JP2003159821A - Ink-jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink-jet printer capable of certainly executing an ejection recovery process in a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: An ejection recovery member 21 comprises a cylindrical member 25. A plurality of vacuum holes 50 are provided on the surface of the cylindrical member 25 obliquely in a spiral-like form. An ejection recovery process is executed according to a vacuum process by rotating the cylindrical member 25 in a state with the cylindrical member 25 facing the head so as to have the vacuum holes 50 face successively a plurality of nozzles 15 provided on the nozzle surface of the head. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet printer that forms an image by ejecting ink onto a recording medium based on image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a so-called head scanning type ink jet printer, which prints by ejecting ink while reciprocally scanning a recording medium with a printer head having a plurality of nozzles, has been remarkably developed. Widely used. The head-scanning inkjet printer is equipped with a short head that has hundreds of nozzles capable of ejecting minute ink droplets, one for each color.
Although it is possible to form a high-quality image by dimensional relative scanning, the printing time becomes longer as the image quality is pursued.

As an example of a conventional ink jet printer, FIG. 24 shows a main part of a head scanning type ink jet printer. This inkjet printer is, for example, K,
Ink heads 101, 102, 10 for each color of C, M, Y
The head carriage 100, which integrally holds the recording mediums 3, 104, ejects ink while reciprocally scanning in the width direction of the recording medium (paper) 105, and the recording medium 105 is synchronized with the scanning.
The image is printed by being transported.

On the other hand, as an ink jet printer, a long head (full line head) extending in a length corresponding to the width of the printing area of the recording medium is provided to convey only the recording medium in one direction. There is also a so-called full line type one-pass inkjet printer of a type that performs printing while performing (one-pass printing). Although this full-line printer has a printable image quality that is not comparable to that of the head scanning type inkjet printer, it can perform printing processing at high speed, and is therefore mainly used for business purposes that does not require the high image quality of the head scanning type. Used for. This full-line type one-pass inkjet printer is, for example, as shown in FIG. 25, a long K head 106 and a C head 10 each having a length at least equivalent to the width of the printing area of the recording medium 110.
7, the M head 108 and the Y head 109 are the recording medium 11
The print heads 106, 107, 108, and 109 are arranged side by side in the transport direction of 0, and ink is ejected from each of the heads 106, 107, 108, and 109 in accordance with the transport of the recording medium 110 to print.

Here, it is more difficult to manufacture the heads (ink jet print heads) 106, 107, 108, 109 while suppressing variations in ejection characteristics among the nozzles as the number of ink ejection nozzles increases. Therefore, it becomes more expensive as it becomes longer. Therefore, one full line head unit may be configured by connecting and arranging a plurality of relatively inexpensive print heads that can be manufactured with a certain degree of stability in the width direction of the recording medium. In this type of full-line one-pass inkjet printer, for example, as shown in FIG. 26, the K head 11 includes a plurality of K head portions so as to cover the width of the printing area of the recording medium 115.
1 is configured, a plurality of C heads includes C heads 112, a plurality of M heads includes M heads 113, and a plurality of Ys.
The Y head 114 is configured by the head unit, and each head 11
1, 112, 113 and 114 are arranged side by side in the transport direction of the recording medium 115. Then, also in such a printer, printing is performed by ejecting ink from each head as the recording medium 115 is conveyed.

By the way, in the above-mentioned various inkjet printers, the inkjet head needs to perform an ejection recovery process in order to keep the nozzles good during image formation while the inkjet head is being used. A typical ejection recovery process is to suck ink from the nozzle to remove / prevent clogging of the nozzle, to remove dirt on the nozzle surface and ink droplets attached by the suction process, and to form a meniscus of the nozzle. And a discharge recovery process for forcibly discharging ink to a dedicated ink receiver. Some of these processes are unnecessary, or it is necessary to perform processes other than these, but in any case, some ejection recovery process is essential for the inkjet head.

As a technique relating to the discharge recovery process by wiping, for example, Japanese Patent No. 316105
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 0-202, a first blade row formed by arranging a plurality of blades in a row at regular intervals on a cylindrical support, and an interpolation between the blades in the first blade row are interpolated. A second blade row in which the blades are arranged at positions to form a wiping member, and by arranging both blade rows so as to have cleaning regions that overlap each other when the ink ejection surface is cleaned, A technique for uniformly and surely wiping the entire area of the ejection port array even when the length is long is disclosed. Furthermore, by providing a wiper cleaner that removes foreign matter adhering to the wiping member, the entire area of the ejection port array is uniformly and reliably wiped. The technology is disclosed.

