JP2002225304A - Liquid injection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink-jet recorder which can favorably solve a sedimentation state of ink in an ink cartridge, widely speaking, a liquid jet apparatus which can favorably solve a sedimentation state of a liquid in a liquid container. SOLUTION: The liquid container 1 is provided with a liquid chamber 1a for storing the liquid wherein a sedimentation phenomenon of contained components can be generated, and a heating means 1h set to a bottom part of the liquid chamber 1a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus having a head member for ejecting a liquid droplet from a nozzle opening, and more particularly to a liquid ejecting apparatus in which a liquid container for supplying a liquid to a nozzle opening is replaceable. About. Further, the present invention relates to a liquid container suitable for such a liquid ejecting apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an ink jet recording apparatus, which is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus, includes a recording head having a nozzle opening, and ejection driving means (for example, a piezoelectric vibrator or a heating element) for ejecting ink at the nozzle opening. Discharge control means for controlling the discharge drive means according to the print data. The supply of ink to the nozzle openings is performed by an ink cartridge (liquid container) and an ink communication path from the ink cartridge to the nozzle openings. The ink cartridge is usually replaceable.

In recent years, pigment inks have been used as inks having excellent light fastness. The pigment ink is composed of, for example, a pigment, a dispersant, a solvent, and an additive, and is an ink particularly excellent in ultraviolet light resistance. However, since the pigment ink is a liquid in which pigment particles are dispersed in a solvent by a dispersant, a sedimentation phenomenon easily occurs.

[0004] The sedimentation of pigment particles in the ink cartridge means the occurrence of a difference in ink density in the ink cartridge, and if left unattended, it is impossible to perform recording at a predetermined ink density.

In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-12076 discloses a pigment ink in which a sedimentation phenomenon hardly occurs. The ink has a difference between the specific gravity of the pigment and the specific gravity of the liquid medium of 0.3 or less in a recording liquid for dispersing pigment fine particles in a non-aqueous liquid medium for recording on a recording material. It is characterized by the following.
According to the publication, in a pigment ink satisfying the above conditions, the pigment particles do not agglomerate or settle.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-110458 discloses an ink tank for an ink jet recording apparatus. The ink tank has a built-in rotator for stirring the ink. By operating the rotator, the stirring of the ink is realized and the sedimentation of the ink is eliminated.

[0007]

However, according to the study of the present inventors, it has been found that even with the ink disclosed in JP-A-57-12076, the type (color type) and It is difficult to always ensure a sufficient countermeasure against sedimentation in relation to clogging characteristics, discharge characteristics, and other reliability.

On the other hand, in the case of an ink tank having a built-in rotator, the rotator itself and a mechanism for rotating the rotator are relatively large, which is unsuitable for miniaturization and has a problem in cost. It is practically impossible to apply the ink tank technology to a disposable type small cartridge.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an ink jet recording apparatus capable of suitably eliminating the sedimentation state of pigment particles in ink in an ink cartridge. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that can appropriately eliminate the sedimentation state of a component contained in a liquid inside the liquid ejecting apparatus.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid chamber for storing a liquid in which a sedimentation phenomenon of a component may occur, and a heat generating means provided at a bottom of the liquid chamber. It is a liquid container.

According to the present invention, when the heat generating means is operated, a heat convection is generated in the liquid in the liquid chamber, and an effective liquid stirring action can be obtained.

For example, the liquid chamber is defined by a wall member, and the heat generating means is an electric heater provided on the inner surface of the bottom wall member that defines the bottom of the liquid chamber. In this case, wiring that penetrates the bottom wall member in a liquid-tight manner is connected to the electric heater, and power can be supplied.

Alternatively, the liquid chamber is defined by a wall member, the bottom wall member defining the bottom of the liquid chamber has a heat permeable portion, and the heating means is adjacent to the heat permeable portion of the bottom wall member. May be provided outside the liquid chamber.

The liquid contained in the liquid chamber is, for example, a pigment ink, but is not limited to this. Further, the liquid container may have its own control means for generating heat convection in the liquid in the liquid chamber by operating the heat generating means.

