JP2021133574A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an ink jet recording device capable of completing a setup by safely attaching a recording head and ink tanks to a fixed carriage without needing time during transportation.SOLUTION: In an ink jet recording device including a recording head, ink tanks, a carriage for holding the recording head and the ink tanks, an encoder for detecting a position of the carriage in a prescribed direction, and a sensor for detecting that the carriage is located at a prescribed position in the prescribed direction to record an image on a recording medium by discharging ink from the recording head while moving the carriage on the basis of detection information of the encoder and the sensor, the prescribed position of the carriage detected by the sensor is made to be an exchange stop position of the carriage for making a cartridge including the ink tanks exchangeable and a fixed position at which the carriage is fixed by a fixing member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device that records an image on a recording medium while moving a recording head.

An inkjet recording device that ejects ink toward a recording medium and records an image is known. As the inkjet recording apparatus, one of two methods, a full-line method and a serial scan method, is adopted. In the full-line system, a recording head having a length that covers the entire recording area of the recording medium in the width direction is provided, and ink is ejected from a plurality of nozzles formed in the recording head to the recording medium to form a recording medium. The image is recorded on the recording surface. In the serial scan method, a recording head short in the width direction of the recording area of the recording medium is provided, and ink is ejected from a plurality of nozzles to the recording medium while the recording head is moved by a carriage in the width direction of the recording area. The image is recorded on the recording surface of the recording medium. In any of the methods, the recording medium is conveyed in a direction orthogonal to the width direction of the recording area, but the serial scan type recording device does not convey the recording medium and specifies the recording medium. Some record images while they are fixed at the position of.

Here, in the full-line method, since the recording head is fixed in the main body of the apparatus, ink may be supplied from the similarly fixed ink tank, and an ink cartridge may be attached to or detached from the ink tank. Ink can be replenished.

On the other hand, in the serial scan method, the recording head and the ink tank are mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in the width direction of the recording area of the recording medium, and the ink tank is detachable by adopting a method of moving them integrally. Ink replenishment is realized by configuring. For example, in the inkjet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a recording head and an ink tank are mounted on a carriage located in a home position during non-recording, and an opening (opening / closing lid) provided at a position corresponding to the home position. The ink tank is being replaced.

By the way, in the full-line method, since the recording head is fixed inside the main body of the device, it is not necessary to temporarily fix the recording head with a fixing member or the like when transporting the inkjet recording device, and the recording head is moved during setup after installation. There is no need to let it.

On the other hand, in the serial scan method, since the recording head moves in the main body of the apparatus, it is necessary to temporarily fix the recording head with a fixing member when the inkjet recording apparatus is transported. Although Patent Document 1 does not mention anything about temporary fixing, in a serial scan type recording device, the recording head and the ink tank are generally removed from the carriage, and the carriage is temporarily fixed to the device body in many cases. .. Therefore, in this serial scan type recording device, it is necessary to remove the fixing member fixing the carriage at the time of setup after installation and move the carriage to a position where the recording head or the ink tank is attached.

Special Fair 7-12660

As described above, in the serial scan type recording device, it is necessary to move the carriage in order to attach the recording head and the ink tank at the time of setup, which takes time. Further, if the power is turned on with the fixing member forgotten to be removed during setup, the movement of the carriage may be hindered by the fixing member to cause an error, or a load may be applied to damage the drive system.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording apparatus capable of safely attaching a recording head or an ink tank to a carriage fixed at the time of transportation to complete a setup.

