EP0451846B1 - Kappe für Rückgewinnungsgerät und Verfahren zur Rückgewinnung mittels Unterdruck - Google Patents

Kappe für Rückgewinnungsgerät und Verfahren zur Rückgewinnung mittels Unterdruck Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0451846B1
EP0451846B1 EP19910105793 EP91105793A EP0451846B1 EP 0451846 B1 EP0451846 B1 EP 0451846B1 EP 19910105793 EP19910105793 EP 19910105793 EP 91105793 A EP91105793 A EP 91105793A EP 0451846 B1 EP0451846 B1 EP 0451846B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cap
ink
suction
face
recording
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19910105793
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0451846A3 (en
EP0451846A2 (de
Inventor
Hitoshi Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Sugimoto
Hirofumi Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Hirano
Yoji Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ara
Masaharu Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ikado
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 JP2095976A external-priority patent/JP2814289B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP20871690A external-priority patent/JP2806609B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2208717A external-priority patent/JP2806610B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2208718A external-priority patent/JP2806611B2/ja
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Publication of EP0451846A2 publication Critical patent/EP0451846A2/de
Publication of EP0451846A3 publication Critical patent/EP0451846A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0451846B1 publication Critical patent/EP0451846B1/de
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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16505—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
    • B41J2/16508—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out connected with the printer frame

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cap member for a recovery device and a suction recovery method according to the preambles of claims 1 and 9, respectively.
  • the recording apparatus for recording onto a recording medium such as a paper or OHP sheet (thereafter referred to as a recording sheet or simply as a paper) has been proposed in the form in which the recording head is mounted in accordance with any of various recording methods.
  • the recording head is one in accordance with any of wire-dot, thermal, thermal imprint and ink jet recording methods.
  • the ink jet recording method is one in which the ink is directly discharged onto a recording sheet, and has been noted by virtue of its inexpensive running cost and quiet recording method.
  • a generic cap member and suction recovery method is known from the JP-A-61 277 456. Its subject matter shows a cap for covering a discharge port formation face of recording head and a pump for exerting the suction force to the cap in communication therewith. Removal of improper discharge factors is accomplished in such a way of discharging ink by driving energy generation elements for discharging ink which are located inwardly of discharge ports, with the cap being opposed to the discharge port formation face, or forcedly discharging ink by suction through the discharge ports with the exertion of suction force, with the discharge port formation face being covered by the cap.
  • the present invention is to find out and resolve new technical problems in the aforementioned suction recovery device.
  • Residual ink within the cap is apparently undesirable because it may leak out into the interior of apparatus for some reason, or stiffen within the cap to degrade the performance of cap remarkably.
  • the equalizing mechanism had following problems.
  • a constitution in which the cap member made of at least an elastic body is contacted with or directly supported by the support member was used excellently during early service period, because an ink exhaust passge of elastic cap member and an ink guide passage of support member are communicated each other.
  • observation of product condition indicated that a slight amount of ink leakage had occurred in the contact area as above described. This occurred even though sufficient measures had been considered in the design stage.
  • a reliable ink jet recording apparatus with a suction recovery device for sucking waste ink smoothly is provided.
  • the cap member is adequately constructed so that received ink may not remain within cap. This is guaranteed independent from the attitude the cap or apparatus is used.
  • the waste ink produced during the recovery operation or received within suction recovery device in said operation can be surely introduced into a waste ink tank.
  • the ink within cap can be all removed surely after the suction recovery operation, and contamination on discharge port face due to residual ink or dusts such as paper dust accumulated within cap can be eliminated.
  • the cap can contact with/separate from a face formed with discharge ports of recording head having discharge ports for recording by discharging the ink, and a suction system performs the suction processing through said discharge ports via said cap, wherein an ink communication member for communicating to said suction system of said cap is formed of an elastic member integrally therewith.
  • the cap has further a groove portion for guiding ink associated with a suction port provided on its inner wall face to perform said suction.
  • a suction pump is capable of making the ink discharge condition more excellent by sucking the ink through discharge ports of recording head for recording by discharging ink through said discharge ports, wherein said suction pump has a cylinder and a piston reciprocating within said cylinder, and having disposed absorbing member on an ink exhaust portion within said cylinder.
  • Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing one example of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a main portion of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1, with a cover removed.
  • Fig. 3A is a perspective view mainly showing a paper exhaust system of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3B is a side view of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 3A.
  • Figs. 4A and 4B are side views showing one example of a recording head corresponding to recording sheets, respectively.
  • Figs. 5A and 5B are rear views showing one example of a recording head at a home position in correspondence with recording sheets, respectively.
  • Fig. 6 is a partly broken perspective view showing one example of the engagement state of a base having mounted a recovery mechanism with a chassis.
  • Figs. 7A-7C are partial perspective views showing one example of a blade and an ink carrier unit for recording head.
  • Figs. 8A and 8B are an exploded perspective view showing one example of a recovery system for recording head and a cross-sectional view of a cap unit and its peripheral portion, respectively.
  • Figs. 8C and 8D are an upper view and a side view showing the equalizing state of cap, respectively.
  • Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a suction pump and its peripheral portion in a suction circuit system according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 10 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of each portion according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing one example of a clutch mechanism for transmitting the driving force to recovery system.
  • Figs. 12A-12C are side views showing the engagement state of a clutch gear and a hook with a timing gear in the clutch mechanism as shown in Fig. 11.
  • Figs. 13A and 13B are front views similar to Fig. 12.
  • Figs. 14A-14D are side views for explaining sequential operations of a blade and an ink carrier unit.
  • Figs. 15A-15C are side views for explaining sequential operations of a cap unit.
  • Figs. 16A and 16B are side cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of a pump for performing the suction recovery.
  • Fig. 17 is a timing chart for explaining the sequence during predischarge and suction recovery according to the present invention.
  • Figs. 18A and 18B are side views showing one example of a pressing mechanism for paper presser plate.
  • Fig. 19 is a perspective view shoing one example of a supporting state for spur in a paper exhaust system.
  • Fig. 20 is a front view showing one example of a paper exhaust roller.
  • Fig. 21 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the service condition for the apparatus according to the example of the present invention.
  • Fig. 22 is a side cross-sectional view of the state as shown in Fig. 21.
  • Fig. 23A and 23B are a cross-sectional view and a perspective view showing one example of constitution for grounding a paper feed roller.
  • Figs. 24A and 24B are perspective views for explaining the ink residual state taking place in a cap according to a conventional constitution.
  • Fig. 24C is an explanation view for the effects in using a cap according to an example of the present invention.
  • Fig. 25 is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view showing one example of another conventional head cap.
  • Fig. 26 is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a further constitutional example of conventional head cap.
  • Fig. 27 is a typical perspective view showing one example of a head cap not according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 28 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view as shown in Fig. 27.
  • Fig. 29 is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an ink exhaust state within a head cap as shown in Fig. 27.
  • Fig. 30 is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 29 when the ink is discharged downward with the attitude of apparatus changed.
  • Fig. 31 is a typical perspective view showing another example of a head cap not according to the present invention.
  • Figs. 32A-32C are cross-sectional views showing other three examples of a pump in a suction circuit system.
  • Fig. 33 is a typical perspective view showing another example of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 34 is an external perspective view showing a vertical service condition of the ink jet recording as shown in Fig. 25.
  • Fig. 35 is an external perspective view showing a horizontal service condition of the ink jet recording apparatus as shown in Fig. 34.
  • Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus in accordance with one example of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main portion of apparatus as shown in Fig. 1, with a case removed
  • Figs. 3A and 3B are views mainly showing a paper exhaust system of apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.
  • 100 is an ink jet recording apparatus, in which the apparatus 100 is placed as shown in the same figure, or vertically placed as will be described later, during use, and is of a comparatively small size.
  • 101 is an apparatus housing, 102 is an outer cover, and 103 is an inner cover; when not used, the outer cover 102 is overlapped on the inner cover 103 so that the apparatus 100 is made compact.
  • an user can transport the recording apparatus, for example, by containing it in a special bag.
  • the outer cover 102 can be also used as a paper feed guide for a recording sheet 40 as shown in the figure, in which 106 as indicated in the figure becomes a paper feed opening. Further, the outer cover 102 is also used as a paper exhaust tray as will be described later.
  • 105 is a position fixing hook for upper cover 102, and 104 is the operation key and display section.
  • Fig. 2 1 is a chassis, backward of which are stood a left-hand plate 1a and a right-hand plate 1b which also serve as the guide for a recording medium such as a paper.
