Liquid supply unit and printing system

Abstract

The utility model relates to a liquid supply unit and a printing system, the liquid supply unit comprises a main tank, a main supply channel, an auxiliary tank and an auxiliary supply channel, the main tank is provided with a supplementing hole and a first outlet, the supplementing hole is used for supplementing liquid in a liquid supplementing container into the main tank, and the first outlet is formed in the bottom of the main tank; one end of the main supply channel communicates with the first outlet, and the other end of the main supply channel communicates with the printing head to supply the liquid in the main tank to the printing head; the auxiliary tank is communicated with the main tank; a second outlet is formed in the bottom of the auxiliary tank; one end of the auxiliary supply channel communicates with the second outlet, and the other end communicates with the printing head so as to supply the liquid in the auxiliary tank to the printing head. According to the ink supply device, the auxiliary tank improves the ink containing capacity of the liquid supply unit, and the situation that ink is left after the ink is supplemented to the liquid supply unit by the ink supplementing container is reduced. A user does not need to store the used empty liquid supplementing container, the empty liquid supplementing container can be directly discarded, and the use experience of the user is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of printing technology, and particularly to a liquid supply unit and a printing system. Background Art

[0002] A printing system can eject ink onto a printing medium to form an image on the printing medium. The printing system includes a liquid supply unit and a print head, and the liquid supply unit supplies ink to the print head. When a user finds that the ink in the liquid supply unit is insufficient, the user replenishes the ink to the liquid supply unit through a liquid replenishing container. If there is still ink remaining after the liquid replenishing container replenishes the ink to the liquid supply unit, when the user removes the liquid replenishing container from the liquid supply unit, the ink may overflow and contaminate the printing system. In addition, the user also needs to provide extra space to store the opened liquid replenishing container. Summary of the Utility Model

[0003] The present application provides a liquid supply unit and a printing system for solving the problem that the ink in the liquid replenishing container cannot be completely consumed.

[0004] A liquid supply unit provided by an embodiment of the present application includes:

[0005] A main tank, the main tank is provided with a replenishing hole and a first outlet, the replenishing hole is used to replenish the liquid in the liquid replenishing container into the main tank, and the first outlet is arranged at the bottom of the main tank;

[0006] A main supply channel, one end of the main supply channel is communicated with the first outlet, and the other end is used to be communicated with the print head to supply the liquid in the main tank to the print head;

[0007] A secondary tank, the secondary tank is communicated with the main tank, and a second outlet is arranged at the bottom of the secondary tank;

[0008] A secondary supply channel, one end of the secondary supply channel is communicated with the second outlet, and the other end is used to be communicated with the print head to supply the liquid in the secondary tank to the print head.

[0009] In a possible design, the liquid supply unit further includes a switching component and a common channel, both the main supply channel and the secondary supply channel are communicated with the switching component, one end of the common channel is communicated with the switching component, and the other end is used to be communicated with the print head;

[0010] When there is liquid in the secondary tank, the switching component opens the secondary supply channel and closes the main supply channel; when the liquid in the secondary tank is exhausted, the switching component opens the main supply channel and closes the secondary supply channel.

[0011] In a possible design, a first detecting member for detecting the liquid level in the main tank is provided at the bottom of the main tank, and / or a second detecting member for detecting the liquid level in the secondary tank is provided at the bottom of the secondary tank.

[0012] In a possible design, the main tank has a visible area through which the liquid level in the main tank can be seen.

[0013] In a possible design, the volume of the main tank is larger than the volume of the secondary tank.

[0014] In a possible design, the main tank and the secondary tank have a common side wall, and a communication hole is provided on the common side wall so that the liquid in the main tank can flow into the secondary tank;

[0015] In the height direction of the main tank, the height of the replenishment hole is not lower than the height of the communication hole.

[0016] In a possible design, the main tank and the secondary tank are communicated through a communication pipeline.

[0017] A printing system provided by an embodiment of the present application includes:

[0018] A liquid supply unit, which is the liquid supply unit described above;

[0019] A print head, and the liquid supply unit is communicated with the print head;

[0020] A liquid replenishment container, which can replenish liquid for the liquid supply unit.

