JP2017170637A - Ink cartridge replacement method and printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to reduce ink waste loss when replacing an ink cartridge. An empty ink cartridge is connected to a first flow path, an ink cartridge containing ink is connected to a second flow path, and a first valve and a second valve are provided. Is opened, the ink inside the ink cartridge C2 is pressurized and ink is sent to the ejection head 12 until bubbles in the second flow path 16 (inside the ejection head 12) are discharged to the ink cartridge C1. For this reason, the ink discharged together with the bubbles when the bubbles are discharged can be stored in the ink cartridge C1, and the loss of ink disposal can be reduced. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink cartridge replacement method and a printing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing apparatuses including an ejection head that ejects ink (liquid) in a liquid chamber from nozzles are widely known. For example, Patent Document 1 includes a first tank and a second tank that communicate with a liquid chamber, and a deaeration device that degass the gas in the collected ink, and the ink in the first tank is removed. The degassing device deaerates and supplies the liquid chamber, and the ink in the liquid chamber is degassed by the degassing device and collected in the second tank, or the ink in the second tank is degassed by the degassing device. Then, the ink is supplied to the liquid chamber and the ink in the liquid chamber is deaerated by a deaeration device and collected in the first tank. Thereby, in the structure which can supply a liquid from a bidirectional | two-way tank to a liquid chamber, the bubble removal property is improved.

JP 2009-233972 A

  As described above, it is considered as an important problem to prevent the occurrence of ink ejection failure to prevent bubbles in the ink of the ejection head. Here, in a printing apparatus in which an ink cartridge that supplies ink to a flow path communicating with a liquid chamber (ejection head) is detachable, when the ink cartridge is replaced, the ink in the ink cartridge is pressurized and sent out. As a result, bubbles in the flow path may be discharged. In that case, the ink is discharged together with the bubbles, and the ink is wasted.

  The main object of the present invention is to reduce ink disposal loss when replacing an ink cartridge.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the main object described above.

The ink cartridge replacement method of the present invention includes:
An ink cartridge replacement method for replacing a removable ink cartridge with respect to first and second ink flow paths provided in a discharge head for discharging ink,
(A1) A first ink cartridge capable of receiving ink is connected to the first ink flow path, and a second ink cartridge containing ink is connected to the second ink flow path. Steps,
(A2) pressurizing the inside of the second ink cartridge and sending ink to the ejection head via the second ink flow path;
(A3) pressurizing the inside of the second ink cartridge until bubbles in the ejection head and the ink flow paths are discharged to the first ink cartridge;
It is made to include.

  In the ink cartridge replacement method of the present invention, a first ink cartridge capable of receiving ink is connected to the first ink flow path, and a second ink cartridge containing ink is connected to the second ink flow path. In this state, the inside of the second ink cartridge is pressurized and ink is sent to the ejection head through the second ink flow path, and the bubbles in the ejection head and each ink flow path are discharged to the first ink cartridge. The inside of the second ink cartridge is pressurized until it is done. As a result, when the bubbles in the ejection head and the ink flow paths are discharged, the ink discharged into the first ink flow path as the bubbles are discharged is accommodated using the first ink cartridge as a discharge receiver. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to reduce ink disposal loss when replacing the ink cartridge. Note that the first ink cartridge can be a cartridge that has been used and the ink is almost empty, and the second ink cartridge can be a cartridge that contains newly supplied ink.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a printing apparatus 10. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state where an ink cartridge C is replaced. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state where an ink cartridge C is replaced. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modification example of replacing the ink cartridge C. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modification example of replacing the ink cartridge C.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the printing apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 10 includes a discharge head 12 that discharges ink, a pressure pump 18 that pressurizes the inside of the ink cartridge C that supplies ink to the discharge head 12, and a pressure path of the pressure pump 18. A switching valve 19 for switching the operation, an operation panel 22 capable of giving various operation instructions by an operator, and a control device 20 for controlling the entire apparatus. The printing apparatus 10 ejects, from the ejection head 12, ink such as conductive particle-containing ink in which conductive particles such as metal nanoparticles are dispersed in a dispersant on an object O transported by a transport device (not shown). To print.

  The ejection head 12 has a plurality of nozzles 11 that eject ink by driving a piezoelectric element (not shown). Further, the ejection head 12 is provided with two ink flow paths (ink supply paths) including a first ink flow path 14 and a second ink flow path 16 to which an ink cartridge C for storing ink is detachably connected. ing. The first ink flow path 14 is provided in the vicinity of the left end of the ejection head 12 in FIG. 1, and has a first open / close valve 15 in the middle of the ink flow path. The second ink flow path 16 is provided in the vicinity of the right end of the ejection head 12 in FIG. 1, and has a second opening / closing valve 17 in the middle of the ink flow path.

