JP2009279764A - Fluid jet apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluid jet apparatus which enables switching in a short time on the printing action and the flushing action. <P>SOLUTION: The fluid jet apparatus includes a jet head 13 which includes nozzle arrays L comprised of nozzles linearly arranged for jetting a fluid, and a flushing member 11 which carries out the flushing action of discharging the fluid from the jet head 13. The flushing member 11 includes both a slit S formed correspondingly to the nozzle arrays L, and a fluid receiving part 43 prepared correspondingly to the nozzle arrays L and at a side part in a width direction of the slit S. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid ejecting apparatus.

  The fluid ejecting apparatus is an apparatus that includes an ejecting head capable of ejecting a fluid and ejects various fluids from the ejecting head toward a recording material or the like. As a typical fluid ejecting apparatus, for example, an ink jet recording head (hereinafter simply referred to as a recording head) is provided, and a recording paper is formed by using liquid ink (fluid) as ink droplets from nozzles of the recording head (ejection head). There is an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by forming dots by discharging and landing on a recording material such as a recording medium.

By the way, in such an ink jet recording apparatus, there is a possibility that ejection failure may occur due to thickening of ink in the nozzle or adhesion of dust near the nozzle opening due to long-term use. Accordingly, a flushing operation is performed in which the ejection characteristics of the ejection head are restored or maintained by preliminarily ejecting ink from the nozzles during non-printing and discharging the thickened ink or dust. As an ink jet recording apparatus that performs such a flushing operation, a belt member having an opening larger than the entire ink discharge port area of the ejection head is used, and the belt member is rotated by one turn at a timing when no paper is present in the opening. One that performs a flushing process during driving is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-223887

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to move the belt member along the long side direction of the ejection head during the flushing operation, it is difficult to switch between the printing operation and the flushing operation in a short time. A further improvement in the printing processing speed has been desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a fluid ejecting apparatus capable of switching in a short time in a printing operation and a flushing operation.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a fluid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention includes an ejecting head including a nozzle row in which nozzles ejecting fluid are linearly arranged, and a flushing operation for performing a flushing operation for ejecting fluid from the ejecting head. The flushing member includes a band-shaped opening formed corresponding to the nozzle row, and a fluid receiving portion provided on a side portion corresponding to the nozzle row and in the width direction of the opening. , Including.

  According to the fluid ejecting apparatus of the present invention, after performing the flushing operation for discharging the fluid to the fluid receiving portion, the ejecting head and the flushing member are moved relative to each other in the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the nozzle rows, so that A printing operation can be performed by disposing an opening directly under the nozzle row and ejecting fluid from the nozzle through the opening. Therefore, the waiting time when switching between the flushing operation and the printing operation can be shortened, and as a result, the printing processing speed can be improved.

In the fluid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the recording medium on which the fluid is ejected from the nozzle is disposed on the opposite side of the fluid receiving unit from the ejecting head.
According to this configuration, since the flushing operation with the recording medium disposed below is possible, it is not necessary to move the recording medium below the ejection head after the flushing operation is completed, and the flushing operation is changed to the printing operation. And can move quickly.

In the fluid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the ejecting head includes a plurality of the nozzle rows arranged in parallel, and the flushing member includes a plurality of the fluid receiving portions and the openings.
According to this configuration, even in an ejection head in which a plurality of nozzle arrays corresponding to different fluids are formed, the printing speed can be improved by shortening the waiting time when switching between the flushing operation and the printing operation as described above. .
Further, it is more preferable that the plurality of fluid receiving portions and the plurality of openings are respectively arranged at the same pitch as the plurality of nozzle rows.
According to this configuration, the flushing operation and the printing operation can be switched by relatively moving the ejection head and the flushing member by a short distance such as half of the arrangement pitch of the plurality of nozzle rows.