Alternatively, the present invention provides a liquid container installation section in which a liquid container having a liquid chamber containing a liquid in which a sedimentation phenomenon of a contained component can occur and a heat generating means provided at the bottom of the liquid chamber is installed. Control means capable of generating heat convection in the liquid in the liquid chamber of the liquid container by operating the heat generating means of the liquid container, a head member having a nozzle opening, and a liquid in the liquid container installed in the liquid container installation section A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a liquid communication passage that communicates the inside of a chamber with a nozzle opening.

According to the present invention, the control means activates the heat generating means to generate heat convection in the liquid in the liquid chamber, so that an effective stirring action on the liquid in the liquid chamber can be obtained.

For example, the liquid chamber is defined by a wall member, and the heat generating means is an electric heater provided on the inner surface of the bottom wall member that defines the bottom of the liquid chamber. In this case, the electric heater and the control means can be connected via a wiring penetrating the bottom wall member in a liquid-tight manner.

Alternatively, the liquid chamber is defined by a wall member, the bottom wall member defining the bottom of the liquid chamber has a heat permeable portion, and the heating means is adjacent to the heat permeable portion of the bottom wall member. May be provided outside the liquid chamber.

Alternatively, the present invention provides a liquid container installation section in which a bottom wall member for defining a bottom has a heat permeable portion and a liquid container for containing a liquid in which sedimentation of a contained component can occur. A heat generating means provided at a position of the liquid container installation portion facing the heat permeable portion of the bottom wall member of the liquid container when the liquid container is installed, and by operating the heat generating means, heat convection occurs to the liquid in the liquid container. And a head member having a nozzle opening, and a liquid communication path for communicating the inside of the liquid chamber of the liquid container installed in the liquid container installation portion with the nozzle opening. This is a liquid ejecting apparatus characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, the control means activates the heat generating means to generate heat convection in the liquid in the liquid chamber, so that an effective stirring action for the liquid in the liquid chamber can be obtained. Further, in the present invention, since the heat generating means is provided not in the liquid container but in the liquid container installation portion, it is advantageous in terms of cost particularly when the present invention is applied to a liquid container of a disposable type or the like.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus (liquid ejecting apparatus) according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a printing mechanism inside the apparatus. . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment has a housing 3 and a carriage 11 on which a black ink cartridge 1 (liquid container) and a color ink cartridge 2 (liquid container) are mounted. And

As shown in FIG. 1, an operation panel 4 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 3. In this case, the operation panel 4
Are provided with various switches such as a power switch 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 11 is driven by a carriage driving motor 13 via a timing belt 12.
And is slidably supported by the guide member 14. The guide member 14 is arranged in parallel with the platen 15. As a result, the carriage 11 can reciprocate in parallel with the platen 15. This moving direction is called a main scanning direction.

On the lower surface of the carriage 11, a black ink recording head 17 in which a plurality of nozzle openings for discharging black ink are arrayed, and three color inks of yellow, magenta and cyan are respectively discharged. And a recording head 18 for color ink in which a plurality of nozzle openings are arranged.

A recording medium 16 such as recording paper is supported on the surface of the recording head 17 for black ink and the recording head 18 for color ink which are opposed to each other so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. This direction is called the sub-scanning direction.

A part of the non-print area (the right area in FIG. 2) of the recording heads 17 and 18 is provided with a capping unit 19.
(Cleaning unit). The capping unit 19 includes a cap 20a for sealing the nozzle opening of the black ink recording head 17 and a cap 20b for sealing the nozzle opening of the color ink recording head 18 for each color.
To 20d.

