JP2007160807A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device whose electric circuit is not affected by a static electricity even when the hand of a user touches the point contacting with an ink cartridge in the recording device. <P>SOLUTION: When the ink cartridge 102Y is not installed in a carriage 103, the contact point 151P of a cartridge connector 151 installed in the carriage 103 becomes insulated from the electric circuit inside the recording device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus to which an ink cartridge can be attached and detached, and more particularly to a recording apparatus having a cartridge connector for electrically connecting an ink cartridge and the recording apparatus.

  In recent years, the color of recording apparatuses has progressed dramatically, and a plurality of colors can be recorded simultaneously. As a recording method in such a recording apparatus, an ink jet method, a thermal method, and the like are generally spread. In particular, in the ink jet system, it is possible to attach an independent ink cartridge for each color to the recording apparatus, and each color independent replacement type recording apparatus that can replace only the ink cartridge that has run out of ink has become mainstream. It has become.

  In the case of such an independently replaceable ink cartridge for each color, the recording device itself stores the ink cartridge in order to detect the state of each ink cartridge (for example, the remaining amount of stored ink) and the wrong attachment of the ink cartridge. Some have elements. In this storage element, for example, remaining amount information of ink in the ink cartridge and identification information of the ink cartridge are stored. When the ink cartridge is attached to the recording apparatus, the recording apparatus and the ink cartridge are electrically connected, and the recording apparatus can detect an erroneous attachment of the ink cartridge by reading the identification information in the storage element. it can. Further, the recording apparatus can check the ink remaining amount for each cartridge (each color) by reading the ink remaining amount information in the storage element.

JP 2001-305844 A

  However, since the ink cartridge is removable in the above conventional example, when the ink cartridge is removed, the contact portion of the recording apparatus that is electrically connected to the electrical contact of the ink cartridge is exposed to the outside. become. When the contact part of the recording device is exposed, the user may touch the contact part of the recording device, and when the user's hand is charged with static electricity, malfunction of the electric circuit inside the recording device due to the static electricity, In the worst case, the main body of the apparatus may be broken.

  In order to avoid such a problem, for example, an opening / closing type shutter may be provided at a connection portion of a process cartridge used in a laser printer with a printer, but the mechanism becomes complicated and the cost increases. (Patent Document 1).

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus in which an electric circuit inside the recording apparatus is not affected by static electricity even when a statically charged user's hand touches a contact portion with an ink cartridge in the recording apparatus. To do.

  Recording is performed by applying ink supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording medium from the recording head while relatively moving the carriage on which the recording head and the ink cartridge are mounted and the recording medium. A recording apparatus in which an ink cartridge side contact provided in the ink cartridge and a connector provided in the carriage and connectable to an electric circuit in the recording apparatus are electrically connected When the ink cartridge is not attached, the connector is insulated from the electrical circuit in the recording apparatus, and when the ink cartridge is attached, the connector is electrically connected to the electrical circuit in the recording apparatus. It is characterized by being in a conductive state.

  According to the recording apparatus of the present invention, when the ink cartridge is removed from the recording apparatus, the contact portion of the recording apparatus and the internal electric circuit are insulated, and the user's hand charged with static electricity is in contact with the recording apparatus. Even if touched, the influence of static electricity on the recording apparatus can be avoided.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as a recording apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the recording apparatus of this embodiment, a plurality of ejection openings are arranged, and a recording head 102 (see FIG. 2) that ejects ink from each ejection opening is detachably attached to the carriage 103 by a fixing lever 104. In the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, four ink cartridges 102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are used. It is mounted on. The carriage 103 is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b (main scanning direction) along the guide shaft 105 when the rotational force of the carriage motor 113 is transmitted through the motor pulley 112, the driven pulley 111, and the timing belt 107. It is possible.

  The recording medium 110 in the drawing is conveyed by two pairs of conveying rollers 106, 107 and 108, 109 in the c direction (sub-scanning direction) intersecting the moving direction of the carriage 103. The recording medium 110 is held from the back by a platen (not shown) so as to form a flat recording surface at a position facing the surface of the recording head 102 having the ejection openings.

