JP2001277532A - Ink jet recording apparatus and, method for coupling recording head and liquid supply part - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a position accuracy of a head cartridge mounted on a carriage from decreasing and correctly couple a needle for ink supply to a rubber member for insertion of the needle set to the head cartridge. SOLUTION: This ink jet recording apparatus comprises the carriage 200 for detachably holding a recording head, a liquid supply part to be coupled with the recording head for supplying a recording liquid, and a CR joint support 223 for moving the liquid supply part to a position where the liquid supply part is coupled with the recording head 400 and to a position where the liquid supply part is separated from the recording head 400. The support 223 is constituted to move the liquid supply part in a state in which the liquid supply part is positionally restricted except in a move direction for the coupling until the liquid supply part is coupled to the recording head 400, and to free the liquid supply part when the liquid supply part is coupled to the recording head 400.

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 mounts a recording head for performing recording by discharging recording liquid on a carriage to be scanned and supplies ink to the recording head.

[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 composite electronic device or a workstation including a computer or a word processor, etc., is based on image information. It is configured to record an image on a recording material (recording medium) such as a plastic thin plate.

The function as a recording apparatus is to perform recording on recording paper by discharging ink downward in accordance with a recording signal by a head cartridge which is a recording head which is detachable from the apparatus.

Among them, a recording head used in an ink jet recording method for discharging a liquid by heat energy has a high density of liquid discharge ports for discharging a recording liquid to form a discharge droplet. This makes it possible to record at a high resolution. Among them, a recording head using an electrothermal transducer as an energy generation source can easily be made compact, and has the advantages of IC technology and micro-machining technology, which have recently made remarkable progress in technology in the semiconductor field and markedly improved reliability. This is advantageous because it can be used for two reasons, high-density mounting is easy, and the manufacturing cost is low.

A carriage for holding a head cartridge for discharging recording droplets is provided with a mechanism for fixing the head cartridge. This mechanism employs a method of fixing a head cartridge to a carriage with a carriage head lever. The head cartridge can be removed from the carriage by rotating the carriage head lever.

Further, a mechanism for supplying ink to a head cartridge mounted on a carriage is provided, and a needle is passed through a rubber member provided on the head cartridge so that a tube or the like upstream of the needle is provided. The ink is supplied into the head cartridge from the main tank connected to the needle by the connection means.

Here, a needle for supplying ink from the main tank into the head cartridge is fixed to the carriage, and when attaching the head cartridge to the carriage, the needle is passed through a rubber member provided on the head cartridge. While the head cartridge is mounted on the carriage, it is fixed by the carriage head lever.

[0008]

In the above mechanism, the head cartridge is positioned and fixed to the carriage.
Further, since the needle is also fixed to the carriage, the position of the head cartridge positioned and fixed with respect to the carriage may be shifted by penetrating the needle into the head cartridge.

If the position of the head cartridge is displaced with respect to the carriage, the recorded image may be tilted and the quality of the recorded image may be significantly reduced.

On the other hand, if the needle is not fixed to the carriage at all, the needle does not stick into the center of the rubber member for penetrating the needle provided in the head cartridge when connecting the head cartridge and the needle. Therefore, the hermeticity between the needle and the rubber member for penetrating the needle provided in the head cartridge is not maintained, and the ink may leak out of the head cartridge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a head cartridge mounted on a carriage without lowering the positional accuracy, and an ink supply needle,
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing accurate connection with a rubber member for penetrating a needle provided in a head cartridge.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a carriage on which a recording head is detachably mounted; a liquid supply unit connected to a predetermined portion of the recording head; Guide means for guiding the liquid supply unit to a position where the liquid supply unit is connected to the recording head and a position distant from the recording head, wherein the liquid supply unit is provided at a predetermined position on the recording head. A position other than a moving direction for connection of the liquid supply unit until the liquid supply unit contacts the recording head, and when the liquid supply unit comes into contact with the recording head, the position of the liquid supply unit is set to be free. I do.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a method of connecting a recording head to a liquid supply unit, comprising: a carriage on which the recording head is removably mounted; a head fixing means for fixing the position of the recording head on the carriage; A method of connecting the liquid supply unit to the recording head in an ink jet recording apparatus having a liquid supply unit connected to a predetermined location, wherein the recording head mounted on the carriage is fixed by the head fixing unit. Moving the liquid supply unit to a predetermined position of the recording head in a state where the liquid supply unit is restricted in a position other than a moving direction for connection of the liquid supply unit; and And releasing the position regulation of the liquid supply unit when the contact is made.

