Patent Application
20090007429
The present application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2004-117300 filed on Apr. 12, 2004, 2004-157105 filed on May 27, 2004, 2005-111867 filed on Apr. 8, 2005 and 2005-111868 filed on Apr. 8, 2005, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid supplying member, a liquid ejecting apparatus, an attaching method, a liquid delivery tube and a liquid delivery tube production method. More particularly, the invention relates to a liquid supplying member having flexibility and including a flow path which extends between both longitudinal ends thereof and through which a liquid flows, a liquid ejecting apparatus, an attaching method, a liquid delivery tube and a liquid delivery tube production method.
2. Description of Related Art
One known form of liquid ejecting apparatus is an ink jet recording apparatus. An ink jet recording apparatus is formed such that, while ink droplets being ejected from a recording head provided for a carriage, the carriage is moved along a guide member, thereby forming dots on a recording medium, for recording.
Such an ink jet recording apparatus has a plurality of ink cartridges in a main body frame and these cartridges connect to the carriage through an ink supplying tube. Through this ink supplying tube, inks are supplied to a recording head such as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Applications Nos. 2003-320680 and 2000-168099.
For example, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2003-320680, the ink supplying tube includes five elongated, elastic members formed from elastomer, two film members and two connection parts. Specifically, the ink supplying tube is formed such that the five elastic members are equally spaced in parallel with one another and the two film members are adhered by melting with the elastic members sandwiched between them, whereby four flow paths are formed. The ink supplying tube includes the connection parts which are attached to both ends of the elastic members and have communication holes that communicate with the four flow paths. Thus, the ink supplying tube has a flat long shape and flexibility.
In the ink supplying tube of such a structure, the connection parts formed at both ends thereof are respectively connected to the carriage and the ink cartridges, so that inks can be supplied from the ink cartridges to the recording head attached to the carriage. When the carriage moves during recording, the ink supplying tube can bend to follow the movement of the carriage.
As a method for producing a member for use in an ink jet printer, there are known the two-color injection molding and the insert molding such as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 11-157092.
As a liquid delivery tube for delivering a liquid which is one example of the above member, there is known a liquid delivery tube having flexibility over the entire length thereof and provided with a plurality of flow paths such as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 58-41180 (FIG. 4) and Japanese Published Unexamined Utility Model Application No. 6-746 (FIG. 1). One known method for producing such a liquid delivery tube is the extrusion molding such as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Published Examined Patent Application No. 7-2362 (FIGS. 1 and 8).
The ink supplying tube of Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2003-320680, thus, has the unintegrally formed connection parts inserted into both ends thereof. The ink supplying tube of Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2000-168099 has an unintegrally formed connection part joined to its end by heat adhesion. This leads to an increased number of parts and therefore increased man-hour for assembling. Similarly to the two-color injection molding or the insert molding disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 11-157092, these ink supplying tubes present another drawback in which when forming the connection part at the ends of the ink supplying tube by outsert molding with dies, the resin, from which the connection parts are to be made, penetrates into the flow paths of the ink supplying tube.
The liquid delivery tube disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 58-41180 (see FIG. 4) is in the form of a tube formed by connecting single cylindrical tubes by plate-like coupling members. This liquid delivery tube has revealed the problem that since it has plate-like coupling members, the number of coupling members increases as the number of flow path increases and as a result, the tube becomes large as a whole.
The liquid delivery tube disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Utility Model Application No. 6-746 (FIG. 1) is provided with a plurality of flow paths without use of plate-like coupling members. This publication only mentions that the liquid delivery tube is integrally molded but does not teach how to mold it. In addition, the liquid delivery tube shown in the drawings of this publication has the problem that since the resin forming the flow paths is thin, the liquid is likely to evaporate outwardly from the flow paths when passing through the flow paths.
In the production method disclosed in Japanese Published Examined Patent Application No. 7-2362 (FIGS. 1 and 8), the liquid delivery tube having a plurality of flow paths is extruded by blowing gas from holes provided for the area where the flow paths are to be formed. This production method presents the disadvantage that since the sectional shape of the whole tube is determined by changing the pressure of the gas blown from one certain hole, the outside shape of the tube cannot be stably fixed.
The foregoing problems can be solved by an attaching method according to a first aspect of the invention. This method is for attaching a connection part to at least one of both longitudinal ends of a liquid delivery tube having flexibility and including a flow path which extends between the longitudinal ends and through which a liquid flows, the method comprising the steps of: preparing a pin having substantially the same section as that of the flow path of the liquid delivery tube; inserting the leading end portion of the pin into the flow path from at least one end of the liquid delivery tube; placing dies so as to enclose the at least end of the liquid delivery tube through which the leading end portion of the pin is inserted; forming the connection part by outsert molding from resin which fills the dies in which the liquid delivery tube and the pin are placed; and extracting the pin from the liquid delivery tube after removal of the dies from the liquid delivery tube and the connection part. In the above method, when forming the connection part so as to enclose the end of the liquid delivery tube, a flow path connected to the flow path of the liquid delivery tube can be formed in the connection part, while preventing the resin from penetrating into the flow path of the liquid delivery tube.
