JP2007090593A - Ink supply system in inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink supply system in an inkjet printer which dispenses with complicated control, with a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The ink supply system in an inkjet printer is equipped with an ink storing means for storing ink, an ink head which receives the ink supplied from the ink storing means and prints on a medium, a first and a second opening portions which are branched and formed on one end side of a passage, and a third and a fourth opening portions which are branched and formed on the other side of the passage. The supply system has valves which open and close the passage between the first and the second opening portions and between the third and the fourth opening portions, a pump which is provided with an ink suction port and an ink supply port and conveys the ink, a first passage which communicates between the ink head and the first opening portion of the valve, a second passage which communicates between the ink supply port of the pump and the second opening portion of the valve, a third passage which communicates between the ink suction port of the pump and the third opening portion of the valve, and a fourth passage which communicates between the ink cartridge and the fourth opening portion of the valve. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink supply system in an ink jet printer, and more specifically, printing on a medium such as recording paper by numerical control, for example, color printing at high speed and high resolution is performed by an ink jet method. The present invention relates to an ink supply system in an ink jet printer.

  In this specification, the term “medium” refers to various recording media made of paper such as plain paper, various materials such as resin materials such as PVC and polyester, and materials such as aluminum, iron, and wood. Material shall be included.

  Further, in this specification, the “ink-jet method” is conventionally known, including various continuous methods such as a binary deflection method or a continuous deflection method, and various on-demand methods such as a thermal method or a piezoelectric element method. This means a printing method based on the ink jet technology based on the various methods described above.

  Conventionally, the entire operation is controlled by a micro computer, and the width direction of the recording paper (in this specification, the width direction of the recording paper is referred to as “main scanning direction” on the recording paper supplied by the paper feeding device. Ink jet printers are known in which predetermined printing is performed on a medium by an ink jet method using an ink head that is moved as follows.

  By the way, in such an ink jet printer, in order to perform printing by supplying liquid ink to the ink head, ink for supplying ink from the storage means storing the liquid ink to the ink head A supply system is provided.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual structural explanatory diagram of an ink supply system in a conventional ink jet printer. This ink supply system 100 is transferred from an ink cartridge 102 as an ink storage means to an ink head 104. Ink fill processing to set the ink jet printer to a printable state by filling ink in the ink transport path while venting the gas in the ink transport path to reach, and ejecting ink from the ink head 104 vigorously Thus, a cleaning process for eliminating clogging of the ink head 104 can be performed.

  That is, the ink supply system 100 includes an ink cartridge 102 as a storage unit that stores liquid ink, an ink head 104 that performs printing by supplying ink from the ink cartridge 102, and a first opening 106 a. A first three-way valve 106 having a second opening 106b and a third opening 106c; a second three-way valve 108 having a first opening 108a, a second opening 108b and a third opening 108c; A pump 110 for transporting ink, a first tube 112 as a passage communicating the ink head 104 and the first opening 106a of the first three-way valve 106, and a second opening of the pump 110 and the first three-way valve 106 The second tube 114 serving as a passage communicating with the section 106b, the ink cartridge 102, and the third opening 106c of the first three-way valve 106. The third tube 116 and the fourth tube 118 (the third tube 116 extends from the third opening 106c of the first three-way valve 106 to the branch point A, and the fourth tube 118 extends from the branch point A. A fifth tube 120 serving as a passage connecting the pump 10 and the first opening 108a of the second three-way valve 108, and a branch point A branched from the branch point A. A sixth tube 122 serving as a passage communicating with the third opening 108c of the second three-way valve 108 is provided. In the ink supply system 100, an ink transport path is formed by the above-described components.

In the above configuration, the operation of the ink / fill process will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C. The ink / fill process is executed by the following three steps of operations.

(1) First stage operation (see FIG. 2 (a))
The first opening 106a of the first three-way valve 106 is closed and the second opening 106b and the third opening 106c are opened, while the first opening 108a and the second opening 108b of the second three-way valve 108 are opened. The third opening 108c is closed while opening. Then, the pump 110 is operated to suck ink from the ink cartridge 102, and the fourth tube 118, the third tube 116, the first three-way valve 106, the second tube 114, the pump 110, the fifth tube 120, and the second three-way. Ink is drawn into the valve 108, and the ink drawn from the second opening 108b of the second three-way valve 108 is discharged. At this time, the ink flows through the path shown in FIG.

