JP2002248793A - Ink jet recorder and method of operating recovery of recording head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recorder and a method of operating recovery of a recording head wherein unwilling collision of a recording head with a recovery means is avoided so that the damages thereof can be prevented and the recording head is positioned on a position for the recovery operation of the recovery means, and then the recovery operation is surely performed. SOLUTION: The head recovery means 59 performs the recovery operation of the recording head 3 at a recovery operation position which is opposite to the head recovery means 59. A carriage lock 120 blocks the recording head 3 not to be moved to the recovery operation position under a predetermined condition. The carriage lock 120 is engaged with a hole 2a of the carriage 2 during the recovery operating time by the head recovery means 59 so that the carriage 2 and the recording head 3 are positioned to the recovery operation position.

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 provided with recording head recovery means and a recording head recovery processing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among various recording methods in printers and the like, an ink jet recording method in which ink is ejected from an ejection port (nozzle) to perform recording on recording paper as a recording medium is a low noise non-impact recording method. Since it is possible to perform a high-density and high-speed recording operation, it has been widely adopted in recent years.

A general ink jet recording apparatus includes a driving unit for driving a carriage on which a recording head is mounted, a conveying unit for conveying a recording sheet as a recording medium, a control unit for controlling these units, and the like. ing. In addition, in order to generate energy for discharging ink from the nozzle portion of the recording head, an ink is applied to the ink using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, or the ink is heated by irradiating electromagnetic waves such as a laser. Or foaming by heating ink with an electrothermal transducer element having a heating resistor.
Among them, an ink jet recording apparatus of a type in which ink droplets are ejected by using thermal energy can perform high-resolution recording because nozzles can be arranged at a high density. In particular, a recording head using an electrothermal transducer element as an energy generating element can be easily miniaturized, and in recent semiconductor manufacturing fields, the use of IC technology or micromachining technology, which has been significantly advanced in technology and markedly improved in reliability, has been applied. By making full use of the advantages, high-density mounting can be easily performed and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, in order to prevent ejection failure due to nozzle clogging,
Head recovery means is provided. One of the head recovery means has a configuration in which a negative pressure is introduced from a suction pump into the cap while the nozzle is covered by the cap, and ink in the print head is suctioned from the nozzle. High viscosity ink inside the ink supply channel,
Fine dust and bubbles in the ink are sucked out of the nozzle tip together with the ink and discharged. Another one of the head recovery means has a configuration in which a head surface (a surface on which nozzles are formed) of the recording head is wiped with a flexible wiper blade to remove fine dust and residual ink attached to the head surface. Keep the head surface clean. Further, another one of the head recovery means has a configuration in which a small amount of ink not contributing to image recording is ejected from the nozzles immediately before the recording head performs recording, thereby maintaining stable ink ejection.

Further, in a serial scanning type ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by reciprocating a carriage equipped with these recording heads, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the ink tank in order to reduce the frequency of ink tank replacement. . However, when a simple printhead-integrated ink tank in which the ink tank and the printhead are integrated is employed, the inertia of the ink tank on the carriage increases. As a method for avoiding this, there is known a method in which an ink tank is provided at a fixed position of the apparatus main body, and ink is supplied to a recording head on a carriage via a connection tube or the like.

In an ink jet recording apparatus, a slight negative pressure with respect to the atmospheric pressure is constantly applied to the ink so that the ink does not drop from the recording head except during the recording operation. This achieves both the ejection of ink and the prevention of unnecessary dropping of ink from the recording head. However, when the ink in the connection tube flows due to the reciprocating motion of the carriage during the printing operation, the ink is pushed out of the printing head,
Alternatively, the ink is pulled into the connection tube, and the discharge amount of the ink from the recording head fluctuates, which may cause recording unevenness or non-discharge of the ink. As a countermeasure,
An air reservoir is provided inside the recording head in the vicinity of the connection tube, the recording head, and the connection portion, and by utilizing the elasticity of the air in the air reservoir, the pressure fluctuation of the ink in the connection tube is absorbed, so that the ink is removed. A method for stabilizing ejection is known. The air reservoir is formed, for example, by disposing an air buffer container. This air buffer container has an upper portion serving as an air reservoir and a lower portion serving as an ink reservoir. The air buffer container also has a function of separating air from ink in the connection tube in which air is mixed and feeding only ink to the recording head. I have. In addition, it is necessary to ensure the liquid level inside the ink reservoir at an optimum height so that air does not enter the recording head from the air reservoir due to the fluctuation of the liquid surface of the ink reservoir caused by the reciprocating motion of the carriage. Also, in a method of conveying and recording a recording medium without reciprocating the carriage (full line recording method), there is a method in which a similar container is provided to separate air from ink. Also in this recording method, it is necessary to secure the liquid level inside the ink reservoir at an optimum height. The liquid level inside the ink reservoir tends to gradually decrease due to the permeation and penetration of air from the wall surface of the connection tube and the degassing of the dissolved gas in the ink. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously maintain the required liquid level inside the ink reservoir.

In an ink jet recording apparatus for supplying ink through a single connection tube, there is the following method for maintaining the liquid level inside the ink reservoir at a required height. That is, first, the ink supply path is closed by the opening / closing means provided in the ink supply path, and the ink and air in the recording head are suctioned by the cap and the suction pump of the recording head recovery means described above, and the predetermined amount is stored in the recording head. To generate a negative pressure. Thereafter, the ink supply path is opened, and the amount of reduced pressure in the air buffer container is controlled by, for example, filling the ink to return the ink level to the required level.

In recent years, in a color ink jet recording apparatus, full-color recording has become possible by discharging ink from nozzles corresponding to each color ink using multi-color inks. Such a color ink jet recording apparatus uses ink to reduce the size of the apparatus, improve the landing accuracy of ink droplets on recording paper as a recording medium, and promote the fixing of ink to recording paper by high-speed recording. Means are used in combination to enhance chemical and electrical coupling. In this case,
For the first time, a plurality of inks are combined on a recording paper, and before that, the inks adopt a form in which the inks are completely separated. Also, in order to shorten the recording time by shortening the moving distance of the carriage, the distance between the nozzles corresponding to each color ink is reduced as much as possible, so that the same cap can be used for multiple color inks. A suction recovery operation of sucking ink from the nozzles to be performed can be performed.

