Liquid dispensing device

Abstract

To provide a liquid discharge device capable of maintaining high productivity even when using a pretreatment liquid containing a polysaccharide.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge device includes: a housing; a discharge part arranged in the housing and configured to discharge a liquid; a power supply circuit arranged in the housing and configured to supply electric power to the discharge part; and a partition wall arranged so as to separate a discharge part region where the discharge part is arranged from a power supply circuit region where the power supply circuit is arranged. The power supply circuit includes a capacitor and a transformer, no fan is arranged in the power supply circuit region, and the liquid contains a polysaccharide.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid ejection device.

Background Art

[0002] The development of DTG (Direct to Garment) printers that perform printing on fabrics such as clothing by the inkjet method has been underway. For DTG printers, for example, in order to be able to directly print on T-shirts and the like, the speed and size of the device are also being considered. However, when increasing the speed and size of the device, the power consumption of the power circuit provided in the housing of the device increases, and the heat generated from the electric circuit cannot be ignored.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printing device that cools an electric circuit such as a power circuit provided in the housing of the printing device. In this device, it has a mechanism for radiating the heat generated from the power circuit to the outside of the housing using a fan.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In DTG printers, it is required to sufficiently fix the ink used to a medium such as fabric. Therefore, studies have also been made to improve the fixing property of the ink. For example, it has been proposed to improve the fixing property of the ink by attaching a pretreatment liquid to the medium before attaching the ink to the medium. Such pretreatment liquids may contain thickening components such as polysaccharides such as hydroxyethyl cellulose and guar gum.

[0006] When such a pretreatment liquid is dispensed by a DTG printer, the pretreatment liquid may atomize within the printer's casing. If the DTG printer is equipped with a fan, the airflow generated by the fan can carry the mist of the pretreatment liquid, causing it to adhere to various parts of the casing. At these points of adhesion, the solvent component of the pretreatment liquid evaporates, while the thickening agent component solidifies and remains. For example, if the thickening agent solidifies in the area where the fan rotates, it can obstruct the fan's rotation, increasing the frequency of equipment maintenance and reducing productivity.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a liquid dispensing device that can maintain high productivity even when using a pretreatment solution containing polysaccharides. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One embodiment of the liquid dispensing device according to the present invention is: The casing and Displaced within the aforementioned housing is a dispensing unit for dispensing liquid, A power supply circuit, which is arranged inside the housing and supplies power to the discharge section, A partition wall is arranged to separate the discharge area where the discharge unit is located from the power supply circuit area where the power supply circuit is located. A printing apparatus comprising, The aforementioned power supply circuit includes a capacitor and a transformer. There are no fans located in the power supply circuit area. The aforementioned liquid contains polysaccharides. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A perspective view showing an overview of the liquid dispensing device 1. [Figure 2] A diagram showing the functional configuration of liquid dispensing device 1. [Figure 3] An example of a signal generated by a drive circuit. [Figure 4] A schematic diagram showing an example of the arrangement of components within the housing of a liquid dispensing device. [Figure 5] A schematic diagram showing a plan view of an example of a power supply unit including a power supply circuit. [Figure 6] A schematic diagram showing a side view of an example of a power supply unit including a power supply circuit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention are described below. The embodiments described below illustrate examples of the present invention. The present invention is not limited in any way to the embodiments described below and includes various modifications that are implemented without changing the gist of the present invention. Not all of the configurations described below are necessarily essential to the present invention.

[0011] The liquid dispensing device according to this embodiment comprises a housing, a dispensing unit disposed within the housing for dispensing liquid, a power supply circuit disposed within the housing for supplying power to the dispensing unit, and a partition wall disposed to separate the dispensing unit area where the dispensing unit is located from the power supply circuit area where the power supply circuit is located. The device will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] 1. Overview of the liquid dispensing device Figure 1 shows a schematic configuration of the liquid ejection device 1. In this embodiment, the liquid ejection device 1 is a serial printing inkjet printer in which a carriage 20 equipped with a liquid ejection head 21 that ejects ink as an example of a liquid reciprocates, ejecting ink onto the transported medium P to form an image on the medium P.

