JP2009166473A - Liquid supply device and liquid ejection device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a liquid supply device capable of supplying liquid in a liquid supply source without waste when supplying liquid from an upstream side serving as a liquid supply source toward a downstream side.
A diaphragm 37 is displaced so as to increase or decrease the volume of the pump chamber by using a part of the ink flow path 15 for supplying ink from the upstream side which is the ink cartridge 13 side to the downstream side where the ink is consumed as a pump chamber. Thus, the pump 43 that drives the pump and the control device 60 that detects the remaining amount of ink in the ink pack 56 are provided, and the ink pack 56 has a volume of the ink storage portion in the closed space that stores the ink according to the remaining amount of ink. At the same time, the control device 60 detects the amount of displacement of the diaphragm 37 when the pump 43 sucks ink into the pump chamber by displacing the diaphragm 37 in the direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases. The ink end state in the pack 56 is detected.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid supply apparatus and a liquid ejection apparatus that supply liquid from an upstream side that is a liquid supply source side toward a downstream side where the liquid is consumed.

  Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a “printer”) is widely known as one of liquid ejecting apparatuses. In this printer, printing is performed by ejecting ink supplied from a liquid supply source such as an ink pack accommodated in an ink cartridge (hereinafter referred to as “cartridge”) from a liquid ejecting head to a target.

Conventionally, such a printer has an ink remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink pack. As the ink remaining amount detecting means, for example, the ink consumption amount is calculated by counting the number of ink ejections (number of dots) from the liquid ejecting head, and the calculated ink consumption amount is used as the full filling ink amount (initial value). There has been proposed a method for detecting the remaining amount of ink by subtracting from (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-5-88552

  By the way, as shown in Patent Document 1, the conventional printer detects the remaining amount of ink in the ink pack by calculation based on the number of ink ejections. However, the remaining amount of ink detected by such calculation is only an estimated value and is not necessarily an accurate remaining amount of ink. That is, the remaining amount of ink remains sufficient for printing even though the remaining amount of ink is zero (that is, the ink end state) or close to zero (that is, the near end state). May be erroneously detected.

  Therefore, conventionally, in a printer in which the remaining amount of ink is detected by such a calculation, when the value of the remaining amount of ink detected by the calculation falls below a predetermined threshold value sufficiently larger than zero, the ink end (or It is estimated that the cartridge is in a near-end state, and a message indicating the necessity of replacing a cartridge containing an ink pack having a remaining amount of ink that can still be used is informed. Therefore, in such a case, there is a problem that the ink remaining in the ink pack of the cartridge to be replaced is not used and is wasted.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to efficiently use the liquid in the liquid supply source to the end when supplying the liquid from the upstream side serving as the liquid supply source toward the downstream side. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid supply apparatus that can supply liquid. It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus including such a liquid supply apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, a liquid supply apparatus of the present invention includes a liquid supply channel that supplies liquid from an upstream side that is a liquid supply source side toward a downstream side where the liquid is consumed, and the liquid supply channel. A pump driven by displacement of a displacement member constituting at least a part of the inner surface of the pump chamber so as to increase or decrease the volume of the pump chamber with a part of the pump chamber as a pump chamber, and a remaining amount of liquid in the liquid supply source The liquid supply device includes a liquid remaining amount detecting means for detecting the liquid, wherein the liquid supply source is configured such that the volume of the liquid storage portion in the closed space for storing the liquid changes according to the liquid remaining amount. In addition, the liquid remaining amount detecting means detects the displacement of the displacement member during suction driving in which the pump displaces the displacement member in a direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases and sucks the liquid into the pump chamber. To quantity Hazuki liquid remaining amount in the liquid containing portion is detected to be liquid end state is zero.

  According to the above-described configuration, the liquid in the liquid storage section is sucked when the pump displaces the displacement member in the direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases and sucks the liquid from the upstream side which is the liquid supply source side into the pump chamber. When the remaining amount becomes zero, the displacement amount of the displacement member is different from the displacement amount when the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion is necessary and sufficient. For this reason, the liquid remaining amount detecting means accurately detects the liquid remaining amount in the liquid storage portion based on the difference in the displacement amount of the displacement member at the time of the suction driving of the pump, without performing calculation that may cause erroneous detection. It can be detected as an end state. Therefore, when the liquid is supplied from the upstream side serving as the liquid supply source toward the downstream side, the liquid in the liquid supply source can be supplied to the end without waste.

  Further, the liquid supply device of the present invention includes a liquid supply channel that supplies liquid from an upstream side that is a liquid supply source side toward a downstream side where the liquid is consumed, and a part of the liquid supply channel is a pump chamber. A pump that is driven by a displacement member that constitutes at least a part of the inner surface of the pump chamber so as to increase or decrease the volume of the pump chamber, and a remaining liquid amount that detects the remaining liquid amount in the liquid supply source A liquid supply device including a detection unit, wherein the liquid supply source is configured such that a volume of a liquid storage portion in a closed space for storing the liquid changes according to a remaining amount of liquid, and the liquid The remaining amount detecting means is configured to store the liquid based on a displacement amount of the displacement member when the pump displaces the displacement member in a direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases and sucks the liquid into the pump chamber. Part To detect the liquid remaining.

  According to the above configuration, when the pump is displaced by the displacement member in the direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases and the liquid is sucked from the upstream side, which is the liquid supply source side, the liquid is stored in the closed space. Since the portion is deformed along the liquid surface of the liquid that is reduced by being sucked, the liquid storage portion is deformed so as to reduce its volume. In this suction drive, the displacement member in the case where the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion (that is, the remaining amount of liquid that can be supplied in the liquid storage portion in a state where it can be supplied to the outside) is necessary and sufficient. Based on the difference between the displacement amount of the displacement member and the displacement amount of the displacement member when it is not necessary and sufficient, the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion can be accurately detected without using a calculation with a possibility of erroneous detection. Therefore, when the liquid is supplied from the upstream side serving as the liquid supply source toward the downstream side, the liquid in the liquid supply source can be supplied to the end without waste.

  Further, in the liquid supply apparatus of the present invention, the liquid remaining amount detecting means has a necessary and sufficient amount of liquid remaining in the liquid storage portion in which a displacement amount of the displacement member is preset in the suction driving of the pump. When the amount of displacement is smaller than the above case, it is detected that the liquid remaining state in the liquid container is zero or the liquid near-end state near zero.

  In other words, when the remaining amount of liquid that can be supplied remaining in the liquid storage unit in the closed space in the liquid supply source is completely sucked out by the suction drive of the pump, the liquid can be further sucked from the liquid storage unit. Therefore, the displacement amount of the displacement member is smaller than the displacement amount when the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion is necessary and sufficient. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the liquid end state is detected by detecting that the displacement amount of the displacement member at the time of suction driving of the pump is smaller than the displacement amount when the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion is necessary and sufficient. Or it can detect reliably that it is a liquid near end state.

  In the liquid supply apparatus according to the present invention, the liquid remaining amount detecting means detects a position of the displacement member at the time of the suction driving of the pump, and the predetermined time elapses after the suction starts. When the position of the displacement member is different from the position where the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage unit is necessary and sufficient, the liquid end state in which the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage unit is zero or zero Detects near liquid near-end condition.

  That is, when the remaining amount of the liquid that can be supplied remaining in the liquid storage part of the closed space in the liquid supply source becomes zero, the liquid is supplied from the liquid storage part of the liquid supply source even if the pump is driven to suck. Since the suction cannot be performed, the displacement member is not displaced to the position where the liquid remaining amount in the liquid storage portion set in advance is necessary and sufficient. Therefore, according to the said structure, it can detect reliably that it is a liquid end state or a liquid near end state by detecting the position of the displacement member at the time of the suction drive of a pump.

