JP2010234771A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means for performing a maintenance of a recording head without causing soiling of a long-sized member with ink. <P>SOLUTION: A printer section 11 includes: a platen 42 which supports a recording paper 90; a carriage 38 which moves in a reciprocating movement direction 105; a recording head 39 loaded on the carriage 38; the guide film 71 which extends in the reciprocating movement direction 105 in the movable area of the carriage 38, and which moves following the movement of the carriage 38 so as not to block the portion between the recording head 39 and the platen 42; a purging mechanism 130 and a wiper 131 which are disposed movably between a standby position and a maintenance position, for performing the maintenance of the recording head 39; and a control unit 110 which controls the maintenance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, a recording head is mounted on a carriage that moves in a first direction, and a sheet on the platen is held at a predetermined distance from the platen by a long member that extends in the first direction. The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus in which image recording is performed on a sheet on a platen by being selectively ejected, and maintenance of a recording head is performed by maintenance means.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet printer is known as an image recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet-like recording medium (hereinafter also referred to as “recording paper” or “sheet”). In this printer, the recording paper is conveyed onto the platen while being sandwiched between a pair of opposed rollers. When the recording paper reaches the platen, a pair of rollers are intermittently driven for each predetermined conveyance amount, and while the rollers are intermittently stopped and the recording paper is stopped, the recording head is reciprocated to eject ink droplets. Is done. Ink droplets selectively ejected from the recording head land on the recording paper to form a desired image. This is repeated, and image recording is performed sequentially from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the recording paper.

  The image recording apparatus described above can perform image recording on an envelope or the like in addition to recording paper. In addition, for the purpose of duplex printing and recording sheet reuse, image recording may be performed on the other side of the recording sheet on which image recording has been performed on one side using the above-described image recording apparatus. For example, when there is a bent portion such as an envelope, a part of the envelope bulges or protrudes toward the recording head on the platen and comes into contact with the carriage or the recording head (hereinafter also referred to as “carriage or the like”). There is a risk. Also, in double-sided printing, the recording paper may bend by recording an image on one side, and when the image is recorded on the other side, the bent portion is the same as described above. May come into contact with the carriage or the like. Further, when the recording sheet is reused, bending or bending occurs when the recording sheet is used, and there is a possibility that the bent part or the bent part may come into contact with the carriage or the like as described above.

  When the recording paper comes into contact with the carriage or the like, the recording paper may be clogged between the platen and the carriage or the like due to movement of the carriage, or the recording paper may be damaged. In recent years, in order to realize highly accurate image recording, the distance between the recording head and the recording paper has been shortened, and such a paper jam is likely to occur. In addition, there are two types of recording paper, vertical paper with the fiber flowing direction parallel to the long side of the recording paper and horizontal paper with the short side parallel to the short side. Then, since the deflection due to the landing of the ink is larger than that of the vertical paper, there is a possibility that a paper jam may occur not only when printing on both sides but also when recording an image only on one side.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a belt-like film is attached to a carriage on which a recording head is mounted in a dot impact printer, and the film is wound on winding rollers provided at both ends of an opening where the carriage moves. ing. This film moves with the carriage to prevent the sheet from jamming. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a jam prevention belt similar to this film.

  On the other hand, in an inkjet type image recording apparatus, in order to prevent ink drying and nozzle clogging in the recording head or to eliminate bubbles, the ink is purged from the nozzle of the recording head or attached to the recording head. Maintenance called wiping to wipe off ink is performed (Patent Document 3).

JP 2002-240380 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-41816 JP 2008-87240 A

  Therefore, even if a film or a belt for preventing jamming (hereinafter referred to as “film or the like”) as described above is provided, the above-described maintenance is required in an inkjet image recording apparatus. It is. However, when the purge mechanism or wiper comes into contact with the film or the like during maintenance, the ink attached to the purge mechanism or wiper moves to the film or the like, and further, the ink moves from the film or the like to the recording paper or the like. There is a risk of soiling.

  Specifically, in wiping to wipe ink attached to the recording head with a wiper, the carriage is moved relative to the wiper while the wiper is in contact with the recording head. For example, in a mode in which the position of the wiper is fixed and the carriage is moved, when the wiper is raised to a position where it can come into contact with the recording head in advance and the carriage is moved toward the wiper, the wiper comes into contact with the film or the like. It will be. Similarly, when the wiper is moving up and the carriage is moved away from the wiper, the wiper comes into contact with the film or the like.

  Further, for example, in a mode in which wiping is performed by moving the wiper in a direction crossing the moving direction of the carriage with respect to the stopped carriage, if the timing to return the wiper moved from the initial position is arbitrary, the wiper is initial There is a risk of contact with the film or the like when returning to the position.

  Further, for example, in a mode in which a drive source that operates a purge mechanism or a wiper transmits drive to another operation unit, the purge mechanism or wiper may be driven by the drive transmission to another operation unit. In this case, if the drive is transmitted from the drive source to another operation unit at an arbitrary timing regardless of the position of the carriage, the purge mechanism or the wiper may be interlocked to come into contact with the film or the like.

  The problems peculiar to the ink jet type image recording apparatus as described above are not described or suggested in Patent Documents 1 and 2 in which a dot impact printer is disclosed.

  Further, in the configurations disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the film and the like move together with the carriage, there is a problem that when the film or the like comes into contact with the sheet, the sheet moves in the moving direction of the carriage due to friction and the recorded image is disturbed. . This problem becomes more prominent as the distance between the recording head and the sheet becomes shorter.

  Further, in an inkjet image recording apparatus, if a film or the like moves relative to the sheet before the ink droplets that have landed on the sheet are dried, the film or the like may rub the undried ink and disturb the recorded image. Further, the ink attached to the film or the like may be attached to a sheet on which an image is recorded and then stained. Such a problem can occur similarly even if ink mist adheres to a film or the like.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an ink jet type image recording apparatus in which a long member is not soiled by ink by maintenance means of a recording head.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that prevents a paper jam on a platen and does not disturb an image recorded on the sheet.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that prevents paper jamming on a platen and prevents the sheet from being soiled by ink or ink mist that has landed on the sheet.

  (1) An image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a platen that supports a sheet, a carriage that is disposed to face the platen and moves in a first direction along the sheet on the platen, and is mounted on the carriage. A recording head that selectively ejects ink droplets onto the sheet on the platen to record an image; maintenance means that performs maintenance of the recording head; and an area in which the carriage moves in the first direction. A long length that is opposed to the platen and the maintenance means when performing maintenance at least, and is driven by the movement of the carriage so as not to interrupt the recording head, the platen, and the maintenance means. And a control means for controlling the operation of the carriage and the maintenance means.The moving range of the carriage includes a first position where maintenance of the recording head is performed. The maintenance means includes a second position for performing maintenance of the recording head by contacting the recording head when the carriage is positioned at the first position, and the recording means regardless of the position of the carriage. It can move to a third position that does not contact the head and the long member. The control means prohibits the maintenance means from moving to the second position when the carriage is not in the first position.

  The image recording apparatus is an ink jet printer. In the image recording apparatus, the carriage moves in the first direction along the sheet on the platen. The recording head records an image on the sheet while moving together with the carriage. In the region where the carriage moves, a long member is arranged in the first direction. The long member follows the movement of the carriage so as not to interrupt between the recording head and the platen or maintenance means. Accordingly, in the region where the carriage is moved, the recording head is directly opposed to the platen or the maintenance means by the follower of the long member. When the recording head faces the maintenance means, the recording head is positioned at least at a position where maintenance is performed, that is, the first position.

  Here, the follower of the elongate member is not only a mode in which the elongate member moves in the first direction together with the carriage and does not block between the recording head and the platen or the maintenance means, but also the elongate member as the carriage moves. Is a concept that includes a mode in which a part of the head is not deformed in a direction other than the first direction and the recording head and the platen or the maintenance unit are not blocked. Therefore, regardless of the position of the carriage on the platen, the ink droplets ejected from the recording head go to the platen. Further, when the carriage is moved to the first position, the recording head and the maintenance means are directly opposed so that the recording head can be maintained by the maintenance means positioned at the second position. On the other hand, the sheet on the platen does not leave the platen beyond the long member even if large warpage or floating from the platen is met. Thus, image recording by the recording head is performed while the carriage moves in the first direction with respect to the sheet while the sheet on the platen is positioned at a predetermined distance from the platen by the long member.

  The maintenance means is, for example, a purge mechanism or a wiper as will be described later. As described above, since the long member does not block between the recording head and the maintenance unit, the recording head and the maintenance unit are moved when the carriage is moved to the first position and the maintenance unit is moved to the second position. Contact, and maintenance such as purge and wiping is performed. On the other hand, when the maintenance unit is in the third position, the maintenance unit, the recording head, and the long member do not contact regardless of the position of the carriage. The third position may be arbitrarily set in a direction away from the recording head and the long member with respect to the second position.

  The control unit prohibits the maintenance unit from moving to the second position when the carriage is not in the first position. The case where the carriage is not in the first position is, for example, when image recording is performed on a sheet on the platen. In such a case, the maintenance means is held at the third position. In addition, if the maintenance means is linked to the other operation unit, the control unit does not operate the other operation unit when the carriage is not in the first position. Thereby, it is prevented that a maintenance means contacts a long member.

  In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, the “direction” is represented by a straight line having opposite directions such as + and −, for example. For example, it is represented by an arrow having one arrow head such as + or-.

  (2) The maintenance means includes a purge mechanism that sucks ink from the recording head through a cap that is in close contact with the recording head. In the second position, the cap contacts only the recording head when the recording head is positioned in the first position.

  When the cap of the purge mechanism is moved to the second position, the cap of the purge mechanism is in close contact with the recording head so as to cover the nozzle surface of the recording head of the carriage positioned at the first position with a sealed space. Ink is sucked from the recording head by applying suction pressure to the sealed space in the cap. In such a maintenance by the purge mechanism, the cap contacts only the print head of the carriage positioned at the first position and does not contact the long member.

  (3) An example of the maintenance means is a wiper for wiping ink adhering to the recording head. In the second position, the wiper contacts only the recording head when the recording head is positioned in the first position. The control means relatively moves the carriage and the wiper at the first position so that the wiper contacts only the recording head.

  When the wiper is moved to the second position, it contacts only the recording head of the carriage positioned at the first position. The control unit moves the carriage and the wiper relative to each other within a range where the wiper contacts only the recording head, whereby the ink attached to the nozzle surface of the recording head is wiped by the wiper. For example, even if the wiper is fixed and the recording head is moved to a position other than the first position, the relative movement is performed when the recording head is fixed and the wiper is at the same height as the second position. The aspect moved with respect to it may be sufficient. In such a wiper maintenance, the wiper contacts only the recording head and does not contact the long member.

  (4) The drive source for moving the maintenance unit may transmit driving to other operation units in the apparatus other than the maintenance unit. The maintenance means is interlocked when the drive source transmits the drive to another operation unit. The control means positions the carriage to the first position before the drive source transmits drive to another operation unit.