[0013] In the following explanation, the direction in which the carriage 20 moves will be described as the X direction, the direction in which the medium P is conveyed as the Y direction, and the direction in which the ink is ejected as the Z direction. Note that the X, Y, and Z directions will be described as being orthogonal to each other, but this does not mean that the various components constituting the liquid ejection device 1 are necessarily arranged orthogonally.

[0014] In addition, as the medium P, any printing target such as printing paper, resin film, fabric, etc. can be used. Note that the liquid ejection device 1 may be configured such that the liquid ejection heads 21 are arranged side by side so that the nozzle rows are formed wider than the width of the medium P. Further, the liquid ejection device 1 may be a so-called line printing type inkjet printer that forms a desired image on the medium P by ejecting ink from the liquid ejection head 21 onto the conveyed medium P.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid ejection device 1 includes a housing 1000, a control mechanism 10, a carriage 20, a liquid ejection head 21, a moving mechanism 30, and a conveyance mechanism 40.

[0016] The control mechanism 10 includes electric circuits such as a drive circuit 50 and a power supply circuit 55. These electric circuits include, for example, a processing circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a storage circuit such as a semiconductor memory, a power supply circuit 55 that is connected to a commercial AC power supply and converts the power supplied from the commercial AC power supply into appropriate power and supplies it to each part, a drive signal output circuit 51 that drives the liquid ejection head 21, and the like. The control mechanism 10 controls each element of the liquid ejection device 1 including the liquid ejection head 21.

[0017] The liquid ejection head 21 is mounted on the carriage 20. Further, the carriage 20 is fixed to an endless belt 32 included in the moving mechanism 30. Note that ink containers such as ink tanks and ink cartridges may be mounted on the carriage 20. Also, ink may be supplied to the liquid ejection head 21 from an ink tank or the like installed at a location other than the carriage 20 through a tube or the like.

[0018] The liquid ejection head 21 receives a control signal Ctrl-H for controlling the liquid ejection head 21 output by the control mechanism 10 and one or more drive signals COM for driving the liquid ejection head 21. Then, based on the input control signal Ctrl-H and drive signal COM, the liquid ejection head 21 ejects the ink supplied from the ink container.

[0019] The liquid ejection head 21 is disposed within the housing 1000 and corresponds to a discharge portion for discharging liquid. The discharge portion is disposed in a discharge portion area 24 within the housing 1000. The discharge portion area 24 is an area within the range where the liquid ejection head 21 moves as the carriage 20 moves.

[0020] The movement mechanism 30 includes a carriage motor 31 and an endless belt 32. The carriage motor 31 operates based on a control signal Ctrl-C input from the control mechanism 10. The endless belt 32 rotates according to the operation of the carriage motor 31. Thereby, the carriage 20 fixed to the endless belt 32 reciprocates in the X direction.

[0021] The conveyance mechanism 40 includes a conveyance motor 41 and a conveyance roller 42. The conveyance motor 41 operates based on a control signal Ctrl-T input from the control mechanism 10. The conveyance roller 42 rotates according to the operation of the conveyance motor 41. As the conveyance roller 42 rotates, the medium P is conveyed in the Y direction.

[0022] As described above, in conjunction with the conveyance of the medium P by the conveyance mechanism 40 and the reciprocation of the carriage 20 by the movement mechanism 30, the liquid ejection head 21 mounted on the carriage 20 ejects ink in the Z direction, so that the ink lands at an arbitrary position on the surface of the medium P, and a desired image can be formed on the medium P.

[0023] 2. Functional Configuration of the Liquid Ejection Device Next, the functional configuration of the liquid dispensing device 1 will be described. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the liquid dispensing device 1. As shown in Figure 2, the liquid dispensing device 1 comprises a control mechanism 10, a liquid dispensing head 21, a carriage motor 31, a transport motor 41, and a linear encoder 90.

[0024] The control mechanism 10 includes a drive circuit 50, a power supply circuit 55, and a control circuit 100. The control circuit 100 includes, for example, a processor such as a microcontroller. The control circuit 100 generates various data and signals based on such data for controlling the liquid dispensing device 1 based on various signals such as image data input from a host computer or the like that is connected to the outside in a communicative manner, and outputs them to the corresponding configuration.

