JP2000141691A - Ink-jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink-jet recording apparatus capable of eliminating the phenomenon of generating ink scattering so as to solve the problem of fouling of the inside of the recording apparatus in a wide range, in particular, fouling of the recording paper. SOLUTION: An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising an ink-jet recording head mounted on a reciprocally movable carriage, for injecting ink droplets, corresponding to printing data, wherein ink absorbing materials 30, 31 or ink wiping members are provided on one of or both of first and second members 8, 20 to be contacted with each other, having the possibility of the adhesion of an ink ejected from the recording head, is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus which has a recording head which moves in the width direction of a recording sheet, and which prints an image by discharging ink droplets onto the recording sheet based on print data. More specifically, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus capable of preventing contamination due to scattering of ink around a capping apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of personal computers, graphic processing has become relatively easy to execute, so that a recording apparatus capable of outputting, for example, a hard copy of a color image displayed on a display with high quality. Is required.

[0003] In order to meet such a demand, a recording apparatus equipped with an ink jet recording head has been provided. This ink jet recording apparatus is used for many printings including color printing, since noise at the time of printing is relatively small and small dots can be formed at a high density.

[0004] Such an ink jet recording apparatus is
An ink jet recording head that receives supply of ink from the ink storage unit, and a paper feeding unit that relatively moves the recording paper with respect to the recording head, wherein the ink is applied to the recording paper while moving the recording head according to a print signal Recording is performed by ejecting droplets to form dots.

As described above, in order to prevent the clogging due to the filling of the recording head with the ink and the volatilization of the ink solvent, there is a process for forcibly sucking and discharging the ink from the recording head. And print data
An operation is performed to supply a drive signal irrespective of data and eject ink droplets from nozzle openings of the head.

[0006] The forcible ejection of ink for eliminating clogging of the recording head is usually called a cleaning operation, and is performed when printing is resumed after a long pause, or when the user operates the recording head. When the cleaning switch is depressed to eliminate clogging of the recording head, the recording head is sealed by capping means and negative pressure is applied to discharge ink droplets. -This is a process accompanied by a wiping operation for wiping with a ning member.

The operation of applying a drive signal to the recording head to eject ink droplets is usually called a flushing operation, in which an irregular meniscus near the nozzle opening of the head is recovered by wiping or the like during a cleaning operation. In addition, this operation is performed at regular intervals for the purpose of preventing clogging of the nozzle opening that discharges a small amount of ink droplets during printing.

[0008]

By the way, in the ink jet type recording apparatus having the recording head cleaning function as described above, when the recording head is separated from the capping means or when the recording head is moved from the cleaning member. On leaving, ink may scatter. The scattering of the ink is limited to a narrow range near the capping means or the cleaning member, and does not stain the recording paper, the paper feeding device, and the like. However, the scattered ink may adhere to the side wall of the capping unit, the side wall of the cleaning member, or the like.

On the other hand, in recent ink jet recording apparatuses, there is a demand for miniaturization, so that capping means and clearing means are required.
The recording member is disposed in close proximity, the recording head is sealed by capping means and a negative pressure is applied to discharge ink droplets, and then the recording head is separated from the capping means,
Move the recording head to clear the rubber
The wiping operation is performed by the ning member.

At this time, the position of the capping means separated from the recording head is defined by bringing the capping means into contact with the side wall of the cleaning member.

Therefore, when the wiping operation is started in a state where the ink adheres to the side wall of the capping means and the side wall of the cleaning member as described above, the capping means comes into contact with the cleaning member. The pressed ink is momentarily pressed and scatters farther. As a result, not only the inside of the device was contaminated over a wide area, but also the recording paper was sometimes contaminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and solves the above-described phenomenon of causing widespread ink scattering, thereby contaminating a wide area inside a recording apparatus, particularly, recording paper. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which solves the problem of contamination of the ink jet recording apparatus.

[0013]

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above object, is mounted on a reciprocally movable carriage and ejects ink droplets corresponding to print data. In an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head for discharging,
An ink absorbing member or an ink wiping member is provided on one or both of the first and second members which have a possibility of adhering ink ejected from the recording head and abut on each other.

