JP2006192694A - Image-forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance usability by enabling a user to replace a head without opening a large cover, when he/she replaces the head. <P>SOLUTION: In this image-forming apparatus, the large cover is equipped with a sub-cover which is automatically opened/closed in synchronization with a carriage. When the carriage interferes with a side surface of the sub-cover, the state of interference is detected by a load of a CR driving motor, so that its drive can be stopped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet type image forming apparatus for forming an image by reciprocating a print head for ejecting ink in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a recording medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer that forms an image using an inkjet method is a method that performs predetermined recording on a recording sheet with a head while reciprocating a carriage on which the head is mounted in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet.

  In this method, the recording paper is conveyed by a width corresponding to one band in the conveying direction, the recording paper is stopped, and ink is ejected from the head according to a signal while the carriage is reciprocated once in the predetermined direction. Form an image. Thereafter, the recording paper is further conveyed by the width of one band, the recording paper is stopped, the ink is ejected from the head according to the signal while the carriage is reciprocated once in the predetermined direction, and an image of one band is formed. By repeating this operation, a predetermined image is formed on the recording paper.

  Among such printers, in a large printer exceeding A3 size, the head has a certain lifetime, so it is necessary to change the head several times while using the printer. come. There are two ways to do this: a serviceman or the user himself / herself. In most recent ink jet printers, the user himself / herself performs head replacement.

  Next, the procedure for head replacement in the large format printer will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The main body 100 rides on a stand 103, and a carriage 102 and a cover 101 that opens and closes when jamming or head replacement is present. The carriage 102 includes a head holder 106 that holds the head 107, a head lever A104, a head lever B105, and a carriage cover 103 that covers the head lever A104 for attaching and detaching the head 107.

  When replacing the head, the user issues a head replacement command from the operation panel or the personal computer. Then, the carriage 102 moves to the position shown in FIG. 3, the lock (not shown) is released, and the cover 101 can be opened and closed. Therefore, the user opens the cover 101, and then opens the carriage cover 103. Next, when the head lever A 104 and the head lever B 105 are released, the head 107 can be removed from the head holder 106, so the head 107 is removed and a new head is mounted on the head holder 106. Then, the head lever B105 and the head lever A104 are set, the carriage cover 103 is closed, and the cover 101 is also closed. At this time, a flag is present in the carriage cover 103, and it is detected that the carriage cover 103 is properly closed by a sensor (not shown).

Finally, the user issues a head replacement end command from the operation panel or the personal computer. If the sensor detects the carriage cover 103, the cover 101 is locked, the carriage 102 is moved to the home position, Prepare for the next printing by performing head replacement recovery. Such a technique is described in Patent Document 1, for example.
JP 2004-255799 A

  The larger the printer, the larger the opening and closing cover. In the case of jam processing, the user needs to open and close the cover to fill the print area in order to process the paper. However, when replacing the head, it is not necessary to do so. Opening and closing a large cover just for head replacement is very troublesome for the user, and opening a heavy cover is very dangerous for the user.

  Furthermore, when the user replaces the head, if the user cannot install the head by mistake, the large and heavy cover may be closed in this state, and the cover may hit the carriage and damage the carriage.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to replace the head without opening and closing a large cover.

  A conveying means for conveying the recording medium, a recording means for performing predetermined recording on the recording medium while reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium, and a driving force is applied to move the recording means A driving force applying means that performs opening and closing of the recording means at least by a width for recording on the recording medium, and the exterior is automatically opened and closed in conjunction with the movement of the recording means. And further comprising: a conveying means for conveying the recording medium; a recording means for performing predetermined recording on the recording medium while reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium; and the recording Driving force applying means for applying a driving force to move the means, and when the recording means tries to move in an irregular state and the recording means interferes with a part of the main body, There is detected by an electrical signal of the interference, as characterized by stopping the application of the driving force is obtained by trying to achieve the above object.

  As described above, the recording means includes an exterior that can be opened and closed by at least the width for recording on the recording medium, and the exterior includes a sub-exterior that automatically opens and closes in conjunction with the movement of the recording means. In addition, when the recording means is about to move in an irregular state and the recording means interferes with a part of the main body, the driving force applying means detects the interference with an electric signal and drives the recording means. By stopping the application of force, the user can replace the head without opening a large cover when replacing the head, improving usability. Furthermore, there is an effect that the carriage is not damaged even when the user makes an incorrect head replacement.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the sub cover of the main body to which the present invention is applied is open (when the head is replaced), and FIG. 2 is a state in which the sub cover of the main body to which the present invention is applied is closed (normally). FIG. FIG. 6 is a front perspective view illustrating details of the sub-cover of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view illustrating details of the sub-cover of the present invention.