  Further, the liquid supply device of the present invention includes a liquid supply channel that supplies liquid from an upstream side that is a liquid supply source side toward a downstream side where the liquid is consumed, and a part of the liquid supply channel is a pump chamber. A pump that is driven by a displacement member that constitutes at least a part of the inner surface of the pump chamber so as to increase or decrease the volume of the pump chamber, and a remaining liquid amount that detects the remaining liquid amount in the liquid supply source A liquid supply device including a detection unit, wherein the liquid supply source is configured such that a volume of a liquid storage portion in a closed space for storing the liquid changes according to a remaining amount of liquid, and the liquid The remaining amount detecting means includes the liquid storage portion based on a driving load of the pump during suction driving in which the pump displaces the displacement member in a direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases and sucks the liquid into the pump chamber. The liquid residual amount is detected to be liquid end state is zero.

According to the above-described configuration, the liquid in the liquid storage section is sucked when the pump displaces the displacement member in the direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases and sucks the liquid from the upstream side which is the liquid supply source side into the pump chamber. When the remaining amount becomes zero, the driving load of the pump is different from the driving load when the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage unit is necessary and sufficient. Therefore, the liquid remaining amount detecting means accurately detects the liquid end in the liquid storage unit based on the difference in the pump driving load during the suction driving of the pump without depending on the calculation with the possibility of erroneous detection. It can be detected as a state. Therefore, when the liquid is supplied from the upstream side serving as the liquid supply source toward the downstream side, the liquid in the liquid supply source can be supplied to the end without waste.

  Further, the liquid supply device of the present invention includes a liquid supply channel that supplies liquid from an upstream side that is a liquid supply source side toward a downstream side where the liquid is consumed, and a part of the liquid supply channel is a pump chamber. A pump that is driven by a displacement member that constitutes at least a part of the inner surface of the pump chamber so as to increase or decrease the volume of the pump chamber, and a remaining liquid amount that detects the remaining liquid amount in the liquid supply source A liquid supply device including a detection unit, wherein the liquid supply source is configured such that a volume of a liquid storage portion in a closed space for storing the liquid changes according to a remaining amount of liquid, and the liquid The remaining amount detecting means includes the liquid storage portion based on a driving load of the pump during suction driving in which the pump displaces the displacement member in a direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases and sucks the liquid into the pump chamber. To detect the liquid remaining.

  According to the above configuration, when the pump is displaced by the displacement member in the direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases and the liquid is sucked from the upstream side, which is the liquid supply source side, the liquid is stored in the closed space. Since the portion is deformed along the liquid surface of the liquid that is reduced by being sucked, the liquid storage portion is deformed so as to reduce its volume. When the pump is driven for suction, the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage unit (that is, the remaining amount of liquid that can be supplied in the liquid storage unit in a state where it can be supplied to the outside) is necessary and sufficient. Based on the difference between the driving load of the pump and the driving load of the pump when it is not necessary and sufficient, it is possible to accurately detect the remaining liquid amount in the liquid storage portion without using a calculation that may cause a false detection. Therefore, when the liquid is supplied from the upstream side serving as the liquid supply source toward the downstream side, the liquid in the liquid supply source can be supplied to the end without waste.

  Further, in the liquid supply apparatus of the present invention, the liquid remaining amount detecting means has a necessary and sufficient amount of liquid remaining in the liquid storage portion preset by a driving load of the pump during the suction driving of the pump. If it is larger than the driving load in this case, it is detected that the liquid remaining state in the liquid container is zero or the liquid near-end state near zero.

  That is, when the suppliable liquid remaining in the liquid storage part of the closed space in the liquid supply source is completely sucked out by the suction drive of the pump, the liquid can no longer be sucked from the liquid storage part. The driving load is larger than the driving load when the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion is necessary and sufficient. Therefore, according to the above configuration, by detecting that the driving load of the pump during the suction driving of the pump is larger than the driving load when the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion is necessary and sufficient, the liquid end state or The liquid near-end state can be reliably detected.

In the liquid supply apparatus of the present invention, the displacement member is biased by a biasing member in a direction in which the volume of the pump chamber decreases.
According to the above configuration, when supplying the liquid by driving the pump, the displacement is performed against the urging force of the urging member only when either the suction drive or the discharge drive of the pump is driven. What is necessary is just to displace the member, and in the opposite case, the displacement member is displaced to the original state by the urging force of the urging member, so that the driving load of the pump can be reduced.

  The liquid supply device of the present invention is provided at a midway position of the liquid supply flow path for supplying the liquid from the upstream side that is the liquid supply source side toward the downstream side where the liquid is consumed. A pump that drives the pump by rotating a delivery member that isolates the liquid sucked from the upstream side and sends it to the downstream side in the liquid supply flow path; and a liquid remaining amount that detects the liquid remaining amount in the liquid supply source A liquid supply device including a detection unit, wherein the liquid supply source is configured such that a volume of a liquid storage portion in a closed space for storing the liquid changes according to a remaining amount of liquid, and the liquid The remaining amount detecting means detects the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion based on the driving load of the pump when the pump is driven.

  According to the above configuration, when the pump rotates the pumping member to suck the liquid from the upstream side which is the liquid supply source side and pumps the liquid to the downstream side, the liquid storage portion which is a closed space is sucked and reduced. Since the liquid container is deformed along the liquid surface, the liquid container is deformed to reduce its volume. When the pump is driven, the pump is driven when the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage unit (that is, the remaining amount of suppliable liquid remaining in the liquid storage unit in a state where it can be supplied to the outside) is necessary and sufficient. Based on the difference between the load and the driving load of the pump when it is not necessary and sufficient, it is possible to accurately detect the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage unit without calculation that may cause erroneous detection. Therefore, when the liquid is supplied from the upstream side serving as the liquid supply source toward the downstream side, the liquid in the liquid supply source can be supplied to the end without waste.

  Further, in the liquid supply apparatus of the present invention, the liquid remaining amount detecting means is driven when the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion set in advance is necessary and sufficient for the driving load of the pump when the pump is driven. When the load is larger than the load, it is detected that the liquid remaining state in the liquid container is zero or the liquid near-end state near zero.

  That is, when the suppliable liquid remaining in the liquid storage part of the closed space in the liquid supply source is completely sucked out by the suction drive of the pump, the liquid can no longer be sucked from the liquid storage part. The driving load is larger than the driving load when the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion is necessary and sufficient. Therefore, according to the above configuration, by detecting that the driving load of the pump during the suction driving of the pump is larger than the driving load when the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion is necessary and sufficient, the liquid end state or The liquid near-end state can be reliably detected.

In the liquid supply apparatus of the present invention, the liquid supply source is a flexible liquid storage bag, and the inside of the liquid storage bag is the liquid storage portion.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to obtain a liquid supply source in which the volume of the liquid storage unit in the closed space for storing the liquid changes according to the remaining amount of the liquid with a simple configuration.

In the liquid supply device of the present invention, when the liquid remaining amount detecting unit detects that the liquid end state is present, the driving of the pump is stopped.
According to the above configuration, when the liquid cannot be sucked even if the pump is driven and the pump is continuously driven, the unnecessary driving of the pump is stopped to increase the pump driving load. Can be suppressed.

The liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid and the liquid supply apparatus having the above-described configuration.
According to the said structure, the effect similar to invention of the said liquid supply apparatus is acquired.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) which is a kind of liquid ejecting apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 11 of this embodiment includes a recording head 12 as a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink (liquid) to a target (not shown), and the recording head 12 in an ink cartridge 13. An ink supply device 14 is provided as a liquid supply device for supplying the stored ink. In the ink supply device 14, the upstream end is connected to the ink cartridge 13 and the downstream end is connected to the recording head 12, and the upstream side that is the ink cartridge 13 side is changed to the downstream side that is the recording head 12 side. An ink flow path (liquid supply flow path) 15 for supplying ink is provided.