One aspect of the invention of the inkjet recording apparatus that solves the above problems is a recording head that ejects ink, an ink tank that supplies ink to the recording head, a carriage that holds the recording head and the ink tank, and the carriage. The carriage is provided with an encoder that detects a position in a predetermined direction and a sensor that detects that the carriage is located at a predetermined position in the predetermined direction, while moving the carriage based on the detection information of the encoder and the sensor. An inkjet recording device that ejects ink from the recording head and records an image on a recording medium, wherein the predetermined position of the carriage detected by the sensor makes it possible to replace a cartridge including the ink tank. It is characterized in that it is configured to be a replacement stop position of the carriage and a fixed position of the carriage for fixing the carriage with a fixing member.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the fixed position of the carriage and the replacement stop position for attaching the ink tank are provided at predetermined positions that determine the position that serves as the operation reference of the carriage, so that the recording head and the ink are provided during setup. There is no need to move the carriage to install the tank. Further, even if the power is turned on without removing the fixing member, the carriage does not start moving.

Therefore, it is possible to provide an inkjet recording device that can safely complete the setup work without requiring time.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an inkjet recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating replacement of the ink tank. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a functional concept for explaining the operation of the carriage and the like. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the positioning of the recording medium and the arrangement of the maintenance mechanism. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a linear scale for explaining the moving position of the carriage. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the fixing of the carriage by the fixing member during transportation. FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the carriage at the time of setup. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the carriage at the time of setup. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment of the recording head at the time of setup.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 10 are views showing an inkjet recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the recording device 10 is connected to a host device H such as a PC that processes information so that various information can be exchanged via a printer cable Hc. The recording device 10 functions as a printer by connecting the printer cable Hc to the interface controller 55 (see FIG. 5) of the control unit 50 described later.

The recording device 10 receives ink from the host device H by ejecting ink while the recording head 11 in the exterior cover 10c moves relative to a recording medium such as a printer paper of cut paper placed on the mounting table 21. Record various image data. The recording device 10 performs a printing process for recording a desired image with a predetermined range on the upper surface of the recording medium on the mounting table 21 as a recording surface under integrated control by the control unit 50 described later.

Here, on the mounting table 21, the set sensor 25 detects the cut paper that is inserted from the gap formed in the exterior cover 10c until it abuts as a recording medium. In the present embodiment, for example, a case where a standard image such as an address is recorded in a part area on the upper surface side of the cut paper set on the mounting table 21 will be described as an example, but the present embodiment is not limited to this. No. For example, an image may be recorded by setting a hard plate such as a building material on the mounting table 21 as a recording medium. Further, a printer that records a desired image on the entire surface or a part of the paper surface by having a function of transporting cut paper, roll paper, or the like in the sub-scanning direction in the orthogonal direction while moving the recording head 11 in the main scanning direction. In this case as well, the mechanism described later in this embodiment may be applied.

The recording head 11 is constructed with an ink ejection mechanism (not shown) for each color, which employs an inkjet recording method and ejects ink of each color as granular ink droplets from a nozzle. The recording head 11 executes an operation of recording an image on the recording surface of the recording medium located on the lower mounting table 21 by forming and arranging a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink on the nozzle forming surface 11a on the lower surface. do. The recording head 11 is replaceably mounted on the carriage 13 through an opening opened by opening the replacement door (opening / closing member) 10d (see FIG. 2). Further, the ink tank 12 is also replaceably mounted on the carriage 13 to which the recording head 11 is mounted (see FIG. 3). In this way, the recording head and the ink tank are configured so that they can be replaced separately. After the replacement door 10d is closed, the recording head 11 is supplied (replenished) with ink from the ink tank 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, the recording device 10 positions the immovable recording medium mounted on the mounting table 21 by pressing it with the pressing member 20, and in that state, the recording head 11 moves relative to one direction. Let me. The pressing member 20 is formed with an exposed hole 20a that opens below the recording head 11 that moves in one direction, and can eject ink to the recording area of the recording medium to be positioned to form and record an image. I have to.

For this reason, in the recording head 11, nozzle rows having a length shorter than the recording area in the moving direction with respect to the recording medium and a width covering the recording area in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction are arranged on the nozzle forming surface 11a. .. Therefore, the recording head 11 operates in a serial scan (continuous linear scan) method in which ink is ejected toward the recording medium on the mounting table 21 while reciprocating in one direction based on the detection information of the linear encoder 15 described later. Then, the image is recorded in the recording area. The exposed hole 20a of the pressing member 20 is formed so as to be opened wider than the recording area of the recording medium on which the image is recorded by the recording head 11.

