JP2016150556A - 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. A cartridge holder of an ink jet printer includes an ink supply needle shielding unit. The ink supply needle shielding unit 90 includes a lid 91 that is rotatably supported by the second wall 83 of the cartridge housing portion 89, and the lid 91 includes a shielding portion 94 provided with a seal portion 97. The rotation shaft 96 of the lid 91 is connected to the operation rod 92 via a train wheel 93. When the operating rod 92 is tilted and the lid 91 is tilted into the cartridge housing portion 89 in a state where the ink cartridge 10 is not mounted, the seals provided on the convex portions 94 (1) to 94 (4) of the shielding portion 94. The opening 97 of the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) can be blocked by the portion 97. [Selection] Figure 5

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. Patent Document 1 discloses an ink jet printer of this type.

JP 2004-203030 A

An ink jet printer may be transported with an ink cartridge removed for repair or the like. When the ink supply needle is exposed in the cartridge holder as in the ink jet printer of Patent Document 1, if the cartridge holder tilts or vibrates during transportation, the ink supply needle is formed in an opening provided at the tip of the ink supply needle. Further, the 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.

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 when an ink cartridge is 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 the cartridge holder includes an ink supply needle having an ink flow path communicating with the print head, and an ink supply needle. A lid body that opens and closes the formed opening, and a lid body moving mechanism that moves the lid body between a closed position that closes the opening and an open position that opens the opening.

As described above, according to the present invention, the lid for opening and closing the opening of the ink supply needle is provided in the cartridge holder in which the ink cartridge is mounted. Accordingly, the opening of the ink supply needle can be closed with the lid in a state where the ink cartridge is not attached to the cartridge holder. Therefore, it is possible to prevent ink from leaking from the ink supply needle. In particular, since the lid body opening / closing mechanism is provided, it is easy to close the ink supply needle opening with the lid body and to open the ink supply needle opening.

For example, in the present invention, the lid body includes a shielding part provided with a seal part that contacts the opening in the closed position, and is configured to be supported rotatably around one end of the shielding part. it can. With such a shape, the lid can be opened and closed with a simple operation. Further, since the opening can be sealed by the seal portion, it is possible to reliably prevent ink from leaking from the ink supply needle.

In this case, the cartridge holder includes a window portion formed in a wall portion surrounding the ink supply needle, and in the open position, the shielding portion closes the window portion, and in the closed position,
The shield may be configured to fall toward the ink supply needle. In this way, since the shielding portion closes the window portion in the open position, it is possible to prevent foreign matters and the like from entering the cartridge holder from the window portion when the ink cartridge is mounted. Further, since the shielding portion can be retracted to the window portion, the ink cartridge and the shielding portion can be prevented from interfering with each other.

In this case, the cartridge holder includes a plurality of the ink supply needles,
The lid body preferably includes a plurality of the seal portions corresponding to the plurality of ink supply needles. In this way, the openings of the plurality of ink supply needles can be opened and closed simultaneously.

In this invention, the said cover body moving mechanism can be set as the structure provided with an operation member and the wheel train which connects the said operation member and the said cover body. If it does in this way, a user can move a cover body by moving an operation member, and can open and close the opening of an ink supply needle.

Alternatively, in the present invention, the cartridge holder is a holder cover that is movable between a cartridge housing portion that houses the ink cartridge, a cover position that covers the cartridge housing portion, and a retracted position that is retracted from the cover position. The lid moving mechanism moves the lid to the closed position when the holder cover moves to the cover position, and moves the lid to the closed position when the holder cover moves to the retracted position. It can be configured to move to the open position. In this way, after removing the ink cartridge, the opening of the ink supply needle can be simultaneously closed by covering the cartridge housing portion with the holder cover. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking from the ink supply needle due to forgetting to close the lid.