  The printer 11 is provided with a plurality of ink supply devices 14 corresponding to the number of colors (types) of ink used in the printer 11. However, since the configurations are the same, FIG. 1 illustrates one ink supply device 14 that supplies ink of any one color together with the recording head 12 and one ink cartridge 13. In the following, an example in which ink is supplied from the upstream ink cartridge 13 toward the downstream recording head 12 via the ink flow path 15 of one ink supply device 14 shown in FIG. I will explain.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the recording head 12, a plurality (four in this embodiment) of nozzles 16 corresponding to the number of ink supply devices 14 are opened in a nozzle forming surface 12 a facing a platen (not shown). Is formed. Ink is supplied from the ink flow path 15 of the corresponding ink supply device 14 to the nozzles 16 via the valve unit 17. In other words, the valve unit 17 is provided with a pressure chamber (not shown) for temporarily storing ink flowing from the ink flow path 15 so as to communicate with the nozzle 16, and ink is ejected from the nozzle 16 into the pressure chamber. In such a case, an amount of ink corresponding to the amount of ink consumed by the ink jetting appropriately flows from the ink flow path 15 based on the opening / closing operation of a flow path valve (not shown).

  A maintenance unit 18 for cleaning the recording head 12 is provided at a home position where the recording head 12 is not printed in the printer 11 in order to eliminate clogging of the nozzles 16 of the recording head 12. The maintenance unit 18 includes a cap 19 that can come into contact with the nozzle forming surface 12 a of the recording head 12 so as to surround the nozzle 16, a suction pump 20 that is driven when ink is sucked from the cap 19, and the suction pump 20. There is provided a waste liquid tank 21 in which ink sucked from the cap 19 as the pump 20 is driven is discharged as waste ink. During cleaning, the suction pump 20 is driven with the cap 19 moved from the state shown in FIG. 1 and in contact with the nozzle forming surface 12 a of the recording head 12, and negative pressure is generated in the internal space of the cap 19. As a result, ink thickened from the recording head 12 or ink mixed with bubbles is sucked and discharged toward the waste liquid tank 21.

  On the other hand, the ink cartridge 13 includes a case 22 formed of a synthetic resin material in a substantially box shape. A cylindrical portion 23 communicating with the inside of the case 22 protrudes downward from the lower wall of the case 22, and an ink supply port 24 through which ink can be led out is formed at the tip of the cylindrical portion 23. The case 22 includes a flexible liquid storage bag, and an ink pack 56 serving as a liquid supply source in which ink is enclosed (contained) in a closed space serving as a liquid storage portion. Yes. An ink lead-out member 57 is provided at one end of the ink pack 56 for leading the ink sealed inside to the outside. When the ink pack 56 is connected to the ink supply device 14, the ink supply needle 25 protruding from the ink supply device 14 to form the upstream end of the ink flow path 15 with respect to the ink lead-out member 57 is provided. It is supposed to be inserted. Although not shown, a valve mechanism (not shown) having a check valve function is provided inside the ink lead-out member 57. The upper wall of the case 22 is formed with an air communication hole 26 that allows the inside of the case 22 to communicate with the atmosphere, so that atmospheric pressure acts on the outer surface of the ink pack 56 that contains ink. Yes.

Next, the configuration of the ink supply device 14 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply device 14 includes a resin-made first flow path forming member 27 serving as a base and a second resin-made second assembly that is assembled on the first flow path forming member 27 in a stacked state. A flow path forming member 28 and a flexible member 29 made of a rubber plate or the like sandwiched between both flow path forming members 27 and 28 when assembled are provided. Here, in a plurality of locations (three locations in the present embodiment) on the upper surface of the first flow path forming member 27, concave portions 30, 31, and 32 having a circular shape in plan view are formed. That is, one concave portion 31 and two concave portions 30 and 32 having a volume smaller than the concave portion 31 and substantially the same volume are arranged in the order of the concave portion 30, the concave portion 31, and the concave portion 32 from right to left in FIG. , Are arranged side by side.

  On the other hand, a plurality of locations (three locations in the present embodiment) on the lower surface of the second flow path forming member 28 stacked on the first flow path forming member 27 are formed on the upper surface of the first flow path forming member 27. Further, concave portions 33, 34, and 35 having a circular shape in plan view are formed opposite to the concave portions 30, 31, and 32 in the vertical direction. That is, one concave portion 34 and two concave portions 33 and 35 each having a volume smaller than the concave portion 34 and having substantially the same volume are arranged in the order of the concave portion 33, the concave portion 34, and the concave portion 35 from the right side to the left side in FIG. , Are arranged side by side.

  That is, the ink supply device 14 can employ a stacked structure in which a plurality of plate-shaped constituent members are stacked by forming the recesses 30 to 32 and the recesses 33 to 35 on the same plane.

At the bottom of the recess 35 formed on the leftmost side in FIG. 1 in the second flow path forming member 28, an air communication hole 35a communicating with the air is formed.
The flexible member 29 has a plurality of locations (three locations in the present embodiment) in the flexible member 29 between the first flow path forming member 27 and the second flow path forming member 28. The recesses 30 to 32 of the path forming member 27 and the recesses 33 to 35 of the second flow path forming member 28 are sandwiched so as to be vertically partitioned. As a result, a portion of the flexible member 29 interposed between the recess 30 of the first flow path forming member 27 and the recess 33 of the second flow path forming member 28 is elastically deformed between the recesses 30 and 33. Thus, the suction side valve element 36 that can be displaced functions.

  Similarly, a portion of the flexible member 29 interposed between the concave portion 31 of the first flow path forming member 27 and the concave portion 34 of the second flow path forming member 28 is elastically deformed between the concave portions 31 and 34. Thus, it can function as a diaphragm (displacement member) 37 that can be displaced. Similarly, a portion of the flexible member 29 interposed between the recess 32 of the first flow path forming member 27 and the recess 35 of the second flow path forming member 28 is elastically deformed between the recesses 32 and 35. By doing so, it functions as a discharge-side valve body 38 that can be displaced.

  Note that the area of the suction side valve body 36, the diaphragm 37, and the discharge side valve body 38 that can be bent and deformed is substantially the same as that of the suction side valve body 36 and the discharge side valve body 38. On the other hand, the diaphragm 37 is larger than the suction side valve body 36 and the discharge side valve body 38.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first flow path forming member 27 and the second flow path forming member 28 are provided with an ink supply needle 25 and a first flow path that protrude from the upper surface of the second flow path forming member 28. A first flow path 15 a communicating with the concave portion 30 of the forming member 27 is formed so as to constitute a part of the ink flow path 15 in the ink supply device 14. Similarly, the first flow path forming member 27, the second flow path forming member 28, and the flexible member 29 include a recess 33 of the second flow path forming member 28 and a recess 31 of the first flow path forming member 27. A second flow path 15 b that communicates with each other is formed so as to constitute a part of the ink flow path 15 in the ink supply device 14.

  Similarly, the first flow path forming member 27 includes a third flow path 15 c that communicates between the concave portion 31 and the concave portion 32 of the first flow path forming member 27. It is formed to constitute a part. In addition, only the passage of ink from the upstream side on the concave portion 31 side to the downstream side on the concave portion 32 side is allowed at the flow path opening end opened on the inner bottom surface of the downstream concave portion 32 in the third flow passage 15c. The ball valve 39 is always provided in a state of being biased by a biasing member (not shown) in the valve closing direction for closing the third flow path 15c.

