WO2014002877A1

WO2014002877A1 - Inkjet printing device, liquid supply device and print head cleaning method

Info

Publication number: WO2014002877A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/067034
Authority: WO
Inventors: 加藤　茂
Original assignee: 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング
Priority date: 2012-06-28
Filing date: 2013-06-21
Publication date: 2014-01-03
Also published as: JP2014008658A; CN104411499B; CN104411499A; JP5941770B2

Abstract

The invention addresses the problem of providing an inkjet printing device, etc. that have a compact configuration and highly effective head-cleaning. The solution is an inkjet printing device provided with a main port (30), which changes the degree of opening according to the negative pressure in a pressure chamber (40), and a pilot port (20) through which at least a specified flow of ink can pass. The pilot port (20) is configured so that when the degree of opening of the main port (30) is at or above a specified degree of opening, the amount of ink that can pass through the pilot port (20) is increased.

Description

Ink jet recording apparatus, liquid supply apparatus, and recording head cleaning method

The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus, a liquid supply apparatus, and a recording head cleaning method.

As a technique for improving the reliability of liquid supply by reducing the size and cost of an apparatus (for example, an ink jet recording apparatus) provided with a liquid supply mechanism, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that is mounted on a carriage in the width direction of a target. A liquid ejecting head that is reciprocally moved; and a valve unit that is mounted on the carriage to receive liquid from the liquid container via a supply path and to supply the liquid to the liquid ejecting head. In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the valve unit includes a pressure chamber connected to the liquid container via the supply path, and a valve that opens or closes the supply path to supply the liquid to the pressure chamber. And a biasing member that biases the valve in a direction to close the supply path, and a displacement based on a negative pressure generated with a decrease in the liquid in the pressure chamber, By directly transmitting the displacement to the valve, the liquid ejecting apparatus is described comprising a flexible film member for operating the valve against the urging force of the urging member.

International Publication WO2003 / 041964 Pamphlet (released on May 22, 2003)

In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the flow rate of the liquid supplied to the pressure chamber is defined by the diameter of the supply port of the valve, and this diameter is determined from the supply flow rate required during normal printing. For this reason, there is no problem during normal printing. However, if the head is cleaned by suction (that is, when the head is capped to give a large negative pressure), the pressure inside the head is extremely reduced and the bubbles in the head become larger. It becomes difficult to discharge the bubbles. Therefore, there arises a problem that the head cleaning effect is lowered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its main object to provide an ink jet recording apparatus, a liquid supply apparatus, and a recording head cleaning method having a compact configuration and a high head cleaning effect.

In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording medium, a pressure chamber that stores the ink ejected by the recording head, and the pressure. An ink supply path for supplying the ink to the chamber, and a first opening that is provided in the ink supply path and changes the opening degree so that the opening degree increases as the negative pressure increases according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber. One valve means, and a flow rate adjusting means provided upstream or downstream of the first valve means in the ink supply path and capable of passing at least a predetermined flow rate of the ink. When the opening degree of the one valve means becomes a predetermined opening degree or more, the flow rate of the ink that can pass through the flow rate adjusting means is increased.

According to the above configuration, when the recording head performs normal printing, that is, when the negative pressure of the recording head and the pressure chamber is relatively small, the flow rate of ink supplied to the pressure chamber depends on the negative pressure of the pressure chamber. The first valve means whose opening is changed is defined. On the other hand, when performing the suction cleaning of the recording head, that is, when the negative pressure of the recording head and the pressure chamber becomes relatively large and the opening degree of the first valve means exceeds a predetermined opening degree, the flow rate adjusting means The flow rate of ink supplied to the pressure chamber increases. For this reason, the bubbles in the recording head are prevented from increasing during cleaning, and the bubbles are easily discharged, so that the cleaning effect is improved. As described above, according to the above-described configuration, the flow rate of ink supplied to the pressure chamber can be controlled in two stages by the flow rate adjusting unit, so that the inkjet recording apparatus has a compact configuration and a high head cleaning effect. Can be provided.

In the ink jet recording apparatus, the flow rate adjusting means preferably comprises a second valve means having a first valve body having a hole communicating with the upstream and the downstream of the flow rate adjusting means, and the second valve means is closed. The ink can pass through the second valve means through the hole, and when the second valve means is open, a larger amount of the ink is received than when the second valve means is closed. It is preferable to be able to pass through the second valve means.

