JPH07137275A - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of easily supplying ink so that continuous recording is possible without interrupting recording even if ink runs out during recording. A first ink tank (10) arranged near the recording head (1) for directly supplying ink to the recording head (1), and for supplying ink to the first ink tank (10) A plurality of ink tanks (ink cartridge having the ink pack 21 and the reserve tank 23) (2
0) An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to an ink jet recording apparatus suitable as a recording apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a word processor, a copying machine or the like which is generally used in office machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a recording apparatus for recording on a recording material such as a paper or an OHP sheet, a recording head equipped with various recording systems has been put into practical use. As a recording head system, a wire-dot system, a heat-sensitive system, a thermal transfer system, an inkjet system, and the like are known. In particular, the inkjet method
Since ink is directly discharged onto a recording material to perform recording, it is attracting attention as a recording method that has low running cost, is quiet, and has a high recording speed.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink tank containing a recording ink and a recording head are connected by an ink supply pipe or the like, and the ink is supplied from the ink tank. It should be noted that such an ink tank is of an ink cartridge type which is separated from the recording head and is replaceably mounted in the recording apparatus, or a recording unit which is integrated with the recording head and is replaceably mounted in the recording apparatus. A head-integrated type has been put into practical use.

In the ink jet recording apparatus as described above, if the ink supply is interrupted due to the consumption of the ink, the ink cannot be ejected and the recording becomes impossible, so that the purpose of the recording apparatus cannot be achieved. Therefore, in order to avoid such a trouble, a recording apparatus provided with an ink remaining amount detection sensor so as to generate a warning signal or request replacement of ink according to ink consumption has been put into practical use.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following drawbacks.

(1) Even if it is confirmed that recording is impossible because the ink is exhausted, the ink cannot be supplied because there is no spare ink cartridge to be replaced, and recording cannot continue.

(2) Recording does not become unusable at the end as in the case of a wire dot printer where the recording becomes gradually thin, but it often happens that recording becomes suddenly impossible.
A spare ink cartridge must be prepared.

(3) Further, in the case of an ink cartridge integrated with a recording head, there is a case where the recording is impossible because the ink adheres to the ink ejection portion of the recording head portion prepared as a spare.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of supplying ink so that recording can be continued even if the ink in the ink tank runs out during recording. .

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first ink which is disposed at least in the vicinity of a recording head for ejecting ink to perform recording and which directly supplies the ink to the recording head. It is characterized by comprising a tank and a plurality of ink tanks capable of supplying ink to the first ink tank.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the ink is supplied from one of the plurality of ink tanks to the first ink tank in response to the ejection of the ink from the recording head, and the ink in one of the plurality of ink tanks is supplied. When it disappears, ink is replenished to one of the plurality of ink tanks other than the plurality of inks through the mechanical means, whereby the first ink tank is filled with the ink by the plurality of ink tanks. Since the first ink tank is arranged near the recording head, the resistance for supplying the ink to the recording head is small.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail and specifically below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, 1 is a recording head mounted on the carriage 2, 3A and 3B are guide shafts of the carriage 2, which are on the carriage 2 which is moved along the guide shafts 3A and 3B by a driving means (not shown). During the move,
Ink is ejected from the ink ejection port 1A of the recording head 1 toward a recording material (not shown) to perform recording. Reference numeral 4 is a head support plate that supports the recording head 1 at a predetermined position on the carriage 2, and 5 is a flexible printed wiring board on which signal lines for sending recording signals to the recording head 1 are arranged, and 6
Is a reinforcing plate that is erected on the carriage 2 and supports the end of the flexible printed wiring board 5, and 7 is its connector. Reference numeral 8 denotes a wiring board fixing member for holding and fixing the flexible printed wiring board 5 on the carriage 2 together with a tube described later.

Next, the structures of the ink supply system and the recovery system according to the present invention will be described. 10 is a carriage 2
1 is an intermediate tank (first ink tank), 11 is a tube for supplying ink from the first ink tank 10 to the recording head 1 (hereinafter referred to as “first tube”), 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes an ink supply tube (hereinafter referred to as a second tube) for supplying ink from the ink cartridge 20 to the first ink tank 10, and 13 is provided between the first ink tank 10 and the suction pump 31 of the recovery system 30. A negative pressure generating tube for a first ink tank (hereinafter referred to as a third tube) that is provided and cooperates with the supply of ink from the ink cartridge 20 to the first ink tank 10 as will be described later. The third tube 13 and the third tube 13 are integrally formed along the flexible wiring board 5.

