JP3029126B2 - 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 using an ink jet head cartridge for discharging ink and a carriage for moving the ink jet head cartridge along the recording medium. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus having a replaceable ink jet head.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a carriage, which is an inkjet head 2a, 2b, 2
c, 2d are mounted, and slide on the scanning rail. A drive motor 8 scans the carriage 1 fixed to the drive belt 10 via a drive pulley 9 and a drive belt 10. Inkjet head 2 according to scanning of carriage 1
Ink is ejected from a, 2b, 2c, and 2d according to an image signal, and an image is recorded on the recording medium 30.

A carriage position indicated by a broken line A indicates a carriage stop position in a non-printing state. Reference numeral 31 denotes cap means for capping the recording head portion of the ink jet head at the carriage stop position A to prevent evaporation of the ink and scattering of the ink when the ink jet head is attached or detached.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a release lever, which is rotated by the release lever 22 shown in FIG.
B, 2C, and 2D are released from the positioning state. The rotation operation at this time is performed manually, and 22a shown in FIG. 5 is a handle portion of the release lever.

[0005]

However, in the configuration shown in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the release lever rotates, as shown in FIG.
Since the release lever handle 22a draws an arc trajectory with a predetermined point as a fulcrum for the outer shape of a, the gap distance between the release lever handle and the inkjet head is not uniform and changes. There was a problem to be solved.

(1) The rotation of the release lever is performed manually, and the amount of the finger applied to the release lever handle is so large that the finger reaches the gap between the release lever and the ink jet head. As the gap distance decreases in the first half of the rotation operation, there is a risk that an object may be stuck, such as a finger being put in between.

(2) In order to prevent the problem (1) above, if the clearance between the release lever and the ink jet head is always maintained at a certain safety value or more, the length of the arm of the release lever must be increased. And the size of the entire apparatus is increased.

[0008]

As a result of intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has shown that, in accordance with the displacement of the lever member, the ink cartridge moves in both directions of approaching and separating from the ink jet head cartridge. It is preferable that the connector on the carriage side is configured so that the shape of the ink jet head cartridge is retracted from the displacement path of the lever member operated when the connector is moved, and has a shape substantially along the displacement path. And came to the knowledge.

The present invention has been made on the basis of the above-mentioned knowledge, and has been made by using an ink-jet head cartridge for discharging ink and a carriage for moving the ink-jet head cartridge along the recording medium. In the ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording, the carriage is mounted on the mounting portion for mounting the ink jet head cartridge, a connector for supplying a recording signal to the ink jet head cartridge, and the mounting portion. A moving mechanism for moving the connector in both directions of approaching and separating from the ink jet head cartridge, and a displaceable cover mechanism for covering the mounting portion with respect to the moving mechanism; For moving the connector according to the displacement A bar member, wherein the ink jet head cartridge is retracted from the displacement path of the lever member in a state where the ink jet head cartridge is placed on the placement section, and is coupled to the connector with an outer shape substantially along the displacement path. A cartridge-side connector,
When the ink jet head cartridge is attached to and detached from the carriage, the lever member is displaced along the outer shape of the ink jet head cartridge, and the connector and the cartridge side are moved by movement of the connector according to the displacement. It is characterized by performing connection or disconnection with the connector.

Further, the lever member of the present invention is a member which is rotationally displaced about a predetermined portion of the moving mechanism, and a part of the ink jet cartridge of the present invention follows the locus of the rotational displacement. Characterized by a curved surface shape.

According to the present invention, the connector moves toward or away from the ink jet head cartridge mounted on the carriage in accordance with the displacement of the lever member, and the ink jet head cartridge is moved to the position of the lever member. By retreating from the displacement path and having a shape substantially along the displacement path, the ink jet head cartridge is not displaced with respect to the mounting portion when the ink jet head cartridge is attached to or detached from the carriage, and the ink jet head cartridge and Since the lever member does not interfere with each other, there is no need to increase the displacement path of the lever member. Further, it is possible to increase the amount of stored ink.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, a carriage 1 for detachably mounting an ink jet head cartridge 2 having an ejection head 3 is slidably mounted on a scanning rail 11, and one of the carriages 1 is supported by a sliding rail 12. The scanning is performed in the direction of arrow S in parallel with the recording medium 30.

