JP3345862B2 - Dye vaporizing printer head - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dye vaporizing printer head used for a color video printer and the like, and more particularly to an improvement in supply of a liquefied dye to a vaporizing section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a color video printer having a power-saving, small-sized, low-cost dye vaporizing printer head without using an ink ribbon or a thermal head has been developed.
FIG. 19 shows the overall configuration of an example of this type of color video printer, and FIG. 20 shows an outline of the structure of the printer head therein.

A color video printer 20 includes an outer casing 21.
, Frame chassis 22, cassette 23, flat base plate 24, head 25, paper feed drive roller 26, driven roller 27, power supply 28, motor 2
9, a head drive circuit board 30 and a flexible harness 31.

The outer casing 21 is provided with a color video printer 20.
It is a cubic box that covers the whole, and a photographic paper discharge port 21a is provided on the right side. Frame chassis 2
Reference numeral 2 denotes an inner frame for dividing the inside of the outer casing 21 into a space for the cassette 23 and a space for other components.

[0005] The cassette 23 contains photographic paper 33,
It is adapted to be fitted into the left space formed by the frame chassis 22. The side surface of the cassette 23 on the photographic paper discharge port 21a side is an opening, and the photographic paper 33 is pushed out one by one from this opening.

The flat base plate 24 is disposed in the right space formed by the frame chassis 22, and has a function as a stand for holding the printing paper 33 between the flat base plate 24 and the head unit 25.

The head section 25 is mounted on the flat base plate 24 and is sandwiched between the flat base plate 24 and the printing paper 3.
3 is a dye vaporized printer head, which is pressed against the flat base plate 24 with a light load (about 50 g) by springs 32a and 32b.

The head section 25 has a solid dye storage tank 3
Four. The solid dye storage tank 34 contains powdery vaporized dyes 35Y, 35M, and 35C of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) (hereinafter collectively referred to as number 3).
5).

The term "vaporizable dye" as used herein means so-called solidified disperse dye, liquefied disperse dye, vaporized disperse dye, sublimable dye,
Disperse dyes are collectively referred to as "dyes having a temperature range where the vapor pressure is 0.01 Pa or more in the temperature range from 25 ° C. to the decomposition temperature. If the molecules are associated with an average number of associations n, the vapor pressure divided by n will be at least 0.01 Pascal. " Commercially available vapor dyes meeting this definition include HSR-2031 and ESC-15.
5, ESC-655 and the like.

The paper feed drive roller 26 and the driven roller 27 are rotated in opposite directions by a motor 29, whereby the photographic paper 33 printed by the head 25 is rotated.
Is pulled out while holding it with light pressure, and the photographic paper discharge port 21 is
It has the function of discharging from a.

The head drive circuit board 30 includes a head 25
Of the head unit 25 via the flexible harness 31.
Is connected to the control circuit.

As shown in FIG. 20, the head 25 is provided with a solid dye storage tank 34 for storing a powdery vaporized dye 35.
And a plurality of liquefied dye supply passages 36 connected to the solid dye storage tank 34, and a vaporizer 37 connected to the outlet of each liquefied dye supply passage 36.

Solid dye storage tank 34, liquefied dye supply passage 3
6 and the vaporizing section 37 are configured by being surrounded by a heat insulating material 38 in a head base 39 made of glass or transparent plastic.

A heat insulating material 3 is provided above the solid dye storage tank 34.
8 and the head base 39, and the powdered vaporized dye 3
An air hole 34a having a diameter smaller than 5 is provided. this is,
This is because the powdered vaporized dye 35 is smoothly sent to the liquid dye supply passage 36.

The liquefied dye supply passage 36 introduces the powdered vaporized dye 35 from the solid dye storage tank 34, liquefies it, and supplies it to the vaporizer 37 by capillary action. The lower wall of the liquefied dye supply passage 36 is formed of a wear-resistant protective layer 40 made of a high-strength material.

The heat insulating material 38 on the upper wall of the liquefied dye supply passage 36
A heater 41 made of an electric resistor for heating and melting (liquefying) the powdery vaporized dye to the melting point is installed on the inner surface of the.

