Device for discharging liquid, liquid storage container, cleaning liquid container

Abstract

To provide a device which enables improvement of workability of cleaning fluid supply work.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge device includes: multiple heads 1 which discharge different types of inks 300; and multiple liquid tanks 21 which are installed in a device body and store the inks 300 to be supplied to the multiple heads 1. A first fitting part 213 at the liquid tank 21 side may fit in a second fitting part 313 at the side of a refillable bottle 30 which stores the ink 300 of the liquid tank 21 including the first fitting part 213 and a third fitting part 413 of a cleaning fluid bottle 40 which stores a cleaning liquid 400 common to the multiple liquid tanks 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for discharging a liquid, a liquid storage container, and a cleaning liquid container.

Background Art

[0002] For example, in a printing apparatus as an apparatus for discharging a liquid, in order to enable continuous printing for a long time, there is one in which a liquid can be replenished from a replenishing container to a liquid storage container installed in the apparatus main body.

[0003] For example, the liquid storage container has a liquid inlet for injecting the liquid and a first fitting portion provided around the liquid inlet, and the liquid replenishing container has a liquid outlet for pouring out the liquid and a second fitting portion provided around the liquid outlet. By fitting the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion, it is possible to replenish the liquid from the liquid outlet to the inlet, and the shapes of the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are different for each color to prevent color mixing (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, when replacing the inside of the liquid storage container with a cleaning liquid, it is necessary to prepare a cleaning liquid container having different fitting portions for each color, and there is a problem that the workability of the cleaning liquid replenishing operation is poor.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to improve the workability of the cleaning liquid replenishing operation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above problems, the liquid discharging apparatus according to the present invention includes: a plurality of heads for discharging different types of liquids; a plurality of sub-tanks for supplying the liquid to each of the plurality of heads; the plurality of sub-tanks each of to be supplied with said different types of a plurality of liquid storage parts for storing the liquid, and is configured to include: each first fitting part of the plurality of liquid storage parts is respectively fitted to a second fitting part on the refill container side for storing the liquid to replenish the liquid storage part having the first fitting part, and a third fitting part on the cleaning liquid container side for storing a common cleaning liquid to replenish the plurality of liquid storage parts. the same type as and does not fit with the second fitting portion on the replacement container side that houses the different types of said liquid, when the same type of liquid or the cleaning liquid is replenished to the liquid storage portion, the second fitting portion or the third fitting portion is removed from the first fitting portion configured as such.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the workability of the cleaning liquid replenishment operation is improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

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Figure 17

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The apparatus for discharging a liquid according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the main part of the apparatus.

[0011] A printing apparatus 1 as an apparatus for discharging a liquid includes a liquid discharging unit 10 that discharges a liquid and a liquid supply system 20 that supplies the liquid to the liquid discharging unit 10.

[0012] The liquid ejection unit 10 includes a head 11 as liquid ejection means having nozzles for ejecting liquid, a sub-tank 12 for supplying liquid to the head 11, and a carriage 13 on which the head 11 and the sub-tank 12 are mounted. The carriage 13 is capable of reciprocating in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

[0013] The liquid supply system 20 for supplying liquid to the head 11 includes a liquid tank 21 as a liquid storage unit. The liquid tank 21 is a liquid storage container for storing liquid installed in the apparatus main body. Liquid is supplied from the liquid tank 21 to the head 11 via a liquid supply path 22. A filter 23 and a liquid feed pump 24 as liquid feed means are arranged in the liquid supply path 22.

[0014] The liquid tank 21 is housed in a housing 25. The housing 25 is provided with an openable and closable cover 26.

[0015] Note that the liquid storage unit may not be a replaceable storage container with respect to the apparatus main body like the liquid tank 21, but may be, for example, integrated with the housing 25.

[0016] When the ink 200 in the liquid tank 21 decreases, as shown in Fig. 1(a), ink 200 as liquid is replenished from a refill bottle 30 which is a refill container.

[0017] In addition, in the printing apparatus 1 that uses liquid, during operations such as changing the ink color arrangement, during long-term storage without printing, during transportation, etc., the ink 200 in paths such as the liquid supply path 22 is replaced with a cleaning liquid (or storage liquid) 400.

