JP2001219565A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning mechanism for recording head in which ink is wiped off thoroughly in the vicinity of an ejection opening by exhibiting good wiping performance for the entire surface of ejection opening and good wiping performance can be sustained even for the surface of ejection opening having an intricate shape. SOLUTION: As a wiping member 18 for cleaning the surface of ejection opening 81 of a recording head 6, a resilient member of such a structure as the opposite end parts 21, 21 at the forward end part touching the surface of ejection opening 81 are more flexible than the intermediate part 22.

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 for performing recording by discharging ink from a recording means onto a recording material, and more particularly, to an ink jet recording apparatus which abuts against a discharge port surface of a recording means and moves relative to the recording medium. The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus having a wiping member for wiping and cleaning an outlet surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording apparatus having functions such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile, or a recording apparatus used as an output device of a multifunction machine or a workstation including a computer or a word processor, etc., is based on image information. An image (including characters and symbols) is recorded on a recording material (recording medium) such as an OHP sheet. The recording device,
Depending on the recording method of the recording means used, it can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a thermal transfer type, and a laser beam type.

In a serial type recording apparatus employing a recording method in which a main scanning is performed in a direction crossing a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of the recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and then the recording material is set. An image (including characters and symbols) is recorded by recording means (recording head) mounted on a carriage that moves (main scans) along the line, and after recording for one line is completed, a predetermined amount of paper (Scanning), and thereafter, the operation of recording (main scanning) the image of the next row is repeated, whereby the image is recorded in a desired range of the recording material.
On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that performs recording only by sub-scanning in which a recording material is transported in a transport direction, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and recording for one line is continuously performed collectively. A predetermined amount of paper feed (pitch feed) is performed, and an image is recorded on the entire recording material.

Among them, the ink jet type (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by discharging ink from an ink jet recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, so that the recording means can be easily made compact and high definition. High-speed recording of high-quality images, can be recorded on plain paper without the need for special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise,
In addition, there is an advantage that it is easy to record a color image using multicolor inks. Above all, a line-type printing apparatus using a line-type printing means in which a large number of ejection ports are arranged in the paper width direction can further speed up printing.

[0005] In particular, an ink jet recording means (recording head) for discharging ink using thermal energy is an electrothermal transducer formed on a substrate through a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, or sputtering. ,electrode,
By forming the liquid path wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a device having a high-density liquid path arrangement (discharge port arrangement) and achieve further downsizing. Also, by utilizing the advantages of the IC technology and the micro-machining technology, it is easy to make the recording means longer and planar (two-dimensional), and it is also easier to make the recording means full multi-layer and high-density mounting. is there.

There are various demands for the material of the recording material. For example, paper or a resin thin plate (O.R.
In addition to HP and the like, it is required to use thin paper and processed paper (paper with perforated holes or perforated paper for filing, paper of any shape, etc.). Further, in recent years, with the development of the recording material and the expansion of the application range of the recording device, in addition to the above-described recording material, a recording device using cloth, leather, nonwoven fabric, or even metal as the recording material has also been developed. Is being used.

The ink jet recording apparatus discharges ink from fine discharge ports of a recording head in accordance with recording information to form flying ink droplets, and adheres the ink droplets to a recording material to form an image comprising a dot pattern. Is configured to be recorded. In such an ink jet recording apparatus, in order to satisfy performances such as high-speed recording, high resolution, and high image quality, it is required to stabilize the ink discharge of the recording head and the ink discharge amount. That is,
In the inkjet recording head, ejection failure (including non-ejection) may occur due to drying thickening of the ink in the ejection opening, intrusion of dust, generation of bubbles in the ink, and the like, and prevent this ejection failure. Alternatively, it is required that the recording head always maintain a stable ink discharge function by eliminating (recovering).

Accordingly, as one of the ejection recovery means for stabilizing the ink ejection, first, a cap is provided which is in close contact with the ejection port surface of the recording head and seals (caps) the ejection port. Usually, the inside of the cap is connected to negative pressure suction means such as a suction pump. The cap is used to perform a suction recovery operation for sucking ink from a discharge port of a recording head to eliminate a discharge defect, or to prevent drying of the ink in the discharge port and protect the discharge port surface. Have been.

