EP0442485A2 - Dispositif d'alimentation en encre et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre utilisant un même dispositif - Google Patents

Dispositif d'alimentation en encre et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre utilisant un même dispositif Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0442485A2
EP0442485A2 EP91102045A EP91102045A EP0442485A2 EP 0442485 A2 EP0442485 A2 EP 0442485A2 EP 91102045 A EP91102045 A EP 91102045A EP 91102045 A EP91102045 A EP 91102045A EP 0442485 A2 EP0442485 A2 EP 0442485A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
jet recording
ink jet
recording head
tank
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91102045A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0442485A3 (en
EP0442485B1 (fr
Inventor
Atsushi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Saito
Akio C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ohkubo
Fumihiko C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Watanabe
Yasuyuki C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Shinada
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2031715A external-priority patent/JPH03234655A/ja
Priority claimed from JP3170490A external-priority patent/JPH03234653A/ja
Priority claimed from JP3173590A external-priority patent/JPH03234665A/ja
Priority claimed from JP3173190A external-priority patent/JPH03234658A/ja
Priority to EP95110640A priority Critical patent/EP0684139B1/fr
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Priority claimed from JP1993991A external-priority patent/JPH04211972A/ja
Publication of EP0442485A2 publication Critical patent/EP0442485A2/fr
Publication of EP0442485A3 publication Critical patent/EP0442485A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0442485B1 publication Critical patent/EP0442485B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/1752—Mounting within the printer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/1652—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • B41J2/16523—Waste ink transport from caps or spittoons, e.g. by suction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16585—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17513—Inner structure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an ink supplying device and an ink jet recording apparatus having such ink supplying device.
  • an ink jet recording apparatus is excellent in that it can perform a high speed recording since a noise during the recording is very small and it can be easily constructed as a high density multiple discharge port type ink jet printer. Further, it has been interested in that the ink jet printer has good color reproducibility for a color image.
  • an ink jet recording system ink jet recording apparatus
  • ink jet recording apparatus is so constructed that ink droplets are caused to he discharged and fly from a discharge port of a recording head, and recording is carried out with their sticking on a recording sheet. So, in the ink jet recording apparatus, it is needed to supply surely ink to the ink jet recording head. In the past, various contrivances have been made for this purpose.
  • a method is known of obtaining a sure connection of the flow path with the connecting portion of the ink cartridge side by causing the member of the device side to have a degree of freedom, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 60-137658.
  • the above-mentioned cartridge type ink tank arrangement is weak in vibration and shock because it holds ink with a soft bag, and if the manners in which the bags collapse are nonuniform, then the pressure with which ink is let to flow would be often caused to change. Accordingly, this arrangement is not suitable to a large volume ink tank, and in fact it is realized as a relatively small ink tank.
  • an ink tank shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 56-13456 which has a construction which is strong in vibration and shock and permits it to be voluminous by holding ink between the outside of the bag which communicates to the air and a frame.
  • the problem relating to the change of the pressure with which ink flows out which is due to a difference between the manners in which the bags collapse (or swell) is not solved entirely, and it is needed to cause ink to flow out compulsively with an ink pump, store ink temporarily in a sub-tank which is provided with special means communicating to the air and then supply it to the head, so as thereby to carry out stabilized ink supplying.
  • an ink cartridge having its construction wherein a waste liquid absorbing body is added to the ink tank of the above-mentioned arrangement and the ink tank and a waste liquid tank are made to be in a body by enclosing them with a frame, between which a member intervened.
  • the waste liquid absorbing body in general, felt or foaming resin, etc. is used to hold therein waste ink for the collection thereof.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an ink supplying device wherein recording can be continued suitably, and an ink jet recording apparatus using this ink supplying device.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide an ink supplying device wherein ink can be supplyed suitably, and an ink jet printing apparatus using this ink supplying device.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink supplying device wherein connection between an ink cartridge and the device body can be carried out easily and reliably, and an ink jet printing apparatus using this ink supplying device.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide an ink supplying device wherein the protection for an ink cartridge is made surely, and an ink jet recording apparatus using this ink supplying device.
  • Fig. 1A is a cross-sectional side view showing a facsimile apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
  • Fig. 1B is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1A.
  • Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side view showing the state where the apparatus shown in Fig. 1A is opened.
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a platen roller.
  • Fig. 4 is a Perspective view showing an exhaust sheet roller.
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a recording frame.
  • Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are side views showing the vicinity of a recording head.
  • Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the recording head.
  • Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a cap.
  • Figs. 10A - 10C are views showing the state immediately after the head and the cap are in contact with each other.
  • Figs. 11A and 11B are views showing the state where the head and the cap are apart from each other.
  • Figs. 12A - 12C are views showing the state where the cap is being moved towards the head.
  • Figs. 13A - 13C are views showing the state where a projection presses a nozzle to be tightly closed while a spring resiliently deformed.
  • Figs. 14A - 14C are views showing the state where the cap is being parted from the head.
  • Figs. 15A - 15C are views showing the standby state of the cap.
  • Fig. 15D is a view showing a guide member according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 15E is a view showing a guide member according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 16 is a typical view schematically showing a structural example of the ink supply passage of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a structural example of ink supplying means of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 18 is an exploded perspective view showing an structural example of an ink cartridge installed in an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
  • Figs. 19A and 19B are a partially cutaway sectional side view showing the structural example of the ink cartridge and a partially enlarged view thereof to show the state of mating with the ink supplying means.
  • Fig. 20 is a partially cutaway sectional front view of the structural example of the ink cartridge.
  • Fig. 21 is a schematic top view showing the structural example of the ink cartridge.
  • Fig. 22 is a flowchart showing an example of sequential recovery applicable to an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
  • Figs. 23A - 23D are schematic side views sequentially showing the recovery operation.
  • Fig. 23E is a typical view showing the contacting amount and contacting angle of the leading end of a blade being in contact with the face of a discharging port.
  • Fig. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of the sequence from the standby state to the recording state.
  • Fig. 25 is a block diagram showing a recording unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 26 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of recording according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 27 is a flowchart showing a recovery operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the present invention which will be explained hereinafter was made on the bases thereof, and relates to a ink jet recording apparatus comprising ink supplying means for permitting the supply of ink to an ink jet recording head and an ink cartridge detachably mounted on said ink supplying means and providing with an ink tank accommodating therewithin ink to be supplied, said ink supplying means having a stationary ink supplying side joint portion adapted to be connected to said ink tank, said ink tank within said cartridge having an ink tank side joint portion connected to said ink supplying side joint portion and supplying ink, and said ink tank having a freedom of motion in the rotation direction with respect to the central axis of its joint portion to permit said ink tank to displace when said ink supply side joint portion and said ink tank side joint portion are connected to each other.
  • the ink container is retained movably within the frame enclosing it, specially in the direction of its rotation with respect to the central axis of the connecting portion (joint portion), and thus, a freedom in connection of the connecting portion of the device side and the corresponding connecting portion of the ink cartridge side is easily secured, and even though there are provided a plurality of flow paths to be connected, the positioning of the device side joint portions to the ink container side joint portion is made easily and surely.
  • the joint portion of the device side (ink supplying means side) is made to be stationary, the distribution of the ink tube form here to the recording head can be made to be compact and simple.
  • this invention relates to in an ink supplying device having a plurality of ink paths adapted to be connected to an ink jet recording head, joint means comprising a first ink coupling portion connected to said ink jet recording head through an ink pump, a second ink coupling portion different from said first ink coupling portion and connected to said ink jet recording head, and a connecting portion for performing communication to the air, whereby an ink tank with said portions is detachably mounted to said ink jet recording head.
  • the ink supply can be carried out very suitably without the use of not only the ink bag but also the sub-tank since the ink supporting port is jointed directly to the member constituting the ink supplying path. Also, since the port of the ink tank opening to the air is joined to the connecting portion for performing the communication to the air so that the ink tank can be caused to communicate to the air, it is possible to provide the ink tank which does not request that it be in the form of the above-mentioned bag arrangement, which is strong in vibration and shock and which is voluminous. avoidable that the recording becomes inactive under a predetermined number of recording papers.
  • Fig. 1A is a central sectional view showing an embodiment of facsimile apparatus characteristically representing the present invention.
  • Fig. 1B is a top plan view thereof, and
  • Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the apparatus in an open state.
  • the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment roughly comprises original conveying system A, optical system B, power source unit C, electric circuit board D, recording sheet conveying system E, decurling system F, ink supply system G, and recovery system H.
