JPH10202853A - Ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable efficient supply of ink by supplying the ink to a plurality of recording heads from one ink storing unit. SOLUTION: Recording paper P is fed under recording heads 103, 104 and 105 by a pair of feeding rollers 106 and 107 and guided in the direction of an arrow on a recording paper guiding plate 110. Construction is so made that ink is supplied to the recording heads 103, 104 and 105 in a plurality from one ink storing unit 101. The recording heads 103, 104 and 105 are provided in an overall width L in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the recording paper P being fed, and printing is made on the recording paper P simultaneously, with the ink of the same color. The recording paper P on which the printing is completed is delivered outside by a pair of delivery rollers 108 and 109 and the printing of the recording paper P is ended.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet printer for supplying ink to a plurality of recording heads from an ink reservoir via ink supply means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional ink jet printer.

The carriage 2 is provided with a recording head, and the carriage 2 is further provided with ink reservoirs 3 and 3 A for supplying ink to the recording head. The carriage 2 is connected to the control board 9 by a flexible cable 5.

The carriage 2 is reciprocated by a carriage driving mechanism 6 in a main scanning direction indicated by an arrow X in the drawing.
The carriage driving mechanism 6 is configured by a mechanism including a motor 6a, a pulley 6b, a timing belt 6c, and a guide rail 6d.
And is reciprocated in the direction of arrow X by the motor 6a via the timing belt 6c.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a paper transport mechanism which transports the sheet P in the sub-scanning direction indicated by an arrow Y in the figure, and includes a transport motor 8a and a pair of transport rollers 8b and 8c. Transport roller 8b
The transport roller 8c is driven by a transport motor 8a, and an interlocking mechanism (not shown) is provided so that the transport roller 8c rotates at a very high peripheral speed. A sheet (hereinafter, referred to as a recording sheet P) is sent out from a sheet feeding mechanism (not shown), and is then sandwiched by conveyance rollers 8b. The sheet feeding guide (not shown) corrects the direction of conveyance in the sub-scanning direction. Then, the sheet is conveyed while being nipped by the conveying roller 8c. Since the peripheral speed of the transport roller 8c is extremely slightly faster than that of the transport roller 8b, the recording paper P passes through the recording section without causing slack. The speed at which the recording paper P moves in the sub-scanning direction is set to a constant speed.

In this manner, while moving the recording paper P at a constant speed in the sub-scanning direction, the carriage 2 is moved at a constant speed in the main scanning direction, and the ink ejected from the recording head is adhered to one side of the recording paper P. The image is recorded in a predetermined range.

[0007]

As described above, conventionally, the carriage 2 provided with the recording head is reciprocated in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. Printing is performed on the recording paper P by transporting the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow Y in the drawing by the transport mechanism 8. Therefore, in order to print on the recording paper P, the recording head must be reciprocated in the main scanning direction without fail.

Therefore, since the recording head is reciprocated every time one line is printed, a reciprocating time and a driving mechanism are required. Further, the carriage 2 provided with the recording head is moved by the guide rail 6d. However, if the guide rail 6d has poor planar accuracy, the carriage 2 vibrates and adversely affects printing. Further, the recording heads are provided with ink reservoirs 3 and 3A for printing and move together with the carriage 2, so that the carriage 2 becomes heavy and the movement of the carriage 2 becomes unstable, which adversely affects printing.

If a recording line head formed over the entire width in the main scanning direction is manufactured to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks,
If the recording paper is conveyed, the recording operation can be performed simply by providing the recording head in a fixed state without moving the recording head. However, it is extremely difficult to manufacture such a recording line head.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a plurality of recording heads having an ink reservoir conventionally used are provided over the entire width in the main scanning direction, so that ink is supplied from the ink reservoir to each recording head. Recording can be performed on recording paper without moving the recording head.

However, if the plurality of recording heads are provided with ink reservoirs, the amount of ink ejected from the plurality of recording heads differs depending on the density of the image. May occur,
A printhead with insufficient ink in the ink reservoir will not print any more, resulting in an image defect.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. That is, without reciprocating the carriage having the recording heads, a plurality of recording heads arranged and fixed in parallel over the entire width of the recording paper are provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet printer that efficiently supplies the ink.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, ink is supplied from an ink reservoir to a recording head, and ink droplets are supplied from the recording head to a sheet moving in a predetermined direction. And a plurality of recording heads arranged in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the sheet and arranged in parallel to the entire width of the sheet, and the plurality of recording heads provided by one ink reservoir. Ink supply means for supplying ink to each of the recording heads.

