JP2695263B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium (hereinafter, also referred to as recording paper or simply paper) such as paper, OHP sheets,
It has been proposed in the form of mounting a recording head by various recording methods. The recording head includes a wire dot type, a thermal type, a thermal transfer type, an ink jet type, and the like.

Among them, particularly, the ink jet system, which directly ejects ink onto a recording sheet, has attracted attention as a recording system having advantages such as low running cost and quiet recording operation.

In recent years, inkjet recording apparatuses, especially recording heads, have been manufactured by film forming technology or micro-machining technology in semiconductor devices, and smaller and less expensive recording heads are being realized. . For this reason, for example, a disposable recording head in which an ink tank is integrated has also been proposed, and accordingly, the configuration of the apparatus itself is reduced in size and simplicity.

On the other hand, an ink jet recording apparatus having the above-mentioned advantages has been widely used as a recording apparatus for various devices such as an electronic typewriter, a word processor, a facsimile, and a copying machine. In this case, the ink jet recording apparatus has a structure corresponding to the function, usage mode, etc. peculiar to these apparatuses.

In electronic typewriters, word processors, etc.,
As one of the trends, there is a tendency to be small, lightweight and portable. From this viewpoint, a small and simple structure of an ink jet recording apparatus used in these apparatuses is desired.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the size of the ink dots formed on the recording paper is a major factor that determines the density of the image, and the density at the position where the dots are formed also affects the image quality. . From this point of view, the management of the distance that the ejected ink droplets fly, that is, the distance between the recording head and the recording paper (hereinafter, also referred to as a gap) becomes an important issue.

Further, as described above, the inkjet recording apparatus is used in a wide range of machines, and the recording medium used is also various due to its attribute of recording ink droplets. As a result, the gap must be adjusted according to these various recording media, especially according to the thickness thereof.

As such a gap adjusting mechanism, when a relatively thick recording medium is used, the gap is adjusted by pressing the conveying roller with a roller or the like fixed to a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and letting the conveying roller escape backward. There is a configuration. However, this configuration has a problem in that the resistance of the rollers and the like is large when the carriage moves, and the torque of the carriage motor must be increased.

In addition, when the recording medium has an ordinary thickness, the transport roller is biased to the paper pressing plate by a spring or the like, and when the paper is thick, the transport roller is released or the carriage is biased by the carriage. However, depending on the configuration of the paper pressing plate, the feeding roller, the material of the recording medium, and the strength of the relative bias to the thick paper, the paper holding of the recording paper In some cases, it may be difficult to insert it between the plate and the transport roller.

Further, although there is a configuration in which the gap is adjusted by rotating the carriage around its guide shaft, for example, the structure and the operation for the adjustment may be complicated.

The present invention has been made based on the above-described viewpoint, and has a simple configuration, which automatically adjusts the gap in accordance with various thicknesses of recording media such as thin paper and thick paper, and keeps this constant. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording device capable of performing the above.

[Means for solving the problem]

Therefore, in the present invention, in an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording by a recording head that ejects ink droplets onto a recording medium, a recording roller of the recording medium is regulated, and a conveyance roller for conveying the recording medium, and a thickness of the recording medium. And a carriage for displacing the recording medium to urge the recording medium toward the conveying roller, a carriage for mounting the recording head and moving the recording medium along the recording medium, and An abutting member that is provided to come into contact with the paper pressing member as the carriage moves;
A guide shaft that guides the movement of the carriage, and a bearing member that is provided at two positions of the carriage and that is movably engaged with the guide shaft in the axial direction. On the other hand, a first bearing member provided on the ejection port side of the recording head so as to be capable of being displaced with respect to the carriage, a second bearing member provided on the opposite side of the first bearing member, and the contact member. And a shift means for relatively shifting the carriage and the first bearing member in response to the contact of the carriage.

[Action]

According to the above configuration, the paper pressing member is displaced according to the thickness of the recording medium conveyed between the paper pressing member and the conveying roller. The displacement causes the contact member to be pressed toward the carriage, and the pressing force causes the carriage to deviate with respect to the first bearing member, which is constituted by, for example, a bearing, depending on the size. That is, the carriage rotates in accordance with the thickness of the recording medium with the second bearing member, which is also formed of a bearing or the like, as the rotation center.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B) show an external configuration example of an electronic typewriter as a device to which the present invention can be applied.

Here, reference numeral 1 denotes a keyboard unit, in which a key group 2 such as keys for inputting characters such as characters and numerals and control keys are arranged. It can be folded as shown. Reference numeral 4 denotes a paper feed tray for feeding a sheet-shaped recording medium to a printer section inside the apparatus, which is stored over the printer section when not in use, as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 5 denotes a feed knob for manually setting and discharging a recording medium, 6 denotes a display for displaying input text and the like, and 7 denotes a handle used when transporting the apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a window provided on the upper part of the typewriter adjacent to the display 6 without the cover of the electronic typewriter of this embodiment, and allows the user to view the ink jet printer and recording paper stored therein as described later.

 FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the printer unit according to this embodiment.

Here, reference numeral 9 denotes a head cartridge having an ink jet recording head, which will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, and reference numeral 11 denotes a carriage for mounting the head cartridge and scanning in the S direction in the drawing. Reference numeral 13 denotes a hook for attaching the head cartridge 9 to the carriage 11, and reference numeral 15 denotes a lever for operating the hook 13. The lever 15 is provided with a marker 17 for indicating a scale provided on a cover, which will be described later, so as to be able to read a print position, a set position, and the like by the recording head of the head cartridge. 19 is the head cartridge 9
It is a support plate that supports an electrical connection portion for. Reference numeral 21 denotes a flexible cable for connecting the electrical connection unit and the main body control unit.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a guide shaft for guiding the carriage 11 in the S direction, and is inserted through a bearing 25 of the carriage 11. 27
Is a timing belt to which the carriage 11 is fixed and which transmits power for moving the carriage 11 in the S direction, and is stretched around pulleys 29A and 29B arranged on both sides of the apparatus. A driving force is transmitted to one pulley 29B from a carriage motor 31 via a transmission mechanism such as a gear.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a transport roller for regulating the recording surface of a recording medium such as paper (hereinafter also referred to as recording paper) and transporting the recording medium during recording or the like. 37 is a paper pan for guiding the recording medium to the recording position from the paper feed tray 4 side, and 39 is disposed in the middle of the recording medium feeding path, presses the recording medium toward the conveying roller 33, and conveys it. Feed roller for Numeral 34 denotes a platen which faces the discharge port of the head cartridge 9 and regulates the recording surface of the recording medium. 41 is in the recording medium transport direction,
A discharge roller is disposed downstream of the recording position and discharges the recording medium toward a discharge port (not shown). Reference numeral 42 denotes a spur provided corresponding to the paper discharge roller 41, which presses the roller 41 via the recording medium to generate a conveyance force of the recording medium by the paper discharge roller 41. Reference numeral 43 denotes a release lever for releasing the urging of the feed roller 39, the holding plate 45, and the spur 42 when setting a recording medium or the like.

Reference numeral 45 denotes a pressing plate for suppressing the rising of the recording medium in the vicinity of the recording position and ensuring the state of close contact with the transport roller 33. On this side, an ink jet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink is employed as a recording head. Therefore, the distance between the ink discharge port forming surface of the recording head and the recording surface of the recording medium is relatively small, and the distance must be strictly controlled to avoid contact between the recording medium and the discharge port forming surface. The arrangement of the holding plate 45 is effective. 47 is a scale provided on the holding plate 45,
Reference numeral 49 denotes a marker provided on the carriage 11 corresponding to the scale, and the print position and the set position of the recording head can be read by these markers.

