Liquid storage container, liquid consumption device and recording apparatus

Abstract

To make the sedimentation component concentration of liquid to be supplied to the outside even in a liquid storage container which stores liquid that contains a sedimentation component and can supply the liquid to the outside.SOLUTION: A liquid storage container which stores liquid that contains a sedimentation component and can supply the liquid to the outside comprises: a storage part which stores the liquid; a supply port which opens to the outside of the storage part; a pipeline whose one end is connected to the supply port and whose the other end has a suction port that opens to the inside of the storage part; and agitation means which agitates the liquid stored in the storage part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid storage container, a liquid consumption device, and a recording device.

Background Art

[0002] Among the inks mounted in inkjet recording devices, those using pigment ink are known. Pigment ink has the advantage of high water resistance and light resistance. On the other hand, the pigment components contained in the ink settle in the liquid storage container, and when not used for a long time, the concentration of the pigment components becomes thin at the upper part of the liquid storage container and thick at the lower part, so density unevenness may occur during printing.

[0003] In contrast, a liquid storage container having a first flow path that connects a first suction port located vertically downward in the container and a supply port that supplies the liquid in the container to the outside, and a second flow path that connects a second suction port located vertically upward in the container and the supply port has been proposed (Patent Document 1). In this liquid storage container, the liquid with a low concentration of pigment components flowing in from the first suction port and the liquid with a high concentration of pigment components flowing in from the second suction port are mixed at the supply port and supplied to the outside, aiming to supply a liquid with a uniform concentration of pigment components to the outside.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The vertical distribution of pigment component concentration in a liquid container varies depending on the location within the container. Therefore, in the liquid container described in Patent Document 1, which draws and mixes liquid from specific positions above and below the liquid container in the vertical direction, the pigment component concentration of the liquid supplied to the outside may not be sufficiently uniform. Furthermore, because two flow channels, a first flow channel and a second flow channel, are required, the ratio of the amount of liquid that can be contained to the volume of the container may decrease. The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and aims to make the concentration of sediment component in the liquid supplied to the outside uniform in a liquid container that can contain and supply liquid containing sediment components to the outside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a liquid container that can contain a liquid containing a settling component and can supply the liquid to the outside, A storage section for containing the aforementioned liquid, A supply port opening to the outside of the aforementioned housing section, A pipe having one end connected to the supply port and the other end connected to a suction port opening into the interior of the housing, Equipped with, The device is characterized by comprising a stirring means for stirring the liquid contained in the storage section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention provides a liquid storage container capable of containing and supplying a liquid containing a settling component to the outside, and makes it possible to make the concentration of the settling component in the liquid supplied to the outside uniform. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Schematic perspective view of the recording device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] Schematic perspective view of the tray in Embodiment 1 of the present invention [Figure 3] Schematic perspective view of a liquid container in Example 1 of the present invention [Figure 4] Exploded perspective view of the housing member in Embodiment 1 of the present invention [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view of the housing member in Embodiment 1 of the present invention [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of the suction member in Embodiment 1 of the present invention [Figure 7] This figure shows the state of the liquid during liquid supply in Example 1 of the present invention. [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view of the suction member in Embodiment 2 of the present invention [Figure 9] Cross-sectional view of the suction member in Embodiment 3 of the present invention [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] In the following description, components having the same function will be assigned the same number in the drawings, and their descriptions may be omitted. Each embodiment can be combined or modified as appropriate within the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to these embodiments only. (Example 1)

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of a recording device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The recording device 10 shown in Figure 1 is an example of a recording device that records data onto a recording medium using a liquid supplied by a liquid consumption device equipped with a liquid container of the present invention. The recording device 10 records data onto the recording medium 108 by repeatedly performing reciprocating movement of the recording head 101 in the X direction (main scan) and transport of the recording medium 108, such as a sheet, in the Y direction at predetermined pitches (sub-scan). The recording device 10 selectively ejects multiple colored liquids (pigment inks) from the recording head 101 in synchronization with these movements and causes them to land on the recording medium 108, thereby forming characters, symbols, images, etc. on the recording medium 108. Any material that can form an image by landing ink droplets can be used as the recording medium 108. For example, various materials and forms such as paper, cloth, optical disc label surfaces, plastic sheets, OHP sheets, and envelopes can be used as the recording medium 108.