  Further, the first flow path forming member 27, the second flow path forming member 28, and the flexible member 29 are provided between the concave portion 32 of the first flow path forming member 27 and the upper surface side of the second flow path forming member 28. Is formed so as to constitute part of the ink flow path 15 in the ink supply device 14. An end of the ink supply tube 15e that constitutes a part of the ink flow path 15 in the ink supply device 14 (at the flow path opening end opened on the upper surface of the second flow path forming member 28 in the fourth flow path 15d ( (Upstream end) is connected. The other end (downstream end) of the ink supply tube 15e is connected to the valve unit 17 on the recording head 12 side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the ink supply device 14, a portion that becomes the suction side valve body 36 of the flexible member 29 has a through hole 36 a formed in the center thereof and is disposed in the upper concave portion 33. The coil spring 40 is biased toward the inner bottom surface of the lower recess 30 by the biasing force of the coil spring 40. In this embodiment, the concave portions 30 and 33, the suction side valve body 36, and the coil spring 40 are directed from the upstream side, which is the ink cartridge 13 side, to the downstream side where ink is consumed by ink ejection by the recording head 12. A suction-side valve 41 that allows only the passage of all ink is configured.

  Similarly, in the ink supply device 14, the portion of the flexible member 29 that becomes the diaphragm 37 is formed in the lower recess 31 by the biasing force of the coil spring (biasing member) 42 disposed in the upper recess 34. It is biased toward the bottom. In this embodiment, a pulsating pump 43 is constituted by the recesses 31 and 34, the diaphragm 37, and the coil spring 42, and a volume-variable space region surrounded by the diaphragm 37 and the lower recess 31 is formed. The pump 43 functions as a pump chamber 43a (see FIG. 2). That is, the diaphragm 37 constitutes a part of the inner surface of the pump chamber 43a. A flat sensor target 58 made of a magnetic material is fixed to the upper surface of the flexible member 29 that becomes the diaphragm 37. A magnetic sensor 59 is arranged on the inner bottom surface of the upper concave portion 34 so as to face the sensor target 58, and the vertical displacement amount of the sensor target 58 is increased in the vertical direction of the diaphragm 37 by the magnetic sensor 59. The amount of displacement is detected, and the detection result is output to the control device 60 (see FIG. 1) of the printer 11.

  The control device 60 is a digital computer having a CPU (not shown) that performs various operations by functioning as a central processing unit, a ROM (not shown), a RAM (not shown), and the like that function as storage means. Configured. When the detection signal from the magnetic sensor 59 is input, the control device 60 determines whether or not the remaining amount of ink (remaining amount of liquid) in the ink pack 56 is a sufficient amount necessary to execute printing. Is supposed to be detected. In other words, the control device 60 sets the ink remaining amount in the ink pack 56 (that is, the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 in a state where it can be supplied to the outside) to zero (liquid). It is detected whether the ink is in an end state or an ink (liquid) near-end state in which the remaining amount of ink is close to zero.

  The ink end state is a state in which the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied remaining in the ink pack 56 is zero. For example, when the volume of the flexible ink pack 56 decreases. This includes a state in which some ink that cannot be supplied from the inside of the ink pack 56 to the outside remains due to the effect of wrinkles that occur or capillary action that occurs between the inner surfaces of the ink pack 56.

  The control device 60 controls the driving state of the suction pump 20 when the recording head 12 is cleaned, and also controls the driving state of the driving motor 49 when the pump 43 is driven, and also requires the operating state of the entire printer 11. Control accordingly. In the present embodiment, the controller 60 and the magnetic sensor 59 constitute a liquid remaining amount detecting means.

  Similarly, in the ink supply device 14, the portion that becomes the discharge-side valve body 38 of the flexible member 29 is the inner bottom surface of the lower recess 32 by the urging force of the coil spring 44 disposed in the upper recess 35. It is energized towards. In this embodiment, the recesses 32 and 35, the discharge side valve body 38 and the coil spring 44 constitute a discharge side valve 45, and the volume surrounded by the discharge side valve body 38 and the lower recess 32 is formed. The variable space region constitutes a part of the ink flow path 15 and functions as a pressure accumulation chamber 45a capable of storing ink in a pressure accumulation state.

  The volume of the pressure accumulating chamber 45a is smaller than the volume of the pump chamber 43a, and is approximately the same size as the space area surrounded by the recess 32 and the suction side valve body 36. The urging force of the coil spring 44 is adapted to reduce the volume of the pressure accumulating chamber 45a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a negative pressure generating device 47 and an air release mechanism 48 including a suction pump are provided in the concave portion 34 of the second flow path forming member 28 through a bifurcated air flow path 46. It is connected. The negative pressure generator 47 is driven by a driving force transmitted via a one-way clutch (not shown) when a drive motor 49 capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions is driven in a forward direction to generate a negative pressure. Similarly, a negative pressure can be generated also in the recess 34 of the second flow path forming member 28 connected in this manner. In this regard, the volume-variable space region formed by being surrounded by the concave portion 34 of the second flow path forming member 28 and the diaphragm 37 functions as the negative pressure chamber 43 b that is brought into a negative pressure state when the negative pressure generator 47 is driven. It is supposed to be.

  On the other hand, the air release mechanism 48 accommodates an air release valve 53 in which a seal member 52 is attached to the air release hole 50 side in a box 51 in which the air release hole 50 is formed. The coil spring 54 is biased in the valve closing direction for sealing the atmosphere opening hole 50 by the biasing force of the coil spring 54. When the drive motor 49 is driven in reverse, the atmosphere release mechanism 48 operates the cam mechanism 55 that operates based on the driving force transmitted through a one-way clutch (not shown), and the cam mechanism 55 operates to release the atmosphere. The valve 53 is configured to be displaced in the valve opening direction against the urging force of the coil spring 54. That is, when the negative pressure chamber 43b connected through the air flow path 46 is in a negative pressure state, the atmospheric release mechanism 48 opens the negative pressure chamber 53 by opening the atmospheric release valve 53. The inside of 43b is open | released to air | atmosphere and a negative pressure state is canceled.

  In FIG. 1, the negative pressure generating device 47, the atmospheric release mechanism 48, and the drive motor 49 for driving them are provided for each of the plurality of ink supply devices 14 individually corresponding to each ink color. However, this may be configured as follows. That is, the connection end side of the air flow path 46 connected to the negative pressure chamber 43b of the pump 43 of the ink supply device 14 is branched to correspond to the number of installed ink supply devices 14 corresponding to each ink color. The connection ends of the branched air flow paths 46 may be connected to the negative pressure chambers 43b of the pumps 43 of the corresponding ink supply devices 14, respectively. With this configuration, it is possible to drive each color ink supply device 14 by providing only one negative pressure generating device 47, atmospheric release mechanism 48, and drive motor 49 for the plurality of ink supply devices 14. The printer 11 can be downsized.

Therefore, the operation of the printer 11 configured as described above will be described below with particular attention paid to the operation of the ink supply device 14.
First, as a premise, the state shown in FIG. 1 is immediately after replacement of the old and new ink cartridges, and the suction side valve body 36 of the suction side valve 41, the diaphragm 37 of the pump 43, and the discharge side valve body of the discharge side valve 45. 38 is assumed to be pressed against the inner bottom surface of each of the lower concave portions 30, 31, 32 by the urging force of the coil springs 40, 42, 44. In addition, the ball valve 39 that can open and close the third flow path 15c in the ink flow path 15 of the ink supply device 14 is biased to the closed position by a corresponding biasing member (not shown), It is assumed that the opening mechanism 48 is in a closed state in which the atmosphere opening valve 53 seals the atmosphere opening hole 50.

