JP3464101B2 - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet printing apparatus, and more particularly, prevents a carriage in which a print head is in a capped state by a cap member from moving in a print direction by a manual operation to prevent ink from being dried in the print head. Regarding what I did.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, while ejecting ink from a plurality of inkjet nozzles provided in a print head, a carriage equipped with the print head is moved in a printing direction so that an image is printed on a recording paper in a dot pattern. In the ink jet type printer described above, when the printing operation is not performed, the carriage is moved to the maintenance area outside the printing area at the end of the printing operation so as to prevent the ink from drying on the head surface of the print head. In addition, the cap member is tightly pressed to cover the print head to cover it, and the carriage is prevented from moving to the print area due to a manual operation, so that the ink on the head surface is reliably prevented from drying. ing.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-246051, at the end of the printing operation, the carriage is moved to a maintenance area outside the printing area to press the cap member against the head surface of the print head and When the movement of the carriage to the cap position is electrically detected by the detection sensor, the engagement rib of the carriage and the fixing member attached to the guide shaft of the carriage are oscillated by a cam driven by a sheet feeding motor. By connecting at the tip of the locking lever, these engaging ribs are prevented from coming off the fixed member, the carriage is prevented from being moved to the printing area by manual operation, and the ink on the head surface is careless. Ink jet type printers have been proposed which are designed to reliably prevent drying.

[0004]

As described above, in the ink jet printing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-246051, the carriage in which the print head is capped by the cap member is inadvertently manually operated. In order to prevent movement to the print area, an engagement rib and a fixing member were provided, and a cam driven by a sheet feed motor and a carriage locking lever were provided to electrically detect the movement of the carriage to the cap position. At this time, the carriage locking lever is swung to prevent the carriage from moving by connecting the engaging rib and the fixing member, which increases the number of parts and complicates the assembly work. Since an expensive detection sensor such as a photo sensor is exclusively provided, there is a problem that the cost becomes high.

An object of the present invention is to incorporate a simple locking mechanism and a releasing mechanism to reliably prevent movement of a carriage that caps a print head with a cap member from a cap position to a print area. A printing device is provided.

[0006]

An inkjet printer according to a first aspect of the invention has the following configuration. A moving range of a carriage in a printing apparatus including a print head that ejects ink from a plurality of inkjet nozzles to print, a carriage on which the print head is mounted, and a carriage drive unit that reciprocates the carriage in the printing direction. A cap member that closely covers the head surface where the plurality of ink jet nozzles of the print head open at one end side that is out of the print area, and the carriage does not move from the position where the cap member covers the head surface toward the print area. As described above, a locking mechanism that locks the carriage and a release mechanism that unlocks the locking mechanism by being operated by the carriage in which the cap member has moved by a predetermined amount from the position covering the head surface in the direction opposite to the printing area. Bei Eteiru. The locking mechanism is a carrier.
Locking position that locks the carriage by protruding into the path
Position and rotate from this position in the direction opposite to the print area to
The swing position, which does not project into the path
The existing locking arm and the key when the locking arm is in the locking position.
The retracted position that does not protrude into the movement path of the carriage and the locking arm
When the system is in the retracted position,
Locks the locking arm by moving the carriage toward the print area
Returning position that can be freely rotated over the protruding position
And the locking arm when the locking arm is in the locking position.
Be careful not to rotate the lock lever from the locked position to the side opposite the retracted position.
And a stopper member for controlling. The release mechanism is
The carriage locks by protruding into the carriage movement path.
To move a predetermined distance to the side opposite the print area
From the operating position operated by and the printing area from this operating position
Does not project in the carriage movement path by rotating in the opposite direction
Actuating arm that is rotatable around the retracted position and the locking
The actuating arm is in the actuated position when the arm is in the locked position
And a connecting member for operatively connecting these arms.
I am. The locking mechanism and the release mechanism are the locking arms.
The locking arm to the retracted position
A stopper body to hold, the locking arm and the operating arm
Urging the lever to receive it with a stopper member and engage the locking arm.
The first urging state to hold in the stop position, the locking arm and the operating arm.
The lock arm or actuating arm by
The second that holds the locking arm in the retracted position by receiving it with the body
Equipped with a biasing mechanism that can automatically switch to a biased state
There is.

When the carriage is moved to one end side of the carriage movement range which is out of the printing area, the head surface of the print head where the plurality of ink jet nozzles are opened is closely covered and capped by the cap member. . At the end of printing, when the carriage once moves to a position that covers the head surface, the carriage is locked by the locking mechanism so as not to move from the position that covers the head surface toward the print area. Even if the carriage is forcibly moved, the cap member does not come off from the head surface, and it is possible to reliably prevent the ink from drying on the head surface.