[0021] In a possible design, the volume of the liquid replenishment container is smaller than the volume of the main tank.

[0022] In a possible design, the ratio of the volume of the main tank, the volume of the secondary tank, and the volume of the liquid replenishment container is: 1.5:1:1.

[0023] In the present application, the secondary tank is communicated with the main tank so that the ink in the secondary tank can flow into the main tank, and the ink in the main tank can flow into the secondary tank. If the user replenishes ink into the main tank through the liquid replenishment container when there is still a large amount of ink remaining in the main tank, a part of the ink can flow from the main tank into the secondary tank. Therefore, the secondary tank improves the ink storage capacity of the liquid supply unit and reduces the situation where there is remaining ink after the liquid replenishment container replenishes ink into the liquid supply unit. At the same time, the user does not need to store the used empty liquid replenishment container and can directly discard the empty liquid replenishment container, improving the user experience.

[0024] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and do not limit the present application. Description of the Drawings

[0025] Figure 1 FIG. is a schematic structural diagram of the liquid supply unit provided by the present application in a specific embodiment;

[0026] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of the liquid supply unit in

[0027] Reference Numerals:

[0028] 1 - Liquid supply unit;

[0029] 11 - Main tank;

[0030] 111 - First outlet;

[0031] 112 - Supplementary hole;

[0032] 113 - First detection member;

[0033] 12 - Sub - tank;

[0034] 121 - Second outlet;

[0035] 122 - Second detection member;

[0036] 13 - Main supply channel;

[0037] 14 - Sub - supply channel;

[0038] 15 - Switch component;

[0039] 16 - Common channel;

[0040] 17 - Connecting hole.

[0041] The drawings herein are incorporated into the specification and form a part of the specification, showing embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the specification, are used to explain the principles of the present application. Detailed Embodiments

[0042] To better understand the technical solutions of the present application, the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0043] It should be clear that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in the present application without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present application.

[0044] The terms used in the embodiments of the present application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present application. The singular forms "a", "the" and "said" used in the embodiments of the present application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0045] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used herein is merely a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " herein generally represents an "or" relationship between the front and rear associated objects.

[0046] It should be noted that the orientation terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", and "right" described in the embodiments of the present application are described from the perspective shown in the drawings and should not be construed as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application. In addition, in the context, it should also be understood that when it is mentioned that an element is connected "above" or "below" another element, it can not only be directly connected "above" or "below" another element, but also be indirectly connected "above" or "below" another element through an intermediate element.

[0047] The present application provides a printing system, which includes: a liquid supply unit 1, a print head, and a liquid replenishment container. The liquid supply unit 1 is in communication with the print head and can supply liquid to the print head. The print head sprays the liquid onto the print medium in a preset shape to form an image on the print medium. The liquid replenishment container can replenish liquid to the liquid supply unit 1 so that the printing system can continuously perform printing. Among them, the liquids stored in the liquid supply unit 1 and the liquid replenishment container are both ink.

[0048] Specifically, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the liquid supply unit 1 includes: a main tank 11 and a main supply channel 13. The main tank 11 is provided with a replenishment hole 112 and a first outlet 111. The replenishment hole 112 is used to replenish the liquid in the liquid replenishment container into the main tank 11, and the first outlet 111 is provided at the bottom of the main tank 11; one end of the main supply channel 13 is in communication with the first outlet 111, and the other end is in communication with the print head to supply the liquid in the main tank 11 to the print head.

[0049] The ink in the main tank 11 can flow out from the first outlet 111 into the main supply channel 13 and then into the print head, realizing the supply mode for the print head. Since the first outlet 111 is provided at the bottom of the main tank 11, almost all the ink in the main tank 11 can flow out from the first outlet 111 under the action of gravity. The replenishment hole 112 is provided at the top position of the main tank 11 to facilitate the liquid replenishment container to replenish ink into the main tank 11. It can be understood that the first outlet 111 can be opened at the bottom surface or the bottom of the side surface of the main tank 11.

