JPH0333473Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] a. Purpose of the invention (industrial application field) The ink replenishing device for an inkjet printer according to this invention can be incorporated into an inkjet printer used for word processors, computer printers, etc., and can be used for printing. It is used to transfer new ink from the supply bottle to the printer's tank when the original ink runs out due to use.

(Prior art and its problems) Inkjet printers used for word processors, computer printers, etc. decrease the amount of printing ink in the tank as they are used.
It is necessary to replenish this tank with new ink. For this reason, a replenishment port has conventionally been provided in the tank of a printer, so that when the amount of printing ink in the tank decreases, ink can be injected into the tank through the replenishment port.

However, in the past, it was easy to get your hands dirty when refilling ink, and refilling work could be done even when the ink level was not low, so if you filled the tank even though there was a sufficient amount of ink in the tank, In some cases, excess ink overflowed and stained the surrounding area.

The ink replenishing device for an inkjet printer of the present invention solves the above-mentioned disadvantages.

b. Structure of the invention (Means for solving the problem) The ink replenishment device for an inkjet printer of this invention has a predetermined opening of a replenishment bottle on the top plate of a tank leading to a pump that supplies printing ink to the nozzles of the printer. There is a replenishment port that can be inserted only to the depth.
A firing pin with a sharp upper end is formed at one end of the swinging arm, the middle part of which is pivotally supported by a bearing provided near the refill port on the bottom of the top plate, and located directly below the refill port. , the other end is bent upward and protrudes from the top surface of the top plate through a through hole provided in the top plate.
A spring is provided between the swing arm and the top plate, the end of which projects from the through hole to the top surface of the top plate, and which pushes up the end and lowers the firing pin. Further, at least the other end of the swinging arm protruding from the upper surface of the top plate is made of iron and surrounded by a solenoid, so that only when the solenoid is energized, this end is lowered against the elasticity of the spring.

On the other hand, a liquid level sensor is installed in the tank to detect the amount of printing ink in the tank, and this liquid level sensor energizes the solenoid only when the amount of ink in the tank falls below a certain value. It is configured as follows.

(Operation) The operation of replenishing new ink into the tank of an inkjet printer incorporating the ink replenishing device configured as described above is performed as follows.

That is, the mouth of a replenishment bottle whose mouth opening is closed with a thin film of synthetic resin, aluminum, etc. is fitted into the replenishment port provided on the top plate of the tank, and when the end opposite to this mouth is fitted into the replenishment port, the upper part of the bottle is closed. Make a small hole in the bottom of the supply bottle located at . In this state, if there is a sufficient amount of ink in the tank, the ink in the supply bottle will not flow into the tank due to the thin film described above, but if the ink in the tank falls below the specified amount. When the liquid level decreases, the solenoid is energized based on the signal from the liquid level sensor, and the swinging arm swings slightly against the elasticity of the spring. The ink in this supply bottle flows into the tank.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail by explaining the illustrated embodiment.

The drawing shows a tank for an inkjet printer equipped with the ink replenishing device of the present invention. The ink in the tank 2 whose upper part is closed by the top plate 1 is sucked into the pump 5 through the filters 3a, 3b and a passage (not shown), and is then sent to the printer nozzle (not shown).
It is now being sent to 4 is an overflow passage. The top plate 1 is provided with a cylindrical replenishment port 6 that communicates between the top and bottom of the top plate 1. A bearing 7 is provided near the supply port 6 on the lower surface of the top plate 1, and the intermediate portion of the swinging arm 8 is pivotally supported on this bearing 7. A firing pin 9 having a sharp upper end is provided at one end of the swinging arm 8 in a portion located directly below the supply port 6. The other end of the swinging arm 8 is bent upward and protrudes above the top plate 1 through the through hole 10 of the top plate 1, and the flange piece 11 attached to this protrusion and the top surface of the top plate 1 are connected to each other. A truncated cone-shaped compression spring 12 is provided between them to provide elasticity to the swinging arm 8 to cause it to rotate counterclockwise in the drawing.
Furthermore, a solenoid 19 surrounds an iron end 13 that protrudes above the flange piece 11. This solenoid 19 has a function of lowering the end portion 13 against the elasticity of the compression spring 12 and rotating the swinging arm 8 clockwise when energized.

