JP2983990B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an ink cartridge having a recording head for discharging ink to perform recording, and an engaging means for detachably attaching to the recording head. , On a carriage to perform printing.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, various types of recording apparatuses have been developed. For example, an impact type in which an ink ribbon is interposed between a recording head and a recording sheet and a shock is applied to the ink ribbon to perform recording is used. There are disadvantages such as noise due to impact and difficulty in increasing the recording density. In the thermal type, it is easy to reduce the size of the head portion and increase the recording density, but on the other hand, a thermal paper must be used, and plain paper cannot be used. Furthermore, in the thermal transfer method, an ink ribbon is interposed between a recording head and a recording sheet, and recording is performed by applying heat thereto.However, in the case of paper with a rough surface, clear recording cannot be expected, The running cost is high and the recording speed is also problematic.

In contrast to the above, an ink jet recording apparatus supplies ink to a recording head from a tank containing ink and selectively discharges ink from a discharge port provided in the head to perform recording. Thus, recording can be performed without directly contacting the recording head with the recording sheet, so that clear recording can be obtained without being affected by the roughness of the paper surface.

In particular, in the case of the ink jet system, high-density ejection ports are relatively easy to perform, so that high-precision recording is possible. In addition, the head can be easily miniaturized. Color recording can be performed clearly. By the way, this type of ink jet recording apparatus generally includes a replaceable cartridge containing ink, that is, an ink cartridge, and supplies ink from the ink cartridge to the recording head via a supply pipe. Not only is it complicated and affects the assembly cost of the device, but also it is difficult to reduce the size of the entire device.

Furthermore, when the supply pipe is a flexible pipe, if it is left or shaken during movement, air enters the supply pipe,
For this reason, there is a possibility that non-ejection of ink may occur, so that it is necessary to provide a sub tank as a trap near the recording head. In addition, when inks of different qualities, for example, inks having different colors, colorant concentrations, viscosities and solvents are exchanged and used, it is necessary to wash and dry not only the recording head but also the supply pipe. It is difficult for a user to use different inks.

Therefore, there is an ink jet recording apparatus in which the recording head and the ink storage section are integrally formed and are detachably attached to the carriage so as to be exchangeable, as shown in FIG. Here, 101 is a disposable print head unit in which a print head and an ink storage unit are integrally formed, 101A is an ink discharge unit thereof, 101B is an ink storage unit, and 110 is a carriage on which the print head unit 101 is mounted and moves. And 111, lock levers for fixing the recording head unit 101 to the carriage 110.

However, the recording head unit 10 as shown in FIG.
In the case of 1, since the ink storage unit 101B is configured in the unit 101, if the capacity of the ink storage unit 101B is small, the entire unit 101 must be replaced before the life of the recording head itself is reached. Costly.
If the capacity of the ink storage unit 101B is increased, a large load is required for the carriage motor, which is not suitable for high-speed printing.

Therefore, although not shown, there is disclosed a device in which an ink injection section is provided in the ink storage section, and when the ink runs out, ink is supplied from the ink injection section. According to the present invention, although the above-mentioned problems are solved, on the other hand, when the user injects the ink from the injecting section, the ink may overflow or spill, thereby soiling the hands, clothes, and documents.

Further, the recording head unit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,274 is one in which an ink cartridge 202 containing ink can be exchanged for a head unit 201 as shown in FIGS. A head element, 204 is an ink discharge unit, 205 is an electrode, 206 is an ink supply tube, 207 is a connector, and 208 is a support member that detachably holds the ink cartridge 202 and replaceably mounts the head element 203.

