JP2002019137A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To disperse an ink constituting component in an ink in an ink tank by agitating the ink in the tank by connecting a diaphragm pump as an agitating means to the tank, sucking and discharging the ink into and from the tank. SOLUTION: An ink jet recorder comprises a pump means capable of sucking and discharging the ink in the ink tank from the same ink channel.

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 capable of always performing good recording from the beginning to the end of using ink contained in an ink tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink used in an ink jet recording apparatus can be roughly classified into two types, one is a dye-based ink and the other is a pigment-based ink. Among them, particularly, pigment inks are more excellent in water resistance and light resistance than dye inks, so that the amount of use is increasing year by year.

On the other hand, ink tanks for storing the ink can be roughly classified into three types.

[0004] The first ink tank is a full sponge for generating a negative pressure for forming a meniscus of the ink at the ink discharge port by storing an absorber in the ink tank and holding the ink in the storage body. The second ink tank is a half-life ink tank having an ink chamber containing an absorber for generating a negative pressure and an ink liquid chamber for improving the ink containing efficiency. The second ink tank is a raw ink tank containing only ink without providing an absorber.

[0005]

However, among the above-mentioned prior arts, in particular, when a pigment-based ink is stored and held in a liquid chamber having no absorber or the like, such as a half-lifed or raw ink tank, the ink is not removed over time. Ink components such as pigments dispersed in the ink may settle vertically downward in the ink tank, and the balance of the ink components to be uniformly dispersed in the ink liquid may be lost. If such a problem occurs, for example, there arises a problem that the density is reduced to about 75% or less of the normal or the fixing property is deteriorated.

On the other hand, if the viscosity of the ink is increased, adverse effects such as an adverse effect on the ejection recovery property and the fixing property are caused.

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the problems in the prior art as described above.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which stirs ink contained in an ink tank by a simple mechanism, disperses components of the ink, and enables good recording at all times from the beginning to the use of the ink. .

As a specific configuration of the present invention, the ink in the ink tank is stirred by a pump means.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head for discharging ink to perform recording. It is characterized by having pump means capable of sucking and discharging from the same ink flow path.

Further, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the pump means is provided in the recording apparatus.

Further, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the pump means is provided integrally with the ink tank.

Still further, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, the pump means is a diaphragm pump.

The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the pump means is a driving source driven by the operation of the carriage.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, the pump means does not have a dedicated driving source.

Further, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the pump means has a waiting time in at least one of the suction operation and the discharge operation or the discharge operation and the suction operation.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, the pump means has a cam mechanism for forming the standby time.

The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the ink is a pigment.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the recording head has, as an element for generating energy used for discharging the ink, an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy for causing film boiling of the ink. It is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention constructed as described above, the ink contained in the ink tank is agitated by the pump means to disperse the constituent components of the ink, and good recording is always performed from the beginning to the end of use of the ink. Can be realized.

An embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0021]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a main part of a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention in the present embodiment accommodates a plurality of large-capacity ink tanks 501 and discharges ink.
Supply system unit 1 for supplying ink to 01
0, the carriage 200 on which the recording head 401 is mounted
And a recovery system unit 300 for recovering from the ink ejection failure of the print head 401, and a print head 401 for printing by discharging ink.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the frame body 50 has a rear plate 53, left and right side plates 54 and 55, a bottom plate 56, and a resist plate 57, and is sandwiched between the left and right side plates 54 and 55. Near the center,
The CR frame 201 is fixed upright from the bottom of the bottom plate 56. The CR frame 201 is set at a parallel distance to the abutting point where the left and right side plates 54 and 55 are assembled in parallel.
Are provided in the upper portion of the substantially L-shaped rising portion 56C of the bottom plate 56 and the upper portion of the rear plate 53.
Grooves for regulating the R frame 201 in the vertical direction are formed, thereby enabling the CR frame 201 to be erected.

The ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention has a space for conveying a recording medium as described below.

As shown in FIG. 1, an L-shaped angle resist plate 5 is provided above the substantially L-shaped rising portion 56C.
7 is fixed by screws so as to straddle the left and right side plates 54 and 55. The envelope as a recording medium of the main body print engine is sandwiched between the upper surface of the envelope transport belt of the main body print engine and the lower surface of the resist plate 57, and extends along the inside of the bent portion of the resist plate 57 in the drawing. Conveyed from left to right.

