Liquid jet recorder

[Detailed Description of the Invention]

[Industrial Application] The present invention relates to the liquid jet recorder provided with the ink residue detecting device which operates by pressure variation. [Description of the Prior Art] The ink in a plurality of ink discharge mouths which a liquid jet recorder is usually called an ink-jet recording device, and were provided in the recording head is driven based on recorded information, It is constituted so that the flight ink droplet which faces to a recording medium from the ink discharge mouth may be formed and a picture, a character, etc. may be recorded. In this kind of recorder, ink ribbons are recording by not using, but supplying the liquefied ink stored in the ink tank to a recording head through the ink supply course which comprises a tube etc., making it fly to a recording medium as a minute drop according to the discharging mechanism of a recording head, and making it adhere. Therefore, in order to prevent the poor record by an ink piece unlike an ink ribbon-type recorder, Generally the device which detects the ink residue in an ink tank is formed, and when an ink residue becomes less enough, the composition which emits a beep sound etc. and to which it urges an ink supplement or exchange of the ink tank of a cartridge-type is taken. Drawing 5 shows the important section composition of a suitable liquid jet recorder to apply the present invention. In Drawing 5, recording head l breathes out and records an ink droplet to a recording medium which had a record side regulated by platen 8. Along with a pair of guide shirt l-G installed in parallel with the above-mentioned platen 8, it is carried on carriage 2 which can move. Reserve ink tank 4 is also carried on the above-mentioned carriage 2, and the ink in the reserve ink tank is supplied to recording head 1 through feed pipe 3. The main part side of a recorder is equipped with ink tank 7 as an ink supplying source, ink tank 7 of 0 illustration connected by ink supply pipe 5A of flexibility [ ink tank / 4 / above-mentioned / the ink tank and / reserve ] was formed with sheets, such as a plastic or aluminum material, -- it is flat and comprises a bag body of pliability. Ink residue detecting device 6 is connected in the middle of the above-mentioned ink supply pipe 5A. Flexible ink supply pipe 5A is bundled with flexible suction pipe 5B from the middle, and constitutes flexible communicating member 5 which absorbs movement of carriage 2. The above-mentioned suction pipe 5B connects pump (suction means) 9 and the reserve ink tank so that the surface in reserve ink tank 4 may be maintained in a prescribed range. This pump 9 is connected with camp means 10 to seal recording head 1, and constitutes the ink recovery device which attracts ink from head 1 tip (ink discharge mouth) at poor record, the time of ink tank 7 exchange, etc. In the composition of Drawing 5, the ink stored in ink tank 7 is led to reserve ink tank 4 on carriage 2 via ink residue detecting device 6 and ink supply pipe 5A. Ink is led to recording head 1 through feed pipe 3 from reserve ink tank 4, it is breathed out from the ink discharge mouth of the recording head based on recorded information, and record is performed to the recording medium on platen 8. Drawing 6 shows the structure proposed as the above-mentioned ink residue detecting device 6. In Drawing 6, flexible film member 13 is pinched between main part 11 and the bonded surface of cover 12, and the space in main part 11 has become the sealing room intercepted from the open air. Main part 11, film member 13, and cover 12 are joinable by suitable methods, such as adhesion, welding, or a screw stop. Ink inflow mouth 24 and ink outlet head 25 for connecting ink supply pipe 5A (Drawing 5) to the above-mentioned main part 11 are formed, and the closed space divided with the above-mentioned film member 13 constitutes a part of ink supply course. Film member 13 is supported between undersurface plate 14 and upper surface plate 15. It is combined with Pol's 1-17 lower end energized upward with spring 16, and contact maintenance of the undersurface plate 14 is carried out like illustration in usual in the best position. On the other hand, upper surface plate 15 fits in loosely so that a slide in bolt 17 is possible, and it is welded by pressure to electrode pair 18.19 fixed to the back of cover 12 by the spring power of spring 16 via undersurface plate 14 and film member 13. Besides, field play 1-15 is made from electric conduction material, carries out pressure welding estrangement with electrode pair 18.19, and carries out switching operation. Each electrode 18.19 is connected to extraction terminal 20.21 provided in cover 12, respectively. Nut 22 is enabling screw engagement of the up-and-down centering control at the screw part of the upper part of bolt 17, and the above-mentioned spring (compression coil spring) 16 is attached between spring control 23 and the surface of cover 12 below this Nut 22. In this way, by rotating Nut 22 and Deception(ing) the position on bolt 17 of the Nut, it adjusts and has thick To of spring 16 upward mosquito which acts on film member 13, and has the structure where a setup of ink residue detecting device 6 of operation can be adjusted. In this composition, if the ink residue in ink tank 7 of the shape of a sealed bag which at least one copy comprised with the flexible sheet decreases, the negative pressure within an ink supply course will become strong, According to this, film member 13 resists the spring power of spring 16, and it is drawn in downward, and when the predetermined negative pressure value adjusted by Nut 22 is reached, film