  Recording is performed on a predetermined recording area of the recording medium 110 while alternately performing the scanning of the recording head 102 by the carriage 103 in the main scanning direction and the conveyance of the recording medium 110 in the sub-scanning direction. The recording data at that time is transmitted from the control unit of the recording apparatus to the drive circuit of the recording head via a flexible cable (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, a connection substrate 123 is provided below the carriage 103 so as to be electrically connected to a plurality of cartridge connectors 151 described later. The connection board 123 is connected to a control circuit of the recording apparatus main body via a flexible cable (not shown).

  In the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, the recovery unit 120 is provided at a position that is the home position of the carriage 103. The recovery unit 120 is arranged corresponding to each recording head 102 mounted on the carriage 103, and is connected to four caps 121Y, 121M, 121C, and 121K, and the caps and tubes (not shown). And a pump unit. These four caps 121Y, 121M, 121C, and 121K can be moved up and down in the vertical direction when the carriage 103 comes to the home position to cover the discharge port for each ink color (capping) in the recording head 102. It is configured to be. By performing this capping, it is possible to prevent the ink from thickening and sticking due to the evaporation of ink from the ejection port, and to prevent the occurrence of ink ejection failure. In addition, by operating the pump unit with the cap closed when replacing the ink cartridge and generating negative pressure in the cap, ink is sucked from the discharge port and new ink is guided from the ink cartridge to the recording head. A suction recovery process can be performed. Further, a sensor lever 122 is provided on the recovery unit 120 side so that the sensor lever 122 can be detected by the photo sensor 125 provided on the carriage 103 when the carriage 103 moves to the vicinity of the home position. It is configured.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the recording head 102 and the ink cartridges 102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K are mounted on the carriage 103. FIG. 2A shows a state in which the recording head 102 and the ink cartridges 102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K are fixed to the carriage 103 by the fixing lever 104. FIG. FIG. 2B shows a state where the fixing lever 104 is lifted upward and the ink cartridge 102M is removed from the carriage 103. FIG. FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the carriage 103 on which the four ink cartridges 102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K are mounted as seen from the lower surface. In this way, each ink cartridge can be individually separated from the carriage 103, and a cartridge that has run out of ink can be replaced with a new ink cartridge.

  The fixing lever 104 is for positioning and fixing the recording head 102 with respect to the carriage 103. A boss portion 103a provided in the carriage 103 and a hole 104a provided in the fixing lever are rotatable. Are attached together. The recording lever 102 can be replaced and fixed by the fixing lever 104, and further serves as a guide when the ink cartridges 102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K are mounted. Further, the recording head 102 and the carriage 103 are electrically connected by closing the fixing lever 104.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. Reference numeral 301 denotes a system controller for controlling the entire recording apparatus, and includes a microprocessor (MPU), a ROM containing a control program, and a work area when the MPU executes the control program and performs various processes. A RAM to be used is provided. Reference numeral 302 denotes a driver for driving a carriage motor 113 for moving the carriage 103. Similarly, reference numeral 303 denotes a driver for driving a conveyance motor 305 for conveying a recording medium by a conveyance roller. The carriage motor 113 and the carry motor 305 operate based on information such as speed and moving distance sent from each driver.

  Reference numeral 307 denotes a reception buffer for temporarily storing recording data sent from the host computer 306, and accumulates data until data reading by the system controller 301. Reference numeral 308 denotes a frame memory for expanding the recording data into bitmap data, and stores bitmap data to be expanded based on the data read from the reception buffer 307 by the system controller 301. In this embodiment, the frame memory 308 is divided into four frame memories 308Y, 308M, 308C, and 308K for each color, and each frame memory is necessary for recording one sheet of recording paper corresponding to each color. It has enough capacity to store data. Reference numeral 309 denotes a recording data memory for storing bitmap data for one scan of the recording head 102. In this embodiment, the recording data memory 309 is divided into four memories 309Y, 309M, 309C, and 309K for each color, like the frame memory 308, and each memory is the number of ink ejection ports of the recording head 102. It has a storage capacity proportional to Needless to say, the size of the frame memory is not limited to the above example.