In the fluid ejecting apparatus, the flushing member includes a base material on which a plurality of functional regions including the plurality of fluid receiving portions and the opening are formed, and the base material is configured to be wound up. Is preferred.
According to this configuration, for example, by winding up a functional region including a fluid receiving portion to which a fluid is attached by a flushing process, the functional region including a new fluid receiving portion to which no fluid is attached is disposed on the ejection head. Can do. Therefore, the flushing operation can be continuously performed without replacing or cleaning the ink receiving portion of the flushing member.
At this time, it is more preferable that the fluid receiving portion and the opening are arranged along a direction in which the base material is wound.
In this way, by winding the substrate, the flushing member can be moved in the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the nozzle rows with respect to the ejection head, and the flushing operation and the printing operation can be switched.

In the fluid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the ejecting head is a line head.
In the present invention, the flushing operation and the printing operation can be switched in a short time by moving the flushing member along the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction (longitudinal direction) of the nozzle rows. This is particularly effective in a line head composed of a shape.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a fluid ejecting apparatus according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing used for the following description, the scale of each member is appropriately changed to make each member a recognizable size. In this embodiment, an ink jet printer provided with a line head is exemplified as the fluid ejecting apparatus according to the invention.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer 100) according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part around a line head, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an ejection surface of the line head. It is.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 100 includes a recording unit 10 that performs recording on a printing paper (recording medium) P, a paper transport mechanism 14 that transports the printing paper P, and details will be described later. And a flushing member 11 for performing a flushing operation as a maintenance process of the recording unit 10.

  The recording unit 10 ejects ink droplets to form an image on a printing paper P that is a fluid ejection target, and a line head 13 (ejection head), and an ink storage unit 15 that stores ink (fluid) supplied to the line head 13. And is configured.

  The paper transport mechanism 14 includes a paper feed motor (not shown), a paper feed roller that is rotationally driven by the paper feed motor, and the like, and in conjunction with a recording (printing / printing) operation, print paper P is fed to the line head 13. It sends out sequentially so as to face.

  The ink storage unit 15 stores ink of colors corresponding to the respective colors (yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K1: dye system), and black (K2: pigment system)) of the printer 100. The ink tanks 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K1, and 15K2 are connected to the line head 13 through an ink supply unit (not shown).

  The line head 13 is a line type recording head in which a large number of nozzles 17 are arranged over the width (maximum recording paper width W) of the maximum size printing paper P targeted by the printer 100. In the present embodiment, at least five printing sections 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K1, and 5K2 corresponding to each color (Y, M, C, K1, and K2) are provided. Each of the printing units 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K1, and 5K2 has a nozzle row L (see FIG. 3) in which nozzles 17 for ejecting ink droplets of each color are linearly arranged. In the present embodiment, each nozzle row L is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the printing units 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K1, and 5K2. By increasing the number of nozzles 17 in each nozzle row L, a wide range of recording can be performed at once and the resolution of the image can be improved.

  The line head 13 is arranged such that the longitudinal direction corresponding to the maximum recording paper width W is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the printing paper P, and printing is performed by ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles 17 toward the printing paper P. An image or the like is recorded on the paper P.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the line head.
The line head 13 includes a head main body 18 and a flow path forming unit 22 including a vibration plate 19, a flow path substrate 20, and a nozzle substrate 21. The nozzles 17 that eject ink are formed on the nozzle substrate 21, and the lower surface of the nozzle substrate 21 is an ink ejection surface 21A. The flow path forming unit 22 is a unit in which the diaphragm 19, the flow path substrate 20, and the nozzle substrate 21 are laminated and joined together with an adhesive or the like.

  The line head 13 includes an accommodation space 23 formed inside the head body 18 and a drive unit 24 disposed in the accommodation space 23. The drive unit 24 includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements 25, a fixing member 26 that supports the upper end of the piezoelectric elements 25, and a flexible cable 27 that supplies a drive signal to the piezoelectric elements 25. The piezoelectric element 25 is provided so as to correspond to each of the plurality of nozzles 17.

