JPS5910310B2 - ink storage tank - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ink storage tank for an ink jet recording apparatus.

Conventionally, liquid tanks that store liquids require accurate liquid volume indication even though they are used in places where liquids are supplied under particularly severe vibrations, such as automobile fuel tanks or other places that vibrate. All storage tanks, etc., use several partition plates in the tank to suppress liquid inertia caused by vibration, suppress fluctuations in supply pressure, and keep the liquid level constant.
Efforts have also been made to reduce the generation of static electricity caused by friction between the liquid and the tank.

In an ink storage tank for supplying ink to the ejection nozzle of an ink jet recording device, during printing, the ink storage tank reciprocates and swings together with the ejection nozzle, so the inertia of the ink in the ink storage tank is affected. Therefore, the ink level is not constant, and the ink is disturbed within the tank, causing bubbles to be generated as the ink supply pressure fluctuates.

When the amount of liquid is particularly low, air bubbles get mixed into the nozzle, causing ink to run out and making it impossible to print clearly. In conventional ink storage tanks, in order to prevent the above-mentioned disadvantages, at least one partition plate is used inside the tank to divide the inside of the tank into a plurality of chambers to prevent fluctuations in ink supply pressure due to fluctuations in the liquid level. Although it has a structure that suppresses the generation of bubbles, its effectiveness is small considering the complexity of the structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide an ink storage tank that has a simple structure and is highly effective.

The present invention will be described below based on illustrated embodiments.

The ink storage tank according to the present invention has an outer tank 1 made of synthetic resin or the like, and an inner tank 2 made of the same material at the center thereof, which is integrally fixed at the bottom surface.

This inner tank 2 is desirably formed to have a small diameter for the purpose of suppressing the inertia of the liquid. A float 11 is inserted into the inner tank 2 and is loosely fitted to the inner wall.

The float 11 is provided with a ventilation hole Ila, and one end of a rod 12 is fixed in the center of the surface, and the other end protrudes outward through a sleeve 16 provided in the upper lid 6. . The rod 12 is connected to a liquid level display device (not shown), and is configured to issue an alarm when the float 11 descends and contacts the stopper 14.

An outlet 13 is provided at the bottom of the inner tank 2 to send the ink 4b to a jet nozzle (not shown).

Further, a stopper 14 is fixed to the inner wall of the inner tank 2 in contact with the bottom surface, and a communication hole passes through the wall surface of the inner tank 2 and the wall surface of the stopper 14 to communicate the inner tank 2 and the outer tank 1. 15 is bored in a direction perpendicular to the direction of swing of the ink storage tank, which is indicated by arrows A and b. Upper lid 6 covers inner tank 2 and outer tank 1
is removably attached using a fastener 9 and a tightening screw 10, and a rubber or vinyl packing 7a for closing the opening of the inner tank 2 is provided on the back side of the upper lid 6, and a packing 7a for closing the opening of the outer tank 1 is provided on the back side of the upper lid 6. A packing 7b made of the same material as above is fixed to close the peripheral edge.

Further, the upper lid 6 is provided with ventilation holes 6a and 6b, an ink injection hole for replenishing the ink 4a into the outer tank 1, and a closing screw 8. Inks 4b and 4a are placed in the inner tank 2 and outer tank 1.
is injected in appropriate amounts.

Since the embodiment of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, each time the ink storage tank swings in the direction of the arrows A and B together with the jet nozzle, the liquid level of the ink 4a in the outer tank 1 is violently moved left and right as shown in the figure. Although the ink 4a in the outer tank 1 is disturbed by the rocking, the ink 4a in the outer tank 1 flows into the inner tank 2 through the communication hole 15 bored in the inner tank 2.

The direction in which the communication hole 15 is formed is perpendicular to the direction in which the ink storage tank swings, that is, the direction of the indicator arrows A and b, so that the ink generated by the swinging of the liquid level in the direction of the indicator arrows A and b. The kinetic energy of 4a directly affects the inside of the inner tank 2, and the ink 4
b, and the ripples that occur on the liquid surface are suppressed by the float 11 floating on the liquid surface, which causes a large fluctuation in the supply pressure of ink supplied to the jet nozzle). There is no need to worry about sending generated air bubbles to the nozzle. The float 11 always moves up and down in the inner tank 2 in the directions of arrows C and d as the amount of ink in the inner tank 2 increases or decreases, but when the ink decreases extremely, it descends with the liquid level and comes into contact with the stopper 14. It will not fall any further.

When the float 11 reaches the above position, it is configured to activate an alarm (not shown) via the rod 12 to notify that there is insufficient ink in the tank, so printing will not be possible due to running out of ink. Accidents can be prevented. As described above, the present invention has a simpler structure than the conventional one, in which it floats on the inner tank, suppresses fluctuations in ink supply pressure, and also prevents the generation of air bubbles. , it is possible to eliminate the adverse effect on printing due to fluctuations in the jetting pressure, and to provide an inexpensive apparatus.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of an ink storage tank according to the present invention. 1...Outer tank, 2...Inner tank, 6...
...Top lid, 1a, 7b...Packing, 11.
...Float, 11a...Vent hole, 13
... Outlet, 15... Communication hole.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In the ink storage tank of an ink jet recording device that swings in a fixed direction, there is an ink tank in which the inner tank and the outer tank are integrated at the bottom, and the inner tank and the outer tank are sealed separately at the top of the ink tank. A top lid with the desired packing fixed,
a communication hole bored in the lower part of the inner tank in a direction perpendicular to the swinging direction of the ink tank and communicating the inner tank and the outer tank;
An ink storage tank comprising an ink outlet drilled in the bottom of the inner tank, and a float loosely fitted to the inner wall of the inner tank and provided with a ventilation hole.