(Operation) In the configuration described above, the liquid supply unit is moved in a state where the position other than the moving direction for the connection is restricted until the liquid supply unit is connected to the recording head. On the other hand, the liquid supply unit is connected to a predetermined position. Therefore, it is possible to reliably supply ink to the recording head from a supply system outside the carriage without leaking ink or air at the connection between the recording head and the liquid supply unit.

Further, since the liquid supply section is not fixed on the carriage, and after the liquid supply section is connected to the recording head, the position of the liquid supply section is free, so that the position of the recording head with respect to the carriage is shifted. No force is exerted by the liquid supply. Therefore, the position of the recording head can be accurately maintained on the carriage, so that recording can be performed without disturbing the quality of the recorded image.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, an overall configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The ink jet recording apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIGS.
This is a detachable printing apparatus having a printing function, which is installed in a main body printing machine that has a plurality of printing positions fixed on a type of printing medium and continuously prints a predetermined printing pattern. FIG. 1 is a right front perspective view of the apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a left front perspective view.

The configuration of this printing apparatus is roughly divided into the following units. That is, a recording head unit that performs printing by discharging ink, a carriage unit that moves the recording head to a printing position and a standby position, an ink supply system unit that supplies ink to the recording head, and a detachable ink tank And a recovery unit for recovering a malfunction of the recording head, a frame unit for accommodating each of the above units, a control unit for performing electrical control for a printing operation, and a power supply unit thereof. The recording head discharges the liquid from the minute opening by applying energy to the liquid in the flow path by an electrothermal conversion element, a piezo element, or the like, and performs recording.

First, the frame unit will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom plate 56 is a substantially L-shaped bent metal plate forming a bottom portion and a rear portion, and has a parallel abutting portion (not shown) for keeping the distance constant. ) Are located on the left and right at several places, and there are positioning protrusions 56A and 56B protruding at both ends of the bottom and a plurality of threaded portions. The left side plate 54 and the right side plate 55 each have positioning holes into which positioning protrusions 56A and 56B are inserted. By screwing the positioning protrusions 56A and 56B into the screw holes of the threaded portions of the bottom plate 56 up to the abutting positions of the bottom plate 56 with both inserted. Bottom plate 5
The left and right side plates 54 and 55 are assembled in parallel with 6 as a central stay. Rear part 56C standing up in a substantially L-shape
The front plate 53 is opposed to the left and right side plates 54, 55.
By being screwed in between, an outer shell of the present printing apparatus in the form of a box having an open top is formed.

At the bottom of the bottom plate 56, three cylindrical bottom stays are caulked at one place in front of the drawing and two at the back, and are screwed by piercing a screw projection (not shown) of the main body printing machine. Stopping and fixing becomes possible. Furthermore, there is a long hole (not shown) at the bottom, and the bottom stay 6
Positioning with the main body printing machine is performed in pairs with 0A.

The printing apparatus has a space for transporting two types of print media.

One is a transport space as described below.
Above the front plate 53, an L-angle resist plate 57 is screwed and fixed so as to straddle the left and right side plates 54 and 55. The envelope which is the printing medium of the main body printing machine is sandwiched between the upper surface of the envelope conveying belt of the main body printing machine and the lower surface of the resist plate, and is conveyed from left to right on the drawing along the inside of the bending of the resist plate 57. .

