JP3277675B2 - Ink jet recording apparatus and method for managing ink jet recording head of ink jet recording 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 a method for managing an ink jet recording head, and more particularly to an apparatus having an ink jet recording head having a plate and a method for preventing drying and dust prevention of an ink discharge element of the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet recording system, if an ink discharge port is left open to the atmosphere for a long period of time, ink in a nozzle dries and it becomes difficult to maintain image quality. Therefore, as one of means for solving this kind of problem, when the recording head is in a non-printing state, the periphery of the ink discharge port is sealed with an elastic cap for the head. However, when the ink discharge port (nozzle) is sealed with the elastic cap, the cap itself is deformed by the pressure contact pressure, and the ink in the ink discharge port is pushed up into the discharge port due to a rise in pressure in the cap chamber due to the deformation. In some cases, printing was not possible.

[0003] Therefore, a part of the elastic cap is provided with an air communication port having a relatively small diameter, which is different from the opening that comes into contact with the periphery of the nozzle, and the cap is pressed against the periphery of the nozzle to increase the pressure due to pressure contact to the communication hole. There is a configuration in which the pressure fluctuation is minimized by closing the atmosphere communication port after the above is solved. In addition, in the ink jet recording system, vacuum is also performed in which ink is sucked from nozzles by a negative pressure generated by a suction operation of a pump through an elastic cap to stabilize the ejection state of a head. Further, the air communication port plays a role of removing the sucked ink from the recording head surface or the inside of the cap by opening during the generation of the negative pressure.

[0004]

However, in the case of the system in which the air communication hole is provided to adjust the pressure in the cap, means for selectively opening and closing the air communication port is required, which leads to an increase in the number of parts. This has led to increased costs. Further, the recording head of the inkjet recording apparatus needs to periodically clean the ink discharge ports (nozzle portions) to maintain the image quality. Normal cleaning means wipes and cleans ink by sliding a nozzle surface with a rubber wiper blade. However, there has been a problem that static electricity is generated by the swing of the blade, and dust in the air, paper dust generated during printing, and the like are attracted to the recording head surface.

Accordingly, the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and a method for managing an ink jet recording head which can prevent drying of the ink of the ink jet recording head and maintain the image quality at the start of printing. Further, the present invention provides an economical ink jet recording apparatus with a reduced number of parts. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus in which dust is reliably removed by cleaning. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for managing an ink jet recording head that can easily maintain a reliable image quality with a simple operation.

[0006]

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has at least an opening surrounding an ink ejection element, and the ink ejection element and the opening are fitted to each other and arranged on a front surface of a base and an ink supply member in an ink ejection direction. An ink jet recording head having a plate groove formed by recessing the plate surface in the vicinity of the opening, a driving unit for driving the ink jet recording head in the main scanning direction, and a non-printing ink jet recording head. The apparatus includes a configuration including an elastic cap that covers the ink ejection element when in the position, and a suction unit that suctions ink from the ink ejection port in the ejection direction through the elastic cap. here,
The plate is made of anti-static plastic molding,
The upper portion of the opening facing the ink supply member is recessed to form an ink liquid chamber for supplying ink to the ink ejection element, and further, with respect to the ink ejection direction than the ink ejection port surface of the ink ejection element. It is configured to be disposed at the same or retracted position.

When the ink jet recording head moves to the non-printing position, the elastic cap has a structure in which one side thereof is pressed against a plate groove of a plate of the ink jet recording head.

Further, the elastic cap has a structure in which the wall thickness of a part of the side wall surrounding the ink discharge port is made thinner than the wall thickness of the other part, and the suction means is operated. It is equipped with a configuration in which the thin side wall moves in the negative pressure direction when

When the ink jet recording head moves to the non-printing position, the side wall of the elastic cap having a reduced thickness is formed on the plate of the ink jet recording head.
The ink jet recording head is driven in the main scanning direction, and a plate is formed from a position where at least one side of the elastic cap is pressed onto the plate groove of the plate of the ink jet recording head. A configuration is provided in which the inkjet recording head is moved to a position where the entire groove is covered with the elastic cap.

According to a method of managing an ink jet recording head of the present invention, an ink jet recording head having a groove formed in proximity to an ink ejection element is driven in the main scanning direction to eject ink from the ink ejection element in accordance with a recording signal. Printing, moving the ink jet recording head to the non-printing position during non-printing, and covering the ink ejection element by contacting the elastic cap with the concave groove for the ink jet recording head at the non-printing position. And a step of moving the ink jet recording head to a position where the concave groove of the ink jet recording head is covered with the elastic material cap, and further, when the suction means is operated, the side wall of the elastic material cap has a negative pressure. In a direction to open the concave groove of the ink jet recording head.

