JP2003080720A - Ink jet recorder, blade cleaning device and blade cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recorder, a blade cleaning device and a blade cleaner whereby the wiping performance to a recording head can be maintained stably, and moreover the whole recorder can be made compact. SOLUTION: An angle θ1 defined by two planes which form a ridge edge part 61 of the blade cleaner is made an acute angle.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording head as a recording means onto a recording medium, a blade cleaning device provided in the ink jet recording apparatus, and a blade cleaner. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, paper, cloth, plastic sheet, O
A recording medium such as a HP sheet (hereinafter referred to simply as “recording paper”)
Various types of recording systems have been proposed as a recording device for performing recording on (also called). For example, there has been proposed a recording apparatus having a form in which a recording head of a wire dot type, a thermal type, a thermal transfer type, or an inkjet type can be mounted.

In such a recording apparatus, an inkjet recording type recording apparatus (hereinafter, also referred to as "inkjet recording apparatus") which ejects ink from an ink ejection port to perform recording on a recording paper has low noise. It is a non-impact type recording system and can perform high-density and high-speed recording operation. Generally, a serial type inkjet recording apparatus includes a unit that drives a carrier on which a recording head is mounted, a conveying unit that conveys a recording sheet, and a control unit that controls these.

A recording head as a recording means capable of ejecting ink uses an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element as an element for generating energy used to eject ink from the ink ejection port. , A method of ejecting ink droplets by utilizing heat generated when an electromagnetic wave such as a laser is radiated, or a method of ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy generated by an electrothermal converter element such as a heating resistor. .

In such a recording head, the recording head of the ink jet recording system in which thermal energy is used to eject ink as droplets has a high resolution because the ink ejection ports can be arranged at a high density. It is possible to keep a record. In particular, a recording head using an electrothermal converter element as an energy generating element can easily be miniaturized, and has the advantages of IC technology and microfabrication technology, which have been remarkably improved in technological progress and reliability in the recent semiconductor field. It can be fully utilized and manufactured. for that reason,
A recording head using such an electrothermal transducer element as an energy generating element can easily be mounted at high density.
There is also an advantage that the manufacturing cost is low.

Although the ink jet recording method is an extremely excellent recording method having a simple structure, there is a problem to be solved in one of them.

That is, in such an ink jet recording apparatus, since recording is performed by ejecting ink toward a recording medium from a fine ejection port, the ejection port formation surface (hereinafter, also referred to as "ejection port surface"). In some cases, unnecessary ink droplets are likely to adhere to the above), and normal ink ejection may be hindered by the attached ink. Therefore, a configuration is adopted in which a wiping unit for wiping and cleaning the ejection port surface is provided, and the wiping unit and the recording head (recording unit) are moved relative to each other to wipe off the adhered ink around the ejection port. ing.

As a method of wiping off the adhered ink, there are a method of moving the recording head with respect to a stationary wiper blade and a method of moving the wiper blade in parallel or rotationally with the recording head stationary.

When the recording head is moved as in the former case, the recording head is usually moved in the main scanning direction as in the recording operation. In that case, by wiping the wiper blade in and out of the movement path of the recording head in the main scanning direction, wiping with the wiper blade can be performed only when necessary. On the other hand, when the wiper blade is moved as in the latter case, the wiper blade can be reciprocated by parallel movement or rotation in the direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction of the recording head. In that case, by wiping the recording head in and out of the position of the wiper blade, wiping is performed only when necessary. For example, when wiping is performed during the forward movement of the wiper blade, by retracting the recording head when the wiper blade is moved back, it is possible to prevent unnecessary contact between the wiper blade and the recording head.

Further, in order to maintain the performance of the wiper blade, it is necessary to remove the ink adhering to the wiper blade.

For this purpose, the wiper blade is brought into contact with the ink absorber to absorb the ink adhering to the wiper blade, or the wiper blade is applied to the edge made of a mold or metal to adhere to the wiper blade. They are scraping off the ink that they made. When wiping is performed by moving the recording head in the main scanning direction, a configuration in which a blade cleaner (cleaning member for the wiper blade) is provided on the recording head or a carriage on which the recording head is mounted is also adopted.
Further, by stopping the recording head and reciprocating the wiper blade in the direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction,
When wiping is performed, a configuration is also adopted in which a cleaning member (blade cleaner) is provided at a position in contact with the wiper blade immediately after wiping the recording head.

[0012]

However, in a system in which the recording head is stationary and the wiper blade is reciprocated in the direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction to perform wiping, the wiper blade immediately after wiping the recording head is used. When the configuration in which the cleaning member (blade cleaner) is provided at the contact position is adopted, there are the following problems. That is, as the recording head becomes larger in the moving direction of the wiper blade, the cleaning member (blade cleaner) must be arranged at a position greatly displaced so as not to interfere with the recording head. Therefore, the size of the recording head increases with the size of the recovery device, which increases the depth of the inkjet recording apparatus main body, impairing the compactness of the recording apparatus main body.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus, a blade cleaning apparatus, and a blade cleaner which can keep the wiping performance for the recording head stable and can downsize the entire recording apparatus. It is in.

