JP2005254636A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of an image forming apparatus that repair, replacement, and the like, are not taken into account, maintainability is low, the apparatus body must be replaced at the time of repair, and recycling rate is low. <P>SOLUTION: An enclosure cover 200 is provided removably on the back of the body 1 and a tank 150 for storing waste liquid from a maintenance recovery mechanism 27 is provided removably from the body 1 on the inside of the enclosure cover 200. When the enclosure cover 200 is removed, the waste liquid tank 150 can be taken out and replaced or reused thus enhancing maintainability and recycling rate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image with a recording liquid.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, a printer / fax / copier multifunction machine, etc., a recording head (image forming means) composed of a droplet discharge head for discharging recording liquid droplets is used. 2. Description of the Related Art Inkjet recording apparatuses that perform image formation (recording, printing, and printing are also used synonymously) by adhering recording liquid droplets (hereinafter also referred to as ink droplets) to a sheet while being conveyed are known. .

  As a droplet discharge head, a piezo type using an electromechanical conversion element such as a piezoelectric element, or an electrothermal conversion element such as a heating resistor arranged in the discharge is used to generate bubbles by boiling the ink film. A thermal type that discharges ink droplets, an electrostatic type that discharges ink droplets by deforming a diaphragm that forms the wall surface of the discharge chamber with an electrostatic force, and the like are used.

  By the way, in an ink jet recording apparatus, since ink droplets are ejected from fine ejection ports, the ejection ports are clogged due to ink thickening or sticking due to drying or bubbles generated in the ink. , Ejection failure may occur. Therefore, in order to prevent such a discharge failure, a maintenance / recovery device is provided for maintaining and recovering the ink discharge function in a normal state.

A recovery method using such a maintenance and recovery device is, for example, maintenance recovery in which, when ejection failure occurs due to bubbles generated in the ejection port during recording, the ejection port is recovered by filling the recording head with ink using a pressurizing means. Maintenance / recovery method that performs preliminary ejection (empty ejection) in preparation for thickening and fixing of ink due to natural evaporation of ink in the ejection port, and maintenance / recovery method that wipes off ink droplets and dust adhering to the ejection port surface One or a combination of two or more is used as appropriate.
JP 2002-254666 A JP-A-6-340091 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-157103 Japanese Patent No. 3216706 JP-A-10-305596

Then, by performing such a performance recovery operation of the head, a recording liquid (waste liquid) that is not used for recording is discharged, and a waste liquid tank (waste liquid bottle or the like) for storing the waste liquid of the recording liquid is discharged. It is called.)
JP 2000-127439 A JP 2003-165236 A

In general, the image forming apparatus includes a waste liquid tank in the apparatus main body as described in the above patent document. However, as described in Patent Document 8, the waste liquid is stored outside the ink jet recording apparatus main body. Some have waste liquid bottles.
JP 2003-182119 A

  Since conventional inkjet recording devices are compatible with so-called personal use, repair and replacement of maintenance and recovery mechanisms and waste liquid bottles are not taken into consideration. Is the premise.

  However, in order to deal with business use, it is not possible to presuppose exchange for each apparatus body as described above. In addition, the configuration in which the waste liquid bottle is provided outside the apparatus main body as disclosed in Patent Document 8 cannot be used in an environment such as an office.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus with improved maintainability.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an exterior cover that allows a waste liquid tank to be detachable from a maintenance and recovery mechanism and the apparatus main body, and allows the waste liquid tank to be taken out of the apparatus main body. The main body is configured to be removable or openable / closable. Here, the maintenance / recovery mechanism is preferably provided on the back side of the apparatus main body.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes a maintenance / recovery mechanism that is detachable from the apparatus main body, and an exterior cover that enables the maintenance / recovery mechanism to be taken out of the apparatus main body. The configuration was made possible.

  Furthermore, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a maintenance / recovery mechanism and a waste liquid tank so that the maintenance / recovery mechanism and the waste liquid tank can be detached from the apparatus main body, and an exterior that enables the maintenance / recovery mechanism and the waste liquid tank to be taken out of the apparatus main body. The cover is provided on the apparatus main body so as to be removable or openable / closable.

