JPH0739184B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that records 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.

Above all, an inkjet recording device called an on-demand type that discharges ink during recording by using a piezoelectric element or a magnetostrictive element which is an electromechanical conversion element, or the like consumes ink only when necessary for recording. Therefore, it has a great advantage that a means for collecting unnecessary ink, a high voltage power source for deflection, and the like are 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.

In such a discharge recovery process, a recovery member is joined to a discharge port, or is closely faced to discharge in this state.

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

Therefore, when performing the ejection recovery process, the platen is largely separated from the recording head, and the recovery member can be opposed to the recording head in this state (for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 60-65103 by the present applicant). However, it is desirable to make the moving range of the platen or the recovery member small in order to contribute to downsizing of the recording apparatus.

By the way, since the recovery member receives ink in the ejection recovery process and the like, it is desirable to provide an ink absorber made of, for example, a water-absorbing porous material. However, since such an ink absorber has a limited absorbing capacity (ink absorption amount), it is preferable to replace it at an appropriate opportunity.

On the other hand, another member that needs to be replaced in the ink jet recording apparatus is an ink tank for replenishing ink.
Therefore, in the ink jet recording apparatus, both the recovery member and the ink tank need to be exchanged, so that a two-step complicated operation must be performed in use.

In view of these problems, the present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus that simplifies reliable discharge recovery processing without requiring a large displacement of the platen and the recovery member and simplifies replacement work. The purpose is to provide.

[Means for solving problems]

Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a recording head in which ink ejection ports are arranged, a platen provided to face the ejection ports of the recording head at the time of recording, and detachably provided in the apparatus main body, While holding a storage means for storing ink for supplying to the recording head and a receiving member that receives ink from the ejection port in a state of being joined to or close to the ejection port, the platen is provided with the ejection port. And a drive means for driving the cartridge to disengage the platen from the opposed position and for joining or bringing the receiving member into or close to the discharge port. To do.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, a recording head in which ink ejection ports are arranged, a platen that is detachably provided in the apparatus main body and faces the ejection ports of the recording head during recording, and is supplied to the recording head. And a receiving member that receives ink from the ejection port in a state of being joined to or close to the ejection port, and integrally holding the platen from a position facing the ejection port. It is characterized by comprising a cartridge which is detachably supported, and a driving means which drives the cartridge to detach the platen from the facing position and joins or approaches the receiving member to the discharge port.

[Action]

That is, according to the present invention, since the platen and the receiving member are interlocked and the positions thereof are displaced to face the ejection port, the ejection recovery process of the recording head can be performed without requiring a large displacement thereof. Further, since the storage means and the receiving member are integrally provided on the holding member, the replacement work is simplified. In addition, it is possible to save space.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the cartridge is detached from the apparatus main body, the platen can also serve as the lid member that covers the receiving member.

〔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 the 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 the recording head 10 via the flexible cable 102.
In addition to the driver circuit that drives 1, power supply circuit, control circuit,
This is a main electric circuit section of the present apparatus in which each circuit inside the apparatus and an interface circuit with the host apparatus H or the like outside the apparatus are provided on the substrate 103A.
Since 3 is provided in the same upper unit 1a as the recording head 101, even if ink is ejected at the time of recording or unexpected ink leakage occurs, the influence of ink is not called to the electric circuit unit 103. . In other words, if ink is
Even if it leaks from 1b, its flow path is in the lower unit.
Since it is formed on the 1b side, the electric circuit section 103 is arranged above the flow path in this embodiment, and the influence of ink does not affect the main electric circuit section 103 of the present apparatus.
Furthermore, in this 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 unit 103 and the ejection port 101b is not always necessary.

Further, 111 is a paper feed roller formed by cutting out a part of an arc, for example, a recording medium S such as paper, film or cloth.
The recording medium S from the cassette 221 that accommodates the recording head 101
Is a roller for supplying toward the recording position by.

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. Thus, in response to this rotational drive, the transport roller 113 and the discharge roller 115 cooperate with the idlers 213 and 215, which are arranged to face each other, and the recording position is maintained with the recording medium S sandwiched therebetween. The recording medium S is conveyed to or discharged from the recording 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. Reference numeral 203 denotes a platen which is provided integrally with the ink absorber 235 and the ink tank 231 on the lower unit 1b side so as to face the ejection port of the recording head 101 and regulates the recording surface. A drive unit not shown in FIG. Due to
It can be moved from a position facing the recording head 101.

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. 225 is a bottom plate of the apparatus, and in the present example, the bottom plate 225 is also used as a partition wall for preventing leakage of leaked ink to the outside of the apparatus even if unexpected ink leakage from the recording head 101 or the like occurs. I am doing it.

