor for detecting opening and closing of the head cover for the purpose of reducing troublesome operations such as shutting off the head power supply that occur during print head replacement work. In response to this, the head power supply is instructed to be cut off, and further, in accordance with the instruction, it is confirmed by the voltage sensor that the head power supply has been cut off surely, and then notification that the replacement of the print head is allowed is given.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-329315

In the invention described in Patent Document 1, a necessary process such as shutting off the head power supply is performed without bothering the operator according to the operation of the member operated before and after the replacement of the print head such as the head cover. I did it.
However, in an ink jet recording apparatus to which an ink that has high viscosity at normal temperature and can be ejected by an ink jet head when heated to a high temperature, the ink jet head is at a high temperature. It is necessary to start the replacement work after the safe temperature has dropped, and it may be necessary to wait several tens of minutes.
When the invention described in Patent Document 1 is applied, a notification that the replacement of the print head is allowed without taking time after the power is turned off cannot be given to the worker when the temperature is lowered to a safe temperature.
Ink supply path connected to the inkjet head as well as the ink flow path in the inkjet head in order to heat the ink in the ink supply path upstream of the pressurizing chamber that applies ejection force to the ink corresponding to each nozzle There is an ink jet recording apparatus in which a heater is provided to heat ink. In such an ink jet recording apparatus, the temperature of the ink supply path connected to the ink jet head is also increased, and the operator can be burned not only when replacing the ink supply path connected to the ink jet head but also the ink supply path. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to start the replacement work after the safe temperature has dropped.
The worker must wait for the temperature to drop to a safe temperature even when touched, but it is difficult for the operator to know exactly when the temperature is within the safe temperature range. There is a risk of touching or inefficiency over time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems in the prior art, and ensures safe and efficient replacement work that avoids the risk of burns when an operator touches the configuration of an exchange target such as a heated inkjet head. It is an issue to be able to do it.

The invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-described problem is an inkjet recording apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink droplets from a nozzle.
An inkjet head having an ink supply path for supplying ink to the nozzle, a pressurizing chamber for applying an ink ejection force from the nozzle, and the pressurizing chamber;
An ink supply mechanism for supplying ink to the inkjet head;
A heater for heating ink held in the ink supply path of the inkjet head and / or ink held in the ink supply mechanism;
A control device that controls the heater and that can input a replacement work permission request for all or a part of the configuration of the inkjet head and the ink supply mechanism;
A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the configuration relating to the replacement work permission request;
With
When the replacement work permission request is input, the control device turns off the heater and works to start a replacement work that avoids a burn due to contact with the configuration related to the replacement work permission request based on a detection signal of the temperature sensor. An inkjet recording apparatus that outputs a display command for guiding a person.

In the invention according to claim 2, the control device refers to a safety reference temperature that defines a temperature that is safe even if touched by an operator, and turns off the heater when the replacement work permission request is input. Based on the detection signal of the temperature sensor, it is monitored whether the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request is equal to or lower than the safety reference temperature, and the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request exceeds the safety reference temperature. When the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request is equal to or lower than the safety reference temperature, a display command for guiding the worker to avoid contact with the configuration related to the replacement work permission request is output. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a display command for guiding to start is output.

The invention according to claim 3 prevents the worker from contacting the configuration related to the replacement work permission request by closing, and enables the replacement work of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request by the worker by opening. With an opening and closing mechanism,
The control device controls locking in a state in which the opening and closing mechanism is closed, and when the replacement work permission request is input, the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request based on the detection signal of the temperature sensor is The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when it is determined that the temperature is equal to or lower than a safety reference temperature, the opening / closing mechanism is unlocked.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the replacement work permission request is input, the control device is configured such that the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request is equal to or lower than the safety reference temperature based on the detection signal of the temperature sensor. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the power supplied to the ink jet head is cut off by a time point when it is determined that the ink jet recording is performed.

The invention according to claim 5 includes a heater for heating the ink held in the ink supply path of the inkjet head, and a heater for heating the ink held in the ink supply mechanism. It is an inkjet recording device as described in any one.

According to the present invention, when a replacement work permission request for a configuration such as an ink jet head that holds ink heated by a heater is input, the heater is turned off, and the replacement work permission request is configured based on the detection signal of the temperature sensor. The display command that guides the worker to the start of replacement work avoiding burns due to contact with the battery is output, so the worker can perform safe replacement work that avoids the risk of burns by touching the configuration to be replaced at a high temperature. It can be performed reliably and efficiently.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a main configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the exchange work permission process which the control apparatus of the inkjet recording device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention performs.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following is one embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention.

