JP2004160802A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform cleaning of head face without causing damage to a recording head. <P>SOLUTION: Air cleaning is performed by utilizing the pressure of a suction pump. A nozzle tube which can be coupled with the suction pump, and a pressure switching mechanism capable of applying the pump pressure to the nozzle tube are provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus applied to an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and more particularly, to a method for cleaning a recording head.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there is an ink jet printer as shown in FIG. 19 as a recording apparatus. A recording head 2 having ink tanks 3 and 4 is mounted on a carrier 5. Reference numeral 1 denotes a recovery unit, which has a built-in wiping mechanism for removing dirt on the recording head surface on the bottom surface of the recording head 2, a mechanism for sucking ink for refreshing the recording head, and the like.
[0003]
The recovery unit includes an ink suction cap 22 and a blade wiper 63, as shown in FIG. The blade wiper 63 is configured to be able to reciprocate in the direction of arrow F, and wipes the recording head surface of the recording head.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional recording apparatus, since mechanical wiping is performed for cleaning the recording head surface, the recording nozzles on the recording head surface may be clogged or damaged.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, in a printing apparatus having a printhead recovery mechanism, a pump means for sucking ink from the printhead, an air jetting means for jetting air to the printhead, and the pumping means and the air jetting means are selectively used. By providing the pump output destination switching means for communicating with the print head, the print head surface is non-contact air-cleaned using an ink suction pump, thereby avoiding damage to the print head.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus embodying the present invention.
[0007]
In FIG. 1, a recording head 2 having ink tanks 3 and 4 is mounted on a carrier 5. The nozzles of the recording head are located on a surface facing the recording paper. The carrier 5 is driven by a carrier motor 11 along a carrier shaft 13 via a carrier belt 12. Recording is performed while the carrier 5 reciprocates in the recording paper width direction. Recording paper (not shown) set in the paper feed tray 9 is fed by a paper feed roller 10 driven by an AP motor 18 mounted on a recovery unit and driving a paper feed system and a recovery system. The fed recording paper is transported by transport rollers 7 and pinch rollers 8. The transport roller is driven by an LF motor 14 via an LF gear train 15. Reference numeral 17 denotes a paper discharge roller, which is driven by the LF motor 14 via a paper discharge gear train 16. Reference numeral 1 denotes a recovery unit, which has a built-in mechanism for sucking ink for refreshing recording nozzles.
[0008]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the drive input / output of the recovery unit 1. FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the recovery unit 1, but the pump gear bracket 56 for supporting the gears is omitted. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 19 denotes a pump input gear for transmitting a driving force to the suction pump unit 21, and rotates integrally with the transport roller 7. Reference numeral 20 denotes a paper feed input gear for transmitting the driving force of the AP motor 18 to the paper feed system, and is connected to a paper feed drive system (not shown).
[0009]
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 23 denotes a pump sun gear which is connected to the pump input gear 19. Reference numeral 24 denotes a pump planetary gear A, and reference numeral 25 denotes a pump planetary gear B, which are rotatably supported by a pump planetary arm 26 and are rotatable around a pump sun gear 23. Reference numeral 27 denotes a pump reduction gear, to which the pump planetary A gear 24 or the pump planetary B gear 25 can be selectively connected, and which can be driven forward or reverse. The driving force of the pump reduction gear 27 is transmitted to the pump gear 31 via the pump idler gear 28, the pump helical gear A gear 29, and the pump helical gear B gear 30, and the suction pump inside the pump unit 21 is driven. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 38 denotes a main cam sensor using a transmission type photo sensor, which detects a shielding portion 39 of the main cam 61 and manages the phase of the main cam 61. The motors and sensors are connected to a control circuit board (not shown).
[0010]
FIG. 6 is a mechanism perspective view showing a driving force transmission system of the AP motor 18.
[0011]
The motor pinion 57 is connected to a pendulum input gear 58. Reference numeral 37 denotes a pendulum sun gear that rotates coaxially with the pendulum input gear 58, and is connected to the pendulum planet gear 59. The pendulum holder 60 rotatably supports the pendulum planet gear 59, and is rotatable with the pendulum planet gear 59 on the same rotation axis as the pendulum sun gear 37. The pendulum planet gear 59 is connected to the paper feed idle gear 32 when the AP motor 18 rotates forward, and is connected to the paper feed input gear 20 shown in FIG. The paper feed input gear 20 is connected to the paper feed roller 10 by a paper feed gear train (not shown), and a paper feed operation is performed by a paper feed mechanism (not shown). When the AP motor 18 rotates in the reverse direction, the pendulum planetary gear 59 is connected to the pendulum idle gear 34, and the main cam 61 is driven via the pendulum reduction A gear 35 and the pendulum reduction B gear 36.
[0012]
7 and 8 are perspective views of the mechanism showing the vertical movement of the suction cap 22. FIG.
[0013]
FIG. 7 shows a state in which the suction cap 22 is lowered and a recording operation is possible. In FIG. 7, a cap cam 43 formed integrally with the main cam 61 lifts up a cap cam follower portion 44 of the cap lever 41. The cap lever 41 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 42, and the cap lever arm 46 pulls down the cap base 40 holding the suction cap 22.