[0025] A specific example of the operation of the control circuit 100 will now be described. Based on the detection signal input from the linear encoder 90, the control circuit 100 determines the scanning position of the liquid discharge head 21 mounted on the carriage 20. The control circuit 100 then generates and outputs various signals corresponding to the scanning position of the liquid discharge head 21. Specifically, the control circuit 100 generates a control signal Ctrl-C to control the reciprocating motion of the liquid discharge head 21 and outputs it to the carriage motor 31. The control circuit 100 also generates a control signal Ctrl-T to control the transport of the medium P and outputs it to the transport motor 41. Note that the control signal Ctrl-C may be converted via a driver circuit (not shown) before being input to the carriage motor 31, and similarly, the control signal Ctrl-T may be converted via a driver circuit (not shown) before being input to the transport motor 41.

[0026] Furthermore, the control circuit 100 generates a head control signal DI, a change signal CH, a latch signal LAT, and a clock signal SCK as control signals Ctrl-H for controlling the liquid discharge head 21, based on various signals such as image data input from the host computer and the scanning position of the liquid discharge head 21, and outputs them to the liquid discharge head 21.

[0027] Furthermore, the control circuit 100 outputs a base drive signal d, which is a digital signal, to the drive circuit 50.

[0028] The drive circuit 50 includes a drive signal output circuit 51 and a reference voltage signal output circuit 52. The base drive signal d is input to the drive signal output circuit 51. The drive signal output circuit 51 converts each of the base drive signals d from digital to analog signals, and then generates and outputs the drive signal COM as a drive signal by class D amplification of the converted analog signals. In other words, the base drive signal d is a digital signal that defines the waveform of the drive signal COM.

[0029] The drive signal output circuit 51 generates and outputs the drive signal COM by performing a Class D amplification on the waveform defined by the base drive signal d. In other words, the drive signal output circuit 51 includes a Class D amplifier circuit. The base drive signal d can be any signal that can define the waveform of the drive signal COM, for example, it may be an analog signal. The drive signal output circuit 51 can also be configured to amplify the waveform defined by the base drive signal d, for example, it may include a Class A amplifier circuit, a Class B amplifier circuit, or a Class AB amplifier circuit.

[0030] The reference voltage signal output circuit 52 outputs a reference voltage signal VBS that indicates the reference potential of the drive signal COM. The reference voltage signal VBS may be, for example, a ground potential signal with a voltage value of 0V, or a DC voltage signal with a voltage value of 5.5V or 6V.

[0031] The drive signal COM and the reference voltage signal VBS output by the drive circuit 50 are then output to the liquid discharge head 21.

[0032] The liquid dispensing head 21 includes a drive signal selection circuit 200 and dispensing sections 600[1] to 600[n]. For example, n is a value such as 400, 800, or 1600. Note that the dispensing sections 600[1] to 600[n] all have the same configuration and may simply be referred to as dispensing section 600 when there is no need to distinguish between them.

[0033] The drive signal selection circuit 200 is configured, for example, as an integrated circuit device. Each of the drive signal selection circuits 200 receives a clock signal SCK, a latch signal LAT, a change signal CH, a head control signal DI, and a drive signal COM as inputs. Based on the clock signal SCK, latch signal LAT, change signal CH, and the input head control signal DI, the drive signal selection circuit 200 generates VOUT[1] to VOUT[n] by selecting or deselecting the drive signal COM, and outputs them to the corresponding output units 600[1] to 600[n]. Note that if there is no need to distinguish between VOUT[1] to VOUT[n], they may simply be referred to as VOUT.

[0034] The power supply circuit 55 is, for example, a flyback switching power supply circuit. An AC voltage is supplied to the power supply circuit 55, and the power supply circuit 55 generates and outputs a DC voltage VHV from the supplied AC voltage. The VHV voltage generated by the power supply circuit 55 is then supplied to each part of the liquid dispensing device 1, including the liquid dispensing head 21 and the drive circuit 50, so that each part of the liquid dispensing device 1 performs the desired operation.

[0035] Now, referring to Figure 3, the latch signal input from the control mechanism 10 to the selection control circuit 210 The latch signal LAT, change signal CH, clock signal SCK, head control signal DI, and drive signal COM will be explained. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the latch signal LAT, change signal CH, clock signal SCK, head control signal DI, and drive signal COM.

