JP2898118B2 - INK JET RECORDING APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT USING THE APPARATUS - 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 and an electronic apparatus using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording apparatus having functions such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile, or a recording apparatus used as an output apparatus of an electronic apparatus such as a multifunction machine including a computer, a word processor or a computer, and a workstation is used to output image information. It is configured to record an image on a recording material such as a sheet or a thin plastic plate based on the image.
The recording apparatus is an ink jet type,
It can be classified into a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type and the like.

[0003] Among them, the ink jet type (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, so that the recording means can be easily made compact and high definition. Images can be recorded at high speed, can be recorded on plain paper without requiring special processing, and because it is a non-impact method, there is little noise, and color images can be formed using multicolor inks. It has advantages such as easy recording. Above all, a line-type apparatus using a line-type recording means in which a large number of ejection openings are arranged in the paper width direction can further increase the recording speed.

[0004] In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for discharging ink by using thermal energy,
Through a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, sputtering, etc., an electrothermal converter, an electrode,
By forming the liquid path wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a device having a high-density liquid path arrangement (discharge port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. On the other hand, there are various requirements for the material of the recording material,
In recent years, ordinary recording materials such as paper and resin thin plates (OHP
Etc.), thin paper and processed paper (paper with perforated holes for perforation, perforated paper, paper of any shape, etc.) have come to be required.

In a serial type ink jet recording apparatus adopting a recording method in which a main scanning is performed in a direction crossing a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and then the recording is performed. An image is recorded (main scanning) by a recording unit mounted on a carriage moving along the material, and after a recording of one line is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (pitch conveyance), and then the next line is recorded. By repeating the operation of recording an image (main scanning), image recording of the entire recording material is performed. On the other hand, in a line type ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording only in the sub-scanning direction in the transport direction of the recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and recording is performed for one line at a time. By performing a fixed amount of paper feed (pitch feed) and repeating the operation of collectively recording the next line, image recording of the entire recording material is performed.

[0006] In both the serial type and line type ink jet recording apparatuses,
After the recording material is fed and set at a predetermined position (a cueing position) opposite to the ink discharge unit of the recording means, the above-described recording operation is started. In the case of an ink jet recording apparatus using a plurality of recording means, such as for color recording,
The same recording operation as described above is performed for each recording unit.

Therefore, in an electronic apparatus using a conventional ink jet recording apparatus, ink leaks from the inside of the recording apparatus, for example, from a recording head, an ink tank, a connection portion of an ink supply tube connecting the recording head and the ink tank, and the like. As a countermeasure against unexpected ink leakage, generally, an ink absorbing member made of a polymer material or a pulp material is provided at a position near the recording device of the case, and the ink absorbing member absorbs the unexpectedly leaked ink. By
The function of preventing the leakage of ink to the outside is further improved. As the ink absorbing member, a member manufactured by shooting a sheet-shaped member is generally used.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the cost for attaching the ink absorbing member to the device body case increases, and the ink absorbing member cannot be formed into a complicated desired shape. There are problems to be solved such as restrictions on space design. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a configuration for capturing and holding unexpected leakage ink from an ink ejection unit or the like, and to add another component. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can be realized with a structure having high space efficiency and an electronic apparatus using the apparatus.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium using an ink jet recording head for discharging ink from an ink discharge port. A plurality of grooves that open upward are integrally formed in an apparatus housing located below a recording area where recording is performed on the recording medium by a head, and the grooves hold the ink therein by the surface tension of the ink. It is characterized by being formed with a width that can be adjusted. According to the invention of claims 2 to 4, in addition to the constitution of claim 1, the tops of the projections separating the adjacent grooves are sharpened, and the projections separating the adjacent grooves are adjacent to each other. The above-mentioned object is achieved more efficiently by having a configuration having a communicating portion for communicating the grooves or a configuration in which the grooves are formed in a ring shape. The invention of claim 7 is the invention of claims 1 to 6
The above object is achieved by an electronic device equipped with the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the above.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of an electronic device using an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 and 2, 1a is a lower case of the electronic device main body, 1b is an upper case of the electronic device main body, 2 is a roll-shaped recording material (recording paper or the like),
3 is a recording material holder for rotatably holding the recording material 2, 4 is a keyboard for inputting data and the like to an electronic device, 5 is an inkjet recording device mounted in the electronic device, and 6 is an inkjet recording device. The recording unit (recording head) of the recording device 5. The inkjet recording device 5
Indicates a serial type in which an image (such as printing) is recorded by reciprocating the recording head 6 along the recording material 2. 1 and 2, reference numeral 7 denotes an arithmetic circuit board, 8 denotes a flexible cable for supplying a print control signal from the arithmetic circuit board 7 to the printhead 6, and 9 is connected to and controlled by the arithmetic circuit board 7. A display device.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a plurality of grooves 10 capable of holding ink are provided on the inner surface of a case member (the lower case 1a in the illustrated example) near the recording device 5. It is formed integrally. This groove 10
Is for holding ink that leaks unexpectedly from the recording head 6, the ink tank, or a connection portion of an ink supply tube connecting these. The groove 1
0 is formed in a range corresponding to substantially the entire moving range of the recording head 6. Reference numeral 11 denotes an ink ejection unit of the recording unit (recording head) 6, and reference numeral 12 denotes the recording head 6.
Shows a carriage on which the recording material 2 is reciprocated in the width direction of the recording material 2 along a guide rail or the like.

