JP2016150519A - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent ink from leaking from an ink supply needle of a cartridge holder when an ink cartridge is not attached. Ink supply needles (7) to (4) of a cartridge holder (80) include an ink flow path (73), a valve member (90), and a coil spring (74). When the ink cartridge 10 is not attached, the valve member 90 is positioned at the closed position 90 </ b> A where the ink flow path 73 is blocked by the blocking portion 91 by the biasing force of the coil spring 74. In the closed position 90A, the shaft portion 92 of the valve member 90 protrudes from the needle tip portion 72 of the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4). When the ink cartridge 10 is attached to the valve member 90, the shaft portion 92 is pressed by the valve body 46 on the ink cartridge 10 side, and the blocking portion 91 moves to the open position 90 </ b> B that does not block the ink flow path 73. [Selection] Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an ink jet printer in which an ink supply needle is provided in a cartridge holder for mounting an ink cartridge.

The ink jet printer includes a cartridge holder for attaching and detaching an ink cartridge for storing ink. The cartridge holder is provided with an ink supply needle connected to the ink supply port of the ink cartridge. In a state where no ink cartridge is attached to the cartridge holder, the ink supply needle is exposed in the cartridge holder. An ink flow path communicating with the ink jet head is formed inside the ink supply needle, and a round hole-shaped opening communicating with the ink flow path is formed at the tip of the ink supply needle.

This type of ink jet printer may be transported with the ink cartridge removed for repair, etc., but if the cartridge holder tilts or vibrates at that time, the ink supply needle opens into the opening provided at the tip of the ink supply needle. The formed meniscus may be broken, and ink remaining in the ink flow path may leak from the opening of the ink supply needle. As a result, the inside of the printer may become dirty with ink, and the user's hand may become dirty when the ink cartridge is replaced. Further, if ink adheres to a circuit board provided inside the ink jet printer, the ink jet printer may become inoperable.

Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a sealing valve is provided in an ink flow path in order to prevent ink leakage from an ink supply needle in this type of inkjet printer. The sealing valve of Patent Literature 1 is disposed in a valve chamber provided at the proximal end portion of the ink supply needle. When a hydraulic pressure is applied to the ink flow path in the ink supply needle via the valve chamber, the sealing valve operates to close the ink flow path.

JP 2006-116946 A

In the structure of Patent Document 1, the sealing valve that closes the ink flow path is in a floating state in the valve chamber, and is sealed by the ink flow generated by the operation of the control valve disposed between the sealing valve and the inkjet head. The stop valve is opened and closed. Therefore, it is assumed that a control valve is provided behind the sealing valve, and the hydraulic pressure must be controlled when opening and closing, so that the structure and control are complicated.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to propose an ink jet printer that can prevent ink from leaking from an ink supply needle of a cartridge holder with a simple configuration and an ink cartridge not attached.

In order to solve the above problems, an inkjet printer of the present invention includes a print head,
An ink cartridge for supplying ink to the print head, and a cartridge holder including an ink supply needle in which an ink flow path is formed, and the ink supply needle is a shaft portion disposed in the ink flow path. And a valve member having a blocking portion that opens and closes the ink flow path, and a first urging member that urges the valve member toward the distal end side of the ink supply needle. A closed position in which the blocking portion closes the ink flow path, and the shaft portion protrudes from an opening formed in a tip portion of the ink supply needle; and an open position in which the blocking portion does not close the ink flow path. It is possible to move between and.

As described above, the present invention provides an ink supply needle in a state in which a valve member including a blocking portion and a shaft portion is attached to an ink supply needle provided in a cartridge holder, and an ink flow path of the ink supply needle is closed by the blocking portion. A shaft portion protrudes from an opening formed at the tip of the shaft. In such a configuration, when the ink cartridge is not attached, the valve member is positioned at the closed position by the first biasing member,
The state where the ink flow path is blocked by the blocking portion can be maintained. Further, when the ink cartridge is mounted, the valve member can be moved to an open position where the shaft portion is pressed by the structure on the ink cartridge side so that the ink passage is not blocked by the blocking portion. Therefore, without using a control valve for driving the valve member or the like, the ink flow path can be reliably closed with a simple configuration without the ink cartridge attached. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent ink from leaking from the ink supply needle.

In this invention, it can be set as the structure which the said axial part does not protrude from the said opening in the said open position. In this way, when the shaft portion is pushed into the ink flow path, the valve body provided at the ink supply port on the ink cartridge side is pressed with the ink supply needle, as in the conventional ink supply needle, An ink supply needle can be inserted into the ink supply port.

