JP2013075361A - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more readily replace components of a recording head.SOLUTION: An inkjet recording device 1 includes: a plurality of heads 3a having nozzles for ejecting ink through an opening part provided in the bottom plate 4a of a carriage, and stood up and arranged in an X axis direction to be attachable to or detachable from the bottom plate 4a of the carriage; a plurality of connection units 3b having a circuit board outputting a driving voltage for driving the heads 3a to the heads 3a, and individually placed on each of the heads 3a to be electrically connected to the heads 3a; and a fixing member 200 fixed to the carriage 4 to be attachable or detachable while being brought into contact with each upper end of the plurality of connection units 3b, and holding the plurality of heads 3a and the plurality of connection units 3b in cooperation with the bottom plate 4a.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus.

An ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head having a nozzle that discharges ink, a head unit that supplies ink to the nozzle, and a base that is connected to the head unit and controls ejection timing of ink from the nozzle. is there. Each recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus having a plurality of recording heads has a head portion and a base.
As shown in FIG. 10, a conventional recording head 300 has a head portion 301 and a base 302 screwed together (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-90692 A

  By the way, the head portion 301 of the recording head 300 can be replaced in various ways, such as when performance deteriorates due to use over a predetermined period or ejection of ink over a predetermined amount, or when a failure such as nozzle clogging occurs. It is exchanged according to the reason. On the other hand, the base 302 of the recording head 300 is not replaced unless a failure occurs. Therefore, when replacing the head unit 301, the user removes the old head unit 301 from the base 302 and attaches a new head unit 301.

However, in the conventional recording head 300, since the head portion 301 and the base 302 are screwed, the user must remove the old head 301 from the base 302 every time the head portion 301 is replaced. In addition, an operation of screwing a new head portion 301 to the base 302 has to be performed, and a cumbersome operation is forced to replace the head.
In addition, when the head unit 301 is replaced, a screw removed from the recording head 300 may fall into the ink jet recording apparatus (for example, a carriage provided with the plurality of recording heads 300). In this case, the dropped screw may damage the other recording head 300 or the carriage. Moreover, it was difficult to collect the dropped screw.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can easily replace components of a recording head.

  In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention has a nozzle for discharging ink through an opening provided in a bottom plate of a carriage, and is detachably installed on the bottom plate of the carriage. A plurality of head portions arranged along a predetermined direction along the bottom plate, and a base for outputting a driving voltage for driving the head portions to the head portion, and are individually mounted on each of the head portions. A plurality of connection units electrically connected to the head portion, and a plurality of connection units that are detachably fixed to the carriage in contact with upper ends of the plurality of connection units. And a fixing member for sandwiching the plurality of connection units.

  In the present invention, the fixing member may be configured such that both ends in the predetermined direction are detachably provided on both side portions of the carriage facing the predetermined direction via a latch mechanism.

  In the present invention, the fixing member may be configured such that a contact portion with the connection unit has elasticity.

  Further, in the present invention, a plurality of rows of head portions in which the plurality of head portions are arranged along the predetermined direction are provided, and the fixing member is individually provided for each of the rows of the plurality of head portions. Also good.

  According to the present invention, the present invention can more easily replace the components of the recording head.

It is a perspective view of an inkjet recording device. 3 is a perspective view of a carriage 4. FIG. It is a side view at the time of seeing the inside of the carriage 4 from the side plate 4b side. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of the carriage 4 as viewed from above. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a configuration of a recording head 3. FIG. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the recording head 3 in which the head unit 3a and the connection unit 3b are connected. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating the head portion 3a in which the connection unit 3b is removed from the recording head 3 in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the recording head 3 and the fixing member 200 in the carriage 4 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of the recording head 3 and the fixing member 200 in the carriage 4 shown in FIG. 3. 3 is an enlarged view of a latch mechanism 400. FIG. It is a figure which shows the case where the fixing member 200 shown in FIG. 7 is removed from the carriage 4. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional recording head.

An ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire inkjet recording apparatus 1.

The ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a transport apparatus 2 that transports a recording medium along a horizontal direction, and a carriage 4 that mounts a plurality of recording heads 3 (see FIG. 4 and the like) that eject ink from above onto the transported recording medium. The main scanning device 5 that transports the carriage 4 along the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium, the nozzle moisturizing unit 6 that moisturizes the nozzles of each recording head 3 mounted on the carriage 4, and the carriage 4 A maintenance unit 7 that performs maintenance of each mounted recording head 3, an ink supply device (not shown) that supplies ink to each recording head 3 mounted on the carriage 4, and a control device (not shown) that controls these components. And a frame 100 that supports the whole.
In the following description, the horizontal direction and the direction along the conveyance direction of the recording medium are the Y-axis direction, the horizontal direction and the direction along the conveyance direction of the carriage 4 are the X-axis direction or the main scanning direction, and the vertical direction. The vertical direction is referred to as the Z-axis direction.

[Conveyor]
The transport device 2 includes a drive roller 21 and a driven roller (not shown), a drive motor 22, and a transport belt 23.
The driving roller 21 and the driven roller are rotatably supported, and the driving roller 21 is disposed so as to extend in the X-axis direction. The drive motor 22 is a drive source for rotationally driving the drive roller 21, and is attached to one end side of the drive roller 21.
The conveyor belt 23 is formed in an endless shape, and is stretched between the driving roller 21 and the driven roller. When the driving roller 21 rotates, the conveying belt 23 circulates between the driving roller 21 and the driven roller and conveys the recording medium placed on the upper surface thereof in the conveying direction F along the Y-axis direction. When the rotation of the roller 21 is stopped, the circulation between both rollers is stopped, and the conveyance of the recording medium is stopped.
When the recording head 3 completes one-way scanning along the X-axis direction according to the control of the control device, the driving motor 22 rotates the driving roller 21 by a predetermined amount to convey the recording medium by a predetermined distance in the conveying direction. When the recording head 3 starts scanning in the direction opposite to the X-axis direction and ends, the driving roller 21 is rotated again by a predetermined amount to convey the recording medium in the conveying direction F by a predetermined distance and stop. The recording medium is so-called intermittently conveyed.
As the recording medium, it is possible to use resin films, metals, etc. in addition to paper and fabric.

[flame]
As shown in FIG. 1, the frame 100 includes a rectangular main body portion 101 extending along the X-axis direction, a first base portion 103 that supports one end portion in the X-axis direction of the main body portion 101, and the main body portion 101. And the second base portion 102 that supports the other end portion in the X-axis direction.
The first base portion 103 supports one end portion of the main body portion 101 from below while storing and holding the maintenance portion 7 therein. Further, the second base portion 102 supports the other end portion of the main body portion 101 from below while storing and holding the nozzle moisturizing portion 6 therein.
The main body 101 stores and holds a pair of carriage rails 51, 51 of the main scanning device 5, which will be described later, in the X-axis direction, and the carriage 4 extends in the X-axis direction inside the main body 101. Are transported.
The first base portion 103 and the second base portion 102 are disposed on both sides in the X-axis direction with the above-described transport device 2 interposed therebetween, and the main body portion 101 is installed above the transport device 2. Accordingly, it is possible to form an image by ejecting ink from each recording head 3 mounted on the carriage 4 while conveying the carriage 4 in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording medium by the conveying device 2.

[Main scanning device and carriage]
The main scanning device 5 includes a pair of rod-shaped carriage rails 51 and 51 supported so as to extend along the X-axis direction inside the main body 101 of the frame 100. The pair of carriage rails 51 and 51 are provided so as to straddle the upper portion of the conveyance belt 23 of the conveyance device 2. A box-shaped carriage 4 is supported on the carriage rails 51 and 51 so as to be reciprocally movable along the X-axis direction.