member 13 descends and conductive plate 15 separates from electrode pair 18.19. It is detected that took out by this, between terminals 20 and 21 was come byoff [ switch ] (electrical connection interception), and the ink residue became below a preset value by resistance change at that time. [Problem(s) to be Solved by the Invention] However, there was a case where the following problems arose, in conventional ink residue detecting device 6 of Drawing 62. (i) If ink consumption continues by recording operation or pump use even after it is detected that the ink residue became below a preset value, Excessive modification arose in flexible film member 13 by the excessive negative pressure which occurs in an ink supply course, set pressure of operation may have changed and film member 13 may have been damaged further. Although there is no ink residue, when record is continued, it will have a bad influence also on recording head l. Although the ink residue detecting device operated during record, such faults happen easily, when the operator of a recorder is absent. as a means to prevent such fault -- a residue detecting device to ink -- a small quantity -- i Congratulations -- the output which detects things is emitted -- the time -- a recorder -- how to stop operation can be considered. However, this method has a large possibility that the recorded matter in the middle of record will become useless, and if the record time and the amount of consumption ink are taken into consideration while outputting the hard copy with the liquid jet recorder for color especially, it is not a suitable method to carry out. [Means for Solving the Problem] The object of the present invention solves a problem of the above-mentioned conventional technology, is an easy structure, and is providing a liquid jet recorder provided with a residue detecting device which can perform ink residue detection effective [ reliability ] high moreover and exact. 1st means by which the present invention detects that an ink residue in an ink tank became below a preset value to an ink residue detecting device, While telling excessive negative pressure generating to an operator of a recorder by establishing the 2nd detection means that detects excessive negative pressure within an ink supply course, and realizing a Stubba function which prevents excessive modification of a film member by the 2nd detection means, it tries to aim at protection of an ink residue detecting device. [Example] Hereinafter, with reference to 1st [ The ] figure~figure 4, the present invention is explained concretely. Drawing 4 is a block diagram of a control system in one example of the liquid jet recorder by the present invention. In Drawing 4, ink residue detecting device 6 is mechanically connected in the middle of ink supply course 31 which connects ink tank 7 and recording head l, Ink residue alarm equipment 32 and recording operation stop device 33, and unusual negative pressure generating alarm equipment 34 are electrically connected to the ink residue detecting device 6. Here, ink residue detecting device 32 is a device which reports beforehand that normal printing becomes impossible in the amount of predetermined records to an operator, when an ink residue turns into a small quantity and continues record more. Unusual negative pressure generating 1 news device 34 is a device which reports having become to such an extent that printing with a normal grade of negative pressure could not do an ink residue below in a predetermined value, and having suspended recording operation to an operator. Therefore, ink residue detecting device 6 will possess the two above-mentioned kinds of different detection means for alarm equipment 32.34 to report that operated by negative pressure and the ink residue turned into a small quantity to the operator. Drawing 1 shows one example of the ink residue detecting device provided with such two detection means. While ink residue detection bag W6 of Drawing 1 adds stopper means 41 which has electrode pair 42.43 in the airtight interior of a room of main part 11 compared with conventional ink residue detecting device 6 of Drawing 6, undersurface plate 14 -- upper surface plate 15 and between Tooth -- it makes from electric conduction material like, and is different in that extraction terminal 44.45 connected to each of electrode pair 42.43 on the above-mentioned stopper means 41 on cover 12 was added further. Other portions are the same on a case of the conventional structure of Drawing 6, and substance, a corresponding portion is expressed as the respectively same number, and those sequential explanation is omitted. The above-mentioned stopper means 41 is for preventing excessive displacement to a lower part by negative pressure of film member 13. In an example of illustration, it is formed in main part 11 and one, and the above-mentioned electrode pair 42.43 is provided in the upper surface where the hit side, i.e., undersurface plate 14, hits. If the ink residue in ink tank 7 (Drawing 5) turns into a small quantity in the composition of Drawing 1, Like the case of the conventional structure of Drawing 6, upper surface plate 15 of electric conduction material separates from electrode 18.19, and resistance between terminals 20.21 changes with the negative pressure which occurs in ink supply courses (ink supply pipe 5A etc.). This terminal 20.21 is connected to the above-mentioned ink residue alarm equipment 32, and it is adjusted by Nut 22 so that it may become the negative pressure corresponding to the intention of ink residue alarm equipment, the negative pressure value, i.e., the 1st setting negative pressure value, from which resistance between the