  Here, it is preferable that a shielding unit is provided between the maintenance / recovery mechanism and the waste liquid tank so as to enter the waste liquid discharge path from the maintenance / recovery mechanism to the waste liquid tank when either one is taken out. This means for shielding is provided to be movable in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction between the open position and the shield position, or to be rotatable, and the take-out operation of either the maintenance / recovery mechanism or the waste liquid tank or the removal of the exterior cover Alternatively, it is preferable to enter the shielding position in conjunction with the opening operation. The exterior cover is preferably provided on the back side of the apparatus main body.

  Further, it is preferable that the take-out direction of the paper feed cassette for storing the recording medium with respect to the apparatus main body and the conveyance direction of the recording medium are orthogonal to each other. Furthermore, it is preferable that image reading means for reading an image is provided, and the reading direction of the image reading means is the same as the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention integrally includes an engine unit including a recording head that discharges recording liquid droplets and a cartridge mounting unit that mounts a recording liquid cartridge that supplies the recording liquid to the recording head. The structure is provided so that it can be taken out.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, at least the maintenance / recovery mechanism can be pulled out of the apparatus main body away from the waste liquid tank, and when the maintenance / recovery mechanism is pulled out of the apparatus main body, the waste liquid into the waste liquid tank is extracted. It was set as the structure provided with the shielding means which approachs the downward direction of a discharge path.

  Here, it is preferable that the shielding means moves in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction between the open position and the shield position, or is rotatably provided, and enters in conjunction with the take-out operation of the maintenance and recovery mechanism.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the waste liquid tank and / or the maintenance / recovery mechanism are detachably provided from the apparatus main body and can be taken out of the apparatus main body by removing the outer cover, the maintainability is improved. .

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the engine unit and the cartridge loading unit are integrally detachably provided from the apparatus main body, and therefore the recording liquid cartridge and the recording liquid head are connected by a connecting means such as a tube. In this case, the detaching and attaching operations of the connecting means are not necessary, and the maintainability is improved.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, at least the maintenance / recovery mechanism can be separated from the waste liquid tank and pulled out of the apparatus main body, and when the maintenance / recovery mechanism is pulled out of the apparatus main body, Since it is equipped with a shielding means that enters below the waste liquid discharge path, it is possible to prevent the recording liquid remaining in the discharge means from dripping into the apparatus main body when the maintenance / recovery mechanism is pulled out of the apparatus main body. Will improve.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an image forming unit of the apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit 2 for forming an image, a sub-scanning conveying unit 3, and the like inside the apparatus main body 1 (housing), and a paper feeding unit 4 provided at the bottom of the apparatus main body 1. To a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as “paper”, but is not limited to paper) 5 is fed one by one, and the sub-scanning conveying unit 3 conveys the sheet 5 at a position facing the image forming unit 2. However, after forming (recording) a required image by ejecting droplets onto the paper 5 by the image forming unit 2, the paper 5 is placed on the paper discharge tray 7 formed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1 through the paper discharge transport unit 6. Is ejected.

  The image forming apparatus also has an image reading unit (scanner) for reading an image above the discharge tray 8 above the apparatus main body 1 as an input system for image data (print data) formed by the image forming unit 2. Part) 11. The image reading unit 11 includes a scanning optical system 15 including an illumination light source 13 and a mirror 14 and a scanning optical system 18 including mirrors 16 and 17. The scanned document image is read as an image signal by the image reading element 20 disposed behind the lens 19, and the read image signal is digitized and subjected to image processing, and the image-processed print data is printed. be able to. A pressure plate 10 is provided on the contact glass 12 for pressing the document.

  Further, this image forming apparatus uses an information processing apparatus such as an external personal computer, an image reading apparatus such as an image scanner, and an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera as an input system for image data (print data) formed by the image forming unit 2. For example, print data including image data from the host side can be received via a cable or a network, and the received print data can be processed and printed.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 2 of the image forming apparatus is guided by a carriage guide 21 and moved on a carriage 23 that can move in a main scanning direction (a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction). A recording head 24 for discharging droplets of different colors is mounted, the carriage 23 is moved in the main scanning direction, and the droplets are discharged from the recording head 24 while feeding the paper 5 in the paper transport direction (sub-scanning direction). The shuttle type is used for image formation.