In this case, when the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge holder, the shaft portion is pressed by a valve body that closes the ink supply port of the ink cartridge, and the valve member moves to the open position, Thereafter, when the ink supply needle is inserted into the ink supply port and the ink cartridge is removed from the cartridge holder, the ink supply needle is removed from the ink supply port, and the valve element opens the ink supply port. It is desirable that the valve member is returned to the closed position and then the valve member is returned to the closed position by the urging force of the first urging member. In this case, the valve on the ink cartridge side is opened while the valve on the ink supply needle side is opened and the seal between the ink supply needle and the ink supply port is removed by the seal member attached to the ink supply port. Will open. Therefore, it is possible to prevent ink in the ink cartridge from leaking to the outside when the ink supply needle and the ink supply port are connected.

For example, the first urging member urges the valve member with an urging force that is weaker than the urging force of the second urging member that urges the valve body toward the ink supply port closing side. Is desirable. The urging direction of the valve member by the first urging member is preferably opposite to the urging direction of the valve body by the second urging member. In this case, the urging force of the second urging member that pushes the shaft protruding from the ink supply needle into the opening is more than the urging force of the first urging member that pushes the valve body into the ink supply port. Since it is strong, only the shaft portion is not pushed into the ink supply port before the valve on the ink supply needle side opens. Therefore, when the valve on the ink cartridge side is opened, it is possible to realize a state in which the seal between the ink supply needle and the ink supply port is always taken and the valve on the ink supply needle side is open.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the ink supply needle includes a cylindrical portion in which the ink flow path is formed and a through portion that penetrates the cylindrical portion. In this way, even if the opening provided at the tip of the ink supply needle is blocked when contacting the valve body, the ink flow path is connected to the outside via the penetrating part at a position different from the opening. Communicate. Therefore, the ink flow path on the ink supply needle side can be prevented from being blocked by the valve body on the ink cartridge side.

Alternatively, in the present invention, it is desirable that the ink supply needle includes a groove portion extending from the edge of the opening to the outer peripheral side. In this way, even if the valve body comes into contact with the opening provided at the tip of the ink supply needle, the ink flow path communicates with the outside via the groove extending from the edge of the opening. Therefore, the ink flow path on the ink supply needle side can be prevented from being blocked by the valve body on the ink cartridge side.

In the present invention, it is desirable that a flow path groove extending in the axial direction of the shaft portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion. In this way, when the valve member is mounted so that the shaft portion is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral wall surrounding the ink flow path inside the ink supply needle, a space in which the ink flows can be secured in the flow path groove. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the valve member from being inclined in the ink supply needle while securing the ink flow path.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer to which the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge and a cartridge holder. It is sectional drawing of an ink cartridge. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge and a cartridge holder. It is a perspective view of a valve member. It is the perspective view which looked at the ink supply needle from the needle point side. It is a fragmentary sectional view of a cartridge holder provided with an ink supply needle of another form to which the present invention is applied.

Embodiments of an ink jet printer to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer to which the present invention is applied. The ink jet printer 1 includes a platen 3 that transports the recording paper 2, an ink jet head 4 (printing head) that has a nozzle surface facing the platen 3, and the ink jet head 4. The transport direction Y 1 of the recording paper 2 A carriage 5 that reciprocates in a moving direction X1 that intersects with
It has a cartridge holder 80 and a drive control unit 8 that controls each unit of the inkjet printer 1. An ink cartridge 10 that supplies ink to the ink nozzles of the inkjet head 4 is mounted on the cartridge holder 80.

As will be described later, the ink cartridge 10 includes four ink chambers 30 (1) to 30 (4).
And one waste ink collection chamber 20 (see FIG. 3) for collecting the waste ink. The cartridge holder 80 includes ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) for taking out ink from the ink chambers 30 (1) to 30 (4) and ink for discharging the waste ink to the waste ink collection chamber 20. A recovery needle 7 (5) is provided. When the ink cartridge 10 is attached to the cartridge holder 80, an ink supply path for supplying ink from the ink cartridge 10 to the inkjet head 4 is formed.