terminals changes. If To 4 of ink continues further after ink residue alarm equipment 32 operates, the amount of displacement of film member 13 will increase with the increase in the negative pressure within an ink supply course, and conductive undersurface plate 14 will contact electrode 42.43 on Stop means 41. Resistance between cover 1 set of terminals 44.45 which will be accepted 12 top changes with these. This terminal 44.45 is connected to above-mentioned unusual negative pressure generating i news device 34 and recording operation stop device 33. It is adjusted so that it may become the negative pressure corresponding to the intention of unusual negative pressure generating alarm equipment 34, the negative pressure value, i.e., the 2nd setting negative pressure value, from which resistance of the terminal 44.45 changes. If a liquid jet recorder as shown in Drawing 4 is constituted using ink residue detecting device 6 of Drawing 1 as explained above, the following operation quantity values will be obtained. That is, it reported beforehand that the ink residue turned into a small quantity to the recorder operator, and since having reached the ink residue which subsequently cannot perform normal printing also reported, effective and reliable ink residue detection was attained. Since recording operation was suspended when normal printing became impossible, the bad influence to throat l and ink Remaining it detecting device 6 was also able to be lost to record. It is the easy composition of providing electrode pair 42.43 on Stop means 41, The reliable liquid jet recorder was able to be obtained easily, without producing enlargement of a device, the steep rise of cost, etc., since ink residue detecting device 6 corresponding to the object of the above-mentioned liquid jet recorder was obtained. Drawing 2 shows other examples of the ink residue detecting device by the present invention. While ink residue detecting device 6 of Drawing 2 adds stopper 51 of electric conduction material in the middle of bolt 17 compared with the conventional structure of Drawing 6, It is different in that added 2nd electrode pair 52.53 other than 1st electrode pair 18.19 between upper surface plate 15 of electric conduction material, and the stopper 51, and it added further extraction terminal 54.55 connected to the 2nd above-mentioned each of electrode pair 52.53 on cover 12. Other portions are the same on a case of the conventional structure of Drawing 6, and substance, a corresponding portion is expressed as the respectively same number, and those sequential explanation is omitted. The above-mentioned stopper 51 and 2nd electrode pair 52.53 are provided above film member 13 in cover 12 (i.e., the outside of an ink supply course), and are electrically insulated with insulation material 56 between 1st electrode pair 18.19 and 2nd electrode pair 52.53. in the composition of Drawing 2, the negative pressure within an ink supply course is increasing (it is not rich, upper surface plate 15 of the introduction conductivity separates from 1st electrode pair 18.19, and it detects that a little ink residues came to be alike.) If negative pressure increases, conductive stopper 51 will contact 2nd electrode pair 52.53, and it will be detected that normal printing became impossible. Thus, also by the ink residue detecting device of Drawing 2, the same operation as the case of the example of above-mentioned Drawing 1 is acquired, and the same operation effect is obtained. In the structure of Drawing 2, since electrode 52.53 of Drawing 2 is on the outside of an ink supply course, it is not necessary to pay the consideration to contact with liquid ink. Although the resistance change between electrodes performed detection and information of the ink residue in each example of Drawings 1 and 2 above, this can also be performed using the photoelectric method detecting device which comprises a luminescent means and a euphotic means. For example, in the ink residue detecting device of Drawing 1, a luminescent means and a euphotic means are arranged in the position of electrode 18.19, and ink residue detection is attained by forming the hole which becomes Pol 17 with Optical path. (A) of Drawing 3, (B), and (C) illustrate the section shape of the Optical path hole (a slash part shows) formed in bolt 17, respectively. Bolt 17 descends by displacement of film member 13 accompanying the increase in the negative pressure within an ink supply course. In Drawing 3, as for point X, point Z shows the center position of Optical path in the state where point Y cannot perform [ the center position of Optical path in state with a sufficient ink residue ] normal printing in the center position of Optical path in an ink residue small-quantity state, respectively. (A) of Drawing 3 can also form in the position of point X or point Z instead of the position of point Y of illustration this Optical path hole that shows the structure which sends a detection signal, when a small quantity is turned into, the position, i.e., the ink residue, of point Y. (B) of Drawing 3, and (C) -- points x, y, and z -- the same effect as the example structure of above-mentioned Drawings 1 or 2 is acquired by changing in a position the size of the output of the light volume, i.e., a euphotic means, transmitted to a euphotic means from a luminescent means, respectively. For example, the output of a euphotic means can be connected to a comparison circuit, an encoder, etc., and the same effect can be acquired by composition outputted to ink residue alarm equipment 32 Drawing 4 And unusual negative pressure generating alarm equipment 34 (Drawing 4), or recording operation stop device 33 when the output