The inlet of the vaporizing section 37 is connected to a liquefied dye supply passage 36.
It is continuous with the exit. Upper wall of the vaporizing section 37 (heat insulating material 3)
On the inner surface of 8), a heating unit 42 for supplying heat of vaporization to the liquid dye is provided.

The lower wall of the vaporizing section 37 and the opposite side of the liquefied dye storage tank 36 and the side wall are formed by a protective layer 40 extending from the liquefied dye supply passage 36. The protective layer 40 on the lower wall of the vaporizing section 37 is provided with a vaporizing hole 43 for ejecting the vaporized dye.

In order to print using the color video printer 20 having such a configuration, a plurality of photographic papers 33 are first loaded into the cassette 23 as shown in FIG. The receiving layer 33a is applied to the surface of the printing paper 33 as shown in FIG. At the start of printing, photographic paper 33
Are separated one by one from above, and the receiving layer 33a is sandwiched between the head portion 25 and the flat base plate 24 with light pressure toward the vaporization hole 43 side.

On the other hand, the powdery vaporized dye 35 in the solid dye storage tank 34 is sent to a liquefied dye supply passage 36,
The liquid is heated to the melting point by 1 and melted to form a liquefied dye. The liquefied dye travels in the liquefied dye supply passage 36 by capillary action and is supplied to the vaporization unit 37.

Therefore, when the photographic paper 33 is sandwiched between the paper feed drive roller 26 and the driven roller 27, the head drive circuit board 30 sends a control signal to the control circuit of the head unit 25 for one line of one color. A print signal is sent. Then, the heating unit 42 of the head unit 25 generates heat, and the vaporizing unit 37
The liquefied dye held therein is vaporized into a vaporized dye.

The vaporized dye is supplied to the vaporizing holes 4 of each vaporizing section 37.
3 and adheres to the receiving layer 33a of the photographic paper 33. The above printing process is performed for three colors (Y, M, and C), and as a result, one-line color printing is performed.

[0023]

However, the above-mentioned conventional dye vaporizing printer head has the following problems. (1). Since the liquefied dye supply passage 36 is made of a material having poor wettability with respect to the liquefied dye, there is a problem that the amount of the liquefied dye cannot be sufficiently supplied to the vaporizing section 37.

(2). Conventionally, in order to supply a fixed amount of liquefied dye to the vaporization unit 37, control devices such as flow control by a pump, hydraulic control by a bimorph, or opening and closing control of a valve by a piezo element have been added. However, there is a problem that the size and cost of the head 25 are increased.

(3). From the solid dye storage tank 34 to the vaporization unit 3
Since the cross-sectional areas of the capillaries are the same up to 7, there is a problem that the supply amount of the liquefied dye to the vaporizing section 37 is excessive or insufficient.

(4). When air enters the liquefied dye supply passage 36, there is a problem that the air cannot be removed unless it comes out of the vaporizer 37, so that a uniform flow of the liquefied dye cannot be ensured.

(5). The movement of the liquefied dye by the capillary is affected by gravity, the movement of the head unit 25 itself, or the acceleration by an external force, so that the length of the capillary is limited.

(6). If the cross-sectional area of the capillary is not appropriate, oversupply has occurred due to the interfacial tension between the capillary material and the liquefied dye.

(7). Since the movement of the liquefied dye by the capillary is affected by gravity, the operation of the head unit 25 itself, or the acceleration due to an external force, it has been difficult to uniformly supply an appropriate amount of the liquefied dye to the vaporization unit 37.

(8). When the liquefied dye is heated and vaporized in the vaporizing section 37, the difference in interfacial tension of the liquefied dye itself causes
Since the liquefied dye moves from the high-temperature part to the surrounding low-temperature part, the heat required to vaporize the liquefied dye is lost, and as a result, it is difficult to obtain a predetermined sufficient amount of vaporization.

(9). If an attempt is made to control the supply amount of the liquefied dye to the vaporizing section 37 by pressurizing or vibrating, dripping occurs due to excessive supply, and the vaporization amount of the dye changes due to a delay in supply. There was a change in concentration.

(10). The heating unit 42 for vaporizing the liquefied dye, the heater 41 for liquefying the powdered vaporized dye 35, and the protective layer 40 are made of a material that has low wettability for the liquefied dye, such as metal or ceramic. Therefore, a phenomenon has occurred in which the liquefied dye escapes from the vaporizing section 37 and the vicinity thereof.

