JP2756372B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by discharging ink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium (hereinafter, also referred to as recording paper or simply paper) such as paper or OHP sheets has been proposed in a form in which recording heads of various recording methods are mounted. ing. This recording head includes a wire dot type, a thermal type, a thermal transfer type, an ink jet type, and the like.

[0003] Among them, the ink jet system is particularly
The method directly ejects ink onto recording paper, and is attracting attention as a recording method having advantages such as low running cost and quiet recording operation.

Further, in recent ink jet recording apparatuses, especially recording heads, the production thereof is performed by a film forming technique or a micro-machining technique in a semiconductor device, thereby realizing a smaller and less expensive recording head. Is being done. Accordingly, the configuration of the device itself is small and simple.

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 is provided with a configuration corresponding to the functions, usage patterns, and the like specific to these apparatuses.

[0006] One of the tendencies is that electronic typewriters, word processors, and the like are small, light, and portable. From this viewpoint, a small and simple structure of an ink jet recording apparatus used in these apparatuses is also considered. Is desired.

[0007]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention One of the recent trends of the ink jet recording apparatus as described above is as follows.
In order to realize the miniaturization and simplification of the apparatus, there is a demand for simplification of elements constituting the ink jet recording apparatus and simplification of a mechanism for associating these elements.

The setting of the distance between the recording head and the recording medium is important because the distance directly affects the recording quality. However, since the ink ejection speed of the recording head is finite and the component accuracy of the entire recording device also has a certain range of manufacturing tolerances, when the distance between the recording head and the recording medium is fixed, each device has There is a problem that individual differences occur in recording quality. Also,
If the distance is too close, the recording head comes into contact with the recording medium, and the recording medium may be stained, and the recording head may be damaged.The distance between the recording head and the recording medium depends on each device. It is desirable to set the optimum value.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to determine the distance between the ink ejection port of the ink jet recording head and the recording medium during recording by the thickness of the recording medium. In particular, the present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus capable of appropriately adjusting an interval in a state where both are close to each other and ensuring high-quality ink jet recording regardless of the size of a moving area of a carriage. It is in.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, the present invention provides
In an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium using an inkjet recording head that ejects ink from an ink ejection port, a carriage for moving the inkjet recording head in a predetermined direction along the recording medium, and A first adjusting unit provided on the carriage for adjusting an interval between the ink ejection port and the recording medium, and the interval can be adjusted independently of the first adjusting unit; A second adjusting means is provided on the carriage for further separating the ink ejection port and the recording medium from the distance after the adjustment by the first adjusting means.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic external perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2001 denotes a main case which forms a part of an apparatus case, and is fixed to a part of a frame of an ink jet recording apparatus described later with reference to FIG. The portion excluding the portion corresponding to the width of the transport path is covered. The home position of the recording head is defined in one of the two end portions. The main case 2001 includes a recording head located at this position during non-recording or the like and an ejection recovery unit that performs capping of the ejection port surface of the recording head at this position. Covered by This prevents the recording head and the ejection recovery unit from being inadvertently touched and causing misalignment or damage to them when the device case is opened and maintenance or inspection of the device is performed. can do.

Reference numeral 2003 denotes a middle case which also forms a part of the apparatus case, and mainly covers a portion where the recording head moves during recording. The middle case 2003 is provided so that it can be easily attached and detached, and a spur provided corresponding to a paper discharge roller described later is attached to a part thereof.
The spurs come into pressure contact with the discharge roller with an appropriate pressing force by mounting 03. Reference numeral 2005 denotes a sheet feeding lid which forms a part of the apparatus case and is provided to be openable and closable. Paper feed lid 20
Numeral 05 is provided so that both ends of the side on the near side in the figure in the substantially rectangular shape are pivotally supported, and this is used as a rotation axis to be opened upward in the figure and held at a predetermined angle. Paper feed cover 2
005 is substantially linear with a paper feed tray described later in a state where the recording paper is held at this angle, and the recording paper can be placed. Reference numeral 2007 denotes an ink lid which forms a part of an apparatus case provided on the front side of the apparatus. The ink cover 2007 is rotatably supported near a shaft provided at a lower portion on the front side of the apparatus, and the ink cover 2007 can be opened to the front side as needed. This makes it possible to perform a detaching operation such as mounting and detaching of the ink cartridge housed therein.

Reference numeral 2009 denotes a paper discharge tray detachably mounted on the apparatus. The paper discharge tray 2009 can be stacked at a rear portion of the apparatus at a predetermined angle, and the recording papers on which recording has been completed can be sequentially stacked. Reference numeral 2011 denotes an operation unit.
It is provided on one side of the main case 2001 in front of the device.
An operation unit 2011 is a display unit 201 that displays the status of the apparatus.
1B and a key 20 for inputting various commands to the apparatus
11A.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a side sectional view and a top view, respectively, showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, excluding the apparatus cover shown in FIG. Note that FIG.
Indicates a state in which the recording head, the carriage for mounting and moving the recording head, and the driving system for these movements are omitted.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 601 denotes a paper feed tray. When the paper feed cover 2005 shown in FIG. 1 is opened (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), the paper feed unit is also opened. Configure. In the paper feed tray 601, a rotation shaft 601 </ b> A provided at a rear end portion in the paper feed direction is rotatably supported toward a side plate 2017 forming an apparatus frame.
The front end of the paper feed tray 601 is urged upward in FIG. 2 by a spring 602. With these configurations, the recording paper stacked on the paper feed tray 601 (see FIGS. 2 and 3)
Are not shown. In the following, the recording paper includes a plastic sheet and the like, and broadly means a recording medium.)
Is pressed by the pickup roller 604.
Note that, in the above-described paper feed mechanism, 60 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1C denotes a guide plate for guiding paper feeding according to the size of the recording paper, and 601D denotes a groove for moving the guide plate 601C according to the size of the recording paper.

The pick-up roller 604 is composed of a pair of rollers, a half-moon roller 604A and an idler roller 604B. The half-moon roller 604A has a shape in which a cross section is partially cut off as shown in FIG. The idler roller 604B has a half-moon roller 60 cross section.
It has a circular shape with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the circumferential portion of 4A. Two pairs of pickup rollers 604 composed of a pair of these rollers are provided near the front end of the paper feed tray 601 at a predetermined interval.
Reference numeral 04 is fixed to a pickup roller shaft 604C extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the recording paper is fed. One end of the pickup roller shaft 604C is rotatably supported by a part of the frame 2017, and the other end is connected to the clutch 619. Thus, the driving force of the motor (not shown) is transmitted to the pickup roller shaft 604C via the clutch 619, and the pickup roller 604 can be rotated.

Since the recording paper stacked on the paper feed tray 601 is pressed by the pickup roller 604 as described above, when the pickup roller 604 rotates,
The recording paper is first pushed out by a shoulder portion which is a connecting portion between the notch portion and the circumferential portion of the half-moon roller 604A, and further, the pickup roller 604 and the separation plate 6 described in detail in FIG.
The recording paper is fed to the recording paper conveyance path in cooperation with the recording paper transport path 05.

Reference numeral 606 denotes a paper feed roller disposed downstream of the pickup roller 604 on the recording paper conveyance path. As shown in FIG. 3, the paper feed roller 606 is provided at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the conveyed recording paper.
The four paper feed rollers are fixed to a paper feed roller shaft 606A (not shown in FIG. 3). Thereby, the driving force of the paper feed motor (not shown) is transmitted to the paper feed roller shaft 606A, and the paper feed roller 606 can be rotated.

Reference numeral 607 denotes a pinch roller provided corresponding to each of the paper feed rollers 606, and is disposed so that the circumferential surface thereof contacts the circumferential surface of the paper feed roller 606. Reference numeral 611 denotes a pinch roller holder provided corresponding to each of the pinch rollers 607. One end of the pinch roller 607 rotatably supports the pinch roller 607. Reference numeral 613 denotes a carriage rail, which is provided so as to extend over a carriage movement area described later. The other end of the pinch roller holder 611 is
13 and a carriage rail 613
6 held between the pinch roller holder 611 and the
14 urges obliquely downward in FIG. As a result, the pinch roller 607 presses the recording paper conveyed between the paper feeding roller 606 and the paper feeding roller 606, and the paper feeding roller 606 can convey the recording paper by the frictional force generated by this pressing force. it can.