The recording head (recording means) 6 includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink. Specifically, the electrothermal converter is The ink is ejected from the ejection port based on a change in the state of the ink including the generation of bubbles due to film boiling generated in the ink by the generated thermal energy. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view schematically illustrating the structure of the ink ejection unit 11 of the recording head 6. In FIG. 3, the recording material 1
A plurality of discharge ports 52 are formed at a predetermined pitch on a discharge port surface 51 facing the apparatus at a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 1.5 mm). Exit 52
An electrothermal converter (heat generating resistor or the like) 55 for generating energy for ink ejection is provided along the wall surface of each liquid path 54 communicating with the liquid passage 54. In the ink jet recording apparatus 5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the recording head 6 is arranged such that the plurality of ejection ports 52 are aligned in a direction intersecting the main scanning direction (moving direction) of the carriage 12. 12 is mounted. In this manner, the corresponding electrothermal transducer 55 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid passage 54 to boil, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port 52 by the pressure generated at that time. Recording means (recording head) 6 is configured.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of the first embodiment of the ink retaining groove 10, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the groove 10 taken along line 5-5 shown in FIG. . 4 and 5, a plurality of (seven in the illustrated example) parallel ribs 13 are integrally formed on the inner surface of the lower case 1a, so that a plurality of gaps (grooves) are provided between the ribs 13. 14 are formed. The groove 10 is provided at a position directly below the recording device 5. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the ink 15 drops due to unexpected leakage from the ink discharge unit 11 of the recording head 6 or the like, the ink 15 enters the gaps 14 between the respective ribs 13 and is caused by surface tension. It is held in the gap 14.

