JP2003072109A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an ink staining of the inside of a recorder caused by a bleeding ink by preventing the ink from bleeding from an ink storage part formed of an ink absorber by an inexpensive structure not requiring a sealing means, and facilitate regenerating and reusing materials by eliminating degradation of the materials by an ink adhesion of each of apparatus constituent members. SOLUTION: Peripheral parts of ink storage parts M5200 and H1901 for storing a waste ink and a supply ink are constituted of a plurality of parts having different ink storage capacities so as to be formed of the materials higher in the ink absorbability, lower in the hydrophobicity, higher in the hydrophilicity or higher in the ink tansmissiveness than the inside of the ink storage parts.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means.

[0002]

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

In a serial type recording apparatus for recording while performing main scanning in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction (paper feeding direction, sub-scanning direction) of the recording medium, on a carriage moving along the recording medium (main scanning). An image is recorded by a recording head as a recording unit installed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (pitch conveyance as sub-scanning) after the recording of one line is completed, and then the recording medium stopped again is moved to the next recording medium. The entire recording medium is printed by repeating the operation of printing (main scanning) the image of the line. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records only by sub-scanning in the conveyance direction of a recording medium (recording material), after the recording medium is set at a predetermined recording position and one line of recording is collectively performed. By repeating the operation of feeding a predetermined amount of paper (pitch feeding) and then collectively printing the next line, printing of the entire printing medium is performed.

Among them, the ink jet type recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) is one which performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording head as a recording means to a recording medium, and the recording means can be easily made compact and high in cost. High-definition images can be recorded at high speed, plain paper can be recorded without any special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method produces less noise, and more than one type of ink It has an advantage that it is easy to record a color image using (for example, color ink). In addition, in the ink jet recording apparatus, there are various requirements for the material of the recording medium (recording material). In recent years, the development of these requirements has progressed, and paper (thin paper or processed paper) which is an ordinary recording medium has been developed. Including)
In addition to a resin thin plate (OHP, etc.), a recording device using cloth, leather, non-woven fabric, or metal as a recording medium has been used.

That is, various recording methods (printing methods) are used in a recording apparatus (or a printing apparatus) for recording on a sheet-shaped recording medium such as paper or film based on recording information such as desired characters and images. However, the inkjet recording apparatus capable of recording on a recording medium in a non-contact manner has been attracting a lot of attention in recent years because it is easy to colorize and is excellent in quietness.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, ink is ejected onto a recording medium such as a sheet of paper in accordance with desired recording information from an ejection port on an extremely thin tube provided in the recording head so as to face the recording medium such as a sheet of paper. It is ejected to form a recorded image. Regarding the ejection method for ejecting ink, by energizing a heating element (electrothermal converter) such as a heater provided in contact with the ink inside the ejection port, a bubbling phenomenon is caused at the interface between the heating element and the ink. , A method of ejecting ink by the pressure generated in the ink at that time, or an electromechanical converter such as a piezoelectric element is provided at the ejection port,
There is a method in which the ejection port is deformed by energizing the piezoelectric element and the deformation ejects ink. Regarding the ink, various forms such as a case of using a liquid ink, a case of ejecting the ink by the above-described ejecting mechanism after the solid ink is once transitioned to a liquid state by heating or the like are used. Has been put to practical use.

In these ink jet recording systems, the ink at the ejection port may not be suitable for recording. For example, when the recording apparatus is left unattended, the ink in the ejection port evaporates to increase the viscosity of the ink, or air is mixed into the ejection port or the ink path for supplying the ink to the ejection port, and the mixed air The ink path is divided by
The mixed air may function as a damper to cause a phenomenon in which a pressure change for discharge is excessively attenuated. In such a state, even if the operation for ejecting ink is performed, the ink may not be ejected properly,
Even if the ink is ejected, a phenomenon such that an ink droplet suitable for recording is not formed, and thus a desired recorded image may not be obtained.

In order to solve these technical problems, an ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a recovery mechanism having a predetermined cap, pump, etc., and suction recovery for sucking ink that is no longer suitable for recording from the ejection port of the recording head. In general, it is generally performed to maintain the print head in a state suitable for printing by performing an operation and an ejection recovery process such as a preliminary ejection operation (ejection recovery operation) for ejecting and removing the ink at the ejection port by the ejection operation. ing. Further, the ink (waste ink) discharged by such a recovery operation is guided to a waste ink containing member arranged inside a recording device, a device connected to the recording device, or the like, and is stored in the waste ink containing member. Housed and held. This waste ink containing member is disclosed in JP-A-05-05
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 162362/1992, it is possible to configure it so that it can be replaced by the user of the recording apparatus, or to have a capacity that can accommodate the total amount of ink discharged until the product life of the recording apparatus. Has been done.

Further, as the accommodating member for accommodating the waste ink, a material having a high ink absorption efficiency and a high diffusivity is suitable so that a large amount of the waste ink can be accommodated. , High-density fibrous materials such as felt, foamable resins such as polyurethane and polyvinyl alcohol, and water-absorbing high-molecular polymers are used. On the other hand, in recent years, reuse of various materials has been actively promoted in order to effectively use material resources and minimize environmental pollution. In advancing such recycling, it is very important to remove impurities from the target material, and the difficulty of this impurity removal work affects the cost and quality of recycled materials. Become.

[0010]

The aforementioned waste ink accommodating member comes into contact with the exterior member of the recording apparatus, the accommodating member (or the exterior member) for accommodating the waste ink accommodating member, and the like inside the recording apparatus. Often positioned. Therefore, when the waste ink is accommodated in the waste ink accommodating member with the use of the recording apparatus, the waste ink slightly exudes from the waste ink accommodating member, and the ink adheres to the exterior member in contact with the waste ink accommodating member. Sometimes. This exterior member is often made of a plastic material, a metal material, or the like. In such a case, the adhered ink becomes an impurity to the exterior member, which is an obstacle to reuse of the material. is there. Further, in removing impurities for reuse, it is possible to perform a cleaning operation, but in this cleaning operation, the cost is increased due to the complicated process and the material cost is increased, As a result, there has been a technical problem that recycling of materials does not proceed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink bleeding from the ink containing portion with an inexpensive structure that does not require an extra sealing means. (EN) An ink jet recording apparatus capable of preventing the ink contamination inside the recording apparatus due to the bleeding ink and easily realizing the reuse of the material of each constituent member of the recording apparatus. Is.

[0012]

The present invention (Claim 1) includes:
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects ink from a recording unit to perform recording has an ink accommodating portion made of an ink absorbing member, and the ink accommodating portion is formed by a plurality of portions having different ink accommodating properties. It is characterized by being.

According to the inventions of claims 2 to 5, in addition to the structure of claim 1, part or all of the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion is formed of a material having lower ink absorbability than the inside of the ink containing portion. And a part or all of the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion is made of a material having a lower ink hydrophilicity than the inside of the ink containing portion, a part or all of the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion. Is formed of a material having a higher ink hydrophobicity than the inside of the ink containing portion, or part or all of the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion is made of a material having lower ink permeability than the inside of the ink containing portion. By providing a formed structure, it is possible to provide an inkjet recording device that can efficiently achieve the above object.

In addition to the above-mentioned constitution, the invention according to claims 6 to 8 is such that the ink containing portion is a waste ink containing portion for containing ink discharged from the recording means for other than recording. The portion is a supply ink storage portion that stores ink to be supplied to the recording means, or the peripheral portion of the ink storage portion is a contact portion with a member that contacts the ink storage portion. The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus that can efficiently achieve the above object.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts throughout the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an external appearance of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 shows an internal structure of an embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, an exterior member and recording. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a means and an ink tank removed, FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to one embodiment of FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an overall structure of a recording head cartridge in which an ink tank is attached to a recording head as recording means used in an inkjet recording apparatus according to an example, and FIG. 5 shows the recording head cartridge of FIG. 4 as a recording head. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the ink tank and the ink tank in a disassembled state, and FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the recording head as the recording means in FIG.

First, the apparatus main body of the ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 1, an apparatus main body M1000 of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied includes a lower case M1001 and an upper case M10.
02, access cover M1003 and paper discharge tray M10
It is composed of an exterior member such as 04 and a chassis M3100 (see FIG. 2) housed inside the exterior member. The chassis M3100 is composed of a plurality of plate-shaped metal members having a predetermined rigidity, forms a skeleton of the recording apparatus, and supports (or holds) various mechanisms for recording operation and recovery operation described later. Is. Further, the lower case M1001 forms a substantially lower half portion of the apparatus body M1000, and the upper case 1002 forms a substantially upper half portion of the apparatus body M1000. The combination of both cases 1001 and 1002 will be described later inside. A hollow structure having an accommodation space for accommodating each mechanism is configured, and an opening is formed in each of an upper surface portion and a front surface portion.

Further, one end of the paper discharge tray M1004 is rotatably held by the lower case M1001 so that the opening formed on the front surface of the lower case M1001 can be opened and closed by the rotation thereof. It has become. Therefore, when the recording operation is performed, the discharge tray M1004 is rotated to the front side to open the opening, so that the recording sheet as the recording medium can be discharged and discharged from the opening. Recording sheet P
Can be sequentially loaded. The discharge tray M1004 has two auxiliary trays M1004a and M10.
04b is accommodated, and the support area of the sheet (recording medium, recording sheet) can be expanded or reduced in three stages by pulling out each tray as needed.