Reference numeral 608 denotes a platen for regulating the recording surface of the recording paper. The platen 608 is disposed downstream of the paper feed roller 606 and the like on the recording paper conveyance path, at a position facing a recording head described later. Further, a discharge roller 609 is provided downstream of the platen 608. Discharge roller 609
As shown in FIG. 3, nine recording papers are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the recording paper to be conveyed.
Fixed to 9A. The discharge roller shaft 609A is rotated by a motor (not shown), and discharges the recording sheet to the discharge tray 2009 shown in FIG. 1 in cooperation with the spur held by the middle case 2003 shown in FIG.

In the recording paper transport path described above, the recording paper stacked on the paper feed tray 601 is separated one by one by a pickup roller 604 and a separation plate 605 and fed to the transport path. Paper guide 6
The paper is conveyed between the paper feed roller 606 and the pinch roller 607 while being guided by 08A. During this conveyance, the recording paper comes into contact with one end of the paper end detection lever 615, and the operation of the other end of the lever 615 changes the detection state of the paper end photosensor 617, whereby the recording paper is detected. Edges can be detected.

The paper feed roller 606 conveys, for example, recording paper for one line of recording by the recording head onto the platen 608 according to the recording operation by the recording head, thereby recording characters, images, etc. on the recording paper. Is made. At this time, the recording paper is urged toward the platen 608 by the paper pressing leaf spring 621, and the recording area of the recording paper can be kept flat. The recording paper on which recording has been performed is performed by a discharge roller 60.
9, the paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 2009.

The recording paper transport path from the above-described paper feed tray 601 to the paper discharge roller 609 and further from the paper discharge tray 2009 shown in FIG. 1 has a gentle V-shape as is clear from FIG. Therefore, the recording paper can adhere to the platen 608 due to the stiffness of the recording paper, and the recording area on the recording paper can be kept flat.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording head unit;
It has four recording head chips corresponding to each ink color described in detail in FIG. The carriage main body 201 of the carriage unit 200 is mounted so that these head chips can be easily attached and detached.
Attached to. 203 is a carriage cover, and 205 is a head cover. By attaching these covers to the carriage main body 201, electrical connection to the recording head chip and positioning and fixing of the chip are performed. Reference numeral 300 denotes a sub-ink tank attached to a part of the carriage body 201,
The sub ink tank 300 is used to collect bubbles in the ink supply system and buffer pressure fluctuations generated in the ink supply system due to the movement of the carriage so that the recording head does not affect the recording heads due to bubbles and pressure fluctuations. it can.
The components mounted on the carriage body 201 below the recording head unit 1 described above are such that the carriage body 201 is slidably engaged with a guide shaft 213 (only a cross section of which is shown in FIG. 2). The belt, to which a part of the belt is connected, is driven by a carriage motor (not shown), so that the belt can move along the guide shaft 213.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 299 denotes a setting shaft, which is supported by bearings 201Y provided at both ends of the carriage body 201 in the moving direction and a plurality of bearings 201Z provided therebetween. The setting shaft 299 has an arc-shaped projection 299A having a center that is eccentric to the rotation fulcrum. A gear 299B is integrally provided at one end of the setting shaft 299, and the carriage main body 201 is provided.
The position in the rotation direction is held by engagement with a latch portion 201X provided in the inside. Also, the gear part 299B
Is provided with a concave portion 299C at its side end.

With the above-described configuration, the amount of projection (distance X in FIG. 5) of the projection 299A depends on the position of the setting shaft 299 in the rotational direction (ie, which tooth of the gear 299B meshes with the latch 201X). Is variable and can be set as appropriate. Projection 29 set in this way
9A slidably contacts the upper surface of the carriage rail 613. The setting of the rotation direction of the setting shaft 299 performed by the operator at the time of assembling the device at the factory is performed by the operator inserting a tool such as a driver into the concave portion 299C and rotating the gear portion 299B. At this time, the gear 299B rotates by elastically deforming the latch 201X. When the rotation is completed, the latch portion 201X is elastically restored, the meshing with the gear portion 299B is restored, and the predetermined teeth of the gear portion 299B are fixed to the latch portion 2X.
01X and the rotational position of the setting shaft 299 is regulated. Therefore, the interval between the ejection port of the head and the recording paper can be set to a desired interval. Note that one tooth of the gear 299B corresponds to the eccentric rotation of the projection 299A, and may be set as a minimum adjustment unit. In this embodiment, the distance X of 0.07 [mm] per tooth of the gear portion 299B changes, and the distance Y between the discharge port of the head 10 and the platen 608 changes by 0.05 [mm] per tooth. Therefore, since the gear portion 299B has a total of ten teeth, the carriage body 201 slides around the guide shaft 213, so that the distance X changes by 0.7 mm and the distance Y changes by 0.5 mm.

The above configuration, that is, the arc-shaped projection 299A and the gear 2 as the first adjusting means according to the present invention.
99B, concave portion 299C, and latch portion 201X,
Regarding the setting of the distance between the recording head and the recording medium, the distance can be set so that the recording medium can be prevented from being stained and the recording quality can be ensured. Further, in the present embodiment, as described below, the operator can set the distance between the recording head and the recording medium by using the position lever 211 and the pressing member 211D as the second adjusting means according to the present invention. I have.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 211 denotes a position lever whose position can be manually changed by an operator, and both ends of which are rotated by bearings in a setting shaft 299 (not shown in FIG. 2). It is freely supported. Also,
A hemispherical convex portion 211B is provided at the other end of the position lever 211, and engages with concave portions provided at three places on a side plate (not shown) of the carriage portion 200, so that the position lever 211 becomes 3 Can be fixed in one position. When the position lever 211 is in the position I shown in FIG.
And II, the carriage body 201,
That is, the recording head chip mounted thereon is displaced with the guide shaft 213 as a rotation axis in accordance with each of these positions, and assumes a position corresponding to the contact between the position lever 211 and the carriage rail 613. That is, at the position I of the position lever 211 shown in FIG. 2, a part of the setting shaft 299 abuts on the upper surface of the carriage rail 613 slidably thereon as shown in detail in FIG. In this contact relationship, the recording head chip is a platen 608
Is relatively close to On the other hand, when the position lever 211 is at the position II, the position lever 2
A pressing member 211 </ b> D provided integrally with 11 abuts on the upper surface of the carriage rail 613. As a result, the carriage body 201 is rotated upward in FIG. 2 with the contact portion as an action point and the guide shaft 213 as a fulcrum, and the recording head chip is at a position relatively far away from the platen 608.

In the configuration of the position lever described above, for example, when a recording sheet having relatively poor ink absorption characteristics is used, the recording head chip is relatively far away from the platen 608 by setting the position lever 211 to the position II. In the above-described case, the recording paper causes a phenomenon such as waving of the recording paper due to the recording ink, which may cause a problem such that the recording paper rubs the ejection opening surface of the recording head chip and damages the same. By setting the position lever 211 to the position II, this problem can be prevented. When a recording sheet having relatively excellent ink absorption characteristics is used, such consideration is not required, and the position lever 211 may be set to the position I.

Since the rotation fulcrum of the position lever 211 is provided within the setting shaft 299 and is arranged coaxially with the center of the projection 299A, the position of the distance between the recording head and the recording medium is set at any position. Even if it does, the amount of projection of projection part 211D of position lever 211 does not change. That is, since the center of the circular arc of the projection 299A and the rotation center of the lever 211 are matched, the distance of the lever 211 does not change regardless of where the circular arc of the projection 299A is adjusted.

The position II of the position lever 211
I is a position for preventing the carriage unit 200 from moving rightward when the carriage unit 200 is at the home position. That is, as shown in FIG.
A protrusion 211D provided at the tip of the position lever 211 engages with a locking hole 613B provided near the left end of the carriage rail 613, and prevents the carriage unit 200 (not shown in FIG. 3) from moving rightward. Is done.

It should be noted that the position of the position lever 211 can be notified by display or sound.

That is, as described above, the position of the position lever 211 is manually changed by the operator of the apparatus. For example, when the carriage unit 200 is at the home position, the position lever 211 is at the position III. When recording is attempted with forgetting, the display indicating that the lock by the position lever 211 is released may be displayed.

The current position of the position lever 211 may be displayed according to the three positions of the position lever 211.

Further, when the apparatus is vibrated by a predetermined amount or more during transportation or the like, the vibration is detected, and at the same time, the position of the position lever 211 is detected.
II, that is, when the position is not the position where the carriage unit 200 is fixed, the effect may be notified by a sound such as a buzzer.

