JP2003080737A - Ejection recovery device for inkjet recorder and inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ejection recovery device for an inkjet recorder having a low cost structure wherein sucking operations are executed at the same time by means of a single cap by preventing different kinds of inks from being mixed on a recording head. SOLUTION: The ejection recovery device for a recording head comprises a cap M5001 for capping a plurality of ejection nozzles 1100T formed on the recording head H1001 and a pressure generating means for generating a predetermined pressure connected to a discharge hole M5001a formed in the cap M5001. A plurality of sucking holes M5005a, M5005b, M5005c and a plurality of fluid passages connecting the plurality of sucking holes M5005a, M5005b, M5005c with the discharge hole M5001a are formed on the cap M5001. Passage resistances of the fluid passages from the sucking holes M5005a, M5005b, M5005c to the discharge hole M5001a are roughly equalized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used in an ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting ink from a recording head to form an image on a recording medium, and an ink jet recording apparatus,
The present invention relates to an ejection recovery device for maintaining good ejection of ink from nozzles of a recording head.

It should be noted that the present invention is applied to a general printing apparatus, an apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile having a communication system, a word processor having a printing unit, and an industrial apparatus combined with various processing apparatuses. It can be applied to a recording device.

[0003]

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 of a composite electronic device or a workstation including a computer, a word processor, etc. An image is recorded on a recording medium such as a plastic thin plate or the like.

Among such recording apparatuses, the ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording head as a recording means onto a recording medium has the following advantages. That is, the recording head can be easily made compact, high-definition images can be recorded at high speed, recording can be performed on plain paper without requiring special processing, and running costs are low. Further, since it is a non-impact system, it has the advantages of low noise and easy recording of color images using multicolor inks. Further, according to the line type ink jet recording apparatus using the line type recording head in which a large number of nozzles are arranged in the paper width direction of the recording paper, higher speed recording becomes possible.

Further, in an ink jet recording means (recording head) of a so-called bubble jet (registered trademark) system in which thermal energy is used to generate bubbles in the ink and the energy generated by the bubbles ejects the ink, etching and vapor deposition are performed. Since the electrothermal converter, electrode, liquid path wall, top plate, etc. formed on the substrate through the semiconductor manufacturing process such as sputtering, high density nozzle arrangement can be realized, aiming for further downsizing. You can

However, there is a problem in the ink jet recording apparatus that the ink may dry and thicken due to the infiltration of air into the nozzle for ejecting the ink and the ink may not be ejected from the nozzle. is there. As a method for recovering the nozzle from such an ink non-ejection state, there is known a method (suction recovery) in which ink that does not contribute to image recording is sucked and discharged from the tip of the nozzle by negative pressure. Means for realizing this suction recovery (suction recovery means)
As such, a cap that can cover the nozzles of the recording head in an airtight state and a negative pressure generating unit that generates a negative pressure inside the cap are generally used.

The term "nozzle" used in this specification means
It means a plurality of divided liquid passages for ejecting the ink supplied to the common liquid chamber in the recording head, and an ink ejection port which is an opening formed at the end of the liquid passage. Further, the "ink" in the present specification means a liquid including a visually recognizable colored liquid and a recording quality improving liquid for improving the recording quality of a portion recorded by the liquid.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a recovery device conventionally used in an ink jet recording apparatus. The recovery device shown here is a cap M5001 arranged in a moving path of a recording head (not shown), and a pump tube M5100 as negative pressure generating means communicating with the cap.
Wiper blades M5011, M5012-1, M for removing ink and the like adhering to the nozzle forming surface of the recording head
5012-2 etc. are provided.

When the PG motor E0003 rotates in the forward direction, the cap M5001 comes into close contact with the surface of the recording head on which the ejection ports are formed, and covers (caps) the nozzles of the recording head. Then, the PG motor E0003
When the tube pump is driven in reverse by the reverse rotation, the roller rotates while being in pressure contact with the pump tube, and the negative pressure is generated by squeezing the pump tube. This negative pressure is caused by a discharge port M5001a formed to discharge the ink from the inside of the cap M5001 and a plurality of suction ports M500 formed in the flow path forming member M5005 covering the discharge port M5001a.
It acts on the ejection port of the recording head via 5a. As a result, the thickened ink and bubbles that are no longer suitable for recording flow out from the ejection port of the recording head, and the cap absorber M500.
2 is sucked and discharged to a plurality of suction ports M5005a provided in the cap M5001. Then P
When the G motor is driven in the normal direction, the cap is separated from the surface of the recording head on which the ink ejection ports are formed, capping is released, and a series of suction recovery work is completed.

By the way, the plurality of suction ports M5005a
Is the flow path forming member M50 as shown in FIGS.
05 dispersedly formed in a plurality of places, each suction port M500
The nozzles 5a are arranged one by one between the nozzle rows that eject ink of different colors. The ink flowing out from each color ejection port of the recording head can prevent different kinds of ink from flowing across other ejection port arrays.

[0011]

However, such a conventional ink ejection recovery device still has the following problems.

Due to the recent trend toward higher color, higher image quality and higher resolution of ink jet recording apparatuses, the number of ink ejection nozzles in the recording head increases, the number of ink colors increases, and the droplets of ejected ink become smaller. Sufficient consideration must be given to the handling of ejected ink. For example, when inks of different colors enter the nozzles of different colors, the colors are mixed during recording (called mixed colors), and a phenomenon in which a normal color recorded image cannot be obtained occurs. Need to be taken.

Since this color mixing phenomenon is likely to occur during the suction recovery operation of the recording head, in the prior art, nozzles are provided between the nozzle rows for ejecting inks of different colors as described above, whereby nozzles of different color inks are provided. It has been confirmed that it is possible to prevent the color mixture from entering, and the effect of reducing the color mixture by this has been confirmed, but further reduction is required.

Therefore, a method of performing suction with a different suction cap for each nozzle of each color, a method of sequentially sucking the discharge ports of each color with one suction cap, and the like have been carried out. However, there were problems such as complication, size increase, cost increase, and suction recovery work time increase.

In the method of sucking with one cap, the ink in the vicinity of the nozzles of the recording head is discharged from after the suction is recovered to immediately before the recording so that the inks of the respective nozzles are in a pure state with no color mixture. It was a method to start recording. Also in this method, the amount of ink to be discharged tends to increase with the increase in the number of ejection ports, and the problem of accelerating ink consumption remains.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. It prevents a mixture of different kinds of ink on the recording head and simultaneously performs an efficient suction recovery operation with a single cap. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive ejection recovery device and an inkjet recording device including the same.

[0017]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following constitution.

That is, according to the present invention, the cap is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward relative to the recording head, and covers a plurality of ejection openings formed in the recording head when advancing, and an ejection opening formed in the cap. A pressure generating unit connected to generate a predetermined pressure, and when the cap covers the ejection port, the pressure generating unit causes the ink to flow out from the ejection port and is discharged outside the cap through the ejection port. A discharge recovery device of an inkjet recording device for discharging to, wherein a plurality of suction ports are formed in the cap,
The flow path resistance from the suction port to the discharge port of each of the plurality of flow channels connecting each of the plurality of suction ports and the discharge port is set to be substantially the same.

It is conceivable that the flow paths formed in the cap are set so that the flow rates of the ink passing through the plurality of suction ports are substantially the same. It is also conceivable that the flow passage lengths of the respective flow passages are set to be substantially the same, or the cross-sectional areas of the respective flow passages are set to be substantially the same.

Further, according to the present invention, there are provided a cap provided so as to be able to move forward and backward relative to the recording head and covering a plurality of ejection openings formed in the recording head when advancing, and a discharge opening formed in the cap. A pressure generating unit connected to generate a predetermined pressure, and when the cap covers the ejection port, the pressure generating unit causes the ink to flow out from the ejection port to the outside of the cap through the ejection port. An ejection recovery device for ejecting a recording head, wherein a flow path forming member having a plurality of suction ports is fixed to the cap by a predetermined fixing means, and the flow path forming member has a plurality of suction ports. A plurality of flow paths connecting the opening and the discharge port are formed, and the flow path resistance from each suction port to the discharge port of each flow path is substantially the same.