The above attaching method may further include a melting-adhesion step in which after the extraction step, a sealing member is melted and adhered to seal a hole through which the pin has been extracted, thereby forming the flow path in the connection part. This enables provision of a desired flow path in the connection part formed by outsert molding.
The above attaching method may further include an extrusion step in which the liquid delivery tube is formed by extrusion molding before the insertion step, the liquid delivery tube having a hollow inner layer portion which defines the flow path and an outer layer portion which has a melting point equal to or lower than that of the inner layer portion and covers the inner layer portion with the same material as contained in the connection part. And, in the formation step, the outsert molding by use of the resin may be carried out at a temperature equal to or lower than the melting point of the inner layer portion. This arrangement increases adhesibility between the liquid delivery tube and the connection part, while preventing deformation of the inner layer portion of the liquid delivery tube caused by heat.
In the above attaching method, the liquid delivery tube may include a plurality of flow paths. In the preparation step, a coupling pin constituted by a plurality of pins connected and arranged in parallel may be prepared, and in the insertion step, the leading end portions of the plurality of pins which constitute the coupling pin may be inserted into the flow paths, respectively, of the liquid delivery tube. This arrangement facilitates formation of the connection part at an end of the liquid delivery tube having a plurality of flow paths, the connection part having a plurality of flow paths which are connected to the flow paths of the liquid delivery tube.
In the above attaching method, the pin has an arcuate portion which curves in an arc from its leading end portion so as to have a substantially constant section, and the pin may be extracted in a direction along the arcuate shape of the arcuate potion. This makes it possible to provide the flow path for changing the flowing direction of the liquid in the connection part.
In the above attaching method, the liquid delivery tube may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer. In addition, the liquid delivery tube may be formed by extrusion molding.
In the above attaching method, the connection part may be formed from polypropylene. The connection part may be formed from polyethylene. Alternatively, the connection part may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid supplying member having: a liquid delivery tube having flexibility and including a flow path which extends between both longitudinal ends thereof and through which a liquid flows; and a connection part provided at at least one of the ends of the liquid delivery tube and having a flow path one end of which is coupled to the flow path of the liquid delivery tube while the other end being connected to the outside, wherein the connection part has: (i) an integral main body portion having a groove coupled, at one end, to the flow path of the liquid delivery tube and opened at one face thereof and an outside-communicating portion which allows the other end of the groove to communicate with the outside; and (ii) a sealing member for sealing the open face of the groove, and wherein the groove, the sealing member and the outside-communicating portion define the flow path of the connection part. Thereby, an arrangement for connection to other flow paths can be easily obtained.
In the above liquid supplying member, the liquid delivery tube may have a plurality of flow paths and the connection part may have the same number of flow paths as the liquid delivery tube has, the flow paths of the connection part being connected to the plurality of flow paths of the liquid delivery tube, respectively. This makes it possible to supply a plural kinds of liquid from one end to the other end in the liquid supplying member.
In the above liquid supplying member, the outside-communicating portion of the connection part may include, in at least one of the plurality of flow paths, a penetrating flow path which is coupled to the other end of the groove and passes through the main body portion up to the rear of the open face of the groove. Additionally, the outside-communicating portions may respectively include, in the remaining ones of the plurality of flow paths, a coupling flow path for coupling the other end of the groove to the rear of the face in which the liquid delivery tube is disposed. Thereby, liquids can be allowed to flow between the connection part and the outside in different planes.
In the liquid supplying member, the liquid delivery tube may include a hollow inner layer portion defining the flow path; and an outer layer portion having a melting point equal to or lower than that of the inner layer portion and covering the inner layer portion with the same material as contained in the connection part. This increases the adhesibility between the liquid delivery tube and the connection part, while preventing the inner layer portion of the liquid delivery tube from being deformed by heat.
In the liquid supplying member, the connection part may further have a flow path for connecting the liquid delivery tube to the groove and the flow path may curve in an arc. With this arrangement, the flow path can be smoothly bent in an arc from the flow path of the liquid delivery tube within the connection part. Thereby, it can be connected to the outside in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the liquid delivery tube, thereby ensuring improved sealing properties, while air bubbles contained in the liquid delivery tube are prevented from staying in the flow path of the connection part.
In the above liquid supplying member, the liquid delivery tube may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer. In addition, the liquid delivery tube may be formed by extrusion molding.