In this case, it is preferable that the lid moving mechanism includes a biasing member that biases the lid toward the closed position. In this manner, in a state where the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge holder, the urging force of the urging member can move the lid body to the closed position in conjunction with the operation of closing the holder cover. Further, in a state where the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder, the holder cover can be closed while the lid is in the open position against the urging force of the urging member.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state where an ink cartridge is removed from a cartridge holder. It is sectional drawing of an ink cartridge. FIG. 5 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where an ink cartridge is mounted on a cartridge holder. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of an ink supply needle | hook shielding unit. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing (operation explanatory drawing in the state in which the ink cartridge is not mounted | worn) of the ink supply needle | hook shielding unit of another form to which this invention is applied. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing (operation explanatory drawing in the state in which the ink cartridge is mounted | worn) of the ink supply needle | hook shielding unit of another form to which this invention is applied.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an inkjet printer including a cartridge holder to which the present invention is applied will be described 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)
2 to 4 are a perspective view and a sectional view showing the ink cartridge 10 and the cartridge holder 80, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ink cartridge 10 is detached from the cartridge holder 80, and FIG. 3 is an ink cartridge of FIG. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected 10 by the AA line. 4A is a perspective view showing a state where the ink cartridge 10 is mounted on the cartridge holder 80, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4A. In this specification, three directions orthogonal to each other are defined as an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction. 2 to 4
In the three directions of XYZ shown in FIG. 6, the direction of the arrow indicates the + direction (positive direction), and the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow indicates the-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 the vertically downward direction (−Z direction).

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, 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)
Since the structure of the ink take-out portions 40 (1) to 40 (4) is the same, the structure of the ink take-out portion 40 (1) will be described, and the other ink take-out portions 40 (2) to 40 (4) will be the same. The same reference numerals are given to the configurations of and the description is omitted. As shown in FIG. 3, the cylindrical container 1
A circular opening 41 is formed in the center of the bottom surface 14b of 4 (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 thereof is an ink take-out hole 4.
Functions as 0b. Further, from the outer peripheral edge of the circular opening 41, a cylindrical frame 44 is provided with the ink storage chamber 3.
5 protrudes upward in 5. 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 FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the cartridge holder 80 includes the ink cartridge 1.
A substantially rectangular parallelepiped cartridge accommodating portion 89 in which a recess space for accommodating 0 is formed, a planar flow passage portion 86 fixed to the bottom 81 of the cartridge accommodating portion 89, and ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4).
) And an ink collection needle 7 (5), and an ink supply needle shielding unit 90 that closes the needle tips of the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4). The cartridge accommodating portion 89 includes a bottom 81, a first wall 82 rising from an edge in the + Y direction of the bottom 81, a second wall 83 rising from an edge in the −Y direction of the bottom 81, and an end in the + X direction of the bottom 81. Third wall 84 rising from the edge and -X of bottom 81
A fourth wall 85 rising from the edge in the direction is provided. The cartridge accommodating portion 89 opens upward (+ Z direction), and the ink cartridge 10 is mounted from above.