[0009]

In the recording apparatus having the above-described structure, when the cap is pressed against the nozzle surface of the recording head (capping) and when the nozzle surface of the recording head is wiped (wiping) with a wiper blade, the capping is performed. The cap or wiper blade contacts the recording head. As described above, when the inks to be used are chemically and electrically coupled, if a plurality of inks are mixed on the recording head, they may be fixed on the nozzle surface. In this case, the nozzles of the print head will not discharge ink, or in the worst case, the nozzles will be completely blocked, and the ink discharge state will be good even if the print head recovers. There is a possibility that the recording head will not be restored and the recording head will be destroyed. In order to prevent this, when performing capping and wiping, it is necessary to position the recording head such that the positional relationship between the cap and the wiper blade does not shift. As a positioning mechanism for the positioning, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 030115432, a lock member protruding from a recovery system unit of the recording head enters a positioning hole of a carriage on which the recording head is mounted so that both can be accurately positioned. Is described.

[0010] However, if the CPU provided in the recording apparatus runs away or the user inadvertently operates the carriage by hand, the original positioning mechanism may not be able to maintain its original positioning function. In this case, the capping or wiping is performed at a position slightly or greatly deviated from the original position, and the ink adhering to the cap or the wiper blade and the ink in the nozzle of the recording head are mixed. , They may be chemically and electrically coupled. When such coupling occurs, ink cannot be ejected from the nozzles of the recording head, or in the worst case, the nozzles are completely blocked, and the ink is ejected even when the recording head recovers. The state may not return to a good state, and the recording head may be destroyed.

When the cap is pressed against the nozzle surface of the recording head to suck and discharge ink, there is a method of generating a pressing force of the cap against the nozzle surface by elastically displacing a cap spring. In a configuration using such a cap spring, when the positional relationship between the recording head and the cap is shifted and the recording head to be positioned on the cap at the time of ink suction operation comes off from the cap, the cap spring is used. Is not displaced, so that the position of the cap moves away from the nozzle surface of the recording head. In this state, if the user unintentionally moves the carriage by hand, or the carriage moves due to runaway of a CPU provided in the printing apparatus, the print head mounted on the carriage collides with the cap. And they may be destroyed. On the other hand, when the positional relationship between the recording head and the wiper blade is displaced and the wiper blade wipes the recording head displaced from the original position, the amount of overlap between the nozzle surface of the recording head and the tip of the wiper blade is reduced. (Also called “penetration amount”) in some cases. In this state, if the user unintentionally moves the carriage by hand, or if the carriage moves due to runaway of the CPU provided in the printing apparatus, the print head mounted on the carriage and the wiper blade collide. They may be destroyed.

Further, even if such a cap and wiper blade do not break due to a collision with the recording head, a plurality of inks are mixed on the nozzle surface of the recording head due to their contact. May be combined. In such a case, there is a risk that the combination of these inks may enter the nozzles and be fixed, and in the worst case, the ink ejection state will return to a good state even if the recording head is recovered. And the recording head may be destroyed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and a recording head recovery processing method capable of avoiding unintentional collision between a recording head and a recovery means and preventing their damage. is there.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of positioning a recording head at a recovery processing position of a recovery means and performing recovery processing accurately.
And a recording head recovery processing method.

[0015]

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention uses a recording head capable of discharging ink from an ink discharge port, moves the recording head, and discharges the ink from the ink discharge port to cover the object. In an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium, at a predetermined recovery processing position, a recovery unit capable of executing a recovery process for maintaining a good ink ejection state of the print head; A movement restricting means for preventing movement of the recording head from outside the processing position to the recovery processing position.

According to the recording head recovery processing method of the present invention, a recovery processing for maintaining a good ink ejection state is performed at a predetermined recovery processing position on a recording head provided in a serial type ink jet recording apparatus. In the recovery processing method for a print head, a movement of the print head from outside the recovery processing position to the recovery processing position is prevented under a predetermined condition.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings.
The same or corresponding parts are shown.

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

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an ink jet recording apparatus main body. The recording head 3 as recording means has a plurality of nozzle rows on a surface facing the recording paper 11 as a recording medium in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction of arrows C and D. Each time a different color ink is ejected. In the recording head 3, each color ink is supplied from the ink tank 4 to the nozzle row of each ink color via each supply tube 5. The recording head 3
It is mounted on the carriage 2. The carriage 2 is supported so as to be able to reciprocate in a main scanning direction indicated by arrows C and D along a guide shaft 7 and a guide rail 8 whose both ends are fixed to a frame 6 and are parallel to each other. The carriage 2 is reciprocated by a belt driving device (not shown) and a motor. A transport roller 9 and a pinch roller (not shown) that comes into contact with the transport roller 9 are provided near the moving range of the carriage 2. In addition, a cassette 10 that is detachable from the frame 6 is attached to the front of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. The recording paper 11 is supplied from the cassette 10, reaches a recording position facing the recording head 3, is sandwiched between the transport roller 9 and the pinch roller, and moves the carriage 2 by the rotation of the transport roller 9 and the pinch roller. The sheet is transported in the sub-scanning direction indicated by an arrow Y perpendicular to the direction. The recording paper 11 on which the image has been recorded by the recording head 3 is discharged onto a discharge stacker 13.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the recording apparatus of FIG. In FIG. 2, at a home position provided near one end of the moving range of the carriage 2, a head recovery unit 50 is provided at a position where the head recovery unit 50 can face the recording head 3. The head recovery means 50 is in the state of waiting for the recording operation,
It operates before and after the recording operation or between recordings for each line. The head recovery means 50 performs operations such as capping, suction, and wiping in order to prevent clogging of the recording head 3 and maintain ink ejection performance.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the head recovery means 50 and a peripheral portion of a cam for driving the head recovery means. FIG.
1 shows only those parts necessary for explaining the present invention. On the nozzle surface 3a of the recording head 3, an ink ejection port of a nozzle for ejecting ink is formed. The recording head 3 is reciprocated integrally with the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction indicated by arrows C and D perpendicular to the paper surface. The head recovery unit 50 is provided with a cap 52 at a position facing the nozzle surface 3a of the recording head 3 when the carriage 2 moves to the home position.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory views of the recording head 3, the cap 52, and the wiper blade 81. FIG.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3. In the recording head 3, black (B)
k), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y)
Are separated from each other. In each ink chamber, a filter 3b for preventing foreign matter from entering so as not to clog the nozzle is attached, and an ink layer and an air layer are formed above and below the filter 3b, respectively. The nozzle rows 3C, 3M, 3Y, and 3Bk corresponding to each of the cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) inks can reduce the size of the apparatus, improve the landing accuracy of ink droplets on recording paper, or improve the carriage 2 In order to shorten the recording time by shortening the moving distance, the distance between them is shortened as much as possible. The black (Bk) nozzle row 3Bk is slightly separated from the positions where the other nozzle rows are formed. The reason is,
The cyan (C) and black (Bk) inks of the color inks are electrically coupled on the recording paper 11 to improve the fixability, so that they are on the nozzle surface (also referred to as the “head face surface”). In order to prevent such inks from contacting each other.