The ink jet printer 1 also includes a nozzle cap 9 disposed at a position away from the platen 3 in the movement direction X1 of the carriage 5. The nozzle cap 9 is connected to the ink collection needle 7 (5) via the ink pump 6. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 10 is attached to the cartridge holder 80, a waste ink collection path from the nozzle cap 9 to the waste ink collection chamber 20 in the ink cartridge 10 through the ink collection needle 7 (5) is formed. When the ink pump 6 is driven with the nozzle cap 9 placed on the nozzle surface 4 a of the inkjet head 4, the waste ink can be collected in the waste ink collection chamber 20.
(ink cartridge)
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the ink cartridge 10 and the cartridge holder 80. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.
In this specification, three directions orthogonal to each other are defined as an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction. In the three directions of XYZ shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the direction of the arrow is + direction (forward direction), and the direction opposite to the arrow direction is-direction (
Negative direction). The vertical direction is the Z direction, and the −Z direction is the vertical downward direction. In this embodiment, the mounting direction of the ink cartridge 10 to the cartridge holder 80 is vertically downward (
-Z direction).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink cartridge 10 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped cartridge case 12 that is long in the X direction. The cartridge case 12 includes a case body 12a and a cover plate 1
2b. The lid plate 12b is a plate-like member that constitutes the upper surface of the cartridge case 12, and seals the upper end opening of the case body 12a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the internal space of the case body 12 a is partitioned into five along the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the cartridge case 12. The space located at one end in the longitudinal direction is the waste ink chamber 21, and the other four spaces are the ink chambers 30 (1) to 30 (4). At the bottom of the case body 12a, there are ink take-out portions 40 (1) to 40 (4) for taking out ink from the ink chambers 30 (1) to 30 (4), and for collecting the waste ink in the waste ink chamber 21. The waste ink collecting unit 40 (5) is formed.

The ink chambers 30 (1) to 30 (4) formed inside the case body 12 a are spaces that extend in the vertical direction (Z direction) with a circular cross section. The case body 12a includes ink chambers 30 (1) -3.
Cylindrical container portions 14 (1) to 14 (4) including an outer peripheral wall surrounding 0 (4) are provided. The cylindrical container portions 14 (1) to 14 (4) are arranged in a line in the X direction, and adjacent cylindrical container portions are connected to each other. Further, the waste ink chamber 21 is a space having a rectangular cross section and extending in the vertical direction (Z direction), and the case main body 12 a includes a rectangular tubular container portion 15 surrounding the waste ink chamber 21. The rectangular container portion 15 is connected to the cylindrical container portion 14 (1). The upper ends of the cylindrical container portions 14 (1) to 14 (4) and the rectangular tube-shaped container portion 15 are connected to the frame-shaped portion 17 constituting the upper end portion of the case body 12 a.

As shown in FIG. 3, a flat partition plate 50 is disposed between the case main body 12a and the lid plate 12b. The partition plate 50 seals the upper ends of the ink chambers 30 (1) to 30 (4).
An ink trap 22 is formed between the partition plate 50 and the lid plate 12b as a space extending in the lateral direction above the ink chambers 30 (1) to 30 (4). The ink trap 22 and the waste ink chamber 21 are connected to each other at the upper end of the waste ink chamber 21 and constitute a waste ink collection chamber 20 having a shape bent at a right angle as a whole. An ink holding member 18 is disposed in the waste ink chamber 21, and an ink holding member 19 is disposed in the ink trap 22. The ink holding members 18 and 19
It is a porous member such as a fiber member or a foam. The waste ink collection chamber 20 is provided with a cover plate 12.
The atmosphere is released through the atmosphere opening portion 60 formed in b. Also, the ink chambers 30 (1) -3
0 (4) is the ink trap 22 through the waste ink introduction port 57 formed in the partition plate 50.
And communicates with the atmosphere opening 60 via a cylindrical projection 56 formed on the partition plate 50.
(Ink chamber)
Since the ink chambers 30 (1) to 30 (4) have the same structure, the structure of the ink chamber 30 (1) will be described, and the other ink chambers 30 (2) to 30 (4) have the same structure. Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The ink chamber 30 (1) is an internal space of the cylindrical container portion 14 (1), and a coil spring 34 and a movable lid 33 are disposed. The movable lid 33 can reciprocate up and down along the inner peripheral surface 14a of the cylindrical container portion 14 (1). The coil spring 34 is disposed between the movable lid 33 and the bottom surface 14b of the cylindrical container portion 14 (1), and presses the movable lid 33 upward.

In the ink chamber 30 (1), an ink storage chamber 35 in which ink is stored is defined by the inner peripheral surface 14 a and the bottom surface 14 b of the cylindrical container portion 14 (1) and the movable lid 33. The ink in the ink storage chamber 35 is sucked to the outside from the ink take-out portion 40 (1) disposed at the center of the bottom surface 14b. On the upper side of the movable lid 33, the position of the movable lid 33 (with respect to the partition plate 50 (
An upper space 38 having a volume corresponding to the height is formed. When the ink storage chamber 35 is filled with ink, the ink enters the gap 37 between the inner peripheral surface 14a and the movable lid 33 to form an ink meniscus. Therefore, it is possible to prevent bubbles from entering the ink storage chamber 35 from the upper space 38 above the movable lid 33.