Reference numeral 51 denotes a cap formed of an elastic material such as rubber facing the ink discharge port forming surface of the recording head at the home position, and is supported so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the recording head. The cap 51 is used for protection of the recording head at the time of non-recording or the like, and at the time of ejection recovery processing of the recording head. The ejection recovery processing is to cause the cap 51 to face the ejection port forming surface, eject ink from all ejection ports by driving an energy generating element provided inside the ink ejection port and used for ink ejection, (Preliminary discharge to remove discharge failure factors such as bubbles and dust, and ink that has become unsuitable for printing due to thickening.) Alternatively, separate ink from the discharge port with the discharge port formation surface and the cap 51 covering it. Is a process for removing the cause of the ejection failure by forcibly discharging the ink.

Reference numeral 53 denotes a pump used to apply a suction force for forcibly discharging the ink and to suck the ink received by the cap 51 at the time of the discharge recovery processing by the forced discharge and the discharge recovery processing by the preliminary discharge. Reference numeral 55 denotes a waste ink tank for storing the waste ink sucked by the pump 53, and reference numeral 57 denotes a tube that connects the pump 53 and the waste ink tank 55.

Reference numeral 59 denotes a blade for wiping the ejection port forming surface of the recording head.The blade 59 projects to the recording head side to perform wiping in the process of moving the head, and a retracted position that does not engage with the ejection port forming surface. It is movably supported. Reference numeral 61 denotes a motor, and reference numeral 63 denotes a cam device for receiving power transmitted from the motor 61 to drive the pump 53 and move the cap 51 and the blade 59, respectively.

Next, the details of the above-described head cartridge 9 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a head cartridge 9 in which an ejection unit 9a and an ink tank 9b forming an ink jet recording head main body are integrated.
The hook is hooked by a hook 13 provided on the carriage 11 when the head cartridge 9 is mounted. As is clear from the figure, the pawl 906e is disposed inside the full extension of the recording head. Further, in the vicinity of the front ejection unit 9a of the head cartridge 9, a positioning abutting portion (not shown) is provided. 906f carriage 11
And a head opening into which a support board for supporting a flexible substrate (electric connection part) and a rubber pad is inserted.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are exploded perspective views of the head cartridge shown in FIG. 3, and are also of a disposable type in which the ink containing portion serving as the ink supply source is integrated as described above.

In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 911 is a heater board in which an electrothermal conversion element (ejection heater) and a wiring such as Al for supplying electric power to the electrothermal conversion element are formed by a film forming technique. Reference numeral 921 denotes a wiring board for the heater board 911, and the corresponding wiring is connected by, for example, wire bonding.

Reference numeral 940 denotes a top plate provided with a partition for limiting the ink flow path, a common liquid chamber, and the like. In this example, the top plate 940 is made of a resin material integrally having an orifice plate portion.

930 is, for example, a metal support, 950 is a holding spring,
The heater board 911 and the top board 940 are sandwiched between them so that they are engaged with each other, so that the heater board 910 and the top board 940 are pressed and fixed by the urging force of the pressing spring 950. Note that the support 930 may be provided with a wiring substrate 921 attached thereto or the like, and may have a positioning reference to the carriage 11 for scanning the head. In addition, the support 930 also functions as a member that radiates and cools the heat of the heater board 911 generated by driving.

Reference numeral 960 denotes a supply tank, which functions as a sub-tank that receives ink supply from the ink storage unit 9b serving as an ink supply source and guides ink to a common liquid chamber formed by joining the heater board 911 and the top plate 940. Reference numeral 970 denotes a filter arranged at a position in the supply tank 960 near the ink supply port to the common liquid chamber, and 980 denotes a cover member of the supply tank 960.

900 is an absorber for impregnating the ink, and is arranged in the ink tank main body 9b. 1200 is the above parts 911-9
A supply port for supplying ink to the recording element 9a consisting of 80
By injecting ink from the supply port 1200 in a process before arranging it in the portion 1010 of 9b, the ink impregnation of the absorber 900 can be performed.

1100 is a lid member of the cartridge main body, and 1300 is an atmosphere communication port provided in the lid member for communicating the inside of the cartridge with the atmosphere. Reference numeral 1300A denotes a liquid-repellent member disposed inside the air communication port 1300, and thereby, ink leakage from the air communication port 1300 is prevented.

When the ink filling into the ink tank 9b through the supply port 1200 is completed, the ejection unit 9a including the parts 911 to 980 is positioned and arranged in the part 1010. The positioning or fixing at this time is performed, for example, by using a projection 10 provided on the ink tank body 9b.
12 and a hole 931 correspondingly provided in the support 930, whereby the head cartridge 9 shown in FIG. 4 (B) is completed.

And the ink is supplied from the inside of the cartridge by the supply port 1200,
The supply tank 960 is provided through a hole 932 provided in the support 930 and an introduction port provided on the back surface side of the supply tank 960 in FIG. 4 (A).
After passing through the inside, the liquid flows from the outlet through an appropriate supply pipe and the ink inlet 942 of the top plate 940 into the common liquid chamber. A packing made of, for example, silicone rubber or butyl rubber is provided at the connection portion for ink communication as described above, whereby sealing is performed to secure an ink supply path.

FIGS. 5A and 5B respectively show the carriage
FIG. 11 is a top view, a left side view, and a right side view showing details of 11;

In these figures, reference numeral 606 denotes a support plate that is provided upright on the bottom of the carriage 11, and a flexible substrate 604,
And a rubber pad 605 having a protrusion 605A provided corresponding to the terminal pad formed on the substrate 604.

Reference numeral 607 is an abutting member that is similarly provided upright on the bottom in front of the carriage 11. The abutting member 607 is formed to have a small thickness in order to make the space of the ink tank as large as possible within the limited arrangement space of the head cartridge 9 and the carriage 11. For this reason, the member 607 is formed with three ribs 608 for securing strength. The direction in which the rib 608 extends is the moving direction of the carriage 11 so as to have a strength corresponding to the movement in the turning direction when the head cartridge is attached and detached.
The rib 608 is formed so as to protrude by about 0.1 mm from the ejection surface when the head cartridge 9 is mounted. Accordingly, even when the recording paper protrudes into the movement path of the recording head due to some action, it is possible to prevent the recording paper from rubbing the ejection surface and causing damage or the like.

An operation lever 15 for performing the mounting / removing operation of the head cartridge is rotatably supported by a shaft 601d provided on the carriage 11 main body. The hook 13 is used for performing an attaching / detaching operation of the head cartridge 9 in which a part of the operation lever 15 is engaged with a movement of the operation lever 15.
The hook 13 has an elongated hole 603c formed in the
The operation related to the attachment / detachment is performed by being guided by the guide shaft 601c provided in the main body.

Since the attachment / detachment operation mechanism including the operation lever 15 and the hook 13 is provided on the side of the carriage 11, that is, on the movement direction side of the carriage 11, the attachment / detachment operation mechanism does not form a large dead space due to the movement of the carriage. .

Next, the butting portion for positioning when mounting the head cartridge will be described.

Reference numeral 601a denotes an abutting portion for positioning in the left-right direction, and is provided at two locations on the side of the abutting member 607. For the positioning in the left-right direction, the abutting portion 601f provided on the support plate 606 outside the abutting portion 601a is used.

601b is a butting portion for positioning in the front-rear direction,
It is formed on the lower side portion of the butting member 607.

601c is a butting portion for vertical positioning,
2 of the lower side of the butting member 607 and the lower side of the support plate
Formed at two places.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show the carriage 11 respectively.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are a top view and a left side view showing a state when the head cartridge 9 is mounted on the printer.

In these figures, reference numeral 906a denotes a contact portion provided on the head cartridge 9 so as to be able to contact the abutment portion of the carriage 11 when the recording head is mounted.
Are contact portions corresponding to the contact portions 601b and 601c, respectively.