It is conceivable that the flow path forming member is elastically fixed to the discharge port forming surface of the cap by an elastic fixing member integrally provided on the cap. It is conceivable that the passage forming member forms a flow passage in the cap by a combination with the discharge port forming surface of the cap that comes into close contact with the elastic force of the fixing member.

In the recording head, ejection portions each having at least one ejection opening row composed of a plurality of ejection openings are separately arranged corresponding to plural kinds of ink, and the cap covers the recording head. At this time, it may be considered that each suction port of the cap is located near each of the ejection rows. For example, when the recording head is formed by forming a plurality of ejection rows including a plurality of ejection openings for each ink, each suction of the cap when the plurality of ejection openings is covered by the cap. It is conceivable that a mouth is arranged between each said discharge row.

Further, according to the present invention, a recording means having a recording head having a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink, and an ink ejection recovery device for performing an ejection recovery operation for properly maintaining the ink ejection state of the ejection ports. The ejection recovery device is provided with a cap that covers a plurality of ejection ports formed in the recording head when the ejection recovery device is relatively movable with respect to the recording head, and an ejection member formed in the cap. A pressure generating unit connected to the outlet for generating a predetermined pressure, and when the cap covers the ejection port, the pressure generating unit causes the ink to flow out from the ejection port and the cap through the ejection port. An inkjet recording device for discharging to the outside, wherein a plurality of suction ports are formed in the cap, and a plurality of flow paths connecting each of the plurality of suction ports and the discharge port. Each is intended flow path resistance leading to the outlet from the suction port are substantially the same.

The recording head may generate bubbles in the ink by thermal energy, and eject the ink from the ink ejection port by the energy generated by the bubbles.

Further, according to the present invention, there are provided a cap provided so as to be able to move forward and backward relative to the recording head and covering a plurality of ejection openings formed in the recording head when advancing, and an ejection opening formed in the cap. A pressure generating unit connected to generate a predetermined pressure, and when the cap covers the ejection port, the pressure generating unit causes the ink to flow out from the ejection port to the outside of the cap through the ejection port. A discharge recovery device of an inkjet recording device for discharging,
A fixing means for fixing, in the cap, a flow path forming member having a plurality of suction ports and a plurality of flow paths communicating the plurality of suction ports with the discharge port. To do.

Further, according to the present invention, a cap is provided which is relatively movable with respect to the recording head and covers a plurality of ejection openings formed in the recording head when advancing, and an ejection opening formed in the cap. A pressure generating unit connected to generate a predetermined pressure, and when the cap covers the ejection port, the pressure generating unit causes the ink to flow out from the ejection port to the outside of the cap through the ejection port. An ink jet recording apparatus for discharging, for fixing a flow path forming member, in which a plurality of suction ports and a plurality of flow paths connecting the plurality of suction ports and the discharge port are formed, in the cap. It is characterized by having a fixing means.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a recording apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the present specification, "print" is used.
(In some cases, "recording") means not only the formation of significant information such as characters and figures, but also significant insignificance.
In addition, regardless of whether or not it is manifested so that it can be visually perceived by humans, images, patterns,
This also applies when forming a pattern or processing a medium.

Here, the "print medium" is not limited to paper used in a general printing apparatus, but is widely used to receive ink such as cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, etc. Let's say what is possible.

Further, "ink" (which may be called "liquid" in some cases) is to be broadly construed in the same way as the definition of "print", and when applied to a print medium, an image, a pattern, A liquid that can be used to form a pattern or the like, to process a print medium, or to process an ink (for example, an opening is formed in the print medium; solidification or insolubilization of a coloring material in the ink). I shall.

In the embodiments described below, a printer will be described as an example of a recording apparatus using the ink jet recording method.

Basic Configuration First, the basic configuration of the printer will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Device Main Body] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a schematic structure of a printer using an ink jet recording system. In FIG. 1, an apparatus main body M1000 that forms the outer shell of the printer in this embodiment includes a lower case M1001 and an upper case M100.
1002, access cover M1003 and paper discharge tray M
The exterior member 1004 and a chassis M3019 (see FIG. 2) housed in the exterior member are included.

The chassis M3019 is composed of a plurality of plate-shaped metal members having a predetermined rigidity, forms the skeleton of the recording apparatus, and holds each recording operation mechanism described later. Further, the lower case M1001 forms a substantially lower half portion of the device body M1000, and the upper case M1002 forms a substantially upper half portion of the device body M1000, and a combination of both cases accommodates each mechanism described later therein. A hollow body structure having a storage space is formed, and openings are formed in the upper surface portion and the front surface portion, respectively.

Further, one end of the paper discharge tray M1004 is rotatably held by the lower case M1001, and the rotation allows the opening formed in the front surface of the lower case M1001 to be opened and closed. . Therefore, when the recording operation is executed, the paper discharge tray M100
By rotating 4 toward the front side to open the opening, the recording sheets can be discharged from here and the discharged recording sheets P can be sequentially stacked.

One end of the access cover M1003 is rotatably held by the upper case M1002 so that an opening formed on the upper surface can be opened and closed. By opening the access cover M1003, the inside of the main body is opened. It is possible to replace the recording head cartridge H1000 or the ink tank H1900, etc., stored in the cartridge.

Although not shown here, when the access cover M1003 is opened / closed, a protrusion formed on the back surface of the access cover M1003 rotates the cover opening / closing lever, and the rotation position of the lever is controlled by a micro switch or the like. By detecting, 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 depressed, L
The ED E0020 is turned on to inform the operator that recording is possible. In addition, LED E0
020 changes the blinking method and color, and buzzer E0
021 (FIG. 11) is smoothed to have various display functions such as informing the operator of printer troubles. When the trouble is solved, the resume key E0019 is pressed to restart the recording.

[Recording Mechanism] Next, the recording mechanism in the present embodiment housed and held in the apparatus main body M1000 of the printer will be described.

As the recording operation mechanism in this embodiment, an automatic feeding unit M3022 that automatically feeds the recording sheets P into the main body of the apparatus and recording sheets P that are fed one by one from the automatic feeding unit are desired. While leading to the recording position of
A conveyance unit M3029 that guides the recording sheet P from the recording position to the discharge unit M3030, a recording unit M4000 that performs desired recording on the recording sheet P that is conveyed to the conveyance unit M3029, and a recovery process that performs recovery processing on the recording unit M4000 and the like. And a part (M5000).

Next, the structure of each mechanism will be described.

(Automatic Feeding Unit) First, the automatic feeding unit M3022 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The automatic feeding unit M3022 in this embodiment
Feeds the recording sheets P stacked at an angle of about 30 ° to 60 ° with respect to the horizontal plane in a horizontal state, and records into the main body while maintaining a substantially horizontal state from a feeding port (not shown). The sheet is to be ejected.

That is, in the automatic feeding unit M3022, the feeding roller M3026, the movable side guide M3024, the pressure plate M3025, the ASF base M3023, the separation sheet M.
3027, separation claws and the like (not shown) are provided. Among them, the ASF base M3023 is an automatic feeding unit M302.
It forms a substantially outer shell of 2, and is provided on the back side of the apparatus body. On the front side of the ASF, a pressure plate M3025 supporting the recording sheet P is about 30 ° with respect to the horizontal plane.
A pair of sheet guides M30 which are attached so as to form an angle of -60 ° and which guide both ends of the recording sheet P.
24a and M3024b are provided in a protruding manner, and one sheet guide M3024b is horizontally movable so that it can correspond to the horizontal size (width) of the recording sheet.