[0036] The latch signal LAT is a pulse signal output by the control circuit 100 based on a signal from the linear encoder 90 indicating the scanning position of the carriage 20 equipped with the liquid ejection head 21. Between the pulses of this latch signal LAT, the liquid ejection head 21 ejects droplets to form dots on the medium P. That is, the liquid ejection head 21 ejects ink and forms dots on the medium P.

[0037] This allows the liquid ejection head 21 to eject a predetermined amount of ink at a desired position on the medium P along the main scanning direction, and thus a dot of a desired size can be formed at a desired position on the medium P. The period from the rising edge of this latch signal LAT to the rising edge of the next latch signal corresponds to the printing cycle and is equivalent to the dot formation cycle T for forming dots on the medium P. In other words, the latch signal LAT is a signal that indicates the scanning position of the liquid ejection head 21 relative to the medium P, and is also a signal that defines the dot formation cycle T for forming dots on the medium P according to the scanning position of the liquid ejection head 21.

[0038] The change signal CH is a pulse signal that defines the switching timing for the drive signal selection circuit 200 to switch whether or not to supply the drive signal COM as VOUT to the discharge unit 600. The control circuit 100 outputs the change signal CH so as to divide the dot formation period T into multiple periods. For example, the change signal CH is a pulse signal that is output three times in the dot formation period T. In other words, the change signal CH defines the dot formation period T into four periods: period T1, period T2, period T3, and period T4.

[0039] The drive signal selection circuit 200 then switches whether or not to supply the drive signal COM as VOUT to the ejection unit 600 during period T1, and switches whether or not to supply the drive signal COM as VOUT to the ejection unit 600 during period T2. Similarly, the drive signal selection circuit 200 switches whether or not to supply the drive signal COM as VOUT to the ejection unit 600 during period T3, and switches whether or not to supply the drive signal COM as VOUT to the ejection unit 600 during period T4. As a result, in the dot formation cycle T, the ink ejected during period T1, the ink ejected during period T2, the ink ejected during period T3, and the ink ejected during period T4 combine on the medium P to form a single dot.

[0040] As described above, the drive signal selection circuit 200 uses the change signal CH to define the dot formation period T into periods T1, T2, T3, and T4, and switches whether or not to supply the drive signal COM as VOUT to the discharge unit 600 during each of the periods T1, T2, T3, and T4. This makes it possible for the liquid discharge head 21 to form dots of multiple sizes on the medium P. As a result, multi-gradation dots can be formed on the medium P, and a high-resolution image can be formed on the medium P. In other words, the change signal CH defines the switching timing of the drive signal selection circuit 200.

[0041] The head control signal DI is a signal synchronized with the clock signal SCK and serially includes an ejection control signal SI that individually defines the amount of ink ejected from the medium P by each of the n ejection units 600 nozzles 651, and a setting information signal SP that defines the relationship between the logic level of the selection signal S output in each of the periods T1, T2, T3, and T4 defined by the change signal CH and the ejection control signal SI.

[0042] This head control signal DI is supplied to the selection control circuit 210 during the dot formation period T, before the latch signal LAT rises in synchronization with the clock signal SCK. The registers assigned to 0 hold the n ejection units 600 in a manner corresponding to each unit. The head control signals DI held in the registers are simultaneously latched on the rising edge of the latch signal LAT, thereby defining the logic level of the selection signal S in the dot formation period T, which is defined by including the latch signal LAT.

[0043] The drive signal COM includes at least one drive waveform, which is described here as a drive waveform. It includes a waveform formed by the following sequence: drive waveform dp1, which is placed during the period T1 from when the latch signal LAT rises until when the first change signal CH rises; drive waveform dp2, which is placed during the period T2 from when the first change signal CH rises until when the second change signal CH rises; drive waveform dp3, which is placed during the period T3 from when the second change signal CH rises until when the third change signal CH rises; and drive waveform dp4, which is placed during the period T4 from when the third change signal CH rises until when the latch signal LAT rises. Note that drive waveforms dp1 to dp4 are examples of discharge pulses.

