JPH03227252A - Phase variable ink reserving apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a phase change ink storage device used in an inkjet recording device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of phase change ink storage device, the configuration shown in FIG. 5 is known. In FIG. 5, 51 is an ink storage section, which is communicated with an ink ejection section (not shown) through an ink supply section 52 at the bottom. 53 is a supply port provided laterally with respect to the ink storage portion 51;
Reference numeral 4 denotes an inclined plate, and the ink storage portion 5 is located below the supply port 53.
1, and is inclined so that the ink storage portion 51 side is lower. 55 is a filter;
It is provided horizontally in the middle part of the ink storage section 51. 56 is a heater, the ink storage part 51, the inclined plate 5
4 and the outer surface of the ink supply path 52.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below.

The liquid ink 57 stored in the ink storage portion 51 is in a solid state when it starts up, but when it is heated by the heat of the heater 56 and reaches a melting point or higher, it melts and becomes a liquid. Further, replenishment ink 58 in a solid state is supplied onto the inclined plate 54 from the supply port 54 . Refill ink 5 on inclined plate 54
8 reaches the melting point or higher due to the heat transmitted from the heater 56,
It melts and undergoes a phase change to become a liquid ink 57, and the inclined plate 54
The ink flows down, is filtered by the filter 55, and accumulates in the ink storage section 51.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the configuration of the conventional example as described above, when the phase of the solid ink stored in the ink storage portion 51 changes to the liquid ink 57, the solid state ink is Heat is not efficiently transferred to the top and takes time. Unfortunately, when the inkjet recording head scans at high speed during operation, the liquid ink 58 accumulated in the ink storage section 51 shakes, causing the ink pressure to fluctuate and affecting the ejection at the ink ejection section. There were problems such as adverse effects.

The present invention solves the problems of the prior art as described above, and can improve the efficiency of recording work by shortening the start-up time.It also prevents liquid shake and improves the ejection of ink from the ink ejecting unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a phase change ink storage device that can prevent adverse effects and further eliminate waiting time after ink replenishment.

Means for Solving the Problem The technical solution of the present invention to achieve the above object is as follows:
The ink storage section stores ink and supplies the phase-changed liquid ink to the ink ejecting section. It is equipped with heating fins to which replenishment ink is supplied and a heat source that changes the phase of the solid ink to liquid ink.

The heating fins include liquid ink heat retention means,
It can be configured so that it also serves as a means for changing the phase of solid ink into liquid ink, and it can also be configured so that the heating fins and the heat source are in contact with each other. Also,
The heating fins are preferably made of a material with good thermal conductivity.

Further, the heating fins can be configured to double as a filter for filtering liquid ink, and the heating fins can also be configured to double as an auxiliary heat source for changing the phase of solid ink into liquid ink. Can be configured.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the heating fin provided in the ink reservoir is used as a phase change means, and heat can be efficiently transferred to the solid ink in contact with the heating fin to melt it in a short time and turn it into a liquid. In addition, since the ink reservoir is partitioned into multiple sections by heating fins in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the head, the liquid ink accumulated in the ink reservoir can be prevented from shaking during head scanning. Furthermore, the replenishment ink in a solid state can be supplied onto the heating fins to prevent the replenishment ink from coming into contact with the liquid ink in the ink reservoir, thereby mitigating the drop in temperature of the liquid ink.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show a phase change ink storage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A sectional view taken along the Ia-Ia line in Fig. 1(b), Fig. 1('b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the Ia-Ia line in Fig.
It is a sectional view taken along line Ib-Ib of a).

In FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), reference numeral 1 denotes an ink storage section, which is communicated with an ink ejection section (not shown) through an ink supply path 2 at the bottom. 3 is a heating fin provided in the ink reservoir 1, and is made of a material with good thermal conductivity, for example,
Made of copper, aluminum, ceramic, carbon, etc.
A plurality of fins 4 are differentially erected on a substrate 5, the substrate 5 is installed on the bottom surface of the ink reservoir 1, and the plurality of fins 4 are erected on the ink reservoir 1 in the scanning direction of the inkjet recording head. They are arranged to partition the inside at right angles. The heating fins 3 are formed to be slightly shorter than the depth of the ink reservoir 1, and the inside of the ink reservoir 1 is communicated with the ink supply path 2 side. 6 is a filter provided vertically between the ink reservoir 1 and the ink supply path 2; and 7 is a heater provided on the outer surface of the bottom of the ink reservoir 1.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below.