  When the ink supply device 14 supplies ink from the ink cartridge 13 side to the recording head 12 side from the state shown in FIG. 1, first, in order to drive the pump 43, the drive motor 49 rotates forward. Driven. Then, the negative pressure generating device 47 generates a negative pressure, and the negative pressure chamber 43b of the ink supply device 14 connected to the negative pressure generating device 47 via the air flow path 46 is in a negative pressure state. Therefore, the diaphragm 37 of the pump 43 is elastically deformed (displaced) toward the negative pressure chamber 43b against the urging force of the coil spring 42, and the volume of the negative pressure chamber 43b is reduced (see FIG. 2A). Then, as the volume of the negative pressure chamber 43b decreases, the volume of the pump chamber 43a of the pump 43 partitioned from the negative pressure chamber 43b via the diaphragm 37 increases.

That is, the pump 43 is driven to move by displacing the diaphragm 37 in the direction in which the volume of the pump chamber 43a increases. Specifically, the diaphragm 37 is displaced from the bottom dead center position shown in FIG. 1 to the top dead center position shown in FIG. Therefore, the inside of the pump chamber 43a is in a negative pressure state, and the negative pressure acts on the concave portion 33 on the upper side of the suction side valve 41 via the second flow path 15b, and the pressure with the ink pressure in the lower concave portion 30 Based on the difference, the suction side valve body 36 is elastically deformed (displaced) upward (that is, in the valve opening direction) against the urging force of the coil spring 40. As a result, the first flow path 15a and the second flow path 15b are in communication with each other through the through-hole 36a of the suction side valve body 36, and ink is transferred from the ink pack 56 in the ink cartridge 13 to the first flow path 15a, the concave portion. 30, and is sucked into the pump chamber 43 a via the through hole 36 a, the recess 33, and the second flow path 15 b. As the ink is sucked into the pump chamber 43a from the ink pack 56 in this way, the ink remaining amount of the ink pack 56 gradually decreases, and the volume also changes to correspond to the decrease in the remaining ink amount (that is, Smaller).

  On the other hand, during the suction drive of the pump 43, the negative pressure in the pump chamber 43a acts on the downstream side of the ink flow path 15 from the pump chamber 43a, that is, the third flow path 15c via the third flow path 15c. However, the ball valve 39 is biased in the valve closing direction at the downstream end of the third flow path 15c, and the valve closed state is the pump 43 from the upstream side of the third flow path 15c with respect to the ball valve 39. It is set so as not to shift to the valve open state unless an ink discharge pressure of a predetermined positive pressure (for example, a pressure of 3 kpa or more) is applied by the discharge driving. Therefore, in this case, the ball valve 39 is maintained in a closed state because negative pressure is applied.

  Next, in the state shown in FIG. 2A, the drive motor 49 is driven in reverse. Then, the air release valve 53 is opened against the urging force of the coil spring 54 by the operation of the cam mechanism 55 of the air release mechanism 48, and the negative pressure chamber 43b in the negative pressure state is opened to the atmosphere. Therefore, the diaphragm 37 of the pump 43 is elastically deformed (displaced) downward (ie, on the inner bottom surface side of the pump chamber 43a) by the urging force of the coil spring 42, and the volume of the negative pressure chamber 43b is increased (FIG. 2B). reference). Then, as the volume of the negative pressure chamber 43b increases, the volume of the pump chamber 43a of the pump 43 partitioned from the negative pressure chamber 43b via the diaphragm 37 is decreased.

  That is, the pump 43 is driven to displace the diaphragm 37 in the direction of decreasing the volume of the pump chamber 43a. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B, the diaphragm 37 is slightly displaced from the top dead center position toward the bottom dead center position, and the ink sucked into the pump chamber 43a is discharged to a predetermined pressure. The pressure is applied (for example, a pressure of about 30 kpa). Therefore, the ink is discharged from the pump chamber 43a, and the discharge pressure acts on the concave portion 33 on the upper side of the suction side valve 41 via the second flow path 15b on the upstream side of the pump chamber 43a. 36 is elastically deformed (displaced) downward (ie, in the valve closing direction) in cooperation with the biasing force of the coil spring 40. As a result, the first flow path 15a and the second flow path 15b are brought into a non-communication state by the valve closing operation of the suction side valve body 36, and pass through the suction side valve 41 from the ink pack 56 of the ink cartridge 13 to the pump chamber 43a. The suction of ink is stopped, and the ink discharged from the pump chamber 43 a as the pump 43 is driven is restricted from flowing backward to the ink pack 56 side of the ink cartridge 13 via the suction side valve 41.

  On the other hand, when the pump 43 is driven to discharge, the pressure of the ink discharged from the pump chamber 43a (for example, a pressure of about 30 kpa) also acts on the downstream side of the ink channel 15 via the third channel 15c. Therefore, the ball valve 39 in which the discharge pressure of the pump 43 is in the closed state is opened, and the pressure accumulation chamber 45a surrounded by the discharge side valve body 38 of the discharge side valve 45 and the lower recess 32 is formed in the first pressure chamber 45a. The pump chamber 43a communicates with the three flow paths 15c. As a result, ink is supplied in a pressurized state from the pump chamber 43a to the pressure accumulating chamber 45a of the discharge side valve 45 through the third flow path 15c.

  Then, in the discharge side valve 45, the discharge side valve body 38 is elastically deformed upward (that is, in the valve opening direction) against the urging force of the coil spring 44 by the pressure of the ink pressurized and supplied into the pressure accumulation chamber 45 a ( Displacement). As a result, as shown in FIG. 2B, ink is temporarily stored in the pressure accumulation chamber 45a in a pressure accumulation state. Incidentally, the biasing force of the coil spring 44 in the discharge side valve 45 is such that when the ink flows into the pressure accumulating chamber 45a at a discharge pressure capable of opening the ball valve 39, the discharge side valve body 38 is caused by the pressure of the ink. Is set to, for example, about 13 kpa so that it can be elastically deformed upward.

  Thereafter, the discharge pressure of the ink pressurized by the diaphragm 37 and discharged from the pump chamber 43a is each flow passage area (pump chamber) on the downstream side of the concave portion 33 above the suction side valve 41 in the ink flow passage 15. 43a and the pressure accumulating chamber 45a). That is, in the pressure accumulating chamber 45a, the discharge side valve body 38 is maintained in a state of being located at the top dead center position, and the valve accumulating chamber 45a and the fourth flow path 15d are maintained in a valve open state.

  Thereafter, when ink is ejected from the recording head 12 toward a target (not shown), an amount of ink corresponding to the amount of ink consumed by the ink ejection is ejected from the ink flow path 15 via the valve unit 17. Supplied to the recording head 12 side. For this reason, as the ink is consumed on the downstream side (recording head 12 side), a corresponding amount of ink from the pump chamber 43a is discharged to the recording head 12 side by the urging force of the coil spring 42 to the volume of the pump chamber 43a. Is supplied in a pressurized state via the pressure accumulating chamber 45a based on the pressing force of the diaphragm 37 biased in the direction in which the pressure decreases.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 3A, the volume in the pump chamber 43a gradually decreases, and finally the diaphragm 37 is displaced to near the bottom dead center position. At this time, since the pressure in the pump chamber 43a and the pressure accumulating chamber 45a is maintained in a state where the pressure of about 13 kpa is balanced, the discharge side valve body 38 is located at the top dead center position, and the pressure accumulating chamber 45a The volume is kept at the maximum.