One end of the access cover M1003 is rotatably held by the upper case M1002 so that an access opening formed on the upper surface of the upper case can be opened and closed. M1003
Stored (or placed) inside the device body by opening
Recording head cartridge H as recording means
The 1000 or the ink tank H1900 can be replaced. When the access cover M1003 is opened / closed, a protrusion (not shown) formed on the back surface thereof rotates a cover opening / closing lever (not shown), and the rotational position of the lever is detected by a micro switch or the like. By doing so, the open / closed state of the access cover can be detected.

A power key E0018 and a resume key E0019 are provided on the rear upper surface of the upper case M1002.
LED E0020
Is provided, and when the power key E0018 is pressed,
The LED E0020 lights up to inform the operator that recording is possible. Also, this LE
D E0020 has various display functions such as notifying the operator of the state of the recording apparatus by the blinking method and the change in color. In addition, when troubles are solved,
Recording is restarted by pressing the resume key E0019.

Next, the apparatus main body M100 of the recording apparatus described above.
The recording operation mechanism that is accommodated and held in 0 will be described.
The recording operation mechanism according to the present embodiment includes an automatic feeding unit (automatic sheet feeding unit) M2000 that automatically feeds the recording sheets P into the main body of the apparatus, and recording sheets that are sent out one by one from the automatic feeding unit. Recording carried to the transport unit M3000 (FIG. 3) that guides the recording sheet P from the printing position to the desired recording position and to the recording unit P from the recording position to the discharge unit (paper discharge unit) M3050 (FIG. 3). A recording unit M4000 for performing desired recording on the sheet P, and a recovery unit (recovery system unit) M5000 for performing recovery processing on the recording unit M4000 and the like.
(FIG. 3).

First, the automatic sheet feeder M2000 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The automatic sheet feeder M2000 in this embodiment has a horizontal surface of about 30 mm.
The recording sheets P stacked at an angle of 60 degrees to 60 degrees are fed out in a horizontal state, and the recording sheets P are maintained in a substantially horizontal posture from a feeding port (not shown) while the apparatus main body M1000 is maintained.
It is configured to feed (feed) inside. That is, the automatic feeding unit M2000 includes the feeding roller M200.
1, side guide M2002, pressure plate M2003, ASF
(Automatic sheet feeding unit) Base M2004, separation sheet M200
5, a separation claw (not shown) and the like are provided. Among them, the ASF (Auto Sheet Feeder) base M2004
Is the outer shell of the automatic sheet feeder M2000,
It is provided on the back side of the apparatus main body M1000. Also,
The side guide M2002 is a pair of sheet guides M200.
2a and M2002b, one of the sheet guides M2002b is horizontally movable, so that it can correspond to the horizontal size (width) of the recording sheet.

Further, the PG motor E000 is provided on both left and right side surfaces of the ASF base M2004 via a transmission gear (not shown).
3, a drive shaft M2001a is rotatably supported, and a plurality of sheet feeding rollers M2001 having an irregular peripheral surface shape are fixed to the drive shaft M2001a. The recording sheets P stacked on the pressure plate M2003
Of the recording sheets P stacked by the separation action of the separation sheet M2005 and the separation claws by the rotation of the sheet feeding roller (feeding roller) M2001 in conjunction with the driving of the PG motor E0003 (FIG. 9). The uppermost recording sheet among them is sequentially separated and fed one by one, and is conveyed to a conveying unit (paper feeding unit) M3000. The lower end of the pressure plate M2003 has an ASF base M2004.
Is elastically supported by a pressure plate spring M2006 interposed between the sheet feeding roller (feeding roller) M2 and the sheet feeding roller M2.
The pressure contact force between 001 and the recording sheets P can be kept constant regardless of the number of stacked recording sheets P.

Further, an automatic paper feeding unit (automatic feeding unit) M200
A PE (Paper End) lever M2007 is attached to a chassis M3100 made of a metal plate member fixed to the apparatus main body M1000 and having a predetermined rigidity, in the conveyance path of the recording sheet P from 0 to the conveyance unit M3000. The recording sheet P that has been loaded and is separated and conveyed from the automatic feeding unit M2000 passes through the path, and one end thereof is the lever M20.
By pressing and rotating one end of 07, a PE sensor (not shown) detects the rotation of the PE lever M2007 and detects that the recording sheet P has entered the conveyance path. Then, after the intrusion of the recording sheet P into the conveyance path is detected, the recording sheet P is conveyed to the downstream side by a predetermined distance by the feeding roller (paper feeding roller) M2001. This feeding roller M
The transport operation by 2001 is performed by an LF roller (transport roller) M in a stopped state provided in a transport unit M3000 described later.
After the end portion of the recording sheet P comes into contact with the nip portion of the pinch roller M3002 and 3001, the recording sheet P is stopped in a loop of about 3 mm.

Next, the transport unit M3000 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The transport unit M3000 in the present embodiment includes an LF roller (transport roller) M3.
001, pinch roller M3002 and platen M300
It has 3 etc. The LF roller M3001 is fixed to a drive shaft that is rotatably supported by the chassis M3100 and the like, and has an LF gear cover M at one end thereof.
3004 is installed. This LF gear cover M30
By 04, the LF gear train M3005 for driving the LF roller M3001 is protected. The LF gear train M3005 is interlocked with a drive gear provided on a drive shaft of an LF motor (conveyance motor) E0002, which will be described later, and is rotated by the drive force of the LF motor E0002.

The pinch roller M3002 is rotatably supported on the chassis M3100 by a pinch roller holder M3006. The pinch roller holder M3006 is rotatably supported by a pinch roller holder M3006. The recording sheet P, which is pressed against the LF roller M3001 by the rotation of the LF roller M3001 and is rotated by the rotation of the LF roller M3001 and is stopped in a loop as described above, is conveyed between the conveyance roller (LF roller) M3001. The paper is conveyed while being pinched. Also, platen M
A platen rib M3003a that supports and guides the conveyed recording sheet P and a preliminary ejection port (preliminary ejection opening portion, preliminary ejection receiving portion) M3003b for preliminary ejection of the recording head, which will be described later, are provided in 3003.

In the transport unit M3000 having the above-described structure, the sheet feeding roller M200 of the automatic sheet feeding unit M2000 is used.
When the fixed time elapses after the conveyance operation by 1 is stopped, the driving of the LF motor E0002 is started, and the LF roller M
The recording sheet P whose front end is in contact with the nip portion between the 3001 and the pinch roller M3002 is the LF roller M3.
By the rotation of 001, the sheet is conveyed to the recording start position on the platen M3003. Here, a recording head cartridge H1000, which will be described later, is replaceably mounted on the carriage M4001. The carriage M4001 reciprocates along a carriage axis M4002 fixed to the chassis M3100 in a direction (scanning direction) orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording sheet P, and ink is applied to the recording sheet P waiting at the recording start position. It is ejected and recorded based on predetermined image information.

After recording by scanning (main scanning) of the carriage M4001, a predetermined amount of conveyance by the rotation of the LF roller M3001 (for example, conveyance of the recording sheet P in a row unit of 5.2 mm conveyance) is performed, After this carrying operation is completed, the carriage M4001 scans along the carriage axis M4002. By repeating such recording and transport operations, the platen M3003
Recording is performed on the recording sheet P located above.
Further, one end of the carriage shaft M4002 is coupled to a paper interval adjusting lever M3007 via a cam mechanism (not shown), and the recording head cartridge H1000 is operated by operating the lever M3007 in the vertical direction in FIG.
The distance between the discharge port surface and the platen M3003 can be changed. For example, when recording on a thick recording sheet, the sheet interval adjusting lever M3007
3 is operated downward in FIG. 3 to set a wide gap between the recording head H1001 and the platen M3003 to perform recording.

A recording head H100 as the recording means.
Reference numeral 1 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing thermal energy, which comprises an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy. Further, the head H1001 causes film boiling in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter, and ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing the pressure change caused by the growth and contraction of bubbles generated at that time. , Recording (printing) is performed.

FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the ejection port array having the recording head H1001. In FIG. 18, the ejection port surface 1181 facing the recording medium P such as a recording sheet with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.2 to about 2.0 mm) has a plurality of ejection ports at a predetermined pitch. 1182 is formed, and an electrothermal converter (heat-generating resistor, etc.) 1185 for generating energy for ejecting ink is arranged along the wall surface of each liquid passage 1184 that connects the common liquid chamber 1183 and each ejection port 1182. It is set up.
The recording head H1001 is mounted on the carriage M4001 in such a positional relationship that the ejection openings 1182 are arranged in a direction intersecting the main scanning direction (moving direction of the carriage M4001). In this way, the corresponding electrothermal converter 1185 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid passage 1184 to film-boil, and the ink generated from the ejection port 1182 is ejected by the pressure generated at that time. Inkjet recording head (recording means) H10
01 is configured.

Further, the paper discharge unit (discharge unit) M3050 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, the paper discharge unit (discharge unit) M3050 in this embodiment includes a paper discharge roller (discharge roller) M3051, a spur M3054, a paper discharge tray M1004 (FIG. 1), and the like. The spur M3054 is attached to the spur holder M3053 attached to the spur stay M3052, and is rotated by rotation of the paper discharge roller (discharge roller) M3051. The recording sheet P that has been conveyed to the paper discharge unit (discharge unit) M3050 is discharged onto the paper discharge roller M30.
It is conveyed while receiving the conveying force of 51 and the spur M3054.

Further, the conveying speed by the sheet discharging roller M3051 and the spur M3054 and the conveying speed by the LF roller (conveying roller) M3001 and the pinch roller M3002 prevent the recording sheet P from slackening. Paper ejection roller M3051 and spur M3054
The transport speed due to is slightly higher. After the recording on the recording sheet P is completed, the LF roller (conveying roller) M3001 and the pinch roller M30
When the trailing edge of the recording sheet P is pulled out from between
The recording sheet P is conveyed only by the paper ejection roller M3051 and the spur M3054, and the ejection (ejection) of the recording sheet P is completed.

