JP2006192696A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inexpensively provide a high-performance compact recorder by solving the problem of reading defects of an optical transmission type encoder due to ink mist which is associated with miniaturization of an inkjet recorder, and by reducing the number of parts. <P>SOLUTION: An optical scale of the encoder which carries out driving control of a carriage is set at an inner face of an enclosure cover which covers the carriage, in a range longer than a scanning distance of the carriage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording sheet using ink, for example, an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink, and a recording apparatus such as a facsimile and a copying machine.

  The above-described ink jet printer or the like performs recording by ejecting ink as droplets according to an image data signal from a fine ejection port (orifice) provided in the recording head portion and attaching it to a recording medium such as paper. There are various advantages such that recording is possible and recording can be easily performed on plain paper without generating noise. Such an ink jet recording apparatus can be divided into a serial type and a line type depending on whether or not the recording head is moved. However, serial type ink jet printers that are relatively easy to manufacture and inexpensive to manufacture are widely used in the market. is doing.

  The serial type ink jet printer has a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting recording ink, a plurality of liquid passages for distributing ink to the ejection ports, and an ejection port for heating the ink in the liquid passage by inputting an electric current. A recording head having an ejection energy generating element for inking ink from each other along with an ink tank containing color ink is attached to a carriage movable in the main scanning direction so as to be replaceable. By reciprocating the recording head in the direction, recording ink of a plurality of colors is ejected to record an image.

  In recent years, inkjet printers have become smaller droplets of ink ejected from the recording head, and by reducing the diameter of the dots, graininess is less and gradation representation is rich and high-definition recording is possible. The penetration rate is also increasing. Nowadays, there is a market need for a device with a smaller installation space or a small device that can be easily carried.

  Here, the outline of the structure will be described by taking a typical serial type small printer as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main mechanism portion of the recording apparatus. 100 is an automatic paper feeding unit that holds and separates recording paper, 200 is a paper feed roller that transports the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction, 201 is a pinch roller that is arranged in the scanning direction along the paper feed roller, 202 is a paper feed motor, 204 and 205 are paper feed gears that transmit the drive of the paper feed motor to the paper feed roller, 203 is a platen that supports the recording paper that has passed through the paper feed roller, and 206 is the recording paper that has been recorded. A paper discharge roller 207 is a paper discharge belt for transmitting the rotation of the paper feed gear 204 to the paper discharge roller, and is fixed to a pulley section (not shown) formed integrally with the paper feed gear 204 and the paper discharge roller. The paper discharge pulley 208 is hung on the paper discharge pulley 208, and in synchronization with the rotation of the paper feed roller, the paper discharge roller rotates to convey the recording paper.

  Next, 401 is a carriage, 500 is a recording head, 502 is an ink tank, 403 is a head set lever that positions and fixes the recording head to the carriage by the pressing force of the spring portion 403a, and the carriage is a guide shaft 402 and a guide rail 305. Is provided so as to be movable in the main scanning direction. Reference numeral 410 denotes a carrier drive motor, 412 denotes a carriage drive belt, 409 denotes a driven pulley, and 415 denotes a pulley holder. A carriage fixed to the carrier drive belt by rotation of a motor pulley 417 press-fitted to the output shaft of the carrier drive motor. Is movable in the main scanning direction. Further, reference numeral 407 denotes an encoder that detects the position and speed of the carriage, and is fixed to the carriage by a fixing member 418. Reference numeral 412 denotes an encoder scale, which is fixed on the chassis 701 in a state where tension is applied to the scale by a scale fixing member 419 and a scale spring 416 made of an elastic member. Here, the scale 412 is a film scale in which a light transmitting portion and a light absorbing portion are slit by means of photographic development or the like on a photographic plate PET film having a thickness of about 0.2 mm, and the LED light emitting portion 415a of the encoder 415. And a light receiving unit 415b, and a carriage driving control and a recording head ejection timing control are performed by a control unit made of a printed circuit board (not shown) based on an encoder output signal. Prints on recording paper.

As another conventional example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 can be cited.
JP 2004-130699 A JP 2004-188700 A

  However, in recent years, the ink droplets ejected from the recording head tend to be smaller in order to improve the image quality (reduction in graininess) of the ink jet recording apparatus, resulting in an increase in ink mist other than the main ink droplets. Ink mist that does not land on the recording paper may float and adhere to parts in the device body, which may adversely affect the operation of the device. In particular, a device with a small device body is more susceptible to ink mist because it fills the machine more easily than a large recording device. In conventional transmission encoders, ink mist adheres to the optical scale and Due to the decrease in the transmittance of the scale, there is a concern that the light emitted from the light emitting part of the encoder does not reach the light receiving part and reading failure occurs, and the position of the carriage, the scanning speed, etc. cannot be detected accurately. .