The cap 52 has a cap portion 52 for Bk.
a and a cap portion 52b for color (C, M, Y) are formed, and a suction recovery operation is separately performed for nozzle rows having different use frequencies by suction selection described later to reduce the amount of discharged ink. I do. The cap 52 includes a cap base 60.
Are provided integrally on the upper surface of
The absorber 14 is provided inside 52b. The cap base 60 is provided with a claw 60a having a mounting hole. By fitting the boss 61a provided on the cap holder 61 into the mounting hole of the claw 60a, the cap base 60 is swingably mounted on the cap holder 61 and is urged upward by the cap spring 15. You.

FIG. 5B is an explanatory view when the wiper blade 81 is opposed to the recording head 3 instead of the cap. The wiper blade 81 has a black (B
K) A wiper blade portion 81b for wiping the nozzle surface portion corresponding to the ink nozzle 3Bk and a wiper blade portion 81c for wiping the nozzle surface portion corresponding to the other color ink nozzles 3Y, 3M, 3C are formed. ing. Thus, the two wiper blade portions 81b, 81
c, the nozzle surface 3a of the recording head 3 is wiped at separate portions so that black (Bk) and other inks (Y, M, C) do not mix.

As shown in FIG. 3, an ink supply port 3c is formed in each ink chamber of the recording head 3, and each ink supply port 3c has an ink tank of each ink color via a supply tube 5. 4 are connected. The ink tank 4 is disposed so as to have a predetermined head difference H with respect to the recording head 3 so that ink does not drop from the nozzles of the recording head 3 except during a recording operation. When the ink in the recording head 3 decreases due to the discharge of the ink from the recording head 3 and the suction and discharge of the ink by the recovery operation of the recording head, the negative pressure in the recording head 3 causes the ink tank 4 to pass through the supply tube 5. From recording head 3
The ink is automatically supplied to the inside. The supply path including the supply tube 5 is provided with a valve 12 that can open and close the supply path.

The recovery base 51 includes the recording head 3 and the valve 12.
The components of the head recovery means 50 are supported and fixed in a predetermined positional relationship with the like, and will be described below.

In the cap portion 52a for Bk and the cap portion 52b for color (C, M, Y) of the cap 52, the right side in FIG. At the position, the atmosphere communication tube 7
One end is attached, and the other end is connected to a corresponding atmosphere communication valve 72. A suction tube 53 capable of sucking ink or the like is attached at a position on the left side of FIG. 3 from the center of the nozzle row in the longitudinal direction.
4 and the pump frame 55. In FIG. 3, the configurations around the Bk cap portion 52a and the color cap portion 52b are both shown as the same cross section.

A pump roller holder 56 is pivotally supported by the pump frame 55. On the pump roller holder 56, pump rollers for Bk and collars projecting to the outside are symmetrically positioned around the pump frame rotation shaft 55a. 57 are provided two by two. The pump spring 58 is connected to the pump roller 5.
7 is urged in the direction of pressing against the tube frame 54. The tube 53, the tube frame 54, the pump frame 55, the pump roller holder 56, the pump roller 57
Thereby, a tube pump 59 is configured. A cam 65 is rotatably supported on the right side of the recovery base 51 in FIG. The cam 65 is integrally formed with respective cam plates 65a to 65f (the cam plate 65e is not shown) required for the operation of the head recovery means 50.

Next, the configuration of the head recovery means 50 will be described.

The shaft 73 fixed to the recovery base 51 has
A total of two atmosphere communication arms 74, a cap arm 62, and a one-sided arm 111 for Bk and color are pivotally supported. Reference numeral 75 denotes an air communication spring, which is provided two so as to urge the two air communication arms 74 in the counterclockwise direction, and keeps the air communication valves 72 for Bk and the collar in a sealed state. When the cam plate 65a rotates, the cam plate 65
The two air communication arms 74 rotate simultaneously following the protrusion 65aa of a. Then, the two atmosphere communication valves 72 are simultaneously opened and closed by the valve arm 74b formed at the other end of the atmosphere communication arm 74.

The cap holder 61 has a guide portion 61
a engages with the slide rib 51a of the recovery base 51, and its guide hole 61b
By engaging with 1b, it is slidably supported in the vertical direction. The cap arm 62 is rotatably supported by a shaft 73. The cap arm 62 has cam followers 62a and 62b (see FIG.
By displacing along the cam surfaces of 5b and 65c, it swings around the shaft 73. A cap driving roller portion 62c is formed at an end of the cap arm 62. The roller portion 62c is engaged with the groove 61c of the cap holder 61, so that the cap holder 62 swings and the cap holder 62 is swung. 61 slides up and down.

The wiper blade 81 is made of a fluorescing material such as urethane, and has a wiper holder 82.
Fixed and supported. The wiper holder 82 is slidably supported on the recovery base 51 in the left-right direction in FIG. The wiper cleaner 83 cleans the moving wiper blade 81 by contacting the tip portion 81a of the wiper blade 81.

Reference numeral 66 denotes a valve shaft, and the recovery base 51
3 is slidably supported in the left-right direction in FIG. 3, and the valve 12 is opened and closed by a cam plate 65e (not shown).