  The pressurizing pump 18 is configured to send ink in the ink cartridge C to the ejection head 12 (each ink flow path) by pressurizing the inside of the ink cartridge C connected to each ink flow path. The pressurizing path of the pressurizing pump 18 is switched by the switching valve 19 to either the pressurizing path on the first ink flow path 14 side or the pressurizing path on the second ink flow path 16 side. For this reason, the pressurizing pump 18 can pressurize the cartridge C connected to the first ink flow path 14 and the cartridge C connected to the second ink flow path 16 separately. The pressurizing pump 18 may be configured to be capable of pressurizing the cartridge C connected to the first ink flow path 14 and the cartridge C connected to the second ink flow path 16 simultaneously.

  Although not shown, the operation panel 22 includes an operation button and a stop button for the pressurizing pump 18, a path switch for the switching valve 19, and a print button and a stop button for the printing apparatus 10. For this reason, the operator operates the operation panel 22 to activate or stop the pressurizing pump 18 and to select either the first ink flow path 14 side or the second ink flow path 16 side as the pressurization path. Can be instructed to print, stop printing, or the like.

  The control device 20 is configured as a microprocessor centered on a CPU, and includes a ROM, an HDD, a RAM, an input / output port, and the like. The control device 20 inputs an operator's operation instruction to the operation panel 22 via the input port. Further, the control device 20 outputs a control signal to a transport device (not shown), a control signal to the ejection head 12, a control signal to the pressurizing pump 18, a control signal to the switching valve 19 and the like via an output port.

  Next, replacement of the ink cartridge C of the printing apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described. 2 and 3 are explanatory views showing an example of how the ink cartridge C is replaced. In addition, the colored part in a figure shows ink. FIG. 2A shows that the ink in the ink cartridge C1 connected to the first ink flow path 14 is almost empty. The ink cartridge C1 can be a used cartridge, for example. Although the ink of the ejection head 12 is shown to remain sufficiently, the ink of the ejection head 12 may be almost empty. The ink cartridge C2 is a new cartridge prepared for supplying ink to the ejection head 12, and stores a predetermined amount of ink. Note that the ink cartridge C2 may contain the full ink.

  First, the operator connects the ink cartridge C2 to the second ink flow path 16 while the ink cartridge C1 is connected to the first ink flow path 14, and opens the second open / close valve 17 (FIG. 2 ( b)). As a result, the empty ink cartridge C1 is connected to the first ink flow path 14 and the new ink cartridge C2 is connected to the second ink flow path 16, and the first on-off valve 15 and the second on-off valve are connected. 17 will be in the open state. At this time, bubbles remain in the second ink flow path 16 above the second opening / closing valve 17 (connection side of the ink cartridge C2). When such bubbles enter the discharge head 12, ink discharge failure from the nozzles 11 may occur. For this reason, it is necessary to replace the ink cartridge C while removing bubbles.

  Next, the operator operates the operation panel 22 to instruct pressurization in the ink cartridge C2. Upon receiving this instruction, the control device 20 switches the switching valve 19 so as to pressurize the inside of the ink cartridge C2, and drives the pressurizing pump 18. As a result, the ink in the ink cartridge C2 is sent to the ejection head 12 through the second ink flow path 16 (FIG. 2C). Along with this, bubbles remaining in the second ink flow path 16 are sent to the ejection head 12.

  The operator then discharges all the bubbles remaining in the second ink flow path 16 and the bubbles in the discharge head 12 to the ink cartridge C1 through the first ink flow path 14 (FIG. 2 ( d)), the operation panel 22 is operated to stop the pressurizing pump 18. Thereby, the pressurization in the ink cartridge C2 is completed (FIG. 2E). Thus, the operator continues to drive the pressurizing pump 18 until the bubbles are discharged to the ink cartridge C1. Ink is also discharged to the ink cartridge C1 as the bubbles are discharged. Here, since the ink cartridge C1 is almost empty as described above, ink can be received. For this reason, since the ink discharged together with the bubbles is stored using the ink cartridge C1 as an ink receiver, it is possible to prevent the ink from being wasted due to the discharge of the bubbles.