  First, the overall configuration of the present invention will be described. The main body 1 rides on a stand 4 and is covered with an openable / closable cover 3 and other exteriors. The cover 3 has a slide type sub cover 5 attached thereto. Inside the carriage 2, a recovery system, a transport system, etc. (not shown) are arranged.

  The sub-cover 5 is fitted in a groove 6 disposed above and below the cover 3 and slides left and right using the groove 6 as a guide. When sliding left and right, a pin (not shown) disposed on the carriage 2 is fitted into the hole 7 of the sub cover 5.

  Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 illustrating the operation of the present invention.

  First, the user selects and executes head replacement from the operation panel or a personal computer. At this time, the state of the machine is as shown in FIG. 2, and the sub-cover 5 is in a closed state. Then, the recovery system releases the capping state of the main body, and the carriage 2 moves 180 mm to the left. Therefore, a pin (not shown) protrudes from the carriage 2, and the pin fits into the hole 7 of the sub cover 5. This pin pop-out operation is performed by a solenoid, but as another method, a motor or the like may be used. In this state, the carriage 2 further moves 220 mm to the left. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the sub cover 5 is opened, and the carriage 2 that has moved to the head replacement position can be seen from the opening. At this time, the cover 3 is locked and cannot be opened or closed by the user. Then, the user releases the head lever (not shown), takes out the head, inserts a new head, and returns the head lever. Further, the user selects and executes the head replacement end from the operation panel or the personal computer. The machine then tries to move 220mm to the right.

  At this time, if the head is not properly mounted and the head lever has not returned to its original state, the head lever hits the side surface of the opening of the cover 3 and the load on the motor increases. The increased load is read as a current value, and an abnormality is detected. If an abnormality is detected, the carriage 2 is returned to the head replacement position, and a warning message for erroneous head insertion is displayed on the operation panel or personal computer. The user remounts the head correctly, and again selects and executes the head replacement end from the operation panel or the personal computer.

  When the head is correctly mounted, when the carriage 2 moves 220 mm, the pin of the carriage 2 returns and the fitting of the hole 7 of the sub cover 5 is released. The carriage 2 further moves 180 mm to the right and moves to the home position (the first position before head replacement). Therefore, the recovery system performs capping, performs head replacement recovery, and ends a series of operations.

  The embodiment of the present invention is a slide-type sub-cover, but nothing is limited thereto. For example, with an openable sub-cover, the sub-cover can be automatically opened and closed when the carriage moves to the head replacement position, either mechanically opened or closed using an actuator or the like. .

  Furthermore, as another embodiment, there is a method in which a sub cover is not provided on the cover to be opened and closed, but a sub cover is provided on a fixed cover that covers the main body, and automatically opens and closes in conjunction with the movement of the carriage.

The perspective view which shows the state (at the time of head replacement | exchange) where the sub cover of the main body to which this invention is applied is open. The perspective view which shows the state (normal state) where the sub cover of the main body to which this invention is applied is closed. The main body perspective view for demonstrating the prior art. The carriage perspective view for explaining the conventional technology. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of this invention. The front perspective view explaining the detail of the sub cover of this invention. The perspective view of the back surface explaining the detail of the subcover of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,100 Main body 2,102 Carriage 3,101 Cover 4,103 Stand 5 Sub cover 6 Groove 7 Hole 104 Head lever A
105 Head lever B
106 Head holder 107 Head

Claims (2)

A conveying means for conveying the recording medium, a recording means for performing predetermined recording on the recording medium while reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium, and a driving force is applied to move the recording means A driving force applying means for performing the recording and an exterior that can be opened and closed by a width that allows the recording means to record on at least the recording medium,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exterior includes a sub-exterior that automatically opens and closes in conjunction with the movement of the recording unit. A conveying means for conveying the recording medium, a recording means for performing predetermined recording on the recording medium while reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium, and a driving force is applied to move the recording means Driving force applying means for
When the recording means tries to move in an irregular state and the recording means interferes with a part of the main body, the driving force applying means detects the interference with an electrical signal and applies the driving force. An image forming apparatus characterized by stopping.

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