In the above liquid supplying member, the connection part may be formed from polypropylene. The connection part may be formed from polyethylene. Alternatively, the connection part may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus having: a liquid jet head for emitting a jet of liquid; liquid reservoir means for storing liquid; a liquid delivery tube having flexibility, for sending the liquid from the liquid reservoir means to the liquid jet head; and a connection part provided at at least one of both ends of the liquid delivery tube and having a flow path one end of which is coupled to a flow path of the liquid delivery tube while the other end being connected to the outside, wherein the connection part has: (i) an integral main body portion including (1) a groove which communicates, at one end, with the flow path of the liquid delivery tube and is opened at one face, and (2) an outside-communicating portion for making the other end of the groove communicate with the outside; and (ii) a sealing member for sealing the open face of the groove, and wherein the groove, the sealing member and the outside-communicating portion define the flow path of the connection part. With this arrangement, the third aspect has the same effect as the second aspect.
In the above liquid ejecting apparatus, the connection part may further have a flow path for connecting the liquid delivery tube to the groove and the flow path may curve in an arc. The liquid delivery tube may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer. In addition, the liquid delivery tube may be formed by extrusion molding.
In the above liquid ejecting apparatus, the connection part may be formed from polypropylene. The connection part may be formed from polyethylene. Alternatively, the connection part may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid supplying member having: a liquid delivery tube having flexibility and including a flow path which extends between both longitudinal ends thereof and through which a liquid flows; and a connection part formed by outsert molding at at least one of both ends of the liquid delivery tube and having a flow path one end of which is coupled to the flow path of the liquid delivery tube while the other end being connected to the outside, wherein the liquid delivery tube includes: a hollow inner layer portion defining the flow path; and an outer layer portion which has a melting point equal to or lower than that of the inner layer portion and covers the inner layer portion with the same material as contained in the connection part. With this arrangement, the inner layer portion of the liquid delivery tube can be prevented from being deformed by heat and the bondability between the liquid delivery tube and the connection part can be increased.
In the above liquid supplying member, the liquid delivery tube may have a plurality of flow paths and the connection part may have the same number of flow paths as the liquid delivery tube has, which are connected to the plurality of flow paths of the liquid delivery tube, respectively. This makes it possible to supply a plural kinds of liquid from one end to the other end in the liquid supplying member.
In the above liquid supplying member, the liquid delivery tube may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer. In addition, the liquid delivery tube may be formed by extrusion molding.
In the above liquid supplying member, the connection part may be formed from polypropylene. The connection part may be formed from polyethylene. Alternatively, the connection part may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid delivery tube formed by extruding a resin having flexibility, wherein a plurality of hollow flow paths defined by the resin are aligned in parallel, each allowing a fluid to flow therein, and wherein the thickness of the resin between every adjacent flow paths is less than the thickness of the resin between each flow path and the outer circumferential surface of the resin. Since the resin between the adjacent flow paths is thinner, vapors coming out from the adjacent flow paths offset each other, so that vapor can be prevented from escaping outwardly from the liquid delivery tube. In addition, thanks to the thinner resin between the adjacent flow paths, the liquid delivery tube can be miniaturized and bent into an arc having a small radius even though a plurality of flow paths are provided.
The above liquid delivery tube may further have a reinforcing layer for covering the outer circumferential surface with a material different from the material of the tube. This leads to an improvement in the performance of the liquid delivery tube.
In the liquid delivery tube, the sectional area of the flow paths may be 100 mm2 or less per path. In the flow paths, a plurality of flow paths are aligned in parallel.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for producing a liquid delivery tube, the method comprising: a gas supplying step in which gas is supplied to the inside of a plurality of tubular projections provided for an extrusion core; an extrusion step in which an extruded tube is extruded by pouring a resin having flexibility into a resin flow path formed between the extrusion core and an extrusion die which surrounds the extrusion core, the extruded tube having flow paths each of which has an inner circumferential shape which coincides with the peripheral shape of each projection of the extrusion core in section perpendicular to an extruding direction, and the extruded tube having a peripheral shape which coincides with the inner circumferential shape of the extrusion die in section perpendicular to the extruding direction; and a sizing step in which gas is supplied to the inside of the flow path of the extruded tube which has been extruded and the extruded tube is elongated by making the extruded tube pass through a sizing die which has a smaller inner circumference than the inner circumference of the extrusion die in section perpendicular to the extruding direction, whereby the liquid delivery tube is reshaped. The outer circumference of the extruded tube is pressed against the inner circumference of the sizing die by applying gas pressure from the flow path, whereby stable reshaping can be ensured.
In the method for producing the liquid delivery tube, the sizing step may include a depressurization step for reducing pressure within the sizing die. This makes it possible to more reliably press the outer circumference of the extruded tube against the inner circumference of the sizing die.