The other is a transport space as described below. The path connecting the recess 54A at the center of the left side plate 54 shown in FIG. 2 and the square window 55A of the right side plate 55 shown in FIG. 1 is an installation space for a gutter for transporting continuous paper. Although not shown, the gutter is installed at the end of a continuous paper transport unit equipped with a storage box for continuous paper and a transport drive system, and a positioning dowel formed at the distal end of the gutter is inserted into a positioning hole of the right side plate 55 to print the printing apparatus. And the position of the continuous paper transport unit are determined, and are screwed to the left side plate 54 to be integrated.

An unillustrated continuous paper cutter is mounted outside the right side plate 55 on the extension of the tip of the gutter. The opening 55B of the right side plate 55 is a hole through which the drive motor of the cutter unit passes.

Next, the carriage unit will be described.

A carriage 200 for moving the recording head 400 to the two types of transport spaces described above includes a CR shaft 202 and a CR rail 2 fixed to the right side plate 55.
03 slidably supported by the carriage 20
0 on the CR belt 208 attached to the CR motor 20.
By transmitting the driving force of No. 6, a reciprocating operation is enabled.

Next, the ink supply system unit will be described.

On the left side of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, that is, on the upstream side of the printing medium conveyance, an ink supply system for storing a large-capacity ink tank 501 and supplying ink to a recording head 400 for discharging ink is provided. A certain tank holder unit 10 is installed. Tank holder unit 10
The ink in the ink tank 501 to the recording head 40
A tube 210 for leading to zero is connected.

Next, the recovery system unit will be described.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, on the right side, that is, on the downstream side of the printing medium conveyance, and between the two types of printing spaces, a recovery system unit 300 for recovering the discharge failure of the recording head 400 is provided. is set up. The waste ink consumed to recover from the malfunction is discharged from a hole (not shown) at the bottom of the recovery system opened in the bottom plate 56 to a waste ink reservoir in the main body printing machine.

Next, the control unit and the power supply unit will be described.

The control unit comprises a control board 80 for controlling the printing and printing system, and is fixed to the inside of the rear of the box-shaped frame unit as described above. The control board 80 has a connector 81 for receiving a signal from the main body printing machine. The control signal of the control board 80 is transmitted to the recording head 40 in the carriage 200.
A cable 91 for sending to the control board 80 is connected to the carriage 200 and the control board 80.

Control board 80 and tank holder unit 1
The power supply unit 90 is fixed between 0 and 0. A power supply receptacle of the power supply unit 90 that receives power from the outside is mounted in a square hole 54B opened in the left side plate 54,
Connected from outside the frame unit. The power supply unit 90 is connected so as to supply power to the control board 80 and a board (not shown) on the carriage 200.

Next, the mechanism around the carriage, which is a characteristic of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[Carriage Holder] As shown in FIG.
The carriage 200 has a CR shaft 202 and a guide rail 203, both ends of which are fixed to a frame (not shown) (right side plate 55 in FIG. 2) and arranged in parallel with each other. It is slidably supported in the arrangement direction.

The carriage 200 has a motor (not shown) fixed to the frame (the CR motor 20 shown in FIG. 2).
9) (the CR belt 20 in FIG. 2)
8), the CR shaft 202 and the guide rail 20
3 so as to reciprocate in a direction parallel to 3.

[Relationship Between Carriage Configuration and Head Fixing Section]
Above the carriage 200, a CR lever 206 is rotatable about a CR lever shaft 207 supported on the left and right side surfaces of the carriage 200. CR lever 206
On the right side when viewed from above, a lever portion 206a for rotating the CR lever 206 is provided.

At the center of the CR lever 206, a CR lever plate (not shown) is held for fixing the recording head 400. The CR lever plate presses and fixes the recording head 400 to the lower rear side of the carriage 200 with the force of a CR lever spring, which is a compression spring (not shown).

A not-shown CR connector for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the recording head 400 is attached to the rear wall of the carriage 200 (the rear side in the recording head insertion direction). This CR connector is provided with a number of contacts, and each contact moves independently back and forth. When the recording head 400 is mounted on the carriage 200 and the contact pad surface (not shown) of the recording head 400 reaches the CR connector, the contact is retracted and the CR connector of the carriage 200 and the contact portion of the recording head 400 are moved. The contact pads are electrically connected, and the recording head 400 can exchange signals with the recording apparatus main body.