[0014]

The ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention adheres to the ejection port surface by moving relative to the ejection port surface provided with the ejection port of the recording head for ejecting ink from the ejection port. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a wiper blade for removing foreign matter, and a blade cleaner having a ridge edge portion for removing foreign matter adhering to the wiper blade by moving relative to the wiper blade. The angle formed by the two planes forming the edge portion of the ridge of the blade cleaner is an acute angle.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, recording is performed on a recording medium using a recording head capable of ejecting ink from an ink ejection port, and the recording head is attached to the recording head by a wiper blade capable of moving relative to the recording head. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a wiping means for removing the foreign matter, and a blade cleaning means for scraping off the foreign matter adhered to the wiper blade by a blade cleaner capable of moving relative to the wiper blade, wherein the blade cleaner is When moving in one direction relative to the wiper blade, it is restricted to a position facing the wiper blade, and when moving in another direction relative to the wiper blade, from a position facing the wiper blade Retractable, the blade cleaner and the wiper -When the blade relatively moves in one direction, a return means for returning the blade cleaner from a position retracted from a position facing the wiper blade to a position facing the wiper blade is provided. .

The blade cleaning device of the present invention records on a recording medium by using a recording head capable of ejecting ink from an ink ejection port, and adheres to the recording head by a wiper blade movable relative to the recording head. A blade cleaning device which is provided in an inkjet recording apparatus for removing foreign matter and scrapes off foreign matter attached to the wiper blade by a ridgeline edge portion of a blade cleaner movable relative to the wiper blade, wherein the ridgeline of the blade cleaner It is characterized in that the angle formed by the two planes forming the edge portion is an acute angle.

The blade cleaning device of the present invention records on a recording medium using a recording head capable of ejecting ink from an ink ejection port, and adheres to the recording head by a wiper blade capable of moving relative to the recording head. A blade cleaning device provided in an ink jet recording apparatus for removing foreign matter, scraping off foreign matter adhered to the wiper blade by a blade cleaner movable relative to the wiper blade, wherein the blade cleaner is the wiper blade. When it moves in one direction relative to, it is restricted to a position facing the wiper blade, and when it moves in the other direction relative to the wiper blade, it can be retracted from the position facing the wiper blade. , The blade cleaner and the wiper blade When moving pairs to one direction, from a position retracted from the position opposed to the wiper blade, at a position opposed to the wiper blade, characterized by comprising a return means returning the blade cleaner.

A blade cleaner according to the present invention is a blade cleaner for scraping foreign matter adhering to a wiper blade from a wiper blade for removing foreign matter adhering to a recording head, and forming the ridgeline edge portion. It is characterized in that the angle formed by the two planes is an acute angle.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be 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 the internal structure of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the recovery means in the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 as seen obliquely from above, and the recovery means includes a wiping means and a blade cleaning means. FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the internal structure of the recovery device mounted in the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG.

1 to 3, an ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a carriage motor (also referred to as "driving motor") M1 which is a drive source and an ink jet recording head 3.
A carriage 2 for mounting a carriage, a transmission mechanism 4 for reciprocating the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction of an arrow A by a carriage motor M1, and a paper feed mechanism (paper feed) for carrying (paper feeding) a recording paper P as a recording medium. A mechanism 5 and a recovery device (recovery unit) 10 that recovers the recording head 3.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus 1, the recording paper P is fed into the main body of the recording apparatus by the paper feeding mechanism 5, and the recording head 3 performs predetermined recording. The recording head 3 is detachably attached to the carriage 2, and a cartridge type ink tank (hereinafter, also referred to as “ink cartridge”) 6 is detachably attached to the recording head 3. The ink contained in the ink tank 6 is supplied to the recording head 3. The recording head 3 and the ink tank 6 form an inkjet cartridge. As will be described later, the recording head 3 of the present example is formed with a plurality of ejection port arrays corresponding to a plurality of types of ink to be ejected, and a plurality of ink tanks 6 that individually store the plurality of types of ink. Ink is supplied from.

The carriage 2 and the recording head 3 are designed to achieve and maintain the required electrical connection by appropriately contacting the joint surfaces of their opposing members. The recording head 3 records an image on the recording paper P by selectively ejecting ink from a plurality of ejection ports by applying a pulse voltage according to a recording signal. Recording head 3 of this example
Is an ink jet recording head that ejects ink by using thermal energy, and includes an electrothermal converter for generating the thermal energy. That is, film boiling occurs in the ink due to the thermal energy generated from the electrothermal converter, and the pressure change caused by the growth and contraction of the bubbles in the ink is used to eject the ink from the ejection port. The electrothermal converter is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of ejection ports, and by applying a pulse voltage to the electrothermal converter corresponding to the recording signal, the electrothermal converter is ejected from the ejection port corresponding to the electrothermal converter. Ink is ejected.

FIG. 15 shows a recording head 3 as recording means.
3 is an enlarged perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink ejection portion in one ejection port array of FIG.