On the other hand, at the time of printing, when the carriage is moved by a predetermined amount from the position covering the head surface in the direction opposite to the print area, the release mechanism is operated by the carriage to release the lock of the lock mechanism. The carriage can move towards the print area. That is, the carriage can be easily moved to the print area only by moving the carriage in a direction opposite to the print area by a predetermined amount. Locking
In the mechanism, the locking arm is in the movement path of the carriage.
When rotating to the protruding locking position, return arm
Rotates to a retracted position that does not project into the carriage movement path
In addition, the locking arm can be
It is regulated so that it does not rotate from the retracted position to the opposite side.
Therefore, the carriage covers the head surface at the end of printing.
Once in position, the carriage will move to the locked position.
Is the position where the head surface is covered by the rotating locking arm?
Cap is locked so that it does not move from the
The member does not come off the head surface and the
It is possible to reliably prevent the dryness. On the other hand, the release mechanism
In the case of the operating arm, the locking arm is in the locking position.
The operating position that projects into the carriage movement path.
As it is connected with a connecting member, the carriage prints
By moving a certain distance to the side opposite the area,
The carriage is operated by the carriage and retracts on the side opposite to the printing direction.
Rotate to position. At this time, they are connected by the connecting member.
The locking arm rotates to the retracted position and the return arm
Rotates to the protruding position. This locks the carriage
Move in the printing direction without being locked by the arm
The return arm can be moved in the printing direction.
Is operated to rotate to the retracted position, and at this time, the locking arm
Is returned to the locked position and rotated, and at the same time the operating arm
Is also rotated to the protruding position. In this case, the urging mechanism
The locking arm and the operating arm are urged to rotate,
Hold the arm in the locked position by receiving the arm with the stopper member
The carriage is automatically switched to the first urging state.
It is possible to reliably and stabilize the locking by the locking mechanism of
On the other hand, the stopper arm or the operating arm can be
The second urging state that receives and holds the locking arm in the retracted position
Since it is automatically switched to the release state,
Removal can be simplified and stabilized.

An ink jet printer according to a second aspect has the following construction. From multiple inkjet nozzles
The print head that ejects ink to print, and the print head
Carriage equipped with a card and how to print this carriage
Printing device having a carriage driving means that reciprocates in the direction
The print area within the carriage movement range
At one end of the print head
Cap that closely covers the head surface where the nozzle opens
From the position where the member and the cap member cover the head surface.
The carriage so that the carriage does not move toward the print area.
Locking mechanism to stop and the position where the cap member covers the head surface
From the carriage that has moved a prescribed amount in the opposite direction to the print area
It is equipped with a release mechanism that is operated to release the lock of the lock mechanism.
I am. Before Kigakaritome mechanism over from the locking position and the position for locking the carriage and projects into the moving path of the carriage and does not retreat position protruding by rotating direction opposite to the printing area to the moving path of the carriage A rotatable locking arm,
When the locking arm is in the locking position, the retracted position does not project into the carriage movement path, and when the locking arm is in the retracted position, it projects into the carriage movement path and moves the carriage toward the print area to lock the locking arm When the locking arm is in the locking position and the locking arm is in the locking position, the locking arm does not rotate from the locking position to the side opposite to the retracted position. The release mechanism includes a stopper member and an operating position that is operated by the carriage moving a predetermined distance to the side opposite to the print area with respect to the locking arm by projecting into the carriage movement path. An operating arm that is rotatable in the retracted position that rotates in the opposite direction and does not project into the movement path of the carriage, and that the operating arm is in the operating position when the locking arm is in the locking position. And a connecting member for operatively connecting these arms. Along the movement path of the carriage
It is arranged so that it extends from the locking arm to the operating arm.
The first area corresponding to the movement range of the carriage to the
The second corresponding to the movement range in which the ridge operates the operating arm
The index member having different characteristics depending on the area and the carrier
The detection signal corresponding to each area of the index member attached to the
Based on the detection signal of the detection means and the detection means
The carriage movement direction is controlled via the carriage drive means.
Control means for controlling.

In the locking mechanism, when the locking arm is rotated to the locking position projecting in the carriage movement path, the return arm is rotated to the retracted position in which it does not project in the carriage movement path. Since the stop arm is regulated by the stopper member so as not to rotate from the locking position to the side opposite the retracted position, when the carriage is once moved to the position covering the head surface at the end of printing, the carriage is locked at the locking position. The locking arm that has been rotated to lock the head surface so that it does not move toward the print area from the position that covers the head surface, and the cap member does not come off from the head surface.
It is possible to reliably prevent the ink from drying on the head surface.

On the other hand, in the releasing mechanism, since the operating arm is connected by the connecting member so that the operating arm projects to the moving path of the carriage when the locking arm is in the locking position, the carriage is printed in the printing area. By moving for a predetermined distance to the opposite side, the operating arm is operated by the carriage and pivots to the retracted position on the side opposite to the printing direction. At this time, the locking arm connected by the connecting member rotates to the retracted position, and the return arm rotates to the protruding position.
As a result, the carriage can be moved in the printing direction without being locked by the locking arm, and the return arm is operated by the movement in the printing direction to rotate to the retracted position. The stop arm returns to the locking position and is rotated, and at the same time, the actuating arm is also rotated to the protruding position.

[0012]

In this case, the locking mechanism and the operating arm are rotationally biased by the biasing mechanism, and the locking arm is received by the stopper member and automatically held in the first biased state. Since it can be switched over, the locking by the locking mechanism of the carriage can be reliably and stabilized, while
Since the locking arm or the operating arm is received by the stopper body and automatically switched to the second biased state in which the locking arm is held at the retracted position, the locking release by the release mechanism can be simplified and stabilized. .

[0014]

[0015] Then, the arranged indices member so as to extend along the moving path of the carriage, operating a first region corresponding to the moving range of the carriage from the locking arm to the actuating arm, carriage actuation arm The detection means attached to the carriage outputs a detection signal according to the characteristics of the first area and the second area. When the power is turned on, the releasing mechanism is driven by controlling the moving direction of the carriage through the carriage driving means based on the detection signal of the detecting means to move the carriage to the printing area and start printing. Carriage initial settings are performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet type printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, the index member has a microscale shape in which a light-transmitting portion and a light-shielding portion are alternately arranged in a portion corresponding to a printing area in a carriage movement direction. Is an encoder member that has an encoder section formed in each area and has different optical characteristics in each region, and the detection means is an optical sensor that faces the encoder member and outputs a detection signal according to the optical characteristics. in it is configured.