A carriage 200 on which a recording head 401 for performing recording is mounted on the right side of the CR frame 201 on the downstream side of the recording medium transport, and has a transport space and a home position engaged with a recovery system unit 300 described later. It is possible to move between.

In the drawing, a large-capacity ink tank 50 is located on the left side of the CR frame 201 on the upstream side of the recording medium conveyance.
Print head 401 that houses a plurality of printheads 1 and discharges ink
There is an ink supply system unit 10 for supplying ink to the printer. The ink supply system unit 10 includes a plurality of ink tanks 501, and includes a tank storage unit 501 having a function for leading out ink in the ink tank 501. The tank storage unit 501 will be described in detail later. And

In the drawing, on the right side of the CR frame 201, on the downstream side of the recording medium conveyance, a recovery system unit 300 for recovering the ejection failure of the recording head 401 is provided between the two types of recording spaces. I have. The recovery system unit 300 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a wiping mechanism for wiping ink adhered to the nozzle configuration surface of the recording head 401, a capping mechanism for preventing ink drying and dust adhesion in the nozzles, and eliminating clogging. Therefore, a suction mechanism for forcibly discharging ink from nozzles by applying a negative pressure to the capping mechanism is provided. In this embodiment, a tube pump is used as the suction mechanism. Of course, the suction mechanism is not limited to the tube pump, and other similar mechanisms can be used.

Further, the waste ink consumed for recovering from the malfunction of the recording head 401 is discharged to a waste ink reservoir in the main body print engine from a hole below the recovery system unit 300 opened in the bottom plate 56.

Behind the rear plate 53, a control board (not shown) for controlling the recording and the system of the present recording apparatus is provided. The control board is covered with a cover (not shown) so that a connector for receiving a signal from the main body print engine is exposed from the frame unit. Cable 9 for sending a control signal of the control board to print head 401 in carriage 200
The cover 93 has an opening for connecting 1 to the carriage 200 and the control board. The power supply unit 90 is fixed inside the frame unit on the side opposite to the control board with respect to the rear plate 53. A power supply receptacle for receiving power from the outside is adhered to a square hole opened in the left side plate, and is connected from the outside of the frame unit. The power supply unit 90 includes a control board and a carriage 200.
It is coupled to supply power to the upper substrate.

Next, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a description will be given of the tank storage section of the ink tank 501. FIG.

The tank holder 59 includes an ink tank 501.
Forming a tank accommodating portion for accommodating and holding the ink container 501. A portion serving as an insertion opening of the ink tank 501 is opened upward, and the tank accommodating portion is formed in a U-shape.
One lower end is grounded to the bottom plate 56, and one side is
4 is fixed by screwing. The tank slot 27 is fitted into the upper opening of the tank holder 59 to increase the opening area at the ink tank insertion opening.
It is formed so as to approach a plurality of tank cross-sectional areas as approaching the storage section. Below the tank slot 27, a positioning rail 29 for determining the position of the ink tank 501 and a tank guide (not shown) are provided.
01 is installed so as to be sandwiched in a face-to-face state. A rib (524 in FIG. 4) connected in the insertion direction is provided on one of the short sides of the insertion cross section of the ink tank 501, and the rib 524 enters the groove of the positioning rail 29 to position one side, and the other side. Are positioned so as to pinch the short side, thereby determining the insertion position.

The needle base 51 forms a storage bottom 51A for the ink tank 501, and has two hollow needles 52, which serve as outlets or return ports of the ink tank 501, are fixed vertically upward per tank. I have. Hollow needle 52
Are fixed by an ink detection plate (not shown) in a state where the straight portion is half filled in the groove. The hollow needle 52 is a metal tube having a sharp tip and a hole in the side surface. When the ink tank 501 reaches the storage bottom 51A, the hollow needle 52 penetrates a rubber stopper 513 that closes a hole opened at one end of the ink tank 501, thereby forming an ink flow path between the ink inside and the outside. One of the hollow needles 52 is an ink outlet, and the other one is an ink tank 50.
By returning the air or the overflowing ink to 1, the gas-liquid exchange in the ink tank 501 is smoothly performed.
Details will be described later. One end of the ink detection plate is electrically connected to a control board by an electric wire. 2 whose tip is exposed in the ink tank 501 via the ink detection plate
By measuring the current value between the hollow needles 52,
The presence or absence of ink in the ink tank 501 can be detected.