According to the method for producing the liquid delivery tube, in the inner circumference of the sizing die, the thickness of the resin between every adjacent flow paths is less than the thickness of the resin between each flow path and the outer circumferential surface of the liquid delivery tube. In this arrangement, since the resin between the adjacent flow paths is thinner, vapors coming out from the adjacent flow paths offset each other, so that vapor can be prevented from escaping outwardly from the liquid delivery tube. In addition, thanks to the thinner resin between the adjacent flow paths, the liquid delivery tube can be miniaturized and bent into an arc having a small radius even though a plurality of flow paths are provided.
In the method for producing the liquid delivery tube, the extrusion step may include a step in which a reinforcing layer enclosing the outer circumferential surface of the extruded tube is formed by pouring a reinforcing resin different from said resin from the downstream side of a position where said resin is poured, when viewing in the extruding direction. This leads to an improvement in the performance of the liquid delivery tube.
The summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all necessary features of the present invention. The present invention may also be a sub-combination of the features described above.
The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings, which do not intend to limit the scope of the present invention, but exemplify the invention. All of the features and the combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention.
A platen 5 extends in a longitudinal direction within the frame 2. A recording paper, which has been inserted into the frame 2 from the paper feed tray 3, is fed onto the platen 5 by a paper feed mechanism (not shown). The recording paper thus fed is ejected from the catch tray 4 to the outside of the frame 2.
A guide member 6 is disposed in parallel with the platen 5 within the frame 2. A carriage 7 movable along the guide member 6 is supported by the guide member 6 such that the guide member 6 passes through the carriage 7. Attached to the frame 2 is a carriage motor (not shown) to which the carriage 7 is drivingly coupled through a timing belt (not shown) wound around a pair of pulleys (not shown). This arrangement allows a driving force generated when the carriage motor is driven to be transmitted to the carriage 7 through the timing belt. The carriage 7 receives the driving force so that it reciprocates in parallel with the platen 5, being guided by the guide member 6 (in a main scan direction).
The carriage 7 is provided, at its underside (the face opposed to the platen 5), with a recording head 8 serving as a liquid jet head. The recording head 8 has a nozzle-formed face opposed to the recording paper. On the nozzle-formed face, six rows of nozzles (not shown), each row having n nozzles (n is a natural number), are formed. While six rows each composed of n nozzles are formed in the present embodiment for the sake of simplicity, the number of nozzles per row and the number of rows are not limited to this but may be varied arbitrarily.
Located at the left back of the inner space of the frame 2 shown in
An ink supplying tube 14 of an ink feeding member 110 having six flow paths is connected to the cartridge-side connection part 13. The other end of the ink supplying tube 14 is connected to the carriage 7 by a carriage-side connection part 220 described later. The cartridge-side connection part 13 feeds inks to the carriage 7 through the ink supplying tube 14, which inks have been sent from the first and second ink cartridges 9, 11, being guided by the first and second ink guide members 10, 12, respectively. More specifically, the inks stored in the first and second ink cartridges 9, 11 are respectively supplied to the recording head 8 by way of the first and second ink guide members 10, 12, the cartridge-side connection part 13, the ink supplying tube 14, the carriage-side connection part 220 and the carriage 7.
The first ink cartridge 9 of the present embodiment is equipped with ink packs (not shown) for storing black, cyanogen and magenta, respectively. The second ink cartridge 11 is equipped with ink packs (not shown) for storing yellow, light cyanogen and light magenta. Each ink pack is pressed by pressurized air which has been fed into the first and second ink cartridges 9, 11 from a booster pump (not shown) provided within the frame 2, so that inks are forcedly sent to the first and second ink guide members 10, 12.
Supplied to the recording head 8 are black, cyan and magenta from the first ink cartridge 9 and yellow, light cyan and light magenta from the second ink cartridge 11. The inks flowing into the recording head 8 are emitted in the form of ink droplets from the respective nozzles, being pressurized by a piezoelectric element (not shown), whereby dots are formed on the recording paper. Thus, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 makes the recording head 8 eject inks for recording data on the recording paper, while moving the carriage 7 along the guide member 6.
As shown in
As shown in
Projectingly formed on the rear face 22a of the connecting board 20 are three cylindrical first valve connection parts 29 which are respectively equipped with a first communication hole 28. The first communication holes 28 of the first valve connection parts 29 run through the connecting board 20, each communicating with the other end of its associated first groove 27 cut in the front face 22b.
Further, three cylindrical second valve connection parts 30 are projectingly formed on the rear face 22a. The second valve connection parts 30 are each provided with a second communication hole 31. Each second valve communication hole 31 runs through the connecting board 20, communicating with one end of its associated second groove 32 formed in the front face 22b.
