JP2004284184A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recorder equipped with a duct for collecting ink mist through a simple structure without contaminating a carrying member by collecting mist shifted due to dummy jet effectively. <P>SOLUTION: A duct is installed in the scanning direction of a recording head and provided with an opening for sucking ink mist, and an exhaust fan generating a negative pressure. A maintenance unit receives dummy jet at the initial position of the recording head and the exhaust fan is located at a position closer to the maintenance unit than the center of the duct in the scanning direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ink jet recording apparatuses have tended to cope with higher density and higher resolution by reducing the diameter of ink droplets for higher image quality. However, by reducing the ink droplet diameter, more fine ink particles, i.e., ink mist, are generated at the same time as the ink droplets are formed at the time of image formation, and stay in the vicinity of the ink jet recording head, adhere to the recording paper, and contaminate the image. Or the paper adheres to the transport path inside the machine to contaminate the paper.
[0003]
As a countermeasure, there has been proposed an ink jet recording apparatus having a structure in which a negative pressure generated by an exhaust fan is guided to the vicinity of a recording head by a duct to suck ink mist (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
However, in the method of Patent Document 1, the airflow for sucking the paper is used for sucking the ink mist, and the ink mist is sucked and removed from the holes provided in the platen for sucking the paper. It does not eliminate the disadvantage that the ink mist is guided in the direction of the platen and that the surface of the platen and, consequently, the back side of the paper are contaminated.
[0005]
Further, in order to reduce the number of components and simplify the structure, for example, a configuration has been proposed in which a transport roller support member and a mist suction duct are integrated.
[0006]
As shown in FIG. 6, the duct 102 is formed integrally with the frame 100, and a spur 108 that sandwiches the sheet P is provided on a shaft 104 provided in the frame 100 in a pair with the transport roller 106. However, as shown by the broken line, when air is sucked and the ink mist is sucked by the duct 102, the spur 108 immediately adjacent to the suction port 110 of the duct 102 is exposed to the ink mist, and the attached ink is transferred to the printing surface of the paper. As a result, ink stains occur.
[0007]
Furthermore, in order to prevent clogging of the ink ejection holes of the recording head, a dummy jet is performed to forcibly eject a certain amount of ink outside the printing range and refresh the ink ejection holes. It has been found that a larger amount of ink mist is generated than the operation. Since the amount of the ink mist is large and concentrated at one location, a problem arises that the duct 102 as shown in FIG. 6 cannot sufficiently cope with the problem.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-62-218133 (FIG. 14, page 8 to page 9)
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide an ink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink mist collection duct that efficiently collects a biased mist by a dummy jet and has a simple structure and does not stain a conveying member.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus ejects ink droplets from a recording head to a sheet based on image information, wherein a duct provided in a scanning direction of the recording head, A suction port formed to suck ink mist generated from the recording head, an exhaust fan provided in the duct to generate a negative pressure, a spur provided in the duct to support and convey a paper printing surface, and the spur; A cover member integrally formed and supporting the spur from both sides.
[0011]
In the invention having the above configuration, the spur for supporting the paper printing surface is provided in the mist collection duct, and the spur is covered from both sides by a cover member integrally formed with the duct, so that the number of parts and the structure are simplified, and the spur is simplified. Can be prevented from being stained with ink mist.
[0012]
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a maintenance unit that receives a dummy jet when the recording head performs a dummy jet operation at an initial position of the recording head, wherein the exhaust fan is configured to perform the maintenance in a scanning direction of the recording head. It is provided at a position closer to the maintenance unit than the center of the duct.
[0013]
In the invention having the above configuration, since the position of the exhaust fan is brought closer to the maintenance unit, ink mist generated in the vicinity of the maintenance unit by the dummy jet can be efficiently collected.
[0014]
An ink jet recording apparatus according to a third aspect is characterized in that the area of the suction port of the duct is smaller on the side closer to the exhaust fan and larger on the side farther from the exhaust fan.
[0015]
In the invention having the above-described configuration, by increasing the opening area of the suction port far from the exhaust fan, the air volume in the printing area is made uniform, and uniform mist can be collected regardless of the distance from the exhaust fan.
[0016]
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a suction duct for sucking ink mist generated in the maintenance unit; and a flow path switching unit provided between the suction duct and the duct. The flow path switching means is provided on the side, and communicates the duct and the suction duct during a dummy jet operation, and shuts off the duct and the suction duct during a printing operation.
