Inkjet image forming apparatus

Abstract

The invention provides an inkjet image forming apparatus capable of suppressing misoperation when a joint is connected to a discharge port of an ink container. An image forming apparatus includes an ink container, a tube, a joint, a tray, and a handle. The ink container accommodates ink supplied to the inkjet head. The tube connects the ink container and the ink jet head. The joint is provided at one end of the tube and is detachably connected to the discharge port of the ink container. The tray enters and exits the accommodating portion along a predetermined pull-out direction, and the ink container is placed on the tray such that the discharge port faces the front side of the eye in the pull-out direction. And the handle is arranged on the surface of the tray on the front side of the eye in the pulling-out direction. In a state in which the ink container is housed in the housing portion and the joint is connected to the discharge port, the handle is disposed rearward of the tube or the joint in the pull-out direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inkjet image forming apparatus for forming an image using ink supplied from an ink container. Background Art

[0002] In an inkjet image forming apparatus, ink is supplied from an ink container to an inkjet head. The inkjet head and the ink container are connected by a tube. One end of the tube is fixed to the inkjet head. A joint is installed at the other end of the tube and is detachably connected to the discharge port of the ink container.

[0003] Generally, the ink container is placed on a tray that can be pulled out from the receiving portion. If the tray is pulled out when replacing the ink container, the discharge port of the ink container is separated from the joint. When a new ink container is placed on the tray and the tray is pushed into the receiving portion, the discharge port of the ink container is automatically connected to the joint.

[0004] In this way, in the image forming apparatus, the discharge port of the ink container and the joint are connected by pushing the tray into the receiving portion. In this case, from the user's point of view, since the discharge port and the joint are arranged on the far side (rear side) of the ink container, it is difficult to confirm whether the two are properly connected. Therefore, if the axis of the discharge port and the joint deviates or the tray is not pushed in with sufficient force, a poor connection may occur, resulting in ink leakage and other problems.

[0005] On the other hand, when the user manually connects the connector to the discharge port, it is easy to make mistakes such as pulling the tray out of the storage unit without detaching the connector or pushing the tray into the storage unit without connecting the connector. Summary of the invention

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet image forming apparatus capable of suppressing erroneous operation when connecting a joint to a discharge port of an ink container.

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the image forming device of the present invention includes: an ink container for storing ink supplied to an inkjet head; a tube for connecting the ink container and the inkjet head; a joint provided at one end of the tube and detachably connected to a discharge port of the ink container; a tray for entering and exiting the storage portion along a predetermined pulling direction, the ink container being placed on the tray in such a way that the discharge port faces the front side in the pulling direction; and a handle provided on the surface of the tray on the front side in the pulling direction, wherein, when the ink container is stored in the storage portion and the joint is connected to the discharge port, the handle is arranged at a position further back in the pulling direction than the tube or the joint.

[0008] According to the present invention, since the tray cannot be pulled out unless the joint is detached from the discharge port, it is possible to prevent the tray from being pulled out in a state where the joint is connected to the discharge port of the ink container.

[0009] This specification is presented in a simplified form, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings, to summarize the concepts described in the following detailed description. This specification is not intended to limit the important features and essential features of the subject matter described in the claims, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the subject matter described in the claims. In addition, the subject matter described in the claims is not limited to implementations that solve some or all of the disadvantages described in any part of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 It is a front view schematically showing the internal structure of an inkjet image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing a housing of an inkjet image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 3 This is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover of a storage section is opened in the inkjet image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing a state where a joint is removed from a discharge port of an ink container in an inkjet image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 5 This is a perspective view showing a state where a tray is pulled out in the inkjet image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 6 This is a perspective view showing an ink container in an inkjet image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Hereinafter, an inkjet image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] First, refer to Figure 1 The overall structure of the inkjet image forming apparatus 1 will be described. Figure 1 1 is a front view schematically showing the internal structure of the image forming apparatus 1. In each figure, L, R, Fr, and Rr represent left, right, front, and rear, respectively.