In FIG. 1, 14 is a base substrate of the apparatus, 15 is a fixing member for fixing the flexible printed wiring board 5, the second tube 12 and the third tube 13 to the base substrate 14, and 16A and 16B are inks. It is a support member that detachably supports the cartridge 20 at a predetermined position under the base substrate 14. Further, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 17 is provided in the recovery system 30, and by the operation of the recovery system 30 in the direction of the arrow, the cap means is brought into close contact with the periphery of the ink ejection surface 1B of the recording head 1 or as will be described later, a cap means. , 31 are suction pumps.

Next, the construction of the ink supply system and recovery system piping systems according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The ink cartridge 20 of this embodiment has an ink pack 21 containing ink to be replenished in a flexible bag and a waste ink tube 32 sucked by a suction pump 31 of a recovery system 30 as shown in FIG. It has a waste ink absorber 22 that absorbs and holds the introduced waste ink, and a reserve tank 23 that replenishes the waste ink absorber 22 when the ink of the ink pack 21 is insufficient, as will be described later. Reference numeral 24 is a hollow needle injected into the ink pack 21, reference numeral 25 is an ink remaining amount detection sensor arranged in the middle of the second ink tube 12,
In the case of this example, the remaining amount of ink in the ink pack 21 is detected by detecting the ink pressure in the tube 12, and, for example, when the pressure becomes a predetermined value or less, the information is transmitted to the control unit 50, Turn on the alarm lamp of Ink Nashi. Reference numeral 32 is a fourth tube for guiding the waste ink from the cap means 17 of the recovery system 30 to the suction pump 31.

4A to 4C show an example of the structure of the ink cartridge 20. Here, the ink pack 21 is formed in a bag shape in which upper and lower two sheets are heat-welded in the peripheral portion as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, and the ink supply pipe of the joint member 26 and the reserve tank 23. The ink pack 21 is further connected around 27 by heat welding. 28A is a rubber cap liquid-tightly fitted to the joint member 26, 28B is a cap cover, 29A is connected to the auxiliary tank 23,
The bellows pump 29B that can expand and contract in the direction of arrow B is a one-way valve that is attached to the end of the ink supply pipe 27 and that opens and closes by the expansion and contraction of the bellows pump 29A. The one-way valve 29B is in a closed state except when ink is being supplied. Is configured to be kept at.

The flange 26A of the joint member 26 of the ink pack 21 is fixed to the housing 20A of the ink cartridge 20 as shown in (B), and the rubber cap 28A is attached in close contact with the joint member 26. Remove the cap cover 28B from the rubber cap 28A
By inserting the hollow needle 24 shown in FIG. 3 in a liquid-tight manner, the ink is transferred from the ink pack 21 to the intermediate tank 10 (see FIG. 3).
Can be sent to. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C, the insertion hole 20 for the waste ink tube 32 shown in FIG. 3 is provided in the ink cartridge housing 20A.
B, a bellows pump 29A, and an operation hole 20C are provided.

The supply operation of the ink supply system thus constructed and the ink discharge operation of the recovery system will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

As the ink supply system, as described above, the first ink tank 10 mounted on the carriage 2 together with the recording head 1 and the ink cartridge 20 fixed under the base substrate 14 (see FIG. 1). The first ink tank 10 alleviates fluctuations in ink pressure caused by movement of the second tube 12 for supplying ink, and traps air bubbles in the second tube 12 so that the recording head 1 It is provided to prevent the adverse effects of In the present embodiment, the presence / absence of ink in the ink pack 21 is determined by the ink remaining amount detection sensor 2
5, the ink is supplied from the first ink tank 10 to the recording head 1 in response to the negative pressure of the recording head 1 caused by the ink ejection during normal recording, and at the same time, the ink pack 21 is discharged. To the first ink tank 10 is automatically replenished with ink.

If ink is sucked from the recording head 1 by the recovery system suction pump 31 while the ink in the first ink tank 10 is exhausted, the ink is sucked into the first ink tank 10 via the third tube 13. The suction operation is also performed against the ink pack 21.
It is possible to replenish the intermediate tank 10 with ink. In the recovery operation normally performed by the recovery system 30, the ink discharged from the recording head 1 by the suction pump 31 is absorbed by the waste ink absorber 22 of the ink cartridge 20 by the waste ink tube 32.