According to the structure for preventing carriage movement,
It is possible to prevent the carriage unit 200 and the recording head unit 1 from moving unnecessarily during transportation of the present recording apparatus, and to prevent accidents such as damage to these units and other parts of the apparatus.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 230 denotes a cover fixed to the apparatus frame, which protects an ink supply tube, a flexible cable, and the like that follow the carriage 200 as it moves.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, 701Bk, 7
01C, 701M, and 701Y are ink cartridges mounted in an ink supply unit described later, and store inks of black (Bk), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), respectively. An ink bag and a waste ink bag for storing ink discharged by ink suction or the like in the ejection recovery process are stored. An ink absorber 911 is provided below the ink supply unit in which the ink cartridge is mounted. Ink absorber 9
Numeral 11 has a restoring force against an external force such as pressing, and is inserted in a compressed state between a concave portion of the frame 913 constituting the supply unit and a bottom plate 2015 constituting the apparatus frame. Thereby, the ink cartridge 701
Even if ink leaks from, it can be absorbed by the absorber 911. In addition, vibrations caused by driving the motor and transmitted through the bottom plate 2015 and the like are absorbed by the absorber 9.
11 to reduce noise caused by driving the apparatus.

The absorber used for absorbing vibration need not necessarily be provided below the ink supply unit as in the above example, and may be provided at a more effective site for reducing apparatus noise. it can.

FIG. 6 shows the details of the recording head unit 1 mounted on the carriage body 201 described above.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a recording head unit 1 and a recording head unit 1.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 10 denotes a recording head chip provided for each of the four color inks. Since four recording head chips are provided in a direction perpendicular to the drawing, only one is shown in the sectional view of FIG. Is shown. The recording head chip 10 is connected in such a manner that a substrate made of Si is laminated on a substrate made of Al having a shape shown in FIG. And an electrode wiring for supplying power thereto, and a head driver for driving the electrothermal converter according to a recording signal are further formed. And a top plate having a concave portion for forming a common liquid chamber for supplying ink to the discharge port and the liquid channel, and further supplying the ink to the liquid channel, is joined with the concave portion inside, thereby forming a recording head chip. 10 are configured. The print head chip of this example has 64 discharge ports on the front surface on which the discharge ports are provided. A front plate 11 having an opening corresponding to the area where these ejection ports are provided is provided on the front side of the recording head chip 10. The electrothermal converter is disposed in an ink liquid passage communicating with each of the discharge ports. The electrothermal converter generates heat in response to application of an electric pulse to cause film boiling in the ink. The ink is ejected from the ejection port based on the generation of bubbles due to the film boiling.

A connector 207 for making an electrical connection with an electric wiring terminal of the recording head chip 10 is provided on the carriage cover 203 constituting one of the mounting members of the recording head chip 10 in accordance with the recording head chip 10. When the cover 203 is mounted, that is, when the cover 203 is removed from the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Connectors 207 connect to each corresponding printhead chip 10. This connection is performed by inserting the terminals of the recording head chip 10 into the recesses of the connector 207.

At this time, the four recording head chips 10 are mounted in predetermined positions of the carriage main body 201 in a state where they are accurately positioned, and the connectors 207 are connected along the positions. For this reason, in the concave portion of the connector 207, an insertion opening of the concave portion is formed in an R shape so that the terminal can be smoothly inserted.

The operation of the carriage cover 203 is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 2, the operation is guided by the engagement of a long hole 223 formed in a part of the carriage cover 203 with a shaft 221 provided on the carriage main body 201. With this carriage cover, the recording head chip and its terminal portion can be protected.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are views for explaining how to mount the print head chip 10, and FIG. 7A is a front view of the carriage body 201 and the print head 10, and FIG. 2B is a partial side sectional view of the carriage body 201, and FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the recording head shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

In these figures, reference numeral 15 denotes a recording head 10
And is engaged with a guide 215 provided on a head mounting portion of the carriage body 201 when the recording head chip 10 is mounted. Reference numeral 13 denotes an ink supply pipe for supplying ink to a common liquid chamber in the recording head chip 10, and is inserted into a supply port 219 provided in the carriage main body 201 with the mounting operation during the mounting. With this configuration, ink is supplied from the sub ink tank 300 to the common liquid chamber via the supply tube 311, the supply port 219, and the supply pipe 13.

The carriage body 2 of the recording head chip 10
The attachment to 01 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the print head chip 10 is mounted, first, the guide groove 15 of the print head chip 10 is
By engaging with 15, the recording head chip 10 is moved downward in accordance with this engagement, and the supply pipe 13 is inserted into the supply port 219 on the carriage side. The insertion of the supply pipe 13 into the supply port 219 can be smoothly performed by the guide. This movement is stopped when a part of the bottom of the recording head chip 10 hits a part of the bottom of the head mounting part on the carriage side. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, a part of the recording head chip 10 is inserted into a concave portion formed in the carriage main body 201, and the ejection direction of the head 10 is determined. Thereafter, by mounting the head cover 205 described in detail in FIG. 5, the position of each recording head chip and the pitch between these chips are determined.

FIGS. 8A to 8C show the head cover 205.
FIG. 3A is a front view of the head cover viewed from the back side, FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the head cover viewed from the side,
FIG. 3C is a partial sectional view as viewed from above.

The positioning of the recording head chip 10 by the head cover 205 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6, 7A and 8A to 8C.

As described with reference to FIG. 7, the head cover 205 covers the recording head chip 10 attached to the carriage body 201 so as to cover the side of the recording head chip 10 as shown in FIG. Carriage body 20
1 is attached. By this mounting, the leaf springs 221 and 22 of the head cover 205 shown in FIGS.
3 presses the recording head chip 10 toward the reference surface 217 shown in FIG. 7A and the bottom surface 221 of the head chip mounting portion shown in FIG. Thus, the recording head chip 10 is positioned in the arrangement direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 7A). At this time, the positional relationship between the four reference surfaces 217 and the bottom surface 221 shown in FIG. 7A is accurately determined. The positional relationship in the vertical direction is accurately determined.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the positioning by the head cover.

As shown in FIG. 9, a leaf spring 225 is provided on the head cover 205 in correspondence with each head chip, instead of the leaf spring 221 shown in FIG. Leaf spring 225
Is attached to the end of the head cover 205, and presses the chamfered portion of the recording head chip 10 by mounting the head cover 205. As a result, this pressing force produces a component force in the ejection direction and the ejection port arrangement direction, and positioning in each direction on the recording head chip 10 can be performed.

FIGS. 10A and 10B respectively show FIGS.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing details of the sub ink tank 300 shown in FIG. 3A and the like, wherein FIG. 3A shows a surface on the side of attachment to the carriage main body 201 and FIG. Show. FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing the sub ink tank in an exploded manner.

As shown in these figures, the sub ink tank 300 is composed of three parts. That is, it comprises a tank member 331 for forming the ink chamber and the air chamber, a middle plate 333 having a connection hole, and a connection plate 335 having a connection groove and a connection pipe. Each of these members can be obtained, for example, by molding a resin material,
The members can be joined by ultrasonic welding.

The tank member 331 has four chambers 331Bk, 331C, 331M, 331Y corresponding to the respective color inks.
have.

As shown in detail in FIG. 11, the middle plate 333 has connection holes for connecting the respective chambers of the tank member 331 and the connection grooves of the connection plate 335. Are connected to the connection tube 321 shown in FIG.
10 constitutes a part of the flow path of each ink supplied from No. 1 and indicated by reference numeral 343 is a connecting pipe 3 shown in FIG.
23, and constitutes a part of a flow path of air sucked from each of the chambers by a suction force of a discharge recovery unit described later. Although not shown in FIG. 11, ink supply holes to the recording head chip 10 are formed corresponding to the positions of the connection tubes 325 shown in FIG.

The connection plate 335 is provided with three types of connection pipes as shown in FIG. That is, the connection tube indicated by reference numeral 321 is connected to the ink supply tube from the ink cartridge 701 described above,
The connection tube indicated by 23 is connected to a tube to the suction pump of the discharge recovery unit, and the connection tube indicated by 325 is connected to an ink supply tube to the recording head chip 10.

