JP2002361897A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small ink jet recorder having a high function and exhibiting high portability. SOLUTION: A recording head having a plurality of ink ejection openings, a carriage for reciprocating the recording head, and means for carrying a recording medium in the direction intersecting the moving direction of the carriage are provided in the recorder body A and a head recovery means 20 for eliminating clogging at the ejection opening of the recording head is fixed removably to the recorder body A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by ejecting ink from a recording head, and more particularly to a small and portable ink jet recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of portable terminals such as notebook type personal computers and mobile devices, demand for a compact recording device suitable for carrying is increasing also in a recording device as information output means. As a conventional portable recording apparatus, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-267869, an inkjet recording head for ejecting ink, an ink tank for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head, and a reciprocating recording head. A carriage to be moved, a conveying unit for conveying a recording medium in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the carriage, a driving source such as a motor for driving each unit, a control circuit including a CPU and the like, and performing drive control of each unit,
By having a battery or the like composed of a secondary battery and discharging ink from a discharge port of a recording head with a reciprocating operation of a carriage, and performing a transport operation of a recording medium,
A recording image is formed on a recording medium by ink. That is, even a small-sized printing apparatus has almost all the basic functions of the printing apparatus.

In addition to the above-described basic functions, a recovery unit that eliminates clogging of nozzles (ejection ports) of a recording head, a waste liquid that absorbs and stores discharged ink sucked from the recording head by the recovery unit. There are provided a container, a signal connector for connecting a control circuit to a personal computer, and the like, an automatic paper feeding unit for separating a plurality of stacked recording media one by one, and feeding the separated recording media to a conveying means.

[0004] The recovery unit detects that the ink solvent in each nozzle of the recording head gradually evaporates and thickens, and that the nozzles are blocked due to the gradual accumulation of air dissolved in the ink. It is provided to solve the problem and maintain good recording image quality. Although this recovery unit slightly varies depending on the characteristics of the recording head and the characteristics of the ink, basically, a cap covering the nozzle recording head surface, a pump means for lowering the pressure in the cap and forcibly sucking ink from the head nozzle, a cap It is composed of a wiper or the like for scraping off dirt attached to the surface.

By the way, in this recovery device, the basic mechanism described above is miniaturized as much as the recording device is miniaturized, and
Proposals have been made to make parts other than the basic mechanism as small as possible. For example, in order to enhance portability, the automatic paper feeder is configured to be detachable from the recording apparatus main body, or the automatic paper feeder is deleted and recording is performed by inserting sheets one by one. In addition, there has been proposed that the space for the relay unit can be reduced when the camera is carried by carrying a special connector integrally with the recording apparatus main body.

A docking station in which a paper feeder, a data relay unit, and a battery charger are integrated can be detachably attached to the main body of the recording apparatus, and the recording operation can be carried out by carrying only the recording apparatus when going out. When you return home, you can attach the recording device you were carrying to the docking station to connect with your PC at home with one touch, set the automatic paper feeder, supply power, and Some proposals have been made to charge the battery.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional ink jet printing apparatus intended for portable use, the size of the main body of the printing apparatus has been reduced by making it possible to divide the automatic paper feeder and the signal connector. The recovery unit that eliminates clogging of the nozzles of the print head, the waste liquid container that absorbs and stores the discharged ink sucked from the print head by the recovery unit, etc., are still built into the printer, and this is an ultra-compact This has been an obstacle in developing a recording device.