In addition, as ink is ejected, ink splashing from a recording material (paper or the like) or mist generated at the time of ejection accumulates near the ejection port, and the accumulated ink is connected to the ejection port to cause non-ejection. In some cases, ejection failure such as bleeding or twisting may be caused. To prevent this, wiping (scraping, wiping) the face surface (ejection port surface) of the recording head with an elastic member such as urethane rubber
An operation of removing ink on the ejection port surface is performed. In this case, the wiping performance of the elastic member largely depends on its material, mechanical setting conditions, and the like. Factors that determine the wiping performance include three factors such as a wiping speed, a contact angle, and a contact pressure. Can be

The wiping speed of the elastic member (wiping member) is a relative moving speed in a state where the elastic member is in pressure contact with the discharge port surface of the recording head. If the wiping speed is too high, the elastic member slips through the ejection port surface, and large ink droplets remain. On the other hand, if the wiping speed is too low, wiping performance other than the ejection port is good, but when the elastic member leaves the ejection port, an ink droplet having a size equal to or less than the ejection port is drawn out from the ejection port. I will. The drawn-out ink droplets remain near the ejection ports, and cause ejection failure due to the wet ink.

The contact angle of the elastic member (wiping member) is
This is the angle formed between the elastic member and the ejection port surface when the elastic member is in pressure contact with the ejection port surface of the recording head. When the contact angle is too high (when the angle between the elastic member and the discharge port surface is too large in the direction perpendicular to the discharge port surface), the elastic member is in a stick-slip state (vibration state).
, Causing intermittent jumps and fine wiping. In addition, the ink droplets may be pulled out from the ejection ports. However, it is better to set the elastic member to a high angle for wiping performance with respect to the ink drops themselves, and to use a high angle for wiping (wiping and cleaning) parts other than the ejection ports. Is preferred.

On the other hand, when the contact angle of the elastic member with respect to the discharge port surface is too low (when the elastic member is too small in the direction in which the elastic member is laid down on the discharge port surface), the elastic member moves with respect to the discharge port surface. As a result, the ink drop cannot be scraped off at the tip, and the ink drop slips through the elastic member and is left unwiped.

The contact pressure (the contact pressure of the elastic member with respect to the discharge port surface) is determined by the force with which the elastic member presses the discharge port surface while the elastic member is in pressure contact with the discharge port surface of the recording head. is there. If the contact pressure is too high, the water repellent applied to the discharge port surface will be peeled off by frictional force. When the water repellency decreases, the probability of leaving ink droplets increases, which causes an ejection failure. On the other hand, if the contact pressure is too low (too small), the performance of removing foreign substances such as dust and paper powder attached to the discharge port surface is reduced.
In particular, foreign matter adhering to the discharge port directly causes a discharge failure, so that it is necessary to recover the foreign matter at a minimum required number of times. Therefore, the contact pressure must be set within a range that does not reduce the foreign matter removal performance. By setting the above three elements in the optimum range, it is possible to obtain high wiping performance.

[0014]

However, the ejection port surfaces of the recording head are not all in the same state. For example, the shape and structure of the portion around the ejection port are different from those of the other portions. Conditions vary depending on the position on the ejection port surface, the type of ink, and the like. Furthermore, the discharge port surface is not necessarily flat, and the discharge ports are arranged in locally recessed places, the discharge port surface has a complicated slope, and the shape and state of the discharge port surface are various. There are cases. Therefore, the optimal operating conditions (setting conditions) for wiping (wiping) the discharge port surface with the wiping member (elastic member) also differ depending on the shape and state of the discharge port surface.

Conventionally, by performing wiping using a plurality of elastic members, it is possible to cope with a complicated shape and state of the discharge port surface, or to secure only a local wiping performance and to perform wiping of other parts. In some cases, wiping conditions may be set with light consideration. However, such a conventional wiping mechanism has disadvantages such as an increase in cost and an insufficient overall wiping performance. Further, in a recording head using an ink containing a water-resistant dye and / or a pigment which has been recently used, the ink remaining after wiping (residual ink) tends to be thickened and fixed by drying or the like. When the ink is deposited in the vicinity, the ejection state of the ink is deteriorated, and it is easy to cause ejection failure (image quality deterioration) such as a so-called eccentricity or shove.

Therefore, it is extremely difficult to set the wiping conditions while keeping only the above-mentioned local wiping performance and lightly considering the wiping performance of other parts. That is, despite the increasing importance of wiping mechanisms that can exhibit high wiping performance over the entire discharge port surface without being affected by the shape of the discharge port surface with a low-cost mechanism, the conventional technology is still an effective means. Has not been proposed.

The present invention has been made in view of such a technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive structure and to provide good wiping performance to the entire ejection opening surface of the recording means. By exerting it, it is possible to eliminate the ink wiping residue near the discharge port, and it is possible to maintain good wiping performance even for a discharge port surface of a complicated shape, thereby
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a wiping mechanism capable of maintaining high image quality for a long period of time.