  • original conveying system A and optical system B constitute an original reading unit for reading original images.
  • original coveying system A conveys the aforesaid original 2 sequentially by a roller train (rollers R1, R2, R3, and R4) driven by driving means (not shown) in order to read the original image of original 2.
  • the original line information is transferred by condenser lens Le to line CCD 100 through the reflective optical path of optical system B (lamp L1, mirrors M1 and M2) from a given position for reading the original line (main scanning line) in the course of its conveyance, and is converted into electrical signals for the reading of the original information.
  • recording sheet conveying system E sequentially conveys recording sheet, which is wound in roll, by a roller train driven by driving means (not shown) to a passage shown in Fig. 1, and recording is performed in the course thereof by discharging ink from discharging ports of recording head 38 onto a given recording line of the recording sheet. Ink is discharged from the discharging ports of recording head 38 with the utilization of heat energy. This heat energy is generated by an electric heat converter provided in recording head 38.
  • power source unit C received a normal AC to convert it into all the necessary voltage currents and supplies them respectively to each of the units of the apparatus.
  • the electric circuits with electric circuit board D at its center controls the functional operation of each unit of this apparatus mainly with a cimcrocomputer system provided. It also performs the connection and disconnection with transmission line as well as the input and output of image information signals.
  • Ink supply system G supplies ink to the recording head, and recovery system H performs the cleaning and capping of the face of discharging ports, which are needed for the maintenance of the head.
  • rolled recording sheet 1 is positioned almost in the center of the apparatus, and on the left-hand side thereof, original conveying system A, optical system B, and power source unit C are arranged in the vertical direction, and on the right-hand side thereof, recording head 38, record head recovery system H, and ink supply system G with ink tank 86 are arranged sequentially in that order from the above.
  • recording head 38, recording head recovery system H, and ink supply system G are thus arranged sequentially from the above, the ratio of pressure variation of ink tank 86 against the orifice face of recording head 38 is reduced (i.e., the pressure against each of the discharging ports is equalized) even if the apparatus is inclined according to the present embodiment, and an excellent recording can be performed. This is due to an arrangement such that despite the miniaturization of the apparatus, the space between the orifice face of recording head and the ink tank 86 is made greater.
  • Rolled recording sheet 1 is installed, and is pinched by driving feed roller 7 and free roller (platen roller) 8 which is in contact with said driving roller 7 through decurling system F for straightening out the curl formed on this recording sheet 1.
  • Feed roller 7 is driven by driving means (not shown) with, for example, a stepping motor as its power source.
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing parts arranged in the longitudinal direction in the vicinity of free roller 8 (platen roller).
  • a first platen side plate 13a and a second platen side plate 13b fixed to or integrally formed with recording frame 19 support free roller 8 with a play in such a manner that the shaft of the free roller is penetrated through the opening 13c provided each of the side plates, having a larger diameter than that of the shaft.
  • the E rings 29 and 30 are fixed respectively at both ends of the shaft of free roller 8 as locks and further, on both shaft parts of free roller 8, bearings 10a and 10b, the inner and outer diameters of which are accurately regulated to provide an equal coaxiality, are fittedly mounted on the shaft of free roller 8 to enable it to be freely rotated.
  • the aforesaid first platen side plate 13a and second platen side plate 13b are slidably arranged each with the respective platen pressure shaft 12a and 12b mounted on the inner side thereof as shown in Fig. 3. Then, by the functions of springs 11a and 11b, the aforesaid platen pressure shafts 12a and 12b are in contact with bearings 10a and 10b of the aforesaid free roller 8 respectively to exert pressure against each of them.
  • recording head 38 is at the recording position.
  • free roller 8 is positioned by being in contact in two directions with feed roller 7 by the pressure exerted by free roller 8 as well as with recording head 38 by contacting the aforesaid bearings 10a and 10b.
  • the direction, in which the pressures of platen pressure shafts 12a and 12b of free roller 8 are exerted is set towards the direction that free roller 8 is in contact with free roller 7 and that bearings 10a and 10b are in contact with recording head 38.
  • recording guide 14 made of thin plastic plate guides the aforesaid recording head 38, so that the recording head is rotated to the recording position with head shaft 36 as its rotational center.
  • the sheet path is matched with the recording line position, and recording head 38 discharges ink from its discharging ports onto the aforesaid recording line position for recording at the time of recording.
  • recording sheet 1 is pinched by first exhaust sheet roller 21 and the roller train 17a - 17g and roller train 18a - 18g which are in contact with the aforesaid first exhaust sheet roller 21 to be conveyed while being guided by first curvature guide 15 and first exhaust sheet guide 20.
  • the aforesaid first exhaust sheet roller 21 is driven by the driving system of the same power source as feed roller 7, and is so arranged that the peripheral speed of the aforesaid first exhaust sheet roller 21 is slightly faster than that of the aforesaid feed roller 7.
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the parts arranged in the longitudinal direction in the vicinity of first exhaust sheet roller 21.
  • Rollers 17a - 17g and roller 18a - 18g are arranged alternatively with first curvature guides 15a - 15f. Each of them is rotatably supported by shaft 31 and shaft 32 and both ends of the shafts are locked by E rings, etc.
  • shaft 32 is regulated by receiving side 9a of the first exhaust sheet rollers, which is fixed to or integrally formed with recording frame 19 and receiving side 19b of the second exhaust sheet rollers, and also in the horizontal direction, the shaft is regulated at both ends thereof by the vertically elongated through holes having the diameter fitted to that of shaft 32, through which the shaft is penetrated.
  • recording sheet 1 is guided to upper exhaust sheet guide 23 and trailing exhaust sheet guide 24 through the space between both edges 22a and 22b which cut the recording sheet into each of the receiving one pages and is further guided and conveyed by second exhaust sheet roller 25 and the rollers 27a - 27g and rollers 28a - 28g which are in contact therewith.
  • second exhaust sheet roller 25 is also driven by the driving system in such a manner that the peripheral speed thereof is set at a speed slightly faster than that of the aforesaid first roller 21.
  • rollers 27a - 27g and rollers 28a - 28g are arranged alternately with second curvature guides 26a - 26f and are rotatably supported respectively by shaft 33 and shaft 34. Then, both ends of shaft 34 are locked with E rings, etc.
  • Shaft 33 is regulated at both ends thereof by exhaust sheet roller receiving sides 19c and 19d fixed to or integrally formed with recording frame 19, having vertically elongated holes fitted respectively to the diameter of shaft 33, through which both ends of the shaft are penetrated horizontally. The ends thereof are also locked by E rings, etc.
  • Fig. 1 shows the state of the system at the time of recording, and at the time of replacing the recording sheets or troubleshooting in conveying recording sheet, recording frame 19 can be opened or closed with hinge 19e of recording frame 19 as its pivoting point.
  • the recording frame can be opened just along the recording sheet conveying path as its boundary, and the arrangement is designed to place each of the components belonging to recording frame 19 above this boundary and each of those belonging to main body frame 63 below the boundary.
  • This recording frame 19 and the assembly of its components thereon are shown in Fig. 5.
  • recording head 38, recording head recovery system H, and ink supply system G are sequentially arranged from the above in that order.
  • recording sheet 1 is guided in the horizontal direction above recording head 38 after the recording has been completed by recording head 38, and is further conveyed downwards thereafter to exhaust sheet stacker 40 for stacking.
  • the path through which the aforesaid recording sheet is being guided in the aforesaid horizontal direction forms the aforesaid boundary along which the main body is opened. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is easy to remove a clogged sheet if any clogging should occur, and further, it is possible to perform capping without damaging the head face when a sheet clogging takes place. In addition, should an ink leakage occur while capping, the recording sheet is not stained.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates the state of parts in the vicinity of free roller 8 when the main body of the apparatus is in standby.
  • Recording guide 14 is not allowed to be in contact with free roller 8 unless there is external force to be exerted thereon. Accordingly, the contacting angle of recording sheet 1 to the periphery of free roller 8 is less in the standby state than in the printing state.
  • the position of free roller 8 is established by the fact that the periphery of free roller 8 is pressed by platen pressing shafts 12a and 12b to be in contact with feed roller 7, and that the shaft of free roller 8 is in contact with through hole 13c, which is larger than the periphery of the aforesaid shaft by 0.1 mm - several mm, provided on each of platen side plates 13a and 13b.
  • the aforesaid feed roller 7 and free roller 8 are made of plastic material such as rubber, etc. rolled around rigid shaft made of iron, etc.