[0044] For example, drive waveform dp3 is a waveform for ejecting a small amount of ink from the nozzle, drive waveform dp2 is a waveform for ejecting a medium amount of ink (more than a small amount) from the nozzle, and drive waveform dp1 is a waveform for ejecting a large amount of ink (more than a medium amount) from the nozzle. Also, dp4 is a waveform that does not eject ink from the nozzle, and is a waveform that causes slight vibrations in the ink near the nozzle opening to prevent an increase in ink viscosity.

[0045] Here, as shown in Figure 3, the voltages at the start and end timings of the drive waveforms dp1, dp2, dp3, and dp4 are all the same, at voltage Vc. That is, each of the drive waveforms dp1, dp2, dp3, and dp4 starts and ends at voltage Vc. In Figure 3, the drive waveforms dp1, dp2, dp3, and dp4 are shown as different waveforms, but multiple identical waveforms may be included. In other words, the waveform of the drive signal COM is not limited to the waveform shown in Figure 3, and various waveforms may be combined depending on the movement speed of the carriage 20 on which the liquid ejection head 21 is mounted, the properties of the ink supplied to the liquid ejection head 21, and the material of the medium P, etc.

[0046] 3.Liquid In this embodiment, the liquid discharged by the liquid discharge head 21 contains polysaccharides. Examples of polysaccharides include cellulose, chitin, chitosan, starch, pullulan, carrageenan, agar, curdlan, farcelan, zanthan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, disophyllan, hyaluronic acid, alginic acid, sodium alginate, pectin, gellan gum, and derivatives thereof.

[0047] Furthermore, specific examples of cellulose derivatives, which are derivatives of cellulose itself, include methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, acetylcellulose, nitrocellulose, and carboxymethylnitrocellulose. In addition, crystalline celluloses are also included among cellulose derivatives.

[0048] The polysaccharide content in the liquid is not particularly limited, but for example, it is 0.1% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less, preferably 0.2% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less, and more preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less.

[0049] The presence of polysaccharides in the liquid allows them to function as thickeners. On the other hand, the liquid may also contain water, organic solvents, flocculants, colorants, surfactants, etc., in addition to polysaccharides. These substances are appropriately included in the liquid depending on the purpose. In particular, organic acids and polyvalent organic acids can be used as flocculants. Examples include metal salts, cationic polymers, inorganic acids, and metal salts of inorganic acids. When the liquid contains a flocculant, it is suitably used as a pretreatment solution for fabrics in textile printing. Using such a liquid can, for example, improve the color development of printed materials.

[0050] Furthermore, the liquid may contain any additives. Examples of such additives include dispersants, surfactants, preservatives, fungicides, flocculants, defoamers, leveling agents, wetting agents, antioxidants, UV absorbers, and pH adjusters.

[0051] 4. Arrangement of components within the enclosure Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the arrangement of components within the housing 1000 of the liquid dispensing device 1. The liquid dispensing device 1 includes at least a power supply circuit area 57, a dispensing area 24, and a partition wall 60 within the housing 1000. In the liquid dispensing device 1, the power supply circuit 55 is located in the power supply circuit area 57. A fan is not located in the power supply circuit area 57.

[0052] Other components besides the power supply circuit area 57, the discharge area 24, and the partition wall 60 may be arranged within the housing 1000. Furthermore, the partition wall 60 may be shared with other components within the housing 1000.

[0053] In the liquid dispensing device 1, the power supply circuit area 57 within the housing 1000 is separated from other areas within the housing 1000 by a power supply box 70. The box-forming portion 61 of the partition wall 60 forms one surface of the power supply box 70. That is, the power supply box 70 is composed of the box-forming portion 61 of the partition wall 60 and a cover portion 72 having an opening corresponding to the box-forming portion 61.

[0054] Furthermore, a portion of the wall surface of the housing 1000 may form one surface of the power box 70. That is, the power box 70 may be composed of a box forming portion 61 of the partition wall 60 and a portion of the inner wall surface of the housing 1000, and a cover portion 72 having corresponding openings.

[0055] 5.Power circuit The power supply circuit includes a capacitor and a transformer. Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of power supply unit 300 as an example of a power supply unit including a power supply circuit. Figure 5 is a schematic side view of power supply unit 300 as an example of a power supply unit including a power supply circuit.