In the other end of each second groove 32, a third communication hole 33 is defined. Each third communication hole 33 runs through the connecting board 20, communicating with one end of its associated third groove 34 formed in the rear face 22a. Each third groove 34 extends with the other end located in the fixing portion 23 as shown in
Each fourth communication hole 35 runs through the fixing portion 23 and the arm 21 secured to the fixing portion 23, communicating with one end of its associated fourth groove 36 formed in the front face 24c of the arm 32. The fourth grooves 36 formed in the front face 24c of the arm 21 are each formed between the proximal end portion 24a and leading end portion 24b of the arm 21. In the other end of each fourth groove 36, a fifth communication hole 37 is defined. Each fifth communication hole 37 runs through the arm 21, communicating with one end of its associated fifth groove 38 formed in the rear face 24d. In the other end of each fifth groove 38, a sixth communication hole 39 is formed, which runs through the arm 21 up to the rear face 24d. Connection parts 40 project from the rear face 24d so as to enclose their associated sixth communication holes 39. The three connection parts 40 shown in
A first film F1 is adhered by melting to the front face 22b of the connecting board 20 thus formed, such that the first and second grooves 27, 32 are sealed as shown in
The films F1 to F4 have a gas barrier function and seal the grooves such that the first film F1 and the first grooves 27 define first flow paths 41; the first film and the second grooves 32 define second flow paths 42; the second film F2 and the third grooves 34 define third flow paths 43; the third film F3 and the fourth grooves 36 define third flow paths 44; and the fourth film F4 and the fourth grooves 38 define fourth flow paths 45.
As indicated by two-dot chain line in
The connecting board 20 is coupled to the first ink cartridge 9 such that the three cartridge connection parts 25 disposed on the rear face 22a of the connecting board 20 are respectively connected to the outlets of their associated ink packs provided for the first ink cartridge 9. Thereby, the inks stored in the ink packs of the first ink cartridge 9 are supplied to the cartridge-side connection part 13 through the first to fifth flow paths 41-45 of the first ink guide member 10.
Next, reference is made to
As shown in
As shown in
Other flow paths of the second ink guide member 12 are the same as those of the first ink guide member 10 in configuration except the points described earlier. Therefore, the same reference numerals as of the constituents of the first ink guide member 10 are assigned to their corresponding parts of the second ink guide member 12 and a detailed description of them is skipped herein.
As shown in
In three of the six flow paths, the outside-communicating portions 172 of the cartridge-side connection part 13 have penetrating flow paths 180 each of which is connected to the other end 164 of its associated groove 160 and extends from the front face 132 to the rear face 134 so as to pass through the main body portion 130. In each of the outside-communicating portions 172 of the cartridge-side connection part 13, the arcuate flow path 150, the groove 160, 140 and the penetrating flow path 180 define a flow path. As shown in
In the remaining three flow paths, the outside-communicating portions 170 of the cartridge-side connection part 13 have coupling flow paths 190 each of which connects the other end 164 of its associated groove 160 to the rear (the right face in
As shown in
In each of the six flow paths, the outside-communicating portion 270 of the carriage-side connection part 220 communicates with the other end 264 of the groove 260 and has a penetrating flow path 280 which extends from the front face 232 to the rear face 234, passing through the main body portion 230. In each of the outside-communicating portions 270 of the carriage-side connection part 220, the arcuate flow path 250, the groove 260, the sealing member 240 and the penetrating flow path 280 define a flow path. As shown in
For attaching the carriage-side connection part 220 to the ink supplying tube 14, the ink supplying tube 14 having two layers, i.e., the inner layer portion 142 and the outer layer portion 144 is first formed by extrusion molding. In this case, it is preferable that the outer layer portion 144 be made from the same material as contained in the inner layer portion 142, the cartridge-side connection part 13 and the carriage-side connection part 220 and have a melting point lower than that of the inner layer portion 142. For instance, where at least one of the inner layer portion 142, the cartridge-side connection part 13 and the carriage-side connection part 220 is formed from an elastomer having flexibility and contains PP (polypropylene), polyolefin resin is used as the material of the outer layer portion 144. Examples of the polyolefin resin used for the outer layer portion 144 include PP. Where the elastomer of at least either the carriage-side connection part 220 or the inner layer portion 142 contains polyethylene, polyethylene may be used for the outer layer portion 144.
Metallic pins 300 are prepared. As shown in
An upper die 410 and a lower die 420 are placed so as to enclose the end of the ink supplying tube 14 through which the leading end portions 310 of the pins 300 are inserted. In the case shown in
Next, the resin is injected into the upper die 410 and lower die 420 in which the ink supplying tube 14 and the pins 300 are placed, for forming the carriage-side connection part 220 by outsert molding. In this case, the resin is outsert-molded at a temperature which is equal to or higher than the melting point of the outer layer portion 144 of the ink supplying tube 14 and equal to or lower than the melting point of the inner layer portion 142. Since the melting point of the outer layer portion 144 is not higher than the melting point of the inner layer portion 142, the outer layer portion 144 of the ink supplying tube 14 melts and adheres to the resin of the carriage-side connection part 220, while preventing deformation of the inner layer portion 142 caused by heat. Further, since the material of the outer layer portion 144 is contained in the material of the inner layer portion 142, the bondability between the inner layer portion 142 and the outer layer portion 144 can be increased.