  In addition, an internal flow path 28 that is formed inside the head body 18 and flows ink supplied from the ink tank via the ink supply flow path, and a flow path that includes the vibration plate 19, the flow path substrate 20, and the nozzle substrate 21. A common ink chamber 29 formed by the forming unit 22 and connected to the internal flow path 28, an ink supply port 30 formed by the flow path forming unit 22 and connected to the common ink chamber 29, and the flow path forming unit 22. A pressure chamber 31 formed and connected to the ink supply port 30 is provided. A plurality of pressure chambers 31 are provided so as to correspond to the plurality of nozzles 17. Each of the plurality of nozzles 17 is connected to each of the plurality of pressure chambers 31.

  The head body 18 is made of synthetic resin. The diaphragm 19 is obtained by laminating an elastic film on a metal support plate such as stainless steel. An island portion 32 joined to the lower end of the piezoelectric element 25 is formed at a portion corresponding to the pressure chamber of the diaphragm 19. At least a part of the diaphragm 19 is elastically deformed according to the driving of the piezoelectric element 25. A compliance portion 33 is formed between the diaphragm 19 and the vicinity of the lower end of the internal flow path 28.

  The flow path substrate 20 has a recess for forming spaces for the common ink chamber 29, the ink supply port 30, and the pressure chamber 31 that connect the lower end of the internal flow path 28 and the nozzle 17. In the present embodiment, the flow path substrate 20 is formed by anisotropic etching of silicon.

  The nozzle substrate 21 has a plurality of nozzles 17 formed at a predetermined interval (pitch) in a predetermined direction. The nozzle substrate 21 of the present embodiment is a plate-like member formed of a metal such as stainless steel.

  The ink supplied from each ink tank through each ink supply channel flows into the upper end of the internal channel 28. The lower end of the internal flow path 28 is connected to the common ink chamber 29, and the ink that has flowed from the ink tank to the upper end of the internal flow path 28 via the ink supply flow path flows through the internal flow path 28 and is then shared. The ink is supplied to the ink chamber 29. The ink supplied to the common ink chamber 29 is supplied through the ink supply port 30 so as to be distributed to each of the plurality of pressure chambers 31.

  When a drive signal is input to the piezoelectric element 25 via the cable 27, the piezoelectric element 25 expands and contracts. As a result, the diaphragm 19 is deformed (moved) in a direction toward and away from the pressure chamber. As a result, the volume of the pressure chamber 31 changes, and the pressure of the pressure chamber 31 containing ink fluctuates. Ink is ejected from the nozzles 17 due to this pressure fluctuation.

  As described above, the piezoelectric element 25 (driving element) of the present embodiment ejects ink from the nozzle 17, so that the pressure in the pressure chamber 31 (space) connected to the nozzle 17 is based on the input driving signal. Fluctuate. A desired image is formed on the printing paper P by the ink ejected from the nozzles 17.

The piezoelectric element 25 may be of a type other than the laminated type (for example, monomorph, unimorph, bimorph, Mooney type, multi-Mooney type, cymbal type, etc.).
Furthermore, it is not limited to a piezo jet type using the piezoelectric element 25, and for example, a thermal method can be adopted. In that case, the fluid discharge amount can be changed by changing the application time.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the peripheral structure of the flushing member 11. As shown in FIG. 5, the flushing member 11 according to the present embodiment is opposed to the ink ejection surface 21 </ b> A of the line head 13 and is provided along the long side direction of the line head 13. 41 is mainly configured.

  The base material 41 can be wound up at winding portions M1 and M2 provided on both ends. The base 41 has a strip-shaped opening S formed corresponding to the nozzle row L of each of the printing portions 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K1, and 5K2 in the line head 13, and the opening corresponding to the nozzle row L and the opening. A functional region 200 including an ink receiving portion 43 provided on a side portion in the width direction of S is provided. The ink receiving portions 43 and the openings S are alternately arranged along the short side direction of the line head 13.

  Here, the opening S corresponding to the nozzle row L and the ink receiving portion 43 have a wider opening region or a region for receiving ink at the time of flushing than the region connecting the outermost circumferences of all the nozzles 17 in the nozzle row L. Means.