Reference numeral 101 denotes a selection cam.
a and 101b are provided. Selection cam 101 is shaft 1
02 is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable about a center 02, and is urged counterclockwise by a spring at a portion not shown. When the cam portion 101a of the selection cam 101 comes into contact with a stopper 51c provided on the recovery base 51, the selection cam 101 shown in FIG.
It is stopped at the position. By the selection operation described later, 2
By selectively swinging the air communication arms 74, the air communication valves 72 for Bk and for the color can be selectively brought into the air communication state.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the carriage lock 120.
It is rotatable around a dowel 120a provided integrally with the recovery base 51. End 1 of carriage lock 120
20b is constantly pressed against the cam plate 65f which is a part of the cam 65 by the urging force of the spring 121, and the carriage lock 1 is linked to the rotation of the cam plate 65f.
The tip 120c of the 20 moves up and down. This tip 120c
Engages the hole 2a of the carriage 2 to restrict the movement of the carriage 2 so as not to move in the main scanning direction. Thereby, the position of the carriage 2 with respect to the recovery base 51 is regulated. As described later, the position of the carriage 2 is regulated by regulating the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the cap 52 and the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the wiper blade 81, respectively. And the color ink are prevented from being electrically bonded and fixed on the face of the recording head 1.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the drive section of the head recovery means 50, which is arranged on the front side of the paper surface in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, a stepping motor 91 serving as a driving source is attached to the head recovery means 50. A pinion gear 91a of the stepping motor 91 transmits a pendulum gear via a reduction gear 92. It is connected to a mechanism 93. This pendulum gear transmission mechanism 93
Is composed of a base gear 93a connected to the reduction gear 92, a pendulum arm 93b swingable about the axis of the base gear 93a, and a planetary gear 93c attached to the tip of the pendulum arm 93b. Planetary gear 93c
Meshes with a sun gear that rotates integrally with the base gear 93a. As shown in FIG. 4, the planetary gear 93c meshes with the cam gear 94 when it is located on the right side in FIG. The cam gear 94 and the above-mentioned cam 65 rotate integrally. A cam gear flag 95 is provided on the outer periphery of the cam gear 94. This cam gear flag 95
Is a light-shielding plate that shields the light of the optical sensor 96. The optical sensor 96 can detect the phase of the cam gear 94 by detecting whether or not the light is shielded.

When the stepping motor 91 rotates forward (counterclockwise in FIG. 6) in the direction of arrow A1, the reduction gear 92 and
The base gear 93a of the pendulum gear transmission mechanism 93 rotates in conjunction with it. As a result, the pendulum arm 93b is
As shown in the figure, the planet gear 93c is inclined with the cam gear 94 in the direction of the arrow B1. As a result, the cam gear 94 rotates counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow C. At this time, the cam plates 65a to 65f constituting the cam 65 rotate integrally with the cam gear 94 in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow C. When the stepping motor 91 reversely rotates in the direction of arrow A2 (clockwise in FIG. 6), the reduction gear 92 and the base gear 93a rotate in conjunction with each other, and the pendulum arm 93b tilts in the direction of arrow B2. Thereby, the planetary gear 93c meshes with the selection gear 103,
The selection cam 101 rotates in the direction of arrow D.

As described above, the pendulum transmission mechanism 93 drives the cam gear 94 in the direction of arrow C when the stepping motor 91 rotates forward in the direction of arrow A1, and when the stepping motor 91 reversely rotates in the direction of arrow A2. Selection cam 101
Is driven in the direction of arrow D. Therefore, the pendulum transmission mechanism 93 constitutes one-way drive transmission means.

A stepping motor 97 is attached to the head recovery means 50 as another driving source, and a pinion gear 97a of the stepping motor 97 is provided.
Is connected to a pump gear 99 via a reduction gear 98. The tube pump 59 is driven by rotation of a pump gear 99.

When the stepping motor 97 rotates forward in the direction of arrow E (counterclockwise in FIG. 6), the reduction gear 98 and the pump gear 99 rotate in conjunction with each other. Accordingly, the pump frame 55 (see FIG. 3) rotates in the direction of arrow F together with the pump gear 99, and the pump roller 57 moves in the direction of arrow F while squeezing the suction tube 53 between itself and the tube frame 54. By this operation, the pressure in the cap 52 becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure, and at the same time, the high-viscosity ink,
Fine dust and bubbles in the ink liquid are sucked out of the recording head 3. As a result, the recording performance of the recording head 3 can be restored in order to avoid a recording failure due to nozzle clogging or the like.

During the recording operation, the head recovery means 5
0 is in the state of FIG. 3, and the cap 52 is
Waiting at a predetermined distance from. In this state, the recording head 3 can move to a position above the cap 52 and perform a preliminary ejection operation toward the cap 52. This preliminary ejection operation is an operation in which a small amount of ink that does not contribute to recording is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 3 into the cap 52 immediately before the recording operation in order to maintain stable ink ejection. When a predetermined amount of ink has accumulated in the cap 52, the tube pump 59 is operated to
The ink in the cap 52 is discharged through the tube 53. This prevents the ink from overflowing from inside the cap 52. Further, the amount of ink in the recording head 3 decreases due to the ejection of ink from the nozzles of the recording head 3.
Due to the negative pressure in the recording head 3, the reduced ink is
The ink is replenished from the ink tank 4 via the supply tube 5 to maintain the required ink level before recording.

Next, referring to FIGS. 7 to 12, an operation of recovering the liquid level of the ink in the recording head 3 by the head recovery means 50 and the black (Bk) on the nozzle surface 3a of the recording head 3 will be described. Prevention of mixing of cyan (C) ink will be described.

(Recovery Operation of Ink Liquid Level) In the state shown in FIG. 3, when the recovery means of the recording head 3 becomes necessary, as shown in FIG.
Move just above zero. At this time, the cam 65 is rotated by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow C so that the carriage 2 can move directly above the head recovery unit 50. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the tip 120b of the carriage lock 120 is caused to ride on the convex portion of the cam plate 65f,
Is separated downward from the hole 2a of the carriage 2 so that the carriage 2 does not interfere with the carriage lock 120.

After the carriage 2 has moved directly above the head recovery means 50, the cam 65 is rotated by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow C, and the recess of the cam plate 5f is moved to the leading end 120c of the carriage lock 120 as shown in FIG. To face. This allows
The carriage lock 120 rotates, and its end 120c fits into the hole 2a of the carriage 2, so that the positional relationship between the carriage 2 and the head recovery unit 50 is accurately regulated.
As a result, the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the cap 52,
In addition, the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the wiper blade 81 is accurately regulated. Thereafter, the mode is shifted to the suction operation mode using the cap 52.