After filling the dies with the resin and cooling the dies, the upper die 410 and the lower die 420 are separated by parallel displacement in the direction of the arrow of solid line shown in
After removal of the carriage-side connection part 220 from the upper die 410 and the upper die 410, the sealing member 240 is melted and adhered to the side from which the pins 300 have been extracted. Thanks to melting adhesion of the sealing member 240, the other ends 254 of the arcuate flow paths 250 of the carriage-side connection part 220 from which the pins 300 have been removed form the flow paths in association with the grooves 260 connected to the other ends 254. This enables provision of desired flow paths in the carriage-side connection part 220 formed by outsert molding.
In the above attaching method, a coupling pin, in which the same number of pins 300 as that of flow paths 141 of the ink supplying tube 14 are arranged in parallel and coupled, is prepared, and then, the leading end portions 310 of the pins 300 of the coupling pin may be inserted into the flow paths 141, respectively, of the ink supplying tube 14. This enables it to easily form the carriage-side connection part 220 at the end of the ink supplying tube 14 having the plurality of flow paths 141, the connection part 220 having the plurality of arcuate flow paths 250 connected to the flow paths 141.
According to the attaching method of the present embodiment described earlier, where the cartridge-side connection part 13 and the carriage-side connection part 220 are formed by molding so as to enclose the ends of the ink supplying tube 14 respectively, flow paths connected to the flow paths 141 of the ink supplying tube 14 can be formed in the cartridge-side connection part 13 and in the carriage-side connection part 220, while preventing penetration of the resin into the flow paths 141 of the ink supplying tube 14.
In the ink feeding member 110 produced by the above attaching method, the flow paths can be smoothly bent in an arc from the flow paths 141 of the ink supplying tube 14 within the cartridge-side connection part 13, 220. Thereby, it can be connected to the first ink guide member 10 and the carriage 7 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ink supplying tube 14, thereby ensuring improved sealing properties, while air bubbles contained in the ink supplying tube 14 are prevented from staying in the flow paths of the cartridge-side connection part 13 and the carriage-side connection part 220.
As shown in
In some (e.g., three) of the six flow paths, the outside-communicating portion 270 of the carriage-side connection part 220 is connected to the groove 260 and has a penetrating flow path 280 which extends from the front face 232 to the rear face 234, passing through the main body portion 230. In this case, in the outside-communicating portions 270 of the carriage-side connection part 220, the groove 260, the sealing member 240 and the penetrating flow path 280 constitute the flow path. In some (e.g., three) of the six flow paths, an outside-communicating portion 271 of the carriage-side connection part 220 is connected to the groove 260 and has a penetrating flow path 281 which passes through an end face 233. In this case, in the outside-communicating portions 271 of the carriage-side connection part 220, the groove 260, the sealing member 240 and the penetrating flow path 281 constitute the flow path.
When the carriage-side connection part 220 is attached to the ink supplying tube 14, the ink supplying tube 14 having two layers, that is, the inner layer portion 142 and the outer layer portion 144 is first formed by extrusion molding.
An upper die 440, a lower die 450 and a core 370 are prepared. The core 370 has a core body 350 constituting a part of the grooves 260 of the carriage-side connection part 220 and pins 360 which linearly extend from the core body 350. The pins 360 are substantially cylindrical in shape and the outside diameter of their sections is equal to or slightly larger than the inside diameter of the flow paths 141 of the ink supplying tube 14. When the core 370 is placed on the upper die 440, the top face and side face of the core 370 are brought into contact with the upper die 440, the side face being opposite to the side face at which the ink supplying tube 14 is placed. In this case, the pins 360 are inserted into their associated flow paths 141 from one end of the ink supplying tube 14.
In the state shown in
According to the attaching method of the present embodiment, when forming the carriage-side connection part 220 so as to enclose an end of the ink supplying tube 14, flow paths connected to the flow paths 141 of the ink supplying tube 14 can be formed in the carriage-side connection part 220, while preventing the resin from penetrating into the flow paths 141 of the ink supplying tube 14.
The liquid delivery tube 500 further includes a reinforcing layer 530 covering the outer circumferential surfaces of the flow paths 510. The reinforcing layer 530 is formed integrally with the flow paths 510 by a resin different from the resin 502. By covering the outermost side of the flow paths 510 with the reinforcing layer 530, the performance of the liquid delivery tube 500 can be enhanced.