[0018] The inkjet image forming apparatus 1 includes a housing 3 having a rectangular parallelepiped hollow portion. Figure 2 Frame 3 is described. Figure 2 3 is a perspective view showing the frame 3. The frame 3 comprises: four pillars 5, which are respectively arranged at the four corners of the hollow part (front left corner, front right corner, rear left corner, and rear right corner); a rectangular upper frame 7, which is connected to the upper ends of the four pillars 5; and a rectangular lower frame 9, which is connected to the lower ends of the four pillars 5. The hollow part is divided into an upper hollow part S1 and a lower hollow part S2 by a partition 11 along a horizontal plane (also refer to Figure 1 ).

[0019] First, the upper hollow portion S1 is described. The upper hollow portion S1 is surrounded on all sides by front and rear side panels and left and right side panels. An opening (not shown) that is long in the left-right direction is formed on the front side side panel. The opening is closed by the upper cover 13 so that it can be opened and closed. Figure 1 As shown, the head unit 17 and the conveying unit 19 are housed in the upper hollow portion S1. The head unit 17 is housed above the upper hollow portion S1. The conveying unit 19 is housed below the upper hollow portion S1 through the opening of the side plate on the front side.

[0020] First, refer to Figure 1 The head unit 17 is described. The head unit 17 includes four inkjet heads 21 corresponding to yellow, black, cyan, and magenta inks. The four inkjet heads 21 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction. Each inkjet head 21 includes three recording heads and a support plate (all not shown) that supports the three recording heads.

[0021] The recording head includes a plurality of nozzles (not shown) to which ink is supplied and a piezoelectric element (not shown) provided in each nozzle. The ejection ports of the plurality of nozzles are opened on the lower surface of the recording head. By driving the piezoelectric element, the ink in the nozzle is ejected downward from the ejection port.

[0022] Next, refer to Figure 1 The conveying unit 19 is described. The conveying unit 19 includes: an endless conveying belt 31; a driving roller 33A and a driven roller 33B around which the conveying belt 31 is wound. The conveying belt 31 is formed with a plurality of through holes that penetrate in the thickness direction. The conveying belt 31 is moved in a direction by the rotation of the driving roller 33A. Figure 1 The recording medium is moved along the conveyor belt 31 running along the upper running track. Figure 1 The conveying direction is from the right side to the left side.

[0023] A conveyor plate 35, a plurality of adsorption spaces 37, and a plurality of adsorption devices 39 are arranged in the hollow portion of the conveyor belt 31. The conveyor plate 35 is arranged between the driving roller 33A and the driven roller 33B in such a manner as to contact the inner side surface of the conveyor belt 31 traveling along the upper travel track. The conveyor plate 35 is provided with a plurality of through holes penetrating in the thickness direction. A plurality of adsorption spaces 37 are arranged below the conveyor plate 35 along the conveying direction. The adsorption device 39 is arranged in the adsorption space 37 so that a negative pressure is generated in the adsorption space 37. If the adsorption space 37 becomes negative pressure, a negative pressure is generated in the through holes of the conveyor plate 35 and the through holes of the conveyor belt 31 traveling along the upper travel track, so that the recording medium is adsorbed to the conveyor belt 31.

[0024] Next, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 to Figure 5 The lower hollow portion S2 will be described. Figure 3 to Figure 5 1 is a perspective view showing a receiving portion 41 provided in the lower hollow portion S2. The receiving portion 41 is provided in the lower hollow portion S2, and the receiving portion 41 receives an ink container for receiving ink supplied to the recording head of the inkjet head 21 of the head unit 17, and a cleaning liquid container for receiving cleaning liquid for cleaning the nozzle surface of the recording head.

[0025] The left and right sides and the rear of the lower hollow portion S2 are covered by the left and right side panels and the rear side panel. Twelve receiving portions 41 are provided in the lower hollow portion S2. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the receiving section 41 is arranged in three layers in the vertical direction and in four rows in the horizontal direction. The receiving section 41 is surrounded by an upper plate and a bottom plate opposite to each other in the vertical direction, and left and right side plates and a rear plate opposite to each other in the horizontal direction, and has an opening 41a in the front (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 3 to Figure 5 )'s rectangular hollow portion.