In this case, since the detection means is an optical sensor, the detection signals corresponding to different optical characteristics are output between the encoder portion of the encoder member and the first area and the second area. While it can be simplified, it outputs a detection signal according to the optical characteristics of the light-transmitting part and the light-shielding part of the minute scale formed on the encoder part provided corresponding to the print area, so that the print timing control and print position Control can be simplified.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to an inkjet printing apparatus capable of color printing using four color inks. As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printing apparatus 1 basically includes a main body frame 3 provided in a main body cover 2, a rubber platen 10, a carriage drive mechanism 20 for driving a carriage 21, and a carriage 21. Four print heads 46 to 49 provided on the head holder 41 mounted above
(FIG. 3), and four ink cartridges 42 for supplying dedicated ink colors to the print heads 46 to 49.
˜45, and a maintenance mechanism 50 for maintaining or recovering the ink ejecting function from the ink jet nozzles formed in these print heads 46 to 49.

The platen 10 is, as shown in FIG.
The platen shaft 11 is disposed in the left-right direction and is rotatably supported by the side wall plates 3a and 3c of the main body frame 3 at both left and right ends thereof.
The platen gear 12 is attached to the platen gear 1.
2 is connected to a feed motor 14 (see FIG. 8) via a platen drive mechanism (not shown). That is, the rotation of the feed motor 14 in the predetermined rotation direction is transmitted to the platen gear 12 via the platen drive mechanism, and the rotation of the platen gear 12 drives the platen 10 to rotate in the predetermined paper feed direction.

Next, regarding the carriage drive mechanism 20,
It will be described with reference to FIG. A carriage 21 is horizontally arranged on the front side of the platen 10, and the carriage 21 is arranged at its rear end in parallel with the platen 10 by a guide rod 22 supported by the body frame 3 in the left-right direction. It is movably supported, and at its front end, is supported by the guide rail portion 3d at the front end of the main body frame 3 so as to be movable in the left-right direction.

On the other hand, at the left end of the moving range of the carriage 21, a driven pulley 23 is rotatably supported by the side wall plate 3b, and at the right end thereof, a drive shaft of a carriage drive motor 24 composed of a stepping motor. Is provided with a drive pulley 25 attached thereto, and an endless timing belt 26 is stretched over these pulleys 23 and 25, and is connected to the timing belt 26 at the lower end portion of the carriage 21. Then, when the carriage drive motor 24 is rotationally driven by the drive pulse (see FIG. 6), the carriage 21 moves to the guide rod 22 and the guide rail portion 3d through the pulleys 23 and 25 and the timing belt 26. It is supported and driven to reciprocate in the main scanning direction parallel to the platen 10, that is, in the forward direction FD (right direction) and the backward direction RD (left direction).

As shown in FIG. 1, a strip-shaped encoder member (corresponding to an index member) 30 made of a thin film and extending along the moving path of the carriage 21 is horizontally provided below the carriage 21. The left and right ends are fixed to the side wall plates 3a and 3b, respectively. And
As shown in FIG. 6, in this encoder member 30, an encoder portion EC is formed in the central portion corresponding to the print area, and a non-encoder portion 30a having a predetermined width is formed adjacent to the left side of the encoder portion EC. At the same time, a non-encoder portion 30b, which is a band-shaped portion printed in black and having a predetermined width and a light shielding property, is formed adjacent to the right side of the encoder portion EC.

An encoder section E corresponding to the print area between the non-encoder section 30a and the non-encoder section 30b.
In C, a light-shielding portion 30 printed in black having a predetermined width Hw
c and transparent light-transmitting portions 30d having a predetermined width Lw are alternately formed in a fine scale. Then, a photosensor 31 (corresponding to detection means, see FIG. 8), which is a single-phase optical sensor including only a pair of light emitting element and light receiving element, is located below the carriage 21 so as to face the encoder member 30. Is attached to.

The non-encoder portion 30a has a transparent strip portion 30e having a predetermined width and transparency, and a light-shielding strip portion that is continuous with the transparent strip portion 30e and has a predetermined width and has a light-shielding property and is printed in black. 30f and 30f are formed side by side in the longitudinal direction. The light-shielding band-shaped portion 30f is set to have a width that is a predetermined multiple (for example, 400 times) or more of the width Hw of the light-shielding portion 30c, and the width of the non-encoder part 30b is sufficiently larger than the width of the light-shielding band-shaped portion 30f. There is. Here, the width Hw of the light shielding portion 30c
And the width Lw of the translucent portion 30d are equal to the predetermined driving pulse number “N
It corresponds to the movement distance of the carriage 21 moved by the carriage drive motor 24 that is rotationally driven by 1 "(for example, 4 drive pulses).

Further, the width of the non-encoder portion 30b is set to be a predetermined multiple (eg, 500 times) or more of the width Hw of the light shielding portion 30c, and a predetermined number of driving pulses "N2" (eg,
The carriage drive motor 24 that is rotationally driven by a driving pulse number "N3" that is greater than the driving pulse number "N3" corresponding to the light-shielding strip portion 30f).
The length of the carriage 21 is longer than the moving distance of the carriage 21. Further, the width of the light-shielding band-shaped portion 30f is a carriage drive that is rotationally driven by a predetermined drive pulse number "N3" (for example, a drive pulse number that is about 400 times the drive pulse number "N1" corresponding to the light-shielding portion 30c). It corresponds to the moving distance of the carriage 21 moved by the motor 24.

