JP2002234152A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recorder in which contamination due to adhesion of ink mist to a recording sheet or the peripheral mechanism can be suppressed surely. SOLUTION: The ink jet recorder comprises a carriage 1 reciprocative along the surface of a recording sheet 100, and a recording head 6 carried on the carriage 1 and ejecting ink from the nozzle forming plane in correspondence with print data. The carriage 1 is provided with ribs 21 projecting, respectively, in the going direction and returning direction of the carriage and introducing a lower side air flow 32 formed oppositely to the operating direction of the carriage to a position receding from the operating direction of the carriage.

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 having a carriage mounted with a recording head for ejecting ink droplets corresponding to print data and reciprocating in the width direction of recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet recording apparatuses have been used in many types of printing including color printing in recent years, since noise at the time of printing is relatively small and small dots can be formed at a high density. Such an ink jet recording apparatus generally includes a carriage that can reciprocate along a recording paper surface, an ink jet recording head that receives supply of ink from an ink tank (ink cartridge), and a recording head that performs recording on the recording head. Paper feeding means for relatively moving the paper is provided. Then, recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets on recording paper to form dots while moving the recording head in accordance with the print signal. In this case, a recording head capable of discharging, for example, black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks is mounted on the carriage, and not only text printing with black ink, but also the discharge ratio of each ink is changed.
Enables full-color printing.

[0003]

However, in this type of ink jet recording apparatus, since the ink is ejected from a nozzle forming surface of a recording head as ink droplets onto recording paper to perform printing, the following is required. I have a problem. That is, even if ink droplets ejected from the nozzle forming surface of the recording head land on the recording paper, they are not always instantaneously adsorbed on the recording paper, and some of them may be scattered in a mist state. . The ink droplets scattered in the form of mist are called ink mist. When the ink mist is scattered (floats) near the nozzle opening of the recording head, the carriage 71 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B moves in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. Soar with the lower airflow 72 (turbulence) formed in the direction opposite to the carriage operation direction. Then, there is a problem that the ink mist adheres to the recording paper 73 and the peripheral mechanism and is contaminated.

The present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem, and can suppress the occurrence of turbulent flow formed in the direction opposite to the carriage operation direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reliably suppressing the occurrence of contamination due to the adhesion of ink mist to a mechanism.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has a carriage which can reciprocate along a recording paper surface, and which is mounted on the carriage and which corresponds to print data. And an ink jet type recording head having an ink jet type recording head for discharging ink droplets from a nozzle forming surface. A flow generation suppressing means is provided. With this configuration, the turbulence generation suppressing means suppresses the generation of turbulence formed in the direction opposite to the carriage operation direction. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the ink mist floating near the nozzle opening does not rise, and the occurrence of contamination due to the adhesion of the ink mist to the recording paper and the peripheral mechanism can be reliably suppressed.

In this case, the turbulence generation suppressing means projects a lower airflow from the carriage in the carriage forward and backward directions and formed in a direction opposite to the carriage operation direction from the carriage operation position. Desirably, the ribs are formed to be guided to separate positions. With this configuration, the lower airflow is guided by the rib to a position separated from the carriage operation position during the operation of the carriage. Further, the rib is arranged so as to be close to the same height surface as the recording paper surface. With this configuration, the lower airflow is guided by the rib approaching the same height as the recording paper surface during the carriage operation.

It is preferable that the rib is provided with an air flow guiding surface parallel to the recording paper surface. With this configuration, the lower airflow is guided along the airflow guide surface of the rib in parallel with the recording paper surface during the carriage operation. In this case, a configuration may be adopted in which the airflow guide surface is formed as an inclined surface that gradually approaches the same height surface as the recording paper from the rib base end toward the rib tip. With this configuration, the lower airflow is guided along the inclined surface such that the lower airflow gradually approaches the same height surface as the recording paper surface from the rib base end toward the rib tip during the carriage operation. Is done.

[0008] An air flow guiding / rectifying means for rectifying the upper air flow formed in the carriage in a direction opposite to the carriage operation direction and guiding the air flow to the lower air flow guiding position.
The configuration is such that a block body having a rectifying surface is provided. With this configuration, the upper airflow is rectified by the airflow guiding / rectifying surface of the block body during the operation of the carriage, and is guided to the lower airflow guiding position.