Here, the recording head 11 energizes an electric heat conversion element (heater) (not shown) installed in the ink flow path communicating with the nozzle of the nozzle forming surface 11a to instantaneously generate bubbles. A so-called thermal method is used in which ink droplets are ejected from a nozzle. The recording head 11 is not limited to the thermal method, and employs, for example, a so-called piezo method in which a piezoelectric element (piezo element) that instantaneously changes the capacity of the ink flow path is installed and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle. Needless to say, it may be done.

Further, the recording head 11 supplies ink of each color from the ink tank 12 for each color to the nozzles of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and ejects them in the order of movement direction. A full-color image is formed and recorded. The recording head 11 can record a monochrome image or the like by forming an image with a desired ink color, or may be a monochrome dedicated machine or the like equipped with a monochrome ink such as black.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the recording device 10 is provided with a maintenance mechanism 19 at a position adjacent to the mounting table 21 in the moving direction of the recording head 11. The maintenance mechanism 19 sucks a small amount of ink from the inside of the nozzle by bringing a cap member (not shown) into close contact with the nozzle forming surface 11a of the recording head 11 that has moved to a position exceeding the mounting table 21 and reducing the pressure with the pump motor 29. It has a function to refresh. The recording head 11 can also recover the ink quality by pre-discharging a small amount of ink into the cap member of the maintenance mechanism 19. The maintenance mechanism 19 also has a blade (not shown) that scrapes off and cleans the ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface 11a of the recording head 11 that moves relative to each other after the ink is sucked and discharged. The recording head 11 can avoid unnecessary deposits and promotion of drying as much as possible by mounting the cap member of the maintenance mechanism 19 on the nozzle forming surface 11a and waiting. As described above, since the maintenance mechanism 19 performs a complicated process, it may be damaged if it is touched carelessly. In addition, since there is a high possibility that ink will adhere to the hands and stain the device body when the maintenance mechanism 19 is touched, the maintenance mechanism 19 is a cover (for example, an exterior cover 10c, etc.) so that the user does not touch it directly. It is preferable to cover with.

The mounting table 21 drives the lift motor 22 connected to the lower portion in the forward and reverse directions so as to press or separate the horizontal plane 21a on the upper surface side parallel to the moving direction of the recording head 11 against the holding member 20 on the recording head 11 side. It is raised or lowered by letting it. The mounting table 21 is urged upward by springs 23 arranged at a plurality of locations around the lift motor 22, so that the mounting (set) recording medium is evenly distributed to the holding member 20 on the recording head 11 side. Press on. The mounting table 21 positions and holds the relative position with respect to the recording head 11 by pressing the recording medium mounted on the horizontal surface 21a against the pressing member 20 while supporting the recording medium. When the recording medium set on the horizontal plane 21a is detected by the set sensor 25 arranged in the main body of the recording device 10, the mounting table 21 presses the recording medium against the pressing member 20 for positioning. Ascend to.

Specifically, the mounting table 21 is lifted by the lift motor 22 when the recording medium inserted and mounted on the horizontal plane 21a is detected by the set sensor 25, and is desired by the pressing member 20 on the recording head 11 side. The recording medium is positioned and held by being pressed by the pressure of. After this operation, the mounting table 21 is lowered by the lift motor 22 so that the recording medium on the horizontal plane 21a can be recovered, and waits for the next recording medium to be placed. The mounting table 21 may have a structure in which the mounting table 21 is pulled out from the inside of the exterior cover 10c, the recording medium is placed on it, and then pushed in. The set sensor 25 detects the end face of the mounting table 21 and uses another control signal to generate an image. The recording operation of may be started. In this case, the mounting table 21 may have a mark indicating the set position on the recording medium as the exposed hole 20a of the pressing member 20 as a range (area) for recording an image.

