JP2010194739A - Inkjet image forming apparatus and controlling method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet image forming apparatus capable of decreasing electric power consumption during ordinary operation while a user is guarded and having no disturbance on a printed image. <P>SOLUTION: The inkjet image forming apparatus includes: a recording head for delivering ink and forming the image; a carriage for carrying the recording head and relatively moving to a medium to be recorded; and an openable and closeable cover for covering the whole region of the moving range of the carriage. The inkjet image forming apparatus also includes: a first detecting means for detecting that a hand intending to open the cover approaches during operation of the inkjet image forming apparatus or a specified period of the operation; an alarming means for alarming based on the detection by the first detecting means; a second detecting means for detecting that the hand approaches the holding part of the cover; and a cover locking means for locking the cover based on the detection by the second detecting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet image forming apparatus including a recording head that ejects ink.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus, an image is formed by causing a recording head to move relative to a recording medium, ejecting ink from a nozzle portion, and landing and fixing on the recording medium. Usually, when the print head and the recording medium are moved relative to each other, there is provided means for conveying (band feeding) the recording medium by a predetermined amount in one direction, for example, by sandwiching the recording medium between a conveyance roller and a pinch roller. In addition, it has means for driving the carriage on which the recording head is mounted in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction.

  The carriage scans each time the transport roller transports the recording medium by a predetermined amount, and during the scan, the recording head repeatedly discharges ink to form an image.

  The ink jet recording apparatus is provided with an openable / closable cover because of the necessity of covering a moving part such as a carriage and the necessity of making the vicinity of the carriage accessible for replacement of the head and ink tank and other maintenance. .

  Due to the increase in the number of colors of ink in the inkjet image forming apparatus and the increase in the number of nozzles provided in the recording head, the recording head is increased in size. Accordingly, the carriage on which the recording head is mounted is also increasing in size. As the printing speed increases, the carriage movement speed also increases.

  For this reason, the user may inadvertently open the cover and accidentally bring his or her hand into contact with the carriage. As a countermeasure, measures such as cover lock are taken.

  In addition to this, a cover that may be in an open state is often provided with a cover lock means, and it is necessary to control the lock state of the cover lock in order to cope with various situations.

  In conventional cover lock control in an image forming apparatus, a high temperature part and an open / close cover that can be opened and closed to allow access to the high temperature part are known. In this control, the lock means for locking the open / close cover has a lock member that maintains the locked state until the temperature is lowered to the unlocking temperature.

  In addition, an image forming apparatus has been proposed that includes a housing that houses a rotating body and a printing unit, and an opening / closing member that can open and close the inside of the housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This includes a cover open / close detection means and a lock means capable of prohibiting and releasing the opening / closing member. Control means is provided for outputting a stop signal for stopping the drive when the detection means detects the cover opening, and for causing the lock means to perform a prohibition releasing operation after a predetermined time has elapsed since the stop signal was output.

  In a printer in which the carriage reciprocates and the paper transport roller rotates, these drives are usually performed in a state where it is detected that the cover is closed. Further, the cover locking means operates before or simultaneously with the driving. In the lock means, a solenoid is often used for driving the lock member because of its simple structure.

JP-A-10-235976 (Claims 1 and 2)

  Since the interlock means can operate the lock member with a simple configuration, the solenoid is often used as a drive source. However, in order to continue operating the lock means using the solenoid as a drive source, it is necessary to keep the energized state constantly. There are many disadvantages in terms of energy consumption. In particular, when large-format printing is performed or when continuous printing is performed, the tendency increases as the time required for printing increases.

  In the inkjet image forming apparatus that performs printing in a non-contact state when the user tries to open the open / close cover in a locked state, the open / close cover collides with the lock member and the impact is transmitted to the printing unit. May affect the printed image. When the locked state is maintained, there is a concern that the printed image may be disturbed and reprinting may be required.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet image forming apparatus that can reduce power consumption during normal operation while avoiding the influence on the print image due to vibration for opening and closing the cover, and that does not disturb the print image. To do.

  The present invention includes a recording head that ejects ink to form an image, a carriage that mounts the recording head and moves relative to the recording medium, and a cover that covers the entire moving range of the carriage and can be opened and closed. In the inkjet image forming apparatus provided, the first detection means for detecting that the hand for opening the cover is approaching during the operation of the inkjet image forming apparatus or a predetermined period during the operation; Warning means for warning based on detection by the detection means, second detection means for detecting that the hand approaches the clue part of the cover, and locking the cover based on detection by the second detection means. An inkjet image forming apparatus having a cover lock means.