First, a preferred embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a control device 10, a display output device 20, an operation input device 30, an inkjet head 40, an ink supply mechanism 50, an interface 60, and a memory 70. And a cover lock mechanism 80.
The control device 10 includes an overall control unit 11, a supply system heater control unit 12, and a head control unit 13. The overall control unit 11 outputs a display command to the display output device 20 and receives an operation input signal input from the operation input device. Further, the overall control unit 11 outputs a control command to the supply system heater control unit 12 and the head control unit 13. The head controller 13 is supplied with a power source A4 for driving the heater and driving the head.

As the display output device 20, an image display device 21 and a patrol lamp 22 are provided. The image display device 21 is configured by a liquid crystal display device or the like, and displays an image based on information input from the overall control unit 11. The patrol lamp 22 is a rotating lamp that emits light in colors such as red, blue, yellow, green, and purple.
The operation input device 30 is supplied to the operator's operation and inputs a signal corresponding to the operation to the overall control unit 11. As the image display device 21 and the operation input device 30, for example, those integrally configured as a control panel are applied. The operation input device 30 and the image display device 21 may be configured as a communication device connected via a communication network.

The inkjet head 40 is formed with a plurality of

nozzles

41, 41,... That eject ink droplets. The plurality of

nozzles

41, 41,... Are arranged with opening openings on the end face of the inkjet head 40 facing the recording medium (not shown). A pressurizing chamber 42 in which the ink ejection force from the nozzle 41 is applied continuously to the nozzle 41 is formed. Based on a control command related to image formation from the overall control unit 11, the head control unit 13 generates discharge driving power A 3 for driving the piezoelectric element disposed in the pressurizing chamber 42, and outputs it to the inkjet head 40. 40, an ejection driving power is applied to the piezoelectric element in the pressurizing chamber 42, and ink droplets are ejected from the

nozzles

41, 41,... Onto the recording medium, thereby forming an image.

The inkjet head 40 is an assembly module serving as a replacement unit. In the ink jet head 40, ink supply paths 43 to the pressurizing

chambers

42, 42,. Further, the ink delivery end 53 of the ink supply mechanism 50 is connected to the inkjet head 40. The ink supply mechanism 50 is configured to supply ink to the inkjet head 40, and includes an ink tank (not shown), a pump (not shown) for feeding ink from the ink tank to the inkjet head 40, a pipe, a tube, and the like. An ink flow path (including an ink storage space; the same applies hereinafter) is formed and is configured to hold and flow ink from the ink tank to the ink delivery end 53.
A heater 44 for heating the ink held in the nozzle 41, the pressurizing chamber 42 and the ink supply path 43 is provided. A heater 51 for heating the ink held in the ink supply mechanism 50 is provided. The heater 44 and the heater 51 may be provided in contact with members constituting the ink flow path, or may be provided so as to conduct heat without contact. The heater 51 may be provided in the ink tank in addition to the ink supply path ahead of the ink tank.
Ink is first heated by the heater 51 as a heat source in the ink supply mechanism 50 and then rises in temperature. Next, while the ink flows into the ink supply path 43 of the inkjet head 40 and is held, the ink is discharged from the nozzle 41 by using the heater 44 as a heat source. The pressure chamber 42 is replenished as the ink is discharged from the nozzle 41.

The head controller 13 controls the power supply A1 to the heater 44 based on a control command from the overall controller 11. The supply system heater control unit 12 controls power supply to the heater 51 based on a control command from the overall control unit 11. As for the heater 51, the heater power source B1 and the heater ON / OFF signal line B2 are connected to the heater connecting portion 53 having a switch function, and based on the heater ON / OFF signal from the supply system heater control portion 12, The configuration in which the heater power B3 is supplied to and cut off from the heater 51 is illustrated. This function is configured in the head controller 13 with respect to the heater 44.

A thermistor 45 is attached to the ink supply path 43. The thermistor 45 is for controlling the temperature of the ink in the ink supply path 43. The head control unit 13 that has received a control command related to ink temperature control from the overall control unit 11 controls ON / OFF of the heater 44 so as to reach the target ink temperature based on the signal A2 detected by the thermistor 45.
A thermistor 52 is attached to the ink supply mechanism 50. The thermistor 52 is for controlling the ink temperature of the ink supply mechanism 50. The supply system heater control unit 12 that has received a control command related to ink temperature control from the overall control unit 11 controls ON / OFF of the heater 51 so as to reach the target ink temperature based on the signal B4 detected by the thermistor 52. .