[0018] In this case, the inside of the liquid tank 21 is emptied, and the cleaning liquid 400 is replenished and replaced from a cleaning liquid bottle 40 as a cleaning liquid container into the liquid tank 21.

[0019] Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the liquid tank, which is a liquid storage container according to the first embodiment of the present invention, will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the liquid tank, where (a) is an external perspective explanatory diagram and (b) is a plan explanatory diagram of the fitting shape of the first fitting portion.

[0020] The liquid tank 21 has a tank body (container body) 210 for storing a liquid. In the tank body 210, there are provided an inlet portion 212 formed with an inlet 211 for injecting (refilling) the liquid into the tank body 210, a first fitting portion 213, and a supply port portion 221 for supplying the liquid to the liquid supply path 22.

[0021] The first fitting portion 213 has a cylindrical portion 213a as the inlet portion 212 and three recesses 213b, 213c, and 213d that are recessed radially from the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion 213. The circumferential positions of the recesses 213b and 213c of the first fitting portion 213 are the same for each liquid tank 21 of each color. In contrast, the circumferential positions of the recess 213d of the first fitting portion 213 are different for each liquid tank 21 of each color.

[0022] Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the refill bottle, which is a refill container according to the first embodiment of the present invention, will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the refill bottle, where (a) is an external perspective explanatory diagram and (b) is a plan explanatory diagram of the fitting shape of the second fitting portion.

[0023] The refill bottle 30 is also a replenishment container and has a bottle body (container body) 310 for storing ink 200 as a liquid. In the bottle body 310, there are provided a pouring port portion 312 formed with a pouring port 311 for pouring the ink 200 and a second fitting portion 313.

[0024] The second fitting portion 313 has three protrusions 313b, 313c, and 313d that protrude radially from the side wall surface of the cylindrical portion 313a that is integral with the pouring port portion 312.

[0025] Here, the convex portions 313b to 313d of the second fitting portion 313 of the refill bottle 30 can be respectively fitted into the concave portions 213b to 213d of the first fitting portion 213 of a predetermined liquid tank 21. Note that the "predetermined liquid tank" means a liquid tank 21 that stores the ink 200 of the same color as the color of the ink 200 stored in the refill bottle 30.

[0026] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the fitting portion shapes of the plurality of liquid storage containers and the refill containers in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for this explanation.

[0027] In the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, liquid tanks 21 are provided as a plurality of liquid storage containers, and different types (colors) of liquids are stored in each liquid tank 21.

[0028] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, as the plurality of liquid tanks 21, eight liquid tanks 21 that store inks of colors of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), light black (LB), red (R), orange (O), and green (G) are provided.

[0029] Here, as described above, the concave portions 213b and 213c of each first fitting portion 213 of the plurality of liquid tanks 21 are arranged at the same position in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 213a, regardless of the color of the liquid stored in the liquid tank 21.

[0030] On the other hand, the concave portions 213d of each first fitting portion 213 of the plurality of liquid tanks 21 are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 213 for each liquid tank 21 of each color.

[0031] Each refill bottle 30 of each color has a second fitting portion 313 including convex portions 313b to 313d that fit into the concave portions 213b to 213d of the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21 of the same color.

[0032] With such a configuration, the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21 can be fitted only with the second fitting portion 313 of the refill bottle 30 that contains the same liquid (ink 200) as the liquid tank 21 of the first fitting portion 213.

[0033] Therefore, when the color of the liquid tank 21 for replenishing the ink 200 is different from the color of the refill bottle 30, the second fitting portion 313 of the refill bottle 30 cannot be fitted to the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21 of a different color.

[0034] As a result, it is possible to prevent the replenishment of ink 200 of a color different from the target color from a refill bottle 30 of a color other than the liquid tank 21 of the target color for refilling, and it is possible to prevent color mixing.

[0035] Next, the cleaning liquid bottle as the cleaning liquid container in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the cleaning liquid bottle, (a) is an external perspective explanatory diagram, and (b) is a plan explanatory diagram of the fitting shape of the first fitting portion. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the fitting portion shapes of the liquid tank and the cleaning liquid bottle.