In accordance with the scanning of the carriage 1, the ink jet heads 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D (including a plurality of electrothermal transducers (not shown) for forming ink droplets according to image information). The ink supplied from the inside of the ink tank unit 2 is ejected from a plurality of ejection heads (not shown) according to image information, and images such as characters and figures are recorded on the recording medium 30. Then, the recording medium 30 is sequentially conveyed by feed rollers 15, 16, 17, and 18 according to the image recording, and performs image recording.

A guide plate 19 guides the recording medium 30.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a signal wire bundle (flexible cable), which is connected to the ink jet head cartridges 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D via the main body connectors 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d.
The image recording signal is transmitted to the Reference numeral 4 denotes a connector holder which holds the main body connectors 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d and engages with the carriage 1 so as to be movable in the direction of arrow M.

A holding plate 20 is fixed to the connector holder 4 by mounting screws 21a and 21b, and simultaneously fixes the signal wire bundle 14.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a release lever, which is operated by the release lever 22 (described later).
A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are released from the positioning state.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a link plate which is engaged with the release lever 22 and the connector holder 4.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a lock claw, which is a lock spring, and forms lock means for the release lever when the guide is not in contact with the guide portion 33a on the housing 33.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the vicinity of the carriage with respect to the rotation operation of the release lever. Here, the state indicated by a solid line indicates the locked state (positioning state) of the inkjet head cartridge 2 and the broken line indicates the released state of the inkjet head cartridge 2.

In FIG. 2, since the ink-jet corner 2a has a substantially concentric R shape with respect to the movement trajectory of the release lever handle 22a, the release lever handle 22a and the ink-jet head 2 are rotated during the rotation of the release lever 22. Is substantially constant, and the distance can be suppressed to a certain value or less throughout the entire rotation operation range of the release lever.

An example of the interval is an amount that does not cause the finger to be pinched, and is preferably about 10 mm. Of course, the interval may be selected arbitrarily and is not limited to this.

In FIG. 2, the shaft 2 on the connector holder
Numeral 0 is integrally connected to the link plate 23. This axis 20
Is fitted in the slide hole 1e of the carriage 1 and is slidable in the left-right direction. The slide hole 23a of the ring plate 23 is fitted to the carriage shaft 1f, and can slide similarly. The release lever 22 is rotatably fitted integrally with the carriage shaft 1f. At the same time, the dowel 23b of the link plate 23 is fitted with the cam hole 22b of the release lever 22, and when the release lever 22 is rotated from the locked state to the released state, the link plate 23 moves rightward. Therefore, the connector holder 4 integrated with the link plate 23 also moves to the right, the head connector 5 and the main body connector 6 are separated, and the pressure of the push pin 41 is released, so that the ink jet head 2 is released.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the inkjet head 2 is detached from the carriage 1 in a state where the inkjet head 2 is released.

When the ink jet head is released, the connector holder 4 moves rightward. During this move,
The inkjet head cartridge 2 is a rough guide 1d
Abuts on the main body connector 6 and the head connector 5, so that the main connector 6 and the head connector 5 are separated from each other, and at the same time, the push pins 41 are also separated from the ink jet head cartridge 2 to release the pressure of the ink jet head cartridge 2. Is released from the positioning state.

As shown in the figure, when the head connector 5 and the main body connector 6 of the ink jet head cartridge 2 are separated from each other and the push pin 41 is also separated from the ink jet head cartridge 2, the ink jet head cartridge 2 can be attached and detached in the direction of arrow R. Becomes

In the first embodiment, the case where there are a plurality of ink jet heads has been described. However, the same configuration can be adopted even when there is one ink jet head.