  By this operation, an ink transport path formed by the ink cartridge 102, the fourth tube 118, the third tube 116, the first three-way valve 106, the second tube 114, the pump 110, the fifth tube 120, and the second three-way valve 108. The inside gas is discharged to the outside from the second opening portion 108b, and the ink can be filled in the ink transport path while the gas in the ink transport path is released.

(2) Second stage operation (see FIG. 2B)
The first opening 106a and the second opening 106b of the first three-way valve 106 are opened and the third opening 106c is closed, while the first opening 108a and the third opening 108c of the second three-way valve 108 are closed. While opening, the 2nd opening part 108b is closed. Then, the pump 110 is operated to suck ink from the ink cartridge 102, and the fourth tube 118, the sixth tube 122, the second three-way valve 108, the fifth tube 120, the pump 110, the second tube 114, and the first three-way. Ink is drawn into the valve 106, the first tube 112, and the ink head 104, and the ink drawn from the ink head 104 is ejected. At this time, the ink flows through the path shown in FIG.

  By this operation, the ink cartridge 102, the fourth tube 118, the sixth tube 122, the second three-way valve 108, the fifth tube 120, the pump 110, the second tube 114, the first three-way valve 106, the first tube 112, and the ink. The gas in the ink transport path formed by the head 104 is discharged to the outside from the ink head 104, and the ink can be filled in the ink transport path while venting the gas in the ink transport path.

(3) Third stage operation (see FIG. 2 (c))
The first opening portion 106a and the third opening portion 106c of the first three-way valve 106 are opened and the second opening portion 106c is closed, while the first opening portion 108a and the third opening portion 108c of the second three-way valve 108 are closed. While opening, the 2nd opening part 108b is closed, and an ink filling process is complete | finished. The pump 110 does not operate. At this time, the ink can flow along the path shown in FIG.

  When the ink-fill process is completed by the above first to third operations, it is possible to print on the medium by ejecting ink from the ink head 104 onto the medium by the ink jet method.

Next, the cleaning process will be described. The cleaning process is performed by a two-stage operation in which the above-described second-stage operation is performed and then the above-described third-stage operation is performed.

  Thereby, ink can be ejected vigorously from the ink head 104, and clogging of the ink head 104 is eliminated.

However, according to the above-described conventional ink supply system, it is necessary to use two three-way valves, and there is a problem that the opening / closing control becomes complicated because the two three-way valves are controlled to open and close together. .

  In addition, the three-way valve is relatively expensive compared to a solenoid valve or the like, and also requires a stepping motor and the like because it uses rotation control, and the conventional ink supply system causes a high manufacturing cost. there were.

  Furthermore, as in the conventional ink supply system, when the number of valves or branches through which ink passes increases, the ink flow path resistance increases, and this causes a problem in the ink ejection operation of the ink head during printing. there were.

Note that the prior art that the applicant of the present application knows at the time of filing a patent application is not an invention related to a known literature invention, so there is no prior art document information to be described.

  The present invention has been made in view of the various problems of the prior art as described above, and an object of the present invention is an ink-jet printer that does not require complicated control due to a simple configuration. An ink supply system is to be provided.

  In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink in an ink-jet printer capable of using an inexpensive apparatus configuration without using an expensive three-way valve and reducing the manufacturing cost. It is intended to provide a supply system.

  Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink supply system in an ink jet printer that suppresses an increase in ink flow path resistance and eliminates the possibility of impeding the ink ejection operation in the ink head during printing. It is something to be offered.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ink supply system in an ink jet printer according to the present invention uses one valve instead of two three-way valves.

  Therefore, according to the ink supply system in the ink jet printer according to the present invention, instead of controlling the opening and closing of the two three-way valves, it is only necessary to perform the opening and closing control of one valve. Control is very easy. In addition, compared to a conventional ink supply system using two three-way valves, the number of valves and branches through which ink passes is reduced, and an increase in ink flow path resistance is suppressed, so that the ink in the ink head during printing is reduced. There is no risk of disturbing the discharge operation.

  In addition, an ink supply system in an ink jet printer according to the present invention is configured such that the above-described valve is configured using a solenoid valve.