  The maintenance means is driven by the drive source and moves to the second position and the third position. This drive source also transmits drive to other operation units other than the maintenance means such as a sheet conveyance mechanism. When the drive source transmits the drive to another operating unit, the maintenance means is interlocked. Therefore, when the other operation unit is operated, the maintenance means can move to the second position. The control means positions the carriage to the first position before being transmitted from the drive source to the other operation unit. Thereby, even if a maintenance means moves to a 2nd position in response, a maintenance means does not contact a long member.

  (5) The first distance between the platen and the position closest to the platen in the long member in the vicinity of the carriage is equal to or less than the second distance between the position closest to the platen and the platen in the recording head. Is preferred.

  Thereby, in the vicinity of the carriage, the sheet on the platen can be held by the long member so as not to contact the recording head, so that the sheet can be prevented from being jammed due to the reciprocating movement of the carriage.

  Further, at least in the vicinity of the carriage, since the long member is closer to the platen than the recording head, when the maintenance means is moved to the second position when the carriage is not in the first position, the maintenance means contacts the long member. However, as described above, since the control unit prohibits such an operation, the maintenance unit does not contact the long member.

  (6) The image recording apparatus includes a support member that fixes the long member in the first direction and the carriage, and the long member is removed from the platen as the carriage moves. And a guide member that is driven in the second direction to be separated and approached.

  The long member is fixed to the support member with respect to the first direction and extends in the first direction. The longitudinal direction of the long member coincides with the first direction. Note that the long member can be fixed in the first direction by the support member, for example, a mode in which the long member can be slightly moved in the first direction in order to finely adjust the tension and position of the long member. The main point is that fixing with respect to movement in one direction is sufficient.

  A guide member is provided on the carriage, and when the carriage moves, the long member is driven by the guide member in the second direction to be separated from and approach the platen. In other words, the carriage moves the platen side of the long member in the first direction while separating and approaching the long member in the second direction. In the long member, the portion facing the platen without being driven in the second direction does not move relative to the platen in the first direction even if the carriage moves. Therefore, even if the carriage is moved in the first direction with respect to the sheet while the sheet on the platen is positioned at a predetermined distance from the platen by the long member, the long member is not slid with respect to the sheet. .

  (7) The guide member may deform the long member in the second direction so as to surround the carriage.

  The guide member causes the elongate member to be separated from the platen in the second direction on one side of the carriage in the first direction and extend in the first direction so as to surround the carriage, and on the other side of the carriage. Approached from the platen in two directions. The long member extends in the first direction from the other side of the carriage. Accordingly, the guide member can move the carriage in the first direction while deforming the long member with respect to one long member fixed to the support member and extending in the first direction. Further, since the tension applied to the long member for extending the long member in the first direction in the region in which the carriage moves is stabilized in the carriage moving region, the resistance that the long member gives to the movement of the carriage. Therefore, the movement of the carriage can be realized with high accuracy.

  (8) Examples of the guide member include winding rollers provided on both sides of the carriage in the first direction. The long member is wound around the winding roller and deformed in the second direction.

  The long members extend from both sides of the carriage in the first direction in the first direction, and are fixed to the support members at both ends of the area where the carriage moves. Winding rollers provided on both sides of the carriage wind up the long members and apply tension so that each long member is at a certain distance from the platen. Such a winding force of the winding roller can be realized by urging the winding roller with a rotational force in the winding direction using a coil spring or the like. When each winding roller moves together with the carriage in the first direction, the long member is pulled out from one winding roller, and the other winding roller winds the long member. A part of the side surface of the carriage in the direction in which the winding roller winds the long member is along the second direction. Accordingly, the carriage can move in the first direction in a state where the long member is stretched at a certain distance from the platen.

  (9) The long member is connected to both sides of the carriage in the first direction and is wound around each roller provided at both ends of the moving range of the carriage to form an endless ring. .

  The elongate member is connected to both sides of the carriage in the first direction, extends from both sides in the first direction, and is wound around each roller at both ends of the carriage movement range to form an endless ring. . The endless ring does not need to be formed only by the long member, and it is only necessary that the long member including the carriage has an endless ring by connecting both ends of the long member to the carriage. When the carriage moves in the first direction, the endless annular long member follows the carriage and moves between the rollers, and on both sides of the carriage, the long member follows the same direction as the carriage. Accordingly, the carriage can move in the first direction in a state where the long member is stretched at a certain distance from the platen.

  (10) Examples of the long member include those that are connected to both sides of the carriage in the first direction and are respectively wound around winding rollers provided at both ends of the moving range of the carriage.

  The long member is connected to both sides of the carriage in the first direction, extends from both sides in the first direction, and is wound around each winding roller at both ends of the carriage movement range. Each winding roller winds up the long member and applies tension so that each long member is at a certain distance from the platen. Such a winding force of the winding roller can be realized by urging the winding roller with a rotational force in the winding direction using a coil spring or the like. When the carriage moves in the first direction, the long member is pulled out from one winding roller, the other winding roller winds the long member, and the long member is in the same direction as the carriage on both sides of the carriage. Follow. Accordingly, the carriage can move in the first direction in a state where the long member is stretched at a certain distance from the platen.

  (11) As the long member, a flat belt-shaped member having a flat surface facing the platen can be mentioned.

  Thereby, the sheet on the platen can be pressed with a flat surface.

  (12) The long member preferably has a width in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction on the plane that is wider than a length in a third direction of a recording area in the recording head.

  Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent a paper jam from occurring due to the recording area of the recording head coming into contact with the sheet on the platen. In addition, since the sheet is positioned at a predetermined distance from the platen in the recording area, highly accurate image recording is realized.

  (13) The elongate member may be a rope.

  Thereby, the elongate member of a simple structure is implement | achieved.

  (14) The elongate member may be formed by arranging a plurality of ropes in a third direction that faces the platen and is orthogonal to the first direction.

  As a result, the sheet can be positioned at a predetermined distance from the platen at a plurality of locations in the third direction on the platen.

  According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the control unit prohibits the maintenance unit from moving to the second position when the carriage is not in the first position, so that the maintenance unit contacts the long member. In addition, the recording head can be maintained. Further, when the maintenance means is moved at a timing other than maintenance, the carriage is held at the first position, so that the maintenance means does not contact the long member. This prevents the long member from being stained with ink, and consequently prevents the sheet on the platen from being stained with ink.

  In addition, a long member is arranged in the first direction in the area where the carriage moves, and this long member is driven by the movement of the carriage so as not to interrupt the recording head and the platen or maintenance means. Since the sheet on the platen on which the recording head performs image recording does not leave the platen beyond the long member, sheet clogging on the platen is prevented.

  Further, according to the present invention, the long member arranged in the first direction in the region where the carriage moves does not move relative to the platen in the first direction even if the carriage moves. Sheet clogging is prevented and the sheet does not move in the first direction on the platen, so that the ink that has landed on the sheet is not rubbed and the recorded image is not disturbed. Further, it is possible to prevent the ink that has landed on the sheet from adhering to the long member, and then the sheet conveyed to the platen from being stained.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a multifunction machine 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the printer unit 11. FIG. 4 is a top view showing a configuration in the vicinity of the image recording unit 24 in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing configurations of the carriage 38 and the guide film 71. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carriage 38 and the guide film 71 as viewed from the lower surface side. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the carriage 38. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the purge mechanism 130, the wiper 131, and the waste ink tray 132. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 110. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a guide film 71 that follows the movement of the carriage 38. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the purge. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining wiping. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining wiping. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram for explaining flushing. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining a purge mechanism 130 and a wiper 131 according to a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing guide films 91 and 92 in the second embodiment. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a guide film 141 in the third embodiment. FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing guide films 151 and 152 in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a guide wire 54 in the fifth embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the present embodiment, the multifunction device 10 is shown as an example of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the multifunction device 10, and the scope of the present invention is not changed. Needless to say, the embodiment can be appropriately changed.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[Schematic configuration of MFP 10]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multi-function device 10 is integrally provided with a printer unit 11 and a scanner unit 12, and has a print function, a scan function, a copy function, and a facsimile function.

  The printer unit 11 described above corresponds to the image recording apparatus according to the present invention. Functions other than the printer unit 11 are arbitrary. For example, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention may be implemented as a single-function printer that does not have the scanner unit 12 and does not have a scan function or a copy function.

  In the multifunction machine 10, a printer unit 11 is disposed on the lower side, and a scanner unit 12 is disposed on the upper side. The printer unit 11 is mainly connected to an external information device such as a computer, and records images and characters on a recording medium based on print data including image data and document data transmitted from the external information device. The scanner unit 12 is a so-called flat bed scanner.

  The multi-function device 10 is a wide, thin, generally rectangular parallelepiped outer shape having a width (arrow 101) and a depth (arrow 103) larger than the height (arrow 102). The printer unit 11 is provided with an opening 13 on the front surface. Inside the opening 13, a paper feed tray 20 and a paper discharge tray 21 are provided. The recording paper stored in the paper supply tray 20 is fed into the printer unit 11 to record a desired image, and the recording paper after image recording is discharged to the paper discharge tray 21.

  An operation panel 14 is provided in the upper front portion of the multifunction machine 10. On the operation panel 14, a predetermined input for causing the printer unit 11 and the scanner unit 12 to perform a desired operation is performed. The operation panel 14 has a plurality of buttons for inputting, and a display for displaying the status of the multifunction machine 10 and displaying an error. Note that when an external information device is connected to the multifunction device 10, the multifunction device 10 also operates based on an instruction transmitted from the external information device through communication software such as a printer driver or a scanner driver.

[Printer 11]
As shown in FIG. 2, a paper feed tray 20 is provided on the bottom side of the multifunction machine 10. The paper discharge tray 21 is arranged in two upper and lower stages above the paper feed tray 20. The paper feed tray 20 and the paper discharge tray 21 are continuous so that a recording medium such as a recording paper can be conveyed by a paper conveyance path 23. The recording paper stored in the paper feed tray 20 is guided by the paper conveyance path 23 so as to make a U-turn from below to above and conveyed to the image recording unit 24. After the image recording unit 24 performs image recording, The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 21.

  The paper feed tray 20 has a container shape with an upper opening, and a sheet-shaped recording medium such as a recording paper is accommodated in the inner space in a stacked state. The paper feed tray 20 can accommodate recording sheets of various sizes such as A4 size, B5 size, and postcard size, for example, A3 size or smaller.

  The paper discharge tray 21 has a tray shape, and the recording paper is discharged onto the top surface thereof. The paper discharge tray 21 is disposed on the front side of the apparatus from the paper feed tray 20 in the depth direction (arrow 103). Therefore, on the back side of the apparatus, the paper discharge tray 21 does not exist above the paper feed tray 20.