Reference numeral 231 denotes an ink tank as an ink supply source for the recording head 101, which is integrally combined with the platen 203, and which is positioned below the platen 203 at the time of recording via a flexible supply tube 233 to the recording head 101. Supply ink. Reference numeral 235 is an ink absorber formed of a water-absorbing porous material, and in this example, it is arranged integrally with the ink tank 231 below the platen 203. Further, as will be described later, in this example, the ink absorber 235 is interlocked with the movement of the platen to appropriately replace the position with the platen 203 so that the ink absorber 235 can face or be joined to the ejection port of the recording head 101. The recording head 101 is configured to be used for the ejection recovery process. As a result, the recording head 10
Ink from 1 is properly collected.

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 10
Since 1 is provided in the vicinity of the paper exit 9, the recording head 1
Satellites that may be generated secondary to the ejection of ink droplets from 01, ink mist and dust that may be generated by ink scattering on the surface of the recording medium, and paper powder of the recording medium, etc., are immediately discharged from the discharge port 9 by the airflow. It is transported outside and adheres to various parts inside the device to contaminate it, or the electric circuit part 103
It will be possible to prevent the failure. That is,
In this example, a cooling fan 1 for cooling the electric circuit unit 103
The reference numeral 50 also serves as a blowing means in the device for removing the ink mist.

FIG. 3 shows a structural example of the main part of the present invention. Where 23
Reference numeral 4 is a cartridge that integrally incorporates the ink tank 231 and the ink absorber 235, and 234A is a joint that connects the ink tank 235 and the supply tube 233. 203A and 2
Reference numeral 03B denotes a platen member that forms the platen 203 in a joined state (a state in which the upper surface of the ink absorber 235 is covered) and is, for example, integrally connected to the cartridge 234 via a link 241, and is a rotation fulcrum on the cartridge 234. It is possible to rotate in the direction of opening the upper surface of the ink absorber 235 and the direction of covering the upper surface. Here, for example, the link 241 and the cartridge 234 are connected by a tension spring, and when external force is not applied, the platen members 203A and 203B are
A turning habit may be imparted in a direction to cover the upper surface of the ink absorber 235. Further, the fulcrum of the platen members 203A and 203B by the link 245 may be appropriately set so that the platen members 203A and 203B normally cover the upper surface of the ink absorber 235, or a spring may be combined therewith.

In this example, the cartridge 234 to which the platen members 203A and 203B are attached can be moved in the vertical direction by an appropriate driving member. Further, the link 241 has a driving member 248.
An opening / closing shaft 241A that engages with a member fixed to the apparatus according to the upward displacement of the cartridge 234 by the above and opens the platen members 203A and 203B with the engagement is provided. Furthermore, the cartridge 234 is removable from the device,
The ink tank 231 and the ink absorber 235 can be integrally replaced. The ink cartridge 234 can be taken out in the longitudinal direction, for example.

The operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B). In these figures, reference numeral 245 is a fixed wall that is fixed to the device and serves as an engaging member that can engage with the opening / closing shaft. A cam 248 is a driving member that engages with the bottom surface of the cartridge 234 and has an arm 248B that is rotatable around a fulcrum 248A fixed to the device. Further, the other arm 248C of the cam 248A is coupled to a driving means such as a motor or a solenoid via an appropriate transmission mechanism, and the driving means is driven during the ejection recovery process, so that the cartridge 23
Move 4 up.

That is, first, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), when the cartridge 234 is held downward during recording, the fixed wall 245 and the opening / closing shaft 241A are not engaged in this state,
The platens 203A and 203B are butted together to form the ink absorber 235.
And covers the ejection port of the recording head 101 to regulate the recording surface of the recording medium.

On the other hand, when cleaning the end surface of the recording head 101 including the ejection port 101b, the driving means is appropriately driven to cause the arm portion 248B of the cam 248 to move the cartridge 234 as shown in FIG.
Push up. Accordingly, the shaft 241A is fixed to the fixed wall 245.
Platens 203A and 203B are engaged with the ink absorber 235
The ink absorber 235 is joined to the ejection port of the recording head 101 while being rotated in a direction to open the upper surface of the recording head 101. As a result, the ink or the like attached to the end face of the ejection port is immediately absorbed by the ink absorber 235, and the ejection recovery by cleaning is performed.

For example, when a motor is used as the driving means of the cam 248, if the rotation angle of the motor is appropriately controlled and the cartridge 234 is positioned at a position between the figures (A) and (B), Since the upper surface of the ink absorber 235 is opened and faces the recording head 101 with an appropriate distance, the ejection port 1
It becomes possible to perform ink ejection (preliminary ejection) for drying or clogging of ink near 01b, removal of mixed bubbles, or replacement of thickened ink with new ink (ejection recovery processing by preliminary ejection).