[0012] In Figure 1, the recording head 101 is slidably supported on two guide rails extending in the X direction and is detachably mounted on a carriage 102 that moves linearly back and forth along the guide rails in the X direction by a drive means such as a motor (not shown). The recording medium 108 is transported in the Y direction, which intersects the direction of movement of the carriage 102 (X direction), by a transport roller 103, which is a transport means, while facing the liquid discharge surface of the liquid discharge section of the recording head 101. In this way, the recording medium 108 receives the liquid discharged from the recording head 101.

[0013] The recording head 101 has multiple nozzle rows for dispensing liquids of different colors, each serving as a liquid discharge unit. Multiple independent trays 106, corresponding to the multiple colors of liquid discharged from the recording head 101, are detachably attached to the liquid supply unit 105. The liquid supply unit 105 and the recording head 101 are connected by multiple liquid supply tubes 107, each corresponding to one of the trays 106. The trays 106 house the liquid containers 1, which will be described later. By attaching the trays 106 to the liquid supply unit 105, it becomes possible to independently supply the liquids of each color contained inside the liquid containers 1 to each nozzle row of the recording head 101.

[0014] In the non-recording area A, which is within the reciprocating movement range of the recording head 101 in the X direction and outside the passage range of the recording medium 108, the recovery unit 104 is positioned facing the liquid ejection surface of the recording head 101. The recovery unit 104 has a cap portion for capping the liquid ejection surface of the recording head 101, and forcibly removes the liquid ejection port surface while it is capped. It has a suction mechanism for sucking liquid, a cleaning blade for wiping the dirt on the liquid ejection surface, etc. The above-described suction operation is performed by the recovery unit 104 prior to the recording operation of the recording apparatus 10. Thereby, even when the recording apparatus 10 is operated after not being used for a long time, the recovery unit 104 performs a recovery process, so that residual bubbles in the liquid ejection portion of the recording head 101 and thickened liquid near the nozzle can be removed. Thereby, fluctuations in the ejection characteristics of the recording head 101 can be suppressed.

[0015] The recording apparatus 10 has a control unit 109 that controls the operations of each part of the recording apparatus 10. The control unit 109 includes a CPU not shown, a memory that stores programs and the like, an input / output circuit, and the like. The control unit 109 includes reception of data such as images to be recorded on the recording medium 108 from an external device, operation of a motor that drives the carriage 102 and the conveyance roller 103, an input / output circuit that performs a liquid ejection operation by the recording head 101, and the like. In particular, the control unit 109 of the first embodiment controls energization to the thin coil 64, which is a magnetic field generating member provided in the liquid storage container 1 stored in the tray 106, and the supply operation of the liquid from the liquid storage container 1 to the recording head 101.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the structure of the trays 106 of each color installed in the liquid supply unit 105 of the recording apparatus 10. The liquid storage container 1 is stored in the tray 106.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the liquid storage container 1. The liquid storage container 1 stores ink, which is a liquid containing a pigment component as a sediment component, and can supply the ink to the outside (recording head 101). The liquid storage container 1 has a storage member 3 for storing the liquid, an opening 9 through which a spout (not shown) is inserted, a substrate 7 for exchanging power and information with the outside, and a connection portion 8 with the liquid supply unit 105.

[0018] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the containment member 3. Figure 5(a) is a top view of the containment member 3 as seen from above in the vertical direction (Z direction in Figure 1) when in use, Figure 5(b) is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 5(a), and Figure 5(c) is a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 5(b). As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the containment member 3 comprises a containment section 2 for containing liquid, a spout 4 which is a supply port opening to the outside of the containment section 2, a pipe 5 with one end connected to the spout 4 and the other end connected to a suction port which will be described later and opens to the inside of the containment section 2, and a suction member 6 having a suction port.

[0019] Figure 6(a) is a top view of the suction member 6 in the liquid container 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, viewed from above in the vertical direction (Z direction in Figure 1) when in use. Figure 6(b) is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 6(a), and Figure 6(c) is a front view of Figure 6(a) viewed from the Y direction. The suction member 6 has a suction port 60 that opens at a position below in the vertical direction when the liquid container 1 is in use, inside the storage section 2. The suction member 6 also has a thin coil 64 that is provided above the suction port 60 in the vertical direction when the liquid container 1 is in use, near the suction port 60. Wiring 65 made of a flexible substrate or the like is connected to the thin coil 64 to supply power from the outside. The thin coil 64 is a magnetic field generating member that generates a magnetic field by energizing through the wiring 65. The suction member 6 has a support section 68 that supports the wiring 65. The suction member 6 is provided at one end of the support section 68, and a spout 4 is provided at the other end. The wiring 65 is connected to a power supply (not shown) of the recording device 10 via the substrate 7 of the liquid container 1. The suction member 6 has a slit 63 formed by multiple gaps 67 extending in the X and Z directions arranged in the Y direction. The liquid container 1 of Embodiment 1 has one pipe 5.

