Ink jet recording apparatus

• US 10,639,601 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roland DG Corporation
• Original Assignee: Roland DG Corporation
• Inventors: Kunifuji, Tetsuhiro, Suzuki, Hironobu, Suzuki, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lebron, Jannelle M
• Application Number:
  US16/310,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20190321794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/35 Mixing inks or toners
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/023 Preventing sedimentation, conglomeration or agglomeration of solid ingredients during or after mixing by maintaining mixed ingredients in movement
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/10 with a mixing receptacle rotating alternately in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/23 by pivoting the containers about an axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2202 Controlling the mixing process by feed-back, i.e. a measured parameter of the mixture is measured, compared with the set-value and the feed values are corrected
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2117 Ejecting white liquids

Abstract

A printer includes a first cartridge holder including a first insertion port in which a first ink cartridge housing a first ink pack charged with a sedimentation ink is inserted and which is open horizontally, the first cartridge holder housing the inserted first ink cartridge, a first shaft pivotably supporting the first cartridge holder, a first driving mechanism that causes the first cartridge holder to pivot about the first shaft, and a controller that controls the first driving mechanism. The controller includes a first controller that controls the first driving mechanism to cause the first cartridge holder to pivot and agitate the sedimentation ink contained in the first ink pack.

Claims

1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

an ink head including a nozzle that discharges a sedimentation ink onto a recording medium;

a first cartridge holder including a first insertion port in which a first ink cartridge housing a first ink pack charged with a sedimentation ink is inserted and which is open horizontally, the first cartridge holder housing the first ink cartridge;

a first shaft pivotably supporting the first cartridge holder;

a first driving mechanism that causes the first cartridge holder to pivot about the first shaft; and

a controller that controls the first driving mechanism;

a second shaft extending in a direction in which the first ink cartridge is inserted and pivotably supporting the first cartridge holder; and

a second driving mechanism that is controlled by the controller and causes the first cartridge holder to pivot about the second shaft;

wherein

the first shaft extends horizontally and in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the first ink cartridge is inserted; and

the controller is configured or programmed to include;

a first controller that controls the first driving mechanism to cause the first cartridge holder to pivot and agitate the sedimentation ink contained in the first ink pack; and

a second controller that controls the second driving mechanism to cause the first cartridge holder to pivot and agitate the sedimentation ink contained in the first ink pack.

2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tube including a first end connected to the first cartridge holder and a second end communicating with the ink head, wherein

the first ink pack includes a supply port through which the sedimentation ink in the first ink pack is supplied to the tube;

the first cartridge holder includes a connector including a first portion to which the first end of the tube is connected and a second portion connected to the supply port; and

the sedimentation ink in the first ink pack is supplied to the tube through the connector.

3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tube has a backlash length that is larger than about 1.4 L where L is a minimum distance from the first shaft to a rear end of the first cartridge holder.

4. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

an ink head including a nozzle that discharges a sedimentation ink onto a recording medium;

a first cartridge holder including a first insertion port in which a first ink cartridge housing a first ink pack charged with a sedimentation ink is inserted and which is open horizontally, the first cartridge holder housing the first ink cartridge;

a first shaft pivotably supporting the first cartridge holder;

a first driving mechanism that causes the first cartridge holder to pivot about the first shaft; and

a controller that controls the first driving mechanisms;

a second cartridge holder including a second insertion port in which a second ink cartridge housing a second ink pack charged with a process color ink and which is open horizontally, the second cartridge holder housing the inserted second ink cartridge and disposed at a side of the first cartridge holder; and

a frame non-pivotably supporting the second cartridge holder and extending in a main scanning direction;

wherein

the controller is configured or programmed to include a first controller that controls the first driving mechanism to cause the first cartridge holder to pivot and agitate the sedimentation ink contained in the first ink pack; and

the first cartridge holder is pivotably supported by the frame.

5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first ink cartridge has a configuration identical to a configuration of the second ink cartridge.

6. An ink jet recording system comprising:

an ink jet recording apparatus including an ink head including a nozzle that discharges a sedimentation ink onto a recording medium;

a first cartridge holder including a first insertion port in which a first ink cartridge housing a first ink pack charged with a sedimentation ink is inserted and which is open horizontally, the first cartridge holder housing the first ink cartridge;

a first shaft pivotably supporting the first cartridge holder;

a first driving mechanism that causes the first cartridge holder to pivot about the first shaft;

a tube including a first end connected to the first cartridge holder and a second end communicating with the ink head; and

a controller that controls the first driving mechanism;

a second shaft extending in a direction in which the first ink cartridge is inserted and pivotably supporting the first cartridge holder; and

a second driving mechanism that is controlled by the controller and causes the first cartridge holder to pivot about the second shaft;

wherein

the first shaft extends horizontally and in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the first ink cartridge is inserted; and

the controller is configured or programmed to include;

a first controller that controls the first driving mechanism to cause the first cartridge holder to pivot and agitate the sedimentation ink contained in the first ink pack; and

a second controller that controls the second driving mechanism to cause the first cartridge holder to pivot and agitate the sedimentation ink contained in the first ink pack.

7. The ink jet recording system according to claim 6, further comprising a tube including a first end connected to the first cartridge holder and a second end communicating with the ink head, wherein

the first ink pack includes a supply port through which the sedimentation ink in the first ink pack is supplied to the tube;

the first cartridge holder includes a connector including a first portion to which the first end of the tube is connected and a second portion connected to the supply port; and

the sedimentation ink in the first ink pack is supplied to the tube through the connector.

8. The ink jet recording system according to claim 6, wherein the tube has a backlash length that is larger than about 1.4 L where L is a minimum distance from the first shaft to a rear end of the first cartridge holder.

9. The ink jet recording system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a second cartridge holder including a second insertion port in which a second ink cartridge housing a second ink pack charged with a process color ink and which is open horizontally, the second cartridge holder housing the inserted second ink cartridge and disposed at a side of the first cartridge holder; and

a frame non-pivotably supporting the second cartridge holder and extending in a main scanning direction;

wherein

the first cartridge holder is pivotably supported by the frame.

10. The ink jet recording system according to claim 9, wherein the first ink cartridge has a configuration identical to a configuration of the second ink cartridge.