The inner peripheral surface 14a of the cylindrical container portion 14 (1) is a tapered inner peripheral surface 14d whose inner diameter dimension gradually decreases in the vicinity of the portion connected to the bottom surface 14b. Ink chamber 30 (
When the ink amount 1) decreases, the movable lid 33 descends to the vicinity of the bottom surface of the cylindrical container portion 14 (1). When the movable lid 33 reaches the tapered inner peripheral surface 14d of the cylindrical container portion 14 (1), the movable lid 3
3 is lowered, the gap 37 gradually decreases between the movable lid 33 and the tapered inner peripheral surface 14d. As a result, the strength of the ink meniscus formed in the gap 37 is increased. When the lower end of the movable lid 33 reaches the lower end of the tapered inner peripheral surface 14d, the movable lid 33 is fitted into the inner peripheral side surface portion to form a locked state.
(Ink removal part)
4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 10 and the cartridge holder 80. FIG.
FIG. 4A shows a state where the ink cartridge 10 is not attached, and FIG. 4B shows a state where the ink cartridge 10 is attached. Since the structure of the ink take-out units 40 (1) to 40 (4) is the same, the structure of the ink take-out unit 40 (1) will be described and the other ink take-out units 40 will be described.
Regarding (2) to (4), the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a circular opening 41 is formed at the center of the bottom surface 14 b of the cylindrical container portion 14 (1). From the outer peripheral edge of the circular opening 41, the cylindrical frame 42 protrudes downward (−Z direction). A disc-shaped rubber packing 43 is attached to the inside of the cylindrical frame 42, and a through hole formed at the center functions as an ink take-out hole 40b (ink supply port). A cylindrical frame 44 protrudes upward in the ink storage chamber 35 from the outer peripheral edge of the circular opening 41. A space surrounded by the cylindrical frame 44 is a valve chamber 45 that allows the ink take-out hole 40 b and the ink storage chamber 35 to communicate with each other.

In the valve chamber 45, a valve body 46 capable of blocking the ink extraction hole 40b is disposed. The valve body 46 is urged in the −Z direction by a coil spring 47 (second urging member) and is pressed against the back surface of the rubber packing 43 to seal the ink take-out hole 40b. A pressing member 48 that holds the rubber packing 43 from below is attached to the tip of the cylindrical frame 42.

When the ink cartridge 10 is attached to the cartridge holder 80, the valve body 46 is pushed up by the ink supply needle 7 (1) of the cartridge holder 80, and the ink supply needle 7
(1) is inserted into the valve chamber 45 through the ink extraction hole 40b (see FIG. 4B). As a result, the ink in the ink storage chamber 35 can be supplied to the ink supply needle 7 (1) side via the valve chamber 45. At this time, the foreign matter mixed in the ink supplied from the ink storage chamber 35 to the ink supply needle 7 (1) side is captured by the foreign matter removing filter 49 attached to the upper end of the cylindrical frame 44.
(Cartridge holder)
As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge holder 80 rises from a substantially rectangular bottom 81 that is long in the X direction, a first wall 82 that rises from an edge in the + Y direction of the bottom 81, and an edge in the −Y direction of the bottom 81. The second wall 83, the third wall 84 rising from the edge of the bottom 81 in the + X direction, and the fourth wall 85 rising from the edge of the bottom 81 in the −X direction are provided. The recessed space surrounded by these serves as a cartridge accommodating portion for accommodating the ink cartridge 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) and the ink collection needle 7 (5) protrude from the bottom 81 of the cartridge holder 80. On the back side of the bottom 81, the ink supply needle 7 (
A planar flow path portion 86 in which a flow path communicating with 1) to 7 (4) is formed is disposed. The flat flow path portion 86 is formed by forming a depression constituting a flow path in a flat plate-like member and welding a film 86a so as to close the depression. The flat channel portion 86 is screwed to the bottom portion 81 with a seal rubber 87 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) sandwiched between the planar flow channel portion 86 and the bottom portion 81. A supply tube 88 (see FIG. 1) is connected to the planar flow path portion 86. Ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4)
Communicates with the in-head flow path of the inkjet head 4 via the planar flow path portion 86 and the supply tube 88.
(Ink supply needle)
Since the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) have the same structure, the structure of the ink supply needle 7 (1) will be described, and the other ink supply needles 7 (2) to 7 (4) will have the same structure. The same reference numerals are given to the configurations of and the description is omitted. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the ink supply needle 7 (1) includes a pedestal 71 formed on the bottom 81 of the cartridge holder 80, and + Z from the pedestal 71.
Needle portion 72 (cylindrical portion) that protrudes in the direction, ink passage 73 that is a penetrating portion that penetrates base portion 71 and needle tip portion 72 in the Z direction, and valve member 90 that is attached to ink passage 73. And the valve member 9
A coil spring 74 (first biasing member) that biases 0 in the + Z direction is provided.