As described above, one or both of the first and second members that have a possibility of adhering ink ejected from the recording head and abut against each other are provided with an ink absorbing material or an ink wiping member. Therefore, even if the first and second members come into contact with each other, the ink does not scatter far away, so that a wide range of contamination inside the apparatus can be prevented and the recording paper is not stained.

Here, the first member is capping means for sealing the recording head and sucking ink from the recording head by receiving a negative pressure from the suction pump. Preferably, the cleaning member is disposed so as to be able to advance and retreat on the movement path of the recording head, and wipes the nozzle opening surface of the recording head when the recording head enters the movement path of the recording head. This is because these members have a large degree of contact.

Further, it is preferable that an ink wiping member is provided at an entrance end of the cleaning member as the second member.

As described above, by providing the ink wiping member at the entrance end of the cleaning member, the ink adhering to the capping means or the like is removed by the reciprocating operation of the cleaning member on the moving path of the recording head. can do.

Further, it is preferable that the ink wiping member is a soft rubber body.

Further, the first member is capping means for sealing the recording head and sucking ink from the recording head by receiving a negative pressure from the suction pump. It is preferable that the platen is a platen having a side end with which the capping unit contacts. The capping means may be in contact with the side end of the platen, so that even if both members abut, the ink does not scatter far away, and it is possible to prevent a wide range of contamination inside the device,
It does not stain the recording paper.

At this time, there is provided a cleaning member disposed so as to be able to advance and retreat on the moving path of the recording head, and wiping the nozzle opening surface of the recording head when the recording head is moved on the moving path of the recording head. It is preferable that an ink absorbing member is provided on a side wall of the cleaning member facing the platen side end. With this configuration, it is possible to further prevent the ink attached to the platen side end from scattering.

In addition, between the ink absorbing member provided on the side wall of the cleaning member and the wiper blade of the cleaning member, the ink attached to the wiper blade is guided to the ink absorbing member. Is preferably provided.

As described above, since the ink conducting member is provided, ink adhering to the wiper blade can be removed, and when the recording head separates from the cleaning member, the wiper blade can be removed. It is possible to prevent the ink attached to the wiper blade from scattering due to the rebound.

Further, it is desirable that the ink absorbing member is a soft rubber-based porous body, and that the ink conducting member is a soft rubber-based porous body.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which head cleaning is performed in an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and shows a state in which a recording head is sealed by a cap member. In FIG. 1,
Illustration of the recording head is omitted. FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the positional relationship of the capping means in the wiping operation. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a positional relationship of a capping unit during printing.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a carriage, which is configured to be guided by a guide rod 2 and move in parallel with a platen (paper guide plate) 3. The carriage 1 is connected to a part of a timing belt (not shown) driven by a carriage motor (not shown), and is configured to reciprocate along the guide rod 2.

A recording head 5 is mounted on the carriage 1 so as to face a recording paper 4 as a recording medium disposed on the upper surface of the platen 3. It is configured so that printing can be performed by ejecting ink droplets onto the recording paper 4 on the platen 3 in accordance with the data.

A capping device 6 as capping means for sealing the recording head 5 is disposed in a non-printing area of the recording device, and has a size such that the nozzle opening surface of the recording head 5 can be sealed in a sealed space. 7
The function of sealing the nozzle plate of the recording head 5 during non-printing to prevent drying of the ink at the nozzle opening, and the function of receiving a negative pressure from a pump unit (not shown) during the recovery operation of the ejection capacity to supply the recording head 5 And a function for forcibly discharging ink from the printer.

As shown in FIG. 1, an ink suction port 7a is formed in the cap member 7 disposed in the capping device 6, and one end of a tube (not shown) is connected to the ink suction port 7a. The other end of the tube is connected to a suction pump (not shown). The cap member 7 is provided with an atmosphere opening port 7b.
One end of a tube 17 is connected to b, and the other end of the tube 17 is connected to a valve 18.

Thus, the nozzle opening of the recording head 5 is sealed during non-printing, and when a cleaning command is received, a negative pressure is appropriately applied by a pump unit (not shown) as a suction pump. It is configured such that the ink can be forcibly discharged from the recording head 5 and the negative pressure can be released after the forced discharge of the ink is completed.