[Relationship Between Carriage Configuration and Ink Supply Unit]
As shown in FIG. 3, the recording head 40 of the carriage 200
A mechanism for supplying ink to the recording head 400 is provided on the front side of the mounting portion of the recording head 400. This mechanism will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ink supply mechanism has a CR needle 220 which is a liquid supply unit. As shown in FIG. 5, the CR needle 220 has a U-shaped thin hollow pipe shape, and two CR needles are provided above and below. CR
One end of the needle 220 has a narrowed pipe, and allows ink and air to pass through, as described later.

The other end of the CR needle 220 is connected to the CR tube 222 through a CR joint rubber 221 made of rubber.

The CR tube 222 is connected to the carriage 200
And the carriage 20 as shown in FIG.
Go outside from 0. Beyond this is CR tube 222
Is connected to a supply system (not shown).

The carriage 200 moves between the carriage 200 and the supply system.
The bending is provided so that no force is applied to the CR tube 222 regardless of the position in which the carriage 200 moves when the carriage 200 is moved.

The CR needle 220A provided on the lower side of the two CR needles 220 supplies ink to the inside of the recording head 400, and the CR needle 220B provided on the upper side is used for recording. This is the side that sucks the air inside the head 400. The two CR needles 220 fill the inside of the recording head 400 with ink.

That is, the CR tube 222 connected from the supply system to the CR needle 220B provided on the upper side
, The air inside the recording head 400 is sucked. Then, the ink inside the recording head 400 is replaced by the amount of the sucked air, and the ink is replaced by the ink provided on the lower side.
It is supplied from the supply system through the R needle 220A and the CR tube 222.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
0 (a surface which becomes the front side when the recording head is mounted on the carriage) at two positions.
The two CR needles 220A and 220B provided on the carriage 200 penetrate through the surfaces of the joint rubbers 402a and 402b of the recording head 400, and penetrate into the liquid container in the recording head 400. After being fixed in this state, ink is supplied from the supply system, which is upstream of the CR needle 220 and is connected to the CR needle 220 through the CR tube 222, to the liquid storage section in the recording head 400.

[Relationship Between Carriage Configuration and Ink Supply Joint Mechanism] Here, the two CR needles 2 described above are used.
A mechanism for inserting / removing 20 from / to the recording head 400 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the CR needle 22
Both 0s are fixed to a CR joint support 223 formed of resin. CR joint support 2
Reference numeral 23 is configured to slide within the carriage 200 in order to retract the CR needle 220 from the recording head 400 when the recording head 400 is attached to and detached from the carriage 200, as described later. On both sides of the CR joint support 223, bosses 223a, 223b, 223c for being guided by the carriage 200 are provided.

FIG. 6 shows the CR joint support 22.
FIG. 3 is a view of the CR joint support 223 on the bottom side (rear side), as shown in FIG.

Here, FIG. 3, FIG. 7, FIG.
9 (B), 9 (A) and 9 (B), a CR joint lever shaft inserted into a hole provided in the left and right side surface of the carriage 200 (the left and right side surface with respect to the recording head attaching / detaching direction). There is a CR joint lever 224 that rotates around the center 225. Bosses 223 provided on both sides of the CR joint support 223 are provided in elongated holes 224 a in the middle of the arms of the left and right CR joint levers 224.
a, 223b are inserted. Therefore, when the CR joint lever 224 is turned to the recording head side (arrow C in FIG. 7), the CR joint support 223 moves in conjunction with the recording head side (arrow A in FIG. 7), and the CR needle 220 also moves. It moves in conjunction with the recording head side (arrow A in FIG. 7). When the CR joint lever 224 is rotated to the side away from the recording head (arrow D in FIG. 7), the CR joint support 223 moves in conjunction with the side away from the recording head (arrow B direction in FIG. 7), and further the CR Needle 220
Also moves in a direction away from the recording head (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 7).

