JP3279058B2 - 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 apparatus for printing on recording paper by causing ink droplets to fly from a discharge port of a recording head.
In particular, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus in which an ink jet cartridge having a recording head is detachably mounted on a carriage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet recording apparatus in which an ink jet cartridge having a recording head for ejecting ink droplets is detachably mounted on a carriage, a recording head for improving recording accuracy of ink droplets ejected on recording paper is provided. It is necessary to perform positioning with high accuracy. In particular, in the case of color printing in which printing is performed by a plurality of printing heads, there is a problem that color misregistration occurs unless the positional accuracy of each printing head is improved. Further, since the ink-jet cartridge is a consumable item and is to be replaced by a user, it is necessary to easily replace the ink-jet cartridge. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-55253 discloses a configuration in which a recording head positioning means and a means for relatively operating the carriage main body side connector and the cartridge connector are connected to each other so as to simplify the replacement operation. Inkjet recording apparatuses have been proposed.

[0003]

However, in the proposed inkjet recording apparatus, the user can easily replace the inkjet cartridge.
The mechanism of the device has become complicated. Further, the positioning of the ink jet cartridge is particularly important in the scanning direction of the carriage and the paper feeding direction, and it is desirable to have a function of keeping the distance from the recording paper constant.

Accordingly, the present invention proposes an ink jet recording apparatus which satisfies the above functions, simplifies the structure of the apparatus, and can be provided economically.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a recording head for discharging ink droplets to print on recording paper; and an ink for supplying ink to the recording head.
Ink jet recording having an ink jet cartridge having a tank section, a carriage section for detachably mounting the ink jet cartridge and scanning on the recording paper, and a paper feeding mechanism for conveying the recording paper in a direction perpendicular to the carriage scanning direction. in the apparatus, the carriage unit includes means for regulating to regulate the loading position in the main scanning direction and the paper feeding direction of the ink jet cartridge, inkjet
The first push abuts on the ink tank of the cartridge.
Pressure part and the recording head of the ink jet cartridge.
A positioning device having a second pressing portion in contact therewith;
The print head (heat sink) of the ink jet cartridge is provided with a carriage
A positioning portion (protrusion) that contacts the second pressing portion of
The ink tank of the ink jet cartridge
And a positioning device for the carriage unit when the inkjet cartridge is loaded in the carriage unit.
Is operated, the first pressing portion is moved to the ink tank portion.
Press to connect the carriage body side connector and tank side connector
And the second pressing portion presses the recording head portion.
The positioning part of the recording head part regulates the position of the carriage part
Is pressed by the means for
A structure is provided for fixing the ridge at a fixed position .

[0006] The positioning device for the carriage portion is
An arm having a first pressing portion in contact with the upper portion of the ink jet cartridge and a second pressing portion in contact with the recording head (the pressing force of the first pressing portion <the pressing force of the second pressing portion); An operating lever rotatably connected via a body, wherein when the operating lever is rotated against the urging force of the elastic body, the first pressing portion of the arm presses the upper portion of the ink jet cartridge. The second pressing unit has a configuration for pressing the recording head unit.

At least one of the position regulating projections provided on the carriage is formed of an elastic body which resiliently presses the ink jet cartridge, and the ink jet cartridge is positioned in the carriage scanning direction by elastic pressing force. Configuration.

[0008]