  If the optical scale becomes dirty due to mist adhesion, it is necessary to replace the optical scale or clean the optical scale. However, there is a problem that the printer main body needs to be disassembled and the operation is complicated.

  Further, in the case of a conventional transmission encoder, a thin resin film such as a PET film is used as the optical scale, and it is necessary to apply tension to the encoder scale and fix it. Therefore, in addition to the encoder scale, three parts, the scale fixing member (2) and the spring member that applies tension to the optical scale, are required, which increases the cost of the components and also takes time to assemble the device during manufacture. There was a problem that the product cost increased.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the problem of poor encoder reading due to ink mist accompanying the downsizing of the apparatus and the problem of product cost.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a recording apparatus according to the present invention is mounted on a carriage and a serial type recording unit that forms an image on a recording material by reciprocating the carriage in the scanning direction. An optical encoder for detecting the movement information of the carriage, an optical scale used for the optical encoder, and an optical scale of the encoder that drives and controls the carriage on the inner surface of the outer cover that covers the carriage in the recording apparatus having the outer cover that covers the carriage Is provided in a range longer than the scanning distance of the carriage.

  The optical scale of the encoder is formed integrally with the exterior cover.

  The optical scale has a V-groove structure.

  The optical scale has a wavefront dividing function.

  The exterior cover is provided on the recording apparatus main body so as to be detachable or rotatable.

  The optical scale is integrally formed on the vertical surface of the exterior cover.

  The exterior cover is made of a permeable member.

(Function)
According to the above operation, since the optical scale is integrally formed on the inner surface of the cover that covers the carriage, the encoder scale, the scale fixing member that fixes the encoder scale, and the spring member that applies tension to the optical scale are provided. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and to eliminate the need for a scale assembling process, thereby providing inexpensive equipment.

  Furthermore, as the recording device is used, the ink floating mist mentioned above adheres to the scale on the inner surface of the exterior cover. However, the scale should be provided inside the exterior cover and provided so that it can be rotated or attached to the main body. Therefore, the optical scale can be easily cleaned by rotating or attaching the cover member, so that the recording apparatus can be prevented from malfunctioning due to poor reading of the encoder, and the carriage position and moving speed can be accurately detected. By detecting this, it is possible to provide a recording device that prints a small and high-definition image.

  As described above, since the optical scale is integrally formed on the inner surface of the cover that covers the carriage, the encoder scale, the fixing member of the scale that fixes the encoder scale, and the spring member that applies tension to the optical scale. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and to eliminate the need for a scale assembling process, thereby providing inexpensive equipment.

  Furthermore, as the recording device is used, the ink floating mist mentioned above adheres to the scale on the inner surface of the exterior cover. However, the scale should be provided inside the exterior cover and provided so that it can be rotated or attached to the main body. Therefore, the optical scale can be easily cleaned by rotating or attaching the cover member, so that it is possible to print a high-definition image by preventing failure of the recording device due to poor reading of the encoder. This makes it possible to provide an excellent recording apparatus.

Example 1
Next, an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the recording apparatus main body of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the main part of the recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the recording apparatus main body showing the recording operation of the present invention. is there.

  1, 3, and 4, the recording operation mechanism according to the present embodiment will be roughly described. A recording sheet P (recording medium including a recordable flexible sheet such as a plastic sheet) is placed in the apparatus main body. An automatic paper feeding unit 100 that automatically feeds to the conveyance unit 200, and a recording paper P that is sent out one by one from the automatic paper feeding unit 100 is guided to a desired recording position, and the recording paper P is discharged from the recording position. Conveying section 200, discharge section 300 located downstream of conveying section 200, recording section 400 that performs desired recording on recording sheet P that has been conveyed to conveying section 200, and recovery processing for recording section 400 and the like. The recovery unit shown in the figure is configured, and each mechanism unit is substantially integrated with the chassis 701 as a center. The conveyance direction of the recording sheet P is an arrow A, and the reciprocating direction of the recording unit 400 is an arrow B.

  The recording unit 400 includes a carriage 401 that is movably supported by a guide shaft 402 and a guide rail 305, and a recording head cartridge 501 that is detachably mounted on the carriage 401.