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 housing portion 89. On the back side of the bottom 81, the ink supply needle 7 (1)
A planar flow path portion 86 in which a flow path communicating with ˜7 (4) is formed is disposed. Flat flow path part 8
6 is a film 86 formed so as to form a depression constituting a flow path in a flat plate-like member and close the depression.
a is welded. The planar flow path portion 86 is sealed between the bottom portion 81 and a seal rubber 87 (FIG. 4 (
It is screwed to the bottom 81 in a state of sandwiching (see b)). A supply tube 88 (see FIG. 1) is connected to the planar flow path portion 86. The ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) communicate with the in-head flow path of the inkjet head 4 via the flat 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 FIG. 4B, the ink supply needle 7 (1) includes a pedestal 71 formed on the bottom 81 of the cartridge housing 89, a needle tip 72 protruding from the pedestal 71 in the + Z direction, An ink flow path 73 that is a penetrating portion that penetrates the base portion 71 and the needle tip portion 72 in the Z direction is provided. The lower end of the ink flow path 73 communicates with the flow path formed in the flat flow path portion 86. An opening 74 that communicates with the upper end of the ink flow path 73 is formed at the tip of the needle tip portion 72. When the ink supply needle 7 (1) is inserted into the ink outlet hole 40b of the ink cartridge 10, the needle tip 72 is inserted into the valve chamber 45 (see FIG. 3). As a result, the ink in the ink storage chamber 35 can be supplied to the ink flow path 73 through the opening 74 and the valve chamber 45.
(Ink supply needle shielding unit)
The ink supply needle shielding unit 90 is connected to the ink cartridge 1 from the cartridge housing portion 89.
The ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (1) to be exposed in the cartridge housing portion 89 with 0 being removed.
The opening 74 formed in the needle tip of 7 (4) can be closed. As shown in FIG. 4B, the ink supply needle shielding unit 90 includes a lid body 91 supported by the second wall 83 of the cartridge housing portion 89 and an operation rod 92 (outside the second wall 83). An operation member / lid moving mechanism) and a wheel train 93 (lid moving mechanism) are provided. The train wheel 93 is connected to the lid body 9 based on the operation of the operation rod 92.
Move 1

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of the ink supply needle shielding unit 90. 5 (a1) to (a3)
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cartridge holder 80 as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG.
(B3) are cross-sectional views of the cartridge holder 80, respectively. FIG. 5 (a1)
, (B1) shows a state in which the lid 91 is in the open position 91A where the opening 74 is not closed, as shown in FIG.
a3) and (b3) show a state in which the lid 91 is in the closed position 91B where the opening 74 is closed. FIGS. 5A2 and 5B2 show a state where the lid 91 is moving from the open position 91A to the closed position 91B.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a rectangular window 83 a is formed in the second wall 83 (wall) of the cartridge housing portion 89. The window 83a extends in the width direction of the second wall 83 in a range where the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) are arranged. The lid 91 includes a rectangular shielding portion 94 that fits into the window portion 83a, an arm portion 95 that protrudes from the lower end of the shielding portion 94 toward the outside of the cartridge housing portion 89, and the shielding portion 94 and the arm portion 95 at substantially right angles. 2nd from both sides in the width direction of the corner connected to
A rotating shaft 96 protruding in the direction along the wall 83 is provided. The rotating shaft 96 is attached to a bearing portion (not shown) provided on the second wall 83 on both sides in the width direction of the window portion 83a. This
The lid body 91 is rotatably supported by the second wall 83 around the lower end portion of the shielding portion 94 provided with the rotation shaft 96.

The lid 91 has an open position 91A (see FIGS. 5 (a1) and 5 (b1)) in which the shielding portion 94 is positioned along the second wall 83 and closes the window portion 83a, and the shielding portion 94 has a lower end. It can move between closed positions 91B (see FIGS. 5 (a3) and 5 (b3)) that have fallen inside the cartridge accommodating portion 89 as the center. The arm portion 95 protrudes from the lower end of the window portion 83a to the outside of the cartridge housing portion 89 at the open position 91A, and is in a posture along the second wall 83 at the closed position 91B.

The shielding part 94 is a convex part 94 formed at a position corresponding to the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4).
(1) to 94 (4) are provided. Each of the convex portions 94 (1) to 94 (4) extends linearly on the inner surface of the shielding portion 94 (the surface facing the inside of the cartridge housing portion 89 at the open position 91 </ b> A), and the tip (upper end) thereof. A seal portion 97 is formed on the surface. The seal portion 97 is a circular recess, and a seal rubber is attached to the inner peripheral surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 5 (b3), the lid 9
When 1 moves to the closed position 91 </ b> B, the seal portion 97 covers the upper end of the ink supply needle 7 (1), and the seal rubber closely contacts the needle tip of the ink supply needle 7 (1) to close the opening 74. As a result, the ink in the ink flow path 73 is prevented from leaking into the cartridge housing portion 89 from the opening 74. Similarly, the convex portions 94 (2) to 94 (4) include a seal portion 97 that covers the needle tips of the ink supply needles 7 (2) to 7 (4) when the lid 91 moves to the closed position 91B. The opening 74 of the ink supply needles 7 (2) to 7 (4) can be closed with the seal rubber.