According to the above configuration, the flow rate adjusting means allows the ink of a predetermined flow rate to pass through the hole of the first valve body when the second valve means is closed, and when the second valve means is open. A larger amount of ink can be passed from the second valve means. Thereby, a flow rate adjusting means capable of controlling the flow rate in two steps with a simple and low-cost configuration can be realized.

In the ink jet recording apparatus, the first valve means includes a second valve body, and when the second valve body is displaced in a direction to open the first valve means beyond a predetermined position, the second valve body is It is preferable that the second valve means be opened in contact with the first valve body.

According to said structure, when the 1st valve means becomes more than predetermined opening, ie, the 2nd valve body with which a 1st valve means is provided exceeds a predetermined position, it is in the direction which opens a 1st valve means. When displaced, the second valve means is brought into contact with the first valve body provided in the second valve means, and the second valve means is opened by displacing the first valve body in the opening direction. As a result, the first valve means and the flow rate adjusting means can be configured integrally, and the flow rate can be increased when the first valve means reaches a predetermined opening or more with a simple and low-cost configuration. A possible flow rate adjusting means can be realized.

In the ink jet recording apparatus, the pressure chamber includes a displacement member that is displaced according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber, and the second valve body is displaced when the displacement member is displaced. Is preferred.

According to the above configuration, the opening of the first valve means can be changed by displacing the second valve body provided in the first valve means by displacing the displacement member according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber. Thereby, the 1st valve means which changes an opening degree with a simple structure according to the negative pressure in a pressure chamber is realizable.

In the ink jet recording apparatus, it is preferable that the area of the hole of the first valve body is smaller than the area of the flow path of the ink from the pressure chamber toward the recording head.

According to the above configuration, when the recording head performs normal printing, that is, when the negative pressure of the recording head and the pressure chamber is relatively small, the flow rate of ink supplied to the pressure chamber is from the pressure chamber to the recording head. It will be in a state of being throttled below the maximum flow rate that can be supplied. Thus, during normal printing, the ink supply amount can be reduced to avoid supplying ink more than necessary.

The liquid supply apparatus according to the present invention is a liquid supply apparatus that supplies a liquid to a supply destination, and includes a pressure chamber that stores the liquid supplied to the supply destination, and a liquid supply path that supplies the liquid to the pressure chamber. And a valve means for changing the opening degree so that the opening degree increases as the negative pressure increases according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber, and a valve means in the liquid supply path. And a flow rate adjusting means that is capable of passing at least a predetermined flow rate of the liquid, and the flow rate adjusting means is configured so that the opening degree of the valve means becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined opening degree. The flow rate of the liquid that can pass through the flow rate adjusting means is increased.

According to the above configuration, for example, by being incorporated in the ink jet recording apparatus, the same effects as those of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention can be obtained.

A recording head cleaning method according to the present invention is a method for cleaning a recording head in an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from the recording head onto a recording medium. The ink jet recording apparatus includes: A pressure chamber for storing the ink ejected by the recording head, an ink supply path for supplying ink to the pressure chamber, and the ink supply path. The negative pressure according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber A valve means for changing the opening degree so that the opening degree increases as the pressure increases, and a flow rate adjusting means provided upstream or downstream of the valve means in the ink supply path and capable of passing at least a predetermined flow rate of the ink A suction step for sucking the ink from the recording head, and the ink from the recording head in the suction step A negative pressure increasing step in which the negative pressure in the pressure chamber increases by being sucked, and an opening step in which the opening of the valve means increases by increasing the negative pressure in the pressure chamber in the negative pressure increasing step. And a flow rate increasing step in which the flow rate adjusting means increases the flow rate of the ink that can pass through the flow rate adjusting means when the opening degree of the valve means becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined opening degree in the opening step. It is characterized by inclusion.

According to the above method, the same effect as that of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention can be obtained.

According to the present invention, since the flow rate of the ink supplied to the pressure chamber can be controlled in two stages by the flow rate adjusting means, the inkjet recording device, the liquid supply device, and the recording device having a compact structure and high head cleaning effect. A method of cleaning the head can be provided.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A to 2C are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of a main configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are schematic views showing a modification of the pilot port in one embodiment of the present invention.