In FIG. 15, the ejection port surface 23 of the recording head 3 facing the recording paper P with a predetermined gap (for example, a gap of about 0.3 to 2.0 mm) has a plurality of predetermined pitches. Discharge port 49 is formed. Further, along the wall surface of each liquid path 51 that connects the common liquid chamber 50 and each ejection port 49, an electrothermal converter (heat generating resistor or the like) 52 that generates thermal energy for ink ejection is arranged. There is. The recording head 3 is attached to the carriage 2 so that the ejection ports 49 are aligned in a direction intersecting with the main scanning direction of arrow A (the moving direction of the carriage 2). Then, based on the image signal or the ejection signal, by driving (applying a pulse voltage) the electrothermal converters 52 corresponding to those signals, the ink in the liquid passage 51 is film-boiling, and is generated at that time. Ink droplets are ejected from the ejection port 49 by the pressure.

In FIG. 1, the carriage 2 is connected to a part of the drive belt 7 of the transmission mechanism 4 for transmitting the driving force of the carriage motor M1 and is movable along the guide shaft 13 in the main scanning direction of arrow A. Is being guided by.
The carriage 2 reciprocates along the guide shaft 13 by the forward rotation and the reverse rotation of the carriage motor M1.
A scale 8 indicates the absolute position of the arrow A of the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction. As the scale 8 of this example, a transparent PET film on which black bars with a predetermined pitch are printed is used, one end of which is fixed to the chassis 9 and the other end is not shown. It is supported by a leaf spring. In the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of this example, a platen (not shown) is provided so as to face the ejection opening surface of the recording head 3 on which the ejection openings are formed.
Then, the driving force of the carriage motor M1 causes the carriage 2 on which the recording head 3 is mounted to reciprocate in the main scanning direction, and at the same time, based on the recording signal, the recording head 3
By ejecting ink from the recording medium, recording is performed in the width direction of the recording paper P as the recording medium conveyed on the platen.

A conveying roller 14 is driven by a conveying motor M2 to convey the recording paper P. 15
Is a pinch roller that presses the recording paper P against the conveying roller 14 by a spring (not shown), and 16 is a pinch roller holder that rotatably supports the pinch roller 15. 17 is
A conveyance roller gear fixed to one end of the conveyance roller 14, and a conveyance motor M transmitted to the conveyance roller gear 17.
The conveyance roller 14 is driven by the rotational force of 2. The recording paper P on which the image is recorded by the recording head 3 is ejected from the recording device by the ejection roller 19. Discharge roller 1
9 is driven by the rotation of the carry motor M2 transmitted via a discharge roller gear (not shown). Reference numeral 21 is a spur roller that presses the recording sheet P against the discharge roller 19 by the urging force of a spring (not shown), and 22 is a spur holder that rotatably supports the spur roller 21.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus 1, the ejection state of the recording head 3 is favorably maintained outside the range in which the carriage 2 carrying the recording head 3 reciprocates for a recording operation, that is, outside the recording area. A recovery device 10 is provided for performing recovery processing for the purpose. The recovery device 10 may be disposed at, for example, the carriage 2 and the recording head 3.
Is set to a desired position outside the recording area, such as a position corresponding to the home position of. The recovery device 10 includes a recording head 3
Capping means 11 for capping the ejection opening surface of the recording head 3 with a cap, wiping means 12 for cleaning the ejection opening surface of the recording head 3, and the wiping means 1
Blade cleaning means 18 for cleaning the wiper blade in FIG.
Further, in association with the capping of the ejection port surface by the capping means 11, the suction means (suction pump or the like) not shown in FIG. 1 in the recovery device 10 utilizes the suction force and does not contribute to image recording. The ink is forcibly sucked and discharged from the ejection port into the cap. By sucking and discharging the ink as described above, it is possible to perform suction recovery processing for removing thickened ink, bubbles, and the like in the ink flow path of the recording head 3. Further, the recording head 3 is ejected from the ejection port (hereinafter, also referred to as “preliminary ejection”) toward the inside of the cap of the capping unit by ejecting ink that does not contribute to image recording.
It is possible to perform the ejection recovery process (preliminary ejection process) for maintaining the excellent ink ejection state. Furthermore, by capping the ejection port surface of the recording head 3 by the capping means 11 during non-recording operation, the recording head 3 can be protected and the ink can be prevented from drying.

The wiping means 12 is arranged in the vicinity of the capping means 11 and is configured to wipe off ink droplets adhering to the ejection port surface of the recording head 3.
In addition, the adhered ink transferred to the wiper blade of the wiping unit 12 by cleaning the recording head 3 is
The blade cleaning means 18 scrapes the wiper blade. By repeating the operation of the blade cleaning unit 18 in this way, it is possible to prevent the ink adhered to the wiper blade from being retransferred to the recording head 3 when the recording head 3 is cleaned. Then, these capping means 11, recovery means for suction recovery processing and discharge recovery processing (preliminary discharge processing) using the capping means 11, wiping means 12, and blade cleaning means 1
8, the ink ejection state of the recording head 3 can be kept good.

A specific structure of the recovery device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. Recovery device 10 of this example
Are suction means 48 and capping means 1 as recovery means for maintaining a good ink ejection state of the recording head 3.
1, a wiping unit 12, and a blade cleaning unit 18 are provided. The suction means 48, together with the capping means 11, constitutes suction recovery means for performing suction recovery processing.