(11). If the supply of the liquefied dye to the vaporizing section 37 is controlled by a valve or the like, the heat capacity of the head section 25 becomes large, so that high-speed heat control becomes impossible and extra heating energy is required. there were.

Therefore, there is a problem to be solved in supplying an appropriate amount of the liquefied dye and adjusting the amount of the liquefied dye to an appropriate amount when vaporizing.

[0035]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a dye vaporization type printer head according to the present invention comprises a solid dye storage tank for supplying a solid dye, a liquefied liquid supply passage provided with a liquefied dye supply passage, and a heating means. A dye-evaporating printer head comprising: a dye supply unit; and a vaporization unit having a vaporization chamber and a heating unit for vaporizing the liquefied dye supplied from the liquefied dye supply unit, wherein a passage for supplying the liquefied dye is provided. Is provided with a buffer means by a member for adjusting the supply of the liquefied dye.

The buffer means is formed of pellets; the buffer means has a structure for blocking liquefied dye at or near the inlet of the vaporizing section; The vaporization chamber is filled with a liquefied dye holding material composed of pellets;
A liquefied dye holding material having a multi-layered fiber structure is arranged in and near the vaporization chamber; a liquefied dye holding material formed of a porous film having an overlapped etching groove structure is arranged in the vaporization chamber and the vicinity thereof; A liquefied dye holding material made of a sponge body is disposed in and near the vaporization chamber; the pellets are grains having projections on the surface.

[0037]

According to the present invention, there is provided a dye vaporizing printer head comprising:
With the above configuration, the following operation is achieved.

(1). By providing a buffering means with a member for adjusting the supply of the liquefied dye in the passage for supplying the liquefied dye, the liquefied dye supplied to the vaporizing section can be appropriately adjusted and supplied in an appropriate amount to prevent liquid leakage and the like. Can be prevented.

(2). Pellet the buffer means
With the configuration in t), the liquefied dye can be stored and buffered in a pooled state due to the interfacial tension of the surface of the pellet, and if the pellet is formed of spherical particles having good wettability to the liquefied dye, The buffer effect can be increased.

(3). The buffer means has a structure for blocking the liquefied dye, that is, a structure in which a large number and multiple stages of fine holes are provided at or near the inlet of the vaporizing section, so that the supply amount is constant without being affected by gravity or external force. Supply can be made.

(4). The liquefied dye supply unit is configured by a capillary whose cross-sectional area is reduced at every predetermined distance in the direction of the vaporization unit, so that the flow rate is optimized by the shape of the capillary, and the supply amount is determined by the cross-sectional area of the capillary according to the required amount. Will be able to decide.

(5). By filling the vaporizing chamber with the liquefied dye holding material composed of pellets, the supplied vaporized dye can be supplied in a constant amount without being affected by gravity or external force due to the interfacial tension of the liquefied dye. .

(6). By arranging a liquefied dye holding material consisting of a multi-layered porous film having a wettability, a multi-layered porous film having an etched groove structure, and a liquefied dye holding material composed of a sponge body in and near the vaporization chamber, these liquefied dye holding materials are Since the contact area with the liquefied dye is large and the wetting property is good, it is possible to hold the liquefied dye without escaping to the surroundings when heat of vaporization is applied to the vaporizing portion. As a result, heat is effectively used for vaporizing the liquefied dye.

Since the liquefied dye is held by these liquefied dye holding materials, the supply amount of the liquefied dye does not fluctuate or break due to gravity, external force, or operation of the head. The dye can be supplied in a fixed amount.

(7). The pellet is formed of a material having good wettability, and is a particle having a projection on its surface, whereby the wet surface area can be increased and a structure capable of sufficiently holding the liquefied dye can be obtained.

[0046]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The overall configuration of the printer to which the dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention is applied is the same as that shown in FIG. 19 described in the related art.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the outer appearance of the dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention is the head base 1 (corresponding to the head base 39 in FIG. 20) on the upper side and the protective cover 2 (lower side) on the lower side. 20 (corresponding to the protective layer 40 of FIG. 20). FIG. 1 shows a part of an internal dye supply system A viewed from the protective cover 2 side.