FIGS. 8A and 8B are side views of the carriage 200 viewed from the left and right sides with respect to the recording head attaching / detaching direction, respectively, in which the CR joint lever 224 is moved to the recording head side (arrow C in FIG. 7). FIG. 8 is a diagram in which the CR joint support 223 and the CR needle 220 are moved in conjunction with the recording head side (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 7).

First, the recording head 400 is rotated by rotating the above-described CR lever 206 about a CR lever shaft 207 supported on the left and right side surfaces of the carriage 200 (the left and right side surfaces with respect to the recording head attaching / detaching direction). Then, when the CR joint lever 224 is tilted toward the recording head (in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 7), the front surface of the recording head 400 shown in FIG. 13 (the front side when the recording head is mounted on the carriage). The ends of the two CR needles 220 provided on the carriage 200 penetrate through the surfaces of the joint rubbers 402 provided at the two positions
The recording head 400 penetrates the inside of the tank.

In this state, the CR joint lever lock 226 provided above the CR joint lever 224 and pressed in the direction of arrow E shown in FIG.
The CR joint lever 224 is stuck in the hole 200c provided in the carriage 200 and locked without moving. In this state, the CR needle 220 is
00 and is fixed in a state of penetrating the joint rubber 402.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are side views of the carriage 200 as viewed from the left and right sides with respect to the recording head attaching / detaching direction, respectively, in which the CR joint lever 224 is separated from the recording head (in FIG. 7). In the direction of arrow D), CR
FIG. 8 is a diagram in which the joint support 223 and the CR needle 220 move in conjunction with each other (in a direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 7) away from the recording head.

In the state shown in these figures, the joint rubber 402 provided at two positions on the front side of the recording head 400 (the side which becomes the front side when the recording head is mounted on the carriage) shown in FIG. The tips of the two CR needles 220 provided on the carriage 200 come off. Therefore, the recording head 400 is mounted on the CR lever 206 described above.
Is rotated about a CR lever shaft 207 supported on the left and right side surfaces of the carriage 200 (left and right side surfaces with respect to the recording head attaching / detaching direction), whereby the recording head 40 is rotated.
0 is free and can be removed from the carriage 200.

[Operation of Carriage and Ink Supply Joint Mechanism] Next, the state of the CR needle 220 provided on the carriage when the recording head 400 is inserted will be described.

First, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the carriage 200 as viewed from the rear.
7 shows the state before the CR joint lever 224 is tilted in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of this state as viewed from the bottom side of the carriage 200. FIGS. 9A and 9B are views of the carriage 200 as viewed from the left side and the right side with respect to the recording head attaching / detaching direction.

FIGS. 10, 11, 9A and 9
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The CR needle 220 has a C
Although it is fixed to the R joint support 223, the left side of the CR joint support 223 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), the boss 223b and the boss 223c of the CR joint support 223 are inserted into the elongated hole 200a provided on the left side surface (the left side surface in the recording head attaching / detaching direction) of the carriage 200. I have. Also,
As shown in FIG. 9B, the right side of the CR joint support 223 has a slot 20 provided on the right side surface of the carriage 200 (the right side surface with respect to the recording head attaching / detaching direction).
0b, boss 223a of CR joint support 223
Is plugged in.

In this state, the boss 223b and the boss 223
c and the slot 200a, and the boss 223a and the slot 200
b fits without play.

For this reason, the CR joint support 223
The vertical position is regulated by three bosses.
The position in the rotational direction about a certain boss is also regulated. Therefore, naturally, the CR needle 220 fixed to the CR joint support 223 does not rattle in the vertical and rotational directions.

Further, in this state, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, the CR joint support 223 is provided on two bosses 200d provided on the carriage 200 on the bottom surface side. Are sandwiched.

In this state, the rib 223d and the two bosses 2
00d fits without play.

For this reason, the CR joint support 223
The position in the left-right direction is regulated by the rib 223d.
Therefore, naturally, the CR needle 220 fixed to the CR joint support 223 does not rattle in the left-right direction.