[0014]
FIG. 8 shows a non-printing operation state in which the suction cap 22 is raised to cap the print head, and shows a state in which the suction pump can be driven. At this time, the recording head is located immediately above the suction cap 22. The cap cam follower portion 44 of the cap lever 41 is not lifted up by the cap cam 43, and the cap base 40 is pushed upward by the cap spring 47 to seal the recording head.
[0015]
9 and 10 are perspective views of the mechanism showing the relationship between the main cam 61 and the pump planet arm 26.
[0016]
FIG. 9 shows the cap lowered state shown in FIG. 7, that is, the recording operation enabled state. Reference numeral 45 denotes a planetary lock cam integrally formed with the main cam 61, which is engaged with the locking notch 48 of the pump planetary arm 26. In this state, even if the pump input gear 19 that rotates integrally with the transport roller rotates, the pump planetary arm 26 does not swing, so that the pump planetary A gear 24 and the pump planetary B gear 25 are not connected to the pump reduction gear 27. In this state, the suction pump is not driven by the recording operation, that is, the rotation of the transport roller.
[0017]
FIG. 10 shows the non-recording operation state in the cap raised state shown in FIG. The main cam 61 is rotated in the direction of arrow A by the AP motor 18, and the planetary lock cam 45 comes out of the notch 48 of the pump planetary arm 26. In this state, the pump planetary A gear 24 or the pump planetary B gear 25 is connected to the pump reduction gear 27 as the pump input gear 19 rotates. That is, the suction pump can be selectively driven forward and reverse.
[0018]
9 and 10, reference numeral 62 denotes a suction tube joint formed integrally with the cap base 40, and communicates with the inside of the suction cap.
[0019]
FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of the mechanism showing the driving state of the suction pump, and the phase of the main cam 61 is as shown in FIGS.
[0020]
In FIG. 11, when the transport roller rotates in the reverse direction and the pump input gear 19 rotates in the direction of arrow D, the pump planetary gear A is connected to the pump reduction gear 27, and the suction pump 49 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow B forward. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the suction cap 22 is raised to seal the recording head. By the forward rotation of the suction pump 49, the suction tube 50 communicating with the suction cap 22 is squeezed by the pump roller 51, and a negative pressure is generated in the suction tube 50 and the suction cap 22, so that the ink is sucked from the recording head. The sucked ink is dropped from an outlet of the suction tube to an ink absorbing holder (not shown).
[0021]
In FIG. 12, when the transport roller rotates forward and the pump input gear 19 rotates forward in the direction of arrow E, the pump planetary B gear 25 is connected to the pump reduction gear 27, and the suction pump 49 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow C in the reverse direction. . At this time, the pump roller 51 retracts in the direction away from the suction tube, releases the ironing state of the suction tube 50, and releases the inside of the suction cap 22 to the atmospheric pressure.
[0022]
FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are diagrams showing the operation state of the suction pump. FIG. 13 shows the suction state shown in FIG. 11, and FIG. 14 shows the suction release state shown in FIG.
[0023]
In FIG. 13, when the suction pump 49 rotates in the direction of arrow B, the pump roller 51 moves outward in the radial direction of the pump due to the frictional resistance of the suction tube 50. The pump roller shaft portion 52 is in a state of being moved from the retreat slit portion 53 to the roller bearing portion 55, and the pump roller 51 squeezes the suction tube 50 between the pump roller 51 and the tube pressing portion 54 of the recovery unit main body to perform a suction operation. The pump rollers are provided at two positions with a phase shift of 180 degrees.
[0024]
In FIG. 14, when the suction pump 49 rotates in the direction of arrow C, the pump roller 51 moves in the radial direction of the pump due to the frictional resistance of the suction tube 50. The pump roller shaft portion 52 is located in the evacuation slit portion 53 and opens the inside of the suction cap 22 to the atmosphere without pressing the suction tube 50.
[0025]
Next, air cleaning of the recording head surface will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0026]
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 72 denotes a nozzle tube, which is selectively pressurized by a suction pump. Reference numeral 73 denotes an air nozzle which blows air to the recording head surface. Reference numeral 64 denotes a joint slider, which is movable in the directions of arrows H and I, and has a closed communication hole 77 that can be closed and communicated with the suction tube 50 and the nozzle tube 72. Reference numeral 70 denotes an ink fence fixed to the recovery base body 78, which is a member that captures ink removed by air cleaning. Reference numeral 71 denotes a duct for dropping ink on the ink fence 70 to a predetermined position.
[0027]
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 65 denotes a guide boss of the joint slider 64, which is engaged with the guide slit 69 of the recovery base body 78. The play in the width direction of the joint slider 64 is regulated by the recovery base body 78, and the guide boss 65 is guided by the guide slit 69, and is slidable.
