JPH0626889B2 - Inkjet device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an inkjet device, and more particularly to an inkjet device having an improved ink suction recovery mechanism.

Prior Art FIG. 1 shows an example of an ink suction recovery mechanism of a conventional inkjet apparatus (inkjet printer) of this type.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1 and 2 denote main tanks in which ink bags 3 are housed.

Each of the ink bags 3 of the main tanks 1 and 2 has a sub-tank 5 mounted on the carriage side via a supply tube 4.
Connected to the side.

A thin supply pipe 6 is housed in the sub tank 5, and one end side thereof is connected to the nozzle 7 side. The other end of the supply pipe 6 is immersed in the ink 8 in the sub tank 5.

On the other hand, the reference numeral 9 indicates a pump, which is provided with a piston 10, and an operating lever 11 is connected to the piston 10.

A suction tube 12 is provided between the pump 9 and the sub tank 5.
Further, the pump 9 and the ink suction cap 13 are connected via a nozzle tube 14.

Although not shown, the nozzle 7 is provided with a cylindrical piezo element (piezoelectric element), and a voltage is applied to this piezo element according to a print command to contract the glass tube forming the nozzle. As a result, ink is ejected and printing is performed.

Reference numeral 15 is a return pipe that plays a role of returning the drain ink from the pump 9 to the return ink chamber 16 on the main tank 1 side.

Now, the positional relationship between the suction tube 12 and the nozzle tube 14 will be described. The suction tube 12 is at a higher position and the nozzle tube 14 is at a lower position.

Therefore, when the operation lever 11 is pushed to make the upper side of the piston 10 of the pump 9 negative, first, the negative pressure is supplied to the suction tube 12 side, and at this time, the nozzle tube 1
The 4 side is closed.

Therefore, first, in the first stage, the pressure inside the sub tank 5 is reduced, and the ink is introduced into the sub tank 5 from the main tanks 1 and 2.

Then, by further pushing down the piston 10, the ink in the nozzle 7 is sucked through the cap 13.

When ink enters the sub tank and ink enters the suction tube 12 by operating the pump 9, the suction tube 12
The resistance on the side becomes high, and then ink is mainly sucked from the nozzle side.

As a result, it is possible to recover the ink ejection by removing bubbles and the like in the nozzle.

On the other hand, when the ink is sucked from the suction tube 12 and the nozzle tube 14 by the suction of the pump, the pressure inside the sub tank 5 is reduced. Therefore, if the cap 13 is removed before the inside pressure of the sub-tank 5 returns to the original atmospheric pressure after suction, the internal pressure of the sub-tank 5 is not returned and the nozzle 7
The outside air is sucked into the nozzle, and the air is sucked into the nozzle, resulting in non-ejection.

Therefore, it is necessary to wait for the cap release until the internal pressure returns to the original level due to the supply of ink from the main tank.

Therefore, in the past, this time was electrically counted after the pump was operated, and it was instructed to release the cap by notifying by flashing a lamp or the like.

However, since the user of the device can freely operate the pump and release the cap, the cap can be released even if the user does not understand the meaning of blinking the lamp or if the user is inadvertent. However, there is a drawback in that the ink is not ejected by releasing the cap after performing the ejection recovery operation.

The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and it is possible to perform the cap release without using the extra parts and the like so that the non-ejection state of the ink does not occur. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet device configured so that it can be performed.

Embodiment FIG. 2 and subsequent drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. In each drawing, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 2 illustrates the entire ink non-ejection recovery mechanism. In FIG. 2, the reference numeral 17 indicates a rotating lever,
One end thereof is rotatably supported by a fixed portion of the device via a shaft 18.

A projecting piece 19 is projectingly provided on one end side of the rotating lever 17, and a "V" -shaped guide hole 19a is formed in this portion.

The cap 1 projecting through the guide hole 20a formed on the side surface of the cap holder 20 in the guide hole 19a.
The three pins 21 are slidably fitted.

A protrusion 17a is provided on the back surface of the rotary lever 17 at a position corresponding to the operation lever 11 of the pump 9. Further, a pin 17b is provided on the side surface of the rotary lever 17 so as to project, and this pin 17b is locked to a hook 22 provided on the apparatus side.

Reference numeral 23 is a switch for detecting the operation of the rotating lever 17. The switch 23 is turned on and off by a projecting piece 17c projecting from the rotating lever 17.

By the way, the cap 13 has a cap rubber 13a at its tip as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. ing.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, a hook 25 is projected from the lower end of the rotating lever 17, and a lock lever 26 is arranged so as to face the hook 25.

The lock lever 26 is configured to be rotatable on a horizontal shaft 27 fixed to the device side and tiltable in the axial direction of the shaft 27, and the side facing the hook 27 is formed in a hook shape. And two slopes 26a and 26b are formed.

Further, the lock lever 26 is provided with a turning tendency in the counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 5 and 6 by a torsion coil spring 28 wound around a shaft 27, and the stoppers 29-1 and 29-1, respectively.
The rotation limit is regulated by 29-2.