The dye supply system A includes N (28 in FIG. 1) vaporizers 3 and M vaporizers 3 (4 in FIG. 1).
), A relay tank 4 provided for each group, a plurality of groove-like liquefied dye supply passages 5 provided between each vaporizing section 3 and the relay tank 4, and a powdery vaporized dye. And a liquefied dye supply unit 7 that is provided between each relay tank 4 and the main tank 6 and supplies liquefied dye to the M base units 3.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vaporizing section 3. The vaporizing section 3 heats and vaporizes the supplied liquefied dye, and discharges the vaporized dye from the plurality of vaporizing discharge holes 8. Vaporization section 3
A buffer 10 having a chamber structure serving as a liquid reservoir for adjusting the supply amount of the liquefied dye to the vaporizing section 3 is provided just before the entrance of the vaporizer 3, and a buffer material 9 is filled in the chamber.

Each of the liquefied dye supply passages 5 has a smaller sectional area than the passage of the liquefied dye supply unit 7. That is, it is formed of a capillary for supplying a liquefied dye, and has a structure communicating with each of the vaporizing sections 3 in a 1: 1 relationship.
The liquefied dye supply section 7 is formed such that the cross-sectional area S of the passage is equal to the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the liquefied dye supply paths 5. That is, the cross-sectional area of each liquefied dye supply passage 5 is evenly distributed so as to be equal to the cross-sectional area S of the passage of the liquefied dye supply unit 7.

On the other hand, the liquefied dye supply passage 5 has an air hole 1
1 is provided. The liquefied dye supply unit 7 is also provided with an air hole 12. Each of these air holes 11 and 12 is provided in the protective cover 2 and functions as a hole through which air has entered each passage.

When forming the air holes 11 and 12, the peripheral surface of the air holes is coated with a paint having poor wettability with respect to the liquefied dye, or the protective cover 2 itself is made of a material having poor wettability. The liquefied dye is prevented from dripping from the holes 11 and 12.

In the present embodiment, the lengths of the liquefied dye supply passage 5 and the liquefied dye supply unit 7 are limited to about 7 mm or less so that the supply of the liquefied dye is not interrupted by the influence of gravity and external force. are doing.

The flow rate of the liquefied dye flowing through the capillary of the liquefied dye supply passage 5 and the liquefied dye supply unit 7 depends on the viscosity of the liquefied dye and the cross-sectional shape of the groove forming the capillary. The flow rate per unit time is obtained by multiplying the flow velocity by the cross-sectional area of the groove. Therefore, the supply amount of the liquefied dye is controlled by controlling the heating temperature and the heating time which influence the viscosity, or by changing the cross-sectional area of the capillary. Hereinafter, this control means will be described based on various embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a liquefied dye passage from the liquefied dye supply passage 5 to the vaporization section 3 in the first embodiment of the dye vaporized printer head according to the present invention. As shown, the vaporizing section 3, the buffer section 10A, and the liquefied dye supply passage 5
Are formed in a box shape by being surrounded by a heat insulating material 12 in the head base 1.

The buffer walls 12a, 1 formed integrally with the heat insulating material 12 forming the partition wall between the vaporizing section 3 and the buffer section 10A.
2a and a buffer wall 12 integrally formed with a heat insulating material 12 forming a partition between the buffer section 10A and the liquefied dye supply passage 5.
Thin passages 5A and 5B for passing the liquefied dye are formed between b and 12b, respectively.

The protective cover 2 below the vaporizing section 3 is provided with a plurality of vaporizing holes 8 comprising insertion holes.
Is formed so as to be exposed to the outside via the. That is,
The vaporized dye is ejected toward the photographic paper through the vapor ejection hole 8.

The protective cover 2 below the liquefied dye supply passage 5
Is provided with an air hole 11 for letting out air that has entered the liquefied dye as described above.

A heater 13 for heating the liquefied dye 9A is provided on the inner surface of the liquefied dye supply passage 5 and the upper heat insulating material 12 of the buffer section 10A. The heater 13 is controlled by a head control circuit, not shown, and determines the viscosity of the liquefied dye.

A heating section 14 is provided on the inner surface of the upper heat insulating material 12 of the vaporizing section 3. The heating unit 14 includes a heat generating layer that absorbs infrared rays and converts the energy into heat energy. The heating unit 14 converts laser light output from a laser generation unit 15 installed in the head base 1 above the vaporization unit 3 into heat energy. And has a function of vaporizing the liquefied dye in the vaporizing section 3.