Next, the recording unit M4000 will be described in detail. The recording unit M4000 includes the carriage shaft M40.
Carriage M4 movably guided and supported by 02
001, and a recording head cartridge H10 as recording means that is detachably mounted on the carriage M4001.
It consists of 00 and. First, based on FIG. 2, the carriage M4
001 will be described. In the carriage M4001,
A head set lever M4 for pressing the recording head H1001 as recording means so as to set it at a predetermined mounting position.
003 is provided. This headset lever M4
Reference numeral 003 denotes a recording head H which is engaged with the carriage M4001.
1001 is guided to the mounting position on the carriage and is engaged with the tank holder H1500 of the recording head to set the recording head H1001 at a predetermined mounting position.

That is, the headset lever M4003
Is provided on the upper part of the carriage M4001, and a headset plate (not shown) is attached to the engaging portion with the recording head H1001 via a spring, and the carriage M40 is pressed by the spring force of the spring while pressing the recording head H1001.
It is configured to be attached to 01. Further, a contact flexible print cable (hereinafter referred to as a contact FPC) E0011 is provided at another engaging portion of the carriage M4001 with the recording head H1001, and a contact portion E0011a on the contact FPC E0011.
By electrically contacting a contact portion (external signal input terminal) H1301 provided on the recording head H1001 with each other, transmission and reception of various information for recording and recording head H1001.
1 can be supplied with electric power.

Here, a contact flexible printed cable (hereinafter referred to as contact FPC) E0011.
An elastic member (not shown) such as rubber is provided between the contact portion E0011a and the carriage M4001, and the contact portion E0011a and the carriage M are caused by the elastic force of the elastic member and the pressing force of the headset lever spring.
It is possible to make reliable contact with 4001. Further, the contact flexible printed cable (hereinafter referred to as contact FPC) E0011 is
A carriage substrate E0013 that is pulled out to both sides of the carriage M4001 and mounted on the back surface of the carriage M4001.
(See FIG. 9). The carriage board E0013 (FIG. 9) is electrically connected to a main board E0014 (FIG. 10), which will be described later, provided on the chassis M3100 by a carriage flexible flat cable (carriage FFC) E0012.
The carriage flexible flat cable E001
The other end of 2 is fixed to the chassis M3100 by an FFC retainer M4004 and is led out to the back side of the chassis through a hole (not shown) provided in the chassis and connected to the main board E0014. There is.

An encoder sensor E0004 is provided on the carriage board E0013, and the position of the carriage M4001 and the position of the carriage M4001 are detected by detecting the information on the encoder scale E0005 which is stretched in parallel between the both sides of the chassis M3100 and the carriage axis M4002. The scanning speed and the like can be detected. The encoder sensor E
Reference numeral 0004 is an optical transmission sensor. The encoder scale E0005 includes a light blocking portion for blocking the detection light from the encoder sensor E0004 and a light transmitting portion for transmitting the detection light at a predetermined pitch on a film made of a resin such as polyester by a method such as photoengraving. It is printed alternately. Therefore, the carriage axis M4002
The position of the carriage M4001 that moves along the carriage is based on the position when the carriage abuts against one side plate of the chassis M3100 provided at the end of the carriage M4001 on the scanning track, and then the carriage M401.
By scanning 01, the number of patterns formed on the encoder scale E0005 by the encoder sensor E0004 can be detected at any time.

The carriage M4001 includes an idler pulley M4006 and a carriage motor pulley M4007.
Is connected to a carriage belt (timing belt) M4008 which is stretched substantially parallel to the carriage shaft M4002. The carriage motor E0001 (FIG. 9) drives the carriage motor pulley M4007 to drive the carriage belt M4008. The carriage M4001 can be scanned along the carriage axis M4002 by moving in the forward direction or the backward direction. In addition, the carriage motor pulley M4007
Is held in a fixed position by the chassis M3100, but the idler pulley M4006 is movably held together with the pulley holder M4009 with respect to the chassis M3100, and is biased by a spring force in a direction away from the motor pulley M4007. There is. As a result, an appropriate tension is always applied to the carriage belt M4008, and a good erection state without slack is maintained.

Next, the recording head cartridge H1 as recording means mounted on the carriage M4001.
000 will be described with reference to FIGS. Recording head cartridge H as recording means in this embodiment
As shown in FIG. 4, 1000 includes an ink tank H1900 that stores ink, and a recording head H1001 as an ink ejection unit that ejects ink supplied from the ink tank H1900 from an ejection port according to recording information. . The recording head H1001 is detachably mounted on the carriage M4001 and uses a so-called cartridge system.

Recording head cartridge H10 shown here
In FIG. 4, in order to enable high-quality color recording of photo quality, as ink tanks, for example, black, light cyan, light magenta, cyan, magenta, and yellow independent ink tanks are prepared.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, each ink tank is detachable from the recording head H1001. Then, as shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 6, the recording head H1001 has a recording element substrate H1100, a first plate H1200, an electric wiring substrate H1300, and a second plate that form an ejection port surface (ejection port forming surface). H1400, tank holder H1500, flow path forming member H1600, filter H1700, seal rubber H1800 and the like.

In the recording element substrate H1100, a plurality of recording elements (electrothermal converters) for ejecting ink are formed on one surface of a Si substrate (silicon substrate), and Al for supplying electric power to each of these recording elements. (Aluminum) and other electrical wiring is formed. These recording elements and electric wiring are formed by a film forming technique. Then, a plurality of ink flow paths (liquid paths) 1184 and a plurality of ejection openings 1182 are formed by photolithography technology corresponding to each of the plurality of recording elements, and the plurality of ink flow paths (liquid paths) 1184 are formed in the plurality of ink flow paths (liquid paths) 1184. An ink supply port for supplying ink is formed so as to open on the back surface.

The recording element substrate H1100 is adhered and fixed to a first plate H1200, and an ink supply port H1201 for supplying ink to the recording element substrate H1100 is formed in the first plate H1200. ing. Further, a second plate H1400 having an opening is adhered and fixed to the first plate H1200, and the second plate H1400 electrically connects the electric wiring substrate H1300 and the recording element substrate H1100. As described above, the electric wiring board H1300 is held. The electric wiring board H1300 is for applying an electric signal for ejecting ink to the recording element substrate H1100, and the electric wiring corresponding to the recording element substrate H1100 and the electric wiring corresponding to the end of the electric wiring from the main body. External signal input terminal (contact portion) H1301 for receiving the electric signal of. The external signal input terminal H1301 is positioned and fixed on the back side of the tank holder H1500.

On the other hand, the flow path forming member H1600 is ultrasonically welded to the tank holder H1500 which detachably holds the ink tank H1900, and the ink tank H19
Ink passage H from 00 to the first plate H1200
1501 is formed. In addition, the ink tank H190
A filter H1700 is provided at the end of the ink flow path H1501 that is in engagement with 0 on the ink tank side, so that dust can be prevented from entering from the outside. Also,
A seal rubber H1 is provided on the engaging portion with the ink tank H1900.
800 is attached to prevent evaporation of ink from the engaging portion. Further, as described above, the tank holder portion including the tank holder H1500, the flow path forming member H1600, the filter H1700, and the seal rubber H1800, the recording element substrate H1100, the first plate H1200, the electric wiring substrate H1300, and the second plate H1400. Recording element section (ink ejection section)
And the recording head H10
01 is configured.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall construction of a recovery system unit mounted on an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 shows the recovery system unit of FIG. 7 from another direction. It is a typical perspective view which shows the whole structure by seeing. Next, a recovery system unit M5000 that constitutes a recovery unit for performing a recovery process for maintaining and recovering the ink ejection performance of the printhead cartridge H1000 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. This recovery unit (recovery system unit) M5000 is
It is configured to be detachable independently. The recovery system unit M5000 includes a cleaning mechanism for removing foreign matter adhering to the recording element substrate (ejection port forming surface) H1100 of the recording head H1001 and an ink tank H19.
00 to the recording element substrate H110 of the recording head H1001
Ink discharge and addition for discharging ink in order to normalize the ink flow path reaching 0 (flow path from the ink flow path H1501 to the second plate H1400 via the flow path forming member H1600) (ink refreshing, etc.) Pressure discharge (preliminary discharge)
It is composed of a recovery means including a discharging mechanism such as.

7 and 8, E0003 is a PG
The PG motor E0003 is a motor and functions as a recovery system drive source for driving a cap M5001, a pump M5100, and wiper blades M5010, M5011a, and M5011b, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the PG motor E0003 also functions as a drive source for driving the automatic paper feeding unit (automatic feeding unit) M2000. In this PG motor E0003, the driving force is extracted from both sides of the motor shaft, and one side drives the pump M5100 or the above-described automatic sheet feeder M2000 via the drive switching means described later, and the other side. Is configured to drive the PG motor E0003 via the one-way clutch M5041. In this case, the other side is
Only when the PG motor E0003 rotates in a specific rotation direction (hereinafter, this rotation direction is the forward rotation direction and the opposite direction is the reverse rotation direction), the cap M5001 and the wiper blades M5010, M5 are linked and interlocked with each other.
011a and M5011b are driven. Therefore, when the PG motor E0003 is rotating in the reverse direction, the one-way clutch M5041 idles and the driving force is not transmitted, so that the cap M5001 and the wiper blade M501.
0, M5011a, M5011b are not driven.

