JP2006205495A - Inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recorder which enables the positioning action while a scanning range of a recording head in the normal recording operation is prevented from increasing. <P>SOLUTION: For saving a waste of a time for performing the positioning action again in a scanning direction and a connection direction of the recording head after the recording head moves to a cap connection position or a wiping position, a positioning means is set to be able to project and retreat in the scanning range of the recording head or a carriage. The positioning means is projected prior to the cap connection operation for the recording head or prior to the wiping action, and before the recording head reaches the cap connection position and the wiping position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from a recording head, and an ejection recovery apparatus that is used in an inkjet recording apparatus and that keeps ink ejection from nozzles of the recording head favorable. Is.

  In addition to a general printing apparatus, the present invention is an apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile having a communication system, a word processor having a printing unit, and an industrial recording apparatus combined with various processing apparatuses. Can be applied.

  Recording devices having functions such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, etc., or recording devices used as output devices of composite electronic devices and workstations including computers and word processors, are based on image information such as paper and plastic thin plates. An image is recorded on a recording medium.

  Among such recording apparatuses, an ink jet recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording medium from a recording head as a recording unit. This ink jet recording apparatus has the following advantages. That is, the recording head can be easily downsized, high-definition images can be recorded at high speed, and can be recorded on plain paper without requiring special processing, and the running cost is low. Further, since it is a non-impact method, noise is low, and it is easy to record a color image using multi-color ink.

  In particular, an ink jet recording means (recording head) that discharges ink using thermal energy is subjected to a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, sputtering, and the like, an electrothermal transducer, an electrode, Since a high-density liquid channel arrangement (nozzle arrangement) can be realized by a liquid channel wall, a top plate, etc., further downsizing can be achieved.

  An ink jet recording apparatus records an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from nozzles in accordance with an electrical signal. The nozzle may not be able to eject ink droplets in response to an electrical signal due to the intrusion of air into the interior or the thickening of ink due to drying. As a method for recovering the nozzle from such an ink non-ejection state, there is a method (suction recovery) in which ink that does not contribute to image recording is sucked and discharged from the tip of the nozzle by a suction means. As the suction recovery means, for example, a cap means that contacts the ink discharge port forming surface is provided so as to cover the ink discharge port of the recording head, a suction port is formed in the cap means, and a tube pump is connected to the suction port There is a thing of the structure.

  In addition, when recording is performed continuously, the mist-like ink mist generated separately from the ejected ink droplets and the rebound ink from the recording medium adhere to and accumulate on the ink ejection port forming surface of the recording head, and the ink ejection The vicinity of the outlet becomes wet, and ink ejection becomes unstable. In order to prevent such a phenomenon, there is provided a wiping means for wiping off ink adhering to the ink discharge port forming surface with a wiper blade when the ink discharge exceeds a predetermined amount. The wiping means is also used when wiping off ink adhering to the ink discharge port formation surface after the suction recovery.

  These suction recovery means, cap means, and wiping means are collectively referred to as ink discharge recovery means.

  In order to perform the cap means and the wiping means, the positional relationship between the recording head and the cap and the recording head and the wiper blade is important. In order to reduce the size of the apparatus, it is necessary to reduce the size of the recording head, cap means, and wiping means. Unless the variation in the contact position between the recording head and the cap and the position variation between the recording head and the wiper blade are suppressed, the contact allowance and the wiping allowance must be increased by the variation. Apart from this, if the amount of overlap when wiping the wiper blade and the recording head nozzle forming surface varies, sufficient ink wiping performance cannot be exhibited.

  As a countermeasure, conventionally, a recording head is mounted before operating the recovery means, a positioning projection is inserted into a carriage that operates integrally with the recording head, positioning in the scanning direction is performed, and the carriage is further pushed up by the projection. Thus, a configuration is adopted in which the overlap amount between the ink discharge port forming surface of the recording head and the wiper blade is made constant.

  Alternatively, the overlap amount of the ink discharge port forming surface of the recording head and the wiper blade is dealt with by using a plurality of blades having different overlap amounts (increasing the number of sheets).

The cap is supported by a slide member that slides along the cam surface, and the carriage mounted on the recording head and operating integrally with the recording head pushes the protrusion provided on the slide member and slides the cap so that the cap is recorded. Among the recording apparatuses that contact and release the recording medium, there are recording apparatuses in which the cap and the recording head are positioned in the scanning direction by the projections of the carriage and the slide member.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-103805 (FIG. 2-29)

  However, the following problems remain in such a conventional ink discharge recovery device.

  In recent years, high-speed recording, miniaturization, and cost reduction have been demanded.

  If the ink discharge recovery operation is performed before the start of the recording operation or during the recording operation, the recording time becomes longer, which hinders speeding up.

  On the other hand, the method of inserting the protrusions into the carriage for positioning the recording head and the ink discharge recovery means as shown in the conventional example is an unnecessary operation because the protrusion is inserted after the carriage reaches the ink discharge recovery means. Time is included.

  In addition, there is a risk that the cost of an ink jet recording apparatus that increases the number of wiper blades is increased.