As a technique relating to the ejection recovery process by the suction process, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3161050 discloses a local suction means formed in a size facing one or several nozzle units on the head main body. A technique is disclosed in which the suction operation is stabilized by moving the head relatively in the nozzle arrangement direction while being held by the positioning guide.

[0009]

However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3137529, the ink wiped when the nozzle surface is wiped remains on the nozzle surface downstream of the wiping and is dropped from the nozzle surface. May be In this case, in particular, in an ink jet printer configured to eject ink from the head toward a recording medium vertically below, there is a possibility that ink remaining on the nozzle surface may drop directly onto the recording medium. There is.

Further, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3161050, it is necessary to separately provide a moving means for moving the local suction means in the nozzle arrangement direction of the head,
This leads to a complicated structure and an increased device size, which leads to an increase in device cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet printer having a simple structure and capable of reliably performing an ejection recovery process.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet printer according to a first aspect of the present invention has a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged on a nozzle surface, and the recording head comprises: In an ink jet printer provided with a discharge recovery means for recovering the discharge of a nozzle by a suction process, the discharge recovery means includes a cylindrical member facing the recording head, and a plurality of suction holes provided on the surface of the cylindrical member. The suction holes are arranged so as to sequentially face the plurality of nozzles and sequentially suck the nozzles as the cylindrical member rotates.

The ink jet printer according to a second aspect of the present invention is the ink jet printer according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of suction holes are arranged on the plane where the outer periphery of the cylindrical member is expanded, and the nozzle array of the recording head is provided. Are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other on an array line in a direction forming a predetermined angle with respect to, and to be overlapped with each other by a size equal to or larger than the diameter of the nozzle when projected onto the nozzle row. .

The ink jet printer according to a third aspect of the present invention is the ink jet printer according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of suction holes are on the plane where the outer periphery of the cylindrical member is expanded, and the nozzle row of the recording head. And the radius r of the suction holes, the diameter m of the nozzles, and the distance L between the centers of the intake holes adjacent to each other are L. = (2r-
m) / cos θ and L> 2 · r.

An ink jet printer according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the ink jet printer according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the suction hole is a protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member. It is characterized in that it is formed on the top.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an ink jet printer has a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged on a nozzle surface, and an ejection recovery means for recovering the ejection of the nozzles of the recording head. And a plurality of suction holes arranged on a protruding portion formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, and the suction hole. Along with the blade portion provided on the protruding portion, the suction holes are arranged so that the blade portion wipes the nozzle surface and sucks the collected ink by rotation of the cylindrical member. It is characterized by being.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an ink jet printer has a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged on the nozzle surface, and an ejection recovery means for recovering the ejection of the nozzles of the recording head. In the ink jet printer provided with, the ejection recovery means includes a cylindrical member facing the recording head, a first slit formed on the cylindrical member, and a cylinder arranged on the inner circumference of the cylindrical member. -Shaped suction collar, a second slit formed in the suction collar at an angle different from that of the first slit, and a nozzle suction portion formed by overlapping the first slit and the second slit. When,
And the nozzle suction part is configured to be moved by relative rotation of the cylindrical member and the suction collar so as to be able to suck the plurality of nozzles.

Further, an ink jet printer according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the ink jet printer according to the sixth aspect, wherein the nozzle is located at a position along the first slit and adjacent to the first slit. It is characterized in that a blade portion capable of wiping the surface is provided.

An ink jet printer according to claim 8 of the present invention is the ink jet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cylindrical member has a nozzle surface of the recording head on an outer peripheral surface thereof. It is characterized by having a cap region for sealing.

Further, in the ink jet printer according to claim 9 of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the ejection recovery means can be brought into contact with and separated from the recording head. It is characterized in that when the image forming operation of the recording head is performed, the recording head is retracted to a position separated from the recording head.

An ink jet printer according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the ink jet printer according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the ejection recovery means is in a direction orthogonal to a nozzle row of the recording head. It is characterized by being movable.