The operation rod 92 extends upward on the outside of the second wall 83, and its upper end protrudes upward from the upper end of the second wall 83. The lower end portion of the operation rod 92 is located outside the window portion 83 a in the width direction, and is fixed to the first gear 93 a located at one end of the train wheel 93. The operation bar 92 is
Centering on the lower end, the first gear 93a rotates together. The train wheel 93 includes the first gear 9.
3 a, a second gear 93 b, a third gear 93 c, and a fourth gear 93 d are configured to mesh with each other, and the fourth gear 93 d is fixed to a rotating shaft 96 that is the rotation center of the lid 91.
The second gear 93b and the third gear 93c are compound gears.

As shown in FIGS. 5A1 and 5B1, when the lid 91 is located at the open position 91A,
The operation rod 92 has a posture in which the upper end of the operation rod 92 falls to the second wall 83 side. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge housing portion 89, the lid 9
1 is moved to the open position 91A. Thereby, the ink cartridge 10 can be mounted without interfering with the lid 91. When the ink cartridge 10 is removed from the cartridge housing portion 89, the opening 91 of the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) is opened by the lid 91.
The ink supply needle shielding unit 90 is operated so as to block the ink. Ink supply needle shielding unit 9
0, as described below, by moving the operating rod 92, the lid 91 is moved based on the movement of the operating rod 92 via the train wheel 93, and the lid 91 is moved to the open position 91A and the closed position 91B. It is possible to move.

That is, in the direction away from the second wall 83 from the state of FIGS. 5A1 and 5B1 (FIG. 5B
When the operation rod 92 is tilted in the direction C1 of 1), the first gear 93a is rotated, and the rotation is transmitted to the fourth gear 93d via the second gear 93b and the third gear 93c. As a result, the lid 91
Rotates around the rotation shaft 96 in the C2 direction opposite to the operation rod 92. This
The shielding part 94 falls inside the cartridge housing part 89. The operation rod 92 is moved to the position shown in FIGS.
When tilted to the angle shown in 3), the shield portion 94 is tilted until it becomes a substantially horizontal posture, and the four seal portions 97 block the openings 74 of the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4), respectively. Is formed. This is the closed position 91B of the lid 91. When the ink cartridge 10 is mounted again in the cartridge accommodating portion 89, the operation rod 92 is tilted toward the second wall 83 (C2 direction in FIG. 5 (b3)) from the states of FIGS. 5 (a3) and (b3). Thereby, the cover body 91 rotates in the C1 direction, and the shielding portion 94 returns to the open position 91A where the window portion 83a is closed.

As described above, in the ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the cartridge holder 80 includes the ink supply needle shielding unit 90, and the ink supply needle shielding unit 90 has openings of the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4). A lid 91 that opens and closes 74 is provided. Accordingly, when the ink cartridge 10 is not mounted, the ink supply needle 7 (1) is covered by the lid 91.
The opening 74 of ˜7 (4) can be closed. As a result, the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4
) Can be prevented from leaking from the ink flow path 73. Ink cartridge 1
It is possible to prevent the ink in the ink flow path 73 from evaporating and thickening when 0 is left unattached. Therefore, there is also an advantage that stable ink ejection can be performed without performing flushing or the like at the time of resuming printing to discard the ink in the ink flow path 73.

In this embodiment, as the lid moving mechanism for moving the lid 91 between the open position 91A and the closed position 91B, the operating rod 92 and the rotating shaft 96 of the lid 91 are rotated based on the operation of the operating rod 92. The train wheel 93 to be used is used. By providing such a lid operating mechanism (operating rod 92 and train wheel 93), the lid 91 can be easily opened and closed. In addition, the operation bar 92 can be disposed at a position where the user can easily operate.