[0026] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the opening 41a in front of the receiving portion 41 is opened and closed by a cover 43. The cover 43 is supported so as to be rotatable around a rotation fulcrum provided on the left side plate of the receiving portion 41. The cover 43 has: a front plate 43a that can close the opening 41a; and an upper plate 43b that is bent backward (toward the inner side of the receiving portion 41) from the upper edge of the front plate 43a. The lower half of the front plate 43a is inclined backward. A concave handle 43c is formed in the inclined lower half. In addition, a cutout 43d is formed in the upper plate 43b from the rear edge to the front.

[0027] like Figure 3 to Figure 5As shown, a flexible tube 45 connected to the corresponding inkjet head 21 is supported on the housing 41. The tube 45 extends from the inkjet head 21 through the partition 11 of the frame 3 to the lower hollow portion S2, passes through the rear plate of the housing 41, and extends forward along the inner surface of the left side plate of the housing 41. A joint 47 that can be connected to the discharge port of the ink container 61 described later is provided at the end of the tube 45.

[0028] like Figure 4 As shown in the figure, the joint 47 is hung on the notch 43d formed on the upper plate 43b of the cover 43 with the connection port facing upward, so that it is detachably supported by the cover 43. At this time, the upper end of the joint 47 protrudes upward from the upper plate 43b of the cover 43. In this way, the notch 43d is an example of a support portion that supports the joint 47 detached from the discharge port of the ink container in the present invention in a manner that a part protrudes from the cover 43.

[0029] like Figure 5 As shown, a tray 49 on which an ink container is placed is supported by each storage section 41. The tray 49 is formed into a box shape with an opening on the top, including a bottom plate, front and rear side plates opposite to each other in the front-to-back direction, and left and right side plates opposite to each other in the left-to-right direction. The left and right side plates of the tray 49 are supported by left and right side plates of the storage section 41 via left and right rails 51 with an introduction mechanism along the front-to-back direction. By moving the tray 49 forward along the left and right rails 51, the tray 49 can be completely pulled out of the storage section 41. On the other hand, by moving the tray 49 backward along the left and right rails 51, the tray 49 can be stored in the storage section 41.

[0030] A cutout 49a extending downward from the upper edge is formed on the front side plate of the tray 49. The width of the cutout 49a becomes narrower as it goes downward. A handle 53 is formed on the front side plate of the tray 49 on the left side (on the left side plate side of the storage portion 41) of the lower end of the cutout 49a.

[0031] Next, refer to Figure 6 The ink container 61 will be described. Figure 6 : is a three-dimensional diagram showing an ink container 61. The ink container 61 is formed into a bag-like shape with a folded portion by joining the edge portions of the upper and lower films 63 and the left and right films 65. A cylindrical discharge port 67 for discharging ink to the outside is provided at one side of the joint portion of the upper and lower films 63. The discharge port 67 is provided with an on-off valve (not shown) for preventing the outflow of ink. If the joint 47 provided at the end of the tube 45 is connected to the discharge port 67, the on-off valve is pushed in by the joint 47, so that the inside of the ink container 61 and the tube 45 are connected via the discharge port 67.

[0032] Reference Figure 3 to Figure 5, an example of the replacement operation of the ink container 61 of the inkjet image forming apparatus 1 having the above-mentioned structure is described. As described above, the ink container 61 is supported by the tray 49 and accommodated in the accommodating portion 41. In detail, Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the ink container 61 is placed on the tray 49 with the discharge port 67 facing forward, and the discharge port 67 is inserted from above into the cutout 49a of the front plate of the tray 49. In this way, the discharge port 67 faces forward (forward in the direction of pulling out the tray 49). The joint 47 provided at the end of the tube 45 is connected to the discharge port 67. That is, the tube 45 is arranged from the inner surface of the left side plate of the storage part 41 along the outer surface of the front plate of the tray 49, and thus the joint 47 is connected to the discharge port 67 from the front.