[0056] The power supply unit 300 is included in the control mechanism 10 and houses the power supply circuit 55 in the power supply circuit area 57. Similarly, electrical circuits such as the drive circuit 50 may each be housed in separate cases separate from the liquid discharge head 21.

[0057] The power supply unit 300 comprises a first unit 301 and a second unit 302, and has a sealed box structure as a whole. The sealed structure of the power supply unit 300 includes, for example, a minimum number of holes such as cable entry holes and ventilation holes, and does not necessarily mean it is completely sealed. The second unit 302 may be integrated with the first unit 301 or detachably attached.

[0058] The first unit 301 comprises a substrate 310 and a first heat sink 311. The substrate 310 may be, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB) with conductive wiring on its surface. A capacitor 331, a transformer 332, a power transistor 333, and the first heat sink 311 are arranged on the substrate 310. Note that the wirings 333a, 333b, and 333c shown in Figure 6 are connected to, for example, the source, gate, and drain of the power transistor 333. Also, the wirings 331a and 331b shown in Figure 6 are connected to, for example, a capacitor These are the terminals of Denser 331.

[0059] The capacitor 331, transformer 332, and power transistor 333 are components that make up the power supply circuit 55. The first heatsink 311 dissipates the heat generated in the power supply circuit 55. In Figures 5 and 6, the first heatsink 311 is placed on the substrate 310 so as to be in contact with the power transistor 333, which has a large heat dissipation capacity. However, the first heatsink 311 may be placed so as to be in contact with other components that have a large heat dissipation capacity, for example, as long as it does not impair the function of the power supply circuit 55. This improves the heat dissipation effect of the power supply circuit 55.

[0060] The second unit 302 includes a second heatsink 312. Within the first unit 301, the heat dissipated from the first heatsink 211 is induced to the second heatsink 312 by radiation and / or thermal conduction. The second heatsink 312, having received the heat generated in the first unit 301, is then cooled by heat dissipation. That is, the heat dissipated from the first heatsink 311 is absorbed by the second heatsink 312 and dissipated from the heat dissipation fins 312a of the second heatsink 312. In this way, the heat generated from the power supply circuit 55 is dissipated outside the power supply unit 300. In the illustrated example, the heat dissipation fins 312a are provided inside the housing 1000, but the heat generated from the power supply circuit 55 may be dissipated to the outside of the housing 1000 by changing the arrangement of the power supply unit 300, changing the shape of the heat dissipation fins 312a, and / or by providing a heat transfer path and providing the heat dissipation fins 312a on the outside of the housing 1000.

[0061] In this embodiment, the fan that generates airflow for heat dissipation is not provided in the power supply circuit area 57 housed in the power supply unit 300. However, the liquid dispensing device 1 may have a fan that generates airflow for heat dissipation located inside the housing 1000, other than in the power supply circuit area 57. However, it is more preferable that the liquid dispensing device 1 does not have a fan inside the housing 1000, as the airflow generated by the fan may disperse the mist described later.

[0062] As described above, the power supply unit 300 includes a capacitor 331. While any suitable capacitor can be used for capacitor 331, it is more preferable for capacitor 331 to be an electrolytic capacitor in terms of capacitance and characteristics. The shape of the electrolytic capacitor can be arbitrarily selected, such as leaded type, board-free type, or chip type.

[0063] Electrolytic capacitors come in many varieties, differing in terminal lead-out structures, sealing materials, and sealing structures. A typical electrolytic capacitor consists of an element made by winding together anode aluminum foil, electrolytic paper, cathode aluminum foil, and electrode terminals, impregnated with electrolyte, housed in an aluminum case, and sealed with a sealing plate that allows the terminals to be brought out to the outside. The outer surface of the aluminum case is covered with a sleeve.

[0064] If the capacitor 331 is an electrolytic capacitor, the sleeve is preferably made of polyolefin. Examples of polyolefins include polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene propylene copolymer.

[0065] Furthermore, if capacitor 331 is an electrolytic capacitor, the electrolyte preferably consists mainly of ethylene glycol and contains water. Such an electrolytic capacitor suppresses the rise in internal pressure, making it less prone to degradation of characteristics and improving reliability.

[0066] Furthermore, if the capacitor 331 is an electrolytic capacitor, it is preferable that it has an aluminum case. Such electrolytic capacitors are less prone to degradation of their characteristics, which can further improve the reliability of the device.