A plurality of the functional areas 200 are provided on the base material 41, and the other functional areas 200 are positioned on the ink ejection surface 21 </ b> A side of the line head 13 by moving the base material 41 by the winding portions M <b> 1 and M <b> 2. It is configured to let you.
In each functional region 200, the openings S and the ink receiving portions 43 are formed at the same pitch as the arrangement pitch P1 of the nozzle rows L in the line head 13 (see FIG. 6). In the present embodiment, the widths of the opening S and the ink receiving portion 43 are set to be the same.

  The ink receiver 43 is composed of an ink absorber such as a sponge that absorbs ink ejected from the nozzles 17 during the flushing operation. As the ink receiving portion 43, various types can be adopted as long as the ink does not flow into the opening S. For example, even if the ink receiving portion 43 holds the ink in the groove formed in the base material 41. Good. Thus, when the ink receiving part 43 is comprised from a groove | channel, the waste ink accommodated in the groove | channel can be poured into the ink collection part arrange | positioned in the side part of the winding-up part M2, and can be collect | recovered.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the printing paper P on which ink is ejected from each nozzle 17 of the line head 13 is disposed on the opposite side of the line head 13 in the ink receiving portion 43 (base material 41).

  Further, the flushing member 11 and the line head 13 are relatively movable. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the flushing member 11 includes a moving mechanism (not shown), and is orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the nozzle rows L of the line head 13 (short-side direction; direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 5). It is possible to move along.

  In the flushing member 11, as shown in FIG. 6A, the nozzle row L of the line head 13 is positioned on the opening S in the print processing state. That is, the ink droplet D ejected from each nozzle 17 in the nozzle row L can be landed on the printing paper P through the opening S.

  As described above, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the ink droplets D ejected from the nozzles 17 in the nozzle row L land on the ink receiving portion 43, so that the printing paper P positioned below the base material 41 Problems such as contamination are prevented.

  In general, since the line head has a long shape, the printing operation and the flushing are performed when the flushing member is moved along the longitudinal direction of the head and when the flushing member is moved along the short side direction of the head. There is a large difference in the time for switching the operation, and there is a possibility that the printing speed is lowered due to the longer standby time.

  In contrast, the flushing member 11 according to the present embodiment moves the base material 41 in the short side direction of the line head 13 as shown in FIG. The nozzle row L is positioned on the ink receiving portion 43.

  Here, as described above, the openings S and the ink receiving portions 43 are formed in the base material 41 at the same pitch as the arrangement pitch P1 (for example, 2.7 mm) of the nozzle rows L in the line head 13. With this configuration, when the flushing member 11 performs the flushing operation, the base member 41 may be moved by a pitch P2 that is half the arrangement pitch P1 as shown in FIG. 6B. Further, by moving the base material 41 in the opposite direction by the pitch P2 and again positioning the nozzle row L of the line head 13 on the opening S, the state where the flushing operation is possible is changed to the state where the printing operation is possible. It can be easily and quickly restored.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the relative movement distance between the line head 13 and the flushing member 11 when shifting from the printing state to the flushing state can be reduced. Therefore, the standby time when switching between the flushing operation and the printing operation can be shortened, and as a result, the printing speed can be improved.

  Further, the flushing member 11 can perform the flushing operation in a state where the printing paper P is disposed below the line head 13. Therefore, when performing the printing operation after the flushing operation, it is not necessary to transport the printing paper P to the position immediately below the line head 13, and the switching between the flushing operation and the printing operation can be performed in a shorter time.

Further, the flushing member 11 can position the other functional region 200 on the ink ejection surface 21 </ b> A side of the line head 13 by the base material 41 being wound by the winding portions M <b> 1 and M <b> 2. Therefore, by winding up the functional region 200 including the ink receiving portion 43 to which ink has been adhered by the flushing process, the functional region 200 including the new ink receiving portion 43 to which no ink is adhered can be disposed below the line head 13. .
In this manner, the flushing operation can be continuously performed without replacing or cleaning the ink receiving portion 43 in the flushing member 11.

