JP2648592B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Ink jet recording device

Info

Publication number
JP2648592B2
JP2648592B2 JP62064043A JP6404387A JP2648592B2 JP 2648592 B2 JP2648592 B2 JP 2648592B2 JP 62064043 A JP62064043 A JP 62064043A JP 6404387 A JP6404387 A JP 6404387A JP 2648592 B2 JP2648592 B2 JP 2648592B2
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
ink
liquid chamber
air reservoir
jet recording
ink jet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
JP62064043A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
JPS63231943A (en
Inventor
峰夫 金子
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Priority to JP62064043A priority Critical patent/JP2648592B2/en
Priority to DE3809187A priority patent/DE3809187C2/en
Priority to GB8806523A priority patent/GB2202799B/en
Publication of JPS63231943A publication Critical patent/JPS63231943A/en
Priority to US08/290,072 priority patent/US5867195A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of JP2648592B2 publication Critical patent/JP2648592B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/19—Ink jet characterised by ink handling for removing air bubbles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17513—Inner structure

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 〔産業上の利用分野〕 本発明は、インクを吐出してインクの液滴を形成し、
それを紙等の被記録材に付着させて記録を行なうインク
ジェット記録装置に関する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention forms an ink droplet by discharging ink,
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by attaching the recording medium to a recording material such as paper.

〔従来の技術〕[Conventional technology]

インクジェット記録法は、記録ヘッドに設けたオリフ
ィスからインク（記録用液体）を吐出させ、これを紙等
の被記録材に付着させて記録を行なう記録方法であり、
騒音の発生が極めて少なく、かつ高速記録が可能であ
り、しかも普通紙が使用でき特別な構成の記録用の紙を
必要としないなど、多くの利点を有しており、種々のタ
イプの記録ヘッド及びインクジェット記録装置が考案さ
れている。従来のインクジェット記録装置には、ヘッド
交換時に液室にインクを充填する目的、及び不良吐出の
防止、回復の目的で第２図の様な回復系を備えている。
すなわちヘッド交換時にインクを充填する際には、第２
図の吸引キャップを前面プレートに密着させ、ポンプに
より負圧を発生させ、供給管→液室→液路という順番に
インクが充填されるようになっている。The ink jet recording method is a recording method in which ink (recording liquid) is ejected from an orifice provided in a recording head, and the ink is adhered to a recording material such as paper to perform recording.
Various types of recording heads have many advantages, such as extremely low noise generation, high-speed recording, and the use of plain paper and no need for specially configured recording paper. And an ink jet recording apparatus has been devised. The conventional ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a recovery system as shown in FIG. 2 for the purpose of filling the liquid chamber with ink at the time of head replacement, and for the purpose of preventing and recovering from defective ejection.
That is, when filling the ink at the time of head replacement, the second
The suction cap shown in the figure is brought into close contact with the front plate, a negative pressure is generated by the pump, and the ink is filled in the order of supply pipe → liquid chamber → liquid path.

ところで、インクジェット記録装置の記録速度を向上
させるためにオリフィスをマルチ化するという手段がと
られるが、このようなヘッドに対して上記の方法でイン
クの充填を試みると、液路列が長いため、液室内を完全
にインクが満たす前に、下部の液路からインクが流出し
てしまい、第３図に示すように液室内に気泡が残ってし
まう。このような気泡は、ポンプの性能を向上させても
完全に取り去ることはできず、気泡が液路後端（液室
側）に付着することによってインク不吐出を起こす場合
があった。By the way, in order to improve the recording speed of the ink jet recording apparatus, a means of multiplying the orifice is taken, but when trying to fill such a head with ink by the above-described method, the liquid path line is long, Before the liquid chamber is completely filled with ink, the ink flows out of the lower liquid path, and air bubbles remain in the liquid chamber as shown in FIG. Such bubbles cannot be completely removed even if the performance of the pump is improved, and ink may not be ejected due to the bubbles adhering to the rear end of the liquid path (liquid chamber side).