Further, the arrangement of the connection pipe is determined as follows. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, first, the sub-ink tank 300 is attached to the carriage main body 201 such that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the arrangement direction of each recording head. At this time, the connection pipe 32
5 are arranged on the connection plate 335 so as to be located below the corresponding recording head chip 10. Thereby, each connection tube 325 and each recording head chip 1
As shown in FIG. 7 (B), the ink supply tube 311 connecting the 0's can be smoothly supplied only by bending in the plane of FIG. In addition, since the bending direction of the tube 311 is limited to the plane, the influence of the carriage movement on the ink supply can be reduced. In consideration of the shortest paths from each chamber of the tank member 331 to each connection chamber and the influence of carriage movement in the above-described conditions for the arrangement of the connection pipe 325, the arrangement position of the connection pipe 325 is shown in FIG. So that the sub ink tank 30
It is a position to be arranged in the longitudinal direction of 0. For this reason, the middle plate 3
33 has connection holes at positions corresponding to the connection pipes 325 as described above.

The arrangement of the connection pipes 321 and 323 is determined as follows.

First, the position of the connecting pipe is adjusted so that the tubes connected to these connecting pipes extend along the longitudinal direction of the sub-ink tank 300, that is, the moving direction of the carriage section indicated by the arrow A in FIG. Determined. Second, the arrangement of the connection tubes is determined so that the tubes corresponding to the four inks are integrally connected to the connection tubes. From the first and second arrangement conditions, the arrangement of the connection pipes 323 and 325 is determined so as to be arranged in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage.

FIG. 13 is a top view showing a tube unit connected to the connection pipes 321 and 323.
Joints 351 and 353 are shown connecting to 1 and 323, respectively. The tubes 355 and 357 follow the movement of the carriage in the direction indicated by the arrow C in the figure, and the tubes are moved in a fixed direction (carriage movement direction) by the arrangement of the connection pipes described above. It can be extended and in this following part of the tube the tube only bends in a predetermined direction only. This can reduce the influence of the movement of the carriage on ink supply and the like.

According to the arrangement of the connection pipes 321 and 323 described above, grooves 337 and 339 as shown in FIG. 11 are formed in the connection plate 335, and each of these connection pipes and each tank chamber 331 (Bk, C , M, Y).

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the sub ink tank 300. In FIG. As shown in the figure, a groove for connecting each tank chamber to the connection pipe may be formed in the middle plate 333.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are sectional views showing details of the paper feed mechanism shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.
FIG. 14 shows a case where thin paper is conveyed, and FIG. 15 shows a case where thick paper is conveyed.

In these figures, a pinch roller 607 is rotatably supported by a pinch roller holder 611.
The pinch roller holder 611 is mounted on the carriage rail 613.
At the end 611B. Also, a pinch roller holder 611 and a carriage rail 613
A spring 614 is interposed between the carriage rail 613 and the carriage rail 613. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 631 is attached to the lower part in FIGS. It is urged to abut a part of the device frame (not shown). As a result, the pinch roller 607 is moved by the elastic force of the spring 614 to the paper feed roller 606.
Can be pressed.

In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 14, when a relatively thin recording sheet is conveyed, the pinch roller 607 is caused by the thickness of the recording sheet between the pinch roller 607 and the paper feed roller 606. The displacement is absorbed when only the pinch roller holder 611 is displaced upward in FIG.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
In the case of a relatively thick recording sheet, the displacement of the pinch roller 607 due to the sheet thickness cannot be completely absorbed by the displacement due to the rotation of the pinch roller holder 611, and the pinch roller holder 61
1 further displaces according to the displacement of the pinch roller 607,
By hitting the end 611A against the carriage rail 613, it pushes up against the elastic force of the spring 631. That is, when relatively thick recording paper is conveyed, the displacement of the pinch roller 607 is
11 and the subsequent displacement of the carriage rail 613.

At this time, since the carriage rail 613 is in contact with the carriage body 201 or the holding member 211A according to the position of the position lever 211, the carriage unit 200, that is, the recording head unit, is changed according to the displacement of the carriage rail 613. 1 is displaced.

According to the paper feeding mechanism described above, when the recording paper used is relatively thin, the pinch roller holder 611 is used.
Is displaced, the pinch roller 607 can exert an appropriate pressing force on the paper feed roller 606 according to the paper thickness via the recording paper.

When the recording paper is relatively thick, the pinch roller holder 611 and the carriage rail 613 are displaced, so that the pinch roller 607 exerts an appropriate pressing force on the paper feed roller 606 according to the paper thickness. In addition, the distance between the recording paper and the recording head can be made appropriate according to the paper thickness. Regardless of the position (I or II) of the position lever 211 described above, it goes without saying that the above-described paper feed mechanism works effectively.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the structure and operation of the sheet feeding device will be described in detail. FIG. 16 shows the behavior of the separation plate 605 when the recording paper is a thin sheet 610A, and FIG. 17 shows the behavior of the separation plate 605 when the recording paper is a thick sheet 610B. In these figures, reference numeral 651 denotes a loose fitting groove for supporting the separation plate 605 provided on a support member 603 which forms a part of the apparatus frame, and the groove 651 has its opening directed substantially toward the center of the axis of the pickup roller 604. Is formed.

Further, the separation plate 605 is
Spring 61 held between 5A and the bottom of loose fitting groove 651
2 and a hook-shaped claw 605B extending downward from both sides of the spring holding portion 605A, and these claw portions 605B are fitted into the engagement holes 621A received also at the bottom of the loose fitting groove 651. The combination prevents the separation plate 605 from falling off the loose fitting groove 651. With the above configuration, the separation plate 605 can swing in the loose fitting groove 651 and move up and down while being supported by the spring 612. As the spring 612, an appropriate spring constant is selected according to the range of the assumed stiffness of the recording paper used for recording.

In the paper feeder configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 16, it is assumed that a thin sheet 610A having relatively weak stiffness is stored in a feed cassette, that is, a paper feed tray 601 as recording paper. When the pickup roller 604 is driven by the feed signal in this state, the thin sheet 610 located on the uppermost surface on the feed cassette 601 is placed.
The leading end of A first contacts the separation plate 605. In response, the separation plate 605 is displaced to a position corresponding to the stiffness of the thin sheet 610A and the spring force of the spring 612 supporting the separation plate 605, and the approach angle of the thin sheet 610A with respect to the separation plate 605 (recording). The angle between the sheet entry direction and the plane of the separation plate) can be set to an optimum angle, and the conveying force (frictional force) generated between the semicircular roller 604A and the recording sheet.
Can be improved.

When a thick sheet 610B having a relatively strong stiffness is stored in the feeding cassette 601 as shown in FIG. 17, the thick sheet 610B is similarly moved between the pickup roller 604 and the separation plate 605. Even if the separation plate 60 is guided by the thick sheet 610B,
5 is pushed down, and its shoulder 605C abuts on the bottom of the groove 651, and turns around the shoulder 605C as a turning fulcrum. Thereby, the entering angle formed between the recording sheet and the separation plate 605 can be made smaller than that shown in FIG. 16, and the conveyance force (frictional force) generated between the half-moon roller 604A and the recording paper ) Can be prevented from becoming excessively large and paper feeding failure in the case of thick paper can be avoided. (Recovery Unit) FIG. 18 shows a recovery unit 4 according to this example.
00 shows a schematic configuration.

Here, reference numeral 401 denotes a unit housing, which holds the following components. Reference numeral 403 denotes a motor which is a driving source for the operation of each unit in the unit, and a worm 4 attached to the motor output shaft 405.
Driving force is transmitted to the worm wheel shaft 411 via the worm wheel 07 and the worm wheel 409 meshing therewith.

Reference numeral 420 denotes a discharge port forming surface 1A of the recording head 1.
And a cap portion capable of covering the periphery of the discharge port by contacting the discharge port. At least a contact portion with the forming surface is formed of an elastic member such as rubber. Reference numeral 430 denotes a cap pressing / equalizing unit for pressing the cap 420 against the discharge port forming surface 1A and ensuring a close contact state in accordance with the pressing. Reference numeral 440 denotes a pump that applies a suction force to each of the suction tubes 442 connected to the cap 420 and the suction tube 444 connected to the sub-ink tank 300 described above. The ink sucked toward the ink absorber (not shown) is discharged. This pump 440
It is driven by a pump drive cam 450 provided on the shaft 441 and a pump drive lever 452 engaged with the cam.