[0036] The cleaning liquid bottle 40 has a bottle body (container body) 410 that contains the cleaning liquid 400, and the bottle body 410 is provided with a pouring port portion 412 that forms a pouring port 411 for pouring the cleaning liquid 400, and a third fitting portion 413.

[0037] The third fitting portion 413 has two convex portions 413b and 413c that project radially from the outer wall surface of a cylindrical portion 413a that is integral with the pouring port portion 412. The convex portions 413b and 413c of the third fitting portion 413 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40 can be respectively fitted to the concave portions 213b and 213c of the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21 of all colors.

[0038] That is, the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21 can be fitted to the third fitting portion 413 of the cleaning liquid tank 40 that contains the cleaning liquid 400 common to all the liquid tanks 21.

[0039] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the fitting state of the refill bottle and the liquid tank for this explanation and the fitting state of the cleaning liquid bottle and the liquid tank.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 7(a), the second fitting portion 313 of the pouring port portion 312 of the refill bottle 30 can be fitted only to the first fitting portion 213 of a predetermined liquid tank 21.

[0041] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7(b), the third fitting portion 413 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40 can be fitted to the recesses 213b and 213c having the same circumferential position in all the liquid tanks 21.

[0042] Therefore, when replenishing the cleaning liquid 400 into the liquid tank 21, the cleaning liquid 400 can be replenished with the common cleaning liquid bottle 40 for any colored liquid tank 21.

[0043] Thereby, the workability of the cleaning liquid replenishment work is improved.

[0044] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the shape of the fitting portion of the liquid tank and the cleaning liquid bottle in this embodiment. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the fitting state of the refill bottle and the liquid tank and the fitting state of the cleaning liquid bottle and the liquid tank for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

[0045] In this embodiment, the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21 uses the injection port 211 itself as a common fitting portion. And the third fitting portion 413 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40 is formed by a cylindrical portion 313a that has no convex portion on the outer peripheral surface and is inserted into the injection port 211 for fitting.

[0046] When configured in this way, the second fitting portion 313 of the refill bottle 30 can be fitted only to the first fitting portion 213 of a predetermined liquid tank 21, whereas the third fitting portion 413 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40 can be fitted to the first fitting portion 213 of any liquid tank 21, as shown in FIG. 9(b).

[0047] As a result, the same cleaning liquid bottle 40 can be used to replenish the cleaning liquid 400 to all liquid tanks 21 of different colors, improving the workability of the cleaning liquid replenishment operation.

[0048] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the shape of the fitting portion of the liquid tank and the cleaning liquid bottle in this embodiment, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the fitting state of the cleaning liquid bottle and the liquid tank for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

[0049] In this embodiment, the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21 includes a recess 213e for the cleaning liquid bottle 40 in addition to the recesses 213b to 213d of the first embodiment.

[0050] The third fitting portion 413 for the cleaning liquid bottle 40 includes a convex portion 413e that fits into the recess 213e of the liquid tank 21.

[0051] The second fitting portion 313 of the refill bottle 30 does not have a convex portion that fits into the recess 213e of the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21.

[0052] When configured in this way, the second fitting portion 313 of the refill bottle 30 can be fitted only to the first fitting portion 213 of a predetermined liquid tank 21, whereas the third fitting portion 413 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40 can be fitted to the first fitting portion 213 of any liquid tank 21, as shown in FIG. 11.

[0053] As a result, the same cleaning liquid bottle 40 can be used to replenish the cleaning liquid 400 to all liquid tanks 21 of different colors, improving the workability of the cleaning liquid replenishment operation.

[0054] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining this embodiment.

[0055] In this embodiment, on the liquid tank 21 side, a first connection member 215 having a first fitting portion 213 is provided. The first connection member 215 is attached to the injection port portion 212 of the liquid tank 21 and is connected (communicated) to the injection port 211 of the tank main body 210.

[0056] By making the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21 a separate member from the tank main body 210, it is possible to achieve commonality of the tank main body 210.