Therefore, the CR joint support 223, that is, the CR needle 220 is completely
Is positioned.

Further, the CR joint lever 22
4 is tilted in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 7, the CR joint support 223
The boss 223a and the boss 223b on the left and right side surfaces (the left and right side surfaces with respect to the recording head attaching / detaching direction) of the CR joint support 223 are fitted into the long hole 224a of the CR joint support 223, so that the boss 223a moves in the arrow A direction shown in FIG. However, until the tip 220a of the CR needle 220 comes into contact with the joint rubber 402 of the recording head 400, the state described above, that is, the boss 223b and the boss 223c of the CR joint support 223 of the CR joint support 223 are used.
And the long hole 200a of the carriage 200, the boss 223a of the CR joint support 223, the long hole 200b of the carriage 200, and the CR joint support 223.
Rib 223d and two bosses 200 of the carriage 200
With d, the slide is performed in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

Therefore, until the tip 220a of the CR needle 220 pierces the joint rubber 402 of the recording head 400, the position of the CR needle 220 is regulated in the vertical, horizontal, and rotational directions, and the joint rubber 402 of the recording head 400 is determined. The CR needle 220 slides toward the set center, and the recording head 40
And pierce the joint rubber 402 of No. 0.

Next, the state when the CR needle 220 provided on the carriage is inserted into the recording head 400 will be described.

First, FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the carriage 200 as viewed from the rear.
After the CR joint lever 224 is fixed to the carriage 200, the CR joint lever 224 is set in a state where the CR joint lever 224 is tilted in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. FIGS. 8A and 8B are side views of the carriage 200 viewed from the left and right sides with respect to the recording head attaching / detaching direction.

The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 12, 8A and 8B.

As described above, the CR needle 220 is
Although it is fixed to the R joint support 223, the left side of the CR joint support 223 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), the boss 223b and the boss 223c of the CR joint support 223 are inserted into the elongated hole 200a provided on the left side surface (the left side surface in the recording head attaching / detaching direction) of the carriage 200. I have. Also,
As shown in FIG. 6B, the right side of the CR joint support 223 has a slot 20 provided on the right side surface of the carriage 200 (the right side surface with respect to the recording head attaching / detaching direction).
0b, boss 223a of CR joint support 223
Is plugged in.

In this state, the tip 220a of the CR needle 220 pierces the joint rubber 402 of the recording head 400, and at the same time, the boss 223b and the boss 223c and the elongated hole 200a, and the boss 223a and the elongated hole 200b.
Becomes a state with play.

Further, in this state, as shown in FIG. 12, two bosses 200d provided on the carriage 200
Further, the CR joint support 223 provided on the bottom surface side is no longer sandwiched by the rib 223d shown in FIG.
The distal end portion 220a of the R needle 220 is released at the same time as being pierced, and positioning in the left-right direction is lost.

Therefore, the CR joint support 223, that is, the CR needle 220, is not restricted in position by the carriage 200 in the vertical, horizontal, and rotational directions, and is in a free state. Therefore, the position of the CR needle 220 is determined by the joint rubber 402 of the recording head 400.

In this state, as described above, the CR joint lever 224 is locked, and the CR needle 220 is
It does not come off from the joint rubber 402 of the recording head 400.

Therefore, even when the CR needle 220 for supplying ink is inserted, the recording head 400 mounted on the carriage 200 is not applied with a force in a strange direction by the CR needle 220, and the position is shifted. Not even.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention, until the liquid supply unit for supplying the recording liquid is connected to the recording head, the liquid supply unit is moved in a state where the position other than the moving direction for the connection is restricted. With this configuration, the liquid supply unit can be accurately connected to the determined position of the recording head on the carriage. Therefore, it is possible to reliably supply ink to the recording head from a supply system outside the carriage without leaking ink or air at the connection between the recording head and the liquid supply unit.