  Therefore, according to the ink supply system in the ink jet printer according to the present invention, the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where a three-way valve or the like is used.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is an ink storage unit that stores ink in an ink supply system in an ink jet printer that includes an ink head that discharges ink onto a medium by an ink jet method. And an ink head which is supplied with ink from the ink storing means and prints on the medium, and a first opening and a second opening formed by branching to one end side of the passage. And a third opening and a fourth opening formed by branching to the other end portion side of the passage, and the passage includes the first opening and the second opening. A valve openable and closable between the third opening and the fourth opening; a pump for transporting ink having an ink suction port and an ink delivery port; the ink head and the valve A first passage communicating with the first opening; a second passage communicating between the ink delivery port of the pump and the second opening of the valve; and the ink suction port of the pump And a third passage that communicates with the third opening of the valve, and a fourth passage that communicates with the ink cartridge and the fourth opening of the valve. is there.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the pump is operated by closing the passage of the valve, and at least the ink head and the above Ink is introduced to a position between the first opening of the valve, then the passage of the valve is opened to operate the pump, and the gas in the passage of the valve is evacuated to the pump. Through the second passage and the third passage through a path connecting the second opening and the third opening of the valve, and then the passage of the valve Close and actuate the pump, eject ink from the ink head to discharge gas from the ink head, then stop the pump to open the passage of the valve, From ink cartridge The path to the serial ink head is obtained so as to fill the ink.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present invention is the invention according to claim 1 or 2 of the present invention, wherein the valve is a solenoid disposed on the outer peripheral side of the passage. The solenoid valve has a plunger that moves in the passage by opening / closing the solenoid to open / close the passage.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has an excellent effect that it has a simple configuration and does not require complicated control.

  In addition, since the present invention is configured as described above, there is an excellent effect that the manufacturing cost can be reduced by using an inexpensive apparatus configuration without using an expensive three-way valve.

  Furthermore, since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to suppress an increase in ink flow path resistance and eliminate the possibility of hindering the ink ejection operation in the ink head during printing. Excellent effect.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of an ink supply system in an ink jet printer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural explanatory diagram of an ink jet printer provided with an example of an embodiment of an ink supply system in an ink jet printer according to the present invention.

  The ink jet printer 10 includes a fixed base member 14 supported by a base member 12 and extended in the main scanning direction. The ink jet printer 10 is disposed at right and left ends of the base member 14 at right angles to the base member 14. The side members 16L and 16R provided, the side unit 18 disposed on the side member 16R side, the central wall 20 connecting the two left and right side members 16L and 16R, and the wall surface of the central wall 20 A guide rail 22 extended in the main scanning direction, a wire 24 movably arranged in the main scanning direction parallel to the wall surface of the central wall 20, and a wire 24 fixedly provided. And a holder 26 slidably mounted on the guide rail 22 and an ink head 30 disposed on the holder 26 so as to face the recording paper 28 on the base member 14. ing.

  The overall operation of the ink jet printer 10 is controlled by the micro computer 32.

  In the ink-jet printer 10, the recording paper 28 is used as a medium. The recording paper 28 is supplied onto the base member 14 by a paper feeding device (not shown) (see the recording paper 28 shown by a broken line in FIG. 1), and has a predetermined length in the main scanning direction which is the width direction. The paper is conveyed in the direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the recording paper. The direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction (that is, the recording paper conveyance direction and the recording paper longitudinal direction) is hereinafter referred to as “sub-scanning direction”.

  In the ink jet printer 10, printing is performed on the recording paper 28 under the control of the micro computer 32.

  That is, when the wire 24 is moved by winding the wire 24, the ink head 30 mounted on the holder 26 is supplied onto the base member 14 by a paper feeding device (not shown) as the wire 24 moves. The recording paper 28 is integrally reciprocated in the forward direction (outward path) and the return direction (return path) in the main scanning direction, and printing is performed on the recording paper 28.

Here, in the ink jet printer 10, an ink supply system that supplies ink to the ink head 30 is provided in the side unit 18.

  The ink supply system 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The ink supply system 50 generates gas in the ink transport path from the ink cartridge 52 serving as an ink storage unit that stores ink to the ink head 30. Ink filling processing for setting the ink jet printer 10 in a printable state by filling the ink transport path while removing the ink, and ejecting ink from the ink head 30 vigorously, A cleaning process for eliminating clogging and the like can be performed.