Here, with reference to FIG. 6 (A), an outline of the engagement relationship of each part when the recording head is mounted will be outlined.

The contact portion 906a of the head cartridge 9 is attached to the carriage 6
Of the head cartridge 9 and at the same time, the claw 906 of the head cartridge 9 receives a force to the left in the figure by the biasing force of the coil spring 610 via the hook 13 hooked on the claw 906. As a result, the head cartridge 9 receives a moment force about the contact portion. At this time, the substrate 906d provided on the head abuts the abutting portion 601f,
As a result, the head cartridge 9 is positioned in the left-right direction, and the position is held.

At this time, the protrusion 605A of the rubber pad 605 is
Is compressed and deformed by contact with With this deformation,
A force for pressing the terminal pad of the flexible substrate 604 and the terminal of the substrate 906d is generated. In this case, since the substrate 906d is in contact with the abutting portion 601f, the amount of deformation of the protruding portion 605A is constant, and the above-described stable pressing force can be obtained.

Note that the upper drawing does not show a state in which the protrusion 605A is compressed and deformed.

The positioning of the head cartridge 9 in the front-back and up-down directions is performed during the mounting process.

FIG. 7A is an exploded perspective view of the carriage 11.

Here, reference numeral 613 denotes a roller spring described later, and 615 denotes a lever for attaching the operation lever 15 to an attachment portion 617 on the carriage 11. Reference numeral 619 denotes one end of the flexible cable 21, and in this example, the upper end of the flexible substrate 604 and the rubber pad 605 integrally formed with the support plate 606.
A mounting member 621 is also used for fixing the lower edge portion.

In addition to the configuration described above, in this example, when the head cartridge 9 is not mounted, the carriage-side flexible substrate
604 is covered by a flexible substrate from contact with the operator's hand, etc.
A board cover 623 for protecting the main body side circuit 604 and the main body side circuit connected thereto is provided. The board cover 623 is provided rotatably with respect to the pin 621A of the lower edge side board mounting member 621. Reference numeral 625 denotes a spring that gives the substrate cover 623 a rotation characteristic in a direction covering the flexible substrate 604, and reference numeral 627 denotes a concave portion that stores the substrate cover 623 when the head cartridge 9 is mounted.

The operation of the board cover 623 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (B) and 7 (C). When the head cartridge 9 is not mounted, as shown in FIG.
Is in a state of covering the flexible substrate 604 by the urging force. When the head cartridge 9 is mounted from above in this state, the substrate cover 623 is biased by the spring 625 in accordance with the engagement between the lower surface of the head cartridge 9 and the cover operating portion 623A or the engagement between the operator's hand and the operating portion 623A. To rotate around the pin 621A in the clockwise direction in FIG. Then, when the head cartridge 9 is completely mounted and the substrate 604 and the head-side substrate 906d are in contact with each other, the cover 623 is pressed by the lower surface of the head cartridge 9 into the recess 627 as shown in FIG. 7C. It will be stored. When the head cartridge 9 is removed, the cover 623 immediately returns to the state shown in FIG. 9B, so that the substrate 604 is protected.

FIG. 8A is a schematic side view mainly showing the recording medium transport system of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 8A shows the arrangement of each element during normal recording medium conveyance. The recording medium fed from a paper feed tray (not shown) is introduced into a transport path formed between the transport roller 33 and the paper pan 37. In this transport route,
As the transport roller 33 rotates clockwise in the figure, the recording medium is transported by the frictional force between the transport roller 33 and the recording medium based on the pressing force of the feed roller 39. After that, the recording medium is introduced between the conveying roller 33 and the pressing plate 45, and is similarly conveyed by the frictional force between the conveying roller 33 and the recording medium based on the pressing force of the paper pressing plate 45. Further, the direction of the recording medium is regulated by the paper pressing plate 45 and is conveyed along the platen 34 between the paper discharge roller 41 and the spur 42, during which the ink droplets are ejected from the recording head cartridge 9 so that the recording medium is discharged onto the recording medium. A record is made at

FIG. 8 (B) shows a paper pan 37 and a transport roller
It is the figure which looked at the release plate for urging in 33 directions from the apparatus upper part, and has shown in the separated form for description.

With reference to FIGS. 8 (A) and (B), a mechanism for transporting the recording medium will be described. In these figures, 40
Reference numeral denotes a release plate, which is a member for pressing the feed roller 39 to the transport roller 33 via the paper pan 37 and releasing the pressing. That is, the release plate 40 is
Shaft portions 40C provided at both ends of the shaft are provided with shaft support holes 101 provided in a release plate support member 101 erected on the bottom plate 100 of the apparatus.
By engaging with A, it is rotatably supported. As a result, the springs 40 that engage at the two locations on one end of the relays plate 40
When this portion is urged obliquely downward and to the right in FIG. 8A, the release plate 40 rotates clockwise in FIG. 8A with the shaft portion 40C as a fulcrum. 371 is
These are ribs provided at two places below the paper pan 37. The rib 371 comes into contact with the pressing portion 40A during the rotation of the release plate 40, and is pressed upward in FIG. 8 (A). Thus, the feed roller 39 pivotally supported by the rib 371 presses the transport roller 33.

The release by the release plate 40 is released by the shoulder 40B extending at one end of the release plate 40, which will be described later with reference to FIG.
It is done by being pushed down in the middle. When the pressing is released, the paper pan 37 and the feed roller 39 move downward by their own weight, and a predetermined gap is formed between the feed roller 39 and the transport roller 33.

372 is a rectangular projecting portion formed by extending a part of the paper pan 37 downward. The protruding portion 372 is provided with a rectangular hole 372A.
The protrusion 102 provided upright at 100 engages with a certain amount of play. With this engagement, the paper pan 37 and, consequently, the feed roller 39 are positioned with respect to the transport roller 33.

With the configuration having the play in the engagement, it is possible to eliminate an adverse effect caused by so-called skipping that occurs when the rear end of the conveyed recording medium passes through the feed roller 39. That is, as shown in FIG. 9 (A), the recording medium exits this state from the state where the rear end of the recording medium is pressed by the feed roller 39 by the feed roller 39, and FIG. 9 (B).
The recording medium is pushed out from between the feed roller 39 and the transport roller 33 while the feed roller 39 and the transport roller 33 come into contact with each other as shown in FIG. In the conventional configuration, especially when the recording medium is an envelope or cardboard, the above-described popping phenomenon occurs due to the force acting on each part during the extrusion.

For example, a configuration for supporting a conventional paper pan as shown in FIG.
In the configuration in which 1A is supported by the engaging portion 400A of the urging member 400 so as not to escape in the front-rear direction (the horizontal direction in the drawing), the feed roller 39 cannot escape in the direction opposite to the direction in which the recording medium is pushed out. Because of the extrusion roller
The rotation of 33 rotates to carry a predetermined amount or more. As a result,
There have been problems such as a shift in the recording position on the recording medium.

On the other hand, in the configuration of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A, 9A and 9B, the paper pan 37 is pushed back by the pushing of the rear end of the recording medium. d
Since it can escape to the right in the figure by the amount of, the force due to the pushing out does not act on the recording medium and the conveyance roller 33, and the above-mentioned problem does not occur.

Referring again to FIG. 8 (A), 451 is a paper pressing plate 45.
For urging the platen in the direction of the platen 33.

One end of the spring 451 extending from the coil-shaped portion is engaged with a part of the paper holding plate 45, and the other end is engaged with a part of the apparatus bottom plate 100. Further, the coil-shaped portion is supported by a part of the bottom plate 100. The paper pressing plate 45 is pressed by the carriage 11 via a roller 91 provided at the front end of the carriage 11 as described later. The distance between the ejection port of the head cartridge 9 and the recording surface of the recording medium is appropriately maintained by the pressure applied through the spring 451 and the roller 91.