In the suction means 48, the recovery base 20
Two suction tubes 32 are arranged along the circular arc surface with the inner surface of the circular arc portion as the guide surface. 33
Is a pressure roller that is pressed against the suction tube 32 by a pressure spring (not shown), and by squeezing the suction tube 32 with rotation, a negative pressure is generated inside them. Two pressure rollers 33 are provided for each suction tube 32. Further, these pressure rollers 33 are rotatably supported by the long hole-shaped portion of the rotatable pressure roller holder 31, and during the suction operation for generating a negative pressure in the suction tube 32, the suction tube 32. Is displaced in the direction of pressing, while it can be displaced in the direction away from the suction tube 32 when the suction operation is not performed. In the case of this example, since the arc surface of the recovery base 20 that guides the suction tube 32 has a semicircular shape, the two pressure rollers 33 provided for one suction tube 32 are the same as the rotation direction of the pressure holder 31. Are arranged so that they are separated by 180 degrees. Therefore, when one pressure roller 33 pressing the suction tube 32 separates from the suction tube 32 as the pressure roller holder 31 rotates,
The other one pressure roller 33 presses the suction tube 32. In this way, by continuously rotating the two pressure rollers 33, it is possible to continuously perform the suction operation (suction recovery operation) while maintaining the negative pressure in the suction tube 32. Further, when the shape of the arc surface (guide shape) of the recovery base 20 is substantially circular, by providing one pressurizing roller 33 for one suction tube 32, the pressure roller 33 is similarly continuous. Suction operation is possible. Furthermore, when the shape of the arc surface (guide shape) of the recovery base 20 is semi-circular, by providing two or more pressurizing rollers 33 for one suction tube 32, the recovery base 20 is similarly continuous. Suction operation is possible.

The pressure roller holder 31 is rotatably supported by the pressure roller holder guide 30 in the radial direction of the arc guide surface of the recovery base 20, and presses the pressure roller 33 against the suction tube 32. And separate (evacuate). The shafts at both ends of the pressure roller holder guide 30 are attached to the suction tube 3
2 is pivotally supported on the arc center of the semi-circular guide surface of the recovery base 20 provided with 2, and is rotationally driven by the driving force transmitted from the PG motor M3. During suction recovery operation, P
The pressure roller holder guide 30 is rotationally driven by the driving force of the G motor M3 via the PG gear 124 and the pump gear 27. The suction means 48 is directly connected to the PG motor M3 so as to be driven according to the rotation direction of the PG motor M3. That is, the suction means 48
Rotates the PG motor M3 in one direction (hereinafter referred to as "forward rotation") to press the pressure roller 33 against the suction tube 32 to perform suction operation, and conversely, rotate the PG motor M3 in the opposite direction (hereinafter referred to as "rotation"). , "Reverse rotation"), the pressure roller 33 is separated from the suction tube 32. As the drive source of the suction means 48, one PG motor M3 in the recovery device 10 as in this example may be used, or another drive source may be used.

The capping means 11 is provided with a cap 35 capable of capping the ejection port surface of the recording head 3, and the ink discharged from the ejection port of the recording head 3 is efficiently sucked inside the cap 35. Is provided with a cap absorber 44. A cap holder 36 supports the cap 35, and the cap 35 is attached to the ejection port surface of the recording head 3 by the urging force of a cap spring (not shown).
Can be pressed. 34 is a cap holder 36
A cap base that supports a cap spring (not shown) for applying a cap pressure to the cap holder 36, and supports the cap holder 36 slidably in the vertical direction. As a result, the cap holder 36 is attached to the cap base 34 so that the cap holder 36 is allowed to move up and down within a predetermined range, and is urged upward by the cap spring. A cap lever 37 serves as an arm member for bringing the cap 35 into contact with and away from the ejection port surface of the recording head 3.

In the capping means 11, the suction means 4 is attached to the joint portion provided on the cap holder 36.
The suction tube 32 which comprises 8 is connected. And
While the capping unit 11 is in contact with the ejection port surface of the recording head 3, that is, while capping, the suction unit 48 performs a suction operation to introduce a negative pressure into the cap 35, and the suction pressure of the recording head 3 is reduced. A suction recovery operation can be performed in which ink that does not contribute to image recording is sucked and discharged from the discharge port.

In this example, the raising / lowering operation for bringing the capping means 11 into contact (capping) with the recording head 3 is performed by the driving force from the PG motor M3.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the PG motor M3 is linked via a PG gear 225, a PG gear 326, and the like to a cam 38 that performs an elevating operation of the capping means 11 to rotate the PG motor M3. The one-way clutch gear 28 transmits the driving force according to the direction. That is, the one-way clutch gear 28 transmits the rotational force to the cam 38 when the PG motor M3 rotates in one direction, and does not transmit the rotational force to the cam 38 when rotating in the other direction.