The cross-sectional shape of each rib 13 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is rectangular, and its size is preferably selected to an optimum value in consideration of the viscosity and specific gravity of the ink. In the case of a general ink to be used, the gap width dimension A has an optimum value of 3 mm or less.
The depth B of 4 is determined by space constraints,
The larger the value, the more the ink holding amount can be increased.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of the groove 10 according to a second embodiment. In FIG. 6, the gaps (grooves) 14 between a plurality of ribs 13 having a concentric circular planar arrangement are shown. A groove 10 is formed. Other configurations of the present embodiment are substantially the same as those of the above-described first embodiment. FIG.
According to the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, each of the ink holding grooves 14 is closed, and therefore, compared to the first embodiment, the ink holding force of each of the grooves 14 in the groove direction is different from that of the first embodiment. Could be further enhanced.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of a third embodiment of the above-mentioned groove 10. In FIG. 7, a groove is formed by a plurality of gaps (grooves) 14 between a plurality of ribs 13 having a square planar arrangement. 10 are formed. Other configurations of this embodiment are substantially the same as those of the above-described second embodiment. According to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7, each of the grooves 14 for holding ink is closed. Therefore, as in the case of the above-described second embodiment, the ink holding force of each groove 14 in the groove direction can be further increased. Can be.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of the groove 10 according to a fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, a plurality of parallel ribs 13 are used.
The same as the first embodiment in that the grooves 10 for holding ink are constituted by a plurality of gaps (grooves) 14 between the first and second embodiments. The point is that connection grooves 16 are formed at positions of the ribs 13 at predetermined intervals so as to communicate between adjacent gaps (grooves) 14. According to the fourth embodiment of FIG. 8, the leaked ink is continuously (or concentrated) in the area of a certain groove (gap) 14 in the groove row.
When the ink is dropped on the groove 1, the dropped ink travels along the connecting groove 16 and enters the adjacent groove.
The ink holding amount of 0 can be increased.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the structure of the groove 10 according to a fifth embodiment. In the first to fourth embodiments described above,
Although the grooves 14 having a square cross section are formed by the ribs 13 having a square cross section, in the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the cross section (groove) 14 having a trapezoidal cross section is formed between the ribs 13 by forming the cross section of each rib 13 into a triangular mountain shape. Are formed. When the cross section of the rib 13 is square as in the first to fourth embodiments, the ink droplet 15 may remain on the upper surface of the rib 13 as shown in the reference diagram of FIG. According to the fifth embodiment, since there is no flat portion at the upper end of each rib 13, the possibility that such residual ink is generated can be eliminated.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the structure of the groove 10 according to a sixth embodiment. In the present embodiment, a gap (groove) 14 having a V-shaped cross section is formed between the ribs 13 by forming the cross section of each rib 13 into a triangular mountain shape having a wider width than that of FIG. According to the sixth embodiment, since there is no flat portion at the upper end of each rib 13, it is possible to eliminate the possibility that the ink 15 remains on the upper surface of the rib 13 as in the case of the fifth embodiment.

In each of the above embodiments of the groove 10, a plurality of convex ribs 1 are provided on the inner surface of the case member (lower case 1a).
3, the groove 14 for holding the ink was formed between them, and the groove 14
Can be provided by directly forming a concave groove on the inner surface of the case member without forming the same. With such a concave groove, the same effect as in each of the above-described embodiments can be achieved.

In each of the embodiments described above, the case where only the groove 10 for holding ink is provided is described. However, the present invention can be implemented by using the above-described groove 10 and the ink absorbing member in combination. FIG. 12 is a sectional view of an embodiment in which the groove 10 and the ink absorbing member 20 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are used together. FIG.
2, an ink absorbing member 20 made of a porous material, a pulp material, or the like and having excellent ink absorbability is bonded to the upper surface of the groove 10 provided in the case member by bonding or the like. The ink absorbing member 20 may be provided in the entire area of the groove 10, or may be provided partially in some cases.
The shape of the ink absorbing member 20 can be freely selected. In addition to joining a plate-shaped member as shown in the figure, the ink-absorbing member 20 can catch ink dripping, such as a member having a rib portion fitted into each groove portion 14. If possible, various shapes can be selected.

According to each of the embodiments described above, since the groove 10 is formed integrally with the case member (lower case 1a) of the electronic device at a position near the ink jet recording apparatus 5, no extra components are required. An electronic device equipped with an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reliably capturing and holding ink that unexpectedly leaks from the ink jet recording apparatus with a low-cost configuration and easily performing a space-efficient design was obtained. . Further, by using the ink absorbing member 20 together with the groove 10, a more efficient ink holding means could be provided.

In the above embodiment, an example of an electronic apparatus in which the recording means (recording head) 6 is mounted on the carriage 12 and a serial type ink jet recording apparatus for performing main scanning along the recording material 2 is mounted. As explained in the above,
The present invention can be similarly applied to a case where a line type ink jet recording apparatus using a line type recording unit corresponding to the whole or a part of the recording width of the recording material is mounted, and the same effect is achieved. Can be done. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where recording is performed by one recording unit 6 has been described as an example. Any inkjet recording device, such as a recording device for gradation recording using a plurality of different recording means, can be similarly applied regardless of the number of recording means, and can achieve the same function and effect. It is. Further, as the recording means (recording head), a replaceable cartridge type recording means in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated, or the recording head and the ink tank are separated from each other, for example, connected via a coupler and a tube. Recording means having various structures, such as a recording means having such a structure, can be used.

The present invention can be applied to, for example, a device using a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element if the recording device mounted on the electronic device is an ink jet recording device. However, the present invention brings about an excellent effect in an ink jet recording apparatus of a type in which ink is ejected using thermal energy.
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.
Preferably, this is done using the basic principles disclosed in US Pat. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which Then, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and the film is boiled on the heat acting surface of the recording means (recording head). As a result, air bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed one-to-one corresponding to the driving signal. It is valid.