  The recording head cartridge 501 in this embodiment stores ink, and an ink tank 502 that is detachably mounted on the recording head 500, and ink that is supplied from the ink tank 502 is ejected according to recording information. The recording head 500 employs a so-called cartridge system that is detachably mounted on a carriage 401 described later.

  In the recording head cartridge 501 shown here, in order to enable color recording, a black ink tank 503 and a color ink tank 504 integrated with three colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow are prepared as the ink tank 502. The recording head cartridge 501 is detachable.

  Further, the recording head cartridge 501 is provided with an electric wiring substrate 506 that transmits a drive signal to the recording head 500. The carriage 401 is provided with a head set lever 403 engaged with the carriage 401, and guides the recording head cartridge 501 to the mounting position of the carriage 401 and presses it to set it at a predetermined mounting position.

  The head connector 405 is electrically connected with a contact pin (not shown) and an external input signal terminal (not shown) provided on the electric wiring board 506 of the recording head cartridge 501 to exchange various information for recording. In addition, power can be supplied to the recording head 500.

  The head connector 405 is held so as to be relatively movable with respect to the carriage 401 so that the positioning surfaces of the recording head cartridge 501 and the carriage 401 are not in contact with each other and are positioned with high accuracy.

  The carriage FPC 404 is electrically connected to the head connector 405 so that the electrical connection can be maintained even if the head connector 405 moves as the recording head cartridge 501 is positioned.

  The head set lever 403 is supported by the carriage 401 so as to be rotatable substantially coaxially with the guide shaft 402.

  When the user sets the recording head cartridge 501 on the carriage 401 and rotates the head set lever 403 until the latch of the head set hook 403b engages with the latch engaging portion 401b of the carriage, the recording head cartridge 501 and the carriage 401 The positioning surfaces are in contact with each other and positioned with high accuracy, and the mounting of the recording head cartridge 501 is completed.

  When removing the recording head cartridge 501 from the carriage 401, the user flexes the latch of the headset hook 403b to release the engagement with the carriage 401, and rotates the headset lever 403 in the opening direction.

  Next, the encoder unit will be described. In the present embodiment, an optical reflective encoder sensor and a reflective scale are used. 4 and 5, the encoder sensor 407 is fixed by an encoder sensor fixing member 418 above the guide rail 305 opposite to the guide shaft 402 and the carriage belt 412 with the recording head 500 of the carriage 401 interposed therebetween. In addition, as a reading unit of the encoder sensor, the light receiving element 401a and the light source 401b are arranged substantially in parallel with the vertical surface 707b of the access cover as an exterior member, and from the light receiving element 401 to the inside of the vertical surface of the access cover in the scanning range of the carriage. The distance h (see FIG. 5) is kept constant.

  Further, in FIG. 5, a reflective scale portion 707a is integrally formed on the vertical surface of the access cover 707 at a position facing the reading portion of the encoder sensor and having a length corresponding to the scanning range of the carriage in the direction of arrow D in FIG. The position of the carriage 401, the scanning speed, and the like are detected by detecting information on the reflection scale unit 707a by the reading unit of the encoder sensor.

  Further, FIG. 6 shows a reflection surface by a plurality of V-shaped groove groups that can be manufactured with high accuracy among the light reflection type scales used in the present invention, and an optical device having a wavefront dividing function. It is the schematic which shows the optical path of a scale and a reflection type sensor. In FIG. 6, the access cover 707 is made of a transmissive member such as polycarbonate (PC) or polymethyl metal acrylate (PMMA), and the reflection scale portion 707 a has a plurality of Vs using a reflection action by total internal reflection of the transmissive resin. The reflection surface by the groove is formed on the outer surface of the vertical surface of the access cover with an interval of the scale pitch P by a method of injection molding or compression molding.

  The access cover 707 has a rotation shaft 707b at both ends, is fitted in a hole (not shown) of the upper case 703, and is provided so as to be rotatable in the direction E in FIG.

  Next, the position of the carriage 401 that moves along the guide shaft 402 is determined by making the carriage 401 abut against one side plate of the chassis 701 provided at the end of the carriage 401 on the scanning track and using the abutting position as a reference. Then, as the carriage 401 scans, the reflected light from the scale unit 707a by the encoder sensor 407 is counted as necessary.

  A carriage belt 412 stretched substantially parallel to the guide shaft 402 is attached to the carriage 401 between an idler pulley 409 and a CR motor pulley (not shown). The CR motor pulley is rotated by driving the CR motor 410. Then, the carriage 401 is reciprocated along the guide shaft 402 by moving the carriage belt 412 in the forward movement direction or the backward movement direction.