The liquid levels L1, L2 of the ink in the recording head 3
When the pressure drops (see FIGS. 5A and 5B), a predetermined negative pressure is first introduced into the recording head 3 as shown in FIG. 7 in order to restore it to a predetermined height. . That is, the stepping motor 91 is normally rotated in the direction of arrow A1 in FIG. 6 by a predetermined amount, and the cam 65 is rotated in the direction of arrow C. As the cam plates 65b and 65c of the cam 65 rotate, the cam follower portion 62a of the cap arm 62 is displaced from the inclined surface 65ca of the cam plate 65c along the outer peripheral surface 65cb, and the cap arm 62 is rotated about the shaft 73 in the direction of arrow G1. To rotate. Thereby, the cap base 61
Slides upward, the cap 52 contacts the recording head 3, and the nozzle surface 3a is sealed. Also,
The cam plate 65e (not shown) pushes the valve shaft 66 to the left in the direction of the arrow H1, whereby the valve 12 is closed. In this state, by operating the tube pump 59 to introduce a negative pressure into the cap 52, ink is sucked out from the nozzles of the recording head 3, and air remaining in the recording head 3 is sucked out from the nozzles. , Recording head 3
Is set to a predetermined negative pressure.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG.
The valve 12 is opened by rotating the valve shaft 66 in the direction indicated by arrow H2 by a cam plate 65e (not shown). Thereby, the supply tube 5 is moved from the ink tank 4 to the supply tube 5.
, Ink of the negative pressure in the recording head 3 is filled. As a result, the ink levels L1, L
2 recovers to the predetermined height. Also, when the valve 12 is opened, the rotation speed of the tube pump 59 is reduced or intermittently rotated almost simultaneously to reduce the suction amount. Thus, a negative pressure is generated in the cap 52 to prevent the ink from flowing backward from the nozzle, and the amount of discharged ink can be suppressed to a small amount.

(Single Opening Operation of Cap and Opening Operation of Atmospheric Communication Valve) FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of the subsequent one opening operation of the cap 52 and the subsequent opening operation of the atmospheric communication valve 72. In the state of FIG. 9, the ink sucked from the recording head 3 is filled in the cap 52. In particular,
Each color ink is mixed in the color cap portion 52b. When the atmosphere communication valve 72 is opened in such a state, the air flows into the cap 52 through the atmosphere communication tube 71, and the ink in the cap 52 is ejected toward the ejection port surface 3a. The ink may flow backward from the nozzles into the recording head 3 to cause color mixing. Therefore, as a countermeasure, one side of the cap 52 is opened.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the cam 65 is rotated by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow C, and the cam follower portion 111a of the one-sided arm 111 is rotated according to the rotation of the cam plate 65d.
Is displaced along the outer peripheral surface 65db from the inclined surface 65da of the cam plate 65d. Thereby, the one-sided arm 111 is
3 in the direction of arrow G2.
1b comes into contact with the butting portion 60a of the cap base 60. As a result, the cap base 60 is
5 is bent, and the right portion rotates counterclockwise around the left portion in FIG. Due to this operation, the right side of the cap 52 is separated from the head surface 3a to be in a single-open state. Such a cap half-opening mechanism uses a cap angle correction mechanism for bringing the cap 52 and the nozzle surface 3a into close contact with each other, so that there is no need to provide a special mechanism around the cap 52, and cost increase can be suppressed. it can.

At substantially the same time as the opening of the cap 52, the suction speed is increased by increasing the rotation speed of the tube pump 59 or the like. The ink filled in the cap 52 is indicated by an arrow B in FIG.
Because air flows in from the direction, the cap 52 does not blow to the nozzle surface 3a, but from inside the right side of the cap 52 in FIG.
The ink is sucked together with the ink attached to the nozzle surface 3a.

After such opening of the cap 52, the cam 65 is further rotated in the direction of arrow C by a predetermined amount.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the cam follower portion 74a of the atmosphere communication arm 74 is displaced from the inclined surface 65ab of the projection 65aa of the cam plate 65a along the outer peripheral surface 65ac, and the atmosphere communication arm 74 moves around the axis 73 as an arrow. It turns in the G1 direction. When the cam plate 65a rotates to the phase where the cam follower portion 74a contacts, the valve arm 74b formed at the other end of the atmosphere communication arm 74 separates from the atmosphere communication valve 72 and opens the atmosphere communication valve 72. The state of the carriage lock 120 at this time is the same as the state of FIG. 9, and the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the cap 52 and the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the wiper blade 81 are accurately maintained.

(Empty Suction Operation) FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the subsequent idle suction operation.

By rotating the cam 65 by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow C, as shown in FIG. 11, the one-sided arm 111 returns to the rotation in the direction of arrow G2 while the atmosphere communication valve 72 is kept open, and the cap 52 is moved. The cap spring 15 comes into close contact with the nozzle surface 3a by the urging force. During this period, since the tube pump 59 continues to be driven, air is sucked into the cap 52 from the atmosphere communication valve 72 through the atmosphere communication tube 71. Such suction is called empty suction. Therefore,
Due to such idle suction, a small amount of ink that has flowed into the atmosphere communication tube 71 during the previous suction operation and the cap 5
The ink in 2 can be cleanly removed, that is, completely removed by suction. Further, since the gap between the nozzle surface 3a and the absorber 14 in the cap 52 is very small, the ink adhering to the discharge port surface 3a that could not be completely sucked by the one-sided opening of the cap 52 is sucked and discharged at this time. can do. Further, in the above-described suction operation when the cap is half-opened and in the idle suction operation, the ink suction and the inflow of air form an ink flow in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle row in the recording head 3. Therefore, it is difficult for each color ink to move to another nozzle row. Also, the carriage lock 120
Is in the same state as in FIG. 10 even during the idle suction operation,
The positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the cap 52 and the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the wiper blade 81 are accurately maintained.

(Wiping Operation) FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the wiping operation of the recording head 3 thereafter.

By rotating the cam 65 by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow C, the cap arms 6 facing the cam plates 65b and 65c are rotated as shown in FIG.
The second cam followers 62b, 62c are displaced. That is, the cam follower portion 62b is provided on the slope 65b of the cam plate 65b.
The cap arm 62 is displaced along the outer peripheral surface 65bb from “a”, and rotates about the shaft 73 in the direction of the arrow G2.
Thereby, the cap base 61 slides downward. Next, in this state, the wiper blade 81 is moved leftward in FIG. 12 by driving means (not shown). By this operation, the tip 81 of the wiper blade 81
“a” wipes the nozzle surface 3 a to clean the recording head 3. Since a small amount of ink has adhered to the nozzle surface 3a due to the one-sided opening of the cap 52 (see FIG. 10) and the idle suction operation (see FIG. 11), the color mixing of the ink due to such wiping can be suppressed. At this time, the carriage lock 120 is in the same state as in FIG. 7, and the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the cap 52 is determined.
Further, the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the wiper blade 81 is accurately maintained.