In this example, the tube 442 that connects the cap 420 and the pump 440 is connected to the tube 4
42 is bent upward in the vertical direction from the cap communication hole 442A to which it is connected, and then connected to the pump 440 below. Thereby, the cap portion 4
If the suction process (idle suction) in the uncapped state is not performed or is not performed sufficiently after the ink is suctioned from the discharge port through 20, a small amount of ink remains in the tube 442. That is, the ink does not entirely flow into the pump due to the presence of the bent portion. By utilizing this, for example, when the recording is interrupted or when the recording is stopped, the ejection port forming surface 1A is kept in a humid atmosphere in the cap state, and the ejection ports can be protected from drying to prevent clogging. Therefore, the suction process at the time of resuming the recording can be made unnecessary or small. In addition, at the time of long term rest or power off, perform sufficient empty suction to prevent ink from remaining in the tube,
Sticking inside the tube can be prevented.

In this embodiment, when the unit 400 is attached to the apparatus, the pump 440 is arranged so that the discharge side is located vertically below and the discharge flow path faces downward. As a result, the ink is smoothly discharged from the pump 440 under the action of gravity.

FIG. 19A is a side sectional view of the recovery unit 400. Here, reference numeral 461 denotes an access lever for directing the cap portion 420 to the ejection port forming surface 1A when the front end portion 461A enters the concave portion 205H provided in the head cover 205, and at least the front end portion thereof has a print head scanning direction ( (Direction perpendicular to the drawing). An access lever drive arm 465 is connected to the access lever 461. Also,
This arm is rotatable about a shaft 465A near one end. Reference numeral 467 denotes a cam provided on the shaft 411.
Engage with the pin 468 on 65. 469 is the pin 46
8 is a spring for regulating the operation of the arm 465 by following the contour of the cam 467. The spring is stretched between the housing 401 and the projection 463 provided on the access lever 461, and the arm 465 is moved toward the cam 467. Imparting rotation behavior.

Reference numeral 471 denotes a cap holder for holding the cap portion 420, and 473 denotes a holder guide lever provided integrally with the cap holder 471, and its tip 475.
Protrudes through a hole provided in the housing 401. The cap holder 471 can hold the cap portion 420 and can advance and retreat with respect to the recovery unit 400. The abutment between the cap portion 420 and the discharge port forming surface 1A is made in accordance with the advance, and this is released in accordance with the retreat. Further, the cap 420 or the cap holder 471 can be displaced in the print head scanning direction. 477 is the cap holder 471
A spring for aligning the holder-side engaging portion with the cam for restricting the forward / backward movement of the cam.
It is provided in.

The cap section 420 is provided with an atmosphere communication hole described later, and this communication hole is also opened and closed via a cam 513, a driving lever 511, and the like also described later. The mechanism for moving the cap section forward and backward, the mechanism for moving the access lever and the like, including the mechanism for opening and closing the atmosphere communication hole, will be described later with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 19A, reference numeral 481 denotes a recovery unit 400 and a carriage unit 200 at the time of recovery processing or the like.
This is a lock section for obtaining a locked state.

In this embodiment, the pump 440 is held by a holder 483 provided on the housing-side pump receiving portion 401A as shown in FIG. 14B. This holder 483 is substantially C
It has a U-shape and holds the pump by its elastic deformation and restoring force. 491 and 493 are locking portions on the housing side and the pump side, respectively.
It is used for positioning of 0 and holding of the mounting position.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the recovery unit centering on the opening / closing mechanism of the air communication hole of the cap unit, and FIG. 21 is a side of the recovery unit centering on the opening / closing mechanism, the cap unit moving mechanism and the access lever moving mechanism. It is sectional drawing.

First, the air communication mechanism will be described.

In these figures, reference numeral 501 denotes a cap 4
20 atmospheric communication holes. 503 is an opening / closing lever,
An arm 503A provided with a pad 505 for closing the atmosphere communication hole 501 and an arm 503B engaged with the operation lever 511 are supported rotatably around a shaft 507. Reference numeral 509 denotes a spring for giving the opening / closing lever 503 a rotation characteristic in a direction of closing the air communication hole.

The operation lever 511 is provided with the communication hole opening / closing cam 5.
13 and a portion 511B engaging with the arm portion 503B of the opening / closing lever 503.
5 is rotatable. Reference numeral 517 denotes a spring, and the operating lever 51 is moved in a direction in which the portion 511A comes into contact with the cam 513.
1 is given a turning behavior. Thereby, the cam 5
With the displacement of 13, the space inside the cap 420 is communicated / blocked with the atmosphere.

Next, the mechanism for moving the cap 420 forward and backward will be described.

In FIG. 21, the cap holder 471 and the holder guide lever 473 are shown by two-dot chain lines. Reference numeral 521 denotes a roller provided on the holder guide lever 473, which is engaged with the cap moving cam 523.

Reference numeral 531 denotes an elongated hole provided in the longitudinal direction of the access lever 461, into which a pin 533 projecting from the cap holder 471 is fitted. Therefore, in the case of this example, the cap portion 420 is guided to the elongated hole 531 during the forward / backward movement. In addition, it is linked with the access lever 461 in the recording head scanning direction. 535 is the spring 4
A spring that urges the cap portion 420 in the backward direction in cooperation with 77. Reference numeral 205H denotes a recess provided in the head cover 205 for receiving the entry of the access lever 461.

In FIG. 21, the access lever drive arm 465 is shown at a different position from that of FIG. 14 for simplification.

Next, the mechanism for moving the access lever 461 and the cap 420 forward and backward will be described.

Generally, it is difficult to accurately stop the carriage at a position where the recording head discharge port forming surface and the cap face each other. Therefore, for example, a member that can protrude to the recovery unit side and a member that can receive it on the recording head side are provided, and the carriage is set at a position where the recording head side faces the cap forcibly by pushing the former into the latter. It is possible to do. However, the carriage as in this example is equipped with four recording heads, and its weight is enormous. Forcibly displacing the recording head as described above requires not only a large force but also a large force. This causes an excessive load on the projecting member, the cap, and the like.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a configuration is employed in which the cap portion 420 is displaced so as to face the recording head discharge port forming surface.

This will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, 4 to be covered by the cap portion
It is assumed that the arrangement range H of the four print heads and the arrangement range C of the four cap portions separately covering the ejection port forming surfaces of the print heads are shifted by Δ as shown in FIG. .

When the access lever 461 is projected from this stopped state, the tapered portion 461T of the tip 461A is engaged with the concave portion 205H of the head cover 205, and the access lever 461 is supported so as to be displaceable in the carriage scanning direction S. If it has been done, it will rush into the concave portion 205H while moving to the left in the figure as shown in FIG. In addition, the leftward movement is
The engagement of the elongated hole 33 with the elongated hole 531 causes displacement of the cap holder 471 or the cap portion 420 in the same direction.

Thus, in the state of FIG. 11C in which the access lever tip 461A has completely entered the recess 205H,
Since there is no deviation between the range H and the range C, that is, the recording head and the cap section 420 face each other, if the cap section 420 is advanced, accurate capping is performed.

In this embodiment, strict accuracy is not required for the control of the stop position of the carriage, and if a certain degree of accuracy is ensured, the access lever can enter the recess. In other words, the shape, size, concave shape, size, etc. of the access lever tip portion are selected according to the required accuracy of the carriage stop position.

In order for the tip of the access lever to smoothly enter, the access lever as a whole must be attached to the housing so as to be capable of being displaced to translate in the scanning direction S, as described above. 461A can be elastically deformable to some extent or any combination thereof. In any case, it is only necessary that the slot 531 constitutes a path for guiding the cap portion 420 to a predetermined position (accurate cap position) via the pin 533 in the intrusion completed state. For example, the access lever 46
If 1 is swingable about the rear fulcrum, unlike FIG. 22, the access lever 461 is inclined when the rush is completed, and the above-mentioned ranges H and C do not face each other when the cap is not occupied. When the pin 533 moves forward, the cap portion 420 can eventually cover the recording head discharge port forming surface accurately.

In order that the cap portion side can not displace or follow the displacement or deformation of the access lever 461 or the elongated hole 531 due to such intrusion, and can follow it.
In order to be able to advance and retreat along the elongated hole thus displaced or deformed, it is preferable that the cap portion itself is attached to the housing with some play.

In FIGS. 22A to 22C, 5
Reference numeral 40 denotes a blade, which can be advanced and retracted by a cam provided in the recovery unit 400 similarly to the above-described sections, and engages with the recording head ejection port forming surface in accordance with carriage scanning in a protruded state to perform cleaning. Things.

FIGS. 23A to 23C show examples of the structure of the pump 440 used in this embodiment.