3. The ink storage device according to claim 2, wherein said ink supply means has one end connected to one ink storage device and the other end connected to each of said plurality of recording heads. Supplying ink to the plurality of recording heads.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein separate ink supply means are provided between the one ink reservoir and the plurality of recording heads, and ink is supplied to the plurality of recording heads.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, this is achieved by providing the one ink reservoir, the ink supply means and / or a plurality of recording heads in a detachable manner.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of an ink jet printer according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 101 denotes an ink reservoir provided with a handle 102 and detachably mounted on the ink jet printer 100. A plurality of recording heads 103, 104, 105 are provided below the ink reservoir 101. 100 are fixed side by side.

The configuration of the recording heads 103, 104, and 105 is such that a large number of ink ejection ports from which ink droplets are ejected are arranged on one side of one recording head, and an ink droplet is ejected by a print signal to form an image. Is what you do. A plurality of recording heads configured as described above are fixed in parallel.

On the other hand, the recording paper P is fed below the recording heads 103, 104 and 105 by a pair of paper feed rollers 106 and 107 and guided on a recording paper guide plate 110 in the direction of the arrow.

The plurality of recording heads 103, 104,
105 is configured so that ink is supplied from one ink reservoir 101. (Detailed description in FIG. 2)
A plurality of recording heads 103, 104, and 105 are provided over the entire width L in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction in which the recording paper P is conveyed, and are simultaneously printed on the recording paper P with the same color ink.

The printed recording paper P is conveyed outside by a pair of paper discharge rollers 108 and 109, and the printing of the recording paper P is completed.

The ink reservoir 101 is preferably arranged above the plurality of recording heads 103, 104 and 105, but the ink reservoir 101 smoothly supplies ink to the plurality of recording heads 103, 104 and 105. If it is possible to replenish the fuel, there is no need to particularly arrange it on the upper part.

With the above arrangement, the recording paper P conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the positions of the plurality of recording heads 103, 104, and 105 arranged side by side in the full width direction.
The image forming ink is ejected at the same time as the recording paper P is conveyed, so that the image can be formed quickly with the ink. Further, a plurality of recording heads 103, 104, 10
5 is arranged so as to supply the ink stored in one ink storage unit 101, while the ink is stored in the ink storage unit 101, a plurality of recording heads 10 are stored.
No ink shortage occurred in 3, 104 and 105, and in the case of ink shortage, it was possible to supply ink at the same time only by replacing one ink reservoir 101.

FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are diagrams showing the overall configuration of supplying ink to a plurality of recording heads from an ink reservoir.

FIG. 2A shows an ink jet printer 1.
The plurality of recording heads 103, 104, and 105 are placed on support members 113 and 114 provided in the sheet No. 00 and fixed with screws or the like, so that the recording heads are accurately arranged at the printing position shown in FIG. Further, the support members 113 and 114 are formed with long holes 115 for passing ink ejected from the plurality of recording heads 103, 104 and 105 onto the recording paper P.

The recording heads 103, 104, and 105 are mounted and fixed at predetermined positions on the support members 113 and 114 by screws or the like.
The recording heads 103, 104 and 105 can be detached from the recording heads 13 and 114.

Next, the handle 1 of one ink reservoir 101
02 is placed on support members 111 and 112 provided on the inkjet printer 100. Ink reservoir 10
1 is provided with one ink supply pipe mounting part 200,
Ink supply pipes 201, 202, and 203, which are integrally formed ink supply means, are provided in the ink supply pipe mounting portion 200.
Are mounted in one place.

By mounting the ink reservoir 101 on the support members 111 and 112 as described above, the ends of the respective ink supply distribution pipes 201, 202 and 203 branched to a plurality of recording heads 103, 104 and 105. The ink reservoir 1 is connected to each of the ink receiving units 106, 107, and 108 provided.
01, the same color ink is supplied to each of the plurality of recording heads 103, 104, and 105.

As described above, one ink reservoir 101
Further, the supply of ink to the plurality of recording heads 103, 104, and 105 is simultaneously started via the ink supply distribution pipes 201, 202, and 203. Next, a pair of paper feed rollers 10
6, 107, the recording paper P is fed, and a plurality of recording heads 103, 104, 105 print the recording paper P on the recording paper P with the same color ink by the print signal sent from the controller C.
Is printed on

As described above, the plurality of recording heads 10
Since common ink is supplied to 3, 104 and 105,
When the ink is not exhausted individually in the recording head and the ink in the ink reservoir 101 becomes empty, replacement is easy.

FIG. 2B shows another embodiment of the ink supply means.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the plurality of recording heads 103, 104 and 105 are mounted and fixed on supporting members 113 and 114 provided on the ink jet printer 100.