[0050] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the liquid supply unit 1 further includes: a sub-tank 12 and a sub-supply channel 14. The sub-tank 12 is communicated with the main tank 11, and a second outlet 121 is provided at the bottom of the sub-tank 12; one end of the sub-supply channel 14 is communicated with the second outlet 121, and the other end is used to be communicated with the print head to supply the liquid in the sub-tank 12 to the print head.

[0051] The ink in the sub-tank 12 can flow out from the second outlet 121 into the sub-supply channel 14 and then into the print head, realizing the supply of ink to the print head. Since the second outlet 121 is provided at the bottom of the sub-tank 12, almost all the ink in the sub-tank 12 can flow out from the second outlet 121 under the action of gravity. It can be understood that the second outlet 121 is provided at the bottom surface or the bottom of the side surface of the sub-tank 12.

[0052] The sub-tank 12 is communicated with the main tank 11, so that the ink in the sub-tank 12 can flow into the main tank 11, and the ink in the main tank 11 can flow into the sub-tank 12. If the user replenishes ink into the main tank 11 through the liquid replenishment container when there is still a large amount of ink remaining in the main tank 11, a part of the ink can flow from the main tank 11 into the sub-tank 12. Therefore, the sub-tank 12 improves the ink holding capacity of the liquid supply unit 1 and reduces the situation that there is remaining ink after the liquid replenishment container replenishes ink into the liquid supply unit 1. At the same time, the user does not need to store the used empty liquid replenishment container and can directly discard the empty liquid replenishment container, improving the user experience.

[0053] More specifically, as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown in the figure, the liquid supply unit 1 further includes a switching member 15 and a common passage 16. Both the main supply passage 13 and the sub-supply passage 14 communicate with the switching member 15. One end of the common passage 16 communicates with the switching member 15, and the other end is used to communicate with the print head. That is, the liquid in both the main supply passage 13 and the sub-supply passage 14 is supplied to the print head through the common passage 16. When the main tank 11 supplies liquid to the print head, the flow sequence of the liquid is: main tank 11 - first outlet 111 - main supply passage 13 - switching member 15 - common passage 16 - print head. When the sub-tank 12 supplies liquid to the print head, the flow sequence of the liquid is: sub-tank 12 - second outlet 121 - sub-supply passage 14 - switching member 15 - common passage 16 - print head.

[0054] The switching member 15 can open or close the communication between the main supply passage 13 and the common passage 16, and the switching member can open or close the communication between the sub-supply passage 14 and the common passage 16.

[0055] When there is liquid in the sub-tank 12, the switching member 15 opens the sub-supply passage 14 and closes the main supply passage 13; when the liquid in the sub-tank 12 is exhausted, the switching member 15 opens the main supply passage 13 and closes the sub-supply passage 14.

[0056] That is, when the liquid supply unit 1 supplies ink to the print head, it first consumes the ink in the sub-tank 12. At this time, the switching member 15 is in the first state, the sub-supply passage 14 communicates with the common passage 16, and the main supply passage 13 does not communicate with the common passage 16; after the ink in the sub-tank 12 is consumed, it then consumes the ink in the main tank 11. At this time, the switching member 15 is in the second state, the main supply passage 13 communicates with the common passage 16, and the sub-supply passage 14 does not communicate with the common passage 16. Among them, the switching member 15 can be a three-way valve.

[0057] In the prior art, a liquid supply unit with both a main tank and a sub-tank generally uses the ink in the main tank to supply ink to the print head first. When the user sees that the ink level in the main tank is low, the user replenishes the main tank, resulting in the ink in the sub-tank not being used all the time. The ink stored in the sub-tank for a long time will produce deposits or impurities. When the ink in the main tank is exhausted and the user forgets to replenish it, the ink in the sub-tank supplies ink to the print head. The deposits or impurities in the sub-tank are likely to block the liquid outlet of the sub-tank and the print head, and the printing effect of the ink that has not been used for a long time is poor.

[0058] Therefore, the liquid supply unit 1 in this embodiment can prevent the situation that some ink is stored for a long time and deposits or has impurities, and then blocks the liquid outlet or the print head by consuming the ink in the sub-tank 12 first and then the ink in the main tank 11.