In recent years, portable terminals and digital cameras have been miniaturized and improved in performance, and demands for ultra-small recording devices built in these devices have been increasing. There is a growing demand for faster recording operations and the like, which tends to complicate the structure. That is, the basic configuration becomes more complicated, such as an increase in the number of nozzles of the recording head or the use of two-liquid reactive ink, and with this, auxiliary devices such as a head recovery unit and a waste liquid storage container are also complicated and It tends to be larger. For example, even when multiple colors of ink are ejected from multiple nozzle rows, if normal ink is used, one set of cap, pump, wiper, and waste liquid container can be used to recover one color at a time. The operation can be performed. However, in a recording apparatus using a reaction-resistant ink which ejects two inks from each nozzle row and reacts on a sheet, a cap is used to prevent each ink from reacting with each other. , A plurality of sets of pumps, wipers, waste liquid containers and the like are required, and the structure of the recovery unit is complicated and large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which has a high function, is small, and has excellent portability.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has a recording head having a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink, a carriage for reciprocating the recording head, and a direction intersecting the moving direction of the carriage. And a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium in the direction.In an ink jet recording apparatus including a recording apparatus main body, a head recovery unit for eliminating clogging at a discharge port of the recording head is provided with respect to the recording apparatus main body. It is characterized by being provided detachably.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the portable device is carried, the head recovery means can be removed to be used as a small-sized recording apparatus, and when the head recovery means is connected, the recovery operation of the recording head can be executed. A good ink ejection state can be maintained. Further, even when a complicated recovery mechanism is required, there is no need to increase the size of the recording apparatus main body.

Further, charging means,
An auxiliary device integrally including at least one of a data transmitting / receiving unit, an ink replenishing unit, and an automatic paper feeding unit is detachably provided, and the auxiliary device is integrally provided with a head recovery unit. If the recording device main body is set so that each unit is automatically connected to the recording device main body and the recovery operation is executed, the recovery operation can be performed at the same time as performing the periodically required operation such as charging. Since the operation can also be executed, it is possible to automatically recover the recording head without the user being particularly conscious, and it is possible to prevent the recovery operation from being forgotten for a long time. .

Further, the apparatus further comprises detecting means for detecting the state of attachment / detachment of the recording apparatus main body and the head recovering means. When the detection means detects the mounting of the head recovering means, the head recovering operation is executed or executable. It is also possible to provide a control means for performing this.

Further, by providing locking means for preventing the connection between the recording apparatus main body and the head recovery means from being released during the recovery operation, it is possible to prevent damage to the apparatus or ink leakage due to the release of the connection. Can be prevented.

Also, the discriminating means for judging the necessity of the head recovery operation in the recording apparatus main body, the recording apparatus main body and the head recovery means are not connected, and the judging means judges that the head recovery operation is necessary. In this case, if the recording device main body is provided with a display unit for performing a display urging the operation of the head recovery unit, the user can easily recognize the state of the recording head, and the recording head can be easily clogged. The occurrence can be reduced, and the recording operation can be prevented from being performed with the clogging occurring.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an ink jet recording apparatus applied to this embodiment. The ink jet recording apparatus 100 includes a portable printer main body (recording apparatus main body) A and a portable printer main body (recording apparatus main body) A And a docking station B for detachably mounting the. The docking station B includes a head recovery unit, an automatic paper supply unit, a battery charging unit, a signal transmission / reception unit, an ink supply unit, and the like, and functions as an auxiliary device. The portable printer main body A has a portable structure that functions alone as a recording device, and is inserted into a docking station B in the direction of the arrow in the figure to be united as shown in FIG. 2 and used as a stationary printer. It is gaining. Hereinafter, the configuration of each unit will be described in detail.

First, the portable printer body A will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 1 denotes a recording head unit. The recording head unit 1 is formed by forming an ink tank for holding ink and a large number of nozzles (ejection ports) for ejecting ink supplied from the ink tank on an ejection formation surface. And a recording head. The recording head unit 1 is supported by a carriage 2 and is capable of reciprocating with the carriage 2 along a shaft 3. The reciprocation of the carriage 2 is performed by the driving force of the carriage motor 5 transmitted via the belt 4.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a sheet conveying roller, and 7 denotes a sheet discharging roller. Both rollers 6 and 7 are driven to rotate by a driving force of a conveying motor 8 via a gear train G. The transport roller 6 operates to transport the recording sheet S inserted from the sheet insertion port 9 to the platen P facing the recording surface of the recording head, and the discharge roller 7 transports the sheet recorded by the recording head unit 1. It operates to discharge from the discharge port 10. The conveying direction of the sheet S is orthogonal to the moving direction of the carriage 2, and this direction is substantially the same as the direction of the nozzle row of the recording head unit 1.