  • the chassis 1 is provided with a motor mounting hole for rotatably supporting a carrier motor as will be described, but not shown.
  • 1h is a lead arm for rotatably supporting a lead screw as will be described in the axial and radial directions, and supported in a bearing portion (not shown).
  • a position groove 3b for setting the position of capping and discharge recovery is formed around the periphery of cross section perpendicular to a screw axis.
  • the lead groove 2a and the position groove 3b are smoothly continued via an introduction groove 3c.
  • a shank 2g is provided on a right end portion of the lead screw 2, and a shank is also provided on its left end portion, in which the shanks are fitted into bearing portions provided on a front side plate 1c and the lead arm 1b, respectively, and rotatably supported therein.
  • 3 is a lead pulley provided on the shaft of lead screw 2 and including the grooves 3b, 3c as above described, on an end portion of which is provided a pulley 3a. And the driving force is transmitted to the pulley 3a via a timing belt 13 from motor 11.
  • the shank 2g on right end portion of lead screw 2 engages slidably into a lateral slot of guide plate 1c connecting with a right side plate 1b of chassis and the chassis 1, and biased in a thrust direction by a presser portion 10a of leaf spring 10, and further engages into a cam groove of cam groove plate 50a rotatably supported in an axle provided on the guide plate 1c.
  • mating teeth are formed, in which its engagement with a ratchet pawl 10c of leaf spring 10 allows the cam groove plate 50a to be stopped at a predetermined position.
  • the shank 2g engaging into the cam groove has its position fixed with respect to the lateral slot of guide plate 1c, and therefore, the position on the right end portion of the apparatus.
  • This construction is used for the adjustment of recording head and platen as will be described later.
  • 4 is a clutch gear supported slidably in the axial direction to the lead pulley 3, and engaged by a key provided on the lead pulley 3, as will be described, in the rotational direction, so as to transmit the rotation force of lead screw 2.
  • 5 is a clutch spring, which is a compression spring urging the clutch gear 4 in the direction of lead groove. Note that member for restraining the clutch gear 4 within a predetermined range in the axial direction is formed between the clutch gear 4 and the lead pulley 3.
  • 6 is a carrier slidingly mounted on the lead screw 2.
  • 6a is a presser portion for pressing an end face of the clutch gear 4 and formed integrally on a left side of carrier.
  • 7 is a lead pin engaging the lead groove 2a of lead screw 2 and guided in a guide hole (not shown) of carrier 6 with respect to the direction of pressing.
  • 8 is a lead pin spring with its one end attached to the carrier 6, and the other end pressing on the lead pin 7.
  • a recording head 9 is a recording head mounted on the carrier 6, in this example, in the form of a cartridge type made detachable by integrating a head element 9a for discharging ink and an ink tank 9b which is an ink supply source, i.e., a disposable type which is exchangeable when ink is used up.
  • discharge energy generation elements for acting the discharge energy onto the ink disposed in the head element 9a electricity-heat or electromechanical converters are used, and preferably, the former is used because higher density packaging is possible and manufacturing process is simple.
  • 6c is a hook secured to one portion of carrier 6 and used to stop stably in place such as a capping position of recording head 9 during the movement of carrier 6, as will be described later.
  • the guide shaft 51 is a carrier guide shaft slidably engaged by a guide pin 6b provided on a rear end portion of carrier 6.
  • the guide shaft 51 has an eccentric shaft 51a, as will be described later, which is rotatably carried by side plates 51b, 51c provided on end portions of chassis 1. Further, the end portion of shaft 51a carried by side plate 51c is fixed to a positioning knob 51d, and the engagement of projection on the knob 51d into a hole 51e on side plate 51c permits the rotation position.
  • the above constitution is intended to make appropriate the clearance between a recording plane of recording sheet 40 and discharge ports of head element 9a. That is, by rotating the knob 51d manually, the shaft 51 can be fixed to a position where the distance between the shaft 51a and the pin 6b is minimum, as shown in Fig. 4A, or a position where that distance is maximum, as shown in Fig. 4B.
  • the recording head 9 is rotated around a rotation axis of lead screw 2, and fixed to a position (Fig. 4A) corresponding to plain paper in which recording sheet 40 is comparatively thin, or a position (Fig. 4B) spaced in large clearance corresponding to comparatively thick recording sheet such as an envelope.
  • the above constitution is one corresponding to recording sheet during recording. That is, in the suction recovery processing, the recording head 9 is moved to a position for recovery processing as shown to the left in Fig. 2. At this time, the recording head 9 and the recovery system must be always placed in a predetermined positional relation. Accordingly, during the suction recovery processing, the recovery head 9 is required to take a predetermined position, irrespective of the position as shown in Fig. 4A or 4B. Such a constitution is shown in Figs. 5A and 5B.
  • Figs. 5A and 5B show views corresponding to those of Figs. 4A and 4B, respectively.
  • the rotation fixed position of recording head 9 is not limited to two positions as above mentioned, but may take fixed intermediate position to cope with recording sheet of various thicknesses. In this case, engageable positions between the projection of knob 51d and the hole 51e of side plate 51c are needed to increase.
  • knob 51d is not limited to manual operation, but the knob 51d may be rotated using the driving force of a paper feed motor or the like, in accordance with the key input corresponding to recording sheet for use, for example.
  • 11 is a carrier motor consisting of a pulse motor, for example, on front and rear faces of which rotation pins 11a (that on rear side is not shown) are provided in lower portions in alignment therewith, and fitted for free rotation into motor mounting holes provided on a recovery system base 50 movable on the chassis 1. It is of course sufficient that the rotation pins are provided on the recovery system base 50 and the mounting holes are provided on the motor. And the carrier motor 11 is mounted for rotation around the rotation pins 11a.
  • 11b is a spring shoe formed integrally with the carrier motor 11, and stood parallel to motor shaft for receiving a motor spring as will be described later. And the spring shoe is formed with a cylindrical projection to which an end portion of coiled motor spring 14 is fixed.
  • the motor spring 14 is a compression spring in the constitution of this example, which is attached between one end of lead arm 1h and the spring shoe 11b of carrier motor 11, thereby urging the carrier motor 11 in the direction of arrow A as indicated in the figure, and giving a tensile force to the timing belt 13.
  • 15 is a set shaft to which means for cleaning discharge port face stood on a side plate, not shown, fixed to the base 50, the cap and a so-called recovery mechanism involved in the suction recovery are mounted.
  • the positional relation between the recovery mechanism and the recovery head 9 is important.
  • the positional relation, the positional relation with respect to the discharge port face is important, and the spacing between the cap and the discharge port face is important to make excellent the capping function of discharge port face. Accordingly, the positional relation between the recovery mechanism and the recording head 9 is desirably maintained constant at all times.
  • the recording head 9 performs the recording while moving along the lead screw 2 by transmitting its driving force via the lead screw 2.
  • the distance between recording sheet 40 and the discharge ports of recording head 9 is desirably equal in any position of movement. Accordingly, an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance of the recording head 9 to recording sheet can be provided to let the recording head to move parallel to recording sheet, but this adjustment may destroy a certain positional relation with respect to the recovery system as above described.
  • the recovery system base 50 on which the carrier motor 11 and recovery mechanism as will be described are provided is made movable with respect to the chassis 1.
  • the position of lead screw 2 can be adjusted on both end portions using the movement of the base 50 and the adjustment of cam groove plate 50a as previously described, so that the recording head 9 can move parallel to recording sheet 40.
  • the detail of mechanism in the base 50 for such purpose is shown in Fig. 6.
  • Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of recovery system base 50 looked from the direction opposite to that of Fig. 2.
  • 50e is a guide groove member fixed to a side face of groove provided on a back side of the base 50, wherein the engagement of a groove of the member 50e with a guide portion of hook-type guide member 1k can restrain the moving direction of the base 50, and prevent the lifting of base 50 from the chassis 1.
  • the above cam can be constituted such that the cam plate is rotated around a predetermined shaft by operating the shaft engageable with a predetermined cam groove formed on the cam plate.
  • the carrier motor 11 and the driving system for driving the motor 11, i.e., timing belt 13, pulley 3, 12, lead screw 2, and the recovery mechanism mounted on the base 50 move so as to adjust the one end position of lead screw 2.
  • the lead screw 2 can be made parallel to recording sheet, and accordingly, the recording head can move parallel to recording sheet.