[0017]
In the invention having the above configuration, the mist generated at the time of the dummy jet is collected by a dedicated suction duct, and the mist generated at the time of printing is recovered by switching to the duct provided in the printing area, thereby efficiently collecting the mist. Can be.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1, a platen 18 for holding a sheet P and forming a printing surface in the ink jet recording apparatus 10, and a main scanning direction (arrow) The recording head 20 which forms an image by ejecting ink droplets on the printing surface of the paper P while reciprocating ()) is provided.
[0020]
Further, at one end of the shaft 22, a maintenance unit 24 facing the recording head 20 outside the printing area and receiving a dummy jet of the recording head 22 is provided.
[0021]
Further, a spur 12, a conveying roller 14, and a duct 16 for rotatably supporting the spur 12 are provided downstream of the platen 18 in the conveying direction to pinch and convey the sheet P.
[0022]
The duct 16 has a substantially box shape, and a surface closest to the recording head 20 is divided into a plurality of openings 30 by ribs 26 dividing the inside. The rib 26 protrudes from the opening 30 toward the recording head 20 by substantially the size of the spur 12, and a pair of two ribs forms a gap 28. The spur 12 is supported at a position fitted into the gap 28, and the spur 12 itself is covered with the rib 26. Therefore, even if air is sucked as shown by a broken line, the spur 12 Will not be exposed. Thereby, when the ink mist is collected, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the mist adheres to the spur 12 near the opening 30 and is transferred to the printing surface of the sheet, thereby causing image stain.
[0023]
Further, an exhaust fan 32 is provided on the duct 16, the inside of the duct 16 is set to a negative pressure, and ink mist generated during a printing operation from the recording head 20 is collected from the opening 30. A filter is provided between the exhaust fan 32 and the duct 16 to prevent the ink mist collected from the opening 30 and collected through the duct 16 from diffusing into the machine again, and to prevent the exhaust fan 32 from being contaminated with the ink mist. 34 is provided detachably.
[0024]
Further, the exhaust fan 32 is provided not at the center of the duct 16 in the main scanning direction (arrow) but at a position near the maintenance unit 24.
[0025]
That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, the distances A and B from the center of the exhaust fan 32 to both ends in the main scanning direction of the duct 16 are A> B, the center of the exhaust fan 32 is close to the maintenance unit 24, Therefore, the ink mist is mainly sucked from the side close to the maintenance unit 24. A large amount of ink mist stays in the vicinity of the maintenance unit 24 due to the dummy jet than on the platen 18. Thus, by bringing the exhaust fan 32 close to the maintenance unit 24, the ink mist near the maintenance unit 24 is focused. The ink mist can be efficiently collected as a result.
[0026]
Further, even when a plurality of exhaust fans 32 are provided as shown in FIG. 2B, the distances A and B from the center of each exhaust fan 32 to both ends of the duct 16 in the main scanning direction are A> B. Since the entire exhaust fan is close to the maintenance unit 24, the ink mist in the vicinity of the maintenance unit 24 is mainly collected similarly to FIG. 2A, and as a result, the entire ink mist can be efficiently collected. .
[0027]
At this time, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 3, the rib 26 forms an air flow path from the two exhaust fans 32 to the opening 30 inside the duct 16, but the position of the two exhaust fans 32 If the ribs 26 are arranged in a substantially W shape in accordance with the condition, the mist is mainly sucked from the vicinity of the maintenance section 24 having a large amount of ink mist, and the mist is uniformly sucked in the printing area. Can be collected.
[0028]
With the above-described configuration, the present embodiment was able to efficiently collect the mist biased by the dummy jet, and to provide an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink mist collection duct with a simple structure that does not stain the conveying member. .
[0029]
FIG. 4 shows an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 4, the ink jet recording apparatus 11 includes a suction duct 36 that communicates the maintenance unit 24 and the exhaust fan 32.
[0031]
The suction duct 36 joins a connecting portion 38 that communicates between the duct 16 and the exhaust fan 32, is made to have a negative pressure by the exhaust fan 32, and causes the recording head 20 to perform a dummy jet in the maintenance unit 24 as shown by a broken line. Collect the ink mist generated at the time. Further, the ink mist generated by the printing operation is collected by the duct 16 as shown by a broken line.
[0032]
A damper 40 for switching the air flow path is provided at the junction of the suction duct 36 and the connection part 38, and switches the negative pressure generated by the exhaust fan 32 to the suction duct 36 and the connection part 38.