In the printer, ink is ejected from a nozzle array of the recording head unit 1 in accordance with the main scanning of the carriage 2, and the transport roller 6 rotates in synchronization with the operation of the carriage 2 to perform recording. An image is formed on the sheet S.

The surface of the recording head unit 1 is covered with a cap 14 in order to prevent drying of the nozzles (ink discharge ports) except during recording. The cap 14 has a rubber contact portion 14d fixed to a resin support 14a having appropriate rigidity. This support 14
a, four bosses 14b are protrudingly provided on both side surfaces of the cap holder 15, and the bosses 14a are slidably inserted into long holes 15a formed at four places on both side surfaces of the cap holder 15. Is movable within the range of formation of the long hole 15a of the cap holder 15. As shown in FIG. 4, the elongated hole 15a has a bent shape composed of a flat portion and an inclined portion inclined downward from an inner end thereof, and the cap 14 has a bent shape of the elongated hole 15a. Is to be translated along.

The cap 14 is constantly urged toward the center of the recording apparatus (to the right in FIGS. 4 and 5) by a spring 16, and the recording head unit 1 is moved outward by the main scanning of the carriage 2. When the recording head unit 1 moves to the left (4, 5), the recording head unit 1 collides with the projection 14c of the cap (see FIG. 4), and moves out of the apparatus together with the cap 14. Then, the boss 14a of the cap 14 rises along the slope of the long hole 15a, and the close contact portion 14d is pressed against the nozzle surface of the recording head unit 1 to come in close contact therewith as shown in FIG. State. Conversely, when the cap 14 is to be opened from the nozzle surface of the recording head unit 1, the recording head may be moved inside the apparatus and lowered along the inclined portion of the long hole 15a. As shown in FIG. 4, it is separated from the nozzle surface and becomes an open state, and becomes a recordable state.

As shown in FIG. 3, a shutter 17 which can be opened and closed is provided on the bottom surface of the portable printer main body A opposite to the place where the cap 14 is installed. Portable printer body A to docking station B
When the shutters are combined, the shutter is opened, and a part of a recovery unit described later provided in the docking station B is fitted into an opening formed when the shutter is opened.

On the other hand, control such as synchronous driving of the recording head unit 1, the carriage 2, the sheet conveying roller 6, and the sheet discharging roller 7 is performed by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an interface, a motor driving circuit, and a head driving circuit (not shown). The control is performed by the control board 11 on which the above is mounted. Power is supplied to the control board 11 and each part from a battery 12 fixed to the bottom of the portable printer main body. The battery 12 is a rechargeable secondary battery and has a recordable capacity of about 50 sheets.

An electrical connector 13 is connected to the control board 11 as an interface for exchanging image data, commands, and the like with external devices. In general, a Centronics connector is used as an interface in a printer, but the Centronics connector has a large size of about 60 mm × 15 mm, so a small connector with a 0.5 mm pitch, for example, is used as the connector 13 used here. And can be connected to a computer by a dedicated cable. The electric connector 13 is also connected to a connector of the docking station B, which will be described later, when it is attached to the docking station B. In addition to the interface terminal, a power supply terminal (not shown) for charging the battery 12 is provided.
Having. It also has a detection circuit (detection means) for detecting the resistance between each terminal of the portable small printer A and the corresponding terminal of the docking station B. The resistance detected by this detection circuit is provided. It is possible to determine whether the portable small printer A is set in the docking station B based on the value.