Further, the lid 91 of the present embodiment has the opening 7 of the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) at the closed position 91B.
4 is provided. Therefore, the opening 74 can be sealed by the seal portion 97, and it is possible to reliably prevent ink from leaking from the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4). The lid 9
1 is supported rotatably around a rotation shaft 96 provided at the lower end of the shielding portion 94, and is attached to a window portion 83 a formed in the second wall 83 of the cartridge holder 80. Accordingly, since the shielding portion 94 closes the window portion 83a at the open position 91A, the ink cartridge 1
It is possible to prevent foreign matter and the like from entering the cartridge holder 80 from the window 83a when 0 is attached. Further, at the open position 91A, the shield 94 can be retracted to a position (window 83a) that does not interfere with the ink cartridge 10.
(Another form)
6 and 7 are explanatory views of the operation of an ink supply needle shielding unit according to another embodiment to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 6 shows the operation when the ink cartridge 10 is not attached, and FIG. An operation in a state where the cartridge 10 is mounted will be described. Hereinafter, the same configurations as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different portions are denoted by different reference numerals.
The cartridge holder 180 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 includes a cartridge housing portion 89 and a planar flow passage portion 86, a holder cover 200 for opening and closing the upper end opening of the cartridge housing portion 89, and the ink supply needle 7 ( An ink supply needle shielding unit 190 that opens and closes the openings 74 of 1) to 7 (4) is provided.

The holder cover 200 is a lid member that opens and closes the upper end opening of the cartridge housing portion 89, and is a retracted position 200A (FIGS. 6A and 7A) that is retracted from above the cartridge housing portion 89.
)) And a cover position 200B (FIG. 6C, FIG. 7) covering the cartridge housing portion 89 from above.
(C)). The holder cover 200 includes a rotation shaft 201 disposed obliquely above the cartridge housing portion 89, a cover portion 202 extending from the rotation shaft 201 toward the cartridge housing portion 89, and an arm extending from the rotation shaft 201 in a direction different from the cover portion 202. Part 2
03. Inside the inkjet printer 1, a support member (not shown) that rotatably supports the rotary shaft 201 at an oblique upper position of the cartridge housing portion 89 is provided.

The ink supply needle shielding unit 190 includes a lid body 191 that is rotatably supported by the cartridge housing portion 89, and a first connection arm 192 whose one end (upper end) is coupled to the holder cover 200.
A second connecting arm 193 connected to the other end (lower end) of the first connecting arm 192, and a coil spring 194 disposed in the slide groove 193a of the second connecting arm 193. The first connecting arm 192, the second connecting arm 193, and the coil spring 194 constitute a lid moving mechanism that opens and closes the lid 191 based on the opening / closing operation of the holder cover 200.

The lid body 191 includes a shielding portion 94 and a rotation shaft 96, and an arm portion 195 extending in a direction that forms an obtuse angle with the shielding portion 94 from a corner portion where the rotation shaft 96 is provided. The shielding part 94 is a seal part 97.
Are provided with convex portions 94 (1) to 94 (4). The cover body 191 has a shielding portion 94 with a window portion 8.
The open position 191A (see FIGS. 6 (a) and 7 (a)) blocking the 3a, and the shielding part 94 falls on the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) to close the opening 74. Closed position 191B (FIG. 6 (c
)). The arm portion 195 is in the cartridge housing portion 89 at the closed position 191B.
It extends diagonally upward outside.

The upper end portion of the first connecting arm 192 is connected to the arm portion 203 of the holder cover 200 and extends obliquely downward on the outside of the second wall 83 of the cartridge housing portion 89. The lower end portion of the first connection arm 192 is slidably inserted into a slide groove 193 a that opens at the upper end of the second connection arm 193. A slide groove 193 is formed at the lower end of the first connecting arm 192.
A retaining portion is provided to prevent it from coming out of a. A fixing portion 193b to which the lower end portion of the coil spring 194 disposed in the slide groove 193a is fixed is formed at the lower end portion of the second connecting arm 193.