(Outline of inkjet recording apparatus)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The ink jet recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment includes a recording head 12 for ink jet recording that performs recording by discharging ink onto a recording medium, a pressure chamber 40 that stores ink discharged by the recording head 12, and a pressure chamber 40. The ink supply path (liquid supply path) 50 for supplying ink to the ink supply path 50 and the ink supply path 50 are provided so as to increase the opening according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 as the negative pressure increases. A main port (first valve means) 30 to be changed and a pilot port (flow rate adjusting means, second valve means) that is provided upstream or downstream of the main port 30 in the ink supply path 50 and through which at least a predetermined flow rate of ink can pass. 20). The pilot port 20 increases the flow rate of ink that can pass through the pilot port 20 when the opening degree of the main port 30 becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined opening degree. The ink jet recording apparatus 100 also includes an ink tank 10 that stores ink to be supplied to the ink supply path 50, a recording medium transport unit 14 that transports a recording medium on which recording is performed by the recording head 12, and a recording head drive that drives the recording head 12. Part 13 is provided. Among these, the mechanism that includes the pilot port 20, the main port 30, the pressure chamber 40, and the ink supply path 50 and supplies ink (liquid) to the recording head (supply destination) 12 is referred to as a regulator (liquid supply device) 11. Sometimes.

2A to 2C are cross-sectional views showing an example of the configuration of the main part (regulator 11) of the ink jet recording apparatus. FIG. 2A shows a case where the negative pressure of the pressure chamber 40 is small, and FIG. When the pressure is intermediate, FIG. 2C shows when the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 is large.

The ink inlet P1 is connected to a flow path from the ink tank 10 and is supplied with ink at a predetermined pressure. The ink supplied from the ink introduction port P <b> 1 is supplied to the pressure chamber 40 through the ink supply path 50 including the pilot port 20 and the main port 30. The pressure chamber 40 is provided with a recording head side supply port P2 connected to the flow path to the recording head 12, and ink is supplied to the recording head 12 through the recording head side supply port P2.

(Pressure chamber)
The pressure chamber 40 includes a damper release valve (displacement member) 41 that is displaced according to a pressure difference between inside and outside the pressure chamber 40. The damper release valve 41 can be configured as a known diaphragm. For example, in this embodiment, the side wall facing the atmosphere P 0 in the pressure chamber 40 is flexible, and a damper release valve is provided on the side wall so as to face the main port 30. The damper release valve 41 is biased to the opposite side of the main port 30 by a damper release spring 42. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 is small, the damper release valve 41 is located on the opposite side (left side of the drawing) from the main port 30, but in FIGS. 2B and 2C, As shown, when the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 increases, the side wall having flexibility is pushed by the atmospheric pressure P0, and the damper release valve 41 is displaced toward the main port 30 side.

(Main port)
The main port 30 includes a damper sealing valve (second valve body) 31, a damper sealing spring 32, and a damper sealing rubber 33. One of the damper sealing valves 31 is provided so as to face the damper sealing rubber 33 and the pressure chamber 40, and the other faces the damper sealing spring 32 and the pilot port 20. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the main port 30 is closed (fully closed), the damper sealing spring 31 presses the damper sealing valve 31 against the damper sealing rubber 33 so that the damper sealing valve 31 and the damper are pressed together. The space between the sealing rubber 33 is sealed, and the flow path between the upstream (pilot port 20) and the downstream (pressure chamber 40) of the main port 30 is closed. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the main port 30 is slightly opened, the damper sealing valve 31 is displaced to the side opposite to the pressure chamber 40 (pilot port 20 side), and the damper sealing valve 31 and the damper sealing rubber A flow path that connects the upstream (pilot port 20) and the downstream (pressure chamber 40) of the main port 30 is formed. As shown in FIG. 2C, when the main port 30 is further opened (fully opened), the damper sealing valve 31 is further displaced to the side opposite to the pressure chamber 40 (pilot port 20 side). And the damper sealing rubber 33 further increase the flow path diameter.

As described above, when the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 increases, the flexible side wall is pushed by the atmospheric pressure P0, and the damper release valve 41 is displaced toward the main port 30 side. The damper release valve 41 comes into contact with, for example, the damper sealing valve 31. When the damper release valve 41 is displaced toward the main port 30, the damper sealing valve 31 opens the main port 30. It is displaced in the direction (the direction opposite to the pressure chamber 40). That is, the main port 30 is configured such that the opening degree of the main port 30 increases as the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 increases.