In this case, it is preferable that the block body is formed of a hollow block having the air flow guiding / rectifying surface inside and outside the block. With such a configuration, the upper airflow is rectified by the airflow guiding / rectifying surfaces inside and outside the hollow block during carriage operation, and is guided to the lower airflow guiding position. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which the block body is formed of a solid block having the airflow guiding / rectifying surface outside the block. With this configuration, the upper airflow is rectified by the airflow guiding / rectifying surface outside the solid block during carriage operation, and is guided to the lower airflow guiding position.

[0010]

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 is a perspective view showing the whole of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a carriage denoted by reference numeral 1 is connected to a part of a timing belt 3 driven by a carriage motor 2. Then, it is configured to be guided by the guide rod 4 and reciprocate between a printing area and a non-printing area along the axial direction of the platen 5.

A recording head 6 for black ink (shown in FIG. 2) and a recording head for color ink (not shown) are provided on the lower surface of the carriage 1 at the time of printing.
It is mounted so as to face 00. On the upper surface of the carriage 1, a black ink cartridge 7 and a color ink cartridge 8 for supplying ink to the two recording heads are detachably mounted. Thus, when ink is introduced into each recording head, printing is performed by discharging ink droplets onto the recording paper 100 in accordance with the print data.

Turbulence generation suppressing means for suppressing the generation of turbulent flow (rising air flow) formed in the direction opposite to the carriage operation is provided at both ends of the carriage 1 in the operation direction (left-right direction in the figure). Is provided. Each of the ribs 21 is disposed close to the same height as the recording paper 100 and is formed by a rectangular plate protruding in the forward and backward directions of the carriage 1. Each rib 21 has an air flow guiding surface 21a parallel to the recording paper 100 surface.
Is configured to be able to guide a lower airflow formed in the direction opposite to the carriage operation direction along the line to a position away from the carriage operation position.

The rib 21 has a projecting dimension (dimension in the carriage operating direction) and a width dimension (horizontal dimension in a direction perpendicular to the carriage operating direction) of the air flow formed in the direction opposite to the carriage operating direction. It is assumed that the size is set to a size sufficient to suppress occurrence.

In a non-printing area (home position) at the end of the recording apparatus, capping means 9 having a cap member (not shown) arranged in the carriage moving direction is arranged. Each of these cap members is made of an elastic material such as an elastomer, for example, and is formed in a size that can be sealed with a sealed space on the nozzle forming surface of each of the recording heads.

When each of the recording heads moves directly above the capping means 9, the recording head rises to the head side and the nozzle forming surface of each of the recording heads can be sealed by a cap member. A suction pump 10 for applying a negative pressure to the internal space (sealed space) of the cap member is disposed below the capping means 9.

The capping means 9 functions as a cover for sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head during non-printing to prevent drying of the ink at the nozzle openings, and a driving signal not related to printing on the recording head. And a function as an ink receiver at the time of a flushing operation for causing the ink droplets to be ejected by applying an idle force. The capping unit 9 also has a cleaning function of applying a negative pressure from the suction pump 10 to each recording head to suction and discharge ink.

A cleaner 11 (cleaning member 12) is arranged near the printing area side of the capping means 9 so as to be able to advance and retreat in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the reciprocating direction of the recording head (carriage). The rotational force of the motor is used for the advance / retreat operation of the cleaner 11.
When the motor is rotated in one direction (positive direction), the cleaning member 12 advances on the moving path of the recording head. Further, when the cleaning member 12 is rotated in the other direction (reverse direction), the cleaning member 12 retreats from the moving path of the recording head.

With the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 3A, the carriage 1 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow (left side in the figure).
, An air flow 31 (turbulent flow) is formed on the upper side in the direction opposite to the moving direction. Also, as shown in FIG.
2 are formed. In this case, the airflow 32 tends to rise, but this rise is prevented by the rib 21 (airflow surface 21a). Then, the air flow 32 moves along the air flow guiding surface 21a of the rib 21 and the recording paper 100 on the paper feeding means.
It is guided parallel to the plane to a position away from the carriage operating position.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the carriage 1 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow (right side in the figure), an air flow 33 (turbulent flow) is formed on the upper side in the direction opposite to the moving direction. You. Further, an air flow 34 is formed on the lower side in the direction opposite to the carriage movement direction, as shown in FIG. In this case, the airflow 34 tries to rise,
This rise is prevented by the rib 21 (the airflow guide surface 21a). Then, the air flow 34 is guided along the air flow guiding surface 21a of the rib 21 to a position separated from the carriage operation position in parallel with the surface of the recording paper 100 on the paper feeding means.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the turbulence (air flow 3) formed in the direction opposite to the carriage operation direction
2, 34) is suppressed, so that the ink mist floating near the nozzle opening does not soar as in the related art, and the occurrence of contamination due to the adhesion of the ink mist to the recording paper 100 and the peripheral mechanism is reliably suppressed. be able to.