  • Fig. 7 illustrates recording head 38 being rotated clockwide with head shaft as its rotating center in order to shift itself from the standby state to recording state.
  • head 38 is first rotated as described earlier by the driving power generated by motor KM, a plurality of projections provided on the recording face of head 38 are in contact with the top of recording guide 14 to cause recording guide 14 to begin resiliently deforming it.
  • projection 38c provided on the recording face of head 38 is made to be increasingly higher towards the corner.
  • recording guide 14 is deformed apart from recording head 38 by the height ( ⁇ in Fig. 7) of the aforesaid projection.
  • the reason why the aforesaid projection 38c is arranged to be increasingly higher towards the coner is to make it easier to remove ink when the recording face of the head is wiped as described later.
  • Recording head 38 is further rotated clockwise, and when recording head 38 is moved to be in the recording state as shown in Fig. 1, both ends of the recording face of recording head 38 are in contact with bearings 10a and 10b. Hence, the space between the recording face of recording head 38 and platen roller (free roller) 8 is established.
  • the periphery of bearings 10a and 10b is made larger than that of free roller 8, and the volume thereof is set to be less than the height ⁇ of the aforesaid projection of recording head 38 by a 1/several mm thereof.
  • guide 14 is reliably in contact with the periphery of platen roller 8 to convey the recording sheet.
  • the aforesaid feed roller 7 is rotated clockwise, and platen roller 8 is rotated counterclockwise by the external force generated by the feed roller, at the same time, being moved in the direction towards the recording head 38.
  • the aforesaid platen roller 8 is brought to contact with guide 14 through recording sheet. Therefore, the aforesaid springs 11a and 11b are not necessarily needed here, and platen roller 8 can also be incontact with the guide only by its own weight.
  • Recording head 38 mainly comprises head main body 38f including a heat generating section, electrical part section, and glass chamber section for containing liquid ink, front filter 38d and rear filter 38e arranged respectively at the outside of the head main body, and head front plate 38c. Also, front head ink connection 38d1 and rear head ink connection 38e1 are respectively provided for front filter 38d and rear filter 38e. These are tightly closed and connected respectively by front ink supply 71 and ink supply tube threading with sealing members (not shown) provided therebetween.
  • a reference numeral 38a designates an imaginary two-dot chain line in Fig.
  • nozzle 38a holes of several ten microns in diameter are provided, and the aforesaid holes are connected to ink supply tubes 71 and 72.
  • ink supply tubes 71 and 72 are respectively connected to front supply tube joint 84 and rear supply tube joint 85.
  • a reference numeral 38b designates the face where nozzle 38 is open, which is called orifice face.
  • front head plate 38g is formed by metal or molding material, and the space between orifice face 38b and front head plate 38g is filled with silicon rubber, etc. to close them completely.
  • Filters 38d and 38e are arranged to prevent dusts in ink from being flown into the nozzle section.
  • Reference numerals 37a and 38b designate front and rear head arms made of engineering plastic, sintered metal, diecast metal, or the like, which has rigidity and resistivity against thermal deformation at high temperatures, and each of them is fixedly mounted on BJ head 38 by means of screw, etc.
  • Front head arm 37a and rear head arm 37b are fixedly mounted on head shaft 36 by means of screw, etc., and with the structure as described earlier, head shaft 36 and BJ head 38 are fixed arranged.
  • Head shaft 36 is rotatably supported by main body frame 56 through bearings (not shown).
  • Head shaft 36 is connected to driving system comprising gears, belts KB, etc., and is further connected to stepping motor KM.
  • cap 41 is formed by plastic material such as silicon rubber, etc. which has a high resistivity against mechanical creep as well as a high ratio of permeability for water vapor, etc.
  • a reference numeral 42 designates a cap keel made of rigid material such as aluminum, stainless steel, etc., and as shown in a cross-sectional view in Fig. 10, short shafts 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, and 46e are fixedly mounted on cap keel 42 by means of screws.
  • Short shafts 46a - 46e should desirably be made of a corrosion-inhibiting and rigid material such as stainless steel, etc.
  • short shafts 46a - 46e are fixed by screws, these can also be coupled by means of press fitting, bonding, or the like. Also, cap keel 42 and shafts 46a - 46e can be formed integrally by means of molding, etc.
  • cap 41 is first made by coupling cap keel 42 and short shafts 46a - 46e as described above. Then, the coupled cap keel 42 and short shafts 46a - 46e are buried into an open forming die, and by putting silicon rubber, which is also the original material of cap 41, into the die or sandwiching silicon rubber between cap 41 and cap keel 42, these are integrally formed by burning into a one body.
  • silicon rubber which is also the original material of cap 41
  • the shape of the aforesaid forming die should match the external contour of cap 41 as a matter of course.
  • a reference numeral 60 designates a recovery frame made of a corrosion-inhibiting rigid material such as stainless steel, and the four sides of recovery frame are bent to rise (60a - 60d) in order to enhance the rigidity.
  • short shaft bearings 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, and 61e are fixed by screws, etc. (not shown) to receive short shafts 46a - 46e.
  • the method for coupling bearings 61a - 61e with frame 60 may also be either welding or bonding.
  • short shaft 46a is fitted into an elongated hole while short shafts 46b - 46d are fitted into the so-called loose holes, and short shaft 46e is fitted to perform positioning.
  • each of the short shafts 46a - 46e has a same outer diameter, and the inner diameter 61e1 of short shaft bearing 61e and the outer diameter of short shaft 46e are made to just fit each other.
  • Short shaft bearings 61a - 61e are made of polyacetal resin having excellent slidability against stainless steel short shaft 46e.
  • an elongated hole 61a1 is formed for short shaft bearing 61a against short shaft bearing 61e in the longitudinal direction of cap 41. Then, the dimension of elongated hole 61a1 in the transverse direction is formed to fit short shaft 46a.
  • the diameters of holes 61b1, 61c1 and 61d1 opened in short shaft bearings 61b, 61c, and 61d are respectively formed larger than the outer diameters of short shafts 46b - 46d within a rage of 0.1 mm - 1 mm.
  • compression springs 47a - 47e are respectively held by screws from the reverse side of recording frame 60 with short shaft stoppers 56a - 56e sandwiched as shown in Fig. 9.
  • Compression springs 47a - 47e are pressed between the cap keel and short shaft bearings 61a - 61e because the springs are held by screws. The movement of cap 41 at this juncture will be described later.
  • first wiper 50 and second wiper 52 are made of plastic material such as rubber, etc. having a good abrasion resistance, and the straight portions of leading ends 50a and 52a of first and second wipers 50 and 52 are strictly controlled to maintain the straightness as well as to prevent wear and dust, etc. Also, the aforesaid first wiper 50 and second wiper 52 are respectively fixed to first wiper stay 49 and second wiper stay 51 by means of screws, etc. (not shown). First and second wiper stays 49 and 51 are both made of corrosion-inhibiting rigid metal such as stainless steel, etc.
  • first wiper stay 49 and second wiper stay 51 are held on recovery frame 60 by screws, and the projection 41a of cap 41, which will be described later, and the wiper leading ends 50a and 52a are arranged to accurately parallel themselves at this juncture.
  • the aforesaid projection 41a, wiper leading ends 50a and 52a, and the mounting face of recovery frame 60 for wiper stays 49 and 51, and the imaginary two-dot chain line ⁇ in Fig. 9 connecting the center lines of boss sections 59a1 and 59b1 of front cam gear 59a and rear cam gear 59b are arranged to be in parallel accurately as described later.
  • Fig. 9 shows that
  • the structure is formed to enable the height of the leading end 52a of second wiper against recovery frame 60 to be higher than that of the leading end 50a of first wiper against recovery frame 60.
  • a reference numeral 54 designates a recovery frame bearing, and recovery frame shaft 55 shown in Fig. 1C (control cross-sectional view) is allowed to fit the elongated hole 54a of recovery frame bearing 54 in the transverse direction.
  • recovery shaft 55 is fixed to main body frame 63, but recovery frame shaft 55 may also be supported rotatably by main body frame 63.
  • Recovery frame shaft bearing 54 is made of polyacetal resin having a good slidableness and is fixedly screwed to recovery frame 60.
  • Recovery frame bearing 54 is fixed against recovery frame 60 in the direction indicated by arrow ⁇ in Fig. 9 at a position which enables the center of the depth of elongated hole 54a to be in the central part of recovery frame 60.