(Pilot port)
The pilot port 20 includes a damper sealing valve (first valve body) 21, a damper sealing spring 22, and a damper sealing rubber 23. The damper sealing valve 21 is provided such that one is opposed to the damper sealing rubber 23 and the main port 30 and the other is opposed to the damper sealing spring 22. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the pilot port 20 is closed, the damper sealing valve 21 is pressed against the damper sealing rubber 23 by the damper sealing spring 22, and the damper sealing valve 21 and the damper seal are sealed. The space between the rubber 23 is sealed. As shown in FIG. 2C, when the pilot port 20 is open, the damper sealing valve 21 is displaced to the opposite side of the main port 30, and the pilot sealing valve 21 and the damper sealing rubber 23 are placed between the pilot sealing valve 21 and the damper sealing rubber 23. A flow path that connects the upstream (ink introduction port P1) and the downstream (main port 30) of the port 20 is formed. The damper sealing spring 22 is fixed to the damper end 24.

Here, the damper sealing valve 21 is provided with an orifice (hole) 25. For this reason, even when the pilot port 20 is closed, the upstream and downstream sides of the pilot port 20 are communicated with each other via the orifice 25 so that a predetermined flow rate of ink can pass through the pilot port 20. When the pilot port 20 is open, a larger amount of ink passes through the flow path between the damper sealing valve 21 and the damper sealing rubber 23 than when the pilot port 20 is closed. Can pass through.

As described above, the damper sealing valve 31 is displaced toward the pilot port 20 according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40. The damper sealing valve 31 is in contact with, for example, the damper sealing valve 21. When the damper sealing valve 31 is displaced to the pilot port 20 side beyond a predetermined position, the pilot port 20 is The damper sealing valve 21 is displaced in the opening direction (state shown in FIG. 2C). That is, when the opening degree of the main port 30 exceeds a predetermined opening degree (when the damper sealing valve 31 is displaced to the pilot port 20 side beyond the predetermined position), the pilot port 20 The flow rate of the ink that can be opened and pass through the pilot port 20 is increased.

(Operation of inkjet recording apparatus)
As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the ink flow rate can be controlled in two stages: the state in which the pilot port 20 is closed and the state in which the pilot port 20 is open. In the present embodiment, the damper sealing valve 31 does not displace to the pilot port 20 side beyond the predetermined position described above in the range of the negative pressure change in the pressure chamber 40 during normal printing. 20 is configured to be in a closed state. When the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 is extremely increased as in the suction cleaning of the recording head 12, the damper sealing valve 31 is displaced to the pilot port 20 side beyond the predetermined position described above, The pilot port 20 is configured to open. Thereby, the following effects are produced.

First, in normal printing, when ink is lost from the recording head 12 due to ink ejection during printing from the state of FIG. 2A, the negative pressure in the recording head 12 increases, and the recording head side supply port P2 is used. Thus, the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 connected to the recording head 12 also increases. When the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 increases, the damper release valve 41 pushes the damper sealing valve 31 and the opening degree of the main port 30 increases. Thus, ink is supplied to the pressure chamber 40 through the orifice 25 (state shown in FIG. 2B). As a result, the recording head 12 is replenished with ink. When the ink is sufficiently replenished to the recording head 12, the negative pressures of the recording head 12 and the pressure chamber 40 are reduced, and the initial state (the state shown in FIG. 2A) is restored. With the above operation, necessary ink can be successfully supplied to the recording head 12 during normal printing.

On the other hand, at the time of suction cleaning of the recording head 12, ink is sucked from the recording head 12 (suction process), so that the negative pressure of the recording head 12 increases more than that during normal printing (negative pressure increasing process). The opening degree of the port 30 increases (opening process). When the opening degree of the main port 30 becomes equal to or larger than the predetermined opening degree described above (when the damper sealing valve 31 is displaced to the pilot port 20 side beyond the predetermined position mentioned above), the damper sealing valve 31 is The sealing valve 21 is pushed, the pilot port 20 opens, and the flow rate of ink that can pass through the pilot port 20 increases (flow rate increasing step). Thereby, a large volume of ink can be flowed to the recording head 12 in a short time (state shown in FIG. 2C).

In the prior art, during the suction cleaning (hard cleaning) of the recording head, due to insufficient ink supply to the recording head, the degree of vacuum in the recording head increases (approaching an absolute vacuum), and bubbles in the recording head are a cause of nozzle missing. This causes a problem that the size of the recording medium increases and it becomes difficult to remove from the recording head.