In the slide groove 193 a of the second connecting arm 193, the shielding portion 9 is provided from the rotation center of the lid 191.
4, the tip end portion 195 a of the arm portion 195 extending on the opposite side to the side 4 is engaged in a slidable state. The tip 195a is located on the opposite side of the fixed part 193b with respect to the coil spring 194 in the slide groove 193a. In such a configuration, when the second connecting arm 193 is pulled upward via the first connecting arm 192, the tip end portion 195 a of the arm portion 195 is biased upward by the biasing force of the coil spring 194. This urging direction is a direction in which the lid 191 rotates toward the closed position 191B. That is, the coil spring 194 biases the lid 191 toward the closed position 191B.
(Operation of ink supply needle shielding unit 190: cartridge not attached)
As shown in FIG. 6A, in the state where the holder cover 200 is located at the retracted position 200A retracted from above the cartridge housing portion 89, the cover portion 2 of the holder cover 200 is covered.
Since 02 stands up, the arm portion 203 is in an obliquely downward posture.
For this reason, the first connecting arm 192 is lowered to a position corresponding to the tip of the arm portion 203. Further, the second connecting arm 193 and the arm portion 195 engaged with the slide groove 193a.
Since the front end portion 195a is also lowered, the lid body 191 is located at the open position 191A.

When closing the holder cover 200, as shown in FIG. 6B, the holder cover 200 is rotated in a direction in which the cover portion 202 is tilted onto the cartridge housing portion 89. At this time,
Since the arm portion 203 is lifted upward, the first connecting arm 192 is raised, and the second connecting arm 193 connected to the lower end thereof is also raised. As a result, the distal end portion 195a of the arm portion 195 is interposed via the coil spring 194. Also rises. As a result, the lid 191 is attached to the holder cover 2.
It rotates in the same direction as the rotation direction of 00, and the shielding part 94 falls on the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4). That is, based on the operation of closing the holder cover 200, the lid 191 is in the open position 1
It moves from 91A toward the closed position 191B.

As shown in FIG. 6C, when the cover portion 202 of the holder cover 200 falls to a position where it covers the cartridge housing portion 89, the arm portion 203 of the holder cover 200 faces obliquely upward. This is the cover position 200B of the holder cover 200. As a result, the distal end portion 195a of the arm portion 195 rises via the first connecting arm 192, the second connecting arm 193, and the coil spring 194, and the lid body 191 rotates to a position where the arm portion 195 faces obliquely upward.
This position is a position where the seal portion 97 provided in the shielding portion 94 closes the opening 74 of the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4), and is a closed position 191 B of the lid 191.
(Operation of ink supply needle shielding unit 190: cartridge mounted state)
Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the operation when the holder cover 200 is closed in a state where the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge housing portion 89 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7A, the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the cartridge housing portion 89 in a state where the holder cover 200 is located at the retracted position 200A. In this state, when the cover portion 202 of the holder cover 200 is rotated toward the cartridge accommodating portion 89, as described above, the first portion
The connecting arm 192 is raised, and the second connecting arm 193 connected to the lower end thereof is also raised. On the other hand, in this state, when the cover 191 rotates to the same side as the cover portion 202, it interferes with the ink cartridge 10, and therefore cannot be rotated, and the tip end portion 195 a of the arm portion 195 does not rise. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, the coil spring 194 is compressed between the tip portion 195 a that does not move and the fixing portion 193 b that moves up, according to the rotational position of the holder cover 200.