Further, the thermistor 45 and the thermistor 52 are also used as temperature sensors for detecting the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request in the replacement work permission process of the ink jet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50. That is, the thermistor 45 and the thermistor 52 for controlling the temperature of the ink are used for detecting the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request. A temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request may be provided separately.
In the present embodiment, the components that are permitted to be replaced are the inkjet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50.
In the case of replacement of all of the inkjet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50, it is necessary to permit replacement work. Even a part of the ink-jet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50 needs to be replaced if there is a risk of the temperature becoming high enough to cause burns.
One or more sets of the inkjet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50 connected to the inkjet head 40 described above are provided. Although FIG. 1 shows two sets as an example, they are not limited to this.

The interface 60 is used for inputting information from the outside and outputting information to the outside.
The safety reference temperature input via the interface 60 or from the operation input device 30 is stored in the memory 70 in advance. The safety reference temperature defines a temperature that is safe even if touched by an operator.

The cover lock mechanism 80 is a mechanism that locks an open / close cover (not shown) that covers the opening of the machine room in which the inkjet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50 are installed, and is locked based on the control of the overall control unit 11.・ The lock is released. When the opening / closing cover is closed, the operator cannot contact the ink jet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50, and when it is open, the operator can contact the ink jet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50. Can work.

Next, the replacement work permission process executed by the control device 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, a replacement work permission request is input from the operation input device 30 to the control device 10 (step S1). Here, it is assumed that all replacements constituting the inkjet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50 are received and processed.
When the replacement work permission request is input, the control device 10 turns off the

heaters

44 and 51 and the head driving power (step S2), and causes the display output device 20 to output a display indicating “Waiting for temperature drop” (step S3). ). However, voltage is applied to the

thermistors

45 and 52 in order to obtain detection signals from the

thermistors

45 and 52.
Next, the control device 10 calculates the temperatures of the ink jet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50 according to the replacement work permission request based on the detection signals of the thermistors 45 and 52 (step S4).
Next, the control device 10 refers to the safety reference temperature, and determines whether or not the temperatures of the inkjet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50 have become equal to or lower than the safety reference temperature (step S5).
If NO in step S5, that is, if the temperature of the ink jet head 40 or the ink supply mechanism 50 exceeds the safety reference temperature, the control device 10 returns to step S4 to check the temperature of the ink jet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50. Continue monitoring. At this time, the display of “waiting for temperature drop” and the lock of the cover lock mechanism 80 are maintained.
If YES in step S5, that is, if the temperatures of the inkjet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50 are equal to or lower than the safety reference temperature, the display output device 20 outputs a display indicating “replaceable” and the cover. The lock mechanism 80 is unlocked (step S6), and the process ends. After that, upon receiving a replacement completion instruction input from the operation input device 30, the control device 10 supplies power to the

heaters

44 and 51 and the inkjet head 40 to perform a preparation process for the image forming operation.
If the cover lock mechanism 80 is not provided, the cover lock release process in step S6 is not performed. Further, even if the head driving power is not turned off in step S2, the head driving power may be turned off until it becomes YES in step S5 at the latest. When the control device 10 determines YES in step S5, that is, when it is determined that the temperature is equal to or lower than the safety reference temperature, the control device 10 cuts off the power supplied to the inkjet head 40 and prepares for replacement.

Next, display modes will be described.
The display composed of the above-described step S3 and step S6 guides the worker to the start of replacement work avoiding burns due to contact with the structure related to the replacement work permission request.
Therefore, the display of the patrol lamp 22 is, for example, a display form in which the yellow patrol lamp is turned on when the safety reference temperature is exceeded and the yellow patrol lamp is turned off when the temperature is lower than the safety reference temperature, or the yellow patrol lamp is turned off. At the same time, a display form in which a blue patrol lamp is turned on is applied.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, the display by the image display device 21 indicates that “the temperature is waiting to be lowered” when the safety reference temperature is exceeded, and is “replaceable” when the temperature falls below the safety reference temperature. Switched to the display. As another example, when the temperature exceeds the safety reference temperature, a message indicating “Waiting for temperature decrease” may be displayed, and when the temperature falls below the safety reference temperature, the message indicating “Waiting for temperature decrease” may be simply erased. The disappearance of the active display corresponds to the display. Even in such a display form, the operator waits for the replacement work while displaying “Waiting for temperature drop”, and starts the replacement work when the display indicating “Waiting for temperature drop” disappears. The operator can be guided to the start of the replacement work avoiding the burn caused by the contact with the configuration to be replaced. The same can be said for the case where the display of “Waiting for temperature drop” is omitted and the display of “Replaceable” is output when the temperature falls below the safety reference temperature.
As another alternative example, a display form that does not indicate the reason for waiting such as “processing in progress” or “please wait” can be applied instead of “waiting for temperature drop”. Also, instead of “Waiting for temperature drop”, a warning that the temperature is high, such as “Caution for high temperature of head”, may be displayed. Even in these displays, the worker can wait for the replacement work during the display, and can start the replacement work when the display disappears (or when “replaceable” is displayed at the same time).
A display form that does not use the safety reference temperature can also be applied. For example, a step of displaying the temperature calculated in step S4 after step S4 is provided. This is because the operator can recognize the temperatures of the ink jet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50 to be replaced by viewing the temperature display. Step S4 is executed at regular time intervals, and the calculated temperatures are sequentially updated and displayed. In this case, steps S3, S5 and S6 may be adopted as they are or may be abolished. Even when steps S3, S5, and S6 are abolished, it is difficult for the operator to recognize the temperature of the inkjet head 40 or the ink supply mechanism 50 to be replaced by looking at the display of the temperature calculated in step S4 and to touch it. If so, it is possible to wait for the replacement work and start the replacement work when the temperature is safe to touch.
The display on the image display device 21 is not limited to display by characters, but may be expressed by symbols or patterns, or a combination thereof. Only one of the display by the image display device 21 and the display by the patrol lamp 22 may be adopted.