The section of the outer circumferential surface 520 of the liquid delivery tube 500 when cut in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is in the form of a wave constituted by a series of circular arcs. In this liquid delivery tube 500, the thickness λ of the resin 502 existing between every adjacent flow paths 510 is equal to or less than the total thickness d of the resin 502 existing between the flow paths 510 and the outer circumferential surface 520 plus the reinforcing layer 530. More specifically, the liquid delivery tube 500 has a shorter distance and therefore a thinner resin between every adjacent flow paths 510, compared to the case where a plurality of cylindrical single tubes having thickness d are connected. For example, the inside diameter of the flow paths 510 is 1.5 mm, the thickness d is comparable to it, say, 1.5 mm, and the thickness λ of the resin between every adjacent flow paths 510 is 1.5 mm or less.
In the case of a specification in which evaporation from the liquid delivery tube 500 to the outside is inhibited, if the flow paths 510 of the liquid delivery tube 500 having less thickness d are filled with a liquid, vapors coming from the adjacent flow paths 510 offset each other. In addition, since the thickness of the resin existing between the adjacent flow paths 510 is equal to or less than the thickness d, the liquid delivery tube 500 can be miniaturized and bent in an arc having a small radius even though the plurality of flow paths 510 are arranged in parallel.
The extrusion molding machine 610 includes: a hopper 611 loaded with the resin 502 and the resin for the reinforcing layer 530; a heating tube 612 for heating the resin 502 and the resin for the reinforcing 530 which have been poured into the hopper 611, so that they are brought into a molten state; an extrusion head portion 613 for extruding the molten resin 502 and the molten resin for the reinforcing layer 530 while changing the extruded resins from a cylindrical shape to a tubular shape; and an extrusion die portion 614 for forming the extruded tube 620 having the plurality of flow paths 510.
The first head die 836 is in the form of a cone having a through hole at its center and is attached to the head core 832 by inserting the rear end of the head core 832 into the through hole. The first head die 836 is attached to the head core 832 without a clearance between the first head die 836 and the head core 832.
The second head die 840 is disposed ahead of the first head die 836, with a first main body resin flow path 838 located between the first head die 836 and the second head die 840. The second head die 840 is funnel-like, having a through hole at its center. The head core 832 is inserted into the through hole of the second head die 840 with a resin flow path 839 located between the head core 832 and the second head die 840. Similarly, the funnel-like third head die 844 is disposed ahead of the first main body resin flow path 838, with a first main body resin flow path 842 located between the first main body resin flow path 838 and the third head die 844 and with a resin flow path 843 located between the head core 832 and the third head die 844. Further, the funnel-like fourth head die 848 is disposed ahead of the third head die 844, with a reinforcing resin flow path 846 located between the third head die 844 and the fourth head die 848 and with a resin flow path 849 located between the head core 832 and the fourth head die 848.
As shown in
The extrusion die 870 is formed by stacking circular sheet-like members in the extruding direction, the sheet-like members including, at its center, a rectangular through hole having an inner circumference 872. In the extrusion die 870 shown in
The liquid delivery tube 500 is formed through the following steps by the extrusion molding machine 610 and the sizing system 630 of the above structure.
The hopper 611 of the extrusion molding machine 610 is loaded with the resin 502 and the resin for the reinforcing layer 530 which are in the form of pellets or flakes. In this case, two hoppers 611 are provided. One is loaded with the resin 502 and the other with the resin for the reinforcing layer 530. Then, the heating tube 612 gradually heats the resin 502 and the resin for the reinforcing layer 530, which have been poured in the hoppers 611, while delivering the resins, so that they are individually brought into the molten state. The heating tube 612 supplies the extrusion head portion 613 with the resins 502, 530 in the molten state. In this case, the heating tube 612 supplies the molten resin 502 to the first main body resin flow paths 838, 842, while supplying the molten resin for the reinforcing layer 530 to the reinforcing resin flow path 846.
In the extrusion head portion 613, the resin 502, which has been supplied to the first main body resin flow paths 838, 842, flows into the resin flow paths 839, 843, so that the extrusion head portion 613 forms the resin 502 into the shape of a cylinder having an inner circumferential shape corresponding to the peripheral shape of the head core 832. In the extrusion head portion 613, the resin for the reinforcing layer 530, which has been supplied to the reinforcing resin flow path 846 located in the downstream side of the first main body resin flow paths 838, 842, flows into the resin flow path 849, so that the reinforcing layer 530 is formed so as to cover the outer circumference of the resin 502 in cylindrical form. The first main body resin flow paths 838, 842 and the reinforcing resin flow path 846 are further supplied with the resin 502 and the resin for reinforcing layer 530, respectively, so that the resin 502 in cylindrical form and the reinforcing layer 530 are extruded to the downstream extrusion die potion 614.