[0033]
That is, the negative pressure generated by the exhaust fan 32 is switched to the maintenance section 24 and the duct 16 by the damper 40.
[0034]
Thereby, when the recording head 20 performs the dummy jet in the maintenance unit 24, the damper 40 is switched to the suction duct 36 side, the negative pressure by the exhaust fan 32 is guided to the maintenance unit 24, and the ink mist generated by the dummy jet is removed. It can be quickly sucked and collected by the filter 34 provided in front of the exhaust fan 32.
[0035]
Further, when the printing operation is started, an ink mist due to printing is generated in the vicinity of the recording head 20. Therefore, the damper 40 is switched to the connection portion 38 side, and the negative pressure by the exhaust fan 32 is guided to the duct 16, and the ink generated by the printing is printed. The mist can be quickly sucked and collected by the filter 34 provided in front of the exhaust fan 32.
[0036]
That is, if the damper 40 is switched at an appropriate timing in the above configuration, the ink mist by the dummy jet and the ink mist by the printing can be efficiently collected by one exhaust fan 32. Therefore, an effect similar to the configuration using the exhaust fan 32 dedicated for each of the duct 16 and the maintenance unit 24 is obtained by using only one exhaust fan 32.
[0037]
FIG. 5 shows an operation flowchart of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 5, when the ink jet recording apparatus 11 receives the print data, the exhaust fan 32 for collecting mist is activated. Next, the damper 40 is switched to the maintenance unit 24 side, and the negative pressure generated by the exhaust fan 32 is guided to the maintenance unit 24 through the suction duct 36.
[0039]
In this state, the recording head 20 moves to the maintenance unit 24, and performs the initial maintenance operation, that is, the ejection of the dummy jet. As a result, dark ink mist is generated in the vicinity of the maintenance unit 24, but the mist is quickly suctioned and removed by the negative pressure applied to the maintenance unit 24.
[0040]
Subsequently, when the paper is fed and the printing operation is started, ink droplets are ejected by the recording head 20 and ink mist is also generated in the vicinity of the printing surface of the paper. Priority is given to suction from the maintenance unit 24. When printing is completed and the paper is discharged, the generation of ink mist from the recording head 20 also stops.
[0041]
At this stage, the damper 40 is switched to the connection portion 38 side, and the negative pressure generated in the exhaust fan 32 is guided to the duct 16. As a result, the ink mist staying near the shaft 22 on the platen 18 is suctioned and removed by the duct 16. Since the ink mist in the vicinity of the maintenance unit 24 has been suctioned at this point, by switching the negative pressure by the damper 40 as described above, both the dummy jet and the ink mist by printing can be efficiently performed by one exhaust fan 32. It can be sucked and collected by a filter 34 provided in the exhaust fan 32.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION In the ink jet recording apparatus which concerns on this invention, it can be set as the ink jet recording apparatus provided with the ink mist collection | recovery duct which collect | recovers the biased mist efficiently by a dummy jet, and has a simple structure and does not stain a conveyance member.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional ink jet recording apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ink-jet recording apparatus 12 Spur 14 Conveyance roller 16 Duct 18 Platen 20 Recording head 22 Shaft 24 Maintenance part 26 Rib 28 Gap 30 Opening 32 Exhaust fan 34 Filter 36 Suction duct 38 Connection part 40 Damper

Claims (4)

An ink jet recording apparatus that discharges ink droplets from a recording head onto a sheet based on image information,
A duct provided in the scanning direction of the recording head,
A suction port formed in the duct to suck ink mist generated from the recording head;
An exhaust fan provided in the duct to generate a negative pressure;
A spur that supports and transports the paper printing surface provided in the duct,
A cover member integrally formed with the duct and supporting the spur from both sides,
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: A maintenance unit that receives a dummy jet when the recording head performs a dummy jet operation at an initial position of the recording head,
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust fan is provided at a position closer to the maintenance unit than a center of the duct in a scanning direction of the recording head. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the area of the suction port of the duct is smaller on the side closer to the exhaust fan and larger on the side farther from the exhaust fan. A suction duct for suctioning ink mist generated in the maintenance unit,
A suction duct and a flow path switching means provided between the ducts,
The exhaust fan is provided on a duct side,
The flow path switching means communicates the duct and the suction duct during a dummy jet operation,
2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the duct and the suction duct are shut off during a printing operation.

Images