JP3472272B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an ink on a recording medium.
Regarding an inkjet recording apparatus that discharges and records
More specifically, the present invention relates to an inkjet recording device used in an information processing device such as a printer, a copying machine, a word processor, or a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ink jet recording apparatuses have been remarkably popularized and are used in various environments. Generally, in an ink jet recording apparatus, a recording medium is inserted from the backside and above of the recording unit, recording is performed in the recording unit, and the recording medium for which recording has been completed is discharged to the front of the recording unit. further,
In order to replace the recording head or ink tank mounted on the carriage, it is necessary to open the lid covering the upper portion of the recording unit.

There is also a type in which a recording medium is inserted from the front of the recording apparatus, inverted at a recording medium reversing section at the rear of the recording section, and discharged to the front of the recording apparatus. Also in this type of inkjet recording apparatus, it is necessary to open the lid covering the upper portion of the recording unit in order to replace the recording head or the ink tank mounted on the carriage.

[0004]

However, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, the recording medium is inserted, recording is performed in the recording unit, and the recording medium is conveyed until the recording medium is ejected. Space and
Since the upper space is needed to open and close the lid when replacing the recording head mounted on the carriage or the ink tank, not only the installation space depending on the size of the recording device body but also a considerable space is required. There was a problem to say.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device that does not impair the function of the recording device and requires a smaller space when actually used.

In addition, an installation space that depends on the recording medium conveyance until the recording medium is inserted, recording is performed by the recording unit, and the recording medium is discharged, and the recording head or the ink tank mounted on the carriage are provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording device that requires less space above the device for opening and closing the lid when exchanging.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is:
A carriage capable of reciprocally scanning by mounting a recording head that ejects ink onto a recording medium to perform recording, a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium, and a first recording medium that holds the recording medium before recording.
A direction in which holding means, second holding means for holding a recording medium on which recording has been completed, and an attaching / detaching portion as a portion for attaching / detaching the recording head to / from the carriage are provided, and the recording head is stored in the attaching / detaching portion. Is the same as the direction in which the first holding unit is housed in the recording apparatus and the direction in which the second holding unit is housed in the recording apparatus, and intersects the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

[0008]

According to the above construction, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which does not impair the function of the recording apparatus and requires a smaller space for actual use.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is an external perspective view of the recording apparatus, FIGS. 2 to 6 are cross-sectional views taken along the line BB of FIG. 1 for explaining the operation of the recording apparatus, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are taken along the line CC of FIG. FIG.

In FIG. 1, the recording device is an upper case 1 of the main body.
A lower case 2 of the main body, a lid 3 which can be removed or opened / closed for attaching / detaching a recording head, a paper feed cassette 4 for holding a recording paper 6 which is a recording medium before recording, and a recording section. It is roughly composed of a paper discharge cassette 5 for holding the recording paper 6 for which recording has been completed. The paper feed cassette 4 functions as a first holding unit that holds the recording paper 6 before recording. The paper discharge cassette 5 functions as a second holding unit that holds the recording paper 6 on which recording has been completed.
The paper feed cassette 4 and the paper discharge cassette 5 can be pulled out in the direction of the arrow A in the figure, and in the pulled out state, the recording paper 6 before recording is attached to the paper feed cassette 4 from the front of the recording apparatus, and recording is performed. The structure is such that the completed recording paper 6 can be taken out from the paper discharge cassette 5. The lid 3 has a structure that can be removed or opened and closed in the direction of arrow A in the figure.

Next, the operation of the recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 7 denotes a separation roller that separates the recording papers 6 stacked in the paper feed cassette 4 one by one and conveys the recording papers to a recording unit. Reference numeral 8 denotes a head mounting unit that can reciprocally scan in the width direction of the recording papers 6 by a drive source (not shown). It is a carriage at a certain place.
A recording head 9 is detachably attached to the carriage 8. A carriage 8 is provided for the recording paper 6 that has been conveyed.
An image is recorded by the recording head 9 ejecting ink in accordance with image information while scanning.

Reference numeral 10 is an intermediate roller, 11 is an intermediate roller 10.
The driven roller is pressed against a spring by a spring (not shown). 1
Reference numeral 2 is a carrying roller, and 13 is a pinch roller pressed against the carrying roller 12 by a spring (not shown). Reference numeral 14 is a platen for guiding the back surface of the recording paper 6 in the recording unit, 15 is a paper ejection roller for ejecting the recording paper 6 on which recording has been completed, and 16 is a spur pressed against the paper ejection roller 15 by a spring (not shown). Here, the spur refers to a rotating body that has a small contact area with the recording paper and does not disturb the ink image even if it comes into contact with the surface of the paper on which the ink image is recorded due to ink ejection. Reference numeral 17 is a control board for controlling the recording apparatus.