本発明は上記問題点に鑑み成されたものであり縦方向
に液路が並んでいるような構造の場合でも液室内に完全
にインクが充填されるようなインクジェット記録装置を
提供することにある。The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus in which a liquid chamber is completely filled with ink even in a structure in which liquid paths are arranged in a vertical direction. .

〔問題点を解決するための手段〕[Means for solving the problem]

本発明の上記目的は、インクを吐出して記録を行うイ
ンクジェット記録装置において、インクを吐出するため
のオリフィスと、該オリフィスに連通する液路と、該液
路に連通する液室と、該液室にのみ連通した空気溜めを
有するインクジェット記録ヘッドと、前記オリフィスを
覆うと共に、前記液室内に残留する気泡を空気溜め内に
引き込むための負圧を前記オリフィスを介して前記液室
および前記空気溜めに作用させるための吸引キャップ
と、を有することを特徴とするインクジェット記録装置
によって達成される。The object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink, an orifice for discharging ink, a liquid path communicating with the orifice, a liquid chamber communicating with the liquid path, and a liquid chamber. An ink jet recording head having an air reservoir communicating only with the chamber, and a negative pressure for covering the orifice and for drawing air bubbles remaining in the liquid chamber into the air reservoir through the orifice and the liquid chamber and the air reservoir. And a suction cap for acting on the ink jet recording device.

本発明の特徴は、負圧によって液室内の空気（及びイ
ンク）を空気溜め内に引き込むことである。従って負圧
による容積変化が大、すなわち容積が大であるほうがよ
い。しかし空気溜めの容積をあまり大きくするとインク
タンクからインクを吸い上げるために必要な負圧を発生
させるのが困難になる。また容積が小さい場合には、液
室内の気泡を取り込み切れない場合がある。従って空気
溜めの容積は吸引ポンプの能力の許す範囲で大きい方が
よい。通常は液室の容積と同程度から２倍程度で充分で
ある。A feature of the present invention is that air (and ink) in the liquid chamber is drawn into the air reservoir by negative pressure. Therefore, it is better that the volume change due to the negative pressure is large, that is, the volume is large. However, if the volume of the air reservoir is too large, it becomes difficult to generate a negative pressure required to suck up ink from the ink tank. In addition, when the volume is small, it may not be possible to take in air bubbles in the liquid chamber. Therefore, the capacity of the air reservoir should be as large as the capacity of the suction pump allows. Usually, it is sufficient that the volume is about the same as about twice the volume of the liquid chamber.

空気溜めの材料として不適当なものは、負圧によって
変形して機能を果さないもの（シリコンゴム、ビニール
等の肉の薄いもの）である。これ以外であれば、ポリエ
チレン、ガラス、金属等何でもよい。An unsuitable material for the air reservoir is a material which is deformed by a negative pressure and has no function (thin material such as silicon rubber and vinyl). Other than this, any material such as polyethylene, glass, and metal may be used.