[0057] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12(a), on the refill bottle 30 side, a second connection member 315 constituted by a bellows-like hose member having a second fitting portion 313 at the tip is provided. One end of the second connection member 315 on the side opposite to the second fitting portion 313 is attached to the pouring port portion 312 of the refill bottle 30 and is connected (communicated) to the pouring port 311 of the bottle main body 310.

[0058] By making the second fitting portion 313 of the refill bottle 30 a separate member from the bottle main body 310, it is possible to achieve commonality of the bottle main body 310.

[0059] And, as a liquid replenishing method for replenishing the ink 200 from the refill bottle 30, a step of fitting the second fitting portion 313 of the second connection member 315 of the refill bottle 30 to the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21, and a step of replenishing the ink 200 from the refill bottle 30 to the liquid tank 21 via the second connection member 315 are performed.

[0060] Also, as shown in FIG. 12(b), on the cleaning liquid bottle 40 side, a third connection member 415 constituted by a bellows-like hose member having a third fitting portion 413 at the tip is provided. One end of the third connection member 415 on the side opposite to the third fitting portion 413 is detachably attached to the pouring port portion 412 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40 and is connected (communicated) to the pouring port 411 of the bottle main body 410.

[0061] Since the cleaning liquid bottle 40 is common to any color liquid tank 21, even if the third connection member 415 and the bottle body 410 are stored separately, there will be no problem of color mixing. Therefore, the third connection member 415 is detachable from the bottle body 410.

[0062] And as a cleaning liquid replenishing method for replenishing the cleaning liquid 400 from the cleaning liquid bottle 40, a step of attaching the third connection member 415 to the pouring port portion 412 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40, a step of fitting the third fitting portion 413 of the third connection member 415 to the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21, and a step of replenishing the cleaning liquid 400 in the cleaning liquid bottle 40 to the liquid tank 21 via the third connection member 415 are performed.

[0063] Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the same embodiment.

[0064] In the present embodiment, the second connection member 315 on the refill bottle 30 side and the third connection member 415 on the cleaning liquid bottle 40 side are configured by straight pipe-shaped members, which is different from the fourth embodiment.

[0065] Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 14. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the same embodiment.

[0066] In the present embodiment, the first fitting portion 213 on the liquid tank 21 side is provided on the tank body 210 in the same manner as in the first embodiment and the like, which is different from the fourth embodiment.

[0067] Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the same embodiment.

[0068] In the present embodiment, the second connection member 315 on the refill bottle 30 side and the third connection member 415 on the cleaning liquid bottle 40 side are configured by straight pipe-shaped members, which is different from the sixth embodiment.

[0069] Next, a description will be given of the eighth embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the shape of the fitting portion of the liquid tank, the refill bottle, and the cleaning liquid bottle in this embodiment, and FIG. 17 is also an explanatory diagram for explaining the shape of each fitting portion of the black liquid tank, the refill bottle, and the cleaning liquid bottle.

[0070] In this embodiment, the first fitting portion 213 of the K (black) liquid tank 21 is provided with five recesses 213b to 213f that are recessed radially from the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion 213. The first fitting portion 213 of the C (cyan) liquid tank 21 is also provided with five recesses 213b to 213f. The first fitting portion 213 of the M (magenta) liquid tank 21 is also provided with four recesses 213c to 213f. The first fitting portion 213 of the Y (yellow) liquid tank 21 is also provided with four recesses 213b, 213d to 213f.

[0071] Here, the circumferential positions of the recesses 213d and 213e of the first fitting portion 213 are the same for the liquid tanks 21 of each color. In contrast, the presence or absence of the recesses 213b and 213c and the circumferential position of the recess 213f of the first fitting portion 213 are different for the liquid tanks 21 of each color.

[0072] The second fitting portion 313 of the refill bottle 30 is selectively provided with convex portions 313b to 313f so as to be able to fit only with the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21 of each color.

[0073] The third fitting portion 413 of the cleaning liquid bottle 40 is provided with convex portions 413d and 413e that fit with the recesses 213d and 213e, which are the common fitting portions of the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21 of each color.