The needle tip portion 72 has a base end portion close to the pedestal portion 71 that has a large diameter. The ink flow path 73 is a large diameter flow path 7 extending in the Z direction in a range from the lower end of the pedestal 71 to the large diameter portion of the needle tip 72.
3a and a small-diameter channel 73b extending in the Z direction in the range from the upper end of the large-diameter channel 73a to the tip of the needle tip 72. The large-diameter channel 73a and the small-diameter channel 73b have a circular cross section and extend linearly as a whole. On the back side (−Z direction side) of the pedestal portion 71, a concave portion 89 formed in the planar flow path portion 86 is located. The recess 89 is recessed in the −Z direction, and the upper end thereof is blocked by the pedestal 71. The lower end of the large-diameter channel 73 a communicates with the recess 89 through an opening 75 formed on the back surface of the pedestal portion 71. On the other hand, the upper end of the small-diameter channel 73 b communicates with the outside through an opening 76 formed in the distal end portion 72 a of the needle tip portion 72.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the valve member 90. FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the ink supply needle 7 (1) viewed from the needle tip side. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the valve member 90 includes a substantially disc-shaped blocking portion 91 disposed in the recess 89 and a shaft portion 92 protruding in the + Z direction from the center of the blocking portion 91. A coil spring 74 is disposed between the bottom surface of the recess 89 and the blocking portion 91. The shaft portion 92 includes a large-diameter shaft portion 92a that is inserted into the large-diameter channel 73a, and a small-diameter shaft portion 92b that protrudes coaxially from the tip of the large-diameter shaft portion 92a and is inserted into the small-diameter channel 73b.

When the shaft portion 92 is inserted into the ink flow path 73, the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 92 is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the ink flow path 73. A plurality of flow channel grooves 94 extending in the Z direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter shaft portion 92a. A part of the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter shaft portion 92b is a flat surface 95 extending in the Z direction. Therefore, the channel groove 94 and the large-diameter channel 73a are inserted with the shaft portion 92 inserted into the ink channel 73.
A space for ink to flow is secured between the inner peripheral surface of the ink. Further, the flat surface 95 and the small-diameter channel 73b
A space for ink to flow is secured between the inner peripheral surface of the ink.

On the back surface of the pedestal portion 71 of the ink supply needle 7 (1), a valve seat portion 77 that rises in an annular shape in a region surrounding the opening 75 is formed. On the other hand, the blocking portion 91 of the valve member 90 includes an annular seal portion 93 that faces the valve seat portion 77 in the Z direction. The valve member 90 is manufactured, for example, by two-color molding of an elastomer constituting the seal portion 93 and a resin material such as plastic constituting the other portion.

The valve member 90 is in a closed position 90 where the seal portion 93 abuts the valve seat portion 77 and closes the ink flow path 73.
A (see FIG. 4A) and the open position 90B (see FIG. 4B) where the seal portion 93 is separated from the valve seat portion 77 and does not block the ink flow path 73 are movable. . The coil spring 74 urges the valve member 90 to the side (+ Z direction) from the open position 90B toward the closed position 90A. The biasing force of the coil spring 74 is set so that the seal portion 93 is not separated from the valve seat portion 77 by the vibration level when the inkjet printer 1 is transported. The valve member 90 is in the closed position 90A.
Then, the tip of the small-diameter shaft portion 92b of the valve member 90 is in a state protruding from the opening 76 of the needle tip portion 72 in the + Z direction. On the other hand, at the open position 90B, the tip of the small diameter shaft portion 92b is the small diameter flow path 73.
It is pushed into b and does not protrude from the opening 76.
(Operation of valve member)
As shown in FIG. 4A, the valve member 90 attached to the ink flow path 73 is pushed up to the closed position 90A by the biasing force of the coil spring 74 before the ink cartridge 10 is attached. From this state, when the ink cartridge 10 is inserted into the cartridge holder 80 from above, the ink take-out portion 40 (1) of the ink cartridge 10 faces the ink supply needle 7 (1). Then, the tip of the small-diameter shaft portion 92b protruding from the tip of the needle tip portion 72 of the ink supply needle 7 (1) is inserted into the cylindrical frame 42 of the ink take-out portion 40 (1), thereby blocking the ink take-out hole 40b. It abuts on the valve body 46.

