JP2742087B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from discharge ports, and more particularly to an ink jet recording apparatus having a cleaning mechanism.

[Prior Art] FIGS. 16 and 17 are a schematic perspective view and a main part top view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a conventional example.

In FIG. 16, the recording material 8 is sandwiched between a pair of paper feed rollers 7a and 7b via conveyance rollers 5 and 6, and is driven by a conveyance motor (not shown) coupled to the paper feed roller 7a, as indicated by arrows in the drawing. It is sent in the C direction. The guide rail 3 and the encoder 4 are arranged in parallel with each other across the recording material 8. The guide rail 3 and the encoder 4 have 4
A carriage 2 on which one recording head 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d is mounted and which is reciprocated in the axial direction of the guide rail 3 by a driving means (not shown) is supported. The above-described recording heads 1a, 1b,
Each of 1c and 1d is provided with an electric heat exchanger (not shown) which is a heating element for generating heat energy used for discharging ink, and discharges ink from a discharge port (not shown) according to a desired recording signal. I do. On the other hand, a cap member 9 is provided at the home position. The cap member 9 is made of a non-breathable elastic body, and can be moved in the direction of arrow A by a driving unit (not shown). When printing is not performed, the carriage 2 is moved to the home position to seal the ejection ports of the recording heads 1a to 1d, and clogging of the ejection ports due to solidification of ink due to evaporation of the solvent of ink or adhesion of dust. Has been prevented. Further, in order to eliminate unstable ejection and clogging of ejection ports which are not frequently used during recording of the recording heads 1a to 1d, idle ejection for ejecting ink into the cap member 9 is performed, or a state in which the cap is capped is performed. The ink is guided to the pump 12 through the tube 12a by the suction operation of the pump 12, so that the ejection of the ejection port having the ejection failure is recovered.
A cleaning member (cleaning wiper) 10, which is a plate-like elastic body made of silicone rubber or urethane rubber, is attached to the holder 11 on the recording area side adjacent to the cap member 9. The holder 11 can be moved back and forth in the direction of arrow A independently of the cap member 9 by driving means (not shown). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, the cleaning member 10
The recording heads 1a to 1d are moved to the cleaning position. Then, as the carriage 2 moves in the direction of arrow B, the carriage surfaces 2d, 13c, 13b, and 13a of the recording heads 1d, 1c, 1b, and 1a are sequentially slidably contacted with the head surfaces 13a to 13d. Foreign matter such as ink and dust is removed. On the other hand, when the carriage 2 moves in the direction of arrow D,
The cleaning member 10 includes the recording heads 1a to
It is moved to the opposite side to 1d and located at the non-cleaning position, and no cleaning is performed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, the cleaning member continuously performs cleaning in one direction on a plurality of recording heads arranged in parallel. Therefore, the cleaning member cleans the next recording head while holding the ink and dust of the recording head that has been cleaned first, and there is a possibility that the thickened ink or dust is pushed into the discharge port of the next recording head. is there. In addition, if the recording heads that eject different colors of ink are continuously cleaned, color mixing of inks may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that does not discharge mixed-color ink from a recording head, can prevent discharge failure due to clogging, and can always obtain a high-quality recorded image.

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first recording head having an ejection port for ejecting ink, and a second recording head provided at a position adjacent to the first recording head. An ink jet printer comprising: a printhead; a carriage on which the first printhead and the second printhead are mounted side by side; and a cleaning member that moves between a cleaning position and a non-cleaning position in accordance with scanning of the carriage. In the recording apparatus, a wiping member for wiping the cleaning member after wiping the ejection port is provided between the first recording head and the second recording head and on the ejection port forming surface side. It is characterized by the following.

The wiping member is formed integrally with the recording head.

The wiping member is formed separately from the recording head.

Further, the recording head has a heating element that generates heat energy used for discharging ink.

[Operation] In the present invention configured as described above, since the wiping member for wiping the cleaning member is provided between the adjacent recording heads, the cleaning member ejects the recording head with the movement of the carriage. In the process of cleaning by sliding contact with the outlet forming surface, the cleaning member includes the first member.
Even if the ejection port forming surface of the recording head is cleaned and foreign matter such as ink and dust on the ejection port forming surface is retained, the foreign matter is immediately brought into sliding contact with a wiping member for wiping the cleaning member to remove the foreign matter. Or be wiped off. Therefore, the ejection port forming surface of the second recording head to be cleaned next is cleaned by the cleaning member that does not hold ink and dust, and thus the ejection port forming surface of each recording head is always cleaned by the clean cleaning member. Will be.

Example Next, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the recording heads 14a and 14b which respectively eject yellow, magenta, cyan and black ink droplets onto the carriage 2 are used. , 14c and 14d are arranged side by side detachably. Each of the recording heads 14a to 14d includes head end members 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d that are wiping members having a head surface (ejection port forming surface) 19a and an ejection port 18a. 15a to 15d are holders 11 on the side of arrow D direction.
It has protrusions 16a to 16d protruding to the side. These protrusions 16a to 16d are located on the sides of the ejection ports 18a of the recording heads 14a to 14d. On the other hand, each head tip member 15a to 15d
A tub-shaped waste ink receiver 17 extends in the direction of arrow B and is disposed at both ends thereof in a waste ink tank (not shown) via a waste ink tube (not shown). It is connected.

 Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

When the carriage 2 moves in the direction of arrow B, and the cleaning is performed by the cleaning wiper (cleaning member) 10, the cleaning wiper 10 sequentially includes the head surface of the member 15d, the protruding portion 16d, the head surface of the member 15c, the protruding portion 16c, Head surface of member 15b, protrusion 16b, head surface 1 of member 15a
9a, sliding contact with the protrusion 16a. During this time, each member 15d, 15c, 15
The cleaning wiper 10 for holding foreign matters such as ink and dust adhered to the head surface of the heads b and 15a includes protrusions 16d and
Since the foreign matter is scraped off by 16c, 16b, 16a, the head surface of each member 15d, 15c, 15b, 15a is always cleaned (wiped) by a clean cleaning wiper 10. On the other hand, when the carriage 2 moves in the direction of arrow D, the cleaning wiper 10 is retracted from the recording heads 14a to 14d and is located at the non-cleaning position, and no cleaning is performed.

Foreign matter such as ink and dust attached to the protrusions 16a to 16d is transmitted downward through the protrusions 16a to 16d, and
It falls into 17 and is further led to a waste ink tank (not shown) via a waste ink receiver 17 and a waste ink tube (not shown).

Therefore, foreign substances such as thickened ink and dust do not enter into the discharge ports 18a of the members 15a to 15d, so that clogging of the discharge ports 18a can be prevented.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the protruding portions 16a to 16d are provided only at the portions of the head tip members 15a to 15d on the direction of the arrow D. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and FIGS. As shown in the figure, the cleaning effect is the same as that described above even if it is provided only on the portion in the direction of the arrow B or on both sides in the directions of the arrows B and D.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the cleaning is performed only when the carriage 2 moves in the direction of arrow B has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also effective when the cleaning is performed only when the carriage 2 moves in the direction of arrow D. It is.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
By providing a to 16h on both sides of each of the tip members 15a to 15d, it is effective also when cleaning is performed when the carriage 2 moves in both directions of arrows B and D.

Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the recording heads 20a and 20b that eject yellow, magenta, cyan, and black ink droplets onto the carriage 2, respectively. , 20c, 20d are juxtaposed in a detachable manner. Each of the recording heads 20a to 20d includes head end members 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d which are wiping members having head surfaces (discharge port forming surfaces) 22a to 22d and discharge ports 24a, respectively. The distance between the members 21a to 21d is the cleaning wiper 10
It is larger than the thickness. And each member 21a-2
The corner of 1d is located on the side of the ejection port 24a of each of the recording heads 20a to 20d. On the other hand, below each of the head end members 21a to 21d, a trough-shaped waste ink receiver 23 is disposed extending in the direction of arrow B, and both ends of the waste ink receiver 23 are disposed via waste ink tubes (not shown). Waste ink tank (not shown)
It is connected to the.

In the present embodiment configured as described above, the carriage 2 moves in the direction of arrow B, and at the time of cleaning,
The cleaning wiper 10 slides and cleans the head surfaces 22d, 22c, 22b, 22a of the members 21d, 21c, 21b, 21a sequentially. During this time, the tip of the cleaning wiper 10 is
The cleaning wiper 10 that protrudes into the gap between the members 21d to 21a and slides on the corners of the members 21d to 21a to hold foreign matters such as ink and dust adhered to the head surfaces 22d to 22b of the members 21d to 21b, The foreign matter is scraped off by the corners of the members 21c, 21b, 21a, and the wiper 10 holding the foreign matter of the member 21a is scraped off by the corners of the member 21d.
The head surfaces 22d to 22a of the members 21d to 21a are always cleaned by the clean cleaning wiper 10. On the other hand, when the carriage 2 moves in the direction of arrow D, the cleaning member 10 retreats from the recording heads 20a to 20d and is located at the non-cleaning position, and no cleaning is performed.

Foreign matter such as ink and dust attached to the corners of the protrusions 21a to 21d travels down the corners, falls into the waste ink receiver 23, and is further discharged through the waste ink receiver 23 and the waste ink tube. It is led to the ink tank.

Third Embodiment In the third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, recording heads 25a and 25b for ejecting ink droplets of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black onto the carriage 2, respectively. , 25c and 25d are juxtaposed in a detachable manner. Each of the recording heads 25a to 25d has a head tip member 26a, 26a having a head surface (discharge port forming surface) 30a and a discharge port 29d.
b, 26c, 26d, each head tip member 26a-26d
Are fixed on the side surface in the direction of arrow D as ink wiping members 27a to 27d formed of columnar ink absorbers. These ink absorbing members 27a to 27d are located on the sides of the ejection openings 29a of the recording heads 25a to 25d. On the other hand, below each of the head end members 26a to 26d, a tub-shaped waste ink receiver 28 is provided extending in the direction of arrow B, and the waste ink receiver 28 contains an ink absorber 31 in a hollow portion. And both ends are connected to a waste ink tank (not shown) via a waste ink tube (not shown).