  • the center of hole 61c1 of short shaft bearing 61c is positioned in the central part of recovery frame 60 in the direction indicated by arrow ⁇ as shown in Fig. 9.
  • the center of hole 61b1 of short shaft bearing 61b and that of hole 61d1 of short shaft bearing 61d are symmetrically positioned in the direction indicated by arrow ⁇ with short shaft bearing hole 61c1 as the center.
  • the center of elongated hole 61a1 of short shaft bearing 61a in the direction indicated by arrow ⁇ and the center of hole 61e1 of short shaft bearing 61e are likewise positioned symmetrically in the direction indicated by arrow ⁇ with the hole 61c1 as the center.
  • a reference numeral 62 designates a recovery frame shaft which is arranged across both of the side plates of main body frame 63.
  • This recovery frame shaft 62 is rotatably supported around a bearing (not shown) provided in main body frame 63.
  • idler gears 57a and 57b are fixedly mounted respectively at positions inside the main body frame 63 and outside the front cap guide 48a and rear cap guide 48b which will be described later.
  • Cam gears 59a and 59b are rotatably supported on cam gear shafts 70a and 70b fixed to main body frame 63 respectively at positions outside the cap guides 48a and 48b and inside the main body frame 63.
  • the modules and number of teeth of gears 57a, 57b, 59a, and 59b are the same.
  • gear 58 and gears 57a, 57b, 59a, and 59b are of the same number of teeth. Then, gear 58 is connected to stepping motor CM.
  • the number of teeth thus arranged enables the gears engaged with cam gears 59a and 59b to rotate one round exactly the same as the cam gears completing one round, so that the rotational angles and positions of these gears are detected by a microswitch slit type sensor (not shown), etc. to detect the position of the boss section 59a1 of cam gear 59a and the boss section 59b1 of cam gear 59b.
  • cap guides 48a and 48b are fixedly mounted in addition to these gears. Cap guides 48a and 48b are made of polyacetal resin having a good slidableness.
  • grooves 48a1 and 48b1 are formed on cap guides 48a and 48b to fit the boss sections 59a1 and 59b1 of cam gears 59a and 59b in the transverse direction as shown in Fig. 10.
  • boss section 59a1 and boss section 59b1 are arranged at positions just opposite to each other.
  • recovery frame 60 performs rocking motion in the direction indicated by arrow X in Fig. 10 (central cross-sectional view) with recovery frame shaft 55 as the center when outer idler gear 58 is rotated.
  • recovery frame 60 is positioned by the plane formed by two-dot chain line ⁇ and recovery frame shaft 55 as shown in Fig. 9.
  • two-dot chain line ⁇ and head shaft 36 are arranged to be accurately in parallel.
  • recovery frame 60 is positioned by the plane formed by the aforesaid two-dot chain line ⁇ and recovery frame shaft 55, it is not fixed by the aforesaid structural members.
  • Recovery frame 60 is structured to be flexible in the direction indicated by arrow ⁇ and by curbed arrow ⁇ in Fig. 9.
  • first recovery cap guide 48a and second cap guide 48b are the direction indicated by arrow ⁇ in Fig. 9 towards recovery frame 60
  • first and second cap guides 48a and 48b U letter type holes 48a1 and 48b1 are formed, and the space of U letter hole is precisely defined.
  • the space of the aforesaid U letter holes 48a1 and 48b1 is indicated by arrow in Fig. 11.
  • first and second cap guides 48c and 48b are arranged on recovery frame 60 to allow the center of the shorter width of projection 41a (indicated by arrow in Fig. 11) of cap 41 to be placed in the center of the aforesaid space of U letter holes 48a1 and 48b1.
  • first head arm 37a and second head arm 37b circular projections 37a1 and 37b1 are formed respectively on front head arm 37a and rear head arm 37b. Then, the arranging positions of the aforesaid circular projection 37a1 and 37b1 are defined to allow the ink discharging ports of nozzle section 38a to be placed in the central position of the circular projection. Also, the diameter of the aforesaid circular projections 37a1 and 37b1 is formed to fit exactly the spaces of U letter holes on cap guides 48a and 48b.
  • recovery frame 60 can be displaced in the direction indicated by arrows ⁇ and ⁇ (in Fig. 9) by the construction as described earier. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even when there is a slight difference in the positions of the aforesaid U letter holes 48a1 and 48b1 and projection 37a1 and 37b1 at the time of fitting, recovery frame can fit them reliably while being guided by slant 48c and holes 48a1 and 48b1 to displace itself in the horizontal direction if only projections 37a1 and 37b1 are in contact with slant 48c of U letter holes 48a1 and 48b1.
  • cap 41 and front head plate 38c which will be described later, is performed naturally in this course of event. Also, even if recovery frame 60 approaches nozzle orifice face 38b with some inclination, projection 41a and nozzle section 38a can approach each other with the face to face positional relationship.
  • cap 41 cap keel 42, valve 43, valve cover 44, and waste ink tube will be described.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates the state immediately after head 38 and cap 41 are in contact with each other.
  • Fig. 11 illustrates the state when head 38 and cap 41 are parted.
  • Fig. 12 illustrates the state when cap 41 is moved forwards head 38.
  • Fig. 13 illustrates the state where projection 41a closes nozzle 38a by pressure, and spring 47 is resiliently deformed.
  • Fig. 14 illustrates the state where cap 41 is parted from head 38, and
  • Fig. 15 illustrates the standby state.
  • A is a side view observed from the location of side plate;
  • B is a cross-sectional view in the transverse direction; and
  • C is a cross-sectional view in the longitudinal direction.
  • A is also a side view but B is a cross-sectional view in the longitudinal direction.
  • Figs. 10A through 10C illustrate the state representing the moment cap 41 has come into contact with front head plate 38c. Cap 41 has not been deformed as yet.
  • the cross-sectional shape of cap 41 is described in detail.
  • the side portions of cap 41 are formed with inclination so as to widen the distance between them as the cap is raised upwards as shown in Fig. 10B.
  • the inclined side portions are connected to the curbed portions indicated by mark a in Fig. 10B, and the thickness of the portions a are made thinner than the other portions as illustrated in Fig. 10B.
  • the portions a are formed with a smooth curvature, these portions may also be formed in an abrupt edge.
  • cap 41 in the transverse direction is formed to open itself towards the outside as it is raised upwards as in Fig. 10C.
  • the cross-sectional shape of cap 41 in the transverse direction is formed in such a manner that the thickness of cap 41 contacting with front head plate 38c is made thicker than that of the cross-sectional shape of cap 41 in the longitudinal direction shown in Fig. 10B also contacting the aforesaid front head plate 38c.
  • This is due to the fact that although the positioning of cap 41 against head 38 in the transverse direction is accurately performed, the positioning in the longitudinal direction is not performed accurately. Therefore, such construction as is the present embodiment may not be needed if only the positioning of cap 41 against head 38 is accurately performed in the longitudinal direction.
  • the side portions of cap 41 are connected to curbed portions b which change its shape smoothly as in Fig.
  • cap 41 in Figs. 10B and 10C is such that the thickness thereof becomes increasingly thinner smoothly towards as illustrated in these two figures.
  • projection 41a integrally formed with cap 41 is provided in the closed space in cap 41.
  • the arranging position of projection 41a is defined so as to allow the top of R shaped portion 41c of projection 41a to be located at a position against nozzle section 38a.
  • the length of projection 41a in the longitudinal direction at both ends is made longer than the entire length in which nozzle section 38a is arranged.
  • through hole 41b is provided on cap 41.
  • the through hole 41b in cap 41 is provided with through hole 41 provided on cap keel 42. Then, the aforesaid through hole 41b, valve 43 is fitted.
  • the aforesaid valve 43 being formed with plastic material, it can produce a state which is closed from the atmosphere without any pressure exerted on valve 43.
  • the reason why valve 43 can properly function as a valve is that while cap keel 42 is formed with rigid material as described earlier, the contact face between valve 43 and cap keel 42 is formed excellent precision.
  • valve cover 44 is mounted to enclose valve 43, and cap keel 42 and valve cover 44 are closedly fixed. Further, valve cover 44 is closedly coupled with wast ink tube 45.
  • Cap 41 begins to approach recording head 38 from the state shown in Fig. 10 by the rotation of cam gears 59a and 59b in the direction indicated by arrow d in Fig. 10A.
  • the sides of cap 41 begin to move in the directions indicated by arrow c in Fig. 10B and Fig. 10C while maintaining contact with front head plate 38c. This movement occurs because the sides of cap 41 are formed to open as the cap is raised upwards.