[0018]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention (claim 1) provides:
In order to achieve the above object, in an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording unit to a recording material, the ejection port surface is wiped and cleaned by contacting and relatively moving with the ejection port surface of the recording unit. The wiping member is an elastic member having a structure in which both side portions of a tip portion in contact with the discharge port surface have a more flexible structure than an intermediate portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a plurality of the wiping members are provided, and a difference in flexibility between an intermediate portion of a tip portion of each wiping member and both sides thereof is different. A configuration in which a plurality of the wiping members are provided, and a contact condition such as an amount of penetration of each wiping member into the discharge port surface is changed, or the recording unit discharges an ink containing a water-resistant dye or a pigment or both. The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus that can achieve the above object more efficiently by adopting a structure that is an ink jet recording means for performing recording.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing one embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention. In FIG. 1, a platen 2 for backing up a recording material 1 such as a recording sheet or a plastic thin plate is guided and supported so as to be able to reciprocate left and right along guide rails 3 and 4 installed in parallel with the platen. A carriage 5 is provided. On the carriage 5, a recording head (recording means) 6 for recording an image on the sheet-shaped recording material 1 in accordance with recording data transferred from a host device such as a host computer is mounted.

A plurality of (for example, 64) discharge ports are arranged in the vertical direction on the front surface of the recording head 6 (the discharge port face facing the recording material 1). The carriage 5 is connected to a timing belt 10 wound around a motor pulley 8 that is driven to rotate by a carriage motor 7 and a driven pulley 9 that is supported on the opposite side. It reciprocates in the direction of arrow F). Then, by driving the recording head 6 based on the recording data during the main scanning movement, an image for one line is recorded on the recording material 1.

In FIG. 1, a recording material 1 inserted along a paper pan 11 is fed by a transport motor (paper feed motor).
The recording paper is fed to a recording section between the recording head 6 and the platen 2 by a transport roller (paper feed roller) (not shown) rotated and driven by the recording head 12. The recording material 1 sent to the recording section is in close contact with a platen (fixed flat platen) 2 by a paper pressing plate 13. The recording material 1 that has passed through the recording unit is conveyed and discharged by discharge rollers 14 and 15 that are driven in synchronization with a conveyance roller (not shown).

The recording head (recording means) 6 is an ink jet recording means for discharging ink using thermal energy, and has an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy. Further, the recording head 6 includes:
The recording is performed by discharging ink from the discharge port by utilizing a pressure change generated by the growth and shrinkage of bubbles caused by film boiling caused by the heat energy applied by the electrothermal transducer.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection section of the recording head 6. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.
A plurality of discharge ports 82 are formed at a predetermined pitch on a discharge port surface 81 facing at a distance of about 3 to 2.0 mm), and each liquid path 84 connects the common liquid chamber 83 and each discharge port 82. An electrothermal converter (heat-generating resistor or the like) 85 for generating energy for ink ejection is provided along the wall surface.
In this example, the recording head 6 is mounted on the carriage 5 in a positional relationship such that the ejection openings 82 are arranged in a direction crossing the scanning direction of the carriage 5. In this way, the corresponding electrothermal transducer 85 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid path 84 to boil, and the ejection port 82 is formed by the pressure generated at that time.
The recording head 6 ejects ink from the recording head 6.

In FIG. 1, a recording area of the recording head 6 or a home position set at a predetermined position outside the installation range of the platen 2 or near the home position is set.
An ejection recovery system 16 for eliminating the ink ejection failure and maintaining the ejection performance is provided. This ejection recovery system 16
Is a cap 17 for sealing the ejection port 82 in close contact with the ejection port face 81 of the recording head 6 located at the home position, and an ink suction means (not shown) connected to the cap 17 (not shown). ) And the recording head 6 passing therethrough
And a wiping member (wiper blade) 18 for wiping (wiping and cleaning) the discharge port surface (a range including at least the discharge port 82) by rubbing against the discharge port surface 81.

The cap 17 is provided so as to be movable (drivable) so as to be in close contact with and separate from the discharge port surface 81 of the recording head 6 at the home position. Also,
The wiping member (blade) 18 is formed of an elastic member made of a plate-like rubber-like elastic body, and is mounted on a blade holder 19. And this blade 18
By moving the blade holder 19 closer to (advanced with) the recording head 6, the blade holder 19 can be set at an intrusion position where the blade holder 19 can rub against the discharge port surface 81. Outlet 82
(In the arrangement direction), the wiping (wiping) of the vicinity of the discharge port 82 of the discharge port surface 81 can be performed.

During recording, the ink ejection energy of the recording head 6 is synchronized with a signal output from a linear encoder (not shown) installed in parallel with the guide rail 4 as the carriage 5 moves (main scanning). By driving the generating means (electrothermal transducer 85) based on the recording data and landing ink droplets ejected from the corresponding ejection ports 82 and flying on the recording material 1, an image composed of a dot pattern is recorded. Record on material 1.