The cap member 7 accommodates an ink absorbing sheet 7c so that the sucked ink does not scatter.

The cap member 7 includes a compression spring 16
It is accommodated in a cap receiving member 8 which is mounted to be vertically movable via a, 16b, 16c, 16d. The upward movement of the cap receiving member 8 is restricted by engaging the engaging portions 8a and 8b with the engaging members 9c and 9d of the slider 9. Further, on the printing area side of the cap receiving member 8, a contact portion 8 d that comes into contact with the cleaning member 20 is provided. A long hole 13 is formed in the slider 9, and a shaft 12 provided on an arm 11 rotatable with respect to the frame 10 is movably accommodated in the long hole 13. As a result, the slider 9 can be raised with an arc-shaped locus with respect to the frame 10 via the arm 11.

Further, guide pieces 9a are formed on both ends of the slider 9 on the non-printing area side.
0 is supported on the guide surface 14.

The guide surface 14 of the frame 10 has a low portion 14a at the front end and a horizontal high portion 14b at the rear end.
However, three regions of the inclined portion 14c connecting these are further formed.

Further, as shown in FIG.
a, the other end of a tension spring 15 having one end fixed to the frame 10 is fixed, and is always urged in the print area direction and in the direction away from the recording head 5, in this embodiment, downward. ing.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when the carriage 1 moves just above the capping device 6, the carriage 1
The slider 9 rises via the arm 11 while resisting the tensile force of the spring 15 when the engaging body 1a arranged on the slider contacts the engaging portion 9b attached to a part of the slider 9, and the cap 9 The cap member 7 mounted on the receiving member 8 can seal the recording head 5 arranged on the carriage 1.

The valve 18 is mounted on the slider 9 as described above, and the valve 18 is configured to be opened and closed by a valve body 19a. This valve element 1
9a is a state in which the valve 18 is always closed by the spring 19b. The valve body 19a is a valve stem 1
9c is formed integrally with the end of the valve stem 19c.
The valve 18 is configured to open by abutting on the valve 10 while resisting the repulsive force of the spring 19b.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the printing area side adjacent to the capping device 7, the nozzle opening surface of the recording head 5 mounted on the carriage 1 is wiped with the movement of the carriage 1, for example, a rubber A cleaning member 20 having a flexible wiper blade 21 is established.

At the time of head cleaning, the recording head 5 removes dust and paper dust adhering to the nozzle plate by the cleaning member 20 before suctioning the ink, and also performs nozzle cleaning after suctioning the ink. -The ink adhering to the printer is wiped off.

The cleaning member 20 is configured so as to be able to enter or retreat from a wiping position on the moving path of the recording head 5 by a cleaning member drive unit (not shown).

An ink absorbing member 30 is provided on a side wall of the cap receiving member 8 of the capping device 6 on the printing area side, and an ink absorbing member 31 is provided on a cleaning member side wall facing the ink absorbing member 30. ing.
An ink absorbing member 33 is provided at the non-printing side end 3a of the platen 3, and an ink absorbing member 32 is provided on a side wall of the cleaning member facing the ink absorbing member 33.

The ink absorbing members 30, 31, 32,
Reference numeral 33 denotes a soft rubber-based porous body.
As a result, the ink attached to the side wall of the cap receiving member 8 and the side wall of the cleaning member 20 can be absorbed, and the ink can be prevented from being scattered.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

When the carriage 1 moves to the non-printing area,
As shown in FIG. 2, the slider 9 moves obliquely while rotating the arm 11 against the tension of the tension spring 15. At this time, since the cap receiving member 8 is positioned so as to be parallel to the surface of the recording head 5 by the high portion 14b of the guide surface 14, a slight step is formed on the surface of the recording head 5 provided on the carriage 1. Even if present, the compression spring 16
The cap member 7 reliably seals the recording head 5 by shrinking a to 16d.

In this way, at the stage where the sealing by the cap member 7 is completed, the valve 18 is always closed, so that the communication with the atmosphere is cut off and the cap member 7 becomes airtight, and the cap member 7 is closed from the nozzle opening. The ink is suppressed from evaporating to prevent clogging for a long time. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning member is arranged so as to enter the moving path of the recording head 5.