  A paper feed roller 25 is provided on the back side of the paper feed tray 20. The paper feed roller 25 supplies the recording paper stacked on the paper feed tray 20 to the paper transport path 23. The paper feed roller 25 is driven by a motor (not shown) (LF motor 128 in FIG. 11) and rotates. The paper feed roller 25 is rotatably supported at the tip of the paper feed arm 26. The sheet feeding arm 26 can be rotated with the sheet feeding roller 25 side as a rotation tip, and by this rotation, the sheet feeding roller 25 moves up and down in a direction in which the sheet feeding roller 25 contacts and separates from the sheet feeding tray 20. The paper feeding arm 26 is rotated downward by being biased by the weight of the paper feeding roller 25 or a spring, and moves upward according to the amount of recording paper stored in the paper feeding tray 20. As a result, the paper feed roller 25 contacts the uppermost recording paper in the paper feed tray 20. When the paper feeding roller 25 is rotated in this state, the uppermost recording paper is sent out to the paper transport path 23 by the frictional force between the roller surface of the paper feeding roller 25 and the recording paper.

  The paper conveyance path 23 extends upward from the back side of the apparatus of the paper feed tray 20, subsequently curves to the front side of the apparatus, extends from the back side of the multifunction machine 10 to the front side, and is discharged through the image recording unit 24. It leads to the tray 21. The sheet conveyance path 23 is composed of an outer guide surface and an inner guide surface that are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval except for a portion where the image recording unit 24 and the like are disposed. For example, a portion where the sheet conveyance path 23 is curved on the back side of the apparatus is constituted by an outer guide member 18 and an inner guide member 19 fixed to the apparatus frame or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image recording unit 24 is mainly configured by a recording head 39 and a platen 42 that are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval. The detailed configuration of the image recording unit 24 will be described later.

  A pair of transport rollers 60 and a pinch roller 61 are provided upstream of the image recording unit 24 in the forward transport direction 104. 2 and 3, the pinch roller does not appear hidden behind other members. However, as shown in FIG. 9, the pinch roller 61 is disposed below the transport roller 60, and the transport roller 60. It is provided so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from, and is urged by an elastic member such as a spring and is brought into pressure contact with the conveying roller 60. The transport roller 60 is driven by a non-illustrated motor (LF motor 128 in FIG. 11) and rotates. In this embodiment, only the mode in which the recording paper is conveyed in the normal conveyance direction 104 will be described. However, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention conveys the sheet only in either the normal conveyance or the reverse conveyance. Needless to say, it is not limited to things.

  The recording sheet is conveyed in the normal conveyance direction 104 by the rotation of the conveyance roller 60 while being sandwiched between the conveyance roller 60 and the pinch roller 61. At this time, the pinch roller 61 rotates as the recording paper is conveyed.

  A pair of paper discharge rollers 62 and a spur are provided downstream of the image recording unit 24 in the normal conveyance direction 104. 2 and 3, the spur does not appear hidden behind other members, but the spur is disposed on the upper side of the paper discharge roller 62 so as to be able to contact and separate from the paper discharge roller 62. They are urged by an elastic member such as a spring and are pressed against the paper discharge roller 62. The spur has a shape in which a plurality of protrusions protruding in a mountain shape in the radial direction when viewed from the axial direction are arranged in the circumferential direction. The tip of the chevron protrudes from the recording surface of the recording paper. The paper discharge roller 62 is driven by a motor (not shown) (LF motor 128 in FIG. 11) and rotates. The rotation of the paper discharge roller 62 is synchronized with the rotation of the transport roller 60 described above. The paper discharge roller 62 and the spur are conveyed to the paper discharge tray 21 with the recorded recording paper sandwiched therebetween.

  During image recording, the transport roller 60 and the paper discharge roller 62 are intermittently driven. In the intermittent drive, the conveyance roller 60 and the paper discharge roller 62 are continuously driven by a rotation amount corresponding to a predetermined target conveyance amount, and when reaching the target conveyance amount, the rotation is stopped for a predetermined time. The target carry amount varies depending on the resolution of the image to be recorded. For example, when image recording is performed by the interlace method, the image recording in the fine mode with the higher resolution than the normal mode image recording with the medium resolution is performed. In general, the target transport amount is set to be small.

  Note that the conveyance roller 60 and the paper discharge roller 62 do not need to be intermittently driven while the image recording is not being performed. Therefore, when feeding paper before image recording or discharging paper after image recording, the conveyance roller 60 and the paper discharge roller 62 may be rotated continuously.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a registration sensor 37 is provided upstream of the conveyance roller 60 in the sheet conveyance path 23 in the normal conveyance direction 104. The registration sensor 37 detects the presence or absence of a recording sheet passing through the sheet conveyance path 23. Whether the leading edge or the trailing edge of the recording sheet has reached the position where the registration sensor 37 is provided is determined based on the ON / OFF signal change from the registration sensor 37.

[Configuration of Image Recording Unit 24]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the image recording unit 24 mainly includes a carriage 38, a recording head 39, and a platen 42.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, in the sheet conveyance path 23 downstream of the conveyance roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 in the normal conveyance direction 104 and upstream of the sheet discharge roller 62 and the spur, the carriage is vertically above and below. 38 and a platen 42 are arranged. The carriage 38 and the platen 42 are opposed to the sheet conveyance path 23 with the carriage 38 on the upper side, being vertically separated.

  The carriage 38 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped hexahedron, and is mounted with an ink jet recording head 39. The carriage 38 reciprocates in a horizontal direction (reciprocating direction 105) orthogonal to the normal conveyance direction 104. This reciprocating direction 105 corresponds to the first direction in the present invention. The direction along the normal conveyance direction 104 corresponds to the third direction in the present invention.

  Although not shown in each figure, an ink cartridge is arranged inside the multifunction machine 10 independently of the recording head 39. Cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) inks are supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head 39 through an ink tube (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 6, a part of the recording head 39 is exposed on the surface where the carriage 38 faces the platen 42. This exposed surface is referred to herein as the nozzle surface 40. Although not shown in detail in the figure, the nozzle surface 40 has a plurality of nozzle openings. Each nozzle port is arranged in one row along the normal conveyance direction 104 of the recording paper corresponding to each color ink of C, M, Y, and Bk. Ink droplets of the respective color inks are ejected from the nozzle openings by the vibration of the piezo elements provided inside the recording head 39. While the carriage 38 is reciprocated, each color ink is selectively ejected from the recording head 39 as fine ink droplets. As a result, an image is recorded on the recording paper conveyed on the platen 42. Note that the pitch and the number of each nozzle along the forward conveyance direction 104 are appropriately set according to the resolution of the recorded image. Further, the number of rows of nozzle openings corresponding to each color is increased or decreased according to the number of types of color ink.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the carriage 38 is provided with a paper detection sensor 32. The paper detection sensor 32 is a reflective optical sensor. Although not shown in detail in the figure, the paper detection sensor 32 has a light emitting element and a light receiving element. Light is emitted from the light emitting element toward the platen 42, and the light receiving element receives the reflected light from the platen 42. The paper detection sensor 32 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the light reception level of the light receiving element.

  The upper surface of the platen 42 has a reflectance different from that of the recording paper. In general, since the recording paper is white, the upper surface of the platen 42 is colored black. As described above, since the reflectance of the platen 42 and the reflectance of the recording paper are different, it is determined whether there is a recording paper on the platen 42 based on the signal level output from the paper detection sensor 32 or a change in the signal. .

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of guide rails 43 and 44 are disposed on the upper side of the sheet conveyance path 23. The guide rails 43 and 44 are spaced apart by a predetermined distance along the normal conveyance direction 104 of the recording paper, and are arranged with the reciprocating direction 105 of the carriage 38 as the longitudinal direction. The guide rails 43 and 44 are provided in the casing of the printer unit 11 and constitute a part of a frame that supports each member constituting the printer unit 11.

  The guide rail 43 disposed on the upstream side of the normal conveyance direction 104 has a substantially flat plate shape. The length of the guide rail 43 in the longitudinal direction (reciprocating direction 105) is set longer than the reciprocating range of the carriage 38. The guide rail 44 disposed on the downstream side of the normal conveyance direction 104 is also substantially flat and has a length in the longitudinal direction equal to the length of the guide rail 43. Further, the edge 45 on the upstream side of the guide rail 44 in the forward conveyance direction 104 is bent at a substantially right angle upward.

  The carriage 38 is disposed so as to straddle the guide rails 43 and 44. That is, the upstream end of the carriage 38 in the forward conveyance direction 104 is placed on the guide rail 43, and the downstream end of the carriage 38 in the forward conveyance direction 104 is placed on the guide rail 44. Although not shown in each drawing, the carriage 38 has the edge 45 of the guide rail 44 sandwiched between highly slidable resin members or the like. Accordingly, the carriage 38 is positioned with respect to the normal conveyance direction 104 and can slide in the reciprocating direction 105.

  A belt drive mechanism 46 is disposed on the upper surface of the guide rail 44. The belt drive mechanism 46 includes a drive pulley 47, a driven pulley 48, and an endless annular belt 49. The driving pulley 47 and the driven pulley 48 are respectively arranged near both ends in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 44. The belt 49 is stretched between the drive pulley 47 and the driven pulley 48. A plurality of teeth are provided inside the belt 49, and these teeth mesh with the teeth of the drive pulley 47. The drive pulley 47 is rotated by driving transmission from a motor (not shown) (CR motor 119 in FIG. 11). As the drive pulley 47 rotates, the belt 49 moves circumferentially.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a clip 36 is provided on the nozzle surface 40 side of the carriage 38. The clip 36 holds the belt 49 so that the carriage 38 is connected to the belt 49. Accordingly, the carriage 38 reciprocates on the guide rails 43 and 44 based on the circumferential motion of the belt 49. Since the recording head 39 is mounted on the carriage 38 as described above, the recording head 39 reciprocates in the reciprocating direction 105 as the carriage 38 reciprocates.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the encoder strip 51 of the linear encoder 123 (see FIG. 11) is disposed on the guide rail 44. The encoder strip 51 is formed in a band shape, and light transmitting portions and light shielding portions are alternately arranged at a predetermined pitch along the longitudinal direction thereof. The encoder strip 51 is supported by support portions 33 and 34 provided at both ends of the guide rail 44 in the longitudinal direction, and is disposed on the upper side of the guide rail 44 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction. An optical sensor 35 that is a transmission type sensor is provided on the upper surface of the carriage 38. The optical sensor 35 is arranged corresponding to the encoder strip 51 and detects the pattern of the encoder strip 51 when the carriage 38 reciprocates. The detection signal of the optical sensor 35 is output as a pulse signal from a head control board (not shown) mounted on the carriage 38. Based on this pulse signal, the moving direction and speed of the carriage 38 are calculated, and the reciprocation of the carriage 38 is controlled.

  A platen 42 is disposed below the guide rails 43 and 44 so as to face the recording head 39. The platen 42 is disposed so as to occupy a central portion through which the recording paper passes in an area where the carriage 38 reciprocates. The platen 42 supports the recording paper on its upper surface. The width of the upper surface of the platen 42 (reciprocating direction 105) is sufficiently wider than the maximum width of the recording paper that can be used in the printer unit 11. The recording paper supported on the upper surface of the platen 42 is kept at a constant distance from the recording head 39.