The valve body 46 on the ink cartridge 10 side is urged downward (−Z direction) by the coil spring 47, and the valve member 90 including the small diameter shaft portion 92 b is upward (+ Z direction) by the coil spring 74.
Is being energized. That is, the biasing direction by the coil spring 47 and the biasing direction by the coil spring 74 are opposite to each other. In this embodiment, the biasing force of the coil spring 47 is greater than the coil spring 74.
Greater than the energizing power of For example, the spring load by the coil spring 47 is set to about 9 times the spring load by the coil spring 74. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 10 is further pushed down in the mounting direction (−Z direction) after the tip of the small diameter shaft portion 92b abuts on the valve body 46, the valve body 46 remains pressed against the rubber packing 43 and the small diameter shaft portion. 92 b is pushed into the opening 76 of the needle tip 72 by the valve body 46. As a result, the valve member 90 is pushed down from the closed position 90A toward the open position 90B, and the ink flow path 73 in the ink supply needle 7 (1) communicates with the flow path in the flat flow path portion 86.

When the valve member 90 is pushed down to the open position 90B, the valve body 46 is moved to the tip 7 of the needle tip 72.
2a abuts. In this state, when the ink cartridge 10 is further pushed down, the needle tip 72
The front end portion 72 a is inserted into the valve chamber 45 through the ink extraction hole 40 b while pushing the valve body 46 into the valve chamber 45. As shown in FIG. 4B, the ink cartridge 10 is pushed into the cartridge holder 80 to a position where it abuts on the bottom 81 of the cartridge holder 80. Here, the needle tip portion 72 of the ink supply needle 7 (1) has a penetrating portion 78 (FIGS. 4 and 6A) that penetrates the cylindrical portion surrounding the small diameter flow path 73b in the radial direction at a position close to the tip end portion 72a. See). As shown in FIG. 4B, the ink supply needle 7 (1) has the penetrating portion 78 having the valve chamber 45.
It is inserted to a position where it becomes open in the inside. Accordingly, the ink flow path 73 communicates with the valve chamber 45 via the penetrating portion 78. On the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply needle 7 (1) inserted into the valve chamber 45,
The rubber packing 43 attached to the ink extraction hole 40b is in close contact with the seal. Therefore, the ink is prevented from leaking from the periphery of the ink supply needle 7 (1).

When removing the ink cartridge 10 mounted in the cartridge holder 80,
The ink cartridge 10 is lifted upward (+ Z direction) from the state shown in FIG. 4B, and the ink supply needle 7 (1) is pulled out from the ink take-out hole 40b. At this time, the valve body 46 is lowered while maintaining the state of being pressed against the tip end portion 72 a of the needle tip portion 72 by the biasing force of the coil spring 47. The valve body 46 stops at a position pressed against the back surface of the rubber packing 43, and returns to a state in which the ink extraction hole 40b is sealed. In the ink supply needle 7 (1), the valve member 90 is in the open position 90 until the ink take-out hole 40 b is blocked by the valve body 46.
B is positioned. Thereafter, when the ink cartridge 10 is further raised in the + Z direction, the valve body 46 is separated from the tip of the ink supply needle 7 (1), so that the shaft portion 92 is released from the pressed state by the valve body 46. As a result, the urging force of the coil spring 74 returns the valve member 90 to the closed position 90A shown in FIG.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing a modification of the needle tip shape of the ink supply needle 7 (1). In the ink supply needle 7 (1), a groove 79 as shown in FIG. 6B may be formed at the tip 72 a of the needle tip 72. In the case where the groove 79 is formed, the through portion 78 shown in FIG. The groove 79 extends radially from the edge of the opening 76 formed in the distal end portion 72a toward the outer peripheral side. The groove 79 communicates the ink flow path 73 with the outside without being blocked by the valve body 46 in a state where the valve body 46 is in contact with the distal end portion 72 a of the needle tip portion 72. Accordingly, the ink flow path 73 and the valve chamber 45 communicate with each other through the groove 79 in a state where the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge holder 80. The groove 79 shown in FIG. 6B has a V-shaped cross-section, but may be any other cross-sectional shape as long as the valve body 46 is not blocked when in contact with the tip 72a. It may be.

