Ink supply device for printhead

摘要

An ink supply device for a printhead includes an ink cartridge and a damper device. The ink cartridge is connected to the printhead through a flexible tube. The printhead is mounted on a carriage that reciprocates, and discharges an ink drop to perform printing. The damper device is mounted on the carriage to relax pressure fluctuation of ink supplied from the ink cartridge to the printhead. The damper device has a case, an ink introduction passage, and a flexible plate. The case defines a pressure chamber communicated with the printhead. The ink introduction passage is communicated with the flexible tube, and is communicated with the pressure chamber. The flexible plate is provided so as to define a part of the pressure chamber, and has a waveform portion formed with a plurality of waveforms.

主权项

1. An ink supply device for a printhead, the ink supply device comprising:
an ink cartridge that is connected to the printhead through a flexible tube, the printhead being mounted on a carriage that reciprocates, and discharging an ink drop to perform printing; and a damper device that is mounted on the carriage to relax pressure fluctuation of ink supplied from the ink cartridge to the printhead, wherein the damper device has:
a case that defines a pressure chamber communicated with the printhead;an ink introduction passage that is communicated with the flexible tube, and is communicated with the pressure chamber;a valve body that is provided between the ink introduction passage and the pressure chamber;a spring that urges the valve body in a valve closing direction;a flexible plate that is provided so as to define a part of the pressure chamber and receive atmospheric pressure; anda transmission member that is provided between a predetermined part of the flexible plate and the valve body to transmit displacement of the flexible plate to the valve body, and wherein the flexible plate has a waveform portion formed with a plurality of waveforms, and has:
a barrier layer which is formed of a film member, is provided on a side receiving atmospheric pressure, and has an oxygen barrier property;a welding layer that is fixed to the case by thermal welding; andan adhesive layer that bonds the barrier layer and the welding layer.