  • cap 41 is moved in the direction indicated by arrows c due to the shape of cap 41. In addition to this, it is due to the increasing pressure in the closed space in cap 41 resulting from the reduction of volume of the closed space in cap 41. As the pressure in the closed space in cap 41 increases, valve 43 begins to open, and air in the closed space begins to flow from valve 43 and waste ink (not shown) begins to flow towards waste ink tube 45. Further, Fig. 12 illustrates the state where cam gears 59a and 59b have rotated in the direction indicated by arrow d.
  • Fig. 12B the side of cap 41 is in contact with the rising portion of the edge of front head plate 38c and the movement in the direction indicated by arrow c in Fig. 10 is stopped.
  • the side of cap 41 in the transverse direction shown in Fig. 12C is formed thinner than the thickness of the side in the longitudinal direction as described earlier. Therefore, its movement in the direction indicated by arrow c is stopped by the rigidity of the side itself.
  • Fig. 12B the portions a of the sides of cap 41 are deformed as shown in Fig. 12B due to bending stress generated after the sides of the cap are in contact with the edges of front head plate 38c.
  • the thick portions including the contacting faces of the sides of cap 41 receive buckling load, and the aforesaid portions a, being deformed to bend, are not buckled.
  • compression spring 47a has not been pressed as yet.
  • the cap 41 and the projection 41 a are integrally formed of an elastic material such as rubber.
  • the cap 41 may be a member separate from the projection 41a and the whole body of the cap 41 does not have elasticity.
  • At least the head discharge port surface 38c and the contact section may be elastic and in this case a remaining upper part thereof may be of steel.
  • Fig. 13 illustrates the state where compression spring 47a is deformed as the above describes, and boss sections 59a1 and 59b1 of cam gears 59a and 59b are positioned at the top.
  • Fig. 13 there is almost no volume change in the closed space formed by the cap 41, and valve 43 only shows the state to close air. Therefore, the pressure in the closed space is equal to the atmospheric pressure.
  • the state of each part when cam gears 59a and 59b are rotated from the state shown in Fig. 13 in the direction indicated by arrow e, will be described.
  • cam gears 59a and 59b means the required movement of boss sections 50a1 and 59b1 from the top to the bottom or from the bottom to the top as shown in Fig. 13, and even if, for example, cam gears 59a and 59b are rotated in the direction reverse to that indicated by arrow e in Fig. 13, the movements described below should take place in the same manner.
  • Fig. 14 the volume in the closed space in cap 41 is again increased and the pressure in the closed space becomes negative against the atmosphere, and valve 43 is closed as shown in Fig. 14. Therefore, in order to supplement the reduced volume in the closed space in cap 41, ink is discharged from nozzle section 38a of recording head 38. Ink remaining in nozzle section 38a is refleshed.
  • FIG. 15 illustrates the pheripheral parts including cap 41 being in the standby state where an apparatus according to the present invention has not started performing operation such as recording, recovering, etc.
  • the cam gears are at rest.
  • the pressure in the closed space in cap 41 is identical to the atmospheric pressure. At this juncture, there is no force exerted on valve 43 either to open or close to valve 43. However, due to the shape of valve 43, water vapor in the closed space in cap 41 is not released into the atmosphere.
  • Fig. 15D is a view showing another embodiment of guide member according to the present invention.
  • V letter holes 48a2 and 48b2 are respectively formed, and the spaces in V letter holes are formed with excellent precision.
  • first head arm 37a and second head arm 37b square projections 37a3 and 37b3 are respectively formed, and the widths of the aforesaid projections are formed to fit exactly the spaces of the aforesaid V letter holes respectively.
  • first head arm 37a2 and second head arm 37b2 are arranged to allow the leading ends of square projections thereof 37a3 and 37b3 to mate respectively with V letter holes 48a2 and 48b2 when the projection of cap 41 is in contact with nozzle section 38a of head 38.
  • recovery frame 60 enables the holes 48a2 and projection 37a3 and the hole 48b2 and projection 37b3 to be mated reliably because the frame can displace itself in the directions indicated by ⁇ and ⁇ in Fig. 9.
  • Fig. 15E is a view showing still another embodiment of guide member according to the present invention.
  • first head arm 37a4 and second head arm 37b4 U letter holes 37a5 and 37b5 are respectively formed, and the spaces of U letter holes are formed with excellent precision.
  • first cap guide 48a and second cap guide 48b circular projections 48a3 and 48b3 are respectively formed, and the widths of the aforesaid circular projections are formed to fit exactly the spaces of the aforesaid U letter holes.
  • first head arm 37a4 and second head arm 37b4 are arranged to allow the leading ends of U letter holes 37a5 and 37b5 to fit circular projections 48a3 and 48b3 respectively when the projection of cap 41 is in contact with nozzle section 38a of head 38.
  • recovery frame 60 enables the projection 48a3 and hole 37a5 and the projection 48b3 and hole 37b5 to be mated reliably because the frame can displace itself in the directions indicated by arrows ⁇ and ⁇ in Fig. 9.
  • This unit comprises an ink tank, ink tubes, an ink pump, etc. to keep ink and supply it regularly to a recording head and to remove bubbles generated in the tubes, etc., as well as anything that may clog nozzles.
  • Fig. 16 is a view illustrating the concept of an embodiment according to the present invention.
  • an ink cartridge cam prises recording head 38, ink pump 76, ink tank 86, wast ink absorber 96, and air duct 87 which is called breezer.
  • ink pump 76 is actuated in a state where cap 41 is closely contacted with the recording head (a state shown in Fig. 13 where projection 41a in cap 41 is in contact with nozzle section 38a of recording head 38) to circulate ink from ink cartridge 86 in the direction indicated by arrow E, so that the inside of the tubes including the inside of the recording head is filled with ink. At this time, some ink is flown out to cap 41, but it is returned to ink cartridge 86 through waste ink tube 45 and collected to built-in ink absorber 96.
  • recording head 38 is ready to discharge ink.
  • the ink pump used in the present embodiment is a pump which does not close the flow passage when the pump is at rest. Therefore, the ink supply at the time of discharging is carried out from both front and rear head ink couplers 38d and 38e.
  • Breezer 87 functions as an air duct for this purpose.
  • check valves capable of being opened by an extremely small difference in pressures are respectively arranged in both directions. Therefore, the valves function if a slight pressure, either negative or positive, is generated in the tank, and operate as air holes substantially.
  • the valves are also arranged to control dust intrusion and evaporation.
  • a reference numeral 92 designates a no-ink detector for detecting no-ink condition in tank 94.
  • the detection is carried out in a manner given below.
  • sensor 88 is arranged for detecting a light interruption.
  • the recovery operation is an action to remove bubbles and cloggings which bender the normal discharging, and is performed in accordance with the recovery sequence, which will be described later, controlled by the recovery system.
  • the recovery operation is exactly the same as the initial ink supply operation.
  • ink pump 76 is actuated while cap 41 is in contact with recording head 38 (the current state is illustrated in Fig. 13) to circulate ink in the direction indicated by arrow A, so that bubbles are collected into the ink tank to release them to the outside through the breezer.
  • the contacting condition between projection 41a in cap 41 and nozzle 38a is released to drive the pump for the removal of any clogging in the nozzle.
  • pressurized ink is flown into float chamber 90.
  • float 89 is raised to closely contact with upper face of float chamber 90 to cover the passage to breezer 87. Therefor, no ink is flown into breezer 87.
  • Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing the construction of supply and recovery systems, in which the structure of the present embodiment is actually employed.
  • a reference numeral 73 designates the base of this unit which also functions as a base for installing ink cartridge 86, which will be described later.
  • a reference numeral 74 designates a member called joint plate which is formed by fixing each of various passage couplers.
  • cartridge guide 78 for positioning ink cartridge 86, cartridge joints 79a, 79b, and 79c for connecting tubes to release air, waste ink joint 81 for guiding waste ink produced at the time of recording to waste ink absorber 96 built in ink cartridge 86 through waste ink tank, air joint 80 for connecting the breezer for releasing air with air tube 83, first and second supply tube joints 84 and 85 for connecting first and second ink supply tubes 71 and 72 with ink pump 76 which is driven by pump motor 77.
  • ink joint 79 connected to ink tank 94 accommodated in ink cartridge 79a provides three functional sections intensively, first ink supply section 79a, second ink supply section 79b, and air passage connecting section 79c, and with its structure, enables first ink supply inlet 95a, second ink supply inlet 75b and air inlet 95c to be coupled altogether, which are operationally related to the function of ink tank 94.