In FIG. 2, the user holds the recording paper 6 in the paper feed cassette 4 which can be pulled out in the direction of arrow A in FIG. At this time, the paper feed cassette 4 may be pulled out from the recording apparatus, and the recording paper 6 may be attached to the paper feed cassette 4 while the paper feed cassette 4 is held by the recording apparatus, or the recording paper 6 may be removed from the recording apparatus. It does not matter whether the recording paper 6 is attached to the paper feed cassette 4. After mounting the recording paper 6 in the paper feed cassette 4, the paper feed cassette 4 is stored in the recording device from the front of the recording device.

In FIG. 3, when a recording command is issued from the control board 17, the separation roller 7 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the drawing to separate the uppermost recording paper 6 of the paper feed cassette 4, and the intermediate roller 10 is driven. It is conveyed to the nip position with the roller 11.

In FIG. 4, the recording paper 6 nipped between the intermediate roller 10 and the driven roller 11 is the intermediate roller 10
Is driven to the nip position between the transport roller 12 and the pinch roller 13.

In FIG. 5, the recording paper 6 nipped between the carrying roller 12 and the pinch roller 13 is the carrying roller 1
By the drive of 2, the sheet is conveyed to a space formed between the carriage 8 and the platen 14, and ink corresponding to image information is ejected from the recording head 9 to perform recording.

In FIG. 6, the recording sheet 6 on which recording has been completed
Is sandwiched between the paper discharge roller 15 and the spur 16 and is discharged into the paper discharge cassette 5 by driving the paper discharge roller 15. After the end of recording, the user can pull out the paper discharge cassette 5 from the lower case 2 of the main body in the direction of arrow A in FIG. At this time, the paper ejection cassette 5 may be pulled out from the recording apparatus, and the recording paper 6 may be taken out from the paper ejection cassette 5 while the paper ejection cassette 5 is held by the recording apparatus. It does not matter whether the recording paper 6 is taken out from the paper cassette 5. After taking out the recording paper 6 from the paper ejection cassette 5, the paper ejection cassette 5 is stored in the recording device from the front of the recording device.

Next, the operation of attaching / detaching the recording head 9 to / from the carriage 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. When a problem occurs in the recording operation from the recording head 9,
The recording head needs to be replaced. At that time, the user rotates the lid 3 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 7 and slides it in the direction of arrow C in FIG. By doing so, no space is required above the device for rotating the lid. Then, a sensor (not shown) detects that the lid 3 is opened, and the control board 17 moves the carriage 8 to the right end replacement position as shown in FIG. The opening created by opening the lid 3 functions as a detachable part. At this position, the user removes the recording head 9 from the carriage 8 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Then, a new recording head 9 is mounted on the carriage 8. That is, the recording head 9 is stored in the attachment / detachment portion from the front of the recording apparatus. The recording head may be attached to and detached from the carriage by a user operating a member such as a lever, or by the user himself directly attaching or detaching the recording head. After mounting the new recording head, the user can return the lid 3 to the position shown in FIG. 7 and perform the next recording.

According to the above-described structure, the recording paper before recording is loaded into the paper feed cassette, the recording paper after recording is taken out from the paper discharge cassette, and the recording head is attached to and removed from the carriage at the attaching / detaching portion. Since it is possible to perform from the front of the recording device, it is possible to provide a recording device that does not impair the function of the recording device and requires less space when actually used.

< Reference Example > A reference example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, the carriage in which the recording head is mounted serially scans in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording sheet, but the reference example can simultaneously record in the width direction of the recording sheet. This is a configuration using a full line type recording head.

In FIG. 9, 19 is a recording head capable of simultaneously recording in the width direction of the recording paper, and 18
Is a head mounting portion on which the recording head 19 is detachably mounted. If a problem occurs in the recording operation from the recording head 19, the user rotates the lid 3 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 7 and slides it in the direction of arrow C in FIG. By doing so, no space is required above the device for rotating the lid. Then, the user removes the recording head 19 from the head mounting portion 18 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, and mounts a new recording head 19 on the head mounting portion 18. That is,
The recording head 19 is stored in the attachment / detachment portion from the front of the recording apparatus. The recording head may be attached to and detached from the carriage by a user operating a member such as a lever, or by the user himself directly attaching or detaching the recording head. After mounting the new recording head, the user can return the lid 3 to the position shown in FIG. 7 and perform the next recording.

The configuration and operation of the recording apparatus of the reference example are basically the same as those of the recording apparatus shown in the first embodiment except for the above, and therefore detailed description will be omitted.