  A head controller 310 controls driving of the recording head 102 according to a command from the system controller 301, and controls, for example, the ejection frequency of the recording head 102, the number of driving recording elements, and the like. In addition, here, the number of ink droplets ejected from the recording head 102 and the number of suctions performed for recovery of the recording head 102 are counted, and the ink consumption for each color ink is set to the number of ink droplets (pulse number). Perform the conversion process. Reference numeral 311 denotes a head driver that drives the recording head 102 to discharge ink under the control of the head controller 310. Further, reference numeral 313 denotes a detection unit that receives a signal from the photosensor 125 and converts it into a digital value corresponding to the input value.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the state in which the ink cartridge 102Y and the recording head 102 are mounted on the carriage 103 as seen from the side. Since the ink cartridges 102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K have the same configuration, only the ink cartridge 102Y is shown as a representative here.

  The recording head 102 is provided with an ejection port 2 for ejecting ink to the recording medium 110. The ink in the ink cartridge 102 </ b> Y is discharged through the supply port 4 of the ink cartridge 102 </ b> Y, the supply pipe 5 that guides ink from the ink cartridge 102 </ b> Y to the recording head 102, the common liquid chamber 13 of the recording head 102, and the ink flow path 17. 2 is supplied. Then, the ink on the heat acting surface is applied using the heat energy generated by selectively applying the electric energy or power corresponding to the recording signal to the electrothermal transducer provided in each ink flow path 17. Heat rapidly. Then, film boiling occurs in the ink, and the ink can be discharged from the ink discharge port 2 by the pressure of bubbles generated at that time.

  The ink cartridge 102Y is provided with an atmosphere communication port 6 for performing gas-liquid exchange accompanying ink supply. Further, an ink absorber 7 such as polyurethane is housed inside the cartridge, and an appropriate negative pressure is generated in the ink supply path by the capillary force, thereby realizing stable ink droplet ejection.

  A connection substrate 123 connected to the control circuit of the printing apparatus is provided on the bottom surface of the carriage 103, and is connected to the substrate unit 141 provided on the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 102Y via the cartridge connector 151 as shown in FIG. It is possible. The cartridge connector 151 is provided for each ink cartridge. In the recording apparatus according to this embodiment, four cartridge connectors 151 are provided.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state of the cartridge connector 151 when the ink cartridge 102Y is not mounted on the carriage 103 and when the ink cartridge 102Y is mounted. Since the ink cartridges 102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K have the same configuration, only the ink cartridge 102Y is shown as a representative here.

  FIG. 5A shows the state of the cartridge connector 151 when the ink cartridge 102Y is not mounted on the carriage 103. FIG. As shown in the figure, the cartridge connector 151 includes an integral connection portion 153 composed of a first contact portion 152P and a second contact portion 151P connected by a leaf spring portion 152, and a casing 154 that holds the connection portion 153. It has. FIG. 5B shows the state of the cartridge connector 151 when the ink cartridge 102 </ b> Y is mounted on the carriage 103.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, when the ink cartridge 102Y is not mounted on the carriage 103, the second contact portion 151P of the cartridge connector 151 and the contact 123P of the connection board 123 are not in contact with each other. That is, when the ink cartridge 102Y is not attached to the carriage 103, the cartridge connector 151 and the connection substrate 123 are not electrically connected.

  When the ink cartridge 102Y is mounted as shown in FIG. 5B, the first contact portion 152P of the cartridge connector 151 is connected to the connection substrate 123 by a reaction force from the electrical contact 102YP (ink cartridge side contact) of the ink cartridge 102Y. Is pressed against. By being pressed in this way, the casing 154 of the cartridge connector 151 moves in a direction close to the connection board 123. Then, the surface 156 of the second contact portion 151P contacts the contact surface 155 of the casing 154. At this time, since the action point 157 of the force of the second contact portion 151P is located at a position shifted from the acting axis S1 where the reaction force from the electrical contact 102YP acts, the second contact portion 151P is a contact surface of the casing 154. Rotation starts around the end 155P of 155. Thereafter, the end portion 155P of the contact surface 155 of the casing 154 moves on the surface 156 of the second contact portion 151P with the bending of the leaf spring portion 152, and the second contact portion 151P moves in the direction of the arrow d. . Along with this movement, the point of action 157 of the force of the second contact portion 151P slides on the connection board 123 and comes into contact with the contact 123P (carriage side contact) of the connection board 123 to enable electrical conduction. The amount of movement of the second contact portion 151P in the direction of the arrow d at this time is calculated from the amount of downward movement of the cartridge connector 151 when the ink cartridge 102Y is mounted, and is calculated to be an appropriate amount of movement. The spring part 152 is designed.