After the end of such wiping operation, the cam 65 is rotated by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow C, and returns to the state shown in FIGS.

The above-described series of operations is executed during one cycle (one rotation) of the cam 65, and thereafter, a small amount of mixed ink is preliminarily ejected into the cap 52 in the nozzle, so that the mixed color of the ink is reduced. To prevent. Further, by such an operation, the operation of recovering the liquid levels L1 and L2 of the ink in the recording head 3 is also completed.

(Normal Suction Recovery Operation) When performing a normal recovery operation for sucking high-viscosity ink, fine dust, and bubbles in the ink from the nozzles of the recording head 3, the cam 65 is moved to the position shown in FIG. Rotate until Then, while maintaining the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the cap 52 with high accuracy by the carriage lock 120, the tube pump 5
9, the same operation as in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 is performed. Thus, it is possible to prevent color mixing of ink even in a normal suction recovery operation.

(Open Selection Operation of Atmospheric Communication Valve) FIGS. 13 and 14 are explanatory diagrams of the open selection operation of the atmospheric communication valve 72. As described above, for the Bk cap portion 52a and the color cap portion 52b of the cap 52, ink suction paths are separately provided, and air communication paths are separately provided. That is, the Bk cap portion 52
A is connected to a tube pump 59 for Bk and an atmosphere communication valve 72 for Bk via tubes 53 and 71 for Bk, and the tube 53 and 71 for collar are connected to the cap portion 52b for collar. Is connected to the tube pump 59 for the collar and the atmosphere communication valve 72 for the collar. The air communication valve 72 for Bk is opened and closed by an air communication arm 74 for Bk, and the air communication valve 72 for color is opened and closed by an air communication arm 74 for color. The two air communication arms 74 for Bk and for color are simultaneously rotated by the cam plate 65a and selectively rotated by the selection cam 101 as described above. Therefore, by this selection cam 101, B
The air communication valve 72 for k and the air communication valve 72 for color can be selectively opened and closed. 13 and 14, for convenience of explanation, the atmosphere communication arm for Bk
B, the air communication valve for color is 72A.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the standby state of the head recovery means 50 capable of performing a recording operation, as described above, the stepping motor 91 is rotated in the direction of arrow A2 in FIG. Rotate in D direction. The selection cam 101 rotates in the direction of arrow D integrally with the selection gear 103.

In the state shown in FIG. 13, the color air communication valve 74 is open to the atmosphere. That is, when the selection cam 101 is rotated by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow D, the cam portion 101a pushes up the cam follower portion 74c of the atmosphere communication arm 74A for the collar, and gets over the claw portion at the tip of the cam follower portion 74c. Thus, the color air communication arm 74A rotates in the direction of arrow G1 to open the color air communication valve 72. At this time, the reverse rotation of the stepping motor 91 in the direction of the arrow A2 in FIG. 6 stops, and then the stepping motor 91 rotates forward in the direction of the arrow A1 in FIG. Perform normal recovery operation. At that time, since the color air communication valve 72 is open, during the suction operation, the color cap portion 52b is in the idle suction state, and only the Bk cup portion 52a is in the suction state.

In the state shown in FIG. 14, the atmosphere communication valve 74 for Bk is open to the atmosphere. That is, the selection cam 1
When 01 rotates a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow D, first,
The cam portion 101a serves as a color air communication arm 74A.
The air communication arm 74A for the collar is rotated and returned in the direction of arrow G2 by the air communication spring 75 away from the cam follower portion 74c. As a result, the color atmosphere communication arm 7
The 4A valve arm 74b closes the color air communication valve 72. Further, when the selection cam 101 rotates a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow D, the cam portion 101b pushes up the cam follower portion 74c of the atmosphere communication arm 74B for Bk, and gets over the claw portion at the tip of the cam follower portion 74c. Thereby, the atmosphere communication arm 74B for Bk rotates in the direction of arrow G1 to open the atmosphere communication valve 72 for Bk.
At this time, the reverse rotation of the stepping motor 91 in the direction of the arrow A2 in FIG. 6 stops, and then the stepping motor 91 rotates forward in the direction of the arrow A1 in FIG. Perform normal recovery operation. At this time, since the atmosphere communication valve 72 for Bk is open, during the suction operation, the cap portion 52a for Bk is in the idle suction state, and only the cup portion 52b for the color is in the suction state.

As described above, by the selection cam 101, B
The air communication valve 74 for k or color can be selectively opened and closed. At this time, since the selection gear 103 and the selection gear 103 are urged in the counterclockwise direction by a spring (not shown), the cam portions 101a and 101b are moved by the cam followers 74c of the atmosphere communication arms 74A and 74B for color and Bk. Until the engagement with the claw portion, the planetary gear 93c is pressed by the pressure between the tooth surfaces of the planetary gear 93c and the selection gear 103.
c cannot be separated from the selection gear 103. If the cam portions 101a and 101b of the selection cam 101 are
The cam portions 101a and 101b are rotated even in the direction of arrow D slightly beyond the engagement positions of the cam followers 74c of the 4A and 74B with the claws, and then the recovery operation is started.
Are the cam followers 74c of the atmosphere communication arms 74A and 74B.
The planetary gear 93c cannot be disengaged from the selection gear 103 until it engages with the claw portion of. Therefore, before shifting to the recovery operation, the air communication valve 74 for Bk or color can be reliably opened, and there is no need to provide a special sensor or the like for detecting the opened state.