The cap M5001 is made of a rubber material and is attached to a cap lever M5003 which is rotatable about its axis. The cap M5001 includes a one-way clutch M5041 and a cap drive transmission gear train M5.
110, the cap cam and the cap lever M5003 to move in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 8), and the recording head H10
The recording element substrate H1100 of No. 01 can be abutted and separated. The cap M5001 is provided with a cap absorber M5002.
The reference numeral 5002 is arranged so as to face the recording element substrate H1100 at a predetermined interval during capping.

By disposing the cap absorber M5002, the recording head cartridge H1 can be used during the suction operation.
It is possible to receive the ink discharged from 000 and to completely discharge (discard) the ink in the cap M5001 to the discharged ink absorber by the idle suction described later. Two tubes, a cap tube M5004 and a valve tube M5005, are connected to the cap M5001.
Reference numeral 4 is connected to a pump tube M5019 of a pump (suction pump) M5100 described later, and valve tube M5005 is connected to a valve rubber M5036 described later.

Wiper blades M5010, M5
011a and M5011b are made of a flexible member such as rubber, and are provided upright on the blade holder M5012 so that the edge portions thereof project upward. In addition, the blade holder M5012 includes a lead screw M5031.
A protrusion (not shown) movably engaged with the spiral groove M5031a formed in is provided. Therefore, the blade holder M5012 is attached to the lead screw M5.
According to the rotation of 031, it moves along the lead screw in the directions of arrow B1 and arrow B2 (FIG. 8). With such movement of the blade holder M5012, the wiper blades M5010, M5011a, and M5011b cause the printing element substrate H1100 of the printing head cartridge H1000.
Wipe and clean (wiping). The lead screw M5031 is connected to the PG motor E0003 via a one-way clutch M5041 and a wiper drive transmission gear train M5120.

The pump M5100 is a suction pump that squeezes the pump tube M5019 with a pump roller (not shown) to generate a pressure (negative pressure). This pump M51
00 is a PG motor E000 through a drive switching means for switching a transmission path of a driving force to the automatic paper feeding section M2000 and the pump, and a pump drive transmission gear train M5130.
3 is connected to the other side. Although not described in detail, the pump M5100 includes a pump tube M50.
19 is provided with a mechanism capable of releasing the pressure contact force of the pump roller against the pump tube.
When 03 rotates in the forward direction, the pressure contact force of the pump roller is released and the pump tube M5019 is not squeezed, and P
When the G motor E0003 rotates in the reverse direction, the pressure contact force of the pump roller acts to squeeze the pump tube M5019. Also, one end of the pump tube M5019 has the cap tube M50.
It is connected to the cap M5001 via 04.

The drive switching means is a pendulum arm M50.
26 and a switching lever M5043. The pendulum arm M5026 follows the rotation direction of the PG motor E0003, and has an arrow C1 and an arrow C around the axis M5026a.
It is configured to be rotatable in two directions (FIG. 7). The switching lever M5043 is switched depending on the position of the carriage M4001. That is, when the carriage M4001 moves above the recovery system unit M5000, a part of the switching lever M5043 comes into contact with a part of the carriage M4001, and the carriage M4001.
The switching lever M5043 moves in the directions of arrow D1 and arrow D2 (FIG. 7) according to the position of the pendulum arm M5026.
The lock hole M5026b and the lock pin M5043a of the switching lever M5043 can be fitted with each other.

On the other hand, the valve rubber M5036 is connected to the other end of a valve tube M5005 whose one end is connected to the cap M5001. The valve rubber M5036 is connected to the paper discharge roller M3051 (FIG. 3) via a valve cam M5035, a valve clutch M5048, and a valve drive transmission gear train M5140, and the shaft M5038a is rotated according to the rotation of the paper discharge roller M3051.
A valve lever M5038 rotatable about the arrow E1 and the arrow E2 is brought into contact with the valve rubber M5036,
It is arranged so that it can be separated. This valve lever M503
When 8 is in contact with the valve rubber M5036, the valve is closed, and when separated, the valve is open. In addition,
E0010 is a PG sensor for detecting the position of the cap M5001.

Next, each operation of the recovery system unit M5000 having the above configuration will be described. First, pump M
Carriage M40 for explaining suction operation of 5100
When the PG motor E0003 rotates in the forward direction when 01 is in the retracted position where it does not contact the switching lever M5043, the pendulum arm M5026 is swung in the direction of arrow C2 via the pendulum drive transmission gear train M5150, and the pendulum arm M5026 is moved upward. Output gear M50 attached to
27 meshes with the pump gear M5053 located at one end of the pump drive transmission gear train M5130. After that, the carriage M4001 is moved to the capping position (the recording element substrate (ejection port surface) H1100 of the recording head cartridge H1000).
Moves to the position of the carriage facing the cap M5001), a part of the carriage M4001 abuts a part of the switching lever M5043 and moves the switching lever M5043 in the D1 direction. With this, the switching lever M50
The lock pin M5043a of 43 is the pendulum arm M502.
Since it fits in the lock hole M5026b of No. 6, the pendulum arm M5026 is locked in the state of being connected to the pump side.

Here, the paper discharge roller M3051 is driven in the reverse direction, the valve lever M5038 rotates in the direction of arrow E1 and the valve rubber M5036 is opened. In this open state, the PG motor E0003 rotates in the normal rotation direction, and the cap M5001 and the wiper blade M501.
0, M5011a, and M5011b are driven to perform capping (an operation in which the cap M5001 is in close contact with the recording element substrate H1100 of the recording head H1001 and covers the ejection port 1182). At this time, the suction pump M5100 operates, but the pump tube M501 of the pump roller M5018 is operated.
Since the pressure contact force to 9 has been released, the pump roller M
The reference numeral 5018 does not squeeze the pump tube M5019, and no pressure (suction negative pressure) is generated.

When the paper discharge roller M3051 is driven in the normal direction and the valve lever M5038 rotates in the direction of arrow E2 (FIG. 8), the valve rubber M5036 is closed. Here, the PG motor E0003 rotates in the reverse direction and the pump tube M5019 is squeezed by the pressure contact force of the pump roller M5018, so that a negative pressure is applied to the recording element substrate H1100 of the recording head cartridge H1000 via the cap tube M5004 and the cap M5001. The discharge port 1 on the recording element substrate H1100
From 182, ink that is no longer suitable for recording (ink including fixed ink) and bubbles in the ink are forcibly sucked together with the ink.

After that, the PG motor E0003 rotates in the reverse direction to drive the discharge roller M3051 in the reverse direction, and the valve lever M5038 is rotated in the direction of arrow E1 (FIG. 8) to open the valve rubber M5036. As a result, pump tube M5019, cap tube M
The pressure inside 5004 and the cap M5001 becomes atmospheric pressure, and the forced suction operation from the ink ejection port in the recording element substrate H1100 of the recording head cartridge H1000 is stopped. At the same time, the ink filled in the pump tube M5019, the cap tube M5004, and the cap M5001 is sucked, and the ink is ejected from the other end of the pump tube M5019 as an exhaust ink absorber M520 as an ink storage unit described later.
0, guided to (discharged) M5201. Hereinafter, such an ink suction operation is referred to as idle suction. Where PG
When the motor E0003 is stopped, the discharge roller M3051 is driven in the normal rotation direction, and the valve lever M5038 rotates in the direction of arrow E2 (FIG. 8), the valve rubber M5036 is closed. This completes the suction operation by the pump M5100.

Next, the wiping operation of the recovery system unit M5000 having the above configuration will be described. In the wiping operation, the PG motor E0003 first rotates in the forward rotation direction. The rotation of the PG motor E0003 in the normal direction causes the wiper blades M5010 and M501 to rotate.
1a and M5011b move to the wiping start position.
At the wiping start position, the wiper blades M5010, M5011a, M5011b are in a state in which the cap M5001 is separated from the recording head cartridge H1000.
Is a state in which it is located upstream of the print head cartridge H1000 in the printing operation.

Then, the carriage M4001 moves to the wiping position. At this wiping position, the printing element substrate H110 on which the wiper blades M5010, M5011a, and M5011b form the ejection opening surface (ejection opening forming surface)
It is a position in which it faces 0. At this time, the carriage M4001 and the switching lever M5043 are not in contact with each other, and the pendulum arm M5026 is not locked. At this time, the PG motor E0003 rotates in the normal rotation direction, and the wiper blades M5010, M5011a,
While M5011b moves in the direction of arrow B1 (Fig. 8),
Recording element substrate H1 of recording head cartridge H1000
100 is wiped and cleaned (cleaning), and further, the recording element substrate H11 of the recording head cartridge H1000.
The wiper blade cleaning means (not shown) provided on the downstream side in the recording operation direction from 00 removes (cleans) stains attached to the wiper blades M5010, M5011a, and M5011b. At this time, the cap M5001 is maintained (held) in a separated state.

The wiper blades M5010, M50
When the 11a and M5011b reach the wiping end position (the downstream end position in the recording operation), the PG motor E0003 stops and the carriage M4001 moves to the wiping retreat position (wiper blades M5010 and M50).
11a, M5011b outside the movement area). After that, the PG motor E0003 rotates in the forward rotation direction, and the wiper blades M5010, M5011a, M5011 are rotated.
b moves to the wiping end position. Also at this time,
The cap M5001 is maintained in a separated state. As described above, the wiping operation of the recovery system unit M5000 ends.