The vaporizing section 3 and the buffer section 10A are filled with a fine spherical buffer material 9 made of a material which is well wettable to the liquefied dye 9A. The buffer material 9 has a function of holding a liquefied dye 9A for a liquid reservoir so as not to be excessively supplied by the liquid pressure of the liquefied dye 9A or the interfacial tension of the liquefied dye 9A itself.

In the structure of the printer head having the buffer means having such a structure, first, the liquefied dye passage 5 is provided.
The liquefied dye 9A therein passes through the narrow passage 5B formed by the buffer walls 12b, 12b and flows into the buffer section 10A filled with the buffer material 9.

The liquefied dye 9A flowing into the buffer 10A
Is formed so as to cover the entire surface of the spherical cushioning material 9 which is a material having good wettability.
Flows in the direction. The liquefied dye 9A in the buffer 10A
Flows through the narrow passage 5A formed by the buffer walls 12a, 12a, and flows out to the vaporizing section 3.

As described above, the buffer portion 10A has a structure provided between the narrow passages 5A and 5B formed by the buffer walls 12a, 12a and 12b and 12b having a narrow passage, and has a liquefied dye 9A therein. The liquefied dye 9A supplied from the liquefied dye supply passage 5 is temporarily blocked by a structure in which a spherical buffer material 9 made of a material having good wettability is filled. , And gradually flows out to the vaporization section 3 side. Therefore, passage 5
By appropriately adjusting the sizes of A and 5B and the amount of the buffer material 9, the optimal liquefied dye 9A can be continuously and uniformly supplied to the vaporizing section 3.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention. The buffer section 10B of this embodiment is formed of a plurality of small chambers, and has a structure in which the supply of the liquefied dye 9A is adjusted by the small chambers.

That is, the first small chamber 10a is formed by a plurality of buffer walls 12a, 12a and 12c, 12c which are formed integrally with the heat insulating material 12 from the vaporizing section 3 side and protrude toward the passage side of the liquefied dye 9A. And the buffer walls 12c, 12c and 12
d and 12d form a second small chamber 10b,
3d small chamber 10c by 2d, 12d and 12b, 12b
Is formed.

Then, the buffer walls 12a, 12b, 12c,
Each of 12d has a structure in which thin passages 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are provided.

The buffer section 10B having such a structure is
First, the liquefied dye 9A flows from the liquefied dye supply passage 5 into the third small chamber 10c, is blocked and buffered, flows into the second and third small chambers 10b, 10a, and is supplied to the vaporizing section 3.

Therefore, the first, second and third small chambers 10a,
10b, 10c and buffer walls 12a, 12b, 12c, 12
By appropriately changing the passages 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D formed by d, the liquid dye 9A can be uniformly supplied to the vaporizing section 3.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the dye-evaporated printer head according to the present invention. That is, the buffer 10C
Is formed by an extended portion of the liquefied dye supply passage 5 on the side where the heater 13 is provided, and a narrow passage 5E formed by a partition wall of a buffer wall 12e protruding from the upper portion of the vaporizer 3 side. A room surrounded by a narrow passage 5F formed by a partition wall of a buffer wall 12f protruding from a lower portion on the side of the liquefied dye supply passage 5 is formed. The liquefied dye 9A that has flowed into the buffer section 10C flows in from the upper side and flows out to the vaporizer 3 from the lower side.

The inside of the buffer section 10C has a structure in which buffer members 12e and 12f having a predetermined interval are provided at a substantially central position.

The liquefied dye 9A that has flowed into the buffer section 10C having such a structure flows while being blocked by the thin passage 5F, and is then diverted from the upper part to the lower part by the buffer members 12e and 12f. And flows out to the vaporizing section 3 through the passage 5E. That is, it does not flow directly in the buffer portion 10C, but becomes a so-called pooled state, and the arrangement positions of the buffer materials 12e and 12f and the passage 5
By changing the relationship between E and 5F, an appropriate amount of the liquefied dye 9A can be supplied to the vaporizing section 3.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the dye-evaporated printer head according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, a liquefied dye supply system A1 is provided in which the interval between the vaporizing sections 3 is more dense than in the above-described embodiment. That is, in the liquefied dye supply system A1, the vaporizing units 3 are alternately arranged on both sides of the main tank 6 in a state of being shifted by the interval (t). By arranging the vaporization sections 3 slightly on both sides of the main tank 6 in this manner, a structure can be provided in which the liquefied dye can be prevented from flowing into the respective vaporization sections 3 at a time and supplied.