  Then, the drive motor 49 is driven to rotate forward again, and in the atmosphere release mechanism 48, the atmosphere release valve 53 is displaced to the valve closing position that closes the atmosphere release hole 50, and the negative pressure generator 47 generates negative pressure and generates negative pressure. The pressure chamber 43 b is in a negative pressure state, and the diaphragm 37 is elastically deformed (displaced) toward the negative pressure chamber 43 b against the urging force of the coil spring 42. That is, the pump 43 starts suction driving again. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3B, the diaphragm 37 is displaced to the top dead center position so as to increase the volume of the pump chamber 43a, and the inside of the pump chamber 43a is in a negative pressure state. Thus, the suction side valve element 36 is elastically deformed (displaced) in the valve opening direction. Accordingly, the first flow path 15a and the second flow path 15b are in communication with each other through the through hole 36a of the suction side valve body 36, and ink is again sucked into the pump chamber 43a from the ink pack 56 of the ink cartridge 13. .

  On the other hand, in the pressure accumulating chamber 45a on the downstream side of the pump chamber 43a, the ball valve 39 is displaced to the valve closing position because the pressure in the pump chamber 43a is reduced with respect to the pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber 45a. Therefore, in the pressure accumulating chamber 45a, as the discharge side valve body 38 is pressed by the coil spring 44, the ink is directed toward the downstream recording head 12 via the fourth flow path 15d even during the suction driving of the pump 43. Continues to be supplied under pressure. Thereafter, the discharge drive of the pump 43 similar to the above is executed, and the ink is pressurized and supplied from the pump chamber 43a to the recording head 12 via the pressure accumulation chamber 45a on the downstream side.

  By the way, in the printer 11, the volume of the ink pack 56 in the ink cartridge 13 corresponds to the decrease in the remaining amount of ink as the ink is consumed on the downstream side of the ink flow path 15 such as ink ejection from the recording head 12. Will decrease and will wither. When the ink remaining amount in the ink pack 56 becomes less than the ink remaining amount required for printing by ejecting ink from the recording head 12, the ink cartridge 13 is used for subsequent printing. New and old replacement is required. Therefore, in this embodiment, the remaining amount of ink in the ink pack 56 is detected as follows.

That is, when the negative pressure generator 47 is driven and the pump 43 is driven to suck and the suction side valve body 36 of the suction side valve 41 is opened, the ink pack 56 is deflated to cope with the decrease in volume. The amount of ink to be drawn is sucked into the pump chamber 43a from the ink pack 56 side. Further, since the diaphragm 37 is displaced toward the top dead center position with the suction drive of the pump 43, the magnetic sensor 59 is a distance in the vertical direction from the sensor target 58 fixed to the upper surface of the diaphragm 37 (that is, displaced). Detection of displacement to position) is started. When this displacement amount detection result is output to the control device 60, the control device 60 requires the diaphragm 37 to be displaced from the bottom dead center position to the top dead center position for a predetermined time (that is, normally). After the elapse of time, it is determined whether or not the detected displacement value has reached a determination threshold value preset and stored as a displacement value corresponding to the top dead center position of the diaphragm 37. Based on the determination result, the presence or absence of the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 is detected.

  Here, when the ink remaining amount in the ink pack 56 is a sufficient remaining amount for ink ejection from the recording head 12 at the time of printing, the diaphragm 37 is moved to the top dead center position by the suction drive of the pump 43. Will be displaced. Therefore, the control device 60 determines that the displacement value detected based on the detection signal from the magnetic sensor 59 has reached the above-described determination threshold value, so that sufficient ink that can be supplied remains in the ink pack 56. Therefore, it is detected that the ink end state and the ink near end state are not established.

  On the other hand, in the ink near-end state where the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 is very small, the remaining small amount of ink remaining in the ink pack 56 due to the suction drive of the pump 43 is ink. Suction is exhausted into the pump chamber 43a from the pack 56 side. For this reason, the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 becomes zero, and the ink pack 56 cannot be deflated so as to further reduce its volume. Then, the diaphragm 37 of the pump 43 ends with a small amount of ink flowing into the pump chamber 43a from the ink pack 56 side, so that it cannot be displaced further toward the top dead center position. The displacement is stopped between the point position and the top dead center position.

  Then, the magnetic sensor 59 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the displacement amount of the diaphragm 37 whose displacement is stopped between the bottom dead center position and the top dead center position to the control device 60. Then, the control device 60 determines that the displacement value detected based on the detection signal is smaller than the determination threshold value, so that the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 becomes zero. Further, it is detected that the ink near-end state in which only a small amount of ink sucked by the pump 43 can be supplied to the downstream side is detected.

  When the pump 43 is already in the ink end state at the time of starting the suction driving of the pump 43, no ink that can be sucked remains in the ink pack 56 even when the pump 43 is driven to suck. 37 is not displaced from the initial position (for example, the bottom dead center position) at the time of starting the suction driving, and remains stopped at the initial position. Then, the magnetic sensor 59 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the displacement amount of the diaphragm 37 stopped at the initial position (that is, zero displacement amount) to the control device 60. Then, the control device 60 determines that the displacement value detected based on the detection signal is smaller than the determination threshold value and zero, and thereby the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 is reached. It is detected that the ink end state is zero.

  As described above, when the control device 60 detects that the ink near-end state is detected, it informs that the ink cartridge 13 containing the ink pack 56 in such an ink near-end state needs to be replaced soon. A control signal is output and a message to that effect is displayed on a panel (not shown).

  Further, when the control device 60 detects that it is in the ink end state, it outputs a control signal for notifying the necessity of replacement of the ink cartridge 13 containing the ink pack 56 in such an ink end state. A message to that effect is displayed on a display panel (not shown). Further, since the ink cannot be sucked from the ink pack 56 even if the pump 43 is driven for suction, the forward drive of the drive motor 49 is stopped in order to stop the unnecessary suction drive of the pump 43. .

According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the pump 43 displaces the diaphragm 37 in the direction in which the volume of the pump chamber 43a increases, and at the time of suction driving for sucking ink from the upstream side that becomes the ink cartridge 13 side into the pump chamber 43a. When the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 becomes zero, the displacement amount of the diaphragm 37 is different from the displacement amount when the remaining ink amount in the ink pack 56 is necessary and sufficient. Therefore, the control device 60 detects the difference in the displacement amount of the diaphragm 37 during the suction driving of the pump through the magnetic sensor 59, thereby calculating the remaining amount of ink in the ink pack 56 which may be erroneously detected. It can be accurately determined that the ink end state is achieved. Therefore, the ink in the ink pack 56 can be supplied without waste from the upstream side on the ink cartridge 13 side toward the downstream side.

  (2) Further, the control device 60 determines that the displacement amount of the diaphragm 37 at the time of suction driving of the pump 43 is smaller than the displacement amount when the remaining ink amount in the ink pack 56 is necessary and sufficient. The remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 is determined to be in the ink end state or the ink near end state. In other words, if the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 in the closed space of the ink cartridge 13 in the state where it can be supplied to the outside is exhausted by the suction drive of the pump 43, Since the ink cannot be sucked from the ink pack 56 as described above, the displacement amount of the diaphragm 37 is smaller than the displacement amount when the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 is necessary and sufficient. Therefore, the control device 60 uses the magnetic sensor 59 to determine that the displacement amount of the diaphragm 37 during the suction drive of the pump 43 is smaller than the displacement amount when the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 is sufficient. By detecting, it is possible to reliably detect that the ink pack 56 is in the ink end state or the ink near end state.