The paper pressing plate 45 also applies a pressing force to the transport roller 33 via the recording medium by the above-described pressing force, and conveys the recording medium by a frictional force between the recording medium and the conveying roller 33 based on the pressing force. .

Here, in order to perform good conveyance according to various recording media, it is necessary to make frictional force generated in each of the paper holding plate and the recording medium, and between the conveyance roller and the recording medium appropriate. That is, it is desirable that the frictional force between the paper holding plate and the recording medium be as small as possible, and that the frictional force between the transport roller and the recording medium be as large as possible.

Further, it is desirable that the frictional force between the paper pressing plate and the transport roller be as small as possible. That is, if the frictional force is large, the load of the motor and the like becomes large when so-called idle feeding is performed. In order to avoid this, if a predetermined gap is provided between the paper holding plate and the transport roller,
It becomes difficult to control the accuracy of the biasing of the recording medium to the platen.

Therefore, in this example, the material of the paper holding plate 45 is POM
(Polyacetal) and CR as the transport roller 33
(Chloroprene rubber, hardness 60 ° / A scale) mixed with 5 to 10% (weight ratio) of a single fiber of a nylon resin was used. Note that the paper pressing plate 45 may be made of a fluorine resin.

Although the hardness of the chloroprene rubber was set to 60 °,
If it is in the range of 50 ° to 70 °, there is no problem in recording paper conveyance and the like. Further, it is not necessary that the transport roller 33 and the paper pressing plate 45 are all made of the above-mentioned material, and only the contact portion may be made of the above-mentioned material. The paper holding plate or the transport roller may be formed by sticking this to a portion.

By configuring the paper press plate and the transport roller with the above materials, the coefficient of friction between the paper press plate 45 and the recording medium can be reduced, so that the paper press plate 45 It can be configured to be pressed. As a result, for example, the distance between the recording medium and the head cartridge can be more easily managed than in the case where a configuration in which pressing is performed so as to be able to respond to the paper thickness of various recording media has not been adopted conventionally. Further, since the coefficient of friction between the recording medium and the conveyance roller is large, slippage or the like does not occur in the conveyance, and good conveyance of the recording medium can be performed.

In FIG. 8 (A), reference numeral 46 denotes a shaft member which extends in parallel with the paper holding plate 45 and both ends of which are supported by the apparatus frame, and which has a D-shaped cross section. When the recording medium is conveyed, the rotation position is determined so that the straight line portion of the D character is in the vertical direction (vertical direction in the figure) as shown in FIG.
On the other hand, when the pressing of the paper pressing plate 45 against the transport roller 33 is released, the linear portion is moved in the horizontal direction (the horizontal direction in FIG. 8A) as shown in FIGS. As a result, a part of the spring 451 is brought into contact with and displaced,
The engagement between 51 and paper press plate 45 is released. As a result, only the pressing force of the paper pressing plate 45 is released without displacing its position.

As a result, even if the carriage 11 is operated in a state where the pressing force is released to insert a recording medium or the like, the head cartridge and the carriage do not interfere with the paper presser, and the head cartridge and the carriage are not damaged. In other words, it is possible to move the carriage and perform various operations even in a state where the pressing force of the paper pressing plate is released. At this time, the pressing force on the paper presser plate 45 via the roller 91 is
Although it is not released, this pressing force works only when the paper
This is a point facing the carriage 11 and does not hinder the insertion of the recording medium.

In FIG. 8A, reference numeral 41 denotes a paper discharge roller, and a spur 42 is engaged with the paper discharge roller 41. Spurs 42 are shown in Figs.
The recording medium is conveyed by the frictional force between the recording medium and the discharge roller 41 based on the pressing force. Will be The spur 42 is urged toward the paper discharge roller 41 as described above via the holding member 24A,
It is also possible to release the engagement from the discharge roller 41 via this.

The paper pan shown in FIGS. 8 (A) and (B)
As described above, the urging force of the 37 (feed roller 39), the paper presser 45, and the spur 42 is released in each mode. The release is performed simultaneously by operating the release lever 43 shown in FIG. 2, and as a result, the state shown in FIG. 8C is obtained.

FIGS. 10 (A) and (B), FIGS. 11 (A) and (B) are views showing a mechanism for releasing the biasing force, and FIGS. 10 (A) and (B) are recording devices. FIG. 11 is a view of these mechanisms viewed from the right side, and FIGS. 11 (A) and 11 (B) are views viewed from the left side.

FIGS. 10 (A) and 11 (A) show a state in which the urging force has not been released, such as when the recording medium is conveyed. At this time,
The release lever 43, which is rotatably supported by the shaft of the transport roller 33, is in a state of being springed by the biasing force of a spring described later, and the cam member 431, the gear 432, and the A gear 43 disposed at the other end of the end where the lever 43 is disposed and fixed to a shaft concentric with the transport roller 33
2 'is engaged with a gear train for rotating the shoulder portion 40B of the release plate 40 and the shaft member 46 with a predetermined positional relationship. Also,
Spur arm extending from the spur holding member 42 and arranged at both ends
421 and 421 'are respectively a lever 43 and a connecting member 43.
Via the engagement with the engaging portions 421B and 421B ', respectively, the springs 422 and 422' are urged toward the rear of the device. In this biased state, the engaging portions 421A and 421A 'provided on the respective spur arms are
The spur 42 and the discharge roller 41 are appropriately engaged with each other by the engagement with the shaft, the pressing force, and the like.

Since the engagement between the spur arm 421 and the release lever 43 is performed with a predetermined amount of play, the spur arm 421 and the discharge roller 41 can be properly connected without requiring much accuracy such as the shape of the spur arm 421. It is possible to perform a proper engagement.

The rotation of the release lever 43 is transmitted to the shaft member 46 via the gear 432 and the intermediate gear train, and further via the shaft member 46, the intermediate gear train and the gear 432 'on the other end side, and the connecting member 433.
And finally move the spur arm 421 '.
At this time, the backlash between the intervening gears is absorbed by the loosely engaged engagement between the release lever 43 and the spur arm 421.

The member to be released by the above-described configuration is not limited to the spur, and may be any form as long as it is a roller for conveying the recording medium.

FIGS. 10 (B) and 11 (B) show a state where the urging by each of the spur 42, the paper presser plate 45 and the paper pan 37 is released. To release them, release lever 43 is
This is done by rotating the device forward against the pulling force of 2.

That is, when the release lever 43 is rotated, the gear 432 is rotated accordingly. At this time, as described above,
The shaft member 46 rotates through an intermediate gear train that engages with the gear 432, and the D-shaped linear portion is defined as the horizontal direction. As a result, as described above with reference to FIG.
By pressing 1 in the direction of narrowing, the engagement between the spring 451 and the paper pressing plate 45 is released. As a result, the biasing force of the paper retainer 45 is released.

In addition, the cam 431 rotates with the rotation of the release lever 43. The cam portion of the cam member 431 is engaged with the shoulder portion 40B of the release plate 40 described above with reference to FIG.
When the cam member 431 is rotated, the position of the cam member 431 is lowered, and the engagement of the paper pan 37 with the rib 371 is released, so that the rib 371 is not pressed. As a result, the force for urging the paper pan 37 (feed roller 39) against the transport roller 33 is released, and the paper pan 37 is lowered by its own weight. When the release lever 43 is rotated, the shoulder portion 40B and the paragraph-shaped cam portion of the cam member 431 are finally engaged with each other, thereby fixing the engagement positions of the shoulder portions 40B and the rotation of the release lever 43. The moving position is fixed.