[0011]

When an ink jet recording head having a plurality of ink ejection ports for ejecting ink moves to a non-printing position and abuts on the elastic cap, when the tip of the cap is joined to the groove of the plate, the inside of the cap becomes concave. It communicates with the atmosphere through the groove, and the change in the internal pressure of the cap is eliminated. Then drive the inkjet recording head in the main scanning direction, slide on the cap, and enclose the groove in the cap,
The inside of the cap is shut off from the outside air, and the ink ejection element of the ink jet recording head is prevented from drying or adhering dust. Further, if the thickness of one side wall of the elastic cap is configured to be thin, at the time of suction, the thinned side wall is deformed by the negative pressure generated in the cap chamber, and the groove formed on the plate is opened to open the inside of the cap to the atmosphere. To facilitate the ink suction action. Further, a plate formed of an antistatic plastic molded product prevents dust from adhering.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the components of an ink jet recording head of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base mounting surface of a front plate, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the ink jet recording head of the present invention. 4 is a view as seen from the direction of arrows aa in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a view as seen from the direction of arrows bb in FIG. The ink jet recording head of the present invention generally denoted by reference numeral 100 includes a base 110 functioning as a heat sink, and a plurality of ink ejection ports 122 joined by an adhesive on a mounting portion 112 formed at the front end of the base 110. Discharge element 120 provided. A substrate 130 for transmitting a recording signal to the ink ejection element 120 is mounted on the base 110, and the substrate 130 and the ink ejection element 120 are connected by a bonding wire 132. An ink supply member 140 is adhered to the upper surface of the base 110. Attachment section 11 supporting ink ejection element 120
The front surface of the base 110 and the ink supply member 140 including the second 2 are covered with a plate 150.

The plate 150 is a member made of a plastic material having an antistatic effect by blending about 10% of a conductive material such as carbon with the plastic material. The volume resistivity of plastic is generally 10 ¹⁸ (Ω · cm). However, in the case of an antistatic resin containing carbon, the volume resistivity is reduced to 10 ⁵ (Ω · cm). Become.

The front plate 150 made of a plastic material having an antistatic effect is composed of a base 11
0 and the main body 15 located in front of the ink recording member 140
2 and a bent portion 154 extending from the lower end of the main body 152 to the lower surface of the base 110 to cover the base 110. A concave portion is formed in a joint portion of the bent portion 154 with the main body portion 152 to form an adhesive receiving groove 159. The main body 152 of the plate 150 has an opening 155 for receiving the ink ejection element 120 and the support 112 of the base 110 that supports the ink ejection element 120. A triangular concave portion is provided above the opening 155 and on the side of the main body 152 where the bent portion 154 is provided (the rear surface of the main body) to form an ink liquid chamber 160. Front plate 1
Surface 1 opposite to the surface on which the 50 ink liquid chambers 160 are provided
Reference numeral 53 denotes a smooth surface, and a plate groove 156 is formed by recessing the plate thickness below the opening 155. The plate groove 156 is a bottomed groove formed in the vicinity of the lower edge of the opening 155.
It is provided almost at the center.

The ink supply member 140 is provided with a small-diameter hole serving as an ink supply passage 142. One end of the ink supply passage 142 is connected to an ink supply unit (not shown), and the other end is opened at the top of a triangular ink liquid chamber 160 formed in the plate 150. Front plate 1
50 on both sides of the opening 155 on the back surface of the main body 152,
A groove extending toward the bent portion 154 is formed to form an inflow groove 157 for the adhesive, and a lower end of the inflow groove 157 is formed by the bent portion 154.
Communicates with the adhesive receiving groove 159 formed at the bottom. Main body 15
A corner is cut off between the inflow grooves 157 at the top of No. 2 to form a chamfered portion 158 so that the adhesive can be easily applied.

The front plate 150 thus configured
As shown in FIG. 5, the adhesive 410 is attached to the end face of the base 110 and the ink supply unit 140 by filling the inflow groove 157, the receiving groove 159, and the chamfered portion 158 with the adhesive 410 using a dispenser 400. Adhesion can be ensured. At this time, the front surface 1 of the plate 150 is
Whether the position of 53 is the same surface with respect to the ink ejection direction,
Alternatively, the front surface 153 is retracted and assembled. When the ink jet recording head 100 thus assembled is in a non-printing state, the elastic cap 200 contacts the front surface of the plate 150.