  The recording head 24 includes droplet discharge heads 24k, 24c, 24m, and 24y that discharge black (Bk) ink, cyan (C) ink, magenta (M) ink, and yellow (Y) ink, respectively. Each color ink is supplied from each mounted sub tank 25. Ink is replenished and supplied to the sub tank 25 from an ink cartridge 26 (FIG. 1), which is a recording liquid cartridge for each color, which is a main tank detachably mounted in the apparatus main body 1 via a connecting means such as a tube (not shown). .

  As a droplet discharge head constituting the recording head 24, a diaphragm that forms a wall surface of an ink flow path using a piezoelectric element as pressure generation means (actuator means) for pressurizing ink in the ink flow path (pressure generation chamber) Is a so-called piezo-type that changes the volume of the ink flow path by changing the volume of the ink flow path, or pressure generated by generating bubbles by heating the ink in the ink flow path using a heating resistor. A so-called thermal type that ejects ink droplets, a diaphragm that forms the wall surface of the ink flow path and an electrode are arranged opposite to each other, and the diaphragm is deformed by an electrostatic force generated between the diaphragm and the electrode, An electrostatic type that discharges ink droplets by changing the volume of the ink flow path can be used.

  Further, a maintenance / recovery mechanism (a maintenance / recovery unit) 27 for maintaining and recovering the state of the nozzles of the recording head 24 is disposed in the non-printing area on one side in the scanning direction of the carriage 23. The maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 includes cap members 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d for capping the nozzle surface of the recording head 24, a wiper blade 29 for wiping the nozzle surface, and an empty discharge receiver that receives ink discharged in an empty manner. 30 and so on.

  The sub-scanning conveyance unit 3 is arranged on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction of the image forming unit 2 with a pair of printing unit conveyance rollers 34 that conveys the sheet 5 fed from the sheet feeding unit 4 upward. A printing unit conveyance roller 31 that conveys the sheet 5 with its conveyance direction changed by approximately 90 degrees, and a pressing roller 32 that also serves as a roller that defines the feed angle of the sheet 5 from the printing unit conveyance roller 31. A sheet guide plate that is disposed downstream of the image forming unit 2 in the sheet conveying direction and includes a pair of printing unit conveying rollers 33 that conveys the sheet 5 and that guides the lower surface of the sheet 5 to face the image forming unit 2. 35 is arranged. Here, the paper 5 is transported by the transport roller. However, for example, it may be transported by a transport belt that sucks and transports the paper 5 by electrostatic adsorption.

  In this image forming apparatus, the image forming unit 2, the sub-scanning transport unit 3, and the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 are configured as a unit (printing unit) 9 that can be detachably attached to the apparatus main body 1. Thus, maintenance is improved by unitizing the printing unit 9.

  Further, the printing unit 9 and the cartridge mounting portion 26A (FIG. 1) for mounting the ink cartridge 26 are unitized so that when the printing unit 9 is pulled out of the apparatus main body 1, the cartridge mounting portion 26A is also pulled out integrally. Is preferred.

  That is, when a configuration for supplying ink from the main tank to the sub tank on the head side is employed, the main tank and the sub tank must be connected by a connecting means (ink supply path) such as a tube. On the other hand, if the image forming unit and the sub-scanning conveyance unit are unitized and can be pulled out of the apparatus main body, the connecting means with the cartridge mounting unit must be removed once.

  If such removal and attachment operations of the connecting means are required, not only the maintainability is deteriorated, but also the recording liquid remaining in the connecting means may be dropped and the inside and outside of the apparatus may be soiled. Therefore, by making the cartridge mounting portion be integrated with the printing unit and being pulled out, the maintainability is improved, and the recording liquid does not drip and become dirty.

  The paper feed unit 4 can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body 1, and a paper feed cassette 41 for stacking and storing a large number of papers 5 and a paper feed for separating and feeding the papers 5 in the paper feed cassette 41 one by one. A paper roller 42 and a friction pad 43 are provided.