Next, FIGS. 7 and 8 show a fifth embodiment of a dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, a structure in which the liquefied dye supply passage 5 and the vaporizing unit 3 are directly connected to each other without providing a buffer between the liquefied dye supply passage 5 and the vaporizing unit 3 is provided. A filler 9 made of spherical particles as a liquefied dye holding material made of a material having good wettability with respect to the dye is filled, and the heating unit 14 has a structure using a unique heating device without using an infrared laser.

As shown in FIG. 8, the vaporizing section 3 has a structure surrounded by a buffer wall 12g formed of a heat insulating material 12 except for a passage into which the liquefied dye 9A flows.
It has a structure provided with an ejection hole 8 having a size below which the filler 9C does not come out.

A gap is formed between the inner wall of the vaporizing section 3 of the dye vaporizing type printer head having such a structure and the filler 9C and between the fillers 9C to form a capillary, and an appropriate amount of the liquefied dye 9A is formed by interfacial tension. As a result, when the liquefied dye 9A is heated, an appropriate amount of vaporization can be obtained.

Here, the spherical cushioning material 9 filled in the cushioning portion 10A of the first embodiment and the first, second, third and fifth cushioning members are provided.
The shape of the fillers 9B and 9C filled in the vaporization section 3 of the embodiment may be such that particles having a large number of fine projections are filled as shown in FIG. When such particles are used as the buffer 9B or the fillers 9B and 9C, capillaries are formed between the projections, so that the liquefied dye 9A can be held more strongly. In addition, if the number and length of the protrusions are increased, the surface area wetted by the liquefied dye 9A increases, so that the liquefied dye holding power is correspondingly large.

Further, a porous particle as shown in FIG. 10 may be used. In this embodiment, a capillary is formed in the hole to hold the liquefied dye 9A. When the number and depth of the holes are changed, the surface area wetted by the liquefied dye 9A changes, and the holding power of the liquefied dye 9A can be changed.

Next, FIG. 11 shows a sixth embodiment according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the same structure as in the fifth embodiment,
That is, the liquefied dye supply passage 5 has a structure in which the vaporization unit 3 is directly connected to the liquefied dye supply passage 5 without providing a buffer between the liquefied dye supply passage 5 and the vaporization unit 3. ,
Spherical filler 9B filled in the first, second, third, and fifth embodiments
Instead, a liquefied dye holding material 16 having a multi-layer structure of a fiber with good wetting is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 12, the liquefied dye holding material 16 is made of a thin fiber 1 having a good wettability with respect to the liquefied dye 9A.
6a is formed by arranging the layers 6a alternately and substantially orthogonally for each layer. With such a structure, the contact area with the liquefied dye 9A is increased, thereby increasing the liquefied dye holding power.

Next, FIG. 13 shows a seventh embodiment of the dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a horizontal partition of the vaporizing section 3 (the buffer wall 12 in FIG. 11).
g), and instead, a liquefied dye holding material 17 having a grooved multilayer structure as shown in FIG. 14 is arranged.

The liquefied dye holding material 17 includes a plurality of groove plates 1.
It is configured by stacking a plurality of sheets 7a in the vertical direction. Each groove plate 17a is formed by etching a plurality of parallel grooves 17a by etching a plate of a material that is well wettable to the liquefied dye 9A.
c, and the grooves 17c are formed by providing a plurality of through holes 17b at equal intervals.

The liquefied dye holding material 17 is provided with groove plates 17 such that the directions of the grooves 17c of the respective layers are alternately substantially perpendicular.
a are vertically stacked. With such a structure, the liquefied dye 9A is held in a wide area by the groove 17c and the through hole 17b.