That is, the photosensor 31 outputs detection signals of "H" level corresponding to the non-encoder portion 30b and the light-shielding strip portion 30f, respectively, and also corresponds to the transmissive strip portion 30e. An "L" level detection signal is output. Further, when the carriage 21 moves in the print area, the photo sensor 31 includes an "H" level detection signal corresponding to the light shielding portion 30c and an "L" level detection signal corresponding to the light transmitting portion 30d. , The detected encoder signals of a number proportional to the movement amount of the carriage 21 are output. Here, since this encoder signal is also used for the ejection control that determines the ejection timing for ejecting the ink from the print heads 46 to 49, the light shielding portion 30 is used.
c and the transparent portion 30d are 1/180 inch (about 0.14 mm)
Each width is set individually.

Next, the ink jetting mechanism 40 for jetting ink onto the recording paper P to print will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. On the carriage 21, a box-shaped head holder 41 having an open upper part and a front part is mounted, and a black ink cartridge 42 and a cyan ink cartridge 43 are attached to the head holder 41 from the right side.
A magenta ink cartridge 44 and a yellow ink cartridge 45 are sequentially attached, and a black print head 46, a cyan print head 47, and a magenta print head 48 are attached to the rear end wall 41a of the head holder 41 from the right side. And the yellow print head 49 are sequentially attached.

Here, a plurality of ink jet nozzles for ejecting ink supplied from the corresponding ink cartridges 42 to 45 are formed in each of the print heads 46 to 49, and a head surface where these nozzles are opened is formed on the rear end surface. 4 are respectively formed and ejected from the print heads 46 to 49.
A color image is printed on the recording paper P with the color inks. Next, regarding the maintenance mechanism 50 provided adjacent to the left side of the printing area, as shown in FIG.
It will be described with reference to FIG. On the left side of the platen 10, a box-shaped mounting base 51 that is open upward is mounted on the main body frame 3, and the mounting base 51 is provided with a wiper drive mechanism 58, a suction mechanism 54, and a cap mechanism from the print area side. 62 and 62 are sequentially provided.

First, the suction mechanism 54 will be briefly described. A cam plate gear 52 is rotatably attached to the mounting base 51, and a suction cap 56 is attached to the cam plate gear 52.
Is formed on the front end of the cap drive member 55, the suction cylinder 57, and the wiper drive member 59 in cooperation with each other at a predetermined timing to form a grooved cam, which is driven by a maintenance motor 53 to be described later. By rotating 52, the cap drive member 55 is driven to project forward, and the suction cap 56 drives one print head 46 to 49.
When the head surface is in close contact with the head surface, the head surface is sucked by the suction operation of the suction cylinder 57, and then the cap drive member 55 returns to its original position.

Next, the wiper drive mechanism 58 will be briefly described. The wiper drive member 5 is adjacent to the suction mechanism 54.
9 is disposed in the front-rear direction, and this wiper drive member 59
A flexible rubber wiper blade 60 is attached to the front end of the. Then, every time the suction operation of the suction mechanism 54 is completed, the wiper drive member 59 is driven to project forward in association with the suction operation, and when the carriage 21 moves, unnecessary ink that adheres to the head surface after the suction. However, it is adapted to be wiped by the wiper blade 60 protruding forward.

Next, the cap mechanism 62 will be explained. The cap mounting plate 63 provided on the front side of the mounting base 51 covers the head surfaces of the four print heads 46 to 49 in close contact with each other. A cap member 64 is fixed, and the cap attachment plate 63 is supported by a swing shaft 65 oriented in the left-right direction so as to be movable in the left-right direction. The swing shaft 65 is supported by a pair of swing arms 66 that are built into the mounting base 51 and that are connected to a front-rear moving mechanism (not shown) that moves back and forth by a predetermined distance.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, while the carriage 21 is moving to the left beyond the printing area, the left end of the carriage 21 has the locking portion 63 of the cap mounting plate 63.
By contacting a, the cap mounting plate 63 moves forward through the forward / backward moving mechanism and the swing arm 66 when the cap mounting plate 63 moves to the left in synchronization with the carriage 21. All of the print heads 46 to 49 are capped and move to the left limit position while maintaining the capped state. Here, the area where all the print heads 46 to 49 are held in the cap state is referred to as a cap area.

Next, provided on the lower side of the carriage 21,
A locking mechanism 70 for locking the carriage 21 so that the carriage 21 does not move from the cap area to the print area.
The unlocking mechanism 71 for unlocking the locking mechanism 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, since the locking mechanism 70 and the release mechanism 71 operate in conjunction with each other, these mechanisms 70, 71 will be described collectively. A locking lever 73 is fixed to a first pivot shaft 72 in the front-rear direction, which is provided on the lower side of the carriage 21 corresponding to the right end of the cap region and is pivotally supported by the main body frame 3 in a front-rear direction. A locking arm 74, a return arm 75, and a connecting arm 76 are integrally formed on the locking lever 73 in the illustrated positional relationship.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking arm 74 protrudes into the movement path of the carriage 21 and projects toward the carriage 2.
1 and a retracted position that rotates from the locked position in the counterclockwise direction (the direction opposite to the printing area) and does not project into the carriage movement path, as shown in FIG. When the locking arm 74 is at the locking position (see FIG. 4), the return arm 75 is rotatable.
When the retracted position does not project to the movement path of the carriage 21 and the locking arm 74 is at the retracted position (see FIG. 5), the locking arm 74 is locked by projecting to the movement path of the carriage 21 and moving the carriage 21 to the print area side. It is rotatable over the protruding position to return it to the position.