In such a recording head unit 201, since the ink cartridge 202 is replaceable, the ink cartridge 202 may be small, and it is needless to say that the load of the carriage drive motor can be reduced in a serial printer equipped with an ink cartridge. Since the ink cartridge 202 can be replaced without injecting the ink, the ink does not spill at the time of the injection.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-described conventional ink cartridge, since it is configured to be detachable via the support member 208, the ink cartridge 202 may be replaced when the ink runs out. Element 203 also supports 2
Since the head element 203 has reached the end of its service life, it must be
8, it is troublesome, and there is a risk that the ink and the surroundings may be stained when removing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to focus on the conventional problems as described above, and in order to solve the problem, the recording head can be easily separated from the recording head at the time of replacement. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can easily be replaced.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a recording head unit that performs recording by discharging ink, and an engaging unit that is detachable from the recording head unit. An ink cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by mounting the ink cartridge on a carriage, provided on the carriage,
A lock that allows the recording head unit and the ink cartridge to be integrally detachable by fixing and mounting the recording head unit and the ink cartridge on the carriage in a non-separable state while detaching the fixing. It is characterized by having a lever.

Here, it is conceivable that the inkjet recording apparatus is provided with a head holding member for engaging and fixing the recording head unit to the carriage.

The direction in which the head holding member disengages the carriage from the recording head is set to the same direction as the direction in which the ink cartridge is disengaged from the recording head by the engaging means, and the engaging force of the head holding member is set. It is conceivable to set the engagement force by the engagement means to be stronger.

[Operation] According to the present invention, the recording head is normally mounted on the carriage in a state of being mounted on the recording head, but when the recording head is removed, the recording head is engaged with the ink cartridge via the engaging means. At least, the recording head cannot be removed alone, and the two cannot be separated unless the recording head is removed together with the ink cartridge. However, both can be replaced very easily.

Further, according to the present invention, the recording head unit and the ink cartridge are fixedly mounted on the carriage in a state where the recording head unit and the ink cartridge are mounted by the fixing and holding means, and the recording head unit and the ink cartridge are integrally formed in response to the release of the fixing. By being removable, the recording head unit and the ink cartridge do not independently and inadvertently come off the carriage independently, and when the recording head unit and the ink cartridge are removed, they cannot be removed unless they are both integral. The ink in the ink cartridge does not scatter on the carriage.

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

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Here, 1 is an ink cartridge mounted on the carriage 3 together with the recording head unit 2, 4 and 5 are guide shafts and guide rails for moving the carriage 3 along the platen 6, and 7 is a recording sheet (not shown). A paper feed roller for feeding, 8 a pinch roller for contacting the roller 7 and holding the recording sheet therebetween, 9 for a discharge roller, 10 for contacting the discharge roller 9 and cooperating when discharging the recording sheet, 11 for a recovery system, Reference numeral 12 denotes a flexible cable having a signal line for supplying a recording signal to the recording head unit 2.

Here, the recording head unit 2 and the ink cartridge 1
Is securely held on the carriage 3 by the lock lever 13. FIG. 2 shows a state where the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the carriage 3 together with the recording head unit 2. That is, the ink cartridge 1 and the recording head unit 2 are combined into one block form in a state of being overlapped as shown in FIG. 2, and the entire surface of the recording head unit 2 is placed on the positioning wall 3A protruding from the carriage 3. Positioned in contact with
It is fixed by the lock lever 13.

2A is an engagement hole formed in the upper surface of the recording head unit 2, 2B is an ink ejection port, 2C is a common liquid chamber, 2D is a flow path, and one ink cartridge 1 is associated with the above-described engagement hole 2A. It has an ink supply hole 1C that fits in a liquid-tight manner with the engaging claw 1A, the ink tank 1B, and the protruding end 2E of the liquid path 2D. Here, the locking claw 1A of the ink cartridge 1 and the recording head 2
The engagement hole 2A constitutes an engagement means for coupling the ink cartridge 1 and the recording head unit 2. It is desirable that the shape of the engagement hole 2A and the shape of the locking claw 1A be such that they are easily fitted to each other and hardly come off. As shown in FIG. 3, a stopper as a resilient head holding member for engaging the stepped portion of the recording head unit 2 and fixing the recording head unit 2 to the carriage 3 is provided on the carriage 3. The members 3B are erected from both sides.

In the combination of the recording head unit 2 and the ink cartridge 1 configured as described above, the recording head unit 2 is positioned while the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the recording head unit 2, and is held by the stopper member 3B. The entire unit combining the recording head unit 2 and the ink cartridge 1 can be fixedly mounted on the carriage 3 by extending the lock lever 13 as the fixing and holding means according to the above from above the ink cartridge 1.