  • this adjustment is carried out by assembler robot in a manufacturing process for recording apparatus, whereas this adjustment can be made in the user side, for example, in the repair after long-term service of apparatus.
  • 16 is a blade lever (see Fig. 7A), a boss portion 16a of which is rotatably mounted on a set shaft 15.
  • 16b is an arm portion and 16c is a hook portion.
  • 17 is a blade for wiping over the discharge port formation face, and formed of an elastic member such as silicone rubber or chloroprene (CR) rubber.
  • 18 is a blade shaft for clamping the blade 17 on central portion parallel to the rotation axis, and rotatably attached to the blade lever 16.
  • 18a is a rotation tab integrally formed with the blade shaft 18.
  • 19 is an ink carrier formed of hydrophilic porous material (plastic sintered body, urethane foams) and secured to the blade lever 16. Note that the blade 17 and the ink carrier 19 are disposed at places where they are overlapped by cap as will be described later.
  • 20 is a set lever rotatably mounted on the set shaft 15.
  • 20a, 20b are stop teeth provided on the set lever
  • 20c is a start tooth
  • 20d is a rotation tooth, the tooth thickness of start tooth 20c being about one half that of other teeth.
  • 20e is an arm portion, including a set plane 20f and a reset plane 20g formed by cutting away its part in a direction of plate thickness, to which the rotation tab 18a of the blade shaft 18 mounted on the blade lever 16 is fitted for the driving.
  • the timing gear 21 is formed with a stop cam 21a for engaging the stop teeth 20a, 20b of set lever 20 on a part of its external periphery, as shown in Fig. 7B. Also, three types of driving teeth 21b 1 , 21b 2 , 21b 3 , partially omitted, are formed, and further, a cap cam 21c for swinging cap lever as will be described later is formed. In addition, a piston set cam 21f for pressing a piston of pump as will be described later is formed as a face cam, and a piston reset cam 21g is integrally formed corresponding to the piston set cam 21f and spaced by a predetermined distance.
  • ink absorbing spring 22 is an ink absorbing spring fixed to a predetermined position of base 50, and having an absorbing member holding portion 22a and a spring portion 22b for rotating the pump as will be described later, as shown in Fig. 7C.
  • 23 is an ink absorbing member formed of a hydrophilic porous material like the ink carrier 19 as previously described.
  • the ink absorbing member 23 is formed with a wipe-over portion 23a with which the blade 17 as previously described is brought into contact, and an absorbing face 23b contacted by the ink carrier 19 to pass and receive ink in a lower portion thereof.
  • the absorbing member holding portion of ink absorbing member spring 22 is urged upward with a slight elasticity, and stopped at a predetermined position by a stopper, not shown. Therefore, when the ink carrier 19 as previously mentioned is contacted, the ink absorbing member 23 is displaced downward by the flexing of ink absorbing member spring 22 so as to secure the contact state.
  • 24 is a cylinder having a cylindrical cylinder section 24a, a piston absorbing member 241 as will described later, and a cylinder flow passage 24b for carrying a flow passage absorbing member 242, wherein a portion into which the flow passage absorbing member 242 as will be described is fitted has partially formed a projection 24c extending in the axial direction so as to provide a void in the axial direction between an external periphery of flow passage absorbing member and a bore of cylinder flow passage.
  • 24d is a cap lever carrier formed to be fitted thereinto by a lever seal, as will be described.
  • 24e is an ink flow passage which opens at a predetermined position within the cylinder 24a.
  • 24f is a rotation lever formed integrally with the cylinder 24, and having the rotation force applied by a spring portion 22b of ink absorbing member spring 22 as previously described. Note that an extension spring may be also used to apply the rotation force.
  • the piston absorbing member 241 is an absorbing member provided on an ink exhaust portion within the cylinder on the right hand of piston as shown in Fig. 9, wherein it is formed of a hydrophilic porous material (sintered compact from fine grains of polyolefine, or urethane foams) and fitted into the cylinder flow passage 24b of cylinder 24 as previously described.
  • This piston absorbing member 241 may be secured to the cylinder 24, or conversely, fitted loosely with a play.
  • the piston absorbing member 241 is formed with a substantially conical opening portion 241a slightly larger than an edge contour of piston shaft as will be described, a support portion 241b fitted into the cylinder flow passage 24b as previously described, and an air bleed 241c.
  • the flow passage absorbing member 242 is a flow passage absorbing member fitted into the cylinder flow passage 24b as previously described, wherein the total length is set so that its one end is in contact with an end face of piston absorbing member 241, and the other end projects by a slight amount from an edge of the cylinder 24 to come into contact with a waste ink absorbing member as will be described.
  • the flow passage absorbing member 242 is formed of a porous material containing communication pores with the elasticity such as melamine or urethane foam.
  • 25 is a cylinder cap secured to an end portion of cylinder 24 with a press fitting or adhesive.
  • 25a is a lever guide disposed at a position opposed to the cap lever carrier 24d of cylinder 24 as previously described.
  • 26 is a piston seal fitted into cylinder 241, wherein its inner diameter is made slightly smaller to obtain a predetermined pressure welding force with the piston shaft as will be described. Also, lubrication coating may be applied on its surface to reduce the sliding force of piston shaft 27.
  • 27 is piston shaft, which is formed with an operation shaft 27a, a piston presser 27b, a piston carrier 27c, a connecting shaft 27d, and a channel 27f serving as an ink flow passage along the connecting shaft 27d.
  • 27g is a rotation stop formed as a groove in the operation shaft 27a.
  • a bearing portion 27h is provided on an end face of operation shaft 27a.
  • piston 28 is piston, formed in a cylindrical shape and larger by a predetermined amount than an inner diameter of the cylinder 24, using a rubber such as NBR or CR, wherein it is adequately compressed when inserted into the cylinder 24.
  • a surface where an external circumferential surface and a piston presser 27b for piston shaft 27 are in contact is desirably made smooth, but may be provided with one or more ribs to secure the sealing property.
  • the total length of piston 28 is formed shorter by a predetermined amount than the connecting shaft 27d of piston shaft 27, so as to yield a slight amount of play in the axial direction.
  • 42 is a pump chamber. 29 is a piston presser roller rotatably mounted on an end portion of piston shaft 27. 30 is a piston return roller, which is also rotatably mounted on the end portion of the piston shaft 27.
  • a cap lever formed with a rotation shaft 32a, an ink guide 32b and a lever guide 32c. And on its top portion, a cylindrical portion 32d inserted into a tube portion of cap as will be described is provided, with an hole for ink flow passage formed centrally therein, and a convex spherical guide face 32e which is brought into contact with a spherical recess of cap holder as will be described is formed on its front face. Further, on its side face, a partially cylindrical horizontal stop face 32f and a vertical stop face 32g which is substantially semicircular step portion are provided in a pair with opposed side face.
  • the ink flow passage 32f is formed to pass from the cylindrical portion 32d as previously described through the inside of the lever 32, bent at right angles midway, passing through a center of the ink guide 32b, and open to its end face.
  • 33 is a lever seal into which the ink guide 32b is fitted and which is fitted under pressure into the cap lever carrier 24d.
  • 33a is a communication aperture which communicates a notch 32i of the ink guide 32b with an ink flow passage 24e.
  • 34 is a cap holder provided with a hook 34a engageable with the horizontal stop face 32f and the vertical stop face 32g of cap lever 32 on opposed positions. Also, a holder guide portion 34b having a spherical recess to make contact with the guide face 32e of cap lever 32 is formed. 34c is an opening portion for mounting cap as will be described.
  • slit-shaped channel 35b (thereafter called as a slit) for collecting residual ink within the cap, and a suction port 35c for sucking, and on its back portion is formed a tube portion 35d having internal ink passage.
  • the slit 35b is provided substantially over the entire length of area in the upward and downward directions on a central portion in inner wall of cap, and the suction port 35c is formed elliptically in the same width as the slit width.
  • a taper face is formed in a portion ranging from a boundary with a side wall portion where the seal face 35a is provided to the slit 35b.
  • the slit may be formed radially from the suction port. Also, the suction port does not need reside within the slit.
  • 35e is a flange portion which serves as a stop member when attached to the cap holder 34.