As described above, in the ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the valve members 90 including the blocking portion 91 and the shaft portion 92 are mounted on the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) provided in the cartridge holder 80, respectively. The The valve member 90 closes the ink flow path 73 of the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) with a blocking portion 91, and the front end portion 72 a of the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4).
The coil spring 74 is urged toward the closed position 90A where the shaft portion 92 projects from the opening 76 formed in the above. Therefore, in a state where the ink cartridge 10 is not attached to the cartridge holder 80, the valve member 90 is positioned at the closed position 90A by the coil spring 74, and the state where the ink flow path 73 is closed by the blocking portion 91 can be maintained. Therefore, the cartridge holder 8
Ink can be prevented from leaking out from the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) when vibration is applied to the ink jet printer 1 by transportation or the like with the ink cartridge 10 not attached to 0.

Further, in this embodiment, since the shaft portion 92 is incorporated in the ink flow path 73, the volume from the opening 75 blocked by the blocking portion 91 to the opening 76 formed in the tip portion 72a is small. Therefore, even if the ink accommodated in the space from the blocking portion 91 to the opening 76 leaks from the opening 76, the amount thereof is small. Therefore, there is little dirt inside the printer due to leaked ink. In addition, there is very little possibility that the printer will be inoperable due to the ink flowing around the circuit board or the like.

Further, in this embodiment, when the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge holder 80, the shaft portion 92 is pressed by the structure (valve body 46) on the ink cartridge 10 side,
The valve member 90 can be moved to the open position 90 </ b> B where the blocking part 91 does not block the ink flow path 73. As described above, since the valve of the ink flow path 73 is forcibly opened by contact with the member on the ink cartridge 10 side, an actuator such as a control valve needs to be used to drive the valve member 90. There is no. Accordingly, the ink flow path 73 can be reliably closed when the ink cartridge 10 is not mounted, and the ink flow path 73 can be reliably opened when the ink cartridge 10 is mounted, although the configuration is simple. Further, in such a configuration, the movement amount of the valve member 90 can be kept constant within the range of component tolerances, so that the flow resistance of the ink flow path 73 provided with the valve member 90 varies little. Therefore, there is an advantage that when the ink is ejected from the inkjet head 4, there is little fluctuation in the back pressure, and stable ink ejection can be realized.

In the present embodiment, when the ink cartridge 10 is mounted, the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (1) to 7
The valve (valve member 90) on the (4) side is opened first, and thereafter, the rubber packing 43 attached to the ink take-out hole 40b is used to connect the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) and the ink take-out hole 40b. The seal between the two is removed, and the valve (valve element 46) on the ink cartridge 10 side is opened. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink in the ink cartridge 10 from leaking to the outside when the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) and the ink take-out hole 40b are connected. Such an operation is realized by appropriately setting the magnitude relationship between the urging forces of the coil spring 74 that urges the valve member 90 and the coil spring 47 that urges the valve body 46. Therefore, the ink in the ink cartridge 10 can be prevented from leaking to the outside.

Further, in the present embodiment, the needle tip portion 7 is added to the cylindrical needle tip portion 72 in which the ink flow path 73 is formed.
A groove portion 79 extending from the edge of the opening 76 to the outer peripheral side is formed at the penetrating portion 78 penetrating 2 in the radial direction or the tip end portion 72 a of the needle tip portion 72. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the state in which the valve chamber 45 and the ink flow path 73 do not communicate with each other when the tip end portion 72a of the needle tip portion 72 comes into contact with the valve body 46 on the ink cartridge 10 side. Accordingly, the ink cartridge 10
The ink in the ink cartridge 10 can be reliably sucked by the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) at the time of mounting.
(Another form)
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a cartridge holder 180 including an ink supply needle 107 according to another embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and shows a state where the ink cartridge 10 is mounted. Less than,
Only parts different from the first embodiment will be described with different reference numerals, and the same parts as the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. The ink supply needle 107 of this form is the small diameter shaft portion 92 of the above form.
A valve member 190 having a small-diameter shaft portion 192 b longer than b is attached to the ink flow path 73. The valve member 190 moves between an open position 190 </ b> B shown in FIG. 7 and a closed position (not shown) where the blocking portion 91 contacts the valve seat portion 77.