By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and shrinkage 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, US Pat.
Those described in 463359 and 4345262 are suitable. In addition, US Pat. No. 4,431,131 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in the specification of JP-A No. 24 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 123670/1984 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 pressure waves of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, the recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, 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 with the serial type printer as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main unit or attached to the main unit enables electrical connection with the main unit and supply of ink from the main unit. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip type print head or a cartridge type print head having an ink tank provided integrally with the print head itself is used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the print head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as a configuration of the printing apparatus in the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If you list these specifically,
For the recording head, a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressurizing or suctioning unit, a preheating unit using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof, and a discharge other than recording. Performing the preliminary ejection mode is also effective for performing stable printing.

The type and number of recording heads to be mounted are, for example, not only one provided for a single color ink, but also a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. May be provided in plurality. That is, for example, as the recording mode of the recording apparatus, not only the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black,
The recording head may be formed integrally or by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, but the present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of multiple colors of different colors or full color by mixing colors.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet ink In general, in the method, the temperature of the ink itself is adjusted 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. What is necessary is just to be liquid. in addition,
Whether to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or use ink that solidifies in a standing state to prevent evaporation of the ink In any case, the ink is liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal, and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time by thermal energy, such as one that starts to solidify when it reaches a recording medium, is used.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a form in which the liquid sheet or the solid sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter while being held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It may be. 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 according to the present invention may be used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, or a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. And the like.

[0034]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording on a recording medium using an ink jet recording head which discharges ink from an ink discharge port. A plurality of grooves that open upward are integrally formed in an apparatus housing located below a recording area where recording is performed on the recording medium by a head, and the grooves hold the ink therein by the surface tension of the ink. Because it is configured to have a width that can be held, a plurality of grooves that can hold the ink by the surface tension of the ink itself are integrally formed in the lower device housing, so that unexpected leakage of ink from the ink ejection unit etc. Configuration that captures and holds the object without additional components and with a space-efficient structure. An ink jet recording apparatus is provided. According to the second to fourth aspects of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
In addition to the configuration, the top of each protrusion separating the adjacent grooves is sharpened, the protrusion separating each adjacent groove has a communication portion communicating the adjacent grooves, or Since the groove is formed in a ring shape, an ink jet recording apparatus capable of achieving the above effects more efficiently is provided. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus equipped with the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, so that unexpected leakage ink from an ink ejection unit or the like is captured and held. Electronic device that can realize the configuration for the above without adding any other components and with a structure with high space efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of an electronic apparatus using an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view schematically showing a structure of an ink ejection unit of a recording unit of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a first embodiment of an ink holding groove provided in an electronic apparatus using the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the groove of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing a second embodiment of an ink holding groove provided in an electronic apparatus using the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing a third embodiment of the ink holding groove.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the ink holding groove.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the ink holding groove.

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view showing a sixth embodiment of the ink holding groove.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a state of residual ink in the ink holding groove of FIG. 5;

12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the ink holding groove and the ink absorbing member in FIG. 5 are used together.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a Lower case 1b Upper case 2 Recording material 4 Keyboard 5 Inkjet recording device 6 Recording means (recording head) 10 Ink holding groove 11 Ink ejection unit (recording head) 12 Carriage 13 Rib (for forming groove) 14 Gap (groove) 15 ink 16 connecting groove 20 ink absorbing member

Claims (7)

(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, wherein the ink jet recording head is positioned below a recording area where recording is performed on the recording medium. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a plurality of grooves that open upward are integrally formed in an apparatus housing to be formed, and the grooves are formed with a width capable of holding the ink by the surface tension of the ink. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tops of the projections separating the adjacent grooves are sharpened. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projections separating the adjacent grooves each have a communication portion communicating the adjacent grooves. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the groove is formed in an annular shape. 5. The ink-jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the ink-jet recording head includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for discharging ink. apparatus. 6. The ink jet recording head according to claim 5, wherein the ink jet recording head discharges ink from an ink discharge port using film boiling generated by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal transducer. Ink jet recording device. 7. An electronic apparatus comprising the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1.