  • the tube portion 35d is inserted into the cylindrical portion 32d of cap lever 32 as previously described. Note that if the cap 35 housed in the cap holder 34 is attached to the cap lever 32, it is communicated to the ink flow passage 32h of cap lever 32 via the tube portion 35d, wherein the cap holder 34 serves as an equalizer through the holder guide portion 34b, and the hook portion 34a engages the vertical engagement face 32g of cap lever 32 to serve as a stop. Note that when the cap equalizes the head discharge port formation face, the equalization can be performed smoothly with the deformation of tube portion 35d or the relative movement of the cap lever 32 with respect to the cylindrical portion 32d.
  • Figs. 8C and 8D are views showing the equalization from the above and the side of cap 35.
  • the tube portion 35d which is an ink communication portion of cap has the elasticity
  • the cylindrical portion 32d which is an ink communicating portion of cap lever is formed of a material considered as the rigid body compared with the elasticity of the tube portion 35d. Accordingly, the holding accuracy of cap 35 against the head discharge port formation face, i.e., the face accuracy of cap 35 against the head discharge port formation face can be secured by the cylindrical portion 32 of cap lever, and the equalization of cap 35 against the head discharge port formation face during the capping is permitted by the deformation of the tube portion 35d.
  • the communication portion of both the cap and cap lever is made of an elastic member
  • the cap communication portion is made of a rigid body
  • the cap lever communication portion is made of an elastic material
  • the cap communication portion and the cap body are separate members, so that it is inconvenient to manufacture the cap as it is constructed by coupling them, and a problem may arise in respect of the holding accuracy as the lever communication portion for holding the cap and exerting the capping force on the cap has the elasticity.
  • the holding accuracy and equalization are made more excellent in connection with the constitution of cap holder 34 and cap lever 32.
  • a spherical recess of holder guide portion 34b and a convex spherical guide face 32e of lever 32 being in contact, when the cap 35 comes into contact with the discharge port formation face, the holder 34 and the cap 35 are displaced along a sphere, and the hook portion 34a of holder 34 and vertical and horizontal stop faces 32g, 32f of lever 32 permits the displacement along the sphere as above mentioned, while serving as stops.
  • 36 is a paper feed roller for conveying a recording medium such as a paper, which is formed by applying an elastic coating (e.g., urethane or acrylic resin) on a surface of aluminum drawn tube, for example. Also, this roller 36 has its interior as a reservoir of waste ink, as well as serving as the platen for restraining the record surface of recording medium on its external face.
  • 37 is a waste ink absorbing member provided within the roller 36, which is made by filling an absorbing material of polyester cotton or the like into a thin tube formed of a plastic such as vinyl chloride so as to have better ink absorbency in the axial direction.
  • waste ink tube 24g of the cylinder 24 is inserted into the waste ink absorbing member 37 and fixed therein, because the movement of base 50 causes the recovery mechanism to move.
  • the fiber itself of absorbing material is preferably a liquid non-absorbing material such as a resin or metal, but may be slightly absorbent for liquid.
  • 361 is a PF roller cap with a gear 361a and a shaft 361b integrally formed of a plastic material, fitted under pressure into the PF roller 36 made of aluminum, and secured therein by means of a caulking or adhesive.
  • 361c is stopper, wherein more than one stopper are provided on inner periphery so that waste ink absorbing member 37 will not move from a predetermined position to the PF roller cap 361, and formed integrally with the PF roller cap 361.
  • the PF roller cap 361 is formed with two bores 361d for mounting a PF roller ground member (PF roller earth) as will be described, on an intermediate portion of which a projecting portion 361e is formed by projecting a predetermined amount from an end portion of shaft 361b.
  • 361f is a hole for opening to the atmosphere to promote the evaporation from the waste ink absorbing member 37.
  • PF roller earth 362 is a PF roller earth formed of a metallic wire with the elasticity such as SUS, with its U-shape portion 362a inserted into the hole 361d of PF roller cap 361 as above described, in which a predetermined flexed portion is provided midway so that its tip portion comes into contact with an inner face of PF roller 36 at a predetermined pressure.
  • the projection portion 361e of PF roller cap 361 is provided to fix the PF roller earth 362 at a projecting position so that a thrust pressing portion 10b of leaf spring 10 as previously described and the PF roller earth 362 are easily placed into contact.
  • a gear 38B is fixed at one end of shaft 38A for releasing the pressing force of paper pressing plate 38, its other end engaging a bearing 38C for supporting the shaft 38A therein.
  • the bearing 38C is fixed to the chassis 1. Note that the gear 38B is mated with a gear portion of release lever, not shown.
  • 39 is a paper feed motor connecting to the paper feed roller 36 via reduction gear with a predetermined gear ratio.
  • 40m is a recording sheet such as a paper or film.
  • the load applied on the motor spring 14 may be smaller because the weight of carrier motor 11 absorbs that inertial force, and thereby the load for motor rotation may be also smaller. If an air or hydraulic damper is provided in connection with this spring, noise owing to the vibration of rotor of motor 11 in starting or stopping the carrier 6 can be reduced. The overshoot of rotor can be reduced by appropriately selecting the weights of motor and carrier, and the damping coefficient of motor spring, so that the noise can be lowered.
  • Fig. 10 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of each portion, wherein the operation timing of each portion can be determined, as shown, in accordance with the number of pulses.
  • Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the detailed construction of clutch gear 4 and timing gear 21 as above described, in which the clutch gear 4 can slide on the lead screw 2, and rotate together with the key groove 4d engaging the key portion 2h of lead screw 2. Also, the clutch gear 4 is urged toward the carrier 6 by the spring 5, and normally, is placed at a predetermined position by a slot 2i of lead screw 2 and rotated together with the lead screw 2 during recording. When the recording head 9 is moved to a home position, the clutch gear 4 is pressed by the carrier 6 correspondingly, and begins to engage the timing gear 21.
  • the clutch gear 4 has a start tooth 4c 1 and a normal driving tooth 4c 2 , which are formed at different positions in the direction of width of clutch gear.
  • the driving gear 4c 2 is not formed over the entire periphery of gear, but partially has a curved surface 4b. Further, on an edge portion of clutch gear 4, a collar 4a is formed over the entire periphery.
  • the timing gear 21 has a start tooth 21b 1 , and two driving teeth 21b 2 , 21b 3 at different positions, the teeth 21b 1 , 21b 2 , 21b 3 being formed at different positions in the direction of width.
  • Figs. 12A - 12C and Figs. 13A - 13B are views showing the engagement state between the clutch gear 4 and the timing gear 21.
  • the engagement state is as shown in Figs. 12A and 13A.
  • the lead pin 7 is not located at the position as shown, and the blade 17 and the ink carrier 19, not shown, are located on the upper portion of ink absorbing member 23.
  • the clutch gear 4 is rotated along with the rotation of lead screw 2, but is not located at a position where the start tooth 4c 1 and the start tooth 21b 1 are in engagement (see Fig. 13A).
  • the timing gear 21 is not rotated, and the driving tooth 21b 2 at the left end of timing gear 21 and the collar 21h are in the positional relation of being spaced a slight clearance from the collar 4a of clutch gear 4 and able to come into contact therewith, the timing gear 21 can not be rotated in any of the directions.
  • the driving teeth 21b 3 located differently among the driving teeth of timing gear 21 is one engageable when the above-mentioned curve portion 4b is confronted with the timing gear 21 again, as shown in Fig. 7B. That is, if the driving teeth is located at the same side as that for normal driving teeth 21b 2 , they may be brought into contact with the curve portion 4b, and thereby, that driving teeth are displaced for the engagement between respective driving teeth.
  • timing gear 21 While the timing gear is rotating with driving teeth in engagement, the hook 6c attached to the carrier 6 slides on the side face of timing gear 21.
  • Figs. 14A - 14D are explanation views showing sequential operation states of mechanism associated with the blade 17
  • Figs. 15A - 15C are explanation views showing sequential operation states of mechanism associated with the cap 35
  • Figs. 16A - 16B are explanation views showing the operation of mechanism for introducing waste ink into waste ink receiver 37 within the roller 36.
  • the carrier 6 is moved in the direction to the home position (direction as indicated by an arrow B).
  • the lead pin 7 still engages the lead groove 2a, with discharge ports 9c of head element 9a being opposed to the ink carrier 19 (see Fig. 14A).
  • the discharge operation (thereafter referred to as predischarge) is carried out by driving all the discharge energy generation elements of head element 9a at this position to remove some thickened ink with the discharge force, and thereby, the recovery operation with predischarge is terminated.
  • periodical predischarges performed during normal recording to prevent thickened ink around discharge ports not used are also carried out at this position.
  • Fig. 14A is a side view around the periphery of the same position.