The lower end of the lock lever 26 is rotatably supported by a rod 31a of a solenoid 31 via a shaft 30 and is provided with a clearance so that it can move freely in the axial direction of the shaft 30 as shown in FIG. ing.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

Prior to starting the ink non-ejection recovery operation, the rotating lever 17 is rotated clockwise in the figure as shown in FIG. 3 (A), and the pin 17b is locked to the hook 22. The protrusion 17a is locked while being separated from the operation lever 11 of the pump 9.

The turning lever 17 is given a habit of turning clockwise in the drawing with the shaft 18 as the center by a force of a spring or the like (not shown).

In this state, the pin 21 integral with the cap 13 is located at the upper end of the V-shaped guide hole 19a,
The cap 13 is drawn into the cap holder 20.

The hook 25 is located away from the lock lever 26 as shown in FIG. 5 (A), and the lock lever 26 is inclined to the left side in FIG. 5 (A) by the pressing force of the torsion coil spring 28. is there.

To recover the ink non-ejection from this state, first release the engagement state between the hook 22 and the pin 17b,
The rotation lever 17 is pushed to rotate it counterclockwise in the figure as shown in FIG. 3 (B).

By this operation, the pin 21 integrated with the cap 13 moves along the dogleg-shaped guide hole 19a and reaches the bent portion.

As a result, the pin 21 is given the freedom to move rightward in FIG. 3 (B) in the long hole 20a, and the cap 13 is pushed by the force of the spring 24 to project, and the pin 7 of the nozzle 7 is ejected. The tip is completely capped.

In accordance with the rotating operation of the rotating lever 17, the hook 25 descends as shown in FIG. 5 (B), descends along the inclined surface 26a at the upper end of the lock lever 26, and the lock lever 26 is twisted by a coil spring. It is pressed against the pressing force of 28 from an inclined state to an upright state.

The hook 25 on the lever side overcoming the inclined surface 26a
Restricts the rotation lever 17 from returning to its original position by engaging with the hook portion on the lock lever 26 side.
3 keeps contacting the nozzle surface. That is, the lock lever 26 keeps the cap 13 in contact with the nozzle surface, and restricts the turning lever 17 from returning to the original position, thereby restricting the cap 13 in the capping state from being separated from the nozzle surface. Function as a restricting means.

On the other hand, from this state, further rotate the lever 17 as shown in FIG.
When rotated in the counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 17a presses the operation lever 11 of the pump 9, so that the pump 9 is activated, and the ink non-ejection recovery operation and the air suction of the sub ink tank are performed. .

At this time, as shown in FIG. 3 (C), the protrusion 17c protruding from the lower end of the rotating lever 17 presses the switch 23, so that the switch 23 is turned on.

Since this recovery operation involves the counterclockwise rotation of the rotating lever 17, the hook 25 is further lowered as shown in FIG. 5 (C), and is engaged with the lower inclined surface 26b of the lock lever 26. , The lock lever 26 is rotated rightward against the pressing force of the torsion coil spring 28 in FIG. 5 (C).

Then, when the recovery operation is completed and the hand is released from the rotation lever 17, the operation lever 11 is pushed upward by a spring (not shown) housed in the pump 9, so that the rotation lever 17 is returned to the original state. Although trying to return, the hook 25 is locked on the lower side of the inclined surface 26a at the upper end of the hook-shaped lock lever 26 and is kept in the locked state.
Holds the state of FIG. 3 (B). Therefore, cap 13
Does not come off the nozzle 7.

By the way, the switch 23 is turned off because it is disengaged from the protrusion 17c in the middle of the operation of returning from FIG. 3 (C) to FIG. 3 (B). After this off state is held for a certain period of time until the completion of pumping confirmation by a timer of the control circuit as described later, the solenoid 31 is energized. When the rod 31a is actuated in the retracting direction as shown by the arrow in FIG. 6, the lock lever 26 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 27 in FIG.

As a result, the lock lever 26 is displaced to the side of the hook 25 as shown in FIG.
The locked state of the hook 25 by 6 is released.

The turning lever 17 maintains this state by the twisting force of the twisting coil spring 28 even after the energization of the solenoid 31 is finished, but the turning lever 1 is manually operated.
When 7 is pulled up, the lock lever 26 returns to the original state by the force of the torsion coil spring 28 as shown in FIG. 5 (A), and the rotating lever 17 also moves to the initial state shown in FIG. 3 (A). Return to the state.

In this way, the cap can be completely locked so that it is not released while the pumping operation is being performed, and the cap is not released during the pumping due to the user's careless operation. No contradictory accidents such as the occurrence of the ink non-ejection state during the recovery operation do not occur.

By the way, electric control of the timer and the piezo element by the operation of the above-mentioned turning lever is performed by a control circuit as shown in FIG.

When the turning lever 17 is pushed and the switch 23 is turned on, and then the turning lever returns to the capping position and the switch 23 is turned off, the CPU (central processing unit) outputs the signal line.
Detect this via l ₁ .

Then, the CPU activates the timer TM via the signal line l ₂ .