The pump 440 has a cylinder body 551, cylinder heads 553 and 555, a piston 557, and a valve unit 559. The valve unit 559 is attached to one of the cylinder heads 553, and the cylinder head 553 is provided with a projection 56 on the cylinder body 551.
1 has a portion 563 to be snap-fastened (so-called patching), so that the valve unit 559 can be easily formed.
In addition, the cylinder head 553 can be mounted.

The valve unit 559 is a valve element 5 that can open and close the ink introduction ports from the cap side and the sub ink tank side.
65 and a spring 567 for urging the same in the closing direction.

The piston 557 includes a piston shaft 557A partially forming a flow path 556, a valve body 571 and a flange portion 573 provided on the piston shaft 557A, and a shaft 55
A top 570 is provided between the valve body and the flange in a state of being loosely fitted to 7A and having an ink flow path 570A formed therein. In addition, the cylinder head 555 is
5A, and is attached to the cylinder body 551 similarly to the cylinder head 553.

In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 23B, when the piston 557 is displaced downward in the figure, the valve body 565 is pressed against the urging force of the spring 567 by the negative pressure generated in the upper chamber. The ink introduction port is opened, whereby ink is sucked from the cap side and the sub ink tank side, and the valve body 571 closes the flow path 570A, so that the ink in the lower chamber does not flow backward without causing backflow. Discharged via 575. Thereafter, when the piston 557 is displaced upward, as shown in FIG.
1 opens the flow path 570A, and the ink stored in the upper chamber is introduced into the lower chamber via the flow paths 570A and 556. At this time, since the valve body 565 closes the ink introduction port, the ink does not flow backward to the cap side and the sub ink tank side.

The pump 440 having the above configuration and operation is mounted on the recovery unit housing 401 with a holder as shown in FIG. 19B. In this example, four pumps 440 are provided, one for one cap, that is, one recording head. This has the following advantages.

In the case of this example, four recording heads are provided corresponding to inks of different colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black). However, the amount of ink to be sucked during the recovery process varies depending on the frequency of use of each recording head, the ink composition, and the like. Therefore, if the pump also serves as the same negative pressure acting on each print head, it is necessary to adopt a pump whose capacity is determined in accordance with the amount of ink suction from the print head that requires the most ink consumption. This not only increases the size of the pump, but also causes unnecessary suction of ink from the recording head, which requires less consumption during the recovery process. In contrast,
In this example, each pump capacity can be determined according to the required ink suction amount of each recording head, and the inconvenience of using the same pump can be avoided.

FIG. 24 is a conceptual diagram of a drive system of four pumps according to the present example. As shown in FIG.
40 are paired, and each group is driven by a cam 450 and a lever 452 attached to a shaft 471. In this example, the cam phases of each set are made equal, that is, the four pumps 440 are driven in the same phase. Therefore, the assembling work becomes easy.

However, the phase may be different for each group.
Alternatively, a cam and a lever may be prepared for each pump and driven in different phases. This is preferable from the viewpoint of arranging or driving the loads in a well-balanced manner.

The operation timings of the respective cams of the recovery unit and the respective components driven by the cams are, for example, as shown in FIG.
It can be determined as follows. In the drawings, the “sensor” may be a sensor that detects a cap open state. In the “small recovery” mode and the “main recovery” mode, for example, it is possible to make the ink suction amount different, to add so-called preliminary ejection, or the like. After the recovery process, it is preferable to clean the discharge port forming surface by projecting the blade.

Further, in this example, the access lever is projected before the capping, and the capping is released before the access lever is retracted. This is because the cap portion 420 advances and retreats along the above-described elongated hole 531 of the access lever. Further, when capping is performed and when the capping is released, the air communication hole of the cap portion 420 is opened at other appropriate timing. This is advantageous in preventing undesired pressure fluctuation in the space inside the cap at the time of joining / removing the cap, thereby preventing air from being taken into the ink ejection port and ink leakage.

(Arrangement of Ink Tanks) FIG. 26 is a plan view of an ink tank storage section according to the present embodiment.

Here, 701 (701Bk, 701C,
Reference numerals 701M and 701Y) denote cartridge-type ink tanks having an ink storage unit serving as an ink supply source and a waste ink storage unit serving as a waste ink reservoir, and are detachable from the apparatus main body. 703 (703Bk, 703C, 703M,
Reference numeral 703Y) denotes an ink supply pipe, which is connected to an ink storage unit in the ink tank. 707 (707B
Reference numerals k, 707C, 707M, and 707Y) denote waste ink tubes, which communicate the pump 440 with the waste ink storage units in the respective ink tanks.

The following points were particularly considered in this example regarding the arrangement of the ink tanks and the like.

[0118] Due to the composition of the ink, the viscosities and the likelihood of sticking are different for each color. For example, thickening and sticking tend to occur in the order of black (Bk), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Thus, the viscosity of the ink may be increased and fixed even in the ink supply pipe which is a closed system. In this case,
The supply pipe is formed using a polyethylene tube. However, whatever material is used for the supply pipe, a small amount of air enters through the pipe wall or evaporation of the ink solvent occurs. Therefore, the longer the supply pipe, the larger the amount of air that enters and the amount of evaporation of the ink solvent.

Therefore, in this embodiment, all the supply pipes crawl in the same direction (the left side in the figure in this embodiment), and an ink tank containing ink which is likely to be thickened and adhered in order from the supply side is arranged. did. That is, the length of the supply pipe is set shorter for inks that are more likely to be thickened and fixed (in the order of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow from the left in the figure). This makes it possible to reduce the amount of invading air or the amount of solvent evaporated as viscosity increases or sticks easily occur. Incidentally, the above is also applied to the ink discharge system reaching the waste ink storage unit.

In the figure, reference numeral 800 denotes an ink remaining amount detecting device described below, which is arranged between the ink storage section in the ink tank 701 and the ink supply pipe 703.
Reference numeral 707 denotes a cable in which wiring related to the remaining ink amount detecting device 800 and wiring related to a sensor for detecting whether or not the ink tank is installed are shown.

(Remaining Ink Detecting System) FIG. 27A is a plan view of an ink pressure detecting device, and FIG. 27B is a longitudinal sectional view of the device.

Reference numeral 801 denotes a flow path member having an ink flow path 803 on the inner side, and includes a pair of upper and lower members 801A and 801B. The upper member 801A has a circular opening 8
05. Reference numeral 807 denotes a ring-shaped diaphragm whose peripheral portion is sandwiched between the upper member 801A and the pressing member 809, and covers the peripheral portion of the opening 805. Upright stopper members 811 are provided at four upper corners of the upper member 801A, and through holes 813 are vertically formed at four corners of the holding member 809, respectively.
A step 813A is formed outside the upper portion of the through hole 813. The stopping member 811 has elasticity, and a locking claw 811A is formed on the outer side of the distal end portion. Locking claw 81
1A has an inclined upper surface.

Each stop member 811 is located in each through hole 813 of the holding member 809.
The holding member 809 is fixed to the upper member 801A by the 11A being locked to the step portion 813A, and the diaphragm 807 is held between the upper member 801A and the holding member 809. Note that a protruding portion 881 is formed around the upper surface of the upper member 801A, and a notch 883 is formed around the lower surface of the corresponding pressing member 809. When both are fitted, the pressing member 809 is positioned on the upper member 801A. Is fixed.

At the center of the diaphragm 807, the base end of a locking member 817d is fitted to a projection 815A (located at the center of the opening 805) on the upper center of the support member 815 so as to close the inner opening. The portion is fixed (eg, screwed) to the support member 815. Locking member 817
Has two upright locking pieces 819 having elasticity, and a locking claw 819A is formed on the outside of the distal end of each locking piece 819. The upper surface of the locking claw 819A is inclined.
Note that the two locking pieces 819 are arranged at symmetrical positions from the center of the opening 805.

A through-hole 821 is formed vertically in the center of the holding member 809, and two through holes 821 are formed in the through-hole 821.
Two locking pieces 819 are located. A coiled spring 823 and a spring retaining ring 825 are located in the through hole 821,
The spring 823 has an annular projection (spring receiver) 821 at the lower end of the through hole 821 outside the two locking pieces 819.
A is supported. The inside of the spring stopper ring 825 is stopped by the retaining piece 819A of the retaining piece 819, and in this state, the upper end of the spring 823 is pushed down. Spring 82
Reference numeral 3 denotes both (the annular protrusion 821A and the spring retaining ring 8).
25). Therefore, by the repulsive force of the spring 823, the diaphragm 80 is moved so that the upper peripheral portion of the support member 815 contacts the lower surface of the annular projection 821A (if the pressure of the ink in the ink flow path 803 is ignored).
7 and the support member 815 are pulled upward.