The recording device 10 includes a carriage 13 that reciprocates (forwards and reverses) in a predetermined direction (hereinafter, also referred to as a horizontal direction). The recording head 11 is detachably attached to the carriage 13 integrally or separately from the ink tank 12. The recording head 11 records an image on the recording medium on the mounting table 21 by moving the carriage 13 in the horizontal direction in the forward and reverse directions, and also moves to a processing position by the maintenance mechanism 19 adjacent to the mounting table 21.

The carriage 13 is movably supported by the upper and lower guide rails 16a and 16b in the horizontal direction, and is attached to a circumferential belt 14 wound around a drive shaft 17a and a pulley 18 of the carriage motor 17. The carriage 13 moves horizontally while being detected by the linear encoder 15 that reads the position on the linear scale 15a. The carriage 13 is detected by the carriage reference sensor 35 when a predetermined operation described later, for example, an operation in which the recording head 11 records an image on a recording medium from one end side of an exposed hole 20a of the holding member 20 or the like, is performed. Moves based on the predetermined position of the above as a reference for various operations. That is, the circumferential belt 14, the carriage motor 17, the linear encoder 15, and the like constitute the moving mechanism.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 5, the recording device 10 is integratedly controlled by the CPU 51 of the control unit 50. The CPU 51, together with the interface controller 55, is connected to the program ROM 52, the work RAM 53, and the image memory 54 to execute various control processes. The program ROM 52 stores various control programs used by the CPU 51. The work RAM 53 functions as a work area for temporarily storing and holding various acquired information and control information when the CPU 51 executes a control program. The image memory 54 stores the image data received from the host device H in a bitmap format for each color so that the image can be formed.

The CPU 51 is connected to the recording head 11 via the print head control circuit 56 so that various information can be exchanged, and controls the drive thereof. The CPU 51 is connected to a carriage motor 17, a lift motor 22, and a pump motor 29 whose drive is controlled by a motor control unit 58 via an output port 57, and controls their drive. The CPU 51 is connected to a sensor group 60 including a sensor described later such as an encoder 15, a set sensor 25, and a carriage reference sensor 35 via an input port 59, and acquires sensor information thereof.

The CPU 51 performs a control process of recording image data stored in the image memory 54 on a recording medium based on information acquired from the sensor group 60 and the host device H while using the work RAM 53 according to the control program in the program ROM 52. Run. By grasping the position of the carriage 13 based on the detection information of the linear encoder 15, the CPU 51 executes various operations including moving / stopping the recording head 11 and image recording by ejecting ink.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 51 moves the carriage 13 to a predetermined position detected by the carriage reference sensor 35 each time the power is turned on, and the reference position on the linear scale 15a detected by the linear encoder 15 Set Pb. However, since the carriage 13 is stopped at a predetermined position at the time of setup, it does not move even when the power is turned on, and the reference position Pb is set as it is. A margin may be provided to some extent as a region where the carriage reference sensor 35 can detect that the carriage 13 is in a predetermined position. For example, a margin having a width corresponding to the fixed range Pw shown in FIG. 6 may be provided. good. The CPU 51 moves the carriage 13 from its reference position Pb to a preset maintenance position (standby position) Pm based on the detection information of the linear scale 15a by the linear encoder 15 at a predetermined timing for confirming the mounting of the recording head 11. Let me wait. Hereinafter, the description will be omitted without any particular description as "detection information of the linear scale 15a by the linear encoder 15".