  That is, the ink supply system 50 includes an ink cartridge 52 serving as an ink storage unit that stores liquid ink, an ink head 30 that is supplied with ink from the ink cartridge 52 and performs printing on a medium, and a passage 54a. A first opening 54c and a second opening 54d formed by branching to the one end 54b side, and a third opening 54f formed by branching to the other end 54e side of the passage 54a; A fourth opening 54g, and a passage 54a that can be opened and closed between the first opening 54c and the second opening 54d and the third opening 54f and the fourth opening 54g, and ink suction. A passage for communicating the ink head 30 and the first opening 54c of the valve 54 with the pump 56 for transporting ink having the port 56a and the ink outlet 56b. The first tube 58, the second tube 60 as a passage connecting the ink delivery port 56b of the pump 56 and the second opening 54d of the valve 54, the ink suction port 56a of the pump 56 and the third opening of the valve 54. The ink supply system 50 includes a third tube 62 as a passage communicating with the portion 54f, and a fourth tube 64 as a passage communicating between the ink cartridge 52 and the fourth opening 54g of the valve 54. The ink transport path is formed by the above-described constituent members.

In this embodiment, the valve 54 includes a solenoid 54h disposed on the outer peripheral side of the passage 54a, and a plunger 54i (rubber with rubber) that moves in the passage 54a by opening / closing the solenoid 54h to open and close the passage 54a. The attached plunger 54i is a plunger provided with rubber at the end, and is simply referred to as “plunger 54i” hereinafter).

  Further, the valve 54 is in the state shown in FIG. 4 when the solenoid 54h is off, that is, the passage 54a in which the plunger 54i does not close the passage 54a is opened, and the state shown in FIG. 5 when the solenoid 54h is on. In other words, the rubber 54 provided at the end of the rubber-equipped plunger 54i comes into contact with the end 54e so that the passage 54a is closed.

Next, the pump 56 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. The pump 56 presses the ink tube 56c and the ink tube 56c connecting the ink suction port 56a and the ink delivery port 56b. And a pump wheel 56f in which pulleys 56d and 56e are rotatably arranged on the outer peripheral side.

  In the pump 56, the pump wheel 56f rotates and the pulleys 56d and 56e sequentially change the pressing position of the ink tube 56c, thereby sucking ink from the ink suction port 56a and discharging ink from the ink delivery port 56b. Send it out.

  For example, JP-A-2004-42424 discloses a pump structure that sucks and delivers liquid by sequentially changing the pressing position of the ink tube 56c by the pulley by rotating the pump wheel provided with such a pulley. Since it is a well-known technique as disclosed in the publication, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Note that a path connecting the second opening 54d and the third opening 54f of the valve 54 by the second tube 60 and the third tube 62 via the pump 56 is appropriately referred to as a “pump side path”. To do.

In the above configuration, the operation of the ink / fill processing of the ink supply system 50 will be described. This ink / fill processing is executed by the following four steps of operations.

(1) First stage operation (see FIG. 5)
The solenoid 54h is turned on, the passage 54a of the valve 54 is closed by the plunger 54i, the pump 56 is operated, and ink is introduced at least to a position between the ink head 30 and the first opening 54c of the valve 54.

(2) Second stage operation (see FIG. 4)
The solenoid 54h is turned off to release the closing of the passage 54a of the valve 54 by the plunger 54i, the passage 54a is opened, the pump 56 is operated, and the gas in the passage 54a of the valve 54 is introduced into the pump side passage.

  That is, if there is enough ink between the ink head 30 and the valve 54 as much as the air capacity in the valve 54, the pump wheel 56f of the pump 56 is turned counterclockwise in FIGS. When rotated, ink flows from the second opening 54d and the first opening 54c to the end 54b, and the fourth opening 54g has the inertia and flow path resistance of the ink ahead, so the gas is sucked. Most of the water is sucked and collected from the third opening 54f. The operation time and flow rate of the pump 56 are set and controlled so that the gas is sufficiently contained between the third opening 54f and the second opening 54d of the pump side path, and the pump 56 is temporarily stopped there.

(3) Third stage operation (see FIG. 5)
The solenoid 54h is turned on, the passage 54a of the valve 54 is closed by the plunger 54i, the pump 56 is operated, ink is ejected from the ink head 30, and gas is discharged from the ink head 30.

(4) Fourth stage operation (see FIG. 4)
The operation of the pump 56 is stopped, the solenoid 54h is turned off, the closing of the passage 54a of the valve 54 by the plunger 54i is released, and the passage 54a is opened.

When the ink fill process is completed by the operations in the first to fourth steps, the ink can be filled without any gas in the path from the ink cartridge 52 to the ink head 30, and the ink jet method can be used. It becomes possible to print on the recording paper 28 by ejecting ink from the ink head 30 onto the recording paper 28.