  According to the present invention, the warning is issued when the cover is opened while the carriage is operating, and the interlock is activated when the cover is opened, so that the power consumption during normal operation is reduced while ensuring the quality of the image. This is advantageous in that the printed image is not disturbed.

1 is a perspective view of an inkjet image forming apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal outline of an inkjet image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of an inkjet image forming apparatus 100. FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a cover part and a main-body stay part partially. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a cover part and a main-body stay part partially. In an Example, it is a figure which shows the state at the time of a lock | rock. In an Example, it is a figure which shows the state at the time of a lock | rock. It is a partial schematic perspective view which shows Example 1, 2, 3 of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment. It is a perspective view of the inkjet image forming apparatus 300 of Example 3 of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the third embodiment.

  The mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an inkjet image forming apparatus 100 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The ink jet image forming apparatus 100 has ink tanks mounted on both ends of the back surface, and the user opens the ink tank cover 2 and replaces the ink tank at the time of initial ink use or replacement. An operation unit 3 with a liquid crystal panel is provided on the right front side, and performs various operations during use of the apparatus, such as turning on the apparatus power and setting a print image.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal outline of the inkjet image forming apparatus 100.

  A platen 4 serving as a printing reference surface is installed on the bottom surface of the inkjet image forming apparatus 100, and an LF roller 5 is rotatably provided below the platen 4. A pinch roller 6 that is urged against the LF roller 5 is provided over the entire printing area, with the LF roller and the pinch roller facing each other above the LF roller 5. Before printing, roll paper 7 as a recording medium is set between the LF roller 5 and the pinch roller 6. At the time of printing, the paper is conveyed by driving the LF roller 5 by a motor (not shown) as a drive source in a state where both rollers sandwich the roll paper 7.

  An operation rail 8 and a sub rail 9 are provided across the entire area of the ink jet image forming apparatus 100 in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction. A recording head 10 is mounted on the operation rail 8 via a bearing portion. The carriage 11 is provided with a rotatable roller (not shown), and maintains the posture of the carriage 11 together with the bearing 11a. A recording head 10 is mounted on the carriage 11 and can reciprocate in the rail longitudinal directions. The carriage 11 is connected to a drive motor 13 and a pulley 14 via a drive belt 12. The carriage 11 reciprocates by the drive motor 13.

  The recording head 10 is connected to an ink tank (not shown) via a supply tube 15. When ink is ejected from the recording head 10, ink is sequentially supplied. The timing of ink ejection is controlled by sending a signal from a control board (not shown) of the apparatus main body to a head controller (not shown) mounted on the carriage 11.

  Normally, the carriage 11 stands by at the right end of the apparatus, and a recovery device (not shown) having a cap that covers the recording head face is provided at the bottom. When the carriage 11 is on standby, it is capped by the cap to prevent the nozzles of the recording head 10 from drying. Further, at necessary timings, recovery operations such as preliminary ink ejection, ink suction for decompressing the inside of the cap and sucking ink from the nozzles, and wiping for wiping the head face surface with a urethane blade are performed.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of the inkjet image forming apparatus 100.

  When the user needs access to the vicinity of the recording head and the platen surface due to replacement of the recording head, cleaning of the platen surface, handling of paper jam, etc., the cover 16 is opened to access the vicinity of the recording head and the platen surface. To do. The cover 16 has hinge portions at both upper ends, and is configured to rotate and open from the bottom to the top.

  The cover 16 is normally closed to protect the printing surface from dust and the like, and prevents the LF roller 5 and the carriage 11 operating during printing from colliding with an external object such as a user's hand or clothing, and preventing the collision. Stop and protect the user's body.

  When the inkjet image forming apparatus 100 receives image data from an external PC or the like, or is instructed to output image data stored therein, the inkjet image forming apparatus 100 starts image output. At this time, it is detected that the cover 16 is closed before the carriage 11 starts to be driven.

  FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the cover portion and the main body stay portion in the inkjet image forming apparatus 100.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ink jet image forming apparatus 100 in which the cover portion and the main body stay portion are partially enlarged and viewed from an angle different from that in FIG. 4.

  When the cover 16 is closed, the rib portion 16a of the cover is configured to push the switch portion 17a of the stay 17, so that the closed state of the cover 16 can be detected. When not in this state, the carriage 11 and the LF roller 5 are not driven.