The cam 38 is configured to drive the wiping means 12 in addition to operating the capping means 11 and to control the raising / lowering operation of the CR lock lever 29 during the recovery operation of the recording head 3. The CR lock lever 29 is used for the recording head 3 during the recovery operation of the recording head 3.
And capping means 11 constituting a recovery system unit
It is provided to position and. Cam 38
The cam 38 is rotationally positioned by the cam position detection sensor flag and the cam position detection sensor 40.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the wiping means 12 with a part thereof cut away.

The wiping means 12 is provided with a wiper blade 41 for wiping the ink adhering to the ejection port surface 23 of the recording head 3. 42 is a blade holder that supports the wiper blade 41 and is movable in the directions of arrows B and F. 44 is a blade lever gear that meshes with the illustrated rack portion of the blade holder 42. 43 is a shaft support of the blade lever gear 44. It is a blade lever to do. The edge portion of the blade lever 43 is pushed by the rotational movement of the cam 38 described above, and thus reciprocates linearly in the directions of arrows B and F, and the reciprocating movement is transmitted to the blade lever 43. That is, the blade lever 43 pivotally supports the blade lever gear 44 that connects the rack portion 45 of the PG base and the illustrated rack portion of the blade holder 42, and thereby rotationally drives the cam 38 driven by the PG motor M3. Is converted into a linear reciprocating motion of the blade holder 42.

In the wiping means 12 of this embodiment, the wiper blade 41 moves in the intrusion direction (hereinafter also referred to as “wiper blade intrusion direction”) F when the recording head 3 is cleaned, and the wiper blade 41 moves to the blade cleaning means 18. By passing through a position facing the provided blade cleaner 47, the wiper blade 4
The ink adhering to 1 is scraped off. Further, due to the rotational movement of the cam 38, the moving direction of the wiper blade 41 is a retracting direction (hereinafter, also referred to as “wiper blade retracting direction”).
Instead of B, the wiper blade 41 passes through the position facing the blade cleaner 47, and returns to the original position under the spring force of a spring (not shown).

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an essential part of the blade cleaning means 18.

A blade cleaner 47 and a blade cleaner holder 46 which constitute the blade cleaning means 18.
When the wiper blade 41 moves in the wiper blade intrusion direction F and enters the position opposite to the blade cleaner 47, the wiper blade 41 abuts the blade cleaner holder 46, so that a stopper portion (not shown) is formed. The blade cleaner 47 abuts against the blade cleaner 47, and the blade cleaner 47 is regulated at that position. This allows
The ink attached to the wiper blade 41 is satisfactorily scraped off by the blade cleaner 47. That is, after the position of the blade cleaner 47 is regulated,
When the wiper blade 41 comes into contact with the blade cleaner 47 and passes below the blade cleaner 47, foreign matter and ink attached to the wiper blade 41 are transferred to the blade cleaner 47 side.

At this time, in particular, the ink such as pigment ink which is easily fixed tends to remain on the contact plane of the blade cleaner 47 which contacts the wiper blade 41, so that the space 60 for depositing the ink or the like in advance (FIG. 8). Are provided on the blade cleaner 47. As shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), foreign matter and ink adhered to the wiper blade 41 by cleaning the recording head 3 are
The ink is deposited in the space 60 for depositing ink. As a result, when the wiper blade 41 repeatedly contacts the blade cleaner 47, the ink and the like removed from the wiper blade 41 is prevented from being retransferred to the wiper blade 41, and the recording head 3 is repeatedly cleaned. Performance will be kept stable.

Further, the blade cleaning means 18 in this embodiment is stopped after the wiper blade 41 has passed below the blade cleaner 47, and when the wiper blade 41 is removed from below the blade cleaner 47 in the wiper blade retreat direction B. , Wiper blade 4
Wiper blade 4 so as not to bend 1 more than necessary
It is configured to reduce the load applied to 1 and suppress the ink splattering as much as possible. That is, the blade cleaner 47 is rotatably supported by the blade cleaner holder 46 about the axis O, and the wiper blade 4
As shown in FIG. 7D, when the blade 1 passes under the blade cleaner 47, the blade 1 is retracted in the direction of the arrow Q about the rotation support shaft of the shaft center O. The blade cleaner 47 retracted in the direction of the arrow Q is the wiper blade 4
After 1 moves in the retreat direction B and separates from below the blade cleaner 47, the elastic member is prepared for the next wiping and does not hinder the movement of the carriage 2 carrying the recording head 3 in the main scanning direction. The elastic restoring force of 54 (in this example, a spring) returns to the original standby position as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (c).

Next, the operation of the recovery device 10 in this example will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of this example, when the recovery device (recovery unit) 10 cleans the recording head 3, the wiping operation included in the cleaning operation of the recording head 3 is performed according to the sequence of FIG. The wiping operation in this example will be described below with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

First, a wiping operation command (step S1)
01) is issued, the position of the cam 38 constituting the recovery device 10 is detected by the cam position detection sensor 40,
The operating positions of the capping means 11, the wiping means 12, etc. are confirmed. When the recording head 3 is not in the wiping operation position (home position), the cam position detection sensor 40 indicates that the capping means 11, the wiping means 12, etc. constituting the recovery device 10 do not interfere with the recording head 3. After confirmation by the detection signal, the transmission mechanism 4 is driven to move the recording head 3 to the recovery operation position (home position) as shown in FIG. 1 (step S102).