When the ink jet cartridge is loaded on the carriage, the protrusion formed of an elastic body for regulating the position of the carriage applies a weak preload to one side surface (reference surface) of the ink jet cartridge in the scanning direction. The position of the side surface is regulated by a position regulating projection. Then, by rotating the operation lever of the positioning device, the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion of the arm press the upper and lower positioning portions of the ink jet cartridge. The ink jet cartridge is guided by a position regulating protrusion on the carriage section side, moves in the carriage, and is mounted at a specified position.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
7 and 8 are a perspective view and a top view showing the outline of the ink jet recording apparatus. The ink jet recording apparatus 10 includes a recording sheet 5 supplied from a supply port 12 and traveling in an arrow Y direction.
Then, ink is ejected from the recording head of the inkjet cartridge 15 that scans in the direction of the arrow X, and printing is performed. The recording paper 5 on which printing has been completed is discharged onto a discharge tray 14. The ink-jet cartridge 15 is guided by the scan shaft 11 and the guide shaft 13 and reciprocates in the scanning direction indicated by the arrow X in accordance with the speed of the sheet traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow Y. Here, the opening / closing door 16 is used when the ink jet cartridge 15 is replaced.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ink jet cartridge, and FIG. 4 is a side view thereof. The ink jet cartridge 15 has a nozzle portion 151 for discharging ink droplets at a lower portion.
And a mounting portion 155 for an ink tank that supplies ink to the recording head 153. The recording head 1 is provided on the side of the wall of the mounting portion 155 of the ink tank.
A head-side connector 157 for transmitting an electric signal to 53 is provided. The nozzle part 151 of the recording head 153 is supported by the heat sink 152. Heat sink 152
A projection (rib) for positioning the ink-jet cartridge 15 together with the positioning means on the carriage side when the ink-jet cartridge 15 is mounted on the carriage is formed on the side portion. The first positioning rib 154 is formed of a projection that protrudes a heat sink surface at a lower portion of the head side connector 157 disposing portion, and the second positioning rib 15
Reference numeral 6 denotes a projection formed on the opposite surface of the first positioning portion 154, and the third positioning rib 158 includes a projection formed on the upper end of the second positioning rib 156 and on the upper end of the side of the heat sink 152.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of a carriage on which four color ink jet cartridges are mounted. The carriage 20 is partitioned by a partition plate 210 and has a configuration in which four inkjet cartridges 15 can be mounted.
Four main body side connectors 214 are provided on the scan shaft mounting side wall 212 of the carriage 20 for each section. A hole 211 for exposing the recording head 153 is provided on the bottom plate of the carriage 20, and a first position restricting portion A1 and a second position restricting portion A2 for guiding the inkjet cartridge 15 to a regular position are provided before and after the hole 211. Forming a projection. Further, the support wall 215 is erected, and a third position regulating portion A3 for regulating the position in the height direction is protruded. An elastic projection 217 is attached to a lower end portion of the partition plate 210, and an attaching portion 213 of the guide shaft 13 is attached.
A locking projection 218 is attached to the upper part on the side wall 216 side provided with. A positioning device for the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow X and a paper feeding direction indicated by an arrow Y of the ink jet cartridge are mounted on the locking projection 218.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the positioning device. The positioning device 30 includes an operation lever 310 and an arm 350. The operation lever 310 has a plate-shaped grip portion 312 and a concave plate-shaped operation portion 314 provided in series. Then, the engagement hole 315 of the operation unit 314 is
8, and the operation lever 310 is rotatably attached to the carriage 20 with the mounting portion as a fulcrum by being fastened by fixing means such as a stopper (first fulcrum). The arm 350 has an approximately L-shape, and a first (upper) pressing portion 35 that presses the ink tank 155 by projecting an upper end portion.
2 and a second (lower) pressing portion 354 for pressing the heat sink 152 is formed at the lower end portion. Arm 35
A long hole 356 is formed in the 0 linear portion. The operation lever 310 and the arm 350 are connected to the operation unit 31 of the operation lever 310.
4. The arm 350 is fitted in the concave plate
Stop 358 from the operation unit 314 through the long hole 356
Connect with. The stopper 358 is attached movably in the elongated hole 356 (second fulcrum). Further, a fixture 316 is attached to the operation part 314 of the operation lever 310, and the coil spring 330 is suspended between the operation part 314 and the fixture 355 attached to the arm 350, and the grip part 312 of the operation lever 310 is attached in the counterclockwise direction. I'm going.