第１図に本発明の記録装置の１つの実施例を示す。第
１図では液室の上部と下部にそれぞれ管を設け、上部の
管は適当な長さ（３〜5mm）で封止し、空気溜め１とし
ている。空気溜めは第１図では液室内に突出しているが
液室の端に連通していてもよい。このような構造のヘッ
ドに第２図のような機構でインクを充填する場合を考え
ると、まずポンプの動作によって生じた負圧をオリフィ
ス５を覆う吸引キャップを介してヘッド側に与えること
で液室３内部及び空気溜め１内部は負圧とする（第１図
（ａ））。次に液室にインクが流入し、液路４、オリフ
ィス、吸引キャップ経由し、ポンプへと流れ出るが、こ
のとき空気溜めが負圧であるため（第１図（ｂ））、こ
れを解消すべくインクが空気溜め入口に流れ込み、液室
内はインクで満たされる（第１図（ｃ））。もしもこの
際空気溜め入口付近に少量の気泡が残存していても、最
後に吸引キャップを大気に解放する際に空気溜め内の負
圧によって空気溜め内に引き込まれてしまい、液室内に
は気泡は残らない。よって空気溜めが液室に連通する場
所は、液室内の気泡が残り易い場所に設定することが好
ましい。その場所は第１図のように液路が縦に並んでい
る場合は、液室上部であり、また液路が横に並んでいる
場合はインクの供給路から離れた気泡が残り易い液室の
端部である。FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, tubes are provided at the upper and lower portions of the liquid chamber, respectively, and the upper tube is sealed with an appropriate length (3 to 5 mm) to form an air reservoir 1. Although the air reservoir projects into the liquid chamber in FIG. 1, it may communicate with the end of the liquid chamber. Considering the case where the head having such a structure is filled with ink by a mechanism as shown in FIG. 2, first, a negative pressure generated by the operation of the pump is applied to the head side through a suction cap that covers the orifice 5 to obtain a liquid. A negative pressure is applied to the inside of the chamber 3 and the inside of the air reservoir 1 (FIG. 1A). Next, the ink flows into the liquid chamber and flows out to the pump via the liquid path 4, the orifice, and the suction cap. At this time, since the air reservoir has a negative pressure (FIG. 1 (b)), this is eliminated. The ink flows into the air reservoir inlet to fill the liquid chamber with the ink (FIG. 1 (c)). At this time, even if a small amount of air bubbles remain near the air reservoir inlet, when the suction cap is finally released to the atmosphere, it is drawn into the air reservoir by the negative pressure in the air reservoir, and the air bubbles remain in the liquid chamber. Does not remain. Therefore, it is preferable that the location where the air reservoir communicates with the liquid chamber is set to a location where bubbles in the liquid chamber are likely to remain. The location is the upper part of the liquid chamber when the liquid paths are arranged vertically as shown in FIG. It is the end of.

上記のような構造では常に空気溜め内に減圧された空
気が存在するか、空気溜め入口（空気溜めと液室の連通
部）を充分狭くしておけば、空気が液室内に逆流するこ
ともなく吐出に悪影響を及ぼさない。そのためには、空
気溜めの全体としての形状には制限はないが空気溜め入
口の径を１〜2mm程度とすることが好ましい。例えば第
４図の様に液室の上部に気泡を集める液室内凹部７を設
けた構造をとったとすると、気泡が比較的自由に動き回
り振動等により液路方向へ移動して不吐出を引き起こす
可能性がある。従って空気溜めは本発明のように液室外
部に設け、その入口を充分狭くしておく必要がある。空
気溜めの好ましい具体例を第６図、第７図に示し、好ま
しくないものを第５図に示した。In the above structure, if there is always decompressed air in the air reservoir, or if the air reservoir inlet (communication part between the air reservoir and the liquid chamber) is made sufficiently narrow, air may flow back into the liquid chamber. And has no adverse effect on ejection. For this purpose, the shape of the air reservoir as a whole is not limited, but the diameter of the air reservoir inlet is preferably about 1 to 2 mm. For example, assuming a structure in which a liquid chamber concave portion 7 for collecting air bubbles is provided at the upper part of the liquid chamber as shown in FIG. There is. Therefore, the air reservoir needs to be provided outside the liquid chamber as in the present invention, and the entrance thereof is sufficiently narrowed. Preferred embodiments of the air reservoir are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and those which are not preferred are shown in FIG.

〔発明の効果〕〔The invention's effect〕

本発明のインクジェット記録装置を用いればヘッド交
換時のインク吐出始めにおいてもインクの吐出不良が起
こらず、生産性が良い。The use of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention does not cause an ink ejection failure even at the start of ink ejection at the time of head replacement, and thus provides good productivity.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of the drawings]