[0074] Therefore, the cleaning liquid bottle 40 can be fitted with the first fitting portion 213 of the liquid tank 21 of all colors to replenish the cleaning liquid 400.

[0075] Thus, in this embodiment, instead of using the recesses 213d and 213e that are common fitting parts for each color liquid tank, the recesses 213d and 213e that are common fitting parts for the cleaning liquid are provided, and the recesses not used in the refill bottles 30 of each color are configured.

[0076] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, an example in which the recess is provided in the first fitting portion and the protrusions are provided in the second fitting portion and the third fitting portion has been described. However, the recess and the protrusion can be reversed, or the recess and the protrusion can be combined.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0077] 1 Device for discharging liquid (printing device) 10 Liquid discharge part 11 Head 20 Liquid supply system 21 Liquid tank (liquid storage container) 22 Supply path 30 Refill bottle (refill container) 40 Cleaning liquid bottle (cleaning liquid container) 200 Ink 210 Tank body 211 Inlet 212 Inlet part 213 First fitting portion 215 First connection member 310 Bottle body 311 Pouring port 312 Pouring port part 313 Second fitting portion 315 Second connection member 400 Cleaning liquid 410 Bottle body 411 Pouring port 412 Pouring port part 413 Third fitting portion 415 Third connection member

Claims

1. a plurality of heads for discharging different types of liquids; a plurality of sub-tanks for supplying the liquid to each of the plurality of heads; a plurality of liquid storage parts for storing the different types of liquids to be supplied to each of the plurality of sub-tanks, comprising: each first fitting part of the plurality of liquid storage parts is capable of fitting respectively with a second fitting part on the refill container side that stores the same type of liquid as the liquid replenished to the liquid storage part having the first fitting part, and a third fitting part on the cleaning liquid container side that stores the common cleaning liquid replenished to the plurality of liquid storage parts, and does not fit with the second fitting part on the refill container side that stores a different type of the liquid; when the same type of liquid or the cleaning liquid is replenished to the liquid storage part, the second fitting part or the third fitting part is removed from the first fitting part An apparatus for discharging a liquid, characterized by the above.

2. The first fitting part of the liquid storage part is provided with a first connecting member connected to an injection port for replenishing the liquid in the container body of the liquid storage part The apparatus for discharging a liquid according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. A liquid storage container for storing the liquid to be supplied to a sub-tank that supplies the liquid to a head for discharging the liquid, comprising: a first fitting part; the first fitting part is capable of fitting respectively with a second fitting part on the refill container side that stores the same type of liquid as the liquid replenished to the liquid storage container having the first fitting part, and a third fitting part on the cleaning liquid container side that stores the common cleaning liquid for the plurality of liquid storage containers, and does not fit with the second fitting part on the refill container side that stores a different type of the liquid; when the same type of liquid or the cleaning liquid is replenished, the second fitting part or the third fitting part is removed from the first fitting part A liquid storage container, characterized by the above.

4. The first fitting part is provided with a first connecting member connected to an injection port for replenishing the liquid in the container body The liquid storage container according to claim 3, characterized by the above.

5. a plurality of heads for discharging different types of liquids; a plurality of sub-tanks for supplying the liquid to each of the plurality of heads; a plurality of liquid storage parts for storing the different types of liquids to be supplied to each of the plurality of sub-tanks; a plurality of refill containers for storing the different types of liquids to be replenished to each of the plurality of liquid storage parts; a cleaning liquid container for storing the common cleaning liquid replenished to the plurality of liquid storage parts, including: The liquid storage portion includes a first fitting portion, The first fitting portion is capable of being respectively fitted with a second fitting portion on the refill container side that stores the same type of liquid as the liquid supplied to the liquid storage portion including the first fitting portion, and a third fitting portion on the cleaning liquid container side that stores a common cleaning liquid supplied to the plurality of liquid storage portions, and is not fitted with a second fitting portion on the refill container side that stores a different type of liquid, When the same type of liquid or the cleaning liquid is supplied to the liquid storage portion, the second fitting portion or the third fitting portion is removed from the first fitting portion An apparatus for discharging a liquid, characterized by the above.

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