In the middle of the tank housing 501, the hollow needle 5
The danger prevention doors 41 are installed at the same number of two places as the ink tanks 501 in order to prevent the operator from being injured by the tip 2. The case where there is no ink tank 501 in the tank storage section 501 will be described.

The danger prevention door 41 is provided in the tank housing 5
01 has a center of rotation 41A at the corner, and the torsion coil spring 61 realizes the rotational force in the direction of the tank insertion port.
When the posture of the danger prevention door 41 is in a horizontal state, the rotational force is stopped by the convex portion 29A of the positioning rail 29. A danger prevention door 41 is provided below the free end 41B of the danger prevention door 41.
Stoppers 44 and 45 are provided to limit the opening and closing of the shutter. The stoppers 44 and 45 are symmetrical to each other,
The center of rotation is provided below the gap between the adjacent ink tanks 501, the arms of the fulcrum are inserted into the two side surfaces of the tank holder 59, and the upper end is within the rotation radius of the danger prevention door 41.
Angle to engage with free end (angle 44 slightly inclined from right angle)
C). One ends (44A, 45A) of the stoppers 44, 45 on the positioning rail 29 side enter the grooves of the positioning rail 29 to maintain the posture. At this point, even if the danger prevention door 41 is pushed downward, the rotation of the free end of the danger prevention door 41 is stopped above the stoppers 44 and 45, so that the danger prevention door 41 is not opened.

When the ink tank 501 starts to be inserted, the ribs 524 of the ink tank 501 push one end (44A, 45A) of the stopper which has entered the positioning rail 29. When the stopper is displaced, the inclination is close to a right angle, and it comes out of the radius of rotation of the free end of the danger prevention door 41. Therefore, the danger prevention door 41 rotates downward, and the ink tank 501 is obstructed by the danger prevention door 41. It is inserted toward the storage bottom 51A without any trouble.

FIG. 3 shows the positional relationship between the danger prevention door that can be opened and the stopper.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the ink tank 501.

Reference numeral 511 denotes an ink tank body formed by blow molding PP resin, 511a a handle, 512 a tank bottom by injection molding, and 521 and 52.
2 is an ink passage between the inside and the outside of the ink tank, 513 is a rubber stopper for closing the ink passage, and 514 is a rubber stopper 513.
The stop member 524 for stopping the movement is the above-described insertion guide rib.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the structure of the stirring pump means 400.

In the illustrated stirring pump means 400,
The drive gear 28 is connected to a drive shaft of a recovery system. The drive gear 28 is a drive source of the stirring pump means 400. In this embodiment, the drive gear 28 has a configuration in which two ink tanks 501 can be mounted on the tower. Therefore, two pump mechanisms are provided. The right pump lever 21 and the left pump lever 22 are symmetrically arranged, and both pump levers 21 and 22 have a rotation hole formed substantially at the center, and rotate the pump lever shafts 47A and 47B fixed to the pump holder 58 by caulking. It is rotatable as an axis. One end of each of the pump levers 21 and 22 is slidable into the eccentric groove cam via a roller (not shown), and one rotation of the pump cam 26 causes a pseudo reciprocating movement of the other ends of the pump levers 21 and 22. Can be changed to

The other ends of the pump levers 21 and 22 are tapered and provided with grooves. The grooves hold the round rubber 16A of the pump rubber 16 in these grooves. The pump rubber 16 is provided with a round knob 16A at the center, and further has a thin bowl-shaped cylinder portion 16B and a bottomed cylindrical portion 16C. The bowl-shaped cylinder portion 16B forms a pressure generating chamber with a round counterbore (not shown) of the pump base 37, and the hollow needle 5 inserted into the ink tank 501.
2C.

Now, the recovery unit 300 is driven,
It is assumed that the driving of the drive gear 28 causes the pump cam 26 to rotate half a turn, and the pump levers 21 and 22 to move in the direction of crushing the bowl-shaped cylinder portion 16B via the round knob 16A (forward operation). Thereby, the pressure increased inside the bowl-shaped cylinder portion 16B is released, that is, discharged, into the ink tank 501 through the hollow needle 52C.

Next, the remaining half rotation of the pump cam 26 moves (returns) the direction in which the bowl-shaped cylinder portion 16B is expanded. Then, the inside of the bowl-shaped cylinder portion 16B becomes negative pressure. As a result, the negative pressure inside the bowl-shaped cylinder portion 16B sucks the ink in the ink tank 501. Thus, the ink in the ink tank 501 is stirred by the continuous rotation of the pump cam 26.