  Further, a lock means for preventing the cover 16 from being opened from the closed state is provided, and the lock means is operated as necessary to prevent the cover 16 from being opened.

  The lock member 18 is provided on the stay 17 so as to be rotatable in a relationship of a hole 18a and a boss 17b. One end of the lock member 18 is engaged with the solenoid 19, and the lock member 18 is rotated by the suction of the solenoid 19. Usually, the spring 20 engaged with the lock member 18 is biased in a direction against the suction of the solenoid 19.

  6 and 7 are diagrams showing a state at the time of locking in the embodiment.

  At the time of locking, the solenoid 19 is attracted, whereby the lock member 18 overcomes the urging force of the spring 20 and rotates to a position where it comes into contact with the stay 17. Then, a part 18b of the lock member protrudes from the hole 17c of the stay 17 and is engaged with the groove 16b of the cover to be locked.

  Only one end of the cover is illustrated with respect to the cover open / closed state detection switch and the cover locking means, but the other end also has the same configuration and is substantially symmetrical. From the time when the motor of the carriage 11 or the LF roller 5 is driven, the cover lock standby state is entered.

  FIG. 8 is a partial schematic perspective view showing Examples 1, 2, and 3 of the present invention.

  When entering the standby state, it is detected that an obstacle assuming the user's hand enters the A zone shown in FIG. When it is detected that there is an obstacle in the zone A shown in FIG. 8, a warning sound is sounded by a buzzer installed inside the apparatus to warn that the apparatus is in operation and it is not time to open the cover. When the user tries to open the cover even with a warning sound from the buzzer and moves his hand up to the B zone shown in FIG. 8, the infrared human body sensor (not shown) reacts and the cover lock means operates as described above. To do.

  By operating the cover lock means, even if the user tries to open the cover and tries to open it, the lock member prevents the user from inadvertently opening the cover.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the first embodiment.

  When the power of the inkjet image forming apparatus 100 is turned on, a motor drive signal is input at S1, and when the cover opening detection switch is turned off at S2, a cover open warning is displayed on the LCD of the operation unit at S3. The

  If it is detected in S2 that the cover opening detection switch is ON, the infrared human sensor is turned on in S4. If the infrared sensor (first detection means) detects in S5, a buzzer sound is generated in S6. . If the infrared sensor is not detected in S5 and the infrared sensor (second detection means) detects in S7, the cover lock mechanism is activated in S8.

  Compared with continuing to operate the lock member during printing, in the first embodiment, the time for energizing the solenoid is significantly reduced, so that energy consumption can be reduced. Also, even if you try to open the cover carelessly during printing, it will function in the order of warning by buzzer and then the operation of the locking means, so give the device to the device by the user opening the locked cover Easy to avoid effects.

  In the first embodiment, in addition to the reflected-light detection type infrared sensor for detecting an obstacle, an ultrasonic sensor and a passive infrastructure for catching far infrared rays (≈body temperature) emitted from the human body. A red human sensor or the like may be used.

  By using the passive infrared type sensor, it is possible to prevent an obstacle other than the human body from being detected, and thus the accuracy can be further increased.

  Embodiment 1 includes a recording head that ejects ink to form an image, a carriage that mounts the recording head and moves relative to the recording medium, a cover that covers the entire moving range of the carriage, and that can be opened and closed. FIG.

  The means for detecting that an obstacle assuming a user's hand enters the A zone shown in FIG. 8 is that the hand trying to open the cover approaches during the operation of the inkjet image forming apparatus or during a predetermined period of operation. It is an example of the 1st detection means which detects that.

  The buzzer installed inside the inkjet image forming apparatus 100 is an example of a warning unit that warns based on detection by the first detection unit.

  Proceeding to the B zone shown in FIG. 8, the reacting infrared human body sensor is an example of second detection means for detecting that the hand has approached the clue part of the cover.

  The cover lock unit is an example of a cover lock unit that locks the cover based on detection by the second detection unit. Further, the human body sensor is a passive infrared sensor.

  The second embodiment of the present invention is an embodiment in which when a user is alerted after the first detection, a warning is given not by sound but by lamp lighting.

  When an obstacle is detected in the A zone shown in FIG. 8, a red LED provided on a part of the cover is turned on to urge the user not to open the cover. Still, when an obstacle entering the B zone shown in FIG. 8 is detected, the cover lock means is activated as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the second embodiment.