  Transmission of a recording signal or the like from the control unit 110 (see FIG. 11), which will be described later, to the head control board of the recording head 39 is performed through the flat cable 52. The flat cable 52 electrically connects the control unit 110 and the head control board. The flat cable 52 is a thin ribbon having a plurality of conductive wires that transmit electrical signals covered with a synthetic resin film such as a polyester film for insulation. The flat cable 52 bends following the reciprocating movement of the carriage 38 in the same manner as the ink tube.

  As described above, the carriage 38 is reciprocated while the transport roller 60 and the paper discharge roller 62 are stopped. During the reciprocating movement of the carriage 38, each color ink is selectively ejected from the nozzle openings of the recording head 39 as fine ink droplets toward the platen 42. As shown in FIG. 12, the ejection direction 108 in which ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle surface 40 is vertically downward. Therefore, the ejection direction 108 is orthogonal to the normal conveyance direction 104 and the reciprocating direction 105. The ink droplets selectively ejected from the nozzle surface 40 land on the recording paper on the platen 42, whereby a desired image is recorded on the recording paper.

[Guide film 71]
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the carriage 38 is provided with four rollers 72 to 75. The carriage 38 is provided with brackets 76 and 77 that protrude in the reciprocating direction 105 from the upstream side and the downstream side in the forward conveyance direction 104 from the nozzle surface 40, respectively. The rotation shafts are supported by the brackets 76 and 77, so that the rollers 72 to 75 are rotatably fixed to the carriage 38 with the direction along the normal conveyance direction 104 as an axial direction. The lengths of the rollers 72 to 75 in the axial direction are the same as or slightly longer than the width of the guide film 71 described later. Each of the rollers 72 to 75 is disposed at each of the four corners near the upper end or near the lower end on both sides of the carriage 38 in the reciprocating direction 105. The rollers 72 to 75 reciprocate together with the carriage 38 and move while rotating relative to the guide film 71 by the reciprocation of the carriage 38. This guide film 71 corresponds to the long member in the present invention. The rollers 72 to 75 correspond to guide members in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 7, an ink absorbing member 78 is provided on the upper surface side of the carriage 38. The ink absorbing member 78 is made of a material that can absorb and hold ink ejected from the recording head 39. Examples of such a material include a nonwoven fabric made of a water absorbent resin or a water absorbent fiber. The ink absorbing member 78 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that occupies almost the entire region between the rollers 73 and 74 and the brackets 76 and 77 disposed on the upper end side of the carriage 38. The upper surface of the ink absorbing member 78 is located slightly above the uppermost position of the rollers 73 and 74. That is, the ink absorbing member 78 is disposed between the carriage 38 and the opposed surface 82 of the guide film 71 that is wound around the rollers 73 and 74 and slides relatively above the carriage 38, and contacts the ink absorbing member 78. To do. The ink absorbing member 78 slides with respect to the guide film 71 as the carriage 38 reciprocates.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the guide film 71 has a thin flat band shape. The guide films 71 are respectively connected to both sides of the reciprocating direction 105 in the region where the carriage 38 reciprocates. One end of the guide film 71 is connected to the frame or the like of the printer unit 11 via a fixture 65 and fixed so as not to move relative to the platen 42 in the reciprocating direction 105, and the other end is wound around a roller 66. Similarly to one end, it is connected to a frame or the like by a fixture (not shown), and is fixed so as not to move relative to the platen 42 in the reciprocating direction 105. Although not shown in each figure, the tension | tensile_strength of the guide film 71 can be adjusted in the fixing tool of the other end. The fixture 65 and the fixture (not shown) correspond to the support member in the present invention.

  The guide film 71 is wound around each of the rollers 72 to 75 provided on the carriage 38 and is deformed so as to surround other than the nozzle surface 40 of the carriage 38. A part of the guide film 71 deformed around the carriage 38 is referred to as a deformed portion 80 in the present specification. A part of the guide film 71 other than the deformed portion 80 facing the upper surface of the platen 42 is referred to as a facing portion 81.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the deformed portion 80 of the guide film 71 is wound around the rollers 72 and 75 near the lower surface on both sides in the reciprocating direction 105 of the carriage 38, and the platen 42 is moved along the side surface of the carriage 38. And is wound around the rollers 73 and 74 near the upper surface and extends along the upper surface of the carriage 38. The ink absorbing member 78 is in contact with the upper surface side of the carriage 38. In the deformed portion 80 of the guide film 71, a direction that is wound around each of the rollers 72 and 75, extends along the side surface of the carriage 38, and separates and approaches the platen 42 is referred to as a deformed direction 106 (FIG. 8). Reference). This deformation direction 106 corresponds to the second direction in the present invention. Note that the deformation in the second direction in the present invention is not necessarily limited to a mode in which the elongated member is extended only along the second direction. For example, as illustrated in FIG. An embodiment in which the guide film 71 extends slightly obliquely is also included. That is, if the component in the second direction is not zero in the direction in which the long member extends, it is included in the deformation in the second direction in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the opposing portions 81 of the guide film 71 extend in the reciprocating direction 105 from both sides of the carriage 38 at a height slightly closer to the platen 42 than the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39. . As described above, the direction in which the guide film 71 is extended outside the deformed portion 80 is the longitudinal direction, and the short direction of the guide film 71 is along the forward conveyance direction 104. Further, the front and back surfaces of the facing portion 81 extend substantially in the horizontal direction, and in this specification, the surface of the front and back surfaces of the guide film 71 that faces the platen 42 is referred to as a facing surface 82. The facing surface 82 corresponds to the position closest to the platen in the long member in the present invention, and also corresponds to the plane of the long member in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the width 83 (the length along the normal conveyance direction 104) of the guide film 71 is wider than the length 84 of the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 in the normal conveyance direction 104. The guide film 71 is disposed with respect to the carriage 38 so that the nozzle surface 40 is within the width 83 thereof. Further, the sheet detection sensor 32 provided on the carriage 38 is also arranged at a position that fits within the width 83 of the guide film 71.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the vicinity of the carriage 38, the first interval 85 from the opposing surface (closest position) 82 of the guide film 71 to the upper surface of the platen 42 is the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 to the platen 42. It is slightly smaller than the second distance 86 to the upper surface. The nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 is a position closest to the platen 42 in the recording head 39.

  As the carriage 38 reciprocates, the guide film 71 deforms so that the deformed portion 80 follows the reciprocating movement of the carriage 38. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the carriage 38 moves in the direction of an arrow 117 (leftward in FIG. 12), the guide film 71 is guided by the rollers 72 to 75 and follows the carriage 38 to move the deformed portion 80 to the arrow. It is deformed to move to 117. That is, the opposing portion 81 of the guide film 71 becomes the deformed portion 80 by being wound around the roller 72 of the carriage 38, and the deformable portion 80 becomes the opposing portion 81 when the roller 74 of the carriage 38 passes. Thus, even when the deformed portion 80 follows the reciprocating motion of the carriage 38, the facing portion 81 does not move relative to the platen 42 in the reciprocating motion direction 105. As described above, in the present invention, the operation in which the deformed portion 80 moves while changing the position on the guide film 71 and always makes the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 directly face the platen 42 as the carriage 38 moves. It is expressed that the guide film 71 follows the movement of the carriage 38 so as not to block the head 39 and the platen 42, the purge mechanism 130, or the wiper 131.

  As shown in FIG. 9, an introduction film 87 is provided from the conveyance roller 60 toward the guide film 71 from the downstream side in the normal conveyance direction 104. The introduction film 87 has a thin film shape, and the first end 88 on the upstream side in the forward conveyance direction 104 is located immediately downstream from the roller surface of the conveyance roller 60 and slightly from the nip position between the conveyance roller 60 and the pinch roller 61. It is arranged above. A second end 89 on the downstream side in the forward conveyance direction 104 of the introduction film 87 enters the lower side of the guide film 71. The position of the second end 89 is set in a range that does not reach the position corresponding to the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 and the paper detection sensor 32 on the downstream side of the upstream end 70 of the guide film 71. The recording sheet nipped by the transport roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 and transported to the platen 42 is guided by the introduction film 87 and guided between the guide film 71 and the platen 42.

[Purge mechanism 130, wiper 131 and waste ink tray 132]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, a purge mechanism 130, a wiper 131 and a waste ink tray 132 are arranged on both sides of the platen 42 in the reciprocating direction 105. In FIG. 4, since the purge mechanism 130, the wiper 131, and the waste ink tray 132 do not appear behind the guide film 71, their arrangement is indicated by dotted lines in the drawing. The purge mechanism 130 and the wiper 131 are disposed on the same side of the platen 42 in the reciprocating direction 105 (the right side in FIG. 10), while only the waste ink tray 132 is opposite to the platen 42 in the reciprocating direction 105. It is arranged on the side (left side in FIG. 10). The guide film 71 is provided in the reciprocating direction 105 so as to face the purge mechanism 130, the wiper 131 and the waste ink tray 132. The purge mechanism 130 and the wiper 131 correspond to maintenance means in the present invention.

  The purge mechanism 130 mainly includes caps 133 and 134 and a suction pump 135. Further, the caps 133 and 134 are moved in a direction (arrow 109) in contact with and away from the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 by a driving mechanism (not shown). The movement of the caps 133 and 134 is realized by drive transmission from the LF motor 128, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, a position where each cap 133, 134 does not contact the recording head 39 and the guide film 71 is referred to as a standby position in the present specification, and as shown in FIG. A position where 134 can be in close contact with the recording head 39 is referred to as a maintenance position in this specification. Accordingly, the caps 133 and 134 are moved to the arrow 109 by the driving mechanism and are positioned at the standby position and the maintenance position. This standby position corresponds to the third position in the present invention, and the maintenance position corresponds to the second position in the present invention.

  The caps 133 and 134 are in close contact with the nozzle surface 40 and cover the nozzle openings with sealed spaces. The cap 133 integrally covers nozzle ports that eject color inks of C, M, and Y, and the cap 134 integrally covers nozzle ports that eject black (Bk) ink. The lip portion where each cap 133, 134 is in close contact with the nozzle surface 40 is made of an elastic member such as rubber, and is elastically deformed when each cap 133, 134 is pressed against the nozzle surface 40. By the elastic deformation of the lip portion, the lip portion and the nozzle surface 40 are brought into close contact with each other, and the internal spaces of the caps 133 and 134 become sealed spaces.

  Openings are respectively provided in the bottom surfaces of the caps 133 and 134, and the caps 133 and 134 are connected to the suction pump 135 through flow paths 136 and 137 that lead to the openings. The suction pump 135 is a so-called tube pump, and is operated by drive transmission from the LF motor 128 as shown in FIG. When the suction pump 135 is operated, suction pressure is generated in the internal spaces of the caps 133 and 134 through the flow paths 136 and 137. When the caps 133 and 134 are in close contact with the nozzle surface 40, the ink of each color is sucked into the caps 133 and 134 from the nozzle ports of the recording head 39 by the suction pressure. When ink of each color is sucked from the recording head 39, bubbles or dust generated in the recording head 39 are sucked into the caps 133 and 134 together with the ink. In this specification, such a suction operation is referred to as purge.