Next, the docking station B will be described with reference to FIG. Docking station B
Head recovery means 20, waste ink processing means 21, ink supply means 22, ink tank 23, control board 24, power supply 2
5, a connector 26, an automatic paper feeder 27, a locker 28, and the like. The recovery unit 20 solves problems such as a case where the solvent of the ink in each nozzle of the recording head unit 1 gradually evaporates and the viscosity increases, and a case where the air dissolved in the ink gradually collects and blocks the nozzle. And
The image quality is maintained, and is configured as follows. That is, the recovery means 20 includes the guide shaft 20 therein.
b, and a holder 15 movably supported along a guide shaft 20b provided in the storage portion 20a in a direction X orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction Y.
4 and 5, a cap 14 supported in a holder 15, a pump (not shown) for reducing the pressure in the cap and forcibly sucking ink from a head nozzle, It is composed of a wiper 15e for scraping off attached dirt and a drive source 27b. The drive source 27b moves the holder 15 left and right along the guide shaft 20b within the range of the housing portion 20a,
A pump (not shown) located below the holder 15 is driven. The pump sucks the ink in the cap 14 and discharges it to the waste ink processing means 21, and is constituted by a known tube pump.

In the recovery means 20 constructed as described above, the holder 15 is located at the retracted position at the outer end (the right end in FIG. 6) of the housing portion 20a except during the recovery operation.

In the recovery operation, the holder 15 is moved toward the center of the docking station B with the carriage 2 of the portable printer main body A positioned at the right end (moving leftward in FIG. 6). Let it do).

Here, first, the wiper 20c wipes off the ink and dust adhering to the nozzle surface 1a of the recording head unit 1, and then the cap 14 of the portable printer main body A rises and is pressed against the nozzle surface. Here, when the pump is driven to reduce the pressure in the cap 14, the thickened ink clogged in the nozzles and bubbles that hinder ejection from the nozzles of the recording head unit 1 are sucked out together with the ink. Thereafter, when the holder 15 is moved toward the retracted position, the cap 14 is moved.
Moves downward along the inclined portion of the long hole 15a, separates from the nozzle forming surface of the recording head unit 1, opens the nozzle, cleans the nozzle surface 1a with the wiper 15e, and moves the holder 15 to the retracted position. And a series of recovery operations ends.

The waste ink processing means 21 is formed of a felt-like member obtained by compression-molding a fiber, absorbs and holds the discharged ink, and has a capacity capable of absorbing all the ink discharged during the product life. It has what it has.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ink supply means 22 sucks the recording head unit 1 of the portable printer main unit A into the ink supply port 22b and the suction ports 22aR and 22bR formed in the docking station B. Mouth 1
d and the supply ports 1cR and 1cB,
3 to the ink tank 1 of the recording head unit 1.
b is filled as much as can be accommodated. The connection between the supply port and the suction port is performed by pressing the carriage 2 rightward in FIG.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the ink supply means will be described with reference to the schematic configuration diagram of FIG. Here, as an example, a case is shown in which two colors of ink (black and red) are supplied to the recording head unit A. In FIG. 7, the components relating to the black ink are denoted by B at the end of the code, and the red ink is denoted by R. First, the ink path in the recording head unit 1 will be described. In the recording head unit 1,
It has an ink tank 1bB and an ink tank 1bR, and the tank is filled with a compressed sponge-like urethane porous body. In this embodiment, the capacities of the ink tanks 1bB and 1bR are set so that about 2 cc of ink can be absorbed and held assuming that about 50 general recordings are performed. At the bottom of the recording head unit 1, head nozzle rows 1aB, 1aR are provided. Each of the head nozzle rows 1aB, 1aR is provided with the ink tank 1bB,
It is connected to the bottom of 1bR. An ink suction port 1d and ink supply ports 1cB and 1cR are formed on the side surface of the recording head unit 1. The ink suction port 1d
Is connected to the ink supply port formed on the upper surface of the ink tank via porous films 1eB and 1eR,
cB and 1cR are connected to the bottoms of the ink tanks 1bB and 1bR. The porous films 1eB, 1eR
Has a fine porous structure that allows air to permeate but does not allow ink to permeate.
B, 1eR allows suction from the suction port 1d. The ink replenishing means 22 includes ink outlets 23bB, 23bR formed at the bottom of the ink tank 23.
Has a flow path for guiding ink to the ink supply ports 22aB and 22aR formed on the side surface of the ink tank 23, and sucks air from the ink suction port 1d to discharge the air from the ink suction port 1d.
And a tube pump 22c for evacuating the air. The ink tank 23 has the number 5 in each of the ink containers 23aB and 23aR.
An amount of ink capable of performing printing for 00 to 1000 sheets is stored. The air communication ports 23cB and 23cR are for introducing air into the ink containers 23aB and 23aR as the amount of ink in the ink containers decreases.