[0059] Furthermore, a first detector 113 for detecting the liquid level in the main tank 11 is provided at the bottom of the main tank 11, and / or a second detector 122 for detecting the liquid level in the secondary tank 12 is provided at the bottom of the secondary tank 12.

[0060] The liquid supply unit 1 has a control unit (not shown in the figure). The second detector 122 can send the detected ink level condition in the secondary tank 12 to the control unit, and the control unit can adjust the state of the switch member 15 according to the ink level condition in the secondary tank 12.

[0061] Specifically, when the second detector 122 detects that the ink in the secondary tank 12 is not exhausted, the control unit adjusts the switch member 15 to the first state; when the second detector 122 detects that the ink in the secondary tank 12 is exhausted, the control unit adjusts the switch member to the second state.

[0062] The liquid supply unit 1 has a display lamp. The first detector 113 can send the detected ink level condition in the main tank 11 to the control unit, and the control unit can adjust the lighting or extinguishing of the display lamp according to the ink level condition in the main tank 11. When the display lamp is on, it indicates that there is a lack of ink in the liquid supply unit 1; when the display lamp is off, it indicates that there is ink stored in the liquid level supply unit 1.

[0063] Specifically, when the first detector 113 detects that the ink in the main tank 11 is not exhausted, the control unit adjusts the display lamp to the off state; when the first detector 113 detects that the ink in the main tank 11 is exhausted, the control unit adjusts the display lamp to the on state.

[0064] Furthermore, the main tank 11 has a visible area through which the liquid level in the main tank 11 can be seen, so that the user can understand the ink situation stored in the main tank 11 by observation to determine whether it is necessary to replenish ink to the main tank 11.

[0065] Specifically, at least part of the main tank 11 can be made of a light-transmitting material.

[0066] Optionally, the volume of the liquid replenishment container is smaller than the volume of the main tank 11, so that when there is still some ink remaining in the main tank 11, the main tank 11 has the ability to hold all the ink in the liquid replenishment container, and the ink replenishment container can pour all the ink it stores into the main tank 11.

[0067] Optionally, the volume of the main tank 11 is larger than the volume of the secondary tank 12. Since the main tank 11 is the main working tank of the liquid supply unit 1 and the secondary tank 12 is the secondary working tank of the liquid supply unit 1, it is reasonable that the volume of the main tank 11 is larger than the volume of the secondary tank 12.

[0068] Optionally, the ratio of the volume of the main tank 11, the volume of the auxiliary tank 12, and the volume of the liquid replenishment container is: 1.5:1:1. That is, when there is still some ink remaining in the main tank 11, the liquid supply unit 1 still has the ability to hold all the ink in at least two liquid replenishment containers, making the ink-holding capacity of the liquid supply unit 1 relatively strong.

[0069] It can be understood that the ratio of the volume of the main tank 11, the volume of the auxiliary tank 12, and the volume of the liquid replenishment container can also be other values. For example: 1.4:1:1, 1.3:1:1, 1.5:0.9:1, 1.4:0.9:1, 1.5:0.8:1, etc.

[0070] In a specific embodiment, as Figure 2 shown, the main tank 11 and the auxiliary tank 12 have a common side wall, and a communication hole 17 is provided on the common side wall to enable the liquid in the main tank 11 to flow into the auxiliary tank 12.

[0071] In this embodiment, the main tank 11 and the auxiliary tank 12 share a common side wall, making the overall volume of the liquid supply unit 1 relatively small, which is beneficial to the miniaturization of the printing system. The communication hole 17 is provided on the common side wall, making the liquid supply unit 1 have the advantages of simple structure and easy production.

[0072] Furthermore, in the height direction of the main tank 11, the height of the replenishment hole 112 is not lower than the height of the communication hole 17. Thus, when replenishing ink to the liquid supply unit 1 through the liquid replenishment container, when the ink level in the main tank 11 reaches the height where the communication hole 17 is located, the liquid replenishment container can still pour ink into the main tank 11. At this time, the ink entering the main tank 11 enters the auxiliary tank 12 through the communication hole 17, and further enables the liquid replenishment container to pour all the liquid it holds into the liquid supply unit 1.