  Further, in an ink jet recording apparatus in which the cap slides, an operation area for the recording head to operate the cap means needs to be provided separately from the recording scanning area, which hinders downsizing of the apparatus.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can perform a positioning operation without increasing the scanning range of a recording head during a normal recording operation.

The inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention is
(1) A recording apparatus that records on a recording medium by ejecting ink from a plurality of ink ejection ports of a recording head and scanning the recording head, thereby contacting the plurality of ink ejection port forming surfaces of the recording head and discharging ink. A cap that covers the outlet is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the recording head, and has a positioning means for positioning the recording head or a carriage that scans integrally with the recording head by mounting the recording head when the cap abuts. In a recording apparatus that performs a cap abutting operation after a recording head positioning operation by the positioning unit, the positioning unit is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat within the scanning range of the recording head or the carriage, and before the cap abutting operation of the recording head, the recording head and the carriage Projecting before reaching the positioning means.

  (2) The position where the recording head or the carriage that operates integrally with the recording head is positioned by the protruding positioning means is the cap contact position of the recording head.

  (3) Before the recording head cap contact operation, the positioning means guides the recording head so that the distance of the recording head facing the cap reaches a predetermined amount before the recording head reaches the cap contact position.

  (4) A recording apparatus that records on a recording medium by ejecting ink from a plurality of ink ejection ports of the recording head and scanning the recording head, while moving the recording head in a direction perpendicular to the recording head scanning direction. A wiping means for wiping the ink discharge port forming surface, and a positioning means for positioning a recording head or a carriage that scans integrally with the recording head during wiping, In a recording apparatus that performs a wiping operation after a recording head positioning operation, a positioning unit is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat within the scanning range of the recording head or carriage, and before the recording head and the carriage reach the positioning unit before the wiping operation of the recording head. Project in advance.

  (5) The position where the recording head or the carriage that operates integrally with the recording head is positioned by the protruding positioning means is the wiping position of the recording head.

  (6) Before the recording head is wiped, the positioning unit guides the overlapping amount of the ink discharge port forming surface of the recording head with respect to the wiper blade until the recording head reaches the wiping position.

  (7) The recording head and cap, and the recording head and wiper blade positioning means are also used.

The inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention is
(1) Positioning operation can be performed without increasing the scanning range of the recording head during normal recording operation.

  (2) After the recording head has moved to the cap contact position, the time for performing the positioning operation of the recording head in the scanning direction again can be saved.

  (3) After the recording head has moved to the cap contact position, it is possible to save time for performing the positioning operation in the contact direction of the recording head again.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a discharge recovery apparatus.

  2 is an automatic sheet feeding device for separating and feeding the stacked recording sheets one by one, 3 is a sheet conveying roller, 4 is a pinch roller, and the sheets separated and fed one by one from the automatic sheet feeding device are sheets The sheet 6 is sandwiched between the conveying roller 3 and the pinch roller 4 and fed to the platen 5. A sheet discharge roller 6 is sandwiched between the sheet discharge roller 6 and a spur (not shown) and is discharged outside the recording apparatus.

  7 is a recording head, 8 is an ink tank, 9 is a carriage, 10 is a guide shaft, 11 is a guide rail, 12 is a drive belt, and when the sheet S passes over the platen 5, the carriage 9 is driven by a carriage motor by the drive belt 12. The driving force in the scanning direction is transmitted via the guide shaft 10, guided by the guide shaft 10 and the guide rail 11, reciprocates in the scanning direction, and ink is ejected from the mounted recording head 7 onto the sheet S according to the recording signal. By doing so, recording is performed.

  13 is a discharge recovery device, 14 is a cap, 16 is a cap lever, 18 is a wiper blade, 19 is a blade holder, 20 is a control cam, 21 is a drive gear train, 22 is positioning means, and the cap 14 is ink of the recording head 7. It is sealed to cover the discharge port to prevent ink drying at the ink discharge port and adhesion of dust when not in use. The cap 14 is supported by a cap lever 16 and is configured to be able to be moved up and down by rotating the cap lever 16 about a cap lever shaft 161.

  The wiper blade 18 is fixed to a blade holder 19, guided by a rail 23, and configured to be slidable. The blade holder 19 is provided with a rack 191 and is connected to the drive gear train 21. When the recording head 7 is in front of the wiper blade 18, it slides to wipe off ink and dust that has rebounded during recording and has adhered to the vicinity of the ejection opening of the recording head 7. The control cam 20 is provided with a plurality of drive gears and cams, and is driven and rotated by a PG motor (not shown). The aforementioned cap lever 16 is given a rotational force about the cap lever shaft 161 by a cam provided on the control cam 20. Further, the drive provided to the rack 191 of the blade holder 19 is transmitted to the rack 191 of the blade holder 19 via the idler gear by the gear provided in the control cam 20, and the blade holder 19 slides.

  The positioning means 22 is also configured to be rotatable by a drive gear train 21 by driving a PG motor (not shown). The drive gear train 21 is provided with a friction clutch (not shown), and the positioning means 22 is configured to rotate only within a predetermined angle range.