  The wiper 131 contacts the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 and wipes ink adhering to the nozzle surface 40. The wiper 131 is a flat plate member made of an elastic member such as rubber. The wiper 131 has a width longer than the range of all nozzle openings arranged in the transport direction 104 on the nozzle surface 40, so that the width direction is the transport direction 104. Has been placed. Further, the wiper 131 is moved in a direction in which the wiper 131 comes in contact with and separates from the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 (arrow 109) by a drive mechanism (not shown). The movement of the wiper 131 is realized by drive transmission from the LF motor 128, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the position where the wiper 131 does not contact the recording head 39 and the guide film 71 is referred to as a standby position in the present specification. As shown in FIGS. A position where the nozzle surface 40 of the head 39 can be in close contact is referred to as a maintenance position in this specification. Accordingly, the wiper 131 is moved to the arrow 109 by the driving mechanism and is positioned at the standby position and the maintenance position. This standby position corresponds to the third position in the present invention, and the maintenance position corresponds to the second position in the present invention. Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the position of the carriage 38 where the cap 133, 134 or the wiper 131 and the recording head 39 are in contact with each other and purge or wiping is performed corresponds to the first position in the present invention. To do.

  The wiper 131 is disposed closer to the platen 42 than the purge mechanism 130. The wiper 131 is mainly used for wiping ink remaining on the nozzle surface 40 purged by the purge mechanism 130. Accordingly, the wiper 131 is moved to the maintenance position when the purged recording head 39 returns to the position facing the platen 42 together with the carriage 38, as will be described later. In this specification, the operation of wiping off the ink on the nozzle surface 40 in this way is called wiping.

  The waste ink tray 132 receives ink droplets ejected from the recording head 39 for maintenance. The waste ink tray 132 has a tray shape corresponding to the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39, and the internal space is filled with an ink absorbing material. The ink absorbing material absorbs and holds the ink droplets ejected from the recording head 39. For example, when purging is performed and the ink on the nozzle surface 40 is wiped off by the wiper 131, ink other than the corresponding ink color may be mixed into each nozzle port or the meniscus of ink at each nozzle port is not normal. There is a risk of becoming. Accordingly, by ejecting ink droplets from all the nozzle openings of the recording head 39 after purging, the mixed ink is discharged or the meniscus of each nozzle opening is returned to a normal state. In this specification, such ink droplet ejection operation is referred to as flushing.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the guide film 71 extends in the reciprocating direction 105 to a position that also covers the caps 133, 134, the wiper 131, and the waste ink tray 132 of the purge mechanism 130 described above. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 16, the carriage 38 can move to a position facing the caps 133 and 134, the wiper 131 and the waste ink tray 132 of the purge mechanism 130. As described above, as the carriage 38 moves, the deformed portion 80 moves while changing the position on the guide film 71, and the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 moves to the purge mechanism 130, the wiper 131, or the waste ink tray 132. Directly opposed. That is, the guide film 71 is deformed by being driven by the carriage 38 so as not to interrupt the recording head 39 and the purge mechanism 130, the wiper 131, or the waste ink tray 132.

[Control unit 110]
The control unit 110 controls the overall operation of the multifunction machine 10 including not only the printer unit 11 but also the scanner unit 12. Note that the configuration related to the control of the scanner unit 12 is not the main configuration of the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. The control unit 110 corresponds to control means in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 110 mainly includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 113, and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) 114. It is configured as a microcomputer. The control unit 110 is connected to an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 116 via a bus 115.

  The ROM 112 stores a program for controlling various operations of the multifunction machine 10 such as an image recording operation and a maintenance operation described later. The RAM 113 is used as a storage area or a work area for temporarily recording various data used when the CPU 111 executes the program. The EEPROM 114 stores settings and flags that should be retained even after the power is turned off.

  The ASIC 116 generates a PWM signal and the like for energizing the LF motor 128 in accordance with a command from the CPU 111. This signal is applied to the drive circuit 118 of the LF motor 128, and the drive signal is energized to the LF motor 128 via the drive circuit 118. In this way, rotation control of the LF motor 128 is performed. The LF motor 128 is a drive source for the paper feed roller 25, the transport roller 60 and the paper discharge roller 62, and is also a drive source for the purge mechanism 130 and the wiper 131.

  The drive circuit 118 drives the LF motor 128 at a desired rotation. The drive circuit 118 receives an output signal from the ASIC 116 and generates an electrical signal for rotating the LF motor 128. In response to this electrical signal, the LF motor 128 rotates. The rotation of the LF motor 128 is transmitted to the paper feed roller 25, the transport roller 60, the paper discharge roller 62, the purge mechanism 130 and the wiper 131.

  The ASIC 116 generates a PWM signal that energizes the CR motor 119 in accordance with a command from the CPU 111. This signal is applied to the drive circuit 120 of the CR motor 119, and the drive signal is passed through the CR motor 119 via the drive circuit 120. In this way, rotation control of the CR motor 119 is performed.

  The drive circuit 120 drives the CR motor 119 with a desired rotation. The drive circuit 120 receives an output signal from the ASIC 116 and generates an electrical signal for rotating the CR motor 119. In response to this electrical signal, the CR motor 119 rotates. The rotational force of the CR motor 119 is transmitted to the carriage 38 via the belt driving mechanism 46, and thereby the carriage 38 is reciprocated. In this way, the reciprocation of the carriage 38 is controlled by the control unit 110.

  The drive circuit 121 drives the recording head 39 at a predetermined timing. Based on the drive control procedure output from the CPU 111, the ASIC 116 generates an output signal. Based on this output signal, the drive circuit 121 drives and controls the recording head 39. The drive circuit 121 is mounted on the head control board. A signal output from the drive circuit 121 is transmitted from the main board constituting the control unit 110 to the head control board via the flat cable 52. As a result, the recording head 39 selectively ejects each color ink onto the recording paper at a predetermined timing.

  The rotation amount of the transport roller 60 is determined based on the detection signal of the rotary encoder 122. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotary encoder 122 detects the optical pattern of the encoder disk 53 that is provided coaxially with the transport roller 60 and rotates with the optical sensor 57, and an electrical signal corresponding to the optical pattern. Is output as an encoder amount. The control unit 110 grasps the position of the leading or trailing edge of the recording paper based on the detection signal of the paper detection sensor 32 or the registration sensor 37 and the encoder amount detected by the rotary encoder 122. When the leading edge of the recording sheet reaches a predetermined position on the platen 42, the control unit 110 controls the rotation of the LF motor 128 so as to intermittently convey the recording sheet for each predetermined line feed width. The line feed width is set based on the resolution input as the image recording condition.

  The position of the carriage 38 is determined based on the detection signal of the linear encoder 123. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the linear encoder 123 uses an optical sensor 35 mounted on the carriage 38 to convert the optical pattern of the encoder strip 51 provided along the guide rails 43 and 44 that guide the carriage 38. It detects and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the optical pattern as an encoder amount. The carriage 38 is moved to one end of the reciprocating range when the multifunction device 10 is turned on, and the detection position by the linear encoder 123 is initialized. When the carriage 38 moves from the initial position along the guide rails 43 and 44, the optical sensor 35 provided on the carriage 38 detects the optical pattern of the encoder strip 51 and outputs a plurality of pulse signals having different phases. The controller 110 grasps the moving direction and speed of the carriage 38 based on these pulse signals. Further, the control unit 110 controls the rotation of the CR motor 119 so as to control the reciprocation of the carriage 38 based on the moving direction and speed.

  The ASIC 116 includes the scanner unit 12, an operation panel 14 for instructing operation of the multifunction device 10, a parallel interface 124 and a USB interface 125 for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external information device such as a personal computer via a parallel cable or USB cable. It is connected to the. Further, an NCU (Network Control Unit) 126 and a modem (MODEM) 127 for realizing the facsimile function are also connected to the ASIC 116.

[Image recording operation]
The image recording operation by the printer unit 11 will be described below.

  When the start of image recording is input to the operation panel 14, the recording paper 90 stored in the paper feed tray 20 is supplied to the paper transport path 23 by the rotation of the paper feed roller 25. The recording sheet 90 supplied to the sheet conveyance path 23 is nipped by the conveyance roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 and conveyed to the platen 42. Note that the leading end position of the recording sheet 90 is grasped in the process in which the recording sheet 90 passes through the registration sensor 37.

  The leading edge of the recording paper 90 nipped and conveyed by the conveying roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 is guided by the introduction film 87 and guided between the guide film 71 and the platen 42. When the leading edge of the recording paper 90 enters the image recording area by the recording head 39, the transport roller 60 is intermittently rotated for each predetermined transport amount. While the conveying roller 60 is intermittently stopped, the carriage 38 is reciprocated in the reciprocating direction 105. While the carriage 38 reciprocates, ink droplets of each color are selectively ejected from the nozzle surfaces 40 of the recording head 39 in the ejection direction 108. Ink droplets may be ejected in both directions in which the carriage 38 reciprocates or only in one direction. The ink droplets ejected from the nozzle surface 40 land on the recording paper 90 on the platen 42. Thereby, the image recording for one pass is completed.

  When the carriage 38 is reciprocated once, the conveyance roller 60 is rotated again by a predetermined conveyance amount, and the recording paper 90 is conveyed in the normal conveyance direction 104 on the platen 42. Then, while the conveying roller 60 is intermittently stopped, the carriage 38 is reciprocated in the reciprocating direction 105, and ink droplets are selectively ejected from the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 in the second pass. Image recording is performed. This is repeated and a desired image is recorded on the recording paper 90.

  When marginless printing is performed on the recording paper 90, the edge of the recording paper on the platen 42 is detected based on the output signal of the paper detection sensor 32 mounted on the carriage 38. As described above, since the paper detection sensor 32 is arranged at a position that fits within the width 83 of the guide film 71 on the lower surface side of the carriage 38, the light emitted from the paper detection sensor 32 blocks the introduction film 87. The recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is reached without being reflected, and the reflected light also reaches the paper detection sensor 32 without being blocked by the introduction film 87. Then, ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 39 to a position corresponding to the detected edge of the recording paper 90, and borderless printing is performed on the recording paper 90.

  In the image recording as described above, a guide film 71 is provided in an area where the carriage 38 reciprocates. As shown in FIG. 12, the deformed portion 80 of the guide film 71 follows the reciprocation of the carriage 38. When the deformed portion 80 follows the movement of the carriage 38, the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 is always directly opposed to the platen 42, and the gap between the nozzle surface 40 and the platen 42 is blocked by the guide film 71. Therefore, ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 39 onto the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 at a desired timing. On the other hand, the opposed portion 81 of the guide film 71 does not move relative to the platen 42 in the reciprocating direction 105 even when the carriage 38 reciprocates. Therefore, even if the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is greatly warped or floated, it is positioned on the platen 42 side from the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 by the facing portion 81 of the guide film 71.