[0067] Furthermore, if capacitor 331 is an electrolytic capacitor, it is more preferable to select a sealing plate made of a material consisting of a laminated EPT rubber layer and a bakelite layer. Using such an electrolytic capacitor makes the capacitor's characteristics less prone to degradation, further improving the reliability of the device.

[0068] Furthermore, if capacitor 331 is an electrolytic capacitor, it is even more preferable that its terminals are plated with copper and tin. For example, if capacitor 331 shown in Figure 6 is an electrolytic capacitor, it is preferable that one or both of terminals 331a and terminal 331b are plated with copper and tin. Using such an electrolytic capacitor results in good capacitor characteristics and further improves the reliability of the device.

[0069] 6. Mist and its effects The liquid described above may float as a mist when it is discharged from the liquid discharge head 21. Mist may be generated, for example, when the liquid is discharged and forms droplets, due to tiny droplets called satellites. The mist may float inside the housing 1000 and adhere to the inner wall of the housing 1000 or to the components of the internal structure of the housing 1000. When the mist adheres to an object, it loses its volatile components as it dries, leaving only the solid components of the liquid attached to the object. In the liquid discharge device 1 of this embodiment, the liquid contains at least polysaccharides, so when mist is generated, at least polysaccharides will adhere to the components inside the housing 1000.

[0070] Polysaccharides function as thickeners in liquids, but as the liquid loses its volatile components, the concentration of polysaccharides in the liquid increases. Therefore, when mist is generated, a high-viscosity substance gradually accumulates in the components inside the housing 1000.

[0071] For example, if a fan for heat dissipation is provided in the power supply circuit area 57, mist may adhere to the fan's rotation mechanism, causing a buildup of high-viscosity substances that may hinder the fan's rotation. This type of problem is more likely to occur if the liquid contains polysaccharides.

[0072] However, as already mentioned, since the liquid dispensing device 1 of this embodiment does not have a fan in the power supply circuit area 57, such problems can be prevented. In addition, if the liquid dispensing device 1 does not have a fan inside the housing 1000, it is possible to prevent obstruction of the fan's rotation operation due to mist, etc.

[0073] Furthermore, since the liquid dispensing device 1 of this embodiment does not have a fan in the power supply circuit area 57, mist diffusion by the fan is less likely to occur, and problems such as short circuits and leakage currents in the electrical circuit can be suppressed.

[0074] Furthermore, since the liquid dispensing device 1 of this embodiment has a partition wall 60 separating the dispensing area 24 and the power supply circuit area 57, it is difficult for floating mist to reach the power supply circuit area 57. This also helps to suppress malfunctions such as short circuits and leakage currents in the power supply circuit 55.

[0075] Furthermore, when the liquid ejection device 1 is a textile printing printer, it is often large, resulting in a greater amount of mist floating inside the casing 1000 compared to a typical home printer. Even when the liquid ejection device 1 is a textile printing printer, the above-mentioned effects can still be fully obtained. In other words, the effects are even more pronounced when the liquid ejection device 1 is a textile printing printer.

[0076] The embodiments and variations described above are merely examples and are not limited thereto. For example, each embodiment and each variation can be combined as appropriate.

[0077] The present invention includes configurations substantially identical to those described in the embodiments, for example, configurations with the same function, method, and results, or configurations with the same purpose and effect. Furthermore, the present invention includes configurations in which non-essential parts of the configurations described in the embodiments are replaced. Furthermore, the present invention includes configurations that produce the same effects or achieve the same purpose as those described in the embodiments. Finally, the present invention includes configurations that add known technology to the configurations described in the embodiments.

[0078] The following can be derived from the embodiments and modifications described above.

[0079] The liquid dispensing device is The casing and Displaced within the aforementioned housing is a dispensing unit for dispensing liquid, A power supply circuit, which is arranged inside the housing and supplies power to the discharge section, A partition wall is arranged to separate the discharge area where the discharge unit is located from the power supply circuit area where the power supply circuit is located. A printing apparatus comprising, The aforementioned power supply circuit includes a capacitor and a transformer. There are no fans located in the power supply circuit area. The aforementioned liquid contains polysaccharides.