In this embodiment, the case where the air flow guide surface 21a of the rib 21 as the turbulence generation suppressing means is parallel to the recording paper 100 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. 4 may be used. That is, as shown in FIG.
1a is formed as an inclined surface that gradually approaches the same height surface as the recording paper 100 surface from the rib base end toward the rib tip. Thereby, the lower airflow formed in the direction opposite to the carriage operation direction is gradually inclined toward the same height surface as the recording paper 100 surface from the rib base end toward the rib tip. Guided along.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case has been described in which the turbulence generation suppressing means comprises the ribs 21 for guiding the lower airflow 32.
As shown in FIG. 7, the carriage 1 may be provided with the ribs 21 and a hollow block 51 (a duct having a U-shaped cross section) for guiding and rectifying the air flow may be provided. In the figure, inside and outside of a hollow block 51, air flow guiding / rectifying surfaces 51a, 51b for guiding / rectifying the upper air flow 31 are provided. As a result, the air flow 31 is rectified by the air flow guiding / rectifying surfaces 51a and 51b of the hollow block 51 and guided to the guiding position of the air flow 32 during the operation of the carriage. Is suppressed more effectively.

In this case, instead of the hollow block 51,
As shown in FIG. 6, a solid block 61 connected to the air flow guiding surface 21a of the rib 21 and having an air flow guiding and rectifying surface 61a for guiding and rectifying the upper air flow 31 outside the block may be used. Good. In the figure, a solid block 61
Are integrally provided on the upper surface of the rib 21. As a result, the air flow 31 is rectified by the air flow guiding / rectifying surface 61a of the solid block 61 and guided to the guiding position of the air flow 32 during the carriage operation, so that the air flow 31 is similar to the case where the hollow block 51 is used. Thus, the occurrence of the soaring of the air flow 32 is suppressed.

As described above, in each of the embodiments, the case where the effect of suppressing the rise of the air flow (ink mist) is obtained when the carriage is moved during printing is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Also when the carriage is moved during operation, it is obtained in the same manner as in each embodiment.

[0025]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a turbulent flow formed in the direction opposite to the carriage operation direction. The ink mist does not fly up, and the occurrence of contamination due to the adhesion of the ink mist to the recording paper or the peripheral mechanism can be reliably suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entirety of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are front views illustrating an operation of a turbulence generation suppressing unit in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a modified example of the turbulence generation suppressing means in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view schematically showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a modified example of the turbulence generation suppressing means in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) are front views for explaining an example of a defect due to turbulence generated during carriage movement in a conventional ink jet recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 2 Carriage motor 3 Timing belt 4 Guide rod 5 Platen 6 Recording head 7,8 Ink cartridge 9 Capping means 10 Suction pump 11 Cleaner 12 Cleaning member 21 Rib 21a Air flow guide surface 31-34 Air flow 41 Rib 41a Air flow guide Surface 51 Hollow block 51a, 51b Air flow induction / rectification surface 61 Solid block 61a Air flow induction / rectification surface 100 Recording paper

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a carriage reciprocable along a recording paper surface; and an ink jet recording head mounted on the carriage and ejecting ink droplets from a nozzle forming surface in accordance with print data. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carriage is provided with turbulence generation suppression means for suppressing generation of turbulence formed in a direction opposite to the carriage operation direction. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said turbulence generation suppressing means protrudes from said carriage in a carriage forward movement direction and a carriage backward movement direction, and separates a lower air flow formed in a direction opposite to the carriage movement direction from the carriage movement position. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a rib for guiding to a position where the ink jet recording is performed. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rib is disposed close to the same height as the recording paper surface. 4. The air flow guide surface parallel to the recording paper surface is provided on the rib.
Or an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3. 5. The air flow guide surface is formed as an inclined surface that gradually approaches the same height surface as the recording paper surface from the rib base end toward the rib tip. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: 6. A block body having an airflow guiding / rectifying surface for rectifying an upper airflow formed in a direction opposite to a carriage operation direction and guiding the upper airflow to a position for guiding the lower airflow. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is provided. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the block body is formed of a hollow block having the air flow guiding / rectifying surface inside and outside the block. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the block body is a solid block having the air flow guiding / rectifying surface outside the block.