During the recording operation, the recording head unit 1
Performs main scanning in a state of being separated from the ink replenishing means 22, and consumes ink in the ink tanks 1bB and 1bR. During this time, the ink discharge amount is counted by the control substrate 11 of the printer A, and when the amount of ink in the head becomes small, the ink supply operation is executed.

In the ink supply operation, first, the carriage 2
3 to the right side in FIG. 3 to connect the ink supply port 1cB and the ink suction port 22aB, the ink supply port 1cR and the ink suction port 22aR, and the ink suction port 1d and the ink suction port 22b.

Next, the tube pump 22c is driven,
The air in the ink tanks 1bB and 1bR is sucked. Then, ink is drawn from the ink tank 23 into the ink tanks 1bB and 1bR of the recording head unit 1. When the ink reaches the porous films 1eB and 1eR, the ink is blocked by the porous films, and further suction is not possible. In this state, the carriage 2 is moved to the left in FIG.
B and 22aB, 1cR and 22aR, suction ports 1d and 22b
And complete the operation.

When the remaining amount of ink is determined to be small based on the count value when the portable printer main body A is used alone, the control board 11 in the portable printer main body A is used.
The warning operation (not shown) as a display means is blinked by the control operation of to indicate to the user that the current ink level is low, and the docking station B
Prompts the user to set the portable printer body A to the printer. Then, immediately after the portable printer main body A is set in the docking station, the above-described ink supply operation is executed.

The automatic paper feeding means 27 includes a driving source 2
7b, the stacked recording media S are fed one by one to the portable printer main body A by a paper feed roller 27c. When recording a plurality of sheets, cooperation with the portable printer main body A is performed. The paper is automatically fed by the operation.

Further, when the portable printer main unit A and the docking station B are disconnected during the execution of the mutual operation such as the ink supply operation and the recovery operation, the locking means 28 is activated.
Since the device may be damaged, disconnection is prohibited during operation. That is, the portable printer body A
When docked to docking station B, the lever 28
a lock claw 28b formed at one end of the portable printer main body A is engaged with an engagement hole A1 formed on the bottom surface of the portable printer main body A. When the portable printer main body A is to be removed, the other end of the lever 28a is used. The lock claw 28b is pulled out of the engagement hole A1 while pushing down the portion. However, during a mutual operation such as a recovery operation, an ink supply operation, and a paper feeding operation, the plunger 28d of the solenoid 28c is protruded to prohibit the release of the lock claw 28a.

Further, the control board 24 has a Centronics interface connector (not shown) on the rear surface, and sends it to the portable printer main body A via this connector 26. It is also conceivable to provide a video terminal and a video capture function so that a video image signal can be sent to the printer A. The control board 24 exchanges the control status with the control board 11 of the printer, while controlling the charging power supplied from the power supply 25, the recovery means 20, and the automatic paper feeding means 2.
7, which controls the ink replenishing means 22, the lock means 28, and the like, and functions as a control means and a determination means.