After that, the PG motor M3 is rotated in the normal direction by a predetermined amount to drive the cam 38, thereby executing the wiping operation (step S103). That is, the cam 38
Is rotated to move the wiping means 12 in the wiper blade intrusion direction F. Then, the wiper blade 41 is brought into contact with the ejection port surface 23 of the recording head 3 to transfer foreign matters and ink adhered to the ejection port surface 23 of the recording head 3 to the wiper blade 41, and the ejection port surface 23.
To remove from. After that, in order to scrape off the ink transferred from the ejection port surface 23 of the recording head 3 to the wiper blade 41 by the blade cleaner 47, the wiping means 12 equipped with the wiper blade 41 is a blade cleaning means equipped with the blade cleaner 47. Further move toward 18 in the direction of arrow F.

7 (a), (b), (c) and (d),
The operation when the wiper blade 41 forming the wiping unit 12 moves to the position of the blade cleaner 47 forming the blade cleaning unit 18 will be shown in stages.

In the state of FIG. 7 (b), the foreign matter and ink adhered to the wiper blade 41 are separated from those of FIG. 8 (a),
As shown in (b), the contact ridge edge portion 61 of the blade cleaner 47, that is, the edge portion on the ridge contacting the wiper blade 41 is scraped off. That is, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the wiper blade 41 abuts on the abutment ridge edge portion 61 of the blade cleaner 47 and passes through the facing position (lower position) thereof,
Foreign matter, ink, and the like that have adhered to the wiper blade 41 due to the cleaning of the recording head 3 are transferred from the wiper blade 41 to the blade cleaner 47, and the ink or the like is accumulated in the ink accumulation space 60 provided in the blade cleaner 47. It is deposited as an object 58. As described above, the space 60 for accumulating ink accumulates foreign matter and ink scraped off from the wiper blade 41 by the blade cleaner 47 when the wiper blade 41 repeatedly contacts the blade cleaner 47 in the repeated wiping operation. It is a deposition space provided in the blade cleaner 41 so as not to re-transfer the above to the wiper blade 41 as much as possible.

After the blade cleaner 47 removes foreign matters, ink, and the like, the wiper blade 41 passes through the position facing the blade cleaner 47 in the F direction and then stops at a predetermined position.

Next, in order to return the wiper blade 41 to the original position, the recording head 3 mounted on the carriage 2 is moved in the main scanning direction to move it from the recovery operation position to the retracted position by about 80 mm (step). S104). This avoids unnecessary contact of the wiper blade 41 with the recording head 3. Thereafter, the wiping means 12 moves in the retreat direction B to return to the original position by receiving the driving force from the PG motor M3, and then the wiping means 12 is driven by the PG motor M3 to cause the capping means 11 to be spared from the recording head 3. It moves to a predetermined position for receiving the ejected ink. Preliminary ejection is a recovery process for ejecting ink that does not contribute to image recording from the ejection ports of the recording head 3.

After that, in order to perform the preliminary ejection of the recording head 3, the carriage 2 which has been moved to the retracted position is moved to the recovery operation position (step S106). Recording head 3
After the carriage 2 equipped with is moved to the recovery position,
Ink that does not contribute to image recording is ejected (preliminary ejection) from the recording head 3 into the cap 35 that constitutes the capping unit 11 (step S107). By this preliminary ejection, the ink pushed into the ejection port 23 of the recording head 3 by wiping is ejected. After this preliminary ejection, a series of wiping operations are completed (step S108).

Generally, in the ink jet recording apparatus, as the frequency of recording on the recording paper P increases, the above-described series of wiping operations are frequently performed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the mist of the ink ejected from the ejection port 23 of the recording head 3 is, for example, in a gap between the bearing portion of the blade cleaner holder 46 of the blade cleaning means 18 and the shaft portion of the blade cleaner 47. Alternatively, excessively deposited deposits 58 such as ink may enter and remain as fixed ink 59 in the gap or the like. As a result, after the wiping operation, the blade cleaner 47 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
As described above, there is a possibility that the vehicle may stop at the rotation position (withdrawal position) in the direction of the arrow Q and may not return to the standby position.

As a workaround for such a situation,
A configuration including a conventional blade cleaner 55 as shown in FIG. 14 can be considered. That is, this blade cleaner 55
Is a space for accumulating ink or the like due to the space T2, and a space sufficient for the blade cleaner 55 to rotate to the retracted position. Even if it moves in the scanning direction A, it does not collide. In addition, in the blade cleaner 55, an angle θ2 formed by two planes including the contact ridge edge portion 61 that contacts the wiper blade 41.
Are generally set at approximately right angles. However, the blade cleaning means having such a blade cleaner 55 has to shift its position according to the size of the recording head 3, resulting in an increase in the size of the recovery device and, in turn, an increase in the size of the main body of the inkjet recording device. Will be changed.