  The paper discharge transport unit 6 sends a paper discharge roller pair 61 for transporting the paper 5 on which image formation has been performed, a paper discharge roller 62, and a paper 5 fed from the paper discharge roller 62 to the paper discharge tray 8. A paper discharge conveyance roller pair 63 and a discharge roller 64 are provided.

  Here, an outline of the configuration of the maintenance / recovery mechanism (maintenance / recovery unit) 27 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the mechanism, FIG. 4 is a schematic schematic configuration diagram of the mechanism, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram on the right side of FIG.

  The maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 includes caps 28a to 28d for capping each nozzle surface of the recording head 24 (referred to as “cap 28” when not distinguished) and a blade member for wiping the nozzle surface. The wiper blade 29 is formed integrally with the idle discharge receptacle 30 for receiving droplets when performing idle ejection for ejecting droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the thickened recording liquid. A wiper cleaner 95 that is a cleaning member for removing the recording liquid adhering to the blade 29, and a cleaner roller 96 that constitutes a cleaner means for pressing the wiper blade 29 against the wiper cleaner 95 when the wiper blade 29 is cleaned are provided.

  The frame (maintenance device frame) 111 of the maintenance and recovery mechanism 27 includes two cap holders 112A and 112B that are cap holding mechanisms, and a wiper blade 29 that is a wiping member including an elastic body as a cleaning means, The carriage lock 115 is held so as to be movable up and down (movable up and down). An empty discharge receiver 30 is disposed between the wiper blade 29 and the cap holder 112 </ b> A, and the wiper blade 29 is a cleaning member for the empty discharge receiver 30 from the outside of the frame 111 in order to clean the wiper blade 29. A wiper cleaner 118 that is a cleaner means including a cleaner roller 96 that is a cleaning member to be pressed against the wiper cleaner 95 side is swingably held.

  The cap holders 112A and 112B (referred to as “cap holder 112” when not distinguished) hold two caps 28a and 28b and caps 28c and 28d for capping the nozzle surfaces of the two recording heads 24, respectively. Yes.

  Here, a tubing pump (suction pump) 120 as a suction means is connected to the cap 28a held by the cap holder 112A closest to the printing area via a flexible tube 119, and the other caps 28b, 28c, 28 d does not connect the tubing pump 120. That is, only the cap 28a is used as a suction (recovery) and moisturizing cap (hereinafter simply referred to as “suction cap”), and the other caps 28b, 28c, 28d are all used as mere moisturizing caps. Therefore, when the recovery operation of the recording head 24 is performed, the recording head 24 performing the recovery operation is selectively moved to a position where it can be capped by the suction cap 28a. In addition, it is good also as a structure which uses each cap as a suction cap.

  A cam shaft 121 rotatably supported by the frame 111 is disposed below the cap holders 112A and 112B. Cap cams 122A and 122B for raising and lowering the cap holders 112A and 112B are disposed on the cam shaft 121. A wiper cam 124 for raising and lowering the wiper blade 29, a carriage lock cam 125 for raising and lowering the carriage lock 115 via the carriage lock arm 117, and an empty liquid droplet that is idlely discharged in the idle discharge receiver 30. A roller 126 as a rotating body, which is a discharge landing member, and a cleaner cam 128 for swinging the wiper cleaner 118 are provided.

  Here, the cap 28 is moved up and down by the cap cams 122A and 122B. The wiper blade 29 is lifted and lowered by the wiper cam 124. When the wiper cleaner 118 is lowered, the wiper cleaner 118 advances, and the wiper blade 29 descends while being sandwiched between the cleaner roller 96 of the wiper cleaner 118 and the wiper cleaner 95 of the empty discharge receiver 30. Ink adhering to the ink 29 is scraped off into the empty discharge receiver 30.

  The carriage lock 115 is urged upward (in the lock direction) by a compression spring (not shown), and is raised and lowered via a carriage lock arm 117 driven by a carriage lock cam 125.