Further, when the ink in the ink pack 21 is reduced due to the recording operation or the like, and there is a risk of defective recording, the ink cartridge housing 20.
By operating the bellows pump 29A with the tip of a finger or a rod using the hole 20C provided in A, ink can be replenished from the reserve tank 23 to the ink pack 21 via the one-way valve 29B. Can be prevented from being interrupted. The one-way valve 29B is not opened by the negative pressure generated in the ink pack 21 during normal recording or the negative pressure generated by the suction operation of the suction pump 31. Only when the positive pressure is applied by the bellows pump 29A, the valve is opened as shown by an arrow C in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the construction of an ink cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The ink cartridge 20 of this example includes two spare tanks 23A and 23B, bellows pumps 291A and 291B attached to the respective tanks, two operation holes 20C and 20C provided in the housing 20A, and a supply pipe from the spare tanks 23A and 23B. 27, 27 and one-way valves 29, 29 are provided, and the number of auxiliary tanks is two, so that the amount of replenishment to the ink pack 21 can be increased accordingly.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the construction of an ink cartridge according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the spare tank is an ink pack type, and hereinafter, this spare tank is referred to as a replenishment pack 41. Reference numeral 42 denotes a flexible replenishment tube that connects the replenishment pack 41 and the ink pack 21. The middle portion of the replenishment tube 42 projects from the lower portion of the housing 20A as shown in FIG. 6B. It is supported by the provided tube receiver 43. Further, 44 is a recessed portion provided at a position facing the tube receiver 43 in the upper part of the housing 20A, and 45 is screwed into a screw hole 44A of the recessed portion 44, and the tip end portion of the supply tube 42 pushes the supply tube 42 onto the tube receiver 43. It is a screw-type opening / closing member that keeps the ink packs closed. Thus, the refilling tube 42 is opened by the screw return operation of the opening / closing member 45, and ink can be replenished from the replenishment pack 41 to the ink pack 21.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of an ink cartridge according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the ink is replenished from the spare tank 23 to the ink pack 21 mechanically, and the mechanical means may be driven and controlled by the controller 50. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 51 denotes a U-shaped lead screw 52.
The lead screw 52 is rotated and the arrow G,
A slide member that is movable in the G'direction, 51A is an arm portion of the slide member 51, and the slide member 51 moves in the direction of the arrow G to enter through the hole 20C, and the bellows pump 29A is pushed in at the tip end thereof, and the spare tank 23 Ink is replenished to the ink pack 21. 53A and 53B are drive gears meshing with each other, and 54 is a drive motor thereof. For example, the ink remaining amount in the ink pack 21 is controlled by a signal from the ink remaining amount detecting sensor 25 shown in FIG. When the unit 50 determines, an alarm lamp (not shown) is turned on and the drive motor 54 drives the slide member 5
1 is driven to operate the bellows pump 29A to replenish ink.

FIG. 8 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this example, an ink cartridge 20A including an ink pack (A) 21A and a waste ink absorber 22 is provided with an ink pack (B) 21B and an ink pack (C) 21C, and the respective ink packs 21A and 21B are provided. And 21
The ink can be supplied from C to the first ink tank 10 via the ink tubes 12A, 12B and 12C. Here, 61 is an ink switching machine,
In the remaining ink amount detection sensors 25A, 25B and 25C, the remaining amount of ink in the corresponding ink pack (A) 21A, ink pack (B) 21B and ink pack (C) 21C is sent to the control unit 50 as a signal. . Therefore, for example, when the ink remaining amount detection sensor 25A detects that the ink in the ink pack (A) 21A has been used up, the control unit 50 causes the first ink tank 1 to operate.
In order to switch the supply of ink to 0 to the next ink pack (B), the ink switching unit 61 is made to switch the supply passage. In this way, the ink can be supplied to the recording head 1 through the first ink tank 10 by sequentially switching the ink packs.

FIG. 9 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In this example, for example, four ink packs 21A to 21D contain inks of four colors of black, red, green and blue, respectively, and
In addition to these, an ink cleaning liquid tank 21E is provided, and ink of an arbitrary color is controlled by the control unit 50 to cause the ink switching device 6 to operate.
The recording head 1 is supplied to the recording head 1 from the first ink tank 10 via the recording head 1 and the recording with the different ink is easily switched.

Therefore, in the switching, for example, when a switching signal is sent to the control unit 50, the control unit 50 sends the switching signal to the switch 61 to send the second tube 12 to the first ink tank 10. Is connected to the cleaning liquid supply pipe 12E.
Then, by operating the recovery system 30, the first cleaning liquid is supplied from the ink cleaning liquid tank 21E via the tubes 12E and 12.
Control is performed to clean the ink tank, the recording head 1, etc., and to supply ink from another ink pack, for example, in the case of red ink, from the ink pack 21B to the first ink tank, according to the next ink switching signal. The switching operation of the ink switching machine by the circuit 50 is performed.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a description has been given concerning the operation of supplying a single color ink in any case. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the ink pack 21 is filled with red ink. , Spare tanks 23A, 23
B contains green and blue inks, respectively, and these colors are mixed in the ink pack 21 and then sent to the first ink tank 10, and recording is performed by the recording head 1 with this color. It is also possible to do so. Similarly, it goes without saying that the same operation can be performed in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Further, for example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, ordinary black ink is put in one of the spare tanks 23A and the ink pack 21, and a thinning liquid of ink is put in the other spare tank 23B. To replenish the ink pack 21 with the ink thinning liquid in the reserve tank 23B when the ink is thickened due to long-term non-use of the recording head 1 or the like, so that black ink restored to a normal ink viscosity can be obtained. Is also possible.