On the other hand, a release lever is provided on a second pivot shaft 79 in the front-rear direction, which is provided below the carriage 21 corresponding to the substantially left end of the cap region and is pivotally supported by the body frame 3 so as to be rotatable. 80 is fixed, and an operating arm 81 and a connecting arm 82 are integrally formed on the release lever 80 in the illustrated positional relationship. That is, the operating arm 81
4, as shown in FIG. 4, an operating position that is operated by projecting into the movement path of the carriage 21 and moving the carriage 21 leftward (the side opposite to the printing area with respect to the locking arm 74) by a predetermined distance, It is rotatable in a counterclockwise direction (opposite to the printing area) from this operating position to a retracted position where it does not project into the movement path of the carriage 21.

Further, the connecting arms 76 and 82 integrated with these are operatively connected by a connecting member 84 so that the operating arm 81 is in the operating position when the locking arm 74 is in the locking position. Here, on the right side of the locking lever 73,
When the locking arm 74 is at the locking position, the stopper member 77 that abuts on the return arm 75 and regulates the locking arm 74 so as not to rotate in the clockwise direction (the side opposite to the retracted position) from the locking position. A stopper body 83 that receives the operating arm 81 and holds the locking arm 74 at the retracted position is provided on the left side of the release lever 80.

Next, a biasing mechanism 85 for automatically switching the locking arm 74 between the locking biasing state and the unlocking biasing state will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, the second pivot 79 has a crank portion 79a that is bent downward and formed in a crank shape.
A tension coil spring 86 is stretched between 9a and the body frame 3 above it. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the locking arm 74 is in the locking position and the operating arm 81 is in the operating position via the connecting member 84, the locking arm 74 is in the operating position.
And the operating arm 81 are rotationally biased by the tension coil spring 86, and the crank portion 79a moves to the left of the neutral line NL, so that the return arm 75 is received by the stopper member 77 and the locking arm 74 is engaged. Hold in the stop position. This state is referred to as a locking urging state (corresponding to the first urging state).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the engaging arm 74 is at the retracted position and the operating arm 8 is interposed via the connecting member 84.
When 1 is in the retracted position, the locking arm 74 and the operating arm 81 are rotationally biased by the tension coil spring 86, and the crank portion 79a moves to the right of the neutral line NL. And the locking arm 74 is held at the retracted position. This state is referred to as a release urging state (second urging state). That is, the locking urging state and the release urging state are the two levers 73,
By the rotation of 80, the crank portion 79a crosses the neutral line NL so that they can be automatically switched to each other.

The operation of the lock lever 73 and the release lever 80 in accordance with the movement of the carriage 21 will be described.
Below the carriage 21, these locking arms 74,
The operation block 27 is attached to the return arm 75 and the operation arm 81, respectively. Carriage 21
Is moving to the printing area, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking arm 74 is in the locking position and the operating arm 81 is in the operating position, and both levers 73 and 80 are in the locking biasing state. is there. When the carriage 21 moves from the print area toward the maintenance area, the locking arm 74 rotates counterclockwise by a predetermined angle so as to allow the operation block 27 to pass, as shown in FIG. Move. The locking arm 74 is formed to have a shorter radial length than the return arm 75, and the crank portion 79a does not exceed the neutral line NL. This DOO-out is the print head 46 to 49 is when you are about to be capped by the cap member 64.

After the operating block 27 has passed through the locking arm 74, as shown in FIG.
9 is a cap region that is tightly capped by the cap member 64, and the locking arm 74 returns to the original locking position. Therefore, even if the carriage 21 tries to move toward the print region, the locking arm 74 is moved. Cannot move in the clockwise direction, the movement of the operation block 27 toward the print area is locked (shown by the one-dot chain line), and the movement of the carriage 21 toward the print area is blocked. As a result, it is possible to maintain the state in which the head surfaces of the print heads 46 to 49 are covered by the cap member 64, and it is possible to prevent ink drying. Here, the carriage 21 is in the locking area.
When moving to (corresponding to the first region) , the photo sensor 31 corresponds to the light-shielding strip portion 30f.

On the other hand, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, when the actuation block 27 is moved further leftward from the position where it comes into contact with the actuation arm 81, as shown in FIG. Is largely rotated in the counterclockwise direction and the crank portion 79a crosses the neutral line NL, so that the two levers 73 and 80 are largely rotated and switched to the release urging state, and are held in the release urging state. To be done.
At this time, the locking arm 74 is rotated to the retracted position and the return arm 75 is rotated to the protruding position. Here, when the carriage 21 is moving to the release area (corresponding to the second area) , the photo sensor 31 detects the transparent strip portion 30e.
It corresponds to.

Thereafter, when the carriage 21 is moved toward the printing area, the locking lever 73 is allowed to rotate in the clockwise direction, so that the operation block 27 is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. As described above, the return arm 75 can be moved to the right by rotating the return arm 75 in the clockwise direction.
1 can be moved to the print area. At this time, the return arm 75 is largely rotated clockwise by the operation block 27, and the crank portion 79a crosses the neutral line NL.
Therefore, the two levers 73,80 are switched to larger turning to lock urging state, it is held in its locked biasing state (see FIG. 4).

Next, the control system of the ink jet printer 1 is constructed as shown in the block diagram of FIG.
The control device 90 basically includes the CPU 91 and the CP.
ROM 92 and RAM 93 connected to U91 via a bus 95 such as a data bus, an input / output interface 94, a head drive circuit 99, and drive circuits 100 to 10
2 and . The bus 95, the communication interface 103 is connected, and is capable of receiving image data transmitted through the communication interface 103 from the external electronic device 104 such as a host computer.

The ROM 92 stores a communication control control program for data communication with the external electronic device 104, various control programs for image printing, and a carriage initial setting control control program, which will be described later and is unique to the present application. ing. Further, the RAM 93 is provided with an image data memory for storing the received image data, a memory for storing a count value indicating the carriage position, various memories and buffers necessary for image printing.

