JP2534690B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium using ink.

[Prior Art] Inkjet recording apparatuses have many advantages such as extremely low noise during recording and recording on plain paper, and the degree of attention has been increasing in recent years.

Among them, electromechanical conversion elements such as piezoelectric elements and magnetostrictive elements,
Alternatively, an on-demand type ink jet recording apparatus that discharges ink at the time of recording by using an electrothermal conversion element or the like consumes ink only when necessary for recording, so that unnecessary ink collecting means and deflecting means for deflecting ink are used. There is a great advantage that a high voltage power supply or the like is not required.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, the inkjet recording apparatus has various advantages, but dust or paper powder of recording paper adheres to the ejection port of the recording head to cause clogging, and air bubbles are not mixed into the ejection port. In addition, in an on-demand type ink jet recording apparatus, the ejection conditions may vary due to thickening of the ink because the number of nozzles arranged in the recording head is not uniform. Further, if ink remains on the end surface of the recording head with the ejection port opened, it may adhere to the recording medium.

Therefore, in the inkjet recording apparatus, it is essential to perform an appropriate process (hereinafter, referred to as an ejection port recovery process) for removing each factor that deteriorates the recording quality.

However, in an inkjet recording apparatus, particularly an inkjet recording head having a so-called full multi-type recording head in which ejection ports are arranged in a range corresponding to the width of a recording medium, the platen for regulating the recording surface is
Since the discharge ports are provided close to and facing the discharge ports over the entire disposition range, it is difficult to secure a large work area when performing the discharge recovery process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording apparatus configured to minimize the displacement of the platen during the ejection recovery process and to secure a large work area.

[Means for solving problems]

In an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention that can achieve such an object, a recording medium is positioned so as to face a head arrangement portion in which an inkjet recording head is arranged and an ink ejection port of the inkjet recording head arranged in the head arrangement portion. For recording, and a platen having a flat plate shape that can be moved to a retreat position for retreating from a state of facing the ink ejection port, a platen drive means for switching the platen between the recording position and the retreat position, and the head. A discharge recovery processing member used in a discharge recovery process in which the platen faces the ink discharge port of the inkjet recording head disposed in the disposition portion in a state where the platen is in the retracted position, and discharges ink from the ink discharge port. It is characterized by having and.

Here, it is effective that the ejection recovery processing member is an ink absorber, and the platen ejects the ink ejection port and the ejection recovery member by relatively opening and moving a plurality of plate members. It is preferable that they are opposed to each other so that they can be recovered.

[Action]

When desired recording is performed on the recording medium, the platen is moved to the recording position by the platen driving means, the recording medium is carried onto the platen, and the ink is ejected from the ink ejection port of the ink jet recording head arranged in the head disposition part. Is ejected, and desired recording is performed on a predetermined portion of the recording medium positioned on the platen.

When performing the ink discharge recovery processing of the inkjet recording head, the platen is moved to the retracted position by the platen driving means, whereby the ink discharge port of the inkjet recording head and the discharge recovery processing member are directly opposed to each other,
Ink ejection recovery processing is performed by ejecting ink from the ink ejection port of the inkjet recording head toward the ejection recovery processing member.

Here, when an ink absorber is used as the ejection recovery processing member, this ink is absorbed by the ink absorber. When the platen is composed of a plurality of plate members, the plate ejection members and the ejection recovery member are opposed to each other so that the ejection recovery process can be performed by moving the plurality of plate members relatively open at the retracted position.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the external configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the outer cover is removed for convenience.