On the other hand, when the nozzle opening of the recording head 5 is clogged, or when the ink is forcibly discharged from the recording head 5 by replacing the cartridge, the pump unit is operated in the capping state. Let it. As a result, a negative pressure acts inside the cap member 7, and ink is sucked out from the nozzle openings. As a result, dust and paper dust adhering in the vicinity of the nozzle openings are washed, and the air bubbles in the recording head 5 are discharged to the cap member 7 together with the ink. The ink discharged from the recording head 5 is absorbed by the ink absorbing sheet 7c, thereby preventing the ink from adhering to the recording head 5 and reducing the rebound of ink at the time of forced ejection.

After the forcible discharge of ink from the recording head 5 is completed, the carriage 1 is further moved to the side opposite to the printing area, and the valve body 19 is moved, whereby the valve 18 is moved.
To open the atmosphere opening port 7b of the cap member 7 to the atmosphere.

Subsequently, when a pump unit (not shown) is operated, the negative pressure acting on the cap member 7 is reduced to the atmosphere opening port 7.
b), air is taken in from the ink absorbing sheet 7 without applying unnecessary negative pressure to the nozzle openings of the recording head 5.
c and the ink remaining in the cap member 7 is drawn to the ink suction port 7a communicating with the pump unit and discharged to the outside.

When the discharge of the waste ink in the cap member 7 is completed, the pump unit is stopped, and the recording head 5 is moved in the direction of the printing area. In this movement, the slider 9 moves the slope of the frame 10. The arm 11 descends while being supported by the rotation of the arm 11 while being guided by the arm 14. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the side wall of the cap receiving member 8 moves on the moving path of the
When the slider 9 comes into contact with 0, the movement of the slider 9 stops and is restricted to that position.

At this time, since the ink absorbing members 30 and 31 are provided at portions where the side wall of the cap receiving member 8 and the side wall of the cleaning member 20 are in contact with each other, even if the side walls of the cap receiving member 8 and the cleaning member 20 are cleaned. Even if ink adheres to the side wall of the lining member 20, the ink absorbing member 30,
It is absorbed by 31.

Moreover, even if the ink absorbing members 30 and 31 are momentarily pressed, the ink absorbed therein does not scatter far away, so that a wide range of contamination inside the apparatus can be prevented, and the recording paper can be removed. It doesn't get dirty.

Further, as the recording head 5 moves on the printing area side, the nozzle plate surface of the recording head 5 is cleaned.

When the cleaning of the recording head 5 is completed and the cleaning member 20 retreats from the moving path of the recording head 5, as shown in FIG.
When the side wall of the cap receiving member 8 comes into contact with the platen end 3a, the movement of the slider 9 is stopped and regulated to that position.

At this time, the portion where the platen end 3a abuts on the side wall of the cap receiving member 8 is provided with
0, 33, the platen end 3
Even if the ink adheres to a and the side wall of the cap receiving member 8, the ink is absorbed by the ink absorbing members 30 and 33.

Moreover, even if the ink absorbing members 30, 33 are momentarily pressed, the ink absorbed therein does not scatter far away, so that a wide range of contamination inside the apparatus can be prevented, and the recording paper can be prevented. It does not pollute.

By providing the ink absorbing member 32 on the side wall of the cleaning 20 facing the platen side end 3a, the scattering of ink when the side wall of the cleaning 20 comes into contact with the platen side end 3a. Can be prevented.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, between the ink absorbing member 31 provided on the side wall of the cleaning member 20 and the wiper blade 21 of the cleaning member 20,
An ink conducting member 34 is provided for guiding the ink adhered to the wiper blade 21 to the ink absorbing member 31. The ink conducting member 34 is formed of a soft rubber-based porous body, and can guide the ink attached to the wiper blade 21 to the ink absorbing member 31 by a so-called capillary phenomenon.