  An LF roller 201 and a pinch roller 202 are provided below the guide shaft 402, and the recording paper P is conveyed by rotating while sandwiching the recording paper P (not shown). The recording paper P is guided to the platen 203 and the distance from the recording head 500 is kept constant, so that the ink droplets ejected from the recording head 500 land on the recording paper P with high accuracy and form a high-definition image. Is done.

  A guide rail 305 is provided on the side opposite to the guide shaft 402 and the carriage belt 412 across the recording head 500, and maintains the posture of the carriage 401 over the scanning region of the carriage 401. The scanning of the carriage 401 is guided while keeping the interval.

  As is apparent from the drawing, the guide rail 305 is arranged substantially horizontally with respect to the guide shaft 402, and the encoder sensor 407 is disposed above the guide rail 305, so that the height of the carriage scanning unit and thus the entire recording apparatus can be obtained. Has been greatly reduced.

  In the small recording apparatus having such a configuration, the optical scale is formed integrally with the inner surface of the cover that covers the carriage, whereby the encoder scale, the scale fixing member that fixes the encoder scale, and the optical scale are tensioned. Since three parts of the spring member to be provided are not necessary, the number of parts can be reduced. Furthermore, since the scale assembling process is included in the conventional access cover assembling process, it becomes unnecessary, so that it is possible to provide a cheaper device by reducing the number of assembling steps.

  As the recording apparatus is further used, the above-mentioned ink floating mist adheres to the scale portion on the inner surface of the access cover. Conventionally, in order to clean the scale, the recording apparatus main body has to be disassembled and the operation is complicated. However, in this embodiment, the scale is integrally formed on the access cover, so as shown in FIG. By rotating the access cover 707 in the D direction, the ink attached to the vicinity of the scale portion 707a on the inner surface of the vertical surface 707b of the access cover can be easily wiped off with a cloth or the like.

  Also, by arranging the reflective scale part in the vertical direction, it is possible to reliably prevent the ink mist floating in the machine from accumulating on the scale part as compared with the case of horizontal arrangement, so that the ink mist on the scale can be prevented. It is possible to reduce adhesion. By adopting a configuration that allows easy cleaning in this way, and a configuration that reduces the adhesion of ink mist by arranging the scale in the vertical direction, encoder reading defects can be prevented in advance, and a highly accurate carriage position and It is possible to provide a recording device capable of printing a high-definition image while maintaining reading of the moving speed.

(Example 2)
In the first embodiment, the access cover 707 is configured to be pivotably provided on the upper case 703. However, the access cover may be configured to be removable by providing an engagement claw and an engagement hole on the upper case. good. It is obvious that the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained even in such a configuration.

(Example 3)
Further, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus described above, in addition to the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and further a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function, etc. It may be.

  FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

Example 4
Furthermore, although the example in which the optical scale is integrally formed on the exterior cover is shown from the first embodiment to the second embodiment, after the exterior cover and the engineering scale are formed as separate parts, for example, between resin parts The outer cover may be provided with an engineering scale by simple means such as heat welding or adhesion.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the recording apparatus main body according to the invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which an access cover of the recording apparatus main body of the present invention is opened. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of the recording apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the recording apparatus main body of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing main components of the recording apparatus of the present invention. Schematic which shows the optical path of the encoder part of the recording device of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows 3rd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

401 Carriage 402 Guide shaft 403 Head set lever 403b Head set hook 407 Encoder sensor 408 Encoder scale 305 Guide rail 500 Recording head 703 Upper case 704 Lower case 705 Paper feed tray 706 Paper discharge cover 707 Access cover 707a Scale unit

Claims (8)

  A serial recording unit that forms an image on a recording material by reciprocating the carriage in the scanning direction; an optical encoder that is mounted on the carriage to detect movement information of the carriage; and an optical scale that is used in the optical encoder; A recording apparatus having an exterior cover that covers a carriage, wherein an optical scale of an encoder that drives and controls the carriage is provided on an inner surface of the exterior cover that covers the carriage in a range longer than a scanning distance of the carriage.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an optical scale of the encoder is formed integrally with an exterior cover.   The encoder is a reflective encoder having a sensor having a light emitting part and a light receiving part, and an optical scale having a reflecting part for reflecting light emitted from the light emitting part of the sensor and returning it to the light receiving part. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is a recording apparatus.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical scale has a V-groove structure.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical scale has a wavefront division function.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exterior cover is provided on the recording apparatus main body so as to be detachable or rotatable.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical scale is integrally formed on a vertical surface of the exterior cover.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exterior cover is made of a transparent member.

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