Droplet ejection device

Abstract

To miniaturize a liquid droplet discharge device.SOLUTION: A liquid droplet discharge device discharging a liquid droplet comprises a discharge part discharging the liquid droplet, a cap part with a cap sucking waste liquid discharged by the discharge part, and a rail part determining a direction in which the cap part moves and taking in and collecting generated matters generated when the liquid droplet is discharged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a droplet ejection device. [Background technology]

[0002] Inkjet printing is a method of forming an image by ejecting droplets. When droplets are ejected using inkjet printing, tiny droplets known as "mist" are scattered. When this mist adheres to a recording medium, image quality deteriorates. Therefore, a technique is known in which a droplet ejection device collects the mist to improve image quality.

[0003] Specifically, the droplet ejection device is configured to include a carriage, a fan, an encoder, and a filter. The encoder is located downstream of the fan and upstream of the head in the direction of the airflow. The fan is also located downstream of the filter in the direction of the airflow. A technique for more efficiently preventing degradation of image quality due to ink mist using such a configuration is known (for example, Patent Document 1). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional technology, there is a problem that the size of the droplet ejection device increases due to the arrangement and structure of various devices.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has as its object to reduce the size of a droplet ejection device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, a droplet ejection device for ejecting droplets is provided, a discharge unit that discharges the droplets; a cap portion having a cap for sucking up waste liquid discharged by the discharge portion; a rail portion that determines the direction in which the cap portion moves and that captures and collects material generated when the droplets are discharged; Equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the droplet ejection device can be made smaller. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a liquid ejection device. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a structure in which a head array, a sustaining unit, a rail, and a drum are arranged. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of performing blank ejection. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a head array. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a maintenance unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a maintenance rail. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of movement directions of a head array and a sustaining unit. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the position of an opening when idle ejection is being performed. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first example of a case where blank ejection is performed. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of a case where blank ejection is performed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Specific examples will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the embodiments are not limited to the specific examples described below.

[0010] [Example of droplet ejection device] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a droplet ejection device. For example, the droplet ejection device is an inkjet printer 1000 shown in Fig. 1. The following description will be given using the inkjet printer 1000 shown in Fig. 1 as an example of a droplet ejection device. Therefore, the inkjet printer 1000 performs a process of forming an image using ink, which is an example of droplets.

[0011] The inkjet printer 1000 is an on-demand line-scan image forming apparatus and includes an image forming unit 210, a paper feed unit 220, a registration adjustment unit 230, a drying unit 240, a recording medium inverting unit 250, and a paper discharge unit 290.

[0012] First, in the paper feed unit 220, paper sheets W1, which are an example of recording media to be stacked in the paper feed stack 221, are picked up one by one by the air separating unit 222. Then, the paper sheets W1 are transported in the direction of the image forming unit 210 (to the left in the figure). Next, when the paper sheets W1 transported from the paper feed unit 220 reach the registration adjustment unit 230, the inclination of the paper sheets W1 relative to the transport direction is corrected by a pair of registration rollers 231 provided inside the registration adjustment unit 230.

[0013] After correction (registration adjustment, etc.) is made in the pair of registration rollers 231, the sheet W1 is sent to the image forming unit 210. Then, the sheet W1 is sent to the surface of a cylindrical drum 211 by a pair of transport rollers 214.

[0014] The drum 211 is provided with a plurality of recording medium grippers 212. The recording medium grippers 212 grip the leading edge of the paper W1. As the drum 211 rotates, the paper W1 is transported to a position facing a plurality of head arrays 100 (specifically, various head arrays 100K to 100P. Hereinafter, any head array 100 will be simply referred to as a "head array 100").

[0015] In the image forming unit 210, a head array 100 is arranged along the surface in the rotation direction of a cylindrical drum 211. The head array 100 ejects ink by an inkjet method. The head array 100 is arranged in a state where it is filled with a predetermined ink color.