Here, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body unit, which has an upper unit 1a and a lower unit 1b, and the upper unit 1a may be rotatable with respect to the lower unit 1b in a vertical direction with a hinge as a rotation center. Here, the upper unit 1a is provided with a recording head 101, an electric circuit unit 103, a fan 150, a discharge upper roller 115a, a transport upper roller 113a, a paper guide 201, and a paper feed roller 111, which will be described later in detail. On the other hand, the lower unit 1b includes a platen 203, an ink absorber 235, and an ink tank 23.
1, paper cassette 221, output tray 9A and idlers 213, 21
Five are provided. Reference numeral 5 denotes a cover arranged so as to cover the upper side of the main body unit 1, and this cover 5 is used for various command switches such as an online switch with the host device H.
An operation unit 7 is provided in which 7a, 7b and a display 7C for displaying the mode are arranged. A discharge port 9 is provided on one side surface of the apparatus, and the recorded recording medium is loaded on the discharge tray 9A through the discharge port 9.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover 5 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is removed in order to explain an example of the internal configuration of the apparatus shown in FIG. In the figure, 101 is an ink jet recording head arranged near the discharge port 9, for example, 16 mm per 1 mm.
It has a so-called full multi-type configuration in which the nozzles 101a are arranged in a range corresponding to the entire recordable width (for example, A4 size recording paper) of this apparatus at the density of a book. Further, an electromechanical conversion element (not shown), an electrothermal conversion element (not shown), or the like is arranged at an appropriate portion in the ink liquid flow path such as this nozzle, and the host device H according to the image to be recorded. The ejection energy is applied to the ink according to the supply of the drive signal from
As a result, ink is ejected from the ejection port 101b. In the present example, this recording head 101 has ejection ports 101 of each nozzle 101a.
It is provided so that b opens vertically downward.

103 is a recording head via the flexible cable 102
A main electric circuit section of the present apparatus in which a power supply circuit, a control circuit, various circuits in the apparatus, an interface circuit with a host apparatus H outside the apparatus, and the like are provided on the substrate 103A, in addition to a driver circuit for driving the 101, In this embodiment, since the main electric circuit section 103 is provided in the same upper unit 1a as the print head 101, even if ink is ejected during printing or unexpected ink leakage occurs, the influence of the ink is not affected. Electric circuit part 10
I will not call it to 3. That is, even if ink may leak from the ejection port 101b, the flow path is formed on the lower unit 1b side, and therefore, in this embodiment, the electric circuit portion 103 is disposed above the flow path. Will be
The ink does not affect the main electric circuit section 103 of the apparatus. Further, in the present embodiment, the electric circuit section 103 is arranged at a position higher than the disposition position of each ejection port 101b of the recording head 101. As a result, the influence of the ink does not reach the electric circuit section 103. However, the above-described arrangement of the electric circuit portion 103 and the discharge port 101b is not always necessary.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a paper feed roller formed by cutting out a part of an arc, for example, a recording head S from a cassette 221 for accommodating the recording medium S such as paper, film or cloth.
This is a roller for feeding the recording position to the recording position indicated by 01.

Denoted at 113 and 115 are a discharge roller arranged on the upstream side of the recording position of the recording head 101 and a discharge roller arranged near the discharge port 9 on the downstream side of the recording medium conveyance path. It is rotationally driven via 119. Then, according to this rotation drive,
The transport roller 113 and the discharge roller 115 cooperate with idlers 213 and 215 arranged to face each other, and transport the recording medium S to a recording position or hold the recording medium S between them, or record the recording medium S. The recording medium S is discharged from the position to the discharge tray 9A.

A paper guide 201 is provided on the conveyance path of the recording medium and regulates the conveyance path. 203 is a discharge port of the recording head 101
It is provided on the lower unit 1b side so as to face 101b, and the discharge port 10
A platen for positioning the recording medium S with respect to 1b, and a recording position shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. It is movable to and from the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 (B).

The recording media stacked in the paper cassette 221 described above are separated one by one by the paper feeding roller 111 in cooperation with a separating unit (not shown) and are conveyed toward the recording position. Reference numeral 225 denotes a bottom plate of the apparatus.In this example, the bottom plate 225 is also used as a partition wall for preventing leakage of leaked ink from the recording head 101 or the like to the outside of the apparatus even if unexpected ink leakage occurs. I have.