The ink jet cartridge 15 is mounted on the carriage 20 having the positioning device 30 constructed as described above.
(See FIGS. 1 and 2). With the recording head 153 exposed from the hole 211 in the bottom plate of the carriage 20, the inkjet cartridge 15 is
Is placed. At this time, the elastic projection 217 attached to the partition plate 210 presses against the side wall of the ink-jet cartridge 15, and the other side wall of the ink-jet cartridge 15 is moved to the first position restricting portion A1, the second position restricting portion A2, and the third position. The contact with the position restricting portion A3 is ensured. Further, the upper pressing portion 35 at the upper end of the arm 350 of the positioning device 30
2 contacts the upper part of the ink tank 155 and the arm 350
With the lower pressing portion 354 at the lower end in contact with the upper edge of the second positioning rib 156 of the heat sink 152, the inkjet cartridge 15 is lightly moved in the traveling direction Y of the recording paper 5.
Press in the direction.

Next, the operation lever 310 is operated in a clockwise direction indicated by an arrow Z. The operation lever 310 rotates around a locking projection 218 (fulcrum 1) of the carriage 20, which is a first fulcrum. With the rotation of the operation lever 310, the operation unit 314 rotates around the fulcrum 1 while extending the spring 330 against the urging force of the spring 330, and moves the fixture 316 as the third fulcrum to the first position. Position outside the fulcrum. Further, the stopper 358 serving as the second fulcrum of the operation unit 314 is guided by the long hole 356 of the arm 350 and descends in conjunction with the rotation. The positioning device 30 is configured such that the stopper 358 of the operation lever 310 is connected to the long hole 35 of the arm 350.
6, the grip 312 of the operation lever 310 rotates and presses the upper pressing portion 352 of the arm 350, and the lower pressing portion 354 presses the second positioning rib 156 provided on the heat sink 152. I do.

As described above, the ink jet cartridge 15 is provided on one side of the ink tank 155 by the partition plate 210.
And the heat sink 152 is fixed to the first positioning portion A.
The first and second positioning portions A2 and A3 are in contact with and supported by the third positioning portion A3. Furthermore, the upper part of the ink tank 155 and the lower part of the heat sink 152 are pressed and supported by the upper pressing part 352 and the lower pressing part 354 of the arm 350,
The ink jet cartridge 15 is moved to the positioning portion of the carriage 20 and the ink jet cartridge 15 is moved.
Unnecessary inclination is prevented, and electrical contact is stably performed. Further, an upper (first) pressing portion 352 of the arm 350
The pressing force of the lower (second) pressing portion 354 is set to be larger than the pressing force of the
The progress to 1 and the fixation to the localization value are reliably performed.

FIG. 2 shows a state where the ink jet cartridge 15 is mounted on the carriage 20. When the second fulcrum 316 of the operation lever 310 of the positioning mechanism 30 moves to the outside with respect to the first fulcrum 315, a force for constantly rotating the operation lever 310 in the arrow Z direction and clockwise acts. By this rotating action, the operation lever 310
The contact point 340 with the arm 350 that is in contact with the arm 350 serves as a fulcrum to press the upper end pressing portion 352 of the arm 350 and generate a pressing force against the heat sink portion 152 of the ink jet cartridge 15. Is pressed against the second positioning rib 156 on the carriage 20 side.

The second (lower) pressing portion 35 of the arm 350
4 comes into contact with and presses the positioning rib 156 on the carriage 20 side, the heat sink 152 supporting the nozzle portion 151 of the recording head 153 has the side surface of the first position regulating portion A1,
Touches the second position restricting portion A2 and the third position restricting portion A3,
The recording paper 5 is guided and moved in the traveling direction Y direction. The lower pressing portion 354 of the arm 350 is fitted between the second positioning rib 156 and the third positioning rib 158 of the heat sink 152 and presses the recording head 153 in the paper feed direction and the recording paper direction. The nozzle portion 151 of the recording head 153 fits and protrudes into the hole 211, and the respective inkjet cartridges are mounted at a fixed value in both the distance to the recording paper 5, the operation direction, and the paper feeding direction. Further, the connector 157 of the ink tank 155 reliably contacts the main body side connector 214, and the electrical connection is completed. In this manner, the positioning device can achieve the fixed position mounting of the ink jet cartridge 15 on the carriage 20 by one operation of the rotation of the lever 310.