The elastic cap 200 has a hollow rectangular bathtub shape in which a bottom portion made of an elastic material such as rubber is surrounded by four side walls as shown in FIG. And cap 2
Sidewall 210 of one side are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the four side surfaces 00 are made thinner than the thickness C ₂ of the side wall 230 of the thickness C ₁ other three sides (C ₁ <C ₂₎ are doing. Bottom part 22
A connection hole 221 for connecting a communication means to a suction device (for example, a pump) is formed in a central portion of 0. The cap 200 thus configured has a side wall 210 with a reduced plate thickness.
Is located at a position below the opening 155 of the front plate 150, and the front end rib 2 of the cap 200 is attached to the plate 150.
50 is pressed.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory front view of the plate 150 in which the portion of the cap tip rib 250 of the elastic cap 200 that contacts the front surface 153 of the plate 150 is indicated by a dashed line. First, the ink jet recording head 100 relatively moves with respect to the elastic cap 200, and in a state in which the ink ejection element 120 of the front plate 150 is included, the cap tip rib 2 on the thin side wall 210 of the cap 200.
The plate 50 is brought into contact with the position where it passes over the plate groove 156, that is, the position shown by the dashed line. At this time, the elastic cap 20
0 is deformed by the pressing force of the contact,
6, the inside of the cap chamber 260 is in communication with the atmosphere, so that the pressure fluctuation in the cap chamber 260 is
It does not affect the inner surface of the inkjet recording head 100 such as 22.

Thereafter, the ink jet recording head 100
In order to protect the elastic cap 20 after a predetermined time, the inkjet recording head 100 is moved in a main scanning direction (X direction) by a driving device (not shown).
The contact position of the cap tip rib 250 of the side wall 210 is moved to the position shown by the dashed line in FIG. 7, that is, the position where the plate groove 156 is included in the cap chamber 260. By contacting the lower part of the groove 156, communication of the cap chamber 260 with the atmosphere can be cut off.

Next, the ink suction operation will be described.
Ink ejection element 12 of inkjet recording head 100
Reference numeral 0 is connected to a suction device (for example, a pump) via a communication means 300 connected to the connection hole 221 of the elastic cap 200. Then, the cap chamber 260 is depressurized by the suction operation of the suction device. with this,
In the ink supply member 140, the ink supply passage 142
The ink is sucked through the nozzle and the ink is discharged from the ink discharge port 122. At this time, the negative pressure generated in the cap chamber 260 deforms the thin side wall 210 of the bathtub-shaped elastic cap 200 toward the negative pressure side, and the cap tip rib 250 reaches the plate groove 156 soon (FIGS. 7 and 7). 8 dashed line position). Then, the inside of the cap chamber 260 communicates with the outside air via the plate groove 156, and the cap chamber 2
The negative pressure in 60 is released. Then, even after the side wall 210 reaches the plate groove 156, by continuing the suction operation of the suction device, the discharged ink is suctioned and removed from the recording head surface and the inside of the cap.

FIG. 11 shows an antistatic resin plate 1 of the present invention.
5 shows a state in which the ink jet recording head 100 having 50 is cleaned by the wiper blade 300. The wiper blade 300 swings in the direction of arrow Y with respect to the plate 150 to remove unnecessary ink, dust and the like adhering to the ink discharge ports 122 from the plate front surface 153. Plate 150
Is formed of an antistatic resin material, the generation of static electricity is reduced when the elastic member such as rubber is wiped with the wiper blade 300, and the dust or the like adhered to the blade 300 due to the electrification is reattached to the front surface 153. Is prevented.

[0022]

As described above, the ink jet recording apparatus and the method for managing the ink jet recording head of the present invention can surely prevent drying of the ink and maintain good image quality at the start of printing. Further, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention does not require a mechanism for selecting the cap to be open to the atmosphere, so that the apparatus can be downsized and an economical apparatus with a small number of parts can be provided. Further, since the cleaning surface of the blade is made of an antistatic plastic molded product, re-adhesion of dust can be prevented, dust on the ink ejection surface can be reliably removed, and good image quality can be maintained. .