A flexible supply tube 233 connects the recording head 101 and an ink tank (not shown) as an ink supply source. Reference numeral 235 is an ink absorber as a discharge recovery treatment member of the present invention formed of a water-absorbing porous material.
It is arranged directly below the platen 203 so as to face the ejection port 101b of the recording head 101 with the 203 interposed therebetween. As a result, when the platen 203 moves to the retracted position shown in FIG. 4B, the ejection port 101b and the ink absorber 235 directly face each other, and the ink absorber 235 recovers the ink ejection of the recording head 101. It becomes possible to perform processing and capping processing.

Further, 150 is a fan that cools each part by taking in air from the outside of the device, and in this example, by arranging this on the side of the device opposite to the exhaust port 9, the air of the arranging part is arranged. An air flow from the intake port to the exhaust port 9 is generated. As described above, in this example, the recording head
Since 101 is provided in the vicinity of the discharge port 9, satellites that may be generated secondarily when ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 101 or ink mist or dust that may be generated by ink scattering on the surface of the recording medium, recording medium Paper dust, etc., is carried by the airflow immediately from the discharge port 9 to the outside of the device and adheres to various parts inside the device to contaminate it or to the electric circuit part.
It is possible to prevent the failure of 103. That is, in this example, the cooling fan 150 that cools the electric circuit unit 103 and the like is also used as a blowing unit in the device that removes the ink mist.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the drive unit of the platen according to the present invention. 203A and 203B are platen members that form the platen 203 at the joining state shown in the drawing, that is, at the recording position, and are connected to shafts 253A and 253B extending in the longitudinal direction of the recording head 101 via arms 251A and 251B, respectively. The shafts 253A and 253B can be rotated in the direction of retreating from the recording position blocking the ejection opening 101b and the ink absorber 235 to the retreating position where they are directly opposed to each other.
Gears 25 are attached to the shaft ends of these shafts 253A and 253B, respectively.
5A and 255B are provided, and through the gears 255A and 255B, by connecting to a set of gears 257A and 257B meshing with each other, the rotation of the platens 203A and 203B for switching between the recording position and the retracted position. The directions are reversed. The transmission mechanism including these gears is combined with the motor 260 via the gear 259, and the platen 203A and 203B can be rotated in a predetermined manner by controlling the rotation direction of the motor 260.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), at the time of recording, by holding the abutting surfaces 204B of the platen members 203A and the abutting surfaces 204B of the platen members 203A at the recording position where they are joined to each other, the platen members 203A and 203B are A platen 203 for positioning the recording medium S with respect to the recording head 101 is formed. On the other hand, at the time of maintenance, the platen members 203A and 203B are opened to the left and right in the drawing and held in the retracted position through the transmission mechanism by driving the motor 260 as shown in FIG. The recording head 10
Ejection recovery such as securing a space under 1 and performing cleaning by joining an ink absorber to the ejection port of the recording head 101 or performing preliminary ejection by closely facing each other. Processing becomes possible. Such joining or proximity of the ink absorbers can be performed by an appropriate mechanism through the space secured by the movement of the platen members 203A and 203B.

In this example, the platen 203 is composed of two members 203A and 203B, and the abutting surfaces 204A and 204B are joined at the time of recording. Therefore, when the recording medium is conveyed,
It is conceivable that the leading edge of the recording medium is hindered at this abutting portion and a jam occurs.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show two examples of the configurations of the platen members 203A and 203B for smoothing the progress of the recording medium and preventing the occurrence of jam. First of all, in the same figure (A), curved surfaces are provided on both abutting surfaces 204A and 204B,
The curved surface guides the leading end of the recording medium smoothly in the traveling direction indicated by the arrow in the figure. In addition, the same figure (B)
Is the platen member 20 on the downstream side in the traveling direction of the recording medium.
The abutting surface 204B of the 3B is provided with an inclined surface which is inclined with respect to the traveling direction of the paper and is directed downward in the drawing. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent jamming at the abutting portion.

In the above configuration, the transmission mechanism including the motor 260 and the gear train is provided to enable the two platens 203A and 203B to rotate. However, for example, a solenoid is used at the time of driving and an appropriate link mechanism is provided. Platen member 20
The rotation of 3A and 203B may be performed.