When the recording of one line is completed by the main scanning of the carriage 5, the conveyance roller 12 (not shown) is rotated by a predetermined amount by the conveyance motor 12 to feed the recording material 1 by one line (sub-scan). Scan), and the recording head 6 is synchronized with the movement of the carriage 5 as described above.
Is driven based on the print data, thereby printing the next line. Hereinafter, the above-described sub-scanning (paper feed) and main scanning (recording) are repeatedly performed, thereby recording the entire recording material 1. After the recording is completed, the recording head 6 is stopped at the home position. Discharge recovery system 16
The cap 17 is brought into close contact with the ejection port surface 81 of the recording head 6 to seal (capping) the ejection port 82.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the wiping operation of the wiping member (elastic member, blade) 18 in FIG. FIG.
, A wiping member (blade) 18 made of an elastic member
Moves in the direction of arrow A (wiping direction), thereby wiping (wiping and cleaning) the discharge port surface 81 of the recording head 6. A depression 31 is formed in the center of the discharge port surface 81, and a discharge port array including a plurality of discharge ports 82 is formed in the depression 31. In FIG. 3, 32 and 32 indicate upper and lower edges of the depression 31, and 33 and 33 indicate left and right edges of the depression 31.

When the discharge port surface 81 having such a shape is wiped by a single blade 18, it is necessary to increase the penetration amount of the blade 18 in order to make the blade 18 contact the discharge port 82 in the recess 31. There is. However, in the conventional wiping mechanism, when the penetration amount of the blade as the wiping member is increased, the contact angle between the blade and the discharge port surface is reduced, and the blade comes into contact with the belly and the wiping performance is reduced. Had a problem of doing so. In particular, in the case of an ink containing a water-resistant dye and / or a pigment, the ink remaining on the ejection port surface 81 (residual ink) tends to increase in viscosity, and when the contact angle is small, the effect of the remaining ink is remarkable. , And defects such as defective discharge were likely to occur.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state in which the tip of the wiping member (blade) 18 passes through the area of the depression 31 (near the discharge port 82) along the line 4-4 in FIG. is there. The wiping direction in FIG. 4 is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. In FIG. 4, when the area of the depression 31 in which the discharge port 82 is formed by the conventional blade (wiping member, elastic member) is wiped by the relative movement in the horizontal direction, the tip of the blade reaches the vicinity of the discharge port 82. The tip portion (the portion in contact with the discharge port surface 81) is recessed 3
The upper and lower edges 32, 32 are curved as shown by the curve B, and a part of the middle portion (central portion) 22 of the tip portion contacts the periphery of the discharge port 82.
In a part near 2 and 32, it was in a state of floating from the discharge port surface 81.

Therefore, the wiping member (blade) 18 of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied is provided with a discharge port surface 81.
The both sides 21 of the tip portion in contact with are formed of an elastic member having a more flexible structure than the intermediate portion 22. Such a blade (wiping member,
The depression 3 in which the discharge port 82 is formed by the elastic member 18
In the case of wiping the area 1 by relative movement in the horizontal direction, when the tip of the blade 18 reaches the vicinity of the ejection port 82, the tip (the portion in contact with the ejection port face 81) becomes the upper and lower edges of the recess 31. In the vicinity of 32, 32, it can easily bend sharply (elastic deformation) as shown by curve A. Therefore, the depression 31 at the tip portion of the blade 18
The contact area within is expanded.

That is, in the conventional blade, the contact area (the contact area in the depression 31) of the intermediate portion 22 of the tip portion of the blade with the vicinity of the discharge port 82 was as shown by b in FIG. However, according to the blade 18 to which the present invention is applied, the discharge port 8 of the intermediate portion 22 at the tip of the blade 18 is formed.
The contact area with the vicinity 2 (the contact area in the depression 31) can be enlarged (increased) to the area indicated by a in FIG. 4 under the same conditions. Conversely, when the width of the contact area with the vicinity of the discharge port 82 in the depression 31 is made equal, the blade 18 to which the present invention is applied has a discharge port surface 81 And the contact angle between the blade 18 and the discharge port surface 81 can be increased (in a direction approaching perpendicular to the discharge port surface 81). Or, it means that the removability (wiping and cleaning function) of the remaining ink that tends to increase in viscosity such as ink containing both of them can be improved (can be increased).