Further, the liquid supply unit is not fixed on the carriage, and after connecting with the recording head, the position of the recording head relative to the carriage is shifted by setting the position of the liquid supply unit to a free state. Since no strong force is exerted by the liquid supply unit, the recording head can maintain its position on the carriage accurately after the connection. As a result, it is possible to perform recording without disturbing the quality of the recorded image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a right front perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left front perspective view showing a general configuration of an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the entire configuration around the carriage, which is a characteristic part of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front side of the CR joint support shown in FIG. 3 as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the needle shown in FIG. 4;

6 is a perspective view of the back side of the CR joint support shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from obliquely above.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the CR joint support and the CR joint lever for operating the CR joint support shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the left side.

8A and 8B show a state in which an ink supply needle is stabbed into a recording head on a carriage by operating a CR joint lever, wherein FIG. 8A is a left side view and FIG. 8B is a right side view.

9A and 9B show a state before the ink supply needle is inserted into the recording head on the carriage by operating the CR joint lever, wherein FIG. 9A is a left side view, and FIG. 9B is a right side view.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the state before the ink supply needle is stabbed into the recording head on the carriage by operating the CR joint lever after the recording head is fixed to the carriage by the CR lever, as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the state shown in FIG. 10 as viewed from the back surface of the carriage.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the carriage shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a recording head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Tank holder unit 53 Front plate 54 Left side plate 54A Indentation 54B Square hole 55 Right side plate 55A Square window 55B Opening 56 Bottom plate 56C Rear part 56A, 56B Positioning protrusion 57 Registration plate 60A Bottom stay 80 Control board 90 Power supply unit 91 Cable 200 Carriage 200a , 200b Slot hole 200c Hole 200d Boss 202 CR shaft 203 Guide rail 206 CR lever 206a Lever part 207 CR lever shaft 208 CR belt 209 CR motor 210 Tube 220, 220A, 220B CR needle 220a Tip 221 CR joint rubber 222 CR tube 223 CR joint support 223a, 223b, 223c Boss 223d Rib 224 CR joint lever 224a slot 225 CR joint lever shaft 226 CR joint lever lock 300 recovery unit 400 recording head 402,402a, 402b joint rubber

Claims (4)

[Claims] A carriage on which a recording head is detachably mounted; a liquid supply unit connected to a predetermined portion of the recording head; and a position separated from the recording head at a position connecting the liquid supply unit to the recording head. And a guide unit for guiding the liquid supply unit to a position other than a moving direction for connecting the liquid supply unit until the liquid supply unit contacts a predetermined position of the recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that it is configured to regulate. 2. A carriage on which a recording head is detachably mounted, a liquid supply unit connected to a predetermined portion of the recording head, and a position separated from the recording head at a position connecting the liquid supply unit to the recording head. And a guide unit for guiding the liquid supply unit to a position, wherein the guide unit is configured to make the position of the liquid supply unit free when the liquid supply unit contacts a predetermined portion of the recording head. Inkjet recording apparatus. 3. A carriage on which a recording head is removably mounted, a liquid supply unit connected to a predetermined portion of the recording head, and a position separated from the recording head at a position connecting the liquid supply unit to the recording head. And a guide unit for guiding the liquid supply unit to a position other than a moving direction for connection of the liquid supply unit until the liquid supply unit contacts a predetermined location of the recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the position of the liquid supply unit is set free when the liquid supply unit comes into contact with the recording head. 4. An ink jet having a carriage on which a recording head is removably mounted, a head fixing means for fixing a position of the recording head on the carriage, and a liquid supply unit connected to a predetermined portion of the recording head. A method of connecting the liquid supply unit to the recording head in a recording apparatus, comprising: fixing the recording head mounted on the carriage by the head fixing unit; and connecting the liquid supply unit to a predetermined portion of the recording head. Moving the liquid supply unit in a state where the liquid supply unit is moved in a position other than the moving direction for connection, and releasing the position regulation of the liquid supply unit when the liquid supply unit contacts a predetermined location of the recording head. And a method for connecting the recording head and the liquid supply unit.