A reed switch 15 is installed inside the lower end of a cylinder 14 whose lower end is closed and which is provided by passing through a corner of the top plate 1, and a reed switch 15 is installed on the inner peripheral surface of an annular float 16 that is fitted on the outside of the cylinder 14 so as to be able to rise and fall freely. A magnet 17 is provided in the
It constitutes a float type liquid level sensor. The output of this liquid level sensor is sent to an amplifier (not shown) through a conductor 18, so that when the amount of ink in the tank 2 decreases and the float 16 descends to the position shown, the solenoid 19 is energized. There is.

On the other hand, the lower outer peripheral surface of the mouth 21 of the replenishment bottle 20 filled with ink for replenishing the tank 2 has a shape and size that allows it to fit tightly inside the replenishment port 6; It is closed by a thin film 22 made of synthetic resin or non-ferrous metal such as aluminum. A stepped portion 23 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate portion of the mouth portion 21 to prevent the mouth portion 21 from entering the supply port 6 beyond a predetermined value. That is, when the solenoid 19 is de-energized and the firing pin 9 is lowered, the opening 21 is moved until the step 23 comes into contact with the upper edge of the supply opening 6.
A stepped portion 23 is formed at a position such that the thin film 22 is located directly above the firing pin 9 when the firing pin 9 is inserted into the supply port 6. A hollow protrusion 24 is formed at the bottom of the supply bottle 20, which is located at the top with the mouth part 21 fitted into the supply port 6.

When replenishing printing ink into the tank 2, push the opening 21 of the replenishment bottle 20 into the replenishment port 6 of the ink top plate 1 until the stepped portion 23 contacts the upper edge of the replenishment port 6. The upper part of the protrusion 24 on the bottom of the supply bottle 20 is cut off in advance or after the above-mentioned pushing operation with a knife, scissors, etc. to form a hole that communicates the inside and outside of the supply bottle 20. After removal, the remaining portion of the protrusion 24 is covered with a dustproof cap made of a breathable material. If the amount of ink in the tank is already below the predetermined value at the time of the above-mentioned pushing operation, the supply bottle 20 is
The thin film 22 that closed the opening of the spout 21 is broken by the firing pin 9, and the ink in the supply bottle 20 flows into the tank 2. Furthermore, if a predetermined amount or more of ink remains in the tank 2 during the pushing operation, the firing pin 9 will be lowered, so the thin film 22 will not break immediately during the pushing operation; The ink in 2 decreases and solenoid 19
When energized, the firing pin 9 rises and the thin film 22
is broken, and the ink in the supply bottle 20 flows into the tank 2.

Note that inkjet printers used as computer printers use multiple colors of ink and are equipped with multiple tanks for that purpose; however, care must be taken to avoid accidentally injecting ink of a different color into other inks. Therefore, the inner circumferential shape of the supply port 6 and the outer circumferential shape of the mouth portion 21 may be made different for each ink color.

c. Effects of the invention Since the ink replenishing device for an inkjet printer of the present invention is constructed and operates as described above,
Ink can be easily replenished into the tank without getting one's hands dirty, and there is no need to overfill the tank with overflow.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing is a longitudinal sectional view of a tank portion of an inkjet printer incorporating the ink replenishing device of the present invention. 1... Top plate, 2... Tank, 3a, 3b... Filter, 4... Passage, 5... Pump, 6... Refill port, 7... Bearing, 8... Rocking arm, 9... Firing pin ,1
0...Through hole, 11...Flange piece, 12...Compression spring, 13...End, 14...Cylinder, 15...Reed switch, 16...Float, 17...Magnet,
18...Conducting wire, 19...Solenoid, 20...Replenishment bottle, 21...Mouth, 22...Thin film, 23...Step, 24...Protrusion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A replenishment port into which the mouth of a replenishment bottle can be fitted to a predetermined depth is provided on the top plate of the tank, and one end of a swinging arm whose middle part is pivoted to a bearing located near the replenishment port on the underside of the top plate. A firing pin with a sharp upper end is formed in the part located directly below the replenishment port, and a spring having elasticity in the direction of lowering the firing pin is provided between the swinging arm and the top plate, and the swinging arm Near the iron part at the other end, there is a solenoid that, when energized, rotates this swinging arm against the spring to raise the firing pin. An ink replenishing device for an inkjet printer configured to be energized only when it is detected that ink is below a predetermined amount.