JP2700579B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording head support structure in an ink jet recording apparatus using a line recording head.

[Conventional technology]

Recording devices such as printers, copiers, and facsimile machines transfer the transferred image based on information, and drive an energy generator of a recording head to form an image composed of a dot pattern on a recording sheet such as paper or a plastic thin plate. Is configured to be recorded.

The recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type, and the like according to a recording method. Among them, the ink jet type (ink jet recording apparatus) discharges ink droplets from a discharge port of a recording head. It is configured to fly and adhere to a recording sheet for recording.

By the way, the ink jet recording apparatus can perform high-speed recording because the noise at the time of recording is extremely small and it is easy to form a high-density multiple discharge port. In addition, even when recording on plain paper, attention has recently been paid to the fact that no special fixing process is required, and that color reproduction of a color image is easy.

Among them, the method of ejecting and flying ink droplets by thermal energy (bubble jet method, etc.) can form the flow path by the thin film technology, so it is possible to achieve the highest density among all recording methods, and is therefore suitable for high-speed recording It can be said that.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a line recording head used in the ink jet recording apparatus. In FIG. 8, the line recording head has a length covering a recording area (line length) in the width direction of the recording sheet. It has a discharge port surface, and has a structure in which discharge ports 1 for discharging a large number of ink droplets are arranged on the discharge port surface.

Each of the plurality of discharge ports 1 communicates with a common liquid chamber inside the print head. An ink supply path including a supply pipe 2 and a return pipe 3 is connected to the common liquid chamber. The ink (recording liquid) is configured to be supplied to the liquid paths of the respective ejection ports 1 through the ink supply paths 2 and 3.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, in an ink jet recording apparatus, contamination due to evaporation and drying of ink, ink leakage and dust adhesion, etc.
Due to the occurrence of air bubbles in the ink supply paths 2 and 3, an ink ejection failure may occur and the quality of a recorded image may be degraded.

Therefore, in order to eliminate the discharge failure, it is necessary to perform a recovery operation of the recording head such as performing idle discharge of ink from all the discharge ports 1 of the recording head or performing an ink filling operation during a recording operation or during non-recording. .

When the recovery operation is performed when this recording head (inkjet head) is not used, it is necessary to seal the discharge port 1 and therefore, it is necessary to provide a capping means.

However, the conventional ink jet recording apparatus has a technical problem that the structure of the capping means is large and complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of such a technical problem, and can simplify and reduce the size of a recovery function component such as a capping unit, and can reduce the time required for a recovery operation. It is an object to provide a recording device.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus comprising a recording sheet conveying means and a line recording head having a plurality of ink ejection ports, wherein the line recording head is arranged so that the recording position is centered on an axis parallel to the surface of the recording sheet. Simplification and miniaturization of a recovery function component such as a capping device by a structure rotatably supported between the motor and a storage position and rotated about the shaft by a driving device such as a motor. It is intended to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reducing the time required for the recovery operation.

In addition to the above configuration, the invention according to claim 2 further comprises a cap for sealing the discharge port surface of the recording head rotatably supported, and the cap is attached to the cap when the recording head rotates from the recording position to the storage position. A configuration in which the cap abuts and rotates with the rotation of the recording head and seals the ejection port surface of the recording head at the storage position eliminates the need for the driving means of the capping means and the movement range of the capping means. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can reduce the size of the ink jet recording apparatus and can reduce the size of the recovery mechanism and cost.

The invention according to claim 3, wherein in addition to the above configuration, a recording position for a recording sheet, an ink receiving member for receiving discharge ink, and the discharge port on a movement path of the discharge port surface when the recording head is rotated. With the configuration in which the wiping means that slides on the surface and the cap that seals the discharge port surface are arranged, the recovery operation of the recording head is performed along with the rotation of the recording head, and the rotation operation is simplified. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can be operated in a short time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the ink receiving member is provided so as to receive the ink discharged or leaked from the discharge port in a range excluding the recording position in a rotation range of the recording head. Accordingly, the present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus capable of greatly reducing the risk of ink leakage.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the configuration in which the wiping means and the cap are provided inside the ink receiving member achieves further compactness of the structure and further reduction of the rotational operation time. The present invention provides an obtained ink jet recording apparatus.

The invention according to claim 6 provides the above-described effect in addition to the above-described configuration, in which the ink receiving member has a structure that collects ink using gravity, and a portion where the ink is collected is detachable. In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of easily collecting waste ink.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail using embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a recording sheet wound in a roll shape, and the recording sheet 10 is set on a housing 11 of the recording apparatus. Reference numeral 12 denotes a sheet guide that regulates the recording sheet 10, and reference numeral 13 denotes a transport roller that is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown).