Next, the preliminary ejection, which is one of the recovery processes in the ink jet recording apparatus according to this embodiment, will be described. When the above-described suction operation or wiping operation is performed on a print head that ejects and prints a plurality of colors of ink, a problem may occur in which the inks are mixed (color mixing problem). For example, during the suction operation, the ink sucked out from the ink ejection opening due to the suction enters the ink ejection openings of other colors, or the ink of various colors adhered around the ink ejection opening during the wiping operation is wiped. May cause the ink to be pushed into the ink ejection port of a different color. Due to this, when the next recording is started, the first portion may be discolored (also called mixed color) and the image may be deteriorated.

Preliminary ejection is the ejection (ejection) of ink of the mixed colors in advance just before recording to prevent such color mixture. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a preliminary ejection port (preliminary ejection receiver) M5045 for receiving ink ejected by preliminary ejection is arranged, and the recording element substrate H1100 of the recording head H1001 is provided immediately before recording. The preliminary discharge receiver (preliminary discharge port) M50
It is configured to move to a position facing 45 and execute the preliminary discharge. The preliminary discharge receiver (preliminary discharge port) M5045 is formed by a preliminary discharge absorber M5046 and a preliminary discharge cover M5047, and the preliminary discharge absorber M5046 is connected to the ink storage units (exhaust ink absorbers) M5200 and M5201. ing.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the overall construction of an electric circuit of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Next, the electrical circuit configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. The electrical circuit of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is mainly composed of carriage substrates (CRPCB, CR (Printed Circuit Boa).
rd) E0013, main board (main PCB) E001
4. The power supply unit E0015 and the like. Here, the power supply unit E0015 is connected to the main board (main PCB) E0014 and supplies various drive power supplies. The carriage board E0013 is a carriage M4001 (FIG. 2).
Is a printed circuit board unit mounted on the printer and functions as an interface for transmitting and receiving a signal to and from the recording head H1001 through the contact FPC E0011, and also an encoder based on a pulse signal output from the encoder sensor E0004 with the movement of the carriage M4001. Scale E0005 and encoder sensor E00
04 Change in the positional relationship with 04, the output signal is detected by the carriage flexible flat cable (CRFFC) E
Output to the main board E0014 through 0012.

Further, the main board (main PCB) E0
Reference numeral 014 is a printed circuit board unit that controls the drive of each part of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, and a paper edge detection sensor (PE sensor) E0007,
Automatic paper feed sensor (ASF sensor) E0009, cover sensor E0022, parallel interface (parallel I
/ F) E0016, serial interface (serial I / F) E0017, resume key E0019, LE
It is equipped with I / O ports for a D (light emitting element) E0020, a power key E0018, a buzzer E0021, and the like. The main board (main PCB) E0014 further includes a carriage motor E0001, an LF (line feed, conveyance) motor E0002, and a PG motor E0003.
The ink end sensor (ink shortage sensor) E0006, the paper gap sensor (GAP sensor) E0008, the PG sensor E001
0, carriage flexible flat cable (CRF
FC) E0012 and a power supply unit E0015.

FIG. 10 shows the main board (main PC in FIG. 9).
B) is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of E0014. In FIG. 10, E1001 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and this CPU E1001 has a CP
It has a U built-in oscillator (OSC) E1002 and is connected to an oscillation circuit E1005 to output its output signal E1.
A system lock signal is generated by 019. In addition, the CPU E1001 has a ROM E1004 and an ASIC (Application Specification) via a control bus E1014.
c Integrated Circuit) ROM connected to E1006
ASIC according to the program stored in E1004
Control of E1006, power key input from power key E0018 (input signal, POWER) E1017, input signal from resume key E0019 (RERUME, resume key input) E1016, cover detection signal from cover sensor E0022 (COVS) E1042, head The state of the detection signal (HSENS) E1013 is detected, and the buzzer E002 is set by the buzzer signal (BUZ) E1018.
1 detects the states of the ink end detection signal (INKS) E1011 and the thermistor temperature detection signal (TH) E1012 which are connected to the built-in CPU built-in A / D converter (A / D) E1003, while other It controls the drive of the ink jet recording apparatus by performing various logical operations, condition judgment, etc.

Here, the head detection signal (HSENS) E
A head mounting detection signal 1013 is input from the recording head cartridge H1000 via the carriage flexible flat cable E0012, the carriage substrate E0013, and the contact flexible print cable E0011, and the ink end detection signal E1011 is output from the ink shortage sensor E0006. The thermistor temperature detection signal E1012 is an analog signal from a thermistor (not shown) provided on the carriage substrate E0013.

In FIG. 10, E1008 is a carriage motor driver (CR motor driver), and the motor driver E1008 is a motor power source (VM) E104.
0 as a drive source, a carriage motor drive signal E1037 is generated according to the carriage motor control signal E1036 from the ASIC E1006, and the carriage motor E0 is generated.
Drive 001. E1009 is an LF / PG motor driver (conveyance / recovery system motor driver).
The PG motor driver E1009 is a motor power source E1040.
Is used as a drive source, an LF motor drive signal E1035 is generated in accordance with a pulse motor control signal (PM control signal) E1033 from the ASIC E1006, which controls the LF motor E0002 and also generates a PG motor drive signal E1034 to generate the PG motor. Drive E0003.

E1010 is a power supply control circuit, and the power supply control circuit E1010 controls power supply to each sensor having a light emitting element according to a power supply control signal E1024 from the ASIC E1006. Parallel I / F E001
6 transmits the parallel I / F signal E1030 from the ASIC E1006 to the parallel I / F cable E1031 connected to the outside, and also transmits the signal of the parallel I / F cable E1031 to the ASIC E1006.
Serial I / F E0017 is ASIC E1006
The serial I / F signal E1028 from the device is transmitted to the serial I / F cable E1029 connected to the outside, and the signal of the cable E1029 is transmitted to the ASIC E100.
6.

On the other hand, from the power supply unit E0015, the head power supply (VH) E1039 and the motor power supply (VH)
M) E1040 and logic power supply (VDD) E1041 are supplied. Further, the head power supply ON signal (VHON) E1022 from the ASIC E1006 and the motor power supply O
N signal (VMON) E1023 is the power supply unit E001
5 and controls the ON / OFF of the head power supply E1039 and the motor power supply E1040, respectively. Logic power (VDD) supplied from the power supply unit E0015
The E1041 is subjected to voltage conversion as necessary, and then supplied to each unit inside and outside the main board (main PCB) E0014. The head power supply E1039 is used for the main board E.
After being smoothed on 0014, it is sent to the carriage flexible flat cable E0012 and used for driving the recording head cartridge H1000. E1007
Is a reset circuit, and the reset circuit E1007 is
The CPU detects the decrease in the logic power supply voltage E1041.
A reset signal (RESET) E1015 is supplied to the E1001 and the ASIC E1006 to perform initialization.

The ASIC E1006 is a one-chip semiconductor integrated circuit, and the CP via the control bus E1014.
Controlled by the U E1001, the CR (carriage) motor control signal E1036, the pulse motor control signal E1033, the power supply control signal E1024, the head power supply ON signal E1022, and the motor power supply ON signal E102 described above.
3 and the like are output to exchange signals with the parallel I / F E0016 and the serial I / F E0017. This AS
The IC E1006 is a paper edge detection sensor (PE
Sensor) PE detection signal (PES) E1 from E0007
025, ASF detection signal (ASFS) E1026 from automatic paper feed sensor (ASF sensor) E0009, GAP detection signal (GAPS) E1027 from paper interval sensor (GAP sensor) E0008, PG detection signal (PGS) from PG sensor E0010 Detecting the state of E1032,
The data representing the state is sent to C through the control bus E1014.
It is transmitted to the PUE1001 and C based on the input data
The PU E1001 controls the drive of the LED drive signal E1038 to blink the LED (light emitting element) E0020.

Further, the encoder signal (ENC) E10
20 is detected to generate a timing signal, and the head control signal E1021 is used to generate the recording head cartridge H100
The recording operation is controlled through the interface with 0. Here, the encoder signal (ENC) E1020 is input through the carriage flexible flat cable E0012 to the carriage (CR) encoder sensor E.
This is the output signal of 0004. In addition, the head control signal E1
021 is a carriage flexible flat cable E
0012, carriage substrate E0013, and contact flexible printed cable (contact FPC) E
It is supplied to the recording head H1001 via 0011.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the operation of an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Next, with reference to FIG. 11, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus constructed as above will be described. In FIG. 11, when the inkjet recording apparatus is connected to an AC power source, first, a first initialization process of the apparatus is performed in step S1. In this initialization processing, the electric circuit system such as the ROM and RAM of the apparatus is checked to electrically check whether the apparatus can operate normally. Next, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the power key E0018 provided on the upper case 1002 of the apparatus main body M1000 is turned on. If the power key E0018 is pressed,
Then, the process proceeds to the next step S3, in which the second initialization process is performed. In this second initialization processing, various drive mechanisms and head systems of this apparatus are checked. That is, at the time of initializing various motors and reading head information, it is confirmed whether or not this device can operate normally.