In this case, these caps 20a-20
“d” is mounted on the same slider 21, and is a quadruple pump unit 23 a to 23 d driven by a motor or the like.
23d is connected via a tube (not shown). Thus, each of the caps 20a to 20d receives the supply of the negative pressure independently, and sucks ink from the nozzle openings of each of the recording heads 17 and 18 for each color, that is, performs a cleaning process.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the black ink cartridge 1 (as viewed from below). As shown in FIG. 3, the black ink cartridge 1 has an ink chamber 1a for storing black ink.
(Liquid chamber), and an ink supply port 26 that can connect the ink chamber 1a to the ink communication passage 17a of the black ink recording head 17 is provided on the bottom surface 25. Further, on the bottom surface 25, an electric contact 33 for an electric heater 1h described later is provided.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the black ink cartridge 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the ink chamber 1a
Is defined by the wall member 1w. In particular, the bottom of the ink chamber 1a is defined by the bottom wall member 1wb. A flat electric heater 1h for generating thermal convection of the liquid in the ink chamber 1a is fixed to the inner surface of the bottom wall member 1wb. Electric contact 33 and electric heater 1h
Are the wirings 25a and 25b penetrating the bottom wall member 1wb.
Connected by

In the ink chamber 1a, a black pigment ink is accommodated so as not to penetrate the foam material. The relationship between the shape of the ink chamber 1a and the shape and arrangement of the electric heater 1h is appropriately adjusted so that the heat convection of the pigment ink generated in the ink chamber 1a achieves a good stirring action.

In the black ink cartridge 1 shown in FIG. 4, an electric heater 1h is provided on the inner surface of the ink chamber 1a. As shown in FIG. 5, a part of the bottom wall member 1wb defining the ink chamber 1a is provided. It is also effective to form the heat permeable portion 1p and provide the electric heater 1h on the outer surface side of the heat permeable portion 1p.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the color ink cartridge 2 (as viewed from below). As shown in FIG. 6, the color ink cartridge 2 has ink chambers 2a, 2b, and 2c that individually store yellow, magenta, and cyan inks as color inks. 2c and recording head 18 for color ink
Ink supply port 29 connectable to the ink communication passage 18a
31 are provided on the bottom surface 28. Further, the bottom surface 28 is provided with an electric contact 34 to each electric heater (provided for each ink chamber) for generating thermal convection of each ink in each ink chamber 2a, 2b, 2c.

The vertical cross section of each ink chamber 2a, 2b, 2c of the color ink cartridge 2 shown in FIG. 6 is substantially the same as the vertical cross section of the ink chamber 1a shown in FIG. 4 (or FIG. 5). Therefore, description of wiring and the like from the electric contact 34 to the electric heater of each of the ink chambers 2a to 2c is omitted.

In each of the ink chambers 2a to 2c, a pigment ink of each color is stored so as not to penetrate the foam material. The relationship between the shape of each of the ink chambers 2a to 2c and the shape and arrangement position of each of the electric heaters is as follows.
The heat convection of the pigment ink of each color generated in c is appropriately adjusted so as to realize a good stirring action.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the head holder 35 (liquid container installation section) on which the cartridges 1 and 2 shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 are mounted. As shown in FIG. 7, the electric contacts 3 of each of the cartridges 1 and 2 are
Electrical contacts 36 and 37 that can electrically contact 3 and 34
Is provided. These electrical contacts 36 and 37
Heat generation command units 38 and 39 for sending a heat generation command to the electric heater
(Control device). Heat generation command part 3
8 and 39 are connected by a flexible cable 40 to a control device 41 (see FIG. 2) of the recording apparatus main body.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of the control device 41. As shown in FIG. 8, a push switch 43 is provided at a position where the ink cartridges 1 and 2 of the carriage 11 face each other.
44 are provided respectively. Each push switch 43,
Reference numeral 44 is connected to the ink cartridge installation determining unit 42, and determines whether each of the ink cartridges 1 and 2 has been installed (replaced).

The carriage motor control section 45 controls the carriage 11 under the control of the main
5 is moved in parallel.

Suction control unit 47 (cleaning control unit)
Under the control of the main control unit 46, the nozzle openings of the recording heads 17 and 18 are sealed by the capping unit 19 via the carriage motor control unit 45, and the suction pumps 23a to 23a are controlled via the pump control unit 48.
The suction force and suction time of 23d are controlled.

