JP2008093943A - Capping device of ink-jet head - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capping device of an ink-jet head which can shorten a shifting time from the capping state of an FM head to a printing mode, eliminates the tube movement of a recovery device, and achieves cost reduction. <P>SOLUTION: A cap shifting mechanism is added to an elevation mechanism of the FM head, and both the mechanisms are driven by a single motor. Thus a cap is fixed and the tube movement is eliminated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a head capping device for an ink jet printer.

  The head group support frame is linearly moved by a single drive source. The head cap has a moving mechanism and has a drive source different from the head vertical drive source.

For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 can be cited as conventional examples.
JP 2002-337351 A JP 2003-094676 A

  FIG. 6 is an external view showing a main part of a conventional ink jet apparatus.

  (1) Since the heads 1a to 1d are vertically moved and the caps 5a to 5d (caps corresponding to the head 1c are not shown), the movement is a separate drive source (3c, 3b). Arise.

  (2) A tube for draining ink is attached to the cap. The tube moves on the cap side as the cap moves. Since the other end of the cap of the tube is generally attached to a fixed part, it is made of a flexible material, but there is an accident that the cap is pulled out or collapsed when the cap is moved. A moving space is required, and tube connection parts are generally expensive.

  (3) It is obvious that one drive source is less expensive than two drive sources.

  (4) A waiting time is required when switching the moving direction, and the number of transition activations increases, so the transition time from the capping state to printing becomes longer. (The main purpose of improvement is to shorten it.)

  -If the transition operation from the capping state to printing is not interrupted, the transition time can be shortened. The transition time is shortened by using the drive source as both a head vertical movement and a capping movement, and making each operation guide continuous.

  ・ If the cap member can be fixed, the drainage tube will not move.

  High-speed printing-> high-speed fixing-> use ink that is easy to stick-> time from pre-discharge in the cap and opening of the leaving cap to printing must be as short as possible. When pigment ink was used, no discharge occurred experimentally when the time from preliminary discharge in the cap to the start of printing exceeded 2.5 seconds.

  As described above, according to the present invention, three activations of head up activation, cap slide activation, and head descent activation are conventionally one activation. According to the prototype, the conventional machine took a total stroke of 65 mm for 5 seconds, but now it can be performed in 1.5 seconds under the same motor load current conditions.

  Compared with the previous model, cost reduction and miniaturization were improved at the same time, and noise was also reduced by the worm effect.

(First embodiment)
Shown in FIGS. In FIG. 1, two cam frames that support a plurality of full-multi (FM) inkjet heads 1 a to 1 d are attached with three cam followers at four locations, and 4 guide grooves 4 a at four locations on four side frames. Each is guided. 4, swing levers 6a, 6b and 7a, 7b are arranged to move 3 respectively, and 6a-7a and 6b-7b are connected to both sides of 4 by connecting rods 8 and 6a-7a and 6b-7b swings synchronously. The 8 attachments 6a-7a and 6b-7b are 90 ° out of phase so that no dead center is generated. 7a-7b performs phase synchronization on both sides with a 9 'shaft. In 6a-6b, gears are cut at a part of the outer periphery, and phase-synchronized driving is performed by 9a pinion portions at both ends of the shaft. Reference numeral 9b denotes a worm wheel which is driven to rotate by a motor 102 having a worm gear 102. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which 1a, 1b,... Are on the caps 5a, 5b, etc., and this state is a mode in which the machine is not used or preliminary discharge in the cap is performed.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which 1a, 1b,... Slide sideways from the capping position, descend, and are in a printing posture. Since 1a, 1b,... Can be moved to the printing position with only one activation from the side slide to the lowering, the time from preliminary ejection in the cap to printing becomes very short. Further, since the weights of 1a, 1b,... And 2 work when descending, the load of 10 is reduced, the rotational speed is increased, and the time is further shortened.

(Example 2)
As shown in FIG. When 1a, 1b,... Are set at the printing position, positioning is performed by the mechanical stopper. FIG. 4 shows a torque limiter structure between 10 shafts and 10a. When the torque is excessive, the friction plate and 10a slip.

(Example 3)
As shown in FIG. 6a and 6b are divided into a guide groove part 6c and a gear part 6d as shown in the figure so that the gear parts can slightly overrun in the swing angle direction. There is a case where a delay occurs in 7a and 7b due to the mounting looseness or distortion of 8. This is supplemented by overrun for the delayed stroke loss.

1 is an external view of Example 1. FIG. The capping state schematic diagram of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a printing state according to the first embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the torque limiter of Example 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a component for countermeasure against delayed stroke according to the third embodiment. The external view of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d FM head 2 Head frame 3 Cam follower 4 Side frame 4a Guide groove 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d Cap 6a, 6b Swing lever 7a, 7b Swing lever 8 Connecting rod 9 Shaft 9a Pinion portion 9b Warm wheel 9 ' Shaft 10 Motor 10a Worm gear 11 Paper adsorption belt unit

Claims (1)

  (1) A guide roller attached to a head group support frame is a guide for (1) a side plate provided with a plurality of guide grooves having two direction change nodes. (3) A plurality of drive levers that move the guide rollers (4) Each lever swings from one drive source in phase synchronization. (5) A torque limiter is installed between the drive source and the drive lever. A head recovery device characterized by being arranged.

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