The liquid ink 8 stored in the ink reservoir 1 is in a solid state when it starts up, but the heat from the heater 7 is transmitted to the ink reservoir 1 and the heating fins 3 via the ink reservoir 1, and the liquid ink 8 is in a solid state. It quickly warms up to the top of the ink, and when it reaches above its melting point, it dissolves and becomes a liquid. By using the heating fins 3 in this manner, the time required for startup can be significantly shortened compared to the conventional example. During operation, liquid ink 8 passes through filter 6
The ink is filtered through the ink supply path 2, reaches the ink ejection unit, and is ejected. When the inkjet recording head scans at high speed, the liquid level of the liquid ink 8 fluctuates, but since the inside of the ink reservoir 1 is partitioned by a plurality of fins 4 in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, the liquid It is possible to suppress vibration and prevent fluctuations in ink pressure. In addition, the replenishment ink 9 in a solid state is supplied across the plurality of fins 4 of the heating fins 3, and is changed into a liquid by the heat transmitted to the heating fins 3 and dropped. As described above, since the fins are supplied over a plurality of fins 4, there is no risk of them slipping off even if a phase change begins. Therefore, since the replenishment ink 9 does not come into contact with the inner layer 8 that is already in liquid form, a drop in the temperature of the liquid ink 8 can be alleviated.

Note that the ink reservoir 1 and the heating fins 3 can also be integrated, and this configuration can reduce the number of parts. Further, for example, the heating fins 3 and the heater 7 can be brought into contact by making the substrate 5 of the heating fin 3 also serve as the bottom plate of the ink storage section 1.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 shows a phase change ink storage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1(b).

In this embodiment, the same parts as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted, and the different configuration will be explained.

The features of this embodiment are as shown in Fig. 2.
Each fin 4 of the heating fin 3 is provided over the entire depth of the ink storage section 1, and a notch 10 is formed in the substrate 5 on the ink supply section 2 side, and the inside of the ink storage section 1 is communicated through this notch 10. At the same time, the ink reservoir 1 and the ink supply path 2 are connected to each other at the notch 10.
The point is that a filter 6 is provided horizontally between the two.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since each fin 4 of the heating fin 3 is provided over the entire depth of the ink storage section 1, the heating effect of the heating fin 3 can be increased.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 shows a phase change ink storage device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1(b).

In this embodiment, the same parts as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted, and the different configuration will be explained.

The features of this embodiment are as shown in Fig. 3.
Each fin 4 of the heating fin 3 and the substrate 5 are provided over the entire depth of the ink storage section 1, and the heating fin 3 is formed of a filter material, and the interior of the ink storage section 1 is communicated with the ink supply section 2. It is located at a point connected to.

According to this embodiment, since the heating fins 3 are provided over the entire depth of the ink reservoir 1, the heating effect of the heating fins 3 can be increased, and the ink reservoir 1 Since the liquid ink 8 is filtered by the heating fin 3 which also serves as a filter and enters the ink supply path 2, a filter, which is a separate component between the ink reservoir 1 and the ink supply path 2, can be made unnecessary. The number of parts can be reduced.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 shows a phase change ink storage device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1(b).

In this embodiment, the same parts as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted, and the different configuration will be explained.

A feature of this embodiment is that the heating fins 3 are configured to also serve as a heater.

According to this embodiment, the heater 7 is constantly operated while the head is in operation.
The heating fin 3, which also serves as a heater, is used to heat the entire ink storage section 1 during startup and when replenishing ink 9.
Operates as a heater when supplied with Therefore, the rise time can be further significantly shortened, and a drop in the temperature of the liquid ink 8 during supply of replenishment ink can be even more reliably prevented.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the heating fins provided in the ink reservoir are used as the phase change means, and heat is efficiently transferred to the solid ink in contact with the heating fins to melt it in a short time, thereby converting it into liquid. It can be done.

Therefore, it is possible to shorten the start-up time and improve the efficiency of recording work. In addition, since the ink reservoir is partitioned into a plurality of parts by heating fins in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the head, the liquid ink accumulated in the ink reservoir is prevented from shaking during head scanning. be able to.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent an adverse effect on the ejection of the ink ejecting section. Additionally, replenishment ink in a solid state can be supplied onto the heating fins to prevent it from coming into contact with the liquid ink in the ink reservoir, thereby mitigating the drop in temperature of the liquid ink. Therefore, waiting time after ink replenishment can be eliminated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show a phase change ink storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
b) A sectional view taken along the Ia-Ia line, FIG.
The sectional view taken along the Ib-Ib line in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1B, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a conventional phase change ink storage device. 1... Ink storage section, 2... Ink supply path, 3...
- Heating fin, 6... Filter, 8... Liquid ink, 9... Refill ink.

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) an ink reservoir that stores ink and supplies the phase-changed liquid ink to the ink ejecting section; an ink reservoir that is provided so as to partition the inside of the ink reservoir into a plurality of parts in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the inkjet recording head; A phase change ink storage device having a heating fin at the top to which replenishment ink in a solid state is supplied and a heat source for phase changing the solid ink to liquid ink. (2) The phase change ink storage device according to claim 1, wherein the heating fins serve both as a means for keeping the liquid ink warm and as a means for changing the phase of the solid ink into liquid ink. (3) The phase change ink storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating fins and the heat source are configured to be in contact with each other. (4) The phase change ink storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heating fins are formed of a material with good thermal conductivity. (5) The phase change ink storage device according to claim 1, wherein the heating fin also serves as a filter for filtering liquid ink. (6) The phase change ink storage device according to claim 1, wherein the heating fins also serve as an auxiliary heat source for changing the phase of solid ink into liquid ink.