The input / output interface 94 is provided with a photo sensor 31, an operation panel 96 provided with a power key, various function switches and display lamps, and a head drive for driving the four print heads 46 to 49, respectively. Circuit 99
A drive circuit 100 for the feed motor 14 for feeding the recording paper P, a drive circuit 101 for the carriage drive motor 24, and a drive circuit 102 for the maintenance motor 53 are connected to each other.

Next, the routine for carriage initialization control performed by the controller 90 of the ink jet printer 1 will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.
In addition, reference numeral Si in the drawing (i = 10, 11, 12, ...)
Is each step. When the ink jet type printer 1 is powered on, the CPU 91 performs R initialization as an initialization operation.
Initialize each memory area of the AM 93.

When this control is started, first, the count value J of the drive pulse number counter is cleared (S30). Next, when the encoder signal detected by the photo sensor 31 is read and the encoder signal is at the “H” level,
That is, when the photo sensor 31 corresponds to the light-shielding portion 30c or the non-encoder portions 30b and 30f (S31: Ye
s) Until the pulse signal becomes "L" level, the carriage drive motor 24 is reversely driven by one drive pulse, and the carriage 21 is moved in the backward direction RD (left direction) by a small distance (S32, S31: Yes).

That is, when this control is started and the carriage 21 is at the position corresponding to the non-encoder portion 30b, the carriage 21 is moved in the backward direction RD so as not to collide with the side wall plate 3a, while the carriage 21 is moved. When 21 is in the position corresponding to the light-shielding band-shaped portion 30f, it corresponds to the locking region (see FIG. 4), so the release mechanism 71 is operated and the two levers 73 and 80 are actuated via the biasing mechanism 85.
The carriage 21 is moved in the backward movement direction RD in order to switch to the release urging state.

When the pulse signal is at the "L" level, that is, when the carriage 21 corresponds to the translucent portion 30d or the transmissive strip portion 30e (S31: No), the carriage drive motor 24 is normally rotated by one drive pulse. Driven,
Carriage 21 is only a small distance in the forward direction FD (right direction)
Is moved to (S33). That is, when this control is started, when the carriage 21 is at the position corresponding to the transparent strip 30e, or when the carriage 21 is moved to the position corresponding to the transparent strip 30e, it corresponds to the release area. Therefore (see FIG. 5), the carriage 21 is moved in the forward direction FD in order to move it to the print area.
At this time, since the return arm 75 is in the projecting position, the movement of the carriage 21 in the forward movement direction FD is permitted, and after the carriage 21 has moved to the printing area, both levers 73 and 80 are switched to the locking urging state. To be

Next, the count value J of the driving pulse number counter is incremented by 1 (S34), and when the pulse signal is at the "H" level (S35: Yes), the count value J corresponds to the light-shielding strip portion 30f. When the number of drive pulses to be performed is "N3" or less (S36: No), S33 and subsequent steps are repeatedly executed. The count value J is the driving pulse number "N3".
When the value becomes larger than that (S36: Yes), since the carriage drive motor 24 corresponds to the non-encoder part 30b, it corresponds to the translucent part 30d adjacent to the right side of the light-shielding band part 30f from that position. The reverse drive is performed with the drive pulse number "N4" corresponding to the distance to the position (S3
7).

Next, when the pulse signal is at "L" level (S40: No), the carriage drive motor 24 is reversely driven by one drive pulse until the pulse signal is switched to "H" level, and the carriage 21 is driven. When the carriage 21 is moved in the backward direction RD by a small distance (S41, S40: No) and the pulse signal is switched to the “H” level, the origin position of the carriage 21 is set, the control is terminated, and the main Return to routine.

On the other hand, when the pulse signal is switched from the "H" level to the "L" level as a result of the normal drive of the carriage drive motor 24 (S35: No), the count value J is the drive pulse number "N1". In the following cases (S38: No), since the carriage 21 corresponds to the light transmitting section 30d, the count value J is cleared (S39), and S33 and the subsequent steps are repeated. By the way, the carriage 21 is provided with the light-shielding strip portion 3.
If the count value J is larger than the drive pulse number "N1" when the pulse signal is switched to the "L" level while moving in the forward direction FD while corresponding to 0f (S38: Yes). , The carriage 21 is a light-shielding band 30
Since it corresponds to the transparent portion 30d adjacent to the right side of f,
Through S40 to S41, the position is finally moved to the origin position.

As described above, the print heads 46 to 49 for ejecting ink to print, and the print heads 46.
Carriage 21 carrying ~ 49 and this carriage 2
In the ink jet type printing apparatus 1 including the carriage drive mechanism 20 that reciprocates 1
A lock mechanism 70 for locking the movement of the carriage 21 to the print area and a release mechanism 71 for unlocking the lock mechanism 70 are provided.
When the carriage 21 is once moved to the cap area covering the head surface, the carriage 21 is locked by the locking mechanism 70 so as not to move from the cap area to the print area, so that the carriage 21 is forcibly moved by a manual operation. Even if an attempt is made, the cap member 64 does not come off from the head surface, and it is possible to reliably prevent the ink from drying on the head surface. Further, the carriage 21 can be easily moved to the print area only by moving the carriage 21 in the opposite direction to the print area and operating the release mechanism 71.

The locking mechanism 70 includes a locking arm 74 which is rotatable between the locking position and the retracted position, and a return arm 75 which is rotatable between the retracted position and the protruding position. Since the stopper member 77 that restricts the locking arm 74 is provided, when the carriage 21 once moves to the cap area at the end of printing, the carriage 21 is rotated to the locking position by the locking arm 74, The cap member 64 is locked so as not to move from the area to the printing area, the cap member 64 does not come off the head surface, and the ink drying on the head surface can be reliably prevented by a simple mechanism.