  When air bubbles (including ink) are discharged into the ink cartridge C1 in this way, the operator operates the operation panel 22 to instruct pressurization in the ink cartridge C1. Upon receiving this instruction, the control device 20 switches the switching valve 19 so as to pressurize the inside of the ink cartridge C1, and drives the pressurizing pump 18. As a result, the ink discharged to the ink cartridge C1 is sent again to the ejection head 12 (FIGS. 3A and 3B). At this time, the air bubbles (air in the ink cartridge C1) that are sent from the ink positioned below in the ink cartridge C1 to the ejection head 12 and are discharged remain in the ink cartridge C1. When the ink runs out of ink in the ink cartridge C1, the operator operates the operation panel 22 to instruct the stop of the pressurizing pump 18 and closes the first valve 15 (FIG. 3C). Thereby, the pressurization in the ink cartridge C1 is completed. When the ink discharged along with the discharge of the bubbles returns to the ejection head 12 in this manner, the operator removes the ink cartridge C1 (FIG. 3D), and ends the ink cartridge C replacement operation. When printing is performed after the replacement operation and the ink cartridge C2 is almost empty, the operator stores the ink while the ink cartridge C2 is connected to the second ink flow path 16. In a state where a new ink cartridge C1 is connected to the first ink flow path 14, the ink cartridge C can be similarly replaced. That is, the ink cartridge C1 connected to the first ink flow path 14 and the ink cartridge C2 connected to the second ink flow path 16 are used while being alternately replaced.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The ejection head 12 of the present embodiment corresponds to the ejection head of the present invention, the first ink flow path 14 having the first valve 15 corresponds to the first ink flow path, and the second ink 17 having the second valve 17. The second ink channel 16 corresponds to the second ink channel, the ink cartridge C1 corresponds to the first ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge C2 corresponds to the second ink cartridge.

  In the ink cartridge replacement method of the present embodiment described above, the empty ink cartridge C1 is connected to the first ink flow path 14 and the ink cartridge C2 containing ink is connected to the second ink flow path 16. Then, with the first valve 15 and the second valve 17 opened, the ink cartridge C2 is pressurized to supply ink until the bubbles in each ink flow path and the ejection head 12 are discharged to the ink cartridge C1. The ink is fed into the discharge head 12. For this reason, when the bubbles are discharged, the ink discharged together with the bubbles can be accommodated in the ink cartridge C1, so that the ink disposal loss can be reduced.

  The ink cartridge replacement method is to pressurize the inside of the ink cartridge C1 and return the ink contained in the ink cartridge C1 to the ejection head 12 (ink cartridge C2) when air bubbles are discharged to the ink cartridge C1. For this reason, the ink discharged to the ink cartridge C1 can be used for printing, and the waste loss can be reliably reduced.

  In addition, the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a discharge head 12 that discharges ink, and includes a first ink flow path 14 that is provided in the discharge head 12 and to which an ink cartridge C can be attached and detached, and the discharge head 12. A second ink channel 16 that is detachably attached to the ink cartridge C, and a pressure pump 18 that pressurizes the first ink channel 14 or the ink cartridge C connected to the second ink channel 16 ( A pressure device) and an ink cartridge C1 capable of receiving ink are connected to the first ink flow path 14 and an ink cartridge C2 containing ink is connected to the second ink flow path 16 and The inside of the cartridge C2 is pressurized and ink is sent to the discharge head 12 through the second ink flow path 16, and the air in the discharge head 12 and each ink flow path is discharged. The includes a control unit 20 for controlling the pressurizing pump 18 so as to discharge the ink cartridge C1, the. For this reason, since the printing apparatus 10 can perform the ink cartridge replacement method described above, it is possible to reduce ink disposal loss when the ink cartridge is replaced.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the ink discharged along with the discharge of bubbles to the ink cartridge C1 is returned to the ejection head 12 (ink cartridge C2), and printing is performed after the ink cartridge C1 is removed. It is not limited to. For example, the ink cartridge C1 may be removed during printing, or a modification shown in FIG. 4 may be used instead of FIG. In this modified example, after the pressurization in the ink cartridge C2 is completed in FIG. 2E, the operator keeps the ink cartridge C1 connected to the first ink flow path 14 and the second ink flow path 16. The second valve 17 is closed and the operation panel 22 is operated to allow the start of printing. As a result, the printing apparatus 10 starts printing by ejecting ink from the nozzles 11 (FIG. 4A).