Here, the recording head 2 of the ink cartridge 1
The attachment to the carriage 3 is such that a coupling force stronger than the holding force of the stopper member 3B holding the recording head unit 2 to the carriage 3 is maintained in the same disengagement direction.
To remove the ink cartridge 1, simply release the locked state by the lock lever 13 to easily remove the ink cartridge 1 from the recording head unit 2.
Therefore, the two can be easily separated after removing both of them, for example, regardless of whether the ink cartridge 1 is replaced or the recording head unit 2 is replaced. Also, no matter what happens, only the recording head unit 2 is not removed from the carriage 3.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In the case of this example, an elastic engaging piece 1D protruding from the ink cartridge 1 is locked in a stepped locking concave portion 2F provided in the print head unit 2. The carriage 2 is held between the front positioning wall 3A and the rear positioning wall 3C in a state where the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the unit 2, and is locked by the lock lever 13 so as not to come out. When the ink cartridge 1 is removed from the carriage 3 except for the restraint by the lock lever 13 and the ink cartridge 1 is pulled up, the recording head unit 2 is engaged with the engaging recess 2F engaged with the engaging piece 1D.
Is also raised at the same time. Here, the engaging piece 1D of the ink cartridge 1 and the locking recess 2F of the recording head 2 are used.
Constitutes an engagement means for engaging the ink cartridge 1 with the recording head unit 2.

FIG. 5 is a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. That is, in the case of this example, a locking claw 2F as an engagement means is provided upright on the upper surface of the recording head portion 2, and an engagement hole as an engagement means is provided at a position corresponding to the engagement claw 2F. The other structure is the same as that of FIG. In this embodiment, the ink cartridge 1 is also provided in the same manner as the other embodiments.
In addition, mounting and removal of the recording head unit 2 can be performed.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, the recording head unit and the ink cartridge are fixedly mounted on the carriage in a non-separable state while the recording head and the ink cartridge are mounted by the lock lever provided on the carriage. By releasing the fixing, the recording head unit and the ink cartridge can be integrally detachable,
Since the recording head and the ink cartridge do not come off the carriage independently and inadvertently, and when the recording head and the ink cartridge are removed, they must be removed if they are not integral with each other. Never splatter.

Further, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the ink cartridge is detachably mounted on the recording head and mounted on the carriage together with the recording head, so that removal of only the recording head from the carriage is prohibited. Therefore, both the recording head and the ink cartridge can be easily replaced, and can be mounted on the carriage in a compact form together with the recording head, so that the load on the carriage drive motor can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are cross-sectional views and front views showing an example of the configuration of the ink cartridge of the present invention, FIG. 4 and FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a second embodiment and a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional recording head unit with an ink storage unit, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are conventional recording heads. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an ink cartridge integrated with the ink cartridge. 1 ... ink cartridge, 1A ... locking claw (engaging means), 1B ... ink tank, 1C ... ink supply hole, 1D ... engaging piece, 1F ... engaging hole (engaging means), 1G: positioning shaft, 1H: loose fitting hole, 2: recording head, 2A: engaging hole (engaging means), 2B: ink discharge port, 2C: common liquid chamber, 2D: liquid Road 2E Projecting end 2F Locking claw (engaging means) 3 Carriage 3A, 3C Positioning wall 3B Stopper member (head holding member) 13 Lock lever (Fixed holding means).

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Tetsuo Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-60-204331 (JP, A) JP-A-61 -230939 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 3/04

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a recording head section for performing recording by discharging ink; and an ink cartridge having an engaging means for detachably attaching to the recording head section. In the apparatus, a lock lever is provided on the carriage, and the recording head unit and the ink cartridge are mounted on the carriage by means of the lever portion. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a head portion and the ink cartridge can be integrally detachable. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a head holding member for engaging and fixing said recording head to said carriage. 3. A direction in which the head holding member disengages the carriage from the recording head unit in the same direction as the direction in which the ink cartridge disengages from the recording head unit by the engaging means. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the engaging force by said engaging means is stronger than the engaging force by the member.