  In order to rotationally drive the tubing pump 120 and the camshaft 121, the motor gear 132 provided on the motor shaft 131a rotates with the motor 131 and the pump gear 133 provided on the pump shaft 120a of the tubing pump 120 is meshed. An intermediate gear 136 with a one-way clutch 137 is engaged with an intermediate gear 134 integral with 133 via an intermediate gear 135, and the intermediate gear 138 coaxial with the intermediate gear 136 is fixed to the camshaft 121 via the intermediate gear 139. The cam gear 140 is engaged. An intermediate shaft 141 that is a rotation shaft of the intermediate gears 136 and 138 with the clutch 137 is rotatably held by the frame 111.

  The cam shaft 121 is provided with a home position sensor cam 142 for detecting the home position. When the cap 28 comes to the lowermost end by a home position sensor (not shown) provided in the subsystem 27, a home position lever is provided. (Not shown) is activated, the sensor is opened, and the home position of the motor 131 (other than the pump 120) is detected. Note that when the power is turned on, the position moves up and down regardless of the position of the cap 28 (cap holder 112), the position is not detected until the movement starts, and the position is determined after detecting the home position of the cap 28 (in the middle of rising). To the bottom end. Thereafter, the carriage moves left and right, returns to the cap position after position detection, and the recording head 24 is capped.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a waste liquid tank (waste liquid bottle) 150 for storing waste liquid generated by the maintenance / recovery operation by the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is disposed below the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27. The discharge side of the tube 119 of the suction pump 120 faces the funnel-shaped inlet 150a of the waste liquid tank 150. The waste liquid tank 150 is configured not to have an absorber inside, but may be configured to have an absorber.

Next, a structure for performing maintenance of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 and the waste liquid tank 150 in this image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, this image forming apparatus has a configuration in which a paper feed cassette 41 loaded with paper 5 is loaded in and out of the apparatus main body 1 from the front side, and as shown in FIG. In addition, the insertion direction of the paper feed cassette 5 is a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper 5. Further, the reading direction (scanning direction) of the image reading device 11 is set to be the same direction (including the forward direction and the reverse direction) as the conveyance direction of the paper 5. In addition, illustration of the pressure plate 10 is abbreviate | omitted in the typical perspective explanatory drawing after FIG.

  Accordingly, the main scanning direction of the carriage 23 of the printing unit 9 is the front side and the back side of the apparatus main body 1 as shown in FIG. 2, and the maintenance and recovery mechanism 27 and the waste liquid tank 28 are on the back side of the apparatus main body 1. The device body 1 is detachably disposed. The maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 constitutes the printing unit 9, and the waste liquid tank 150 is separated from the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 and can be removed.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, an exterior cover 200 is provided on the back side of the apparatus main body 1 so as to be removable from the apparatus main body 1 at a portion corresponding to the waste liquid tank 150. Therefore, by removing the outer cover 200 from the apparatus main body 1, as shown in FIG. 8, the maintenance and recovery mechanism 27 and the waste liquid tank 150 arranged on the back side of the apparatus main body 1 appear. In addition, the state when the back cover 201 is removed from the state of FIG. 8 is shown in FIG.

  Since the waste liquid tank 150 appears on the rear side in this way, as shown in FIG. 10, only the waste liquid tank 150 can be pulled out in the direction of the arrow and separated from the apparatus main body 1 and the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27. As a result, when the waste liquid tank 150 is full, the waste liquid tank 150 can be taken out and the waste liquid stored therein can be discarded and set in the apparatus main body 1 again. The tank 150 can be set in the apparatus main body 1 and the maintainability is improved.

  Next, the structure of another image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is provided so as to be separated from the printing unit 9 and taken out. Thus, as described above, by removing the outer cover 200 from the apparatus main body 1, the maintenance and recovery mechanism 27 and the waste liquid tank 150 arranged on the back side of the apparatus main body 1 appear as shown in FIG. 11, only the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 can be pulled out in the direction of the arrow and separated from the apparatus main body 1 and the waste liquid tank 150 and taken out. Thereby, the maintainability of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is improved.

  Next, the structure of still another image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is provided so as to be separated from the printing unit 9 and can be taken out, and the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 and the waste liquid tank 150 are unitized so as to be taken out from the apparatus main body 1.