[0028]
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the air cleaning system in the ink suction state. 66 is a slider return spring, which is suspended between the joint slider 64 and the recovery base body 78. In the ink suction state in FIG. 16, the joint slider 64 is urged in the direction of arrow I by the slider return spring 66. At this time, the joint part 79 integrated with the joint slider 64 is kept away from the tube mounting part 75. By the pump operation, the suction tube 50 can suction and discharge ink, while the nozzle tube 72 has no effect.
[0029]
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a state in which air cleaning is possible. After ink suction, as shown in FIG. 15, the main cam 61 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A, the cap cam 43 lifts up the cap cam follower section 44, and the suction cap descends. Here, as described with reference to FIG. 11, the pump is driven to discharge the ink in the suction tube. When the main cam 61 is further rotated, as shown in FIG. 17, the slider cam 67 integrated with the main cam 61 acts on the slider cam follower portion of the joint slider 68 to push the joint slider 64 in the direction of arrow J. At the top dead center of the joint slider 64, the joint portion 79 is pressed against the tube mounting portion 75, the suction tube 50 communicates with the nozzle tube 72, and the pump pressure can be transmitted to the nozzle tube 72.
[0030]
FIG. 18 shows a communication state between the suction tube 50 and the nozzle tube 72. FIG. 18 is a partial sectional view in the direction of arrow G in FIG. A tube communication hole 77 is provided inside the joint portion 79. Both openings of the communication hole 77 are pressed against a bush 76 having elasticity. The bush 76 is fixed to a tube mounting part 75 which is a part of the recovery base body. The suction tube 50 and the nozzle tube 72 are fixed to the tube mounting portion 75. The suction tube 50 and the nozzle tube 72 are in communication. The air nozzle 73 is fixed to a nozzle mounting portion integrated with the recovery base body 78, and the nozzle tube 72 is fixed to the air nozzle 73.
[0031]
Therefore, if the same pump drive as that of the ink suction is performed in the state of FIG. 17, the air pressure in the nozzle tube 72 increases, and the air blows out from the air nozzle 73 to the recording head surface, and the remaining ink on the recording head surface is removed.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to remove the residual ink on the recording head surface without damaging the recording head, and to realize a recording apparatus with good recording image quality.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional recovery unit.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing drive input / output of the recovery unit according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a recovery unit according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a recovery unit according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a mechanism perspective view showing a driving force transmission system of the AP motor 18 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mechanism showing vertical movement of a suction cap according to the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a mechanism perspective view showing vertical movement of the suction cap according to the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a mechanism perspective view showing a relationship between a main cam and a pump planetary arm of the embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a mechanism perspective view showing a relationship between a main cam and a pump planetary arm of the embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a mechanism perspective view showing a driving state of the suction pump of the embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a mechanism perspective view showing a driving state of the suction pump of the embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation state of the suction pump according to the embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation state of the suction pump according to the embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a main cam, a planetary arm, and a suction cap according to the embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an air cleaning system of the embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an air cleaning system of the embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a partial cross-sectional view of the tube system of the embodiment.
FIG. 19 shows a conventional recording apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 recovery unit 2 recording head 3 ink tank 4 ink tank 5 carrier 6 chassis 7 transport roller 8 pinch roller 9 paper feed tray 10 paper feed roller 11 carrier motor 12 carrier belt 13 carrier shaft 14 LF motor 15 LF gear train 16 paper discharge gear Row 17 Discharge roller 18 AP motor 19 Pump input gear 20 Feed input gear 21 Suction pump unit 22 Suction cap 23 Pump sun gear 24 Pump planetary A gear 25 Pump planetary B gear 26 Pump planetary arm 27 Pump reduction gear 28 Pump idle gear 29 Pump helical gear A gear 30 Pump helical gear B gear 31 Pump gear 32 Feed idle gear 33 Feed output gear 34 Pendulum idle gear 35 Pendulum reduction A gear 36 Pendulum reduction B gear 37 Pendulum sun gear 38 Main cam sensor 39 Main Sensor cover part 40 Cap base 41 Cap lever 42 Cap lever rotation shaft 43 Cap cam 44 Cap cam follower part 45 Planetary lock cam 46 Cap lever arm 47 Cap spring 48 Lock notch 49 Suction pump 50 Suction tube 51 Pump roller 52 Pump roller shaft 53 Retraction slit 54 Tube holder 55 Roller bearing 56 Pump gear bracket 57 Motor pinion 58 Pendulum input gear 59 Pendulum planetary gear 60 Pendulum holder 61 Main cam 62 Suction tube joint 63 Blade wiper 64 Joint slider 65 Guide Boss part 66 Slider return spring 67 Slider cam 68 Slider cam follower part 69 Guide slit 70 Ink fence 71 Duct part 72 Nozzle tube 73 Air nozzle 74 nozzle mounting portion 75 tube attachment portion 76 bushing 77 tube passage 78 recover the base body 79 joint

Claims (1)

In a recording apparatus having a recording head recovery mechanism,
A pump for sucking ink from the recording head;
An air ejecting unit for ejecting air to the recording head,
A recording apparatus comprising: a pump output destination switching unit that selectively connects the pump unit and the air injection unit.

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