In this embodiment, the pump cam 26 is configured so that the operation of the actuator for operating the diaphragm pump is intermittent. because,
With respect to the flow of ink discharged by the stirring hollow needle 53C,
If the suction operation is performed immediately thereafter, not only will a force in the direction obstructing this flow be applied, but also the stirring efficiency will be reduced by constantly sucking and discharging ink in a specific range. There are cases. Therefore, in order to avoid the problem, a predetermined standby time is provided between the discharge and the suction, and between the suction and the discharge, so that the ink is efficiently stirred. Therefore, the pump cam 26 as a cam mechanism is provided in the stirring pump means 400 in order to provide this waiting time.

According to the present invention, the ink tank 50
For example, even if the stirring in 1 is performed during recording, it does not affect the recording performance, and therefore, it can be configured to be driven in conjunction with the driving of another system as described above. In addition, the object can be effectively achieved with a simple configuration.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a flow path for supplying ink from the ink tank 501 to the recording head 401 and its configuration, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the recording head.

First, referring to FIG. 6, the flow path of the ink supply system will be described.
1 is a hollow needle for supplying ink, which is constituted by a hollow needle and forms a part of an ink flow path for passing the ink in the ink tank 501 out of the ink tank 501 through the first rubber stopper 513. And 76 are hollow needles 52A for ink supply.
And an ink supply tube connected to the recording head 401 to form an ink flow path to the recording head 401.
An ink supply hollow needle for supplying ink from the ink tank 501 to an ink liquid chamber in the recording head 401 through a rubber stopper 416A provided on the recording head 401 mounted on the carriage 200.

On the other hand, by applying a negative pressure to the ink liquid chamber formed in the recording head 401, ink is supplied from the ink tank 501 to the recording head 401 via the ink supply tube 76 which is a flow path of the ink supply system. 222B is a suction hollow needle that penetrates the other rubber plug 416B provided in the recording head 401 and forms an ink flow path inside. Also,
Reference numeral 300 denotes the above-described recovery system unit, which selectively closes one of the supply valve 311 and the recovery valve 312 to generate a negative pressure in the print head 401 to supply ink from the ink tank 501 to the print head 401. And a pump capable of generating a negative pressure in the cap 321 to perform the recovery process of the recording head 401.

The recording head 4 is designed so that the orifice on the nozzle surface of the recording head 401 is not destroyed by pressure.
It is necessary to apply a predetermined negative pressure to the nozzle provided at 01. Therefore, in this embodiment, the ink tank 5
01, the tip position of the air supply hollow needle 52B pierced by the recording head 401 by an optimum head difference for the recording head 401.
Are arranged at a lower position than the nozzles of FIG. This is because as the recording head 401 uses ink, the pressure inside the ink tank 501 becomes negative, and the air is supplied to the ink tank 5 through the air supply tube 323 and the air supply hollow needle 52B.
01, the air supply hollow needle 52
This is because the position of the leading end of the B ink tank 501 becomes atmospheric pressure. Reference numerals 325 and 52C denote a stirring tube and a hollow needle which form a flow path from the above-described stirring pump 400 to the ink tank 501.

Note that the rubber stoppers 416A and 416B are
Are provided on the side surface of the recording head 401 as shown in FIG.

Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the stirring pump 400 is provided outside the ink tank 501, that is, on the print engine. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the diaphragm pump 550 may be provided in the ink tank 501 and the actuator 601 may be provided in the print engine.

(Embodiment 3) In Embodiment 1, the drive source is the same as that of the recovery system. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The drive may be performed by a carriage driving motor. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the reciprocating carriage 200 may push and discharge the stirring pump 400 by pressing the arm 603 which also serves as the actuator of the diaphragm pump.

As described above, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to stir the ink with a simple structure.

(Others) In the present invention, a means (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam, or the like) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink is particularly used in an ink jet recording system. The present invention provides an excellent effect in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which a change in the state of ink is caused by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,723,129.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of US Pat. No. 740,796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to a sheet or a liquid path holding a liquid (ink). Applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer, thereby causing the electrothermal transducer to generate thermal energy, thereby causing the recording head to emit heat energy. This is effective because a film in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the driving signal can be formed one by one by causing film boiling on the heat acting surface. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. It should be noted that U.S. Pat.
If the conditions described in the specification are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, The present invention also includes a configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region. It is. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an aperture for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably 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 on which a recording apparatus can record. 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 integrally formed recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, a recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or an electric connection with the apparatus main body or ink from the apparatus main body is mounted on the apparatus main body. 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 provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add a recording head ejection recovery unit, a preliminary auxiliary unit, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, the recording head is heated using capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, another heating element or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing the discharging other than the recording can be used.