The print / flushing control unit 49 drives the head drive unit 50 based on print data from a host (not shown), and discharges ink droplets from the nozzle openings of the print heads 17 and 18 to perform printing. Is to be executed. Further, the head driving unit 50 is driven in accordance with the degree of viscosity increase of the ink and the like, and the ink at the nozzle opening portions of the recording heads 17 and 18 is finely vibrated to execute a flushing process.

The main controller 46 controls the carriage motor controller 4 based on print data from a host (not shown).
5. Printing / flushing control unit 49 and suction control unit 47
Is controlled. In addition, the main control unit 46
It is connected to a clock function unit 46a that recognizes the current time point. The clock function unit 46a may have its own clock function, but normally obtains clock information from the host.

Here, the main control unit 46 of the present embodiment includes:
When the ink cartridge installation determination unit 42 determines that the black ink cartridge 1 has been replaced, the heat generation instruction unit 3
The electric heater 1 generates heat via the nozzle 9 to generate thermal convection in the black ink in the ink chamber 1a of the new black ink cartridge 1, thereby performing a black ink stirring process.

Similarly, when the ink cartridge installation determining section 42 determines that the color ink cartridge 2 has been replaced, the main control section 46 causes the electric heater to generate heat via the heat generation command section 38, and causes the new color ink cartridge to be heated. Thermal convection is generated in each of the inks in the second ink chambers 2a to 2c, and the respective inks are agitated.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

When the black ink cartridge 1 is installed (replaced), the ink cartridge installation determining unit 42 determines that the black ink cartridge 1 has been installed (replaced) based on a signal from the push switch 43.

Then, the main control section 46 controls the heat generation command section 39.
Then, the electric heater 1h of the new black ink cartridge 1 generates heat to generate thermal convection in the black ink in the ink chamber 1a to stir the black ink.

Similarly, when the color ink cartridge 2 is installed (replaced), the ink cartridge installation determining section 4
2 determines that the color ink cartridge 2 has been replaced by a signal from the press switch 44.

Then, the main control unit 46 controls the heat generation command unit 38
Then, the electric heater of the new color ink cartridge 2 generates heat to generate thermal convection in each ink in each of the ink chambers 2a to 2c to stir each ink.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the sedimentation phenomenon occurs in each of the inks in the ink cartridges 1 and 2, heat is generated when the ink cartridges 1 and 2 are installed. Thermal convection is generated in the ink cartridges 1 and 2 via the command units 38 and 39 and the electric heater, and the respective inks are agitated, so that the sedimentation state is effectively eliminated.

The timing for causing the electric heater to generate heat via the heat generation command units 38 and 39 is not limited to the time when each ink cartridge is installed, and various control modes can be adopted.

Next, an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an ink cartridge used in the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a head holder in which the ink cartridge of FIG. 9 is installed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the ink cartridge 1 according to the present embodiment has no heat generating means itself, and the heat-transmissive portion 1t forming a part of the bottom wall member 1wb is formed of an ink cartridge. It is exposed on the outer surface of the cartridge 1.

The head holder 35 shown in FIG. 10 is provided with electric heaters 86 and 87 in place of the electric contacts, and the electric heaters 86 and 87 are used when the ink cartridges 1 and 2 are installed. The heat-transmissive portions of the cartridges 1 and 2 are brought into substantially surface contact.

The other structure is the same as the first structure shown in FIGS.
This is the same configuration as that of the embodiment. In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

According to the present embodiment, even when each ink in the ink cartridges 1 and 2 has a sedimentation phenomenon, when the ink cartridges 1 and 2 are installed, the heat generation command sections 38 and 39 are provided. Then, heat convection is generated in the ink cartridges 1 and 2 via the electric heaters 86 and 87, and the respective inks are agitated, and the settling state is effectively eliminated.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the ink cartridges 1 and 2 are not provided with a heat generating means, it is advantageous in terms of cost when the ink cartridges 1 and 2 are of a disposable type.

In each of the above embodiments, the wall member 1w (including the bottom wall member 1wb) does not need to be a rigid material, but may be a flexible pack material.