  Thus, as described above, by removing the outer cover 200 from the apparatus main body 1, the maintenance and recovery mechanism 27 and the waste liquid tank 150 arranged on the back side of the apparatus main body 1 appear as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the maintenance and recovery mechanism 27 and the waste liquid tank 150 can be pulled out in the direction of the arrow and separated from the apparatus main body 1 and taken out. Thereby, the maintainability of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 and the waste liquid tank 150 is improved.

  By the way, when the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is used as a part of the printing unit 9 as described above, or the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 alone or only the waste liquid tank 150 is pulled out of the apparatus, the waste recovery tank 27 is removed from the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27. The waste liquid discharge path reaching 150 is opened. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tip of the waste liquid tube 119 of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 does not face the waste liquid tank 150.

  In this case, since the pump 120 is stopped, there is no possibility that the recording liquid remaining on the open end portion of the waste liquid tube 119 is dripped from the pump 120, but when the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is pulled out. As a result, the recording liquid remaining on the open end portion of the waste liquid tube 119 may be dripped from the pump 133 to contaminate the inside of the apparatus main body 1 or the outside of the apparatus main body 1.

  Therefore, it is preferable to include a shielding means (shutter member) that enters and shields the discharge path from the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 to the waste liquid tank 150 when the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is pulled out from the waste liquid tank 150.

Such an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, an example in which the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 included in the printing unit 9 is pulled out to the front side of the apparatus main body 1 will be described.
First, a first example of shielding means will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 show a state where the shutter member included in the shielding means is in the open position, and FIGS. 15 and 16 show a state where the shutter member is in the shield position.

  In this example, an opening 251 corresponding to the inlet portion 150a of the waste liquid bottle 150 is formed in the shutter 250 member, and this shutter member 250 is formed in the frame of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body 1 in FIG. 14 and slidable between an open position where the opening 251 is located below the tube 119 and a shielding position where the opening 251 is not located below the tube 119 as shown in FIGS. It is slidable in the front-rear direction when viewed from the main body of the apparatus, and is biased to a state where the initial position becomes the shielding position by a tension spring 252 or the like.

  The apparatus main body 1 is provided with a stopper member 253 that pushes the shutter member 250 to the open position side when the tube 119 of the maintenance / recovery device 27 is set in a state corresponding to the inlet 150a of the waste liquid tank 150. .

  Therefore, when the tube 119 of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is set in a state corresponding to the inlet 150a of the waste liquid tank 150 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the shutter member 250 is moved as shown in FIGS. Under the restriction of the stopper member 253, the tension spring 252 extends to the open position, and the waste liquid from the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 150 through the opening 251 of the shutter member 250.

  On the other hand, when the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is pulled out in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 13 and 14, the shutter member 250 is not restricted by the stopper member 253, so that the restoring force of the tension spring 252 indicates the arrow in FIG. 13. By sliding in the A direction, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, portions other than the opening 251 of the shutter member 250 enter below the tube 119 of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 to be shielded.

  As a result, even when the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is pulled out from the waste liquid tank 150, the shutter member 250 is positioned below the tube 119, so that even when the remaining recording liquid drops from the tube 119 of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27. The inside and outside of the main body 1 are not contaminated with the recording liquid, and the maintenance is improved.

  As described above, when the waste liquid tank 150 is drawn out to the back side of the apparatus main body 1, the stopper member 253 is provided on the waste liquid tank 150 side so that the waste liquid tank 150 is pulled out so that the stopper member 253 becomes the shutter member. As a result, the state shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 is released, so that the remaining recording liquid drops from the tube 119 of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 at this time as well. Is not soiled with the recording liquid, and maintenance is improved.

  In this case, if the stopper member 253 is provided integrally with the exterior cover 200, the positional relationship shown in FIG. 14 is obtained with the exterior cover 200 attached to the apparatus body 1, and the exterior cover 200 is removed from the apparatus body 1. 16, the attachment / detachment of the outer cover 200 and the movement of the shutter member 250 can be interlocked.