On the other hand, in the ink jet recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, when the recording head 12 is cleaned, a large volume of ink can flow to the recording head 12 in a short time. For this reason, it is possible to avoid an excessive increase in the degree of vacuum in the recording head 12 and to prevent an increase in the size of bubbles in the recording head. Therefore, the bubbles in the recording head can be successfully discharged from the nozzle, and the recovery probability of the nozzle can be improved. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an inkjet recording apparatus, a liquid supply apparatus (mechanism), and a recording head cleaning method that have a compact configuration and a high head cleaning effect.

(Orifice hole diameter)
The area of the orifice 25 of the damper sealing valve 21 is preferably smaller than the area of the ink flow path from the pressure chamber 40 toward the recording head 12. Thus, when the recording head 12 performs normal printing, that is, when the negative pressure of the recording head 12 and the pressure chamber 40 is relatively small, the flow rate of ink supplied to the pressure chamber 40 is from the pressure chamber 40 to the recording head. 12 is in a state where the flow rate is reduced more than the maximum flow rate that can be supplied to 12. Thus, during normal printing, the ink supply amount can be reduced to avoid supplying ink more than necessary.

The area of the orifice 25 of the damper sealing valve 21 is preferably an area that can supply a sufficient amount of ink even when the most ink is used during printing. That is, it is preferable that the area of the orifice 25 of the damper sealing valve 21 is an area through which the maximum ink supply amount necessary for printing can pass. In other words, it is preferable that the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 not be increased to the extent that the pilot port 20 is opened even if printing is continued in a state where ink is used most.

In the present embodiment, the orifice 25 is incorporated in a sealed container that does not expand. Thereby, even when the pilot port 20 is opened, it is possible to preferably avoid a sudden increase in ink discharge amount without deformation of the container around the orifice 25.

(Modification)
In this embodiment, the pilot port 20 is provided upstream of the main port 30, but the pilot port 20 may be provided downstream of the main port 30. This also provides the same effect.

Further, the shape of each part shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C is merely schematic, and the shape is not particularly limited as long as the same function is achieved.

Further, the pilot port 20 may be provided with a butterfly valve (valve element) 21 ′ as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B instead of the damper sealing valve 21 having the orifice 25.

In the pilot port 20 ′ provided with the butterfly valve 21 ′, during normal printing, as shown in FIG. 3A, the butterfly valve 21 ′ is urged by a spring built in the hinge portion 26 and is perpendicular to the flow path. In this state, a predetermined flow rate of ink flows from the side of the butterfly valve 21 ′ (the gap between the butterfly valve 21 ′ and the flow path). On the other hand, at the time of suction cleaning, as shown in FIG. 3B, the butterfly valve 21 'is opened, and the flow rate of ink that can pass through the pilot port 20' is increased. The effects of the present invention can also be obtained with such a configuration.

It should be noted that the spring of the hinge portion 26 biases the butterfly valve 21 ′ with such a force that the butterfly valve 21 ′ does not operate at the negative pressure during normal printing and the butterfly valve 21 ′ opens at the negative pressure during suction cleaning. Is set to That is, in the pilot port 20 ′, the butterfly valve 21 ′ is opened when a negative pressure is generated in the pressure chamber 40 by the spring of the hinge portion 26 so that the opening degree of the main port 30 becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined opening degree. It has become.

Further, a locking mechanism is provided in the hinge portion 26, and during normal printing, the butterfly valve 21 ′ is fixed perpendicularly to the flow path by the locking mechanism. During suction cleaning, the locking mechanism is released and the butterfly valve 21 is released. 'May be a movable configuration. At this time, the release of the lock mechanism may be performed by the displacement of the damper sealing valve 31 in the main port 30. That is, in the pilot port 20 ′, when the damper sealing valve 31 is displaced in a direction to open the main port 30 beyond a predetermined position, the locking mechanism of the hinge portion 26 is released and the butterfly valve 21 ′ is opened. It may be.

<Additional notes>
As described above, the ink jet recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes the recording head 12 that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording medium, the pressure chamber 40 that stores the ink ejected by the recording head 12, and the pressure chamber. An ink supply path 50 that supplies ink to 40, and a main port that is provided in the ink supply path 50 and changes the opening degree according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 so that the opening degree increases as the negative pressure increases. 30 and a pilot port 20 which is provided upstream or downstream of the main port 30 in the ink supply path 50 and through which at least a predetermined flow rate of ink can pass. The pilot port 20 increases the flow rate of ink that can pass through the pilot port 20 when the opening degree of the main port 30 becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined opening degree.