[0016] The head arrays 100 are arranged at predetermined radial positions in accordance with the curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the drum 211. Specifically, the position of the head arrays 100 is adjusted so that the ink ejection direction is at an angle perpendicular to the surface of the drum 211. Therefore, the head arrays 100 are each at a different angle in the radial direction from the rotation axis of the drum 211. In other words, the head arrays 100 constituting the ejection module are arranged at an angle facing the center of rotation of the drum 211. The opposing angle of each head array 100 to the drum 211 is adjusted so that ink is ejected onto the outer peripheral surface of the paper W1 held on the surface of the drum 211.

[0017] Furthermore, an idling receiver 213 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 211. The idling receiver 213 receives idling ink when the head array 100 is not discharging ink onto the paper W1.

[0018] After the image is formed on the sheet W1, the sheet W1 is transported to the drying section 240.

[0019] The drying section 240 is provided with a drying unit 241. When the sheet W1 passes below the drying unit 241, the moisture in the sheet W1 evaporates.

[0020] The drying section 240 is also provided with a recording medium inverting section 250 that includes a recording medium inverting mechanism 251. When performing double-sided printing, the recording medium inverting section 250 inverts the sheet W1. Next, the recording medium inverting section 250 transports the sheet W1 again to the image forming section 210. Before the sheet W1 reaches the drum 211, the skew of the sheet W1 is corrected by a registration roller 253 provided inside the image forming section 210.

[0021] After drying, the sheet W1 is transported to the sheet discharge section 290 and is stacked with the edges of the sheet W1 aligned.

[0022] The droplet ejection operation in the image forming unit 210 is controlled by an image formation control unit 215 provided in the image forming unit 210. The image formation control unit 215 may control the overall operation of the inkjet printer 1000. The paper feed unit 220, the registration adjustment unit 230, and the drying unit 240 may each have a separate control unit. Each control unit may then cooperate with the image formation control unit 215 to control the overall operation of the inkjet printer 1000.

[0023] It should be noted that the inkjet printer 1000 is not limited to the configuration described above. Specifically, the inkjet printer 1000 may include devices other than those described above, either internally or externally.

[0024] [Structure example] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a structure in which a head array, a sustaining unit, a rail, and a drum are arranged. Below, an example will be explained in which the ejection unit is an example of a head array 100, the cap unit is an example of a sustaining unit 101, and the rail unit is an example of a sustaining rail 102. In the following explanation, the sustaining unit 101 moves in a direction along the sustaining rail 102 (the depth direction, or Y-axis direction in the figure).

[0025] The maintenance unit 101 accepts the head array 100 ejecting ink for maintenance (hereinafter referred to as "blank ejection") as follows.

[0026] 3 is a diagram showing an example of performing idle ejection. To perform maintenance (which is therefore a case where image formation is not performed), the suction cap 110 performs suction.

[0027] A pump 111 is connected to the suction cap 110. When the pump 111 performs suction, ink is forcibly discharged from the head array 100. In the figure, the ink is discharged downward, and the suction cap 110 receives the ink.

[0028] When such blank ejection is performed, a product such as ink mist (hereinafter referred to as "mist 112") is generated. Such mist 112 may not be able to be completely collected by suction using the suction cap 110.

[0029] Therefore, a space is provided inside the maintenance rail 102, and the maintenance rail 102 collects the mist 112. In particular, if the inside of the maintenance rail 102 is under negative pressure, the mist 112 can easily flow in, and the maintenance rail 102 can collect the mist 112.

[0030] With the above configuration, the inkjet printer 1000 can collect the mist 112 without having to be configured with an additional dedicated device for collecting the mist 112. Therefore, the inkjet printer 1000 can be made smaller than a configuration with a dedicated device.

[0031] The inkjet printer 1000 may include a number of head arrays 100, maintaining units 101, and maintaining rails 102 other than those described above, or may include types other than those described above.

[0032] [Head array configuration example] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a head array 100. The head array 100 is made up of a plurality of heads 41. Fig. 4 shows the head array 100 as seen from the ejection port side.