[0025] illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention using <Second Embodiment> FIGS. 10 11. In the first embodiment, the recording head is attached to and detached from the carriage, but in the second embodiment, the ink tank 9a for supplying ink to the recording head 9 is attachable to and detachable from the recording head 9. . At this time, the recording head 9 may be detachable from the carriage 8 as in the first embodiment, or may be fixed to the carriage 8. An image is recorded on the conveyed recording paper 6 by the recording head 9 ejecting ink according to the image information while scanning the carriage 8.

Next, the operation of attaching / detaching the ink tank 9a to / from the recording head 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. If a problem occurs in the recording operation from the recording head 9 or the ink in the ink tank 9a is exhausted, it is necessary to replace the ink tank. At that time, the user rotates the lid 3 in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 10 and slides it in the direction of arrow E in FIG. By doing so, no space is required above the device for rotating the lid. Then, a sensor (not shown) detects that the lid 3 is opened, and the control board 17 moves the carriage 8 to the right end replacement position as shown in FIG. The opening created by opening the lid 3 functions as a detachable part. At this position, the user removes the ink tank 9a from the recording head 9 by the arrow A in FIG.
Then, a new ink tank 9a is attached to the recording head 9. That is, the ink tank 9a is stored in the attachment / detachment portion from the front of the recording apparatus. The ink tank may be attached to and detached from the recording head by a user operating a member such as a lever, or by the user himself directly attaching and detaching the ink tank. After mounting the new ink tank, the user can return the lid 3 to the position shown in FIG. 10 and perform the next recording.

According to the above-described structure, the recording paper before recording is loaded into the paper feed cassette, the recording paper after recording is taken out from the paper discharge cassette, and the recording head of the ink tank is attached to the recording / removing section. Since the attachment / detachment can be performed from the front of the recording device, it is possible to provide the recording device which does not impair the function of the recording device and which requires less space when actually used.

[0028] illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention using <Third Embodiment> FIGS. 12 13. In the second embodiment, the ink tank is attached to and detached from the recording head, but in the third embodiment, the ink tank 21 is attached to and detached from the ink tank holder 23 other than the recording head. In the present embodiment, the ink is supplied from the ink tank 21 to the recording head 20 using the tube 22. The ink supply method is not limited to this, and a sub-tank may be provided in the recording head to supply ink by the pit-in method. The recording head 2 is moved according to image information while scanning the carriage 8 with respect to the conveyed recording paper 6.
0 discharges ink to record an image.

Next, the operation of attaching and detaching the ink tank 21 to and from the ink tank holding portion 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. If a problem occurs in the recording operation from the recording head 20 or the ink in the ink tank 21 is exhausted, it is necessary to replace the ink tank. that time,
The user rotates the lid 3 in the direction of arrow F in FIG.
Slide in the direction of arrow G. By doing so, no space is required above the device for rotating the lid. Then, a sensor (not shown) detects that the lid 3 is opened, and the control board 17 stops the recording operation. The opening created by opening the lid 3 functions as a detachable part. In this state, the user removes the ink tank 21 from the ink tank attaching / detaching portion 23 in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
A new ink tank 21 is attached to the ink tank holder 23. That is, the ink tank 21 is stored in the attachment / detachment portion from the front of the recording apparatus. The attachment / detachment of the ink tank to / from the ink tank holding portion may be performed by a user operating a member such as a lever, or may be performed by the user himself / herself. After mounting the new ink tank, the user can return the lid 3 to the position shown in FIG. 12 and perform the next recording.

According to the configuration described above, the recording paper before recording is loaded into the paper feed cassette, the recording paper after recording is taken out from the paper discharge cassette, and the ink tank is loaded into the recording device at the attaching / detaching portion. Since the attachment / detachment can be performed from the front of the recording device, it is possible to provide the recording device which does not impair the function of the recording device and which requires less space when actually used.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the present embodiment, the paper feed cassette and the paper discharge cassette are provided, but it is only necessary to be able to load the recording paper and take out the recording paper for which recording has been completed, and it is also possible to simply provide an opening. Also,
The opening may be covered with a lid.

Further, although the lid for replacing the recording head or the ink tank is of a rotating type, other methods may be used.