A roller 14 is pressed against the transport roller 13 via the recording sheet 10 with a predetermined pressing force during operation, and applies a transport force to the recording sheet 10.

A sheet guide 15 having a contact guide 16 is disposed on the exit side of the transport roller 13.

The contact guide 16 is made of, for example, a polyester sheet or the like, and presses the recording sheet 10 against the transport roller 13 to regulate the transport path.

The tip of the contact guide 16 extends beyond the contact point with the transport roller 13 as shown in FIG.
The nearby sheet transport path is regulated.

The sheet guides 12, 15, roller 14, contact guide
Reference numeral 16 is supported by a device cover (not shown), and is released from the storage device by opening the cover.

The line recording head (line type ink jet head) 17 is a rotating shaft set in parallel with the surface of the recording sheet 10.
It is rotatably supported by 18.

FIG. 1 shows the position (recording position) of the recording head 17 during recording.

The front surface of the recording head 17 is an ejection port surface 7 in which a large number of ejection ports arranged in a horizontal direction (in the line direction) are formed, and ink droplets are ejected from each ejection port based on recording information. Thus, an image is recorded on the recording sheet 10 passing therethrough.

The recording position (recording line position) by the line recording head 10 is set at a position where the recording sheet 10 slightly below the leading end of the contact guide 16 passes stably. The image quality is ensured by keeping the distance from the sheet 10 constant.

Below the recording head 17, an ink receiving member 19 for receiving waste ink from the recording head 17 is arranged.

The ink receiving member 19 is provided over a width that includes the line length (the width of the recording head 17) of the recording head (inkjet head) 17, and is configured to be able to receive leaked ink from all ejection ports. .

The ink receiving member 19 is provided with wiping means 20 for slidably contacting the discharge port surface 7 of the recording head 10 when the recording head 10 rotates to remove attached ink and dust.

The wiping means 20 is constituted by a wiping member made of rubber or the like.

A cap 21 is rotatably supported by the ink receiving member 19 via a rotation shaft 22.

The cap 21 constitutes a capping unit for sealing the ejection port surface 7a of the recording head (inkjet head) 10.

 FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cap 21 in FIG.

1 and 2, a shaft hole 21a is formed on both sides of the cap 21. By inserting a rotation shaft 22 into the shaft hole 21a from both sides of the ink receiving member 19, the shaft hole 21a is formed. The cap 21 is rotatably attached to the ink receiving member 19.

A sealing member 21b made of an elastic material such as rubber is stored in the cap 21, and the recording head 10 is capped by pressing the sealing member 21b against the discharge port surface 7. .

With the above configuration, the inkjet storage device according to claims 1 to 5 is provided.

That is, in an ink jet recording apparatus provided with conveying means 13 and 14 for the recording sheet 10 and a line recording head 17 having a plurality of ink discharge ports 7, the line recording head 17 is parallel to the surface of the recording sheet 10. The shaft 18 is rotatably supported about a shaft 18 between a recording position (position shown in FIG. 1) and a storage position (capping position shown in FIG. 4 described later), and the shaft 18 is driven by a driving means such as a motor. 2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus configured to be driven to rotate around a center is provided.

In this case, a cap 21 that seals the discharge port surface 7 of the recording head 17 is rotatably supported on a shaft, and the recording head 17 rotates from a recording position (FIG. 1) to a storage position (FIG. 4). When the recording head 17 comes into contact with the cap 21 (FIG. 3), the cap 21 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the recording head 17 to seal the discharge port surface 7 of the recording head 17 in the storage position (FIG. 4). It is configured to

Further, a recording position (FIG. 1) with respect to the recording sheet 10, an ink receiving member 19 for receiving the discharged ink, an ink receiving member 19, a moving path of the discharge port surface 7 when the recording head 17 is rotated. And a cap 21 that seals the discharge port surface 7 is disposed.

Further, the ink receiving member 19 moves within a range excluding the recording position (FIG. 1) in the rotation range of the recording head 17.
It is provided so as to receive ink discharged or leaked from the discharge port 7.

In this case, as shown, the wiping means 20 and the cap 21 are provided inside the ink receiving member 19.

3 and 4 show the movement of the recording head 17 of the ink jet recording apparatus described above, FIG. 3 shows a state where the recording head 17 starts to contact the cap 21, and FIG. Status at the saved location
Shown respectively.