According to the above configuration, when the recording head 12 performs normal printing, that is, when the negative pressure of the recording head 12 and the pressure chamber 40 is relatively small, the flow rate of the ink supplied to the pressure chamber 40 is the pressure chamber 40. It is defined by the main port 30 whose opening is changed according to the negative pressure. On the other hand, when performing the suction cleaning of the recording head 12, that is, when the negative pressure of the recording head 12 and the pressure chamber 40 becomes relatively large and the opening degree of the main port 30 becomes a predetermined opening degree or more, the pilot port 20 increases the flow rate of the ink supplied to the pressure chamber 40. For this reason, the bubbles in the recording head 12 are prevented from becoming large during cleaning, and the bubbles are easily discharged, so that the cleaning effect is improved. As described above, according to the above configuration, since the flow rate of ink supplied to the pressure chamber 40 can be controlled in two stages by the pilot port 20, ink jet recording with a compact configuration and high head cleaning effect. An apparatus 100 can be provided.

In the inkjet recording apparatus 100, the pilot port 20 includes a damper sealing valve 21 having an orifice 25 that communicates the upstream and downstream of the pilot port 20. When the pilot port 20 is closed, ink can pass through the orifice 25 through the orifice 25, and when the pilot port 20 is open, more ink is received than when the pilot port 20 is closed. The pilot port 20 can be passed.

According to the above configuration, when the pilot port 20 is closed, the pilot port 20 allows ink of a predetermined flow rate to pass through the orifice 25 of the damper sealing valve 21 and when the pilot port 20 is open. A larger amount of ink can be passed from the pilot port 20. Thereby, it is possible to realize the pilot port 20 capable of controlling the flow rate in two steps with a simple and low-cost configuration.

In the inkjet recording apparatus 100, the main port 30 includes a damper sealing valve 31, and when the damper sealing valve 31 exceeds a predetermined position and is displaced in the direction of opening the main port 30, the damper sealing valve 31. Comes into contact with the damper sealing valve 21 to open the pilot port 20.

According to said structure, when the main port 30 became more than predetermined opening degree, ie, the damper sealing valve 31 with which the main port 30 is provided exceeded the predetermined position, and it displaced to the direction which opens the main port 30 When the damper sealing valve 31 comes into contact with the damper sealing valve 21 provided in the pilot port 20 and is displaced in the opening direction, the pilot port 20 is opened. As a result, the main port 30 and the pilot port 20 can be configured integrally, and the pilot can increase the flow rate when the main port 30 exceeds a predetermined opening degree with a simple and low-cost configuration. Port 20 can be realized.

In the ink jet recording apparatus 100, the pressure chamber 40 includes a damper release valve 41 that is displaced according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40, and the damper sealing valve 31 is displaced by the displacement of the damper release valve 41. It has become.

According to the above configuration, the opening degree of the main port 30 can be changed by displacing the damper opening valve 41 according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 and displacing the damper sealing valve 31 provided in the main port 30. it can. Thereby, the main port 30 which changes an opening degree according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 with a simple configuration can be realized.

In the inkjet recording apparatus 100, the area of the orifice 25 of the damper sealing valve 21 is smaller than the area of the ink flow path from the pressure chamber 40 toward the recording head 12.

According to the above configuration, when the recording head 12 performs normal printing, that is, when the negative pressure of the recording head 12 and the pressure chamber 40 is relatively small, the flow rate of ink supplied to the pressure chamber 40 is the pressure chamber. Thus, the maximum flow rate that can be supplied from 40 to the recording head 12 is reduced. Thus, during normal printing, the ink supply amount can be reduced to avoid supplying ink more than necessary.

The regulator 11 according to the present embodiment is a liquid supply device that supplies liquid to the recording head 12, and includes a pressure chamber 40 that stores liquid to be supplied to a supply destination, and an ink supply path 50 that supplies liquid to the pressure chamber 40. The main port 30 is provided in the ink supply path 50 and changes the opening degree so that the opening degree increases as the negative pressure increases according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40, and the main port 30 in the ink supply path 50. And a pilot port 20 through which at least a liquid having a predetermined flow rate can pass. The pilot port 20 increases the flow rate of the liquid that can pass through the pilot port 20 when the opening degree of the main port 30 becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined opening degree.