  The printing apparatus 10 compensates for the decrease in the ink of the ejection head 12 as the printing progresses by supplying ink from the ink cartridge C1 connected to the first ink flow path 14. For this reason, as the printing proceeds, the ink in the ink cartridge C1 decreases (FIG. 4B). When the ink in the ink cartridge C1 is almost empty, the operator closes the first valve 15 and opens the second valve 17 (FIG. 4C), and removes the ink cartridge C1 (FIG. d)) The replacement of the ink cartridge C is completed. After the ink cartridge C1 is removed, the printing apparatus 10 performs printing while supplying ink from the ink cartridge C2.

  Thus, in this modified example, when bubbles are discharged to the ink cartridge C1, the communication between the ejection head 12 and the ink cartridge C2 is blocked by closing the second valve 17 of the second ink flow path 16. Thus, ink discharged from the nozzle 11 of the discharge head 12 is printed while the first valve 15 of the first ink flow path 14 is open, and the ink discharged to the ink cartridge C1 is supplied to the discharge head 12. Supply. When the supply of ink from the ink cartridge C1 is completed, the operator closes the first valve 15 of the first ink flow path 14 and opens the second valve 17 of the second ink flow path 16. As a state, the ink cartridge C1 is removed. As a result, the ink discharged to the ink cartridge C1 along with the discharge of the bubbles can be used for printing, so that the ink disposal loss can be reliably reduced. Further, since the ink once discharged to the ink cartridge C1 does not return to the ink cartridge C2, it is possible to prevent foreign matters such as coarse particles and aggregates in the ink of the ejection head 12 from flowing into the ink cartridge C2. it can.

  Moreover, it may replace with FIG. 2 and may be made like the modification shown in FIG. In this modified example, the operator once removes the ink cartridge C1 from the first ink flow path 14 when starting the replacement work of the ink cartridge C. The operator then attaches the ink cartridge C1 again with the filter F capable of capturing foreign matters such as coarse particles and aggregates in the ink interposed between the ink cartridge C1 and the first ink flow path 14. Therefore, unlike FIG. 2B, the filter F is arranged between the first ink flow path 14 and the ink cartridge C1 (FIG. 5A). Here, in the case of the conductive particle-containing ink containing conductive particles, the ink is likely to aggregate due to the passage of time or temperature change, so it is necessary to remove foreign matters such as coarse particles and aggregates. Then, similarly to the embodiment, the operator pressurizes the inside of the ink cartridge C2 by the pressure pump 18 and discharges the bubbles to the ink cartridge C1 (FIGS. 5B and 5C). In this modification, the operator continues to drive the pressure pump 18 until not only the bubbles but also the ink in the ejection head 12 is discharged to the ink cartridge C1 (FIG. 5D). Since the ink passes through the filter F and is discharged to the ink cartridge C1, foreign matters such as coarse particles and aggregates in the ink are captured by the filter F.

  Then, after removing the filter F (FIG. 5E), the operator pressurizes the inside of the ink cartridge C1 by the pressure pump 18 and sends the ink discharged to the ink cartridge C1 to the ejection head 12 (FIG. 5). (F), (g)). At this time, since the filter F that has captured foreign matters such as coarse particles and aggregates has been removed, the foreign matters do not return to the ejection head 12 and can be removed. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing apparatus 10 may start printing after all the ink in the ink cartridge C1 is returned to the ejection head 12 (ink cartridge C2). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4 of the modified example, when the printing apparatus 10 performs printing while supplying the ink discharged to the ink cartridge C1 to the ejection head 12, and the supply of ink from the ink cartridge C1 is completed, the ink cartridge C2 It is good also as what switches to supply from.

  As described above, in this modification, the operator places the ink cartridge C1 in the ink in a state where the filter F that can capture the foreign matter in the ink is disposed between the ink cartridge C1 and the first ink flow path 14. Connect to channel 14. Further, after the inside of the ink cartridge C2 is pressurized until bubbles in the ejection head 12 and each ink flow path are discharged to the ink cartridge C1 through the filter F, the inside of the ink cartridge C2 is pressurized to filter the ink. After discharging to the ink cartridge C1 via F, the filter F is removed. As a result, the filter F can capture foreign matters that are discharged together with the ink as the bubbles are discharged. In addition, even when the foreign matter is captured when the ink cartridge C is replaced in this way, the ink disposal loss can be reduced.