  • the set lever 20 is rotated in the direction of arrow E, because its gear portion and the gear portion of set lever 20 are mated.
  • the hook portion 16c of blade lever 16 engages a click portion of chassis 1
  • the set lever 20 only is rotated and the blade lever 16 is stopped, and in a short time, the set face 20f of set lever 20 is rotated in the direction of arrow F while depressing the rotation tab 18a of blade shaft 18, so that the blade 17 is rotated in the direction of arrow G to be set in a state of being engageable with the discharge port face.
  • timing gear 21 With a further rotation of timing gear 21 in the D direction, the hook portion 16c of blade lever 16 is disengaged from the click portion of chassis, and the set lever 20 and the blade lever 16 are further rotated to wipe over the discharge port face of head 9 with the wiper 17. At this time, ink liquid and others removed by the wiping of blade 17 are eliminated in only one direction, i.e., only downward in this case, whereby ink liquid and others eliminated are absorbed and carried in the upper portion of ink carrier 19. Then, the ink carrier 19 comes into contact with the ink absorbing member 23.
  • timing gear 21 If the timing gear 21 is further rotated in the direction of arrow D, the stop teeth 20a, 20b of set lever 20 and the stop cam 21a of timing gear 21 are made opposed and contact, so that the rotation of set lever 20 is restrained, and at the same time, the driving gear of timing gear 21 becomes an omitted tooth portion, thereby not exerting the rotation force.
  • the apparatus can be miniaturized, and the time necessary for the recovery operation can be shortened.
  • the cap 35 With a further rotation of the timing gear 21, the cap 35 is stopped at a position away from the discharge port face of head element 9a, as shown in Fig. 15A, because the cap cam 21c of timing gear 21 first restricts the rotation shaft 32a of cap lever 32c as shown in Fig. 8. Subsequently, with a further rotation of the timing gear 21 in the direction of arrow D, as the cap cam 21c is disengaged from the cap cam 21c, thereby releasing the restraint state, the cylinder 24 is rotated in the F direction with the rotation lever 24f urged by the spring portion 22b of ink absorbing member spring 22, as shown in Fig. 15B, so that the cap portion 35a of cap 35 is welded under pressure against the discharge port formation face, and the capping operation is terminated. Note that Fig. 13B shows an upper view at this time.
  • the above operations are cleaning and capping operations, and normally, the operation stops here, whereby in accordance with a next recording signal, the above operations are inversely performed to enter the recording operation.
  • the timing gear 21 is further rotated from the cap position to depress the cap lever 32 with the cap cam 21f, so that the cap 35 is separated a little from the discharge port formation face, as shown in Fig. 15C.
  • the cap portion 35a is welded under pressure against the discharge port face as it is disengaged from the cap cam 21f again.
  • the negative pressure of pump chamber 42 only increases, with the piston 28 being movable.
  • the ink flow passage 24e opens, and the ink from the recording head 9 is sucked via the suction port 35b of cap 35.
  • the ink sucked hereby passes through the ink flow passage 32f formed within the cap lever 32, through the communicating aperture 33a of lever seal 33 and further through the ink flow path 24e of cylinder 24 into the pump chamber 42.
  • the ink sometimes remains in a lower portion of cap 35, as shown in Fig. 24A.
  • the suction port is biased on a lower end portion of cap, the ink may remain on the upper portion of suction port, as shown in Fig. 24B, when the printer is vertically placed.
  • Fig. 25 is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view showing one constitution example of conventional another head cap
  • Fig. 26 is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a further constitution example of conventional head cap.
  • cap 551 is formed like a U -shape, and an ink exhaust port 552 connectable to suction pump is provided on a central portion thereof, the ink 553 within cap at a lower level than the ink exhaust port 552 can not be sucked with the suction pump, and so remains within the cap, as shown.
  • an ink exhaust port 552 is provided on an end portion of head cap 551, as shown in Fig. 26, so that the ink does not remain within cap.
  • the head cap 551 when recording head is used in a lateral orientation (horizontally), accordingly, the head cap 551 is stood from the illustrated orientation and used in the U attitude with its concave side directed laterally, the ink can be exhausted without remaining, while when recording head is used in a downward directed orientation, accordingly, it is used with the concave side of head cap 551 directed upward, as shown in Fig. 26, the ink 553 may remain within cap 551.
  • a suction port 35c is biased to a lower edge side and has associated therewith a slit 35b for collecting ink (see Fig. 8A)
  • the ink can be collected into the slit with the surface tension, and sucked through the suction port located downwardly, as shown in Fig. 24C.
  • the performance of cap is not degraded. Note that the thinner the width of slit 35b, the stronger the tensile force of ink, whereby an excellent result could be obtained with 0.4 - 0.7 mm.
  • Fig. 27 is a perspective view from the front side of another example of a cap not according to the present invention
  • Fig. 28 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of Fig. 29.
  • Figs. 27 and 28 721 is a sealing portion which is made contact with a discharge port face 501 of head cartridge (recording head) 601
  • 722 is an ink exhaust port provided on an end portion of inner plane (cavity portion) in head cap 522
  • 723 is an ink exhaust passage connecting the ink exhaust port 722 to suction recovery means 515 such as a suction pump.
  • the cavity portion 724 tapered in a direction of converging toward the ink exhaust port 722 is provided.
  • the above-mentioned portions 721, 722, 723 and 724 are all integrally formed.
  • head cap 522 as shown in Figs. 27 and 28 will be described.
  • the sealing portion 721 of cap 522 is closely affixed to the discharge port face 501 of recording head 601, so that the interior of cap is placed in an enclosed state.
  • a suction pump 515 is activated to place the interior of cap in a negative pressure state, and thereby the ink is sucked through discharge ports of recording head 601, filling the cap 522, so that the ink passes through the ink exhaust port 722 and ink exhaust passage 523 into the suction pump 515.
  • the head cap 522 is separated from the discharge port face of recording head, wherein the cap has remaining ink within its interior.
  • Fig. 29 is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the pump suction for exhausting ink within the head cap is being performed, with the head cap 522 separated from the discharge port face 501, after the suction recovery for the discharge port face 501 of recording head 601 is performed with the head cap 522.
  • Fig. 29 shows an instance where an ink jet recording head 601 is attached in a horizontal attitude, and the discharge direction of the recording head is directed horizontally, accordingly, a concave side of head cap 522 is directed horizontally.
  • the ink 725 within head cap 522 flows in a gravitational direction along tapered slant face (cavity portion) 724 as shown, and all ink 725 is exhausted through the ink exhaust port 722 toward the suction pump 515.
  • Fig. 30 shows an instance where an ink jet recording apparatus using a head cap 522 as shown in Figs. 27 - 29 is placed in a vertical attitude, i.e., the discharge direction of recording head 601 is directed downward, and a concave side of head cap 522 is directed upward.
  • Fig. 31 is a typical perspective view showing another example of a head cap 522 not according to the present invention.
  • corner portions of cap inner plane are angled, while in this example, these corner portions are curved with a certain roundness.
  • the head cap 522 of this example and the ink jet recording apparatus using that head cap are different in the above-described respect from those of the previous example, but other portions have substantially the same construction.
  • the cap 35 is separated a little from the discharge port face by the cap cam 21h, and then the ink on the discharge port face and within the cap 35a is sucked owing to a residual negative pressure, so that remaining ink is eliminated from those portions.
  • the piston 28 further moves and comes not to enclose the ink flow passage 24e of cylinder 24, wherein as the waste ink absorbing member 37 exists in the communication passage from the cap 35 to the atmosphere, the interior of cap is maintained in moist atmosphere, and almost any evaporation of ink does not occur, so that the discharge ports and liquid channels are not dried.
  • the ink remaining within the cylinder 24 is collected by the piston absorbing member 241 to be passed via the flow passage absorbing member 242 to the waste ink absorbing member 37, and thereby prevented from flowing backward toward the cap.
  • Fig. 32A shows a constitution in which the piston absorbing member 241 is extended to come into direct contact with the waste ink absorbing member 37, i.e., the flow passage absorbing member 242 is integrally formed.
  • Fig. 32B shows a constitution in which an inward directed click 24g is provided on an end face of cylinder 24 to restrict the drift of piston absorbing member in the axial direction, whereby the piston absorbing member 241 is inserted, the click is snapped into place to serve as a draft stop.
  • Fig. 32C shows a constitution in which a fastener 24m consisting of more than one click provided on a thin plate formed from an elastic material for preventing the drift of piston absorbing member 241 is inserted into the piston ring afterwards and fixed therein.