Next, in step S4, an event is awaited. That is, the apparatus is monitored for a command event from an external I / F, a panel key event by a user operation, an internal control event, and the like, and when these events occur, the process corresponding to the event is executed.
For example, if a print command event from the external I / F is received in step S4, the process proceeds to step S5, and if a power key event by a user operation occurs in the same step, the process proceeds to step S10. If another event occurs in step S11, the process proceeds to step S11. Here, in step S5, the print command from the external I / F is analyzed, the specified paper type, paper size, print quality, paper feeding method, etc. are judged, and the data representing the judgment result is stored in the apparatus. It is stored in the RAM and the process proceeds to step S6.
Next, in step S6, sheet feeding is started by the sheet feeding method specified in step S5, the sheet is fed to the recording start position, and the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, a recording operation is performed. In this printing operation, the print data sent from the external I / F is temporarily stored in the print buffer, and then the carriage motor E0001 is driven to start moving the carriage M4001 in the scanning direction and stored in the print buffer. The print data that has been recorded is supplied to the print head H1001 to print one line. When the recording operation of the recording data for one line is completed, the LF motor (conveying motor) E0002 is driven and the LF roller (conveying roller) M3001 is rotated to feed (convey) a sheet as a recording medium in the sub-scanning direction. . After that, the above operation is repeatedly executed, and the external I /
When the recording of the recording data for one page from F is completed,
Go to step S8. In step S8, LF (conveyance)
The motor E0002 is driven to drive the paper ejection roller M3051 to perform paper feeding until it is determined that the paper has been completely fed from the apparatus, and when the paper is completely discharged, the paper is completely ejected onto the paper ejection tray M1004a. It will be in a state of being.

Next, in step S9, it is determined whether or not the recording operation of all the pages to be recorded is completed, and if there are remaining pages to be recorded, the process returns to step S5, and the steps S to S9 described above are executed. The above operation is repeated, and the recording operation is completed when the recording operation for all pages to be recorded is completed, and thereafter, the process proceeds to step S4 to wait for the next event. On the other hand, in step S10, printer end processing is performed to stop the operation of the present apparatus. In other words, in order to cut off the power supply for various motors and heads, the power supply is cut off, then the power supply is cut off and the process moves to step S4 to wait for the next event. In step S11, event processing other than the above is performed. For example, a process corresponding to a recovery process command of the recording head from various panels of the apparatus or an external I / F or a recovery event internally generated is performed. After the processing is completed, the process proceeds to step S4 to wait for the next event.

Next, the recovery system unit M5 in this embodiment
000 (FIG. 8), the waste ink absorbers M5200 and M5201 serving as ink storage units will be described.
FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing the internal structure of a lower case M1001 of an embodiment (first embodiment) of the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic partial vertical cross-sectional view showing a cross section in the direction. 12 and 13, in the case of the present embodiment, an ink discharge absorber M5200 as an ink storage portion for storing ink discharged through the recovery system unit 5000 due to recovery processing of the recording head H1001 and the like,
The M5201 is housed inside the lower case M1001 of the recording apparatus. On the lower case M1001, a wall portion M1010 and a boss portion M1011 for vertically positioning and mounting the waste ink absorbers M5200 and M5201 are provided upright.

The wall M1010 has a structure that surrounds the periphery of the waste ink absorbers (ink accommodating portions) M5200 and M5201, and liquid-separates the waste ink absorbers M5200 and M5201 in the lower case M1001. Has become. In addition, the boss M1011 is provided with the waste ink absorbers M5200, M in the lower case M1001.
5201 is a positioning member for positioning 5201 at a predetermined storage position, and the waste ink absorbers M5200, M520
The waste ink absorber is positioned by fitting with the hole provided in 1.

The waste ink absorbers M5200, M520
Each of 1 is composed of a plurality of members (a plurality of members or portions having different properties), and the efficiency of accommodation in the lower case M1001 is improved. Waste ink absorber M5200,
Each of the M5201 is provided with a hole for fitting with the boss M1011 so that the plurality of waste ink absorbers are also positioned at predetermined positions with respect to each other. Further, the waste ink absorbers M5200 and M5201 communicate with the preliminary ejection ports (preliminary ejection receiving portion, preliminary ejection opening) M3003b provided on the platen M3003, and the ink ejected from the ejection port 1182 of the recording head H1001 (preliminary). Ejected ink).
Then, the ink (preliminary ejection ink) introduced through the preliminary ejection port M3003b, and the pump tube M5 of the pump M5100 of the recovery system unit M5000.
The ink discharged from 019 is the discharged ink absorber M.
5200, accepted by M5201.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the waste ink absorbers M5200 and M5201 are made of a material which is inexpensive, has a high ink absorption efficiency, and has a high ink diffusivity, such as paper pulp, as a main material. , Processed into a predetermined shape. Here, the inside of the waste ink absorbers M5200 and M5201 serving as the ink containing portion is
Peripheral portions (near surface portions) M5200b, M5201b which are made of materials (or parts) having different ink absorbability and which come into contact with the lower case M1001, the wall M1010 provided on the lower case M1001, the boss M1011, and the like.
Is made of a material having lower ink absorbability (absorbent ink absorbability) than the inside M5200a and M5201a, and the other parts are made of material having high ink absorbability.

Further, the respective waste ink absorbers M5200, M5
201, a portion that comes into contact with the other waste ink absorber (counter drain ink absorber), a portion that communicates with a preliminary ejection port M3003b provided on the platen M3003, and discharge by the recovery system unit M5000 in each waste ink absorber M5201, M5201. Near the pump tube M5019 that guides the discharged ink, that is, each waste ink absorber M5
The peripheral portions of the M200 and M5201 which are in contact with at least the adjacent members are made of a material having a low ink absorption property, and these portions are exposed. In the case of this embodiment, the respective waste ink absorbers M5200, M
The peripheral portions M5200b and M5201b of 5201 (for example, the peripheral portion contacting the wall portion M1010, the boss portion M1011 and the like) are formed of a material having low ink absorbability,
As a material for forming the peripheral portions M5200b and M5201b, for example, a resin film having excellent hydrophobicity is used. Furthermore, the respective waste ink absorbers M5200, M5
The resin-made films M5200b and M5201b having a low ink absorbability constituting the peripheral portion of 201 and the internal members M5200a and M5 such as paper pulp having a high ink absorbency which constitutes the inside of each waste ink absorber M5200 and M5201.
201a is adhered (integrated) by a method such as hot melt.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing an operation sequence of recovery processing by the recovery system unit M5000 of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. here,
The discharge of ink in this embodiment will be described, but this discharge of ink is performed along with the recovery process of the recording head H1001. The recovery process of the print head H1001 is generally performed when the print head H1001 is installed in the printing apparatus, when the ink tank H1900 is installed or replaced, and the print head H1001 and the ink tank H19.
This is performed under a situation such as when 00 is mounted and a predetermined time has elapsed, when a predetermined amount of recording is performed, when the operator determines that a trouble such as image quality deterioration has occurred in the recording result, or the like.

In FIG. 14, in step S100, the CP
If the U E1001 determines that the situation is under the above-described situation, the process proceeds to the next step S101, and the recovery processing mode to be executed is analyzed according to the situation. In the case of the present embodiment, the recovery process roughly includes a suction process, a wiping process, and a preliminary ejection process. The suction process is performed by driving the pump M5100 of the recovery system unit M5000 to generate a negative pressure in the cap with the cap M5001 sealing the discharge port 1182 of the print head H1001 from the discharge port of the print head H1001. This is a processing operation of sucking and discharging ink. The wiping process is a process operation of driving the wiper blades M5010, M5011a, M5011b of the recovery system unit M5000 to wipe and clean the surface of the ejection port surface 1181 (or the recording element substrate H1100) of the recording head H1001. In the preliminary ejection process, the ink in the ejection port is refreshed by ejecting the ink from the ejection port 1182 of the recording head H1001 to maintain and recover the ink ejection performance of the recording head in a state suitable for recording. Is the processing operation.

In FIG. 14, when the type of recovery processing operation desired in step S101 is suction processing, the process proceeds to step S102. This suction process is performed, for example, when the recording head H1001 is mounted on the recording device.
This is executed when the ink tank H1900 is attached or replaced, or when the operator determines that a trouble or the like has occurred in the recording result. When the suction process is instructed in step S102, first, the carriage M4001 is driven and scanned to a position where the cap M5001 of the recovery system unit M5000 and the recording head H1001 face each other. Then, the cap M5001 of the recovery system unit M5000 is brought into contact with the ejection port surface 1181 (printing element substrate M1100) of the print head H1001 to bring it into a capping state, and the pump M5100 is driven (step S105).

By this operation, ink is sucked from the recording head H1001, and the ink is pumped by the pump tube M501.
9 and is discharged to the waste ink absorbers M5200 and M5201 as the ink storage portion provided in the lower case M1001. When the suction operation is completed, step S106
Proceed to and perform the wiping process. This wiping process is performed by the wiper blades M5010, M5011a, M5.
By driving 011b, the ink adhered to the ejection port surface 1181 (printing element substrate H1100) during the suction processing is cleaned and removed. After the wiping process, the process proceeds to step S107 to execute the preliminary ejection process. In this preliminary ejection process, the carriage M4001 is driven and scanned, and the preliminary ejection port M provided on the platen M3003.
3003b includes a discharge port surface 1181 of the recording head H1001.
Are moved to a position facing each other, and in that state, the recording head H
This is a processing operation of driving ink 1001 to preliminarily eject ink to refresh the ink in the ejection openings 1182. The ink ejected by this preliminary ejection process is
The waste ink absorber M52 passes through the preliminary ejection port M3003b.
00, discharged to M5201.

If the desired recovery process in step S101 is wiping process, step S101 is executed.
When the process proceeds to step 108 and only the wiping process is executed and the desired recovery process is only the preliminary ejection, step S1
Proceed to 11. As a situation in which it is required to perform only the wiping process in the present embodiment, for example, there may be a case where a predetermined amount or more of ink is ejected during recording. In addition, as a situation in which it is required to perform only the preliminary ejection process, for example, there may be a case where a predetermined time or more has elapsed without ink ejection during recording. The recovery system unit M5000 is driven during the wiping process of step S108 (step S109).
And preliminary ejection processing (step S110), and driving of the carriage M4001 performed during the preliminary ejection processing of step S111 (step S112) and ink ejection performed by driving the recording head (step S113).
Is performed by substantially the same operation as that of the corresponding operation described above.