[0058]

According to the present invention, the liquid in the liquid chamber is discharged by operating the heat generating means provided at the bottom of the liquid chamber or through a heat-permeable portion provided at the bottom of the liquid chamber. By the heating, heat convection occurs in the liquid in the liquid chamber, and an effective liquid stirring action can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a printing mechanism inside the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of a black ink cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a modification of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a three-color ink cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a holder on which an ink cartridge is mounted.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing a control system of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a second example of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an ink cartridge used in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a holder to which the ink cartridge of FIG. 9 is mounted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Black ink cartridge 1a Ink chamber 1h Electric heater 1t Heat permeable part 1w Wall member 1wb Bottom wall member 2 Color ink cartridges 2a to 2c Ink chamber 3 Housing 4 Operation panel 5 Power switch 11 Carriage 12 Timing belt 13 Carriage drive motor 14 Guide member 15 Platen 16 Recording medium 17 Black ink recording head 17a Ink communication path 18 Color ink recording head 18a Ink communication path 19 Capping units 20a to 20d Cap 21 Slider 23a to 23d Suction pump 25 Bottom surface 25a, 25b Wiring 26 Ink supply Port 28 Bottom surface 29 to 31 Ink supply port 33, 34 Electric contact 35 Head holder 36, 37 Electric contact 38, 39 Heat generation command section 40 Flexible cable 41 Control device 42 Inn Cartridge installation determination unit 43, 44 Press switch 45 Carriage motor control unit 46 Main control unit 46a Clock function unit 47 Suction control unit 48 Pump drive unit 49 Printing / flushing control unit 50 Head drive unit 86, 87 Electric heater

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A liquid container comprising: a liquid chamber for containing a liquid in which a sedimentation phenomenon of a component can occur; and a heat generating means provided at a bottom of the liquid chamber. 2. The heat generating means is an electric heater provided on an inner surface of a bottom wall member defining a bottom of the liquid chamber, and a wiring penetrating the bottom wall member is connected to the electric heater. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein 3. A bottom wall member defining a bottom of the liquid chamber has a heat permeable portion, and the heat generating means is provided outside the liquid chamber adjacent to the heat permeable portion of the bottom wall member. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein 4. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid contained in the liquid chamber is a pigment ink. 5. The liquid container according to claim 1, further comprising control means for operating the heat generating means to generate heat convection in the liquid in the liquid chamber. 6. A liquid container installation section in which a liquid container having a liquid chamber containing a liquid in which sedimentation of a contained component may occur, and a heat generating means provided at the bottom of the liquid chamber is installed. Control means capable of generating heat convection in the liquid in the liquid chamber of the liquid container by operating the heat generating means of the liquid container, a head member having a nozzle opening, and a liquid chamber of the liquid container installed in the liquid container installation section. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a liquid communication passage that communicates the inside with a nozzle opening. 7. The heat generating means is an electric heater provided on an inner surface of a bottom wall member that defines a bottom of the liquid chamber. The electric heater and the control means are connected via a wiring penetrating the bottom wall member. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: 8. A bottom wall member defining a bottom of the liquid chamber has a heat permeable portion, and the heat generating means is provided outside the liquid chamber adjacent to the heat permeable portion of the bottom wall member. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: 9. A liquid container installation part in which a bottom wall member defining a bottom has a heat permeable portion, and a liquid container for housing a liquid capable of causing sedimentation of contained components is installed, and a liquid container installation. Generating heat convection in the liquid in the liquid container by activating the heat generating means, the heat generating means being provided at a position facing the heat permeable portion of the bottom wall member of the liquid container when the liquid container is installed. A liquid comprising: a control unit capable of performing the following steps: a head member having a nozzle opening; and a liquid communication passage that communicates the inside of the liquid chamber of the liquid container installed in the liquid container installation section with the nozzle opening. Injection device. 10. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the liquid contained in the liquid container is a pigment ink. 11. A liquid container comprising: a liquid chamber for storing a liquid in which a sedimentation phenomenon of a contained component may occur; and a heat-permeable portion provided at a bottom of the liquid chamber.