As a modification of the sixth and seventh embodiments,
The liquefied dye holding material 18 having a spongy structure with good wetting to the liquefied dye 9A as shown in FIG. 15 or the liquefied dye 9A as shown in FIG. A liquefied dye holding material 19 having a multilayer lattice structure made of a material may be arranged.

The liquefied dye holding material 19 having a multilayer lattice film structure is
The positions of the holes 19a of the lattice film of each layer are shifted, whereby the liquefied dye 9A is held by a number of vertically bent capillaries.

FIG. 17 shows an eighth embodiment of the dye-evaporated printer head according to the present invention. This embodiment has a structure in which the heating section 14 of the vaporizing section 3 is formed of an infrared light absorbing layer, and a laser beam of an infrared laser generator 15 is applied to the heating section to generate heat. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the fifth to seventh embodiments, and thus the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted. By generating heat by the laser beam in this manner, a structure can be obtained in which the time for vaporizing the liquefied dye 9A can be reduced.

Next, FIG. 18 shows a ninth embodiment of a dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the liquefied dye in the vaporizing section 3 is irradiated with the infrared laser without using the light absorbing layer 14 by mixing the liquefied dye 9A with the infrared absorbing agent so as to be uniformly distributed in the fluid. Generator 1
5 directly heats the structure. Thereby, the infrared absorption layer 14 can be eliminated from the vaporization section 3 and the structure can be simplified.

[0088]

As described above, the following effects can be obtained according to the dye vaporizing printer head of the present invention.

(1). The amount of the liquefied dye supplied to the vaporization unit is provided by providing a buffering means with a member for adjusting the supply of the liquefaction dye in at least a part of the passage for supplying the liquefaction dye so that the dye reaching the vaporization unit becomes an appropriate amount. Can be adjusted to an appropriate amount to prevent liquid leakage, etc., but can be supplied continuously and uniformly and supply liquefied dye to the vaporizing section without being affected by liquid pressure, external force and gravity. It has a very good effect that it can be done.

(2). By constituting the buffer means with pellets, liquefied dyes can be stored and buffered in a pooled state due to the interfacial tension of the surface of the pellets, and the pellets can be composed of spherical particles having good wettability to the liquefied dyes. If this is the case, the liquefied dye can be held in each of the pellets, and a very excellent effect that stable supply can be achieved can be achieved.

(3). The buffer means has a structure for blocking the liquefied dye, that is, a structure in which a large number and multiple stages of fine holes are provided at or near the inlet of the vaporizing section, so that the cross section of the capillary can be adjusted according to the viscosity of the liquefied dye and the supply amount thereof. Since the shape can be adjusted and the flow rate can be determined, there is an extremely excellent effect that the supply amount can be kept constant without being affected by gravity or external force.

(4). The liquefied dye supply unit is configured by a capillary whose cross-sectional area is reduced at every predetermined distance in the direction of the vaporization unit, so that the flow rate is optimized by the shape of the capillary, and the supply amount is determined by the cross-sectional area of the capillary according to the required amount. Since it can be determined, there is an extremely excellent effect that the supply amount can be kept constant without being affected by gravity or external force.

Further, by providing an air hole in the passage for supplying the liquefied dye, it is possible to eliminate air that has entered the passage, and it is possible to uniformly supply the liquefied dye through a capillary tube. It has an extremely excellent effect.

(5). By filling the liquefied dye holding material consisting of pellets in the vaporization chamber, the liquefied dye can be held by the interfacial tension of the liquefied dye and the capillary action between the pellets, and the supplied liquefied dye to be vaporized is affected by gravity and external force. This provides an extremely excellent effect that it can be kept constant without receiving the noise.

(6). By arranging a liquefied dye holding material consisting of a multi-layered porous film having a wettability, a multi-layered porous film having an etched groove structure, and a liquefied dye holding material composed of a sponge body in and near the vaporization chamber, these liquefied dye holding materials are Since the contact area with the liquefied dye is large and the wetting property is good, when the heat of vaporization is applied to the vaporizing part, the liquefied dye can be held without escaping to the surroundings, and the heat is used for the vaporization of the liquefied dye. In addition to the above, the present invention has an extremely excellent effect that the liquefied dye can be supplied quantitatively by adjusting the gap volume.