For example, when the CPU 51 receives an image recording command, the carriage 13 is moved from the maintenance position Pm toward the reference position Pb to start the image recording operation by the recording head 11 from the start position Ps, and the end position Pe. When it reaches, the operation on the outbound route ends. After that, the carriage 13 moves in the sub-scanning direction. The CPU 51 performs an image recording operation by the recording head 11 while moving the carriage 13 in the direction returning from the end position Pe, ends the operation on the return path when the start position Ps is reached, and ends one recording medium (cut). The print recording process of the image on paper) is completed. Then, when the image recording command to the next recording medium remains, the CPU 51 repeats the same image recording operation based on the detection information by the set sensor 25. Further, after the processing of the recording command is completed, the CPU 51 moves the carriage 13 to the maintenance position Pm so that the cap member is brought into close contact with the nozzle forming surface 11a of the recording head 11 to stand by. Before and after this recording command, the CPU 51 appropriately sucks the ink by the pump motor 29, pre-discharges the ink of the recording head 11, and restores the ink quality to stand by. As described above, if the maintenance mechanism 19 is carelessly touched, it may be damaged or the device body may be soiled with ink. Therefore, the position where the maintenance mechanism 19 is arranged (maintenance position Pm) is a predetermined position of the carriage. It is preferable to keep it away from (reference position Pb). Specifically, it is more preferable that the position where the maintenance mechanism 19 is arranged and the predetermined position of the carriage are arranged on opposite sides of each other with a range in which the recording operation is performed.

Further, when the CPU 51 receives an ink tank replacement command due to ink shortage, the CPU 51 moves the carriage 13 to the replacement stop position Pc (a position common to the reference position Pb) and displays a replacement instruction message on a display (not shown) or the like. Output. After this, the CPU 51 detects the opening / closing of the replacement door 10d by the open / close sensor 27 shown in FIG. 1 and the mounting of the ink tank 12 (see FIG. 2) by a sensor (not shown). To the maintenance position Pm. At this time, the CPU 51 supplies ink from the ink tank 12 to the recording head 11 to replenish the ink, and also causes the cap member to be brought into close contact with the nozzle forming surface 11a to perform preliminary ejection of ink to prepare the recording operation so that the recording operation can be restarted. After this, the CPU 51 resumes the recording operation when the recording command is not completed, while waiting as it is when the recording command is completed.

By the way, the recording device 10 is attached with a fixing member 99 as shown in FIG. 7 at the time of purchase. At this time, the carriage 13 is stopped at a position where the reference position Pb detected by the carriage reference sensor 35 is set to the fixed position Pf (shown in FIG. 6), and is fixed with the recording head 11 and the ink tank 12 removed. It is immovably fixed by the member 99. Therefore, in the recording device 10, the recording head 11 is attached together with the ink tank 12 after opening and closing the replacement door 10d and removing the fixing member 99 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 at the time of setting after purchase. (See FIG. 10). When the power is turned on after this, the CPU 51 detects the attachment of the recording head 11 and the closing of the replacement door 10d, and then sets the detection position of the carriage 13 by the carriage reference sensor 35 to the reference position Pb to maintain the carriage 13. It is moved to the position Pm and the standby operation of the recording head 11 is executed. The carriage 13 may be fixed to the detection position Pb by the carriage reference sensor 35 by the fixing member 99, and the fixing member 99 can be fixed within the fixing range Pw (shown in FIG. 6). Further, the various positions of the carriage 13 are not limited to the fixing member 99, and may be applied to a form in which the carriage 13 is fixed by tape.

The carriage 13 is stopped at a predetermined position (reference position Pb) common to the fixed position Pf and the replacement stop position Pc at the time of setup after purchase or when the ink tank 12 is replaced. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the carriage 13 at the time of setup, and the head 11 and the ink tank 12 can be attached to quickly perform the setup. Further, even if the power is turned on without removing the fixing member 99 during the setup work, the carriage 13 does not start moving carelessly, so that it is possible to avoid a failure (error or damage). If the fixed position Pf is provided at a position different from the reference position Pb or the replacement stop position Pc, after removing the fixing member of the carriage, positioning that serves as an operation reference of the carriage is performed, or the head or ink tank. It is necessary to move the carriage to install it, at least it takes a long time to set up.