<Others> The present invention is provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating heat energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in the ink jet recording system. The present invention brings about excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type in which the state of ink is changed by the heat energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous types, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, electric heat arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink or treatment liquid). By applying at least one drive signal to the converter, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise beyond nucleate boiling, thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and the electrothermal surface of the recording head is exposed. This is effective because film boiling can be generated and, as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink or treatment liquid) corresponding to this drive signal one-to-one can be formed. By the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink or treatment liquid) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal in a pulse shape, because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, so that a liquid (ink or treatment liquid) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be discharged. This pulse-shaped drive signal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359 and No. 43.
Those as described in 45262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,558,333 and 44,596 disclosing a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The configuration using the specification No. 00 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing pressure liquid of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main body of the apparatus, or the electrical connection to the main body of the apparatus or the ink from the main body of the apparatus by being attached to the main body of the apparatus The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add the ejection recovery means of the recording head, the preliminary auxiliary means and the like because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include preheating for heating the recording head by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressurizing or suctioning unit, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Means and preliminary ejection means for performing ejection different from recording can be mentioned.

Regarding the type or number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. Some may be provided in plural numbers. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. Alternatively, an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing is extremely effective in the present invention.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid.
An ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used, or in the inkjet method, the ink itself may be adjusted in temperature within the range of 30 ° C to 70 ° C to obtain the viscosity of the ink. Since it is common to control the temperature so that the ink is in a stable ejection range, it is also possible to use one in which the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60.
As described in JP-A-71260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, besides the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function. It may be a form or the like.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention configured as described above, the recording medium before recording is mounted on the first holding means, and the recording medium for which recording has been completed is first recorded. (2) Since it can be taken out from the holding means and attached / detached to / from the carriage of the recording head from the front side of the recording apparatus, the space for actual use is smaller without impairing the function of the recording apparatus. It is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which is sufficient.

The direction in which the recording head is housed in the detachable section is the direction in which the first holding means is housed in the recording device and the second direction is the second direction.
(EN) Provided is a recording device in which the holding means is in the same direction as that it is housed in the recording device and intersects with the conveying direction of the recording medium, so that the space for actual use can be reduced without impairing the function of the recording device. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1 for explaining the operation of the recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1 for explaining the operation of the recording apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1 for explaining the operation of the recording apparatus.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1 for explaining the operation of the recording apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1 for explaining the operation of the recording apparatus.

7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a recording apparatus according to a reference example of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a recording device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a recording device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a recording device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Main body case 2 lower case 3 lid 4 paper cassettes 5 Paper ejection cassette 6 recording paper 7 Separation roller 8 carriage 9 recording head 9a ink tank 10 Intermediate roller 11 Driven roller 12 Conveyor rollers 13 pinch rollers 14 Platen 15 Paper ejection roller 16 spurs 17 Control board 18 head mounting part 19 recording head 20 recording head 21 ink tank 22 tubes 23 Ink tank holder

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Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A carriage capable of reciprocating scanning, comprising a recording head for ejecting ink onto a recording medium for recording, a conveying means for conveying the recording medium, and a first recording medium for holding the recording medium before recording. A direction for accommodating the recording head in the attachment / detachment portion, which includes a holding means, a second holding means for holding a recording medium on which recording has been completed, and an attaching / detaching portion as a portion for attaching / detaching the recording head to / from the carriage. Is the same as the direction in which the first holding means is housed in the recording apparatus and the direction in which the second holding means is housed in the recording apparatus, and intersects the conveyance direction of the recording medium. 2. A carriage capable of reciprocating scanning, comprising a recording head for ejecting ink onto a recording medium for recording, an ink tank for supplying ink to the recording head, and a carriage for conveying the recording medium. Means, a first holding means for holding a recording medium before recording, a second holding means for holding a recording medium for which recording has been completed, and an attaching / detaching portion as a portion for attaching / detaching the ink tank to / from the recording head. And a direction in which the ink tank is stored in the attachment / detachment portion is a direction in which the first holding unit is stored in the recording device and a direction in which the second holding unit is stored in the recording device.
An ink jet recording apparatus, characterized in that it is in the same direction as the holding means is accommodated in the recording apparatus and intersects the conveyance direction of the recording medium. 3. A carriage capable of reciprocating scanning, comprising a recording head for ejecting ink onto a recording medium for recording, a conveying means for conveying the recording medium, and a first recording medium for holding the recording medium before recording. Holding means, second holding means for holding a recording medium for which recording has been completed, an ink tank holding portion for holding an ink tank that supplies ink to the recording head, and the ink tank is attached to and detached from the ink tank holding portion. And a direction in which the ink tank is housed in the mounting / demounting section, and a direction in which the first holding unit is housed in the recording apparatus and a second direction.
An ink jet recording apparatus, characterized in that it is in the same direction as the holding means is accommodated in the recording apparatus and intersects the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Wherein said detachable portion is an ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is covered by a lid. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the carriage moves to a replacement position when the lid is opened. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one of cassettes of said first holding means and said second holding means.