According to the above configuration, for example, by being incorporated in the ink jet recording apparatus, an effect equivalent to that of the ink jet recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can be obtained.

The recording head 12 cleaning method according to the present embodiment is a method for cleaning the recording head 12 in the ink jet recording apparatus 100 that performs recording by discharging ink from the recording head 12 to a recording medium. The recording head 12, a pressure chamber 40 that stores ink ejected by the recording head 12, an ink supply path 50 that supplies ink to the pressure chamber 40, and an ink supply path 50 are provided in accordance with the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40. Thus, the main port 30 whose opening degree is changed so that the opening degree increases as the negative pressure increases, and the upstream or downstream side of the main port 30 in the ink supply path 50 are provided, and at least a predetermined flow rate of ink can pass therethrough. And a pilot port 20 for sucking ink from the recording head 12. When the ink is sucked from the recording head 12 in the drawing step and the suction step, a negative pressure increasing step in which the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 increases, and in the negative pressure increasing step, the negative pressure in the pressure chamber 40 increases. When the opening degree of the main port 30 is increased, and when the opening degree of the main port 30 exceeds a predetermined opening degree in the opening process, the pilot port 20 sets the flow rate of ink that can pass through the pilot port 20. And increasing the flow rate to be increased.

According to the above method, the same effect as that of the ink jet recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can be obtained.

The present invention can be used in the field of manufacturing an apparatus (for example, an ink jet recording apparatus) provided with a liquid supply mechanism.

Claims

A recording head for recording by discharging ink onto a recording medium;
A pressure chamber for storing the ink ejected by the recording head;
An ink supply path for supplying the ink to the pressure chamber;
A first valve means provided in the ink supply path for changing the opening degree so that the opening degree increases as the negative pressure increases according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber;
A flow rate adjusting means provided upstream or downstream of the first valve means in the ink supply path and capable of passing at least a predetermined flow rate of the ink;
The flow rate adjusting means increases the flow rate of the ink that can pass through the flow rate adjusting means when the opening degree of the first valve means becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined opening degree. Recording device.
2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate adjusting means comprises second valve means having a first valve body having a hole communicating with the upstream and downstream sides of the flow rate adjusting means.
When the second valve means is closed, the ink can pass through the second valve means through the hole. When the second valve means is open, the second valve means is more closed than when the second valve means is closed. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a large amount of the ink can pass through the second valve means.
The first valve means includes a second valve body,
When the second valve body exceeds a predetermined position and is displaced in the opening direction of the first valve means, the second valve body comes into contact with the first valve body and opens the second valve means. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:
The pressure chamber includes a displacement member that is displaced according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber,
5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second valve body is displaced by the displacement member being displaced.
3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an area of the hole of the first valve body is narrower than a flow area of the ink from the pressure chamber toward the recording head.
A liquid supply apparatus for supplying a liquid to a supply destination,
A pressure chamber for storing the liquid to be supplied to the supply destination;
A liquid supply path for supplying the liquid to the pressure chamber;
A valve means provided in the liquid supply path, for changing the opening degree so that the opening degree increases as the negative pressure increases, according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber;
A flow rate adjusting means provided at the upstream or downstream of the valve means in the liquid supply path, and capable of passing at least a predetermined flow rate of the liquid;
The flow rate adjusting means increases the flow rate of the liquid that can pass through the flow rate adjusting means when the opening degree of the valve means becomes a predetermined opening degree or more. .
A method of cleaning the recording head in an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a recording head onto a recording medium,
The ink jet recording apparatus
The recording head;
A pressure chamber for storing the ink ejected by the recording head;
An ink supply path for supplying ink to the pressure chamber;
Valve means that is provided in the ink supply path and changes the opening degree so that the opening degree increases as the negative pressure increases according to the negative pressure in the pressure chamber;
A flow rate adjusting means provided upstream or downstream of the valve means in the ink supply path and capable of passing at least a predetermined flow rate of the ink;
A suction step of sucking the ink from the recording head;
A negative pressure increasing step in which the negative pressure in the pressure chamber increases as the ink is sucked from the recording head in the suction step;
An opening step in which the opening of the valve means is increased by increasing the negative pressure in the pressure chamber in the negative pressure increasing step;
A flow rate increasing step in which the flow rate adjusting means increases the flow rate of the ink that can pass through the flow rate adjusting means when the opening degree of the valve means becomes a predetermined opening degree or more in the opening step. A method for cleaning a recording head.