[0020] When a liquid is drawn in through the suction port 60, a magnetic field is generated by passing current through the thin coil 64, which agitates the liquid inside the storage section 2. In other words, the thin coil 64 is an agitation means for agitating the liquid stored in the storage section 2, and in Embodiment 1, the agitation means is provided near the suction port 60 and has a thin coil 64, which is a magnetic field generating member that generates a magnetic field when current is passed through it.

[0021] When the control unit 109 of the recording device 10 performs a supply operation to draw liquid from the liquid container 1 stored in the tray 106 and supply it to the recording head 101, it first energizes the thin coil 64 to perform an agitation operation of the liquid contained in the liquid container 1. After performing the agitation operation, it starts the supply operation. This ensures that the pigment components contained in the liquid in the liquid container 1 are uniformly dispersed before the start of the supply operation, thus ensuring a uniform concentration of pigment components in the liquid drawn from the suction port 60. Furthermore, after the start of the liquid supply operation, the control unit 109 intermittently performs an agitation operation while the supply operation is in progress. For example, while the supply operation is being performed, the agitation operation is repeated for a predetermined first hour, with a predetermined second hour interval between each. The control unit 109 energizes the thin coil 64 during the first hour and stops energizing the thin coil 64 during the second hour. The first and second hours may be fixed values ​​or variable values ​​depending on the size of the recording medium 108 and the content of the recording, such as images. The first and second hours may be determined based on experimental observations of the sedimentation rate of the pigment components and the degree of diffusion of the pigment components due to the magnetic field generated by the thin coil 64, as well as theoretical calculations. By setting the second hour to zero, the thin coil 64 may be energized continuously during the supply operation to keep the stirring operation running.

[0022] This allows a liquid with a uniform pigment component concentration to be supplied to the outside of the liquid container 1 (recording head 101). Furthermore, since the liquid container 1 of Example 1 has only one pipe 5 connecting the inside of the storage section 2 and the spout 4, the ratio of the amount of liquid that can be stored to the volume of the liquid container 1 can be improved.

[0023] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the liquid in the storage section 2 of the liquid storage container 1 when the control unit 109 performs a liquid supply operation in the recording device 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 7(a) shows the state in which the pigment component 66 has settled in the liquid in the storage section 2 when the liquid supply operation has not been performed for some time. Figure 7(b) shows the state in which the pigment component 66 is diffused in the liquid by performing an stirring operation in which a magnetic field is generated by energizing the thin coil 64 and stirring the liquid near the thin coil 64 before the supply operation is performed. Figure 7(c) shows the state in which the stirring operation is stopped and the supply operation is started by stopping the energization of the thin coil 64 and stopping the generation of the magnetic field. In Figure 7(c), the arrows indicate the movement of the liquid and pigment component 66 being sucked into the suction port 60. The concentration of the pigment component 66 in the liquid around the thin coil 64 provided near the suction port 60 is made uniform by the stirring operation, and the liquid with a uniform concentration of pigment component 66 is sucked into the suction port 60. Figures 7(d) to 7(f) show the subsequent continuous supply operation. Figure 7(d) shows that the settled pigment components 66 have begun to diffuse to some extent due to the stirring effect of the liquid in the storage section 2 caused by the suction of liquid from the suction port 60. Figure 7(e) shows the state after two hours have passed since the stirring operation stopped in Figure 7(c), and the stirring operation has started again. The stirring operation has caused the settled pigment components 66 in the storage section 2 to diffuse even further. Figure 7(f) shows the state after one hour has passed since the start of the stirring operation in Figure 7(e), and the stirring operation has stopped. In this way, by intermittently performing the stirring operation during the supply operation, the pigment components 66 in the liquid near the suction port 60 in the storage section 2 are effectively diffused, so that a liquid with a uniform concentration of pigment components 66 can be supplied to the outside (recording head 101).

[0024] (Example 2) Figure 8(a) is a top view of the liquid container 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, viewed from above in the vertical direction (Z direction in Figure 1) when the suction member 6 is in use; Figure 8(b) is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 8(a); and Figure 8(c) is a front view of Figure 8(a) viewed from the Y direction. Compared to the configuration of Embodiment 1, in the liquid container 1 of Embodiment 2, the suction member 6 has a suction port 60 that opens at an upward position in the vertical direction when the liquid container 1 is in use, inside the storage section 2. The suction member 6 also has a thin coil 64 located near the suction port 60, positioned downward in the vertical direction when the liquid container 1 is in use relative to the suction port 60. Other configurations are the same as in Embodiment 1. Since they are similar, I will omit a detailed explanation.