Next, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

At the time of printing, a discharge energy generator of a predetermined discharge port is driven for each line based on print data transferred from a host or the like, and an ink droplet is discharged from the discharge port to fly, thereby forming a print sheet. The image is recorded while being attached to the recording medium 10.

On the other hand, the recording sheet 10 is transported at a predetermined feed pitch by driving the transport roller 13 in accordance with the recording for each line.

At the time of the rotation operation of the ink ejection of the recording head 17, first,
The recording head 17 is rotated from the recording position of FIG. 1 to a predetermined position in the direction (counterclockwise in the illustrated example) in which the ejection port face 7 faces the inside of the ink receiving member 19, and is set from each ejection port 7. An amount of ink is ejected idly.

After the idle discharge, the recording head 17 is rotated clockwise to set the recording position, and recording is started again.

When the recording head 17 rotates, the discharge port surface 7 of the recording head 17 slides and passes through the wiping means 20, so that residual ink, dust, and the like adhering to the discharge port surface 7 are wiped off. All the discharge ports are cleaned.

When the recording apparatus is stored without recording, the recording head 17 is rotated counterclockwise from the recording position shown in FIG. 1 so that the recording head 17 is moved to the one end 21c of the cap 21 at the intermediate position shown in FIG. After that, it is further rotated to the storage position shown in FIG.

With the rotation of the recording head 17, the cap 21 is rotated about a rotation shaft 22, and rotates clockwise in conjunction with the rotation.

When the recording head 17 is rotated to the storage position in FIG.
The cap 21 rotates to a position where the sealing member 21b housed inside the cap 21 comes into pressure contact with the discharge port surface 7 of the recording head 17.

In this manner, both the recording head 17 and the cap 21 are stopped at the storage position shown in FIG. 4, and in this storage position, all the discharge ports of the discharge port surface 7 are sealed by the sealing member 21b of the cap 21 and held in the capping state. You.

When recording is performed again, the recording head 17 is rotated clockwise. Then, the cap 21 is attached to the recording head 17
Is released with the movement of.

Therefore, idle discharge is performed by discharging ink from each discharge port of the recording head 17.

Thereafter, when the recording head 17 is further rotated to pass through the wiping means 20, the wiping means 20 wipes off the adhered substances such as ink and dust on the ejection surface port 7, and then the recording head 17 is recorded. Position (Fig. 1)
It is in a state of waiting for recording.

In this embodiment, the ink receiving member 19 has a structure in which the wiping member 20 and the cap 21 are incorporated, and all the waste ink from the ejection port surface 7 and the wiping member 20 and the like can be collected.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the ink receiving member 19. As shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, the ink receiving member 19 has a shape for collecting ink using gravity, and a portion for collecting ink is formed of a detachable member.

That is, the receiving box 23 of another member is attached to the bottom of the ink receiving member 19.
Is detachably mounted, and has a structure in which the waste ink can be easily discarded by removing the receiving box 23 when the waste ink has accumulated.

It is preferable to arrange an ink storage member such as a sponge having a high water supply inside the receiving box 23 for collecting ink.

According to the embodiments described above, the line recording head (inkjet head) 17 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 18 parallel to the length direction of the line recording, so that the recording head 17 is compactly stored in the recording apparatus. In addition, the operation of the recording head 17 such as up / down operation can be performed by a simple driving means.

Further, since the ink receiving member 19, the wiping member 20, and the cap 21 are provided on the rotation path of the line recording head 17 from the recording position to the storage position, the recording is performed by using the rotation of the recording head 17. The recovery operation of the head 17 could be performed, so that the time required for the rotation operation could be reduced.

Further, since the ink receiving member 19 is disposed so as to cover the entire rotation range of the recording head 17 except for the recording position, even if ink is dropped from the recording head 17 or the like, almost all of the ink is received. Thus, the possibility of ink leakage was almost eliminated.

Further, since each recovery function component is disposed in the ink receiving member 19, the recovery system can be configured to be more compact with a simple structure, and the recovery time can be further reduced, and the waste ink recovery can be performed. Thus, an ink jet recording apparatus which can be easily performed was obtained.

6 and 7 are longitudinal sectional views showing a main part of another embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
The figure shows a state where the line recording head 17 is at the recording position,
FIG. 7 shows a state where the line recording head 17 has completed capping at the storage position.

This embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that first, the cap
The position of the rotation center 24 of the cap 21 is different, and the tip portion 21c of the cap 21 which is in contact with the recording head 17 is not provided in the entire length direction of the cap 21, but is provided partially. Is different.

The other parts have the same structure as in the above-described embodiment, and their functions and operating principles are the same as those in the above-described embodiment.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained as in the case of the embodiment described with reference to FIGS.

i) The number of components of the capping means 21 can be greatly reduced, and thus the reliability of the capping means can be improved.

ii) Capping means 21 utilizing movement of recording head 17
Since the pressure contact with and separation from the discharge port 7 is performed, a driving means dedicated to the capping means is not required, and the cost can be reduced.

iii) The moving range of the capping means 21 can be reduced, and the recording apparatus can be made more compact.

〔The invention's effect〕

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus including a recording sheet conveying unit and a line recording head having a plurality of ink ejection ports, the line recording head includes a recording sheet. Since it is configured to be rotatably supported between a recording position and a storage position about an axis parallel to the plane and to be rotated about the axis by a driving means such as a motor, a capping means or the like is provided. There is provided an ink jet recording apparatus capable of simplifying and reducing the size of the recovery function component and shortening the time required for the recovery operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, a cap that seals a discharge port surface of the recording head is rotatably supported on a shaft, and the cap is rotated when the recording head rotates from a recording position to a storage position. Since the cap comes into contact with the cap, and the cap rotates with the rotation of the recording head and seals the ejection port surface of the recording head at the storage position, the driving means of the capping means becomes unnecessary, and the capping is performed. There is provided an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reducing the moving range of the means, and reducing the size and cost of the recovery mechanism.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, an ink receiving member for receiving a recording position and a discharge ink on a recording sheet on a movement path of the discharge port surface when the recording head is rotated, Since the wiping means slidably contacting the discharge port surface and the cap for sealing the discharge port surface are arranged, the recovery operation of the recording head is performed along with the rotation of the recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing an operation with a simple operation in a short time is provided.

According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the above configuration, the ink receiving member receives the ink discharged or leaked from the discharge port in a range excluding the recording position in a rotation range of the recording head. Since the ink jet recording apparatus is provided, an ink jet recording apparatus capable of greatly reducing the risk of ink leakage is provided.

According to the invention of claim 5, in addition to the above configuration, the wiping means and the cap are provided inside the ink receiving member, so that the structure is further compacted and the rotation operation time is further reduced. An ink jet recording apparatus that can be shortened is provided.

According to the invention of claim 6, in addition to the above configuration, the ink receiving member is configured to collect ink using gravity, and the portion where the ink is collected is detachable, so that the above-described effect is obtained. In addition, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus capable of easily collecting waste ink.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an essential part of one embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cap in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus is in a contact start position with a cap and a capping position, and FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another structural example of the ink receiving member in FIG. FIGS. 6 and 7 are partial longitudinal sectional views showing the recording apparatus in which the structure of the capping means in FIG. 1 is changed to the recording position and the storage position, respectively, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a line recording head with a recording apparatus. Hereinafter, reference numerals indicating the main parts in the drawings are listed. 10: recording sheet, 13: transport roller, 17: line recording head, 7: discharge port, 18: rotating shaft, 19: ink receiving member, 20: wiping member, 21: cap, 21b
... sealing member, 22 ... rotating shaft, 23 ... receiving box.

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a recording sheet conveying means; and a line recording head having a plurality of ink ejection ports, wherein the line recording head performs recording about an axis parallel to a surface of the recording sheet. An ink jet recording apparatus, which is rotatably supported between a position and a storage position and is driven to rotate about the shaft by driving means such as a motor. 2. The recording head according to claim 1, further comprising: a cap for sealing a discharge port surface of the recording head rotatably supported. The recording head contacts the cap when the recording head is pivoted from a recording position to a storage position. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus rotates with the rotation of the head and seals a discharge port surface of the recording head at the storage position. 3. A recording position for a recording sheet, an ink receiving member for receiving discharged ink, a wiping means slidably contacting the discharge port surface, on a movement path of the discharge port surface when the recording head is rotated, and 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cap for sealing the discharge port surface is provided. 4. The ink receiving member according to claim 1, wherein the ink receiving member is arranged to receive ink discharged or leaked from a discharge port in a range excluding the recording position in a rotation range of the recording head. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 5. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said wiping means and said cap are provided inside said ink receiving member. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said ink receiving member has a structure for collecting ink using gravity, and a portion for collecting ink is detachable.