Next, the handle 1 of one ink reservoir 101
02 is placed on support members 111 and 112 provided on the inkjet printer 100. Ink reservoir 10
1 is provided with ink supply tube mounting portions 204, 205, 206 separately corresponding to the recording heads 103, 104, 105, respectively.
6, an ink supply pipe 207, which is an ink supply means,
208 and 209 are attached respectively. By mounting the ink reservoir 101 on the support members 111 and 112 as described above, the leading ends of the ink supply distribution pipes 207, 208 and 209 are provided at the respective ink receiving portions provided on the plurality of recording heads 103, 104 and 105, respectively. And a plurality of recording heads 10 connected to one of the ink reservoirs 101, 107, and 108.
Inks of the same color are supplied to the ink supply distribution pipes 207, 208, and 209 to 3, 104, and 105, respectively. Therefore, the ink supply pipe mounting portions 204 and 20 of the ink reservoir 101 are provided.
5, 206, the ink supply distribution pipes 207, 208,
209 is attached, a plurality of recording heads 10 are connected through the respective ink supply distribution pipes 207, 208, 209.
The ink is supplied to 3, 104, and 105, and the supply of ink to each recording head becomes smooth. In addition, ink reservoir 1
When the ink in the cartridge 01 is empty, the ink reservoir 101 can be easily replaced because it can be easily attached and detached.

In this state, the plurality of recording heads 103,
Printing can be performed on the recording paper P from 104 and 105, and printing is performed on the recording paper P by a print signal sent from the control device C.

Further, in the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the ink supply distribution pipe 201 is connected to the ink supply pipe mounting sections 200, 204, 205, and 206 provided in one ink reservoir 101. , 202, 203, 204, 205, 2
06, and the ink supply distribution pipes 201, 202, 20
3, 204, 205, 206 and print heads 103, 10
4 and 105 are provided so as to be detachable, but the ink receiving portions 106 and 10 of the recording heads 103, 104 and 105 are provided.
The ink supply distribution pipes 201, 202,
203, 204, 205, and 206 are provided, and one ink reservoir 101 and ink supply distribution pipes 201, 202, and 2 are provided.
03, 204, 205, and 206 may be configured to be detachable. Also, the ink supply distribution pipes 201, 202, 2
03, 204, 205, and 206 are one ink reservoir 1
01 and the ink receiving units 106, 107 and 108, respectively.

With such a configuration, when the ink in one ink reservoir 101 becomes empty, replacement becomes easy.

As described above, by installing one ink reservoir storing ink in the ink jet printer 100, the ink supply distribution pipes 201, 202, and 2 are provided.
Since ink can be supplied to a plurality of recording heads via the ink reservoirs 03, 204, 205, and 206, the same color ink is supplied from the ink reservoir 101, and the ink is stored in the ink reservoir 101. At this time, the recording heads 103, 104, and 105 do not run out of ink. In the case of running out of ink, only one ink reservoir 101 is replaced, and the ink is simultaneously discharged to the plurality of recording heads 103, 104, and 105. Replenishment becomes possible, and the recording operation can be performed efficiently.

FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are diagrams showing the connection structure between the ink supply distribution pipe provided in the ink reservoir and the recording head.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the configuration of FIG. 2A will be described as a representative example. An ink supply pipe attachment section 200 provided in the ink reservoir 101 has ink supply distribution pipes 201 and 20 each having a needle-shaped tip for supplying ink.
2,203 bases are attached.

On the other hand, a plurality of recording heads 103 and 10
Ink receiving units 106, 107, and 10 provided at 4, 105
8 is provided with a distribution pipe insertion member S which is formed of a sponge or rubber and has elasticity and is formed thin.

As described with reference to FIG. 2A, by mounting the ink reservoir 101 on the support members 111 and 112, the distribution pipe insertion member S is provided at the tip of the ink supply distribution pipes 201, 202 and 203. Is penetrated and penetrated, and the ink in the ink reservoir 101 is supplied to each recording head. Printing is performed on the recording paper P by the recording heads 103, 104, and 105 to which the ink has been supplied as described above.

The distribution pipe insertion member S is connected to the ink reservoir 101.
To replace the ink supply distribution pipes 201, 202, 2
When the tip of 03 is pulled out, the hole created by the insertion by the elastic force of the distribution pipe insertion member S is closed.

FIG. 3 (b) shows another embodiment of the distribution pipe insertion member described with reference to FIG. 3 (a).

The ink supply pipe mounting portion 200 provided in the ink storage 101 has ink supply distribution pipes 201, 202,
203 are attached. On the other hand, the ink receiving units 1 provided on the plurality of print heads 103, 104, 105
A distribution pipe insertion hole 106A is formed in each of 06, 107 and 108, and is rotatably provided inside the distribution pipe insertion hole 106A. In order to open and close the distribution pipe insertion hole 106A, a spring is provided in a closing direction. An energized opening / closing lid S1 is provided.