  • the air passage section leading to the ink tank is formed by joints, thereby making it possible to construct the ink tank with hard resin material to reserve a large quantity of ink without employing ink bags.
  • an ink circulation passage is formed to perform ink supply from both of the ink supply regions at the time of recording and to circulate ink from the ink tank through the passage with the pump inbetween, and to circulate ink from the recording head to the ink tank again at the time of initial ink filling and recovery operation.
  • the passage is formed by directly joining the tank and the supply passage, and further the air passage as described earlier, it becomes possible to eliminate, in spite of the ink tank being made of hard plastic resin, such function as a sub-tank which has conventionally been indespensable for a stable ink supply.
  • these members are separately fixed to joint board 74, but the structure may also be such that these members are integrally formed with the joint board.
  • flow passage board 75 is coupled with flow passage gloove 75a which functions as ink flow passage. In this portion, most of the ink flow passage pipings and connections are installed.
  • joint section 79 which is annexed to joint board 74 connected to ink tank 94, it becomes possible to provide a structure thereby eliminating the operation related to ink passage 75a in that particular portion.
  • a part of ink passage from ink tank 94 to the recording head can be formed only by coupling to the reverse side of joint board 79 the flow passage plate 75 which constitutes a flow passage.
  • ink tank 94 built in ink cartridge 86 is flexibly accommodated in housings 93a and 93b which constitute the cartridge 86.
  • ink passage from the ink tank without complicated piping arrangements simply by coupling joint board 74 and flow passage plate 75 to form the required flow passage.
  • ink cartridge 86 there are accommodated in ink cartridge 86, the common housings 93a and 93b made of material having a good impact resistance, ink tank 94 made of resin having a good property against fluid and waste ink absorber 96 made of a water absorptive material having an excellent ink absorptive property such as felt or porous material.
  • the ink supply and air releasing are performed by connecting these members with cartridge 79 on the side of joint plate 74 through joint section 95.
  • the entire ink cartridge 86 is structured to be detachably installed as a whole on base 73 provided on the side of the apparatus.
  • Figs. 19A and 19B illustrate the structure of this part further in detail.
  • Fig. 19A is a partially cutaway cross-sectional side view showing the principal parts of ink cartridge main body 86.
  • Fig. 19B is a partially cutaway cross-sectional view showing joint section 95 connected to the cartridge joint of the ink supply system.
  • metal ball 99 is provided in joint section 95 to press it against joint opening 95a by the compression of spring 98.
  • metal ball 99 is closely in contact with shealing rubber 101 to close the opening 95a of the joint section.
  • ink tank has sloped surfaces or slants 94a, 94b at its bottom.
  • slant 94a for gathering ink flow into joint section 95 from behind
  • slant 94b for gathering ink flow into joint section 95 from the side of ink tank 94.
  • Ink is supplied to the ink supply system through guiding tube 100 which is bent to be opened at the lowest bottom of the ink tank.
  • a bottom support 93b supports the rear portion of the sloped surface 94a of the ink tank 94.
  • ink tank 94 is held in housings 93a and 93b as shown in Fig. 20 with space 97 to allow the ink tank to move freely in an appropriate amount.
  • ink tank 94 with spaces 97 (in this embodiment, for example about 1.0 mm) and spaces 97a (for example, about 1.0 - 2.0 mm) provided for both ends of ink tank 94 and by waste ink absorber 96 which is soft like felt.
  • a projection 93d supports a front bottom of the ink tank 94.
  • the joints 95a, 95b and 95c of the ink tank are provided about 0.5 mm lower with respect to the body joints 79a, 79b and 79c so that the ink tank 94 is connected to the body joints in a state which it floats about 0.5 mm to the body joints. Furthermore, in order to prevent any abnormal sound generated by the movement of ink tank 94 by vibrating impact, etc. or breakage of housing as well as to effectively utilize space, the central part of waste ink absorber 96 is removed as shown in Fig. 18 to allow the lowest bottom ink tank 94 to be fitted into the removed part, so that the ink tank is held by the remaining portion of circumference.
  • Fig. 22 is a flowchart showing this operation.
  • Figs. 23A through 23D are schematic views showing the system in operation.
  • a unit comprising recording head 38, head arms, etc. is defined as head unit 65
  • another unit comprising cap 41, wipers 50 and 52, recovery frame 60, etc. is defined as cap unit 65.
  • Head unit 65 is rotatable with head shaft 36 as its rotating center while cap unit 64 is rotatable with recovery frame shaft 55 as its rotating center.
  • the sequence of recovery operation will be described.
  • cap unit 64 descends (this state is referred to as retracted position) (S22-3), and further head unit 65 is rotated as indicated by arrow G in Fig. 23B while cap unit 64 is rotated as indicated by arrow H in Fig. 23B to be in the wiping starting position (S22-4). Subsequently, head unit 65 is rotated as indicated by arrow I in Fig. 23C to clean off ink droplets, dusts, etc. on discharging port face 38b of the recording head with wipers 50 and 52 arranged in cap unit 64 (S22-5).
  • FIG. 23C illustrates the state as indicated by arrow I where discharging port face 38b of the recording head is passing a first wiper, there are two wipers provided in the present embodiment. Therefore, when the cleaning off by a second wiper is terminated, cap unit 64 again descends to the retracted position as indicated by arrow J in Fig. 23D, and head unit 65 returns to the home position (S22-7). Then, finally, cap unit 64 ascends to the normal standby state as shown in Fig. 1 (S22-8) to complete the recovery operation.
  • the cleaning in the present embodiment will additionally be described.
  • the recording head employed for the present embodiment has discharging ports formed across the entire recording width of recording medium, i.e., the so-called full line type as described earlier.
  • a discharging port face is extremely elongated as in the present embodiment, a sufficient cleaning cannot be performed with the use of one blade just for a one-time wiping. This is due to the difficulty in applying pressure by a blade equally all over the discharging port face, which is now too long for such a cleaning.
  • blade 50 and 52 are employed to clean off the discharging port face sequentially to obtain reliability in cleaning action.
  • the cleaning time can be shortened as compared with the case where a cleaning action is taken twice with one blade.
  • the size of blade 50 which contacts the recording head first differs from the size of blade 52 which contacts it subsequently.
  • the recording head rotates with head shaft 36 as its rotating center, and in order to place the leading end of the blade to be in contact with the discharging port face within the path of the recording head to move, it is necessary to define the length of each blade accordingly. Therefore, it is also possible to perform the required cleaning by driving the cap unit following the rotational movement of the recording head while making the length of each blades 50 and 52 the same or making the relational length of each of them reversed.
  • each of plural blades contacting the rotating head 38 it is possible to vary the length l of the leading end of the blade contacting the discharging port face 38c of the head and/or the contacting degree ⁇ 0 of each blade (Fig. 23E). Hence, it is possible to vary the force and area of each blade with which to contact discharging port face 38c to control possible splashing of adhered ink and dust on discharging port face 38c to the surrounding area at the time of cleaning off.
  • each blade against discharging port face 38c is made greater sequentially following the order in which each of the blades are in contact with discharging port face 38c of the head, it becomes possible to allow the first blades to contact discharging port face 38c lightly when there are more ink or dusts adhered thereto, which should be cleaned off and the later blades to contact it sufficiently to clean off the remaining ink and dusts. Consequently, while controlling the possible splashing of ink and dusts adhered to discharging port face 38c to the surrounding area, it is possible to remove them completely.
  • the rest of blades function as protective wall (Fig. 23C) to prevent the ink and dusts removed by the first blade from being splashed to surrounding area of the recovery system and eliminate the causes to stain the recording sheet or to electrically short circuit electronic circuit board.
  • the number of the blades for cleaning it is not necessarily limit the number of the blades for cleaning to two as described above, but more blades can also be employed. Also, although in the present embodiment, the same material is used for both blades 50 and 52, a same material but of different properties or different materials may be used to improve the cleaning effect.
  • the recording is started in a manner given below.
  • a signal to start recording is received by the recording head at a step S24-1, the recording head at this juncture being in the standby state where only the cap covers the discharging port face of the recording head as shown in Fig. 15.
  • the cap unit is retracted to the state in which the recording head and the cap are set apart as shown in Fig. 11, i.e., the retracted position.
  • a preparatory discharging of several ejections to several hundred ejections is effectuated from the entire nozzles of the recording head.
  • the cap unit and head unit are moved at a step S24-4 to constitute a starting condition of wiping action as shown in Fig. 23A.