Further, the releasing mechanism 71 includes an operating arm 81 which is rotatable between an operating position and a retracted position, and a connecting member 84 which operably connects the locking arm 74 and the operating arm 81. Since the carriage 21 is provided, by moving the carriage 21 by a predetermined distance to the side opposite to the printing area, the operation arm 81
The locking arm 74 is rotated to the retracted position in conjunction with the rotation of the carriage 21 to the retracted position, and the locking of the carriage 21 can be easily released by a simple mechanism.

The locking mechanism 70 and the release mechanism 71 are
Stopper body 83 for holding the locking arm 74 in the retracted position
And a biasing mechanism 85 capable of automatically switching between a locking biasing state in which the locking arm 74 is held in the locking position and a release biasing state in which the locking arm 74 is held in the retracted position. ,
The locking of the carriage 21 by the locking mechanism 70 can be reliably and stabilized, while the locking release by the release mechanism 71 can be simplified and stabilized.

Further, in the encoder member 30 arranged so as to extend along the movement path of the carriage 21, the encoder portion EC is formed in the central portion corresponding to the print area, and the transparent strip-like member having the transparency is formed. A non-encoder part 30a including a part 30e and a light-shielding band-shaped part 30f having a light-shielding property which is continuous with the part 30e is formed.
The photo sensor 31 attached to the
Since a detection signal corresponding to the optical characteristic of the CPU is output in opposition to, the CPU follows the program of the ROM based on the detection signal from the detection means when the power is turned on (the control means is constituted by the CPU and the ROM), By controlling the moving direction of the carriage via the carriage driving means, the release mechanism can be driven, the carriage can be moved to the print area, and the initial setting of the carriage can be executed to start printing. The print timing control and print position control can be simplified.

Here, the following modifications may be made to the above embodiment. 1) The stopper body 83 may be configured to receive the locking arm 74. 2) The locking lever 73 and the release lever 80 are provided so as to be displaced in a direction orthogonal to the printing direction, and a dedicated operation block for operating the locking arm 74 and a dedicated operation block for operating the operation arm 81. And may be attached to the carriage 21, respectively. In this case,
The positions of these levers 73 and 80 can be set arbitrarily.
3) Further, the connecting member 84 is omitted, the first pivot shaft 72 and the second pivot shaft 79 are integrally provided, and an operation block that operates each arm 74, 81 at a predetermined timing is provided. Good.

4) The driving force of the feed motor 14 conveys the recording paper P during the printing operation, while the carriage 21 moves from the maintenance area to the printing area.
The cam plate gear 52 of the suction mechanism 54 may be driven by switching the driving force transmission system in association with the clockwise rotation of the locking lever 73. Further, various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment based on existing technology or technology obvious to those skilled in the art. Further, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied not only to a printing device capable of color printing but also to various ink jet printing devices such as those for single color printing.

[0060]

According to the ink jet printing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, it is provided with the print head for ejecting and printing the ink, the carriage equipped with the print head, and the carriage drive means for reciprocating the carriage. In the printing apparatus, a cap member, a locking mechanism that locks the movement of the carriage to the printing area, and a release mechanism that unlocks the locking mechanism are provided, and the position where the carriage covers the head surface of the print head. When the carriage is once moved to, the carriage is locked by the locking mechanism so as not to move from the position covering the head surface toward the printing area, so that the cap member does not come off the head surface and Drying can be reliably prevented. Further, the carriage can be easily moved to the print area only by moving the carriage in a direction opposite to the print area by a predetermined amount and operating the release mechanism. The locking mechanism has a locking position and a retracted position.
Locking arm that can be rotated, and retracted position and protrusion
The return arm and the locking arm that can rotate freely
Since a stopper member that regulates is provided, when printing is completed
And once the carriage has moved to a position that covers the head surface,
The carriage is attached to the locking arm that is rotated to the locking position.
Move from the position that covers the head surface to the print area
Locked so as not to, out of the head face caps member
Ink on the head surface with a simple mechanism
Drying can be reliably prevented. Also, the release mechanism
Is an actuating arm that is rotatable between the actuating position and the retracted position.
Operatively connecting the locking arm with the operating arm
Since the connecting member for
Move the actuator arm to the opposite side for a predetermined distance to retract the operating arm.
The locking arm rotates to the retracted position in conjunction with the rotation to the retracted position.
The simple mechanism makes it easy to unlock the carriage.
Can be excluded. The locking mechanism and the release mechanism are
The stopper body that holds the stop arm in the retracted position and the locking arm
The first urging state that keeps the
Can be automatically switched to the second urging state of holding in the retracted position
Since it is equipped with a simple biasing mechanism,
Locking can be reliably and stabilized, while the solution
It is possible to simplify and stabilize the unlocking by the release mechanism.
it can.

According to the ink jet printing apparatus of the second aspect, the cap member, the locking mechanism and the releasing mechanism are provided.
It has the same effects as claim 1.

[0062]

[0063]

Then, the index member, which is arranged so as to extend along the movement path of the carriage and has different characteristics in the first region and the second region, and a detection signal corresponding to each region is output. Since the detection means and the control means for controlling the moving direction of the carriage are provided, when the power is turned on,
Based on the detection signal from the detection means, the release mechanism is driven by controlling the moving direction of the carriage via the carriage drive means, and the carriage is moved to the print area.
Carriage initialization can be performed to start printing.