  (3) Further, the control device 60 indicates that the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 in which the position of the diaphragm 37 is set in advance at the time when a predetermined time has elapsed after the suction driving of the pump 43 is started is sufficient. If the position is different from the position in this case, it is determined that the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 is in the ink end state or the ink near end state. That is, when the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 in the closed space in the ink cartridge 13 becomes zero, the ink is sucked from the ink pack 56 of the ink cartridge 13 even if the pump 43 is driven to suck. Therefore, the diaphragm 37 does not move to a position where it is assumed that the preset remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 is sufficient. Therefore, the control device 60 can reliably detect that the inside of the ink pack 56 is in the ink end state or the ink near end state by detecting the position of the diaphragm 37 during the suction driving of the pump 43 through the magnetic sensor 59.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the diaphragm 37 is urged by the coil spring 42 in the direction in which the volume of the pump chamber 43a decreases. Therefore, when supplying the ink by driving the pump 43, the diaphragm 37 is displaced against the biasing force of the coil spring 42 only when either the pump 43 is driven for suction or discharged. In the opposite case, the diaphragm 37 is displaced to the original state by the urging force of the coil spring 42, so that the driving load of the driving motor 49 can be reduced.

  (5) In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge 13 stores the flexible ink pack 56 therein, and stores the ink in the ink pack 56 (liquid storage portion in the closed space). Therefore, a liquid supply source (ink pack 56) in which the volume of the liquid storage part in the closed space for storing the liquid (ink) changes according to the remaining amount of the liquid (ink) can be obtained with a simple configuration.

  (6) In the above embodiment, when the control device 60 detects that the ink remaining state of the ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 is zero, the ink supply device 14 Driving is stopped. Therefore, if ink cannot be sucked even if the suction driving of the pump 43 is continued due to the ink end state, the driving load of the driving motor 49 is reduced by stopping the driving of the unnecessary driving motor 49 beyond that. It can suppress becoming excessive.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, the control device 60 determines that the ink remaining state of the ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 is zero based on the driving load of the driving motor 49 during the suction driving of the pump 43 or the ink that is close to zero. You may detect whether it is a near-end state. Specifically, when the drive load of the drive motor 49 during the suction drive of the pump 43 is larger than the drive load in the case where the remaining ink amount in the ink pack 56 is necessary and sufficient, the inside of the ink pack 56 It is detected that the remaining ink amount is in an ink end state.

  That is, when the ink remaining in the ink pack 56 in the closed space of the ink cartridge 13 in a state where it can be supplied to the outside is completely sucked by the suction drive of the pump 43, the ink pack 56 is further filled with the ink. Therefore, the drive load of the drive motor 49 is larger than the drive load when the remaining amount of ink in the ink pack 56 is necessary and sufficient. Therefore, the control device 60 detects that the drive load of the drive motor 49 during the suction drive of the pump 43 is larger than the drive load when the remaining amount of ink in the ink pack 56 is necessary and sufficient. It can be reliably detected that the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the pack 56 is in the ink end state.

  In addition, when the pump is a volumetric pump and is a rotary pump such as a gear pump, the change in driving load is large, which is particularly effective. That is, the pump may be a pump that can supply the ink sucked from the ink pack 56 to the recording head 12 side by rotating a delivery member provided in the ink flow path 15. In this case, a recess is formed in the downstream end of the second flow path and the upstream end of the third flow path, and a pump chamber is formed by closing the opening of the recess, and the pump chamber can be connected to a motor and rotated. Providing a delivery member. The ink is sucked by rotating the sending member to reduce the pressure near the opening of the second channel, and the sucked ink is separated by the sending member and the wall surface of the ink channel. Are delivered to the third flow path.

  As an example of the rotary pump, in the case of a gear pump, the delivery member is two gears provided so as to mesh with each other in the pump chamber. In the case of a Roots pump, the delivery member is two eyebrows-shaped rotors. And in the case of a vane pump, it becomes a rotor provided with the vane (partition blade | wing) which can be expanded-contracted to radial direction.

  In the above embodiment, the sensor for detecting the displacement amount of the diaphragm 37 is not limited to a non-contact type sensor such as the magnetic sensor 59. For example, as such a sensor, a limit switch is arranged in the vicinity of the top dead center position of the diaphragm 37, and when the diaphragm 37 is displaced to the top dead center position when the pump 43 is driven for suction, a part of the diaphragm 37 is limited to the limit switch. It is good also as a structure which press-contacts to. Moreover, you may employ | adopt an optical sensor etc. as a non-contact-type sensor.

  In the above embodiment, the flexibility of the ink pack 56 that is a liquid supply source only needs to be deformable by the suction force of the pump 43. That is, since the ink pack 56 is deformed along the liquid level of the ink to be stored, the amount of deformation of the ink pack 56 itself is small as the amount of ink to be stored is large even when the same amount of ink is sucked. Therefore, by setting the flexibility of the ink pack 56 so that it can be deformed by the suction force of the pump 43, the amount of ink that can be sucked by one suction drive of the pump 43 decreases as the amount of ink to be stored decreases. . Therefore, by detecting that the diaphragm 37 is not displaced to the top dead center position, it is possible to detect an ink near-end state in which the remaining amount of ink that can be supplied in the ink pack 56 has decreased, and the ink cartridge The necessity for 13 exchanges can be notified to the user in advance.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid supply source having the liquid storage portion in the closed space inside is not limited to the ink pack 56 as a liquid storage bag having flexibility. For example, an ink storage chamber as a liquid storage portion is formed in the ink cartridge 13, and a sealing member for sealing the ink is floated on the liquid surface of the ink in the ink storage chamber. It is good also as a structure made into the liquid storage part from which volume changes in closed space. In this case, the ink cartridge 13 is a liquid supply source. In short, it is only necessary to have a liquid storage section in a closed space whose volume changes according to the remaining amount of liquid.

  In the embodiment described above, a device having the functions of the pressurizing generator and the negative pressure generator 47 may be applied as the drive source of the pump 43. In this case, by alternately generating pressure and negative pressure, the ink can be supplied by displacing the diaphragm 37 and driving the pump without providing an urging member.

  A cam mechanism may be used as a mechanism for displacing the diaphragm 37 instead of the negative pressure generator 47 and the pressure generator. That is, for example, the base end portion of the traction member in which the locking portion is formed is fixed to the diaphragm 37 pressed by the coil spring 42 of the compression spring. The diaphragm 37 may be displaced via the traction member by bringing the cam member into contact with the engaging portion of the traction member. When a tension spring is applied, the base end portion of the pressing member may be fixed to the diaphragm 37, and the distal end portion may be pressed to the diaphragm 37 side by the cam member.

  Then, the ink end state and the ink near end state may be detected based on the displacement amount of the pulling member or the pressing member or the driving load of the motor that drives the cam member.

  The pump 43 may be a piston pump that directly presses the pump chamber 43a with a piston capable of reciprocating in the negative pressure chamber 43b and changes the volume in the pump chamber 43a in accordance with the reciprocating motion. In this case, the ink end state and the ink near end state can be detected based on the displacement amount of the piston and the driving load when the piston is displaced. Similarly, the pressure accumulating chamber 45a can also use a piston structure.

  In the above embodiment, an electromagnetic valve may be used as the suction side valve 41. In that case, it is necessary to switch the suction side valve 41 to the closed state when the driving of the pump 43 is stopped in accordance with the ink end of the ink cartridge 13.

  In the above embodiment, the biasing member may be a biasing member of another form such as a leaf spring or rubber instead of the coil springs 40, 42, 44. According to such an urging member, the urging force applied to the ink in the suction side valve 41, the discharge side valve 45, and the pump chamber 43a can be maintained regardless of the driving state of the negative pressure generating device 47.