As described above, in this embodiment, the head recovery means 20, the waste ink processing means 21, the ink replenishment means 22, the ink tank 23, the control board 24, the power supply 25, the automatic paper supply means 27, etc. Since they are not mounted on the printer main body A but are mounted on the docking station B side, the configuration of the portable printer main body A is simple and simple even in the case of the printer A which is required to have improved performance and multi-function. It can be small. That is, when a complicated configuration is required, such as increasing the number of nozzles of a recording head in response to requests for higher density, higher water resistance, and higher speed of an image, or using two-liquid reactive ink. Or when the head recovery unit and the waste liquid storage container are required to be complicated and large,
Can be a small printer which is easy to carry.

The nozzle row of the recording head unit 1 of the printer A is a row of fine holes of about 30 μm. When the ink dries and thickens, the air dissolved in the ink gradually accumulates in the nozzle. If the nozzle is blocked with bubbles, it may not be possible to discharge ink normally. The failure due to the non-ejection depends on time, and the failure starts to occur after a certain period (for example, about one month) has elapsed after the nozzle is cleaned by the recovery unit described later (however, the characteristics of the ink). Since it depends on the design conditions such as the shape of the nozzle and the like, the time until the occurrence of a defect must be determined by experiment for each product.)

In the case where a problem due to the non-ejection occurs,
Since the portable printer main body A does not have the recovery means, the portable printer main body A cannot solve the non-discharge by itself. Therefore, the printer can be inserted into the docking station B, and the nozzle can be cleaned by the recovery unit 20 to return to the normal ejection state.
The cleaning operation is unnecessary for about a month, and the portable printer main body A can be used alone.

Further, if the recovery operation of the recording head is executed before a problem such as nozzle clogging occurs, clogging itself can be prevented. For this reason, the elapsed time after the recovery operation is counted on the control board 11 in the portable printer main body A, and when the portable printer main body A is detached from the docking station B, for example, when three weeks have elapsed, the warning lamp blinks. If the user is informed of the possibility of occurrence of a malfunction, for example, the user can be prompted to set the docking station B.

When the user sets the portable printer main unit A in the docking station B in response to this warning,
The above-described recovery operation is performed immediately. If the portable printer main body A is set in the docking station B for a recovery operation and is mounted on the docking station B, the elapsed time is 2 weeks if the portable printer main body A is set in the docking station B for another purpose such as charging. After a week or more, the recovery operation is automatically performed. By doing so, it is possible to always prevent in advance the occurrence of problems such as clogging of nozzles. That is,
Normally, the capacity of the battery 12 and the ink tanks 1bB and 1bR mounted on the portable printer main unit A is set so that about 50 sheets can be recorded. If so, the charging of the battery 12 and the replenishment of the ink are required about ten times. Therefore, if the portable printer main body A is set in the docking station B for the purpose of charging or replenishing ink before the warning lamp blinks, the recovery operation is executed together, so that the user can perform the recovery operation. In particular, the recovery operation can be spontaneously performed without being particularly aware of the execution of the recovery operation, and the nozzle can always be maintained in a normal state.

[0044]

As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, since the recording apparatus main body and the head recovery mechanism are detachable, it is possible to use the apparatus as a small recording apparatus by removing the recovery mechanism when carrying the apparatus. Can,
Excellent portability can be obtained. Further, by connecting the recording apparatus main body to the head recovery mechanism, the recovery operation of the recording head can be executed, so that a good ink discharge state can be always maintained. For this reason, high performance,
Even when a complicated recovery mechanism is required in response to a demand for multifunctionality, the main body does not become large and maintenance can be performed by the recording apparatus main body alone,
Work can be facilitated and cost can be reduced.

A recovery mechanism is provided in an auxiliary device which is detachably provided to the main body of the recording apparatus and which performs auxiliary operations such as charging, data transmission / reception, ink replenishment, and automatic paper feeding with the main body of the recording apparatus when the main body is mounted. The auxiliary device and the portable printer main body are connected to perform a recovery operation between the recovery mechanism and the device main body, and the recording device main body is used as an auxiliary device for purposes other than the recovery operation such as charging. If the recovery operation is performed when the head is worn, the head recovery operation can be performed without the user being particularly conscious, and the recovery operation is not forgotten over a long period of time, and excellent convenience is provided. Obtainable.