The carriage 4 is a box-shaped housing with an open top, and a plurality of recording heads 3 are mounted on a bottom plate 4a along the XY plane. As shown in FIG. 1, the carriage 4 has arm portions extending toward both sides in the Y-axis direction at upper portions of both side surfaces in the Y-axis direction, and the arm portions are respectively carriage rails 51 via linear guides. , 51 so as to be slidable on the carriage rails 51, 51 along the X-axis direction.
A linear motor is provided between the carriage rails 51 and 51 and the arm portion of the carriage 4. That is, each carriage rail 51, 51 is equipped with a stator of a linear motor, each arm part of the carriage 4 is equipped with a mover, and the carriage 4 is controlled in the X-axis direction by current control of a coil on the stator side. A conveying operation along the line is given.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carriage 4. FIG. 3 is a side view when the inside of the carriage 4 is viewed from the side plate 4b side. FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view of the carriage 4 as viewed from above. 2 and 3, the side plate 4b is not shown for convenience.
In this inkjet recording apparatus 1, Y (yellow), Lm (light magenta), Or (orange), M (magenta), Bk (black), Bl (blue), Lk (light black), C (cyan), Lc Nine recording heads 3 are provided for each of the nine colors (light cyan), and a total of 81 recording heads 3 are erected on the bottom plate 4 a of the carriage 4.
As shown in the figure, the recording heads for each color are arranged in the order of Y, Lm, Or, M, Bk, Bl, Lk, C, and Lc along the X-axis direction. The nine recording heads 3 in this row are arranged in a staggered manner along the Y-axis direction. That is, a plurality of recording head rows are provided in which a plurality of recording heads are arranged along the X-axis direction, and each of the recording head rows is provided in a staggered arrangement with respect to the adjacent recording heads. Yes.
The bottom plate 4a has a slit-like opening along the Y-axis direction for each mounting position of each recording head 3, and each recording head 3 attached to the bottom plate 4a from above has a carriage 4 through the opening. A nozzle for ejecting ink droplets is provided immediately below the nozzle.
As described above, nine recording heads 3 are arranged in a staggered manner for each color, so that the ink of each color can be placed at an arbitrary position within the range of almost the entire width in the Y-axis direction of the bottom plate 4a of the carriage 4. Can be discharged.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the recording head 3. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the recording head 3 in which the head unit 3a and the connection unit 3b are connected. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating the head portion 3a in which the connection unit 3b is removed from the recording head 3 in FIG.
The recording head 3 has a head portion 3a and a connection unit 3b.
The head portion 3a has a nozzle for ejecting ink, and the ink supplied from the ink supply device through the ink supply pipe 3c in accordance with the drive voltage output from the base provided inside the connection unit 3b. Discharge from. The residual ink that has not been ejected is collected by the ink supply device via the ink collection pipe 3d.
The head portion 3a is attached to the bottom plate 4a of the carriage 4 so as to be detachable. The head portion 3a is fitted into the opening of the head portion 3a provided on the bottom plate 4a and attached to the carriage 4, for example, and is held in a state where the nozzle is directed to the recording medium above the recording medium.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connection unit 3b is individually provided for each of the head portions 3a. As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5 (a), etc., the connection unit 3b is individually placed on the head portion 3a. The connection unit 3b placed on the head portion 3a is detachably held via a detachable bus interface 3g as shown in FIG. 5B, for example.
Although not shown, a base having the same function as the base 302 shown in FIG. 10 is provided in the connection unit 3b. The base is electrically connected to the head unit 3a via the bus interface 3g, and outputs a drive voltage for driving the head unit 3a to the head unit 3a.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a fixing member 200 is provided above each row of the recording heads 3.
The fixing member 200 is, for example, a groove-shaped member made of a metal such as aluminum or iron and having a U-shaped cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. When the fixing member 200 is attached to the carriage 4, the fixing member 200 is fixed to the carriage 4 with the opening side of the groove facing downward.