The ink discharged in the recovery process of the recording head H1001 in this manner is the lower case M100.
Waste ink absorbers M5200, M5201
It is received, accommodated and held by. When the ejected ink comes into contact with the paper pulp parts M5200a and M5201a having excellent ink absorbability inside the ejected ink absorbers M5200 and M5201, the ejected ink is absorbed and diffused therein due to the capillary phenomenon or the like. When the amount of ink discharged increases with the use of the recording apparatus, the ink is discharged to one of the discharged ink absorbers M5200.
To the other waste ink absorber M5201, and also diffuses throughout the respective waste ink absorbers. The ink diffused to the peripheral portions M5200b and M5201b of each waste ink absorber is prevented from diffusing at this portion because the peripheral portion is formed of a material having a hydrophobic property, and the outside of the waste ink absorbers M5200 and M5201. It is prevented from seeping into.

In this embodiment, the peripheral portions M5200b and M5201b in the waste ink absorber are formed of a resin film having a hydrophobic property.
00b and M5201b are made of other materials having low ink absorbability, for example, fiber materials such as paper pulp and felt similar to the inside of the waste ink absorber, and are made to have a significantly high integration rate to achieve high density. You may form with the material etc. which made ink absorbency remarkably fall. In that case, the peripheral area M5
200b, M5201b and internal M5200a, M520
1a may be configured in a layered manner, or may be configured such that the ink absorbency gradually increases from the peripheral portion of the waste ink absorber toward the inside. Further, a resin or the like having hydrophobicity or water repellency may be mixed with an internal material having a high ink absorption property such as paper pulp or felt to constitute as described above.
Further, the peripheral portions M5200b and M5201b may be made of a material having a property of being highly gas permeable and liquid impermeable.

In the present embodiment, as described above, since the peripheral portions M5200b and M5201b of the waste ink absorbers M5200 and M5201 serving as the ink accommodating portions are made of a material having low ink absorbency and hydrophobicity, the ink is discharged. It is possible to prevent the ink from seeping out (bleeding) to the outside of the absorber, and prevent the ink from adhering to the exterior member of the recording device such as the lower case M1001 or the like, which is in contact with the waste ink absorber, or the device constituent members. Therefore, by preventing impurities from adhering to the exterior members of the recording device and the components of the device, it is possible to easily reuse these materials with an inexpensive structure, and promote the reuse of materials and the preservation of the environment. can do. further,
By forming the peripheral portion of the same material as that of the inside of the waste ink absorbers M5200 and M5201, processing such as adhesion is unnecessary, and it becomes possible to manufacture at a lower cost.

Also, the waste ink absorbers M5200, M52
In No. 01, only the portion that comes into contact with the lower case M1001 is formed of a hydrophobic material or a liquid impermeable material, so that the waste ink absorbers M5200, M5201.
It is possible to prevent deterioration of the absorbability and the retainability when absorbing and retaining the ink discharged by the suction recovery process and the preliminary ejection process of itself. Further, the waste ink absorber M5200,
Since the inside of M5201 is formed of paper pulp or the like, it has excellent gas permeability, can effectively promote the evaporation of the ejected (absorbed) ink, and can also accommodate more ejected ink.

FIG. 15 is a schematic partial vertical cross-sectional view showing, in a vertical cross section, a main part of the second embodiment of the ink containing portion in the lower case of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view schematically showing a main part of the waste ink absorber M5200 as the ink containing section in FIG.
Another embodiment (second embodiment) of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. Lower case M100 of the waste ink absorber M5200 as an ink storage unit in the present embodiment
The peripheral portion M5200b contacting with No. 1 is formed by a surface having a rib shape (ridge). Note that, in FIGS. 15 and 16, the waste ink absorber M52 as the other ink containing portion is used.
Although not shown in the figure for 01, the configuration and operational effects of the waste ink absorber M5200 described below can be similarly applied to this waste ink absorber M5201.

In FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the waste ink absorber M5200 has a material having low ink absorbability (hydrophobic material) such as a resin film as the material of the peripheral portion M5200b, as in the first embodiment. , A material having low ink permeability), this resin film is processed in advance to form a rib shape, and the resin film and the M5200a inside the waste ink absorber formed of paper pulp,
Similar to the above, it is configured by joining by adhesion such as hot melt. Since the peripheral portion M5200b of the waste ink absorber M5200 is formed in a rib shape and the rib portion (protruding portion) is brought into contact with an adjacent member such as the lower case M1001 as described above, it is adjacent to the waste ink absorber M5200. It is possible to make the contact portion with the member (the exterior member of the recording apparatus or the apparatus component member) small (the area of the contact portion small),
It is possible to more effectively prevent the discharge ink from adhering to the adjacent member.

FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view showing a third embodiment of the ink containing portion of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, the structure of the ink containing portion according to the present invention is applied to an ink tank for supplying ink to the recording head. In FIG. 17, an ink tank H1900 is an ink storage portion H190 in the present embodiment, which is formed by absorbing ink with an ink absorber such as a sponge.
1 is provided. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the ink tank H1900 is detachably attached to the recording head H1001 attached to the carriage M4001. Therefore, the ink tank H1900
When mounted on the recording head H1001, the engaging portion H1902 provided in the ink tank H1900 and the seal rubber H1800 of the recording head H1001 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) are engaged with each other.

In this state (with the ink tank H1900 attached), the recording head H1001 is moved to the carriage M4.
When the recovery system unit M5000 performs the suction recovery process, the ink is guided from the ink storage portion H1901 of the ink tank H1900 to the liquid path of the recording head element substrate H1100 and discharged as an end face opening of the liquid path. Fluidly connected to the outlet 1182. Here, in the ink containing portion H1901 formed of a sponge or the like,
Similar to the above-described embodiments (the first embodiment and the second embodiment), the peripheral portion H1901b contacting the inner surface of the ink tank H1900 as a container has a resin film having a lower ink suction property and a hydrophobicity than the inner portion H1901a. And the like. By configuring the ink containing portion H1901 of the ink tank H1900 of FIG. 17 as described above, it is possible to prevent the ink in the ink containing portion H1901 from bleeding (leaching) to the surface, and It is possible to prevent the above ink from adhering to a member (adjacent member to the ink containing portion H1901) that constitutes the ink tank H1900.

In the embodiment described above, the ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from the recording head H1001 as recording means has the ink containing portion M5200 (M5201) or H1901 made of an ink absorbing member, The ink containing portion includes a plurality of parts M5200a (M5201a) having different ink containing properties,
M5200b (M5201b) or H1901a,
It is formed of H1901b. The plurality of parts having different ink accommodating properties are provided in the inside M of the ink accommodating portion.
5200a (M5201a) or H1901a and peripheral portion M5200b (M5201b) or H1901
b), a part or all of the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion is made of a material having a lower ink absorbability, a lower ink hydrophilicity, or a higher ink hydrophobicity than the interior of the ink containing portion. Alternatively, it is formed of a material having low ink permeability or a material having low hydrophilicity.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the ink containing portion is used for the recording head H10 for other than recording.
No. 01 (ink preliminarily ejected) ejected ink (preliminary ink) M5200 (M520)
1), and in the third embodiment, the ink storage portion is the supply ink storage portion H1901 of the ink tank H1900 that stores the ink to be supplied to the print head H1001. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the peripheral portion M5200b (M5201b) or H190 of the ink containing portion is used.
1b is a member (lower case M10) that is in contact with the ink containing portion.
01 or the ink tank H1900, or a contact portion with an exterior member or a device component).

Then, according to each embodiment described above,
In an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording head H1001 as a recording unit, an ink containing portion M5200 (M52) including an ink absorbing member.
01) or H1901, and the ink containing portion has a plurality of parts having different ink containing properties, that is, the inside M5200a (M5201a) or H19 of the ink containing portion.
01a and a peripheral portion M5200b (M5201b) or H1901b, and a part or all of the peripheral portion is a material having a low ink absorption property, a low ink hydrophilic property, or a high ink hydrophobic property from the inside. Since it is made of a material or a material having low ink permeability, it is possible to prevent the ink from adhering to other members that are in contact with the ink containing portion, and to prevent ink that is an impurity from adhering to other members. Therefore, an inkjet recording apparatus provided with an ink storage unit that can easily reuse other members is provided.

In the above-described embodiments, the case of the serial type ink jet recording apparatus for recording while moving the recording head as the recording means in the main scanning direction has been described as an example. The same effect can be achieved even in the case of a line type ink jet recording apparatus that uses a line type ink jet head having a length that covers the entire width or a part of the medium and performs recording only by sub scanning, and achieves the same effect. It is possible. Further, the present invention is not limited to the number of print heads, and is the same regardless of the number of discharge port arrays provided in one print head, such as a print head having a plurality of discharge port arrays on the same discharge port surface. A color inkjet recording apparatus that can be applied and that records with a plurality of different colors using one or a plurality of recording heads, and an inkjet recording apparatus for gradation recording that records with a plurality of different densities of the same color. , Or
The same can be applied to the case of an ink jet recording apparatus in which these are combined, and similar effects can be achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, a replaceable ink jet cartridge in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated is used, a recording means in which the ink tank is detachably attached to the recording head is used, or a recording head is used. It can be applied to any case where the recording head and the ink tank are arranged, such as a structure in which the ink tanks are separated from each other and the ink supply paths are connected between them.
The same effect can be obtained. Further, in the above-described embodiments, the recording apparatus that ejects the liquid ink from the recording head has been described as an example, but the present invention is applicable to an inkjet recording apparatus that ejects the melted ink of the solid ink to perform recording. The same can be applied to the above, and these are included in the range.

Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to, for example, a recording head using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, but among them, a recording head of a type that ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy. It provides an excellent effect in an ink jet recording apparatus using. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

[0096]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention (Claim 1), the ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting ink from the recording means to perform recording has an ink containing portion composed of an ink absorbing member. However, since the ink containing portion is formed of a plurality of parts having different ink containing properties, it is possible to prevent the ink from adhering to other members in contact with the ink containing portion, and to cause impurities to other members. Since the ink does not adhere, an inkjet recording device that can easily reuse other members is provided.

According to the second to fifth aspects of the invention, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, a part or all of the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion has a lower ink absorbability than the inside of the ink containing portion. And a part or all of the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion is made of a material having a lower ink hydrophilicity than the inside of the ink containing portion, and a part of the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion. Or, a structure in which all or all are formed of a material having a higher ink hydrophobicity than the inside of the ink containing portion, or a part or all of the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion has lower ink permeability than the inside of the ink containing portion. Since it is made of a material, it is possible to effectively prevent the ink from adhering to the other member that is in contact with the ink containing portion, and the ink that is an impurity does not adhere to the other member. Reuse of other materials An ink jet recording apparatus is provided which can be easily performed.

According to the invention of claims 6 to 8, in addition to the above configuration, the ink storage section is a waste ink storage section for storing ink discharged from the recording means for other than recording. The ink storage section is a supply ink storage section for storing ink to be supplied to the recording means, or the peripheral section of the ink storage section is a contact section with a member in contact with the ink storage section. Therefore, it is possible to more efficiently prevent the ink from adhering to the other member that is in contact with the ink containing portion, and the ink that is an impurity does not adhere to the other member, so that the reuse of the other member is facilitated. An ink jet recording apparatus is provided which can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an appearance of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an internal structure of an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, with an exterior member, recording means and an ink tank removed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing a main part of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing an overall structure of a recording head cartridge in which an ink tank is attached to a recording head as a recording unit used in an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a schematic perspective view showing the recording head cartridge of FIG. 4 in a disassembled state into a recording head and an ink tank.

FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the recording head as the recording unit in FIG. 5 by disassembling the constituent parts.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing an overall configuration of a recovery system unit mounted on the inkjet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall configuration of the recovery system unit of FIG. 7 when viewed from another direction.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an electric circuit of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a main substrate in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a recording operation sequence of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of the first embodiment of the lower case portion as a main portion of the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

13 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part structure of a lower case part of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence of a recovery process of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic partial vertical cross-sectional view showing the structure of a second case of the lower case portion as a main portion of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

16 is a partial perspective view schematically showing a main part of a waste ink absorber as an ink containing portion in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view showing a third embodiment of the ink containing portion of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording means in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

M1000 Device main body M1001 Lower case M1002 Upper case M1003 Access cover M1004 Paper ejection tray M1010 Lower case wall M1011 Lower case boss M2000 Automatic paper feeder (automatic feeder) M2001 Paper feed roller M2001a Drive shaft M2002 Side guide M2003 Pressure plate M2004 Automatic paper feed unit base (ASF base) M2005 Separation sheet M2006 Pressure plate spring M2007 Paper edge detection lever (PE lever) M3000 Transport unit (LF unit) M3001 Transport roller (LF roller) M3002 Pinch roller M3003 Platen M3003a Platen rib M3003b Spare Discharge port (preliminary discharge receiver) M3004 LF gear cover M3005 LF gear train M3006 Pinch roller holder M3007 Paper interval adjustment lever M3050 Paper unit (discharge unit) M3051 Paper discharge roller (discharge roller) M3052 Spur stay M3053 Spur holder M3054 Spur M3100 Chassis M4000 Recording unit M4001 Carriage M4002 Carriage shaft M4003 Headset lever M4004 Flexible flat cable presser (FFC presser) M4005 Carriage rail M4006 Idler Pulley M4007 Carriage motor Pulley M4008 Carriage belt (timing belt) M4009 Pulley holder M5000 Recovery system unit (recovery part) M5001 Cap M5002 Cap absorber M5003 Cap lever M5004 Cap tube M5005 Valve tube M5010 Wiper blade M5011a Wiper blade M5011b Wiper break M5012 Blade holder M5018 Pump roller M5019 Pump tube M5026 Pendulum arm M5026a Shaft M5026b Lock hole M5027 Switching output gear M5031 Lead screw M5031a Helical groove M5035 Valve cam M5036 Valve rubber M5038 Valve lever M5038a Shaft M5041 One-way clutch M5043 Locking lever M5043 Locking lever M5043 Preliminary discharge receiver) M5046 Preliminary discharge absorber M5047 Preliminary discharge cover M5048 Valve clutch M5053 Pump gear M5100 Pump (suction pump) M5110 Cap drive transmission gear train M5120 Wiper drive transmission gear train M5130 Pump drive transmission gear train M5140 Valve drive transmission gear train M5150 Pendulum Drive transmission Row M5200 Ink storage portion (waste ink absorber) M5200a Inside ink storage portion (inside waste ink absorber) M5200b Peripheral portion of ink storage portion (peripheral portion of waste ink absorber) M5201 Ink storage portion (waste ink absorber) ) M5201a Inside of ink containing portion (inside of waste ink absorber) M5201b Peripheral portion of ink containing portion (peripheral portion of waste ink absorber) E0001 Carriage motor E0002 LF motor (conveying motor) E0003 PG motor E0004 Carriage encoder sensor (CR) Encoder sensor) E0005 Encoder scale E0006 Ink shortage sensor (ink end sensor) E0007 Paper edge detection sensor (PE sensor) E0008 Paper interval sensor (GAP sensor) E0009 Automatic paper feed sensor (ASF sensor) E0010 G sensor E0011 contact flexible print cable (FPC) E0012 carriage flexible flat cable (CRFFC) E0013 carriage board E0014 main substrate E0015 power unit E0016 parallel interface (parallel I
/ F) E0017 Serial interface (Serial I
/ F) E0018 Power key E0019 Resume key E0020 LED (light emitting diode, light emitting element) E0021 Buzzer E0022 Cover sensor E1001 CPU (central processing unit) E1002 CPU built-in oscillator (OSC) E1003 CPU built-in A / D converter (A /
D) E1004 ROM E1005 Oscillation circuit E1006 ASIC E1007 Reset circuit E1008 Carriage (CR) motor driver E1009 LF / PG motor driver E1010 Power supply control circuit E1011 Ink end detection signal (INKS) E1012 Thermistor temperature detection signal (TH) E1013 Head detection signal (TH) HSENS) E1014 Control bus E1015 Reset signal (RESET) E1016 Resume key input (RESUME) E1017 Power key input (POWER) E1018 Buzzer signal (BUZ) E1019 Oscillation circuit output (oscillation circuit connection) E1020 Encoder signal (ENC) E1021 Head Control signal E1022 Head power ON signal (VHON) E1023 Motor power ON signal (VMON) E1 024 Power control signal E1025 Paper edge detection signal (PE detection signal, PE
S)) E1026 automatic paper feed detection signal (ASF detection signal,
ASFS) E1027 GAP detection signal (GAPS) E1028 Serial I / F signal E1029 Serial I / F cable E1030 Parallel I / F signal E1031 Parallel I / F cable E1032 PG detection signal (PGS) E1033 Pulse motor control signal (PM control signal) E1034 PG motor drive signal E1035 LF motor drive signal E1036 Carriage (CR) motor control signal E1037 Carriage (CR) motor drive signal E1038 LED drive signal E1039 Head power supply (VH) E1040 Motor power supply (VM) E1041 Logic power supply (VDD) E1042 Cover Detection signal (COVS) H1000 recording means (recording head cartridge) H1001 recording means (recording head) H1100 recording element substrate (ejection port forming surface) 1200 First plate H1201 Ink supply port H1300 Electric wiring board H1301 External signal input terminal (contact part) H1400 Second plate H1500 Tank holder H1501 Ink flow passage H1600 Flow passage forming member H1700 Filter H1800 Seal rubber H1900 Ink tank H1901 Ink tank Ink storage portion H1901a Inside of ink storage portion H1901b Peripheral portion of ink storage portion H1902 Engagement portion 1181 of ink tank Discharge port surface 1182 Discharge port 1183 Common liquid chamber 1184 Liquid path 1185 Electrothermal converter

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means, comprising an ink containing portion made of an ink absorbing member, wherein the ink containing portion is formed by a plurality of portions having different ink containing properties. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by being provided. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part or the whole of the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion is formed of a material having a lower ink absorbability than the inside of the ink containing portion. . 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part or the whole of the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion is formed of a material having a lower ink hydrophilicity than the inside of the ink containing portion. . 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part or the whole of the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion is formed of a material having a higher ink hydrophobicity than the inside of the ink containing portion. . 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part or all of a peripheral portion of the ink containing portion is formed of a material having lower ink permeability than the inside of the ink containing portion. . 6. The ink jet recording according to claim 1, wherein the ink containing portion is a waste ink containing portion containing ink discharged from the recording means for other than recording. apparatus. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink containing portion is a supply ink containing portion that contains ink to be supplied to the recording means. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the peripheral portion of the ink containing portion is a contact portion with a member in contact with the ink containing portion. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit includes an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used to eject ink. . 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the recording unit ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter. .