Ink circulation device and inkjet recording device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10155395-B2
Application number	US-201715417387-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2017
Priority date	Apr 7, 2016
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, an ink circulation device comprises an ink supply section, an ink return section, an ink circulation pump, a filter and a bypass section. The filter partitions an upstream side ink flow path arranged between an ejection section of the ink circulation pump and the ink supply section into a first flow path communicating with the ejection section of the ink circulation pump and a second flow path communicating with the ink supply section. The bypass section is arranged at the upper part of a vertical direction with respect to the filter, directly communicates the first flow path with a downstream side ink flow path arranged between the ink return section and a suction section of the ink circulation pump. An inkjet recording device of the present embodiment comprises the foregoing ink circulation device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ink circulation device, comprising:
an ink supply for supplying ink to nozzles of an inkjet head;
an ink return section configured to return ink which is not ejected by the nozzles;
an ink circulation pump arranged between the ink supply and the ink return section;
a filter positioned to partition an upstream side ink flow path arranged between an ejection section of the ink circulation pump and the ink supply into a first flow path communicating with the ejection section of the ink circulation pump and a second flow path communicating with the ink supply, and configured to catch bubbles in the ink in the first flow path; and
a bypass section arranged at the upper part of a vertical direction with respect to the filter, and configured to directly communicate the first flow path with a downstream side ink flow path arranged between the ink return section and a suction section of the ink circulation pump.

2. The ink circulation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the ink circulation pump is a piezoelectric pump for driving a piezoelectric actuator with a piezoelectric element.

3. The ink circulation device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an ink replenishment pump connected with the first flow path and capable of replenishing ink from an ink tank to the first flow path, wherein
the ink replenishment pump is a piezoelectric pump for driving a piezoelectric actuator with a piezoelectric element.

4. The ink circulation device according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an ink replenishment pump connected with the first flow path and capable of replenishing ink from an ink tank to the first flow path, wherein
the ink replenishment pump is a piezoelectric pump for driving a piezoelectric actuator with a piezoelectric element.

5. The ink circulation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the bypass section holds a larger flow path resistance than a flow path resistance of a route from the first flow path to the downstream side ink flow path via the filter, the second flow path and the inkjet head, and directly communicates the first flow path with the downstream side ink flow path.

6. The ink circulation device according to claim 1 , wherein
an opening forming section facing the first flow path in the bypass section directs a direction along a surface facing the first flow path in the filter.

7. The ink circulation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the ink circulation pump comprises a pair of piezoelectric vibrating membranes.

8. The ink circulation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the filter comprises a metal sheet with holes, a metal mesh, or a resin membrane.

9. An inkjet recording device, comprising:
an ink circulation device;
an inkjet head comprising nozzles; and
a conveyance section configured to convey an image receiving medium to a print position of the inkjet head, wherein
the ink circulation device comprising:
an ink supply for supplying ink to nozzles of an inkjet head;
an ink return section configured to return ink which is not ejected by the nozzles;
an ink circulation pump arranged between the ink supply and the ink return section;
a filter positioned to partition an upstream side ink flow path arranged between an ejection section of the ink circulation pump and the ink supply into a first flow path communicating with the ejection section of the ink circulation pump and a second flow path communicating with the ink supply, and configured to catch bubbles in the ink in the first flow path; and
a bypass section arranged at the upper part of a vertical direction with respect to the filter, and configured to directly communicate the first flow path with a downstream side ink flow path arranged between the ink return section and a suction section of the ink circulation pump.

10. The inkjet recording device according to claim 9 , wherein
the ink circulation pump is a piezoelectric pump for driving a piezoelectric actuator with a piezoelectric element.

11. The inkjet recording device according to claim 9 , further comprising:
an ink replenishment pump connected with the first flow path and capable of replenishing ink from an ink tank to the first flow path, wherein
the ink replenishment pump is a piezoelectric pump for driving a piezoelectric actuator with a piezoelectric element.

12. The inkjet recording device according to claim 10 , further comprising:
an ink replenishment pump connected with the first flow path and capable of replenishing ink from an ink tank to the first flow path, wherein
the ink replenishment pump is a piezoelectric pump for driving a piezoelectric actuator with a piezoelectric element.

13. The inkjet recording device according to claim 9 , wherein
the bypass section holds a larger flow path resistance than a flow path resistance of a route from the first flow path to the downstream side ink flow path via the filter, the second flow path and the inkjet head, and directly communicates the first flow path with the downstream side ink flow path.

14. The inkjet recording device according to claim 9 , wherein
an opening forming section facing the first flow path in the bypass section directs a direction along a surface facing the first flow path in the filter.

15. An ink circulation method, comprising:
supplying ink to nozzles of an inkjet head;
returning ink which is not ejected by the nozzles;
pumping ink with an ink circulation pump arranged between an ink supply and an ink return section;
filtering bubbles from the ink flowing in a first flow path communicating with an ejection section of the ink circulation pump; and
flowing ink through a bypass section arranged at the upper part of a vertical direction with respect to a filter.

16. The ink circulation method according to claim 15 , wherein
the ink circulation pump is a piezoelectric pump for driving a piezoelectric actuator with a piezoelectric element.

17. The ink circulation method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
replenishing ink from an ink tank to the first flow path.

18. The ink circulation method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
replenishing ink from an ink tank to the first flow path.

19. The ink circulation method according to claim 14 , wherein
the ink circulation pump comprises a pair of piezoelectric vibrating membranes.

20. The ink circulation method according to claim 14 , wherein
the filter comprises a metal sheet with holes, a metal mesh, or a resin membrane.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Hara Kazuhiro
• Kaneko Yoshiaki

Classifications

• B41J2002/1856

  waste ink containers · CPC title

• B41J2/19

  for removing air bubbles · CPC title

• B41J2/18 Primary

  Ink recirculation systems · CPC title

• B41J2/175

  Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} · CPC title

• B41J2/17596

  Ink pumps, ink valves · CPC title