[Maintenance operation]
Hereinafter, the maintenance operation of the recording head 39 will be described. In the present embodiment, purge, wiping, and flushing are described as examples of the maintenance operation.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the control unit 110 performs purge when the carriage 38 is not in the maintenance region 30 where the recording head 39 contacts the caps 133, 134 or the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 positioned at the maintenance position. When the caps 133, 134 or the wiper 131 of the mechanism 130 are prohibited from moving to the maintenance position, and the caps 133, 134 or the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 are positioned at the maintenance position, the caps are not at the maintenance position. The carriage 38 is prohibited from moving to the image recording area 31 where the recording head 39 does not contact the caps 133, 134 or the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 that has been made.

  The maintenance area 30 and the image recording area 31 described above are not specific positions of the carriage 38 in the reciprocating direction 105 but are predetermined areas in which the carriage 38 can move in the reciprocating direction 105. For example, in the maintenance area 30 The carriage 38 can move in the reciprocating direction 105 within a range necessary for wiping. As will be described later, in wiping, the carriage 38 is moved toward the image recording area 31 by the area of the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39. Such a movement range of the carriage 38 corresponds to a range in which the wiper 131 in the present invention contacts only the recording head 39, and the maintenance area 30 is set including this range. In addition, since the area where the recording head 39 faces the waste ink tray 132 is not directly related to the present invention, no reference numeral is given in the present embodiment. This maintenance area 30 corresponds to the first position in the present invention.

  When the carriage 38 is not in the maintenance area 30, for example, when the carriage 38 is in the image recording area 31 for image recording, the control unit 110 moves the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 to the maintenance position. Is prohibited. Accordingly, since the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 are held at the standby position, the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 do not come into contact with the guide film 71.

  For example, the controller 110 prohibits the carriage 38 from moving to the image recording area 31 when the caps 133 and 134 or the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 are positioned at the maintenance position for maintenance. Therefore, as will be described later, when the purge mechanism 130 or the wiper 131 is performing maintenance of the recording head 39, the carriage 38 is not moved to the image recording area 31. When the maintenance is completed and the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 are moved to the standby position, the carriage 38 can move to the image recording area 31. Thereby, the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 do not come into contact with the guide film 71. In the wiping described later, the operation of moving the carriage 38 toward the image recording area 31 while the wiper 131 is in contact with the recording head 39 is not prohibited as described above.

  The controller 110 performs purge, wiping or flushing at a preset timing. This timing is determined when, for example, a predetermined amount or more or a predetermined number of counts or more of ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 39, or when a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the power supply of the multifunction device 10 is turned on. Pre-programmed, such as when the ink cartridge is replaced.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when purging, the control unit 110 moves the carriage 38 to the maintenance area 30 where the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 faces the caps 133 and 134 of the purge mechanism 130. The control unit 110 determines whether the carriage 38 has moved to the maintenance area 30 based on the output signal of the linear encoder 123. As described above, since the deformed portion 80 follows the movement of the carriage 38, the guide film 71 does not block between the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 and each of the caps 133, 134 and the wiper 131. The surface 40 is directly opposed to each cap 133, 134 or the wiper 131. Then, the control unit 110 permits the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 to move to the maintenance position on the condition that the carriage 38 has moved to the maintenance area 30.

  Subsequently, the control unit 110 moves the caps 133 and 134 of the purge mechanism 130 to the maintenance position. Accordingly, the caps 133 and 134 are in close contact with the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39. When the control unit 110 operates the suction pump 135, each color ink is sucked into the caps 133 and 134 from each nozzle port of the recording head 39. Thereby, the purge is completed. In such a purge, the control unit 110 prohibits the carriage 38 from being moved from the maintenance area 30 to the image recording area 31 when the caps 133 and 134 are in the maintenance position.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when the purge is completed, the control unit 110 moves the caps 133 and 134 to the standby positions. Further, the control unit 110 moves the wiper 131 to the maintenance position. As a result, the tip of the wiper 131 comes into contact with the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the control unit 110 moves the carriage 38 toward the image recording area 31 by the area of the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39. Accordingly, the nozzle surface 40 is moved relative to the wiper 131 in a state where the wiper 131 is in contact with the nozzle surface 40, and the ink attached to the nozzle surface 40 is wiped off by the wiper 131. That is, wiping is performed. In such wiping, when the wiper 131 is in the maintenance position, the control unit 110 moves the carriage 38 from the maintenance area 30 to the image recording area 31 beyond the range where the wiper 131 contacts only the recording head 39. It is prohibited to be done.

  Then, the control unit 110 moves the wiper 131 to the standby position. Since the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 are in the standby position, the control unit 110 moves the carriage 38 from the maintenance area 30 to the image recording area 31 beyond the range where the wiper 131 contacts only the recording head 39. Allow that. Then, the controller 110 moves the carriage 38 toward the waste ink tray 132. At this time, since the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 are both in the standby position, the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 on the recording head 39 and the guide film 71 regardless of the position of the carriage 38. Will not touch.

  As shown in FIG. 16, when performing flushing, the control unit 110 moves the carriage 38 to a position where the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 faces the waste ink tray 132. The control unit 110 determines whether the carriage 38 has moved to a position facing the waste ink tray 132 based on the output signal of the linear encoder 123. As described above, since the deformed portion 80 follows the movement of the carriage 38, the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 directly faces the waste ink tray 132.

  Subsequently, the control unit 110 ejects a plurality of ink droplets from all the nozzle openings of the recording head 39. Thereby, the ink mixed in the nozzle openings is discharged together with the ink droplets, and the meniscus of each nozzle opening is returned to normal. Ink droplets ejected from the recording head 39 land on the waste ink tray 132. When the flushing is completed, the control unit 110 completes the maintenance operation and performs a predetermined operation such as image recording.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, the control unit 110 prohibits the control unit 110 from moving the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 to the maintenance position when the carriage 38 is not in the maintenance area 30. When the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 are positioned at the maintenance position, the carriage 38 is prohibited from moving to the image recording area 31. In addition, the maintenance of the recording head 39 can be performed without the wiper 131 coming into contact with the guide film 71. As a result, the guide film 71 is not stained with ink, and as a result, the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is prevented from being stained with ink.

  In addition, a guide film 71 is arranged in the reciprocating direction 105 in an area in which the carriage 38 moves, and the guide film 71 is driven by the movement of the carriage 38 so as not to interrupt the recording head 39 and the platen 42. Therefore, even if the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is greatly warped or lifted, the recording paper 90 does not move away from the platen 42 beyond the guide film 71, so that the paper jam in the platen 42 is prevented.

  Further, since the opposed portion 81 of the guide film 71 does not move relative to the platen 42 in the reciprocating direction 105 even if the carriage 38 moves, a paper jam is prevented on the platen 42 and the recording paper is printed on the platen 42. Since the 90 does not move in the reciprocating direction 105, the ink landed on the recording paper 90 is not rubbed against the guide film 71 and the recorded image is not disturbed. Further, the ink that has landed on the recording paper 90 does not move to the guide film 71, and the guide film 71 does not stain the recording paper 90 that is subsequently conveyed to the platen 42.

  Further, each of the rollers 72 to 75 deforms the guide film 71 into the arrow 106 so as to surround the carriage 38, so that the carriage 38 moves in the reciprocating direction while deforming one guide film 71 extending in the reciprocating direction 105. 105. Thereby, since the tension applied to extend the guide film 71 in the reciprocating direction 105 is stabilized over the entire guide film 71, the resistance that the guide film 71 gives to the movement of the carriage 38 is reduced, The carriage 38 can be moved with high accuracy.

  Further, since the guide film 71 has a flat belt shape having a facing surface 82 facing the platen 42, the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 can be pressed with a flat surface.

  Further, since the guide film 71 has a width 83 on the opposed surface 82 wider than the length 84 of the nozzle surface 40, the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 comes into contact with the recording paper 90 on the platen 42. Paper jams can be reliably prevented. Further, since the recording paper 90 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the platen 42 on the nozzle surface 40, high-precision image recording is realized.

  Further, since the first interval 85 between the facing surface 82 of the guide film 71 and the platen 42 is narrower than the second interval 86 between the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 and the platen 42, the recording on the platen 42 is performed by the guide film 71. Since the sheet 90 is pressed so as not to contact the recording head 39, contamination and paper jamming due to contact with the recording head 39 in the reciprocating movement of the carriage 38 are prevented.

[Modification of First Embodiment]
Each of the caps 133, 134 and / or the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 of the first embodiment described above is moved in the direction 140 along the normal conveyance direction 104, not in the direction 109, and the nozzle surface of the recording head 39. It may be in contact with or away from 40. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 move in the direction 140 with respect to the recording head 39 and the guide film 71 so as not to contact the recording head 39 and the guide film 71. The position thus set is set as the standby position, and the positions where the caps 133 and 134 or the wiper 131 move in the direction 140 and contact the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 are set as the maintenance position in the same manner as in FIGS. . In this configuration, the wiper 131 is moved relative to the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 by moving in the direction 140 with the carriage 38 stopped. Further, the standby position of each cap 133, 134 or wiper 131 may be either upstream or downstream of the normal conveyance direction 104, and whichever is set as the standby position corresponds to the third position in the present invention. Even with such a configuration, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above mainly in the configuration of the guide films 91 and 92. Therefore, below, the structure of the guide films 91 and 92 in 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated, and description is abbreviate | omitted about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment. Guide films 91 and 92 to be described later correspond to the long members in the present invention. In addition, the member shown with the same code | symbol as 1st Embodiment in 2nd Embodiment is the same as 1st Embodiment.

[Guide films 91 and 92]
As shown in FIG. 18, the carriage 38 is provided with two winding rollers 93 and 94. Each of the winding rollers 93 and 94 is rotatably fixed to the carriage 38 with the direction along the normal conveyance direction 104 (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 18) as an axial direction. Although not shown in FIG. 18, the axial lengths of the winding rollers 93 and 94 are approximately the same as or slightly longer than the widths of guide films 91 and 92 described later. Each of the winding rollers 93 and 94 is arranged on both sides of the carriage 38 in the reciprocating direction 105 so that the lowest point of the roller surface is closer to the platen 42 than the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39.

  Although not appearing in FIG. 18, each of the winding rollers 93 and 94 is provided with a coil spring that urges the guide films 91 and 92 to rotate in the respective rotational directions. By each coil spring, the winding roller 93 is urged counterclockwise indicated by an arrow in FIG. 18, and the winding roller 94 is urged clockwise indicated by an arrow in FIG. The guide films 91 and 92 are wound or pulled out by the two winding rollers 93 and 94, respectively.

  The guide films 91 and 92 have the same flat band shape as the guide film 71 in the first embodiment. The guide films 91 and 92 are respectively connected to both sides of the reciprocating direction 105 in the region where the carriage 38 reciprocates. Each end of the guide films 91 and 92 on the carriage 38 side is wound around winding rollers 93 and 94. Accordingly, the guide films 91 and 92 extend in the reciprocating direction 105 from both sides of the carriage 38 at a height slightly closer to the platen 42 than the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39.