Regardless of the above embodiment, the input menu for the replacement work permission request for the inkjet head 40, the input menu for the replacement work permission request for the ink supply mechanism 50, and the heat exchange module provided with the heater 51 in the ink supply mechanism 50. An individual input menu such as an input menu for a replacement work permission request may be provided, and the replacement work permission process may be performed for each. Even in such a case, it is preferable to turn off the heater power of both the inkjet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50 since heat is transmitted to each other.
Further, in the above embodiment, the configuration in which the heater and the temperature sensor are provided and the burn injury due to the contact is the inkjet head 40 and the ink supply mechanism 50, but only one of the heaters is provided. In some cases, the present invention can be implemented. In that case, the replacement work permission process is performed on at least a configuration provided with a heater.
In addition, as a display output device in the above embodiment, a sound display output device can be employed. In this case, for example, it is performed by starting to output a sound display indicating “replaceable” when the temperature becomes lower than the safety reference temperature.

The present invention can be used for recording an image on a recording medium.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording apparatus 10 Control apparatus 11 Overall control part 12 Supply system heater control part 13 Head control part 20 Display output apparatus 21 Image display apparatus 22 Pat lamp 30 Operation input apparatus 40 Inkjet head 41 Nozzle 42 Pressurization chamber 43 Ink supply path 44 Heater 45 Thermistor (temperature sensor)
50 Ink supply mechanism 51 Heater 52 Thermistor (temperature sensor)
60 Interface 70 Memory 80 Cover lock mechanism

Claims

In an inkjet recording apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink droplets from a nozzle,
An inkjet head having an ink supply path for supplying ink to the nozzle, a pressurizing chamber for applying an ink ejection force from the nozzle, and the pressurizing chamber;
An ink supply mechanism for supplying ink to the inkjet head;
A heater for heating ink held in the ink supply path of the inkjet head and / or ink held in the ink supply mechanism;
A control device that controls the heater and that can input a replacement work permission request for all or a part of the configuration of the inkjet head and the ink supply mechanism;
A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the configuration relating to the replacement work permission request;
With
When the replacement work permission request is input, the control device turns off the heater and works to start a replacement work that avoids a burn due to contact with the configuration related to the replacement work permission request based on a detection signal of the temperature sensor. An inkjet recording apparatus that outputs a display command for guiding a person.
The control device refers to a safety reference temperature that defines a temperature that is safe even if touched by an operator, turns off the heater when the replacement work permission request is input, and based on a detection signal of the temperature sensor It is monitored whether the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request is equal to or lower than the safety reference temperature, and when the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request exceeds the safety reference temperature, A display command for guiding the worker to avoid contact with the configuration is output, and when the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request is equal to or lower than the safety reference temperature, a display command for guiding the start of replacement work is issued. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus outputs the ink.
An opening / closing mechanism that prevents contact with the configuration related to the replacement work permission request of the worker by closing, and enables the replacement work of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request by the worker by opening,
The control device controls locking in a state in which the opening and closing mechanism is closed, and when the replacement work permission request is input, the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request based on the detection signal of the temperature sensor is The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when it is determined that the temperature is equal to or lower than a safety reference temperature, the lock of the opening / closing mechanism is released.
When the replacement work permission request is input, the control device determines that the temperature of the configuration related to the replacement work permission request is less than or equal to the safety reference temperature based on the detection signal of the temperature sensor. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the power supplied to the head is cut off.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a heater that heats ink held in the ink supply path of the inkjet head; and a heater that heats ink held in the ink supply mechanism. Inkjet recording device.