  When the power of the inkjet image forming apparatus 100 is turned on, a motor drive signal is input at S1, and when the cover opening detection switch is turned off at S2, a cover open warning is displayed on the LCD of the operation unit at S3. The

  When it is detected in S2 that the cover opening detection switch is turned on, the infrared human sensor is turned on in S4. If the infrared sensor (first detection means) detects in S5, the lamp is turned on in S16. If the infrared sensor is not detected in S5 and the infrared sensor (second detection means) detects in S7, the cover lock mechanism is activated in S8.

  The lamp lighting location may be anywhere, but it is desirable that it is a cover portion, and if the lamp lighting location is provided at a position close to the clue, the effect is more exhibited. Further, a warning may be displayed on the display panel. As a result, the same effect as described above can be expected.

  The warning means is a means for warning by light emission by light lighting. The first detection means and the second detection means are human body sensors.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a cover portion in an inkjet image forming apparatus 300 that is Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  In the third embodiment, a resistive touch sensor 16c that detects that the user touches the clue portion of the cover is provided.

  As in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, when the user's hand enters the A zone shown in FIG. 8, at least one of a buzzer sound and LED lamp lighting prevents the user from opening the cover. Warning. In this case, even if the user tries to open the cover, the touch sensor reacts when the user touches the clue of the cover, and the cover lock is activated as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the third embodiment.

  When the power of the inkjet image forming apparatus 100 is turned on, a motor drive signal is input at S1, and when the cover opening detection switch is turned off at S2, a cover open warning is displayed on the LCD of the operation unit at S3. The

  When it is detected in S2 that the cover opening detection switch is ON, in S24, the infrared human sensor and the touch sensor are turned on. In S5, if the infrared sensor (first detection means) detects the buzzer sound in S6. Is generated. If the infrared sensor is not detected in S5 and the touch sensor (second detection means) detects in S27, the cover lock mechanism is activated in S8.

  This also exhibits the same effects as in the first and second embodiments, reduces the possibility that the user touches the device and affects the output image, touches the cover, and accidentally covers the device while it is operating. Can be prevented from being opened.

  In the third embodiment, the resistive film type touch sensor is used. However, an analog capacitive coupling type, ultrasonic surface acoustic wave type, infrared type touch sensor, or the like may be used.

  The second detection means is means for detecting contact with the clue part by a touch sensor. The cover lock means is driven by energizing the solenoid.

100, 300 ... Inkjet image forming apparatus,
2 ... Ink tank cover,
18 ... Lock member,
18b: a part of the lock member,
19 ... Solenoid,
20 ... Spring.

Claims (9)

Inkjet image comprising: a recording head that ejects ink to form an image; a carriage that mounts the recording head and moves relative to the recording medium; and a cover that covers the entire movement range of the carriage and that can be opened and closed. In the forming device,
First detecting means for detecting that the hand to open the cover is approaching during operation of the inkjet image forming apparatus or a predetermined period during operation;
Warning means for warning based on detection by the first detection means;
Second detecting means for detecting that the hand approaches the clue part of the cover;
Cover lock means for locking the cover based on detection by the second detection means;
An inkjet image forming apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
An ink jet image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warning means is a means for warning by a buzzer sound. In claim 1,
The ink jet image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warning means is a means for warning by light emission by light lighting. In claim 1,
An inkjet image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warning means is a means for warning by a buzzer sound and light emission. In claim 1,
The inkjet image forming apparatus, wherein the first detection unit and the second detection unit are human body sensors. In claim 1,
The inkjet image forming apparatus, wherein the second detection means is means for detecting contact with the clue part by a touch sensor. In any one of Claims 1-5,
The ink-jet image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover lock means is driven by energizing a solenoid. In claim 5,
The ink jet image forming apparatus, wherein the human body sensor is a passive infrared sensor. Inkjet image comprising: a recording head that ejects ink to form an image; a carriage that mounts the recording head and moves relative to the recording medium; and a cover that covers the entire movement range of the carriage and that can be opened and closed. In the control method of the forming apparatus,
A first detection step of detecting that a hand trying to open the cover is approaching during operation of the inkjet image forming apparatus or a predetermined period during operation;
A warning step for warning based on the detection in the first detection step;
A second detection step of detecting that the hand has approached the clue part of the cover;
A cover locking step of locking the cover based on the detection in the second detection step;
A control method for an ink jet image forming apparatus.

Images