  In this modification, all the ink in the ejection head 12 is discharged to the ink cartridge C1, but the present invention is not limited to this, and at least a part of the ink in the ejection head 12 is discharged to the ink cartridge C1 through the filter F. If it is.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ink is an ink containing conductive particles including conductive particles such as metal nanoparticles. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any ink may be used as long as it is a pigment ink in which particles are dispersed in a solvent. In addition, a dye ink that does not contain particles may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first ink flow path 14 and the second ink flow path 16 are provided at both ends of the ejection head 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The one ink flow path 14 and the second ink flow path 16 may be provided on one end side of the ejection head 12.

  In the above-described embodiment, the worker stops the pressurization pump 18 based on the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge C, but is not limited to this. For example, a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge may be provided, and the control device 20 may automatically stop the pressurizing pump 18 based on the detection value of the sensor. In addition, the attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge C is not limited to that performed by an operator, and an attachment / detachment device that can automatically attach / detach the ink cartridge C may be used. That is, when the ink cartridge is automatically replaced regardless of the manual operation of the operator, the cartridge replacement method of the above-described embodiment may be used.

  Although the aspect which uses the pressurization pump 18 was illustrated in embodiment mentioned above, it is not restricted to this, It is good also as an aspect which uses a decompression pump. In this case, instead of pressurizing the ink cartridge C using the pressurizing pump 18, the inside of the ink cartridge C on the opposite side (opposite to pressurization) may be depressurized using a decompression pump. For example, instead of pressurizing the inside of the ink cartridge C2, the inside of the ink cartridge C1 may be depressurized. The aspect using the decompression pump also achieves the same effect as the present embodiment of the aspect using the pressure pump.

  The present invention can be used in a printing apparatus including an ink cartridge.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printing apparatus, 11 Nozzle, 12 Discharge head, 14 1st ink flow path, 15 1st valve | bulb, 16 2nd ink flow path, 17 2nd valve, 18 Pressurization pump, 19 Switching valve, 20 Control Equipment, 22 Operation panel, C, C1, C2 Ink cartridge, F filter, O Object.

Claims (5)

An ink cartridge replacement method for replacing a removable ink cartridge with respect to first and second ink flow paths provided in a discharge head for discharging ink,
(A1) A first ink cartridge capable of receiving ink is connected to the first ink flow path, and a second ink cartridge containing ink is connected to the second ink flow path. Steps,
(A2) pressurizing the inside of the second ink cartridge and sending ink to the ejection head via the second ink flow path;
(A3) pressurizing the inside of the second ink cartridge until bubbles in the ejection head and the ink flow paths are discharged to the first ink cartridge;
Ink cartridge replacement method. The ink cartridge replacement method according to claim 1, comprising:
(B1) After the step (a3), the inside of the first ink cartridge is pressurized, and the ink discharged along with the discharge of bubbles to the first ink cartridge is passed through the first ink flow path. Returning to the ejection head via,
(B2) removing the first cartridge after returning the ink of the first ink cartridge to the ejection head;
Ink cartridge replacement method. The ink cartridge replacement method according to claim 1, comprising:
(C1) after step (a3), blocking communication between the ejection head and the second cartridge;
(C2) When printing is performed by ejecting ink from the ejection head, ink ejected along with ejection of air bubbles to the first ink cartridge is discharged through the first ink flow path to the ejection head. Steps to supply
(C3) removing the first ink cartridge when the supply of ink from the first ink cartridge is completed;
Ink cartridge replacement method. An ink cartridge replacement method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
(D1) In the step (a1), the first ink cartridge in a state in which a filter capable of capturing foreign matter in the ink is disposed between the first ink cartridge and the first ink flow path. Connecting to the first ink flow path;
(D2) In the step (a3), the inside of the second ink cartridge is pressurized until bubbles in the ejection head and each ink flow path are discharged to the first ink cartridge through the filter. And after that, after pressurizing the inside of the second cartridge to discharge ink to the first ink cartridge through the filter, removing the filter;
Ink cartridge replacement method. A printing apparatus including an ejection head that ejects ink,
A first ink flow path provided in the ejection head and detachable with an ink cartridge;
A second ink flow path provided in the ejection head and detachable with an ink cartridge;
A pressurizing device for pressurizing the inside of the ink cartridge connected to the first ink flow path or the second ink flow path;
In a state where a first ink cartridge capable of receiving ink is connected to the first ink flow path and a second ink cartridge containing ink is connected to the second ink flow path, The inside of the ink cartridge is pressurized, ink is sent to the ejection head via the second ink flow path, and air bubbles in the ejection head and each ink flow path are discharged to the first ink cartridge. A control device for controlling the pressure device;
A printing apparatus comprising: