Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7048363?oq=U.S.+patent+number+7%2C325%2C728
Timestamp: 2018-04-24 22:57:04
Document Index: 638131979

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 88', 'art 88', 'arts 141', 'art 144', 'art 144', 'art 144', 'art 144', 'art 144', 'art 144', 'art 144', 'art 144', 'art 144', 'art 144', 'art 144', 'art 144', 'art 144']

US7048363B2 - Ink-jet recording apparatus - Google Patents
US7048363B2
US7048363B2 US10831213 US83121304A US7048363B2 US 7048363 B2 US7048363 B2 US 7048363B2 US 10831213 US10831213 US 10831213 US 83121304 A US83121304 A US 83121304A US 7048363 B2 US7048363 B2 US 7048363B2
US10831213
US20040196339A1 (en )
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/765,348 filed Jan. 22, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,114; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
An ink jet recording apparatus constructed as described above involves the following several problems to be solved:
It is a third object of the invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus wherein air pressure applied from a pressuring pump to a main tank is detected and driving the pressurizing pump can be controlled by a control signal based on the pressure detection value for always managing the air pressure applied to the main tank in an appropriate range.
To accomplish the first object of the invention, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus comprising a record head being mounted on a carriage and reciprocated in a width direction of record paper and a sub-tank being mounted on the carriage together with the record head for receiving replenishment with ink via an ink replenishment passage from an ink cartridge forming a main tank and supplying ink to the record head, wherein air pressure generated by an air pressurizing pump is applied to the ink cartridge and the sub-tank is replenished with ink from the ink cartridge by the action of the air pressure, wherein
a pressure regulation valve being opened upon reception of a predetermined or more air pressure for maintaining the air pressure in a predetermined range and a pressure detector for receiving the air pressure and detecting a pressure state are placed on an air flow passage from the air pressurizing pump to the ink cartridge and driving the air pressurizing pump is controlled based on output of the pressure detector.
Further, the valve member in the on-off valve unit serves as both the pressure regulating function and the atmosphere release function, so that the occupation volume in the recording apparatus can be lessened and in addition, the product costs can be decreased as compared with the configuration-wherein the pressure regulating function and the atmosphere release function are provided separately.
Therefore, the pressure detector is formed according to the comparatively simple configuration of the diaphragm and the photosensor and thus can be realized at comparative low costs.
Since the pressurizing pump is intermittently driven by the control signal generated by the pressure detector, it is also made possible to solve problems of occurrences of noise and durability caused by driving the pressurizing pump all the time.
When the accumulated pressurized air falls below the level deducted by the pressure detector as ink is consumed, the air pressurizing pump is again driven.
To accomplish the fifth object of the invention, according to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus comprising a record head being mounted on a carriage and reciprocated in a width direction of record paper and a sub-tank being mounted on the carriage together with the record head for receiving replenishment with ink via an ink replenishment passage from an ink cartridge forming a main tank and supplying ink to the record head, wherein air pressure generated by an air pressurizing pump is applied to the ink cartridge and the sub-tank is replenished with ink from the ink cartridge by the action of the air pressure, wherein a cartridge holder loaded with the ink cartridge detachably is provided with a cover member opened for attaching or detaching the ink cartridge and atmosphere release means for opening an air flow-passage from the air pressurizing pump to the ink cartridge into the atmosphere as the cover member is opened is provided.
The outer shell member of the ink cartridge a little expanded upon reception of the action of the pressurized air with the inlet cartridge placed in the cartridge holder is also restored to the original shape as the cover member is opened, so that drawing out the ink cartridge from the holder can be facilitated, and the problem of damage to both the cartridge and the holder in the drawing-out operation can also be circumvented
It is desirable that the ink jet recording apparatus should further comprise a stopper member for receiving the urging force of the spring member and blocking excessive displacement of the diaphragm. On the other hand, preferably the diaphragm is formed of rubber. The diaphragm may be formed of rubber and a cloth. In this case, it is desirable that the rubber should be NBR and have a rubber hardness of 40 to 60 degrees.
According to the ink jet recording apparatus according- to the sixth aspect of the invention described above, the following problem can be circumvented: As the ink velocity is changed when the environmental temperature is changed, the flow velocity of the ink with which the sub-tank is replenished from the main tank becomes low in a low temperature state and is increased as the temperature is raised.
Thus, driving the moving member as the diaphragm is displaced is suppressed in the low temperature state, so that the value of pressure when the photosensor detects the move state of the moving member becomes high. Therefore, driving the air pressurizing pump is continued, thereby increasing the flow velocity of ink with which the sub-tank is replenished from the main tank.
The above-described function can be provided according to the comparative simple configuration of the diaphragm and the photosensor and thus can be realized at comparatively low costs.
FIG. 14 is a partly sectional view to show still another embodiment of on-off valve unit;
Capping means 11 capable of sealing a nozzle-formed plane of the recording head is disposed in a non-print region (i.e., at the home position) on the travel path of the carriage 1. A cap member 11 a—which is formed from flexible material, such as rubber, that is capable of sealing a nozzle-formed plane of the recording head—is attached to the upper surface of the capping means 11.
The capping means 11 is moved upwardly when the carriage 1 is moved to the home position, thereby seal the nozzle-formed plane of the recording head with the cap member 11 a.
A wiping member 12 formed from resilient material, such as rubber, is disposed adjacent to a print region side of the capping means 11 so as to wipe and clean the nozzle-formed plane of the recording head as required.
As the construction of the main tank 9 is schematically shown in FIG. 2, the outer shell of the main tank 9 is formed hermetically. An ink pack 24 which is filled with ink and is formed from resilient material is housed in the main tank 9.
The construction of the sub-tank 7 shown in FIG. 7 will be discussed in detail later, but as shown in FIG. 2, the sub-tank 7 is basically constructed as follows: A float member 31 is provided within the sub-tank 7, and a permanent magnet 32 is attached to a part of the float member 31. Magnetoelectric converter elements 33 a and 33 b typified by Hall elements are mounted on a board 34, and the board 34 is disposed in close proximity to the side wall of the sub-tank 7.
With such an arrangement, the permanent magnet 32 provided on the float member 31 and the Hall elements 33 a and 33 b constitute ink level detection means. In accordance with the amount of lines of magnetic force developing in the permanent magnet 32 according to the position of the float member 31, an electrical output is produced by the Hall elements 33 a and 33 b.
FIGS. 3 to 5 show an example of the sub-tank. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sub-tank from a one-face direction with a part of the sub-tank omitted, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view (a projection) of the sub-tank from the same direction. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the sub-tank from the rear direction:
The sub-tank 7 is formed almost like a rectangular parallelepiped and the whole of the sub-tank is made flat an outer shell of the sub-tank 7 includes a box-like member 41, formed with a one side wall 41 a and a peripheral side wall 41 b continuous and integral with the side wall 31 a. A film-like member 42 made of a transparent resin (see FIG. 4) is attached to the opening periphery of the box-like member 41 in a close contact state by thermal welding, so that an ink storage space 43 is formed in the inside surrounded by the box-like member 41 and the film-like member 42.
As shown in FIG. 4, the permanent magnet 32, is attached to the free end side of the support arm member 45. When the support arm member 45 is placed almost in a horizontal state, the permanent magnet 32 is positioned in the proximity of an opposite end part of the ink storage space 43 in the horizontal direction, namely, is brought closest to the hall devices 33 a and 33 b mounted on the board 34 attached to the side wall of the sub-tank 7.
Further, the sub-tank 7 is provided with a plurality of rib members 47 for reducing waving of ink in the sub-tank, which would otherwise caused in association with a movement of the carriage. These rib members 47 are located in a region so as not to interfere with a movable regions where the float member 31 and the support arm member 45 are movable.
In this example, each of the rib members 47 is formed integrally with and projected from the one side wall 41 a as a base toward the ink storage space 43 from, but each of these ribs 47 may be formed as a discrete member to be attached to the one side wall 41 a of the box-like member 41 forming the sub-tank 7.
The water repellent film 63 is placed in such a manner that the film 63 is stored in a recess formed in the rear on the side wall 41 a of the sub-tank 7 and is held by a film-like member 64 thermally welded so as to cover the upper rear of the side wall 41 a.
A meandering groove 65 is formed in the rear of the side wall 41 a via the water repellent film 63 and communicates at one end thereof with a blind hole 66 formed in the side wall 41 a of the sub-tank 7.
That is, taking the operation of replenishing the sub-tank with ink as an example, as the float member moves upwardly in response to replenishing with ink, first the magnetic force line acts largely on the second hall device 33 b and further when replenishing with ink is continued, the magnetic force line acts largely on the first hall device 33 a.
Therefore, if output of the hall devices 33 a and 33 b is converted into a binary signal using a predetermined threshold voltage, combinations of (00), (01), (11), and (10) can be obtained and it is made possible to recognize the amount of ink in the sub-tank with excellent accuracy.
The float member 31 thus formed is integral with the moving free end side of the support arm member 45 movable about the support shaft 44 formed in the sub-tank 7, as described above.
Further, the float member 31 and the support arm member 45, are formed in part with positioning pins 75 at three locations so that the positioning pins 75 project to both outsides in the horizontal direction.
In FIGS. 7 and 8, numeral 81 denotes an on-off valve unit. The on-off valve unit 81 includes an upper case 81 a and a lower case 81 b, each formed with an internal space, and can be divided vertically by the upper case 81 a and the lower case 81 b.
A diaphragm valve 82 is arranged at a joint part, i.e. a boundary, between the upper case 81 a and the lower case 81 b.
The diaphragm valve 82 is provided by molding a rubber material into a disk-like form, and has a peripheral portion clamped at the joint part by the upper case 81 a and the lower case 81 b to define an air chamber 83 in a hermetic state in the space of the lower case 81 b.
The lower case 81 b is also formed with a pair of connection tubes 84 a and 84 b communicating with the air chamber 83, and the connection tubes 84 a and 84 b are connected to the air pressurizing pump 21 and the pressure detector 23, respectively.
Therefore, as shown by arrow lines in FIG. 8, pressurized air is from the air pressurizing pump 21 through the air chamber 83 to the pressure detector 23 and each main tank 9.
An annular spring seat 86 is attached to the drive shaft 85, and a coiled spring member 87 is interposed between the spring seat 86 and the space upper part of the upper case 81 a so that the central part of the diaphragm valve 82 is urged to contact the opening end of the ventilation hole 84 c.
An engagement head part 88 is provided on the upper end part of the drive shaft 85. More specifically, the engagement head part is attached to the end of the upper part passing through a through hole formed in a drive lever 90 that is supported by a support shaft 89 and rotatable, like a seesaw, about the support shaft 89.
Therefore, when the main tank is not mounted as shown in FIG. 9, the slide member 115, receiving the urging force of a spring member 114, advances to close the ink introduction hole 11.2 formed in the hollow needle 113 (closed valve state).
Concurrently, in the main tank side, the tip part of the hollow needle 113 in the cartridge holder abuts the valve member 102 through the through hole formed in the packing member 104 and retracts the valve member 102 axially. Accordingly, the ink outlet plug 101 of the main tank is also opened.
To remove the main tank 9 mounted to the holder 8, the operation lever 132 is rotated in the same direction as the open direction of the cover member 131 to push out the main tank 9 from the depth side mount position of the holder 8 using an unillustrated link rod engaged with a part of the operation lever 132.
An electric switch 133 for detecting a open state of the cover member 131 is provided to the cartridge holder 8. As shown in FIG. 11, the electric switch is constructed, for example, by a contact switch which is contacted with the rear of the cover member 131 and turned on when the cover member 131 is closed, and turned off when the cover member 131 is open.
In the example shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a drive lever 90 is supported by a support shaft 89, and is rotated, like a seesaw, about the support shaft 89. An engagement head part 88 on the upper end part of a drive shaft 85 in the on-off valve unit 81 pierces through a through hole 90 a formed in one end part of the drive lever 90 and is positioned above the through hole 90 a.
An end part of an operational rod 91 a of an electromagnetic plunger 91 as drive means is engaged with the opposite end part of the drive lever 90 with respect to the support shaft 89. Therefore, in this example, in a non-energization state in which the electromagnetic plunger 91 is not operated, the operational rod 91 a is projected upwardly as shown in FIG. 12.
Thus, the diaphragm valve 82 is opened against the urging force of the spring member 87 and the elastic force of the diaphragm valve 82, and the pressurized air is released through the ventilation hole 84 c from the pressure chamber 83.
According to the example previously described with reference tot FIGS. 12 and 13, the electromagnetic plunger 91 need not always be energized during the normal operation of the recording apparatus. However, in the example previously described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, when the operation power of the recording apparatus is turned off, the electromagnetic plunger 91 as the drive means is also non-energized and thus a problem of making it impossible to realize the atmosphere release state occurs.
If the electromagnetic plunger 91 is energized, the drive shaft 85 of the on-off valve unit 81 is pulled up by the operational rod 91 a to establish an atmosphere release state, similarly to the example previously described with reference tot FIGS. 12 and 13.
The valve member 82 is urged so by a spring member 87 provided between a spring seat 86 and the space top part of an upper case 81 a so that the valve member 82 abuts an opening end of the ventilation hole 84 c.
With this arrangement, if the air pressure of an air flow passage from an air pressurizing pump to a main tank exceeds a predetermined value, the drive shaft 85 is pulled upwardly against the urging force of the spring member 87 and consequently, pressurized air is released into the space formed by the upper and lower cases 81 a and 81 b.
Although not shown in the figure, the upper and lower cases 81 a and 81 b are formed in part with an atmosphere release port, and therefore the pressurized air released into the space of the cases is immediately released into the atmosphere.
On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 16, a valve member 82 molded of a rubber material is attached to an opening end of a ventilation hole 84 c. A lower end part of a drive shaft 85 is abutted against the valve member 82 by the urging force of a spring member 87 provided between a spring seat 86 and the space top part of an upper case 81 a.
With this arrangement, if the air pressure of an air flow passage from an air pressurizing pump to a main tank exceeds a predetermined value, the drive shaft 85 is pulled upwardly by the air pressure and consequently, pressurized air is released into the space formed by upper and lower cases 81 a and 81 b.
Although not shown in FIG. 16 either, the upper and lower cases 81 a and 81 b are formed in part with an atmosphere release port so that the pressurized air released into the space of the cases is immediately released into the atmosphere.
A movable member 144 is accommodated in the interior of the cylindrical body 141 a so that the movable member 144 can slide in an axial direction (up and down direction in FIG. 17). The movable member 144 is formed like a forked shape, and a stopper member 144 a shaped like a claw is formed at each tip part of the movable member 144 a. These stopper members 144 a respectively enters the opening parts 141 c to engage the upper end part of the cylindrical body 141 a.
The movable member 144 is formed with an upright part 144 b integral with and projecting from the inner bottom part of the movable member 144. In the example shown in FIG. 17, a coiled spring member 145 is disposed between the lower end part of the inner cylindrical body 141 b and the inner bottom part of the movable member 144 to surround the upright part 144 b.
With this arrangement, the movable member 144 is urged in the down direction in the figure by the spring member 145, whereby the lower bottom part of the movable member 144 abuts the top face of the thick portion 143 a at the center of the diaphragm 14.3.
On the other hand, the lower case 142 is formed at the lower bottom with a pressurized air introduction connection tube 142 b for introducing pressurized air from the air pressurizing pump 21 into a space portion 142 a between the lower case 142 and the diaphragm 143, and a plurality of pressurized air distribution connection tubes 142 c for distributing the pressurized air to the main tanks 9 from the space portion 142 a.
In this example, four main tanks 9 are provided as mentioned above and in this case, four pressurized air distribution connection tubes 142 c are provided corresponding to the number of the main tanks. FIG. 17 shows two pressurized air distribution connection tubes 142 c because it is a sectional view.
The photosensor 146 includes a light source 146 a and a light receiving element 146 b disposed facing each other. Therefore, if the diaphragm 143 is displaced exceeding a predetermined amount upon reception of the pressurized air introduced into the space portion 142 a, the tip part of the upright part 144 b of the movable member 144 blocks the optical axis of the photosensor 146 extending from the light source 146 a to the light receiving element 146 b.
Therefore, if the air pressurizing pump 21 is driven and the pressurized air reaches a predetermined pressure or more, the diaphragm is displaced, pushing up the upright part 144 b for blocking the optical axis of the photosensor 146, so that the air pressurizing pump 21 is stopped based on the output of the light receiving element 146 b at the time.
In this case, the control signal based on the output of the light receiving element 146 b forming a part of the photosensor maybe used to drive or stop a motor (not shown) directly connected to the air pressurizing pump 21, for example. In the case where a motor for driving any other mechanism unit is commonly used to drive the air pressurizing pump 21, the control signal can be used to control the engagement of a clutch mechanism (not shown) provided to a drive system between the pump 21 and the motor.
In the example shown in FIG. 19, the photosensor 146 is made up of a light source 146 a for projecting light onto the moving path of an upright part 144 b of a movable member and a light receiving element 146 b for receiving reflected light of the light source caused based on a movement of the upright part 144 b.
Therefore, in this arrangement, it is desirable that a white synthetic resin material having an excellent reflection characteristic be used to form the upright part 144 b or that a reflection member 144 c formed of, for example, aluminum foil, etc., be attached to the upright part 144 b at position corresponding to the path of projected light in the light source 146 a.
According to the arrangement shown in FIG. 19, if the air pressurizing pump 21 is driven and the pressurized air reaches a predetermined pressure or more, a diaphragm 143 is displaced, pushing up the upright part 144 b of the movable member and the tip of the upright part 144 b or the reflection member 144 c provided to the upright part 144 b receives projected light from the light source 146 a and reflects the light onto the light receiving element 146 b.
A control signal to stop driving the air pressurizing pump 21 is generated based on the output of the light receiving element 146 b.
If the air pressure lowers with consumption of ink, etc., the tip part of the upright part 144 b of the movable member 144 is away from the optical axis of the light source 146 a by the restoration force produced by the elasticity of the diaphragm and the urging force of a spring member 145.
In each of the examples of the pressure detectors 23 previously described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 19, a coiled spring member 145 is disposed between the lower end part of the inner cylindrical body 141 b formed in the upper case 141 and the inner bottom of the movable member 144 so as to surround the upright part 144 b.
However, a pressure detector 23 having the similar function can also be constructed without the use of the spring member 145. In this case, the movable member 144 advances or retreats based on the displacement of the diaphragm 143 caused by balance of the restoration force of the diaphragm 143 formed of an elastic material and the air pressure received by the diaphragm 143.
If such control means is adopted, the function of the pressure release valve 22 described above can be-used positively, and as the pressurizing pump 21 is driven, the pressure release valve 22 can be opened for releasing excessive pressure.
If driving the pressurizing pump 21 is stopped, the pressurized air raised to pressure just before the pressure release valve 22 is opened can be accumulated in the air flow passage.
The area shown as A0 in FIG. 21 indicates the ink replenishment flow velocity when ink is supplied from the main tank to the sub-tank at room temperature (25° C.). The flow velocity has the width A0 meaning the range of variations caused by the diaphragm forming a part of components of the pressure detector 23, and assembly of these components. If the environmental temperature lowers, the ink replenishment flow velocity becomes low as mentioned above, as indicated by A1.
a record head mounted on a carriage and reciprocated in a width direction of recording material;
supply means, mounted on the carriage together with the record head, for supplying ink to the record head via an ink replenishment passage from an ink cartridge forming a main tank, wherein air pressure generated by an air pressurizing pump is applied to the ink cartridge, and the supply means is replenished with ink from the ink cartridge by the action of the air pressure;
a pressure regulation valve, provided to an air flow passage from the air pressurizing pump to the ink cartridge, the valve being opened upon reception of a predetermined or more air pressure for maintaining air pressure in the air flow passage within a predetermined range; and
a pressure detector, provided to the air flow passage, for receiving the air pressure and detecting a pressure state,
wherein driving of the air pressurizing pump is controlled based on output of the pressure detector.
2. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:
supply means, mounted on the carriage together with the record head, for supplying ink to the record head via an ink replenishment passage from an ink cartridge forming a main tank, wherein air pressure generated by an air pressurizing pump is applied to the ink cartridge, and ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head by the action of the air pressure;
a cartridge holder to which the ink cartridge is detachably mounted;
detecting means for detecting an detach operation by which the ink cartridge is detached from the cartridge holder; and
air canceling means for canceling the air pressure applied to the ink cartridge when the detach operation is detected by the detecting means.
3. A method of printing, using an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising:
reciprocating a recoding head that is mounted on a carriage in a width direction of a recording material;
supplying ink to the recording head, using a supply means that is mounted on the carriage together with the recording head, via an ink replenishment passage from an ink cartridge, wherein said ink cartridge is detachably mounted to a cartridge holder;
applying air pressure to the ink cartridge using an air pressure pump to cause ink to be supplied to the recording head;
detecting a detaching operation by which the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge holder is to be detached; and
canceling the air pressure that is applied to the ink cartridge when the detaching operation is detected.
4. An ink jet recording apparatus to which an ink cartridge is mountable, the apparatus comprising:
a record head mounted on a carriage, reciprocated in a width direction of recording material and communicatable with the ink cartridge;
an air pressurizing pump for applying air pressure to the ink cartridge to supply ink from the ink cartridge to the record head;
a pressure regulation valve, provided to an air flow passage from the air pressurizing pump to the ink cartridge, the valve being opened upon reception of a predetermined or more air pressure for maintaining air pressure in the air flow passage within a predetermined range;
a pressure detector, provided to the air flow passage, for receiving the air pressure and detecting a pressure state; and
a controller for controlling driving of the air pressurizing pump based on output of the pressure detector.
5. An ink jet recording apparatus to which an ink cartridge is mountable, the apparatus comprising:
an air pressurizing pump for applying air pressure to the ink cartridge to supply ink from the ink cartridge to the record head; and
a detector for detecting a detach operation by which the ink cartridge is detached from the cartridge holder,
wherein the air pressure applied to the ink cartridge is cancelled when the detach operation is detected by the detector.
US10831213 2000-01-21 2004-04-26 Ink-jet recording apparatus Active US7048363B2 (en)
JP2000012460A JP2001199079A (en) 2000-01-21 2000-01-21 Ink jet recorder
JPP.2000-012460 2000-01-21
JPP.2000-024417 2000-02-01
JP2000024421A JP2001212975A (en) 2000-02-01 2000-02-01 Ink-jet type recording apparatus
JPP.2000-024421 2000-02-01
JP2000024417A JP3669240B2 (en) 2000-02-01 2000-02-01 An ink jet recording apparatus
JPP.2000-069692 2000-03-14
JP2000069692A JP2001253084A (en) 2000-03-14 2000-03-14 Ink jet recorder
JP2000189520A JP3692526B2 (en) 2000-06-23 2000-06-23 An ink jet recording apparatus
JPP.2000-189520 2000-06-23
US09765348 US6733114B2 (en) 2000-01-21 2001-01-22 Ink-jet recording apparatus
US10831213 US7048363B2 (en) 2000-01-21 2004-04-26 Ink-jet recording apparatus
US09765348 Continuation US6733114B2 (en) 2000-01-21 2001-01-22 Ink-jet recording apparatus
US20040196339A1 true US20040196339A1 (en) 2004-10-07
US7048363B2 true US7048363B2 (en) 2006-05-23
ID=27531381
US09765348 Active US6733114B2 (en) 2000-01-21 2001-01-22 Ink-jet recording apparatus
US10805254 Active US6913350B2 (en) 2000-01-21 2004-03-22 Ink-jet recording apparatus
US10831213 Active US7048363B2 (en) 2000-01-21 2004-04-26 Ink-jet recording apparatus
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