Further, with the rotation of the release lever 43, the spur arm
As the 421 moves to the front of the device, as described above, the transmission of the rotation through the shaft member 46 causes the spur arm on the other end side to transmit.
421 'also moves to the front of the device. Thereby, the engagement of the spurs 42 connected to the spur arms 421, 421 'with the paper discharge roller 41 is released.

Thus, by rotating the release lever once, the bias by the paper pan, the paper presser and the spur can be released, and this can be performed with a simple configuration.

In the above example, the paper pan is supported by the urging of the release plate and the engagement between the projection provided on the bottom plate of the apparatus and the long hole of the paper pan. It is also possible to use the configuration shown in the drawing and form the engaging portion 400 into an elongated hole so that the paper pan can escape in the direction of the elongated hole.

FIG. 12 is a schematic front view showing an assembled state of a knob fixed to the shaft of the transport roller 33 and the release lever,
FIG. 13 is a schematic exploded view thereof.

In FIG. 12, a driven gear 321 for rotationally driving the transport roller 33 is fixed to a shaft 333 of the transport roller 33, and a knob 5 is driven by a spring pin 332 driven into the shaft 333.
Is fixed to the shaft 333. The release lever 43 is rotatably supported between them, but the rotation is restricted by the spring or the like as described above.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an assembling order of the above configuration. As shown in the drawing, a spring pin 332 is previously driven into the shaft 333, and a gear 331 is fixed. The release lever 43 is attached to the shaft 333 in this state with its opening 43A.
Insert through. The opening 43A has a shape through which the shaft 333 and the spring pin 332 can pass as shown in the figure, whereby the release lever 43 is
It can move to the gear 331 side beyond the position where 2 is driven. Thereafter, while the knob 5 is being inserted into the shaft 333, the spring pin 332 is fitted into the retaining hole 5A, whereby the knob 44 is inserted.
Is fixed to the shaft 333.

With the above configuration, the axial movement of the release lever 43 can be restricted by the gear 331 and the knob 5, and the knob 44 can be fixed by the spring pin 332. Further, since the spring pin 332 is previously driven into the shaft 333, assembly is easier than driving the spring pin after inserting the lever.

14 and 15 are a side view and a top view, respectively, showing the mechanism around the head cartridge shown in FIG. 2 and the like.

In these figures, reference numeral 91 denotes a carriage as described above.
11 is a roller rotatably supported at the front end of 11. The roller 91 is provided so that a part thereof protrudes forward from the ejection port surface of the head cartridge, and comes into contact with the paper holding plate 45 and rotates thereon. Reference numeral 613 denotes a roller spring provided at the rear end of the carriage 11. The roller spring 613 includes a roller 613A, a connecting member 613B that supports the roller 613A,
And a spring 61 for urging the connecting member 613B in a predetermined rotational direction.
Consists of 3C. The roller 613A contacts the front end plate 105 erected at the front end of the bottom plate 100 of the apparatus so as to extend in parallel with the above-described guide shaft, and rotates thereon. The connecting member 613B is rotatably supported by a predetermined shaft 113 of the carriage 11, and a spring 613C is supported by the predetermined shaft of the carriage 11 to rotate the connecting member 613B counterclockwise around the shaft 113. Do such a bias. With the configuration of the roller spring 613 as described above, the carriage 11 is always urged in the direction of the paper pressing plate 45.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a bearing that engages with the guide shaft 23, and is mounted on both side ends of the carriage 11. As will be described in detail later, the bearing 25 is one in which a bearing portion is eccentric with respect to a case for mounting the bearing 25, and the two bearings 25 are mounted so that their eccentric directions are opposite. The bearing on the side shown in Fig. 14
Reference numeral 25 is provided so as to be swingable about a boss 112 provided on the carriage 11. That is, the portion on which the bearing 25 is mounted in the carriage 11 is an elongated hole,
Further, the two projections 25A of the bearing 25 are restricted by the boss 112 from moving in the front-rear direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 14). As a result, the bearing 25 swings relative to the carriage 11 in accordance with the movement of the carriage 11 as described later. At this time, the movement of the bearing 25 in the direction of the guide shaft 23 is caused by the protrusion 25B provided on the bearing 25 being part of the carriage 11 (for example, the seventh
(See Fig. (1)).

Regarding the automatic adjustment of the interval (hereinafter, also referred to as gap) between the recording medium and the ejection port surface of the head cartridge based on the configuration of the roller 91, the roller spring 613, and the bearing 25 described above,
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.

Automatic adjustment of the gap is performed by the paper presser plate 45 and the platen roller.
This is done according to the thickness of the recording medium inserted between the recording medium 33 and the recording medium 33. When recording is performed on a relatively thin normally used recording medium as shown in FIG. 16 (A), the bearing 25 on the left side in FIG. 16 has its relative position in the elongated hole substantially at the center. In other words, the carriage 11 is urged in the direction of the paper presser plate 45 by the reaction force from the front end plate 105 due to the roller spring 613 pressing the front end plate 105, whereby the roller 91 presses the paper presser plate 45. The respective reaction forces of the force of the roller 91 pressing the paper pressing plate 45 and the force of the roller spring 613 pressing the front end plate 105 constitute a moment about the bearing on the right side in FIG. The equilibrium of the two moments determines the position of the bearing 25 in the elongated hole.
In other words, the position of the carriage 11 relative to the guide shaft 23 fixed to the main body of the apparatus and thus the bearing 25 is determined, and the gap d between the ejection port of the head cartridge 9 mounted on this and the recording medium is determined.

FIG. 16B shows the position of the carriage 11 when printing on a relatively thick recording medium such as an envelope. In this case, the roller 91, and thus the carriage 11, retreats downward in the figure according to the thickness of the recording medium as compared with the case of FIG. 16 (A). As a result, the reaction force from the front end plate 105 generated by the roller spring 613 changes, and the position where the moment is balanced changes accordingly. As a result, the relative position between the bearing 25 on the left side in the figure and the carriage 11 changes, and the carriage 11 has a position where the front end is open on the left side in FIG. 16, and the gap between the ejection port and the recording medium is reduced. , And the gap d is substantially equal to that in the case of FIG. At this time, the bearing 25 on the left side relatively swings as shown by the arrow in FIG. 17 and changes its position in the elongated hole.

Note that, depending on the position where the rollers 91 are provided, for example, a recording medium that is thicker than ordinary thick paper can be handled. That is,
Depending on the position where the rollers 91 are provided, the paper pressing plate 45 can be largely released corresponding to such thick paper, and the gap can be kept constant.

In the above-described configuration, the roller spring 613 is pressed downward in the figure because the roller 613A comes into contact with the bent oblique portion of the front end plate 105 as shown in detail in FIG. The entire carriage 11 is pressed down. As a result, the carriage 11 is prevented from floating, and the direction of ink droplet ejection by the mounted head cartridge 9 is stabilized.

Referring again to FIG. 15, reference numeral 111 denotes a cutout portion provided in the lower left portion of the carriage 11, which engages with a pulley shaft 290A provided near the home position. This engagement is performed as the carriage 11 moves to the cap position on the discharge port surface, and capping of the discharge port surface by the cap 51 (see FIG. 2) is performed at this engagement position.

Due to this engagement, for example, even when vibration or the like is applied to the recording apparatus, the carriage 11 cannot move in the front-rear direction, so that the cap 51 does not separate from the ejection port surface of the head cartridge 9 and capping is performed. It can be done reliably.

Further, since the pulley shaft 290A is also used as a member that engages with the notch 111 of the carriage 11, a special member for this engagement is not required, and a simple and low-cost configuration can be achieved.

Further, the notch portion 111 has a shape in which an introduction portion is chamfered so that engagement with the pulley shaft 290 is facilitated. Accordingly, even when the carriage 11 is displaced according to the paper thickness, the engagement can be easily performed.