[0080] With this liquid dispensing device, since there is no fan in the power supply circuit area, polysaccharides are less likely to adhere to the fan, reducing the frequency of maintenance and allowing for high productivity to be maintained.

[0081] In the above liquid dispensing device, Within the aforementioned enclosure, The aforementioned power supply circuit area is separated from other areas by a power supply box. The partition wall may form one side of the power box.

[0082] This liquid dispensing device can further suppress the adhesion of polysaccharides to the power supply circuit area.

[0083] In the above liquid dispensing device, The aforementioned capacitor is It may have a sleeve made of polyolefin.

[0084] This liquid dispensing device prevents the capacitor's characteristics from degrading easily, further improving the reliability of the device.

[0085] In the above liquid dispensing device, The capacitor contains an electrolyte, The electrolyte mainly consists of ethylene glycol and may also contain water.

[0086] This liquid dispensing device suppresses the rise in internal pressure of the condenser, making it less prone to performance degradation and further improving the reliability of the device.

[0087] In the above liquid dispensing device, The aforementioned capacitor is It may have an aluminum case.

[0088] This liquid dispensing device prevents the capacitor's characteristics from degrading easily, further improving the reliability of the device.

[0089] In the above liquid dispensing device, The aforementioned capacitor is A liquid dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, having a sealing plate in which an EPT rubber layer and a bakelite layer are laminated.

[0090] This liquid dispensing device prevents the capacitor's characteristics from degrading easily, further improving the reliability of the device.

[0091] In the above liquid dispensing device, The liquid dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the terminals of the capacitor are plated with copper and tin.

[0092] This liquid dispensing device allows for good condenser characteristics and further improves the reliability of the device.

[0093] In the above liquid dispensing device, The liquid dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a fan is not located inside the housing.

[0094] This liquid dispensing device prevents polysaccharides from adhering to the fan, further reducing maintenance frequency and maintaining higher productivity. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0095] 1...Liquid dispensing device, 10...Control mechanism, 20...Carriage, 21...Liquid dispensing head, 24...Dispensing area, 30...Moving mechanism, 31...Carriage motor, 32...Endless belt, 40...Conveying mechanism, 41...Conveying motor, 42...Conveying roller, 50...Drive circuit, 51...Drive signal output circuit, 52...Reference voltage signal output circuit, 55...Power supply circuit, 57...Power supply circuit area, 90...Linear encoder, 100...Control Circuit diagram, 200...Drive signal selection circuit, 300...Power supply unit, 301...First unit, 302...Second unit, 310...Circuit board, 311...First heatsink, 312...Second heatsink, 312a...Heat dissipation fins, 331...Capacitor, 331a,331b...Terminals, 332...Transformer, 333...Power transistor, 333a,333b,333c...Wiring, 600...Discharge section, 1000...Housing

Claims

1. The casing and Displaced within the aforementioned housing is a dispensing unit for dispensing liquid, A power supply circuit, which is arranged inside the housing and supplies power to the discharge section, A partition wall is arranged to separate the discharge area where the discharge unit is located from the power supply circuit area where the power supply circuit is located. An apparatus for printing on fabric, comprising: The power supply circuit includes a capacitor, a transformer, a power transistor, a first heat sink in contact with the power transistor, and a second heat sink equipped with heat dissipation fins that absorbs the heat dissipated from the first heat sink and dissipates it to the outside of the power supply circuit. There are no fans located in the power supply circuit area. A liquid dispensing device in which the aforementioned liquid contains polysaccharides.

2. Within the aforementioned enclosure, The aforementioned power supply circuit area is separated from other areas by a power supply box. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall forms one surface of the power box.

3. The aforementioned capacitor is A liquid dispensing device according to claim 1 or claim 2, having a sleeve made of polyolefin.

4. The capacitor contains an electrolyte, The liquid dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrolyte mainly consists of ethylene glycol and contains water.

5. The aforementioned capacitor is A liquid dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising an aluminum case.

6. The aforementioned capacitor is A liquid dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, having a sealing plate in which an EPT rubber layer and a bakelite layer are laminated.

7. The liquid dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the terminals of the capacitor are plated with copper and tin.

8. The liquid dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a fan is not located inside the housing.

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