A drive shaft M3026a that is interlocked with a PG motor is rotatably supported on both left and right side surfaces of the ASF base M3023 via a transmission gear (not shown). A plurality of sheet-shaped feed rollers are fixed. And the pressure plate M30
The recording sheets P stacked on the 25 are PG motor E00.
03 (FIG. 15) in conjunction with the feeding roller M3026
Is rotated, the uppermost recording sheet among the recording sheets P stacked by the separating action of the separating sheet M3027 and the separating claw is sequentially separated and fed one by one, and is conveyed to the conveying portion M3029. It has become. The lower end of the pressure plate M3025 has an ASF base M3.
Since it is elastically supported by the pressure plate spring M3028 interposed between the recording sheet P and the sheet 023, the pressure contact force between the feeding roller and the recording sheet can be kept constant regardless of the number of stacked recording sheets P. .

From the automatic feeding section M3022 to the transport section M
A PE lever M3020 biased clockwise in FIG. 3 by a PE lever spring M3021 is fixed to the apparatus main body M1000 and is made of a metal plate having a predetermined rigidity in the conveyance path of the recording sheet P up to 3029. It is axially supported by a chassis M3019 made of a sheet-shaped member,
The recording sheet P separated and conveyed from 022 passes through the path, and one end of the recording sheet P presses the one end to rotate the lever, whereby a PE sensor (not shown) causes the PE sensor to rotate.
The rotation of the lever M3020 is detected to detect that the recording sheet P has entered the conveyance path. Then, after the entry of the recording sheet P into the transport path is detected, the transport of the recording sheet P to the downstream side by a predetermined distance is advanced by the feeding roller M3026. The carrying operation by the feeding roller M3026 is
The LF roller M in a stopped state, which is provided in the transport unit described later.
After the end portion of the recording sheet P comes into contact with the nip portion of the pinch roller M3014 and 3001, the recording sheet P is stopped in a loop of about 3 mm.

(Conveying Section) The conveying section M3029 is provided with the above-mentioned LF.
The LF roller M30 includes a roller M3001, a pinch roller M3014, a platen M2001 and the like.
01 is fixed to a drive shaft rotatably supported by the chassis M3019 and the like, and the LF intermediate gear M3012 is interlocked with a drive gear provided on a drive shaft of an LF motor E0002, which will be described later. It is adapted to rotate by the driving force of this motor.

The pinch roller M3014 is rotatably supported by the tip of a pinch roller holder M3015 that is rotatably supported by the chassis M3019, and is a pinch roller spring in the form of a spiral spring that biases the pinch roller holder M3015. LF roller M3001 by M3016
When the LF roller M3001 is rotated, the LF roller M3001 is rotated by the rotation of the LF roller M3001, and the recording sheet P stopped in a loop as described above is nipped between the LF roller M3001 and conveyed forward. It is supposed to be.

In the carrying section thus constructed,
The driving of the LF motor E0002 is started when a predetermined time elapses after the conveyance operation by the paper feeding roller M3026 of the automatic feeding unit M3022 is stopped, and the LF motor E000 is started.
2 is driven by the LF intermediate gear M3012 and the LF gear M3.
003 is transmitted to the LF roller M3001 via
The recording sheet P whose leading end is in contact with the nip portion of the roller M3001 and the pinch roller M3014 is L
The platen M20 is rotated by the rotation of the F roller M3001.
It is conveyed to the recording start position on 01.

At this time, the feeding roller M3026 starts rotating again at the same time as the LF roller M3001, so that the recording sheet P is fed by the feeding roller M302 for a predetermined time.
6 and the LF roller M3001 cooperate with each other to convey the sheet to the downstream side. Recording head cartridge H100
0 moves together with the carriage M4001 that reciprocates in the direction (scanning direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet P along the carriage axis M4012 whose both ends are fixed by the chassis M3019, and stands by at the recording start position. Ink is ejected onto the recording sheet P which is being recorded to record an ink image based on predetermined image information.

After recording the ink image, the L
The recording sheet P is conveyed by a predetermined amount by rotation of the F roller M3001, for example, a conveyance of 5.42 mm in a row unit, and after the conveyance operation is completed, the carriage M is conveyed.
The operation of 4001 performing main scanning along the carriage axis M4012 is repeatedly executed, and the platen M200
An ink image is recorded on the recording sheet P located above the recording sheet P. Further, one end of the carriage shaft M4012 is connected to a paper gap adjusting plate (not shown) via a paper gap adjusting lever M2015, and the other end is connected to the other paper gap adjusting plate M2012 via a carriage shaft cam M2011. Spring M
The sheet interval adjusting plate M2012 and the sheet interval adjusting plate (not shown) are attached in a state of being urged via 2014.
Each is adjusted so that the distance between the ejection surface of the recording head cartridge H1000 and the recording support surface M2001a of the platen M2001 is appropriate and fixed to the chassis M3019.

Further, the paper interval adjusting lever M2015
Can be selectively set to two stop positions, that is, the upper end position shown in FIG. 1 and the lower end position not shown by the action of the sheet-to-paper lever spring (not shown). In this case, the carriage M4001 is mounted on the platen M2.
Since the sheet is retracted by about 0.6 mm from 001, when the recording sheet P is thick like an envelope, the sheet interval adjusting lever M is previously set.
2015 is moved to the lower end position, and the paper feeding operation by the automatic paper feeding unit M3022 is started.

When the paper interval adjusting lever M2015 is moved to the lower end position, the GAP sensor E0008
Since the state (see FIG. 11) is detected, the position setting of the inter-sheet distance adjusting lever M2015 is appropriate when the sheet feeding operation by the automatic sheet feeding unit M3022 is started for the recording sheet P. If an improper condition is detected, a warning is issued by displaying a message or operating a buzzer to prevent the recording operation from being executed in an improper condition. Has become.

[Paper Discharge Unit] Next, the paper discharge unit M will be described with reference to FIG.
3030 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge portion M3030 is
A discharge roller M2003, a discharge gear M3013 mounted on the discharge roller M2003 and transmitting the drive of the LF motor E0002 to the discharge roller M2003 via the LF intermediate gear M3012, and a first spur holder M2007 mounted on the spur stay M2006. By the biasing force of the spur spring shaft M2009 attached to the discharge roller M2.
A first spur M2004 that is pressed by 003 and rotates following the rotation of the discharge roller M2003 to convey the recording sheet P while sandwiching the recording sheet P with the discharge roller M2003, and a discharge tray M1004 that assists discharge of the recording sheet P. Is equipped with.

The recording sheet P conveyed to the paper discharge section M3030 receives the conveying force of the discharge roller M2003 and the first spur M2004. Since the center of rotation is set to be offset by about 2 mm upstream from the center of rotation of the discharge roller M2003, the recording sheet P conveyed by the discharge roller M2003 and the first spur M2004 is Platen M2001
Since the recording sheet is lightly contacted with the recording sheet supporting surface M2001a without forming a gap, the recording sheet is properly and smoothly conveyed.

Further, although the conveying speed by the discharge roller M2003 and the first spur M2004 and the conveying speed by the LF roller M3001 and the pinch roller M3014 are almost the same, the recording sheet P may be loosened. In order to prevent further, the conveying speed by the discharge roller M2003 and the first spur M2004 is configured to be slightly higher.

Further, the spur stay M2006 includes:
A second spur M2005 attached to a second spur holder M2008 is held at a part of the downstream side of the first spur M2004, and the recording sheet P is the spur stay M20.
It is prevented from rubbing against 06.

The recording of the ink image on the recording sheet P is completed, and the LF roller M3001 and the pinch roller M30 are recorded.
When the trailing edge of the recording sheet P is pulled out from between 14, the recording sheet P is conveyed only by the ejection roller M2003 and the first spur M2004, and the ejection of the recording sheet P is completed.

[Recording Unit] Next, the recording unit M4000 will be described.

A carriage M4001 movably supported by the carriage shaft M4021 and a head cartridge H1000 detachably mounted on the carriage M4001.

(Recording Head Cartridge) First, the recording head cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS.

The printhead cartridge H1000 in this embodiment has an ink tank H1900 for storing ink and an ink tank H190 as shown in FIG.
A recording head H1001 for ejecting ink supplied from 0 from nozzles according to recording information, and the recording head H1001 is of a so-called cartridge type, which is detachably mounted on a carriage M4001 described later. Has become.