If the connection between the main body of the recording apparatus and the docking station has not been made for a certain period of time or longer, the control circuit of the printer displays a message for prompting the connection to the head recovery means. It is possible to prevent the recording operation from being performed by the head.

Further, if a locking mechanism is provided to disable the connection between the auxiliary device having the recovery function and the main body of the recording apparatus during the recovery operation, it is possible to prevent the main body and the supplementary mechanism from being damaged and from leaking ink. Generation can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing an appearance of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which a portable printer main body is installed in a docking station.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an appearance of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which a portable printer main body is installed in a docking station.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing the internal structure of the portable printer main body shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory side view of a cap mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state before a cap is attached to a recording head.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory side view of the cap mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a cap is mounted on the recording head.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a docking station according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory vertical sectional side view showing each ink supply mechanism of the recording head unit and the docking station in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A Portable printer body B Docking station 1 Recording head unit 2 Carriage 6 Conveyance roller 9 Sheet insertion port 10 Sheet discharge port 11 Control board 12 Battery

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A printhead having a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink, a carriage for reciprocating the printhead, and a transport unit for transporting a print medium in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the carriage. And a head recovery unit for eliminating clogging at the discharge port of the recording head is provided detachably with respect to the recording apparatus main body. Ink jet recording device. 2. A printhead having a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink, a carriage for reciprocating the printhead, and a conveyance unit for conveying a print medium in a direction intersecting the direction of movement of the carriage. A recording apparatus main body comprising: a recording apparatus main body; an auxiliary device detachably provided to the recording apparatus main body; and a head recovery unit for eliminating clogging at a discharge port of the recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus provided in an auxiliary device. 3. The head recovery unit includes: an ink suction unit that sucks ink from each discharge port of the recording head; and a waste liquid storage unit that stores the ink sucked by the ink suction unit. Claim 1
The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 4. The head recovery unit includes: an ink suction unit that suctions ink from each discharge port of the recording head; a wiper unit that wipes off dirt attached to a discharge port formation surface of the recording head; 4. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a waste liquid storage means for storing a liquid. 5. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a charging unit for charging said recording apparatus main body is provided as an auxiliary device so as to be detachable from said recording apparatus main body, and said head recovery means is provided integrally with said charging unit. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 6. A data transmitting / receiving means for enabling data transmission / reception between the recording apparatus main body and an external device is detachably provided as an auxiliary device in the recording apparatus main body, and the data transmitting / receiving means includes the head recovery means. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is provided integrally. 7. An automatic paper feeding device, wherein an automatic paper feeding device for separating a plurality of stacked recording media one by one and feeding the separated recording media to a printing device main body is provided as an auxiliary device in a detachable manner in the printing device main body. 5. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said head recovery means is provided integrally. 8. An ink supply device connected to the recording head is provided integrally with the recording device main body, and the ink supply device for replenishing the ink storage device with ink is used as an auxiliary device. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the head recovery means is provided integrally with the ink supply means. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit for detecting a state of attachment / detachment of the recording apparatus main body and a head recovery unit. 10. A printing apparatus, comprising: detecting means for detecting a state of attachment / detachment of the recording apparatus main body and head recovery means, wherein the detection means detects that the head recovery means has been mounted, whereby a head recovery operation can be executed. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that performs the control. 11. A control means for detecting a detachment state between the recording apparatus main body and a head recovery means, and executing a head recovery operation when the detection means detects the mounting of the head recovery means. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: 12. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a locking means for making a connection between said recording apparatus main body and said head recovery means unremovable during a recovery operation. . 13. A recording device main body, wherein a discriminating means for judging the necessity of a head recovery operation in the main body of the recording device, and the main body of the recording device and the head recovery portion are disconnected from each other.
13. The recording apparatus main body according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit that displays a message prompting the operation of the head recovery unit when the determination unit determines that the head recovery operation is necessary. The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above.