LIQUID EJECTING DEVICE, PRINTING APPARATUS AND LIQUID SUPPLYING METHOD

• US 20090153632A1
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Inoue, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 8,197,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves

Abstract

A liquid ejecting device is provided. A main tank stores liquid. A sub-tank includes a variable volume liquid chamber that stores the liquid supplied from the main tank. A head ejects the liquid supplied from the sub-tank. A carriage is movable to reciprocate the sub-tank and the head. A first engagement member is provided in the sub-tank and is movable to expand the volume of the liquid chamber. A second engagement member engages with the first engagement member and moves the first engagement member. The liquid is supplied from the main tank to the sub-tank when the first engagement member is moved by the second engagement member to expand the volume of the liquid chamber.

Claims

1. A liquid ejecting device comprising:

a main tank that stores liquid;

a sub-tank including a variable volume liquid chamber that stores the liquid supplied from the main tank;

a head that ejects the liquid supplied from the sub-tank;

a carriage that is movable to reciprocate the sub-tank and the head;

a first engagement member that is provided on the sub-tank and is movable to expand the volume of the liquid chamber; and

a second engagement member that engages with the first engagement member and moves the first engagement member,

wherein the liquid is supplied from the main tank to the sub-tank when the first engagement member is moved by the second engagement member to expand the volume of the liquid chamber.

2. The liquid ejecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second engagement member is provided in a main body that reciprocatably supports the carriage.

3. The liquid ejecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second engagement member is disposed to engage with the first engagement member when the carriage is moving out of a printable area.

4. The liquid ejecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a part of the liquid chamber is formed of a flexible film.

5. The liquid ejecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first engagement member is provided on a liquid chamber forming member that is deformable to vary the volume of the liquid chamber.

6. The liquid ejecting device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the first engagement member includes a ring;

wherein the second engagement member includes a bar; and

wherein as the carriage moves in one movement direction, the bar is inserted into the ring and the ring is moved along the bar to expand the volume of the liquid chamber.

7. The liquid ejecting device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the bar is inclined with respect to the one movement direction of the carriage so that the ring is moved to expand the volume of the liquid chamber as the carriage moves in the one movement direction.

8. The liquid ejecting device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the first engagement member includes a lever that is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to one movement direction of the carriage;

and

wherein when the carriage moves in the one movement direction, the lever is rotated by the second engagement member to expand the volume of the liquid chamber.

9. The liquid ejecting device as set forth in claim 8,

wherein the second engagement member is provided along the one movement direction of the carriage.

10. The liquid ejecting device as set forth in claim 8,

wherein at least a part of the liquid chamber is formed of a flexible film;

wherein the lever includes an operation portion connected to the flexible film and a pressed portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the one movement direction; and

wherein when the carriage moves in the one movement direction, the pressing member presses the pressed portion of the lever so that the operation portion of the lever expands the volume of the liquid chamber.

11. The liquid ejecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sub-tank is integrally provided above the head.

12. A printing apparatus for printing on a medium by ejecting ink from the head as set forth in claim 1 onto the medium, the printing apparatus comprising the liquid ejecting device as set forth in claim 1, that supplies the ink to the head.

13. A method of supplying liquid in a liquid supplying apparatus having a reciprocating movable element, comprising:

providing a deformable chamber for storing liquid;

attaching a first engagement member to the movable element and the deformable chamber;

attaching a second engagement member on a fixed portion of the liquid supplying apparatus to engage with the first engagement member and to move the first engagement member; and

supplying a liquid to the deformable chamber when the first engagement member is moved by the second engagement member to expand the volume of the deformable chamber.

14. The liquid supplying method as set forth in claim 13,

wherein the first engagement member includes a ring;

wherein the second engagement member includes a bar; and

wherein as the movable element moves in one movement direction, the bar is inserted into the ring and the ring is moved along the bar to expand the volume of the deformable chamber.

15. The liquid supplying method of claim 13,

wherein the first engagement member includes a lever that is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to one movement direction of the movable element;

and

wherein when the movable element moves in the one movement direction, the lever is rotated by the second engagement member to expand the volume of the deformable chamber.