Therefore, in the present invention, by adopting the configuration of the blade cleaning means 18 as in this example, the ink jet recording provided with the compact recovery device 10 is not affected by the size of the recording head 3. Realize the device. Hereinafter, the blade cleaning means 18 of this example
Will be described in more detail.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view for explaining the positional relationship between the blade cleaning means 18 and the recording head 3 of this example. As shown in FIG. 6, the blade cleaning means 18 is arranged with a space T1 from the recording head 3 which is as small as possible in consideration of component tolerances and the like. Further, in the blade cleaner 47 of the present example, a space 60 similar to the deposition space for ink or the like in the conventional blade cleaner 55 of FIG. 14 is secured, and the gap between the wiper blade and the recording head 3 is kept to a minimum. The angle θ1 formed by two planes including the contact ridge edge portion 61 that abuts 41 is an acute angle.

Further, as in this example, by keeping the distance between the blade cleaning means 18 and the recording head 3 to a minimum, as shown in FIG. 10, the blade cleaner 47 is fixed to the retracted position while being rotated. At times, the blade cleaner 47 may interfere with the recording head 3 and be damaged. In this example, in order to avoid such damage, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the blade cleaner 4 that may collide with the recording head 3 is used.
A forced lowering mechanism portion 62 is provided at the end of 7. That is, the recording head 3 moves in the X direction in FIG. 12, and the force when the recording head 3 collides with the blade cleaner 47 is used to bring the recording head 3 into contact with the taper portion 57 that constitutes the forced lowering mechanism portion 62. Then, the recording head 3 has a curved surface (R surface)
By overcoming 56, a force in the R direction for forcibly returning the blade cleaner 47 to the standby position is generated. Therefore, even if the blade cleaner 47 is fixed in the retracted position while being rotated, the blade cleaner 47 is not damaged by the collision with the recording head 3 and the force at the time of the collision is used to return the blade cleaner 47 to the normal standby position. You can

As described above, in the blade cleaning means 18 of this embodiment, the interval (T2 + T3) required between the conventional blade cleaning means and the recording head 3 is as small as possible (T1) in consideration of the component tolerance. Since the size can be made as small as possible, it is possible to provide an inkjet recording apparatus provided with the compact recovery device 10 without being affected by the size of the recording head 3.

(Other Embodiments) According to the present invention, a recording device using one recording head as a recording means, a color recording device using a plurality of recording heads corresponding to inks of different colors, or different densities of the same color. The same effect can be achieved by applying the same to a gradation recording apparatus that uses a plurality of recording heads corresponding to the above ink, and further to a recording apparatus that combines these.

Furthermore, the present invention uses a replaceable ink cartridge in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated, separates the recording head and the ink tank, and connects them by a tube for supplying ink. The present invention can be applied regardless of the arrangement of the recording head and the ink tank, and the same effect can be achieved.

The present invention can also be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus using an ink jet recording head (recording means) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can bring excellent effects particularly in an inkjet recording apparatus using an inkjet recording head (recording unit) of an inkjet system that ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy. The reason is that such an inkjet method can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, the wiping performance for the recording head can be stably maintained by specifying the shape or the arrangement of the blade cleaner, and the overall size of the recording apparatus can be reduced. Can be planned.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the inside of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a recovery device in the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal structure of the recovery device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the internal structure of the wiping means in the recovery device of FIG.

5 is a perspective view of blade cleaning means in the recovery device of FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the positional relationship between the blade cleaning means and the recording head of FIG.

7 (a), (b), (c) and (d) are side views showing the wiping operation of the wiping means of FIG. 4 step by step.

8A and 8B are cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of the blade cleaner in the blade cleaning means of FIG.

9 is a perspective view for explaining an abnormal state of the blade cleaning means of FIG.

10A and 10B are perspective views for explaining the positional relationship between the blade cleaning unit and the recording head of FIG.

11 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of a forced lowering mechanism provided in the blade cleaning means of FIG.

12 is a perspective view of a forcible lowering mechanism portion provided in the blade cleaning means of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a sequence of a wiping operation in the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a side view for explaining a positional relationship between a blade cleaning unit and a recording head of a conventional example.

15 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a recording head provided in the inkjet recording apparatus in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Inkjet recording device 2 carriage 3 Recording means (recording head) 4 Transmission mechanism 5 paper feed mechanism 6 inkjet cartridges 7 drive belt 8 scale 9 chassis 10 Recovery device 11 Capping means 12 Wiping means 13 Guide shaft 14 Conveyor rollers 15 pinch rollers 16 pinch roller guide 17 Transport roller gear 18 Blade cleaning means 19 Discharge roller 20 Recovery base 21 spur roller 22 Spur holder 23 Discharge port surface 24 PG gear 1 25 PG gear 2 26 PG Gear 3 27 pump gear 28 One-way clutch gear 29 CR lock lever 30 Pressure roller holder guide 31 Pressure roller holder 32 suction tube 33 pressure roller 34 cap base 35 cap 36 cap holder 37 Capping means lifting lever 38 cams 39 Cap means lifting lever urging spring 40 Cam position detection sensor 41 wiper blade 42 blade holder 43 blade lever 44 blade lever gear 45 PG base rack 46 blade cleaner holder 47 blade cleaner 48 Suction means (suction pump) 49 outlet 50 common liquid chamber 51 liquid path 52 Electrothermal converter 53 Tube guide 54 Elastic member 55 blade cleaner 56 curved surface (R surface) 57 Tapered surface 58 sediment 59 Sticking ink 60 ink accumulation space 61 Edge line edge 62 Forced lowering mechanism A main scanning direction B withdrawal direction F Entry direction M1 carriage drive source M2 transport motor M3 recovery motor P Recording paper (recording medium) Q Retreat direction R return direction Distance between T1 recording head and blade cleaner T2 Ink accumulation area of conventional blade cleaner Distance between T3 recording head and conventional blade cleaner X Recording head movement direction (home position side) θ1 Angle of blade cleaner tip θ2 Angle of conventional blade cleaner tip