In consideration of such ink absorption from the recording head 101, if the absorption capacity of the ink absorber 235 (the amount capable of absorbing ink) is set to be equal to or larger than the initial ink amount in the ink tank 231, the ink absorption member 235 is Even if a means for detecting the ink amount is not provided, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of leaking the ink that cannot be absorbed from the ink absorber 235 and contaminating each part, or replacing the cartridge 234 with unused ink left. .

When the cartridge 234 is removed, the platen member 203
Since A and 203B serve as a lid member that covers the ink absorber 235, the operator's hands and the like are not contaminated during replacement.

In this example, the platen 203 has two members 203A and 2A.
Since it is configured by 03B and both are abutted and joined at the time of recording, it is conceivable that when the recording medium is conveyed, the advance of the leading end of the recording medium is obstructed 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, in the same figure (A), a curved portion is provided on both abutting surfaces 204A and 204B, and the leading end of the recording medium is smoothly guided by the curved portion in the traveling direction indicated by the arrow in the figure. . Further, FIG. 2B shows an abutting surface 204B of the platen member 203B on the downstream side of the recording medium in the traveling direction, in which an inclined surface inclined with respect to the traveling direction of the paper is provided downward in the drawing. Also, even with such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a jam at the abutting portion.

By the way, in this example, in the ink system, the recording head 101 is arranged on the upper unit 1a side, the ink tank 231 is arranged on the lower unit 1b side, and they are communicated via the supply tube 233. For example, a rotatable ink joint member is provided on at least one of the connecting portions of the recording head 101 and the ink tank 231 and the ink supply tube 233, and the displacement due to the up and down movement of the cartridge 234 is caused by these rotatable ink joints. It may be absorbed. Further, instead of the flexible supply tube 233, it is also possible to use a supply tube in which two relatively rigid pipe members are coupled via a stretchable bellows.

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〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the platen and the recovery member are interlocked with each other so that the positions can be appropriately replaced so as to be close to the recording head. Since the recovery member and the ink tank are integrated, the replacement work is simplified and space saving can be achieved. Furthermore, if the platen is integrated as in the above example,
Since the platen acts as a lid member for the recovery member, the operator's hands and the like will not be soiled during replacement.

[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 structure of the platen applicable to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 ... Main body unit, 1a ... Upper unit, 1b ... Lower unit, 5 ... Cover, 9 ... Discharge port, 9A ... Discharge tray, 101 ... Record head, 101b ... Discharge port, 101A, 231A …… Rotation joint, 103 …… Electrical circuit, 103A …… Substrate, 111,113,115 …… Roller, 117 …… Motor, 119 …… Timing belt, 150 …… Cooling fan, 201 …… Paper guide , 203 …… Platen, 203A, 203B …… Platen member, 213, 215 …… Idler, 221 …… Paper cassette, 231 …… Ink tank, 233 …… Supply tube, 234 …… Cartridge, 235 …… Ink absorber , 241 …… Link, 241A …… Opening / closing axis, 245 …… Fixed wall, 248 …… Cam.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location B41J 11/14

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A recording head having ink ejection openings arranged therein, a platen provided so as to face the ejection openings of the recording head at the time of recording, and a platen detachably attached to the apparatus main body and supplied to the recording head. For holding the ink and the receiving member for receiving the ink from the ejection port in a state of being joined to or close to the ejection port, and the platen can be detached from the position facing the ejection port. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a cartridge that is supported by the cartridge; and a drive unit that drives the cartridge to disengage the platen from the facing position and joins or approaches the receiving member to the ejection port. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platen has two members extending in the arrangement direction of the ejection ports and capable of being joined / separated from each other, The receiving member is arranged below the two members, the cartridge can be moved to the discharge port by the driving means, and the two members are separated by the movement and the cartridge of the receiving member is moved. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the joining or the proximity is performed. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving member has an ink absorber, and the ink absorbable amount of the ink absorber is initially set in the storage member. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that the amount of ink is equal to or larger than the amount. 4. A recording head in which ink ejection ports are arranged, a platen that is detachably provided in the apparatus main body and faces the ejection ports of the recording head during recording, and ink for supplying to the recording head is stored. A cartridge that integrally holds a storage means and a receiving member that receives ink from the ejection port in a state of being joined to or close to the ejection port, and supporting the platen so as to be detachable from a position facing the ejection port. And an actuator for driving the cartridge to disengage the platen from the facing position and to join or bring the receiving member into or close to the ejection port. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the platen has two members extending in the arrangement direction of the ejection ports and capable of being joined / separated from each other, The receiving member is arranged below the two members, the cartridge can be moved to the discharge port by the driving means, and the two members are separated by the movement and the cartridge of the receiving member is moved. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the joining or the proximity is performed. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the receiving member has an ink absorber, and the ink absorbable amount of the ink absorber is initially set in the storage member. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that the amount of ink is equal to or larger than the amount.