When the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge holder 180, the valve member 19
0 is pressed by the valve body 46, and the open position 19 where the blocking portion 91 is in contact with the bottom of the recess 89.
Stop at 0B. The valve member 190 has a small-diameter shaft portion 192 that is longer than the small-diameter shaft portion 92b of the first form.
b. The small-diameter shaft portion 192b is moved from the closed position (not shown) to the open position 190B.
When 0 moves, it is pushed into the opening 76 and the projecting dimension from the opening 76 is reduced, but even at the open position 190B, it is slightly projecting from the opening 76. In such a configuration, the ink cartridge 10 is attached to the cartridge holder 180 and the opening 7
Since 6 is away from the valve body 46, the opening 76 is not blocked by the valve body 46. Therefore, the ink flow path 73 and the valve chamber 45 can be communicated with each other without forming the penetrating part 78 and the groove part 79 as in the above embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet printer, 3 ... Platen, 4 ... Inkjet head (printing head), 4a ... Nozzle surface, 5 ... Carriage, 6 ... Ink pump, 7 (1) -7 (4) ... Ink supply needle, 7 (5) DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Ink collection needle, 8 ... Drive control part, 9 ... Nozzle cap, 10 ... Ink cartridge, 12 ... Cartridge case, 12a ... Case main body, 12b ... Cover plate, 14 (
1) to 14 (4) ... cylindrical container part, 14a ... inner peripheral surface, 14b ... bottom surface, 14d ... tapered inner peripheral surface, 15 ... square cylindrical container part, 17 ... frame-like part, 18, 19 ... ink Holding member, 20 ... Waste ink collection chamber, 21 ... Waste ink chamber, 22 ... Ink trap, 30 (1) to 30 (4) ... Ink chamber, 33 ... Movable lid, 34 ... Coil spring, 35 ... Ink storage chamber, 37 ... Gap, 38 ... Upper space, 40 (1) to 40 (4) ... Ink take-out section, 40 (5) ... Waste ink collection section, 40b
Ink take-out hole (ink supply port) 41 Circular opening 42 Cylindrical frame 43 Rubber packing 44 Cylindrical frame 45 Valve chamber 46 Valve body 47 Coil spring (second biasing) Element),
48 ... Pressing member, 49 ... Filter, 50 ... Partition plate, 56 ... Cylindrical protrusion, 57 ... Waste ink introduction port, 60 ... Air release part, 71 ... Pedestal part, 72 ... Needle part (cylindrical part), 72a ... tip portion 73 ... ink flow path 73a ... large diameter flow path 73b ... small diameter flow path 74 ... coil spring (first
75 ... opening, 76 ... opening, 77 ... valve seat part, 78 ... penetrating part, 79 ... groove part, 8
0 ... cartridge holder, 81 ... bottom, 82 ... first wall, 83 ... second wall, 84 ... third wall,
85 ... 4th wall, 86 ... Flat flow path part, 86a ... Film, 87 ... Seal rubber, 88 ... Supply tube, 89 ... Recess, 90 ... Valve member, 90A ... Closed position, 90B ... Open position, 91 ... Sealing part,
92 ... Shaft portion, 92a ... Large diameter shaft portion, 92b ... Small diameter shaft portion, 93 ... Seal portion, 94 ... Channel groove, 9
5 ... Flat surface, 107 ... Ink supply needle, 180 ... Cartridge holder, 190 ... Valve member,
190B ... Open position, 192b ... Small diameter shaft portion, X1 ... Moving direction, Y1 ... Conveying direction

Claims (8)

A print head;
An ink cartridge for supplying ink to the print head, and a cartridge holder including an ink supply needle in which an ink flow path is formed;
The ink supply needle is
A shaft member disposed in the ink flow path, and a valve member including a sealing part that opens and closes the ink flow path;
A first urging member that urges the valve member toward the tip side of the ink supply needle,
The valve member is
A closed position where the blocking portion closes the ink flow path, and the shaft portion protrudes from an opening formed at a tip portion of the ink supply needle;
An ink jet printer, wherein the blocking portion is movable between an open position where the ink flow path is not closed. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the shaft portion does not protrude from the opening at the open position. When the ink cartridge is attached to the cartridge holder,
The shaft portion is pressed by a valve body closing the ink supply port of the ink cartridge, the valve member moves to the open position, and then the ink supply needle is inserted into the ink supply port,
When the ink cartridge is removed from the cartridge holder,
The ink supply needle is pulled out from the ink supply port and the valve body returns to the position to close the ink supply port, and then the valve member returns to the closed position by the urging force of the first urging member. The ink jet printer according to claim 2. The first urging member urges the valve member with an urging force weaker than an urging force of a second urging member that urges the valve body toward the ink supply port closing side. The inkjet printer according to claim 3. The inkjet printer according to claim 4, wherein a biasing direction of the valve member by the first biasing member is opposite to a biasing direction of the valve body by the second biasing member. . 6. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink supply needle includes a cylindrical portion in which the ink flow path is formed, and a penetrating portion that penetrates the cylindrical portion. . 6. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink supply needle includes a groove portion extending from an edge of the opening toward an outer peripheral side. The ink jet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a flow path groove extending in an axial direction of the shaft portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion.

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