After the suction operation is completed, as shown in FIG. 11, the cam plate 65a is connected to the atmosphere communication arms 74A and 74B.
The cam follower 74a is pushed up to rotate the air communication arms 74A and 74B in the direction of arrow G1. Thereby, the air communication valve 74 for Bk or color is opened, and the engagement between the cam portions 101a and 101b and the claws of the cam followers 74c of the air communication arms 74A and 74B is released. Therefore, the selection cam 101 is rotated counterclockwise together with the selection gear 103 by the urging force of a spring (not shown), and as shown in FIG.
1a hits the stopper 51c and returns to the initial position. That is, after the selection cam 101 selectively opens the Bk or color air communication valve 74, every time the recovery operation is completed, the selection cam 101 and the Bk and color air communication valve 74 are initialized. Return to

(Positioning Operation) As described above, the carriage lock 120 is provided by the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the cap 52 and the recording head 3 and the wiper blade 81.
Is maintained with high accuracy. That is, in the operation mode in which the cap 52 is pressed against the recording head 3, and when the nozzle surface 3 a of the recording head 3 is
In the operation mode of wiping, the tip 120c of the carriage lock 120 projects regardless of the presence or absence of the recording head 3. When the carriage 2 is at the proper position, the leading end 120c of the carriage lock 120 enters the hole 2a of the carriage 2, and the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the cap 52, and the recording head 3 and the wiper blade 8
1 is accurately maintained.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, when the carriage 2 is at a position deviated from the position facing the head recovery means 50, the tip 120c of the carriage lock 120 regulates the moving range of the carriage 2. That is, when the carriage 2 moves in the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 15 due to the runaway of the CPU provided in the recording apparatus or the like, or when the user intentionally moves the carriage 2 in the direction of the arrow C in FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, the side surface 2b of the carriage 2 collides with the leading end 120c of the carriage lock 120, and the movement of the carriage 2 to a position facing the head recovery unit 50 is prevented. Therefore, the nozzle surface 3a of the recording head 3
Thus, collision and contact with the cap 52 and the wiper blade 81 can be avoided. Therefore, at least when the recovery process by the recovery unit 50 is not necessary, as shown in FIG. 15, the carriage lock 120 can prevent the carriage 2 from moving from the direction of arrow C to the recovery processing position of the recovery unit 50.

In FIG. 15, the moving space of the carriage 2 between the carriage lock 120 and the chassis 122 is set smaller than the entire width of the carriage 2 in the left-right direction. That is, carriage lock 1
The entire carriage 2 does not completely enter between the chassis 20 and the chassis 122. Therefore, the carriage 2 does not move beyond the recovery processing position of the recovery unit 50 in the direction of arrow C. Of course, the carriage 2 does not move to the recovery processing position of the recovery unit 50 from the direction of arrow D.

(Procedure of Operation for Recovering Ink Liquid Level) The following is a summary of an example of the procedure of the operation for recovering the ink liquid level, focusing on the operations of the motors 91 and 97. (1) The motor 91 is reversed in the direction of arrow A2 by a predetermined amount to selectively open the air communication valve 74 for Bk or color. (When it is not necessary to selectively open the air communication valve 74 for Bk or color, the motor 91 does not need to rotate in the direction of arrow B2 in reverse.) (2) The motor 91 is normally rotated in the direction of arrow A1 by a predetermined amount. To perform the capping operation. At this time, the valve 12 closes. (3) The drive of the tube pump 59 is started by the motor 97 (decompression operation). (4) The valve 91 is opened by rotating the motor 91 forward by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow A1. (5) Decrease the rotation speed of the motor 97. (6) The motor 91 is normally rotated in the direction of the arrow A1 by a predetermined amount to open the cap 52 halfway. (7) Return the rotation speed of the motor 97 to the original speed (idling operation when the cap is opened empty). (8) The motor 91 is rotated forward by a predetermined amount in the direction of the arrow A1, and a capping operation is performed to open the atmosphere communication valve 72 (idle suction operation). (9) The motor 97 is stopped. (10) The wiping operation is performed by rotating the motor 91 forward by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow A1. (11) The motor 91 is rotated forward by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow A1, and the cap 52 is moved to a position for preliminary ejection. (12) Perform preliminary discharge operation.

(Recovery Operation Procedure) An example of the recovery operation procedure focusing on the operation of the motors 91 and 97 will be summarized as follows. (1) The motor 91 is reversed in the direction of arrow A2 by a predetermined amount to selectively open the air communication valve 74 for Bk or color. (When it is not necessary to selectively open the air communication valve 74 for Bk or color, the motor 91 does not need to rotate in the direction of arrow B2 in reverse.) (2) The motor 91 is normally rotated in the direction of arrow A1 by a predetermined amount. To perform the capping operation. At this time, the valve 12 closes. (3) The driving of the tube pump 59 is started by the motor 97 (start of the suction operation). (4) Stop the motor 97 (stop the suction operation). (5) After a predetermined time has passed, the motor 9
1 is rotated in the direction of arrow A1 by a predetermined amount, and the cap 52 is rotated.
And the tube pump 69 is driven again by the motor 97 (empty suction operation when the cap is opened). (6) The motor 91 is normally rotated in the direction of the arrow A1 by a predetermined amount, a capping operation is performed, and the atmosphere communication valve 72 is opened (idle suction operation). (7) The motor 97 is stopped. (8) The wiping operation is performed by rotating the motor 91 forward by a predetermined amount in the direction of the arrow A1. (9) The motor 91 is normally rotated in the direction of arrow A1 by a predetermined amount to move the cap 52 to a position for preliminary ejection. (10) Perform a preliminary ejection operation.

(Comparative Example) FIGS. 16 and 17 show that
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram in a case where a mechanism for positioning a carriage 2 by a carriage lock 120 is not provided. In this case, the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the cap 52 may be shifted as shown in FIG. 16, or the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the wiper blade 81 may be shifted as shown in FIG.

For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the cap 52 is shifted in the front-back direction of the drawing in FIG. Is not on the cap 52, the cap spring 15 is not displaced.
Is higher than the nozzle surface of the recording head 3. In this state, if the carriage 2 on which the recording head 3 is mounted moves on the cap 52 due to runaway of the CPU provided in the recording apparatus or the user intentionally by hand or the like, the cap 52 and the recording head 3 And they may be destroyed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the positional relationship between the recording head 3 and the wiper blade 81 is shifted in the front-to-rear direction on the sheet of FIG. When the wiping operation of the head 3 is performed, the tip 81a of the wiper blade 81 is
The recording head 3 is located off the nozzle surface and above the nozzle surface. In this state, the carriage 2 on which the recording head 3 is mounted is caused by a runaway of a CPU provided in a recording device or the like, or intentionally by a user or the like.
If the recording head 3 moves onto the wiper blade 81, the recording head 3 and the cap 52 or the recording head 3 and the wiper blade 81 may collide with each other and be destroyed.

Further, a collision between the recording head 3 and the cap 52 or a collision between the recording head 3 and the wiper blade 81 may cause a problem such as non-ejection of ink even when the recording head 3 is not destroyed. For example, due to their contact, black (B
k) The ink and the color cyan (C) ink are mixed and combined, and penetrate into the nozzles and are fixed. In the worst case, the recording head 3 does not operate even if the above-described recovery operation is performed.
May not be recoverable, and the recording head 3 may be destroyed.