The resin 502 in cylindrical form and the reinforcing layer 530, which have been pushed into the extrusion die portion 614, are forcibly moved along the outer circumference of the extrusion core 862 so that they are compressed into a shape of smaller diameter. Further, the flow paths 510 are formed by the projections 864 provided for the extrusion core 862. In this case, gas is naturally supplied to the gas flow paths 868 of the projections 864 through the gas flow paths 834 (the gas supplying step). While the gas flow paths 868 of the projections 864 are naturally supplied with gas, the resin 502 in cylindrical form and the reinforcing layer 530 flow into the resin flow paths 880 and are extruded, thereby forming the extruded tube 620 (the extrusion step). By this extrusion step, the inner circumferential shape of each flow path 510 of the extruded tube 620 is made coincident with the outer circumference 866 of the vertical section (with respect to the extruding direction) of each projection 864, and the peripheral shape of the extruded tube 620 is made coincident with the inner circumference 872 of the vertical section (with respect to the extruding direction) of the extrusion die 870. Thanks to the gas naturally supplied to the gas flow paths 868 of the projections 864 in the extrusion step, the interior of the flow paths 510 of the extruded tube 620 is prevented from coming into a vacuum state so that mutual adhesion of the inner faces and therefore crushing of the extruded tube 620 can be avoided to maintain the inside diameter of the flow paths 510.
The extruded tube 620 formed by the extrusion die portion 614 is elongated by the tube take-up device 660 through the sizing die 632 of the sizing system 630 and reshaped such that its contour matches the inner circumference 634 of the sizing die 632 (the sizing step). In this case, the gas flow paths 868 of the projections 864 of the extrusion die portion 614 are supplied with the gas, so that the flow paths 510 of the extruded tube 620 which is passing through the sizing die 632 of the sizing system 630 are also supplied with the gas. By applying gas pressure outwardly from the flow paths 510, the outer circumference of the extruded tube 620 is pressed against the inner circumference 634 of the sizing die 632, thereby carrying out stable reshaping. This sizing step may include a pressure reduction step for reducing the internal pressure of the sizing die 632. This makes it possible to more reliably press the outer circumference of the extruded tube 620 against the inner circumference 634 of the sizing die 632.
The extruded tube 620 is elongated through the sizing system 630, thereby reshaping the extruded tube 620 into the liquid delivery tube 500. The liquid delivery tube 500 thus reshaped is cooled by the cooling water tank 640 and taken up by the tube take-up device 660 as described earlier. Then, the liquid delivery tube 500 which has been taken up by the tube take-up device 660 up to a desired length is cut, creating an end face. The gas supplied to the flow paths 510 remains inside the tube or is naturally released to the air from the end face of the cut liquid delivery tube 500, the end face being located on the side of the extrusion molding machine 610. In this way, the liquid delivery tube 500 shown in
According to the production method described above, after the extruded tube 620 is extruded by supplying gas from the projections 864 of the extrusion die portion 614 in the extrusion molding phase, reshaping of the contour of the tube 620 is carried out by similarly supplying gas from the projections 864 in the sizing die 632, thereby producing the liquid delivery tube 500. With this arrangement, the flow paths 510 can keep specified diameter without being squashed, so that the liquid delivery tube 500 having a desired outer shape can be stably produced.
To produce the liquid delivery tube 540 shown in
For production of the liquid delivery tube 550 shown in
Although the liquid delivery tubes 540, 550 and 560 shown in
Although the ink jet recording apparatus 1 has been described as an example of the liquid ejecting apparatus in the present embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention is not limited to this. Examples of the liquid ejecting apparatus include: color filter production systems for producing color filters for liquid crystal displays; electrode formation systems for forming electrodes for use in organic EL displays, FEDs (face emission displays) etc.; and biotip production systems for producing biotips. Also, examples of the liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention include other liquid ejecting apparatus intended for use in industrial applications. “The recording medium” means objects on which recording and printing are performed by emitting a jet of liquid, examples of which include recording paper, circuit boards on which circuit patterns such as electrodes for a display are printed, CD-ROMs having labels printed thereon, and preparation having DNA circuits printed thereon.
Although the present invention has been described by way of an exemplary embodiment, it should be understood that the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiment and those skilled in the art might make many changes and substitutions without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. It is obvious from the definition of the appended claims that embodiments with such modifications also belong to the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-117300 | Apr 2004 | JP | national |
| 2004-157105 | May 2004 | JP | national |
| 2005-111867 | Apr 2005 | JP | national |
| 2005-111868 | Apr 2005 | JP | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11105276 | Apr 2005 | US |
| Child | 12229855 | US |