FIG. 10 shows still another embodiment, in the case of this embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to an ink jet cartridge (IJC) in which a print head (print head portion having an ink ejection function) 1 is integrated with an ink cartridge. Is. That is, in the IJC 100, the contents of the ink cartridge 20 as described above are contained in the housing 100A. Here, 29 is the housing 1
It is (part of) the bellows pump exposed to the outside of 00A, and by pressing the end portion thereof, it is possible to replenish the ink of the ink pack installed as described above.

In the ink jet recording apparatus for recording with the IJC 100 constructed as described above, it is not necessary to provide a supply pipe for supplying ink as shown in FIGS. In this case, the ink ejection port 1A of the recording head 1
There is a risk of ink sticking around and leakage of ink from the ink discharge port 1A during transportation. Therefore, before installing and using the IJC100 in an apparatus, insert the ink into the ink pack inside the IJC100. Alternatively, instead, the spare tank may be made larger, and the bellows pump 29 may be operated immediately before to fill the ink pack with ink.

(Others) The present invention is provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in the ink jet recording system. The present invention brings about excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type in which the state of ink is changed by the heat energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be immediately and appropriately grown and contracted, so that liquid (ink) ejection with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main body of the apparatus or the electrical connection to the main body of the apparatus and the ink from the main body of the apparatus by being mounted on the main body of the apparatus. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add ejection recovery means of the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means and the like since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. A plurality of pieces may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, besides the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function are provided. It may be a form or the like.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first ink tank which is arranged at least in the vicinity of the recording head for ejecting ink to perform recording and directly supplies the ink to the recording head. Since a plurality of ink tanks capable of supplying ink to the first ink tank are provided, it becomes possible to continue recording without interruption due to ink supply even if the ink runs out during recording. Further, it is possible to change the ink color for recording and easily adjust the ink viscosity, and there is no need to replace the ink cartridge during the recording operation, which is convenient for the user. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ink supply system and a recovery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an ink cartridge according to the present invention by a horizontal sectional view (A), a sectional view taken along the line AA of (A) and a perspective view of the external appearance (C).

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an ink cartridge according to a third embodiment of the invention by a horizontal sectional view (A), a sectional view (B) taken along the line FF of (A) and a perspective view (C) of the external appearance. Is.

FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of an ink cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ink supply system and a recovery system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configurations of an ink supply system and a recovery system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an external perspective view showing an application example of an ink jet cartridge integrated with a recording head as still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Head 1A Ink Ejection Port 1B Ink Ejection Surface 2 Carriage 10 Intermediate Tank 11 First Tube 12, 12A, 12B, 12C Second Tube 13 Third Tube 14 Base Board 17 Cap Member 20 Ink Cartridge 20A, 100A Housing 20B Insertion Hole 20C hole 21,21A, 21B, 21C, 21D Ink pack 21E Cleaning tank 22 Waste ink absorber 23, 23A, 23B Spare tank 24, 24A, 24B, 24C Hollow needle 26 Contact member 27 Supply pipe 29, 29A, 291A, 291B Bellows pump 29B One-way valve 30 Recovery system 31 Suction pump 41 Replenishment pack 42 Replenishment tube 43 Tube receiver 44 Recessed portion 45 Opening / closing member 50 Control unit 51 Slide member 52 Lead screw 54 Drive motor 1 0 ink-jet cartridge (IJC)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first ink tank, which is arranged at least in the vicinity of a recording head for ejecting ink to perform recording, and which directly supplies the ink to the recording head, and a plurality of first ink tanks capable of supplying the ink to the first ink tank. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: 2. The first ink tank is supplied with ink from one of the plurality of ink tanks in accordance with ink ejection of the recording head, and the one of the plurality of ink tanks is supplied.
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein ink can be replenished from the plurality of ink tanks via mechanical means. 3. At least one of the plurality of ink tanks
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the one is a flexible ink bag type. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ink tanks can store different types of ink. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of ink tanks contains an ink cleaning liquid. 6. The recording head has an electrothermal converter that generates energy for ejecting ink, and the thermal energy is used to generate bubbles in the ink, and the ink is changed by a pressure change due to the generation of the bubbles. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus discharges the ink.