An ink jet printer according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the invention according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, the cylindrical member is made of an elastic member.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 13 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a full-line type one-pass inkjet printer during printing, and FIG. 2 is a full-line type one-pass during discharge recovery processing. 3 is a perspective view showing a discharge recovery member, FIG. 4 is a development view showing an arrangement pattern of suction holes provided in the discharge recovery member, and FIG. 5 is a nozzle row and suction holes. 6 is an explanatory view showing another example of the relationship between the nozzle row and the suction holes, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the head and the ejection recovery member during the ejection recovery process. 8A and 8B are explanatory views showing a state in which the head is brought into contact with the ejection recovery member via a guide plate, FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between the head and the cap region, and FIG. 10 is shown in which the head is brought into contact with the cap region. Shows the state Akirazu, as shown in FIG. 1
1 is an explanatory view showing the movement of the ejection recovery member toward the head side, FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the ejection recovery member during the ejection recovery process, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing another configuration of the ejection recovery member. is there.

First, a schematic structure of a main part of a full line type one-pass ink jet printer will be described with reference to FIGS. The inkjet printer according to the present embodiment includes a driven roller 2 around which a recording medium (paper) 1 (roll paper) is wound, and a drive roller 3 that conveys the paper 1 in the printing direction (X direction). These are rotatably supported by a casing (not shown). Further, between the driven roller 2 and the driving roller 3, the paper 1 by the driving roller 3 is
A head group 9 composed of a C head 5, an M head 6, a Y head 7, and a K head 8 as recording heads is disposed on the conveyance path of the heads 5, 6, 7, and 8.
The nozzle surfaces 10, 11, 12, 13 formed on the bottom surface of the sheet 1 face the front surface (print surface) side of the paper 1. Each nozzle surface 10 to 13 is configured to have a length that covers at least the width of the printing area of the paper.
Nozzles 15 for ejecting ink (see FIG. 5A) along the Y direction (that is, the width direction of the sheet 1) in 0 to 13
Are arranged.

Here, the drive timing of each head 5-8 (that is, the ink ejection timing of each head 5-8) is controlled based on the transport state (transport position) of the paper 1. The conveyance state of the sheet 1 is detected by, for example, an encoder (not shown) that is integrally attached to a motor (not shown) that operates the drive roller 3. Note that the conveyance state of the sheet 1 is, for example, C instead of the encoder.
It may be detected by a sensor which is provided in the vicinity of the head 5 and which detects the conveyance state of the sheet 1 in a non-contact manner, or by an encoder attached to a spur which comes into contact with the sheet 1 and integrally rotates. It may be detected.

Reference numeral 17 in the figure denotes a platen for guiding the paper 1 during printing. The platen 17 can be moved forward and backward with respect to the lower side of the head group 9 by a moving unit (not shown), and enters a position facing the nozzle surfaces 10 to 13 of the heads 5 to 8 during printing (see FIG. 1). The sheet 1 is slidably contacted with the sheet 1 to position the sheet 1 in the ink ejection direction. Meanwhile, platen 1
7 is retracted from below the head row 9 in, for example, the −X direction (see FIG. 2) during the ejection recovery process of each of the heads 5 to 8 (described later).

The ejection recovery device 20 for performing the ejection recovery process of each of the heads 5 to 8 has a suction process to remove each of the heads 5 to 5.
8 includes a discharge recovery member 21 as a discharge recovery unit that performs the discharge recovery process, and a support mechanism unit 22 that movably supports the discharge recovery member 21 in the X direction (printing direction) and the Z direction (vertical direction). Is configured.

The discharge recovery member 21, as shown in FIG.
It has a cylindrical member 25 having a plurality of suction holes 50 (described later) arranged on its surface, and a suction pipe 26 provided on the axis of the cylindrical member 25 and communicating with the suction holes 50.

The support mechanism 22 has a base 28 fixed to a casing (not shown). The base 28 is provided with a guide groove 29 along the X direction, and the X guide plate 3 is provided via a pin 30 sliding in the guide groove 29.
1 is supported. Further, a lead screw 32 is arranged in parallel on the base 28 along the X direction, and a gear (not shown) provided at an end portion of the X guide plate 31 is meshed with the lead screw 32. The lead screw 32 is rotationally driven by the X drive motor 33, and when the lead screw 32 is rotationally driven by the X drive motor 33, the X guide plate 31 moves into the guide groove 2.
It is designed to move back and forth along 9.