  The guide film 91 is fixed by the fixture 65 so as not to move relative to the platen 42 in the reciprocating direction 105 at the end of the region where the carriage 38 reciprocates, and moves along the reciprocating direction 105 toward the winding roller 93. And is wound around a winding roller 93. The guide film 92 is fixed at the end of the region where the carriage 38 reciprocates by a fixture 65 so as not to move relative to the platen 42 in the reciprocation direction 105, and along the reciprocation direction 105 toward the winding roller 94. It is extended and wound around a winding roller 94. The direction in which the guide films 91 and 92 are extended is the longitudinal direction, and the short direction of the guide films 91 and 92 is along the forward conveyance direction 104.

  The guide films 91 and 92 extended from both ends of the area where the carriage 38 reciprocates are wound around the two winding rollers 93 and 94, respectively, so that the guide film 91 and 92 reciprocate the carriage 38. It is provided over the entire area. The guide films 91 and 92 are drawn out or taken up from the take-up rollers 93 and 94 following the reciprocation of the carriage 38. The guide films 91 and 92 are wound around the winding rollers 93 and 94, respectively, so that the guide films 91 and 92 are separated from the platen 42 in the deformation direction 106 on both sides of the carriage 38. The guide films 91 and 92 approach the platen 42 on both sides of the carriage 38 by being pulled out from the take-out rollers 93 and 94, respectively.

  The front and back surfaces of the guide films 91 and 92 extend substantially in the horizontal direction. In the present specification, the surface of the front and back surfaces of the guide film 91 that faces the platen 42 is referred to as a facing surface 95. Of the front and back surfaces of the guide film 92, the surface facing the platen 42 is referred to as a facing surface 96. These opposing surfaces 95 and 96 correspond to the position closest to the platen in the present invention, and also correspond to the plane of the long member in the present invention.

  In addition, a portion of the guide film 91 that is wound around the winding roller 93 is referred to as a deformed portion 97, and a portion that the platen 42 is opposed to other than the deformed portion 97 is referred to as a facing portion 98. In addition, a portion of the guide film 92 that is wound around the winding roller 94 is referred to as a deformed portion 99, and a portion of the platen 42 that is opposed to the deformed portion 99 is referred to as a facing portion 100.

  Although not shown in FIG. 18, the width 83 (the length along the normal conveyance direction 104) of the guide films 91 and 92 is wider than the length 84 along the normal conveyance direction 104 of the nozzle surface 40 in the recording head 39. . And the guide films 91 and 92 are arrange | positioned with respect to the carriage 38 so that the nozzle surface 40 may be settled in the width | variety. The paper detection sensor 32 provided on the carriage 38 is also arranged at a position that fits within the width of the guide films 91 and 92.

  In the image recording operation similar to that of the first embodiment described above, guide films 91 and 92 are provided in the area where the carriage 38 reciprocates, and the winding rollers 93 and 94 follow the reciprocating movement of the carriage 38. Then, the guide films 91 and 92 are wound up or pulled out. Accordingly, since the deformed portions 97 and 99 follow the movement of the carriage 38, the guide films 91 and 92 do not block between the nozzle surface 40 and the platen 42 of the recording head 39, and the nozzle surface 40 is always in the platen. Directly opposed to 42. On the other hand, the opposing portions 98 and 100 of the guide films 91 and 92 do not move relative to the platen 42 in the reciprocating direction 105 even when the carriage 38 reciprocates. Therefore, even if the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is greatly warped or floated, it is positioned closer to the platen 42 than the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 by the opposing portions 98 and 100 of the guide films 91 and 92.

  In the same maintenance operation as that in the first embodiment described above, since the deformed portions 97 and 99 follow the movement of the carriage 38, the gap between the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39, the purge mechanism 130, and the wiper 131 is maintained. The guide film 92 is not blocked, and the nozzle surface 40 is directly opposed to the caps 133 and 134 or the wiper 131.

  When the carriage 38 is not in the maintenance area 30, for example, when the carriage 38 is in the image recording area 31 for image recording, the control unit 110 moves the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 to the maintenance position. It is prohibited to move to Therefore, since the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 are held at the standby position, the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 do not come into contact with the guide films 91 and 92. Thus, the guide films 91 and 92 are not stained with ink, and as a result, the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is prevented from being stained with ink. Thereby, the same operation effect as a 1st embodiment mentioned above is produced.

[Third Embodiment]
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above mainly in the configuration of the guide film 141. Therefore, the configuration of the guide film 141 in the third embodiment will be described below, and the description of the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted. A guide film 141 described later corresponds to the long member in the present invention. In addition, the member shown with the same code | symbol as 1st Embodiment in 3rd Embodiment is the same as 1st Embodiment.

[Guide film 141]
As shown in FIG. 19, two rollers 142 and 143 are provided on both sides of the movement range of the carriage 38. Although not shown in FIG. 19, the rollers 142 and 143 are rotatably fixed to the frame of the printer unit 11 with the direction along the normal conveyance direction 104 (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 19) as an axial direction. Yes. Further, the lengths of the rollers 142 and 143 in the axial direction are the same as or slightly longer than the width of the guide film 141 described later. The rollers 142 and 143 are arranged on both sides of the carriage 38 in the reciprocating direction 105 so that the lowest point of the roller surface is closer to the platen 42 than the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39.

  The guide film 141 has the same flat band shape as the guide film 71 in the first embodiment. Both ends of the guide film 141 are respectively connected to both sides of the carriage 38 in the reciprocating direction 105. The connection position of the guide film 141 on the carriage 38 is a height closer to the platen 42 than the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 and is the same height as the lowest point of the roller surfaces of the rollers 142 and 143 described above.

  The guide film 141 is extended from both sides of the carriage 38 in the reciprocating direction 105, wound around the rollers 142 and 143 at both ends of the movement range of the carriage 38, and returned to the upper side of the carriage 38. As an endless ring. The direction in which the guide film 141 is extended is the longitudinal direction, and the short direction of the guide film 141 is along the forward conveyance direction 104.

  The guide film 141 extended from both ends of the carriage 38 is wound around two rollers 142 and 143 to form an endless ring, so that the guide film 141 is provided over the entire area where the carriage 38 reciprocates. It has been. The guide film 141 follows the reciprocation of the carriage 38 and moves between the rollers 93 and 94.

  The front and back surfaces of the guide film 141 extend substantially in the horizontal direction. In this specification, the surface of the front and back surfaces of the guide film 141 that faces the platen 42 is referred to as a facing surface 144. The facing surface 144 corresponds to the position closest to the platen in the present invention, and corresponds to the plane of the long member in the present invention.

  Although not shown in FIG. 19, the width 83 (the length along the normal conveyance direction 104) of the guide film 141 is wider than the length 84 along the normal conveyance direction 104 of the nozzle surface 40 in the recording head 39. And the guide film 141 is arrange | positioned with respect to the carriage 38 so that the nozzle surface 40 may be settled in the width | variety. Further, the paper detection sensor 32 provided on the carriage 38 is also arranged at a position that fits within the width of the guide film 141.

  In the image recording operation similar to that in the first embodiment described above, a guide film 141 is provided in an area in which the carriage 38 reciprocates, and the guide film 141 follows the reciprocation of the carriage 38 and moves circumferentially. The facing surface 144 facing the platen 42 moves in the reciprocating direction 105 together with the carriage 38. Accordingly, since the guide film 141 follows the movement of the carriage 38, the guide film 141 does not block between the nozzle surface 40 and the platen 42 of the recording head 39, and the nozzle surface 40 always always directly faces the platen 42. Is done. In addition, the carriage 38 moves in the reciprocating direction 105 in a state where the facing surface 144 of the guide film 141 is maintained at a constant distance from the platen 42. Therefore, even if the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is greatly warped or lifted, it is positioned on the platen 42 side from the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 by the facing surface 144 of the guide film 141.

  In the same maintenance operation as in the first embodiment described above, since the guide film 141 is driven by the movement of the carriage 38, the guide film is provided between the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39, the purge mechanism 130, and the wiper 131. The nozzle surface 40 is directly opposed to the caps 133 and 134 or the wiper 131 without being blocked.

  When the carriage 38 is not in the maintenance area 30, for example, when the carriage 38 is in the image recording area 31 for image recording, the control unit 110 moves the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 to the maintenance position. It is prohibited to move to Accordingly, since the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 are held at the standby position, the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 do not come into contact with the guide film 141. As a result, the guide film 141 is not stained with ink, and as a result, the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is prevented from being stained with ink. Thereby, the same operation effect as a 1st embodiment mentioned above is produced.

  In the present embodiment, both ends of one guide film 141 having a flat belt shape are connected to the carriage 38 and wound around rollers 142 and 143 so that the guide film 141 including the carriage 38 is endless annular. The guide film 141 itself is formed in an endless ring and is wound around the rollers 142 and 143, and a through hole corresponding to the nozzle surface 40 is formed in a part of the guide film 141. Thus, an embodiment in which the carriage 38 is connected to the endless annular guide film 141 with the through hole and the nozzle surface 40 matched may be employed in the present invention.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above mainly in the configuration of the guide films 151 and 152. Accordingly, the configuration of the guide films 151 and 152 in the fourth embodiment will be described below, and the description of the same configuration as that in the first embodiment will be omitted. Guide films 151 and 152 described later correspond to the long members in the present invention. In addition, the member shown with the same code | symbol as 1st Embodiment in 4th Embodiment is the same as 1st Embodiment.

[Guide films 151, 152]
As shown in FIG. 20, two winding rollers 153 and 154 are provided at both ends of the movement range of the carriage 38. Although not shown in FIG. 20, the winding rollers 153 and 154 are rotatably fixed to the frame of the printer unit 11 with the direction along the normal conveyance direction 104 (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 20) as the axial direction. Has been. The axial lengths of the winding rollers 153 and 154 are approximately the same as or slightly longer than the widths of guide films 151 and 152 described later. The winding rollers 153 and 154 are arranged at both ends of the movement range of the carriage 38 so that the lowest point of the roller surface is closer to the platen 42 than the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39.

  Although not shown in FIG. 20, each of the winding rollers 153 and 154 is provided with a coil spring that urges the guide films 151 and 152 to rotate in the respective rotational directions. By each coil spring, the winding roller 153 is biased clockwise as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 20, and the winding roller 154 is biased counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow in FIG. The guide films 151 and 152 are wound or pulled out by the two winding rollers 153 and 154, respectively.

  The guide films 151 and 152 have the same flat band shape as the guide film 71 in the first embodiment. The ends of the guide films 151 and 152 drawn from the winding rollers 153 and 154 are connected to both sides of the carriage 38 in the reciprocating direction 105, respectively. Each connection position of the guide films 151 and 152 in the carriage 38 is closer to the platen 42 than the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 and is the same height as the lowest point of the roller surface of each of the winding rollers 153 and 154 described above. That's it. Therefore, the guide films 151 and 152 extend in the reciprocating direction 105 from both sides of the carriage 38 at a height slightly closer to the platen 42 than the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39. The direction in which each guide film 151, 152 is extended is the longitudinal direction, and the short direction of each guide film 151, 152 is along the forward conveyance direction 104.