That is, according to the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, the ejection port face is used as the wiping member 18 for wiping and cleaning the ejection port face by contacting the ejection port face 81 of the recording head 6 and moving relative thereto. Since the elastic member whose both sides 21, 21 of the tip portion in contact with 81 have a more flexible structure than the intermediate portion 22 is used, the discharge port is formed in the recess 31 of the discharge port surface 81 of the recording head 6. 82, the both sides 21 of the wiping member (blade, elastic member) 18 are easily elastically deformed and the intermediate portion 2 is formed.
2 easily comes into contact with the periphery of the ejection port 82, so that the ink wiping in the vicinity of the ejection port can be prevented, and the degree of freedom in designing the material and hardness of the wiping member 18 and the amount and freedom of entry of the wiping member 18 Since the degree of freedom in setting the wiping operation such as length and speed is increased, high wiping performance can be maintained over the entire wiping range even in the case of a discharge port surface having a complicated shape, whereby high image quality can be maintained over a long period of time. The effect that quality can be maintained is obtained.

FIG. 5 shows a wiping member (blade, blade) used in an ejection recovery system of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a first embodiment of an elastic member. In FIG. 5, a blade 18 as a wiping member has a notch removal portion formed on both sides except for a part of the tip portion. That is, the original square blade 18
When the total width is W and the total length is H, the end portion (the portion in contact with the discharge port surface 81) has the full width W in the length direction h range, but has both ends in the other portions in the length direction. Is cut out in a rectangular shape from the portion to the vicinity of the portion of the discharge port surface 81 that comes into contact with the edges 32, 32 of the dent 31, and the range of the width w of the intermediate portion substantially corresponding to the interval between the edges 32, 32 is reduced. Is left.

In this way, the blade 18 is
Both ends (a range of v from both ends) of the tip portion in contact with the elastic member are configured to be more flexible than an intermediate portion (a range of the width w including the center). The wiping member 18 having the shape described above with reference to FIG. 5 can be manufactured by forming a rubber-like elastic blade and then punching the same, and can be easily applied to an ether-urethane-based blade which is difficult to form in a complicated manner. Therefore, the degree of freedom of material selection is large, and it can be easily implemented.

FIG. 6 shows a wiping member (blade, blade) used in an ejection recovery system of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
It is a typical perspective view showing a 2nd example of an elastic member). The second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is different from the second embodiment shown in FIG.
However, the shape of the notch (therefore, the shape of the tip portion) is different from that of the first embodiment.
That is, also in FIG. 6, when the entire width of the original square blade 18 is W and the entire length is H, the blade 18 has the full width W in a predetermined range in the longitudinal direction of the tip portion (the portion that contacts the discharge port surface 81). But in other parts of the length direction,
Edges 32 of the depression 31 of the discharge port face 81 from both ends,
Notch is removed to the vicinity of the portion that abuts on the edge 32, and a range of the width w of the intermediate portion substantially corresponding to the interval between the edges 32, 32 is left. The thickness (dimension in the length direction of the blade) of the portion having is selected to be relatively large values D and D at both ends, and to be relatively small values d and d at the connection portion with the middle portion of the width w. It is notched and formed in a shape inclined inward as shown in FIG.

The second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 has substantially the same shape as the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5, except for the tapered shape at the tip portion (full width portion). According to the second embodiment of FIG. 6, the blade 18 has a shape in which the flexibility at both ends of the tip portion (the portion in contact with the discharge port surface 81) is reduced (slightly increased in rigidity). 18
(Vibration (stick-slip)) at both ends of the wiping surface, thereby preventing the wiping performance from deteriorating. According to the shape shown in FIG. 6, the same effect as that of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained, and in addition to the vicinity of the edges 32, 32 without considering the deterioration of the wiping performance at both ends of the blade. The flexibility of the abutting portion can be increased (made more flexible), and the design freedom of the blade as the wiping member can be further increased.

FIG. 7 shows a wiping member (blade, blade, etc.) used in an ejection recovery system of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
It is a typical perspective view showing a 3rd example of an elastic member. In this embodiment, the back plate member 35 is attached to the rubber-like elastic material blade 18.
Is arranged. As the back plate member 35, a plate made of a material different from that of the blade 18, for example, a metal plate or a plastic plate can be used. Further, the back plate member 35 may be integrally bonded to the blade 18 by bonding or the like, or may be arranged in a state of being simply brought into contact with the blade 18. By providing such a back plate member 35, the blade 1
In addition to being able to have a difference in flexibility between the side portions and the intermediate portion of the tip portion of the wiping member made of No. 8, it is possible to design the difference in flexibility almost arbitrarily, further increasing the degree of freedom in design. Can be improved (enlarged).

FIG. 8 shows a wiping member (blade, blade) used in the ejection recovery system of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
It is a typical perspective view showing a 4th example of an elastic member. This embodiment is different from the third embodiment shown in FIG.
5 is molded integrally with the blade 18 with a rubber-like elastic material, so that both side portions 21 and 21 (FIG. 4) of the tip portion in contact with the discharge port surface 81 are separated from the intermediate portion 22 (FIG. 4). Is also a flexible structure. According to the present embodiment, by changing the thickness, shape, and the like of the back plate portion 36, the both ends 21, 21 (FIG. 4) of the tip end portion (the portion that comes into contact with the discharge port surface 81) of the wiping member 18 are interposed. The difference in flexibility of the part 22 (FIG. 4) can be changed (adjusted).
Further, the main body portion (blade portion) 18 and the back plate portion 36
Is molded integrally with a different material (rubber-like elastic material) (2
By performing color molding, the degree of freedom in design can be further increased.