(Others) The present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam, or the like) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection, particularly in an ink jet recording system. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which the state of ink is changed by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis.
This is effective because air bubbles inside can be formed. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination configuration (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 44,558 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium on which a recording apparatus can record. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, the recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or the electric connection with the apparatus main body or the ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

It is preferable to add a recording head ejection recovery means, a preliminary auxiliary means, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, the recording head is heated using capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, another heating element or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing the discharging other than the recording can be used.

The type and number of recording heads to be mounted are, for example, not only those provided for one color ink but also a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full color by color mixture.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. Sometimes, the ink may be in a liquid state. In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent evaporation of the ink, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1260, it is also possible to adopt a form in which the sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter in a state where it is held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to those used as image output terminals of information processing equipment such as computers, copying apparatuses combined with readers and the like, and facsimile apparatuses having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention, the recording head is prevented from moving to the recovery processing position of the recovery means under a predetermined condition, whereby the recording head and the recovery means are unintentionally moved. Collisions can be avoided and their breakage can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a collision between the recording head and the recovery unit if the CPU provided in the recording apparatus or the like runs out of control or the user intentionally moves the carriage.

The recovery means includes, for example, a suction recovery mechanism for sucking ink from the ink discharge ports of the print head, a wiping mechanism for wiping the discharge port surface of the print head where the ink discharge ports are formed, and a method of removing ink in the print head. At least one of the mechanisms for restoring the liquid level can be provided.

Further, the recovery process can be performed properly by positioning the recording head at the recovery processing position when the recovery unit executes the recovery process. Therefore, when a recording head that ejects a plurality of different types of inks is used as the recording head, a problem caused by a positional displacement between the recording head and the recovery unit, that is, the combination and fixation of the plurality of inks in the recording head is avoided. Thus, the destruction of the recording head can be prevented. For example, it is possible to prevent electrical or chemical coupling between black ink and ink such as cyan ink on the ejection opening surface of the recording head.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view for explaining a positional relationship between a recording head and a head recovery unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of one operation state of a head recovery unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing another operation state of the head recovery means in FIG. 1;

5A is a cross-sectional view of a recording head and a cap portion taken along line AA in FIG. 3; FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of a recording head and a wire blade portion taken along line AA in FIG. 3; FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a driving unit of a head recovery unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the head recovery unit in FIG. 1 during a negative pressure introducing operation.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the head recovery unit in FIG. 1 during a negative pressure introducing operation.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of the head recovery unit in FIG. 1 during an ink supply operation.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the head recovery unit in FIG. 1 at the time of a cap opening operation.

11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the head recovery unit in FIG. 1 during an idle suction operation.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the head recovery unit in FIG. 1 during a wiping operation.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the head recovery unit in FIG. 1 when the color air communication valve is opened to the atmosphere.

14 is a schematic sectional view of the Bk atmosphere communication valve of the head recovery means in FIG. 1 at the time of opening to atmosphere.

FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view when movement of the recording head in FIG. 1 is blocked.

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view at the time of capping when a carriage lock is not provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view at the time of wiping when a carriage lock is not provided in the inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink jet recording apparatus 2 Carriage 3 Recording head 4 Ink tank 5 Supply tube 6 Frame 7 Guide shaft 8 Guide rail 9 Conveyance roller 10 Cassette 11 Recording paper (recording medium) 12 Valve 13 Discharge stacker 14 Absorber 15 Cap spring 50 Head Recovery means 51 Recovery base 52 Cap 53 Tube 54 Tube frame 55 Pump frame 56 Pump roller holder 57 Pump roller 58 Pump spring 59 Tube pump 60 Cap base 61 Cap holder 62 Cap arm 65 Cam 66 Valve shaft 71 Air communication tube 72 Air communication valve 73 Shaft 74 Atmospheric communication arm 81 Wiper blade 82 Blade holder 83 Wiper cleaner 91 Stepping motor 92 Reduction gear 93 Pendulum tooth Car transmission mechanism 94 Cam gear 95 Cam gear flag 96 Optical sensor 97 Stepping motor 98 Reduction gear 99 Pump gear 101 Selection cam 102 Shaft 103 Selection gear 111 Single-sided arm 120 Carriage lock 121 Carriage lock spring 122 Chassis

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium by using a recording head capable of discharging ink from an ink discharge port, moving the recording head, and discharging ink from the ink discharge port. A recovery unit capable of executing a recovery process for maintaining a good ink ejection state of the recording head at the recovery processing position, and performing a recovery process from outside the recovery processing position to the recovery processing position under a predetermined condition. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a movement restraining means capable of preventing movement of a recording head. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes at least a case where a recovery process by the recovery unit is not required. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement restricting means is capable of positioning the recording head at the recovery processing position when the recovery processing is performed by the recovery means. . 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recovery unit includes a suction recovery mechanism configured to suction ink from the ink discharge port of the print head, a wiping mechanism configured to wipe a discharge port surface of the print head where the ink discharge port is formed, 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of mechanisms for restoring the liquid level of the ink. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the suction recovery mechanism includes a cap that is in close contact with a discharge port surface of the recording head. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording head is mounted on a movable carriage, and said movement restricting means is capable of restricting the movement of said carriage. . 7. The ink jet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recovery unit is provided at a fixed position of a main body of the inkjet apparatus, and the movement restricting unit is provided at a fixed position of the apparatus main body and is movable within a movement miracle of the recording head. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a member. 8. The recovery means is provided at a fixed position of the main body of the ink jet apparatus, and the movement restricting means is provided at a fixed position of the main body and has a restriction member movable within a miracle of movement of the carriage. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: 9. The recording head is capable of reciprocating in one direction and another direction along a predetermined scanning direction, and further allows the recording head to move in one direction from the recovery processing position, and 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for preventing the recording head from moving in the other direction from the recovery processing position. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head has a nozzle array capable of discharging a plurality of different inks. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of different inks can be chemically or electrically combined.
0. The ink jet recording apparatus according to 0. 12. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head includes an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used as ink ejection energy. 13. A printhead recovery processing method for executing a recovery process for maintaining a good ink ejection state at a predetermined recovery processing position on a printhead provided in a serial type inkjet printing apparatus. A method of recovering a printhead, comprising: preventing a movement of the printhead from outside the recovery processing position to the recovery processing position under a predetermined condition.