[0018]

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, in which the ink jet cartridge is detachable from the carriage, the ink jet cartridge can be attached and detached by a simple operation of rotating the operation lever of the positioning device, and the ink jet cartridge can be securely connected to the carriage. It can be attached to the localization value, and trouble due to poor electrical connection can be avoided. Further, since the entire ink jet cartridge is pressed and fixed, displacement of the cartridge due to external pressure can be prevented.

Further, the positioning device for the ink jet cartridge of the ink jet recording device of the present invention achieves reliable positioning of the cartridge with a simple configuration, and provides an ink jet recording device having improved operability and economical device. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory sectional view of an ink jet recording apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory sectional view of an ink jet recording apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ink jet cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the ink jet cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a carriage.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a positioning device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the ink jet recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 inkjet recording device, 15 inkjet cartridge, 20 carriage, 30 positioning device, 153 recording head section, 154 first positioning rib, 156 second positioning rib, 158
3rd positioning rib, 210 partition plate, 214 body side connector, 217 elastic projection, 218 locking projection, 310 operation lever, 312 gripping section,
314 operation part, 330 spring, 350 arm, 352 first pressing part, 354 second pressing part, 356 slot, A1 first position regulating part, A
2 Second position regulating unit, A3 Third position regulating unit.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── (5) References JP-A-3-246039 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/01 B41J 2/175

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A recording head section for discharging ink droplets to print on recording paper; and an ink supply section for supplying ink to the recording head section.
An ink jet cartridge having a print tank part ;
It has a carriage unit that detachably mounts an ink jet cartridge and scans on the recording paper, and a paper feed mechanism that conveys the recording paper in a direction perpendicular to the carriage scanning direction.
In the ink jet recording apparatus, a carriage section is provided for regulating a loading position of the ink jet cartridge in a main scanning direction and a paper feeding direction.
Means and ink tank part of ink jet cartridge
Pressing portion and ink jet cartridge abutting on ink cartridge
Comprising a position <br/> decided apparatus and a second pressing portion abutting against the recording head portion of the carriage body side connector, the recording head unit of the ink jet cartridge against the second pressing portion of the carriage part The positioning part is in contact with the ink tank.
Comprising a click connector, loading the ink jet cartridge on the carriage unit
When operating the carriage positioning device,
The first pressing portion presses the ink tank portion to carry the ink.
Connect the main body connector and tank side connector
The pressing portion 2 presses the recording head portion and the position of the recording head portion
The positioning part is pressed by the position regulating means of the carriage part.
Inkjet cartridge in place on carriage
An inkjet recording device configured to be fixed . 2. A positioning device for a carriage unit, comprising:
An arm having a first pressing portion and the second pressing portion; and an operation lever rotatably connected to the arm via an elastic body, and the ink jet cartridge is mounted on the carriage portion.
When loading, Rutoki is rotated against the lever biasing force of the elastic body <br/>, the first pressing portion of the arm presses the upper portion of the ink jet cartridge, the second pressing portion printhead part inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein that will be configured to press the. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force of the first pressing portion of the positioning device is distributed so as to be smaller than the pressing force of the second pressing portion. 4. The position regulating means provided on the carriage portion comprises a projection formed at a predetermined position, at least one of the position regulating projections being an elastic body for resiliently pressing the ink jet cartridge. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the positioning of the ink jet cartridge in the carriage scanning direction is performed by an elastic pressing force. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning portion of the recording head of the ink jet cartridge comprises a protrusion formed on a heat sink to which the recording head is attached.