  Further, when the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is configured to be pulled out to the back side of the apparatus main body 1, a stopper member 255 is disposed on the back side when viewed from the back side of the apparatus main body 1, as shown in FIG. By providing the compression spring 256 between the frame of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 and the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 is pulled out to the back side, as shown in FIG. Similarly, even when the remaining recording liquid is dropped from the tube 119 of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27, the inside and outside of the apparatus main body 1 are not contaminated with the recording liquid, and the maintainability is improved.

  Next, a second example will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, the shutter member 260 is located between an open position where the shutter member 260 is retracted from the discharge port from the tube 119 of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 as shown in FIG. 19 and a shielding position located below the tube 119 as shown in FIG. Is supported by a shaft 261 so as to be rotatable.

  Note that the means for applying a biasing force to the stopper member and the shutter member 260 (such as the pulling or compression spring in the first example described above) is omitted, but the stopper member and the biasing means are maintained. What is necessary is just to arrange | position so that the shutter member 260 may rotate in the arrow B direction when the recovery mechanism 27 is pulled out in the arrow direction in FIG.

  Similarly, by changing the means for applying a biasing force to the stopper member and the shutter member 260, as described above, the waste liquid tank 150 is drawn out to the back side, the maintenance recovery mechanism 27 is drawn out to the back side, and the exterior cover The shutter member 260 can be rotated in accordance with the attachment / detachment of 200.

  Even if comprised in this way, the effect similar to the said 1st example can be acquired.

  Next, a third example will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, the shutter member 270 is located between an open position where the shutter member 270 is retracted from the discharge port from the tube 119 of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 as shown in FIG. 21 and a shield position located below the tube 119 as shown in FIG. Thus, it is arranged so as to be slidable in the left-right direction as viewed from the apparatus main body 1 (direction perpendicular to the pulling-out direction of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27).

  In this case, in order to change the relative back-and-forth movement of the maintenance / recovery mechanism 27 to the left-right movement of the shutter member 270, the shutter member 270 is formed with an inclined surface 270a, and this shutter is provided on the apparatus body 1 side and the like. A contact member 273 that contacts the inclined surface 270a is disposed on the member 270.

  Note that the means for applying an urging force to the shutter member 260 (the pulling or compression spring in the first example described above) is not shown, but the above-described abutting member 27 and the urging means are maintained and recovered. What is necessary is just to arrange | position so that the shutter member 270 may slide to the arrow C direction when the mechanism 27 is pulled out in the arrow direction in FIG.

  Similarly, by changing the means for applying the urging force to the contact member 273 and the shutter member 260, as described above, the waste liquid tank 150 is pulled out to the back side, and the maintenance and recovery mechanism 27 is pulled out to the back side. The shutter member 270 can be configured to move in accordance with the attachment / detachment of the exterior cover 200.

  Even if comprised in this way, the effect similar to the said 2nd example can be acquired.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of an image forming unit and a sub-scanning conveyance unit of the apparatus. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing of the maintenance recovery mechanism of the apparatus. It is a clear diagram. It is side surface explanatory drawing of the maintenance recovery mechanism. FIG. 5 is a right side view of FIG. 4. FIG. 2 is an explanatory perspective view of the overall appearance of the image forming apparatus. It is the isometric view explanatory view seen from the back side of the same apparatus. It is a schematic perspective explanatory view which shows the state which removed the exterior cover of the back surface of the same apparatus. It is a schematic perspective explanatory view which shows the state which removed the back cover of the apparatus further. FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory view for explaining a configuration for taking out a waste liquid tank from the apparatus main body of the apparatus. It is a perspective explanatory view with which it uses for the description at the time of making it the structure which takes out the maintenance recovery mechanism from the apparatus main body of the apparatus. It is a perspective explanatory view used for description when it is configured to take out a maintenance and recovery mechanism and a waste liquid tank unit from the apparatus main body of the apparatus. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing in the state in which the shutter member explaining the 1st example of the shielding means of a maintenance recovery mechanism exists in an open position. It is a side explanatory view similarly. It is a principal part top explanatory view in the state where a shutter member is also in a shielding position. It is a side explanatory view similarly. It is side surface explanatory drawing in the state which has a shutter member in an open position explaining the example of a change of the 1st example of the shielding means of a maintenance recovery mechanism. It is a side explanatory view similarly. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing in the state in which the shutter member explaining the 2nd example of the shielding means of a maintenance recovery mechanism exists in an open position. It is a principal part top explanatory view in the state where a shutter member is also in a shielding position. It is principal part top explanatory drawing in the state in which the shutter member explaining the 3rd example of the shielding means of a maintenance recovery mechanism exists in an open position. It is a principal part top explanatory view in the state where a shutter member is also in a shielding position.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Apparatus main body 2 ... Image formation part 3 ... Sub-scanning conveyance part 4 ... Paper feed part 5 ... Paper 7 ... Paper discharge tray 9 ... Printing unit 23 ... Carriage 24 ... Recording head 25 ... Sub tank 26 ... Ink cartridge 27 ... Maintenance recovery Mechanism 31, 32 ... Conveying roller 120 ... Pump 119 ... Tube 150 ... Waste liquid tank 250, 260, 270 ... Shutter means