As described above, by providing the ink conducting member 34, the ink adhering to the wiper blade 21 can be removed, and when the recording head 5 separates from the cleaning member 20, the wiper blade is removed. It is possible to prevent the ink attached to the wiper blade 21 from scattering due to the bouncing of the blade 21. The ink conducting member 34 is desirably a soft rubber-based porous body.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an ink wiping member 35 is provided at the entrance end of the cleaning member 20. The ink wiping member 35 is formed of a soft rubber body. Note that FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the cleaning member 20, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where the lining member 20 is incorporated in the ink jet recording apparatus.

Since the ink wiping member 35 is provided at the entrance end of the cleaning member 20 as shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the ink adhering to the side wall of the cap receiving member 8 and the platen side end 3a can be removed by the reciprocating operation of the cleaning member 20.
The ink does not scatter even when it comes into contact with the cleaning member 20 or the platen side end 3a, so that a wide range of contamination inside the apparatus can be prevented and the recording paper is not stained.

In the above embodiment, the recording head is 1
Although the description has been made using one ink jet recording apparatus, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and can be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus having two or more recording heads and two or more cap members.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the cap receiving member is in contact with the cleaning member has been described. For example, the end of the slider is in contact with the cleaning member. In the case of contact, an ink absorbing member may be provided at the end of the slider. That is, the cap absorbing means such as a cap receiving member and a slider may be provided with the ink absorbing member in the capping means which comes into contact with the cleaning member.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ink absorbing member is provided on the side wall of the cap receiving member and on the side wall of the cleaning member which is in contact with the side wall of the cap receiving member. Any one of the side walls may be used. In addition, although the ink absorbing member is provided at the platen side end that contacts the cap receiving member and the side wall of the cap receiving member, it may be either the side wall of the capping unit or the platen side end.

Further, in the above embodiment, the description has been made using the ink jet recording apparatus in which the cap receiving member is mounted on the slider via the compression spring. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus in which a receiving member is mounted on a holder via a compression spring and the holder is mounted on a slider.

[0066]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, there is a possibility that the ink ejected from the recording head adheres and the first and second inks contact each other. Since one or both of the above members are provided with an ink absorbing material or an ink wiping member, the ink does not scatter far away, it is possible to prevent a wide range of contamination inside the apparatus, and the recording paper is not stained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a capping unit in an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a positional relationship of a capping unit in a wiping operation.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a positional relationship of a capping unit during printing.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an assembled state of the cleaning member shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an operation state of the cleaning member shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 carriage 2 guide rod 3 platen 3a platen end 4 recording paper 5 recording head 6 capping device 7 cap member 8 cap receiving member 9 slider 10 frame 11 arm 14 guide surface 15 extension spring 16a compression spring 16b compression spring 16c Compression spring 16d Compression spring 17 Tube 18 Valve 20 Cleaning member 21 Wiper blade 30 Ink absorption member 31 Ink absorption member 32 Ink absorption member 33 Ink absorption member 34 Ink conduction member 35 Ink wiping part

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head mounted on a reciprocally movable carriage and discharging ink droplets corresponding to print data, wherein the ink discharged from the recording head is provided. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink absorbing member or an ink wiping member provided on one or both of a first member and a second member having a possibility of adhering and abutting each other. 2. The first member is a capping unit for sealing a recording head and sucking ink from the recording head by receiving a negative pressure from a suction pump. A cleaning member disposed so as to be able to advance and retreat on the moving path of the recording head, and wiping a nozzle opening surface of the recording head when the recording head has entered the moving path of the recording head. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to 1. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an ink wiping member is provided at an entrance end of the cleaning member as the second member. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink wiping member is a soft rubber body. 5. The first member is capping means for sealing a print head and sucking ink from the print head by receiving a negative pressure from a suction pump. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said capping means is a platen having a side end to be contacted. 6. A cleaning member disposed so as to be able to advance and retreat on a moving path of the recording head, and wiping a nozzle opening surface of the recording head when the recording head has entered the moving path of the recording head, 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an ink absorbing member is provided on a side wall of the cleaning member facing the platen side end. 7. The ink adhering to the wiper blade is guided to the ink absorbing member between the ink absorbing member provided on the side wall of the cleaning member and the wiper blade of the cleaning member. 7. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an ink conducting member for the ink jet recording apparatus. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink absorbing member is a soft rubber-based porous body. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the ink conducting member is a soft rubber-based porous body.