According to the ink jet recording head management method of the present invention, by operating the driving mechanism of the ink jet recording apparatus, it is possible to prevent drying of the ink discharge port, remove unnecessary ink, and secure a proper position of the ink. The image quality is maintained at the start of printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a component configuration of an ink jet recording head of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plate.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the ink jet recording head.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line aa of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line bb in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a contact line of a cap rib on a plate of the inkjet recording head.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a contact line of a cap rib on a plate of the inkjet recording head.

8 is a view taken along line cc in FIG. 7 in a state where the elastic cap is in contact with the elastic cap.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a cleaning state of the inkjet recording head.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an elastic cap.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line dd of FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 100 ink jet recording head, 110 base, 120 ink ejection element, 140 ink supply member, 150 plate, 155 opening, 156
Plate groove, 160 ink liquid chamber, 200 elastic cap, 210 Side wall with reduced plate thickness, 230
Side wall, 250 tip rib, 300 blade, 40
0 Suction device communication means.

Claims (11)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink are provided in parallel.
An inkjet recording head having an ink ejection element, an ink supply member having a passage connected to an ejection port of the ink ejection element, a driving unit for driving the inkjet recording head in the main scanning direction, An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising: an elastic cap made of a material having elasticity to cover the ink ejection element when the ink jet recording device is located at a position; and suction means for sucking ink from the ink ejection port in the ejection direction through the elastic cap. Comprises a plate having at least an opening surrounding the ink discharge element, the plate being arranged on the front surface of the ink jet recording head in the ink discharge direction by fitting the opening with the ink discharge element; Recessed
When covering the ink ejection port with the elastic cap,
Communicates the inside of the elastic cap with the atmosphere to eliminate internal pressure changes
Ink jet recording apparatus having a plate groove formed. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the ink jet recording head moves to a non-printing position, one side of the elastic cap is pressed against a plate groove of a plate of the ink jet recording head. apparatus. 3. The elastic cap according to claim 1, wherein the elastic cap has a side wall surrounding the ink discharge element, and a part of the side wall is formed to have a wall thickness smaller than that of the other part. Ink jet recording device. 4. The elastic cap has a side wall surrounding the ink discharge element, a part of the side wall is formed to be thinner than the other part of the wall plate, and a suction means is operated. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the side wall having a small thickness moves in a negative pressure direction when the ink jet recording apparatus is moved. 5. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein when the ink jet recording head is moved to the non-printing position, the side wall having the reduced thickness of the elastic cap presses the plate groove of the plate of the ink jet recording head . serial <br/> mounting of the ink jet recording apparatus. 6. When the ink jet recording head is at a non-printing position, the ink jet recording head is driven in the main scanning direction, and the plate cap is moved from a position where at least one side of the elastic cap is pressed onto the plate groove of the plate of the ink jet recording head. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ink jet recording head is moved to a position where the whole is covered with the elastic cap. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate of the ink jet recording head has an ink liquid chamber for supplying ink to the ink ejection element by forming an upper portion of an opening on a surface facing the ink supply member. Recording device. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate of the ink jet recording head is disposed at the same position or retreated with respect to the ink discharge direction of the ink discharge port surface of the ink discharge element. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate of the ink jet recording head is formed of an antistatic plastic molded product. 10. A step of driving an ink jet recording head having a groove formed in proximity to the ink ejection element in the main scanning direction to eject ink from the ink ejection element in accordance with a recording signal and performing printing, and Moving the ink jet recording head to the non-printing position, and covering the ink ejection element of the ink jet recording head at the non-printing position by pressing the elastic body cap. When the elastic cap is moved, the elastic cap comes into contact with the groove of the ink jet recording head to cover the ink ejection element, and thereafter, the ink jet recording head is moved to a position where the groove of the ink jet recording head is covered with the elastic cap. A method for managing an ink jet recording head in an ink jet recording apparatus having: 11. A step of driving an ink jet recording head having a groove formed in proximity to the ink ejection element in the main scanning direction to eject ink from the ink ejection element in accordance with a recording signal to perform printing, and When moving the inkjet recording head to the non-printing position, pressing the elastic cap on the ink ejection element of the inkjet recording head at the non-printing position to cover the same, and driving the suction means to remove the elastic cap Suctioning the ink from the ink discharge port of the ink jet recording head via the ink jet recording head, when the suction means is operated, the side wall of the elastic cap moves in the negative pressure direction to open the concave groove of the ink jet recording head, A method for managing an ink jet recording head in an ink jet recording apparatus for communicating between the inside of a cap and the outside of the cap.