[0033] The heads 41 are arranged in a staggered pattern in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction in which the paper W1 is transported (in the figure, this is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the head array 100). The number of heads 41 and the arrangement of the heads 41 may be other than those shown in the figure. For example, the number of heads 41 may be one.

[0034] [Example of maintenance unit configuration] 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the maintenance unit 101. In addition to the suction cap 110, the maintenance unit 101 may also include a plurality of moisture retention caps 42, a wiping member 43, and a rail holding member 44.

[0035] The moisture retention cap 42 seals the nozzle surface of the head 41 in a standby state or the like.

[0036] The wiping member 43 wipes the nozzle surface of the head 41 to clean it.

[0037] The rail holding member 44 comes into contact with the support rail 102. The support unit 101 is supported by the support rail 102 and the like.

[0038] The maintenance unit 101 may have a configuration other than that shown in the drawing. For example, the maintenance unit 101 may further include a cleaning member or the like.

[0039] [Maintenance rail configuration example] 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the support rail 102. For example, an opening 61 is formed in the support rail 102 at the position shown in the figure.

[0040] Mist 112 and the like are taken into the inside of the maintenance rail 102 through the opening 61. There is also space inside the maintenance rail 102. In the figure, the airflow containing the mist 112 is taken in through the opening 61 and flows inside the maintenance rail 102 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

[0041] A duct 62 is connected to the maintenance rail 102. A pressure chamber 63 is connected to the duct 62. A fan 64 is connected to the pressure chamber 63. A filter 65, which is an example of a filter unit, is preferably installed upstream of the fan 64 (in the drawing, the position of the opening 61 is the most upstream position, on the left side of the fan 64). Installing the filter 65 in such a position reduces the workload for the user when replacing the filter 65.

[0042] The fan 64 operates to suck in the airflow. When the fan 64 sucks in, the air pressure in the pressure chamber 63 etc. drops, so that the mist 112 etc. is more easily sucked into the inside of the maintenance rail 102.

[0043] The filter 65 is a member that collects the mist 112 and allows air to pass through. Therefore, the filter 65 filters the airflow containing the mist 112.

[0044] It is desirable to install the filter 65 at a position upstream of the fan 64 in the path of the airflow formed by the maintenance rail 102. When the filter 65 is placed at such a position, the filter 65 is located in front of the fan 64, etc. This makes it easy for the user to replace the filter 65.

[0045] In this way, the maintenance rail 102 forms an airflow path with the opening 61 as an inlet. Therefore, the mist 112 flows through the path in this order: the opening 61, the inside of the maintenance rail 102, and the filter 65, and is collected by the filter 65.

[0046] The inkjet printer 1000 moves the head array 100, the support unit 101, and the support rail 102 as follows.

[0047] 7 is a diagram showing an example of the movement direction of the head array and the sustaining unit. The head array 100 moves in a direction up and down relative to the sustaining rail 102 (hereinafter referred to as the "vertical direction 71"). On the other hand, the sustaining unit 101 moves in a direction parallel to the sustaining rail 102 (hereinafter referred to as the "horizontal direction 72").

[0048] The inkjet printer 1000 is preferably configured to move the sustaining unit 101 using a drive unit. For example, the drive unit may be an actuator, a mechanical part, or the like.

[0049] When the maintaining unit 101 is moved in the horizontal direction 72 , the inkjet printer 1000 can place the suction cap 110 at a position facing the head 41 of the head array 100 .

[0050] Next, after the head 41 and the suction cap 110 are positioned to face each other, the inkjet printer 1000 performs blank ejection. When blank ejection is performed, the suction cap 110 is preferably positioned as follows.

[0051] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the position of the opening when idle ejection is being performed. For the sake of explanation, Fig. 8 does not show the head array 100.

[0052] Fig. 8(A) is a view (hereinafter referred to as a front view) from the same perspective as Fig. 7. On the other hand, Fig. 8(B) is a side view.

[0053] The maintaining unit 101 may include a side member 80. The side member 80 is installed between the suction cap 110 and the maintaining rail 102. When such a side member 80 is included, it is desirable that the side member 80 has an opening at the position of the suction cap 110 in the horizontal direction 72. For example, an inkjet printer 1000 including such a side member 80 performs idle ejection as follows.

