JP2001270130A - Ink channel connection structure for inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a connection flow path between a recording head and an ink cartridge, which can prevent the ink of the recording head from being thickened when the ink cartridge is removed, and also prevent inconvenience due to solidification of the ink. To provide. SOLUTION: A cylindrical body extending in the insertion direction of the cartridge is provided with at least a window 4a for ink inflow on a peripheral surface thereof, and always maintains a valve closed state by a spring 23. When the ink cartridge is attached, In a state in which the valve body 11 provided with the retaining portion 23a which is guided and moved by the window 4a is housed and the ink cartridge is pulled out, the ink inflow connection port is closed (FIG. 5 (a)), and recording is performed. The evaporation of the ink solvent in the head and the outflow of the ink are prevented, and even if the ink K attached to the window 4a is solidified, the retaining portion 23a moves the window 4a to remove the solidified ink. Remove to secure the ink inlet.

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 for supplying ink by a detachable ink cartridge to a recording head for discharging ink droplets in response to a print signal, and more particularly, to a connection structure of an ink supply passage. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording head provided on a reciprocating carriage receives ink to be consumed for printing or the like from an external tank. Usually, a hollow needle that can penetrate the ink supply port of the ink cartridge is provided.

[0003]

According to this structure, although the structure is relatively simple and reliable connection is possible, the recording head is in communication with the atmosphere when the ink tank is removed. Therefore, if left in this state for a long time, there is a problem that the ink of the recording head thickens or the ink of the ink supply needle solidifies, which causes a problem in the next printing operation. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to increase the viscosity of ink in a recording head in a state where an ink cartridge is removed, and also to prevent the inconvenience due to solidification of ink. An object of the present invention is to provide a connection flow path between a recording head and an ink cartridge, which can prevent the recording head from flowing.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink supply system for connecting an ink supply port of a detachable ink cartridge to supply ink from the ink cartridge to a recording head. At the connection port, a cylindrical body extending in the insertion direction of the cartridge is provided with at least a window for ink inflow on a peripheral surface thereof, always maintains a valve closed state by an urging force, and a state in which the ink cartridge is mounted. In the above, a valve body provided with a retaining portion which is guided and moved by the window is accommodated.

[0005]

[Function] When the ink cartridge is pulled out,
The connection port for ink inflow is in the valve closed state, and the evaporation of the ink solvent in the recording head and the outflow of ink are prevented. Further, even if the ink attached to the window is solidified, the retaining portion moves the ink inflow window to remove the solidified ink.

[0006]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the connection unit of the present invention. The connection unit 1 has an ink storage chamber 2 extending on one side in a vertical direction. At the lower part, a connection port 3 for air communication and a connection port 4 for ink inflow which are formed of a cylindrical body for connection to the outside are formed, and at the lowermost part an ink outlet 6 for communication with the recording head 5. Are formed.

[0007] Each of the connection ports 3 and 4 has communication windows 3a and 4a formed on the peripheral surface thereof.
Are accommodated in such a manner as to be movable in the axial direction, and one ends 11 a and 21 a of the slide shafts 11 and 21 are exposed from the ends of the connection ports 3 and 4.

Each of the valve bodies 10 and 20 has a slide shaft 11, 2
1. A packing 1 made of an elastic material for sealing the openings 3b, 4b on the ink storage chamber side communicating with the connection ports 3, 4
2, 22 are fitted, and the opening 3b,
The packings 12 and 22 are inserted into the connection ports 3 and 4 so that the packings 12 and 22 are elastically contacted with the connection ports 4b. Reference numeral 7 in the drawing denotes a negative pressure generating mechanism constituted by a differential pressure valve that opens when the pressure of the ink outlet 6 drops below a predetermined value from the ink storage chamber 2.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the above-described valve mechanism. Here, the ink inlet port 4 will be described as an example. The window 4a of the connection port 4 formed of a cylindrical body is formed as a substantially rectangular opening having a length L1 and a width W1 elongated in the center line direction. On the other hand, the valve body 20 is formed to have such a small diameter that the slide shaft 20 can maintain strength against movement and does not hinder the flow of ink.
In a region opposed to the window 4a in a state where the window 4a is urged, a sealing portion 23 having a length L2 and a width W2 of an arc-shaped cross section that can seal the window 4a is fixed to a rib 24 also serving as a spring receiver. I have.

A stopper 23a movably engaged with the window 4a of the ink inflow connection port 4 is provided on the side of the energized stop position (left side in the figure) of the sealing portion 23 in the urged state. Is formed. Note that the reference numerals 15 and 25 in the figure indicate the slide shaft 1.
1 shows a fixture having through holes 15a, 25a through which the first and the first 21 are inserted and movably supporting one end 11a, 21a side of the slide shaft 11.