A Z guide plate 35 is erected on the X guide plate 31, and the Z guide plate 35 has
A frame 36 that rotatably supports the discharge recovery member 21 is slidably supported. The frame 36 is provided with a rack gear 37, and the rack gear 37 is meshed with a pinion gear 39 fixed to the rotation shaft of a Z drive motor 38. Z
The drive motor 38 is fixed to the Z guide plate 35, and when the Z drive motor 38 is driven, the frame 36 moves up and down along the Z guide plate 35.

A motor 40 for rotationally driving the discharge recovery member 21 is fixedly mounted on the frame 36, and the motor 40 is connected to the discharge recovery member 21 via a gear train 41. A pipe 42 communicating with an unillustrated waste ink tank is fixed to the frame body 36.
Is connected to the suction pipe 26.

Here, the X drive motor 33 and the Z drive motor 38 are constituted by step motors, and the positioning control of the ejection recovery member 21 (frame 36) to each operation position is performed by the open servo. Has become. When the X drive motor 33 and the Z drive motor 38 are DC motors, a sensor that detects the movement amount of the X guide plate 31 in the X direction and a movement amount of the frame body 36 in the Z direction are detected. It is also possible to separately provide a sensor for controlling the positioning of the ejection recovery member 21 to each moving position based on these detection values.

In the initial state when the support mechanism 22 is not operating, the support mechanism 22 is, for example, immediately below the C head 5 and the nozzle surface 1.
The ejection recovery member 21 is set to be positioned at a predetermined distance from 0 (see FIG. 1).

When the discharge recovery process is started, first,
The platen 17 is retracted in the −X direction from below the head row, and then the Z drive motor 38 is driven to drive the ejection recovery member 2
1 is moved in the Z direction (see FIG. 11), and the surface of the cylindrical member 25 is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 10 (see FIG. 7A).
In this state, the motor 40 is driven to drive the discharge recovery member 21.
Is rotated, and a negative pressure is supplied to the suction pipe 26 from a suction pump (not shown) via the pipe 42, whereby the ejection recovery process of the C head 5 by the suction process is performed (see FIGS. 2 and 12). That is, the unnecessary ink remaining on the nozzle surface 10 is absorbed by the suction holes 50 on the surface of the cylindrical member 25.
And is guided to a waste ink tank (not shown) through the pipe 42. When a sufficient negative pressure (suction force) is supplied to the suction pipe 26, the discharge recovery process is performed with the surface of the cylindrical member 25 slightly separated from the nozzle surface 10 (see FIG. 7B). You can go. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the nozzle surfaces 10 to 13 (in FIG. 8, the ink ejection surface 1
A guide plate 45 is provided on the edge of (only 0 is shown),
The ejection recovery process may be performed with the surface of the cylindrical member 25 in contact with the nozzle surface via the guide plate 45.

After the ejection recovery process of the C head 5 is performed,
When the X drive plate 33 is driven by the X drive motor 33 to move in the X direction, the discharge recovery member 21
The heads 6, 7, 8 are sequentially moved to positions facing the M head 6, the Y head 7, and the K head 8, and the same processing is performed.
The ejection recovery process is performed. Here, in the case where the ejection recovery process is performed with the surface of the cylindrical member 25 in contact with the nozzle surface 10, the ejection recovery member 21 is once lowered in the −Z direction and moved in the X direction, Each of the heads 5 to 8 due to the collision of the ejection recovery member 21
It is possible to prevent the positional deviation of the.

Next, a more detailed structure of the discharge recovery member 21 will be described. The cylindrical member 25 is made of an elastic member such as resin, and has a suction chamber (not shown) communicating with the suction pipe 26 therein. Each suction hole 50 is bored so as to communicate with the suction chamber, whereby each suction hole 50 is communicated with the suction pipe 26.

The suction hole 50 is formed on the cylindrical member 25.
For example, in the arrangement pattern shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D,
It is arranged in a state of being inclined to the width direction. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the suction holes 50 are arranged so as not to be parallel to the nozzle rows of the nozzles 15 formed on the nozzle surface of the head.

FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the arrangement of the suction holes 50 with respect to the nozzle array capable of printing at a resolution equivalent to 360 dpi.
Will be described with reference to. In this specific example, as shown in FIG. 5A, nozzles 15 of φ30 (diameter 30 μm) are arranged on the nozzle surface at a nozzle pitch of 70.5 μm,
As a result, a resolution equivalent to 360 dpi is realized. Further, each suction hole 50 is assumed to be a hole of φ90 (diameter 90 μm) provided corresponding to each nozzle 15 one to one. In this case, when the suction holes 50 are arranged in a row in the width direction (Y direction) corresponding to the nozzles 15,
As shown in (b), the suction holes 50 adjacent to each other are partially overlapped with each other to form one continuous suction hole. In such a continuous suction hole, each nozzle 1
It becomes difficult to perform the suction of 5 effectively. Therefore, the suction holes 50 are arranged on the cylindrical member 25 as shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), by arranging the suction holes 50 so as not to be parallel to the nozzle row (for example, an angle of 50 degrees in the figure), it is possible to prevent the suction holes 50 from overlapping with each other.
It becomes possible to sequentially and effectively perform the plurality of nozzles 15.

As another specific example, a specific example of the arrangement of the suction holes 50 with respect to the nozzle array capable of printing at a resolution equivalent to 600 dpi will be described with reference to FIG. In this specific example, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the nozzles 15 (diameter 10 μm) are arranged at a nozzle pitch of 42.3 μm, thereby realizing a resolution equivalent to 600 dpi. In addition, each suction hole 50 is assumed to be a hole of φ90 (diameter 90 μm). in this case,
When the suction holes 50 correspond to the nozzles 15 one to one and are arranged in a row in the width direction (Y direction), as shown in FIG. 6B, the suction holes 50 adjacent to each other are partially overlapped. ,
One continuous suction hole will be formed. Therefore, the arrangement of the suction holes 50 is not parallel to the nozzle row,
In addition, by arranging the suction holes so that they overlap each other by m or more (where m is the nozzle diameter, here φ10 μm) when viewed in the nozzle row direction, a plurality of nozzles 15 can be sequentially arranged without causing suction errors even in a head with a fine nozzle pitch. It becomes possible to suck (see FIG. 6C, the inclination angle θ of the suction hole array here is, for example, θ = 46 degrees). In this case, the suction hole 50
Is r and the pitch between the suction holes 50 is L, the suction holes 50 are L = (2r−m) / cos θ (1) and L> 2 · r (2) Arranged to satisfy the relationship. That is, the suction holes 50 are arranged at a distance L from each other on the array line in the direction forming the angle θ with respect to the nozzle rows of the heads 5 to 8 on the plane where the outer periphery of the cylindrical member 25 is developed, and The nozzles 15 are arranged so as to overlap each other with a size of the diameter m of the nozzle 15 or more when projected onto the nozzle row on the nozzle surface. In other words, the suction holes 50 are arranged such that a part of the suction holes 50 overlaps with each other on the rotation track of the cylindrical member 25 in a size equal to or larger than the diameter of the nozzle 15.

With the above configuration, during the ejection recovery process, the nozzles 15 arranged in the head are sequentially sucked by the suction holes 50 as the ejection recovery member 21 rotates.

According to such an embodiment, since the plurality of suction holes 50 are arranged obliquely on the surface of the cylindrical member 25, the suction member and the like are arranged in the nozzle row direction in the ejection recovery process by the suction process. It is not necessary to provide a complicated mechanism or the like for sequentially operating, and the structure can be simplified.

In this case, by arranging the suction holes 50 so as to satisfy the relations of the above expressions (1) and (2), it is possible to surely perform the suction processing corresponding to a head having a fine nozzle pitch. The discharge recovery member 21 can be easily designed.