The fixing member 200 is fixed to the carriage 4 in contact with the upper ends of each of the plurality of connection units 3b, so that the head portions 3a and the connection units 3b of the plurality of recording heads 3 cooperate with the bottom plate 4a. Pinch.
Specifically, the fixing member 200 fixed to the carriage 4 so that the longitudinal direction is along the X-axis direction is in contact with the upper portions of the connection units 3b of the plurality of recording heads 3 arranged along the X-axis direction. The plurality of recording heads 3 are clamped in cooperation with the bottom plate 4a. Thereby, the fixing member 200 holds the connection between the head unit 3a of each recording head 3 provided along the Z-axis direction and the connection unit 3b and regulates the position of the connection unit 3b.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a part of the recording head 3 and the fixing member 200 in the carriage 4 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a part of the recording head 3 and the fixing member 200 in the carriage 4 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fixing member 200 has its end in the X-axis direction fixed to the side surface of the carriage 4 by a latch mechanism 400. 6 and 7, the one end side (side plate 4b side) of the fixing member 200 in the X-axis direction is illustrated, but the fixing member 200 is also connected to the other end side (side plate 4c) by a similar latch mechanism 400. It is fixed to the carriage 4. That is, the fixing member 200 is fixed to the side plates 4b and 4c of the carriage 4 provided so that both ends in the X-axis direction face each other in the X-axis direction.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the latch mechanism 400.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a case where the fixing member 200 illustrated in FIG. 7 is removed from the carriage 4.
The latch mechanism 400 includes a protrusion 401 provided on the fixing member 200 side and a clamping portion 402 provided on the side plate side of the carriage 4.
The protrusion 401 is provided so as to protrude downward when the fixing member 200 contacts the connection unit 3b. The protruding portion 401 has a constricted shape in which the base portion is thinner than the tip side.
The clamping portion 402 is provided so as to sandwich and hold the protruding portion 401 at a position when the fixing member 200 contacts the connection unit 3b. The sandwiching portion 402 includes, for example, an elastic portion 402a provided in a V shape and two contact portions 402b and 402b provided at both ends of the V shape of the elastic portion 402a. The elastic part 402a is an elastic member that urges the contact parts 402b and 402b in a direction in which the two contact parts 402b and 402b are brought close to each other, and is made of, for example, a metal spring. Each of the two contact portions 402b and 402b has, for example, a cylindrical shape whose central axis is the X-axis direction.

The two abutting portions 402b and 402b are provided so that the protruding portion 401 can be inserted between them, and are in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion 401 that is lowered so as to be inserted between them. Separate from each other to widen the valley. Then, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the tip of the protrusion 401 is lowered until it is positioned below the contact portions 402b and 402b, the two contact portions 402b and 402b are formed on the elastic portion 402a. By urging, the protrusions 401 move so as to be close to each other so as to enter the constricted shape of the base portion of the protrusion 401, and the tip end portion of the protrusion 401 is held inside the V shape.
On the other hand, when a force in the upward direction is applied to the fixing member 200 fixed by the latch mechanism 400, the tip portion of the protrusion 401 slides in contact with the two abutting portions 402b and 402b so as to expand. To rise. At this time, the two contact portions 402b and 402b move in directions away from each other. When the fixing member 200 is lifted and moved to a position where the contact between the protruding portion 401 and the two contact portions 402b and 402b is canceled, the fixing of the fixing member 200 by the carriage 4 is canceled and the fixing member 200 is moved. Is removed. At this time, the two contact portions 402b and 402b move so as to be close to each other due to the urging of the elastic portion 402a.

As described above, the fixing mechanism 200 can be easily attached to and detached from the carriage 4 by the latch mechanism 400. That is, it is possible to easily switch between holding the head portion 3a of the recording head 3 and the connection unit 3b by the fixing member 200 and canceling the holding.
For this reason, when the head part 3a is replaced, the connection between the head part 3a of the recording head 3 and the connection unit 3b can be easily eliminated.

For example, when the head portion 3a of the recording head 3 is considered to have deteriorated in performance due to use over a predetermined period or ejection of ink over a predetermined amount, or when a failure such as nozzle clogging occurs, the head The part 3a is exchanged according to various exchange reasons.
When replacing the head portion 3a, first, the fixing member 200 in the row of the recording heads 3 having the head portion 3a to be replaced is removed from the carriage 4, and the head portion 3a and the head portion 3a by cooperation of the fixing member 200 and the bottom plate 4a are removed. The holding of the connection unit 3b is eliminated. Next, the recording head 3 having the head part 3 a to be replaced is removed from the bottom plate 4 a of the carriage 4. Next, the head portion 3a is removed from the connection unit 3b of the removed recording head 3, and a new head portion 3a is connected to the connection unit 3b. Next, the head portion 3 a of the recording head 3 to which the new head portion 3 a is attached is attached to the bottom plate 4 a of the carriage 4. Then, the removed fixing member 200 is attached to the carriage 4 again, and the head portion 3a and the connection unit 3b are sandwiched by the cooperation of the fixing member 200 and the bottom plate 4a.
Here, since the head portion 3a and the connection unit 3b are detachably connected and the fixing member 200 cooperates with the bottom plate 4a to sandwich the head portion 3a and the connection unit 3b, the user can The connection unit 3b placed on the head portion 3a can be removed simply by removing 200, and the connection between the head portion 3a and the connection unit 3b can be easily eliminated. Then, the user connects the new head portion 3a and the connection unit 3b, attaches the recording head 3 having the new head portion 3a to the carriage 4, and then attaches the fixing member 200 again to the head portion 3a. The connection unit 3b can be held between the fixing member 200 and the bottom plate 4a again. Thus, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can easily replace the head portion 3a. In addition, the plurality of connection units 3 b connected to each of the plurality of head portions 3 a in the row of recording heads along the X-axis direction can be regulated by one fixing member 200.