第１図（ａ）〜（ｃ）は本発明のインクジェットン記録
装置のヘッドへのインク充填過程を説明する模式図、第
１図（ｄ）はヘッドの右側面図、第１図（ｅ）は底面図
であり、第２図は従来構造のインクジェットン記録ヘッ
ド及びそのインク充填機構を表す図（一部拡大図）であ
り、第３図は従来のヘッドの問題点を示す図であり、第
４図は本発明のヘッドの効果を比較的に説明するための
模式図であり、第５図は空気溜めの好ましくない態様、
第６図、第７図は空気溜めの好ましい態様を示す模式図
である。 1:空気溜め 2:供給管 3:液室 4:液路 5:オリフィス 6:インク 7:液室内凹部1 (a) to 1 (c) are schematic views for explaining a process of filling the head of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention with ink, FIG. 1 (d) is a right side view of the head, and FIG. 1 (e). FIG. 2 is a bottom view, FIG. 2 is a diagram (partially enlarged view) showing an ink jet recording head having a conventional structure and an ink filling mechanism thereof, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a problem of the conventional head. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for comparatively explaining the effect of the head of the present invention, and FIG.
6 and 7 are schematic views showing a preferred embodiment of the air reservoir. 1: Air reservoir 2: Supply pipe 3: Liquid chamber 4: Liquid path 5: Orifice 6: Ink 7: Liquid chamber recess

Claims (3)

(57)【特許請求の範囲】(57) [Claims] 【請求項１】インクを吐出して記録を行うインクジェッ
ト記録装置において、 インクを吐出するためのオリフィスと、該オリフィスに
連通する液路と、該液路に連通する液室と、該液室にの
み連通した空気溜めを有するインクジェット記録ヘッド
と、 前記オリフィスを覆うと共に、前記液室内に残留する気
泡を空気溜め内に引き込むための負圧を前記オリフィス
を介して前記液室および前記空気溜めに作用させるため
の吸引キャップと、を有することを特徴とするインクジ
ェット記録装置。An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording by discharging ink, an orifice for discharging ink, a liquid path communicating with the orifice, a liquid chamber communicating with the liquid path, and a liquid chamber communicating with the liquid path. An ink jet recording head having an air reservoir that communicates only with the air reservoir, and a negative pressure that covers the orifice and draws air bubbles remaining in the liquid chamber into the air reservoir, acts on the liquid chamber and the air reservoir through the orifice. An ink-jet recording apparatus, comprising: 【請求項２】前記吸引キャップは前記装置に配されたポ
ンプが動作することで発生する負圧を前記ヘッドに作用
させる特許請求の範囲第１項に記載のインクジェット記
録装置。2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said suction cap applies a negative pressure generated by operation of a pump disposed in said apparatus to said head. 【請求項３】前記空気溜めの容積は前記液室の容積と同
程度から２倍程度である特許請求の範囲第１項に記載の
インクジェット記録装置。3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the air reservoir is approximately the same as or approximately twice the volume of the liquid chamber.
JP62064043A 1987-03-20 1987-03-20 Ink jet recording device Expired - Lifetime JP2648592B2 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP62064043A JP2648592B2 (en) 1987-03-20 1987-03-20 Ink jet recording device
DE3809187A DE3809187C2 (en) 1987-03-20 1988-03-18 Ink jet recording head
GB8806523A GB2202799B (en) 1987-03-20 1988-03-18 Ink jet recording head and ink jet recording apparatus having the same
US08/290,072 US5867195A (en) 1987-03-20 1994-08-15 Ink jet recording apparatus and recording head having an air chamber defining a closed space in communication with a liquid chamber

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP62064043A JP2648592B2 (en) 1987-03-20 1987-03-20 Ink jet recording device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPS63231943A JPS63231943A (en) 1988-09-28
JP2648592B2 true JP2648592B2 (en) 1997-09-03

Family

ID=13246685

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP62064043A Expired - Lifetime JP2648592B2 (en) 1987-03-20 1987-03-20 Ink jet recording device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JP2648592B2 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE60218376T2 (en) * 2001-05-01 2007-11-08 Seiko Epson Corp. Ink tank and inkjet printer with such a container
DE60302278T2 (en) 2002-05-07 2006-07-20 Brother Kogyo K.K., Nagoya ink-jet head
JP2006327100A (en) * 2005-05-27 2006-12-07 Brother Ind Ltd Inkjet recorder

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61112648A (en) * 1984-11-07 1986-05-30 Nec Corp Multi-nozzle printing head

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS63231943A (en) 1988-09-28

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