  Next, the positioning means 22 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  The scanning area of the carriage during normal printing is extended to the position where the acceleration area extends to the position where the ink discharge port of the recording head 7 faces the cap 14, thereby reducing the main body width of the recording apparatus and making the recording apparatus compact. Therefore, during normal printing, the positioning means 22 is rotated and retracted from the scanning area so as not to disturb the running of the recording head 7 and the carriage 9. In the vicinity of the ink discharge port of the recording head 7, the ink bounces off when it is continuously printed, so that it is necessary to periodically wipe and clean it with the wiper blade 18. Further, when printing is completed, the ink at the ink discharge port of the recording head 7 is thickened, and the ink discharge port is sealed with a cap 14 in order to prevent the ink discharge from being hindered during the next printing.

  At this time, if the overlap amount of the wiper blade 18 and the ink discharge port forming surface of the recording head 7 varies, the wiper blade 18 cannot sufficiently exert the effect of wiping off ink and dust. Further, if the scanning direction accuracy between the cap 14 and the ejection port forming surface of the recording head 7 varies, it is necessary to widen the ejection port forming surface of the recording head, which hinders downsizing of the recording apparatus. Therefore, when wiping with the wiper blade 18 and sealing with the cap 14 are performed, the positioning means 22 is driven and rotated around the rotation shaft 221 by a PG motor (not shown) immediately before the carriage 9 reaches the positioning means 22. And make it protrude.

  Thereby, there is no time loss caused by operating the positioning means 22. The positioning means 22 is provided with an inclined surface 222, guides the lower surface of the abutting portion 901 of the carriage 9, rides up to the parallel portion 223 of the positioning means 22 by the scanning force of the carriage 9, and overlaps with the blade 18. Position so that the amount is constant.

  Further, the positioning means 22 is provided with a stopper 224 in the scanning direction, and positioning in the scanning direction is performed when the side surface of the abutting portion 901 of the carriage 9 abuts. In this state, wiping with the wiper blade 18 and sealing with the cap 14 are performed in an optimal state.

(Second Embodiment)
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the positioning pin 224 is provided in the positioning means 22 with respect to the positioning hole 902 provided in the carriage 9, and guided by the taper portion 226 of the positioning pin 225 to determine the position of the carriage. Compared with the method in which the position of the carriage 9 is controlled in the upward direction by the weight of the recording head 7 and the carriage 9 in the first embodiment, it is also resistant to disturbances such as vibration applied to the recording apparatus during the wiping operation by the blade 18. Stability can be added.

1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a discharge recovery device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the positioning operation | movement in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the positioning operation | movement in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the positioning operation | movement in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the positioning operation | movement in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the positioning operation | movement in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the positioning operation | movement in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 2 Automatic sheet feeding device 3 Sheet conveyance roller 4 Pinch roller 5 Platen 6 Paper discharge roller 7 Recording head 8 Ink tank 9 Carriage 10 Guide shaft 11 Guide rail 12 Drive belt 13 Discharge recovery device 14 Cap 16 Cap lever 18 Wiper blade 19 Blade holder 20 Control cam 21 Drive gear train 22 Positioning means 23 Rail

Claims (7)

A recording apparatus that discharges ink from a plurality of ink discharge ports of a recording head and records on a recording medium by scanning the recording head, and covers the ink discharge ports by contacting a plurality of ink discharge port forming surfaces of the recording head A positioning mechanism for positioning the position of the recording head or a carriage mounted with the recording head and scanning integrally with the recording head when the cap is in contact with the recording head; In the ink jet recording apparatus that performs the cap contact operation after the recording head positioning operation by
Ink-jet recording characterized in that positioning means is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat within the scanning range of the recording head or carriage, and is projected in advance before the recording head and carriage reach the positioning means before the cap contact operation of the recording head. apparatus.   2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position where the protruding positioning means positions the recording head or the carriage operating integrally with the recording head is a cap contact position of the recording head.   The positioning means guides the recording head so that the distance of the recording head facing the cap becomes a predetermined amount before the recording head reaches the cap contact position before the cap contact operation of the recording head. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to 1. In a recording apparatus that records ink on a recording medium by ejecting ink from a plurality of ink ejection ports of a recording head and scanning the recording head, the ink ejection ports of the recording head are moved in a direction perpendicular to the recording head scanning direction. A wiping unit for wiping the forming surface, and a positioning unit for positioning a recording head or a carriage that scans integrally with the recording head when wiping is performed, and positioning the recording head by the positioning unit In an inkjet recording apparatus that performs a wiping operation after operation,
An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a positioning unit is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat within a scanning range of a recording head or a carriage, and is projected in advance before the recording head and the carriage reach the positioning unit before the wiping operation of the recording head.   5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the position where the recording head or the carriage operating integrally with the recording head is positioned by the protruding positioning means is a wiping position of the recording head.   Before the recording head is wiped, the positioning means guides the overlapping amount of the ink discharge port forming surface of the recording head with respect to the wiper blade until the recording head reaches the wiping position. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2.   7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head and the cap, and the positioning means for the recording head and the wiper blade are combined.

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