  Further, the side plates 4 b and 4 c of the carriage 4 of the present embodiment have a plurality of guide members 500 that guide the moving direction of the fixing member 200 along the Z-axis direction when the fixing member 200 is attached. As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the guide member 500 is a plate-like member having a slope formed on the upper side and has two guides so as to sandwich the mounting position of one fixing member 200 in the Y-axis direction. A member 500 is provided. As shown in FIG. 9, the user who attaches the fixing member 200 lowers the fixing member 200 so that the fixing member 200 is placed between the two guide members 500, thereby easily moving the fixing member 200 to the carriage 4. Can be attached to.

  The fixing member 200 has a handle 202 on the opposite side of the U-shaped opening. When attaching or removing the fixing member 200, the user can easily handle the fixing member 200 by gripping the handle 202.

  Moreover, the contact part of the fixing member 200 and the plurality of connection units 3b may have elasticity. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 and the like, foaming is made of a synthetic resin such as polyurethane so as to extend from the inner side of the groove of the fixing member 200 so as to protrude from both ends of the groove. The body 203 may be provided along the extending direction of the fixing member 200. In this case, the foam 203 is brought into contact with the upper portions of the plurality of connection units 3b, and the foam 203 is deformed so as to be lifted upward according to the shape of the upper portions of the connection units 3b. The upper ends of both side portions of 3b in the X-axis direction are wrapped to regulate the position of the connection unit 3b.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the connection unit 3b of the present embodiment includes interfaces 3e and 3e for detachably connecting the cable 3f. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 and the like, the connection units 3b of the plurality of recording heads 3 are connected to each other via a cable 3f. In the present embodiment, Y (yellow), Lm (light magenta), Or (orange), M (magenta), Bk (black), Bl (blue), Lk (light black), C (cyan), Lc (light cyan) The adjacent connection units of the recording heads 3 of the respective colors corresponding to the nine colors are connected in a so-called daisy chain via the cable 3f. Further, among the connection units 3b of the recording heads 3 of the respective colors, the interface 3e on the side where the adjacent connection units 3b of the connection units 3b located at both ends in the Y-axis direction are not connected to the control device via a control device cable (not shown). It is connected. The control device generates a drive waveform signal corresponding to the drive voltage output by the connection unit 3b, and outputs the drive waveform signal to each connection unit via the control device cable, the connection unit 3b and the cable 3f connected in a daisy chain. . Each connection unit 3b outputs a drive voltage corresponding to the input drive waveform signal.

  Thus, since the connection unit 3b of this embodiment is connected in a daisy chain by the cable 3f, it is not necessary to individually have a cable for directly connecting each connection unit 3b and the control device. For this reason, compared with the case where each connection unit 3b and a control apparatus are connected directly, the total extension of a cable becomes short. That is, the cost can be reduced by the short cable. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the influence of noise and the like that the extended cable receives from external devices.

  The interface 3e of this embodiment can be attached and detached with the cable 3f. Therefore, when the effect of the connection unit 3b becomes necessary due to a failure of the connection unit 3b, the interface 3e of the connection unit 3b to be replaced The connection unit 3b can be easily replaced by eliminating the connection with the cable 3f. Also in this case, similarly to the replacement of the head portion 3a, the fixing member 200 that holds the connection unit 3b to be replaced is first removed. Then, after the removal of the connection unit 3b to be replaced and the installation of the new connection unit 3b are completed, the plurality of connection units 3b in the row of recording heads having the new connection unit 3b with the fixing member 200 attached again. Is clamped by the cooperation of the fixing member 200 and the bottom plate 4a.