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A wiper blade for removing foreign matter adhering to the ejection port surface by moving relative to the ejection port surface provided with the ejection port of a recording head which ejects ink from the ejection port, An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a blade cleaner having a ridge edge portion for removing foreign matter attached to the wiper blade by moving relative to the wiper blade; and forming a ridge edge portion of the blade cleaner. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that an angle formed by two planes is an acute angle. 2. A moving means for moving the recording head in a main scanning direction, and a conveying means for conveying a recording medium in a sub-scanning direction intersecting with the main scanning direction. 1. The inkjet recording device according to 1. 3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising means for moving the wiper blade with respect to the recording head when removing foreign matter attached to the recording head by the wiper blade. Inkjet recording device. 4. A means for moving the wiper blade with respect to the blade cleaner when scraping foreign matter adhering to the wiper blade with a ridge line edge portion of the blade cleaner is provided.
4. The inkjet recording device according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. The ink jet recording according to claim 1, wherein the blade cleaner has a deposition space for accumulating foreign matter scraped off from the wiper blade by the ridge edge portion. apparatus. 6. The blade cleaner is restricted to a position facing the wiper blade when moving in one direction relative to the wiper blade, and is moved in another direction relative to the wiper blade. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus can be retracted from a position facing the wiper blade. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the blade cleaner is retractable from the position facing the wiper blade with rotation. 8. The blade cleaner is moved from a position retracted from a position facing the wiper blade to a position facing the wiper blade when the blade cleaner and the wiper blade relatively move in one direction. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a returning unit. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the returning unit returns the blade cleaner by utilizing an elastic force of an elastic member. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the returning unit returns the blade cleaner by using a moving force of the recording head. 11. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head includes an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used to eject ink. 12. The recording head ejects ink from the ink ejection port by causing film boiling of the ink by utilizing thermal energy generated from the electrothermal converter. 11. The inkjet recording device according to item 11. 13. Wiping for recording on a recording medium by using a recording head capable of ejecting ink from an ink ejection port, and removing foreign matter adhering to the recording head by a wiper blade movable relative to the recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a means, and a blade cleaning means that scrapes off foreign matter adhering to the wiper blade by means of a blade cleaner capable of moving relative to the wiper blade, wherein the blade cleaner is opposed to the wiper blade. When being moved in one direction, it is restricted to a position facing the wiper blade, and when moving in the other direction relative to the wiper blade, it is possible to retract from the position facing the wiper blade, The blade cleaner and the wiper blade are relatively unidirectional When moving from a position retracted from the position opposed to the wiper blade, at a position opposed to the wiper blade, the ink jet recording apparatus characterized by comprising a return means returning the blade cleaner. 14. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the returning means returns the blade cleaner by utilizing an elastic force of an elastic member. 15. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the returning unit returns the blade cleaner by using a moving force of the recording head. 16. An inkjet recording method for performing recording on a recording medium by using a recording head capable of ejecting ink from an ink ejection port, and removing foreign matter adhering to the recording head by a wiper blade movable relative to the recording head. A blade cleaning device, which is provided in the apparatus, scrapes off foreign matter adhering to the wiper blade by means of a ridge line edge portion of the blade cleaner that is movable relative to the wiper blade, and forms a ridge line edge portion of the blade cleaner. A blade cleaning device characterized in that an angle formed by a plane is an acute angle. 17. An ink jet which performs recording on a recording medium by using a recording head capable of ejecting ink from an ink ejection port, and removes foreign matters adhering to the recording head by a wiper blade movable relative to the recording head. A blade cleaning device which is provided in a recording device and scrapes off foreign matter adhering to the wiper blade by means of a blade cleaner movable relative to the wiper blade, wherein the blade cleaner is in one direction relative to the wiper blade. When it is moved to, is regulated to a position facing the wiper blade, when moving in the other direction relative to the wiper blade, it is possible to retract from the position facing the wiper blade, the blade cleaner and the When the wiper blade moves relatively in one direction, From a position retracted from the wiper blade and a position opposed to the position opposed to the wiper blade, blade cleaning apparatus characterized by comprising a return means returning the blade cleaner. 18. A blade cleaner for scraping foreign matter adhered to a wiper blade from a wiper blade for removing foreign matter adhered to a recording head by a ridge edge portion, the angle formed by two planes forming the ridge edge portion. Is a blade cleaner characterized by an acute angle.