  The guide films 151 and 152 extending from both ends of the carriage 38 in the reciprocating direction 105 are respectively wound around two winding rollers 153 and 154 respectively disposed at both ends of the movement range of the carriage 38. Thus, the guide films 151 and 152 are provided over the entire area where the carriage 38 reciprocates. The guide films 151 and 152 are drawn out or wound up from the winding rollers 153 and 154 following the reciprocation of the carriage 38.

  The front and back surfaces of the guide films 151 and 152 extend in a substantially horizontal direction. In this specification, the surface of the front and back surfaces of the guide film 151 that faces the platen 42 is referred to as a facing surface 155. Of the front and back surfaces of the guide film 152, the surface facing the platen 42 is referred to as a facing surface 156. These opposing surfaces 155 and 156 correspond to the position closest to the platen in the present invention, and also correspond to the plane of the long member in the present invention.

  Although not shown in FIG. 20, the width 83 (the length along the normal conveyance direction 104) of the guide films 151 and 152 is wider than the length 84 along the normal conveyance direction 104 of the nozzle surface 40 in the recording head 39. . The guide films 151 and 152 are arranged with respect to the carriage 38 so that the nozzle surface 40 is within the width. The paper detection sensor 32 provided on the carriage 38 is also arranged at a position that fits within the width of the guide films 151 and 152.

  In the image recording operation similar to that of the first embodiment described above, guide films 151 and 152 are provided in the area where the carriage 38 reciprocates, and the winding rollers 153 and 154 follow the reciprocating movement of the carriage 38. Then, the guide films 151 and 152 are taken up and pulled out. The opposing surfaces 155 and 156 of the guide films 151 and 152 move in the reciprocating direction 105 together with the carriage 38. Accordingly, since the guide films 151 and 152 are driven by the movement of the carriage 38, the guide films 151 and 152 do not block between the nozzle surface 40 and the platen 42 of the recording head 39, and the nozzle surface 40 is always on the platen. Directly opposed to 42. In addition, the carriage 38 moves in the reciprocating direction 105 in a state where the opposing surfaces 155 and 156 of the guide films 151 and 152 are maintained at a constant distance from the platen 42. Therefore, even if the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is greatly warped or lifted, it is positioned closer to the platen 42 than the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 by the opposing surfaces 155 and 156 of the guide films 151 and 152.

  In the same maintenance operation as that in the first embodiment described above, the guide films 151 and 152 are driven by the movement of the carriage 38, so that the gap between the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 and the purge mechanism 130 and the wiper 131 is maintained. The guide film 141 is not blocked, and the nozzle surface 40 is directly opposed to the caps 133 and 134 or the wiper 131.

  When the carriage 38 is not in the maintenance area 30, for example, when the carriage 38 is in the image recording area 31 for image recording, the control unit 110 moves the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 to the maintenance position. It is prohibited to move to Accordingly, since the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 are held at the standby position, the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 do not come into contact with the guide films 151 and 152. Thus, the guide films 151 and 152 are not stained with ink, and as a result, the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is prevented from being stained with ink. Thereby, the same operation effect as a 1st embodiment mentioned above is produced.

[Fifth Embodiment]
The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The fifth embodiment is mainly different in the configuration of the guide wire 54 from the first embodiment described above. Accordingly, the configuration of the guide wire 54 in the fifth embodiment will be described below, and the description of the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted. A guide wire 54 described later corresponds to a long member (strand) in the present invention. In addition, the member shown with the same code | symbol as 1st Embodiment in 5th Embodiment is the same as 1st Embodiment.

[Guide wire 54]
As in the first embodiment, the carriage 38 is provided with four rollers 72 to 75. An ink absorbing member 78 is provided on the upper surface side of the carriage 38. As shown in FIG. 21, the guide wire 54 is a rope. The guide wires 54 are respectively connected to both sides of the reciprocating direction 105 in a region where the carriage 38 reciprocates, and are stretched along the reciprocating direction 105 with a predetermined tension. In the present embodiment, a plurality of guide wires 54 are stretched side by side at a predetermined interval with respect to the normal conveyance direction 104. In FIG. 21, the purge mechanism 130, the wiper 131, and the waste ink tray 132 are omitted, but the guide wire 54 extends to a position that covers the purge mechanism 130, the wiper 131, and the waste ink tray 132. .

  The guide wire 54 is wound around each of the rollers 72 to 75 provided on the carriage 38, and is deformed so as to surround other than the nozzle surface 40 of the carriage 38. A part of the guide wire 54 deformed around the carriage 38 is referred to as a deformed portion 55 in the present specification. A part of the guide wire 54 other than the deformed portion 55 facing the upper surface of the platen 42 is referred to as a facing portion 56. In the deformed portion 55 of the guide wire 54, the direction in which the rollers 72 and 75 are respectively wound and separated and approached to the platen 42 is the deformation direction 106 described above. The facing portion 56 corresponds to a position closest to the platen in the present invention.

  Opposing portions 56 of the guide wire 54 extend from both sides of the carriage 38 in the reciprocating direction 105 at a height closer to the platen 42 than the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39. Then, on both sides of the reciprocating region, the fixing member 65 and the roller 66 are fixed so as not to move relative to the platen 42 in the reciprocating direction 105. As described above, the direction in which the guide wire 54 extends in the portion other than the deformed portion 55 is the longitudinal direction. The length along the normal conveyance direction 104 in the region where the plurality of guide wires 54 is stretched is wider than the length 84 of the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 in the normal conveyance direction 104.

  Although not shown in FIG. 21, the distance from the facing portion 56 of the guide wire 54 to the upper surface of the platen 42 is slightly smaller than the distance from the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 to the upper surface of the platen 42.

  Similar to the guide film 71 of the first embodiment, when the carriage 38 reciprocates, the guide wire 54 deforms so that the deformed portion 55 follows the reciprocating movement of the carriage 38. That is, since the deformed portion 55 follows the movement of the carriage 38, the guide wire 54 does not block between the nozzle surface 40 and the platen 42 of the recording head 39, and the nozzle surface 40 always faces the platen 42 directly. On the other hand, even if the deformed portion 55 follows the reciprocating motion of the carriage 38, the facing portion 56 does not move relative to the platen 42 in the reciprocating motion direction 105. Therefore, even if the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is greatly warped or floated, the recording paper 90 is positioned closer to the platen 42 than the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39 by the facing portion 56 of the guide wire 54.

  In the same maintenance operation as that of the first embodiment described above, the deformed portion 55 of the guide wire 54 is driven and deformed by the movement of the carriage 38, so that the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39, the purge mechanism 130, and the wiper The guide wire 54 does not block between the nozzle 131 and the nozzle surface 40 directly faces the cap 133, 134 or the wiper 131.

  When the carriage 38 is not in the maintenance area 30, for example, when the carriage 38 is in the image recording area 31 for image recording, the control unit 110 moves the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 to the maintenance position. It is prohibited to move to Accordingly, since the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 of the purge mechanism 130 are held at the standby position, the caps 133 and 134 and the wiper 131 do not come into contact with the guide wire 54. Thus, the guide wire 54 is not stained with ink, and as a result, the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is prevented from being stained with ink. Thereby, the same operation effect as a 1st embodiment mentioned above is produced.

  Further, since the plurality of guide wires 54 are arranged along the normal conveyance direction 104, the recording paper 90 can be positioned at a predetermined distance from the platen 42 at a plurality of locations along the normal conveyance direction 104 on the platen 42. it can.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of guide wires 54 are provided. However, even if there is only one guide wire 54, the recording paper 90 on the platen 42 is moved to the platen 42 side from the nozzle surface 40 of the recording head 39. Can be positioned.

11: Printer unit (image recording device)
38 ... carriage 39 ... recording head 42 ... platen 54 ... guide wire (long member, cord)
65 ... Fixing tool (support member)
71, 91, 92, 141, 151, 152 ... Guide film (long member)
72-75 ... Roller (guide member)
93, 94 ... Winding roller 110 ... Control section (control means)
130 ... Purge mechanism (maintenance means)
131 ... Wiper (maintenance means)
133, 134 ... caps 142, 143 ... rollers 153, 154 ... winding rollers

Claims (14)

A platen that supports the sheet;
A carriage disposed opposite the platen and moving in a first direction along a sheet on the platen;
A recording head mounted on the carriage and configured to record an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a sheet on the platen;
Maintenance means for performing maintenance of the recording head;
In the region where the carriage moves, it extends in the first direction so as to face the platen and at least the maintenance means for performing maintenance, and cuts off the recording head from the platen and the maintenance means. A long member that follows the movement of the carriage so as not to
Control means for controlling the operation of the carriage and the maintenance means,
The moving range of the carriage includes a first position where maintenance of the recording head is performed,
The maintenance means includes a second position for performing maintenance of the recording head by contacting the recording head when the carriage is positioned at the first position, and the recording means regardless of the position of the carriage. Movable to a third position that does not contact the head and the elongated member;
The image recording apparatus, wherein the control means prohibits the maintenance means from moving to the second position when the carriage is not in the first position.   The maintenance means is a purge mechanism that sucks ink from the recording head through a cap that is in close contact with the recording head, and the cap is located at the second position when the recording head is positioned at the first position. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus is in contact with only the recording head. The maintenance means is a wiper for wiping ink adhering to the recording head, and the wiper contacts only the recording head at the second position when the recording head is positioned at the first position. And
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit relatively moves the carriage and the wiper at the first position so that the wiper contacts only the recording head. The drive source for moving the maintenance means transmits the drive to other operation units in the apparatus other than the maintenance means. When the drive source transmits the drive to another operation unit, the maintenance means Linked,
4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit positions the carriage to the first position before the driving source transmits driving to another operation unit. 5.   2. The first distance between the position closest to the platen and the platen in the elongated member in the vicinity of the carriage is equal to or less than the second distance between the position closest to the platen and the platen in the recording head. 5. The image recording apparatus according to any one of 4 to 4. A support member for fixing the elongated member with respect to the first direction;
6. The guide member according to claim 1, further comprising a guide member that is provided on the carriage and that moves the elongate member in a second direction that moves away from and approaches the platen as the carriage moves. The image recording apparatus described.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the guide member deforms the long member in the second direction so as to surround the carriage. The guide members are winding rollers provided on both sides of the carriage in the first direction,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the long member is wound around the winding roller and deformed in the second direction.   The long member is connected to both sides of the carriage in the first direction, and is wound around respective rollers provided at both ends of the moving range of the carriage to form an endless ring. 6. The image recording apparatus according to any one of 5 above.   The long member is connected to both sides of the carriage in the first direction, and is wound around respective winding rollers respectively provided at both ends of the moving range of the carriage. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the long member has a flat belt shape having a flat surface facing the platen.   12. The image recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the long member has a width in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction on the plane that is wider than a length in a third direction of a recording region in the recording head. .   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the long member is a rope.   14. The image recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the elongated member includes a plurality of strips arranged in a third direction that faces the platen and is orthogonal to the first direction.

Images