(Others) It should be noted that the present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for discharging ink, particularly in an ink jet recording system. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which the state of ink is changed 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 can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuity type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, the liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, to the electrothermal transducer disposed corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path in which is held, This is effective because thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and the film is boiled on the heat-acting surface of the recording head. As a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed in one-to-one correspondence with the drive signal. 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. Examples of the drive signal in the form of a pulse include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,434.
Those described in US Pat. No. 5,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface described above 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. 4,558,833 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 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 JP-A-59-138461 which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification is used. Either a configuration that satisfies the length or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head may be used, but the present invention can more effectively exert the above-described effects.

In addition, the print head is replaceable with a print head of a replaceable chip type, which can be electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus or supplied with ink from the main body of the apparatus, or is integrated with the print head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge-type recording head provided in a fixed manner is used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the print head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as components of the printing apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. To be more specific, a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit, a preheating unit using an electrothermal converter, another heating element, or a combination thereof, for the recording head. ,
Performing a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing is also effective for performing stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be a single recording head or a combination of plural recording heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the description is made using the liquid ink. However, in the present invention, the ink which is solid at room temperature or the ink which becomes soft at room temperature is used. Can be used. In general, in the above-described ink jet device, 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. It is sufficient if the ink is in a liquid state.
In addition, positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy by using the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or use ink that solidifies in a standing state to prevent evaporation of the ink. In any case, heat energy is applied by heat energy, such as one in which ink is liquefied and ejected as an ink liquid by application of heat energy according to a recording signal, or one which already starts to solidify when reaching a recording medium. The use of an ink that liquefies for the first time is also applicable to the present invention. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet, It is good also as a form which opposes an electrothermal transducer. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

[0037]

As described above, according to the displacement of the lever member, the connector moves toward or away from the ink jet head cartridge mounted on the carriage, and the ink jet head cartridge is moved to the lever position. By retreating from the displacement path of the member and having a shape substantially along the displacement path,
Without displacing the inkjet head cartridge with respect to the mounting part when attaching and detaching the inkjet head cartridge to and from the carriage, and because the inkjet head cartridge and the lever member do not interfere with each other,
There is no need to increase the displacement path of the lever member, and the size of the device can be reduced. Further, since the ink jet head cartridge does not move, it is possible to increase the ink storage capacity of the ink jet head cartridge corresponding to the size of the space required for the movement.

Further, since the ink jet head cartridge and the lever member do not interfere with each other, there is a danger that an operator's finger or the like will be pinched between the ink jet head cartridge and the lever member when operating the lever member. Can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 carriage 2 inkjet head 2a inkjet head corner 22 release lever 22a release lever handle

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/01 B41J 2/175

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium using an ink jet head cartridge that discharges ink and a carriage that moves the ink jet head cartridge along a recording medium. A mounting portion for mounting the inkjet head cartridge, a connector for supplying a recording signal to the inkjet head cartridge, and the connector approaching the inkjet head cartridge mounted on the mounting portion. A moving mechanism for moving in both directions of moving and separating directions,
A lever member provided so as to be displaceable so as to cover the mounting portion with respect to the moving mechanism, and a lever member for moving the connector according to the displacement. And a cartridge-side connector that retreats from the displacement path of the lever member and is substantially along the displacement path in a state where the ink-jet head cartridge is connected to the connector. When attaching or detaching the connector, the lever member is displaced along the outer shape of the ink jet head cartridge, and the connection of the connector and the cartridge side connector is disengaged or uncoupled by the movement of the connector according to the displacement. An ink-jet recording apparatus characterized by performing. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lever member is a member that is rotationally displaced about a predetermined position of the moving mechanism, and a part of the ink jet head cartridge has a curved shape along a locus of the rotational displacement. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. The ink jet head cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is capable of mounting a plurality of the ink jet head cartridges, and the lever member is displaced so as to cover the whole of the plurality of ink jet head cartridges. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The ink-jet head cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an electrothermal conversion element for generating thermal energy used for discharging ink. Inkjet recording device.