Claims (12)

  An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording head that discharges recording liquid droplets; a maintenance / recovery mechanism for maintaining and recovering the state of the recording head; and a waste liquid tank that stores waste liquid generated by the operation of the maintenance / recovery mechanism The waste liquid tank is detachably provided from the maintenance / recovery mechanism and the apparatus main body, and an exterior cover that allows the waste liquid tank to be taken out of the apparatus main body is provided on the apparatus main body so as to be removable or openable / closable. An image forming apparatus.   Image forming apparatus comprising: a recording head that discharges recording liquid droplets; a maintenance / recovery mechanism for maintaining and recovering the state of the recording head; and a waste liquid tank for storing waste liquid generated by the operation of the maintenance / recovery mechanism The maintenance / recovery mechanism is detachably provided on the apparatus main body, and an exterior cover that enables the maintenance / recovery mechanism to be taken out of the apparatus main body is provided on the apparatus main body so as to be removable or openable / closable. An image forming apparatus.   Image forming apparatus comprising: a recording head that discharges recording liquid droplets; a maintenance / recovery mechanism for maintaining and recovering the state of the recording head; and a waste liquid tank for storing waste liquid generated by the operation of the maintenance / recovery mechanism In addition, the maintenance and recovery mechanism and the waste liquid tank are detachably provided to the apparatus main body, and the exterior cover that enables the maintenance and recovery mechanism and the waste liquid tank to be taken out of the apparatus main body can be removed from the apparatus main body. Alternatively, an image forming apparatus provided to be openable and closable.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance / recovery mechanism is provided on a back side in the apparatus main body.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when either one of the maintenance / recovery mechanism and the waste liquid tank is taken out, a waste liquid discharge path from the maintenance / recovery mechanism to the waste liquid tank. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that shielding means for entering is arranged.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the shielding means is provided to be movable in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction between the open position and the shield position, or to be rotatable. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus enters the shielding position in conjunction with any one of the taking-out operations or the removal or opening operation of the exterior cover.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exterior cover is provided on a back side of the apparatus main body.   8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a take-out direction of the paper feed cassette that stores the recording medium with respect to the apparatus main body is orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the recording medium.   9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an image reading unit that reads an image, wherein a reading direction of the image reading unit is the same as a conveying direction of the recording medium.   An image forming apparatus comprising: an engine unit that includes a recording head that discharges recording liquid droplets; and a cartridge mounting unit that mounts a recording liquid cartridge that supplies the recording liquid to the recording head. Is formed so that it can be taken out of the apparatus main body.   A recording head for discharging recording liquid droplets; a maintenance / recovery mechanism for maintaining and recovering the state of the recording head; and a waste liquid tank for storing waste liquid generated by the operation of the maintenance / recovery mechanism. An image forming apparatus capable of pulling the recovery mechanism away from the waste liquid tank and out of the apparatus main body, wherein the maintenance / recovery mechanism is below the waste liquid discharge path to the waste liquid tank when pulled out of the main body of the apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising a shielding means for entering.   12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the shielding unit is provided to be movable in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction between the open position and the shield position, or to be rotatable. An image forming apparatus that enters in conjunction with each other.

Images