Ink jet recording apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10639601-B2
Application number	US-201716310055-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2017
Priority date	Jun 17, 2016
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Roland Dg Corp

Inventors

• KUNIFUJI Tetsuhiro
• Suzuki Hironobu
• Suzuki Akihiro

Classifications

• B41J2/1752

  Mounting within the printer · CPC title

• B41J2/17523

  Ink connection · CPC title

• B41J2/2117

  Ejecting white liquids · CPC title

• B41J2/17553

  Outer structure · CPC title

• B41J2/17509

  Whilst mounted in the printer · CPC title