Recording head cartridge H10 shown here
In 00, in order to enable high-quality color recording of a photo tone, as ink tanks, for example, black, light cyan, light magenta, cyan, magenta, and yellow independent ink tanks are prepared. As shown, each is detachable from the recording head H1001.

The recording head H1001 has a recording element substrate H110 as shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG.
0, first plate H1200, electric wiring board H130
0, second plate H1400, tank holder H15
00, flow path forming member H1600, filter H170
0 and a seal rubber H1800.

On the recording element substrate H1100, a plurality of recording elements for ejecting ink on one surface of the Si substrate and electric wiring such as AI for supplying electric power to each recording element are formed by a film forming technique. A plurality of ink channels corresponding to the recording elements and a plurality of ejection ports H1100T are formed by a photolithography technique, and an ink supply port for supplying ink to the plurality of ink channels is formed so as to open on the back surface. ing. In addition, the recording element substrate H1100 has a first
Is fixedly adhered to the plate H1200, and an ink supply port H1201 for supplying ink to the recording element substrate H1100 is formed therein. Further, a second plate H1400 having an opening is adhesively fixed to the first plate H1200, and the second plate H1400 electrically connects the electric wiring substrate H1300 and the recording element substrate H1100. The electric wiring board H1300 is held. The electric wiring board H1300 applies 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. An external signal input terminal H1301 for receiving an electric signal, and the external signal input terminal H1301 is a tank holder H15 described later.
It is positioned and fixed on the back side of 00.

On the other hand, the flow path forming member H1600 is ultrasonically welded to the tank holder H1500 that detachably holds the ink tank H1900, and the ink tank H1
An ink flow path H1501 extending from 900 to the first plate H1200 is formed. In addition, the ink tank H19
A filter H1700 is provided at the end of the ink flow path H1501 that engages with the ink flow path 00 to the ink tank side to prevent intrusion of dust from the outside. A seal rubber H1800 is attached to an engaging portion with the ink tank H1900 so as to prevent the evaporation of ink from the engaging portion.

Further, as described above, the tank holder H1
500, flow path forming member H1600, filter H170
0 and the seal rubber H1800, and the recording element portion including the recording element substrate H1100, the first plate H1200, the electric wiring substrate H1300, and the second plate H1400 are bonded to each other by adhesion or the like. Thus, the recording head H1001 is configured.

(Carriage) Next, FIG. 2, FIG. 7, and FIG.
The carriage M4001 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in the drawings, the carriage M4001
Is engaged with the carriage M4001 and the recording head H10.
01 for guiding the carriage 01 to the mounting position of the carriage M4001, and the recording head H100.
The recording head H1 is engaged with the first tank holder H1500.
A headset lever M4007 for pressing 001 to set it in a predetermined mounting position is provided. That is, the headset lever M4007 is connected to the carriage M4.
The recording head H1001 is provided on the upper part of 001 so as to be rotatable with respect to the headset lever shaft M4008.
A headset plate (not shown) is provided at an engaging portion of the recording head 100 through a spring, and the recording head 100 is driven by the spring force.
It is configured to be mounted on the carriage M4001 while pressing 1.

The recording head H of the carriage M4001
A contact flexible printed cable (hereinafter referred to as a contact FPC) E0 is provided at another engaging portion with the 1001.
011 is provided, and the contact portion E0011a on the contact FPC E0011 and the contact portion (external signal input terminal) H1301 provided on the recording head H1001.
And are in electrical contact with each other, so that various kinds of information for recording can be transmitted and received, and power can be supplied to the recording head H1001.

An elastic member such as rubber (not shown) is provided between the contact portion E0011a of the contact FPC E0011 and the carriage M4001. The elastic force of this elastic member and the pressing force of the headset lever spring cause the contact portion. E0011a and carriage M40
01 can be surely contacted. Further, the contact FPC E0011 is a carriage M.
A carriage mounted on the back surface of the carriage M4001 that is pulled out to both side surfaces of the carriage 4001 and has both end portions sandwiched and fixed to the both side surfaces of the carriage M4001 by a pair of FPC retainers M4003 and M4006 as shown in FIGS. It is connected to the board E0013 (see FIG. 8).

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the carriage substrate E
0013 is electrically connected to a main board E0014 provided on the chassis M3019 by a carriage flexible flat cable (carriage FFC) E0012.

The other end of the carriage FFC E0012 is fixed to the chassis M3019 (FIG. 2) by the FFC retainer M4028 (FIG. 2), and the chassis M3019 is opened through a hole (not shown) provided in the chassis M3019. Is led out to the rear side of the main board E0.
014 (FIG. 11).

As shown in FIG. 10, the carriage substrate E00
13 is provided with an encoder sensor E0004, and a carriage shaft M4012 is provided between both side surfaces of the chassis M3019.
By detecting information on the encoder scale E0005 stretched in parallel with the position, the position of the carriage M4001 and the scanning speed can be detected. In the case of this embodiment, the encoder sensor E0004 is an optical transmissive sensor, and the encoder scale E0005 is a light-shielding unit that blocks the detection light from the encoder sensor on a resin film such as polyester by a method such as photoengraving. And a transparent portion through which the detection light is transmitted are alternately recorded at a predetermined pitch.

Therefore, the position of the carriage M4001 moving along the carriage axis M4012 is
A chassis M3 provided at the end of the scanning orbit of 4001
The carriage is abutted against one side plate of 019, and the abutting position is used as a reference, and thereafter, the number of patterns formed on the encoder scale E0005 by the encoder sensor E0004 according to the scanning of the carriage M4001 is counted so that it can be detected at any time. Has become.

The carriage M4001 is a chassis M
Carriage shaft M40 installed between both side surfaces of 3019
12 and a carriage rail M4013 so as to be scanned, and a pair of carriage bearings M4029 formed by impregnating a sintered metal or the like with a lubricant such as oil is inserted into the bearing portion of the carriage shaft M4012. It is integrally formed by a method such as molding. Further, a carriage slider (CR slider) M, which is an abutting member, is made of a resin having excellent slidability and wear resistance at the abutting portion of the carriage M4001 with the carriage rail M4013.
4014 is provided, and is configured to enable the carriage M4001 to be smoothly scanned together with the CR bearing M4029 described above.

The carriage M4001 includes an idler pulley M4020 (FIG. 2) and a carriage motor pulley M.
4024 (FIG. 2), and is fixed to a carriage belt M4018 stretched substantially parallel to the carriage axis.
By driving the carriage motor E0001 (FIG. 11), the carriage motor pulley M4024 is moved and the carriage belt M4018 is moved in the forward direction or the backward direction so that the carriage M4001 can be scanned along the carriage axis M4012. Has become. Further, the carriage motor pulley M4024 is
Although held in place by the chassis, the idler pulley M4020 is movably held together with the pulley holder M4021 with respect to the chassis M3019 and is biased by a spring in a direction away from the motor pulley M4024. M4020 to M40
Carriage belt M4018 spanned over 24
An appropriate tension is always applied to the cable, and a good erection state without slack is maintained. A carriage belt stopper M4019 is provided at the mounting portion between the carriage belt M4018 and the carriage M4001 so that the carriage belt M401 can be securely mounted to the carriage M4001.

On the scanning orbit of the carriage M4001 of the spur stay M2006, the remaining amount of ink stored in the ink tank H1900 of the recording head cartridge H1000 mounted on the carriage M4001 is detected. An ink end sensor E0006 (FIG. 2) is provided so as to be exposed oppositely.