[0073] Even further, the replenishment hole 112 is provided at a relatively high position in the height direction of the main tank 11 to make the main tank 11 the main working tank of the liquid supply unit 1.

[0074] In another specific embodiment, the main tank 11 and the auxiliary tank 12 are connected through a communication pipe, that is, the main tank 11 and the auxiliary tank 12 can be separately arranged. In the height direction of the main tank 11, the connection position of the communication pipe with the main tank 11 is relatively high, but lower than the height of the replenishment hole 112, to prevent the replenished ink from not being able to flow into the auxiliary tank 12 when there is more ink in the main tank 11.

[0075] It can be understood that the height of the connection position of the communication pipe with the auxiliary tank 12 is not higher than the height of the connection position of the communication pipe with the main tank 11, to prevent more ink from not being able to flow into the auxiliary tank 12 when there is more ink in the main tank 11.

[0076] In addition, in addition to being arranged adjacent to each other at the same height position, the main tank 11 and the auxiliary tank 12 can also be arranged at different height positions, for example, the main tank 11 and the auxiliary tank 12 are arranged one above the other.

[0077] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application can have various changes and modifications. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A liquid supply unit, characterized in that, The liquid supply unit (1) includes: A main tank (11) provided with a replenishment hole (112) and a first outlet (111). The replenishment hole (112) is used to replenish the liquid in the liquid replenishment container into the main tank (11), and the first outlet (111) is provided at the bottom of the main tank (11); A main supply channel (13) with one end communicating with the first outlet (111) and the other end for communicating with a print head to supply the liquid in the main tank (11) to the print head; A sub-tank (12) communicating with the main tank (11), and a second outlet (121) is provided at the bottom of the sub-tank (12); A sub-supply channel (14) with one end communicating with the second outlet (121) and the other end for communicating with a print head to supply the liquid in the sub-tank (12) to the print head.

2. The liquid supply unit according to claim 1, wherein The liquid supply unit (1) further includes a switch component (15) and a common channel (16). Both the main supply channel (13) and the sub-supply channel (14) communicate with the switch component (15), and one end of the common channel (16) communicates with the switch component (15) and the other end is for communicating with the print head; When there is liquid in the sub-tank (12), the switch component (15) opens the sub-supply channel (14) and closes the main supply channel (13); when the liquid in the sub-tank (12) is exhausted, the switch component (15) opens the main supply channel (13) and closes the sub-supply channel (14).

3. The liquid supply unit according to claim 1, wherein A first detection member (113) for detecting the liquid level in the main tank (11) is provided at the bottom of the main tank (11), and / or a second detection member (122) for detecting the liquid level in the sub-tank (12) is provided at the bottom of the sub-tank (12).

4. The liquid supply unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main tank (11) has a visible area through which the liquid level in the main tank (11) can be seen.

5. The liquid supply unit according to claim 1, wherein The volume of the main tank (11) is larger than the volume of the sub-tank (12).

6. The liquid supply unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The main tank (11) and the sub-tank (12) have a common side wall, and a communication hole (17) is provided on the common side wall to enable the liquid in the main tank (11) to flow into the sub-tank (12); In the height direction of the main tank (11), the height of the replenishment hole (112) is not lower than the height of the communication hole (17).

7. The liquid supply unit according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The main tank (11) and the sub-tank (12) are communicated through a communication pipeline.

8. A printing system, characterized in that, The printing system includes: A liquid supply unit (1), and the liquid supply unit (1) is the liquid supply unit according to any one of claims 1-7; A print head, and the liquid supply unit (1) communicates with the print head; A liquid replenishment container, and the liquid replenishment container can replenish liquid for the liquid supply unit (1).

9. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein The volume of the liquid replenishment container is smaller than the volume of the main tank (11).

10. The printing system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The ratio of the volume of the main tank (11), the volume of the auxiliary tank (12), and the volume of the liquid replenishment container is: 1.5:1:1.

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