The ink reservoir 101 is connected to the support members 111, 1
12, the ink supply distribution pipe 201,
When the tips of 202 and 203 abut against the distribution pipe insertion member S1, the open / close lid S1 is opened against the spring by the weight of the ink reservoir 101, and the ink supply distribution pipes 201, 202 and 20 are opened.
3 are inserted into the ink receiving portions 106, 107 and 108 through the distribution pipe insertion holes 106A, respectively.
The ink in the ink reservoir 101 is supplied to each recording head. Printing is performed on the recording paper P by each recording head to which the ink has been supplied in this manner.

When the tip of the ink supply distribution pipes 201, 202 and 203 comes off when replacing the ink reservoir 101, the open / close lid S1 is opened and closed by the open / close lid S1 urged by a spring in the closing direction. Is closed.

As described above, by installing the ink reservoir 101 in the ink jet printer 100, the ink supply distribution pipe 201,
The tips of 202 and 203 are automatically inserted into the ink receiving portions 106, 107 and 108 of the recording heads 103, 104 and 105 by the weight of the ink reservoir 101,
The ink supply is performed quickly and reliably, and the ink reservoir 1
The replacement of 01 is also easy.

[0049]

As described above, according to the first aspect, ink is supplied to the recording head from the ink reservoir, and ink droplets are discharged from the recording head onto a sheet moving in a predetermined direction to form an image. In the ink jet printer to be formed, a plurality of recording heads arranged in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the sheet and in parallel with the entire width of the sheet, and ink is supplied to the plurality of recording heads from one ink reservoir. Is provided in the width direction of the recording paper P conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the positions of the plurality of recording heads arranged in parallel, in synchronism with the conveyance of the recording paper. Ink is ejected at the same time, image formation with ink can be performed quickly, and ink is stored in one ink storage common to a plurality of recording heads. Among the ink built device is stored, out of ink it does not occur in a plurality of recording heads, and,
In the case of running out of ink, it was possible to supply ink at the same time simply by replacing one ink reservoir.

The ink reservoir according to claim 2, wherein said ink supply means is integrally formed such that one end is connected to one ink reservoir and the other end is connected to each of said plurality of recording heads. Therefore, since the ink is supplied to the plurality of recording heads, by supplying ink to the plurality of recording heads at the other end through ink supply means having one end connected to one ink reservoir, It is easy to attach / detach one ink reservoir storing ink and the ink supply means, and furthermore, it is reliably connected to a plurality of recording heads via the ink supply means and supplies ink to a plurality of recording heads. I can do it.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, separate ink supply means are provided between the one ink reservoir and the plurality of recording heads, and ink is supplied to the plurality of recording heads, whereby each individual ink is supplied to the plurality of recording heads. Since the ink is supplied from the ink supply means to each of the plurality of recording heads, the supply of the ink to each of the recording heads becomes smooth.

5. The ink provided in one ink reservoir according to claim 4, wherein said one ink reservoir and said ink supply means and / or a plurality of recording heads are detachably provided. By providing the supply means and the plurality of recording heads detachably, it becomes easy to replace the ink reservoir when the ink reservoir becomes empty. Further, by making one ink reservoir detachable from the ink supply means, or by making the ink supply means detachable from the ink reservoir and a plurality of recording heads,
Further, replacement of the ink reservoir can be facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an inkjet printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an ink supply distribution pipe for supplying ink to a plurality of recording heads from an ink reservoir of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which an ink supply distribution pipe is connected to a plurality of recording heads from the ink reservoir of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a conventional inkjet printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,100 Inkjet printer 2 Carriage 3,3A, 101 Ink reservoir 5 Flexible cable 7 Encoder 9 Control board C Control device 103,104,105 Recording head 201,202,203,207,208,209 Ink supply distribution pipe 111, 112, 113, 114 Supporting member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet printer which supplies ink from an ink reservoir to a recording head and discharges ink droplets from the recording head to form an image on a sheet moving in a predetermined direction. And a plurality of recording heads arranged in a direction perpendicular to the entire width of the sheet and ink supply means for supplying ink to each of the plurality of recording heads from a single ink reservoir. Inkjet printer. 2. The ink supply means integrally formed so that one end is connected to one ink reservoir and the other end is connected to each of the plurality of recording heads. 2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein ink is supplied to the recording head. 3. The ink supply device according to claim 1, wherein separate ink supply units are provided between the one ink reservoir and the plurality of recording heads, and ink is supplied to the plurality of recording heads. Inkjet printer. 4. The ink-jet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one ink storage, said ink supply means and / or a plurality of recording heads are detachably provided. Printer.