(Recovery Unit) Next, the recovery unit for performing the recovery process on the recording head cartridge H1000 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

The recovery section in this embodiment is composed of a recovery system unit M5000 which can be independently attached to and detached from the apparatus main body M1000. This recovery system unit M5000 is a recording element substrate H1100 of the recording head H1001. Cleaning means for removing foreign matter adhering to the recording medium and ink flow paths from the ink tank H1900 to the recording element substrate 1100 of the recording head H1001 (H1501 to H1501 and H1600 to H1).
A recovery means for normalizing the flow path reaching 400) is provided.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, E0003 is P
The G motor is a cap M5001, a pump M5100, a wiper blade M5011, and M5012, which will be described later.
-1, M5012-2 and the automatic feeding unit M3022 function as a driving source. This PG motor E0
In 003, the driving force is taken out from both side portions of the motor shaft, and one side portion is driven by the pump M5 via the drive switching means described later.
100 or the above-described automatic feeding unit M3022 is driven, and the PG motor E0003 drives a specific rotation direction (hereinafter, this rotation direction is the normal rotation direction and the opposite direction is the reverse rotation direction) via the one-way clutch M5041 on the other side. ) Cap M500 that is linked and interlocked only when rotating to
1 and wiper blade M5011, M5012-1, M
Drives 5012-2. Therefore, PG motor E000
When 3 is rotating in the reverse direction, the one-way clutch M5041 idles and the driving force is not transmitted, so the cap M5001 and the wiper blades M5011, M501
2-1 and M5012-2 are not driven.

The cap M5001 is made of a rubber material and is attached to a cap lever M5004 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 M5004 to move in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 10), and the recording head H1
The recording element substrate H1100 of 001 can be contacted with and separated from the recording element substrate H1100 so as to cover the plurality of ejection ports H1100T. The cap M5001 includes a cap absorber M50.
02 is provided so as to face the recording element substrate H1100 at a predetermined interval during capping.

By disposing this cap absorber M5002, the recording head cartridge H1 can be used during the suction operation.
It is possible to receive the ink drawn from the discharge port H1100T of 000. And the cap M500
1, a cap tube M5009 is connected,
The cap tube M5009 is a pump M510 described later.
No. 0 pump tube M5019, and discharges ink from the cap suction port M5001T.

Also, M5011, M5012-1, M5
Reference numeral 012-2 is a wiper blade made of a flexible member such as rubber, and is provided upright on the blade holder M5013 so that its edge portion projects upward. The blade holder M5013 has a lead screw M
5031 is inserted and this lead screw M
A protrusion (not shown) of the blade holder M5013 is movably fitted in the groove formed in the reference numeral 5031. For this reason,
The blade holder M5013 is a lead screw M5.
By rotating in accordance with the rotation of 031, along the lead screw M5031, the directions of arrows B1 and B2 (see FIG.
Reciprocating to 0), with which wiper blade M50
11, M5012-1, M5012-2 wipe and clean the recording element substrate H1100 of the recording head cartridge H1000. 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.

M5100 is the pump tube M5019 which is the pump roller (the pump roller M50 in the embodiment described later).
18; hereinafter, also referred to as "pump roller M5018") to generate pressure by squeezing. This pump is connected to the other side of the PG motor E0003 via a drive switching means for switching the transmission path of the driving force to the automatic feeding section M3022 and the main pump M5100 and a pump drive transmission gear train M5130. Although not described in detail, the pump tube M5019 is a pump tube M5019 of the pump roller M5018 which is squeezed in the pump M5100.
A mechanism that can release the pressure contact force to the pump tube M50 is released when the PG motor E0003 rotates in the forward direction.
When the PG motor E0003 rotates in the reverse direction without squeezing 19, the pressure contact force of the pump roller M5018 acts and the pump tube M5019 can be squeezed. Further, one end of the pump tube M5019 is connected to the cap M50 via the cap tube M5009.
01 is connected.

The drive switching means is a pendulum arm M50.
26 and a switching lever M5043. The pendulum arm M5026 is configured to be rotatable about an axis M5026a in the directions of arrows C1 and C2 (FIG. 9) according to the rotation direction of the PG motor E0003. In addition, switching lever M
The numeral 5043 is switched according to the position of the carriage M4001. That is, when the carriage moves above the recovery system unit M5000, a part of the switching lever M5043 abuts a part of the carriage M4001, and the switching lever M4001 moves according to the position of the carriage M4001.
5043 is moved in the directions of arrows D1 and D2 (FIG. 9) so that the lock hole M5026b of the pendulum arm M5026 and the lock pin M5043a of the switching lever M5043 can be fitted to each other.

E0010 is a PG sensor for detecting the position of the cap M5001.

Next, the recovery system unit M having the above structure
Each operation of 5000 will be described. First, the automatic feeding unit M30
The driving of 22 will be described. When the PG motor E0003 rotates in the reverse direction at the retracted position where the carriage M4001 does not contact the switching lever M5043, the pendulum arm M5026 is swung in the arrow C1 direction (FIG. 9) via the pendulum drive transmission gear train M5150, and the pendulum arm M5026.
The switching output gear M5027 mounted on the AS
ASF gear 1 at one end of F drive transmission gear train M5160
It meshes with M5064. PG motor E000 in this state
When 3 continues rotating in the reverse direction, the automatic feeding unit M3022 is driven via the ASF drive transmission gear train M5160. At this time, the cap M5001 and the wiper blade M
Since the driving force is not transmitted to 5011, M5012-1, and M5012-2 due to idling of the one-way clutch M5041, the wiper blade does not operate.

Next, the suction operation of the pump M5100 will be described.

The carriage M4001 is replaced by the switching lever M50.
When the PG motor E0003 rotates in the forward rotation direction at the retracted position where it does not abut against 43, the pendulum drive transmission gear train M515
The pendulum arm M5026 is oscillated in the direction of arrow C2 via 0, and the switching output gear M5027 mounted on the pendulum arm M5026 changes to the pump drive transmission gear train M5.
It meshes with a pump gear 1M5053 located at one end of 130.

After that, when the carriage M4001 moves to the capping position (the position of the carriage where the recording element substrate H1100 of the recording head cartridge H1000 faces the cap M5001), a part of the carriage M4001 abuts a part of the switching lever M5043. , The switching lever M5043 is moved in the D1 direction, and the switching lever M5
The lock pin M5043a of 043 is the pendulum arm M50.
26, the pendulum arm M5026 is locked while being connected to the pump side.

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, whereby the recording element substrate H1100 of the recording head cartridge H1000 is inserted through the cap tube M5009 and the cap M5001.
By applying a negative pressure to the ink, ink or bubbles that are no longer suitable for recording are forcibly sucked from the ejection port on the recording element substrate H1100.

After that, the PG motor E0003 rotates in the reverse direction, the pressure inside the pump tube M5019, the cap tube M5009 and the cap M5001 becomes atmospheric pressure, and the ink is forced out of the ink ejection port in the recording element substrate 1100 of the recording head cartridge H1000. The suction operation stops and the suction operation ends.

Next, the wiping operation will be described.

In the wiping operation, the PG motor E0
First, 003 rotates in the normal rotation direction, and the wiper blade M
5011, M5012-1, and M5012-1 are wiping start positions (the wiper blade M when the cap M5001 is separated from the recording head cartridge H1000).
5011, M5012-1, and M5012-2 move to positions (on the upstream side in the printing operation) from the printhead cartridge H1000. Then the carriage M4
001 is a wiping position (wiper blade M501
1, M5012-1, M5012-1 are printing element substrates H
1100) (position facing 1100). 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 point, the PG motor E0003 rotates in the forward direction, and the wiper blades M5011, M5012-
1, M5012-2 wipes and cleans the recording element substrate H1100 of the recording head cartridge H1000 while moving in the direction of arrow B1 (FIG. 10), and further downstream in the recording operation direction from the recording element substrate 1100 of the recording head cartridge H1000. The recording element substrate H1100 is wiped and cleaned by a wiper blade cleaning means (not shown) provided to clean dirt adhering to the wiper blade. At this time, the cap M5001 is maintained in a separated state.

When the wiper blade reaches the wiping end position (downstream end position in the recording operation), the PG motor stops and the carriage M4001 moves to the wiping retracted position (wiper blades M5011, M50).
12-1 and M5012-2 outside the movement area). After that, the PG motor E0003 rotates in the forward direction, and the wiper blade moves to the wiping end position. Even at this time, the cap M5001 is maintained in the separated state, and the wiping is completed as described above.