A notch 827 is formed on one side of the holding member 809, and the middle part of a pair of contact members (conductive) 829 and 831 is fixed to the bottom of the notch 827. The front ends of the pair of contact members 829 and 831 are in contact with the lower surface of the annular protrusion 821A through the hole 827A formed therein of the notch 827, and the rear end has a connector (a reservoir for detecting the remaining amount of ink). Lead wires 835 and 837 from the connection circuit 833 are connected. The lower surfaces of the tip portions of the pair of contact members 829 and 831 are pressed against the peripheral portion (which has conductivity) of the upper surface of the support member 815 by the repulsive force of the spring 823, and the portions are electrically connected to each other.

The ink pressure detecting device having the above configuration can be assembled very simply as follows.

First, the diaphragm 807 is placed on the opening 805 of the flow path member 801, and the pressing member 809 is lowered from above the flow path member 801 such that the stopper member 811 is located in the four corner through holes 813. . As a result, the slope of the upper surface of the locking claw 811A of the stopper member 811 hits the inner edge of the through hole 813 of the pressing member 809, and the stopper member 811 is tilted inward by being pressed by this, and enters the inside of the through hole 813. When the holding member 809 holds down the diaphragm 807 from above, the locking claw 811A of the stopper member 811 moves elastically on the step 813A above the through-hole 813 (ie, the holding member 809 moves down). (Return), the holding member 809 is positioned and fixed to the upper member 801A.

Next, the spring 823 is put into the through hole 821, the lower end thereof is placed on the annular projection 821A, and the spring retaining ring 825 is positioned above the two locking pieces 819 and is pushed down. Thereby, the locking claws 81 of the two locking pieces 819 are formed.
The slope of the upper surface of 9A is pressed against the inner edge of the spring retaining ring 825, the two locking pieces 819 are inclined inwardly by elasticity, the spring retaining ring 825 descends, and the two retaining pieces are elastically activated again. The pieces 819 are tilted outward from each other, and two locking claws 819A are locked on the inner upper surface of the spring retaining ring 825, and thus the spring retaining ring 8
25 is retained by two locking pieces 819, and the spring 823 includes a spring retaining ring 825 and an annular protrusion 821.
Compressed by A. Note that a pair of contact members 829,
831 is attached to the holding member 809 in advance.

According to the above configuration, the distance between the spring retaining ring 825 and the annular projection 821A is constant, and the compression force (repulsion) of the spring 823 falls within a predetermined range. For this reason, the diaphragm 807 is connected to the ink flow path 803.
The support member 81 responds to a negative pressure within a predetermined range of the ink inside.
5 opens a pair of contact members 829 and 831.

Therefore, according to the ink pressure detecting device of the present invention, the pressure to be detected falls within the range in which the remaining amount of ink is stable as shown by the arrow A in FIG. 24 without any adjustment.

Normally, the pressure of the ink in the ink flow path is detected by the ink sensor when the carriage is stopped or while the carriage is running (that is, except when the carriage returns). This is as shown in FIGS. 28A and 28B, when the carriage 851 returns to the left and right sides, as indicated by arrows in the drawing.
Inertia acts on the ink in the ink cartridge 3, and extra pressure is applied to the ink in the ink flow path at the time of the left turn by the influence of the inertia force.
This is because the true remaining amount of ink in the ink cannot be detected.

For reference, FIGS. 30A and 30B are a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional ink pressure detecting device (ink sensor). Reference numeral 859 denotes a flow path member having an ink flow path 861 on the inside, and 863 denotes a pressing member.
65 is held, and a central portion 867A of a supporting member 867 attached to the center of the diaphragm 865 is a pressing member 863.
A ring-shaped adjuster 871 is screwed into the upper portion of the central portion 867A, and the spring 873 is compressed by the adjuster 871 and the annular protrusion 869A at the bottom of the through-hole 869. ,
In a state where the ink in the ink flow path 861 is higher than a predetermined negative pressure, the diaphragm 865 is repelled by the spring 873.
And the support member 867 is pulled up, and the annular projection 869 is raised.
A pair of contact members 875 and 877 located on the lower surface of A are pressed by the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the support member 867 to conduct each other.

According to such a configuration, the ink flow path 86
When the ink in 1 falls below the predetermined negative pressure, the diaphragm 865 responds, and the support member 867 descends, and as a result, the support member separates from the tip of the pair of contact members 875, 877, and thus is separated. A predetermined negative pressure is detected. Therefore, the negative pressure detected by the pair of contact members 875 and 877 corresponds to the repulsive force of the spring 873.

However, in the above-described conventional ink pressure detecting device, extremely troublesome adjustment must be performed in order to set the negative pressure detected at the time of assembly or the like to a predetermined value. That is, if the adjuster 871 is appropriately rotated to compress the spring 873, the negative pressure value to be detected is different. For example, FIG. 29 shows the remaining amount (g) of the ink in the ink cartridge and the value of the negative pressure in the ink flow path. As shown in the diagram showing the relationship with the negative pressure of the ink, the value of the detected negative pressure is 65 ± 5 m.
In order to make it about mAq, the pressure of the spring 873 must be finely adjusted by the adjuster 871, which is extremely troublesome.

(Supply Pipe Connection) FIGS. 31A and 31B show examples of the structure of the ink supply pipe connection.

Here, reference numeral 901 denotes, for example, a rubber joint attached to the main frame 900, and ink supply pipes 703Bk to 703Bk from the ink tanks 701Bk to 701Y.
703Y is fitted, and the communication pipe 9
It has a receiving portion that receives the insertion of 25Bk to 925Y.
The communication trunks 925Bk to 925
A valve body 905 is provided to squeeze the ink flow path so as not to block or leak ink in the non-mounting state of Y, and to open it in the mounting state.

Reference numeral 921 denotes a joint which is connected to the joint 901 on the main body frame 900 side and introduces ink to the recording head side.
3, communication pipe portions 925Bk to 925Y each having a tip portion inserted into the inside and a pipe portion extending rearward, a latch portion 927 engaging with a locking portion 907 provided on the main body frame 900, and An operation section 929 for releasing the engaged state by opening the latch section 927 outward, and FIG.
Are formed integrally by, for example, molding a resin or the like. 915 is a rubber joint member held on the frame part 923, for example, and forms four flow paths inside. At one end of these flow paths, rearwardly extending portions of the communication pipe portions 925Bk to 925Y are inserted, and at the other end, supply pipes 301Bk to 3B to the recording head are provided.
01Y is inserted. Reference numeral 917 denotes “B” provided near the connecting portion of the supply pipe 915 of the joint member 915 to the supply pipe 301 by printing, attaching a seal, or the like.
Supply pipes 301B for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively.
This is a display for preventing erroneous connection of k, 301C, 301M, and 301Y.

When coupling the joint 921 to the joint 901, the joint 921 is advanced in the direction of the arrow from the state of FIG.
The surface portion 927T including the tapered portion is engaged with the locking portion 907, and the latch portion 927 is pushed outward by the mounting operation. When the locking portion 9070 gets over the surface portion 927T, the latch portion 927 is restored by the spring property, and FIG.
As a result, the joint 921 is locked. Further, in this state, the communication pipe portion 925 enters the receiving portion 903 in a state where the valve body 905 is pushed and expanded, and therefore, ink communication between the two joints, that is, ink communication between the ink tank side and the recording head side. Will be done.

By the way, in this mounting operation, the operator performs an erroneous operation, that is, in FIG.
It is conceivable to perform an incorrect mounting operation in which the joint 921 shown in FIG. In order to reliably prevent this with a simple configuration, the present embodiment employs the following configuration.

FIG. 32 is a side sectional view of the ink supply pipe connection portion. In this example, the operating portion 929 and the projection 931 are arranged on one side of the joint 921, and the operating portion 929 has a shape provided with a portion 943 for preventing erroneous mounting. On the other hand, the main body frame 900 has a
In the event of incorrect mounting with the front and back reversed without interfering with
An engaging portion 941 that engages with the third member 3 to prevent the mounting operation is provided. This prevents erroneous mounting of the joint 921 with the front and back surfaces reversed, and prevents inconveniences such as the introduction of different colors of ink into the recording heads provided corresponding to the colors and the occurrence of color mixing. Can be prevented.