  Even if the first contact portion 152P of the cartridge connector 151 receives a reaction force from the electrical contact 102YP, the first contact portion 152P itself does not move relative to the casing 154. It is configured to move up and down together with the casing 154.

  With this configuration, when the ink cartridge 102Y is mounted, the cartridge connector 151 is electrically connected to the connection board 123, and when the ink cartridge 102Y is not mounted, the cartridge connector 151 is insulated from the connection board 123.

  The second contact portion 151P of the cartridge connector slides in a state where the second contact portion 151P is urged by the leaf spring portion 152 with respect to the portion on the connection substrate 123 where the second contact portion 151P slides. There is concern about the scraping of the agent. Therefore, it is desirable that the substrate is not subjected to a resist treatment for applying the treatment agent. This resist processing may be performed while avoiding at least a range in which the first contact portion 152P slides.

  Further, the connecting portion 153 is preferably an integral body made of a hard material having excellent electrical conductivity and spring properties and having wear resistance.

  In the present embodiment, the first contact portion 152P of the cartridge connector 151 is configured not to move with respect to the casing 154, but may be configured to move in the same manner as the second contact portion 151P. By doing so, the cartridge connector 151 becomes a vertical object, and assembly is possible regardless of the direction of the contact portion when the recording apparatus is assembled.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, since the ink cartridges 102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K have the same configuration, only the ink cartridge 102Y is shown as a representative here.

  FIG. 6A shows the state of the cartridge connector 151 when the carriage 103 is not mounted with the ink cartridge 102Y. The cartridge connector 151 includes an integral connection portion 153 constituted by a first contact portion 152P and a second contact portion 151P connected by a leaf spring portion 152, and a casing 154 that holds the connection portion 153. Yes. The cartridge connector 151 further includes a coil spring 161 provided on the bottom surface of the casing 154. FIG. 6B shows the state of the cartridge connector 151 when the carriage 103 is mounted with the ink cartridge 102Y. In the first embodiment, the second contact portion 151P slides on the connection substrate 123 using the bending of the leaf spring portion 152 of the cartridge connector 151, so that the second contact portion 151P and the connection substrate 123 Contact and non-contact with the contact 123P were realized. In the present embodiment, a coil spring 161 is provided on the cartridge connector 151, and the casing 154 of the cartridge connector 151 is urged away from the connection substrate 123, thereby obtaining the same effect as in the first embodiment. It is configured to be able to.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, when the ink cartridge 102Y is not attached to the carriage 103, the casing 154 is pushed up by the coil spring 161 provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge connector 151. At this time, the casing 154 is held in a state where the protruding portion 151T of the cartridge connector 151 is in contact with the stopper portion 103ST provided on the carriage 103. At this time, the second contact portion 151P connected to the connection substrate 123 of the cartridge connector 151 and the contact 123P of the connection substrate 123 are not in contact with each other. When the ink cartridge 102Y is not attached, that is, when the first contact portion 152P, which is a contact portion with the ink cartridge of the recording apparatus, is exposed to the outside and the user can touch the contact portion, the cartridge connector 151 is connected. There is no electrical continuity with the substrate 123. Therefore, even if a user's hand charged with static electricity touches the contact portion, the electric circuit of the recording apparatus is not affected by the static electricity.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, when the ink cartridge 102Y is mounted on the carriage 103, the first contact portion 152P of the cartridge connector 151 receives the reaction force from the contact portion 102YP of the ink cartridge 102Y and applies to the connection substrate 123. It is pressed against. With this pressing operation, the coil spring 161 provided on the bottom surface portion of the cartridge connector 151 bends, and the second contact portion 151P connected to the connection board 123 of the cartridge connector 151 contacts the contact 123P of the connection board 123. . After the second contact portion 151P comes into contact with the contact 123P, the second contact portion 151P starts to bend, and the cartridge connector 151 and the connection substrate 123 are in an electrically conductive state when the ink cartridge 102Y is completely attached. When the cartridge connector 151 and the connection substrate 123 are in a conductive state, the user cannot touch the contact portion because the ink cartridge 102Y is mounted on the carriage 103.