The type and number of recording heads to be mounted are not limited to those provided only for one color ink, for example, and for a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full color by color mixture.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. Sometimes, the ink may be in a liquid state. In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent evaporation of the ink, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start solidifying when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1260, a configuration may be adopted in which the liquid sheet or the solid material is held in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet and faces the electrothermal converter in a liquid or solid state. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not only used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, but also for a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

[0064]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head for performing recording by discharging ink, wherein the ink in the ink tank is sucked from the same ink flow path. And the pump means capable of discharging the ink, it is possible to effectively agitate the ink with a simple configuration.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the pump means is provided in the recording apparatus, the ink jet recording apparatus can be compactly formed and can stir the ink well.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the pump means is provided integrally with the ink tank, the structure is simplified and the apparatus can be manufactured compact.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the pump means is a diaphragm pump, a predetermined standby time is provided between the discharge and the suction, and between the suction and the discharge, so that the stirring of the ink is efficiently performed. It is performed.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the pump means is driven by the operation of the carriage, power can be effectively used.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the pump means does not have a dedicated driving source, the structure can be simplified.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, since the pump means has a standby time in at least one of the suction operation and the discharge operation or the discharge operation and the suction operation, the discharge operation and the suction operation are reliably performed. Can be done.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the pump means has a cam mechanism for forming the standby time, the standby time can be simply and reliably provided.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the ink is a pigment-based ink, the ink is excellent in water resistance and light resistance, and can perform clear recording.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the recording head is an element which generates thermal energy for causing film boiling of the ink as an element for generating energy used for discharging the ink. Since the conversion member is provided, it is possible to discharge ink appropriately and perform clear recording.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a main part of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the tank storage portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the danger prevention door is locked by a stopper and is not opened.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the tank storage portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the danger prevention door can be opened without being locked by a stopper.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ink tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a stirring unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an ink channel configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the recording head according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of an ink tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a print engine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 ink supply system unit 16A round knob 16B bowl-shaped cylinder portion 21 pump lever 22 pump lever 25 L joint 26 pump cam 27 tank slot 28 drive gear 29 positioning rail 33 pump plate 36 needle joint 41 danger prevention door 41A rotation center 41B free end 44 Stopper 44C Angle 45 Stopper 45A End 46 Valve Shaft 47A Pump Lever Shaft 47B Pump Lever Shaft 49A Electrode 55 Frame Body 51 Needle Base 52 Hollow Needle 52A Hollow Needle 52B Hollow Needle 52C Hollow Needle 53 Rear Plate 54 Left Side 55 Right Side 56 Bottom plate 58 Pump holder 59 Tank holder 76 Supply tube 78 Suction tube 90 Power supply unit 91 Cable 93 Cover 200 Carriage 201 CR frame 22A Hollow needle 222B Hollow needle 300 Recovery system unit 311 Supply valve 312 Recovery valve 321 Cap 323 Atmospheric communication tube 325 Stirring tube 401 Recording head 416A Rubber stopper 416B Rubber stopper 501 Ink tank 511 Ink tank body 511a Handle 513 Rubber stopper 513 Gasket Member 521 Flow path 524 Guide rib 550 Diaphragm pump 601 Actuator 603 Actuator

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head for performing recording by discharging ink, comprising a pump means capable of sucking and discharging ink in an ink tank from the same ink flow path. Inkjet recording apparatus. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pump means is provided in a recording apparatus. 3. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pump means is provided integrally with an ink tank. 4. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pump means is a diaphragm pump. 5. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pump means is driven by a movement of a carriage. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pump means does not have a dedicated driving source. 7. The pump means includes a suction operation and a discharge operation,
7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the discharge operation and the suction operation has a standby time.
The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said pump means has a cam mechanism for forming said standby time.
The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ink is a pigment. 10. The recording head according to claim 1, further comprising an electrothermal transducer for generating heat energy for causing film boiling of the ink, as an element for generating energy used for discharging the ink. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to 1.