[0025] Similar to Example 1, when liquid is drawn in from the suction port 60, a magnetic field is generated by energizing the thin coil 64, and the liquid inside the containment section 2 is agitated. This allows a liquid with a uniform pigment component concentration to be supplied to the outside of the liquid containment container 1 (recording head 101). Furthermore, since the liquid containment container 1 of Example 1 has only one pipe 5 connecting the inside of the containment section 2 and the spout 4, the ratio of the amount of liquid that can be contained to the volume of the liquid containment container 1 can be improved.

[0026] (Example 3) Figure 9(a) is a top view of the liquid container 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, viewed from above in the vertical direction (Z direction in Figure 1) when the suction member 6 is in use; Figure 9(b) is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 9(a); and Figure 9(c) is a front view of Figure 9(a) viewed from the Y direction. Compared to the configurations of Embodiments 1 and 2, the liquid container 1 of Embodiment 3 has a plurality of pipes, a first pipe 51 and a second pipe 52, as the suction member 6. One end of the first pipe 51 is connected to the spout 4, and the other end is connected to a first suction port 61 that opens at an upper position in the vertical direction when the liquid container 1 is in use inside the storage section 2. One end of the second pipe 52 is connected to the spout 4, and the other end is connected to a second suction port 62 that opens at a lower position in the vertical direction when the liquid container 1 is in use inside the storage section 2. The first pipe 51 and the second pipe 52 merge at the spout 4.

[0027] A first coil 641 and a second coil 642 are provided so as to surround the first suction port 61 and the second suction port 62, respectively. Power is supplied to the first coil 641 and the second coil 642 from the outside via wiring 65. The first coil 641 and the second coil 642 are magnetic field generating members that generate a magnetic field when energized via wiring 65, and are stirring members that stir the liquid around the first coil 641 and the second coil 642 with the magnetic field. When liquid is drawn in from the first suction port 61 and the second suction port 62, a magnetic field is generated by energizing the first coil 641 and the second coil 642. As a result, the liquid inside the storage section 2 is stirred around the first coil 641 and the second coil 642, especially in the vicinity of the first suction port 61 and the second suction port 62. This makes it possible to supply liquid with a uniform pigment component concentration to the outside of the liquid storage container 1 (recording head 101).

[0028] In Example 3, a configuration was described using a setup with two suction ports surrounded by coils and multiple pipes. However, similar to Examples 1 and 2, a configuration with one suction port surrounded by a thin coil and one pipe is also possible.

[0029] In the embodiments described above, an example was explained in which a coil that generates a magnetic field when energized, which is a magnetic field generating member, is provided as a stirring means for stirring the liquid contained in the storage section 2 of the liquid storage container 1. Furthermore, an example was described in which the coil is provided near a suction port that opens into the inside of the storage section. However, the position of the stirring member such as a coil may be any position on the support section 68 or any position on the suction member 6 such as a slit 63, as long as it is a position in which the liquid contained in the storage section 2 can be stirred. In this case, the stirring member may be provided so as to be able to stir the fluid near the suction port, or so as to be able to stir the entire fluid inside the storage section 2. In addition, a support section 68 may be provided extending from any position on the storage member 3, separate from the piping 5 to which the spout 4 and the suction port of the suction member 6 are connected at both ends, and a stirring means such as a coil may be provided at its tip. Moreover, the stirring means is not limited to a magnetic field generating member as long as it is a means that can stir the liquid contained in the storage section 2. For example, a component that agitates the fluid by physically contacting and acting upon it, such as a screw driven by an electric current, may be provided, or a component that agitates the liquid using means that locally fluctuate the fluid pressure, such as a piezoelectric element, may be provided.