[0054] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a first example of a case where blank ejection is performed.

[0055] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of the case where blank ejection is performed.

[0056] 9 and 10, the maintaining unit 101 has moved and is in a different position in the horizontal direction 72. In this manner, the side member 80 opens and forms a cavity connecting the suction cap 110 and the opening 61.

[0057] When idle ejection is performed on the side member 80 having such a cavity, the inkjet printer 1000 can suck the mist 112 generated by the idle ejection through the cavity, thereby increasing the suction force. As a result, the inkjet printer 1000 can collect more mist 112.

[0058] As described above, the droplet ejection device includes a cap unit having a cap that sucks up waste liquid discharged by the ejection unit during idle ejection. The cap unit moves in a direction determined by the rail unit. The rail unit then forms a path for collecting generated material inside. Specifically, the rail unit forms a path in a direction parallel to the direction in which the cap unit moves.

[0059] It is desirable to have a configuration in which the suction unit is located at the most downstream position on the path. Therefore, the generated material generated during idle discharge is taken in through an opening formed in the rail unit and flows in the suction direction toward the suction unit. If a filter unit is installed upstream of the suction unit, the filter unit collects the generated material. In this way, when the device for collecting the generated material and the rail unit are integrated into a structure, the device is built in, which allows the droplet discharge device to be made smaller than when a dedicated device for collection is installed.

[0060] Furthermore, with this structure, the generated material from the multiple head arrays can be collected by a common device, and therefore the device for collecting the generated material can be standardized, thereby making the droplet ejection device more compact.

[0061] [Other embodiments] The mist 112 may be collected during a period other than idle ejection. For example, the mist 112 may be collected while image formation is being performed.

[0062] The droplets may be of a type other than ink. That is, the droplet ejection device may use droplets other than ink to perform processes other than image formation. For example, the droplets may be a pre-application liquid or a post-treatment liquid.

[0063] The generated matter may include matter other than mist.

[0064] The present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the present invention may be modified or added to without departing from the technical gist of the present invention. Therefore, all technical matters included in the technical concept described in the claims are subject to the present invention. The above-described exemplary embodiments are preferred examples. Those skilled in the art will be able to realize various modifications from the disclosed content, and such modifications are included in the technical scope described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 41: Head 61: Opening 62: Duct 63: Pressure chamber 64: Fan 65: Filter 71 :Vertical direction 72 :Horizontal direction 80: Side member 100: Head array 101: Maintenance Unit 102: Maintenance rail 110: Suction cap 111: Pump 112: Mist 1000: Inkjet printer W1: Paper [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0066] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-123103

Claims

1. A droplet ejection device that ejects droplets, a discharge unit that discharges the droplets; a cap portion having a cap for sucking up waste liquid discharged by the discharge portion; a rail portion that determines the direction in which the cap portion moves and that captures and collects material generated when the droplets are discharged; A droplet ejection device comprising:

2. a filter unit that collects the generated matter and allows air to pass through; a suction unit that sucks the generated matter; Further provided with The filter unit includes: The generated material is disposed upstream of the suction section in a path through which the generated material passes when collected. The droplet ejection device according to claim 1 .

3. a side member is provided between the cap portion and the rail portion; The side member is open and has a cavity connecting the opening of the cap portion and the opening of the rail portion. The droplet ejection device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a drive unit that moves the cap unit along the rail unit; a suction unit that sucks the generated material and air to lower the air pressure; a filter section that collects the generated matter and allows the air to pass through; Further provided with The discharge section is The droplets are ejected to form an image; The cap portion is Accepting blank discharge when the discharge unit does not form the image, The drive unit is When performing the blank discharge, the cap portion is moved to a position facing the discharge portion, The rail portion is An opening for taking in the generated material and the air and a path for passing the generated material and the air are formed, and the generated material generated during the empty discharge is taken into the path and collected. The droplet ejection device according to claim 1 .

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