corresponding to point Y and point Z is sent. Not only when there is a signal corresponding to point Y and point Z but the thing for which a continuous ink Remaining it change (euphotic Child output change) is reported to a recorder operator is possible. the hole of the shape of a step when the output corresponding to point Y and point 2 is sent and it reports, as shown in (B) -- shape is preferred, and when performing continuous information, the hole shape of the stepless story as shown in (C) is suitable. The structure of Drawing 1, or besides the various examples described above, it sets and changes electrode 42.43 on stopper means 41 into a luminescent means and a euphotic means, for example, if undersurface plate 14 descends -- Optical path between these -- To cut quickly -- structure [ like ] can also be adopted and an ink residue detecting device can also be constituted, combining suitably the various detection means of each further above-mentioned example. Since the 1st detection means that detects an ink small quantity in ink tank 7 to ink residue detecting device 6, and the 2nd unusual detection means within an ink supply course that carries out excessive negative pressure detection were established according to each example described above, While being able to tell the exchange time of ink tank 7 to the recorder operator, it became possible to prevent breakage of film member 13 by the 2nd detection means that has a stopper function. Since the amount of displacement of film member 13 was regulated by the Stop function even when excessive negative pressure occurred in the time of ink recovery action, etc., the recovery nature to an initial state of film member 13 after negative pressure removal improved sharply. Since the ink residue detecting device corresponding to the object of the liquid jet recorder is obtained with an easy structure of adding an electrode or a luminescent means, and a euphotic means to the conventional ink residue detecting device, enlargement and the large cost amplifier of a recorder are not produced. [Effect] According to the present invention, the liquid jet recorder provided with the ink residue detecting device which can perform ink residue detection whose reliability is effective high moreover and exact, and its information with an easy structure is obtained so that clearly from the above explanation.

[Brief Description of the Drawings]

In Drawings 2, Drawing 1 is a longitudinal section of the ink residue detecting device concerning one example of the present invention, and a longitudinal section of the ink residue detecting device concerning other examples of the present invention, (A) of Drawing 3, (B), and (C) are mimetic diagrams which illustrate the section shape of the Optical path hole in the case of detecting an ink residue to a photoelectric method, respectively, the block diagram in which Drawing 4 shows the important section composition of the liquid jet recorder of the present invention, and Drawing 5 are suitable to apply the present invention -- it Liquid jet - shoots and the important section perspective view of a recorder and Drawing 6 are longitudinal sections of the conventional ink residue detecting device. 1 ------- 1 record Henodo and 5A-- -- 11 ---- an ink supply pipe and 6 -.. - and an ink residue detecting device, and 7 -..- one --- an ink tank and 13-- --- 1 Model member and 18.19-- ----- one -- The 1st electrode pair and 42.43.52.53-- -.. the [ - ] -- the electrode pair of two. Representative Patent attorney Drawing 1 of Yasutake Oto Drawing 2 25 When 4 Written Amendment (Spontaneity) 3. Those who do a ?+ii positive Relation with an incident Applicant for a patent 5, object of amendment DRAWINGS 6, the contents of amendment - (1) "Is" between 3rd page of specification "Drawing 5" and the "present invention" of the 7th line -- "-- (-- A) and Drawing 5 (B) -- respectively -- " -- change. (2) said -- join '(A) J in between of "it being alike and setting" with "Drawing 5" of page [ 3rd ] of the 9th line. (3) Insert '(A) J between "Drawing 5" and "Configuration" of the 4th page of the 17th line. (4) Join the next explanation between the 5th page of the 4th line, and the page of the 5th line. "Drawing 5 (B) shows another form which changed some liquid jet recorders which explained Drawing 5 (A) above. In Drawing 5 (A), the difference between Drawing 5 (A) and Drawing 5 (B) is at the point that ink supply pipe 5A, the ink machine, and M detecting device 6 are separately connected with ink tank 7 in Drawing 5 (B), while ink residue detecting device 6 is connected with ink supply pipe 5A. Therefore, the detailed explanation on the structure about the recorder shown in Drawing 5 (B) is omitted. In Drawing 5 (B), one exit of ink residue detecting device 6 is taken up, and has structure which ink does not leak. In the case of Drawing 5 (B), since the pressure fluctuation of ink residue detecting device 6 does not get across to the ink in ink supply pipe 5A, when performing stable residue detection recorded or stabilized seven, it is more advantageous than the case of Drawing 5 (A). however, in the case of the form shown in Drawing 5 (B), all problems were not canceled when performing stable residue detection recorded or stabilized. " (5) -- said -- "(A) and Drawing 5 (B)" are joined between "" (Drawing 5" -- ") of the 13th page [ 5th ] line. (6) " (A) and Drawing 5 (B) change "Is" between "Drawing 5" and a "misfire" of the 19th page of the 2nd line into j, respectively. (7) Join "of" after one important section of the 19th page of the 3rd line." (8) Substitute One in a Me side - Drawing 5" for "Drawings 5 and 5 (B) (A)" of this book attachment. Above Drawing 5 (△)