Next, the preliminary discharge will be described.

When the above-mentioned suction operation or wiping operation is performed using a recording head which ejects inks of a plurality of colors, there may occur a problem that inks are mixed.

For example, at the end of the suction operation, the ink sucked from the ink discharge port by suction causes a backflow phenomenon with respect to the recording head H1001 that has been in a negative pressure state by the suction operation, and at that time, the other color ink is ejected. Discharge port H1100
The main cause is that it enters the T. In such a case, when the recording is next started, the first portion may be discolored (also referred to as color mixture) and the image may be deteriorated. .

In order to prevent this color mixture, it is called pre-ejection that the ink of the mixed color is ejected immediately before recording, and in this embodiment, pre-ejection is performed in the vicinity of the cap M5001 as shown in FIG. An outlet M5045 is provided, and the recording element substrate H of the recording head is provided immediately before recording.
1100 is moved to a position facing the preliminary ejection port M5045 and executed.

The 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 a waste ink absorber (not shown).

Next, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

When this apparatus is connected to the AC power source, first,
In step S1, the first initialization process of the device is performed. In this initialization processing, the electric circuit system such as the ROM and RAM of the device is checked to electrically check whether the device can normally operate.

Next, in step S2, the apparatus main body M100
Power key E001 provided on the upper case M1002 of 0
8 is turned on, it is judged whether the power key E00
When 18 is pressed, the process proceeds to the next step S3, where 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 present apparatus monitors 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 recording 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 any other event occurs in the same step, the process proceeds to step S11. Here, in step S5, the recording command from the external I / F is analyzed, and the specified paper type,
The paper size, recording quality, paper feeding method, etc. are judged, the data showing the judgment result is stored in the RAM E2005 in the apparatus, and the process proceeds to step S6.

Next, in step S6, the paper feed is started by the paper feed method specified in step S5, the paper 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 CR motor E0001 is driven to start the movement of the carriage M4001 in the scanning direction, and at the same time, the print buffer E2104 is loaded. The stored print data 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 E0002 is driven and the LF roller M3001 is rotated to feed the paper in the sub-scanning direction. After that, the above operation is repeatedly executed, and when the recording of the recording data for one page from the external I / F is completed, the process proceeds to step 8.

At step S8, the LF motor E0002 is used.
Is driven, the paper discharge roller M2003 is driven, and the paper is repeatedly fed until it is determined that the paper has been completely discharged from the apparatus. At the end, the paper is completely discharged onto the paper discharge tray M1004a. Becomes

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 above-mentioned steps are performed. Repeat the operation from S5 to S9,
When the recording operation of all pages to be recorded is completed, the recording operation ends, and then the process proceeds to step S4 to wait for the next event.

On the other hand, in step S10, the printer end processing is performed to stop the operation of this apparatus. In other words, in order to cut off the power supply for various motors and heads, the power supply is cut off, the power supply is cut off, and the process proceeds to step S4 to wait for the next event.

In step S11, event processing other than the above is performed. For example, processing corresponding to a recovery command from various panel keys of the apparatus or an external I / F or a recovery event that occurs internally is performed. After the processing is completed, the process proceeds to step S4 to wait for the next event.

Characteristic Configuration Next, the characteristic configuration of the printer according to the present embodiment having the above basic configuration will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 14 to 17 are views showing the cap provided in the recovery section of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the peripheral structure thereof.
4 is cap holder M5003 and cap M500
1, cap absorber M5002, flow path forming member M500
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which 5 is incorporated, FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view thereof and an explanatory vertical side view, and FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view seen from an angle different from FIG. FIG. 17 shows a recording head H
The relative positional relationship between the ejection port H1100T when the cap is brought into contact with the recording element substrate H1100 of 1001 and the suction port of the flow path forming member M5005 provided in the cap M5001, and the ink flowing out from the ejection port H1100T during the suction operation is FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view showing an ink flow until reaching a suction port.

As shown in FIG. 15, when the inside of the cap M5001 becomes a negative pressure state due to the negative pressure generated by the pump M5100 during the suction operation of the recovery section, the recording head H10
No. 01 ejection element H1 arranged on the recording element substrate H1100
Ink flows out from 100T and cap absorber M500
2 through the discharge port 5001a through the three suction ports M5005a, M5005b, M5005c arranged in the flow path forming member M5005. As shown in FIG. 17, the recording head used in this embodiment has a structure in which six ejection port arrays each composed of a plurality of ejection ports are arranged in parallel so as to face each other, and different types (colors) are used from each column. Ink is ejected.

Then, the three suction ports M5005a, M5005b, M50 arranged in the flow path forming member M5005.
05c are arranged so as to be located at the centers of the above-described two rows of discharge ports. Therefore, the cap M5
The negative pressure generated in 001 causes each discharge port H1100
The ink flowing out from T is the path indicated by the arrow in the figure,
That is, each suction port M5005a, M5005b, M50 is passed through a substantially linear path toward the center of the pair of ejection port rows.
Reach 05c.

The flow path forming member M5005 has a recess M5001a formed in the bottom of the cap M5001.
The eaves M5001b, M5001 whose peripheral edge is inwardly projected from the edge of the recess M5001a.
It is stopped by c. This eaves M5001b, M
Reference numeral 5001c is formed of an elastic member. Due to the elastic force, the rib M5005g formed on the bottom surface of the cap M5001 comes into close contact with the discharge port forming surface M5001d of the recess M5001a, and the rib M5005g and the discharge port forming surface M5001. By the combination, three flow paths that lead from the respective suction ports M5005a, M5005b, M5005c to the discharge port M5005e are formed. These flow paths are connected to the suction ports M5005a, M5005b, M5.
The flow passages from 005c to the outlet M5001a are configured to have substantially the same cross-sectional area and flow passage length, whereby the flow passage resistances of the respective flow passages are substantially the same.

Each suction port M5005a, M5005b, M
If there is a difference in the flow rate of the ink sucked from 5005c, instead of the ink path shown by the arrow in FIG.
There is a possibility that a flow that flows out of the pair of ejection rows will occur, and mixing of different inks will occur. However, in this embodiment, since the flow path resistance of each flow path is substantially the same as described above, each suction port M5005
a, M5005b, M5005c, the amount of ink sucked, that is, the flow velocity of the ink is substantially the same, and as a result, the suction ports M5005a, M5005a, and M5005b, M
It is possible to create a situation in which ink flows to 5005c.

Therefore, the ink ejected from each ejection port array can be greatly reduced from flowing out to different ejection port arrays along the ejection port forming surface, and the ink is retained around the ejection port H1100T immediately after the suction operation is completed. It is possible to reduce the amount of other color ink that is used. Therefore, when the negative pressure inside the recording head H1001 that has been made negative by the suction operation is released, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that other color ink is drawn into the ejection port H1100T.

Next, the assembly structure of the cap absorber M5002 and the flow path forming member will be described.

The cap absorber M5002 has an opening M
5002a, M5002b, M5002c are provided, and protrusion-shaped pressing portions M5005d, M5005e, M5005 integrally provided on the flow path forming member M5005 are provided.
f penetrates the cap absorber M5002 to the suction port M50.
05a, M5005b, M5005c.

That is, the holding portions M5005d, M5
005e, M5005f, and M5005d are shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), a rising portion v that rises at a substantially right angle to the upper surface of the flow path forming member M5005, and a bend at the upper end of this rising portion v so as to face the suction port forming surface of the flow path forming member M5005. The holding portion h is formed and has an L shape as a whole. Further, the sandwiching part h is provided with suction ports M5005a, M5005b, M500.
It faces above 5c. The facing interval t1 between the lower surface of the holding portion h and the suction port forming surface is the ink absorber M5002.
Is formed narrower than the thickness T. Then, pressing portions M5005d and M50 are attached to the openings of the ink absorber M5002.
After inserting 05e and M5005f, cap absorber M
The end edges of the opening of 5002 are attached to the holding portions M5005d and M50.
05e, M5005f holding portion and flow path forming member M500
5 is press-fitted between the suction port forming surface and the surface. As a result, due to the elastic force of the elastically deformed ink absorber M5002,
The ink absorber M5002 is in pressure contact with the surface of the flow path forming member M5005. In addition, in this embodiment, since the holding portion h is provided at a position facing the suction port, the ink absorber is pressed against the periphery of the suction port with a particularly strong force.