  • a step S24-5 a series of wiping action is performed as shown in Fig. 23B through 23D, and at a step S24-6, the recording unit is moved further to the recording position as shown in Fig. 1 where such state is held. After that, recording signals are sequentially inputted to carry out recording as desired.
  • bubble sensor 103 for example, a transmitting sensor, etc.
  • bubble sensor 103 is provided to enable detecting bubbles in ink supply tubes. Accordingly, it is possible to perform two different types of recovery operations, i.e., an automatic recovery to be carried out periodically each at a predetermined time, and an occasional recovery to be performed when bubble sensor 103 detects any incidental bubble or bubbles.
  • the occasional recovery becomes possible with the installation of bubble sensor 103, and with this, the incidental non-discharging hitherto experienced can be reduced, thereby making it possible to improve the reliability of the apparatus.
  • bubble sensors 103a and 103b are provided at either sides of up and down streams of ink flow towards the recording head at the time of circulation. Therefore, if no bubbles are detected by both of the bubble sensors, the recovery action is immediately suspended.
  • bubble sensor 103b arranged at the down stream of ink flow at the time of circulation should detect a signal indicating that bubbles have been removed (no bubble presence), the ink pump is stopped after a while (a period required for the detected bubble exhausted to the tank from the current position of the sensor).
  • Fig. 25 is a block diagram showing the recording unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • microcomputer (CPU) 101 controls the operation of the unit in accordance with the program stored in ROM 112 and data stored in RAM 113.
  • Ink jet print head 102 performs recording by control (strobe) signals from CPU after data each for a one-line portion has been received from CPU.
  • control strobe
  • Drivers 103, 104, and 105 for each of pulse motors which will be described later, supply appropriate currents to drive the motors respectively in accordance with step instructions from CPU.
  • Reference numerals 106, 107 and 108 designate respectively a motor (W motor) for conveying recording sheet, a motor (K motor) for transporting head, and a motor (C motor) for transporting cap unit.
  • Head position detecting sensor 109 and cap position detecting sensor 110 detect the positions by means of on-off of microswitches, for example.
  • a reference numeral 111 designates a bubble sensor.
  • a motor (P motor) 115 for driving the ink pump is a DC motor which rotates with on.
  • a driver (transistor circuit) 114 supplies current to turn on the P motor by a signal from CPU.
  • W motor is driven for a required number of steps to convey recording sheet to a predetermined position (S26-2).
  • cap is retracted to the retracted position (S26-4).
  • C motor is driven for a predetermined number of steps, or is continuously driven until the moment sensor 110 detects that cap 41 has moved to the retracted position. Either methods are applicable (hereinafter the movement of head and cap are the same).
  • the so-called empty discharging is performed by transmitting a predetermined number of strobe signals (S26-5) to head 38.
  • head 38 is transported to the recording position.
  • head 38 and wiper (cap unit 64) are transported to the starting position for wiping (S26-6 and S26-7), and by advancing head 38 to the recording position as it is, wiping is terminated (S26-8).
  • cap 41 is returned to the retracted position (S26-9).
  • the recording operation is executed by repeating the transmission of data each for a one-line portion to head 38, the transmission of strobe signals, the recording of the one-line portion (S26-10 and S26-11), and the driving of W motor to convey recording sheet for a one-line portion (S26-12) until the recording of a one-page portion is terminated.
  • W motor is driven to exhaust recording sheet (S26-17) to terminate the recording operation.
  • timer t1 While the apparatus is in the standby state, CPU examines timer t1 in the CPU as well as the bubble sensor. If timer t1 indicates a predetermined time T1 (24 hours, for example), the recovery operation is started (S27-2).
  • the recovery operation is performed as follows: At first, C motor is driven to transport cap 41 to the pressing position (S27-5).
  • P motor on signal is output to rotate P motor (S27-6).
  • cap is transported to the retracted position (S27-12). Subsequently, after transporting head 38 to the starting position for wiping, cap 41 is transported to the wiping position (S27-13 and S27-14), and then wiping is performed (S27-15) by transporting head 38 to the position for terminating wiping (printing position). Cap 41 is again returned to the retracted position (S27-16) and to the capping position after head 38 has been returned to the standby position (S27-17). Then, the apparatus is again in the standby state.
  • the present invention provides means for generating heat energy (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser light, etc.) for the utilization of energy for ink discharging especially for ink jet recording method, and in a recording head and recording apparatus using a method to activate changes in a state of ink by utilizing the aforesaid heat energy, the present invention is particularly effective.
  • heat energy for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser light, etc.
  • this driving signal is made to be a pulse type, the growth and contraction of bubble can be effectuated instantaneously and appropriately, and it should be more preferable to employ such system because with it, a discharging of liquid (ink) having an excellent responsibility can be attained.
  • a driving signal of the pulse type those disclosed in the specifications of, for example, U.S. Patents 4463359 and 4345262 should be suitable. In this respect, if conditions disclosed in the specification of U.S. Patent 4313124 concerning an invention of the ratio of temperature rise on the aforesaid thermal active face are employed, a further excellent recording can be performed.
  • the present invention is effectively applicable to the recording head of a full line type with a length to cover the width of a maximum recording medium which can be recorded by the recording head.
  • a structure in which a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications are combined to meet the requirements of such length or a structure in which one recording head, integrally formed, is adopted may be applicable, but the present invention displays the above-mentioned effects more efficiently.
  • the present invention is effectively applicable to the installation in the main body of an apparatus either in the case of a recording head of chip type which is freely replaceable to enable the electrical connection with the main body of the apparatus or the ink supply from the main body of the apparatus or in the case of a cartridge type recording head which is integrally mounted in the recording head itself.
  • recovery means for the recording head, preparative auxiliary means, etc. which constitute a recording apparatus according to the present invention because such addition makes the effects of the present invention more stable.
  • These means are specifically capping means for recording head, wiping means, pressuring or absorbing means, electrothermal converter, or another heating element or preparative heating means by the combination of these elements, and aside from discharging for regular recording, it is also effective to effectuate a preparatory discharging mode for performing a stable recording.
  • the present invention is extremely effective for a recording apparatus having at least one mode for recoloring with different colors or for full color with mixture of colors by the use of recording heads which are integrally structured into one head or by the combination of plural heads, not to mention the recording mode of principal color such as black, etc. as recording mode for a recording apparatus.
  • the present invention is applicable to the use of ink having the property that the ink becomes fluid only by heat energy such as the one which can be discharged as liquid ink when it becomes fluid by the application of heat energy in response to recording signals or ink already becoming solidified at the time of reaching recording medium by utilizing positively the temperature rise caused by heat energy as energy to change the state of ink from solid to fluid for prevention or by using ink which is solidified when it is left for the purpose of preventing evaporation.
  • ink can be held as liquid or solid state in a concave of porous sheet or through holes as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 54-56847 or Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 60-71260, and is placed against the electrothermal converter in such mode.
  • the performance of the above-mentioned film boiling method is most effective when each of the above-mentioned kinds of ink is employed.
  • the mode of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is such that in addition to facsimile apparatus having receiving and transmitting functions as in the present embodiment, it can be used as image output terminal for information processing apparatus such as computer, etc, copying apparatus combined with reader, etc. or the like.
  • a recording head is used for the recovery operation by circulation with ink supply tubes arranged at both ends respectively, but the present invention is also applicable to a recording head of such type that it has only one ink supply tube and performs recovery operation by suction from the front face of nozzle as a matter of course. It is also possible to reduce manufacturing cost by forming bubble sensor integrally with the constituents of the head.
  • the present invention it is possible to remove ink adhered to orifice face by a plurality of cleaning members, so that ink can be removed completely. It is further possible according to the present invention to remove effectively ink strongly adhered to the orifice face by the plural cleaning members each having different contacting area, contacting angle, and contacting position provided by different sizes of the cleaning members.
  • the ink container relating to three flow paths was explained as a sample, but it is possible to remove any extra backlash by limiting the degree of freedom in a certain direction depending on the construction or number of the flow paths.
  • the engagement of the container with the device is made only with the cylindrical portion at the periphery of the joint portions, but if such cylindrical portion for the engagement is changed in number or shape (for example to a polygonal or elliptic cylinder shape), then it is possible to reduce an extra degree of freedom after the mounting, and improve the stability of the seal for the connecting portion.