In order to prevent erroneous mounting, a portion 94 is required.
3 is provided on the frame portion 923 or the projection 9
31 may be formed by extending the frame inward and standing up from the extended portion.

According to this example, the ink supply pipe can be connected by a simple operation without causing erroneous mounting. However, if the operation section 929 is operated from the state shown in FIG. Since the engagement between the locking portion 927 and the locking portion 907 can be released, the joint 921 can be easily removed. Such ease of removal leads to an improvement in maintenance workability. Also, by this removal, the valve body 905 returns to the state shown in FIG.
No ink leakage occurs.

Considering the improvement in the workability of maintenance involving the removal of the joint 921,
It is strongly desirable not to cause a burden for the operator to pay attention to the place of the removed joint 921 or the like.

Therefore, in this example, as shown in FIG. 33A, a receiving portion 2021 having a hole 2023 for receiving the projection 931 is provided on the side plate 2017. This receiving part 20
The number 21 can be provided as one set corresponding to the number of the projections 931, but can also be provided corresponding to any two pieces that can maintain balance. Further, the disposition portion may be provided at any predetermined position on the side plate 2017, or may be provided at various places.

FIG. 33B shows a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. 33A with the joint 921 mounted thereon. As described above, the projection 931 is received in the hole 2023 and the lower end surface of the frame portion 923 is placed on the upper surface of the receiving portion 2021, so that the joint 921 is stably held. In this state, the end of the communication pipe 925 faces upward, so that no ink leakage occurs.

It should be noted that various configurations for holding the joint 921 can be selected. For example, a gap that appears on the side view between the operation unit 929 and the projection 931 may be used and hooked to an edge of a bar-shaped member or a side plate provided on the side plate 2017 or the like. In this case, the tube 301 is held upside down from the state shown in FIG. 33B due to the presence of the tube 301. However, in order to effectively and easily prevent the unit from falling or falling off, for example, the operation unit 929 is extended. You only have to be there. Even if a fall occurs, the extending portion is located on the side plate 2.
This is because engagement with 017 or the like can prevent further fall.

In the above description, with respect to the ink supply system, a joint having a valve body on the upstream side in the ink supply direction and a joint for opening the valve body in accordance with the insertion on the downstream side are provided. It may be reversed.

Further, such a connection portion can be employed not only in the ink supply system but also in the ink discharge system leading to the waste ink storage portion (provided in the ink tank in this example). .

It is needless to say that appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above example, a recording head, an ink tank, an ink supply system, an ink discharge system, an ink communication member, and the like are provided for inks of different colors. Alternatively, the respective units may be provided corresponding to inks having widely different color tones such as dark and light inks.

(Others) It should be noted that the recording method used in the present invention is a method for generating thermal energy (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) as an energy used for performing ink ejection particularly in an ink jet recording system. etc)
And provides excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which a change in the state of ink is caused by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and the film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis.
This is effective because air bubbles inside can be formed. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. 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. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if 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, in addition to the combination of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an aperture for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Furthermore, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium on which a recording apparatus can record. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, the recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or the electric connection with the apparatus main body or the ink from the apparatus main body is mounted on the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as a configuration of the recording 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 and number of print heads to be mounted, for example, in addition to the print head provided with only one corresponding to a single color ink, it corresponds to a plurality of inks having different print colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet system In general, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. Anything can be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy can be positively prevented by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or ink that solidifies in a standing state to prevent evaporation of the ink can be used. In any case, the ink is liquefied by the application of the thermal energy according to the recording signal, and the ink is liquefied, and the liquid ink is discharged. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink that liquefies for the first time by energy is used. In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60
As described in JP-A-71260, a configuration may be adopted in which a liquid or solid substance is held in a concave portion or through hole of a porous sheet and opposed to an electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to those used as image output terminals of information processing equipment such as computers, copying apparatuses combined with readers and the like, and facsimile apparatuses having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

[0161]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the interval between the ink ejection port of the ink jet recording head and the recording medium during recording can be adjusted according to the thickness of the recording medium. Thus, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of more appropriately adjusting the interval in a state in which the ink jet recording apparatus is close to each other and ensuring high-quality ink jet recording regardless of the size of the moving area of the carriage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, excluding an apparatus cover in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a carriage for explaining an aspect of a setting axis.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a carriage for explaining a mode of a setting axis.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the recording head unit is mounted on a carriage.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a mode of mounting a recording head chip.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining details of a head cover according to the present example.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an aspect of recording head positioning by a head cover according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the position configuration of the sub tank shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the sub tank shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another embodiment of the sub tank.

FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating a configuration example of a connection tube and a tube unit used in an ink supply system.

FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the paper feed mechanism according to the present example when thin paper is conveyed.

FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the paper feed mechanism according to the present example when thick paper is conveyed.

FIG. 16 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the sheet feeding mechanism according to the present example when thin paper is conveyed.

FIG. 17 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the paper feeding mechanism according to the present example when thick paper is conveyed.

FIG. 18 is a schematic side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a recovery unit according to the present example.

19 is a detailed side sectional view of the recovery unit of FIG. 18 and a front view of a pump holding portion thereof.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a recovery unit mainly illustrating an air communication opening / closing mechanism of a cap unit.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a recovery unit mainly illustrating the opening / closing mechanism in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the cap portion retreating mechanism and the like according to the present example.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of a pump used in this example.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view showing an example of a pump drive system.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the timing of operation of each unit of the recovery unit according to the present example.

FIG. 26 is a plan view of an ink tank storage section for explaining an ink tank arrangement according to the present example.

FIG. 27 is a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an example of an ink pressure detecting device used in this example.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram for explaining ink pressure fluctuation due to carriage operation.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the remaining amount of ink and the negative pressure in the ink flow path.

FIG. 30 is a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional ink pressure detecting device shown for comparison with the ink pressure detecting device of the present example.

FIG. 31 is a top view for explaining an example of the configuration of an ink supply pipe connecting portion according to the present example and its operation.

FIG. 32 is a side sectional view of FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view and a side sectional view showing an example of a configuration for holding one joint forming a connecting portion of FIG. 31 on a side wall surface.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 recording head chip 11 front plate 13 supply pipe 15 guide groove 201 carriage body 203 carriage cover 211 position lever 213 guide shaft 215 guide 217 reference plane 221, 223 leaf spring 299 setting axis 300 sub tank 311 tube 321Bk (C, M, Y) , 323Bk (C, M,
Y), 325 Bk (C, M, Y) Connection pipe 331 Tank member 331 Bk (C, M, Y) Storage chamber 333 Middle plate 335 Connection plate 337 C (M), 339 C (M) Connection groove 341 C (M), 343 C ( M) connection hole 400 recovery unit 401 unit housing 403 motor 407 worm 409 worm wheel 420 cap unit 440 pump 450 cam unit 452 lever 461 access lever 471 cap holder 501 air communication hole 601 paper tray 602 spring 604 pickup roller 605 separation plate 606 Paper feed roller 607 Pinch roller 608 Platen 609 Discharge roller 611 Pinch roller holder 613 Carriage rail 614 Spring 701Bk (C, M, Y) Ink tank 703Bk (C, M, Y) Ink supply tube 707Bk (C, M, Y) Waste ink pipe 801 Flow path member 803 Ink flow path 807 Diaphragm 809 Pressing member 819 Hanging piece 823 Spring 825 Spring stop ring 901, 921 Joint 905 Valve body 925 Communication pipe section

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 25/308 B41J 2/05 B41J 2/16

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium using an ink jet recording head that discharges ink from an ink discharge port, comprising: a carriage for moving the ink jet recording head in a predetermined direction along the recording medium; A first adjusting unit provided on the carriage for adjusting an interval between the ink ejection port and the recording medium during recording; and the first adjusting unit is capable of adjusting the interval independently of the first adjusting unit. And a second adjusting means provided on the carriage for further separating the ink ejection port and the recording medium at the time of printing from the distance after being adjusted by the first adjusting means. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first adjusting means and the second adjusting means slidably contact a guide member for guiding the carriage in the predetermined direction, and displace the carriage with respect to the guide member. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment of the interval by the first adjusting unit is performed in accordance with the interval for each of the inkjet recording apparatuses when assembling the inkjet recording apparatus. Recording device. 4. The ink jet recording according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment of the distance by the first adjusting means is performed by using rotation of an eccentric shaft and fixing of the eccentric shaft. apparatus. 5. The inkjet recording according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet recording head includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for discharging ink. apparatus.