[0030] This embodiment includes the following configurations and methods. (Composition 1) A liquid container capable of containing a liquid containing a settling component and supplying the liquid to the outside, A storage section for containing the aforementioned liquid, A supply port opening to the outside of the aforementioned housing section, A pipe having one end connected to the supply port and the other end connected to a suction port opening into the interior of the housing, Equipped with, A liquid storage container characterized by comprising a stirring means for stirring the liquid contained in the storage section. (Configuration 2) The liquid container according to configuration 1, wherein the stirring means is provided near the suction port and has a magnetic field generating member that generates a magnetic field when an electric current is applied. (Composition 3) The liquid container described in configuration 2 is a coil, wherein the magnetic field generating member is a coil. (Composition 4) A liquid container according to configuration 2 or 3, having wiring for supplying power to the magnetic field generating member from an external source. (Composition 5) The stirring means is provided below the suction port in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use, as described in any one of configurations 1 to 4. (Composition 6) The stirring means is provided above the suction port in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use, as described in any one of the configurations 1 to 4 for the liquid container. (Composition 7) The stirring means is provided so as to surround the suction port, and is a liquid container according to any one of the configurations 1 to 4. (Composition 8) The liquid container according to any one of the configurations 1 to 7, wherein the suction port opens at a lower position in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use inside the storage section. (Composition 9) The liquid container according to any one of the configurations 1 to 7, wherein the suction port opens at an upward position in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use inside the storage section. (Composition 10) The system comprises multiple of the aforementioned pipes, The first suction port to which the first pipe of the aforementioned plurality of pipes is connected opens at an upward position in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use inside the storage section. The liquid container according to any one of the configurations 1 to 7, wherein the second suction port to which the second pipe of the plurality of pipes is connected opens at a position lower in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use inside the storage section. (Composition 11) The liquid container according to any one of the configurations 1 to 10, wherein the liquid is an ink containing a pigment component as a settling component. (Composition 12) A liquid container described in any one of items 1 to 11, A liquid consumption device comprising control means for controlling the operation of the stirring means and the operation of supplying the liquid from the supply port to the outside. (Composition 13) The control means stirs the liquid contained in the liquid container by the stirring means. A liquid consumption device according to configuration 12, which controls the device to start supplying the liquid after performing a stirring operation. (Composition 14) The liquid consumption device according to configuration 12 or 13, wherein the control means intermittently performs the stirring operation of the liquid by the stirring means while the liquid supply operation is being performed. (Composition 15) A recording device comprising a liquid consumption device described in any one of items 12 to 14, which records onto a recording medium using the liquid supplied by the liquid consumption device. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0031] 1 Liquid container, 2 Storage section, 4 Spout, 5 Piping, 60 Suction port, 64 Thin coil

Claims

1. A liquid storage container capable of storing a liquid containing a sedimentary component and supplying the liquid to an outside, A container that contains the liquid; A first opening that opens to the outside of the storage portion; A pipe having one end connected to the first opening and the other end connected to a second opening that opens into the storage portion; Equipped with A liquid storage container comprising: a stirring means for stirring the liquid stored in the storage portion, the stirring means being disposed near the second opening.

2. 2. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the stirring means comprises a magnetic field generating member that generates a magnetic field when an electric current is passed through the magnetic field generating member.

3. The liquid container according to claim 2 , wherein the magnetic field generating member is a coil.

4. 4. The liquid container according to claim 2, further comprising wiring for supplying power to the magnetic field generating member from the outside.

5. 4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the stirring means is provided below the second opening in a vertical direction when the liquid storage container is in use.

6. 4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the stirring means is provided above the second opening in a vertical direction when the liquid storage container is in use.

7. 4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the stirring means is provided so as to surround a periphery of the second opening.

8. 4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the second opening is open to a lower position in the vertical direction inside the storage portion when the liquid storage container is in use.

9. 4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the second opening is open to an upper position in a vertical direction inside the storage portion when the liquid storage container is in use.

10. A plurality of the pipes are provided, a third opening to which one of the first pipes among the plurality of pipes is connected opens at an upper position in a vertical direction when the liquid storage container is in use inside the storage portion, a fourth opening to which the other second pipe of the plurality of pipes is connected opens at a lower position in the vertical direction when the liquid storage container is in use inside the storage portion, 4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the first pipe and the second pipe join together at the first opening.

11. 4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is an ink containing a pigment component as a sedimentation component.

12. A liquid storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a control unit that controls the operation of the stirring unit and the operation of supplying the liquid from the first opening to the outside.

13. The liquid consumption apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the control means controls the liquid supply operation to be started after the stirring means has executed a stirring operation for stirring the liquid contained in the liquid container.

14. The liquid consumption apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the control means causes the agitation means to intermittently agitate the liquid while the liquid supply operation is being performed.

15. A liquid consumption device according to claim 12; a recording head that ejects the liquid supplied by the liquid consuming device; a conveying means for conveying a medium onto which the ejected liquid is to land; a recording operation control means for controlling a discharge operation from the recording head and a conveying operation of the conveying means; A recording device comprising:

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