  • Fig. 17 shows generically the sequence of predischarge and suction recovery as above described. Particularly, the figure shows the sequence in which the blade 17 waits in a wiping ready state (set state, see Fig. 14B), and after wiping, is inclined to the absorbing member 23 (reset state, see Fig. 14A), and then, set in the wiping ready state immediately before the set lever 20 returns to its original position.
  • recovery operation is performed once again immediately after the power is turned on, for example, when the power has not been turned on for three or more days. Also, it can be appropriately performed in accordance with the operation of start switch.
  • the wiping of blade is performed in a direction of discharge port array (longitudinal direction) once per about 60 seconds during the printing, as well as immediately before the closing of cap and the start of printing.
  • the predischarge is performed such that, for example,
  • the penetrating amount of blade into head is 0.7 ⁇ 0.3 [mm]
  • the penetrating amount of blade into absorbing member is 1.15 ⁇ 0.6 [mm].
  • the blade is placed in a free state where it is not in contact with the absorbing member.
  • the suction pressure minus 4 is approximately -6 [mAq] (the cap pressure welding force is above 60 [g]), and the amount of ink suction is approximately 0.1 (+0.04, -0.025) [cc].
  • 38 is a paper presser plate formed of fluorocarbon resin or carbon fiber blended material as previously described, serving to exert the pressing force against a recording sheet fed thereto so that the discharge port face of recording head 9 and the recording sheet are spaced a predetermined interval.
  • the pressing force of paper presser plate 38 relies on the elastic force of spring 38D. That mechanism is shown in detail in Figs. 18A and 18B.
  • Fig. 18A is a view showing a state where the paper presser plate 38 exerts a pressing force against the paper feed roller.
  • a cut-away portion of shaft 38A which is formed as D shape by cutting away a part of circle linearly and is slidable with the paper presser plate 38 in a rotational direction, is at a position confronted to an end portion 38F of spring plate 38D, whereby an end portion 38E of paper presser plate is urged upward in the figure by the spring plate 38D.
  • the paper presser plate 38 attempts to rotate in a clockwise direction around the shaft 38A, thus exerting the pressing force against the paper feed roller 36.
  • Fig. 18B shows a state where the action of pressing force with the paper presser plate 38 is released.
  • the shaft 38A rotates, and a circular arc portion of shaft 38A presses on the end portion 38F.
  • the spring plate 38D is wholly depressed downward in the figure.
  • the end portion 38E is not urged by the spring plate 38D.
  • the above paper presser mechanism is one in which the pressing force enough not to prevent the appropriate conveyance of recording sheet with the paper feed roller 36 in a limited space can be provided.
  • leaf spring 38D is attached to the chassis 1 by a securing member, not shown.
  • 60 is a paper exhaust roller for exhausting recording sheet that has been recorded
  • 61 is a spur for giving the pressing force to recording sheet to be conveyed by the paper exhaust roller 60, restraining the exhausting direction of recording sheet, and generating the conveying force.
  • the 62 is a transmission roller for transmitting the rotation of paper feed roller 36 to the paper exhaust roller 60, and which is disposed in an intermediate portion between the paper exhaust roller 60 and the paper feed roller 36.
  • the transmission of rotation is performed with the friction force between both rollers placed in contact.
  • the paper exhaust roller 60 is of a cylindrical shape having different radii on both end portions and its intermediate portion, wherein the transmission roller 62 is made in contact with the intermediate portion of paper exhaust roller 60 with smaller radius. Accordingly, both end portions with larger radius are rotated at slightly higher peripheral speed than that of paper feed roller 36. Consequently, in exhausting, recording sheet is pulled slightly and conveyed, so that record face is excellently formed.
  • rotation shafts of transmission roller 62 and spur 61 are formed using coil springs with appropriate elastic coefficients, respectively.
  • the mechanism will be detailed with reference to Fig. 19, and using an instance of spur 61.
  • 61A is a shaft formed of a coil spring, which extends through a central portion of spur 61 to both sides thereof and rotatably engages the spur 61.
  • 103B is a shaft support member in which both end portions of rotation shaft 61A are supported, and which is formed as a part of inner cover 103 as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the shaft support member 103B supports the shaft 61A slidably in the axial direction.
  • 103C is restraint member for restraining the movement of spur 61 in a rotational axis direction and a direction perpendicular thereto and provided on both sides of spur 61.
  • the restraint member 103C is formed as a part of inner cover 103, like the shaft support member 103B.
  • the shaft 61A can obtain the pressing force of spur 61 against the paper exhaust roller 60 with its bending elastic force, as well as supporting the spur 61.
  • the inner cover 103 has a spring member 103A on its rear end portion, as shown in Fig. 3A, which receives the pressing force in a direction toward the paper exhaust roller owing to the reaction against a case 101.
  • the interaction between this pressing force and the elastic force of rotation shaft 61A allows the spur 61 to exert an appropriate pressing force to the paper exhaust roller 60.
  • the engagement between the securing member 103D of inner cover 103 and the rotation shaft 60C of paper exhaust roller 60 is made more secure, as shown in Fig. 3A.
  • the positional relation between the spur 61 and the paper exhaust roller 60 can be always maintained constant, or otherwise, can be maintained in high precision by securing in abutment with a member for stopping the rotation shaft 60C, irrespective of the precision of inner cover.
  • the feature of rotation shaft 62A consisting of a coil spring is the same, wherein the abutting force onto the paper feed roller 36 and the paper exhaust roller 60 is obtained with the elastic force of shaft 62A.
  • the paper exhaust roller 60 is of a shape with the radius of its intermediate portion being smaller than the radii of both end portions, as previously described. The detail of this constitution is shown in Fig. 20.
  • 60A is a cover member made of a rubber material
  • 60D is a core member with the radius of intermediate portion being made smaller than the radii of both end portions.
  • the paper exhaust roller 60 is formed by covering the cover member 60A of pipe shape onto the core member 60D.
  • the paper exhaust roller can be obtained comparatively easily and inexpensively without integrally forming such a shape with rubber material.
  • a groove 60B provided continuously on one end portion of paper exhaust roller 60 serves to stop a terminal portion of recording sheet exhausted by the paper exhaust roller 60, whereby the exhaust of recording sheet can be made more secure, even when recording sheet is deviated out of place.
  • the shape of core member 60D is not limited to the above-described one, but may be such a shape in which the groove portion 60B is extended in original shape with intermediate portion made smaller, whereby cylindrical shape can be obtained by covering a rubber member thereon.
  • the vertical service condition of apparatus is used in cases where an automatic feeder 200 is used, and a thick paper such as an envelope is fed through a paper feed opening on the back side of apparatus, as shown in those figures.
  • an upper cover 102 can be used as a stacker for recording sheets exhausted.
  • the upper cover 102 is fixed at a different angle from that when used as a paper guide for feeding paper.
  • the condition where the upper cover 102 is used as stacker is as follows.
  • a position where an exhausted recording sheet itself, which is conveyed in the air with its nervy characteristic, will come into contact with the upper cover 102 or recording sheet already stacked is set near an upper edge portion 102A of the upper cover 102.
  • the portion where exhausted recording sheet may slide on recording sheet already stacked is limited to only a leading portion of recording sheet, so that the sliding can be avoided to the utmost, and the stain of recording sheet due to unfixed ink can be prevented.
  • Such a constitution requires that the upper end portion 102A is located near a common tangential line for the paper feed roller 36 and the paper exhaust roller 60, in a direction for exhausting sheet, and the lower end portion 102B is lowered.
  • the length of upper cover 102 in the direction for exhausting sheet (the length from upper end 102A to lower end 102B) is essential, wherein when recording sheet ordinarily used is exhausted almost horizontally like this example, its length is 60%-90% the length of recording sheet, and more preferably, 70%-80%.
  • the length of stacker should be determined, taking into consideration the first factor as above described.
  • entrainment prevention piece for preventing recording sheet to be stacked from entering into the paper feed opening.
  • a head cartridge 1101 is mounted on a carriage 1102 reciprocating along a recording medium (sheet-like recording medium such as a paper or plastic thin plate) P.
  • a recording medium sheet-like recording medium such as a paper or plastic thin plate
  • the head cartridge 1101 has a recording head (ink jet recording head) and an ink tank integrally formed, wherein a discharge port face 1001 having formed discharge ports is provided on an opposed face to the recording medium P.