As described above, the ink supply needle shielding unit 190 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 includes the lid moving mechanism (the first connecting arm 192, the second connecting arm 193, the coil spring) that connects the lid 191 and the holder cover 200. 194), and the lid 191 can be opened and closed in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the holder cover 200. Therefore, after the ink cartridge 10 is removed, the lid 191 can be moved to the closed position 191B at the same time by performing the operation of moving the holder cover 200 to the cover position 200B covering the cartridge housing portion 89. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking from the ink supply needles 7 (1) to 7 (4) due to forgetting to close the lid 191. In addition, since the coil spring 194 is incorporated in the lid moving mechanism that interlocks the holder cover 200 and the lid 191, the coil spring 194 is compressed even if the position of the lid 191 is restricted by the ink cartridge 10. Thus, only the holder cover 200 can be closed. That is, the holder cover 200 and the lid 1
The lid 191 can be prevented from being interlocked with the holder cover 200 in a state in which the ink cartridge 10 is mounted while being configured to be interlocked with 91.

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
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Ink pick-up hole, 41 ... Circular opening, 42 ... Cylindrical frame, 43 ... Rubber packing, 44 ... Cylindrical frame, 45 ... Valve chamber, 46 ... Valve body, 47 ... Coil spring, 48 ... Holding member, 49 ... Filter, 50 ... partition plate, 56 ... cylindrical projection, 57 ... waste ink introduction port, 60 ... air release part, 71
Pedestal, 72, needle tip, 73 ... ink flow path, 74 ... opening, 80 ... cartridge holder, 81 ... bottom, 82 ... first wall, 83 ... second wall (wall), 83a ... window, 84. Third wall, 8
5 ... 4th wall, 86 ... Flat flow path part, 86a ... Film, 87 ... Seal rubber, 88 ... Supply tube, 89 ... Cartridge accommodating part, 90 ... Ink supply needle shielding unit, 91 ... Cover, 91
A ... Open position, 91B ... Closed position, 92 ... Operating rod (operating member / lid moving mechanism), 93 ... Wheel train (
Lid moving mechanism), 93a ... first gear, 93b ... second gear, 93c ... third gear, 93d ... fourth gear, 94 ... shielding part, 94 (1) to 94 (4) ... convex part, 95 ... Arm part, 96 ... rotating shaft, 97 ... seal part, 180 ... cartridge holder, 190 ... ink supply needle shielding unit, 191 ... lid body, 191A ... open position, 191B ... closed position, 192 ... first connecting arm (lid body) 193... Second connecting arm (lid moving mechanism), 193 a... Slide groove, 193
b: Fixing part, 194: Coil spring (lid moving mechanism / biasing member), 195 ... Arm part, 19
5a ... tip portion, 200 ... holder cover, 200A ... retracted position, 200B ... cover position,
201: Rotating shaft, 202: Cover part, 203: Arm part, X1: Movement direction, Y1: Transport direction

Claims (7)

A print head;
A cartridge holder to which an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the print head is mounted;
The cartridge holder is
An ink supply needle having an ink flow path communicating with the print head;
A lid that opens and closes an opening formed in the ink supply needle;
An ink jet printer comprising: a closed position that closes the opening; and a lid moving mechanism that moves the lid between an open position that opens the opening. The lid is
A shielding portion provided with a seal portion that contacts the opening in the closed position;
The inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein the inkjet printer is rotatably supported around one end of the shielding portion. The cartridge holder includes a window portion formed in a wall portion surrounding the ink supply needle,
In the open position, the shielding portion blocks the window portion,
The inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein in the closed position, the shielding portion is tilted toward the ink supply needle. The cartridge holder includes a plurality of the ink supply needles,
The inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein the lid includes a plurality of the seal portions corresponding to the plurality of ink supply needles. The lid moving mechanism is
The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: an operation member; and a train wheel that connects the operation member and the lid. The cartridge holder is
A cartridge housing portion for housing the ink cartridge;
A holder cover movable between a cover position covering the cartridge housing portion and a retracted position retracted from the cover position;
The lid moving mechanism is
When the holder cover moves to the cover position, the lid is moved to the closed position,
5. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein when the holder cover moves to the retracted position, the lid body is moved to the open position. 6. The inkjet printer according to claim 6, wherein the lid moving mechanism includes a biasing member that biases the lid toward the closed position.

Images