By the way, in the present embodiment, the ejection recovery device can also be configured to have the ejection recovery member 21 arranged corresponding to each of the heads 5 to 8.
In the discharge recovery device having such a configuration, as shown in FIG.
As shown in the developed view of (c) and the perspective view of FIG. 9, by setting the cap region 51 on the cylindrical member 25 at a portion that does not overlap the suction hole 50, each ejection is performed when the inkjet printer is not used. The recovery member 21 can be used as a cap. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, by bringing the cap region 51 into contact with the nozzle surface 10, each ejection recovery member 21 can also serve as a cap for preventing the nozzle 15 from drying.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the cylindrical member 25
The suction chamber formed inside is divided into two suction chambers 53, 53, and the suction pipe 26 is connected to the suction chambers 53 from both ends of the cylindrical member 25 to improve the suction capability of the suction holes 50. can do.

Next, FIGS. 14 to 17 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the discharge recovery member, and FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the main part of the discharge recovery member. FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory view of the discharge recovery member, and FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing another configuration of the discharge recovery member. In the present embodiment, the cylindrical member 25 is provided with the protrusion 60,
The point that the ejection recovery member 21 is configured by disposing the suction hole 50 and the blade 61 in the protruding portion 60 is different from the first embodiment described above. In addition, the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

That is, the cylindrical member 25 is provided with the projecting portion 60 in the direction along the nozzle row, and the suction holes 50 are arranged on the top surface of the projecting portion. Further, a blade 61 for wiping off the ink adhering to the nozzle surface is provided in one edge portion of the protrusion 60 in a direction along the suction hole 50. As shown in FIG. 15, the blade 61 is made of an elastic member, is formed so that the tip side is thin, and is provided with a groove 62 on the wall surface, thereby ensuring adhesion to the nozzle surface. At the same time, sufficient severness is secured.

The discharge recovery member 21 is sequentially arranged to face the heads 5 to 8 by the support mechanism portion 22, and the blade 61 is disposed.
Are slid on the nozzle surfaces 10 to 13. At this time, negative pressure is being supplied to the suction pipe 26, and the ink wiped by the blade 61 is collected through the suction hole 50. As a result, the ejection recovery process of each head is performed. The state of the ejection recovery process for the head 5 is shown in FIG.

Here, when the discharge recovery member 21 is provided corresponding to each of the heads 5 to 8 to configure the discharge recovery device, the top surface of each protrusion 60 is not used when the ink jet printer is not used. By making the ejection recovery members 21 contact the nozzle surfaces 10 to 13 of the heads 5 to 8,
It can also be used as a cap for preventing the dryness. 16B and 16C show how the nozzle surface 10 of the head 5 is capped.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the cylindrical member 25 is provided with a projecting portion 65 in a state of having an angle (that is, a spiral shape) with respect to the nozzle row direction of the head, and the top surface of the projecting portion 65 is provided. A suction hole 50 is provided in the
The discharge recovery member 21 may be configured by providing a blade 66 along the suction hole 50 at one edge. In such a configuration, by rotating the discharge recovery member 21 while supplying a negative pressure to the suction pipe 26, as in the first embodiment described above, the plurality of suction holes 50 allow the nozzles 15 to operate.
Can be sequentially sucked. At the same time, the blade 66 can wipe the ink, and the wiped ink can also be collected from the suction hole 50. Furthermore, in the case where the ejection recovery device is configured by providing such ejection recovery members 21 corresponding to the respective heads 5 to 8, in the region where the protrusion 65 is not formed on the cylindrical member 25. By providing the cap region 67, it is possible to impart a function as a cap to each ejection recovery member 21.

In such an embodiment, since the unnecessary ink wiped by wiping the nozzle surface with the blade can be sucked from the suction hole 50, the ink remains on the nozzle surface and drops on the paper or the like. It is possible to reliably prevent problems such as being cut.

Next, FIGS. 18 to 21 relate to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the discharge recovery member partially crushed, and FIG. 19 is the discharge recovery member of the first embodiment. 20 is a plan view showing the discharge recovery member with the suction collar rotated from the position of FIG. 19 along the first slit, and FIG. 21 shows another configuration of the discharge recovery member. It is sectional drawing shown. In addition, in the present embodiment, the discharge recovery member 21 is configured to have the guide cylinder 70 as a cylindrical member and the suction collar 71 disposed inside the guide cylinder 70. Different from the embodiment. In addition, the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in the figure, the guide cylinder 70 has a first slit 75 along the nozzle array direction. Further, the suction collar 71 is disposed inside the guide cylinder 70 so as to be rotatable relative to it, and has a second slit 76 formed in a direction that is not parallel to the first slit 75. There is. Specifically, the second slit 7
6 is formed in a spiral shape on the circumference of the suction collar 71. A suction pipe 26 is provided on the shaft of the suction collar 71, and the suction pipe 26 is communicated with the second slit 76 via the inside of the suction collar 71 formed in the hollow.