  • the recording head 1101 is an ink jet recording head for discharging ink by the use of the heat energy, comprising electricity-heat converters for generating the heat energy.
  • the ink jet recording head 1101 performs the recording by discharging the ink through discharge ports by growth of bubbles due to film boiling caused by the heat energy applied by the electricity-heat converters.
  • a lead screw 1005 constituting a guide shaft of carriage 1102 is driven and rotated via transmission gears 1011, 1009 for the driving force in accordance with the positive or reverse rotation of driving motor 1013.
  • the carriage 1102 engaged with a spiral groove 1004 of the lead screw 1005 is driven for reciprocating motion in the direction of the arrow P or R in accordance with the rotation of the lead screw 1005.
  • the recording medium P is pressed against a platen 1024 disposed along the moving direction of carriage.
  • photo coupler 1007, 1008 as home position detection means are installed, and are constituted to sense the existence of a lever 106 of the carriage when the carriage 1102 reaches a home position at the left end, and then switch the rotation direction of driving motor 1013.
  • a head cap 1022 for capping the discharge port face of recording head 1101 is provided.
  • the head cap 1022 is supported by a cap holder 1016.
  • head cap 1022 is connected via an opening 1023 to suction means 1015 such as a suction pump, in which the suction recovery of recording head (head cartridge) is performed by activating suction means 1015 with the discharge port face 1001 being capped.
  • suction means 1015 such as a suction pump
  • a cleaning blade 1017 for wiping the discharge port face of recording head 1101 is disposed.
  • the cleaning blade 1017 is carried by a holder 1019 movable in the forward and backward directions, and the holder 1019 is attached to a support member 1018 movable in the forward and backward directions.
  • cleaning member 1017 can use well known various forms, besides the form as shown.
  • Numeral 1020 is a cam for switching the driving force of the driving motor 1013 with a clutch, wherein when the carriage 1102 reaches the home position, the carriage engages and moves the cam 1020, thereby moving the lever 1021 for starting the suction for the suction recovery, so that the state in which the suction recovery operation can be performed for the discharge ports of recording head at the home position is set.
  • Capping means 1022, cleaning means 1017, and suction recovery means 1015 as above described are constituted to perform desired processings at a desired timing at their corresponding positions, with the action of lead screw 1005, when the carriage 1102 reaches the home position area.
  • Figs. 34 and 35 are external perspective views showing an ink jet recording apparatus comprising a head cap according to the present invention, which can record in two forms of vertical and horizontal conditions.
  • a main body is supported by a support saddle 156, wherein as the ink from the recording head is discharged downward as indicated by the arrow X, the head cap 1022 placed in opposed relation to the recording head is attached with its concave portion directed upward, as shown in Fig. 30.
  • 1151 is an insertion opening for recording medium (e.g., paper) 1152 when used in the vertical condition, the recording medium conveying passage within apparatus is formed almost horizontally.
  • recording medium e.g., paper
  • an ink jet recording apparatus in which it is capable of recording in both forms of vertical and horizontal conditions and comprises a head cap 1022 having tapered surface for guiding ink to ink exhaust port 1222 within cap 1222 easily and securely.
  • the present invention brings about excellent effects particularly in an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head of the ink jet system for recording by forming fine liquid droplets with the heat energy among the various ink jet recording systems.
  • the constitution of the recording head in addition to the combination of the discharging orifice, liquid channel, and electricity-heat converter (linear liquid channel or right-angled liquid channel) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, the constitution by use of U.S. Patent 4,558,333, or 4,459,600 disclosing the constitution having the heat acting portion arranged in the flexed region is also included in the present invention.
  • the present invention can be also effectively made the constitution as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 59-123670 which discloses the constitution using a slit common to a plurality of electricity-heat converters as the discharging portion of the electricity-heat converter or Japanese Laid-Open patent Application No. 59-138461 which discloses the constitution having the opening for absorbing pressure wave of heat energy correspondent to the discharging portion.
  • the recording head of the full line type having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which can be recorded by the recording device
  • either the constitution which satisfies its length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications or the constitution as one recording head integrally formed may be used, and the present invention can exhibit the effects as described above further effectively.
  • the present invention is effective for a recording head of the freely exchangeable chip type which enables electrical connection to the main device or supply of ink from the main device by being mounted on the main device, or a recording head of the cartridge type having an ink tank integrally provided on the recording head itself.
  • a restoration means for the recording head, a preliminary auxiliary means, etc. provided as the constitution of the recording device of the present invention is preferable, because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized.
  • Specific examples of these may include, for recording head, capping means, cleaning means, pressurization or suction means, electricity-heat converters or another type of heating elements, or preliminary heating means according to a combination of these, and it is also effective for performing stable recording to perform preliminary mode which performs discharging separate from recording.
  • the present invention is extremely effective for not only the recording mode only of a primary color such as black etc., but also a device equipped with at least one of plural different colors or full color by color mixing, whether the recording head may be either integrally constituted or combined in plural number.
  • a recording apparatus is provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal for the information processing equipment such as a word processor or computer, a copying machine in combination with a reader, or a facsimile terminal equipment having the transmission and reception feature.
  • the information processing equipment such as a word processor or computer, a copying machine in combination with a reader, or a facsimile terminal equipment having the transmission and reception feature.
  • a suction recovery device capable of sucking waste ink smoothly and a reliable ink jet recording apparatus using that device can be obtained.
  • cap made of an elastic member formed integrally with an ink communication member having formed suction passage, and connecting a rigid ink communication member of main body of suction system to the elastic ink communication member of cap, high face accuracy for the discharge port formation face of recording head in the non-capping state can be retained, and the equalization of cap for the discharge port formation face in the capping state can be achieved excellently.
  • the ink received in the discharge recovery operation can be efficiently conducted into the suction port and exhausted therefrom, so that ink remaining within cap can be eliminated. Further, in whatever attitude the cap or apparatus is used, the exhaust can be performed excellently.
  • the present invention it is possible to concentrate the suction force when suction recovery means is operated, and to achieve an excellent recording performance in any form of vertical and horizontal conditions as the ink is sucked and received in any attitude with above constitution.
  • a suction recovery device of ink jet recording apparatus comprises a cap which can contact with or separate from a face formed with discharge ports for recording by discharging the ink, said cap communicating to a suction system for performing the suction recovery through said discharge ports via said cap, said cap having a groove portion for guiding ink, and formed of an elastic material integrally with an ink communication member for communicating to said suction system via a suction port provided on an inner wall of said cap, and said suction system having a cylinder and a piston reciprocating within said cylinder, and having disposed ink absorbing member in an ink exhaust portion within said cylinder.

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Claims (14)

  1. Ein Abdeckorgan für eine Saug- Regeneriervorrichtung mit einem Saugsystem eines Tintenstrahl-Aufzeichnungsgeräts, das umfaßt:
    - eine Kappe (35), die mit einer mit Ausstoßöffnungen zum Aufzeichnen durch Ausstoßen von Tinte ausgestatteten Stirnfläche in Berührung kommen oder von dieser Fläche getrennt werden kann, wobei die genannte Kappe (35) mit einem Saugsystem kommuniziert, um den Saug-Regeneriervorgang durch die erwähnten Ausstoßöffnungen hindurch mittels der genannten Kappe (35) auszuführen, und die genannte Kappe (35) einen ausgekehlten Bereich (35b), um die Tinte zu leiten, besitzt sowie der besagte ausgekehlte Bereich (35b) mit dem erwähnten Saugsystem durch eine an einer inneren Wand der genannten Kappe (35) vorgesehene Ansaugöffnung (35c) in Verbindung steht,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    - der besagte ausgekehlte Bereich (35b) an der erwähnten inneren Wand ausgestaltet ist, um Tinte durch Oberflächenspannung zu sammeln und um diese gesammelte Tinte zu der besagten, mit diesem Bereich verbundenen Ansaugöffnung (35c) zu leiten.
  2. Ein Abdeckorgan für eine Saug-Regeneriervorrichtung mit einem Saugsystem eines Tintenstrahl-Aufzeichnungsgeräts nach Anspruch 1,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    - das erwähnte Saugsystem einen Zylinder (24) sowie einen in dem genannten Zylinder (24) hin- und hergehenden Kolben (28) enthält.