[Nozzle moisturizer]
The nozzle moisturizing unit 6 is provided on the other end side of the carriage rails 51, 51 outside the transport device 2. That is, during the non-printing operation, the carriage 4 moves to a position facing the nozzle moisturizing unit 6 at the other end of the carriage rails 51 and 51, and in this state, the nozzles of the recording heads 3 are moisturized.
In other words, the nozzle moisturizing unit 6 is in close contact with each nozzle to connect the inside of each nozzle to a moisturizing liquid storage unit, and mainly includes a moisturizing liquid storage unit and its lifting mechanism. It is comprised by.

[Maintenance Department]
The maintenance unit 7 performs maintenance of each recording head 3 during a non-recording operation. The maintenance unit 7 is provided on one end side of the carriage rails 51, 51 outside the transport device 2. That is, maintenance is performed in a state where the carriage 4 has moved to a position where the carriage rails 51 and 51 are opposed to the maintenance unit 7 at one end thereof.
The maintenance unit 7 includes a cleaning device that wipes off dirt on the lower surface of the nozzles of each recording head 3, and an ink tray (not shown) that serves as a tray when ink is ejected by the recording head 3 that is a maintenance target. Yes.
The cleaning device mainly includes a cleaning roller that can rotate around a rotation axis along the X-axis direction in sliding contact with the nozzle, and a roller conveyance mechanism that conveys the cleaning roller along the Y-axis direction. The cleaning roller has a width in the X-axis direction so that it can wipe the three color head groups out of the nine color head groups mounted on the carriage 4, and moves one and a half times back and forth. All the recording heads 3 are cleaned by the operation. This prevents nozzle clogging due to ink solidification.
Further, ink is ejected to the ink tray during maintenance with the ink supply pressure of the ink supply device, so that clogging of the ink flow path in the recording head 3 can be eliminated.

[Technical effects in the embodiment of the invention]
As described above, according to the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the head portion 3a and the connection unit 3b are detachably connected, and the fixing member 200 is the upper end portion of each of the plurality of connection units 3b along the X-axis direction. Since the plurality of head portions 3a and the plurality of connection units 3b are clamped in cooperation with the bottom plate 4a while being detachably fixed to the carriage 4 in a state of being in contact with the user, the user can simply remove the fixing member 200 to remove the head portion. The connection unit 3b placed on 3a can be removed, and the connection between the head portion 3a and the connection unit 3b can be easily eliminated. Then, the user connects the new head portion 3a and the connection unit 3b, attaches the recording head 3 having the new head portion 3a to the carriage 4, and then attaches the fixing member 200 again to the head portion 3a. The connection unit 3b can be held between the fixing member 200 and the bottom plate 4a again. As described above, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment that sandwiches the head portion 3a and the connection unit 3b by the cooperation of the fixing member 200 and the bottom plate 4a does not need to be screwed between the head portion 3a and the base. It becomes easier to replace the head portion 3a with respect to the unit 3b. Further, since it is not necessary to fasten the head portion 3a and the substrate 302 with screws, the screws do not fall into the configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 such as the carriage 4, and the recording head 3 is damaged by the dropped screws. In addition, there is no problem that it is difficult to collect the dropped screw. That is, according to the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the head unit 3a can be replaced more easily.
Further, when assembling an ink jet recording apparatus having a plurality of recording heads, conventionally, the head portion 301 and the base 302 have to be screwed one by one, and the assembling work has been complicated, but the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment Since the positions of the plurality of connection units 3b connected to the plurality of head portions 3a in the row of recording heads along the X-axis direction can be held by one fixing member 200, the plurality of head portions 3a and Since the connection with the connection unit 3b can be maintained by the single fixing member 200, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 can be assembled more easily.

In addition, since the fixing member 200 is detachably provided on the side plates 4b and 4c of the carriage 4 via the latch mechanism 400 at both ends in the X-axis direction, the fixing member 200 can be attached to and detached from the carriage 4 more easily. It is possible to more easily switch whether or not the head unit 3a and the connection unit 3b are clamped by the fixing member 200 and the bottom plate 4a accompanying the replacement of each component related to the recording head 3, such as the head unit 3a and the connection unit 3b.
Further, by attaching the fixing member 200 to the carriage 4 by the latch mechanism 400, it is not necessary to perform screwing or the like in order to attach the fixing member 200 to the carriage 4, and attachment of the fixing member 200 becomes easier. The recording apparatus 1 can be assembled more easily.
The head portion 3a is provided on the bottom plate 4a of the box-shaped carriage 4, and the fixing member 200 is provided on the side plates 4b and 4c of the carriage 4 provided so that both ends in the X-axis direction face each other in the X-axis direction. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a dedicated configuration for fixing the fixing member 200, and the head portion 3a and the connection unit 3b can be sandwiched with a simpler configuration at a lower cost.