According to the ink jet printing apparatus of the third aspect , the same effect as that of the second aspect can be obtained, but the index member has the encoder portion in the portion corresponding to the printing area, and the optical portion in each area is provided. Encoder members having different characteristics from each other, and the detection means is composed of an optical sensor that faces the encoder member and outputs a detection signal according to its optical characteristics, so that the detection of each region can be simplified, Since the detection signal corresponding to the optical characteristics of the light-transmitting portion and the light-shielding portion formed in the encoder portion provided corresponding to the print area is output, print timing control and print position control can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a locking mechanism and a releasing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of each mechanism when the carriage moves to a cap area.

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 when the carriage is moving to a locking area.

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 when the carriage is moving to a release area.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating optical characteristics of an encoder member.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a positional relationship between an encoder member and each area.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control system of the inkjet printing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a routine for carriage initialization control.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Inkjet printer 20 Carriage drive mechanism 21 carriage 24 Carriage drive motor 30 Encoder member 30c light shield 30d translucent part 30e translucent strip 30f Light-shielding band 31 photo sensor 46-49 print head 64 Cap member 70 Locking mechanism 71 Release mechanism 74 Locking arm 75 Return arm 77 Stopper member 81 Working arm 83 Stopper body 84 Connection member 85 Biasing mechanism 86 tension coil spring 90 Control device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --Continued from the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/165 B41J 29/54

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing apparatus comprising: a print head for jetting ink from a plurality of ink jet nozzles for printing; a carriage on which the print head is mounted; and a carriage driving means for reciprocating the carriage in the printing direction. , A cap member that tightly covers the head surface where a plurality of ink jet nozzles of the print head open on one end side of the carriage movement range that is out of the printing area, and the carriage prints from a position where the cap member covers the head surface. a locking mechanism for locking the carriage so as not to move toward the region, engagement of the front Kigakaritome mechanism the cap member is operated by a carriage which is moved by a predetermined amount in the opposite direction to the print area from a position covering the head surface and a release mechanism for releasing the locking, the locking mechanism, the carriage and projects into the movement path of the carriage Lock
Rotate in the opposite direction to the print area from the locking position
Over the retracted position where it does not project into the carriage movement path
A rotatable locking arm and a carriage movement path when the locking arm is in the locking position
When the retracted position that does not project to and the locking arm is in the retracted position
Printed area of the carriage protruding into the carriage movement path
A protrusion that returns the locking arm to the locking position by moving it to the side.
When the return arm is rotatable in the extended position and the lock arm is in the lock position, the lock arm is in the lock position.
Position to prevent rotation from the opposite side to the retracted position.
And a topper member, and the release mechanism projects into the movement path of the carriage to lock the carriage.
To move a predetermined distance to the side opposite the print area
From the operating position operated by and the printing area from this operating position
Does not project in the carriage movement path by rotating in the opposite direction
An operating arm that is rotatable in the retracted position, and the operating arm is in the operating position when the locking arm is in the locking position.
Connection that operatively connects these arms so that
And the locking mechanism and the release mechanism receive the locking arm or the actuating arm and lock the arm.
And a stopper body that holds the locking arm in the retracted position, and the stopper arm and the operating arm are urged to rotate.
With a 1st piece that receives with a material and holds the locking arm in the locking position
Energized state, locking arm and actuating arm pivotally biased and locked
The arm or actuating arm is received by the stopper body and locked.
Automatically switches to the second biased state that holds the boom in the retracted position.
An ink jet printing apparatus, comprising: a replaceable biasing mechanism . 2. Ink from a plurality of inkjet nozzles
The print head that jets and prints
Place the carriage and move it in the print direction.
In a printing device equipped with carriage driving means that moves back
And one end outside the print area of the carriage movement range
On the side, multiple inkjet nozzles of the print head
A cap member that closely covers the open head surface, and a carriage from the position where the cap member covers the head surface.
Lock the carriage so that does not move toward the print area.
Locking mechanism and a printing area from the position where the cap member covers the head surface.
It is operated by the carriage that has moved a prescribed amount in the opposite direction.
A locking mechanism for releasing the locking of the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism projecting into a moving path of the carriage and locking the carriage, and rotating from this position in a direction opposite to the print area. A locking arm that is rotatable over a retracted position that does not project into the carriage movement path; a retracted position that does not project into the carriage movement path when the locking arm is in the locking position; At this time, the return arm, which is rotatable over a projecting position in which the locking arm is returned to the locking position by protruding toward the carriage movement path and moving the carriage toward the printing area, and the locking arm is locked. And a stopper member that restricts the locking arm from rotating from the locking position to the side opposite to the retracted position when in the position. And is moved by moving a predetermined distance to the side opposite to the printing area, and is rotated from the operating position to a retracted position that rotates in the direction opposite to the printing area and does not project into the carriage movement path. A movable actuating arm and a connecting member that operatively connects the actuating arm so that the actuating arm is in the actuating position when the engaging arm is in the engaging position, and extends along the movement path of the carriage. Arranged in
The carriage movement range from the locking arm to the operating arm.
The first area corresponding to the surrounding area and the carriage operate the operating arm.
It has different characteristics from the second area corresponding to the moving range to be created.
And an index member attached to the carriage.
Detection means for outputting a detection signal corresponding to each area, and carriage drive means based on the detection signal of the detection means
Control means for controlling the moving direction of the carriage via
Comprising the ink-jet printing apparatus characterized by. 3. The index member has an encoder portion in which a light-transmitting portion and a light-shielding portion are alternately formed in a minute scale shape in a carriage moving direction in a portion corresponding to a print area, The inkjet member according to claim 2 , wherein the inkjet member is an encoder member having optical characteristics different from each other, and the detection unit is an optical sensor facing the encoder member and outputting a detection signal according to the optical characteristics. Printing device.