In the timer TM, the time until the pressure in the sub-tank 5 which is experimentally obtained returns to the original atmospheric pressure is set.

When the timer TM is activated and a certain period of time elapses, a pulse is output to the signal line l ₃ , and the monostable multivibrator MM
1 operates and outputs a signal for a certain period of time to turn on the transistor TR via the inverter IN to supply current to the solenoid 31 and release the lock state by the lock lever 26 as described above.

Meanwhile, another monostable multivibrator MM
2 operates by the fall of the output signal of MM1,
For example, the AND gate A is opened by outputting a high level signal for about 0.5 seconds.

The pulse signal from the oscillator OSC is input to the AND gate A. When the high level signal from the MM1 is input to the AND gate A, the AND gate A outputs a pulse signal with a constant frequency from the OSC for a certain time. Is OR gate group OR
Entered in.

The print signal PS for normal printing is input to the other input terminal of the OR gate group OR, but during recovery operation, the level of this signal is low level.

Therefore, the pulse signal from the oscillator OSC drives the piezo element PZ via the driver DR to cause the ink ejection operation.

During normal printing, contrary to the operation described above, MM1 and MM2 do not operate, AND gate A is closed, and only the print signal PS is input to the driver DR via the OR gate to drive the piezo element and eject ink. Perform printing.

By the way, when the piezo element is driven by the pulse from the oscillator OSC during the above-described ink non-ejection recovery operation, the piezo element produces a vibrating sound for the energization time of the pulse.

This vibration sound is large enough to be heard and heard by the user. If this vibration sound is opened, it means that the recovery operation of ink non-ejection has been performed and that the capping lock state by the lock lever 26 has been released. Become.

Therefore, the user can perform the operation of returning the rotary lever 17 to the original position only after hearing the vibration sound.

Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, the cap can be continuously locked until the atmospheric pressure in the sub-tank returns to its original value, and the release of the capping lock can be known from the vibration sound of the piezo element after a certain time. Therefore, it is possible to surely fill the ink in the ink jet nozzle and recover the pressure in the sub tank.

Further, it is possible to accurately know the cap release time by vibrating sound of the piezo element without requiring special display means such as a display lamp.

Further, since the piezoelectric element is energized, ink ejection is inevitably performed, and the reliability of the ink non-ejection recovery operation can be improved.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a cap that seals a nozzle of a recording head that ejects ink, and suction of ink from the nozzle that is sealed by the cap is performed through the cap. And suction means,
In an ink jet device for manually contacting and separating the cap and operating the suction means, a restricting means for restricting separation of the cap in a capping state from the nozzle and a restriction state released by the restricting means are performed. A control circuit that operates an ejection element used for ejecting ink provided corresponding to the nozzle, and after a lapse of a predetermined time after the suction operation by the suction means, When the control circuit releases the regulation of the capping state by the regulation means and activates the ejection element, and when the operation noise of the ejection element generated by ejecting ink from the nozzle ends, the nozzle of the cap ejects. Since the structure that enables the separating operation is adopted, By deregulation is informed by the operating noise of the output element, can be reliably prevented release inadvertent capping by the operator, it can be prevented from occurring it due to ink discharge failure in advance.

Further, the operator is prevented from forcibly canceling the capping during the regulation by the notification of the regulation cancellation, and the destruction of the regulation mechanism or the like can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a conventional structure, FIG. 2 and the following figures are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 (A) to (C) are explanatory views showing the structure and operation of the rotating lever, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the cap portion, and FIG.
(A) ~ (D) is an explanatory view showing the structure and operation of the lock mechanism,
FIG. 6 is a front view of the lock lever, FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing the mounting state of the lock lever, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the control circuit. 1, 2 ... Main tank, 4 ... Supply tube 5 ... Sub tank, 7 ... Nozzle 8 ... Ink, 9 ... Pump 12 ... Suction tube, 13 ... Cap 14 ... Nozzle tube, 17 ... Rotating lever 20 ... Nozzle holder, 23 ... Switch 25 ... Hook, 26 ... Lock lever 28 ... Torsion coil spring, 31 ... Solenoid.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 2/175 2/18 2/185 8306-2C B41J 3/04 102 R 9012-2C 103 A

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cap that seals a nozzle of a recording head that discharges ink, and a suction unit that sucks ink from the nozzle sealed by the cap through the cap, the cap being manually operated. In an ink jet device that operates the contact and separation of the cap and the operation of the suction unit, a restriction unit that restricts the separation of the cap in a capping state from the nozzle, and a restriction state that is released by the restriction unit, and that corresponds to the nozzle And a control circuit for activating an ejection element used for ejecting the ink, which is provided by the control circuit after a predetermined time has elapsed after the suction operation by the suction means is completed. Means for releasing the regulation of the capping state and actuating the ejection element, Ink jet apparatus characterized by with a completion of the operation sound the discharge element emitted by discharging to enable the separating operation from the nozzle of the cap click. 2. The ink jet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a time required for the atmospheric pressure in the tank communicating with the nozzle to return to the original state from the depressurized state by the suction operation.