[0011] The connecting unit thus configured includes:
For example, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
0 is formed, an air communication port 51 is formed in the upper part, and an ink outlet 52 is formed in the lower part.
As a result, a cartridge 57 having valve bodies 55 and 56 pressed against the air communication port 51 and the ink outlet 52 is mounted.

When the ink cartridge is mounted, the slide shafts 11, 21 of the connection unit 1 are pressed against the springs 14, 24 to open the respective packings 12, 22. Similarly, the valve bodies 55, 55 of the ink cartridge 57 are opened. 56 is also released.

As a result, the ink chamber 50 of the ink cartridge 57 is opened to the atmosphere through the valve element 55 and the narrow groove 58, and the ink in the ink chamber flows into the ink storage chamber 2 of the connection unit 1. As described above, when ink is consumed by the recording head during printing, the ink outlet 6
The membrane valve 32 opens and closes so that the ink of the ink has a constant negative pressure, and supplies the ink in the ink storage chamber 2 to the recording head 5.

On the other hand, when the ink in the cartridge 57 is exhausted or when the ink cartridge 57 is removed from the connection unit for ink replacement, the connection unit 3 and the slide shaft 1 of the ink cartridge 57 are replaced.
1 and 21 and the valve elements 55 and 56 lose their support and
The valves are closed by the urging forces of 4, 24, 53 and 54.

As a result, the air communication connection port 3 and the ink inflow connection port 4 of the connection unit 1 are shut off, the ink solvent evaporates from the air communication connection port 3, and the ink inflow connection port 4 is disconnected. Is prevented from flowing out.

When the ink cartridge 57 is pulled out, the ink inflow connection port 4 of the connection unit 1 is exposed to the atmosphere, and the ink adhering to the window 4a as shown in FIG. The solvent of K volatilizes and the ink solidifies. When the ink cartridge 57 is mounted again in this state, the connection unit 3 and the slide shaft 11,
21 and the valve bodies 55 and 56 are pushed back in the direction of arrow A in the drawing against the springs 14, 24, 53 and 54, and in the course of this movement, the retaining portion 23a moves through the window 4a and moves to the window 4a. The solidified ink K is removed.

Thus, when the cartridge 57 is mounted, the window 4a is opened in a normal state, and ink flows from the ink cartridge 57 into the ink storage chamber 2 of the connection unit 1.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the ink cartridge 57 is directly mounted on the connection unit 1 has been described. However, the ink supply port is extended to a predetermined position by a flow path such as a tube, and the end is provided at the end thereof. Obviously, the same operation is achieved even if the same ink supply port as that described above is provided.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the cylindrical body extending in the insertion direction of the cartridge is provided with at least a window for ink inflow on the peripheral surface thereof, and the valve is normally kept closed by the urging force. In addition, when the ink cartridge is installed, it accommodates a valve body with a retaining part that is guided and moved by the window.When the ink cartridge is pulled out, the ink inflow connection port is closed. The valve is in a valve state, which prevents evaporation of the ink solvent in the recording head and prevents ink from flowing out.Even if the ink adhering to the window solidifies, the retaining portion moves the ink inflow window to solidify. By removing the ink, the ink inlet can be secured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) are a perspective view and a sectional view, respectively, showing an embodiment of an ink supply port of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are an assembled perspective view of the ink supply port and an enlarged perspective view of the ink supply port.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an ink cartridge suitable for the ink supply port.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing a state where an ink cartridge is mounted.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams respectively showing a state in which the ink cartridge is pulled out and a state of the ink supply port in the process of mounting the ink cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 connection unit 2 ink storage chamber 3 air communication connection port 4 ink inflow connection port 5 recording head 6 ink outflow port 3a, 4a communication window 10, 20 valve body 11, 21 slide shaft 12, 22 packing 13, 23 Spring 23 Sealing part 50 Ink storage chamber 51 Air communication port 52 Ink outlet 55, 56 Valve 57 Cartridge

Claims (3)

[Claims] An ink supply port, which is connected to an ink supply port of a detachable ink cartridge and supplies ink from the ink cartridge to a recording head, includes a cylindrical body extending in a direction in which the cartridge is inserted. A valve body having at least a window for ink inflow on its surface, always maintaining a valve-closed state by an urging force, and having a retaining portion guided and moved by the window when the ink cartridge is mounted. The ink flow path connection structure of the ink jet recording apparatus configured to be housed. 2. The ink flow path connection structure for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink inflow connection port is connected to the recording head via a subtank. 3. A cylindrical body extending in the insertion direction of the cartridge is provided at an upper portion of the sub-tank, and at least a window for air inflow is provided on a peripheral surface of the cylindrical body, and the valve is normally kept closed by an urging force. An ink flow path connection structure for an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a connection port for communicating with the atmosphere is provided, which accommodates a valve body having a retaining portion which is guided and moved by the window when the ink cartridge is mounted.