FIG. 18 shows the head cartridge 9 and the carriage 11
FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational view of the recording medium viewed from the recording medium side.

As is clear from the figure, the carriage 11 and the head cartridge 9 mounted on the carriage 11 are inclined with respect to the guide shaft 23 with respect to the moving direction of the carriage 11. Thereby, the direction of the discharge port arrangement is also inclined.

This inclination is achieved by using the two bearings 25 whose bearing portions are eccentric as described above. That is, the left bearing 25 (the right in FIG. 18) is mounted so that its eccentric position is located below as shown in FIGS. 14 and 17, and the right bearing 25 (FIG. 18). The left side) is mounted using the same type of bearing so that its eccentric position is located above.

The configuration in which the ejection port array is inclined as described above is a configuration adopted when a plurality of ejection ports are driven in a time-division manner.
That is, in general, in the driving of the ink jet recording head, time division driving is performed from the viewpoint that the recording speed and the driving power cannot be increased. For example, 64 ejection ports arranged in the vertical direction are used. Is divided into 8 blocks and time-division driving is performed. In a configuration in which the ejection port arrangement is not inclined, recording is performed as shown in FIG. 19 (A) in consideration of carriage movement. Line. On the other hand, when recording is performed by inclining the ejection port array as in this example, recording is performed as shown in FIG. 19B, which is a vertical line when viewed macroscopically. It is to be noted that the configuration of the inclination is effective not only in the time-division driving for each block shown in the above example but also in the time-division driving for each ejection port.

Since the inclination according to the present embodiment is constituted by the bearings 25 mounted on both ends of the carriage 11, the distance between these bearings is relatively long, so that it is easy to obtain the inclination accuracy. Also, since only one type of bearing needs to be mounted in the upside-down direction, the inclination configuration is simple. Further, when the timing of the time-division driving is different depending on the carriage speed or the like, the inclination according to the above timing can be configured by changing only the bearing without changing the carriage or the recording head. As a result, the carriage and the like can be shared.

20 (A) and 20 (B) are a top view and an elevation view, respectively, showing details of the periphery of a pulley 29B disposed at the mounting right end of the two pulleys that drive the timing belt for moving the carriage. Is.

A driven gear 291 is fixed to the pulley 29B coaxially therewith, and the gear 291 meshes with a driving gear 294 fixed to the rotation shaft of the carriage motor 31. A shaft for fixing the pulley 29B and the gear 291 is rotatably supported by a bracket 292.

One end of a spring 293 is connected to the bracket 292 and the spring 29
The other end of 3 is connected to a projection 106 erected on the bottom plate 100. Thus, the bracket 293 is urged in a direction having a predetermined angle with respect to the direction in which the timing belt 27 extends. At this time, the bracket 292 (and the gear 2
91, a pulley 29B) is an L-shaped member 295A standing upright on the bottom plate 100.
And 295B are free except that the movement in the vertical direction and the predetermined direction along the bottom plate 100 are regulated. Accordingly, the urging force of the spring 293 causes the tension in the timing belt 27 and the gear 29 to vary according to the component force.
An engaging force between 1 and the gear 274 can be obtained.

21 and 22 are a timing chart and a flowchart, respectively, showing the control procedure of the recording position instruction mode in the inkjet recording apparatus of this example.

The recording position instruction mode according to the present example is a control procedure that is started when recording is performed on a format sheet or a recording sheet on which a part of recording has already been performed, such as an electronic typewriter using the recording position of the present example. is there. That is, while the carriage (recording head) is moved, the recording position is confirmed, set, and the recording range is set, but no ink droplets are ejected during this time. For this reason, preliminary ejection and capping are performed in order to prevent thickening and non-ejection of ink.However, these processes are interrupted by a process such as setting a recording position by the carriage and the carriage is moved to a position for preliminary ejection or the like every predetermined time. Is to move.

Hereinafter, the control procedure of the recording position instruction mode will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 22 and with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

When there is a recording position command command by a predetermined key input,
This control procedure is started, and the cap 51 is opened in step S201 (FIG. 21, the time point and thereafter, only the time point is described). In step S202, the carriage 11 is moved to the designated position in response to, for example, the input of the space key (FIG. 21). Time). During this time, in step S203, it is determined whether or not the carriage 11 has reached the designated position, and the position has been set by a predetermined key input as a result of the determination. It is determined whether or not it has been done.

If T seconds have elapsed, the carriage 11 is moved to in step S205.
Is stored, and the carriage 11 is moved to the preliminary ejection position in step S206 (time point). Further, in step S207, a predetermined amount (A-time ejection) of preliminary ejection is performed (time). Then, in step S208, the carriage 11 is moved to the previously stored position, and in step S209, it is moved to the designated position in the same manner as described above. During this time, in step S210, it is determined whether or not the input of the designated position setting has been performed in the same manner as described above.
It is determined whether or not seconds have elapsed. This α second is usually an appropriate time after the setting of the indicated position is completed, and
Leaving the recording head with the cap open after the elapse of this time is set to cause a serious problem in ink droplet ejection.

If a negative determination is made in step S211, in step S212,
It is determined whether the previous preliminary discharge or a predetermined time t seconds has elapsed. If t seconds have elapsed, the same step S21 as described above is performed.
3. After the processing of S214, preliminary discharge of B times is performed in step S215, and the process returns to step S208.

When there is a designated position setting input in step S203 or S210, the position is stored in step S216 or S217, respectively, and when it is determined in step S211 that α seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds to step S218.

In step S218, the carriage 11 is moved to the cap position (time point), the caliper is performed in step S219 (time point), the instruction mode is reset in step S220, and the processing procedure ends.

The elapsed time T seconds, t seconds, and α seconds can be set according to, for example, the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere.
Further, a sensor such as a temperature may be provided, and the elapsed time may be automatically set according to the detection by these sensors.

The movement to the designated position in the above control procedure is performed while the operator presses the space key.
Markers on carriage 11 shown in FIGS. 2 and 15
By using the scale 49 on the paper holding plate 45 together with the scale 49, the position of the carriage 11 on the recording medium, that is, the position of the ejection port can be known. Although the position of the marker 49 is shifted from the position of the ejection port, this offset amount is stored in advance and is automatically corrected in a recording operation or the like. Since the scale 47 is marked on a member unique to the ink jet recording apparatus such as the paper press plate 45,
The scale can be adjusted very close to the recording medium.

Similarly, in the operation related to the movement to the designated position, etc., the marker 17 on the lever shown in FIGS. 2 and 15 and the window 8 of the device cover shown in FIG. With the scale (not shown), it is possible to particularly know the amount of movement of the carriage 11.

As described above, the markers 49 and 17 and the configuration used together with the markers 49 and 17 are interrupted again when the recording apparatus of this example is an inkjet method and the position confirmation operation by the carriage movement for preliminary ejection or the like is interrupted. This is particularly effective when returning the carriage to the hour position.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a control configuration for executing the control and the like shown in FIGS. 21 and 22.

The cap position and the movement position of the carriage 11 can be known based on the detection of the recovery system home sensor 65 and the carriage home sensor 67. The movement to the designated position, the designated position setting input, and the like are performed using a space key or a predetermined key provided on the keyboard 1. Further, in FIG.
1000 is an MPU that executes the above control procedure, 1001 is a ROM that stores the above control procedure and the like, and 1002 is a RAM that stores the current position of the carriage 11 and is used as a work area in the above control execution. A timer 1003 measures time such as T seconds, t seconds, and α seconds.

FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the recovery device including the cap 51, the pump 53, the blade 59, the motor 61, the cam device 63 and the like in FIG.