FIG. 9 shows a wiping member (blade, blade, etc.) used in an ejection recovery system of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
It is a typical perspective view showing a 5th example (elastic member). This embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in FIG. 8 in that the outer edges (blades 18) of the flexible side portions 21, 21 (FIG. 4) are provided.
(Both ends), thick portions (portions having increased rigidity and reduced flexibility) 37, 37 are formed. The fifth in FIG.
According to the embodiment, as in the second embodiment of FIG. 6 described above, the tip portion of the blade 18 (the portion in contact with the discharge port surface 81).
Since the shape is such that the flexibility at both ends of the blade 18 is lowered (slightly increased in rigidity), it is possible to prevent the occurrence of vibration (stick slip) at both ends of the blade 18 during wiping and a decrease in wiping performance. According to the shape shown in FIG. 9, in addition to the effects of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.
It is possible to increase (make more flexible) the portion in contact with the vicinity of 2 and 32, and it is possible to further increase the degree of freedom in designing a blade as a wiping member.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a sixth embodiment of the wiping member (blade, elastic member) used in the ejection recovery system of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the present embodiment, in consideration of the operation and effect of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG.
Direction). According to the shape of FIG. 10, in addition to the effect of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 9 described above, an effect of easily coping with a more complicated change in the shape of the discharge port surface 81 can be obtained. 5 to 10.
Although the shapes of the wiping members (blades) according to the first to sixth embodiments described above have the same effects as described above even when implemented alone, the wiping members (blades) can be implemented by appropriately combining a plurality of embodiments. The effect can be further enhanced. In addition, the fourth to sixth embodiments of FIGS.
It is suitable to be implemented with a wiping member (blade, elastic member) of a material that can be formed into a complicated shape such as R.

As described above, the wiping member (elasticity) that wipes and cleans (wipes) the vicinity of the discharge port 81 of the discharge port surface by contacting the discharge port surface 81 of the recording means (recording head) 6 and moving relative thereto. (Member) 18 at both ends 21, 2 at the tip end portion in contact with the discharge port surface 81.
1 has a more flexible structure as compared with the intermediate portion 22, so that even if the shape of the discharge port surface 81 is complicated, the cleaning performance (wiping performance) of the wiping member is not reduced and an inexpensive structure is achieved. Therefore, high-performance wiping performance can be realized, and the reliability of the inkjet recording apparatus can be improved. That is, in the conventional wiping means, the function of wiping cleaning by the shape of the discharge port surface and the arrangement of the discharge ports was limited due to the restriction of the wiping operation of the wiping member. Since the restriction on the wiping operation is relaxed or eliminated, the degree of freedom in designing the recording head 6 (ejection port face 81) can be increased, and the density of the ejection port 82 can be increased without changing the area of the ejection port face 81. In addition, it is possible to increase the number and increase the resolution and speed of the ink jet recording apparatus.

That is, according to the embodiment described above,
In an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging ink from the recording means 6 to the recording material 1, a wiping member 18 for wiping and cleaning the discharge port surface 81 by abutting against the discharge port surface 81 of the recording means 6 and relatively moving. Is the discharge port surface 81
The middle part 22 of the tip part which contacts with both sides 21, 2
Since the elastic member has a structure that is more flexible than that of the wiping member 18, even when the discharge port 82 is formed in the recess 31 of the discharge port surface 81 of the recording unit 1, both sides of the wiping member 18 are formed. 21 and 21 are easily elastically deformed, and the intermediate portion 22 easily comes into contact with the periphery of the ejection port. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink wiping in the vicinity of the ejection port from remaining. Since the degree of freedom and the degree of freedom in setting the wiping operation such as the amount of penetration of the wiping member 18, the free length and the speed are increased, it is possible to maintain a high wiping performance over the entire wiping range even in the case of a discharge port surface having a complicated shape. Accordingly, an ink jet recording apparatus having a wiping mechanism capable of maintaining high image quality for a long period of time is provided.