As described above, in the inkjet recording apparatus 10 adopting the serial scanning method of the present embodiment, the setup work can be completed smoothly and safely without paying close attention.

Here, as another aspect of the present embodiment, although not shown, a cartridge in which the recording head 11 and the ink tank 12 are integrated is formed so that they can be integrally attached to and detached from the carriage 13. May be good.

Further, the reference position Pb, the replacement stop position Pc, and the fixed position Pf of the carriage 13 may be arranged not only on the left side as shown in FIG. 6 but also on the right side (the right side when the recording device 10 is viewed from the front). .. In this case, the maintenance position (standby position) Pm may be arranged on the left side when the recording device 10 is viewed from the front.

Further, although the carriage reference sensor 35 is provided at a predetermined position in the moving direction (main scanning direction) of the carriage, the sensor may be provided on the carriage and the sensor flag may be provided at the predetermined position.

Further, the linear encoder 15 used to detect the position of the carriage 13 in a predetermined direction may be changed to a rotary encoder. Further, the carriage motor 17 may be changed to a pulse motor to position the carriage 13 in a predetermined direction based on the number of pulses of the pulse motor without using an encoder.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments illustrated and described, but also includes all embodiments that provide an effect equal to that intended by the present invention. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the combination of the features of the invention defined by each claim, but may be defined by any desired combination of the specific features of all the disclosed features. ..

10 …… Recording device 10c …… Exterior cover 10d …… Replacement door 11 …… Recording head 11a …… Nozzle forming surface 12 …… Ink tank 13 …… Carriage 14 …… Circumferential belt 15 …… Linear encoder 19 …… Maintenance Mechanism 21 …… Mounting stand 27 …… Open / close sensor 35 …… Carriage reference sensor 51 …… CPU
60 ... Sensor group 99 ... Fixed member H ... Host device Pb ... Reference position Pc ... Replacement stop position Pf ... Fixed position Pm ... Maintenance position

Claims (5)

A recording head that ejects ink and
An ink tank that supplies ink to the recording head and
A carriage that holds the recording head and the ink tank,
An encoder that detects the position of the carriage in a predetermined direction and
A sensor that detects that the carriage is located at a predetermined position in the predetermined direction is provided.
An inkjet recording device that ejects ink from the recording head and records an image on a recording medium while moving the carriage based on the detection information of the encoder and the sensor.
The predetermined position of the carriage detected by the sensor is
An inkjet recording apparatus characterized in that it is configured to be a replacement stop position of the carriage that allows the cartridge including the ink tank to be replaced and a fixed position of the carriage that fixes the carriage with a fixing member. A cover for accommodating the recording head, the ink tank, the carriage, the encoder, and each part of the device including the sensor.
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover has an opening that opens the predetermined position of the carriage toward the outside, and an opening / closing member is attached to the opening. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined position of the carriage is arranged at an end portion of the carriage in at least one direction in a movable range. Further equipped with a maintenance mechanism for maintaining the recording head,
The position where the maintenance mechanism is arranged and the predetermined position of the carriage are arranged so as to be located on opposite sides of the moving range in which the recording operation of the recording head is performed in the predetermined direction of the carriage. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus is characterized by the above. A recording head that ejects ink and
An ink tank that supplies ink to the recording head and
A carriage that holds the recording head and the ink tank,
A pulse motor that moves the carriage in a predetermined direction,
A sensor that detects that the carriage is located at a predetermined position in the predetermined direction is provided.
An inkjet recording device that ejects ink from the recording head and records an image on a recording medium while moving the carriage based on the detection information of the pulse motor and the sensor.
The predetermined position of the carriage detected by the sensor is
An inkjet recording apparatus characterized in that it is configured to be a replacement stop position of the carriage that allows the cartridge including the ink tank to be replaced and a fixed position of the carriage that fixes the carriage with a fixing member.

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