  • the above-mentioned embodiment is so constructed that three connections relating to the communicating port to the air, the supplying side to the recording head at the time of the ink circulation and the returning side, respectively are made, but in order to achieve more effectively the removal of the babbles due to the ink circulation by decreasing the flow path resistance, correspondingly to the structure of the recording head, more supplying tubes may be used. At that time, it is possible to divide the supplying side and the returning side to plural ones, respectively, by applying thereto the above-mentioned embodiment.
  • the structure in which the waste ink absorbing body is positioned on the bottom of the ink tank was explained.
  • the soft member positioned at the bottom of the ink tank are used to have the waste ink and mechanical shock absorbing functions, but it is possible to achieve the similar effect to the above even when an additional member with a superior shock absorbing capability, etc. is provided separately to said soft member, or the frame itself is formed with a soft material.
  • the recording head having at its both ends the supplying tubes and carrying out the recovery operation by the circulation is used, but this invention may be applied to a recording head having one supplying tube and of which recovery operation is carried out by suction from the front face of the nozzle. Also, it is possible to decrease the cost by forming both of the babble sensor and the recording head in a body.
  • the ink jet recording apparatus is provided in which easy registration in position of the joint portion of the ink supplying side to the joint portion of the cartridge side is accomplished so that the ink cartridge is surely mounted.
  • the ink jet recording apparatus which has the reliable joint portions from which any ink leakage due to vibration or shock does not occurred.
  • three connections for the paths for supplying ink at the time of the circulation, the returning path and the communicating port to the air are used detachably between the ink tank side and the joint sides, and thus, it is possible to provide the ink supplying device which is voluminous, and strong in vibration and shock and which has no use for the sub-tank.
  • the ink jet recording apparatus having the ink supplying device which is low-priced, compact and moreover highly reliable. Also, in the above-mentioned embodiments, by not only holding the ink tank at its periphery with a soft member and but also using such soft member as the waste ink absorbing body, it is possible to achieve an ink cartridge which is strong in vibration and shock, which can use effectively the space and which is compact and low-priced. In this connection, it is also possible to provide the ink jet recording apparatus which is miniaturized and has its decreased running cost and improved reliability.
  • an ink jet recording apparatus in which by controlling the operation of the ink pump using the means for sensing a babble in the ink supplying paths, the recovery operation can be reduced in frequency and time to minimum necessary values, the volume of waste ink can be decreased and the number of the recording papers which are recorded with a predetermined amount of ink can be increased, and thus, its running cost can be reduced.
  • An ink cartridge adapted to be loaded detachably to an ink jet recording apparatus for preforming a recording on a recording medium by discharging ink comprises an ink tank for accommodating ink therein, leading-out means for leading out ink within said ink tank to the outside, said leading-out means being provided on said ink tank, and a frame for supporting displaceably said ink tank on which said leading-out means is provided.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP19910102045 1990-02-13 1991-02-13 Dispositif d'alimentation en encre et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre utilisant un même dispositif Expired - Lifetime EP0442485B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP95110640A EP0684139B1 (fr) 1990-02-13 1991-02-13 Dispositif d'alimentation en encre et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre utilisant un même dispositif

Applications Claiming Priority (10)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3170490A JPH03234653A (ja) 1990-02-13 1990-02-13 インクジェット記録装置
JP31731/90 1990-02-13
JP3173590A JPH03234665A (ja) 1990-02-13 1990-02-13 インクカートリッジ及び該カートリッジが装着されるインクジェット記録装置
JP31715/90 1990-02-13
JP3173190A JPH03234658A (ja) 1990-02-13 1990-02-13 インクジェット記録装置
JP31704/90 1990-02-13
JP31735/90 1990-02-13
JP2031715A JPH03234655A (ja) 1990-02-13 1990-02-13 インク供給装置及び該インク供給装置を搭載したインクジェット記録装置
JP19939/91U 1991-02-13
JP1993991A JPH04211972A (ja) 1990-02-13 1991-02-13 記録装置

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95110640.0 Division-Into 1991-02-13
EP95110640A Division EP0684139B1 (fr) 1990-02-13 1991-02-13 Dispositif d'alimentation en encre et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre utilisant un même dispositif

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0442485A2 true EP0442485A2 (fr) 1991-08-21
EP0442485A3 EP0442485A3 (en) 1991-10-23
EP0442485B1 EP0442485B1 (fr) 1996-10-09

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EP95110640A Expired - Lifetime EP0684139B1 (fr) 1990-02-13 1991-02-13 Dispositif d'alimentation en encre et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre utilisant un même dispositif
EP19910102045 Expired - Lifetime EP0442485B1 (fr) 1990-02-13 1991-02-13 Dispositif d'alimentation en encre et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre utilisant un même dispositif

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95110640A Expired - Lifetime EP0684139B1 (fr) 1990-02-13 1991-02-13 Dispositif d'alimentation en encre et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre utilisant un même dispositif

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EP (2) EP0684139B1 (fr)
DE (2) DE69130429T2 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4425694A1 (de) * 1993-10-20 1995-05-04 Lasermaster Corp Kontinuierliches Tintennachfüllsystem für Tintenstrahlpatronen sowie Tintenstrahlpatronen und Tintenvorratsbehälter für ein solches System
US5523780A (en) * 1992-06-24 1996-06-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus and ink cartridge mountable on said apparatus
DE19849567A1 (de) * 1998-10-27 2000-05-04 Tally Computerdrucker Gmbh Tintendrucker mit einer Wechselkartusche für Tintenflüssigkeit

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US5844580A (en) * 1995-12-04 1998-12-01 Hewlett Packard Co Ink container configured for use with a printing device having an out-of-ink sensing system
US5844579A (en) * 1995-12-04 1998-12-01 Hewlett-Packard Company Out-of-ink sensing system for an ink-jet printer
EP0997286B1 (fr) * 1996-12-24 2002-10-30 Seiko Epson Corporation Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre
JP3428893B2 (ja) * 1997-02-19 2003-07-22 キヤノン株式会社 インクジェット記録装置およびインクジェット記録ヘッドの回復方法
EP0913262A1 (fr) * 1997-10-31 1999-05-06 Hewlett-Packard Company Système de nettoyage avec balais d'essuyage larges et étroits pour têtes d'impression par jet d'encre

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EP0320165A1 (fr) * 1987-12-03 1989-06-14 Hewlett-Packard Company Dispositif d'écriture par jet d'encre muni d'un réservoir d'encre et de moyens de distribution

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JPS54139530A (en) * 1978-04-20 1979-10-30 Ricoh Co Ltd Abnormal state detector of ink jet recorder
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DE3316969A1 (de) * 1982-05-10 1983-11-10 Canon K.K., Tokyo Tintenspeicher
DE3420050A1 (de) * 1983-05-30 1984-12-06 Canon K.K., Tokio/Tokyo Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung
EP0320165A1 (fr) * 1987-12-03 1989-06-14 Hewlett-Packard Company Dispositif d'écriture par jet d'encre muni d'un réservoir d'encre et de moyens de distribution

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Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5523780A (en) * 1992-06-24 1996-06-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus and ink cartridge mountable on said apparatus
DE4425694A1 (de) * 1993-10-20 1995-05-04 Lasermaster Corp Kontinuierliches Tintennachfüllsystem für Tintenstrahlpatronen sowie Tintenstrahlpatronen und Tintenvorratsbehälter für ein solches System
DE4425694C2 (de) * 1993-10-20 1998-12-17 Colorspan Corp Kontinuierliches Tintennachfüllsystem für Tintenstrahlpatronen
US5877793A (en) * 1993-10-20 1999-03-02 Colorspan Corporation Automatic ink refill system for disposable ink jet cartridges
US6164766A (en) * 1993-10-20 2000-12-26 Colorspan Corporation Automatic ink refill system for disposable ink jet cartridges
DE19849567A1 (de) * 1998-10-27 2000-05-04 Tally Computerdrucker Gmbh Tintendrucker mit einer Wechselkartusche für Tintenflüssigkeit
DE19849567B4 (de) * 1998-10-27 2004-02-12 Tally Computerdrucker Gmbh Tintendrucker mit einer Wechselkartusche für Tintenflüssigkeit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69122523D1 (de) 1996-11-14
DE69130429D1 (de) 1998-12-03
EP0684139B1 (fr) 1998-10-28
DE69130429T2 (de) 1999-05-27
EP0442485A3 (en) 1991-10-23
EP0442485B1 (fr) 1996-10-09
DE69122523T2 (de) 1997-02-27
EP0684139A1 (fr) 1995-11-29

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