(Modification)
Next, a configuration according to a modified example of the printer 100 will be described with reference to the drawings. This modification is the same as the above-described embodiment except that the configuration of the flushing member is different. Therefore, only the flushing member will be described in the following description.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a flushing member 110 according to this modification. As shown in FIG. 7, in the present modification, the width direction of the base material 121 corresponds to the long side direction of the line head 13 (arrangement direction of the nozzle row L).

  In addition, the base material 121 has a plurality of functional regions 201 including the ink receiving portion 43 and the opening S. In each functional region 201, the ink receiving portion 43 and the opening S are formed so as to extend in the width direction of the base material 41. Further, the substrate 121 can be wound in the short side direction of the line head 13 by the winding portions M1 and M2 provided at the ends of the line head 13 in the short side direction (direction orthogonal to the nozzle row L). . In this manner, the substrate 121 is moved by the winding portions M1 and M2, so that the other functional area 201 is positioned on the ink ejection surface 21A side of the line head 13.

  With such a configuration, by winding the base material 121, the flushing member 110 (base material 121) with respect to the line head 13 is orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the nozzle rows L, that is, the ink receiving portion 43 and the opening S. It can be moved in the width direction.

  In the flushing member 110, as shown in FIG. 8A, the nozzle row L of the line head 13 is positioned on the opening S in the printing process state. That is, the ink droplet D ejected from each nozzle 17 in the nozzle row L can be landed on the printing paper P through the opening S.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the flushing member 110 can position the nozzle row L of the line head 13 on the ink receiving portion 43 by winding the substrate 121 in the flushing processing state. . As a result, the ink droplets D ejected from the nozzles 17 in the nozzle row L land on the ink receiving portion 43 so that the printing paper P positioned below the base material 121 is not soiled. Further, by reversing the winding direction of the base material 121 and again positioning the nozzle row L of the line head 13 on the opening S, it is easy to change from a state where a flushing operation is possible to a state where a printing operation is possible. It can be returned quickly.
As described above, in the present modification, the flushing operation and the printing operation can be easily and reliably switched by winding the base material 121.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied as an ink jet printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and fluid other than ink (a liquid material in which particles of functional material are dispersed, a flow such as a gel). It is also possible to embody the invention in a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges the (form).

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer. It is a principal part top view of a line head periphery. It is a top view which shows the ejection surface of a line head. It is sectional drawing which shows a part of line head. It is a perspective view which shows the periphery structure of a flushing member. (A) is explanatory drawing at the time of printing processing operation, (b) is explanatory drawing at the time of flushing operation | movement. It is a perspective view of a flushing member according to a modification. (A) is explanatory drawing at the time of printing processing operation, (b) is explanatory drawing at the time of flushing operation | movement.

Explanation of symbols

L ... Nozzle array, S ... Opening, P ... Printing paper (recording medium), 1 ... Printer (fluid ejection device), 11 ... Flushing member, 13 ... Line head (ejection head), 17 ... Nozzle, 41 ... Base material , 43 ... Ink receiving part (fluid receiving part), 110 ... Flushing member, 200 ... Functional area, 201 ... Functional area

Claims (7)

An ejection head including a nozzle row in which nozzles for ejecting fluid are linearly arranged;
A flushing member that performs a flushing operation for discharging fluid from the ejection head, and
The flushing member includes a band-shaped opening formed corresponding to the nozzle row, and a fluid receiving portion corresponding to the nozzle row and provided on a side portion in the width direction of the opening. A fluid ejecting apparatus.   The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium on which the fluid is ejected from the nozzle is disposed on a side opposite to the ejecting head in the fluid receiving portion. The ejection head has a plurality of the nozzle rows arranged in parallel,
The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flushing member includes a plurality of the fluid receiving portions and the openings.   The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of fluid receiving portions and the plurality of openings are arranged at the same pitch as the plurality of nozzle rows.   The said flushing member has a base material in which a plurality of functional regions including the plurality of fluid receiving portions and the openings are formed, and the base material is configured to be rollable. 5. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to 4.   The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the fluid receiving portion and the opening are arranged along a direction in which the base material is wound.   The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ejecting head is a line head.

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