Next, the cleaning process will be described. The cleaning process is performed by a two-stage operation in which the above-described third stage operation is performed and then the above-described fourth stage operation is performed.

  Thereby, ink can be ejected vigorously from the ink head 30, and clogging of the ink head 30 is eliminated.

Therefore, according to the ink supply system 50, since only the opening / closing control of the valve 54 has to be performed, the control is extremely easy.

  In addition, as compared with a conventional ink supply system using two three-way valves, only one valve 54 is used, so the number of valves and branches through which ink passes is reduced, and an increase in ink flow path resistance is suppressed. Thus, there is no possibility that the ink ejection operation of the ink head 30 during printing will be hindered.

  Further, according to the ink supply system 50, since the valve 54 can be constituted by an inexpensive solenoid valve, the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where a three-way valve or the like is used.

The embodiment described above may be modified as described in the following (1) and (2).

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, the ink cartridge 52 is used as the ink storing means for storing the ink, and the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 52 to the fourth tube 64. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, the sub tank is provided with a main tank filled with ink as an ink storage means for storing ink and a sub tank supplied with ink from the main tank. Ink may be supplied from the first to the fourth tube 64.

  (2) You may make it combine the above-mentioned embodiment and the modification shown in said (1) suitably.

  The present invention relates to an ink jet printer using various ink jet methods, including various continuous methods such as a binary deflection method or a continuous deflection method, and various on-demand methods such as a thermal method or a piezoelectric element method. Can be used against.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a conceptual configuration of an ink supply system in a conventional ink jet printer. 2A, 2B, and 2C are explanatory diagrams of ink fill processing of an ink supply system in a conventional ink jet printer. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of an ink jet printer provided with an example of an embodiment of an ink supply system in an ink jet printer according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a conceptual configuration explanatory view showing a part of an embodiment of an ink supply system in an ink jet printer according to the present invention, and shows a state in which a valve passage is opened. FIG. 5 is a conceptual structural explanatory view showing a part of an embodiment of an ink supply system in an ink jet printer according to the present invention, and shows a state in which a valve passage is closed. 6A is an explanatory perspective view of the entire configuration of the pump, and FIG. 6B is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 6A.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ink jet printer 12 Base member 14 Base member 16L, 16R Side member 18 Side unit 20 Center wall 22 Guide rail 24 Wire 26 Holder 28 Recording paper 30 Ink head 32 Micro computer 50 Ink supply system 52 Ink cartridge 54 Valve 54a Passage 54b, 54e End 54c First opening 54d Second opening 54f Third opening 54g Fourth opening 54h Solenoid 54i Plunger 56 Pump 56a Ink suction port 56b Ink delivery port 56c Ink cartridge Tube 56d, 56e Pulley 56f Pump wheel 58 First tube 60 Second tube 62 Third tube 64 Fourth tube

Claims (3)

In an ink supply system in an ink jet printer having an ink head for discharging ink onto a medium by an ink jet method,
Ink storage means for storing ink; and
An ink head which is supplied with ink from the ink storing means and performs printing on a medium;
A first opening and a second opening formed by branching to one end side of the passage, and a third opening formed by branching to the other end side of the passage and a first opening A valve that can be opened and closed between the first opening and the second opening and the third opening and the fourth opening, and
A pump for transporting ink having an ink suction port and an ink delivery port;
A first passage communicating the ink head and the first opening of the valve;
A second passage communicating the ink delivery port of the pump and the second opening of the valve;
A third passage communicating the ink suction port of the pump and the third opening of the valve;
An ink supply system in an ink jet printer, comprising: a fourth passage communicating the ink cartridge and the fourth opening of the valve. The ink supply system for an ink jet printer according to claim 1,
Closing the passage of the valve and operating the pump to introduce ink at least to a position between the ink head and the first opening of the valve;
Next, the passage of the valve is opened to operate the pump, and the gas in the passage of the valve is caused to pass through the pump by the second passage and the third passage. Introducing the second opening and the third opening on the side of the path that communicates,
Next, the passage of the valve is closed, the pump is operated, ink is ejected from the ink head to discharge gas from the ink head,
Next, stop the operation of the pump and open the passage of the valve,
An ink supply system in an ink jet printer, wherein ink is filled in a path from the ink cartridge to the ink head. The ink supply system in the ink jet printer according to claim 1,
The valve is a solenoid valve having a solenoid disposed on an outer peripheral side of the passage and a plunger that opens and closes the passage by moving in the passage by turning on / off the solenoid. Ink supply system for ink jet printer.

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