As described above, the ink absorber M5002 is brought into pressure contact with the suction ports M5005a, M5005b, M5005c, so that the cap M5001 is sucked when the ink is sucked.
When the inside is in a negative pressure state, the ink flowing out from the ejection port H1100T is promptly passed through the ink absorber M5002,
And stable suction ports M5005a, M5006b, M5
Therefore, the inside of the cap can be kept in a relatively small amount of ink during suction.

Also, when so-called empty suction is performed to open the atmosphere communication port (not shown) to discharge the ink in the cap, the atmosphere flowing in from the atmosphere communication port is directly sucked into the suction port M5.
005a, M5005b, M5005c, it is possible to prevent the ink to be discharged from remaining, and the atmosphere reliably sucks the ink through the absorber M5005a, M5005b, M5005c.
Can be washed away. Due to the above action, the discharge port H1
Ink adhesion around 100T and ejection port H1100T
The amount of ink flowing back can be reduced.

Due to these effects, after the wiping operation of the blade for the nozzle forming surface of the recording head is completed, the ejection port H1100T is executed by the preliminary ejection operation performed.
The above color mixture can be eliminated without setting a large amount of ink ejected from the conventional case.

Further, in this embodiment, the pressing portion M
Since the nozzles 5005d to M5005f are arranged at positions where they do not interfere with the ejection openings of the recording head, the ejection operation of the ink is not disturbed.

As shown in FIG. 15C, if the distance t2 from the upper surface of the holding portion h of the holding portions M5005d to M5005f to the ejection port forming surface is set smaller than the thickness of the ink absorber M5002, It is possible to immerse the holding portion inside the ink absorber, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the holding portion from interfering with the ejection port of the recording head.

When the ink absorber M5002 is made of a material that is less elastically deformable, at least the holding portion of the holding member is made of a member that elastically deforms, and the elastic force of the elastic member ejects the ink absorber. You may make it press-contact with the exit formation surface.

[0131]

As described above, according to the present invention, for a recording head having a plurality of ejection port arrays for ejecting different colors, the ejection recovery operation of each ejection port array is simultaneously performed with a single cap. , It is possible to suppress the ink of different colors from entering the ejection ports of different colors, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of color mixture at the time of recording with a small preliminary ejection amount, and obtain a recorded image of normal color. You can Therefore, it is possible to reduce the ink discharge amount required for the preliminary ejection, and it is possible to suppress ink consumption.

Also, by the fixing means integrated with the cap,
Since the flow path forming member is elastically pressed and fixed to the discharge port forming surface of the cap, the flow path forming member can be securely and easily fixed without using an adhesive or the like.

Further, by combining the flow passage forming member with the discharge port forming surface of the cap in close contact with the fixing means, the flow channel connecting the discharge port and the suction port can be formed inexpensively and easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state shown in FIG. 1 with an exterior member removed.

FIG. 3 is a side view of what is shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a recording head cartridge used in an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a perspective view showing a state where the recording head cartridge shown in FIG. 4 is assembled.

6 is a perspective view of the recording head shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from diagonally below.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the front side of the carriage used in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the back side of the carriage shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a side portion of the recovery system unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a perspective view showing the other side portion of the recovery system unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an electric circuit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an electric circuit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a cap unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

15 (a) is an exploded perspective view of the cap unit shown in FIG. 14 viewed from the upper surface side, and FIGS. 15 (b) and 15 (c) are vertical side views of the holding portion shown in FIG.

16 is an exploded perspective view of the cap unit shown in FIG. 14 viewed from the bottom side.

17 is a plan view showing the relative positional relationship between the suction port of the pressing member and the ejection port of the recording head shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a recovery section in a conventional inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a cap unit in the related art.

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a cap unit in the related art.

FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of a cap unit in the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

M1001 Lower case M1002 Upper case M1003 Access cover M1004 Paper ejection tray M1005 Cover opening / closing lever M2001 Platen M2001-a Recording sheet support surface M2002 Paper ejection roller bearing M2003 Paper ejection roller M2004 Spur 1 M2005 Spur 2 M2006 Spur stay M2007 Spur holder 1 M2008 Holder 2 M2009 Spur spring shaft M2010 Front stay M2011 Carriage shaft cam M2012 Paper distance adjusting plate L M2014 Carriage shaft spring M2015 Paper distance adjusting lever M3001 LF roller M3002 LF Gear cover M3003 LF gear M3004 LF roller spring M3005 LF roller bearing L M3006 LF roller bearing RM3007 LF Roller washer M3008 Spring pin M3009 CE Re M3010 Screw with toothed washer M3011 Paper feed guide M3012 LF Intermediate gear M3013 Paper ejection gear M3014 Pinch roller holder M3015 Pinch roller holder M3016 Pinch roller spring M3017 Pinch roller shaft M3018 Pinch roller stay M3019 Chassis M3020 PE lever M3021 PE lever spring M3022 Automatic feeding Part M3023 ASF base M3024 Movable side guide M3025 Pressure plate M3026 Paper feed roller M3027 Separation sheet M3028 Pressure plate spring M3029 Conveyance part M3030 Discharge part M4000 Recording part M4001 Carriage M4002 Carriage cover M4003 FPC press M4006 FPC press M4007 Head set lever M4008 Head set lever Carriage shaft M4013 Carriage rail M4014 Carriage slider M4015 FFC holder 2 M4016 FFC holder 2a M4017 Ferrite core M4018 Carriage belt M4019 Carriage belt stopper M4020 Idler pulley M4021 Pulley holder M4024 Carriage motor pulley M4025 Sensor cover M4026 Ink end sensor holder M4028 Ink end sensor cover M4028 FFC holder Carriage bearing M5000 Recovery system unit M5001 Cap M5001A Recess M5001a Discharge port M5001b Eaves M5001c Eaves M5002 Cap absorber M5002a Opening M5002b Opening M5002c Opening M5003 Cap holder M5004 Cap lever M5005 Flow Channel forming member M5005a Suction port M5005b Suction port M5005c Suction port M5005d Pressing part M5005e Pressing part M5005f Pressing part h Standing part v Holding part M5009 Cap tube M5011 Wiper blade (W) M5012 Wiper blade (N) M5013 Blade holder M5019 Pump Screw M5034 Boat spring M5041 One-way clutch M5043 Switching lever 1 M5045 Preliminary discharge port M5046 Preliminary discharge absorber M5047 Preliminary discharge cover M5048 Valve clutch M5053 Pump gear 1 M5100 Pump M5110 Cap drive transmission gear train M5120 Wiper drive transmission gear train M5130 Pump electric transmission gear train M5150 Pendulum drive transmission Gear train M5160 ASF drive transmission Row E0001 Carriage motor E0002 LF motor E0003 PG motor E0004 Encoder sensor E0005 Encoder scale E0006 Ink end sensor E0007 PE sensor E0008 GAP sensor (paper interval sensor) E0009 ASF sensor E0010 PG sensor E0011 Contact FPC (flexible flexible cable) E0012 CRFFC (flexible) Flat cable) E0013 Carriage board E0014 Main board E0015 Power supply unit E0016 Parallel I / F E0017 Serial I / F E0018 Power key E0019 Resume key E0020 LED E0021 Buzzer E0022 Cover sensor E1001 CPU E1002 OSC (oscillator with built-in CPU) E100 A / D (A / D converter with built-in CPU) E1004 ROM E1005 Oscillation circuit E1006 ASIC E1007 Reset circuit E1008 CR motor driver E1009 LF / PG motor driver E1010 Power supply control circuit E1011 INKS (ink end detection signal) E1012 TH (thermistor temperature detection signal) ) E1013 HSENS (head detection signal) E1014 control bus E1015 RESET (reset signal) E1016 RESUME (resume key input) E1017 POWER (power key input) E1018 BUZ (buzzer signal) E1019 (oscillation circuit connection) E1020 ENC (encoder signal) E1021 Head control signal E1022 VHON (head power ON signal) E1023 VMON (motor power ON signal) E1024 Power supply control signal E1025 PES (PE detection signal) E1026 ASFS (ASF detection signal) E1027 GAPS (GAP detection signal) E0028 Serial I / F signal E1029 Serial I / F cable E1030 Parallel I / F signal E1031 Parallel I / F cable E1032 PGS (PG detection signal) E1033 PM control signal (pulse motor control signal) E1034 PG motor drive signal E1035 LF motor drive signal E1036 CR motor control signal E1037 CR motor drive signal E0038 LED drive signal E1039 VH (head power supply) E1040 VM (motor) Power supply) E1041 VDD (logic power supply) E1042 COVS (cover detection signal) E2001 CPU I / F E2002 PLL E2003 DMA control Part E2004 DRAM control part E2005 DRAM E2006 1284 I / F E2007 USB I / F E2008 Reception control part E2009 Compression / expansion DMA E2010 Receive buffer E2011 Work buffer E2012 Work area DMA E2013 Record buffer transfer DMA E2014 Print buffer E2015 Record data expansion DMA E2016 Development data buffer E2017 Column buffer E2018 Head section E2019 Encoder signal processing unit E2020 CR motor control unit E2021 LF / PG motor control unit E2022 Sensor signal processing unit E2023 Motor control buffer E2024 Scanner loading buffer E2025 Scanner data processing DMA E2026 Scanner data buffer E2027 Scanner data compression D MA E2028 Transmission buffer E2029 Port control unit E2030 LED control unit E2031 CLK (clock signal) E2032 PDWM (soft control signal) E2033 PLLON (PLL control signal) E2034 INT (interrupt signal) E2036 PIF reception data E2037 USB reception data E2038 WDIF (reception) Data / raster data) E2039 Receive buffer control unit E2040 RDWK (receive buffer read data /
Raster data) E2041 WDWK (Work buffer write data /
Recording code) E2042 WDWF (work fill data) E2043 RDWP (work buffer read data / recording code) E2044 WDWP (sorting recording code) E2045 RDHDG (recording development data) E2047 WDHDG (column buffer writing data / expansion recording data) E2048 RDHD (column buffer read data / developed recording data) E2049 Head drive timing signal E2050 Data developed timing signal E2051 RDPM (pulse motor drive table read data) E2052 Sensor detection signal E2053 WDHD (captured data) E2054 RDAV (capture buffer read data) E2055 WDAV (data buffer write data /
Processed data) E2056 RDYC (data buffer read data / processed data) E2057 WDYC (send buffer write data / compressed data) E2058 RDUSB (USB send data / compressed data) H1000 printhead cartridge H1001 printhead H1200 first plate H1201 Ink supply port H1300 Electric wiring board H1301 External signal input terminal H1400 Second plate H1500 Tank holder H1501 Ink flow path H1600 Flow path forming member H1700 Filter H1800 Seal rubber