Further, the wiping member 1 described with reference to FIGS.
In the wiping mechanism using the nozzle 8, the discharge port surface is implemented by a configuration using a plurality of wiping members having different contact states with the discharge port surface 81 of the recording head 6 (a configuration having a plurality of wiping modes). The wiping and cleaning of 81 can be performed more efficiently. For example, a configuration in which a plurality of wiping members 18 are provided and the difference in flexibility between the intermediate portion 22 at the tip end portion of each wiping member 18 and the both sides 21, 21 is different, or the discharge port surface 81 of each wiping member 18 is provided. By appropriately combining and implementing a configuration in which the contact conditions such as the amount of intrusion into the discharge port 81 differ, the wiping and cleaning of the discharge port surface 81 can be performed more reliably and efficiently. Even when recording is performed using an ink containing a water-resistant dye or pigment or a pigment that easily increases in viscosity due to drying or the like, it is possible to reliably wipe the ejection port surface 81 in a state where there is no ink (residual ink). It becomes possible.

In a configuration in which a plurality of wiping members are used to execute a plurality of wiping modes, the thickened ink as described above is easily dissolved in a fresh ink that has not been thickened, and is wiped and cleaned by being melted. There is a configuration example based on the finding that it becomes easier. More specifically, there are at least two modes: a wiping mode in which ink is drawn from an ejection port and a wiping mode in which wiping properties in the vicinity of the ejection port are considered.
By setting one of the modes, the thickened ink is melted with the ink drawn out from the ejection port, and then the melted ink is wiped and cleaned, so that a high wiping performance can be exhibited over the entire area of the ejection port surface 81. It is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a cost wiping mechanism.

In a wiping mechanism using a conventional wiping member, the discharge port 8 is provided in a recess 31 as shown in FIGS.
In the case of wiping (wiping and cleaning) the recording head having the discharge port surface 81 on which the nozzles 2 are formed, there is little freedom in the design of the wiping member (blade, elastic member). It was not possible to set a wiping mode in which wiping conditions such as were changed. On the other hand, the blade (wiping member) 18 having the shape and structure as described in each embodiment of FIGS.
Is used, a plurality of wiping modes as described above are set, and after the second mode in which the thickened ink is melted with the ink drawn from the discharge port 82, the second mode in which the melted ink is wiped and cleaned is set. It is possible to execute. In other words, the cleaning operation including a plurality of desired wiping operations can be performed by changing the contact conditions such as the amount of penetration of each blade 18 to the discharge port surface 81 used in the plurality of modes.

As another example of the cleaning operation performed by providing a plurality of wiping modes, there is a wiping operation for effectively wiping and cleaning the discharge port surface 81 without drawing out the ink from the discharge port 82. As a specific example,
For example, there is a wiping operation in which a first wiping mode having a predetermined blade intrusion amount and a second wiping mode in which the blade intrusion amount is smaller than the first wiping mode and ink is drawn out from the ejection openings are provided. . The significance of such a wiping operation is as follows.

That is, when a conventional blade is used, a large blade penetration amount is required to bring the blade into contact with all of the plurality of discharge ports arranged on the discharge port surface 81. Under the amount of intrusion, the phenomenon of drawing ink from the ejection port does not occur. On the other hand, when the blade (wiping member) according to the present invention as shown in each embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 10 is used, ink is discharged from these discharge ports in a state where the blade is in contact with all the discharge ports. It is possible to set the blade penetration amount as small as pulling out.

When two such wiping modes are provided, that is, a first wiping mode based on a predetermined blade intrusion amount and a second wiping mode based on a small blade intrusion amount such that ink is drawn out from the ejection port, Ink 2 is drawn out from the discharge port in the wiping mode, the thickened ink is melted with the drawn out ink, and then the cleaning is performed in the first wiping mode. Can be effectively wiped and cleaned. Here, the second wiping mode does not necessarily need to be performed prior to the first wiping mode, and is set to be executed in consideration of the thickened state of the remaining ink after wiping.

For example, after the suction recovery operation, the thickened ink is often removed or eliminated by the suction ink, so that it may not be necessary to set the second wiping mode. In addition, in the wiping operation when not much time has passed since the last wiping operation in which both the second wiping mode and the first wiping mode were performed, it is considered that the viscosity of the ink has not progressed so much. The wiping operation of only one wiping mode may be performed. As described above, by setting at least two of the wiping mode in which the ink is drawn out from the discharge port 82 and the wiping mode in consideration of the wiping performance in the vicinity of the discharge port, a low cost that exhibits high wiping performance over the entire area of the discharge port surface 81 is achieved. Thus, an ink jet recording apparatus provided with the wiping mechanism is obtained.

In the above-described cleaning operation using a plurality of wiping modes, an example is given in which the wiping mode in which ink is drawn out from the ejection port and the wiping mode in consideration of the wiping properties near the ejection port are set by changing the blade penetration amount. However, the multiple wiping mode performed by applying the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by changing (adjusting) the free length of the blade, the wiping speed, and the like, the distance between the blade and the discharge port surface is adjusted. The present invention can also be implemented by changing the contact state, whereby the same operation and effect as in the case of the multiple wiping mode can be achieved.