[0033] If the ink container 61 is empty, for example, an instruction to replace the ink container is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus 1. Figure 3 As shown, the cover 43 is first opened. Next, the user removes the connector 47 from the discharge port 67, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown, the detached joint 47 is temporarily hung on the cutout 43d of the cover 43. If the joint 47 is detached, the discharge port 67 is closed by the on-off valve.

[0034] Then, if Figure 5 As shown, the user holds the handle 53 and pulls the tray 49 forward from the storage portion 41 through the opening 41a. Next, the empty ink container 61 is removed from the tray 49, and a new ink container 61 is placed on the tray 49. Then, the tray 49 is pushed into the storage portion 41, and the joint 47 is removed from the cover 43 and connected to the discharge port 67 of the ink container 61. At this time, since the discharge port 67 is fixed to the cutout 49a of the front plate of the tray 49 and is stable, the joint 47 can be easily connected. Finally, the cover 43 is closed.

[0035] The ink container 61 is replaced as described above, but after the cover 43 is opened ( Figure 3 In the state of the tray 49, the user may accidentally pull out the tray 49 without removing the connector 47. Figure 3 As shown in the figure, since the handle 53 of the tray 49 is arranged behind the tube 45 (behind the pull-out direction of the tray 49), it is difficult to hold the handle 53 in this state. Therefore, the user perceives that the tube 45 exists in front of the handle 53, that is, the joint 47 is not removed from the discharge port 67.

[0036] Furthermore, after replacing the ink container 61, the user may forget to connect the joint 47 to the discharge port 67. In this case, if the tray 49 is pushed into the receiving portion 41 and the cover 43 is closed without the joint 47 being connected, the cover 43 cannot be closed because the joint 47 supported by the cover 43 interferes with the upper side of the opening of the receiving portion 41 (the upper side plate of the receiving portion 41 or the cover 43 of the upper receiving portion 41). As a result, the user notices that the joint 47 is not connected to the discharge port 67.

[0037] As described above, according to the present invention, since the handle 53 of the tray 49 is disposed on the rear side of the tube 45 connected to the ink container 61, the tray 49 cannot be pulled out unless the joint 47 is removed from the discharge port 67. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tray 49 from being pulled out in a state where the joint 47 is connected to the discharge port of the ink container 61.

[0038] In the present embodiment, an example in which the handle 53 is disposed at the rear of the tube 45 has been described. However, for example, when the joint 47 is L-shaped, the handle 53 may be disposed at the rear of the joint 47 .

[0039] Furthermore, the cover 43 cannot be closed while the joint 47 is supported by the cover 43. In other words, the cover 43 cannot be closed unless the joint 47 is connected to the discharge port 67. Therefore, forgetting to connect the joint 47 can be reliably prevented.

[0040] The description of the above embodiment shows one aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0041] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above content, but is defined by the description of the claims, so it can be considered that the embodiments described in this specification are only illustrative, not limiting. Therefore, all changes that do not depart from the scope and limits of the claims, as well as contents that are equivalent to the scope and limits of the claims, are included in the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An image forming device, comprising: An ink container for receiving ink supplied to the inkjet head; a tube connecting the ink container and the inkjet head; a connector, disposed at one end of the tube and detachably connected to the discharge port of the ink container; A tray is provided for entering and exiting the receiving portion along a predetermined pulling direction, and the ink container is placed on the tray in a manner that the discharge port faces the front side of the pulling direction; as well as A handle is provided on the surface of the tray on the front side in the pulling-out direction. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that In a state where the ink container is accommodated in the accommodating portion and the joint is connected to the discharge port, the handle is arranged rearward of the tube or the joint in the pulling direction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A cover for opening and closing the opening of the storage portion is also provided. The cover has a support portion that supports the joint to be removed from the discharge port of the ink container in a manner that a portion thereof protrudes from the cover. In a state where the joint is supported by the support portion, a portion of the joint protruding from the cover interferes with the opening so that the cover cannot close the opening.

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