During the suction operation, the negative pressure is supplied to the suction pipe 26, for example, the guide cylinder 70.
By the relative rotation of the suction collar 71 with respect to
As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the first and second slits 7
The portion where the Nos. 5 and 76 overlap (that is, the nozzle suction portion 77) is moved from one end side to the other end side of the discharge recovery member 21, whereby the nozzles 15 arranged on the nozzle surface are sequentially sucked.

Here, similarly to each of the above-described embodiments, when the discharge recovery member 21 is provided corresponding to each of the heads 5 to 8 to constitute the discharge recovery device, each guide cylinder 70 is provided with a cap region. By forming 78, the discharge recovery member 2
1 can also be used as a cap. in this case,
The cap region 78 is formed at a position different from the first slit 75 on the guide cylinder 70.

Further, as shown in FIG. 21, a blade 79 can be additionally formed on the discharge recovery member 21.
In this case, the blade 79 is formed along the first slit 75 on the guide cylinder 70. Then, the nozzle cylinder wiping process can be performed by rotating the guide cylinder 70 during the discharge recovery process. At that time, while the negative pressure is supplied to the suction pipe 26, the suction collar 71 is relatively rotated with respect to the guide cylinder 70, whereby the ink remaining on the blade 79 and the ink on the nozzle surface wiped by the blade 79 are removed. Can be aspirated.

According to such an embodiment, the negative pressure from the suction pipe 26 causes the negative pressure from the first and second slits 75 and 76.
Since it acts only on the nozzle suction portion 77 defined by, the nozzle 15 can be sucked with a strong suction force.

Next, FIGS. 22 and 23 relate to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the head composed of a plurality of head portions and the ejection recovery member.

The ink jet printer according to the present embodiment has a plurality of heads 5a to 8a (only the head 5a is shown in FIG. 22) arranged in the width direction.
~ 8.

As shown in FIG. 22, the discharge recovery member 21.
Is configured as an ejection recovery member that is longer than the printing width of the recording head (C head 5) defined by the arrangement of a plurality of head portions (head portion 5a). As the discharge recovery member 21, the discharge recovery member 21 of each configuration shown in each of the above-described embodiments can be applied. In the present embodiment, by moving the ejection recovery member 21 in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the ejection recovery processing for the plurality of head portions (head portions 5a) is sequentially performed.

Next, FIG. 23 relates to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between a head composed of a plurality of head portions and an ejection recovery member.

The ink jet printer according to this embodiment has a plurality of heads 5a to 8a (only the head 5a is shown in FIG. 23) arranged in the width direction.
~ 8.

As shown in FIG. 23, the discharge recovery member 21.
Are provided corresponding to each head portion (head portion 5a). As the discharge recovery member 21, the discharge recovery member 21 of each configuration shown in each of the above-described embodiments can be applied. In the present embodiment, each ejection recovery process is performed by the ejection recovery member 21 provided corresponding to each head portion (head portion 5a).

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink jet printer having a simple structure and capable of surely performing the ejection recovery process.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a full-line type one-pass inkjet printer during printing according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of a full-line type one-pass inkjet printer during a discharge recovery process.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a discharge recovery member of the above.

FIG. 4 is a development view showing an array pattern of suction holes provided in the discharge recovery member.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the relationship between the nozzle row and the suction holes.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the relationship between the nozzle row and the suction holes.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the head and the ejection recovery member during the ejection recovery process.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the head is brought into contact with the ejection recovery member via a guide plate.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a head and a cap region, same as above.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the head is brought into contact with the cap region.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of moving the ejection recovery member to the head side.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the discharge recovery member during the discharge recovery process.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing another structure of the discharge recovery member.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a discharge recovery member according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the main part of the discharge recovery member of the above.

FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory diagram of the discharge recovery member of the above.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing another configuration of the discharge recovery member.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a discharge recovery member according to a third embodiment of the present invention with a part thereof crushed.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the discharge recovery member along the first slit.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing the discharge recovery member along the first slit in the state in which the suction collar is rotated from the position shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view showing another structure of the discharge recovery member of the above.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a head including a plurality of head portions and an ejection recovery member according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram related to the fifth embodiment of the present invention and showing a relationship between a head including a plurality of head portions and an ejection recovery member.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a head scanning inkjet printer.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a full-line type one-pass inkjet printer.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of another full-line one-pass inkjet printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 ... C head (recording head) 6 ... M head (recording head) 7 ... Y head (recording head) 8 K head (recording head) 10 ... Nozzle surface 11 ... Nozzle surface 12 ... Nozzle surface 13 ... Nozzle surface 15 ... Nozzle 21 ... Discharge recovery member (discharge recovery means) 25 ... Cylindrical member 50 ... Suction hole 51 ... Cap area 60 ... Projection 61 ... Blade 65 ... Projection 66 ... Blade 67 ... Cap area 70 ... Guide tube (cylindrical member) 71 ... Suction color 75 ... First slit 76 ... Second slit 77 ... Nozzle suction part 78 ... Cap area 79 ... Blade

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Katsunori Kumai             2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside Npus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takumi Sugaya             2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside Npus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Fujio Kosaka             2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside Npus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C056 EA14 EB25 EB36 EC24 EC57                       FA13 JA04 JA13 JB04 JB08                       JC06 JC13 JC20

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet printer comprising a recording head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink arranged on a nozzle surface, and an ejection recovery means for recovering the ejection of the nozzles of the recording head by suction processing. Has a cylindrical member facing the recording head, and a plurality of suction holes provided on the surface of the cylindrical member, and the suction holes sequentially face the plurality of nozzles as the cylindrical member rotates. An inkjet printer characterized in that the nozzles are arranged so as to sequentially suck the nozzles. 2. The plurality of suction holes are arranged apart from each other on an array line in a direction forming a predetermined angle with respect to a nozzle row of the recording head on a plane where the outer periphery of the cylindrical member is developed. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the nozzles are arranged such that when projected onto the nozzle row, the nozzle rows are overlapped with each other with a size equal to or larger than a diameter of the nozzle. 3. The plurality of suction holes are arranged apart from each other on an array line in a direction forming an angle θ with respect to a nozzle row of the recording head on a plane where the outer periphery of the cylindrical member is developed. The relationship between the radius r of the suction hole, the diameter m of the nozzle, and the distance L between the centers of the intake holes adjacent to each other is L = (2r−m) / cos θ and L> 2 · r. The inkjet printer according to claim 1. 4. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the suction hole is formed on a protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member. 5. An ink jet printer comprising a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged on the nozzle surface, and an ejection recovery means for recovering the ejection of the nozzles of the recording head by suction processing. Is a cylindrical member facing the recording head, a plurality of suction holes arranged on a protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, and a blade portion provided on the protrusion along the suction hole. The ink jet printer is characterized in that the suction hole is arranged so that the blade portion wipes the nozzle surface and sucks the ink collected by the rotation of the cylindrical member. 6. An ink jet printer comprising a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged on a nozzle surface and an ejection recovery means for recovering the ejection of the nozzles of the recording head by an ejection process. Is a cylindrical member facing the recording head, a first slit formed on the cylindrical member, a cylindrical suction collar arranged on the inner circumference of the cylindrical member, and the first slit. A second suction slit formed in the suction collar at different angles; and a nozzle suction portion formed by overlapping the first slit and the second slit, the nozzle suction portion comprising: An ink jet printer which is configured to be capable of sucking the plurality of nozzles by being moved by relative rotation of the cylindrical member and the suction collar. . 7. The blade portion capable of wiping the nozzle surface is provided in a position along the first slit and adjacent to the first slit. Inkjet printer. 8. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical member has a cap area on an outer peripheral surface for sealing a nozzle surface of the recording head. 9. The discharge recovery means is configured to be able to come into contact with and separate from the recording head, and is retracted to a position separated from the recording head during an image forming operation of the recording head. The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ejection recovery unit is movable in a direction orthogonal to a nozzle row of the recording head. 11. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical member is made of an elastic member.