In the above-described embodiment, the serial recording method in which the recording means (recording head) 6 is moved in the main scanning direction has been described as an example. The present invention can be applied to a line recording system in which recording is performed only by sub-scanning using a line recording unit having a length covering a portion, and the same effect can be achieved. In addition, the present invention provides, in addition to an ink jet recording apparatus for performing single color recording, a color ink jet recording apparatus having one or a plurality of recording heads for recording with inks of different colors, and a gradation using inks of the same color and different densities. The present invention can be similarly applied to an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording apparatus in which these are combined, and can achieve the same effect.

Further, according to the present invention, when the recording means is a replaceable ink jet cartridge (head cartridge) in which a recording head section and an ink storing section are integrated,
Alternatively, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where the recording unit and the ink storage unit take various forms, such as a case where the recording unit is a permanent type, and can achieve the same operation and effect. In addition, the present invention can be applied to an inkjet recording apparatus using a recording unit (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element. This provides an excellent effect in an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording means of a type which discharges ink. According to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

[0055]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention (claim 1), in an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means to a recording material, a discharge port surface of the recording means is used. The wiping member that wipes and cleans the discharge port surface by moving relative to the discharge port surface is an elastic member having a structure in which an intermediate portion of a tip portion in contact with the discharge port surface is more flexible than both side portions thereof. With this configuration, both sides of the wiping member can be easily elastically deformed and the middle portion can easily come into contact with the periphery of the discharge port even when the discharge port is formed in a recess of the discharge port surface of the recording unit. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the remaining ink wiping in the vicinity of the discharge port, and to increase the degree of freedom in designing the material and hardness of the wiping member and the degree of freedom in setting the wiping operation such as the amount of penetration of the wiping member, the free length and the speed. From that An ink jet recording apparatus provided with a wiping mechanism capable of maintaining high wiping performance over the entire wiping range even in the case of a discharge port surface having an irregular shape, thereby maintaining high image quality for a long period of time. You.

According to the second to fourth aspects of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a plurality of the wiping members are provided, and a difference in flexibility between an intermediate portion at a tip portion of each wiping member and both side portions thereof is provided. Or a configuration in which a plurality of the wiping members are provided and contact conditions such as the amount of penetration of each wiping member into the discharge port surface are different, or the recording means is an ink containing a water-resistant dye or pigment or both. Since the ink jet recording device is configured to perform recording by discharging ink, an ink jet recording apparatus capable of efficiently achieving the above-described effects even when using ink that is thickened and difficult to clean is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus suitable for applying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically illustrating a structure of an ink ejection unit of a recording unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial perspective view showing a wiping operation of a wiping member in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the tip of the wiping member is wiping a depression in the discharge port surface along a line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a first embodiment of a wiping member used in an ejection recovery system of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of a wiping member used in an ejection recovery system of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a third embodiment of a wiping member used in an ejection recovery system of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of a wiping member used in an ejection recovery system of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of a wiping member used in an ejection recovery system of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a sixth embodiment of a wiping member used in an ejection recovery system of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording material (recording paper) 2 Platen 3 Guide rail 4 Guide rail 5 Carriage 6 Recording means (Recording head) 7 Carriage motor 10 Timing belt 12 Transport motor (Paper feed motor) 14 Discharge roller 16 Discharge recovery system 17 Cap 18 Wiping member (blade, elastic member) 19 Blade holder 21 Both sides (tip portion of wiping member) 22 Intermediate portion (tip portion of wiping member) 31 Depression (discharge port surface) 32 Edge (depression) 33 Edge (depression) 35 Back Plate member (wiping member) 36 Back plate portion (wiping member) 37 Thick portion (both ends of wiping member) 81 Discharge port surface 82 Discharge port 83 Common liquid chamber 84 Liquid path 85 Electrothermal converter

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means to a recording material, wherein the wiping member wipes and cleans the discharge port surface by abutting against the discharge port surface of the recording means and relatively moving. Is an elastic member having a structure in which both side portions of a tip portion in contact with the discharge port surface have a more flexible structure than an intermediate portion. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said wiping members are provided, and a difference in flexibility between an intermediate portion of a tip portion of each wiping member and both side portions thereof is made different. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said wiping members are provided, and contact conditions such as an amount of penetration of each wiping member into said discharge port surface are made different. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means is an ink jet recording means for performing recording by discharging an ink containing a water-resistant dye or a pigment or both.
3. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of 3. 5. The ink-jet recording device according to claim 1, wherein said recording device is an ink-jet recording device including an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording means discharges the ink from a discharge port using film boiling generated in the ink by thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer. .