Here, 501 is an ink absorber disposed inside the cap 51, 503 is a holding member for holding the cap 51, and 505 is a pin.
A cap lever that is attached rotatably about the 507 and that causes the cap 51 to abut / separate from the ejection port forming surface of the ejection unit 9a by the force applied to the pin 507. 51
Reference numeral 1 denotes a pin that is engaged with the end 509 of the cap lever 505 to restrict the rotation range of the cap lever 505.

513 is a jig having a hole into which the pin 507 of the cap lever 505 is fitted, and is used to attach the cap lever 505 to the support portion 515 provided in the pump 53, and 516 is for securing the attachment state. It is a fastening member. Reference numeral 517 denotes an action portion that acts on the cap 51 with a force for bringing it into contact with the ejection port forming surface, and engages with the rear side portion of the cap 51 at substantially the center. The action section has a suction port 517A for sucked ink, and ink flow paths are formed in the cap lever 505, the pin 507, the jig 513, and the support 515, respectively. Then, when the pump 53 exerts a suction force,
The ink passes through these channels and is pumped as shown by the arrows in the figure.
Introduced in 53.

Reference numeral 519 denotes a shaft protruding from the center of the end face of the pump 53 and having an ink flow path formed therein, and is rotatably attached to the side wall 520. The rotation force of the pump 53 itself due to this is the support portion 515.
To the cap lever 505 through which the cap 51 moves forward and backward. 521 is a flow path forming member connected to the pump shaft 519, and 523 is a mounting member for the tube 57. That is, the shaft 519, the flow path forming member 521, and the mounting member 5
An ink flow path is formed inside 23, and the ink sucked by the pump 53 is introduced into the waste ink tank 55 via the tube 57 through these flow paths as shown by arrows in the figure.

525 is a piston of the pump 53, 527 is a piston shaft as its shaft, 529 is packing, and 531 is a cap of the pump 53. A pin 533 is attached to the piston shaft 527 and receives a force for operating the piston 525.

Reference numeral 535 denotes a blade lever to which the blade 59 is attached. The blade lever 535 is rotatably supported around a shaft protruding from an end surface of the pump 53, and causes the blade 59 to protrude or retreat toward the recording head with the rotation. Reference numeral 537 denotes a spring that applies a rotating force to the blade lever 535 in a direction in which the blade 59 projects. 539 is a cap 53 for the pump 53 itself.
Is a spring that gives a turning tendency toward the recording head side.

A gear train 541 transmits the rotation of the motor 61 to the cam device 63. The cam device 63 includes a cam 547 for engaging and rotating an engaging portion 545 provided on the pump 53, and a pump 53.
A cam 549 for engaging a pin 533 provided on the piston shaft 527 to operate the pump, and a cam 533 for engaging an engaging portion 551 provided on the blade lever 535 to rotate the same.
And a cam 557 mounted on a switch 555 for detecting the home position of the cam device 63. The operation of these cams will be described later.

 FIG. 25 shows a configuration example of the cap 51 and the like.

Here, in this example, the ink suction port 561 in the cap is used.
To the ink introduction port 517A provided in the action portion 517 of the cap lever 505.
63 are formed. Further, the suction port 561 is not completely covered with the absorber 501.

Conventionally, the absorber 501 is provided over the entire surface 565 of the cap 51, the ink flow path is perpendicular to the dashed line C, and the suction port is opened at the center on the back side of the absorber 501. According to this, since the ink received by the ink absorber during the ejection recovery process flows under the ink absorber due to the action of gravity, the ink that cannot be completely absorbed is solidified at that portion, and the ink absorption capability It may cause deterioration or decrease in suction power.

On the other hand, according to this example, even if the ink flows downward due to gravity, the ink is sucked from the suction port 561 provided below, so that the amount of ink remaining in the ink absorber 501 becomes significantly small, Therefore, the deterioration due to solidification can be significantly delayed, and the life of the ink absorber or the cap 51 to which the ink absorber is attached can be extended.

In this example, since the ink flow path is provided in the cap lever, the flow path 563 in the cap 51 has the illustrated configuration, but if the ink absorption path is provided separately, the ink flow path in the cap is illustrated. Need not be configured. That is, if the ink suction port 561 is provided below the cap 51 in the vertical direction, the configuration of the ink flow path can be determined in any manner.

FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 are explanatory diagrams showing the contour curves of the respective cams of the cam device 63 and the operation positions of the respective portions corresponding to the respective cam positions. The numerical value in FIG. 26 is the rotation angle of the cam.

In these figures, shows the cam position and each state when performing the recording operation, and shows the cap 51 and the blade 59.
Is separated from the ejection port forming surface of the recording head, and the pump 53 is at the top dead center. Is the position where the home position switch 55 is turned off, and this position is the home position of the cam device 63. This is a position which is set during recording standby, etc. At this time, the cap 51 covers the ejection port forming surface, the blade 59 is retracted, and the pump 53 is also the top dead center.

As the cam is rotated from the position, the cap 51 remains attached to the discharge port formation surface (cap on) and the piston 52
5 moves toward the bottom dead center, and the negative pressure of the suction system reaching the cap increases. Eventually, after the piston 525 reached the ink inlet of the pump and closed it (the period during which the valve was closed), the valve began to open (point 109.5 °) and fully opened (point 130.5 °) Thereafter, the piston 525 reaches a position near the bottom dead center. When sufficient suction is performed by stopping the rotation of the cam at this position for a predetermined time in consideration of the fluid resistance of the ink suction system, and then rotating the cam again,
The piston 515 reaches the bottom dead center, and the cap 51 begins to separate from the discharge port forming surface. This position is held for a predetermined time.

Then, when the cam is further rotated, the piston 525 starts to move toward the top dead center again. During this process the valve begins to close (20
(Point of 9.5 °), and then reaches a point of complete closure (point of 230.5 °), while the cap 51 is completely separated from the ejection port forming surface at the position. By driving the piston 525 several times in this vicinity, the ink remaining in the ink suction system is sucked (empty suction) toward the pump. The space on the left and right of the piston 525 in the pump is
The passages are communicated with each other by a passage (not shown), and the passage is closed when the piston goes from the top dead center to the bottom dead center and opened when the piston goes from the bottom dead center to the top dead center. The space on the right side of the piston communicates with a flow path provided on the pump shaft 519. Therefore, when the piston 525 moves from the bottom dead center to the top dead center in the process of idle suction, the ink introduced into the space on the left side of the piston is transferred to the right space, and when the piston 525 moves from the top dead center to the bottom dead center, the ink is discharged. Ink is introduced into the left space from the suction system and discharged from the right space to the waste ink tank.

Thereafter, when the cam is further rotated in the forward direction, the blade 59 is projected to be in a state where wiping is possible (position). When the carriage 11 is moved to the recording area in this state, the blade 59 engages with the ejection port forming surface of the head to wipe the surface, and the ink or the like adhering to the ejection port forming surface is wiped. Then, the cam is further rotated to retract the blade 55 and set the cam at the position. In this state, the carriage 11 is moved to the cap side so that the ejection port forming surface of the head is opposed to the cap 51, and then the cam is moved to the position to turn on the cap and stop.

When shifting to recording, the cam is rotated in the positive or negative direction from the position to cause the blade 59 to protrude,
Recording may be performed after wiping.

FIG. 28 shows an example of the configuration of the waste ink tank 55 according to the present embodiment in a posture to be taken when the apparatus is used.

Here, 181 is an ink absorber holding waste ink, 55A
Is a portion which becomes a bottom surface when the device is used (the state of FIG. 1 (A)), and 55B is a case where the device is stored as shown in FIG.
It is the part that becomes the bottom surface when carrying with. 55C is a slope that does not face vertically downward in any case,
In the main cooling, a ventilation cloth 183 is provided here. This ventilation cloth 183
Is a material that allows ink solvent vapor to pass through but does not allow liquid ink to pass through. Specifically, for example, Vapor Road (Teijin Co., Ltd.) can be used.