Since the liquefied dye is held by these liquefied dye holding materials, the influence of gravity, external force, and acceleration is reduced, or the supply amount of the liquefied dye is fluctuated or interrupted by the operation of the head. In addition, there is an extremely excellent effect that the liquefied dye can be supplied to the vaporizing section in a constant amount.

(7). Pellets are formed of a material having good wettability, and by having particles having protrusions on the surface thereof, the wet surface area can be increased,
This has an extremely excellent effect that a structure capable of sufficiently holding the liquefied dye during heating can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a liquefied dye supply system of a dye vaporized printer head according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a vaporization section in the supply system diagram.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a first embodiment of a dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a second embodiment of the dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a third embodiment of a dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a fourth embodiment of the liquefied dye supply system of the dye vaporized printer head according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a fifth embodiment of the dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the vaporizing orifice as viewed from below.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the cushioning material and the filler according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another modified example.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a sixth embodiment of the dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the liquefied dye holding material.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a seventh embodiment of the dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a liquefied dye holding material having the same multilayer structure.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a liquefied dye holding material having the multilayer lattice film structure.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the liquefied dye holding material.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing an eighth embodiment of the dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing a ninth embodiment of a dye vaporizing printer head according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a conventional color video printer.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing the dye vaporizing printer head.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Head base 2 Protective cover 3 Vaporization part 4 Relay tank 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D passage 5 Liquefied dye supply passage 6 Main tank 7 Liquefied dye supply part 8 Vaporization hole 9 Buffer material 9A, 9B Filler 10, 10A, 10B, 10C Buffer section 10a First small chamber 10b Second small chamber 10c Third small chamber 11 Air hole 12 Insulation material 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 1
2g Buffer wall 13 Heater 14 Heating unit 15 Laser generation unit 16 Liquefied dye holding material of fiber multilayer structure 16a Fiber 17 Liquefied dye holding material of etching groove multilayer structure 17a Groove plate 17b hole 18 Liquefied dye holding material of spongy structure 19 Etching multilayer Liquefied dye holding material having a lattice structure 20 Color video printer 21 Outer casing 22 Frame chassis 23 Cassette 24 Flat base plate 25 Head unit 26 Paper feed drive roller 27 Follower roller 28 Power supply 29 Motor 30 Head drive circuit board 31 Flexible harness 32a, 32b Spring 33 Printing paper 33a Printing paper receiving layer 34 Solid dye storage tank 34a Vent hole 35 Powdered vaporized dye 36 Liquefied dye supply passage 37 Vaporizing part 38 Thermal insulation 39 Head base 40 Protective layer 41 Heater 42 Heating part 43 Vaporizing hole

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Eiki Hirano 6-7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (56) References JP-A-62-162593 (JP, A) 5-193156 (JP, A) JP-A-2-239939 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/175 B41J 2/015 B41J 2/325

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A liquefied dye supply unit having a solid dye storage tank for supplying a solid dye, a liquefied dye supply passage and heating means.
When vaporizing the liquefied dye supplied from said liquefied dye supply unit
And a vaporizing section having a vaporizing chamber and a heating means , wherein the liquid is supplied to at least a part of a passage for supplying the liquefied dye.
Buffering means with a member for controlling the supply of
And a dye vaporizing printer head. 2. A printer head according to claim 1, wherein said buffer means is formed of pellets. 3. A printer head according to claim 2, wherein said buffering means is configured to block a liquefied dye at or near the entrance of said vaporizing section. 4. A dye vaporizing printer head according to claim 1, wherein said liquefied dye supply passage is constituted by a capillary whose cross-sectional area decreases at predetermined intervals in the direction of said vaporizing section. 5. A dye vaporizing printer head according to claim 1, wherein the vaporizing chamber is filled with a liquefied dye holding material composed of pellets. 6. A dye vaporizing printer head according to claim 1, wherein a liquefied dye holding material having a multilayered fiber structure is disposed in and near said vaporizing chamber. 7. A dye vaporizing printer head according to claim 1, wherein a liquefied dye holding material formed of a porous film having an etching groove overlapping structure is disposed in said vaporizing chamber and in the vicinity thereof. 8. A dye vaporizing printer head according to claim 1, wherein a liquefied dye holding material comprising a sponge is disposed in and near said vaporizing chamber. 9. The printer head according to claim 2, wherein the pellets are particles having protrusions on the surface.