In the present embodiment configured as described above, the carriage 2 moves in the direction of the arrow B, and at the time of cleaning, the cleaning wiper 10 sequentially turns the head surface 30 of the member 26d, the ink absorbing member 27d, the head surface of the member 26c, The ink absorbing member 27c, the head surface of the member 26b, the ink absorbing member 27b, the head surface 30a of the member 26a, and the sliding contact with the ink absorbing member 27a. During this time, the cleaning wiper 10 that holds foreign matters such as ink and dust adhered to the head surface of each of the members 26d to 26a is wiped by the ink absorbing members 27d, 27c, 27b, and 27a. ~ 26a head surface 30
a is always cleaned with a clean cleaning wiper 10. On the other hand, when the carriage 2 moves in the direction of arrow D, the cleaning wiper 10 is retracted from the recording heads 25a to 25d and is located at the non-cleaning position, and no cleaning is performed.

The ink absorbed by the ink absorbing members 27a to 27d and the dust adhering to the ink absorbing members 27a to 27d are transmitted downward, fall to the ink absorber 31 in the waste ink receiver 28, and It is led to a waste ink tank via a waste ink tube.

9 and 10, the ink absorbing member 27a
To 27d are provided only in the portion of the head tip members 26a to 26d on the direction of arrow D, but are not limited thereto, and as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, only the portions on the direction of arrow B, Alternatively, the cleaning effect is the same as that described above even if provided on both sides in the directions of arrows B and D.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the cleaning is performed only when the carriage 2 moves in the direction of the arrow B has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is also effective when the cleaning is performed only when the carriage 2 moves in the direction of the arrow D. It is.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the carriage 2 moves in both directions of the arrows B and D by providing the ink absorbing members 27a to 27h on both sides of the tip members 26a to 26d. This is also effective when performing cleaning.

And in the example shown in FIGS. 13 and 14,
Ink absorbing members 27a to 27h on both sides of each recording head 25a to 25d
Therefore, when the carriage 2 performs cleaning in both directions of the arrows B and D, the ink inside the ink absorbing members 27a to 27h that are in contact with each other is mixed, and the cleaning effect of the cleaning wiper 10 is improved. There is a problem that an adverse effect is exerted. In order to solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 15, when each of the ink absorbing members 27a to 27h is provided on each of the tip members 26a to 26d so as not to contact each other, the ink absorbing members 27a to 27h
Can be prevented from mixing with the ink inside.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to a serial type recording apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applied to a recording apparatus having a full line type recording head. be able to.

Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the wiping member is integrally formed with each recording head. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the wiping member is attached to the carriage 2 so as to be located between the recording heads. May be provided separately from the recording head, and a wiping member may be provided separately from the recording head on the head surface of the conventional recording head shown in FIG.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, since the present invention is configured as described above, the cleaning member cleans the ejection port forming surface of one recording head, and then immediately wipes foreign substances with the wiping member. By being removed or wiped, the ejection port forming surface of each recording head is always cleaned by a clean cleaning member, and the ejection failure due to ejection of mixed ink from each recording head and clogging of the ejection port of each recording head. Is prevented, and a high-quality recorded image can always be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a main part of a first embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a main part of an improved example of FIGS. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a top view of a main part of still another modification of FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 6 is a main part of FIG. FIG. 7 is a top view of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main part of FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a top view of a main part of a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a main part of FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a top view of a main part of the improved example of FIGS. 9 and 10, and FIG.
13 is a perspective view of a main part of FIG. 13, FIG. 13 is a top view of a main part of still another modification of FIGS. 9 and 10, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a main part of FIG. 13, and FIG. FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus, and FIG. 17 is a top view of a main part of FIG. 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 25a, 25
b, 25c, 25d ... print head, 2 ... carriage, 3 ...
Guide rail, 4 ... Encoder, 5,6 ... Convey roller, 7a, 7b ... Feed roller, 8 ... Recording material, 9 ... Cap member, 10 ... Cleaning wiper (cleaning member), 11 ... ... Holder, 12 ... Pump, 12a ... Tube, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26
d ... Head tip member, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f, 16g, 1
6h Projection, 17, 23, 28 Waste ink receiver, 18a, 24a, 29
a ... discharge port, 19a, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 30a ... head surface (discharge port forming surface), 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e, 27f, 27g, 27h
…… Ink absorbing member, 31 …… Ink absorber.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A first recording head having an ejection port for ejecting ink, a second recording head provided at a position adjacent to the first recording head, and the first recording head and the second recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a carriage mounted side by side; and a cleaning member that moves between a cleaning position and a non-cleaning position in accordance with scanning of the carriage. The first recording head and the second recording head And an wiping member for wiping off the cleaning member after wiping the discharge port on the side where the discharge port is formed. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wiping member is formed integrally with the recording head. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wiping member is formed separately from the recording head. 4. The recording head according to claim 1, further comprising a heating element for generating heat energy used for discharging ink.
4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to 1, 2, or 3.