  Further, since the contact portion between the fixing member 200 and the connection unit 3b has elasticity, the contact portion having elasticity (for example, the foam 203) and the plurality of connection units 3b come into contact with each other. When the contact portion is deformed according to the shape, the contact portion wraps the upper ends of both side portions of the connection unit 3b in the X-axis direction, and holds the connection unit 3b. Thereby, the swing of the connection unit 3b in the X-axis direction can be prevented by wrapping by the contact portion, and the position of the connection unit 3b can be more reliably regulated.

  In addition, since a plurality of rows of the recording heads 3 in which the plurality of head portions 3a are arranged along the X-axis direction are provided, and the fixing member 200 is individually provided for each row of the recording heads 3 along the X-axis direction. When the parts of the head 3 are replaced, it is only necessary to remove the fixing member 200 corresponding to the recording head row including the recording head 3 having the part to be replaced, and the head by the fixing member 200 of the other recording head row. It is possible to replace the parts of the recording head 3 to be replaced while maintaining the holding of the portion 3a and the connection unit 3b. This eliminates the pinching of the head portion 3a and the connection unit 3b of the recording head 3 that is not subject to replacement in units of the recording head, so that the head portion 3a and the connection unit 3b of the recording head 3 that is not subject to replacement can be maintained. Therefore, the possibility of occurrence of an event such as the disconnection of the recording head 3 being reduced can be further reduced, and the parts of the recording head 3 can be replaced more easily.

[Others]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and design changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, when the head portion 3a is attached to the bottom plate 4a of the carriage 4, the head portion 3a may be screwed to the bottom plate 4a of the carriage 4, or the head portion 3a and the bottom plate 4a may be connected via a latch mechanism or the like. May be performed.

  In the above embodiment, the recording heads adjacent to each other in the Y-axis direction of the plurality of recording heads are arranged in a staggered manner, but this is an example and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the recording heads adjacent to each other in the Y axis direction may be provided on a straight line along the Y axis direction.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the fixing member 200 is provided in each of the plurality of recording head rows, but this is an example and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an integral (for example, plate-like) fixing member 200 having a plurality of longitudinal portions corresponding to the number of rows of a plurality of recording heads may be attached from above the carriage 4.
Further, the recording heads may be arranged in a single line or a plurality of lines.

In the above-described embodiment, the fixing member 200 is detachably provided on the carriage 4 via the so-called hook-shaped latch mechanism 400, but this is an example and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the fixing member 200 may be attached by a claw mechanism capable of switching between engagement and disengagement according to external force such as a knob operation, or a structure such as a hook, a hook, a clasp, etc. The fixing member 200 may be attached by using.
The attachment of the fixing member 200 is not limited to the attachment to the side plates 4b and 4c of the carriage 4. For example, an attachment portion for attaching the fixing member 200 may be separately provided in the carriage 4.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 3 Recording head 3a Head part 3b Connection unit 3e Interface 3f Cable 4 Carriage 4a Bottom plate 4b Side plate 4c Side plate 200 Fixing member 202 Handle 203 Foam body 400 Latch mechanism 500 Guide member

Claims (4)

A plurality of head portions each having a nozzle for discharging ink through an opening provided in a bottom plate of the carriage, detachably standing on the bottom plate of the carriage and arranged along a predetermined direction along the bottom plate;
A plurality of connection units, each of which has a base for outputting a driving voltage for driving the head unit to the head unit, and is individually mounted on and electrically connected to the head unit;
A fixing member that is detachably fixed to the carriage in contact with the upper ends of each of the plurality of connection units, and that clamps the plurality of head units and the plurality of connection units in cooperation with the bottom plate;
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:   2. The fixing member according to claim 1, wherein both ends in the predetermined direction are detachably attached to both side surfaces facing the carriage along the predetermined direction via a latch mechanism. Inkjet recording device.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member has an elastic contact portion with the connection unit. A plurality of rows of head portions in which the plurality of head portions are arranged along the predetermined direction;
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is individually provided for each of the plurality of rows of the head portions.

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