  As described above, when the ink cartridge 102Y is not attached to the carriage 103, that is, when the connection portion with the ink cartridge 102Y of the recording apparatus is exposed, the second contact portion 151P of the cartridge connector 151 and the electric circuit inside the recording apparatus Is in an insulated state. In this way, even if a statically charged user's hand touches the exposed first contact portion 152P, which is the connection portion with the exposed ink cartridge 102Y of the printing apparatus, the electric circuit inside the printing apparatus remains static. A recording apparatus that is not affected can be configured at low cost.

  In this embodiment, the coil spring 161 that presses the cartridge connector 151 is constituted by a compression spring, but another spring such as a torsion coil spring, a tension spring, a leaf spring, or the spring property of the mold of the connector itself. Even if is used, an equivalent effect can be obtained.

  Moreover, although the connection part 153 in this embodiment is provided with the leaf | plate spring part 152, you may comprise this part with a coil spring.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment implement | achieved the structure of the contact and non-contact state of the 2nd contact part 151P of a cartridge connector and the contact 123P of the connection board | substrate 123 by moving the cartridge connector 151, it is not limited to this. That is, when the ink cartridge is not attached to the carriage, the second contact portion 151P of the cartridge connector and the contact 123 of the connection substrate are in an insulating state, and when the ink cartridge is attached to the carriage, the passage state is sufficient. . Therefore, even if the cartridge connector is not a movable body as in the embodiment of the present invention, only the contact portion may be moved so that the configuration of the insulation state and the conduction state as described above may be possible.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the control circuit of the main body of the recording apparatus and the substrate unit of the ink cartridge can be electrically connected when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink jet recording apparatus has been described. . In other words, it is a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the device, and the cartridge and the device require an electrical connection, and the user can touch the contact portion with the cartridge of the device. Part) and the like.

  Further, the ink cartridge may constitute an ink jet cartridge integrated with the recording head.

1 is a perspective view showing a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a perspective view of a carriage on which the recording head and the ink cartridge in FIG. 1 are mounted. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the carriage when the ink cartridge is replaced. FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at from the bottom. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the recording apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a carriage on which the recording head and the ink cartridge in FIG. 1 are mounted. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge connector when the ink cartridge in FIG. 1 is not mounted on the carriage, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge connector when the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage. (A) is a sectional view of the cartridge connector when the ink cartridge is not mounted on the carriage in the recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge connector when the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage. is there.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 Recording head 102YP Carriage side contact 103 Carriage 113 Carriage motor 123 Connection board 123P Contact 151 Cartridge connector 151P 2nd contact part 152P 1st contact part 161 Coil spring 301 System controller 305 Conveyance motor 310 Printer controller

Claims (8)

Recording is performed by applying ink supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording medium from the recording head while relatively moving the carriage on which the recording head and the ink cartridge are mounted and the recording medium. A recording apparatus in which an ink cartridge side contact provided in the ink cartridge and a connector provided in the carriage and connectable to an electric circuit in the recording apparatus are electrically connected Because
The connector is insulated from the electrical circuit in the recording apparatus when the ink cartridge is not installed, and is electrically connected to the electrical circuit in the recording apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed. A recording apparatus. The carriage includes a carriage side contact connected to an electric circuit in the recording apparatus,
The connector includes a first contact portion connectable to the ink cartridge side contact, and a second contact portion electrically connected to the first contact portion and connectable to the carriage side contact,
The said 2nd contact part is spaced apart from the said carriage side contact when the said ink cartridge is not mounted | worn, and when the said ink cartridge is mounted | worn, it contacts the said carriage side contact. Recording device.   When the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage, the second contact portion comes into contact with the carriage-side contact in conjunction with a connection operation between the first contact portion and the ink cartridge-side contact. The recording apparatus according to claim 2. The carriage side contact is attached to the carriage and provided on the substrate,
The second contact portion is in contact with the carriage-side contact by sliding on the connection substrate in conjunction with a connection operation between the first contact portion and the ink cartridge-side contact. 3. The recording device according to 3.   5. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are an integral member connected by a spring member.   The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connector includes a movable casing that supports the first contact portion and the second contact portion.   7. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a resist treatment is not performed on a portion where the second contact portion slides on the connection substrate. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge includes a storage medium connected to the ink cartridge side contact.

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