In addition, “liquid” in this specification includes liquids other than ink (including inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts), etc.) and functional material particles. It also includes fluids that are dispersed or mixed, and fluids such as gels. Examples of the liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges such “liquid” include, for example, electrode materials and color materials (pixel materials) used for manufacturing liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescence) displays, and surface-emitting displays. Liquid ejecting device that ejects a liquid material that contains materials such as dispersed or dissolved materials, liquid ejecting device that ejects bio-organic materials used in biochip manufacturing, and liquid ejecting that ejects liquid as a sample used as a precision pipette It may be a device. In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resin to form liquid injection devices that pinpoint lubricant oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto the substrate, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali to etch the substrate, and a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a fluid such as a gel (eg, physical gel) It may be.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied in the ink jet printer 11, but a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges liquid other than ink may be employed. The present invention can be used for various liquid ejecting apparatuses including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a minute amount of liquid droplets. In addition, a droplet means the state of the liquid discharged from the said liquid ejecting apparatus, and shall also include what pulls a tail in granular shape, tear shape, and thread shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ) And a liquid as one state of a substance, as well as a material in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent. Further, representative examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, a liquid containing a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, a color filter, or the like in a dispersed or dissolved state. It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a bio-organic material used for biochip manufacturing, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid as a sample used as a precision pipette, a textile printing apparatus, a microdispenser, or the like. In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resin to form liquid injection devices that pinpoint lubricant oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto the substrate or a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as an acid or an alkali to etch the substrate may be employed. The present invention can be applied to any one of these liquid ejecting apparatuses.

1 is a schematic diagram of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment. (A) is a schematic diagram of the liquid supply device when the pump is driven for suction, and (b) is a schematic diagram of the liquid supply device when the pump is driven for discharge. (A) is a schematic diagram of a liquid supply device during ink ejection, and (b) is a schematic diagram of a liquid supply device when ink ejection and a pump are driven for suction.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Ink flow path as liquid supply flow path, 37 ... Diaphragm as displacement member, 42 ... Coil spring as urging member, 43 ... Pump, 43a ... Pump chamber, 56 ... Ink pack as liquid supply source, 59 ... a magnetic sensor constituting the remaining liquid amount detecting means, 60 ... a control device constituting the remaining liquid amount detecting means.

Claims (13)

A liquid supply flow path for supplying liquid from the upstream side which is the liquid supply source side toward the downstream side where the liquid is consumed;
A pump that drives the pump by displacing a displacement member that constitutes at least a part of the inner surface of the pump chamber so as to increase or decrease the volume of the pump chamber using a part of the liquid supply flow path as a pump chamber;
A liquid supply device comprising a liquid remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of liquid in the liquid supply source,
The liquid supply source is configured such that the volume of the liquid storage portion of the closed space that stores the liquid changes according to the remaining amount of liquid,
The liquid remaining amount detecting means is based on a displacement amount of the displacement member during suction driving in which the pump displaces the displacement member in a direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases and sucks the liquid into the pump chamber. A liquid supply apparatus that detects a liquid end state in which the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid container is zero. A liquid supply flow path for supplying liquid from the upstream side which is the liquid supply source side toward the downstream side where the liquid is consumed;
A pump that drives the pump by displacing a displacement member that constitutes at least a part of the inner surface of the pump chamber so as to increase or decrease the volume of the pump chamber using a part of the liquid supply flow path as a pump chamber;
A liquid supply device comprising a liquid remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of liquid in the liquid supply source,
The liquid supply source is configured such that the volume of the liquid storage portion of the closed space that stores the liquid changes according to the remaining amount of liquid,
The liquid remaining amount detecting means is based on a displacement amount of the displacement member during suction driving in which the pump displaces the displacement member in a direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases and sucks the liquid into the pump chamber. A liquid supply apparatus for detecting a remaining amount of liquid in a liquid container. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The liquid remaining amount detecting means is when the displacement amount of the displacement member at the time of the suction driving of the pump is smaller than a displacement amount when the liquid remaining amount in the liquid storage portion set in advance is necessary and sufficient. The liquid supply device is characterized in that it is detected that the liquid remaining state in the liquid container is zero or a liquid near-end state near zero. In the liquid supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The liquid remaining amount detecting means detects the position of the displacement member during the suction driving of the pump, and the position of the displacement member when a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of suction is set in advance. Detecting that the liquid remaining state in the liquid storage unit is zero or a liquid near-end state close to zero when the remaining amount of liquid in the storage unit is different from the position when it is assumed that the liquid remaining amount is necessary and sufficient. A liquid supply device. A liquid supply flow path for supplying liquid from the upstream side which is the liquid supply source side toward the downstream side where the liquid is consumed;
A pump that drives the pump by displacing a displacement member that constitutes at least a part of the inner surface of the pump chamber so as to increase or decrease the volume of the pump chamber using a part of the liquid supply flow path as a pump chamber;
A liquid supply device comprising a liquid remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of liquid in the liquid supply source,
The liquid supply source is configured such that the volume of the liquid storage portion of the closed space that stores the liquid changes according to the remaining amount of liquid,
The liquid remaining amount detecting means is configured to detect the liquid based on a driving load of the pump during suction driving in which the pump displaces the displacement member in a direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases and sucks the liquid into the pump chamber. A liquid supply apparatus that detects a liquid end state in which a liquid remaining amount in a storage unit is zero. A liquid supply flow path for supplying liquid from the upstream side which is the liquid supply source side toward the downstream side where the liquid is consumed;
A pump that drives the pump by displacing a displacement member that constitutes at least a part of the inner surface of the pump chamber so as to increase or decrease the volume of the pump chamber using a part of the liquid supply flow path as a pump chamber;
A liquid supply device comprising a liquid remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of liquid in the liquid supply source,
The liquid supply source is configured such that the volume of the liquid storage portion of the closed space that stores the liquid changes according to the remaining amount of liquid,
The liquid remaining amount detecting means is configured to detect the liquid based on a driving load of the pump during suction driving in which the pump displaces the displacement member in a direction in which the volume of the pump chamber increases and sucks the liquid into the pump chamber. A liquid supply apparatus for detecting a remaining amount of liquid in a container. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 5 or 6,
The liquid remaining amount detecting means, when the pump driving load at the time of the suction driving of the pump is larger than the driving load in the case where the liquid remaining amount in the liquid storage portion set in advance is necessary and sufficient, A liquid supply apparatus that detects a liquid end state in which the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid container is zero or a liquid near-end state that is close to zero. In the liquid supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the displacement member is biased by a biasing member in a direction in which the volume of the pump chamber decreases. A liquid supply flow path for supplying liquid from the upstream side which is the liquid supply source side toward the downstream side where the liquid is consumed;
A pump that is provided at an intermediate position of the liquid supply flow path, and that pumps the pump by rotating in the liquid supply flow path to isolate the liquid sucked from the upstream side and send it to the downstream side;
A liquid supply device comprising a liquid remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of liquid in the liquid supply source,
The liquid supply source is configured such that the volume of the liquid storage portion of the closed space that stores the liquid changes according to the remaining amount of liquid,
The liquid supply device is characterized in that the liquid remaining amount detecting means detects the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage portion based on a driving load of the pump when the pump is driven. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
The liquid remaining amount detecting means is configured to store the liquid when a driving load of the pump at the time of driving the pump is larger than a driving load when the liquid remaining amount in the liquid storing portion set in advance is necessary and sufficient. A liquid supply apparatus that detects a liquid end state in which the liquid remaining amount in the unit is zero or a liquid near-end state that is close to zero. In the liquid supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The liquid supply source is a liquid storage bag having flexibility, and the inside of the liquid storage bag serves as the liquid storage unit. In the liquid supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein when the liquid remaining amount detecting means detects that the liquid end state is reached, the driving of the pump is stopped. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid; and the liquid supply device according to claim 1 that supplies the liquid to the liquid ejecting head.

Images