FIG. 6 shows still another configuration example of the drive unit of the platen. In this example, the platen 203 is an integral member, and in the horizontal plane, this is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the recording head 101, that is, of the recording medium. It is movable in the transport direction.

In the figure, 270A and 270B are pulleys, and a wire 2 for moving the platen 203 in the direction shown by the arrow in the figure.
67 is stretched. 265 is connected to one pulley 270B,
A motor for moving the platen 203 via a wire 267. 271 is a wire fixing base provided on the platen 203 and fixing the wire 267 to the platen 203. 273 is platen 203
Guide rail 275 that is provided in and extends in the direction of the arrow in the figure.
Wheels for smoothly moving the platen 203 along. Further, 275A and 275B are stoppers provided on the guide rail 275 and engaged with the wheels 273 to position the platen 203 at the recording position and the retracted position facing the recording head 101, respectively.

Even with this configuration, the platen 20 is used during recording.
The recording medium is positioned with respect to the recording head 101 by moving 3 to the recording position shown in the figure. However, during maintenance, the motor 265 is driven to move the platen 203 to the retracted position where it abuts on the stopper 275B. 101
A large working space will be secured below.

In the above example, the case where the present invention is applied to an inkjet recording apparatus that is an on-demand type that uses an electromechanical conversion element or an electrothermal conversion element and that has a recording head in which ejection ports are arranged downward has been described. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be extremely effectively and easily applied to an inkjet recording apparatus that employs various driving methods and arrangements.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the ejection recovery processing member is arranged so as to be able to face the ejection port of the ink jet recording head with the platen movable between the recording position and the retreat position being sandwiched therebetween. This makes it possible to realize an ink jet recording apparatus that can be easily recovered. Further, according to the present invention, even when compared with an apparatus having a structure in which the recording head is moved relative to the platen to secure a work area, the ink supply means and the signal transmitting member related to the recording head do not move or displace, so that the size is small. Therefore, a more reliable device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applicable, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover portion of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is removed, FIG. Is a perspective view showing one structural example of the main part of the present invention, FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B) are side views for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and FIGS. B) is a side view showing two examples of the constitution of the platen which can be adopted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another constitution example of the main part of the present invention. 1 ... Main body unit, 1a ... Upper unit, 1b ... Lower unit, 5 ... Cover, 9 ... Discharge port, 9A ... Discharge tray, 11 ... Hinge, 101 ... Record head, 101b ... Discharge port, 103 ... Electrical circuit part, 103A ... Substrate, 111,113,115 ...
… Rollers, 117 …… Motors, 119 …… Timing belts,
150 ... Cooling fan, 201 ... Paper guide, 203 ... Platen, 203A, 203B ... Platen member, 213, 215 ... Idler, 221 ... Paper cassette, 233 ... Supply tube, 235 ...
… Ink absorber, 251A, 251B …… Arm, 253A, 253B ……
Axis, 255A, 255B, 257A, 257B, 259 …… Gear, 260,265 …… Motor, 267 …… Wire, 270A, 270B …… Pulley, 271 ……
Wire fixing base, 273 …… Wheels, 275 …… Guide rail.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A head arrangement section in which an ink jet recording head is arranged, a recording position for positioning a recording medium so as to face an ink ejection port of the ink jet recording head arranged in the head arrangement section, and the ink. A platen in the form of a flat plate that can be moved to a retracted position that retracts from a state where it faces the ejection port, a platen drive unit that switches the platen between the recording position and the retracted position, and the inkjet recording disposed in the head placement section. An ejection recovery processing member used for an ejection recovery process for ejecting ink from the ink ejection port, the platen being opposed to the ink ejection port of the head when the platen is in the retracted position. Inkjet recording device. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ejection recovery processing member is an ink absorber. 3. The platen according to claim 1, wherein the plate ejection member and the ejection recovery member are opposed to each other so that the ejection recovery process can be performed by moving the plurality of plate members relatively open. The inkjet recording apparatus according to item 1 or 2.