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A cap provided to be able to move forward and backward relative to a recording head and covering a plurality of ejection ports formed in the recording head when advancing, and a discharge port formed in the cap. Ink jet recording, comprising: a pressure generating unit for generating a pressure, wherein when the cap covers the ejection port, the pressure generating unit causes the ink to flow out from the ejection port and to be ejected to the outside of the cap through the ejection port. A discharge recovery device of an apparatus, wherein a plurality of suction ports are formed in the cap, and from each suction port to a discharge port of each of a plurality of flow paths connecting each of the plurality of suction ports and the discharge port. The discharge recovery device of an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the flow path resistances up to are substantially the same. 2. The inkjet according to claim 1, wherein the flow paths formed in the cap are set so that the flow rates of the ink passing through the suction ports are substantially the same. Discharge recovery device for recording device. 3. The ejection recovery device for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow passage lengths of the respective flow passages are set to be substantially the same. 4. The ejection recovery device for an inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional areas of the respective flow paths are set to be substantially the same. 5. A cap provided to be able to move forward and backward relative to a recording head and covering a plurality of ejection ports formed in the recording head when advancing, and a discharge port formed in the cap and connected to a predetermined cap. Ink jet recording, comprising: a pressure generating unit for generating a pressure, wherein when the cap covers the ejection port, the pressure generating unit causes the ink to flow out from the ejection port and to be ejected to the outside of the cap through the ejection port. A discharge recovery device of an apparatus, wherein a flow path forming member having a plurality of suction ports formed therein is fixed to the cap by a predetermined fixing means, and the flow path forming member includes the plurality of suction ports and the Ejection of an ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that a plurality of flow paths connecting to the discharge port are formed, and the flow path resistance from the suction port to the discharge port of each flow path is substantially the same. Recovery equipment. 6. The flow passage forming member is elastically fixed to the discharge port forming surface of the cap by an elastic fixing member provided integrally with the cap. Discharge recovery device for inkjet recording device. 7. The flow path forming member forms a flow path in the cap by a combination with a discharge port forming surface of the cap that is in close contact with the elastic force of the fixing member. Discharge recovery device for inkjet recording device. 8. The recording head is configured such that an ejection portion having at least one ejection port array including a plurality of ejection ports is separately arranged according to the type of ink, and the cap covers the recording head. At this time, each of the suction ports of the cap is located in the vicinity of each of the ejection rows, and the ejection recovery device of the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6. 9. The recording head forms a plurality of ejection rows composed of a plurality of ejection openings for each type of ink, and when the cap covers the recording head, each suction port of the cap has a respective ejection row. The ejection recovery device of the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ejection recovery device is disposed between the two. 10. A recording device comprising a recording head having a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink, and an ejection recovery device for performing an ejection recovery operation for maintaining an appropriate ink ejection state of the ejection openings, The ejection recovery device is provided so as to be relatively movable with respect to the recording head, and is connected to a cap that covers a plurality of ejection ports formed in the recording head when advancing and a discharge port formed in the cap. An ink-jet device that includes a pressure generating unit configured to generate a pressure of, and that when the cap covers the ejection port, the pressure generating unit causes the ink to flow out from the ejection port and to be ejected to the outside of the cap through the ejection port. In the recording device, a plurality of suction ports are formed in the cap, and the suction ports of each of the plurality of flow paths that connect each of the plurality of suction ports and the discharge port. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that the flow path resistance from the discharge port to the discharge port is substantially the same. 11. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the recording head is configured to generate bubbles in the ink by thermal energy and eject the ink from the ink ejection port by the energy generated by the bubbles. . 12. A cap provided to be able to move forward and backward relative to a recording head and covering a plurality of ejection openings formed in the recording head when advancing, and a discharge opening formed in the cap, which is connected to a predetermined opening. Ink jet recording, comprising: a pressure generating unit for generating a pressure, wherein when the cap covers the ejection port, the pressure generating unit causes the ink to flow out from the ejection port and to be ejected to the outside of the cap through the ejection port. A discharge recovery device for a device, for fixing a flow path forming member, in which a plurality of suction ports and a plurality of flow paths communicating the plurality of suction ports and the discharge port are formed, in the cap. An ejection recovery apparatus for an inkjet recording apparatus, comprising: 13. A cap, which is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward relative to a recording head and covers a plurality of ejection ports formed in the recording head when advancing, and a discharge port formed in the cap. Ink jet recording, comprising: a pressure generating unit for generating a pressure, wherein when the cap covers the ejection port, the pressure generating unit causes ink to flow out from the ejection port and to be ejected to the outside of the cap through the ejection port. A fixing means for fixing a flow path forming member having a plurality of suction ports and a plurality of flow paths communicating the plurality of suction ports and the discharge port in the cap. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by having.