  3. Ein Abdeckorgan für eine Saug-Regeneriervorrichtung mit einem Saugsystem eines Tintenstrahl-Aufzeichnungsgeräts nach Anspruch 1 oder 2,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    - der besagte ausgekehlte Bereich (35b) der genannten Kappe (35) an der erwähnten inneren Wandfläche, die von einer in Berührung mit der besagten Stirnfläche gebrachten Anlagefläche (35a) der genannten Kappe (35) aus vertieft ist, vorgesehen ist und daß die erwähnte, von der genannten Anlagefläche (35a) zu dem besagten ausgekehlten Bereich (35b) führende innere Wandfläche durch eine abfallend konisch zulaufende ununterbrochene Fläche gebildet ist.
  4. Ein Abdeckorgan für eine Saug-Regeneriervorrichtung mit einem Saugsystem eines Tintenstrahl-Aufzeichnungsgeräts nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    - die erwähnte innere Wandfläche der genannten Kappe (35) mit einer konisch zulaufenden Höhlung ausgebildet ist, die zu der besagten Ansaugöffnung (35c, 722) hin abfällt.
  5. Ein Abdeckorgan für eine Saug-Regeneriervorrichtung mit einem Saugsystem eines Tintenstrahl-Aufzeichnungsgeräts nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 4,
    gekennzeichnet durch
    - einen Kappenträger (34), um die genannte Kappe (35) festzuhalten, wobei der erwähnte Kappenträger ein konkav-sphärisches Teil für ein Ausgleichen enthält und an einem äußeren, gegenübergestellten Flächenteil des erwähnten Kappenträgers (34) ein Paar von Arretiergliedern (34a) vorgesehen ist, wobei diese Arretierglieder (34a) an ihrem Endabschnitt ein scheibenförmiges Teil besitzen;
    - einen Kappenhebel (32), um der genannten Kappe (34) ein Berühren mit oder ein Trennen von der besagten Stirnfläche mittels des erwähnten Kappenträgers (34) zu ermöglichen, wobei der besagte Kappenhebel (32) ein konvex-sphärisches Teil (32e) sowie ein mit dem genannten Arretierglied (34a) des erwähnten Kappenträgers (34) gekuppeltes Arretierteil (32f, 32g) besitzt und der besagte Kappenhebel (32) ein Gegenstück (32d), das dem erwähnten Tintenkommunikationsorgan (35d) der genannten Kappe (35) angepaßt ist, aufweist; und wobei
    - das genannte Saugsystem ein Tintenabsorptionsorgan (242), welches in einem Tintenabfuhrteil innerhalb des genannten Zylinders (24) angeordnet ist, einschließt.
  6. Ein Abdeckorgan für eine Saug-Regeneriervorrichtung mit einem Saugsystem eines Tintenstrahl-Aufzeichnungsgeräts nach Anspruch 5,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    - das genannte Tintenabsorptionsorgan (242) aus einem Polyolefin-Sinterkörper gebildet ist.
  7. Ein Abdeckorgan für eine Saug-Regeneriervorrichtung mit einem Saugsystem eines Tintenstrahl-Aufzeichnungsgeräts nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    - der besagte Kappenhebel (32) ein starres Tintenkommunikationsteil an einem zentralen Bereich einer Frontfläche des besagten Kappenhebels (32) besitzt, welches einen Außendurchmesser größer als ein Innendurchmesser des genannten Tintenkommunikationsorgans (35d) der genannten Kappe (35) hat.
  8. Ein Tintenstrahlgerät, das umfaßt:
    - eine Lagerungssektion (6; 1102) zur Lagerung eines Tintenstrahl-Aufzeichnungskopfes (9; 1101) und eines Abdeckorgans für eine Saug-Regeneriervorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7.
  9. Ein Saug-Regenerierverfahren für ein Tintenstrahl-Aufzeichnungsgerät, das die Schritte umfaßt des:
    - Berührens einer Kappe (35) mit einer mit Ausstoßöffnungen für ein Aufzeichnen durch Ausstoßen von Tinte ausgestatteten Stirnfläche,
    - Absaugens der Tinte mittels eines Saugsystems über die genannte Kappe (35) durch die erwähnten Ausstoßöffnungen hindurch,
    - Leitens der Tinte durch einen in der genannten Kappe (35) ausgebildeten ausgekehlten Bereich (35b) hindurch mittels einer an einer inneren Wand der genannten Kappe (35) zur Verbindung mit dem genannten Saugsystem vorgesehenen Ansaugöffnung (35c),
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    - die genannte Tinte durch den besagten ausgekehlten Bereich (35b) hindurch so geleitet wird, daß Tinte durch Oberflächenspannung an der besagten Ansaugöffnung (35c) gesammelt wird.
  10. Ein Saug-Regenerierverfahren nach Anspruch 9,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    - das genannte Absaugen der Tinte durch Hin- und Herbewegen eines Kolbens (28) innerhalb eines Zylinders (24) ausgeführt wird.
  11. Ein Saug-Regenerierverfahren nach Anspruch 9 oder 10,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    - die Tinte durch den besagten ausgekehlten Bereich (35b) hindurch, welcher vertieft von einer Anlagefläche (35a), an welcher der erwähnte Berührungsschritt ausgeführt wird, der genannten Kappe (35) aus vorgesehen ist, geleitet wird.
  12. Ein Saug-Regenerierverfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 9 bis 11,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    - die genannte Kappe (35) von einem Kappenträger (34) gehalten ist und das erwähnte Berühren durch einen Kappenhebel (32) ausgeführt wird, wobei die genannte Tinte durch ein Tintenabsorptionsorgan (242) angesaugt wird.
  13. Ein Abdeckorgan nach Anspruch 1,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    - der besagte ausgekehlte Bereich (35b) einstückig mit einem Tintenkommunikationsorgan (35d) zur Verbindung mit dem genannten Saugsystem aus elastischem Material gebildet ist.
  14. Ein Abdeckorgan nach Anspruch 1,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    - eine Breite des besagten ausgekehlten Bereichs (35b) gleich oder größer als 0,4 mm und gleich oder kleiner als 0,7 mm ist.
EP19910105793 1990-04-11 1991-04-11 Kappe für Rückgewinnungsgerät und Verfahren zur Rückgewinnung mittels Unterdruck Expired - Lifetime EP0451846B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP95976/90 1990-04-11
JP2095976A JP2814289B2 (ja) 1990-04-11 1990-04-11 ヘッドキャップおよび該ヘッドキャップを用いるインクジェット記録装置
JP208717/90 1990-08-06
JP208718/90 1990-08-06
JP20871690A JP2806609B2 (ja) 1990-08-06 1990-08-06 インクジェット記録装置
JP208716/90 1990-08-06
JP2208717A JP2806610B2 (ja) 1990-08-06 1990-08-06 インクジェット記録装置
JP2208718A JP2806611B2 (ja) 1990-08-06 1990-08-06 インクジェット記録装置

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0451846A2 EP0451846A2 (de) 1991-10-16
EP0451846A3 EP0451846A3 (en) 1992-01-08
EP0451846B1 true EP0451846B1 (de) 1996-07-10

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Country Link
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DE (1) DE69120711T2 (de)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0540344B1 (de) * 1991-10-31 1999-01-20 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Rückgewinnungsvorrichtung und Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät mit einer solchen Rückgewinnungsvorrichtung
DE69311397T2 (de) * 1992-03-02 1997-10-30 Seiko Epson Corp Farbstrahldrucker, damit ausgerüstetes elektronisches Gerät und Betriebsverfahren dafür
US5621450A (en) * 1992-09-08 1997-04-15 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Container for receiving ink jet cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus
JP6722559B2 (ja) * 2016-10-06 2020-07-15 日立造船株式会社 インクジェットプリンタのクリーニング部およびインクジェットプリンタ

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3040055A1 (de) * 1979-10-23 1981-05-14 Canon K.K., Tokyo Tintenstrahlschreiber
US4510510A (en) * 1982-04-13 1985-04-09 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Inkjet printer
JPS58194568A (ja) * 1982-05-11 1983-11-12 Canon Inc 吸引回複装置
US4819012A (en) * 1983-06-10 1989-04-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink-jet printer with cap means
JPS61277456A (ja) * 1985-06-04 1986-12-08 Canon Inc 液体噴射記録装置における吸引回復装置
JPS62111751A (ja) * 1985-11-12 1987-05-22 Canon Inc インクジエツト記録装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0451846A3 (en) 1992-01-08
DE69120711D1 (de) 1996-08-14
EP0451846A2 (de) 1991-10-16
DE69120711T2 (de) 1997-01-09

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