By disposing such a ventilation cloth 183, the waste ink tank 5
Although ink leakage from 5 hardly occurs, in this example, the portion where this is further provided is formed by the above-described slope 55C,
The leakage is completely prevented.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 29 (A) and 29 (B),
When the apparatus is used, the portion 55A is at the bottom and the slope 55C is facing upward, and during storage (during transport), the portion 55B is at the bottom and the slope 55C is also facing upward, and waste ink is generated. This is because there is no leakage through the ventilation cloth 183 and leakage does not occur.

(Others) The present invention brings about an excellent effect particularly in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a valve jet system among ink jet recording systems. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

As for the representative configuration and principle, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the upper side of the recording, which causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling, to the electrothermal transducer being formed, thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and the recording head This is effective because film boiling is caused on the heat-acting surface and the bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one relationship can be formed. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. U.S. Pat. No. 44
Those described in JP-A-63359 and JP-A-4345262 are suitable. Further, when the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, there is disclosed a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bent region in addition to a combination configuration (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angle liquid flow path) of an ejection port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter. U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333, U.S. Pat.
The structure using the specification is also included in the present invention.
In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H11-15064 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge section of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-138461 discloses a structure in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge portion.
The effect of the present invention is effective even in a configuration based on the above-mentioned publication. That is, regardless of the form of the recording head, recording can be surely performed with high efficiency.

Further, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, a replaceable chip-type recording head, which can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body or supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body, The present invention is also effective when a cartridge type recording head provided integrally with the recording head itself as in the above embodiment is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the print head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as a configuration of the printing apparatus in the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof, Performing a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing is also effective for performing stable printing.

Regarding the type or number of print heads to be mounted, for example, in addition to one provided for single color ink, a plurality of print heads are provided corresponding to a plurality of inks having different print colors and densities. May be used.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention may be used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, or a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may be something.

〔The invention's effect〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the paper pressing member is displaced according to the thickness of the recording medium conveyed between the paper pressing member and the conveying roller. The displacement causes the contact member to be pressed toward the carriage, and the pressing force causes the carriage to deviate with respect to the first bearing member, which is constituted by, for example, a bearing, depending on the size. That is, the carriage rotates in accordance with the thickness of the recording medium with the second bearing member, which is also formed of a bearing or the like, as the rotation center.

As a result, the gap can be automatically adjusted by the above rotation according to the thickness of the recording medium, and the gap can be kept substantially constant. As a result, it is possible to always perform good recording regardless of the thickness of the recording medium used, with a relatively simple structure in which the carriage is rotated.

The operation for adjusting the gap according to the paper thickness can be omitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B are external perspective views of an electronic typewriter as an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention when the electronic typewriter is used and stored, and FIG. 2 is a view of a printer applicable to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the head cartridge shown in FIG. 2, and FIGS. 4 (A) and (B) are exploded perspective views of the head cartridge shown in FIG. 5 (A) and (B) are top and side views of the carriage shown in FIG. 2, and FIGS. 6 (A) and (B) are drawings in which the head cartridge is attached to the carriage. FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are an exploded perspective view of the carriage, a side view of the carriage, and a state in which the head cartridge is mounted on the carriage. Side view, FIG. 8 7A and 7B are a side sectional view and an exploded top view of a recording medium conveying system in the printer shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 8C shows a state in which each urging force is released in the conveying system. 9 (A) and 9 (B) are schematic side views showing a relief structure of a feed roller in the above-described transport system. FIG. 9 (C) is a conventional feed roller biasing mechanism. FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B) are schematic side views showing an example of the mechanism for releasing the urging of the feed roller, the paper presser plate and the spur in the above-mentioned conveying system, in a portion arranged on the right side of the apparatus. FIGS. 11 (A) and (B) are side views before and after release of a portion disposed on the left side of the device of the mechanism, and FIGS. FIG. 13 is a schematic front view showing the engaged state of the knob, FIG. 14 and 15 are an exploded perspective view, a side view and a top view for explaining an engagement relationship with other elements of the carriage shown in FIG. 2 and the like, FIG. 16 (A) and FIG. (B) is a schematic top view showing how the carriage changes its position according to the thickness of the recording medium, and FIG. 17 is a schematic view for explaining the change of the guide bearing accompanying the change. FIG. 18 is a schematic front view showing a mechanism for tilting the ejection port arrangement with respect to the moving direction of the carriage in the carriage shown in FIG. 2 and the like, and FIGS. 19 (A) and (B). FIG. 20A is a schematic plan view showing an example of recording without and with the above-mentioned tilting configuration. FIGS. 20A and 20B show a belt tension mechanism for driving the carriage shown in FIG. 2 and its driving. The top view and front view showing the mechanism, FIG. 21 and FIG. FIG. 23 is a timing chart and a flowchart of a print position indicating mode in the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, etc. FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the above mode, and FIG. 24 is an ejection recovery mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 25 is a side sectional view of a cap section in the above mechanism, FIG. 26 is a timing chart showing a series of recovery operations in the above mechanism, and FIG. 27 is each section in a discharge recovery operation of the above mechanism. FIG. 28 is a schematic perspective view of a waste ink tank for storing ink discharged by the recovery operation, and FIGS. 29 (A) and (B) are diagrams of the waste ink tank. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the printer when it is used and when it is stored. 1 ... keyboard, 2 ... keys, 3 ... hinge, 4 ...
Paper tray, 5 ... Knob, 6 ... Indicator, 7 ... Handle,
8 ... Window, 9 ... Head cartridge, 11 ... Carriage, 15 ... Operating lever, 17 ... Marker, 19 ... Support plate,
23 …… Guide shaft, 25 …… Bearing, 27 …… Timing belt, 29A, 29B …… Pulley, 31 …… Carriage motor, 33
...... Conveyor roller, 35 …… Conveyor motor, 27 …… Paper pan, 39 …… Feed roller, 40 …… Release plate, 41 ……
Paper ejection roller, 42 ... spur, 43 ... release lever, 45 ... paper retainer plate, 46 ... shaft member, 47 ... scale, 49 ... marker, 51
...... Cap, 53 …… Pump, 55 …… Waste ink tank,
59 …… Blade, 61 …… Motor, 63 …… Cam device, 91…
… Roller, 183 …… Ventilation cloth, 501 …… Absorber, 561 …… Suction port, 613 …… Coro spring, 623 …… Substrate cover.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by a recording head for ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium, a conveying roller for regulating a recording area of the recording medium, and conveying the recording medium, and a thickness of the recording medium. And a carriage for displacing the recording medium to urge the recording medium toward the conveying roller, a carriage for mounting the recording head and moving along the recording medium, and a carriage provided on the carriage. A contact member for contacting the paper pressing member with the movement of the carriage, a guide shaft for guiding the movement of the carriage, and the guide shaft provided in two places of the carriage and the axial direction thereof. A bearing member movably engaged at
With respect to the contact position of the contact member, a first bearing member is provided on the ejection port side of the recording head so as to be capable of being displaced with respect to the carriage, and on a side opposite to the first bearing member. A second bearing member, and the carriage and the first member according to contact of the contact member.
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a deviation unit that relatively displaces a bearing member. 2. The deviation means comprises a guide member provided in parallel with the guide shaft, a second contact member that comes into contact with the guide member as the carriage moves, and a second contact member. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member for pressing the guide member according to the contact of the contact member. 3. The recording head generates bubbles in the ink by thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converting element, and ejects ink droplets as the bubbles expand and contract. 1. The inkjet recording device according to 1 or 2.